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Top 10 Conservative Idiots #12-8: Ba da da da da I'm Nyet Loving It Edition
Top 10 Conservative Idiots #12-8: Ba da da da da I’m Nyet Loving It Edition
Welcome back to the Top 10 Conservative Idiots! Yo what’s up Phoenix? How are you all doing out there? You doing fucking good? Great! So last week on Twitter, I unveiled our new updated Top 10 logo for support of the Ukraine in this awful and illegal invasion and occupation from Russia. Because fuck Putin, that’s why! And we will be using this logo throughout the duration of this season and even into next season. And also Stupidest State is well underway! Who do you have picked to win the whole thing in your bracket? I know who I have picked but I won’t say anything! Do we have time for the thing? Of course we do! So one of my favorite albums ever turns 40 this year. I’m of course talking about a metal album from a little known band called Iron Maiden. Yeah I hope they make it! I kid. That album of course is their legendary 1982 album called The Number Of The Beast. Yay!!! Oh the kids love that album don’t they? It’s like Back In Black – it’s one of those albums that just transcends time and space and you can enjoy it no matter what you’re feeling that day and it’s survived generations. I mean really even 100 years from now people will still be listening to this album. Of course that’s assuming that humanity survives another 100 years (cue another Maiden song – 2 Minutes To Midnight) ! And there’s a lot of interesting things coming out about this album that were previously only die-hard Maiden fans knew about - like who did the voiceover for Number Of The Beast, or whether or not the studio was haunted, or that The Prisoner is actually an homage to the classic British show The Prisoner. But it’s a great album and if you’ve never listened to it, drop what you’re doing right now and go listen! Or if you have listened, listen to it 666 more times! See what I did there? OK enough of the intro, we have a lot of idiocy to get to, but first I have to play this awesome SNL sketch from last week where they show the convenience and also danger of Amazon’s crazy new retail venture:
Where do we begin this week? We’re out of the frying pan and into the fire! In the number one slot this week goes to GOP Congressional Members (1). While the US is doing everything possible to distance themselves from the Ukraine – Russian war, there are members of Congress who are siding with Russia and their votes are saying more than words ever could! Yes, we’re looking at you, Marjorie Taylor Greene! Speaking of insane, in the number 2 slot this week is the GQP (2). Ah, see what I did there? Because when all else fails and you can’t overturn an election, what do you do? You resort to making up batshit crazy theories about Hunter Biden’s laptop, because they just can’t let that shit go! In the number 3 slot this week is Vladimir Putin (3). While the illegal and immoral Ukraine invasion is having broad implications for Der Vladdy, it’s affecting his own citizens who have taken to an unlikely source of unification: McDonalds! That’s right – some weird things are happening between Russia and McDonalds, and it’s quite insane! In the number 4 slot, also speaking of crazy, is the wife of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas, Ginni Thomas (4). Exactly where was she on January 6th? Well she’s basically all but admitting it and we know she’s a fervent supporter of pro-Trump group TP USA. In the number 5 slot this week is a new We’re All Gonna Die (5)! Is China’s draconian lockdown approach to COVID a good thing? Well there’s also the exact opposite of that policy – Florida who doesn’t care at all and it shows! In the number 6 slot this week is of course our weekly visit to the Holy Church Of The Top 10 in “Holy Shit” (6) and this week our resident pastor is taking a look at an alarming report about Christian nationalism tied into the January 6th Insurrection, it’s getting really scary out there! In the number 7 slot this week is “Beating A Dead Horse” (7) and this week we’re taking a look at the circular firing squad argument over the response to Florida’s draconian and dehumanizing “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and let’s just say that Disney isn’t doing their LGBT employees any favors. Taking the number 8 slot this week is a new Conspiracy Corner (8). So our favorite pizza chain, Papa John’s is back in the news and while most businesses are distancing themselves from the Russian occupation, Papa John’s is embracing the Russian lifestyle! Yeah we can’t punish the Russians by taking away bad pizza, can we? Of course we can! In the number 9 (NEIN!!!) slot this week we have a new “I Need A Drink” (9) and we’re having some drinks and taking a look at the bizarre controversy surrounding the delightful new Disney – Pixar flick “Turning Red” and whew, I need a drink! Finally this week it’s time for Stupidest State 2022! This week it’s Round 1 Week 2 and we’re live in Phoenix at the Wells Fargo Arena where it’s a battle for Fiscal Irresponsibility supremacy as #3 Nevada takes on #4 Nebraska, while in the Gun Nut Conference, #3 Florida takes on #4 Missouri! Plus to cap things off, we have some live music for you from Ghost! Buy their new album Impera or you’re no friend of this show! Enjoy! And as always don’t forget the key!
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[font size="8"]GQP Russian Agents
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You know… you know we weren’t kidding when we said that the GOP had been compromised by a plague of misinformation coming from Russia leading up to the 2016 election. Of course back then we didn’t realize how far Putin’s master plan was going to go. But in the information wars, we’re learning exactly where Trump’s America First movement is headed. Spearheaded of course by our good friend Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is the new face of the GQP Infowars Batshit Crazy party. So in the last month when Russia went from one of the most favored trade nations in the entire world to the least favorite because of their illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine, how’s that holding up for them? Well the bill that would suspend trade to Mother Russia has passed the House and the Senate and is awaiting approval from Biden. But that said, we know who in the GOP is on Putin’s payroll now. and a couple of members of the GQP party are sticking out like a sore thumb, Yes, Marjorie, we’re looking at you!
The House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday to suspend normal trade relations with both Russia and Belarus amid the war in Ukraine.
The Suspending Normal Trade Relations With Russia and Belarus Act, which passed by a 424-8 margin, allows President Joe Biden to increase tariffs on products coming from the two countries and requires the US trade representative to seek suspension of Russia's participation in the World Trade Organization.
The legislation must now pass the Senate and be signed by Biden to be enacted into law.
This move came one day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address to Congress, and a week after the House also voted to enact tougher sanctions on Russia and ban the importation of oil from the country. Seventeen members of Congress, overwhelmingly Republicans, voted against that measure.
Belarus, though not the primary aggressor in the conflict, is a close ally of Moscow and has allowed its territory to be used by Russian troops for staging invasions.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/8-house-republicans-voted-against-205346735.html
The Suspending Normal Trade Relations With Russia and Belarus Act, which passed by a 424-8 margin, allows President Joe Biden to increase tariffs on products coming from the two countries and requires the US trade representative to seek suspension of Russia's participation in the World Trade Organization.
The legislation must now pass the Senate and be signed by Biden to be enacted into law.
This move came one day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address to Congress, and a week after the House also voted to enact tougher sanctions on Russia and ban the importation of oil from the country. Seventeen members of Congress, overwhelmingly Republicans, voted against that measure.
Belarus, though not the primary aggressor in the conflict, is a close ally of Moscow and has allowed its territory to be used by Russian troops for staging invasions.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/8-house-republicans-voted-against-205346735.html
Well you laugh but that seems to be where we are headed! The thing that Putin doesn’t seem to realize is that what he’s doing is serious, and it’s going to have dire consequences for him, the people of Russia, and the world for years to come. This was very poorly thought out and it’s not going to end particularly well for him or the people of Russia. So that being said, who are Putin’s 8? Or as we’re calling them the Hateful Eight? Well our old friend Marjorie Taylor Greene (Q – Batshit) is one of them! And this speaks volumes about where the America First movement is headed!
The vast majority of House members on Thursday voted to end Russia's most-favored trade status in condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine—with only a handful of Republicans voting against the popular legislation.
The U.S., Canada and European allies have implemented stringent sanctions targeting the Russian economy in the wake of Moscow's internationally scorned invasion of Ukraine. In a further step of solidarity with Ukraine, the House voted to revoke Russia's special trade status with the U.S. in a widely bipartisan vote.
As 424 lawmakers voted in favor of the measure, just eight GOP lawmakers voted "no." Those who voted against the effort includes Republican Representatives Marjorie Taylor Green of Georgia, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Chip Roy of Texas, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin, Dan Bishop of North Carolina and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
"This bill allows [President Joe] Biden and future Presidents to sanction virtually anyone they choose anywhere on the globe without Congressional approval," Massie told Newsweek in an emailed statement to explain his rejection of the bipartisan legislation.
https://www.newsweek.com/these-are-8-republicans-who-voted-against-ending-russias-trade-status-1689242
The U.S., Canada and European allies have implemented stringent sanctions targeting the Russian economy in the wake of Moscow's internationally scorned invasion of Ukraine. In a further step of solidarity with Ukraine, the House voted to revoke Russia's special trade status with the U.S. in a widely bipartisan vote.
As 424 lawmakers voted in favor of the measure, just eight GOP lawmakers voted "no." Those who voted against the effort includes Republican Representatives Marjorie Taylor Green of Georgia, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Chip Roy of Texas, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin, Dan Bishop of North Carolina and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
"This bill allows [President Joe] Biden and future Presidents to sanction virtually anyone they choose anywhere on the globe without Congressional approval," Massie told Newsweek in an emailed statement to explain his rejection of the bipartisan legislation.
https://www.newsweek.com/these-are-8-republicans-who-voted-against-ending-russias-trade-status-1689242
Well come on, we all know how sketchy Putin is, so I wouldn’t put anything past him and I do mean anything. But the fact that Boebert, Greene, and Gaetz, or as I’m hereby referring to them as the “Trifecta Of Stupid”, voted against it is truly insane when the vote was near unanimous. Even some of the extremists I wouldn’t have suspected in Congress voted to stop normal trade with Russia! Of course the Senate is still grilling Kentaji Brown Jackson over bullshit involving child porn (don’t worry, we’ll get to that next week in full!). But what are the implications of this bill moving forward?
The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to end regular trade relations with Russia in a move that would allow the U.S. to sharply raise tariffs on Russian goods entering the country.
The bill, passed 424-8, would end what’s known as “permanent normal trade relations” for Russia, putting it in a category with pariah states North Korea and Cuba. The legislation, supported by President Joe Biden, would allow the U.S. to hit Russia with significantly higher tariffs than those it applies to other World Trade Organization members. The WTO has a core principle of treating all members equally.
Next step is for the Senate to consider the legislation, and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday morning that body will quickly pass the bill, sending it to Biden to sign. The bill passed the House via a fast-track procedure used for measures that have broad support. Schumer highlighted that both parties are united in sending a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The bill also applies Belarus, which has hosted the Russian troops invading Ukraine.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-17/house-votes-to-end-russia-s-favored-trade-status-senate-next
The bill, passed 424-8, would end what’s known as “permanent normal trade relations” for Russia, putting it in a category with pariah states North Korea and Cuba. The legislation, supported by President Joe Biden, would allow the U.S. to hit Russia with significantly higher tariffs than those it applies to other World Trade Organization members. The WTO has a core principle of treating all members equally.
Next step is for the Senate to consider the legislation, and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday morning that body will quickly pass the bill, sending it to Biden to sign. The bill passed the House via a fast-track procedure used for measures that have broad support. Schumer highlighted that both parties are united in sending a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The bill also applies Belarus, which has hosted the Russian troops invading Ukraine.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-17/house-votes-to-end-russia-s-favored-trade-status-senate-next
Of course it is! So here’s the thing that’s at stake is that we’re this close to suspending trade completely with Russia over this war. But it’s not over. And it’s going to get worse. But what would suspending energy trade do to Mother Russia? Well it’s complicated. Too complicated for our crappy little show to explain. But the bottom line is simple that Russia needs to be punished for what they have done and Putin needs to be dragged before the Hague to explain his actions and meet his fate. And this is going to get way worse before it gets better.
A bill to ban Russian energy imports and review that country's status at the World Trade Organization has excluded a proposal to revoke its permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status, according to the text of the bill slated for a U.S. House of Representatives vote later on Wednesday.
Revoking Russia's PNTR status would allow Washington to raise tariffs on Russian imports above levels pledged to all World Trade Organization members. The move had been proposed on Monday by the bipartisan leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee as a way to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. read more
But the text of the "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act," released early on Wednesday, includes no reference to PNTR or tariffs beyond a ban on Russian energy imports.
Instead, it directs the U.S. Trade Representative to "use the voice and influence of the United States at the WTO to –
https://www.reuters.com/business/us-russian-energy-import-bill-stops-short-revoking-trade-status-2022-03-09/
Revoking Russia's PNTR status would allow Washington to raise tariffs on Russian imports above levels pledged to all World Trade Organization members. The move had been proposed on Monday by the bipartisan leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee as a way to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. read more
But the text of the "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act," released early on Wednesday, includes no reference to PNTR or tariffs beyond a ban on Russian energy imports.
Instead, it directs the U.S. Trade Representative to "use the voice and influence of the United States at the WTO to –
https://www.reuters.com/business/us-russian-energy-import-bill-stops-short-revoking-trade-status-2022-03-09/
?
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[font size="8"]The GQP
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One thing I’ve learned about the GOP in all the years that we’ve been doing this is that they just cannot let shit go. Of course that’s what happens when the information wing of your party is controlled by a deranged cult that doesn’t like free thought or free expression. No matter how many times you tell them they’re wrong. It’s why they held hearing after hearing on Benghazi. And every other scandal that they’ve made up when they can’t win elections because they are completely batshit crazy! Last week, you might have seen theories about Hunter Biden’s laptop trending on Twitter. So why does the Q-ult wing of the GOP continue to target Hunter Biden even though time and time again they are proven wrong? Well, as a former president once said – “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me… you won’t get fooled again.” And that’s exactly what the GQP is doing – they are getting fooled, and then they are getting fooled again!
Following President Biden's State of the Union address on Tuesday night, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who heckled the president midway through his speech, baselessly claimed that Biden has been "compromised" by Russia because the Kremlin allegedly has access to the laptop of the president's son, Hunter Biden.
"The president of the United States is totally compromised because every world leader has contents of Hunter Biden's laptop and much more to blackmail him," Greene said in her long-winded response to the president's speech on behalf of the so-called America First right-wing movement.
Greene also called Biden a "globalist" who is protecting "anyone, anywhere that has blackmail evidence on his sexually deviant, drug-addled, deadbeat-dad, pathetic, sorry, embarrassing excuse of a son."
Greene added that all the president "cares about is protecting Hunter Biden and he will not protect any of us. This is why I have introduced four articles of impeachment on Joe Biden." (Those articles have been almost completely ignored, including by her fellow House Republicans.)
https://www.salon.com/2022/03/03/marjorie-taylor-greene-claims-biden-is-compromised-by-over-hunter-bidens-laptop/
"The president of the United States is totally compromised because every world leader has contents of Hunter Biden's laptop and much more to blackmail him," Greene said in her long-winded response to the president's speech on behalf of the so-called America First right-wing movement.
Greene also called Biden a "globalist" who is protecting "anyone, anywhere that has blackmail evidence on his sexually deviant, drug-addled, deadbeat-dad, pathetic, sorry, embarrassing excuse of a son."
Greene added that all the president "cares about is protecting Hunter Biden and he will not protect any of us. This is why I have introduced four articles of impeachment on Joe Biden." (Those articles have been almost completely ignored, including by her fellow House Republicans.)
https://www.salon.com/2022/03/03/marjorie-taylor-greene-claims-biden-is-compromised-by-over-hunter-bidens-laptop/
First off, shut up Marjorie. Second, honestly I wouldn’t doubt that Russian hackers can access anything because they pretty much can. Third, shut up, Marjorie. So what’s the deal with Hunter Biden’s laptop – is it something that is too big to ignore or is it just the work of batshit crazy conspiracy theorists who live in make believe land? Well the thing is we can talk all we want about Hunter’s laptop, but what about Jared and Ivanka making $640 million while Trump was president? Well this “investigation” into Hunter’s laptop is the Benghazi of Fast & Furiouses. They just fling poop against the wall and hope that something sticks.
A federal court in Florida has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed against Twitter by the Delaware computer repairman who briefly captured national attention during the Hunter Biden laptop story. The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be filed again, and the plaintiff was ordered to pay Twitter’s attorneys’ fees.
John Paul Mac Isaac sued the technology giant (and a wholly-owned subsidiary) in February. He argued that Twitter’s decision to lock The New York Post‘s account while Post staffers “attempted to post and disseminate its exposé [about the lurid contents of the laptop] on the social media platform” was akin to calling him a hacker because Twitter cited its rationale for the time-limited ban as a violation of Twitter’s rules against “distribution of hacked material.”
“Further actions taken by Defendant Twitter in response to the NY Posts’s story included limiting the distribution of the story by others on its social media platform pursuant to the same policy thereby spreading the belief among its users, including Florida resident users, that the Plaintiffs is a hacker,” the lawsuit, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleged.
In addition to those banning and blocking actions, Twitter issued a series of high-profile tweets about its decision to limit access to the Post‘s Biden laptop article–which was based on interactions Mac Isaac had with Rudy Giuliani’s then-attorney Robert Costello.
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/judge-dismisses-hunter-biden-laptop-guys-defamation-lawsuit-with-prejudice-forces-him-to-pay-twitters-attorneys-fees-under-anti-slapp-law/
John Paul Mac Isaac sued the technology giant (and a wholly-owned subsidiary) in February. He argued that Twitter’s decision to lock The New York Post‘s account while Post staffers “attempted to post and disseminate its exposé [about the lurid contents of the laptop] on the social media platform” was akin to calling him a hacker because Twitter cited its rationale for the time-limited ban as a violation of Twitter’s rules against “distribution of hacked material.”
“Further actions taken by Defendant Twitter in response to the NY Posts’s story included limiting the distribution of the story by others on its social media platform pursuant to the same policy thereby spreading the belief among its users, including Florida resident users, that the Plaintiffs is a hacker,” the lawsuit, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleged.
In addition to those banning and blocking actions, Twitter issued a series of high-profile tweets about its decision to limit access to the Post‘s Biden laptop article–which was based on interactions Mac Isaac had with Rudy Giuliani’s then-attorney Robert Costello.
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/judge-dismisses-hunter-biden-laptop-guys-defamation-lawsuit-with-prejudice-forces-him-to-pay-twitters-attorneys-fees-under-anti-slapp-law/
Oh this is too damn good! Let me get this straight – the people attempting to uncover “shocking” information about Hunter’s laptop got destroyed in the lawsuit and now have to pay Twitter for defamation fees resulting from this failed lawsuit! This is too damn good! You really can’t make this stuff up, folks! And speaking of Hunter’s laptop, what about the guy who originated this insane conspiracy theory – Lev Parnas? Remember that douche? What’s he up to? Well you can imagine his involvement in this story is getting weirder and weirder!
Back on January 21, Special Master Barbara Jones reported on the status of her privilege review of Rudy Giuliani’s devices. For eight of Rudy’s devices, she had turned over over 27,000 items that post-dated January 1, 2018. For eight others, she had turned over the 3,000 items dated between December 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019.
While she had started to turn over materials as early as November, Jones turned over the balance on January 19. From there, a filter team at the FBI would have to scope the contents to make sure the investigative team only got items covered by whatever warrants the government has gotten.
The one known warrant that SDNY has covers Rudy’s efforts — assisted by Lev Parnas — to get Maria Yovanovitch fired in 2019. Those charges were included on the original October 2019 indictment against Parnas, but removed when the charges against him were superseded in September 2020.
If DOJ is going to charge Rudy for ousting Yovanovitch at the behest of Yuri Lutsenko and others, they are probably preparing to do so now.
Which makes it interesting that yesterday, Parnas asked for a change of plea hearing on the remaining already-charged count for which he still has to stand trial.
https://www.emptywheel.net/2022/03/11/now-that-doj-has-rudy-giulianis-phone-contents-lev-parnas-prepares-to-plead/
While she had started to turn over materials as early as November, Jones turned over the balance on January 19. From there, a filter team at the FBI would have to scope the contents to make sure the investigative team only got items covered by whatever warrants the government has gotten.
The one known warrant that SDNY has covers Rudy’s efforts — assisted by Lev Parnas — to get Maria Yovanovitch fired in 2019. Those charges were included on the original October 2019 indictment against Parnas, but removed when the charges against him were superseded in September 2020.
If DOJ is going to charge Rudy for ousting Yovanovitch at the behest of Yuri Lutsenko and others, they are probably preparing to do so now.
Which makes it interesting that yesterday, Parnas asked for a change of plea hearing on the remaining already-charged count for which he still has to stand trial.
https://www.emptywheel.net/2022/03/11/now-that-doj-has-rudy-giulianis-phone-contents-lev-parnas-prepares-to-plead/
Seriously, these people want to run the country? I wouldn’t trust this group of idiots to run a 7-11! I mean it’s like they can’t even keep their conspiracy theories straight! And come on, would you trust anything that Rudy Giuliani or Steve Bannon is involved in? I know I wouldn’t! Here’s the thing – we make fun of these idiots and they absolutely deserve every bit of shit thrown at them, but this could be a preview of where e are headed if they somehow manage to win 2024. So be warned, think that Benghazi was bad? You ain’t seen nothing yet! Seriously, Trump gets off the hook but Biden’s son gets nailed for this? WTF?
The Arkansas woman who had a child by Hunter Biden out of wedlock recently testified to a federal grand jury in Delaware as part of a criminal tax probe of the son of President Joe Biden, her lawyer confirmed Thursday.
Clint Lancaster, the attorney for the mother, Lunden Alexis Roberts, also told CNBC that he previously handed over “a significant amount of Hunter’s financial records” to federal investigators to comply with a subpoena for those files.
Lancaster said he and Roberts were interviewed by an assistant U.S. attorney, an FBI agent and an IRS agent — “one that carries a badge and gun” — more than a year ago about Biden in Little Rock, Ark., where Lancaster practices law.
“I expect him to be indicted,” the lawyer said about Biden. “Just based on what I saw in his financial records, I would be surprised if he’s not indicted.”
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/17/hunter-biden-criminal-investigation-gets-testimony-records.html
Clint Lancaster, the attorney for the mother, Lunden Alexis Roberts, also told CNBC that he previously handed over “a significant amount of Hunter’s financial records” to federal investigators to comply with a subpoena for those files.
Lancaster said he and Roberts were interviewed by an assistant U.S. attorney, an FBI agent and an IRS agent — “one that carries a badge and gun” — more than a year ago about Biden in Little Rock, Ark., where Lancaster practices law.
“I expect him to be indicted,” the lawyer said about Biden. “Just based on what I saw in his financial records, I would be surprised if he’s not indicted.”
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/17/hunter-biden-criminal-investigation-gets-testimony-records.html
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[font size="8"]Vladimir Putin
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You know I love a good beef. And right now there’s a great one between fast food chains McDonalds and Arbys, which we won’t get to this week but we will have to explore more in detail next week. But there is another beef involving McDonalds. And that concerns Vladimir Putin’s ongoing illegal invasion and occupation of Ukraine. Look, we have been giving Russia an extremely hard time in the last few weeks, and Vladimir Putin deserves every last bit of shit that he gets for this. But what about the Russians who are against this illegal and immoral war? They’re being punished too! And how are they being punished? Because fast food is being taken away from them! But the fight between Russia and McDonalds is absolutely bizarre. And like most things the further you go down the rabbit hole, the weirder it gets. So here’s the latest on the bizarre fight to keep the Russian people enjoying their Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets.
McDonald’s superfans have gone as far as chaining themselves to the doors of restaurants to protest against the global food chain from closing shop in Russia but now they won’t have to go to such extreme measures for their burger fix. A fast-food franchise called Uncle Vanya has approached the Russian Federation to trademark a logo of a new franchise that’s set to replace McDonald’s in Russia.
The move comes just three days after McDonald’s announced it would be closing more than 800 of its restaurants in Russia indefinitely.
“The conflict in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Europe has caused unspeakable suffering to innocent people. Our number one priority from the start of this crisis has been – and will remain – our people,” says CEO Chris Kempczinski.
Following the store closures, the Russian government has renamed all the previously McDonald’s branded restaurants as Uncle Vanya. The logo is virtually identical to the McDonald’s logo, the only difference is that the golden arch is turned on its side so it resembles a B instead of an M.
https://www.news24.com/you/news/international/fall-of-the-golden-arches-russias-surprising-response-to-mcdonalds-closure-20220322
The move comes just three days after McDonald’s announced it would be closing more than 800 of its restaurants in Russia indefinitely.
“The conflict in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Europe has caused unspeakable suffering to innocent people. Our number one priority from the start of this crisis has been – and will remain – our people,” says CEO Chris Kempczinski.
Following the store closures, the Russian government has renamed all the previously McDonald’s branded restaurants as Uncle Vanya. The logo is virtually identical to the McDonald’s logo, the only difference is that the golden arch is turned on its side so it resembles a B instead of an M.
https://www.news24.com/you/news/international/fall-of-the-golden-arches-russias-surprising-response-to-mcdonalds-closure-20220322
Excuse me a minute! That’s real by the way – they’re keeping the lights on at all the McDonalds by rebranding them and turning the logo on its’ side so the M turns into a B, and the restaurants are now going to be called Uncle Vanya’s. Can we show that? And let’s also overlook the fact that Uncle Vanya is the name of a play that is currently running in London’s West End. And what makes this even weirder is that not only are the logos similar, but the chain appears to be backed and endorsed by the Russian parliament themselves!
Companies in virtually every sector have sought to distance themselves from Russia after Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine, yet Russia has revealed a rather controversial response to the closure of McDonald's restaurants in particular.
After the fast-food chain closed a grand total of 847 restaurants in Russia, totally leaving the country from a business perspective, the Russian government has renamed all the previously McDonald's branded restaurants as 'Uncle Vania'.
The logo is virtually identical to the M of McDonald's and the name originates from a book written by Anton Chekhov.
What has been particularly controversial is the fact that the yellow M/golden arch has literally just been rotated 90 degrees, forming a B in the Cyrillic alphabet.
https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/world-news/2022/03/20/62373432e2704e99b98b4577.html
After the fast-food chain closed a grand total of 847 restaurants in Russia, totally leaving the country from a business perspective, the Russian government has renamed all the previously McDonald's branded restaurants as 'Uncle Vania'.
The logo is virtually identical to the M of McDonald's and the name originates from a book written by Anton Chekhov.
What has been particularly controversial is the fact that the yellow M/golden arch has literally just been rotated 90 degrees, forming a B in the Cyrillic alphabet.
https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/world-news/2022/03/20/62373432e2704e99b98b4577.html
At least in the Coming To America McDonalds parody they knew that it was a fake restaurant serving fake food! And come on, Russians, don’t you have much better food to eat? You have to export our American horseshit? Yeah McDonalds did do some good things for Russia. But Vladimir Putin has essentially erased all of that. And the fact that they’re resorting to a much jankier, low rent version of an actual McDonalds is making things worse!
Multiple McDonald's restaurants remain open in Russia, despite the company officially shutting all locations throughout the country in response to President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
McDonald's Corporation announced on March 8 that it would temporarily close all 847 of its restaurants in Russia—nearly two weeks after the country's forces invaded Ukraine. Chris Kempczinski, chief executive of McDonald's, said the company "cannot ignore the needless human suffering unfolding in Ukraine."
McDonald's Russia also issued a statement on March 11 saying that it would temporarily suspend services in the country from March 14 "due to operational, technical and logistical difficulties."
However, the fast-food chain still appears to be operating in a number of locations, according to reports.
https://www.newsweek.com/mcdonalds-russia-restaurants-remain-open-despite-suspension-moscow-saint-petersburg-siberia-1689382
McDonald's Corporation announced on March 8 that it would temporarily close all 847 of its restaurants in Russia—nearly two weeks after the country's forces invaded Ukraine. Chris Kempczinski, chief executive of McDonald's, said the company "cannot ignore the needless human suffering unfolding in Ukraine."
McDonald's Russia also issued a statement on March 11 saying that it would temporarily suspend services in the country from March 14 "due to operational, technical and logistical difficulties."
However, the fast-food chain still appears to be operating in a number of locations, according to reports.
https://www.newsweek.com/mcdonalds-russia-restaurants-remain-open-despite-suspension-moscow-saint-petersburg-siberia-1689382
Ba da da da da…. I’m nyet loving it! Thank you good night everybody! I’m just kidding, we still have an hour left and my hosts would hate it if I bailed out early. But yeah get the Russian people some Happy Meals ASAP! Even Vladdy could use one! Maybe a cheap plastic toy will cheer him up! So while the Russian government scrambles to come up with their own janky alternatives to actual things that you and I take for granted, like McDonalds, well it’s going to get weird.
Seeking to end the human suffering caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States and many other nations have imposed strict economic sanctions on Russia. For the same reason, many private companies—including Apple, Coca-Cola, Goldman Sachs, Ikea, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Porsche, and Toyota—have left or sharply downsized their business operations in Russia. [1]
Reacting to this economic pressure, Russia is threatening the intellectual property rights of businesses associated with the sanctioning countries. For example, on March 6, 2022, the Kremlin issued a decree that essentially grants a no-cost license to steal patents held by owners in “unfriendly” countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. [2] While the decree only mentions patents explicitly, Russian courts have already used it to undermine copyright and trademark rights.
The beloved British children’s television character Peppa Pig is perhaps the most surprising target of Russia’s attack on intellectual property rights. Peppa Pig is produced by Entertainment One, located in the United Kingdom. In 2019, American toy giant Hasbro acquired Entertainment One in a massive $3.8 billion deal. [3]
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/putin-v-peppa-pig-how-russia-s-war-in-2435822/
Reacting to this economic pressure, Russia is threatening the intellectual property rights of businesses associated with the sanctioning countries. For example, on March 6, 2022, the Kremlin issued a decree that essentially grants a no-cost license to steal patents held by owners in “unfriendly” countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. [2] While the decree only mentions patents explicitly, Russian courts have already used it to undermine copyright and trademark rights.
The beloved British children’s television character Peppa Pig is perhaps the most surprising target of Russia’s attack on intellectual property rights. Peppa Pig is produced by Entertainment One, located in the United Kingdom. In 2019, American toy giant Hasbro acquired Entertainment One in a massive $3.8 billion deal. [3]
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/putin-v-peppa-pig-how-russia-s-war-in-2435822/
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[font size="8"]Ginni Thomas
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So who had the wife of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas on their “America’s Next Top Incarcerated Insurrectionist” bingo card? I will say that I honestly did not, though given her MAGA credentials, this is not surprising in the least. We all know that Ginni Thomas is an advent fan and backer of the conservative grassroots campus group TP USA and has been a contributor to Ali Alexander’s Stop The Steal campaign. Don’t boo yet! It gets better! So, Mrs. Thomas, where were you on January 6th, 2021? The day of the insurrection? Were you at the rally? Because if so this presents a blatant conflict of interest for your husband and he must resign from the court. This is insane because it totally paints a picture of how compromised the GOP really is. Like we’ve gone over in past editions how the GOP is essentially the Trump Party now. They’re no longer the party of Lincoln or Reagan. They’re the party of Donald Trump and his boorish, jackass behavior and the lies and greed and corruption, and Z grade products that he stands for. Everyone involved in January 6th is suspect, from top to bottom. And the sad thing is we’ll never know the true extent of the damage that was done that day. But this is still one of the stranger stories to come out of this whole thing. Though totally believable.
Conservative activist Virginia "Ginni" Thomas said in an interview published Monday that although she attended a rally on January 6, 2021, she "played no role" in planning the events that day and that she doesn't involve her husband, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, in the political work she does pushing conservative causes.
The rare interview with conservative publication the Washington Free Beacon, comes as progressives and some legal ethics experts see a potential conflict with Thomas' activism and her husband's work on the Supreme Court.
They point specifically to a recent January order when the court -- over the dissent of Clarence Thomas -- cleared the way for the release of presidential records from the Trump White House to a congressional committee investigating the US Capitol attack.
In recent weeks, media outlets, including CNN, have run stories exploring Ginni Thomas' long term activism and calls for Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse.
"Federal recusal law says that any justice 'shall disqualify' if their impartiality might reasonably be questioned," said Gabe Roth of Fix the Court, a group seeking more transparency from Supreme Court justices.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/14/politics/ginni-thomas-interview-january-6/index.html
The rare interview with conservative publication the Washington Free Beacon, comes as progressives and some legal ethics experts see a potential conflict with Thomas' activism and her husband's work on the Supreme Court.
They point specifically to a recent January order when the court -- over the dissent of Clarence Thomas -- cleared the way for the release of presidential records from the Trump White House to a congressional committee investigating the US Capitol attack.
In recent weeks, media outlets, including CNN, have run stories exploring Ginni Thomas' long term activism and calls for Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse.
"Federal recusal law says that any justice 'shall disqualify' if their impartiality might reasonably be questioned," said Gabe Roth of Fix the Court, a group seeking more transparency from Supreme Court justices.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/14/politics/ginni-thomas-interview-january-6/index.html
That is a good question, sir! What kind of shit is that? It’s a sad statement on America that the worst president in United States history got 3 SCOTUS picks and appointed 3 partisan hacks. So does Clarence Thomas side with his wife in her batshit crazy extremism? Now what do the media outlets think about this because this is totally egregious if a sitting SCOTUS justice would side firmly with the MAGA crowd because it would compromise his decisions. January 6th was one thing, but where was Mrs. Thomas on January 5th during that infamous pre-planning meeting?
Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, wife of the supreme court justice Clarence Thomas, has admitted attending a rally which preceded the January 6 attack on the US Capitol but denied helping to plan it.
In an interview with the Washington Free Beacon, Thomas, a conservative activist who runs a political lobbying firm, said she briefly attended the rally near the White House on 6 January 2021 but left before Donald Trump addressed the crowd.
Trump used his address to tell supporters to “fight like hell” in support of his lie that his defeat by Joe Biden was the result of electoral fraud. A bipartisan Senate report said seven deaths were connected to the assault on Congress which followed.
Thomas said brief attendance at the rally was the full extent of her involvement.
“I was disappointed and frustrated that there was violence that happened following a peaceful gathering of Trump supporters on the Ellipse on 6 January,” she told the Free Beacon, a conservative site.
Investigations by the New York Times and the New Yorker have rai
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/14/ginni-thomas-wife-justice-clarence-thomas-attended-january-6-rally
In an interview with the Washington Free Beacon, Thomas, a conservative activist who runs a political lobbying firm, said she briefly attended the rally near the White House on 6 January 2021 but left before Donald Trump addressed the crowd.
Trump used his address to tell supporters to “fight like hell” in support of his lie that his defeat by Joe Biden was the result of electoral fraud. A bipartisan Senate report said seven deaths were connected to the assault on Congress which followed.
Thomas said brief attendance at the rally was the full extent of her involvement.
“I was disappointed and frustrated that there was violence that happened following a peaceful gathering of Trump supporters on the Ellipse on 6 January,” she told the Free Beacon, a conservative site.
Investigations by the New York Times and the New Yorker have rai
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/14/ginni-thomas-wife-justice-clarence-thomas-attended-january-6-rally
Peaceful gathering ! Shut up! What kind of peaceful gathering involves erecting makeshift gallows, moving weapons, using Congressional offices as bathrooms, and beating up police officers? That doesn’t add up to any peaceful gathering I’ve ever been to! Here’s the thing – conspiracy theorists have long been flaunting their ways that they can overturn the election, and none of them are true, but they all involve SCOTUS, which currently has a 6 – 3 conservative majority. But the fact that, and I can’t point this out enough, the WIFE of a sitting SCOTUS justice is involved in Stop The Steal… what the hell were they planning to do that day?
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' wife, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, had ties to organizers of the January 6, 2021, rallies in support of President Donald Trump as well as to efforts to subvert the 2020 election results, according to a New York Times Magazine report published Tuesday.
The Times revealed details about Thomas' role, which had been previously unreported. The Washington Post reported last month that Thomas shared a Facebook post on January 6 before the violence broke out. "LOVE MAGA people!!!! GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU STANDING UP OR PRAYING." she wrote.
Thomas, a longtime conservative activist, played a peacemaking role among rally organizers "so that there wouldn't be any division around January 6," Dustin Stockton, who helped organize the Ellipse rally, told The Times. The rally on the Ellipse, just south of the White House, took place shortly before a crowd of Trump supporters descended on the Capitol, clashed with law enforcement, and interrupted the 2020 election certification.
https://www.businessinsider.com/clarence-thomas-wife-ginni-linked-january-6-rally-overturn-election-2022-2
The Times revealed details about Thomas' role, which had been previously unreported. The Washington Post reported last month that Thomas shared a Facebook post on January 6 before the violence broke out. "LOVE MAGA people!!!! GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU STANDING UP OR PRAYING." she wrote.
Thomas, a longtime conservative activist, played a peacemaking role among rally organizers "so that there wouldn't be any division around January 6," Dustin Stockton, who helped organize the Ellipse rally, told The Times. The rally on the Ellipse, just south of the White House, took place shortly before a crowd of Trump supporters descended on the Capitol, clashed with law enforcement, and interrupted the 2020 election certification.
https://www.businessinsider.com/clarence-thomas-wife-ginni-linked-january-6-rally-overturn-election-2022-2
Seriously, since January 6th, I wonder what must rational dinner conversations be like at the Thomas household? Do they have any? The thing about Ginni Thomas is that the further you go down the rabbit hole on her political background the weirder it gets. And no SCOTUS spouse in American history has been more active, vocal or extreme than her. The fact that she’s involved with MAGA extremists Steve Bannon and Ali Alexander is pretty telling. Will anything come of this? We can only hope!
Jane Mayer of The New Yorker beat The New York Times to this story by a month, but they're now on the curious case of Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, all-around wingnut whackadoo, and walking, living, breathing conflict of interest. One does not idly accuse the Supreme Court of being corrupt but, seriously, come on. I’d much rather that Ginni Thomas take payoffs in plain white envelopes from oil companies and pharmaceutical firms than engage in the kind of ideological corruption in which she is plainly complicit:
The Thomases have long posed a unique quandary in Washington. Because Supreme Court justices do not want to be perceived as partisan, they tend to avoid political events and entanglements, and their spouses often keep low profiles. But the Thomases have defied such norms. Since the founding of the nation, no spouse of a sitting Supreme Court justice has been as overt a political activist as Ginni Thomas. In addition to her perch at the Council for National Policy, she founded a group called Groundswell with the support of Stephen K. Bannon, the hard-line nationalist and former Trump adviser. It holds a weekly meeting of influential conservatives, many of whom work directly on issues that have come before the court.
Ginni Thomas insists, in her council biography, that she and her husband operate in “separate professional lanes,” but those lanes in fact merge with notable frequency.
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a39174345/ginni-clarence-thomas-supreme-court-jan-6/
The Thomases have long posed a unique quandary in Washington. Because Supreme Court justices do not want to be perceived as partisan, they tend to avoid political events and entanglements, and their spouses often keep low profiles. But the Thomases have defied such norms. Since the founding of the nation, no spouse of a sitting Supreme Court justice has been as overt a political activist as Ginni Thomas. In addition to her perch at the Council for National Policy, she founded a group called Groundswell with the support of Stephen K. Bannon, the hard-line nationalist and former Trump adviser. It holds a weekly meeting of influential conservatives, many of whom work directly on issues that have come before the court.
Ginni Thomas insists, in her council biography, that she and her husband operate in “separate professional lanes,” but those lanes in fact merge with notable frequency.
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a39174345/ginni-clarence-thomas-supreme-court-jan-6/
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[font size="8"]We’re All Gonna Die: China Lockdown
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Hey everyone! Guess what? We’re all gonna die! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! WOOOOOOO. WOOO. WOO. Hey look everyone it’s been two years since COVID-19 and now that the virus is really starting to go by the way side, I know that most of us are starting to return to the same sense of normalcy that we had in 2019. But… as we reported the last time, the virus is still a threat with the dreaded BA.2 subvariant looming over us! And as we were putting together last week’s edition, China went into the kind of lockdown we haven’t seen since the beginning of the pandemic. And we’re starting to see a bit of an uptick in cases relating to the variant. But is it enough to go into end of the world panic mode again? I’d say a little from column A, a little from column B. But that said, I love it when the news says it “may be coming”. Look we’ve had enough fearmongering over the last 2 years and most of us are sick of it. Let’s take a look at what’s actually happening in China right now shall we?
China has locked down an industrial city of 9 million people overnight and reported more than 4,000 virus cases, as the nation’s “zero-Covid” strategy is confronted by an Omicron wave.
Health authorities reported 4,770 new infections across the country on Tuesday, the bulk in the north-eastern province of Jilin, as the city of Shenyang in neighbouring Liaoning province was ordered to lockdown late Monday.
China has moved fast in recent weeks to snuff out virus clusters with a pick-and-mix of hyper-local lockdowns, mass testing and citywide closures. It reported two Covid-19 deaths on Saturday, the first in over a year. More than 20,000 people have been infected in the wave of the Omicron strain, which has challenged China’s usually successful response strategies and forced authorities to make changes, including freeing up hospital beds from mild-symptom patients.
Authorities have warned of the risk posed to growth by persistent lockdowns as the country strives to balance the health crisis with the needs of the world’s second-biggest economy.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/22/china-locks-down-city-of-9-million-and-reports-4000-cases-as-omicron-tests-zero-covid-strategy
Health authorities reported 4,770 new infections across the country on Tuesday, the bulk in the north-eastern province of Jilin, as the city of Shenyang in neighbouring Liaoning province was ordered to lockdown late Monday.
China has moved fast in recent weeks to snuff out virus clusters with a pick-and-mix of hyper-local lockdowns, mass testing and citywide closures. It reported two Covid-19 deaths on Saturday, the first in over a year. More than 20,000 people have been infected in the wave of the Omicron strain, which has challenged China’s usually successful response strategies and forced authorities to make changes, including freeing up hospital beds from mild-symptom patients.
Authorities have warned of the risk posed to growth by persistent lockdowns as the country strives to balance the health crisis with the needs of the world’s second-biggest economy.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/22/china-locks-down-city-of-9-million-and-reports-4000-cases-as-omicron-tests-zero-covid-strategy
Calm down we’re not gonna die, just yet. So let’s compare and contrast two extremes of the pandemic so far. There’s Florida, whose response to the pandemic was “fuck it”, and then there’s China where the virus was initially discovered, whose response to the pandemic was “IT’S ALL OVER PEOPLE! WE DON’T HAVE A PRAYER!!!”. So is there a medium in between these two extremes? Again a little from column A, a little from column B. But the verdict is clear – neither China nor Florida has the correct response as to how to approach this.
The Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen ended its coronavirus lockdown Monday even as the industrial city of Changchun keeps factories closed, showing China's struggle to balance economic activity and its strict "zero-COVID" fight against the pandemic.
Shenzhen will "ensure the security and stability of industrial supply chains," a city official told reporters Sunday ahead of Monday's lifting of restrictions on movement.
Since March 14, anyone leaving the city had been required to show proof of a negative PCR test taken within the previous 24 hours. Bus and subway services were suspended, forcing companies to idle production or tell employees to work from home.
Most of those restrictions were removed on Monday. All public transportation has resumed, and business activities are returning to normal. A ban on large events is one of the few remaining curbs.
Hon Hai Precision Industry, the Taiwanese Apple assembler known as Foxconn, said Monday that it had "basically" resumed production in Shenzhen following a factory stoppage that started a week earlier.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/Shenzhen-emerges-from-lockdown-as-China-wavers-on-zero-COVID
Shenzhen will "ensure the security and stability of industrial supply chains," a city official told reporters Sunday ahead of Monday's lifting of restrictions on movement.
Since March 14, anyone leaving the city had been required to show proof of a negative PCR test taken within the previous 24 hours. Bus and subway services were suspended, forcing companies to idle production or tell employees to work from home.
Most of those restrictions were removed on Monday. All public transportation has resumed, and business activities are returning to normal. A ban on large events is one of the few remaining curbs.
Hon Hai Precision Industry, the Taiwanese Apple assembler known as Foxconn, said Monday that it had "basically" resumed production in Shenzhen following a factory stoppage that started a week earlier.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/Shenzhen-emerges-from-lockdown-as-China-wavers-on-zero-COVID
No, not convenient, sir! You know say what you want about China, most people there are actually complying with the restrictions vs the dipshits in the Freedom Convoy here. But how much longer is this going to be a reality? Can China recover from this? Probably. But if the entire world is going to recover from this nightmare pandemic and we can really get the global supply chain moving again, there’s got to be a balance between China and Florida.
For the last two years, China's strict measures to contain Covid, enforced by swift lockdowns and aggressive restrictions, seemed to be largely paying off.
As the rest of the world grappled with surges in cases and deaths in 2020, China's President Xi Jinping declared the country's handling of the pandemic through lockdowns and widespread testing a success - and touted its methods as being the most effective in dealing with the virus.
The zero-Covid model was therefore strictly enforced both in mainland China and Hong Kong.
But things soon began to change.
The first signs of strain on the much-vaunted zero-Covid model in China began to appear when authorities were forced to impose increasingly large lockdowns triggered by the more infectious Delta variant in 2021. These started to raise questions about how long China could maintain this policy.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-60762032
As the rest of the world grappled with surges in cases and deaths in 2020, China's President Xi Jinping declared the country's handling of the pandemic through lockdowns and widespread testing a success - and touted its methods as being the most effective in dealing with the virus.
The zero-Covid model was therefore strictly enforced both in mainland China and Hong Kong.
But things soon began to change.
The first signs of strain on the much-vaunted zero-Covid model in China began to appear when authorities were forced to impose increasingly large lockdowns triggered by the more infectious Delta variant in 2021. These started to raise questions about how long China could maintain this policy.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-60762032
Yeah probably. So Zero COVID doesn’t work. And pretending that the pandemic doesn’t exist doesn’t work either. The thing is we can’t stop the spread of this thing – it will keep spreading until it affects everyone on the planet. But the thing is we can do what we can when we can to prevent this from having further disruptions to the global supply chain. As you can see it’s already affecting things we need every day like cars and gas. But we can and eventually will stop COVID from being a dire emergency which is affecting all of us.
“When France sneezes, the rest of Europe catches a cold,” former Austrian Chancellor Klemens von Metternich famously concluded. In recent days, quite a few people in the Chinese manufacturing hubs of Shenzhen and Dongguan have been sneezing. More accurately, despite China’s zero-tolerance COVID-19 policy, quite a few of them have been catching COVID-19. China is in the middle of its biggest COVID-19 outbreak since the virus began its calamitous course in Wuhan, China, two years ago. That means lots of closed factories—and disrupted supply chains. It should also serve as a reminder to consumers around the world that supply chains can be disrupted by pandemics, wars, and novel disasters.
In recent years, consumers around the world discovered the manufacturing metropolis of Shenzhen—and its smaller neighbor Dongguan. In the past 30 years, the two formerly sleepy towns, initially helped by their proximity to Hong Kong, turned themselves into global industrial centers. In 1985, Dongguan had a population of 237,000 people while Shenzhen was home to 175,000 people. By 2015, Dongguan had 7.4 million residents, and Shenzhen had 10.7 million. Both cities had gained lots of corporate residents too: international companies from Coca-Cola to Philips and countless Chinese subcontractors.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/03/22/shenzhen-covid-china-lockdown-supply-chains/
In recent years, consumers around the world discovered the manufacturing metropolis of Shenzhen—and its smaller neighbor Dongguan. In the past 30 years, the two formerly sleepy towns, initially helped by their proximity to Hong Kong, turned themselves into global industrial centers. In 1985, Dongguan had a population of 237,000 people while Shenzhen was home to 175,000 people. By 2015, Dongguan had 7.4 million residents, and Shenzhen had 10.7 million. Both cities had gained lots of corporate residents too: international companies from Coca-Cola to Philips and countless Chinese subcontractors.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/03/22/shenzhen-covid-china-lockdown-supply-chains/
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[font size="8"]Holy Shit: Christian Nationalism Part II
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Gather around my fair brothers and sisters! It’s time to take a seat in the pew and pass the collection plate, for the Holy Church Of The Top 10 has convened and it’s time to remind you that the holiest among us are the most full of:
My fair congregation! I’ve been around this planet of ours and if there’s one thing that I have seen in my travels, it’s that there’s three things that you should never mix. And that’s toxic politics, toxic patriotism, and toxic religion. Because when you mix all of those things together you get a cocktail that is sure to blow up anything that it touches! And the reason why we’re paying so much attention to this issue lately is because it’s becoming a threat. If you’ve seen nationalist takeovers in countries like Belarus and Myanmar, don’t think that it couldn’t happen here. Sure, we may have the largest military in the entire world, but it’s entirely possible. Hell, anything is possible these days. Didn’t think that the most depraved, foul, and vile human being in the country would garner enough actual Christians to rise to the highest office in the land, now did you? Of course you didn’t! Because this brand of nationalism is not what the good LAWRD JAYSUS would want now is it?
Documentation on Christian nationalism produced by Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty has drawn the attention of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, a group that includes Democratic House members Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Zoe Lofgren of California and Steve Cohen of Tennessee.
The group hosted a March 17 briefing called “God is On Our Side: White Christian Nationalism and the Capitol Insurrection,” focused on the 66-page report about the role of Christian nationalism in the Capitol attack. It was produced by BJC in cooperation with the Freedom from Religion Foundation and previously was reported by BNG.
The BJC report and the caucus event drew the attention of the Washington Post, where religion writer Michelle Boorstein wrote about the issue.
“Concern about rising radicalism among a segment of white American Christians led this week to what some religious extremism experts call the biggest Congress-related event on the topic in years,” Boorstein wrote.
According to Boorstein, the virtual briefing was not open to the public but included more than 50 members of Congress, staff and experts.
https://baptistnews.com/article/bjc-report-on-christian-nationalism-draws-congressional-notice/
The group hosted a March 17 briefing called “God is On Our Side: White Christian Nationalism and the Capitol Insurrection,” focused on the 66-page report about the role of Christian nationalism in the Capitol attack. It was produced by BJC in cooperation with the Freedom from Religion Foundation and previously was reported by BNG.
The BJC report and the caucus event drew the attention of the Washington Post, where religion writer Michelle Boorstein wrote about the issue.
“Concern about rising radicalism among a segment of white American Christians led this week to what some religious extremism experts call the biggest Congress-related event on the topic in years,” Boorstein wrote.
According to Boorstein, the virtual briefing was not open to the public but included more than 50 members of Congress, staff and experts.
https://baptistnews.com/article/bjc-report-on-christian-nationalism-draws-congressional-notice/
Now… now listen up here. There’s a lot to extrapolate from this! The people who support the unholy, ungodly Dark One are actually convinced that GAWD is on their side! And when I refer to the “Dark One”, I of course speak of a man so foul, so depraved and disgusting that his name dare NOT be spoken in my church! And this is some truly scary shit here. Look, I don’t like reporting on this more than you don’t want to hear it, but as long as these far right religious wingnuts are a threat we got to talk about it, because you don’t want the US to end up like Russia do you?
The January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was a hodgepodge of conflicting symbols.
The protestors erected a large wooden cross and gallows. Some waved Rebel battle flags; others the Stars and Stripes. Some carried signs declaring that “Jesus Saves” while others wore sweatshirts bearing white supremacist slogans. The men who invaded the Senate chamber — some clad in body armor, one wearing a horned headdress — invoked Christ’s name as they bowed heads and prayed.
To many, the clashing imagery was one of many bewildering and unsettling aspects of that chaotic day. To Yale sociologist Philip Gorski, the scene was instantly recognizable as an extreme form of white Christian nationalism.
“The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy (Oxford University Press),” a new book Gorski coauthored with sociologist Samuel L. Perry of the University of Oklahoma, is a primer that relies on historical sources and survey data to explain the ideology, trace its origins and history, and describe the threat it poses to the United States.
Gorski, professor of sociology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, recently spoke with Yale News about the roots of today’s white Christian nationalism and the threat it poses to democracy. The interview has been edited and condensed.
https://news.yale.edu/2022/03/15/yale-sociologist-phil-gorski-threat-white-christian-nationalism
The protestors erected a large wooden cross and gallows. Some waved Rebel battle flags; others the Stars and Stripes. Some carried signs declaring that “Jesus Saves” while others wore sweatshirts bearing white supremacist slogans. The men who invaded the Senate chamber — some clad in body armor, one wearing a horned headdress — invoked Christ’s name as they bowed heads and prayed.
To many, the clashing imagery was one of many bewildering and unsettling aspects of that chaotic day. To Yale sociologist Philip Gorski, the scene was instantly recognizable as an extreme form of white Christian nationalism.
“The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy (Oxford University Press),” a new book Gorski coauthored with sociologist Samuel L. Perry of the University of Oklahoma, is a primer that relies on historical sources and survey data to explain the ideology, trace its origins and history, and describe the threat it poses to the United States.
Gorski, professor of sociology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, recently spoke with Yale News about the roots of today’s white Christian nationalism and the threat it poses to democracy. The interview has been edited and condensed.
https://news.yale.edu/2022/03/15/yale-sociologist-phil-gorski-threat-white-christian-nationalism
So that’s the take from an actual political science professor who has studied this sort of thing! But now what do lawmakers think about this increasingly alarming trend? It’s no secret that people are becoming even more isolated and radicalized thanks to social media platforms like Facebook. When you live in a bubble, you can go pretty crazy pretty quickly. And the fact that we are coming out of a pandemic and into a war is only making things worse. Now what does this mean for the United States? Well it could have some very dire consequences if left unchecked.
California Democratic Representative Jared Huffman, who said he first discussed the role of Christian nationalism and the insurrection with some of the panelists last summer, hosted the meeting for a slate of lawmakers that included Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin, a co-founder of the Freethought Caucus who also serves on the House Select Committee investigating the attack.
Raskin opened the virtual briefing by noting that while a variety of ideologies were represented among insurrectionists, Christian nationalism “clearly figured highly in the events of the day,” and was “a unifying theme for many of the factions that assembled on January 6".
His words were echoed by an array of panelists who presented findings from a recent report they helped author with backing from the Freedom from Religion Foundation and the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Among other things, the 66-page study documents in painstaking detail the prevalence of Christian nationalist symbols and rhetoric at the insurrection and a series of events that led up to the storming of the Capitol.
Amanda Tyler, head of the BJC, told lawmakers the report faced “defensive pushback” from some conservative Christians after it was unveiled last month but has been embraced by Christians who see opposing Christian nationalism as a religious call.
https://www.sightmagazine.com.au/news/24200-in-the-us-scholars-activists-brief-lawmakers-on-role-of-christian-nationalism-at-insurrection
Raskin opened the virtual briefing by noting that while a variety of ideologies were represented among insurrectionists, Christian nationalism “clearly figured highly in the events of the day,” and was “a unifying theme for many of the factions that assembled on January 6".
His words were echoed by an array of panelists who presented findings from a recent report they helped author with backing from the Freedom from Religion Foundation and the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Among other things, the 66-page study documents in painstaking detail the prevalence of Christian nationalist symbols and rhetoric at the insurrection and a series of events that led up to the storming of the Capitol.
Amanda Tyler, head of the BJC, told lawmakers the report faced “defensive pushback” from some conservative Christians after it was unveiled last month but has been embraced by Christians who see opposing Christian nationalism as a religious call.
https://www.sightmagazine.com.au/news/24200-in-the-us-scholars-activists-brief-lawmakers-on-role-of-christian-nationalism-at-insurrection
Now you might think that I’m harping on US Christian nationalists. That I can assure you, my fair congregation, that I am not! Because as we have said from the very beginning that this isn’t a uniquely American problem. No, it’s a global problem that is stemming far and wide thanks to having an online presence! So what’s to stop these people from rising up and taking over? Well I can assure you that the nationalist revolution won’t happen overnight. It will happen through microvoting and electing – watch these people as they run for small offices before seeing the bigger picture!
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Monument to Minin and Pozharsky and St Basil's cathedral on Red Square, Moscow, Russia. (123rf.com)
The religious angle of the war in Ukraine has been largely ignored by the generals, the journalists and the politicians. But the pastors, bishops and theologians of the Christian community around the world, especially the Orthodox, have found their voice.
This week they issued “A Declaration on the ‘Russian World’ (Russkii Mir) Teaching.” With just a few substitutions of titles and vocabulary, it could have been titled “A Declaration on Christian Nationalism in Russia, the United States, and Around the World.”
It asserts that “the senior hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church has refused to acknowledge this invasion, issuing instead vague statements about the necessity for peace in light of ‘events’ and ‘hostilities’ in Ukraine, while emphasizing the fraternal nature of the Ukrainian and Russian peoples as part of ‘Holy Rus,’” blaming the hostilities on the evil “West,” and even directing their communities to pray in ways that actively encourage hostility.
The declaration continues: “The support of many of the hierarchy of the Moscow Patriarchate for President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine is rooted in a form of Orthodox ethno-phyletist religious fundamentalism, totalitarian in character, called Russkii mir or the Russian world, a false teaching which is attracting many in the Orthodox Church and has even been taken up by the Far Right and Catholic and Protestant fundamentalists.”
https://baptistnews.com/article/christian-nationalism-in-russia/
Monument to Minin and Pozharsky and St Basil's cathedral on Red Square, Moscow, Russia. (123rf.com)
The religious angle of the war in Ukraine has been largely ignored by the generals, the journalists and the politicians. But the pastors, bishops and theologians of the Christian community around the world, especially the Orthodox, have found their voice.
This week they issued “A Declaration on the ‘Russian World’ (Russkii Mir) Teaching.” With just a few substitutions of titles and vocabulary, it could have been titled “A Declaration on Christian Nationalism in Russia, the United States, and Around the World.”
It asserts that “the senior hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church has refused to acknowledge this invasion, issuing instead vague statements about the necessity for peace in light of ‘events’ and ‘hostilities’ in Ukraine, while emphasizing the fraternal nature of the Ukrainian and Russian peoples as part of ‘Holy Rus,’” blaming the hostilities on the evil “West,” and even directing their communities to pray in ways that actively encourage hostility.
The declaration continues: “The support of many of the hierarchy of the Moscow Patriarchate for President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine is rooted in a form of Orthodox ethno-phyletist religious fundamentalism, totalitarian in character, called Russkii mir or the Russian world, a false teaching which is attracting many in the Orthodox Church and has even been taken up by the Far Right and Catholic and Protestant fundamentalists.”
https://baptistnews.com/article/christian-nationalism-in-russia/
We do have a prayer! Just stop these people from holding office! The sooner we drive them out, the better it will be for all of us! Mass has ended, may you go in peace! That’s it this week for:
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[font size="8"]Beating A Dead Horse: Disney Vs Don’t Say Gay
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We can all agree that Florida governor Ron DeSantis is a raging MAGA douchebag who should probably not be anywhere near a public office, am I right? If you disagree with that, then the door is that way everybody! Well I know someone who disagrees with that statement and that is one of Florida’s largest employers, and one of the largest employers of LGBT Americans in the country, Disney. So why is Disney in the center of a huge controversy right now? And since we’ve been doing this segment, it’s one of the more bizarre controversies we’ve ever seen. Not only that, it’s the ultimate circular firing squad argument on top of that! And really calling this “nonsense” is putting it lightly. This is just like the Matrix – the more you go down the rabbit hole, the weirder it gets. Well in order to fully understand this controversy you have to start at the beginning. So here’s what Disney CEO Bob Chapek said about the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Over the past several decades, the Walt Disney Company, the corporate goliath whose holdings extend beyond its eponymous brands to almost every corner of the entertainment industry, has managed to keep a relatively low profile in Florida state politics, quietly lobbying and funneling money toward business-friendly politicians on both sides of the aisle. But now, with Florida on the precipice of enacting one of the most regressive pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in recent history, critics called out Disney for enabling the measure's passage, demanding that the company speak out before Governor Ron DeSantis signs it into law.
The backlash started last week with the Florida Senate's passage of H.B. 1557, colloquially dubbed by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. The measure prohibits teachers from "discussion" and "instruction" on "sexual orientation or gender identity," a broad mandate that can suppress even mentions of same-sex parents when discussing the basics of family life. It also establishes a cause of action for parents to sue — and collect compensation from — school districts whose employees break the law, ostensibly offloading the responsibility of enforcement to aggrieved parents.
During the lead-up to H.B. 1557's passage, critics of the bill called on Disney to condemn the measure in hopes that the company's immense business presence in the state could be used to sway the legislature. And yet the company stayed mum on the topic for several days, with CEO Bob Chapek claiming he didn't want Disney to "become a political football in any debate."
https://www.salon.com/2022/03/19/disney-desantis-and-the-dont-say-gay-bill-a-florida-showdown-over-money-power-and-equality/
The backlash started last week with the Florida Senate's passage of H.B. 1557, colloquially dubbed by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. The measure prohibits teachers from "discussion" and "instruction" on "sexual orientation or gender identity," a broad mandate that can suppress even mentions of same-sex parents when discussing the basics of family life. It also establishes a cause of action for parents to sue — and collect compensation from — school districts whose employees break the law, ostensibly offloading the responsibility of enforcement to aggrieved parents.
During the lead-up to H.B. 1557's passage, critics of the bill called on Disney to condemn the measure in hopes that the company's immense business presence in the state could be used to sway the legislature. And yet the company stayed mum on the topic for several days, with CEO Bob Chapek claiming he didn't want Disney to "become a political football in any debate."
https://www.salon.com/2022/03/19/disney-desantis-and-the-dont-say-gay-bill-a-florida-showdown-over-money-power-and-equality/
OK Bob, you might want to try that thing called “reading the room”. The LGBT community and the sane part of America is obviously disgusted at this bill. So now how are Disney employees reacting to this horrid piece of legislation? Well they’re planning a walkout of course! And you know what? We here at the Top 10 support our LGBT brothers and sisters so we totally get where they are coming from. But also too we want to point out that this is why elections have consequences! You elect a Fox / Q-ult brainwashed idiot like Ron DeSantis and this is what you’re going to get!
LGBTQ workers and employee allies at The Walt Disney Company are planning to stage a walkout in protest of Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill, dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill by opponents.
Some employees have been walking out each day since Tuesday, March 15, from 3 to 3:15 p.m. On Tuesday, March 22, protesters are planning a full-length walkout from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
"The Walt Disney Company’s (TWDC) LGBTQIA+ community and their allies are determined to take a stand against TWDC’s apathy in the face of the bigoted 'Don’t Say Gay' bill put forth by the FL state legislature," the protest's website states.
"The recent statements and lack of action by TWDC leadership regarding the 'Don’t Say Gay' bill have utterly failed to match the magnitude of the threat to LGBTQIA+ safety represented by this legislation," the website says.
Opponents of the bill say it would shame and silence LGBTQ youth and could have major negative consequences on their mental health.
The bill prohibits instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten to third grade and would limit or prohibit what classrooms can teach about sexual orientation and gender identity in other grades unless they are “age appropriate or developmentally appropriate,” a threshold criticized as vague by the bill’s opponents. It would also allow parents to sue schools that engage in these topics.
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/disney-employees-plan-walkout-demand-action-dont-gay/story?id=83585126
Some employees have been walking out each day since Tuesday, March 15, from 3 to 3:15 p.m. On Tuesday, March 22, protesters are planning a full-length walkout from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
"The Walt Disney Company’s (TWDC) LGBTQIA+ community and their allies are determined to take a stand against TWDC’s apathy in the face of the bigoted 'Don’t Say Gay' bill put forth by the FL state legislature," the protest's website states.
"The recent statements and lack of action by TWDC leadership regarding the 'Don’t Say Gay' bill have utterly failed to match the magnitude of the threat to LGBTQIA+ safety represented by this legislation," the website says.
Opponents of the bill say it would shame and silence LGBTQ youth and could have major negative consequences on their mental health.
The bill prohibits instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten to third grade and would limit or prohibit what classrooms can teach about sexual orientation and gender identity in other grades unless they are “age appropriate or developmentally appropriate,” a threshold criticized as vague by the bill’s opponents. It would also allow parents to sue schools that engage in these topics.
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/disney-employees-plan-walkout-demand-action-dont-gay/story?id=83585126
OK people! Stop your rabbling! So of course the other side to this story is that DeSantis himself will sign the bill into law. But he’s blaming Disney for the uproar! That’s right – Florida governor himself is too chicken shit to be able to blame his own party – who have also been brainwashed by Fox News and the Q-ult – for this horrible piece of legislation that completely goes against the rights of free thought and free expression that are written into the US Constitution.
As Disney employees staged a walkout Tuesday to protest legislation dubbed by critics the "Don't Say Gay" bill, Gov. Ron DeSantis took aim at the bill's opponents, saying they are supporting sexual instruction for young kids.
“Understand, if you are out protesting this bill you are by definition putting yourself in favor of injecting sexual instruction to 5-, 6- and 7-year-old kids," DeSantis said during a press conference in Pasco County. "I think most people think that’s wrong. I think parents especially think that’s wrong.”
The controversial legislation states that "Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards."
LGBTQ rights organizations say the bill could discriminate against gay and transgender individuals, and cause a chilling effect against students even discussing their LGBTQ families.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/03/22/florida-gov-ron-desantis-criticizes-disney-dont-say-gay-bill/7130035001/
“Understand, if you are out protesting this bill you are by definition putting yourself in favor of injecting sexual instruction to 5-, 6- and 7-year-old kids," DeSantis said during a press conference in Pasco County. "I think most people think that’s wrong. I think parents especially think that’s wrong.”
The controversial legislation states that "Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards."
LGBTQ rights organizations say the bill could discriminate against gay and transgender individuals, and cause a chilling effect against students even discussing their LGBTQ families.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/03/22/florida-gov-ron-desantis-criticizes-disney-dont-say-gay-bill/7130035001/
Torches! Look people, if you want to stop this dehumanizing bullshit coming from the right, you know what you have to do? Vote. And vote like your damn life depends on it, because one day it just might, and that’s exactly what we are seeing now! We cannot let Fox News continue to own us, because that’s exactly what they are doing! We need to put these horrible people in their place. Because people like Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott will eventually get theirs, that is a given in this day and age!
The Walt Disney Company has now come out against Florida's Parental Rights In Education bill. The so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bill was passed by Florida's House and Senate and is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis' desk.
The bill would limit discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
In recent days, Disney employees shared their outrage on social media when the company did not denounce the proposed legislation. On Wednesday, at Disney's annual meeting with shareholders, Disney CEO Bob Chapek acknowledged their anger, saying that he knows "many are upset that we didn't speak out against the bill."
Chapek explained that Disney leaders were opposed to the bill "from the outset, but we chose not to take a public position on it because we thought we could be more effective working behind-the-scenes, engaging directly with lawmakers — on both sides of the aisle."
Now, Chapek said the company is "reassessing our approach to advocacy — including political giving in Florida and beyond."
https://www.npr.org/2022/03/08/1085130633/disney-response-florida-bill-dont-say-gay
The bill would limit discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
In recent days, Disney employees shared their outrage on social media when the company did not denounce the proposed legislation. On Wednesday, at Disney's annual meeting with shareholders, Disney CEO Bob Chapek acknowledged their anger, saying that he knows "many are upset that we didn't speak out against the bill."
Chapek explained that Disney leaders were opposed to the bill "from the outset, but we chose not to take a public position on it because we thought we could be more effective working behind-the-scenes, engaging directly with lawmakers — on both sides of the aisle."
Now, Chapek said the company is "reassessing our approach to advocacy — including political giving in Florida and beyond."
https://www.npr.org/2022/03/08/1085130633/disney-response-florida-bill-dont-say-gay
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[font size="8"]Conspiracy Corner
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Welcome back to our segment that attempts to explain the unexplainable, Conspiracy Corner! We of course are coming to you live from our underground doomsday shelter in the New Mexico badlands – undisclosed location of course! When things get too dark, people tend to turn to conspiracy theories. And things are really dark right now – we’re coming out of a worldwide pandemic into the start of World War III! And one man is at the helm – Vladimir Putin! Just let me adjust my tin foil hat here for maximum government interference – they are trying to read yours and my thoughts, after all! So with Putin’s illegal and immoral invasion and occupation of Ukraine, the conspiracy theories are flying fast and they are plentiful. Our conspiracy this week centers around pizza. And one pizza company in particular seems to be in the spotlight for reasons that are not exactly what one would call “flattering”. But then again take a look at who the owner of this chain is. That chain of course is Papa John’s Pizza. You know Papa John’s as the chain by and for white supremacists and people who are against free health care. So here’s why there’s a conspiracy theory around Papa John’s in Russia.
Papa John’s International said last week that it was suspending all of its corporate operations in Russia, following in the footsteps of other high-profile American brands like McDonald’s and Starbucks.
However, the 190 Papa John’s restaurants in the country are still open and selling pizzas. And they have no plans to stop.
These Papa John’s shops are primarily owned by Russians through a franchise agreement with a company controlled by Christopher Wynne, a Colorado native who has lived part time and worked in the country since the early 2000s. And even as the war with Ukraine continues and numerous global food brands and retailers suspend operations and stop selling goods in Russia, little has changed with his operation, said Mr. Wynne, 45.
“The best thing I can do as an individual is show compassion for the people, my employees, franchisees and customers without judging them because of the politicians in power,” he said.
On the day in late February when Russia recognized two Ukraine provinces as independent, Mr. Wynne said, an anxiety blanketed the country since many Russians have friends and family in Ukraine. Nonetheless, “customers were showing up as usual,” he said.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/14/business/papa-johns-russia.html
However, the 190 Papa John’s restaurants in the country are still open and selling pizzas. And they have no plans to stop.
These Papa John’s shops are primarily owned by Russians through a franchise agreement with a company controlled by Christopher Wynne, a Colorado native who has lived part time and worked in the country since the early 2000s. And even as the war with Ukraine continues and numerous global food brands and retailers suspend operations and stop selling goods in Russia, little has changed with his operation, said Mr. Wynne, 45.
“The best thing I can do as an individual is show compassion for the people, my employees, franchisees and customers without judging them because of the politicians in power,” he said.
On the day in late February when Russia recognized two Ukraine provinces as independent, Mr. Wynne said, an anxiety blanketed the country since many Russians have friends and family in Ukraine. Nonetheless, “customers were showing up as usual,” he said.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/14/business/papa-johns-russia.html
That’s right – while most of the world is ceasing operations in Russia due to Vladimir Putin’s illegal and immoral war in the Ukraine, Papa John’s is continuing to operate. But this might be one of my favorite things about this whole story is their justification. Well to be fair they’re not wrong that there are actual Russians who are against the occupation and we shouldn’t punish them. But wait until you hear the latest bullshit surrounding this.
About 190 Papa John's stores are still open in Russia despite the international pizza chain's announcement that it was suspending its corporate operations in the country over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to a New York Times report published on Monday.
The Papa John's restaurants are primarily owned by Russians through a franchise agreement with a company controlled by Colorado native Christopher Wynne, who told the Times that Russians are "clearheaded and understand the dark gravity of the situation they're in" and that "at the end of the day, they appreciate a good pizza."
“The best thing I can do as an individual is show compassion for the people, my employees, franchisees and customers without judging them because of the politicians in power,” Wynne told the newspaper.
The Hill has reached out to Papa John's for comment.
Last week, Papa John's announced the suspension of its corporate operations in Russia, joining other high-profile international companies such as Starbucks and McDonald's.
https://thehill.com/policy/international/598251-190-papa-johns-in-russia-are-still-open-at-the-end-of-the-day-they
The Papa John's restaurants are primarily owned by Russians through a franchise agreement with a company controlled by Colorado native Christopher Wynne, who told the Times that Russians are "clearheaded and understand the dark gravity of the situation they're in" and that "at the end of the day, they appreciate a good pizza."
“The best thing I can do as an individual is show compassion for the people, my employees, franchisees and customers without judging them because of the politicians in power,” Wynne told the newspaper.
The Hill has reached out to Papa John's for comment.
Last week, Papa John's announced the suspension of its corporate operations in Russia, joining other high-profile international companies such as Starbucks and McDonald's.
https://thehill.com/policy/international/598251-190-papa-johns-in-russia-are-still-open-at-the-end-of-the-day-they
Yeah probably! Well here’s the thing Papa John’s, that would require your pizza to be good in the first place! I mean have you have Papa John’s? It’s basically cardboard with ketchup and mozzarella cheese that’s been sitting in the fridge for a week, paired with a garlic butter sauce that was made by a machine that has never tasted what an actual garlic butter sauce. But of course they have to take a stand while they’re still operating in Russia. The entire world is against this illegal occupation. But yeah let’s keep business going because… pizza.
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine persists, several American companies like McDonald's, Apple and Victoria's Secret have ceased corporate operations in the country.
But, one American franchise owner has no intention of closing his nearly 200 Papa John's across Russia.
“The best thing I can do as an individual is show compassion for the people, my employees, franchisees and customers without judging them because of the politicians in power,” Christopher Wynne told the New York Times.
Wynne, 45, began business in the country in the early 2000s — first running a few Papa John's as a franchisee, then amassing 190 locations that are largely owned by Russians that pay him royalties under franchise agreements, according to the Times.
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2022/03/15/ukraine-invasion-american-plans-keep-190-papa-johns-russia/7047134001/
But, one American franchise owner has no intention of closing his nearly 200 Papa John's across Russia.
“The best thing I can do as an individual is show compassion for the people, my employees, franchisees and customers without judging them because of the politicians in power,” Christopher Wynne told the New York Times.
Wynne, 45, began business in the country in the early 2000s — first running a few Papa John's as a franchisee, then amassing 190 locations that are largely owned by Russians that pay him royalties under franchise agreements, according to the Times.
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2022/03/15/ukraine-invasion-american-plans-keep-190-papa-johns-russia/7047134001/
I don’t think that’s on tight enough, sir! But by the way enough about the company, what about the founder and former CEO who was disgraced after he said some racist stuff (see: Idiots #5-5, Idiots #7-21, and Idiots #10-7 ). In case you’re wondering if he’s still a batshit crazy lunatic who spouts insane conspiracy theories with a side of casual racism, just wait until you see the latest claptrap that he’s come up with. And whew, this is one of the more insane things that have hit our doomsday shelter lately! But yeah it might be time to turn off Infowars, put down the bong, and back away slowly from the computer.
Former pizza delivery executive “Papa” John Schnatter on Friday said President Joe Biden had caused Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “smokescreen” to distract from domestic political matters.
Mr Schnatter, who founded the Papa John’s pizza delivery chain in 1984, was once a ubiquitous presence on American television thanks to his frequent appearances in his company’s advertising.
CPAC latest – live updates
But he was forced from his role as CEO of the company in October 2017 after complaining that the NFL — a major corporate partner at the time — hadn’t done enough to stop Black players from kneeling during pre-game national anthem performances.
He was subsequently forced to resign as the chairman of Papa John’s board after the release of a recording in which he repeatedly used racial slurs.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/cpac-pap-johns-biden-ukraine-b2024055.html
Mr Schnatter, who founded the Papa John’s pizza delivery chain in 1984, was once a ubiquitous presence on American television thanks to his frequent appearances in his company’s advertising.
CPAC latest – live updates
But he was forced from his role as CEO of the company in October 2017 after complaining that the NFL — a major corporate partner at the time — hadn’t done enough to stop Black players from kneeling during pre-game national anthem performances.
He was subsequently forced to resign as the chairman of Papa John’s board after the release of a recording in which he repeatedly used racial slurs.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/cpac-pap-johns-biden-ukraine-b2024055.html
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[font size="8"]I Need A Drink
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Hey everyone, I don’t know about you but I could really use a drink!
Especially after all the dark shit in the world happening right now! So of course you know that the idea of this segment is that we have some drinks and while we’re drinking our favorite beverage of choice, we talk about anything in the news as long as it does not relate to politics. So the topic on the table this week is the controversy surrounding the latest Disney / Pixar flick called Turning Red. Which you can see on Disney’s streaming service Disney+. So tell me bartender, what goes well with a story about the movie Turning Red? A Red Russian? What’s in that? You know I think I will refrain from anything even remotely having to do with Russia right now. I’ll stick to my usual Jack Daniels mixed with Jack Daniels. Some good old fashioned American booze! Well anyways, remember when we used to watch movies, and I don’t know, actually enjoy them? I miss those days. In this day and age you have to either really love something or you have to hate something enough to want to murder the people involved in making it. There’s no in between on anything anymore. Because that’s how things escalate these days – very quickly! As is the case with Turning Red.
In the world’s latest attempt to ruin all fun, Turning Red has somehow become one of the most controversial films of 2022. Domee Shi’s new coming-of-age film, which follows a young girl cursed with transforming into a giant panda, has the inquisitive delightfulness of Lady Bird paired with the flawlessness (and completely family-friendly image) of Pixar. And yet, here we are, wading through discourse yet again to protect poor Meilin Lee (Rosalie Chiang), part-time spunky middle schooler, part-time fluffy red beast, from people who can’t manage to have a good time—or, in fact, understand the purpose behind the movie in the first place.
The new animated movie has faced an abundance of controversies. Like young girls justifying their love for Twilight or Justin Bieber, fans of Turning Red face the wrath of angry parents and confused men taking their spite to Rotten Tomatoes over a few scenes in the film. This—shaming energetic teenage girls for their passions—is precisely what Turning Red proves unhealthy.
In simple terms, Turning Red is a near-perfect film.
Controlled by her mother (Sandra Oh) and beloved by her trio of friends, Mei is a delightfully perky middle school girl with perfect grades, dedication to her family, and an obsession with gyrating boy bands. When her desire for boys becomes too strong to handle, she spirals out of control—and into a giant red panda. This isn’t uncommon, though: it’s a tradition the Lee family has faced for centuries; all Mei has to do is harness the beast until she can perform a ritual to expel it.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-did-pixars-delightful-turning-red-become-the-target-of-sexist-racist-controversy
The new animated movie has faced an abundance of controversies. Like young girls justifying their love for Twilight or Justin Bieber, fans of Turning Red face the wrath of angry parents and confused men taking their spite to Rotten Tomatoes over a few scenes in the film. This—shaming energetic teenage girls for their passions—is precisely what Turning Red proves unhealthy.
In simple terms, Turning Red is a near-perfect film.
Controlled by her mother (Sandra Oh) and beloved by her trio of friends, Mei is a delightfully perky middle school girl with perfect grades, dedication to her family, and an obsession with gyrating boy bands. When her desire for boys becomes too strong to handle, she spirals out of control—and into a giant red panda. This isn’t uncommon, though: it’s a tradition the Lee family has faced for centuries; all Mei has to do is harness the beast until she can perform a ritual to expel it.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-did-pixars-delightful-turning-red-become-the-target-of-sexist-racist-controversy
Oh yeah I needed that! So if Turning Red is a “near perfect film” then why is there so much controversy surrounding it? Of course it results in some good old fashioned women bashing, because that’s the way that the internet seems to roll these days. And it’s really insane to think that this is a kids movie! I know they try to inject adult humor into some of the jokes to make it more palatable, but come on, just take it for face value! Pixar has made plenty of great movies like Up, Toy Story, and Monsters Inc, but this is where you draw the line? Monsters Inc didn’t have enough representation for you?
Pixar’s newest movie Turning Red landed on Disney+ earlier this month in a direct-to-streaming release, and it’s a milestone film for the animation powerhouse: It’s the first Pixar film to be directed by a woman, Domee Shi, and the second film (after 2009’s Up) to feature an Asian lead character. Plus, the film currently holds a 95% on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, indicating universal acclaim. Despite the massive fanfare, the film is currently embroiled in an online controversy that feels depressingly familiar to champions of Asian and female representation onscreen.
Meilin “Mei” Lee (voiced by newcomer Rosalie Chiang) is a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian girl growing up in Toronto whose puberty is hitting different. While we all dealt with mood swings, acne flare-ups, and general discomfort in our bodies at that age, Mei’s coming of age is taking on a different form, literally. She turns into a giant red panda any time she feels a strong emotion. A family gene, her parents initially believe her transformation is brought on by the confusion of her first period.
The focus on Asian culture and talk of periods have colored the reactions to and discourse around the film. In a now-deleted review, CinemaBlend Managing Editor Sean O’Connell lamented that he couldn’t identify with Mei’s story, and therefore the entire project was “limited in scope.” His language specifically focused on the cultural setting, making the bizarre conclusion that a story set in Toronto’s Asian community somehow made the film too “specific and narrow” to be enjoyed by the masses. O’Connell defended his thoughts in a now-deleted tweet, which called the film “exhausting” due to his inability to see himself within the story. O’Connell and CinemaBlend’s editor in chief have since apologized for the review.
https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/pixar-turning-red-period-asian-culture-controversy-explained-cast-response
Meilin “Mei” Lee (voiced by newcomer Rosalie Chiang) is a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian girl growing up in Toronto whose puberty is hitting different. While we all dealt with mood swings, acne flare-ups, and general discomfort in our bodies at that age, Mei’s coming of age is taking on a different form, literally. She turns into a giant red panda any time she feels a strong emotion. A family gene, her parents initially believe her transformation is brought on by the confusion of her first period.
The focus on Asian culture and talk of periods have colored the reactions to and discourse around the film. In a now-deleted review, CinemaBlend Managing Editor Sean O’Connell lamented that he couldn’t identify with Mei’s story, and therefore the entire project was “limited in scope.” His language specifically focused on the cultural setting, making the bizarre conclusion that a story set in Toronto’s Asian community somehow made the film too “specific and narrow” to be enjoyed by the masses. O’Connell defended his thoughts in a now-deleted tweet, which called the film “exhausting” due to his inability to see himself within the story. O’Connell and CinemaBlend’s editor in chief have since apologized for the review.
https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/pixar-turning-red-period-asian-culture-controversy-explained-cast-response
Yeah I need a lot more shots! Just come on people, I can’t even. You know I haven’t seen the movie yet but definitely planning to. And I will be bringing lots of beverages with me! Of course the sexists and racists are going to turn out in droves to dissect the film because we apparently don’t have enough to do in the year that is 2022. So how did we get to this point? Well it’s the ultimate circular firing squad – someone starts an argument, then someone makes a counterpoint, then lather, rinse, repeat. This happens every time a movie like this is released!
But one review posted online earlier this week sparked outcry.
CinemaBlend's managing director Sean O'Connell wrote that he couldn't connect with the film, calling it "limiting."
"By rooting 'Turning Red' very specifically in the Asian community of Toronto, the film legitimately feels like it was made for Domee Shi's friends and immediate family members. Which is fine — but also, a tad limiting in its scope," O'Connell wrote.
In a since-deleted tweet, he also called the movie "exhausting."
The review has since been taken down and both O'Connell and the editor-in-chief of CinemaBlend have apologized.
https://www.npr.org/2022/03/12/1086040083/turning-red-controversy
CinemaBlend's managing director Sean O'Connell wrote that he couldn't connect with the film, calling it "limiting."
"By rooting 'Turning Red' very specifically in the Asian community of Toronto, the film legitimately feels like it was made for Domee Shi's friends and immediate family members. Which is fine — but also, a tad limiting in its scope," O'Connell wrote.
In a since-deleted tweet, he also called the movie "exhausting."
The review has since been taken down and both O'Connell and the editor-in-chief of CinemaBlend have apologized.
https://www.npr.org/2022/03/12/1086040083/turning-red-controversy
Somehow I don’t think that bottle is big enough! But “limiting”? Shut up! Here’s the thing that some of these reviewers just don’t get that I feel like I need to spell it out for them. Turning Red was written by an Asian woman… and wait for it… she’s from Toronto! Shocker! This is why people peg liberals as “elitist”! I mean come on, and this might be the drinks talking, but if you’re gonna write, you got to write about what you know. Let’s put it this way. Kevin Smith made Clerks. Clerks is about a pair of convenience store clerks in New Jersey. Kevin Smith was working as a convenience store clerk in New Jersey while he was making the movie. So… yeah take that for what you will! But let’s keep the circular firing squad going! Ready! Aim! Pull!
“Turning Red” cast members spoke up in support of the new Pixar film and its universality following a controversial review for the animated movie that was published by CinemaBlend. The review was pulled offline after being called “sexist,” “racist” and more by members of the press. CinemaBlend managing director Sean O’Connell wrote the review, saying that the film’s appeal was limited because it’s set in the Asian community of Toronto.
“I recognized the humor in the film, but connected with none of it. By rooting ‘Turning Red’ very specifically in the Asian community of Toronto, the film legitimately feels like it was made for [director] Domee Shi’s friends and immediate family members,” O’Connell wrote in the since-pulled review. “Which is fine — but also, a tad limiting in its scope.”
O’Connell doubled down on his opinion of the film in a since-deleted tweet that accompanied his review. The post read: “Some Pixar films are made for universal audiences. ‘Turning Red’ is not. The target audience for this one feels very specific and very narrow. If you are in it, this might work very well for you. I am not in it. This was exhausting.”
https://variety.com/2022/film/news/turning-red-cast-defends-film-racist-cinemablend-review-1235200056/
“I recognized the humor in the film, but connected with none of it. By rooting ‘Turning Red’ very specifically in the Asian community of Toronto, the film legitimately feels like it was made for [director] Domee Shi’s friends and immediate family members,” O’Connell wrote in the since-pulled review. “Which is fine — but also, a tad limiting in its scope.”
O’Connell doubled down on his opinion of the film in a since-deleted tweet that accompanied his review. The post read: “Some Pixar films are made for universal audiences. ‘Turning Red’ is not. The target audience for this one feels very specific and very narrow. If you are in it, this might work very well for you. I am not in it. This was exhausting.”
https://variety.com/2022/film/news/turning-red-cast-defends-film-racist-cinemablend-review-1235200056/
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[font size="8"]Stupidest State 2022
[br] [/font] [br]
16 states will enter and only one state will become the new Top 10 Conservative Idiots Stupidest State!
Welcome back to our annual contest that seeks to find the craziest, strangest, stupidest and most depraved state in the country! It’s Stupidest State 2022! Last week was our first week of the tournament and it was a great one as Arizona took control of the Batshit Conference with an unbelievable 25 point victory over contenders South Dakota to advance to the Elite 8! Meanwhile, over in the Family Values Conference, we had a stunning upset with red hot North Carolina hitting a last second 3 pointer to advance to the Elite 8! This week we’re live in Phoenix at the home of the Arizona Wildcats, the Wells Fargo Arena, with this week’s action action action! Over in the Fiscal Irresponsibility Conference, #3 Nevada is looking to go for broke against #4 Nebraska for a Fiscal Showdown, while over in the Gun Nut Conference, #3 Florida is looking to shoot it out against #4 Missouri! Let’s hit the floor, shall we?
[font size="4"]Fiscal Irresponsibility Conference Round 1: #3 Nevada Vs #4 Nebraska [/font]
[font size="2"]Nevada [/font]
Nevada has won the Fiscal Irresponsibility Conference multiple times in the last few years for a good reason – they may be run by the casino and gambling industry but like any state that encourages gambling some shady elements come standard with it! And I want to start with this perfect example of casino greed. This bartender in Vegas was robbed at gun point and was actually forced to pay his bosses back for the money that was stolen on his shift! You really can’t make this stuff up. Of course that’s what happens when our corporate overlords are total psychopaths.
Las Vegas bartender robbed at gunpoint was forced to repay bosses stolen money, lawsuit says
Edward Parker's employers docked him nearly $4,000 for the Dec. 4, 2020, robbery, according to the suit.
A Las Vegas bartender was robbed at gunpoint and then forced to repay his company the stolen money, according to a lawsuit filed by the employee.
Edward Parker was working at the Lodge Hualapai early Dec. 4, 2020, when a gunman entered, ordered him "to kneel on the ground and put his hands behind his head while the armed assailant took all the money that was at the bar," according to a Clark County civil complaint filed last week.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/las-vegas-bartender-robbed-gunpoint-was-forced-repay-bosses-stolen-mon-rcna15377
Edward Parker's employers docked him nearly $4,000 for the Dec. 4, 2020, robbery, according to the suit.
A Las Vegas bartender was robbed at gunpoint and then forced to repay his company the stolen money, according to a lawsuit filed by the employee.
Edward Parker was working at the Lodge Hualapai early Dec. 4, 2020, when a gunman entered, ordered him "to kneel on the ground and put his hands behind his head while the armed assailant took all the money that was at the bar," according to a Clark County civil complaint filed last week.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/las-vegas-bartender-robbed-gunpoint-was-forced-repay-bosses-stolen-mon-rcna15377
Holy shit! That is a stunning level of greed there! $4,000 is an insane amount of money! And speaking of gaming, disgraced Trumphole POS Steve Wynn is back in the news and of course for reasons that are very unflattering to him. But what I love about this story is that Steve Wynn is so toxic that even the gaming regulation committee in Nevada isn’t letting him get a free pass! Excuse my editorial laugh for a minute here… ha ha ha!
An attorney for former gaming mogul Steve Wynn told the Nevada Supreme Court Monday the disgraced casino operator can’t be held accountable by gaming regulators for any of the alleged sexual misconduct and harassment allegations that led to his departure from Wynn Resorts in 2018.
Attorney Colby Williams said Wynn wasn’t getting “a free pass” for any of the alleged misconduct — but that regulators have no authority over Wynn now, including that they cannot hold him responsible for failing to appear at a Gaming Control Board hearing.
Williams argued that Wynn gave up his gaming license some 20 months before the control board filed the five-count complaint that sought to label the former CEO as “unsuitable to be associated with a gaming enterprise or the gaming industry as a whole.”
The control board and Nevada Gaming Commission are appealing a District Court ruling from November 2020 that said Wynn’s resignation and sale of his holdings in the company removed him from their oversight.
Read more: https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/gaming-regulators-ask-state-supreme-court-to-restore-authority-over-steve-wynn
Attorney Colby Williams said Wynn wasn’t getting “a free pass” for any of the alleged misconduct — but that regulators have no authority over Wynn now, including that they cannot hold him responsible for failing to appear at a Gaming Control Board hearing.
Williams argued that Wynn gave up his gaming license some 20 months before the control board filed the five-count complaint that sought to label the former CEO as “unsuitable to be associated with a gaming enterprise or the gaming industry as a whole.”
The control board and Nevada Gaming Commission are appealing a District Court ruling from November 2020 that said Wynn’s resignation and sale of his holdings in the company removed him from their oversight.
Read more: https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/gaming-regulators-ask-state-supreme-court-to-restore-authority-over-steve-wynn
[font size="2"]Nebraska [/font]
The Cornhuskers are back for their next go round in the tournament! Their credentials in the Fiscal Irresponsibility Conference are strong! They’re home to America’s corn and wheat fields and their representatives, including governor Pete Ricketts are bought and paid for by Koch Industries and they enact lots of policies that reflect this! But this might be one of the more shocking developments lately – everyone knows that Brazil’s super far right prime minister Jair Bolsonaro is a colossal piece of shit, but did you know that his campaign may have been bankrolled by an Omaha gun club?
When we first learned that two of far-right Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s sons, Eduardo and Carlos, were connected to a shooting club called 88 Tactical in Omaha, Nebraska, we started digging deeper into this relationship.
We are a group of independent researchers trained in different fields of the humanities and social sciences and based in several countries. We are individuals with jobs in both public and private sectors. We are bringing to the surface some sensitive information that exposes potentially unlawful acts by Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro in conjunction with his sons Flavio, Carlos and Eduardo when they searched for U.S. partners and sponsors for the Brazilian general elections of 2018.
We have gathered information about the president, his sons and some of their allies presented in their social media interactions since 2012, along with other records of their travel and business dealings. We have cross-referenced their social interactions, travel, and mutual events. We have combined and compared their social media posts with information publicized in media outlets mostly from Brazil and from the United States.
Our goal is to contribute to the fight against the rise of fascism evident in Jair Bolsonaro’s regime and Steve Bannon’s effort, “The Movement,” the South American arm of which is led by Jair’s son, Eduardo. We have produced articles in Portuguese and in English to raise awareness of the hidden relationship between Bolsonaro family and the American gun industry.
Read more: https://seeingrednebraska.com/draft/did-the-nra-and-a-boston-investment-firm-bankroll-the-bolsonaro-campaign/
We are a group of independent researchers trained in different fields of the humanities and social sciences and based in several countries. We are individuals with jobs in both public and private sectors. We are bringing to the surface some sensitive information that exposes potentially unlawful acts by Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro in conjunction with his sons Flavio, Carlos and Eduardo when they searched for U.S. partners and sponsors for the Brazilian general elections of 2018.
We have gathered information about the president, his sons and some of their allies presented in their social media interactions since 2012, along with other records of their travel and business dealings. We have cross-referenced their social interactions, travel, and mutual events. We have combined and compared their social media posts with information publicized in media outlets mostly from Brazil and from the United States.
Our goal is to contribute to the fight against the rise of fascism evident in Jair Bolsonaro’s regime and Steve Bannon’s effort, “The Movement,” the South American arm of which is led by Jair’s son, Eduardo. We have produced articles in Portuguese and in English to raise awareness of the hidden relationship between Bolsonaro family and the American gun industry.
Read more: https://seeingrednebraska.com/draft/did-the-nra-and-a-boston-investment-firm-bankroll-the-bolsonaro-campaign/
Wow, that is quite insane! And speaking of insane there’s also Nebraska’s governor that somehow got elected and that’s Pete Ricketts. So Nebraska is in a bit of what one might call a “drought” right now and of course they’re looking for answers, but in all the wrong places. And the proposal coming from Ricketts’ camp is well, also insane. So what good would building an unnecessary canal in North Colorado do to help both states? The answer is “not a whole lot”.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts’ $500 million plan to take more water from the South Platte River by building a canal in northeast Colorado left politicians and experts in both states scratching their heads.
The 99-year-old South Platte River compact between the two states does outline plans for such a project, according to Anthony Schutz, an associate law professor at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. But the project was started and abandoned decades ago and the question of starting it up again might have to be decided in a costly and lengthy court battle.
Even if the canal is built, it’s unclear how much extra water it would yield to Nebraska or for what it could be used, Schutz said.
Plus, more water is already appropriated out of the South Platte — like many of Colorado’s other waterways — than the river has to give.
Read more: https://www.denverpost.com/2022/01/15/colorado-nebraska-water-platte-polis-ricketts/
The 99-year-old South Platte River compact between the two states does outline plans for such a project, according to Anthony Schutz, an associate law professor at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. But the project was started and abandoned decades ago and the question of starting it up again might have to be decided in a costly and lengthy court battle.
Even if the canal is built, it’s unclear how much extra water it would yield to Nebraska or for what it could be used, Schutz said.
Plus, more water is already appropriated out of the South Platte — like many of Colorado’s other waterways — than the river has to give.
Read more: https://www.denverpost.com/2022/01/15/colorado-nebraska-water-platte-polis-ricketts/
[font size="2"]And The Winner Is: [/font]
Ladies and gentlemen – we have another upset brewing! Nebraska is ahead by 5 with one minute to go, they have the ball… for 3! YES! That’s the game right there! 30 seconds left… And that will seal the deal, Nebraska is moving on, Nevada will go home! Final score: 85 – 77!
[font size="4"]Gun Nut Conference Round 1: #3 Florida Vs #4 Missouri [/font]
[font size="4"]Florida [/font]
What is there to say about the Sunshine State that has yet to be said? Our champs for 2018 and 2020 are back for yet another go round. Can they make it a 3 title win? Only time will tell but they’ve got some tough competition in the Gun Nut Conference. But no one can deny that Florida is run by Florida Man and Florida Woman, but they also elect Florida Man to the highest office in the state! But as far as their Gun Nut Credentials? Well the people that claim to be pro life have enacted policies that have killed more than they will help!
From the beginning of 2020 to the beginning of 2021, while COVID-19 deaths rose, so too did the number of teenagers dying to firearm injuries. Across the country, the overall death rate due to firearm injuries for children aged 5-years-old to 14 nearly doubled.
In the first quarter of 2020, the per capita death rate for those 5 to 14 was 1.0. Per capita is per 100,000 people. In the first quarter of 2021, that number rose to 1.8, nationally, according to mortality data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
shows it also went up in 2021. The crude data rate for the nation was 12.3 per 100,000 for 2020. In Florida, it was 13.5. Nationally and in just Florida, both stats went up in the following year.
In 2021, the crude rate of firearm deaths for those 5 to 14-years-old was 14.1. The rate was the same in Florida. Nationally, the numbers increased faster, growing to match Florida’s firearm-related deaths.
https://www.wfla.com/news/national/more-florida-kids-died-to-gun-violence-at-start-of-2021/
In the first quarter of 2020, the per capita death rate for those 5 to 14 was 1.0. Per capita is per 100,000 people. In the first quarter of 2021, that number rose to 1.8, nationally, according to mortality data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
shows it also went up in 2021. The crude data rate for the nation was 12.3 per 100,000 for 2020. In Florida, it was 13.5. Nationally and in just Florida, both stats went up in the following year.
In 2021, the crude rate of firearm deaths for those 5 to 14-years-old was 14.1. The rate was the same in Florida. Nationally, the numbers increased faster, growing to match Florida’s firearm-related deaths.
https://www.wfla.com/news/national/more-florida-kids-died-to-gun-violence-at-start-of-2021/
That’s right! So the next time that there’s a mass shooting in Florida you can thank your bought and paid for representatives! And they’re very firmly in the NRA’s pocket. And by the way in case you think that other states have Florida’s number on guns, well, you ain’t seen nothing yet! In addition to kids getting shot at, the fact that they can legally obtain weapons in the Sunshine State is a growing concern as well, because, what could go wrong there?
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Spectrum News 13 watchdog team is taking a close look at rising gun crimes involving teens in the state of Florida.
While state reports show a 20% decrease in gun crimes among youth from 2016 to 2020, there has been a slight uptick in crimes over the last couple of years. Law enforcement officers say “easy access” to guns in Central Florida is a growing concern.
It is something that is happening more frequently here Central Florida: Family members grieving the deaths of children and in the same breath, calling for justice and action.
“We want families to know they need to teach their kids gun control," said John Keedy, the stepfather of Corey Jones, a 15-year-old who was shot to death on Jan. 22. "It’s not the gun that kills the person, it’s the person that kills the person,”
https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2022/02/25/youth-access-to-guns-a-crowing-concern-in-central-florida-
While state reports show a 20% decrease in gun crimes among youth from 2016 to 2020, there has been a slight uptick in crimes over the last couple of years. Law enforcement officers say “easy access” to guns in Central Florida is a growing concern.
It is something that is happening more frequently here Central Florida: Family members grieving the deaths of children and in the same breath, calling for justice and action.
“We want families to know they need to teach their kids gun control," said John Keedy, the stepfather of Corey Jones, a 15-year-old who was shot to death on Jan. 22. "It’s not the gun that kills the person, it’s the person that kills the person,”
https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2022/02/25/youth-access-to-guns-a-crowing-concern-in-central-florida-
[font size="4"]Missouri [/font]
The Show Me State is a right wing gun nut haven! Remember a couple of years ago when those gun toting McCloskeys made the news for flashing their pieces out at protestors? Then they got pardoned by governor Ken Parsons? Yeah that happened! Well now that COVID seems to be subsiding, it’s time to get back to that other pandemic that is killing people in large numbers and overwhelming our health care system – mass shootings! And Missouri is about to make things that much worse if this legislation does what we think it will do!
In a development that should shock exactly no one, a national study has ranked Missouri near the bottom of the nation in terms of the strength of its gun laws — and near the top in per capita gun deaths. The correlation is undeniable: Missourians, living in a state that has gutted most of its previous restrictions on firearms, are nearly twice as likely to die from gun violence than their neighbors in Illinois, which imposes rational restrictions.
And how are Missouri legislators responding to this continuing crisis? By trying to make it even easier for convicted criminals to lay their hands on guns, easier to bring guns into churches, schools and trains, and harder for police to enforce what few gun laws are on the books.
This is insanity.
Polls show overwhelming majorities of Americans, including most gun owners, favor reasonable reforms like universal criminal background checks for all gun purchases. That’s confirmation that on gun rights, as on most issues, the broad middle of America isn’t radical, but reasonable, respecting individual rights but in balance with a society’s responsibility to keep its people safe.
https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-as-missouri-gun-deaths-mount-lawmakers-aim-to-shoot-down-remaining-safeguards/article_bca97ee0-bece-5c74-8635-033b50a1e0eb.html
And how are Missouri legislators responding to this continuing crisis? By trying to make it even easier for convicted criminals to lay their hands on guns, easier to bring guns into churches, schools and trains, and harder for police to enforce what few gun laws are on the books.
This is insanity.
Polls show overwhelming majorities of Americans, including most gun owners, favor reasonable reforms like universal criminal background checks for all gun purchases. That’s confirmation that on gun rights, as on most issues, the broad middle of America isn’t radical, but reasonable, respecting individual rights but in balance with a society’s responsibility to keep its people safe.
https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-as-missouri-gun-deaths-mount-lawmakers-aim-to-shoot-down-remaining-safeguards/article_bca97ee0-bece-5c74-8635-033b50a1e0eb.html
Wow, that got some mad boos from the audience! So that being said let’s also extrapolate this and find out more. Because the fact that Missouri ranks among the worst in the nation in terms of gun laws is very telling! In fact Missouri loves the firearm so much that their “Second Amendment Preservation Act” (obviously written by representatives with NRA A+ ratings) is becoming a national concern according to the Justice Department. And that’s something that we didn’t see coming!
The speed with which the United States filed its summary judgment motion suggests it believes Missouri's Second Amendment Preservation Act is a clear violation of the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and is jeopardizing efforts to combat crime.
Just two weeks after suing Missouri over its Second Amendment Preservation Act, the federal government has made the rare move of rapidly asking for summary judgment against Missouri, arguing the law is causing “significant harm” to law enforcement and public safety.
The government's 40-page motion asks the court to issue a judgment declaring the Second Amendment Preservation Act invalid and blocking its enforcement.
“Missouri’s unconstitutional attempt to nullify federal law directly regulates, discriminates against, and affirmatively penalizes the lawful exercise of federal authority,” the motion states. A government spokesperson declined additional comment.
Summary judgment allows a court to circumvent a trial, and it’s rare for a plaintiff to seek summary judgment so soon after filing suit. Typically, motions for summary judgment are brought after both sides have exchanged discovery. For a court to grant it, the material facts of the case must be undisputed and the law, when applied to those facts, entitles the moving party to a judgment on the merits.
https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-03-01/justice-department-says-missouris-gun-law-is-causing-significant-harm-to-public-safety
Just two weeks after suing Missouri over its Second Amendment Preservation Act, the federal government has made the rare move of rapidly asking for summary judgment against Missouri, arguing the law is causing “significant harm” to law enforcement and public safety.
The government's 40-page motion asks the court to issue a judgment declaring the Second Amendment Preservation Act invalid and blocking its enforcement.
“Missouri’s unconstitutional attempt to nullify federal law directly regulates, discriminates against, and affirmatively penalizes the lawful exercise of federal authority,” the motion states. A government spokesperson declined additional comment.
Summary judgment allows a court to circumvent a trial, and it’s rare for a plaintiff to seek summary judgment so soon after filing suit. Typically, motions for summary judgment are brought after both sides have exchanged discovery. For a court to grant it, the material facts of the case must be undisputed and the law, when applied to those facts, entitles the moving party to a judgment on the merits.
https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-03-01/justice-department-says-missouris-gun-law-is-causing-significant-harm-to-public-safety
[font size="2"]And The Winner Is: [/font]
OMFG!!! We have yet another upset brewing here… can Missouri hold on to beat the champions in Florida? They are currently up by 10 with less than a minute to go… for 3! YES!!! Florida simply can’t hold on… and Missouri wins to advance to their first Elite 8! Florida goes home, the fans are stunned and simply cannot believe it! Final score: 93 – 83!
[font size="4"]Next Week: [/font]
It’s Round 1 Week 3! And we are live at the home of the Sacramento Kings, the amazing Golden 1 Center in Sacramento! It’s a battle for Fiscal Irresponsibility supremacy as #1 Kansas takes on #2 Delaware, while over in the Gun Nut Conference, #1 Texas takes on #2 Idaho! Things are getting exciting!
[font size="4"]And Now This: [/font]
[font size="4"]Ghost[/font]
My next guest has a great new album out called “Impera” and they just finished a tour with Volbeat, playing their song “Hunter’s Moon”, give it up for Ghost!
Thank you Phoenix! We’re off to Houston next! That’s in Texas, don’t you know? See you next week!
Credits
Host: Initech
Ghost appears courtesy of: Loma Vista Recordings
Top 10 Conservative Idiots Recorded In Front Of A Live Studio Audience At: Tempe Improv, Phoenix, AZ
Images: All images copyright belongs to respective copyright holders.
Videos: All videos copyright belongs to respective copyright holders
Articles: All article content copyright belongs to respective copyright holders
Writing: Top 10 Writing Department
Graphics: Top 10 Graphics Department
Research: Top 10 Research Department
Lighting & Stage Props: Top 10 Lighting Department
Legal: Top 10 Legal Department
Advertising: Top 10 Advertising Department
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