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Judge: Trump Can Be Deposed in Peter Strzok’s Lawsuit

   Former President Donald Trump can be deposed in a lawsuit brought by former FBI agent Peter Strzok, a federal judge has ruled.

   The ruling came from U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson late Thursday. Just a day earlier the Justice Department requested that she block Trump from sitting for a deposition in the lawsuit, ABC News reported.

   Strzok was fired and FBI attorney Lisa Page resigned after text messages emerged that showed the two making critical comments about Trump. Both were working on the investigation into Trump’s alleged ties to Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign.

   The Justice Department had maintained that requiring a deposition from Trump in the case “is not appropriate,” especially since there is no evidence suggesting that the FBI fired Strzok at Trump’s direction, ABC News said.

   The lawsuit alleges that Strzok’s firing “was the result of a long and public campaign by President Trump and his allies to vilify Strzok and pressure the agency to terminate him.”

   Justice Department attorneys had argued that FBI Director Christopher Wray should be deposed first because he had a lower rank compared to Trump, and his information could negate the need for Trump to testify.

   But the Washington Examiner noted Jackson said in her brief court order: “Given the limited nature of the deposition that has been ordered, and the fact that the former President’s schedule appears to be able to accommodate other civil litigation that he has initiated, the outcome of the balancing required by the apex doctrine remains the same for all of the reasons previously stated.”

   Jackson’s motion rejects the Justice Department’s request to bar Trump from testifying.

   “While to the extent the individuals deposed to date recalled the events in question, their testimony did not advance plaintiffs’ theory that the former President was involved in the decision making at issue in this case, the fact remains that the former President himself has publicly boasted of his involvement.”

[bikerpoliticalreport]

DeSantis’s Presidential Campaign Raises $150 Million—One of the Biggest GOP Totals in Years

   Gov. Ron DeSantis’s campaign for president on July 6 announced strong fundraising results, raising $20 million in its first six weeks. His independent Super PAC meanwhile raised $130 million since launching in early March.

   Mr. DeSantis’s campaign said in a written statement that his fundraising “is the largest first-quarter filing from any non-incumbent Republican candidate in more than a decade.

   “It bests the $18.3 million former President Donald Trump’s campaign raised during the first two fundraising quarters as a candidate,” $3.8 million in the 4th calendar quarter of 2022 and $14.5 million in the first quarter of 2023.

   “The figures from the DeSantis campaign and from Never Back Down illustrated the Florida governor’s fundraising prowess as he aims to defeat front-runner and former President Donald Trump for the GOP nomination next year,” the Never Back Down Super PAC said in a written statement.

   “Trump’s team reported on July 5 that the former president’s campaign and Save America, his political action committee, together brought in over $35 million between April and June in the second quarter of political fundraising,” the PAC said.

   “DeSantis raised the $20 million fundraising haul in less than half the time, beginning with his campaign launch in late May,” the PAC said.

   Mr. DeSantis declared his candidacy on May 24.

   The “$150 million raised from across all 50 states between DeSantis for President and Never Back Down shows what a formidable movement is behind Gov. DeSantis,” Never Back Down CEO Chris Jankowski said in the statement.

   “The future of the Republican Party is Governor Ron DeSantis.”

   “Joe Biden’s leftist policies are destroying the country, and Republicans are excited to invest in a winner ready to lead America’s revival,” said campaign manager Generra Peck.

   “We are grateful for the investment so many Americans have made to get this country back on track.

   “The fight to save it will be long and challenging, but we have built an operation to share the governor’s message and mobilize the millions of people who support it. We are ready to win.”

   Attendees sign Gov. Ron DeSantis’s campaign bus after he delivered his first stump speech at Eternity Church in Clive, Iowa, on May 30. (John Haughey/The Epoch Times)

   Never Back Down’s nine-figure sum includes $82.5 million transferred from Mr. DeSantis’s Florida PAC, money left over from his 2022 reelection bid.

   According to published sources, DeSantis set records for a non-self-funded gubernatorial candidate during that race, raising more than $190 million in two years between his campaign and his PAC.

   A watchdog has complained to the Federal Election Commission about the transfer.

   The agency took no action on a similar complaint against Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) during the 2020 campaign.

   Florida law changes, and the restructuring of Mr. DeSantis’s Florida PAC appears to have enabled the transfer.

   Mr. Trump raised $35 million amid his indictment on state charges in New York regarding his alleged payoffs to a porn star and on federal charges in Florida tied to his possession and handling of classified records from his presidency.

   Mr. Trump has used the indictments to boost campaign donations.

   He headlined a fundraiser at his Bedminster golf club immediately after his first court appearance for the federal case in Miami last month.

[bikerpoliticalreport]

New Video, Photo Evidence From Trump Raid Revealed In Mar-a-Lago Search Warrant

 Explosive new video and photo evidence from the raid on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate was revealed after a judge unsealed the search warrant.

   Additional portions of the affidavit that the F.B.I. used to obtain a warrant to search for sensitive documents at Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald J. Trump’s private club, and residence in Florida, were unsealed by a federal magistrate judge on Wednesday, providing some new information about the extraordinary process that had taken place.

   “The newly unredacted sections of the affidavit suggested that prosecutors had based their search, in part, on surveillance footage from cameras near a storage room in the basement of Mar-a-Lago showing Walt Nauta, a personal aide to Mr. Trump, moving dozens of boxes in and out of the room days before federal prosecutors arrived to collect any sensitive records still in Mr. Trump’s possession,” the New York Times reported.

   “Much of the material in the affidavit unsealed on Wednesday had already been made public in the expansive indictment of Mr. Trump and Mr. Nauta issued in Miami last month. That indictment charged the former president with 31 counts of illegally retaining national defense information and a separate count of conspiring with Mr. Nauta to obstruct the government’s efforts to reclaim them. The judge who ordered the unsealing, Bruce E. Reinhart, had issued two previous orders unsealing separate portions of the warrant affidavit in response to media requests,” the NYT report added.

   The warrant says, of the photo, “The purpose of the photograph was to show FPOTUS the volume of boxes that remained in the STORAGE ROOM. The STORAGE-PHOTO, which appears below, captures approximately sixty-one of the FPOTUS BOXES located in the STORAGE ROOM.”

   The warrant also contains detailed descriptions of surveillance footage showing Trump co-defendant Walt Nauta moving boxes out of a storage room:

   By reviewing the camera footage provided by the Trump Organization in response to the subpoena, the FBI has determined the following: On May 24, 2022, WITNESS 5 is observed exiting the ANTEROOM doorway with three boxes.

   On May 30, 2022, four days after WITNESS 5’s interview with the FBI during which the location of boxes was a significant subject of questioning, WITNESS 5 is observed exiting the ANTEROOM doorway with approximately fifty Bankers boxes, consistent with the description of the FPOTUS BOXES. FBI did not observe this quantity of boxes being returned to the STORAGE ROOM through the ANTEROOM entrance in its review of the footage.

   The next day, on June 1, 2022, WITNESS 5 is observed carrying eleven brown cardboard boxes out of the ANTEROOM entrance. One box did not have a lid on it and appeared to contain papers.

   The day after that, on June 2, 2022, WITNESS 5 is observed moving twenty-five to thirty boxes, some of which were brown cardboard boxes and others of which were Banker’s boxes consistent with the description of the FPOTUS BOXES, into the entrance of the ANTEROOM.

   Approximately three and a half hours later, WITNESS 5 is observed escorting FPOTUS COUNSEL 1 through the entrance of the ANTEROOM, and FPOTUS COUNSEL 1 is not observed leaving until approximately two and a half hours later.

   On June 3, 2022, FPOTUS COUNSEL 1 is escorted through the ANTEROOM entrance by an unidentified individual wearing a jacket with “USSS POLICE” printed on the back. The unidentified individual and FPOTUS COUNSEL 1 exit the ANTEROOM entrance moments later. FPOTUS COUNSEL 1 appeared to be carrying a Redweld envelope after exiting the ANTEROOM.

   Below is a new photo showing 61 boxes of material in a Mar-a-Lago storeroom:

   A legal expert has pointed to a potential “red flag” that could see a federal judge appointed by then-President Donald Trump taken off the government’s classified documents case against him.

   Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance, writing on her Substack page “Civil Discourse,” said that special counsel Jack Smith “made a smart strategic play” when he filed a motion late last month in U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon’s South Florida courtroom to have Trump’s trial date moved from August to December.

   Under the Speedy Trial Act, the government has a 70-day timeframe from the arraignment date to prosecute the former president. The act allows for certain periods of “excludable time” and other delays that typically favor the defendant, Raw Story notes.

   However, Trump’s legal team is expected to request additional delays, potentially aiming to extend the proceedings beyond the upcoming presidential election year, the outlet added.

   According to court filings, prosecutors have contended that the case is straightforward and uncomplicated, involving only two defendants without any unique legal or factual complexities. Therefore, they are likely to further argue that there is limited justification for Trump to seek a delay in the trial that would extend into late 2024 or beyond.

   As part of the discovery process, the government has promptly provided non-classified evidence to defense attorneys. Therefore, any approval of a trial delay by Cannon could draw attention and scrutiny.

   Even without special treatment from Cannon, Trump’s trial venue in Florida works to his advantage.

[bikerpoliticalreport]

Russians, Ex-US Officials Secretly Discussing Ukraine

  Former senior U.S. national security officials have been holding secret talks with key Russians said to be close to the Kremlin, including in one case, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in hopes of preparing for negotiations that could end the war in Ukraine, according to people briefed on the discussions.

   The Lavrov meeting, held in New York in April, involved Richard Haass, a former diplomat and the outgoing president of the Council on Foreign Relations, along with Europe expert Charles Kupchan and Russia expert Thomas Graham, who are former White House and State Department officials and fellows with the Council of Foreign Relations, according to NBC News sources, described as four former and two current officials.

   In that meeting, the participants reportedly discussed the fate of Russian-held territory in Ukraine and the search for a diplomatic solution that both sides could approve.

   Lavrov was in the United States to chair the U.N. Security Council. At about that time, Haass and Kupchan wrote a lengthy article in Foreign Affairs, a publication by the Council on Foreign Relations about “a plan for getting from the battlefield to the negotiating table.”

   They predicted a stalemate after the Ukrainian counteroffensive and recommended the U.S. start with the groundwork to propose a cease-fire leading to a demilitarized zone that would be monitored by either the UN or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. After that, they wrote, “Peace talks should follow.”

   The former officials involved in the meeting either did not respond to requests for comment from NBC News or declined to comment on the record, and the network’s sources declined to be named while confirming confidential talks.

   Two sources said the Biden administration is aware of the talks but has not been directing them. The officials who met with Lavrov briefed the White House National Security Council after the talks took place.

   In diplomatic talk, such discussions are known as “Track Two diplomacy,” which takes place when there is unofficial engagement involving private citizens, and in Lavrov’s case, the term “Track 1.5” is used, which means current officials are involved in at least one end of the conversation.

   It was not made clear how often the discussions have been taking place with the Russians, or if they are being undertaken through an organized effort to bring about diplomatic talks, NBC noted.

   Two people briefed on the talks, though, say the discussions have also included some former Pentagon officials, including former U.S. assistant defense secretary Mary Beth Long, who is experienced in issues involving NATO.

   The Russians involved in the talks, along with Lavrov, have included think tank or research institute leaders, academics, and others who are believed to be in close touch with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin. The Russian participants were not identified by name, out of concern for their safety.

   A spokesman for the White House National Security Council declined to comment, and the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not respond to a request to speak.

   Further, an official in the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said there would be no comment on news reports based on unnamed sources, but insisted that Ukraine’s “position is unchanged.”

   “The fate of Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine,” the official said. “Many times the president and all our official speakers spoke about it. Not anonymously, but quite specifically and publicly.”

   There are signs that the U.S. and its allies want the two countries to move toward having peace talks this fall.

   In May, CIA Director William Burns heard from Ukrainian officials during a secret trip to Kyiv about pushing Moscow toward peace talks before the end of the year, according to reporting from The Washington Post.

   There are questions about whether the secret talks will continue after the revolt waged by Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. The discussions are also taking place while other conversations are being held between the United States and Russia concerning detained U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich, which Putin’s spokesman revealed this week.

[bikerpoliticalreport]

Biden’s Broken Promise: JFK Files Still Sealed, Public Left in the Dark   

Late in the afternoon of the Friday before the much-anticipated Independence Day weekend, the Biden administration quietly announced a delay in releasing particular classified documents linked to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The postponement, they claimed, was a matter of national security.

   Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a high-profile figure in the Kennedy clan, responded with vehement criticism. Recently, he has been vocal about his suspicion of the CIA’s involvement in his uncle’s death and has expressed concerns about his safety concerning the agency.

   Kennedy, whose political influence is growing and who has become a considerable contender for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination against Joe Biden, proposed the existence of a deliberate coverup. In a flurry of tweets, he posed a question that reverberated through the digital sphere: “The assassination was 60 years ago. What national security secrets could be at risk? What are they hiding?”

   He criticized Biden’s strategic timing for burying this “bad news” during a busy holiday weekend. He accused him of intending to indefinitely maintain the shroud of secrecy over the JFK assassination records. Kennedy even went as far as to state that this decision clearly violated the President JFK Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992. This law stipulated that all JFK assassination records held by the government should have been released by October 2017.

   It should be noted, however, that this law does contain a clause that permits a delay if the president determines that the release could harm military defense, intelligence operations, law enforcement, or foreign relations to the degree that outweighs the public interest.

   Despite this, Kennedy maintains that the records held by NARA should have been released by now, as initially agreed by Biden in December. The administration had pledged to remove the remaining records by June 30th, the eve of the Independence Day weekend.

   The White House stated on Friday that more than 99% of the records have been made public. Nevertheless, in a memo signed by Biden, it was revealed that the acting archivist of NARA recommended the continued postponement of the public release of certain redacted information from the December release. Biden echoed this recommendation, saying that the disclosure could harm military defense, intelligence operations, law enforcement, and foreign relations.

   Biden committed to future releases following a policy named the Transparency Plan, established by the National Declassification Center (NDC). The president maintained that the plan ensures maximum access to information while protecting against identifiable harm as per the standards of the Act.

   Since his announcement to run for president, Kennedy has increasingly voiced his belief that the American government was responsible for his uncle JFK’s murder. He pointed to former CIA Director Allen Dulles, a member of the Warren Commission, appointed to investigate the assassination. Kennedy stated that his father’s “first instincts” were that the federal agency was responsible for JFK’s death, a claim the CIA has consistently denied.

   In 1979, a U.S. House review committee concluded that Kennedy’s murder involved at least two gunmen and other conspirators. The only person officially accused, Lee Harvey Oswald, denied his involvement and was subsequently murdered before he could be tried.

   In a recent podcast interview with influential conservative Joe Rogan, Kennedy admitted that he feels threatened by intelligence agencies like the CIA and is taking precautions for his safety. This complex and troubling history unfolds as we approach the next presidential election.

[bikerpoliticalreport]

Rumors Swirl Some Dems Want To ‘Install’ Kamala Harris As President

  Some sources claim that a rising number of Democrats are advocating for President Joe Biden’s re-election because they feel more comfortable with the thought that Vice President Kamala Harris could assume the role of commander-in-chief and handle her duties.

   A recent Suffolk University/USA Today poll found that a whopping 86 percent of Democrat Biden voters expressed either a high or moderate level of comfort with the prospect of Harris assuming the presidency in the event that both Biden and Harris are re-elected for another four years and Biden is unable to complete his term.

   According to insiders who spoke to Fox News Digital, the possibility of Harris ascending to the presidency is considered a highly plausible scenario, which could potentially send a significant political ripple across the nation and would undoubtedly affect all Americans.

   “The DNC’s strategy to ensure the Democrat establishment remains in power is to re-elect Joe Biden, no matter how old or capable he is, and then get him to resign or step aside and install Kamala Harris as president,” said former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, an Independent who ran for president in 2020 as a Democrat.

   “She will be untested and unelected and ready to act as the Democrat Establishment’s puppet president. She will then have the advantage and power of incumbency to run in 2028,” she told the outlet.

   “None of this is possible if Biden doesn’t run. If Kamala were to try to run for president herself, there would be heavy competition and no way she would win. This is why they are uniting around Joe Biden’s re-election – to ensure Kamala Harris is able to assume the throne unchallenged,” Gabbard noted further.

   She said Harris “is clearly not qualified to serve as commander in chief” and that it would be “disastrous and dangerous” for the country if she were to become its first female president.

   “This should be a major issue for voters, but the mainstream media will continue to try to cover for her because they don’t want the American people to know the truth: a President Kamala Harris would be disastrous and dangerous for all Americans and our country,” she said.

   Doug Schoen, a Democratic pollster who is also a founder and partner of Schoen Cooperman Research, similarly agrees that Harris isn’t ready for prime time and pointed to her regularly dismal approval ratings.

   “Democrats may be happy with Kamala Harris taking over, but the rest of the electorate almost certainly is not,” Schoen said. “Harris has lower approval ratings than Biden, and remains very much an open question to the electorate whether she is ready and indeed able to govern.”

   Leo Terrell, a civil rights lawyer and a contributor to Fox News, believes that Democrats will try to sell the country on a “Biden-Harris” package for 2024.

   “They have no choice. Democrats would alienate their most loyal constituency, black females if they do not sell Harris as a viable replacement for President Biden. This is the problem Democrats will face because they play identity politics. When you select a candidate based on skin color or ethnicity in lieu of competence, you end up with a Kamala Harris. Moreover, the Democratic donor base has demanded that Harris be presented as a competent replacement,” he said.

   “There is no way in hell the American public believe that Kamala Harris is qualified to replace Joe Biden or to serve a single second as president of the United States of America,” he said.

   Marc Lotter, a former special assistant to President Trump who is the chief communications officer for the America First Policy Institute, said Harris’ low polling numbers don’t “surprise” him.

   “Make no mistake, Harris will certainly be an anchor on the Democrat ticket, given her horrible approval ratings and history of being a very poor candidate,” he told the network.

   “Democrats are campaigning for Biden with the ultimate hope that Biden will continue to be healthy and last through the four years,” added Hank Sheinkopf, a former Democratic consultant for the Clinton-Gore Campaign.

[bikerpoliticalreport]

Ben & Jerry’s July 4 Memo: ‘US on Stolen Land’

 In a brash July 4 message, Ben & Jerry’s is calling on America to return its “stolen Indigenous land,” tweeting the message and emblazoning it on its website.

   July 4 celebrations “distract from an essential truth about this nation’s birth,” the ice cream maker asserts. “The United States was founded on stolen Indigenous land. This Fourth of July, let’s commit to returning it.”

   “Start with Mount Rushmore,” the company, headquartered in Burlington, Vt., says. “That is the meaning of Independence Day for those whose land this country stole, those who were murdered and forced with brutal violence onto reservations, those who were pushed from their holy places and denied their freedom.

   “The faces on Mount Rushmore are the faces of men who actively worked to destroy Indigenous cultures and ways of life, to deny Indigenous people their basic rights,” the invective concludes.

   Ben & Jerry’s July 4 proclamation provoked immediate response and boycott demands on social media, the New York Post reports, with country singer John Rich—who has been outspokenly opposed to Bud Light’s transgender tie-up—tweeting back: “Make @benandjerrys Bud Light again.”

   Another challenger wrote, “Just when you think @benandjerrys couldn’t go any lower—they pull this stunt. Boycott Ben and Jerry’s.”

   One Twitter user called Ben & Jerry’s founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield out for their hypocrisy, writing to the “the Bud Light of ice cream”:

   “Seriously now, close shop—or better yet, donate your business and everything you own in these lands that rightfully belong to the Indigenous people—apologize to them, and return to the continent your ancestors came from. Now.”

   Ben & Jerry’s says on its website that its social mission is to “eliminate injustices in our communities by integrating these concerns into our day-to-day business activities.”

   Ben & Jerry’s has previously supported the Black Lives Matter movement and LGBTQ+ actions, and its founders Cohen and Greenfield have demonstrated in Washington, D.C., alongside actor and social activist Jane Fonda, against fossil fuels.

   In 1985, the company founded the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation to fund community-oriented projects, funding it with 7.5% of Ben & Jerry’s annual pre-tax profits.

© 2023 Newsmax Finance. All rights reserved.

[bikerpoliticalreport]

Republicans Gaining Voters, Shocking Poll Reveals a Surge in Conservative Views

Many liberals assert they are on the “right side of history” and discuss history as if it inevitably progresses toward a progressive utopia. This belief forms the core of the liberal worldview. However, it is crucial to recognize that “history” and the social values it is said to generate are not predetermined. A recent Gallup poll indicates that insisting otherwise tends to alienate many ordinary individuals.

   According to the poll, the percentage of people describing their social views as “conservative” or “very conservative” has reached its highest point in over a decade, increasing from 33 percent last year to 38 percent in 2023. This noteworthy five-point increase is significant because the figure for social conservatism had remained relatively stable since 2012, when it last stood at 38 percent, usually shifting in smaller increments.

   Republicans experienced a seven-point increase over the past year, Independents saw a three-point increase, and even Democrats gained a point. Social conservatism rose by six percent among young people aged 18-29, while Millennials and Generation X (30-49) witnessed the largest increase at 13 percent.

   This recent trend toward social conservatism coincides with a time when social issues are increasingly prominent. As the poll highlights, topics such as “transgender matters, abortion, crime, drug use, and the teaching of gender and sexuality in schools” are vigorously debated and receive disproportionate attention in the daily news. The radical positions adopted by Democrats on these issues represent the ideal of a progressive dream society.

   Former President Obama is arguably responsible for injecting a hyper-focus on social progressivism into the public consciousness. In 2012, his re-election strategy sought to unite and mobilize “oppressed” minorities and young white progressives into an unbeatable political coalition, referred to as the “coalition of the ascendant.” Even though these demographic groups were among the least likely to vote, social issues were used to motivate them to vote, according to the Center for American Progress, a progressive think tank.

   Since 2012, Democrats and their media allies have aggressively brought these issues into the spotlight, even when their policy preferences often diverge significantly from public sentiment.

   For instance, we are told that transgender issues are the “next civil rights frontier,” comparable to the original civil rights movement that successfully tackled racial discrimination in the 1960s. The left insists that young children must learn about transgender issues from an early age to combat “transphobia” wherever it exists. However, a PRRI poll reveals that 65 percent of Americans believe gender is binary, and less than 10 percent feel it is acceptable to teach about gender identity in grade school.

   On abortion, Democrats have moved away from the 1990s position of “legal, safe, and rare” and instead embraced abortion as morally acceptable under all circumstances. They proudly proclaim, “Shout your abortion,” even though most Americans hold moderate views on abortion and prefer restrictions after the first trimester, as revealed by an AP-NORC poll.

   The left often portrays violent criminals as the real victims of an unjust society. In contrast, crime victims are treated as mere statistics to be ignored on the path to a utopia. The left also argues that drug use and homelessness are human rights that the government must facilitate rather than problems to protect the law-abiding public from. However, Americans express greater concern about crime now than at any other time this century.

   Not only are the left’s positions unpopular, but they also defy common sense. One cannot arrive at these conclusions without years of immersion in academic abstractions or relentless consumption of media propaganda. For example, an IPSO study found that media coverage of transgender issues increased by 400 percent between 2009 and 2019, ensuring that activists in the press constantly feed Americans a steady diet of “trans visibility.”

   Americans are no longer expected to tolerate progressive ideals that aim to supplant established norms. They are now required to actively celebrate these developments as morally virtuous; otherwise, they are considered on the “wrong side of history,” a disparagement often used by President Obama.

   After a decade, the Gallup poll now suggests that progressive elites have pushed too far. Resistance to authority is a fundamental aspect of being human, particularly among Americans with an enduring streak of individualism. Americans do not appreciate being told what they must do or how they should think. They are accustomed to overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles and challenging principles that appear beyond reproach.

   Challenging authority has long been ingrained in our national DNA. The spirit led to the American Revolution and the fulfillment of manifest destiny. It facilitated the construction of railroads, skyscrapers, and the most powerful economy the world has ever witnessed. However, it was also the force behind the countercultural revolution of the 1960s.

   The baby boomer generation opposed their parent’s generation’s moral and political authority. They had a valid argument to some extent—they sought an equal society that previous generations had failed to achieve. However, they also desired greater personal autonomy and sexual freedom, freeing themselves from strong familial, community, and religious obligations. The baby boomers radically reimagined what constituted the “good life” along these lines and embraced personal freedom.

   What was once the counterculture has become the new authority, positioning itself as the natural course of history and marginalizing socially conservative values. This year, it appears that Americans finally realize they have reached their limit. The trajectory of “history” is once again up for debate.

[bikerpoliticalreport]

Democrats Ramp Up the Battle Against the Supreme Court as Losses Mount

 House Democrats, Reps. Ro Khanna of California and Don Beyer of Virginia have introduced a bill to impose term limits on Supreme Court justices. The move comes after several consecutive rulings during the final week of the term did not align with the Biden administration’s objectives.

   The bill, known as the Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act, seeks to “rebalance” the court and curb “extreme partisanship.” The bill is being reintroduced after the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision to reject President Biden’s plan for student loan forgiveness. The majority ruled that the plan did not have the necessary authorization under federal law.

   Khanna expressed concern over the court’s decision, stating that it would put hardworking Americans at risk of default and adversely affect the economy. He argued that lifetime appointments, intended to ensure impartiality, have resulted in justices becoming partisan and out of touch with the American public. Khanna expressed pride in reintroducing the bill, asserting that term limits would help restore balance to the court and prevent extreme partisanship.

   The lawmakers highlighted the escalating cost of college education since 1980, which has tripled, while federal aid and wages have not kept pace. They noted that student debt currently exceeds $1.6 million collectively, while many Americans struggle to make ends meet. Beyer criticized the Supreme Court as a distant, unelected body that can significantly impact people’s lives without being held accountable. He cited recent partisan decisions, including those affecting reproductive and voting rights, as eroding public trust in the court. Beyer also raised concerns about financial relationships between justices and conservative donors, which have raised integrity questions.

   It is worth noting that the court’s majority also ruled in favor of the Biden administration’s arguments in a case involving state courts’ authority in elections. Of course, Khanna and Beyer praised this ruling, with Khanna commending the court for protecting free and fair elections in a tweet and Beyer hailing it as a victory for democracy. President Biden, however, expressed caution regarding progressive efforts to expand the size of the Supreme Court, warning that such measures could forever politicize the institution in an unhealthy manner.

[bikerpoliticalreport]

 Fox News is still dealing with the fallout of “parting ways” with top-rated host Tucker Carlson. As the network continues to collapse in the ratings, far-left outlet MSNBC continues to take advantage and topped Fox News in several key demographics.

   “MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow led prime time on Monday with 2.53 million total viewers and 212,000 viewers in the key 25-54 age demographic. Maddow’s haul was enough to boost MSNBC’s prime-time average to number one in total viewers. MSNBC won prime time with 1.9 million total viewers, while Fox News came in second with 1.73 million total viewers. Fox won the demo, however, with 178,000 viewers to CNN’s 161,000 and MSNBC’s 160,000,” Mediaite reported.

   Fox News cable news ratings have collapsed in the key 25-54 age demographic after the network took Carlson off the air in late April.

   Things have gotten so bad at the network that longtime host Sean Hannity has fallen behind MSNBC’s Joy Reid in the key demo.

   Liberal reporter Glenn Greenwald tweeted: “The 8 pm slot on Fox with Tucker was not only consistently number 1 in the key demo – 25-54 – but routinely had 400,000 viewers or more. Without Tucker, it’s crashed to worse-than-MSNBC levels: barely 100,000 people. Hannity is in 14th place, behind Joy Reid! A total collapse. It’s so clear Fox’s firing of Tucker was not just financially driven, bereft of the Murdochs’ and Paul Ryan’s ideological goals. Firing Tucker destroyed its prime-time ratings. There’s no argument Tucker’s twice-a-week Twitter postings compete with Fox. They want him silenced.”

   Hannity’s primetime show has been feeling the heat since Carlson was abruptly ousted.

   Hannity’s show, which got up to nearly 2 million in the final weeks of May, has fallen to around a 1.7 million average in June so far. For comparison, Hannity’s primetime show averaged around 3 million each night before Carlson’s departure.

   After dominating cable news ratings for years, the Fox News Channel has been knocked from its top perch left-wing rival MSNBC in key time slots.

   “Nielsen data regarding the week ending this past Sunday was shared on Twitter on Tuesday by A.J. Katz, a reporter specializing in the cable news business. According to the data, Fox’s primetime 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET viewership averaged 1,504,429. The average viewership for the more left-leaning MSNBC over the same time frame averaged 1,520,857, narrowly beating out the conservative network that has long been a leader in cable news viewership,” Newsweek reported.

   Fox News also recently announced its brand new prime-time lineup and revealed who will be taking over Tucker Carlson’s old time slot.

   In a press release, the network revealed that Jesse Watters will take the 8 p.m. slot, directly replacing Carlson. Laura Ingraham will move from 10 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sean Hannity will stay at 9 p.m. and Greg Gutfeld will move to 10 p.m. Longtime news anchor Trace Gallagher will move up to 11 p.m.

   “A rotating cast of hosts stepped in to replace Carlson after he was abruptly fired from Fox News one week after it reached a $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems over the airing of 2020 election lies. The ratings dipped significantly from the Carlson era, who in his seven years helming Tucker Carlson Tonight emerged as a controversial but popular host at the network,” Mediaite reported.

   “Watters joined Fox News two decades ago, working his way up from production assistant to on-air commentator on Bill O’Reilly’s hit prime-time show,” the outlet added. “Perhaps the biggest shake-up is moving the top-rated late-night show, Gutfeld! from 11 PM to an hour earlier.”

   The statement concluded: “In recent years, he has become one of the most-watched personalities on the network, as co-host of the top-rated show The Five and solo host of his own program Watters’ World, which debuted in the 7 p.m. slot in 2022.”

[bikerpoliticalreport]

Zuckerberg Takes on Musk’s Twitter With Threads App 

Meta Platforms plans to launch a Twitter-rivaling microblogging app called Threads, days after Twitter boss Elon Musk attracted criticism by announcing a temporary cap on how many posts users can read on the social media site.

   Threads is expected to be released Thursday and will allow users to retain followers from photo-sharing platform Instagram, and keep the same username, a listing on Apple’s App Store showed.

   The rollout represents a direct challenge to Twitter, which has faced numerous controversies since Musk bought the company for $44 billion in 2022.

   Last week, the Tesla billionaire announced a slate of new restrictions on the app, limiting the number of tweets users could view per day, prompting an outcry from many on the platform.

   While alternative microblogging sites — such as Mastodon and Blue Sky — have seen an uptick in user numbers since Musk’s acquisition, neither has been able to challenge Twitter.

   But Instagram already has hundreds of millions of registered users and has a history of introducing new features based on the success of other social media firms.

   In 2016, it added a feature called “stories” to Instagram, or user posts that disappear after a fixed amount of time, in response to the rising popularity of Snapchat.

   More recently, the company’s short-form video feature “Reels” has sought to challenge the rise of TikTok.

   The launch of Threads by Meta, the company that Mark Zuckerberg chairs, represents a credible threat to Twitter under Musk, whose attempts to boost revenues and reshape the platform his own image have faced severe criticism.

   After acquiring the company late last year, he laid off around 80% of staff and reinstated a number of banned accounts, such as those of former U.S. President Donald Trump and conservative satirical news site Babylon Bee.

   Hundreds of advertisers, concerned by a perceived rise in harmful content on the platform, paused spend with Twitter, and internal documents seen by Reuters showed the platform’s most active users becoming disengaged.

   Meta did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on a similar launch on the Google Play Store. Reuters approached Twitter for comment.

[bikerpoliticalreport]

Epic Republican Rally: Moms for Liberty Ignite Revolutionary Change in Education Policy

 In the bustling heart of Philadelphia, the Moms for Liberty “Joyful Warriors” National Summit stood resolute against a cacophony of insults such as “bigot” and “fascist,” hurled by a handful of protesters. These protesters, engaging in a transgender “dance protest,” starkly contrasted the conservative gathering within the summit venue on Friday and Saturday.

   Amid vibrant rainbow flags, loud music, and public speeches, the protest outside the summit was hardly discreet. It was heavily publicized in media stories, social media posts, and various signage placed strategically throughout the city. They had prepared for a larger crowd with stacked placards for on-the-spot protestors, assorted snacks, sidewalk chalk for ground-based insults, and tables loaded with persuasive literature. However, the protest’s anticipated impact seemed overestimated, with the cardboard signs barely utilized.

   Inside the venue, supporters of the Moms for Liberty Summit displayed a stark contrast. Encouraging messages echoed throughout the room, advocating conservative values. Attendees made it clear they would continue defending their beliefs, regardless of the labels imposed by those opposing their cause.

   Moms for Liberty is a grassroots conservative group born out of parents’ concerns regarding policies perceived as destructive during the Covid-19 pandemic two years prior. This concern culminated in a formidable political movement that attracted significant attention from five Republican presidential hopefuls, including Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and former President Donald Trump, along with Asa Hutchinson, former Arkansas Governor, and Vivek Ramaswamy on a subsequent day. This attention drawn to the group was believed to be the cause of the protest.

   Ramaswamy, joined by his wife, a throat surgeon, and his two children, engaged in a lively discussion with Tiffany Justice, the co-founder of Moms for Liberty. They discussed proposed national policies, including his proposed changes to the educational system. His policies, particularly the idea of dismantling the U.S. Department of Education to facilitate school choice, found favor among many of the moms present. His suggestion of overhauling various federal agencies like the FBI, IRS, ATF, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission also stirred a positive response.

   Ramaswamy, at 37, stands as the first millennial U.S. presidential candidate. His positions, such as acknowledging two genders, embracing fossil fuels, and recognizing parents’ rights to decide their children’s education, resonated with the crowd. He warned against the growing “woke” culture and what he described as a moral void being filled with damaging ideologies like “wokeism,” “transgenderism,” and “COVIDism.”

   The summit also hosted former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, an advocate for the future of education, particularly in computer science. As governor, he championed a comprehensive education program for computer science. If elected president, he aspired to establish such programs in all American high schools. Hutchinson, who had also been a federal prosecutor, stressed his commitment to border security and a balanced budget, further enhancing his appeal to the conservative audience.

   The Moms for Liberty “Joyful Warriors” National Summit served as a beacon for conservative values in the face of protest and opposition. Despite the external noise, the summit successfully hosted influential figures in the Republican Party, showcasing the strength of grassroots movements in shaping the national political conversation.

[bikerpoliticalreport]

McEnany: How Is Leaked Trump Audio to CNN Not ‘Violative of the Process?’

  The recording of former President Donald Trump discussing sensitive information that was released is another evidence of the federal government’s lack of credibility, said former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany.

   During an interview on Fox News, McEnany and host Sean Hannity discussed the recent audio obtained by CNN that involves former President Donald Trump, who can be heard on the tape ruffling papers and discussing a Department of Defense plan concerning Iran.

   “That’s been violated by somebody. I don’t know, why do I assume that a leak to a liberal outlet likely didn’t come from some conservative but maybe somebody close to that special counsel? Just a guess. I don’t know. What do you think, Kayleigh?” Hannity asked.

   “Yeah, you know, Sean, that is a key point. I sit here and I see these things, these details of the case in a court of law by a special counsel come in, and they’re aired on CNN. We get a transcript of the tape. We get an audio recording of the tape. How does that happen? How was that not violative of the process? And at the time when — I saw today an NBC poll, in the 30 percentile is the approval rating of the DoJ and FBI, we need confidence in our government, in our institutions, and this doesn’t instill much when this is getting leaked to the likes of CNN,” McEnany said.

   “I’m sorry, whataboutism is called equal justice and equal application of our laws. And considering they didn’t raid any of the four locations Joe Biden had top-secret classified documents and they certainly let Hillary off the hook and our enemies had access to a lot of that information and she deleted another 33,000 subpoenaed emails and she got away with that, too, and she got away with the dirty dossier that ended up being used for FISA application, none of which were true, I’m standing by my original monologue that said we have a corrupt government and we have a weaponized DoJ and a weaponized FBI and the American people, I think, are seeing it more and more. It’s becoming more transparent every day,” Hannity added.

   The Department of Justice’s indictment of Trump makes mention of the audio tape and alleges that the persons Trump is speaking with do not have the required security clearance for the papers.

   Trump criticized CNN for promoting what he has called the “witch hunt” by the Department of Justice, the FBI, and special counsel Jack Smith after the cable news network aired the recording that had been released.

   Trump handily won the state in 2020, and that could work to his advantage when it comes to his federal trial for allegedly mishandling classified documents.

   As Newsmax reported on Friday, the jury pool will come primarily from counties that Trump easily won in 2016 and 2020, and that could work to his advantage when the case comes to trial.

   In addition, the federal judge hearing the case is Aileen Cannon, whom Trump appointed. And on Friday, she signaled that the trial would take place in Fort Pierce, the federal courthouse where she usually sits, at the northern end of the Southern District of Florida.

   “I’m not convinced this case is going to go in Fort Pierce,” Dave Aronberg, an outgoing Florida state attorney in Palm Beach County, told the Times. He went on to predict that the case could be moved to West Palm Beach, where Trump lives and where the classified documents were found.

   But for now, if the case remains in Fort Pierce, that will bode well for Trump when it comes time to select a jury.

   Newsmax adds:

   Trump won Okeechobee County, a rural county where just more than 16,000 people voted in the 2020 election, with 71.5% of the vote, according to the county’s election tally. He took Highlands County with 66.8% in 2020. That county is a rural area where more than 52,000 people voted.

   In Martin County, where more than 98,000 people voted, Trump won with 61.8%. In Indian River County, where more than 97,000 voted, the then-president won with 60.2% of the vote.

   The swing county of St. Lucie County was one in which Trump won narrowly in both 2016 and 2020. He got 50.4% of the vote in 2020 to defeat President Joe Biden.

   Fort Myers is situated along Florida’s Atlantic coast, about 100 miles north of Miami. Cannon has set the trial date for Aug. 14 “or as soon after that as the case may be called.”

[bikerpoliticalreport]

Zelenskyy: America Set Example for Liberty 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote a Fourth of July message to thank America for both its example of liberty and its support in his country’s war against Russia.

   Zelenskyy issued his Happy Birthday message via an opinion column in The Wall Street Journal on Sunday.

   “America’s Founders upended history when they forged a republic based on individual freedom and political pluralism, pledging to live as ‘free and independent states,'” Zelenskyy began his column.

   “It was, and is, the greatest attempt in history to rid mankind of tyranny. They broke with centuries of subservience to create a new type of nation, one where all are equal and live free.”

   After Russian President Vladimir Putin began an unprovoked war by sending his troops into Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainians followed the path created by America’s Founding Fathers.

   “Today, as Americans celebrate their freedom and independence, we celebrate with you and envision the day when every inch of Ukraine is free of the cruel tyranny that seeks to extinguish us,” the Ukrainian president wrote.

   Zelenskyy then scolded Putin for once saying that “America is not exceptional.”

   “Many tyrants in human history have claimed global influence, but none of them could inspire the rest of the world to strive for the best in human nature,” Zelenskyy wrote.

   “That’s why today’s Russian tyrants, like all tyrants, are fundamentally weak and their regime will crumble over time. When any tyrant hates America and denies its exceptional role in the struggle for freedom, he recognizes his own inevitable defeat. To Russian tyranny, I say the world needs more, not less, American exceptionalism.”

   Zelenskyy said that since ousting Russian-backed dictator Viktor Yanukovych in 2014, his fellow Ukrainians have “always supported democracy, defended the dignity of every person, and strived to live in a free world together with other European nations.”

   “Russian tyranny sees that it is not eternal and not sustainable when it looks at Ukraine —free, independent Ukraine; strong, democratic Ukraine leading to true democracy and freedom spreading here on the eastern flank of Europe, and especially to Russia,” the president wrote.

   “Ukraine integrated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the West is a guarantee that freedom will continue to win and peace will triumph.”

   Zelenskyy also warned of the potential impact if Russia prevails in its war against Ukraine.

   “Russian tyranny is desperately trying to attract other enemies of freedom, in particular the Iranian regime, which tries to threaten free nations all over the world and provides weapons to Russia that kill innocent Ukrainian civilians on a daily basis,” he wrote.

   “If — God forbid — Russia were to succeed in Ukraine, it would further embolden countries like Iran to take up arms against free peoples elsewhere in the world. It would encourage Russia to invade deeper into Europe, bringing it into direct confrontation with NATO.

   “All such scenarios can be stopped only by the steadfast defense of freedom, those who aspire to freedom, and the alliances created to protect freedom. We Ukrainians and you Americans will never give up on freedom.”

[bikerpoliticalreport]

Armed Suspect Arrested Near DC Home of Barack, Michelle Obama

A suspect with an arrest warrant for the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol Building who was also carrying materials to make a bomb was arrested near the Washington, D.C., home of former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.

   According to CBS News, which quoted multiple sources, the suspect was identified as 37-year-old Taylor Taranto of Seattle, Wash.

   According to a law enforcement official who was briefed on the matter, the Secret Service identified him within blocks of Obama’s residence. After he was spotted, Taranto attempted to flee, which led to a pursuit by the Secret Service. He ran in the direction of the Obama home but was apprehended before reaching it.

   The report continued: “Taranto’s van was parked close to where he was arrested. There were multiple weapons and the materials to make some kind of explosive device akin to a Molotov cocktail, but it had not been assembled, according to law enforcement officials familiar with the details. He had said he had explosives, but first responders only found the materials to make them. U.S. officials were concerned because Taranto had made threats during recent live streams on social media against a public figure. He also had an open warrant on charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol. He wasn’t in Obama’s neighborhood by mistake, a U.S. official noted.”

   As per a senior law enforcement official, Taranto had been present in the Washington, D.C., area for a few months. He had been observed camping out in his van near the D.C. jail, where numerous defendants from the January 6 incident are being detained. Additionally, some of his live streams were seemingly uploaded while he was in the vicinity of Washington, D.C., CBS News reported.

   “Taranto has been charged with being a fugitive from justice, according to the Metropolitan Police Department,” CBS News reported, adding that it’s unclear if the Obamas were home at the time of the incident.

   Meanwhile, the Biden family has been accused of engaging in a “kickback scheme” about his son Hunter Biden’s international business transactions, according to a former Obama administration employee who has come out with the claim.

   Mike McCormick, who worked as a stenographer in the White House for 15 years, claimed that the FBI has ignored him even though he is prepared to provide a sworn statement to the federal grand jury looking into the activities of Joe Biden’s son.

   “In February, I went to the FBI and filed one of their tips on their website. If you do that, and you’re lying to them, you go to jail. I’m not lying. I’m telling the truth, and I’m not going to jail,” he said. “Joe Biden is a criminal. He was conducting malfeasance in office to enrich his family. Jake Sullivan is a conspirator in that, and there’s more… Obama officials involved in it, I believe.”

   “McCormick, who worked with Biden from 2011 to 2017, detailed a key dialogue involving the vice president, aide Jake Sullivan and the press on Air Force Two before a trip to Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 21, 2014. Sullivan, who is the current national security adviser, outlined in a White House transcript Biden’s priorities for his trip to the country, which included U.S. investment in the Ukrainian energy sector days after Hunter joined the board of Burisma Months later, and well after the trip, Congress allocated $50 million to Ukraine’s energy market,” the outlet reported.

   “I’m sitting back there with a tape recorder. Jake Sullivan comes back and somebody asks about fracking. His answer is, well, we’re bringing a lot of American assistance over for fracking. Burisma was the direct beneficiary of that fracking, and that’s what I recorded, and that’s in a White House transcript,” the former stenographer said.

   “In the transcript, you don’t know who Jake Sullivan is. It’s a senior administration official. I’m the witness that says Jake Sullivan is the guy who said it and he should be investigated because at the time Hunter Biden was on the board of Burisma and Joe Biden is bringing American taxpayer money to enrich that company and himself and his family,” he added.

[bikerpoliticalreport]

Landmark Supreme Court Decision: Affirmative Action Policies Ruled Unconstitutional

  In a historic and momentous decision, the Supreme Court has resoundingly ruled that the affirmative action policies pursued by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina blatantly violate the Constitution. With a solid majority of 6-3, Chief Justice John Roberts was joined by Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrett in delivering this crucial verdict. Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor expressed dissenting opinions. Notably, Jackson recused herself from the Harvard ruling due to her involvement on a board associated with the university.

   The opinion of the Court unequivocally underscores the imperative of treating students as individuals based on their unique experiences rather than making admissions decisions based on their race. It unequivocally condemns universities that have persistently chosen to prioritize racial considerations over personal achievements, acquired skills, and lessons learned. The Supreme Court has declared that such an approach is incompatible with our constitutional principles.

   In his written opinion, Chief Justice Roberts asserts that the admissions systems employed by the universities in question not only do not comply with the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause but also perpetuate negative stereotypes and treat race as a decisive factor in the admissions process. The Court takes a critical stance against the universities’ feeble arguments, suggesting that race is not a negative factor and asserting that the demographic composition of admitted classes would significantly change without race-based admissions.

   Furthermore, the Supreme Court points out the lack of a meaningful connection between the universities’ pursued goals and the methods they employ. It raises valid concerns about the imprecision and arbitrariness inherent in the racial categories utilized by the institutions. The Court astutely argues that such opaque and broad categorizations undermine the universities’ professed commitment to diversity and inclusion, as they fail to account for the unique characteristics and needs of specific racial and ethnic groups. The ruling rightly questions the credibility of the universities’ claims and unequivocally dismisses their request for deference in utilizing race as a factor in admissions. Havard applications have different chances of admission depending upon their race. The lowest acceptance was Asians, followed by Whites.

Screenshot: Twitter: The Rabbit Hole

   The lawsuit challenging these affirmative action policies was championed by Students for Fair Admissions, seeking to overturn previous lower court rulings that upheld the universities’ programs. This momentous Supreme Court decision serves as a resounding victory for equal protection principles and the constitutionally mandated fairness in college admissions. It signals a much-needed setback for the flawed and divisive practices of affirmative action. It can potentially bring about a reevaluation of similar policies at other institutions across the nation.

   Perhaps the most important opinion written comes from Justice Clearance Thomas. Born into poverty in the Deep South during the Jim Crow Era, Justice Thomas possesses a poignant and powerful perspective on the issue. In the opinion released on Thursday, Justice Thomas did not shy away from addressing the grave failure of our nation: slavery and its aftermath. He also criticized the Court’s misinterpretation of the Reconstruction Amendments, echoing the concerns raised by Justice Harlan in Plessy.

   Thomas firmly stated that we must not repeat this mistake simply because we believe that current arrangements are superior to the Constitution like our predecessors did. Moreover, Thomas emphasized that this ruling brings America closer to achieving a more perfect union that lives up to its promise, transcending the stains of past racism. While acknowledging the social and economic hardships that have afflicted his race and all victims of discrimination, he maintained an enduring hope that our country would fulfill the principles eloquently articulated in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

[bikerpoliticalreport]

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