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States File New Lawsuit To Block Executive Order Mail-In Voting Restrictions
A coalition of 23 states, the District of Columbia, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging a newly finalized U.S. Postal Service rule on mail-in ballots. The rule requires states to enroll eligible mail voters in a USPS database, obtain pre-approval for envelope designs, and use trackable barcodes. Plaintiffs argue the regulation exceeds the Postal Service's authority and violates the Constitutionâs Elections Clause. The filing follows a Supreme Court decision that earlier challenges were premature. The states seek a preliminary injunction to block the rule ahead of the midterms.
Editorâs Note: Of the 23 states, 21 have Democrat governors (Nevada and Vermont have Republican governors). These suits only go to show the intentions of their political apparatuses in defending a practice that literally shields voter fraud.
đď¸ News & Politics
AOC Renews Lapsed DSA Membership Amid 2028 Talk
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez renewed her Democratic Socialists of America membership in August after the group found her 2018 one-year membership had expired in 2019. DSA told members she is now in good standing. The organization had still called her a member during the lapse, including after her 2020 reelection. DSA said it issued the unusual public clarification because chapters are discussing a possible 2028 presidential draft. National DSA withdrew a conditional endorsement of her in 2024 over Israel and Gaza. Her office did not comment.
Michigan Sheriff Posts Email On Noncitizen Voter Registration Claim
Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf posted a redacted email he said came from a Michigan Department of State employee about noncitizens being registered to vote after address changes. Leaf previously said a whistleblower alleged the stateâs Customer and Automotive Record System can generate notices congratulating people on voter registration. He said local clerks lack a practical way to check citizenship once a name is in the Qualified Voter File. Leaf said he referred the matter to the Justice Department. Hastings Charter Township Clerk David Olson also asked federal officials for help reviewing local rolls. Secretary of State Jocelyn Bensonâs office has disputed the automatic-registration claim and said safeguards exist.
Jeffries, Democrat Lieutenant, Rebuke Piker Over Israel Remarks
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)) condemned livestreamer Hasan Piker after comments that American Jews who stress support for Israel could face violence. Jeffries called the remarks dangerous, malicious, and antisemitic. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and US Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Ritchie Torres (D-NY) also criticized the language. Piker has a large online audience and has been linked to Democratic Socialists of America-aligned politics. Several senior Democrats issued rebukes as the party sought to distance itself from the streamerâs statements.
Meta To Pay Up To 16 Point 68 Billion To Settle Landmark Child Safety Social Media Case
Meta has agreed to pay up to $16.68 billion to settle claims by multiple U.S. states that its platforms were designed to addict children and caused mental health harms. The settlement requires the company to impose daily usage limits and nighttime blocks for teenage users on Facebook and Instagram. Meta denied any wrongdoing in reaching the agreement. The deal resolves a high-profile federal case and includes additional privacy-related claims from some states. Shares of the company rose after the announcement.
FDA Approves Pancreatic Cancer Drug That Nearly Doubles Life Expectancy
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved daraxonrasib, sold as Rasonque, for adults with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have received prior treatment. Clinical trial results showed a median overall survival of 13.2 months for patients on the drug compared with 6.7 months for those on standard chemotherapy. The once-daily oral pill targets mutated RAS proteins that drive tumor growth. Side effects can include significant skin toxicity. The approval provides a new option for a cancer with historically poor outcomes.
Editorâs Note: With the increased use of AI in medical research, there is hope for many incurable and devastating diseases, such as ALS, MS, and Parkinson's.
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El Sayed Makes Bizarre Comparison When Pressed On Sharia Law
Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed compared Sharia law to Christian canon law during a Monday night interview after being pressed on his past claim that opposing Sharia amounts to white supremacy. El-Sayed insisted that no one is trying to impose Sharia and argued that preemptive bans simply target Muslims for being different. He framed the two systems as equivalent expressions of religious freedom. Critics noted that canon law governs internal church matters while Sharia has shaped civil and criminal codes in multiple countries. El-Sayed also tried to shift the discussion back to gas prices and health care.
Editorâs Note: There is an additional component to Islam, however, in that it isnât exclusively a religion. It is a theocratic-governmental system that touches both worship and society.
Democratic Socialist Wins Oklahoma Senate Primary Runoff
NâKiyla Jasmine Thomas, a nurse who identifies as a democratic socialist, won the Democratic primary runoff for Oklahomaâs open U.S. Senate seat. She defeated attorney Jim Priest after leading the June primary. Thomas has vowed to work to impeach President Trump within her first 100 days if elected. She supports policies including Medicare for All and universal childcare. The winner will face Republican Rep. Kevin Hern in the heavily Republican state in November.
Federal Appeals Court Rejects McIver Immunity Claim In ICE Assault Case
A federal appeals court panel ruled Wednesday that Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) is not immune from prosecution on two counts of assaulting and impeding federal officers during a 2025 confrontation at an ICE facility in Newark. The 2-1 decision from the Third Circuit, involving a Biden appointee and a Trump appointee, rejected her claim of legislative immunity under the Speech or Debate Clause. Judges found the alleged physical actions had no connection to official legislative duties. A third count was sent back to the lower court. McIver said the court got it wrong and is exploring further options.
Federal Court Strikes Down Texas Ban On Drag Shows For Children
A federal judge appointed by President Reagan struck down a Texas law that restricted sexually oriented performances, including drag shows, in the presence of minors. U.S. District Judge David Hittner ruled that Senate Bill 12 is unconstitutionally vague and violates the First Amendment. The decision blocks enforcement by Attorney General Ken Paxton. Hittner advised those who find the performances offensive to simply stay away. Paxton said he would appeal the ruling.
Yet Another Church Torched, Cause Unknown
A vacant historic church in Cleveland, which began as a 1890s synagogue and later served as Friendship Baptist Church, was destroyed by an early-morning fire on Aug. 21. Dozens of firefighters responded as the roof collapsed, and the structure was later demolished. Officials first listed the cause as unknown. Cleveland Fire Lt. Mike Norman later said the blaze was incendiary and not believed to be financially motivated. Investigators reviewed video of people entering the building and said arrests were expected. A 19-year-old was arraigned Wednesday on a felony arson charge. Damage estimates ranged from about $500,000 to $750,000. No injuries were reported.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"The vision of the anointed is a vision of independent individuals replaced by decision-makers imposing their superior wisdom on others."
â Thomas Sowell
đ International
US Seizes Domains Used By Chinese State-Sponsored Hacking Platforms
The Justice Department and FBI announced court-authorized seizures of domains used by QScan and QTRouter, platforms they attributed to a Chinese state-sponsored group known as QTFY. Officials said the group is tied to Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Company and sold hacking services to Chinaâs Ministry of State Security and the Peopleâs Liberation Army. Victims listed in court papers include NASA, the Federal Reserve, the Energy Department, HHS, NIH, the Senate, and the Justice Department. The FBI said the tools scanned for and exploited systems, routing traffic through compromised devices to hide their origin. Because the domains were hard-coded into the malware, officials said the seizures made both platforms inoperable.
Saudi Nuclear Deal Sent To Congress, Israel Normalization Still Attached
The Trump administration has submitted a proposed civil nuclear energy agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress. The deal would allow U.S. companies to export civilian nuclear technology and permit uranium enrichment on Saudi territory. An administration official said the agreement will only move forward if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords and normalizes relations with Israel. Congress has 90 session days to review the pact. Saudi Arabia has previously conditioned normalization on progress toward a Palestinian state.
Iran Uses Cheap Crime Networks In Europe For Proxy Attacks
Iran has used European crime groups, including Swedenâs Foxtrot Network, as low-cost proxies for attacks on dissidents, journalists and Jewish or Israeli targets. Analysts said Tehran shelters fugitive criminals in Iran and then pressures them to run operations through existing gangs. Foxtrot leader Rawa Majid fled Sweden and later relocated to Iran. The network has been linked to about 35 murders and multiple attacks since 2022. Recruits have included teenagers who were offered a few hundred dollars. Experts said the model can survive even if a larger war with Iran ends because the gangs already live off drugs and arms trafficking.
Those Behind Hybrid Attacks On Germany Will Pay A Price, Chancellor Merz
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said those responsible for hybrid attacks on Germany, including recent drone incidents at Leipzig-Halle Airport, will pay a price. Authorities discovered a third drone and suspected explosives near the airport. Previous discoveries included a drone carrying explosives near Ukrainian cargo planes. Merz said Germany faces real threats from hybrid attackers and that security agencies are working intensively to identify those responsible. No suspects have been publicly named.
US Probe Confirms UNRWA Worker In Oct. 7 Video Was Hamas Operative
The USAID inspector general independently confirmed that Faisal Ali Al-Naami, a UNRWA social worker seen on video dragging the body of Israeli Yonatan Samerano into an SUV at Kibbutz Beâeri on Oct. 7, 2023, was a Hamas military communications operative. Al-Naami was killed in an Israeli airstrike later that month. Investigators have linked at least 108 current or former UNRWA staff to Hamas or the Oct. 7 attacks. Three living former UNRWA teachers were proposed for federal debarment over kidnapping, Islamic Jihad ties, or holding hostages. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said no U.S. funding will go to UNRWA. The United Nations previously said Israelâs evidence on Al-Naami needed more corroboration.
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