Biden Touts Social Media Influencers as the New ‘Source of News’ at White House Event

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Biden Touts Social Media Influencers as the New ‘Source of News’ at White House Event

(Headline USA) Although President Joe Biden may no longer be paying Gen-Z shills like Harry Sisson to promote his reelection campaign, he may be ready to replace his daily diet of Morning Joe with YouTube and TikTok videos after many of his mainstream media allies threw him under the bus.

Social media influencers got the royal treatment at the White House on Wednesday as  Biden gave a nod to their ability to hold sway with millions of loyal followers.

The White House played host to a group of more than 100 influencers, also known as content creators, across a range of media platforms—from chefs and makeup artists to fitness gurus and medical students—to talk about issues including mental health, pay equity and the abuse of artificial intelligence.

“The fact is, you are the future,” Biden told the influencers gathered in the Indian Treaty Room in the White House complex.

“You’re the source of the news,” he said. “You are the new possibilities. You are the new breakthrough in how we communicate.”

Biden added, to laughter: “And that’s why I invited you to the White House, because I’m looking for a job.”

Those in attendance included makeup artist Jackie Aina, chef My Nguyen and medical student Joel Bervell. Together, the influencers count millions of followers.

In showcasing the importance and heft of the content creator economy—valued at roughly $250 billion worldwide—the White House is also recognizing the youth vote that will be a crucial constituency for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump in the November election.

In late July, a coalition of 17 youth-led groups endorsed the vice president. The youth-led progressive organizations had warned for months that Biden, 81, had a problem with young voters, pleading with the president to work more closely with them to refocus on issues most important to younger generations or risk losing their votes. They’re hoping Harris can harness a new explosion of energy among young voters.

Trump has also spent time courting influencers. Notably, his campaign is counting on younger male voters to give him the edge in November.

He has attended UFC fights and conducted an interview with popular online personality Logan Paul, as well as collecting the endorsements of several high-profile rappers.

Trump participated in an interview last week with Twitch streamer and online personality Adin Ross, who has more than 7 million Instagram followers. The internet personality ended his interview with the former president by gifting him a Tesla Cybertruck wrapped in images of Trump raising his fist after the assassination attempt against him.

The White House event comes as the Biden administration is embroiled in a legal battle with TikTok over a federal law that will determine the future of the platform in the U.S.

Many creators who earn income on TikTok have opposed the law, which requires TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance to sell the popular platform to a U.S.-approved buyer or face a ban.

In May, TikTok and ByteDance sued to block the law, arguing divestment isn’t commercially, legally or technologically possible and that they would have to shut down the platform in the U.S. by Jan. 19 if the law were to go into effect.

The measure was passed after it received bipartisan backing in Congress and by top-level administration officials who expressed concerns about how the Chinese government could influence ByteDance.

TikTok was previously in negotiations with the Biden administration to resolve some of those concerns. However, those talks fizzled out before the two sides reached a deal.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Kamala Ignores RFK Jr.’s Offer to Drop Out of Race, Endorse Her in Return for Job

Dmytro "Henry" Aleksandrov
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Kamala Ignores RFK Jr.’s Offer to Drop Out of Race, Endorse Her in Return for Job

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. contacted Kamala Harris, offering to drop out of the race and endorse her in exchange for a powerful position in her administration if she wins, but Harris ignored him.

The New York Post reported that RFK Jr., a 70-year-old independent presidential candidate from a famous family of Democrats, attempted to contact Harris’s campaign last week to arrange a meeting to discuss the offer.

“From the beginning of this campaign, we were saying people should be talking to each other. That is the only way of unifying the country,” RFK Jr. said.

He then said that dismissing or ignoring his offer would be a “strategic mistake” for Harris.

“I think they ought to be looking at every opportunity. I think it is going to be a very close race,” he said.

Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, RFK Jr.’s campaign manager, said Harris and her team have yet to respond to the offer.

Even though he wasn’t working for Harris’s campaign, DNC spokesperson Matt Corridoni told CNN on Aug. 14, 2024, that Harris would never accept the offer.

“No one has any intention of negotiating with a MAGA-funded fringe candidate who has sought out a job with Donald Trump in exchange for an endorsement,” he said.

Even without this response, it was obvious that the entire establishment, in general, and the Democratic Party, in particular, didn’t like RFK Jr., especially after they didn’t choose him as the Democratic presidential candidate this year when the other option was a senile Joe Biden.

Blaze Media reported that RFK Jr. also met with Trump last month in Milwaukee to discuss RFK Jr. possibly working for Trump in his administration.

RFK Jr. also contacted Joe Biden when he was still in the race.

“Mr. Kennedy is willing to meet with leaders of both parties to discuss the possibility of a unity government,” a spokesperson for RFK Jr. told the Post.

New Anti-Woke Streaming Service Merges Reality TV, Family Values

Molly Bruns
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New Anti-Woke Streaming Service Merges Reality TV, Family Values

(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) Look out, Netflix.

We The Studios, a new “anti-woke” streaming service, recently announced its launch into the world of family-friendly entertainment.

It is the latest contributor to what some have dubbed the “parallel economy,” pushing back against woke corporations that have used the ESG movement and cancel culture in an attempt to force customers to submit to their radical beliefs.

Florida-based We The Studios joins a growing list of conservative-friendly entertainment options, including Utah’s Angel Studios and Bentkey, a streaming platform developed by the Nashville-based Daily Wire.

According to We The Studios founder and CEO Cara Leopardo, it aims to be unique, however, in that even left-leaning families fed up with Hollywood’s depravity might find its content appealing.

“We are committed to focusing on non-woke entertainment that is friendly, wholesome, and free of any political bias or agenda,” Leopardo told Headline USA via email.

“Unlike some platforms, we do not engage our viewers with activism; instead, we offer strictly entertainment that aims to educate and inspire,” she added. “In fact, that is our core mandate—to educate and inspire.”

Leopardo and her husband, Curtis, bring to the table their own experiences as Tinsel Town veterans, giving a polished and professional look to shows like Raising Reynolds, a reality series about a blended family of six “navigating small-town life with a twist,” which makes its debut on Sept. 3.

“Viewers are connecting with the heartfelt moments and the relatable experiences showcased in the series,” Leopardo said. “We are particularly excited to highlight a beautiful family like the Reynolds, as their story embodies the values and warmth we aim to represent in our programming.”

 

Three other reality series are set to debut in the fall: Tito Ortiz vs. Sea Monsters, Kitchen Fight and #Super Influencer.

And at least three more shows—American Lockdown, Shop the Show and That Girl Lola are also featured on the platform’s subscription-based website as “coming soon.”

Leopardo previously starred in a reality series of her own on the E! network, The Casting Office, which showcased her own work as a casting agent.

“Although the show ultimately did not air past the pilot episode it inspired me to transition into producing reality tv—a natural progression from my casting background,” she said.

Curtis was an executive producer for several projects, including two feature-length horror movies, after having cut his teeth as a production assistant on the Larry the Cable Guy comedy Witless Protection.

He also managed a film fund with the partners of the Saw francise, Cara Leopardo said.

Both were executive producers of The Capones, a reality series about the descendants of Al Capone, which aired for one season on the Reelz Channel.

However, the family left the industry around 2013 “due to increasing progressive agendas that we felt were not in line with our values, especially as parents to young children.”

With their four kids in mind, they set about developing the idea for We The Studios.

“As a family-run network, we prioritize family values and include our cast members’ children in our programming and events,” Leopardo said. “Everything we produce is centered around wholesome content, ensuring that there is no debauchery in our network or at our events.”

The content available on the platform will cater to children ages 3 and older, with talent as young as 6 years old meant to appeal to younger audiences.

“By incorporating young talent, we aim to foster a sense of connection and engagement among our audience, making our shows enjoyable for the entire family,” Leopardo said.

They chose the bold name, “We The Studios,” as a nod both to their traditional values and to the broad cross-section of the public to whom they aim to cater their content rather than forcing viewers to bend to the out-of-touch sensibilities of a small minority of film-industry elites.

“It reflects our mission to highlight the diverse tapestry of people that make up our beautiful nation,” Leopardo explained. “We aim to showcase a variety of perspectives and stories, celebrating the richness of American traditions.”

Headline USA’s Ben Sellers contributed to this report.

Teenage Vance Photo Assumes Meme Status as Left’s Smear Attack Backfires

Luis Cornelio
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Teenage Vance Photo Assumes Meme Status as Left’s Smear Attack Backfires

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Talk about turning the tables.

Conservatives rallied around an “unearthed” photo of Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance as an 18-year-old, playfully posing next to three girls using urinals in a men’s bathroom. 

The photo, first published by the Daily Mail on Thursday, appeared in the 2003 yearbook of Middletown High School, Vance’s high school. 

The image shows a young Vance, then known as JD Hamel, smiling in a black shirt while standing next to the three girls, who are equally grinning at the camera. 

Despite the photo’s innocuous purpose—that is, celebrating the girls who were elected to student government positions—some leftist users on X attempted to use it against Vance.

Mike Sington, a former NBC Universal producer, was among the prominent figures leading the attacks, calling Vance “weird” for posing in the photo.

Sington, who previously faced backlash for inappropriately claiming Barron Trump was “fair game” after turning 18, failed in his smear of Vance.

“Pretending to be scandalized or offended by JD being a typical goofball in his youth is so dumb, this is a benignly funny pic and you know it,” journalist Michael Tracey commented on X, sharing the photo.

Other prominent figures on X swiftly mocked the left’s desperate attacks, turning the photo into a meme.

Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik shared edited images to depict Vance in various goofy and innocent scenarios.

“Leaked image of JD Vance not returning his shopping cart in high school. He’s COOKED,” Raichik joked, sharing a photoshopped image of Vance in a parking lot. 

X user MazeMoore, known for right-leaning content, quipped, “It gets worse. There is a rumor going around that Vance once added stuff to his Amazon cart and then signed off without checking out. How do you trust someone like that?”

Another user shared an altered image of Vance in front of a computer to jest he had downloaded music illegally. “JD Vance once illegally downloaded Linkin Park’s single ‘Crawling’ off the album Hybrid Theory using LimeWire,” the user wrote.

Republican activist CJ Pearson chimed in. “Oh no. JD Vance took silly pictures in high school! My heavens!” he sarcastically lamented.

At least one of women featured in the original urinal photo defended Vance, affirming the photo was meant to be a joke about women gaining student government positions that year in high school. “We thought it would be funny,” one of the women told the Mail.  

Nikki May, a former classmate, agreed, calling Vance “great student.” She added, “I am very proud to say I went to high school with JD and very impressed of the man he has become. I wish him all the best and I am rooting for him to succeed!”

May remains a friend of Vance on his personal Facebook page, Headline USA found.

Find below some of the meme and AI-generated versions of the Vance photo:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hackers May Have Stolen Every Social Security Number

Dmytro "Henry" Aleksandrov
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Hackers May Have Stolen Every Social Security Number

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) Some months ago, personal information was stolen from a major data broker that may now be available on an online store that offers stolen personal data.

The Post Millennial reported that the hackers violated the security of National Public Data in a cyberspace break-in that resulted in the theft of 300 million Social Security Numbers (SSN) and other personal information.

Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director for the U.S. Public Information Research Group, said the consequences could result in a massive escalation in identity theft and fraud.

“If this, in fact, is pretty much the whole dossier on all of us, it certainly is much more concerning [than prior breaches]. And if people weren’t taking precautions in the past, which they should have been doing, this should be a five-alarm wake-up call for them,” she said.

In its email, National Public Data stated that it is “aware of certain third-party claims about consumer data and is investigating these issues,” adding that it has “purged the entire database, as a whole, of any and all entries, essentially opting everyone out.” This means it has deleted any “nonpublic personal information” about people, even though “[they] may be required to retain certain records to comply with legal obligations.”

Murray also noted that accessing the SSN can result in “all kinds of things,” including losing control of a bank account or investment portfolio. She added that, combined with a date of birth and mailing address, a scammer can use the SSN to set up a new account or tamper with an existing one.

“For somebody who’s really suave at it, the possibilities are really endless. You can cause all kinds of chaos, commit all kinds of crimes, steal all kinds of money,” she said.

Anyone who suspects their personal data has been breached should freeze their credit status at all three credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, which offer this service for free.

The news source also stated that people should use different and strong passwords and two-factor authentication to protect their finances.

Kamala Harris Recruits Staffers with ‘Xe,’ ‘Ey’ and ‘Fae’ Pronouns

Luis Cornelio
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Kamala Harris Recruits Staffers with ‘Xe,’ ‘Ey’ and ‘Fae’ Pronouns

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Do you use xe/xem or ze/hir pronouns? The Harris-Walz campaign might have a job for you. 

In the name of inclusivity, Vice President Kamala Harris offers seven non-binary and gender-neutral pronouns for applicants to the more than two dozen available jobs on her campaign website, Headline USA has learned. 

The pronouns are listed on the campaign’s job listings page. In addition to the “he/him” and “she/her” pronouns, the campaign includes options like “they/them,” “xe/xem,” “ze/hir,” “ey/em,” “hir/hir,” “fae/faer,” and “hu/hu.”

Those who do not identify with any of these pronouns might fabricate their own, as the campaign even offers a “custom” option. This likely reflects the leftist belief that gender and sex exist on a spectrum, meaning pronouns are endless.

Headline USA could not immediately find clear definitions for some of these pronouns, as leftist sources provided no explanations. 

The pronoun options, first exposed by X users, come as President Donald Trump criticized Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’s running mate, for his endorsement of radical gender ideology. He is “heavy into the transgender world,” Trump said in a press conference. 

Some have slammed Walz as “Tampon Tim” after he mandated that Minnesota public schools offer tampons in bathrooms used by “all menstruating students” from grades four to 12. This includes male bathrooms used by self-identified transgender men, meaning individuals who were biologically born female.

Several X users shared screenshots of the pronoun options offered by Harris. Mark McCaig, publisher of the Texas Voice news outlet, was among the first to point out the unusual pronoun choice. 

“Kamala Harris has more pronouns (9) than policies (0) on her website,” podcast host Blaire White wrote on X. Notably, White herself identifies as transgender but has been vocal against the left.

Other popular X accounts, including Libs of TikTok, End Wokeness and Richard Hanania, also took notice and shared the screenshots.

Biden Barks at Media over Inflation Coverage as Kamala Seeks Distance

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Biden Barks at Media over Inflation Coverage as Kamala Seeks Distance

(Headline USA) President Joe Biden once again snapped at reporters this week, demanding that they “start writing” positively about his economic policies.

Biden made the comment during the Creator Economy Conference hosted at the White House on Wednesday. After initially refusing to answer questions from reporters, he decided to respond to one question about the latest inflation data. 

“Any comment on the inflation numbers? Has the U.S. beat inflation, Mr. President?” a reporter yelled out.

“Yes, yes, yes,” Biden replied. “I told you they’re going to have a soft landing—we’re going to have a soft landing. My policies are working. Start writing that way. OK?”

Biden went on to take a jab at the media, which helped push him out of the 2024 race following his disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump in June. 

“Now, is that the real press or the fake press back there?” Biden said. 

Speaking to the social-media influencers and content creators at the White House, Biden added, “I tell you what, I have a bunch of grandchildren, and, with all due respect, they don’t read the same newspapers or watch the same television I do. They listen to all of you.”

Despite Biden’s assurances that his economic policies were working, it seems not even his vice president agreed.

A new report revealed this week that Vice President Kamala Harris was trying to distance herself from Biden’s unpopular economic agenda as she ramped up her presidential campaign.

“As far as Harris distancing from Biden, she was going to do that,” a Democratic campaign operative told the New York Post. “It wasn’t called Harrisflation.”

Harris finally released part of her own economic agenda on Wednesday, but it includes the same “price gouging” rhetoric that Biden has been repeating for months.

The Trump campaign argued Harris’s efforts to separate herself from Biden prove how “fake” her campaign is.

“Kamala Harris can’t hide from her disastrous record of skyrocketing inflation, resulting in a 20% increase in prices since she took office,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said.

“Americans are struggling under the Biden–Harris economy, and now she wants to gaslight them into believing her bald-faced lies,” Cheung added. “She has no shame, and ultimately she can’t hide from all the hurt she has caused every American because they feel it every single day.”

Harris, Walz Cave, Agree to More Debates w/ Trump, One Debate w/ Vance

Dmytro "Henry" Aleksandrov
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Harris, Walz Cave, Agree to More Debates w/ Trump, One Debate w/ Vance

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) On Aug. 15, 2024, the Harris–Walz campaign agreed to only two of Donald Trump’s proposed presidential debates and a single vice presidential debate out of the two that Sen. J.D. Vance, R–Ohio, proposed to Gov. Tim Walz, D–Minn. 

As expected, Kamala Harris ultimately turned down the Fox News debate.

“The debate about debates is over… Assuming Donald Trump actually shows up on September 10 to debate Vice President Harris, then Governor Walz will see JD Vance on October 1, and the American people will have another opportunity to see the vice president and Donald Trump on the debate stage in October,” the Harris-Walz campaign team said.

The campaign continued gaslighting Americans by pretending that it was Trump and Vance who were avoiding the upcoming debates.

“Voters deserve to see the candidates for the highest office in the land share their competing visions for our future. The more they play games, the more insecure and unserious Trump and Vance reveal themselves to be to the American people. Those games end now,” the campaign said in its statement.

Trending Politics reported that Harris’s team clarified that she would not engage in the Fox debate but would be open to an NBC News debate as long as Trump participated in the ABC News debate.

On the vice presidential side, Walz and Vance are set to debate on Oct. 1, 2024, hosted by CBS News. Even though Vance agreed to a second debate on CNN on Sept. 18, 2024, the Harris-Walz campaign said there would be only one vice presidential debate.

“I think we ought to do as many debates as we possibly can. I told my staff to agree to whatever we have to agree to because I think it’s important, again, that you stand before the American people and actually ask for their vote, not just pretend it’s going to be given to you,” Vance said.

Colorado State Capitol Lifts Ban on ‘Political’ Apparel after Lawsuit Threat

Jacob Bruns
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Colorado State Capitol Lifts Ban on ‘Political’ Apparel after Lawsuit Threat

(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) Citizens visiting Colorado’s state capitol will now be able to wear political apparel after the State capitulated to a recent lawsuit, according to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

On May 21, Jeff Hunt visited the Colorado State Senate session to express his opposition to bills regulating crisis pregnancy centers.

In order to make his opinion known, Hunt wore a sweatshirt that said “Pro-Life U” on the front. As a result of his attire, Hunt was confronted by Colorado’s Capitol Police, who claimed that Hunt’s shirt violated a rule that citizens cannot wear attire making political statements inside the legislative chambers.

After being booted from the capitol, Hunt—partnering with FIRE, a free speech and thought advocacy group—penned a letter on July 16 and sent it to leaders of the Colorado House and Senate.

Weeks prior to the Hunt incident, police allowed teenagers to attend sessions in pro-gun-control apparel, once more exposing America’s two-tiered justice system for what it is: a system that favors leftist causes on the grounds that they are scientific while dismissing conservative causes on the grounds that they are merely “political.”

FIRE attorneys pointed out that double-standard in a letter sent to top officials in the Colorado House and Senate, who eventually agreed to rescind their ban on apparel that expresses political sentiments.

“I am thrilled at this outcome,” said Hunt after the ban was lifted. “Now, Coloradans are free to share their voices, particularly at the state Capitol, where the work of the people takes place.”

According to FIRE attorney Josh Bleisch, Hunt “should have been allowed to express his opinions in a non-disruptive manner.”

Bleisch also celebrated the decision by noting that “Coloradans can wear a political shirt where politics happens.”

Colorado has become increasingly blue since becoming the first state to legalize recreational marijuana in 2006, and its Democrat leaders accordingly have grown increasingly authoritarian.

In 2017, the Colorado Civil Rights Commission sought to force Jack Phillips, the owner of Lakewood’s Masterpiece Cakeshop, to yield to its demand that he bake a pro-LGBT cake that violated his Christian beliefs.

The Supreme Court later ruled that the state had no authority to compel speech from a private individual or business.

Former Majority Leader Suffers Stroke

Jacob Bruns
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Former Majority Leader Suffers Stroke

(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the former House majority leader and longest-standing member of the U.S. House of Representatives, was recovering after suffering a minor stroke Sunday night, CBS News reported.

Margaret Mulkerrin, a spokesperson for Hoyer, 85, said the congressman—who was, for many years, the right-hand man of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.—was doing well, despite the acute health event.

“On Sunday night, Aug. 11, Rep. Steny Hoyer experienced a mild ischemic stroke,” Mulkerrin announced.

“Mr. Hoyer has responded well to treatment and has no lingering symptoms,” she added. “He expects to resume his normal schedule next week. Mr. Hoyer’s wife and family extend their deepest thanks to his medical team.”

In response to the event, Maryland U.S. Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks extended her best wishes to the ailing congressman.

“I am so glad to hear that my dear friend, Congressman Steny Hoyer is recovering well after experiencing a mild stroke this weekend,” she said. “We are all wishing you a speedy recovery and know you will be back delivering for Marylanders, as you always have, very soon.”

Though the corporate media has insisted via several different outlets that the stroke was mild, questions linger about Hoyer’s health due to his current race against Republican Michelle Talkington, 43, a homeschool advocate who owns a remodeling business.

Democrats are hoping to wrest away the GOP’s narrow majority in the House, but a seat-flip in the reliably blue district could be a major setback if Republicans turn out to support former GOP Gov. Larry Hogan in his Senate race against Alsobrooks.

In January, amid widespread speculation that he might retire, Hoyer announced that he would seek reelection in the 2024 election, despite his advanced age.

He told the media that he was doing so in order to help secure a Democrat majority and return unity to Washington.

“I believe I have more work to complete on behalf of my district, my state and my country,” he said in a statement at the time. “I am blessed to have the good health, strength and enduring passion necessary to continue serving my constituents at this decisive moment for Maryland and America.”

That “decisive moment,” according to Hoyer, has been caused exclusively by Republicans, whom he called “partisan and polarized,” making the latest Congress among the “least productive” on which he has served.

Even if Hoyer’s stroke proves to be more severe than initially reported, precedent suggests that Democrats might elect him anyway, under the assumption that one does not need to have a fully functioning brain to rubber-stamp the Left’s agenda.

Such was the case with Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who suffered a severe stroke just days before the 2022 Democrat primary but was elected nonetheless.

Fetterman’s condition was no secret, but the campaign managed to conceal the extent to which it had impacted his cognitive abilities until well past the start of early voting, when he was forced into a painful debate with his opponent, Mehmet Oz.

He won the election but promptly checked himself into a mental hospital, where he spent several weeks in convalescence, fueling rumors that he might have suffered another stroke that left him brain-dead.

Democrats also long concealed the mental decline of President Joe Biden, 81, who was forced to abandon his re-election campaign only after a disastrous debate against GOP nominee Donald Trump led his already low poll numbers to plummet.

Headline USA’s Ben Sellers contibuted to this report.

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