DOJ to Charge Another Jan. 6 Journalist for Documenting Events on Capitol Hill

Ken Silva
-
0
DOJ to Charge Another Jan. 6 Journalist for Documenting Events on Capitol Hill

(Ken Silva, Headline USA) Blaze Media journalist Steve Baker announced Thursday that he’s expecting to be charged for entering the Capitol to document events during the Jan. 6, 2021, protest-turned-riot.

“I have to self-surrender on Tuesday. Charges are yet unknown,” he said. “Stay tuned for more information to follow this afternoon.”

Baker has been on the forefront of exposing anomalies and likely government malfeasance on Jan. 6. Most recently, he reported that a Capitol Police Special Agent gave false testimony at the Oath Keepers’ sedition trial last year.

Baker is now at least the second reporter to be charged for—by all accounts—purely journalistic activities. He joins Stephen Horn, who was convicted of four misdemeanor charges in September for entering the Capitol while filming the Jan. 6 protests/riots. Horn is set to be sentenced in January.

Headline USA understands there are more than 20 other reporters who, like Horn and Baker, entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, but aren’t facing charges. Headline USA reviewed some of their names, but is withholding them so they won’t be targeted, too.

Along with Horn and Baker, the DOJ also charged Infowars host Owen Shroyer with disorderly conduct and entering a restricted area of Capitol grounds.

In Shroyer’s case, he violated terms of a deferred prosecution agreement stemming from a December 2019 arrest for shouting during a House Judiciary Committee impeachment hearing. Shroyer’s deferred prosecution agreement entailed him agreeing to do community service and follow certain conditions, such as not engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct on Capitol grounds.

While Shroyer may not have been prosecuted solely for his journalism, the DOJ nevertheless successfully pushed for a jail sentence for him—even though he never entered the Capitol. In doing so, DOJ prosecutors cited his First Amendment-protected activity as a reason to put him in jail.

“The First Amendment is no bar to the Court’s consideration of Shroyer’s words and actions at sentencing,” the DOJ argued.

Horn is set to be sentenced next month, while Shroyer recently got out of prison after serving most of his 60-day sentence.

Ken Silva is a staff writer at Headline USA. Follow him at twitter.com/jd_cashless.

DOJ Prosecutors File 124-Page Brief to Keep Whitmer Kidnap Inmates Imprisoned

Ken Silva
-
0
DOJ Prosecutors File 124-Page Brief to Keep Whitmer Kidnap Inmates Imprisoned

(Ken Silva, Headline USA) In August, the alleged “ringleaders” of the 2020 militia conspiracy to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer filed appeals to overturn their convictions due to FBI malfeasance and a lack of a fair trial.

In their appeals, Adam Fox and Barry Croft pointed out in their appeals that their lawyers said they were improperly limited in questioning government’s star witness. The lawyers were also denied the ability to vet a juror who had expressed bias against the defendants, they said

Moreover, the jury was never presented evidence that FBI agents were pressuring their undercover informants to provoke the defendants to criminality, according to Croft and Fox.

On Wednesday, the Justice Department filed its response to Croft and Fox. The full brief can be read here, but in summary: the DOJ denied all the alleged wrongdoing that occurred during Croft and Fox’s trial.

On the issue of time limitations, U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler argued that such restrictions were perfectly appropriate. And Kessler dismissed allegations of a biased juror as “double hearsay”—a coworker said he heard the juror had already decided to convict the men, but the juror denied the allegation, though he wasn’t under oath when questioned about the matter.

As for the evidence that FBI pressured its informants to provoke the defendants to criminality, Kessler argued that none exists—ignoring, among other evidence, the damning text between FBI agent Jayson Chambers to his informant, Dan Chappel, instructing him that the “mission is to kill the governor specifically.”

Kessler also argued that FBI informant Stephen Robeson’s text to his handling agent admitting that he was giving the defendants drugs was irrelevant to the case.

“While the FBI authorized Robeson to be [an informant], there was certainly no suggestion that the FBI directed him to use—or invite others to use—illegal drugs,” Kessler said. “This example only supports the district court’s proper caution about the statements of independent actors with their own criminal issues and mixed motives.”

Kessler added: “Neither defendant produced evidence that government agents or informants induced them to commit the crimes … Instead, they sought to confuse and mislead the jury by introducing irrelevant information about informants’ opinions.”

In his brief, Kessler also argued that only Croft’s appeal is raising an entrapment defense. Despite Fox’s appeal brief mentioning entrapment on multiple occasions, Kessler argued that “Fox does not raise entrapment on appeal, and thus has waived it.”

Fox and Croft, who are being held in supermax prison, now have 21 days to reply to the DOJ.

Ken Silva is a staff writer at Headline USA. Follow him at twitter.com/jd_cashless.

John Legend’s Woke Rewrite of Seasonal Classic Kills Christmas Spirit

Contributing Author
-
0
John Legend’s Woke Rewrite of Seasonal Classic Kills Christmas Spirit

(Headline USA) The return of the holiday season brings with it renewed focus on the Left’s cancel-culture “war on Christmas”—and, with it, one of the most egregious examples of woke virtue-signaling: R&B singer John Legend’s #MeToo makeover of the classic “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”

The cover, a duet with Kelly Clarkson, was originally released in 2018 on his A Legendary Christmas album, but it is still being discovered by those who may have never heard of Legend or his music as it makes the perennial rounds due to its notoriously revised lyrics.

Legend’s new lyrics overemphasize consent between the two adults—an apparent response to accusations that the original song was “misogynistic.” 

In fact, in Legend’s version, the male singer doesn’t even bother trying to get his female counterpart to stay at all.

The new lyrics show Legend calling Clarkson a ride from a driver named “Murray,” despite the female’s desire to stay. At one point, Legend even reminds her that it’s “your body, your choice.”

As one Twitter user commented, “now the guy sounds like he just can’t wait for the woman to leave. Almost every reply he says is basically, ‘okay, bye.’”

“Baby It’s Cold Outside” became a hit and won an Academy Award after it was included in the 1949 movie Neptune’s Daughter.

In it, Ricardo Montalban and Esther Williams perform the duet together, as do Red Skelton and Betty Garrett.

The duet has since been covered by multiple artists, ranging from Johnny Mercer and Betty Carter in 1949 to the 2003 cover performed by Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel in the popular Christmas movie Elf.

Legend and his wife, Chrissy Teigen, have long been advocates for the Democratic Party and have been especially outspoken against former President Donald Trump.

“Our president is a flaming racist. He’s a piece of s***. He says piece of s***, s*** all the time, that’s what he does. We need to get him out of office,” Legend said in 2019.

Legend and Teigen also endorsed President Joe Biden in 2020. He then performed at Biden’s inauguration afterwards, where he sang a rendition of “Feeling Good,” a song made famous by Nina Simone in the 1960s. The year before, he made an appearance in the Democratic National Convention’s virtual conference.

Israeli U.N. Ambassador Doxxes Hamas Head

Contributing Author
-
0
Israeli U.N. Ambassador Doxxes Hamas Head

(Headline USA) Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations appeared to dox the phone number of Hamas’s central office on Tuesday, holding up a poster with the number on the floor of the UN General Assembly.

Gilad Erdan was responding to a vote by UN members calling for a “ceasefire” in Gaza—a resolution that failed after the U.S. vetoed it. 

Erdan argued that members who want a “real ceasefire” in the region should ask Hamas and then held up the poster, which read, “For a ceasefire dial,” and included a photo of the group’s leader Yahya Sinwar and the phone number, +970-599373765.

“I honestly don’t know how can someone look in the mirror and support a resolution that doesn’t condemn Hamas and doesn’t even mention Hamas by name,” Erdan said.

“But you know what? I have an idea,” he continued. “If you want a real ceasefire, here is the right address. Tell Hamas to put down their arms, turn themselves in, and return our hostages. This will bring a complete ceasefire that will last forever.”

Erdan then emphasized that regardless of how the UN votes moving forward, Israel will continue its retaliation against Hamas until the Israeli hostages in Gaza are returned.

“No piece of paper, especially one that is adopted by a biased politicized majority will prevent Israel from defending itself against those that seek our destruction,” he said.

“Israel is fighting a war for her future,” he added. “There is not a single Member State here—not a single Member State here—that would act differently in a similar situation.”

As Twitchy reported, several people on social media expressed their surprise and disbelieve over whether it was, in fact, the real Hamas phone number.

The U.S.’s vote to veto the ceasefire resolution comes despite pressure on the Biden administration from the Left to stop supporting Israel’s war.

On Wednesday night, dozens of Biden administration staffers picketed outside the White House demanding that Biden call for a ceasefire immediately.

“The American people and respected institutions like the United Nations are pleading for a ceasefire, but this administration has yet to listen,” Josh Paul, a former State Department official who resigned from his job in October over disagreement with Biden’s support for Israel, said during the protest. “We demand President Biden and members of the Cabinet to speak up: Call for a permanent ceasefire, a release of all hostages and an immediate de-escalation now.”

2024 Sound Money Index Highlights Problematic States, Positive Reforms

Money Metals News Service
-
0
2024 Sound Money Index Highlights Problematic States, Positive Reforms

(Sound Money Defense League) With inflation, debt, and financial instability continuing to make headlines, a new national scorecard exposes Vermont, New Jersey, Maine, and Minnesota as America’s absolute worst states for sound money…

…while Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, and New Hampshire came out on top in the rankings.

2024 Sound Money Index

Money Metals Exchange, the top-rated precious metals dealer and depository in the United States, has partnered with the Sound Money Defense League to create the 2024 Sound Money Index, ranking all 50 states based on their policies in this increasingly important public policy area.

The Index’s scoring system evaluates state laws such as sales and income tax policies concerning precious metals, whether a state affirms the role of gold and silver under the U.S. Constitution, the existence of gold or silver in state pension funds or reserves, the existence of regulations that harm or otherwise punish precious metal dealers and investors, and other relevant issues.

Notable changes on the 2024 Sound Money Index since last year include Arkansas’s meteoric ascent from 30th to 5th place as well as Mississippi’s leap from 43rd to 16th place.

Building on momentum from 2021’s precious metals sales tax repeal, Arkansas Gov. Hutchinson signed a sound money bill to end all income tax liability on the monetary metals, while also reaffirming gold and silver as legal tender and prescribing that state courts should require specific performance when enforcing contracts denominated in gold and silver.

After a multi-year legislative effort, Mississippi lawmakers canceled all sales taxes on precious metals. The Magnolia State became the 43rd state in the country to remove taxes on purchases of gold and silver.

Meanwhile, Florida passed legislation in 2023 to roll back its harassment laws targeting precious metals dealers, and Tennessee enacted legislation empowering its state treasurer to protect taxpayer reserves with a modest allocation to physical gold and silver.

2024 Sound Money Index Map

2024 Sound Money Index Map
Click to Enlarge

This year’s Index includes a new, 14th criterion: Gross Revenue Tax. Such taxes are levied against total sales of companies in a handful of states. A gross receipts tax is a percentage of the topline revenue received by a business, and it ignores whether a business category has a high or low gross profit margins

A gross revenue tax on precious metals businesses is extremely burdensome when compared to other types of businesses.

That’s because precious metals dealers operate on extremely small gross profit margins — margins that are similar in scale to those on transactions involving real property, investments, or other goods sold by brokerages, which are usually exempt from state gross revenue tax schemes in the first place.

Oregon passed legislation in 2023 joining the vast majority of states that have exempted precious metals dealers from gross receipts tax or which don’t impose this tax at all. However, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Delaware all lost points on the 2024 Sound Money Index for their controversial gross revenue tax regimes.

“As inflation eats away at American families, the Sound Money Index holds states accountable for their policies impacting sound money,” explained Jp Cortez, executive director of the Sound Money Defense League.

“In response to this pressing issue, forward-thinking policymakers in half the states across the U.S., including the five that successfully passed bills, proposed legislation in 2023 that promoted and protected the use, sale, and purchase of gold and silver in their respective states.”

The complete 2024 Sound Money Index is available here: https://www.moneymetals.com/guides/sound-money-index

WH Admits Knowledge of Hunter Biden’s Plan to Defy Subpoena

Luis Cornelio
-
0
WH Admits Knowledge of Hunter Biden’s Plan to Defy Subpoena

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) The White House admitted to being “familiar” with Hunter Biden’s intention to defy a congressional subpoena compelling his testimony in an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. 

“The president was certainly familiar with what his son was going to say and I think what you saw was from the heart, from his son,” claimed White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday.

Hunter Biden on Wednesday refused to comply with a congressional subpoena seeking his deposition regarding growing accusations of political corruption, bribery and an illegal influence-peddling scheme involving his father. 

Instead, Hunter Biden drove to Congress and held an impromptu press conference outside Capitol Hill, accusing House Republicans of orchestrating a political witch hunt against his father. He also requested a public hearing rather than a private deposition.

Jean-Pierre was asked whether Biden saw the headline-grabbing press conference before she admitted that the president had prior knowledge of Hunter Biden’s plan to skip the deposition. 

“As you know Hunter Biden is a private citizen and I certainly would refer you to his representatives,” she added. “You’ve heard me say this. You’ve heard the president say this. When it comes to the president and the first lady, they’re proud of him.”

 

When pressed about whether Biden believed subpoenas could be ignored, Jean-Pierre pushed back, saying, “I’m just not going to speak on that.” 

She also declined to disclose the last time the president and his son had spoken, asserting, “I’m also not going to get into private conversations that the president has with his family.”

In response to Hunter Biden’s failure to appear before Congress for a closed-door deposition, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, threatened to pursue a contempt of Congress charge against the first son. 

“We’re disappointed that he [Hunter] didn’t show up. I mean, he was just across the way at the Capitol. You think he could come here and sit for questions,” Jordan told reporters on Wednesday, later adding, “And frankly, we’ll also, I think, look at contempt proceedings as we move forward.”

Chutkan Pauses Trump 2020 Election Case as SCOTUS Considers Presidential Immunity

Luis Cornelio
-
0
Chutkan Pauses Trump 2020 Election Case as SCOTUS Considers Presidential Immunity

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) The criminal case involving former President Trump’s alleged 2020 election interference has been temporarily halted as the Supreme Court considers Trump’s claim of presidential immunity in the matter. 

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, appointed during the Obama administration, paused the case following the Court’s agreement to review Trump’s assertions of immunity from federal prosecution over his purported involvement in challenging the 2020 election results. 

According to the New York Post, Chutkan filed a three-page document stating that “any further proceedings that would move this case towards trial or impose additional burdens of litigation on defendant” will be put on hold until the Court formally decides whether to hear the case.

The NY Post noted that the embattled leftist judge upheld a contentious gag order against the former president despite her decision to pause the case.

The case originates from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s decision to prosecute Trump for his alleged actions to undermine the 2020 elections in what the DOJ has described as an illegal effort to maintain power. 

The former president, currently eyeing the White House in 2024, faces four criminal charges related to his statements about the 2020 election. However, Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges, dismissing them as part of what he raises the alarm over a potential ploy to sabotage his presidential aspirations. 

Furthermore, Trump’s legal team has long contended that he is shielded from criminal prosecution due to the actions being taken during his presidential tenure. 

Moreover, the Trump defense has also asserted that Trump enjoys immunity from prosecution because the U.S. Senate acquitted him of similar charges stemming from a Democrat-led impeachment during the final days of his administration. 

In a lengthy and fiery post on Truth Social, Trump criticized Smith as “Deranged” and a “nut job” prosecutor, highlighting the special counsel’s move to request the Court expedite its decision on Trump’s immunity before the scheduled March 4 trial. 

“So Deranged Jack Smith, the Biden appointed ‘nut job’ prosecutor with a big record of loses because he goes too far, wants to RUSH,RUSH,RUSH to the Supreme Court on the important matter of  Presidential Immunity, something which is so basic to America that it should be automatic,” Trump said. 

“He doesn’t want to go to our Highest Court with a loss, or negative opinion, but what he does want to do is INTERFERE WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2024, hoping to damage Biden’s POLITICAL OPPONENT,” he added.

UFC’s Dana White Continues to Try and Save Bud Light

Contributing Author
-
0
UFC’s Dana White Continues to Try and Save Bud Light

(Headline USA) UFC CEO Dana White defended the sports organization’s partnership with Bud Light again this week, claiming “patriots” should be “drinking gallons” of the beer.

White announced in October that UFC would be making Bud Light its official beer despite a months-long boycott of the brand after its disastrous partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

White claimed the reaction against Bud Light and its parent company, Anheuser–Busch, was too extreme and said conservatives “are way more aligned with Anheuser–Busch” than with other beer companies.

“If you consider yourself a patriot, you should be drinking gallons of Bud Light,” White told Tucker Carlson. “Gallons of Bud Light. You should have Bud Light drums stacked in your garage and drinking it right outta the keg.”

In a statement announcing UFC’s partnership with Anheuser–Busch, White insisted the beer brand’s “core values” were “what the UFC brand stands for.”

However, many conservatives pointed out that Bud Light has not admitted that its partnership with Mulvaney was at odds with its customer base.

“Did Bud Light ever, at the very least, say ‘sorry’ to women for the cosplay promotion?” conservative commentator Dana Loesch asked. “This is real easy for the brand, folks. Reconciliation requires acknowledgment, otherwise, hell no.”

The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh agreed that conservatives should continue boycotting the brand in order to make a statement.

“The Bud Light boycott is the one time in modern history when conservatives have staged an effective boycott against a major corporate brand. If we back away from this victory now it will show that we’ve learned nothing and don’t want to win. Not going to happen. Boycott continues,” he said.

Others seem to have already moved on. Kid Rock, who opened fire on cases of Bud Light earlier this year, told Carlson that he won’t boycott the brand anymore because he does not want to “drown them because they made a mistake.”

Warren Buffett Stock Sell-Off Triggers Economic Anxieties

Kevin Whiteley
-
0
Warren Buffett Stock Sell-Off Triggers Economic Anxieties

(Kevin Whiteley, Headline USA) Legendary investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway sold off $38.3 billion in stocks across all four quarters of 2023, leaving some economists fearful about the state of America’s economy after having learned of the dump.

Although the market lately has seen some bullish indicators following a multi-year decline, the ominous news may forecast more economic turmoil ahead as inflation-driven borrowing and high interest rates finally catch up with consumers.

In other words, economists say, it may be time to sell high and gather acorns for the long winter ahead.

Berkshire’s “recent lightening up on stocks and accumulation of a pile of cash—$157 billion—is consistent with the fact that stocks are relatively pricey right now,” said Stephen H. Hanke, an applied economics professor at Johns Hopkins University, who was part of President Ronald Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers.

Buffett’s Nebraska-headquartered firm sold $10.4 billion in shares during Q1, roughly $13 billion in Q2—the firm bought less than $5 billion in the second quarter—and $5.3 billion during quarters three and four, according to reports from Newsweek and ZeroHedge.

Berkshire Hathaway’s cash pile is reportedly at a whopping $157.2 billion—$30.8 billion in cash, with Treasury bill investments totaling $126.4 billion. (The firm’s collection of cash nearly rivals Apple’s $162 billion as of Q4.)

Nonetheless, amid pressure from investors and federal regulators, it was unlikely that Buffett and company would be allowed to continue sitting on a pile of cash.

“Cash deployment is definitely slowing,” Edward Jones Analyst Jim Shanahan told ZeroHedge. “Ultimately Berkshire’s going to start feeling some pressure to put cash to work.”

Berkshire Hathaway also reportedly decreased its stake in Hewlett-Packard, Inc. (HPQ)—from 11.4% to 5.2% (or $3.32 billion down to $1.83 billion), according to a Dec. 11 post from Warren Buffett Stock Tracker. (Hewlett-Packard makes up a significant portion of the technology sector.)

The move further suggests negativity in the markets and an overall suspicion of a recession for the U.S., which is “right around the corner,” according to Hanke.

“The money supply of the United States, broadly measured [M2], started contracting in July 2022, and has been falling like a stone,” Hanke added. “Since [2022], the U.S. money supply has contracted by 3.3 percent.”

He said there have been four periods in the U.S. when money supply incurred notable contractions: 1920-21, 1929-33, 1937-38 and 1948-49.

“Each of those four episodes was followed by a serious recession,” Hanke pointed out. “The current monetary contraction is clearly going to lead to precisely what monetary contractions always lead to: a recession.”

Buffett is preparing for the country’s vast, economic challenges. His cash could be used to aid struggling financial institutions, as he has done in the past, Hanke explained. This would probably entail a healthy return on his investments.

Others in the financial industry reportedly have even more vigilant takes on Berkshire Hathaway’s stock sales, in terms of the economy.

Buffett might be hoarding cash for rising insurance costs, according to David Wagner, a portfolio manager for Aptus Capital Advisors.

“Historically, Buffett has stated that his company likes to hold cash on its balance sheet to cover potential insurance losses,” Wagner told Newsweek.

The cash bullion could also be “for optionality if there is market weakness,” Wagner added. “And right now, cash is earning a relatively healthy nominal return. If the market were to take a fall, [Buffett will] be ready to buy when valuations are lower, much like what he did in 2008.”

Berkshire Hathaway itself indirectly reminded investors to educate themselves on accounting.

“The amount of investment gains/losses in any given quarter is usually meaningless and delivers figures for net earnings (losses) per share that can be extremely misleading to investors who have little or no knowledge of accounting rules,” the company said in a statement, according to ZeroHedge.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said he was leaning toward the “real possibility” of there being a recession “within the next year”—although Powell doesn’t say when.

Sports Illustrated Cans CEO for Use of AI-Generated Articles

Eli Pacheco
-
0
Sports Illustrated Cans CEO for Use of AI-Generated Articles

(Eli Pacheco, Headline USA) The digital publisher that operates Sports Illustrated fired its CEO after the iconic magazine was caught publishing AI-produced articles—complete with fake author names and profiles, according to Futurism.com.

The Arena Group, which runs Sports Illustrated, fired four top executives in less than a week, Business Wire reported:

  • Ross Levinsohn, chief executive officer
  • Andrew Kraft, operations president and chief operating officer
  • Rob Barrett, media president
  • Julie Fenster, corporate counselor

A company spokesman declined to confirm whether the clearinghouse actions happened because of the AI revelation which first came to light in late November, according to CNN. 

An investigation revealed several articles published under author names that didn’t exist outside of the magazine. Futurism also found headshots of the suspect writers for sale online as AI-produced images.

Levinsohn was Sports Illustrated’s CEO for three years. As Futurism broke the story, the magazine removed writers from its website and moved stories attributed to them to other authors. But those writers also had similar issues: no online presence and AI-generated headshots from online marketplaces.

The Futurism investigation led Sports Illustrated to state the articles and authors came from a third party, AdVon. The magazine said AdVon assured them they were human-produced articles.

In October, Reviewed, which media conglomerate Gannett owns, was similarly investigated for stories it acquired from AdVon, according to The Verge.

Futurism also revealed sites such as Bankrate and CNET, both Red Ventures companies, published AI-produced content on their sites last year.

Interim Arena Group CEO Manoj Bhargava, who founded the energy shot 5-Hour Energy in 2004, replaced Levinsohn. Bhargava owns a majority stake in the company, according to a spokesman.

Some may welcome Levinsohn’s departure. During his four-year tenure as the head of the magazine, Sports Illustrated joined the ranks of other notorious woke corporations in shamelessly virtue-signaling its progressive politics.

The magazine controversially celebrated diversity on with its 2022 swimsuit edition by featuring, among its four cover subjects, an obese model, a transgender person and a 74-year-old. It featured another transgender person as the cover model in 2023.

1...1,5831,5841,585...3,873Page 1,584 of 3,873