Tracker

Murdoch is getting set to throw his lickspittle hosts under the looming bus in order to limit Fox's corporate liability in the current lawsuit that could bankrupt Fox.

Adams has been dropped by hundreds of papers in the US and Canada as well as his agent. I will miss his dead-on organizational satire.

Judge decides DOJ can search Jan. 6 'key figure' Scott Perry’s phone in scathing ruling Late Friday, Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell of the U.S. District Court in D.C. swatted aside protestations from Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) who was trying to keep the Department of Justice from reviewing over 2,000 documents on his phone related to the Jan. 6 insurrection. Perry, who continues to support Donald Trump's assertion that the election was stolen and is reportedly under investigation, claimed that the 2,219 documents on his phone were protected by the "speech or debate" clause in the Constitution which shields members of Congress from a criminal investigation into fulfilling their duties. However, Judge Howell bluntly disagreed on Friday. "Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell of the U.S. District Court in D.C. released a number of previously sealed opinions after finding that the 'powerful public interest' outweighed the need for secrecy in the constitutional battle over Perry’s claims and the historic investigation," the Washington Post is reporting. In the ruling, Howell wrote, "What is plain is that the Clause does not shield Rep. Perry’s random musings with private individuals touting an expertise in cybersecurity or political discussions with attorneys from a presidential campaign, or with state legislators concerning hearings before them about possible local election fraud or actions they could take to challenge election results in Pennsylvania." According to the Post's Spencer Hsu, "Perry is a key figure who sought to help Trump replace the attorney general after the 2020 election with former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark and get the Justice Department to reverse its finding that Joe Biden had been elected fairly, according to the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack by Trump supporters on the U.S. Capitol." The report adds, "The Justice Department has separately prioritized and obtained access to 37 emails between Perry and Trump-connected lawyers John Eastman, who pushed false claims of mass electoral fraud in 2020, Clark and aide Ken Klukowski, as well as 331 documents from Clark about his Jan. 6 role, according to the filings."

Conspiracy theorists pushing ivermectin as a flu and RSV panacea: report In 2020 and 2021 — during the worst of the coronavirus pandemic — some far-right MAGA Republicans and conspiracy theorists promoted ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug, as a treatment for COVID-19. And they drew a great deal of criticism from mainstream health officials, including veteran immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci and members of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The FDA, in an official statement, warned, "The FDA has not authorized or approved ivermectin for use in preventing or treating COVID-19 in humans or animals…. Currently available data do not show ivermectin is effective against COVID-19…. Taking large doses of ivermectin is dangerous." But despite warnings from Fauci, the FDA and countless others, ivermectin proponents on the far right continued to insist that it was a valuable tool in fighting COVID-19. According to Washington Post reporter Lauren Weber, the ivermectin cult hasn’t gone away — only in 2023, its focus is on ivermectin as a treatment for the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). READ MORE:'We tried our best': Retiring Dr. Anthony Fauci recalls challenges of serving Donald Trump during COVID-19 Weber, in an article published on February 26, notes that the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) was formed in 2020 to, in its own words, "prevent and treat COVID." But with interest in ivermectin as an anti-COVID-19 drug having waned, the group is now focused on other respiratory problems. And the group's critics, according to Weber, are still speaking out.

There are huge Russian bot farms whose sole purpose is to spread disinformation in order to further Russian political and economic influence. They do this by flooding social media of all sorts to discredit by volume anything unfavourable to Russia and to undermine peoples' faith in democratic governments and judicial systems.

‘Dilbert’ Author Invokes Mike Pence to Explain Racist Rant Newspapers dropped Scott Adams’ comic strip this week after he advised white people to stay away from Black people. In a new video, Adams says some racism is okay, actually. Embattled Dilbert creator Scott Adams responded to allegations of racism on Saturday by arguing that racism is fine in some situations. Newspapers including Cleveland’s Plain Dealer announced this week that they would stop running Dilbert cartoons after Adams went on a “racist rant” in which he encouraged white people to stay away from Black people, whom he described as a “hate group.” In a follow-up video on Saturday, Adams attempted to clarify his comments, likening them to former Vice President Mike Pence’s policy of avoiding one-on-one interactions with women, out of fear of what Adams described as “getting me-too’d when maybe you didn’t me-too anybody.” On Wednesday, Adams advised white people to keep their distance from Black people, whom he described as hateful. “I would say, based on the current way things are going, the best advice I would give to white people is to get the hell away from Black people,” the Plain Dealer quoted Adams as saying in the Wednesday video. -REUTERS

Woody Harrelson Spews Anti-Vax Conspiracies in Rambling ‘SNL’ Monologue It was Woody Harrelson’s fifth time hosting Saturday Night Live this week, a distinction that often comes with a star-studded induction into the coveted Five-Timers Club. Instead, the actor used his time on stage to ramble incoherently for several minutes until ultimately delivering a not-so-coded anti-COVID vaccine message to the millions of viewers at home. The actor began his opening monologue by describing himself as a “redneck hippy” who considered himself “purple” in his politics, a line that he seemed surprised got neither laughter nor applause from the crowd. After highlighting the fact that he apparently wasn’t getting the typical Five-Timers smoking jacket, Harrelson began to tell a bizarre story about a script he read in 2019 after the last time he hosted the show, but continually interrupted himself to talk about his penchant for weed and the fact that he spent seven months without alcohol last year… “and five glorious months.” Harrelson—who has previously linked COVID-19 to 5G networks—arrived at the point he was apparently trying to make. “So the movie goes like this,” he said. “The biggest drug cartels in the world get together and buy up all the media and all the politicians and force all the people in the world to stay locked in their homes. And people can only come out if they take the cartel’s drugs and keep taking them over and over.”

If you learned the answer, they would have to kill you in order to silence you.

Much like the league which is full of has-beens and never-weres.

Kentucky officials fear measles outbreak after 'spiritual revival' Kentucky health officials have warned people who attended a large "spiritual revival" to be on the lookout for any measles symptoms after an unvaccinated participant came down with the disease. Measles are re-emerging as a concerning health issue as anti-vaxxers have spread their message to cover other vaccines. Some religious groups also preach against vaccines. Measles can have serious complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis. Nearly 250,000 kindergarten children are now vulnerable to the disease amid a drop off in vaccinations, according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control. “Anyone who attended the revival" at Asbury University in the town of Wilmore on Feb. 18 "may have been exposed to measles,” Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, warned in a statement. “Attendees who are unvaccinated are encouraged to quarantine for 21 days, and to seek immunization with the measles vaccine, which is safe and effective.” He also warned anyone with symptoms not to show up at hospitals, clinics or emergency rooms without advance notice so health care workers can take precautions to protect themselves and others. Measles is extremely contagious. The latest case is the third in three months, according to officials, but cases can spike quickly. Symptoms may include fever, cough, runny nose and a rash three to five days after symptom onset. The Kentucky Health Department is working with local agencies to boost the number of children who receive the combination measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination. MMR vaccine coverage among Kentucky kindergarten children is among the lowest in the nation, according to CDC statistics

Have had two acquaintances who had bad experiences in Ontario so a no-go there. I am in Winnipeg.

Good luck on the knee replacement- I am envious. I have been waiting for almost 31 months. Two weeks ago I received a letter stating I could have the procedure sooner if I was willing to go to Cleveland, Fargo or Ontario, but.....travel, meals and any accommodation would not be covered for me or any companion.

And do not expect to depart or arrive on time. Those, as posted, are suggestions and aspirational targets. The wife flew with them to Calgary in Ocotber- two hour delay in leaving Winnipeg and almost 7 hour delay in arrival back. she described the staff as "indifferent".

Does he play nose tackle? He's big enough.

GOP Ex-Sen. Inhofe Retired Due To Long COVID After Opposing COVID Aid Former Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) attributed his decision to retire due to the long-term effects of COVID-19, telling local newspaper Tulsa World that certain symptoms were still affecting him day-to-day. Inhofe voted against multiple coronavirus aid packages meant to help Americans at the height of the pandemic, including the Families First Coronavirus Response Act approved overwhelmingly by 90 senators in March 2020, and the American Rescue Plan in March 2021. The 88-year-old did not say which symptoms he was dealing with. But he suggested he was in good company, alleging that other elected representatives in Congress are also struggling with long COVID behind the scenes. “Five or six others have (long COVID), but I’m the only one who admits it,” Inhofe told Tulsa World. At least one Democratic senator, Tim Kaine of Virginia, has spoken openly about his experience with lingering symptoms after contracting COVID-19.

Putin continues to consolidate his position by killing off any possible dissent.

When you have an inconsistent QB who has half of a good game and a good QB who has an off day, you get...the 2022 Grey Cup game.

To illustrate the thinking of some of the conservative-supporting folks in our province: Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Manitoba · REMINDER: 911 is ONLY for emergencies Yesterday, Manitoba RCMP received a 911 call from a woman in Steinbach who was angry about the long drive thru line at the new Burger King. We realize you aren’t you when you’re hangry, but this is not a valid reason to dial 911.

"Unforgivable insult": George Santos wants to make AR-15 the "National Gun of America" Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., is backing a bill to make the AR-15 rifle — a gun that has been used in some of the deadliest mass shootings in the country — the "National Gun of the United States." Santos this week joined primary sponsor Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., in backing the bill, as did gun store owner Rep. Andrew Clyde, R- Ga., and Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., who ran a gun-themed restaurant called "Shooters Grill." Moore announced the bill this week claiming, "any government that would take away one right would take away them all," AL.com first reported. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, rebuked Santos, and called his support of the bill "outrageous and appalling." "This bill, which attempts to glorify the weapons that have been part of such horrific tragedies, adds unforgivable insult to injury for those families," Hochul said in a statement to Gothamist. https://www.salon.com/2023/02/24/unforgivable-insult-george-santos-wants-to-make-ar-15-the-national-of-america/

South Carolina GOP bill would subject those obtaining abortions to death penalty This article originally appeared on Truthout. Republican lawmakers in the South Carolina state legislature have introduced a bill that would equate an abortion of a fetus or an embryo to the murder of a living, already-born person, allowing the state, if passed into law, to convict and possibly execute a person if they obtain abortion services. House Bill 3549 would amend a proposed bill, entitled the South Carolina Prenatal Equal Protection Act of 2023, to define fetuses and embryos at any stage of development after conception as legal persons. Any instance of an abortion would be considered an assault and/or homicide under the bill's provisions. As such, the bill would subject people convicted of having an abortion to the same penalties of an assault or murder under state law — which includes the death penalty, if sought by state prosecutors in such instances. It's unclear as of right now how likely the bill is to pass. However, it is presently being co-sponsored by several members of the Republican caucus — 19 members of the state House of Representatives in total (equal to more than 15 percent of the total number in that chamber and more than 21 percent of the total House Republican membership). Critics of the bill say that its language can potentially punish pregnant people for more than just abortion — any person who has a miscarriage, for example, could be found liable for murder under its provisions too. "You can be charged with murder…. The end of the pregnancy establishes a crime," said Vicki Ringer, director of public affairs at Planned Parenthood South Atlantic South Carolina, in a series of tweets explaining the bill's provisions. "You have to prove innocence."

Republicans fear being 'eaten' alive by the 'extremists and loons' they helped empower: columnist According to a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems, what far-right Fox News pundits say on the air and what they are actually thinking can be two very different things. Dominion, the Washington Post reports, has uncovered actual e-mails and text messages that Fox News hosts like Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity sent during the lame duck period of late 2020 and early 2021 — when attorney Sidney Powell and other allies of then-President Donald Trump were falsely claiming that Dominion's voting equipment was used to help now-President Joe Biden steal the election. In those e-mails and texts, Fox News pundits acknowledge that Trump lawyers' claims of a stolen election were nonsense. And Dominion alleges that despite knowing the truth, Fox News shamelessly promoted the Big Lie anyway. Fox's attorneys, fighting the lawsuit, have maintained that the cable news outlet's hosts were simply asking questions in late 2020/early 2021 — not going out of their way to promote defamatory lies. Defamation, under the standards the U.S. Supreme Court laid out in New York Times v. Sullivan in 1964, is extremely difficult to prove. Defamation, according to the late Chief Justice Earl Warren and his colleagues, must involve "actual malice." Sloppy reporting and careless mistakes, according to the Sullivan standard, do not constitute actual malice. Nor does inflammatory rhetoric. And ironically, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his GOP allies in the Florida State Legislature are trying to weaken Sullivan’s protections for journalists at the same time that Fox News' lawyers are trying to use them for protection in a major lawsuit. In an opinion column published on February 24, the Washington Post's Paul Waldman argues that Fox News — like House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) — is being eaten alive by the very extremism it has been promoting. Looking back on that lame duck period of late 2020/early 2021, Waldman recalls, "On air, Fox was spreading lies about supposed election fraud and bringing on guests without concern for their credibility, including Rudy Giuliani and GOP lawyer Sidney Powell. Meanwhile, Fox's stars and executives privately belittled those same people and the claims they were making…. At the same time, Fox News tried to suppress the truth. Reporters for the organization who corrected false claims were reprimanded and threatened." Waldman notes some of the things that Fox News hosts said in private, according to Dominion. Hannity, for example, wrote that Giuliani was "acting like an insane person," and Carlson wrote, "Sidney Powell is lying." The Post columnist argues, "These documents make clear not only that Fox News stars and executives think their audience is a bunch of half-wits, but also, that they live in fear that the audience will turn on them unless they tell viewers exactly what they want to hear regardless of the facts. Who taught that audience to believe conspiracy theories and to assume that any unwelcome information must be a sinister lie? Fox News, of course." Similarly, Waldman emphasizes, McCarthy is afraid to be honest about the events of January 6, 2021 because he fears offending the MAGA conspiracy theorists he has been encouraging. But by doing so, according to Waldman, the House speaker is sending out a message that the GOP is comprised of "extremists and loons who are far more interested in the obsessions of a spectacularly unpopular ex-president than in the genuine problems the country faces." "Like the trembling dissemblers of Fox News," Waldman laments, "McCarthy must feel that he has no choice: Feed the beast or be eaten by it. Winning the future is an idea they cannot latch on to because they are so frantic to survive one more day. Republican elites are not powerless. They helped make this mess and could nudge their base back toward reality if they chose. But they're too afraid to try." https://www.alternet.org/2659464967/

But has be sired any sons?

Providing that he doesn't have another meltdown.

None of this will make a dent in the faux outrage by the cretins in the US over how this was the fault of Biden, immigrants, the left wing, trans peoples and the global cabal.