Sweet Treats! 🍫🍬

Big jobs but recession fears.

The latest jobs reports for the month of January. As we continue through 2023, we are noticing that Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, Salesforce, IBM, Apple, Meta, Netflix, Spotify, Twitter, Warner Bros. Discovery, TOMS King, Macy's, Bed Bath and Beyond and numerous small businesses are laying off at a massive rates.

Coronavirus death has top 1.2 million. Over 124,000 daily infections.

Despite all that, we see a huge job boom. The fears of a recession are still existent.

Employers added a booming 517,000 jobs in January as hiring unexpectedly surged despite high inflation, rising interest rates and the prospect of a weakening economy.

Of the 517,000 jobs, there are 50 states, the District of Columbia, the five U.S. territories and American owned sovereignty. Which area of the U.S. sees the jobs growth?

The unemployment rate fell from 3.5% to 3.4%, lowest since 1969, the Labor Department said Friday.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast 185,000 job gains.

The labor market was buffeted by various crosscurrents last month, including winter storms and flooding as well as the aftermath of a strike, Goldman Sachs said. As a result, the January jobs total likely doesn't reflect the course of hiring in the months ahead, economists said.

For all of 2022, the economy had added a sizzling average of 375,000 jobs a month. That was a pace vigorous enough to have contributed to the painful inflation Americans have endured, the worst such bout in 40 years. A tight job market tends to put upward pressure on wages, which, in turn, feed into inflation.

The Fed, hoping to cool the job market and the economy — and, as a consequence, inflation — has steadily raised borrowing rates, most recently on Wednesday. Year-over-year measures of consumer inflation have steadily eased since peaking at 9.1% in June. But at 6.5% in December, inflation remains far above the Fed’s 2% target, which is why the central bank’s policymakers have reiterated their intent to keep raising borrowing rates for at least a few more months.

The Fed is aiming to achieve a “soft landing” — a pullback in the economy that is just enough to tame high inflation without triggering a recession. The policymakers hope that employers can slow wage increases and inflationary pressures by reducing job openings but not necessarily by laying off many employees.

But the job market’s resilience isn’t making that hoped-for outcome any easier. On Wednesday, the Labor Department reported that employers posted 11 million job openings in December, an unexpected jump from 10.4 million in November and the largest number since July. There are now about two job vacancies, on average, for every unemployed American.

The Labor Department’s monthly count of layoffs has amounted to fewer than 1.5 million for 21 straight months. Until 2021, that figure had never dropped so low in records dating back two decades.

Yet another sign that workers are benefiting from unusual job security is the weekly number of people who apply for unemployment benefits. That figure is a proxy for layoffs, one that economists monitor for clues about where the job market might be headed. The government said Thursday that the number of jobless claims fell last week to its lowest level since April.

This is projecting.

The pace of applications for unemployment aid has remained rock-bottom despite a steady stream of headline-making layoff announcements. Facebook parent Meta is cutting 11,000 jobs, Amazon 18,000, Microsoft 10,000, Google 12,000. Some economists suspect that many laid-off workers might not be showing up at the unemployment line because they can still find new jobs easily.

The Republicans have control of the House of Representatives and they are already tanking in popularity. They won on inflation, crime, the border and culture wars. So here we are five weeks into the new year, Republicans infight over Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) becoming the House Speaker. They are still talking about Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the previous House Speaker. They passed a national abortion ban, booted Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) from the House Intelligence Committee, booted Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The Republicans oppose raising the debt limit without spending cuts. They have not explictly said what they want cuts to but we expect it is social security and Medicare. 

Obviously, they want to end funding to Ukraine but not Israel or Saudi Arabia. 

They raised the debt limit under Washed Up 45 multiple times without any major opposition from their own members.

Republicans vow to investigate only President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents, ignore former vice president Mike Pence's handling of classified documents and Washed Up 45's refusal to turn over classified documents.

Republicans have decided to end the Jan. 6 Committee because they seriously believe it was partisan effort to undermine Washed Up 45. The former president instigated an insurrection against democracy and Republicans have caused legitimate political discourse. They decided to focus on government agencies like the FBI because they claim it put the thumb on the scale for Biden and Hillary Clinton. Clinton lost the presidential election in 2016. They want to investigate Hunter Biden, a private citizen who they alleged used his father's name to make millions. They also still obsess over this laptop.

We have not seen a laptop, but Fox, Newsmax and far right outlets have shared pictures of Hunter Biden in a negative light and it has prompt him to issue a valid warning that they will face defamation if they continue to accuse him of hiding classified documents.

Dominion is moving forward with its defamation lawsuit against Fox, Mike Lindell, Sidney Powell, Newsmax, OANN, Rudy Giuliani and numerous others.

Republicans boot Ilhan Omar off a committee.

Republicans already signal impeachment, national abortion bans, more guns on the streets, ending birthright citizenship, stopping the Biden pledge to cancel student debt, use taxpayer money to build a border wall, ban transgender people from playing gender based sports, start endless investigations into Hillary Clinton, Hunter Biden, Big Tech, the FBI, the pull out in Afghanistan, repeal the Affordable Care Act, repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, end COVID pandemic assistance and enforce voter ID laws on all Americans.

Republicans see the only path to victory is basically obstruct and complain about the president. They won't offer solutions or policies. All they care about is trying to keep folks angry with culture wars and distractions.

President Joe Biden's headaches:

1. The Republicans in the House of Representatives.
2. Gun violence and Congress not doing anything to stop it.
3. Inflation.
4. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
5. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep. James Comer (R-KY), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Rep. George Santos (R-NY), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO).
6. The junk food media and their never ending dramatizing of world events.
7. Anti-Vaxxers. 
8. Lawmakers and activists who protest the CDC guidelines during the pandemic.
9. The endless culture wars that Republicans find outrage in.
10. Washed Up 45 and his minions on Fox, Newsmax, OANN and the internet.
11. Facebook, Twitter and TikTok. The idiots who run it and the idiots who post on it.
12. Fox, The Daily Mail, Newsmax and OANN's relentless talk about conspiracies, Hunter Biden, Ashley Biden and the president's mental capacity and health.
13. The endless racism towards Biden's allies Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Barack Obama.
14. The relentless talk about spending despite the former president's reckless things.
15. The lack of civility towards fellow Americans.
16. Vladimir Putin.
17. Xi Jinping.
18. Kim Jong-Un.
19. Benjamin Netanyahu.

The coronavirus doesn't care about your age, race, gender, sexuality, nationality, religion, politics, economic or social standings. It doesn't care about your business, your performances, your personal finances and travel. It doesn't care about the funerals, the birthday parties, the weddings, the vacations, the events and your graduations.

An active shooter doesn't care about the politics, race, gender, sexuality, nationality, religion, your finances, your family, your plans that day, your successes, your failures, and most importantly, your life.

Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin high fived at Davos to oppose Biden's agenda.

You're not safe in the school, the concert, the hospital, the church, the casino, the bus station, the subway, the light rail train, the buses, the malls, the local big box store, the political rally, the protest rally, the women's center for reproductive surgeries, the mosque, the synagogue, the state buildings, the workplace, the gas station, the family picnic, the food truck rally, the funerals, the birthday parties, the graduations, the wedding, the televised events, the sporting events and many more events that have some terrorist with a firearm. Domestic violence, suicide, racism, culture war inspired, politically motivated and international operative inspired are types of gun violence.

Food prices, energy prices, rent, city services and college education have risen. Companies are struggling to find workers. They are now trying to push incentives to get workers in.

Real Reasons To Why Unemployment Rate Stays The Way It Is!

1. DEAD
   
2. BORN
3. THE PANDEMIC
4. CLIMATE CHANGE
5. IN PRISON
6. IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
7. IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
   
8. IN HIGH SCHOOL
9. IN COLLEGE NOT LOOKING
10. VOLUNTEER
11. DISABLED
12. INFLATION
13. STAY AT HOME PARENT
14. RETIRED 
15. QUIT ON THEIR OWN
16. TERMINATED FROM EMPLOYMENT 
17. NOT HIRING UNQUALIFIED
18. NOT HIRING TOO QUALIFIED
19. ACTIVE MILITARY
20. NATURAL DISASTERS
21. MASS SHOOTINGS DISRUPT DAILY ROUTINE
22. BEING LAID OFF DUE TO CLOSING OR STAFF REDUCTION
23. DESTRUCTION TO FACILITY OR PROPRETY
24. OUTSOURCING JOBS TO OTHER STATES OR COUNTRIES
25. BEING UNDOCUMENTED IN FEAR OF I.C.E. OR U.S. AGENCIES
26. BEING PUBLICLY OUTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA DOING SHAMEFUL ACTS
27. PARTICIPATING IN UNCIVIL OR VIOLENT PROTESTS

Jobs are looking good despite fears of an economic slowdown.

Companies are still trying to hire employees. With the average wages stagnant, many are not looking forward to returning to a job that pays dirt wages. Many who worked in the retail, restaurant and low end service industry are not willing to take a job for less than $10 an hour. Matter of fact, no one can survive on $15 an hour.

Republicans don't see the bigger picture itself. They rather continue to believe in conspiracies about people collecting the safety net and not going back to work.

Give them a liveable wage and maybe things might improve in the job market.

We can't always assume that folks are lazy. People are literally dying from being exposed to the coronavirus and folks are tired of the status quo of their jobs.

Many single mothers are having trouble trying to find quality daycare or family members to watch children. On top of that, some have lost family members due to the pandemic. A homemaker may have lost their spouse. Some may have no choice but to watch their children or loved ones due to the aftermath of the pandemic.

Folks are still trying to rebound from medical bills, late rent payments, owing taxes and college loans.

The Republicans reward white nationalists Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar committee hearings.

Republicans are white nationalists without a conscience. 

Washed Up 45's presidency and Republican controlled governments killed millions of Americans. Biden has a slim majority in Congress and things can't be done with obstruction from both parties.

Holding these lawmakers accountable is not just a pledge, but a promise. You need to learn who represents your community. Your local community member, your school board member, your mayor, your state representative, your state senator, your governor, your U.S. Representative, your U.S. Senator and the president need to be held accountable for their actions. 

We need to put pressure on Republicans and Democrats to do something to improve everyone's lives.

The call number to the U.S. Capitol is now going to be used. This is the official phone number, 202-224-3121. Let them know that "thoughts and prayers," "hearts going to" and "good guys with guns" are no longer acceptable and you want legislation to curb gun violence. Let them know that women deserve the right to safe medical procedures. Let them know that their failure to pass legislation to lower prices are the reasons why the economy is in a free fall.

Ilhan Omar Off House Foreign Affairs Committee!

You won't silence me.

So if criticism of the Israeli government's cruel policies towards the Palestinians is anti-semitic, you might as well call me one.

That country has committed war crimes, illegal activities and unjustified violence for years and the United States continues to look the other way and keeps giving billions of aid to them. They are running an extreme right government that is fully on board with the full escalation of settlements on the West Bank. 

They are still blocking medical aid and emergency services to those in the Gaza Strip.

Numerous Republican lawmakers have called for violence against their fellow lawmakers. Yet, they are rewarded and praised. If I dare criticize Israel by saying American lawmakers take billions from lobbyists who support controversial Israeli policies, I am anti-semitic.

Fuck them.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) faces numerous death threats from insane people and constant conspiracy theories from media agitators was booted from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Ohio elected a white nationalist, Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) to represent the suburbs of Cleveland. He is one of the many extremists Ohio has now representing the 11.6 million people.

The vote was 218-211 along party lines. In her first term, Omar drew criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike for tweets that invoked anti-Semitic tropes. She apologized for those tweets but has remained outspoken about the influence of Israel and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a powerful pro-Israel lobby, on U.S. politics.

The resolution, introduced by Miller stated that Omar "has disqualified herself from serving on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, a panel that is viewed by nations around the world as speaking for Congress on matters of international importance and national security."

Miller, who is one of two Jewish Republicans in the House, said in a statement that Omar "cannot be an objective decision-maker on the Foreign Affairs Committee given her biases against Israel and against the Jewish people."

Omar, who herself has faced anti-Muslim bigotry since taking office, told reporters last week that the move to remove her from the committee was "purely partisan."

In an emotional speech on the House floor Thursday, Omar said she is being targeted for her identity as a Muslim immigrant from Africa.

"Is anyone surprised that I am somehow deemed unworthy to speak about American foreign policy? Or that they see me as a powerful voice that needs to be silenced." she said. "I didn't come to Congress to be silent."

Her experience as an immigrant and refugee who survived a civil war give her a valuable and unique perspective on American foreign policy, she added.

Hunter Biden's Lawyers: Prepare For A Defamation Lawsuit!

Hunter Biden warning far right agitators to stop making baseless allegations or face a defamation lawsuit.

The son of President Joe Biden has finally had enough of the far right propaganda being spread about him and his father. The Washington Post has obtained a formal request from his lawyers warning Fox, The Daily Mail, The New York Post, Steve Bannon and John Paul Mac Isaac, the blind repairman who claimed to have found his laptop they better stop or face a defamation lawsuit.

Hunter Biden knows he has problems, he wrote a book about it. He knows that he struggled with drugs and mental health. We're only human.

For the far right, they believe that Twitter, Facebook and the junk food media "censored" the New York Post writer Miranda Devine's story about the laptop. The laptop according to the far right would have saved the former president. Nevermind, his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, tensions since the George Floyd murder and his blatant admission that he sought foreign influence to sway the election.

Washed Up 45, Donald Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, Jesse Watters, Steve Bannon, Softball Hannity, Dan Bongino, Tucker Carlson, Republicans and the far-right media are hoping Hunter Biden is the key to getting Biden impeached.

The obsession with the president's son is bonkers. I mean he is a private citizen. He and Ashley Biden are not even involved in the matters of the president, Dr. Jill Biden, the First Lady of the United States or any member of the White House.

But for the Republicans, it is the biggest scandal in Biden's presidency.

Rep. James Comer (R-KY), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) are highly invested in it. Same with the Droopy Dog of politics, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). 

He along with Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) are joining the conspiracy train.

Hunter had enough.

Abbe Lowell, a lawyer for Hunter Biden, wrote to the Justice Department and the Delaware attorney general's office asking investigators to examine the conduct of several operatives who allegedly played a role in "accessing, copying, manipulating, and/or disseminating Mr. Biden's personal computer data," including Rudy Giuliani, Steve Bannon, and other supporters of the former president.

"The actions described above more than merit a full investigation and, depending on the resulting facts, may merit prosecution under various statutes," Lowell said. "It is not a common thing for a private person and his counsel to seek someone else being investigated, but the actions and motives here require it."

"The actions described above more than merit a full investigation and, depending on the resulting facts, may merit prosecution under various statutes," Lowell said. "It is not a common thing for a private person and his counsel to seek someone else being investigated, but the actions and motives here require it."

Law enforcement agencies are not obligated to act on such referrals, nor are they required to acknowledge them.

Lowell also wrote to the Internal Revenue Service requesting a probe into Garrett Ziegler, a former Washed Up 45 White House aide who recently published a trove of emails allegedly tied to Hunter Biden. That letter challenges the tax-exempt status of Ziegler's organization, Marco Polo, which is filed as a 501(c)(3).

Ziegler's organization "has failed to operate solely for charitable purposes," Lowell wrote to the agency. "To the contrary, [Marco Polo] has operated as little more than a thinly disguised political operation to attack the Biden administration and the Biden family."

Bryan Sullivan, a defamation lawyer retained by Hunter Biden, also sent a cease-and-desist letter to Fox News and Tucker Carlson, asking the network and its primetime host to retract and correct a report they ran about alleged rent payments Hunter Biden made to his father, which they have claimed as evidence that the president was more closely tied to his son's financial arrangements.

Carlson's promulgation of the story stands in "flagrant violation of all journalistic professionalism," wrote Sullivan, who also warned of "potential litigation" if the network fails to agree to a retraction by the end of the day on Thursday. Sullivan also asked that Fox News preserve any records related to its handling of the story.

Tucker Carlson won't stop.

The change in tack by lawyers for the president's only living son comes at a precarious time for the younger Biden, as Republican scrutiny of his business dealings ramps up and federal prosecutors reportedly near the conclusion of their years-long probe into his tax affairs.

Federal authorities in the Delaware U.S. attorney's office, led by U.S. Attorney David Weiss, a Washed Up 45-appointee, have been investigating Hunter Biden since 2018, ABC News has previously reported, but paused for several months ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

The probe spilled into public view in December 2020, shortly after Joe Biden secured the presidency, when Hunter Biden confirmed the probe into his "tax affairs." Prosecutors have since examined whether he paid adequate taxes on millions of dollars of his income, including money he made from multiple overseas business ventures.

Hunter Biden has repeatedly said he is cooperating with investigators and remains "100% certain" that he will be cleared of any wrongdoing. President Biden has said he and his son never discussed his foreign business dealings, and there are no indications that the federal investigation involves the president in any way. The White House has repeatedly sought to distance the president from the probe.

Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Republicans have taken their first investigative steps in a long-awaited congressional probe into the younger Biden. House Oversight Committee Chairman Comer and Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, have called investigations into the president's family a "top priority" and have pledged to "pursue all avenues" of wrongdoing. They said they "would love" to speak with Hunter Biden, but did not announce plans to issue a subpoena.

Lowell, a celebrated defense lawyer, joined Hunter Biden's legal team in December to assist with congressional oversight inquiries. He has represented a number of high-profile political figures, including Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump; Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and John Edwards.

Tyre Nichols' Funeral!

The funeral of Tyre Nichols was held on Wednesday. 

White House Senior Advisors Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mitch Landrieu, Rev. Al Sharpton, Benjamin Crump, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Botham Jean, Ahmaud Arbrey and Eric Garner were there.

The biggest guest was Madam Vice President, Kamala Harris, who spoke on behalf of President Joe Biden and Tyre's family.

During services, Sharpton and the vice president both delivered impassioned speeches calling on lawmakers to approve the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a broad package of reforms that includes a national registry for police officers disciplined for misconduct, a ban on no-knock warrants and other measures.

Harris said the beating of Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, by five Black police officers was a violent act that violated the stated mission of police to ensure public safety.

“It was not in the interest of keeping the public safe, because one must ask, was not it in the interest of keeping the public safe that Tyre Nichols would be with us today? Was he not also entitled to the right to be safe? So when we talk about public safety, let us understand what it means in its truest form. Tyre Nichols should have been safe,” she said.

The funeral took place at 1pm at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis.

Tyre's family and friends remembered him with songs of faith and heartfelt tributes Wednesday, blending a celebration of his life with outraged calls for police reform after the brutal beating he endured at the hands of Memphis police.

Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, fought back tears as she spoke lovingly of her son.

“The only thing that’s keeping me going is that I truly believe that my son was sent here on assignment from God. And I guess now his assignment is done. He’s gone home,” she said, urging Congress to pass police reform.

Nichols was beaten after police stopped him for an alleged traffic violation Jan. 7. Video released after pressure from Nichols’ family shows officers holding him down and repeatedly punching, kicking and striking him with a baton as he screamed for his mother.

Sharpton said the officers who beat Nichols might have acted differently if there were real accountability for their actions. He also said he believes that if Nichols had been white, “you wouldn’t have beat him like that.”

The celebration of Tyre's life.

“We understand that there are concerns about public safety. We understand that there are needs that deal with crime. But you don’t fight crime by becoming criminals yourself. You don’t stand up to thugs in the street becoming thugs yourself. You don’t fight gangs by becoming five armed men against an unarmed man. That ain’t the police. That’s punks,” he said.

“We need to take some action because there should be no other child that should suffer the way my son — and all the other parents here have lost their children — we need to get that bill passed,” Wells said. “Because if we don’t, that blood — the next child that dies, that blood is going to be on their hands.”

Tiffany Rachal, the mother of Jalen Randle, who was fatally shot by a Houston police officer in 2022, sang a rendition of the classic gospel standard “Total Praise” to rousing applause from the congregation and Nichols’ family.

“All of the mothers all over the world need to come together, need to come together to stop all of this,” Rachal said.

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents Nichols’ family, referred to the graphic video showing the officers punching, kicking and beating Nichols, even after he lay helpless on the ground.

“Why couldn’t they see the humanity in Tyre?” he asked.

Tyre’s sister, Keyana Dixon, said she felt a pain like she had never experienced before “when those monsters murdered my baby brother.” LaToya Yizar, whose mother was Nichols’ godmother, read from a poem she wrote titled, “I’m Just Trying to Go Home,” invoking Nichols’ words to the officers.

Vice President Kamala Harris calls for Congress to pass the George Floyd Policing Act.

Sharpton said he took his daughter Ashley early Wednesday to the site of the former Lorraine Motel, where the Rev. Martin Luther King. Jr. was shot on April 4, 1968. He noted that King was in Memphis to support a strike by city sanitation workers, most of whom were Black.

“The reason why ... what happened to Tyre is so personal to me, is that five Black men that wouldn’t have had a job in the police department, would not ever be thought of to be in an elite squad, in the city that Dr. King lost his life, not far away from that balcony, you beat a brother to death,” Sharpton said.

Nichols, a skateboarder and amateur photographer who worked making boxes at FedEx, grew up in Sacramento, California, and loved the San Francisco 49ers. He came to Memphis just before the coronavirus pandemic and got stuck. But he was fine with it because he was with his mother, and they were incredibly close, she said. He even had her name tattooed on his arm.

Nichols made friends during morning visits to Starbucks and always greeted his mother and stepfather when he returned home with a sunny, “Hello, parents!” The baby of their family, Nichols had a 4-year-old son and worked hard to better himself as a father, his family said.

In the three weeks since Nichols’ death, five police officers were fired and charged with murder. Their specialized unit was disbanded. Two more officers have been suspended. Two Memphis Fire Department emergency medical workers and a lieutenant were also fired. And more discipline could be coming.

Attorneys for two of the charged officers, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., said they will plead not guilty. Blake Ballin, the lawyer for Mills, told AP that the videos “produced as many questions as they have answers.”

Lawyers for the three other officers have not provided comment to the AP.

Nichols’ death was the latest in a string of early accounts by police about their use of force that were later shown to have minimized or omitted mention of violent encounters.

Tom Brady: I'm Done!

Tom Brady will retire again.

We heard this story before.

Tom Brady announced on social media he will retire. In 2022, Brady had announced his retirement but changed his mind and decided to play one more season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady played most of his football with the New England Patriots.

The seven-time Super Bowl winner with New England and Tampa Bay announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, exactly one year after first saying his playing days were over, by posting a brief video lasting just under one minute on social media.

Unlike last winter, though, the most successful quarterback in league history, as well as one of the greatest athletes in team sports, said his decision was final.

Truly grateful on this day. Thank you 🙏🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/j2s2sezvSS

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 1, 2023

“Good morning guys. I’ll get to the point right away,” Brady says as the message begins. “I’m retiring. For good.”

He briefly retired after the 2021 season but wound up coming back for one more year with the Buccaneers. He retires at age 45, the owner of virtually every meaningful NFL passing record in an unprecedented 23-year career.

A year ago when he retired, it was in the form of a long Instagram post. But about six weeks later, he decided to return for one more run, citing “unfinished business” after an early playoff exit.

The Buccaneers — with whom he won a Super Bowl two seasons ago — made the playoffs again this season, losing in their playoff opener. And at the time, it begged the question about whether Brady would play again.

Only a couple of weeks later, he has given the answer.

“I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first,” Brady says in the video. “I won’t be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year.

“I really thank you guys so much, to every single one of you for supporting me. My family, my friends, teammates, my competitors. I could go on forever. There’s too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing. Love you all.”

Brady is the NFL’s career leader in yards passing (89,214) and touchdowns (649). He is the only player to win more than five Super Bowls and has been MVP of the game five times. He also holds marks for regular-season wins (251), Super Bowl appearances (10), playoff games and wins (48, 35), as well as playoff yards (13,400) and TDs (88).

“Tom’s legacy is unmatched in the history of this game. All the Super Bowl titles and statistical records speak for themselves, but the impact he had on so many people through the years is what I appreciate the most,” Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said.

And now what?

“His imprint on this organization helped take us to the mountaintop. We will certainly miss him as our quarterback, but I will also miss him as a leader and friend,” Licht added. “Our entire organization is indebted to him for what he provided us over the past three years. We won’t ever forget the wins or the accolades, and his influence will be felt for years to come.”

Brady announced his retirement one day after attending the premiere of “80 for Brady” — which comes out Friday — in Los Angeles. The movie tells the story of four lifelong friends, played by Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field, who went to a Super Bowl to see Brady play.

He was asked Tuesday night whether he felt a connection working with women — the four stars range in age from 76 to 91 — who don’t want to retire.

“They’re working hard and they love it. So good for them,” Brady told The Associated Press. “You know, it’s just that’s what life is about. You got to, you know, wake up every day with a purpose. And when you find something you love to do, you know, it’s hard to stop. You really enjoy it. And there’s a lot of aspects that you do enjoy. So they still bring it at this age. It’s really unbelievable to watch them on set and how much energy they have. And I certainly was inspired by them and learned a lot of lessons on this whole experience.”

Famously underrated coming into the NFL — he was picked 199th in the 2000 draft by the Patriots, behind six other quarterbacks, three kickers and a punter — Brady certainly wasn’t expected to become synonymous with greatness. He played in one game as a rookie, completing one of three passes for six yards.

The next year, it all changed.

Brady took over as the Patriots’ starter, the team beat the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl that capped the 2001 season and he and New England coach Bill Belichick were well on their way to becoming the most successful coach-QB duo in football history.

More Super Bowl wins came after the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The Patriots returned to football’s mountaintop for a fourth time in Brady’s era a decade later to cap the 2014 season, the start of three more titles in a span of five years.

He signed with Tampa Bay in free agency in 2020 and added a seventh Super Bowl ring to his collection in his first season with his new team. The Bucs and won 37 games (including postseason) with Brady at quarterback — third most in the league over the past three seasons behind Kansas City (46) and Buffalo (41).

“I think I’ve been on the record dozens of times saying there’s no quarterback I’d rather have than Tom Brady, and I still feel that way,” Belichick said in 2021 — shortly before Tampa Bay, with Brady, came to New England and beat the Patriots in a game dubbed “The Return.” “I was very lucky to have Tom as the quarterback, to coach him, and he was as good as any coach could ever ask for.”

Brady set league single-season records for completions (490) and pass attempts (733) while throwing for 4,643 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his final season. The Bucs, however ranked dead last in rushing offense and, forced to rely almost solely of Brady’s arm, struggled to get the ball into the end zone.

After scoring 61 touchdowns in 2021, Tampa Bay slipped to 31 last season and averaged just 18.4 points per game — down from over 30 in Brady’s first two seasons with the Bucs.

At 8-9, Brady’s only losing season in over two decades as a NFL starter, the Bucs became just the fourth team in league history to earn a postseason berth with a losing mark in a non-strike year. The offensive struggles continued during a lopsided loss to Dallas in the NFC wild-card round.

Brady won three NFL MVP awards, was a first-team All-Pro three times and was selected to the Pro Bowl 15 times.

Brady and model Gisele Bündchen finalized their divorce this past fall, during the Bucs’ season. It ended a 13-year marriage between two superstars who respectively reached the pinnacles of football and fashion.

It was announced last year that when Brady retires from playing, he would join Fox Sports as a television analyst in a 10-year, $375 million deal.

Mikesell's Snack Brands goes out of business.

Longtime food and snack distributor Mikesell's announced they are closing operations and selling its brand to a major distributor. The company is based out of Dayton, Ohio and has sold its products in eight states.

“To continue to protect the Mikesell’s brand, so it can remain viable in the market and continue to move forward, Mikesell’s is announcing that it intends to transition all Mikesell’s brand and IP rights to another quality snack food manufacturer, as soon as possible,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement.

The exact timeline remains uncertain, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson says Mike-Sell’s Inc. is beginning to “wind-down its manufacturing, distribution, and administrative operations to proceed with an orderly liquidation of its assets.” The liquidation of its assets will begin immediately and continue over the next several months.

“Although the terms have not yet been finalized, we understand the desire to keep products available, and are working to facilitate the necessary conversations for approvals that will allow for an uninterrupted supply of Mikesell’s products,” the spokesperson said.

“The Mikesell’s family and team wish to thank the community, consumers and partners for their love and support over the past 112+ years,” shares Luke Mapp, President of Mikesell’s. “Our family will long remember the fan love, the friendships and the wins along the way the most.”

Mikesell's was founded by Daniel W. Mikesell in Dayton, Ohio in 1910 as a producer of dried beef and sausage. However, the company soon began producing "Saratoga Chips." The "Mikesell's" name and logo were adopted in 1925.

Varieties of chips produced by the company include Original, Groovy (ridged), Old Fashioned, Himalayan Sea Salt and Vinegar, Reduced Fat, No Salt, Green Onion, Honey Barbecue, Barbecue, Zesty Barbecue, Mesquite Smoked Bacon, Cheddar & Sour Cream, and Good'n Hot. Mikesell's makes other products, including hull-less "Puffcorn Delites." Puffcorn Delites are made in four flavors—original, cheese, movie theater butter, salted caramel, and newly Pepperoni Pizza. A local candy maker, Esther Price, sells the chips coated in chocolate.

Mikesell's potato chips are often found in chicken dinners, pork dinners, and other meals benefiting local organizations.

George Santos Off Committees!

Santos drags his ass through Congress.

The New York lawmaker is one step closer to resignation or an ouster. He has resigned from his committee assignments after it was revealed that the U.S. Justice Department and Federal Elections Commission is investigating how he obtained that massive amount of wealth.

Rep. George Santos (R-NY) is an openly gay Republican to serve in Congress. However, his life has been marred by allegations where it has New York Republicans demanding he immediately steps down. They have already vow to support a primary challenger and will no longer fund his reelection bid.

Santos was caught in a scandal which involved him fabricating his life. He fabricated his jobs, school, his religion and his sexuality.

He claimed he worked at Citigroup, 

He went by the names Anthony Devolder and Kitara Ravache. 

He was once a drag queen or possibly a transvestite prostitute who stole checks in Brazil.

He under investigation for the stolen checks.

Santos allegedly stole charity funds from a disable veteran who needed treatment for his service dog.

Also, he apparently lied about who funded his campaign, bragged about a high profile treasurer on his team and forged the name of a donor on financial forms for his campaign.

Republicans were so mad, they told him to step down from his committees.

So on Tuesday he is temporarily stepping down from his two congressional committees, a move that comes amid a host of ethics issues and a day after he met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Santos has faced numerous calls for his resignation and is facing multiple investigations by prosecutors over his personal and campaign finances and lies about his resume and family background.

Santos was assigned to two fairly low-profile panels, the House Committee on Small Business and to the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Still, his arrival has left GOP leadership frequently answering questions about the congressman rather than about their priorities for the coming months.

In a prepared statement, Santos said he wanted to focus on serving his constituents “without distraction.”

“I want to personally thank Speaker McCarthy for meeting with me to discuss the matter and allowing me to take time to properly clear my name before returning to my committees,” Santos said. “To my constituents, I remain committed to serving the district, and delivering results for both New York’s Third Congressional District and for the American people.”

Before issuing the statement, Santos addressed Republican lawmakers in a weekly closed-door meeting they have when in Washington. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) said the decision was well-received from the GOP conference. “I think it was the appropriate thing to do and I was proud of him for getting up and doing this,” Cole said.

McCarthy met with Santos on Monday night but did not disclose their conversation.

“You’ll see,” McCarthy told reporters at the Capitol.

The questions surrounding Santos go beyond his misrepresentations to voters to include whether his congressional campaign followed the law in its reporting to the Federal Election Commission. There have been lingering questions about irregularities in his campaign committee’s financial reports and the source of Santos’ wealth.

If Santos’ campaign is found to have knowingly and willfully made any “materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation” on its paperwork, it could potentially face criminal charges, the FEC said in a letter to the campaign last week.

Republicans described the decision by Santos to temporarily step down from the two House panels as voluntary. Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), the chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, said he was surprised.

“The bottom line is that he’s chosen to be off committees until his situation gets handled at a level that he’s comfortable with,” Williams said.

Democrats have been highly critical of Santos as well as McCarthy for his efforts to oust three Democratic lawmakers from committees, while at the same time backing committee assignments for Santos, who has lied so thoroughly to his constituents about his background.

“The hypocrisy just grabs you by the throat,” said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). “This is a Republican speaker who is seating a human fraud, George Santos, on committees, a serial fabricator about every part of his existence.”

McCarthy blocked Schiff and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) from being re-appointed to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, though they will be able to serve on other committees. He’s also committed to removing Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from serving on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, though such a move would come to the full House for a vote, where undoubtedly Democrats would renew questions about the propriety of allowing Santos to sit on committees as their members are being removed.

Late Tuesday, House Republicans put in motion a process toward ousting Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee, once she is formally seated on the panel for the new Congress. A vote by Republicans on a resolution to remove Omar from the committee could come as soon as Wednesday.

McCarthy has little margin for error if he chooses to pursue her expulsion for remarks McCarthy has described as antisemitic regarding Israel. Omar has apologized, and said in a CNN interview Sunday she “might have used words at the time that I didn’t understand were trafficking in antisemitism.”

Shortly after Omar arrived in Congress in 2019, the House approved a resolution condemning antisemitism and other forms of bigotry — without mentioning her by name — after she made remarks that critics said accused Israel supporters of having dual allegiances.

At least two Republicans had said they won’t vote for Omar’s removal from the foreign affairs panel. They said Democrats were in the wrong for removing Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ) from their committees two years ago. And Republicans were making a similar mistake when it came to Omar.

“It’s just wrong,” said Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO). “Let’s stop ruining this place. Let’s make it better.”

But McCarthy appeared to be winning over some GOP skeptics. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) said previously “two wrongs do not make a right” when it comes to ousting Omar. She issued a statement Tuesday reversing course and stating she would support a removal resolution after McCarthy expressed his willingness to add due process provisions.

“I think setting a precedent of allowing an appeal process for the Speaker’s and majority-party removal decisions is particularly important to freedom-loving legislators who usually are on the receiving end of issues like this,” Spartz said.

Dr. Phil To End!

Dr. Phil will end his talk show after this season.

After 21 seasons, Phil McGraw is going to end his talk show. 

The talk and advice show will stop airing after the end of the current season, according to CBS Media Ventures, the content creator associated with the CBS network under the conglomerate Paramount Global.

McGraw, 72, plans to announce a "prime-time partnership" that will launch in 2024, CBS Media Ventures said in a statement.

"This has been an incredible chapter of my life and career," McGraw said in the statement, "but while I’m moving on from daytime, there is so much more I wish to do."

The transition keeps him in the CBS family.

"While his show may be ending after 21 years, I’m happy to say our relationship is not," Steve LoCascio, president of CBS Media Ventures, said in the statement.

The company plans to continue offering reruns of the show, which may include new intros, for the season following its last airing.

"We plan to be in the ‘Dr. Phil’ business with the library for years to come and welcome opportunities to work together in the future," LoCascio said.

McGraw started his entertainment career as America’s life coach on Oprah Winfrey’s show in the 1990’s.

McGraw was once a licensed psychologist in Texas before moving to California to launch "Dr. Phil." Despite holding no license in California, his advice, nonetheless, helped create an industry that later welcomed another TV "doctor," Mehmet Oz, to the airwaves.

His most notable features are were troubled entertainers DMX, Orlando Brown and Danielle Bregoli (Bhad Bhabie). They have been on Dr. Phil due to mental issues and drug abuse. 

DMX had passed away in 2021.

Ohio city has a large Neo Nazi presence.

A city in Ohio has condemned a school that made the news this week. The school was featured in Vice, HuffPost and Buzzfeed. State leaders also weigh in.

Ohio is a state that has trended more Republican over the past 10 years. It has elected governors like John Kasich and Mike DeWine. It has picked far right extremists like Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and Bob Latta (R-OH).

The voters approved a constitutional amendment to have a fair redistricting of Ohio's U.S. Congressional Districts. The Republicans ignore that and carried forth a partisan gerrymandered map which gave Republicans 13 districts that favor them and two for the Democrats. 

Three Democrats represent Republican leaning districts.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) faces a challenge in 2024. If the Republicans nominate a tolerable candidate they could defeat him. 

He has won in 2006, 2012 and 2018. The state sees him a center-left leaning senator. 

Ohio has 72% white population. Its population is declining. States like North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and South Carolina are growing in Black and Latino populations. 

Ohio lost a congressional district due to slow population growth.

North Carolina will surpass Ohio in population in 2030.

Ohio has a population of 11.9 million while North Carolina has a population of 11.5 million.

The state went to Washed Up 45 in 2016 and 2020 by eight points each time.

Ohio has been always key to presidential elections. No longer. 

Ohio, Florida and Iowa may be out of reach for Democrats in presidential elections.

It may because white nationalists are settling in these states.

An Ohio couple accused of running a neo-Nazi home-schooling group on social media with 2,600 followers.

Antifascist researchers known as the Anonymous Comrades Collective first identified the couple, who participated in a neo-Nazi podcast under the names Mr. and Mrs. Saxon, as Logan and Katja Lawrence of Upper Sandusky in Wyandot County. The group’s work was the nexus for a story about the couple in Vice News.

Their Telegram channel, started on Oct. 23, 2021, is called Dissident-Homeschool. It features suggested content that is racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic, as well as factually inaccurate. It includes cursive practice sheets with quotes from Adolf Hitler, suggested content about Confederate General Robert E. Lee and civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which included an unfounded conspiracy about Jewish people. The Telegram channel offers a suggested math lesson with a story problem attributing crime to different races.

Reading, writing and Adolf Hitler.

When the group reached 1,000 subscribers on Dec. 29, 2021, Katja Lawrence, writing as Mrs. Saxon, posted a picture of children giving the Hitler hand salute. “It fills my heart with joy to know there is such a strong base of homeschoolers and homeschool-interested national socialists. Hail Victory.”

The Ohio Department of Education said in a prepared statement that it is “actively reviewing compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements,” though it’s unclear if the review is on the Lawrence family or home schools in general.

Democrats in the Ohio General Assembly say the state’s home-schooling laws are relatively weak, which has allowed the couple to teach their children racist content, then share it with others.

“I applaud the efforts of citizen activists and journalists who have brought to light the efforts of neo-Nazi home-schoolers who are promoting a Nazi-infused curriculum for parents,” said Sen. Nickie Antonio, a Lakewood Democrat who is the chamber’s minority leader. “This type of hatred has no place in Ohio, nor its education system. I respect the rights of parents to determine their children’s education, which can include home schooling. However, we need to carefully examine how we currently regulate home school curriculum.”

Tucked into Senate Bill 1, a massive piece of legislation that would overhaul the Ohio Department of Education and gut the Ohio State Board of Education, is a provision that would make it harder for the state to regulate home schools. Under the bill, home school rules would have to be changed via legislation instead of through the state’s rulemaking process.

The Home School Defense League Association asked for the provision, said Sen. Andrew Brenner, chairman of the Ohio Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee, when the bill was new.

“We need to ensure that home schooling is not an opportunity for parents to systemically teach their children hatred,” said Sen. Catherine D. Ingram, a Cincinnati Democrat who is the ranking member on the Senate education committee, in a Monday statement.

Megyn Kelly Upset FLOTUS Using "Doctor" Title!

This headache.

I am starting to notice that Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), the Republican National Committee and numerous others on the far right have nothing better to do other than troll for click bait and likes.

It is like we are paying them an annual salary to appear on Fox, CNN, MSNBC or host a podcast instead of doing what they are elected to do, govern, pass laws and represent the constituents.

It is frustrating that we see more of these lawmakers on television, radio and social media doing more to agitate the discourse for a few likes and acceptance. Do your fucking job and write laws, vote on laws, solve problems in your district, your state, hold town halls and work for the common good. Try to be low profile and not the noise makers who get paid to be divisive.

In the case of noise makers, there is Megyn Kelly.

Announcers for this Eagles-49ers game just spotted the First Lady in a box and of course call her “Dr. Jill Biden.” Wonder if she realizes what a wannabe she looks like insisting on this fake title. Get a real MD or just work on your self-esteem.

— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) January 29, 2023

Kelly is a washed up media personality who is blackballed from Fox, NBC, CBS and ABC.

At one time, she had a fucking backbone. She called out Washed Up 45's sexism. She was a key factor to getting Roger Ailes fired out the cannon, Bill O'Reilly fired out the cannon and Eric Bolling fired out the cannon for sexual predatory behavior. Kelly was riding waves of support from women who were afraid to speak out on sexual abuse.

She threw that shit away for the racism, conspiracy theories and noise.

She calls herself The Devil.

Her podcast is hosted on The Devil May Care Media.

From her reaction to the Michael Brown killing, her "Jesus amd Santa Claus are white," her support of wearing blackface, her blatant disrespect of Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, her disrespect of Vice President Kamala Harris, Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, Meg The Stallion, hosting Russian propagandist Tara Reade: Megyn Kelly seeks attention. 

Only five years ago, Megyn Kelly referred to the First Lady as Dr. Jill Biden.

Her bullshit peddling has went to an extreme.

Kelly appears on Triumph, a far right network on SiriusXM. Kelly joins far right noise makers Nancy Grace, Glenn Beck, Dr. Laura Schlessinger and Dave Ramsey in undermining democracy and whining about the latest culture war.

Kelly had got riled up with First Lady Jill Biden, who has a P.h.D in education and is called doctor. According to the far right, a doctor is a medical professional not a first lady.

Doctor is an academic title for a holder of a doctoral degree.

Her own fucking father has a doctoral degree and is referred as a doctor.

The first lady earned her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Delaware and is a 30-year classroom teacher. She’s stuck with her teaching post at Northern Virginia Community College throughout her husband’s vice presidency and presidency — which makes her the only first lady to hold a full-time job outside of the White House. 

Conservatives have long knocked Biden over her use of the title. 

Playing a stupid blonde was always Megyn Kelly's style.

The First Lady was at the NFC Championship Game. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the San Francisco 49ers. They will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.

Biden had a tumor removed from her eye that was non cancerous.

Cindy Williams Passed Away!

Cindy Williams had died from an illness.

Cindy Williams best known for her role as Shirley Feeney, on Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley has passed away at the age of 75. 

Williams died after a short illness, said the statement from her children Zak and Emily Hudson, provided to CNN by family spokesperson and Williams’ personal assistant Liz Cranis.

“The passing of our kind, hilarious mother, Cindy Williams, has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed,” their statement read. “Knowing and loving her has been our joy and privilege. She was one of a kind, beautiful, generous and possessed a brilliant sense of humor and a glittering spirit that everyone loved.”

Williams had credits spanning six decades, but it was her role on “Happy Days” spin-off “Laverne & Shirley” that endeared her to millions and made her a household name.

On the series, she starred opposite the late Penny Marshall as one half of a dynamic friend duo whose adventures powered the show, which ran for eight seasons from 1976-1983.

Born in Van Nuys, California, Williams’ interest in acting throughout high school led her to studying theater at Los Angeles City College, according to a biography provided by her family. Some of Williams’ first professional acting credits include a three-episode arc on the 1969 series “Room 222” and appearances on other shows, like “Nanny and the Professor” and “Love, American Style,” in the early 1970’s.

Williams went on to become a prolific working television and film actor, appearing in dozens of titles. But it was after she first appeared as Shirley Feeney on “Happy Days” in 1975 that her career began to take shape.

The lighthearted “Laverne & Shirley” proved to be a ratings hit and earned six Golden Globe nominations, including two for best comedy series and one for Williams in the best actress in a comedy category.

Williams also appeared in several standout films. Most notably, she starred in George Lucas’ 1973 film “American Graffiti,” which earned Williams a British Academy Film Awards nomination for best supporting actress. The film, about a group of friends who spend one wild night together before leaving for college, went on to be nominated for five Oscars, including best picture, at the 1974 Academy Awards. Williams also had roles in acclaimed films “Travels with My Aunt” by George Cukor’ in 1972 and “The Conversation” from director Francis Ford Coppola in 1974.

Williams was also an accomplished stage actress, with a long list of credits. Last year, she took her one-woman show, “Me, Myself and Shirley,” where she shared stories from throughout her career, on a national tour. She had at least one series of dates scheduled for later this year.

Upon news of her passing, Williams’ friends and fans took to social media to honor the late actress, who left a legacy of laughter.

“Oh how I loved Cindy Williams,” Yvette Nicole Brown, who worked with Williams in 2016 when she guest starred in an episode of CBS’s “The Odd Couple,” shared on Twitter. “She was as lovely as I always imagined she’d be.”

Actor Jason Alexander wrote on Twitter: “I did not know Cindy Williams but boy did I adore her work, especially the wacky joyful funny pleasure of watching her Laverne and Shirley days. I pray she had a good life and send my sympathy to those who knew and loved her.”

Williams’ children added in their statement that they were proud of their mother for many reasons – “her lifelong mission to rescue animals, her prolific artistry, her faith” among them – but “most of all, her ability to make the world laugh!”

“May that laughter continue in everyone, because she would want that,” the statement said. “Thank you for loving our Mom, she loved you too.”

Is He Competent To Stand Trial?

They can't charge a man who is ncompetent.

The former porn star is accused of rape and sexual abuse of women. The sexual predator was once a kingmaker in the adult entertainment industry. He took things too far when he started touching women without their consent.

He once lived in a luxury mansion. At the time of arrest, the sexual predator lived as a hermit hoarding in a one bedroom apartment. His home was unlivable. 

Now they say he is suffering from “severe dementia” and will be declared incompetent to stand trial on multiple charges of rape later this month, according to an L.A. County prosecutor in an email obtained by The Los Angeles Times.

The sexual predator was first charged in June 2020 with raping four women he had met in West Hollywood bars and clubs. The case quickly ballooned, as dozens of women came forward claiming the onetime porn king had been abusing women for decades at parties and adult film conventions or on movie sets.

The sexual predator was later indicted on more than 30 counts of sexual assault stemming from allegations made by 20 women, with some of his alleged crimes dating to the 1990s. But weeks before the predator’s trial was set to begin last year, his defense attorney, Stuart Goldfarb, walked into a Los Angeles courtroom and said his client did not recognize him.

In an email obtained by The Times this week, L.A. County Deputy Dist. Atty. Paul Thompson said mental health experts called on by prosecutors and the predator’s defense team have determined he suffers from severe dementia, and there is no evidence he is faking his symptoms.

“As a result of the agreement of the experts, the defendant will be declared incompetent to stand trial ... his prognosis for improvement is not good,” Thompson wrote. “If he does not improve, we will not be able to try him for his crimes. Because criminal proceedings are suspended as long as he is incompetent, we also cannot get a guilty plea from him or discuss other measures to get justice for the victims in this case.”

Thompson and Goldfarb declined to comment Friday. The predator, who has denied all wrongdoing, was scheduled to appear in a Hollywood courtroom Jan. 17, when he will be formally declared incompetent to aid in his own defense, Thompson said in the email.

Although competency to stand trial is fluid — meaning a mentally incompetent defendant can later be found capable of standing trial after receiving medication or therapy over time — dementia is a progressive, degenerative illness from which the predator is unlikely to recover.

According to the email, the experts reached their conclusion based on a review of medical documents and interviews with the predator, his relatives and several of the L.A. County sheriff’s deputies who interacted with him while in custody. Some of the predator’s relatives apparently suspected he suffered from dementia before his 2020 arrest, “which was the catalyst that started the process that resulted in his driver’s license being taken away,” Thompson wrote in the email.

Once declared incompetent, the predator will probably be placed in a state-run hospital.

Lianne Young, a former British adult film star who first publicly accused the predator of assaulting her in an interview with The Times in 2020, said she was frustrated to learn there were concerns the predator had dementia long before prosecutors brought charges against him.

“My first reaction, I was kind of numb,” she said. “They were aware of his condition before getting us all involved. They were well aware he had dementia, so I’m very disappointed that they didn’t solve that bit before letting us go on that emotional journey for 2½ years.”

Greg Risling, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office, said prosecutors were unaware of the severity of the predator’s illness at the time charges were brought.

“Although his attorney expressed some concern for his declining faculties, we believed him to be competent at the time of filing based upon interviews we conducted with him, among other reasons,” Risling said. “We had no records at time of filing indicating that he had a dementia diagnosis.”

Young said she was wearing a bikini at an industry party at the former House of Blues on the Sunset Strip in 2000 when the predator came up behind her, shoved her against a table and forced himself inside her. The encounter lasted only seconds, according to Young, who said she fought him off quickly. After Young spoke with The Times, she said she was contacted by Sheriff’s Department investigators and later called to testify against the predator at a grand jury hearing.

Young said she doesn’t regret coming forward, as she believes the wave of allegations against the predator sparked a conversation about sexual abuse in the adult film industry. But she’s also concerned that, without a conviction, the predator may be absolved in the eyes of many of his fans.

“It’s going to come down to public opinion now, and public opinion has looked at Ron like a god,” she said. “It could be an indication to other predators or viewers of pornography that they can get away with such crimes.”