Are you getting tired of our politicians and the president?
We'll see what happens?
Why does President Donald J. Trump always use his hands when he explains things or does his rampant lying?
The president is ranting but is pleased that the Senate has agreed to a deal which will open the government. The president is immediately working on trying to pressure the senate to end cloture. He also went into endless tangents about how Democrats are evil to Republicans are weak. He complains about how the Democrats are doing a radical agenda while bragging about his agenda which has merited little success so far. He is pushing for national voter ID laws, an end to mail in voting, a push to approving his federal and Supreme Court judges. It is honestly a word vomit from a cognitively declining president. He is threatening Republicans with primary challenges if the party refuses to abide to his demands.
He attended tonight's game between the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions.
The president and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were booed roundly.
Republicans and Democrats reached a temporary deal to reopen the federal government.
Over 40 days and the longest shutdown in U.S. history is over. This deal assures another fight is happening in January when Republicans are seeking a hold on Congress as the U.S. Midterms are happening.
The Senate is voting on the first steps to end the 40-day government shutdown Sunday after a group of moderate Democrats agreed to proceed without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies, angering many in their caucus who wanted to continue the fight.
The group of three former governors — New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan and Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine — said they would vote to reopen if the Senate passed three annual spending bills and extend the rest of government funding until late January. Senate Majority Leader John Thune endorsed the deal Sunday night and called an immediate vote to begin the process of approving it.
“The time to act is now,” Thune said.
The deal would also include a future vote on the health care subsidies, which would not have a guaranteed outcome, and a reversal of the mass firings of federal workers that have happened since the shutdown began on Oct. 1. The full text of the deal has not yet been released.
“We must not delay any longer,” Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins said in a Senate floor speech, adding that she is “relieved” that the shutdown appeared headed toward an end.
Republicans need five Democratic votes to reopen the government. In addition to Shaheen, King and Hassan, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, home to millions of federal workers, also said he would support the agreement.
After Democrats met for over two hours to discuss the proposal, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he could not “in good faith” support it.
“America is in the midst of a Republican-made health care crisis,” Schumer said on the floor just ahead of the expected votes. He said Americans would “suffer immensely” and that the crisis would only get worse.
“Democrats have sounded the alarm,” Schumer said, and “will not give up the fight.”
Final passage of the legislation could take several days if Democrats object and draw out the process. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who caucuses with the Democrats, said that giving up the fight was a “horrific mistake.”
Republicans have been working with the group of moderates as the shutdown continued to disrupt flights nationwide, threaten food assistance for millions of Americans and leave federal workers without pay. But many Democrats have warned their colleagues against giving in, arguing that they can’t end the fight without an agreement to extend the health subsidies.
Returning to the White House on Sunday evening after attending a football game, Trump did not say whether he endorsed the deal. But he said, “It looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending.”
The food banks are assisting Americans affected by the government shutdown.
A bipartisan agreement
Democrats have now voted 14 times not to reopen the government as they have demanded the extension of tax credits that make coverage more affordable for health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act. Republicans have refused to negotiate on the health care subsidies while the government is closed, but they have been supportive of the proposal from moderate Democrats as it emerged over the last several days.
The agreement would fund parts of government — food aid, veterans programs and the legislative branch, among other things — and extend funding for everything else until the end of January. It would take up Republicans on their longstanding offer to hold a future vote on the health care subsidies, with that vote occurring by the middle of December, the people said.
The deal would reinstate federal workers who had received reduction in force, or layoff, notices and reimburses states that spent their own funds to keep federal programs running during the shutdown. It would also protect against future reductions in force through January, the people said, and guarantee all federal workers would be paid once the shutdown is over.
Who is going to blamed for the government shutdown?
"I have long said that to earn my vote, we need to be on a path toward fixing Republicans’ health care mess and to protect the federal workforce,” Kaine said.
Alongside the funding fix, Republicans released final legislative text of three full-year spending bills Sunday. That legislation keeps a ban on pay raises for lawmakers but boosts their security by $203.5 million in response to increased threats. There’s also a provision championed by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to prevent the sale of some hemp-based products.
Democratic pushback expected
Republicans only need five votes from Democrats to reopen the government, so a handful of senators could end the shutdown with only the promise of a later vote on health care. Around 10 to 12 Democrats have been involved in the talks, and the three people familiar with the agreement said they had enough votes to join with Republicans and pass the deal.
Many of their Democratic colleagues are saying the emerging deal is not enough.
“I really wanted to get something on health care,” said Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin. “I’m going to hear about it right now, but it doesn’t look like it has something concrete.”
House Democrats were also chiming in against it. Texas Rep. Greg Casar, the chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said a deal that doesn’t reduce health care costs is a “betrayal” of millions of Americans who are counting on Democrats to fight.
“Accepting nothing but a pinky promise from Republicans isn’t a compromise — it’s capitulation,” Casar said in a post on X. “Millions of families would pay the price.”
Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota posted that “if people believe this is a ‘deal,’ I have a bridge to sell you.”
Even if the Senate were to move forward with funding legislation, getting to a final vote could take several days if Democrats who oppose the deal object and draw out the process. The first vote, which could come as soon as Sunday evening, would be to proceed to consideration of the legislation.
Trump held another lavish party at Mar-a-Lago.
Republicans preview health care debate
There is no guarantee that the Affordable Care Act subsidies would be extended if Republicans agree to a future vote on health care. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has said he will not commit to a health vote.
Some Republicans have said they are open to extending the COVID-19-era tax credits as premiums could skyrocket for millions of people, but they also want new limits on who can receive the subsidies and argue that the tax dollars for the plans should be routed through individuals.
Other Republicans, including Trump, have used the debate to renew their yearslong criticism of the law and called for it to be scrapped or overhauled.
“THE WORST HEALTHCARE FOR THE HIGHEST PRICE,” Trump said of the Affordable Care Act in a post Sunday.
Shutdown effects worsen
Meanwhile, the consequences of the shutdown were compounding. U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,000 flights on Sunday for the first time since the shutdown began, and there were more than 7,000 flight delays, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks air travel disruptions.
Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy said on CNN’s “State of the Union” that air travel ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday will be “reduced to a trickle” if the government doesn’t reopen.
At the same time, food aid was delayed for tens of millions of people as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were caught up in legal battles related to the shutdown. More than two dozen states warned of “catastrophic operational disruptions” as Trump’s administration is demanding states “undo” benefits paid out under judges’ orders last week, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has stayed those rulings.
Trump demands the Republicans end cloture. Or in other words, end the filibuster.
And in Washington, home to millions of federal workers who have gone unpaid, the Capital Area Food Bank said it is providing 8 million more meals than it had prepared to this budget year — a nearly 20% increase.
The call center to the White House and Congress should still be the same.
The call number to the White House and U.S. Capitol is now going to be used. This is the official White House numbers 202-456-1111 and 202-456-1414. This is the Congress official phone number, 202-224-3121. Please be respectful to operators, staff members and elected leaders. Your calls are monitored by the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police.
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 we are tired of police officers using immunity when committing death of suspects in custody. You want no more qualified immunity for police officers who use deadly force when it's not justified. Let them know that deporting law abiding immigrants seeking refuge is inhumane. You want the U.S. to improve the immigration process. You want the U.S. lawmakers stop dehumanizing human beings. You want the U.S. to prove to the world its a beacon of freedom. You want our American military out of our cities, the Middle East and every fucking international conflict in the world. You want legislation to focus on lowering the cost of rent, lowering the cost of food, lowering the cost of hospital visits, improving healthcare and building relationships with other nations. Let them know that you will not tolerate a government shutdown which affects federal services for Americans in need or in support of services. Let them know that pulling out of the UN Human Rights Organization, World Health Organization and Paris Climate Accords will put the U.S. in danger when catastrophic event happen. Let them know that you are tired of private equity firms getting away with destroying small businesses and long established companies. Let them know that you are tired of your taxpayer money going to foreign nations like Israel and Ukraine. You are tired of hearing about "Israel having a right to..." and the bogus claims of being anti-semitic or in support of terrorism because you support the freedom of Palestinians. You are tired of the propaganda being forced on your media platforms.
We have bigger issues at home and our tax dollars should solve the housing crisis, lowering food prices, fixing roads, bridges, helping reinvest in struggling urban and rural communities. We have hospitals closing, big box retailers leaving communities and television programs dying. There are bigger issues in the country than Israel. You want an immediate ceasefire, a weapons embargo, sanctions and accountability for war crimes done by Israel. You want no more domestic or foreign influence in American elections. You also want to make sure future presidents and lawmakers avoid influence from lobbyists and special interest groups.
Never take the law into your own hands if you are not prepared for the consequences.
Not every shooting gets attention on our blog. I wished I would devote my entire time to cover every event where a tragedy involving gun violence would be covered.
Like most Americans, it is too much to take on.
My sympathy only applies to children under 12 years old. Everyone else, it is just normal business as usual. Because I am tired of condemning this. We have become numb to gun violence. We must stop this notion that the status quo is working.
This government shutdown is getting worse and more people are going to do more things out of desperation.
Our society thinks life is a television show. They all think they can be The Punisher, Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Green Arrow.
You are not deputized to be a police officer. It is best to mind your business and let the police handle the matter. Watching videos of civilians trying to disarm or stop robbery suspects is just stupid.
If you want to put your life at risk or endanger others for property, you might want to turn the TV off and stop looking on social media for rage bait.
Kyle Rittenhouse, Daniel Penny, George Zimmerman and Daniel Perry are examples of a failed system. They killed civilians despite the police warning them to stay out of it.
Republicans rally behind them and advocate for them to be exempted from criminal accountability.
In Toledo, Ohio, a man and woman are facing involuntarily manslaughter for the death of a man. The two got into a confrontation with a strong arm robbery suspect and they used unnecessary deadly force over property.
Toledo Police have arrested a woman and issued an arrest warrant for a man, both for charges of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a man suspected of an attempted robbery at a west Toledo pizza restaurant on Thursday.
TaylorRaths, 34, was arrested on Friday for the shooting, which happened at Zaza Wood-Fired Pizza & Mediterranean Cuisine in the Executive Market Place. An involuntary manslaughter warrant was also issued for RonaldHurst, 39.
Responding to the restaurant around 8:30 p.m., police found 22-year-old Jayson Brown suffering from at least one gunshot wound, according to a report. Brown was pronounced dead at the hospital later that night.
According to court documents, Raths and Hurst are accused of coordinating an assault attempt at the restaurant that involved someone spraying mace at occupants. Hurst is also accused of lying to police about his involvement in the incident and his whereabouts.
Investigators on scene told WTOL 11 that the shooting appeared to have started inside Zaza Wood-Fired Pizza & Mediterranean Cuisine following an attempted robbery of the location. Several evidence markers near the storefront and a CSI van were also visible on the scene.
If you have any information, you're asked to call or text Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111.
The suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Toledo has more deadly shootings than Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton and Cincinnati combined. I looked at the count. It was over 140 shootings and 34 deaths so far this year.
Motives.
The shooter thought he/she was being robbed.
The shooter thought he/she saw a crime in process but had no choice to take action.
The shooter claims he/she were threatened with death.
These are the justifications of white shooters. Instead of labeling thugs, callous killers or terrorists, we paint a picture of the shooter as a loving, caring, family oriented man. Fuck that shit! This shooter was a monster.
Are you getting tired of this?
The status quo politics of "can't do nothing" or "now is not the time."
On average there are two mass shootings a day now. It never stops. With the federal government at a shutdown, more people could be drawn to extreme measures.
Toledo had its worst year in gun violence.
Uh oh. Better see if the far right preparing to make this shooter a leftist.
I wonder if Charlie Kirk got something to say about it?
Nevermind.
The United States is the most violent country in the world. Israel and Russia follow behind respectfully. Israel, Russia and the United States are the most hated countries in the world.
The United States is downsizing in democracy.
What is wrong with white men, white women and white boys?
It's the guns stupid!
Things to keep in mind when the blame game comes, will the suspect be:
White
Black
Muslim
Immigrant
Arab
A member of the LGBTQ community
A disgruntled employee
A former student
A current student
A so called leftist
A person who has conservative views
A person with easy access to firearm
The person with easy access to firearms should be the only answer. Alas, the far right is hoping for this to be a person they can scapegoat as their next de jour of outrage.
The real issue is not just guns, it's white men and white boys. They are losing their goddamn minds. Inspired by loneliness, politics, job loss, social media trends, endless perceptions of others, the lack of opportunities (besides joining the military) and the need to be ahead of everyone else is what drives these fools to commit endless chaos.
White privilege also santizes the white shooters. Already we are getting details of the mass shooters. Glaring profiles of these white mass shooters to paint them as unfortunate circumstances. Ignoring the fact, these terrorists had signs of potential danger but their families thought it was just noise.
That restraining order doesn't mean much to a deranged individual. It's a trigger!
I wish things could have turned out well! But unfortunately, a shooter never abides to a court order!
How can a piece of paper protect a victim when it's not reliant on stopping the perpetrator (from causing harm)?
The real issue is gun violence. Not comedians. Not activists. Not Black men. Not immigrants. Not Muslims. Not transgender Americans. Not video games. Not movies. Not rap music. Not the left.
A man made crisis that can be solved if these incompetent politicians and media agitators stop making excuses for the continued gun violence epidemic. Instead offering words, how about policies?
The United States is downsizing in democracy and freedom.
So I just want to say that the Second Amendment is White, period.
A bullet does not care about color. We all bleed red and so many lives are lost to gun violence and Republicans offer no solutions other than "thoughts and prayers" with a touch of "lock em up."
Gun violence is the number one threat in the United States.
I dismiss this ridiculous notion that criminals are the problem, not the guns. Firearms are often obtained through legal purchases.
Again, having more security, teachers being armed and offering safe rooms are not solving the problem. The problem is lawmakers not willing to stop gun violence.
According to the far right: White shooters are always mentally ill or lone wolves. The far right believes they should receive some sympathy for their crimes. Black shooters are unrepentant thugs and criminals who deserve lengthy time in the iron college or death. Gay and transgender shooters are active groomers who want to be pedophiles on children. Muslim shooters are terrorists who should be surveiled or deported. Hispanic and Asian shooters are illegal immigrants and they should be deported. According to the far right, almost all white [or non-white] mass shooters are registered Democrats [leftist or some progressive activist] because they have liked or done one thing common to the politics of the left. Of course, they often share or post disinformation by using the ridiculous "Sam Hyde" meme or make bogus social media platforms with the shooter's image as a way to denounce most mass shooters being white or associated with conservative causes. The far right says a white person should "protect" themselves from thugs, terrorists or protesters. They believe the use of firearms are "justified" if they are protesting or even instigating a conflict. The far right believes if a shooter is a police officer, an active military member, a veteran or a citizen who supports conservative causes, they are considered a "heroes" and use of firearms are justified. If the shooters are teens in urban communities, the far right automatically assume the gunmen are Black. Even if the evidence turns out that the shooter has alignment with conservative causes or Republicans, the far right dismisses it as a hoax or a plot to demonize the MAGA movement.
The Republicans usually amplify white victims. Anytime a person of color kills a white victim, it is often wall-to-wall coverage on Fox, Twitter and they force it into national news. They make the case to blame Black Lives Matter, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Democrats, Rev. Al Sharpton and rap music for Black on whatever violence. Republican lawmakers who do not live in urban neighborhoods often troll social media to talk about gun violence or crime in Chicago, Baltimore, Milwaukee and New York City while not doing a damn thing to stop it. If a white person shoots a Black person, the shooter is given the benefit of doubt. White shooters are given glowing profiles about their perfect lives and how friends noticed something but refused to do something. When it comes to Black shooters, automatic vilification. They don't see mental illness. They see it as gang violence, allegedly fatherless homes, Democratic policies or the need for more firearms.
Trump gave us open season.
WHITE PRIVILEGE IS REAL! IT'S "SUIT AND TIE" WHITE SUPREMACY ON TELEVISION, RADIO, THE INTERNET AND AMERICAN POLICY!
FOR EVERY BAD COP, THERE WILL BE A DEAD COP!
IF THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO AID ISRAEL, THE WORLD WILL BOYCOTT THE U.S. AND ABANDON THE DOLLAR!
I DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING ON THE INTERNET OR THE COP'S VERSION.
These murderers don't have mental illness. They are calculated and prepared. It happened to be a moment where they have the opportunity to take out lives.
There's no sickness in the head. Most mass shooters legally obtain their assault rifles without little background checks. They have likely no criminal history and they are willing to use the assault weapon in the only thing it's good for: Killing numerous lives.
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.
Expect more gun violence in the United States.
We need to put pressure on Republicans and Democrats to do something to improve everyone's lives.
Keep pressure on them with Israel.
Israel must be held accountable for war crimes and the U.S. must end its aid.
Our taxpayer money should not help Israel any further.
Republicans have extremely unpopular ideas. They will find out the risk of supporters being turned off by their policies.
Biden, Harris and the Democratic Party failed at understanding what is more important to the country. Trump, Vance and the Republican Party have already failed at understanding.
Both parties support of Israel had made some Arab Americans, Muslim and young voters vote against them. They have cost Biden a second term and Harris a historical victory.
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 988, or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline’s website or the Crisis Text Line’s website.
If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, you can call a 24-hour crisis hotline at 1-800-300-1080 or visit www.corasupport.org.
The call center to the White House and Congress should still be the same.
The call number to the White House and U.S. Capitol is now going to be used. This is the official White House numbers 202-456-1111 and 202-456-1414. This is the Congress official phone number, 202-224-3121. Please be respectful to operators, staff members and elected leaders. Your calls are monitored by the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police.
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 we are tired of police officers using immunity when committing death of suspects in custody. You want no more qualified immunity for police officers who use deadly force when it's not justified. Let them know that deporting law abiding immigrants seeking refuge is inhumane. You want the U.S. to improve the immigration process. You want the U.S. lawmakers stop dehumanizing human beings. You want the U.S. to prove to the world its a beacon of freedom. You want our American military out of our cities, the Middle East and every fucking international conflict in the world. You want legislation to focus on lowering the cost of rent, lowering the cost of food, lowering the cost of hospital visits, improving healthcare and building relationships with other nations. Let them know that you will not tolerate a government shutdown which affects federal services for Americans in need or in support of services. Let them know that pulling out of the UN Human Rights Organization, World Health Organization and Paris Climate Accords will put the U.S. in danger when catastrophic event happen. Let them know that you are tired of private equity firms getting away with destroying small businesses and long established companies. Let them know that you are tired of your taxpayer money going to foreign nations like Israel and Ukraine. You are tired of hearing about "Israel having a right to..." and the bogus claims of being anti-semitic or in support of terrorism because you support the freedom of Palestinians. You are tired of the propaganda being forced on your media platforms.
We have bigger issues at home and our tax dollars should solve the housing crisis, lowering food prices, fixing roads, bridges, helping reinvest in struggling urban and rural communities. We have hospitals closing, big box retailers leaving communities and television programs dying. There are bigger issues in the country than Israel. You want an immediate ceasefire, a weapons embargo, sanctions and accountability for war crimes done by Israel. You want no more domestic or foreign influence in American elections. You also want to make sure future presidents and lawmakers avoid influence from lobbyists and special interest groups.
Wendy's to do a papercut. They are closing between 300 and 500 stores.
While everyone on the far right and center are crying about a democratic socialist winning the New York City mayoral election, the results of capitalism continue to shows us why Americans are getting tired of the status quo.
Wednesday Addams Meals, Loaded Baconators, Eggnators, Oreo Frostys, Pop Tart Frostys, SpongeBob SquarePants Pineapple Frostys, Takis Spicy Nuggets and Junior Bacons are not keeping the second largest fast company from closing underperformed stores.
Private equity firms are fucking up the country right now. There is no legislation on the records to keep these entities from operating solely for piling debt on long established companies and forcing them out of business.
Wendy's, based out of Dublin, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus has announced they will close up to 300 locations in the United States and Canada. They have not decided on which locations, but company owned are first before the franchises. Once the contract with the franchisee is up, then Wendy's will close it.
Dayton, Ohio has 25 locations to my knowledge. It is unknown which location could be affected. But in areas where blight, low traffic, crappy service and weak resources leads to the closing, I know five locations are in the bubble of closing. Dayton had closed three locations in the area.
Where's the beef?
Wendy's blames tariffs, food insecurity and inflation.
Interim CEO Ken Cook told investors in a Friday, Nov. 7, quarterly earnings call that the company would be closing a “mid single-digit percentage” of locations. With around 6,000 locations still operating nationwide, this would amount to roughly 240 to 360 stores. One investor estimated the number at about 300 locations during the call. "When we look at the system today, we have some restaurants that do not elevate the brand and are a drag from a franchisee financial performance perspective," said Cook. "The goal is to address and fix those restaurants."
The goal is to create a problem by making more problems. Putting people out of work or forcing them to travel to other locations which put some in predicaments is what they are doing.
How about bringing back the quality of the food?
When you seen the menu, you see an image of a Wendy's Dave Classic looking marvelous.
Make the food affordable, make it look like the photos on the menu and bring back the family element.
When you get home, open up the bag, unwrap the foil, you see a sloppy mess on a bun.
When you raise the prices of Dave's single, double and triple from $6 to $14, you are turning away penny pinching foodies. When you raise the prices of chicken sandwiches and fish sandwiches from $5 to $14, well....
When you do away with the Biggie menu, the Value menu and incorporating profits over quality, you get people feeling like they are missing the days when Dave Thomas ran it.
Dave was a man of the people. He warned executives that if you are disconnected from the customer, you are not connected with the brand. It almost makes me wish Melinda Thomas-Moore (aka Miss Wendy) took back the company and force all the people out.
She knew her father's philosophy and how to make Wendy's a brand.
Cook wants to put restaurants on notice. If they fail at making a mark, they're closing it.
In some cases, that will mean making improvements to technology or equipment or transferring struggling locations to new operators. In others, he said, it will mean closing the restaurants altogether.
The closures are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, Cook said. A list of exact locations slated for closure has not been announced.
Wendy's has struggled with sales compared to some of its competitors recently, reporting a 4.7% decrease in same-store sales —revenue generated by stores open for at least a year —and a 2.6% loss in global systemwide sales in Q3.
No single private equity firm owns Wendy's; instead, Trian Partners is the largest shareholder, with other institutional investors like BlackRock and Vanguard also holding significant stakes. Trian Partners, founded by Nelson Peltz, has been a major investor in Wendy's for many years and previously explored taking the company private, but it is not the sole owner.
President Donald J. Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL), U.S. House members and Tampa mayor Jane Castor were notified.
I just watched Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. He was discussing how these police chases are getting more dangerous. He had suggested that police should engage in safer strategies to stop fleeing motorists. Obviously, a reckless motorist is a danger to all, but the police using tactics they've learned from Israeli Defense Force is troubling.
The execution of the PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) is a controversial tactic police use. When making contact with the rear fender of the target vehicle, causing it to spin out and fishtail. If executed correctly, the vehicle will turn 180 degrees, stall, and become immobilized.
Often a PIT maneuver can end deadly for the fleeing motorist or even people in the vicinity of a speeding vehicle.
The rules are even worse for victims. They often can't sue the police because of qualified immunity which often justifies the acts to stop a suspect.
The suspect has a history of reckless driving and criminal mischief.
The actions of this TikTok streamer cost lives.
Okay, Salias Sampson was either under the influence, clout chasing on TikTok or deliberately driving reckless with intent to harm others. Whatever the case, the suspect rammed his vehicle into a crowd of people in Ybor City, Tampa's oldest and most prolific nightclub district.
He is a Black man.
Guess what's going to happen?
You know what the far right is going to do? They are going to blame Black America for the actions of one reckless driver. He was caught and will face involuntarily manslaughter, vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment and operating vehicle while intoxicated, distracted or in fleeing of police officers.
The suspect was being monitored by Tampa Police and Florida Highway Patrol's air division after they spotted him driving on Interstate 275 at 120 mph.
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw says this began at 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning when officers spotted two vehicles racing near Hanna Avenue and Nebraska Avenue in Tampa. They proceeded westbound on Hillsborough Avenue when one of the vehicles drove onto I-275 Southbound.
TPD's air unit tracked it as it then exited downtown. Florida Highway Patrol troopers joined in and tracked the vehicle to Nebraska Avenue and Palm Avenue, where they attempted a PIT maneuver.
The vehicle then proceeded down busy 7th Avenue, and ultimately lost control of the car and crashed into the patio area of Bradley's On 7th, which is located in the 1500 block of East 7th Avenue. More than a dozen people were hit outside the business.
Three pedestrians were pronounced dead at the scene, and a fourth victim died at a hospital, according to TPD. Officals said 13 other people suffered injuries ranging from life-threatening to minor. However, after law enforcement's initial statements, they said a couple of the victims may have taken themselves to the hospital, so the numbers could range from 15-17.
It was good until he got behind the wheel.
All the victims were adults over the age of 20.
"This morning we had a tragic incident where at least four victims senselessly lost their lives and eleven others were injured as a result of a careless, reckless driver," Bercaw said.
As of now, police said they haven't found any evidence that suggest Sampson's actions were targeting a specific person or business. He was arrested and will be charged with four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing to elude with serious bodily injuries.
"Just came here to have a nice cigar and relax a little bit with some friends and was on my way home. Got a little hungry, wanted to get a slice of pizza — went over to New York, New York. After I did it, turned around, and here comes the car," Howard Hopkins, a witness to the crash, said. "Jumps the curb, hits the corner of the building, then comes into Bradley’s patio and just runs right through people… tables went everywhere, chairs went everywhere, bodies went everywhere — it was pretty bad."
Hopkins says officers nearby ran straight toward the wreckage.
"They smashed out the window, they got him out, they subdued him, they cuffed him up and took him away. But during that same time, you know, people were screaming — they had to put up the crime-scene tape," he said.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor also released a statement on social media about the crash:
"What happened in Ybor City last night was devastating. Families are grieving, first responders are hurting, and our entire city feels this loss. My thoughts are with everyone affected. The investigation into this crash is ongoing, and we are working to get answers. Keeping our community safe will always be my top priority, and that commitment only deepens in moments like this."
The suspect is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The U.S. Supreme Court blocked two lower court rulings that issued a demand for President Donald J. Trump to issue SNAP benefits.
This is what y'all voted for.
Since we have no accurate employment numbers, we can only assume that 3.7 million Americans are out of work. That includes companies that laid off workers, the federal government shutdown and companies closing.
Trump emergency appealed the ruling and the Court has blocked the rulings.
The Supreme Court has a job approval of 25%.
The president has a job approval of 34%. Vice President JD Vance has a job approval of 37%. Congress has a job approval of 23%. Overall 65% of Americans believe the country is going in the wrong direction.
So there will be 42 million Americans struggling for food who are on food assistance.
There will be over 1 million federal workers not getting paid, thousands of Americans who worked in retail, hospitality, manufacturing, media, medical, education and local services will be affected by the government shutdown and elitism.
Civil war is a coming.
The ruling on Friday granted the Trump administration’s emergency appeal to temporarily block a court order to fully fund SNAP food aid payments amid the government shutdown, even though residents in some states already have received the funds.
A judge had given the Republican administration until Friday to make the payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. But the administration asked an appeals court to suspend any court orders requiring it to spend more money than is available in a contingency fund, and instead allow it to continue with planned partial SNAP payments for the month.
After a Boston appeals court declined to immediately intervene, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued an order late Friday pausing the requirement to distribute full SNAP payments until the appeals court rules on whether to issue a more lasting pause. Jackson handles emergency matters from Massachusetts.
Her order will remain in place until 48 hours after the appeals court rules, giving the administration time to return to the Supreme Court if the appeals court refuses to step in.
The food program serves about 1 in 8 Americans, mostly with lower incomes.
1/8 × 330 = 41.25. Think of this in millions.
Officials in more than a half-dozen states confirmed that some SNAP recipients already were issued full November payments on Friday. But Jackson’s order could prevent other states from initiating the payments.
Which states issued SNAP payments
In Wisconsin, more than $104 million of monthly food benefits became available at midnight on electronic cards for about 337,000 households, a spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said. The state was able to access the federal money so quickly by submitting a request to its electronic benefit card vendor to process the SNAP payments within hours of a Thursday court order to provide full benefits.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, said state employees “worked through the night” to issue full November benefits “to make sure every Oregon family relying on SNAP could buy groceries” by Friday.
Hawaii had the information for November’s monthly payments ready to go, so it could submit it quickly for processing after Thursday’s court order — and before a higher court could potentially pause it, Joseph Campos II, deputy director of Hawaii’s Department of Human Services, told The Associated Press.
“We moved with haste once we verified everything,” Campos said.
Trump is compromised by some of the most dumbest advisors ever.
Trump’s administration told the Supreme Court that the fast-acting states were “trying to seize what they could of the agency’s finite set of remaining funds, before any appeal could even be filed, and to the detriment of other States’ allotments.”
“Once those billions are out the door, there is no ready mechanism for the government to recover those funds,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in the court filing.
Officials in California, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington state also said they moved quickly to issue full SNAP benefits Friday, while other states said they expected full benefits to arrive over the weekend or early next week. Still others said they were waiting for further federal guidance.
Many SNAP recipients face uncertainty
The court wrangling prolonged weeks of uncertainty for Americans with lower incomes.
An individual can receive a monthly maximum food benefit of nearly $300 and a family of four up to nearly $1,000, although many receive less than that under a formula that takes into consideration their income.
For some SNAP participants, it remained unclear when they would receive their benefits.
Jasmen Youngbey of Newark, New Jersey, waited in line Friday at a food pantry in the state’s largest city. As a single mom attending college, Youngbey said she relies on SNAP to help feed her 7-month-old and 4-year-old sons. But she said her account balance was at $0.
“Not everybody has cash to pull out and say, ‘OK, I’m going to go and get this,’ especially with the cost of food right now,” she said.
Later Friday, Youngbey said, she received her monthly SNAP benefits.
The legal battle over SNAP takes another twist
Because of the federal government shutdown, the Trump administration originally had said SNAP benefits would not be available in November. However, two judges ruled last week that the administration could not skip November’s benefits entirely because of the shutdown. One of those judges was U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr., who ordered the full payments Thursday.
In both cases, the judges ordered the government to use one emergency reserve fund containing more than $4.6 billion to pay for SNAP for November but gave it leeway to tap other money to make the full payments, which cost between $8.5 billion and $9 billion each month.
On Monday, the administration said it would not use additional money, saying it was up to Congress to appropriate the funds for the program and that the other money was needed to shore up other child hunger programs.
Thursday’s federal court order rejected the Trump administration’s decision to cover only 65% of the maximum monthly benefit, a decision that could have left some recipients getting nothing for this month.
In its court filings Friday, Trump’s administration contended that the judge usurped both legislative and executive authority in ordering SNAP benefits to be fully funded.
“This unprecedented injunction makes a mockery of the separation of powers,” Sauer told the Supreme Court.
States are taking different approaches to food aid
Some states said they stood ready to distribute SNAP money as quickly as possible.
Colorado and Massachusetts said SNAP participants could receive their full November payments as soon as Saturday. New York said access to full SNAP benefits should begin by Sunday. New Hampshire said full benefits should be available by this weekend. Arizona and Connecticut said full benefits should be accessible in the coming days.
Officials in North Carolina said they distributed partial SNAP payments Friday and full benefits could be available by this weekend. Officials in Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana and North Dakota also said they distributed partial November payments.
Amid the federal uncertainty, Delaware’s Democratic Gov. Matt Meyer said the state used its own funds Friday to provide the first of what could be a weekly relief payment to SNAP recipients.
An Indiana mother of four was shot and killed when a person shot her through a door.
What Happened To María Florinda Ríos Pérez?
The housekeeper was just trying to work and feed her family. So what? She is from Guatemala. Is it a crime to be an immigrant?
We just need to put ourselves in the shoes of others. Instead of scapegoating the vulnerable, our outage should be zeroed in on the elite.
These white people are so fucking triggered by the click rage online they perceive Blacks, Muslims, Jews, Arabs, gays, transgender people, immigrants, progressives, Socialists and Communists as threats to white hierarchy.
Folks like Charlie Kirk feed into the notion that the status quo kept America great.
President Donald J. Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Republicans and some of those damn Democrats feed on the notion that if we change the status quo, the country is going to fail.
In our latest edition of "What Happened To?," there is a story of a woman who worked for a housekeeping service. She was shot and killed by a homeowner in Whitestown, Indiana.
Scratch that. The motherfucker killed an innocent woman for no fucking reason.
While we are fighting over words, the actions are being done.
Authorities are considering whether to charge an Indiana homeowner who they say shot and killed a woman working as a house cleaner after she mistakenly went to the wrong address.
Police officers found 32-year-old Maria Florinda Rios Perez dead just before 7 a.m. Wednesday on the front porch of the home in Whitestown, an Indianapolis suburb of about 10,000 people, according to a police news release. She was part of a cleaning crew that had gone to the wrong address, the release said.
Rios Perez’s husband, Mauricio Velazquez, told WRTV in Indianapolis that he and his wife had been cleaning homes for seven months. Velazquez said he was standing with her at the home’s front door on Wednesday morning but didn’t realize she had been shot until she fell into his arms, bleeding.
On a fundraising page, her brother described Rios Perez as a mother of four children. Police said Friday that she was from Indianapolis but the family plans to bury her in Guatemala, according to her obituary and her brother’s fundraising page. The Associated Press was not able to reach family members directly on Friday.
Authorities have not publicly identified the shooter. Police turned over the findings from their investigation to Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood on Friday afternoon, but the prosecutor said the decision on whether to file charges won’t be easy.
The case brings Indiana’s castle doctrine laws squarely into play, he said. Those laws allow a person to use reasonable force, including deadly force, to stop what they reasonably believe is an unlawful entry into their dwelling. Thirty-one states have similar laws on the books, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Authorities have not publicly identified the shooter. Police turned over the findings from their investigation to Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood on Friday afternoon, but the prosecutor said the decision on whether to file charges won’t be easy.
So what this fool is saying, he can't prosecute a person because of a stupid Indiana law that justifies shooting a person for knocking on the door. That is bullshit.
Maria's distraught husband and children are angered by the lack of movement to arrest the person who shot her.
The case brings Indiana’s castle doctrine laws squarely into play, he said. Those laws allow a person to use reasonable force, including deadly force, to stop what they reasonably believe is an unlawful entry into their dwelling. Thirty-one states have similar laws on the books, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
In similar cases elsewhere, prosecutors have successfully brought charges against people who opened fire outside their homes, including a guilty plea by an 86-year-old man who shot Ralph Yarl after the Black teenager came to his door by mistake. In New York, a man was convicted of second-degree murder for fatally shooting a woman inside a car who came down his driveway by mistake.
Eastwood said he will have to pore over investigators’ findings to understand what happened in the moments leading up to the shooting. That means reviewing “every second” of witnesses’ taped interviews and doorbell footage if police bring him any, he said.
“You need to understand all the details so you can understand what happened and what is reasonable,” Eastwood said. “One of the hardest things today in this world is to agree on what’s reasonable. As a prosecutor, those are things we have to grapple with.”
Motives.
The shooter thought he/she was being robbed.
The shooter thought he/she was confronted by gang members.
The shooter claims there were no soliciting signs and the people were warned.
These are the justifications of white shooters. Instead of labeling thugs, callous killers or terrorists, we paint a picture of the shooter as a loving, caring, family oriented man. Fuck that shit! This shooter was a monster.
Are you getting tired of this?
The status quo politics of "can't do nothing" or "now is not the time."
On average there are two mass shootings a day now. It never stops. With the federal government at a shutdown, more people could be drawn to extreme measures.
Uh oh. Better see if the far right preparing to make this shooter a leftist.
I wonder if Charlie Kirk got something to say about it?
Nevermind.
The United States is the most violent country in the world. Israel and Russia follow behind respectfully. Israel, Russia and the United States are the most hated countries in the world.
The United States is downsizing in democracy.
What is wrong with white men, white women and white boys?
It's the guns stupid!
Things to keep in mind when the blame game comes, will the suspect be:
White
Black
Muslim
Immigrant
Arab
A member of the LGBTQ community
A disgruntled employee
A former student
A current student
A so called leftist
A person who has conservative views
A person with easy access to firearm
The person with easy access to firearms should be the only answer. Alas, the far right is hoping for this to be a person they can scapegoat as their next de jour of outrage.
The real issue is not just guns, it's white men and white boys. They are losing their goddamn minds. Inspired by loneliness, politics, job loss, social media trends, endless perceptions of others, the lack of opportunities (besides joining the military) and the need to be ahead of everyone else is what drives these fools to commit endless chaos.
White privilege also santizes the white shooters. Already we are getting details of the mass shooters. Glaring profiles of these white mass shooters to paint them as unfortunate circumstances. Ignoring the fact, these terrorists had signs of potential danger but their families thought it was just noise.
That restraining order doesn't mean much to a deranged individual. It's a trigger!
I wish things could have turned out well! But unfortunately, a shooter never abides to a court order!
How can a piece of paper protect a victim when it's not reliant on stopping the perpetrator (from causing harm)?
The real issue is gun violence. Not comedians. Not activists. Not Black men. Not immigrants. Not Muslims. Not transgender Americans. Not video games. Not movies. Not rap music. Not the left.
A man made crisis that can be solved if these incompetent politicians and media agitators stop making excuses for the continued gun violence epidemic. Instead offering words, how about policies?
The United States is downsizing in democracy and freedom.
So I just want to say that the Second Amendment is White, period.
A bullet does not care about color. We all bleed red and so many lives are lost to gun violence and Republicans offer no solutions other than "thoughts and prayers" with a touch of "lock em up."
Gun violence is the number one threat in the United States.
I dismiss this ridiculous notion that criminals are the problem, not the guns. Firearms are often obtained through legal purchases.
Again, having more security, teachers being armed and offering safe rooms are not solving the problem. The problem is lawmakers not willing to stop gun violence.
According to the far right: White shooters are always mentally ill or lone wolves. The far right believes they should receive some sympathy for their crimes. Black shooters are unrepentant thugs and criminals who deserve lengthy time in the iron college or death. Gay and transgender shooters are active groomers who want to be pedophiles on children. Muslim shooters are terrorists who should be surveiled or deported. Hispanic and Asian shooters are illegal immigrants and they should be deported. According to the far right, almost all white [or non-white] mass shooters are registered Democrats [leftist or some progressive activist] because they have liked or done one thing common to the politics of the left. Of course, they often share or post disinformation by using the ridiculous "Sam Hyde" meme or make bogus social media platforms with the shooter's image as a way to denounce most mass shooters being white or associated with conservative causes. The far right says a white person should "protect" themselves from thugs, terrorists or protesters. They believe the use of firearms are "justified" if they are protesting or even instigating a conflict. The far right believes if a shooter is a police officer, an active military member, a veteran or a citizen who supports conservative causes, they are considered a "heroes" and use of firearms are justified. If the shooters are teens in urban communities, the far right automatically assume the gunmen are Black. Even if the evidence turns out that the shooter has alignment with conservative causes or Republicans, the far right dismisses it as a hoax or a plot to demonize the MAGA movement.
The Republicans usually amplify white victims. Anytime a person of color kills a white victim, it is often wall-to-wall coverage on Fox, Twitter and they force it into national news. They make the case to blame Black Lives Matter, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Democrats, Rev. Al Sharpton and rap music for Black on whatever violence. Republican lawmakers who do not live in urban neighborhoods often troll social media to talk about gun violence or crime in Chicago, Baltimore, Milwaukee and New York City while not doing a damn thing to stop it. If a white person shoots a Black person, the shooter is given the benefit of doubt. White shooters are given glowing profiles about their perfect lives and how friends noticed something but refused to do something. When it comes to Black shooters, automatic vilification. They don't see mental illness. They see it as gang violence, allegedly fatherless homes, Democratic policies or the need for more firearms.
Trump gave us open season.
WHITE PRIVILEGE IS REAL! IT'S "SUIT AND TIE" WHITE SUPREMACY ON TELEVISION, RADIO, THE INTERNET AND AMERICAN POLICY!
FOR EVERY BAD COP, THERE WILL BE A DEAD COP!
IF THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO AID ISRAEL, THE WORLD WILL BOYCOTT THE U.S. AND ABANDON THE DOLLAR!
I DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING ON THE INTERNET OR THE COP'S VERSION.
These murderers don't have mental illness. They are calculated and prepared. It happened to be a moment where they have the opportunity to take out lives.
There's no sickness in the head. Most mass shooters legally obtain their assault rifles without little background checks. They have likely no criminal history and they are willing to use the assault weapon in the only thing it's good for: Killing numerous lives.
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.
This is not self defense. It is callous murder.
We need to put pressure on Republicans and Democrats to do something to improve everyone's lives.
Keep pressure on them with Israel.
Israel must be held accountable for war crimes and the U.S. must end its aid.
Our taxpayer money should not help Israel any further.
Republicans have extremely unpopular ideas. They will find out the risk of supporters being turned off by their policies.
Biden, Harris and the Democratic Party failed at understanding what is more important to the country. Trump, Vance and the Republican Party have already failed at understanding.
Both parties support of Israel had made some Arab Americans, Muslim and young voters vote against them. They have cost Biden a second term and Harris a historical victory.
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 988, or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline’s website or the Crisis Text Line’s website.
If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, you can call a 24-hour crisis hotline at 1-800-300-1080 or visit www.corasupport.org.
The call center to the White House and Congress should still be the same.
The call number to the White House and U.S. Capitol is now going to be used. This is the official White House numbers 202-456-1111 and 202-456-1414. This is the Congress official phone number, 202-224-3121. Please be respectful to operators, staff members and elected leaders. Your calls are monitored by the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police.
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 we are tired of police officers using immunity when committing death of suspects in custody. You want no more qualified immunity for police officers who use deadly force when it's not justified. Let them know that deporting law abiding immigrants seeking refuge is inhumane. You want the U.S. to improve the immigration process. You want the U.S. lawmakers stop dehumanizing human beings. You want the U.S. to prove to the world its a beacon of freedom. You want our American military out of our cities, the Middle East and every fucking international conflict in the world. You want legislation to focus on lowering the cost of rent, lowering the cost of food, lowering the cost of hospital visits, improving healthcare and building relationships with other nations. Let them know that you will not tolerate a government shutdown which affects federal services for Americans in need or in support of services. Let them know that pulling out of the UN Human Rights Organization, World Health Organization and Paris Climate Accords will put the U.S. in danger when catastrophic event happen. Let them know that you are tired of private equity firms getting away with destroying small businesses and long established companies. Let them know that you are tired of your taxpayer money going to foreign nations like Israel and Ukraine. You are tired of hearing about "Israel having a right to..." and the bogus claims of being anti-semitic or in support of terrorism because you support the freedom of Palestinians. You are tired of the propaganda being forced on your media platforms.
We have bigger issues at home and our tax dollars should solve the housing crisis, lowering food prices, fixing roads, bridges, helping reinvest in struggling urban and rural communities. We have hospitals closing, big box retailers leaving communities and television programs dying. There are bigger issues in the country than Israel. You want an immediate ceasefire, a weapons embargo, sanctions and accountability for war crimes done by Israel. You want no more domestic or foreign influence in American elections. You also want to make sure future presidents and lawmakers avoid influence from lobbyists and special interest groups.
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