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☆ QAnon influencer who accused Democrats of pedophilia was himself convicted of abusing 8-year-old boy in 1999
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A clip shows a QAnon influencer being confronted over a past child-abuse conviction. The clip is from HBO Max documentary "This Place Rules." The belief that elite Hollywood figures and Democrats covertly run child abuse rings is one of the core claims of QAnon, the sprawling online conspiracy theory movement that Todeschini has promoted. "Do you feel like maybe you're projecting by …" said Callaghan, before Todeschini jumps back in to say: "No, I'm not projecting." "This Place Rules" explores the undercurrents that resulted in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, and is being streamed on HBO Max.

On Tuesday, Tate tweeted at Thunberg, referring to his “33 cars” and their “enormous emissions.”Thunberg responded on Wednesday, making a joke about Tate’s genitals. After Tate’s arrest, posts quickly went viral, speculating that the pizza boxes in the video had been an important factor in locating Tate. But Ramona Bolla, a spokesperson for DIICOT, refuted that the pizza boxes had anything to do with Tate’s arrest. On Twitter, many responded to Tate’s days-old Twitter feud with Thunberg with jokes about the interaction and Tate’s arrest. In the video, Afualo said she saw the news about Tate’s arrest.

☆ America's democracy survived Trump in 2022. But what about 2023?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Tara Setmayer | Tara Setmayer Is A Resident Scholar At The University Of Virginia Center For Politics | A Senior Adviser At The Lincoln Project. She Is A Former Gop Congressional Communications Director. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

That led hundreds of election deniers to run for offices across the country in 2022. But in 2022, American democracy became an issue outside the political norm for voters’ consideration. But it wasn’t just the outcome of the election that signaled that our democracy was still holding on in 2022. Thankfully, the majority of them did, with the exception of professional election deniers like Kari Lake, who lost the Arizona governor’s race to Katie Hobbs. Not since the tumultuous political climate of the 1930s has American democracy faced such a perilous era.

☆ Trump ally Mike Lindell baselessly questioned whether Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis legitimately won his 2022 election
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell baselessly questioned whether Ron DeSantis legitimately won his 2022 election. He said that DeSantis winning Miami-Dade County, a typically blue county, was "a deviation from norm." Lindell is a fervent Trump ally, and DeSantis is emerging as his fiercest political rival. Lindell questioned DeSantis' win in Miami-Dade County, which has historically mostly voted Democratic, while appearing on his show "The Lindell Report." Lindell has been among the most vocal proponents of Trump's election fraud conspiracy theories.

Megan Thee Stallion isn’t on trial. But if you consume content from some popular hip-hop bloggers, podcasters and social media accounts, you might be misled. Some question if Megan Thee Stallion was even shot at all. The narratives have become viral social media content. Milagro Gramz, a hip-hop news commentator, has been covering Pete and Peterson since before the trial started.

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russia and Belarus avoid mention of Ukraine war after talks; Bakhmut the 'hottest' hot spot right now
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mention of the war in Ukraine was conspicuously absent from a press conference held by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin after their talks Monday. Mention of the war in Ukraine was conspicuously absent from a press conference held by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin after their talks Monday. Belarus saw mass protests in 2020 after an election that many observers believe was rigged to keep long-term leader Lukashenko in power. Following months of increased joint military exercises and meetings, concerns have grown that Belarus could enter the Ukraine war to assist Russia (it has already allowed Moscow to launch attacks from its territory). On Monday, Lukashenko said nothing would be able to "break our relationship" with Russia but did not mention the possibility of Belarus assisting Russia in the war in Ukraine.

☆ Fight for control of the RNC turns heated as some members demand change
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

CNN —Shortly before announcing her campaign against Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel, Harmeet Dhillon, a well-connected conservative attorney, phoned an important ally to solicit his thoughts. Republican voters and local officials have bombarded committee members with emails and calls about the party’s next chair, often berating them directly for the GOP’s underwhelming performance in the midterms, according to four committee members who requested anonymity to describe their experience. During the same period, her law firm received nearly $900,000 from the RNC, federal election data shows. We are all independent thinkers, and we know what’s best for our states,” said Jeff Kent, a committee member from Washington. “It’s very hard to beat an incumbent RNC chair if that incumbent wants to stay,” said Bill Palatucci, a New Jersey committeeman.

This grassroots protest movement has been driven largely by ordinary farmers like Luiten and their supporters, but it has another element: the far-right. As conspiracy-driven Telegram groups, right-wing commentators and some lawmakers would baselessly put it, Dutch farms are being shut down to make space for asylum-seekers. Right-wing populists around the world have offered their support for the farmers’ stand, including former President Donald Trump, France’s Marine Le Pen and Poland’s far-right populist government. But, in reality, many Dutch farmers are just trying to make a living. Supporters stand on highway bridges every night waving the inverted tricolor as a symbol of defiance against an unpopular government and to call for an end to the nitrogen plan.

☆ Elon Musk smeared Twitter's former head of trust and safety by baselessly claiming he supports child sexualization
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk falsely claimed that Twitter's ex-safety head supports the sexualization of children. Musk posted an excerpt from Yoel Roth's PhD thesis about "Gay Data" and misconstrued it. In the excerpt Musk posted, Roth advocated for social platforms like Grindr to become safe spaces for queer youth under the age of 18. Roth was the most senior member of Twitter's trust and safety team after executive Vijaya Gadde was fired by Musk on his first day as CEO. Musk then insinuated that executives including Roth were making "controversial decisions," often "without getting Jack's [Dorsey] approval."

☆ Fact Check-Viral video promotes baseless vaccine depopulation theory
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +14 min

However, there is no evidence that mortality rates have surged or that stillbirths have increased as a result of COVID-19 vaccines. News reports about cardiac arrests and unexpected deaths are then shown on screen and are baselessly attributed to COVID-19 vaccines. There have been 55 deaths involving COVID-19 vaccines causing adverse effects in England between March 2020 and October 2022. While stillbirth rates remain constant, global birth or fertility rates, including in the U.S., have been declining for decades (here, here, here, here). The film does not provide evidence that the global elite are depopulating the world through COVID-19 vaccines.

☆ Elon Musk joked the New York Times union strike is 'Woke v Woke' after baselessly calling the paper an 'unregistered lobbying firm for far left politicians'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk joked that the New York Times union strike on Thursday is "Woke v Woke." New York Times staffers are staging a 24-hour walkout to protest over pay. The contract between the Times and the Times' Guild expired in March 2021 and over 40 bargaining sessions have been held since, the Times reported. Musk released his "Twitter Files" on Friday which showed internal communications between the 2020 Biden presidential campaign and Twitter executives. Musk responded: "That is because The New York Times has become, for all intents and purposes, an unregistered lobbying firm for far left politicians."

☆ Newt Gingrich urged the GOP to embrace mail-in voting in the wake of Georgia Senate runoff loss
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Newt Gingrich called for a rethink of election strategy by the GOP after the Georgia runoff defeat. He called for the party to rethink its hostility to mail-in ballots. The results have prompted hand-wringing in the Republican Party, as they fell well short of the sweeping gains some had been expecting before the election. In an appearance on Fox News host Sean Hannity's show Tuesday, Newt Gingrich, who served as House Speaker between 1995 and 1999, and was a longtime US Representative for Georgia, addressed the reasons for the defeats. During Gingrich's stint as House speaker he introduced hyper-partisan, aggressive tactics that have shaped the Republican Party ever since.

☆ Hakeem Jeffries dismisses Mitch McConnell calling him an 'election denier' over his criticism of Trump: 'That didn't seem to make a lot of sense to me'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Jeffries dismissed Sen. McConnell calling him an "election denier" over his criticism of Trump. Last week, McConnell remarked that Jeffries "baselessly said the 2016 election was 'illegitimate.'" "He'll do what he does, and I want to stay focused on fighting for the people," Jeffries told CNN. "For example, the newly-elected incoming leader of the House Democrats is a past election denier who baselessly said the 2016 election was 'illegitimate' and suggested that we had a 'fake' president. I supported the certification of Donald Trump's election," he continued to say.

☆ Mike Pence said he told Trump he was angry the first time they spoke after the Capitol riot
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mike Pence recounted the first time he spoke to Donald Trump after the Capitol riot on PBS Newshour. Pence reportedly told Trump he was "angry" about the pair's differences and the actions of the rioters. The former vice president told PBS Newshour that Trump asked to speak with him in the Oval Office five days after the "tragic events" of the riot. He said then Trump asked him if he was afraid, and he responded: "No Mr. President, I was angry." When PBS Newshour anchor Judy Woodruff later asked Pence whether he felt anger towards Trump as the riot unfolded, he responded: "Well, yes."

☆ South Korea's LGBTQ community confronts crushing headwinds in fight for equality
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Michael Mitsanas | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

NBC News spoke with South Korean lawmakers, human rights organizations and dozens of LGBTQ South Koreans in three of the country’s largest cities: Seoul, Daegu and Busan. Most say a bill that would outlaw discrimination against all minority groups — including the LGBTQ community — is the critical first step toward legal equality. The documentary filmmaker turned progressive lawmaker calls herself an advocate for this country’s LGBTQ community. This, he added, “includes South Korea.”While support for a comprehensive nondiscrimination bill is strong in South Korea, Jang concedes that the odds of one passing, at least in the near future, are slim. The country’s conservative president and People Power Party oppose a comprehensive nondiscrimination bill, while the left-leaning Democratic Party has expressed lukewarm support.

☆ How Russian ally Kazakhstan is taking a stand against the Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Russian ally Kazakhstan has been subtle but firm in its opposition to the Ukraine war. Kazakhstan's official position on the war is to call for a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution, Magzhan Ilyassov, Kazakhstan's new ambassador to the UK, said in a press briefing attended by Insider. Following the invasion of Ukraine, fears have also been stoked that Russia could turn its sights to Kazakhstan next. Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesAlthough it has not outright criticized Russia for invading Ukraine, Kazakhstan has made its position clear. Ilyassov said that Russian troops were there among others from all member states and left after nearly two weeks without being involved in any action.

☆ Trump aides are helping Brazil's president to dispute the results of the election he just lost. It's going terribly.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Donald Trump allies met aides to defeated Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, The Washington Post reported. But a legal challenge to the election by Bolsonaro's party was met with a hefty fine. [The movement] has moved beyond the Bolsonaro's in the way that in the U.S. it has moved beyond Trump." Bolsonaro's supporters have held protests since his defeat, blocking roads and calling for the army to intervene to stop Lula from taking office. Trump and Bolsonaro were close allies during their time in office, with both championing a brash style of right-wing populism.

A gunman opened fire at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Saturday night, killing five people and injuring 19 others. The shooting at Club Q is a tragic yet predictable outcome of demonizing LGBTQ people and using children as political pawns. Run by Chaya Raichik, Libs of TikTok has targeted LGBTQ people, drag events and Pride celebrations across the country. In addition to Boebert and Libs of TikTok, political leaders like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Florida Gov. We deserve to go to gay bars and drag shows or walk down the street without being attacked or harassed, or killed.

☆ Twitter is the world’s digital public square. What happens if it dies?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

It is much more than simply a social media website. World leaders use Twitter to communicate, journalists use Twitter to newsgather, dissidents in repressive countries use Twitter to organize, celebrities and major brands use Twitter to make important announcements, and the public uses Twitter to often monitor all of it in real-time. “Twitter vs not Twitter isn’t a simple binary, particularly not for news journalism. And, of course, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others are options. A US senator, for instance, expressed to CNN Thursday night — via Twitter direct messages — that they would miss the platform.

New York CNN Business —A Connecticut judge on Thursday ordered right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay an additional $473 million in punitive damages over the lies he told about the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Under Connecticut law, a judge determines the amount of punitive damages to award. The decision in Connecticut came after a separate jury in Texas determined that Jones and his company should award two Sandy Hook parents who sued in that state nearly $50 million. While Jones initially lied about the 2012 shooting, he later acknowledged that the massacre had occurred as he faced multiple lawsuits. But he failed to comply with court orders during the discovery process of the lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas, leading the families in each state to win default judgments against him.

The U.S. congressional elections posed a fresh test for social media companies, which for years have struggled to balance free expression against amplifying potentially harmful commentary. Voices on the right sought on social media on Tuesday to falsely blame Democrats for voting glitches reported in some places. Common Cause also noted a "big slowdown" in Twitter's response time since Friday, when layoffs gutted many of the company's teams responsible for elevating credible information. Before Tuesday, both Musk and Twitter's head of safety and integrity Yoel Roth tweeted that the company would uphold and enforce its election integrity policies through the midterms. The falsehoods appeared to originate on messaging app Telegram before spreading to more mainstream social media services, according to Common Cause.

☆ Midterm elections live updates: Pennsylvania races, New Hampshire Senate race too early to call
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Brandy Zadrozny | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Sahil-Kapur-Headshot.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +109 min

Share this -Link copiedWisconsin Senate and governor's races too early to call It is too early to call the Senate and gubernatorial races in Wisconsin, according to NBC News. Share this -Link copiedNew Hampshire Senate race too early to call The Senate race in New Hampshire is too early to call, according to NBC News. Share this -Link copiedPennsylvania Senate and governor races are too early to call After polls closed at 8 p.m. While Maricopa County election officials initially categorized the problem as a “hiccup,” it took hours before a solution was identified early Tuesday afternoon. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said.

While Maricopa County election officials initially categorized the problem as a “hiccup,” it took hours before a solution was identified early Tuesday afternoon. According to the poll, 46% of voters said their family’s financial situation is worse than it was two years ago. Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP, filed a similar complaint Friday against state election officials. The app and portal had been down for part of the morning and the state's election hotline also briefly experienced issues. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said.

☆ The US' top cybersecurity agency warns against making the 'normal out to be nefarious' as conservatives cry foul over election glitches
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The US' top cybersecurity agency said there have been no credible threats to election security or integrity. "When you have 8,800 individual election jurisdictions, you're going to see a few issues," Jen Easterly tweeted. "When you have 8,800 individual election jurisdictions, you're going to see a few issues," tweeted Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Easterly's warning comes as conservatives have raised questions about election integrity. But Easterly said CISA has seen "no activity that should cause anyone to question the security, integrity, or resilience of our election infrastructure."

Efforts to investigate the 2020 election and institute changes to the state’s election procedures — the promises that helped propel DePerno onto the political map and won him former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. In Arizona, GOP gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake has repeatedly called the 2020 election “rigged” and “stolen” during the primary only to spend most of the general election talking about immigration, education, the economy and crime. After trailing in earlier polling, both Lake and Masters appeared neck-and-neck with their opponents in the campaign’s final days. Doug Mastriano, the GOP nominee who was outside the Capitol on Jan. 6 and whose campaign paid to bus people to the pro-Trump protest that proceeded the riot, has kept the 2020 election near the forefront of his campaign. “It’s people like her,” Whitmer said of Dixon, who has baselessly raised doubts about the 2020 election results, “who are the greatest threat to our democracy right now.”Dixon has defended her use of such rhetoric.

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