The city of Chicago has elected its new mayor, Brandon Johnson. When the race was called, Johnson had 51% of the votes cast, 286,647. His opponent, Paul Vallas, had 49% at 270,775.

Johnson, a 47-year-old Cook County commissioner and former public school teacher, orchestrated a comeback victory, an impressive feat for a candidate that was considered unknown in mid-2023. He now inherits a divided city from current mayor Lori Lightfoot who came in third place in the initial election but could not make the runoff.

“The truth is the people have always worked for Chicago,” Johnson said in his victory speech. “Whether you wake up early to open the doors of your businesses or wear a badge to protect our streets or nurse patients in need or provide childcare services, you have always worked for this city and now Chicago will begin to work for its people. All the people.”

Vallas called for the city to unite behind Johnson. “It’s time for all Chicagoans to put aside their differences and to walk and to work together supporting the daunting work ahead for our next mayor.”

Johnson was backed by the Chicago Teachers Union, opposed to Vallas, who had support from the Fraternal Order of Police. Vallas was criticized for his police-heavy platforms and often compared to being more of a Republican candidate opposed to the Democrat party he placed on the ballot.

With the runoff complete, Johnson, now mayor-elect, will prep for taking office. His swearing-in is scheduled for May 15.

The post Chicago Elects New Mayor Brandon Johnson appeared first on The Source.

Earlier this week, Donald Trump’s attorney Alina Habba shockingly compared the Former President to late pop icon Tupac Shakur, but the “Thug Life” figure’s younger sister says that the comparison and absurd.

Set Shakur said in an interview with TMZ, “My brother was measured by his integrity, his principles and personal and collective responsibility,” while calling Habba’s comments “blasphemous”.

Set says that ‘Pac took responsibility during his 1994 rape trial, adding that Trump has shown no responsibility for what he’s being charged with.

Trump’s attorney asserts that Trump’s arrest would boost his numbers in the polls, similar to how ‘Pac’s record sales skyrocketed following his one year prison stint in an NYC prison. Habba made this comparison on the same day that Trump flew to NYC to be arrested and indicted on fraud charges. Set contends that Tupac’s popularity didn’t grow because of his incarceration, but instead because his fans “were able to measure him by his words and actions that aligned.”

Shakur says that Trump’s attorney maybe using his name to attract ‘Pac fans for support and she’s hopeful that their ploy has no impact.

The post Tupac’s Sister Calls The Donald Trump Comparison To Her Brother “Blasphemous” appeared first on The Source.

Former President Donald Trump has been arrested, arraigned and is back on a plane to Mar-a-Lago. With that under his belt, opinions and fall out from the moment in American History will pour out. One of the early statements comes from Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Speaking with RSBN, Taylor Greene let off an eyebrow-raising set of comparisons for Trump:

“President Trump is joining some of the most incredible people in history being arrested today. Nelson Mandela was arrested, served time in prison. Jesus! Jesus was arrested and murdered by the Roman government. There have been many people throughout history that have been arrested and persecuted by radical corrupt governments, and it’s beginning today in New York City and I just can’t believe it’s happening, but I’ll always support him. He’s done nothing.”

Before his arraignment, Trump issued a statement on Truth Social, the Twitter alternative social platform that he leads.

“Headed to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse. Seems so SURREAL – WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”

You can see the message below and read more about his arrest and arraignment here.

The post [WATCH] Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Says Trump’s Arrest Places Him Alongside Mandela and Jesus as ‘Incredible People in History’ appeared first on The Source.

A new t-shirt dropped on former President Donald Trump’s website while he sat in a Manhattan courthouse pleading not guilty to 34 felony counts for falsification of business records in connection with $150,000 hush money payment to former adult film star Stormy Daniels.

An email sent out by the Trump campaign had President Trump in a fake mugshot placed on a t-shirt. The copy reads”

“‘NOT GUILTY,’ Do you stand with President Trump, Friend? Please make a contribution of $47 or more to WIN in 2024 – and we’ll send you your very own ‘NOT GUILTY’ T-Shirt for FREE.”

The idea that an indictment may make Donald Trump more popular could be accurate. With arraignment set for today (Apr. 4), the Trump campaign is boasting a record number of donations.

According to the New York Daily News, Trump’s campaign has secured $7 million since the indictment.

The post Trump Drops ‘Not Guilty’ T-Shirt on Campaign Website During Arraignment appeared first on The Source.

Former president Donald Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts for falsification of business records, an unsealed indictment reads.

In court, Trump pleaded not guilty to each charge. The charges are connected to a hush money payment of $150,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.

The charges make Trump the first president to face criminal charges in history.

Before entering the courtroom, Trump did not speak a word but connected with all cameras around him. Images from inside the courtroom show him sitting with his legal team and two officers flanking the crew.

A motorcade transported former President Donald Trump to Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday (Apr. 4). Upon his arrival, Trump exited his car, waved to supporters, and entered the building.

A CNN political adviser notes what may seem to be a moment of triumph for some, “it will be a constant rallying cry for his supporters.”

Trump expressed the desire to have a mugshot. Trump was fingerprinted as a part of his arrest. He was arraigned in court, which was a quick event. After processing and the arraignment, Trump would return to his motorcade to begin his trip back to Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

The idea that an indictment may make Donald Trump more popular could be accurate. With arraignment set for today (Apr. 4), the Trump campaign is boasting a record number of donations.

According to the New York Daily News, Trump’s campaign has secured $7 million since the indictment.

The post Trump Pleads Not Guilty to 34 Felonies of Falsification of Business Records appeared first on The Source.

President Donald Trump has officially been arrested. Before his arraignment, Trump issued a statement on Truth Social, the Twitter alternative social platform that he leads.

“Headed to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse. Seems so SURREAL – WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”

You can see the message below and read more about his arrest and arraignment here.

The post Trump Issues Statement Before Arraignment: ‘WOW, They Are Going to ARREST ME’ appeared first on The Source.

Stormy Daniels, the woman paid $130,000 in hush money, leading to the eventual indictment of former president Donald Trump is speaking out.

Speaking to the British newspaper, The Times, Daniels says she is fearful of her safety but notes Trump’s indictment was “monumental” and “epic.”

Daniels revealed she received a ton of abuse after the indictment leading to her fear. “The number and the intensity is the same as it was the first time aroudn, but this time it’s straight up violent,” Daniels said.

Daniels was scheduled to interview with Piers Morgan in Britain, but it was postponed due to “security issues.”

“It’s especially scary because Trump himself is inciting violence and encouraging it,” Daniels added.

On Thursday (March 30), a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Donald Trump on charges involving payments of “hush money” to Daniels, with whom he allegedly had an extramarital affair, and which were made in the runup to the 2016 election. 

The charges are under seal and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg must formally charge Trump.  Once he does, Trump will very likely surrender to authorities and be fingerprinted, photographed and processed for a felony arrest, although the details of how this will happen are apparently still being worked out.

Trump has repeatedly attacked the investigation, calling it “the greatest witch hunt in history” and claiming that Bragg, who is black, is racist against white people.   Certain Republicans have repeatedly claimed Bragg to be a “George Soros-backed” prosecutor, referring to the billionaire philanthropist who Republicans frequently cite as an antisemitic dog whistle.

 Trump previously predicted that he would be indicted last Tuesday and urged his supporters to protest in response, leading to tighter security in Manhattan on light of the events of January 6.   Just yesterday, when it was reported that the grand jury would not be imminently voting to indict, he posted on Truth Social that he had “gained so much respect for this grand jury . . . that [they] are saying hold on, we’re not a rubber stamp . . . we are not going to vote against a preponderance of evidence or against large numbers of legal scholars all saying there is no case here.”  

The grand jury voted to indict him the next day.  Trump has now issued a statement calling the indictment “political persecution.”  

This is the first time that a former U.S. president has had criminal charges brought against him, and it will undoubtably shake up the 2024 presidential election, for which Trump has been a declared candidate for months.   A Quinnipiac University poll taken this week found that 57% of Americans believe a criminal indictment should disqualify Trump from running for president again.  This includes Democrats 8% – 9% and Independents 55% – 36%.  However, Republicans say 75% – 23% that an indictment should not disqualify him.  There is nothing that legally prevents Trump from running for president if he is indicted – or even convicted.

These results indicate that Trump’s indictment will likely do him no favors in the general election, although the Republican primaries are far less certain.  According to a number of recent polls, Trump stills holds a lead of anywhere from 14 to 30 points over his closest rival, Florida governor Ron DeSantis.  It is unknown how the indictment will affect these numbers, but at least in the short term, it is possible that Republicans will rally around Trump.  Indeed, DeSantis has declared that Florida will not assist in any extradition request for Trump.  Privately, he is probably popping champagne corks.

Trump is facing a number of additional criminal investigations that may also yield indictments, including an investigation by the Fulton County District Attorney into Trump’s meddling with the 2020 vote count in Georgia, as well as two federal investigations into Trump’s removal and handling of classified documents following his presidency, and his role in inciting the insurrection on January 6, 2021. 

America faces the prospect that the Republican nominee for president will have been indicted  – and possibly convicted – of multiple, unrelated felonies under federal and state laws.  We are truly in uncharted territory already, and even more so if these circumstances come to pass.  

via

The post Stormy Daniels Says She Has Fears About Her Safety Following Trump Indictment appeared first on The Source.

A motorcade transported former President Donald Trump to Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday (Apr. 4). Upon his arrival, Trump exited his car, waved to supporters, and entered the building.

A CNN political adviser notes what may seem to be a moment of triumph for some, “it will be a constant rallying cry for his supporters.”

Trump expressed the desire to have a mugshot. Trump was fingerprinted as a part of his arrest. He was arraigned in court, which was a quick event. After processing and the arraignment, Trump would return to his motorcade to begin his trip back to Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

The idea that an indictment may make Donald Trump more popular could be accurate. With arraignment set for today (Apr. 4), the Trump campaign is boasting a record number of donations.

According to the New York Daily News, Trump’s campaign has secured $7 million since the indictment.

The post President Trump Officially Arrested and Arraigned in New York City appeared first on The Source.

Tupac’s sister, Set Shakur, is not having any comparisons between her late brother and former president Donald Trump. As Trump is set to be arraigned, he has often been compared to Tupac, the most recent being by Trump’s attorney Alina Habba, who also threw Biggie’s name in the mix as well.

Appearing on TMZ, Shakur stated the comparison was “blasphemous.”

“My brother was measured by his integrity, his principles and personal and collective responsibility,” Shakur said.

Speaking with Benny Johnson on The Benny Show, Trump’s attorney Alina Habba agreed with the show’s host that the forthcoming charges would raise the notoriety of the former President.

Habba would respond to Johnson stating, “Donald Trump is Tupac. Donald Trump is Biggie Smalls.” Habba would state she’s from the east coast, showing Biggie bias and stating Trump would be bigger than Tupac.

“Donald Trump is his own brand, he is everything,” Habba said. “This is just going to boost him we have seen it in the polls. This is not a question, this is a fact.”

Habba isn’t the first person to make the comparison. Chris Rock was on hand as Adam Sandler received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in D.C. Never one to miss a moment for political discourse, Rock threw a Trump joke while honoring his friend Sandler.

“Are you guys really gonna arrest Trump?” Rock stated. “Do you know this is only going to make him more popular? It’s like arresting Tupac. He’s just gonna sell more records. Are you stupid?”

You can hear Habba’s statements here.

The post Tupac’s Sister Blasts Donald Trump’s Comparisons as ‘Blasphemous’ appeared first on The Source.

The idea that an indictment may make Donald Trump more popular could be accurate. With arraignment set for today (Apr. 4), the Trump campaign is boasting a record number of donations.

According to the New York Daily News, Trump’s campaign has secured $7 million since the indictment.

One to predict the popularity of Trump rising was Chris Rock, who recently inserted the forthcoming arraignment into a bit.

“Are you guys really gonna arrest Trump?” Rock stated. “Do you know this is only going to make him more popular? It’s like arresting Tupac. He’s just gonna sell more records. Are you stupid?”

Former President Donald Trump is once again calling for his base of supporters to ride for him. Trump spoke to his supporters, writing the “leading Republican candidate and former president of the United States will be arrested on Tuesday of next week.”

The alarming portion of his message is his call to his supporters to “Protest, take our nation back.” The words are similar to those used ahead of the Insurrection at the Nation’s capitol. New York City is now preparing for any clashes that could happen in the city, if Trump is indeed arrested.

According to CNN, Trump believes his base being charged up would help him politically. He also sees a positive in the indictment.

During the ceremony, Rock added more funny context to the potential indictment. “[Trump] f—ing a porn star and paid off someone so his wife couldn’t find out. That’s romantic,” Rock said.

According to Fox News, Rock made a comparison to everyday life.

“We’ve all been cheated on. Don’t you wish that the person that cheated on you paid off somebody so you wouldn’t find out?”

– Chris Rock

The post Trump Raises Over $7 Million for His Campaign Since Being Indicted appeared first on The Source.

Facing his arraignment, Donald Trump beefed up his defense team. Added to his squad is Todd Blanche, most recently of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. He also represented Rudy Giuliani, Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and Igor Fruman.

Blanche will join attorneys Joe Tacopina and Susan Necheles in defending Trump.

Former Trumpy attorney, Tim Palatore, highlighted to CNN the appointment could be a conflict of interest.

“I know that Joe has certain potential conflict issues, given his prior contacts, with Stormy Daniels. So, who’s the right attorney, to take it to trial, is something that the client will have to decide. Ultimately, the decision of who to stand next to, before a jury, is a decision that only the client can make,” Parlatore said.

Be prepared for Donald Trump to be a name that you hear often this week. With an arraignment scheduled for today (Apr. 4), Trump’s name will ring off through social media and the news every day. Speaking with Benny Johnson on The Benny Show, Trump’s attorney Alina Habba agreed with the show’s host that the forthcoming charges would raise the notoriety of the former President.

Habba would respond to Johnson stating, “Donald Trump is Tupac. Donald Trump is Biggie Smalls.” Habba would state she’s from the east coast, showing Biggie bias and stating Trump would be bigger than Tupac.

“Donald Trump is his own brand, he is everything,” Habba said. “This is just going to boost him we have seen it in the polls. This is not a question, this is a fact.”

The post Trump Adds Attorney to His Legal Team Ahead of His Arraignment appeared first on The Source.

With Trump’s arraignment set for today (Apr 4), the security detail at the Manhattan court is experiencing a new level of patrol. According to CNN, officers who typically are inside the building will be outside.

Journalist Shimon Prokupecz said, “They’re not used to something like this. They’re usually inside the building, so it’s a little different for them.”

He also stated that the street Hogan Place is “entirely shut down.”

Former president Donald Trump is expected to turn himself in following his indictment on Tuesday. Media cameras will be present, but Trump will not be placed in cuffs.

According to CNN, it is currently unclear if cameras will be allowed in the courtroom. Judge Juan Merchan will decide those rules. He allowed cameras in the courtroom for Trump Organization’s CFO Allen Weisselberg’s sentencing last year.

The courtroom where Trump will be arraigned was heavily guarded on Friday, continuing over the weekend to today.

Trump is expected to enter a plea of not guilty, leave the courtroom, and return to Florida to continue his campaign for 2024.

The post Security Team at Trump’s Arraignment Courthouse Are ‘Not Used to Something Like This’ appeared first on The Source.

Be prepared for Donald Trump to be a name that you hear often this week. With an arraignment scheduled for Tuesday, Trump’s name will ring off through social media and the news every day. Speaking with Benny Johnson on The Benny Show, Trump’s attorney Alina Habba agreed with the show’s host that the forthcoming charges would raise the notoriety of the former President.

Habba would respond to Johnson stating, “Donald Trump is Tupac. Donald Trump is Biggie Smalls.” Habba would state she’s from the east coast, showing Biggie bias and stating Trump would be bigger than Tupac.

“Donald Trump is his own brand, he is everything,” Habba said. “This is just going to boost him we have seen it in the polls. This is not a question, this is a fact.”

Habba isn’t the first person to make the comparison. Chris Rock was on hand as Adam Sandler received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in D.C. Never one to miss a moment for political discourse, Rock threw a Trump joke while honoring his friend Sandler.

“Are you guys really gonna arrest Trump?” Rock stated. “Do you know this is only going to make him more popular? It’s like arresting Tupac. He’s just gonna sell more records. Are you stupid?”

And to be honest, Rock may be right because that’s the thinking of Donald Trump. A couple of weekends back, Trump was once again calling for his base of supporters to ride for him after revealing he would be arrested, he didn’t mention why, but it is believed to be for paying hush money to adult star Stormy Daniels.

Trump spoke to his supporters, writing the “leading Republican candidate and former president of the United States will be arrested on Tuesday of next week.”

The alarming portion of his message is his call to his supporters to “Protest, take our nation back.” The words are similar to those used ahead of the Insurrection at the Nation’s capitol. New York City is now preparing for any clashes that could happen in the city, if Trump is indeed arrested.

According to CNN, Trump believes his base being charged up would help him politically. He also sees a positive in the indictment.

A spokesperson for Trump revealed that the former president didn’t receive any indication that he would be arrested. Instead, he was “rightfully highlighting his innocence.”

During the ceremony, Rock added more funny context to the potential indictment. “[Trump] f—ing a porn star and paid off someone so his wife couldn’t find out. That’s romantic,” Rock said.

According to Fox News, Rock made a comparison to everyday life.

“We’ve all been cheated on. Don’t you wish that the person that cheated on you paid off somebody so you wouldn’t find out?”

– Chris Rock

The Source will update you on Tuesday if Trump is indeed arrested.

The post Trump Attorney Alina Habba Compares Former President to Hip-Hop Icons: ‘Donald Trump is Tupac. Donald Trump is Biggie Smalls’ appeared first on The Source.

Former President Donald Trump’s recent 34-count indictment has stirred a range of public opinion with everyone from politicians to celebrities to ordinary people chiming in. However, Yusef Salaam, one of the exonerated “Central Park Five,” has a unique perspective on the situation, simply calling it “karma.”

Salaam tweeted the following after news of the indictment broke:

For those who may not remember, in 1989, Trump, who was then a prominent New York City businessman, took out several full-page newspaper advertisements calling for New York City politicians to reinstate the death penalty following the brutal rape and attack of a female jogger in New York City. Five youth, Salaam, Korey Wise, Antron McCray, Raymond Santana, and Kevin Richardson, were wrongfully imprisoned for 7-13 years until the attacker was caught. They had been coerced into giving false confessions and received substantial settlements. All are involved in criminal justice activism efforts now. Trump never formally apologized to the five, especially since he took out the ads before their trials began.

Salaam recently announced his candidacy for New York City Council.

The post Yusef Salaam of Exonerated Central Park Five Calls Trump Indictment ‘Karma’ appeared first on The Source.

Former president Donald Trump is expected to turn himself in following his indictment on Tuesday. Media cameras will be present, but Trump will not be placed in cuffs.

According to CNN, it is currently unclear if cameras will be allowed in the courtroom. Judge Juan Merchan will decide those rules. He allowed cameras in the courtroom for Trump Organization’s CFO Allen Weisselberg’s sentencing last year.

The courtroom where Trump will be arraigned was heavily guarded on Friday, which will continue over the weekend into Tuesday.

Trump is expected to enter a plea of not guilty, leave the courtroom, and return to Florida to continue his campaign for 2024.

The post Trump’s Arraignment Set for Tuesday in Manhattan, Courtroom is Currently Heavily Guarded appeared first on The Source.

Stormy Daniels, the woman paid $130,000 in hush money, leading to the eventual indictment of former president Donald Trump is speaking out.

Speaking to the British newspaper, The Times, Daniels says she is fearful of her safety but notes Trump’s indictment was “monumental” and “epic.”

Daniels revealed she received a ton of abuse after the indictment leading to her fear. “The number and the intensity is the same as it was the first time aroudn, but this time it’s straight up violent,” Daniels said.

Daniels was scheduled to interview with Piers Morgan in Britain, but it was postponed due to “security issues.”

“It’s especially scary because Trump himself is inciting violence and encouraging it,” Daniels added.

On Thursday (March 30), a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Donald Trump on charges involving payments of “hush money” to Daniels, with whom he allegedly had an extramarital affair, and which were made in the runup to the 2016 election. 

The charges are under seal and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg must formally charge Trump.  Once he does, Trump will very likely surrender to authorities and be fingerprinted, photographed and processed for a felony arrest, although the details of how this will happen are apparently still being worked out.

Trump has repeatedly attacked the investigation, calling it “the greatest witch hunt in history” and claiming that Bragg, who is black, is racist against white people.   Certain Republicans have repeatedly claimed Bragg to be a “George Soros-backed” prosecutor, referring to the billionaire philanthropist who Republicans frequently cite as an antisemitic dog whistle.

 Trump previously predicted that he would be indicted last Tuesday and urged his supporters to protest in response, leading to tighter security in Manhattan on light of the events of January 6.   Just yesterday, when it was reported that the grand jury would not be imminently voting to indict, he posted on Truth Social that he had “gained so much respect for this grand jury . . . that [they] are saying hold on, we’re not a rubber stamp . . . we are not going to vote against a preponderance of evidence or against large numbers of legal scholars all saying there is no case here.”  

The grand jury voted to indict him the next day.  Trump has now issued a statement calling the indictment “political persecution.”  

This is the first time that a former U.S. president has had criminal charges brought against him, and it will undoubtably shake up the 2024 presidential election, for which Trump has been a declared candidate for months.   A Quinnipiac University poll taken this week found that 57% of Americans believe a criminal indictment should disqualify Trump from running for president again.  This includes Democrats 8% – 9% and Independents 55% – 36%.  However, Republicans say 75% – 23% that an indictment should not disqualify him.  There is nothing that legally prevents Trump from running for president if he is indicted – or even convicted.

These results indicate that Trump’s indictment will likely do him no favors in the general election, although the Republican primaries are far less certain.  According to a number of recent polls, Trump stills holds a lead of anywhere from 14 to 30 points over his closest rival, Florida governor Ron DeSantis.  It is unknown how the indictment will affect these numbers, but at least in the short term, it is possible that Republicans will rally around Trump.  Indeed, DeSantis has declared that Florida will not assist in any extradition request for Trump.  Privately, he is probably popping champagne corks.

Trump is facing a number of additional criminal investigations that may also yield indictments, including an investigation by the Fulton County District Attorney into Trump’s meddling with the 2020 vote count in Georgia, as well as two federal investigations into Trump’s removal and handling of classified documents following his presidency, and his role in inciting the insurrection on January 6, 2021. 

America faces the prospect that the Republican nominee for president will have been indicted  – and possibly convicted – of multiple, unrelated felonies under federal and state laws.  We are truly in uncharted territory already, and even more so if these circumstances come to pass.  

via

The post Stormy Daniels Says She Has Fears About Her Safety Following Trump Indictment appeared first on The Source.

This week, NY Gov. Kathy Hochul revealed the state budget would not meet the April 1 deadline, highlighting the bail law as a major hurdle toward completion. Hochul has spoken toward adjustments to the “least restrictive means” of bail, which rank-and-file assembly democrats strongly oppose.

The bail law was enacted in 2019 and is now facing repealing. On Thursday, criminal justice advocates and activists, and supporting lawmakers combined to show their force and why the 2019 bail law must remain in tact.

The show of unity comes along with the power of the memory of Marvin Mayfield, the late criminal justice advocate, who operates in support of those who have long been marginalized.

After a report about the position to hamper bail laws, Assembly Member Latrice Walker released a statement to City & State NY, staying aligned with its stance to combat any return to prior laws. “I feel the need to clarify that the Assembly Majority opposes any changes to weaken or upend the bail laws and subject more New Yorkers to the dangers of pretrial detention,” she wrote.

Gov. Hochul is still steadfast in rolling back reform, hanging the budget in the balance as a leverage point. “The governor drives the budget process and she’s using that leverage to negotiate her priorities – especially criminal justice and housing – before anything else,” Jack O’Donnell, Democratic political strategist and managing partner of O’Donnell & Associates, said.

The issue doesn’t solely rely on the hindrances that rollback cause to processes. Still, it ultimately would turn bail into a system that can do more than just order citizens back to court, and that point directly correlates to the burden of Black, brown, and poor communities.

The post NY Assembly Dems Opposing Gov. Hochul on Rollback of Bail Reform Laws appeared first on The Source.

Former vice president Mike Pence is headed to court. A federal judge has ordered Pence to appear in front of a grand jury that is investigating former president Donald J. Trump.

The request for Pence comes in an investigation of Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. According to the New York Times, Judge James E. Boasberg’s rulings impact Trump’s attempt to limit the type of questions that can be positioned against him in court.

Pence is being requested after Trump asked for him to delay or block the Electoral College vote count, cementing Trump’s loss. Before the court order, Trump’s lawyer asked for the court’s chief judge, Beryl A. Howell, to limit what Pence could deliver in testimony.

On the other hand, Pence’s lawyers also asked for limited testimony due to his role as president of the Senate, which would exclude him from any legal issues.

You can learn more about Pence’s order here.

The post Mike Pence Ordered to Testify in Jan 6. Federal Case appeared first on The Source.

Today a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Donald Trump on charges involving payments of “hush money” to porn actress Stormy Daniels, with whom he allegedly had an extramarital affair, and which were made in the runup to the 2016 election. 

The charges are under seal and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg must formally charge Trump.  Once he does, Trump will very likely surrender to authorities and be fingerprinted, photographed and processed for a felony arrest, although the details of how this will happen are apparently still being worked out.

Trump has repeatedly attacked the investigation, calling it “the greatest witch hunt in history” and claiming that Bragg, who is black, is racist against white people.   Certain Republicans have repeatedly claimed Bragg to be a “George Soros-backed” prosecutor, referring to the billionaire philanthropist who Republicans frequently cite as an antisemitic dog whistle.

 Trump previously predicted that he would be indicted last Tuesday and urged his supporters to protest in response, leading to tighter security in Manhattan on light of the events of January 6.   Just yesterday, when it was reported that the grand jury would not be imminently voting to indict, he posted on Truth Social that he had “gained so much respect for this grand jury . . . that [they] are saying hold on, we’re not a rubber stamp . . . we are not going to vote against a preponderance of evidence or against large numbers of legal scholars all saying there is no case here.”  

The grand jury voted to indict him the next day.  Trump has now issued a statement calling the indictment “political persecution.”  

This is the first time that a former U.S. president has had criminal charges brought against him, and it will undoubtably shake up the 2024 presidential election, for which Trump has been a declared candidate for months.   A Quinnipiac University poll taken this week found that 57% of Americans believe a criminal indictment should disqualify Trump from running for president again.  This includes Democrats 8% – 9% and Independents 55% – 36%.  However, Republicans say 75% – 23% that an indictment should not disqualify him.  There is nothing that legally prevents Trump from running for president if he is indicted – or even convicted.

These results indicate that Trump’s indictment will likely do him no favors in the general election, although the Republican primaries are far less certain.  According to a number of recent polls, Trump stills holds a lead of anywhere from 14 to 30 points over his closest rival, Florida governor Ron DeSantis.  It is unknown how the indictment will affect these numbers, but at least in the short term, it is possible that Republicans will rally around Trump.  Indeed, DeSantis has declared that Florida will not assist in any extradition request for Trump.  Privately, he is probably popping champagne corks.

Trump is facing a number of additional criminal investigations that may also yield indictments, including an investigation by the Fulton County District Attorney into Trump’s meddling with the 2020 vote count in Georgia, as well as two federal investigations into Trump’s removal and handling of classified documents following his presidency, and his role in inciting the insurrection on January 6, 2021. 

America faces the prospect that the Republican nominee for president will have been indicted  – and possibly convicted – of multiple, unrelated felonies under federal and state laws.  We are truly in uncharted territory already, and even more so if these circumstances come to pass.  

The post Donald Trump Indicted for Hush Money Payments Made to Porn Star and Business Fraud appeared first on The Source.

Several news reports have confirmed that Jacob Chansely, aka the “Qanon Shaman,” the man sentenced in 2021 to 41 months in prison, was released more than a year early to a halfway house to complete his sentence.

The 35-year-old aspiring actor was moved to a “residential re-entry management” facility in Phoenix and is expected to be released on May 25.

Chansley, who received the longest jail term of any of the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol rioters, was convicted of a single count of felony obstruction of justice. He was one of nearly 1,000 people charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. Supporters of the riot stormed the Capitol as lawmakers certified President Joe Biden’s election win in 2020.

Chansley’s lawyer Albert Watkins said in a statement that the early release of his client was “appropriate” and he should be “permitted to move forward with the next stage of what undoubtedly will be a law-abiding and enriching life.”

He recently re-emerged in the national spotlight after Fox News host Tucker Carlson argued the riot was peaceful primarily, airing footage of the self-styled QAnon Shaman wandering the halls of Congress with police officers either escorting him or making no attempt to bar his way.

His alias referenced a baseless conspiracy theory whose adherents believe former President Donald Trump was waging a secret war against elite Satan-worshipping pedophiles.

The post U.S. Capitol Insurrection’s “Qanon Shaman” Released 14 Months Early From Prison appeared first on The Source.

Today a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Donald Trump on charges involving payments of “hush money” to porn actress Stormy Daniels, with whom he allegedly had an extramarital affair, and which were made in the runup to the 2016 election. 

The charges are under seal and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg must formally charge Trump.  Once he does, Trump will very likely surrender to authorities and be fingerprinted, photographed and processed for a felony arrest, although the details of how this will happen are apparently still being worked out.

Trump has repeatedly attacked the investigation, calling it “the greatest witch hunt in history” and claiming that Bragg, who is black, is racist against white people.   Certain Republicans have repeatedly claimed Bragg to be a “George Soros-backed” prosecutor, referring to the billionaire philanthropist who Republicans frequently cite as an antisemitic dog whistle.

 Trump previously predicted that he would be indicted last Tuesday and urged his supporters to protest in response, leading to tighter security in Manhattan on light of the events of January 6.   Just yesterday, when it was reported that the grand jury would not be imminently voting to indict, he posted on Truth Social that he had “gained so much respect for this grand jury . . . that [they] are saying hold on, we’re not a rubber stamp . . . we are not going to vote against a preponderance of evidence or against large numbers of legal scholars all saying there is no case here.”  

The grand jury voted to indict him the next day.  Trump has now issued a statement calling the indictment “political persecution.”  

This is the first time that a former U.S. president has had criminal charges brought against him, and it will undoubtably shake up the 2024 presidential election, for which Trump has been a declared candidate for months.   A Quinnipiac University poll taken this week found that 57% of Americans believe a criminal indictment should disqualify Trump from running for president again.  This includes Democrats 8% – 9% and Independents 55% – 36%.  However, Republicans say 75% – 23% that an indictment should not disqualify him.  There is nothing that legally prevents Trump from running for president if he is indicted – or even convicted.

These results indicate that Trump’s indictment will likely do him no favors in the general election, although the Republican primaries are far less certain.  According to a number of recent polls, Trump stills holds a lead of anywhere from 14 to 30 points over his closest rival, Florida governor Ron DeSantis.  It is unknown how the indictment will affect these numbers, but at least in the short term, it is possible that Republicans will rally around Trump.  Indeed, DeSantis has declared that Florida will not assist in any extradition request for Trump.  Privately, he is probably popping champagne corks.

Trump is facing a number of additional criminal investigations that may also yield indictments, including an investigation by the Fulton County District Attorney into Trump’s meddling with the 2020 vote count in Georgia, as well as two federal investigations into Trump’s removal and handling of classified documents following his presidency, and his role in inciting the insurrection on January 6, 2021. 

America faces the prospect that the Republican nominee for president will have been indicted  – and possibly convicted – of multiple, unrelated felonies under federal and state laws.  We are truly in uncharted territory already, and even more so if these circumstances come to pass.  

The post Donald Trump Indicted for Hush Money Payments Made to Porn Star appeared first on The Source.

The New York state assembly has presented language that impacts bail laws by removing the “least restrictive means” that judges use for bail.

The change is led by Gov. Kathy Hochul, opening leadership to the revisions that fall under a $227 billion budget. The language was revealed by Politico, showing the “least restrictive means” would be removed from standard judges on how to ensure a person comes to a court date.

Reps stated judges should lean more into current state law for qualifications of a bail. The final conditions decision would still rely on a judge’s indvidual analysis. Removing those would significantly impact Black, brown, and poor communities.

Hochul’s desire to remove the “least restrictive” standard reduces the access to bail for all crimes, including violent felonies, creating classes for offenses. The next step would be opening the negotiation table to accept the draft language.

The state budget is due March 31, but the entry is expected later.

To provide an actual investment into safety and protect bail options, the assembly must recognize Real community safety measures should be available to all communities. In addition, every resident should desire to be healthy and safe to thrive; those options include affordable and supportive housing, vouchers, support for all works, mental health first responders, and more.

The efforts for bail reform have shown success across the state without affecting the re-arrest rate, decreasing pre-trial incarceration, and raising court appearance rates. In addition to eliminating a legal norm from the bail law’s Civil Rights era and replacing it with nothing, the Governor’s proposal will only result in more Black, Brown, and poor individuals being imprisoned pending trial.

The proper direction would be a no to mass jailing and reducing the citizens’ options.

The post Will New York State Get Soft on Bail Reform? appeared first on The Source.

Former vice president Mike Pence is headed to court. A federal judge has ordered Pence to appear in front of a grand jury that is investigating former president Donald J. Trump.

The request for Pence comes in an investigation of Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. According to the New York Times, Judge James E. Boasberg’s rulings impact Trump’s attempt to limit the type of questions that can be positioned against him in court.

Pence is being requested after Trump asked for him to delay or block the Electoral College vote count, cementing Trump’s loss. Before the court order, Trump’s lawyer asked for the court’s chief judge, Beryl A. Howell, to limit what Pence could deliver in testimony.

On the other hand, Pence’s lawyers also asked for limited testimony due to his role as president of the Senate, which would exclude him from any legal issues.

You can learn more about Pence’s order here.

The post Mike Pence Ordered to Testify in Jan 6. Federal Case appeared first on The Source.

Former president Donald Trump is looking forward to a perp walk. The New York Times is reporting Trump is looking forward to being arrested and marched in front of news cameras and reporters.

Members of Trump’s circle state he is currently debating if he should smile for the camera. While he is planning his media scrum, Trump may not even be charged. If he is, both authorities and secret service would look to avoid any public stroll into a police station.

Additional sources state Trump wants to display a strong force and has no sahme in his arrest.

Meanwhile, Trump is at Mar-a-Lago hosting parties where he is djing off his Spotify playlists.

Last week, Trump was once again calling for his base of supporters to ride for him. Over the weekend, Trump announced online that he expected to be arrested on Tuesday (March 21) for paying hush money to adult star Stormy Daniels.

Trump spoke to his supporters, writing the “leading Republican candidate and former president of the United States will be arrested on Tuesday of next week.” Trump did not add a reason for the arrest.

The alarming portion of his message is his call to his supporters to “Protest, take our nation back.” The words are similar to those used ahead of the Insurrection at the Nation’s capitol. New York City is now preparing for any clashes that could happen in the city, if Trump is indeed arrested.

According to CNN, Trump believes his base being charged up would help him politically. He also sees a positive in the indictment.

A spokesperson for Trump revealed that the former president didn’t receive any indication that he would be arrested. Instead, he was “rightfully highlighting his innocence.”

The post Donald Trump Reportedly is Looking Forward to a ‘Perp Walk’ In front of Media appeared first on The Source.

Things seem to be crashing all around for Donald Trump. Over the weekend, he posted on his Truth Social platform that he expects to be arrested by Tuesday, March 21, in relation to a $130,000 payment he gave to pornstar Stormy Daniels in 2016. And yesterday, Georiga prosecutors said that they are considering hitting Trump with RICO charges in relation to his attempt to overturn his 2020 election results in the state.

According to CNN, prosecutors have a large amount of evidence of Trump’s attempt to change his election results, including “recordings of phone calls, emails, text messages, documents, and testimony before a special grand jury.”

The special grand jury met in Atlanta for 7 months and heard testimony from 75 witnesses who said that Trump tried to overturn the election results. Some of these witnesses even include some of Trump’s closest advisers during his last weeks as President.

As for the phone calls, investigators have at least three recordings of Trump calling Georgia officials, one even the Georgia House speaker, asking them to push for a special session to overturn the election results. There is reportedly another recording of Trump calling an investigator with the Georiga Secretary of State’s office in December 2020.

According to a source, Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis could make a decision to pursue the charges by Spring.

The post Georgia Prosecutors Considering Hitting Donald Trump With Rico Charges Over Attempt To Overturn 2020 Election Results appeared first on The Source.

Chris Rock was on hand as Adam Sandler received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in D.C. Never one to miss a moment for political discourse, Rock threw a Trump joke while honoring his friend Sandler.

“Are you guys really gonna arrest Trump?” Rock stated. “Do you know this is only going to make him more popular? It’s like arresting Tupac. He’s just gonna sell more records. Are you stupid?”

And to be honest, Rock may be right, because that’s the thinking of Donald Trump.

Former President Donald Trump is once again calling for his base of supporters to ride for him. Over the weekend, Trump announced online that he expects to be arrested on Tuesday (March 21) for paying hush money to adult star Stormy Daniels.

Trump spoke to his supporters, writing the “leading Republican candidate and former president of the United States will be arrested on Tuesday of next week.” Trump did not add a reason for the arrest.

The alarming portion of his message is his call to his supporters to “Protest, take our nation back.” The words are similar to those used ahead of the Insurrection at the Nation’s capitol. New York City is now preparing for any clashes that could happen in the city, if Trump is indeed arrested.

According to CNN, Trump believes his base being charged up would help him politically. He also sees a positive in the indictment.

A spokesperson for Trump revealed that the former president didn’t receive any indication that he would be arrested. Instead, he was “rightfully highlighting his innocence.”

During the ceremony, Rock added more funny context to the potential indictment. “[Trump] f—ing a porn star and paid off someone so his wife couldn’t find out. That’s romantic,” Rock said.

According to Fox News, Rock made a comparison to everyday life.

“We’ve all been cheated on. Don’t you wish that the person that cheated on you paid off somebody so you wouldn’t find out?”

– Chris Rock

The Source will update you on Tuesday if Trump is indeed arrested.

The post Chris Rock Says Arresting Trump Will Raise His Popularity: ‘It’s Like Arresting Tupac, He’ll Sell More Records’ appeared first on The Source.

Former President Donald Trump is once again calling for his base of supporters to ride for him. Over the weekend, Trump announced online that he expects to be arrested on Tuesday (March 21) for paying hush money to adult star Stormy Daniels.

Trump spoke to his supporters, writing the “leading Republican candidate and former president of the United States will be arrested on Tuesday of next week.” Trump did not add a reason for the arrest.

The alarming portion of his message is his call to his supporters to “Protest, take our nation back.” The words are similar to those used ahead of the Insurrection at the Nation’s capitol. New York City is now preparing for any clashes that could happen in the city, if Trump is indeed arrested.

According to CNN, Trump believes his base being charged up would help him politically. He also sees a positive in the indictment.

A spokesperson for Trump revealed that the former president didn’t receive any indication that he would be arrested. Instead, he was “rightfully highlighting his innocence.”

The post Trump Announces He Expects To Be Arrested on Tuesday, Asks Base to ‘Take Our Nation Back’ appeared first on The Source.

New York City mayor Eric Adams says Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot losing reelection should sound an alarm across America.

While on CNN’s State of the Union, Mayor Adams said that election results should be a message to not only Democrat candidates but a “warning sign for the country.”

“I showed up at crime scenes. I knew what New Yorkers were saying. And I saw it all over the country. I think, if anything, it is really stating that this is what I have been talking about. America, we have to be safe,” Adams said.

Chicago’s crime spiked during Lightfoot’s tenure, specifically in the years 2020 and 2021. While shootings and murders have decreased, thefts and more have risen. Adams says mayors that care matter because they are closer to the community issues.

“We are focused on public safety because people want to be safe,” he said.

Last week, Chicago held its mayoral election to close February, which resulted in Lightfoot conceding and not making the cut for a run-off.

Lightfoot made history as Chicago’s first openly gay and Black woman to take the mayor’s office. The runoff election is set for April and will feature candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson.

According to ABC7Chicago, Lightfoot spoke to her base of supporters after her loss and stated she was proud of what she did in the city. One of the hindrances to Lightfoot’s reelection bid is rising crime numbers during her tenure, which has become the top issue for voters.

“Regardless of tonight’s outcome, we fought the right fights, and we put this city on a better path,” Lightfoot said. “Now, as we all know in life, in the end, you don’t always win every battle. But you never regret taking on the powerful and bringing in the light.”

Lightfoot plans to remain a citizen of Chicago once her tenure is over.

The post NYC Mayor Eric Adams Sees Lori Lightfoot’s Loss in Chicago as a Warning appeared first on The Source.

Former president Donald Trump was on hand at the Conservative Political Action Conference and was laying more ground for his 2024 campaign. Trump revealed to the crowd that any potential criminal investigations would not shut down his campaign.

“I wouldn’t even think about leaving,” Trump said about a possible indictment.

According to ABC News, he added, “Probably it will enhance my numbers.”

Trump is still being investigated for his handling of government documents and his role in the Jan. 6 capitol riots. Insider notes a special grand jury in Georgia is preparing multiple indictment recommendations for individuals who interfered with the 2020 election. Trump is rumored to be a possible name.

Still, Trump sees his coming campaign as a triumphant moment for his base.

“Today, I add, I am your warrior, I am your justice, and for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution,” he said.

The post Trump Says He Won’t Drop Out 2024 Race if Indicted: ‘I Am Your Warrior, I Am Your Retribution’ appeared first on The Source.

Lori Lightfoot’s run as Chicago mayor is coming to a close. The city held its mayoral election to close in February, which resulted in Lightfoot conceding and not making the cut for a run-off.

Lightfoot made history as Chicago’s first openly gay and Black woman to take the mayor’s office.

The runoff election is set for April and will feature candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson.

According to ABC7Chicago, Lightfoot spoke to her base of supporters after her loss and stated she was proud of what she did in the city. One of the hindrances to Lightfoot’s reelection bid is rising crime numbers during her tenure, which has become the top issue for voters.

“Regardless of tonight’s outcome, we fought the right fights, and we put this city on a better path,” Lightfoot said. “Now, as we all know in life, in the end, you don’t always win every battle. But you never regret taking on the powerful and bringing in the light.”

Lightfoot plans to remain a citizen of Chicago once her tenure is over.

The post Lori Lightfoot Becomes First Chicago Mayor in 40 Years to Lose Reelection Bid appeared first on The Source.

President Joe Biden could be eyeing a repeat at the presidency. But what does his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, have to say about it? She had a simple answer: “I’m all for it.”

Dr. Biden spoke with CNN and was asked did President Biden thought about not taking on a second term.

“Not in my book,” Dr.Biden said. “I’m all for it, of course.”

As of yet, President Biden has not formally announced a reelection campaign. Meanwhile, republican candidates are continuing to announce their candidacies.

While she is supportive, Dr. Biden is making sure that it is solely the decision of her husband. “And we support whatever he wants to do. If he’s in, we’re there. If he wants to do something else, we’re there too.”

In January, Dr. Biden had three skin lesions removed on Wednesday, two of which were detected as cancerous. The cancerous tissue was removed and she was expected to return to the White House later in the day as advised by her doctor. 

President Biden accompanied his wife to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, just outside of Washington, where he stayed with his wife for nearly eight hours, leaving only after O’Connor’s report was released. The president returned to the White House in the late afternoon with hopeful news.

Dr. Kevin O’Connor, physician to the president, said, “The first lady is experiencing some facial swelling and bruising, but is in good spirits and is feeling well.”

A week before, the White House announced that the first lady would be having Mohs surgery to remove a small lesion above her right eye that had been found during a routine skin cancer examination.

Basal cell carcinoma was confirmed by Dr. O’Connor, as he stated, “All cancerous tissue was successfully removed, and the margins were clear of any residual skin cancer cells.” Doctors found two more lesions while the first lady was at the hospital as they prepared the first lady for surgery. O’Connor reported the removal of a second lesion on Jill Biden’s left eyelid that has been sent for microscopic examination.

Doctors further identified “an additional area of concern” on the left side of her chest, and removed a lesion using Mohs surgery. Basal cell carcinoma was also confirmed in that lesion, O’Conner said, mentioning all cancerous tissue had been removed. Basal cell carcinoma is not a notoriously aggressive form of cancer and does not spread as fast as other serious skin cancers do. However, they can increase in size, leading to a more difficult removal. 

First lady Jill Biden has been a continuing advocate for cancer research– traveling to cancer research and treatment centers. Her passion is inspired by the breast cancer diagnosis of four of her friends in 1993, reported The White House. In 2015, her son Beau Biden died from brain cancer. President Joe Biden started the “Cancer Moonshot,” an initiative to drastically reduce the number of deaths caused by cancer,during his first year as vice president. Cancer Moonshot was relaunched in 2022. 

The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that the Mohs procedure was developed in the late 1930s by surgeon Frederic Mohs and is used to remove basal and squamous cell carcinomas. Basal cell carcinomas are the most common type of skin cancer and are typically mild due to slow growth. Treatability has high success when detected early. 

The surgery begins with locating and marking the spot. The area is then anesthetized to numb it, but patients remain awake. The doctor then removes a visible layer of skin tissue from the area and takes it to the lab to be analyzed. In the lab, they cut the tissue into sections, dye it and map out the area it was taken from. A technician freezes the tissue, further slices it thinly into horizontal sections and places it under a microscope for examination. If cancer cells are present, another layer is removed from the surgical site and the process repeats until the cancer cells are gone.

The post Run it Back, Joe? First Lady Jill Biden Supports a 2024 Reelection Bid for President Biden appeared first on The Source.

Following the overtaking of a Chinese spy balloon by the United States Military,  shot down last week, China has requested the remains of the balloon be returned. The balloon was captured over the coast of South Carolina and pieces of it were fished out of the Atlantic Ocean. 

It is believed that the high-altitude balloon that was spotted flying over the continental US may have been used to surveil sensitive military sites, according to defense officials. Chinese officials deny these claims and credit the balloon’s location to windy weather. 

When a reporter asked on Tuesday whether China has called on the US to give back the debris of the downed balloon, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, “The airship does not belong to the US. It belongs to China.” 

“If you pick up something on the street, you should return it to the owner, if you know who the owner is. If the Americans don’t want to return it, that’s their decision. This demonstrates their dishonesty.” China’s ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, said during an interview on Monday with French news channel LCI, according to Bloomberg News.

Newly released images from the US Navy show divers pulling debris from the massive balloon out of the Atlantic Ocean. 

Spokesperson said the shooting of the balloon was an overreaction and “The unmanned Chinese airship is of civilian nature. Its unintended entry into US airspace is entirely unexpected and caused by force majeure. It didn’t pose any threat to any person or to the national security of the US. The US should have properly handled such incidents in a calm and professional manner not involving the use of force, yet they decided to do otherwise, which is a clear overreaction.”

Still, the Pentagon’s top spokesperson spoke out on Wednesday to address larger concerns. He believes the balloons were part of a broader surveillance effort by Beijing. He told reporters at the Pentagon that the “surveillance balloon program has been operating for several years.” While there is currently no hard evidence to support these claims, the topic is being heavily debated amongst politicians. 

Biden is taking heat for waiting to shoot down the balloon, although he said he ordered the craft shot down last week, but military brass advised waiting until it was over water to minimize risks to people on the ground.

The post Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon Could be Part of a Wider Snooping Effort appeared first on The Source.

Civil Rights attorney Ben Crump will sue Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for his ruling over the Advanced Placement African American Studies pilot program.

Crump will be flanked by leaders like the American Federation of Teachers and politicians to announce a lawsuit.

Meanwhile, DeSantis is standing firm in his decision, stating the course is a piece of a political agenda and as representatives of the state, they “want education, not indoctrination.”

According to NBC Miami, Gov. DeSantis sites the college course violates the Stop WOKE Act, which he signed last year. It forbids education that characterizes people as privileged or underprivileged depending on their race. At least some authors cited in the course believe that contemporary American society supports white supremacy while repressing racial minorities, homosexual people, and women.

“This course on Black history, what’s one of the lessons about? Queer theory. Now who would say that an important part of Black history is queer theory? That is somebody pushing an agenda,” said DeSantis.

The African American Studies course is being tested by the College Board at 60 high schools across the country following a decade of development. Once it has begun to roll out, neither a state nor a school would be obligated to offer it.

The post Ben Crump to Announce Lawsuit Against FL Gov. Ron DeSantis Over AP African American Studies Course appeared first on The Source.

First lady Jill Biden had three skin lesions removed on Wednesday, two of which were detected cancerous. The cancerous tissue was removed and she was expected to return to the White House later in the day as advised by her doctor. 

President Biden accompanied his wife to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, just outside of Washington where he stayed with his wife for nearly eight hours, leaving only after O’Connor’s report was released. The president returned to the White House in the late afternoon with hopeful news.

Dr. Kevin O’Connor, physician to the president, said, “The first lady is experiencing some facial swelling and bruising, but is in good spirits and is feeling well.”

A week ago, the White House announced that the first lady would be having Mohs surgery to remove a small lesion above her right eye that had been found during a routine skin cancer examination.

Basal cell carcinoma was confirmed by Dr. O’Connor, as he stated, “All cancerous tissue was successfully removed, and the margins were clear of any residual skin cancer cells.” Doctors found two more lesions while the first lady was at the hospital as they prepared the first lady for surgery. O’Connor reported the removal of a second lesion on Jill Biden’s left eyelid that has been sent for microscopic examination.

Doctors further identified “an additional area of concern” on the left side of her chest, and removed a lesion using Mohs surgery. Basal cell carcinoma was also confirmed in that lesion, O’Conner said, mentioning all cancerous tissue had been removed. Basal cell carcinoma is not a notoriously aggressive form of cancer and does not spread as fast as other serious skin cancers do. However, they can increase in size, leading to a more difficult removal. 

First lady Jill Biden has been a continuing advocate for cancer research– traveling to cancer research and treatment centers. Her passion is inspired by the breast cancer diagnosis of four of her friends in 1993, reported The White House. In 2015, her son Beau Biden died from brain cancer. President Joe Biden started the “Cancer Moonshot,” an initiative to drastically reduce the number of deaths caused by cancer,during his first year as vice president. Cancer Moonshot was relaunched in 2022. 

The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that the Mohs procedure was developed in the late 1930s by surgeon Frederic Mohs and is used to remove basal and squamous cell carcinomas. Basal cell carcinomas are the most common type of skin cancer and are typically mild due to slow growth. Treatability has high success when detected early. 

The surgery begins with locating and marking the spot. The area is then anesthetized to numb it, but patients remain awake. The doctor then removes a visible layer of skin tissue from the area and takes it to the lab to be analyzed. In the lab, they cut the tissue into sections, dye it and map out the area it was taken from. A technician freezes the tissue, further slices it thinly into horizontal sections and places it under a microscope for examination. If cancer cells are present, another layer is removed from the surgical site and the process repeats until the cancer cells are gone.

The post Jill Biden Has Cancerous Lesions Removed appeared first on The Source.

Student loan borrowers are moving into the new year with uncertainty. President Joe Biden’s game-changing student, loan forgiveness program lies in the hands of the Supreme Court. The pandemic-related pause on student loan payments remains in effect, but a restart date depends on when the Supreme Court rules on the forgiveness program– it could come as late as summer’s end. 

For now, significant changes are coming in July to the existing Public Service Loan Forgiveness program that helps government and nonprofit workers. A new income-driven repayment plan that could lower payments for specific federal student loan borrowers is being drawn up. 

In late February, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in two cases regarding Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, which could deliver up to $20,000 of debt relief for millions of low- and middle-income borrowers. A decision on program adoption is expected to move forward in June, but it is on hold, and no debt will be discharged under the program.

Biden announced his plans for student loan forgiveness in August. The Department of Education received about 26 million applications for debt relief by the time a federal district court judge struck down the program on November 10.

Lawyers for the Biden administration say that Congress gave the secretary of education “expansive authority to alleviate the hardship that federal student loan recipients may suffer as a result of national emergencies,” like the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a memo from the Department of Justice. However, litigants argue the Biden administration has exceeded its authority. Recent Supreme Court decisions have ruled against aggressive agency actions.

The pandemic-related pause on loan payments is going strong for the third consecutive year. Though fees were previously set to resume in January, the Biden administration extended the break after federal courts halted its student loan forgiveness program. Officials had told borrowers that debt relief would be granted before payments restarted.

The payment pause will now last until 60 days after litigation over Biden’s student loan forgiveness program is resolved. If the program has not been implemented and the litigation has not been resolved by June 30, payments will resume 60 days after that. Borrower balances have effectively been frozen since March 2020, and since then, interest has stopped adding up, and collections on defaulted debt have also been on hold.

The benefits come at varying degrees of helpfulness for borrowers. The government has paid $155 billion through the end of 2022 for the yearlong pause. 

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program allows certain government and nonprofit employees to seek federal student loan forgiveness after making 10 years of qualifying payments. Yet, a yearlong waiver that expanded eligibility for the PSLF program expired on October 31. Under the new rules, borrowers can receive credit toward PSLF on late payments, in installments, or a lump sum. Prior authorities only counted a payment as eligible if it was made in full within 15 days of its due date. Specific periods of deferment, such as cancer treatment, military service, economic hardship, and time served in AmeriCorps and the National Guard, will count toward PSLF. Additionally, the new rule will consider the new standard full-time employee work week to be 30 hours. 

Changes to Biden’s plan could impact roughly 8 million people currently enrolled in income-driven repayment plans and open up the programs for more borrowers. This would reduce monthly debt burdens and the total amount borrowers pay over the lifetime of their loans. 

Those with federal student loan debt incurred during undergraduate school can expect the new regulations to cap payments at 5% of a borrower’s discretionary income, down from the 10% offered in most current income-driven plans. Single borrowers making less than $30,600 per year would not need to make any payments under the proposal, up from the current $24,000 threshold. 

The post Student Loan Forgiveness Questions Loom in 2023 appeared first on The Source.

Former President Donald Trump has been referred to the Department of Justice for criminal charges for his role in the Capitol Riots. The January 6 committee recommended Trump should be held accountable for “a multi-part scheme” to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

“The president has an affirmative and primary constitutional duty to act to take care that the laws be faithfully executed,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin at the hearing. “Nothing could be a greater betrayal of this duty than to assist in insurrection against the constitutional order.”

The investigation into the matter lasted 18 months and received a unanimous 9-0 vote in referring to the charges of obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to make a false statement, and incitement of an insurrection.

In addition, referrals for chief of staff Mark Meadows, attorney Rudy Giuliani, and more were passed to the DOJ. The DOJ does not have to pursue the charges.

Donald Trump is currently gearing up for another presidential campaign.

via

The post Trump Referred to The Department of Justice for Criminal Charges in Connection with Jan. 6 appeared first on The Source.

President Joe Biden has announced a new plan to lower the homelessness numbers by 25%. The achievement is aimed to be reached by 2025.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development notes about 582,000 people were counted as homeless. That number does not include citizens living with loved ones by necessity. The number is the same as the count before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My plan offers a roadmap for not only getting people into housing but also ensuring that they have access to the support, services, and income that allow them to thrive,” Biden said.

According to NBC News, the 2022 All-In plan harkens to the Opening Doors effort of 2010, which was the first comprehensive effort to tackle homelessness.

The plan highlights racial and other disparities that have impacted homelessness while sharing ways to improve homeless prevention and provide affordable housing.

The full plan is available here.

The post President Biden Announces New Plan to Reduce Homelessness by 25% by 2025 appeared first on The Source.

President Joe Biden has announced a new plan to lower the homelessness numbers by 25%. The achievement is aimed to be reached by 2025.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development notes about 582,000 people were counted as homeless. That number does not include citizens living with loved ones by necessity. The number is the same as the count before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My plan offers a roadmap for not only getting people into housing but also ensuring that they have access to the support, services, and income that allow them to thrive,” Biden said.

According to NBC News, the 2022 All-In plan harkens to the Opening Doors effort of 2010, which was the first comprehensive effort to tackle homelessness.

The plan highlights racial and other disparities that have impacted homelessness while sharing ways to improve homeless prevention and provide affordable housing.

The full plan is available here.

The post President Biden Announces New Plan to Reduce Homelessness by 25% by 2025 appeared first on The Source.

Former President Donald Trump has been referred to the Department of Justice for criminal charges for his role in the Capitol Riots. The January 6 committee recommended Trump should be held accountable for “a multi-part scheme” to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

“The president has an affirmative and primary constitutional duty to act to take care that the laws be faithfully executed,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin at the hearing. “Nothing could be a greater betrayal of this duty than to assist in insurrection against the constitutional order.”

The investigation into the matter lasted 18 months and received a unanimous 9-0 vote in referring to the charges of obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to make a false statement, and incitement of an insurrection.

In addition, referrals for chief of staff Mark Meadows, attorney Rudy Giuliani, and more were passed to the DOJ. The DOJ does not have to pursue the charges.

Donald Trump is currently gearing up for another presidential campaign.

via

The post Trump Referred to The Department of Justice for Criminal Charges in Connection with Jan. 6 appeared first on The Source.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that will remove the bust of Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney from the Capitol and replace it with one of Thurgood Marshall, the first Black person to serve on the Supreme Court.

Taney was the author of the Supreme Court’s infamous 1857 Dred Scott decision. Scott, an enslaved African-American man, brought a lawsuit claiming that his family should be granted their freedom because he had lived in Illinois. The Wisconsin Territory for four years, where slavery was illegal, and the laws in those jurisdictions required slaveholders to give up their rights to slaves if they had stayed in those jurisdictions for a significant period. 

In a 7-2 decision written by then-Chief Justice Taney, the Court ruled against Scott, holding that all persons descended from Africans, whether slave or free, were not citizens of the United States because the drafters of the Constitution had never intended for them to be anything but slaves. Taney further held that the Missouri Compromise, in which Congress had prohibited slavery north of the 36’30’ parallel, was unconstitutional because it deprived white citizens of their slave property without due process.

Of course, the Dred Scott decision was eventually superseded by the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery. Taney’s legacy is a judicial decision universally viewed as egregiously wrong on every level.   It also represented a serious miscalculation on Taney’s part. While he thought his ruling would resolve the slavery question by making it a matter of settled law, it only made the situation more heated by strengthening Northern opposition to slavery and emboldening Southern successionist demands, further stoking the fires that led to the Civil War.

In support of the current legislation, Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-MD, said, “[i]n removing Taney’s bust, I’m not asking that we would hold Taney to today’s moral standards. On the contrary, let us hold him to the standard of his contemporaries, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln . . . and all of those who understood that the enslavement of others has always been an immoral act.”

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is supporting legislation calls to ban TikTok on government devices. Pelosi is backing funding that received unanimous support and is close to being in place next week.

The bill will head to President Biden’s desk for a signature once it is adopted in a Senate version of the government funding bill.

According to The Hill, The Senate unanimously approved Sen. Josh Hawley’s “No TikTok on Government Devices Act” this past Wednesday, prohibiting the downloading or using of the video-sharing app TikTok on “any device issued by the United States or a government corporation” by certain figures in government.

GOP-led states are also pushing for a federal ban on the Chinese-owned social media app.

In response, TikTok’s Brooke Oberwetter states, “politicians with national security concerns should encourage the Administration to conclude its national security review of TikTok.”

“The agreement under review will meaningfully address any security concerns that have been raised at both the federal and state level. These plans have been developed under the oversight of our country’s top national security agencies—plans that we are well underway in implementing—to further secure our platform in the United States, and we will continue to brief lawmakers on them.”

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Brittney Griner, a WNBA star who was held in a Russian prison on charges of cannabis oil possession, has been released Thursday in a one-for-one prisoner swap. According to CBS News, Griner was swapped for international arms dealer Viktor Bout.

The agreement was negotiated in recent weeks and received the final approval from President Joe Biden last week. The swap took place on Thursday in the United Arab Emirates. The deal has been in place since last Thursday.

Griner spoke with President Biden by phone, where he was joined by Griner’s wife, Cherelle, Vic President Kamala Harris, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Griner is set to go under a medical evaluation.

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You know 2022 was a bizarre year when Alex Jones starts to call other people crazy, especially a formerly beloved hip-hop icon. However, he did just that, going on Steven Crowder’s YouTube show to discuss the fallout and his reactions from his interview with Kanye West from last week.

After showing some clips of the interview to provide for context, Crowder asks Jones if in “his wildest dreams” that he expected Kanye to make some of the outlandish statements that he did. Jones said that he did not, continuing that he didn’t give Kanye limits as to what he could talk about, but asked that he talk about “real issues,” to which Kanye didn’t obviously adhere,

Jones called Ye’s mask “creepy,” before stating that he didn’t believe that West understood World War II history, saying that Ye didn’t have “a fifth grade education about the Nazis.”

He called Nick Fuentes “baby Hitler,” saying that Fuentes and other supporters had a “homoerotic Hitler obsession,” claiming “it’s like some homoerotic, you know, thing over Hitler. That is, kinda, what’s going on. There’s this Hitler fetish”

Jones went on to say that Hitler was a pedophile, amongst other things, stating: “Hitler was horrible, screw Hitler, burn in hell Hitler.”

Later in the interview, Crowder’s co-host interjected to say that as a Christian, he was raised to “love the sinner, hate the sin,” but Ye (who claimed many times in the original interview with Jones that he was a devout Christian), failed to condemn any of Hitler’s sins in the hours-long interview.

While Jones said that he lost respect for Fuentes, he did describe Ye as more or less confused, saying that he wanted to meet with Kanye again to educate him on the atrocities of Hitler and the Nazi party during World War II.

The full interview can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tHqKdM3GmU. 

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Raphael Warnock will have his first six-year term as U.S. Senator. The Democratic Senator beat Republican Herschel Walker in a runoff, which concluded Tuesday night.

The self-proclaimed “senator reverend,” evoking his religious background, Warnock has beaten a Republican for the third time. Before Walker, Warnock bounced Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Rep. Doug Collins, wrapping what is seemingly a continuous campaign season, according to NBC News.

Warnock’s win expands the power of Democrats in the Senate, granting a 51st seat and flexibility to Vice President Kamala Harris for tie-breaking votes.

“After a hard-fought campaign — or, should I say, campaigns — it is my honor to utter the four most powerful words ever spoken in a democracy: The people have spoken,” Warnock said following the race being called.

“I often say that a vote is a kind of prayer for the world we desire for ourselves and for our children,” Warnock added. “Georgia, you have been praying with your lips and your legs, your hands and your feet, your heads and your hearts. You have put in the hard work, and here we are, standing together.”

“Reverend Warnock’s well-earned win is not just a victory for Georgia, but also for democracy — as the last brick in our firewall against extremist MAGA Republican policies that threaten the very essence of our democracy,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.

In the previous election, Warnock led Walker by 37,000 votes but did not pass the mark to avoid a runoff. Walker accepted the defeat.

“The numbers look like they’re not going to add up,” Walker said in defeat. “There’s no excuses in life, and I’m not going to make any excuses now because we put up one heck of a fight.”

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December may have just started, but it’s going to be hard for it to get any more bizarre after Kanye West set the bar high on Thursday in an unfiltered interview with Alex Jones in which Ye made some of the most shocking statements of his career.

A fully masked Ye went on Alex Jones’ show on the website Infowars on Thursday where he spent almost three hours discussing his opinion on religion, politics, art, the media, Hollywood, Donald Trump, and much more.

West started the interview by speaking about his Christian faith, denouncing pornography and pedophilia, saying the two are basically equal. He then talked about Steve Jobs, social media conspiracy theories, the evils of pornography and alcohol,

Kanye was joined by Nick Fuentes, a well-known political commentator and streamer who is known for his white supremacist views. Former President Donald Trump was recently criticized for having dinner with Fuentes. (Trump claimed that he did not know who Fuentes was.)

At one point, Kanye said: “I love Jewish people, but I also love Nazis.” He also said: “The Jewish media has made us feel like the Nazis and Hitler have never offered anything of value to the world.” He described how Hitler added value to the world by inventing things like the highway and microphones. West also called out politician Rahm Emanuel (who is Jewish and hails from West’s hometown of Chicago) several times throughout the interview.

The full interview can be seen here: https://www.infowars.com/posts/ye-west-alex-jones-break-the-internet-in-must-see-new-interview/.

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On Wednesday, Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives elected New York Congressman Hakeem Jefferies as their new leader, following Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s announcement that she is stepping down from the role.

Jefferies will assume the role of House minority leader when the new Congress is sworn in this January and is the first Black American to lead a major political party in Congress.  Jefferies was born and raised in Brooklyn.  His district covered parts of Brooklyn and Queens and was once represented by Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to serve in Congress.

In a show of cohesion and unity, House Democrats unanimously elected Jefferies to the position, together with Massachusetts Representative Katherine Clark as Whip and California Representative Pete Aguilar as Caucus Chair.  They will take over from Pelosi’s long-serving deputies, Maryland Representative Steny Hoyer and South Carolina Representative James Clyburn.

In contrast, following a mid-term election that did not go as expected, the incoming Republican majority has yet to coalesce around a leader.  The current minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, has been attempting to obtain the votes necessary to be elected speaker but has encountered significant dissension in the ranks.  According to the Washington Post, at least five Republican congressmen are opposed to McCarthy, endangering his bid and raising the possibility of a floor fight for speaker, which hasn’t happened in 100 years.

The Republican’s slim majority and McCarthy’s difficulties in controlling his caucus will likely present opportunities to Jefferies and the Democrats.  Jefferies has said that he will look for opportunities to work with Republicans but will “push back against extremism whenever necessary.”

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The President wants to sign into law a ban on high-powered guns that have the capacity to kill many people
very quickly. After the mass killing last Saturday at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, he said in a statement:
“When will we decide we’ve had enough? … We need to enact an assault weapons ban to get weapons of
war off America’s streets. “She went on to further say, “The idea we still allow semi-automatic weapons to be
purchased is sick. Just sick,” Biden said on Thanksgiving Day.

The Democratic-led House passed legislation in July to revive a 1990s-era ban on certain semi-automatic
guns, with Biden’s vocal support. And the president pushed the weapons ban nearly everywhere he campaigned this year.

Congress has shown reluctance to outlaw AR-15s and other assault-style guns. The Democratic-controlled
House passed a ban in July. However, the bill stands little chance of advancing in the Senate, where 10
Republicans would need to join a unified Democratic caucus to break the stonewall.

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Former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll sued former President Donald Trump for the second time on Thursday, alleging defamation and battery under a new law in New York that allows adult sexual assault victims to file claims that would otherwise be barred by the passage of time.

Carroll sued Trump in federal court in New York for battery after he allegedly “forcibly raped and groped” her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s. The suit further alleges that Carroll suffered injuries causing significant pain and suffering, lasting psychological harms, loss of dignity, and invasion of her privacy.” 

The civil lawsuit accuses Trump of the following: 1. rape in the first degree; 2. Rape in the third degree; 3. sexual abuse in the first degree; 4. sexual abuse in the third degree; 5. sexual misconduct, and 6. forcible touching. Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said at a court hearing that her client “intends to hold Donald Trump accountable not only for defaming her but also for sexually assaulting her, which he did years ago in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman.” Carroll is requesting that the court grant her an unspecified amount in damages.  

Trump, who has denied the allegations against him, said in a statement that Carroll “completely made up a story that I met her at the doors of this crowded New York City Department Store and, within minutes, ‘swooned’ her. It is a Hoax and a lie, just like all the other Hoaxes that have been played on me for the past seven years.”

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Following Nancy Pelosi’s resignation as the Democratic leader of the House, the spotlight has fallen on
New York Representative Hakeem Jefferies, has announced his intention to run for the soon-to-be
vacated leadership position and seems poised to assume that position, pending the Democrats’
Congressional leadership elections on November 30.
Jefferies was born and raised in Brooklyn and attended New York City public schools before getting his
B.A. from Binghamton University, his Masters from Georgetown University, and his J.D. from New York
University School of Law. In 2006 he was elected to represent New York’s 57th Assembly District, where
he gained notoriety for authoring and pushing through a bill to end the NYPD’s practice of keeping a
stop-and-frisk database of every single person they stopped and questioned.
In 2012, Jefferies was elected to the U.S. of Representatives, winning over 70% of the vote in New York’s
8th District, which covers parts of Brooklyn and Queens. In 2014 he was elected whip of the
Congressional Black Caucus, and in 2018 he was elected Democratic Caucus Chair.
While Jefferies has sponsored bills focused on criminal justice reform, affordable medication access, and
drug policy, he is a centrist democrat with a history of oppressing the progressive wing of his party. In
In 2021 he founded a political action committee called Team Blue PAC for the purpose of protecting
Democratic incumbents from progressive primary challengers. Jefferies’ efforts to boost centrist
candidates at the expense of progressive candidates in New York City elections have met with mixed
results.
The difficulty Jefferies now faces is that the progressive bloc in Congress is more prominent and better organized
than before, and Jefferies will need their support. As the incoming minority leader, it is critical
that he oversees a disciplined and unified response to the actions of the slim Republican majority.
In interviews, Jefferies has acknowledged and expressed his respect for his progressive colleagues, such
as fellow New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In his letter announcing his run for leader,
Jefferies wrote that “we can unify around an agenda designed to make life better for everyday
Americans from all walks of life, and simultaneously embrace issues of social justice with the promise of
the Constitution.”

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