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BREITBART NEWS: Seattle Imposes Ad Ban to Annul Pamela Geller’s Free Speech Lawsuit Victory

Another city bans free speech. Chilling. Read this.

Related:

Seattle Imposes Ad Ban to Annul Pamela Geller’s Free Speech Lawsuit Victory

Officials who oversee Seattle’s transit system moved to ban political, religious, and other ads from its facilities and public transportation vehicles soon after Pamela Geller’s American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) prevailed in a freedom of speech lawsuit against the city, earning the right to run FBI’s Most Wanted terrorist posters, Breitbart News has learned.

By: Edwin Mora, Breitbart, April 16, 2019:

“People should realize that this is a struggle for the very foundation of any free society: the freedom of speech. If there is a group you can’t criticize, then that group can impose tyranny over you. If we lose this free speech battle, all our other freedoms are lost” Geller recently told Breitbart News via email.

She argued the advertisement ban sidestepped the September 2018 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruling in AFDI’s favor, which allowed the group to advertise the Most Wanted terrorist list in Seattle.

However, the new restrictions, dubbed the “Geller ban” and instituted in December 2018 by the King County Department of Transportation’s Transit Division that oversees Seattle’s public transportation system, have ended up preventing AFDI from running the terrorist wanted ads, Geller pointed out, noting that her free speech lawsuit victory was bittersweet.

Before the appeal court’s ruling, judges had denied AFDI the right to place public service ads featuring images of the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists on Seattle’s public transportation system, due to a perceived disparagement of Islam.

The city’s rejection prompted AFDI to sue the King County Metro system for its suppression of free speech.

“We won the right to run the FBI wanted terrorist poster that Seattle prevailed upon the FBI to withdraw [ in 2013]. And as soon as we triumphed, Seattle transit imposed the infamous Geller ban, banning political, religious and cause-related ads in Seattle (following NY, Washington DC, Boston, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, etc),” Geller told Breitbart News in the email.

In a document outlining the transit agency’s advertising restrictions, King County officials noted that the policy bans advertising on transit facilities and vehicles that fall within the categories of political, religious, government (except for the county’s), and other forms of “speech.”

“They banned all political ads, as that was the only course of action they could possibly take in order to continue to avoid running my ads,” Geller said. “They’re so determined to continue whitewashing Islam and denying and obfuscating the roots of jihad terror that they are willing to lose immense amounts of revenue from all political advertising.”

Transit agency officials argued that their “viewpoint neutral” ban seeks to prohibit “advertisements that interfere with and divert resources from transit operations, that detract from transit purposes by creating substantial controversy, and/or that pose significant risks of harm, inconvenience, or annoyance to transit passengers, operators, and vehicles.”

“Such advertisements create an environment that is not conducive to achieving increased revenue for the benefit of the transit system or to preserving and enhancing the security, safety, comfort, and convenience of its operations,” the officials added.

Responding to the agency’s argument Geller noted, “I see ads that annoy me all the time. If that is the criterion [for the ban], whose annoyance counts, and whose doesn’t, and why?”

She told Breitbart News that King County’s decision to ban FBI wanted posters featuring some jihadis amounts to the “enforcement of Sharia blasphemy law in another American city.”

King County officials described the transit agency’s advertising ban as“restrictions” that “foster the maintenance of a professional advertising environment that maximizes advertising, revenue, and protects the interests of the captive audience that uses Metro’s transit services.”

In other words, the county’s transportation department believes that banning certain ads will allow the county to generate more revenue.

“The ban will, obviously, drastically curtail their ad revenues. To argue otherwise is plain deception” Geller noted.

Nevertheless, the county asserted that the advertising policy intends to fulfill the following goals:

Maximizing advertising revenue; maintaining a position of neutrality and preventing the appearance of favoritism or endorsement by the county; preventing the risk of imposing objectionable, inappropriate or harmful view on a captive audience; preserving the value of the advertising space; maximizing ridership and maintaining a safe environment for transit customers and other members of the public; avoiding claims of discrimination and maintaining a non-discriminatory environment for riders; preventing any harm or abuse that may result from running objectionable, inappropriate, or harmful advertisements; [and] reducing the diversion of resources from transit operations that is caused by objectionable, inappropriate or harmful advertisements.

Geller vowed to keep fighting for free speech all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary to ensure Seattle upholds the appeal court’s ruling.

BREITBART NEWS: Seattle Imposes Ad Ban to Annul Pamela Geller’s Free Speech Lawsuit Victory

Another city bans free speech. Chilling. Read this.

Related:

Seattle Imposes Ad Ban to Annul Pamela Geller’s Free Speech Lawsuit Victory

Officials who oversee Seattle’s transit system moved to ban political, religious, and other ads from its facilities and public transportation vehicles soon after Pamela Geller’s American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) prevailed in a freedom of speech lawsuit against the city, earning the right to run FBI’s Most Wanted terrorist posters, Breitbart News has learned.

By: Edwin Mora, Breitbart, April 16, 2019:

“People should realize that this is a struggle for the very foundation of any free society: the freedom of speech. If there is a group you can’t criticize, then that group can impose tyranny over you. If we lose this free speech battle, all our other freedoms are lost” Geller recently told Breitbart News via email.

She argued the advertisement ban sidestepped the September 2018 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruling in AFDI’s favor, which allowed the group to advertise the Most Wanted terrorist list in Seattle.

However, the new restrictions, dubbed the “Geller ban” and instituted in December 2018 by the King County Department of Transportation’s Transit Division that oversees Seattle’s public transportation system, have ended up preventing AFDI from running the terrorist wanted ads, Geller pointed out, noting that her free speech lawsuit victory was bittersweet.

Before the appeal court’s ruling, judges had denied AFDI the right to place public service ads featuring images of the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists on Seattle’s public transportation system, due to a perceived disparagement of Islam.

The city’s rejection prompted AFDI to sue the King County Metro system for its suppression of free speech.

“We won the right to run the FBI wanted terrorist poster that Seattle prevailed upon the FBI to withdraw [ in 2013]. And as soon as we triumphed, Seattle transit imposed the infamous Geller ban, banning political, religious and cause-related ads in Seattle (following NY, Washington DC, Boston, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, etc),” Geller told Breitbart News in the email.

In a document outlining the transit agency’s advertising restrictions, King County officials noted that the policy bans advertising on transit facilities and vehicles that fall within the categories of political, religious, government (except for the county’s), and other forms of “speech.”

“They banned all political ads, as that was the only course of action they could possibly take in order to continue to avoid running my ads,” Geller said. “They’re so determined to continue whitewashing Islam and denying and obfuscating the roots of jihad terror that they are willing to lose immense amounts of revenue from all political advertising.”

Transit agency officials argued that their “viewpoint neutral” ban seeks to prohibit “advertisements that interfere with and divert resources from transit operations, that detract from transit purposes by creating substantial controversy, and/or that pose significant risks of harm, inconvenience, or annoyance to transit passengers, operators, and vehicles.”

“Such advertisements create an environment that is not conducive to achieving increased revenue for the benefit of the transit system or to preserving and enhancing the security, safety, comfort, and convenience of its operations,” the officials added.

Responding to the agency’s argument Geller noted, “I see ads that annoy me all the time. If that is the criterion [for the ban], whose annoyance counts, and whose doesn’t, and why?”

She told Breitbart News that King County’s decision to ban FBI wanted posters featuring some jihadis amounts to the “enforcement of Sharia blasphemy law in another American city.”

King County officials described the transit agency’s advertising ban as“restrictions” that “foster the maintenance of a professional advertising environment that maximizes advertising, revenue, and protects the interests of the captive audience that uses Metro’s transit services.”

In other words, the county’s transportation department believes that banning certain ads will allow the county to generate more revenue.

“The ban will, obviously, drastically curtail their ad revenues. To argue otherwise is plain deception” Geller noted.

Nevertheless, the county asserted that the advertising policy intends to fulfill the following goals:

Maximizing advertising revenue; maintaining a position of neutrality and preventing the appearance of favoritism or endorsement by the county; preventing the risk of imposing objectionable, inappropriate or harmful view on a captive audience; preserving the value of the advertising space; maximizing ridership and maintaining a safe environment for transit customers and other members of the public; avoiding claims of discrimination and maintaining a non-discriminatory environment for riders; preventing any harm or abuse that may result from running objectionable, inappropriate, or harmful advertisements; [and] reducing the diversion of resources from transit operations that is caused by objectionable, inappropriate or harmful advertisements.

Geller vowed to keep fighting for free speech all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary to ensure Seattle upholds the appeal court’s ruling.

This Present Treason

The American Political Power structure has changed significantly within the last generation. Unfortunately, most people do not understand the major strategies at work, their purpose and goal, or what these strategies mean for the United States. This essay examines those particulars. In essence, there are four major theaters of conflict: Political DominionEconomic OligarchyIntellectual HegemonySocial Fascism Let’s examine each one at a time. Political Dominion means de facto control of all major political movements. In the United States, the Left has sought since 1964 to make all major decisions effectively irrelevant. Many pundits and even politicians have observed that the mainstream

White House on Iran Striking Despite U.S. Saying Not To: 'Another Way of Looking at This Is, They Didn't' Succeed

During an interview with CBS on Monday, White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby responded to a question on Iran attacking Israel despite American warnings to not do so and what that says about American influence in the region

The post White House on Iran Striking Despite U.S. Saying Not To: ‘Another Way of Looking at This Is, They Didn’t’ Succeed appeared first on Breitbart.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Empty Israeli Towns Near Border with Lebanon; 60,000 Remain Refugees

Tens of thousands of Israelis remain refugees in their own country after attacks by Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terrorist army, forced the evacuation of communities near the northern border in October.

The post EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Empty Israeli Towns Near Border with Lebanon; 60,000 Remain Refugees appeared first on Breitbart.

Rand Paul: Mike Johnson 'Completely Changed' Principles After Becoming Speaker

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said over the weekend that Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson "completely changed" his principles.

The post Rand Paul: Mike Johnson ‘Completely Changed’ Principles After Becoming Speaker appeared first on Breitbart.

Trump Trial: At Least 50 Potential Jurors Excused from First Pool

Thirty-four of the 96 potential jurors remain from the first pool in the juror selection process for President Donald Trump's criminal trial, court room journalists reported. 

The post Trump Trial: At Least 50 Potential Jurors Excused from First Pool appeared first on Breitbart.

Dr. Peter McCullough on Bird Flu: ‘A Perfect Storm Is Brewing’

The Wellness Company and their new prescription Contagion Kits are the gold standard when it comes to keeping you safe and healthy.

The post Dr. Peter McCullough on Bird Flu: ‘A Perfect Storm Is Brewing’ appeared first on Breitbart.

John Legend: Trump Is the Beneficiary of Two-Tiered Justice System

By: Pam Key · Pam Key

Singer and activist John Legend said Monday on MSNBC's "Inside" that former President Donald Trump is not the victim of a two-tiered justice system because of his wealth.

The post John Legend: Trump Is the Beneficiary of Two-Tiered Justice System appeared first on Breitbart.

CDC Urges Vaccinations as Measles Cases Rise Across U.S.

The first quarter of 2024 has seen the number of measles cases recorded in the U.S. stand significantly higher than in recent years, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) details.

The post CDC Urges Vaccinations as Measles Cases Rise Across U.S. appeared first on Breitbart.

Poll: Only 1 in 3 U.S. Adults Think Trump Acted Illegally in Hush Money Case

The hush money trial involving ex-President Donald Trump now underway in New York, the first time a former U.S. president has been called before a court to face criminal charges, is also the one in which Americans are least convinced he committed any crime, a poll released Tuesday reveals.

The post Poll: Only 1 in 3 U.S. Adults Think Trump Acted Illegally in Hush Money Case appeared first on Breitbart.

White House: We're Not Ending Sanctions Waiver for Iranian Energy Purchases by Iraq

On Monday’s broadcast of the Fox News Channel’s “America’s Newsroom,” White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby defended the waiver of sanctions that allow Iraq to purchase energy from Iran “to make sure that the Iraqi people have the

The post White House: We’re Not Ending Sanctions Waiver for Iranian Energy Purchases by Iraq appeared first on Breitbart.

Speaker Johnson: 'I Don't Worry About the Vacate Motion at All'

Tuesday on Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends," House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) dismissed efforts to oust him from the speakership.

The post Speaker Johnson: ‘I Don’t Worry About the Vacate Motion at All’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Watch: GOP Grills Pro-Migration DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

The GOP-led House Committee on Homeland Security is grilling President Joe Biden's pro-migration border chief as the Senate prepares to vote on his impeachment. 

The post Watch: GOP Grills Pro-Migration DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas appeared first on Breitbart.

Breitbart News Daily Podcast Ep. 518: Trump Attorney Jesse Binnall on the Trump Trials

Trump attorney Jesse Binnall gives an insider’s take on the state of play in former President Donald Trump’s court cases, including the so-called “hush money” trial underway this week in New York City.

The post Breitbart News Daily Podcast Ep. 518: Trump Attorney Jesse Binnall on the Trump Trials appeared first on Breitbart.

'Truth and Democracy Are on Trial': Meacham Calls Trump a Tyrant

By: Pam Key · Pam Key

Historian Jon Meacham said Monday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that he believed former President Donald Trump was a "tyrant who rose among us."

The post ‘Truth and Democracy Are on Trial’: Meacham Calls Trump a Tyrant appeared first on Breitbart.

Poll: Biden Suffers Dismal Approval Ratings on Key Issues

President Joe Biden is suffering dismal approval ratings on a range of key issues, the latest survey from the Economist/YouGov found.

The post Poll: Biden Suffers Dismal Approval Ratings on Key Issues appeared first on Breitbart.

Lara Trump: Donald Trump Raised $1.5M After Day One of Trial

The massive single-day haul supports Donald Trump's belief that his legal challenges might come back and haunt Democrats.

The post Lara Trump: Donald Trump Raised $1.5M After Day One of Trial appeared first on Breitbart.

NYT Poll: Views of Trump's Presidency Improves After Three Years of Joe Biden 

Voters' view of former President Donald Trump's presidency improved nine points after President Joe Biden assumed office, a New York Times/Siena poll found Saturday.

The post NYT Poll: Views of Trump’s Presidency Improves After Three Years of Joe Biden  appeared first on Breitbart.

Exclusive -- Alan Dershowitz: Time for 'Regime Change' in Iran

Harvard Law School professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz said Sunday evening that it was time for "regime change" in Iran, due to the threat that the Iranian government posed to the Middle East and the world.

The post Exclusive — Alan Dershowitz: Time for ‘Regime Change’ in Iran appeared first on Breitbart.

Federal Court Overturns West Virginia's Trans Sports Ban

A federal court overturned a West Virginia law limiting transgender athletes to playing only in categories that match their birth gender.

The post Federal Court Overturns West Virginia’s Trans Sports Ban appeared first on Breitbart.

Cartel Meth Smuggling Continues at Texas Border Despite Stiff Court Sentencing

EAGLE PASS, Texas — As migrant crossings remain low in the once busiest crossing point in Eagle Pass, the movement of narcotics across the border continues in full swing. The seizures of methamphetamine by Customs and Border Protection continue at

The post Cartel Meth Smuggling Continues at Texas Border Despite Stiff Court Sentencing appeared first on Breitbart.

Haberman: Trump 'Made a Pretty Specific Stare' After Report he Dozed Off During Trial

By: Pam Key · Pam Key

New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman said Monday on CNN's "The Source" that former President Donald Trump gave her a "pretty specific stare" in court after she reported that the former president fell asleep during his New York trial.

The post Haberman: Trump ‘Made a Pretty Specific Stare’ After Report he Dozed Off During Trial appeared first on Breitbart.

Katie Couric: Many Trump Voters Motivated by 'Anti-Intellectualism'

By: Pam Key · Pam Key

Former CBS ”Evening News" anchor Katie Couric said Sunday on comedian Bill Maher’s podcast "Club Random" that many of former President Donald Trump’s voters were driven by anti-intellectualism.

The post Katie Couric: Many Trump Voters Motivated by ‘Anti-Intellectualism’ appeared first on Breitbart.

MSNBC's Scarborough: Trump, Fox News 'Are Obsessed with Trashing America'

By: Pam Key · Pam Key

MSNBC host Joe Scarborough said Tuesday on his show "Morning Joe" that Fox News and former President Donald Trump were "obsessed with trashing America."

The post MSNBC’s Scarborough: Trump, Fox News ‘Are Obsessed with Trashing America’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Johnson Rejects Call for Resignation, Says MTG’s Massie-Backed Motion to Vacate Is ‘Absurd’

A defiant House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) declared Tuesday at a press conference he would not resign after being urged to do so by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who is now cosponsoring Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) motion to oust him from the speakership.

The post Johnson Rejects Call for Resignation, Says MTG’s Massie-Backed Motion to Vacate Is ‘Absurd’ appeared first on Breitbart.

House Dissatisfaction with Johnson Explodes over Foreign Aid 'Insanity' that Neglects Southern Border

House Republicans’ dissatisfaction with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is rapidly growing as Reps. Scott Perry (R-PA) and Jim Banks (R-IN) are sharing their frustrations about what Banks called “insanity” in Johnson’s foreign aid framework, which includes over three times as much money for Ukraine as it does for Israel while neglecting the U.S. Southern border.

The post House Dissatisfaction with Johnson Explodes over Foreign Aid ‘Insanity’ that Neglects Southern Border appeared first on Breitbart.

Trump Nemesis Brian Kemp Endorses Embattled Speaker Mike Johnson

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R-GA), best known for his animosity toward Donald Trump, came out in defense of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as his speakership appears headed for the rocks.

The post Trump Nemesis Brian Kemp Endorses Embattled Speaker Mike Johnson appeared first on Breitbart.

First 6 Jurors Selected in Trump Hush Money Trial After Questioning of Anti-Trump Social Media Posts

The first six jurors were selected in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial on Tuesday afternoon, after a two-day process, whittled down from a potential 96 potential candidates.

The post First 6 Jurors Selected in Trump Hush Money Trial After Questioning of Anti-Trump Social Media Posts appeared first on Breitbart.

Watch Live: Donald Trump Speaks in New York Following Second Day in Court

Former President Donald Trump speaks in New York City following the second day of his trial by District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Tuesday, April 16.

The post Watch Live: Donald Trump Speaks in New York Following Second Day in Court appeared first on Breitbart.

Supreme Court Skeptical of Biden Admin in January 6 Case with Implications for Trump

The U.S. Supreme Court sounded skeptical of the Biden Justice Department during oral arguments Tuesday regarding whether a man involved in events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, can be charged under a law that severely punishes obstructing an official proceeding.

The post Supreme Court Skeptical of Biden Admin in January 6 Case with Implications for Trump appeared first on Breitbart.

DHS Chief Mayorkas Grilled Over Alleged Flyers Asking Migrants in Mexico to Vote for Biden

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was grilled by Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) during a hearing over an alleged flyer that the Heritage Foundation's Oversight Project claims asks migrants to vote for President Joe Biden in November.

The post DHS Chief Mayorkas Grilled Over Alleged Flyers Asking Migrants in Mexico to Vote for Biden appeared first on Breitbart.

Ohio Senate Candidate Bernie Moreno Slams Sherrod Brown for Calling Mayorkas Trial a 'Distraction'

Trump-backed Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno criticized his opponent Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) for describing the impeachment of U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas as a "distraction."

The post Ohio Senate Candidate Bernie Moreno Slams Sherrod Brown for Calling Mayorkas Trial a ‘Distraction’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Potential Juror Dismissed After Trump's Legal Team Finds 'Lock Him Up' Posts on Social Media

As day two of former President Donald Trump's hush money criminal trial continued, attorneys for the former president had a potential juror dismissed after they found posts calling for Trump to be jailed.

The post Potential Juror Dismissed After Trump’s Legal Team Finds ‘Lock Him Up’ Posts on Social Media appeared first on Breitbart.

Dem Sen. Bennet: Iran Has More Power Than Before, But There's Blame on Trump, Obama Too

During an interview aired on Tuesday’s broadcast of the Fox News Channel’s “Special Report,” Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) stated that “there should be criticism of administrations on both sides of the aisle” over how they handled Iran, and Iran has

The post Dem Sen. Bennet: Iran Has More Power Than Before, But There’s Blame on Trump, Obama Too appeared first on Breitbart.

Dem Rep. Krishnamoorthi: China Subsidizes Illicit Fentanyl Exports, Controls Many Companies That Export Fentanyl

On Tuesday’s broadcast of CNBC’s “Last Call,” Select Committee on the CCP Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) discussed a report by the committee on China’s role in the fentanyl crisis and stated that the Chinese government subsidizes exports of illicit fentanyl

The post Dem Rep. Krishnamoorthi: China Subsidizes Illicit Fentanyl Exports, Controls Many Companies That Export Fentanyl appeared first on Breitbart.

Eddie Glaude: 'If Trump Wins, I Think Democracy Is a Wrap'

By: Pam Key · Pam Key

Princeton professor Eddie Glaude Jr. said Tuesday on MSNBC's "Deadline" that if former President Donald Trump wins the November election, it will end "democracy."

The post Eddie Glaude: ‘If Trump Wins, I Think Democracy Is a Wrap’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Trump Greeted with Cheers at Harlem Bodega Where Clerk Defended Himself Against Violent Customer

Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday after day two of his hush-money trial visited the Harlem bodega where store clerk Jose Alba, 61, defended himself after being attacked by a violent customer in July 2022.

The post Trump Greeted with Cheers at Harlem Bodega Where Clerk Defended Himself Against Violent Customer appeared first on Breitbart.

David Cameron Arrives in Israel to (Again) Urge Restraint Against Iran

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron arrived in Israel on Wednesday for talks where he is expected to repeat his warning against any  response to the recent missile attack by Iran.

The post David Cameron Arrives in Israel to (Again) Urge Restraint Against Iran appeared first on Breitbart.

Garland Gets a Final Warning to Comply with Biden Audio Subpoena or Face Contempt

Attorney General Merrick Garland received a final warning Tuesday to comply with subpoenas for the audio of President Joe Biden's  interview with the special counsel Robert Hur.

The post Garland Gets a Final Warning to Comply with Biden Audio Subpoena or Face Contempt appeared first on Breitbart.

Hezbollah Drone Hurts 7 in Muslim Arab Village in Northern Israel

The pattern of Islamic terrorists hurting fellow Arabs and Muslims continues, with seven residents of the Bedouin Arab town of Arab Al-Aramshe in northern Israel hurt by a Hezbollah drone attack on Wednesday.

The post Hezbollah Drone Hurts 7 in Muslim Arab Village in Northern Israel appeared first on Breitbart.

Merrick Garland Claims Joe Biden, 81, 'Has No Impairment'

President Joe Biden, 81, "has no impairment," Attorney General Merrick Garland claimed in the octogenarian's defense on Tuesday.

The post Merrick Garland Claims Joe Biden, 81, ‘Has No Impairment’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Watch Live: National Guard Whistleblowers Testify About Security Failures on January 6

Whistleblowers from the National Guard will testify before the House Subcommittee on Oversight to the delayed security response during the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot on Wednesday, April 17.

The post Watch Live: National Guard Whistleblowers Testify About Security Failures on January 6 appeared first on Breitbart.

Meet 7 of Trump's Jurors: Nurse, Foreman, Lawyers, Teacher, Engineer, Consultant

The judge presiding over former President Donald Trump's criminal trial swore in 7 jurors Tuesday, 4 men and 3 women from different backgrounds.

The post Meet 7 of Trump’s Jurors: Nurse, Foreman, Lawyers, Teacher, Engineer, Consultant appeared first on Breitbart.

Veteran NPR Editor Uri Berliner Resigns After Calling out Network's Left-Wing Bias

Veteran National Public Radio (NPR) editor and reporter Uri Berliner resigned from the broadcaster Wednesday after being suspended without pay for publishing a lengthy essay calling out the networks' innate left-wing bias.

The post Veteran NPR Editor Uri Berliner Resigns After Calling out Network’s Left-Wing Bias appeared first on Breitbart.

Report: 50,000 Russian Soldiers ‘Confirmed Dead’ in Ukraine, While Kyiv Claims Nearly Half a Million Casualties

The exact cost of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine remains opaque and hard to assess. Still, claims continue to vary wildly, from as little as 31,000 Ukrainian dead according to Kyiv, to as many as half a million Russian “casualties”. There

The post Report: 50,000 Russian Soldiers ‘Confirmed Dead’ in Ukraine, While Kyiv Claims Nearly Half a Million Casualties appeared first on Breitbart.

British Lawmakers Back Nanny State Smoking Ban for People Born After 2009

The UK government's plan for a smoking ban that aims to stop young people from ever smoking cleared its first hurdle in Parliament despite vocal opposition.

The post British Lawmakers Back Nanny State Smoking Ban for People Born After 2009 appeared first on Breitbart.

Globalist Republican Mike McCaul in Unhinged Attack on J.D. Vance over Ukraine Aid

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) on Wednesday accused Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) of repeating Biden administration talking points after the Ohio senator warned that a McCaul-backed bill would hamstring a future Trump presidency's ability to end the Ukraine war.

The post Globalist Republican Mike McCaul in Unhinged Attack on J.D. Vance over Ukraine Aid appeared first on Breitbart.

Democrat Starts Hearing on Antisemitism on Campus by Citing Charlottesville Riot

Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), the ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, used his opening statement at a hearing about antisemitism on campus to complain about the 2017 Charlottesville riot.

The post Democrat Starts Hearing on Antisemitism on Campus by Citing Charlottesville Riot appeared first on Breitbart.

Brussels Authorities Shut Down Conservative Conference, Afraid of Conservatism Gaining Momentum in Europe

Brussels authorities shuttered the National Conservatism Conference on Tuesday, sending police to block entry to the conference and announcing that those inside would be permitted to leave but not to return.

However, the action was not the result of any public disturbances or threats. It was a political action by left-progressive politicians who do not like the views being ventilated at the conference—and who fear the increasing success of nationalist and conservative ideas in European politics.

Initial coverage of the incident is posted here and here, with no doubt more to come. And see this article by Ayaan Hirsi Ali on the incident. 

I am a trustee of the Edmund Burke Foundation, which is sponsoring the conference, and I have been chairman of its regular “NatCon” conferences in the U.S., U.K., and Europe for the past five years.

My colleagues and I have strong views on such urgent issues as uncontrolled immigration; the corruption of schools and cultural institutions by race and gender ideologies; the transfer of government authority from nations to international bureaucracies; and the erosion of freedoms of speech, religion, and inquiry. These are the central issues on the agenda at this week’s conference in Brussels.

All of our conferences are carefully planned to include top-tier conservative thinkers, writers, scholars, activists, and political figures, and to provide a good mix of speeches, panel discussions, and debates (with a few brave souls on the Left to keep us sharp).

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts, who agrees with some NatCon positions but disagrees with others, has given terrific addresses at earlier conferences and has been received with enthusiasm and appreciation. Several other Heritage friends are at this week’s Brussels conference, although I have had to miss it myself because of commitments in the U.S. (now to my special regret!) (The Daily Signal is Heritage’s news and commentary outlet.)

That an earnest gathering of political officials, activists, and thinkers should be bullied by a mayor and sequestered by the police is, of course, outrageous and worthy of severe condemnation. And few liberal as well as conservative leaders have issued critical statements.

But there is a larger meaning to the incident. It demonstrates that forthright, unapologetic conservatism is gaining serious momentum in Europe as well as the U. S.—and that the progressive Left, in its desperation to stop us, is increasingly willing to employ means that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

Unfortunately, the progressives’ effort to anathematize national conservatives as a “far right” threat to democracy and civil order is being adopted by others who should know better. Some on the moderate left and right are portraying the Brussels “controversy” as a case for standing on principle for freedom of speech—even for those with so-called deplorable ideas and values, as if NatCons were Nazis marching through Skokie. Thanks for your support, guys, and have a nice free-speech day yourself.

The incident is actually the latest example of establishment timorousness and liberal decay. Two fancy Brussels venues, Concert Noble and a Sofitel hotel, abruptly canceled the NatCon conference at the insistence of city officials before the no-nonsense Tunisian owner of the Claridge event hall agreed to host us, refused to back down, and treated us to warm hospitality to compensate for the hostility of the city fathers.

This gentleman is in today’s avant-garde. The progressive strategy of meeting conservative ascent with shallow demagoguery and forceful suppression, rather than forthright argument or reform of their ruinous policies, is coming in for a richly deserved political reckoning. 

The post Brussels Authorities Shut Down Conservative Conference, Afraid of Conservatism Gaining Momentum in Europe appeared first on The Daily Signal.

SHOCK VIDEO: Boat Loaded with Migrants Speeds onto California Beach

Carlsbad, California, beachgoers were shocked over the weekend when a boat loaded with more than 20 migrants illegally drove onto the shore to dump their human smuggling cargo. The speeding boat narrowly missed people who were swimming in the water.

The post SHOCK VIDEO: Boat Loaded with Migrants Speeds onto California Beach appeared first on Breitbart.

Anaheim City Council Gives Key Approval for Disneyland's $1.9 Billion Expansion Plan

SANTA ANA, Calif. — Visitors to Disney’s California parks could one day walk through the snow-covered hamlet of Arendelle from “Frozen” or the bustling, critter-filled metropolis of “Zootopia” under a park expansion plan approved by the Anaheim City Council.

The post Anaheim City Council Gives Key Approval for Disneyland’s $1.9 Billion Expansion Plan appeared first on Breitbart.

Watch: Senate Shutters Mayorkas Impeachment Trial

The Senate begins the trial of President Joe Biden's impeached border chief Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday at 1 p.m. Eastern — but Democrats are expected to shut down the process to minimize public recognition of the many harms caused by Mayorkas's pro-migration actions.

The post Watch: Senate Shutters Mayorkas Impeachment Trial appeared first on Breitbart.

Barr: I'll Vote for Trump Because Continuing Biden Is 'National Suicide'

By: Pam Key · Pam Key

Former Attorney General Bill Barr said Wednesday on Fox News Channel's "America's Newsroom" that he will support Donald Trump in November.

The post Barr: I’ll Vote for Trump Because Continuing Biden Is ‘National Suicide’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Aaron Rodgers' HIV/AIDS Comments Spark Backlash

NY Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers went viral on Tuesday over video in which he appeared to suggest Dr. Anthony Fauci engaged in corruption while combating the 1980s HIV/AIDS epidemic. 

The post Aaron Rodgers’ HIV/AIDS Comments Spark Backlash appeared first on Breitbart.

Comer: Biden Impeachment 'Is Still on the Table'

Wednesday, during an appearance on Fox Business Network's "Mornings with Maria," House Oversight Committee chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) expressed his frustrations with trying to get answers from President Joe Biden and his administrations about potential wrongdoing and whether he and his associates were selling access to foreign adversaries. 

The post Comer: Biden Impeachment ‘Is Still on the Table’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Telegram Founder Tells Tucker Carlson that Google and Apple Are Threats to Free Speech

In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, Pavel Durov, the founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, accused tech giants Google and Apple of being the real enemies of free speech on the internet.

The post Telegram Founder Tells Tucker Carlson that Google and Apple Are Threats to Free Speech appeared first on Breitbart.

Report: China Covertly Lobbying Congress on TikTok

The Chinese Communist Party is secretly lobbying the U.S. Congress regarding TikTok, according to Capitol Hill staffers familiar with the situation.

The post Report: China Covertly Lobbying Congress on TikTok appeared first on Breitbart.

Biden ‘Strongly’ Supports Johnson’s $95 Billion Foreign Aid Package

President Joe Biden announced he “strongly” supports the House foreign aid package as Republicans rapidly turn on Speaker Mike Johnson over efforts to combine several supplemental bills into a single rule with a lack of border security legislation in the package.

The post Biden ‘Strongly’ Supports Johnson’s $95 Billion Foreign Aid Package appeared first on Breitbart.

Exclusive--‘Blood Money’ Author Peter Schweizer Dismisses Sincerity of Biden’s China Tariff Tough Talk

Peter Schweizer, the author of Blood Money: Why the Powerful Turn a Blind Eye While China Kills Americans, dismissed President Joe Biden's plan to call for raising tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum during a campaign speech to American steelworkers in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

The post Exclusive–‘Blood Money’ Author Peter Schweizer Dismisses Sincerity of Biden’s China Tariff Tough Talk appeared first on Breitbart.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Celebrates Budget Gains with $2.4 Billion for Migrants

On Monday, New York’s Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul celebrated her victory of getting mostly everything she wanted in her $237 billion budget fight, including an additional $2.4 billion in spending for migrants. Hochul boasted that she beat politics as usual,

The post New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Celebrates Budget Gains with $2.4 Billion for Migrants appeared first on Breitbart.

Pelosi: Trump Is 'Palsy-Walsy' with Putin

By: Pam Key · Pam Key

Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said Wednesday on MSNBC’s "Andrea Mitchell Reports" that former President Donald Trump was "palsy-walsy" with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The post Pelosi: Trump Is ‘Palsy-Walsy’ with Putin appeared first on Breitbart.

Exclusive — Mike Johnson's Top Policy Adviser Is Former Lobbyist: Clients Have Corporate Interest in Ukraine War

The inside story of how House Speaker Mike Johnson was flip-flopped on Ukraine aid starts with his top policy adviser, a former lobbyist whose clients include a number of major companies who have issued corporate statements indicating some kind of interest in the war.

The post Exclusive — Mike Johnson’s Top Policy Adviser Is Former Lobbyist: Clients Have Corporate Interest in Ukraine War appeared first on Breitbart.

Speaker Johnson: One-Vote Margin Means I Have to Work with a 'Couple of Democrats'

By: Pam Key · Pam Key

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said Wednesday on CNN's "The Lead" that he had to work with Democrats because he has the smallest margin in U.S. history in the House of Representatives.

The post Speaker Johnson: One-Vote Margin Means I Have to Work with a ‘Couple of Democrats’ appeared first on Breitbart.

GOP Rep. Armstrong on Attempts to Oust Speaker Johnson: 'I Don’t Know Who Would Want the Job at This Point'

By: Pam Key · Pam Key

Representative Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) said Wednesday on MSNBC’s "Andrea Mitchell Reports" that his fellow Republicans pushing an effort to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) did not have a replacement plan.

The post GOP Rep. Armstrong on Attempts to Oust Speaker Johnson: ‘I Don’t Know Who Would Want the Job at This Point’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Roger Marshall: Democrats Prove 'They Do Not Care' About Laken Riley with Vote to Block Mayorkas Impeachment

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) says Senate Democrats' blocking an impeachment trial against Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas shows "they do not care" about the murder of 22-year-old Laken Riley, allegedly at the hands of an illegal alien.

The post Roger Marshall: Democrats Prove ‘They Do Not Care’ About Laken Riley with Vote to Block Mayorkas Impeachment appeared first on Breitbart.

Breakdown: Foreign Aid Bills Would Send $95 Billion to Ukraine, Israel, Indo-Pacific

The bills in the House's foreign aid package, which will be up for a vote Saturday, would appropriate a combined $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific, with a lion's share of $60.84 billion for Ukraine.

The post Breakdown: Foreign Aid Bills Would Send $95 Billion to Ukraine, Israel, Indo-Pacific appeared first on Breitbart.

Biden Calls for Increase in Taxes on the Rich

As President Joe Biden visited Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, he called for an increase in taxes on the rich.

The post Biden Calls for Increase in Taxes on the Rich appeared first on Breitbart.

California Christians Fight Back Against City Removing Cross

A California Christian club is fighting to put their cross back on display after city officials used eminent domain to remove it while citing complaints of it being "reminiscent of KKK cross-burnings" and offensive to "diverse communities."

The post California Christians Fight Back Against City Removing Cross appeared first on Breitbart.

Biden Admin Awards 'Highest Civilian Honor' on Ally Rep. Mike Gallagher Days Before He Quits Congress

President Joe Biden’s Secretary of the Navy awarded soon-to-be-ex-Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) with its highest civilian honor Wednesday, days before Gallagher quits Congress in the middle of his term after postponing his quit date long enough to fight for Biden’s

The post Biden Admin Awards ‘Highest Civilian Honor’ on Ally Rep. Mike Gallagher Days Before He Quits Congress appeared first on Breitbart.

Arizona GOP Again Blocks Effort to Repeal 1864 Abortion Law but Senate Clears Path

Arizona House Republicans fended off another attempt on Wednesday to repeal an 1864 law that limits nearly all abortions — a law that the Arizona Supreme Court recently upheld over a new 15-week abortion limit.

The post Arizona GOP Again Blocks Effort to Repeal 1864 Abortion Law but Senate Clears Path appeared first on Breitbart.

Pelosi: I Question if Netanyahu Is 'Capable of Peace'

On Wednesday’s broadcast of “CNN NewsNight,” Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) stated that she has “always questioned” whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “was capable of peace,” and that there needs to be an investigation beyond the one Israel is doing

The post Pelosi: I Question if Netanyahu Is ‘Capable of Peace’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Biden: Inflation 'Is Being Stubborn' -- Things Like Junk Fees Are What 'Really' Impact People

During an interview with Nexstar Media that took place on Tuesday and was released on Wednesday, President Joe Biden stated that inflation “is being stubborn and not going down to the 2% we need. But, it’s significantly different,” than where

The post Biden: Inflation ‘Is Being Stubborn’ — Things Like Junk Fees Are What ‘Really’ Impact People appeared first on Breitbart.

LAPD Interim Chief: We're Badly Understaffed, Revolving Door System Is 'Demoralizing'

During portions of an interview with NBC News aired on Wednesday’s broadcast of “NBC Nightly News,” interim LAPD Chief Dominic Choi stated that the LAPD is severely understaffed and it is “demoralizing” “to put somebody in jail because of criminal behavior,

The post LAPD Interim Chief: We’re Badly Understaffed, Revolving Door System Is ‘Demoralizing’ appeared first on Breitbart.

NBC's Ruhle: Gas Prices Are Rising Partially Because Russia, Saudis Are Trying to Help Trump by Cutting Production

On Wednesday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “11th Hour,” host and NBC Senior Business Analyst Stephanie Ruhle stated that one reason for rising gas prices is because of production cuts from Russia and Saudi Arabia, “who would sure like to help” 2024

The post NBC’s Ruhle: Gas Prices Are Rising Partially Because Russia, Saudis Are Trying to Help Trump by Cutting Production appeared first on Breitbart.

Donald Trump Praises Poland's President Andrzej Duda After NYC Meeting: 'Great Friends'

Former President Donald Trump praised Polish President Andrzej Duda after meeting together in New York City to discuss raising NATO's spending to three percent, and issues centering around Ukraine and Israel.

The post Donald Trump Praises Poland’s President Andrzej Duda After NYC Meeting: ‘Great Friends’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Report: January 6 Committee Democrats Say They Fear Trump Will Put Them in Jail

House Democrats who led an investigation into former President Donald Trump's role in the January 6 Capitol riot say they are worried about their safety and being arrested if the former president wins reelection.

The post Report: January 6 Committee Democrats Say They Fear Trump Will Put Them in Jail appeared first on Breitbart.

Marsha Blackburn Pushes to Defund Taxpayer-Funded NPR

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is pushing to defund NPR's budget, which taxpayers subsidize by nearly 11 percent.

The post Marsha Blackburn Pushes to Defund Taxpayer-Funded NPR appeared first on Breitbart.

Electric Vehicle Sales Plunge Across Europe as Demand Stalls

Electric vehicle (EV) sales plunged across Europe in March as demand dried up despite the E.U.’s push to ban petrol and diesel vehicles by the middle of the next decade.

The post Electric Vehicle Sales Plunge Across Europe as Demand Stalls appeared first on Breitbart.

Exclusive: GOP Senators Seek to Reinstate Secret Ballots for Unionization as Volkswagen Workers Vote on Joining UAW

A group of Senate Republicans is seeking to reinstate secret ballots for unionization of workplaces in the United States as about 4,300 auto workers at Volkswagen's Chatanooga, Tennessee plant decided whether to join the United Auto Workers (UAW).

The post Exclusive: GOP Senators Seek to Reinstate Secret Ballots for Unionization as Volkswagen Workers Vote on Joining UAW appeared first on Breitbart.

Trump hush money trial: Juror excused after saying she does not think she can be fair

One of the jurors selected and sworn in earlier this week to serve on the jury for former President Trump’s criminal trial was excused Thursday morning after she said she no longer believes she can be fair.

MSNBC’s Wallace to George Conway: Your Tweets Drove Trump 'Batsh*t Crazy'

By: Pam Key · Pam Key

MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace told lawyer George Conway Wednesday on her show "Deadline" that his tweets drove former President Donald Trump "batshit crazy."

The post MSNBC’s Wallace to George Conway: Your Tweets Drove Trump ‘Batsh*t Crazy’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Toobin: Trump Violated Gag Order, He Is Attempting to 'Intimidate Jurors'

By: Pam Key · Pam Key

Former CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said Wednesday on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" that former President Donald Trump has likely violated a gag order with a social media post.

The post Toobin: Trump Violated Gag Order, He Is Attempting to ‘Intimidate Jurors’ appeared first on Breitbart.

48 More Potential Trump Case Jurors Dismissed After Saying They Couldn't Be Impartial

Half of the second round of potential jurors in the Trump hush money case -- 48 people -- on Thursday were immediately excused after they said they could not be fair and impartial.

The post 48 More Potential Trump Case Jurors Dismissed After Saying They Couldn’t Be Impartial appeared first on Breitbart.

Trump juror previously arrested for ripping down right-leaning political ads dismissed from trial

A second juror was excused from the jury in former President Trump’s criminal trial on Thursday after it was revealed that he was arrested for tearing down right-leaning political advertisements.

Report: Joe Biden's Aides Call Donald Trump 'Hitler Pig' in Private

White House aides have reportedly been referring to former President Donald Trump as "Hitler Pig" in their private discussions.

The post Report: Joe Biden’s Aides Call Donald Trump ‘Hitler Pig’ in Private appeared first on Breitbart.

Poll: Donald Trump Leads Biden Nationally, as 3 in 4 Say Cost of Living Rising

Former President Donald Trump has grown his lead against President Joe Biden nationally, as three in four voters say the cost of living is on the rise, according to an Emerson College poll.

The post Poll: Donald Trump Leads Biden Nationally, as 3 in 4 Say Cost of Living Rising appeared first on Breitbart.

Google Terminates 28 Employees over Protests Against Israel Contract

Google has fired 28 employees for their involvement in sit-in protests at the company's offices in New York and Sunnyvale, California, against Google's $1.2 billion contract with the Israeli government and military.

The post Google Terminates 28 Employees over Protests Against Israel Contract appeared first on Breitbart.

California’s High-Speed Rail Project Far From Finished, but It Is Putting Money in Unions’ Coffers

Democratic officials are throwing billions at California high-speed rail projects that have yet to be built, funding thousands of jobs specifically for union members.

Despite funding initially being approved by a referendum in 2008, the California High-Speed Rail project currently has less than a quarter of its expected length under construction and was initially supposed to have connected Los Angeles and San Francisco by 2020, according to the Los Angeles Times.

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The Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents 48 local unions and more than 150,000 members in California, boasted of the creation of 13,000 unionized construction jobs due to continued funding of California’s high-speed rail project.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority, in its community benefits agreement regarding the construction of the rail, lays out that it will exclusively bargain with union representatives for craft labor and that no employee will be required to join a union, but workers who are at the site for more than eight total days will be required to pay union dues.

The agreement outlines that union members will be the primary source of labor and that the local unions will be given the opportunity to refer employees for the job.

“The project has been a windfall for the union workers who’ve been on the job,” Kerry Jackson, William Clement fellow in California Reform at the Pacific Research Institute, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “By some counts, as many as 13,000 have been hired. The California High-Speed Rail Authority itself even brags about the ‘steady union jobs that provide union wages and benefits’ they get. That’s not to mention the benefits the union bosses everywhere always enjoy when they have more dues-paying members supporting their salaries and perks.”

The Biden administration announced $3 billion in federal funds for the project in December to push along the first phase of the project connecting Merced, Fresno, and Bakersfield, adding to the $9 billion already appropriated by the state and the approximately $3.5 billion in grants given by the Obama administration.

The project has been estimated to need between $88 billion and $128 billion to be fully completed, and the rail authority told the Daily Caller News Foundation that it is aiming to be operational from Bakersfield to Merced between 2030 and 2033.

“Of course, project costs are affected by higher, nonmarket wages,” Jackson told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “When you have so many workers making these wages over the years, it adds up. The unions are a force behind the rail and one of the reasons, if not the main one, that this project has not been halted even though it’s far behind schedule, way over initial cost projections, and looks like a failed enterprise.

“The community benefits agreement that serves as the Project Labor Agreement requires unions to be the primary source of all craft labor.”

The California High-Speed Rail Authority told the Daily Caller News Foundation that, so far, 22.5 miles in the Central Valley have reached substantial completion, but that efforts are underway to design stations and track systems, complete environmental reviews and procure trains.

“The project is very much happening and continuing to make progress with our commitment unwavering as we remain active and aggressive in moving the project forward while actively pursuing federal funding,” the authority told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Big News: Today, President Biden announced funding to build the first high-speed rail projects in our nation’s history.

These investments will get people and goods where they need to go more quickly, reduce emissions, increase passenger safety, and create good-paying union jobs. pic.twitter.com/zxR6SQawIw

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 9, 2023

“Even if we didn’t have the Project Labor Agreement, there would be prevailing wage and benefits on this project, both because of state requirements and federal funding requirements,” Anne-Marie Otey, communications and editorial director at the LA/OC Building and Construction Trades Council, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “So, they’d be there no matter what, so we might as well make the best of it. I think it is better for the workers when there’s also a union agreement on the project.”

Otey pointed to the Davis-Bacon Act, which is a federal law that requires the government to pay at least the local rate to workers when constructing public projects, as the reason why using union workers on the project would not raise labor costs.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that if the Davis-Bacon Act were repealed in 2020, it would have reduced government spending outlays by $10.7 billion by 2030.

“It’s benefiting workers,” Otey told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “And these workers are represented by unions, but no, we didn’t look at it as ‘What can we do for unions?’ We said, ‘What can we do for workers in the state?’ Especially again, in areas like the Central Valley, where they can’t just drive to San Francisco, Sacramento or L.A. for jobs, they live in the great heartland of our state.

“So, we wanted to figure out a way to keep them employed and keep them working at least somewhat near where they live. So, we think it’s a positive.”

Around $3 billion in federal funding was also announced in December for a high-speed railway between Las Vegas, Nevada, and Rancho Cucamonga, California, with Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., claiming that 35,000 union jobs would be created as a result. The funding for the project comes from the $1.2 trillion in new spending that was approved by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021.

“We disagree that the California high-speed rail project has yet to make substantial progress,” a spokesperson for the California State Transportation Agency told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Quite the contrary. There are 119 miles currently under construction, with one construction package already substantially complete, and preconstruction work is underway to complete the initial 171-mile operating segment between Merced and Bakersfield. The nation’s first high-speed trains will be tested by the end of the decade, and we expect service to begin between 2030 and 2033.”

California is one of the more unionized states in the U.S., ranking sixth in terms of the share of workers in unions, exceeded only by five other blue states (Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Washington), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The share of California workers who were members of unions declined from 16.1% in 2022 to 15.4% in 2023.

The Biden administration’s push for high-speed rail funding in California is part of a larger national push for increased passenger rail access for Americans. President Joe Biden announced in November that $16.4 billion would be given to Amtrak, the national passenger railroad of the U.S., to fund 25 passenger rail projects along the East Coast.

“Although in California, public works projects are always union labor, so I think their biggest reason they like high-speed rail is that it’s just such a long-term project,” Edward Ring, director of water and energy policy at the California Policy Center, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “The unions get behind these projects because they’re big. The other reason, though, that they get behind these projects is because these are projects that the environmentalist community won’t vehemently oppose. They ought to be building things that are more practical; they ought to be upgrading freeways. But the environmentalists want us on a road diet.”

Biden has also boasted of new train sets for the California rail project being all-electric, resulting in zero emissions and powered through renewable energy, according to a White House fact sheet.

The president claims that all of his proposed rail projects will create “tens of thousands” of union jobs. As of September, the state of California had spent more than $600 million on environmental reviews for the rail project, not including a 78-mile stretch out of 500 miles that had not yet been evaluated.

“The environmentalists are so powerful that the unions go, ‘Well, if we’re going to get our guys working, we’re going to have to play ball with the environmentalists,’” Ring told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “And so, the environmentalists will buy off on projects that really have no practical value. High-speed rail has no practical value in California. You could also argue that it has no environmental value, and I think you could argue that very convincingly.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request to comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Originally published by the Daily Caller News Foundation

The post California’s High-Speed Rail Project Far From Finished, but It Is Putting Money in Unions’ Coffers appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Biden Claims He Prevented Israel from Invading Haifa -- an Israeli City

President Joe Biden appeared to confuse the Israeli port city of Haifa with the Palestinian town of Rafah in the Gaza Strip during an interview on Wednesday in his home town Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The post Biden Claims He Prevented Israel from Invading Haifa — an Israeli City appeared first on Breitbart.

Cornell Professor Arrested for 'Disorderly Conduct' During Ann Coulter Event

A Cornell University faculty member was arrested after a campus event featuring conservative author and Breitbart News contributor Ann Coulter as its keynote speaker.

The post Cornell Professor Arrested for ‘Disorderly Conduct’ During Ann Coulter Event appeared first on Breitbart.

Armenian victims group asks International Criminal Court to investigate genocide claim

A human rights organization that represents ethnic Armenians is arguing that Azerbaijan is committing an ongoing genocide and submitted evidence on Thursday to the International Criminal Court.

San Diego Takes Over as Busiest Border Sector -- 9K in Past Week

San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents apprehended nearly 9,000 migrants last week. The report propelled the sector into the busiest position for the second consecutive week. Apprehensions in the Tucson Sector recently fell to below 7,000 per week for the first time in months.

The post San Diego Takes Over as Busiest Border Sector — 9K in Past Week appeared first on Breitbart.

Whoopi Goldberg: Republicans Are Afraid — They 'Are the Snowflakes'

By: Pam Key · Pam Key

Whoopi Goldberg told her co-hosts Wednesday on ABC's "The View" that Republicans are afraid of information and history, so they are "snowflakes."

The post Whoopi Goldberg: Republicans Are Afraid — They ‘Are the Snowflakes’ appeared first on Breitbart.

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