Connect with us

Latest News

January 1, Iraq PM Tells US to Plan on Leaving

Published

on

IGood morning Middle Americans,

Our founding father Ben Franklin famously said, “guests like fish, begin to smell after three days.” How about after 17 years. That’s how long the US military has been in Iraq. The US led invasion started in the early Spring of 2003. And now Iraq’s prime minister is asking Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for America’s exit strategy. 

Also, the US and Canada, are both fairly certain that Iran shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 167 people on board.  Our intelligence source tell the missile strike on the plane was most likely a tragic mistake, despite conspiracy theories that say otherwise.  We also have a tragic story about a couple. One of them got on the flight, one of them did not. 

And we are hearing that the Impeachment trial of President Trump will start “soon” – whatever that means.  You’d have to ask House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 

Read all about it. 

– Fraser Dixon 

This Day in History | 1901

An oil derrick near Beaumont, Texas starts gushing crude oil, signaling the start of the American oil industry. 

Iraqi PM Tells US to Decide Mechanism for Troop Withdrawal

(AP) — Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi has told the U.S. secretary of state to send a delegation to Iraq tasked with formulating the mechanism for the withdrawal of U.S troops from Iraq.

A statement from the prime minister’s office on Friday says the request came in a telephone call between Abdul-Mahdi and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday night. It says Pompeo called the Iraqi premier.

The prime minister said Iraq rejects all violations against its sovereignty including the attacks carried out by Iranian forces against U.S. bases and American violations of Iraq’s airspace in an airstrike that killed a top Iranian general.

Find out more about the request from Iraq’s PM here

Video Shows Ukrainian Plane Being Hit Over Iran

(New York Times) – Video verified by The New York Times appears to show an Iranian missile hitting a plane near Tehran’s airport, the area where a Ukrainian jet crashed on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board.

As investigators work to determine an official cause of the accident, the video offered new clues about the crash, which came hours after a violent confrontation between Iran and the United States. American and allied officials on Thursday said they believed an Iranian missile had accidentally brought the plane down.

A small explosion occurred when what appears to be a missile hit the plane above Parand, a city near the airport, but the plane did not explode, the video showed. The jet continued flying for several minutes and turned back toward the airport, The Times has determined. The plane, which by then had stopped transmitting its signal, flew toward the airport ablaze before it exploded and crashed quickly, other videos verified by The Times showed.

See the video here

Iran Plan Crash: Ticket Mixup Leaves Ottawa Man in Terminal While His Wife Gets Aboard Doomed Flight

(Ottawa Citizen) – They were supposed to be flying together. Instead, Ottawa resident Mohsen Ahmadipour said goodbye to his wife Roja Azadian at the airport in Tehran on Tuesday, telling her he would join her as soon as he could get on another flight.

That would be the last time he ever saw her.

Azadian, 43, was among eight Ottawa residents who died aboard Ukrainian International Airline Flight 752 when it crashed in flames shortly after takeoff Tuesday.

The Ottawa couple had been in Iran visiting their families. Azadian had studied at the Iran University of Science and Technology there.

They had planned to return home to Ottawa together, taking a popular route between Iran and Canada, by way of Ukraine. But when they arrived at the airport in Tehran, Ahmadipour was surprised to learn that his ticket was no longer valid.

That mix-up saved his life.

Read more here

Pelosi to ‘Soon’ Send Impeachment Articles for Senate Trial

(AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she will “soon″ transmit the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, signaling a potential thaw in the standoff with Senate Republicans as she warned against rushing to an acquittal without a fair trial.

Pelosi, D-Calif., faces mounting pressure from Republicans and some Democrats to quit delaying the president’s trial in the Senate, three weeks after the House Democrats impeached Trump on charges of abuse and obstruction. Republicans say Democrats are embarrassed by their vote. But Pelosi countered that Democrats are ’’proud″ of upholding the Constitution and said she doubted that Senate Republicans will do the same.

Learn more here

Trump Now Says Climate Change is ‘Serious’ and not ‘A Hoax’

(The Week) – President Trump announced plans Thursday to change National Environmental Policy Act rules in order to make it easier to build gas pipelines and construct mines and highways.

As written now, the regulations require federal agencies to determine the environmental impact of such projects, including effects on the climate. “These endless delays waste money, keep projects from breaking ground, and deny jobs to our nation’s incredible workers,” Trump said. “From day one, my administration has made fixing this regulatory nightmare a top priority.”

Trump has long been a climate change denier, calling global warming “a hoax” created “by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.” When asked by reporters on Thursday if he still believes climate change isn’t real, Trump said, “No, no. Not all all. 

Nothing’s a hoax. … It’s a very serious subject. The environment is very important to me. I’m a big believer in that word, the environment. … I want clean air, I want clean water. I also want jobs, though.”

Read more here

Surveillance Video from Jeffrey Epstein’s First Apparent Suicide Attempt ‘No Longer Exists’

(NBC News) – The surveillance video taken from outside Jeffrey Epstein’s jail cell on the day of his first apparent suicide attempt has been permanently deleted, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

Epstein, the disgraced financier who was facing federal sex-trafficking charges, was found semiconscious in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, or MCC, in New York around 1:27 a.m. on July 23.

But that video is now gone because MCC officials mistakenly saved video from a different floor of the federal detention facility, prosecutors said in a court filing.



Latest News

Tragic Discovery: Deadly Trap Door Found in Bronx Day Care

Published

on

A heart-wrenching scene unfolded in a Bronx day care. A 1-year-old lost his life, and three others were injured. Investigators believe the exposure to fentanyl is to blame.

Investigators executed a search warrant, revealing a trap door in the play area of the day care apartment. Hidden inside were large quantities of fentanyl and other narcotics.

Authorities unveiled that a kilo of fentanyl was stored on playmats. A device to press drugs into bricks was also discovered, painting a grim picture of the day care’s dual life.

Owner Grei Mendez and her tenant Carlisto Acevedo Brito are currently facing murder charges. They’re in federal custody, held without bail, connected to horrifying federal drug trafficking charges.

A grand jury in the Bronx has returned an indictment related to the tragic events. However, the specific charges remain sealed pending arraignment.

District Attorney Darcel Clark passionately voiced her commitment to seek justice. “Every single person in this county feels what they feel, that they entrusted day care center to take care of their children,” she said.

Mayor Eric Adams was visibly upset about the horrifying incident. “This is total madness that we lost a child to this dangerous substance,” he exclaimed, calling for a full national assault on this drug.

The day care, catering to children between 6 weeks and 12 years old, had passed a city inspection just last week. Despite this, a secret life of drug conspiracy thrived behind closed doors.

Mendez’s attorney claims her only crime was renting a room to someone who had a kilo of fentanyl. However, the presence of drug paraphernalia raises haunting questions.

Officials remain vigilant and are conducting thorough investigations. It’s crucial to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children who are victims of this tragic incident.

What We Think

This is just downright heartbreaking and maddening. Little kids, innocent lives, and then there’s this poison, this fentanyl, in their safe space. The trust parents put in day cares, completely shattered. It makes one question, how many more places are like this, running dual lives?

These revelations, they just bring forth the need for stricter, much stricter, oversights and regulations. Folks ought to be able to trust that their kids are safe, that they are cared for when they’re away.

And to the folks responsible, if they’re guilty, they better face the full force of the law. The safety of our little ones should never be compromised, never.

As our loyal readers, we encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions on this issue. Let your voice be heard and join the discussion below.


Source

Continue Reading

Featured

Chicago Eyes First Government-Run Grocery Store

Published

on

roots vegetarian and organic grocery store (2)

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced a potential game-changer. The city is exploring creating a government-owned grocery store. This is to help “historically underserved communities.”

Mayor Johnson emphasized that every resident deserves convenient, affordable, and healthy grocery options. “A better, stronger, safer future is one where our youth and our communities have access to the tools and resources they need to thrive,” he said.

The mayor’s commitment is to bring innovative, whole-of-government solutions to tackle existing inequities. “I am proud to work alongside partners to take this step in envisioning what a municipally owned grocery store in Chicago could look like,” stated Johnson.

He noted that this project promotes “food equity.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s estimates reveal significant disparities in access to grocery stores in different areas of the city.

If realized, this would make Chicago the first major US city to have a government-owned grocery store to address “food inequity.”

Ameya Pawar from the Economic Security Project pointed out the transformative potential of this project. “The City of Chicago is reimagining the role government can play in our lives by exploring a public option for grocery stores via a municipally owned grocery store and market,” he said.

Pawar drew parallels with libraries and the postal service, saying a public option brings economic choice and power to communities. He sees a city-owned grocery store as a viable way to restore access to healthy food in neglected areas.

Currently, the administration is conducting a feasibility study. It’s determining how the new store can operate successfully in addressing the community needs and disparities in food access.

What We Think:

This move by Chicago to start a government-run grocery store is surely an interesting one. It’s about giving all folks, no matter where they live, access to good food. Now, we’ve seen government-run things before, like the post office.

So, the big question is, can the government really run a store efficiently and help the folks on the South and West sides?

It’s a noble goal to bring good food to every part of the city, especially where folks have had it tough. But, will this actually work or just end up being another failed government experiment? Only time will tell.

As our loyal readers, we encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions on this issue. Let your voice be heard and join the discussion below.


Source

Continue Reading

Latest News

Congresswoman Clashes with ABC Anchor over Biden’s Impeachment Inquiry

Published

on

In a heated confrontation, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) stood firm against ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl, accusing him of overlooking substantial evidence while discussing the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.

The clash unfolded on ABC News’ “This Week,” where Mace faced questions about the criticism from fellow Republican, Rep. Ken Buck, who opposes the inquiry. Mace was quick to put aside Buck’s apprehensions, asserting “the facts are everywhere.”

Mace highlighted various forms of evidence, including text messages, emails, witnesses, whistleblowers, meetings, phone calls, and dinners. “You can’t say, ‘Hey, there’s a little bit of smoke, we’re not going to follow the fire,'” she stated, emphasizing the necessity of pursuing the truth.

Mace also underscored the importance of expanded subpoena powers provided by the inquiry.

“I want the bank records of Joe Biden. All of that should be on the table to prove out the allegations in the reports,” she explained, referring to claims involving substantial sums of money and bribery, which, according to Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution, could be grounds for impeachment.

Karl counterargued, insisting repeatedly there is “no evidence” to support the allegations against Biden, a point Mace contested vehemently.

“There are witnesses. The 1023 form,” she responded, “There is evidence. You can’t say that there’s no evidence when there is evidence.”

Mace seemed astounded by Karl’s insistent denials and took a moment to remind him of the crucial role journalists played during the Nixon era, holding politicians accountable.

“It was the media and journalists when Nixon was going down that helped do that investigation, helped bring down the president when he broke the law,” Mace reflected.

She emphasized the visible shift in journalism standards, observing that media now seems to “deny that there’s evidence. It’s everywhere.”

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has often pointed out that the impeachment inquiry is a tool granting lawmakers broader powers to delve into whether Biden has engaged in corrupt activities to financially benefit his family.

While this doesn’t necessarily mean impeachment proceedings will follow, it does enable lawmakers to trace the “smoke” alluded to by Mace.

Interestingly, Karl’s staunch stance on the lack of evidence against Biden comes after the White House reportedly sent talking points to the media, instructing them to underplay any evidence that has been unveiled.

What We Think

What we’re witnessing here is not just a heated debate but a stark reminder of the role that media ought to play in holding our leaders accountable. Nancy Mace’s staunch stance against Jonathan Karl’s claims serves as a wake-up call, urging us to question whether we are being presented with the complete truth.

There’s an evident shift in how media handles evidence and accountability compared to the times of Nixon. This conversation is crucial, especially when significant accusations of bribery are on the line.

Whether or not the impeachment proceedings go forth, our nation deserves transparency, accountability, and truth from both our politicians and the media.

As our loyal readers, we encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions on this issue. Let your voice be heard and join the discussion below.


Source

Continue Reading

Trending