Latest news with #BlueWall
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Despite ‘tense' exchange in Karen Read trial, Boston Police officer unlikely to face blowback
Even in a trial filled with dramatic twists, Boston Police officer Kelly Dever's testimony this week in the Karen Read retrial stuck out for just how tense her exchanges with a lawyer representing Read actually were. Dever, who worked in Canton at the time of Read's arrest, was called by the defense Monday morning. On the stand, she faced aggressive questioning from Alan Jackson, one of Read's lawyers, about a statement she made to federal investigators looking into the death of Read's boyfriend, John O'Keefe. On the morning of Jan. 29, 2022, when O'Keefe's body was found, Dever was working an overnight patrol shift in Canton. A supervisor asked her to cover dispatch so he could respond to the scene. Dever, according to Jackson, told federal authorities she saw the department's then-chief, Ken Berkowitz, and another man, Brian Higgins, alone with Read's SUV for a 'wildly long time.' But Dever has since recanted that statement, saying on the stand this week it was a false memory. She could not have seen Berkowitz and Higgins, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the SUV, because her shift concluded at 3:45 p.m., she said. The SUV wasn't towed to the station until hours later. Still, Dever's testimony in the Read case is unlikely to have any impact on her ability to testify in other cases down the line, said Jack Lu, a retired Superior Court judge. 'A failure of memory in one case is not admissible in another case. This is black letter law,' he said. But Mark Bederow, a defense attorney following the trial from New York City, said Dever's 'ridiculous claim' that her memory was false would concern him going forward. Bederow, who also represents the blogger Aidan Kearney, said Dever's recollection to the FBI was so specific that it makes it difficult to believe what she saw didn't actually happen. Dever admitted on the stand that Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox called her to a meeting before she testified in the Read case. Jackson suggested Cox told her to 'do the right thing' during that meeting. 'I think it's clear a message was sent,' Bederow said. 'Most people would think 'do the right thing' means the 'Blue Wall.'' Dever said the meeting with Cox proved how good a leader he is. But Bederow said it is 'absolutely unheard of' for a police commissioner to speak to a low-level officer before they testify in a trial. Still, Bederow and Lu agreed that Dever's behavior on the stand would likely not come back to haunt her in other cases. Bederow described her demeanor as 'embarrassing' and 'beyond inappropriate.' There was 'no need for her open hostility and nastiness,' he said in a telephone interview. 'It was childlike.' In one memorable moment, Dever criticized Jackson for mispronouncing her name. 'Like you can't remember my name, I don't remember,' she said. Despite his criticisms, Bederow said, 'I don't know if the hostility component will impact her future career in terms of testifying.' Lu, the former judge, disputed the notion that Dever was 'confrontational' on the stand. 'Sorry, but not even close. At most, the witness examination was tense. A trial is not a tea party,' he said. Karen Read reveals when the defense could rest its case Karen Read trial recap: Canton snowplow driver describes passing 34 Fairview Road during storm Karen Read trial recap: 'Not completely damaged': police officer describes SUV taillight Karen Read trial recap: Injuries on John O'Keefe's arm result of dog attack, expert says Karen Read retrial: Biggest takeaways from week 6 as prosecution rests its case Read the original article on MassLive.
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Dismantling Medicine's White Wall Of Silence
Medicine's White Wall is harmful in more ways than one. In law enforcement, the 'Blue Wall of Silence' refers to the unwritten code among officers that discourages reporting a colleague's misconduct. The message is clear: if you come for one of us, you come for all of us. It's a powerful and dangerous loyalty. Medicine has its own version of the Blue Wall, the White Wall. It is less visible, rarely dramatized, and seldom discussed. But it's real—and just as harmful. When a physician is disruptive, unethical, or even dangerous, the chatter in private circles can be loud. Hospital lounges, back hallways, and group chats hum with warnings and anecdotes. But outside those safe spaces? Silence. Formal reporting—whether to a hospital peer review committee, a licensing board, or an oversight body—is vanishingly rare. It is generally reserved for the most blatant, indefensible cases. For everything else, the default is inaction. I've encountered countless examples: Where does this silence come from? Some of it is fear—fear of retribution, lawsuits, or institutional backlash. But more often, it's cultural. Medicine prizes loyalty. We are taught to protect our own. There's an unspoken belief that reporting a colleague is betrayal, not courage. But silence has a cost. When we fail to regulate ourselves, others fill the vacuum. Payers implement blunt instruments like prior authorization and step therapy. Regulators impose rigid compliance frameworks. Plaintiffs' attorneys amplify public distrust. Patients suffer. And physician autonomy erodes. We often pride ourselves on being part of a profession—not a trade, not a business, but a calling with higher standards. But professionalism demands accountability. If we do not police our own ranks, we abdicate that identity. It doesn't have to be this way. Accountability can be developmental, not punitive. It can identify struggling colleagues before harm occurs. It can create pathways for mentorship, coaching, and support. And yes, when needed, it must create consequences for those who should not be practicing. We need new norms—where raising concerns is seen as an act of integrity, not disloyalty. We need protections for whistleblowers and leaders who listen without retaliating. Most of all, we need to confront the fear and complicity that have calcified within our professional culture. Medicine's White Wall is not immovable. But dismantling it will require courage—from each of us. And if we truly care about our patients and the future of our field, we'll start tearing it down today.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
AOC, Sanders tell supporters to mask up for West Coast town halls
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., are taking the "Fighting Oligarchy" rallies out West next week – and advising supporters to mask up to participate. Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, Fox News Digital can confirm that the RSVP for the events in Denver and Las Vegas includes guidance that "masks are advised for all attendees of this event." A post shared by conservative podcaster Stephen L. Miller on Friday about the Denver event had many wondering why masks would be advised for an outdoor event in 2025. Sanders did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's inquiry about the mask guidance. Dem Leader Swings Through Gop-held Districts After 'Clown Show Protests' Halted Town Halls "Sent from a friend. Bernie's speaking tour is advising everyone in attendance to wear masks. This is an outdoor event," the X post said, accompanied by a screenshot of the RSVP. Read On The Fox News App 'He Cannot Buy An Election Here In Wisconsin': Sanders Slams Musk In State Trump Won By Less Than 1% "Still trying the Covid panic politics," the top comment said. "Was this from the year 2020?" a content creator asked. But another reply countered: "They don't want the paid attendees found out." The reactions to the post are split, with many people online dumbfounded by the need for masks exactly five years after the COVID-19 pandemic forced shutdowns and social distancing. Others speculated that the masks are a way to protect attendees' identities. Masks are a common practice to protect protesters' identities at large demonstrations, like the pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University this past year. However, Sanders' "Fighting Oligarchy" events are not protests. Events in the Blue Wall states of Michigan and Wisconsin last weekend operated like a traditional campaign rally, with thousands of supporters lining up to earn a spot inside to hear the headline speaker. Sanders announced the West Coast leg of his "Fighting Oligarchy" tour with Ocasio-Cortez in a social media video on Friday. The progressives will make stops in Nevada, Arizona and Colorado "to hold town meetings with working people who are profoundly disgusted with what is going on in Washington, D.C." "Nevada, Colorado, Arizona: You deserve public servants who show up for you. The time is now to protect the public good, advance healthcare and living wages for all, and fight against corruption. See you next week," Ocasio-Cortez said on Friday. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the political campaign committee tasked with electing more Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives, advised against town halls following a series of protest disruptions fueled by Democrats' discontent with President Donald Trump's second term. Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., began his own slew of town hall events in Republican-held congressional districts on Friday, saying if a Republican representative refused to meet with their constituents, then he would "lend a megaphone" to them. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced on Friday a revised organized effort alongside the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Association of State Democratic Committees (ASDC) and Democrat state parties to host town halls in Republican-held districts. "Republicans in Congress know they sold out their voters by backing the Trump-Musk agenda – and now they're terrified to be in the same room as the people who sent them to Washington," DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement on Friday. "Instead of facing their constituents, they're running scared and hiding from the people they were elected to represent. If they won't talk to their own voters, then Democrats will. That's why we'll be hosting People's Town Halls in all 50 states across the country, starting now with vulnerable GOP-held target districts. Working families deserve to have their voices heard, even if Republicans want to ignore them," Martin added. The NRCC said the protests that shut down Republicans' town hall meetings were "manufactured productions." Fox News Digital reported last month about the coordinated effort by progressive groups protesting the Department of Government Efficiency. Meet The Far-left Groups Funding Anti-doge Protests At Gop Offices Across The Country which has accepted millions of dollars from billionaire George Soros and his Open Society Policy Center, announced in a press release last month that it was mobilizing resources as part of a "Congress Works for Us, Not Musk" initiative "aimed at pressuring lawmakers to fight back against the Trump-Musk agenda" at Republican town halls and offices. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Trump called the protesters who shut down Republican town halls "professionals" and "paid troublemakers." "Paid 'troublemakers' are attending Republican Town Hall Meetings. It is all part of the game for the Democrats, but just like our big LANDSLIDE ELECTION, it's not going to work for them!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. In addition to the mask guidance, the flier for next Friday's event with Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez includes typical safety precautions for large public events, including a request for anyone not feeling well to stay home. "Please note: no bags, signs, or firearms are allowed. Masks are advised for all attendees of this event. Anyone experiencing a fever or other symptoms of COVID-19 is asked to stay home and not attend," it says on the RSVP. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ended their travel mask mandate on April 18, 2022. According to the CDC's website, masks are still "recommended in indoor public transportation settings" and "people may choose to mask at any time." The website advises people who are at medium to high risk of getting very sick to wear a mask or "consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed." While the CDC has maintained that masking can reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, other studies since the pandemic have brought into question the efficacy of wearing a article source: AOC, Sanders tell supporters to mask up for West Coast town halls
Fox News
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
AOC, Sanders tell supporters to mask up for West Coast town halls
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., are taking the "Fighting Oligarchy" rallies out West next week – and advising supporters to mask up to participate. Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, Fox News Digital can confirm that the RSVP for the events in Denver and Las Vegas includes guidance that "masks are advised for all attendees of this event." A post shared by conservative podcaster Stephen L. Miller on Friday about the Denver event had many wondering why masks would be advised for an outdoor event in 2025. Sanders did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's inquiry about the mask guidance. "Sent from a friend. Bernie's speaking tour is advising everyone in attendance to wear masks. This is an outdoor event," the X post said, accompanied by a screenshot of the RSVP. "Still trying the Covid panic politics," the top comment said. "Was this from the year 2020?" a content creator asked. But another reply countered: "They don't want the paid attendees found out." The reactions to the post are split, with many people online dumbfounded by the need for masks exactly five years after the COVID-19 pandemic forced shutdowns and social distancing. Others speculated that the masks are a way to protect attendees' identities. Masks are a common practice to protect protesters' identities at large demonstrations, like the pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University this past year. However, Sanders' "Fighting Oligarchy" events are not protests. Events in the Blue Wall states of Michigan and Wisconsin last weekend operated like a traditional campaign rally, with thousands of supporters lining up to earn a spot inside to hear the headline speaker. Sanders announced the West Coast leg of his "Fighting Oligarchy" tour with Ocasio-Cortez in a social media video on Friday. The progressives will make stops in Nevada, Arizona and Colorado "to hold town meetings with working people who are profoundly disgusted with what is going on in Washington, D.C." "Nevada, Colorado, Arizona: You deserve public servants who show up for you. The time is now to protect the public good, advance healthcare and living wages for all, and fight against corruption. See you next week," Ocasio-Cortez said on Friday. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the political campaign committee tasked with electing more Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives, advised against town halls following a series of protest disruptions fueled by Democrats' discontent with President Donald Trump's second term. Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., began his own slew of town hall events in Republican-held congressional districts on Friday, saying if a Republican representative refused to meet with their constituents, then he would "lend a megaphone" to them. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced on Friday a revised organized effort alongside the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Association of State Democratic Committees (ASDC) and Democrat state parties to host town halls in Republican-held districts. "Republicans in Congress know they sold out their voters by backing the Trump-Musk agenda – and now they're terrified to be in the same room as the people who sent them to Washington," DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement on Friday. "Instead of facing their constituents, they're running scared and hiding from the people they were elected to represent. If they won't talk to their own voters, then Democrats will. That's why we'll be hosting People's Town Halls in all 50 states across the country, starting now with vulnerable GOP-held target districts. Working families deserve to have their voices heard, even if Republicans want to ignore them," Martin added. The NRCC said the protests that shut down Republicans' town hall meetings were "manufactured productions." Fox News Digital reported last month about the coordinated effort by progressive groups protesting the Department of Government Efficiency. which has accepted millions of dollars from billionaire George Soros and his Open Society Policy Center, announced in a press release last month that it was mobilizing resources as part of a "Congress Works for Us, Not Musk" initiative "aimed at pressuring lawmakers to fight back against the Trump-Musk agenda" at Republican town halls and offices. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Trump called the protesters who shut down Republican town halls "professionals" and "paid troublemakers." "Paid 'troublemakers' are attending Republican Town Hall Meetings. It is all part of the game for the Democrats, but just like our big LANDSLIDE ELECTION, it's not going to work for them!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. In addition to the mask guidance, the flier for next Friday's event with Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez includes typical safety precautions for large public events, including a request for anyone not feeling well to stay home. "Please note: no bags, signs, or firearms are allowed. Masks are advised for all attendees of this event. Anyone experiencing a fever or other symptoms of COVID-19 is asked to stay home and not attend," it says on the RSVP. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ended their travel mask mandate on April 18, 2022. According to the CDC's website, masks are still "recommended in indoor public transportation settings" and "people may choose to mask at any time." The website advises people who are at medium to high risk of getting very sick to wear a mask or "consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed." While the CDC has maintained that masking can reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, other studies since the pandemic have brought into question the efficacy of wearing a mask.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'He cannot buy an election here in Wisconsin': Sanders slams Musk in state Trump won by less than 1%
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., during a stop on his "Fighting Oligarchy" Tour in Altoona, Wisconsin, on Friday night, targeted Elon Musk for donating to the conservative candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court, Brad Schimel. Schimel called out the hypocrisy in an exclusive interview with Fox News on Monday. "Well, it's funny that Bernie's in Wisconsin trying to influence this election and complaining that somebody else might be having interest in this election," Schimel said. However, a Sanders spokesperson drew a stark contrast with Musk, telling Fox News Digital in a statement that Sanders is "mobilizing people" while Musk mobilizes money. "Bernie is mobilizing people; Musk has mobilized over 6 million in ad expenditures. Sen. Sanders is focused on creating a political system based on the democratic principles of one person-one vote, and ending a corrupt system which allows billionaires to buy elections. Mr. Musk is focused on using his money and power to install elected officials who answer to him, instead of their constituents," Sanders' communications director Anna Bahr said. Social Media Explodes At Sanders For Hosting Trans Musician Who Sang 'Pure Evil' Song At Anti-trump Rally Read On The Fox News App Momentum at the Blue Wall rallies solidified Sanders' ability to organize and lead opposition to President Donald Trump, as the Democratic Party continues to grapple with its November losses. Speaking to thousands of supporters at rallies in Kenosha and Altoona this weekend, Sanders urged Wisconsinites to get out the vote on April 1 and took aim at Musk's growing political influence. Judge Rules Doge Likely Subject To Public Records Requests, Says Department Operating In 'Unusual Secrecy' "Musk spent some $270 million to help Trump get elected, and his reward is that he was made the most powerful person in the U.S. government," Sanders told the crowd in Kenosha on Friday. "But it goes beyond that. As bad as that is, the situation is so absurd that Musk is so arrogant that he is even intervening in a Supreme Court election right here in the state of Wisconsin against a candidate who has the very, very extreme idea that maybe women should be able to control their own bodies, not the government." The race between Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford and Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel is one of the first major elections in a battleground state since the 2024 presidential election. Trump won battleground Wisconsin by less than a percentage point in 2024. The April 1 election will decide the Wisconsin Supreme Court's balance of power. While the Supreme Court race is technically nonpartisan, Schimel has been backed by Republicans, and Crawford has the support of Democrats. It is on track to be the most expensive judicial election in Wisconsin's history. Musk's Building America's Future and America PAC have already spent millions on Schimel's campaign, according to campaign finance reports. The Wisconsin Democratic Party responded with a $2 million donation to Crawford, which included a $1 million donation from George Soros. "Whatever your view may be on this Supreme Court election, I think everybody, no matter what your position should be, should make it clear to the wealthiest person on Earth that he cannot buy an election here in Wisconsin," Sanders said on Friday. Sanders warned the Altoona crowd about the ramifications of billionaire influence on elections, calling for public funding of elections. "I want you to think about what that means. If this guy can intervene in a Supreme Court election in one state. You tell me what mayor's race? What governor's race? What Senate race he cannot buy?" Sanders asked. "We have got to deal with this corrupt campaign finance system. We've got to overturn Citizens United. And we've got to move to public funding of elections. And again, no matter what your political view may be – you're conservative, you're progressive. Nobody I know thinks that billionaires should be able to buy elections." Sanders continued his pitch for campaign finance reform to Wisconsinites at a rally in Altoona on Sunday, pointing to "Democratic billionaires as well." "Does anybody in America believe that it is appropriate for somebody like Musk to contribute $270 million to Trump's campaign and then you get rewarded by becoming the most important man in government?" Sander asked. "But I got to tell you it is not just Musk and Republicans, it is Democratic billionaires as well. We are not going to make progress on the issues facing working families unless we have campaign finance reform." The Democratic National Committee (DNC) echoed Sander's comments in a statement released on Monday, emphasizing that Wisconsin voters do not want Musk "buying elections." "In three weeks, Wisconsin voters will have the opportunity to stand against Trump and MAGA Republicans' attacks on Wisconsinites and the programs they rely on. Wisconsin voters don't like Elon Musk running our federal government and they don't want him buying elections in Wisconsin either. It's time to elect proven leaders like Susan Crawford and Jill Underly who will move Wisconsin forward and serve Badger Staters' – not billionaires' – best interests. Democrats are working tirelessly to keep Elon Musk and his billions from corrupting Wisconsin's elections," DNC Deputy Executive Director Libby Schneider said in a statement. Schimel countered the DNC's statement in an exclusive interview with Fox News, calling judicial liberals "activists." "Frankly, the difference between a judicial conservative and a judicial liberal is judicial conservatives, they apply the law the way it's written. Judicial liberals, they're activists. They make the law. That's what they want out of my opponent. I'm here to bring stability to Wisconsin by having a Supreme Court that follows the law." Schimel said liberal justices are the ones "checking off boxes to return favors to their big donors" and vowed to "restore objectivity to the court." However, Schimel said accepting donations is necessary to compete in the race. "I'll take all legal and ethical contributions because I've got to compete. If I'm going to get my message out to the voters, I can't be outspent 20 to 1, like the conservative in 2023 was. So I'm in this, and I've got to make sure I get my message out to Wisconsin voters… The money is helping, of course," Schimel said. Click To Get The Fox News App Crawford did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment by the deadline of this article. The Associated Press reported that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., will organize solo events in red districts across Pennsylvania and New York and join Sanders on the road in the coming weeks to campaign against Trump's second term. When asked to confirm, Sanders' office said there was "nothing locked yet."Original article source: 'He cannot buy an election here in Wisconsin': Sanders slams Musk in state Trump won by less than 1%
