Latest news with #Burns
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Feds say Huntington Beach is a sanctuary city; city officials call designation a ‘serious mistake'
The Department of Homeland Security recently listed Huntington Beach as a sanctuary city, and officials within one of SoCal's most prominent Republican strongholds are strongly denying the designation. A press release issued by the City of Huntington Beach states that the community's inclusion on the DHS list of more than 500 sanctuary jurisdictions was a 'serious mistake' and 'does not reflect the city council's formally adopted policy.' In January 2025, the city passed a law that did the exact opposite of what federal officials did in the list issued on Thursday: Huntington Beach is officially a 'non-sanctuary city.' 'We adopted a formal policy on this,' Huntington Beach Mayor Pat Burns said in the press release, which was issued Friday. 'It went before the council, and we unanimously agreed that Huntington Beach is not a sanctuary city.' 'We took deliberate action to make our non-sanctuary stance clear,' Mayor Burns added. Burns elaborated that the DHS' inclusion of his city in the list is 'either a misprint or a serious mistake,' and that federal officials have been notified; he is also 'confident the DHS error will be corrected promptly.' However, as of Saturday morning, Huntington Beach still appeared on the list. The city's press release noted that several other jurisdictions across the U.S., including Baltimore, Las Vegas and Shasta County, California, have been misidentified as sanctuary jurisdictions. Mayor Burns said that Santa Ana is the only city within Orange County that has been 'publicly identified' as a sanctuary city; however, it was not included in the DHS list. Santa Ana was still not on the list as of Saturday morning. The full list of sanctuary jurisdictions in the United States can be viewed here. Huntington Beach has long been considered one of California's most conservative cities; the Wall Street Journal described the city council, which, as of December, is made up entirely of Republicans, as 'America's Trumpiest.' Earlier this year, the city council introduced plans to install a 'MAGA' plaque at the Central Library to celebrate Huntington Beach's 50th anniversary. Instead of signifying 'Make America Great Again,' the plaque's acronym stands for 'Magical, Alluring, Galvanizing, Adventurous.' The city council confirmed that the acronym was deliberately chosen to represent the 'Make America Great Again' slogan used by President Donald Trump and adopted by the Republican Party. After some pushback from residents — including former NFL punter Chris Kluwe, who was arrested while protesting at a February city council meeting — officials unanimously approved the $7,000 plaque, albeit with a slightly modified design and added security. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
IOL News
a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Mark Burns, Trump's top pastor, challenges genocide claims against white farmers in South Africa
Described as US President Donald Trump's top pastor, Mark Burns, is visiting southern Africa and has already been convinced that there is no genocide against white Afrikaner farmers in South Africa. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers Televangelist Mark Burns, described by Time magazine as US President Donald Trump's top pastor, is convinced that widespread claims that there is genocide of white farmers under way in South Africa are absolutely untrue. Burns is visiting southern Africa, and his trip has already helped him debunk allegations of genocide against white Afrikaner farmers. The founder and chief executive of the NOW television network has been invited by the global network of Muslim leaders, Concordia Forum, and its founder and president, Muddassar Ahmed, for an interfaith dialogue to continue bridging the gap between the two faiths and others around the world to promote peace, prosperity, and unity. Their mission is to promote peaceful situations around the world where there are conflicts. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Burns said he sees the strong ties between the United States and South Africa, which he indicated was a beautiful thing that he will get to take back home. 'Thank God, there is no conflict here in South Africa. Your government is clearly a powerful, stable nation. The big elephant in the room – the meeting that took place in the Oval Office between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Trump,' he said. Burns, who described Trump as his 'dear friend of 12/13 years', said the question being asked is: 'Is there white genocide happening in South Africa?' He added: 'As a peace mission that I have, is white genocide taking place, are white farmers being targeted or having their land taken away forcibly in this country? I have been just blown away by having great access to white Afrikaner farmers and those that represent farmers from around your entire country.' Burns said he has met small and commercial farmers and was able to meet with white business manufacturing owners and hear from their perspectives what is actually happening in South Africa. 'Not to my shock again, you were able to hear their perspectives. From their point of view, being white Afrikaners, there is absolutely no genocide or white genocide in South Africa. They believe Trump was fed erroneous information for whatever reason they don't know,' Burns explained. He said in his understanding, the farmers he met were all shocked to discover that such a thing as white genocide was happening in South Africa. 'From that point of view, they pivoted that there absolutely is a crime issue, there is a high murder rate, and many of them spoke about worrying about their safety, not because they are white but because they don't feel as protected as they should be,' Burns stated. He said he was informed in the meetings that over 5,200 murders had occurred in the last reporting quarter and that only 12 of them were related to farmers. 'And out of those 12, only three of them were white. You clearly see that based on those statistics, and this was given to me by a farmer, a white farmer, and that to me speaks extreme volumes,' he said. Releasing the 2024/25 fourth quarter crime statistics a week ago, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said there were 5,727 murders in the three months between January and March this year. He said six attacks on rural communities were recorded. 'In principle, we do not categorise people by race, but in the context of claims of genocide of white people, we need to unpack the killings in this category. The two farm owners who were murdered during the fourth quarter were African and not white. Further to that, the two farm employees and one farm manager were also African – it is the one farm dweller that was white,' added Mchunu. Turning to key matters of trade between the US and South Africa, Burns said: 'This is a nation that we need to continue to partner with, this is a nation that is one of our important partners on the continent of Africa and that we ought to continue to strengthen that relationship and to do whatever it takes to make sure that we have good trading deals with each other.' His message back in his country will be 'come to South Africa, invest in South Africa. We have so much that we are similar'. Burns said the purpose of that is to create jobs here in South Africa, to entice more American investors to invest in South Africa. He also acknowledged that the AGOA (Africa Growth and Opportunity Act) Forum, scheduled to be held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, in July, would be difficult, especially after Trump imposed 31% tariffs on goods imported from South Africa in April. Burns warned South Africa against remaining a member of the BRICS bloc of countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, and China, as well as its newest members, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. 'BRICS is a challenge, though, that needs to be addressed, and if I were advising your President Ramaphosa to remove that 'S' from the title BRICS immediately,' he said. According to Burns, while BRICS was initially established to enable access to different markets, the country should declare to Vladimir Putin (the Russian president) that it will not be a party to the devaluation of the US dollar and introduce a separate currency. BRICS also includes Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan as partner countries.
The Citizen
a day ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
'There's no white genocide in SA', Trump's top pastor says
'What is real is the devastatingly high crime rate across the country, with most of the victims being Black South Africans.' The founder of The NOW Television Network has debunked United States (US) President Donald Trump's claims of a 'white genocide' in South Africa after meeting with white farmers in the country. Last week, with a line of reporters in the room, Trump ambushed President Cyril Ramaphosa by playing a video of EFF leader Julius Malema — theatrically, almost like a Bond villain — startling those present with footage he believed supported his claims of an alleged white genocide against farmers. 'White genocide' The US president showed videos of Malema chanting 'Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer' to support his false belief in genocide against whites in the country, asking why the red berets leader has not been arrested. However, Trump's claims have been dismissed by Pastor Mark Burns, who, according to his X profile, has been labelled by Time Magazine as 'Trump's Top Pastor'. ALSO READ: 'There is doubt in Trump's head about genocide in SA,' Ramaphosa says [VIDEO] Trump's 'top pastor' Burns' post was shared by South Africa's head of public diplomacy, Clayson Monyela. 'A Whitehouse insider and President Trump's 'Top Pastor' visited South Africa to get the actual truth. He engaged white farmers. Here's an eyewitness account,' Monyela said. 'No white genocide' Burns shared details about his meeting with farmers in South Africa. 'I'm here in South Africa, meeting with white farmers, white business owners, and even some former apartheid leaders, and here's what they're telling me: President Donald J. Trump is a great president, but there is no 'white genocide' happening here. They were genuinely surprised that this claim even made it to the international stage'. 'They do agree that the song sung by Julius Malema, 'Kill the Boer,' is divisive and shouldn't be part of the national conversation. It fuels unnecessary tension. But when it comes to actual targeted killings or a genocide of White South Africans, that's just not the reality on the ground,' Burns said in a post on X. Crime rate However, Burns stressed South Africa's 'high crime rate.' 'What is real is the devastatingly high crime rate across the country, with most of the victims being black South Africans. Unemployment is crushing, and poverty is driving violent crime in all communities. 'Thanks to the Oval Office meeting between President Trump and President Ramaphosa, three powerful things have happened: The 'White genocide' claim has ironically united the country. Black and white South Africans are standing together saying, this isn't who we are. It has forced crime and safety to the top of the national agenda. South Africans are demanding solutions. It has led to a long-overdue conversation about revisiting BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) to make sure it benefits everyone, not just a select few. White South Africans Burns said comments were not coming from black South Africans. 'Here's the most important part. These perspectives aren't coming from black South Africans. They're coming from White South Africans. They love their country, and many of them believe President Trump was misinformed by people who wanted an excuse to leave. ALSO READ: WATCH: Donald Trump ambushes Cyril Ramaphosa in Oval Office Truth Burns said the 'truth is more complicated, but South Africans, black and White, are working together to move forward.' 'President Trump sparked a conversation, and now South Africa is responding with the hopes that he will attend the G20 in South Africa to receive the baton from President Ramaphosa as the G20 will be in the United States next,' Burns said. Trump to attend G20 Writing in his weekly newsletter on Monday, Ramaphosa said one of the key outcomes of the 'substantive discussions' he and his delegation had with Trump was agreeing on an 'economic cooperation channel between the US administration and South Africa to engage further on tariffs and a broad range of trade matters'. 'President Trump agreed that the US should continue playing a key role in the G20, including attending the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg later this year, where South Africa will hand over the presidency of the G20 to the US.' Ramaphosa said he and his delegation went to Washington to meet with Trump to establish a 'basis for greater economic cooperation and to address some of the challenges' that have recently arisen in relations between the two countries. Ramaphosa said in this context, it was critical for Pretoria to engage directly with the US administration to correct misinformation and provide a true account of the progress 'we have made as a democracy and the many and complex challenges we still face'. ALSO READ: US visit came amid 'increasing strain' between two countries, Ramaphosa says
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dr. Oz pushes back on criticism that GOP is cutting Medicaid
President Donald Trump's favorite celebrity doctor is standing behind his new boss on an issue that has sparked opposition even among some Republicans. Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Trump-appointed administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, wouldn't concede in an interview with POLITICO'S newest podcast that the budget megabill passed by the House will cut Medicaid. Oz arguedin an interview on The Conversation with Dasha Burns that the Medicaid work requirements in the sprawling legislation will 'future proof' the program — in line with administration goals to protect social services. 'Every great people takes care of their most vulnerable, and we're a great nation,' Oz said in the interview scheduled to run Sunday. 'We're gonna do that. So there's a lot of sensitivity about being accused, accused of not taking care of people who have disabilities or seniors without money or children.' Trump's mission, Oz said, is to ensure the program remains solvent. 'I'm trying to save Medicaid,' he said. 'That's the president's goal as well. He said over and over again, he wants to love and cherish these programs and we need to keep them viable.' When Oz was sworn into his post in April,Trump insisted there would be no cuts to Medicaid. But aCongressional Budget Office report from May estimated that 7.6 million people would become uninsured if the Medicaid portions of the GOP megabill go into effect. Even some top Republicans, including Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, worry the cuts will hurt the party. A wing of "corporatist Republicans,'Hawley claimed in a May New York Times op-ed, 'wants Republicans to build our big, beautiful bill around slashing health insurance for the working poor. But that argument is both morally wrong and politically suicidal.' GOP Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine are also expressing reservations with the House bill's Medicaid cuts. Democrats, meanwhile, are capitalizing on the issue — withads hammering House Republicans for voting to cut spending set to begin running next week. Oz pushed back, telling Burns the vast majority of Americans agree with the White House push to enact work requirements in exchange for healthcare. 'We're not cutting Medicaid,' he told Burns. 'I've seen the proposals. There is no proposal I've seen, in fact, in fairness, that doesn't increase spending on Medicaid.'
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Ryan Burns, who plans to study business at Indiana, goes to work as Andrew stymies Shepard. ‘Want to savor it.'
After four years of playing football and baseball at Andrew, senior outfielder Ryan Burns is preparing for the end of his athletic career. Burns plans to study business at Indiana, where he will give up sports and focus on academics. So, he certainly wants to make his final run on the baseball field a special one. 'These games mean everything to me,' Burns said. 'I'll remember them forever. Every game, I want to just do my best and have fun. I have nothing else to get ready for anymore. 'This is it. I definitely want to savor it.' Burns created some major memories Thursday, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run to help the host Thunderbolts roll to a 10-0 win over Shepard in six innings in a Class 4A Andrew Regional semifinal in Tinley Park. Jason Rediger also chipped in with a pair of doubles, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run for fifth-seeded Andrew (25-11), which will take on fourth-seeded Lincoln-Way Central (20-10) at 11 a.m. Saturday in the regional final. JT Iles went 2-for-4 with a run and Drew Alexander added two RBIs for the Thunderbolts. Ben Reilly, making just his second start of the season after typically pitching out of the bullpen, threw six shutout innings, striking out nine and allowing just two hits and no walks. 'I was really excited,' Reilly said. 'It's my first year on varsity and I worked really hard all year to get this opportunity. I prepared myself well (Wednesday) night. I got some good rest, ate some good food today and my whole body felt great. 'I was ready for the game. I was hyped.' TJ Georgis and Steve Magana each had a double for 11th-seeded Shepard (13-17-2). Burns, meanwhile, sparked a six-run third inning for Andrew with a two-run double to the gap in right-center field. 'The guy before me got hit by a pitch so I thought he would throw me a first-pitch fastball,' Burns said. 'He did, I was ready for it and I put my best swing on it. 'It really fired up me and a lot of the guys in the dugout.' Hitting in the fifth spot in the order, Burns has been a consistent run producer for the Thunderbolts. Andrew coach Dave DeHaan knows he can count on Burns to deliver in big situations. 'Between football and baseball, he's played in a lot of big games,' DeHaan said. 'Guys like Ryan and TJ Burke have been through it all with football and baseball and have worked hard. ' I just want them to enjoy it because it's going fast.' That reality is something Burns has done his best to block out. 'I'm trying to ignore it for now,' Burns said. 'Once the last game happens then I'll embrace that. 'Last year, we won a regional and it was one of the best experiences playing baseball in my life, so I'm just very excited for this chance to try to make another run.' Andrew won its first 10 regular-season games and 15 of its first 17 this spring before struggling a bit in late April and early May. Thursday's win was the Thunderbolts' fifth in a row, and Reilly is confident things are back on track. 'We're flowing,' Reilly said. 'We're working as one team right now, which is what we need. We were a little off for a stretch, but we've found our groove and we're going with the flow.' Burns is one of the seniors setting the tone. His football experience certainly helps with that. 'Playing football taught me a lot of leadership, which I carried on to baseball,' Burns said. 'Playing two sports taught me a lot of hard work and time management, being able to control two sports at a time, especially over the summer. 'I think playing both sports is the best decision that I've made.'
