Latest news with #ChristianNationalist
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Civil rights groups promise litigation in response to social studies standards
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Two civil rights groups have now promised 'action' after lawmakers did not act on the new social studies standards, meaning they will eventually be implemented. The two groups include Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law. Oklahoma families, not politicians or public schools, should decide if, when, and how children engage with religion. If implemented, these new social studies standards will violate students' and families' religious freedom by promoting Christianity and advancing Christian Nationalist disinformation. Not on our watch. We are preparing to take the steps necessary to protect the religious freedom of all Oklahoma public school students and prevent these standards from undermining public education in Oklahoma. Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law They were also a part of a lawsuit which eventually led to a temporary halt to Supt. Walter's Bible buying for Oklahoma classrooms. Senate and House republicans are asked why they didn't act on school standards It was in March when the Oklahoma Supreme Court temporarily blocked State Superintendent Ryan Walters and the State Department of Education from purchasing Bibles and Bible-based lessons for Oklahoma schools. The court barred OSDE from issuing any new requests for the purchase of Bibles. The ruling also places a temporary hold on a request for proposals seeking a supplier for Bible-based curriculum. The ruling came after the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services, the state agency that oversees RFPs, asked the court to issue a stay because of the concerns about ongoing lawsuits and the possibility of new legal challenges. There is no litigation filed just yet regarding the standards, but the two groups said it is more than likely would come when the standards go into effect. The standards won't officially be applied to schools until the 2026/2027 school year. Contracts to find textbook suppliers begin later this year and last until next year. Meanwhile, lawmakers have continued to push for some accountability when it comes to Supt. Walters and him using tax dollars for legal fees/legal counsel. 'He's communicating to the Republican caucuses that's making them feel comfortable about these standards, because our continued concern about those standards at their age is inappropriate, politically charged. And there are so many religious undertones,' said Rep. Cyndi Munson. News 4 reached out to OSDE for a response to the potential for this litigation, but didn't hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Independent
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Joe Biden accused of editing himself into family Easter photo
Former President Joe Biden has been accused of digitally editing himself into a photo of the Biden family taken outside his Delaware home by a group of online sleuths. 'We wish everyone celebrating today a peaceful and joyful Easter', the 82-year-old wrote above a jovial photo of his wife, children, their spouses, and his grandchildren, in an image he posted to X on Easter Sunday. Even Willow Biden, his adopted gray shorthair tabby cat, made an appearance for the shot. In the photo, Biden is seen smiling and sitting at the top of a staircase in his porch, dressed in a navy suit, with a diagonally striped blue tie and white shirt. However, the 46th president has since received a barrage of hatred from trolls, accusing him of photoshopping himself into the image. Several users highlighted that Biden looked out of place, dressed to stand on the podium of a presidential campaign, rather than in a more relaxed attire suitable for Easter at home. 'This looks photoshopped!', Conservative activist Brigitte Gabriel wrote below the post. Matt Williams, a man who identifies himself as a Christian Nationalist, asked Elon Musk 's generative AI chatbot to verify the image: '@grok is Joe Biden photoshopped into this picture?' Multiple users then focused on the placement of the former president's left hand, claiming it was unusual in appearance. 'WHOSE HAND IS THIS,' wrote a user who goes by @ThePoliticalPom. Yet another striking element of the photo was the absence of Biden's son, Hunter Biden. 'If - and I stress the word 'if' - this photo is real, where is Hunter? He wasn't invited to Easter?' podcaster and right-wing influencer Eric Matheny wrote on X. Biden's second child has been embroiled in various scandals over the years. In June 2024, he was convicted on three felony gun charges. In December 2024, just before Trump took office, Biden issued a 'full and unconditional' pardon for his son, 55, citing that his charges were politically motivated and sought to bruise the Biden family name. Janice Hough, a 'proud Dem for life', took the opposite stance on Biden's image, stating: 'I miss this man in the White House.' This past week, Biden took to the podium to deliver his first speech since leaving office at a conference in Chicago. He said that Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) counterpart, Elon Musk, had "taken a hatchet" to the Social Security system, and that the new administration had caused a 'breathtaking' amount of damage and destruction to America.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Marjorie Taylor Greene Seems To Reference Pope Francis' Death In Cryptic Post
Pope Francis' death on Easter Monday inspired tributes from the likes of Barack Obama,Joe Biden and JD Vance ― and an apparent insult from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. On Monday, the controversial congresswoman posted about the defeat of 'evil' on her personal account on X, formerly Twitter: Since Greene didn't directly mention the pope, HuffPost reached out to Greene's office for clarity on her statement. No one immediately responded to the request. However, no one can deny that Pope Francis was a global leader and his death does mark a major shift in the Catholic Church and the world at large. Also, there haven't been any other major coups or regime changes in the past 48 hours. Greene, who identifies as a Christian Nationalist and has compared President Donald Trump to Jesus, has attacked the Catholic Church in the past. In April 2022, she told a far-right Catholic media organization that providing aid to undocumented immigrants is proof that 'Satan's controlling the church.' She has justified the attacks against the church by claiming to be 'a cradle Catholic,' who left after becoming a mother because she 'could not trust the church leadership to protect my children from pedophiles, and that they harbored monsters even in their own ranks,' according to the Independent. These Cardinals Are Seen As Contenders To Be The Next Pope 'The People's Pope': Joe Biden Pays Tribute To Pope Francis For 'Consequential' Leadership JD Vance Breaks Silence On Meeting With Pope Francis Hours Before His Death Pope Francis Used His Final Tweet To Make A Powerful Statement About The Meaning Of Life
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
"We are the resistance": Cass Dems protest Micah Beckwith visit with own Abe Lincoln dinner
'It's standing room only in Logansport,' Dana Black said as she began her speech at the Cass County Democratic Party's Real Abe Lincoln Dinner: A Night of Unity and Justice. The dinner, held in the Lounge at the Vibrant Event Center, was planned as a protest against the Cass County Republicans who invited the controversial Indiana Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith to be the guest speaker at their own annual Lincoln dinner. It was also a protest towards the Republican party's turn towards extremist values that do not reflect those held by Abraham Lincoln. 'Lincoln dinner and Micah Beckwith, there is nothing more contrarian than that,' said Lita Rouser, chair of the Cass County Democrats. Beckwith is a self-professed Christian Nationalist who was elected as Governor Mike Braun's running mate by Indiana Republican delegates during the state's GOP Primary. Braun had wanted Julie McGuire as his running mate. The Democrats invited Black to be their guest speaker. She is the host of the podcast 'Turn Left' and a contributor to the 'Indianapolis Business Journal' and WISH TV's 'All Indiana Politics.' She also served as the Deputy Chair and Engagement in the Indiana Democratic State Party. The mood was jovial throughout the evening, though many Democrats showed their disgust toward Donald Trump's treatment of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House earlier in the day. Black called the incident 'the most embarrassing day of our American history.' 'We'll listen to the political pundits from all over the country and those of us who have an ounce of mental capacity will say that was disgraceful but [Trump's] spineless supporters will tell you that was a sign of strength,' she said. Black opened her speech by saying that many Americans will say that the country has never seen anything like what is happening now. She then reminded the audience of the Trail of Tears, Wounded Knee and the summer of violence towards Black Americans known as the Red Summer of 1919. 'Some parents will go home and have to talk to their kids about that horrible display in the White House but it will never be the same as when my father was talking to me at the kitchen table in 1977 and expressing his emotional disgust at what happened to Emmett Till in 1955,' she said. Education in Indiana Black touched on many topics during her speech but one of those in which she focused most on was education. Black asked the audience if there were any charter schools in the city. After the they answered no, she asked about private schools. '[Republicans] have decided that they will take a whole lot more money from public schools and give it to charter schools,' she said. 'And Logansport don't have any charter schools. So that means y'all have to do more with less…you still got to pay the teachers, you've got to keep the buildings updated, you've got to give [students] technology but they are giving your money to charter schools.' She also noted Logansport would not benefit from universal school vouchers. Black called Governor Mike Braun 'an orange man sycophant' who was out to bring local communities to their knees by making them do more with less. Another example of the Republican's attack on public education that she referenced was House Bill 1501 which would have public schools sharing their school transportation with private schools. 'They're just taking your money and giving nothing back,' she said. 'There is a goal in defunding public education. The goal is 'if I keep you without the information then I can abuse you.'' Black said that was always the plan, that a less educated population was easier to lead astray. How to help Black said there were many ways to get involved and help fight the MAGA movement without having to stand up and give a speech. She first suggested learning about marginalized communities that had been through state sanctioned oppression. She asked for those in attendance to learn about their resiliency and how they resisted their persecution. Continuing to show up and be heard is also important. 'Once we become silent, they win,' she said. 'And remind them that this is a representative government. They are supposed to be talking with you so keep hounding them until they do. And then remind them, despite every effort they will put forth not to have an election in two years, we will have one.' Black said those with cooking skills could bake food for marchers and protesters, those working phone banks or going door to door to raise awareness. Those skilled in technology could help get the message out on the internet and those who were good with children could offer to babysit, especially for women candidates. Others could help read through bills and alert the community to which ones would help and what would hurt. 'This is our democracy,' she said. 'It's not pretty. It does not move in a linear way. It circles back and forth, round and round. We take two steps forward and sometimes we take one step back. Sometimes we take five steps back. We still keep moving forward. We are resilient.'
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pam Bondi's Department of Justice seeks Trump's revenge
While President Trump flamboyantly signs executive orders banning young trans girls from playing softball and celebrates his inane order to have the Army Corps of Engineers dump millions of gallons of water into a California flood plain, man Friday Elon Musk and his cyberpunk gang have taken a sledgehammer to the federal government. Systematically infiltrating one agency after another (the latest being the Social Security Administration!), Musk and his crew are fulfilling the Project 2025 blueprint to smash everything they come in contact with. It's only been two and a half weeks and they've already accessed the Treasury Department and are fooling around with the computer system that pays America's bills. They've destroyed the Office of Personnel Management and USAID. Now they are reportedly working on Medicare and Medicaid, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Energy Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Education. There are surely more on the menu that just haven't come to light yet. The boys are working with no supervision other than Musk and a handful of henchmen, allegedly under the authority of the addled president who spends his days screaming at clouds. Meanwhile, the Senate on Thursday confirmed the original mastermind of this slaughter, Russell Vought, as the director of Office Management and Budget. Vought was the main author of the Project 2025 plot to annihilate the federal government and turn the country into a Christian Nationalist paradise. That he somehow got two wealthy libertines to do his dirty work for him is a true testament to the power of his vision. He's been "advising" behind the scenes already so it shouldn't make too much difference now that he'll be in the office. In any case, Musk has been given the go-ahead to wreck whatever he can get away with. The only thing that might stop him are judicial orders — but, since everything is so secretive, we really don't know if they're following them. Still, for all of Vought's and DOGE's ability to feverishly slash and burn, they really can't do it all. Luckily for them, they don't have to. The Senate this week also confirmed Pam Bondi, Donald Trump's former defense attorney at his first impeachment trial, as the attorney general of the United States. At the swearing-in ceremony, led by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas (of course), Trump said: "I'm supposed to say she's going to be totally impartial when it comes to Democrats but I'm just going to say that she'll be as impartial as a person can be," so that was reassuring. Adopting the patented Trump-Musk shock and awe technique, Bondi hit the ground running. Working with her two top deputies, former Trump personal criminal defense lawyers Emil Bove and Todd Blanch, she has issued a flurry of orders demonstrating that she is on a mission from Dear Leader. The Washington Post reported that on her first day: Despite pledging during her confirmation hearing that 'politics will not play a part' in her decision-making, Bondi, within hours of taking office,created a 'Weaponization Working Group' to review instances of what she described as 'politicized justice' — starting with the federal criminal cases brought against Trump by special counsel Jack Smith. She also ordered an examination of what she alleged was federal cooperation in the criminal and civil investigations of Trump in New York — even though they were carried out by state authorities, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James. She wrote, "these steps are required because, as President Trump pointed out following his second inauguration, '[t]he prior administration and allies throughout the country engaged in an unprecedented, third-world weaponization of prosecutorial power to upend the democratic process.'" She added, 'No one who has acted with a righteous spirit and just intentions has any cause for concern about our efforts to root out corruption and weaponization." I'm sure that was very reassuring. At least one employee almost surely is very happy with this edict. The acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin, a former Stop the Steal lawyer, is so committed to ending partisan weaponization that he posted the following letter on X addressed to Musk. "Dear @elon, Please see this important letter. We will not tolerate threats against DOGE workers or law-breaking by the disgruntled," Martin wrote. Martin has a very bright future in the Trump Justice Department. Chris Geitner at Lawdork reported on another Bondi memo effectively ending any remaining norm that the Department of Justice would operate as an independent arm of the government, answerable only to the law and the Constitution. Bondi demanded from federal prosecutors "zealous advocacy" of Trump's agenda and threatened that dissent would not be tolerated: 'Any attorney who because of their personal political views or judgments declines to sign a brief or appear in court, refuses to advance good-faith arguments on behalf of the administration, or otherwise delays or impedes the Department's mission will be subject to discipline and potentially termination, consistent with applicable law" She issued yet another order titled, 'Ending Illegal DEI and DEIA Discrimination and Preferences" and ordered a report from the Civil Rights Division on the private sector's "illegal" use of DEI for potential criminal investigation. (This tracks with a group of red state attornies general, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, threatening COSTCO for keeping its DEI policies in place.) There's more. Trump has long advocated the repeal of corruption laws pertaining to bribery of foreign players, so it's unsurprising that one of Bondi's first moves was to scale back "enforcement of laws governing foreign lobbying transparency and bribes of foreign officials.") But the real tell is the announcement to end the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative started in 2010 to end international corruption and return the ill-gotten gains to victims, as Rolling Stone reported: The former Florida attorney general and legal counsel to President Trump during his first impeachment trial, who spent the last several years as a corporate lobbyist, also closed the KleptoCapture task force, created under AG Merrick Garland in 2022 to target Russian oligarchs violating U.S. economic sanctions imposed because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Through the initiative, the DOJ has prosecuted frauds worth billions, recovering embezzled funds and seizing assets like megayachts and luxury condos. That's got to make some of the world's oligarchs very happy. In fact, one might even call it the first legal foreign bribe under the new Trump administration. One can only wonder if anyone's getting something in return. All in all it's been a very productive week so far for the new attorney general. She's yet to weigh in on the anticipated purge of the FBI, but I think we can be assured that she's for it. After Bondi's deputy, Emil Bove, fired the Jack Smith prosecutors, on Trump's personal order, and put a number of others on notice that they were to be demoted if they refuse to resign, it's very clear that Bondi and her henchmen are turning the Justice Department into Trump's personal law firm. Since all three of the top officials have actually been Trump's defense attorneys, that makes a lot of sense. He's finally got his Roy Cohn.
