Tag: democrats

Oregon Dem Melissa Fireside declared international fugitive after fleeing US with young son, could be headed to Austria: authorities

An Oregon Democratic politician is now an international fugitive from justice after fleeing the country with her young son when she was charged with bilking an elderly man out of $30,000, authorities said.

Democrat Melissa Fireside, an ex-Clackamas County commissioner, crossed the border into Mexico on a fake passport and booked a ticket for Austria after going on the run with her 9-year-old son, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said Friday.

“Our top concern right now is the safety and well-being of this child,” Rayfield said.

“We are working closely with law enforcement partners here and at the federal level to locate Ms. Fireside and ensure she is held accountable under Oregon law.”

Fireside was free on conditional release while facing charges that she stole from her mom’s 83-year-old boyfriend when she disappeared, The Oregonian reported.

“No one should be able to evade justice by crossing a border,” he added.

Fireside was charged in March with aggravated theft, forgery and other crimes for allegedly ripping off retired Safeway employee Arthur Petrone, her mom’s beau, by applying for a loan using his name.

Petrone, who died in August, lived on his pension and Social Security payments.

Fireside pleaded not guilty at her arraignment and was allowed to remain free on the condition that she not leave the state and show up for court hearings.

However, the state justice department on Friday filed a motion to revoke Fireside’s bail after investigators determined that she wasn’t living at her Lexington, Oregon, home — a violation of the terms of her release, the attorney general said.

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Giffords: Increase in Defensive Gun Uses ‘Must Be Stopped’

When I covered the WSJ’s hit piece on Stand Your Ground laws on Wednesday, I wondered if the reporters had any behind-the-scenes help from gun control activists. 

It’s not proof of anything, but since the story appeared online only one gun control group has promoted the story on X or Bluesk

The premise of the WSJ story is that Stand Your Ground laws have led to a 59% increase in the number of justifiable homicides in some states between 2019 and 2024, and that the law is allowing some folks to literally get away with murder. 

As we discussed yesterday, though, none of the anecdotal cases cited by WSJ in support of that premise are slam dunk examples of murders that were deemed justified as a result of SYG laws. The data set used by the paper is also suspect, since it did not include the significant number of states where Stand Your Ground exists in common law but not specifically in statute. 

There are only 11 states that impose a general duty to retreat before acting in self-defense. The vast majority of states don’t require you to present your back as a target to your attacker while you try to run away; instead, they allow you to act in self-defense so long as you have a reasonable belief of imminent death or great bodily harm. 

Stand Your Ground laws also aren’t really a new thing. Florida’s statute, for instance, has been in place for two decades. If the law automatically led to more unjustified shootings being deemed justifiable homicides by the courts, we would have expected to see that phenomenon occur long before 2020, but there’s no evidence that’s the case. 

We saw a huge spike in violent crime in 2020, along with a big spike in new gun owners. That’s the most likely reason for an increase in justifiable homicides since then; with more crimes being committed and more people carrying for self-defense, there are more occasions when legally armed citizens will use a firearm to defend themselves. That doesn’t mean, however, that people are getting away with murder just because they tell police that they were in fear for their lives. Every time a life is taken a police investigation is going to take place, and charges may very well be filed even when there’s evidence of self-defense. 

Even using the WSJ’s own flawed dataset, the percentage of homicides deemed justified in SYG states has climbed from about 2.8% in 2019 to 3.8% in 2024. We don’t know how many self-defense claims were raised in the 96.2% of homicides that were deemed murder, but we know the number isn’t “zero.” Stand Your Ground laws aren’t a “get-out-of-jail free” card for armed citizens, despite the slanted reporting from the WSJ and Gifffords’ wild suggestion that many or all of these justifiable homicides are actually murder.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Calls Hakeem Jeffries “Ignorant” Following His False Statements Made About President Trump’s Meeting with Chinese President Xi 

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was on “Fox News Sunday” to discuss President Trump’s use of tariffs. He was also optimistic that the Supreme Court would side with President Donald Trump on emergency tariffs.

“What did and didn’t get accomplished when Presidents Trump and Xi met face to face?” Bream asked.

“What do you make of his characterization of what happened in China?” Bream referencing Rep Hakeem Jeffries’ inaccurate comments on President Trump.

“I think it’s ignorant, and I think it’s kind of sad he has no idea how ignorant he is, because I was in the room and I can tell you I was there for the President’s entire trip and it was a tour de force,” Bessent said.

“The President went into Malaysia, signed trade deals, peace deals with Thailand and Cambodia,” Bessent said.

“We moved onto Japan. The President and the new Prime Minister of Japan had great chemistry,” Bessent continued.

“The meeting with President Xi was one of great respect and many accomplishments,” Bessent said.

“What do you make of their characterization of you?” Bream asked regarding a Washington Post article referencing Chinese negotiators that may have upset him.

“Highly inaccurate and look we saw that Chinese manufacturing has been down for 7 months in a row. So, let’s do the math. The liberation day, April 2nd. Where are we today? November 2nd, seven months. Chinese manufacturing has been down every month,” Bessent said.

“Their trade with Europe is up 10 percent, but it’s all discounted. They’ve depreciated their currency and the Chinese economy, they are in the middle of a real estate crisis,” Bessent continued.

Secretary Bessent also talked about the rare earth minerals and explained that it has been a problem for many decades, and that the administration is working hard to become more independent in that area.

“We are going to be moving at warp speed,” Bessent said.

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Newsom Claims Biden Is Fit to Serve — Then Says He “Hates When Politicians Lie to You”

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s latest appearance on Meet the Press showed exactly why Americans have lost faith in Democrat leadership. 

When asked what frustrates him most about politics, Newsom said, “There is nothing I dislike more than a politician who sits there and lies to you.” 

Moments later, he defended Joe Biden’s “fitness” to serve as president through 2029—despite overwhelming evidence that Biden is no longer capable of handling the job he already lost.

Since President Trump returned to the White House, the contrast between leadership and incompetence could not be more evident. 

Trump has rebuilt the economy, strengthened border security, and reasserted America’s role on the world stage. 

Meanwhile, Democrats like Newsom continue to defend Biden’s record of weakness and confusion, pretending that his failed presidency was a golden era. 

Newsom’s attempt to rewrite history is not loyalty—it’s deception.

Newsom pointed to a 2023 Oval Office meeting with Biden as proof of the former president’s competence. 

But Americans remember what really happened: a term defined by inflation, chaos at the border, and foreign policy disasters that emboldened America’s enemies. 

Biden’s June 2024 debate was a disaster—he appeared confused, frail, and unable to complete sentences.

His blank stares, missed cues, and incoherent answers shocked viewers nationwide, confirming fears that he lacked the mental and physical capacity to lead the country. It was a defining moment of collapse.

Even Democrats privately admitted it. Yet Newsom, ever the political opportunist, continues to praise Biden to protect his own ambitions for 2028.

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Pelosi FLIPS OUT When President Trump Appears on Screen During Discussion on Schumer Shutdown

Trump broke Pelosi.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi flipped out as soon as President Trump appeared on the screen during her interview with Spectrum News on Friday.

Pelosi joined Spectrum News’ The Rush Hour with host Giselle Fernandez to discuss the ongoing government shutdown.

Friday was day 31 of the Schumer shutdown.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are holding Americans hostage and refusing to reopen the government because their priority is to give healthcare benefits to illegal aliens.

Pelosi called President Trump a “very, very dangerous man,” as she absurdly claimed he’s the worst president children in America have had in “our own history.”

As Pelosi yammered on, B-roll of Trump walking on the South Lawn of the White House appeared on the screen.

This angered Pelosi.

“He is the worst president for children! There he is walking! The worst! Hi!” Pelosi said waving to the screen.

She continued, “The worst president for anybody, any president in our history.”

Pelosi accused President Trump of taking food out of the mouths of babies after the Democrats voted 13 times to block government funding for SNAP benefits.

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Judge Delivers Blow to Letitia James in Mortgage Fraud Case

A federal judge on Friday denied Letitia James’ request to force federal prosecutors to turn over all of their communications with the media after it was reported that Lindsey Halligan was exchanging text messages with a Lawfare reporter.

A couple of weeks ago, US Attorney Lindsey Halligan exchanged Signal messages with Lawfare reporter Anna Bower.

It is not unusual for a prosecutor to communicate with the press.

Lindsey Halligan pushed back on Anna Bower’s reporting in her exchange.

“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” the first message to Anna Bower read. “You are reporting things that are simply not true. Thought you should have a heads up.”

Click here to see the screenshots of Halligan’s Signal exchange with Anna Bower.

Letitia James asked Judge Walker to force the DOJ to keep a log of all communications with the press.

The judge delivered a blow to Letitia James.

Judge Jamar Walker, a Biden appointee, said Letitia James did not demonstrate that it is necessary for the court to force the DOJ to track communications with the media.

The New York Post reported:

The judge overseeing Letitia James’ mortgage fraud case on Friday denied a motion from the New York attorney general attempting to force federal prosecutors to keep a log of all their communications with the media.

Defense attorney Abbe Lowell filed the motion last week, when James was arraigned on bank fraud and false statements charges, in response to a report that US Attorney Lindsey Halligan sent a flurry of encrypted Signal messages about the case to a reporter.

“[T]he defendant does not demonstrate that it is necessary for the Court to order the government to track communications with the media in any particular form,” US District Judge Jamar Walker wrote in his six-page order.

“The defendant’s request that the government be required to keep a communication log is DENIED,” the Biden-appointed judge ruled.

Walker noted that Halligan’s Signal chat with Lawfare senior editor Anna Bower earlier this month was “unusual” but he declined to offer an opinion “on whether they were improper in any sense, either legal or ethical.”

James was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia last month.

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Trump admin. probe finds Democrat states spent over $1B in Medicaid funds on illegal aliens: ‘My team is getting it back’

The Trump administration announced that it is launching probes into Medicaid spending on illegal aliens in at least six Democrat run states in an attempt to expel waste, fraud, and abuse in the public healthcare system.

According to a preliminary audit conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), California, Washington, D.C., Illinois, Washington, Colorado, and Oregon spent a total of $1,351,204,127 on healthcare for illegal aliens utilizing Medicaid funds, mostly during 2024 and 2025.

Utilizing federal Medicaid funds to provide healthcare coverage to illegal aliens is illegal under federal law; however, Medicaid funds can be used to cover emergency medical services for anyone, regardless of their immigration status.

The Trump administration is arguing that the Democrat states in question are providing comprehensive healthcare to illegal immigrants utilizing federal Medicaid funds, prompting the probe.

“Medicaid is by far the largest source of federal funding for states. It was originally intended to only provide aid for eligible beneficiaries, but, over time, states have figured out how to game the system, padding permitted expenses and diverting the profits to fund activities that are supposedly prohibited,” stated Manhattan Institute public health policy expert Chris Pope.

“Any claim that state healthcare expenditures don’t ultimately involve some form of federal funds should be regarded with suspicion,” he added.

Meanwhile, Democrat leaders from the list of states suspected of breaking federal law have argued that the probe is “based on an incorrect preliminary finding,” while arguing that their policies are in accordance with federal law.

“Our payments for coverage of undocumented individuals are in accordance with state and federal laws,” stated Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing spokesman Marc Williams. “The $1.5 million number referenced by federal leaders today is based on an incorrect preliminary finding, and has been refuted with supporting data by our Department experts.”

“It is disappointing that the administration is announcing this number as final when it is clearly overstated and the conversations are very much in the education and discussion phase,” he added.

According to the preliminary audit conducted by CMS, California spent over $1 billion in federal Medicaid funds on illegal immigrants, followed by Illinois, which reportedly spent nearly $30 million. Oregon spent the third most, according to the audit, totaling over $5 million.

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Gov Healey’s Drug Lord Deputy Director

Democratic Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey’s deputy director, LaMar Cook, has been running a massive drug operation under her nose. Authorities seized eight kilograms of cocaine that were being delivered to a state government office building. The Massachusetts State Police seized multiple packages totaling 21 kilograms of cocaine.

Authorities arrested Cook during a traffic stop for a “controlled delivery operation” after intercepting the eight kilos of cocaine destined for the Springfield State Office Building. “As the Western Massachusetts Director for Governor Maura Healey, I serve as a key liaison between the state government and the western region of Massachusetts,” the LinkedIn bio for the suspected cocaine trafficker reads. “In this role, I effectively manage and coordinate government initiatives and policies in 4 counties.”

“The governor’s office has been made aware of the arrest of an employee, Lamar Cook. The conduct that occurred here is unacceptable and represents a major breach of the public trust,” Healey’s office said, as the governor has failed to comment on the incident at the time of this writing.

Cook was booked and received a $25,000 bond—a slap on the wrist. Trafficking 200 grams or more of cocaine results in a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years, for the average person, with a maximum sentence of 20 years. The mandatory fine begins at $50,000 and extends to a maximum of $500,000.

The investigation is ongoing. It is absolutely abhorrent that such a blatant violation of public trust and human welfare would occur within the government. Cook obviously used his influence to expand his drug trafficking ring. Governor Healey will be under investigation to see if she knew or was involved in any form. At best, she wholly failed in her supervisory obligations.

Over 10,000 people overdosed on drugs in the state of Massachusetts from January 2020 to December 2023; cocaine was responsible for 46.1% of all overdoses. How can the current administration battle such a prevalent public health crisis when the drug lords are in neighboring offices?

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Are Democrats Trying To Start A Civil War?

Whenever you delve into the modern history of internal national conflict you’re bound to come across post-crisis accounts from people who said “We never saw it coming…” or “The violence hit us from nowhere…” Generally speaking, these were the people who weren’t paying attention and they just happened to survive by sheer luck.

I think of this dynamic a lot these days. I see a large contingent of American society (perhaps 25% of the population) which has been radicalized or brainwashed beyond all reason or repair. These people (leftists) operate deep within a protective bubble of propaganda and zealotry; they function within a hive mind that does not deviate from the demands of their gatekeepers. They cannot be reasoned with, nor can they be satiated. They lust for power and the suffering of anyone who opposes them.

One can see an immediate difference between the sides. Conservatives are so independent we in-fight constantly. We might agree on basic values (even in this we sometimes argue), but in terms of policy and action we rarely shake hands.

For the political left, any disagreement with the majority leads to immediate ostracism. The hive mind does not tolerate individual rebellion. Only the gatekeepers can change the mindset or the mission of the mob.

It is strange then that this dichotomy has resulted in conservatives, with their values of liberty and independence, seeking order. Meanwhile leftists, in their Orwellian uniformity of thought, seek chaos and the deconstruction of civilization. You would think the relationship would be reversed, but this is the way it has always been.

Looking back on the events of the Bolshevik Revolution and the long list of Marxist disruptions in Europe following WWI, it should not have been at all surprising to Europeans that domestic conflict would erupt. It should not have been surprising that people would follow their natural inclination to rally around their founding heritage rather than submit to the cultural and moral relativism of the radical left.

Fascism was popular exactly because it offered shelter from the chaos and degeneracy of communism. The war and brutality that followed was seen as a balancing of the scales. Europeans wanted to ensure that the communists would never get a chance to wreak havoc again.

To be clear, both systems of governance are authoritarian and can lead to monstrous outcomes, but communism’s love for economic sabotage, mob actions and political violence are almost always a precursor to a fascist crackdown. The public does not embrace fascism in a vacuum, they must be compelled by an existential threat.

The question is, can communist subversion be defeated without using “authoritarian” measures? Is a constitutional republic equipped to deal with this kind of threat? When someone wages war on your society internally, is there a way to fight them while remaining civic minded? Probably not.

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Democrats Choose Supporting LGBT Activists Over Stopping Child Rape

Given a choice between child rape and saying no to the LGBT lobby, California Democrats picked child rape.

A recent New York Times story on Los Angeles’ notorious Figueroa Street revealed the brutal human cost of Democrats’ subservience to the LGBT lobby. Prostitution had always been a problem, but, as the paper reported, “in recent years, the officers had seen the magnitude of child sex trafficking explode.” Girls, some not even teenagers yet, are being abused, beaten, and raped night after night in a miles-long stretch of street ruled by traffickers and known as the Blade.

This expanding evil is the result of deliberate choices by Democrats. There were the pandemic school closures — extended far beyond any evidence or reasonable fears — that left vulnerable children unattended and easy prey for traffickers. There were police budget cuts — in practice, defunding the police means letting those selling children as sex slaves control the streets. And, though the New York Times does not mention it, handing the cartels control of our southern border surely enabled the sex traffickers now selling children in L.A. and elsewhere.

But above all, there was the repeal of “the law allowing the police to arrest women who loitered with the intent to engage in prostitution.” Ostensibly, this was to “prevent profiling of Black, brown and trans women based on how they dressed. But when it was implemented in January 2023, the effect was that uniformed officers could no longer apprehend groups of girls in lingerie on Figueroa, hoping to recover minors among them.” And so it was not long before “every intersection from Gage to Imperial had girls waving and waiting to be rented out, some of them imported by traffickers from Oregon or Texas or Alabama. By the end of 2023, the city attorney had taken to calling Figueroa the Kiddie Stroll because so many of the girls weren’t even 13.”

There were, it turns out, good reasons that it was illegal for girls wearing G-strings, fishnets, and heels to hang around known sex trafficking hubs late at night. As Abigail Shrier reported for City Journal back in 2023, the “anti-loitering statute,” which “had provided the grounds for officers to question women and children whom they suspected might be trapped in a prostitution ring.” It had thereby kept prostitution in general, and child sex slavery in particular, in check by giving police the ability to break up prostitution hot spots.

But this was unacceptable to California Democrats. The New York Times refused to name names, but the man most responsible for the current miles-long market of child prostitutes in Los Angeles is California state Sen. Scott Weiner of San Francisco. Wiener, who is now running for Congress, leads the LGBT faction of the Democrat-dominated California legislature. Shrier recounted some of his other handiwork, which included laws that have “allowed biological male felons to self-ID their way into women’s prisons,” “decriminalized the intentional exposure of a sexual partner to HIV” and “reduced criminal penalties for sex offenders.” He also tried to decriminalize ketamine, often used as a date-rape drug.

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