Why 'Sound of Freedom,' Jim Caviezel's controversial child sex trafficking film, is a hit

July 12, 2023

So far the summer's box-office titans feature wholly predictable stars and titles. There's Harrison Ford in his final "Indiana Jones" installment, Chris Pratt and the "Guardians of the Galaxy" gang, and Spider-Man swinging across the "Spider-Verse."

Far less expected is the impressive showing of Jim Caviezel and "Sound of Freedom." The outside-of-Hollywood entry in the summer sweepstakes about a federal agent tackling child sex trafficking took in $19.7 million last weekend, according to Box Office Mojo. That makes "Freedom" the third most-popular movie in the country, behind top-grossing "Insidious: The Red Door" and "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" Sound of Freedom, has earned $45.7 million domestically since its release July 4.

But "Sound of Freedom" already is as much a political football as it is an unlikely cinematic success. The film is generating buzz among conservatives and liberals not so much for its content − both ideologies agree child sex trafficking is the height of immorality − but for comments made by its star. Fans say the movie speaks to an audience underserved by Hollywood; critics contend it's a recruiting tool for the far right.

Brandon Purdie, head of theatrical distribution at Angel Studios, attributed the success to word of mouth.

Here's what to know about the film:

Is 'Sound of Freedom' based on a true story?

"Sound of Freedom" draws upon the real life of Tim Ballard, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security agent who is credited with saving countless children, largely from outside the U.S., from traffickers who force them into prostitution rings aimed at pedophiles. In 2013, Ballard started the non-profit group Operation Underground Railroad, which according to its website, "directly responds to international government requests to develop intelligence and assist to carry out rescue efforts." In 2020, Vice News published reports critical of the organization.

Ballard advised then-President Donald Trump in 2019 on trafficking issues.

Who funded 'Sound of Freedom'?

"Sound of Freedom" was shot in 2018 largely with funding from Mexican investors, according to The New York Times. Its writer and director, Alejandro Monteverde, is from Mexico. Disney shelved the project when it acquired the studio in 2019. Angel Studios then stepped in to distribute "Sound of Freedom." The Provo, Utah-based company has individual contributors that support fledgling start-ups. The company said it raised around $5 million from thousands of angel investors, each of whom get a revenue share in the project, to market the film.

__What is 'Sound of Freedom' streaming on?__The PG-13 movie is only in theaters at this time and is showing on nearly 3,000 screens nationwide. On its website, Angel Studios encourages fans to "pay it forward" and purchase tickets for those interested in seeing the movie but who can't afford a seat.

What are critics saying about 'Sound of Freedom'?

"Sound of Freedom" has a 79% fresh ratingon Rotten Tomatoes, and a 100% audience score. Audiences gave it an A+ on CinemaScore. In a largely positive review, Variety's Owen Gleiberman wrote, “you needn’t hold extreme beliefs to experience ‘Sound of Freedom’ as a compelling moviethat shines an authentic light on one of the crucial criminal horrors of our time, one that Hollywood has mostly shied away from.”

In contrast, Nick Allen, writing for RogerEbert.com, says the movie is too preoccupied with its overarching message. And Rolling Stone critic Miles Klee called the film a "superhero movie for dads with brainworms," while The Guardian critic Charles Bramesco took "Sound" to task for being "QAnon-adjacent."

__What are actor Jim Caviezel's beliefs?__Jim Caviezel, recently appeared on Steve Bannon's podcast to promote "Sound of Freedom." During the segment, Caviezel made mention of “adrenochrome,” a hormone that QAnon adherents say global elites harvest from child victims as an allegedly life-extending elixir.

…Caviezel appears as himself on the screen saying, "We believe this movie has the power to be a huge step forward toward ending child trafficking.”

What is QAnon?

QAnon is described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an "umbrella term for a sprawling spiderweb of right-wing internet conspiracy theories with antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ elements that falsely claim the world is run by a secret cabal of pedophiles who worship Satan and are plotting against President Trump. QAnon believers falsely claim the cabal is abducting children to kill them and harvest their blood for a chemical known as adrenochrome, which is used to extend their lives."

"Sound of Freedom" does not mention QAnon or any issues that are politically partisan.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2023/07/12/sound-of-freedom-movie-controversy/70405543007/

PN>>19177661 Bribery Biden Defies SCOTUS, Uses Loophole to Forgive $39 Billion in Student Debt

For those interested in the details:

Bribery Biden Defies SCOTUS, Uses Loophole to Forgive $39 Billion in Student Debt

By J.D. Rucker • Jul. 14, 2023

As promised, the Biden-Harris regime thumbed their noses at the Supreme Court after its ruling against student loan forgiveness. The White House announced Friday that they went with a different plan.

According to CNBC:

The Biden administration announced Friday it would automatically forgive $39 billion in student debt for 804,000 borrowers.

The relief is a result of fixes to the student loan system’s income-driven repayment plans. Under those repayment plans, borrowers get any remaining debt canceled by the government after they have made payments for 20 years or 25 years, depending on when they borrowed, and their loan and plan type.

In the past, payments that should have moved a borrower closer to being debt-free were not accounted for, according to the Biden administration.

“For far too long, borrowers fell through the cracks of a broken system that failed to keep accurate track of their progress towards forgiveness,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement.

To bring people over the line for forgiveness, the Biden administration counted payments for borrowers who’d paused their payments in certain deferments and forbearances and those who’d made partial or late payments.

To put this into perspective, this new plan is a smaller version with tighter restrictions than the one struck down by the Supreme Court.The original plan would have stolen taxpayer money to pay off loans made by 37 million instead of 800,000.

According to The Gateway Pundit:

These 804,000 borrowers will be notified on Friday by the Department of Education and relief will begin 30 days later.Individuals who do not want debts discharged are encouraged contact their loan service providers. (Like anyone is going to say, “I want to keep paying on my college debt”)

This new plan is part of previous “fixes” to other programs the Regime believes were failing borrowers. ABC News notes that this includes $45 billion to people enrolled in Public Service Loan Forgiveness who weren’t getting the debt relief and $22 billion to borrowers who were defrauded by for-profit colleges.

The move by the Education Department is quite audacious considering the Supreme Court struck down Joe Biden’s lawless program to cancel debt relief back in June.

Despite the greatly reduced number of beneficiaries, this is still a major blow to common sense.It also sets the stage for further theft of taxpayer dollars using similar loopholes in the future.

https://thelibertydaily.com/bribery-biden-defies-scotus-uses-loophole-to-forgive-39-billion-in-student-debt/

“Joe Biden Can’t Even Walk Up the Steps of Air Force One without Tripping” – Trump Responds to Biden’s Decision to Mobilize Reserve Forces

by Cristina Laila Jul. 14, 2023 11:05

President Trump on Friday responded to Joe Biden’s decision to mobilize reserve forces.

On Thursday, Joe Biden issued an Order to “augment the active Armed Forces of the United States for the effective conduct of Operation Atlantic Resolve” to include up to 3,000 members of the Selected Reserve, with up to 450 members of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR).

Trump responded to Biden’s escalation with Russia.

“Joe Biden can’t even walk up the steps of Air Force One without tripping,” Trump said. “The last thing this incompetent administration should be doing is pushing us further toward World War Three.”

Joe Biden stumbled as he boarded Air Force One en route to the United States after a stop in Finland.

Biden used the shorter staircase to board Air Force One and he still stumbled!

Biden stumbles a bit as he boards Air Force One — using the smaller stairs — en route to the United States. He took no questions. pic.twitter.com/UxCA75kdQP

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 13, 2023

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/07/joe-biden-cant-even-walk-up-steps-air/

French President Macron Mercilessly Booed During Bastille Day Parade

By Margaret Flavin Jul. 14, 2023

France is burning under President Emmanuel Macron.

On Friday, as he drove through the Champs-Elysées in the Bastille Day parade, representatives of the “yellow vests” protest movement expressed their dissatisfaction with his failed leadership and booed him mercilessly as the crowd chanted, “Macron, go away!”

France has faced months of unrest under Macron.

After the officer-involved death of a 17-year-old driver, riots left 1,000 buildings burnt, 5,600 vehicles destroyed, and 3,300 arrests across France.

Earlier in the year, massive protests have plagued the county including the annual May Day rally in support of workers’ rights.

The Gateway Pundit reported on protests in March across France after The French National Assembly rejected a vote of no-confidence against the Government of Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.

Protesters stormed the streets multiple times over recent months in opposition to the retirement change.

Disruptions are expected on Friday for Bastille Day celebrations in Paris.

On Monday, The Gateway Pundit reported that, in a disturbing turn, a severed human finger was sent to the official presidential home. The package did not contain any correspondence, only the finger, which investigators determined came from “a living victim” who, according to police sources, has been identified.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/07/french-president-macron-mercilessly-booed-during-bastille-day/

https://youtu.be/DAoFgZrKr3g

VICTORY FOR SANITY: Biological Men BANNED from Competing As Women in Global Cycling – Will Now Compete in New Category

by Cullen Linebarger Jul. 14, 2023

The radical global trans movement was hit with a major loss on Friday.

As ESPN reported, the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced that trans women (biological men) will no longer be able to compete in the female category.

The UCI revealed that the trans women will be competing in anew category called men/open. This means they will actually be racing against their own peers while still being allowed to identify as trans. The new rules will go into effect on Monday according to ESPN

The UCI released this statement announcing the new changes:

At an extraordinary meeting held on 5 July, the Management Committee of the UCI decided to adapt the current UCI rules on the right of female transgender athletes to take part in competitions on the UCI International Calendar.

From now on, female transgender athletes who have transitioned after [male] puberty will be prohibited from participating in women’s events on the UCI International Calendar — in all categories — in the various disciplines.

ESPN notes that the UCI organization previously allowed biological men with reduced testosterone to take part in female events. It agreed to take another look at its rules after American Austin Killips became the first biological man to win a UCI women’s stage race this year.

UCI president David Lappartient in a statement tried to strike a balance between respecting individual’s “gender identity” while standing firm on protecting female sports.

First of all, the UCI would like to reaffirm that cycling – as a competitive sport, leisure activity or means of transport – is open to everyone, including transgender people, whom we encourage like everyone else to take part in our sport.

I would also like to reaffirm that the UCI fully respects and supports the right of individuals to choose the sex that corresponds to their gender identity, whatever sex they were assigned at birth.

However, it has a duty to guarantee, above all, equal opportunities for all competitors in cycling competitions.

It is this imperative that led the UCI to conclude that, given the current state of scientific knowledge does not guarantee such equality of opportunity between transgender female athletes and cisgender female participants, it was not possible, as a precautionary measure, to authorise the former to race in the female categories.

As the Associated Press noted, governing bodies in track and field and swimming have barred athletes who underwent male puberty from competing in international women’s events.

Hopefully more victories for sanity are on the horizon.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/07/victory-sanity-biological-men-banned-competing-as-women/

FBI Pushed Informants to Buy Weapons to Expand Domestic Violent Extremism Investigations

by Richard Abelson Jul. 14, 2023

Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have both claimed that far-right and white supremacist groups “pose the most serious domestic national security threat in the U.S.” In April 2022, House Republicans blasted Mayorkas for “failing to name a single case of domestic terrorism that his department has referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution.”

A new investigation by Madeleine Rowley and Alex Gutentag on Public finds that “the FBI is not only exaggerating the threat of white supremacy, but isalso embedding confidential human sources within white nationalist groupsand encouraging members of these groups to engage in illegal activity.“

According to Public, “there’s no good evidence that domestic terrorism is increasing. Last year there were only 21 homicides linked to white supremacists in the entire country. By comparison, Chicago alone saw an average of 58 homicides every month.”

The Gateway Pundit readers are familiar with the bogus fedsurrectionist “Patriot Front“ organization, who all happen to wear the same khaki fed-style pants and never show their faces. Recently in Portland, true patriot Proud Boys unmasked the sham “Patriot Front“, as Gateway Pundit revealed.

A source has now confirmed to Public that theFBI “pushed confidential informants to buy weaponsso that agents can expand the scope and scale of domestic violent extremism investigations.”

The actions follow the patterns of other FBI entrapment cases, according to Public, such as the FBI “plot” to kidnap Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer: “The FBI pays an informant to lure people into planning and almost carrying out terrorist attacks using weapons, money, and other materials usually provided by the FBI before arresting them at the last minute”, Public writes.

Evidence gathered suggests that the FBI “is going even further” with their entrapment tactics, Public reports, citing Lucas Gage, “a retired Marine veteran previously involved with a far-right white nationalist group”, who recently “posted a video on Twitter describing how theFBI’s Domestic Terror Unit tried to recruit him to embed into extremist groups like Atomwaffen.”

Gage described his recruitment process to Public:“CIs (Confidential Informants) are paid in cash. There is no trace of them working with the FBI. Under no circumstances could a CI expose they work for the FBI, otherwise the deal would be off.”

An FBI agent approached Gage about becoming an informant and asked if he “would be comfortable buying weapons and drugs when undercover,” he said.

An FBI source corroborated Gage’s description of FBI tactics, according to the report, explaining that “prompting informants to buy drugs and weapons” is a common strategy. In 2020, the FBI asked an Iowa truck driver if he’d be willing to buy and sell drugs as an informant for the FBI, as Lee Fang reported for The Intercept in 2020.

“From 2013 to 2021, the FBI’s domestic terrorism-related investigations increased by 357 percent, but there was no similar increase in terrorist attacks during that period“, Public writes. “If the number of open FBI cases reflected the actual level of extremist violence, there would be a domestic terrorist attack every day.“

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/07/fbi-pushed-informants-buy-weapons-expand-domestic-violent/

Top Intel Source to Seymour Hersh: “Biden’s Principal Issue in the War is that He’s Screwed”

by Richard Abelson Jul. 14, 2023

White House Resident Joe Bidenbought the support of Turkish President Erdoganfor Swedish NATO membership with $ 13 billion from the IMF, reports investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, citing a high-ranked intel source. There iscurrently a “big power struggle” going on within the “dying administration” faced with a failing war in Ukraine. Joe Biden is “oblivious” and Ukraine war hawk Victoria Nuland has been “blocked”. The source advised intil professionals to “shelter in place,” he said.

“Biden’s principal issue in the war is that he’s screwed,” a top intel official told Hersh. “We didn’t give Ukraine cluster bombs earlier in the war, but we’re giving them cluster bombs now, because that’s all we got left in the cupboard. Aren’t these the bombs that are banned all over the world, because they kill kids? But the Ukrainians tell us they are not planning to drop them on civilians. And then the administration claims that the Russians have used them first in the war, which is just a lie.“

“In any case,” the official told Hersh, “cluster bombs have zero chance of changing the course of the war.”

The real problem will come as early as August, when the Russians “will counter-strike with a major offensive,” Hersh cites his unnamed source: “What happens then? The US has painted itself in a corner by calling for NATO to do something. Will NATO respond by sending the brigades now training in Poland and Romania on an airborne assault? We knew more about the German army in Normandy in World War II than we know about the Russian army in Ukraine.”

The failing Ukraine war has taken a toll on the Biden administration, Hersh writes. On Monday, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu claimed that the Ukrainian counteroffensive had cost 26.000 casualties and 3.000 units of material, as Gateway reported.

The increasingly unpopular war has come at the expense of Ukraine war hawk Victoria Nuland, currently serving as Undersecretary of State for Policy.Nuland has been “blocked” from being promoted “to replace the much respected Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman,” Hersh quotes a Democrat Party insider. “Nuland’s anti-Russian politics and rhetoric matches the tone and point of view of Biden and Secretary of State Tony Blinken,” he writes.

Current CIA director Bill Burns is maneuvering for a top spot at the State Department, Hersh reports, trumpeting “his love for Biden and his intense dislike of all things Russian, including Putin,” in a speech in England July 1.Burns was “the liaison between the intelligence team operating out of Norwayand the Oval Office” during the sabotage operation of the Nord Stream pipelines, which Hersh reported on in February 2023. Burns had “won the respect of a hard core of CIA officers and agents for his discrete handling of the nine-month planning and execution of the covert operation, approved by Biden, to destroy the Nord Steam I and II pipelines running from Russia to Germany,” Hersh wrote:

“Burns was also known for his warning … that continued expansion of NATO to the east—NATO now is now on the verge of totally covering Russia’s western border—would inevitably lead to conflict.”

Sleepy Joe Biden is “not revered throughout the CIA,” Hersh reports, “as many presidents have not been.” Hersh’s source noted that “all was in flux” throughout the Biden national security bureaucracy. “Big shuffle. Big power struggle. Biden oblivious. All the ants fighting for the crumbs of a dying administration.Advised all the professionals inside to shelter in place. Wait and see the color of the smoke from the Vatican Chancellery. Explains Burns’ Kool-Aid remarks in the UK.”

At the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania this week, Joe Biden hat got Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to support NATO membership for Sweden by promising Turkey an “$11-13 billion line of credit” from the International Monetary Fund, Hersh reports. “Biden had to have a victory and Turkey is in acute financial stress,” Hersh’s source said.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/07/top-intel-source-seymour-hersh-bidens-principal-issue/

14 Jul, 2023 12:56

Ukrainian shelling attack kills elderly woman in Russia – governor

A teenager was among those injured in the incident, Bryansk Region’s top official has said

A Ukrainian artillery strike has killed an elderly woman and injured three other civilians in Russia’s Bryansk Region, Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz said on Friday.

A woman in her mid-80s was killed in the border village of Belaya Beryozka, according to the official. The three other people, including a 16-year-old, suffered mild injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment, he added.

Three homes caught fire due to the Ukrainian shelling, the governor said.

Images from the area, circulated by the Russian media, showed a raging fire, and locals trying to rescue their belongings from a neighboring building not yet affected by the flames. Some outlets said a total of five houses were damaged.

Belaya Beryozka is located just a few kilometers from the border with Ukraine’s Sumy Region. The leaders of Russian regions located next to Kiev-controlled territories regularly report strikes on settlements that lie within range of Ukrainian artillery.

https://www.rt.com/russia/579698-ukrainian-strike-bryansk-region/