BIDEN ON GOV'T SHUTDOWN: "The Black community in particular is going to suffer if that occurs. For example, a shutdown is going to risk nutrition assistance for nearly 7 million moms and children. It's going to disproportionately affect black families."
https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1706452498360193151
KJP: "This President has been so zeroed in, so laser-focused, on lowering costs for Americans — and we've done that!"
https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1706423440176042202
Oregon Sheriffs Association Says FBI Position Makes It Impossible To Legally Buy Guns
Legal gun sales will end in Oregon should Ballot Measure 114 survive ongoing court challenges, according to guidance provided to all county sheriffs by the Oregon State Sheriffs Association (OSAA).
Because the FBI has stated that it will not conduct background checks for the new law, no enforcement officer will be able to issue a permit to purchase a weapon as required by the measure.
Doing so would be a crime, the legal guidance states.
In addition, OSAA advised sheriffs that virtually all firearm magazines would be banned after the law takes effect.
Anyone possessing them would be committing a crime and could be arrested.
That includes off-duty police officers.
Tougher Rules
Voters approved Measure 114 last year with 50.7 percent of Oregonians saying "yes."
To qualify for a permit under the measure, an applicant would need to complete an approved, in-person firearm safety course, pay a fee, provide personal information, submit to fingerprinting and photographing, and pass an FBI criminal background check.
The permits would be processed by local police chiefs, county sheriffs or their designees, and Oregon State Police (OSP) with information then submitted to the FBI.
The measure also bans magazines that are capable of holding, or being modified to hold, more than 10 rounds.
Measure 114 has been in litigation since November 2022.
Plaintiffs in Oregon Firearm Federation v. the State of Oregon received the first hearing on Dec. 2, with oral arguments before Federal Judge Karin Immergut.
On Dec. 6, Judge Immergut denied plaintiffs a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the implementation of the measure but granted the state’s request for a 30-day delay on the permit-to-purchase portion of the new rules.
In that hearing, the Oregon Attorney General’s Office reassured the court that the permit-to-purchase system required by the new measure would be ready by Dec. 8 when the law was to take effect.
The court’s public gallery erupted in laughter at the pledge, as many gun rights advocates were skeptical that the state police or local sheriffs could have such a system in place in such a short period of time.
In fact, according to OSSA’s legal guidance, it is still not ready.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/oregon-sheriffs-association-says-fbi-position-makes-it-impossible-legally-buy-guns
White House Pledges $100 Million Support Kenyan UN Soldiers In Haiti
Secretary of State Antony Blinken explained how the US plans to support a proposed UN deployment to Haiti aimed at restoring order in the country. The Whtie House intends to spend $100 million to support the Kenyan soldiers sent to the Caribbean nation. Washington believes the troops could be deployed to Haiti within a few months.
On Friday, Blinken hosted a meeting in New York of countries that support Washington’s effort to get the UN Security Council to approve a resolution that would see Kenya lead an international force in Haiti.
“As the Haitian National Police works to get to full strength and capacity, security assistance from international partners can play a critical bridging role. That’s why the United States supports the UN-backed Multinational Security Support mission,” the American diplomat said in his address.
Blinked went on to pledge $165 million in military assistance to Port-au-Prince and Nairobi. “[The US] also announcing an additional $65 million to further professionalize the Haitian National Police and strengthen its capacity to dismantle the gangs and to safeguard communities,” he announced. “[The White House] intends to work with our Congress to provide $100 million in support, and our Department of Defense is prepared to provide robust enabling support – including planning assistance, intelligence support, airlift, communications, and medical support.”
Blinken noted the White House previously provided Port-au-Prince with over $120 million in security assistance.
The Joe Biden administration has wanted to deploy an international force to Haiti for over a year. In 2021, more Haitians began to arrive at the US border seeking entry. As a candidate, Biden repeatedly denounced then-President Donald Trump’s immigration policy as inhumane.
The situation proved a political nightmare for the White House. US Border Patrol agents were photographed using questionable tactics to round up Haitian migrants near the southern border. The White House has deported tens of thousands of Haitians back to their home country despite the rampant violence.
The White House attempted to resolve the issue by helping Haitian leader Ariel Henry restore order. Henry ascended to power in Port-au-Price with the support of Washington after President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in July 2021. While it is unclear who is behind the plot to kill Moise, Henry has been named as potentially involved.
Since Henry became Prime Minister, gangs have taken control of more territory. The Haitian leader has responded by supporting Washington’s effort to deploy UN peacekeepers to his country. “Democracy is at peril. Our country needs a return to normalcy,” Henry said. “Improved security must be accompanied by real progress to resolve the political crisis. The support mission will not be a substitute for political progress.”
Last year, the White House pressured Canada to lead the UN mission to Haiti, but Ottawa resisted the Biden administration’s request. In August, Washington announced it had enlisted Nairobi to lead the mission.
There are significant potential issues if UN soldiers are deployed to Haiti. In 2010, UN personnel released sewage into water that contained the country’s drinking supply, causing a cholera outbreak that claimed nearly 10,000 lives. Additionally, according to the State Department, Kenyan security forces routinely commit human rights atrocities.
https://libertarianinstitute.org/news/white-house-pledges-100-million-to-proposed-un-mission-to-haiti/
Investigator working for Fulton County DA Fani Willis accidentally shot herself at courthouse
The investigator reportedly shot herself in the leg but wasn't critically injured
An investigator working for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis accidentally shot herself on Friday inside the Fulton County Courthouse and was not "critically wounded," according to the sheriff's office.
"The shooting was an accidental discharge by a Fulton County District Attorney’s Office investigator who wounded herself. She was not critically wounded," the sheriff's office wrote on X.
Local station 95.5 WSB reported that the courthouse was evacuated after the investigator shot herself in the leg. The individual was “alert, conscious, and breathing” after the incident occurred, according to the outlet's reporting.
https://justthenews.com/nation/states/investigator-working-fulton-county-da-fani-willis-accidentally-shot-herself
FBI Statement on Baton Rouge Police Department Investigation
opened a federal investigation into the Baton Rouge Police Department and allegations that members of the department may have abused their authority. Experienced prosecutors and agents are now reviewing the matter for potential federal violations.
FBI New Orleans asks anyone who might have information in this case to contact us at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or online at tips.fbi.gov.
As this is an ongoing investigation, we are not currently able to comment further.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdla/pr/fbi-statement-baton-rouge-police-department-investigation
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to resign, ABC understands
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has called a sudden press conference in Melbourne.
The ABC understands he will announce his resignation.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-26/daniel-andrews-victorian-premier-press-conference-melbourne/102902188
State media
With courts skeptical, Biden outsources misinfo policing to researchers, reelection campaign
Anti-misinformation efforts show up in unexpected National Science Foundation grants. Former White House aide who cursed out Big Tech now leads campaign's social media monitoring army.
Stung by court decisions limiting its ability to pressure and coerce social media companies to remove purported misinformation and facing an uncertain response at the Supreme Court, the Biden administration is finding workarounds.
The State Department and National Science Foundation together awarded more than a dozen grants for misinformation-related programs with start dates this month or next, totaling about $4.4 million.
The Department of Defense awarded a no-bid $2.5 million contract last week to an artificial intelligence company that scours social media, the "dark web" and audio transmissions, whose software will be used by a DOD component that neighbors the National Security Agency.
Parallel to his agencies' efforts, the Biden reelection campaign is creating an army to identify and correct purported misinformation about the octogenarian president expected to come from rivals including Donald Trump that will almost certainly include his family overseas business dealings.
Its leaders include deputy campaign manager Rob Flaherty, whose profane marching orders to social media companies as White House director of digital strategy were exposed by Republican attorneys general's litigation against the social media pressure campaign.
Anti-censorship group Reclaim the Net flagged the State and NSF grants. One surprising recipient is Cornell University postdoctoral fellow Darryl Seligman, who received an NSF astronomy and astrophysics fellowship worth $330,000.
While focused on revealing "new insights into how the planet formation process varies throughout the galaxy," Seligman will develop "educational materials to help identify misinformation in media, using the case study of artificial origins of interstellar objects to motivate more pressing matters such as climate change and the global pandemic," the award says.
https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/courts-skeptical-biden-outsources-misinfo-policing-researchers
IRS Whistleblower Was Removed From Hunter Biden Case After Rift With Top Prosecutor, IRS Officials Testify
IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley was removed from the Hunter Biden investigation in December 2022 after he feuded with Delaware U.S. Attorney and lead prosecutor on the case David Weiss, two IRS officials testified to the House Ways and Means Committee.
IRS officials Darren Waldon and Michael Batdorf testified separately before the committee in September and laid out how Weiss’ alleged frustration with Shapley resulted in the IRS agent being taken off the Hunter Biden case, according to transcripts obtained by the Daily Caller.
“I recall having discussions on December 22nd of 2022 about removing Gary Shapley’s investigative team from the investigation,” Batdorf said, page 73 of the transcript shows. He said Weiss and Waldon were on a phone call about removing Shapley and that he followed up with Waldon afterwards.
“I mean, the decision to remove Mr. Shapley was made by Darrell and I in December, when we knew there was an issue — potential issue going forward. We just had not expressed that. It was not official as far as we hadn’t told Gary, because there was no — there’s no investigative steps to be taken,” Batdorf continued.
“In November, the U.S. Attorney stated he’s no longer communicating with investigative agents,” he added. “In my 22.5 years of experience and all the different field offices and leadership positions I’ve been in, that is not a good sign. That is extremely troubling. So, when we talked in December and we talked about removing the investigative team, I mean, again, I’ve stated all along I have agreed with the evidence in this case and pushed it forward.”
The IRS official repeated his assertion that the investigative work on the case was finished and his goal was to get the case prosecuted if that meant removing the IRS agents. He said Shapley was not removed from the case for misconduct, according to the transcript.
Batdorf and Waldon said communication between Shapley and Weiss broke down in October 2022, two months before the alleged decision to remove Shapley.
“My understanding is that the U.S. attorney stated that he would not be talking with Mr. Shapley henceforth, as they were going through their deliberative process,” Waldon testified, page 74 of his transcript shows. He said Weiss made his statement towards the end of October 2022 and that Shapley was the IRS criminal division’s primary contact with Weiss.
Waldon and Weiss spoke with each other a handful of times after Weiss allegedly decided to stop communicating about the case with Shapley, Waldon testified.
“I would say a handful,” Waldon said. “I honestly cannot recall the specific amount. But I would say about — maybe five seems reasonable.” Waldon left the Hunter Biden case in February 2023 because he took a new job.
https://dailycaller.com/2023/09/25/gary-shapley-remove-hunter-biden-weiss-irs-testimony/
Transcript
https://www.scribd.com/document/672573964/Michael-Batdorf-Interview-Transcript#download&from_embed
US government ridicules Tucker Carlson’s Putin claim
The former Fox News host has alleged that the White House obstructed his attempts to interview Russia's president
https://www.rt.com/news/583555-tucker-carlson-putin-claim/