WATCH: Students Condemn Trump’s Decision to Send Troops to the Border… Before Finding out Their ‘Favorite’ President Did the Same Thing

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By The Daily Wire. On Saturday, Campus Reform uploaded a video in which Media Director Cabot Phillips speaks with students at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

When Phillips asks the students their opinion on Trump sending troops to the southern border of the United States, their reaction is exactly what one would expect.

“I feel like it’s not justified … it is like a totally uncalled for act of power,” one student said. Another student said she thinks the move “puts a bad light on America.” . . .

Then Phillips flipped the script: “Did you know that President Obama did the exact same thing when he was president?” he asked.

The student who called Trump’s actions an “uncalled for act of power” simply replied, “Like…” followed by a lengthy pause. He eventually finished his thought, saying, “I don’t know anything about that, personally. So, the difference is definitely with publicity and like, false information.” (Read more from “WATCH: Students Condemn Trump’s Decision to Send Troops to the Border… Before Finding out Their ‘Favorite’ President Did the Same Thing” HERE)

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Gov. Brown Says He’s ‘Close to an Agreement’ with Trump Administration on California National Guard Deployment

By Capital Public Radio. Gov. Jerry Brown says he is “close to an agreement” with the Trump administration on deploying California’s National Guard to the Mexico border, but tweets from President Donald Trump seem to indicate otherwise.

On Wednesday morning, Trump tweeted that “Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border” and that “the people of the state are not happy.”

The Governor’s Office, meanwhile, has maintained that nothing has changed since California submitted a proposed agreement to the administration last week. (Read more from “Gov. Brown Says He’s ‘Close to an Agreement’ with Trump Administration on California National Guard Deployment” HERE)

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Russian Lawyer Asks Mueller an Important Question

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By AP. A Russian lawyer who discussed sanctions with Donald Trump Jr. in New York during his father’s 2016 campaign for the U.S. presidency said Sunday that special counsel Robert Mueller has not contacted her yet.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Natalia Veselnitskaya also detailed her recent meeting in Berlin with investigators from the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee. Like Mueller, the committee is investigating allegations of Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election.

Veselnitskaya met in June 2016 with then-candidate Donald Trump’s son, his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort, his campaign chairman at the time, Paul Manafort, after Trump Jr. was told the Russian lawyer had potentially incriminating information about Hillary Clinton. (Read more from “Russian Lawyer Asks Mueller an Important Question” HERE)

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Can Mueller Be More Honest Than His Colleagues?

By The Hill. I think it’s entirely possible — likely, in fact — that Robert Mueller is an honest broker and performing his job as special counsel without fear or favor. That he will investigate until he reaches the end of the logical trail and present his legitimate findings accordingly, recommending prosecution of those who may have violated our nation’s laws and betrayed our trust.

But considering the information that’s become available in the past year, we would be remiss if we didn’t at least consider other possible scenarios. Here’s one of them, posited amidst the context of news that has come to light. It has to do with a special counsel probe with the appearance of several important conflicts of interest.

There are many excellent agents within our intelligence agencies who deserve great credit and respect. But we also know that some bad actors within those agencies have a daunting record of problems that include lying about evidence; conducting politically-motivated acts; botched terrorism investigations; improper surveillance of private citizens, members of Congress and journalists; providing incorrect information to Congress; and illegally withholding evidence.

When top FBI officials spoke privately of needing an “insurance policy” in case Trump were elected, what if they felt this “policy” were necessary not just because they hated Trump, or because they believed Trump was illegally conspiring with Russia? What if they feared what a Trump administration might uncover within the intelligence agencies … and what the administration might do to take steps to reform them? Go up against the intelligence agencies, and as top Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) warned, “They have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you.”

Mueller isn’t exactly an unconflicted player in this scenario. He was FBI director from 2001-2013 when many alleged abuses occurred and — theoretically — would have a vested interest in protecting his former colleagues and his own legacy by preventing a Trump administration from poking around into alleged intelligence agency misdeeds. (Read more from “Can Mueller Be More Honest Than His Colleagues?” HERE)

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IRS Pushed to Bill Churches $1 Billion

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A demand from atheists that the IRS bill churches and other religious organizations a total of some $1 billion would violate freedom of worship and destroy many congregations, a new court brief contends.

In a case now at the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, churches are seeking to overturn a stunning district court decision by Judge Barbara Crabb . . .

It provides that a housing allowance is not considered taxable income when the house is for the convenience of the employer. While pastors do benefit, the tax deduction also is available for workers who live overseas, employees of educational institutes, any member or former member of the uniformed services, government workers living overseas, any American citizen living abroad and others.

Crabb’s verdict in the case brought against Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and others by the Freedom From Religion Foundation found that while the exemption is valid for secular employees, it should not be available for Christian pastors, setting up a discriminatory standard for the benefit . . .

A brief in the case filed by the Becket Fund on behalf of Chris Butler, a pastor from the South Side of Chicago, contends ending the housing allowance “would discriminate against religious groups by treating them worse than many other secular employees who receive similar tax treatment.” (Read more from “IRS Pushed to Bill Churches $1 Billion” HERE)

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Boy Killed During School Gun Walkout

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By ABC 7. University Medical Center has announced a memorial for the Parkland Middle School student struck and killed Friday.

Police say 11-year-old Jonathan Benko was taking part in Parkland Middle School’s organized walkout when he and a group of students left the designated walkout area. Police say around 10:30 Friday morning, the group crossed Loop 375 then attempted to cross it again. Benko was the last in the group to cross and was struck by a Ford F150.

Benko sustained serious injuries and was taken to UMC where he died. (Read more from “Boy Killed During School Gun Walkout” HERE)

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Texas Sixth-Grader Killed Crossing Highway After Leaving School During Walkout

By Dallas News. A Texas sixth-grader who left his middle school campus during national student walkouts Friday was hit by a car and killed when he attempted to walk across a highway, officials said.

The 11-year-old boy, identified in a hospital news release as Jonathan Benko, was hit at 10:27 a.m. by a pickup traveling north on Loop 375 in El Paso, the El Paso Times reported. He died later at a hospital.

Students nationwide walked out of classes Friday on the 19th anniversary of the mass shooting at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, to protest gun violence.

The boy was struck while leaving Parkland Middle School in El Paso during the walkout, but he was not participating in it, Ysleta Independent School District Superintendent Xavier De La Torre said at a news conference.

He left in a group of students as part of a “separate, isolated event,” the Times reported. Students walked to the middle school’s football field to gather for the walkout, but a small group hopped over a wall and left campus, according to the students’ accounts to the Times. No other students were hurt, officials said. (Read more from “Texas Sixth-Grader Killed Crossing Highway After Leaving School During Walkout” HERE)

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Twitter Blocks Pro-Life Activist with down Syndrome

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Twitter reportedly blocked a British pro-life activist with Down Syndrome for more than 24 hours after she posted pro-life pictures.

Charlotte “Charlie” Fien rebuked the social media giant with a trenchantly worded tweet once her account was restored Tuesday. Her previous tweet was dated Sunday . . .

LifeSiteNews contacted Twitter to ask why Fien’s account had been blocked, but did not hear back by deadline . . .

The pro-life advocate gained international renown after she received a standing ovation from United Nations delegates in Geneva in March.

Fien gave a passionate plea asking the international body to defend people with Down Syndrome from eugenic abortion.

(Read more from “Twitter Blocks Pro-Life Activist with down Syndrome” HERE)

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Warning: State About to Ban Bible Sales

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By WND. Liberty Counsel, which defends religious and civil rights, Friday warned that the state of California effectively is about to ban the sale of Bibles.

A bill in the legislature, approved 50-18 in an Assembly vote this week, would forbid counselors from telling a gender-confused male client that he is actually a man. . .

The bill declares “advertising, offering to engage in, or engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an individual” is fraudulent business practice.

“If approved, victims of sexual abuse can no longer get counseling if they develop (as often happens) unwanted urges to engage in same-sex behavior or become gender confused,” Liberty Counsel said.

“This bill would also make it unlawful for any person to sell books, including the Bible, counseling services, or anything else that directs people to trust in Jesus Christ to help them overcome unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion.” (Read more from “Warning: State About to Ban Bible Sales” HERE)

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China Banning Online Bible Sales ‘Absurd’

By The Baptist Press. China is purportedly the largest publisher of Bibles in the world, but the communist nation has now apparently blocked online Bible purchases for its residents.
Beginning last week, searches for Bibles at leading online retailers in China came up empty, according to reports from The New York Times and CNN.

The reports indicate certain Bible studies or illustrated storybooks were available through searches. Two merchants told CNN the Bible could be purchased through private messages, but public listings were now “impossible.”

China has historically restricted in-person Bible sales to state-sponsored channels and government-run churches, but online sales presented a loophole of sorts for Christians within the growing underground church movement.

That loophole has now apparently been closed as part of increased religious freedom restrictions — particularly against Christians. (Read more from “China Banning Online Bible Sales ‘Absurd'” HERE)

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Hero Firefighter Who Pulled Southwest Passenger from Window Recounts Harrowing Story

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By The Daily Caller. The fireman who tried to save Southwest Airlines passenger Jennifer Riordan spoke out on CNN’s “New Day” Friday and said he was inspired by God to step in and help.

“God created a servant heart in me. And I felt the calling to get up and do something, stand up and act,” Andrew Needum said.

Needum said he was doing what any firefighter across the country would have done.

“I’m no different than any other firefighter in this country,” he said. “For some reason, whatever reason that is, it was me that day.” (Read more from “Hero Firefighter Who Pulled Southwest Passenger from Window Recounts Harrowing Story” HERE)

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Firefighter on Board Fatal Southwest Flight Speaks on Trying to Save Woman

By NBC News. It was before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday when Andrew Needum, a firefighter from a Dallas suburb, boarded Southwest Flight 1380 with his wife, their two young children and his parents.

They were rushing that morning to make the flight, and heading home to Texas after their first trip to New York City. There, Needum’s parents celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary and he got to shake hands with firefighters and visit the 9/11 Memorial and the New York City Fire Museum . . .

Needum, 34, is credited as one of the passengers who sprang into action to help a woman who was partially sucked out of the plane’s window when an engine exploded after takeoff. She later died from her injuries as the chaos unfolded 30,000 feet in the air, forcing an emergency landing in Philadelphia . . .

Out of respect, Needum declined to discuss exactly what he witnessed while trying to save the victim — Jennifer Riordan, a Wells Fargo executive from New Mexico.

But he praised two other passengers — real estate worker Tim McGinty and retired nurse Peggy Phillips — who helped pull Riordan back inside the plane and then performed CPR. (Read more from “Firefighter on Board Fatal Southwest Flight Speaks on Trying to Save Woman” HERE)

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Turns out, Feds Are Wasting Billions Protecting ‘Endangered’ Animals That Are Just Fine

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The federal government has spent hundreds of millions in taxpayer money to protect species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that were never in danger of extinction, according to a Heritage Foundation report.

Robert Gordon, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Free Markets and Regulatory Reform, studied the Endangered Species Act and the federal bureaus in charge of administering and regulating it. Gordon released his report, which focuses on inconsistencies and waste in the listing and de-listing of species, Tuesday.

Former-President Richard Nixon signed the ESA into law in 1973, following the president’s push for stronger environmental protections the previous year. Nixon charged his “environmental awakening” for stronger environmental regulation in areas such as sewage, air and noise just two years after the Environmental Protection Agency’s founding.

Since the ESA’s enactment, 1,661 U.S. plants and animals have qualified for federal protection as either “threatened” or “endangered” — or close to extinction. Forty-five years later, slightly more than two percent, or 38 species, have been officially de-listed as “recovered.” About half of the officially “recovered” species where never actually in danger of extinction but placed on the list because of bad or missing data or taxonomic — the way animals are classified into species and subspecies, errors — according to Gordon . . .

Often when conducting preliminary research often serving to justify whether a species is listed or not, federal researchers miscount the actual number of animals in a population or species and reach a conclusion regularly off by a factor of 10 — sometimes more. (Read more from “Turns out, Feds Are Wasting Billions Protecting ‘Endangered’ Animals That Are Just Fine” HERE)

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Investigation Launches After Video Shows Teacher Drag 7-Yr-Old by the Ankle off the Bus

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By The Daily Caller. A Tennessee elementary school teacher is under investigation after video surfaced showing him dragging a seven-year-old student by his ankle off the school bus.

The Robert R. Church Elementary teacher tried to break up a fight between students on a bus and ended up dragging a young black student upside down off the bus, according to the Shelby County Schools.

The mother of the student, Kimberly Hardin, said her son came home with a concussion and a bruise on his back, adding that the school district did not inform her about it until a few days later. A fifth grader apparently recorded the incident and his parent sent it over to Hardin. (Read more from “Investigation Launches After Video Shows Teacher Drag 7-Yr-Old by the Ankle off the Bus” HERE)

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Video Shows Tennessee School Employee Drag Elementary Student off Bus by Feet

By WKRG. Shelby County Schools is investigating an incident involving an employee accused of forcibly removing a student from a bus.

Shelby County Schools said the man is an employee at Robert E. Church Elementary.

In a statement to Local 24 the district said, “An employee from Robert R. Church Elementary is being investigated based on reports of forcibly removing a student from a bus while breaking up a fight last week. We take any report involving student safety very seriously, and immediately reported this situation to the appropriate authorities. Per standard District procedure, this employee has been removed from the school while the matter is being investigated.

Facebook video surfaced Monday showing a man pulling a child from his seat and carrying him off the bus upside down by his ankle . . .

Zamarian’s father, Maurice Wilson, said his son was suspended from taking the bus. Despite the action taken against the 5th grade, Wilson said he was proud of his son for taking the video. (Read more from “Video Shows Tennessee School Employee Drag Elementary Student off Bus by Feet” HERE)

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This County Just Declared Itself a ‘Sanctuary’ for Gun Owners

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By The Daily Wire. On Monday, Effingham County, Illinois declared itself a “sanctuary” for gun owners. In a resolution passed 8-1, the country board directed their employees to neglect enforcement of any new state gun regulations that “unconstitutionally restrict the Second Amendment,” reports Fox News.

Effingham County board member David Campbell told “Fox & Friends First” that the county decided it was “time for someone to take a hard stand” against “the increasing number of House and Senate bills coming through attacking our Second Amendment” rights.

Campbell, who helped in crafting the resolution, said he received inspiration from a similar measure recently passed in Iroquois County, which is also located in the state. (Read more from “This County Just Declared Itself a ‘Sanctuary’ for Gun Owners” HERE)

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‘We’re Taking a Stand’: Illinois County Declares Itself a Sanctuary for Gun Owners

By Fox News Insider. Effingham County, Illinois, on Monday became a “sanctuary county” for gun owners.

The county board passed the resolution on an 8-1 vote and directed its employees not to enforce any new state law that would “unconstitutionally restrict the Second Amendment.”

Effingham County State’s Attorney Bryan Kibler said that the action is largely symbolic and will not control decision-making by law enforcement.

On “Fox & Friends First,” Effingham County board member David Campbell and Kibler joined Heather Childers to explain the thinking behind the resolution and what it means for the county.

Campbell said they decided to “take a stand” because they’ve seen an increasing number of state House and Senate bills that attack the Second Amendment.

“[We] decided it’s time for someone to take a hard stand,” Campbell said, explaining that he modeled the resolution after a similar one that was adopted by Iroquois County, Illinois. (Read more from “‘We’re Taking a Stand’: Illinois County Declares Itself a Sanctuary for Gun Owners” HERE)

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