350 Schools Are Participating in Walkouts, but Not for Gun Control

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By WND. High-school and college students at an estimated 350 schools across the U.S. are walking out of their classes to support life and protest Planned Parenthood on Wednesday.

The walkout was coordinated by the Students for Life of America. The teenagers are leaving class for 17 minutes, which the organization says is the same amount of time it takes Planned Parenthood to perform as many as 10 abortions.

The event drew its inspiration from a national anti-gun walkout on March 14 in which students across the nation left classes to protest gun violence and demand increased gun-control regulation.

In March, Julianne Benzel, a history teacher at Rocklin High School in California, was forced to take administrative leave when she told her students there’s a double standard when kids can walk out over gun control but not to oppose abortion. While she didn’t discourage her students from participating in the gun walkout, she said schools must be willing to support other causes as well.

“And so I just kind of used the example which I know it’s really controversial, but I know it was the best example I thought of at the time – a group of students nationwide, or even locally, decided ‘I want to walk out of school for 17 minutes’ and go in the quad area and protest abortion, would that be allowed by our administration?” she said. (Read more from “350 Schools Are Participating in Walkouts, but Not for Gun Control” HERE)

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No, the March for Our Lives School Walkout Is Not the Same as Pro-Life School Walkout

By The Hill. Now, on April 11 students are planning to walk out of their schools to protest the constitutionally protected right to have an abortion. The march was stirred by a teacher in Sacramento who questioned whether the administration of her public school would support students who wanted to walk out of their classrooms to protest the right to abortion care, as the school had supported the March 14 walk out. Indeed, anti-choice media has already declared this Rocklin, Calif. high school student activist a hero, and villainized the perceived double-standard.

However, I’d like to first point out that not all schools did support their students who walked out on March 14. Some were even sentenced to detention for their solidarity and activism. Students accepted those consequences and walked out anyway.

Secondly and more importantly, I want to talk about the true crux of the issue here, which is that our collective inability to pass gun control restrictions is based on our desire to control other people. To control those who do not have the financial access to private health care or could pay for a procedure themselves. To control women.

After every mass shooting, we all see the albeit well-intentioned quotes and memes and internet commentary comparing what women go through to receive abortion care to what gun restrictions in this country should look like.

But this narrative only works to diminish the true hurdles, perseverance and determination that women and people have to conquer to receive health care. We cannot compare what women go through to access constitutionally protected health care to regulations and restrictions on firearms. (Read more from “No, the March for Our Lives School Walkout Is Not the Same as Pro-Life School Walkout” HERE)

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Russia Heeds Trump Warning, Possible Syria War

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By WND. Russia has moved at least 11 navy ships deployed in Syria out to sea in the event of a U.S. military strike, which appears to be imminent in the wake of an exchange of threats between President Trump and Russian officials.

Trump replied early Wednesday to a Russian threat to shoot down any U.S. missiles in Syria with a tweet: “Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!’”

The threatened military strike is a response to an alleged chemical attack last week on civilians blamed on the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The Israel-based commercial organization ImageSat International provided satellite images to Fox News showing 11 Russian naval craft in the port of Tartus have departed, leaving only a single submarine.

The Syrian army also is evacuating military bases and transferring aircraft to bases with strong Russian support. (Read more from “Russia Heeds Trump Warning, Possible Syria War” HERE)

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Syria War: Trump Says Missiles ‘Will Be Coming’

By BBC. Senior Russian figures have threatened to meet any US strikes with a response.

President Bashar al-Assad’s government denies mounting a chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Douma.

In one of his tweets on Wednesday, Mr Trump called the Syrian leader a “gas killing animal”.

In another, he painted a dark picture of US-Russia relations but said it did not have to be that way.

The US, UK and France have agreed to work together and are believed to be preparing for a military strike in response to the alleged chemical attack at the weekend. (Read more from “Syria War: Trump Says Missiles ‘Will Be Coming'” HERE)

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The White House Just Let a Big Secret Slip About Firing Robert Mueller

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By CNN. Less than 24 hours removed from Donald Trump musing that “many people” have told him he should fire special counsel Robert Mueller, Sarah Sanders made clear that that the White House has researched such a move and believes Trump has the ability to do it.

“He certainly believes he has the power to do so,” the White House press secretary said of the President’s ability to fire Mueller. “We’ve been advised that the President certainly has the power to make that decision.” . . .

Think about what Sanders is saying here. She is saying that the White House has sought out guidance as to whether Trump can fire the special counsel. And concluded that he can. (Read more from “The White House Just Let a Big Secret Slip About Firing Robert Mueller” HERE)

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Trump Sought to Fire Mueller in December

By The New York Times. In early December, President Trump, furious over news reports about a new round of subpoenas from the office of the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, told advisers in no uncertain terms that Mr. Mueller’s investigation had to be shut down.

The president’s anger was fueled by reports that the subpoenas were for obtaining information about his business dealings with Deutsche Bank, according to interviews with eight White House officials, people close to the president and others familiar with the episode. To Mr. Trump, the subpoenas suggested that Mr. Mueller had expanded the investigation in a way that crossed the “red line” he had set last year in an interview with The New York Times.

In the hours that followed Mr. Trump’s initial anger over the Deutsche Bank reports, his lawyers and advisers worked quickly to learn about the subpoenas, and ultimately were told by Mr. Mueller’s office that the reports were not accurate, leading the president to back down. (Read more from “Trump Sought to Fire Mueller in December” HERE)

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Dead at 42: Healthy Broward County Sheriff Deputy Who Questioned Parkland School Shooting’s Gun Control Agenda

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Sometime on or around April 1, 2018 Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Fitzsimons, 42 years old and in excellent state of mind and health, called in sick to his job. Shortly thereafter Fitzsimons was found dead on his sofa. There has been a complete “news blackout” of this curious and untimely death.

Deputy Fitzsimons wasn’t just any law enforcement officer. Unlike many of his peers, he took to social media to question the potential agenda behind the February 14 Marjory Stoneman High School mass shooting, suggesting that the event was being used to promote the Democratic Party’s gun control platform in anticipation of the 2018 midterm elections. And recent personnel decisions involving public officials indicate, an unwritten law of taxpayer-funded institutions is that employees disavow and steer clear of “conspiracy theories” that may call their superiors’ motives into question.

One post found on Fitzsimons’ Facebook page depicts the Parkland massacre’s main spokesperson, David Hogg, in National Socialist regalia, with the caption, “We will March Until We Disarm Every American.”

The circumstances surrounding Deputy Fitzsimons’ death are sketchy. The official cause has been attributed to cancer, yet this is contradicted by an obituary found at obittree.com, stating that he “died unexpectedly.” The “died unexpectedly” phrase is one morticians and/or loved ones sometimes employ when for one reason or another they are reluctant to disclose the true cause of death, as in the case of a suicide. (Read more from “Dead at 42: Healthy Broward County Sheriff Deputy Who Questioned Parkland School Shooting’s Gun Control Agenda” HERE)

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Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Who Questioned Parkland School Shooting’s Gun Confiscation Agenda Found Dead

By Freedom Outpost. OK, from the outset, let me say I’m not saying that there is something sinister going on here, but at the same time, I’m not so naive to think there couldn’t be something sinister, especially since this deputy questioned what was really going on and was only 42 years old and in excellent health. Still Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Fitzsimons died on April 1, 2018 at his home on his sofa.

Deputy Fitzsimons, unlike Sheriff Scott Israel, questioned a lot of what was taking place following the Marjory Stoneman High School shooting that took place on February 14 of this year. And he wasn’t a coward about it either.

Fitzsimons also suggested that “the event was being used to promote the Democratic Party’s gun control platform in anticipation of the 2018 midterm elections,” according to James Tracy.

But what happened to Fitzsimons? As the Broward County Sheriff’s Office tweeted out the news of his death, many questioned the timing and cause, considering his pro-gun stance and apparent good health.

. . .

Fitzsimons had called in sick one day, and the next he was dead. Something seems amiss here. (Read more from “Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Who Questioned Parkland School Shooting’s Gun Confiscation Agenda Found Dead” HERE)

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Female Rapper Explains Why She Chose Life Instead of Abortion for Her Unborn Child

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In an interview with “The Breakfast Club” Tuesday morning, rapper Cardi B explains why she resisted pressure to abort her unborn child, who was an unplanned pregnancy.

After revealing her pregnancy over the weekend on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” Cardi B admitted in the radio interview that she briefly considered getting an abortion, but didn’t want to regret it. After saying she “kinda sort of” thought about aborting her child, she said she ultimately decided she “didn’t want to deal with the whole abortion thing.” . . .

Co-host Charlemagne Tha God replied: “The regret of it, probably?”

“Yeah,” she said. . .

The “Bodak Yellow” rapper said she’s been disappointed at the response from some women who asserted her career is over now that she’s pregnant. (Read more from “Female Rapper Explains Why She Chose Life Instead of Abortion for Her Unborn Child” HERE)

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Watch Ted Cruz Savage Mark Zuckerberg Over Facebook’s Liberal Bias

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By The Federalist. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz savaged Mark Zuckerberg over Facebook’s tendency to shut down and silence conservatives and conservative ideas in a hearing on Tuesday.

Cruz asked Zuckerberg if Facebook considered itself a “neutral public forum,” making the Silicon Valley billionaire squirm.

“Senator, we consider ourselves to be a platform for all ideas,” Zuckerberg replied. “Our goal is certainly not to engage in political speech.”

Cruz proceeded to list a number of conservative Facebook pages that had faced censorship from the social network. (Read more from “Watch Ted Cruz Savage Mark Zuckerberg Over Facebook’s Liberal Bias” HERE)

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Zuckerberg Apologizes, Promises Reform as Senators Grill Him Over Facebook’s Failings

By The Washington Post. Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg endured an hours-long grilling by dozens of U.S. senators Tuesday during which he repeatedly apologized and promised privacy reforms but also pointedly defended his company against the threat of new legislation.

Zuckerberg invoked Facebook’s unlikely journey — from a tiny start-up he co-founded in his Harvard dorm room 14 years ago to a social media behemoth — in explaining Facebook’s frequent privacy missteps and its failure to spot and defeat Russia’s aggressive campaign to manipulate American voters in 2016 and beyond.

Senators repeatedly challenged Zuckerberg’s explanations in the wide-ranging hearing, a rare joint session before two Senate panels — the Commerce and Judiciary committees — with 42 senators questioning the Facebook executive . . .

Zuckerberg took responsibility for the missteps. “We didn’t take a broad enough view of our responsibility, and that was a big mistake. And it was my mistake, and I’m sorry. I started Facebook, I run it, and I’m responsible for what happens here.” (Read more from “Zuckerberg Apologizes, Promises Reform as Senators Grill Him Over Facebook’s Failings” HERE)

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Obamacare Is Now So Terrible, People Aren’t Going to Their Doctors — Even When Sick

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When the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, its supporters celebrated the legislation, calling it a landmark bill that would make Americans healthier and lower health care costs for families. Eight years later, it’s clearer than ever the ACA’s “Obamacare” exchanges have done quite the opposite. Not only are health care costs skyrocketing, the health insurance provided by Obamacare is so expensive for people to use that millions more Americans are now choosing not to go to the doctor — even when they’re sick or injured.

According to a survey by the West Health Institute and NORC at the University of Chicago, 47 percent of respondents said within the past 12 months they chose not to see a doctor or dentist because of the high cost of health care. Four-in-10 said they elected not to pursue a recommended medical treatment or test.

Even more disturbingly, 44 percent claimed they avoided seeing a doctor on at least one occasion while sick or injured because of costs. Twenty-nine percent said they chose not to see a doctor while sick or injured “more than once.” Forty percent said they are “extremely/very afraid” of getting “seriously ill” because of high health care costs.

The survey included only those who self-identified as insured. About two-thirds of respondents reported having private health insurance. Twenty-seven percent said they received their insurance from Medicare. Only 7 percent said they were enrolled in Medicaid.

These results are a dramatic departure from several similar surveys conducted over the past two decades. For instance, in 2014, the Associated Press and NORC conducted a survey that found only 19 percent of privately insured individuals choose not to go to the doctor because of costs. Only 18 percent said they avoided “preventive and recommended care.” (Read more from “Obamacare Is Now So Terrible, People Aren’t Going to Their Doctors — Even When Sick” HERE)

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Council Bans Pro-Life Protests Outside an Abortion Clinic

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The council in the borough of Ealing in West London has ruled that pro-life protesters must stay outside a “safe zone” around an abortion clinic. The motion passed the council unanimously . . .

The United Kingdom-based Catholic pro-life group, The Good Counsel Network, has protested outside a Marie Stopes abortion clinic in Ealing for years. Now the organization that runs that clinic has successfully petitioned the local government to keep them from doing so . . .

Clare McCullough, the director of The Good Counsel Network, told The Guardian, “The women we speak to are being offered a leaflet, offered help, and hundreds of women are accepting that vote. These are women who have no alternative but abortion – illegal immigrants, victims of domestic violence. We’re telling them there are alternatives if they want them.”

The ban will apply to all pro-life groups, not just The Good Counsel Network. For now, the ban appears to be limited to one Marie Stopes clinic in Ealing . . .

The Good Counsel Network insisted in a letter it sent to U.K. Home Secretary Amber Rudd that it does not intimidate women entering the clinic, show graphic images of abortion, or give inaccurate medical information, and that its actions are limited to handing out fliers and quietly praying from a distance. (Read more from “Council Bans Pro-Life Protests Outside an Abortion Clinic” HERE)

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Students Acquiring Massive Debt for ‘Risky’ College Degrees, More Than $25 Billion in Federal Loans

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Noël Flynn is spending more than 80 percent of her income to pay back tens of thousands of dollars in debt for her Art Therapy degree. In 2016 alone, the Department of Education loaned $25.9 billion to students who, like Flynn, chose degrees under the umbrella of the liberal arts and humanities, an analysis by The Daily Caller News Foundation found.

A significant portion of those students are unlikely to have the means to pay back their debt after graduating.

“I find myself struggling financially, and the biggest reason why is student loans,” said Flynn, 23, who says she was told the loans “wouldn’t be overwhelming” once she graduated.

Most federal student loan programs do not require a credit check, nor do they require a cosigner. Rather, the loans are backed by nothing more than the borrower’s future earnings with a college degree, but the kind of degree isn’t a consideration in the loan process.

“What you make depends on what you take,” Anthony Carnevale, director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, wrote in a 2016 report. “A major in social work pays $30,000 a year compared to $120,000 a year for a major in petroleum engineering.” Business, vocational, and STEM majors all have significantly better chances of paying off their loans, TheDCNF’s analysis of federal data shows. (Read more from “Students Acquiring Massive Debt for ‘Risky’ College Degrees, More Than $25 Billion in Federal Loans” HERE)

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FBI Just Told Judicial Watch It Would Take 3 Years to Process Request FBI Agents Communications

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By Bizpac Review. Monday the FBI informed Judicial Watch that it would need at least three years to release communications between anti-Trump FBI agents Peter Strzok and Lisa Page.

On January 24th watchdog filed an FOIA lawsuit against the Justice Department for communications between Strzok and Page. (Read more from “FBI Just Told Judicial Watch It Would Take 3 Years to Process Request FBI Agents Communications” HERE)

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Judicial Watch Sues for Text Messages of FBI’s Strzok and Page

By Judicial Watch. The text messages are of public interest because Strzok and Page were key investigators in the Clinton email and Trump Russia collusion investigations. Strzok was reportedly removed from the Mueller investigative team in August and reassigned to a human resources position after it was discovered that he and a FBI lawyer, Lisa Page, who worked for FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, and with whom Strzok was carrying on an extramarital affair, exchanged pro-Clinton and anti-Trump text messages.

Strzok reportedly oversaw the FBI’s interviews of former National Security Adviser, General Michael Flynn; changed former FBI Director James Comey’s language about Hillary Clinton’s actions regarding her illicit email server from “grossly negligent” to “extremely careless;” played a lead role in the FBI’s interview of Clinton; and is suspected of being responsible for using the unverified dossier to obtain a FISA warrant in order to spy on President Trump’s campaign.

Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, revealed in a letter dated January 20 that the FBI claimed it is unable to preserve text messages for a five-month period between December 14, 2016, and May 17, 2017, due to “misconfiguration issues” with FBI-issued phones used by Strzok and Page. The missing messages span dates between the presidential transition and the launch of Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, where both Strzok and Page were employed.

The Strzok-Page text messages are potentially responsive to several pending Judicial Watch FOIA lawsuits, but the FBI has yet to produce any of the records, explain the missing records to the courts, or otherwise be forthcoming about these newly disclosed materials. (Read more from “Judicial Watch Sues for Text Messages of FBI’s Strzok and Page” HERE)

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