FEMA Abandons Devastated NC Town Residents Because They Can’t Drive Around ‘Road Closed’ Sign: ‘Nobody’s Been Bringing in Supplies Except Civilians’

/1 Comment/in , /by

Residents of a tiny North Carolina town that was almost totally destroyed by Hurricane Helene fending for themselves after FEMA told them that a “road closed” sign is an insurmountable obstacle for the agency to navigate.

“FEMA called me and told me they wanted to inspect my house then called me back to say they couldn’t drive around the ‘road closed’ sign. They weren’t allowed,” local Chelsea Atkins, 38, told The Post.

“You can drive it by car for sure, it’s not that bad, you just have to drive around the ‘road closed sign’. I explained that to them. They said they couldn’t,” she said, recounting her maddening exchange with the embattled federal agency.

Left to fend for themselves, Bat Cave residents banded together — opening the roads and starting the arduous work of cleanup and recovery. Residents told The Post that they don’t need FEMA now — and at this point, they don’t even want the disaster relief agency to come.

While the sick and elderly residents of Bat Cave were airlifted to safety a week ago, those left behind have seen virtually no sign of government agencies, save for a handful of Louisiana State Police troopers “keeping an eye on everything,” who locals say haven’t done much of anything. (Read more from “FEMA Abandons Devastated NC Town Residents Because They Can’t Drive Around ‘Road Closed’ Sign: ‘Nobody’s Been Bringing in Supplies Except Civilians’” HERE)

Buttigieg Dishes on Dust-up With Elon Musk Over Hurricane Helene: ‘There Was an Issue With Pilots’

/0 Comments/in , /by

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg shed light on the call between him and SpaceX founder Elon Musk last week to clear the air on the tech guru’s public complaints that the government was hamstringing his company from helping Hurricane Helene victims.

Musk, 53, had taken to X, with allegations that the Federal Aviation Agency was blocking flights into storm-ravaged parts of North Carolina, prompting a response from Buttigieg, 42, who told the billionaire to give him a ring.

“He took me up on that. He called. We had a conversation. What we found out was actually happening was the FAA was not closing down any airspace,” Buggieg recalled on MSNBC’s “Inside with Jen Psaki.”

“But there was an issue with pilots who were helping get Starlink equipment to where it needed to be, having the right information. We worked that with local authorities and were able to take care of it.” (Read more from “Buttigieg Dishes on Dust-up With Elon Musk Over Hurricane Helene: ‘There Was an Issue With Pilots’” HERE)

Donald Trump and His Supporters Make a Triumphant Return to the Scene of His First Assassination Attempt

/0 Comments/in , /by

It is a testament to the courage and fortitude of Donald Trump and his supporters that, on Saturday, tens of thousands returned to the scene of the first assassination attempt on the former president at Butler, Pa., to hear him speak.

With questions still unanswered about why he was ever placed in harm’s way on July 13, Trump stood in the same place and spoke at the same time as he did when an assassin’s bullet came within a hair’s breadth of killing him on live television, but miraculously only clipped the top of his ear.

His defiant return felt like a weighty moment in history, traced equally with awe and dread, but, this time at least, there was bulletproof glass in front of Trump as he stood on stage, counter-snipers were on every rooftop and giant containers shielded him from the roof of the unguarded building where 20-year-old shooter Thomas Crooks had taken aim.

Many of the rallygoers were wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the unforgettable words Trump uttered moments after the attack when he rose from the ground (right), his face streaked with blood, raised his fist, and said: “Fight! Fight! Fight!” as the crowd roared with relief.

“America is the home of the brave, and there’s no truer test than courage under fire, so who do you want representing America?” said Elon Musk, the billionaire MAGA convert who was invited onstage by Trump Saturday. “We had one president who couldn’t climb a flight of stairs and another who was fist pumping after getting shot.” (Read more from “Donald Trump and His Supporters Make a Triumphant Return to the Scene of His First Assassination Attempt” HERE)

Photo credit: rawpixel.com / National Archives

North Carolina Hurricane Victims Demand Accountability Following Helene’s Devastation

/11 Comments/in , /by

In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic impact, victims from the hardest-hit areas of western North Carolina are expressing deep frustration and anger at the federal government’s response. Communities such as Asheville, Chimney Rock, Swannanoa, and Biltmore Village have experienced significant destruction, with flash flooding leading to the tragic loss of more than 200 lives.

Residents are struggling to navigate the aftermath, with many questioning the effectiveness and timeliness of the government’s aid efforts. An Asheville woman, standing amid a pile of debris, voiced her despair in an interview with NBC News, stating, “No. No,” when asked if she had any faith in receiving help from the government. “Nobody’s going to help us… I don’t know what we’re going to do,” she added, capturing the sentiment of many in the community.

Jordan Lanning, another resident, articulated his outrage during a Thursday interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters. He criticized the delayed response, noting it took five days for President Biden to visit the affected areas. “He didn’t think we were worth coming down to see us himself. He had to fly over on his way to Raleigh,” Lanning remarked, expressing a feeling of neglect from those in power.

The frustration has been further amplified by Vice President Kamala Harris’s recent announcement of a mere $750 in immediate aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for victims of Hurricane Helene. This decision has sparked nationwide backlash, especially in light of the Biden administration’s simultaneous pledge of $8 billion to support Ukraine. When questioned by Watters whether this amount was sufficient, Lanning responded emphatically, “No, it is not.”

“There are people who have lost everything,” he continued. “I’m not expecting [them] to give us thousands of dollars, but they can do more than that.” His comments resonate with many who feel that the government’s assistance does not reflect the scale of the disaster.

As the clean-up efforts continue and survivors grapple with their losses, the call for accountability from the federal government is growing louder.

Photo credit: Flickr

Bombshell Lawsuit: Arizona’s Elections Chief Is Hiding Info on 218K Voters Lacking Proof of Citizenship

/0 Comments/in , /by

Arizona’s Democrat elections chief is illegally withholding the identities of approximately 218,000 registered voters on the state’s voter rolls who lack documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC), a lawsuit filed Wednesday alleges.

Brought by the Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona (SCFA) against Democrat Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and the Arizona Department of State, the legal challenge “seeks to restore public trust in [Arionza’s] electoral system by ensuring transparency about the Defendants’ failures to ensure that registered voters have provided DPOC, as required by law.” The group is represented by America First Legal and a law firm spearheaded by former Arizona Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Wright.

The lawsuit addresses an issue that first came to light last month, in which Arizona election officials announced they discovered approximately 98,000 registered “full-ballot” voters who have not provided documentary proof of citizenship required to participate in state and local elections. The error appears to have resulted “from the way the Motor Vehicle Division provides driver’s license information to the state’s voter registration system,” according to Votebeat Arizona.

Fontes said most of the affected voters are registered Republicans, according to the outlet.

In Arizona, voters registering via state registration form must show DPOC to vote in state and local races. Individuals who are unable to provide such documentation are registered as “federal-only” voters and can only cast ballots in federal races. (Read more from “Bombshell Lawsuit: Arizona’s Elections Chief Is Hiding Info on 218K Voters Lacking Proof of Citizenship” HERE)

Hurricane Recovery Efforts Hit by Charges of Corruption, Mismanagement, Politics

/4 Comments/in , /by

It’s hard enough to prepare for the catastrophic results of something like Hurricane Helene, which destroyed towns, homes, bridges, roads – and lives and families.

But that task turns into, literally, the impossible when there’s corruption, gross mismanagement, and politics present. . .

Already, WND has reported that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has spent billions of dollars providing benefits to illegal aliens, and now has confirmed it lacks resources for the ordinary needs of the nation’s hurricane season. . .

A report at the Gateway Pundit explains multiple whistleblowers already have come forward with complaints about FEMA.

“According to a letter from Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), whistleblowers allege that FEMA withheld critical pre-disaster funds and failed to issue deployment orders to first responders, leaving Americans stranded in the wake of the storm,” the report said.

It described Gaetz’ letter as a “bombshell” to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, for his agency’s “failure to release necessary funds and provide clear orders has left ‘hundreds if not thousands’ of service members and first responders in limbo, as they sit idle in hotels while the southeastern U.S. suffers the devastating effects of Helene.” (Read more from “Hurricane Recovery Efforts Hit by Charges of Corruption, Mismanagement, Politics” HERE)

How Did 50K Dockworkers Strike at U.S. Ports With Only 25K Jobs?

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Nearly 50,000 dockworkers launched a strike this week at ports from Maine to Texas — but, in a bizarre quirk that has resulted from massive concessions to the union over the decades, the affected ports only employ 25,000.

There’s a massive gulf in the numbers between those who show up for work and total membership in the powerful International Longshoremen’s Association, which won a deal late Thursday for a 62% wage increase over the next six years.

That’s because half of the dockworkers at the East and Gulf coast ports are allowed to sit at home collecting “container royalties” negotiated decades ago to protect against job losses that result from innovation, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The impact of these no-show jobs at the ports — controlled by ILA’s highly-paid and foul-mouthed president Harold Daggett — were part of an explosive 2019-2020 Waterfront Commission report cited by The Journal’s editorial board on Friday.

That report laid out how the ILA’s iron grip helps some workers at the expense of countless other blue-collar applicants by refusing to hire residents near the ports — and reignited concerns about the mob’s control over US shipping made famous in the classic film “On the Waterfront.” (Read more from “How Did 50K Dockworkers Strike at U.S. Ports With Only 25K Jobs?” HERE)

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Threatens to Unleash Nuclear Weapons on South

/1 Comment/in , /by

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has threatened nuclear retaliation against the South after recent remarks by his South Korean counterpart.

During a parade on Tuesday to mark Armed Forces Day, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol unveiled weapons intended to keep the North at bay. “That day will be the end of the North Korean regime,” Yoon vowed.

According to the Associated Press, Yoon unveiled the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile, which observers say can destroy underground bunkers in North Korea.

Yoon warned that if Pyongyang were ever to use nuclear weapons, United States and South Korean forces would mount a “resolute and overwhelming” response.

“The North Korean regime must abandon the delusion that nuclear weapons will protect them,” the South Korean president added. (Read more from “North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Threatens to Unleash Nuclear Weapons on South” HERE)

Biden Says U.S. Discussing Possible Israeli Strikes on Iran Oil Facilities

/4 Comments/in , /by

Joe Biden has said the US is discussing with Israel the possibility of Israeli strikes on Iran’s oil infrastructure.

When asked if he would support such strikes, Mr Biden said: “We’re discussing that. I think that would be a little… anyway.”

His off-the-cuff remarks, made as he left the White House, did not make clear Washington’s stance. Mr Biden has previously said he would not support Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

The price of benchmark Brent crude oil shot up by 5% immediately after the remarks. It has now increased by 10% since Iran’s large-scale missile attack on Israel on Tuesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran “will pay a heavy price” for Tuesday’s attack, which saw at least 180 ballistic missiles fired at Israel. (Read more from “Biden Says U.S. Discussing Possible Israeli Strikes on Iran Oil Facilities” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Second Gentleman Emhoff Denies He Slapped Ex-Girlfriend

/1 Comment/in , /by

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff has denied a shocking report that he slapped his then-girlfriend more than a decade ago after thinking she was flirting with another man.

“This report is untrue,” an Emhoff spokesperson told Semafor, adding that “any suggestion that he would or ever hit a woman is false.”

The Daily Mail reported Wednesday, citing three friends of the unidentified woman, that Emhoff smacked his then-lover so hard in the face that she was “spun around” after an event at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival in France.

One of the woman’s friends told the outlet that she called him “sobbing” after the attack: “It was very clear what she was telling me. She said she was with a guy, her date, she was at the Cannes Film Festival, and he hit her. She was in the car with the guy at the time. I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know whether to call the French police. I couldn’t get ahold of her after calling back.”

The friend said Emhoff may have thought his girlfriend was flirting with a valet employee after she put her hand on his shoulder following a night of drinking. (Read more from “Second Gentleman Emhoff Denies He Slapped Ex-Girlfriend” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr