Several states are working to ban foreign funding of elections after a dark money group poured cash from foreign billionaires into ballot initiatives last year.

As of October, the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a nonprofit that has funneled more than $1 billion dollars in dark money to liberal causes, had spent nearly $23 million on state ballot initiatives. The fund is fueled, in large part, by Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss, who has given the group $243 million. Wyss has said he has “never felt the need to become an American” but wants to “(re)interpret the American Constitution in the light of progressive politics.”

That may be easier said than done.

In June, Ohio became the first state to ban both direct and indirect foreign funding of state ballot issues. Since then, at least eight other states have begun trying to ban foreign nationals from funneling cash into American elections. Last week, the Mississippi Senate as well as the Kentucky and Wyoming Houses passed legislation to ban foreign nationals from funding elections.

State legislative committees in Kansas, Indiana, and Utah voted to advance similar legislation last week, and similar bills have also been introduced in Tennessee and Missouri.

Kansas HB 2106 — a crucial bill to stop foreign nationals from funding state ballot issue campaigns — has cleared the House Committee on Elections.

The bill now heads to the House floor for a full vote. Kansas lawmakers must act to protect Kansas elections! pic.twitter.com/RAvUZCRBdv

— Americans for Public Trust (@apublictrust) February 11, 2025

Federal lawmakers have taken note as well.

In December, the House committee that oversees federal elections held a hearing discussing loopholes that allow foreign nationals to contribute to political campaigns.

In the recent election cycle, the Sixteen Thirty Fund funded ballot initiatives in several swing states or states with a close Senate election, Americans for Public Trust found.

In Arizona, the group gave $1.25 million to support an abortion ballot initiative that passed, enshrining a right to abortion in the state constitution. Nevada approved a similar abortion initiative on the ballot this November, and the Sixteen Thirty Fund gave $500,000 to that effort. Democrats hoped that putting abortion on the ballot would boost Democratic voter turnout in these states.

The Sixteen Thirty Fund also funded ballot initiatives in Ohio, Florida, Nebraska, Montana, Missouri, and Alaska.

Since 2014, the Sixteen Thirty Fund has spent more than $115 million on ballot initiatives in 25 states — including $34 million in Michigan, $21 million in Ohio, $11 million in Colorado, $10 million in Missouri, $7 million in Nevada, about $3.5 million each in Florida and North Carolina, and $1 million in Arizona.

States that ban foreign nationals from funding elections would no longer see these influxes of foreign cash flowing into their ballot initiatives.

“It’s clear that Americans across the country are sick and tired of foreign funds influencing our politics and want their election officials to take action,” said Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust.

“We are encouraged by the momentum happening in the states, and look forward to Congress building on their work from last session to pass a bill that bans foreign nationals from influencing ballot initiatives nationwide,” Sutherland said.

“Closing the foreign election influence loophole is crucial to promoting election integrity,” said Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project. “Fortunately, states are beginning to take action to prevent foreign nationals from impacting American elections.”

​[#item_full_content]  

​[[{“value”:”

Several states are working to ban foreign funding of elections after a dark money group poured cash from foreign billionaires into ballot initiatives last year.

As of October, the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a nonprofit that has funneled more than $1 billion dollars in dark money to liberal causes, had spent nearly $23 million on state ballot initiatives. The fund is fueled, in large part, by Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss, who has given the group $243 million. Wyss has said he has “never felt the need to become an American” but wants to “(re)interpret the American Constitution in the light of progressive politics.”

That may be easier said than done.

In June, Ohio became the first state to ban both direct and indirect foreign funding of state ballot issues. Since then, at least eight other states have begun trying to ban foreign nationals from funneling cash into American elections. Last week, the Mississippi Senate as well as the Kentucky and Wyoming Houses passed legislation to ban foreign nationals from funding elections.

State legislative committees in Kansas, Indiana, and Utah voted to advance similar legislation last week, and similar bills have also been introduced in Tennessee and Missouri.

Kansas HB 2106 — a crucial bill to stop foreign nationals from funding state ballot issue campaigns — has cleared the House Committee on Elections.

The bill now heads to the House floor for a full vote. Kansas lawmakers must act to protect Kansas elections! pic.twitter.com/RAvUZCRBdv

— Americans for Public Trust (@apublictrust) February 11, 2025

Federal lawmakers have taken note as well.

In December, the House committee that oversees federal elections held a hearing discussing loopholes that allow foreign nationals to contribute to political campaigns.

In the recent election cycle, the Sixteen Thirty Fund funded ballot initiatives in several swing states or states with a close Senate election, Americans for Public Trust found.

In Arizona, the group gave $1.25 million to support an abortion ballot initiative that passed, enshrining a right to abortion in the state constitution. Nevada approved a similar abortion initiative on the ballot this November, and the Sixteen Thirty Fund gave $500,000 to that effort. Democrats hoped that putting abortion on the ballot would boost Democratic voter turnout in these states.

The Sixteen Thirty Fund also funded ballot initiatives in Ohio, Florida, Nebraska, Montana, Missouri, and Alaska.

Since 2014, the Sixteen Thirty Fund has spent more than $115 million on ballot initiatives in 25 states — including $34 million in Michigan, $21 million in Ohio, $11 million in Colorado, $10 million in Missouri, $7 million in Nevada, about $3.5 million each in Florida and North Carolina, and $1 million in Arizona.

States that ban foreign nationals from funding elections would no longer see these influxes of foreign cash flowing into their ballot initiatives.

“It’s clear that Americans across the country are sick and tired of foreign funds influencing our politics and want their election officials to take action,” said Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust.

“We are encouraged by the momentum happening in the states, and look forward to Congress building on their work from last session to pass a bill that bans foreign nationals from influencing ballot initiatives nationwide,” Sutherland said.

“Closing the foreign election influence loophole is crucial to promoting election integrity,” said Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project. “Fortunately, states are beginning to take action to prevent foreign nationals from impacting American elections.”

“}]] 

The post These States Are Fighting To Keep Foreign Leftist Billionaires Out Of American Elections appeared first on Spin Politico.

A professional development group sponsored by Procter & Gamble and other companies has quietly altered the requirements for a race-based internship program that might flout federal non-discrimination law.

Called “BLAC,” an acronym for “Building Leaders and Creators,” the internship program aims to diversify the advertising industry and explicitly employs racial eligibility criteria on applicants.

“Applicants to the BLAC internship program should identify as Black or BIPOC,” the program’s requirements previously read. The site has been modified since The Daily Wire’s request for comment to the organization, with the site now specifying that applicants should “be a member of a group underrepresented in advertising or marketing.” BLAC did not respond to a request for comment.

David Pivtorak, a lawyer who has active cases against American Express for alleged racial discrimination against white employees, explained that this program may be against the law.

“Generally speaking, racially discriminatory internships are unlawful under various state and federal laws,” Pivtorak told The Daily Wire. “If the entity that created this internship or the ad agencies where the interns are sent to work are subject to Title VII, or equivalent state laws, then the program would certainly violate anti-discrimination laws as it specifically discriminates against individuals solely based on race.”

He went on to add that “the main question is whether the interns could be considered ‘employees’ under the relevant statutes” before explaining that the interns are paid “is a significant factor in determining employee status.”

A promotional video for the program calls it “a paid summer internship for black creative thinkers at independent advertising, marketing, and creative agencies across the country.” BLAC also describes itself as “a champion for the more diverse and inclusive advertising industry of the future” that seeks to “inspire and be inspired by a new generation of Black talent.” Accepted applicants participate in the 12-week-long internship opportunity at one of BLAC’s 29 advertising host agencies.

The program is one of a wide array of internship opportunities and job postings uncovered by The Daily Wire that appear to engage in racial discrimination. A number of large companies, including Apple, Oracle, Nascar, McKinsey and Company, and several others, have hosted programs that imposed racial selection criteria on applicants.

Now the incoming Trump administration will have the opportunity to crack down on companies that discriminate against white and Asian applicants in service of the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) movement.

BLAC boasts several sponsors, including Procter & Gamble. The company’s logo is accompanied by a statement explaining its support for the race-based program.

“Racial inequality is the inescapable reality of America. It didn’t begin with us, but it can end with us. If we choose to act. For years, we have used our voice as a leading advertiser to shine a light on inequality, highlight bias, and spark dialogue that leads to understanding and action,” the consumer goods company states. “Through BLAC, we are proud to support an initiative that will help create more representative, equitable and powerful work across the advertising industry, shaping our world for the better.”

Procter & Gamble did not respond to a request for comment.

In addition to the internship program, BLAC also advertises a slate of DEI programming options from other organizations, intended for advertising agencies. “Central to the mission of BLAC is helping advertising agencies build and sustain environments that support the success, growth, and ultimate leadership of diverse talent,” the organization says.

One consultancy offers companies on-call DEI specialists for $1,200. The group also charges over $6,000 to “develop and deliver EDI-specific employee survey to unpack the current state of the organization,” adding that it “will identify trends and provide high-level recommendations for change based on results.”

​[#item_full_content]  

​[[{“value”:”

A professional development group sponsored by Procter & Gamble and other companies has quietly altered the requirements for a race-based internship program that might flout federal non-discrimination law.

Called “BLAC,” an acronym for “Building Leaders and Creators,” the internship program aims to diversify the advertising industry and explicitly employs racial eligibility criteria on applicants.

“Applicants to the BLAC internship program should identify as Black or BIPOC,” the program’s requirements previously read. The site has been modified since The Daily Wire’s request for comment to the organization, with the site now specifying that applicants should “be a member of a group underrepresented in advertising or marketing.” BLAC did not respond to a request for comment.

David Pivtorak, a lawyer who has active cases against American Express for alleged racial discrimination against white employees, explained that this program may be against the law.

“Generally speaking, racially discriminatory internships are unlawful under various state and federal laws,” Pivtorak told The Daily Wire. “If the entity that created this internship or the ad agencies where the interns are sent to work are subject to Title VII, or equivalent state laws, then the program would certainly violate anti-discrimination laws as it specifically discriminates against individuals solely based on race.”

He went on to add that “the main question is whether the interns could be considered ‘employees’ under the relevant statutes” before explaining that the interns are paid “is a significant factor in determining employee status.”

A promotional video for the program calls it “a paid summer internship for black creative thinkers at independent advertising, marketing, and creative agencies across the country.” BLAC also describes itself as “a champion for the more diverse and inclusive advertising industry of the future” that seeks to “inspire and be inspired by a new generation of Black talent.” Accepted applicants participate in the 12-week-long internship opportunity at one of BLAC’s 29 advertising host agencies.

The program is one of a wide array of internship opportunities and job postings uncovered by The Daily Wire that appear to engage in racial discrimination. A number of large companies, including Apple, Oracle, Nascar, McKinsey and Company, and several others, have hosted programs that imposed racial selection criteria on applicants.

Now the incoming Trump administration will have the opportunity to crack down on companies that discriminate against white and Asian applicants in service of the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) movement.

BLAC boasts several sponsors, including Procter & Gamble. The company’s logo is accompanied by a statement explaining its support for the race-based program.

“Racial inequality is the inescapable reality of America. It didn’t begin with us, but it can end with us. If we choose to act. For years, we have used our voice as a leading advertiser to shine a light on inequality, highlight bias, and spark dialogue that leads to understanding and action,” the consumer goods company states. “Through BLAC, we are proud to support an initiative that will help create more representative, equitable and powerful work across the advertising industry, shaping our world for the better.”

Procter & Gamble did not respond to a request for comment.

In addition to the internship program, BLAC also advertises a slate of DEI programming options from other organizations, intended for advertising agencies. “Central to the mission of BLAC is helping advertising agencies build and sustain environments that support the success, growth, and ultimate leadership of diverse talent,” the organization says.

One consultancy offers companies on-call DEI specialists for $1,200. The group also charges over $6,000 to “develop and deliver EDI-specific employee survey to unpack the current state of the organization,” adding that it “will identify trends and provide high-level recommendations for change based on results.”

“}]] 

The post ‘BLAC’ Internship Program Quietly Alters Race-Based Application Requirements appeared first on Spin Politico.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has plans already in progress to investigate the disastrous military withdrawal from Afghanistan undertaken by President Joe Biden and his administration.

Hegseth told Breitbart News during an interview last Thursday that he had selected people to handle the investigation and planned to put things in motion as soon as he was certain that he could get things right.

“We’ve already identified folks that’ll be in charge of that full investigation inside the Pentagon,” he said, adding, “I don’t have a timeframe on it. Sadly, we’ve already waited two-and-a-half years, three years since what occurred. I don’t want to wait longer, but I always want to get it right.”

Hegseth went on to explain that he believed a full investigation into everything that happened during the chaotic exit from Afghanistan — the decision to remove troops ahead of civilians, the shuttering of easier-to-defend Bagram Air Base, and the billions of dollars in equipment left behind — was the only way to truly bring back accountability and restore the American people’s faith in the military.

“The way you establish real accountability is by establishing real fact chains — chains of events, information, what happened,” he said. “Why did it happen? Who made the decision? What was the reason they made that decision? Why did they give advice or not give advice? Why did they execute an order a certain way? Did they speak up when they were supposed to or not? I don’t think there’s anybody that feels like there’s been an honest accounting of what happened in Afghanistan. That’s our job.”

“So, we’re going to drive that full investigation and get a sense of what happened. And as I stated to the workforce on Friday, I guess less than a week ago, accountability will be coming for what happened in Afghanistan, and that’s important to reestablishing trust at the Defense Department,” Hegseth concluded.

​[#item_full_content]  

​[[{“value”:”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has plans already in progress to investigate the disastrous military withdrawal from Afghanistan undertaken by President Joe Biden and his administration.

Hegseth told Breitbart News during an interview last Thursday that he had selected people to handle the investigation and planned to put things in motion as soon as he was certain that he could get things right.

“We’ve already identified folks that’ll be in charge of that full investigation inside the Pentagon,” he said, adding, “I don’t have a timeframe on it. Sadly, we’ve already waited two-and-a-half years, three years since what occurred. I don’t want to wait longer, but I always want to get it right.”

Hegseth went on to explain that he believed a full investigation into everything that happened during the chaotic exit from Afghanistan — the decision to remove troops ahead of civilians, the shuttering of easier-to-defend Bagram Air Base, and the billions of dollars in equipment left behind — was the only way to truly bring back accountability and restore the American people’s faith in the military.

“The way you establish real accountability is by establishing real fact chains — chains of events, information, what happened,” he said. “Why did it happen? Who made the decision? What was the reason they made that decision? Why did they give advice or not give advice? Why did they execute an order a certain way? Did they speak up when they were supposed to or not? I don’t think there’s anybody that feels like there’s been an honest accounting of what happened in Afghanistan. That’s our job.”

“So, we’re going to drive that full investigation and get a sense of what happened. And as I stated to the workforce on Friday, I guess less than a week ago, accountability will be coming for what happened in Afghanistan, and that’s important to reestablishing trust at the Defense Department,” Hegseth concluded.

“}]] 

The post ‘Accountability Will Be Coming!’: SecDef Promises To Investigate Biden’s Afghanistan Boondoggle appeared first on Spin Politico.

I run a growing media company with 11 American employees. I’ve invested over $145,000 in the U.S. economy. I pay American corporate taxes. Yet I’ve never set foot in the United States – and government bureaucrats seem determined to keep it that way.

For seven years, I’ve tried to enter America legally. I’ve been rejected, delayed, and ultimately denied from even visiting. My crime? Being too honest about wanting to become an American citizen.

I’m from Macedonia, a small Eastern European country most people can’t find without a good map. It’s a country where corruption runs deep, with a declining population, and a stagnant economy.

For young entrepreneurs here, every day brings new hurdles. We lack basic business infrastructure that Americans take for granted. No Amazon for supplies. Simple bank transactions turn into daylong ordeals. Success attracts the wrong kind of attention — refuse to pay the mafia’s protection money, and you’ll learn how useless calling the police can be.

Yet something in me always pushed toward business. At age 12, I sold CDs at weekend flea markets, and later started a photography business. When I discovered the internet, it opened a whole new world to me. My first online venture was a Lakers fan club — I idolized Kobe Bryant’s work ethic. Through that, I connected with an American news startup, and helped them with their launch. Not long after, I started my own.

I spent more time with American colleagues and culture, so at age 19, I decided to visit America. As it turns out, that’s no easy task for a young man from Macedonia.

In 2018 I applied for a tourist visa, but the U.S. embassy rejected me outright. Not because of any red flags — I’ve never had trouble with the law or anything like that. They explained that many young Macedonians “visit” America and never return. I needed stronger roots at home first.

Over two years, as my business grew, I planted those roots. I bought a car, purchased an apartment, and applied again in 2021. After a seven-month wait to even be interviewed, they approved me.

But there was a catch. The Biden administration started requiring every visitor to show proof of a COVID vaccination. As a healthy young person, I hesitated. Friends here offered an easy solution — fake vaccination cards cost less than $50 in Macedonia. But I refused to begin my American journey with a lie. How long could waiting honestly really take?

Quite a while, as it turns out. A year and a half later, I was still waiting.

While I waited, my business flourished. The Resist the Mainstream network grew to over 8 million followers, and last month they viewed our content over two billion times. Elon Musk called one of our X accounts – Defiant L’s – “one of the best accounts” on his platform.

The United States has special visas for entrepreneurs like me – the E-2 business visa seemed perfect.

One catch? They wouldn’t let me use my tourist visa while the local Department of State workers evaluated my E-2 application. I moved our legal headquarters to Florida, hired more U.S. employees, and invested an additional $145,000 to qualify.

Yet as the embassy staff brought me in for multiple interviews, they seemed baffled by basic business operations despite my detailed documentation – contracts, bank statements, business plans, everything they asked for. For over a year, they’d ignore me for months, then resurface demanding more documents, sometimes the same ones they’d already received.

Finally, they rejected me outright. Their excuse was that my business was too small, which was odd because it clearly fit the E-2 requirements. Worse still, they took away my tourist visa as well, because in an interview I’d mention that someday I want to become a legal American citizen.

Some say business visas from Macedonia are virtually impossible. Others point to my conservative politics and news sites. I’m still trying to understand it all.

I began this journey at age 19. I’m now 26, and after all my efforts I’m back to square one. During that time, about 12 million people have walked uninvited across your southern border. They received housing, work permits, and benefits within months.

Is America’s legal immigration system broken? That’s not for me to decide since I’m not American. Not yet, at least. But I do know this – a system that punishes honesty and hard work while incentivizing shortcuts and lies isn’t working for anyone.

America was built by those who believed in both following the law and working hard. I simply want the chance to prove I can be one of them.

* * *

Rumen Naumovski is the CEO of Resist the Mainstream. Follow him on X: @RumenNaumovski or at @DefiantLs

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Daily Wire.

​[#item_full_content]  

​[[{“value”:”

I run a growing media company with 11 American employees. I’ve invested over $145,000 in the U.S. economy. I pay American corporate taxes. Yet I’ve never set foot in the United States – and government bureaucrats seem determined to keep it that way.

For seven years, I’ve tried to enter America legally. I’ve been rejected, delayed, and ultimately denied from even visiting. My crime? Being too honest about wanting to become an American citizen.

I’m from Macedonia, a small Eastern European country most people can’t find without a good map. It’s a country where corruption runs deep, with a declining population, and a stagnant economy.

For young entrepreneurs here, every day brings new hurdles. We lack basic business infrastructure that Americans take for granted. No Amazon for supplies. Simple bank transactions turn into daylong ordeals. Success attracts the wrong kind of attention — refuse to pay the mafia’s protection money, and you’ll learn how useless calling the police can be.

Yet something in me always pushed toward business. At age 12, I sold CDs at weekend flea markets, and later started a photography business. When I discovered the internet, it opened a whole new world to me. My first online venture was a Lakers fan club — I idolized Kobe Bryant’s work ethic. Through that, I connected with an American news startup, and helped them with their launch. Not long after, I started my own.

I spent more time with American colleagues and culture, so at age 19, I decided to visit America. As it turns out, that’s no easy task for a young man from Macedonia.

In 2018 I applied for a tourist visa, but the U.S. embassy rejected me outright. Not because of any red flags — I’ve never had trouble with the law or anything like that. They explained that many young Macedonians “visit” America and never return. I needed stronger roots at home first.

Over two years, as my business grew, I planted those roots. I bought a car, purchased an apartment, and applied again in 2021. After a seven-month wait to even be interviewed, they approved me.

But there was a catch. The Biden administration started requiring every visitor to show proof of a COVID vaccination. As a healthy young person, I hesitated. Friends here offered an easy solution — fake vaccination cards cost less than $50 in Macedonia. But I refused to begin my American journey with a lie. How long could waiting honestly really take?

Quite a while, as it turns out. A year and a half later, I was still waiting.

While I waited, my business flourished. The Resist the Mainstream network grew to over 8 million followers, and last month they viewed our content over two billion times. Elon Musk called one of our X accounts – Defiant L’s – “one of the best accounts” on his platform.

The United States has special visas for entrepreneurs like me – the E-2 business visa seemed perfect.

One catch? They wouldn’t let me use my tourist visa while the local Department of State workers evaluated my E-2 application. I moved our legal headquarters to Florida, hired more U.S. employees, and invested an additional $145,000 to qualify.

Yet as the embassy staff brought me in for multiple interviews, they seemed baffled by basic business operations despite my detailed documentation – contracts, bank statements, business plans, everything they asked for. For over a year, they’d ignore me for months, then resurface demanding more documents, sometimes the same ones they’d already received.

Finally, they rejected me outright. Their excuse was that my business was too small, which was odd because it clearly fit the E-2 requirements. Worse still, they took away my tourist visa as well, because in an interview I’d mention that someday I want to become a legal American citizen.

Some say business visas from Macedonia are virtually impossible. Others point to my conservative politics and news sites. I’m still trying to understand it all.

I began this journey at age 19. I’m now 26, and after all my efforts I’m back to square one. During that time, about 12 million people have walked uninvited across your southern border. They received housing, work permits, and benefits within months.

Is America’s legal immigration system broken? That’s not for me to decide since I’m not American. Not yet, at least. But I do know this – a system that punishes honesty and hard work while incentivizing shortcuts and lies isn’t working for anyone.

America was built by those who believed in both following the law and working hard. I simply want the chance to prove I can be one of them.

* * *

Rumen Naumovski is the CEO of Resist the Mainstream. Follow him on X: @RumenNaumovski or at @DefiantLs

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Daily Wire.

“}]] 

The post I Am Living Proof The American Immigration System Is Broken appeared first on Spin Politico.

Like his father before him, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is pushing for an audit of the gold reserves at the United States bullion depository at Fort Knox in Kentucky. He proposed that the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been scrutinizing various aspects of the federal bureaucracy, help in the endeavor.

Over the weekend, the X account for ZeroHedge suggested technology executive Elon Musk, who is overseeing the DOGE effort, “take a look inside Fort Knox just to make sure the 4,580 tons of US gold is there.” Musk responded, asking, “Surely it’s reviewed at least every year?” Paul then replied to Musk, saying, “Nope. Let’s do it.”

According to the United States Mint website, Fort Knox has 147.3 million ounces of gold holdings. It says roughly half of the Treasury’s “stored gold (as well as valuables of other federal agencies)” is kept there. The website also notes the gold is held as an asset of the United States at a book value of $42.22 per ounce and only “very small quantities” have been removed “during regularly scheduled audits. Except for these samples, no gold has been transferred to or from the Depository for many years.”

Fort Knox broke from its “strict no visitors policy” in 1974 to allow journalists and a congressional delegation into its vaults to view the gold reserves, the U.S. Mint noted, adding the Treasury Secretary “allows the visit when rumors persist that all the gold had been removed from the vaults” and previously, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the only person other than authorized personnel to access the vaults.

During an interview on Fox News over the weekend, Paul talked about how he has tried to gain access to the Fort Knox gold vaults for a decade and missed his opportunity in 2017 when the bullion depository opened for a second time for then-Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, and congressional representatives.

“I’ve been trying to go down and see the gold and make sure it’s all there for about 10 years. During the first Trump administration I got permission. You have to get permission all the way up to the Secretary of Treasury. And then the Secretary of Treasury said, ‘Well, I want to go down there, too.’ And then he said, ‘I want to go down there when the eclipse is coming through Kentucky, too, so I can see the eclipse and the gold at the same time,’” Paul explained.

“But they came when I wasn’t there,” Paul continued with a chuckle. “So I tried for 10 years. I set up the appointment and then because they wanted to see the eclipse, they changed the appointment. I didn’t get to go down but the secretary of Treasury and the senior senator from Kentucky did go down and attest that they believe they saw the goal down there.”

Asked by “Fox and Friends” co-host Lawrence Jones what he thinks is the problem, Paul replied: “I think some of them may not think it needs to be audited all the time, but I think the more sunlight, the better. More transparency, the better. And also it brings attention to the fact that gold still has value and implicitly — not explicitly, but implicitly — gold still gives value to the dollar. That’s why we don’t get rid of it. You know we’ve got it. The IMF has it. The World Bank has it. Most of the central banks around the world have gold. And it’s an implicit trust that the dollar still has some backing.”

​[#item_full_content]  

​[[{“value”:”

Like his father before him, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is pushing for an audit of the gold reserves at the United States bullion depository at Fort Knox in Kentucky. He proposed that the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been scrutinizing various aspects of the federal bureaucracy, help in the endeavor.

Over the weekend, the X account for ZeroHedge suggested technology executive Elon Musk, who is overseeing the DOGE effort, “take a look inside Fort Knox just to make sure the 4,580 tons of US gold is there.” Musk responded, asking, “Surely it’s reviewed at least every year?” Paul then replied to Musk, saying, “Nope. Let’s do it.”

According to the United States Mint website, Fort Knox has 147.3 million ounces of gold holdings. It says roughly half of the Treasury’s “stored gold (as well as valuables of other federal agencies)” is kept there. The website also notes the gold is held as an asset of the United States at a book value of $42.22 per ounce and only “very small quantities” have been removed “during regularly scheduled audits. Except for these samples, no gold has been transferred to or from the Depository for many years.”

Fort Knox broke from its “strict no visitors policy” in 1974 to allow journalists and a congressional delegation into its vaults to view the gold reserves, the U.S. Mint noted, adding the Treasury Secretary “allows the visit when rumors persist that all the gold had been removed from the vaults” and previously, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the only person other than authorized personnel to access the vaults.

During an interview on Fox News over the weekend, Paul talked about how he has tried to gain access to the Fort Knox gold vaults for a decade and missed his opportunity in 2017 when the bullion depository opened for a second time for then-Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, and congressional representatives.

“I’ve been trying to go down and see the gold and make sure it’s all there for about 10 years. During the first Trump administration I got permission. You have to get permission all the way up to the Secretary of Treasury. And then the Secretary of Treasury said, ‘Well, I want to go down there, too.’ And then he said, ‘I want to go down there when the eclipse is coming through Kentucky, too, so I can see the eclipse and the gold at the same time,’” Paul explained.

“But they came when I wasn’t there,” Paul continued with a chuckle. “So I tried for 10 years. I set up the appointment and then because they wanted to see the eclipse, they changed the appointment. I didn’t get to go down but the secretary of Treasury and the senior senator from Kentucky did go down and attest that they believe they saw the goal down there.”

Asked by “Fox and Friends” co-host Lawrence Jones what he thinks is the problem, Paul replied: “I think some of them may not think it needs to be audited all the time, but I think the more sunlight, the better. More transparency, the better. And also it brings attention to the fact that gold still has value and implicitly — not explicitly, but implicitly — gold still gives value to the dollar. That’s why we don’t get rid of it. You know we’ve got it. The IMF has it. The World Bank has it. Most of the central banks around the world have gold. And it’s an implicit trust that the dollar still has some backing.”

“}]] 

The post Rand Paul Suggests DOGE Help Audit Fort Knox Gold Reserves appeared first on Spin Politico.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is threatening to sue Google for displaying “Gulf of America” on its maps, claiming that Trump only renamed the United States portion of the gulf.

Sheinbaum contends that President Donald Trump’s executive order covers only the U.S. continental shelf, leaving the rest of the body of water under Mexican and Cuban jurisdiction, per The Washington Post.

“What Google is doing here is changing the name of the continental shelf of Mexico and Cuba, which has nothing to do with Trump’s decree,” Sheinbaum said in a press briefing on Monday. “We do not agree with this.”

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday the country is awaiting a new response from Google to its request that the tech company fully restore the name Gulf of Mexico to its Google Maps service before filing a lawsuit. pic.twitter.com/u5MkAC40vp

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 18, 2025

Mexican Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente has sent Google a letter formally requesting the company change its policy and is awaiting a response, and “under no circumstance will Mexico accept the renaming of a geographic zone within its own territory and under its jurisdiction.”

“We will wait for Google’s response and if not, we will proceed to court,” Sheinbaum warned.

Currently, Google Maps only names the body of water “Gulf of America” for users in the United States, with international users still seeing “Gulf of Mexico.”

Cris Turner, Google’s vice president of government affairs and public policy, defended the naming move as “consistent with our normal operating procedure to reflect on our platforms geographic names prescribed by different authoritative government sources, including where authoritative sources may differ.”

The United States controls around 46% of the gulf, Mexico holds about 49%, and Cuba oversees the remainder.

The Trump administration nonetheless appears committed to renaming the Gulf. The White House refuses to allow reporters from the Associated Press to attend events in the Oval Office or accompany President Donald Trump on Air Force One, citing the outlet’s decision to keep referencing the body of water by its traditional name.

​[#item_full_content]  

​[[{“value”:”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is threatening to sue Google for displaying “Gulf of America” on its maps, claiming that Trump only renamed the United States portion of the gulf.

Sheinbaum contends that President Donald Trump’s executive order covers only the U.S. continental shelf, leaving the rest of the body of water under Mexican and Cuban jurisdiction, per The Washington Post.

“What Google is doing here is changing the name of the continental shelf of Mexico and Cuba, which has nothing to do with Trump’s decree,” Sheinbaum said in a press briefing on Monday. “We do not agree with this.”

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday the country is awaiting a new response from Google to its request that the tech company fully restore the name Gulf of Mexico to its Google Maps service before filing a lawsuit. pic.twitter.com/u5MkAC40vp

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 18, 2025

Mexican Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente has sent Google a letter formally requesting the company change its policy and is awaiting a response, and “under no circumstance will Mexico accept the renaming of a geographic zone within its own territory and under its jurisdiction.”

“We will wait for Google’s response and if not, we will proceed to court,” Sheinbaum warned.

Currently, Google Maps only names the body of water “Gulf of America” for users in the United States, with international users still seeing “Gulf of Mexico.”

Cris Turner, Google’s vice president of government affairs and public policy, defended the naming move as “consistent with our normal operating procedure to reflect on our platforms geographic names prescribed by different authoritative government sources, including where authoritative sources may differ.”

The United States controls around 46% of the gulf, Mexico holds about 49%, and Cuba oversees the remainder.

The Trump administration nonetheless appears committed to renaming the Gulf. The White House refuses to allow reporters from the Associated Press to attend events in the Oval Office or accompany President Donald Trump on Air Force One, citing the outlet’s decision to keep referencing the body of water by its traditional name.

“}]] 

The post Mexico Threatens To Sue Google Over ‘Gulf Of America’ Label On Maps appeared first on Spin Politico.

The Justice Department on Wednesday will argue that the Biden administration weaponized the government to prosecute New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams, according to a senior DOJ official. 

U.S. District Judge Dale Ho ordered the DOJ to appear in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday afternoon to explain its reasoning behind its motion last week to drop the case against Adams. Adams, who has faced corruption charges, was directed to file a written consent form for the DOJ’s motion to dismiss and appear before the court. 

Ho ordered that the DOJ be prepared to address the “reasons for the Government’s motion” to dismiss.  

The DOJ is expected to tell the judge that the case was dropped in part because of President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at “ending the weaponization of the federal government.” 

A senior DOJ official said during a Tuesday briefing that the case against Adams was “politically motivated” and “weak,” relying on “unprecedented legal theories.” The official compared the prosecution of Adams to the case that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought against Trump. 

“First, you had a years-long investigation where a target was picked before charges were decided,” the official said. “[Southern District New York’s Office] just decided that they were going to go after the mayor. Those efforts, just like the DA’s office, accelerated after a precipitating event.” 

The official said that the precipitating event for the Trump prosecution was his comeback presidential campaign, while for Adams, it was criticism of the Biden administration in the fall of 2022. 

On Friday, the DOJ filed a motion to dismiss the case against Adams, arguing that to continue to prosecute would violate Trump’s order against the weaponization of government by interfering with the upcoming 2025 mayoral elections.

The official said that reports of a quid pro quo between Adams and the Trump administration were “made up.” There had been speculation that the DOJ was dropping the case in return for Adams to cooperate with Trump’s immigration agenda. 

The DOJ official said the decision was made over the issue of potential interference with the 2025 election and Adams’s ability to govern NYC.

The senior DOJ official added that there was an active internal investigation into “personnel at SDNY who were involved in insubordination and other politically motivated activities” related to the Adams case. This came after there was resistance to dropping the case from inside the office and publicized resignation letters over the directive. 

“There is no room for that behavior here in President Trump’s executive branch and certainly not in this building,” the official said, describing the DOJ’s actions as a ”civics lesson for the deep state about implementing the agenda that the American people voted for.”

​[#item_full_content]  

​[[{“value”:”

The Justice Department on Wednesday will argue that the Biden administration weaponized the government to prosecute New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams, according to a senior DOJ official. 

U.S. District Judge Dale Ho ordered the DOJ to appear in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday afternoon to explain its reasoning behind its motion last week to drop the case against Adams. Adams, who has faced corruption charges, was directed to file a written consent form for the DOJ’s motion to dismiss and appear before the court. 

Ho ordered that the DOJ be prepared to address the “reasons for the Government’s motion” to dismiss.  

The DOJ is expected to tell the judge that the case was dropped in part because of President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at “ending the weaponization of the federal government.” 

A senior DOJ official said during a Tuesday briefing that the case against Adams was “politically motivated” and “weak,” relying on “unprecedented legal theories.” The official compared the prosecution of Adams to the case that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought against Trump. 

“First, you had a years-long investigation where a target was picked before charges were decided,” the official said. “[Southern District New York’s Office] just decided that they were going to go after the mayor. Those efforts, just like the DA’s office, accelerated after a precipitating event.” 

The official said that the precipitating event for the Trump prosecution was his comeback presidential campaign, while for Adams, it was criticism of the Biden administration in the fall of 2022. 

On Friday, the DOJ filed a motion to dismiss the case against Adams, arguing that to continue to prosecute would violate Trump’s order against the weaponization of government by interfering with the upcoming 2025 mayoral elections.

The official said that reports of a quid pro quo between Adams and the Trump administration were “made up.” There had been speculation that the DOJ was dropping the case in return for Adams to cooperate with Trump’s immigration agenda. 

The DOJ official said the decision was made over the issue of potential interference with the 2025 election and Adams’s ability to govern NYC.

The senior DOJ official added that there was an active internal investigation into “personnel at SDNY who were involved in insubordination and other politically motivated activities” related to the Adams case. This came after there was resistance to dropping the case from inside the office and publicized resignation letters over the directive. 

“There is no room for that behavior here in President Trump’s executive branch and certainly not in this building,” the official said, describing the DOJ’s actions as a ”civics lesson for the deep state about implementing the agenda that the American people voted for.”

“}]] 

The post DOJ To Argue Biden Admin’s Case Against Eric Adams Was ‘Politically Motivated’ appeared first on Spin Politico.

A list with over 350 names appeared in the New York Times this week to protest the proposed plan by President Donald Trump to bring peace and stability to the Palestinian people in Gaza. The ad’s brief text reads: “Trump has called for the removal of all Palestinians from Gaza. Jewish people say NO to ethnic cleansing!” The undersigned are a list of actors, leftist pulpit rabbis and cantors, and others who happily signed their names to what essentially amounts to a suicide note for the Jewish people. 

The plan that they are protesting is the proposal to relocate Palestinian refugees out of a war zone and the rubble that will take a decade to rebuild. This will allow these people to rebuild their lives, a luxury afforded to nearly every other refugee from every other conflict. The signers of this ad are against this plan because it hurts their cause, not the Palestinian one.

If these 350 names were to be polled, nearly all would claim that the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be a “two-state solution.” This policy is both outdated and completely false, a relic of a bygone diplomatic era that is antithetical to the realities of a post-October 7 world.

350 rabbis took out this full-page ad in @nytimes today opposing Trump’s plans for ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza.

Add your voice to theirs, go to https://t.co/oMAz1jaMnZ
Go to https://t.co/v6qeZNhPQi#SayNoToEthnicCleansing #GazaIsNotForSale pic.twitter.com/HwRG7jWz0r

— Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (@JFREJNYC) February 13, 2025

The “two-state solution” is spoken today only by the malicious and the ignorant. Those who speak of it either want to see Israel destroyed or they know so little about the history of the region that they are repeating what they’ve been told by those who want to see Israel destroyed.

There can be no “two-state solution” when there is already a state called Israel. You are not creating “two-states,” you are granting enough concessions and legitimacy to a group of people that have spent over 60 years conducting terrorist operations so they can themselves declare a state. They will never do so because there are not enough concessions that can be given to that terrorist entity if the state of Israel exists at all. Concessions were offered, and rejected, many times in the 1990s and 2000s.

The proof is clearly there within Gaza, as the Palestinians living there were given a de facto state in 2005. Over 10,000 Jews were forcibly removed from Gaza, from land they bought and cultivated, to make room for that state. American Jewish businessmen raised money to buy agricultural equipment from those Jews to give to the Palestinian people so they can be self-sufficient in that state. Those people destroyed that equipment, elected Hamas to govern them, and launched an 18 year terror campaign against Israel.

Now, 16 months after they launched their most successful attack, Gaza is destroyed, their leadership dead, and the people there turned from fake “refugees” into actual refugees. The Palestinians in Gaza manage to break every definition of refugee that exists. First, they were the only refugees that had their own United Nations agency dedicated to them (UNRWA). They were also the only refugees that lived in cities for four generations. Now, they are the only refugees that cannot seek refuge anywhere.

After World War Two, Jewish refugees were placed in Displaced Persons (DP) camps while they resettled. Few returned back to their homes in Eastern Europe, they either fled West to America or East to help found Israel. During the Syrian Civil War, millions of refugees went to neighboring countries. Same with Ukrainians after Russia attacked. Population movement to neighboring countries is common for war refugees, and has never been called “ethnic cleansing.” It is far more cruel to make people live in rubble for decades.

Yet the cruelty is the point, because to the “pro-Palestinian” side of the conflict, what is best for the Palestinian people has never been the priority. Palestinians have always and forever been used as weapons against Jews. That is why there is no “pro-Palestinian” movement, there is only an anti-Israel movement. To keep these people where they are is openly stating that it is preferable to maintain that weapon than it is to ensure peaceful lives for them.

Signing a letter against allowing refugees to leave a warzone in pursuit of a better life in order to keep them as a weapon against fellow Jews in akin to signing a suicide note. The rise of attacks on Jews in the West has increased exponentially since October 7, meaning that should Gaza be allowed to re-arm and attack Israel again, this cycle will restart itself. Therefore, even when anti-semitism reverts to “normal” levels, it is only a matter of time before it rises again in solidarity with the next attack on Israel.

So why do these so-called Jewish activists sign a letter like this? Why would they openly advocate for a plan that has failed for decades? It is a simple calculation for them. They buy into the leftist philosophy of “stolen land” so deeply that they are willing to allow for murder as reparations for past sins. It doesn’t matter that the narrative is false (as the land was purchased for above market prices and developed), what matters more is the liberal guilt. They will appease that guilt with the blood of every Israeli and every Palestinian, because it allows them to look in the mirror and say they are the righteous ones.

So while they are the heroes of their own story, the fact is that these activists are truly the villains. They fight for war. They fight for destruction. All because they fight against reality. They spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to display their idiocy and bloodlust on the pages of the New York Times. To them, it was worth every penny.

* * *
Moshe Hill is a political analyst who has written for The Daily Wire, The Queens Jewish Link, and The Jewish Link of New Jersey. He is regularly featured on The Josh M Show podcast. Twitter @TheMoHill.

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

​[#item_full_content]  

​[[{“value”:”

A list with over 350 names appeared in the New York Times this week to protest the proposed plan by President Donald Trump to bring peace and stability to the Palestinian people in Gaza. The ad’s brief text reads: “Trump has called for the removal of all Palestinians from Gaza. Jewish people say NO to ethnic cleansing!” The undersigned are a list of actors, leftist pulpit rabbis and cantors, and others who happily signed their names to what essentially amounts to a suicide note for the Jewish people. 

The plan that they are protesting is the proposal to relocate Palestinian refugees out of a war zone and the rubble that will take a decade to rebuild. This will allow these people to rebuild their lives, a luxury afforded to nearly every other refugee from every other conflict. The signers of this ad are against this plan because it hurts their cause, not the Palestinian one.

If these 350 names were to be polled, nearly all would claim that the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be a “two-state solution.” This policy is both outdated and completely false, a relic of a bygone diplomatic era that is antithetical to the realities of a post-October 7 world.

350 rabbis took out this full-page ad in @nytimes today opposing Trump’s plans for ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza.

Add your voice to theirs, go to https://t.co/oMAz1jaMnZ
Go to https://t.co/v6qeZNhPQi#SayNoToEthnicCleansing #GazaIsNotForSale pic.twitter.com/HwRG7jWz0r

— Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (@JFREJNYC) February 13, 2025

The “two-state solution” is spoken today only by the malicious and the ignorant. Those who speak of it either want to see Israel destroyed or they know so little about the history of the region that they are repeating what they’ve been told by those who want to see Israel destroyed.

There can be no “two-state solution” when there is already a state called Israel. You are not creating “two-states,” you are granting enough concessions and legitimacy to a group of people that have spent over 60 years conducting terrorist operations so they can themselves declare a state. They will never do so because there are not enough concessions that can be given to that terrorist entity if the state of Israel exists at all. Concessions were offered, and rejected, many times in the 1990s and 2000s.

The proof is clearly there within Gaza, as the Palestinians living there were given a de facto state in 2005. Over 10,000 Jews were forcibly removed from Gaza, from land they bought and cultivated, to make room for that state. American Jewish businessmen raised money to buy agricultural equipment from those Jews to give to the Palestinian people so they can be self-sufficient in that state. Those people destroyed that equipment, elected Hamas to govern them, and launched an 18 year terror campaign against Israel.

Now, 16 months after they launched their most successful attack, Gaza is destroyed, their leadership dead, and the people there turned from fake “refugees” into actual refugees. The Palestinians in Gaza manage to break every definition of refugee that exists. First, they were the only refugees that had their own United Nations agency dedicated to them (UNRWA). They were also the only refugees that lived in cities for four generations. Now, they are the only refugees that cannot seek refuge anywhere.

After World War Two, Jewish refugees were placed in Displaced Persons (DP) camps while they resettled. Few returned back to their homes in Eastern Europe, they either fled West to America or East to help found Israel. During the Syrian Civil War, millions of refugees went to neighboring countries. Same with Ukrainians after Russia attacked. Population movement to neighboring countries is common for war refugees, and has never been called “ethnic cleansing.” It is far more cruel to make people live in rubble for decades.

Yet the cruelty is the point, because to the “pro-Palestinian” side of the conflict, what is best for the Palestinian people has never been the priority. Palestinians have always and forever been used as weapons against Jews. That is why there is no “pro-Palestinian” movement, there is only an anti-Israel movement. To keep these people where they are is openly stating that it is preferable to maintain that weapon than it is to ensure peaceful lives for them.

Signing a letter against allowing refugees to leave a warzone in pursuit of a better life in order to keep them as a weapon against fellow Jews in akin to signing a suicide note. The rise of attacks on Jews in the West has increased exponentially since October 7, meaning that should Gaza be allowed to re-arm and attack Israel again, this cycle will restart itself. Therefore, even when anti-semitism reverts to “normal” levels, it is only a matter of time before it rises again in solidarity with the next attack on Israel.

So why do these so-called Jewish activists sign a letter like this? Why would they openly advocate for a plan that has failed for decades? It is a simple calculation for them. They buy into the leftist philosophy of “stolen land” so deeply that they are willing to allow for murder as reparations for past sins. It doesn’t matter that the narrative is false (as the land was purchased for above market prices and developed), what matters more is the liberal guilt. They will appease that guilt with the blood of every Israeli and every Palestinian, because it allows them to look in the mirror and say they are the righteous ones.

So while they are the heroes of their own story, the fact is that these activists are truly the villains. They fight for war. They fight for destruction. All because they fight against reality. They spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to display their idiocy and bloodlust on the pages of the New York Times. To them, it was worth every penny.

* * *
Moshe Hill is a political analyst who has written for The Daily Wire, The Queens Jewish Link, and The Jewish Link of New Jersey. He is regularly featured on The Josh M Show podcast. Twitter @TheMoHill.

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

“}]] 

The post Leftist Jews Buy Full Page Suicide Note In The New York Times appeared first on Spin Politico.

Brady Corbet, director of the Oscar-nominated film “The Brutalist,” claims he hasn’t made any money on the project.

The Academy Award nominee made the revelation while speaking with Marc Maron on his “WTF” podcast. “I just directed three advertisements in Portugal,” Corbet said. “It’s the first time that I had made any money in years.” He went on to say that he and his wife/co-writer Mona Fastvold “made zero dollars on the last two films that we made.”

Maron expressed surprise at the statement, asking the director to confirm it was actually true. “Yes. Actually, zero,” he said of his earnings. “We had to just sort of live off of a paycheck from three years ago.”

He went on to say that filmmakers are “not paid to be promoting a film.”

“If you look at certain films that premiered in Cannes [Film Festival], that was almost a year ago … I mean, our film premiered in September. So I’ve been doing this for six months. And had zero income because I don’t have any time to go to work,” Corbet said.

He also called the film’s promotion and marketing a “six month interrogation” with “boundless” interviews. 

“It’s constant travel, and you’re also working Saturdays and Sundays. I haven’t had a day off since the Christmas break,” the director added. “I’ve spoken to many filmmakers that have the films that are nominated this year that can’t pay their rent. I mean, that’s a real thing.”

“The Brutalist” is a period drama following a Hungarian immigrant (Adrien Brody) fleeing his home country following the aftermath of the Holocaust to find work as an architect in the United States. The film has been especially popular with critics, earning 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor (Guy Pierce), and Best Supporting Actress (Felicity Jones). 

The film won Best Picture at several industry awards shows, including at the Golden Globes, while Brody took home Best Actor honors more than 20 times for the project. 

Corbet has also been recognized for the achievement, most recently winning the BAFTA for Best Director after winning a Golden Globe in the same category last month. He has also been nominated for an Academy Award for “The Brutalist.”

​[#item_full_content]  

​[[{“value”:”

Brady Corbet, director of the Oscar-nominated film “The Brutalist,” claims he hasn’t made any money on the project.

The Academy Award nominee made the revelation while speaking with Marc Maron on his “WTF” podcast. “I just directed three advertisements in Portugal,” Corbet said. “It’s the first time that I had made any money in years.” He went on to say that he and his wife/co-writer Mona Fastvold “made zero dollars on the last two films that we made.”

Maron expressed surprise at the statement, asking the director to confirm it was actually true. “Yes. Actually, zero,” he said of his earnings. “We had to just sort of live off of a paycheck from three years ago.”

He went on to say that filmmakers are “not paid to be promoting a film.”

“If you look at certain films that premiered in Cannes [Film Festival], that was almost a year ago … I mean, our film premiered in September. So I’ve been doing this for six months. And had zero income because I don’t have any time to go to work,” Corbet said.

He also called the film’s promotion and marketing a “six month interrogation” with “boundless” interviews. 

“It’s constant travel, and you’re also working Saturdays and Sundays. I haven’t had a day off since the Christmas break,” the director added. “I’ve spoken to many filmmakers that have the films that are nominated this year that can’t pay their rent. I mean, that’s a real thing.”

“The Brutalist” is a period drama following a Hungarian immigrant (Adrien Brody) fleeing his home country following the aftermath of the Holocaust to find work as an architect in the United States. The film has been especially popular with critics, earning 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor (Guy Pierce), and Best Supporting Actress (Felicity Jones). 

The film won Best Picture at several industry awards shows, including at the Golden Globes, while Brody took home Best Actor honors more than 20 times for the project. 

Corbet has also been recognized for the achievement, most recently winning the BAFTA for Best Director after winning a Golden Globe in the same category last month. He has also been nominated for an Academy Award for “The Brutalist.”

“}]] 

The post Oscar-Nominated Director Of ‘The Brutalist’ Claims He Made ‘Zero Income’ From The Film appeared first on Spin Politico.

Actress Julianne Moore claims that the Trump administration “banned” a children’s book she wrote from schools run by the Department of Defense, but a rep from the organization responded by saying that it’s one of several books currently under review and no permanent changes have been made yet.

The celebrity wrote a lengthy Instagram post about her book “Freckleface Strawberry” and how she believes it was removed from schools without good cause. The story follows a young girl who tries to get rid of her freckles before learning to accept herself and her differences.

Moore said “it is a great shock” for her to learn that her book was “banned.”  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Julianne Moore (@juliannemoore)

“Freckleface Strawberry is a semi-autobiographical story about a seven year old girl who dislikes her freckles but eventually learns to live with them when she realizes that she is different ‘just like everybody else.’ It is a book I wrote for my children and for other kids to remind them that we all struggle, but are united by our humanity and our community,” she said in the post.

The actress went on, “I am particularly stunned because I am a proud graduate of Frankfurt American High School a #DOD school that once operated in Frankfurt, Germany. I grew up with a father who is a Vietnam veteran and spent his career in the #USArmy. I could not be prouder of him and his service to our country.”

The “May December” star said she doesn’t understand what’s controversial about the book. “I am truly saddened and never thought I would see this in a country where freedom of speech and expression is a constitutional right,” Moore concluded. 

Part of the preview of the book on Amazon says, “If you have freckles, you can try these things: 1) Make them go away. Unless scrubbing doesn’t work. 2) Cover them up. Unless your mom yells at you for using a marker. 3) Disappear. Um, where’d you go? Oh, there you are. There’s one other thing you can do: 4) LIVE WITH THEM! Because after all, the things that make you different also make you YOU.”

The Department of Defense’s Education Activity, the group that plans and executes pre-K-to-12th grade educational programming for the DOD, provided a statement to Fox Digital on the alleged ban. “DoDEA is reviewing its current policies and instructional resources in light of recent Executive Orders and Department of Defense guidance,” it said. 

“At this time, we are conducting a review – no materials have been permanently removed from our school libraries pending completion of the review. During this period, materials under review will have access limited to professional staff.”

​[#item_full_content]  

​[[{“value”:”

Actress Julianne Moore claims that the Trump administration “banned” a children’s book she wrote from schools run by the Department of Defense, but a rep from the organization responded by saying that it’s one of several books currently under review and no permanent changes have been made yet.

The celebrity wrote a lengthy Instagram post about her book “Freckleface Strawberry” and how she believes it was removed from schools without good cause. The story follows a young girl who tries to get rid of her freckles before learning to accept herself and her differences.

Moore said “it is a great shock” for her to learn that her book was “banned.”  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Julianne Moore (@juliannemoore)

“Freckleface Strawberry is a semi-autobiographical story about a seven year old girl who dislikes her freckles but eventually learns to live with them when she realizes that she is different ‘just like everybody else.’ It is a book I wrote for my children and for other kids to remind them that we all struggle, but are united by our humanity and our community,” she said in the post.

The actress went on, “I am particularly stunned because I am a proud graduate of Frankfurt American High School a #DOD school that once operated in Frankfurt, Germany. I grew up with a father who is a Vietnam veteran and spent his career in the #USArmy. I could not be prouder of him and his service to our country.”

The “May December” star said she doesn’t understand what’s controversial about the book. “I am truly saddened and never thought I would see this in a country where freedom of speech and expression is a constitutional right,” Moore concluded. 

Part of the preview of the book on Amazon says, “If you have freckles, you can try these things: 1) Make them go away. Unless scrubbing doesn’t work. 2) Cover them up. Unless your mom yells at you for using a marker. 3) Disappear. Um, where’d you go? Oh, there you are. There’s one other thing you can do: 4) LIVE WITH THEM! Because after all, the things that make you different also make you YOU.”

The Department of Defense’s Education Activity, the group that plans and executes pre-K-to-12th grade educational programming for the DOD, provided a statement to Fox Digital on the alleged ban. “DoDEA is reviewing its current policies and instructional resources in light of recent Executive Orders and Department of Defense guidance,” it said. 

“At this time, we are conducting a review – no materials have been permanently removed from our school libraries pending completion of the review. During this period, materials under review will have access limited to professional staff.”

“}]] 

The post Actress Julianne Moore Claims Children’s Book She Wrote Was ‘Banned By The Trump Administration’ appeared first on Spin Politico.