Year: 2023

A private university in Minnesota known for its social justice roots is facing an outcry from academic and artistic freedom activists after it declined to renew the contract of a professor who showed an art history class centuries-old depictions of Muhammad to illustrate that Muslims have historically varying views on the prophet’s depiction.

Hamline University, whose home page links to a land acknowledgment to the Dakota and Ojibwe tribes, did not renew the unnamed adjunct’s contract after its top diversity official called the art lesson “undeniably … Islamophobic” despite letting students in the virtual class opt out of viewing the depictions.

Associate Vice President of Inclusive Excellence David Everett and President Fayneese Miller also confirmed they viewed the incident as a matter of academic freedom in a campus message, saying the professor nonetheless should have given precedence to “respect for the observant Muslim students in that classroom.”

The bulk …

California Turns Into Transgender Sanctuary State for Kids Trying to Modify Their Gender

California became the first sanctuary state in the country to allow children to undergo procedures related to modifying their gender on Jan. 1, adopting a stance that is vastly controversial, in contrast to some Republican-led states that have begun cracking down on invasive medical intervention for transgender-identifying kids.

SB 107 was signed into law by Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom in September, 2022. It came into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. The policy allows for providing drugs and gender-related surgery services or “gender-affirming care” to kids, including those from states where such treatments have been criminalized or restricted. It prohibits state courts from interfering in child custody battles over these treatments.

The bill would also “prohibit a provider of health care, a health care service plan, or a contractor from releasing medical information related to a person or entity allowing a child …

China’s state media is continuing to play down the number of COVID-19 cases in the country and is instead attempting to assure the public that the situation is under control.

The country reported just three new deaths from COVID-19 on Dec. 2, after reporting only one new death a day prior.

According to the latest figures released by the Chinese regime, the death toll in the country since the start of the pandemic now stands at 5,253. However, health officials believe that figure to be much higher in a country with a population of over 1.4 billion.

China recently scrapped its mass testing operation, which has made tracking official case figures difficult.

In an article published on Tuesday, People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), cited several experts as saying the illness caused by the virus was “relatively mild” for most people.

“Severe and critical illnesses account …

Colleagues and friends rallied to send their prayers and well-wishes when reports began to circulate early Monday morning that actor Jeremy Renner had been injured in an accident.

Renner, who is well-known for his portrayal of the comic superhero Hawkeye in a number of films within the Marvel cinematic universe, reportedly suffered serious injuries when the plow he was using to clear his Nevada driveway rolled over his legs.

Entertainment website TMZ shared video of “The Hurt Locker” star being airlifted to the hospital, and reported that a neighbor — who happened to be a doctor — had been able to get to Renner before first responders arrived and had applied a tourniquet to slow the bleeding.

“My God,” actor Josh Gad tweeted when he read the news. “Praying for @jeremyrenner and his family.”

Comic writer Christopher Yost wished Renner a quick recovery as well, adding, “Wishing @JeremyRenner a full and …

The Buffalo Bills said in a statement during the early morning hours on Tuesday that safety Damar Hamlin’s frightening collapse on the field was triggered by a heart attack.

Hamlin collapsed with about six minutes left in the first quarter of the Monday Night Football game after he tackled Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins after a 13-yard catch. After the tackle, Hamlin got up, took a step backward, and fell to the ground.

“Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game versus the Bengals,” the team said in a statement. “His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment. He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition.”

Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game versus the Bengals. His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical …

On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth II passed away surrounded by family at Balmoral in Scotland. She was ninety-six years old.Two days later, her son was proclaimed King Charles III at the Accession Council held at St James’s Palace. In attendance were members of the royal family, British politicians past and present, and others invited to witness the historic event.”My lords, ladies, and gentlemen,” King Charles III began, “it is my most sorrowful duty to announce to you the death of my beloved mother the Queen. I know how deeply you, the entire nation, and I think I may say the whole world, sympathize with me in the irreparable loss we’ve all suffered.””It is the greatest consolation to me, to know of the sympathy expressed by so many to my sister and brothers and that such overwhelming affection and support should be extended to our whole family in our loss.”Charles went on to highlight the legacy of his …

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has allocated $25 million to UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism “to support and strengthen local reporting in underserved and historically underrepresented areas across the state,” according to a Wednesday announcement from the university. Dean of the journalism school at Berkeley, Geeta Anand, stated the reasons for the move and how the school will use the money.”We’ve got three reasons for taking this on,” she tweeted. “1: we all see the world through the prism of our own lived experiences. So, who our storytellers are matters. If we don’t have a diverse group of people becoming journalists, then we miss stories that matter.””This is core to Berkeley Journalism’s mission: removing the economic barriers for journalists who have historically been excluded from the industry. It’s why 1/4 of our new class are 1st-gen college students, …

Ray Epps is the fellow who was caught on video multiple times telling pro-Trump protesters that they were going to have to storm the Capitol. Yet despite this clear evidence that he was a singular ringleader and instigator of what Democrats insist was an “insurrection” that threatened the very survival of our free republic, Epps has never been charged with insurrection or anything else, or even been arrested. Meanwhile, people who never told anyone to storm the Capitol have languished in prison without trial for nearly two years now, in shocking conditions. All this has given rise to the widespread and lingering suspicion that Ray Epps is a fed, a suspicion that Epps himself has just reinforced by telling his nephew that he “orchestrated” the events of that fateful day. Of course he did.

A transcript of a deposition of Epps with the House Jan. 6 Committee, dated …

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy’s quest to become speaker of the House has run into new headwinds as the lower chamber of Congress prepares for a leadership vote on Tuesday.

Republicans gained control of the 435-member House in the November elections, with 222 seats. To be elected speaker over Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona — the only other Republican who has publicly said he wants the post — McCarthy needs 218 votes. That means any more than four Republicans opposing him, assuming all Democrats do, could sink his chances for the post.

On Sunday, nine Republicans signed a letter saying that McCarthy’s efforts to woo conservative Republicans have been, in essence, too little, too late.

“[T]he times call for radical departure from the status quo — not a continuation of past, and ongoing, Republican failures,” the letter said.

Republican Reps. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Chip …