The US Presidential race is level pegging as two weeks remain for US Vice President Kamala Harris and former US President Donald Trump to secure key votes across the country’s critical battleground states.

According to the national polling average Harris leads Trump 49 per cent to 48 per cent and the two candidates are in the main tied.

The terms of the lottery scheme requires the winner to be a registered voter, be from one of the following swing states: Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin or North Carolina and have signed America PAC’s online petition.

“The First and Second Amendments guarantee freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. By signing below, I am pledging my support for the First and Second Amendments.”

“Our goal is to get 1 million registered voters in swing states to sign in support of the constitution”.

America PAC was formed by the 53-year-old Musk in May to support Trump's election bid. Musk has thus far donated $75 million into America PAC.

One must question what the legal ramifications of Musk’s innovative scheme is as he turns into YouTube’s MrBeast.

“He’s not paying them to register to vote. He’s paying them to sign a petition - and he wants only people who are registered to vote to sign the petition. So I think he comes out OK here”.

“I think signing the petition is irrelevant to the legal question because you must be a registered voter. It doesn’t matter if you add other conditions”.

The two claimants of the prize giveaway are reported to be registered Republicans and have already voted by mail.

Kristine Fishell, was the second recipient to receive the prize at an event in Pittsburgh.

Can Musk help Trump buy an election?

Will American Voters be Swayed by Elon Musk’s Inventive $1 Million YouTube-Esque Giveaway? was originally published in The Geopolitical Economist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

“That's almost nearly killed me a couple of times.”

Tributes are pouring in worldwide on social media for Liam Payne who found fame with globally successful boyband One Direction also known as “1D”. The band was formed after Payne, aged 16, appeared on UK reality TV talent show The X Factor in 2010 and together with fellow contestants Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan, sold over 70 million records.

The band achieved international success with their debut single, “What Makes You Beautiful” in September 2011. Before their hiatus in 2016, the band had released five albums, and won numerous awards which included four MTV Video Music Awards and seven Brit Awards.

An investigation by local authorities has been launched into the circumstances surrounding Payne’s tragic death on Wednesday October 16, 5pm local time Buenos Aires, Argentina following a fall from the third floor of a hotel balcony in the Palermo neighbourhood.

Emergency services responded within six minutes to find him with “injuries incompatible with life”. He had sustained “very serious injuries” including a “fracture at the base of the skull”.

The following are transcripts of the two emergency calls made to Argentinian police immediately prior to Payne’s death:

Call handler: 911 where’s your emergency?

Caller: Hello

911 what’s your emergency?

Hello, good afternoon, look I’m calling you from the hotel CasaSur Palermo, which is located in Costa Rica [St] 6032

6032? Is that between Cramer [St] and …

Yes, that’s correct it’s between Arevalo [Street] and Dorrego [Street]. So, we have a guest who is high on drugs and who is trashing the room. Erm, so we need someone to come

Understood, so you’re telling me is being aggressive? Sir, can you please repeat the name of the hotel? Sir?

A second call is made after the line cuts from the first call:

Call handler: 911 where’s your emergency?

Caller: Hello, good day, I just called but got cut off. I’m calling from the hotel CasaSur Palermo, Costa Rica [St] 6032

What’s happening at that location, sir?

Well, we’ve got a guest who has had too many drugs and alcohol and, well, when he is conscious he is trashing the entire room and we need you to send someone, please

He is under the effect of alcohol and drugs, is he, sir?

Yes, correct

You said Costa Rica St at which location?

Costa Rica 6032

That’s between Arevalo and Cramer?

Yes

You said it’s a hotel? What’s it called?

CasaSur Palermo, and we need you to send someone urgently because, well, I don’t know whether his life, may be in danger, the guest’s life. He is in a room with a balcony and well, we’re a little afraid that he…

Since when has he been there or is this a long-stay hotel?

He’s been here for two or three days.

Understood, you wouldn’t know any other details because you can’t get in, right?

No

We’ll notify the SAME (medical emergency) staff as well, yes?

Yes, what I’m asking is for someone to come urgently because, well…

We’ve notified SAME. Any other details you can provide. Who are you, are you in charge?

I am in the chief receptionist.

In charge at the location?

Yes, yes.

We’ve now reported this. What’s your name, sir?

Esteban.

We’ve reported it.

OK

Thanks for calling, you can free up the line now.

Are you sending the police as well or not?

The police and the local – wait give me a second – the local authorities and the SAME.

No, no, just the SAME. Just the SAME.

Understood, don’t worry, we’ve reported it.

Yes, perfect, many thanks.

You told me that [the guest] is under the influence of drugs and alcohol and the SAME doesn’t go in alone.

The SAME doesn’t go in alone? Ok, ok.

No, it’s reported [to the police] regardless. If the police arrives you explain [what’s going on] and if they need the SAME, they call them.

Good, ok. Perfect.

We’ve made the report, have a good day, sir.

Good, thanks, same to you.

On Thursday Buenos Aires police, having conducted a search of Payne's hotel room, have described “total disorder”. In the search, they found alcohol and medications such as Clonazepam (a benzodiazepine).

A preliminary autopsy performed by the Forensic Medical Corps has found that his death was caused by ‘multiple traumas’ that caused ‘internal and external bleeding’. Results indicate that the death was consistent with him suffering a ten-metre fall from the balcony of his room, at the Casa Sur hotel.

Liam had been on holiday in Argentina with his current girlfriend since 2022, Kate Cassidy, a US influencer. She returned to the US a few days earlier.

“One, because we want to. Two, because we want to. And three, because Niall Horan’s playing down there and I think we might just go and say ‘hello.’”

“It’s been a while since me and Niall have spoken. We’ve got a lot to talk about and I would like to square up a couple things with the boy. No bad vibes or nothing like that but we just need to talk.”

Payne had an on-and-off three-year relationship with model Maya Henry starting in 2019. They got engaged in 2020 but broke up and reunited in 2021 and finally separated in 2022. Henry recently had a lawyer issue him with a cease and desist order after recent claims that Payne had been sending her unwanted messages and undesired attention.

“Ever since we broke up he messages me, will blow up my phone. Mind you, not only from his phone number. He, it's always from different phone numbers too, so I never know where it is going to come from.”

Liam struggled with the dark side of fame turning to alcohol which continued after the band went on hiatus in 2016 and he was in therapy for two years. He told the BBC:

“It was very erratic behaviour on my part - I was partying too hard”.

“It was hard to have fun sometimes in that circumstance when there was so much pressure loaded on to it.”

“It sent me a bit AWOL at one point, if I’m honest. I can remember when there were 10,000 people outside our hotel. We couldn’t go anywhere. It was just gig to hotel, gig to hotel. And you couldn’t sleep, because they’d still be outside.”

In 2017 he pursued a solo career and debuted his single “Strip That Down” featuring US rapper Quavo.

In 2023 he suffered with health concerns and was hospitalised twice. Also in that year he shared on his YouTube channel about his attempts to stop drinking and about his time spent in rehab. He expressed:

“I kind of became somebody who I didn't really recognize anymore. And I'm sure you guys didn't either.”

Many artists who were past contestants and found fame on The X Factor talent show have shared their concerns about the “exploitation” of young stars and the lack of support they receive.

“There are those who had a responsibility to provide the care and support necessary for the well-being of young artists, but too often, the focus remained on profits rather than the people.”

“This industry has treated talent like commodities, and the negligence of duty of care has once again led to a heart-wrenching loss.”

Liam's “heartbroken” family has released the following statement through a spokesperson:

“Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul,”

“We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”

Liked the story?

Sweet.pub is a family — 💚 Short, 💙 Long, 💜 Niche, and 🧡 Deep.
Discover the stories that will make your 🤍 beat!

This article was published on October 17th, 2024 in Long. Sweet. Valuable. publication.

The US sends its advanced Thaad missile defense system and deploys over 100 American military personnel to Israel in preparation for its exchange of attacks with Iran

In the early hours of Monday morning on October 14, Israeli drones targeted a tent camp of displaced Palestinian families in Deir al-Balah, outside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital, setting alight tents which spread like wildfire and killed four Palestinians and burned alive many more including patients as they lay in their hospital beds.

Shared on social media in and many unable to help because of the inferno.

“People came here from everywhere escaping death, but we came to a second death”.

“I used to have big dreams, but the war has ruined them. It’s taken a toll on me, making me physically and mentally sick. I suffer from depression and hair loss because of the constant trauma we face. Time feels like it’s stopped in Gaza, and we’re stuck in a never-ending nightmare.”

As ever questions of accountability remain.

Adherent to the Israeli narrative the hospital strike was a “precise strike on terrorists”. said it was based on intelligence:

“Precise strike on terrorists who were operating inside a command and control center in the area of a parking lot adjacent” to Al-Aqsa hospital.

“Shortly after the strike, a fire ignited in the hospital's parking lot, most likely due to secondary explosions”.

“numerous steps to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence.”

In every instance of the targeting of schools and hospitals in the past year, where Hamas were alleged to be hiding, in the aftermath of the carnage, why have there been no reports of Hamas deaths?

Meanwhile the White House has denounced the airstrike on the hospital as a White House National Security spokesperson told The Times of Israel:

“The images and video of what appear to be displaced civilians burning alive following an Israeli airstrike are deeply disturbing, and we have made our concerns clear to the Israeli government”.

“Israel has a responsibility to do more to avoid civilian casualties — and what happened here is horrifying, even if Hamas was operating near the hospital in an attempt to use civilians as human shields”.

The US has also told Israel that it risks an arms embargo should Israel fail to improve the humanitarian conditions in Gaza within 30 days.

“We are now writing to underscore the U.S. government's deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, and seek urgent and sustained actions by your government this month to reverse this trajectory”.

“Failure to implement these measures could lead to consequences for American policy, in accordance with American law.”

Nonetheless, President Joe Biden will continue to assist Israel “to defend Israel” with more military assistance by sending its advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, along with a crew to operate the system.

If the US goes to war with Iran, it will not be because Iran provoked a war with the US. It will be because Israel led the US to it.

When Will Humanity Prevail? was originally published in The Geopolitical Economist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Father

Edgar Albert Guest
1881 –
1959

My father knows the proper way
The nation should be run;
He tells us children every day
Just what should now be done.
He knows the way to fix the trusts,
He has a simple plan;
But if the furnace needs repairs,
We have to hire a man.

My father, in a day or two
Could land big thieves in jail;
There’s nothing that he cannot do,
He knows no word like “fail.”
“Our confidence” he would restore,
Of that there is no doubt;
But if there is a chair to mend,
We have to send it out.

All public questions that arise,
He settles on the spot;
He waits not till the tumult dies,
But grabs it while it's hot.
In matters of finance he can
Tell Congress what to do;
But, O, he finds it hard to meet
His bills as they fall due.

It almost makes him sick to read
The things law-makers say;
Why, father’s just the man they need,
He never goes astray.
All wars he’d very quickly end,
As fast as I can write it;
But when a neighbor starts a fuss,
‘Tis mother has to fight it.

In conversation father can
Do many wondrous things;
He's built upon a wiser plan
Than presidents or kings.
He knows the ins and outs of each
And every deep transaction;
We look to him for theories,
But look to ma for action.

If

Rudyard Kipling
1865 –
1936

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run—
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

Do not go gentle into that good night

Dylan Thomas
1914 –
1953

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

my father moved through dooms of love

E. E. Cummings
1894 –
1962

my father moved through dooms of love
through sames of am through haves of give,
singing each morning out of each night
my father moved through depths of height

this motionless forgetful where
turned at his glance to shining here;
that if (so timid air is firm)
under his eyes would stir and squirm

newly as from unburied which
floats the first who, his april touch
drove sleeping selves to swarm their fates
woke dreamers to their ghostly roots

and should some why completely weep
my father’s fingers brought her sleep:
vainly no smallest voice might cry
for he could feel the mountains grow.

Lifting the valleys of the sea
my father moved through griefs of joy;
praising a forehead called the moon
singing desire into begin

joy was his song and joy so pure
a heart of star by him could steer
and pure so now and now so yes
the wrists of twilight would rejoice

keen as midsummer’s keen beyond
conceiving mind of sun will stand,
so strictly (over utmost him
so hugely) stood my father’s dream

his flesh was flesh his blood was blood:
no hungry man but wished him food;
no cripple wouldn’t creep one mile
uphill to only see him smile.

Scorning the Pomp of must and shall
my father moved through dooms of feel;
his anger was as right as rain
his pity was as green as grain

septembering arms of year extend
less humbly wealth to foe and friend
than he to foolish and to wise
offered immeasurable is

proudly and (by octobering flame
beckoned) as earth will downward climb,
so naked for immortal work
his shoulders marched against the dark

his sorrow was as true as bread:
no liar looked him in the head;
if every friend became his foe
he’d laugh and build a world with snow.

My father moved through theys of we,
singing each new leaf out of each tree
(and every child was sure that spring
danced when she heard my father sing)

then let men kill which cannot share,
let blood and flesh be mud and mire,
scheming imagine, passion willed,
freedom a drug that’s bought and sold

giving to steal and cruel kind,
a heart to fear, to doubt a mind,
to differ a disease of same,
conform the pinnacle of am

though dull were all we taste as bright,
bitter all utterly things sweet,
maggoty minus and dumb death
all we inherit, all bequeath

and nothing quite so least as truth
—i say though hate were why men breathe—
because my Father lived his soul
love is the whole and more than all

Only a Dad

Edgar Albert Guest

Only a dad, with a tired face,
Coming home from the daily race,
Bringing little of gold or fame,
To show how well he has played the game,
But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
To see him come, and to hear his voice.

Only a dad, with a brood of four,
One of ten million men or more.
Plodding along in the daily strife,
Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,
With never a whimper of pain or hate,
For the sake of those who at home await.

Only a dad, neither rich nor proud,
Merely one of the surging crowd
Toiling, striving from day to day,
Facing whatever may come his way,
Silent, whenever the harsh condemn,
And bearing it all for the love of them.

Only a dad, but he gives his all
To smooth the way for his children small,
Doing, with courage stern and grim,
The deeds that his father did for him.
This is the line that for him I pen,
Only a dad, but the best of men.

“This is the line that for him I pen,
Only a dad, but the best of men.”

Père, tu illumines les ténèbres
J’ai la chance de t’avoir chaque jour

Father, you light up the darkness
I’m lucky to have you every day

“It’s the first genocide in history where its victims are broadcasting their own destruction in real time,” stated Blinne Ni Ghralaigh, an adviser to the South Africa team at the International Court of Justice

Gaza marks a year on after Israel unleashed a war on the besieged enclave following Hamas’s deadly offensive on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Israel’s claim to “eradicate Hamas” has since seen only the displacement, destruction and decimation of Gaza and its people. An estimated 41,870 Palestinians have been killed with 69 per cent of victims being children and women.

“I want someone to take me abroad, to any country, to install a prosthetic leg, to be able to walk like other people”.

“I want to become a doctor, like those who treat us, so that I can treat other children”.

“I only want one thing: For the war to end.”

The Western media’s coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza has been disproportionate and weaponized in favour of the Israeli regime in Gaza. The focal point has always been the October 7 Hamas attacks and any historical pretext has mostly been overlooked by the media outlets. Allowing for the justification of Israel’s genocidal actions and maintaining the status quo.

Samuel Mena an American journalist whilst attending a pro-Palestinian rally in Washington DC on Saturday, October 5 tried to self-immolate having become deeply disturbed by the way US media framed Israel’s war on Gaza and the loss of Palestinian lives. In a speech posted online the previous day he voiced his concerns about the objectivity of the US media's portrayal and coverage of the war.

“It's we, the American journalists, through lazy negligence at best or through corporate influence at worst, created the environment, incubated, and carried to term the tools that the leaders of our government would use to dismantle the truths of the world in which we live”.

“To the 10 thousand children in Gaza that have lost a limb in this conflict, I give my left arm to you. I pray my voice was able to raise up yours, and that your smiles never disappear”.

Unsurprisingly the Western media’s lack of moral conviction and courage to report unbiasedly on Gaza led to more going online to consume the news on various social media channels.

Hassan Hamad, a teen journalist working as a freelance TV reporter, was killed on Sunday, October 6 following threats from an Israeli officer to stop filming Israeli attacks in Gaza.

“Listen… If you continue spreading lies about Israel, we'll come for you next and turn your family into... This is your last warning.”

As of October 8, 2024, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has found that at least 128 journalists and media workers were included in the 42,000 killed since the start of the war.

A year on since Isreal started “defending itself” from innocent children like Dunia and the 11,346 women killed, the tragic stories of the Gazans is unending and yet the world stays silent apart from performative displays of outrage and continual failures to stop the war and genocide of Gaza.

“We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly.”

According to UN estimates, 90 per cent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been repeatedly displaced.

The Palestinians did not stand a chance to gain global support until it became apparent that a genocide was prevalent in Gaza.

There can never be justification for Hamas’s deadly attacks on Israeli civilians, in as much as Israel making justifiable its ensuing genocide of Gaza.

Gaza the Death Zone of Displacement, Destruction and Decimation: Historically the First Ever… was originally published in The Geopolitical Economist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Never compare yourself to all
The sun and moon
Differ
Still
Shine just the same
Glitter
Fill
The day and night
Bright with
Light

Thank you Donna Cowden for the introduction to a Zeno poem

Thanks to Willow Schroeder for setting it as Pier 21 Prompt Challenge

Much appreciation to Felipe Leon U. for inspiring the writing of this Zeno poem!

The Sun and the Moon was originally published in My Fair Lighthouse on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Linkin Park’s new single release “Heavy Is The Crown” will drop on Tuesday, September 24 at 8am PT as the upcoming 2024 League of Legends World Championship Official Anthem. The band will perform the anthem live across video streaming.

Globally League of Legends is the largest esport founded by Riot Games and released in 2009 as a free-to-play online multiplayer battle arena video game commonly known as League.

The World's tournament will commence with the play-in stage at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin, Germany on Wednesday, September 25 and culminate in the final at London’s O2 Arena Saturday, November 2.

“The Worlds anthem is the music moment that League players look forward to the most each year, and it has become a highly coveted fixture in music across the world”.

“The lyrics for Heavy Is The Crown perfectly capture the narrative for this year’s Worlds and they are a powerful companion to the themes of our music video.”

Mike Shinoda commented how “Heavy Is The Crown” is:

“a real highlight of this new era for us, harnessing our signature sound and infusing it with fresh energy. We’re so excited for players and fans to experience this!”

Linkin Park has suffered a backlash after announcing Emily Armstrong as the new co-vocalist of the band with her alleged associations with Scientology and convicted rapist Danny Masterson.

Chester Bennington’s family members have also been critical of the reformed band’s reunion.

“Hey Mike! People aren’t having a difficult time wrapping their head around the prospect of Linkin Park reinventing itself”,

“They are having a hard time wrapping their head around how you: Hired your friend of many years @emilyarmstrong to replace @chesterbe knowing Emily’s history in the church and her history as an ally to @dannymasterson.”

“quietly erased my father’s life and legacy in real time… during international suicide prevention month.”

“betrayed the trust loaned to you by decades of fans and supporting human beings including myself. We trusted you to be the bigger better person. To be the change. Because you promised us that was your intention. Now you’re just senile and tone deaf.”

“You’re coming over to my posts and my livestreams and telling me to kill myself, that I’m awful, that my father doesn’t appreciate me. What are you talking about? You didn’t give a fuck when he died. If you did, you would understand what the problem is. You would understand why this is all wrong. I do because I’m his kid.”

Emily Armstrong responded to the controversy via her Instagram posts:

“Several years ago, I was asked to support someone I considered a friend at a court appearance, and went to one early hearing as an observer”,

“Soon after, I realized I shouldn’t have. I always try to see the good in people and I misjudged him. I have never spoken with him since. Unimaginable details emerged and he was later found guilty.”

“To say it as clearly as possible: I do not condone abuse or violence against women, and I empathize with the victims of these crimes.”

Susan Eubanks the mother of the late Chester Bennington also blasted the band in a post for Rolling Stone:

“If I could tell the band members anything it’s that I feel betrayed. You made a promise to me that you would let us know and you didn’t.”

“I feel like they’re trying very hard to erase the past. They’re performing songs that Chester sang. And I don’t know how the fans are taking it, but I know how I take it. And having [Armstrong] singing my son’s songs is hurtful”.

Meanwhile Elon Musk posts and deletes on X: “And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala,” followed by the thinking face emoji.

On Sunday September 15, near 2pm local time at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach Florida, the former US President Donald Trump became the subject of a second assassination attempt after surviving an assassination attempt two months ago which led to a bullet grazing his ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is said to be investigating “what appears to be an attempted assassination” of Trump after the Secret Service fired four rounds of gunshots at a suspect as an agent noticed a gun barrel in some bushes on the edge of the golf course.

US media and other outlets identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58 who had lived in North Carolina and moved in 2018 to Kaaawa, Hawaii.

“I AM WILLING TO FLY TO KRAKOW AND GO TO THE BORDER OF UKRAINE TO VOLUNTEER AND FIGHT AND DIE”.

“Each one of us must do our part daily in the smallest steps [to] help support human rights, freedom and democracy; we each must help the chinese”.

“While you were my choice in 2106 [sic], I and the world hoped that president Trump would be different and better than the candidate”.

“But we all were greatly disappointment and it seems you are getting worse and devolving. I will be glad when you gone.”

“Ryan is my father, and I don’t have any comment beyond a character profile of him as a loving and caring father, and honest, hardworking man.

“I don’t know what’s happened in Florida, and I hope things have just been blown out of proportion, because from the little I’ve heard, it doesn’t sound like the man I know to do anything crazy, much less violent”.

“He’s a good father, and a great man, and I hope you can portray him in an honest light.”

Donald Trump has placed the blame for the attempted assassination on the Biden-Harris “rhetoric.”

“Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country, and they are the ones that are destroying the country - both from the inside and out.”

“One thing I want to make clear . . . the Secret Service needs more help”.

“I am deeply disturbed by the possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today. As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence. We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence.

I am thankful that former President Trump is safe. I commend the U.S. Secret Service and law enforcement partners for their vigilance. As President Biden said, our Administration will ensure the Secret Service has every resource, capability, and protective measure necessary to carry out its critical mission.”

“I am glad to hear that @realDonaldTrump is safe and unharmed. My best wishes to him and his family. It’s good that the suspect in the assassination attempt was apprehended quickly. This is our principle: the rule of law is paramount and political violence has no place anywhere in the world. We sincerely hope that everyone remains safe.”

Elon Musk was under fire once more after writing in a now-deleted post on X:

“And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala 🤔”.

“I would reconsider this post. S***’s getting out of hand. We need to unite”.

“In all seriousness, as a former federal prosecutor, I can tell you that a statement like Elon Musk’s below DOES require an immediate visit by the U.S. Secret Service. That is the protocol in every similar situation.”

“Violence should only be condemned, never encouraged or joked about.”

Trump has recently received backlash over comments made at the first presidential debate with Kamala Harris regarding false claims that Haitian immigrants are eating the pets of people living in Springfield, Ohio.

Trump Says ‘FEAR NOT! was originally published in The Geopolitical Economist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

A bizarre false statement by Donald Trump about illegal immigrants in Springfield “eating the pets of the people that live there” has seen a frenzy of Simpsons memes on social media.

In the days preceding the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Trump supporters propagated unsubstantiated reports concerning Haitian immigrants eating pets in the central-Ohio town of Springfield.

Despite the claims, authorities in Springfield have said that the arrivals of the Caribbean migrants had boosted the local economy.

“why did you try to kill that bill and successfully so? That would have put thousands of additional agents and officers on the border.”

“A lot of towns don't want to talk about it because they're so embarrassed by it. In Springfield, they're eating the dogs. The people that came in. They're eating the cats. They're eating -- they're eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what's happening in our country. And it's a shame.”

“there have been no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community”

“The people on television say my dog was taken and used for food.”

“the Springfield city manager says there's no evidence of that.”

“this is I think one of the reasons why in this election I actually have the endorsement of 200 Republicans”.

“And if you want to really know the inside track on who the former president is, if he didn't make it clear already, just ask people who have worked with him. His former chief of staff, a four-star general, has said he has contempt for the constitution of the United States. His former national security adviser has said he is dangerous and unfit. His former secretary of defense has said the nation, the republic would never survive another Trump term.”

The recent race riots sparked in the UK by the spread of false information on social media, just shows how dangerous it can be to allow misinformation to snowball. This is especially when tensions are already raw and igniting the fire with more fuel can have catastrophic results.

“Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country.”

It is also dehumanising for the persons being targeted.

According to The Haitian Times, Haitian families and immigrants in Ohio are “under attack” both online and offline with the rapid spread of these racist claims. People are living in fear and are anxious to leave their homes or send their children to school.

“In response to recent rumours alleging criminal activity by the immigrant population in our city, we wish to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.”

Finally, the debate was a success for Harris on the whole, as soon afterwards pop icon Taylor Swift also endorsed Harris on Instagram with a photo of herself and a cat, signing the post “Childless Cat Lady”.

Are Haitian Immigrants Eating Springfield's Pets? The 2024 Presidential Debate Breaks From Reality was originally published in The Geopolitical Economist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The band reunite with a new lineup after a seven year hiatus following the tragic death in 2017 of lead vocalist Chester Bennington, but have faced backlash over controversy surrounding Armstrong and her alleged links to Scientology and convicted rapist, former actor Danny Masterson

Linkin Park fans were left in suspense last week after a cryptic 100 hour countdown posted on social media failed to reveal the band’s news but instead restarted the 100 hour count with Linkin Park Underground members being invited to an exclusive event on September 5.

Rumours of the band reuniting with a female lead singer were fueled earlier this year in April after a comment made by the vocalist of alt-rock band Orgy, Jay Gordon in an interview with Empire.

On Thursday September 5, the exclusive event was scheduled for 3pm PST on Linkin Park’s YouTube channel.

“One Step Closer was the song for me, and I was just like, 'that’s what I want to do. As a singer, I want to be able to scream'.”

“Rob had said to us at a point, I guess it was a few years ago now, that he wanted to put some distance between himself and the band. And we understood that — it was already apparent. He was starting to just show up less, be in less contact, and I know the fans noticed it too. The ‘Hybrid Theory’ re-release and ‘Papercuts’ release, he didn’t show up for anything. So for me, as a friend, that was sad, but at the same time, I want him to do whatever makes him happy, and obviously everybody wishes him the best.”

Despite excitement for the band's reunion, reactions to the reformed band have been met with criticism amongst some Linkin Park fans and social media users who highlighted Armstrong’s alleged links to Scientology and convicted rapist Danny Masterson.

“Sick of seeing people excited about this new Linkin Park singer. Emily Armstrong is a known Scientologist and Danny Masterson supporter. Chester wouldn’t have wanted this, I know that.”

“I’m surprised none of you wrote a letter on Danny Masterson’s behalf since your corny ass singer showed up to support him in the prelims. Remember Emily? Remember how your fellow Scientologist goon squad surrounded one of the Jane Doe’s when she was trying to leave the elevators? The court sheriffs had to escort her away from your awful cult.”

The band released their new single “The Emptiness Machine” which according to Shinoda is said to “channel the DNA of Linkin Park”, in addition to the announcement of their new album “From Zero” out on November 15. The album is Linkin Park’s eight addition following “One More Light” in 2017 featuring the former lead vocalist Chester Bennington.

“Before Linkin Park, our first band name was Xero. This album title refers to both this humble beginning and the journey we’re currently undertaking. Sonically and emotionally, it is about past, present, and future — embracing our signature sound, but new and full of life. It was made with a deep appreciation for our new and longtime bandmates, our friends, our family, and our fans. We are proud of what Linkin Park has become over the years, and excited about the journey ahead.”

The band will take part in a six-date arena “From Zero” world tour with supporting act grandson, this month:

September:

11, Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA
16, Barclays Center – New York, NY
22, Barclays Arena – Hamburg, Germany
24, The O2 – London, UK
28, INSPIRE Arena – Seoul, South Korea

November:

11, Coliseo Medplus – Bogota, Colombia

The “From Zero” tour pre-ticket sales will be available for the LP Underground fan club members on September 6.

On September 7 tickets go on general sale.