For Media Hypocrites, Burning The US Flag Is Speech But Touching The Rainbow One Is ‘Hate’
On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing federal agencies to use existing laws to prosecute American flag desecration.
The order instructs agencies to “prioritize the enforcement to the fullest extent possible of our Nation’s criminal and civil laws against acts of American Flag desecration that violate applicable, content-neutral laws, while causing harm unrelated to expression, consistent with the First Amendment.”
To be clear, the order does not make flag burning itself illegal. It makes no new laws.
Nonetheless, both the left and the right have rushed to frame this as an attack on free speech and the First Amendment.
The New York Times’ Charlie Savage and Luke Broadwater wrote that “Flag Burning Is Protected Speech.” They warned that revoking visas or deporting noncitizens for burning the American Flag would likely be a violation of the First Amendment. They even cited Antonin Scalia, who said he personally disagreed with flag burning but ultimately ruled to protect the practice.
CNN’s Zachary B. Wolf similarly wrote an article reminding readers that burning the flag is “protected” speech because the Supreme Court said so in a 5-4 decision in 1989. Wolf notes that Trump’s order makes clear that officials should prosecute flag desecration under existing statues, like “hate crimes” and other crimes before going on to spend an entire section discussing the 1989 Texas v. Johnson case.
The Associated Press headlined their piece: “Trump moves to ban flag burning despite Supreme Court ruling that Constitution allows it.” The article included “experts” about free speech and emphasized the Supreme Court’s 1989 ruling.
But when Pride flags are burned, none of these outlets show the same concern for the First Amendment.
When “two rainbow pride flags were set on fire outside of a gay bar” in New York, it was part of a spike in “hate crimes,” as written by The Times’ Sharon Otterman. No mention of free speech, no reminder of Texas v. Johnson or the First Amendment.
In 2019, CNN reported on an Iowa man sentenced to years in prison for burning an LGBT flag that was hanging from a church. The act was treated as a hate crime. Similarly, no mention of free speech or the first amendment….
Abbey Gate Anniversary: Trump honors 13 fallen, slams Biden’s withdrawal
President Trump issued a proclamation marking the fourth anniversary of the Abbey Gate attack in Kabul, honoring the 13 American service members killed in the 2021 suicide bombing.
Trump contrasted his administration’s commitment to “peace through strength” with what he described as former President Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.
President Trump has declared August 26, 2025, as a day of national commemoration, marking the fourth anniversary of the suicide bombing at Abbey Gate during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The attack claimed the lives of 13 American service members and wounded dozens more, becoming a defining and tragic moment in America’s longest war.
In his proclamation, Trump described the event as “one of the darkest days in our Nation’s history,” recalling the moment when “the gates of hell sprung open” as a terrorist detonated explosives outside Hamid Karzai International Airport. The attack killed 11 Marines, one Navy corpsman, and one Army soldier, while also injuring 45 Americans and more than 160 Afghan civilians.
Trump placed direct responsibility for the tragedy on former President Joe Biden’s withdrawal strategy, specifically the July 2021 decision to abandon Bagram Airfield overnight. He argued that Biden’s actions left U.S. troops vulnerable, allowed the Taliban to release thousands of dangerous prisoners, and ultimately paved the way for the ISIS-K bomber who carried out the attack.
“In what will be remembered as one of the most shameful and heartbreaking moments in our Nation’s collective memory,” Trump said, referencing the images of Biden glancing at his watch during the dignified transfer of the fallen. He then recited the names of the 13 service members, pledging, “we will never forget you; we will never forsake you; and your memory will live on forever.”
Trump also pointed to his administration’s efforts to deliver justice, reminding Americans that just 43 days into his second term, U.S. forces captured the ISIS terrorist responsible for the bombing. Announced during his March 2025 Joint Address to Congress, Trump cast the moment as proof that “when America is strong, the world is safe.”…
Melania Launches Nationwide AI Challenge For Presidential Campaign
First lady Melania Trump on Tuesday announced the launch of the Presidential Artificial Intelligence (AI) Challenge, a nationwide initiative inviting K-12 students and educators to take part in shaping America’s future in advanced technology.
“In just a few short years, artificial intelligence will be the engine driving every business sector across our economy,” Trump said. “It is important America leads the rest of the world.”
In a video posted on AI.gov, the first lady reflected on her own experience working with AI while creating her audiobook and underscored both the promise and risks of the rapidly advancing field.
“The Presidential AI Challenge will be the first step in preparing our next generation with a base understanding of this important new technology,” Trump said.
The initiative, she added, is designed to empower young Americans to explore, innovate, and compete in a sector expected to define the coming decades.
Through the program, schools and educators are encouraged to integrate AI into classrooms and projects, helping prepare students for a world where the technology is expected to transform industry, government, and everyday life….
Illinois man charged with homicide after allegedly drugging girlfriend with abortion pill
Police in Bloomington, Illinois, have arrested a 31-year-old man and charged him with intentional homicide of an unborn child for allegedly giving the abortion pill mifepristone to his girlfriend, causing her baby’s death.
Key Takeaways:
- Emerson Evans has been charged with intentional homicide of an unborn child for allegedly drugging his pregnant girlfriend with the abortion pill without her knowledge.
- Evans had reportedly been pressuring the woman to abort the baby.
- He told police he paid a different woman $50 for the pills.
- Loosened restrictions and easier access to the abortion pill has resulted in a growing number of women being slipped the pill without their knowledge or consent.
The Details:
Emerson Evans, 31, of Normal, Illinois, has been charged with two counts of intentional homicide of an unborn child after he allegedly administered the abortion pill to his girlfriend without her knowledge, killing her preborn child. Police say she was about seven weeks pregnant.
According to a news release from the Bloomington Police Department, emergency personnel were called to a home on August 22 for a pregnant woman having a medical emergency. They found the woman crying in a bathroom, surrounded by a large amount of blood. They then found the remains of her preborn baby in the toilet.
Further investigation revealed that Evans had told the woman he wanted her to abort the child. He then told police he decided to “make the decision for her” by administering the abortion drug to her without her knowledge or consent. He reportedly got the abortion pill drugs for $50 from “a girl on campus.”
“We are again saddened by the alleged criminal actions which resulted in harm to others. It is my hope the mother involved in the matter fully recovers and has the resources and support of this strong community in the future,” stated Chief Jamal Simington. “The officers and detectives worked diligently and honorably through this very tough investigation.”…
US Coast Guard makes record seizure of illegal drugs off Florida coast
The US coast guard announced on Monday that it had seized more than 76,000lbs of illegal drugs off the coast of Florida – marking the largest drug offload in the 110-year history of the maritime law enforcement agency.
According to a news release from the branch of the US military, officials offloaded approximately 61,740lbs of cocaine and approximately 14,400lbs of marijuana at Port Everglades, Florida, on Monday. The officials said that the total estimated street value of the haul was $473m.
“To put this into perspective, the potential 23m lethal doses of cocaine seized by the US coast guard and our partners are enough to fatally overdose the entire population of the state of Florida, underscoring the immense threat posed by transnational drug trafficking to our nation,” said R Adm Adam Chamie, commander of the branch’s south-east district.
The seizures were the result of 19 interdictions in international waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea between 26 June and 18 August, the agency said.
The operations involved three coast guard cutters, two US Navy warships, a Dutch naval vessel and multiple interagency units, including Department of Homeland Security units. The drugs were transported to port aboard the coast guard cutter Hamilton, the news release added…..
Officer killed during police pursuit after suspect intentionally strikes him: Police
A 26-year-old Kansas police officer was killed when police say a suspect intentionally plowed into him while fleeing authorities during a pursuit.
Kansas City, Kansas, Police Officer Hunter Simoncic was deploying stop sticks in response to the pursuit early Tuesday when the suspect drove toward him and struck him, then continued to flee the area, police said.
The suspect — Dennis Mitchell III, 31, of Kansas City — was taken into custody after crashing the vehicle and was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
“This was an intentional act, a willful act, to evade custody by striking the officer,” Kansas City Police Chief Karl Oakman said during a press briefing Tuesday, calling the death of the officer “devastating.”
“It’s just difficult. It makes no sense,” he said. “I have no words for it.”
The incident unfolded shortly around 12:30 a.m., when officers with the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department were dispatched to a call of shots fired, according to the KBI. Officers shortly found Mitchell unconscious in the driver’s seat of a truck, the KBI said.
“As officers approached the driver, he woke up and fled the scene,” the KBI said in a release…..
More Than 3,000 Christians Sent Fleeing After Latest Deadly Attack In Nigeria
At least 15 people, including women and children, were killed on Monday, Aug. 18, when armed men launched a coordinated evening assault on Christian farming villages in Chakfem District, Mangu County of Plateau state, Nigeria.
The attackers entered the villages of Tim, Koppang, Mihidihin, Jiblang, Jilem, Jibin, and Manden between 7:30 and 8 p.m., firing weapons, burning homes, looting livestock, and displacing thousands of residents. Eyewitnesses reported that several houses were set on fire, including the residence of the traditional ruler, whose official vehicle was damaged.
By the following morning, security personnel who arrived at the scene recovered multiple bodies from farms and nearby streets. Survivors said the dead were later buried in a mass grave on Tuesday, Aug. 19, because of the number of casualties and the absence of adequate facilities to preserve the bodies.
Community leaders estimate that more than 3,000 Christians left their homes after the attack. Families sought shelter in neighboring villages and church compounds, while others stayed in open fields.
Those injured were taken to the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Hospital in Chakfem. Many displaced residents told International Christian Concern (ICC) that they left without belongings after food stores and livestock were looted…..
Superintendent Works To Block Out-of-State Teachers From Pushing Dangerous Anti-Biblical Ideologies In Oklahoma
Certain teachers fleeing far-left states such as New York and California — bastions of woke indoctrination masquerading as “public education” — may not be welcome in Oklahoma classrooms.
Under a new policy rolling out this month, left-wing extremists who hate America and want to weaponize children at taxpayer expense need not apply.
Critics are fuming. But supporters say it is an important step as government schools — especially in liberal states — push increasingly dangerous and unhinged ideologies.
Many “education” systems teach young children they may have been born in the wrong body, for example, and that surgical mutilation of genitals could be the solution.
In what is being hailed as a bold move to protect children from such brainwashing, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters introduced an America‑First certification exam. The test, aimed at teachers fleeing left‑wing strongholds, seeks to ensure that teachers are comfortable with the deep red state’s values.
“We will not allow these leftists’ plans and schemes to take place here in Oklahoma,” Walters explained. “They are trying to warp the minds of our kids to turn them into social justice warriors, instead of kids that are getting the most of their God-given talents to go get a good job, to go live a fulfilling life.”
The reason New York and California teachers are facing special scrutiny is that they are “teaching things that are antithetical to our standards,” Superintendent Walters told USA Today in an interview. The goal, he continued, is to ensure that teachers coming from those states “are not coming into our classrooms and indoctrinating kids.”
“A lot of the credit goes to [California Governor] Gavin Newsom,” Walters said, pointing to the state’s bizarre lessons on “gender theory,” LGBTism, and more. “One of the things that we wanted to do is, first of all, make sure that they’re great teachers, right? And No. 2, make sure we’re not getting these woke, indoctrinating social justice warriors in the classroom.”….
Turkey urges Islamic Cooperation vs Israel; Hezbollah warns Lebanon’s government TV7IsraelNews 26.08
1) Turkey urges the Muslim World to unite in proactive opposition to Israel.
2) Germany says it will not recognize a Palestinian State at present.
3) Iran’s proxy Hezbollah blames the Lebanese government for adopting American and Israeli diktats.
Why “Safe Seats” in Congress Give Us the WORST Representatives
Democratic Maryland governor Wes Moore is now saying that he wants to gerrymander his own state’s congressional districts (despite Republicans only holding ONE seat) to fight Texas’ redistricting efforts.
But Glenn Beck has a simpler answer to this whole debate, and it stems from Moses.
L. TODD WOOD: Christians in Lebanon are under attack, and yet no one talks about their welfare. We need people to acknowledge and bring light to this issue and finally stand up for Christians!
Child Welfare Services: Government Overreach? Or Necessary Evil?
37% of kids are investigated by Child Protective Services.
Half of all black kids!
Government overreach? Law Professor Josh Gupta-Kagan says yes.
Libertarian lawyer Tim Keller says no.
Naval buildup escalates: Trump now sends cruiser, sub to Venezuela’s doorstep
Two sources briefed on the plan told the Reuters news agency that the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie and the nuclear-powered fast attack submarine USS Newport News will arrive in Caribbean waters by early next week.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the operations, declined to detail the ships’ exact mission. But they described the buildup as aimed at countering threats to U.S. national security posed by groups that the Trump administration has formally designated as “narco-terrorist organizations.”
Another source familiar with the deployments confirmed on Monday to the Miami Herald that the Pentagon would add more ships to the deployment that began assembling in the region last week.
That group includes the amphibious ships San Antonio, Iwo Jima and Fort Lauderdale, which officials said could be stationed off Venezuela’s northern coast. Together, the three ships are carrying about 4,500 personnel, including a Marine expeditionary unit of roughly 2,200 troops trained for rapid crisis response.
Those vessels are set to operate alongside three Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers — the Sampson, Jason Dunham and Gravely — which had been sent earlier to the Caribbean. The destroyers are built to counter simultaneous threats from air, land, sea and below the surface.
Their vertical launch systems can fire Tomahawk cruise missiles for long-range strikes, standard missiles for air defense, and rocket-assisted torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare. By adding amphibious ships and Marines, the task force gains the capability to land forces ashore quickly if ordered.
‘Gutfeld!’ roasts Mamdani’s bench press ‘fail’ in NYC
Fox News contributor Tyrus and the ‘Gutfeld!’ panelists discuss the video of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani bench pressing.
Victor Davis Hanson: What the Media Won’t Tell You About John Bolton FBI Raid
The FBI recently raided the home of John Bolton, Donald Trump’s former national security adviser-turned-outspoken Trump critic, seizing documents allegedly tied to classified material. From Bolton’s role in the Trump administration to prior warnings from a federal judge about his handling of sensitive information and why the DOJ under Biden dropped its earlier investigation, Victor Davis Hanson unpacks the full backstory behind the raid on today’s episode of “Victor Davis Hanson:
In His Own Words.” “ When Donald Trump’s home was raided on August 9th, 2022, John Bolton spoke out. And he said, ‘Let’s not prejudge, you,’ basically, you pro-Trumpers, ‘let’s just let all the evidence, you know, be seen before we make snap judgments.’ Meaning, you know, he’s probably guilty. But more importantly, then he said, ‘Donald Trump was just—anything that came across his desk. He saw french fries, he got ’em. He saw classified documents, he did, just because he could.’ And then on another occasion, ‘He has no respect for classification.
And that’s a lie, that he personally classified these.’ So he was very critical of anybody who objected to what he thought was an FBI, legitimate raid on Mar-a-Lago. Now it’s ironic. We’ll see if he uses the same tropes and themes to protect himself in the way that he blasted Trump about a similar raid.”
Newsfeed News.com 