While campaigning for a Republican congressional candidate in central Florida on Saturday, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) complained about the metal detectors in the Capitol, lying about why they were installed and going so far as to joke about blowing them up with explosives.

The Florida congressman was in Lake County (just northwest of Orlando) to campaign for Florida State Rep. Anthony Sabatini (R-FL), who is running for Congress in 2022 and shares Gaetz’s support for former President Donald Trump.

Gaetz mentioned Rep. Lauren Boebert’s (R-CO) objection to the metal detectors that were installed in the Capitol complex shortly after the Jan. 6 riot. Multiple Republican lawmakers loudly complained about the metal detectors, claiming they were a violation of their constitutional rights, and Boebert was among those who attempted to circumvent the screening by walking around the metal detectors or refusing to allow her bag to be searched.

Boebert, said Gaetz during his remarks Saturday, was a “5 foot nothing woman” who “carries a firearm for her personal protection,” but the metal detectors on the House floor were installed after “they got triggered by that.”

Again, to be clear, the metal detectors were installed in the immediate aftermath of the violent riots that took place at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, after an angry mob of Trump supporters overwhelmed the Capitol Police and stormed into the building, not because an unnamed foe was “triggered” by Boebert (even though she did begin her first term in Congress with a video vowing to “carry my Glock to Congress.”

“I said, man, is it, is it ‘tannonite’ [sic] or C4 we want to put in those metal detectors and we blow ’em up,” said Gaetz as Sabatini clapped and the crowd laughed and cheered.

That’s not some type of minor fireworks Gaetz is referencing. C-4 is a powerful type of plastic explosive, and he presumably meant “Tannerite,” a two-component explosive consisting of an oxidizer and an aluminium-powder based fuel. When combined, the two components are relatively stable but when struck with a high-velocity bullet impact, it results in an explosive reaction. Tannerite is marketed primarily for use in reactive targets, but YouTube videos of Tannerite-induced explosions have gone viral, sometimes because the explosion has unintentionally started a forest fire or hurt or killed someone.

Watch the video above, via Right Side Broadcasting Network (the relevant section starts around the 24:00 mark).

Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images.

A new report about the set of the Alec Baldwin movie Rust details a chaotic production with a variety of safety issues prior to the shooting which killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

According to the L.A. Times, there were three accidental gun discharges on the set prior to Baldwin firing the shot that killed Hutchins, and injured the film’s director, Joel Souza.

From the report:

Before Hutchins was killed, crew members say, there were three accidental discharges of weapons on set. Baldwin’s stunt double had accidentally fired a blank after being told that his gun was “cold.” A young woman from the props department “actually shot herself in the foot,” [A-camera first assistant Lane] Luper said, adding that the round was a blank.

According to crew member Luper, budget concerns trumped safety concerns on the set of the film.

“It always felt like the budget was more important than crew members,” Luper told the L.A. Times. “Every thing was about the schedule and the budget.”

The disregard for safety did not extend to Baldwin, according to accounts from the Rust crew. An unnamed camera technician told the Times about Baldwin’s preparations:

Baldwin had taken pains to make his gun work look realistic. A few days earlier, he’d gone into the church to walk through what it would be like to use the weapon in the scene. The live rounds he fired contained blanks, but still made enough noise that crew members were startled.

“Alec was pretty concerned about safety on set,” said another camera technician.

“He wanted to know where I would be standing when he drew his gun,” this person said. “I told him I was going to be standing in a different place, and he said, ‘Good.’”

Read the full story here.

President Joe Biden dismissed concerns from about his sagging poll numbers while taking questions from the press after attending the G20 summit in Rome.

After an opening statement centered on his engagement with world leaders and his expectations for the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference later this week, Biden opened the floor to questions, starting with Zeke Miller of the Associated Press. Miller noted that Biden has tried to drive the message that “America is back,” but “back at home your poll numbers have fallen. Your party’s nominee for governor in Virginia is facing a very tougher than expected race,” and Biden’s domestic agenda is struggling.

“Your party spent months trying to negotiate the centerpiece of your domestic legislative agenda,” Miller said. “We’re one year now since your election, and you’ve done a lot in your year in office to turn the page on the last administration, but we’ve seen how presidents can turn the page very quickly from one to the other. So why should the world believe that when you say America is back, that it is really it’s here to stay?”

“Because the way they reacted,” Biden said. “They listened, everybody sought me out, they wanted to know what our views were, and we helped lead what happened here.”

Biden continued to disregard his poll numbers, saying they fluctuate for presidents all the time.

“I didn’t run to determine how well I’m gonna do in the polls,” Biden said. “I ran to make sure that I followed through on what I said I would do as president of the United States…I’m not running because of the polls.”

Watch above, via CNN.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) reportedly called for law enforcement to gun down the rioters who broke into Congress during the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th.

The Washington Post has released a new retrospective article on the riot Donald Trump’s supporters carried out in their violent attempt to overturn the former president’s 2020 election defeat. The piece offers a massive reconstruction of January 6th, and amid all the shocking content that turned up during the Post’s investigation, the paper presents a detailed timeline of how the situation on Capitol Hill plunged into chaos.

In the Post’s second chapter — titled Bloodshed — the report goes in-depth on how Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress were evacuated or sheltered in place after rioters breached the Capitol. One anecdote describes Graham’s reaction to fleeing the Senate chamber, including him urging the Senate’s sergeant-at-arms to use guns against the mob.

The Senate and House leaders also had been evacuated by Capitol Police and taken to an undisclosed location, but many lawmakers remained in their chambers for a few minutes before they were led to safety in the Hart Senate Office Building. Sen. Lindsey O. Graham was irate that senators were forced to flee their own chamber. He yelled at the Senate sergeant-at-arms. “What are you doing? Take back the Senate! You’ve got guns. Use them.” The South Carolina senator was adamant. “We give you guns for a reason,” he repeated. “Use them.”

In the immediate aftermath of the Capitol riot, Graham declared himself politically done with Trump and refused to go along with his colleagues objecting to the certification of President Joe Biden’s election victory. But in the months that followed, Graham has fallen back in line — holding up the ex-president as the Republican Party’s leader, and cozying up to him in person.

Read the rest of this entry »

During Friday’s Real Time, Bill Maher stated more than once that the pandemic is over, insisting that masks are no longer necessary and arguing that red states are better on covid policy.

At one point, Maher told Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) that “it’s the Democrats” who are to blame for pandemic measures that lasted longer than necessary.

“Just resume living,” Maher said as they began the panel discussion, saying that he hopes Dr. Anthony Fauci told everyone to go ahead with Halloween. Maher and Coons were joined by Atlantic writer Caitlin Flanagan, who generally agreed with Maher’s take on the pandemic measures.

“I mean, come on. Fifteen of 100,000. That’s where we are, cases in California, 15 cases per 100000 people. I know some people seem to not want to give up on the wonderful pandemic, but you know what? It’s over.”

“There’s always going to be a variant. You shouldn’t have to wear masks,” said Maher. “I haven’t had a meeting with my staff since March of 2020. Why?”

“But really, I mean — also vaccine, mask: Pick one. You got to pick. You can’t make me mask if I’ve had the vaccine,” he said to big applause from the audience.

“I have broken up with COVID. It’s not working for me anymore,” agreed Flanagan. “I stayed home the first year, I was a good girlfriend. He was a little abusive. Then I got the vaccine. I walked out of the CVS. I hadn’t been that thrilled coming out of a drugstore since I got the birth control pill in 1981.”

“I just, I can’t keep up. And you know what, I’ve had cancer. I’m triple vax. If it gets me, fair play to it, because it will put up a fight against me, but I’m not staying in my house again,” she said, as Maher clapped.

“There you go,” said Maher.

He asked Coons whether he is “down with that,” because “it’s the Democrats” who are mostly keeping these rules in place.

“I mean, I travel in every state now back. I’m back on the road and the red states are a joy, and the blue states are a pain in the ass. For no reason,” he said.

Coons answered that everybody should get vaccines and that, even though people are tired of strict controls on their lives, “the world isn’t safe until the world is vaccinated.”

Watch the clip above, courtesy of Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO.

The campaign Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe has denied that people who posed as tiki-torch carrying Nazis in front of a campaign bus belonging to GOP gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin are affiliated with the McAuliffe campaign.

Just days away until Tuesday’s election, a reporter with the NBC affiliate in Charlottesville tweeted on Friday an image of what appears to be a group of tiki-torch carrying white nationalists posing in front of a Youngkin bus.

These men approached @GlennYoungkin’s bus as it pulled up saying what sounded like, “We’re all in for Glenn.” Here they are standing in front of the bus as his campaign event at Guadalajara started.@NBC29 pic.twitter.com/l681ejyBjc

— Elizabeth Holmes (@holmes_reports) October 29, 2021

The Youngkin campaign told Mediaite that this is a “publicity stunt.”

Conversely, McAuliffe spokesperson Renzo Olivari told Mediaite, “This was not us or anyone affiliated with our campaign. There is one candidate in this race who has embraced white nationalists — and his name is Glenn Youngkin.”

However, at least a couple of those supposed tiki-torch carriers appear to be Democratic operatives, according to apparent photo matches posted on Twitter.

This is so clearly a political operation organized by @AdamParkhomenko it’s not even funny.

And I have the receipts.

This is so clearly a political operation organized by @AdamParkhomenko it’s not even funny.

And I have the receipts.

Thread https://t.co/I10LGANvHk

— Alec Sears (@alec_sears) October 29, 2021

Let’s take a look at this gentleman. He bears a strong resemblance to one Camden Layton, otherwise known as the finance director for @vayd.

Coincidence? I report, you decide. pic.twitter.com/CAlX25hPEX

— Alec Sears (@alec_sears) October 29, 2021

I am now confident that we have identified the woman in this group of political actors as Colleen Wachenfeld, with @vademocrats. pic.twitter.com/qySknRSUrd

— Alec Sears (@alec_sears) October 29, 2021

Charlottesville, back in 2017, was famously the site of massive demonstrations by neo-Nazis and white supremacists against the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. One protester, James Alex Fields, plowed his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing Heather Heyer and injuring 35 others. Fields was later convicted of first-degree murder.

Congresswoman Liz Cheney’s office responded to Tucker Carlson by posting the email exchange they had with Fox News.

Carlson is dropping a documentary on Fox Nation next week called “Patriot Purge,” and the absolutely insane trailer released this week features someone describing January 6 as a “false flag.”

It received plenty of condemnation (some of Carlson’s colleagues expressed outrage to Mediaite’s Colby Hall), including from Cheney, one of the two Republicans on the House Select Committee on January 6th.

“It appears that Fox News is giving Tucker Carlson a platform to spread the same type of lies that provoked violence on January 6,” she tweeted.

Carlson defended the special and called Cheney a “coward” Thursday night for not going on his show. He said the Wyoming congresswoman “emphatically refused” when his show reached out to invite her on.

Cheney’s office responded Friday morning by posting the email exchange they had with Fox News.

Cheney spokesman Jeremy Adler shared the exchange on Twitter and said, “He completely omitted the rational reason why Liz Cheney won’t participate in his dangerous efforts. Isn’t the liar and the coward the person who is unwilling to tell his viewers the truth about both the 2020 election and January 6th?”

The email chain shows Adler responding to the booking request by saying, “Tucker has had countless opportunities to explain to his viewers that the election was not stolen. Instead, he continues to promote dangerous conspiracies using the language that provoked violence against law enforcement and our Capitol on January 6th. Liz will not participate in that.”

Tucker's staff didn't call. They emailed.

He completely omitted the rational reason why Liz Cheney won't participate in his dangerous efforts.

Isn't the liar and the coward the person who is unwilling to tell his viewers the truth about both the 2020 election and January 6th? https://t.co/kayyCJrBbH pic.twitter.com/InVarLMMrN

— Jeremy Adler (@JeremyAdler) October 29, 2021

The Anti-Defamation League sent a letter to Lachlan Murdoch Thursday asking, “As the head of a well-established news organization, I have to ask: where is the line for you and Fox? How many more people need to die or how many individuals must subscribe to groundless conspiracies before you say enough is enough?”

Twitter/Newsweek

Newsweek Magazine got completely destroyed on social media over a cover story that blared the question “WOULD YOU GIVE THIS KID A SHOT?” next to a picture of a masked tyke holding a masked stuffed animal.

The subheading, in smaller black print, said “Health experts strongly back a COVID vaccine for children,” then in red, says “Parents aren’t so sure.”

Covid shots for kids 12 and over have already been approved, and shots for kids under 12 are expected to be approved soon. But the article accompanying the cover focuses on parents who are hesitant to get their kids vaccinated.

“The risks of COVID for kids may be higher than previously believed. The virus is now 6th or 7th leading cause of death in children. But many parents are reluctant to get them vaccinated—even as FDA approval seems imminent,” read the magazine’s tweet of the story.

The risks of COVID for kids may be higher than previously believed. The virus is now 6th or 7th leading cause of death in children. But many parents are reluctant to get them vaccinated—even as FDA approval seems imminent.

Read more: https://t.co/hxFm6wz794

@adampiore pic.twitter.com/UHM0Zy9CuF

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) October 27, 2021

The cover prompted a blizzard of criticism that propelled Newsweek to Twitter’s trending topics list, with many health professionals, media and political figures, and other prominent users among the tens of thousands to tweet about the cover.

THE. WORST. MESSAGING. IN. THIS. PHOTO. #VaccinesWork #VaccinesSaveLives https://t.co/9fACeEyZet

— Dr. Nina L. Shapiro (@drninashapiro) October 29, 2021

Yes, @Newsweek, I would give a shot to that child. And I *am* giving a shot to these children.

– From a parent who is very sure pic.twitter.com/rWalF6OjLS

— Esther Choo MD MPH (@choo_ek) October 28, 2021

Jesus God, yes. I would give that kid a shot without hesitation. Both of my teens are fully vaxxed starting the day they were eligible. What on earth is @Newsweek thinking with this cover image? https://t.co/3tXTEBPhFr

— Teri Anulewicz (@tanulewicz) October 29, 2021

Fire the people who approved this cover & greenlit profits from yellow journalism over life-saving health care. Seriously – I want names. https://t.co/P9tD4Ykqy5

— Dr. Jenn Conti (@doctorjenn) October 28, 2021

Well, here’s your reminder that Newsweek is a serial offender insofar as horrid cover stories and their corresponding photos are concerned. Recall this egregious example from 2014 on Ebola, a cover story that was both misinformed and patently racist: https://t.co/zAghcNFfrz https://t.co/8GLOsm52IA

— Jeffrey Smith (@Smith_JeffreyT) October 29, 2021

Zombie Newsweek strikes again https://t.co/gZ84GKBO2p

— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) October 29, 2021

I’ll never give another interview to a Newsweek reporter for putting this fearmongering, anti-vaccine crap on its cover https://t.co/J4Vw8UgwP8

— Dr. Angela Rasmussen (@angie_rasmussen) October 29, 2021

Newsweek thought that magazine cover was a good idea? Why didn’t they just add a foot-long needle to the cover for good measure? I mean seriously, give me something to work with here. I feel like I spend half my day lately doing damage control

Many thanks @gorskon for heads up https://t.co/nx36NMm2Ii

— Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@PeterHotez) October 29, 2021

Massively irresponsible and gross, @Newsweek

— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) October 29, 2021

Utter murderous pandering trash. BEWARE of zombie publications like @Newsweek now owned by right-wing cultists exploiting a former brand. I will never tweet one of @newsweek‘s links again. BLOCKED with a hearty “FUCK YOU!” [image via @jsrailton] pic.twitter.com/sl4qxrBZUC

— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) October 29, 2021

Last year, I wrote about how Newsweek, the magazine you once read at the dentist, went crazy https://t.co/BsiDXxoNgM

— Alex Shephard (@alex_shephard) October 29, 2021

Fixed that terrible @Newsweek cover. pic.twitter.com/liioATPK0C

— Brianna Wu (@BriannaWu) October 29, 2021

Alligators are frequent golf course disruptors, so are bees, maybe the occasional bear or unruly fan. But kangaroos? And a lot of them? That’s a knew disturbance.

Australian amateur golfer Wendy Powick was set to send a drive down the fairway at Arundel Hills Country Club earlier this week when a giant mob of kangaroos came marching toward the tee box. Luckily, she captured the wild scene on video.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Wendy Powick (@wendywoo.golf)

“Never ever seen this happen before,” Powick said, laughing in the video as the kangaroos hopped toward the tee box.

“I was standing at the 11th tee and all of a sudden, all of these kangaroos just came straight towards me,” Powick told 7NEWS. “There’s a lot of them at this course. Usually they stick to the sides and watch you play.”

Golfers don’t like to be interrupted by shadows or whispers, some people are prone to a case of the yips just by catching a glimpse of water out of the corner of their eye. The game is hard enough, there’s no need for kangaroos to represent a new hazard.

“We’re lucky in Australia,” Powick added. “There’s a lot of courses around the world where you have to worry about bears.”

At least bears and gators usually show up one or two at a time. Staring down 20 rapidly approaching kangaroos is next level.

Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Ice Cube is dropping out of a new project with Jack Black, reportedly because he won’t get vaccinated.

Back in June Deadline reported the two actors were co-starring in the Kitao Sakurai film Oh Hell No, which focuses on Black’s character falling love with the mother of Cube’s character.

However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Ice Cube left the movie because he declined a request to get vaccinated.

Producers on Oh Hell No made the request that cast on the project would need to be vaccinated.

The film is pushing back its production start. Black injured himself in June while filming a gag for the last episode of Conan but is still attached to the project. Sources tell THR the studio is looking to find a replacement as Ice Cube walked from a $9 million payday.

As THR reported earlier this month, there has been a bit of a divide in Hollywood over vaccines. One major star reportedly came down with Covid-19 after refusing the vaccine, resulting in film production being shut down. Black Panther star Letitia Wright allegedly made anti-vaccine comments on set (though she publicly denied it).

Giancarlo Esposito called out anti-vaccine celebrities and said, “If you don’t want to vaccinate, go to a small island and sequester yourself. [Otherwise] you’re saying ‘Fuck you’ to all you other human beings.”