Two Democratic lawmakers are pushing President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a> to sign on to an effort to restrict presidential authority over the use of nuclear weapons ahead of President-elect Donald Trump taking office.
Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Rep. Ted Lieu of California <a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/with-trump-returning-to-office-sen-markey-rep-lieu-urge-biden-administration-to-place-limits-on-presidential-authority-to-start-nuclear-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> to Biden on Thursday to urge him to support legislation that would block presidents from ordering a first-strike with a nuclear weapon. Markey and Lieu’s legislation, the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act, has been introduced to Congress numerous times since 2015.
“Mr. President, with just weeks left in office, you can safeguard the system against Donald Trump or any future unstable president, and make it constitutional,” the Democratic lawmakers wrote.
To make their case, they provided examples of military leaders who, under the Nixon and Trump administrations, took steps to undermine the president’s constitutional authority over nuclear weapons. Rather than denouncing such action, the lawmakers argued that a legislative fix is needed to keep the decision to launch a preemptive nuclear strike out of the hands of “just one fallible human.”
Despite the concerns of former Defense Secretary James Schlesinger under former President Richard Nixon and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley under Trump, neither president threatened to launch a preemptive nuclear strike.
“We urge you to announce that henceforth it will be the policy of the United States that it will not initiate a nuclear first strike without express authorization from Congress,” the lawmakers wrote.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE</a>
According to the Democrats, under the legislation, “A president could order a nuclear launch only if (1) Congress had approved the decision, providing a constitutional check on executive power or (2) the United States had already been attacked with a nuclear weapon.&#8221;
“This would be infinitely safer than our current doctrine,” they wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Come January, Donald Trump will have the sole authority to launch a nuclear strike. This should terrify you. That&#39;s why <a href="https://twitter.com/RepTedLieu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepTedLieu</a> and I are urging <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> to put guardrails on presidential authority to start nuclear war. <a href="https://t.co/Wtvb6B2m4r">pic.twitter.com/Wtvb6B2m4r</a>
&mdash; Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenMarkey/status/1867245105406455995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Critics of the legislation accused the lawmakers of holding a partisan double-standard meant to cast Trump as unstable.
“They were fine with a guy who’s literally senile launching nukes…But now they want to rein things in?” RealClearInvestigations&#8217; Mark Hemingway said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
They were fine with a guy who’s literally senile launching nukes…But now they want to rein things in? <a href="https://t.co/dd9u5sp8cG">https://t.co/dd9u5sp8cG</a>
&mdash; Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) <a href="https://twitter.com/Heminator/status/1867315738534683018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ed Markey

Democrats Call On Biden To Tie Trump’s Hands Over U.S. Nuclear Strike Capabilities

Democrats Call On Biden To Tie Trump's Hands Over U.S. Nuclear Strike Capabilities

Donald Trump

Executive

Joe Biden

Nuclear Weapons

Politics

Ted Lieu

Washington D.C.

On Wednesday, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> Republicans blocked a Democrat bill that sought to codify the right to access <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/contraception" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contraception</a> in federal law, with many arguing that it would infringe on religious and parental rights.
Fifty-one members, including two Republicans, <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00190.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> to advance the legislation — an insufficient number to reach the three-fifths majority needed to break the filibuster. Thirty-eight Republicans voted against moving forward. Nine other GOP members and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-senator-bob-menendez-to-change-party-status-amid-his-corruption-trial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ)</a> did not vote.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) <a href="https://x.com/CraigCaplan/status/1798457646502261075" target="_blank" rel="noopener">switched</a> his vote to &#8220;Nay,&#8221; a move that allowed him to file a <a href="https://x.com/SenateCloakroom/status/1798455388783964209" target="_blank" rel="noopener">motion to reconsider</a> the failed cloture vote at some point in the future. He has set up a vote next week for an IVF bill with a <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/transcript-majority-leader-chuck-schumer-delivers-remarks-at-press-conference-with-senate-democrats-after-senate-republicans-blocked-the-right-to-contraception-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated goal</a> of putting Republicans on the record on reproductive rights.
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4381/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The contraception bill</a>, introduced by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), would &#8220;protect an individual’s ability to access contraceptives and to engage in contraception and to protect a health care provider’s ability to provide contraceptives, contraception, and information related to contraception.&#8221;
Democrat lawmakers are pressing the birth control debate in a presidential election year. They argue Markey&#8217;s legislation is necessary because the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade — a ruling that returned the issue of abortion access to the states — also <a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-hirono-duckworth-statement-on-the-right-to-contraception-act-floor-vote" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;threatened&#8221;</a> contraception.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), who is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rick-scott-joins-race-for-senate-gop-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">running</a> to become the next leader of the Senate GOP, led 21 of his Republican colleagues in a <a href="https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2024/6/sen-rick-scott-leads-colleagues-in-slamming-democrats-attacks-on-religious-freedoms-parental-rights-political-games-on-contraception" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that disparaged the contraception bill. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), considered a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-campaign-requests-documents-from-some-vp-contenders-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contender</a> for former President Donald Trump&#8217;s running mate in the 2024 election, was among them.
&#8220;There is no threat to access to contraception, which is legal in every state and required by law to be offered at no cost by health insurers, and it&#8217;s disgusting that Democrats are fearmongering on this important issue to score cheap political points,&#8221; the GOP lawmakers said.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1716990157394000&amp;usg=AOvVaw33qQydjIo8bet419amChif">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
&#8220;This bill infringes on the parental rights and religious liberties of some Americans and lets the federal government force religious institutions and schools, even public elementary schools, to offer contraception like condoms to little kids,&#8221; they added. &#8220;It’s just another way for Democrats to use activist attorneys and our courts to advance their radical agenda and that is why we oppose this bill.&#8221;
The pair of GOP lawmakers who joined with the majority of Democrats and the independents who caucus with them voting to advance the legislation included Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
&#8220;This is not a perfect bill,&#8221; Murkowski <a href="https://x.com/lisamurkowski/status/1798457352930357587" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a video posted to X. &#8220;This isn&#8217;t a bill that has gone through committee. Leader Schumer has decided that he&#8217;s just going to put it on the floor to move to it. That&#8217;s a lousy process, actually. This is unfortunately yet another messaging bill &#8230; but if it is going to be a messaging bill, I want my message to be very clear: that a woman should have a right to contraception.&#8221;

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and other senators Speak To The Press After The “Right To Contraception Act” Failed Passage

Senate Republicans Block Dem Contraception Bill

Abortion

Birth Control

Chuck Schumer

Congress

Contraception

Lisa Murkowski

Marco Rubio

Rick Scott

Senate Democrats

Susan Collins

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-unveils-proposal-for-landmark-nationwide-crackdown-on-gas-cars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez</a> (D-NY) and Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ed-markey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ed Markey</a> (D-MA) reintroduced the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/green-new-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Green New Deal</a>, a resolution which claims to solve <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a> within the next decade by drastically reshaping the American <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economy</a>.
The text of the <a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/gnd_resolution_-_042023.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resolution</a> calls for the United States to meet all power demand through renewable and zero-emission sources, upgrade all existing buildings in the nation to achieve maximum energy efficiency, and overhaul the transportation system to remove carbon emissions to the greatest extent possible. The Green New Deal was initially proposed four years ago by the two lawmakers when Ocasio-Cortez entered Congress for the first time.
“When we first introduced the Green New Deal, we were told that our vision for the future was too aspirational. Four years later, we see core tenets of the Green New Deal reflected in the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest ever federal investment in fighting climate change, with a focus on creating good, green jobs. But there is still much, much more to do,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a <a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-and-ocasio-cortez-reintroduce-green-new-deal-resolution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. “Today’s reintroduction marks the beginning of that process of strengthening and broadening our coalition, and of laying the policy groundwork for the next fight.”
The lawmakers said the Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated some $369 billion to climate and green energy initiatives, has a number of “shortcomings” with respect to “addressing health and racial justice, supporting sustainable and affordable housing, building a robust care economy, improving public transit, and investing in American education and schools.”
The version of the Green New Deal released on Thursday did not include a price tag, while the legislation introduced four years ago would have cost between $53 trillion and $94 trillion, according to an <a href="https://www.americanactionforum.org/research/the-green-new-deal-scope-scale-and-implications/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">analysis</a> from the American Action Forum. The text of the new resolution, however, claims that the package would help to prevent $1 trillion in damage to infrastructure and coastal real estate emerging from the effects of climate change.
“In the four years since we first introduced the Green New Deal, the tides of our movement have risen and lifted climate action to the top of the national agenda,” Markey added. “We succeeded in securing historic progress through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and now we have an obligation to honor the origins of that success.”
Other sponsors of the Green New Deal include prominent lawmakers such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
President Joe Biden <a href="https://joebiden.com/climate-plan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">endorsed</a> the Green New Deal amid his campaign for the White House three years ago, asserting that the package is a “crucial framework for meeting the climate challenges we face.” Critics say that actions from the administration have since discouraged fossil fuel production, reducing the supply of affordable energy and stifling the economy.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
The White House has meanwhile <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/climate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">established</a> a “whole-of-government effort” to reduce carbon emissions and incentivize green energy production. Beyond the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, both of which allocated substantial funds for climate initiatives, regulators have introduced new emissions <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-administration-unveils-new-restrictions-on-air-conditioners-despite-backlash-over-gas-stove-restrictions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rules</a> for household appliances such as gas stoves and proposed new vehicle emissions <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-unveils-proposal-for-landmark-nationwide-crackdown-on-gas-cars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">standards</a> to incentivize the adoption of electric cars.

House Democrats Reintroduce The Green New Deal Resolution

AOC Reintroduces The Green New Deal

AOC, Ed Markey Reintroduce The Green New Deal

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Climate Change

Environment

Green New Deal

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/southwest-airlines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Southwest Airlines</a> COO Andrew Watterson said in remarks prepared for a Thursday hearing that he and fellow executives “messed up” amid the company’s holiday <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/air-travel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">travel</a> meltdown.
Southwest canceled some 16,700 flights between December 21 and December 31, even as severe winter weather subsided in the days after Christmas. Watterson said in his prewritten opening <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23602424-written-testimony-of-andrew-watterson-coo-southwest-airlines-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> before the Senate Commerce Committee that the disruptions prompted the company to cancel flights so that crews could position themselves to resume normal operations.
“Let me be clear: we messed up. In hindsight, we did not have enough winter operational resilience,” he remarked. “It became clear that, with the storm severely disrupting our Denver and Chicago Midway stations concurrently, we did not have enough resiliency in our operation for the severe effect this winter event had on us.”
Flight schedules for Denver and Chicago Midway, which serve as starting and ending bases for one-fourth of the company’s flight crews, were almost entirely canceled by Southwest in the days before Christmas. The same occurred at other airports across the country as the storm moved east, causing communication between employees to deteriorate amid the chaos.
“This lack of effective communication and coordination resulted in compounding, frequent, close-in flight cancellations, rather than our normal practice of batched pre-cancellations further in advance of departure times,” Watterson continued. “This created an unprecedented amount and frequency of required changes to crew schedules that overwhelmed our crew scheduling processes and technology.”
Southwest previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/southwest-reveals-how-much-holiday-flight-meltdown-will-cost-them" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimated</a> that between $725 million and $825 million will be lost in the aftermath of the cancellations. The firm reported a $220 million loss in the fourth quarter of last year and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/southwest-airlines-reports-massive-revenue-hit-after-christmas-meltdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> investors that fallout from the company’s holiday meltdown would continue.
Watterson told lawmakers that Southwest would seek to enhance software used by crew members with a $1.3 billion information technology investment. He added that the company has gone “above and beyond” standards created by the Department of Transportation for airlines that cancel or significantly delay flights; customers received reward points amounting to $300 in value as staffers worked to reimburse passengers for meals, hotel accommodations, rental cars, and tickets purchased with other carriers during the meltdown.
“Southwest is intensely focused on reducing the risk of repeating the operational disruption we experienced in December,” Watterson added. “We are committed to running a great operation each and every day, and I have the utmost confidence that our people, processes, and technologies will do just that.”
The hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee occurs as lawmakers file legislation meant to bolster protections for consumers in the wake of the Southwest meltdown. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), both of whom are members of the Senate Commerce Committee, introduced the Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights and the Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous Fees Act last week.
“Air travelers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for basics like a carry-on bag, a seat next to their children, or even for a sip of water, especially as airlines continue to fail passengers at every turn,” Markey said in a <a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-blumenthal-lead-in-introducing-legislation-to-bolster-airline-passenger-protections" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>. “Our nation’s largest airlines can’t even guarantee consumers that their flights won’t be delayed or cancelled, that their luggage won’t be lost, or that they won’t get stranded at the gate because of overbooking. The status quo won’t fly any longer. We must empower regulators and uphold passengers’ rights so they are treated with dignity before, during, and after their flight.”

LaGuardia Airport

‘We Messed Up’: Southwest Executive Testifies On Holiday Meltdown Chaos

Southwest Executive Testifies Before Senators On Holiday Meltdown Chaos

Air &amp; Space

Air Travel

Richard Blumenthal

Southwest Airlines

U.S.

Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) wore an &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/abortion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">abortion</a>&#8221; pin that included a heart inside the letter &#8220;o&#8221; to the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/state-of-the-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State of the Union</a> address Tuesday night, sparking criticism online.
The Democratic Party has become increasingly radical in its abortion stance, moving away from the oft-cited &#8220;safe, legal, and rare&#8221; position to <a href="https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/achieving-universal-affordable-quality-health-care/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">advocating</a> for taxpayer-funded abortion on demand.
<div class="css-1dbjc4n">
<div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1s2bzr4">
&#8220;I’m wearing my abortion pin from [Planned Parenthood Federation of America]  to tonight’s State of the Union address,&#8221; Markey captioned two photos. &#8220;Abortion is essential healthcare and we need to codify this right.&#8221;
</div>
</div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I’m wearing my abortion pin from <a href="https://twitter.com/PPFA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PPFA</a> to tonight’s State of the Union address. Abortion is essential healthcare and we need to codify this right. <a href="https://t.co/ZfNj5OEZcj">pic.twitter.com/ZfNj5OEZcj</a>
&mdash; Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenMarkey/status/1623123614915493890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The senator was hit with some criticism online, including from nonprofit Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. &#8220;SICK,&#8221; the group&#8217;s Twitter account reacted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
SICK. <a href="https://t.co/HNrwq7lEmm">pic.twitter.com/HNrwq7lEmm</a>
&mdash; SBA Pro-Life America (@sbaprolife) <a href="https://twitter.com/sbaprolife/status/1623145609308798977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;You’re not just wearing an &#8216;abortion pin&#8217;…you’re wearing a [heart] abortion pin indicating that you LOVE abortion,&#8221; pro-life advocate Obianuju Ekeocha replied. &#8220;You are an evil depraved man.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
You’re not just wearing an “abortion pin”…you’re wearing a 👉🏾❤️abortion pin indicating that you LOVE abortion. You are an evil depraved man.
&mdash; Obianuju Ekeocha (@obianuju) <a href="https://twitter.com/obianuju/status/1623238662535217152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Democrat man wears pin showing his love of abortion, which violently ends human life in the mother&#8217;s womb,&#8221; author and commentator Mollie Hemingway said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Democrat man wears pin showing his love of abortion, which violently ends human life in the mother&#39;s womb.
&mdash; Mollie (@MZHemingway) <a href="https://twitter.com/MZHemingway/status/1623136994619449345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The GOP House Judiciary Twitter account simply wrote, &#8220;Disgusting.&#8221; Markey responded, &#8220;What’s disgusting is the GOP’s obsession with controlling people’s bodies.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
What’s disgusting is the GOP’s obsession with controlling people’s bodies. <a href="https://t.co/JKWrfATfUe">https://t.co/JKWrfATfUe</a>
&mdash; Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenMarkey/status/1623136383853293572?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Congress must restore the right, and the — Congress must restore the right that was taken away in Roe v. Wade and protect Roe v. Wade. Give every woman [inaudible] right,&#8221; Biden said during his address, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/08/us/politics/biden-state-of-the-union-transcript.html">according</a> to a New York Times transcript.
&#8220;The vice president and I are doing everything to protect access to reproductive health care and safeguard patient safety. But already, more than a dozen states are enforcing extreme abortion bans,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Make no mistake about it: If Congress passes a national ban, I will veto it.&#8221;
Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June, Markey similarly lashed out.
“What we have feared most has come to pass. A stolen, illegitimate, and far-right majority on the Supreme Court has destroyed nearly fifty years of precedent guaranteeing the constitutional right to an abortion,&#8221; the senator <a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-statement-on-the-overturning-of-roe-v-wade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a press release. &#8220;The overturning of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey is an egregious and overtly political act that jeopardizes the health, safety, and freedom of millions of Americans.&#8221;
“I once again ask my Senate colleagues, what other judicial outrage must we endure from the illegitimate Supreme Court majority before we act?&#8221; he continued. &#8220;The most fundamental rights we hold dear as Americans are at stake. The right to privacy is at stake. The right to use contraception is at stake. The right to marry who you love is at stake. And with this decision, the very lives of those seeking to exercise their right to reproductive freedom are at stake.&#8221;
“We must act now and expand the Supreme Court to bring balance to the bench and restore its legitimacy in the eyes of the American people,&#8221; Markey urged.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nonsensical-and-random-yelling-biden-criticized-for-fumbles-repeated-lies-in-sotu-speech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘Nonsensical And Random Yelling’: Biden Criticized For Fumbles, Repeated ‘Lies’ In SOTU Speech</a>

Airport Service Workers Urge Congress To Pass The “Good Jobs For Good Airports Act”

‘Sick’: Democratic Senator Shows Off His ‘Heart’ Abortion Pin At SOTU

Democratic Senator Ed Markey Shows Off His ‘Heart’ Abortion Pin At SOTU 

State of the Union

Twitter CEO Elon Musk said Tuesday that several top Democrats launched a &#8220;coordinated&#8221; attack against him and that they were nothing more than &#8220;actors on the political stage, not directors or script writers.&#8221;
Musk responded to an account that claimed that Musk had not been political in the past and only became politically active in response to attacks from Democrats.
&#8220;Elon wasn’t super political on Twitter until Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren started attacking him for no reason,&#8221; the account claimed. &#8220;Then others followed. Of all the dudes they could have attacked, they chose the guy most capable of helping government solve problems. Strange choice.&#8221;
&#8220;Several other major Democrat politicians attacked me too, all around the same time. It was coordinated,&#8221; Musk responded. &#8220;Outside of party leadership and independents like [West Virginia Sen. Joe] Manchin, they are essentially actors on the political stage, not directors or script writers.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Several other major Democrat politicians attacked me too, all around the same time. It was coordinated.
Outside of party leadership and independents like Manchin, they are essentially actors on the political stage, not directors or script writers.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1597728650019098624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Musk has come under attack from Democrats over the last couple of years for a variety of reasons and has also come under attack from former President Donald Trump, who has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/musk-responds-directly-to-trump-labeling-him-a-bullst-artist-makes-plea-to-democrats">claimed</a> that Musk is a &#8220;bulls**t artist.&#8221;
Musk began what appears to be a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-elon-musk-issues-blanket-endorsement-of-gop-in-house-senate-races-cites-benefits-of-shared-power" target="_blank" rel="noopener">political epiphany</a> during the government lockdowns that gripped the nation two years ago. He grew increasingly frustrated as California officials prevented a major Tesla factory from reopening, prompting the entrepreneur to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elon-musk-says-tesla-moving-headquarters-from-california-to-texas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">move</a> the company’s headquarters to Texas. He <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elon-musk-take-the-red-pill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">encouraged</a> other Americans to “take the red pill” and <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1287818109651431427?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1287818109651431427%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Felon-musk-announces-hes-switching-to-vote-republican" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noticed</a> that leftists are “losing the middle” of the political spectrum.
Democrats have attacked him repeatedly over his recent acquisition of Twitter, including Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-senator-demands-answer-from-elon-musk-in-letter-musk-torches-him-in-response" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote a letter</a> about someone being able to make a fake Twitter account impersonating him.
“Yesterday, a Washington Post reporter easily created a fake Twitter account in my name, and by paying $8.00 was also able to obtain Twitter’s blue checkmark, signifying that Twitter had ‘verified’ the account was indeed that of a sitting U.S. Senator. It was not,” Markey’s letter began. “Apparently, due to Twitter’s lax verification practices and apparent need for cash, anyone could pay $8.00 and impersonate someone on your platform. Selling the truth is dangerous and unacceptable. Twitter must explain how this happened and how it will prevent it from happening again.”
Markey then made false claims about the verification badge that the fake account was given.
“Compounding Twitter’s verification dysfunction, a pop-up stated that the fake account was verified because I was a notable person in government, not because someone had paid for the verification blue checkmark,” Markey falsely claimed. “Safeguards such as Twitter’s blue checkmark once allowed users to be smart, critical consumers of news and information in Twitter’s global town square.”
The Washington Post’s report clearly showed a side-by-side screenshot of Markey’s real Twitter account vs. the fake account and the badges displayed different popups when clicked on.
His real account stated: “This account is verified because it’s notable in government, news, entertainment, or another designated category.”
The fake account, contrary to Markey’s claims, stated: “This account is verified because it’s subscribed to Twitter Blue.”
Markey then claimed that the platform had descended into “the Wild West of social media” and demanded answering to questions related to Twitter’s verification process, which the company has paused for Twitter Blue subscribers.
Musk responded to a tweet from Markey that contained his letter to Musk.
“A @washingtonpost reporter was able to create a verified account impersonating me—I’m asking for answers from @elonmusk who is putting profits over people and his debt over stopping disinformation,” Markey tweeted. “Twitter must explain how this happened and how to prevent it from happening again.”
“Perhaps it is because your real account sounds like a parody?” Musk responded.
Musk later mocked the senator for having a profile photo that showed him wearing a mask, writing, “And why does your pp have a mask!?”

Elon Musk Visits Site Of New Tesla Gigafactory In Germany

Musk: Democrats Have Launched A ‘Coordinated’ Attack On Me

Musk: Democrats Have Launched A 'Coordinated' Attack On Me

Big Tech

Elon Musk

Twitter

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/twitter">Twitter</a> CEO Elon Musk slammed Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) on the platform Sunday after the senator made false statements in a letter to him late last week over the platform selling blue verification badges to paying subscribers.
Markey mentioned a report from <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/11/11/twitter-blue-checkmark/">The Washington Post</a> in his letter where the reporter, with his permission, was able to set up a fake Twitter account and pay for a verified account impersonating Markey&#8217;s real account.
&#8220;Yesterday, a Washington Post reporter easily created a fake Twitter account in my name, and by paying $8.00 was also able to obtain Twitter&#8217;s blue checkmark, signifying that Twitter had &#8216;verified&#8217; the account was indeed that of a sitting U.S. Senator. It was not,&#8221; Markey&#8217;s letter began. &#8220;Apparently, due to Twitter&#8217;s lax verification practices and apparent need for cash, anyone could pay $8.00 and impersonate someone on your platform. Selling the truth is dangerous and unacceptable. Twitter must explain how this happened and how it will prevent it from happening again.&#8221;
Markey then made false claims about the verification badge that the fake account was given.
&#8220;Compounding Twitter&#8217;s verification dysfunction, a pop-up stated that the fake account was verified because I was a notable person in government, not because someone had paid for the verification blue checkmark,&#8221; Markey falsely claimed. &#8220;Safeguards such as Twitter&#8217;s blue checkmark once allowed users to be smart, critical consumers of news and information in Twitter&#8217;s global town square.&#8221;
The Washington Post&#8217;s report clearly showed a side-by-side screenshot of Markey&#8217;s real Twitter account vs. the fake account and the badges displayed different popups when clicked on.
His real account stated: &#8220;This account is verified because it&#8217;s notable in government, news, entertainment, or another designated category.&#8221;
The fake account, contrary to Markey&#8217;s claims, stated: &#8220;This account is verified because it&#8217;s subscribed to Twitter Blue.&#8221;
Markey then claimed that the platform had descended into &#8220;the Wild West of social media&#8221; and demanded answering to questions related to Twitter&#8217;s verification process, which the company has paused for Twitter Blue subscribers.
Musk responded to a tweet from Markey that contained his letter to Musk.
&#8220;A @washingtonpost reporter was able to create a verified account impersonating me—I’m asking for answers from @elonmusk who is putting profits over people and his debt over stopping disinformation,&#8221; Markey tweeted. &#8220;Twitter must explain how this happened and how to prevent it from happening again.&#8221;
&#8220;Perhaps it is because your real account sounds like a parody?&#8221; Musk responded.
Musk later mocked the Senator for having a profile photo that showed him wearing a mask, writing, &#8220;And why does your pp have a mask!?&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
And why does your pp have a mask!?
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1591817319143313408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Twitter Introduces New Official Badge For Users For Free

Democrat Senator Demands Answer From Elon Musk In Letter, Musk Torches Him In Response

A group of five American lawmakers landed in Taiwan on Sunday in an unannounced visit just days after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) set off controversy with China following her trip to the self-ruled island.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations East Asia, Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Subcommittee, served as the leader of the surprise delegation.
The other four members included Reps. John Garamendi (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), and Don Beyer (D-VA), along with Republican Rep. Amata Radewagen of American Samoa.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
UPDATE: The U.S. delegation’s flight landed in Taipei at 18:53 local time. AIT has confirmed that Senator <a href="https://twitter.com/EdMarkey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EdMarkey</a> lead a congressional delegation (<a href="https://twitter.com/RepLowenthal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepLowenthal</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DonBeyerVA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DonBeyerVA</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAmata?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepAmata</a>) to Taiwan from Aug 14-15, as part of a larger visit to the Indo-Pacific region. 1/ <a href="https://t.co/gXfbTZMgjZ">pic.twitter.com/gXfbTZMgjZ</a>
&mdash; Tingting Liu 劉亭廷 (@tingtingliuTVBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/tingtingliuTVBS/status/1558779053389524993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The visit came following Markey&#8217;s visit to South Korea to reaffirm the U.S.-South Korean Alliance. Markey met with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and other national leaders earlier Sunday in South Korea before arriving in Taiwan on a separate flight to join the other U.S. lawmakers.
“The U.S.-South Korea alliance is based on shared values and interests – from nuclear disarmament to the fight against climate change, and our commitment to this important relationship is stronger than ever,” Markey said in a <a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-visits-south-korea-meets-with-president-yoon-to-reaffirm-us-south-korean-alliance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
“Through my meetings with President Yoon and other senior government officials, it was evident that our two countries are prepared to meet existential and pressing global challenges head-on. The size, diversity, and lethality of North Korea’s weapons continues to grow, as does its threat to our allies in the region. In my meetings and my visit to the DMZ, we discussed how to continue multilateral pressure and diplomatic efforts to reach a solution that ensures the American people and our allies are safe from a nuclear Kim regime,&#8221; he added.
The American delegation to Taiwan comes just 12 days after Pelosi&#8217;s controversial stop on the island. Chinese officials pushed back with threats ahead of the visit, and with military tests occurring near Taiwan after her departure.
“Today the world faces a choice between democracy and autocracy,” Pelosi <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/08/03/world/pelosi-visit-taiwan-china">said</a> during her visit with Taiwan’s president. “America’s determination to preserve democracy here in Taiwan and around the world remains ironclad.”
As The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/taiwan-scrambles-air-reconnaissance-patrol-forces-after-china-simulates-invasion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, Taiwan&#8217;s government scrambled its air reconnaissance patrol forces and ships after the Chinese government simulated an island invasion on Saturday as part of its fourth straight day of military training.
The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/beijing-simulates-attack-on-taiwan-as-chinese-exercises-extend-into-third-day-11659784913?mod=hp_lead_pos1">reported</a> that the Taiwan government detected 14 Chinese ships and 20 planes in the Taiwan Strait. Fourteen of those planes crossed the median line toward the island of Taiwan, which sent the country’s military into action.
President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-concerned-about-chinas-reaction-to-pelosi-taiwan-trip" target="_blank" rel="noopener">addressed</a> the retaliation on August 8 while visiting victims of recent floods in eastern Kentucky.
“I’m not worried but I’m concerned that they’re moving as much as they are,” said Biden. “But I don’t think they’re going to do anything more than they are.”

Taiwan flags

U.S. Lawmakers Make Unannounced Taiwan Visit Following Pelosi’s Trip

U.S. Lawmakers Make Unannounced Taiwan Visit Following Pelosi's Trip

China

Nancy Pelosi

Taiwan

<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/amazon">Amazon</a> smart doorbell <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/business">company</a> Ring provided user data to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/police">law enforcement</a>, the e-commerce giant said in a letter to Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ed-markey">Ed Markey</a> (D-MA).
Ring — which Amazon <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-amazon-acquired-ring-2018-3">acquired</a> in 2018 for $1 billion — offers products that use outdoor cameras for convenience and home security purposes. In response to a June 14 letter from Markey inquiring about the products’ privacy features, Amazon <a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/amazon_response_to_senator_markey-july_13_2022.pdf">revealed</a> on July 1 that it had provided law enforcement with videos from user devices in emergency situations 11 times since the beginning of the year after making a “good-faith determination that there was an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury” to someone needing information on short notice.
“Ring reserves the right to respond immediately to urgent law enforcement requests for information in cases involving imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to any person,” wrote Brian Huseman, vice president of public policy for Amazon. “Based on the information provided in the emergency request form and the circumstances described by the officer, Ring makes a good-faith determination whether the request meets the well-known standard, grounded in federal law, that there is imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to any person requiring disclosure of information without delay.”
Markey argued in a Wednesday press release that the revelation justifies the passage of his <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2052?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Facial+Recognition+and+Biometric+Technology+Moratorium+Act+of+2021%22%5D%7D&amp;s=2&amp;r=1">Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act</a> — legislation that would bar state and federal entities from accessing Americans’ biometric data.
“As my ongoing investigation into Amazon illustrates, it has become increasingly difficult for the public to move, assemble, and converse in public without being tracked and recorded,” Markey said in a <a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markeys-probe-into-amazon-ring-reveals-new-privacy-problems">press release</a>. “We cannot accept this as inevitable in our country. Increasing law enforcement reliance on private surveillance creates a crisis of accountability, and I am particularly concerned that biometric surveillance could become central to the growing web of surveillance systems that Amazon and other powerful tech companies are responsible for.”
Indeed, Ring has faced scrutiny for alleged lax enforcement of its privacy standards. The company has provided its research and development team, which is based in Ukraine, with unencrypted customer video files, according to a 2019 report from <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/01/10/amazon-ring-security-camera/">The Intercept</a>. Ring <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210512005336/en/Strategy-Analytics-Amazons-Ring-Remained-atop-the-Video-Doorbell-Market-in-2020">sold</a> more than 1.4 million video doorbells in 2020.
Markey noted that Ring’s letter did not provide specific details on the physical distance from which the doorbells can record audio. The company now has 2,161 law enforcement agencies and 455 fire departments enrolled in its Neighbors Public Safety Service — a fivefold increase since the end of 2019.
Lawmakers are also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/leaked-internal-audio-from-tiktok-shows-u-s-user-data-accessed-from-china-despite-denials-report">concerned</a> over privacy breaches at TikTok — a social media platform owned by Beijing-based company ByteDance. <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/emilybakerwhite/tiktok-tapes-us-user-data-china-bytedance-access">BuzzFeed News</a> recently obtained audio showing that Chinese employees of ByteDance have “repeatedly accessed nonpublic data” from American users.
Referring to the report, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr called on Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook to nix the app from its platforms.
“It is clear that TikTok poses an unacceptable national security risk due to its extensive data harvesting being combined with Beijing’s apparently unchecked access to that sensitive data,” Carr <a href="https://twitter.com/BrendanCarrFCC/status/1541823585957707776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1541823585957707776%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnbc.com%2F2022%2F06%2F29%2Ffcc-commissioner-tells-apple-google-to-remove-tiktok-from-app-stores.html">wrote</a>. “But it is also clear that TikTok’s pattern of conduct … puts it out of compliance with the policies that both of your companies require every app to adhere to as a condition of remaining available on your app stores.”

Amazon

Amazon Handed Over Ring Doorbell Footage To Authorities

Amazon's Ring Handed Data Over To Law Enforcement

Law Enforcement

Privacy

Security

Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) used the horrific shooting that took place at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, to argue that one way to prevent more school shootings was to pack the Supreme Court.
Markey began by calling for <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/biden-goes-around-congress-with-police-reform-executive-order-blames-republicans/">gun control</a> — as have a number of his Democratic colleagues and even President Joe Biden — and then immediately pivoted to argue that the only way to ensure that gun control laws would not face a challenge or even face the possibility of being overturned was to add at least two justices to the Supreme Court.
&#8220;Ed Markey uses the Texas shooting to &#8230; attack the Supreme Court and push for court packing. If you&#8217;re one of the people who wants Washington to &#8216;do something,&#8217; on gun violence look at people like Ed Markey who want to shift the debate to every other political goal they have,&#8221; Matt Whitlock tweeted, along with video of Markey&#8217;s comments.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Ed Markey uses the Texas shooting to.. attack the Supreme Court and push for court packing.
If you&#39;re one of the people who wants Washington to &quot;do something,&quot; on gun violence look at people like Ed Markey who want to shift the debate to every other political goal they have. <a href="https://t.co/GumsYlR02y">pic.twitter.com/GumsYlR02y</a>
&mdash; Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattdizwhitlock/status/1529846488616079360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;We have to take very seriously the threat, which an illegitimate, far-Right Supreme Court poses to gun safety in our country,&#8221; Markey said, going on to claim that former President Donald Trump had &#8220;stolen&#8221; two Supreme Court seats and, in doing so, had rendered the Court &#8220;illegitimate.&#8221;
&#8220;We have to expand the Supreme Court to get back the two stolen seats that the Republicans and Donald Trump took from the American people, so that we can ensure that when we put gun safety laws on the books, they are not overridden by the Supreme Court of the United States,&#8221; he said.
Markey also joined President Biden in using the shooting to attack the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Republicans who support the Second Amendment.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
“What the American people want is for the NRA to stand for ‘Not Relevant Anymore’ in American politics.”
Sen. Ed Markey joins fellow Democratic senators and gun reform activists at press conference following elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. <a href="https://t.co/bo5GYe1goQ">https://t.co/bo5GYe1goQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/elAvxYDWAE">pic.twitter.com/elAvxYDWAE</a>
&mdash; ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABCPolitics/status/1529856281707700227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;What the American people want the NRA to stand for is &#8216;Not Relevant Anymore in American politics,'&#8221; Markey said, claiming that the Republican Party was stuck in the grip of the NRA and forced to &#8220;do what the NRA tells them that they should do.&#8221;
President Biden, after giving a cursory nod to the victims of Tuesday&#8217;s shooting, parlayed the <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/its-just-sick-biden-uses-school-shooting-address-to-slam-gun-lobby/">remainder of his address</a> to the nation into an attack aimed at the &#8220;gun lobby&#8221; and a warning aimed at any political opponents who would stand in the way of &#8220;common sense gun laws&#8221; moving forward.

US-POLITICS-RIGHTS-ABORTION-DEMONSTRATION

Senate Democrat Uses Texas School Shooting To Push For Packing The Supreme Court

Ed Markey Uses Uvalde Shooting Victims To Demand Packing The Supreme Court

Court Packing

Merrick Garland

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Supreme Court

Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) demanded &#8220;algorithmic justice&#8221; in the wake of billionaire Elon Musk&#8217;s successful bid to take control of Twitter.
Markey argued that having a handful of billionaires in control of major social media platforms — like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram — was an <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/the-view-host-claims-twitter-is-mostly-straight-white-men-who-will-use-freedom-of-speech-to-abuse-women/">unacceptable scenario</a> and called on Congress to act to restrain them.
&#8220;Elon Musk and a handful of billionaires now have dangerous influence over the most powerful online platforms,&#8221; Markey tweeted on Tuesday afternoon. &#8220;They can&#8217;t be trusted, and self-regulation has failed. We must pass laws to protect privacy and promote algorithmic justice for internet users, especially for kids.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Elon Musk and a handful of billionaires now have dangerous influence over the most powerful online platforms. They can&#39;t be trusted, and self-regulation has failed. We must pass laws to protect privacy and promote algorithmic justice for internet users, especially for kids.
&mdash; Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenMarkey/status/1518998477140856832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;New current thing just dropped: &#8216;algorithmic justice,'&#8221; Marc Andreessen <a href="https://twitter.com/pmarca/status/1519040044442406912">commented</a>.
&#8220;It&#8217;s cute how progressives dig up ever more adjectives to qualify &#8216;justice,&#8217; none of which mean real justice. &#8216;Algorithmic justice&#8217; = &#8216;censorship,'&#8221; @irishspy <a href="https://twitter.com/irishspy/status/1519039570809028608">tweeted</a>.
Congressman Dan Bishop (R-NC) pointed out the fact that, prior to Musk&#8217;s purchase, billionaires already had control of social media — like Facebook/Instagram&#8217;s Mark Zuckerberg.
&#8220;But 2 days ago this influence from billionaires was fine?&#8221; he asked.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
But 2 days ago this influence from billionaires was fine? <a href="https://t.co/iX3CmvbQ4t">https://t.co/iX3CmvbQ4t</a>
&mdash; Rep. Dan Bishop (@RepDanBishop) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDanBishop/status/1519023916689371136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I guess before yesterday everything was fine,&#8221; communications strategist Tim Murtaugh <a href="https://twitter.com/TimMurtaugh/status/1519020877119201291">agreed</a>.
&#8220;Washington currently has dangerous influence over the most powerful online platforms. And Washington most certainly can&#8217;t be trusted. So we should be very worried when they promise to pass laws, especially in the name of &#8216;algorithmic justice,'&#8221; the Wall Street Journal&#8217;s Kimberley Strassel <a href="https://twitter.com/KimStrassel/status/1519021046606667776">warned</a>.
&#8220;What about the past 24 hours has spelled the failure of self-regulation?&#8221; @neontaster <a href="https://twitter.com/neontaster/status/1519019427546681347">asked</a>. &#8220;Like literally what actually happened in practice? Nothing.&#8221;
MSNBC host Ari Melber had a <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/parody-or-drunken-chutzpah-msnbc-host-dragged-for-complaining-musk-might-use-twitter-to-do-to-the-left-what-it-did-to-the-right/">similar reaction</a> during his Monday broadcast, asking what would stop Twitter under Elon Musk from stifling certain voices and amplifying others, particularly in an effort to drive certain political outcomes.
&#8220;If you own all of Twitter or Facebook or what have you. You don’t have to explain yourself. You don’t even have to be transparent. You could secretly ban one party’s candidate or all of its candidates, all of its nominees. You could just secretly turn down the reach of their stuff and turn up the reach of something else and the rest of us might not find out until after the election,” Melber said. “Elon Musk says this is all to help people because he is just a free speech, philosophically clear, open-minded helper.&#8221;
Critics immediately mocked Melber, noting that Twitter had been doing just that to primarily conservative voices for the past several years. Radio host Clay Travis <a href="https://twitter.com/ClayTravis/status/1518793469677948928">noted</a>, “MSNBC ‘talent’ suddenly realizes the owners of Twitter can rig the entire site. This is amazing to watch. Does he not realize all of this was already done to Republicans?”

Secretary Of State Blinken Testifies Before Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Democrat Senator Demands ‘Algorithmic Justice’ In The Wake Of Elon Musk’s Twitter Takeover

Social Media

Social Media Censorship

Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) claimed during a Senate hearing with tech companies on Wednesday that &#8220;anti-conservative bias is not a problem&#8221; and that the issue is not that there is too much censorship going on, but that there is not enough.
“The big tech business model, which profits ahead of people, is a real problem,” Markey claimed. “Anti-conservative bias is not a problem. The issue is not that the companies before us today are taking too many posts down, the issue is that they’re leaving too many dangerous posts up.”
“In fact, they’re amplifying harmful content so that it spreads like wildfire and torches our democracy,” Markey claimed without evidence. “Mr. Zuckerberg, when President Trump posted on Facebook that when the looting starts the shooting starts, you failed to take down that post. Within a day, the post had hundreds of thousands of shares and likes on Facebook. Since then the president has gone on national television and told a hate group to stand by and he has repeatedly refused to commit that he will accept the election results.”
“Mr. Zuckerberg, can you commit that if the president goes on Facebook and encourages violence after election results are announced that you will make sure your companies algorithms don’t spread that content and you will immediately remove those messages?” Markey asked.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Democrat Sen. Ed Markey flipped the script at the tech hearing saying: &quot;The issue is not that the companies before us today is that they&#39;re taking too many posts down. The issue is that they&#39;re leaving too many dangerous posts up.&quot;
 <a href="https://t.co/0uH9a3wgOh">pic.twitter.com/0uH9a3wgOh</a>
&mdash; Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) <a href="https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1321492041960968195?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Republican Senators focused on sinking their teeth into Twitter CEO and left-wing activist Jack Dorsey.
“As you know, I have long been concerned about Twitter’s pattern of censoring and silencing individual Americans with whom Twitter disagrees,” Cruz said. “But two weeks ago, Twitter … crossed a threshold that is fundamental in our country. Two weeks Twitter made the unilateral decision to censor the New York Post in a series of two blockbuster articles, both alleging evidence of corruption against Joe Biden, the first concerning Ukraine, the second concerning communist China.”
“And Twitter made the decision number one to prevent users, any user, from sharing those stories, and number two you went even further and blocked the New York Post from sharing on Twitter its own reporting,” Cruz continued. “Why did Twitter make the decision to censor the New York Post?”
Dorsey responded by claiming that the platform decided to enforce its “hacked materials” policy and the goal of it was to limit the spread of materials that are hacked, and he did not want Twitter to be a distributor for hacked materials.
Cruz responded by highlighting how Twitter allowed, and even promoted, reports from The New York Times about President Donald Trump’s tax returns—which Cruz noted that it was “a crime, a federal felony, to distribute someone’s tax returns against their knowledge.”
Cruz later blasted Dorsey, asking, “Mr. Dorsey, who the hell elected you and put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report and what the American people are allowed to hear and why do you persist in behaving in a Democratic Super PAC silencing views to the contrary of your political beliefs?”
Dorsey claimed that was not happening.
Related:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/twitter-ceo-jack-dorsey-we-havent-censored-the-u-s-president-report-says-twitter-has-censored-trump-64-times">Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey: ‘We Haven’t Censored The U.S. President.’ Report Says Twitter Has Censored Trump 64 Times.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ted-cruz-reams-twitter-ceo-jack-dorsey-who-the-hell-elected-you">Ted Cruz Reams Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey: ‘Who The Hell Elected You?’</a></li>
</ul>

Senator Ed Markey meets with BPL Union

Democrat Senator On Tech Censorship: ‘Anti-Conservative Bias Not A Problem,’ ‘Not Enough’ Censorship Happening

Censorship

Facebook

Menu