Former Miami Republican congressman David Rivera was arrested on Monday in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation that possibly includes failing to register as a foreign agent in the U.S. for consulting with Venezuela’s socialist government-run oil company.
Rivera, who served one term in office from 2011 to 2013, has been allegedly under investigation after signing a $50 million consulting contract from a U.S. affiliate of Venezuela’s socialist government-run oil company under President Nicolas Maduro.
Marlene Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami, told <a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-miami-arrests-criminal-investigations-david-rivera-a81683364212d7c86068839290bd8630">The Associated Press</a> that authorities arrested Rivera at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Monday. However, Rodriguez could not discuss the charges for Rivera due to a sealed indictment by a Miami grand jury last month, which included other defendants.
Rivera, 57, appeared in an Atlanta federal court following his arrest but bailed out of jail later in the afternoon, according to the U.S. Marshal’s Service reported by <a href="https://www.local10.com/news/local/2022/12/05/feds-arrest-former-miami-congressman-david-rivera-amid-venezuela-probe/">local media</a>.
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Jeffrey Feldman, an attorney for Rivera, declined to comment to The Associated Press, adding via text message that he had “not seen the indictment.”
PDV USA, a Delaware-based affiliate of Venezeluan-owned oil company Citgo, sued Rivera’s Interamerican Consulting company in 2020 on allegations the former congressman failed to hold up his end of the contract he signed three years before the lawsuit, which was reportedly said to improve the image of the Venezuelan firm in the United States.
Venezuela’s U.S. affiliate reportedly accused Rivera of doing little work after the businesses collected $20 million from a subsidiary.
“The written record is bereft of any evidence that Interamerican performed any of the contracted services,” PDV USA argues in the new filings, according to The Associated Press. “There is not a single email, a single PowerPoint presentation, a single outline, a single memorandum, a single calendar entry, or anything else suggesting that Interamerican ever performed any of the services.”
Court documents reported by <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article269634466.html">The Miami Herald</a> show that Rivera allegedly diverted at least $13 million of that money to three subcontractors in Miami who supposedly gave “international strategic consulting services” to the Venezuelan firm.
Such subcontractors allegedly included Miami real estate developer Hugo Perera, who authorities convicted in one of South Florida’s biggest drug-trafficking cases.
PDV USA is seeking to recover the $20 million in payments from Rivera’s company.
Rivera’s firm has filed a counterclaim seeking full payment of the contract.
Rivera also reportedly orchestrated an unknown Democratic candidate to run against his main rival in a South Florida congressional race, hid a $1 million contract with a gambling company, and misused campaign funds to pay for state House activities that the State had already refunded.
Before Rivera entered Congress, he served as a Florida legislator from 2003 to 2010 in the state House. He shared a home in Tallahassee with former Flordia House Speaker and current U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.

Republican David Rivera Campaigns For House Seat

Former Republican Miami Congressman Arrested In Ongoing Venezuela Oil Investigation

Energy

Florida

Miami

Oil and Gas

U.S.

Venezuela

Conservative country star John Rich posted a patriotic video on Twitter showing concertgoers at his show singing &#8220;God Bless America&#8221; after he and other country stars raised money for victims of Hurricane Ian.
Rich, 48, shared a great <a href="https://twitter.com/johnrich/status/1599552139172487169?s=20&amp;t=BNifFV-Scytudq4A9kw_yg">clip</a> on Sunday of a crowd singing at the star-studded &#8220;Boots on the Sand&#8221; benefit concert. The event was held on December 1 and <a href="https://www.winknews.com/2022/12/01/boots-on-the-sand-benefit-concert-raises-money-for-the-victims-of-hurricane-ian/">raised</a> more than $1 million for hurricane relief.
&#8220;Leading a massive crowd in singing #GodBlessAmerica in Florida!&#8221; Rich captioned his post. &#8220;Raised over a million dollars for victims of Hurricane Ian. Incredible night!&#8221;
The really fun part started when Rich encouraged the group to join in and thousands of voices sang. &#8220;Thank you all for the support. So many are struggling down here. May god bless all of them,&#8221; one person wrote in response to the video.
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WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Leading a massive crowd in singing <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GodBlessAmerica?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GodBlessAmerica</a> in Florida! Raised over a million dollars for victims of Hurricane Ian. Incredible night! <a href="https://t.co/mz29sjRkTB">pic.twitter.com/mz29sjRkTB</a>
&mdash; John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnrich/status/1599552139172487169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The sold-out concert took place at the Hertz Arena in southwest Florida, where Rich was joined by performers Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gavin DeGraw, RaeLynn, Tracy Lawrence, and others.
&#8220;I just started calling friends,&#8221; shared musician and writer Ira Dean, who organized the concert. &#8220;First person I called was Ted Nugent, and he was like, &#8216;what do you need? What time do you need me there? I&#8217;m there.&#8217; Then I was like, &#8216;well, that was easy.&#8217; So I just started calling people.&#8221;
The &#8220;Save a Horse&#8221; hitmaker is one of the few performers who have remained unabashedly conservative.
As the lyrics to his song &#8220;Progress&#8221; go, &#8220;There&#8217;s a hole in this country where its heart used to be, And Old Glory&#8217;s divided, on fire in the street…They say Building Back Better will make America great…If that&#8217;s a wave of the future, all I&#8217;ve got to say…&#8221;
&#8220;Stick your progress where the sun don&#8217;t shine/Keep your big mess away from me and mine/If you leave us alone, well we&#8217;d all be just fine/Stick your progress where the sun don’t shine.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lies-and-tyrannical-agenda-conservative-stars-and-pundits-react-to-news-of-fauci-stepping-down">&#8216;Lies And Tyrannical Agenda&#8217;: Conservative Stars And Pundits React To News Of Fauci Stepping Down</a>

33rd Annual 99.9 KISS Country Chili Cook-off

John Rich Posts Patriotic Video Of Concertgoers Singing After He And Country Stars Raise An Incredible Amount For Hurricane Victims

Celebrities

Country Music

Entertainment

Hurricane Ian

John Rich

Patriotism

A police chief in Florida has <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/05/us/tampa-police-chief-mary-oconnor-resigns/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resigned</a> after showing her badge and requesting to be let go from a traffic stop, according to Tampa authorities. 
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor “has requested and received the resignation of Police Chief Mary O&#8217;Connor, following the completion of an Internal Affairs investigation into a recent traffic stop involving O’Connor,” <a href="https://www.tampa.gov/news/mayor-jane-castor-accepts-resignation-tpd-chief-mary-o-connor-111406" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to a statement from the mayor&#8217;s office issued on Monday. 
“It is unacceptable for any public employee, and especially the city&#8217;s top law enforcement leader, to ask for special treatment because of their position. Public trust in Tampa&#8217;s police department is paramount to our success as a city and community,” Castor said.
O’Connor was the passenger in a golf cart driven by her husband, a former Tampa police officer who is retired. The golf cart had no license plate displayed, and a Pinellas County Sheriff&#8217;s deputy pulled the couple over. In body cam footage, O&#8217;Connor showed deputy Larry Jacoby her badge, and he said she looked familiar.
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“I’m hoping that you’ll just let us go tonight,” she said before apologizing and giving the deputy her card.
“If you ever need anything, call me. Serious,” O’Connor <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/05/us/tampa-police-chief-mary-oconnor-resigns/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
<a href="https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/news-watch-bodycam-footage-shows-tampa-police-chief-mary-o-connor-evading-traffic-stop" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH</a>:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Body cam shows Tampa Police Chief Mary O&#039;Connor using position to get out of traffic citation" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-NIweyTwZsA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
In 1995, O’Connor was fired from the police department after she was <a href="https://www.wfla.com/8-on-your-side/1995-arrest-of-tampas-new-police-chief-expunged-by-court/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> in a separate traffic stop for battery on a law enforcement officer. The following year, however, she was put back on the force and “reinstated as a police officer,” serving for a year as a “probationary employee.” Mayor Castor alluded to the previous incident in her statement about the resignation. 
“This is especially disappointing because I gave Mary O’Connor a second chance, as I believe in second chances for people. Which is one of the reasons that the disappointment today runs so deep. I had high hope for Chief O’Connor, as she was off to such a strong start by reducing violent gun crime, proactively engaging with our community and focusing on officer wellness. But these accomplishments pale in comparison to the priority I place on integrity,” Castor noted. 
In her resignation <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pKpoM8XJpbP1vuRhrHpaxwbTt73ywXAA/view" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a>, O’Connor <a href="https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/tampa-police-chief-mary-oconnor-resigns/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, “I would never want my personal mistake to stand in the way of the progress I have made in mending relationships between the police department and the community, so for that reason, I am resigning.”
After the most recent incident, Castor <a href="https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/courts-law/2022-12-05/tampa-police-chief-oconnor-resigns-after-probe-into-golf-card-traffic-stop" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> that O’Connor had used “poor judgment” and could be disciplined. In a statement, O’Connor reportedly said she “expressed great remorse” and noted that “no one is above the law.&#8221; She said she “personally called the Pinellas County Sheriff offering to pay for any potential citation.&#8221;

1EE97B46-681D-416A-A488-0FA86DB51517_1_105_c

Tampa Police Chief Resigns After Showing Badge At Traffic Stop

Mary O'Connor Tampa Police Chief Resigns After Showing Badge At Traffic Stop

Crime

Police

Sheriff

<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/disney" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Disney</a> announced that its iconic ride, Splash Mountain, would close at Walt Disney World Resort on January 23, 2023, in preparation for a more “inclusive” experience featuring Princess Tiana.
According to a <a href="https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2022/12/a-new-scene-and-new-critters-are-introduced-for-tianas-bayou-adventure/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blog post</a> published last week, visitors can officially join “Princess Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis during Mardi Gras season as they prepare to host a one-of-a-kind celebration for the people of New Orleans” at the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction beginning in 2024. Based on the animated movie “The Princess and the Frog,” which centers upon black culture in the Big Easy, the experience will feature zydeco music and other cultural distinctions of the Mississippi River Delta.
Disney announced the closure of Splash Mountain at Disney World in Florida after the death of George Floyd. During that time, many <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/one-year-after-george-floyd-americas-biggest-corporations-earmark-37-billion-for-racial-equity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">large corporations</a> signaled assent to the Black Lives Matter movement and made gestures in accordance with social justice ideology.
“Tiana is a modern, courageous, and empowered woman, who pursues her dreams and never loses sight of what’s really important,” another <a href="https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2020/06/new-adventures-with-princess-tiana-coming-to-disneyland-park-and-magic-kingdom-park/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blog post</a> from Disney explained two years ago. “And with this longstanding history of updating attractions and adding new magic, the retheming of Splash Mountain is of particular importance today. The new concept is inclusive — one that all of our guests can connect with and be inspired by, and it speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year.”
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An announcement about the Splash Mountain attraction at the Disneyland resort in California will be &#8220;shared at a later date,&#8221; according to the company. Tiana&#8217;s Bayou Adventure will be added to both parks.
Petitions <a href="https://www.change.org/p/the-walt-disney-company-re-theme-splash-mountain-to-princess-and-the-frog" target="_blank" rel="noopener">specifically calling</a> for the replacement of Splash Mountain, which critics said originally featured “extremely problematic and stereotypical racist tropes” from the film &#8220;Song of the South,&#8221; with an attraction based upon the story of Princess Tiana had circulated ahead of the company’s announcement. Splash Mountain is the fifth most popular attraction at Disney World, according to a <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/latest-survey-ranks-the-most-popular-rides-at-walt-disney-world-across-every-state-301262965.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">survey</a> released last year by Upgraded Points.
More recently, however, Disney has faced backlash from consumers and lawmakers over the entertainment conglomerate’s involvement in political and cultural battles. The company <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-florida-house-votes-to-strip-disney-world-of-its-self-government" target="_blank" rel="noopener">positioned itself</a> against legislation in Florida that prohibits instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity for students between kindergarten and third grade, ultimately causing a breach of trust among some consumers. Disney also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-florida-ending-disneys-special-privileges-has-other-woke-ceos-scared" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost</a> special regulatory and tax privileges granted by the state government of Florida through the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which is the home of Disney World and other theme parks.
Former Disney CEO Bob Iger recently replaced successor Bob Chapek in a surprise ouster and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-disney-ceo-says-company-will-quiet-things-down-regrets-predecessor-battled-desantis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lamented</a> that the company involved itself in the controversial debate. “I was sorry to see us dragged into that battle, and I have no idea exactly what its ramifications are in terms of the business itself,” he told employees. “What I can say is that the state of Florida has been important to us for a long time, and we have been very important to the state of Florida.”
Disney nevertheless continues to push controversial content in the marketplace. “Strange World,” an animated film featuring a same-sex teenage romance, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/animated-gay-teen-romance-film-is-woke-disneys-latest-box-office-bomb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fizzled</a> at the box office during a holiday weekend opening. “Lightyear,” the latest installment in the highly popular “Toy Story” franchise, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gay-kiss-included-woke-toy-story-spinoff-lightyear-struggles-at-box-office?%3Futm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=dwtwitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">featured</a> a same-sex kiss and likewise struggled. Shares for Disney have fallen nearly 38% since the beginning of the year, while the Dow Jones Industrial Index has declined more than 6% over the same period.
Disclosure: The Daily Wire has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/videos/introducing-dw-kids">announced plans</a> for kids entertainment content.

Close-Up Of Closed Metal Grate

Disney World Announces Closing Date For Iconic Ride To Be Replaced By More ‘Inclusive’ Princess Tiana Attraction

Disney World's Splash Mountain To Be Replaced By Princess Tiana Attraction

Disney

Disney World

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Social Issues

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida</a> man allegedly killed his own mother because she never &#8220;pushed&#8221; him to &#8220;be a man.&#8221;
The Osceola County, Florida, Sheriff&#8217;s Department responded to a report of a possible stabbing in the city of Kissimmee just after 4 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Upon arriving at the residence, police found a woman dead, and another woman with severe lacerations on her hands. Police later arrested the suspect, who confessed to stabbing his mother to death.
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&#8220;On November 29, 2022, at approximately 4:13 PM, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible stabbing at a residence in Kissimmee,&#8221; the sheriff&#8217;s office wrote in a statement on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/osceolasheriff/posts/pfbid0zWmoyvuqzHXMHv3wqW1ZYauy1mw6rKue7sDPygs7MKBtipNEkPYnDG3cNeCvKoUhl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>. &#8220;Upon arrival, it was determined that one female was deceased, and another female had severe lacerations to her hands.&#8221;
A motion for pre-trial detention from Florida&#8217;s Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, obtained by <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/florida-man-confesses-killing-mom-never-pushed-man-authorities-say-rcna59820" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a>, revealed that the suspect&#8217;s sister was the one who was injured.
“The victim heard their mother screaming for her life,&#8221; the documents stated. &#8220;When the victim came out of her room, she observed the defendant stabbing their mother multiple times with a kitchen knife,” the motion said. “The victim attempted to intervene and sustained multiple deep lacerations to her hands from the defendant cutting her.”
Shortly after police arrived on the scene, they located the suspect, identified as Matthew Stewart Sisley, a short distance away from the home. The suspect was taken to the Sheriff&#8217;s Office, where he confessed to intentionally stabbing his mother and accidentally stabbing his sister.
The sheriff&#8217;s office released a partial transcript of the interview:
<blockquote>Detective: “Do you think your mom deserved to get stabbed?”
Suspect: “Yes.”
Detective: “Why?”
Suspect: “Because she never pushed me to be a man.”
Detective: “Do you regret doing it?”
Suspect: “No. I would do it again.”</blockquote>
Police went on to state that the suspect had been booked into the Osceola County Jail on the charge of domestic aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Additional charges would follow.
NBC News reported that as of Friday, the suspect was still in jail; an additional charge of premeditated murder had been added to his record. The suspect&#8217;s bond was set at $0; prosecutors in the motion for pre-trial detention had asked the court to hold the suspect without bail, NBC News added.
Elsewhere in Florida, a Jacksonville Sheriff&#8217;s Officer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-release-footage-of-florida-cop-who-cant-swim-saving-infant-from-drowning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saved the life</a> of an infant drowning in a retention pond in June. Video posted by the JSO on Facebook showed Officer Me’Atia Sanderson rushing to help the child, pulling him out of the water, then performing CPR until paramedics arrived.
“As a patrol officer in Zone 4 (Westside), Ofc. Sanderson was working on June 9th of this year when JSO and the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched to an infant drowning in a retention pond,&#8221; the office captioned the video. &#8220;Sanderson was the first to arrive on scene and was alerted that the infant was still in the water. Ofc. Sanderson, who does not know how to swim herself, without a second’s hesitation, entered the pond to retrieve the child and performed CPR until she was relieved by other responding officers. Her actions, while putting her own life at risk, undoubtedly saved the child’s life.”
</div>
</div>

Bloody Knife

Florida Man Stabs His Own Mother To Death ‘Because She Never Pushed Me To Be A Man’

Florida Man Stabs His Own Mother To Death 'Because She Never Pushed Me To Be A Man'

Homicide

Masculinity

Murder

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is in no rush to reverse the state’s plan to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/disney-is-a-guest-in-florida-florida-lawmakers-consider-terminating-disneys-district" target="_blank" rel="noopener">end</a> the special tax and regulatory treatment <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/disney" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Disney</a> has enjoyed for decades, with his office shooting down a report of a pending &#8216;U-Turn.&#8217;
A <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/64162abf-e0bd-4a6f-968a-cb4872e5c4f5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Financial Times cited unnamed sources saying state lawmakers were considering a pivot in the wake of Disney&#8217;s ouster of the CEO who tangled with DeSantis earlier this year by  opposing a state law prohibiting instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity for students between kindergarten and third grade. But a spokesman for the governor said DeSantis is not considering any sort of compromise with the entertainment giant on the Reedy Creek Improvement District status that affords it the special treatment.
“[Gov. Ron DeSantis] does not make ‘U-Turns,'&#8221; said press secretary Bryan Griffin. &#8220;The governor was right to champion removing the extraordinary benefit given to one company through the Reedy Creek Improvement District. We will have an even playing field for businesses in Florida, and the state certainly owes no special favors to one company.”
Revocation of the improvement district is slated to take effect in the summer of 2023. Until then, the state and Disney may continue to work out a new operating agreement, but DeSantis&#8217; office insisted it won&#8217;t sell out taxpayers.
“Disney’s debts will not fall on the taxpayers of Florida,&#8221; Griffin said, reiterating a pledge from DeSantis.
Last week, former Disney CEO Bob Chapek, who caved to activists within the company and rebuked Florida over the law, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/reeling-disney-fires-ceo-as-woke-culture-blamed-for-stock-plunge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unexpectedly ousted</a> and replaced by Bob Iger, his predecessor. Iger <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-disney-ceo-says-company-will-quiet-things-down-regrets-predecessor-battled-desantis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expressed contrition</a> over the move in a town hall meeting with employees, at which he remarked that the company should not have been “dragged into that battle” and confirmed he will work to “quiet things down” politically.
Florida lawmakers who spoke to the Financial Times said Iger&#8217;s return could prompt a fresh start.
“It’s easier to shift policy when you don’t have to defend the old policy,” State Representative Randy Fine (R-FL), who drafted the legislation to end the special privileges, told the Financial Times. “Chapek screwed up, but Bob Iger doesn’t have to own that screw-up.”
State Senator Linda Stewart (D-FL) told the Financial Times that one possibility would be DeSantis, who overwhelmingly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ron-desantis-wins-against-charlie-crist-projection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won a second term</a> last month, getting to appoint two members to the board of the Reedy Creek Improvement District under the new arrangement.
Shares for Disney have fallen nearly 38% since the beginning of the year, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average has declined roughly 7% over the same period. Among other concerning metrics, Disney reported a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-subscriptions-at-ultra-woke-disney-slow-to-a-crawl-after-company-loses-left-wing-political-battles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">significant slowdown</a> in new domestic subscriptions for streaming service Disney+ after leaping into the fray of contentious social issues.
During an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/desantis-nails-disney-after-ceo-bob-iger-sorry-for-fighting-florida-they-brought-this-on-themselves" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> earlier this week, DeSantis said that Disney brought the rebuke from the legislature upon themselves.
“We didn’t drag them in,” he said. “They went in on their own, and not only opposed the bill. They threatened to get it repealed.”
When asked about the parental rights legislation, Iger affirmed that “LGBTQ employees” at Disney are “very important to us” and noted that the company would continue promoting “inclusion” in its work. However, he cited a “delicate balance” between telling stories and “listening” to audience members. “It’s important to have respect for the people that you’re serving, that you’re trying to reach, and not have disdain for them,” he said.
The comments from Iger came after “Strange World,” an animated film featuring a gay teenage romance, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/animated-gay-teen-romance-film-is-woke-disneys-latest-box-office-bomb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fizzled</a> at the box office during what should have been a strong holiday weekend opening. “Lightyear,” the latest installment in the popular “Toy Story” franchise, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gay-kiss-included-woke-toy-story-spinoff-lightyear-struggles-at-box-office?%3Futm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=dwtwitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">featured</a> a same-sex kiss and likewise struggled at the box office.

Welcome to Florida

No ‘U-Turn’: DeSantis Shoots Down Report Florida Seeking Compromise With Disney

No 'U-Turn': DeSantis Shoots Down Report Florida Seeking Compromise With Disney

Ron DeSantis

Wokeness

Florida Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ron-desantis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ron DeSantis</a> (R) said during a press conference Thursday that Republicans underperformed in the 2022 midterms because they did not focus on delivering for voters.
&#8220;You know, we assumed we were going to end up with like, 245 House members, we&#8217;re at 222 it looks like, which is a huge underperformance,&#8221; DeSantis said. &#8220;And so the question is, why did that happen? Because the way these midterms work, someone gets elected to the White House, and then there&#8217;s a reaction the other way, that&#8217;s what happens almost every two years and especially when people are pessimistic about the direction of the country, have a negative view on Biden, usually those voters are going to want to vote for people that are offering an alternative.&#8221;
&#8220;And yet some of those voters throughout the country, not in Florida, but throughout the country, even though they disapproved of Biden, even though they disapproved of the direction of the country,&#8221; DeSantis said. &#8220;They still didn&#8217;t want to vote for some of our candidates.&#8221;
The governor explained that Republicans did not underperform because the party was divided; he said that Republicans nationwide did not use the same model that Republicans in the state of Florida used, which was focusing on exercising leadership, not bending the knee in politically uncomfortable fights, and taking big challenges and focusing on &#8220;producing results,” which &#8220;ends up attracting more people to want to be on your team and so that was not something that was happening throughout the rest of the country.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
WATCH: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) explains why Republicans underperformed in the midterms<a href="https://t.co/Shd3itkppP">pic.twitter.com/Shd3itkppP</a>
&mdash; Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) <a href="https://twitter.com/CurtisHouck/status/1598501963431288833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
TRANSCRIPT:
<blockquote>RON DESANTIS, FLORIDA GOVERNOR (R): Some of my folks were like, &#8216;Governor, this is not a red wave.&#8217; I was like, &#8216;What are you talking about? This is not a red wave. This is a 20 point. When have we ever seen that?&#8217; They&#8217;re like, &#8216;No, no, no. Florida is a big win. But the rest of the country, we are not seeing really good performance from a lot of these Republicans.’ They&#8217;re like, ‘It doesn&#8217;t look like we&#8217;re going to be able to win the Senate, the House is going to be very close.’
You know, we assumed we were going to end up with like, 245 House members, we&#8217;re at 222 it looks like, which is a huge underperformance. And so, you know, the question is, is, you know, why did that happen? Because the way these midterms work, someone gets elected to the White House, and then there&#8217;s a reaction the other way, that&#8217;s what happens almost every two years and especially when people are pessimistic about the direction of the country, have a negative view on Biden, usually those voters are going to want to vote for people that are offering an alternative. And yet some of those voters throughout the country, not in Florida, but throughout the country, even though they disapproved of Biden, even though they disapproved of the direction of the country. They still didn&#8217;t want to vote, you know, for some of our candidates.
So, I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s a question of necessarily being divided as a party, I think it&#8217;s like, okay, how do you run and win majorities, and I think what we&#8217;ve done in Florida is we&#8217;ve shown that we&#8217;ve exercised leadership, we&#8217;ve not kowtowed, we&#8217;ve been willing to take on big interests &#8230; producing results, and that ends up attracting more people to want to be on your team — and so that was not something that was happening throughout the rest of the country. But I think that we really showed, I think, how it&#8217;s done in the state of Florida, and if you look about how we performed, no governor, Republican, has ever gotten a higher percentage of the vote in Florida history than we got in 2022.</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-conservative-polling-firm-desantis-now-more-popular-with-trump-voters-than-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top Conservative Polling Firm: DeSantis Now More Popular With Trump Voters Than Trump</a>

US-ISRAEL-POLITICS-REPUBLICANS

DeSantis Explains Why Republicans Failed To Deliver Red Wave During Midterms

2022 Midterms

Elections

Politics

Editor’s Note: The original image attached to this article was in error, and has been replaced.
A federal judge sentenced a former <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida</a> tax collector to 11 years in prison on Thursday for sex trafficking a 17-year-old female and other criminal offenses.
Joel Greenberg, a former Seminole County tax collector, was accused of several crimes, including stalking a political opponent, public corruption, creating fake licenses, and plotting to submit false claims for a federal loan.
Greenberg pleaded guilty to six federal crimes, including identity theft, stalking, wire fraud, and conspiracy to bribe a public official.
“Nothing justifies my actions,” Greenberg said before U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell in an Orlando courtroom, according to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-florida-congress-government-and-politics-d657eda08a857f4c0a07d293bb109308" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Associated Press</a>. “My conduct is so shameful. I feel remorse for what I’ve done.”
Greenberg further issued a list of apologies in court — to the minor, the people of Seminole County, and his parents, children, and ex-wife.
“I deserve punishment no matter how long that may be,” he said, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/01/us/politics/matt-gaetz-confidant-greenberg-sentence.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a>.
The New York Times reported that Greenberg initially faced up to 30 years in prison for several crimes, including trafficking a 17-year-old girl, stalking a political rival, and stealing $400,000 in taxpayer money to buy cryptocurrencies and sports memorabilia.
However, federal authorities reduced his sentence in exchange for cooperation with the government, which led to investigations of 24 people, including eight for sex crimes.
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who had ties with Greenberg, was probed by federal investigators after allegations were made that he paid for sex with a minor in violation of federal sex trafficking laws.
Gaetz has repeatedly denied the allegations, claiming they were part of an extortion plot from “people at the Department of Justice.”
Sources familiar with the investigation of Gaetz reported last month that prosecutors informed their superiors that they would not be pursuing charges against the representative in connection with a sex-trafficking investigation that has been ongoing since 2020.
Prosecutors argued that the charges would be dropped because Greenberg and another central witness in the case have questionable credibility.
Greenberg, a former associate of Gaetz, allegedly tried to smear the Republican congressman, similar to other accusations he made against politicians.
Judge Presnell said, “He has provided substantial cooperation to the government — more than I’ve seen in 22 years.”
“In 22 years, I’ve never experienced a case like this,” Judge Presnell said. “I have never seen a defendant who has committed so many different types of crimes in such a short period.”
Defense attorney Fritz Scheller said Greenberg’s cooperation brought four federal indictments, with more expected to come soon.
Scheller also reportedly requested to the judge that Greenberg only get a portion of the sentencing, arguing that his client had changed since committing the crimes.
“Mr. Greenberg was using money and sex to get access to political circles,” Scheller said. “He came from a dark place, a lack of self-worth, and tried to ingratiate himself with a collection of people.”
U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida described Greenberg as a “hardened criminal who never did the job he was elected to,” according to The New York Times.
“He was not deterred when he found himself under criminal investigation,” Handberg said, according to The New York Times. “He was not deterred when he was brought into this building.”

judge’s traditional wooden gavel on white background & shadow detail

Former Florida Tax Collector Sentenced To 11 Years For Child Sex Trafficking

Child Sex Abuse

Matt Gaetz

Sex Trafficking

Tampa Police issued an arrest warrant this week for former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-tampa-bay-wide-receiver-antonio-brown-exits-field-shirtless-after-removing-shoulder-pads-jersey-mid-game">was released by</a> the team last season when he left during a game, for an alleged domestic violence situation.
The incident happened Monday when the 34-year-old got into an argument with his ex-fiancée that escalated to the point where he allegedly threw a shoe at her.
The dispute occurred at the residence where the ex-fiancée lives &#8220;with the couple&#8217;s four children and one of Brown&#8217;s unrelated teenage sons,&#8221; Fox 13 Tampa Bay <a href="https://www.fox13news.com/news/former-buccaneer-antonio-brown-faces-domestic-violence-accusation-in-tampa">reported</a>.
&#8220;The suspect exited the residence and threw a shoe at the victim striking her in the ponytail,&#8221; the police report stated. &#8220;The victim had no injuries but believed the shoe was meant for her head.&#8221;
Law enforcement attempted to execute the arrest warrant Thursday at his home in South Florida, but Brown refused to come outside, and police have since left without making the arrest, according to local media.
&#8220;The suspect would not open the door or come outside to speak with officers,&#8221; the police report added. &#8220;The suspect also during this incident attempted to issue an informal eviction to the victim.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/TampaPD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TampaPD</a> attempted to serve an arrest warrant on former <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bucs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bucs</a> WR Antonio Brown at his South Tampa home for domestic violence. He refused to come out. Police have since left without him. He is believed to still be in the house. See quoted tweet for accusations. <a href="https://t.co/duF3pfNook">https://t.co/duF3pfNook</a> <a href="https://t.co/17dtOAOtvf">pic.twitter.com/17dtOAOtvf</a>
&mdash; Aaron Mesmer FOX 13 (@AaronMesmer) <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronMesmer/status/1598392280070901760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
WFTS Tampa Bay reported that the arrest warrant comes after Tampa Police were &#8220;denied a temporary ex parte risk protection order for Brown&#8221; this week in connection with the alleged dispute with his ex-fiancée.
The extreme risk protection order claims that Brown &#8220;poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to him or herself or others in the near future and beyond by having a firearm or any ammunition in their custody or control or by purchasing, possessing, or receiving a firearm or any ammunition.&#8221;
Police said in the protection order that Brown &#8220;was involved in a recent act or threat of violence against themselves or others; was engaged in an act or threat of violence, including but not limited to acts or threats of violence against themselves, within the past 12 months; may be seriously mentally ill or may have recurring mental health issues; has used or threatened to use, against themselves or others, any weapons; and has been arrested for, convicted or, had adjudication withheld, or pled nolo contendere to a crime involving violence or a threat of violence in Florida or in any other state.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nfl-wide-receiver-antonio-brown-responds-to-controversial-video-of-him-allegedly-exposing-himself-to-a-woman">NFL Wide Receiver Antonio Brown Responds To Controversial Video Of Him Allegedly Exposing Himself To A Woman</a>

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v New York Jets

Police Issue Arrest Warrant For Antonio Brown

Domestic Violence

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The state of <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida</a> will divest $2 billion from <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/blackrock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BlackRock</a> due to the asset management company’s efforts to advance the environmental, social, and governance movement, also known as <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/esg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESG</a>.
Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis announced that the Florida Treasury “will be taking its business elsewhere” for $1.4 billion worth of long-term securities and $600 million worth of short-term overnight investments by the beginning of next year. The official contended that the mission to “change the world” promoted by BlackRock CEO Larry Fink exposes the state’s resources to risks.
“Whether stakeholder capitalism, or ESG standards, are being pushed by BlackRock for ideological reasons, or to develop social credit ratings, the effect is to avoid dealing with the messiness of democracy. I think it’s undemocratic of major asset managers to use their power to influence societal outcomes,” Patronis remarked in a <a href="https://myfloridacfo.com/news/pressreleases/details/2022/12/01/cfo-jimmy-patronis-florida-treasury-divesting-from-blackrock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>. “Using our cash, however, to fund BlackRock’s social-engineering project isn’t something Florida ever signed up for.”
The divestment appears to be the largest such effort among other Republican state governments, that have recently pulled funds from prominent asset managers over concerns that the companies’ voting priorities, such as pressuring portfolio companies to transition away from fossil fuels, constitute the mismanagement of public assets. In addition to divestments from South Carolina, Louisiana, Missouri, West Virginia, and Utah, the government of Texas said that BlackRock and nine other firms had <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/texas-cuts-ties-with-blackrock-other-woke-firms-over-their-hatred-for-fossil-fuels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">violated</a> state law by “refusing to deal with” companies involved in the production and use of fossil fuels “without an ordinary business purpose.”
As the efforts from conservative state officials and broader concerns from the marketplace made headlines, Fink recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/blackrock-makes-major-change-after-backlash-against-woke-investing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that institutional clients would be able to vote their shares rather than allow the firm to operate as a proxy. BlackRock has taken “voting action on climate issues” against dozens of its portfolio companies, according to an investment stewardship <a href="https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/literature/publication/our-commitment-to-sustainability-full-report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a>, leading other officials to note that such activism might work against their state economies and could <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/state-attorneys-general-move-to-block-vanguards-climate-crusade-from-impacting-public-power-grids" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raise nationwide energy prices</a>.
“The more effective we are in investing dollars to generate a return, the more effective we’ll be in funding priorities like schools, hospitals and roads,” Patronis added. “I need partners within the financial services industry who are as committed to the bottom line as we are — and I don’t trust BlackRock’s ability to deliver.”
Patronis cited a letter from Fink arguing that access to capital is a “privilege” rather than a right.
“As Florida’s CFO I agree wholeheartedly, so we’ll be taking Larry up on his offer,” Patronis continued. “There’s no lack of companies who will invest on our behalf, so the Florida Treasury will be taking its business elsewhere.”
As macroeconomic headwinds persist, BlackRock is far from the only entity to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/virtue-signaling-isnt-free-how-woke-investing-fell-apart-once-the-economy-got-bad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suffer</a> from ESG investments, which have underperformed over the past year largely due to overexposure to the technology sector and wholesale avoidance of fossil fuel investments. Harvard Management Company, which oversees the elite university’s endowment, reported a $2.3 billion loss in the most recent fiscal year and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/harvard-university-endowment-loses-2-3-billion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">admitted</a> that efforts to achieve net zero emissions through oil and gas divestment “weighed upon performance,” even though the organization remains “proud to be deeply engaged in the issue of sustainability.”

BlackRock offices in New York City. Founded in 1988,

Florida Pulling $2 Billion From BlackRock As Company Pushes ‘Social-Engineering’ With Taxpayer Dollars

Florida Pulling $2 Billion From BlackRock

BlackRock

Economy

Freshman quarterback Jalen Kitna of the University of Florida Gators was booked into a county jail Wednesday on ten felony complaints involving child pornography.
Local media <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/gators/2022/11/30/florida-gators-jalen-kitna-arrest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> sheriff and court records show authorities arrested Kitna and booked him into the Alachua County Jail on second-degree felony complaints, which accuse the college football player of possession with the intent to promote child pornography.
Florida law says evidence of possession with intent to promote includes having three or more copies of a video, photograph, or other representation.
University of Florida officials released the following statement after Kitna&#8217;s arrest.
&#8220;We are shocked and saddened to hear of the news involving Jalen Kitna,&#8221; the statement read, according to <a href="https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-jalen-kitna-arrested-wednesday-statement-child-pornography" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sports Illustrated</a>. &#8220;These are extremely serious charges, and the University of Florida and the UAA have zero tolerance for such behavior.&#8221;
&#8220;Jalen has been suspended indefinitely from the football program.&#8221; the statement added.
Gainesville Police Department told a local <a href="https://mycbs4.com/news/local/uf-quarterback-jalen-kitna-accused-of-possessing-child-pornography" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS affiliate</a> that a search warrant with the Internet Crimes Against Children was served at 2308 SW 38th Drive #6 after receiving a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a Discord user distributed an image of child sexual abuse material.
Authorities said Kitna was arrested for two counts of child exploitation material and three counts of possession of child pornography.
Kitna, a three-star recruit who was listed as 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, is the son of NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, who played for the Bengals, Lions, Seahawks, and Cowboys during his career.
Before authorities arrested Kitna, the college athlete played four games this season as a redshirt sophomore. He completed 10 of his 14 passes for 181 yards and scored a touchdown against Eastern Washington in his debut game.
Kitna was a member of the University&#8217;s 2021 recruiting class.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 25 Florida at Florida State

Florida Gators Quarterback Jalen Kitna Booked On Multiple Complaints Of Child Pornography, Possession With Intent To Promote

Child pornography

College Football

University of Florida

<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/disney" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Disney</a> CEO Bob Iger remarked during a town hall event with employees that he desires to advance social causes in a more subdued fashion after the entertainment conglomerate publicly battled Republican <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida</a> Gov. <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/ron-desantis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ron DeSantis</a> earlier this year.
The company’s board of directors recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/reeling-disney-fires-ceo-as-woke-culture-blamed-for-stock-plunge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">restored</a> Iger, who previously served as chief executive for 15 years, to his former job and removed would-be successor Bob Chapek from the top position. Chapek <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-florida-house-votes-to-strip-disney-world-of-its-self-government" target="_blank" rel="noopener">positioned</a> Disney against legislation in Florida that prohibits instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity for students between kindergarten and third grade, ultimately causing the iconic company to lose trust among many consumers.
In <a href="https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1597683598496526338?s=46&amp;t=0RXDRW0hEZgecbqiTPMTmA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">footage</a> obtained by Manhattan Institute fellow Christopher Rufo, Iger claimed that the social issues favored by Disney are not inherently political, yet appeared to recognize that pushing Left-wing values has created backlash in the marketplace. “I think that some of the subjects that have proven to be ‘controversial’ as it relates to Disney have been branded political, and I don’t necessarily believe they are,” he said. “Do I like the company being embroiled in controversy? Of course not. It can be distracting and can have a negative impact on the company. To the extent that I can work to quiet things down, I’m going to do that.”
&#8220;I think it is important to put in perspective what some of these subjects are and not just simply brand them political,&#8221; he added.
The pivot from Iger, who is reportedly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-ex-disney-ceo-bob-iger-near-top-of-bidens-ambassador-wishlist" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more Left-leaning</a> in his personal politics than Chapek, comes after “Strange World,” an animated film featuring a homosexual teenage romance, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/animated-gay-teen-romance-film-is-woke-disneys-latest-box-office-bomb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fizzled</a> at the box office during what should have been a strong holiday weekend opening. “Lightyear,” the latest installment in the highly popular “Toy Story” franchise, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gay-kiss-included-woke-toy-story-spinoff-lightyear-struggles-at-box-office?%3Futm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=dwtwitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">featured</a> a same-sex kiss and likewise struggled at the box office.
Shares for Disney have fallen nearly 40% since the beginning of the year, while the Dow Jones Industrial Index has declined more than 7% over the same period. Among other concerning metrics, Disney reported a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-subscriptions-at-ultra-woke-disney-slow-to-a-crawl-after-company-loses-left-wing-political-battles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">significant slowdown</a> in new domestic subscriptions for flagship streaming service Disney+ after leaping into the fray of contentious social issues.
Iger expressed regret that Disney <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-florida-ending-disneys-special-privileges-has-other-woke-ceos-scared" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost</a> special regulatory and tax privileges after it opposed a parental rights in education bill. “I was sorry to see us dragged into that battle, and I have no idea exactly what its ramifications are in terms of the business itself,” he continued. “What I can say is that the state of Florida has been important to us for a long time, and we have been very important to the state of Florida.”
Florida lawmakers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-florida-house-votes-to-strip-disney-world-of-its-self-government" target="_blank" rel="noopener">created</a> a special economic zone for Disney called the Reedy Creek Improvement District in 1967, reportedly saving the company tens of millions of dollars per year. A bill ending the district, which is home to Disney World and other attractions, overwhelmingly passed the state legislature and was signed by DeSantis.
When asked specifically about the parental rights legislation, Iger affirmed that “LGBTQ employees” at Disney are “very important to us” and noted that the company would continue promoting “inclusion” in its work. However, he cited a “delicate balance” between telling stories and “listening” to audience members. “It’s important to have respect for the people that you’re serving, that you’re trying to reach, and not have disdain for them,” he said.
Disclosure: The Daily Wire has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/videos/introducing-dw-kids">announced plans</a> for kids entertainment content.

Collage Maker-29-Nov-2022-10.54-PM

New Disney CEO Says Company Will ‘Quiet Things Down,’ Regrets Predecessor Battled DeSantis

Disney CEO Will 'Quiet Things Down' After Political Controversies

Movies

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