An ISIS-affiliated human smuggling network has facilitated the entry of more than 400 immigrants from Central Asia into the United States, according to government officials who spoke with NBC News. The officials said over 50 of these immigrants are currently at large within the country and their whereabouts are unknown.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has classified these immigrants as “subjects of concern.” Recently, DHS has intensified its scrutiny of migrants originating from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, citing ISIS-K’s activity in these countries.
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) allowed the 400 immigrants into the country several months ago without realizing their ties to the ISIS-affiliated smuggling network. The migrants were not on the terror watch list upon entry.
More than 150 of the immigrants have been arrested, with some facing deportation. However, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to search for over four dozen individuals, intending to apprehend them on immigration charges once their locations are confirmed.
A senior Biden administration official informed NBC News that new evidence linking some of these immigrants to ISIS has prompted officials to exercise caution. The administration aims to mitigate potential risks by using its authority expansively and appropriately.
When asked about the initial report, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas called the reporting “incorrect.”
“We do not have identified 400 people with potential ISIS ties,” Mayorkas said. “And let me again assure you that individuals who are identified to have those ties would pose a concern to us from a public safety and security perspective, and they would be priorities for detention and removal.”
Earlier this month, Straight Arrow News reported that authorities detained eight suspected terrorists with possible ties to ISIS in major U.S. cities. Federal sources said that all eight individuals underwent thorough vetting and were subsequently released into the U.S. after crossing the southern border in 2023 and 2024.
FBI Director Christopher Wray issued a warning to Congress in March, emphasizing the escalating terrorist threats facing the nation.
“I believe the terrorist threat level we’re currently contending with is at a whole other level from the already heightened threat we were seeing even before Oct. 7,” Wray said. “We’ve witnessed a veritable rogue gallery of foreign terrorist organizations calling for attacks against the U.S. in ways we haven’t seen in a long time.”
Tags: Border crossings, Christopher Wray, Department of Homeland Security, Georgia, Immigration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Isis, Joe Biden, Russia, Tajikistan, Terrorism, Terrorist Attack, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S.-Mexico Border
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
AN ISIS-AFFILIATED HUMAN SMUGGLING NETWORK BROUGHT MORE THAN 400 IMMIGRANTS FROM CENTRAL ASIA TO AMERICA – GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TOLD NBC NEWS.
AND NOW MORE THAN FIFTY OF THEM ARE AT LARGE IN THE U.S. — THEIR WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN.
THE OFFICIALS SAID DHS CONSIDERS THESE IMMIGRANTS “SUBJECTS OF CONCERN.”
RECENTLY, DHS HAS BEEN LOOKING INTO MIGRANTS WHO’VE COME FROM TAJIKISTAN, UZBEKISTAN, MOLDOVA, GEORGIA, KYRGYZSTAN, RUSSIA AND GEORGIA AS OFFICIALS SAY ISIS-K HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN THESE COUNTRIES.
OFFICIALS SAY – U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION ALLOWED THE 400 IMMIGRANTS INTO THE COUNTRY MONTHS AGO BEFORE KNOWING THEY WERE TIED TO THE ISIS-AFFILIATED SMUGGLING NETWORK. ADDING THE MIGRANTS WERE NOT ON THE TERROR WATCH LIST,
SO FAR — MORE THAN 150 OF THEM HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND SOME EVEN DEPORTED. ICE IS STILL SEARCHING FOR MORE THAN FOUR DOZEN OF THEM AND PLANS TO ARREST THEM ON IMMIGRATION CHARGES ONCE THEY’RE FINALLY LOCATED.
A SENIOR BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TOLD NBC NEWS – NEW INFORMATION CONNECTING SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS TO ISIS IS LEADING OFFICIALS TO TAKE EXTRA CARE “AND OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION MAKE SURE THAT WE EXERCISE OUR AUTHORITY IN THE MOST EXPANSIVE AND APPROPRIATE WAY TO MITIGATE RISK BECAUSE OF THIS POTENTIAL CONNECTION BEING MADE.”
EARLIER THIS MONTH, STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS REPORTED ON THE FACT THAT AUTHORITIES HAD DETAINED EIGHT SUSPECTED TERRORISTS WITH POSSIBLE TIES TO ISIS IN MAJOR U.S. CITIES.
FEDERAL SOURCES SAID ALL EIGHT INDIVIDUALS WERE “FULLY VETTED AND RELEASED INTO THE U.S.” AFTER CROSSING THE SOUTHERN BORDER IN 2023 AND 2024.
FBI DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY WARNED CONGRESS IN MARCH OF GROWING TERROR THREATS FACING THE U.S.
(CHRISTOPHER WRAY / FBI DIRECTOR)
“I BELIEVE THE TERRORIST THREAT LEVEL THAT WE’RE CONTENDING WITH RIGHT NOW IS AT A WHOLE NOTHER LEVEL FROM AN ALREADY HEIGHTENED TERRORIST THREAT LEVEL WE WERE ALREADY SEEING, EVEN BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH. AND I SAY THAT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. FIRST, YOU’VE SEEN A VERITABLE ROUGE GALLERY OF FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS CALLING FOR TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST US IN A WAY WE HAVEN’T SEEN IN A LONG, LONG TIME.”
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
FOR SAN, I’M LT.
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A report by the the nonprofit Governors Highway Association on Tuesday, June 25, found that the number of pedestrians killed by motor vehicles has increased over the past five years. In 2023, 7,318 pedestrians were killed in crashes, a 14% rise from 2019, according to the newly released findings.
The nonprofit blames Americans’ love of bigger vehicles, like SUVs and trucks, an uptick in speeding over the years, and lack of pedestrian-friendly roads and sidewalks. The association said that the problem was made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, citing a decline in traffic enforcement as more speeding occurred among drivers, and an increase in alcohol use.
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In the first half of 2020, the study showed that pedestrian deaths jumped 20% from the previous year. That trend continued into 2021 and reached a 40-year high in 2022.
The study also shows that alcohol isn’t just a problem for drivers. In 2022, around 30% of deaths involved a pedestrian whose blood alcohol level was above the legal limit to drive, while 19% of deadly crashes involved a driver who had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit.
However, the study did find that deaths among pedestrians killed by drivers dropped 5% in 2023 and so far, pedestrian deaths are down 3% in 2024.
The Governors Highway Safety Association said that the decrease in fatalities could be because of things like increased police presence, automatic enforcement tech and better road design that is friendlier to pedestrians.
However, the group said that there is much more work to be done.
The report recommends additional steps to keep pedestrians safe. Some of the proposals involve better street designs for pedestrians and enhanced enforcement of traffic laws by law enforcement.
Researchers said that pedestrians killed by drivers rose nearly 77% from 2010 to 2022.
Tags: Alcohol, COVID-19, Death, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Police, United States
[KARAH RUCKER]
A NEW REPORT REVEALS WALKING DOWN THE STREETS OF AMERICA HAS BECOME DEADLIER FOR PEDESTRIANS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
IN 2023, MORE THAN 7300 PEDESTRIANS WERE KILLED IN CRASHES– A 14% INCREASE FROM 2019, ACCORDING TO FINDINGS FROM THE GOVERNOR’S HIGHWAY SAFETY ASSOCIATION.
THE NONPROFIT PARTLY BLAMES AMERICANS LOVE OF BIGGER VEHICLES, AN UPTICK IN SPEEDING, AND LACK OF PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY ROADS.
THE ASSOCIATION SAID THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
CITING A DECLINE IN TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AS MORE SPEEDERS TOOK TO THE EMPTY ROADS AND ALCOHOL USE ROSE.
IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2020, PEDESTRIAN DEATHS JUMPED 20%.
THE TREND CONTINUED INTO 2021 AND REACHED A 40-YEAR HIGH IN 2022.
THE STUDY ALSO SHOWS ALCOHOL ISN’T JUST A PROBLEM FOR DRIVERS.
IN 2022, AROUND 30% OF DEATHS INVOLVED A PEDESTRIAN WHOSE BLOOD ALCOHOL WAS ABOVE THE LEGAL LIMIT FOR DRIVING– 19% INVOLVED A DRUNK DRIVER.
ONE POSITIVE FINDING, WALKERS KILLED BY DRIVERS DROPPED FIVE PERCENT LAST YEAR AND SO FAR THIS YEAR THE NUMBERS ARE DOWN THREE PERCENT.
GHSA SAYS THE DECREASE COULD BE DUE TO THINGS LIKE INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE, AUTOMATIC ENFORCEMENT TECH AND BETTER ROAD DESIGN– BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.
THE GROUP RECOMMENDS ADDITIONAL STEPS TO MAKE WALKERS SAFER.
LIKE MORE STREET DESIGNS WITH PEDESTRIANS IN MIND AND INCREASED ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFIC LAWS.
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In an incident that drew international criticism, a Palestinian civilian was tied to the hood of an Israeli military jeep. Footage from the West Bank shows Mujahid Abadi tied to the front of an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) vehicle, and U.S. officials said it appeared troops were using him as a human shield. In response, the U.S. is pushing the IDF to conduct a swift investigation.
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“It was shocking,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. “The practice was absolutely unacceptable. Humans should never be used as human shields. The IDF should swiftly investigate what happened, hold people accountable. I saw the statement they put out that the actions were inconsistent with the orders those soldiers received, that it is being investigated and the people involved will be dealt with accordingly. That is absolutely appropriate.”
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Speaking from a hospital bed, Abadi recounted the events. He said his day quickly became worse when he stepped outside to check on his uncle’s neighborhood in the West Bank city of Jenin. After seeing a Facebook post about a military presence, he found soldiers nearby. Almost immediately, he was shot in the arm and foot. Hours later, IDF troops bound him to the jeep.
Initially labeled a suspected militant by the Israeli military, IDF officials later found that Abadi was caught in crossfire and was not a threat. The military claimed they secured Abadi to the hood of a jeep to transport him to paramedics.
However, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the army had blocked the area, delaying paramedic access to the wounded for at least an hour. Dashboard camera footage shows the jeep passing two ambulances. Abadi reported being tied to the jeep for about half an hour before being released to paramedics.
In response, the IDF said the soldiers’ actions were inconsistent with their orders and what is expected. The IDF announced that it has launched an investigation.
Meanwhile, Palestinians said this is another example of harsh Israeli tactics employed during conflicts in the occupied West Bank, which have escalated since the war in Gaza began on Oct. 7.
Despite a 2005 Supreme Court ban by Israel, rights groups report that the military continues to use Palestinians as human shields.
Tags: Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Matthew Miller, Palestine, State Department, West Bank
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
IN A DISTURBING INCIDENT THAT HAS DRAWN INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM, WE’RE HEARING DIRECTLY FROM A PALESTINIAN CIVILIAN WHO WAS TIED TO THE HOOD OF AN ISRAELI MILITARY JEEP AFTER WHAT STARTED AS A ROUTINE MORNING THAT QUICKLY SPIRALED INTO A HORRIFYING ORDEAL IN THE WEST BANK.
WARNING: SOME VIEWERS MAY FIND THIS VIDEO DISTURBING.
THE US CRITICIZED UNSETTLING FOOTAGE FROM THE WEST BANK SHOWING MUJAHID ABADI, TIED TO THE FRONT OF AN I-D-F VEHICLE. OFFICIALS SAYING IT APPEARED TROOPS WERE USING HIM AS A HUMAN SHIELD.
NOW THE U-S IS PUSHING THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES TO CONDUCT A SWIFT INVESTIGATION.
MATTHEW MILLER
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON
“It was shocking. The practice was absolutely unacceptable. Humans should never be used as human shields. The IDF should swiftly investigate what happened, hold people accountable. I saw the statement they put out that the actions were inconsistent with the orders those soldiers received, that it is being investigated and the people involved will be dealt with accordingly. that is absolutely appropriate.”
[lauren taylor]
SPEAKING FROM A HOSPITAL BED, ABADI RECOUNTED THE TRAUMATIC EVENTS.
ABADI SAYS HIS DAY TURNED DIRE QUICKLY WHEN HE STEPPED OUTSIDE TO CHECK ON HIS UNCLE’S NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE WEST BANK CITY OF JENIN. AFTER SEEING A FACEBOOK POST ABOUT A MILITARY PRESENCE, HE FOUND SOLDIERS NEARBY. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, HE WAS SHOT IN THE ARM AND FOOT. HOURS LATER, HE BLOODIED AND BOUND TO THE JEEP.
INITIALLY LABELED A SUSPECTED MILITANT BY THE ISRAELI ARMY, IDF OFFICIALS FOUND THAT ABADI WAS CAUGHT IN I-D-F CROSSFIRE WITH MILITANTS AND NOT A THREAT.
THE MILITARY CLAIMED THEY SECURED ABADI TO THE HOOD OF A JEEP TO TRANSPORT HIM TO PARAMEDICS.
HOWEVER A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PALESTINIAN RED CRESCENT SOCIETY SAID THE ARMY HAD BLOCKED THE AREA, DELAYING PARAMEDIC ACCESS TO THE WOUNDED FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR.
DASHBOARD CAMERA FOOTAGE SHOWS THE JEEP PASSING TWO AMBULANCES. ABADI HIMSELF REPORTED BEING TIED TO THE JEEP FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR BEFORE BEING RELEASED TO PARAMEDICS.
IN RESPONSE, THE IDF SAID THE SOLDIERS’ ACTIONS WERE INCONSISTENT WITH THEIR ORDERS AND WHAT IS EXPECTED. ANNOUNCING IT HAD LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION.
MEANWHILE, PALESTINIANS SAY THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HARSH ISRAELI TACTICS EMPLOYED DURING CONFLICTS IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK — WHICH HAVE ESCALATED SINCE THE WAR IN GAZA BEGAN ON OCTOBER 7.
DESPITE A 2005 SUPREME COURT BAN BY ISRAEL — RIGHTS GROUPS REPORT THAT THE MILITARY CONTINUES TO USE PALESTINIANS AS HUMAN SHIELDS.
I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.
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The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with the Biden administration in a lawsuit over pressure to take down social media posts deemed to contain misinformation, striking down a lower court’s ruling from Murthy v. Missouri. This case stems from critiques over the government’s handling of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The lawsuit alleged the Biden administration went too far in asking platforms to moderate content. Challengers said the government wrongly pressured the companies to regulate posts.
In July 2023, a Louisiana-based U.S. district judge barred officials from “communication of any kind with social-media companies urging, encouraging, pressuring or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression or reduction of content containing protected free speech.”
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The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later narrowed the scope of the injunction, but still required the White House, FBI and top health officials not to “coerce or significantly encourage” social media companies to remove content the Biden administration considered misinformation.
In a 6-3 vote Wednesday, June 26, the justices ruled the individuals and the two states that brought the lawsuit — Louisiana and Missouri — did not have the legal standing to seek an injunction against the Biden administration. The court noted the “platforms had independent incentives to moderate content and often exercised their own judgment.”
THE U-S SUPREME COURT HAS SIDED WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IN A LAWSUIT OVER PRESSURE TO TAKE DOWN SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS DEEMED TO CONTAIN MISINFORMATION.
IT STEMS FROM POSTS MADE ABOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
THE LAWSUIT ALLEGED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WENT TOO FAR IN ASKING PLATFORMS TO MODERATE CONTENT, CHALLENGERS SAYING THE GOVERNMENT WRONGLY PRESSURED THE COMPANIES TO REGULATE POSTS.
LAST JULY, A LOUISIANA-BASED U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE BARRED OFFICIALS FROM “COMMUNICATION OF ANY KIND WITH SOCIAL-MEDIA COMPANIES URGING, ENCOURAGING, PRESSURING, OR INDUCING IN ANY MANNER THE REMOVAL, DELETION, SUPPRESSION, OR REDUCTION OF CONTENT CONTAINING PROTECTED FREE SPEECH.”
THE 5TH U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS LATER NARROWED THE SCOPE OF THE INJUNCTION — BUT STILL REQUIRED THE WHITE HOUSE, F-B-I AND TOP HEALTH OFFICIALS NOT TO QUOTE “COERCE OR SIGNIFICANTLY ENCOURAGE” SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES TO REMOVE CONTENT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERED MISINFORMATION.
IN A 6 TO 3 VOTE – THE JUSTICES RULED THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE TWO STATES – LOUISIANA AND MISSOURI – THAT BROUGHT THE LAWSUIT DID NOT HAVE THE LEGAL STANDING TO SEEK AN INJUNCTION AGAINST THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
THE COURT NOTING THE “PLATFORMS HAD INDEPENDENT INCENTIVES TO MODERATE CONTENT AND OFTEN EXERCISED THEIR OWN JUDGMENT.
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In a move that impacts potentially thousands of former U.S. service members, President Joe Biden pardoned all those convicted of violating a now-repealed ban on consensual gay sex. The action, which comes as Pride month winds down, grants a pardon to service members convicted under the uniform code of military justice’s former article 125, which criminalized sodomy.
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The law had been in place since 1951. Congress rewrote it in 2013 to ban only forcible acts.
Those covered by the pardon will be able to apply to get proof their conviction has been erased, petition to have their discharges from the military upgraded and move to recover lost pay and benefits.
In a statement, the president said he was “righting a historic wrong.”
The White House estimates the change will impact several thousand service members, with the majority convicted before the military instituted the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 1993. It allowed LGBTQ troops to serve, as long as they did not disclose their sexual orientation. That policy was repealed in 2011 when Congress allowed for their open service in the military.
Tags: Air Force, Coast guard, LGBTQ, LGBTQ Rights, Marine Corps, Navy, Sexual orientation, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. military
[KARAH RUCKER]
IN A MOVE THAT IMPACTS POTENTIALLY THOUSANDS OF FORMER U-S SERVICE MEMBERS… PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS PARDONED ALL THOSE CONVICTED OF VIOLATING A NOW-REPEALED BAND ON CONSENSUAL GAY SEX.
THE ACTION – WHICH COMES AS PRIDE MONTH WINDS DOWN – GRANTS A PARDON TO SERVICE MEMBERS WHO WERE CONVICTED UNDER THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE’S FORMER ARTICLE 125 — WHICH CRIMINALIZED SODOMY.
THE LAW HAD BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 19-51.
IT WAS REWRITTEN IN 20-13 TO BAN ONLY FORCIBLE ACTS.
THOSE COVERED BY THE PARDON WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY TO GET PROOF THEIR CONVICTION HAS BEEN ERASED… PETITION TO HAVE THEIR DISCHARGES FROM THE MILITARY UPGRADED… AND MOVE TO RECOVER LOST PAY AND BENEFITS.
IN A STATEMENT – THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WAS “RIGHTING A HISTORIC WRONG”.
THE WHITE HOUSE ESTIMATES SEVERAL THOUSAND SERVICE MEMBERS WILL BE IMPACTED… WITH THE MAJORITY CONVICTED BEFORE THE MILITARY INSTITUTED THE “DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL” POLICY IN 19-93 WHICH ALLOWED L-G-B-T-Q TROOPS TO SERVE AS LONG AS THEY DIDN’T DISCLOSE THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
THAT POLICY WAS REPEALED IN 20-11 — WHEN CONGRESS ALLOWED FOR THEIR OPEN SERVICE IN THE MILITARY.
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The Paris Olympics are a month away and while much of the focus is on sewage in the River Seine, Congress is talking about doping. The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on what members contend are failures of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
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To shine a light on the conversation, lawmakers brought Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps.
“I witnessed firsthand the pervasive uncertainty and the suspicions surrounding doping,” the 23-time gold medalist said. “The hardest part was seeing athletes achieve seemingly impossible feats, knowing the immense effort and sacrifices required to reach these heights cleanly.”
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Members on both sides of the aisle accused WADA of unevenly applying its rules to athletes from different countries.
Lawmakers pointed to an incident involving swimmers from China at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Before the Games, 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance but 13 of them ultimately competed in the Olympics.
According to Chinese officials, the athletes tested positive “after inadvertently being exposed to the substance through food/environment contamination as a result of TMZ detected in the kitchen” of their hotel.
WADA accepted the explanation from officials, and 11 of those athletes are scheduled to compete again in Paris.
“How many more Olympic athletes have to lose out on winning medals and proudly singing their country’s national anthem before the World Anti-Doping Agency decides to enforce these rules uniformly,” Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., said.
WADA was invited to testify but did not show.
“It’s really outrageous that WADA does not have the courage or integrity to show up and defend itself here tonight. WADA should be protecting clean sport and not hiding from accountability,” Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., said.
“Some of [the swimmers] were tested on two or even three occasions on consecutive days,” WADA stated in a six-page document. “For several swimmers, the results varied from negative to positive within a few hours, which is not compatible with a doping scenario of deliberate ingestion nor with micro-dosing.”
The CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency cast doubt on that explanation.
“TMZ is a controlled prescription medication, it’s prohibited all the time,” U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart said. “The default sanction is four years. It doesn’t magically appear, fairy dust in a kitchen.”
Tygart suggested assigning an independent prosecutor who can look at the evidence and athlete’s individual files.
As for Phelps, the athlete who dedicated his life to reaching greatness, he wants rule breakers banned.
“If somebody does test positive, I would like to see a lifetime ban,” Phelps said. “If somebody is going out of their way to single handedly cheat, go, lifetime ban.”
The Paris Olympics are a month away and while much of the focus is on sewage in the River Seine,
Congress is talking about doping. The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on what members say are failures of the World Anti Doping Agency or WADA.
To shine a light on the conversation, lawmakers brought in a GOAT – Michael Phelps.
Michael Phelps, 23-time gold medalist: “I witnessed firsthand the pervasive uncertainty in the suspicions surrounding doping, // 20:59 The hardest part was seeing athletes achieve seemingly impossible feats, knowing the immense effort and sacrifices required to reach these heights cleanly.”
Members on both sides of the aisle accuse WADA of unevenly applying its rules to athletes from different countries.
Lawmakers focused on an incident involving swimmers from China at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Before the games, 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance; 13 of them ultimately competed in the olympics. They were given a pass because WADA accepted the explanation of Chinese officials that the athletes tested positive quote: “”… of their hotel.
11 of those athletes are about to compete again in Paris.
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-WA: “How many more Olympic athletes have to lose out on winning medals and proudly singing their country’s national anthem before the world. Anti Doping agency decides to enforce these rules, uniformly.”
WADA was invited to testify but did not show.
Rep. Frank Pallone, D-NJ: “It’s really outrageous that WADA does not have the courage or integrity to show up and defend itself here tonight, WADA should be protecting clean sport and not hiding from accountability.”
In a six page document explaining the incident, WADA said: Some of [the swimmers] were tested on two or even three occasions on consecutive days. For several swimmers, the results varied from negative to positive within a few hours, which is not compatible with a doping scenario of deliberate ingestion nor with micro-dosing.
The CEO of the US anti-doping agency cast doubt on that explanation.
Travis Tygart, US Anti-Doping Agency CEO: “TMZ is a controlled prescription medication, it’s prohibited all the time, it doesn’t magically appear fairy dust in a kitchen.”
Tygart suggested an independent prosecutor be assigned to the case who can look at the evidence and athlete’s individual files.
As for the athlete who dedicated his life to reaching greatness, he wants rule breakers banned.
Michael Phelps, 23-time gold medalist: “If somebody does test positive, I would just like to see a lifetime ban. If somebody is going out of their way to cheat, go, lifetime ban. “
We have more olympics coverage on the Straight Arrow News app, including a report about how the olympics were at one point for amateur athletes only, no pros allowed.
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The espionage trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is now underway in Russia, behind closed doors. Gershkovich appeared in a courtroom Wednesday morning, June 26, inside a glass cage before the proceedings began.
Wednesday’s hearing went on for over two hours. Afterwards, prosecutor Mikael Ozdoev made a brief statement. He said the case against Gershkovich had started and accused him of “performing illegal actions in secret.”
He is the first western journalist to be arrested on espionage in post-Soviet Russia.
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Gershkovich was arrested while reporting for the Wall Street Journal in March 2023, just weeks before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, accused of spying for the CIA.
The U.S. government, Wall Street Journal and Gershkovich himself all deny the allegations; the State Department has declared him “wrongfully detained.”
His trial is expected to last months. If convicted, Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison.
According to Russian state news agency TASS, Gershkovich’s next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 13.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the proceedings, telling TASS that it was necessary “to wait for the verdict that will be made.”
Tags: Counter-espionage, Evan Gershkovich, Journalism, Russia, Russian Defense Ministry, Wall Street Journal
[KARAH RUCKER]
THE ESPIONAGE TRIAL OF WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTER EVAN GERSHKOVICH IS NOW UNDERWAY IN RUSSIA — BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
GERSHKOVICH was seen IN A COURTROOM THIS MORNING BEFORE THE PROCEEDINGS BEGAN.
HE IS THE FIRST WESTERN JOURNALIST TO BE ARRESTED ON ESPIONAGE IN POST-SOVIET RUSSIA.
GERSHKOVICH WAS ARRESTED WHILE REPORTING FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL IN MARCH of 20-23 – ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR THE C-I-A.
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND GERSHKOVICH HIMSELF ALL DENY THE ALLEGATIONS —
WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT DECLARING HIM “WRONGFULLY DETAINED.”
HIS TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO LAST for MONTHS.
IF CONVICTED — GERSHKOVICH FACES UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON.
VOTE WITH THE UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.™
We promise you context and clarity when it matters the most!
Toys”R”Us is known for the slogan “I don’t want to grow up,” but now the toy brand is growing with the times. It used AI to make its latest promotional video.
Kim Miller, CMO of Toys“R”Us Creative Studios, told CNN that the concept originated after she attended a brand storytelling group. She shared with the host her desire to do something “fun” and “different” for their next project, which focused on the founder’s origin story.
The retail toy company used OpenAI’s text to video tool called Sora to create the video.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
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Toys”R”Us released the video at an advertising event in France, saying it is the first ever brand film created by the technology. While Sora is not yet publicly available, the toy chain partnered with creative agency Native Foreign, an early tester of the AI model.
[KARAH RUCKER]
FINALLY THIS MORNING – TOYS R US IS KNOWN FOR THE SLOGAN “I DON’T WANT TO GROW UP” – BUT NOW THE TOY BRAND IS “GROWING” WITH THE TIMES – USING AI TO MAKE ITS LATEST PROMOTIONAL VIDEO.
“Did you ever wonder how Toys R Us and Jeoffrey the Giraffe came to be? The son of a bike shop owner…change toy stores forever.”
THE RETAIL TOY COMPANY USED OPENAI’S TEXT TO VIDEO TOOL CALLED SORA (SORE-UH) TO CREATE THE VIDEO.
TOYS R US RELEASED THE VIDEO AT AN ADVERTISING EVENT IN FRANCE – SAYING IT IS THE FIRST EVER BRAND FILM CREATED BY THE TECHNOLOGY.
WHILE SORA IS NOT YET PUBLICLY AVAILABLE – THE TOY CHAIN PARTNERED WITH AN AGENCY WHO IS AN EARLY TESTER OF THE AI MODEL.
VOTE WITH THE UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.™
We promise you context and clarity when it matters the most!
Supreme Court to deliver rulings on presidential power, abortion, social media
The Supreme Court is set to issue rulings on several high-profile cases. And the closed-door trial for a Wall Street Journal reporter begins in Russia. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
SCOTUS to deliver rulings on presidential power, abortion, social media
It’s decision time at the Supreme Court. Over the next three days, the high court is set to deliver rulings on 14 argued cases — including high-profile ones on subjects like presidential power, abortion care and social media.
As President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump prepare for the first presidential debate on Thursday, June 27, the court is poised to deliver a ruling on Trump’s claims of “absolute immunity” from criminal prosecution. With Trump facing federal charges accusing of him of attempts to overturn the 2020 election, the court will decide if a former president can be prosecuted for “official acts” taken while in the White House.
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During oral arguments in April, the justices seemed open to the idea of some immunity for presidents when conducting official acts, while questioning what exactly falls under that category.
The Supreme Court will also tackle the legality of a felony obstruction charge used by the Justice Department against 300 people who stormed the capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. A former Pennsylvania police officer has challenged that charge — stemming from a law to prevent the destruction of evidence during financial crimes — which originated during the Enron accounting scandal.
The obstruction charge is one of four former President Trump faces in his federal election subversion case.
Then, for the first time since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the court will issue a ruling on state-level abortion restrictions. The question before the justices is whether doctors can perform abortions in medical emergencies despite a state’s strict near-total abortion ban.
The topic of social media is also on the docket. First, the Supreme Court will determine whether state laws restricting how social media platforms moderate content violate the First Amendment. In another case, the justices will decide whether the Biden administration violated the Constitution in its communication with social media companies to remove misinformation on COVID-19 and the 2020 election.
While the Supreme Court justices usually look to complete their work by the end of June, there is a possibility the opinions may continue to early July.
Wall Street Journal reporter’s espionage trial starts in Russia
The espionage trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is now underway in Russia behind closed doors. Gershkovich appeared in a courtroom the morning of Wednesday, June 26, inside a glass cage before the proceedings began.
He is the first western journalist to be arrested on espionage in post-Soviet Russia.
Gershkovich was arrested while reporting for the Wall Street Journal in March 2023, just weeks before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, accused of spying for the CIA.
The U.S. government, Wall Street Journal and Gershkovich himself all deny the allegations. The State Department has declared him “wrongfully detained.”
His trial is expected to last months. If convicted, Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange free after guilty plea
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange returned to his home country of Australia on Wednesday, June 26, a free man. He was released from U.S. custody after pleading guilty to violating espionage law.
As part of the deal with the Justice Department, Assange will get no more prison time since he already spent the last five years in a London prison fighting extradition to the U.S.
He had originally been facing 18 criminal charges relating to WikiLeaks’ release of sensitive information into the public domain, but only had to plead guilty to one charge as part of the agreement.
Judge partially lifts Trump gag order from New York criminal trial
The judge in former President Donald Trump’s New York criminal case has partially lifted a gag order put in place during the trial.
For the entire trial, Trump was barred from talking about potential witnesses, jurors, or court staff and their families. Now, the former president is allowed to comment publicly about witnesses and jurors.
The judge also left a separate order in place prohibiting Trump and his lawyers from disclosing the identities of jurors or their addresses.
In May, Trump became the first president to be convicted of a felony when the jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsified business records. He’s set to be sentenced July 11.
House committee to vote on holding Biden’s ghostwriter in contempt
The House Judiciary Committee plans to vote on a measure to hold President Biden’s ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer, in contempt of Congress. The vote stems from Zwonitzer refusing to hand over documents and other materials tied to his work on the president’s memoirs.
The vote is set for Thursday morning, just hours before Biden and Trump’s debate.
The resolution to hold Zwonitzer in contempt is expected to advance on party lines.
The White House on Tuesday called the vote an attempt “to harass and intimidate a private citizen.”
Results for New York, Colorado, Utah primary elections
Results are in for several states that held primary elections on Tuesday, June 25. In the most expensive congressional primary in history, incumbent Democratic Congressman Jamaal Bowman lost to George Latimer in New York’s 16th district.
Bowman became the first member of the progressive group in the House known as “the squad” to lose in the primaries this year. During the race, a pro-Israeli lobbying group spent nearly $15 million in efforts to stop Bowman, who had been critical of Israel’s operations in Gaza.
In Colorado, after switching districts, Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert won the House primary in the state’s 4th district. Boebert has previously received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.
And in Utah, Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, won the GOP primary to fill Mitt Romney’s open Senate seat. Curtis is favored to win in November since Utah has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1970.
Toys ‘R’ Us uses OpenAI’s Sora to create brand film
Toys”R”Us is known for the slogan “I don’t want to grow up,” but now the toy brand is growing with the times. It used AI to make its latest promotional video.
The retail toy company used OpenAI’s text to video tool called Sora to create the video.
Toys”R”Us released the video at an advertising event in France, saying it is the first ever brand film created by the technology. While Sora is not yet publicly available, the toy chain partnered with an agency that is an early tester of the AI model.
You can watch the full video here.
Tags: 2020 elections, 2024 Elections, Abortion, Artificial Intelligence, Australia, Capitol riots, Colorado, debate, Donald Trump, Election, Evan Gershkovich, France, gag order, House Judiciary Committee, Joe Biden, Lauren Boebert, Mitt Romney, New York, OpenAI, Presidential immunity, Roe v Wade, Russia, Supreme Court, trial, U.S. Department of Justice, Utah, Wall Street Journal
[KARAH RUCKER]
IT’S DECISION TIME AT THE SUPREME COURT. OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS THE HIGH COURT IS SET TO DELIVER RULINGS ON 14 ARGUED CASES INCLUDING HIGH-PROFILE ONES ON SUBJECTS LIKE PRESIDENTIAL POWER — ABORTION CARE — AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
AS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP PREPARE FOR THURSDAY’S FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE – THE COURT IS POISED TO DELIVER A RULING ON TRUMP’S CLAIMS OF “ABSOLUTE IMMUNITY” FROM CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
WITH TRUMP FACING FEDERAL CHARGES ACCUSING OF HIM OF ATTEMPTS TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION – THE COURT WILL DECIDE IF A FORMER PRESIDENT CAN BE PROSECUTED FOR “OFFICIAL ACTS” TAKEN WHILE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
DURING ORAL ARGUMENTS IN APRIL – THE JUSTICE SEEMED OPEN TO THE IDEA OF SOME IMMUNITY FOR PRESIDENTS WHEN CONDUCTING OFFICIAL ACTS – WHILE QUESTIONING WHAT EXACTLY FALLS UNDER THAT CATEGORY.
THE SUPREME COURT WILL ALSO TACKLE THE LEGALITY OF A FELONY OBSTRUCTION CHARGE USED BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AGAINST 300 PEOPLE WHO STORMED THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6, 2021.
A FORMER PENNSYLVANIA POLICE OFFICER HAS CHALLENGED THAT CHARGE – STEMMING FROM A LAW TO PREVENT THE DESTRUCTION OF EVIDENCE DURING FINANCIAL CRIMES – WHICH ORIGINATED DURING THE ENRON ACCOUNTING SCANDAL.
THE OBSTRUCTION CHARGE IS ONE OF FOUR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP FACES IN HIS FEDERAL ELECTION SUBVERSION CASE.
THEN — FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ROE V. WADE WAS OVERTURNED — THE COURT WILL ISSUE A RULING ON STATE-LEVEL ABORTION RESTRICTIONS.
THE QUESTION BEFORE THE JUSTICES IS IF DOCTORS CAN PERFORM ABORTIONS IN MEDICAL EMERGENCIES DESPITE A STATE’S STRICT ABORTION NEAR-TOTAL BAN.
AND THE TOPIC OF SOCIAL MEDIA IS ALSO ON THE DOCKET: FIRST — THE SUPREME COURT IS DETERMING WHETHER STATE LAWS TO RESTRICT HOW SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS MODERATE CONTENT VIOLATE THE FIRST AMENDMENT. AND IN ANOTHER CASE – THE JUSTICES WILL DECIDE WHETHER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION IN ITS COMMUNICATION WITH SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES TO REMOVE MISINFORMATION ON COVID-19 AND THE 2020 ELECTION.
WHILE THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES USUALLY LOOK TO COMPLETE THEIR WORK BY THE END OF JUNE – THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THE OPINIONS MAY CONTINUE TO EARLY NEXT WEEK.
THE ESPIONAGE TRIAL OF WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTER EVAN GERSHKOVICH IS NOW UNDERWAY IN RUSSIA — BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
GERSHKOVICH APPEARING IN A COURTROOM WEDNESDAY MORNING INSIDE A GLASS CAGE BEFORE THE PROCEEDINGS BEGAN.
HE IS THE FIRST WESTERN JOURNALIST TO BE ARRESTED ON ESPIONAGE IN POST-SOVIET RUSSIA.
GERSHKOVICH WAS ARRESTED WHILE REPORTING FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL IN MARCH 20-23 — JUST WEEKS BEFORE RUSSIA LAUNCHED ITS FULL-SCALE INVASION OF UKRAINE — ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR THE C-I-A.
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND GERSHKOVICH HIMSELF ALL DENY THE ALLEGATIONS
WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT DECLARING HIM “WRONGFULLY DETAINED.”
HIS TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO LAST MONTHS.
IF CONVICTED — GERSHKOVICH FACES UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON.
VOTE WITH THE UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.™
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This week on Weapons and Warfare, the focus is on battlefield innovation. Host Ryan Robertson visits with the team at Building Momentum to see how they’re showing the modern warrior how to make the most of what they have available. Teaching lessons learned from Iraq, Afghanistan, and even today in Ukraine, see how innovation continues to have a place in the battlespace.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
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Also featured in this episode:
- U.S. military officials provide an update on the V-22 and a timeline for its return to unrestricted service.
- The Marines head to the islands to hone their skills in austere environments.
- The Air Force joins the AI chatbot race.
- Weapon of the Week: A British tank sets a new standard in testing trials.
You can subscribe to the Weapons and Warfare podcast on the platform of your choosing here.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
HELLO AND WELCOME TO THIS EDITION OF WEAPONS AND WARFARE, FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS I’M YOUR HOST RYAN ROBERTSON.
ON TAP THIS WEEK, IF, AS THE SAYING GOES, NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION, THEN THE PEOPLE BEHIND A COMPANY CALLED BUILDING MOMENTUM ARE THE TEACHERS OF INVENTION. SEE HOW THEY’RE FOCUSED ON EQUIPPING THE MODERN WARFIGHTER WITH THE SKILLS TO INNOVATE ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
AND WE’RE GOING ACROSS THE POND TO SEE HOW THIS TANK IS SETTING A NEW STANDARD AS OUR WEAPON OF THE WEEK.
BUT FIRST, SOME HEADLINES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED.
ONE YEAR AT THE EARLIEST. THAT’S WHEN THE HEAD OF NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND SAYS THE DOD’S BELEAGUERED V-22 OSPREY COULD BE CLEARED TO RESUME UNRESTRICTED FLIGHT.
[VICE ADM. CARL CHEBI]
“I will not certify the V-22 to return to unrestricted flight operations until I’m satisfied we have sufficiently addressed the issues that may affect the safety of the aircraft. Based on the data that I have today, I’m expecting that this will not occur until mid-2025.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
TESTIFYING DURING A HOUSE OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING…
CHEBI SAID THOSE INVOLVED ARE LOOKING AT MATERIAL AND NON-MATERIAL CHANGES THAT WOULD ALLOW THE V-22 TO RETURN TO MISSION STATUS WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS.
RIGHT NOW THOSE RESTRICTIONS INCLUDE ONLY FLIGHTS WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF A SUITABLE DIVERT AIRFIELD. ALL OF THIS IS IN THE WAKE OF FOUR OSPREY CRASHES IN THE SPAN OF 19 MONTHS–RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF 20 SERVICE MEMBERS.
THE V-22 ENTERED SERVICE IN 1989. IN 2010 THE MARINE CORPS IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRCRAFT’S HARD CLUTCH. THE VICE ADMIRAL TESTIFIED THOSE PROBLEMS WERE MITIGATED, BUT WON’T BE ELIMINATED UNTIL AN ONGOING REDESIGN OF THE SYSTEM IS COMPLETED.
[TRANSITION]
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
WE’VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW AMERICAN MILITARY LEADERSHIP IS ADAPTING TO WHAT THEY SEE AS THE WAY FUTURE CONFLICTS WILL BE FOUGHT.
RECENTLY THE MARINE CORPS PUT SOME OF THOSE CONCEPTS TO THE TEST DURING WHAT IT CALLED DISTRIBUTED AVIATION OPERATIONS EXERCISE 24, WITH ANDROS ISLAND, BAHAMAS FILLING THE ROLE OF A REMOTE OUTPOST IN PLACES LIKE THE INDO-PACIFIC. BASICALLY CONDUCTING OPERATIONS FROM AN AUSTERE LOCATION.
[CAPT. JOSIAH RICKE]
“When we’re out here at the, you know, in our tech in the Bahamas, trying to train where we don’t have the full maintenance support, we don’t have the full capabilities, we don’t have even the same working radio or computer networks, things like that, that were that we’re always familiar with. I think this is good, because it makes you think about how you’re able to get your point across, get your message across and eventually get ordinance to the right time in place.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
IT’S ALL PART OF WHAT THE MARINE CORPS IS CALLING FORCE DESIGN…
A RESTRUCTURING PLAN TO RESHAPE COMBAT POWER FOR FUTURE NEAR-PEER ADVERSARY CONFLICTS. THE GOAL IS FOR THE MARINES TO MODERNIZE EQUIPMENT, WORK CLOSER WITH THE NAVY, AND BECOME MORE OF A LIGHT STRIKE FORCE
[TRANSITION]
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
AND FINALLY, THE AIR AND SPACE FORCES ENTERED THE A-I CHAT SPACE.
FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, MILITARY LEADERSHIP DOESN’T WANT OFFICIAL BUSINESS DONE WITH COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE A-I SERVICES, THINK CHAT G-P-T,
NOW, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN.
THE AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY RECENTLY LAUNCHED NON-CLASSIFIED INTERNET PROTOCOL GENERATIVE PRE-TRAINING TRANSFORMER OR, THANKFULLY, NIPR (Nipper) G-P-T.
IT’S AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CHATBOT THAT CAN INTERACT IN A “HUMAN-LIKE” MANNER, HELPING AIRMEN AND GUARDIANS WITH COMMUNICATIONS, TASK COMPLETION, AND ONLINE CODING ON A SECURE SYSTEM. THIS ISN’T A MILITARY FIRST, THE NAVY AND D-O-D ALREADY HAVE SIMILAR SERVICES.
[TRANSITION]
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
IF YOU’VE BEEN IN THE WORKFORCE LONG ENOUGH–
ODDS ARE YOU TOOK SOME ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AT SOME POINT.
MAYBE YOUR COMPANY SWITCHED TO A NEW SOFTWARE PROGRAM…OR YOU WERE PROMOTED AND NEEDED NEW SKILLS.
YOU PROBABLY SPENT TIME WITH COLLEAGUES IN THE SAME BOAT AS YOU… SO YOU CAN ALL GO BACK TO YOUR JOBS WITH A LITTLE MORE KNOWLEDGE AND KNOW-HOW THAN YOU HAD BEFORE–
AND MAYBE SOME MORE CONFIDENCE TOO.
IN THE WORLD OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS THOUGH…WHERE ON-THE-JOB-TRAINING IS A CONSTANT…SOME OF THE BEST TECHNOLOGIES, AND THE INSIGHTS IN HOW TO BEST USE THEM…DON’T ALWAYS MAKE IT TO THE FRONTLINES.
AND THAT’S WHERE BUILDING MOMENTUM COMES IN…A SMALL BUSINESS WITH A BIG IDEA–TRAIN TIP-OF-THE-SPEAR OPERATORS HOW TO USE TOP-OF-THE-LINE TECH IN THE MOST OUT-OF-THE WAY PLACES.
[WEAPONS AND WARFARE THEME MUSIC]
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
U-S GENERAL JOHN PERSHING–THE COMMANDER OF US EXPEDITIONARY FORCES IN EUROPE DURING WORLD WAR I SAID INFANTRY WINS BATTLES…LOGISTICS WINS WARS.
IN A MILITARY SENSE–LOGISTICS IS BASICALLY GETTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND EQUIPMENT IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME…AND MAKING SURE BOTH WORK WHEN THEY ARRIVE.
BUT IN THE WORLD OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS…WHERE OPERATORS ARE OFTEN DEPLOYED IN SMALL TEAMS, COVERTLY INTO HOSTILE FOREIGN TERRITORIES…
IT’S NOT LIKE YOU CAN JUST RADIO HQ FOR MORE SUPPLIES…IN THOSE SITUATIONS–IT’S A RACE TO THE CLEVER.
[BRAD HALSEY]
We want them to be able to go into the, you know, Radio Shack of Morocco and figure that stuff out.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
AS THE CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF BUILDING MOMENTUM…IT’S BRAD HALSEY’S JOB TO MAKE SURE HIS CLIENTS CAN NOT JUST RUN THE RACE…BUT WIN IT.
HE WAS A SPECIAL OPERATOR IN THE NAVY AND SERVED IN IRAQ BEFORE BEING INJURED
[BRAD HALSEY]
And then that surgery went bad. And so I was a disabled veteran. And so after that, I was like, you know what? I want to use my brain instead of my broken body to make a living.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
SO HE DID. HALSEY WORKED FOR RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND THINK TANKS, DEVELOPING WHAT HE SAYS WERE SOME AMAZING TECHNOLOGIES.
[BRAD HALSEY]
And so this was, you know, post-September 11. We were in Iraq, we were in Afghanistan. And I was just really frustrated that all the technologies I was working on for DARPA, for the agency, for you know, all these organizations, none of that was actually going anywhere, it was just going on to the Raiders of the Lost Ark, you know, like warehouse shelves.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
IN 2008, HALSEY SPENT A YEAR IN IRAQ–LEARNING FIRSTHAND WHAT SOLDIERS FIGHTING ON THE EDGE NEEDED TO WIN.
[BRAD HALSEY]
I had a lab in Baghdad that I made a lot of technology and solutions from, that I pushed out all across the country.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
FROM ITS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN BAGHDAD…BUILDING MOMENTUM IS NOW AT THE FOREFRONT OF GIVING SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES THE UNIQUE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING THEY NEED TO COMPLETE COVERT MISSIONS IN THE MODERN WORLD–
LIKE 3-D PRINTING A SPARE PART IN THE FIELD OR BUILDING AERIAL DRONES WITH STICKS.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
Looking at your your client list. I mean, SOCOM, JSOC, Rangers, EOD, Space Force, I mean, Airborne, you guys are helping to train, like, at the edge. You’re helping to equip folks at the edge.
[BRAD HALSEY]
Yeah, so today, we’ve trained almost 10,000 service members across every organization except for Coast Guard. Because you guys know what you did. No, because just we haven’t stumbled across that yet. And Ukraine is sort of validating all the stuff that we’ve been doing for almost 10 years now.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
STUFF LIKE PROTOTYPING NEW DESIGNS ON THE FLY–USING WHAT’S AVAILABLE AT THAT MOMENT.
[BRAD HALSEY]
you know, how do you go out onto the economy and build a drone in Thailand? You know, how do you do this stuff with what you have around you? What can you what can you resource and source very fast to make that solution?
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
BUILDING MOMENTUM OFFERS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT IBCs FOR ITS CLIENTS…OR INNOVATION BOOT CAMPS.
THE INITIAL WEEKLONG COURSE IS MORE OF AN INTRODUCTION TO THINGS LIKE 3D PRINTING, ROBOTICS, CIRCUITRY, CODING…FROM THERE, BUILDING MOMENTUM TAILORS THE INSTRUCTION TO THE CLIENTS.
[BRAD HALSEY]
So we’ll listen to what they’re saying. Like recently, we just did autonomous boats out in Japan, because the the Marine Corps saw what Ukrainians were doing, they saw how, you know, the South China Sea is a really important thing to understand right now. And so we built, we showed them how to build these 12 foot boats that autonomously go out and drop sensors off, and come back to shore all you know, on their own right
[CHRIS SARGEANT]
In my opinion, that’s where that’s where building momentum shines is that tailoring of the courses.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
CHRIS SARGEANT IS A NEWLY RETIRED US MARINE. HE JUST GOT OUT WITH 20 YEARS AND TWO DAYS. HE SPENT THE LAST PART OF HIS SERVICE DOING A FELLOWSHIP WITH BUILDING MOMENTUM.
HE SAYS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THE COMPANY DOES FOR ITS CLIENTS–IS CHALLENGING NOT JUST HOW THEY APPROACH A PROBLEM–
BUT THEIR ENTIRE THOUGHT PROCESS AROUND IT.
[CHRIS SARGEANT]
12:47 As a Marine, especially in you know, the, the more complicated MOS is like explosive ordnance disposal, which I I’m an EOD tech, by trade, or in the Special Operations community. MARSI, Rangers, Green Berets, I came from MARSOC it failure is looked at very negatively, right? So if you fail, you failed, right? By getting the back in the line, you can try again later, right? Them enabling you to fail, fail fast and learn from it and view it as a positive thing, in my opinion, is, is huge, right?
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
CHRIS SAYS IT’S HIS HOPE THIS WAY OF THINKING–OF TRYING NEW SOLUTIONS AND FAILING FAST– PERMEATES INTO THE RANKS OF THE REGULAR MILITARY..AT LEAST TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
CHRIS AND BRAD BOTH SAY IF THE CONCEPTS BUILDING MOMENTUM TEACHES COULD BE MORE INGRAINED INTO THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF OUR MILITARY AS A WHOLE…IT WOULDN’T JUST BENEFIT SPECIAL OPERATORS…BUT THE ENTIRE FIGHTING FORCE.
[BRAD HALSEY]
Let’s imagine we push everything out to the right, and we’re going into some crazy, you know, a post apocalyptic thing, or whatever, it’s still going to be all these clever solutions that people will be doing, because all the big toys will be broken, all the big things will be done, all the satellites will be down or name a thing, you know, name some horrible thing. And now it’s going to be a race to the clever, it’s always going to be a race to the clever and technology has made it so accessible,
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
WHILE BUILDING MOMENTUM MAY BE A VETERAN OWNED SMALL BUSINESS THAT WORKS WITH SOME OF THE MOST ELITE WARRIORS ON THE PLANET….
THEY DO CORPORATE EVENTS TOO…AND THERE ARE SOME BOOT CAMPS COMING UP THIS SUMMER AND FALL WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE PART BY BUYING A SEAT IN THE CLASS AS WELL…MIGHT JUST HAVE TO SCHEDULE A TEAM BUILDING RETREAT FOR THE GUYS HERE AT THE SHOW.
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[WEAPONS AND WARFARE THEME]
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
FOR OUR WEAPON OF THE WEEK WE ARE HEADING ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO CHECK OUT THE BRITISH ARMY’S CHALLENGER 3 BATTLE TANK. A BULLY THAT’S SETTING SOME NEW STANDARDS FOR TANK WARFARE.
LIKE IT’S NAME IMPLIES THE CHALLENGER 3 IS THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF THE CHALLENGER 2 MAIN BATTLE TANKS THE BRITS HAVE BEEN USING SINCE 1998. WITH THAT EVOLUTION COMES SOME SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES. NOTABLY IN FIREPOWER. MORE ON THAT IN A MOMENT, BUT FIRST HERE ARE SOME PERTINENT DETAILS.
WEIGHING 66 TONS, AND BUILT FOR A CREW OF FOUR, THE CHALLENGER 3 IS MADE BY RHEINMETALL BAE SYSTEMS LAND, YES THAT IS A MOUTHFUL, IN TELFORD ENGLAND. THE BRITISH ARMY IS DUE TO RECEIVE EIGHT PROTOTYPES, AND EVENTUALLY FIELD A FLEET OF 147 TANKS. THE CHALLENGER 3 COMES EQUIPPED WITH AN ALL NEW TURRET, AN IMPROVED HULL. AND IMPROVED ARMOR.
OF COURSE THE MAIN FEATURE IS THE 120 MM L-55-A-1 SMOOTHBORE HIGH PRESSURE GUN. VERY IMPRESSIVE SOUNDING, BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
WELL, WHEN PAIRED WITH THE LATEST 120MM DM-73 AMMUNITION IT NOW CHECKS IN WITH AN ENGAGEMENT RANGE OF UP TO 5,000 METERS.
FOR THOSE OF US NOT YET ON THE METRIC SYSTEM, THAT’S A LITTLE MORE THAN THREE MILES! A STAT THAT’S NOT LOST ON THE TROOPS THAT WILL BE TRAINED TO TAKE IT INTO COMBAT IF THE NEED ARISES.
[COL. WILLIAM WAUGH]
“In terms of the lethality, we’re pairing the latest 120 millimeter smoothbore gun, high pressure gun, and we’re pairing that with the most lethal ammunition available, so this will be one of the most lethal tanks in here.
All of this is capped off with a new set of sets of sighting systems that allows us to direct that authority with with much greater precision 24 hours a day, and overall whole capability is total step change to what we currently have We challenge you to.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
SO WHAT CAN PEOPLE ON THE BUSINESS END OF THIS BEAST EXPECT? THE CHALLENGER 3 CAN FIRE THE LATEST ARMOR-PIERCING FIN-STABILIZED DISCARDING SABOT ROUNDS, HIGH-EXPLOSIVE ANTI-TANK ROUNDS, AND PROGRAMMABLE AIRBURST MUNITIONS. THAT VERSATILITY ALLOWS CREWS TO ENGAGE A WIDE VARIETY OF TARGETS.
AND IF YOU’RE THINKING YOU WANT ONE FOR WEEKEND OUTINGS WITH THE BOYS, BETTER START SAVING NOW. WELL EQUIPPED IT’S GOING TO COST YOU A COOL $5 MILLION PER.
[TRANSITION]
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
IN THIS WEEK’S COMM CHECK WE’VE GOT AN UPDATE ON A COMPANY WE FEATURED PREVIOUSLY ON ‘WEAPONS AND WARFARE’’, EPISCI.
IN MARCH THEY WERE A PART OF OUR DEBRIEF ON A-I PILOTS AND THEIR GROWING ROLE IN EVERY BRANCH’S BATTLE PLANS FOR FUTURE CONFLICTS.
IN MAY THEIR AUTONOMY ALGORITHMS WERE ON BOARD THE X-62-A VISTA, A MODIFIED F-16-D, THAT THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE, FRANK KENDALL TOOK FOR A RIDE. HE WANTED TO EXPERIENCE FOR HIMSELF AN AIRCRAFT THAT USES MACHINE LEARNING AND SPECIALIZED SOFTWARE TO FLY AUTONOMOUSLY.
WHICH BRINGS US TO EARLIER THIS MONTH WHEN WE RECEIVED BATTLING PRESS RELEASES ANNOUNCING EPISCI IS BEING ACQUIRED BY MERLIN, ANOTHER DEVELOPER OF AUTONOMOUS FLIGHT TECHNOLOGY. THE BOSTON-BASED MERLIN SAYS THE ACQUISITION WILL SOLIDIFY ITS POSITION AS A LEADER IN THE AUTONOMOUS AVIATION INDUSTRY. NO WORD YET ON HOW MUCH MERLIN IS PAYING TO ACQUIRE EPISCI, OR IF THE CALIFORNIA BASED COMPANY WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE UNDER THE SAME NAME.
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ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS SHOW ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE CONTRIBUTORS.
[TRANSITION]
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
TIME NOW FOR THIS WEEK’S WRAP AND THIS ONE HITS A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME, BECAUSE IT DEALS WITH A MAN WHO CALLED HIMSELF A JOURNALIST. LET ME SET THE STAGE A LITTLE BIT. IN EARLY JUNE, ISRAELI SPECIAL FORCES RESCUE FOR ISRAELI HOSTAGES IN GAZA, THREE MEN AND ONE WOMAN. THEY WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE BY HAMAS BACK ON OCTOBER 7 AND HELD FOR MONTHS. NOT IN TUNNELS OR TERRORISTS STRONGHOLDS, BUT IN THE HOMES OF SOME PEOPLE IN GAZA.THESE FAMILIES WERE KEEPING HOSTAGES FOR MONTHS, MERE FEET FROM WHERE THEIR KIDS SLEPT. AND BY ALL AVAILABLE ACCOUNTS SO FAR THE FAMILIES THAT WILLINGLY HELD THE HOSTAGES IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE THEY WERE FORCED.
ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES IS THE AL-JAMALS. THE PATRIARCH, AHMAD WAS A LOCAL PHYSICIAN AND PROMINENT MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. HIS SON ABDULLAH, A SUPPOSEDLY JOURNALIST FOR PALESTINIAN MEDIA, AND AHMAD’S BROTHER, A LAWYER FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN GAZA, WHICH IS HAMAS. AHMAD AND ABDULLAH WERE KILLED IN THE RESCUE OPERATION ALONG WITH A DOULAS WIFE A PHLEBOTOMIST AT A LOCAL HEALTH CLINIC.
BASED ON THE EVIDENCE COMING OUT AHMAD AND ABDULLAH AL-JAMAL WERE LIARS, TERRORISTS AND PROFESSIONAL FAILURES. AS A MEDICAL DOCTOR, AHMAD TOOK AN OATH TO FIRST DO NO HARM.
AS A JOURNALIST ABDULLAH’S JOB WAS TO REVEAL TRUTH, NOT HIDE PEOPLE. HE COULD HAVE USED HIS POSITION TO TELL FELLOW PALESTINIANS HAMAS IS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION HELL BENT ON CARRYING OUT A GENOCIDE EVEN IF IT MEANS THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS WILL DIE AND THEIR HOMES WILL BE DESTROYED.
BUT ABDULLAH WAS NOT A JOURNALIST. AT SOME POINT, HE CROSSED THE LINE AND NOW HE’S DEAD. HE’S DEAD BECAUSE WHEN HE CROSSED THAT LINE, HE STOPPED BEING A JOURNALIST AND BECAME A TERRORIST WILLING TO USE VIOLENCE AGAINST INNOCENT PEOPLE TO ENACT CHANGE. HE WAS COMPLICIT IN THE MURDER, RAPE, KIDNAPPING AND TORTURE OF INNOCENT PEOPLE.
BUT THERE WILL STILL BE THOSE IN THIS WORLD WHO LOOK AT PEOPLE LIKE ABDULLAH AL-JAMAL AND WILL EQUATE HIS ACTIONS WITH THOSE OF ALL JOURNALISTS PAINT HIM AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHY ALL JOURNALISTS SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED.
AT THE TIME I’M RECORDING THIS WRAP THE STORY IS FAIRLY NEW, BUT I CAN JUST IMAGINE HOW IT’S GOING TO BE PICKED UP AND PORTRAYED ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES AROUND THE WORLD. SO LET ME GO ON THE RECORD NOW AND SAY ABDULLAH AL-JAMAL WAS NOT A JOURNALIST. DESPITE HIM IDENTIFYING AS ONE. ABDULLAH AL-JAMAL WAS A TERRORIST.
JOURNALISTS REPORT FACTUAL INFORMATION WITHIN CONTEXT AND WITHOUT BIAS, PERIOD. ANYTHING ELSE IS NOT JOURNALISM. AND ANYONE CLAIMING TO BE A JOURNALIST, WHILE VIOLATING THESE PRINCIPLES IS NOT WHAT THEY CLAIMED TO BE. PERIOD. I HOPE THAT HELPS CLEAR UP SOME CONFUSION HOPEFULLY, BEFORE IT STARTS.
FOR SENIOR PRODUCER BRETT BAKER, VIDEO EDITOR BRIAN SPENCER AND GRAPHICS DESIGNER DAKOTA PETIO, I’M RYAN ROBERTSON WITH STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, SIGNING OFF.
VOTE WITH THE UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.™
We promise you context and clarity when it matters the most!