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Published by BANG Showbiz English Janelle Monáe says that her “queer identity” has an influence on her career. The 37-year-old star was the recipient of the SeeHer award a the Crtics’ Choice Awards on Sunday (16.01.23) – which is presented to a woman who advocates for gender equality – and reflected in her acceptance speech that she hopes to “shed light” on the “human experience” with her work. She said: “This is a deeply personal choice for me because I grew up to working-class parents. My mother was a janitor, my father was a trash man, and my grandmother was a sharecropper in Aberdeen, MS. “It’s personal because I am nonbinary. I am queer and my identity influences my decisions and my work. I have always believed that through storytelling, we are able to shed light on the human experience, and experience that most people around this world won’t get an opportunity to see. I kind of keep this glimmer of hope in my heart that when someone meets a character like the ones that I’ve had an opportunity to play, you be more empathetic to their experience, more empathy. You want to be more like them. You want to be more kind, less judgmental, more eager to advocate for them.” The ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ actress went on to add that before finding fame in music and on screen, there were “many times” when she was convinced she would never make it and “wasn’t supposed” to escape her native Kansas but was unable to see her “own gift.” She said: “There were many times, to sit up here, I know I am dressed up. All of that. But there were so many times in my life, y’all, where I couldn’t see me. I couldn’t see my light. I couldn’t see past my circumstances. “If you know my story, I wasn’t supposed to make it out of Kansas City and be here tonight. I wasn’t. I didn’t see the vision clearly for myself. I couldn’t see my gift. I couldn’t see what my purpose was supposed to be at that time. But thank you, god, so many other people did. They didn’t give up on me and they gave me opportunities despite my own lack of confidence. I was faking it until I made it. “To anyone out there like me watching right now, I just want you to know that I see you. Challenge you to see you. “Thank you to SeeHer and thank you to the Critics Choice Association for recognising me. I stand in the biggest puddle of gratitude and for making me the recipient of the 2023 SeeHer award. Thank you. “ View the full article

Published by AlterNet Over the years, for the most part, justices of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) have maintained amicable interpersonal relationships with one another. But after the reign of former president Donald Trump, and with an increasingly conservative Supreme Court panel of judges, that has changed. Steven Mazie, SCOTUS correspondent at The Economist, recently reflected on his last ten years of covering Supreme Court cases in an op-ed for The Atlantic, in which he highlights the drastic shift in the working relationship between the justices. Having observed oral arguments since 2013, Maz… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Controversial Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., reportedly scored big bucks donations from a New York real estate kingpin who is a cousin of a Russian oligarch and was once accused of being a go-between in the Stormy Daniels hush money deal. Santos, who admits lying about much of his life story, won $5,800 donations from Andrew Intrater and his wife, along with tens of thousands in donations to political action committees that backed his upset victory in a Long Island congressional district, the Washington Post reported Monday. Intrater, 60, is a cousin and close business associate of Russian oil bi… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Todd and Julie Chrisley gathered most of the family together for a last group dinner before the Chrisley Knows Best stars must report to prison. The reality television personalities are scheduled to turn themselves in on Tuesday, January 17, to serve out a combined 19 year sentence after being found guilty of various fraud and tax evasion charges last June. mega The Chrisleys were joined by several of their family members — including their son, Chase, and his fiancée, Emmy Medders, daughters Savannah and Chloe and Todd’s mother, Faye — for lunch at Taqueria del Sol in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, January 11. Todd sported a comfortable, all black, athleisure ensemble paired with matching sneakers. Chase was seen rocking a similarly casual look with a pair of black track pants and a white, long sleeve shirt. Meanwhile, Julie wore black plants and a leopard print top. mega The group was seen hugging and smiling as they arrived, before taking their spots in the outdoor seating area under a covered deck at the popular Mexican restaurant. Following their meal, Julie, Faye and Chloe — who the couple adopted from Todd’s son, Kyle, in 2017 — made a quick stop at Splendid Ice Cream for a sweet treat. mega The Chrisleys were also spotted out and about the next day on a trip to the post office. Todd and Julie were photographed walking into the building with Chloe, as well as their 16-year-old son, Grayson. However, the reality stars’ daughter, Lindsie, was notably absent from both sightings after accusing her father and brother of allegedly blackmailing her with a “sex tape.” As Radar previously reported, the 33-year-old claimed her father told her that he would leak the tape if she didn’t lie for him throughout his lengthy fraud cases. Lindsie contacted the FBI shortly after her parents were indicted in August 2019, stating she was “truly afraid” of some suggestive things that Chase had been posting online. Todd and Julie were later found guilty on all charges, including bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit tax evasion and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Todd was sentenced to 12 years behind bars, while Julie received only seven years. DailyMail was first to report the pictures of the Chrisley family outings. View the full article

Published by AFP Designer Anthony Vaccarello is bringing Saint Laurent back to the official line-up in Paris Paris (AFP) – The fashion juggernaut returns to Paris this week, with Saint Laurent rejoining the line-up and menswear on a hot streak, even if the industry remains wary of economic headwinds. The changing world of menswear is evident on red carpets around the world, where the likes of Timothee Chalamet and Harry Styles have helped redefine male style, ditching monochrome tuxedos in favour of daring outfits and bright colours. Just last week, Vogue declared that “the night belonged to menswear” at the Golden Globes, and stores have been reporting unprecedented growth in the sector for months. So the buzz is deafening around the menswear shows hitting Paris from Tuesday, boosted by the return of two big hitters in Saint Laurent on Tuesday’s opening night, and John Galliano’s Maison Margiela closing the week next Sunday. Saint Laurent has not presented a men’s show in the official calendar since Belgian designer Anthony Vaccarello took the reins in 2016, preferring one-off appearances in exotic locations such as Marrakesh and Venice. Succession talk In Milan last week — where fashion shows have not even finished as the industry caravan decamps for Paris — the talk was all about who would succeed flamboyant creative director Alessandro Michele at Gucci following his recent surprise departure. In Paris, the big unanswered question is who will take over at Louis Vuitton following the early death of Virgil Abloh in November 2021. The label got fashionista tongues wagging when it announced that Thursday’s show is being handled by wunderkind Colm Dillane, the man behind hot young Brooklyn label KidSuper — along with an accompanying film shot by French director Michel Gondry. While many are worried about the impact of possible recessions, tightening environmental regulations and inflationary costs, menswear is seen as a bright spot. “Saint Laurent, Gucci and Givenchy are working almost better in men’s than women’s at the moment,” said Alice Feillard, director of buying for Paris department store Galeries Lafayette. “We’ve been seeing this exponential growth for two or three years… It’s really taking off,” she added. ‘New field of expression’ Even men’s undies are gaining ground on the female market. Male underwear was up 3.3 percent in the first 10 months of 2022 to 400 million euros ($435 million), against 2.5 percent growth in women’s lingerie (to a still dominant 1.5 million euros), according to figures from the Salon International de la Lingerie, which is held in Paris this month. “Menswear has greatly evolved in recent years,” said luxury expert Serge Carreira of Sciences Po university. “It has created a major new field of expression, innovation and research for the houses.” Givenchy notably abandoned haute couture and took up menswear after the arrival in 2020 of US designer Matthew Williams, known for his luxury streetwear. They stage their catwalk show on Wednesday, with key rival Dior strutting out on Friday. One name that often comes up as a possible successor at Louis Vuitton is Grace Wales Bonner, who presents her own show on Tuesday. She is part of a growing trend of women designers who focus on dressing men, along with fellow Brit, Bianca Saunders. There is also excitement for the return of award-winning US designer Emily Bode, known for using recycled material, who stayed away from Paris during the pandemic. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine @britneyspears/Instagram Britney Spears is showing off her rebellious side! One day after being accused of having a concerning meltdown at a Los Angeles eatery, the pop star took to Instagram to show fans and followers how she really feels by flipping off the camera in her latest video. @britneyspears/Instagram The “Baby, One More Time” singer sported a strapless, white mini dress with neon yellow stripes and matching white boots as she posed, played with her hair and danced to “I Touch Myself” by Divinyls in the Saturday, January 14, clip. Later in the video, she could also be seen making heart shapes with her hands, touching up her makeup, scrunching up her face at the camera and flipping the bird. Earlier that day, Spears also shared a similarly empowering drawing of a woman sitting at a table along with the words: “They told me I couldn’t that’s why I did!” @britneyspears/Instagram This comes after OK! reported that patrons at popular, L.A. hotspot JOEY claimed they witnessed Spears acting strangely while dining out with hubby Sam Asghari on Friday, January 13. ‘I DON’T KNOW IF SHE’D BE ALIVE’: JAMIE SPEARS BELIEVES HE PROTECTED BRITNEY SPEARS BY PUTTING CONSERVATORSHIP IN PLACE The Grammy Award winner was allegedly shouting and speaking in gibberish until Asghari abruptly stood up and exited the venue, leaving Spears alone at the table. She was later seen covering her face with her menu — potentially to avoid cameras — while talking with a waiter. mega Fans have consistently voiced their concerns for the Princess of Pop, who has been worrying followers for months with her bizarre online behavior, from frequently posting nearly-nude snaps to her emoji-filled Instagram rants. FANS BEG FOR BRITNEY SPEARS TO RECEIVE A ‘WELFARE CHECK’ AFTER ELLEN DEGENERES REMINISCES ON POP STAR’S EARLY DAYS However, according to her husband, Spears is simply enjoying her life as a free woman following the November 2021 end of her highly controversial conservatorship. He also addressed the rumors that he is secretly controlling the “Gimme More” singer’s social media, confessing that he doesn’t blame his wife’s fans for being protective after what she’s been through. “Oh, man, in the past, there has been a lot of stuff going on, so I understand where they’re coming from,” he told paparazzi in a recent interview. “They’re just being protective. If anything, they’re being good fans.” View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Representative George Santos, who lied about much of his resume and life story, will be removed from Congress if found to have broken campaign finance laws, fellow Republican and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said on Sunday. “He’s a bad guy,” Comer said on CNN’s “State of the Union” program. “It’s not up to me or any other member of Congress to determine whether he can be kicked out for lying. Now, if he broke campaign finance laws, then he will be removed from Congress.” Santos has repeatedly refused to resign, even as pressure has grown within his own party for him to do so. On Thursday, he said he would vacate his New York City-area seat only if he loses the next election. More than a dozen Republicans officials, many of them from Santos’ district, which covers parts of Queens and Long Island, have demanded the resignation of the newly elected congressman. At least six of his fellow Republican representatives from New York have joined the calls for him to step down. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said he will leave Santos’ fate to the Ethics Committee and voters. Democratic Representative Dan Goldman said he wrote on Sunday to McCarthy, Representative Elise Stefanik, the Republican conference chairwoman, and Dan Conston, head of the Congressional Leadership Fund, a House Republican fundraising group, about a New York Times report that they were aware of Santos’ fabrications before the November election. He urged them to cooperate with any ethics investigation into the matter. “It is one thing for a candidate such as Mr. Santos to induce voters to support him based on a web of lies,” Goldman wrote in his letter. “But it is altogether something else if the top levels of Republican leadership knew about Mr. Santos’ lies during the campaign and chose to be complicit.” McCarthy, Stefanik’s office and the Congressional Leadership Fund did not immediately reply to requests for comment. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Steve Holland ATLANTA, Ga. (Reuters) -President Joe Biden told Americans to look towards Martin Luther King Jr.’s life for lessons on repairing their divisions, extremism and injustice, as he become the first sitting U.S. president to speak at a Sunday service in the civil rights leader’s church in Atlanta. Marking Monday’s national holiday celebrating King, Biden delivered a sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church at the invitation of its pastor, Democratic U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, centered on a common theme – the country and the world are battling against autocratic forces. “The fact is that I stand here at a critical juncture for the United States and the world in my view,” Biden said, calling it a “time of choosing.” “Are we a people who will choose democracy over autocracy,” Biden asked. “We have to choose a community over chaos. Are we the people going to choose love over hate? These are the questions of our time and the reason I am here.” King worked for voting rights, Biden said, but “we do well to remember that his mission was even deeper. It was spiritual. It was moral.” King often asked ‘Where do we go from here?’ Biden said. “My message to the nation on this day is we go forward. We go together.” Sunday would have been King’s 94th birthday. He was assassinated at age 39 in 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee, by avowed segregationist James Earl Ray. King was pastor of Ebenezer church from 1960 until his death. “The battle for the soul of this nation is perennial,” Biden said in his tribute to King. “It’s a constant struggle between hope and fear kindness and cruelty, justice and injustice.” Many presidents, including Biden, have visited Ebenezer to honor King, usually during events around the time of his birthday. But Biden was the first to speak from the pulpit at a regular Sunday service. King “reminds us that we are tied in a single garment of destiny, that this is not about Democrat and Republican, red, yellow, brown, black and white,” Warnock said earlier on Sunday. On Monday Biden will meet with civil rights advocate Al Sharpton in Washington, and speak to his group, the National Action Network. Biden is expected to announce his re-election bid in the weeks ahead. Biden was elected in 2020 with strong support from Black voters after pledging to do more to expand voting rights and address other racial justice issues. But some activist groups boycotted his 2022 speech honoring King, disappointed by what they see as his lack of action. (Reporting by Steve Holland; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Grant McCool) View the full article

Published by AlterNet Last Tuesday, Reuters congressional reporter Patricia Zengerle informed the American public that the new Republican majority in the United States House of Representatives eliminated a fifteen-year-old ban on smoking inside the Capitol. “So there’s indoor smoking on the House side of the Capitol now that the Republicans have taken control,” Zengerle tweeted. “Washington, D.C., law bans smoking in all indoor spaces, but it does not apply to the private offices of members of Congress, never has,” she explained. “So when you have a change in party control, and they move offices like they just did,… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story Tony Dungy is a prominent NFL analyst on NBC who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after a 13-year coaching career that included winning a Super Bowl. And he was a popular player before that. But as Cyd Zeigler, co-founder of Outsports.com in a two-part series this week, “Dungy (is) possibly the , raising money to fight against same-sex marriage, and since then publicly decrying the homosexuality of gay athletes and partnering with rabidly anti-gay organizations and individuals.” Zeigler noted that Dungy’s anti-LGBTQ reputation had been well-established before NBC hired him as a … Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News FIFA has penalized the Mexican Football Association over homophobic chants used by the team’s supporters in two World Cup matches last year. “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the Mexican Football Association with a fine of [$108,000],” soccer’s international governing body said in a statement Friday. Mexico was also ordered to play one match in a FIFA competition “behind closed doors,” or with no supporters allowed to attend. The sanctions are related to the breaching of article 13 of the organization’s disciplinary code during games against Poland and Saudi Arabia in Qatar, offi… Read More View the full article

Published by Taste of Country Maren Morris was a guest judge on Friday night’s (Jan. 13) episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race, offering her input as the 15 remaining competitors vied to make it through to the next round of the show. But she wasn’t just there to give her feedback on the drag queens’ looks, outfits and acting skills: As an ambassador from country music, Morris also took some time to address homophobia within the genre. The star sat down with the show’s contestants during a backstage segment called RPDR: Untucked, and apologized for any hate they feel from her fellow country performers. “Coming from country music an… Read More View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) In the early hours of the morning on 24 February, Natalie Vikhrov turned on the TV with bleary eyes to catch the tail end of Putin’s speech. Minutes later she heard the distant thud of explosions. “That whole night was a little tense, you could feel something was going to happen,” she said. Vikhrov is one of hundreds of Ukrainian journalists, braving bombs and bullets to report on the war tearing their country apart. Writing freelance, she focuses on human rights and marginalised groups, particularly Ukraine’s LGBT community, and has tried to gather stories from people living on the edge of th… Read More View the full article

Published by PsyPost A recent study on Canadian sex workers indicates that most are only active for brief periods of time and that currently active sex workers are part of a much larger inactive population. The findings have been published in the scientific journal PLOS One. “There is very, very little demographic research on the topic of sex work in industrialized democracies,” said study author Lynn Kennedy of the Sex Work Population Project (@SexWorkPopCA). “Nevertheless, many governments have implemented repressive and possibly dangerous policies to regulate the industry. The aim of this study was to fill in s… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Ryan Murphy is known for churning out TV titans, but the writer-director-producer’s list of credits is even lengthier than many realize. The mastermind behind hit shows “Glee,” “American Horror Story” and “Pose” got his start more than two decades ago with a teen series about socially opposite stepsisters and found similar success with a procedural drama about first responders. Murphy, 57, was honored at Tuesday’s Golden Globes with the fourth-ever Carol Burnett Award, which recognizes an artist’s contributions to the TV industry. Previous recipients include Burnett, Ellen DeGeneres and Norman… Read More View the full article

Published by Taste of Country Dolly Parton shared a thoughtful message in the wake of Lisa Marie Presley’s death on Thursday, Jan. 12. In a statement, which she shared to Facebook, Parton offers love to Priscilla Presley and addresses the late Elvis and Lisa Marie. “Priscilla, I know how sad you must be. May God comfort you at this time,” Parton writes in the post. “Elvis, I know how happy you must be to finally have her home and to have her back with you,” she adds. “Lisa Marie, may you rest in peace. We all love you.” Posted by Dolly Parton on Friday, January 13, 2023 Presley was rushed to the hospital earlier Thursda… Read More View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel With Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature angling to take control of it, Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District leaders met this week to discuss the future of Disney property, including the potential building of another major theme park by 2032. The 2032 Comprehensive Plan notes that “there are no plans under review” for the theme park developments, which could use about 850 acres of available space, but thedevelopment regulations nonetheless set a groundwork for land to be used that way. Len Testa, owner ofthe vacation planning website Touring Plans, attended the meeting. He… Read More View the full article

Published by Taste of Country Season 15 of RuPaul’s Drag Race is underway, and this Friday (Jan. 13) will bring an extra special episode for country fans: Maren Morris is the celebrity guest judge. Ahead of the full episode, fans can get a first look at Morris’ appearance on the show — including her dazzling outfit — right here on Taste of Country. Scroll down to see the country star posing on the set of the episode, complete with the show’s full-time judges. The Ru Paul’s Drag Race stage is a catwalk lit up in dazzling pink, with a background to match. In the photo, Morris poses in a skin-tight, pale pink gown with a slit… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine MEGA Remember Madonna and Tokischa‘s steamy smooch? The Dominican rapper agrees the lip-locking moment was pretty unforgettable, as she exclusively tells OK! the juicy details of her and the Queen of Pop’s multiple make out sessions. MEGA “She’s really fun. To kiss her is like the bisexual award of being gay,” the 26-year-old expresses of the time her and Madonna would frequently pucker up for kisses from one another in the months surrounding the release of their duet, “Hung Up On Tokischa.” The former model providesOK! insight on how her and the “Material Girl” singer’s fiery friendship came to light. “Madonna actually invited me to perform in her pride party that she had in New York. When we received the invitation, we asked her if we could do a piece of the show together. So I came up with the idea of having a remix for ‘Hung Up’ and she was on [board with] it,” Tokischa explains. @MADONNA/INSTAGRAM “She liked [the idea] and we did it and then we shot the video,” she continues to tell OK! in regard to filming sultry music video. While many artists would dream to work alongside the pop sensation, Tokischa confirms it was everything she could have ever imagined. “She’s a very sweet woman and she represents a lot of amazing things that are really inspiring. To have the chance to work with her and to get to know her, to hang out with her and to talk to her all the time … it’s really exciting. It’s really fun,” the “Linda” rapper reveals. Additionally, Tokischa completely supports Madonna’s provocative persona despite the A-lister’s constant disapproval from longtime fans. @MADONNA/INSTAGRAM “She been doing that her entire career, standing for herself, and you know, receiving the hate and all that … but she’s so strong and that’s so inspiring and, and she doesn’t care,” the Latin artist dishes to OK!. “She don’t give a f**k about what nobody has to say and that’s very inspiring,” Tokischa confesses. “I’ve been learning from her since before I met her because she’s such an icon. She’s a very open book.” “I will say that we are connected in that … in the attitude of not giving a f**k,” the rapper notes of her and Madonna’s prideful personalities. As for where the musical duo’s relationship stands today, Tokischa confirms her and Madonna still “keep in contact.” “I feel like for most of the artists that collaborate, it’s like we work and then it’s over and then onto the next. But there are very little artists that you actually keep connected to. In this case Madonna is one of them,” the celeb sweetly admits. Courtesy of Tokischa Beside her iconic duet with the award-winning singer, Tokischa closed out 2022 with fiery hit new single titled “Kilo,” in collaboration with The Martinez Brothers and an applauded performance with Drake. “It’s a passionate song about this girl who’s obsessed with her toxic boyfriend,” Tokischa explains of the track, noting the unfortunate frequency of the situation. As for what it was like to work with Drake, Tokischa spills, “It was nice of him to come to my show, and he is really nice person.” View the full article

Published by Raw Story Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis aimed a slapshot at the National Hockey League yesterday with a display of outrage over its plans to hold a South Florida summit promoting careers to members of “underrepresented communities.” The NHL is holding a career summit called Pathway to Hockey on February 2 in Fort Lauderdale. It stipulates that “Participants must be 18 years of age or older, based in the U.S., and identify as female, Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, and/or a person with a disability. Veterans are also welcome and encouraged to attend.” That was enough to … Read More View the full article

Published by PsyPost Heterosexual women prefer men who are taller and have broader shoulders, and consider them more masculine and better in fighting ability, according to new research published in Archives of Sexual Behavior. Additionally, while larger upper bodies boost attractive ratings for taller men, they don’t appear to have the same effect for shorter men. “Previous research has looked into indicators of bodily attractiveness in men and women, and has shown that two characteristics of men’s height and upper body size contribute to their perception of attractiveness, masculinity, dominance, fighting ability… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) is currently facing an onslaught of calls for his resignation amid incriminating reports that have uncovered his checkered past. Although more reports are coming to light now, a new analysis has revealed many well-connected Republicans were aware of Santos’ questionable behavior and actions prior to his being elected. According to a report from New York Times metro desk reporter Nicholas Fandos, multiple individuals with knowledge of the turmoil behind the scenes of his campaign have shed light on the concerns his vendors expressed following the release of a researc… Read More View the full article

Published by NJ.com The revelation that classified materials were discovered at think tank offices formerly used by President Joe Biden, as well as at his Delaware home, has prompted questions on how the circumstances compare with the seizure last year of hundreds of documents marked as classified from Mar-a-Lago, the Florida residence of former President Donald Trump. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday appointed a special counsel to investigate the matter. A side-by-side look at the similarities and differences between the two situations: HOW MANY CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? BIDEN: It’s … Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Belief of Americans in antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes has nearly doubled since 2019, an Anti-Defamation League (ADL) survey showed on Thursday. The survey asked Americans how much they agreed with statements expressing anti-Jewish tropes or conspiracy theories and found that more than half of Americans believed at least one, the New York-based advocacy group said. About 85% of Americans believed at least one anti-Jewish trope, compared with 61% in 2019, the ADL said, adding that 20% of Americans believed six or more anti-Jewish tropes, substantially more than the 11% in 2019. Reports of antisemitism have increased nationwide. The issue drew headlines after Republican former President Donald Trump hosted white supremacist Nick Fuentes and Ye, the musician formerly known as Kanye West, at his private club in Florida. Trump said the encounter with Fuentes happened inadvertently while he was having dinner with Ye. Ye has drawn widespread criticism for a spate of antisemitic comments – including praise for Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler – and was suspended from social media platforms. About 39% of the respondents in the ADL survey believed Jews were more loyal to Israel than the United States. The survey, which had responses from 4,000 individuals collected in the autumn of 2022, presented 14 statements to respondents and asked them if they believed them to be “Mostly/Somewhat True” or “Mostly/Somewhat False.” The White House addressed rising antisemitism in a roundtable event with Jewish leaders in December and President Joe Biden established an inter-agency group to coordinate efforts to counter antisemitism. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed two different special counsels to independently investigate the handling of classified records by Republican former President Donald Trump and his Democratic successor, President Joe Biden. Jack Smith, a war crimes prosecutor, is investigating whether Trump or his associates improperly retained classified records at his Florida estate after he left office in 2021 and then tried to obstruct a federal investigation. Garland tapped Trump-era former U.S. Attorney Robert Hur for Maryland to investigate the removal and retention of classified records from Biden’s time as vice president, and the discovery of them at his home and one-time office at a think tank. WHAT ARE THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO CASES? Neither Trump nor Biden should have had any classified material in their possession. During a presidential transition period, the records from each administration are supposed to be turned over to the legal custody of the U.S. National Archives. It is unlawful to knowingly or willfully remove or retain classified material. Failure to properly store and secure classified material poses risks to national security if it should fall into the wrong hands. Biden has said he was surprised to learn he had classified information in his possession. Trump has said on social media, without providing evidence, that he declassified the records, though his attorneys have declined to repeat that assertion in court filings. The materials in question date back to when Biden was President Barack Obama’s vice president from 2009 to 2017, and when Trump was president from 2017 to 2021. HOW DO THE TWO CASES DIFFER? Legal experts say there are stark contrasts between the two cases. In Trump’s case, the National Archives tried for more than a year after Trump left office to retrieve all of the records he retained, without success. When Trump finally returned 15 boxes of documents in January 2022, Archives officials discovered they contained classified materials. The matter was referred to the Justice Department, which issued a grand jury subpoena last May seeking the return of all classified records. Investigators then visited Trump’s home, where his attorneys handed over more material and asserted there were no more documents on the premises. That turned out to be false. Additional evidence collected by the FBI, including surveillance footage from the Mar-a-Lago estate, prompted agents to seek court approval to execute a search warrant on Aug. 8 amid concerns over possible obstruction. The FBI recovered an additional 13,000 documents, about 100 of which were marked as classified. In Biden’s case, Garland said the president’s attorneys informed the Archives and the Justice Department in November that they had discovered fewer than a dozen classified files inside a closet at the Penn Biden Center think tank in Washington D.C. earlier that month. After the discovery, the attorneys continued to conduct additional searches at Biden’s homes in Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where more documents were found in both December and this month. All were turned over to the authorities. WHAT LEGAL PERIL DO BIDEN AND TRUMP FACE? It is a crime only if the retention and removal of classified records is intentional. Prosecutors typically won’t pursue charges for the accidental retention of classified records, but if there is evidence of possible obstruction of justice, that could change things. For that reason, legal experts say, Trump faces considerably more legal peril than Biden. To date, there has been no suggestion by the Justice Department that Biden knowingly retained the records or refused to return them to the government. Also, as president, Biden is unlikely to face prosecution. The Justice Department has not changed its long-standing policy that a sitting president cannot be indicted. The same policy helped insulate Trump when he was president and under investigation by then-Special Counsel Robert Mueller. In that case, Mueller declined to determine whether Trump had obstructed his investigation into possible ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 election campaign because of the department’s policy. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch, editing by Ross Colvin and Grant McCool) View the full article