Ohio Star Staff, Author at The Ohio Star

Commentary: The Civil Disobedience of Raising a Family

October 2, 2022October 1, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

In case you haven’t noticed, times have changed, and somehow, those who hold to traditional societal norms have become the new face of counter culturalism. As this is unfamiliar territory to those on the traditional end of the spectrum, a few lessons are needed in how to live up to this new moniker. One of those lessons is how to engage in civil disobedience.

If you’re like me, the phrase “civil disobedience” conjures up images of bra-burning hippies protesting Vietnam and demanding that society “make love, not war.” But in a world where up has become down and good has become evil, civil disobedience no longer means we must take to the streets and chain ourselves to some inanimate object. In reality, the best civil disobedience we, as members of the new countercultural movement, can perform is right in our own homes, raising our families.

Airline Shows Off ‘Inclusive’ Uniform Policy with Trans, Cross-Dressing Flight Attendants

October 2, 2022October 1, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Virgin Atlantic Airways launched an ad campaign Wednesday highlighting the company’s new uniform policy allowing men to wear skirts, along with several other new transgender-related policies.

The company’s new ads feature men in women’s uniforms and several people who appear to be transgender dancing, walking on a red carpet and giving interviews about the company’s LGBT-inclusivity. The airline also introduced optional pronoun pins employees can wear on their uniforms, mandatory “inclusivity training” for employees and a ticketing system update allowing people with “gender-neutral” passports to use their gender codes and titles, according to a press release.

Man Who Ran Over and Killed Conservative Teen Charged with Murder

October 2, 2022October 1, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

A North Dakota man arrested for running over a teenager he purportedly believed to be a Republican extremist was charged with murder Friday.

Shannon Brandt admitted to hitting Cayler Ellingson with his vehicle Sept. 18 and left the scene before returning, calling 911 and leaving again, according to a police affidavit. Brandt was subsequently charged with felony criminal vehicular homicide involving a motor vehicle and duty in accident involving death, but Foster County State’s Attorney Kara Brinster replaced the first charge with the more severe felony charge of murder.

Commentary: Neither White House nor Common Man Can Evade Recession Data

October 2, 2022October 1, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Newly released data from the Commerce Department show what some people have been saying for months: The nation is in recession.

Furthermore, the Biden administration’s cherry-picking of data has come back to bite it, with even its selected data points now being revised to indicate a recession. And while these numbers confirm the economy shrank in the first half of the year, the rest of this year holds little promise of recovery.

House GOP: FBI Retaliating Against Whistleblowers and Conservative Agents

October 2, 2022October 1, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

On Thursday, three Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives claimed that the FBI has been actively retaliating against agents who are suspected of being whistleblowers, as well as those who hold conservative beliefs.

As The Daily Caller reports, a letter was sent to Jennifer Moore, Executive Assistant Director of the FBI’s Human Resource Branch, detailing these allegations. The letter was signed by three members of the House Judiciary Committee: Congressmen Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), and Mike Johnson (R-La.).

Suicide Rate in U.S. Spiked in 2021 After Two Years of Decline

October 2, 2022October 1, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

After two years of steady decline, the rate of suicide deaths in the United States rose sharply in 2021, reversing the progress made in 2020 and 2019.

According to CNN, 47,646 Americans take their own lives over the course of the year 2021, according to data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which amounts to roughly one death every 11 minutes.

New York Will Ban Gas Car Sales by 2035, Copying California

October 1, 2022September 30, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York said Thursday that it will follow California’s lead by banning the sale of gasoline-powered cars and light trucks by 2035.

All passenger cars, pickup trucks and SUVs sold in the state will have to be classified as “zero-emissions vehicles” by no later than 2035, according to a press release. Hochul directed the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation to begin implementing the new rules that will also require 35% of state vehicle sales to consist of electric cars by 2026, rising to 68% by 2030.

“With sustained state and federal investments, our actions are incentivizing New Yorkers, local governments, and businesses to make the transition to electric vehicles,” Hochul said.

Commentary: Republicans Can Crush Crazed Democrats on Abortion

October 1, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Republicans are doing their darndest to self-immolate before the midterm elections. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) attacked fellow Republican Senate candidates in August as being of poor “quality” and suggested that Republicans were unlikely to win the Senate.

Mortgage Rates Surpass Seven Percent for First Time in 20 Years

October 1, 2022September 30, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Mortgages have hit their highest rates in decades, with the 30-year fixed interest mortgage rate surpassing 7% for the first time since 2002, according to the Mortgage News Daily (MND) index.

At 7.08%, the current fixed rate is a far cry from September 2021 rates of 2.86%, and has increased by nearly 2% since the end of August 2022, according to MND. Applications for home refinancing have dipped by 10.9% and new home buyer applications fell by 0.4% in September as interest rates continue to climb, Trading Economics reported.

Test Scores Show Ohio Students Continue to Struggle in Classroom

October 1, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Over two years removed from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio students are still struggling to succeed in the classroom, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

The latest release of state test scores shows that 51% of students were unable to pass high school algebra in 2022, compared to 39% before the pandemic, according to state test data reported by the Dispatch. In addition to math scores, reading scores fell below pre-pandemic levels at a 33.5% proficiency.

Commentary: Time to Investigate the FBI’s Confidential Human Sources Program

October 1, 2022September 30, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

To the surprise of no one paying attention, the Department of Justice recently acknowledged the use of several FBI informants in its investigation of the Oath Keepers, an alleged militia group tied to the events of January 6.

Prosecutors last week asked for a protective order to conceal from jurors information about confidential human sources (CHS) expected to testify during the seditious conspiracy trial of five members of the Oath Keepers; jury selection is now underway. Not only does the government want to prevent defense attorneys from asking personal questions that could reveal the informants’ identities but prosecutors don’t want the sources to publicly disclose any involvement in past or pending criminal investigations or details of “the FBI’s CHS program and the training and methods used by the FBI as part of their undercover operations.”

CompassCare CEO Says Police Won’t Return His Surveillance Video of Firebombing Attack Because It Might Inspire Rightwing Violence

October 1, 2022September 30, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

The CEO of a crisis pregnancy center in Buffalo, New York, says the police and FBI will not give back his surveillance footage from the night abortion extremists firebombed his facility because they are afraid it may inspire rightwing violence.

House Passes Sweeping Antitrust Package Targeting Big Tech

October 1, 2022September 30, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

The House of Representatives passed sweeping antitrust legislation targeting Big Tech with bipartisan support following a Thursday afternoon vote.

The bill, known as the Merger Fee Filing Modernization Act, passed 242 to 184, combining a trio of antitrust bills designed to limit the impact of Big Tech firms by increasing merger application fees to fund stricter antitrust enforcement, requiring companies to disclose foreign subsidies when applying for a merger and exempting antitrust lawsuits brought by state attorneys general from processes that can result in court cases being transferred to districts more favorable to defenders. The package, passed with 39 Republican votes, was endorsed by the White House on Tuesday as part of its ongoing efforts to beef up antitrust enforcement.

Putin Signs Decree Bringing Ukrainian Territory Under Russian Rule

October 1, 2022September 30, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed treaties to inaugurate the annexation of four Ukrainian territories in a ceremony at 3 p.m. local time Friday.

Separatist leaders from Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in southern Ukraine and the self-styled Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics agreed at a ceremony in Moscow to recognize the results of Russian-backed referendums in the breakaway territories, Forbes reported. The Kremlin said it will consider any attack on the annexed territories a direct attack on Russia, urging Kyiv to return to the negotiating table to avoid a catastrophic escalation in the war.

Fauci and Wife’s Net Worth Skyrocketed During Pandemic, Analysis Finds

October 1, 2022September 30, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Anthony Fauci and his wife saw a net worth increase of $5 million during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis by a government watchdog group.

Between Jan. 1, 2019 and Dec. 31, 2021, the Faucis expanded their net worth from $7.6 million to more than $12.6 million, according to OpenTheBooks’ Wednesday analysis of the 81-year-old retiring NIAID director’s financial disclosures. The director was the highest paid federal employee in both 2021 and 2022, earning $456,000 per year and $480,000 per year, respectively, the analysis noted.

Commentary: The Modern Western World Is Facing a Crisis

September 30, 2022September 29, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Civilization is fragile. It hinges on ensuring the stuff of life.

To be able to eat, to move about, to have shelter, to be free from state or tribal coercion, to be secure abroad, and safe at home—only that allows cultures to be freed from the daily drudgery of mere survival.

Gun Manufacturer Smith & Wesson Sued over July 4th Parade Shooting

September 30, 2022September 29, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

The popular gun manufacturing company Smith & Wesson is facing nearly a dozen lawsuits over a July 4th parade shooting in Illinois, where the perpetrator used one of the company’s guns in the attack.

According to ABC News, 11 different lawsuits were filed on Wednesday by family members of the victims of the shooting in Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago, claiming with no evidence that the company “illegally” targeted its ads towards young men who are most likely to commit acts of violence.

German Authorities Fear Nord Stream Pipelines May Be Permanently Unusable Following Sabotage

September 30, 2022September 29, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

German security officials believe that both Nord Stream 1 and 2 could be damaged beyond repair as large amounts of corrosive saltwater flowed into pipelines following multiple leaks that were discovered on Tuesday, The Telegraph reported on Wednesday.

European countries found significant gas leaks at three separate locations in the Baltic Sea which caused the pipelines’ pressure to drop, forcing the pipelines to go offline. German authorities are concerned that the saltwater’s damage to the pipelines could make them permanently inoperable which would further cut fuel supplies to an energy-starved Germany, according to The Telegraph, which cited the German outlet Tagesspiegel.

Border Patrol Calls In ‘Suicidologist’ to Address Rising Suicides Among Rank-and-File

September 30, 2022September 29, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) tapped a “suicidologist” to address the rising suicides among its ranks amid a surge in illegal migration at the southern border, the Washington Examiner reported Wednesday.

Dr. Kent Corso, who began the role in early 2021 during high migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border, was the first to do so for any government entity, according to the Examiner.

Vast Majority of Economists Predict a Global Recession by 2023

September 30, 2022September 29, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Nearly three quarters of economists believe a global recession is at least somewhat likely to occur by the end of 2023, according to a survey released Wednesday by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Roughly 70% of economists surveyed by the international lobbying group predict that the wave of interest rate hikes and tighter monetary policy that has swept the U.S. and E.U. in an attempt to combat inflation is unlikely to abate, echoing predictions from major financial analyst, Goldman Sachs. Fully 80% of respondents believed that real wages would decline in high-income countries with nearly 90% anticipating real wages declining in low-income countries.

Republicans Urge DOJ to Investigate Cyberattacks Targeting Christian, Pro-Life Websites

September 30, 2022September 29, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

A group of Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging him to look into a string of recent cyberattacks that have deliberately targeted pro-life and Christian websites, in clearly politically motivated attacks following the Supreme Court’s historic overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Telling a Student to Get an Abortion Could Be a Felony, Idaho Universities Warn

September 29, 2022September 28, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Idaho universities told educators that advising students to get an abortion could result in a felony, according to the Associated Press.

The University of Idaho in Moscow and Boise State University in Boise both issued notes to staff in September warning that “promoting” abortions or abortion services could result in felony charges, according to the AP. Educators are prohibited from advising students on abortion services under the state’s No Public Funds for Abortion Act.

Commentary: Six Important Issues at Stake in Appropriations Bills

September 29, 2022September 28, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

The government’s fiscal year begins Oct. 1, but as per usual, Congress has failed to complete the annual appropriations process to provide spending authority for federal agencies.

Congress will enact a continuing resolution to maintain current spending and policy, and to prevent a partial government shutdown of nonessential programs, but Americans concerned about inflation should hope that resolution extends into the new year and the new Congress.

Cardiologist Who Promoted COVID Vaccines Releases Peer-Reviewed Papers Calling for Suspension of mRNA Shots

September 29, 2022September 28, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Dr. Aseem Malhotra, an eminent British cardiologist who helped promote the mRNA vaccines when they were first rolled out, is now calling for the suspension of the injections until all the raw data from clinical trials are released for independent scrutiny, and all adverse side effects are fully investigated, the World Council For Health reported.

Tim Ryan Says America Is Ready to Ban Gas Cars Despite Driving an SUV

September 29, 2022September 28, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Democratic Ohio Senate nominee Tim Ryan previously called for a ban on gas cars; however, in one of his campaign ads Ryan was featured driving a large, gas-guzzling SUV.

Ryan, who is also a congressman, indicated that Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont’s plan to ban gas vehicles by 2040 did not go far enough during a 2019 interview after a Democratic primary presidential debate. However, in a campaign video, Ryan drove around his hometown in a 2020 GMC Yukon, which has a fuel efficiency of roughly 13 miles per gallon, according to the Department of Energy.

IRS Sent over $1 Billion in Child Tax Credit Payments to the Wrong People

September 29, 2022September 28, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sent over $1.1 billion in child tax credit payments to incorrect recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an audit by the Department of the Treasury’s Inspector General (IG) for Tax Administration on Tuesday.

The IRS sent the payments to 1.5 million people between July and November of 2021 during the pandemic, according to the audit’s report. Additionally, the IG noted that 4.1 million taxpayers did not receive payments they should have, amounting to $3.7 billion withheld.

Commentary: Despite Rising Consumer Confidence, Biden’s Economy Is Nothing Like Trump’s

September 29, 2022September 28, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Consumer confidence is still far below the record highs set under the Trump administration, and a new report by the Conference Board warns ongoing consumer doldrums about the future could spell future recession.

The latest report released Tuesday by the Conference Board, a non-profit research organization funded by more than 1,000 corporations, found consumer confidence improved slightly in September for the second consecutive month due to jobs, wages and declining gas prices, but that “recession risks nonetheless persist” due to a sluggish uptick in the Expectations Index.

The Associated Press Set to Publish Record of J.R. Majewski’s DUI from 2001

September 28, 2022September 29, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

A source inside J.R. Majewski’s campaign for U.S. Congress told The Ohio Press Network (OPN) that the Associated Press (AP) unearthed a document involving the candidate driving drunk in 2001, the incident refutes a statement the Republican candidate’s campaign made and that the outlet intends to release the new information today.

No House Arrest or Curfew for North Dakota Man Who Allegedly Ran Over Republican Teenager After Political Argument

September 28, 2022September 27, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

The North Dakota man who admitted to running over 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson with an SUV after a political argument earlier this month, is not under house arrest and has no curfew, Fox News reported.

Shannon Brandt, 41, was released from jail after posting a $50,000 bond on Sept. 20 after he fatally hit Ellington with his vehicle following a street dance at a local bar in McHenry, North Dakota.

Commentary: Winning Italian Party Unfairly Called ‘Far Right’

September 28, 2022September 27, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Unprecedented fall elections in Italy on Sunday led to a significant shift in the government, which will almost certainly see Giorgia Meloni, head of the relative newcomer political party Brothers of Italy, take over as the nation’s first female prime minister.

Brothers of Italy won the most seats in parliament, after securing about 26% of the vote, and her center-right coalition will have control of both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. In the lower house, the center-left Democratic Party came in second with about 19% of the vote, the populist 5-Star Movement third with over 15%, the nativist League (Lega) came in fourth, and the center-right Forward Italy party of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi came in fifth, with both Lega and Forward Italy winning over 8%.

Four Plead Guilty in North Carolina Ballot Fraud Cases

September 28, 2022September 27, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Four people in North Carolina have pleaded guilty to misdemeanors for their roles in absentee ballot fraud in a rural part of the state.

The fraud occurred in the 2016 and 2018 elections, and the convictions stemmed from an investigation that in part resulted in a congressional election having to be redone, according to the Associated Press.

CEO Threatens Company ‘Exit’ from Red States over Abortion Laws Despite Having Investments in China

September 28, 2022September 27, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said Friday his multinational software company may “exit” Republican states over anti-abortion laws. At the same time, however, Benioff through his business has investments located in China, a country that has engaged in human rights abuses.

“If you’re going to discriminate against our employees, we’re not going to set up shop there,” Benioff said Friday to a CNN anchor asking whether Salesforce is “considering” moving out of places “restricting or outlawing abortion.’”

Commentary: America Is Barreling Toward a Cliff’s Edge Because of Democrats

September 28, 2022September 27, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

This November, Americans are facing a simple decision. Voters will choose between common sense and crazy, between affirming America’s values of freedom and prosperity or continuing the far-left’s plunge into lawless chaos.

Last week, Leader Kevin McCarthy released House Republicans’ Commitment to America, a plan to address the issues that matter most to voters — to create a strong economy, a safe nation, a free America, and an accountable government. Republican policies work and can deliver a brighter, more prosperous alternative to Joe Biden and Democrats’ record of high prices, surging crime and failed big government.

Texas Christian Church Hosts ‘Drag Bingo’ to Raise Money for Trans Clothing Boutique

September 28, 2022September 27, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

A family friendly “drag bingo” event hosted by a pro-LGBTQIA+ church in Katy, Texas drew hundreds of conservative protesters and antifa counter-protesters over the weekend, resulting in some on the conservative side getting pepper-sprayed.

Until word got out, the “all ages” drag event was going to feature “Goth themed” transvestite Tisha F—king Flowers, who was arrested as a teenager for writing a manifesto threatening to torture and kill his classmates.

Pennsylvania Pro-Life Activist Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Charges, Lawyer Blasts DOJ’s ‘Political Prosecution’

September 28, 2022September 27, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

A Pennsylvania pro-life activist has pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging he used force to interfere with a reproductive health care provider, after a state court previously threw out the case.

In October 2021, Mark Houck “forcefully shoved” Planned Parenthood volunteer Bruce Love, 72, the Department of Justice alleges, according to Fox News. The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act bars the use of force to interfere with or coerce reproductive health providers. Houck on Tuesday pleaded not guilty on two counts.

Commentary: The Importance of Doug Mastriano

September 28, 2022September 27, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Pennsylvania’s Republican nominee for governor — that would be state Sen. Doug Mastriano — is under attack by the establishment elite for not being … part of the establishment elite. And, of all people, the Republican Governors Association has signed on for the attack.

For those who have not followed the tale, Mastriano is a 30-year active-duty combat veteran who retired as a colonel in the Army. Apart from being deployed to Iraq for Operation Desert Storm (1991), assigned to the U.S. forces liberating Kuwait, in the post–9/11 world he was assigned to NATO and had three tours in Afghanistan. He ended his military career as a professor at the U.S. Army War College, in nearby (to me) Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He has four master’s degrees and holds a doctorate in history.

Pennsylvania GOP Gubernatorial Candidate: Biden DOJ ‘Trying to Intimidate’ Conservatives Through Arrest of Catholic, Pro-Life Father

September 28, 2022September 27, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate and state Sen. Doug Mastriano warned Monday that President Joe Biden’s administration sought to “intimidate” anyone “on the political opposition” through the arrest of a Catholic, pro-life father last week.

Mastriano referred to the early Friday morning arrest of Mark Houck, whose wife told Life Site News that 25-30 FBI agents entered their home around 7 a.m. with “big, huge rifles” to arrest her husband as their children watched, crying and screaming, from the top of the stairs.

‘Satanic Temple’ Sues Indiana over Abortion Ban

September 28, 2022September 27, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

A group called “The Satanic Temple” has sued the State of Indiana to block its near-complete ban on abortions, per a lawsuit filed in federal court on Sept. 21.

The group, naming the state’s Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb and Attorney Gen. Todd Rokita, as respondents, filed a suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. It claims to be filing the suit on behalf of a female member of the group that became “involuntarily pregnant” and wishes to terminate the pregnancy.

Canadians See Housing Prices Plummet at Historic Rate

September 25, 2022September 24, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

A housing bubble that has been causing pain for Canadian homeowners and buyers alike may have started to pop as housing prices plummeted at a historic rate in August.

Housing prices fell 2.4% in August as compared to July, the largest monthly decline since the data was first tracked in 1999, according to management firm Teranet and the National Bank of Canada, who compute the index jointly. As of July, prices had risen almost 42% faster than wages since 2015, making housing less affordable to purchase, while spiking interest rates made houses more expensive to own, financial advice company The Motley Fool reported in July.

Commentary: The End of Globalization

September 25, 2022September 24, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

In the 1990s, William Strauss and Neil Howe predicted a “Fourth Turning” around 2020, meaning the final reordering of a once-in-a-generation global order. Their thesis is not necessarily pessimistic, although a “positive” resolution is not guaranteed. Either way, their thesis is inconvenient to progressives, who promise linear progress, not generational cycles.

BlackRock CEO Hails High Energy Prices for ‘Accelerating’ Green Transition

September 25, 2022September 24, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said during a forum at the Clinton Global Initiative that increased energy prices are “accelerating” the transition to “green” energy.

“Because of the rising energy prices, we are certainly seeing the green premium shrink quite considerably. And so, the amount of investment dollars that are going into new decarbonization technology is accelerating, and accelerating very rapidly,” Fink told former President Bill Clinton.

Commentary: GOP’s New Plan Proves America First Policies Are Making a Huge Comeback

September 25, 2022September 24, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

In 1994, it was called the Contract with America. Between 2016 and 2020, it was just known as America First. If you want to return to the policies that worked, there is a simple solution — the policies of the newly released “Commitment to America.” Simply put, it is the policies that put America First.

When people look at the current state of our country, most don’t like what they see. Inflation is the highest it has been in 40 years. The price of eggs, milk, and groceries has increased by double digits. Many people must decide whether to fill their gas tank or buy food. Some are cutting back on travel and entertainment. Many wonder if they will have to cut back on Christmas gifts for their children this year.

U.S. Military Educational Summit Pushed Gender Ideology Using a ‘Genderbread Person,’ Report Finds

September 25, 2022September 24, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

The U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) hosted an “Equity and Access” summit in 2021 that featured presentations on gender ideology and anti-racism, according to a report by the Claremont Institute.

The “Equity and Access” summit trained military school educators on curriculum and practices which featured teaching gender identity using a “genderbread person,” according to the report by the Claremont Institute. The DODEA oversees more than 160 K-12 schools on military bases throughout the world and is responsible for educating roughly 69,000 students.

TikTok Bans Political Fundraising Just Weeks Before Midterms

September 25, 2022September 24, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

TikTok announced plans to ban all forms of campaign fundraising on its app Wednesday morning, just weeks ahead of midterm elections in the U.S.

In addition to this fundraising ban, which TikTok framed as an extension of existing policies that prohibit political advertising, the app is planning to offer verification to government officials, politicians and political parties to ensure users are aware of what content is made by public figures, according to TikTok’s press release. The announcement comes less than one week after a TikTok executive repeatedly refused to stop sending U.S. users’ data to China, and denied allegations in a bombshell Buzzfeed News report that employees in Chinese-based parent company ByteDance are able to see that data.

Hillary Clinton Claims Trump Rallies Are Like Hitler Rallies: ‘Ranting and Raving’

September 25, 2022September 24, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

Former First Lady Hillary Clinton compared rallies held by former President Donald Trump to rallies once held by Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler during an event at the Texas Tribune Festival Friday.

“I remember as a young student trying to figure out how did people get basically drawn in by Hitler? How did that happen? And I’d watch newsreels and I’d see this guy standing up there ranting and raving, and people shouting and raising their arms. I said, what’s happened to these people? Why did they believe that?” Clinton, who was defeated by Trump in 2016, asked.

National Institute of Health Buys More Research Primates to Prepare for ‘Next Pandemic’

September 25, 2022September 24, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

The National Institute of Health (NIH) spent more than $29M over the last three years buying monkeys for animal experimentation to replace their current supply which was exhausted during their COVID vaccine research. The money will also go to prepare cages for the monkeys at the US National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs) which the NIH funds. The Biden Administration wants even more money dedicated to funding these animal experiments.

Venezuelans Expected to Flood U.S. Border Due a ‘Perception’ They Can Stay Indefinitely, Internal DHS Report Says

September 24, 2022September 23, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sounded the alarm over a potential surge in Venezuelans illegally crossing into the U.S. due to an incorrect understanding of U.S. immigration policy, according to an internal memo obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The recent alert mentioned a number of reasons that Venezuelans are increasingly coming to the U.S., including political changes, new visa requirements, a lack of resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic and poor economic conditions in Latin American countries they’ve fled to. There’s a possibility that many are also coming because of the protections for Venezuelans already in the U.S.

PayPal Allows ‘Minor-Attracted Persons’ Group to Stay on Platform After Banning ‘Gays Against Groomers’

September 24, 2022September 23, 2022 Ohio Star Staff

PayPal banned an account that draws attention to adults who expose kids to sexual content but still allows Prostasia, an organization that provides support for “minor-attracted persons” (MAPs), to hold an account and use its services to fundraise.

PayPal permanently banned the Gays Against Groomers account Tuesday, as did Venmo, which PayPal owns, according to documents obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation. Prostasia, an organization that runs a support groups for people who are sexually attracted to children to help them avoid acts of abuse, still raises money using PayPal and lists the service on the donation page of its website.