7. Coronavirus lunacy from the federal government continues
- Not only is the Biden administration trying to get around the striking-down of the eviction moratorium, but the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights is also looking into bans on mask mandates in schools in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Iowa, South Carolina and Utah. The office claims that it could be discrimination against students with health issues and disabilities.
- The argument is that a lack of masks could prevent some students from attending school in person. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said, “The department will fight to protect every student’s right to access in-person learning safely.” Action could be taken by the federal government if they determine that students are being discriminated against. Masks, of course, do very little.
6. Moore is pointing out Democrat hypocrisy
- U.S. military firearms and weaponry has fallen into the Taliban’s hands after they took over Afghanistan, and now U.S. Representative Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) has accused the “gungrabbing Democrats” of being hypocrites.
- Moore said that Democrats want to do away with Second Amendment rights, but they’ve “handed over hundreds of thousands of arms, including more than 64,000 fully automatic machine guns to radical Islamists.” According to Moore, Democrats are arming the Taliban and “defunding the police that protect you, your family, and your community.”
5. Blakely wants a new trial
- Former Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely was sentenced to jail and probation for charges of abuse of power and theft. Blakely has now requested a new trial, claiming insufficient evidence and his constitutional rights were violated by the ruling and trial.
- Attorneys for Blakely said the “evidence produced at trial is insufficient to support a finding of defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,” but this is a routine procedure after a conviction. Blakely’s defense argued that there are state guidelines indicating that Blakely only should’ve been sentenced to probation instead of jail time. The argument that the trial was unconstitutional was due to the trial not being public.
4. Ban on Critical Race Theory has no merit yet opposition is fierce
- Members of the State Senate in Alabama have already pre-filed bills that would ban Critical Race Theory (CRT), and there’s already a decent amount of support behind banning the curriculum for its controversy and lack of uniform curriculum.
- State Representative Barbara Drummond (D-Mobile) has said that this push for a ban is unnecessary. Drummond argued, “We’re talking about history and truth being on attack,” adding that it’s “very troubling that we’re leading people to think this is an issue when it really is not because we can’t change history.” Drummond went on to say that the issue of banning CRT is “a dog whistle.” It’s previously been called a dog whistle for racism.
3. Alabama hotels are full with people evacuating due to Ida
- Hurricane Ida made landfall on Sunday, killing at least four and knocking power out for up to 2 million people. In Alabama, there are hotels full of people who had to evacuate from Louisiana, but many of those who evacuated have no idea when they’ll be able to go home or even what has happened to their homes.
- Cell towers in New Orleans and areas nearby are down, which has caused major issues with communication, and large areas are without power for what could end up being weeks. All residents have been told to stay out of the New Orleans area until further notice.
2. Taliban is now celebrating their independence
- With all U.S. military troops now removed from Afghanistan, the Taliban is celebrating their “full independence.” Members of the Taliban were celebrating in the streets by firing weapons into the air.
- Retired 2-Star Army General Vincent Boles has pointed out that now the Taliban will have to prove if they were being honest about governing a different way “than when they left power,” asking, “Will the Taliban go forward to the future or pull Afghanistan back to the past?”
1. U.S. military withdrawal ends, hundreds of Americans left
- The final U.S. troops have been removed from Afghanistan, with Maj. Gen. Chris Donahue being the last, officially ending 20 years of military operations in the country, but there were Americans left behind. President Joe Biden will now have to answer for leaving anywhere between what Secretary of State Antony Blinken estimates is 100-200 Americans in Afghanistan. Some are calling it the “worst capitulation of our lifetime.”
- Marine Corps General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr. said that there are hundreds of Americans likely left in Afghanistan, adding, “We did not get everybody out that we wanted to get out.” Yet the administration keeps claiming those left behind didn’t want to leave. Previously, Biden said that the military would stay past August 31 if there were still Americans in the country, but now they have been abandoned and will have to rely on the Taliban’s likely empty promises of diplomacy to evacuate.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.