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“Block Everything” Riots Further Rock France After PM’s Ouster

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France descended into chaos Wednesday as protests initiated by the “Block Everything” movement swept across the country, leaving hundreds arrested, vehicles torched, and cities paralyzed. The unrest came just two days after Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a confidence vote and was forced to resign, dealing President Emmanuel Macron yet another blow.

The government said 295 arrests were made in the first hours of demonstrations, which blocked highways, shut down public transit, and sparked violent clashes with police. In Paris, rioters hurled objects at officers, set fires, and disrupted the morning commute. Police used tear gas to disperse groups attempting to shut down the city’s beltway.

In Rennes, protesters went so far as to torch a bus, according to Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. From Marseille to Lyon, Lille to Nantes, the far-left-led movement lived up to its name, attempting to “Block Everything.”

Student activist Baptiste Sagot admitted the movement’s intent: “They’re trying to make working people, young students, retirees, all people in difficulty, bear all the effort instead of taxing wealth.”

The demonstrations come amid $51 billion in planned spending cuts to address France’s ballooning debt, which now stands around 116% of GDP. Macron’s repeated failures to restore stability have left his government weakened, with four prime ministers forced out in under two years.

Tennessee University Employee Fired After Charlie Kirk Comments

Charlie Kirk
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A now-former employee of Middle Tennessee State University, Laura Sosh-Lightsy, was fired after making comments surrounding the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

“Looks like ol’ Charlie spoke his fate into existence,” Sosh-Lightsy said. “Hate begets hate. ZERO sympathy.” In a follow-up post, the employee said that “hate begets hate.”

Tennessee State Rep. Jason Zachary, an MTSU alum, condemned the comments. “As an @MTSU alum, I’m disgusted. A person who has so little regard for basic decency, the value of life and then lacks the common sence to not post such vile, should NOT be in leadership at one of our universities. If you are a parent or student @MTSU, I encourage you to contact the school tomorrow requesting immediate action be taken. This person should not be employed in higher education in TN. I’ll be reaching out tomorrow as well.”

“An MTSU employee today offered inappropriate and callous comments on social media concerning the horrific and tragic murder of Charlie Kirk,” MTSU President Sidney McPhee said in a statement. “The comments by this employee, who worked in a position of trust directly with students, were inconsistent with our values and have undermined the university’s credibility and reputation with our students, faculty, staff and the community at large. This employee has been fired effective immediately. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Kirk family.”

Similarly, MSNBC fired political analyst Matthew Dowd after he suggested that Charlie Kirk’s own rhetoric led to his assassination. The network moved swiftly to distance itself from the comments. “During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler said. “We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”

9/11 Remembrance: Honoring Sacrifice and America’s Resilience

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New York leaders and families gathered Thursday for a solemn 9/11 remembrance marking the 24th anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. Nearly 3,000 Americans were killed when al-Qaeda hijackers turned commercial jets into weapons of war on September 11, 2001.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, known as “America’s Mayor” for his leadership in the aftermath, appeared in a body brace following a recent car accident but stood with his son to honor the fallen. Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo also joined survivors, firefighters, and victims’ families at Ground Zero.

“It’s amazing how the grief comes to life every year. It bubbles up to the surface every September,” reflected former FDNY Commissioner Tom Von Essen, who oversaw the department on 9/11. He reminded the nation of the sacrifice of 343 firefighters: “They put out to save total strangers. It shows what remarkable men they were.”

The ceremony included six moments of silence, marking when the Twin Towers were struck and collapsed, the attack on the Pentagon, and the crash of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.

In the years since, the toll has only grown. More than 400 FDNY members have died from 9/11-related illnesses, while nearly 50,000 first responders and survivors battle cancers linked to Ground Zero exposure.

Von Essen’s words captured the enduring weight of the day: “Sept. 11 was the worst.” Yet, in remembering the fallen, America renews its commitment to never forget and to remain vigilant against the threats that seek to divide and destroy.

Al Qaeda Threat Surges: Expert Warns Most Dangerous Terrorist Group Still Looms

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Nearly a quarter century after September 11, experts warn that al Qaeda remains the most dangerous terrorist group in the world, stronger today than before the attacks that killed 2,977 Americans.

Bill Roggio, senior editor of the Long War Journal, told Fox News Digital that the U.S. has underestimated the group’s resilience. “The most dangerous terrorist group 24 years after 9/11 remains al Qaeda,” Roggio said. “With the support of the Taliban, the situation there is far worse than it was pre-9/11.”

According to Roggio, al Qaeda now runs training camps in at least 13 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces and commands influence across the Middle East and Africa. “Its global organization remains intact,” he explained. “It controls probably more than a third of Somalia and… now controls the government of Syria, with the Hayat Tahir Al Sham as its leader.”

The rise of safe havens continues to alarm counterterror experts. “This is where, when terrorist groups have the time, the space and the security to plot, to execute, to recruit, to raise funds, they can conduct an attack like 9/11 and they have that in multiple places now,” Roggio warned.

Roggio argued the West’s lack of resolve has emboldened jihadist movements. “Our hesitation, our unwillingness, our lack of commitment in these countries has emboldened them,” he said. “Until we remove the state sponsorship, until we are able to effectively deal with the purveyors of the radical ideology, these threats will persist.”

Dems Pressure FBI Over Epstein Probe

Rep. Jamie Raskin (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

House Judiciary Committee Democrats are calling for FBI Director Kash Patel to explain the agency’s review of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

“Who exactly are you protecting by refusing to release the Epstein files?” Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) wrote to Patel. “In 2023, on Benny Johnson’s podcast you were asked why the FBI was ‘protecting the world’s foremost predator’ by refusing to release the Epstein client list. Your answer: ‘Simple. Because of who’s on that list.’ Now that you are Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), you know precisely who is implicated in the Epstein files, yet you refuse to release them. Who are you protecting and why?”

Raskin stated that “all these promises appear to have collapsed once you determined who was actually in the files.”

“Obvious questions abound: why were so many agents tasked with reviewing documents that were never released? What specific instructions were they given during the review?” Raskin asked. “What information did these agents uncover that led DOJ and FBI to reverse their promise to release the files, and how are these decisions related to the President?”

“Equally troubling are questions that have little to do with Jeffrey Epstein and everything to do with your priorities: how did removing hundreds of agents from their regular duties in two of our nation’s most important field offices—in our nation’s most populous city and our capital—to work on this bizarre project delay or stymie important criminal, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism investigations and undermine the FBI’s readiness to protect the public?” he added.

Raskin went on to demand that Patel provide information such as the number of pages reviewed by the FBI for the Epstein case, the number of agents involved in the review, the date of deciding not to release further information on the subject, and review protocols.

The information is to be provided by September 16.

CAIR Schools Campaign Exposed: National Push for Anti-Israel, Pro-Terror Lessons in US Schools

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A new investigation has uncovered a Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) schools campaign spreading anti-Israel and pro-terrorist lesson plans across public schools in multiple states, far beyond the programs already reported in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

According to Jewish Onliner, “CAIR’s efforts to sanitize the Sept. 11 attacks to K-12 students extend far beyond Philadelphia and Delaware, spanning New Jersey, Oklahoma, Florida, and Illinois in what appears to be a coordinated national campaign.” The group accused CAIR of seeking to “systematically indoctrinate American students.”

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) has demanded a federal investigation into CAIR’s initiatives, warning they may be “possibly illegal.” He cited lesson plans that instruct teachers not to use terms such as “jihadists” or “radical Islamic terrorists” when teaching about 9/11. Cotton argued the materials “perpetuate pro-terrorist, anti-Israel rhetoric.”

Evidence suggests centralized coordination. Jewish Onliner noted that “CAIR Philadelphia credits CAIR National and CAIR LA for curating the majority of the content,” and that CAIR Oklahoma’s teaching guide listed the group’s Washington, D.C., headquarters instead of a local address.

In Illinois, CAIR-Chicago advertises a partnership with Chicago Public Schools, potentially reaching hundreds of thousands of students since 2014. Meanwhile, CAIR Florida has promoted its own version of the 9/11 lesson plan.

Cotton issued a blunt warning: “Such an organization should never have access to our nation’s children. The U.S. Department of Education must ensure that CAIR is not given an opportunity to push its radical, pro-terrorist, anti-Israel ideology on American schoolchildren.”

Trump Declares 9/11 ‘Patriot Day’

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President Trump signed a proclamation declaring September 11 “Patriot Day” in remembrance of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

“September 11, 2001, will forever live in the collective consciousness of those who witnessed four commercial jetliners converted into weapons of terror to target innocent Americans on a beautiful Tuesday morning in September, 24 years ago,” Trump declared. “At 8:46 a.m., the first plane — Flight 11 from Boston, Massachusetts — hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Seventeen minutes later, at 9:03 a.m., Flight 175, also from Boston, struck the South Tower. At 9:37 a.m., Flight 77 from Washington, D.C., smashed into the Pentagon. Twenty-two minutes later, the South Tower collapsed, and shortly thereafter the North Tower fell with it. Ultimately, 2,753 people perished in New York City and 184 perished in Arlington, Virginia.”

Honoring those who lost their lives in the attack, Trump said, “Their uncommon courage will never be forgotten, and the hallowed ground in Pennsylvania, their final destination, serves as a lasting reminder that the United States will never yield to forces of evil.”

Trump noted that the attacks “not only sparked fury but also a groundswell of patriotism, renewing our unity, reinvigorating American pride, and demonstrating that, in the wake of unimaginable evil, Americans will always stand united. In the aftermath of the deadliest terrorist attack in recorded history, the goodness, grace, and unbreakable spirit of the American people prevailed.”

“We vow that any enemy who spills American blood will face the full wrath of American justice,” the proclamation reads. “And above all, we recommit to honoring the memories, cherishing the legacies, and remembering the stories of our fallen heroes for all eternity.”

Hasan Piker’s Detroit Guest Charged For Terroristic Threats

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Hasan Piker’s Detroit guest, Jarrett Maki, was arrested just days after appearing on the Twitch streamer’s channel, facing nearly a dozen felony counts of making terroristic threats. The incident highlights troubling associations surrounding Hasan Piker’s Detroit appearances.

On Aug. 30, Maki toured Piker and his crew through the Detroit City Football Club, where the 25-year-old works as sports information director. He gave Piker merchandise and media passes for that night’s soccer game. At the same time, Maki had allegedly been under investigation since July for phoning in violent threats to restaurants in East Alton, Illinois.

According to police, Maki called businesses between July 28 and Aug. 27, threatening to “blow their heads off” and carry out shootings. Authorities arrested him on Sept. 6, charging him with making bomb and active shooter threats, a Class X felony in Illinois carrying up to 30 years in prison. He was released under “pretrial conditions,” since the state no longer uses cash bail.

Piker himself has long stirred controversy. He once claimed “America deserved 9/11” and more recently urged activists to continue the anti-Israel movement out of “spite” and “anger.” At the People’s Conference for Palestine, he told attendees, “As long as you continue pushing, the dam will inevitably break.”

Maki now awaits a preliminary hearing on Oct. 3, as questions swirl about the company Piker keeps.

Trump to Posthumously Award Charlie Kirk with Presidential Medal of Freedom

Charlie Kirk Shot
(Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

President Trump announced he will posthumously award Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“Before we begin, let me express the horror and grief so many Americans at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk have felt. Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and an inspiration to millions and millions of people. Our prayers are with his wonderful wife, Erika, and his beautiful children. Fantastic people they are. We miss him greatly, yet I have no doubt that Charlie’s voice and the courage he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will live on,” Trump said during a 9/11 remembrance speech at the Pentagon.

“I am pleased to announce that I will soon be awarding Charlie Kirk, posthumously, the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Trump said during a 9/11 remembrance speech at the Pentagon.

Trump issued a statement on Wednesday following Kirk’s assassination. “Charlie was a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loved so much, the United States of America,” he said. “He fought for liberty, democracy, justice and the American people. He’s a martyr for truth and freedom, and there’s never been anyone who was so respected by youth.”

“Charlie was also a man of deep, deep faith, and we take comfort in the knowledge that he is now at peace with God in heaven. Our prayers are with his wife, Erika, the two young, beloved children and his entire family who he loved more than anything in the world, we ask God to watch over them in this terrible hour of heartache and pain, this is a dark moment for America.”

CNN Downplays Possible Racial Motive in Charlotte Train Murder Despite Video Evidence

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CNN is facing backlash for downplaying the Charlotte Train Murder, in which suspect DeCarlos Brown fatally stabbed Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska. Despite video evidence, CNN contributor Van Jones claimed there was “no evidence” the killing was racially motivated.

Jones criticized conservative commentator Charlie Kirk for saying Zarutska “was murdered just because she was white.” On CNN NewsNight, Jones argued, “We don’t know why that man did what he did. And for Charlie Kirk to say, ‘We know he did it because she’s white’ when there’s no evidence of that is just pure race-mongering, hate-mongering. It’s wrong.”

But surveillance footage contradicts that claim. After stabbing Zarutska without provocation, Brown was heard saying, “I got that white girl, got that white girl,” while walking through the train car.

The Department of Justice announced federal charges Tuesday, with Attorney General Pam Bondi vowing to “seek the maximum penalty,” saying Brown “will never again see the light of day as a free man.”

Kirk pointed to a glaring media double standard, noting that outlets like the New York Times framed the murder as igniting “a firestorm on the right” rather than focusing on Zarutska’s death. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also contrasted the muted coverage with the case of Daniel Penny, arguing, “Many of the journalists in this room spilled plenty of ink, trying to smear Daniel Penny… but none of those same reporters lift a finger to write stories about an actual murderer.”

As Bondi made clear, “Brown will never again see the light of day as a free man.”

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