Author: Mary Chastain
Mary Chastain
Mary is the resident libertarian. She covers stories in every vertical, but her favorite thing to do is take on the media. She saw its bias against the right when she was a socialist.
Mary loves the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Blackhawks, tennis, cats, Oxford comma, Diet Coke, and needlework.
Rand Paul Wants a Senate Vote on One Part of the Saudi Arms Deal
on May 26, 2017
1 Comment
While in Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump signed a $110 billion arms deal with the kingdom. The White House has claimed the deal "includes defense equipment and other support to help the Arab nation and the rest of the Gulf region fight again terrorism and the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran."
But Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has a problem with the munitions part of the deal due to Saudi Arabia's continued coalition in Yemen against the ousted government.
Terrorists Slaughter 28 Coptic Christians in Egypt
on May 26, 2017
9 Comments
At least 10 gunmen opened fire on a bus transporting Coptic Christians in Cairo, Egypt, and killed 28 people. The Christians were headed to the St. Samuel the Confessor monastery.
Men, women, and children are among the dead. Fox News reported that Copt United news portal confirmed only three children survived the massacre. The gunmen also injured 22 others.
Russia’s Presidential Election Will Happen on Crimea Annexation Anniversary
on May 25, 2017
2 Comments
I have no words...
Sex Trafficking Victim Said Captors Forced Her to Have Sex With 120 Men a Week
on May 25, 2017
1 Comment
Investigators in Florida have torn apart a sex trafficking ring in Florida that took place across two counties, which forced women to have sex with at least 100 men a week.
Authorities arrested three men who face accusations "of forcing women to have sex with dozens of men a day." CBS12 discovered "at least six women from different counties were sex trafficked out of several brothels" that existed in Martin and Palm Beach Counties and Lake Worth.
Senate Issues Two Subpoenas to Flynn’s Businesses
on May 24, 2017
13 Comments
On Monday, former national security adviser Michael Flynn refused to honor a subpoena from the Senate Intelligence Committee for documents connected to the investigation into its Russian probe. He invoked his Fifth Amendment right.
The committee has tried another way to receive the documents by issuing two subpoenas for two of Flynn's former businesses. From Reuters:
"While we disagree with General Flynn's lawyers' interpretation of taking the Fifth ... it's even more clear that a business does not have a right to take the Fifth," the panel's vice chairman, Democratic Senator Mark Warner, told reporters, referring to Flynn's decision to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Paul Ryan Won’t Let Go of the Border Adjustment Tax
on May 24, 2017
11 Comments
Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) will not let go of a border adjustment tax (BAT) when it comes to tax reform, which will set up a major showdown with the White House and possibly the Senate.
Ryan admitted today that the House could pass a tax bill without the BAT, but he's still trying to sell the idea to his fellow lawmakers and the White House.
Pakistan Gives Protection to Democratic Aide Who Allegedly Breached House Security
on May 24, 2017
14 Comments
Four IT staff for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and other lawmakers lost their jobs in February after suspicions arose that they breached security on the House IT network.
The U.S. Capitol Police named Hina Alvi, her husband Imran Awan, and his brothers Abid and Jamal "as subjects of a criminal probe."
Now relatives have said that Alvi has fled the United States with her daughters and sought protection from the Pakistani government.
James Bond Star Roger Moore Passes Away at 89
on May 23, 2017
4 Comments
He played Bond seven times....
ISIS Claims Responsibility for Manchester Bombing
on May 23, 2017
9 Comments
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, UK, on Monday night. The attack killed 22 people and left 59 injured.
British authorities refuse to name the attacker, but CBS News reported he was 23-year-old Salman Abedi. Yes, the authorities knew about him before the attack.
DAY TWO: Trump Meets Abbas, Visits Holocaust & Israel Museum
on May 23, 2017
4 Comments
President Donald Trump finished his trip to Israel by meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem and the Israel Museum.
During his first day, Trump "pledged to work toward Israeli-Palestinain peace," but admitted it's the "toughest deal of all." However, he assured Netanyahu "that the U.S. wants Israel to have peace."
19 Dead, 50 Injured at Ariana Grande Concert in Manchester – UPDATED
on May 22, 2017
29 Comments
*We will update this post through the night* (UPDATES BELOW)
An explosion occurred at an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. Police confirmed 19 dead and 50 injured, but have not confirmed exactly what caused the explosion or who caused it.
Police have told Sky News that they decided to treat the incident as a "possible terrorist incident" until the officials know otherwise.
Turkey Summons U.S. Ambassador Over Brawl in D.C.
on May 22, 2017
8 Comments
The Turkish government has summoned the U.S. ambassador over a brawl that Turkish bodyguards instigated in front of the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., last week. From USA Today:
In a statement Monday, Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ambassador was summoned and “a written and verbal protest was delivered due to the aggressive and unprofessional actions taken, contrary to diplomatic rules and practices, by U.S. security personnel toward the close protection team of H.E Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.”
Supreme Court: North Carolina Used Race to Draw Congressional Districts
on May 22, 2017
23 Comments
The Supreme court has ruled that Republicans in North Carolina used race and not politics when they drew congressional districts in 2011. A lower court ruled the same, which "forced legislators to create new maps last year." The News & Observer continued:
The 5-3 ruling, written by Justice Elena Kagan, is among a series by the justices against the excessive use of race in redistricting that state lawmakers across the country take up every 10 years after the release of new Census data. Justice Clarence Thomas joined the majority, taking a stand with more liberal justices with whom he often disagrees.
Who Betrayed the CIA Agents in China?
on May 22, 2017
23 Comments
Between 2010-2012, the Chinese government murdered or imprisoned 18 to 20 CIA agents after it demolished America's spying operations within the country. The CIA has been investigating how this happened, whether a mole leaked information to Beijing or the Chinese managed to break our codes. The New York Times reported:
Assessing the fallout from an exposed spy operation can be difficult, but the episode was considered particularly damaging. The number of American assets lost in China, officials said, rivaled those lost in the Soviet Union and Russia during the betrayals of both Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen, formerly of the C.I.A. and the F.B.I., who divulged intelligence operations to Moscow for years.
Trump Travels to Israel, Visits Western Wall
on May 22, 2017
9 Comments
President Donald Trump has arrived in Israel, which he will visit for two days. In fact, his flight to Israel from Saudi Arabia is the first non-stop flight between the two countries that have no diplomatic ties.
We will publish updates on Trump's visit, a truly historic one since Israel remains our most important ally in the Middle East. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and his wife Nechama and Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife Sara greeted Trump and First Lady Melania Trump as the two descended from Air Force One.
