Harmony Evans's Blog, page 38
September 29, 2025
Several US states have passed bills to ban or restrict AI mental health treatment, as experts say state laws lag behind the fast-moving AI therapy landscape (Devi Shastri/Associated Press)
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Big Technology Podcast:
OpenAI’s & NVIDIA’s $100 Billion Marriage, Meta’s Sloppy Vibes, TikTok Deal Arrives?
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Hard Fork:
The Great A.I. Build-Out + H-1B Visa Chaos + TikTok Braces for the Rapture
The future is already here. Each week, journalists Kevin Roose and Casey Newton explore and make sense of the latest in the rapidly changing world of tech.
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BG2 Pod:
NVIDIA: OpenAI, Future of Compute, and the American Dream
Open-source podcast on all things tech, markets, investing, and capitalism, hosted by Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley.
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Decoder with Nilay Patel:
How AI safety took a backseat to military money
A show from the Verge about big ideas – and other problems.
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Channels with Peter Kafka:
The Future of Late Night TV, Jimmy Kimmel, and The First Amendment
Media and tech aren’t just intersecting – they’re fully intertwined. To understand how those worlds work, Peter Kafka talks to industry leaders, upstarts and observers.
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35-Year-Old Domestic Terrorist Who Firebombed UC Berkeley and Oakland Federal Building Gets Nearly 20 Years in Prison — Admits He was Inspired by Hamas Attack | The Gateway Pundit
35‐year-old Casey Robert Goonan has been sentenced to 235 months — nearly 19.6 years — in federal prison for a string of firebombing attacks targeting UC Berkeley and the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland. The court formally designated him a “domestic terrorist.”
According to the plea agreement, Goonan admitted that in June 2024 he carried out a series of coordinated arsons and attempted firebombings.
On June 1, Goonan placed a bag containing six Molotov cocktails under the fuel tank of a marked University of California Police Department patrol car near the UC Berkeley campus, lit it, and fled. The vehicle caught fire.
On June 11, Goonan traveled to the Oakland federal building, carrying three Molotov cocktails, tried (by throwing rocks) to break windows so he could lob devices inside, but was thwarted by security. Instead, he placed the devices in a planter on the side of the building and lit them.
He also admitted to setting additional fires on the UC Berkeley campus on June 13 and June 16, 2024. In his own statements (as part of the plea), Goonan claimed the attacks were motivated by “despair over Gaza” and that he was inspired by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. He went further, calling on others to carry out property attacks on Bay Area campuses in solidarity with Palestine.
In addition to roughly 235 months (nearly 20 years) behind bars, the court ordered 15 years of supervised release and $94,267.51 in restitution (plus a special assessment).
WATCH:
BREAKING: 35-year-old Casey Goonan has been SENTENCED to 19 years in PRISON after he FIREBOMBED a police car at UC Berkeley!
To top it off, he has connections to Hamas!
His attacks were rightly considered as DOMESTIC TERR0RISM! Goonan actually admitted he was inspired by the… pic.twitter.com/AvVEi55HWM
— Gunther Eagleman
(@GuntherEagleman) September 27, 2025
According to the press release:
Casey Robert Goonan was sentenced today to 235 months in federal prison for committing a series of arsons and firebombings at the University of California, Berkeley and the Oakland federal building in June 2024. Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White handed down the sentence.
In January 2025, Goonan, 35, of Oakland and Pleasant Hill, pleaded guilty to one count of maliciously damaging or destroying property used in or affecting interstate commerce by means of fire or an explosive.
According to a plea agreement filed in open court, in the early morning hours of June 1, 2024, Goonan placed a bag containing six explosive devices commonly known as “Molotov cocktails” underneath the fuel tank of a marked University of California Police Department (UCPD) patrol car parked near the UC Berkeley campus. Goonan lit the bag on fire and fled, causing the patrol car to catch on fire. A video capturing the events on the morning of June 1, 2024, can be viewed here.
Goonan also attempted to firebomb the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on June 11, 2024. Goonan arrived at the federal building carrying a bag containing three Molotov cocktails. Goonan threw rocks at the building, hoping to break a window in order to throw lit Molotov cocktails inside. That plan was disrupted by protective services officers. Upon fleeing from the officers, Goonan placed the Molotov cocktails in a planter on the side of building and lit them on fire.
In addition to these two attacks, Goonan set other fires on the UC Berkeley campus on June 1, June 13, and June 16, 2024.
Goonan acknowledged that these attacks were inspired by Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, and that he called on others to attack property on Bay Area college campuses in support of Palestine. Goonan admitted that his conduct was designed to influence and affect the conduct of governments by intimidation and coercion and to retaliate against the governments of the United States and the State of California for their conduct.
“Freedom of expression and peaceful protest are deeply enshrined values in America. We are all free to think what we want and express those views peacefully, but the use of violence to achieve political aims—or to silence those with whom you may disagree—has no place in our community and our country,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “Anyone who crosses the line between peaceful protest and violence will be met with the full force of the law.”
“Safeguarding our communities from violence remains at the forefront of the FBI’s mission. While free speech and peaceful protest are protected rights, turning to firebombs and arson crosses into criminal conduct that endangers lives and threatens public safety,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo. “Today’s sentencing makes clear that the FBI and our partners will not tolerate violence, and we will hold accountable anyone who seeks to harm our communities.”
At sentencing, the Court referred to Goonan as a “domestic terrorist” and found that he had committed a felony offense that involved or was intended to promote a federal crime of terrorism.
In addition to the prison term, Judge White also ordered the defendant serve 15 years of supervised release after he is released from custody and ordered restitution in the amount of $94,267.51 and a $100 special assessment. The defendant has been in custody since his initial arrest on state charges on June 17, 2024.
EA’s buyout talks highlight the slowdown and consolidation trends in the $178B global gaming market after the COVID boom, as gamers are sticking to old titles (Jason Schreier/Bloomberg)
Lenny’s Podcast:
A 4-step framework for building delightful products | Nesrine Changuel (Spotify, Google, Skype)
Interviews with world-class product leaders and growth experts to uncover actionable advice to help you build, launch, and grow your own product.
Subscribe to Lenny’s Podcast.
Big Technology Podcast:
OpenAI’s & NVIDIA’s $100 Billion Marriage, Meta’s Sloppy Vibes, TikTok Deal Arrives?
The Big Technology Podcast takes you behind the scenes in the tech world featuring interviews with plugged-in insiders and outside agitators.
Subscribe to Big Technology Podcast.
Hard Fork:
The Great A.I. Build-Out + H-1B Visa Chaos + TikTok Braces for the Rapture
The future is already here. Each week, journalists Kevin Roose and Casey Newton explore and make sense of the latest in the rapidly changing world of tech.
Subscribe to Hard Fork.
BG2 Pod:
NVIDIA: OpenAI, Future of Compute, and the American Dream
Open-source podcast on all things tech, markets, investing, and capitalism, hosted by Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley.
Subscribe to BG2 Pod.
Decoder with Nilay Patel:
How AI safety took a backseat to military money
A show from the Verge about big ideas – and other problems.
Subscribe to Decoder with Nilay Patel.
Channels with Peter Kafka:
The Future of Late Night TV, Jimmy Kimmel, and The First Amendment
Media and tech aren’t just intersecting – they’re fully intertwined. To understand how those worlds work, Peter Kafka talks to industry leaders, upstarts and observers.
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President Trump Gives Details on Hegseth’s “Rare and Urgent” Military Meeting in Virginia | The Gateway Pundit
As The Gateway Pundit reported last week, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ordered all of the United States’ top military commanders to gather on Tuesday at Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia.
Hegseth urgently announced the meeting on Thursday of last week and originally gave no details on the subject matter.
Officials within the Pentagon have since revealed Hegseth’s plans to give a speech on “warrior ethos” and will outline the military’s new direction under the Trump administration.
President Trump broke his silence on the meeting and shared, “It’s really just a very nice meeting, talking about how well we’re doing militarily, talking about being in great shape.”
He added, “You know the expression ‘esprit de corps’? That’s all it’s about. We’re talking about what we’re doing, what they’re doing, and how we’re doing.”
The Independent further reported that President Trump will be present during the meeting.
Trump to attend Hegseth’s speech dragging generals in from around the globe: report https://t.co/j3pbAe63qa pic.twitter.com/sYx4GK3ylf
— The Independent (@Independent) September 28, 2025
Per NBC News:
President Donald Trump in an interview with NBC News Sunday, confirmed that he plans to attend an unusual meeting organized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that will gather hundreds of senior military officers near Washington on Tuesday.
“It’s really just a very nice meeting talking about how well we’re doing militarily, talking about being in great shape, talking about a lot of good, positive things. It’s just a good message,” Trump told NBC News in a phone call. “We have some great people coming in and it’s just an ‘esprit de corps.’ You know the expression ‘esprit de corps’? That’s all it’s about. We’re talking about what we’re doing, what they’re doing, and how we’re doing.”
Hegseth last week summoned hundreds of senior military leaders, who are stationed all over the world, to Washington for a meeting of the Pentagon’s top brass.
The event will be held at Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia, about 30 minutes south of Washington. The base will host potentially thousands of military members, including the top brass, their aides and their security.
On Thursday, President Trump praised Hegseth’s plan to conduct a meeting with the U.S. military’s top generals and admirals and stated, “I love it, I mean I think it’s great.”
September 28, 2025
Oregon Files Suit After Hegseth Orders 200 National Guard Troops Federalized to Protect ICE Agents and Facilities in Antifa Stronghold State | The Gateway Pundit
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Sunday ordered two hundred Oregon National Guard troops to be put under federal control to protect ICE agents and facilities. The ICE facility in Portland used to process arrested illegal aliens has been the target of violent protests by Antifa terrorists all summer long, with the state and city governments refusing to help protect the facility or local residents who have been tormented and assaulted by Antifa.
Oregon’s attorney general immediately filed suit to block the federalization of the Guard troops.
The two hundred Oregon National Guard troops will be put under the command of Northern Command for a period of sixty days.
Hegseth’s orders came a day after President Donald Trump announced he was authorizing the deployment of troops to protect the Portland ICE facility.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 27, 2025
A copy of Hegseth’s orders was posted by Washington Post reporter Dan Lamothe:
In new memo, @PeteHegseth says 200 members of the Oregon National Guard will be “called into Federal service effective immediately for a period of 60 days.”
Follows Trump’s call for a military response in Portland.
Has similar feel to deployment to L.A. that began in June. pic.twitter.com/l6ylISnowR
— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) September 28, 2025
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield (D) quickly announced he was filing suit to stop the federalization of the Oregon National Guard troops.
BREAKING NEWS: Oregon sues Trump administration over unlawful federalization of National Guard. Read more. pic.twitter.com/Qamd4C5obX
— Attorney General Dan Rayfield (@AGDanRayfield) September 28, 2025
Excerpt from The Oregonian report on the suit:
“The facts cannot justify this overreach,” says the 41-page suit filed by the State of Oregon and City of Portland against Trump.
It notes that protests outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland have been small in recent weeks, typically drawing less than 30 people.
“Defendants’ heavy-handed deployment of troops threatens to escalate tensions and stokes new unrest,” the suit says.
Filed in federal court in Portland, it marks the latest legal challenge to Trump’s move to send troops into cities and asks a judge to bar Trump from any deployment of troops to Oregon.
The governor received an email notice at 9:32 a.m. Sunday that Trump had invoked Title 10 to deploy the National Guard to the city of Portland from the U.S. Department of War.
The attorney general’s office moved to file the suit as soon as possible and will be filing a temporary restraining order to try to block an arrival of troops.
A copy of the lawsuit was posted by Politico reporter Kyle Cheney (direct link here)
JUST IN: Oregon sues to stop Trump’s deployment of the military, saying its pretextual and that ICE protests have been small and relatively contained since June. https://t.co/8F1clEcvoq pic.twitter.com/brYNE5UGnB
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) September 28, 2025
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) harshly criticized President Trump, “Donald Trump is illegally taking charge of Oregon’s National Guard for a federal occupation Oregonians don’t want and don’t need. Oregon’s elected officials are fighting this every step of the way to protect the people in our state.”
Donald Trump is illegally taking charge of Oregon’s National Guard for a federal occupation Oregonians don’t want and don’t need. Oregon’s elected officials are fighting this every step of the way to protect the people in our state. https://t.co/RI8ENwFehU
— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) September 28, 2025
On Saturday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek (D) told reporters she opposed Trump’s federalizing of Guard troops:
NOW – Governor of Oregon: “there is no insurrection, there is no threat to national security and there is no need for military troops in our major city.” pic.twitter.com/wdGECw2kFS
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) September 27, 2025
Hegseth’s orders puts Oregon National Guard Adjutant General, Brigadier General Alan R. Gronewold, in a tight squeeze between state and federal officials. Gronewold appeared at Saturday’s press conference by Kotek and other Democrat officials, including Portland Mayor Keith Wilson (D).
Why are the military standing with the Mayor of Portland as he denounces President Trump? pic.twitter.com/QTc5shVKp1
— David Santa Carla (@TheOnlyDSC) September 27, 2025
All is not lost in Portland. An ICE supporter posted a video clip overnight, “Video taken 10 minutes ago from South waterfront Portland, Oregon close to the Portland ice facility. We have Blackhawk helicopters and drones flying over the neighborhood. It’s sad that it came to this, but after four months of violent nightly riots by ANTIFA it’s about time someone took care of the problem!”
Video taken 10 minutes ago from South waterfront Portland, Oregon close to the Portland ice facility. We have Blackhawk helicopters and drones flying over the neighborhood . It’s sad that it came to this, but after four months of violent nightly riots by ANTIFA it’s about time… pic.twitter.com/lIMXQOYaHe
— JoJo (@JojopdxOr) September 28, 2025
Post Millennial senior editor Andy Ngo posted an Antifa graphic calling for a protest at the Portland ICE facility Sunday afternoon.
A direct action has been planned for Sept. 28 at the Portland ICE facility after Trump issued a statement that he plans to send in troops to protect the federal property. Antifa and communists have said they refuse to back down and plan to escalate their rioting. They have called… pic.twitter.com/bsh4CW4BCc
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) September 27, 2025
London-based Paid, which helps AI agent providers monetize and track costs, raised a $21.6M seed led by Lightspeed, a source says at a $100M+ valuation (Julie Bort/TechCrunch)
Lenny’s Podcast:
A 4-step framework for building delightful products | Nesrine Changuel (Spotify, Google, Skype)
Interviews with world-class product leaders and growth experts to uncover actionable advice to help you build, launch, and grow your own product.
Subscribe to Lenny’s Podcast.
Big Technology Podcast:
OpenAI’s & NVIDIA’s $100 Billion Marriage, Meta’s Sloppy Vibes, TikTok Deal Arrives?
The Big Technology Podcast takes you behind the scenes in the tech world featuring interviews with plugged-in insiders and outside agitators.
Subscribe to Big Technology Podcast.
Hard Fork:
The Great A.I. Build-Out + H-1B Visa Chaos + TikTok Braces for the Rapture
The future is already here. Each week, journalists Kevin Roose and Casey Newton explore and make sense of the latest in the rapidly changing world of tech.
Subscribe to Hard Fork.
BG2 Pod:
NVIDIA: OpenAI, Future of Compute, and the American Dream
Open-source podcast on all things tech, markets, investing, and capitalism, hosted by Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley.
Subscribe to BG2 Pod.
Decoder with Nilay Patel:
How AI safety took a backseat to military money
A show from the Verge about big ideas – and other problems.
Subscribe to Decoder with Nilay Patel.
Channels with Peter Kafka:
The Future of Late Night TV, Jimmy Kimmel, and The First Amendment
Media and tech aren’t just intersecting – they’re fully intertwined. To understand how those worlds work, Peter Kafka talks to industry leaders, upstarts and observers.
Subscribe to Channels with Peter Kafka.
GUESS WHO’S NOT ABOVE THE LAW? MI SOS Benson In The Hot Seat After DOJ Sues Her For Blocking Access to Michigan’s Dirty Voter Rolls | The Gateway Pundit
The Trump administration is taking Michigan’s Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to court, accusing her of deliberately preventing them from accessing complete voter registration records.
MI SOS Jocelyn Benson receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her “work” in the 2020 election.On Thursday, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced the filing of federal lawsuits against six states — California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania for failure to produce their statewide voter registration lists upon request. The lawsuit against Benson was filed in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids, charging that she is violating federal law by stonewalling investigators and demanding that she be compelled to turn over the records.
Michigan residents have watched Secretary of State Benson mock efforts by state lawmakers and threaten citizens who ask for transparency in elections since 2020, all in an effort to shield her dirty rolls from scrutiny.
The statement from the DOJ reminds Americans about the importance of well-maintained voter rolls: “Clean voter rolls are the foundation of free and fair elections,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Every state has a responsibility to ensure that voter registration records are accurate, accessible, and secure — states that don’t fulfill that obligation will see this Department of Justice in court.”
“States are required to safeguard American elections by complying with our federal elections laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Clean voter rolls protect American citizens from voting fraud and abuse, and restore their confidence that their states’ elections are conducted properly, with integrity, and in compliance with the law.”
Yesterday, in response to the lawsuit against her, the defiant Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, mocked the DOJ’s demand for transparency, saying, “It’s important for every Michigander to understand what’s at stake here – the U.S. Justice Department is trying to get us to turn over the private, personal information of more than 8 million state residents. That includes people’s driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, and other personally identifiable information.” Benson called it an” illegal and unconstitutional power grab,” adding, “I told them they can’t have it.”
Perhaps someone should inform Jocelyn Benson that the government has access to the Social Security numbers of all American citizens. It’s not the American citizens who are legally registered to vote in Michigan that the DOJ is concerned about; it’s the ILLEGAL aliens and fake voters created during her 7 years in office that the DOJ is interested in reviewing.
This isn’t the first time Jocelyn Benson’s dirty voter rolls have been challenged. On October 22, 2024, Democrat U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering, who was appointed by the far-left former Governor Jennifer Granholm, ruled against the RNC in their lawsuit against SOS Benson and MI Bureau of Elections Director Jonathan Brater.
The lawsuit claimed that MI SOS Benson and BOE Director Brater/ former ERIC chair, failed to meet the requirements outlined in Section 8 of the NVRA, or National Voter Registration Act, which requires states to maintain clean and accurate voter registration records.
Of the 83 counties in Michigan, the lawsuit claims at least 53 have more active registered voters than adult citizens over 18, and 23 have registrations exceeding 90% of adult citizens over 18. The lawsuit states, “That number of voters is impossibly high.”
In her laughable ruling, the U.S. District judge stated that Republicans, who filed the lawsuit in March, did not provide sufficient evidence and lacked legal standing in their challenge.
On Friday, a stunning decision by a unanimous Sixth Circuit panel affirmed the District Court’s dismissal of the RNC’s case against Benson’s bloated voter rolls.
Benson, who has been on the losing side of multiple lawsuits since her election in 2022, has repeatedly snubbed lawmakers and citizens who’ve questioned what appears to be an intentional effort to keep voter data and voter registration data secret. In addition to her lack of transparency, Benson blatantly violates the law with made-up rules, such as instructing clerks in 2020 to ignore signature matching on absentee ballots during COVID lockdowns, which was responsible for a massive uptick in absentee voting. When she was caught violating campaign finance law by announcing her candidacy for governor in a government building, she shrugged it off. Unbelievably, it’s Jocelyn Benson’s office that is responsible for investigating campaign finance violations. If the Secretary of State is caught violating campaign finance law, the attorney general is supposed to investigate and make the appropriate charges against her, but as is typical in Michigan, the lawless Democrat AG Dana Nessel refused to hold her fellow elected Democrat official accountable.
Only months before the 2024 election, the Gateway Pundit rang the alarm about a plot by Democrats to register 1.7 million new UOCVA (Uniformed Officer and Civilian Voters Act) voters, that they like to refer to as “military” voters, so Americans don’t look too closely at the scheme to register millions of “voters” from overseas who don’t even have to prove they ever lived in the state of Michigan or that they’re American citizens. The Michigan Republican Party attorney, Mike Bishop, and the RNC filed charges against the MI SOS to stop the practice of allowing unvetted “overseas voters” from registering to vote and voting in our elections.
Of course, a liberal Governor Whitmer appointed judge dismissed the case. It was appealed by the RNC and was denied largely on procedural grounds (like laches and the timing of the challenge) rather than a full ruling on all merits.
Last month, Jocelyn Benson sent a letter to clerks, letting them know that she would be allowing overseas “NON-military” voters to use the most insecure form of voting available, online voting, beginning on September 14, 2025. Benson’s new, seemingly insane rule, in fact, was implemented on September 15, which allows unvetted “voters” from unknown locations to vote from their phones in Michigan’s general elections.
Will the DOJ be able to finally rein in Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who has done so much to erode trust in elections, not just among Michigan voters, but among voters across America, who’ve been watching her actions go unchecked for seven years?
VCs say some AI startups, under pressure to show rapid ARR growth, are using questionable accounting practices like counting one-time deals as recurring revenue (Allie Garfinkle/Fortune)
Lenny’s Podcast:
A 4-step framework for building delightful products | Nesrine Changuel (Spotify, Google, Skype)
Interviews with world-class product leaders and growth experts to uncover actionable advice to help you build, launch, and grow your own product.
Subscribe to Lenny’s Podcast.
Big Technology Podcast:
OpenAI’s & NVIDIA’s $100 Billion Marriage, Meta’s Sloppy Vibes, TikTok Deal Arrives?
The Big Technology Podcast takes you behind the scenes in the tech world featuring interviews with plugged-in insiders and outside agitators.
Subscribe to Big Technology Podcast.
Hard Fork:
The Great A.I. Build-Out + H-1B Visa Chaos + TikTok Braces for the Rapture
The future is already here. Each week, journalists Kevin Roose and Casey Newton explore and make sense of the latest in the rapidly changing world of tech.
Subscribe to Hard Fork.
BG2 Pod:
NVIDIA: OpenAI, Future of Compute, and the American Dream
Open-source podcast on all things tech, markets, investing, and capitalism, hosted by Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley.
Subscribe to BG2 Pod.
Decoder with Nilay Patel:
How AI safety took a backseat to military money
A show from the Verge about big ideas – and other problems.
Subscribe to Decoder with Nilay Patel.
Channels with Peter Kafka:
The Future of Late Night TV, Jimmy Kimmel, and The First Amendment
Media and tech aren’t just intersecting – they’re fully intertwined. To understand how those worlds work, Peter Kafka talks to industry leaders, upstarts and observers.
Subscribe to Channels with Peter Kafka.
From Hunted as One of the Bloodiest Jihadists to UN Delegate: The Transformation of Muhammad Al-Jawlani and the Moral Decline of the International Organization
Muhammad Al-Jawlani, also known as Ahmed al-Sharaa, who in 2017 was designated by the United States as one of the most dangerous jihadists with a reward of up to $10 million for his capture, recently appeared seated at the United Nations General Assembly. This image has sparked outrage and debate.
The photograph, shared on social media, shows Al-Jawlani smiling and conversing with other delegates—a chilling contrast to his past as the leader of the Al-Nusrah Front, a Syrian affiliate of Al-Qaeda.
Al-Jawlani’s story begins in the shadows of the Syrian conflict. In 2013, the UN Security Council designated him a global terrorist for his role in financing, planning, and executing attacks alongside Al-Qaeda.
According to the U.S. State Department, under his leadership, Al-Nusrah carried out multiple suicide bombings in Damascus and other regions of Syria, resulting in the deaths of innocent civilians.
His name was linked to sectarian violence that contradicted the aspirations for a democratic Syria, as noted in an official 2013 report.
The U.S. State Department press release states:
Al-Jawlani is considered the leader of Al-Nusrah. He has declared in videos that his ultimate goal is the overthrow of the Syrian regime and the imposition of Islamic Sharia law across the country. Al-Jawlani was specifically tasked by Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) to carry out these objectives.
Under Al-Jawlani’s leadership, the Al-Nusrah Front has conducted multiple suicide attacks throughout Syria. These attacks have primarily targeted Damascus, but the group has also struck other areas of the country. Many of these attacks have killed innocent Syrian civilians.
Operations claimed by Al-Nusrah since the group’s designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in December 2012 include a suicide attack on January 26, 2013, against a military base in the Syrian province of Quneitra, near the Golan Heights; a February 15, 2013, statement claiming responsibility for early February suicide attacks on regime targets in Damascus and the nearby city of Al-Shadadi; and a March 20, 2013, statement claiming responsibility for two separate suicide attacks targeting a bridge and a bunker near the city of Homs on March 6, 2013.
However, Al-Jawlani did not remain «stuck» in his extremist past. In 2016, he formally «broke» with Al-Qaeda and rebranded his group as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, which in 2017 transformed into Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
This rebranding was part of a strategy to gain legitimacy, culminating in December of that year when HTS, under his command, led an offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad and seized control of Damascus, consolidating dominance over much of Syria.
This rise to power has allowed Al-Jawlani to position himself as a political leader on the international stage. His presence at the UN, just days before the anniversary of September 11—an attack in which Al-Qaeda, his former ally, played a central role—has been seen as a slap in the face to global terrorism victims.
His appearance in New York during the commemoration of the 9/11 victims heightens the perceived hypocrisy.Al-Jawlani’s transformation is not only personal but also reflects geopolitical shifts in the Middle East. His group has attempted to present itself as an alternative to the chaos of the Assad regime, yet his violent past remains a specter that cannot be ignored.
According to the UN Security Council website, his record includes recruitment and arms supply, keeping him on international sanctions lists. Nevertheless, his new role at the UN suggests that political legitimacy can be purchased with territorial power.
This case raises profound questions about the ethical standards of global institutions. Is the UN a forum for reconciliation or a stage where victors, regardless of their past, set the rules?
The image of Al-Jawlani laughing in the General Assembly, while his bloody history remains fresh in many people’s memories, serves as a reminder of how «politics» can erode the principles of justice.
About The Author Joana CamposJoana Campos es abogada y editora con más de 10 años de experiencia en la gestión de proyectos de desarrollo internacional, enfocada en la sostenibilidad y el impacto social positivo. Anteriormente, trabajó como abogada corporativa. Egresada de la Universidad de Guadalajara.
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Conservative Pro-Debate Group Kicked Off Campus At Tennessee State University | The Gateway Pundit
A pro Debate conservative group known as “Fearless Debates” was kicked off campus at Tennessee State University as reported by Campus Reform.
In a widely viewed video on social media a man wearing a MAGA hat is seen being yelled at by students.
Later on an angry riot broke out with people throwing things at debaters Cam Higby and David Khait’s vehicle.
The students rioting also shouted Black power at the Cam and David.
The “Fearless Debates” posted on Instagram that the group was tabling at Tennessee State University was the first historically Black University they were visiting on this tour named Fearless Tour.
These debaters just wished to have a respectful exchange of ideas but sadly on many liberal campuses this is no longer accepted.
The signs they used to promote discussion stated “DEI should be illegal” as well as “Deport all illegals now! Lets talk!”.
According to News Channel 5 “Fearless Debates” said “they had come to create conversation and discourse.” They were eventually kicked off campus.
The university stated “The safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff remain our highest priority. TSU will continue to uphold university policies and ensure that campus remains a safe, welcoming and orderly environment for all members of our community.”
The NAACP claimed this free speech group had sought to “antagonize, disrupt, and instill fear in a space created to be safe, affirming, and supportive of Black students.”
College was originally meant to be a place of different ideas and debates but apparently The NAACP doesn’t agree with exposing students to different ideas.
