Harmony Evans's Blog, page 557
January 27, 2024
Texas AG Ken Paxton Rejects Biden Admin Demands for Access to Shelby Park in Eagle Pass | The Gateway Pundit
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday rejected demands by the Biden administration for access to Shelby Park in Eagle Pass where the Border Patrol had previously processed massive numbers of illegal aliens who crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico. Texas took control of the 47 acre city park on January 10 under the order of Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and has blocked the federal government from accessing the property ever since–even after a Supreme Court ruling that the federal government could cut or remove razor wire and other barriers erected by Texas to protect the state from mass illegal immigration being enabled by the Biden administration.
The move by Texas to block the federal government from Shelby Park drew added controversy when Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX) falsely accused Gov. Abbott of letting three illegal aliens drown in the Rio Grande by denying Border Patrol agents access to the park.
The Biden administration has so far not tried to use force to access the park. DHS sent a letter on Tuesday citing the Supreme Court decision to demand access to the park. Texas rejected the DHS demand. (Excerpt, CNN timeline of events at Shelby Park):
The US Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to Texas’ attorney general reiterating the federal government’s demand that state authorities fully reopen the Shelby Park area to Border Patrol agents.
This time, the DHS general counsel cited the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing federal authorities to cut or remove razor wire and argued it had the legal right to access disputed areas in Eagle Pass.
“Pursuant to federal law enabling the U.S. government to condemn property rights essential to control and guard the borders of the United States, 8 U.S.C § 1103(b), the Department acquired permanent real estate interests in and around Eagle Pass in 2008 to support the construction and maintenance of border barriers in and around the Shelby Park area,” the DHS wrote to Paxton.
“For much of the property … the Department acquired fee simple interest from the City of Eagle Pass via condemnation as well as from private landowners.”
Paxton sent a response letter to the general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security on Friday rejecting demands for access to Shelby Park and instead made demands of the federal government to prove ownership or provide access agreements to plats of land in or near the park that the department claims to have. Paxton gave DHS a deadline of February 15.
Paxton posted about his letter on X Twitter:
Today, I denied the Biden Administration’s unfounded requests & issued counter-demands. By February 15, DHS must supply the official plat maps & deeds demonstrating the precise parcels to which they claim ownership, an explanation of how Texas is preventing access to those specific parcels, documentation showing that Eagle Pass or Texas ever granted permission for DHS to erect infrastructure that interferes with border security, & proof of Congress empowering DHS to turn a Texas park into an unofficial & illegal port of entry. If the federal gov. is going to make such claims, it must provide proof.
Presumably because you have no meaningful response to our letter, your latest letter abandons earlier factual assertions, asserts new ones, & supplies even less of a legal basis for your demand. Once again, I respectfully suggest that any time you might spend suing Texas should be redirected toward enforcing the immigration laws Congress already has on the books. As I said before, this office will continue to defend Texas’s efforts to protect its southern border against every effort by the Biden Administration to undermine the State’s constitutional right of self-defense.
Today, I denied the Biden Administration’s unfounded requests & issued counter-demands. By February 15, DHS must supply the official plat maps & deeds demonstrating the precise parcels to which they claim ownership, an explanation of how Texas is preventing access to those… https://t.co/cXwBfGtiG3
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) January 27, 2024
January 26, 2024
Jonathan E. Meyer
General Counsel
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
2707 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE
Washington, D.C. 20528-0525
Dear Mr. Meyer:
Dear Mr. Meyer:
I have received your second demand letter dated January 23, 2024, in which DHS continues to complain about how TMD secured Shelby Park in the City of Eagle Pass, Texas. In a previous response, I explained that your original letter “misstates both the facts and the law in demanding that Texas surrender to President Biden’s open-border policies.” Presumably because you have no meaningful response to our letter, your latest letter abandons earlier factual assertions, asserts new ones, and supplies even less of a legal basis for your demand. Once again, I respectfully suggest that any time you might spend suing Texas should be redirected toward enforcing the immigration laws Congress already has on the books.
Again, let’s start with the facts. As I have already explained, U.S. Border Patrol withdrew from Shelby Park last year and deliberately reduced its ability to respond to medical emergencies in the vicinity. The tragic incident on January 12, 2024 that you once tried to pin on Texas had already occurred well before your agency’s officers arrived at the Shelby Park gate—conspicuously lacking any equipment to perform an emergency rescue. And the supposed “Memorandum of Agreement” between U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the City of Eagle Pass from 2015 (2015 MOA) was never approved by Texas as required under the State’s constitution. Your latest letter disputes none of this. Instead, you now claim Texas has somehow restricted access to land owned by the federal government. Yet your first demand letter acknowledged that Shelby Park “is municipal land owned by the City of Eagle Pass,” not the United States. Which is it?
If this newfound allegation of federal “property rights” were true, Texas would of course remove any obstructions to federal land pursuant to a lawful court order. This State will continue to respect another sovereign’s property rights, even though the federal government refuses to do so. See, e.g., Texas v. DHS, 2023 WL 7135677, at *3 (W.D. Tex. Oct. 30, 2023) (Moses, C.J.) (finding federal agents repeatedly trespassed to state chattels, and even “damaged more property a mere day after” the State sought a temporary restraining order); Texas v. DHS, 88 F.4th 1127, 1136 (5th Cir. 2023)(observing that federal agents “have repeatedly ‘damage[d], destroy[ed], and exercis[ed]dominion over state property’”), vacated, 2024 WL 222180 (U.S. Jan. 22, 2024) (mem.).
After conducting a diligent search in the arbitrarily short period you allotted for this rebuttal, it appears there are serious reasons to question both of your new claims of federal property rights. First, you say the United States acquired fee-simple title to certain parcels in the Shelby Park area. But your own map shows that most of the tracts you reference fall outside the perimeter area secured by Texas at Shelby Park. With respect to parcels identified in your maps that are actually in the vicinity of the park, publicly available records suggest the United States does not even purport to own what your latest letter claims. For example, the home-cooked map attached to your
letter insinuates that the United States has title to every parcel on the west side of Ryan Street bordering Shelby Park. Based on our necessarily cursory review, current records from Maverick County do not support that claim. By February 15, 2024, Texas hereby demands that your agency supply the following documents and information to this office:
official plat maps and deeds demonstrating the precise parcels that you believe the United States owns; and your explanation of how exactly Texas officials are preventing access to those parcels by federal agents.
Second, you say the United States acquired a perpetual easement from the City of Eagle Pass in 2018. What I said last week about the 2015 MOA, I will say again about your latest claim: “Texas never approved that transaction as required by Article IV, § 10 of the Texas Constitution. Your federal agency cannot have something that was not the City’s to give.” You are invited to read that document at https://tlc.texas.gov/docs/legref/TxC.... But even if the 2015 MOA were somehow valid, you are not seeking “access consistent with” its terms. The “nonexclusive” easement from 2018 is attached for your convenience. Its express “purpose” was to allow “maintenance . . . of a road” along the river, including “the right to trim . . . trees” or other obstacles within the roadway. Elsewhere, the 2018 easement prohibits the United States from making any permanent improvements “other than a Roadway” without written City approval. If your federal agency wishes to help municipal officials with tree-trimming and road-maintenance chores, I suspect they would appreciate the help. The 2018 easement, however, nowhere contemplates allowing the federal government to deploy infrastructure that President Biden will use to wave thousands of illegal aliens into a park that will “continue to [be] use[d] and enjoy[ed]” for “recreation events.” By February 15, 2024, Texas hereby demands that your agency supply the following documents and information to this office:
any written approval from the City of Eagle Pass or the State of Texas consenting to allow your federal agents to erect the open-border infrastructure hinted at in your letter; and your explanation of where the Congress has empowered your federal agency to pursue this scheme, notwithstanding statutory provisions to the contrary.
Without clarifying both the metes and bounds of the federal government’s alleged “property rights,” and how its lawful access to such property has been in any way impeded, the State cannot meaningfully assess your demand. But to the extent your agency demands access in order to once again transform Shelby Park into “an unofficial and unlawful port of entry,” Texas v. DHS, 2023 WL 8285223, at *14 (W.D. Tex. Nov. 29, 2023) (Moses, C.J.), your request is hereby denied.
To be clear, your latest letter points to no law supporting the agency’s right to do that. In an unexplained reference to “Border Patrol’s responsibility and statutory authorities,” you parrot statutory language about the need “to patrol the border.” But you (unsurprisingly) omit the statutory language that your agency continues publicly to disregard: Border Patrol is tasked with “patrolling the border to prevent the illegal entry of aliens.” 8 U.S.C. § 1357(a)(3) (emphasis added). Instead, you fixate on a recent order from the Supreme Court of the United States. As you know, that unsigned order supplied no rationale for vacating a Fifth Circuit injunction. It may be that the
Supreme Court was misled by allegations levelled by your federal agency, and which you repeated in your January 14th letter to our office. In any event, the Court’s order certainly said nothing about access to Shelby Park, which even the federal government’s lawyers acknowledged is “not presented” in that ongoing litigation. See Second Supplemental Memorandum at 5, DHS v. Texas, No. 23A607 (Jan. 15, 2024).
As I said before, this office will continue to defend Texas’s efforts to protect its southern border against every effort by the Biden Administration to undermine the State’s constitutional right of self-defense. You should advise your clients to join us in those efforts by doing their job and following the law.
Sincerely,
Ken Paxton
Attorney General of Texas
cc: The Honorable Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas
Major General Thomas M. Suelzer, Adjutant General, Texas Military Department
The Honorable Merrick B. Garland, U.S. Attorney General
Paxton appeared on the Fox News Channel Thursday night to discuss the crisis at the border:
The post Texas AG Ken Paxton Rejects Biden Admin Demands for Access to Shelby Park in Eagle Pass | The Gateway Pundit appeared first on Harmony Evans.
Crazy E. Jean Carroll Accused Several Men of Sexual Abuse Including CBS CEO Les Moonves – Who Also Emphatically Denies Her Accusation | The Gateway Pundit
E. Jean Carroll on the cover of New York Magazine in 2019.
For some strange reason – this news DID NOT make any headlines in the mainstream Trump-hating media.
E. Jean Carroll accused several men of sexual assault including a babysitter’s boyfriend. a dentist, a camp counselor, a college day, a boss, and Les Moonves from CBS – and, of course, Donald Trump.
We forgive you if you’ve never heard this before.
The National Pulse reported:
Carroll has claimed to have been assaulted by numerous men other than Donald Trump, including a babysitter’s boyfriend, a dentist, a camp counselor, an unnamed college date, an unnamed boss, and CBS chief executive Les Moonves. Her lawsuit against Trump was funded by Democrat billionaire Reid Hoffman.
We are trying to confirm all of the reported accusations. We know for certain that she accused former CBS CEO Les Moonves of sexual assault.
Moonves “emphatically denies” Carroll’s account.
Here’s what you need to know about E. Jean Carroll, that was previously reported here on The Gateway Pundit. Most of these information were deemed “inadmissible” by the judge per John LeFevre:
She couldn’t recall the date, month, season, or year the incident happenedShe never told anyone about it, despite being publicly obsessed with her own sexualityThe dress she claims to have been wearing didn’t exist at the timeHer description of the dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman was inaccurate, making her sequence of events impossibleHer lawsuit was bankrolled by Jeffrey Epstein pal and Democrat (and Nikki Haley) mega-donor Reid HoffmanDemocrats created a law (The Adult Survivors Act in 2022) to enable her lawsuit to proceedHer accusation is the exact plotline of an episode of Law & Order (one of her “favorite shows”)Trump’s Apprentice was also one of her favorite showsShe has a history of falsely accusing men of rape, including Les MoonvesShe told Anderson Cooper, “most people think of rape as being sexy. Think of the fantasies.”She made a career promoting promiscuity, even writing glowingly of sexual assault and naming her cat VaginaCarroll’s interviews on TV, social media posts, and inconsistent information concerning her allegations should have been enough to throw out any case, but not with Judge Kaplan.
There is no way that this case should have been brought to court. Trump was not even told what month or year the ridiculous story actually took place.
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The post Crazy E. Jean Carroll Accused Several Men of Sexual Abuse Including CBS CEO Les Moonves – Who Also Emphatically Denies Her Accusation | The Gateway Pundit appeared first on Harmony Evans.
Kari Lake Gets Booed At Arizona Republican Convention
Failed gubernatorial candidate/Senate candidate Kari Lake was booed at the Arizona Republican convention when she claimed Arizona elections are corrupt.
Lake said, “We don’t agree on everything. But one thing we can agree on is the elections in Arizona are a corrupt mess. Can we agree that the elections in Arizona are a corrupt mess? ”
(Crowd boos)
Lake continues, “No? I know that more than anybody, and President Trump knows that more than everybody, this election is about making sure that our elections in 2024 are run fairly.
Video:
Interesting reaction by AZGOP to Kari Lake. https://t.co/yW26nyUBVK pic.twitter.com/36U4G0tPRA
— Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (@yvonnewingett) January 27, 2024
There are a lot of Republicans, especially in swing states, who realize that the stolen election nonsense that is being pushed by Trump and Lake is costing the GOP elections.
It is very possible that Kari Lake will finish third in the likely three way Senate race in Arizona. Lake can’t even make it through the Arizona Republican convention without getting booed. It is difficult to see how she is going to be able to get enough support to be the next senator from Arizona. The polling in both Iowa and New Hampshire suggests that there a sizable number of Republicans who are tired of the Trump show and want to move on.
Kari Lake getting booed is just another sign that Trump and his crew are reaching the end of the line.
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Meta to launch tool to block nude images in messages
Meta has announced that it is preparing to launch stricter safety tools to block children from receiving and sending nude images, the social media giant said in a blog post on Thursday.
The tool, which will be available to all users but mainly aimed towards women and teenagers, will be an optional setting on both Facebook and Instagram and will also be active in encrypted messages. This follows criticism from the government and police after Meta decided to encrypt Messenger chats by default.
It is a feature, Meta says, which is solely designed to protect users from either being sent or pressured into sending nude images, while an additional policy change to Meta’s primary platforms will be that minors are unable to receive messages from strangers. Instagram and Messenger already prevent adults over the age of 19 from messaging teens who do not follow them by default.
Meta says it has “developed more than 30 tools and features to help support teens and their parents.” These latest updates take the protection of minors online to a new level of safety. The California-based firm has said it will release more information regarding the features designed to help protect teens from seeing potentially inappropriate images in their messages later this year.
Will Meta’s new safety tools put parents’ minds at rest?The BBC reports that police chiefs in the UK have said young people sending nude images on social media contributed to a rise in sexual offenses committed by children in England and Wales.
What’s more, legal filings made public as part of a US lawsuit against Meta allege company documents show around 100,000 teenage users of Facebook and Instagram are sexually harassed online every single day.
Therefore, Meta’s responsibility to keep its young users safe cannot be understated, and these most recent updates suggest they are taking that responsibility seriously. The fact they will be available with encrypted messages, too, will be a positive move in the eyes of concerned parents.
The tech company first launched a parental supervision tool on Instagram in 2022, which includes giving the parents the ability to set time limits, and schedule breaks, to be notified when their teen blocks or reports someone and to be notified when their settings have been changed.
Recent changes have given parents even more control, with changes to safety and privacy settings now requiring parental approval.
CEO of ConnectSafely, Larry Magid, said: “Empowering parents to approve or deny requests to change their teen’s default settings gives parents the tools they need to help protect their teens, while at the same time respecting their teens’ privacy and ability to communicate with their friends and family.”
Featured Image: Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
James Jones Freelance Journalist James Jones is a highly experienced journalist, podcaster and digital publishing specialist, who has been creating content in a variety of forms for online publications in the sports and tech industry for over 10 years.
He has worked at some of the leading online publishers in the country, most recently as the Content Lead for Snack Media’s expansive of portfolio of websites, including Football Fancast.com, FootballLeagueWorld.co.uk and GiveMeSport.com. James has also appeared on several national and global media outlets, including BBC News, talkSPORT, LBC Radio, 5 Live Radio, TNT Sports, GB News and BBC’s Match of the Day 2.
James has a degree in Journalism and previously held the position of Editor-in-Chief at FootballFanCast.com. Now, he co-hosts the popular We Are West Ham Podcast, writes a weekly column for BBC Sport and covers the latest news in the industry for ReadWrite.com.
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OUTRAGEOUS: IRS Contractor Who Stole and Leaked Trump’s Tax Returns Could Face Little or No Jail Time | The Gateway Pundit
This past fall, a contractor for the IRS named Charles Littlejohn admitted to taking a job with the IRS with the goal of stealing Trump’s tax returns, which he did.
The Gateway Pundit did an extensive report about Littlejohn and his crimes.
Now we are learning that Littlejohn is likely to see very little jail time or none at all, because the DOJ allowed him to plead guilty to just one felony count. This is as Trump officials are going to jail over almost nothing.
Former IRS contractor Charles Edward Littlejohn, who stole and helped publicize the confidential tax records of Donald Trump and an estimated 7,500 other wealthy Americans, could face little or no jail time when he’s sentenced later this month, because the DOJ allowed him to…
— Peter Schweizer (@peterschweizer) January 25, 2024
From Real Clear Investigations:
Leniency on Tap for Anti-Trump Leaker of Thousands of Tax Returns
Another apparent “sweetheart deal” negotiated by President Biden’s Justice Department in a politically charged case is drawing scrutiny.
Former IRS contractor Charles Edward Littlejohn, who stole and helped publicize the confidential tax records of Donald Trump and an estimated 7,500 other wealthy Americans, could face little or no jail time when he’s sentenced later this month, because the DOJ allowed him to plead guilty to a single felony count.
In a new court filing, prosecutors acknowledge the plea deal “does not account for the fact that he leaked thousands of individuals’ tax returns. His [sentencing] range would be the same today if he had leaked only a single return.”
But instead of seeking prison time for each of his offenses – or even for the two separate mass thefts he committed, one in 2019 and another in 2020 – the DOJ is asking a federal judge to sentence Littlejohn to just 60 months, the maximum for a single offense under the statute. Some political leaders angry over the plea deal say he should get 60 years, not months, for his crime – the biggest heist of IRS taxpayer data in history.
Attorneys for Littlejohn, 38, argue he actually deserves an even lower sentence, closer to the presentencing report’s range of four to 10 months, in part because he leaked the reams of stolen private income-tax data to “reputable news organizations – the New York Times and ProPublica – that he knew would handle the information responsibly.”
We do not have equal justice under the law. The left gets away with doing pretty much whatever they want to do.
The post OUTRAGEOUS: IRS Contractor Who Stole and Leaked Trump’s Tax Returns Could Face Little or No Jail Time | The Gateway Pundit appeared first on Harmony Evans.
Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata’s views on layoffs go viral
The first weeks of 2024 have seen a large number of layoffs throughout the gaming industry, which has led to social media users sharing comments previously made by the late Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata, as reported by NME.
Iwata oversaw the launch of the Nintendo DS and Wii, both great successes for the Japanese company, during his time as Nintendo president, taking office in 2002 before he died in 2015. But as CEO, he experienced Nintendo’s turbulent launch of Wii U, which is widely considered to be a flop.
It was the failure of Wii U that led to Iwata going to the lengths that not many CEOs of large tech companies have done, which is to take a 50% pay cut to avoid mass company layoffs. At the same time, other top executives reduced their salaries by 20%.
And it’s a decision that people are being reminded of now as the tech sector continues to suffer widespread layoffs in the first month of 2024. Speaking in 2013, Iwata said: “If we reduce the number of employees for better short-term financial results, employee morale will decrease. I sincerely doubt employees who fear that they may be laid off will be able to develop software titles that could impress people around the world.
“At Nintendo, employees make valuable contributions in their respective fields, so I believe that laying off a group of employees will not help to strengthen Nintendo’s business in the long run.”
They’re words that Nintendo fans on social media have been praising once again, with many calling for top tech chiefs to follow Iwata’s lead by cutting their salaries before deciding to axe thousands of employees.
Iwata’s comments resurfaced following Microsoft’s decision to lay off 1,900 employees from Activision Blizzard, Xbox and ZeniMax earlier this week, months after its $69 billion acquisition was approved by regulators. Also this week, Riot Games announced 500 layoffs.
Activision CEO Bobby Kotick earned an average $77,306 per hour in 2022, according to NME, while Xbox boss Phil Spencer reportedly has an annual salary of $10 million a year. Since the acquisition, Kotick has stepped down and left the business but Spencer has remained in his position.
So it’s no wonder fans have been calling for those on larger salaries to start taking the hit instead of effectively punishing employees on smaller salaries when cost-cutting measures are needed or structural changes are made.
Brutal start to 2024 for the tech industry
Satoru Iwata (god bless him) took a 50% pay cut after WiiU’s poor sales TO NOT LAY OFF WORKERS and you can’t tell me that the higher ups of Riot couldn’t do the same and still earn a good salary? pic.twitter.com/xWBl52IkzN
— PunyPenguin // Princess of Harmony is Coming! (@PunyPunyPenguin) January 23, 2024
The aforementioned layoffs by Microsoft and Riot Games take the total number of tech industry layoffs since the turn of the year to almost 24,000 from 85 different companies in the sector.
Earlier this week, both TikTok and eBay announced layoffs of 60 and 1,000 respectively, while Google has also announced hundreds of job losses earlier in January.
According to layoffs.fyi, over 260,000 tech jobs were axed in 2023, which was the worst year for the industry since the global pandemic disrupted global economies in 2020.
Featured Image: Official GDC, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
James Jones Freelance Journalist James Jones is a highly experienced journalist, podcaster and digital publishing specialist, who has been creating content in a variety of forms for online publications in the sports and tech industry for over 10 years.
He has worked at some of the leading online publishers in the country, most recently as the Content Lead for Snack Media’s expansive of portfolio of websites, including Football Fancast.com, FootballLeagueWorld.co.uk and GiveMeSport.com. James has also appeared on several national and global media outlets, including BBC News, talkSPORT, LBC Radio, 5 Live Radio, TNT Sports, GB News and BBC’s Match of the Day 2.
James has a degree in Journalism and previously held the position of Editor-in-Chief at FootballFanCast.com. Now, he co-hosts the popular We Are West Ham Podcast, writes a weekly column for BBC Sport and covers the latest news in the industry for ReadWrite.com.
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January 26, 2024
New Poll Finds Voters Think the Term ‘Bidenomics’ Could Actually Help Trump Win the Election | The Gateway Pundit
The term ‘Bidenomics’ is politically toxic. We have known this for months. The Biden White House has been running away from the term because they know it’s a loser.
According to new polling from Rasmussen, the term is such a loser that voters think it could actually help Trump win the election in November.
How’s that for irony?
The Washington Examiner reports:
Voters: ‘Bidenomics’ a loser, will help Trump win
America’s voters view the White House term “Bidenomics” negatively and believe that President Joe Biden’s touting of it will actually help former President Donald Trump win in the fall election.
A risky strategy from the start since similar phrases such as “Reaganomics” were used against the sitting president, Biden’s team believed they could spin the term positively. The president even said it was interchangeable with the “American Dream.”
But in the latest Rasmussen Reports survey shared with Secrets Thursday morning, likely voters weren’t buying Bidenomics.
By a 44%-26% margin, voters said that the term would help Trump, not Biden, “win” the fall election. Most of the rest, 23%, said it won’t make a difference in the outcome.
What’s more, the term helped voters recall the economic prosperity when Trump was president.
Democrats had such high hopes for this. Not anymore.
Voters: ‘Bidenomics’ a loser, will help Trump win
By a 44%-26% margin, voters said that the term would help Trump, not Biden, “win” the fall election. Most of the rest, 23%, said it won’t make a difference in the outcome. @Rasmussen_Poll https://t.co/A7Ir5deBf9 via @dcexaminer pic.twitter.com/Y9H0NlVpGU
— Paul Bedard (@SecretsBedard) January 25, 2024
Is ‘Bidenomics’ a Winner or a Loser for 2024?
By a wide margin, more voters say “Bidenomics” will help Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential campaign than believe it will help Joe Biden win reelection.
More At Rasmussen Reports:https://t.co/DCPMjcCYy7 pic.twitter.com/KlzBj6hpk9
— Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) January 25, 2024
Bidenomics has become nothing more than a punchline.
The post New Poll Finds Voters Think the Term ‘Bidenomics’ Could Actually Help Trump Win the Election | The Gateway Pundit appeared first on Harmony Evans.
Cyberpunk devs promise new patch to sort out most common remaining issues
Cyberpunk 2077 is no stranger to large patches. Ever since i9ts botched launch back in the day, the devs at CD Projekt Red have not left the poor thing alone, constantly working away in the background to make it the game that was promised all those years ago. And a fine job they have done of it too. Indeed, the Phantom Liberty DLC sold over two million copies before the end of the year alone.
But with each new patch obviously comes new bugs – that is the nature of the beast unfortunately and when version 2.0 dropped, just ahead of Phantom Liberty, it introduced a few new creepy crawlies into the code that now need squashing.
Fortunately a post on X today shows they are on it. The official Cyberpunk 2077 posted earlier, “We are aiming to have a new patch for #Cyberpunk2077 out sometime next week. It will tackle the most common issues reported by players, including finisher animations.
Stay tuned for more info coming after the weekend.”
We are aiming to have a new patch for #Cyberpunk2077 out sometime next week. It will tackle the most common issues reported by players, including finisher animations.
Stay tuned for more info coming after the weekend.
— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) January 26, 2024
There were no further details unveiled but the issue with finishing moves seems to be fixed as the account also added a nodding dog gif when a commenter asked if we were to get the full array of finishing moves back.
Earlier this week CDPR confirmed that work was to begin on the next game in the universe of its other huge franchise, The Witcher with the studio hoping to have over 400 people working on it by the middle of the year. We can’t imagine finding staff will be too difficult at the moment as all the other companies are slashing their own workforces in mass layoffs, despite making millions in profits each year.
Work on a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 is also at the drawing board stage.
Paul McNally Gaming Editor Paul McNally has been around consoles and computers since his parents bought him a Mattel Intellivision in 1980. He has been a prominent games journalist since the 1990s, spending over a decade as editor of popular print-based video games and computer magazines, including a market-leading PlayStation title published by IDG Media.
Having spent time as Head of Communications at a professional sports club and working for high-profile charities such as the National Literacy Trust, he returned as Managing Editor in charge of large US-based technology websites in 2020.
Paul has written high-end gaming content for GamePro, Official Australian PlayStation Magazine, PlayStation Pro, Amiga Action, Mega Action, ST Action, GQ, Loaded, and the The Mirror. He has also hosted panels at retro-gaming conventions and can regularly be found guesting on gaming podcasts and Twitch shows. He is obsessed with 3D printing and has worked with several major brands in the past to create content
Believing that the reader deserves actually to enjoy what they are reading is a big part of Paul’s ethos when it comes to gaming journalism, elevating the sites he works on above the norm. Reach out on X.
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Top rated games of last year
Now that the year 2023 is in the rear-view mirror, we’ve been able to compile our definitive list of the absolute best games of 2023 that we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing.
We’ve made sure to include a mix of games from different platforms to make sure that there’s a game here for everyone, despite your choice of gaming device. There’s also a huge variety of genres here, from chilling horror ventures, to more family-friendly outings.
Every game on this list has been completed and fully tested by our team of experts, so you can know for sure that you’re getting a top quality game for your hard-earned cash.
If you’re not so bothered about buying the latest games to hit stores, and would prefer to know the best options for each platform, then also check out our best PS4 games, best PS5 games, best Xbox Series X/Series S games, best PC games and the Best Switch Games roundups.
Best Games of 2023 at a GlanceHow we test Learn more about how we review gamesWe play every game we review to the end, outside of certain exceptions where getting 100% completion, like Skyrim, is nearly impossible. When we don’t fully finish a game before reviewing it we will always alert the reader.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the KingdomThe best game of 2023ProsNew building mechanic opens up endless possibilitiesHyrule feels even bigger with new locations to exploreNew fuse ability offsets frustrations for weapon durability An engaging story that builds on Breath of the WildConsDungeons still feel lacklustere compared to old Zelda gamesSlightly choppy performance due to ageing hardwareSome controls can feel a little clumsyThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is not only a frontrunner for best game of 2023, but it’s potentially one of greatest games of all time. Continuing on from the beloved Breath of the Wild, the sequel plonks you back into the immersive world of Hyrule but with several curious modifications such as floating islands and underground caverns to explore.
The biggest change for Tears of the Kingdom can be found with Link’s new powers, allowing him to build both weapons and vehicles, using only materials found in the wilderness. This builds upon the excellent survival mechanicals of its predecessor, while also making the weapon degradation less frustrating.
We noted in our review that Nintnedo has reinforced all of Breath of the Wild’s greatest strengths with more interactions with the dynamic world, a bounty of puzzles to solve and simple but rewarding combat. The story is excellent too, as Link and Zelda have to deal with the emerging threat of the Demon King, all told via cinematic cutscenes.
If you own a Nintendo Switch, then The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a no-brainer purchase whether you’re a Zelda fan or newcomer to the series. It’s difficult to imagine any game topping it before the end of the year.
Reviewer:
Ryan J
ones
Full Review:
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Review
Resident Evil 4Best horror game of 2024ProsGameplay tweaks help to elevate the original gameThe revamped story feels more cohesiveA much stronger link with Resident Evil 2Tons of replayabilityConsMinor performance issues in Resolution modeResident Evil 4 is rightly championed as one of the absolute best horror games to ever grace a console, despite launching all the way back in 2005. Capcom has now revived the classic game via an outstanding remake, uplifting the visuals to a modern standard.
Despite an overhaul to the graphics, we found that the gameplay mechanics have largely remained untouched, with a superb balance between spooky segments, and action-packed butchering of the undead. That said, Capcom has made a few welcome refinements, such as adding the ability to crouch and make use of the quick-select menu, resulting in a very polished experience.
The story has also seen a few tweaks, but for the better in our opinion, resulting in a more cohesive adventure while also adding far more stronger links to preceding entries such as Resident Evil 2. Of course, Resident Evil 4 is still a fantastic entry point to the series if you’re yet to dip your toe into the horror franchise.
Resident Evil 4 has set a high bar for what modern day remakes can be, and cements itself as one of the absolute best horror we’ve ever played.
Reviewer:
Thomas Deehan
Full Review:
Resident Evil 4 Remake Review
Horizon Call of the MountainBest VR GameProsInteractive world is wonderfully immersiveCimbing in VR feels fantasticFun combat with bow and arrowJaw-dropping visuals and environmentsConsStory is forgettablePuzzles aren’t very challengingHorizon Call of the Mountain is the only PSVR2-exclusive on this list, meaning that you will need to own both a PS5 and PSVR2 to play along. Putting the system requirements aside, Call of the Mountain is an incredibly immersive title, with our reviewer noting that the robot monsters looked incredibly imposing inside your headset, with crocodile-like Snapjaws lurking in the water while towering Tallnecks shake the ground as they walk above you.
Not only that, but you can interact with almost everything in this VR world; pick up rocks and mugs to throw into the distance or start drumming on abandoned musical instruments. Instead of pressing down on a button to pluck arrows from your quiver, you can reach behind your shoulder and press down on the controller’s trigger, creating an immersive and incredibly realistic experience.
As fun as the combat mechanics are, we actually thought that the climbing segments stole the show. The more climbing you engage in, the more climbing gear you unlock, allowing your character to use pickaxes to smash into the rocks and rope casters to swing across ravines.
Overall, we think that this is one of the best VR games we’ve ever had the pleasure of reviewing. Despite the limitations of needing to own a PS5 and PSVR2, this is a fantastic game and a must-play for anyone who already owns the hardware. If you want a unique and thrilling experience that takes what VR can be to the next level, then Horizon Call of the Mountain is definitely for you.
Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: Horizon Call of the Mountain review
Super Mario Bros. WonderBest 2D platformer of 2023ProsFantastic new power-ups and featuresBeautifully designed levels and worldsHighly motivating gameplay loopLocal multiplayer mode Vast character selectionConsSimple gameplay may not be for everyoneThe Super Mario Bros. series is one of the most iconic of all of gaming history, harkening back to the old days of the arcade. Nintendo has now revived the 2D platformer series for the Nintendo Switch, with plenty of new twists to appeal to a new generation of gamers.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder has a huge roster of playable characters, with the main five made up of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy and Toad. Local multiplayer is supported if you want to team up with a friend or family member, while you can also go online for a competitive race.
We loved the core mechanics of Wonder, with tight platforming making it a joy to traverse the wonderfully crafted stages. The new Wonder Seeds feature helps to further the series too, adding a wide array of unpredictable effects. Our favourite new feature is the ability to turn Mario and co into an elephant, allowing us to smash through obstacles and squirt water from your trunk.
Like with many Nintendo games, Wonder can be accused of being rather easy to complete. But if you’re just searching for a simple and relaxing 2D platformer for the Nintendo Switch, there’s no better option than this.
Reviewer:
Gemma Ryles
Full Review:
Super Mario Bros. Wonder review
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2Best PS5 game of 2023ProsThrilling Venom-centric storyNew special abilites are a blastWeb wings are a joy to useInstantaneous loading timesConsInconsistent face models Side missions are still repetitiveThe original Marvel’s Spider-Man (that launched back in 2018) nailed the feeling of being the web crawler, especially when it came to swinging through New York. The new Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 builds upon its predecessor in several ways, with the new web wings speeding up traversal and elevated visuals making it one of the best looking games on PS5 yet.
We found the story to be the most impressive aspect of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 though, with classic Spidey characters such as Venom, Lizard and Harry Osbourne all surpassing their movie counterparts. The story follows both Peter and Miles, as they continue to balance their life with duties as superheroes.
Both Spider-Men also get access to a slew of new Venom abilities, adding more variety to combat, and making it even more thrilling and cinematic than ever before. You once again get a great selection of gizmos and power-ups to aid you in the fight with a varied roster of villains.
If you didn’t enjoy the first Spider-Man game on PS4, then you probably won’t enjoy the sequel given the numerous similarities. But if you loved the original, or just like superhero games in general, then Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a must-buy option for the PS5.
Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 review
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land DeluxeBest Game for KidsProsFantastic range of features and copy abilitiesAdorable and beautiful level designsMerry Magoland feels like a game in its own rightWorks great as a multiplayer game ConsMain missions may be too easy for someCo-op is limited to local playKirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a fantastic game for youngsters and adults alike, boasting an incredibly cute art style that’s very easy to appreciate. HAL Laboratory opted for a rounded and soft aesthetic that will definitely appeal to a younger audience, but our reviewer also loved it, noting how every level has another cute enemy or well-designed cutscene that made the game very easy to get into.
Not only is the art style charming, but you can also play this game with up to three more friends via local play. Although the lack of online play does limit its accessibility, we found that it worked very well as a multiplayer title. Since you are not competing, it becomes a mad rush to see who can discover each collectable first, with anyone playing as Kirby getting to use the various copy abilities that are littered throughout the game.
Our personal favourite abilities were Sword and Leaf, with the former turning Kirby into a Link-like character with a massive sword to take down enemies, and even a green cap for good measure. There are also amped-up versions of these copies that truly let you bombard your way through the level; slash through entire parts of the stage with a massive Sword, or take the form of a giant snowball with the Ice copy and barrel through enemies and props.
The main missions may be a little too easy for some, with the puzzles not requiring a massive amount of brain power; but not only does this make this the perfect game to play with any youngsters in your family, our reviewer still felt very accomplished finishing each stage, with the immense amount of collectables giving you more than enough reason to come back for more. If you’re looking for something that’s playable on the Nintendo Switch and has a bit more of a challenge, we recommend you check out either Metroid Prime Remastered or Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes.
Reviewer:
Gemma Ryles
Full Review:
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe Review
Metroid Prime RemasteredBest FPS GameProsPalpable atmosphereRemastered visuals look incredibleUpdated controls are a huge helpThe art style has aged beautifullyConsBacktracking is a persistent choreThe game does a bad job of telling you where to goMapping the game’s locales can be a nightmareWhile the core game design of Metroid Prime hasn’t aged too well, Metroid Prime Remastered brings in a new sense of atmosphere and visuals that the franchise has never seen before, making it a very easy recommendation for Metroid fans as well as newcomers. We thought that the atmosphere is its greatest asset, with everything from Samus’ suit to the alien creatures that lurk around each level being clearly so thoughtfully designed to the point where they haven’t become derivative in the current sea of first-person shooters, even 20 years later.
The ability to switch between the classic GameCube-era controls or the motion controls featured in the Metroid Prime Trilogy for Nintendo Wii was very welcome, as you can pick and choose which style works best for you. We also found that the core progression system at the heart of Metroid Prime is very addictive, tasking you with reclaiming all of Samus’ abilities following a devastating fight. Knowing that continuing on for another 15 minutes could nab you an invaluable upgrade keeps you hooked throughout and makes you continually want to come back for more.
This game is set on Talon IV, an alien planet filled with antagonists and collectables. Our reviewer noted how unique this planet was, with snowy mountains, sand-filled ruins and lava pits located throughout. This furthers the eccentric style of this title and sets it even further apart from all the other first-person shooters on the market.
It’s worth noting that this game encourages a lot of backtracking, which we were not a big fan of. If you’re looking for a more linear FPS, titles like DOOM Eternal or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022) may be a better fit. But overall, Metroid Prime Remastered is a fantastic game and a great excuse to revisit this iconic franchise, with an amazing and distinctive art style to boot.
Reviewer:
Thomas Deehan
Full Review:
Metroid Prime Remastered Review
StarfieldBest sci-fi game of 2023ProsFantastic side quests to dig intoSuperb gunplay and variety of weaponsShip customisation is excellent Expansive skill tree for true RPG experienceConsMostly boring story campaignSpace and planet exploration is a choreOverencumbered system is incredibly frustratingFrom the creators of The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, Starfield is a new sci-fi RPG that allows you to explore a countless number of planets across the galaxy.
We were really impressed with how expansive the skill tree is for this immersive RPG, allowing you to shape your character, whether that involves becoming a pirate, conman or a model citizen.
There are oodles of customisation options here too, allowing you to make modifications to anything from your weapons to your spaceship. The combat sees superb gunplay too, mostly thanks to the wicked range of weapons. We loved using the energy rifles that can obliterate enemies from afar, but the classing shotgun also proved incredibly fun.
Starfield shines the brightest when you’re engaging with the RPG mechanics and undertaking one of the countless side missions spread throughout the stars. The underwhelming story campaign and dull space exploration do hold it back, but Starfield remains a great option for those craving a similar experience to past Bethesda games.
Reviewer:
Ryan Jones
Full Review:
Starfield review
Fire Emblem EngageBest Strategy GameProsEmblem Rings adds new tactical layer to combatGreat fan service through classic Fire Emblem heroesCuts straight to the action, with less paddingOptional Permadeath setting offers good accessibilityConsCould be initmidating for series newcomersLittle focus on charactersSimple storyFire Emblem Engage feels like a love letter to all the loyal fans of the Fire Emblem series. There is a lot of nostalgia here thanks to the inclusion of classic Fire Emblem heroes like Marth, Roy, Ike, Byleth and many more.
Engage doesn’t stray too far from the series’ iconic combat system, playing out like an elaborate game of chess with a grid-based arena and a great variety of unit and class types. We felt that the rock-paper-scissors system was very captivating, with spear units weak to axes, axes vulnerable to swords and swords ineffective against spears. This adds a lot of strategy to the game and requires players to keep an eye on their team to ensure that they will finish each battle victorious.
Moreover, this game provides a great level of accessibility via its difficulty tiers. Keeping an easy or normal difficulty gives you the ability to reverse time an unlimited number of times during battle, so you won’t have to worry about a fatal mistake ruining your run. You can also choose if you want Permadeath activated for an extra level of tension and real consequences for your actions, even if it is frustrating to see all your time levelling up a character going down the drain.
Due to the nature of this game, it may be a little too intimidating for newcomers. While you can still definitely enjoy Engage with no prior knowledge of the series, the inclusion of classic characters and the relatively simple story may be a little off putting. However, any fans of the series will definitely want to check out Fire Emblem Engage as it holds up as a fantastic option within the turn-based RPG genre.
Reviewer:
Ryan Jones
Full Review:
Fire Emblem Engage
Final Fantasy 16
A Final Fantasy game that doesn’t always measure up to previous entries in the series
Dead Island 2
GamesCom Preview: A fantastic attempt to revive the Dead Island series
FAQsDoes this list include games available on the Nintendo Switch?Yes, both Metroid Prime Remastered and Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe can be found exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.
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Journalist Layoffs Continue as the Liberal Media Collapses Right Before Our Eyes | The Gateway Pundit
Have you noticed that the liberal media is in the process of imploding? Every week, we hear about another media outlet that’s laying off staffers.
Two different things are causing this. First, a growing share of the American people no longer trust the media because so many journalists are just Democrat party activists. Second, all of these liberal media outlets are saying the same thing and are therefore competing with each other for a shrinking piece of market share.
Do you think the people in our media class will learn anything from this? Probably not.
Axios reports:
Mainstream media bloodbath: News outlets slash jobs as business suffers
Nearly a dozen mainstream media companies are gutting staff and scrambling to rescue their struggling businesses…
Driving the news: Forbes’ newsroom union began a three-day walkout Thursday arguing management was union busting. Its CEO announced layoffs later that afternoon hitting roughly 3% of the company.
Insider announced it was eliminating 8% of its workforce, months after a union strike over a contract impasse with management.The New York Daily News editorial union walked off the job Thursday to protest “chronic cuts” by its owner, private equity firm Alden Capital.Paramount CEO Bob Bakish warned employees Thursday that the company is planning a fresh round of layoffs.The Los Angeles Times planned a one-day, multicity walkout in protest of plans for 115 job cuts. Two top editors resigned, less than two weeks after executive editor Kevin Merida stepped down.Condé Nast saw hundreds of union workers walk off the job Tuesday to protest hundreds of previously announced layoffs impacting approximately 5% of staff, or roughly 300 people.Sports Illustrated’s newsroom was gutted by sweeping layoffs after its parent company, The Arena Group, failed to make a $3.75 million quarterly payment to the group from which it licenses the Sports Illustrated brand.
It’s important to remember that all of this carnage is self-inflicted. The media did this to themselves. It’s also worth noting that liberal journalists don’t seem to care very much when other Americans lose their jobs.
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