Over the weekend, the leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S. will gather in Wilmington, Delaware, for the fourth in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit. As China continues to enflame tensions in the South China Sea and along the China-India border, here are four items that the Quad should prioritize during their meeting. Maritime Security China’s actions in the South China Sea pose one of the most dangerous threats to Indo-Pacific stability. In August alone, Chinese vessels rammed into four different Philippine ships near Sabina Shaol, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Chinese aircraft also conducted dangerous maneuvers near a Philippines Air Force plane. Should China miscalculate or push too far, there is a risk of conflict that could precipitate U.S. (and potentially Japanese) involvement, given the Philippines is a U.S. treaty ally. The Quad has a strong shared interest in deterring China from escalating tensions and unilaterally changing the status quo. Maritime domain awareness has been a growing area of cooperation for the Quad and should be enhanced further in the years ahead. Additional efforts are needed to strengthen counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing by Chinese vessels throughout the Indo-Pacific. Sovereignty In addition to China’s actions in the South China Sea, it continues to squabble with Quad partners over territorial disputes, infringing on their sovereignty and territorial integrity. In recent years, China has picked fights—sometimes literally—with Japan over the disputed Senkaku Islands and with India along their disputed land border, the Line of Actual Control. Most recently, China’s raised challenges to Japanese sovereignty over Okinawa, when Dalin Maritime University announced plans to establish a “Ryukyu Research Center,” which refers to when Okinawa was previously known as the Ryukyu Kingdom. This has raised concerns over whether China may press historical claims or records related to the archipelago that hosts key U.S. military bases and personnel. In a joint statement, the Quad partners have an opportunity to oppose China’s attempts to infringe on the sovereignty and rights of Indo-Pacific states. Including such language in a joint statement allows the Quad to signal unity in the face of continued Chinese aggression across multiple fronts. Defense Cooperation In a broader strategic context, enhanced defense cooperation will prove critical in advancing the Quad’s primary interest of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. China’s buildup of both conventional and strategic forces, including a record-setting pace of nuclear weapon production, poses direct threats to the safety and prosperity of the Quad partners. The Biden administration’s attempts to stabilize U.S.-China relations have failed to produce tangible results that have sufficiently changed China’s decision calculus. The Quad should continue to consider areas that would allow for stronger defense cooperation. As AUKUS, the trilateral defense agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, has shown, it is possible to invest in the industrial bases of allied and partnered economies and boost collective deterrence. Despite the challenges of AUKUS, similar provisions, such as intelligence and emerging technology cooperation, could be considered among the Quad partners that boost both military power and economic development. Supply Chain Resilience China has weaponized supply chains against each of the Quad partners, with notable examples including the 14 grievances against Australia and the bottlenecking of critical minerals against Japan. As countries look to diversify from an overreliance on Chinese supply chains, the Quad can both serve as a destination for and facilitator of reshoring actions. India’s booming population and expanded appetite for manufacturing growth provide an attractive option for companies looking to tap into a strong labor market with reduced risk. Quad partners can look to India for their own reshoring efforts. This Quad summit would benefit from additional initiatives on supply chain collaboration that support the four countries’ resilience and shared interests. The post 4 Issues to Consider as the US and Its Indo-Pacific Allies Meet to Counter China appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Senate Democrats are attempting to require women to register for the draft. But a group of Republican lawmakers are aiming to stop them.  Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Mary Miller, R-Ill., led a group of 22 Republican lawmakers in opposition to efforts that would force women to register for Selective Service.  The group wrote a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Thursday.  They wrote, “Forcing young women to register for the Selective Service is an affront to our nation’s values and does not enhance military readiness – the only metric by which Congress should measure an [National Defense Authorization Act]. This is yet another blatant attempt to advance a divisive agenda that seeks to eliminate all distinctions between males and females.”  The lawmakers addressed the effect this change to Selective Service would have on American families.  “Under no circumstances should the House of Representatives greenlight a future that cripples the American family by sending mothers and daughters to the frontlines – drafted to be combat replacements for casualties on the battlefield – while fathers and sons stay home,” the Republican lawmakers said. “A country that pursues radical social ideology over basic principles will not remain a strong, resilient nation.”  The group called on Johnson to oppose the provision.   “This radical proposal has been defeated in the past and must be defeated once again,” the Republican lawmakers said.  Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Jack Reed, D-R.I., defended the Selective Service proposal. “Women are doing a remarkable job in our forces today, and if we were in a situation requiring a draft, I think we would need all able-bodied citizens 18 and above,” Reed told The Hill. The National Defense Authorization Act approves funding and delegates resources for the U.S. military and other critical defense priorities every year. On June 13, The Senate Armed Services Committee voted 22-3 to advance the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2025 to the Senate floor.  Although this Act is critical in equipping U.S. servicemembers, the group of Republican lawmakers said they do not agree with the provision that would require women to register for Selective Service.  9_19_24_Roy_Miller_Letter_to_Speaker_Johnson_re_NDAA_Female_Draft (3)Download fy25_ndaa_executive_summaryDownload The post Senate Democrats Want Women to Enter the Draft, but Republican Representatives Are Fighting Back appeared first on The Daily Signal.

EV Sales in Europe - Like Polar Bear Clubs in January - Take an Icy Plunge

The Stench of David Brock’s Lazy, Lying New Book

On Friday’s Good Morning America, ABC promised a puffball interview with Kamala Harris’s husband Douglas Emhoff, the “Second Gentleman.” Just the booking was deeply weird when Harris won’t grant an interview to ABC, even after they joined her in debating Donald Trump. At the opening of the show, co-host Michael Strahan promised they would discuss “the economy, their family, and reaction to Donald Trump repeated attacks on Jews that support Democrats and Harris.” But the Jewish part didn’t air. WHY are we getting interviews with Kamala's husband, and not Kamala? Isn't that deeply weird? pic.twitter.com/PnYcOELq33 — Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) September 20, 2024 ABC also boosted Emhoff with a puffball late-night interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live on September 5, where there was light banter about Doug's 34 seasons of fantasy football...after Kimmel mercilessly mocked Sen. Ted Cruz's sex life.  The most shameless omission in this Strahan piece came in touting Emhoff’s family and his first wife... and saying absolutely nothing about what we just learned on August 3 about how he broke up his first marriage: He cheated on his wife with the nanny and impregnated her. As far as we can tell, ABC has yet to report this on air! ABC-slash-DNC just stuck with feeling Doug’s pain about J.D. Vance and Sarah Huckabee Sanders mocking Kamala as childless: STRAHAN: We've heard the childless cat lady quote. And just his week, Governor Sanders of Arkansas said, quote "my kids keep me humble. Unfortunately, Kamala Harris doesn't have anything keeping her humble. How do you react to a comment like that? EMHOFF: Yeah, it's appalling for somebody who is in a position of leadership like governor to say something so repulsive and so out of touch, not only on the one, mispronouncing her name, which is disrespectful. She knows what her name is. And then two, as if you need to have your own biological children to be humble. But then to say as if women should be humble and you can see the pushback even from within her own party because it is a repulsive thing to say. STRAHAN: Vice President Harris is step mom to 30-year-old Cole and 25-year-old Ella from the second gentleman's first marriage to Kirsten Emhoff. [To Emhoff] It's been something to watch, speaking of family, to see your kids step up, to see your ex-wife step up. EMHOFF: You know, we roll hard together, that's who we are. Kirsten has been incredible. When you attack Kamala, especially on issues about motherhood, Kirsten has been out there each and every time to tell the truth about who Kamala is, as a mother, as a person, as a member of our family, again, is always there for us.  Then, when Strahan turned to the policy agenda, Emhoff wasn't any more effective than his wife on how Harris will bring down prices and how she is somehow not responsible in any way for the current inflationary environment.  Strahan asked an obvious question: “What do you say to those who say how is she going to be different from what we've seen with resident Biden?” Emhoff answered that she would just offer more of the same, “we're going to continue to expand infrastructure, the CHIPS Act, bring chips manufacturing in here, the transition into clean energy and on the infrastructure piece,” blah blah blah. Then the ABC co-host followed up. Some say “she hasn’t done that in three and a half years in office as vice president, do you think that’s unfair?" Emhoff said “Yeah. She’s the vice president, not the president.” No Democrat would accept that answer if the parties were reversed. Strahan closed by telling his fellow ABC hosts Emhoff was "open and honest." That's easier when you're just helping him make the case for the Democrats.  

There have now been multiple assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump — and there just might have been another one near his New York rally. One investigative journalist, James Lalino, posted on X that sources in the Nassau County Police Department told him that “‘the perimeter was breached and a blue barrel was removed’ from the area surrounding tonight’s Trump rally site.” He went on to explain that his source said that while the K9 unit was doing their checks, police “found an explosive device in one of the vehicles and that the driver ended up running into the woods.” Nassau County Police have since disputed the story, saying that they responded to a “suspicious occurrence” and that “no explosives were discovered.” Patrick Ryder, commissioner of police, also took to X to dispute the claim. He wrote, “Reports of explosives being found at the site are unfounded. There is a person being questioned who may have been training a bomb detection dog near the site. The individual with the bomb dog falsely reported explosives being found and is currently being detained by police.” Sara Gonzales of “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered” isn’t completely convinced by the official story. “Am I the only one who thinks it’s a little bit strange that someone training a bomb-sniffing dog just happened to be doing that exercise within the perimeter of a Trump rally, and law enforcement, A) didn’t know about it, and B) they weren’t affiliated with law enforcement?” Gonzales asks. Regardless of the truth, Gonzales doesn’t blame anyone for questioning it. “We see all of these strange circumstances occurring especially when it comes to Donald Trump’s life being in danger, so I don’t blame people for jumping to that conclusion,” Gonzales says. Glenn Beck’s head researcher and writer, Jason Buttrill, doesn’t disagree. “Sara, you’re in the right mindset. I’m in the same mindset,” Buttrill says, adding, “Just look at the situation, and not only in the country, but in the entire world right now. I don’t think that we even have an acting president in the United States right now.” Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred take to news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

A vociferous and married liberal commentator is being humiliated on social media after Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina called him out on his political hypocrisy by airing their private text messages. Michael Eric Dyson is a frequent liberal commentator on MSNBC, but it was an exchange he had with Mace on CNN from weeks ago that led to his public embarrassment. Dyson argued that people mispronouncing Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris' name were racist while Mace called it fake outrage. After a very fiery exchange on-air, Mace called out Dyson for sending her what appeared to be flirty messages via text. "Professor Dyson wasn’t too bent out of shape after all - he tried hitting on me AFTER he tried to call me racist on CNN," she posted on social media with a screenshot of the text exchange. "Shhh don't tell anybody. We look good together!" he texted with a laughing emoji and a kissing emoji. "Hahahaha," she responded in the text. "Well your [sic] gorgeousness makes the photos, so there's that!" he adds with a smiling emoji. 'I had no intent with her to do anything ...'Dyson fired back at Mace in a furious message on social media. "The ridiculous lies told by Nancy Mace in the effort to smear my name because of her anger at being checked for her insensitive disregard for [Kamala Harris]," he wrote. "I had no intent with her to do anything but be nice," he added. "And her white women’s tears and mendacity are all in the service of lies and distortions. I was wrong about one thing: she IS a bigot and racist."That explanation was met with skepticism and ridicule. "Brother, you were flirting with that woman. There was no need to text her about anything. Every reasonable thinking woman would’ve read that the same way white or black," said one commentator on Instagram. "Oh come on, really? Just about every woman in America would interpret it the way she did so if you didn’t want her to make an interpretation, you shouldn’t have even sent her a message. In the political climate we are in, why give anyone ammunition to fire at you?" read another response on Instagram. "My man, she's hot, you shot your shot. Facts are you're a poorly dressed, very unattractive man. Didn't work out. Show some humility," said another detractor. "Listen man, it doesn’t have to be this way. We’ve all shot our shot and taken the L before. Making this post afterwards is beta," read another response. Mace responded with only two words. "Beta male," she replied. Dyson's third wife appeared to delete her account on X after the embarrassing debacle. Mace has served in Congress since 2022 and is endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

There's a new RoboCop in town. A police bomb squad robot singlehandedly incapacitated and pinned down an armed suspect in a Texas showdown. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice said there was a warrant out for the arrest of 39-year-old Felix Delarosa because he violated his parole by tampering with his electronic monitoring device, KCBD reported. The robot approached the broken window, and the suspect shot his gun at the robot. The bomb squad robot countered by spraying tear gas into the room.Around 10 a.m. Wednesday, Texas Anti-Gang unit members tracked down Delarosa at a Days Inn hotel in Lubbock. Delarosa — who was armed at the time — reportedly fired a shot at officers from inside his room when they went to approach him. The officers called the Lubbock County Sheriff’s SWAT team to assist with apprehending the suspect. Officials said Delarosa fired another shot while SWAT negotiators attempted to convince him to peacefully surrender. During the negotiations, Delarosa — who was barricaded in his hotel room — allegedly fired more shots at officers. A sheriff’s office sniper returned fire and allegedly struck Delarosa. By this time in the standoff, the room's large glass window had been shattered amid the exchange of gunfire. Robot to the rescueThe Lubbock Regional Bomb Squad deployed a robot to deal with the suspect without putting the lives of law enforcement in jeopardy. The bomb squad robot rolled up to Delarosa's hotel room. The suspect first attempted to debilitate the robot by throwing a bed sheet on it, which was not effective. The robot approached the broken window, and the suspect shot his gun at the robot. The bomb squad robot countered by spraying tear gas into the room. The suspect is seen on video desperately crawling out of the room and appears to be extremely disoriented from the tear gas.While Delarosa was wriggling on the ground, the robot drove on top of him.Then, while pinning him to the ground, the wheels of the robot pulled down the suspect's pants.SWAT team members swooped in to take Delarosa into custody two hours after the showdown began. Delarosa was transported to University Medical Center for his injuries and then booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center.Delarosa was charged with aggravated assault against a public servant.The Texas Department of Criminal Justice noted that Delarosa was sentenced to 20 years in prison for manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance in 2017.Delarosa was released from prison and placed on parole in April 2022.Like Blaze News? Circumvent the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

One of the top House races is looking great for Republicans, according to the first poll out of Maine's 2nd District. Republican candidate Austin Theriault is beating Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden 47% to 44%, according to the Pan Atlantic Research survey. Another 9% of those surveyed said they were undecided. 'Trump leads Harris by 7% in the district.' Golden is seen as a vulnerable candidate because former President Donald Trump won his district in 2016 and in 2020, making it one of the few such congressional seats. The Democrat's weakness is even more astonishing given that polling had him ahead by as much as 20 percentage points in 2020 at about this same time in the campaign. Perhaps due to his precarious position in the district, Golden has not said whether he will vote for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris yet. Trump leads Harris by 7% in the district. The Democrat has an advantage in name recognition in the district, but the GOP may chip away at that with an advertising campaign. Golden had opposed gun control measures in Congress, but in 2023 he issued an apology to his constituents and said he had changed his mind. However, it was unclear just what measures he would support, and efforts by Blaze News to obtain clarification from his office were unanswered. Theriault, who is a state congressman, has made his support of the Second Amendment a key part of his campaign strategy. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A Guatemalan national was caught on dashcam video fighting an Arkansas state trooper who pulled him over for driving 114 miles per hour on an interstate highway. What's more, the motorist's blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit.Arkansas state police on Wednesday released the dashcam video from the July 27 traffic stop in Rogers; you can view it here.'I thank God that he gave Alex the strength to survive that encounter, and that he put Kylie by her side when she needed support the most. I’m so proud of them both.'Angel Zapet-Alvarado, 26, of Guatemala was traveling 114 miles per hour in heavy traffic on Interstate 49 southbound when he passed Trooper Alexandria Duncan's marked patrol unit near the 83-mile marker around 7:43 p.m., police said.Zapet-Alvarado initially showed no signs of stopping, even after Trooper Duncan activated her emergency lights and sirens, police said.After stopping his vehicle on the right shoulder, Duncan told Zapet-Alvarado to exit the vehicle. Image source: Arkansas State Police Duncan observed Zapet-Alvarado with his hand on the gearshift and took his keys to prevent him from driving off.He ignored commands to exit and resisted Duncan’s efforts to remove him from the car — and the trooper deployed her taser when he refused to comply. Image source: Arkansas State PoliceIn fact, the dashcam video shows Zapet-Alvarado continually refusing to comply with Duncan's orders to roll over on his stomach and put his hands behind his back; Duncan responds by pulling the taser trigger numerous times, after which Zapet-Alvarado cries out in pain. Image source: Arkansas State PoliceAt one point, Zapet-Alvarado wrestles Duncan's taser from her and throws it into interstate traffic. Image source: Arkansas State Police Image source: Arkansas State PoliceHe also kicked Trooper Duncan’s head multiple times, police said.But a Good Samaritan — 31-year-old Kylie Sutton — witnessed the fight and can be seen running toward it in the highway shoulder. When Duncan notices Sutton, she tells her to grab her taser, which Sutton does. Image source: Arkansas State PoliceBut Zapet-Alvarado then manages to get on top of Duncan.With that, Sutton helps the trooper by grabbing Zapet-Alvarado from behind and moving him to the ground. Image source: Arkansas State PoliceFinally, Duncan tells the Good Samaritan to move away from the fight — after which she informs the combative Zapet-Alvarado that she's going to shoot him. But he persists, and Duncan does exactly what she promised — this time with her gun.Police said she fired one round, which wounded Zapet-Alvarado in the right temple. Yet, police said he continued to resist arrest and refused Duncan’s instructions to get on the ground. Soon, an arriving state trooper can be seen coming to help Duncan arrest Zapet-Alvarado. Image source: Arkansas State Police Image source: Arkansas State PoliceZapet-Alvarado was transported to Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas, where he was treated and released to law enforcement, police said. Image source: Arkansas State PoliceToxicology results indicate his blood-alcohol was .16 and that cannabinoids were present. He was transported to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center, where he remained, and he was placed on hold for a Homeland Security Investigation.Trooper Duncan was treated for non-life-threatening injuries she sustained when Zapet-Alvarado assaulted her, police said.What happened next?The state police Criminal Investigation Division presented an investigative case file to the prosecuting attorney Aug. 9, police said, and Benton County Prosecutor Joshua Robinson announced Wednesday that Duncan’s use of deadly force was consistent with Arkansas law. “I wholeheartedly support Trooper Duncan," Col. Mike Hagar said. "We tell our troopers to trust their instincts and lean into their experience and training when they’re on the highways. Anyone who has walked in a trooper’s boots knows that trusting your gut keeps you safe so that you can protect and serve the public. In our world, hesitation can get you killed.”Hagar added, “I thank God that he gave Alex the strength to survive that encounter, and that he put Kylie by her side when she needed support the most. I’m so proud of them both.”Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!