MSNBC host Joe Scarborough claimed on Wednesday that anyone who truly believed in “American capitalism” should be worried that former President Donald Trump would bring about an “imperial presidency” if re-elected in November. Scarborough, a former Republican, briefly leaned into his conservative background and claimed that Trump posed a greater risk to the concept of “smaller government” — and therefore a greater risk to the free market and capitalism — than his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. WATCH: MSNBC’s @JoeNBC: “If you are a capitalist, if you believe in American capitalism,” you must support @KamalaHarris pic.twitter.com/fqKK7R7GgJ — Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) September 4, 2024 “This argument that was made yesterday by an economic reporter: ‘Don’t worry about the insurrection, worry instead about tax code,’ and I think regulations,” Scarborough began. “Really that underlines about that I’ve made on this show before and I’m going to make again. If you are a capitalist, if you believe in American capitalism, as I believe in American capitalism, unapologetically believe in American capitalism. It has lifted more people out of poverty than any other economic system ever. It has its problems, the sharp edges always need to be rounded off where it doesn’t get in the way of competition and the free markets. But if you believe in American capitalism, you should be worried about Donald Trump being elected.” Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you. Scarborough went on to explain that he believed in smaller government and argued that Trump — who spent much of his first term in the Oval Office cutting regulations and reducing government power over individuals — would necessarily bring about a more oppressive “imperial presidency” if he were to be elected again. “That’s what you get in corrupt nations,” Scarborough continued. “Where you have a strong man who picks winners and losers. That’s when competition, that’s when the free market, that’s when the invisible hand is slapped by the autocrat running the state. And that’s when capitalism loses.” Scarborough made no comment about Democrat pushes to ban gas stoves or mandate the shift to electric vehicles but simply repeated that Trump would seize control of everything.

Five-time Grammy Award winner Elton John revealed that he lost partial vision in one of his eyes after getting an infection. The 77-year-old singer provided fans with an update on Instagram. “Over the summer, I’ve been dealing with a severe eye infection that has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye,” John wrote. “I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye,” he continued. “I am so grateful for the excellent team of doctors and nurses and my family, who have taken such good care of me over the last several weeks.” “I have been quietly spending the summer recuperating at home, and am feeling positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery so far,” the post concluded.    View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn) Last summer, the recording artist was hospitalized after falling at his villa in Nice, France, as The Daily Wire previously reported. He was spending time there after concluding his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour. “I’ve had the most wonderful career, beyond belief. Fifty-two years of pure joy playing music. How lucky am I to play music?” the singer said at the conclusion of his last show in Stockholm, Sweden, in July 2023.  “But, ya know, I wouldn’t be sitting here and talking to you if it wasn’t for you. You bought the singles, the albums, the CDs, the cassettes, but more importantly, you bought the tickets to the shows, and you know how I love to play live.” John played “Your Song” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” at the end of his final show.  He told Entertainment Weekly he was still “trying to process” that he was no longer touring after more than five decades.  “I don’t think it will sink in for a while yet that I’ve finally finished touring,” John said at the time. “I can’t tell you how much I’m going to miss the fans and how much their support has humbled me — it will stay with me forever.”

NFL star Travis Kelce’s rep denied that he and Taylor Swift were staging a public breakup as a PR stunt after documents started making the rounds online. The Daily Mail published photos of papers which appeared to come from Kelce’s agency, Full Scope PR. Documents said the breakup announcement was being planned for September 28. The photos showed example statements the couple could make. “Example: Travis and Taylor have decided to part ways after careful consideration. They both value and respect each other’s personal lives and appreciate your respect for privacy during this time,” one suggestion says. “They are both committed to their careers and personal growth. They remain friends and wish each other the best.” The paperwork assured the statement would be “gracious, respectful and stress mutual respect.” It further said a press release would go out to all major media organizations, pitching Kelce as being focused on “personal growth” and concerned with advancing his career in sports.  But Kelce’s rep said the breakup plan document was “entirely false and fabricated and were not created, issued or authorized by this agency,” per Newsweek. Kelce, who plays tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, took his relationship with mega-selling pop star Swift public in September 2023 when she was spotted at one of his games. The pair have had a high-profile relationship over the past year as he attended several of her Eras Tour concerts and she supported him through the entirety of the last football season. Fans have been speculating for months if they’ll take their relationship to the next level, with Page Six reporting rumors that the “engagement is happening soon.” Kelce’s rep denied that story, too. There was also talk that the “wife of a top Chiefs exec” was “telling pals in a suite” that the couple was already secretly engaged.  Kelce’s mom, Donna, gave her opinion on the situation when asked by a reporter from CNN. “It’s totally up to them, them being happy, we don’t know anything for right now,” she said of a potential engagement at the end of last season. “That’s all you want for your children is happiness, nothing else matters.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee, has been subpoenaed as part of a Republican-led congressional investigation into the fraudulent use of COVID relief funds. The House Education and the Workforce Committee is seeking documents related to the Minnesota Department of Education’s (MDE) administration of federal child nutrition programs (FCNP). At issue is how the Minnesota-based nonprofit Feeding Our Future (FOF) was implicated in what the Department of Justice (DOJ) described as a $250 million fraud scheme that “exploited” an operation meant to feed hungry kids in need during the COVID pandemic. RELATED: Lawmakers Launch Investigation Into Walz Over ‘Extensive’ Ties To Communist China “As the chief executive and the highest ranking official in the state of Minnesota, you are responsible for the MDE and its administration of FCNPs,” Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) wrote in a cover letter to Walz. “Statements in the press by you and your representatives indicate that you and other executive officers were involved, or had knowledge of, MDE’s administration of the FCNP and responsibilities and actions regarding the massive fraud,” she added. The committee also sent subpoenas for documents to MDE Commissioner Willie Jett, Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack, and Agriculture Department Inspector General Phyllis Fong. Walz and the others received a September 18 deadline. Vice President Kamala Harris picked Walz as her running mate in the 2024 presidential race in early August, but the House GOP’s inquiry into FOF and efforts to obtain documents from Minnesota officials dates back to last year. Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you. In 2022, federal prosecutors announced charges against dozens of defendants linked to FOF in what the DOJ described at the time as being “the largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the nation.” In June of this year, U.S. Attorney Andrew Lugar announced that five defendants had been convicted by a federal jury, and a total of 23 individuals had been “held accountable” for their roles in the $250 million fraud scheme. Foxx’s letter to Walz noted that the governor, when asked about not holding agencies accountable and whether MDE employees would be disciplined, replied, “This wasn’t malfeasance.” Walz also stated, “There’s not a single state employee that was implicated in doing anything that was illegal. They simply didn’t do as much due diligence as they should’ve.” The Office of the Legislative Auditor in Minnesota released a report this summer that said MDE’s oversight of FOF had been “inadequate” and listed ways in which it “created opportunities for fraud.” A spokesperson for Walz told Axios his administration “made many of the corrective actions suggested by the OLA [Office of the Legislative Auditor] and taken ‘strong steps to find and eliminate any remaining vulnerabilities in government programs.'”

Former President Donald Trump thanked Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, for defending his 2024 Make America Great Again platform after she went on defense against the “haters.” In a post on Wednesday on Trump’s Truth Social platform, the former president wrote that he wanted to “thank beautiful Brittany Mahomes for so strongly defending me, and the fact that MAGA is the greatest and most powerful Political Movement in the History of our now Failing Country.” “With Crime and Illegal Immigration totally out of control, INFLATION Ravaging all Americans, and a World that is laughing at the stupidity of our hapless ‘leaders,’ it is nice to see someone who loves our Country, and wants to save it from DOOM,” he added. “What a great couple — See you both at the Super Bowl!” In the original post shared by Trump on Instagram, the former president listed “The 2024 GOP Platform” to “Make America Great Again,” noting things like tax cuts, no tax on tips, securing the border, and stopping illegal immigration. He also posted about a promise to “end inflation,” “Make America Affordable Again,” and “Keep men out of women’s sports.” I want to thank beautiful Brittany Mahomes for so strongly defending me, and the fact that MAGA is the greatest and most powerful Political Movement in the History of our now Failing Country. With Crime and Illegal Immigration totally out of control, INFLATION Ravaging all… — Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) September 4, 2024 Brittany liked the post, hit back at those who tried to cancel her for liking it, and delivered a clear message to leftist adults who were upset, OutKick reported. “I mean honestly,” Brittany’s Instagram Story read. “To be a hater as an adult, you have to have some deep rooted issues you refuse to heal from childhood.” “There’s no reason your brain is fully developed and you hate to see others doing well,” she added. Not a week later, Mahomes’ wife appeared on the Whoop podcast and made it clear she doesn’t “give a f*** what people have to say about” her anymore, crediting her husband with teaching her not to worry about what others think, as previously reported. “Yeah, I think we got kind of thrown into the fire together, and I think that’s what helped us, you know, do so well in the life that we are, is that we did it all together. And he is a lot better at it than I am, maybe because his dad played professional sports,” Brittany said. “So I think he was around it and he understood it a lot more than I did. So having him to help me get through it has helped a lot because he’s very good at, you know, managing those things and blocking people out.” She was then asked what “piece of advice” has helped” her “manage all of it,” and Mahomes’ wife said her husband. “I think the main thing, you know, he always told me is like, stop caring what people think, especially the people that don’t even know you,” Brittany said. “And so I think social media used to get to me a lot, and now it’s just like, ‘Honestly, I don’t give a F-*-*-* (spelling the word out) what people have to say about me anymore, and I think he’s helped me get to that point to where I’m strong in who I am; I’m confident in who I am.” Related: Taylor Swift Friend Brittany Mahomes Likes Trump Post, Goes On Defense Against ‘Haters’

President Joe Biden released a statement calling for gun bans and condemning Republicans and gun manufacturers after at least four people were killed when a gunman opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday morning. CNN reported that at least four people were killed and 30 people were injured after the shooter opened fire. The suspect, who is in police custody, is believed to be a 14-year-old male, a law enforcement source told CNN. Biden released a statement Wednesday afternoon, saying he is “mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short due to more senseless gun violence.” “What should have been a joyous back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, has now turned into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart. Students across the country are learning how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write. We cannot continue to accept this as normal,” the president said. Biden then slammed Republicans for their “inaction” on gun legislation, adding, “Republicans in Congress must finally say ‘enough is enough’ and work with Democrats to pass common-sense gun safety legislation.” Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you. “We must ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines once again, require safe storage of firearms, enact universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers,” the statement continued. President Biden’s statement on the shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia. pic.twitter.com/KOgMo1ee3m — CSPAN (@cspan) September 4, 2024 Police responded to an active shooting at the high school at 10:23 a.m. ET and detained the suspect. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said that nine people have been hospitalized with injuries following the shooting. CNN reported earlier that as many as 30 people were wounded in the shooting, but it’s unclear how many of those injuries were due to gunshot wounds and if they all required hospitalization. Apalachee High School is 45 miles east of Atlanta and has nearly 2,000 students.

America First Legal filed a lawsuit today against all 15 Arizona counties for failing to remove illegal immigrants from the state’s voter rolls. The conservative legal organization initially told the counties in July that it would take legal action if they failed to remove illegal immigrants from the voter rolls, but now America First Legal said that the counties have failed in their obligation to safeguard the election. “We are taking emergency action to secure our elections. In addition to Maricopa, we are now suing 14 additional counties in Arizona for refusing to remove illegal aliens and non-citizens from their voter rolls,” America First Legal President Stephen Miller said. “America First Legal will do everything in its power to fight mass illegal alien voting and foreign interference in our democracy.” “Every county in AZ is flagrantly defying its duty under state law to expunge illegal voters,” America First Legal said in a post on X. /1?NEW LAWSUIT TO STOP ILLEGAL ALIEN VOTING We are suing ALL 15 counties in Arizona for refusing to remove illegals from their voter rolls. This follows our lawsuit against Maricopa. Every county in AZ is flagrantly defying its duty under state law to expunge illegal voters: pic.twitter.com/2B7warOhM3 — America First Legal (@America1stLegal) September 4, 2024 The organization originally filed a lawsuit against Maricopa County on behalf of the Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona and Yvonne Cahill, a voter and American citizen, but the case has now been expanded to include every county in the state. “Maricopa County removed the case to federal court, arguing that the case also involved federal laws that, in the county’s view, should be interpreted in federal court. Maricopa County is notorious for employing procedural maneuvers to delay election cases and keep them from being heard on the merits,” America First Legal explained in a press release. “Maricopa County’s attempts here have backfired. Arizona state court rules only allow for one county to be sued in a case like this, whereas federal court rules allow a plaintiff to sue more than one county at a time.” Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you. The lawsuit comes as Virginia and Texas have worked to remove ineligible voters, including illegal immigrants, from each of their voter rolls. The move also comes amid increased concern that mass illegal immigration may be used to change the balance of political power in the United States. Elon Musk has accused the Democratic Party of leveraging illegal immigration to grow their political power, in part by allowing illegal immigrants to be counted in the Congressional district apportionment process.

The four largest government unions have responded to bleeding membership by pushing for “aggressive” legislation to benefit them in order to offset declining influence, according to a new report. The report, from the Commonwealth Foundation, found that the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), National Education Association (NEA), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) have lost over 100,000 members since 2022. The losses have been driven in part by the landmark Supreme Court decision in 2018 in Janus vs AFSCME, which said unions cannot collect fees from non-unionized workers. “What we’re seeing in states across the country is that the leaders of these unions are trying to counter these losses by engaging in aggressive organizing campaigns and aggressive campaigns to change laws,” Andrew Holman, policy analyst at the Commonwealth Foundation, said during a media call on the release of the report on Wednesday. “These losses are costing these unions financially.” In total since the Janus decision, the four top unions have lost a total of 320,421 members and around $106.8 million in dues. Credit: Commonwealth Foundation. Holman told The Daily Wire that another factor leading to decline was that “more and more people are becoming aware of how their dues are being used and what those dollars are being put towards.” Unions have historically been solid backers of the Democratic Party and other leftist causes. Back in the 2022 midterm elections, the four largest public sector unions spent $700 million backing Democrats and leftist causes, with 60% of the funds coming from union dues, the Commonwealth Foundation previously found. Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you. In response, union executives have pushed for access to employee personal information, tax incentives for union membership dues, and expanding public sector unionization. With personal information of public workers, union executives can have access to non-unionized employees to solicit them for political causes or to join the union. “The lesson is clear: Government union executives use their power to build immense political machines, control workplaces, and lobby against beneficial fiscal and educational reforms,” the report said. “Along the way, these union executives appear more concerned with achieving their organizational and political goals than defending the interests of the workers they represent.” The full report graded the labor laws of all 50 states on an “A” to “F” scale. Credit: Commonwealth Foundation. The report said that unions had particularly gained ground in the states of Illinois, Michigan, and Maryland where pro-union legislation passed. In Illinois, voters passed a constitutional amendment putting a right to collective bargaining into the state constitution while Michigan repealed its right to work status making all unionized workers have to automatically pay dues. On the contrary, the Commonwealth Foundation praised legislative efforts in Florida, where the legislature passed a new law that requires re-certification of the union if it starts representing fewer than 60% of employees in a bargaining unit. “As time passes, new labor laws that protect worker freedom will test legislative efforts to counter government union influence. In Florida, where union influence is already limited, the economy is booming, making it one of the fastest-growing states in the country,” the report said.

Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, received a threatening phone call Wednesday morning warning of shootings at five high schools, including Apalachee, before a gunman opened fire and killed at least four people. CNN reported that Georgia law enforcement officials said the phone call to Apalachee High School warned that it would be the first target of five schools where shootings would occur. The officials added that they are still investigating the call and trying to find out who was behind it. The shooting suspect, who is believed to be a 14-year-old male, is in police custody. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) confirmed that four people were dead after the shooting and nine people were hospitalized. The GBI added that “reports of additional shootings at nearby schools are false.” CNN previously reported that as many as 30 people were injured in the shooting, but it was unclear how many people were suffering from gunshot wounds. “We are asking for your patience … please let us get the facts that we need to make sure we get this right,” Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith told reporters at a press conference shortly after the shooting suspect was detained. “This is going to take multiple days for us to get answers as to what happened and why this happened.” One student told the Associated Press that he heard 10 gunshots and then heard a law enforcement officer yelling at someone, telling him to put his gun down. Police responded to calls of an active shooting at 10:23 a.m. ET and students were reunited with their parents beginning at around 11:30 a.m. Apalachee High School is 45 miles east of Atlanta and has nearly 2,000 students. Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you. President Joe Biden responded to the shooting, calling for gun bans and condemning Republicans. “What should have been a joyous back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, has now turned into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart. Students across the country are learning how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write. We cannot continue to accept this as normal,” the president said. “Republicans in Congress must finally say ‘enough is enough’ and work with Democrats to pass common-sense gun safety legislation,” he added.

In one of the deadliest missile strikes since the war began, Russian forces launched a devastating attack on a military academy in the Ukrainian city of Poltava. The airstrike, which occurred early Tuesday morning, claimed the lives of at least 51 people and left over 270 others injured, according to Ukrainian authorities. The strike also hit a nearby hospital, further compounding the casualties as rescue operations continue amidst the rubble. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense confirmed that two Russian ballistic missiles targeted the academy, which housed both soldiers and civilians. The attack unfolded quickly, with many victims caught in the open as they scrambled for bomb shelters after air raid alarms were triggered. According to Ukraine's Interior Ministry, the situation remains fluid as search teams work around the clock, with officials fearing that up to 18 more people could still be trapped under the debris. In the night, the ancient city of Lviv got hit by russian missiles. 70 km (43 miles) from NATO border. NATO didn’t even try to give Lviv cover. There’s something seriously wrong with that. #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/aOqzTrKoW4 — olexander scherba (@olex_scherba) September 4, 2024 This tragic incident has drawn sharp condemnation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who described it as a “barbaric” act of terror against civilians. Zelenskyy, addressing the nation in a social media post, vowed that Russia would be held accountable for the attack. "The Russian scum will surely pay for this strike," he declared, reiterating the need for stronger international support, particularly long-range defense systems to prevent further such assaults. The attack comes at a time of increased Russian airstrikes, as Moscow ramps up its military operations in several parts of Ukraine. Over the past few weeks, Russia has launched a series of missile and drone attacks targeting key infrastructure and military installations. Poltava, located in central Ukraine, had previously avoided the worst of the war’s destruction. However, recent developments suggest that Russia is expanding its range of targets as part of its broader offensive against Ukraine's military capabilities​. As Russian missiles rain all over Ukraine this morning, remember WHY it's happening. Naive Americans believed Putin and convinced Ukraine to disarm. As a senator, in 2005, Obama actually went to Ukraine for photo-ops overseeing the destruction of its vast weapons caches. pic.twitter.com/cFILupGqqx — Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) January 8, 2024 International leaders have widely condemned the strike, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell calling it a clear violation of international law. "Intentional attacks against civilians are war crimes," Borrell stated at a European summit, emphasizing that Russia’s leaders, commanders, and perpetrators of such acts would face justice. The attack also prompted renewed calls from the Ukrainian government for more air defense systems to protect its cities and military personnel​. In response to the assault, Ukrainian forces have intensified their efforts to bolster defenses, but many of their requests for additional weapons, including long-range missile systems and drones, remain unanswered. President Zelenskyy, in talks with global leaders including Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pressed for immediate aid to prevent further loss of life and protect critical infrastructure from future Russian missile barrages​. This latest escalation in Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine highlights the war’s enduring brutality, with both sides suffering significant military losses. According to international estimates, both Russian and Ukrainian forces have lost tens of thousands of soldiers since the conflict began in February 2022​. The UN has also reported that civilian casualties in Ukraine have spiked over the past few months, making July 2024 the deadliest month for civilians since October 2022. The post Russian Missile Strike on Ukrainian Military Academy Kills 51, Injures Over 270 appeared first on The Conservative Brief.