DETROIT—Two pro-life activists on trial for protesting a Michigan abortion facility back in 2020 spoke about their Christian faith Monday as the trial moved to closing arguments. Chester Gallagher and Heather Idoni invoked their faith on the final day of argumentation for the trial of seven pro-life activists, which began on August 9. The seven, who were targeted by the Biden administration’s Justice Department, are on trial for allegations that they violated the FACE Act and engaged in a “conspiracy against rights.” Both Gallagher and Idoni opted to represent themselves, meaning that they were able to present arguments in their own defense with help from lawyers standing by. Gallagher is being aided by Steve Crampton of the Thomas Moore Society.  Idoni, who has been incarcerated for months over a conviction on similar charges, began by reading from Proverbs 24:10-12 which calls on Christians to “rescue those being led away to death.” She said that “my life has been very much formed by these verses,” adding that the group was motivated because “we love God and revere His word.” Idoni, who has arrived in court handcuffed and with leg shackles on, denied accusations that the group had a “martyrdom complex,” saying that she did not have “any desire to go to jail.”  Gallagher, a former police officer, talked about how the jury should pay attention to the group’s demeanor while at the Northland.  He said that the case was about much more than “sincerely held religious beliefs” and that the “heart of the matter” was that there was a “creator that compels me to do what I do.” He said that he was there “to intervene” because of his love for Jesus and that he did not want to see “entire families” be destroyed by abortion. Others on trial include Joel Curry, Justin Phillips, Cal Zastrow, his daughter Eva Zastrow, and 89-year-old communist concentration camp survivor Eva Edl. They face over 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines if convicted.  The charges stem from a peaceful demonstration, which the defendants called a “Rescue,” where the group sat and stood outside of the Northland Family Planning Clinic in Sterling, Michigan, alongside a group of other pro-life activists. Edl and Idoni face an additional charge for a pro-life protest they attended at the Women’s Health Clinic in Saginaw, Michigan.  The jury, composed of five men and seven women, will begin deliberating on Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m. local time at the Theodore Levin Federal Courthouse in Detroit. The case is being overseen by Judge Matthew Leitman, an Obama appointee.  The courtroom gallery was packed Monday with more than two dozen supporters of the defendants and others. Several of the group gathered outside the courtroom on Monday morning to sing hymns like “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” and “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name.” U.S. Attorney Frances Carlson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sunita Doddamani delivered closing arguments for the Justice Department. During her remarks, Carlson said that the defendants “anointed themselves rescuers” and that the women they interacted with “did not need to be rescued.”  She said that they should be found guilty “even if the Holy Spirit” led them to be involved, and even though they were peaceful.  Doddamani later echoed these comments when she said that being peaceful, being elderly, and having religious beliefs was not an excuse to break the law.  Lawyers for the defendants emphasized that their clients’ primary goal was to “save babies from slaughter,” not to intimidate anyone.  During the closing arguments, a heated exchange broke out between Leitman and attorney David Peters, who is representing Phillips. Peters began his argument by referencing parts of the Bible that show the humanity of the unborn before explaining the history of the “conspiracy against rights” statute, which was intended to stop hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan, not peaceful protesters. The government objected, and Leitman ordered the jury out of the room. After the jury left, Leitman criticized Peters for going “way over the line,” saying his remarks were “more like a Sunday sermon than a closing argument.” Later, Leitman grew upset with Peters after the attorney invoked John Adams’ remark that the Constitution was made for a “moral and religious people.” Leitman said that he was setting the stage for jury nullification, where a member of the jury votes not to convict based on a moral objection to the law. This is the Biden administration’s latest attempt to sue pro-life activists using its novel interpretation of the “conspiracy against rights” statute. Previous groups have been found guilty of the charge in Tennessee and Washington, D.C. Some were sentenced to prison.

The first scheduled speaker had not even been introduced before protesters breached the recently-installed fencing outside the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Monday afternoon. The Blaze’s Julio Rosas documented some of the chaos, sharing video on X of protesters first approaching the fencing and cutting off a sign posted by the United States Secret Service. DNC protesters have reached the security fence around the United Center/DNC. One person cut off a Secret Service sign off of the fence. pic.twitter.com/uolhYog7W0 — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) August 19, 2024 Within a short time, they had torn down sections of the outer fence entirely, pushing through to the other side. ?DNC protesters have torn down security fencing around the DNC and are getting closer to the United Center. pic.twitter.com/JDOszW7mUi — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) August 19, 2024 The protesters, many of whom wore traditional Palestinian keffiyehs or carried Palestinian flags, attempted to breach a second fence line but were held back. DNC protesters attempted to breach a second security fence protecting the United Center after breaking through the first line but were unsuccessful. pic.twitter.com/E8aK7rMod5 — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) August 19, 2024 Rosas reported that he had seen at least one person arrested as Chicago police officers, fully kitted in riot gear, held the protesters off. Chicago police eventually moved in to disperse the DNC protesters who had breached the first fence. I saw at least one arrest. pic.twitter.com/uHicfz3A84 — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) August 19, 2024 Most of the protesters were reportedly there to voice their objections to the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the war between Israel and the terror group Hamas in Gaza — and while many called for an end to U.S.’s aid to Israel, some called for an end to Israel itself. “End Israel, stand with Hamas,” one protester’s sign read — and he told The Daily Wire that he believed “armed resistance” against Israel was the only way to make that happen. A protester outside the DNC holds a sign reading “End Israel, stand with Hamas” pic.twitter.com/l82C6xaLnZ — Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) August 19, 2024

The company’s renewed focus will be on growing the sport of motorcycling, supporting its loyal riding community, and continuing its long-standing tradition of backing first responders, active military members, and veterans.

Initial reports indicate he pushed his wife during an altercation

'vigorous discussion with the policy'

Damn, Connor ... you let 'em do you like that

You've probably heard the phrase, "don't judge a book by its cover". Well, this story certainly parallels that iconic saying. It starts with a 96-year-old woman living in Toronto for nearly 75 years. She decided that she wanted to move out of the house, but was reluctant to do so. Her realtors were skeptical about what they're going to find. They assumed the worst, and hoped for the best. Source

Recently on The Retro Network I participated in an awesome TRN Talk: VHS Collecting podcast discussing the art of VHS collecting with Jason (@RD80s) and the always enthusiastic Chad Young from the Horror Movie BBQ CONTINUE READING... The post VHS Collecting: A Visual Guide To Retro Home Media appeared first on The Retro Network.

When President Joe Biden was deposed from his perch atop the Democratic ticket nearly one month ago, fellow Democrats and the corporate media were swift to take up arms for his endorsed successor, Vice President Kamala Harris.  Despite the rapid convergence behind Harris, though, some Democrats are not as keen on Kamala as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.  Harris is scheduled to receive her party’s official nomination Monday night at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Yet, in six crucial races that may determine the balance of power in the House of Representatives, Democratic candidates are keeping their distance.  Three House Democrats—Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Josh Harder of California, and Mary Peltola of Alaska—are notable Harris holdouts. So, too, are three Democrats hoping to flip Republican House seat—Lanon Baccam in Iowa, Adam Frisch in Colorado, and Janelle Stelson in Pennsylvania. As the DNC opens, Golden seemingly has distanced himself from Harris to protect his seat in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, which the Cook Political Report currently lists as a toss-up. Golden, who unseated former Rep. Bruce Poliquin in the 2018 midterms, faces Austin Theriault, a Republican member of the Maine House of Representatives.  Golden is expected to keep the seat, but Theriault poses a threat because of structural forces within the district. The Cook Political Report claims that Republicans have an advantage of 5 percentage points in its partisan voting index, or PVI. With Biden’s persistently poor job approval ratings, Golden has attempted to sequester his race from the rest of the election cycle.  “Let me be as clear as I can be: I will not be endorsing in the presidential race,” Golden proclaimed in a recent statement. “The reason is simple: I am running to represent all the people of this district, regardless of who they vote for at the top of the ticket.” The Theriault campaign said Golden is dodging the issues. “Jared Golden isn’t being honest or straight with the voters of Maine,” Theriault campaign manager Shawn Roderick retorted in his own public statement. “We have a right to know who Jared is voting for—regardless of who he’s endorsing or not endorsing. Jared Golden has worked with VP Harris for four years. So is he voting for her? It’s a simple yes or no question.” While Golden’s race is a toss-up, Harder’s race is solidly in the Cook Political Report’s “likely Democrat” category. While Republicans have a 5-point PVI advantage in Maine’s 2nd, Democrats have a 5-point PVI edge in California’s 9th Congressional District.  Harder is vying for his third term representing California’s Stockton area. He is squaring off against Stockton Mayor and Marine Corps veteran Kevin Lincoln II, a Republican. Harder may be attempting to distance himself from Biden and Harris because if Lincoln is able to consolidate the Republican votes cast in a so-called jungle primary in March, the Stockton mayor will be on his way to Washington. Peltola, Alaska’s at-large representative and co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition, is seeking her second term in the House. In 2022, Peltola defeated former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin by 10 points despite a PVI disadvantage of 8 points.  Peltola will compete Tuesday in a nonpartisan election to determine who advances to the general election, which will feature ranked-choice voting. Will Peltola change her tune about Harris, depending on Tuesday’s results?  Democratic challengers in competitive elections are following incumbent Peltola’s lead by distancing themselves from Harris. Baccam is challenging Rep. Zach Nunn, a Republican, in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. Nunn, 45, took the seat from incumbent Democrat Cindy Axne in the 2022 midterm elections by a razor-thin margin—less than a point separated Nunn and Axne when the dust settled. Recent polling suggests the 2024 race between Baccam and Nunn could be just as close as the 2022 race. On the soapbox at the Iowa State Fair, Baccam recently highlighted his service in the Iowa Army National Guard in an attempt to court independent voters. Baccam also admits that border security is the issue voters bring up most on the trail, and that something needs to be done to secure the southern border.  Frisch, on the other hand, is vying for an open seat in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, a seat left open by Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican who decided to run for the Centennial State’s 4th district seat instead.  In 2022, Frisch came 554 votes short of unseating Boebert in the closest election of the 2022 midterms. This year, Frisch will take on Republican Jeff Hurd for the open seat. Hurd is currently the favorite to win, according to the Cook Political Report. The district advantages Republicans by about 7 percentage points and currently is classified as “lean Republican.” As a Democrat, Frisch is distancing himself from the policies of the Biden-Harris regime in Colorado, too.  “Regardless of who wins the White House, I will remain laser-focused on the issues that matter to CD3 like cutting inflation and reducing costs for working families, defending western and southern Colorado’s water, and securing the southern border,” Frisch said in a statement to Politico. Come Nov. 5, the presidential candidate who wins the Keystone State likely will win the key to the White House.  In Pennsylvnia’s 10th Congressional District, former TV news anchor Stelson is running to unseat Rep. Scott Perry, a Republican who is a former chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. Republicans continuously have held Pennsylvania’s 10th since 2010, with Perry’s stint starting in 2019.  Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District is also a “lean Republican” seat, according to the Cook Political Report. Though Stelson has publicly kept her distance from Harris, their campaigns appear to be coordinating on the ground.  One Stelson volunteer, Rich Forsman, told local ABC affiliate WHTM-TV: “I’ve been volunteering with the Janelle Stelson campaign since January. And since then, I’ve gotten kind of dragged into the Harris campaign.” “Voting is your most sacred right as an American,” Matt Beynon, a campaign spokesman for Perry, the Republican incumbent, told The Daily Signal. “Janelle Stelson doesn’t respect voters enough to level with them on the most basic questions in this race. Voters don’t know whether she supports the Democrat ticket. Voters don’t know where she stands on critical tax relief that’s saving hardworking south central Pennsylvanians more than $2,000 each year. Voters don’t know why Stelson doesn’t even live in the district.” “South Central Pennsylvania voters deserve more than what they’re getting—and not getting—from Janelle Stelson,” Beynon said. But even as the unexpected Harris-Walz campaign continues to enjoy a honeymoon phase in the weeks before the Nov. 5 election, Democrats in competitive House races look to divorce themselves from Harris’ record as vice president, senator, and California attorney general. The post Meet the Democrats Holding Out on Harris appeared first on The Daily Signal.

FIRST ON DAILY SIGNAL—Protesters broke through the first fence in the Secret Service perimeter around the Democratic National Convention in Chicago Monday evening. Daily Signal reporters Tim Kennedy and Tony Kinnett were on the scene live as it happened. The reporters captured footage of a pro-Palestinian protester cutting part of the perimeter fence: ??PRO-PALESTINE PROTESTER cutting part of the Secret Service perimeter for the United Center pic.twitter.com/XyS2YcxFyt— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyJr1) August 19, 2024 Protesters began lining the fence and banging against it: Pro-Palestine protesters with @MarchOnDNC2024 lining and banging on the fence outside the DNC pic.twitter.com/A3gvMN2oXK— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyJr1) August 19, 2024 Ultimately, the protesters broke through the perimeter, and according to Kennedy, there was only one fence separating them from the United Center where the convention is being held: HAPPENING NOW | Pro-Palestine protesters have broken through the Secret Service perimeter. There is now only one fence separating protesters from the United Center/DNC pic.twitter.com/yRPvIVm3mz— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyJr1) August 19, 2024 ??PRO-PALESTINE protesters have broken through the Secret Service perimeter to the United Center. Police are nowhere. There’s one more fence separating them from the DNC. pic.twitter.com/JAdxSq7KOb— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyJr1) August 19, 2024 The police arrived in riot gear and pushed protesters and press out of the street and behind the perimeter. The police have arrived in fullRiot gear and are now pushing protestors and press out of the street and behind the secret service perimeter. pic.twitter.com/W4hA6dYAaR— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyJr1) August 19, 2024 Police cleared the street of protesters and attempted to reinstall the Secret Service barrier: Chicago PD have cleared the street of protestors and are now attempting to reinstall the Secret Service barrier pic.twitter.com/HhY1IVbUMR— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyJr1) August 19, 2024 Protesters began to carry away the barriers they had torn down, apparently to prevent police from putting them back up: Protesters are carrying away the barriers they tore down to prevent police from putting them back up here at Park #578 pic.twitter.com/WoAJ25PMOI— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyJr1) August 19, 2024 President Joe Biden is slated to speak at the convention Monday night. This is a breaking story and will be updated. The post EXCLUSIVE: Daily Signal on Scene as Protesters Break Through Secret Service Perimeter at Democratic Convention appeared first on The Daily Signal.