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Nothing would prevent Trump from using his 'TRUTH SOCIAL' network as he pleases if he's re-elected: WSJ
October 23, 2021
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, should Donald Trump's online platform "TRUTH SOCIAL" launch successfully and grow, there is no law that currently exists that will ban him from running the company as its CEO even if he is re-elected in 2024.
Noting that the stock has soared since it went public, the Journal noted that Trump Media & Technology Group, of which he is the CEO, could be a big player in "a crowded field of right-leaning sites and social networks, thanks to Mr. Trump's prominence and online following."
The Journal report also put to rest any suggestion that the one-term president would have to step away from the company in the event he succeeds in 2024.
According to the Journal's Patience Haggin and Michael Bender, "The deal wouldn't affect Mr. Trump's ability to run for the White House again in 2024 if he chooses. There are no laws preventing Mr. Trump from continuing to run or own businesses while he is a presidential candidate or serves as president, if he were to win another term in the White House."
Writing, "Beyond Truth Social, the company plans to launch a subscription streaming service that would feature entertainment programming, news and podcasts," the report adds, "Mr. Trump kept political allies—and some of his political staff—in the dark about the foundation of the company, people familiar with the matter said. In recent months, his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. , has taken an active role as a senior adviser to the new project and could have an executive role with the company, they said. The younger Mr. Trump has urged the company to use servers that would make it difficult for political enemies to target, the people said."
A successful launch would allow Trump to work around the traditional media outlets and websites where he has been banned -- like Twitter or Facebook -- without the restraints that led to his banning.
"Mr. Trump had 89 million followers on Twitter, 33 million on Facebook and 24.5 million on Instagram, a unit of Facebook, before his accounts were suspended earlier this year, according to a Trump Media & Technology Group presentation," the Journal report states with Alan Knitowski, CEO of Phunware Inc., an enterprise software company that worked on apps for Trump's 2020 presidential campaign, stating that "Truth Social may find an audience with Americans who believe the leading social-media platforms have overreached in moderating content."
Whether he wins in 2024 or not, a successful launch could slow down his financial woes.
"Mr. Trump's new venture comes as his family business has faced financial troubles, including $400 million in debt due in the next few years. The pandemic has led to a drop-off in business at his hotels and golf resorts," with one social media competitor saying the family "could generate $240 million a year in revenue with minimal content expense," with a subscription plan set at $10 a month.
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'With a law-and-order party like this, who needs crooks?': GOP slammed by heartland paper for ignoring Bannon's criminality
October 23, 2021
The editorial board of the Kansas City Star dropped the hammer on House Republicans on Saturday after they sat on their hands and refused to vote with Democrats to ask the Department of Justice to charge Steve Bannon with congressional contempt.
The former Donald Trump adviser has refused to honor a subpoena to turn over documents and appear to testify about the Jan 6th insurrection being investigated by a bipartisan committee investigating the events of the day and what led up to it. After a vote by the committee, the matter was handed off to the House where the referral passed with only a handful of Republicans joining with the Democrats.
That led to the Star's editorial board wondering what it takes for Republicans to respect the rule of law.
"For anyone who still needs it, most Republican House members last week provided more evidence that the GOP — once the 'law-and-order' party — is now the party that coddles criminals," they wrote before adding, "... this shameful roster (including all six of Missouri's GOP House members) is once again running interference for a lawless ex-president who tried to overthrow a valid election."
As the editors noted, this is not the first time that Republicans have sided with Trump and his allies against the law, including two impeachment trials that ended up going nowhere because of GOP intransigence and saying nothing about his pardons that helped cover-up criminality.
"With a law-and-order party like this, who needs crooks?" they asked before writing, "The crime that Bannon committed to merit Thursday's House vote to hold him in contempt is, like so much of the lawbreaking the GOP tries to ignore these days, pretty clear-cut: When Congress issues a subpoena, the subject of that subpoena is legally required to provide the information being sought — in this case, testimony about Bannon's conversations with Trump before the Jan. 6 attack."
"This really isn't that complicated: A congressional probe to establish exactly who did what in advance of a mob attack on the seat of America's government is not only justified but required. Congress has the legal authority to subpoena relevant witnesses for that probe. Those who defy such subpoenas are breaking the law," they wrote before dryly concluding, "And the party that tries to shield those lawbreakers should stop pretending it cherishes law and order."
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Embattled warrior training for Christians canceled for lack of interest in Missouri
October 23, 2021
Organizers pulled the plug on a tactical event scheduled for today in Southwest Missouri that promised to train Christians in "hand-to-hand combat."
The Kansas City Star broke the news about the presumed victory for Satan:
"'Because of low attendance numbers, we are having to cancel this event,' organizer Kevin VanStory posted on his Facebook page. No other details were available, and the online link for the event has been taken down.
"The Missouri Embattled Warriors Event had been scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday on wooded property in Newton County between Neosho and Joplin. The training was being held by the Salt and Light Brigade MAKO edition, a group that includes supporters from Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma."
The cancellation came despite the bar for success apparently having been set rather low. In a Facebook post just four days ago, VanStory said the event would be limited to just 36 participants. Here's that post verbatim:
"We are scheduling a Embattled Warrior Tactical Event in Missouri on October 23rd, 2021. This is a one-day event. The cost for the event will be $135 single or $200 couples. This event will cover: Room clearing, hand to hand fighting and fighting from a vehicle. It will be a round robin with groups rotating (90 min-120 min depending on group size). Saturday evening, a dark/low light class will be given. This will be pertaining to the use of a flashlight (weapon mounted or hand held) in dark or low light conditions. A scenario of the three combined courses will be conducted. The schedule for the event is as follows (can be adjusted as needed). Thanks for your interest in this event. We are limiting the event to 36 persons."
The Star noted that the cancellation came despite considerable online attention:
"News of the event drew a barrage of reaction, most of it critical, on social media Thursday. 'Nothing says Jesus like a 9mm and a throat punch,' wrote one man on Facebook. 'What would Jesus be packin'?' said another. And on Twitter, one said, 'Grab your swords, boys! Tonight we're gonna kill some Romans!', said Jesus never.' And another: 'I think anyone who's read the gospels knows the importance Jesus placed on hand-to-hand combat. 'If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, offer him a knuckle sandwich and draw your sidearm.'"
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