Fox News 2024-10-07 00:08:42


Hillary Clinton advocates restricting free speech rights for Americans

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Saturday that social media companies must moderate content on their platforms or else “we lose total control.”

Clinton told CNN host Michael Smerconish that while there have been some steps taken at the state level to regulate social media, she wants to see more done by the federal government to moderate content.

“We can look at the state of California, the state of New York, I think some other states have also taken action,” Clinton said.

“But we need national action, and sadly, our Congress has been dysfunctional when it comes to addressing these threats to our children,” she added.

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Clinton said she believes the issue should be “at the top of every legislative political agenda” and called for the repealing of Section 230 of the Communications Act, which protects online platforms from being held liable for third-party content, such as user content on social media. This immunity applies to the content itself and the removal of content in certain circumstances.

“We should be, in my view, repealing something called Section 230, which gave, you know, platforms on the internet immunity because they were thought to be just pass-throughs, that they shouldn’t be judged for the content that is posted,” Clinton said.

“But we now know that that was an overly simple view, that if the platforms, whether it’s Facebook or Twitter/X or Instagram or TikTok, whatever they are, if they don’t moderate and monitor the content, we lose total control,” she continued. “And it’s not just the social and psychological affects, it’s real life.”

Clinton said the social media companies should have their immunity stripped so “guardrails” could be implemented.

She said that cellphones should be restricted in schools, an effort that has been approved by several states in the U.S., including Florida and California. Individual school districts in various states across the country have also adopted policies banning or limiting cellphone use during school hours.

“Take phones out of schools,” she said. “I’m so happy to see schools beginning to do that, where the kids turn their phone in when they walk in the door.”

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“And guess what? Kids are paying better attention in class,” Clinton added. “They are talking to each other in the lunchroom, things that used to be part of your daily life when you were a child in school.”

Last month, Clinton suggested during an appearance on MSNBC that Americans accused of interfering in U.S. elections by spreading “propaganda” promoting former President Trump should be civilly or even criminally charged, as she cited the 2016 election in which she lost to Trump.

Guardsman scorches Biden painting a ‘happy’ picture for Helene victims: ‘$750’

Everything is not as it seems, Florida State Guardsman Jonathan Howard told Fox News viewers of Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, accusing many in the mainstream media and a number of politicians, particularly President Biden, of painting a rosier picture of the government’s response than reality.

“He can take his $750, it’s a joke…” Howard said Saturday, referencing rumors that FEMA will provide storm victims with no more than $750 to support their recovery, as he responded to a recent video of Biden claiming those displaced by Helene are “getting everything they need, and they’re very happy across the board.”

“These people are trapped in the mountains. What are they going to do? Order something? There’s no way for it to even be delivered to their house… [it’s a] complete failure of leadership. Everything comes down to leadership, and there is no leadership here. There is no command and control. No one has a clue what’s going on,” he continued.

FEMA denies claims that storm victims will be limited to $750 in aid.

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The agency’s website explains of the aid, “This is a type of assistance that you may be approved for soon after you apply, called Serious Needs Assistance. It is an upfront, flexible payment to help cover essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies. There are other forms of assistance that you may qualify for to receive and Serious Needs Assistance is an initial payment you may receive while FEMA assesses your eligibility for additional funds.”

“As your application continues to be reviewed, you may still receive additional forms of assistance for other needs such as support for temporary housing, personal property and home repair costs,” the site adds.

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Meanwhile, Biden’s claim that storm victims are “getting everything they need” came in response to a reporter who asked, “What do the states in the storm zone… what do they need after what you saw today?”

The president had just returned from a visit to storm-battered states of Georgia and Florida, which continue to face significant power outages and damage from the storm.

Biden appeared to struggle to remember which storm zone the reporter was discussing before responding.

Still slamming the government’s response to Helene, Howard told Kilmeade that private citizens are running the show in many affected areas, and that leadership in Florida handled the situation far more effectively than in other areas. 

“I knew where my governor was before the hurricane, during the hurricane and after. Then he actually sent me up here to help them fix their problems, but these people have no clue. There’s just there’s no command here at all. Everything we’re getting all of our information off Facebook and private citizen groups.”

He also said he was initially denied entry when he made his way to North Carolina to aid in recovery efforts, though the blame for the blockage was passed along by several agencies. 

To add to the chaos, he repeated others’ commonly-made claims that getting help to others via helicopter has been a challenge as well.

“I saw some Air Force Blackhawks there with a pair of rescue men. These guys are all rescue specialist paramedics. I went up to them, start talking to them, exchanging Intel, and they’re like,We want to go fly, but we can’t. We’re waiting on Title X orders,’ and I was like, ‘What?’ And then I have so many military friends of mine saying… they can’t even get authorization to come here. And there’s so many military here. I have Guardsmen, I have active duty. They’re all messaging me. Pilot commanders of pilot divisions, helicopter pilots. And they’re like, ‘We cannot get authorization to go there,’” he said.

“That’s what I want people to realize – why would the government not want to send these helicopters? Yes, I will see guard and a couple of active duty birds. I might see three National Guard helicopters, and I’ll see 40 civilian helicopters doing rescues.”

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The storm-ravaged Southeast continues its search for some semblance of normalcy after Hurricane Helene’s torrential rains and high winds swept away homes and communities, leaving an unprecedented number of victims with nowhere left to turn.

Remote communities in the mountainous areas affected by Helene have rendered many unable to make contact with the rest of the world, and therefore receive aid – with roads and bridges severely damaged or washed away, fallen trees further obstructing relief efforts and power outages further complicating their ability to make contact with others.

With roads impassable by vehicles in many locations, some teams have resorted to the old-fashioned way of transporting much-needed supplies into isolated areas by using mules and horses.

Those displaced by Helene still need donations of essential supplies like canned goods, bottled water, clothing, baby and pet supplies, hygiene products, first aid materials, blankets and other items.

The White House and FEMA were contacted for comments, but neither replied in time for publication.

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Dem mayor exploits fine print in retaliation over company’s ‘glowing’ Trump sign

A 100-foot wide “Vote for Trump” sign in upstate New York is stirring controversy after the City of Amsterdam claimed it’s a big, glowing code violation.

Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino told Fox News Digital he installed the sign on top of the old Fownes glove factory to symbolize the return of American manufacturing and what he calls “the triumph of the underdog against insurmountable adversity.” 

“I think that’s what President Trump did. He triumphed against massive adversity. He’s still doing that with bullets flying by his head,” Constantino said. “And we triumph too. Nobody thought we could build a massive sticker company or a massive tech company in upstate New York.”

But his company now faces adversity in the form of legal action by the City of Amsterdam to prevent the “displaying” and “illumination” of the pro-Trump sign, which is visible from the New York State Thruway. 

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According to court documents, the sign violates city code because it “presents a dangerous distraction and impacts traffic flow,” especially at night when it is illuminated. Local officials allege Sticker Mule was informed it would need a permit and several variances to install the sign in August, but the company never responded before the sign went up Oct. 1.

Constantino and his legal team contest the city’s claims. The CEO believes Amsterdam’s Democratic Party-endorsed independent mayor is anti-Trump and has vowed to fight a temporary injunction that requires the sign to be covered up. Amsterdam Mayor Michael Cinquanti did not respond to requests for comment. 

Dressed in a black T-shirt that said “Trump For Peace,” Constantino describes Sticker Mule as “the internet’s fastest growing printing company” with 1,200 employees in 39 countries. His online business began by making stickers but has since expanded to print T-shirts, buttons and magnets and even operates its own online store platform, Sticker Mule Stores. He is proud to report that Sticker Mule has created nearly 1,000 manufacturing jobs in the U.S. over the past few years.

“I like to move fast and do interesting things,” Constantino told Fox News Digital. Success in business gave him the means to reinvest in his hometown of Amsterdam, and the Fownes factory was one of several buildings he bought and restored, filling them with machines and workers. 

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“Fownes was a glove manufacturer that left my hometown when I was 2 years old in 1984,” he said, explaining that Amsterdam was “decimated” by job loss when the factory, with its iconic “Fownes” sign, closed its doors.  

“This Fownes sign for years symbolized American manufacturing going to China,” Constantino said. Now, the $150,000 “Vote for Trump” sign sits in its place, heralding a new era of American manufacturing jobs.

The impossible-to-miss sign attracted “major interest,” according to Constantino. To celebrate its installation, his political action committee, StickerPAC, plans to host a “Trump Sign Lighting Party” Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. A news release about the event says UFC superstars Henry Cejudo, Kelvin Gastelum and Tracy Cortez will join Constantino to speak and support the “historic event.” 

According to a representative for Constantino, House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., is also expected to speak at the event. Stefanik’s office did not respond to a request for comment. 

“The enthusiasm just went through the roof. We’ve got three UFC superstars that wanted to come see it. We’ve got people that want to come from all over the state of New York, people that want to fly in or drive in from all over the country, really, to see the sign get lit up,” Constantino said.

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But the festivities may be cut short by legal action from Amsterdam. On Oct. 3, the city code enforcer sent a notice of violation to Sticker Mule that gave the company two days to remove the “Vote for Trump” sign. The city also requested an injunction from the Supreme Court of the State of New York to prevent the sign from being displayed.

“The affidavit claims, without evidence, that the city will suffer irreparable harm because the sign is a dangerous distraction for drivers due to its novelty and the fear that people will stop to take pictures of it,” said Sal Ferlazzo, general counsel for Sticker Mule. “The court, based solely on the city’s presentation and without any opportunity for me to respond, did initially grant a preliminary injunction and restraining order.” 

A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 8 at 10 a.m. Until that time, the court ordered Sticker Mule to refrain from “displaying any sign and/or illumination of any sign on the roof of 26 Elk Street.” 

On the advice of legal counsel, Sticker Mule has temporarily covered up the pro-Trump sign to comply with the court order.

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“I think it’s deeply disturbing,” Constantino said of the city’s action. “I brought nearly a thousand jobs to my hometown, which was decimated when the Fownes company and other companies left. And I’m trying to do something positive, exciting for the community.” 

He suggested Mayor Cinquanti has “TDS” — Trump derangement syndrome — and is fighting the sign for political reasons.

“They do know that they are in violation,” Cinquanti told The Daily Gazette. “They’ve been cited, and we’ll just let that play out as we would with any code violation.”

The mayor, who according to the newspaper has previously called Trump his least favorite president in American history, insisted the city’s objections to the sign are about safety, not politics. 

“I don’t care what the sign says, but distracting the attention of drivers on the freeway is something that needs to be looked at, and that’s what we’re doing,” he told the outlet. 

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“Any sign that represents a hazard to the safety of drivers concerns me,” he added. “Anyone who violates city codes is an issue that we deal with, and we are in the process of dealing with it and trying to alleviate what I consider a hazard.”

Regardless of the city’s objections, Constantino said Monday’s event will continue as planned, “featuring UFC Superstars, Free Fish Filets, Cybertrucks and a beautiful Trump sign.”

“The sign is a beautiful sign whether you’re a Democrat or Republican. The sign is a big win for upstate New York, a big win for Amsterdam, New York. It’s a beautiful and uplifting sign. And I think it’s going to become a major tourist attraction, especially if Trump wins,” Constantino said. 

“It’s going to be a unifying event. I’m inviting Democrats and Republicans alike to come watch me unveil the sign. We don’t want all the division going on in this country anymore.” 

Dem approves Amsterdam-style cafes in state that ‘smells like world fair of skunks’

One celebrity chef is making his voice heard, warning that the introduction of Amsterdam-style cannabis cafés in California would be an “absolute disaster.”

In an interview with FOX Business’ “Varney & Co.,” Friday, chef and restaurant owner Andrew Gruel weighed in on why he believes that the introduction would ultimately not pan out well for the Golden State.

“I’m an open-market guy.” The celebrity chef said, “as long as you’re not infringing on somebody’s liberties, I would say go for it.”

But as for California, that’s where the celebrity chef voiced his disapproval.

“The unfortunate reality is that, in California, this isn’t going to work because you don’t have a regulatory framework set up where you can actually police.”

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At the end of September, California Gov. Gavin Newsom approved Assembly Bill 1775, which authorizes local jurisdictions to allow licensed cannabis retailers to prepare and sell food and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as host and sell tickets to events on their licensed premises.

This means dispensaries can operate as cafes — complete with hot food, beverages, and live music performances.

“We already see it with bars and restaurants where drunk people are spilling out all over the place,” the chef said, arguing against the move. “Somebody gets stabbed and then nothing happens, they get let back out on the streets.”

Gruel added, “California already smells like… you know, the world fair of skunks, everybody smoking weed everywhere, but now you introduce this into a food setting, and potentially have kids around.”

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“I just don’t think that Newsom can handle this. I don’t think the state of California can manage this,” he said.

“[If] this were Florida or another state, I’d say, yeah, go for it. So what, you got a couple of guys eating extra donuts and getting high in a cafe… but California, I’m telling you, it would be an absolute disaster.”

Crucial clue led to arrest of wealthy husband and nanny in mansion love triangle slayings

Virginia prosecutors are pointing to blood-splatter analysis as one key piece of evidence that led to the arrest of a former IRS employee in connection with the 2023 murders of his wife and an unknown man in the idyllic Washington, D.C., suburb of Herndon, according to local reports.

Brendan Banfield, a husband and the father of a then-4-year-old daughter, and his family’s then-22-year-old Brazilian au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhaes, are accused of killing Christine Banfield — Brendan’s wife and Fairfax County NICU employee — and Joseph Ryan, the 38-year-old man who showed up at the Banfields’ home armed with a knife, in Herndon, Virginia, in February 2023.

Ryan’s connection to the family or their au pair remains unclear.

Fairfax Commonwealth’s Deputy Attorney Eric Clingan told a courtroom on Sept. 27 that after investigators spent a year of reviewing “two definitive reports from expert forensic investigators,” prosecutors determined they had enough evidence to prove their theory that Ryan and Christine’s bodies were moved after death. Ryan’s arms were moved and had Christine’s blood on them, according to the Associated Press.

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John Carroll, an attorney for Brendan and Peres Magalhaes, argued that prosecutors’ newfound evidence does not prove Brendan killed his wife and Ryan.

“It just doesn’t add up, judge,” he said in court on Sept. 27, as AP reported.

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Fairfax Circuit Chief Judge Penney Azcarate ultimately decided to deny bail for Brendan at the conclusion of last week’s hearing.

Brendan Banfield, who was arrested last month more than a year after the double murders took place, is charged with four counts of aggravated murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

Magalhaes, who was arrested about eight months after the killings, also faces charges of aggravated murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

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“On Feb. 24, 2023, I stood in the middle of a cul-de-sac street in Fairfax County and described the deaths of two persons inside of a residential home. Now, 570 days later, we know the deaths of Joseph Ryan and Christine Banfield are, in fact, murders,” Fairfax County Police Department Chief Kevin Davis said during a September press conference.

When police initially responded to a 911 call from the residence that day, they found Christine with stab wounds to the neck and Ryan with fatal gunshot wounds in the upstairs bedroom of the home. Authorities took Christine to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, Davis said.

Officials recovered a knife and two firearms from the scene.

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“We know Brendan Banfield and Juliana Magalhaes were involved in a romantic relationship at the time of the murders,” Davis said during the September press conference. “I will not describe our victim, Joseph Ryan’s, involvement with anyone in the case at the moment because this investigation continues,” Davis said.

On Feb. 24, 2023, Magalhaes told police she left the Banfields’ home in the 13200 block of Stable Brook Way in Herndon to take their young daughter to the National Zoo. She told authorities that she had begun driving but realized she had forgotten the lunches she packed for their excursion inside the house, so she turned around and noticed an unfamiliar car in the driveway.

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She then reportedly called Brendan, a former criminal investigative agent for the IRS who had at that point left for work, and told him about the unknown car in their driveway. The pair decided to meet at the Banfields’ home and walk inside together, as the Washington Post reported.

Initially, Magalhaes told police that when she and Brendan walked inside, they saw an unknown man, Ryan, holding Christine at knifepoint. She allegedly described him as an intruder. Ryan was apparently fully clothed while Christine was naked in the main bedroom of the house.

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It remains unclear exactly what transpired inside the home that Friday morning, but Magalhaes and Brendan apparently both admitted to shooting Ryan while the man was holding a knife to Christine.

Prosecutors allege that a computer at the Banfield home was tied to an account on a sexual fetish website, the Post reported.

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While the account on that computer appeared to show a photo of Christine in a bathing suit, it is unclear exactly who was communicating on the account. The profile also apparently did not display “one iota of evidence that she was into knife play, binding, BDSM,” Clingan previously said in court, according to the Post.

Ryan, the man who reportedly held Christine at knifepoint, also apparently had an account on the website and had been communicating with whoever was accessing the site from the Banfield computer.

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Authorities arrested Magalhaes in October 2023 after she moved in to the Banfields’ main bedroom and placed a framed photo of herself with Brendan on a nightstand beside the bed. A grand jury indicted the 23-year-old in April, and her trial is scheduled to take place in November.

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Magalhaes’ attorney, Ryan Campbell, did not respond to an inquiry from Fox News Digital. Brendan is no longer employed by the IRS, the agency confirmed.

Virus spreading at ‘alarming rate’ with potential to threaten more than just your health

Consumers could soon be facing a culinary cataclysm: a cold-cut crisis.

Officials in Italy have slaughtered 90,000 pigs over the last two months as African swine fever sweeps over the European nation famed for its food culture, as well as an array of savory pork products that are popular across the United States. 

Food industry insiders fear shortages of salami, mortadella and pancetta. The delicacies are found in almost every supermarket deli counter, sandwich shop and Italian restaurant in the U.S.

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“The spread of swine fever has reached alarming levels, putting at risk not just the health of the animals but of the entire pork sector,” Ettore Prandini, president of business trade group Confindustria, wrote in a recent letter to Italy’s minister of agriculture. 

The possible deli-counter devastation comes amid soaring food costs, a strike that disrupted commerce at U.S. ports and a massive recall by meat-maker Boar’s Head that forced it to end its liverwurst production. 

But it’s the overseas swine-fever assault on salty, savory, dry-cured prosciutto, an essential ingredient and flavor in Italian cuisine, that has chefs and restaurateurs sharpening their anxiety. 

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“Prosciutto has that ‘nyum-nyum’ factor. It’s got to have that ‘nyum-nyum’ factor,” Vito La Fata, co-owner of Vito’s Sicilian Pizzeria & Ristorante in St. Louis, Missouri, told Fox News Digital.

The deep, rich flavor and silky texture of prosciutto crosses the palate like soothing warm oil. It tantalizes the taste buds — La Fata’s “nyum-nyum factor.”

“It’s the foundation of an Italian restaurant,” he said.

Joe Isidori, chef-owner of Arthur & Sons, a popular red-sauce Italian restaurant in New York City, grew up in the third generation of a family of butchers and chefs.

He puts prosciutto on a pedestal, too.

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“Prosciutto is in our veins. It’s part of our DNA. I don’t know if we could live without it,” Isidori told Fox News Digital.

The threat to prosciutto has grown in recent weeks as swine fever swept down from its epicenter in the northern region of Lombardy and into neighboring Parma. 

The province of Parma is celebrated worldwide for Italy’s finest prosciutto.

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Isidori is already cooking up plans for a worst-case scenario, noting that two of the most popular dishes at Arthur & Sons feature the traditional Italian ham.

The stacked eggplant at Arthur & Sons pairs prosciutto with red peppers and buratta cheese. Smoked prosciutto enriches what Isidori calls “our world-famous” spicy rigatoni alla vodka.  

“We’ll have to figure it out,” Isidori said, should Parma prosciutto grow scarce. “For our recipes, prosciutto is the king.”

La Fata of Vito’s in St. Louis was raised in Sicily. But he’s already equipped to survive and thrive during the Italian-born cold-cut crisis. 

He buys American.

“We support a local company,” La Fata said. “The prosciutto we use here, Volpi, is made here in St. Louis. It reminds me of the flavor we used to have back in Sicily. It’s great prosciutto. It also has the great advantage that it happens to be local, too.”

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Volpi prosciutto has “got that nyum-nyum factor, just like the gold standard Parma prosciutto,” La Fata said.

Twelve countries, including China, Taiwan and Mexico, have banned the import of Italian pork delicacies, like prosciutto, because of swine fever in Italy, the AP reported. The U.S. is not among the 12.