International
Bill Maher Torches California’s Disastrous Wildfire Response in Brutal Monologue
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After 27 fatalities, the destruction of over 12,000 structures, and $150 to $250 billion in damages, California resident and comedian Bill Maher didn’t hold back his outrage over his state’s catastrophic wildfire response on Real Time.
In a scathing monologue, Maher first pointed out to the climate cult that mandating EVs and shaming people for their carbon footprints means nothing when the government can’t even manage wildfires.
“You know what the absolute worst thing for the environment is? Wildfires. A 2022 study found that the smoke from just the two in 2020 wiped out 18 years of carbon reduction in the state—which means we suffered the pain of driving those early-model Priuses for nothing,” Maher quipped.
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Maher zeroed in on LA Mayor Karen Bass’s selection of Kristin Crowley as fire chief, suggesting she was only chosen for being the “best lesbian” for the job instead of the best person—something Maher argued was “not good enough” for essential services.
“Am I against a lesbian being chief? Of course not. Do I think a lesbian can do the job? Of course, I do. And maybe she’s the best person for the job. Or maybe they really wanted a lesbian in that job, and she’s just the best lesbian for the job, and with essential services, that’s not good enough,” Maher snapped.
“Crowley’s official bio says, ‘Chief Crowley leads a diverse department, creating, supporting, and promoting a culture that values diversity, inclusion, and equity, while striving to meet and exceed the expectations of the communities.’ Well, you didn’t exceed my expectations, which was that the whole city wouldn’t burn down!” he stressed.
“But it’s telling that diversity is mentioned twice before we get to ‘while striving to meet expectations.’ Now, can you do two things at once? Yes, but it matters where your head is,” Maher argued.
Maher went on to admit that it’s “not wrong” to blame wokeness for California’s disastrous fire response, turning his attention to Deputy Fire Chief Kristine Larson, whose recent comments are so absurd that Maher called them “kind of racist.”
Larson said in a viral social media post, “You want to see somebody that responds to your house, your emergency, whether it’s a medical call or a fire call that looks like you.”
Maher fired back at this statement, saying, “which would sound kind of racist if a Southern sheriff said it.”
“Now, is wokeness the main reason for the fires? Of course not,” Maher said. “But let’s not pretend it hasn’t played a role. Our government’s unforced errors are straight out of the progressive playbook: questionable budget priorities, sky-high taxes that get you nothing, and a constant obsession with identity politics instead of fixing what’s broken.”
“Cali’s got commissions, agencies, bureaucrats, and even sign language interpreters who emote with their face,” Maher continued. “But where’s the common sense? Where’s the action?” he asked.
In his final words, Maher warned California that they better figure out how to actually govern “soon” because “wildfires in California are like boob jobs in a strip club: inevitable, and only getting bigger.”
Watch the full monologue below:
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International
Jihadis behead 70 Christians in DR Congo church
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MxM News
Quick Hit:
Seventy Christians were brutally murdered by jihadists affiliated with ISIS in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The victims were forced into a Protestant church and beheaded, marking one of the deadliest attacks on Christians in the region.
Key Details:
- The attack occurred on February 13 in the town of Kasanga, where members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), linked to ISIS, rounded up villagers and executed them inside a Protestant church.
- Open Doors UK, a human rights organization, reported that the ADF targeted 70 Christian villages, leaving families too terrified to bury their dead for a week.
- The international community has largely ignored the atrocity, with few public statements condemning the violence, except from Hungary’s State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians, Tristan Azbej.
Diving Deeper:
Open Doors UK revealed that the massacre took place when the ADF militants surrounded the village of Maybe, forcibly removing residents from their homes. The 70 Christian villagers were herded into an abandoned Protestant church in Kasanga and systematically executed by beheading. The church had been previously deserted due to escalating security threats in the area.
The ADF, an Islamist militant group linked to ISIS, has been responsible for numerous violent attacks across northeastern DRC. Their objective is to overthrow the governments of the DRC and Uganda to establish a caliphate, similar to the one ISIS formed in Syria and Iraq. The group has intensified its activities in the mineral-rich North Kivu province, killing at least 200 people in the past month alone.
The aftermath of the attack has left surviving Christians in fear, prompting many to flee the region. A church elder from CECA-20, the Evangelical Community in Central Africa, expressed despair, stating, “We don’t know what to do or how to pray. We’ve had enough of massacres. May God’s will alone be done.”
Open Doors UK strongly condemned the attack, urging governments and international organizations to prioritize civilian protection in eastern DRC. Despite the magnitude of the atrocity, international media coverage has been minimal. Social media users have criticized the lack of global attention to the incident.
Hungary’s State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians, Tristan Azbej, was one of the few international figures to respond publicly. He expressed horror at the killings, calling the victims “Christian martyrs” and emphasizing the need for global recognition and action against Christian persecution.
The violence underscores the ongoing security crisis in the DRC, where numerous militant groups, including the ADF, continue to vie for control over the region’s valuable mineral resources. As the humanitarian situation worsens, the international community faces growing pressure to respond to the escalating persecution of Christians in the region.
International
Mexico to reform constitution after Trump designates cartels as terrorist organizations
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MxM News
Quick Hit:
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced plans to propose constitutional reforms following U.S. President Donald Trump’s designation of six Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Key Details:
- The U.S. designation targets six Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, published in the Federal Register on Thursday.
- Sheinbaum’s proposed reforms would protect Mexico’s sovereignty and limit foreign agents’ operations within the country.
- The reforms would also impose severe penalties on foreigners involved in gun trafficking, addressing Mexico’s longstanding demand for stricter U.S. gun control measures.
Diving Deeper:
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed plans to propose constitutional reforms in response to the Trump administration’s recent designation of six Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. The U.S. action, announced on Thursday, has raised concerns in Mexico about potential military intervention on its soil, an idea Mexico strongly opposes.
“The Mexican people will not accept under any circumstances interventions, interference or any other act from abroad that could be harmful to the integrity, independence and sovereignty of the nation,” Sheinbaum asserted during her daily press briefing. She emphasized that Mexico would not allow outside involvement in investigations or prosecutions without authorization and collaboration from the Mexican government.
The U.S. designations are part of a broader effort to increase pressure on the cartels by treating them similarly to groups with political motives rather than purely economic interests. The decision follows a Jan. 20 executive order by President Donald Trump, aiming to curb cartel operations that contribute to violence and instability in the region.
Sheinbaum’s proposal seeks to solidify existing restrictions on foreign agents operating in Mexico, which were first introduced by her predecessor, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Those laws limited the independence of foreign agents, requiring Mexican authorities to be informed of their movements. By enshrining these restrictions in the constitution, Sheinbaum aims to further safeguard Mexico’s sovereignty.
Additionally, Sheinbaum plans to introduce severe penalties for foreigners involved in gun trafficking, a longstanding issue in U.S.-Mexico relations. Mexico has repeatedly called on the U.S. to do more to prevent the flow of firearms from American gun shops and manufacturers into Mexico. With majorities in both chambers of Congress, Sheinbaum’s Morena party and its allies are well-positioned to pass the proposed constitutional amendments.
“What we want to make clear in the face of this designation is that we do not negotiate sovereignty,” Sheinbaum said, signaling her firm stance against any potential foreign military action on Mexican territory. As the situation develops, the proposed reforms are likely to shape Mexico’s domestic and international policy landscape, especially in its ongoing relationship with the U.S. under President Trump’s administration.
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