Welcome back in for Al’s Afternoon Tea. Let’s sample some of the latest headlines.

Illinois About to Change Criminal Term “Offender” to “Justice-Impacted Individual”  

You’d think that with all the young black men getting slaughtered in the streets of Chicago and crime there raging out so out of control it makes Al Capone’s Windy City look like Amish country that Illinois would have better things to do when it comes to criminals. But no, the Illinois Legislature just voted to change the word “offender” in state law to “justice-impacted individual.”

Those opposed to the bill argued the euphemism coddles the criminals while short-changing victims. Those in support could not even define what a “justice-impacted individual” is. According to Gateway Pundit, state Sen. Steve McClure asked the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Robert Peters, what it means. Replied Peters, “That means someone who has been impacted by the criminal justice system and is an individual.”

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. The bill now heads to the desk of progressive Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

In related news, 90 years ago today, legendary crime couple Bonnie and Clyde were killed in a police ambush in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. The posse hunting the bank robbers and cold-blooded murderers fired roughly 130 rounds into the couple. Wait. Did I say “bank robbers and cold-blooded murderers”? I meant “bullet-impacted individuals.”

The radicals love criminals so much they’ll distort the English language to protect them. Here’s another language game the Left plays: When some hare-brained initiative turns toxic, just change the name.

DEI/ESG Becomes “Stakeholder Metrics”

In recent months, the tide has turned against the Diversion, Equity and Inclusion movement. DEI staff and policies are being cut from universities and corporations coast to coast. Even The Washington Post has now denounced DEI statements being included in hiring or admissions processes. Corporations are also turning away from Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts.

No problem. Rather than ditch the destructive policies, supporters just call that weed by another name. Not-The-Bee reports ESG ideology is starting to be pushed under the moniker “stakeholder metrics.” The World Economic Forum boasts 130 top corporations have signed onto its new “stakeholder metrics” guidelines. We can never take our eyes off what these people are doing. 

Sen. Ted Cruz Wrecks Radical Judicial Nominee Who Gladly Put 6’2” Serial Rapist in a Women’s Prison

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) won’t be having any scones and sweets at our afternoon tea. He’s still full from devouring radical judicial nominee Sarah Netburn at a hearing yesterday. The magistrate judge happily put serial rapist and child molester William McClain into a women’s prison in 2022, when he started identifying as female after his arrest. For ten minutes, Cruz shredded Netburn for putting her radical ideology above women’s safety.

Absolute FIRE line of questioning from @SenTedCruz today 🔥🔥🔥 bravo!

"Do they have the right to not have a 6'2" man who is a repeat serial rapist put in as their cell mate?" pic.twitter.com/TSzIMjdmmi

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) May 23, 2024

Eyes on the Bronx as Donald Trump Prepares to Hold Rally After Finally Getting Nikki Haley Endorsement

Former President Donald Trump is just a couple hours away from holding a rally in the South Bronx. Will he be welcomed or hit with Bronx cheers? The rally is taking place in Crotona Park, and is permitted for 3,500 people. The questions of the hour: How many protesters scored tickets in order to disrupt the event? How many people will show up whether they have tickets or not? Will the rally help Trump flip New York? He got only 16% of the vote in the Bronx in 2020. But if he gets more dissatisfied, disenfranchised people in the Bronx and other urban areas coming his way, this race could turn into a runaway. At the very least, images of people of color screaming for Trump will give the Biden campaign fits. 

Meanwhile, after disappearing after the primaries, Nikki Haley emerged from parts unknown Wednesday to finally endorse her former boss and bitter primary rival. When asked who she was going to vote for, Haley replied, “I want to know who will stand against our enemies, secure the border, who is for capitalism. Trump hasn’t been perfect, but Biden has been worse. I’m voting for Trump.”

Her endorsement immediately raised the question again of whether Trump should pick her as his running mate. Let’s survey the room:

1. “Yes”
2. “No”
3. “I’d Rather Stormy Daniels Got the Gig Than Nikki Haley.”

How Monica Lewinsky May Help Do In Diddy

Rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs’s empire is falling apart amid allegations of abuse and sex trafficking. Last week, footage of Diddy viciously kicking his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016 went viral. This week, another blow came — and we have Monica Lewinsky and Linda Tripp to thank for it.

Former model Crystal McKinney sued Diddy, claiming he drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2003. According to the lawsuit, McKinney has kept the unwashed clothes she had been wearing at the time of the alleged incident in a plastic bag ever since, a la Lewinsky, who famously kept the blue dress she had been wearing during a sexual encounter with President Bill Clinton.

McKinney is one of several women who have come forward since November alleging violence and sexual abuse at the hands of the rapper. And in April, federal agents raided Diddy’s mansions in Florida and California as part of a Department of Homeland Security investigation into human trafficking.

Defending Their Kicker: Mahomes and Coach Reid Stand Up for Harrison Butker

You can forget about Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker getting the boot for his pro-traditional values commencement address at Benedictine College recently. His coach and superstar quarterback both have his back.

Patrick Mahomes and Coach Andy Reid were asked about Butker’s controversial defense of motherhood and homemaking. “I’ve known [Harrison] for seven years and I judge him by the character that he shows every single day,” Mahomes told reporters. “And that that’s a good person. That’s someone who cares about the people around him, cares about his family, and wants to make a good impact in society.”

BOOM!! Kansas City Chiefs Coach Andy Reid and QB Patrick Mahomes come out and STRONGLY defend Harrison Butker following the backlash from his commencement address at Benedictine College where he affirmed Catholic doctrine and traditional values. pic.twitter.com/utKpbn6cV4

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 22, 2024

When some reporter claimed Butker had spoken “ill” of women, Reid laid him out.

“Everybody is from different areas, different religions, different races, and so we all get along, we all respect each other’s opinions,” he said. “It’s a great thing about America, man. … I don’t think he was speaking ill to women, but he has his opinions and we all respect that. I let you guys in this room and you have a lot of opinions that I don’t like.”

Kansas City Chiefs coach shuts down reporter trying to drag Harrison Butker’s commencement speech pic.twitter.com/Yt73KUvOx5

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 22, 2024

On The Stream Menu

“The Hunting of Sidney Powell, Part 4” from Daniel Street. Today’s focus is on the flood of frivolous “ethics complaints” filed against Powell, including in Texas where she had to face 19 ethics complaints from people she never represented and didn’t know. She even had an ethics complaint in Michigan, where she has never practiced law. This is yet another front in the war to destroy a woman whose only sin was using the law to challenge the notion that Joe Biden legitimately got 81 million votes in the 2020 election.

“Protecting the Children, Part 2: How Schools are Indoctrinating Your Kids with Pornographic Books” from John K. Amanchukwu.

 

Al Perrotta is The Stream’s Washington bureau chief, coauthor with John Zmirak of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration, and coauthor of the counterterrorism memoir Hostile Intent: Protecting Yourself Against Terrorism.