Happy Wednesday!

Today’s Brew has an international flavor. But first …

Judge in Trump Hush-Money Case Defers Decision on Gag Order

Tuesday morning at the Trump “hush money” trial, Judge Juan Merchan heard arguments over whether the former president violated his (arguably unconstitutional) gag order. Trump’s team denied any violations, saying the president was only responding to attacks against him. The prosecution insisted Trump has violated Merchan’s gag order 10 times and should be punished. Right now, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s hounds don’t want Trump imprisoned for the alleged violations — just fined $1,000 for each infraction.

Though Merchan is holding off on a decision, he chided Trump lawyer Todd Blanche on Tuesday, declaring, “You’re losing all credibility.”

It’s weird to hear about “credibility” in this case, considering that Bragg is funded by George Soros and Merchan’s own family is making millions from specializing in Trump lawfare.

Trump again blasted the double standard, saying afterward the hearing adjourned for the day, “I’m not allowed to talk, but people are allowed to talk about me. I’d love to talk to you people. I’d love to say what’s on my mind, but I’ve got a gag order.”

Here’s a tip: Trump should stop striking at the judge and keep hitting the areas in New York City that have been hard hit by Biden’s economy and illegal immigration.

Musk Defies Australian Demand to Remove Post Showing Stabbing of Bishop

Last Monday in Sydney, a radicalized Muslim teen stabbed Assyrian Orthodox Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and priest Isaac Royal during a livestreamed church service. Video of the attack quickly went viral on X.

However, even though the Australian government admits the attack was a religiously motivated, they don’t want the world to see it. The country’s “eSafety Commissar” ordered X to take down the video not just in Australia but around the world. Elon Musk has told them to stick that idea in a kangaroo’s pouch, and vowed to fight the government in court if necessary.

He agreed to block the video in Australia pending appeal, but worldwide? That’s a dangerous road to go down, he said. “Our concern is that if ANY country is allowed to censor content for ALL countries, which is what the Australian ‘eSafety Commissar’ is demanding, then what is to stop any country from controlling the entire internet?” he asked.

Don’t take my word for it, just ask the Australian PM! pic.twitter.com/ZJBKrstStQ

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 22, 2024

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called Musk an “arrogant billionaire,” while Senator Jacquie Lambie said she wants Musk imprisoned.

One more thing about the stabbing of Bishop Emmanuel: He said after surgery that he “forgives whoever has done this.” He also recounted that he told his would-be assassin, “You’re my son and you will always be in my prayers.”

U.S. Energy Dept. Gave Grant to Iranian Professor at Sanctioned School Tied to Iran Nuke Program

If you thought the U.S. Energy Department was crazy for putting our nuclear waste in the hands of a non-binary bondage fanboy with a kink for stealing women’s luggage — yes, we’re talking about you, Sam Brinton — try this on for size:

Iran is a mortal enemy of the United States. Its government shouts “death to America” as often as Mike Lindell advertises pillows. Its leaders are bent on getting nuclear weapons, and are very close to reaching that goal. The United States has sworn Iran will never be allowed to get nukes in part because the nation is run by apocalyptic fanatics who think a nuclear war with Israel could be their ticket to their promised Mahdi.

What’s the last thing you want to do? Help them, of course.

What did the U.S. Energy Department just do?

Help them — of course.

This came in the form of a grant — your tax money — from the Solar Energy Technologies Office to an Iranian professor named Mohammed Hasan Ravanji. He’s not just a random professor of Persian literature; he works at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, a school that has been sanctioned by the United States for directly assisting Iran’s nuclear program.

When the Senate Armed Services Committee asked Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm about the grant last week, she said, “I am not familiar with this grant,” but promised to look into it.

What will she do after that? Fire the underling who approved it? Or expose the superiors who backdoor-ed the money to Iran’s nuclear program? Most likely, she’ll tell us with a straight face the professor is working on green energy, is totally innocent, and there’s no way the grant money could be used for nefarious purposes. And by the way, anyone claiming otherwise is an enemy of science and a hater of the planet.

Ah, well At least we’re not giving money to Hamas.

Or are we?

Did the New House Foreign Aid Package Give $6 Billion to Hamas-Friendly NGOs?

We know the foreign aid package the House of Representatives just passed gave $61 billion to Ukraine. “But what about the border?!” you ask. Yes; it also earmarked $300 million for the border.

“Well, at least that’s something,” you might say … until you find out it’s going to Ukraine for border agents and national police.

The House also earmarked $26.3 billion in assistance to Israel. But not really; Rep. Tim Burchett, head of the House Budget Committee, bemoaned how “$6 billion in there (is) going to Hamas, we think, to these Non-Governmental Agencies” under the term “humanitarian assistance.”

At least in this bill no money is going to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees. That group has proven ties to Hamas, including employees who took part in the October 7 massacre.

NGOs also are at work backing anti-Israel trouble here at home. Within days of the October 7 attack, organizations tied to George Soros pumped more than $15 million toward anti-Israel protestors in the U.S., and the flow of funds hasn’t stopped. Someone paid for all those green tents in the “Gaza camps” popping up on campuses from coast to coast. Those weren’t made from bedsheets.

[donations_prompt]

Question: How is it the people coordinating the national anti-Israel protests could get tents and other supplies to the campus “Gaza camps” seemingly overnight, but Pete Buttigieg couldn’t get baby formula to grocery store shelves in a timely manner?

Along The Stream

Stream contributor Jules Gomes reports on Dylan Mulvaney being asked to speak at St. Louis University in “Catholics Protest Transgender’s Talk at Jesuit University.” Incidentally, the school rebuffed a conservative group’s effort to host Paula Scanlan, a female athlete turned activist who’d directly experienced being forced to share locker rooms with a male, namely Lia Thomas.

In a companion piece, Dr. Michael Brown says “NOW’s Reaction to the Title IX Situation Would Leave Even Karl Marx Scratching His Head.”

Have a good morning, and we’ll meet up again for Al’s Afternoon Tea.

 

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.