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BREAKING: American Journalist Kidnapped by Iranian-Backed Militias in Central Baghdad (VIDEO)

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Surveillance footage shows a busy street in Baghdad where armed individuals reportedly kidnapped an American journalist.

An American journalist has reportedly been kidnapped in central Baghdad.

American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped by armed men in Baghdad on Tuesday.

Iraq’s Interior Ministry confirmed the kidnapping.

Video shows a group of armed men surrounding a vehicle, opening the doors of the car, and driving off.

WATCH:

Shelly Kittleson was reportedly kidnapped by Iranian-backed militias.

Per Al Jazeera:

“Security forces said they managed to arrest one of the suspects and seize one of the vehicles used in the kidnapping.”

“The Ministry of Interior announces that this evening, a foreign journalist was kidnapped by unknown individuals. Security forces immediately launched an operation to apprehend the perpetrators, acting on precise intelligence and through intensive field operations, tracking the kidnappers’ movements.”

“The pursuit resulted in the interception of a vehicle belonging to the kidnappers, which overturned as they attempted to flee. Security forces were able to arrest one of the suspects and seize one of the vehicles used in the crime.”

“The Ministry affirms that efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining individuals involved, secure the release of the kidnapped journalist, and take all necessary legal measures against all those involved in this criminal act, in accordance with the law.”

Photos posted to social media show the vehicle belonging to the kidnappers damaged after crashing amid a pursuit.

Shelly Kittleson’s whereabouts are not known at this time.

Update: The US State Department released a statement on the kidnapping:

•The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans.
•We are closing tracking these reports.
•Due to privacy and other considerations, we have nothing further to share at this time.

Alex Plitsas, Shelly Kittleson’s US point of contact confirmed she has been kidnapped.

“I can confirm that my friend Shelly Kittleson was abducted and may have taken hostage in Baghdad by Khatib Hezbollah. Whereabouts and condition unknown. I am her designated U.S. point of contact. If you have information please provide to law enforcement and send me a DM,” he said.

DEVELOPING…

The post BREAKING: American Journalist Kidnapped by Iranian-Backed Militias in Central Baghdad (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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WATCH: Vance Torches Senate for Planning Vacation Amid DHS Shutdown, Calls Filibuster Defense the ‘DUMBEST Political Argument,’ Demands They Nuke It to Pass SAVE America Act

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Man in a suit with a red tie speaking passionately, with an American flag in the background, conveying a message of leadership and authority.

Man in a suit with a red tie speaking passionately, with an American flag in the background, conveying a message of leadership and authority.

Vice President JD Vance torched Senate Republican leadership on Friday for preparing to leave town for a two-week recess while the partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security drags on and the SAVE America Act remains stalled by a Democratic filibuster.

In an interview with Benny Johnson, Vance made clear that Congress has urgent business that cannot wait.

When asked directly whether the Senate should go on recess right now, Vance responded, “No, of course not. Of course not. We should at least, the very minimum product that we should get before anybody’s going on recess is, let’s reopen the Department of Homeland Security!”

Vance also eviscerated the argument for protecting the filibuster, calling it “the DUMBEST political argument I have ever seen.”

“So, when Mitch McConnell and Lisa Murkowski say, ‘well, we need to protect the filibuster because the Democrats, they’re not going to do it. So, we shouldn’t do it either,’” Vance continued. “The Democrats ruined the career of Kyrsten Sinema for not overruling the filibuster. They’re going to do it. So, we might as well do it now to enforce the protection of the American electoral system.”

The VP stated that he is “ready today” to cast the tie-breaking vote if 50 Senate Republicans have the courage to eliminate the filibuster and advance the bill.

WATCH:

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, formally H.R. 7296, requires proof of citizenship when registering to vote and valid photo identification to cast a ballot in federal elections.

The bill passed the House earlier this year and has been a top priority for President Trump, who has repeatedly pressed Senate Republicans to take it up and, if necessary, change Senate rules to overcome Democratic opposition.

Senate currently lacks the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster.

Republicans are divided on whether to nuke the procedural hurdle.

The inability to pass funding for the Department of Homeland Security has caused widespread TSA staffing shortages, flight delays, and long security lines at airports across the country.

The post WATCH: Vance Torches Senate for Planning Vacation Amid DHS Shutdown, Calls Filibuster Defense the ‘DUMBEST Political Argument,’ Demands They Nuke It to Pass SAVE America Act appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Chaos Erupts as House Leaders Reject Senate-Passed Bill to Fund DHS as Senators Flee DC for Two-Week Recess (VIDEO)

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Group of politicians engaged in discussion inside a historic building, surrounded by statues and onlookers, capturing a moment of political activity.

Group of politicians engaged in discussion inside a historic building, surrounded by statues and onlookers, capturing a moment of political activity.

House Freedom Caucus leaders on Friday rejected a Senate-passed DHS funding bill as Senators leave town for a two-week Easter recess.

The Senate very early Friday morning, after a marathon session, unanimously approved a voice-vote package to fund the Department of Homeland Security, except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and key parts of Customs and Border Protection.

Democrats flat-out refused to support full funding without gutting immigration raids and deportation operations.

Instead of fighting for the full funding, Thune and the Senate GOP folded in the dead of night, when no one was watching.

Thune then left town with a private escort.

Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) on Friday morning said the Freedom Caucus leaders are going to flat-out reject the Senate’s bill.

“What the Senate just sent over to the House is so laughably bad – uh, we’re rejecting it out of hand,” Chip Roy said.

He continued, “They sent over a bill that’s not gonna fund ICE and Border Patrol and stand with the great men and women that are defending our country. We reject that. We’re gonna stand along side our law enforcement personnel. We’re gonna have a full-throated debate. We’re gonna decide what we’re gonna do but suffice it to say, we’re gonna stand with those who are standing up for us for defending our country. We need to fully fund them… we’re not gonna move this Senate bill.”

“We’re gonna move something better and we’re gonna send it back to the Senate,” he added.

Many Senators have already left town so if the House agrees on a bill it will be stalled in the Senate – once again.

WATCH:

Chip Roy, flanked by other Freedom Caucus members like Andy Biggs, blasted the Senate bill in remarks to the media.

“It is absolutely offensive to the people that we represent that the Senate would send over a bill that doesn’t fund Border Patrol and the core components of ICE,” he said.

“Could the Senate be any more lazy than to send to us a bill that doesn’t do the job and then leave town? So we’re going to stand up and say NO to that. We’re going to send back a bill that’s responsible to the American people,” he said.

WATCH:

The post Chaos Erupts as House Leaders Reject Senate-Passed Bill to Fund DHS as Senators Flee DC for Two-Week Recess (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Trans-Identified Attorney Goes Berserk in Oklahoma Courtroom, Screams “I Can’t Breathe,” and Demands a Female Officer While Resisting Arrest After Playing the “Trans” Victim Card (VIDEO)

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Courtroom scene showing a man in a suit interacting with officers, while another man is restrained, depicting a tense legal situation.Courtroom scene showing a man in a suit interacting with officers, while another man is restrained, depicting a tense legal situation.Chaos erupts inside an Oklahoma courtroom as attorney Rob Hopkins is restrained by deputies after being held in contempt.

A transgender Oklahoma attorney representing a mother in a bitter child custody battle was arrested after repeatedly clashing with the judge, triggering a chaotic scene that ended with contempt charges, resistance, and a dramatic removal from the courtroom.

According to The Oklahoma Post, attorney Rob Hopkins, who was representing Julie Ann Kramer in an ongoing custody dispute, was taken into custody by order of Judge Laurie Jackson after repeatedly interrupting proceedings and refusing to comply with courtroom decorum.

The viral footage shows Hopkins repeatedly interrupting the judge, smirking at the bench, and eventually throwing a phone in a fit of rage.

The courtroom video began when Hopkins repeatedly spoke over Judge Laurie Jackson, refusing to yield the floor despite multiple warnings.

Judge Laurie Jackson: “You interrupt me one more time, you are being held in indirect contempt of court.”

Rather than de-escalate, Hopkins continued to argue, insisting the judge was refusing to hear the case properly and challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

At one point, the situation escalated further when Hopkins appeared to knock a phone off the bench, prompting the judge to warn about courtroom conduct as tensions rose.

The situation took an even more bizarre turn when Hopkins suddenly injected identity politics into the confrontation. Instead of acting like a professional, Hopkins attempted to hide behind her identity, suggesting the judge was only being harsh because she is a “transgender attorney.”

Rob Hopkins:
Or maybe because I’m a transgender attorney practicing all over the state.

Judge Laurie Jackson:
I don’t know what you are.

Rob Hopkins:
You do, ma’am. You do.

Judge Laurie Jackson:
I don’t know what you do.

Rob Hopkins:
You do.

Judge Laurie Jackson:
Other than you have just now—

Rob Hopkins:
No, ma’am, you do.

Judge Laurie Jackson:
It doesn’t have anything to do—

Rob Hopkins:
It’s happened when we talked on the phone.

Judge Laurie Jackson:
That wasn’t talking, let me tell you. You were entirely inappropriate.

Rob Hopkins:
You were yelling at me, and I did not even know you were the judge.

Judge Laurie Jackson:
And I didn’t know you from Adam.

Rob Hopkins:
I said, “My name is Rob Hopkins. I’m an attorney in Oklahoma City.”

Judge Laurie Jackson:
No, sir, you did not.

The situation turned from combative to theatrical when Hopkins was ordered into custody for direct contempt.

As deputies attempted to lead her away, Hopkins began a bizarre performance, screaming “Do not hurt me!” and “You just kicked me!” despite the video showing officers simply trying to secure her hands.

Hopkins began shrieking, “I can’t breathe!” and “I can’t move!” while writhing on the floor.

Hopkins then demanded a “female officer,” apparently deciding in the heat of the moment that only a woman should be allowed to touch her.

Hopkins was hit with a $25,000 bond and later faced an additional charge for resisting arrest, according to The Oklahoma Post.

The post Trans-Identified Attorney Goes Berserk in Oklahoma Courtroom, Screams “I Can’t Breathe,” and Demands a Female Officer While Resisting Arrest After Playing the “Trans” Victim Card (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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