Politics – Right Patriots https://rightpatriots.com United in Freedom, Faith, and America. Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:13:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://rightpatriots.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/right-patriots-favicon-150x150.png Politics – Right Patriots https://rightpatriots.com 32 32 Fair Park, the ‘epicenter’ of racial politics in Dallas https://rightpatriots.com/fair-park-the-epicenter-of-racial-politics-in-dallas/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:13:27 +0000 https://rightpatriots.com/fair-park-the-epicenter-of-racial-politics-in-dallas/

Fair Park is situated just east of downtown Dallas, but its roots trace back to a time when cotton was king and racial tensions ran high. Scholars note that by the early 1900s, Dallas had become the largest inland port for cotton, a history steeped in slavery and the Confederacy. The resurgence of white supremacy in the 1920s, fueled by the controversial film “The Birth of a Nation,” saw the Klan’s membership swell dramatically in Dallas, turning Fair Park into an epicenter of racial politics.

Dallas’ Fair Park | Recovering the Stories

While its history was steeped in the confederacy and racism, Fair Park was also a battle ground for the civil rights movement in Dallas. Figures like civil rights leader A. Maceo Smith fought to bring recognition to Black achievements, leading to the establishment of the Hall of Negro Life during the Texas Centennial in 1936. This landmark exhibition showcased the contributions of African Americans, but was quickly dismantled, revealing the fear and resistance of the white establishment to acknowledge Black success.

Later, desegregation efforts led by figures like Juanita Craft and her NAACP youth council. They organized protests, famously declaring, “Don’t sell your pride for a segregated ride.” Their efforts eventually culminated in the full desegregation of the fair.

]]> Starmer says UK ‘concerned’ about China challenge, but declines to comment in detail on alleged Andrew spy revelations – UK politics live | Politics https://rightpatriots.com/starmer-says-uk-concerned-about-china-challenge-but-declines-to-comment-in-detail-on-alleged-andrew-spy-revelations-uk-politics-live-politics/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:12:10 +0000 https://rightpatriots.com/starmer-says-uk-concerned-about-china-challenge-but-declines-to-comment-in-detail-on-alleged-andrew-spy-revelations-uk-politics-live-politics/

Starmer says UK ‘concerned’ about challenge posed by China, but declines to comment in detail on alleged spy revelations

Q: [From a Norwegian broadcaster] We have seen the story about Prince Andrew. What conversations have you had with Buckingham Palace about this? And do you think the UK is too soft on China?

Starmer says there is a long-standing convention that the PM does not discuss conversations with Buckingham Palace. He goes on:

Of course, we are concerned about the challenge that China poses.

As you know, I had a meeting with the [Chinese] president just a few weeks ago. Our approach is one of engagement, of cooperating where we need to cooperate, particularly for example on issues like climate change, to challenge where we must and where we should, particularly on issues like human rights, and to compete when it comes to trade.

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Key events

Local goverment minister Jim McMahon says getting rid of two-tier council structure in England will save £2bn

There will be two government statements in the Commons this afternoon. Jim McMahon, the local government minister will give one on the devolution white paper, and Justin Madders, the business minister, will give one on the Royal Mail takeover.

One of the proposals in the white paper is to change the structure of local government in England in the 21 counties where there is two-tier local government (a county council and district councils). The government wants to replace those with unitary authorities, which is the system that has been in place in Scotland and Wales since the 1990s. Some parts of England are also served by unitary authorities.

In an interview on ITV’s Good Morning Britain earlier, McMahon claimed this reorganisation could save £2bn. He explained:

Where we are looking at reorganisation is to reflect the reality, which is that there are efficiencies that can be made by bringing councils together that could amount to over £2bn.

And if it’s a choice between £2bn in the running cost of an organisation or £2 billion on frontline neighbourhood services, I would say that most of the public want that investment in the frontline.

McMahon also claimed getting rid of the two-tier system would make it easier of people to understand who did what. He said:

I hear a lot from local people who live in two-tier areas where they don’t know which council to go to. You go to one council for some services, you go to another council for others.

And actually in many cases there are councillors that are dual-hatted, that will sit on both councils.

So this is about simplifying the system so that the accountability is strong, but it’s not to diminish the work that district councils and county councils have done in the past.

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Under Labour the UK government has adopted a more conciliatory approach to China than under the Conservatives. Keir Starmer set this out last month when he met the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, at the G20 summit in Brazil. This is not because the Whitehall assessment of the security threat posed by China, or its human rights record, has changed; it is more to do with Labour prioritising economic growth, and wanting to minimise impediments to that.

Starmer’s comments during the press conference this morning (see 11.01am and 11.06am) imply he has not revised his view in the light of the recent “H6” alleged spy revelations.

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Trump ‘in listening mode’ on Ukraine, and trying to learn what European leaders think, says Norwegian PM

Q: Did you talk about what a Trump presidency might mean for Ukraine?

Starmer says he and Støre have both spoken to Donald Trump. Starmer says he met Trump for dinner in New York before the US presidential election. He says allies have stood together behind Ukraine. There is a consensus that they must call out Russian aggression for what it is, and put Ukraine in the strongest possible position, Starmer says.

Støre, who has spoken to Trump by phone, says:

My perception was that the president was in a listening mode. He’s been calling many colleagues in Europe, trying to find out the thinking here, and appreciating that this is complex. I think that that’s the right point of departure.

And our message is that the sooner the Americans can define their strategy and their approach, the better, because that will bring some clarity to the approach on how this [will work out].

And that was the end of the press conference.

Jonas Gahr Støre (left) and Keir Starmer at their press conference. Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images
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Starmer says announcement coming ‘shortly’ about delayed ‘foreign influence’ rules that MPs believe could constrain China

Q: [From PA Media] When will the the foreign influence registration scheme (FIRS) come into effect? Has the delay enabled this spy incident to happen? And does this mean the UK is the weakest link in the five eyes security alliance (as Iain Duncan Smith alleged this morning – see 9.46am)?

Starmer says the government has been working on the FIRS “from day one in government”. He says there will be “an update coming shortly”.

Keir Starmer (right) and Jonas Gahr Støre at their press conference in Bergen. Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images
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Starmer defends government’s decision to engage with China

Asked again about China, Starmer says:

Our approach is the approach I’ve just set out.

It’s important to engage. Of course, we have to challenge where we must, but it’s better to engage, to challenge, than to stay aside, as it were, important to cooperate where we can on issues like climate change, which need that cooperation.

So I’m very pleased with the engagement and the progress that we’ve made.

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Starmer says UK ‘concerned’ about challenge posed by China, but declines to comment in detail on alleged spy revelations

Q: [From a Norwegian broadcaster] We have seen the story about Prince Andrew. What conversations have you had with Buckingham Palace about this? And do you think the UK is too soft on China?

Starmer says there is a long-standing convention that the PM does not discuss conversations with Buckingham Palace. He goes on:

Of course, we are concerned about the challenge that China poses.

As you know, I had a meeting with the [Chinese] president just a few weeks ago. Our approach is one of engagement, of cooperating where we need to cooperate, particularly for example on issues like climate change, to challenge where we must and where we should, particularly on issues like human rights, and to compete when it comes to trade.

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Starmer and Støre are now taking questions.

Q: Can you update us on what safeguards might be offered to Ukraine if there is a ceasefire agreement?

Støre says they both think the war should end. It could end if Russia pulls out.

There should be no negotiations without Ukraine, he says.

He says Norway and other countries have already agreed security guarantees for Ukraine.

But he says he cannot comment on how those might change in response to peace negotiations.

Starmer agrees. He says they do not know if there will be negotiations. But it important to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position.

Both countries are providing training to Ukraine’s military.

He says he does not know what negotiations might lead to, or what security guarantees might have to be put in place.

But it would be a “big mistake to take our eye off the ball”, he says.

It would be a big mistake, in my view, to take our eye off the ball and not ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position, which is why we’ve been doubling down on this at many of the international meetings we’ve had with our allies.

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Keir Starmer and his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Støre are now speaking to journalists in Bergen about the green industrial deal they have agreed. (See 10.44am.)

Støre says some years ago carbon capture and storage would have sounded like science fiction. But it is now part of dealing with the climate crisis.

Starmer says the deal will take the relationship with Norway to a new chapter. For many decades, the UK and Norway have worked together on energy policy. And he says the defence relationship between the two countries is strong.

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Starmer says green industrial deal with Norway will help make UK world leader in carbon capture

Keir Starmer has said that a green industrial partnership with Norway announced today will help the UK become a world leader in carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS).

In a statement ahead of his visit to Bergen, he said:

This green industrial partnership will allow us to seize the opportunities from a new era of clean energy, driving investment into the UK and boosting jobs both now and in the future.

It will harness the UK’s unique potential to become a world-leader in carbon capture – from the North Sea to the coastal south – reigniting industrial heartlands and delivering on our Plan for Change.

Our partnership with Norway will make the UK more energy secure, ensuring we are never again exposed to international energy price spikes and the whims of dictators like Putin.

In a briefing on the partnership deal, which is due to be signed next spring, No 10 said:

Norway is currently leading the world on CCUS, and the UK wants to join it at the forefront, having announced a £21.7bn funding commitment in October to cement Britain as one of the most advanced CCUS markets globally and pave the way for further innovation.

The UK has enough capacity to store 200 years’ worth of emissions. This makes CCUS a revolutionary method in tackling the climate crisis and helping industry to decarbonise.

The UK and Norway also hold the majority of the carbon storage potential in the North Sea, so are strategically placed to support Europe to meet its net zero ambitions and provide greater energy security.

Keir Starmer, right, and Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre, on a boat in Bergen, where they met for talks. Photograph: Leon Neal/AP
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Royal Mail takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský approved

The sale of Royal Mail’s parent company to the Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský has been approved by the UK government after a review under national security laws, Jasper Jolly reports.

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Government believes it’s for courts to decide if alleged Chinese spy can be named, says minister

Jim McMahon, the local government minister, was doing an interview round this morning, talking about the devolution white paper. Asked if he thought H6, the alleged Chinese spy, should be named, he said it was a matter for the courts. Asked on the Today programe what the government’s view was, McMahon replied: “The government believes it’s for the courts to decide.”

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Iain Duncan Smith was not the only Conservative MP who described the alleged Chinese spy “H6” as the “tip of the iceberg” on the media this morning. In an interview on BBC Breakfast Tom Tugendhat, the former security minister, said:

I’m absolutely certain that there are members of the United Front Work Department [a Chinese intelligence gathering unit] who are active right now in attempting to influence journalism, academics, politics, and the whole lot. This is really the tip of the iceberg.

And so the story I can understand why it’s been about Prince Andrew, but it’s not really about Prince Andrew. It’s about the way the Chinese Communist Party is seeking to exert influence here in the United Kingdom.

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Keir Starmer has held a meeting with his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Støre. Before they met, Støre said:

This is possibly the strongest of friendship for Norway, across the North Sea.

A lot of history and common experience but now we are really strengthened by common issues right ahead of us – security, a more unstable Europe that is going to require defence co-operation and also energy and climate.

And Starmer said:

It’s really fantastic to be here today. As you rightly say between our two countries huge shared history, forged sometimes in difficult circumstances but a very, very strong history, shared thinking, shared values.

And strategically we’re very, very closely bound together of course on issues of defence and security but also on questions of energy.

Keir Starmer meeting the Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Stor in Bergen this morning. Photograph: Leon Neal/PA
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MPs press for answers on alleged Chinese spy who befriended Prince Andrew

Good morning. MPs are pushing for a government statement, or an urgent question (UQ), in the Commons this afternoon that would cover the activities of “H6”, the alleged Chinese spy who befriended Prince Andrew. As Peter Walker reports, Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader and prominent China hawk who has said he is tabling a UQ, told the Today programme this morning that H6 might just be “the tip of the iceberg” in terms of Beijing’s efforts to infiltrate the UK. Here is Peter’s story.

And here is Archie Bland’s First Edition briefing on the story, including further information about who H6 is.

The media cannot name H6 because of a court order. In parliament MPs have absolute privilege, which means they can ignore a court order like this without having to worry about being prosecuted for contempt of court, and there has been speculation that an MP might use privilege to identify H6 this afternoon. But there is no free-for-all in the House of Commons, the Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, generally tries to stop MPs ignoring court orders of this kind and he has a lot of leeway to constrain debate. He also gets to decide whether a UQ is granted, and normally he works on the basis that if an MP is telling the media first that they are applying for a UQ, that is a reason for not allowing it. It is quite possible we might get to the end of the day without this coming up in the chamber at all.

But Keir Starmer won’t be able to avoid questions on this. He is in Norway, where he is due to speak to reporters later this morning, and he is bound to be asked about H6.

Starmer may also be asked about why the government is delaying implementing the foreign influence registration scheme (FIRS). This measure was part of the National Security Act 2023 but has still not been enacted. It requires people working on behalf of foreign governments in the UK to register. But it also includes an “enhanced tier”, posing tougher requirements on people working on behalf of states seen as posing more of a risk. The government cannot set the scheme up without deciding whether or not to include China in the “enhanced tier” and this decision is problematic. Security experts say China should obviously be in this category, as the H6 story illustrates. But China would view this as an insult, and categorising it alongside Russia, Iran etc might kibosh Starmer’s efforts to improve economic relations with Beijing.

The Home Office has been saying it has had to delay implementation of FIRS because the legislation was not left in a fit state. But this morning Duncan Smith told the Today programme that he did not believe that, and that the government was just making up an excuse to avoid offending China.

He also told the programme that the UK was seen by allies as the “soft underbelly” because of its reluctance to confront China.

There is nothing wrong with the foreign influence registration scheme. ‘It’s not fit for purpose’, I don’t believe a word of that, nobody with half a brain will believe a word of that. The reality is, it’s an excuse not to upset China.

We are now seen, I think, by our five eyes security partners, as the soft underbelly of that alliance and that’s a real worry.

The last Conservative government was also criticised for delaying the implementation of FIRS.

Here is the agenda for the day.

10.30am: Keir Starmer is due to hold a press conference in Norway with his Norwegian counterpart, Jonas Gahr Støre. He is in the country to launch a green industrial partnership. Later he will be travelling to Estonia.

11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.

1.50pm: Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, gives a speech in Leeds giving details of her devolution white paper for England.

2.30pm: Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, takes questions in the Commons.

2.40pm: Kemi Badenoch gives a speech on Labour’s economic policies at an event organised by opponents of the government’s plans to extend inheritance tax to farms.

4.30pm: David Lammy, the foreign secretary, and John Healey, the defence secretary, speak at a press conference after an Aukus summit held with their Australian counterparts.

If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line or message me on social media. I can’t read all the messages BTL, but if you put “Andrew” in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.

If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn. The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X but individual Guardian journalists are there, I have still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary.

I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can’t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.

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]]> Politics and Christmas combine to make movie magic. Here are 12 shows to watch https://rightpatriots.com/politics-and-christmas-combine-to-make-movie-magic-here-are-12-shows-to-watch/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:11:37 +0000 https://rightpatriots.com/politics-and-christmas-combine-to-make-movie-magic-here-are-12-shows-to-watch/

Some aspects of Christmas can be annoying.

The carols, the colors, the commercialization. Ugh.

There are, though, many things to enjoy during the holiday season. That includes an array of Christmas movies that will be on tap between now and the big day.

Political Points

Get the latest politics news from North Texas and beyond.

Given that this is a politics column, here are 12 movies with political themes to watch during 12 days of Christmas.

Love to hear what you’re watching.

Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper in "Meet John Doe."
Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper in “Meet John Doe.”(Courtesy of The Public Domain Review)

Frank Capra’s 1941 comedy drama tells the story of a newspaper columnist who writes a fictional piece about a man threatening to commit suicide on Christmas Eve to protest the failings of American society.

The columnist (Barbara Stanwyck) convinces a hobo (Gary Cooper) to pretend he’s the John Doe in the column. That sets off a flurry of political activity, including the formation of John Doe clubs across the country to help improve society. A rich political boss tries to capitalize on the movement he’s bankrolling.

Great performances by Cooper and Stanwyck. You’ll love to hate Edward Arnold, the political heavy. Some may appreciate his character’s effort to win the White House.

How to watch: TCM, Amazon Prime and numerous platforms.

The prime minister (Hugh Grant) and Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) are caught off-guard in...
The prime minister (Hugh Grant) and Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) are caught off-guard in Richard Curtis’ romantic comedy “Love Actually.”(Peter Mountain / cd)

In one of the 10 separate stories that comprise the movie, a British prime minister stands up to the U.S. president he saw kissing/ harassing a member of the household staff at 10 Downing Street.

The prime minister (Hugh Grant) is in love with the staffer, and the event creates friction in their relationship. Since the release of the 2003 romantic comedy, drama between British and American leaders is sometimes referred to as a Love Actually moment.

How to watch: Amazon Prime and other platforms.

A New York assistant district attorney (Fred MacMurray) is prosecuting a shoplifter (Barbara Stanwyck) but gets a continuance until after Christmas because he doesn’t want to risk jurors filled with the holiday spirit acquitting the defendant.

The prosecutor bails the shoplifter out of jail for Christmas, but she has nowhere to go. At dinner, MacMurray’s character learns they are both from Indiana, and he takes her to his small hometown for Christmas, and they fall in love. That’s a problem for an ambitious assistant DA, who still has to prosecute her for shoplifting.

Lots to like in this film, including Martha Mears’ dinner club rendition of “(Back Home Again In) Indiana”. The 1917 song was a jazz standard until Jim Nabors began singing it before Indianapolis 500 races.

How to watch: TCM and numerous platforms

This April 4, 2004 file photo shows June Lockhart as she arrives for the 60th anniversary...
This April 4, 2004 file photo shows June Lockhart as she arrives for the 60th anniversary screening of “Meet Me in St. Louis” at a Directors Guild of America screening in Los Angeles. (NAM Y HUH / AP)

It’s 1903 and the patriarch of a St. Louis family gets a corporate promotion, but the job’s in New York City. It’s also the year before the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World’s Fair in St. Louis.

Though one of the largest American cities at the time, St. Louis was not on the scale of New York, and the lavish 1944 film slyly pits Midwest cities against urban metropolises.

Judy Garland’s rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is the best performance of the standard ever recorded. Margaret O’Brien as the youngest daughter steals the movie.

After they enjoy Christmas, the next year the Smith family attends the World’s Fair in St. Louis. By the way, urban planner George Kessler, who designed Fair Park, designed the St. Louis World’s Fair.

How to watch: TCM and numerous platforms.

In this photo provided by Sony Pictures Classics, Anna Sorensen (Diane Kruger) is allowed to...
In this photo provided by Sony Pictures Classics, Anna Sorensen (Diane Kruger) is allowed to sing Christmas night during WWI, when enemies set aside their differences to celebrate the holiday in “Joyeux Noel” (“Merry Christmas”). (J.C. LOTHER / AP)

The 2005 French film is based on the World War I Christmas truce along the Western Front. The ceasefire included French, German and British soldiers talking to each other, sharing food and even participating in joint burials.

The film depicts how the horrors of war were briefly set aside and serves as a reminder that the pursuit of peace is a worthy alternative to a rush to conflict.

Not a feel-good flick, but it’s worth watching.

How to watch: Amazon Prime

Charlie Brown and Linus appear in a scene from "A Charlie Brown Christmas," a television...
Charlie Brown and Linus appear in a scene from “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” a television special based on the “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles M. Schulz. United Feature Syndicate Inc. (CHARLES M. SCHULTZ / AP)

Depressed Charlie Brown worries about the commercialization of Christmas, so it’s suggested that he put together a Christmas play and select a tree. It goes off the rails for most of the 1965 television classic.

The writing is terrific, and the haunting jazz of the Vince Guaraldi Trio mixes well with a few Christmas songs. The message is cool as well. Even an underdog like Charlie Brown can find his place in a world obsessed with fame and wealth.

Television executives worried the special would be a ratings flop, but it was viewed by 45% of the television audience and finished ahead of every show except Bonanza.

How to watch: Apple TV

The 1960 Academy Award winning film 'The Apartment' starred Shirley MacLaine, left, and Fred...
The 1960 Academy Award winning film ‘The Apartment’ starred Shirley MacLaine, left, and Fred MacMurray. MacLaine received a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Fran Kubelik, who was romanced by MacMurray’s and Jack Lemmon’s characters in the film. (HANDOUT / KRT)

It’s a wonderful Billy Wilder tale about office politics and corporate life in 1960. The protagonist, played by Jack Lemmon, gets ahead by loaning out his apartment to executives who are cheating on their wives. Lemmon has to evaluate whether winning the office politics game is worth sacrificing his morality.

The company Christmas party is hilarious. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve in New York bars and restaurants are beautifully shot.

How to watch: TCM, Amazon Prime, Apple TV and other platforms.

Bette Davis (AP Photo)
Bette Davis (AP Photo)(File / AP)

A pompous New York radio host, Sheridan Whiteside, is on a lecture tour in Ohio when he slips on the ice and has to stay with the homeowner and his family during the Christmas season. He runs up the phone bill with calls to Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. He’s allowed to stay with the family because he’s threatened to sue.

Monty Wolley plays the title character and Bette Davis is terrific as his secretary who falls for a local reporter.

How to watch: TCM and other platforms.

Marlon Brando, right, in Paramount Pictures, "The Godfather."
Marlon Brando, right, in Paramount Pictures, “The Godfather.”(handout / digital file)

This brilliant story of an American crime family trying to hold on to power begins during the Christmas season, when there’s an attempt on organized crime boss Vito Corleone’s life.

The movie is steeped in politics, with corrupt judges, politicians and police officers. The political struggle between the crime families influenced every mob movie that followed.

How to watch: Amazon Prime, Apple TV and other platforms

This undated photo provided by 20th Century Fox shows Edmund Gwenn, right, and Natalie Wood...
This undated photo provided by 20th Century Fox shows Edmund Gwenn, right, and Natalie Wood in a scene from “Miracle on 34th Street.” (File / AP)

A Macy’s store Santa says he’s the real Santa Claus, and it lands him in court to avoid being committed to a mental institution.

A political adviser warns the judge that mistreating Santa could cost him votes in the upcoming reelection, putting the judge in a bind.

The classic Christmas tale is also a cool courtroom drama.

How to watch: TCM and other platforms.

Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington star in "The Preacher's Wife" from Touchstone Pictures.
Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington star in “The Preacher’s Wife” from Touchstone Pictures.(David Lee / Digital file)

Okay, so I’m combining two movies into one.

The Bishop’s Wife starring Cary Grant, David Niven and Loretta Young is one of the best Christmas movies from classic Hollywood.

It’s the story of an angel who arrives to help a bishop through the political maze of funding for a new cathedral. Only the bishop (David Niven) knows Dudley (Cary Grant) is an angel. Dudley’s antics charm the bishop’s family and parishioners, but the bishop has doubts.

The movie was remade in 1996 with Denzel Washington as the angel and Whitney Houston as The Preacher’s Wife. Washington was just as good as Grant. Houston’s singing is an added attraction.

How to watch: TCM (The Bishop’s Wife), Amazon Prime, Apple TV and other platforms.

This undated file photo shows James Stewart, left, Thomas Mitchell, right, and Donna Reed as...
This undated file photo shows James Stewart, left, Thomas Mitchell, right, and Donna Reed as they appear in the 1946 movie “It’s A Wonderful Life,” directed by Frank Capra. (File / AP)

Perhaps the most popular Christmas movie ever, It’s a Wonderful Life features a small savings and loans owner trying to stay afloat in tiny Bedford Falls. George Bailey had dreams of leaving the sleepy hamlet to make it big. His brother, whose life he saved when they were kids, is a war hero.

George (Jimmy Stewart) sacrificed his dreams to keep the family business going. Facing a financial scandal, George contemplates suicide, but an angel shows him what life would be like had he not been born.

The movie shows every life has value, and we’re all connected.

How to watch: Network television (NBC), TCM and many other platforms.

]]> NYC politics: Ingrid Lewis-Martin, chief advisor to NYC Mayor Eric Adams, resigns; jury could soon vote on indictment https://rightpatriots.com/nyc-politics-ingrid-lewis-martin-chief-advisor-to-nyc-mayor-eric-adams-resigns-jury-could-soon-vote-on-indictment/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 04:47:00 +0000 https://rightpatriots.com/nyc-politics-ingrid-lewis-martin-chief-advisor-to-nyc-mayor-eric-adams-resigns-jury-could-soon-vote-on-indictment/

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — Ingrid Lewis-Martin, chief advisor and longtime aide to Mayor Adams, announced she is resigning from her post on Sunday.

A grand jury in Lower Manhattan has been hearing evidence against Lewis Martin and could vote on an indictment as soon as this week.

The investigation into Lewis Martin and several other people centers around the city’s leasing of commercial properties. It came to light when she returned from a trip to Japan in September and her phones were seized at the airport and her Brooklyn home searched.

The investigation, by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, is separate from the ongoing federal investigation into the mayor.

“To my city: I started as a community activist and worked on many campaigns, ultimately landing at City Hall. I am a native New Yorker, and I love my city. Know that I will continue to do everything in my power to fight for this great city every day as a private citizen,” said Lewis-Martin in a statement.

Adams issued his own statement about his chief advisor’s resignation, saying in part, “Ingrid has not been just a friend, a confidant, and trusted advisor, but also a sister. We’ve always talked about when this day would come, and while we’ve long planned for it, it is still hard to know that Ingrid won’t be right next door every day. I, and every New Yorker, owe her a debt of gratitude for her decades of service to our city.”

Lewis-Martin was one of multiple aides who became ensnared in corruption investigations into Adams’ administration. In September, agents raided her home and seized her electronics, joining the U.S. Justice Department in what is said to be a separate investigation into the awarding of city contracts.

Multiple agencies at the time were interested in Lewis-Martin, including the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Southern District of New York, the same prosecutor’s office that charged the mayor with bribery, solicitation, and fraud.

Her resignation comes after other notable names previously resigned from their posts, including former NYPD commissioner Edward Caban, NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks, NYC Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan, Public Safety Senior Advisor Tim Pearson and Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg.

Lewis-Martin’s career public service and politics started in 1983, when she volunteered at the Renaissance Development Corporation as a grant writer.

During this time, she was also working to become a public school teacher. Between 1984-1992, Lewis-Martin would serve as an educator of social studies and later the dean of students and graduation coordinator at her alma mater, I.S. 320 Jackie Robinson Intermediate School in Brooklyn.

While Lewis-Martin has worked on the campaigns of several public officials, her most recent experiences have been spent working with Adams at City Hall. She was a longtime friend of the mayor and one of his closest aides, often pictured sitting next to him at his weekly news conferences.

New York Mayor Eric Adams, accompanied by Ingrid Lewis-Martin, his chief advisor, responds to questions during a news conference at New York's City Hall, Nov. 14, 2023.

New York Mayor Eric Adams, accompanied by Ingrid Lewis-Martin, his chief advisor, responds to questions during a news conference at New York’s City Hall, Nov. 14, 2023.

AP Photo/Richard Drew

Prior to being appointed as Adams’ chief advisor, Lewis-Martin served as the mayor’s chief of staff in the New York State Senate for seven years. In this position, she played an important role in conceptualizing and implementing community programs serving the residents of Central Brooklyn.

She later went on to serve as a senior advisor during Adams’ two terms as Brooklyn borough president.

Adams named Lewis-Martin as his chief advisor in January of 2022.

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]]> MPs consider naming Chinese ‘spy’ linked to Prince Andrew | Politics https://rightpatriots.com/mps-consider-naming-chinese-spy-linked-to-prince-andrew-politics/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 04:45:44 +0000 https://rightpatriots.com/mps-consider-naming-chinese-spy-linked-to-prince-andrew-politics/

MPs fear the government is moving too fast to re-establish UK-China relations as some consider naming the alleged spy who used his relationship with Prince Andrew to get access to the heart of the British establishment

Ministers will come under pressure this week to set a timeline to revive the foreign influence registration scheme (FIRS), which had been delayed until next year, and to put China on the enhanced category for threats.

Labour MPs are among those urging caution about the government’s warmer approach to China after the new revelations about the closeness of the now-expelled Chinese businessman to the Duke of York.

The former security minister Tom Tugendhat told the Guardian that the enhanced tier of the scheme had been “specifically designed” to tackle the operations of the Chinese organisation apparently connected to the expelled businessman. However, there is still a question mark over whether China will be designated in that category by the Labour government.

FIRS requires individuals or entities to register where they are directed by a foreign power to carry out political influence activities and there is an enhanced category for some nations, likely to include Russia and Iran.

Conservatives have claimed the scheme was ready to be put into force by the last government but the Labour security minister, Dan Jarvis, said in a letter in October that preparations for the introduction of the scheme by the last government were not sufficient.

A Home Office source said the Conservatives had not left the scheme in a fit state to be enacted but that it was still the government’s intention for it to come into force.

There is a court anonymity order protecting the identity of the alleged spy, though that may be lifted.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said the spy should be named. “I hope the court change or cancel their anonymity order. There may be other people who have had contact with that person,” he told LBC.

Nigel Farage said he expected Reform UK MPs to attempt to name the businessman in the House of Commons this week under parliamentary privilege.

The former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith is seeking an urgent question in the House of Commons on Monday or a government statement where he hopes to put new pressure on the government on FIRS.

The revelations come at an awkward moment for the UK government’s attempted reset of relations with Beijing, embraced by both Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves in a push for healthier economic growth.

Reeves is expected to visit China in the second week of January, followed by Starmer later in the year, which would be the first by a British prime minister in seven years.

There is growing unease about the government’s approach to China among some on the Labour benches and among trade unions. Five new Labour MPs have joined the China-sceptic group – the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC).

The Labour MP Blair McDougall, a member of IPAC who sits on the foreign affairs select committee, said: “This is a reminder you cannot separate one aspect of the relationship with China from others. China is not only looking at the world in commercial terms. We cannot be the naive ones in the relationship with China.

“My view of relationships with authoritarian countries is that if you give them an inch, they take a mile. What may seem like an overreaction is actually a warning. We’ve been here before with Russia, where we try and have a positive relationship, and we let relatively small acts of aggression or espionage go. We’ve got to learn that lesson in terms of our relationship with China.”

Duncan Smith, one of the co-chairs of IPAC, will submit an urgent question on the influence of the United Front Work Department – the shadowy organisation that is said to be connected to the alleged spy – described as one of the “magic weapons” of the Chinese Communist party. The purpose of the department is to befriend influential figures and win them over to China’s way of thinking.

“We want to know: what’s happening to the risk register? Are you planning to continue with it? And are you going to put China in the upper tier? So they’re going to come under pressure,” Duncan Smith told the Guardian.

Tugendhat said he believed FIRS would have captured the activities of the alleged spy, had it been in force. He told the Guardian it was vital China was in the enhanced category in order to detect the work of the United Front.

“The FIRS scheme is specifically designed to understand and protect against the work of United Front Work Department actions in the United Kingdom. It’s essential that China is on the enhanced scheme, to protect against this kind of attempt at influence.

“This doesn’t make Chinese citizens or businesses illegal, it gives a starting point for investigations and gives our intelligence services the tools they need to protect against this kind of espionage.

Duncan Smith said he did not know if an attempt to name the alleged operative in parliament would be successful. “It is ironic if parliament becomes the only place globally where nobody is allowed to name the guy – and this individual has been spying on this country.”

It was revealed over the weekend that Prince Andrew had been pictured alongside the man now banned from Britain in photographs at St James’ Palace.

The businessman, who had roles at key UK-China business groups, was filmed for a Chinese television documentary where he showed photographs of himself alongside the former prime minister David Cameron, in Downing Street and alongside the former prime minister Theresa May and her husband, Philip May.

According to court documents, the businessman was so close to the Duke of York, he was authorised to act on his behalf in an international financial initiative with potential partners and investors in China.

When the businessman’s phone was searched, officials uncovered a letter from March 2020 from Dominic Hampshire, a senior adviser to Prince Andrew, which referred to him being invited to the duke’s birthday party that month and said: “Outside of his closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.”

In a rare statement, issued through his office, Andrew insisted he “ceased all contact” with the alleged spy, known as H6, after concerns were raised, and that “nothing of a sensitive nature was ever discussed”.

The letter also suggested the relationship had a potentially secretive nature, and said: “We have found a way to carefully remove those people who we don’t completely trust … we found a way to get the relevant people unnoticed in and out of the house in Windsor.”

A document was also found on the businessman’s phone that had “main talking points” for a call with the duke, which said he was “in a ‘desperate situation and will grab on to anything’.”

In the judgment this month, which upheld the alleged spy’s exclusion from the UK, the judge found he had “won a significant degree, one could say an unusual degree, of trust from a senior member of the royal family who was prepared to enter into business activities with him.”

]]> Politics News Today Live Updates on December 16, 2024: Uddhav, Raj Thackeray bhai-bhai again? MNS chief’s presence at family wedding sparks reconciliation buzz https://rightpatriots.com/politics-news-today-live-updates-on-december-16-2024-uddhav-raj-thackeray-bhai-bhai-again-mns-chiefs-presence-at-family-wedding-sparks-reconciliation-buzz/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 03:55:39 +0000 https://rightpatriots.com/politics-news-today-live-updates-on-december-16-2024-uddhav-raj-thackeray-bhai-bhai-again-mns-chiefs-presence-at-family-wedding-sparks-reconciliation-buzz/

Politics News Today Live Updates: In today’s complex political climate, understanding the latest developments is essential. Our Politics News delivers comprehensive coverage of government actions, policy changes, and significant political events both nationally and globally. Whether it’s legislative reforms, political debates, or diplomatic talks, we provide in-depth analysis and timely updates to keep you informed. Our goal is to offer a clear perspective on the issues, leaders, and decisions that impact daily life, connecting you to the heart of political discourse and ensuring you stay informed about the matters that shape society.

Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated live blog and has not been edited by LiveMint staff.

16 Dec 2024, 08:58:47 AM IST

Politics News News Today Live: Uddhav, Raj Thackeray bhai-bhai again? MNS chief’s presence at family wedding sparks reconciliation buzz

  • Raj Thackeray’s recent attendance at a family wedding has sparked speculation about a potential reconciliation with cousin Uddhav Thackeray. Discussions of a political alliance ahead of civic elections are growing among MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) members, aiming to consolidate Marathi votes.

Read the full story here

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Politics News News Today Live: Shiv Sena MLA Narendra Bhondekar denied ministerial berth, resigns from party post

  • Maharashtra Politics: Narendra Bhondekar, an MLA from Eknath Shinde’s faction of the Shiv Sena, has resigned from his position as deputy leader of the party after being overlooked for a cabinet berth.

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Politics News News Today Live: Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: CM Fadnavis hints at minister review as DY CM Pawar warns non-performers

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Policy News News Today Live: India-UK FTA talks likely to resume in April-June to resolve pending issues

  • The talks will resume from where they were paused—the 14th round. It may not be the last round though.

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]]> Brazil’s Lula released from hospital after brain bleed surgery | Politics News https://rightpatriots.com/brazils-lula-released-from-hospital-after-brain-bleed-surgery-politics-news/ Sun, 15 Dec 2024 19:05:37 +0000 https://rightpatriots.com/brazils-lula-released-from-hospital-after-brain-bleed-surgery-politics-news/

Doctors say leftist leader has been cleared to work while recovering at home after being rushed to hospital last week.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been released from hospital following an emergency surgery to treat bleeding in his brain.

The 79-year-old Brazilian leader delivered brief remarks upon his release on Sunday, days after he was rushed to the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital in Sao Paulo after experiencing headaches.

“I’m here alive, well, with the urge to work. And I’ll tell you something I used to say during the campaign. I’m 79 years old, I have the energy of a 30-year-old and the enthusiasm of a 20-year-old to build this country,” Lula said.

Doctors have said Lula would continue to recover from his home in Sao Paulo. He will be able to walk and hold meetings, but has been advised against international travel for the time being.

The medical team said the leftist leader should be able to travel domestically, including to the capital Brasilia, following further assessment.

Brazil
A handout picture released by the Brazilian vice presidency shows President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva walking with his neurosurgeon in the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil [AFP]

Lula underwent two surgeries while at the hospital, both aimed at blocking blood flow in parts of his brain to prevent haemorrhaging. His personal doctor had described the procedures as “routine” and “minimally invasive”, requiring only sedation as opposed to anaesthesia.

His neurologist, Rogerio Tuma, reported last week that Lula’s examination results were “normal”.

Lula, who was sworn in as president in early 2023, had suffered trauma to the back of his head after falling in his home in October. At the time he received several stitches. He had curtailed travel following the fall.

‘Disrespect of democracy’

Speaking on Sunday, the president also offered his first response to the arrest of General Walter Braga Netto, in connection with investigations into an alleged coup plot.

Braga Netto, who was a defence minister in right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro’s government as well as the former leader’s running mate in the 2022 election, was arrested on Saturday after he was formally accused last month with 35 others – including Bolsonaro himself – of allegedly plotting a coup to keep the former president in power following his 2022 re-election loss.

“It is not possible for us to accept disrespect for democracy, disrespect for the constitution,” Lula said.

“And it is not possible for us to accept that in a generous country like Brazil, we have people of high military rank plotting the death of a president, his vice president and a presiding judge of the Supreme Electoral Court,” said Lula.

Prosecutors have not yet filed formal charges against Braga Netto, although authorities have said his arrest was related to allegations that he was obstructing the collection of evidence.

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