Sen. Loki Tobin (she/her) of Anchorage is furious at the Alaska School Activities Association for its 5-3 decision to not allow males to compete in female competitive sports in high school programs that make up the ASAA. So furious that she has resorted to using foul language on social media.
“Discrimination & hate are bullshit. I hope litigation against the adopted ASAA bylaw change prohibiting trans girls from participating on the sports team that aligns with their gender identity is swift & the action deeming this unlawful regulatory change just,” Tobin wrote on X/Twitter. “#protecttranskids.”
The response to Tobin’s comment was polite enough, but most who ventured an opinion disagreed with her.
“How about protecting our girls? No one’s saying trans kids can’t compete, just do it against fair competition or in their own category,” wrote one Alaskan in response.
“Enough of your hate speech, come on. Most are not saying they hate these kids or want them to be discriminated against. Have a separate category or they can compete with the gender they are born as. I will fight for them as well, but it must be fair to all. Its not hard. Stop it,” wrote another.
“Protect the innocence of boys and girls from those saying ‘trans’ is ok,” commented a third.
On Monday, ASAA brought its bylaws in line with the regulations set by the Alaska Board of Education, which passed a resolution in August protecting girls sports.
Any lawsuit against the Board of Education and ASAA, as suggested by Tobin, would require a plaintiff who has been harmed by the policy, which would require a trans-acting teen to show that he intended to compete on a girls’ team.
As hard as that may be to find, that is the approach the left has taken, such as with Colorado cake baker and devout Christian Jack Phillips, who refuses to bake wedding cakes for gay couples or to celebrate transgender surgery. The first job for the Left was to find a plaintiff who wanted a cake from his Masterpiece Cakeshop.
More known or suspected terrorists have been apprehended at the northern and southwest borders in fiscal 2023 than any other fiscal year in recorded history.
In fiscal 2023, 659 known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) were apprehended attempting to illegally enter the U.S. – with the majority being apprehended at the northern border, according to CBP data last updated Sept. 15. The fiscal year ended Sept. 30.
In fiscal 2023, 432 KSTs were apprehended at the northern border compared to 227 at the southwest border, totaling 659, the greatest number in recorded history.
These numbers don’t include gotaways, which are believed to also include KSTs. “Gotaways” is the official U.S. Customs and Border Patrol term that refers to those who illegally enter the U.S. between ports of entry, don’t return to Mexico or Canada, and are not apprehended. They total at least nearly 1.7 million since January 2021.
With people illegally entering the U.S. from over 170 countries, former ICE Chief Tom Homan told The Center Square some of these countries they are coming from are sponsors of terrorism.
“If you don’t think a single one of the 1.7 million [gotaways] is coming from a country that sponsors terrorism, then you’re ignoring the data,” he said. “That’s what makes this a huge national security issue.”
KSTs are primarily apprehended two different ways by two different federal agents. Office of Field Operations (OFO) agents, who work at land ports of entry, are tasked with stopping “inadmissables,” or illegal foreign nationals, KSTs and a range of other people or contraband prior to entering the U.S.
Border Patrol agents work between ports of entry, patrolling the border to apprehend foreign nationals who’ve already illegally entered the U.S.
OFO agents working at northern ports of entry have apprehended more than those at southwest ports of entry in four out of the last seven fiscal years. OFO agents have also historically apprehended more KSTs at ports of entry than Border Patrol agents between ports of entry due to varying factors.
In fiscal 2023, OFO agents apprehended 429 KSTs at northern border ports of entry and 76 KSTs at southwest border land ports of entry, totaling 505 at ports of entry at both borders.
Border Patrol agents apprehended 151 KSTs between ports of entry along the southwest border and three between ports of entry along the northern border, totaling 154.
The Terrorist Screening Dataset is the federal database that contains sensitive information on terrorist identities, CBP said. It originated as a consolidated terrorist watchlist “to house information on known or suspected terrorists but evolved over the last decade to include additional individuals who represent a potential threat to the United States, including known affiliates of watchlisted individuals.”
By comparison, OFO and Border Patrol agents combined apprehended a total of 478 KSTs in fiscal 2022, 173 in fiscal 2021, 199 in fiscal 2020, 541 in fiscal 2019, 357 in fiscal 2018, and 353 in fiscal 2017.
On Monday, the social media account for the United Nations Women made a bold statement: Trans lesbians are still lesbians.
On the day of Iran-sponsored horrific attack on Israel by Hamas, the United Nations Women’s unit was obsessed with lesbians. It was, after all, International Lesbian Day.
“Trans Lesbians are Lesbians too,” the women’s arm of the United Nations said, while women were being murdered, kidnapped, and tortured in Israel.
To be clear, a trans lesbian is a man who has gone through treatments to look more like a woman and who is attracted to other women.
UN Women is the United Nations entity for gender equality and women’s empowerment, says the international group. UN Women delivers programs, policies, and standards that uphold women’s human rights and ensure that every woman and girl lives up to her full potential, the organization says. Read more about the UN sub-organization here.
Of the 19,000 or so comments, not that many were impressed with UN Women’s attack on womanhood.
“At this point, the UN is really just trolling us,” wrote Jeremy Carl, a conservative thought leader associated with Claremont Institute and Hoover Institute.
“The very act of a man calling himself a ‘lesbian’, and thereby expecting lesbian attraction, is predatory. All ‘trans lesbians’ are predatory men. Without exception,” wrote Sam Morgan.
“Trans lesbians are straight men,” wrote several commentators who reflected the views of many on X/Twitter.
“Women were just kidnapped, raped, murdered and paraded around on camera as trophies. UN Women has said nothing at all about it. Instead they’re tweeting their support for pervert men with autogynephilic fetishes,” wrote Matt Walsh.
The UN does not appear to have a “mens” unit, nor has it ever commented about how “trans homosexuals are still homosexuals,” regarding women who undergo treatment to appear as men, but who are still attracted to men. Nary a peep about that.
The Alaska School Activities Association has decided to enact a bylaw change that bans transgender athletes from competing in girls athletics competitions. The policy is in line with what transpired with the State Board of Education in August, when it passed a regulation that says essentially the same thing.
The vote was 5-3 in favor of the new rule, which is in response to the Board of Education’s new regulation.
Transgender male-to-females are increasingly taking over female sports across America, and Alaska is one of several states that have faced the challenge, primarily in track and field events, where boys can compete more successfully if they just say they are girls and compete in the girls’ category.
The radical Anchorage School District was first out of the gate with a response:
“We are disappointed in ASAA’s decision today. Our hope was this matter would have been tabled. We will be reviewing the decision and the impacts it will have on our students,” said MJ Thim, chief of communications, publications, and external affairs.
Margo Bellamy, president of the Anchorage School Board was incensed in her testimony to the organization:
“There is no historical record in the state of Alaska that provides any data to suggest that Trans-girl athletes pose a widespread threat, unfair competitive circumstances or risk to student safety. AASA should not be setting policy or interfering with local ordinances or local district policies. This Bylaw change will cause school districts to discriminate based on gender/sex and force districts to either comply, with unreasonable and harmful requirements, or seek alternatives for noncompliance,” Bellamy said.
“The mission of the Anchorage School District, is ‘Educating All Students for Success in Life’. This mission embraces ALL of our students’ differences, unique needs, diverse backgrounds and experiences. This Bylaw is the exact opposite of our mission and the nondiscrimination policies that ensure a safe, inclusive and respectful learning and work environment for ALL! Our schools are and must remain safe and nurturing places for our students and our families, this bylaw change will disrupt this priority and cause an under current of hate and fear. I implore you to not pass this bylaw!,” Bellamy wrote to the association.
Anchorage Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt was also unwilling to defend girls sports and had testified against the policy.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Monday he would run for president in 2024 as an independent.
RFK Jr., who was previously running for the Democratic nomination before Monday’s announcement, has grown in popularity through his online presence attacking both typically Democratic and Republican positions in the U.S.
RFK took off in notoriety for his outspoken criticism of Covid-19 policies and the Covid vaccine.
“People stop me everywhere, at hotels, at the airport, on the street, and they remind me that this country is ready for a history-making change,” RFK Jr. said during his announcement speech at Independence Mall in Philadelphia. “They are ready to reclaim their freedom, their independence.”
RFK Jr. pointed to a litany of problems facing the U.S., including suicide, mental health issues, infrastructure problems, chronic disease, political corruption and wealth inequality. He argued that people are tired of the traditional system, which has not solved those problems, and are ready for a change.
“I’m here to join you for making a new declaration of independence for our entire nation,” RFK Jr. said. “We declare independence from the corporations that have hijacked our government, and we declare independence from Wall Street, from Big Tech, from Big Pharma, from Big Ag, from the military contractors, and their lobbyists.
“And we declare independence from the mercenary media that is here to fortify all of the corporate orthodoxies from their advertisers and to urge us to hate our neighbors and to fear our friends,” he added.
RFK Jr. went on to call out the “cynical elites” and the two-party political party system.
“And finally, we declare independence from the two political parties and the corrupt interests that dominate them and the entire rigged system, of anger, of rage, of corruption, of lies that has turned government officials into indentured servants for their corporate bosses,” RFK Jr. said.
President Joe Biden is leading the Democratic presidential primary race with no substantive opposition, and former President Donald Trump is far and away the frontrunner for the Republican nomination. How RFK Jr.’s announcement will impact their support remains unclear.
Immediately, RFK Jr. came under fire from Republican leadership.
“Make no mistake – a Democrat in Independent’s clothing is still a Democrat,” Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, said in a statement. “RFK Jr. cannot hide from his record of endorsing Hillary, supporting the Green New Deal, fighting against the Keystone Pipeline, and praising AOC’s tax hikes – he is your typical elitist liberal and voters won’t be fooled.”
As The Center Square previously reported, Gallup polling released earlier this month showed that 63% of surveyed Americans say both the Democratic and Republican parties do a “poor job” and that a third political party is needed.
Both Democrats and Republicans have increased their support for the idea of a third party.
“Most often, support for a third party among Democrats and Republicans is below the majority level,” Gallup said. “However, this year’s poll shows 58% of Republicans endorsing a third U.S. political party, up from 45% a year ago. The only other time more Republicans than now expressed support for a third party was in a late January/early February 2021 conducted after the Jan. 6 riots, the second impeachment of Donald Trump, and the presidential inauguration of Joe Biden.
“There has also been an uptick in support for a third party among Democrats this year, from 40% to 46%, though still less than a majority back the idea,” Gallup added.
Amazon announced its new “last-mile facility” coming to Anchorage. The planned site, also known as a delivery station, is under construction and won’t be fully operational until 2024. However, the company has begun hiring for hundreds of full-time and part-time roles this week.
Jobs offer a starting wage of $20 an hour and eligible employees will receive comprehensive benefits such as career advancement opportunities, healthcare, vision, and dental insurance from the first day on the job; a 401(k) with company match; up to 20 weeks paid parental leave with six weeks for supporting parents, the company announced today.
“We are thrilled to continue investing in the great state of Alaska. Our forthcoming last mile facility in Anchorage will help us provide faster, more efficient deliveries for customers. We look forward to sharing more details as the site gets closer to launch,” said Natalie Banke, Amazon spokesperson.
Amazon’s fulfillment network is made up of state-of-the-art technology and a variety of building types and sizes to support processing orders.
“This delivery station will play a pivotal role in Amazon’s logistics network, serving as the last stop before packages arrive at customers’ doorsteps in Anchorage and surrounding areas,” said Banke. “Employees will sort packages based on delivery routes, then load them onto vehicles for delivery service partners and flex drivers who will finalize the delivery of a wide array of goods to customers.”
Amazon will be hosting an in-person hiring event from Oct. 11-13 at 700 E. Dimond Blvd, Anchorage. Interested candidates can learn more and review new positions weekly at amazon.com/apply.
The U.S. Marine sentry didn’t even turn his head to look at the last of the very important people to arrive at the room.
“Good evening, Sir,” he snapped while opening a door leading to the most secure conference room in the country.
“Bold of you assume my gender, Corporal,” replied the suit.
“No assumption, Sir. We’ve met several times.”
“Hmph,” the suit grunted without breaking stride and entering the hallowed grounds. He immediately addressed the 11 people already seated around the table with a shrug of his shoulders and just one work: “Traffic.”
“Traffic? You should’ve let me know. As Secretary of Transportation, I would have ordered the streets cleared for you.”
“No, it was traffic flying the wife’s private plane into the airport. They made us circle around for a half hour, as if we were commoners. Hey, what’s Transportation doing here? This is a national security matter.”
“Like you, Mr. Secretary—”
“Czar, if you please.”
“Yes, excuse me. Like you, Czar, I am one of the few cabinet officials with military experience.”
“Touche. I was in Vietnam myself; you know? Received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts.”
“Impressive haul in just four months,” replied Transportation. “But why is the Climate Czar attending a national security meeting?”
“Climate change is the number one national security challenge. Am I right?”
“Okay, enough of this,” shouted the boss. “My son, as you all know, lost his life in Iraq, so that trumps all of you.”
The collective gasp was audible, but Brandon didn’t notice his faux pas in uttering the name of his predecessor; the name is not to be heard unless blame is being assigned. “Mic drop.”
The boss looked around the table: “That’s what the kids say, right? Mic drop? Hehe . . . mic drop.”
This made the chief executive smile. “General—” he said with a nod towards the senior ranking military officer in the nation, “take it away.”
“Thank you, Sir.” The four star stood. “I appreciate you all being here the day before a holiday—”
“Holiday?” asked Number Two.
“Yes, Ma’am. Columbus Day is tomorrow.”
“Columbus Day? I thought we did away with that. It’s now called Indigenous People’s Day,” she said, with a smug smile and large dose of indignation. “And, yes, I am a Ma’am. She/her pronouns, and I’m wearing a blue business suit.”
Turning to the four star, Number Two continued, “We should have everyone in the room also introduce themselves. Don’t you think, General?”
“Well, we have a lot of important matters to cover. The world is on fire. Besides, everyone here has met.”
“The world’s on fire because of global warming,” the Czar chimed in.
“It was a metaphor, Sir,” said the General.
“Still, think it would be a good idea for . . . you know . . .” Number Two said as she nodded to the head of the table.
“Ma’am?” asked the four star.
Number Two widened her eyes and again tilted her head towards the boss. “You know, just to make sure we’re all properly introduced. Ya’ know?”
“I’ll go, I’ll go,” said the Press Secretary, raising her hand and waving it around like she was hailing a taxi in Manhattan. “As a historical figure, being the first black person and the first lesbian to—”
“Who’s a black lesbian?” asked the boss.
“I am. That’s why you hired me.”
“Is that true, Camaro?” asked the boss, turning to Number Two.
“It’s Kamala, Sir. And, no, it’s not true. Well, it’s not your truth. Truth is evolving, of course. You have your truth. I have my truth. Truth can be true or not true. Just because something is factual doesn’t mean it’s true.”
“I’m Pete. He/him, but I am gay,” said Transportation rather eagerly.
“Him, too, Carmela?”
“Kamala, Sir. We are a diverse bunch here. Remember after the election, we decided we were only going to hire people that weren’t white, cisgender males?”
“Malarky! I’m a white, cisgender male. Aren’t I Honey?” the boss asked as he turned towards his wife.
“Please address me as ‘Doctor.’ I earned it,” the First Lady answered. “And, yes, you are a white, cisgender male, my dear.”
“Thought so,” he said with a big grin. “Still got it huh?” He elbowed the Director of National Intelligence and winked. “Yep, I still got it.” DNI forced a smile and blushed.
“Of course you do, snookums, did you hear what that big, rotund man said about us at the debate?”
“I thought you all told me we weren’t going to have any debates this time,” Number One said as he waved his arms to the assembled.
“The other guys’ debate, Joey. You know, the . . .” Doctor looked around the room, leaned over the tabletop and whispered, “the Republicans.”
“Well, what did that . . .” the boss looked around the room, hunched over the table top, and whispered, “that Republican say about us, Jilly Bean?”
“Well, he said you were sleeping with a member of the teacher’s union.”
“Great coddly kooks! That’s absurd. I swear to you I did no such thing. It’s blatant character assassta . . . assnassa . . . attestata . . . assachastion—”
“Assassination,” eleven voices said as one.
“Duck!” yelled the boss as he fell to floor and hid under the desk. “Secret Service, get over here!”
“If only . . .”
“That’s enough of that, Chamomile,” warned the First Lady as she bent down to retrieve her husband.
“It’s Madam Pres–, I mean Kamala, Ma’am. She/her.”
The First Lady poked her head over the tabletop and squinted her eyes menacingly at she/her who would replace he/him in case something terribly awful happened. Doctor stretched out her hand to the commander in chief, whose eyes were darting right and left in search of the dreaded assassins.
“It’s okay, no one’s gonna’ hurt you. You can come on up now,” she said, smiling tenderly.
Doctor Jill, it turns out, had been doing quite a bit of late night reading lately concerning Edith Wilson, the former First Lady during Woodrow Wilson’s presidency. She found it fascinating how Edith essentially ran the oval office after her husband had a stroke, and the good Doctor wasn’t about to let some starry-eyed opportunist try and take over what was rightfully hers, especially after what she had been through the past two and a half years, what with all the coddling, spoon feeding, and pointing in the right direction. It had been exhausting for a woman of such letters.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if we could please get back to the matters at hand,” pleaded the UN Ambassador.
“Again with the gender assumptions,” muttered the Czar.
“Not to mention outdated repressive stereotypes that further the patriarchy—”
“Enough!” It was a junior political advisor attending on behalf of his boss who couldn’t make it because he was arranging a fundraising dinner for millionaire Marxists. “There’s war in Europe. Inflation is out of control. Auto workers are on strike. Medical workers are on strike. Hollywood’s on strike. Thousands are pouring over the border each day. People are fleeing the cities because criminals are running rampant. And now the Middle East is at war.”
Brandon eased back into his chair with Doctor’s help. “Hollywood’s on strike?”
This conversation came to writer Tim Barto in a fever dream over the weekend. Back to work on Monday for Alaska Family Council.
One hundred years ago, on Oct. 9, 1923, the MV Kennecott wrecked on the rocks in the Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C.
The ship, owned by the Alaska Steamship Co., was carrying copper from Alaska when it hit the rocks just before midnight the night earlier.
Lost in the wreck was 6,000 tons of copper ore from the richest copper mining area in the world, Kennecott. That mining area is now a national historic landmark withinWrangell-St. Elias National Park, but back then it had several copper ore mines and the mill town of McCarthy.
The value of the ship’s cargo was $1 million in 1923, which would be worth over $17 million today, according to inflation calculators. The copper ore was on its way to Tacoma, Washington, where a smelter run by Asarco operated for decades before closing in 1985 due to regulations and a recession.
The Kennecott, which was on her maiden voyage from Alaska, also had 40,000 cases of salmon from the Copper River.
“The Kennecott broke up and sank after a failed salvage attempt and on the evening of October 23 Captain Laughing Jack was standing on the deck of the salvage steamer Algerine as it headed south toward Tacoma. As the voyage took him down Finlayson Channel past the site of his first ship wreck, he went overboard, his body never found,” according to an account at Tacomahistory.live. Read more about this shipwreck at the link below:
The State Department has confirmed that least nine Americans were killed in the surprise Hamas attack on Israel on Saturday.
Terrorists, backed by Iran, launched a multi-tiered attack that included firing thousands of rockets from Gaza to multiple locations in Israel, while terrorists paraglided in and randomly killed, tortured, and kidnapped those who were unfortunate enough to be in their path. Israeli media reports over 700 dead and thousands wounded, and Israel quickly declared a state of war and retaliated, resulting in many deaths of Palestinians.
“We can confirm that there are nine American citizens who have lost their lives as a result of these horrific attacks,” State Department Spokesman Matt Miller said on MSNBC on Monday morning.
Israel’s military reports that it killed several Hamas warriors who had crossed into the country from Lebanon, which is in the north, as Israel responded to attacks on multiple fronts at once. The Lebanese Army is skirmishing with Israeli forces along its border.
Palestinian officials say that 500 Palestinians have been killed in retaliatory attacks, as Israel announced its largest-ever mobilization, calling up more than 300,000 Israeli Army reservists.
