Sound of Freedom surprise hit film of summer

Jim Caviezel champions a Sound of Freedom: Movie Review | Oakville News | Tyler Collins:

July 8, 2023 - "In an especially strong summer at the multiplex, it’s a genuine surprise to have an adult, biographical drama with minimal marketing and a prominent social justice mission to be making the (mostly welcome) headlines it has. That’s the surprise in Angel Studios’ Sound of Freedom: somehow, one of Hollywood’s smallest movie studios has produced the first true sleeper hit film of the year, ... worthy of its quickly growing praise among audiences.

"The film’s real-life subject matter is harrowing to say the least - the film is a biography of real-life former U.S. Homeland Security agent Tim Ballard (Jim Caviezel) who leaves his agency job to begin special operations to free children who have been kidnapped, enslaved, and forced to work in the sex industry.

"Sound of Freedom primarily succeeds because the lead creative team are handling the uncomfortable subject of modern child abduction and sex slavery with the sensitivity and urgency it requires. It’s a deeply uncomfortable plot that’s handled with great care and an appropriate respect for the discomfort audiences will feel. This is the most effective Hollywood film to address the subject, with director Alejandro Monteverde effectively galvanizing action from the audience.... 

"Angel Studios is known for making faith-based movies, but there’s balance in showing the drama and maintaining plot suspense with Tim’s faith-based character motivations to rescue the children he does. That’s also an accurate reflection of the real man the character is based on.... 

"[A] large amount of the film’s box office success over the last few days is attributed to heavily skewed right-wing audiences who were advertised to on extremist American news outlets in the marketing campaign. Don’t mistake the film, however, as propaganda: it’s a balanced story with a deeply moving and necessary message....

"[T]here are some brief moments of on screen distress, .... [and s]ome of the statistics shared about child sex trafficking at the end of the film are stirring and hard to watch, but it’s never so heavy-handed you’re forced to look away.

"Other than the slightly too-long run time and pacing, Sound of Freedom is a well-crafted drama that deserves to be seen in theatres. This is one of the year’s biggest surprises, worthwhile for not just faith-based viewers but all adult audiences."

Read more: https://oakvillenews.org/reviews/sound-of-freedom-movie-review/

Biden appeals social media collusion injunction

The Biden Department of Justice (DOJ) is appealing the federal court injunction barring them and other US. government agencies from colluding with social media to suppress protected free speech.

Biden DOJ to appeal federal ruling on Big Tech collusion | New York Post | Victor Nava:

July 5, 2023 - "The Justice Department will appeal a federal court ruling that blocked Biden administration officials from contacting social media companies because of collusion concerns, court documents show. US District Court Judge Terry Doughty, a Trump appointee, ruled Tuesday that the White House likely violated the First Amendment by flagging content for Big Tech companies to scrub during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"'Pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 3(a), all Defendants hereby appeal, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Court’s July 4, 2023 Preliminary Injunction Order,' read a notice of appeal filed Wednesday by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton and Federal Programs Branch Special Counsel Joshua Gardner. 

"Doughty concluded that the plaintiffs, led by the states of Missouri and Louisiana, were likely to succeed in their lawsuit against the federal government and issued a preliminary injunction limiting dozens of Biden administration officials from attempting to coordinate with social media giants to remove content.

"White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday that the administration 'certainly disagree with this decision'....' 

Our view remains that social media platforms have a critical responsibility to take action or to take account of the effects of their platforms are having to the American people but make independent choices about the information they present.  They are a private, as you know, entity, and it is their responsibility to — you know, to act accordingly. And so, we’re going to continue to be responsible in that way”

Read more: https://nypost.com/2023/07/05/biden-doj-to-appeal-big-tech-collusion-ruling/

Watch: CNN, MSNBC FREAK OUT Over Biden Admin’s LOSS of Social Media Censorship Powers | The Hill | July 5, 2023:

US agencies enjoined from inducing social media to suppress free speech

A U.S. District Judge has issued an injunction against multiple federal government agencies talking to social media about 'encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech.'.

Judge’s order limits government contact with social media operators, raises disinformation questions | AP News | Kevin McGill, Matt O'Brien, & Ali Swenson:

July 5, 2023 - "U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, a conservative nominated to the federal bench by former President Donald Trump, chose Independence Day to issue an injunction blocking multiple government agencies and administration officials. In his words, they are forbidden to meet with or contact social media companies for the purpose of 'encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech.'

"The order also prohibits the agencies and officials from pressuring social media companies 'in any manner' to try to suppress posts, raising questions about what officials could even say in public forums. The Justice Department file[d] a notice of appeal and said it would also seek to try to stay the court’s order.... 

"The lawsuit alleges that government officials used the possibility of favorable or unfavorable regulatory action to coerce social media platforms to squelch what the administration considered misinformation on a variety of topics, including COVID-19 vaccines, President Joe Biden’s son Hunter, and election integrity.

"The injunction — and Doughty’s accompanying reasons saying the administration 'seems to have assumed a role similar to an Orwellian "Ministry of Truth"' — were hailed by conservatives as a victory for free speech and a blow to censorship. Legal experts, however, expressed surprise at the breadth of the order, and questioned whether it puts too many limits on a presidential administration.... Administration attorneys, in past court filings, have called the lawsuit an attempt to gag the free speech rights of administration officials themselves. 

"Justin Levitt, a law professor and constitutional law expert who is a former policy adviser to the Biden administration, said the order is unclear as to whether an official could even speak publicly to criticize misinformation on a social media platform. Elizabeth Murrill, an assistant Louisiana attorney general, said Wednesday that the order doesn’t infringe on such public criticism, as long as the official doesn’t threaten government action against the platform.

"Jennifer Grygiel, a communications professor and social media expert at Syracuse University, said Americans should resist the urge to dismiss the case as politically motivated and remain vigilant about the risks of federal encroachment on social media platforms. 'I’m more concerned that we’re lacking critique in the government’s intervention in these spaces,' Grygiel said. 'We need, as a public, to be very critical of any attempts by a government, a federal actor, to censor speech through a corporate entity.'"

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/social-media-protected-speech-lawsuit-injunction-d8070ef43b3b89e8e76b4569c77446d9

Injunction blocks Biden administration from working with social media firms about 'protected speech' | 6abc Philadelphia | July 5, 2023:

Canadian forces' Covid-vax mandate violated Charter rights, grievance board rules

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Covid-vaccine mandate was an unjustified infringement of Charter rights, the CAF grievance board has ruled, while hundreds of active and former members of the CAF have joined a lawsuit against it. 

“Arbitrary” CAF vaccine mandate violated Charter rights of member: grievance ruling | True North | Cosmin Dzsurdzsa:

July 5, 2023 - "A recent ruling by the Canadian Armed Forces Grievance Board (CAFGB) found that the Canadian Armed Force’s (CAF) mandatory Covid-19 vaccination policy violated the Charter rights of a member who was released for refusing to get vaccinated. The CAFGB is in charge of reviewing official grievances launched by CAF members. 

"In its ruling, the CAFGB stated that the CAF’s vaccination policy infringed on the member’s right to liberty and security of the person under Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The watchdog also found that the policy, which came in place at the height of the pandemic via an order by General Wayne Eyre, was arbitrary, overly broad and disproportionate.

“'The Committee concluded that the policy infringed on the rights protected under Section 7 of the Charter and that the limitations of these rights were not in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice' ...  declared the ruling.... 

The Committee concluded that the CAF had not met its obligation to ensure minimal impairment in the implementation of its vaccination policy. The Committee concluded that the limitations were not justified under Section 1 of the Charter....  

"As exclusively reported by True North in Nov. 2021, unvaccinated CAF members were subject to an 'unsuitable for further service' release, which would leave a permanent stain on the members’ service record. 

"As a remedial measure, the CAFGB ordered the CAF to fully reinstate the member to their former position and give them compensation for 'unjust release.”  'Additionally, the Committee found that the administrative actions against the grievor, namely the RM and release, should not have occurred as the grievor was exercising a protected Charter right. The Committee also found that the administrative actions were unreasonable due to serious breaches of procedural fairness,' wrote the CAFGB. 

The Committee recommended that the Final Authority cancel the RM and facilitate the grievor’s re-enrolment in the CAF, if the grievor so desired and was eligible. The Committee also recommended that consideration be given to compensation for unjust release.

"This ruling comes amid a lawsuit filed by hundreds of unvaccinated CAF members against the Defence Ministry and the CAF’s command. 

Read more: https://tnc.news/2023/07/05/caf-vaxx-mandate-violated-charter/

Read ruling: https://www.canada.ca/en/military-grievances-external-review/services/case-summaries/case-2022-078.html

Hundreds of CAF members launch $500M vaccine mandate lawsuit | True North | Andrew Lawton:

June 27, 2023 - "In a groundbreaking move, 330 active duty and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces have come together to file a lawsuit against the military for its controversial vaccine mandate. Valour Law lawyer Catherine Christensen joined True North’s Andrew Lawton to discuss the details of the case".... 

https://tnc.news/2023/06/27/caf-lawsuit-vaxx/

UK banks close gender-critical customer accounts

After three former Brexit Party MEPS, including ex-leader Nigel Farage, revealed that their banks had closed their  accounts, members of the public also began sharing their stories, prompting a government investigation.  

Most high street banks are signed up to Stonewall diversity schemes | The Telegraph | Dominic Penna & Simon Foy:

July 3, 2023 - "The majority of High Street banks are members of diversity schemes run by the controversial charity Stonewall, The Telegraph can reveal. Lenders are facing questions over their links to the charity amid a backlash over closing the bank accounts of some people with gender-critical views.... A vicar who questioned his building society’s Pride branding had his account closed, while a Scottish blogger believes action was taken by his bank over his stance on gender issues.

"Stonewall’s Diversity Champions scheme includes guidance to employers on gender-neutral spaces and the use of pronouns. The company also runs a top 100 index that measures employers on diversity and inclusion.... A number of high-profile organisations including the BBC, Channel 4, the Cabinet Office, and the Department of Health have stopped working with Stonewall amid concerns over its schemes.... The Information Commissioner has previously found that the index and the Diversity Champions scheme allowed Stonewall to exercise a 'significant degree of influence over the policies that participating members operate'.

"Last week Nigel Farage, the former Brexit Party leader, revealed that his bank had closed his account, and two former Brexit Party MEPs revealed that their accounts were also closed. Since then, members of the public have accused banks of shutting down their accounts. Among them was Rev Richard Fothergill, a customer of Yorkshire Building Society for 17 years, whose account was closed days after he wrote to the bank to complain about its public messaging during Pride month [see video].

"Stuart Campbell, who runs the pro-independence Wings Over Scotland blog, had his accounts shut by First Direct, owned by HSBC, which he believes was over his stance on gender issues. Barclays recently had to pay out £21,500 in compensation to the Core Issues Trust, a Christian ministry, after shutting its account over its stance on gender identity.

"Banks are facing pressure from the Government to explain account closures, and Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, has ordered an investigation. However, UK Finance, the industry trade body, defended the rights of banks to shut accounts as they see fit, arguing that lenderonly do so after conducting an 'extensive review'. 

"Tide, an online business bank, became the latest to face questions on Monday as the hosts of Triggernometary, a free speech YouTube show and podcast, said they would take it to the Financial Ombudsman after their account was closed.... Tide said any decisions on account closures had 'no connection whatsoever to a member’s beliefs' and that it was 'categorically false' to suggest otherwise.

"Craig Mackinlay, the Tory MP for South Thanet, said he was concerned that ... 'too much discretionary power now sits with some activist banking staff'.... On Monday, Mr Farage said there was 'no coincidence' about banks signing up for Stonewall membership and shutting down the accounts of those who were gender critical.

"A spokesman for Stonewall said that it did not pressure banks on operational decisions, adding: 'There are no requirements in the Diversity Champions programme over how members engage with any customers, and we do not seek to influence operational decisions for any Diversity Champion on matters such as these.'"

Read moe: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/03/most-high-street-banks-signed-up-stonewall-diversity/

Yorkshire Building Society CLOSES Vicar's bank account after airing views on bank's Pride agenda | GBNews | June 1, 2023: 

FDA rejects updates to Covid-vax warning labels

In January, a group of former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisers asked the agency to make critical changes to Covid-19 vaccine warning labels. The FDA rejected almost every recommendation. 

Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, December 2020 photo. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons.

We tried to improve COVID vaccine labeling — the FDA said ‘no thanks’ | The Hill | Peter Doshi, Linda Wastila, & Kim Witczak: 

June 9, 2023 - "Health care providers rely on product labeling for accurate, unbiased and up-to-date information on medical products. But current Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved labels for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are obsolete, misleading and out of touch with regulators elsewhere....[P]eople are now getting boosted indefinitely with little reliable information about scientific developments....

"In January, a group of us — current and former FDA advisers and academics from around the country — tried to fix this problem by asking the FDA to make critical changes to official product labels. But four months later, in a 33-page response letter, the agency denied almost every single request. In doing so, the FDA failed to follow the lead of regulators elsewhere, including in Europe and Japan. 

"For instance, we cited the European regulator’s addition of heavy menstrual bleeding to product information as a potential vaccine adverse reaction. The FDA’s response was a sophisticated version of “who cares!” “Foreign regulatory agencies’ expectations and regulations regarding product labeling can differ from those of the U.S. FDA,” the agency wrote. The FDA also said the European Medicines Agency hadn’t proven causality with respect to that side effect.

"The FDA also failed to warn about the documented risk of sudden death, even though myocarditis is now a well-recognized side effect, particularly among young men. To support adding 'sudden death' to product labeling, we pointed to multiple autopsy studies on lethal vaccination-associated myocarditis.... The FDA again rejected our request, arguing that ... 'alternative causes of death…may not be apparent on autopsy.'

"Federal law requires that product labeling lists adverse reactions that recipients may potentially experience. Of course, not every adverse event type reported in the postmarketing period needs be listed on the label ... but instead 'only those adverse events for which there is some basis to believe there is a causal relationship.' With this in mind, we asked the FDA to add seven adverse event types to product labeling: multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), pulmonary embolism, sudden cardiac death, neuropathic and autonomic disorders, decreased sperm concentration, heavy menstrual bleeding and detection of vaccine mRNA in breastmilk.... The FDA rejected our request, once again arguing that causality had not been definitively established. In other words, the FDA is not following its own rules.... 

"As to whether the vaccines block viral transmission, we thought it was fairly obvious that there is substantial public confusion.... We pointed to messaging from public health leadership. Anthony Fauci, until recently director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, stated the vaccine turns individuals into virus 'dead ends' and Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), declared 'vaccinated people do not carry the virus'.... 

"But the FDA instead fired back, alleging we chose 'selective statements' when quoting Fauci and Walensky.... 'Dr. Fauci has stated that the vaccines were not developed to protect against infection, and Dr. Walensky has stated that high viral loads in vaccinated individuals "suggest an increased risk of transmission."' Meanwhile, the CDC’s website still informs people the vaccines are effective at 'limiting the spread of the virus.' Despite all the mixed messages, the FDA apparently thinks the public is somehow clear-eyed about all this....

"The FDA’s double standard — failing to warn about potential harms, while simultaneously doing nothing to stop a sister agency from making unproven claims of benefit — harms patients and undermines the public’s trust in governmental institutions established to act in their interest. Product labeling should be informative and accurate, not promotional. The law requires it, and following the law shouldn’t be optional."

Read more: https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/4037145-we-tried-to-improve-covid-vaccine-labeling-the-fda-said-no-thanks/

Will Online News Act kill the independent media?

Will the Online News Act wipe out Canada's independent media?

How long can independent media survive Ottawa's attempts to kill it? | Western Standard | Derek Fildebrandt, Publisher: 

June 23, 2023 - "The bastards did it. The Liberal-NDP bloc of the House of Commons passed Bill C-18, the Online News Act, disregarding thoughtful amendments made to it by the Senate. For those not following every twist and turn of Big Media's latest shakedown, the Online News Act was designed to pilfer money from Facebook and Google for those companies making news content available to readers.... 

"Facebook's parent company, Meta has warned for over a year that if the bill passed (in its original, and final form), that they would 'turn off the news' in Canada. And hours after Parliament passed the bill they doubled down, confirming that in the coming months — before the bill comes into force — that is exactly what they will be doing. The Liberals and Big Media bosses were shocked. SHOCKED I tell you, that Meta is doing what they said they would do. 

"Now the Canadian media — big Eastern/US corporations and small independents alike — face a readership apocalypse. Most Canadians find their news through Facebook and Google. Without these two sources, readership is going to dry up fast. That will mean less money from subscriptions, and from advertising. 

"For the grifters at News Media Canada — which falsely claim to represent the news industry in Canada — this is bad. Their readership will shrink considerably. But it's not that bad. They can always go back ... and ask the federal government for even more bailout money to cover off the shortfall. They will be made whole by Ottawa. But the big silver lining for them is that their competing independent online upstarts — like the Western Standard — will see their readership drop off without the buckets of federal cash. 

"This raises the very uncomfortable question for independent publishers like the Western Standard: how long can we continue to see our tax dollars used against us while the federal government passes laws to cut off even our readership? Our refusal to accept the federal money is admittedly a bit self-righteous, but it has been the right thing to do. Government funding the media is just wrong. If you need to be told why, you probably don't belong in a free country. 

"But at some point, we will just not be able to compete against our own tax dollars. We have thus far, but now we are seeing our readership about to be hacked by federal legislation (Online News Act,) our broadcast reach hurt (Online Streaming Act) and our voices censored (Online Harms Act.) Taken together, this is an existential threat to the free press. 

"So what's a publisher to do? Continue to refuse, go out of business, and leave the media to the Eastern and American owned corporations that control nearly everything else? Just let the CBC and Postmedia have the field to themselves? Or do we swallow our pride, get with the program and continue providing Westerners with a professional independent media? 

"I honestly don't know, and the decision chokes me.... It's not a decision we should have to make. We should be allowed to compete in a free market of ideas and media in Canada, striving to make a better product than our competitors every day. But we're not. We're throttled at every turn by federal legislation and we see our tax dollars weaponized against us as subsidies for our much larger competitors.... 

"I want your feedback as to how the Western Standard should deal with this going forward. Please send me your thoughts at dfildebrandt@westernstandard.news." 

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/opinion/fildebrandt-how-long-can-independent-media-survive-ottawas-attempts-to-kill-it/article_02812bda-11f7-11ee-82b2-8754f5d9d979.html

Bill C-18: The Online News Act - Really, really bad tech public policy in action. | PrivacyLawyer | David Fraser | January 1, 2023::