Good morning, It’s Friday, August 30th. In today’s news, a whistleblower exposes a secret socialist plot to oust Danielle Smith from the United Conservative Party, Poilievre pushes Singh to break Liberal coalition and call fall election, Supreme Court won’t hear travel vaccine mandate appeal, Brazilian Supreme Court freezes Starlink assets and threatens to suspend X within 24 hours, and much more.
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Left Turns Only: The Secret Socialist Plot to Oust Danielle Smith from the UCP
A whistleblower has exposed an undercover campaign designed to manipulate the United Conservative Party (UCP) leadership review by recruiting left-wing Albertans to join the party and vote against Premier Danielle Smith. The whistleblower, Rob Filion, was hired by Canadian Market Surveys, a shadowy organization not registered with Elections Alberta. The group targeted LGBTQ2IA+ individuals in Red Deer, offering them cash incentives to register for and attend the UCP convention, with the expectation that they would vote to remove Smith as a punishment for her conservative policies.
Filion, who was looking for work at the time, responded to a job posting that described the role as gathering public opinion through surveys. However, he soon realized the true nature of the operation during a meeting with campaign leaders in a public park. Filion and other staff members were instructed to lie about who they worked for, claiming to represent "Albertans for Democracy in Action" instead of Canadian Market Surveys.
The campaign's script was left-leaning, designed to identify Albertans who were upset with Smith’s policies, such as her plan to prevent teachers from using children's preferred pronouns. Once identified, these individuals were offered $200 to attend the UCP convention and vote against Smith.
Filion participated in the campaign for one evening but quickly became uncomfortable with its deceptive tactics and the dubious legality of its operations. He noted that the organizers seemed unconcerned about where their funding came from or whether their actions were legal, as long as they achieved their goal of undermining Smith’s leadership. The operation lacked transparency, with no formal office and meetings held in public parks, further raising doubts about its legitimacy.
Ultimately, Filion decided to go public to expose what he saw as a blatant attempt to subvert the democratic process by using left-wing voters to influence the leadership of a conservative party. More
NDP Poll Numbers Plummet as Poilievre Pushes Singh to Break Liberal Deal and Call Fall Election
A new Postmedia-Leger poll shows the NDP's support plunging by five points to 15% over the summer, while the Conservatives maintain a strong lead with 43% support nationally. The Liberals trail at 25%. This dip in NDP support could be significant, especially as the party faces a key byelection in Elmwood—Transcona, a historically NDP-held riding. The poll also highlights widespread dissatisfaction with the Trudeau government, with only 28% of respondents expressing any level of satisfaction.
Following these polling results, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has urged NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to dissolve his party's agreement with the minority Liberal government and push for a fall election. Poilievre argues that despite the NDP's promises to improve affordability, the cost of living has surged, with higher grocery prices, increased food bank usage, and children going hungry. He blames the carbon tax and excessive government spending for these issues, insisting that Singh should trigger a non-confidence vote in September to force a "carbon tax election" in October. Singh has yet to respond directly, though NDP officials suggest they are considering all options. More
Tiny Thought: Until Singh’s pension is guaranteed, his alignment with Trudeau will be driven by self-interest rather than the welfare of Canadians. It’s clear to any rational human that Trudeau’s policies have harmed Canada, exacerbating issues rather than resolving them. This situation stands in direct opposition to the NDP's mission, which is supposed to prioritize the welfare of the public.
Supreme Court Won’t Hear Travel Vaccine Mandate Appeal
Canada's Supreme Court has rejected appeals challenging the federal government’s COVID-19 travel vaccine mandate, closing the door on the case. The appeals were brought by People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier, former Newfoundland Premier Brian Peckford, and Quebec lawyer Nabil Ben Naoum, who argued the mandate was unconstitutional. The mandate, in effect from October 2021 to June 2022, barred unvaccinated Canadians from using planes, trains, and some marine vessels, affecting millions.
The lower courts had previously dismissed the cases as moot since the mandate was lifted before the cases could be fully argued. The Supreme Court's decision to dismiss the appeals without a provided reason is typical for such judgments. Critics, including the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), expressed concern that the ruling allows governments to avoid judicial scrutiny of decisions made under emergency orders. More
Tiny Thought: Beyond the obvious issue of restricting our ability to leave the country over personal medical decisions, this dismissal sets a troubling precedent, opening the door for similar measures in the future without any government accountability.
Brazilian Supreme Court Freezes Starlink Assets and Threatens to Suspend X Within 24 Hours
The Brazilian Supreme Court has ordered Elon Musk to appoint a new legal representative for X Brasil within 24 hours or face a suspension of X’s operations in Brazil. This follows a previous closure of X's Brazilian office due to threats against its legal representative. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who issued the order, has criticized X for not complying with court demands to block certain accounts linked to digital militias.
Musk responded with an AI-generated image of de Moraes behind bars, implying he will one day face incarceration. X claims it has been coerced into censorship and has argued that the court's demands are illegal. The platform's closure in Brazil has been described as a measure to protect staff and avoid compliance with what Musk views as unjust censorship. Meanwhile, Brazilian authorities maintain that X is violating local internet laws.
Additionally, Moraes's latest order targets Starlink’s assets to secure payment of fines levied on X. Musk has reacted angrily, calling Moraes a "criminal" and accusing Brazilian media and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of being under Moraes's control. More
Toronto Police Superintendent Demoted for Helping Black Officers Cheat on Exams
Stacy Clarke, the first Black woman to become a superintendent with the Toronto Police Service, has been demoted for at least two years following a cheating scandal. Clarke admitted to helping six Black constables cheat on promotional exams in 2021, which led to charges of professional misconduct. Initially, a two-year demotion across two ranks was recommended, but Clarke will now be demoted to inspector for a minimum of two years, with the possibility of reapplying for her former rank afterwards. Clarke cited systemic barriers within the service as a motivator for her actions. The Toronto Police Service has affirmed its commitment to high standards and ongoing reforms to improve diversity and inclusivity. More
Two ‘Stand News’ Journalists in Hong Kong Found Guilty of Sedition
A Hong Kong court convicted two former editors of the now-closed Stand News, Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam, on charges of sedition. They face sentencing on September 26th. The case, the first of its kind since Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, is seen as a critical test of media freedom in the region.
Judge Kwok Wai-kin stated that Stand News was used to undermine the Beijing and Hong Kong governments, particularly during the 2019 protests. The court found that 11 out of 17 contested articles had seditious intent, while six did not. The prosecution argued that some articles promoted illegal ideologies and criticized law enforcement.
Defense attorneys argued that Stand News aimed to uphold independent journalism. Stand News shut down in December 2021 following a police raid, and the subsequent closure of Citizen News highlighted a shrinking space for independent media. Under the sedition law, Chung and Lam could face up to two years in prison and a fine. Hong Kong's press freedom ranking has dropped significantly, reflecting growing concerns about media repression. More
EU Won't Recognize 'Democratic Legitimacy' of Venezuela's Maduro
European Union foreign ministers decided not to recognize the legitimacy of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro following the disputed July 28 election. The EU's Josep Borrell stated that the decision was based on the Venezuelan electoral body's failure to provide verifiable data on the election results. Although the EU has not imposed sanctions, the stance is a significant statement against Maduro's presidency. The opposition, which claims a landslide victory for its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, has been critical of the election process amid ongoing protests and reports of political repression. More
TikTok Faces Lawsuit Over ‘Blackout Challenge’ Death of 10 Year-old
A US appeals court has revived a lawsuit filed by the mother of a 10-year-old girl who died after attempting the viral "blackout challenge" on TikTok. The "blackout challenge," also known as the "choking game," is a dangerous viral challenge where participants deliberately choke themselves or cut off airflow to their brain to experience a temporary state of unconsciousness or euphoria.
The court's decision allows the case to proceed, challenging TikTok’s liability for promoting the dangerous content via its algorithm. While Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act generally protects online platforms from liability, the court found TikTok might be held accountable for its role in recommending harmful content. The lawsuit, originally dismissed, will now return to a lower court for further proceedings. More
PBO: Cost of Electric Vehicles Would Have to Drop by 31 Percent to Meet Ottawa’s 2030 Sales Target
A new report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) reveals that to meet Canada's 2030 electric vehicle (EV) sales target, the relative ownership costs of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) must drop by 31%. The federal government aims for ZEVs to make up 60% of new car sales by 2030, with a gradual increase in target percentages each year. The report notes that achieving these targets might require changes in consumer preferences, policy measures, or technological advancements. Additionally, recent federal research shows that 75% of Canadians think EVs are too expensive, and there are concerns about performance in cold weather and range limitations. More
Tiny Thought: The average price of new vehicles in Canada jumped by about 30% from 2017 to 2023. Given this trend, it’s more likely that EVs will increase in cost by 2030 rather than seeing their relative ownership costs reduced.
Swiss Court Convicts Two Executives for Embezzling $1.8 Billion From 1MDB
The Swiss Federal Criminal Court convicted two executives from PetroSaudi for embezzling over $1.8 billion from Malaysia’s 1MDB fund. Patrick Mahony and Tarek Obaid were found guilty of defrauding the fund and sentenced to seven and six years in prison, respectively. Their assets, including $240 million and properties, have been seized. This case is part of the broader 1MDB scandal, which has implicated numerous individuals and financial institutions globally. The 1MDB scandal involved a total of $4.5 billion in embezzlement, leading to significant international legal actions and recovery efforts. More
Ford Walks Back 'Woke' DEI Policies, Joining Growing List of US Companies
Ford Motor Company is scaling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, joining other firms like John Deere and Lowe's. The company's CEO, Jim Farley, announced that Ford will no longer use quotas in hiring, will focus its resources on business rather than political issues, and has exited the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index. This move follows criticism from anti-woke activist Robby Starbuck, who has been leading efforts against corporate DEI policies. The Human Rights Campaign condemned Ford's decision, claiming it undermines inclusion efforts. More
Astronomers Discover Object 500 Trillion Times Brighter Than The Sun
Astronomers using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope have identified the brightest object ever observed: a quasar named J0529-4351. This quasar is the most luminous object known, shining over 500 trillion times brighter than the sun and growing at a rate equivalent to one sun per day. Located 12 billion light-years away, it features a massive, seven-light-year-wide accretion disc. The discovery, which challenges previous assumptions, provides crucial insights into the early universe and galaxy formation. More
More Than 1,700 Previously Unknown Viruses Discovered in Melting Ice
Scientists have discovered over 1,700 ancient viruses in a glacier in western China, most of which are previously unknown. These viruses, preserved in a 1,000-foot ice core from the Guliya Glacier, date back up to 41,000 years and survived multiple climate changes. Although these viruses are harmless to humans and only infect single-celled organisms and bacteria, their study could offer insights into past climates and future microbial communities. The research highlights potential risks of melting ice revealing ancient pathogens.
MrBeast is Making a Prime Video Reality Show in Toronto
MrBeast, known for his popular YouTube channel with over 300 million subscribers, is launching his biggest reality competition series yet, Beast Games. The show, produced in partnership with Amazon MGM Studios, features 1,000 contestants competing for a record-breaking $5 million prize. Filming is underway in Toronto, following an initial round in Nevada. The production, described as a miniature town with a large cement building and single-storey houses, is a non-union project, leading to an ACTRA do-not-work notice. Despite some reported challenges with the Nevada shoot, including poor working conditions, MrBeast is conducting a review of his company's practices. The series will premiere on Prime Video, with a release date yet to be announced. More
Warriors Sign Curry to 1-year, $62.6M Extension
The Golden State Warriors have secured Stephen Curry, 36, with a one-year, $62.6-million extension, extending his contract through the 2026-27 season. This deal ensures Curry will earn $178 million over the next three years. The extension is the longest possible offer for the four-time NBA champion. More
Scottie Scheffler Expands Lead With Opening 65 at TOUR Championship
Scottie Scheffler started the Tour Championship with a two-stroke advantage, and continued his strong performance with a 6-under 65, giving him a seven-shot lead. This is the largest lead after the first round in Tour Championship history. Scheffler is aiming for his first FedEx Cup and its $25 million prize to cap off a Tiger-esque year on the Tour. More
'Unprecedented' Discovery: 17th-century Mummy Brains Show Evidence of Cocaine Use - A new study from the University of Milan reveals that cocaine's history in Europe dates back much further than previously thought. While it was once believed that the drug emerged in the 1800s, the study suggests that its use may have started nearly 200 years earlier.
Absolute Chaos: Red Pepper Spill on California Highway Turns Into 'Bee-Mergency' - A truck spill of red peppers on California's Highway 101 led to an unexpected "bee-mergency" when crews discovered a massive hive in a damaged signpost. The California Highway Patrol and Santa Maria Fire Department responded to the overturned truck, and Robert Dias from Swarm Catchers used a special vacuum to safely relocate the thousands of bees.
It shouldn't be surprising, but I find it very eery and weird that not a single MSM channel has this ousting plan picked up. Of course it's on the Counter Signal, whistleblowers should be all over all media.
Not surprised at all by election engineering. The 2020 USA arranged results have emboldened cheaters & liars & entitled control freaks everywhere.