Salem News Channel

In this discussion, Larry Elder delves into the concept of aggressive diplomacy as a solution to international conflicts, focusing on the Iran nuclear deal. Elder highlights Hakeem Jeffries' viewpoint, who credits President Obama's approach of aggressive diplomacy for having already laid out a path to deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions. Elder contrasts this with skepticism from David Boies, who distrusts the Iranian regime and believes preventing them from obtaining nuclear weapons is paramount. The conversation also touches on the New York Times' review of an Israeli documentary, which led to criticism and the removal of a sensitive line regarding Israel's perception of itself as victims of October 7. Elder questions the rationale behind not leveraging Obama's negotiation tactics and explores the implications of Iran's progress towards nuclear capability.

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David Boies, a prominent Democrat lawyer, penned an article in the Wall Street Journal arguing that partisanship should not overshadow the necessity of confronting Iran's nuclear ambitions. He contends that Trump's actions, though controversial, aim to thwart a significant threat posed by Iran's potential to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles and support terror groups like the Houthis and Hamas. Boies urges fellow Democrats to evaluate the situation based on its merits rather than political biases. The New Yorker interviewed Boies, highlighting his stance that supporting Trump's strategy against Iran is crucial, despite disagreements on other issues. Boies emphasizes the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, believing it poses an existential threat to the U.S. and its allies. He criticizes the Iranian regime's trustworthiness and argues that the Trump administration's efforts, though questioned, should be supported to complete the mission of neutralizing Iran's nuclear threat.

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Federal investigators are looking into a news helicopter crash that killed three people in Los Angeles. KNBC reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, who was on the ground, were killed. The NTSB says cockpit video could be key to determining what caused the crash. The chopper was covering a bus crash that took the lives of two people.

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A federal judge is giving Attorney General Todd Blanche until September 24th to comply with court orders over the release of information in the Epstein files. The judge says Blanche and the Justice Department failed to follow orders involving redactions in records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Blanche could face contempt charges if the DOJ does not comply.

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OpenAI says it has identified six new reports of artificial intelligence models showing "unexpected or concerning" behavior. The incidents included models adding unrelated instructions, searching for exposed code to fabricate information and uploading files to cite themselves. OpenAI says the cases are individual instances rather than overall trends.

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal immigration officer charged with shooting a Venezuelan man last winter and lying about the circumstances to investigators has appeared before a Minnesota judge. State authorities arrested Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Christian Castro on Wednesday in Minneapolis on a warrant charging him with aggravated assault and falsely reporting a crime. A judge on Thursday set bail for Castro at $400,000 with no conditions and $200,000 with conditions. Prosecutors say Castro shot and injured Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in January during a federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota, and later falsely told investigators he had been attacked with a broom and a shovel. Castro also is due to appear Friday in federal court to face charges there.

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(Plymouth, MA) -- Patrick Clancy is speaking out publicly for the first time since taking the stand in his ex-wife's murder trial. In a promo for an interview with "60 Minutes," Clancy said he talks to his three children that Lindsay Clancy was charged with murder for killing in 2023. When asked what he says to them, Clancy said "help me" and added he does it all the time. In his testimony, Patrick Clancy talked about Lindsay's declining mental health in the months leading up to the killings. The case ended in a mistrial earlier this month, and the full "60 Minutes" episode will air Sunday.

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GASTONIA, North Carolina, Sept 16 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump campaigned in North Carolina on Wednesday for a Republican Senate candidate who is trailing his Democratic opponent in opinion polls before the midterm elections, accusing Democrats of being soft on crime and embracing communism. Those themes are likely to be central to Trump's promised series of appearances across the country to bolster his party ahead of the November 3 vote. All 435 congressional seats and 34 of the Senate's 100 seats will be up for grabs, and Democrats are favored to regain control of the House while forecasts expect a close race for the Senate majority. North Carolina was his first major campaign stop since the Republican Party's midterm convention last week, when he repeatedly sought to portray Democrats as extreme and out of touch on cultural matters while promoting his hard-line stance on immigration, a signature issue that twice helped vault him to the White House. Trump sought to help Michael Whatley, who previously chaired the Republican National Committee, close a polling gap against former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper. Trump predicted electoral victory while falsely accusing Democrats of embracing communist ideology, a charge Democrats reject as a deliberate misrepresentation of their policies. "You're going to crush the communists, and that's what they are, they're communists ... We will not be a socialist nation. I was right. They're going for 'communist' nation," he said. A screen showed photos of what he said were some of the 3,500 North Carolina inmates who were freed during Cooper's time as governor in a 2021 COVID-era settlement that reduced the state's prison population. "Roy Cooper wants migrant criminals like these set loose on North Carolina streets with sanctuary city policies. Michael Whatley wants them executed, arrested, or deported," Trump said during his one-hour appearance. A Cooper campaign spokesperson rejected Trump's characterization, saying Cooper, a former governor and attorney general for North Carolina, spent his career "putting rapists and violent criminals behind bars and signing tough on crime laws." "These attacks are false," the spokesperson said. Trump remains a powerful force with the Republican base, but Whatley will also need to win over North Carolina's large bloc of swing and unaffiliated voters as Republicans confront rising concerns over affordability that have strained Trump's support among more moderate voters. Trump repeated what he told Republicans at the convention in Dallas last week – to "pretend that I'm on the ballot" – even though he is not seeking election. DEMOCRATS AHEAD IN POLLS A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in the past week found Trump's approval rating at 35%, up from a record-low 33% in the previous poll. Democrats led Republicans 44% to 37% on the generic congressional ballot, the widest Democratic advantage in the Reuters/Ipsos series since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. Unaffiliated voters account for roughly 40% of North Carolina's registered electorate, making them the state's largest registration bloc. Cooper led Whatley 49% to 38% among likely voters in a recent Elon University poll, while 54% of North Carolina voters in the survey disapproved of Trump's job performance and 31% approved. "It's mathematically impossible to win the state without winning unaffiliated voters," said veteran Republican strategist Paul Shumaker, a former adviser to departing Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who opted against seeking re-election. "We Republicans have to understand that we have to address the affordability issue, and we have to be able to put unaffiliated voters' minds at ease as it relates to the economy and affordability between now and November for the Senate race to remain in play." Fuel prices have added to the affordability challenge. The national average for regular gasoline was $4.33 a gallon on Tuesday, while diesel reached a record $6.27, according to AAA. Trump attempted to blame Democrats for America's affordability troubles. "I got hit with this affordability word for a year and a half. And they're the ones that caused the affordability problem," Trump said, raising the issue of egg prices that became a concern during the 2021-2025 term of former President Joe Biden. "We took care of the egg crisis. We took care of everything," Trump said. Egg prices have fallen under Trump, while inflation for food overall has been higher so far during his second term than in his first. "If they (Democrats) get in, this country will go into a massive depression," said Trump, who also promised once again to offer Americans a $5,000 rebate if the Republicans maintain control of Congress, although the proposal has failed to animate congressional Republicans who would need to approve the spending.

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(Washington, DC) -- The Kennedy Center is being ordered to give at least 30 days notice before any major renovations or demolition. This comes after President Trump threatened the national cultural center could be torn down if his name isn't allowed to be displayed on it. The president was also pictured looking at placard that appeared to include the words "Kennedy Center Demolished" while on Air Force One on Wednesday. Fencing and guards have been seen surrounding the center after its board voted to temporarily close it for renovations.

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WASHINGTON/LONDON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - US Coast Guard and FBI personnel boarded two commercial vessels bound for the United States in the Gulf of Mexico last month after indications that hackers had broken into their computer networks, the agencies said on Thursday. The unusual operation, carried out on August 21 and August 24 aboard two foreign-flagged ships, comes as US authorities grapple with a series of cyber incidents that media reports have linked to Iran since the outbreak of conflict between Washington and Tehran. The FBI said a joint Coast Guard-FBI team boarded the vessels after receiving "indications that the networks of both vessels were compromised." The Coast Guard, which referred only to the August 21 boarding, said that "foreign cyber actors" were involved but did not identify them. Neither agency provided further details about the incidents or explained the discrepancies between their accounts. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency did not immediately return a message seeking comment. Corey Ranslem, CEO of maritime security group Dryad Global, said that his firm had confirmed that one of the ships was the Liberian-flagged VL Prosperity. The vessel is currently anchored in waters around Galveston in Texas, according to LSEG and MarineTraffic ship tracking data. Liberia’s flag registry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Iran's Mehr news agency reported on August 20 that VL Prosperity had suffered what it called "a major cyberattack" while transiting through the Strait of Gibraltar and that its communications had been knocked out for 30 hours. Citing an unnamed crew member, Mehr reported that hackers had also infiltrated the engine-room systems, reduced the engine’s cooling flow, increased the engine speed, and disabled the ship’s fuel and engine-oil tank. The Iranian news agency did not say who was thought to be behind the alleged attack. Although dramatic in its effects, a ship-centered cyberattack is not that difficult to pull off, Ranslem said. "We are expecting these types of attacks to continue and will expand in the very near future," he said.

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WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday that progress is being made toward establishing a US Army base in Poland, crediting "the bold leadership" of Polish President Karol Nawrocki. "If this happens, the location will be announced very soon. This will be a historic step for our Great U.S./Polish Alliance," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Poland has been pushing ?for a bigger allied presence on ?NATO's eastern flank after Russia's invasion ?of neighboring Ukraine in 2022. In June, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the US Department of Defense was open to ?Poland's offer to host a permanent ?US military presence in Poland, but that no decision had been taken. The minister met with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in June in Brussels, where the Pentagon chief announced a new review of America's troop deployments in Europe. Poland ?has so ?far hosted US troops on a rotational basis.

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Remains found in the Grand Canyon earlier this week have been identified as Timothy Smith. Smith, a 53-year-old husband, father and pilot, was the last of the hikers lost to a deadly flash flood last month. This marks the end of a weekslong search for Smith after he traveled to the canyon with two friends when a storm fueled violent rapids.

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Political analyst Henry Olson joins Scott Jennings to dissect the recent controversial remarks made by Hasan Piker, a prominent supporter of Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sahia. Piker's assertion that America is worse than Al-Qaeda has ignited debate and raised concerns about the Democratic candidate's associations. The discussion highlights the significance of these statements in the Michigan election, emphasizing the potential impact on voter perceptions. Olson scrutinizes El-Sahia's strategy of distancing himself from Piker despite their evident alliance, questioning whether this approach will be effective in swaying undecided voters. The conversation underscores the importance of addressing such controversial endorsements in political campaigns to clarify candidates' stances and values.

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In this commentary, Alex Marlow discusses the controversy surrounding rapper Macklemore, who has made headlines for his support of Hamas and his allegedly antisemitic behavior. Marlow highlights a specific incident where Macklemore performed a protest song at a concert in support of Hamas, leading to conflict with concert venue owner Robert Kraft. Kraft, who owns the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, decided to ban Macklemore from performing in his venue due to his stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Marlow argues that while he supports free speech, he believes it is acceptable for private entities to restrict individuals who promote false narratives and harmful ideologies. He also points out Macklemore's past actions and statements that have been criticized as antisemitic, painting a picture of the rapper as someone who has embraced controversial and divisive viewpoints.

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The loudest midterm fight may not be Democrats versus MAGA. It is establishment Republicans, professional pessimists, and recycled scare campaigns—AI doom, polling fatalism, Iran anxiety, and “vote Democrat instead”—working to fracture the coalition before voters even arrive.

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As a Wall Street investor, Leone faced a real crisis, turned to the Bible for answers, found practical Principles that changed how he understood markets and invested, and now applies them to today’s uncertainty.

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Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour is facing growing backlash after rapper Macklemore was removed from upcoming U.S. dates following controversial pro-Palestinian remarks during a recent performance. Macklemore had been opening for Sheeran when he used a Sept. 4 performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to voice support for Palestinians and sharply criticize Israeli government policies in Gaza and the West Bank. The remarks drew both support and accusations of antisemitism. Sheeran says the decision to remove Macklemore was not his. He said tour promoter Messina Touring Group informed him that venues would not host upcoming shows if Macklemore remained on the lineup. Sheeran has said he wants his concerts to remain politically neutral and focused on bringing people together. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, confirmed that he opposed Macklemore performing at the venue. Kraft said the decision was not about silencing support for Palestinians but cited what he characterized as Macklemore's history of antisemitic rhetoric. Macklemore has rejected accusations that his advocacy for Palestinians is antisemitic. The fallout has spread across Sheeran's tour. Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and members of Sheeran's backing band Beoga have all withdrawn from scheduled appearances in solidarity with Macklemore. Some fans have also called for refunds, while Sheeran has lost roughly 150,000 Instagram followers amid the controversy. Macklemore, meanwhile, has gained more than 750,000 followers since announcing his removal. Macklemore says he will donate $1 million in expected earnings from the tour to organizations providing aid to Palestinians. He also challenged Kraft to match the contribution. Kraft and Sheeran have since each pledged $2 million toward humanitarian relief for Palestinians. The controversy is continuing ahead of Sheeran's next scheduled U.S. performance in Philadelphia, where a pro-Palestinian group is planning a demonstration outside the concert. Despite the departures and criticism, Sheeran has indicated that the Loop Tour will continue, saying canceling shows would affect thousands of fans and crew members who had no role in the dispute.

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Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are increasingly looking beyond Earth as they explore whether medicines can be researched and eventually manufactured in space. As the International Space Station approaches retirement around the end of the decade, drugmakers and space companies are laying the groundwork for a new generation of commercial pharmaceutical research and manufacturing in low Earth orbit. The attraction is microgravity. Without Earth's gravity affecting biological and chemical processes in the same way, researchers can potentially grow higher-quality protein crystals, study cells differently and develop drug formulations that can be difficult to produce on the ground. Drugmaker Merck has already used research aboard the International Space Station involving its blockbuster cancer treatment Keytruda. The work helped researchers study highly concentrated formulations of the drug and contributed to development of an injectable version that can be administered under the skin rather than through a lengthy intravenous infusion. Other experiments have gone beyond traditional pharmaceuticals. LambdaVision has worked on an artificial retinal implant in microgravity, while researchers have explored 3D bioprinting of human tissue structures in space. But the International Space Station was built primarily as a research laboratory, not a pharmaceutical factory. Limited space, equipment and transportation schedules have made it difficult to turn promising experiments into large-scale commercial production. Private companies are now trying to change that. Axiom Space and Starlab are among those developing commercial space stations intended to succeed the ISS, while Varda Space Industries is developing spacecraft specifically designed to manufacture materials, including pharmaceuticals, in orbit and return them to Earth. Getting products back to Earth remains one of the industry's biggest challenges. Rocket launches have become more frequent and affordable, but companies need reliable spacecraft capable of safely returning medicines and other materials produced in orbit. SpaceX is also moving into that market. Its Starfall program is designed to return commercially manufactured or researched materials from orbit, with biotechnology and life sciences expected to be significant potential customers. Regulation presents another hurdle. In the United States, the FDA and NASA have worked together on space-based pharmaceutical research, but companies are still seeking clearer rules governing medicines manufactured in orbit. The United Kingdom has moved toward establishing a dedicated regulatory pathway for space-manufactured medicines, with regulators working on guidance addressing how pharmaceuticals produced in microgravity could eventually be approved for patients. Industry leaders say commercial pharmaceutical manufacturing in space remains in its early stages. But with private space stations, reusable spacecraft and dedicated reentry capsules under development, drugmakers increasingly see orbit as more than a research destination — and potentially as a new place to manufacture medicines for patients back on Earth.

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Skin-lightening products containing toxic levels of mercury are still being offered for sale online despite international restrictions and years of warnings from health regulators, according to a new Reuters investigation. Reuters found more than 20 skin-bleaching products previously identified on banned or warning lists available through third-party sellers on Amazon, Temu and TikTok Shop. The products were being offered to customers in the United States and several other countries as recently as Sept. 1. None of the products reviewed by Reuters listed mercury as an ingredient, and Reuters did not independently test the products to confirm they contained the toxic metal. However, the products or brands had previously been identified by regulators or other authorities as containing mercury. Mercury is sometimes added to skin-lightening creams because it can suppress the production of melanin and produce relatively fast results. But exposure can have serious health consequences, including damage to the kidneys, brain and nervous system. The World Health Organization says there is no known safe level of mercury exposure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration restricts mercury in most cosmetics to no more than one part per million and has warned consumers against using skin-lightening products containing mercury. The agency published a list of products containing mercury earlier this year and says removing illegal products from the market remains a priority. Keeping the products off online marketplaces has proven difficult. Reuters found that some sellers appeared to relist products under different names or use altered images that obscured the original branding. Amazon, Temu and TikTok told Reuters that the products violate their policies and said they were taking steps to remove prohibited listings and address sellers who attempt to evade their rules. However, many of the products identified during the investigation remained available as of early September. The issue extends beyond products marketed specifically for skin lightening. A recently published study examining products collected in New York City between 2009 and 2022 found mercury in some products marketed for acne, blemish removal and anti-aging purposes as well. Health officials advise consumers to avoid skin creams known or suspected to contain mercury, particularly products without clear ingredient labels or those imported from markets where mercury-containing cosmetics continue to circulate.

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Thomas Aiello, vice president for federal affairs at the National Taxpayers Union, joins the discussion to provide insights into the Federal Reserve's dual mandate of ensuring economic strength and price stability. He explains how raising interest rates aims to curb inflation by slowing consumer spending and encouraging savings. However, Aiello questions the timing and effectiveness of this decision, especially given the geopolitical uncertainties and the ongoing inflation driven by federal spending. He argues that addressing the $2 trillion deficit and cutting spending could be more impactful in tackling inflation. The conversation also touches on the impact of interest rates on the real estate market and the disparity between federal bond rates and mortgage rates, highlighting the complexities involved in monetary policy decisions.

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