This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
The Taiwan Strait is increasingly becoming a flashpoint that could tip the world into a third world war, as China continues to insist one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world belongs exclusively to the People's Republic of China.
In a show of strength and support for the democratically run island nation of Taiwan, the U.S. Navy's USS Higgins and the Royal Canadian Navy's frigate HMCS Vancouver sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Sunday.
The U.S. Navy's 7th fleet said in a statement the transit was "routine," consistent with international law, and was meant to uphold the principle of freedom that other countries have the right to also navigate the Strait.
"Higgins and Vancouver's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrated the United States' and Canada's commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle. The international community's navigational rights and freedoms in the Taiwan Strait should not be limited. The United States rejects any assertion of sovereignty or jurisdiction that is inconsistent with freedoms of navigations, overflight, and other lawful uses of the sea and air," the statement said.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian condemned the move during a regular press conference Monday, stating the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan are part of Chinese territory, and rejected the claim the move was simply a demonstration of freedom of navigation.
"On the US and Canadian warships' transit through the Taiwan Strait, the PLA [People's Liberation Army] Eastern Theater Command has made a response. Let me stress that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. The Taiwan question is not about freedom of navigation but about China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We firmly oppose any act of provocation under the pretext of freedom of navigation that threatens China's sovereignty and security," Lin said.
The move came on the heels of China conducting blockade drills around Taiwan last week, using its naval fleet to cut off key port entries and surround the island. China's President Xi Jinping claimed the drills were in response to Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te's remarks on an independent Taiwan during its National Day celebrations.
Nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council Global China Hub Elizabeth Freund Larus told Fox News Digital China was planning on doing the drills no matter what.
This is not the first time the U.S. and Canada have conducted joint operations in the Taiwan Strait. In early June, while sailing through the Strait, a Chinese warship attempted to intercept a U.S. destroyer, coming within 137 meters of the vessel.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Michelle Obama, part and parcel of husband Barack Obama's agenda to remake America according to the socialistic ideals they hold, often has been considered radical.
Now that she's promoting Kamala Harris for president, the extent of that radicalism has become apparent: With her agenda to use drag shows to reach voters.
It is a report at EndTimes Headlines that explains Michelle Obama's "voter mobilization initiative" is counting on drag shows, and the idea of seeing Cardi B, a performer in the genre of rap, to push voters she wants to the polls.
The report explained her organization, founded in 2018, is planning to have 500 "Party at the Polls" events in multiple states, including Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.
The report explained, "The former first lady is also expected to headline a WWAV (When We All Vote) rally on Oct. 29 in Georgia."
She is trying to push voters "through music and celebrity appearances," and her intention is to create a "celebration" around early voting and bringing together communities "to cast their ballots early."
On social media, she claimed, "With early voting happening right now — it's important that folks make a plan to vote by Election Day."
She's utilizing such popular organizations like "Drag Out the Vote," a drag queen organization that wants LGBT voters to vote.
The organization also announced that someone could win tickets to see Cardi B later if they volunteer to benefit Harris.
"The election doesn't start on Election Day — it ends on Election Day," the group's spokeswoman, Beth Lynk, said. "Mrs. Obama, our co-chairs and ambassadors, and voters will all come together at this rally to celebrate Georgia."
Actually, with multiple schemes to count ballots even if they arrive after election day, a factor that likely skewed the 2020 results during COVID, the claim election ends on election day is suspect at best.
A report in the Atlantic at one point noted that Michelle Obama when her husband first was president said that that was the "first time" that she was as an adult proud of her country.
She claimed just weeks ago that someone is going to have to tell President Donald Trump that being president is a "black job."
And she complained about the racism she'd endured while her family lived in the White House.
A political commentator noted her evident frustration during recent speech appearances.
A leftist fact-checker admitted that Michelle Obama's thesis, after her attendance at the elite Princeton, was "race-conscious."
She wrote about early in her college career when she had no doubt "she was somehow obligated to this (black) community and would utilize all of my present and future resources to benefit this community first and foremost."
She said Princeton made her "far more aware of my 'blackness' than ever before. I have found that at Princeton no matter how liberal and open-minded some of my white professors and classmates try to be toward me, I sometimes feel like a visitor on campus; as if I really don't belong. Regardless of the circumstances under which I interact with whites at Princeton, it often seems as if, to them, I will always be black first and a student second."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
The American Center for Law and Justice is urging the Supreme Court to take up a specific case, and rule that Jewish professors in New York do not have to accept the anti-Semitic representation of a union as their "exclusive agent."
The ACLJ has confirmed it has filed a friend-of-the-court brief at the Supreme Court, "urging the court to protect the First Amendment rights of Jewish professors who refuse to be represented by anti-Semitic unions."
The case is called Goldstein v. Professional Staff Congress/CUNY (PSC) and, the legal team explained, "presents a critical opportunity to defend academic freedom and protect the fundamental right to free speech on our college campuses. It is about resisting a culture of intimidation and coercion that seeks to silence dissenting voices and restrict religious and ideological diversity within higher education."
It developed because of number of Jewish professors City University New York expressed concerns over the surging political bias within the Professional Staff Congress union.
That group is supposed to represent faculty and staff members but "began acting contrary to their interests in a variety of ways, taking an increasingly partisan stance on social and political matters," the ACLJ reported.
"The union's leadership, which claims to advocate for all its members, instead created an environment that punishes those who do not align with its ideological agenda. Most strikingly, the union adopted a resolution supporting the anti-Semitic BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement. As a result of PSC's resolution and subsequent conduct, Jewish professors have been ostracized on campus based on their identities, religious beliefs, and support for Israel," the report explains.
The problem is that they are not allowed the boycott, because state law bans them from leaving the political organization.
"They are compelled to continue to accept PSC as their exclusive agent and spokesman, regardless of how strongly they disagree with their union's conduct or how counter to their fundamental identity the speech of the union may be," the ACLJ said.
State courts there so far have taken the union's side, but the fight now is being moved up to the Supreme Court.
The ACLJ said its contribution to the legal discussion is that at stake are government employees' rights that are protected by the First Amendment.
"The threats of compelled speech are always serious, but they are particularly dangerous and egregious when union members are compelled to have a representative who speaks counter to those members' consciences," the ACLJ said.
"Unions function as political activity groups and de facto auxiliaries of a political party and should be treated as such. No one should be forced to participate in such public advocacy against their will, the group informed the court.
And, it pointed out, "The implications of Goldstein v. PSC extend far beyond one professor's individual rights. Unions like the PSC often claim to defend the interests of their members, yet their actions sometimes reveal a disturbing willingness to stifle internal dissent and push a singular agenda. This is not just a betrayal of their members – it's an assault on the fundamental principles of free speech and association that form the bedrock of our democracy."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Kamala Harris' rhetoric repeatedly has gone well into la-la land as she battles President Donald Trump in this most important presidential election in just weeks.
And it's with a purpose, charges commentator John Daniel Davidson at The Federalist.
To "prime Democrat voters for violent resistance should Trump win in November."
During her Fox News interview just hours ago, he explained, "She became visibly upset after Baier (Baier) played a clip of former President Donald Trump calling out the weaponization of government and the endless investigations and lawfare he's been subjected to. The vice president, her voice rising in outrage, jabbed her finger at Baier and said, 'You and I both know that he has talked about turning the American military on the American people. He has talked about going after people who are engaged in peaceful protest. He has talked about locking people up because they disagree with him.'"
Also, Davidson explained, "At a campaign rally in Pennsylvania this week she told the crowd that former President Donald Trump considers anyone who doesn't support him to be an enemy of the United States. 'He is saying he would use the military to go after them.'"
Just days ago, "Harris claimed without a hint of irony that if Trump is elected he'll use the Department of Justice 'as a weapon against his political enemies,' adding, 'You know who does that? Dictators do that.' At one point during the show, she agreed with a caller who said Trump will lock 'anyone who doesn't look white into camps,' replying, 'You've hit on a really important point and expressed it I think so well."
Davidson noted, "Even before Harris seized the Democratic nomination from President Joe Biden, the idea that Trump is an existential threat to American democracy was the refrain of the Biden campaign. Harris has taken that theme and run with it."
"The purpose of it isn't just to scare voters into casting their ballot against the former president, or to provoke some unstable would-be assassin into taking a shot at Trump (although some Democrats no doubt see that as a happy by-product of this Trump-as-dictator rhetoric). Its main purpose is to prime Democrat voters for violent resistance should Trump win in November," he charged.
He suggested a comparison of "the lopsidedness of the rhetoric between the Trump and Harris campaigns."
"Trump often makes sweeping (and mostly true) statements about the deep state, about the border and illegal immigration, about crime, about how Harris and the Democrats are destroying the country. But when he uses the phrase 'destroying the country,' he's talking about things like crime, homelessness, drug addiction, rampant inflation and the cost of groceries. These things, he says, are the result of policies Democrats have put in place. If you're looking for someone to blame, he says, blame Biden and Harris, because all these problems are their fault."
Harris, and her Democrats, are "pushing a narrative that Trump is going to be a fascist dictator if he wins office and use the powers of the presidency to go after ordinary Americans. That's an extreme and frankly unhinged position with no basis in reality. You don't say things like that unless you're hoping to provoke a strong reaction, and the reaction Democrats are hoping to provoke is violent resistance to a second Trump term."
He warned the rhetoric goes further: "After all, if you really thought that Trump would order the military and the Justice Department to round up you and your family, wouldn't you do anything to stop him? Wouldn't you take to the streets to save your country and thwart the rise of a fascist dictatorship? At least two would-be assassins have taken the Democrats' anti-Trump rhetoric seriously. Harris is hoping that many more people will between now and Election Day, and respond by rejecting a second Trump term — in the streets, if they must."
He pointed out the Democrats already have used that strategy: in 2020.
"During the BLM riots in the summer of 2020, Harris herself was out in front egging on the rioters, infamously working to raise bail money for those who had been arrested. Of the protests themselves, she said this in a June 2020 interview with Stephen Colbert: 'Everyone beware. They're not gonna stop before Election Day in November, and they're not gonna stop after Election Day … They're not gonna let up, and they should not.'"
They used the unrest coming from BLM and Antifa riots, which did billions of dollars in damage to American cities, to "damage Trump's reelection campaign."
If, in fact, Harris is a "left-wing radical," she would have little concern "if a couple neighborhoods here there get burned to the ground, " or "young women get raped and killed by illegal immigrants," or apartment complexes "get taken over by criminal alien gangs," because it's in "service of a greater goal."
He warned, "What Harris and the Democrats are doing with this line about Trump rounding up Americans and putting them in camps is preparing the ground for massive civic unrest in the event of a Trump victory. The purpose of the unrest would be to cripple Trump's administration before he even takes office, and to disrupt normal life for so many Americans that they will rue the day they ever voted for Trump. … It's exactly what Harris is planning for and hoping to provoke if Trump wins."
The more recent rhetoric has followed a campaign, pursued for years by Democrats and media organizations, that Trump actually is a "Hitler," suggesting that anything goes if the goal is to stop Trump.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
The Chinese military conducted blockade drills around Taiwan on Monday, raising alarm from the island nation after its President Lai Ching-te stated last week that Taiwan will resist any attack from Beijing.
According to the Associated Press, China deployed 125 aircraft along with its Liaoning aircraft carrier and ships, sealing off ports around Taiwan.
The Chinese Ministry of Defense said in a statement the military drills were intended to increase pressure on "Taiwan independence" in response to Lai's speech during Taiwan's National Day celebrations held last week.
Wu criticized Lai – who has been labeled a "separatist" by the Chinese Communist Party – saying he is "forgetting their roots and deliberately severing historical ties across the Taiwan Strait," adding Lai is inciting confrontation, hostility, and confusion.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory, and has been increasing its threats of invasion and reclamation under its "one China" policy. The ministry further noted Lai "exposed his true nature" and called Lai a destroyer of peace, and a creator of chaos who will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The ministry stated the actions of Lai will be met with countermeasures.
"Taiwan has never been a country and will never become one … We are using language that 'Taiwan independence' separatists can understand, to make it clear that the pursuit of 'independence' is a dead end," Wu said.
However, Wu stated the drills were not aimed at the Taiwanese people themselves, but noted China would never renounce the use of force against Taiwan.
"We are willing to exert utmost sincerity and make every effort to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force, nor will we leave any room for 'Taiwan independence' … Relevant parties should cease supporting 'Taiwan independence' and stop undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," Wu said.
Taiwanese Navy Commander Admiral Tang Hua, told the Economist on Thursday that China is using an "anaconda strategy" to squeeze Taiwan into submission. Tang warns that it is only a matter of time before the drills become a real blockade.
Tang noted the number of Chinese aircraft and ships patrolling Taiwanese waters has doubled since 2020. This includes the Taiwan Strait, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
In response to the increase in incursions, the Taiwanese government has since given the public updates about the number of aircraft and ships operating around Taiwan. Tang told the Economist, however, Taiwan's government chooses not to disclose certain information about the type of ships due to worries about the public losing morale if they were to find out exactly how many – and how close – Chinese military are getting to Taiwan's coastline.
Tang stated the Chinese are putting a tremendous amount of pressure on Taiwan's navy, which must deploy up to 50% of its naval combat vessels to match the Chinese every time they patrol Taiwan, and are hoping Taiwan makes a mistake.
"They give you extreme pressure, pressure, pressure. They're trying to exhaust you … The PLA is trying to force Taiwan to make mistakes … We restrain our guys, not to provoke or escalate," Tang said.
Secretary-general of Taiwan's security council Joseph Wu reportedly told the council threats from China violate the United Nations charter, according to the AP.
"Our military will definitely deal with the threat from China appropriately … Threatening other countries with force violates the basic spirit of the United Nations Charter to resolve disputes through peaceful means," Wu said.
Taiwan's Presidential Office said China should "cease military provocations that undermine regional peace and stability and stop threatening Taiwan's democracy and freedom."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A property management company in Colorado has gone online to deliver the truth about a war a Venezuelan gang has brought to its doorstep.
The issue arose some weeks ago, as gang members were caught on video in Aurora, Colorado, apparently taking over an apartment building, including collecting rent from tenants for apartments in a building they didn't own.
It's a direct result of the massive open door policy the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris regime has imposed on America at its southern border, with millions of immigrants, including a significant criminal element, entering the U.S. at will.
Leftists and others tried to suggest the Aurora situation was not as bad as portrayed. So the building managers, Cbz Management, took to social media to explain how not only did the gang take over, but the company essentially was abandoned by the powers that be – almost all Democrats in the governor's office and state legislature.
As WND reported, Martha Raddatz at leftist ABC News tried to downplay the threat.
WATCH:
Her comments left Republican vice presidential hopeful JD Vance challenging, "Martha, do you hear yourself? Only 'a handful of apartment complexes' in America were taken over by Venezuelan gangs, and Donald Trump is the problem and not Kamala Harris' open border? Americans are so fed up with what's going on, and they have every right to be and I really find this exchange, Martha, sort of interesting, because you seem to be more focused [on] nitpicking everything that Donald Trump has said rather than acknowledging that apartment complexes in the United States of America are being taken over by violent gangs."
Raddatz had claimed, "The incidents were limited to a handful of apartment complexes — apartment complexes and the mayor said our dedicated police officers have acted on those concerns."
Cbz had another story:
The corporation statements continued, explaining illegal tenants and squatters apparently did pay rent, to the gang members.
"To address this entity (gangs) we contacted every city official we could think of for help with the problem. Unfortunately, none were willing to take meaningful action. Meanwhile, our CBZ representative continued receiving threatening messages, in which these criminals revealed his home address and his spouse's name. Finally, the APD, FBI and Homeland Security informed us that those sending the messages and controlling our buildings were part of the notorious Tren De Aragua gang from Venezuela. They also mentioned that our situation was just 'a blip on the radar,' as this gang is causing significant problems nationwide. Two days after our FBI meeting, the gang confronted our on-site manager, asserting control over all three properties. They offered an ultimatum: share rental income 50/50 or lose the buildings permanently. They also threatened to harm him and his family. For the safety of our management team and their families, we withdrew them from the properties and focused on seeking help from government agencies."
The company had expected help, "perhaps even from the National Guard."
"That never happened. Instead, we were left helpless, watching as violence, bullets, and destruction overtook our buildings. Many of our legitimate tenants fled out of fear. Despite the obvious crisis, several city officials refused to acknowledge the reality. Instead, they blamed us, citing 'code violations' as the reason for shutting down our property—violations we couldn't resolve for tenants who weren't even ours," the company said.
The company said it was speaking up because "many still deny the reality of the situation, sometimes using us as scapegoats. That's why we are no longer staying silent. We will continue to counter falsehoods with simple facts and evidence.
"Yes, gangs did take control of our apartment complexes in Aurora, Colorado, and the government did nothing. That is the real story."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Middle East/Israel:
U.S. to provide Israel with THAAD missile defense capabilities vs. Iran?
The U.S. military is sending Israel an advanced anti-ballistic missile defense system – which requires American troops to operate it – in the event of an Iranian reaction to an expected Israeli response to the Oct. 1 ballistic missile strike.
U.S. officials: 'Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites off the table'
New book alleges NSA Sullivan advised Iran to carry out 1979 Tehran embassy-style attack on U.S. Baghdad delegation
Renowned investigative journalist Ken Timmerman alleges current National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan sent secret communications to Iranian leadership in an effort to prevent former President Donald Trump from winning the 2020 election.
WATCH: Israel begins revenge on Iran for its ballistic missile strike with an allegedly massive cyber attack
Read: Hamas planned 9/11-style attack on Tel Aviv, Hezbollah knew of Oct. 7 plot
U.N. claims Israeli troops fired on southern Lebanon position
Some 18 years after it first failed to fulfill its mandate of not allowing Hezbollah to arm or to encroach beyond the Litani River, UNIFIL troops allegedly came under Israeli fire for the third time over the weekend, with reports of two U.N. soldiers being wounded. Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu says Hezbollah is using them as human shields.
Heavy fighting between Hamas and IDF troops in Gaza Strip's Jabaliya kills dozens of terrorists
The IDF's "Gaza Division" is operating across swaths of the Gaza Strip, including in Jabaliya, a conurbation some 2 miles north of Gaza City. Dozens of terrorists were eliminated in fighting Saturday.
IRGC Quds force leader Qaani is alive; but did he suffer a heart attack under interrogation following accusations he colluded with Israel?
The fate of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' leader Gen. Esmail Qaani was recently unknown, with speculation he was killed in one of the strikes on Hezbollah HQ in Beirut. However, rumors are now circulating he is alive, but might have suffered a heart attack after interrogation, which followed accusations he colluded with Israel.
Israel sets aside National Day of Mourning on Hebrew date of Hamas massacre
Despite the commemorations on Oct. 7, Israel's government approved a "National Day of Mourning," on which there will be two ceremonies. The first will honor fallen soldiers from that day to this, and the other will commemorate the civilian casualties. It is not permitted to fast on a feast day (other than Yom Kippur), so the day will be delayed until after Simchat Torah.
Palestinian-run California café names drink in honor of Hamas' Sinwar
A Palestinian-owned café in Oakland, California caused a stir after it named one of its juices "Sweet Sinwar," in honor of the architect of the Oct. 7 massacre in southern Israel – Yahya Sinwar – which took the lives of some 1,200 Israelis and started a war where many times that have been killed. The menu also has a number of inverted red triangles, the symbol for Hamas targeting Israelis.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A prominent author and broadcast host is telling Christians, and others, quite bluntly that it is President Donald Trump who has been chosen by none other than God to help America at this time in its history.
When it is besieged by communism and Marxism from within, its morality undermined by the agendas of abortion, transgenderism and even child mutilations.
When its leaders have thrown out their responsibility to protect the nation and have opened its borders wide.
"He's not perfect. He's not a god. He's a human, although I believe super-human. But Trump is clearly chosen by God for this role, at this time and place – to save America and make America great again," explains Wayne Allyn Root in a commentary.
"Like the heroes of the Bible, Trump is a courageous warrior, with a killer instinct, perhaps you might call him a Barbarian, chosen by God to FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT! And to protect our country, our values, and our childrens' future."
Root is author of multiple books and has a television show, "The ROOT Reaction" on Real America's Voice TV, as well as a weekend program.
His comments, he explains, are being repeated from 2016. But they are never more true than now, he said.
"Every word I wrote back then is as true today as it ever was back in 2016 – except now SQUARED to the 10,000 degree. Our nation is on the line. Our personal and religious freedoms are on the line. Our parental rights are on the line. It's time for every Christian who loves God, faith, family and country to support President Trump – and to each pledge to bring at least ten Christians with you to the polls.
"Only one man can save America, American exceptionalism, the American Dream, capitalism, and Judeo-Christian values. That man is President Donald J. Trump," he said.
Identifying as "a Jew who took Jesus Christ as my savior 34 years ago," he said that gives him a "deep understanding of President Trump's one-in-a-billion skill-set and unique role in protecting and saving America."
From 2016, he said, are his words that "are more true today than ever…"
His message was that Christians who don't like Trump are "MISSING THE BOAT:"
A deeply faithful Christian man is stuck on the roof of his home with massive flooding up to 2nd floor. A rowboat comes to save him. The man says, "No, I won't go. I'm waiting for God. I've prayed and I know he's coming." A 2nd rowboat comes to save him. The man says, "No, I won't go. I'm waiting for God." A 3rd rowboat comes. The man says, "No, I won't go. I'm waiting for God." The flood water rises and the man drowns. Now he's meeting God in heaven. The religious man says "Where were you God? I prayed. I was faithful. I asked you to save me. Why would you abandon me?" God says, "Hey dummy, I sent you 3 rowboats. Are you blind?"
Root pointed out, "Trump is our rowboat. Maybe God is trying to tell us something important – that now is not the time for a 'nice Christian guy' or a 'gentleman' or a typical Republican powder puff. Maybe now is the time for a natural born killer, a ruthless fighter, a warrior, a barbarian who knows how to fight."
Pointing to other leaders, like "John McCain, Gerald Ford, or Paul Ryan," he pointedly asked, "Did any of them win? Did they lead the GOP to 'the promised land?' Did they save America? Did they make America great again? No, because if you don't win, you have no say."
He warned, "Maybe God understands we need a 'war leader' at this moment in time. A General. Maybe God understands if we don't win this election, America is dead. It's over. The greatest nation in world history will be gone. Finished. Kaput. Adios."
At the time the Democrat nominee was the now- twice-failed Hillary Clinton. The 2024 opponent is Kamala Harris.
"I guess you think God is only nice and gentlemanly. Really? Then you've missed the whole point of the Bible. When necessary God is a tough guy. When necessary, God strikes with pain, death and destruction. When necessary, God inflicts vengeance. Maybe you think God couldn't possibly be associated with someone like Trump. Trump is too vicious, rude and crude," he said.
But, "When we won WWII, was God 'nice?' Were we gentlemanly when defeating Hitler? Were we gentlemanly when firebombing Germany? Were we gentlemanly when dropping atomic bombs on Japan? Is God ever 'nice' on the battlefield? Or does he send us vicious SOB's like General George S. Patton, so the good guys can defeat evil?"
And he warned "war leaders" are not the same as a "church leader."
"I was reading the Bible this morning and I found the perfect verse that explains the success of Donald Trump… Isaiah 40:30-31. 'Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.' It's almost like God created this verse for Donald Trump and this moment in history."
He wrote, "God is about miracles. We don't need a 'nice guy,' or a 'gentleman' right now. It's the bottom of the 9th inning and we're losing 9-0. We need a miracle. I believe Trump is our miracle. I believe Trump is our rowboat…"
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Hurricane Milton, which hit Florida's west coast with 120 mph winds overnight, dropped a foot of rain, spawned dozens of tornadoes and left multiple victims dead, has moved offshore and was downgraded to a Category 1 storm.
But threats remained.
Milton, which had been churning through winds of 175 mph before hitting land, eased as it came ashore near Siesta Key, Florida, but in just St. Lucie County alone, the sheriff confirmed at least 17 tornadoes.
Some three million were without power.
Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez said in a television interview on Fox that emergency orders had been issued for 51 of the state's 67 counties, and Thursday revealed "devastation and damage" despite all of the preparations.
"Hurricane Milton indeed packs a punch, but Florida is ready under the leadership of Gov. DeSantis. And we're going to continue to help people rebuild."
The governor himself said damage assessments were under way.
He noted it was not "the worst-case scenario" that many had feared.
Video of the coastline revealed beachfront buildings blown down and deep water remaining a concern, as the storm surge continued to inhibit travel.
Robert Carruthers, a major general in the Florida National Guard, told FOX some 10,000 Florida National Guard members had been activated with another 3,000 from other states.
The storm hit just two weeks after Hurricane Helene hit shore in Florida but unleashed most of its fury further inland, with portions of North Carolina in the bull's-eye. More than 200 deaths were reported from Helene, and hundreds of billions of dollars in damages.
Joe Biden confirmed he's been in touch with Florida officials several times, and the state was working to provide the best protection – and recovery – assistance it could.
Plant City spokesman Bill McDaniel told Fox Milton inflicted serious damage, with flooding causing problems.
"We have flooding in places and to levels that I've never seen, and I've lived in this community my entire life," he said on social media.
There, 35 were rescued from flooded buildings and trees and power lines were flattened, making it unsafe to travel.
He explained, "I mentioned in the previous broadcast about a vehicle crash that we had heard. That was actually a case of someone driving around out there on our streets and they hit a downed power line at relatively high speed, and it actually sliced into the engine compartment of the vehicle. That's a good indication of why it's very dangerous to get out there and move around right now."
The Tampa airport remained closed, as did Orlando's and ocean ports were shuttered, but expected to reopen shortly.
School closures varied.
Most of the power outages that remained were in Hillsborough, Hardee, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties.
DeSantis expressed gratitude for small favors, including that Milton "weakened" before hitting the state.
The immediate reports were putting the fatality count in the single digits.
Milton had been rated as a Category 5 for a time before landfall. It did maintain enough strength to seriously damage Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bayi Rays baseball team.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Tim Walz has made a statement that America's Electoral College "needs to go."
That process, of course, is what the nation's Founders established to make sure that a handful of major population centers would not, forever, control the results of each election.
It allows even low-population states to have an influence on the results, even if those large concentrations of voters in cities and states still have more influence.
Walz's statement makes it clear that he wants to destroy forever any influence from voters in many Republican states: Oklahoma, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and more.
And his comment also is being seen has an attempt to set the groundwork for a claim that President Donald Trump "stole" the 2024 election, should the candidate who now is leading the race in many polls actually be declared the victor.
The Washington Examiner reported Walz was at yet another fundraiser when he said, "I think all of us know the Electoral College needs to go. But that's not the world we live in."
At still another fundraiser, he continued his agenda, with, "This country is deeply divided, and because of that, this election is going to be very, very close — margin of error. And we know, because of our system of the Electoral College, that puts a few states in real focus.
Officials for Kamala Harris' campaign immediately repudiated the leftist idealogy, stating that is not the position she holds."Governor Walz believes that every vote matters in the Electoral College and he is honored to be traveling the country and battleground states working to earn support for the Harris-Walz ticket," the campaign said.
However, Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt suggested an ulterior motive, given that polls are showing more and more that Trump could win re-election.
She suggested Walz is "laying the groundwork to claim President Trump's victory is illegitimate."
Walz already has taken positive steps to destroy the Electoral College. He has signed legislation in his state of Minnesota that makes a priority of electing presidents by the national popular vote.
Multiple states have enacted a compact to throw all of their support behind that popular vote winner, and it is to take effect when they collect the requisite 270 EC votes.
However, such a plan could be seen as violating the U.S. Constitution and is untested so far in the courts.
Daily Mail reported the Trump campaign responded to Walz's plans by noting that polling suggests Harris could win the popular vote, but Trump has a nearly 60% chance of winning the Electoral College vote and taking up residency in the White House next January.
Actually, the circumstances provide for the same argument that Hillary Clinton used in 2016 to allege that Donald Trump had "stolen" the election from her, a claim that she often repeats even now. She had narrowly won the popular vote, but because of the Electoral College count of state votes, Trump captured the White House.