This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

How dare he do that? How dare President Joe Biden – a "leader" who dedicated his younger years to avidly avoiding military service during the Vietnam war, five times filing waivers for asthma while still continuing to play football and serve as a lifeguard – mock a prestigious combat-award recipient of the Bronze Star, former Army Ranger and Colorado Rep. Jason Crow who is a member of Biden's own party? The congressman courageously served a total of three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

What caused Biden to go off the deep end in criticizing Crow? The congressman, along with other moderate Democrats, made a zoom call to the president to express their concerns about him running for reelection due to his questionable mental state. They clearly recognized Biden serving a second term as not being in the country's best national security interests. As the call was subsequently leaked to the public, there is no dispute about Biden's subsequent rant and thus no way for Biden handlers to cover up what was said.

To the credit of these moderate Democrats, they may well have influenced Biden's decision days later not to seek reelection. But there is no excuse for what Biden put Crow through during that call.

The call reveals a president who is barely lucid as he is unable to complete sentences or his thoughts, rambling on and on while losing his train of thought. It is inconceivable this man could conduct any kind of meaningful dialogue with world leaders – or even with himself, if left alone in a room to do so. One of the participants claimed he "lost a ton of respect" for Biden during the call. The nature of the call is particularly damning when one considers not only were all participants Democrats, but even the news outlet releasing it – Puck News – is typically left-leaning.

It was after Crow mentioned the importance of national security to voters that Biden directed an attack against the Democratic congressmen. In doing so he unsurprisingly launched into a tirade of completely false claims in which he outrageously took credit for putting NATO "back together" – an odd assertion, as it had never fallen apart:

"First of all, I think you're dead wrong on national security. You saw what happened recently in terms of the meeting we had with NATO. I put NATO together. Name me a foreign leader who thinks I'm not the most effective leader in the world on foreign policy. Tell me! Tell me who the hell that is! Tell me who put NATO back together! Tell me who enlarged NATO, tell me who did the Pacific basin! Tell me who did something that you've never done with your Bronze Star like my son – and I'm proud of your leadership, but guess what, what's happening, we've got Korea and Japan working together, I put Aukus together, anyway! … Things are in chaos, and I'm bringing some order to it. And again, find me a world leader who's an ally of ours who doesn't think I'm the most respected person they've ever."

Never missing an opportunity to garner sympathy for himself due to the death of his late son Beau who died of brain cancer, Biden seems to praise the Bronze Star Beau was awarded for his army tour in Iraq as somehow being more significant than Crow's. The fact of the matter is that is absolute hogwash as just the reverse is true. While Beau received his Bronze Star for meritorious service as a lawyer safely behind friendly lines, it was not awarded for combat valor or heroism on the battlefield as was Crow's. Crow's was earned as an 82nd Airborne platoon commander during one of the largest sustained urban combat warfare operations in which it had been involved since World War II.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Kamala Harris will have to face a lot of questions if she, as presumed, becomes the Democratic nominee for president this year.

She'll probably want to promote herself as pro-law-and-order, with her resume including stints as a prosecutor and California's attorney general.

But what she'll see will be questions about how she advocated for the release of violent criminals, some of whom committed horrific crimes after they were released.

At issue is her support during the summer of riots after the George Floyd death in Minneapolis for a special fundraising campaign to bail suspects, suspects often facing charges for extremely violent crimes, out of jail.

A report in the Minnesota Sun noted that Harris endorsed the Minnesota Freedom Fund in a social media comment in 2020.

She insisted, "If you're able, chip in now to the MN Freedom Fund to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota."

The report said the fund got $40 million after being promoted by Harris and other celebrities.

Those protesters were fomenting riots in cities all across the United States, leaving behind billions of dollars in damages, over the alleged racism in the case of Floyd's death. He died while being restrained by police.

However, in an interview, while those riots were burning city blocks, MFF chief Greg Lewin confirmed only about a dozen people were recipients of MFF bail funds.

At the time, it was Crime Watch Minneapolis that documented a list of violent offenders "who committed more serious crimes after the Minnesota Freedom Fund secured their release," the report confirmed.

One was George Howard, arrested for domestic assault, who was charged with murder just days after being bailed out.

Another was Gregory Jones, arrested for attacking a woman in a bar bathroom, and later charged with committing lewd acts in front of children after being bailed out.

The Republican State Leadership Committee already has highlighted Harris' advocacy for jailed violent criminals.

Spokeswoman Stephanie Rivera explained, "Regardless of who Democrats nominate for president, the Biden-Harris agenda remains in the states and on the ballot heading into November. Minnesotans have felt the negative impacts of these destructive pro-criminal policies and will hold them accountable for their failures at the ballot box in November."

A Trump super PAC already has promoted the slogan, "Kamala Harris bails out criminals, and Americans pay the price."

Fox News explained Harris' "tough talk about serving as a prosecutor in California may crumble quickly due to her past support for the Minnesota Freedom Fund in June 2020 amid Black Lives Matter riots."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Israel-hating protesters have turned to the disgusting to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's scheduled address before the U.S. Congress on Wednesday.

They've dumped maggots, mealworms, and crickets throughout the Watergate Hotel where the visiting leader is staying.

He's expected to seek a renewal of American support for Israel, support that got its start back in 1948 when the Jewish state obtained its independence.

Netanyahu was expected to remind officials of the threats Israel has faced, including the current war against Hamas, based in Gaza, that erupted when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel last Oct. 7 and butchered, often in horrific fashion, some 1,200 Israeli citizens.

Since that slaughter by Hamas, leftists across America and especially on university campuses which often are hotbeds of radicalism, have staged "hate-filled anti-Israel" demonstrations, one publication described.

An online posting of the maggot video from Eyal Yakoby, self-described as "UPenn grad, incoming MIT student dedicated to combating Jew-Hate and anti-Americanism," explained, "The DC Palestinian Youth Movement released maggots and crickets were released (sic) throughout the Watergate Hotel where Netanyahu is staying. The protestors also pulled multiple fire alarms throughout the night. This is an utter security failure."

Online commenters suggested the actions went too far, with, "Sounds like something demons would do" and "That's called Domestic Terrorism."

One extremist's comment included that "Palestine protesters manufactured chaos … so that Netanyahu, Israeli Mossad agents, and the Secret Service had no peace…"

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A thermal zone in Yellowstone National Park, which is known for its geysers, hot springs, surface instability and volatile features, has exploded on tourists, destroying one of the park's famed boardwalks and terrifying watchers.

A report from the Jackson Hole News and Guide, in the pricey tourist town only a few miles from the park, said tourists were "traipsing" along the Biscuit Basin boardwalk when a "pool of hot water bubbling up from below the surface of the earth began rising up into the air."

"Some people stopped and started taking videos on their phones as the black cloud rose. Then, rocks started falling from the sky," the report said.

The Cowboy State Daily noted there were no injuries reported right away.

The eruption threw "an immense amount of black water onto a nearby boardwalk, destroying it, and sending tourists running for their safety.

The park's Biscuit Basin was closed down because of the event.

"The March family vising from California was touring the Biscuit Basin when Black Diamond Pool erupted. Steve and his wife, Vlada, were on the boardwalk with their two sons, Vlada's mother, and Issac Fischer, their guide from Casanova Guided Tours. They had a video camera running at the time, capturing the spectacular eruption even as they retreated to a safe distance. Other visitors also are seen fleeing the violent thermal spew," the report said.

Steve March said there had been a "large amount" of steam emanating from the Sapphire Pool before the explosion.

"We were walking toward Jewel Geyser when our guide pointed out the steam that suddenly shot out of Sapphire Pool. I guess that's never been witnessed before. And literally, a moment later, there was this massive explosion and a massive amount of rock (from Black Diamond Pool)," he told Cowboy State Daily.

He continued, "Our guide told us to run. So, we grabbed our kids, and we made our way to solid ground as soon as we could."

The report said the National Park Service noted Black Diamond Poll has been erupting – occasionally – since an earthquake in the region in 2006.

It had erupted just two months earlier.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

JERUSALEM – The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the deaths of two of the hostages – Alexander Dancyg and Yagev Buchshtab – held in Hamas captivity Monday, after obtaining new intelligence.

Tragically, it is thought the two died months ago in Khan Yunis as the IDF operated against Gaza's terrorist infrastructure, although there has not been confirmation the IDF mistakenly killed them.

Dancyg and Buchstab were thought to be held together. Hamas terrorists abducted both of them on Oct. 7, 2023; Dancyg from Kibbutz Nir Oz, while Buchstab was snatched from Kibbutz Nirim – both of which terrorists overran on that day. Buchstab's wife, Rimon Buchshtab-Kirscht, was also held hostage in Gaza but was freed after 50 days in captivity as part of the only hostage deal to date. July 21st would have been Dancyg's 76th birthday.

Their deaths were declared by a panel of health experts and members of the rabbinate, following new information obtained by the IDF. Hamas still holds their corpses, with the IDF confirming 44 out of the 116 remaining captives in Gaza are known to have died.

In total, the terrorist group and Gazan civilians captured some 251 hostages during the Oct. 7 onslaught. Hamas also still holds the bodies of two soldiers since 2014's Operation Protective Edge, and two Israeli civilians who entered Gaza in 2014 and 2015.

The news came on the day when the IDF ordered Gazan civilians to move away from certain areas of Khan Yunis because it was operating there to root out terrorist elements who had reentered. Operationally, the IDF has generally not taken action in areas where it has received intelligence hostages might be held. In fact, it has called off dozens of operations against terrorists during the course of the war for this very reason.

Buchstab was a sound technician by profession, who played numerous musical instruments, as well as constructing them himself. He was described as a "humble and unassuming man who loved life in Kibbutz Nirim."

Dancyg was a historian, educator, and farmer. Born to Holocaust survivors, he became one of the founders of educational delegations to Poland. He worked at Yad Vashem for about 30 years, where he trained thousands of guides in Holocaust education.

Hostages who were held captive with him reported Alex spent his time in captivity giving history lectures to fellow captives.

The Hostages and Families Forum released a statement on receiving the news about Dancyg and Buchstab, which was also posted to X.

"This morning's devastating news about their deaths serves as yet another stark reminder of the urgency to bring home the hostages, who face immediate mortal danger every moment in Hamas' hell."

"Yagev and Alex were taken alive and should have returned alive to their families and to their country."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

JERUSALEM – Israel Air Force jets pounded the Houthi-controlled port of Al-Hudaydah Saturday – in a mission dubbed "Outstretched Arm" – in retaliation for both the drone strike Friday leaving one 50-year-old Israeli man dead and several wounded after it struck a Tel Aviv apartment building, and for the more than 200 other projectiles launched at the Jewish state since October.

The Israeli military said: "Fighter jets struck military targets of the Houthi terror regime in the area of the Al-Hudaydah Port in Yemen, in response to the hundreds of attacks carried out against the State of Israel in recent months."

More than 20 Israeli warplanes, including F-15s and F35s, as well as aerial refueling tankers took part in the strike.

The attack destroyed a massive Houthi weapons depot attached to oil storage facilities, the power station for the city, and numerous other military targets, which led to the port being shut down and a complete loss of power in Al Hudaydah. The port is seen as a critical element of the Houthi infrastructure, as it is the main locus of the transfer of weapons from Iran to Yemen.

Israel has absorbed the launching of hundreds of projectiles – including cruise missiles shot at its own Eilat port – almost all of which have been knocked out of the sky, but Friday's fatality in Tel Aviv was the final straw.

Reports suggest Israeli decision-makers at the highest political levels – i.e. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant very much included – had drawn up a list of high-value targets in Yemen months ago if the green light to an attack such as this were granted.

On Saturday, Gallant, alongside IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and other senior defense officials, as well as Netanyahu who is due to address Congress this week, authorized the daylight attack.

Commentators and analysts noted the approximately 2,500-mile round trip to Yemen – hence the need for refueling aircraft – and have extrapolated the strike also as a warning to Tehran. The distance from Israel to Iran is approximately two-thirds of the distance from Israel to Yemen.

Local reports also said the Israeli aircraft did not simply attack from a distance, but were "low and loud" in the skies above Yemen. That too was meant as a warning about how close the planes could come to their targets, seemingly unmolested.

Indeed, Gallant released a statement from the defense ministry headquarters, which laid out in plain language the reason for Israel's response.

"The fire … currently burning in Yemen is seen across the Middle East. The blood of Israeli citizens has a price. This has been made clear in Lebanon, in Gaza, in Yemen, and in other places — if they dare to attack us, the result will be identical," he warned.

It is thought the choice of these targets was more than merely practical – it was assumed the fires would burn for days providing a very visible reminder of the costs of taking Israeli lives.

Netanyahu took to X to remind Israel's enemies it "would act against those who attack us."

"And to Israel's enemies, I have a simple message: Do not doubt Israel's determination to defend itself on every front. All those who seek to harm us will pay a very heavy price for their aggression."

Israel made a point of carrying out the attack alone – without any U.S. involvement – although Washington was informed – as were other Middle Eastern partners – of the strike.

IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the strikes were not only about Israel's defense but also because the Houthis have "targeted other countries in the Middle East, the United States, and other countries around the world with their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea."

The Houthi-run health ministry said the strike caused casualties.

An official in the Iran-backed group said the attack would be met with "escalation," according to the Times of Israel.

"The Zionist entity will pay the price for targeting civilian facilities, and we will meet escalation with escalation," Houthi politburo member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said in a post on social media.

On Sunday, Israel's Arrow 3 defense system downed a ballistic missile – outside of Israeli airspace – which the Iranian-backed Houthis launched. Sirens sounded in Israel's southernmost city Eilat – a favorite Houthi target – as a precautionary measure for fear of falling shrapnel. The IDF acknowledged it had been preparing for retaliatory strikes following its targeting of the Al-Hudaydah port.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

While U.S. car manufacturers routinely announce major recalls to ensure the safety of drivers who operate their vehicles, North Korea uses the recall of citizens living abroad to ensure the safety of the family dynasty continuing to control the country. Like computerized vehicles occasionally in need of reprogramming, so too are Pyongyang's citizens exposed to the outside world, lest they pose a serious threat to North Korea's existence. This threat is better understood by knowing how the governments of the two Koreas evolved.

Japan had ruled the Korean peninsula from 1910-1945. After Japan's defeat in World War II, the peninsula stood divided between two opposing interests: the north, occupied by the Soviet Union, and the south, under U.S. occupation. Both sought to recreate their respective regions into their image: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), known as North Korea, and the Republic of Korea (ROK), known as South Korea. In the former, the Soviet Union sought to establish a communist satellite state headed by a compliant dictator; in the latter, the U.S. sought to establish an independent and free nation. Each claimed legitimacy as the government for all of Korea.

The Soviets had a much easier time establishing North Korea in its image than did the United States in South Korea.

The Soviets falsely promoted to the North Korean people the image of Kim Il-sung as a courageous guerrilla fighter against the Japanese whose status entitled him to lead the North. In reality, he was a Soviet proxy. But so indoctrinated into the mindset of North Koreans and so effective was Kim in creating a brutal police state that he effectively ruled for almost half a century, until his 1994 death.

Years before his death, Kim prepared the country to embrace something no other communist state had successfully done before – a family dynasty – by promoting his son, Kim Jong-il, as "crown prince." The success of this mindset was reflected 17 years later in 2011 when Kim Jong-il passed with the reins of power falling into the hands of his son, Kim Jong-un, 27. Thus, North Korea has been ruled for over three-quarters of a century by the Kim family dynasty.

Despite U.S. efforts to promote freedom and democracy in South Korea, it proved difficult to shake its leaders' lust for power over the personal freedoms of their people. This was most adamantly reflected by its third president, Park Chung Hee, who effectively served as a dictator for 18 years before becoming, in 1979, the first Korean leader to be assassinated in over 600 years. Ironically, Park was a victim of his own CIA, which he had used to ensure he retained power. While the U.S. had introduced a constitutional democracy in the South in 1948, it would take nearly two more decades for true democracy to be embraced, with the country's first opposition party candidate not elected until 1997.

While the South spent the later decades of the 20th century achieving true democracy, the North devoted those same decades to reinforcing its dictatorial foundation. Each generation of the North's Kim leaders was immortalized. Their promotion as god-like so enamored them to the North Korean people they were easily accepted as eternal rulers of the country.

An outrageous but hilarious example of how the North Korean media sought to promote the Kims as superhumans appeared in a 1994 story about Kim Jong-il, an avid golfer. In a country with but one golf course, the tale was told that Kim shot 38 under, including 11 holes-in-one. (Fittingly, he died at age 69 – a number considered under par on every regulation golf course in the world!)

No heir apparent to current North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, 40, has officially been announced. While known to have at least one child – a daughter – rumors of his possible illness began circulating the name of a possible heir. He may be grooming his country for its first female president, as suggested by the high-profile responsibilities given to his 37-year old sister, Kim Yo-jong. Her persona reveals a brutish mindset as well, with a book published in 2023 dubbing her as "The Most Dangerous Woman in the World."

Recently, Kim Jong-un sent out a "recall" notice for all North Korean students abroad to return home for "political indoctrination." This suggests he recognizes these students are susceptible to a deadly threat (from Pyongyang's perspective) endangering the government – one triggered by independent thinking bringing into question the unchallenged continuing Kim family leadership role.

The recall seeks to re-indoctrinate students by reinforcing their allegiance to their dictator. "Sanctuary of learning" sessions regularly held in the massive Grand People's Study House in Pyongyang before the 2020 pandemic are now being restarted. Their one-sidedness is evidenced as all books used are of North Korean origin, with a few published outside the country requiring special permits to access.

While it is estimated there are only 1,100 students involved in the recall, Pyongyang recognizes the danger a single independent-thinking student poses to its control. Such thinking in the past has manifested itself in numerous defections, with pressure taken against defectors' families to gain their return.

Some recalled students may harbor concerns they have been reported to North Korean authorities for questionable behavior. This could include something as innocent as dating a foreigner. The Pyongyang government may well believe some students have been "tainted" and, therefore, may not be allowed to continue their education abroad. It would be interesting to know how many of the students are concerned enough about this that they choose not to return or how many who do return home, fail to return abroad.

While it took time to do so, South Korea has demonstrated the superiority of man's free thinking and free spirit in ridding himself of the yoke of human bondage. It is reflected in its robust economy and success on the world stage, particularly compared to the North. Nonetheless, the Kim family will seek to continue its brutal reign, embarking upon a reeducation recall to nip in the bud the serious threat to its existence it perceives.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

‘Investigators won’t have to explain why evidence is not in the same condition as it was after the Mar-a-Lago raid or why some of the alleged verboten documents are missing’

Misconduct and malfeasance were on the stage during Jack Smith's partisan prosecution of President Donald Trump over his possession of various documents from his presidency.

Smith accused Trump of a long list of charges for having the papers in his Mar-a-Lago home, which was targeted by a SWAT-style FBI raid to "recover" them, even though Trump's lawyers were working with federal officials to determine what documents Trump was entitled to keep from his time in office.

But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon this week dismissed the case entirely, pointing out that Smith never was appointed legally, so had no more authority to file charges against Trump than a man in the street.

Legal commentary Julie Kelly, an expert investigator who has documented the Department of Justice’s weaponization against Trump, said Cannon did Smith “and the entire Biden regime,” a favor with the ruling.

"Cannon's death-by-a-thousand-cuts dismantling of the case will finally stop Smith's bleeding," Kelly wrote. "Shocking revelations about the dirty, sloppy, corrupt, and dishonest nature of the investigation and prosecution will end, at least for now. Smith won't have to defend his baseless and petulant gag order seeking to prohibit Trump from publicly criticizing law enforcement agents involved in the case.

"FBI agents won't have to take the stand to defend the unprecedented raid of Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 or admit they used classified cover sheets as props or how they violated the search warrant to unnecessarily ransack the bedroom of Melania Trump and Barron Trump.

"Investigators won't have to explain why evidence is not in the same condition as it was after the Mar-a-Lago raid or why some of the alleged verboten documents are missing," she explained.

"DOJ officials including deputy attorney general Lisa Monaco won't have to disclose her collaboration with the National Archives to concoct a documents crime against Donald Trump as early as mid-2021, long before anyone allegedly found 'classified' papers in the boxes the former president turned over to the archives.

"On that score, NARA officials including former archivist David Ferriero—an Obama appointee who called January 6 the worst day of his life—won't have to testify about why he started harassing and threatening Trump's transition team with legal action just a few months after Trump left office, something he had no authority to do and admitted he had never done before.

"Or why he and NARA general counsel Gary Stern visited the White House on at least a few occasions in 2021, months before the purported opening of the official criminal investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents, For now, a jury and the public won't see meeting notes and correspondence between NARA and top White House officials including Biden's general counsel and chief of staff."

Or maybe all of this will be appearing soon – in a courtroom and on the websites of responsible news publications.

That's because Smith claims he will be filing an appeal.

He insisted that he wanted a different outcome. "The dismissal of the case deviates from the uniform conclusion of all previous courts to have considered the issue that the attorney general is statutorily authorized to appoint a special counsel. The Justice Department has authorized the special counsel to appeal the court's order," a spokesman for Smith said.

Of course, the statement didn't point out that Cannon had, under the American judicial system, a right to conclude differently from other "courts."

Cannon's opinion, 93 pages in detail, has been described by commentators as "strongly reasoned."

Kelly explained Smith should thank Cannon for eliminating the case.

"Cannon just spared the special counsel and his team months of continued humiliation in her Florida courtroom and, eventually, in front of the nation," Kelly said.

Trump's lawyers had explained Smith's appointment violated both the Appointments Clause and the Appropriations Clause of the Constitution.

Smith claimed he was legitimate, although his backing came, Kelly said, only from "random" federal statutes, "none that specifically designates the appointment of a special counsel since the Independent Counsel Act expired in 1999."

Trump's opinion was endorsed by former Attorneys General Edwin Meese and Michael Mukaseyj, and the dispute also was raised by Justice Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court. He said for the prosecution of Trump to continue, the issue of the legitimacy of Smith's claims would have to be resolved.

He said the problem facing Smith is not a "trifling technicality."

Immediately after Cannon's ruling, leftists raged, claiming that Cannon should be removed from the case, and worse.

But Kelly explained Smith should have been thanking "his lucky stars, to the extent he has any, that the American people won't see his ineptitude up close in any trial in southern Florida."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A federal judge on Monday dismissed Jack Smith's created classified documents case against President Donald Trump because Smith's appointment violated the Constitution.

Constitutional expert Jonathan Turley said, “The dismissal of the classified documents case is a seismic development. From the beginning of all of these cases, I have said that the Mar-a-Lago case was the greatest threat to the former president. It is now dismissed.”

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon said the Biden administration, in its "lawfare" against Trump, illegally handed the authority of the United States government to a prosecutor who was not confirmed by the Senate.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

That an out-of-control extremist tried to assassinate President Donald Trump during a campaign event on Saturday was a surprise, but it really shouldn't have been that big of a surprise.

It's because, "For months, politicians, the press and pundits have escalated reckless rhetoric in this campaign on both sides. That includes claims that Trump was set to kill democracy, unleash 'death squads' and make homosexuals and reporters 'disappear.'"

That’s the verdict delivered from Jonathan Turley, a prominent legal commentator, constitutional expert in his testimony to Congress and law professor at George Washington University.

He explained, "President Biden has stoked this rage rhetoric. In 2022, Biden held his controversial speech before Independence Hall where he denounced Trump supporters as enemies of the people. Biden recently referenced the speech and has embraced the claims that this could be our last democratic election."

He said it's not the nation's first "age of rage," but it might be the most dangerous.

"Some of us have been objecting for years that this rage rhetoric is a dangerous political pitch for the nation. While most people reject the hyperbolic claims, others take it as true. They believe that homosexuals are going to be 'disappeared' as claimed on ABC's 'The View' or that the Trump 'death squads' are now green lighted by a conservative Supreme Court, as claimed by MSNBC's Rachel Maddow."

He continued, "Rage is addictive and contagious. It is also liberating. It allows people a sense of license to take actions that would ordinarily be viewed as repulsive."

It started as soon as Trump was elected, with entertain Kathy Griffin's stunt where she held a "bloody, severed head" of Trump.

"For months, people have heard politicians and press call Trump 'Hitler' and the GOP a Nazi movement. Some compared stopping Trump to stopping Hitler in 1933. Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., declared Trump 'is not only unfit, he is destructive to our democracy and he has to be eliminated," the column explained,

Goldman later backtracked.

Turley noted he doesn't think those engaged in "rage rhetoric" actually want violence.

"But they have knowingly created conditions for extremist views and, yes, extremist actions."

And the media's culpability is clear, as it denounces such language from the right, "while largely ignoring the same language on the left."

Such as threats against conservative Supreme Court justices before the assassination plot against Brett Kavanaugh.

Turley explained, "Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., went to the steps of the Supreme Court and called out Kavanaugh by name: 'I want to tell you, (Justice Neil) Gorsuch. I want to tell you, Kavanaugh. You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.'"

Later, Nicholas Roske went arrested year the Kavanaugh's home, caught in in an alleged assassination plot.

"When the president (Biden) is claiming that the election may end democracy in the nation, it can be heard as much as a license as a warning, particularly when he adds 'we're done talking about the debate, it's time to put Trump in a bull's-eye.'"

The attack, he said, didn't happen in a vacuum.

"It occurred in a time when our leaders long abandoned reason for rage."