Salem News Channel

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is proposing significant changes to the state's health code, aiming to expand his administration's control over public health decisions. This move has sparked debate, particularly concerning the implications for parental rights and potential authoritarian overreach. Investigative reporter Meg Brock discusses how these changes, if enacted, would allow the Department of Health to implement drastic measures such as school-wide mandates without warrants and interfere with parental decisions regarding their children’s health. Brock highlights the historical context, noting that Pennsylvania's stringent COVID-19 measures in 2020 led to widespread discontent. The state’s attempt to rewrite the health code comes amid fears of repeating past mistakes. Shapiro's proposed changes include redefining terms like "mother" to "postpartum individual," a move criticized for its insensitivity and potential to dehumanize personal tragedies. Brock argues that these changes, driven by political motives, could erode public trust in health institutions and further polarize communities. Pennsylvanians are vocal in their opposition, seeing the proposal as an erosion of democratic principles and a slippery slope towards increased governmental control.

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Join Ned Ryun, executive producer of the new documentary "The Thread of Liberty," as he explores the rich tapestry of Western political thought that has shaped the American founding. This documentary aims to reframe the history of America, emphasizing the millennia of ideas that culminated in the creation of the Constitution. Through insightful interviews and historical context, "The Thread of Liberty" challenges the narrative of American exceptionalism and highlights the fragile nature of self-governance. Ned Ryun discusses the urgency of understanding our nation's roots and the importance of instilling patriotic values in younger generations, who he believes have been subjected to a skewed version of history in schools and universities. The documentary also touches on contemporary issues such as the impact of data centers and the ethical considerations of artificial intelligence. It calls for a national conversation to guide future decisions that will affect the lives of coming generations. Available at threadofliberty.com.

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The Trump administration plans to sanction another bank this week as it intensifies its campaign to financially isolate Iran and crack down on institutions facilitating transactions with Tehran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration is beginning its latest pressure campaign with banks and could announce additional measures on a weekly basis. Bessent did not identify the institution expected to be targeted next. The move follows Treasury action Friday targeting the United Arab Emirates branches of Egypt’s Banque Misr. The Treasury Department says the branches processed billions of dollars in transactions connected to the Iranian government. Bessent is in Asheville, North Carolina, for meetings with G20 finance ministers and central bank governors. He plans to urge other countries to cut financial ties with Iran or potentially face secondary U.S. sanctions. The administration has dubbed its broader economic campaign “Operation Economic Outcast,” aimed at restricting Iran’s access to the international financial system and reducing revenue available to the regime. The renewed economic pressure comes as hostilities between the United States and Iran flared again Sunday following a month-long lull in direct military action.

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Vice President JD Vance is set to address the Republican Jewish Coalition Monday as some conservative Jewish activists raise questions about his approach to Israel and the direction of the Republican Party on foreign policy. Vance has repeatedly expressed support for Israel as a key U.S. ally but has also criticized some Israeli officials and policies, including during the ongoing conflict involving Iran. His position has drawn increased attention as Republicans debate the extent of future U.S. involvement in the region. The vice president’s appearance comes as the GOP confronts broader internal disagreements over Israel, U.S. foreign policy and concerns about antisemitism within parts of the conservative movement. Vance has argued that supporting Israel does not mean the United States must agree with every decision made by its government. His allies say that position reflects the Trump administration’s “America First” approach to foreign policy rather than a weakening of U.S. support for Israel. The Republican Jewish Coalition remains an influential organization among Republican donors and pro-Israel conservatives, making Vance’s remarks closely watched as the party looks ahead to the midterm elections and the 2028 presidential race.

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Age and generational change have emerged as major issues ahead of Tuesday’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary in Massachusetts, where 80-year-old Sen. Ed Markey is facing a challenge from 47-year-old Rep. Seth Moulton. Moulton has repeatedly argued that Markey is too old to serve another six-year term and has made the need for a new generation of Democratic leadership a centerpiece of his campaign. Markey would be 86 by the end of another term. The issue drew additional attention following a recent debate when Markey struggled to explain which artificial intelligence platforms he uses. Moulton seized on the exchange, arguing lawmakers need a better understanding of rapidly changing technology if they are going to regulate it. Young Democratic voters, however, are divided. Some Moulton supporters say issues such as artificial intelligence, housing costs and student debt require younger leadership. Markey’s younger supporters argue his age matters less than his decades-long record on climate policy, technology regulation and other progressive priorities. Despite the focus on his age, Markey enters Tuesday’s primary with a sizable polling advantage. A recent 7NEWS/University of New Hampshire poll showed Markey leading Moulton 63% to 28% among Massachusetts Democrats surveyed. Massachusetts voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide the Democratic nominee.

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Google Maps has updated its platform to display Lake Ontario as “Lake America” for users in the United States, following President Donald Trump’s executive order changing the lake’s name for federal use. Google says the change reflects its long-standing practice of using geographic names listed by official government sources. The U.S. Geographic Names Information System has formally updated the lake’s name following Trump’s order. The change depends on where a Google Maps user is located. Americans will see “Lake America,” while users in Canada will continue to see “Lake Ontario.” People outside the United States and Canada will see both names displayed. The move mirrors Google’s response in 2025 when the company began displaying “Gulf of America” for U.S. users after Trump ordered the federal government to rename the Gulf of Mexico. The latest change comes amid escalating trade tensions between the United States and Canada. Canadian officials have rejected the new name, with Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiling a large sign along the Canadian shoreline reaffirming the name Lake Ontario. Google says the Maps update is now rolling out to users.

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford is pushing back against President Donald Trump’s executive order directing U.S. federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America.” Ford unveiled a massive billboard along the Canadian shoreline near Grimsby, Ontario, reading, “Lake Ontario. Now and Always.” The message is also displayed in French. The sign measures roughly 24 feet wide and 12 feet tall and was erected after Trump signed the executive order Thursday. Ford said the lake carried the Ontario name long before Trump took office and predicted it would continue to do so after his presidency. Trump’s order changes the name used by U.S. federal agencies but does not require Canada to recognize it. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has rejected the change, noting that the name Ontario has Indigenous origins dating back centuries. The dispute comes amid worsening U.S.-Canada relations following the collapse of trade negotiations and an escalating exchange of tariffs between the two longtime allies. Google Maps has since adopted “Lake America” for users in the United States, while Canadian users continue to see “Lake Ontario.” Users elsewhere see both names.

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Jurors are resuming deliberations Monday in the murder trial of Massachusetts mother Lindsay Clancy after spending about 10 hours Friday considering the case without reaching a verdict. Clancy, 36, admits she strangled her three children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months — at the family’s Massachusetts home in January 2023. Her attorneys argue Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time and was not criminally responsible for her actions. The defense says she had lost touch with reality following months of worsening mental health problems and treatment, including a stay at a psychiatric hospital. Prosecutors argue Clancy understood what she was doing and made a conscious decision to kill her children. Medical experts called by both sides offered differing assessments of her mental state during the weeks-long trial. Clancy has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility. Jurors can find her guilty of murder, convict her of the lesser charge of manslaughter or find her not guilty based on her mental state. Deliberations continue Monday.

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A South Carolina police officer was killed and another wounded after a shootout while responding to a domestic disturbance in Columbia over the weekend. Police were called to a home Saturday morning regarding a disturbance involving 33-year-old Adam Downey. Officers later located a vehicle belonging to Downey, and about 15 minutes later, authorities reported that officers and the suspect had been struck by gunfire. Officer Christopher DeLong Jr., 29, was fatally wounded. A second officer, who has not been publicly identified, was hospitalized in stable condition. Downey was also killed in the shootout. DeLong joined the Columbia Police Department in January 2025 and leaves behind a wife and two young children. Police Chief Skip Holbrook called on the community to support the department and DeLong’s family following the line-of-duty death. According to Townhall, Downey had an extensive criminal history spanning four states, including previous arrests on charges involving disorderly conduct, controlled substances, public intoxication and probation violations. The shooting remains under investigation.

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Some Democratic candidates in Iowa are making it clear they do not want former Vice President Kamala Harris campaigning on their behalf as they look toward the upcoming elections. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek rejected the idea when a reporter asked whether he would potentially campaign with Harris. Turek responded simply, “No.” Iowa Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand has also pushed back on the prospect of Harris playing a prominent role in his campaign and questioned whether she should seek the presidency again in 2028. Sand called for the Democratic Party to look toward a new generation of leadership, saying, “Let’s move on. We need some new leadership.” The comments come as Democrats continue debating the direction of the party and which national figures should take leading roles heading into the midterm elections and the 2028 presidential race.

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Governor Kathy Hochul has recently enacted a law in New York banning cooperation between local law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This move prevents federal agreements with local police forces in New York, sparking backlash from a coalition of sheriffs who argue it puts public safety at risk. Former federal prosecutor Jonathan Fahey joined O'Connor and Company to discuss this issue, highlighting the release of thousands of criminals back into New York communities last year and the troubling trend of progressive prosecutors prioritizing illegal aliens over public safety. Fahey also addressed the case in Virginia, where a child sexting operation saw nine individuals arrested, including three illegal immigrants, with the majority released due to progressive prosecutorial decisions. This decision underscores a pattern of prioritizing illegal aliens at the expense of community safety.

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Hans Von Spakovsky, senior legal fellow at Advancing American Freedom, joins the discussion to provide insights on several pressing legal matters. The conversation begins with the ongoing trial of Lindsey Clancy, a woman accused of murdering her three children. The defense strategy of postpartum psychosis is under scrutiny as the jury weighs the evidence. Von Spakovsky shares his skepticism about the defense, emphasizing the rarity of such extreme actions among new mothers. The dialogue then shifts to a vaccination case involving the Amish community in New York, where families are threatening to leave the state due to mandatory vaccination requirements. Von Spakovsky discusses the potential legal battle, highlighting the importance of religious freedom and past Supreme Court rulings that support it. Further, the discussion covers the Trump administration's policy on transgender individuals serving in the military, focusing on the criteria for physical and mental fitness. Von Spakovsky argues that the policy aims to ensure the military's effectiveness and safety, rather than discriminating against transgender people. Lastly, the conversation addresses the controversy surrounding mail-in ballots and voter security in the upcoming midterm elections. President Trump’s directive to states to provide voter rolls to the federal government is analyzed, along with the debate over implementing a tracking system for mail-in ballots to prevent fraud and ensure timely delivery. Von Spakovsky supports the measures for secure elections, criticizing the opposition from certain states and their attempts to delay necessary reforms.

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A week of news surrounding two women. Dolly Parton vs Lindsay Clancy.

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This discussion delves into the political ideologies surrounding capitalism and socialism, focusing on their implications in healthcare and the economy. The speaker critiques the Affordable Care Act, attributing its failures to government overreach and arguing for a free-market approach to healthcare. They highlight President Obama’s intentions to establish a system similar to Canada's, which they see as a step towards socialism. The conversation also touches on the vilification of capitalists by the left and the misconception that there is such a thing as a free lunch. The speaker advocates for competition as a means to improve quality and lower prices, drawing parallels to advancements in the automotive industry. They conclude by questioning why certain groups favor socialism despite its potential drawbacks.

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Larry Elder explores the growing sentiment among Democrats favoring socialism over capitalism. Elder questions whether this preference stems from a misunderstanding of socialism's true definition, which involves government ownership of the means of production, rather than welfare programs. He cites prominent figures like Thomas Sowell, who argues that President Obama's policies exemplify government control over the economy without private ownership. Elder also discusses how historical figures like Mussolini and Hitler, often embraced by the left, were actually fascists who favored state control over markets. He contrasts this with the Nordic model praised by Bernie Sanders, pointing out that countries like Denmark and Sweden have market economies with extensive welfare states, not socialist ones. Elder raises concerns about emulating systems like the UK's NHS and Canada's healthcare, which face significant public dissatisfaction and long wait times.

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WASHINGTON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Tennessee intends to name Nashville International Airport after country music icon Dolly Parton, according to a statement on Friday, after the singer died in the country music capital at age 80 earlier this week. The decision comes after a social media campaign by fans to change the airport's name to honor Parton after her death. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee spoke with Parton's team about the move this week, according to statements from the airport and Lee's office. “Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said in the statement. "At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness.” The proposal to rename the airport and the current Metro Nashville Airport Authority's naming policy will be addressed at a meeting on September 17, according to the statement. The current policy prohibits naming any property after a person who has not been dead for at least two years, The New York Times reported. Parton was born on January 19, ?1946, in Pittman Center, Tennessee, and grew up in a one-room cabin in nearby Locust Ridge. She ?was appearing on the Grand Ole Opry, a weekly country music concert in Nashville, Tennessee, at age 13, and after graduating from high school, she moved to Nashville to pursue a music career. With classic songs including "Coat of Many Colors," "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You," Parton became one of the best-selling female artists of all time, with over 100 million records sold. She won 11 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch drug addiction and mental health institute warned users on Friday about potentially lethal ecstasy pills shaped to look like the head of U.S. President Donald Trump. The respected Trimbos Institute said that several of the pills have been handed in recently at a network of centers that test drugs for users before they take them. “Absolutely do not use these pills,” the institute warned. It released a photo of the pills that have a depiction of Trump's head on one side and on the other side “NL” and “Trump” stamped into the surface either side of a vertical line. One of the pills has a green face and another is yellow. The institute warned in a “ Red Alert ” published on its website and social media that they contain a high concentration of a chemical called PMMA, or para-methoxymethamfetamine, that is similar to MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy pills. However, PMMA is slower working than MDMA and that could lead users to take more because they think that the first pill didn't work, leading to a risk of overdosing, the institute said, adding that use of the pills “can lead to overheating with possibly deadly consequences.” Spokesperson Anniek Groothuis said that the institute has no reported cases of serious illness or fatalities among people who may have used the drug. “We do not know of any victims where PMMA was found in their blood,” she told The Associated Press. Producing, selling and using ecstasy is illegal in the Netherlands, but it's widely used, particularly at clubs and music festivals. A government report in 2024 said that some 550,000 people took the drug in a year. It's not the first time ecstasy pills in the form of Trump’s head have appeared. In 2017, German police seized thousands of orange Trump-shaped tablets.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has awarded a $16.7 million contract to purchase 6,000 pairs of gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks, saying officers would use them to control detainees and protesters who resist. ICE moved forward with the purchase despite opposition from civil rights advocates and Democratic members of Congress, who said ICE officers cannot be trusted to use them appropriately. A notice published in a federal database Thursday said ICE entered into a no-bid contract to purchase the gloves from Compliant Technologies LLC, a Kentucky-based firm that manufactures them. The deal includes acquiring 6,000 of the devices along with support equipment and services over the next six months. Civil rights advocates have said ICE officers already face criticism for their use of force with little oversight or accountability while enforcing President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. ICE published the notice hours after a group of U.S. senators, led by Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, urged the agency to cancel its plan to buy the gloves. In a letter to ICE's acting director Thursday, Cortez Masto and 15 of her colleagues in the Democratic caucus questioned ICE's need for the devices. “The blatant and tragic misuse of force in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, Houston, Maine, and other locations around the country raises significant skepticism about the agency’s professional capability to safely deploy a new tool that could be used to harm Americans without cause,” the letter said. The senators were the latest to express opposition to the plan, which became public this month when ICE published a notice outlining its intent to purchase thousands of “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” for officers and investigators. The devices are normal patrol gloves until an officer presses a button to activate the electrical mode. They must be applied directly to someone’s skin to produce a shock that causes pain, which is promoted as a way to gain compliance from people who are resisting. They have been used by some local jails and police departments in recent years. ICE's notice said officers would use them in “high-tension environments,” including while making arrests, transporting combative detainees and responding to civil disturbances outside detention facilities. “It will be used when a subject is actively or passively resisting and an officer needs to gain control quickly to prevent injuries to both parties,” the document said. It said that the shocks would help “maintain control over inmates and prevent aggression or escape attempts,” allow officers to handcuff people hiding their hands, and assist in crowd control. The goal would be to avoid using “more severe force,” including firearms. The notice said the gloves would be used with “approved policy, training, and accountability standards,” but it did not elaborate. Cortez Masto and the other senators said in their letter that the device “presents substantial risks if deployed during civil arrests — even more so if it is deployed without clear limits, appropriate training, and comprehensive oversight.” They said ICE must make public details about how officers will be trained and how use of the gloves will be documented and reviewed internally to avoid misuse. ICE's parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, reacted defiantly Thursday to critics of the purchase. “Sanctuary politicians attempting to ban our federal law enforcement from any safety equipment is despicable and a deliberate attempt to undermine and endanger our officers,” the agency said in a statement.

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WASHINGTON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - More than six decades after Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and declared his dream for a more just America, thousands gathered in Washington on Friday to warn that voting rights and other freedoms he fought and died for are once again under threat. Civil rights leaders invoked the same demands he made from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial two and a half generations ago: that the fight for equality remains unfinished. The event, called "March on Washington 2026: Defend the Vote," drew several thousand people to the National Mall, including union members, students, members of Black Greek-letter organizations, and attendees of all ages who traveled from across the country. The march comes after the Supreme Court weakened a key provision of the Voting Rights Act this year, setting off a string of redistricting battles across the South, with Republican-led statehouses moving quickly, in some cases within days, to redraw congressional maps in time for midterm elections in November. "We know in this fight we're fighting powerful forces, but this is why we rally today," said Marc Morial, president and CEO of the civil rights organization National Urban League. "This is why we seek to bring Americans together of goodwill from all races, from all sections of the country to push back as forcefully as we can." The gathering was organized by Al Sharpton's National Action Network and Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King's Drum Major Institute, alongside more than 90 community partner organizations, including the NAACP and National Urban League. “Defending the vote means defending the foundation of our democracy,” said King III in a statement. “Sixty-three years after my father stood at the Lincoln Memorial, we are called to march again, not only in remembrance, but in action.” According to the organizers, the march aims to "confront the systemic rollback of civil rights at this critical moment," referring to President Donald Trump's efforts to curb mail-in voting, weaken anti-discrimination protections across the federal government and fundamentally shift what civil rights are. "We stand on the same ground because the work is not finished," Sharpton wrote in a letter to supporters. "The right to vote, the very foundation of our power, is being chipped away in statehouse after statehouse. When the vote is weakened, every other right grows fragile with it." The program began at 9 a.m. ET with confirmed speakers U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. "Black unemployment is up, Black homeownership is down and Black political representation is under assault with Jim Crow white tactics all throughout the South — challenging times," Jeffries said, referring to the system of state and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the American South until the 1960s.

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DUBAI, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Iran condemned the United States' new economic sanctions on Friday as "state terrorism", while its supreme leader said he was banning acts that could harm "social cohesion" amid concern that more financial pain could spark unrest at home. With the war now at the six-month mark, and negotiations at an impasse, President Donald Trump's administration has stepped up efforts to cripple Iran financially, with what it has billed an "economic D-Day". The sanctions drive compounds the toll of the war on Iran's economy, where annual inflation hit 66% last month. The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz remains the conflict's biggest unresolved flashpoint. Washington has warned countries to cut their business ties with Iran or face secondary sanctions, though the Treasury Department stopped short of actually imposing penalties. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday that all countries were obligated under international law to refrain from implementing U.S. sanctions against Tehran, adding that participation in them amounted to complicity in imposing one state’s unlawful will on independent states. It branded the new U.S. measures a "crime against humanity" that put the health and livelihood of millions of civilians at serious risk, and called on other nations and United Nations bodies to uphold the rule of law. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who was injured and has not been seen publicly since the February 28 attack that killed his father, said in a written statement on Friday that he had banned officials from "committing anything that harms social cohesion". He urged authorities to avoid any “discouraging statements that weaken national and public motivation," amid concern among Iran's leaders that more financial pressure on its war-battered economy could trigger protests. Khamenei urged the government to seriously address economic and livelihood challenges, including inflation, unemployment, prices and the management of markets for goods and services. NEW MEASURES TARGET EGYPTIAN BANK Later on Friday, a U.S. official told Reuters the Trump administration plans to impose limits on Egypt's Banque Misr United Arab Emirates branches for doing business with Tehran. The official said the proposed rule, if finalised, would withdraw Banque Misr UAE's ability to process transactions through U.S. financial institutions. Treasury officials separately issued sanctions targeting one entity based in Hong Kong and one person linked to Iran's Bank Melli, according to a notice posted on the department's website. With the U.S. focused on its economic pressure campaign, others have sought to revive diplomatic efforts to end the war. Mediators have pushed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which handled 20% of world oil supplies before the war began six months ago and whose status remains the biggest obstacle to a peace deal. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said he had stressed during talks with Iranian leaders in Tehran on Thursday the importance of returning to the pre-war status of open shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. 'PRESSURE DOESN'T WORK,' IRAN TELLS US Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Friday described the talks with Al Thani as "creative", and he renewed his appeal to the U.S. to stop putting military and economic pressure on his country and to resume negotiations. "Putting diplomacy back on track isn't impossible. It hinges on U.S. understanding of one simple fact: pressure doesn't work," Araqchi said on X. Qatar, a U.S. ally, and Pakistan helped broker a memorandum of understanding in June that led to a ceasefire but that quickly unravelled due to disagreements between Iran and the U.S. over the Strait of Hormuz. IRANIAN LEVERAGE After the U.S. and Israel launched the war on February 28, Iran threatened to strike any vessel transiting the strait without its authorisation, driving down traffic and sending up the price of oil. The U.S. insists that the strait remain an open international waterway. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on Thursday Iran was preparing a list of conditions for reopening the strait. In the past Iran's conditions have included an end to the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, compensation and removal of sanctions. U.S. military commanders say American forces have cleared sea mines from the strait that had been laid months ago by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Trump has repeatedly said the strait is open, but many vessels have opted against sailing through it because of Iranian threats, and ship tracking services have estimated activity at roughly 5% to 15% of normal volumes. Preliminary shipping data released on Friday showed that only seven commodity vessels had transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, down from 17 a day earlier and below the 10-day average of 15. However, oil prices fell on Friday and were on track for a weekly drop, amid what analysts said were signs that more oil was flowing through the strait despite the diplomatic stalemate and that producers were increasingly adapting to the new realities in the Gulf region.

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