The debut of Tucker Carlson’s new Twitter show Tuesday night quickly went viral, racking up views at an astronomical rate.
The video was watched by so many people that cable news’ former top-rated host is being crowned the man who broke the establishment media model forever.
Carlson announced he would take his show to the platform last month amid a reported legal battle between him and his former employer following his abrupt firing.
But just over 40 days after Fox News canceled “Tucker Carlson Tonight” without any explanation whatsoever, a new format was born -- one that offers the host none of the roadblocks of traditional television.
“Tucker on Twitter” premiered with a 10-minute monologue delivered in the host’s trademark style uploaded to the platform at 6 p.m. ET.
The clip featured the host sitting at a desk in what appeared to be his humble home studio in Maine.
Ep. 1 pic.twitter.com/O7CdPjF830
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) June 6, 2023
In the video, he discussed government and media corruption and American taxpayer dollars being spent in Ukraine. He also touched on new reports about UFOs.
By 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, the video had racked up more than 71 million views, according to Twitter's metrics.
Carlson did not disclose when another episode might drop or otherwise comment on a schedule, guest appearances or whether future episodes will expand beyond Tuesday’s brief monologue.
But he offered a blunt take on the state of American journalism.
The former Fox News star complained that reporters no longer seek out stories that are relevant or significant. He concluded that is by design.
"A small group of people control access to all relevant information, and the rest of us don't know," Carlson told his tens of millions of potential regular viewers.
"We are allowed to yap all we want about racism, but go ahead and talk about something that really matters and see what happens," he said.
He said he hopes Twitter will prove to be the home for free speech that it has been billed as -- and declared he will not hesitate to leave the platform if he finds out otherwise.
"As of today, we've come to Twitter, which we hope will be the shortwave radio under the blanket," Carlson said. "We're told there are no gatekeepers here. If that turns out to be false, we'll leave.”
"But in the meantime, we're grateful to be here," he concluded. "We’ll be back with much more very soon.”
If expectations for his Twitter debut were high, they have arguably been exceeded:
Pretty hilarious to see Leftists throw shade on Tucker’s 1st video mocking him for not having flashy graphics
Newsflash - we didn’t watch Tucker for special effects
We watch him to hear powerful truth & his 1st video has that in spades
Hence why it has 68M+ views https://t.co/jsihdXd11F
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) June 7, 2023
Tucker Carlson got more views in 10 minutes on Twitter than CNN got in 24 hours. https://t.co/dzgtBJ79ZJ
— Andrew Wilkow (@WilkowMajority) June 7, 2023
60 Million Views. And counting.
The best thing about Tucker’s choice of Twitter, the preeminent site for political discourse, is that everyone has this view count squarely in their face.
The Left. Corporate Media. The Intelligence Community. The Biden Regime. Fox,
Everyone. https://t.co/83C5gdAkJ3
— Jeff Carlson (@themarketswork) June 7, 2023
Would be great to have shows from all parts of the political spectrum on this platform! https://t.co/hrzEH31Pk0
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 6, 2023
So great to see you back Tucker. God bless you 🙏🏻
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) June 6, 2023
Come On Tucker Give us episode 2 already! I need it! I’m addicted
— Adam The Last Starfighter! 🇺🇸 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 (@AStarfighter) June 7, 2023
It is unknown whether Carlson and his attorney have resolved the host’s contract with Fox News or his Twitter broadcast put him at odds with his current contract.
He reportedly is under contract with the network until January 2025.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
Pop star Taylor Swift had an unusual mishap during her sold-out Sunday concert at Chicago's Soldier Field stadium.
Playing to over 60,000 adoring fans, Swift's set came to a halt when a rogue bug decided to jump down the singer's throat.
Covering her mouth, she started coughing for a few moments, until she was able to state, "I just swallowed a bug.
"I'm so sorry."
The "Shake It Off" singer ended up trying to do just that. “Oh, delicious. Oh, God.
"Is there any chance that none of you saw that?” Swift coyly asked her audience.
Then she proceeded to start coughing and gagging once more.
But of course, the Swifties did see it and shared the moment to social media:
THERE'S A BUG IN THE ERAS TOUR#ChicagoTSTheErasTour #TSTheErasTour @taylornation13 @taylorswift13 pic.twitter.com/lGikXfL8yN
— Catalina García H (@CatalinaGarciaH) June 5, 2023
SHE SWALLOWED A BUG OMG 💀 #ChicagoTSTheErasTour pic.twitter.com/zUx3Uj95Sm
— marley 🪩 (@marleyharper) June 5, 2023
"It’s fine, it’s all, it’s -- I’ve swallowed it.”
She quipped, "OK. So I’m just gonna try not to do as many of those. This is gonna happen again tonight.
"There’s so many bugs. There’s a thousand of them. Anyway, this has been fun.”
[firefly_poll] Swift is currently on her sold-out Eras tour. Some individuals have spent the equivalent of a new car to see the artist, as the cost of resale tickets soar.
During her first of three shows in Chicago on Friday, Swift decided to address the fact that June is "pride month."
"I wish that every place was safe and beautiful for people in the LGBTQ community," the 33-year-old said.
"Because you know we can’t talk about ‘pride month’ without talking about pain -- there right now, and recently, in the recent years, there have been so many harmful pieces of legislation that have put people in the LGBTQ and queer community at risk."
During a May tour stop in Philadelphia, Swift got into a brief exchange with a security guard who was allegedly hassling a Swiftie in the crowd.
The singer saw and told him mid-song, "She wasn’t doing anything," and followed up with a "Hey! Stop!"
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
A court hearing Tuesday could allow the Heritage Foundation to determine whether the Department of Homeland Security bent the rules to allow Prince Harry into the country.
The two sides will face off in federal court in Washington over a lawsuit filed after federal officials rejected a Freedom of Information Act request from the conservative think tank that sought the release of all records pertaining to the British royal's visa and the decision to grant it, according to CBS News.
To date, federal officials have refused to share any of the documentation.
“The American people deserve answers to the serious questions raised by the evidence,” the Heritage Foundation said in a statement Thursday.
“Did DHS in fact look the other way, play favorites, or fail to appropriately respond to any potential false statements by Prince Harry?” its statement said.
MEDIA ADVISORY
Heritage Oversight Project to Appear Before U.S. Federal Judge on Prince Harry Immigration Records Case
The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project has sued The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Prince Harry’s immigration records. Given his extensive drug… pic.twitter.com/MWLWmRITva
— Nile Gardiner (@NileGardiner) June 1, 2023
The complaint said Harry was treated differently from others with histories of illegal drug use.
"DHS may have improperly granted the Duke of Sussex a waiver to enter the country," it said.
"Widespread and continuous media coverage has surfaced the question of whether DHS properly admitted the Duke of Sussex in light of the fact that he has publicly admitted to the essential elements of a number of drug offenses in both the United States and abroad," the complaint said.
[firefly_poll]
"United States law generally renders such a person inadmissible for entry into the United States. Intense media coverage has also surfaced the question of whether DHS may have improperly granted the Duke of Sussex a waiver to enter the country on a non-immigrant visa given his history of admissions to the essential elements of drug offenses,” it said.
The complaint uses eight pages to discuss Harry’s public discussions of his illegal drug use, which includes numerous references in his memoir "Spare."
"Of course I had been taking cocaine at that time," one snippet read. "At someone's house, during a hunting weekend, I was offered a line, and since then I had consumed some more," he wrote.
The complaint also cites Harry's use of magic mushrooms at "Friends" star Courtney Cox's home in Los Angeles.
According to CBS News, the federal government has tried to undercut the suit by saying the Heritage Foundation has not shown it was harmed by the lack of compliance with the request.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection at first rejected the FOIA request because "plaintiffs did not provide written authorization from the Duke of Sussex indicating that the Duke of Sussex consented to his information being released to plaintiffs."
The complaint said the request is important because of the times.
Heritage Foundation Complaint by The Western Journal
“The press and Congressional hearing rooms are replete with detailed accusations that DHS is deliberately refusing to enforce the Country’s immigration laws and is responsible for the current crisis at the border,” the complaint said.
The complaint added that “because DHS has discretion in this area, it is critical to know that such discretion is being properly exercised. News media has extensively covered the issue and explained that even prior use of marijuana, regardless of whether that use was legal in a state within the U.S. or in a foreign country, can cause a foreigner to be banned from the United States.”
The complaint also took time for a jab at the prince’s habit of revealing extensive details about his private life.
“The foregoing history of revealing virtually every aspect of private life for commercial gain is perhaps best expressed by 'South Park’s' biting and equal opportunity satire," it said.
"South Park deemed the contradiction between HRH’s claims of privacy and his repeated public actions to be so great they devoted an entire episode — The World Wide Privacy Tour — to satirizing HRH,” the complaint said.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
As the Nevada legislature debates tax credits for the film industry, actor Mark Wahlberg said Las Vegas can become the new Hollywood.
“I would love to see us building studios, creating jobs and just diversifying the economy. I’ve moved my last film here. I’m shooting another film here coming up in the summertime,” Wahlberg, who last year ditched California for Nevada, said, according to CNBC.
“I think there’s so much more opportunity to be created here. There’s so much growth and so much potential, it’s a wonderful opportunity for everybody to prosper,” Wahlberg said.
Wahlberg was among entertainment industry leaders urging Nevada lawmakers to increase tax credits for film production from $10 million per year to $190 million per year over the next 20 years.
As noted by Fox Business, Wahlberg has said Las Vegas can be “Hollywood 2.0.”
"We're looking to create 10,000 jobs on the studio alone," he said.
"The average salary would be $100,000 more than what it is now. We want to train people both in front of and behind the camera, create jobs, most importantly, first and foremost, for locals,” he said.
Wahlberg praised the efforts of Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo to enhance Nevada’s economic base.
"There's lots of opportunity for growth here, and the government, especially our new governor, is really looking for opportunities to create jobs outside of gaming,” he said.
Wahlberg said his business future in Nevada could also include a shoe factory and one that makes apparel.
The California expatriate said of his new state, “I just wish I’d made the move sooner,” according to KLAS-TV.
“We want to create as much opportunity for as many people as possible. We want to uncover new and exciting talent. There are so many amazing storytellers out there and so many amazing stories to be told,” he said.
KLAS noted that the bill for tax credits drew some opposition.
“We offer these abatements and credits at the expense of our communities,” Battle Born Progress leader Annette Magnus said.
“If you want to bring your business here, then please do. Please do it on your own and at your own expense and stop using our communities to fund it,” she said.
Wahlberg has often gone his own way in Hollywood, particularly in terms of religion.
Earlier this year, in an interview that was posted by the “Today” YouTube channel, he said, “[My faith] it’s everything, it really has, it’s afforded me so many things. ... God didn’t come here to save the saints, He came to save the sinners.”
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
Actor Damson Idris made a shocking revelation during an April 29 roundtable with his peers about just how far he once went for a role.
While filming the final season of "Snowfall," Idris recalled a time when he called upon the devil to try to reach a dark place.
"This last season, I was hitting a block, and I was like, ‘I’m not doing it right,'" the actor said.
"So I went in a corner and then I was looking at the wall and was like, 'Come on devil, come on devil.'
"Come to me, come to me," Idris added.
WARNING: The following video contains vulgar language that some viewers may find offensive.
He soon started to experience the consequences of his actions. The 31-year-old actor "had nightmares for a month," which he believed was a direct result of the incident.
Actor Kieran Culkin of "Succession" briefly interjected and asked about the timeline.
Idris replied, "I had nightmares every day, like I just felt, felt the energy, and I had to pray and do all this stuff to like get rid of it.
"You know, you call your mom up and you're like, 'Bring me back to life.'
"And that stuff is real. That stuff really is real," he concluded.
Idris did not state the particular episode when it occurred, only that "I had to do something, like, crazy” for the scene.
He was shooting the final season of the FX drama series "Snowfall," which ended in April and dealt with the crack cocaine epidemic during the '80s in Los Angeles.
Legendary actor Jeff Bridges was also a part of the panel and commented on how Idris prayed after his experience.
"You were talking about praying, I'll pray before a big scene," Bridges stated, although he stopped short of saying he prayed to God.
Other actors on the panel included Michael Imperioli of "Sopranos" fame and "The White Lotus," Pedro Pascal of "The Last of Us" and "The Mandalorian" and Evan Peters of the Netflix miniseries about serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
The Hollywood Reporter holds a series of roundtables each year, bringing together individuals in the entertainment industry for a discussion about their craft.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
When President Joe Biden published his proclamation saluting "pride month" for 2023, he checked every box on the progressive agenda.
Gays? Naturally. Lesbians? Of course. Bisexuals, transgenders, "queer" and "intersex"? Check. Check. Check. And check.
All told, it's 900-plus words of blather about Biden's aims to ease the plight of the sexually disoriented population of the United States -- but it's the last line that says more than the White House ever intended.
At the end of the "Proclamation on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month, 2023" on Wednesday, the president declares the month of June to be a time for all Americans to "recognize the achievements of the LGBTQI+ community, to celebrate the great diversity of the American people, and to wave their flags of pride high."
The final line is:
"IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh."
The "year of our Lord" phrasing evokes -- and is meant to evoke -- the religious beliefs that infused the country's founding era. It has been part of presidential proclamations since George Washington's day.
But the inclusion here isn't an acknowledgment of the birth of Jesus, an event of such magnitude that human history is literally denoted by its relation to it -- before Christ or "anno domini," the Latin phrase for "year of our Lord."
In the hands of the Biden White House, it's a trite, throwaway nod to a throwaway past the leadership of the Democratic Party and its progressive supporters are intent on erasing, not honoring. Does any sane American think contemporary leftists believe themselves to be operating in the "year of our Lord"?
The fact that Biden's topic of homosexuality and its spinoff behaviors is largely an affront to biblical Christianity -- not to mention the dogma of the same Catholic faith the president publicly professes -- makes his words even more hollow.
[ic_trending]
But in the context of the history of presidential proclamations, it shows just how far the country has fallen away from the public faith in God and its leaders' reliance on that faith to steer the correct course.
The very first presidential proclamation was issued by Washington on Oct. 3. 1789, recommending a day of national thanks to God, "that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be ... for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us ...
"And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions ... and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best."
It concluded:
"Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, in the year of our Lord 1789."
Contrast the palpable piety in those words to Biden's passive-aggressive paean to his fellow Americans based on their choice of sex partners.
"During Pride Month, we honor a movement that has grown stronger, more vibrant, and more inclusive with every passing year," the statement declares. "Pride is a celebration of generations of LGBTQI+ people, who have fought bravely to live openly and authentically. And it is a reminder that we still have generational work to do to ensure that everyone enjoys the full promise of equity, dignity, protection, and freedom."
It may be that Biden, the former proud colleague of Democratic segregationists in the Senate, means every word of that. It could also be that he's pandering to a constituency that favors the Democratic Party and shoring up his political left in anticipation of running for re-election at a time when evidence of corruption in his family and in his own record is mounting even faster than his inflation is destroying Americans' savings.
[firefly_poll]
Finally, it could simply mean that an increasingly senescent Biden is setting a witless hand hereunto whatever first lady Jill and the coterie actually running the country tell him to set his hand hereunto.
The private lives of American citizens are their private lives. Americans aren't required to follow biblical teachings or accept traditional Christian concepts of sin, any more than they're required to the screechings of the Quran (try reading it sometime without getting a headache).
But that doesn't change what biblical teachings are, or how those Christian concepts of sin might apply.
The problem is, the whole concept behind the LGBTQI etc. etc. movement is that human beings decide what they are, not their Maker.
However much that might please Unitarian ministers or the woke Episcopalian hierarchy, it's a foundational rejection of the idea that God creates humans as He deems fit.
The fact that such is belief is so prevalent is just one of the things that make it a good bet that the American ancestors who were around for Washington's first proclamation wouldn't even recognize what the country has become.
There are many, many ways the country is better now than then, of course: The 13th Amendment ending slavery, the 19th Amendment guaranteeing universal adult suffrage (and air conditioning and microwave ovens).
There are other ways that it's worse, and Biden's statement highlighted what might be the worst of them: The fact that a country that literally came into being for the cause of religious freedom has all but abandoned religious beliefs in the public square.
The fact that Biden chose to salute "pride month" at all was a personal and political choice that was his to make -- or whatever nurse was on duty at the moment.
But the fact that he chose to describe it as taking place in the "year of our Lord" just highlighted how far the country has traveled between George Washington and Joe Biden.
No one doubted Washington meant what he said. No sane person thinks Joe Biden does.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
A former JPMorgan Chase bank executive said top officials at the bank were constantly in the loop about the status of convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s accounts with the bank.
However, officials for the bank deny the claim, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
Although the debate touches on some history from the period of 2008 to 2013, it is in connection with a current lawsuit in which JPMorgan is being sued by the government of the Virgin Islands, claiming that the bank facilitated Epstein’s predations.
In response, the bank filed a lawsuit in which JPMorgan Chase is suing Jes Staley, a former senior executive at the company.
Staley fired back in documents the Wall Street Journal said it has seen in which Staley says he kept CEO Jamie Dimon informed about Epstein.
Staley said that Dimon was in touch when Epstein was arrested in 2006 on sex-related charges and in 2008 when Epstein pleaded guilty and became a registered sex offender, according to the report. From then through 2012, Staley claimed, Dimon communicated with him off and on about Epstein.
Staley also said that Dimon communicated with him various times about whether to maintain Epstein as a client through 2012, the Journal reported.
In a Friday deposition, Dimon said he does not recall ever talking about Epstein’s accounts, according to a representative of the bank.
“There is no evidence that any such communications ever occurred—nothing in the voluminous number of documents reviewed and nothing in the nearly dozen depositions taken, including that of our own CEO. The one person who claims this to be true is currently accused of horrific acts and dishonesty,” the representative said.
The Virgin Islands lawsuit delved into what it called Epstein’s “close personal relationship” with Staley.
“Between 2008 and 2012, Staley exchanged approximately 1,200 emails with Epstein from his JP Morgan email account. These communications show a close personal relationship and ‘profound’ friendship between the two men and even suggest that Staley may have been involved in Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation,” the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit noted that on two separate occasions when Staley visited Epstein properties, “a woman with an Eastern European surname” was wired money by Epstein.
In July 2010, according to the lawsuit, Staley “sent an email to Epstein, saying: ‘Maybe they’re tracking u? That was fun. Say hi to Snow White.’ Epstein responded: ‘[W]hat character would you like next?’ When Staley said ‘Beauty and the Beast’, Epstein replied: ‘well one side is available.’”
Brad Edwards, a lawyer representing an unnamed alleged victim of Epstein who is also suing JPMorgan Chase, called for Dimon’s deposition to go public, according to the Financial Times.
“Rather than mislead anyone about what was or was not said, why don’t they just agree to release the whole transcript?” Edwards said. "Then the world can put their comment in context and decide for themselves what they thought of Mr Dimon’s testimony as a whole."
A report in the Daily Mail said newly disclosed records show Epstein had a meeting scheduled with someone named "Dimon" scheduled for March 2, 2010.
A bank representative said no meeting ever took place.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
House Republicans will move to hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress after Wray refused to provide information about allegations of what has been characterized by House Republicans as allegations of “a criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden and a foreign national.”
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer of Kentucky announced Wray’s intransigence on Tuesday, according to a news release on the website of the committee.
“Today, the FBI informed the Committee that it will not provide the unclassified documents subpoenaed by the Committee. The FBI’s decision to stiff-arm Congress and hide this information from the American people is obstructionist and unacceptable,” Comer said.
🚨🚨🚨
Today, the FBI informed @GOPoversight that it will not provide the unclassified documents subpoenaed by the Committee.
The Committee will now be taking steps to hold FBI Director Wray in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a lawful subpoena.
Statement.👇 pic.twitter.com/VY3WudlFkG
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) May 30, 2023
“While I have a call scheduled with FBI Director Wray tomorrow to discuss his response further, the Committee has been clear in its intent to protect Congressional oversight authorities and will now be taking steps to hold the FBI Director in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a lawful subpoena,” he said.
“Americans deserve the truth, and the Oversight Committee will continue to demand transparency from this nation’s chief law enforcement agency,” Comer continued.
If the full House votes to find Wray in criminal contempt of Congress, and either the Department of Justice or the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia prosecute the case, he could face penalties of up to 12 months in jail or a $100,000 fine, according to findlaw.com.
If no prosecution takes place, Congress can file a civil suit in federal court and, if successful, can obtain whatever was denied to Congress initially.
Moving ahead with the charge is supported by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, according to the Washington Times.
“We will move contempt charges against Christopher Wray and the FBI. They are not above the law,” he said.
“We have jurisdiction over the FBI, which they seem to act like we do not. I personally called Director Wray and told him he needed to send that document. Today is the deadline,” he said.
In an earlier release on the website of the House Oversight Committee, Comer called the refusal “obstructionist.”
“Whistleblower disclosures that Joe Biden may have been involved in a criminal bribery scheme as vice president track closely with what we are seeing in our investigation into the Biden family’s influence-peddling schemes. Congress and the American people need to know what, if anything, the FBI did to verify the allegations contained within this record,” he said.
In an earlier letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Wray, Sen. Chuck Grassley and Comer explained what they wanted and why it was needed.
“We have received legally protected and highly credible unclassified whistleblower disclosures. Based on those disclosures, it has come to our attention that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) possess an unclassified FD-1023 form that describes an alleged criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Biden and a foreign national relating to the exchange of money for policy decisions,” the letter said.
“The FBI has continued to tie itself in knots to ignore a legitimate subpoena from Congress, which has a constitutional duty of oversight. The Bureau’s developed a serious reputation problem through its spate of failures and overreach, and leadership is doing it no favors by attempting to stiff-arm Congress," Grassley of Iowa said in a statement on his website.
"The FBI knows exactly what document Chairman Comer and I are seeking, and if they know us at all, they know we will get it, one way or another. If FBI leadership truly cares about protecting the agency’s reputation, they’d cooperate. These needless delays only harm the Bureau,” he continued.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
A Tennessee family is waiting in fear to hear from a woman who has gone silent while traveling across the country with her boyfriend.
Media outlets have noted that the case has “chilling parallels” to the 2021 case of Gabby Petito, who was found dead in Wyoming after a cross-country trip with her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, who later killed himself after confessing to her murder.
Nikki Alcaraz, also known as Nikki Cunningham, who is 33, has gone silent for three weeks, her sister, Toni Alcaraz, said, according to WKRN-TV.
Family seeks answers after woman disappears during cross-country trip with boyfriend https://t.co/3TFExhnF4W #Missing #NikkiAlcaraz pic.twitter.com/Z2GqzphZPX
— The Docket (@ChasingPaper89) May 29, 2023
According to KABC-TV, a woman appearing to match Nikki Alcaraz’s description was seen in a Walmart in Redding, California, on Saturday. The woman was photographed selling her phone.
Josh Alcaraz, her brother, believes she is in danger.
"It's not like her to not reach out to anybody, especially her kids,” he said.
[firefly_poll]
"I immediately tried calling her, and it went straight to voicemail. I sent texts that are still undelivered. She always has her phone, so that's when it was really concerning,” he said.
Family members know that Nikki Alcaraz and her boyfriend, Steven Tyler Stratton, were heading for California in a black Jeep and that things went sour in Torrance County, New Mexico.
UPDATE: this image of Nikki Alcaraz was captured at a Walmart in
Redding, California Sat. May 27th when she sold her phone at an ecoATM, according to Gen. Ray Crouch. He says they are still asking for the public’s help to locate Nikki @WKRN https://t.co/2xzCymvURR pic.twitter.com/w4dPZdD8E6— Stephanie Langston (@stephnthecity) May 30, 2023
Josh Alcaraz said his sister was beaten by her boyfriend, according to KSAZ-TV.
"He beat her up pretty badly. A truck driver had to pull him off of her, call the police. The police picked him up, took him a couple exits down and dropped him off. She was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and a broken hand or wrist,” he said.
According to WKRN, a Torrance County Sheriff’s Office report from May 4 said Stratton claimed he was also struck and bled from his nose and mouth from the blow. No charges were filed.
At that point, Nikki Alcaraz was dropped off in Moriarty, New Mexico, where she called her sister.
“She was crying and upset. Her eye was already turning black, and you could tell she was beat up pretty bad,” Toni Alcaraz said, adding that she wished arrests had been made.
“I just feel like maybe the right steps weren’t necessarily taken,” she said.
A family friend drove to New Mexico, but Nikki Alcaraz refused a ride to California, her sister said.
“That morning when they were supposed to leave, she told him that she had to go back and find Tyler because she had a bad feeling, and so he left without her,” she said, adding that she had not been seen for certain since May 6.
Two days later, a text came. Then nothing.
Nikki Alcaraz is missing after a cross country trip w/ her bf
The couple had a run-in with cops after a fight they had
The bruises and black eye her bf left her with
This case sounds too familiar and I hope she is found safe#breaking #news #breakingnews pic.twitter.com/0v0QwIZ1xs
— Crime With Bobby (@crimewithbobby) May 30, 2023
“I don’t think she is dead out there somewhere, but it’s all a possibility at this point, and I am really scared of that, but I’m praying that’s not the case,” Toni Alcaraz said.
Cheatham County District Attorney General Ray Crouch said his office is seeking Stratton on an unrelated arrest warrant for a probation violation connected to a theft charge.
Steven Tyler Stratton is either missing or hiding. He is the boyfriend of Nikki Alcaraz (Cunningham). This mugshot is from an arrest in 2022 for forgery and other drug related charges.
They did have a run in with LE while visiting NM. A witness saw Tyler punch Nikki in the… pic.twitter.com/dvNg4zcfQ3
— Rose (@901Lulu) May 29, 2023
According to KABC, a license plate reader picked up Alcaraz's Jeep around Flagstaff, Arizona in early May.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
Two parents are speaking out after their teenage daughter was tragically killed trying the latest social media trend.
Esra Haynes of Melbourne, Australia, had been at a sleepover on March 31 when she entered cardiac arrest.
At first, her friends thought she was having a panic attack. Little did they know, her body was beginning to shut down, according to the Australian news program "A Current Affair."
Haynes had allegedly been "chroming" before the incident.
Popularized by social media, chroming involves huffing aerosol deodorant for a high.
Haynes was rushed to the emergency room, yet her parents were still hopeful.
"We thought we'd bring her home," said Andrea Haynes, Esra's mother.
After being placed on life support for eight days, her parents made the tough decision when they learned Esra's brain was "damaged beyond repair."
"She was put onto a bed so we could lay with her. We cuddled her until the end," Paul Haynes, Esra's father told "A Current Affair."
Esra was just 13 years old when she died.
According to her parents, she had no history of chroming.
Per Fox News, Paul Haynes told the Australian news outlet Herald Sun that it will be he and his wife's new mission to make sure other children do not make the same mistake.
"We want to help other children not fall into the silly trap of doing this silly thing. It’s unquestionable that this will be our crusade," the father said. "No matter how much you lead a horse to water, anyone can drag them away. It’s not something she would have done on her own. The ripple effect is that this is absolutely devastating. We've got no child to bring home."
Haynes' parents want every school to teach its students CPR, which they believe could have saved their daughter's life.
They also advocate for aerosol manufacturers to take action accordingly.
"To me it seems that's a pistol sitting on a shelf. We need the manufacturers to step up and really change the formulation or the propellants," Paul Haynes said.
He also believes social media is a big part of the problem because it's so accessible.
Esra was the youngest of four siblings.
She loved music and sports and had just been named co-captain of her team.
"She was amazing," Andrea Haynes said. "She was beautiful, she was cheeky but she just had the most fullest heart."
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
