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THE 4PM: A HIGHLIGHT REEL OF TODAY’S NEWS. FOR CONSERVATIVES. EVERY AFTERNOON AT 4PM.

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People Are Slamming Elon Musk for Banning Kanye

Self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist” and new Twitter owner Elon Musk is facing blowback for banning Ye, aka Kanye West, from the platform on Thursday.

SO WHAT

The right is having a free speech reckoning.

WHAT HAPPENED

Twitter suspended West’s account after he posted an image of a swastika within a Star of David, a symbol apparently belonging to the Raelian movement, a faith group that believes aliens created humanity using advanced technology.

West, a rap mogul, also tweeted out apparent screenshots of text messages between him and Musk and a photo meant to mock the tech billionaire.

  • For the most part, mainstream conservatives and free-speech advocates supported Musk’s decision to suspend Ye, who has lately been on an anti-Semitic media bender.
  • In a tweet, Musk explained the move, saying, “I tried my best.”
  • According to Musk, the rapper violated Twitter’s rules against inciting violence.

WHAT THEY SAID

But critics on the right and left accused Musk of betraying his oft-stated commitment to freedom of speech.

On the right: Scott Adams, the “Dilbert” creator and popular Twitter personality, accused Musk of blowing smoke.

On the left: Ken “Popehat” White, a former federal prosecutor turned legal commentator, called Musk’s free speech rhetoric “increasingly transparent” B.S.

WHAT ELSE

Under Musk, Twitter has reinstated the accounts of a number of previously banned conservatives, including former President Donald Trump, and Republican members of Congress have seen a boost in their followings on the platform.

Free speech absolutism is a “fantasy,” liberal philosopher Sam Harris said earlier this week on his “Making Sense” podcast.

  • The right’s hostility toward content moderation isn’t realistic, he added.
  • “Contrary to what most people think it’s legal to shout ‘fire’ in a crowded theatre, but wouldn’t we want the owner of that theatre to remove someone who was shouting that over and over again?”

Here’s How Much Money the US Women’s Soccer Team Stands to Make From the Men’s World Cup

(Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

The U.S. men’s national soccer team earned a payout of at least $13 million by advancing to the knockout stage of the World Cup Tuesday. But they’ll only be keeping half their winnings thanks to a deal with the women’s squad.

SO WHAT

Gender equity isn’t always equal.

THE CHART

When the U.S. men beat Iran 1-0 to advance to the round of 16 for the first time since 2014, they also scored at least $13 million in prize money.

The U.S. could increase its earnings to $17 million by defeating the Netherlands on Saturday and to $42 million by taking home the championship trophy.

  • By contrast, the U.S. women’s national soccer team won just $4 million for its 2019 World Cup victory.
  • The pay gap reflects a huge difference in the total prize money for the men’s ($440 million) and women’s ($30 million) tournaments.

THE DEAL

The women’s team lost a 2019 lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation alleging unequal pay and gender discrimination, but the men’s team agreed to split all future prize money anyway.

  • The resulting collective bargaining agreement was finalized in May.
  • USSF also paid 28 current and former women’s soccer players a total of $24 million to settle a separate gender discrimination lawsuit in February.

As a result of the deal, each member of the U.S. men’s team will give half of the $588,000 they secured Tuesday to their female counterparts.

  • The agreement would cost the male players $822,000 each if they defied the odds and won the World Cup.

THE LAST WORD

“If there is more interest in a men’s sport, the business people, the people who make money off of sports, will put that on television because we live in a capitalist society,” CNN host Don Lemon said on his morning show Thursday. “And if people are interested in [women’s soccer], then there would be more attention and more money would be paid. So, it‘s about the money.”

Watch Kanye West Make Alex Jones Uncomfortable for 2 Minutes

(Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

“InfoWars” host Alex Jones found himself in the unfamiliar role of trying to rein in guest Kanye West Thursday as the artist repeatedly bashed Jews and praised Nazis.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Conservatives’ hostility to the Biden administration … tends to blind us to just how effective Biden has been on his terms.”

— former House Speaker Newt Gingrich

In a Wednesday column headlined “Quit Underestimating President Biden,” Gingrich argued that Republicans aren’t taking President Joe Biden seriously enough.

  • Gingrich pointed to the trillions in spending that Biden was able to coax from the slimmest of congressional majorities, the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act and the ongoing U.S. financial support for Ukraine’s war effort.
  • “The Biden team had one of the best first term off-year elections in history. They were not repudiated,” Gingrich added, noting the failure of the “red wave” to materialize in last month’s midterm elections. “They did not have to pay for their terrible mismanagement of the economy.”

The Rest of Today’s News

(Sergio Flores/Getty Images)

Get caught up on the other news conservatives are talking about.

YE’S DEAL WITH PARLER OFF

Hours after Ye, also known as Kanye West, appeared on Alex Jones’ “InfoWars” show Thursday and expressed support for the Nazis and Adolf Hitler, Parler announced West would no longer be acquiring the pro-free speech alternative to Twitter.

  • Parlement Technologies, Parler’s parent company, said in a statement that “the company has mutually agreed with Ye to terminate the intent of sale of Parler.”

ALEX JONES DECLARES BANKRUPTCY

Alex Jones filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Friday, citing the more than $1 billion he has been ordered to pay families of Sandy Hook shooting victims.

  • Juries awarded the victims’ families nearly $1.5 billion in damages in their defamation lawsuits against Jones, who falsely claimed the shooting was a government hoax and that the families were actors.

SCOTUS TO HEAR BIDEN LOAN FORGIVENESS CASE

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Thursday to hear oral arguments on whether the Biden administration overreached with its plan to offer up to $20,000 in loan forgiveness to student borrowers.

  • Biden’s program has been hit with numerous legal challenges since it was announced in August.
  • The court will take up the case in February, with a decision expected by June.

BIDEN SIGNS DEAL CRUSHING RAIL STRIKE

President Joe Biden on Friday signed a bill forcing rail workers into a labor agreement brokered by his administration in September and averting an industry-wide strike ahead of the busy holiday season.

  • Biden on Monday urged Congress to pass legislation to avert “a potentially crippling national rail shutdown” after labor unions rejected the White House’s deal.
  • “Without freight rail, many of the U.S. industries would literally shut down,” the president said Friday.

THE 4PM POLL: Is the U.S. military woke?


Send us your thoughts about this poll or anything else at .

A Reagan Institute survey released Thursday found that Americans’ trust in the military has precipitously declined — from 70% in 2018 to 48% in 2022 — with majorities of respondents saying the military has become “overly politicized” and “woke.”

YESTERDAY’S RESULTS

In Thursday’s poll, we asked: “Do you support killer police robots?”

  • 71% said no.
  • 19% said yes.
  • 10% said they weren’t sure.

VIDEO OF THE DAY: Trump Speaks to the J6 Prisoners

See for yourself.

Who’s Having a Bad Day on Twitter: @Timcast

Tim Poole, the perpetually beanie-clad heterodox podcaster, had to admit his critics had a point in ridiculing his bullish assessment on Thursday of Kanye West’s 2024 presidential campaign.

  • Shortly after Poole’s tweeted that “ye could actually win,” West appeared on right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ “Infowars” show and repeatedly expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler.

THE 4PM: A HIGHLIGHT REEL OF TODAY’S NEWS. FOR CONSERVATIVES. EVERY AFTERNOON AT 4PM.