This is Toby Sumpter with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, July 13, 2021.

Plug: Fight Laugh Feast Conference in Lebanon, TN, just outside of Nashville. 

Sex is inherently political. What you do in the privacy of the bedroom never stays there. It always impacts the world. A culture is either built on the fruitfulness of a godly union between one man and one woman, or else it dies from self-inflicted fruitlessness and sexual rebellion against God. Our sexual choices and values are building and cultivating a particular kind of public square. Join us in Lebanon, TN with Pastor Douglas Wilson “Gay Pulpits”, Voddie Baucham “Critical Sex Theory”, Doug TenNapel “Sex, Lies, and the Prophetic Peot”, David Bahnsen “Punk Rock Home Economics”, and then on Saturday will have 9 SWAT talks with over 20 speakers arming you to go out into the world to take dominion with your gifts and abilities. Registration is live now: flfnetwork.com/politics-of-sex/ Club members get $100 off registration. Seating is limited! 

Riots in South Africa as Zulu Leader Faces Charges of Corruption and Contempt of Court

https://fb.watch/v/2b261BHsG/

Play Audio: 0:00-0:33

The sounds of armed citizens clashing with rioters in Durban, South Africa. 

From the BBC: Shops were looted and buildings set on fire on Monday as Zuma challenged his sentence at a hearing in the top court.

At least six people have been killed and 200 arrested since the unrest began last week, after Zuma handed himself in and began his 15-month sentence.

Zuma was convicted of contempt of court after failing to attend an inquiry into corruption during his presidency. 

The 79-year-old, who denies corruption, is hoping to get the sentence rescinded or reduced at the Constitutional Court hearing. However, legal experts say his chances of success are slim.

The case has sparked an unprecedented legal drama in South Africa, which has never seen a former president jailed before.

A shopping centre in the city of Pietermaritzburg, in Zuma's home province of KwaZulu-Natal, was set on fire on Monday. Images also showed other buildings and vehicles being set alight, and shops looted. 

The situation in Pietermaritzburg is volatile, the BBC's Nomsa Maseko reports from the city. Protesters responded with live ammunition when riot police fired rubber bullets to disperse them at one of the shopping centres that were looted overnight, she says.

Police say opportunistic criminals have taken advantage of the chaos. 

The violence has also spread to Johannesburg, in Gauteng province.

On Sunday, protesters armed with sticks, golf clubs and branches were seen marching through Johannesburg's central business district.

Zuma was convicted of defying an instruction to give evidence at an inquiry into corruption during his nine years in power.

He has testified only once at the inquiry into what has become known as "state capture" - meaning the siphoning-off of state assets.

In a separate legal matter, he pleaded not guilty last month in a corruption trial involving a $5bn (£3bn) arms deal from the 1990s.

His supporters argue he is the victim of a political witch hunt, orchestrated by Ramaphosa allies.

Protests Are Also Taking Place in Cuba as shortages in food escalate a period of economic crisis, compounded by the COVID-19 shutdowns. President Biden says he stands with the people of Cuba as they exert their universal rights.

https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1414646134711140353?s=20

Play Audio

President Biden did not say what those universal rights are where they come from or why he stands with them.

14 Year Old Zaila Avant-garde Won the 2021 Scripps Spelling Bee with the Word “murraya” and pops a Bill Murray the comedian joke before doing so:

https://twitter.com/Walldo/status/1413315794079993857?s=20

Play Audio: 0:05-1:00

The Australian Government Is Trying to Keep It’s People Enslaved by Fear

Play Au

This is Toby Sumpter with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Friday, July 9, 2021.

Plug: Fight Laugh Feast Conference in Lebanon, TN, just outside of Nashville. 

Sex is inherently political. What you do in the privacy of the bedroom never stays there. It always impacts the world. A culture is either built on the fruitfulness of a godly union between one man and one woman, or else it dies from self-inflicted fruitlessness and sexual rebellion against God. Worldview matters, the nuclear family matters, definitions of male and female matter, godly children matter. Our sexual choices and values are building and cultivating a particular kind of public square. Join us in Lebanon, TN with Pastor Douglas Wilson “Gay Pulpits”, Voddie Baucham “Critical Sex Theory”, Doug TenNapel “Sex, Lies, and Propaganda”, David Bahnsen “Punk Rock Home Economics”, and then on Saturday will have 9 SWAT talks with over 20 speakers arming you to go out into the world to take dominion with your gifts and abilities. Registration is live now: flfnetwork.com/politics-of-sex/ Club members get $100 off registration. Seating is limited! 

We’re Coming For Your Children

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj4UffoHcjo

San Francisco Gay Men’s Choir

Play Audio: 0:00-2:23

First off, Ben Merkle pointed out in his FLF Rally talk that you might not be paedobaptist of postmillennial, but the liberals are. This is exhibit A of his point. 

Second, do not miss the pedophile undertones in this. And historically, it’s just a fact that homosexuality and pedophilia were closely related. 

Third, the expected response to this would be fussy and fearful denunciations. But I would suggest ignoring it and/or mocking it. These are men who have chosen lifestyles where they can’t have children. Remember also that the Bible tells us that the root cause of this kind of sickness is refusing to give God thanks and worship Him as Creator. That would seem to mean that gratitude might be one of the greatest weapons against this darkness. So live grateful joyful lives in your families. Gayness is a false joy that is rotting inside. One day many of these men and women will be starving for grace, and we should be there ready to give it to them. 

Why Limbless Evangelist Nick Vujicic [Voy’achuch] Is Launching a Bank for Pro-Lifers

Evangelist and motivational speaker, Nick Vujicic, announced that he plans to start a bank that supports pro-life efforts after learning that many financial institutions donate to organizations that endorse abortions.

During an interview Thursday with The Epoch Times, Vujicic said he began to speak out against the innocent killing of unborn babies in March 2019. Within 16 weeks of doing that, he revealed, “we had a grenade at our house, a false magazine article published against me, a lawsuit threat, a spying drone, and a bank kicked me out.”

Around that same time, Vujicic spoke with his good friend Betsy Gray about launching Pro-Life Bank. The 38-year-old, who has an extensive financial background, told Gray that he needed to pray more about the idea.

Vujicic explained that during that period, he experienced more adversity, but this time from his own bank.

“I got kicked out of a bank with no warning. They froze my credit cards, froze my debit cards,” he said. “They gave me a letter to say that they did a review of me as a client and they don’t want anything to do with me.”

The pro-life advocate chose to take on the project with Gray and is excited to educate others by exposing banking networks that partner with abortion providers.

“We want to tell everyone, yeah, there’s a choice coming for you,” Vujicic said. “And not only will this be a for-profit bank, we are actually known as a for-giving bank. We will not fund abortion, but we’ll actually fund 50 percent net profits to Judeo-Christian-aligned nonprofit organizations that are biblically aligned in doing the will of God accord

Daily News Brief for Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Your magazine has been shipped! Thanks for your patience as we work out the kinks! So, check your mailbox, as it should arrive in the next couple of weeks! 

Some quick snippets on what I am not going to report on, but you can download the app and read more about them on Deft Wire news:

-Majority of Americans Don’t Believe Joe Biden Is Calling the Shots in the White House

https://www.dailywire.com/news/majority-of-americans-believe-that-others-not-biden-are-calling-the-shots-in-the-white-house-poll

-Public Preschool and Kindergarten Enrollment Drops 13 Percent Nationally

https://www.theepochtimes.com/preschool-and-kindergarten-enrollment-drops-13-percent-nationally_3888714.html

-Oil Prices Touch Six Year High

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/05/oil-prices-jump-to-multiyear-highs-after-opec-talks-yield-no-production-deal-.html

Plug: Fight Laugh Feast Conference in Lebanon, TN, just outside of Nashville. 

Sex is inherently political. What you do in the privacy of the bedroom never stays there. It always impacts the world. A culture is either built on the fruitfulness of a godly union between one man and one woman, or else it dies from self-inflicted fruitlessness and sexual rebellion against God. Worldview matters, the nuclear family matters, definitions of male and female matter, godly children matter. Our sexual choices and values are building and cultivating a particular kind of public square. Join us in Lebanon, TN with Pastor Douglas Wilson, Voddie Baucham, Doug TenNapel, David Bahnsen, and then on Saturday will have 9 SWAT talks with over 20 speakers arming you to go out into the world to take dominion with your gifts and abilities. Registration is live now: flfnetwork.com/politics-of-sex/ Seating is limited! 

National Debt

https://www.pgpf.org/national-debt-clock#the-national-debt

From the Peter G. Peterson foundation:

“When the federal government spends more than it takes in, we have to borrow money to cover that annual deficit. And each year’s deficit adds to our growing national debt.

Historically, our largest deficits were caused by increased spending around national emergencies like major wars or the Great Depression.

Today, our deficits are caused mainly by predictable structural factors: our aging baby-boom generation, rising healthcare costs, and a tax system that does not bring in enough money to pay for what the government has promised its citizens.

The coronavirus crisis has accelerated an already unsustainable fiscal trajectory, both because of its devastating effect on the economy and the necessary legislative response. Once we have emerged from the pandemic, it will be critical for America’s leaders to address our rising debt, and its structural factors, which are described below.”

So, according to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation: 

“EVERY DAY, WE SPEND NEARLY $1 BILLION ON INTEREST”

All this to say is that our National debt is now just north of $28 Trillion dollars. That is $86,000 per person, which includes your two year old. 

Speaking of play stupid games, win stupid prizes:

Santa Clara County Revises Official COVID-19 Death Toll Down by 22 Percent

According to CBS KPIX channel 5 out of the Bay area:

“On Friday, Santa Clara County health leaders announced a drop in its COVID-19 death toll by nearly a quarter after it refined its approach in reporting the data.

The county reported that it had reviewed each COVID-19 fatality and was only counting those whose cause of death was from the virus and not those who tested positive for COVID-19 at the time of death but did not necessarily die from the virus.

The new approach meant that the death toll dropped by 22%, specifically from 2,201 to 1,696 deaths.

“It is important to go back and do this accounting to see if COVID was actually the cause of death,” said University of California San Francisco Prof. of Medicine a

This is Toby Sumpter with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, July 6, 2021.

Plug: Fight Laugh Feast Conference in Lebanon, TN, just outside of Nashville. 

Sex is inherently political. What you do in the privacy of the bedroom never stays there. It always impacts the world. A culture is either built on the fruitfulness of a godly union between one man and one woman, or else it dies from self-inflicted fruitlessness and sexual rebellion against God. Worldview matters, the nuclear family matters, definitions of male and female matter, godly children matter. Our sexual choices and values are building and cultivating a particular kind of public square. Join us in Lebanon, TN with Pastor Douglas Wilson, Voddie Baucham, Doug TenNapel, David Bahnsen, and then on Saturday will have 9 SWAT talks with over 20 speakers arming you to go out into the world to take dominion with your gifts and abilities. Registration is live now: flfnetwork.com/politics-of-sex/ Seating is limited! 

The Warrenton Declaration on Medical Mandates, Biblical Ethics, & Authority

https://warrentondeclaration.com/?fbclid=IwAR16SVIUDh04ELfe9OWRJuovMa5VqKpJH_CeEHy_nROSeUxfhCYRu_hzz84

With the rise of COVID-19 and all of the attendant ramifications, it has been incumbent upon the church to come to terms with what it believes related to the intersecting areas of biblical ethics, authority, and medical mandates.

Unfortunately, due to a pervasive lack of theological and biblical understanding on these issues coupled with a tendency to over-attribute power and jurisdiction to the state, oftentimes churches have defaulted to almost reflexively acquiescing to whatever government health agency statements are made and the policies they put in place. The legitimacy of the sweeping powers attributed to the state is either simply presumed or reinforced with scant, or faulty biblical support. Powers are assumed to exist unless explicitly denied rather than regarded as absent unless firmly established by Scripture.

As a result, rather than leading on these issues, pastors often become little more than mouthpieces for government health agencies and are then used by these same agencies to help carry out their bidding.

Remember: as the church goes, so goes the world. Church news is world news. The Church is either leading the world into great faithfulness and light or else it is hiding its light and leading the world into the dark. 

SBC President Ed Litton Caught in Plagiarism in Sermons

Play Audio: 0:15-2:00

https://www.newsweek.com/pastor-ed-litton-compared-nixon-plagiarism-battle-rages-southern-baptist-convention-1606688?fbclid=IwAR0FFFFBDJpoeS_GJdIJGIfOQ8_hch4GvvcF20_ojYWd8Q5CcHhlzMWCLRs

Pastor Ed Litton, newly elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention, has been under fire recently after being accused of plagiarism involving his sermons for the Redemption Church in Mobile, Alabama.

Newsweek had found earlier this week that over140 videos were either unavailable or hidden across several playlists on the Redemption Church YouTube page—after allegations that he was plagiarizing sermons by pastor J.D. Greear began to spread.

Litton, who was elected president of the SBC in June, has seen significant backlash for his statements regarding the controversy, including being subjected to a visual comparison of himself and former President Richard Nixon.

"Our elders and leaders made the decision to take down [the sermons] because they felt that people were going in and pulling things out, they believe, of context," Litton said. "And so, to protect the church, the wellbeing of the church and their pastor, they said we are pulling these down."

Litton had been accused of plagiarizing sermons written by Greear from 2019. [But clip we just played was from back in 2013.]

…For his part, Greear gave his own statement on the subject, and linked it in a tweet dated June 26 in which he wrote: "Tha

This is Toby Sumpter with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Friday, July 2, 2021.

Plug:

Fight Laugh Feast University is offering two new online classes starting this July! Get the whole family involved and participate in live online classes via Zoom. Hangout with fellow friends of the network, and learn together with the whole family. We have two classes beginning in July: The first class is with Comedian John Branyan called: Life is Hardy Har Hard: A Comedy Workshop for Christians and Jesse Sumpter: Education is Warfare: How to Start a School

So go to https://flfnetwork.com/flf-edu/ to find out more and to sign up now. Classes are limited to only 25 spots!

https://notthebee.com/article/behold-what-total-depravity-looks-like

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/06/29/pride-month-kink-consent/#click=https://t.co/lLvhUusQci

Yes, kink belongs at Pride. And I want my kids to see it.

Children need to know that they can make their own ways in the world

Children who witness kink culture are reassured that alternative experiences of sexuality and expression are valid — no matter who they become as they mature, helping them recognize that their personal experiences aren’t bad or wrong, and that they aren’t alone in their experiences. I can’t think of a more relevant or important reminder for youth, who often struggle with feelings of isolation and confusion as they discover more about themselves and wrestle with concerns about whether they’re normal enough. Including kink in Pride opens space for families to have necessary and powerful conversations with young people about health, safety, consent, and — most uniquely — pleasure. Kink visibility is a reminder that any person can and should shamelessly explore what brings joy and excitement. We don’t talk to our children enough about pursuing sex to fulfill carnal needs that delight and captivate us in the moment. Sharing the language of kink culture with young people provides them with valuable information about safe sex practices — such as the importance of establishing boundaries, safe words and signals, affirming the importance of planning and research and the need to seek and give enthusiastic consent. I never want my children to worry that exploring any aspect of consensual sex or touch is too taboo.

As Allie Beth Stuckey commented on this story on Twitter: Straight to Jail. 

Here the Washington Post has given a platform for openly grooming children for pedophile relationships. As we have said many times, if a small child can consent to transitioned to another gender, then there is no way you can say a small child cannot consent to sexual activities with an adult. And mark my words: if you don’t let them, you are the hater, the bigot, and you will be forced to affirm or you will be fined or jailed. Remember when James Coates was arrested for holding worship services in Alberta, the same day a sex offender was released with a public service announcement warning citizens of a high chance of repeating crimes. 

Plug: Fight Laugh Feast Conference in Lebanon, TN, just outside of Nashville. 

Sex is inherently political. What you do in the privacy of the bedroom never stays there. It always impacts the world. A culture is either built on the fruitfulness of a godly union between one man and one woman, or else it dies from self-inflicted fruitlessness and sexual rebellion against God. Worldview matters, the nuclear family matters, definitions of male and female matter, godly children matter. Our sexual choices and values are building and cultivating a particular kind of public square. Join us in Lebanon, TN with Pastor Douglas Wilson, Voddie Baucham, Doug TenNapel, David Bahnsen, and then on Saturday will have 9 SWAT talks with over 20 speakers arming you to go out into the world to take dominion with your gifts and abilities. Registration is live now: flfnetwork.com/politics-of-sex/ Seating is limited! 

Facebook Is Ope

Good Thursday this is the Chocolate Knox with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, July 1, 2021

If you are a fight laugh feast club member I hope to see you at our 4th of July Club Member Liberty Bash! We are so grateful to our club members, and can’t think of a better way to celebrate America, than a joyous, raucous, party with our club members at Waterboy’s farm.

Unfortunately, space is limited, so sign up ASAP. Ok pay attention, here is how you register: Go to www.FightLaughFeast.com and login into the club portal and you will find the 4th of July event. Click on it and follow the registration steps from there. If you have forgotten your password, just go through the fast and easy password reset process. If you get stuck, email us at [email protected].

The event is free, though we would gladly accept donations to cover some costs. 

So, Here is the good news…

Conservative ministers will not be compelled to conduct a same-sex marriage ceremony against their conscience in the Methodist Church

BUT if the want to leave the Methodist church they can go but not with their Church property…

So Why would conservative memebers of the Methodist church want to leave? Well

The Methodist Church just approved same-sex marriage 

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/evangelicals.ready.to.walk.as.methodist.church.approves.same.sex.marriages/137030.htm

The Conference voted overwhelmingly in favour of a resolution to permit gay wedding ceremonies in its churches and chapels.

Resolution 59/8 was passed on Wednesday by 254 votes in favour, and 46 against.

It consents in principle to the marriage of same-sex couples on Methodist premises throughout the Connexion and by Methodist ministers, probationers or members.

The resolution is based on the recommendations in God in Love Unites Us, the divisive 2019 report that first proposed gay marriage ceremonies and recognition for co-habiting partners.

Earlier in the proceedings, Conference also voted to affirm cohabiting couples.

Conference rejected a separate proposal that further work be done - as recommended by the Church's Faith and Order Committee - before a final vote.

A spokesman for the Methodist Church clarified that the vote does not change official Church doctrine on marriage and that guidance will be coming out shortly for Methodist churches.

He added that the first gay marriages are now expected to take place in the autumn.

With the rest of liberalism knocking at the door of our institutions I think it’s Important At this point to plug an old book… let me first tho read to you from the back sleeve of the book…

We don’t have to be caught with our feet in the sand of how this left drift works and even at times catches good men of guard.

Bill Cosby to be released from prison after conviction vacated

https://abcnews.go.com/US/bill-cosby-released-prison-conviction-vacated/story?id=78582000

The 83-year-old Cosby walked out of the State Correctional Institution Phoenix in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Wednesday afternoon

Cosby was sentenced in September 2018 to three to 10 years in state prison for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand in 2004. Cosby has served a little less than two years of his sentence.

In a ruling released Wednesday, the state Supreme Court concluded that Cosby's prosecution should never have occurred due to a deal the comedian cut with former Montgomery County prosecutor Bruce Castor, who agreed not to criminally prosecute Cosby if he agreed to give a deposition in a civil case brought against him by Constand.

During that deposition, Cosby made incriminating statements that Castor's successor, Kevin R. Steele, used to charge Cosby in 2015.

Castor is the same lawyer who went on to represent former President Donald Trump during the ex-president's second impeachment trial earlier this year.

"The discretion v

Email news articles to [email protected] and don’t forget to check out www.DeftWire.com. 

Before we get started, you don’t want to miss out on our conference Tennessee. Talks include: 

Session 1: Toby: Molotov Monogamy: The Political Power of Marriage & Family 

Session 2: Voddie Baucham Critical Sex Theory: How to keep Marx and Freud out of your bedroom 

Session 3: TenAppel: Sex, Lies, and the Prophetic Poet

Session 4: David Bahnsen  Punk Rock Home Ec 

Session 5: Doug Wilson Gay Pulpits: Politics of feminism, homosexuality, unfaithful children

Non-club members go to www.FightLaughFeast.com to sign up, and if you are a club member, just login to the club portal to sign up. Early bird registration ends August 9th, if the conference does not sale-out beforehand. 

Also, Booth and sponsorships are now available. Get your products and services in front of thousands of Christians at our conference. 

On June 30th of last year my Mayor signed the infamous mask mandate. If you were sitting in a restaurant you did not have to wear a mask, but if you were standing you could be fined $1000 and six months in jail. I was arrested under this order the following September for exercising my 1st amendment rights. Scmience

Play clip: https://www.krem.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/face-masks-required-in-moscow-as-covid-19-cases-increase/293-46676a35-e5fc-4d15-9ef1-7d9f28181ba9

Speaking of silly mask mandates:

LA just re-shutdown:

Play Clip of Tim Pool: https://youtu.be/TKuUI1UQDvE

California bans state-funded travel to 5 states due to anti-LGBTQ laws

https://www.axios.com/california-anti-lgbtq-laws-5a38d847-6043-4536-ad3b-40c5c243da7a.html

This is from Axios:

“California has banned state-funded travel to five more states because of laws that discriminate against the LGBTQ community, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Monday, bringing the total number of banned states to 17.

Why it matters: The move comes as Republicans in at least 25 states have introduced legislation targeting trans people this year.

State of play: California employees are now unable to pursue state-funded travel to Florida, North Dakota, Montana, West Virginia and Arkansas, Bonta said.

What they're saying: "Make no mistake: We’re in the midst of an unprecedented wave of bigotry and discrimination in this country — and the State of California is not going to support it," Bonta said.

The big picture: Lawmakers first banned non-essential state employee travel to states with anti-LGBTQ laws in 2016, AP reports.

The 12 other states on the list are: Texas, Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.”

Pastor Ed Litton Removes Over 140 Video Sermons After Being Accused of Plagiarism

https://www.newsweek.com/pastor-ed-litton-removes-over-140-video-sermons-after-being-accused-plagiarism-1604707

Three videos have now surfaced with Pastor Litton significantly quoting JD Greare’s sermons, and according to News Week:

“Pastor Ed Litton has removed dozens of videos from his church's YouTube channel after he was accused of plagiarizing sermons.

Newsweek found more than 140 videos were either unavailable or hidden across several playlists on the Redemption Church YouTube page as of Monday morning.

It comes after Alabama pastor Litton, who was recently elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), came under fire for using segments in 2020 from sermons delivered by Summit Church Pastor J.D. Greear in 2019.”

According to Ed Litton, he was just “borrowing” from JD’s sermons...without even once citing his sources. Plagiarism? 

Sign up to become a club member. Seriously. This is the best way to support us, we fight to take over main stream media. Join now at FightLaughFeast.com

Kansas governor vetoes ban for transgender school athletes

https://www.pbs.

This is the Waterboy with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Friday, June 25, 2021.

Supreme Court rules against labor unions, UK ban on junk food ads, Junk COVID science should be band, and a US Senator standing up for #freetimstephens

If you have any news articles or tips, please email us at [email protected]. 

Plug: Fight Laugh Feast Conference in Lebanon, TN, just outside of Nashville. 

We have been taught to stay out of the bedroom and leave people’s sexual preferences alone. But the truth is that sex affects everything, and because the church has only spoken about sex in the areas the world has given her permission too, we now can lose our jobs, our livelyhoods, our way of life. Because the church has not unashamedly preached the gospel into our perverted and sexualized culture, as a result we have given the definition of marriage over to the world, men “can'' claim the status of women and you have to go along with it, and cancel culture now lurks at everyone corner. Join us in Nashville (Lebanon) as we gather to sing, fellowship, and grow in God’s word. We will have tried and true, cancel free speakers, including Pastor Wilson, Voddie Baucham, Pastor Toby, Doug TenNapel, David Bahnsen, and then on Saturday we will have an Academy full of 9 workshops with over 20 speakers arming you to go out into the world to take dominion with your gifts and abilities. So sign up now at https://flfnetwork.com/coming-soon/. Seating is limited! 

UK to ban junk food advertising online and before 9pm on TV from 2023

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jun/23/uk-to-ban-junk-food-advertising-online-and-before-9pm-on-tv-from-2023

The government is poised to announce a ban on junk food advertising online and before 9pm on TV from 2023, as Boris Johnson looks to deliver on his pledge to tackle the UK’s growing obesity crisis.

The new measures, which will be some of the toughest marketing restrictions in the world, will heavily impact the more than £600m spent by brands on all food advertising online and on TV annually.

The 9pm pre-watershed ban on advertising TV products deemed to be high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) could cost TV broadcasters such as ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky more than £200m a year in revenue.

The online ad ban would affect all paid-for forms of digital marketing, from ads on Facebook to paid-search results on Google, text message promotions, and paid activity on sites such as Instagram and Twitter. It is estimated that more than £400m is spent on advertising food products online in the UK annually.

The tough rules, which are expected to be announced as soon as Thursday, follow Johnson changing his view on personal health decisions after his hospitalisation with coronavirus last year. The prime minister is said to blame his own health issues for contributing to his illness. Overweight people are at greater risk of severe illness or death from Covid.

Research has found that one in three children leaving primary school are overweight or obese, as are almost two-thirds of adults in England. Last year, the government’s consultation on proposals to implement a ban estimated that children under 16 were exposed to 15bn junk food ads online in 2019, compared with 700m two years earlier.

Guitarist quits Mumford & Sons to ‘speak freely’ on politics

https://apnews.com/article/europe-entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-fd8c24396fb818558a9c95c7724d12bf

Winston Marshall, a founding member of folk-rock group Mumford & Sons, announced Thursday that is leaving the band so that he can “speak freely” about political issues.

Marshall took a break from the band in March after sparking a social media storm by tweeting admiration for “Unmasked,” a book by right-wing writer-activist Andy Ngo that attacked far-left militant groups collectively known as antifa.

Marshall was accused online of endorsing the far right, but said Thursday that “nothing could