Victor Davis Hanson: California Democrats’ Effort to Protect Predators, Not Kids

A recently proposed bill in California would remove felony penalties for adults who solicit sex from minors aged 16 and 17. After public outcry, radical Democrats restored these felony penalties. But the question remains: Why would lawmakers seek to weaken consequences for those preying on vulnerable teens? In this episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” he explores the disturbing roots of this effort and what it says about the future of legal and moral standards. “ The Man/Boy [Love] Association has been around for years. But this is a larger effort by the homosexual radical community. Most homosexual men and women are not like this. But there is a group that wants to legitimize sex between younger boys and older men. “ It’s incumbent upon our leaders to draw the line somewhere and say, “We're not going to do this. We care more about the welfare and mental health of youth 16 and 17. We do not want them subject to the sexual predations of older men.”

Victor Davis Hanson: Biden’s Enablers Never Told Us Why They Did It

Why did the DNC, White House staffers and even seasoned journalists lie to the American people when they decided to run cover for Joe Biden?   It's not enough just to say, “Politics. We want power.” What was the strategy that made you do something so egregious, asks Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words:”   “The same existential ‘Why do all these reporters now say, “We were in on the deal, we covered for Biden”? “The Biden staff did it.” “No, the media did it.” But they all agreed that he was non compos mentis. He was cognitively challenged when he was nominated, when they cleared the nomination field out. They got rid of Buttigeig. They got rid of Elizabeth Warren. They got rid of Sanders. They all disappeared quickly.   “And then they used this waxen effigy as a veneer. But why? It was very risky to do that. They all tell us they did it but they don't tell us why… They saw this as a wonderful opportunity. Use Joe Biden and just have him come in three days a week, stumble through stuff, and then push through the most left-wing, nihilistic, destructive, socialist agenda in history.”

Victor Davis Hanson: Trump’s Ambitious Middle East Vision | Explained

Iran Thinks They Can Outlast Trump. Can They? President Donald Trump embarked on his first major foreign trip to the Middle East this week, making stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.   The goal? Replacing “strife” with “money,” bring Iran into the fold, and drop hostilities towards Israel. An ambitious agenda, perhaps too ambitious, argues Victor Davis Hanson in today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words:”“And the subtext of all of these meetings was: We’re going to replace strife with money. We're all going to be profitable. We have to bring the cause of all of this trouble, Iran, into the fold of the Middle East and drop the hostility to Israel. Notice, of course, that he didn't go to Israel, although he was trying to elicit support for the continuation of the Abraham Accords with Saudi Arabia and Qatar.   “This is very ambitious, but it's also very dangerous. Donald Trump thinks he can cut a deal with Iran so that they would do essentially three things: They would give up their nuclear program; they would stop the subsidies to the terrorist surrogates of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis; and they would liberalize their society and reenter the family of nations.   I don't think that Shia theocracy feels that is their agenda.”

President Trump meets with UAE (United Arab Eminate) President during bilateral meeting

President Donald Trump participated in a bilateral meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Palace of the Nations on Thursday. Trump was awarded a medal known as the Order of Zayed, named for the U.A.E.’s first president.

Sheikh Mohamed: UAE Will Invest $1.4T in U.S. Over Next Decade, Following Meeting With Trump

U.S. President Donald J. Trump is greeted by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan upon his arrival on May 15, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
5:00 PM – Thursday, May 15, 2025

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), unveiled a new initiative on Thursday to invest $1.4 trillion in the United States over the next ten years.

He is also the ruler of Abu Dhabi, the largest emirate within the UAE.

The Middle Eastern leader emphasized the move as a testament to the “strong partnership” with President Donald Trump and Washington, D.C., which he noted has begun to thrive under the leadership of the 47th GOP president.

“The UAE’s plan to invest $1.4 trillion in the United States over the next 10 years is a testament to the strength of our strategic relationship,” the UAE president said. His remarks came during the final leg of President Trump’s four-day tour of the Gulf region, which has seen a wave of business and defense agreements with several countries.

Earlier in the day, President Trump also visited the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East. In a speech to American troops stationed at the base, he announced that Qatar plans to invest $10 billion to enhance the facility in the coming years — as reported by Reuters.

Trump also confirmed that Qatar had finalized defense procurement agreements valued at $42 billion on Wednesday.

Trump’s Middle East tour has already secured significant business commitments, including Saudi Arabia’s pledge to invest $600 billion in the United States and a commitment from Qatar Airways to acquire up to 210 Boeing widebody aircraft.

In a strategic move to establish itself as a global hub for artificial intelligence (AI), the UAE has now secured a preliminary agreement with the United States to annually import 500,000 of Nvidia’s most advanced AI chips, beginning this year, according to Reuters. These “cutting-edge chips” are expected to drive large-scale data centers integral to the UAE’s ambitious AI agenda.

Nevertheless, the prospective agreement has also raised some “security concerns” among certain factions within the U.S. government, primarily due to apprehensions regarding potential technology diversion. The deal may undergo revisions — an official told the press on the condition of anonymity.

During his stay, President Trump was received with high honors, including a state dinner at the Qasr al-Watan presidential palace in Abu Dhabi. He was also awarded the Order of Zayed, the UAE’s highest civilian honor — in recognition of his efforts to strengthen U.S.-UAE relations.

Additionally, in a historic move, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was closed down to the public for the first time to accommodate Trump’s visit.

The Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, was also illuminated with the American flag in a welcoming gesture.

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Trump Calls On Syrian President To Join ‘Abraham Accords’ And Recognize Israel, Following Message To Saudis

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - MAY 14: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Leaders’ Summit at The Ritz-Carlton on May 14, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles appear on the left. The council addresses regional stability, defense cooperation, and energy policy among Gulf nations. Trump is on a multi-nation tour of the Gulf region focused on expanding economic ties and reinforcing security cooperation with key U.S. allies. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Leaders’ Summit at The Ritz-Carlton on May 14, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles appear on the left. The council addresses regional stability, defense cooperation, and energy policy among Gulf nations. Trump is on a multi-nation tour of the Gulf region focused on expanding economic ties and reinforcing security cooperation with key U.S. allies. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

OAN Staff James Meyers
3:25 PM – Wednesday, May 14, 2025

President Donald Trump called on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to join the Abraham Accords during a brief meeting in Saudi Arabia early on Wednesday. The request comes after Trump lifted all sanctions on Syria.

The announcement, made during Trump’s Middle East tour, marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy and was met with ongoing celebration in Damascus — where citizens viewed it as a pivotal step toward economic recovery. The sanctions have been in place for over a decade, severely impacting Syria’s economy.

This also follows after Trump addressed a speech to Saudi Arabia’s leaders on Tuesday. The 47th president similarly urged the oil-rich kingdom to formally recognize Israel and join the Abraham Accords, expressing that such a gesture would be a significant personal honor.

Abraham Accords – Signatory Countries: Israel, United Arab Emirates (UAE) – signed on September 15, 2020, Bahrain – signed on September 15, 2020, Sudan – announced normalization on October 23, 2020, and signed on January 6, 2021, and Morocco – announced normalization on December 10, 2020, and signed on December 22, 2020.

Meanwhile, the two leaders, al-Sharaa and Trump, met during the Gulf Cooperation Council gathering in Riyadh, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan phoning in to hear the discussions.

Currently, Syria doesn’t recognize Israel’s statehood, with the Abraham Accords being one of Trump’s requests to Syria — in a move to help relations between the two neighboring nations.

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump told al-Sharaa to “tell all foreign terrorists to leave Syria, deport Palestinian terrorists, help the United States prevent the resurgence of ISIS,” and “assume responsibility for ISIS detention centers in Northeast Syria.”

This was the first meeting between leaders of the U.S. and Syria in 25 years.

“I feel very strongly that this would give them a chance,” Trump said at the GCC meeting on Wednesday. “Gives them a good, strong chance … It was my honor to do so.

“We are currently exploring normalizing relations with Syria’s new government,” he added.

However, multiple reports have stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously asked Trump not to lift the sanctions against Syria. The appeal was made during Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, D.C., driven by concerns that lifting the sanctions could embolden hostile actors in Syria and potentially lead to cross-border attacks akin to Hamas’s assault, according to The Times of Israel outlet.

Nonetheless, Syria’s foreign ministry called the meeting with Trump “historic,” but mentioned nothing about the Abraham Accords. Despite that, Trump told the media that Syria’s president supports such a move.

“I told [Sharif], I hope you’re going to join [the Abraham Accords] once you’re straightened out and he said yes,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “But they have a lot of work to do.”

“Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter,” he continued. “He’s got a real shot at holding it together. I spoke with President Erdogan, who he's very friendly with him,” Trump continued. “He feels he’s got a shot at doing a good job. It’s a torn-up country.”

Trump further reiterated that he believes the new Syrian government will eventually agree to sign the Abraham Accords.

“I think they have to get themselves straightened up. I said to him, ‘I hope you’re going to join when it’s straightened out.’ He said, ‘Yes’…”

Al-Sharaa considers himself a former “militant,” and admits that he fought U.S. troops as a member of Al Qaeda in Iraq. He then founded the terrorist group’s Nusra Front affiliate in Syria in 2012. In 2016, al-Sharaa left al Qaeda’s leadership and has looked to “change his ways” ever since — as a defender of Syria’s religious expansion, which includes Christians and Alawites.

However, many Trump critics assert that he is merely disguising his true nature, emphasizing that engaging in negotiations with former terrorists is fundamentally misguided.

If Syria does end up recognizing Israel, it would be a stunning move by a Western leader.

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Andrew Cuomo’s Mayoral Campaign Stripped Of Over $600K For ‘Suspected Illegal Coordination’ With Super PAC

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 10: Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo testifies before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic in the Rayburn House Office Building at the U.S. Capitol on September 10, 2024 in Washington, DC. Cuomo is expected to speak about his handling of the pandemic and controversial Covid-era nursing home policies, with Republicans scrutinizing his role in the state's response and allegations of undercounting nursing home deaths. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo testifies before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Blake Wolf
2:20 PM – Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Former New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo’s campaign for NYC mayor was stripped of over $600,000 in public funds — after city finance regulators accused him of illegally coordinating with a super PAC.

Cuomo, the former New York governor and front-runner for the Democrat nomination in the NYC mayoral race, was accused of collaborating with his super PAC “Fix the City,” through a technique known as “redboxing.”

How Redbox Works: Candidates or campaigns create public web pages or digital content that contain messages, images, or other hints intended for Super PACs or independent groups. The pages often use red boxes or other visual cues to highlight specific language, making it easy for outside groups to see how the campaign wants them to shape their ads or messaging.

It’s controversial due to its coordination aspect, as federal law prohibits direct coordination between campaigns and independent groups — but red-boxing operates in a somewhat “gray area.” Many have also labeled the practice a devious “legal loophole.” Since the information is publicly available, campaigns argue that they are not directly coordinating, even though their intent is clear.

“Based on preliminary results of the board’s investigation, the board has reason to believe that Fix the City’s $622,056 expenditure for an ad distributed on May 4, 2025, was not independent of the Cuomo campaign,” stated New York City Campaign Finance Board Member Richard Davis on Monday.

“The board’s investigation into this matter is ongoing, and we will continue to evaluate the issue of improper coordination,” he continued.

Prior to the board announcing its decision on Monday, they warned the campaign to take the messaging down from its website — which it did, shortly after.

“These statements serve no discernible purpose except to direct potential independent expenditure efforts,” wrote Senator Zellnor Myrie (D-N.Y.), one of Cuomo’s opponents, in a complaint.

“The Campaign Finance Board just confirmed what we’ve known all along: Andrew Cuomo is for sale,” he continued. “He’s spent decades bending the rules, shutting down ethics investigations, and exploiting every loophole to serve himself — and now he’s doing it again, backed by a super PAC funded by billionaires and corporations who know Cuomo will serve their highest bidder.”

Despite the withholding of over $600,000 in funds, the board still approved around $1.5 million in matching funds to Cuomo’s campaign. The funds were withheld to match the amount that Fix The City spent on the suspected illegal advertising.

Additionally, Cuomo’s campaign spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, quickly responded to the media buzz, arguing that the campaign is in “full compliance” with all finance rules and regulations.

“Our campaign has operated in full compliance with campaign finance laws and rules, and everything on our website was reviewed and approved by our legal team in advance of publication,” he stated. “We look forward to making that clear when we respond to the Board’s preliminary ruling and receiving the full matching funds to which the campaign is entitled.”

“In the meantime our campaign’s momentum continues unabated: today we receive $1.5 million on top of the over $3.5 million we have raised in 71 days and are gratified to have the broadest coalition of supporters, and lead in every poll with voters in every borough, gender, race and ethnicity,” Azzopardi continued.

Bill Knapp, who creates the advertisements for Fix The City, also claimed that the super PAC is “fully independent” and works without any “insight or influence of any prohibited outside entities.”

“I have filmed, scripted, and produced ads released to date by Fix the City in support of Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral candidacy, and did so independently, using publicly available information about the candidate and his policy proposals,” he added.

Fix The City was reportedly able to raise over $7 million to amplify Cuomo’s messaging, with an additional $1 million contribution from DoorDash just this week. The super PAC has spent over $3 million on television ads alone.

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Victor Davis Hanson: The Media ‘Jumps the Shark’

It’s time to set the record straight on “The Media.” More than 100 days since starting his second term, the corporate media has nothing good to say about President Donald Trump and his administration. Elon Musk received negative coverage 96% of the time on the evening news, according to an April study conducted by the Media Research Center. Why did the media go from loving Sen. John Fetterman to questioning his mental competency? Bottom line: What the corporate media, most notably ABC, NBC and CBS, labels “the truth” is wholly dependent on whether it benefits the political Left, argues Victor Davis Hanson in today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words:” “Elon Musk, according to the Media Research Center, has had 96% unfavorable coverage in our American media. What did he do that was so wrong? He rescued astronauts who were stranded in space. Tesla has revolutionized the electric vehicle industry. Social media is open and free, due to his acquisition of X. Starlink has more satellites—that private entity that he created—it has more satellites than the governments of the United States, all of the EU countries, and China combined. It is the world's methodology of accessing high-speed internet from remote places or anywhere. So, what has he done wrong?

Should Catholics Trust the First American Pope?

D.C. correspondent Christopher Bedford gives the backstory on Pope Leo XIV, his views on abortion and gay marriage, and his relationship to Pope Francis. Bedford also reveals that Leo XIII was a staunch anti-communist and created the Prayer to St. Michael, which many parishes recite after each Mass. Bedford also weighs in on the trade deal between the U.K. and the U.S. and how this could affect tariffs on other countries amid the trade war.

We’re Closing- Dr. Cliff: Audiology VLOG 269

In this episode, Dr. Cliff shares some deeply personal and surprising news—the closure of a significant chapter in his professional journey. After opening his private clinic back in the summer of 2017, fresh from the University of Illinois, he embarked on a mission to provide top-tier hearing care through his own practice. While the journey started slow, it blossomed into something truly impactful for the community and for the field of audiology. But as life and business evolve, difficult decisions sometimes have to be made. Dr. Cliff opens up about the reasons behind this tough decision, reflects on the lessons learned, and discusses what’s next on the horizon.

Vaccine Injury Happened to Our Children. Don’t Let It Happen to Yours.

We continued to vaccinate Elwood and he slipped into autism. The smile left his face. There were no more smiles. There was a lot of this… he would hold his face. A lot of throwing up. Rubbing his head on the carpet as hard as he could, over and over and even backward… he would rub his head on the carpet. We went along with vaccination back then. We didn’t know what it was. We just had no information about whether it was good for you or bad for you, but it was something we all just grew up with in the 60s. You know, you just got your vaccine.

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