Latest news with #Kirk
Los Angeles Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Price-gouging charges slowly mount after the fires, but some say it's not enough
California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta accused real estate agent Iman Shaghyan this week of increasing the price of a Beverly Hills rental by more than 30% in the days after the Jan. 7 fires. It's the fourth charge Bonta has filed since price-gouging rules went into effect that prohibit rent hikes of more than 10% after a natural disaster. 'Profiting off Californians' pain through price gouging is illegal and I will not stand for it,' Bonta said in a news release. In the weeks after the fires, city officials vowed to crack down on violators as thousands of complaints poured in, with some organizers even compiling spreadsheets documenting the skyrocketing rents. Bonta enlisted teams of lawyers to evaluate complaints, and his office has primarily targeted real estate agents. But some critics claim that government officials aren't doing enough to address the rampant price gouging that appeared across the region in the wake of the fires, saying that the charges filed represent only a small fraction of the complaints submitted to the city and state. 'More needs to be done,' said Chelsea Kirk, co-founder of the activist organization the Rent Brigade. 'It's been de-prioritized, and all discourse from elected officials and the press around rent gouging has ended.' Kirk's organization checks Zillow for examples of price gouging and said there are currently more than 10,000 active listings that qualify. Her team submits weekly reports to government officials but said transparency is a problem since no one knows exactly what is being investigated. As a result, her team worked with L.A. City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez to draft a motion that, if passed, would require L.A. City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto to produce monthly reports detailing the total number of price-gouging complaints received, response times and enforcement actions. The motion has been introduced but not yet placed on the agenda. 'There's an utter lack of urgency,' Kirk said. In addition to Shaghyan, Bonta filed charges in January against La Cañada Flintridge agent Mike Kobeissi and Glendale agent Lar Sevan Chouljian. In February, he charged Hermosa Beach agent Willie Baronet-Israel as well as Edward Kushins, the landlord of the property. All four cases are active. If convicted, the maximum penalty for the misdemeanor could result in a year in prison and a fine of $10,000. In addition to the charges, state Department of Justice officials said they have sent out more than 750 warning letters to hotels and landlords accused of price gouging. The department also is investigating fraud, scams and low-ball offers on burned properties. Bonta is investigating on behalf of the state and Feldstein Soto is filing lawsuits on behalf of the city. So far, she's been targeting more than just real estate agents. In February, Feldstein Soto's office sued rental giant Blueground, citing more than 10 cases of price gouging. In one instance, Blueground allegedly jacked up the rent of a downtown L.A. apartment by 56% on Jan. 7, the day of the fires. In March, Feldstein Soto's office sued a group of homeowners and companies for $62 million, citing not only price-gouging violations but also violations of the city's short-term rental ordinance, which places restrictions on rentals such as Airbnbs. The group of defendants included four homeowners and five limited liability companies: Akiva Nourollah, Micah Hiller, Haim Amran Zrihen, Rachel Florence Saadat, Hiller Hospitality, Hiller Hospitality Group, 1070 Bedford, Red Rock and Coastal Charm. The Times reached out to all the individuals charged with price gouging or short-term rental violations — except for Zrihen and Saadat, whose contact information could not be located — and did not receive any on-the-record responses. In the first few weeks after the fire, Feldstein Soto's office issued more than 250 cease-and-desist letters to owners, landlords and property management groups based on price-gouging tips. Price-gouging rules are set to expire July 1.
New York Post
11 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Don't fall for ‘regime change' myths — US power is a force for good
MAGA celebrity Charlie Kirk, attempting to balance support for the administration and appeal to online isolationists, maintains that the 'regime change war machine in DC' is pushing President Donald Trump into 'an all-out blitz on Iran.' He's not alone. The question is, what does 'regime change war' mean in simple language? Does it mean, as 'non-interventionists' suggest, invading Iran and imposing American democracy on its people? Because, if so, there's virtually no one pushing for that. And I only add 'virtually' in case I somehow missed a person of consequence, though it is highly unlikely. Trump, from all indications, is using the threat of the US joining the war to push Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei into surrender. Though taking out Iran's nuclear program would end the war quicker. Or does opposing 'regime change' mean actively thwarting the Iranian opposition from overthrowing the fundamentalists who took power via a violent revolution in 1979? Does it mean ensuring that Khamenei survives, because a resulting messy post-war fight for power is worse? It seems the latter. Kirk says, 'There is a vast difference between a popular revolution and foreign-imposed, abrupt, violent regime change.' Surely, he doesn't believe the mullahs will gradually propose liberal reforms for the people and become peaceful neighbors on their own? If Iranians revolt, it's because of the violence now being imposed on the regime. The ideological overcorrection due to the failures of Iraq's rebuild now has non-interventionists accusing anyone who proposes that it's better if anti-American dictatorships fall of being 'neocons,' perhaps the most useless phrase in our political lexicon. Forget for a moment that Iran has been an enemy of the United States for 45 years. Not an existential threat, no, but a deadly one, nonetheless. The non-interventionist is not bothered by the Islamic Republic's murder of American citizens, or its crusade for nuclear weapons — until Khamenei drops Revolutionary Guard paratroopers into San Diego, they don't think it's any of our business. Because of this overcorrection, non-interventionists, both left and right, simply can't fathom that exertion of American power could ever be a good thing. They now create revisionist histories blaming the United States for virtually all the world's ills. 'It was Britain, and (funded by) the United States that overthrew a democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister Mossedegh in 1953 by using hired mobs in a coup that lead [sic] to the installation of the Shah Pahlavi's 27 year reign of authoritarianism and human rights abuses,' wrote Trump-supporting comedian Rob Schneider in a viral post. 'All in the name of Iranian Oil.' 'Remember,' Kirk told his followers, 'Iran is partially controlled by mullahs today because we designed regime change to put the shah back in power.' Boy, I wish people would stay off Wikipedia for a while, because this fantasy, spread by blame-America leftists for decades, is now being picked up by the right. The notion that Iran would have been a thriving democracy in 1954 had the US not gotten involved — and our involvement is way overstated — is more ridiculous than blaming us for the 1979 revolution nearly 30 years later. It is far more likely Iran would have emerged as a Soviet client state, destined to fall anyway when fundamentalists swept the Islamic world in the 1970s. Realpolitik is ugly. Non-interventionists love to harp on the deadly byproducts of our intrusions into world affairs — and there have been many — without ever grappling with the counterfactual outcome. For instance, the contention that 'regime change' never works is incredibly simplistic. Regime change was a success in Germany and Japan. And I bet the Hungarians, Czechs, Slovenians, Estonians and many others were all on board for regime change, as well. None of that happens without US intervention in conflicts, cold and hot, around the world. People will rightly point out that Europe is not the Middle East. In that regard, Iran is not Iraq or Syria. Schneider contends that '90 million people will fight for their survival again,' as they did in Iraq. Sure, some Iranians might fight to preserve the brutal Islamic regime. Many would not. The real fear should be that a civil war would break out if Iran's regime collapses. There are numerous minorities in Iran, but Persian national consciousness goes back to antiquity. If the mullahs fall, a majority of Iranians may turn out to fight for a better life free of needless conflicts with the West. It may go south. It may not. I have no idea how that turns out, and neither do you. Except for one thing: Whoever wins won't have nuclear weapons. David Harsanyi is a senior writer at the Washington Examiner.
Winnipeg Free Press
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Suarez, Smith send Diamondbacks soaring past Blue Jays in series finale
TORONTO – Eugenio Suarez and Pavin Smith combined to drive in seven runs as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-5 on Thursday. Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman struggled through 4 1/3 innings to take the loss, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four. Catcher Alejandro Kirk blasted two solo home runs for Toronto (41-34), which was denied its sixth sweep of the season after winning the first two games of the interleague series. Suarez's damage came early for the Diamondbacks (37-37), who climbed back to .500 with the win. The third baseman backed up a bloop single from Canadian Josh Naylor with his 22nd home run of the season in the second inning, then struck again in the third with a two-out, two-run double. He added a single in the fifth and finished a triple away from the cycle. Smith, the first baseman, smashed a two-run home run in the fifth inning and drove in another run on a sacrifice fly one inning later. Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte and outfielder Randal Grichuk contributed one RBI apiece. Kirk added an RBI single in the eighth as the Blue Jays briefly threatened a late comeback. Centre fielder Jonatan Clase hit his second long ball of the season to open the inning and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., pounded an RBI double three batters later, but George Springer hit into a double play to end the rally. Gausman's performance was a continuation of some June woes. The 34-year-old, whose record fell to 5-6, has now allowed 17 earned runs through 20 innings over four starts this month, a rough follow-up to a sterling May in which he went 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA. Diamondbacks starter Ryne Nelson (4-2) earned the win after tossing 5.2 innings with four strikeouts and two walks. The lone hit he allowed was Kirk's first home run. AILING OUTFIELD Right fielder Alan Roden was a late scratch for the Blue Jays with right knee inflammation. He was replaced by rookie Will Robertson. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Clase was back in the starting lineup and hitting ninth. He missed Wednesday's game after he was hit by a pitch in Tuesday's series opener. Toronto already has three outfielders — Daulton Varsho, Anthony Santander and Nathan Lukes — on the injured list. A fourth, Myles Straw, has missed two straight games and is day-to-day with an ankle injury. COMING UP Toronto begins a three-game home series against the Chicago White Sox on Friday. The Blue Jays' starting pitcher has yet to be announced, while the White Sox will send out right-hander Davis Martin (2-7, 3.79 ERA). This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025.
Global News
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Global News
Diamondbacks thump Blue Jays 9-5 in series finale
TORONTO – Eugenio Suarez and Pavin Smith combined to drive in seven runs as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-5 on Thursday. Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman struggled through 4 1/3 innings to take the loss, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four. Catcher Alejandro Kirk blasted two solo home runs for Toronto (41-34), which was denied its sixth sweep of the season after winning the first two games of the interleague series. Suarez's damage came early for the Diamondbacks (37-37), who climbed back to .500 with the win. The third baseman backed up a bloop single from Canadian Josh Naylor with his 22nd home run of the season in the second inning, then struck again in the third with a two-out, two-run double. He added a single in the fifth and finished a triple away from the cycle. Story continues below advertisement Smith, the first baseman, smashed a two-run home run in the fifth inning and drove in another run on a sacrifice fly one inning later. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte and outfielder Randal Grichuk contributed one RBI apiece. Kirk added an RBI single in the eighth as the Blue Jays briefly threatened a late comeback. Centre fielder Jonatan Clase hit his second long ball of the season to open the inning and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., pounded an RBI double three batters later, but George Springer hit into a double play to end the rally. Gausman's performance was a continuation of some June woes. The 34-year-old, whose record fell to 5-6, has now allowed 17 earned runs through 20 innings over four starts this month, a rough follow-up to a sterling May in which he went 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA. Story continues below advertisement Diamondbacks starter Ryne Nelson (4-2) earned the win after tossing 5.2 innings with four strikeouts and two walks. The lone hit he allowed was Kirk's first home run. AILING OUTFIELD Right fielder Alan Roden was a late scratch for the Blue Jays with right knee inflammation. He was replaced by rookie Will Robertson. Clase was back in the starting lineup and hitting ninth. He missed Wednesday's game after he was hit by a pitch in Tuesday's series opener. Toronto already has three outfielders — Daulton Varsho, Anthony Santander and Nathan Lukes — on the injured list. A fourth, Myles Straw, has missed two straight games and is day-to-day with an ankle injury. COMING UP Toronto begins a three-game home series against the Chicago White Sox on Friday. The Blue Jays' starting pitcher has yet to be announced, while the White Sox will send out right-hander Davis Martin (2-7, 3.79 ERA). This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
MAGA Brawls Over Prospect of Trump Joining Strikes on Iran
White House officials recently aimed to explain to influencers President Trump's possible shift away from a diplomatic solution on Trump's political base is splintering over the prospect that the U.S. could join Israel's assault on Iran—and the White House is trying to quell the backlash. In recent days, White House officials have quietly reached out to MAGA influencers, according to people familiar with the matter, aiming to explain Trump's possible shift away from a diplomatic solution. Some prominent conservatives have toned down their rhetoric, but discontent has continued to burst into public view, as longtime Trump supporters voice concerns that the president is abandoning his campaign-trail pledge to extract the U.S. from foreign entanglements. The fierce debate—unfolding online, across conservative media and on Capitol Hill—has pitted the more isolationist wing of Trump's coalition against hawkish Republicans who have called on the president to step in to ensure Iran doesn't develop a nuclear weapon. It marks the strongest challenge to Trump's iron grip on the Republican Party since he regained power in January. And it comes as Trump's base is also divided over immigration, with the administration wavering over whether to exempt farm and service workers from deportations to insulate the economy. Some of the sharpest objections over Iran have come from avid Trump allies such as Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. 'Anyone slobbering for the U.S. to become fully involved in the Israel/Iran war is not America First/MAGA,' she wrote on X. Appearing on former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz's television show, Greene said, 'A Middle Eastern war will pull America back 20 years.' Gaetz, a Trump ally, said in an interview that he believed Trump wouldn't drag the U.S. into a prolonged conflict. But, he added, 'President Trump rescued the Republican Party from the doom of neoconservatism. I think it's a fair question to ask those folks who want to entangle themselves in an Iranian war, what's your plan for the day after?' Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was among those who heard from the White House, according to the people familiar with the outreach. As Israel prepared to attack Iran last week, Kirk polled supporters about whether the U.S. should get involved. Nearly 90% said no. In recent days, as Trump has moved closer to military action, Kirk urged his 5 million followers to have faith in the president's ability to handle the crisis. 'His whole life has led to this moment,' Kirk wrote Monday on X. He has also at times echoed White House messaging and defended the president, arguing that Trump is trying to make sure Iran doesn't get a nuclear weapon. 'It's totally FALSE to say that Trump ever wanted regime change,' Kirk wrote on social media.' Trump is under pressure to launch U.S. strikes on Iran from allies such as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) and Fox News host Mark Levin, who said on his show this week, 'This is good vs. evil. You're either a patriotic American who's going to get behind the president of the United States, the commander in chief, or you're not.' Levin has been publicly fighting with Tucker Carlson, the former Fox personality who, after Israel began its strikes, accused Trump of being 'complicit in the act of war.' Trump hit back on social media, saying 'Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!' Vice President JD Vance jumped in to defend Trump against what he called a 'lot of crazy stuff on social media.' He said people are 'right to be worried about foreign entanglement after the last 25 years of idiotic foreign policy. But I believe the president has earned some trust on this issue.' Steve Bannon, a leading conservative podcast host who opposes military intervention, said Wednesday that Trump needs to articulate his views 'not just to MAGA, but to the American people of why we would get involved in another war over there as a combatant.' He called on supporters to pray for Trump, and he predicted that the MAGA movement wouldn't fully splinter over Iran. 'We don't like it, maybe we hate it, but, you know, we'll get on board,' he said. That is the view inside the White House as well, where red MAGA-style hats on desks read 'Trump was right about everything.' White House aides argued Trump can manage the crisis and his supporters will come around. Trump has built a broad coalition and disagreements have flared up before—over tariffs, for instance—but his supporters have largely stood behind him. 'America First has never meant America only, never meant isolationism, and there are people who are part of the MAGA base who are isolationist—I understand that—so it's complicated,' said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R., N.D.). 'But I have no doubt Donald Trump will do what he thinks is best.' White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said Trump has 'never wavered in his stance that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon and repeated that promise to the American people since his victorious campaign.' Trump conceded Wednesday that opinions on U.S. involvement in Iran are mixed, but insisted, 'My supporters are more in love with me today than they were even at the election.' Military action on Iran isn't the only issue that has threatened to divide the president's coalition. The administration's short-lived guidance to exempt workers in key industries from deportation also triggered deep frustration among allies of the president who have advocated for stringent immigration restrictions. After facing backlash from supporters, including inside the White House, the administration said there was no longer blanket guidance pausing immigration raids at farms, hotels and restaurants. Asked if some exemptions would stay in place, Trump said Tuesday, 'Everyone is being looked at.' He also called for an expansion of ICE operations in Democratic-controlled cities such as Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. But some of the president's backers said the damage to his immigration agenda had already been done because the possibility of exemptions muddied the administration's message. 'It's guaranteed to sabotage any efforts at self-deportation,' said Mark Krikorian, executive director for the Center for Immigration Studies, a group favoring immigration restrictions. 'It also increases the incentives to come illegally because you've heard they aren't going after restaurant employees anymore.' Rosemary Jenks, co-founder of the Immigration Accountability Project, said there was widespread disappointment with Trump siding with businesses over his backers on deportations. 'It's essentially an amnesty for the employers,' Jenks said. Even before the recent back-and-forth on exemptions for certain industries, many Trump allies were already frustrated with the slow pace of deportations. Some have been privately concerned for months that the president was watering down his campaign-trail pledge to oversee the largest mass deportation in American history. 'While the president remains focused on immediately removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens from the country, including those given safe harbor in Democrat-run sanctuary cities, anyone who is here illegally is liable to be deported,' said Jackson, the White House spokeswoman. Write to Alex Leary at Tarini Parti at and Lindsay Wise at Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines to 100 year archives.
