IDFA, the world’s largest documentary film festival, wrapped in Amsterdam over the weekend after presenting a program of more than 250 films, many of them world and international premieres. The 38th edition of IDFA marked the debut of Isabel Arrate Fernandez as artistic director, a position she assumed in July after the resignation of Orwa Nyrabia, who had led the festival for the previous seven years. This year’s festival attracted some of the greatest talents in documentary including Gianfranco Rosi, Raoul Peck, Laura Poitras, Tia Lessin, Carl Deal, Susana de Sousa Dias, Mstyslav Chernov, Victor Kossakovsky, Stanley Nelson, David France and many others. But the event didn’t pass without controversy. On the new edition of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast, Arrate Fernandez addresses the festival’s decision to ban Israeli organizations that receive funding support from the Israeli government (she emphasized that individual Israeli filmmakers were not prohibited from attending). Some have attacked the ban as grossly unfair, but Arrate Fernandez tells us IDFA felt compelled to act in solidarity with Palestinians who have suffered under two years of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign launched in retaliation for the October 7 terror attack. We also visit with Oscar-nominated filmmaker Petra Costa, who pitched a new project at IDFA and who finds herself in the thick of the Oscar race with her award-winning documentary Apocalypse in the Tropics. Her follow-up to The Edge of Democracy charts the rise of Christian nationalism in her native Brazil. Costa tells us the film’s launch on Netflix in July led to dramatic repercussions for her protagonist firebrand pastor Silas Malafaia, a Christian nationalist and key supporter of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted of trying to stage a coup after he lost reelection in 2022. Footage that Costa captured of Malafaia has made him a target of the same investigation that got Bolsonaro a 27-year prison sentence. She spotlights the specific scene in the film that’s creating legal jeopardy for the pastor. That’s on the latest edition of Doc Talk, hosted by Oscar winner John Ridley (12 Years a Slave, Shirley) and Matt Carey, Deadline’s senior documentary editor. Doc Talk is a production of Deadline and Ridley’s Nō Studios.
https://deadline.com/2025/11/idfa-isabel-arrate-fernandez-petra-costa-interview-doc-talk-1236628793/
Tag: organizations
Philadelphia man draws prison for role in southeast PA gun trafficking network
NORRISTOWN A Philadelphia man was sent to prison after he admitted to purchasing eight firearms for the ringleader of a multi-county gun trafficking network who illegally obtained and put nearly 100 guns on the streets. Malik Keyon Rowell-Jernigan, 26, of the 1900 block of East Pacific Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 5 to 10 years in a state correctional institution after he pleaded guilty to charges of corrupt organizations, making false written statements on federal firearms paperwork, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and conspiracy in connection with incidents that occurred between 2022 and 2023. Judge Steven T. O’Neill said gun violence is ravaging communities and that those who put guns in the hands of others who are prohibited from having them are helping to promulgate the violence. “We are in a society that lives in worship of guns. It is particularly troubling that the population gaining access to these guns is getting younger and younger and younger. They are killing members of our community,” said O’Neill, adding a state prison term was appropriate for Rowell-Jernigan. “Protection of the public has to start somewhere.” The five-year sentence was a mandatory term allowable under state law for one of the illegal gun transfers. The judge imposed concurrent five-year sentences for the other seven illegal gun purchases. Rowell-Jernigan did not address the judge before learning his fate and did not comment to a reporter as he was escorted from the courtroom in handcuffs to begin serving the sentence. Rowell-Jernigan was among eight people charged in 2023 with participating in the gun trafficking network led by Larry B. Williams of Philadelphia. Prosecutors said participants used straw purchase schemes to arm the organization. A straw purchase occurs when someone who is legally allowed to purchase a firearm purchases one and then gives it illegally to someone who is not permitted to purchase that firearm. With the charges, detectives specifically alleged Rowell-Jernigan purchased eight firearms “in furtherance of this gun trafficking organization.” The weapons included Taurus 9mm handguns, Glock . 40-caliber handguns and Glock 9mm handguns, according to court documents. “Those eight firearms were then handed over to Larry Williams as part of this overarching organization,” said Assistant District Attorney William Harry Highland III, who sought a mandatory sentence for Rowell-Jernigan. “The danger of these straw purchase cases is that individuals who cannot own or possess firearms are now able to get guns in their hands. “It presents a serious problem on the streets. When people are buying guns for those who cannot have them the ramifications of what could happen are endless,” said Highland, adding some of the illegal guns linked to the organization were used in other crimes. Some of the firearms were recovered during investigations of other crimes including in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and during an October 2021 gunpoint robbery in Wolcott, Conn., according to court documents. Members of the network allegedly purchased 94 firearms and attempted to purchase an additional 23 firearms in Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh, Philadelphia, Columbia, Northampton and York counties. Previous testimony revealed about 52 of the firearms are still on the streets. Authorities said about half of the illegal gun purchases and attempted purchases were completed at gun shows statewide, including at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks in Upper Providence Township. Seven of the eight firearms that were purchased by Rowell-Jernigan have been recovered by authorities. Defense lawyer Francis John Genovese was pleased the judge sentenced Rowell-Jernigan to only one five-year mandatory sentence. “He came in early on and admitted to what he had done, took responsibility for it. He was just hoping for the best sentence possible which is what the judge ultimately gave him, the 5 to 10 year mandatory sentences all running concurrently, so he was satisfied with that outcome,” Genovese said on behalf of Rowell-Jernigan. “When he initially got involved in this at the request of Mr. Williams he didn’t realize the consequences that came along with the straw purchases. He did it to make a couple of bucks because he really wasn’t working at that point in time. He made a couple of bucks but obviously it wasn’t worth the ultimate penalty he just paid with a 5- to 10-year prison sentence,” Genovese added. Authorities said Williams was prohibited from buying, owning or possessing firearms because of previous felony convictions for drug crimes, so he recruited other people who lived in Philadelphia to buy firearms for him. The investigation found that oftentimes Williams accompanied the straw purchasers to gun stores and helped choose the weapons or he directed the purchases from afar using text or phone conversations. “Law enforcement identified multiple members of this gun trafficking organization with different roles and responsibilities,” detectives wrote in a criminal complaint. “We know through our training and experience individuals involved in this illegal activity operate in attempt to conceal the true identity of the ultimate possessor of the firearm.” For each purchase made on behalf of the organization the purchasers indicated on the record of sale paperwork that they purchased the firearms for themselves and not another individual, detectives said. “The purpose of this corrupt organization was to illegally obtain and distribute firearms to others,” detectives alleged. In April, Williams, 42, of Jasper Street in Philadelphia, was sentenced to 22½ to 45 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of corrupt organizations, making materially false written statements or illegal transfer of firearms, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and conspiracy. In June 2022, the Montgomery County Detective Bureau initiated an investigation into illegal activities associated with the gun trafficking organization. Members of the county’s Violent Crime Unit followed the multiple purchases of firearms by the defendants through the state’s Electronic Record of Sale (EROS) system and through hard copies of ATF and Pennsylvania State Police forms at gun stores. Detectives used surveillance, interviews, information from law enforcement agencies, call detail records and cellphone downloads, social media analysis, records of cash transfers, inspection of forms used in purchasing firearms and other methods of investigation. Collaboration between law enforcement agencies and increased data sharing through initiatives like Track and Trace aided in uncovering the scale of the widespread operation. The following law enforcement organizations participated in the investigation: the Office of Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force; Montgomery County Detective Bureau’s Violent Crime Unit; Bucks County District Attorney’s Drug Strike Force; U. S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Pennsylvania State Police; Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole; FBI Bucks Montgomery Safe Streets Task Force; U. S. Marshal’s Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force; New York State Police and multiple police departments including Abington Township Police, Philadelphia Police, Middletown Township Police, Wolcott, Conn., Police, Darby Police, New York City Police and the Pittsburgh Police.
https://www.pottsmerc.com/2025/11/20/philadelphia-man-draws-prison-for-role-in-southeast-pa-gun-trafficking-network/
Sarah Leonard says city in ‘good place’ for next Visit Longmont CEO
During her time with Visit Longmont, Sarah Leonard tried to champion Longmont’s best features. From its excellent breweries to its convenient location along the Front Range, Leonard made sure to listen to what Longmont fans loved about the city. Leonard served as the chief executive officer of Visit Longmont, the destination marketing organization for the city, from early 2023 until earlier this month. On Dec. 1, Leonard will become the CEO of Visit Estes Park, which promotes the amenities of the Estes Park region. As CEO of Visit Longmont, Leonard guided the nonprofit through decisions aimed at making Longmont a true tourist destination. One of those decisions was the sponsoring the Ice Climbing and Dry Tooling World Cup, which was held at Longmont Climbing Collective in February. The event attracted athletes from around the world. By sponsoring and spreading the word about the event, Visit Longmont helped bring the ice climbing competition to Longmont for the first time. Longmont Climbing Collective, which has a five-year deal to host the competition, is already gearing up for next year’s World Cup weekend. “I just think that is the right size, the right vibe,” Leonard said of the competition. “Teams came and spent time at our hotels and also at our short-term rentals.” Another recent addition to the city’s tourism sector was the Longmont Tourism Improvement District. The special district places an additional fee on lodging businesses in the city, and the revenue will fund marketing programs and tourism improvements for Longmont. Visit Longmont spearheaded the formation of the district, talking to hotel partners about the program early last year. The Longmont City Council approved the establishment of the LTID in August. The proposed 2% tourism improvement district fee is estimated to raise an additional $450,000 annually. While the district is still in its infancy, Leonard believes that the revenue generated by the LTID will strengthen Longmont’s reputation as a vibrant place to visit. “It all goes into a pool for destination marketing, which makes, I think, Longmont more competitive,” Leonard said. “When we bring in new visitors who stay overnight, they’re spending more time and then more money supporting our local businesses. That can benefit everyone.” Leonard also presided over Visit Longmont during the birth of its mascot, Monty the Longmonster. Monty was chosen by locals to be the face of the city and can be spotted at community events. Leonard anticipates staying involved in Longmont’s activities going forward, citing “great collaboration” between the northern Colorado destination marketing organizations. Reflecting on what makes Longmont stand out as a tourist destination, Leonard highlighted the city’s museum, evolving food scene and diverse population. “Having that infusion of culture is really appealing to both visitors and residents,” she said. Applications for Visit Longmont CEO are open for another week. Leonard said she hopes the next leader of the nonprofit will take advantage of the new events coming to the region, such as the Sundance Film Festival. “Longmont is in such a good place for the next person to really take it to the next level, because it has so many exciting things going on,” she said.
https://www.dailycamera.com/2025/11/19/sarah-leonard-leaves-city-in-good-place-for-next-visit-longmont-ceo/
Gov. Abbott Designates CAIR a Foreign Terrorist Organization
Gov. Greg Abbott released a proclamation today identifying the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations in the state of Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott is designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations. The designation authorizes “heightened enforcement” against both organizations and their affiliates and prohibits them from purchasing or acquiring land in Texas, according to Abbott’s office. Abbott’s move comes as he has increasingly spoken out against Muslim groups amid his run for a record fourth term. Muslim advocates say he is amplifying Islamophobic rhetoric that they fear could lead to violence against Muslim communities. Abbott released a statement about the proclamation: “The Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have long made their goals clear: to forcibly impose Sharia law and establish Islam’s ‘mastership of the world,’” said Governor Abbott. “The actions taken by the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR to support terrorism across the globe and subvert our laws through violence, intimidation, and harassment are unacceptable. Today, I designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations. These radical extremists are not welcome in our state and are now prohibited from acquiring any real property interest in Texas.” The proclamation itself can be viewed here. It includes a list of people CAIR has “employed, affiliated with, and supported” who promoted “terrorism-related activiites.” The last person on the list is Nihad Awad, the group’s current president. The proclamation says he “praised and supported Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack against Israel.” Did Awad do that? Yes, he did. In fact, the Biden White House disavowed CAIR after Awad’s comments. The White House disavowed an American-Islamic advocacy organization on Thursday after the group’s director declared that he “was happy to see” Palestinians break out of Gaza on Oct. 7, the day of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel that killed an estimated 1, 200 people and led to the seizure of 240 others as hostages. A spokesman for President Biden condemned the remarks by Nihad Awad, the national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, who declared in a speech that Palestinians in Gaza “have the right to self-defense” but that Israel “as an occupying power” does not. Mr. Awad said his comments were being misconstrued. “We condemn these shocking, antisemitic statements in the strongest terms,” said Mr. Biden’s spokesman, Andrew Bates.“The people of Gaza only decided to break the siege, the walls of the concentration camp, on Oct. 7,” he said. “And yes, I was happy to see people breaking the siege and throwing down the shackles of their own land and walk free into their land that they were not allowed to walk in. “And yes,” he continued, “the people of Gaza have the right to self-defense, have the right to defend themselves, and yes, Israel as an occupying power does not have that right to self-defense.” Video of his statement is here. It seems pretty clear to me he’s saying that the land of Israel belongs to the Palestinians and Israel has no right to defend itself. After the speech circulated, Awad claimed he was misunderstood and that he was only referring to Palestinians who wandered into Israel while the attack was taking place, not to Hamas. In any case, CAIR just released a statement reacting to the proclamation by Gov. Abbott. Greg Abbott is an Israel First politician who has spent months stoking anti-Muslim hysteria to smear American Muslims critical of the Israeli government. Although we are flattered by his obsession with our civil rights group, his defamatory proclamation has no basis in fact or law. Unlike Mr. Abbott–who unleashed violence against Texas students protesting the Gaza genocide to satisfy his AIPAC donors–our civil rights organization is an independent voice that answers to the American people, relies on support from the American people, and opposes all forms of unjust violence, including hate crimes, ethnic cleansing, genocide and terrorism. CAIR has successfully sued @GregAbbott_TX three different times for shredding the First Amendment to benefit the Israeli government, and we are ready to sue him again if he attempts to turn this publicity stunt into real policy. See you in court again, Greg. if you dare. On the federal level, neither group has been designated an FTO, but a bill was recently introduced to target the Muslim Brotherhood. In July, Florida Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart, a Republican, and Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat, co-chairs of the Friends of Egypt Caucus, reintroduced the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025, aimed at designating the global Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group. The U. S. government has not designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization as a whole, citing the group’s diffuse structure and political activities across different countries. I wanted to include some reactions to the proclamation from X, unfortunately X is not behaving well this morning and won’t let me embed any tweets at the moment. Editor’s Note: Do you enjoy Hot Air’s conservative reporting that takes on the radical left and woke media? Support our work so that we can continue to bring you the truth.
https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2025/11/18/gov-abbott-designates-cair-a-foreign-terrorist-organization-n3809024
New Diginomica Network Research Uncovers CIOs’ Struggle with Bridging the AI Hype and Reality
New Research Reveals Challenges in Enterprise AI Adoption
London, November 17, 2025 – New research from the diginomica network uncovers the challenges enterprise organizations face in adopting artificial intelligence (AI). Based on in-depth discussions with 35 CIOs and CTOs from major global companies, the report highlights a significant disconnect between expectations and reality regarding AI’s return on investment.
According to the research, 93% of diginomica network members have implemented AI within their organizations. Use cases range from website chatbots and predictive algorithms to drug discovery. Despite this widespread adoption, however, high-profile AI implementations—such as Microsoft Copilot and automated bid tools—have failed to meet the elevated expectations set by boards and executive teams.
Key Findings
- Over three-quarters of organizations report AI success rates exceeding 50%.
- Technology leaders consistently emphasize that AI has not met the expectations placed upon it by boards and executives, making it difficult for CIOs to manage stakeholder expectations and maintain trust.
- Data quality and change management, rather than technology itself, are the primary barriers to realizing AI’s full potential.
- Poor adoption strategies are causing organizations to capture as little as 10% of potential AI benefits.
Ian Cohen, a seasoned CIO with leadership experience at Lloyds, the Financial Times, and Addison Lee, stresses the need for CIOs to manage the growing hype around AI. He explains, “It is our job to temper that enthusiasm with a healthy dose of reality.”
Barriers to Successful AI Adoption
The report identifies several critical challenges hindering AI success:
- Poor data quality
- Insufficient change management
- Legacy system constraints
- Fundamental misunderstandings of AI capabilities across the C-suite
Confusion around different AI technologies—including agentic AI, generative AI, and robotics—is also highlighted in the research.
The study emphasizes the importance of implementing proper change management strategies and warns against treating this aspect as an afterthought. Without effective adoption strategies, organizations risk repeating the failures of previous technology implementations.
Cohen adds, “We risk the same happening with AI if we do not properly drive education and adoption.”
About the Research and diginomica Network
Mark Chillingworth, author of the research and facilitator of the diginomica network, thanks the participating CIOs and CTOs for sharing their experiences and valuable insights.
The full report, “CIOs navigate AI’s weight of expectation and explore opportunities,” is available for download here.
About diginomica
diginomica is an independent media and analyst organization serving enterprise leaders in the digital era. With experienced writers and analysts based in the US and Europe, diginomica delivers authoritative reporting and analysis that cuts through the noise.
Unlike traditional advertising-driven media, diginomica prioritizes reader quality, engagement, and influence. The organization provides rich insights based on daily interactions with both technology buyers and vendors. diginomica is also committed to the responsible use of generative AI in journalism, focusing on reader experience, accessibility, and trust.
About the diginomica Network
The diginomica network is an invitation-only forum comprising more than 400 CIOs and CTOs from leading global organizations. It provides a trusted space for technology leaders to confidentially discuss strategic technology challenges.
Free from vendor influence, the network fosters peer-to-peer learning and collaboration among enterprise technology leadership.
ENDS.
Lotus House unveils The Children’s Village to provide crucial services for kids in Overtown
MIAMI (WSVN) – Lotus House has unveiled The Children’s Village, a new facility designed to provide several vital resources for children and families in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood.
Located on Northeast 14th Terrace, directly across from Lotus House’s 500-bed shelter, The Children’s Village is home to a preschool, after-school care programs, intervention services, and healthcare support. This vibrant center brings together multiple local youth organizations under one roof, united in their mission to support kids and families in the community.
“During the pandemic, we realized that our kids needed more than what we were offering them, so we came up with the idea of building a playground. Shortly after, we realized that they needed more than that. So we invited all of the providers who offer amazing services in Overtown to join us in one roof,” said Lotus House Executive Director Isabella Dell’Oca.
Among the programs offered at The Children’s Village is Girl Power Rocks, which focuses on empowering young girls through educational support, confidence-building, and safety awareness.
“We provide them with different skills to avoid dangers. For instance, trafficking is a significant concern here in Miami, so we address these issues with the girls and provide them with tools like conflict resolution and guidance on how to be better citizens in the community,” explained Rashada Campbell, Director of Operations for Girl Power Rocks.
The Children’s Village is open and available to any youth residing in Overtown, aiming to create a safe and supportive environment for the neighborhood’s children and families.
https://wsvn.com/news/local/miami-dade/lotus-house-unveils-the-childrens-village-to-provide-crucial-services-for-kids-in-overtown/
Native American boarding schools in the US, by the numbers
CARLISLE, Pa. (AP) — For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, the United States government and Christian denominations operated boarding schools where generations of Native American children were isolated from their families. Along with academics and hard work, these schools sought to erase elements of tribal identity — from language and clothing to hairstyles and even their names.
The Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania, where the remains of 17 students were recently exhumed and repatriated, served as a model for other schools across the country.
### By the Numbers:
**Number of schools:** 526
An Interior Department review published in 2024 found 417 federally funded boarding schools for Native children in the United States. Many others were run by religious groups and other organizations.
**Burial sites:** 74 (53 marked, 21 unmarked)
An “incomplete” number of burial sites, at 65 schools, were identified by the Interior Department across the federal boarding school system.
**Treaties:** 127
Number of treaties between the U.S. government and Native American tribes that implicate the federal boarding school program, reflecting its significance to westward expansion.
**Costs:** $23.3 billion
The amount the U.S. government authorized to run the schools and pursue related policies, in inflation-adjusted dollars, from 1871 to 1969.
**Years of operation:** 39
The Carlisle Indian Industrial School operated from 1879 to 1918.
**Enrollment:** 7,800
Children and young adults enrolled at Carlisle over four decades, representing more than 100 tribes.
**Petitioners:** 276
Number of students who signed a petition in 1913 asking for an investigation into conditions at Carlisle.
**Deaths at Carlisle:** 230+
Number of deaths among students enrolled at Carlisle.
**Deaths nationwide:** 973
Deaths among students at government-run boarding schools in the U.S., according to the Interior Department report. A review by The Washington Post last year documented about 3,100 deaths. Researchers say the actual number was much higher.
**Bodies sent home:** 58
Indigenous students repatriated from the Carlisle Barracks cemetery since exhumations began in 2017, leaving 118 graves marked with Native American or Alaska Native names. About 20 more graves contain unidentified Indigenous children.
—
### Sources:
– National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
– *Carlisle Indian Industrial School: Indigenous Histories, Memories and Reclamations*
– U.S. Army
– *Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Report, Volume 2*
https://ktar.com/national-news/native-american-boarding-schools-in-the-us-by-the-numbers/5771229/
Innovate Alabama launches statewide Network Roadshow in West Alabama
**Innovate Alabama Kicks Off Statewide Network Roadshow in West Alabama**
Innovate Alabama recently launched its statewide Network Roadshow in West Alabama, titled “Connecting Alabama: Igniting the Innovate Alabama Network.” The event brought together community leaders and elected officials to celebrate regional progress, strengthen collaboration, and highlight the people and partnerships fueling innovation across the state.
Hosted by Innovate Alabama Network member Main Street Marion, in partnership with the Marion Military Institute, this event marked the first stop in a six-region series. The Roadshow showcases Alabama’s growing innovation ecosystem—from rural towns to urban centers—and demonstrates Innovate Alabama’s commitment to investing in every corner of the state.
“This Roadshow is about more than a celebration; it’s about connection,” said Sen. Bobby Singleton, Innovate Alabama board member and representative of Senate District 24. “Programs like the Innovate Alabama Network empower communities to work together, access new resources, and build a stronger economic foundation for our region. It’s a powerful example of how collaboration and investment can move Alabama forward.”
### Recognition of West Alabama Organizations
During the West Alabama event, Innovate Alabama recognized 13 West Alabama organizations for their leadership and impact through the Innovate Alabama Network:
– CHOICE Uniontown, Perry County
– City of Marion, Marion County
– City of Selma, Dallas County
– City of Thomasville, Clarke County
– City of Uniontown, Perry County
– City of York, Sumter County
– Industrial Development Foundation of Tuscaloosa County, Tuscaloosa County
– Main Street Marion, Perry County
– Town of White Hall, Lowndes County
– Tuscaloosa County, Tuscaloosa County
– Tuscaloosa County Parks and Recreation Foundation, Tuscaloosa County
– Tuscaloosa Sports & Tourism Foundation, Tuscaloosa County
– University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa County
The Innovate Alabama Network currently includes 168 total designees, representing 38 counties across the state.
### Building Stronger Local Economies Through Innovation
“The Innovate Alabama Network Roadshow is designed to bring our partners together in their own regions to listen, celebrate, and build on what’s working,” said Karri Green, program director of the Innovate Alabama Network. “Each stop of this tour will help us identify opportunities to strengthen local economies through innovation and ensure that communities across the state have the tools and connections they need to prosper.”
In addition to celebrating local impact, the Roadshow provides a platform for discussions among Innovate Alabama leadership, local organizations, and elected officials. Conversations focus on how Innovate Alabama’s programs and funding are helping communities grow jobs, attract investment, and expand opportunities statewide.
### Event Highlights in West Alabama
The West Alabama event featured remarks from Innovate Alabama board and staff leadership, along with local and state officials. A community awards presentation recognized organizations advancing innovation in their regions.
Attendees also toured Main Street Marion’s Harris Technology Center, a local hub supporting education and workforce development in the Black Belt region. This center was made possible through Innovate Alabama’s Network designation program.
### Roadshow Continues Across Alabama
Continuing its focus on strengthening innovation in Alabama’s rural communities, the Innovate Alabama Network Roadshow will travel across the state in the coming months, with stops planned in additional regions.
Stay tuned for updates as the Roadshow connects with more communities and continues to ignite innovation throughout Alabama.
https://www.alreporter.com/2025/11/04/innovate-alabama-launches-statewide-network-roadshow-in-west-alabama/
“If You’re A Billionaire, Why Are You A Billionaire?”: Billie Eilish Just Called Out Billionaires To Their Faces, And People Are In Awe
“If You’re A Billionaire, Why Are You A Billionaire?”: Billie Eilish Just Called Out Billionaires To Their Faces, And People Are In Awe
Billie Eilish has won widespread praise after using her platform at Wednesday night’s WSJ Magazine Innovator Awards in New York City to call out billionaires directly to their faces.
The 23-year-old singer was at the ceremony to accept the Music Innovator Award, with a whole host of other rich and famous names in attendance — including Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, whose wife, Priscilla Chan, was also honored.
When Billie took to the stage to accept her award, she said:
“We’re in a time right now where the world is really, really bad and really dark, and people need empathy and help more than kind of ever, especially in our country.”
“And I’d say if you have money, it would be great to use it for good things and maybe give it to some people that need it,” she told the crowd.
“Love you all, but there’s a few people in here that have a lot more money than me.”
“And if you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?” Billie asked.
“No hate, but yeah, give your money away, shorties.”
In addition to her words, Billie — who has an estimated net worth of $50 million — put her money where her mouth is. It was announced later in the evening that she is donating a staggering $11.5 million of the proceeds from her *Hit Me Hard And Soft* tour to support organizations fighting for food equity, climate justice, reducing carbon pollution, and combating the climate crisis.
Needless to say, her bold message and generous donation left people seriously impressed. On Reddit, one commenter praised her speech, saying:
“Ballsy. Nice to see a celeb actually stick to their morals when in the room with powerful people.”
Others jumped on the opportunity to highlight the huge difference between millionaires and billionaires, with one writing:
“My fav way to put it in perspective: 1 million seconds = almost 12 days while 1 billion seconds is 31 years.”
Billie Eilish’s candid call-out and commitment to impactful philanthropy have resonated widely, reminding us all of the power and responsibility that come with wealth.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniesoteriou/billie-eilish-praised-calling-out-billionaires
Soros Fingerprints Found All Over the Rise of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani
In September 2017, a photograph surfaced on social media showing activist Linda Sarsour kneeling on a Brooklyn sidewalk beside campaign volunteers for City Council candidate Khader El-Yateem. Among them was a young organizer named Zohran Mamdani. That image, posted on El-Yateem’s campaign page, marked the beginning of a political collaboration that would soon extend far beyond a local election.
Eight years later, Mamdani, now 34, is positioned to seek the mayoralty of New York City. His ascent, according to a Fox News Digital investigation, is the result of a coordinated network of political and religious organizations that have advanced candidates sharing socialist and Islamist ideologies.
A review of 110 groups supporting Mamdani shows overlapping ties between Muslim advocacy organizations and left-wing coalitions, including 76 Democratic Party affiliates and unions. Central to that effort are two key networks: Sarsour’s MPower organizations and a related group called Emgage.
Tax records reviewed by Fox News Digital reveal that billionaire George Soros’ Open Society Foundations have contributed nearly $2.5 million to MPower and Emgage in recent years. A spokesperson for the Open Society Foundations stated, “We fund a range of civil society organizations that work to deepen civic engagement through peaceful democratic participation, counter discrimination including against Muslim Americans, and advance human rights.” The spokesperson added that the cited grants occurred years before the mayoral race and were unrelated to any campaign activity.
The investigation found that MPower and Emgage are part of a coalition of about 30 ethnic and religious groups, including CAIR Action, the Islamic Circle of North America, the Muslim Action Coalition, and the Bangladeshi American Advocacy Group. Together, these groups have combined annual revenues exceeding $24 million and have mobilized resources, volunteers, and online campaigns to back Mamdani.
Analysts say these networks represent a coordinated political machine that merges progressive socialist movements with Islamist activism. Through campaigns like Emgage’s “Defend and Advance” initiative, the coalition promotes Mamdani alongside other Muslim candidates such as Virginia Lt. Governor candidate Ghazala Hashmi and Dearborn, Michigan, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud.
Emgage’s financial supporters include the Sterling Charitable Gift Fund in Herndon, Virginia — a group previously investigated by federal authorities in connection with suspected funding of Hamas-linked entities in the early 2000s, though no charges were ever filed.
Over the past decade, Sarsour and her allies have built a nationwide infrastructure linking philanthropy, activism, and political organizing. Their financial backing has come from large foundations such as the Ford Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Tides Foundation, alongside Soros’ network. This structure has helped launch Mamdani’s political career by combining nonprofit outreach with campaign operations.
Dalia Al-Aqidi, an Iraqi American Muslim and Republican congressional candidate challenging Ilhan Omar in Minnesota, commented, “The data, the money trail, and the affiliations—from the Democratic Socialists of America to the Islamists—tell a different story.” She added, “Mamdani’s ascent is the product of deliberate design: a sophisticated collaboration between socialist activism and Islamist organizing, lubricated by millions in foundation grants and political donations.”
Mamdani’s activism began at Bowdoin College in Maine, where in 2012 he co-founded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. By 2017, he was working on El-Yateem’s campaign with Sarsour. In 2018, he joined the board of the Muslim Democratic Club of New York, a political organization co-founded by Sarsour to mobilize Muslim voters for progressive candidates. The group endorsed Mamdani during his 2020 campaign for the New York State Assembly.
Public records show that MPower Change, a nonprofit housed at Neo Philanthropy, received at least $2.4 million in funding between 2017 and 2024, including more than $1 million from Soros’ Foundation to Promote Open Society and $450,000 from the MacArthur Foundation. Emgage Action, another key organization in Mamdani’s orbit, has received more than $3 million in grants from the same philanthropic network.
Mamdani’s rise has also been supported by several imams with controversial records. In January, he met with Imam Muhammad Al-Barr, who had previously prayed publicly for the “annihilation” of Israel. In May, Imam Siraj Wahhaj—who once testified as a character witness for Omar Abdel-Rahman, the “Blind Sheikh” convicted in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing—donated to Mamdani’s campaign fund. Mamdani later described Wahhaj as “one of the nation’s foremost Muslim leaders.”
Other clerical backers include Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid of the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood in Harlem, who previously defended individuals linked to terrorist organizations, and Imam Khalid Latif of New York University, who endorsed Mamdani on social media in June.
Following criticism of his meeting with Wahhaj, Mamdani received public support from Sarsour, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and Emgage Action. Sarsour shared a photo of herself with Mamdani, writing, “May Allah continue to bless and protect you.” Emgage’s executive director Wa’el Alzayat responded to the controversy by saying, “We are in this for the long haul.”
Al-Aqidi said the controversy only confirms how deeply the network is entrenched. “For over a decade, Linda Sarsour and her network of allies have built the Mamdani machine piece by piece: the institutions, the donors, the narratives, and now, the candidate,” she said. “His rise was not spontaneous. It was engineered, and the machinery behind it is only getting stronger.”
https://www.lifezette.com/2025/10/soros-fingerprints-found-all-over-the-rise-of-democratic-socialist-zohran-mamdani/