Elon Musk’s Twitter bans ad showing Republican interrupting couple in bedroom
An ad launched by Progress Action Fund launched, showing an elderly Republican congressman interrupting a couple in the bedroom, has now been banned on X, formerly known as Twitter. According to the Progress Action Fund, which aims to defeat Republicans in red states, the platform “has censored” its account as well as the ad, called “Keep Republicans Out Of Your Bedroom.” In addition, the platform has “placed a ‘Search Ban’ and a ‘Search Suggestion Ban’ on the account.” As of Wednesday afternoon, the account did not show up on the social media platform, yet the ad could still be seen on X through retweets from other accounts. The Progress Action Fund said it contacted the platform’s legal department and “appealed the decision, which was denied.” Joe Jacobson, Founder and Executive Director of Progress Action Fund, took a stab at X’s owner: “Elon Musk loves free speech, but only when it’s convenient for him and his far-right political agenda.” “Political speech is protected under law and Musk’s competitors clearly agree that our ad should not be censored,” he continued. “When releasing ads in the future, we’ll be taking them to other platforms, which many others are already doing given Elon Musk’s frantic and poor leadership at Twitter.” The Independent has reached out to X for comment. The ad features a scene in which a woman asks a man if he has a condom. He reaches for the condom in a bedside table drawer, and another suit-covered arm appears, reaching for it as well. “Sorry, you can’t use those,” says an older man, clad in a black suit and red tie, while standing beside the bed. When the woman asks who he is, he replies: “I’m your Republican congressman. Now that we’re in charge, we’re banning birth control.” The ad urges voters to “vote no” on 8 August, in reference to State Issue 1, which would require proposed amendments to Ohio’s constitution “receive the approval of at least 60 per cent of eligible voters voting on the proposed amendment,” rather than a simple majority. Since acquiring Twitter, Mr Musk, a self declared “free speech absolutist”, has touted free speech as a pillar of the platform. As part of this shift during the takeover, he reinstated Donald Trump’s account after a two-year ban, which was “due to the risk of further incitement of violence” after the January 6 Capitol riot. He also reinstated at least 11 accounts belonging to prominent far-right and anti-trans influencers. On 23 November, the platform announced it “is no longer enforcing the Covid-19 misleading information policy.” As recently as April, the platform claimed to strive to “promote and protect the public conversation. We believe Twitter users have the right to express their opinions and ideas without fear of censorship.” In May, he wrote: “I am adamant about defending free speech, even if it means losing money.” Read More Democratic PAC unveils ‘steamy and horrifying’ ad with GOP lawmaker interrupting couple in bedroom Elon Musk slammed for pushing anti-vax conspiracy in response to LeBron James’ son Bronny suffering cardiac arrest Elon Musk takes control of @X account from user who had held it for 16 years Elon Musk’s Twitter bans ad showing Republican interrupting couple in bedroom 'X' logo installed atop Twitter building, spurring San Francisco to investigate permit violation EXCLUSIVE: The O.C.’s Ben McKenzie on going down the crypto rabbit hole
2023-07-29 20:17
Meghan Markle has just demolished a Netflix streaming record
Meghan Markle has just broken an unlikely Netflix record and no, it's not because people have been watching the docuseries about her and Prince Harry again. Before she was a member of the Royal Family, Markle was an actor on the hit legal show Suits which ran on the USA Network from 2011 to 2019, with Markle appearing in 108 of the 134 episodes of the show, where she played paralegal Rachel Zane. Despite the show ending nearly four years ago, it has experienced a sudden resurgence in popularity thanks to it now being available in its entirety on Netflix. In fact, the show has become so popular on the platform that it has smashed the viewing records for an acquired show having been streamed for more than 3.1 billion minutes in a week. The previous show to hold this record was Manifest which had managed just 2.5 billion minutes in a week. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Suits was added to Netflix on June 17th, making it the first time ever the show has been available on there but it has previously been available in other countries including the United Kingdom. According to Nielsen's streaming data, this marks a 36 percent increase in viewership from the previous week. Deadline adds that Nielsen believes that this will only increase as 75 per cent of those viewing figures are from just the first three seasons of the nine season show. Markle left the show in 2017 following her engagement to Prince Harry. In a statement, the future Duchess of Sussex said: "From all of us at USA Network and Universal Cable Productions, we want to send our most heartfelt congratulations to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on their engagement. "Meghan has been a member of our family for seven years and it has been a joy to work with her. We want to thank her for her undeniable passion and dedication to Suits, and we wish her the very best." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-07-29 20:17
Russia-Ukraine war – live: Putin missiles hit Dnipro apartment block as children injured
Russian missiles have hit an apartment block and a Ukrainian security service building in Dnipro, leaving two children injured, officials have said. President Vladimir Putin’s forces injured at least nine people, including two teenagers aged between 14 and 17, in the strike on the central city on Friday evening, according to Serhii Lysak, the head of the region’s military administration. Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov said it was the third time the SBU security service building had been targeted. Both buildings were largely empty - the residential building because it had just been completed and units were being put up for sale. Pictures posted on social media showed part of one building reduced to rubble and debris strewn across a large courtyard. Russia says it does not target civilian sites. Its troops have intensified evening and night-time missile attacks on a variety of targets - focusing in particular on port facilities around the city of Odesa after Moscow pulled out of an agreement allowing grain shipments from Ukraine's ports. Meanwhile, Kyiv has made progress in driving back Russian troops, the commander on the southern front said on Friday, as its counteroffensive appears to be ramping up. Read More Even Putin admits Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russia’s forces – but progress will be slow Putin promises grain aid to Africa despite withdrawing from Ukraine deal Ukrainian fencer disqualified from world championships for refusing handshake with Russian opponent Russian defence minister meets Kim Jong-un during visit to arms exhibition in North Korea
2023-07-29 19:58
Oriol Romeu admits surprise towards Barcelona return
Oriol Romeu reflects on his surprise return to Barcelona.
2023-07-29 19:56
Wagner could help migrants cross into Poland, PM Morawiecki warns
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has been accused of facilitating the migrant flow into the EU.
2023-07-29 19:56
A rebounding Pope Francis adds an overnight visit to France to his busy travel schedule
The Vatican says Pope Francis will make a two-day trip to Marseille, France, in late September
2023-07-29 19:46
FC Cincinnati advance in Leagues Cup behind Brandon Vazquez hat trick
Brandon Vazquez's hat-trick propelled FC Cincinnati to the next phase of the 2023 Leagues Cup.
2023-07-29 19:29
US pledges to help Australia manufacture guided missiles by 2025
The United States says it will expand its military industrial base by helping Australia manufacture guided missiles and rockets for both countries within two years
2023-07-29 19:26
England race out of blocks in second innings of 5th Ashes Test
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett got England off to a blistering start in their second innings in the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval on Saturday with...
2023-07-29 19:21
Ukraine moves Christmas to December 25, distancing itself from Russian tradition
Ukraine has passed legislation moving its official Christmas holiday to December 25, further distancing itself from the traditions of the Putin-aligned Russian Orthodox Church, which celebrates the holiday on January 7.
2023-07-29 19:19
DraftKings UFC 291 Promo: Bet $5, Win $150 INSTANTLY Betting Poirier vs Gaethje!
Dustin Poirier takes on Justin Gaethje tonight to headline a thrilling UFC card and DraftKings Sportsbook has a fantastic exclusive promo to celebrate: Bet $5, Win $150 INSTANTLY on ANY bet! Whether you win or lose, you'll get $150 just for trying.See below how to sign up and claim this off...
2023-07-29 19:17
England veteran Rachel Daly concerned by ACL issue at Women’s World Cup
England veteran Rachel Daly revealed she blocks out the frightening possibility of becoming a victim of the devastating injury crisis besetting women’s football and the World Cup. Midfielder Keira Walsh was stretchered off with a suspected knee injury in the first half of the Lionesses’ 1-0 group-stage victory over Denmark on Friday, later appearing on crutches and sparking concern she might join England’s Beth Mead and Leah Williamson on a long list of players ruled out of the 2023 tournament with the same anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that disproportionately affects women. There was no update on Walsh’s condition as of Saturday night in Sydney, three days before the Lionesses play China in Adelaide with a target of escaping Group D in top spot. Daly said: “I don’t think you can think about it, for me, those three letters scare the absolute you-know-what out of me. “Fingers, toes, everything crossed for Keira, but that’s football isn’t it, it’s tough, you have your highs and your lows and you just hope that everything is all right and she’ll be all right for the future. It’s a tough one but I hope she’s all right. “I think losing anyone is tough but a player with the ability of Keira is a tough one to lose. She’s such an integral part of the way we play and it’s tough, but that’s why Sarina’s built a squad, we’ve got depth, and [Laura Coombs] came on and did really well. So it’s obviously disappointing and heart-breaking for Keira but hopefully it’s nothing too serious.” England boss Sarina Wiegman did not make any changes to her starting XI during the Lionesses’ Euro 2022-winning campaign, but on Friday opted for two from England’s 1-0 tournament-opening win against Haiti. Women’s Super League (WSL) Golden Boot winner Daly, who was named as a forward for this tournament, returned to left-back where she started every game of the European Championships, while Chelsea’s Lauren James got the nod on the left wing in place of Lauren Hemp. It proved a prescient swap after Daly set up James’ first World Cup goal after six minutes against Denmark, that strike also ultimately enough to maintain England’s 100 per cent record and place them in prime position to finish top of Group D with a point against China. Daly said: “I say it all the time but it’s an honour to put on this shirt whenever I can. I’ll play in any position. It’s not the one I’ve been playing in regularly for my club but it’s something that’s still familiar. “I think I did all right, there’s tweaks I need to make on my game in that position but that’s OK, I learn from it, I’ll go and analyse it, I’ll fix it and move onto the next game. For me, it’s just getting onto the pitch, and doing what I can for the team.” The 31-year-old Aston Villa striker also heaped praise on James, a decade her junior, hotly touted as the future of this England squad and backed by Blues boss Emma Hayes to be a vital force for the Lionesses in their quest for a maiden World Cup. Daly said: “Yeah, LJ’s just a strength on her own, she’s phenomenal, and you saw what she can do, glimpses of what she can do. I can’t take any credit for anything she does, she’s just an unbelievable person and player.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Allan Saint-Maximin confirms Newcastle exit ahead of expected Saudi Arabia move Louise Quinn keen for Republic of Ireland to end World Cup on a high Nathan Ake extends Manchester City contract to 2027
2023-07-29 19:16
