Latest news with #Tharp
Fox News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Substack emerges as solidly progressive platform with ‘liberal thought leaders' flocking, researcher says
The growing media platform Substack is solidly liberal, with 81 of the 100 top-selling titles in the U.S. Politics category being "left-leaning or progressive," according to researcher Kyle Tharp. Tharp, who pens the "Chaotic Era" newsletter, explained that Twitter used to be "the go-to arena for Democratic strategists, elected officials, and a new class of liberal take-makers," but Elon Musk's takeover of the platform has pushed "liberal thought leaders" away. Lefty influencers have searched for a new home and some have migrated to Bluesky or Threads, but Tharp believes "a winner appears to have emerged" in recent months. "Newsletter platform Substack is having a moment, fueled largely by an influx of liberal-leaning political and media figures eager to share their takes. Online pundits and anti-Trump resistance leaders like Heather Cox Richardson, Dan Pfeiffer, Simon Rosenberg, Norm Eisen, Steve Schmidt, and Mary Trump have built sizable audiences by weighing in on the news of the day," Tharp wrote. "Democratic elected officials—including Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, and Chris Murphy—have launched their own publications on the platform, aiming to grow dedicated followings ahead of potential presidential bids," he continued. "Perhaps most notably for the media industry, mainstream journalists who have left legacy outlets are finding new freedom to share their political opinions more openly on Substack. Among them: Taylor Lorenz, Mehdi Hasan, Tara Palmeri, Jennifer Rubin, Don Lemon, Jim Acosta, Terry Moran, and Dan Rather," Tharp added. Moran, who was axed from ABC News this month after posting an anti-Trump rant on X, quickly joined Substack and used the platform to double down on his social media post that called Trump and White House aide Stephen Miller "world-class haters." "This, while very hot, is an observation, a description that is accurate and true," Moran said. He added later, "It was something that was in my heart and mind. And I would say I used very strong language, deliberately, because he, I felt [was]… spitting venom and lies into our debate, degrading our public discourse, debasing it and using the power of the White House and what he's been given to grind us down in that bile. And, that's very disturbing to me." Tharp noted that "They're building a new echo chamber of left-leaning or anti-Trump commentary" one newsletter at a time. He included a graphic of the Top 50 "bestsellers" in the U.S. Politics category, which reveals the overwhelming majority of political content being consumed on Substack is of the liberal variety. The company appears to be embracing the liberal audience, as Tharp noted that anti-Trump figures Michael Cohen, Joe Walsh and Don Lemon are being used in the company's latest advertising campaign. He's unsure if the platform will continue the momentum "or if it's simply the latest stopover for Twitter refugees in search of an audience." "For now, Substack stands as a key town square for a certain segment of the left, reshaping how political narratives are distributed, debated, and consumed," Tharp wrote. While Substack does feature a handful of prominent non-liberals, such as Bari Weiss, it bills itself as "a new media app that connects you with the creators, ideas, and communities you care about most." "Here, you can discover world-class video, podcasts, and writing from a diverse set of creators who cover politics, pop culture, food, philosophy, tech, travel, and so much more," Substack's website states.
Chicago Tribune
18-06-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Lab owner gets 7 years in prison for $14 million scheme to falsify COVID tests at height of pandemic
A south suburban man who ran a COVID-19 rapid testing site was sentenced Wednesday to 7 years in federal prison for falsifying tens of thousands of tests, telling anxious patients at the height of the pandemic that they were negative when in fact many of the specimens had been tossed in the garbage. Zishan Alvi, 46, of Inverness, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud last year, admitting in a plea agreement with prosecutors that his lab fraudulently billed for hundreds of millions of dollars in government reimbursements in 2021 and early 2022, ultimately collecting at least $14 million in illegitimate taxpayer-backed payments. In handing down the 84-month prison term, U.S. District Judge John Tharp called Alvi's actions a 'fraud on a massive scale,' one that not only showed a shocking level of greed but also sold out the safety of the public at a time when many were seeking reassurance through testing. 'People were scrambling to get tested for COVID because they didn't want to imperil the safety and health of the people they cared about,' Tharp said. 'A negative test was like a passport, 'You know, I tested negative. I can go see my grandma, I can go see my children with their newborn baby.' These were people who depended on that report to govern what they could safely do and not do.' Tharp also said he was puzzled because Alvi did not have to turn to fraud. Originally from Pakistan, Alvi had overcome a difficult childhood and an abusive father to make something of himself in the U.S., the judge noted, graduating from DePaul University and working for 14 years in real estate before opening up his lab in the early days of the pandemic. 'He saw an opportunity to start a business that was going to be both profitable and helpful. That's admirable,' Tharp said. 'Where he went wrong was the opportunity to get rich, when he saw and tried to exploit the chaos that was occurring in this country as people were scrambling for ways to address the COVID problem.' Prosecutors said Alvi used the ill-gotten gains for personal expenditures, including a Tesla, Land Rover, and Mercedes, as well as investments in stocks and cryptocurrency. In addition to the prison term, Tharp ordered Alvi to pay $14.2 million in restitution. Records show prosecutors have already seized about $8 million in various bank and brokerage accounts as well as some of the vehicles. Before he was sentenced, a tearful Alvi stood at the lectern and read an apology from a piece of paper, telling the judge in a wavering voice he was 'filled with remorse and a deep sense of regret' for his 'selfish decisions.' 'I should never have put profits ahead of the job we intended to do for the public,' Alvi said, as several relatives wiped tears from their eyes in the courtroom gallery. 'I should have put the people first.' Alvi's attorney, Tom Breen, had asked for leniency, telling the judge his client has three young daughters and is described by all who know him as an 'optimistic' and generous man. 'He started this to do a good job, provide a good service,' Breen said. 'At some point in time he cut corners and then eventually out-and-out cheated, and he's going to pay a hefty price for that. He really is. But he is a good man.' Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Hasten had asked for a 9-year prison sentence, emphasizing that, in a bid to make more profits, Alvi diluted materials used in the tests to such an extent that the results were inconclusive. He then directed employees to tell patients with inconclusive results that their tests were negative. At least some of those patients then went to another testing site and discovered they actually did have COVID, prosecutors said. When the Omicron surge hit in late 2021 and Alvi's lab became overwhelmed, he ordered employees to 'just throw away thousands of tests — don't process them' yet still billed the government millions of dollars, Hasten said. Alvi's employees also reported the laboratory was not storing specimens properly, 'and after three or four weeks of sitting onsite had developed mold, but those employees were nonetheless told to process those tests,' according to a recent prosecution filing. Photos included in the filing showed test specimens piled up in the lab in overflowing garbage bags and boxes.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Court news: Man charged for beating teen; man gets split sentence in stabbing
A Gary man was charged Monday for choking and beating an 18-year-old who had 'beef' with his teen son. The victim had a couple of teeth knocked out and needed his jaw wired shut, records show. However, 45 minutes later, a trio – including possibly the victim's relative and two Hispanic males – showed back up to shoot the son. Vehicles were shot up and police recovered at least 10 casings. The son ran back toward the house as it started. No one was hurt. Public court filings do not show charges have been filed in the shooting. A prosecutor's spokeswoman wasn't immediately available to respond to why there were charges in the alleged beating but not the shooting. The father, Virgil Tharp, 36, was charged with aggravated battery and two counts of battery. He is being held in jail without bond till June 25, when it is set at $5,000 cash surety. The Lake County Sheriff's Department responded late on June 6 to the 2200 block of W. 48th Place in Gary. Tharp's son said a group, including his sister, her best friend, the friend's boyfriend, and the victim showed up to get some firewood from their dad's house. The son claimed at first he opened the truck door to beat his rival, but witnesses later said it was Tharp. The conflict either stemmed 'over a girl' or a rude comment made a few years earlier, documents state. Witnesses alleged the victim threatened to shoot up Tharp's house in the past. Court records indicate there's no video of the shooting. A Gary man was sentenced to one year in prison with four years probation Tuesday for stabbing his roommate, filings show. Navarro Ewing, 46, pleaded guilty in May to battery by means of a deadly weapon. Gary Police responded Sept. 2, 2024, to the apartment on the 800 block of Massachusetts St. The victim said he wanted to get out of there after they argued over $10. On the way toward the door, Ewing threw a butcher's knife, stabbing him in the buttock, records show. The case was before Judge Samuel Cappas. Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Dafoe was assigned. Lawyer Matt Latulip represented Ewing. mcolias@
Chicago Tribune
10-06-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Court news: Man charged for beating teen; man gets split sentence in stabbing
A Gary man was charged Monday for choking and beating an 18-year-old who had 'beef' with his teen son. The victim had a couple of teeth knocked out and needed his jaw wired shut, records show. However, 45 minutes later, a trio – including possibly the victim's relative and two Hispanic males – showed back up to shoot the son. Vehicles were shot up and police recovered at least 10 casings. The son ran back toward the house as it started. No one was hurt. Public court filings do not show charges have been filed in the shooting. A prosecutor's spokeswoman wasn't immediately available to respond to why there were charges in the alleged beating but not the shooting. The father, Virgil Tharp, 36, was charged with aggravated battery and two counts of battery. He is being held in jail without bond till June 25, when it is set at $5,000 cash surety. The Lake County Sheriff's Department responded late on June 6 to the 2200 block of W. 48th Place in Gary. Tharp's son said a group, including his sister, her best friend, the friend's boyfriend, and the victim showed up to get some firewood from their dad's house. The son claimed at first he opened the truck door to beat his rival, but witnesses later said it was Tharp. The conflict either stemmed 'over a girl' or a rude comment made a few years earlier, documents state. Witnesses alleged the victim threatened to shoot up Tharp's house in the past. Court records indicate there's no video of the shooting. A Gary man was sentenced to one year in prison with four years probation Tuesday for stabbing his roommate, filings show. Navarro Ewing, 46, pleaded guilty in May to battery by means of a deadly weapon. Gary Police responded Sept. 2, 2024, to the apartment on the 800 block of Massachusetts St. The victim said he wanted to get out of there after they argued over $10. On the way toward the door, Ewing threw a butcher's knife, stabbing him in the buttock, records show. The case was before Judge Samuel Cappas. Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Dafoe was assigned. Lawyer Matt Latulip represented Ewing.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Decatur wastewater treatment plant hit with tariffs
DECATUR, Ark. (KNWA/FOX24) — Decatur is feeling the effects of new tariffs on Chinese imports being carried out by the White House in the form of a 145% increase on parts needed at their wastewater treatment plant. The city uses a unique filtration system involving membranes, which helps filter the water at the plant. The filters are made in Japan and then shipped to China for processing before they make their way to the United States. Siloam Springs police discuss Dogwood Festival terroristic threat arrest The city had an original budget of $6 million set aside for the updates. Decatur Mayor Bob Tharp said that because of the tariffs, the city is now over budget. 'We didn't realize that there were tariffs on those membranes, the original purchase, until all of the tariffs that's been done recently. So, what's going to happen is we're going to spend $2.5 million more out of that ($6 million) because of tariffs,' Tharp said. Because the city is now over budget, Tharp reached out to President Donald Trump to get financial relief. He has yet to hear back from the White House. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
