Welcome back in for Al’s Afternoon Tea, our chance to stop and sample some of the latest news and headlines.

Where’s the Action to Help Western North Carolina?

Perhaps Asheville should change its name to Kiev. There was lots of grumbling this weekend about the lack of response and support from the Biden-Harris administration for the people of western North Carolina and elsewhere coping with apocalyptic flooding and devastation from Hurricane Helene. Joe Biden stayed at the beach, while Kamala Harris enjoyed her time at swanky San Francisco fundraisers.

Even when confronted by a reporter, Biden seemed to suggest he’s done all he can do. Though, in his sad defense, his thinking is likely so foggy that it’s not clear he means what it sounds like he’s saying here. (See below for another example.)

"Do you have any words to the victims of the hurricane?"

BIDEN: "We've given everything that we have."

"Are there any more resources the federal government could be giving them?"

BIDEN: "No." pic.twitter.com/jDMNGhpjOz

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 30, 2024

FEMA Administrator Deanne defended the federal response, telling Face the Nation on Sunday, “I don’t know that anybody could be fully prepared for the amount of flooding and landslides that they are experiencing right now.”

Not helping matters is evidence that FEMA, like so many other federal agencies under this administration, makes DEI a priority over its prime mission.

With East Palestine, Ohio still fresh in our minds, it’s understandable to wonder if the feds aren’t refusing to mov heaven and earth for the areas hard-hit by Helene right now because they are predominantly red. Would you put it past this administration to slow-walk help to red areas in swing states like North Carolina and Georgia, knowing only a few thousands votes could make a difference in the election? 

But enough about who isn’t helping. Who is helping? The Cajun Navy has shown up, with Elon Musk’s Starlink in tow. Faith-based relief groups like Samaritan’s Purse and Mercy Chefs are on the ground. And of course, private citizens, the American people. Neighbors. 

Thanks to @elonmusk and @Starlink , our teams in the #NorthCarolinaFlood zone are reconnecting families who couldn't reach their loved ones for days! #CajunNavy pic.twitter.com/vY1QHEOgVt

— United Cajun Navy (@Unitedcajunnavy) September 29, 2024

This should be playing on every news channel.

Private helicopter pilots are flying in supplies to areas of eastern Tennessee that are only accessible by air. The original poster Evie Kyker/cayotecowgirl said government aid is “nowhere to be found.”

Devastating. pic.twitter.com/YCdusATdAi

— Olivia Rondeau 🇺🇸 (@rondeaulivia) September 29, 2024

GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump hit Valdosta, Georgia today to get a briefing on hurricane damage and help distribute relief supplies.  

Helene is estimated to have inflicted $100 billion in damage to the Southeast. Worse, the official death toll has now topped 100. 

Pray for Our Leaders: Biden Mistakes Military Action for Labor Dispute

As we continue our 40-day fast for the nation, we pray for healthy leadership. We saw another example yesterday of why we need this.

A reporter asked Joe Biden about Israel’s military strikes on Yemen, but the president seemed to answer about the looming longshoremans’ strike, which could start tomorrow.

Reporter: "Any comment on the strikes in Yemen?"

Biden: "I've spoken to both sides. They gotta settle the strike. I'm supporting the collective bargaining effort. I think they'll settle the strike."

This guy is so cookedpic.twitter.com/Tbzm93NEDD

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 30, 2024

In his defense, perhaps he didn’t hear the question properly and just keyed in on the work “strike.” Then again, the questions shouted at him all had to do with the Middle East.

Potential Strike Could Lead to Shortages, Price Hikes Before Election

Biden is right to have the potential longshoremans’ strike heavy on his mind, though. The International Longshoreman’s Association announced plans to go on strike at all Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports come 12:01 a.m tonight, when their current contract comes to an end, over disputes regarding wages, benefits, and the use of automated machinery in the ports. If it happens, it’ll be their first strike since 1977. Should no agreement be reached, 36 ports from Maine to Texas will be shut down. Those ports are responsible for 40% of the containerized goods coming into the United States.

As USA Today reported, a strike could lead to shortages of certain items, supply chain issues and a spike in prices.

In fact, we could be looking at lumps of coal under the Christmas tree.

“A supply chain disruption would undoubtedly lead to price increases across the board and would impact consumers’ ability to find the toys they are looking for in the weeks and months ahead,”  Toy Association President Greg Ahearn told the newspaper.

(We’ve checking with Santa to see if he’ll be able to pick up the slack. No response yet.)

The Biden-Harris administration has said there are no plans to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act, which allows a president to intervene in labor disputes that would create a national emergency. However, if the economy takes a big hit just weeks before the election — and that will boost good ol’ “threat to democracy” Donald Trump in the polls — it’s a safe bet Taft-Hartley is not off the table. Harris sitting on her hands while the nation languishes in pain will doom her chances of winning. 

Still, Biden seems to think a deal is close at hand. Then again, he said the same thing about a cease-fire deal in Gaza.

College Women’s Volleyball Team Forfeits Rather Than Compete Against a Male, Player Reveals Trans Athlete Asked to Room with Her on Trips

Boise State is taking a stand against males in women’s sports by sitting down. On Saturday, its women’s volleyball team forfeited their match against San Jose State. Though they didn’t specifically state the reason, San Jose State features a male player, Blaire Fleming, on the team. Southern Utah also refused to play San Jose State this month due to the on-court dangers Fleming poses.

Meanwhile, one of Flemings’s teammates, co-captain Brooke Slusser, has joined the lawsuit Riley Gaines filed against the NCAA for allowing male athletes to compete against women. According to Cowboy State Daily:  

Brooke estimates that Fleming’s spikes were traveling upward of 80 mph, which was faster than she had ever seen a woman hit a volleyball. The girls were doing everything they could to dodge Fleming’s spikes but still could not fully protect themselves.

Slusser’s story has another twist: When they were teammates, Fleming asked to room with Slusser on volleyball trips. It wasn’t until months later that Fleming admitted to being transgender.

San Jose State is undefeated, by the way — thanks in part to the 6’1” male with the killer spike.

Toronto Obliterates Sexes; Does the Mayo Clinic?

Toronto is racing to remove the words “male” and “female” from its city forms. Instead, they’re opting for “Cis-male” and “Cis-female.” Not-the-Bee reports the “emergency” request was submitted during a meeting of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry, and Recreation Registration and Booking Transformation (RBT) Project.

According to the request, the person filing it said:

I think that it’s unacceptable that we see these terms at this day and age, [and] that some things within organizational settings need to be fast-tracked.

“These terms” being “male” and “female.”

At least the medical profession still knows the difference between men and women. Right? Well …

The Mayo Clinic blog. pic.twitter.com/0KlSrV8uDr

— Paul Peace 🟣⚪️🟢 (@NoCisgender) September 25, 2024

“Often viewed as an exclusively female phenomenon”?! As in every day, by everybody for thousands of years, until about 300 days ago? 

CBS Moderators to Walz: You’re on His Own

Tim Walz is nervous about tomorrow night’s vice presidential debate against J.D. Vance, scared that he’s going to let Harris down, according to CNN. He even supposedly told her in his running mate interview that he is a bad debater. On one hand, he has reason to be nervous. On the other, this could just be an effort by the campaign to lower expectations. (As if expectations could be lower for someone who is almost as scared of interviews as his would-be boss.)

Walz did get some bad news about the debate over the weekend: The moderators aren’t going to fight his fights the way ABC News did for Harris. CBS News announced it won’t be doing any fact-checking this time.

That’s a smart move. Not only did CBS see the way ABC News got hammered for interfering in the Trump-Harris debate, but after watching what Vance does to hostile news hosts, those moderators are wise to stick to greetings, questions, and saying, “We need to take a commercial break.”

Here’s another recent example:

Journalist tries to interrupt JD Vance after he blasts Kamala Harris.

JD Vance is on fire 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dPxvyn8XQA

— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) September 29, 2024

On the Stream Menu

Leonydus Johnson asks “Is Kamala Harris Truly Black?”

Stream contributor Jason Jones describes the way that “Hypocrisy Is the Road to Holiness for Most of Us.”

Al Perrotta is The Stream’s Washington bureau chief, coauthor with John Zmirak of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration, and coauthor of the counterterrorism memoir Hostile Intent: Protecting Yourself Against Terrorism.