rightwingwatch--2020-06-01--BlazeTV Host Deceptively Edits Video, Trump Laps It Up

A host for Glenn Beck ’ s BlazeTV selectively edited a video clip to portray a white man who was severely beaten after charging mostly black protesters in Dallas , Texas , with a machete as an innocent shop owner protecting his store from violent protesters .
The video , which was shared on Twitter , later duped President Donald Trump , but the host remains unapologetic .
Elijah Schaffer , who hosts a BlazeTV political entertainment show , shared the short video clip on Twitter Saturday night showing a crowd of protesters intensely beating a man , leaving him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schaffer , in his original tweet and in a subsequent interview with BlazeTV host Steven Crowder , portrayed the beaten man as having been unjustly attacked while attempting to “ protect his store ” and shared false rumors the man had died .
The clip went viral ; it has been viewed 33 million times on Twitter at the time of this article .
When reached via Twitter direct message Sunday morning and questioned why he edited the video to remove footage of the man charging protesters with his machete , Schaffer declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the BlazeTV employee basely accused this reporter of attempting to incite murder against him .
When Right Wing Watch asked for clarification on whether Schaffer had in fact interpreted our request for comment about his editing decision as a threat of violence , Schaffer answered in the affirmative .
As first reported by The Intercept ’ s Robert Mackey , what Schaffer failed to make clear until the clip had already achieved virality is that he had selectively removed 18 seconds of video in his original recording that showed the man charging toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The man was not a business owner , as Schaffer claimed , but rather , simply someone who went to the area to confront protesters with his lethal weapon , “ allegedly [ to ] protect his neighborhood from protesters , ” according to Dallas Police .
An eyewitness told The Intercept that the man had approached the area where protesters were present , pulled out his machete , and threatened a skateboarder , after which members of the crowd started to throw rocks at the man .
According to the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skateboarder ’ s hand with his weapon .
A Twitter user who claimed to be the machete-wielding man mused days before the incident that he owned a machete and that he could “ absolutely kill a man with it if he ’ s not wearing armor , ” before questioning whether he would need to start carrying it around Dallas .
Before that user deleted their account , they expressed regret at having charged the protesters in a tweet Sunday , explaining they had sought out the confrontation due to “ a strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myself meet the danger head-on rather than wait for it to come seek me out ” and because they were worried about a bar they frequented being damaged .
But any attempts to clarify what happened were too late .
Schaffer ’ s video spread across the internet and eventually reached the president of the United States .
“ SO TERRIBLE !
Where are the arrests and LONG TERM jail sentences ?
” Trump tweeted Sunday afternoon .
Schaffer has remained unapologetic for his deceptively presented video and expressed pride that Trump had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Intercept published its reporting , Schaffer responded by claiming that people like himself were doing “ reporting in real time are doing the work these very weak ublikable ‘ reporters ’ wish they could do.
” He both admitted to selectively editing the video to remove the man rushing people with a deadly weapon and also claimed : Schaffer was also involved last year in an effort to portray far-right hammer-wielding extremists who attacked Portland anti-fascists as victims .

A host for Glenn Beck’s BlazeTV selectively edited a video clip to portray a white man who was severely beaten after charging mostly black protesters in Dallas, Texas, with a machete as an innocent shop owner protecting his store from violent protesters. The video, which was shared on Twitter, later duped President Donald Trump, but the host remains unapologetic. Elijah Schaffer, who hosts a BlazeTV political entertainment show, shared the short video clip on Twitter Saturday night showing a crowd of protesters intensely beating a man, leaving him on the ground bloodied and mangled. Schaffer, in his original tweet and in a subsequent interview with BlazeTV host Steven Crowder, portrayed the beaten man as having been unjustly attacked while attempting to “protect his store” and shared false rumors the man had died. The clip went viral; it has been viewed 33 million times on Twitter at the time of this article.
When reached via Twitter direct message Sunday morning and questioned why he edited the video to remove footage of the man charging protesters with his machete, Schaffer declined multiple opportunities to answer. Instead, the BlazeTV employee basely accused this reporter of attempting to incite murder against him. When Right Wing Watch asked for clarification on whether Schaffer had in fact interpreted our request for comment about his editing decision as a threat of violence, Schaffer answered in the affirmative.
As first reported by The Intercept’s Robert Mackey, what Schaffer failed to make clear until the clip had already achieved virality is that he had selectively removed 18 seconds of video in his original recording that showed the man charging toward protesters with a machete above his head. The man was not a business owner, as Schaffer claimed, but rather, simply someone who went to the area to confront protesters with his lethal weapon, “allegedly [to] protect his neighborhood from protesters,” according to Dallas Police.
An eyewitness told The Intercept that the man had approached the area where protesters were present, pulled out his machete, and threatened a skateboarder, after which members of the crowd started to throw rocks at the man. According to the same eyewitness, the man had slashed the skateboarder’s hand with his weapon.
A Twitter user who claimed to be the machete-wielding man mused days before the incident that he owned a machete and that he could “absolutely kill a man with it if he’s not wearing armor,” before questioning whether he would need to start carrying it around Dallas. Before that user deleted their account, they expressed regret at having charged the protesters in a tweet Sunday, explaining they had sought out the confrontation due to “a strong feeling that it was better to let myself meet the danger head-on rather than wait for it to come seek me out” and because they were worried about a bar they frequented being damaged.
But any attempts to clarify what happened were too late. Schaffer’s video spread across the internet and eventually reached the president of the United States.
“SO TERRIBLE! Where are the arrests and LONG TERM jail sentences?” Trump tweeted Sunday afternoon.
SO TERRIBLE! Where are the arrests and LONG TERM jail sentences? https://t.co/MiT9DtAuVL — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2020
Schaffer has remained unapologetic for his deceptively presented video and expressed pride that Trump had commented on his video clip.
My coverage of the Dallas riots was just shared by the President of the United States I started this journey 2 years ago So many people discouraged me at first Said I should quit while there was still time Now my work is changing the conversation in America Thankful to God https://t.co/EjSWtbqLXu — ELIJAH (@ElijahSchaffer) May 31, 2020
After The Intercept published its reporting, Schaffer responded by claiming that people like himself were doing “reporting in real time are doing the work these very weak ublikable ‘reporters’ wish they could do.” He both admitted to selectively editing the video to remove the man rushing people with a deadly weapon and also claimed:
Nothing I posted Wrote Or said was misleading in any way
Schaffer was also involved last year in an effort to portray far-right hammer-wielding extremists who attacked Portland anti-fascists as victims.


rightwingwatch--2020-06-01--Kat Kerr Orders ‘Army of Heaven’ to Expose ‘Evil People’ Behind George Floyd Protests

Self-proclaimed “ prophetess ” and “ weather warrior ” Kat Kerr posted a video on Facebook last night in which she called on God to release “ the army of Heaven ” to expose “ the evil people ” who are supposedly financing and organizing protests across the country following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last week .
As Kerr issued her declaration , her sister Jen , who often serves as Kerr ’ s videographer , repeated her words as they ordered the “ Host of Heaven ” to expose “ the evil people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ As a child of the most-high God , as a believer in Jesus Christ , I take the authority given to me , and I come against every act of violence , whether planned or unplanned , through terrorist groups , hate groups , or wicked people , ” Kerr declared .
“ Any form of evil or injustice , we will not tolerate it .
So , therefore , we command the army of Heaven , the Host of Heaven , to go forth right now to expose every act of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working on the side of darkness .
Expose where they are , the hidden places , the hidden plans , the hidden agenda , the evil people who pay for this wicked violence , who plot and plan this violence , who get people to join their groups by paying them .
Expose every one of them , that they will be found out , they will be taken down , there will be no place for them to hide , they will have no power because we shred the plans of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been built in the spirit realm.
” “ We say this with authority and dominion : Go , Host , make toast of the enemy , ” she proclaimed .
“ We demand that this be carried out in Jesus ’ name.
” “ We don ’ t sit by and watch things happen , ” Kerr screamed .
“ We make them happen !
”

Self-proclaimed “prophetess” and “weather warrior” Kat Kerr posted a video on Facebook last night in which she called on God to release “the army of Heaven” to expose “the evil people” who are supposedly financing and organizing protests across the country following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last week.
As Kerr issued her declaration, her sister Jen, who often serves as Kerr’s videographer, repeated her words as they ordered the “Host of Heaven” to expose “the evil people who pay for this wicked violence.”
“As a child of the most-high God, as a believer in Jesus Christ, I take the authority given to me, and I come against every act of violence, whether planned or unplanned, through terrorist groups, hate groups, or wicked people,” Kerr declared. “Any form of evil or injustice, we will not tolerate it. So, therefore, we command the army of Heaven, the Host of Heaven, to go forth right now to expose every act of injustice, every wicked, evil group working on the side of darkness. Expose where they are, the hidden places, the hidden plans, the hidden agenda, the evil people who pay for this wicked violence, who plot and plan this violence, who get people to join their groups by paying them. Expose every one of them, that they will be found out, they will be taken down, there will be no place for them to hide, they will have no power because we shred the plans of the enemy and shred the platforms that have been built in the spirit realm.”
“We say this with authority and dominion: Go, Host, make toast of the enemy,” she proclaimed. “We demand that this be carried out in Jesus’ name.”
“We don’t sit by and watch things happen,” Kerr screamed. “We make them happen!”


rightwingwatch--2020-06-02--Right Wing Round-Up: Misuse and Manipulation

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rightwingwatch--2020-06-02--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: By Any Means Necessary


rightwingwatch--2020-06-02--Rick Wiles Rejoices in Trump’s Staged Bible Photo-Op

Virulently anti-Semitic End Times broadcaster Rick Wiles had turned against President Donald Trump during his first term in office because Wiles believes that Trump is controlled and “ owned by the Jews.
” But Wiles ’ animosity toward Trump melted away last night after the president staged a blatant photo-op in front of a Washington , D.C. , church amid the protests taking place across the nation following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last week .
During last night ’ s “ TruNews ” program , Wiles cut away from his own broadcast to cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walk to St. John ’ s church , where the president posed uncomfortably with a Bible after security forces cleared away cleared away a gathering of peaceful protesters with tear gas .
“ A very historical moment tonight , ” Wiles said somberly .
“ You ’ ll remember this for many , many years .
You ’ ll remember the night the president of the United States bravely walked out of the White House and went to a church that had almost burned down last night because of the leftist communist movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holy Bible , a signal to the whole world that his faith is in God , and I rejoice in this.
” “ This is the moment I ’ ve waited to see in Donald Trump , ” he continued .
“ I ’ ve waited four years to see Donald Trump sincerely express his faith in God , and I really believe that was sincere tonight … I believe for the first time , the president of the United States , Donald J. Trump , publicly acknowledged God .
”

Virulently anti-Semitic End Times broadcaster Rick Wiles had turned against President Donald Trump during his first term in office because Wiles believes that Trump is controlled and “owned by the Jews.” But Wiles’ animosity toward Trump melted away last night after the president staged a blatant photo-op in front of a Washington, D.C., church amid the protests taking place across the nation following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last week.
During last night’s “TruNews” program, Wiles cut away from his own broadcast to cover Trump’s press conference and subsequent walk to St. John’s church, where the president posed uncomfortably with a Bible after security forces cleared away cleared away a gathering of peaceful protesters with tear gas.
Wiles marveled at the staged scene.
“A very historical moment tonight,” Wiles said somberly. “You’ll remember this for many, many years. You’ll remember the night the president of the United States bravely walked out of the White House and went to a church that had almost burned down last night because of the leftist communist movement. And the president held up a Holy Bible, a signal to the whole world that his faith is in God, and I rejoice in this.”
“This is the moment I’ve waited to see in Donald Trump,” he continued. “I’ve waited four years to see Donald Trump sincerely express his faith in God, and I really believe that was sincere tonight … I believe for the first time, the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, publicly acknowledged God.”
“It was an amazing moment,” Wiles concluded.


rightwingwatch--2020-06-02--Virginia Sen. Amanda Chase Foments Fear Among Gun-Owners, Baselessly Warns of ‘Antifa’ Threat

Republican Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase uploaded a video to Facebook yesterday in which she tells gun owners to be “ on alert ” for the potential presence of anti-fascist activists in their area .
In a live broadcast on her official Facebook page , Chase told viewers that anti-fascist activists were present in Richmond , Virginia , and were potentially going to fan out to “ targets ” in the greater Richmond area .
She told viewers—specifically gun owners—to be “ on alert ” in their communities .
“ If you are a Second Amendment supporter—someone who carries—just pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on .
Protect your family , ” Chase said .
“ Be cognizant of what ’ s going on around you.
” Chase went on to say that any anti-fascists who attempted “ hijack ” rallies happening in the greater Richmond area were “ going to be in for a real surprise ” because “ there are a number of people from the 2A [ Second Amendment ] community who have been activated who are on active alert.
” “ If you are a gun owner and proficient in using , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Chase said .
“ Be aware of your surroundings .
Be vigilant .
Keep extra lights on this evening .
If you have a garage , park your car in your garage .
I just want you all to be careful , not fearful .
Be on alert .
If you see something , say something.
” Chase continued , “ If you come to our community and wreak havoc and destruction , you ’ re going to be sorry.
” As Right Wing Watch has reported , Chase , who announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has a long history of Trumpian scandals .
She was booted from the local Chesterfield County Republican Party about a month before she appeared on the ballot in the Virginia election this past November after repeatedly attacking the local Republican sheriff .
Chase verbally accosted a Richmond Capitol Police officer in an argument over a parking space last spring and called the Senate clerk , who had a prime parking spot , “ Miss Piggy.
” In September 2019 , Chase blamed the digital media company she hired for an ad on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups advocating for gun control .
The ad stated , “ I ’ m not afraid to shoot down gun groups.
” In another Facebook comment in July 2019 , Chase said she runs with a gun , because “ it ’ s those who are naive and unprepared that end [ up ] raped.
” Chase started openly carrying a pistol last year , and according to The Daily Progress , “ has continued to carry a gun inside legislative buildings despite new rules barring firearms from the buildings .
”

Republican Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase uploaded a video to Facebook yesterday in which she tells gun owners to be “on alert” for the potential presence of anti-fascist activists in their area.
In a live broadcast on her official Facebook page, Chase told viewers that anti-fascist activists were present in Richmond, Virginia, and were potentially going to fan out to “targets” in the greater Richmond area. She told viewers—specifically gun owners—to be “on alert” in their communities.
“If you are a Second Amendment supporter—someone who carries—just pay close attention to what’s going on. Protect your family,” Chase said. “Be cognizant of what’s going on around you.”
Chase went on to say that any anti-fascists who attempted “hijack” rallies happening in the greater Richmond area were “going to be in for a real surprise” because “there are a number of people from the 2A [Second Amendment] community who have been activated who are on active alert.”
“If you are a gun owner and proficient in using, I’m just putting you on notice,” Chase said. “Be aware of your surroundings. Be vigilant. Keep extra lights on this evening. If you have a garage, park your car in your garage. I just want you all to be careful, not fearful. Be on alert. If you see something, say something.”
Chase continued, “If you come to our community and wreak havoc and destruction, you’re going to be sorry.”
As Right Wing Watch has reported, Chase, who announced she is running for governor in 2021, has a long history of Trumpian scandals. She was booted from the local Chesterfield County Republican Party about a month before she appeared on the ballot in the Virginia election this past November after repeatedly attacking the local Republican sheriff.
Chase verbally accosted a Richmond Capitol Police officer in an argument over a parking space last spring and called the Senate clerk, who had a prime parking spot, “Miss Piggy.”
In September 2019, Chase blamed the digital media company she hired for an ad on her Facebook page that appeared to threaten groups advocating for gun control. The ad stated, “I’m not afraid to shoot down gun groups.”
In another Facebook comment in July 2019, Chase said she runs with a gun, because “it’s those who are naive and unprepared that end [up] raped.”
Chase started openly carrying a pistol last year, and according to The Daily Progress, “has continued to carry a gun inside legislative buildings despite new rules barring firearms from the buildings.”


rightwingwatch--2020-06-02--Mark Taylor and Chris McDonald Attack Jentezen Franklin as a ‘Viper’ for Daring to Mildly Criticize

Mark Taylor and Chris McDonald Attack Jentezen Franklin as a ‘Viper’ for Daring to Mildly Criticize Trump

On last night ’ s episode of “ The MC Files , ” right-wing conspiracy theorists Chris McDonald and Mark Taylor attacked pastor Jentezen Franklin for daring to mildly criticize President Donald Trump ’ s response to the nationwide protests that have erupted following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last week .
Franklin , who has been a key spiritual adviser to Trump throughout his time in office , posted a video on Twitter last week in which he decried the murder to Floyd but also said that he did not agree with Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ when the looting starts , the shooting starts.
” Taylor and McDonald were outraged that Franklin would dare to criticize Trump at all , with Taylor calling Franklin a “ viper ” while McDonald declared that Franklin was driven by “ a spirit of Antichrist.
” “ You don ’ t attack one another publicly if he ’ s in that foxhole with you , ” Taylor said .
“ [ Franklin ] was basically condemning the insensitive tweet that the president put out about shooting and looting and I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he just exposed himself.
’ If you ’ re on the president ’ s spiritual advisory board , why would you ever , ever go public with that garbage ?
” “ It ’ s also like you see these guys laying hands on the president , praying for him , but at the same time sliding a knife in his back , ” Taylor added .
“ Why would you claim to be in a foxhole with someone , and when the shooting starts , they don ’ t shoot the enemy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s disgusting , ” McDonald agreed .
“ [ You ] don ’ t condemn the lawlessness , Jentezen , but you condemn the president for trying to stop the lawlessness ?
That ’ s the spirit of Antichrist , Mark .
That ’ s nothing but the spirit of Antichrist.
” Taylor and McDonald were in complete agreement that “ there was nothing wrong with what the president said , ” with McDonald adding that , if anything , “ I don ’ t think he said it strong enough .
@

On last night’s episode of “The MC Files,” right-wing conspiracy theorists Chris McDonald and Mark Taylor attacked pastor Jentezen Franklin for daring to mildly criticize President Donald Trump’s response to the nationwide protests that have erupted following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last week.
Franklin, who has been a key spiritual adviser to Trump throughout his time in office, posted a video on Twitter last week in which he decried the murder to Floyd but also said that he did not agree with Trump’s “insensitive tweet” threatening that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
Taylor and McDonald were outraged that Franklin would dare to criticize Trump at all, with Taylor calling Franklin a “viper” while McDonald declared that Franklin was driven by “a spirit of Antichrist.”
“You don’t attack one another publicly if he’s in that foxhole with you,” Taylor said. “[Franklin] was basically condemning the insensitive tweet that the president put out about shooting and looting and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Well, he just exposed himself.’ If you’re on the president’s spiritual advisory board, why would you ever, ever go public with that garbage?”
“It’s also like you see these guys laying hands on the president, praying for him, but at the same time sliding a knife in his back,” Taylor added. “Why would you claim to be in a foxhole with someone, and when the shooting starts, they don’t shoot the enemy, they shoot you.”
“It’s disgusting,” McDonald agreed. “[You] don’t condemn the lawlessness, Jentezen, but you condemn the president for trying to stop the lawlessness? That’s the spirit of Antichrist, Mark. That’s nothing but the spirit of Antichrist.”
Taylor and McDonald were in complete agreement that “there was nothing wrong with what the president said,” with McDonald adding that, if anything, “I don’t think he said it strong enough.”


rightwingwatch--2020-06-02--Larry Tomczak Calls 2020 Election a ‘Defining Moment’ for ‘Nation Established Upon a Covenant With G

Larry Tomczak Calls 2020 Election a ‘Defining Moment’ for ‘Nation Established Upon a Covenant With God’

When Charisma , a conservative Pentecostal-oriented media operation , tweeted Monday morning , “ This is our tipping point , ” I clicked the link , interested to read what I expected to be a take on the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the protests that have spread to many American cities in recent days .
Instead , it was yet another “ prophetic ” case for supporting President Donald Trump , just one in a litany from the aggressively Trump-promoting media operation .
“ America is at a defining moment as we face the 2020 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ cultural commentator , ” Intercessors for America board member , and Liberty Counsel public policy adviser .
“ God calls us to learn the truth and let it be known to others lest they be deceived .
He calls us as a nation established upon a covenant with God to return to Him in humble prayer and repentance for divine intervention and healing our land.
” Tomczak praised the “ miraculously ” elected Trump and decries the president ’ s “ cruel ” and “ ruthless ” critics and the “ daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump , he wrote , “ infuriated leftists , socialists and communists determined to silence Christians and conservatives standing for righteousness.
” “ At a time when the nation should come together like after 9/11 , the daily criticism and cruel character assassination are grievous and relentless , ” Tomczak wrote .
“ Having tried for over three years to oust a duly elected President from office , many scheme shamelessly letting ulterior motives and a godless political agenda take precedence over the welfare of our nation.
” “ Dishonest , left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corrupt media have hijacked a political party and are working to dismantle America as a constitutional republic founded on Biblical ideals , ” Tomczak adds .
Tomczak ’ s column mentioned a “ gathering of leaders ” convened by televangelist Rick Joyner at his Morningstar Ministries  “ a couple months ago ” : At the Roundtable we affirmed our mandate to be “ salt ” and “ light ” preserving and promoting righteousness .
We do this by praying , proclaiming transformative truth , voting and supporting leaders standing for faith , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Likewise , we align with God-fearing , patriotic Americans of all backgrounds opposing leftist , secularist , socialistic ideologies disregarding human dignity , justice , sanctity of life , traditional marriage and Judeo-Christian principles .
The stark difference between our two political parties and platforms requires every fully devoted follower of Jesus to reject compromise and complacency to respond courageously and with a sense of urgency as we face rampant deception and corruption .
This is our defining moment to shine as the “ city on a hill ” Jesus proclaimed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We share a conviction that America is at the crossroads .
This is our tipping point .
We stand on the threshold of losing America as it has existed since our inception unless there is national repentance and another spiritual Awakening .

When Charisma, a conservative Pentecostal-oriented media operation, tweeted Monday morning, “This is our tipping point,” I clicked the link, interested to read what I expected to be a take on the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the protests that have spread to many American cities in recent days.
Instead, it was yet another “prophetic” case for supporting President Donald Trump, just one in a litany from the aggressively Trump-promoting media operation. “America is at a defining moment as we face the 2020 election,” wrote Larry Tomczak, a “cultural commentator,” Intercessors for America board member, and Liberty Counsel public policy adviser. “God calls us to learn the truth and let it be known to others lest they be deceived. He calls us as a nation established upon a covenant with God to return to Him in humble prayer and repentance for divine intervention and healing our land.”
Tomczak praised the “miraculously” elected Trump and decries the president’s “cruel” and “ruthless” critics and the “daily dosage of hate-filled propaganda” they dispense. Trump, he wrote, “infuriated leftists, socialists and communists determined to silence Christians and conservatives standing for righteousness.”
“At a time when the nation should come together like after 9/11, the daily criticism and cruel character assassination are grievous and relentless,” Tomczak wrote. “Having tried for over three years to oust a duly elected President from office, many scheme shamelessly letting ulterior motives and a godless political agenda take precedence over the welfare of our nation.”
“Dishonest, left wing politicians in an unholy alliance with corrupt media have hijacked a political party and are working to dismantle America as a constitutional republic founded on Biblical ideals,” Tomczak adds.
Tomczak’s column mentioned a “gathering of leaders” convened by televangelist Rick Joyner at his Morningstar Ministries “a couple months ago”:


rightwingwatch--2020-06-03--Right Wing Round-Up: A Tiny Little Short Period of Time


rightwingwatch--2020-06-03--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: The Man Is Sending a Message


rightwingwatch--2020-06-03--Federal Agencies Cast Doubt on Right-Wing’s ‘Antifa’ Catch-All

President Donald Trump and his allies in right-wing media have repeatedly claimed , without evidence , that anti-fascist activists have been organizing violence and destruction at nationwide protests over the police killing of another black individual , George Floyd .
Rather than attempt to address the cause of protests across the nation , Trump and his allies turned to a tried-and-true boogeyman .
On Sunday , Trump tweeted that the United States would designate “ antifa ” a terrorism organization , despite lacking the legal ability to do so and the fact that there is no formal antifa organization in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pockets of local and hyper-local autonomous groups that follow an ideology that calls for resistance to fascist , bigoted and anti-democratic forces and groups .
Politico reports that the president ’ s desire has been supported by his top officials , including Attorney General William Barr and national security adviser Robert O ’ Brien .
Trump made a similar threat last year , but nothing came of it .
New reports from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security deflate right-wing claims that the blame for civil unrest lies at the feet of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporter for The Nation , reported yesterday that the FBI ’ s Washington Field Office possessed “ no intelligence indicating Antifa involvement/presence ” in the destruction of property that occurred in the capital city Sunday night .
According to an FBI report exclusively obtained by The Nation , “ based on CHS [ Confidential Human Source ] canvassing , open source/social media partner engagement , and liaison , FBI WFO has no intelligence indicating Antifa involvement/presence.
” However , as Klippenstein reported , the agency memo did warn that members of a far-right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers and using weapons against protesters .
Additionally , Reuters reporters reviewed an intelligence assessment of nationwide protests in which U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials said “ most of the violence appears to have been driven by opportunists.
” Although the portion of the document viewed by Reuters did note the possibility that anarchist antifascist activists may have contributed to the nationwide havoc , the portion reviewed reportedly “ did not provide any specific evidence of extremist-driven violence , but noted that white supremacists were working online to increase tensions between protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of violence against both groups.
” As the concept of anti-fascism has become familiar to more Americans , the political right has expanded its working definition of “ antifa ” from a limited group of direct-action style protesters who have clashed with white supremacists and police to include large swaths of anti-Trump figures and social causes .
Right-wing politicians and media figures have stretched to substantiate baseless claims of anti-fascist violence at protests following Floyd ’ s killing .
Right-wing media outlet RedState and several right-wing social media accounts published and circulated violent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posing as an anti-fascist source as if it were fact .
 ( RedState corrected its story after Right Wing Watch reached out for comment yesterday . )
Facebook reported it has been removing white supremacist accounts falsely posing as anti-fascist activists .
As NBC News reporter Ben Collins noted on Twitter , Fox News published a story warning of anti-fascist riots heading into suburban areas—an unsubstantiated set of social media rumors furthered by right-wing politicians like Republican Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase .

President Donald Trump and his allies in right-wing media have repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that anti-fascist activists have been organizing violence and destruction at nationwide protests over the police killing of another black individual, George Floyd.
Rather than attempt to address the cause of protests across the nation, Trump and his allies turned to a tried-and-true boogeyman. On Sunday, Trump tweeted that the United States would designate “antifa” a terrorism organization, despite lacking the legal ability to do so and the fact that there is no formal antifa organization in existence. Rather, antifa refers to pockets of local and hyper-local autonomous groups that follow an ideology that calls for resistance to fascist, bigoted and anti-democratic forces and groups. Politico reports that the president’s desire has been supported by his top officials, including Attorney General William Barr and national security adviser Robert O’Brien. Trump made a similar threat last year, but nothing came of it.
New reports from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security deflate right-wing claims that the blame for civil unrest lies at the feet of anti-fascist activists.
Ken Klippenstein, a reporter for The Nation, reported yesterday that the FBI’s Washington Field Office possessed “no intelligence indicating Antifa involvement/presence” in the destruction of property that occurred in the capital city Sunday night. According to an FBI report exclusively obtained by The Nation, “based on CHS [Confidential Human Source] canvassing, open source/social media partner engagement, and liaison, FBI WFO has no intelligence indicating Antifa involvement/presence.” However, as Klippenstein reported, the agency memo did warn that members of a far-right social media group had called for attacking officers and using weapons against protesters.
Additionally, Reuters reporters reviewed an intelligence assessment of nationwide protests in which U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials said “most of the violence appears to have been driven by opportunists.” Although the portion of the document viewed by Reuters did note the possibility that anarchist antifascist activists may have contributed to the nationwide havoc, the portion reviewed reportedly “did not provide any specific evidence of extremist-driven violence, but noted that white supremacists were working online to increase tensions between protesters and law enforcement by calling for acts of violence against both groups.”
As the concept of anti-fascism has become familiar to more Americans, the political right has expanded its working definition of “antifa” from a limited group of direct-action style protesters who have clashed with white supremacists and police to include large swaths of anti-Trump figures and social causes.
Right-wing politicians and media figures have stretched to substantiate baseless claims of anti-fascist violence at protests following Floyd’s killing. Right-wing media outlet RedState and several right-wing social media accounts published and circulated violent rhetoric posted by a white nationalist group posing as an anti-fascist source as if it were fact. (RedState corrected its story after Right Wing Watch reached out for comment yesterday.) Facebook reported it has been removing white supremacist accounts falsely posing as anti-fascist activists. As NBC News reporter Ben Collins noted on Twitter, Fox News published a story warning of anti-fascist riots heading into suburban areas—an unsubstantiated set of social media rumors furthered by right-wing politicians like Republican Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase.


rightwingwatch--2020-06-03--Ed Martin Calls D.C. Archbishop Criticism of Trump ‘Hateful’ and ‘Social Justice Gobbledygook’

Ed Martin , an ally and successor to the late right-wing activist Phyllis Schlafly , slammed Catholic Archbishop of Washington , D.C. , Wilton Gregory for criticizing President Donald Trump ’ s brief visit to the John Paul II Shrine Tuesday .
Trump ’ s visit came while outrage was fresh from the violent removal of protesters near the White House Monday so Trump could stroll through Lafayette Park and wave a Bible at a photo op at St. John ’ s Episcopal Church .
Given the timing , many others viewed Trump ’ s visit as another cynical photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that said : I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles , which call us to defend the rights of all people even those with whom we might disagree .
Saint Pope John Paul II was an ardent defender of the rights and dignity of human beings .
His legacy bears vivid witness to that truth .
He certainly would not condone the use of tear gas and other deterrents to silence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace .
Martin , a fervent Trump supporter , was outraged .
He said Trump ’ s visit had been planned weeks in advance to commemorate the June 2 anniversary of Pope John Paul II ’ s first return to Poland as pope .
“ The scandal you are causing is dividing and upsetting , ” Martin wrote in a letter to the archbishop Tuesday .
Martin wrote that Gregory ’ s statement about Trump was causing “ scandal ” and urged him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The blatantly partisan nature of your comments alienates half of your flock by expressing subjective political opinions rather than evangelizing using the objective truths of the Catholic faith , ” Martin ’ s letter said .
On his podcast Tuesday , Martin went even further , saying Gregory was “ making himself into a partisan hack.
” Martin said he was not judging Gregory ’ s character but his conduct , which Martin called “ terribly destructive , terribly hateful , terribly scandalous.
” Martin called Gregory ’ s statement “ classic American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ damaging to the body of Christ.
” “ There is no teaching of the Catholic Church that allows an archbishop to judge others and to interject himself in the way he did that I know of , ” Martin said .
“ I , for one , am very tired of the Catholic leadership presuming that they get to speak for all of us , ” Martin said , a statement that progressive Catholics may choose to remind Martin of when the bishops ’ conference promotes anti-choice and anti-LGBTQ positions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also released a statement Sunday decrying the “ horror ” of George Floyd ’ s death and other acts of racism .

Ed Martin, an ally and successor to the late right-wing activist Phyllis Schlafly, slammed Catholic Archbishop of Washington, D.C., Wilton Gregory for criticizing President Donald Trump’s brief visit to the John Paul II Shrine Tuesday. Trump’s visit came while outrage was fresh from the violent removal of protesters near the White House Monday so Trump could stroll through Lafayette Park and wave a Bible at a photo op at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Given the timing, many others viewed Trump’s visit as another cynical photo op, and Gregory released a statement that said:
I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles, which call us to defend the rights of all people even those with whom we might disagree. Saint Pope John Paul II was an ardent defender of the rights and dignity of human beings. His legacy bears vivid witness to that truth. He certainly would not condone the use of tear gas and other deterrents to silence, scatter or intimidate them for a photo opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace.
Martin, a fervent Trump supporter, was outraged. He said Trump’s visit had been planned weeks in advance to commemorate the June 2 anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s first return to Poland as pope. “The scandal you are causing is dividing and upsetting,” Martin wrote in a letter to the archbishop Tuesday.
Martin wrote that Gregory’s statement about Trump was causing “scandal” and urged him to retract and apologize for it. “The blatantly partisan nature of your comments alienates half of your flock by expressing subjective political opinions rather than evangelizing using the objective truths of the Catholic faith,” Martin’s letter said.
On his podcast Tuesday, Martin went even further, saying Gregory was “making himself into a partisan hack.” Martin said he was not judging Gregory’s character but his conduct, which Martin called “terribly destructive, terribly hateful, terribly scandalous.”
Martin called Gregory’s statement “classic American social justice gobbledygook” and said it was “damaging to the body of Christ.”
“There is no teaching of the Catholic Church that allows an archbishop to judge others and to interject himself in the way he did that I know of,” Martin said.
“I, for one, am very tired of the Catholic leadership presuming that they get to speak for all of us,” Martin said, a statement that progressive Catholics may choose to remind Martin of when the bishops’ conference promotes anti-choice and anti-LGBTQ positions that most U.S. Catholics disagree with.
Gregory also released a statement Sunday decrying the “horror” of George Floyd’s death and other acts of racism.


rightwingwatch--2020-06-03--DeAnna Lorraine Opposes Riots and Destruction, Unless It’s Targeting Hollywood

During her livestream broadcast yesterday , QAnon conspiracy theorist and failed congressional candidate DeAnna Lorraine decried the sporadic looting , destruction , and violence that has occurred amid the nationwide protests following the police killing of George Floyd last week—before saying she ’ d be OK with seeing Hollywood burned to the ground “ because it is satanic.
” “ If you are a Democrat at this point , if you call yourself a liberal at this point after seeing all of this , ” Lorraine said , “ then you are endorsing this violent , disgusting behavior , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You ’ re endorsing it .
You ’ re endorsing it .
I ’ m sorry , but you just simply can ’ t be on the left anymore and be ignorant to what that really means , because this is what it means : You ’ re endorsing this behavior.
” “ We can not have this behavior endorsed ; we simply can ’ t , ” she added .
“ We need to have this behavior called out and condemned and stopped.
” Approximately two minutes later , Lorraine amended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declare that “ if there ’ s one institution that should be burned down , it should be Hollywood .
Hollywood I ’ m OK with it being burned down because it is satanic .
”

During her livestream broadcast yesterday, QAnon conspiracy theorist and failed congressional candidate DeAnna Lorraine decried the sporadic looting, destruction, and violence that has occurred amid the nationwide protests following the police killing of George Floyd last week—before saying she’d be OK with seeing Hollywood burned to the ground “because it is satanic.”
“If you are a Democrat at this point, if you call yourself a liberal at this point after seeing all of this,” Lorraine said, “then you are endorsing this violent, disgusting behavior, you’re endorsing the destruction of America. You’re endorsing it. You’re endorsing it. I’m sorry, but you just simply can’t be on the left anymore and be ignorant to what that really means, because this is what it means: You’re endorsing this behavior.”
“We cannot have this behavior endorsed; we simply can’t,” she added. “We need to have this behavior called out and condemned and stopped.”
Approximately two minutes later, Lorraine amended her denunciation of destruction and violence to declare that “if there’s one institution that should be burned down, it should be Hollywood. Hollywood I’m OK with it being burned down because it is satanic.”


rightwingwatch--2020-06-04--Right Wing Round-Up: A Threat to the Constitution


rightwingwatch--2020-06-04--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: Another Glenn Beck Prediction Comes True

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rightwingwatch--2020-06-04--Ed Martin Declares ‘War’ and Smears Black Lives Matter

“ It ’ s a War , ” right-wing activist Ed Martin declared in the subject line of an email to supporters Thursday morning after mass protests against the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd , a black man , continued for a ninth night .
Martin ’ s email linked to a tweet in which Martin declared , “ It ’ s a war – Us v. Those that Hate America ; we have to win !
” Martin amplified that message in the Periscope broadcast attached to his tweet .
“ We are at war , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not about racial justice.
” In a tweet Thursday afternoon , Martin told readers to “ no longer hope for peace , ” adding , “ We ’ re at war.
” He linked to a Wednesday edition of his podcast that delivered a similar message .
In the video message Martin filmed from his car Wednesday , he called for “ massive amounts of force ” to be deployed against protesters .
Martin said that he supports justice for Floyd , but he charged that the protest organizers ’ real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ We ’ re at war with people that don ’ t believe in our Constitution , our rights to property , life , liberty and pursuit of happiness , and they don ’ t believe in our founding value , ” he said .
Martin said this week ’ s protests are part of a “ 50-year war ” that “ started in the late 60s ” with people who were trying to violently subvert American institutions .
Martin said “ massive force should be executed ” against perpetrators of violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after curfew is by definition not a peaceful protester .
“ If you ’ re showing up after the curfews to do things like have a ‘ peaceful protest ’ —after the curfews , there ’ s no peaceful protest going on right now .
You ’ re breaking the law , and you ought to be—massive force should be executed on you to move you back and arrest you if you have to.
” “ It ’ s not a time , ” Martin said , “ to debate how we treat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ correctness .
It ’ s not a time to wonder what we can do .
It ’ s a time for real action , fearless action.
” “ Antifa , Black Lives Matter—any of these groups that are organizing it—they have to be treated like terrorists , because that ’ s what they ’ ve been doing , ” he continued .
“ We have to be ruthless , ” Martin said , calling for police tp track down people who break the law during protests and hold them in jail without bail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rioters really want justice , what exactly does that look like ?
” Martin asked in his email .
“ Seriously , what can we possibly do that would make them happy ?
Black Lives Matter won ’ t actually say what they hope to accomplish.
” “ There may be people that have a complaint about racial justice , ” he said in his video .
“ We should talk about it .
But it ’ s not about that fundamentally .
It ’ s about people that are trying to destroy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizers have no goal beyond mayhem : For the record , Black Lives Matter ’ s website has plenty of information about the movement ’ s goals and its efforts to mobilize people to participate in the 2020 election “ to build collective power and to ensure candidates are held accountable for the issues that systematically and disproportionately impact Black and under-served communities across the nation.
” BLM calls for funds to be transferred from police departments to community investments .
Its website includes information for small business owners and people who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And of course , as its name suggests , it calls for black life to be valued as much as any other .
A video promoting BLM ’ s # WhatMatters2020 campaign asks , “ Can you imagine an America in which oppression and fear are dissolved ?
Where we are whole and healed ?
” Martin may not agree with BLM ’ s agenda , but it is emphatically dishonest to say that the movement “ doesn ’ t seem to want anything ” except to “ destroy America.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a statement on BLM ’ s website , which notes , “ Black Lives Matter is a central target of disinformation.
” Martin worked with and for the late Phyllis Schlafly .
He runs Phyllis Schlafly Eagles , an organization that emerged from an ugly split among her supporters toward the end of her life .
He was a co-author with Schlafly of “ The Conservative Case for Trump , ” a book published in 2016 .
He was hired by CNN as a pro-Trump commentator in September 2017 , a move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ describe “ Shameless Ed ” as a “ disgraced chief of staff to Gov .
Matt Blunt ” who will “ say almost anything ” —a trait that got him fired from CNN just a few months after he started .
Martin ran for a seat on the Fairfax County board of supervisors in Virginia ’ s elections last year , losing by about 30 percentage points .

“It’s a War,” right-wing activist Ed Martin declared in the subject line of an email to supporters Thursday morning after mass protests against the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, a black man, continued for a ninth night.
Martin’s email linked to a tweet in which Martin declared, “It’s a war – Us v. Those that Hate America; we have to win!” Martin amplified that message in the Periscope broadcast attached to his tweet. “We are at war,” he said of the protests. “It’s not about racial justice.”
In a tweet Thursday afternoon, Martin told readers to “no longer hope for peace,” adding, “We’re at war.” He linked to a Wednesday edition of his podcast that delivered a similar message.
In the video message Martin filmed from his car Wednesday, he called for “massive amounts of force” to be deployed against protesters. Martin said that he supports justice for Floyd, but he charged that the protest organizers’ real goal is to “destroy this country.”
“We’re at war with people that don’t believe in our Constitution, our rights to property, life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, and they don’t believe in our founding value,” he said. Martin said this week’s protests are part of a “50-year war” that “started in the late 60s” with people who were trying to violently subvert American institutions.
Martin said “massive force should be executed” against perpetrators of violence. And he said that anyone out after curfew is by definition not a peaceful protester. “If you’re showing up after the curfews to do things like have a ‘peaceful protest’—after the curfews, there’s no peaceful protest going on right now. You’re breaking the law, and you ought to be—massive force should be executed on you to move you back and arrest you if you have to.”
“It’s not a time,” Martin said, “to debate how we treat people” or “to debate political correctness. It’s not a time to wonder what we can do. It’s a time for real action, fearless action.”
“Antifa, Black Lives Matter—any of these groups that are organizing it—they have to be treated like terrorists, because that’s what they’ve been doing,” he continued.
“We have to be ruthless,” Martin said, calling for police tp track down people who break the law during protests and hold them in jail without bail, Martin said.
“If the rioters really want justice, what exactly does that look like?” Martin asked in his email. “Seriously, what can we possibly do that would make them happy? Black Lives Matter won’t actually say what they hope to accomplish.”
“There may be people that have a complaint about racial justice,” he said in his video. “We should talk about it. But it’s not about that fundamentally. It’s about people that are trying to destroy this country.”
Martin charged that protest organizers have no goal beyond mayhem:
Have you noticed? Antifa doesn’t want anything. Black Lives Matter hasn’t said what they want. Now, a couple of their leaders or someone is now saying, ‘We want this’ or ‘We want that.’ They don’t really seem to want anything. Except they do want something. They want to destroy America. And they want to kill more people and turn us against each other.
For the record, Black Lives Matter’s website has plenty of information about the movement’s goals and its efforts to mobilize people to participate in the 2020 election “to build collective power and to ensure candidates are held accountable for the issues that systematically and disproportionately impact Black and under-served communities across the nation.” BLM calls for funds to be transferred from police departments to community investments. Its website includes information for small business owners and people who have lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And of course, as its name suggests, it calls for black life to be valued as much as any other.
A video promoting BLM’s #WhatMatters2020 campaign asks, “Can you imagine an America in which oppression and fear are dissolved? Where we are whole and healed?”
Martin may not agree with BLM’s agenda, but it is emphatically dishonest to say that the movement “doesn’t seem to want anything” except to “destroy America.” In fact, Martin has demonstrated the accuracy of a statement on BLM’s website, which notes, “Black Lives Matter is a central target of disinformation.”
Martin worked with and for the late Phyllis Schlafly. He runs Phyllis Schlafly Eagles, an organization that emerged from an ugly split among her supporters toward the end of her life. He was a co-author with Schlafly of “The Conservative Case for Trump,” a book published in 2016. He was hired by CNN as a pro-Trump commentator in September 2017, a move that provoked the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to describe “Shameless Ed” as a “disgraced chief of staff to Gov. Matt Blunt” who will “say almost anything”—a trait that got him fired from CNN just a few months after he started. Martin ran for a seat on the Fairfax County board of supervisors in Virginia’s elections last year, losing by about 30 percentage points.
(This post was updated to include additional identifying information about Martin.)


rightwingwatch--2020-06-04--Rick Wiles Hopes Trump Will Round-Up Liberal Activists and Torture Them

End Times broadcaster Rick Wiles has been warning for years that liberals intend to use the power of government to round up conservative Christians , place them in concentration camps , and kill them .
Though such plans exist only in the fevered minds of right-wing conspiracy theorists , Wiles was aghast that anyone would ever plan such horrible things for their fellow citizens .
All that changed on Tuesday night , when Wiles began openly hoping that President Donald Trump will do those things to left-wing activists .
On Tuesday ’ s episode of his “ TruNews ” program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use the military to quash nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd and called on Trump to use the military to take down liberal organizations , arrest their leaders , and send them to Guantanamo Bay to be tortured .
“ We were concerned as conservatives that you ’ re going to have a far-left regime in power that is going to try to round up conservatives , confiscate guns , put people in detention centers , and so forth , ” Wiles said .
“ You know what ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s gallows .
What they planned for the church , for conservatives , for patriots , what they planned is going to be flipped around on them.
” “ There ’ s a Republican president in the White House right now who ’ s brought the military in , ” he continued .
“ You know who ’ s going to get rounded up ?
The left , the communists , the people who are burning down the country .
That ’ s who ’ s going to get rounded up .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ I have to think that privately , last night , a lot of them are starting to become afraid , ” Wiles said .
“ I ’ m talking about the leaders , the ones who know that their names are linked to these organizations , secretly linked , that their bank accounts , the flow of money , the meetings , the trail of emails , text messages , that if the federal government comes in and begins a serious investigation , it ’ s going to lead to some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government is going to seize their bank accounts , seize their assets , and put some of these people in prison .
That ’ s where this is going right now , if President Trump does not let up.
” “ They have to be outed , they have to be hunted down , they have to be given a trial , and that trial could be a military trial , ” he added .
“ Once you ’ re declared a terrorist organization , you don ’ t have constitutional rights .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You may see people in these far-left organizations transported to Guantanamo and waterboarded to confess who ’ s funding the organizations.
” “ I know my enemies watch me , ” Wiles said , turning to the camera .
“ I hope you soiled your pants .
I hope you ’ re scared right now because the pendulum is swinging .
You ’ ve been ripping this country apart for decades .
You ’ ve been harassing God-fearing men and women , smearing people ’ s names and reputations , fomenting sedition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , defiling people ’ s souls , and now you ’ re on the verge of being outed .
”

End Times broadcaster Rick Wiles has been warning for years that liberals intend to use the power of government to round up conservative Christians, place them in concentration camps, and kill them.
Though such plans exist only in the fevered minds of right-wing conspiracy theorists, Wiles was aghast that anyone would ever plan such horrible things for their fellow citizens. All that changed on Tuesday night, when Wiles began openly hoping that President Donald Trump will do those things to left-wing activists.
On Tuesday’s episode of his “TruNews” program, Wiles cheered Trump’s plan to use the military to quash nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd and called on Trump to use the military to take down liberal organizations, arrest their leaders, and send them to Guantanamo Bay to be tortured.
“We were concerned as conservatives that you’re going to have a far-left regime in power that is going to try to round up conservatives, confiscate guns, put people in detention centers, and so forth,” Wiles said. “You know what? This is turning out to be Haman’s gallows. What they planned for the church, for conservatives, for patriots, what they planned is going to be flipped around on them.”
“There’s a Republican president in the White House right now who’s brought the military in,” he continued. “You know who’s going to get rounded up? The left, the communists, the people who are burning down the country. That’s who’s going to get rounded up. This thing has completely flipped on them.”
“I have to think that privately, last night, a lot of them are starting to become afraid,” Wiles said. “I’m talking about the leaders, the ones who know that their names are linked to these organizations, secretly linked, that their bank accounts, the flow of money, the meetings, the trail of emails, text messages, that if the federal government comes in and begins a serious investigation, it’s going to lead to some very powerful people. And the U.S. government is going to seize their bank accounts, seize their assets, and put some of these people in prison. That’s where this is going right now, if President Trump does not let up.”
“They have to be outed, they have to be hunted down, they have to be given a trial, and that trial could be a military trial,” he added. “Once you’re declared a terrorist organization, you don’t have constitutional rights. Where are you taken to? Guantanamo. You may see people in these far-left organizations transported to Guantanamo and waterboarded to confess who’s funding the organizations.”
“I know my enemies watch me,” Wiles said, turning to the camera. “I hope you soiled your pants. I hope you’re scared right now because the pendulum is swinging. You’ve been ripping this country apart for decades. You’ve been harassing God-fearing men and women, smearing people’s names and reputations, fomenting sedition and revolution, poisoning the minds of children, defiling people’s souls, and now you’re on the verge of being outed.”


rightwingwatch--2020-06-04--Chris Loesch Determines Man With Neo-Nazi Tattoos is ‘ANTIFA’

Chris Loesch , an outspoken right-wing activist , assessed a contextless photo of a man with neo-Nazi tattoos at a protest against the police killing of George Floyd , a black man , and determined that the individual pictured must be an anti-fascist activist .
The husband and manager of right-wing broadcaster and former National Rifle Association spokesperson Dana Loesch , Chris Loesch has presented on stage at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference , conservatives ’ largest conference , multiple times .
At CPAC in 2012 , Chris Loesch even suited up in a colonial wig and tracksuit to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a  “ patriotic ” rap number. Chris Loesch presented a contextless image of a woman recording a cell phone video of a man with tattoos of a swastika on his chest and the words “ White Pride ” on his neck on Twitter Wednesday and declared , “ When I see that goon I see ANTIFA.
” “ Antifa ” is a colloquial term often used to refer to pockets of local autonomous groups that appear at protests to confront fascist , bigoted , and anti-democratic forces–including Nazis and white supremacists .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote , “ In all fairness , I haven ’ t seen ANTIFA sporting swastikas , ” Chris Loesch replied , “ Swastikas and Hammer & Cicle are historically the same in terms of evil , horrors and atrocities committed in the name of Socialism.
” According to Ocala News , the photographed man with the neo-Nazi tattoos is Dylan Gentry , a Florida man who reportedly appeared at a local George Floyd protest to show solidarity with demonstrators and to renounce his prior neo-Nazi beliefs .
Ocala News reported : “ All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Not just change of heart , but change of the times we ’ re in , ” said Gentry on a Facebook post .
He explained that his tattoos did not represent his beliefs and indicated he wanted to show that with his actions .
Gentry says he is in the process of trying to remove his tattoos , but has experienced difficulties in getting it done .
Right-wing media personalities have issued grave warnings to their audiences about the supposed threat that anti-fascist activists pose to their property and physical safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the police killing of Floyd .
Both the FBI Washington Field Office and the Department of Homeland Security have said there is no evidence that anti-fascists are responsible for organizing violence and damage .
Rather , federal authorizes have gathered evidence that right-wing extremists have encouraged violence at protests .
Yesterday , the Department of Justice announced that three members of the right-wing “ boogaloo ” movement , which advocates for civil war and the collapse of society , had been charged with possession of a Molotov cocktail and conspiracy to cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vegas .

Chris Loesch, an outspoken right-wing activist, assessed a contextless photo of a man with neo-Nazi tattoos at a protest against the police killing of George Floyd, a black man, and determined that the individual pictured must be an anti-fascist activist.
The husband and manager of right-wing broadcaster and former National Rifle Association spokesperson Dana Loesch, Chris Loesch has presented on stage at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, conservatives’ largest conference, multiple times. At CPAC in 2012, Chris Loesch even suited up in a colonial wig and tracksuit to join right-wing talk host Steven Crowder for a “patriotic” rap number.
Chris Loesch presented a contextless image of a woman recording a cell phone video of a man with tattoos of a swastika on his chest and the words “White Pride” on his neck on Twitter Wednesday and declared, “When I see that goon I see ANTIFA.” “Antifa” is a colloquial term often used to refer to pockets of local autonomous groups that appear at protests to confront fascist, bigoted, and anti-democratic forces–including Nazis and white supremacists.
When questioned by another Twitter user who wrote, “In all fairness, I haven’t seen ANTIFA sporting swastikas,” Chris Loesch replied, “Swastikas and Hammer & Cicle are historically the same in terms of evil, horrors and atrocities committed in the name of Socialism.”
When I see that goon I see ANTIFA. https://t.co/0yTmwfAPhw — Chris Loesch (@ChrisLoesch) June 3, 2020
According to Ocala News, the photographed man with the neo-Nazi tattoos is Dylan Gentry, a Florida man who reportedly appeared at a local George Floyd protest to show solidarity with demonstrators and to renounce his prior neo-Nazi beliefs. Ocala News reported:
“All a Nazi has to see is change. Not just change of heart, but change of the times we’re in,” said Gentry on a Facebook post. He explained that his tattoos did not represent his beliefs and indicated he wanted to show that with his actions. […] Gentry says he is in the process of trying to remove his tattoos, but has experienced difficulties in getting it done.
Right-wing media personalities have issued grave warnings to their audiences about the supposed threat that anti-fascist activists pose to their property and physical safety as the nation experiences mass civil unrest over the police killing of Floyd. Both the FBI Washington Field Office and the Department of Homeland Security have said there is no evidence that anti-fascists are responsible for organizing violence and damage.
Rather, federal authorizes have gathered evidence that right-wing extremists have encouraged violence at protests. Yesterday, the Department of Justice announced that three members of the right-wing “boogaloo” movement, which advocates for civil war and the collapse of society, had been charged with possession of a Molotov cocktail and conspiracy to cause destruction at George Floyd protests in Las Vegas.


rightwingwatch--2020-06-05--Right Wing Round-Up: George Washington’s Photo-Op


rightwingwatch--2020-06-05--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: Obama’s Rebellion


rightwingwatch--2020-06-05--Kenneth Copeland Says Christians Who Vote Correctly Will Be ‘Blessed Financially’

Multimillionaire prosperity gospel preacher and Trump evangelical adviser Kenneth Copeland held a “ virtual victory campaign ” at his Eagle Mountain International Church in Texas last weekend , during which he declared that God will financially reward people who vote according to the Bible .
Copeland , who has been a key supporter of President Donald Trump throughout his first term , declared that Christians who vote “ according to the leading of the Spirit of God ” will be “ blessed financially ” by God .
“ This is the mightiest country on the face of the Earth , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote and do it according to the leading of the Spirit of God , ” Copeland said .
“ It ’ s very vital and very , very important .
It ’ s important to your own financial welfare.
” “ That ballot is your seed , ” he continued .
“ You did what you believe was right , and God will treat you the entire time that that person is in office—whether it ’ s the governor , or the president , or a senator , or congressman , whomever it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and God will treat you the same and you ’ ll be blessed financially , and you ’ ll be blessed in your body , and you can put a smile on your face and say , ‘ Glory to God . '
”

Multimillionaire prosperity gospel preacher and Trump evangelical adviser Kenneth Copeland held a “virtual victory campaign” at his Eagle Mountain International Church in Texas last weekend, during which he declared that God will financially reward people who vote according to the Bible.
Copeland, who has been a key supporter of President Donald Trump throughout his first term, declared that Christians who vote “according to the leading of the Spirit of God” will be “blessed financially” by God.
“This is the mightiest country on the face of the Earth, and it is extremely important that we vote and do it according to the leading of the Spirit of God,” Copeland said. “It’s very vital and very, very important. It’s important to your own financial welfare.”
“That ballot is your seed,” he continued. “You did what you believe was right, and God will treat you the entire time that that person is in office—whether it’s the governor, or the president, or a senator, or congressman, whomever it is … That ballot is your seed and God will treat you the same and you’ll be blessed financially, and you’ll be blessed in your body, and you can put a smile on your face and say, ‘Glory to God.'”


rightwingwatch--2020-06-08--Right Wing Round-Up: ‘Our Homo-Empire’

Right Wing Round-Up: ‘Our Homo-Empire’


rightwingwatch--2020-06-08--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: ‘Has Anybody Seen the Body of George Floyd?’


rightwingwatch--2020-06-08--Candace Owens Smears George Floyd, Claims Racism ‘Doesn’t Exist as a Problematic Thing’

As protests erupted across the country in reaction to the police killing of George Floyd , a black man , right-wing activist Candace Owens took to Periscope last Wednesday to smear Floyd and claim that racism “ doesn ’ t exist as a problematic thing in this country.
” The following day , Owens appeared on a White House roundtable of black conservatives to discuss race relations with Vice President Mike Pence .
By Sunday , she was banned from the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe .
Owens , the founder of BLEXIT , a campaign to encourage black Americans and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican Party , said her Periscope message was directed to “ the heart of black America , ” whose culture she proceeded to insult almost immediately .
Citing Shelby Steele , a black conservative author at the Hoover Institution , Owens claimed that “ there is something really ugly and broken about [ black ] culture.
” “ We cater to the bottom denominator of our society , ” Owens stated .
“ We are the only community that will get outraged and up and organized and picket and protest to defend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaning criminals , burglars , robbers , criminals , anything .
You commit a crime , only black Americans will be out picketing to defend the criminals .
It ’ s not something white Americans do , Jewish Americans.
” “ Over the last five years , it has become extremely fashionable for us to martyr criminals .
It ’ s unbelievable .
Not even Latinos do this , ” Owens continued , before she claimed that black Americans dismiss people at the top of their community as “ coons ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rice , Larry Elder , Thomas Sowell , and Steele as examples .
To Owens , Floyd was an example of someone at the bottom of society , who should not be held up as a martyr .
“ This is a man who had drugs on him , was using counterfeit bills , and was high , ” she said .
Pointing to Floyd ’ s autopsy , which showed that he had fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system , and to a criminal record , Owens hopped on the right-wing bandwagon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullshit about him being on the right track , ” she said , describing Floyd as “ a horrible human being.
” On Sunday , GoFundMe permanently banned Owens after she tried to raise money for an Alabama restaurant owner who called George Floyd a “ thug ” and Black Lives Matter protesters “ idiots ” and claimed his comments were inspired by Owens .
A statement from GoFundMe said that Owens had violated its term of service for “ a repeated pattern of inflammatory statements that spread hate , discrimination , intolerance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a time of profound national crisis.
” While Owens continued her attack on Floyd , she told her Periscope audience that there was “ no argument you ’ re going to hear from me that Derek Chauvin was right , ” referring to the Minneapolis Police officer who killed Floyd .
But that didn ’ t stop her from claiming that racialized police brutality was all made up .
“ The whole concept of racialized police brutality is a myth .
All you have to do is sit down and do basic mathematics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve been sold is a lie .
It ’ s a lie .
There is no racially targeted police brutality against black Americans , ” Owens continued .
“ The only thing we ’ re doing disproportionately in America is committing crimes.
” “ And we ’ ll ally ourselves with the far-left antifa thugs , who know exactly what they ’ re doing , ” Owens continued .
“ The left think we ’ re dumb , OK ?
We have to stop proving them right.
” “ What do you think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked .
“ All they care about is power , all they want to do is destroy your neighborhoods , burn them down , shut down your businesses , and get you on government dependence , at the same time poo-pooing you and telling you they ’ re going to fight the boogeyman of racism that doesn ’ t exist as a problematic thing in this country.
” This isn ’ t the first time Owens has suggested racism doesn ’ t exist .
At the Conservative Political Action Conference in February 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a racist country , ” a statement that would seemingly contradict her own experience .
As a high school student in 2007 , Owens accused a group of teens of racist conduct resulting in her family receiving a $ 37,5000 settlement .
At a House hearing in 2019 , Right Wing Watch reported that Owens “ declared the late president Richard Nixon ’ s electoral ‘ Southern strategy ’ —an appeal to white racial resentment after the passage of civil rights legislation—to be a ‘ myth ’ that ‘ never happened.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the communications director of Turning Point USA , Owens was caught on film defending nationalism by claiming that the problem with Adolf Hitler was that he was too ambitious and took his plans beyond Germany .
Owens has also claimed that the response to Floyd ’ s death is a “ media-manufactured race war.
” Her claims of antifa—a term to describe anti-facist , direct-action style protesters—echo those of President Donald Trump and his right-wing allies , including Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase , who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests across the nation , encouraging violence and vandalism .
Yet reports from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security investigating the claims against antifa instead found evidence of right-wing extremist groups aiming to increase tensions between protesters and law enforcement .

As protests erupted across the country in reaction to the police killing of George Floyd, a black man, right-wing activist Candace Owens took to Periscope last Wednesday to smear Floyd and claim that racism “doesn’t exist as a problematic thing in this country.”
The following day, Owens appeared on a White House roundtable of black conservatives to discuss race relations with Vice President Mike Pence. By Sunday, she was banned from the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe.
Owens, the founder of BLEXIT, a campaign to encourage black Americans and other minorities to leave the Democratic Party for the Republican Party, said her Periscope message was directed to “the heart of black America,” whose culture she proceeded to insult almost immediately. Citing Shelby Steele, a black conservative author at the Hoover Institution, Owens claimed that “there is something really ugly and broken about [black] culture.”
“We cater to the bottom denominator of our society,” Owens stated. “We are the only community that will get outraged and up and organized and picket and protest to defend the bottom denominator of our community, meaning criminals, burglars, robbers, criminals, anything. You commit a crime, only black Americans will be out picketing to defend the criminals. It’s not something white Americans do, Jewish Americans.”
“Over the last five years, it has become extremely fashionable for us to martyr criminals. It’s unbelievable. Not even Latinos do this,” Owens continued, before she claimed that black Americans dismiss people at the top of their community as “coons” and “Toms,” citing black conservatives Condolezza Rice, Larry Elder, Thomas Sowell, and Steele as examples.
To Owens, Floyd was an example of someone at the bottom of society, who should not be held up as a martyr. “This is a man who had drugs on him, was using counterfeit bills, and was high,” she said. Pointing to Floyd’s autopsy, which showed that he had fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system, and to a criminal record, Owens hopped on the right-wing bandwagon smearing Floyd. “Spare me your bullshit about him being on the right track,” she said, describing Floyd as “a horrible human being.”
On Sunday, GoFundMe permanently banned Owens after she tried to raise money for an Alabama restaurant owner who called George Floyd a “thug” and Black Lives Matter protesters “idiots” and claimed his comments were inspired by Owens. A statement from GoFundMe said that Owens had violated its term of service for “a repeated pattern of inflammatory statements that spread hate, discrimination, intolerance and falsehoods against the black community at a time of profound national crisis.”
While Owens continued her attack on Floyd, she told her Periscope audience that there was “no argument you’re going to hear from me that Derek Chauvin was right,” referring to the Minneapolis Police officer who killed Floyd. But that didn’t stop her from claiming that racialized police brutality was all made up.
“The whole concept of racialized police brutality is a myth. All you have to do is sit down and do basic mathematics to discover the entire narrative we’ve been sold is a lie. It’s a lie. There is no racially targeted police brutality against black Americans,” Owens continued. “The only thing we’re doing disproportionately in America is committing crimes.”
“And we’ll ally ourselves with the far-left antifa thugs, who know exactly what they’re doing,” Owens continued. “The left think we’re dumb, OK? We have to stop proving them right.”
“What do you think this is really about?” she asked. “All they care about is power, all they want to do is destroy your neighborhoods, burn them down, shut down your businesses, and get you on government dependence, at the same time poo-pooing you and telling you they’re going to fight the boogeyman of racism that doesn’t exist as a problematic thing in this country.”
This isn’t the first time Owens has suggested racism doesn’t exist.
At the Conservative Political Action Conference in February 2019, Owens claimed, “America is not a racist country,” a statement that would seemingly contradict her own experience. As a high school student in 2007, Owens accused a group of teens of racist conduct resulting in her family receiving a $37,5000 settlement. At a House hearing in 2019, Right Wing Watch reported that Owens “declared the late president Richard Nixon’s electoral ‘Southern strategy’—an appeal to white racial resentment after the passage of civil rights legislation—to be a ‘myth’ that ‘never happened.’” And In 2018, when she was the communications director of Turning Point USA, Owens was caught on film defending nationalism by claiming that the problem with Adolf Hitler was that he was too ambitious and took his plans beyond Germany.
Owens has also claimed that the response to Floyd’s death is a “media-manufactured race war.”
Her claims of antifa—a term to describe anti-facist, direct-action style protesters—echo those of President Donald Trump and his right-wing allies, including Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase, who have repeatedly claimed that anti-fascist groups have infiltrated protests across the nation, encouraging violence and vandalism. Yet reports from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security investigating the claims against antifa instead found evidence of right-wing extremist groups aiming to increase tensions between protesters and law enforcement.


rightwingwatch--2020-06-08--CBN’s David Brody Says Bible Photo-Op Shows Trump’s ‘1950s Mindset’ and Fear of God

The Christian Broadcasting Network ’ s David Brody posted an episode of his podcast Friday purporting to explain President Donald Trump ’ s June 1 Bible stunt in which police violently cleared peaceful protesters out of the way , so Trump could stroll from the White House to pose with a Bible in front of St. John ’ s Episcopal Church .
Brody is a major Trump booster .
Some religious-right figures have mischaracterized public outrage over the event , portraying the outrage as focused on Trump ’ s use of the Bible instead of on the use of force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t want to get into all that , ” Brody said about the removal of protesters , including priests from the church Trump posed in front of , citing officials ’ claims about violent protesters and the approaching curfew .
That was not the only thing Brody didn ’ t want to talk about .
Even as he explained Trump ’ s supposed reverence for the church , clergy , and Bible as an example of a “ 1950s mindset , ” he did not want to discuss what else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
“ And once again , I don ’ t want to get into 1950s and racism .
We know what was going on back then .
That ’ s not what I ’ m talking about , ” Brody said .
He remembers a time in the 1950 , back when he was growing up—remember , born in 1946 , he ’ s 74 years old—he remembers a time where you dressed up for church , where you went to—where you prayed in school .
He remembers a time when there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Donald Trump ’ s America .
This is who—this is what he thinks about when he thinks of the church .
And he definitely has a reverence for the church .
He also has—he also loves people that are passionate .
And he sees pastors and clergy as people that are passionate for God , and he loves that .
He ’ s attracted to that .
Brody acknowledged that Trump was seeking political benefit from his photo op , saying , “ he knows that a photo holding a Bible in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better photo-op than the church being burned to the ground by antifa and the other crazies.
” Brody ’ s podcast gave him a chance to tout his own access to Trump—he said he has conducted more than 20 interviews with Trump—and the unique insight he said it has given him into Trump ’ s religious worldview .
He repeatedly promoted his book , “ The Faith of Donald J. Trump : A Spiritual Biography , ” co-authored with Liberty University Vice President Scott Lamb .
Brody read a few quotes from prominent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photo-op , which were completely predictable as they were coming from Trump ’ s religious-right cheerleaders .
Brody also included several minutes ’ worth of clips from interviews he has done with Trump over the years .
Brody apparently believed that these clips backed up his statements about Trump ’ s reverence for God and the Bible , but they may be more of a Rorschach test of one ’ s views of Trump and the level of cynicism one brings to Trump ’ s use of faith for political gain .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Trump are standing together on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean , and Brody asks Trump , “ Who is God to you ?
” “ I say God is the ultimate , ” Trump says .
“ You know , you look at this , ” he says , gesturing to the ocean , before launching into a discourse about his own brilliance in purchasing the land on which they were standing in “ one of the great deals ” ever made , assuring Brody that he has no mortgage on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make great deals on behalf of America .
And then he repeats , “ God is the ultimate.
” Brody presented Trump ’ s reverence for the Bible as proof of his God-fearing nature .
But I wonder how many viewers might have a hard time believing Trump ’ s claim that he keeps all of the many Bibles people have sent him over the years “ in a certain place , a very , very nice place.
” The last clip showed Trump presenting a humbler attitude and saying that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it encourages him to pray more .
Brody followed his show-and-tell with an interview with Jenna Ellis , a member of Trump ’ s legal team who is affiliated with the Falkirk Center , a Liberty University project launched by Jerry Falwell Jr. and Charlie Kirk .
Ellis is one of Trump ’ s most fawning supporters , which is saying a lot .
When the protest-clearing Bible stunt began drawing immediate and widespread condemnation , she rushed to declare on Twitter that the photo-op was “ one of the most poignant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview with Brody , she called it “ an important defining moment in America.
” Ellis praised Trump ’ s “ law and order ” stance and said that Trump holding up the Bible “ as the seat of government in America , as the leader of the free world , ” was a reflection of his belief in the moral authority of the church and an acknowledgment “ that moral virtue is central to a civil society.
” Speaking of moral virtue , the truth-challenged Trump administration has had a hard time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mayhem inflicted on protesters in advance of Trump ’ s Bible pose .
A week after the event , Attorney General William Barr , who has said he told officials to clear the area but denied giving the “ tactical order ” to begin the assault , continued to make contradictory and inaccurate claims , saying , for example , that pepper spray is not a “ chemical irritant ” even though both common sense and science say that it is .
As Forbes reported , “ One pepper spray company even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective chemical irritant available .
’ ”

The Christian Broadcasting Network’s David Brody posted an episode of his podcast Friday purporting to explain President Donald Trump’s June 1 Bible stunt in which police violently cleared peaceful protesters out of the way, so Trump could stroll from the White House to pose with a Bible in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Brody is a major Trump booster.
Some religious-right figures have mischaracterized public outrage over the event, portraying the outrage as focused on Trump’s use of the Bible instead of on the use of force that made the photo-op possible. “I don’t want to get into all that,” Brody said about the removal of protesters, including priests from the church Trump posed in front of, citing officials’ claims about violent protesters and the approaching curfew.
That was not the only thing Brody didn’t want to talk about. Even as he explained Trump’s supposed reverence for the church, clergy, and Bible as an example of a “1950s mindset,” he did not want to discuss what else was happening in the country at that time. “And once again, I don’t want to get into 1950s and racism. We know what was going on back then. That’s not what I’m talking about,” Brody said.
Here’s how Brody described Trump’s “mindset”:
He remembers a time in the 1950, back when he was growing up—remember, born in 1946, he’s 74 years old—he remembers a time where you dressed up for church, where you went to—where you prayed in school. He remembers a time when there was Bible reading in classes. This is Donald Trump’s America. This is who—this is what he thinks about when he thinks of the church. And he definitely has a reverence for the church. He also has—he also loves people that are passionate. And he sees pastors and clergy as people that are passionate for God, and he loves that. He’s attracted to that.
Brody acknowledged that Trump was seeking political benefit from his photo op, saying, “he knows that a photo holding a Bible in front of the church is a much better photo-op than the church being burned to the ground by antifa and the other crazies.”
Brody’s podcast gave him a chance to tout his own access to Trump—he said he has conducted more than 20 interviews with Trump—and the unique insight he said it has given him into Trump’s religious worldview. He repeatedly promoted his book, “The Faith of Donald J. Trump: A Spiritual Biography,” co-authored with Liberty University Vice President Scott Lamb.
Brody read a few quotes from prominent evangelical supporters of the president defending the photo-op, which were completely predictable as they were coming from Trump’s religious-right cheerleaders.
Brody also included several minutes’ worth of clips from interviews he has done with Trump over the years. Brody apparently believed that these clips backed up his statements about Trump’s reverence for God and the Bible, but they may be more of a Rorschach test of one’s views of Trump and the level of cynicism one brings to Trump’s use of faith for political gain.
For example, in one clip, Brody and Trump are standing together on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and Brody asks Trump, “Who is God to you?”
“I say God is the ultimate,” Trump says. “You know, you look at this,” he says, gesturing to the ocean, before launching into a discourse about his own brilliance in purchasing the land on which they were standing in “one of the great deals” ever made, assuring Brody that he has no mortgage on it, and claiming that he wants to make great deals on behalf of America. And then he repeats, “God is the ultimate.”
Brody presented Trump’s reverence for the Bible as proof of his God-fearing nature. But I wonder how many viewers might have a hard time believing Trump’s claim that he keeps all of the many Bibles people have sent him over the years “in a certain place, a very, very nice place.”
The last clip showed Trump presenting a humbler attitude and saying that the job comes with so many life-and-death situations that it encourages him to pray more.
Brody followed his show-and-tell with an interview with Jenna Ellis, a member of Trump’s legal team who is affiliated with the Falkirk Center, a Liberty University project launched by Jerry Falwell Jr. and Charlie Kirk.
Ellis is one of Trump’s most fawning supporters, which is saying a lot. When the protest-clearing Bible stunt began drawing immediate and widespread condemnation, she rushed to declare on Twitter that the photo-op was “one of the most poignant moments in American history.” In her interview with Brody, she called it “an important defining moment in America.”
Ellis praised Trump’s “law and order” stance and said that Trump holding up the Bible “as the seat of government in America, as the leader of the free world,” was a reflection of his belief in the moral authority of the church and an acknowledgment “that moral virtue is central to a civil society.”
Speaking of moral virtue, the truth-challenged Trump administration has had a hard time landing and sticking with a story explaining the mayhem inflicted on protesters in advance of Trump’s Bible pose. A week after the event, Attorney General William Barr, who has said he told officials to clear the area but denied giving the “tactical order” to begin the assault, continued to make contradictory and inaccurate claims, saying, for example, that pepper spray is not a “chemical irritant” even though both common sense and science say that it is. As Forbes reported, “One pepper spray company even advertises its product as ‘the most effective chemical irritant available.’”