thedailycaller--2020-01-11--Iranian Journalist Says Ilhan Omar Helped Smear Her After She Criticized Soleimani

Iranian journalist and author Masih Alinejad says Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar has been a part of a smear campaign against her .
Alinejad wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post criticizing the late Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and claiming that many Iranians viewed him as a warmonger and even a war criminal rather than a celebrated leader — and Friday evening , she told Fox News host Martha MacCallum that Omar had joined those attacking her .
“ So why is she coming after you ?
” MacCallum asked .
( RELATED : They Thought They Had Trump ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rivera Blasts FBI After FISA Report ) Alinejad said that she believed the attacks were a response to her recent article , saying , “ I criticized Soleimani and I ’ ve said that many Iranians do not see him as a hero .
They see him as a warmonger , as a war criminal .
And that is why I got a lot of attacks by these Islamist lobbyists and she actually shared one of these defamatory articles against me.
” Alinejad said that what really bothered her was the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congresswoman on a number of occasions , asking her repeatedly to lend her voice to different situations .
“ One time , six women got arrested just because of protesting compulsory hijab .
Another time , 29 women in Iran got arrested in one day because of protesting compulsory hijab , and I asked Omar to join us and show solidarity .
She was silent , ” Alinejad began .
“ And another time when my brother was taken hostage by the Revolutionary Guard , I reach out to her .
Silence again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours just because of my activities .
Again , she was silent .
1500 people got killed , she was silent .
Right now , 176 people got killed in a suspicious situation in Iran , Ukrainian airplane — she ’ s silent !
” “ Are you suggesting that she doesn ’ t care about the freedom that you are fighting for ?
” MacCallum pressed , asking whether Alinejad believed Omar was actually siding with the regime and against the peoplee .
“ What I want to say is this : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Islamic Republic , ” Alinejad explained .
“ I criticized President Trump in Washington Post about travel bans , separated me from my son in the U.K .
I haven ’ t seen my son for two years .
Why didn ’ t she attack me when I criticized President Trump ?
… But as soon I criticized the criminals of the Islamic Republic and I called them warmongers and call them terrorists , called them religious dictatorship , then the Islamic lobbyists here they attack us .
”

Iranian journalist and author Masih Alinejad says Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar has been a part of a smear campaign against her.
Alinejad wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post criticizing the late Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and claiming that many Iranians viewed him as a warmonger and even a war criminal rather than a celebrated leader — and Friday evening, she told Fox News host Martha MacCallum that Omar had joined those attacking her.
WATCH:
“So why is she coming after you?” MacCallum asked. (RELATED: They Thought They Had Trump ‘By The Short Hairs’: Geraldo Rivera Blasts FBI After FISA Report)
Alinejad said that she believed the attacks were a response to her recent article, saying, “I criticized Soleimani and I’ve said that many Iranians do not see him as a hero. They see him as a warmonger, as a war criminal. And that is why I got a lot of attacks by these Islamist lobbyists and she actually shared one of these defamatory articles against me.”
Alinejad said that what really bothered her was the fact that she had reached out to the freshman congresswoman on a number of occasions, asking her repeatedly to lend her voice to different situations.
“One time, six women got arrested just because of protesting compulsory hijab. Another time, 29 women in Iran got arrested in one day because of protesting compulsory hijab, and I asked Omar to join us and show solidarity. She was silent,” Alinejad began. “And another time when my brother was taken hostage by the Revolutionary Guard, I reach out to her. Silence again. My mother was interrogated for three hours just because of my activities. Again, she was silent. 1500 people got killed, she was silent. Right now, 176 people got killed in a suspicious situation in Iran, Ukrainian airplane — she’s silent!”
“Are you suggesting that she doesn’t care about the freedom that you are fighting for?” MacCallum pressed, asking whether Alinejad believed Omar was actually siding with the regime and against the peoplee.
“What I want to say is this: She broke her silence when I criticized the Islamic Republic,” Alinejad explained. “I criticized President Trump in Washington Post about travel bans, separated me from my son in the U.K. I haven’t seen my son for two years. Why didn’t she attack me when I criticized President Trump? … But as soon I criticized the criminals of the Islamic Republic and I called them warmongers and call them terrorists, called them religious dictatorship, then the Islamic lobbyists here they attack us.”


thedailycaller--2020-01-11--FBI Director Tells Surveillance Court He ‘Deeply Regrets’ Failures In Carter Page FISA Process

FBI Director Christopher Wray told the federal surveillance court in a letter Friday that he “ deeply regrets ” the bureau ’ s many errors in the process to obtain surveillance warrants on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page .
“ The FBI has the utmost respect for this Court , and deeply regrets the errors and omissions identified by the OIG , ” Wray wrote in a letter to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court ( FISC ) .
A judge on the FISC ordered the FBI on Dec. 17 to respond by Friday with a roadmap on how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a Justice Department inspector general ’ s ( IG ) report regarding applications for warrants to wiretap Page .
( RELATED : FISA Judge Blasts FBI For Submitting False Information To Wiretap Carter Page ) The IG report , released on Dec. 9 , identified 17 errors and omissions that the FBI made in its Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) applications against Page .
The report said FBI agents withheld information that undercut the bureau ’ s suspicion that Page worked as an agent of Russia while he served on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to disclose information that raised questions about the credibility and motives of Christopher Steele , a former British spy Democrats hired b to investigate President Donald Trump .
The FBI relied heavily on Steele ’ s infamous dossier in the Page FISA applications .
Wray , who took over the FBI more than a month after the fourth and final Page FISA had been approved , said that one remedy he plans to implement will be to use the Page FISA as a case study in training sessions that FBI personnel will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be instructed on the errors and omissions that were made in the Carter Page FISA applications and associated processes , ” Wray said .
The training will include a test “ to confirm that personnel understand the expectations and the materials , ” as well as certification for FBI employees who have completed the training , he added .
Wray set April 30 as a deadline to complete the training .
Steele asserted in the dossier that Page and others on the Trump campaign were part of a “ well-developed conspiracy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence the 2016 election , according to the IG report .
The report said the FBI did not corroborate the allegation but used the claim to assert that Page was a Russian agent .
The special counsel ’ s investigation undercut the idea that Page was a Russian agent .
Page , a former Naval officer , was never charged in the investigation .
A report of that probe said that investigators found no evidence that anyone on the Trump campaign conspired with Russia to influence the election or acted as an agent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source for information in the dossier told FBI agents in January 2017 that the former spy exaggerated and mischaracterized information in the dossier .
Steele told FBI agents in October 2016 that a sub-source for the dossier was a “ boaster ” and “ embellisher.
” FBI agents failed to disclose that information in the FISA applications .
One FBI agent also failed to disclose that the CIA said in August 2016 that Page was an “ operational contact ” for the agency .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

FBI Director Christopher Wray told the federal surveillance court in a letter Friday that he “deeply regrets” the bureau’s many errors in the process to obtain surveillance warrants on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.
“The FBI has the utmost respect for this Court, and deeply regrets the errors and omissions identified by the OIG,” Wray wrote in a letter to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC).
A judge on the FISC ordered the FBI on Dec. 17 to respond by Friday with a roadmap on how the bureau plans to address the problems identified in a Justice Department inspector general’s (IG) report regarding applications for warrants to wiretap Page. (RELATED: FISA Judge Blasts FBI For Submitting False Information To Wiretap Carter Page)
The IG report, released on Dec. 9, identified 17 errors and omissions that the FBI made in its Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) applications against Page. The report said FBI agents withheld information that undercut the bureau’s suspicion that Page worked as an agent of Russia while he served on the Trump team. Agents also failed to disclose information that raised questions about the credibility and motives of Christopher Steele, a former British spy Democrats hired b to investigate President Donald Trump.
The FBI relied heavily on Steele’s infamous dossier in the Page FISA applications.
Wray, who took over the FBI more than a month after the fourth and final Page FISA had been approved, said that one remedy he plans to implement will be to use the Page FISA as a case study in training sessions that FBI personnel will be required to undergo.
“FBI personnel will be instructed on the errors and omissions that were made in the Carter Page FISA applications and associated processes,” Wray said.
The training will include a test “to confirm that personnel understand the expectations and the materials,” as well as certification for FBI employees who have completed the training, he added.
Wray set April 30 as a deadline to complete the training.
Steele asserted in the dossier that Page and others on the Trump campaign were part of a “well-developed conspiracy of cooperation” with the Russian government to influence the 2016 election, according to the IG report. The report said the FBI did not corroborate the allegation but used the claim to assert that Page was a Russian agent.
The special counsel’s investigation undercut the idea that Page was a Russian agent. Page, a former Naval officer, was never charged in the investigation. A report of that probe said that investigators found no evidence that anyone on the Trump campaign conspired with Russia to influence the election or acted as an agent of Russia.
Steele’s primary source for information in the dossier told FBI agents in January 2017 that the former spy exaggerated and mischaracterized information in the dossier. Steele told FBI agents in October 2016 that a sub-source for the dossier was a “boaster” and “embellisher.” FBI agents failed to disclose that information in the FISA applications.
One FBI agent also failed to disclose that the CIA said in August 2016 that Page was an “operational contact” for the agency.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


thedailycaller--2020-01-11--Sanders Surge: Bernie Takes Lead In Closely Watched Iowa Poll

Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders surged to the lead in a closely watched poll of Iowa voters , according to results released Friday .
Twenty percent of likely Democratic caucusgoers chose Sanders as their first pick for president in the Des Moines Register-CNN-Mediacom poll ahead of Iowa ’ s statewide caucuses on Feb. 3 .
That ’ s a five point increase for Sanders since the same poll was conducted in November .
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( 17 % ) , former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg ( 16 % ) and former Vice President Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top four Democrats in the latest survey .
( RELATED : Bernie Raised $ 34.5 Million In 4th Quarter ) Buttigieg , who led the November poll , lost nine points .
Warren gained 1 percentage point , while Biden stayed even .
The poll , conducted from Jan. 2-8 , is based on telephone interviews with 3,131 registered Iowa voters , including 701 who said they are likely to attend the 2020 Democratic caucuses .
The poll of likely Democratic caucusgoers has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite suffering a heart attack in early October .
Warren captured some of Sanders ’ s supporters after his illness , but her momentum has faded amid scrutiny of her Medicare for All plan .
Biden came in fourth in the latest poll ; however , he holds a commanding lead in national polls .
Biden is averaging 29 % in recent polls , according to RealClearPolitics .
Sanders is polling just above 20 % , on average , while Warren is just shy of 15 % .
Content created by The Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders surged to the lead in a closely watched poll of Iowa voters, according to results released Friday.
Twenty percent of likely Democratic caucusgoers chose Sanders as their first pick for president in the Des Moines Register-CNN-Mediacom poll ahead of Iowa’s statewide caucuses on Feb. 3. That’s a five point increase for Sanders since the same poll was conducted in November.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (17%), former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg (16%) and former Vice President Joe Biden (15%) rounded out the top four Democrats in the latest survey. (RELATED: Bernie Raised $34.5 Million In 4th Quarter)
Buttigieg, who led the November poll, lost nine points. Warren gained 1 percentage point, while Biden stayed even.
The poll, conducted from Jan. 2-8, is based on telephone interviews with 3,131 registered Iowa voters, including 701 who said they are likely to attend the 2020 Democratic caucuses. The poll of likely Democratic caucusgoers has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7%.
???????????? NEW #IOWAPOLL ???????????? Sanders: 20% (+5)
Warren: 17% (+1)
Buttigieg: 16% (-9)
Biden: 15% (-)
Klobuchar: 6% (-)
Yang: 5% (+2)
Booker: 3% (-)
Steyer: 2% (-1)
Gabbard: 2% (-1)
Bloomberg: 1% (-1)
Not sure: 11% (+6) No other candidate polled above 0%. https://t.co/zI54dRncgk — Des Moines Register (@DMRegister) January 10, 2020
Sanders has surged of late despite suffering a heart attack in early October. Warren captured some of Sanders’s supporters after his illness, but her momentum has faded amid scrutiny of her Medicare for All plan.
Biden came in fourth in the latest poll; however, he holds a commanding lead in national polls. Biden is averaging 29% in recent polls, according to RealClearPolitics. Sanders is polling just above 20%, on average, while Warren is just shy of 15%.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


thedailycaller--2020-01-12--Ex-DOJ Official Picked To Assist FISA Reform Was Ardent Defender Of FBI’s Surveillance Of Carter Pag

Ex-DOJ Official Picked To Assist FISA Reform Was Ardent Defender Of FBI’s Surveillance Of Carter Page

• Former DOJ official David Kris was picked Friday to oversee the FBI ’ s reforms of its surveillance procedures in the wake of a damning inspector general ’ s report .
• Kris was an ardent defender of the FBI ’ s surveillance of Carter Page .
He was also a vocal critic of Republicans who suggested the FBI misled the surveillance court in its applications to wiretap Page .
• In one essay , Kris endorsed a suggestion that Rep. Devin Nunes should face obstruction of justice charges .
• Nunes told the Daily Caller News Foundation the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inexplicable.
” A former Justice Department official picked Friday to oversee the FBI ’ s reforms of its surveillance procedures in the wake of a damning inspector general ’ s report was one of the many pundits during the Russia probe to defend the bureau ’ s surveillance of Trump campaign aide Carter Page .
David S. Kris , a former assistant attorney general for national security , was also an outspoken critic of Rep. Devin Nunes and other congressional Republicans who accused the FBI of misleading the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
An inspector general ’ s ( IG ) report released Dec. 9 , 2019 , largely vindicated Republicans and Page .
The report identified 17 errors and omissions the FBI made in its four applications to surveil Page .
The IG also said the FBI was unable to corroborate allegations that Page was a Russian agent .
Judge James E. Boasberg , who presides over the FISC , tapped Kris serve as amicus curiae for a review of the FBI ’ s handling of the Page surveillance warrants .
In that role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FISC in assessing the FBI ’ s implementation of a series of reforms to address the problems uncovered in the IG report .
Nunes and Page both panned the choice of Kris given his past commentary defending the FBI .
“ It ’ s hard to imagine a worse person the FISC could have chosen outside Comey , McCabe , or Schiff , ” Nunes , the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee , told the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Page also weighed in on Kris ’ s selection to oversee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who served at the Justice Department from 2009 to 2011 , asserted in his writings during the Trump-Russia probe that Republicans had “ falsely accused ” the FBI of misleading the FISC in its wiretap applications .
He also accepted the FBI ’ s assertion that there was probable cause to believe that Page was a foreign agent of Russia — an allegation that was all but debunked by the special counsel ’ s report and the inspector general ’ s report .
“ It ’ s disturbing that Page met that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause to conclude he was a Russian agent , ” Kris wrote in an essay March 1 , 2018 , at Lawfare , a blog operated by the Brookings Institution .
Kris ’ s assessment — which echoed that of many Democrats and liberals in the media — accepted the FBI ’ s claim at face value that Page was a Russian asset .
The FBI made the assertion in four applications to the FISC to wiretap Page .
The basis for the allegation was the Democrat-funded Steele dossier .
The Justice Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brutal rebuke of the FBI ’ s surveillance of Page .
It also offered a scathing portrait of Christopher Steele , the former British spy who wrote the dossier .
The IG report said the FBI withheld information regarding Page , a former Naval officer , that undercut the idea that he was a Russian agent .
FBI agents also failed to disclose information that raised questions about Steele ’ s credibility and reliability .
The FBI failed to inform the FISC that one of Steele ’ s main dossier sources told agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exaggerated information in the dossier , including about Page .
( RELATED : Steele Dossier Was ‘ Central And Essential ’ To FBI ’ s Decision To Obtain Carter Page FISA ) The IG report said FBI agents inaccurately stated in the FISA applications that Steele had provided information in the past that the bureau used in indictments and search warrants .
The report said the claim was inaccurate , and that Steele ’ s associates had given mixed reviews about his reliability .
FISC Judge Rosemary Collyer ordered the FBI on Dec. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan to address problems identified in the IG report .
Collyer criticized the FBI for providing “ false ” and “ misleading ” information about Page in order to obtain four warrants to wiretap the former Trump campaign adviser .
( RELATED : FBI Chief Apologizes For Carter Page FISA Failures ) FBI Director Christopher Wray submitted a response to Collyer ’ s order Friday .
He apologized for the errors in the wiretap applications submitted to the FISC , and said he plans to implement dozens of reforms to address the problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one of eight individuals designated by FISC as eligible to serve as an amicus curiae , which are designed to act as neutral arbitrators in issues involving the FISA process .
Boasberg did not provide a rationale for choosing Kris .
None of the other seven potential amici curiae have spoken out publicly about the Page FISA issue or the Trump-Russia probe .
Kris was also among the many pundits dismissive of Republican allegations that the FBI mishandled information in the Steele dossier .
One of Kris ’ s main targets was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pursued information from the FBI about the Trump-Russia probe .
In his March 1 , 2018 , essay at Lawfare , Kris wholeheartedly defended the FBI ’ s actions in the Trump-Russia probe , while criticizing Nunes over a memo he released Feb. 2 , 2018 , laying out a list of alleged problems with the FBI ’ s rationale to surveil Page .
Kris asserted that Nunes “ falsely accused the FBI of deceiving the FISA Court.
” He also questioned whether Nunes and other Republicans would “ face any consequences for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was dishonest .
And if it is allowed to stand , we risk significant collateral damage to essential elements of our democracy , ” wrote Kris , who is now a consultant at Culper Partners and frequent guest on MSNBC .
Kris went as far as entertaining the possibility , first proposed by Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe , that “ Nunes might be prosecuted for obstruction of justice.
” Kris also wrote that the memo ’ s central claim that the FBI misled the FISC about Christopher Steele “ was not true.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the IG report that the FBI committed some “ significant and serious ” errors in its Carter Page FISA applications .
He also conceded in a Lawfare essay published Dec. 23 , 2o19 , that Nunes ’ s assertion that the FBI engaged in irregular behavior was “ correct.
” But for Kris , the biggest takeaway from the IG report were the findings that reflected positively on the FBI .
He wrote on Twitter the day the report was released that “ the most important take-away ” from the report was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bias in order to undermine the Trump campaign .
He also wrote that the errors identified in the IG report “ don ’ t support any claim of deep-state conspiracy or political bias.
” “ The FISC chose a guy who utterly denied the abuses of the Carter Page FISA warrant and then downplayed them when the Inspector General reported on them , ” Nunes told the DNCF .
A request for comment submitted to Kris ’ s consulting firm , Culper Partners , was not returned .
Content created by The Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Former DOJ official David Kris was picked Friday to oversee the FBI’s reforms of its surveillance procedures in the wake of a damning inspector general’s report.
Kris was an ardent defender of the FBI’s surveillance of Carter Page. He was also a vocal critic of Republicans who suggested the FBI misled the surveillance court in its applications to wiretap Page.
In one essay, Kris endorsed a suggestion that Rep. Devin Nunes should face obstruction of justice charges.
Nunes told the Daily Caller News Foundation the choice of Kris is “shocking and inexplicable.”
A former Justice Department official picked Friday to oversee the FBI’s reforms of its surveillance procedures in the wake of a damning inspector general’s report was one of the many pundits during the Russia probe to defend the bureau’s surveillance of Trump campaign aide Carter Page.
David S. Kris, a former assistant attorney general for national security, was also an outspoken critic of Rep. Devin Nunes and other congressional Republicans who accused the FBI of misleading the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) in applications to wiretap Page.
An inspector general’s (IG) report released Dec. 9, 2019, largely vindicated Republicans and Page. The report identified 17 errors and omissions the FBI made in its four applications to surveil Page. The IG also said the FBI was unable to corroborate allegations that Page was a Russian agent.
Judge James E. Boasberg, who presides over the FISC, tapped Kris serve as amicus curiae for a review of the FBI’s handling of the Page surveillance warrants. In that role, Kris will “assist” the FISC in assessing the FBI’s implementation of a series of reforms to address the problems uncovered in the IG report.
Nunes and Page both panned the choice of Kris given his past commentary defending the FBI.
“It’s hard to imagine a worse person the FISC could have chosen outside Comey, McCabe, or Schiff,” Nunes, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“The choice is shocking and inexplicable.”
Page also weighed in on Kris’s selection to oversee the FBI’s reforms.
“If there were any hope for the system fixing this FISA mess, it extinguished with David Kris’ appointment,” he told The DCNF.
“Nobody trying to fix the rampant abuse and coverup plaguing the entire FISA process would have picked Kris,” continued Page, who called Kris a “longtime FISA apologist.”
“Instead, you appoint Kris for only one reason: you don’t want the system fixed. You just want it to look like you do.”
Kris, who served at the Justice Department from 2009 to 2011, asserted in his writings during the Trump-Russia probe that Republicans had “falsely accused” the FBI of misleading the FISC in its wiretap applications.
He also accepted the FBI’s assertion that there was probable cause to believe that Page was a foreign agent of Russia — an allegation that was all but debunked by the special counsel’s report and the inspector general’s report.
“It’s disturbing that Page met that legal standard and that there was probable cause to conclude he was a Russian agent,” Kris wrote in an essay March 1, 2018, at Lawfare, a blog operated by the Brookings Institution.
Kris’s assessment — which echoed that of many Democrats and liberals in the media — accepted the FBI’s claim at face value that Page was a Russian asset. The FBI made the assertion in four applications to the FISC to wiretap Page. The basis for the allegation was the Democrat-funded Steele dossier.
The Justice Department inspector general’s report offered a brutal rebuke of the FBI’s surveillance of Page. It also offered a scathing portrait of Christopher Steele, the former British spy who wrote the dossier.
The IG report said the FBI withheld information regarding Page, a former Naval officer, that undercut the idea that he was a Russian agent. FBI agents also failed to disclose information that raised questions about Steele’s credibility and reliability.
The FBI failed to inform the FISC that one of Steele’s main dossier sources told agents in January 2017 that Steele misrepresented and exaggerated information in the dossier, including about Page. (RELATED: Steele Dossier Was ‘Central And Essential’ To FBI’s Decision To Obtain Carter Page FISA)
The IG report said FBI agents inaccurately stated in the FISA applications that Steele had provided information in the past that the bureau used in indictments and search warrants. The report said the claim was inaccurate, and that Steele’s associates had given mixed reviews about his reliability.
FISC Judge Rosemary Collyer ordered the FBI on Dec. 17, 2019, to provide a plan to address problems identified in the IG report. Collyer criticized the FBI for providing “false” and “misleading” information about Page in order to obtain four warrants to wiretap the former Trump campaign adviser. (RELATED: FBI Chief Apologizes For Carter Page FISA Failures)
FBI Director Christopher Wray submitted a response to Collyer’s order Friday. He apologized for the errors in the wiretap applications submitted to the FISC, and said he plans to implement dozens of reforms to address the problems identified in the IG report.
Kris is one of eight individuals designated by FISC as eligible to serve as an amicus curiae, which are designed to act as neutral arbitrators in issues involving the FISA process.
Boasberg did not provide a rationale for choosing Kris. None of the other seven potential amici curiae have spoken out publicly about the Page FISA issue or the Trump-Russia probe.
Kris was also among the many pundits dismissive of Republican allegations that the FBI mishandled information in the Steele dossier. One of Kris’s main targets was Nunes, a California Republican who relentlessly pursued information from the FBI about the Trump-Russia probe.
In his March 1, 2018, essay at Lawfare, Kris wholeheartedly defended the FBI’s actions in the Trump-Russia probe, while criticizing Nunes over a memo he released Feb. 2, 2018, laying out a list of alleged problems with the FBI’s rationale to surveil Page.
Kris asserted that Nunes “falsely accused the FBI of deceiving the FISA Court.” He also questioned whether Nunes and other Republicans would “face any consequences for their dishonesty.”
“The Nunes memo was dishonest. And if it is allowed to stand, we risk significant collateral damage to essential elements of our democracy,” wrote Kris, who is now a consultant at Culper Partners and frequent guest on MSNBC.
Kris went as far as entertaining the possibility, first proposed by Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe, that “Nunes might be prosecuted for obstruction of justice.”
Kris also wrote that the memo’s central claim that the FBI misled the FISC about Christopher Steele “was not true.”
Kris has acknowledged since the release of the IG report that the FBI committed some “significant and serious” errors in its Carter Page FISA applications. He also conceded in a Lawfare essay published Dec. 23, 2o19, that Nunes’s assertion that the FBI engaged in irregular behavior was “correct.”
But for Kris, the biggest takeaway from the IG report were the findings that reflected positively on the FBI.
He wrote on Twitter the day the report was released that “the most important take-away” from the report was that the FBI did not exert political bias in order to undermine the Trump campaign. He also wrote that the errors identified in the IG report “don’t support any claim of deep-state conspiracy or political bias.”
“The FISC chose a guy who utterly denied the abuses of the Carter Page FISA warrant and then downplayed them when the Inspector General reported on them,” Nunes told the DNCF.
A request for comment submitted to Kris’s consulting firm, Culper Partners, was not returned.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


thedailycaller--2020-01-11--Covington Kids’ Lawyer Robert Barnes Speaks About Lawsuit Against Prominent Journalists And Lawmaker

Covington Kids’ Lawyer Robert Barnes Speaks About Lawsuit Against Prominent Journalists And Lawmakers

The Daily Caller spoke with lawyer Robert Barnes , who is representing 10 of the Covington Catholic boys in a @ @ @ @ @ and lawmakers .
Barnes discussed how the media handled the Covington situation and told the @ @ @ @ @ that would be set for social media if the lawsuit is successful .
( RELATED @ @ @ @ @ Navarro And Shaun King Among A Massive List Of Activist Journalists Named On Covington ’ @ @ @ @ @ TheDC ’ s fantastic videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel to avoid missing out @

The Daily Caller spoke with lawyer Robert Barnes, who is representing 10 of the Covington Catholic boys in a lawsuit against multiple prominent journalists and lawmakers.
Barnes discussed how the media handled the Covington situation and told the Daily Caller about the precedents that would be set for social media if the lawsuit is successful. (RELATED: Maggie Haberman, Ana Navarro And Shaun King Among A Massive List Of Activist Journalists Named On Covington’s Lawsuit)
Check out TheDC’s fantastic videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel to avoid missing out.


thedailycaller--2020-01-11--Fox News Obtains Exclusive Photos Of The Aftermath Of Airstrike That Killed Soleimani

Fox News correspondent Leland Vittert obtained exclusive photos of the aftermath of the Jan. 2 airstrikes that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani .
The airstrikes were ordered by President Donald Trump and occurred just outside of the Baghdad , Iraq airport .
“ Fox News @ Night ” reported on the photos Saturday , which show the burning car that Soleimani was inside when he died .
“ Some of the images — which Fox News will not show — include graphic , close-up views of Soleimani ’ s body , which is grossly disfigured and missing limbs , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox News on Saturday .
“ Another photo shows Soleimani ’ s body burning next to the car in which he was riding .
The source told Fox News that U.S. forces dragged Soleimani ’ s body away from the scene and extinguished the fire before formally identifying the Iranian general.
” “ They took photos of his possessions , which included books of poetry and wads of cash .
He was also carrying a pistol and an assault rifle.
” ( RELATED : Time Informs Parents How To Talk To Their Kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Army ’ s Special Operations soldiers followed Soleimani ’ s convoy before the attack , according to the report .
He was leaving the Baghdad airport when the missile hit the car he was inside .
“ Immediately following the drone strike , they did what in the business is called a ‘ bomb damage assessment ’ and took pictures of the scene along with the confirming that the drone got the right car and Soleimani was dead , ” according to Vittert .

Fox News correspondent Leland Vittert obtained exclusive photos of the aftermath of the Jan. 2 airstrikes that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani.
The airstrikes were ordered by President Donald Trump and occurred just outside of the Baghdad, Iraq airport. “Fox News @ Night” reported on the photos Saturday, which show the burning car that Soleimani was inside when he died.
WATCH:
Watch the latest video at &amp;lt;a href=”https://www.foxnews.com”&amp;gt;foxnews.com&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;
“Some of the images — which Fox News will not show — include graphic, close-up views of Soleimani’s body, which is grossly disfigured and missing limbs,” Vittert said in the report airing on Fox News on Saturday. “Another photo shows Soleimani’s body burning next to the car in which he was riding. The source told Fox News that U.S. forces dragged Soleimani’s body away from the scene and extinguished the fire before formally identifying the Iranian general.”
“They took photos of his possessions, which included books of poetry and wads of cash. He was also carrying a pistol and an assault rifle.” (RELATED: Time Informs Parents How To Talk To Their Kids About Qasem Soleimani’s Death)
U.S. Army’s Special Operations soldiers followed Soleimani’s convoy before the attack, according to the report. He was leaving the Baghdad airport when the missile hit the car he was inside.
“Immediately following the drone strike, they did what in the business is called a ‘bomb damage assessment’ and took pictures of the scene along with the confirming that the drone got the right car and Soleimani was dead,” according to Vittert.


thedailycaller--2020-01-11--Another Huge Earthquake Rocks Puerto Rico

Another earthquake in Puerto Rico has continued the terror of previous quakes that have left people without homes and power .
The magnitude 6.0 quake added further damage to homes and schools along the American protectorate ’ s southern coast , the Associated Press reports .
( RELATED : Puerto Rican Senate Tries To Oust Governor Accused Of Corruption ) The U.S. Geological Survey said at 8:54 a.m. the quake hit eight miles southeast of Guanica at a shallow depth of three miles .
According to Puerto Rico ’ s Electric Power Authority , power outages in the southern part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further damage to the power plants .
( RELATED : Here ’ s Why Protesters Are Demanding Puerto President Rico Rossello Resigns ) Shelters on the island are reportedly housing more than 3,000 people as a result of the quake and the previous ones .
Víctor Huérfano , director of Puerto Rico ’ s Seismic Network , told the Associated Press that more aftershocks are expected .
“ It ’ s going to re-energize an unstable situation , ” he said , adding that seismologists are studying which faults were activated .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans remain without power with thousands more living in shelters or sleeping on the sidewalk since last Tuesday ’ s quake , AP noted .

Another earthquake in Puerto Rico has continued the terror of previous quakes that have left people without homes and power.
BREAKING: Preliminary 6.0 magnitude it was we just felt in Puerto Rico. It was centered south of Guanica, off shore. It was felt across the entire island, from reaction I’m seeing from people. This is the strongest earthquake to rock the island since Tuesday’s 6.4 magnitude quake pic.twitter.com/EWxW75m0xu — David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) January 11, 2020
The magnitude 6.0 quake added further damage to homes and schools along the American protectorate’s southern coast, the Associated Press reports. (RELATED: Puerto Rican Senate Tries To Oust Governor Accused Of Corruption)
The U.S. Geological Survey said at 8:54 a.m. the quake hit eight miles southeast of Guanica at a shallow depth of three miles.
According to Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority, power outages in the southern part of the protectorate and were looking into further damage to the power plants. (RELATED: Here’s Why Protesters Are Demanding Puerto President Rico Rossello Resigns)
Shelters on the island are reportedly housing more than 3,000 people as a result of the quake and the previous ones.
Víctor Huérfano, director of Puerto Rico’s Seismic Network, told the Associated Press that more aftershocks are expected.
“It’s going to re-energize an unstable situation,” he said, adding that seismologists are studying which faults were activated. “It’s a complex zone.”
Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans remain without power with thousands more living in shelters or sleeping on the sidewalk since last Tuesday’s quake, AP noted.


thedailycaller--2020-01-11--CNN Anchor Suggests Iranian ‘Death To America’ Chants Aren’t ‘Seriously Meant’

CNN anchor Erin Burnett said Thursday night that Iranian chants of “ death to America ” might not actually be “ seriously meant.
” Burnett made the remark while interviewing Republican Ohio Rep. Mike Turner , who brought up that “ Iran itself continues to have even its entire parliament chant death to America.
” “ I will say , I will say , I was in Tehran when they were chanting ‘ Death to America ’ once .
I was at a rally , the people couldn ’ t have been any friendlier to me personally as an American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing and a trope , as opposed to anything that actually was seriously meant and considered , ” Burnett replied .
“ I understand your point , but having been there my experience was quite different.
” Turner shot back that “ pretty much your entire life , Iran has chanted ‘ Death to America , ’ and they have taken actions against Americans , American interests , in ways that are lethal — killing Americans , giving weaponry to people who have intentioned and do kill Americans.
” ( RELATED : MSNBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soldiers ) “ So it ’ s not just a slogan , ” Turner continued .
“ This obviously is something that Iran has systematically continued to do , it ’ s part of their seeking weapons of mass destruction , in their claim to want to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.
” Burnett wasn ’ t the only news anchor to make eyebrow-raising statements about Iran .
MSNBC anchor Katy Tur expressed amazement at the size of funeral crowds for deceased Iranian terrorist Qasem Soleimani .
Tur called the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Iran ’ s authoritarian government , a “ stunning show of solidarity.
” She added that it “ seems President [ Donald ] Trump did what the Iranian government has been unable to do — unite the country.
” Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

CNN anchor Erin Burnett said Thursday night that Iranian chants of “death to America” might not actually be “seriously meant.”
Burnett made the remark while interviewing Republican Ohio Rep. Mike Turner, who brought up that “Iran itself continues to have even its entire parliament chant death to America.”
“I will say, I will say, I was in Tehran when they were chanting ‘Death to America’ once. I was at a rally, the people couldn’t have been any friendlier to me personally as an American. It sort of felt like a thing and a trope, as opposed to anything that actually was seriously meant and considered,” Burnett replied. “I understand your point, but having been there my experience was quite different.”
Turner shot back that “pretty much your entire life, Iran has chanted ‘Death to America,’ and they have taken actions against Americans, American interests, in ways that are lethal — killing Americans, giving weaponry to people who have intentioned and do kill Americans.” (RELATED: MSNBC Airs Baseless Iranian Propaganda About Dead US Soldiers)
“So it’s not just a slogan,” Turner continued. “This obviously is something that Iran has systematically continued to do, it’s part of their seeking weapons of mass destruction, in their claim to want to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.”
WATCH:
Burnett wasn’t the only news anchor to make eyebrow-raising statements about Iran.
MSNBC anchor Katy Tur expressed amazement at the size of funeral crowds for deceased Iranian terrorist Qasem Soleimani. Tur called the rallies, which reportedly included forced attendance by Iran’s authoritarian government, a “stunning show of solidarity.”
She added that it “seems President [Donald] Trump did what the Iranian government has been unable to do — unite the country.”
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


thedailycaller--2020-01-11--HIGHLIGHTS: Wisconsin Beats Penn State 58-49, Improves To 10-6

The Wisconsin Badgers balled out and beat Penn State 58-49 Saturday afternoon .
Coming into Saturday , I was optimistic and firm about getting a win today against a very good Nittany Lions team .
( RELATED : David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football ) Today represented another opportunity to get a win for the Badgers against a ranked opponent , and my guys played out of their minds on the road .
They went into Happy Valley and just tore Penn State apart from start to finish .
Wisconsin didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all facets of the game .
Now , we ’ re 10-6 with a game against a damn good Maryland team on the horizon .
Luckily we ’ ll be playing the Terrapins at home .
If we played like we did today against the Nittany Lions , then we ’ re going to be just fine .
I can promise you that much .
Micah Potter , Kobe King and Brad Davison all brought it today .
Potter has been playing out of his mind lately .
I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s exceeded all expectations .
Now , it ’ s time to get to work preparing for Maryland .

The Wisconsin Badgers balled out and beat Penn State 58-49 Saturday afternoon.
Coming into Saturday, I was optimistic and firm about getting a win today against a very good Nittany Lions team. (RELATED: David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football)
Today represented another opportunity to get a win for the Badgers against a ranked opponent, and my guys played out of their minds on the road.
They went into Happy Valley and just tore Penn State apart from start to finish. Wisconsin didn’t just win. We dominated all facets of the game.
Now, we’re 10-6 with a game against a damn good Maryland team on the horizon. Luckily we’ll be playing the Terrapins at home.
If we played like we did today against the Nittany Lions, then we’re going to be just fine. I can promise you that much.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wisconsin Basketball (@badgermbb) on Jan 11, 2020 at 12:00pm PST
Micah Potter, Kobe King and Brad Davison all brought it today. Potter has been playing out of his mind lately.
I don’t think it’s unfair to say he’s exceeded all expectations. Now, it’s time to get to work preparing for Maryland.
Can’t wait!


thedailycaller--2020-01-11--FLASHBACK: Did Pelosi In 2011 Contradict Pelosi In 2020 On War Powers?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized President Donald Trump for killing Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani , but she was singing a different tune during the Obama administration .
“ You have a responsibility to consult with Congress , ” the California representative said during a Jan. 9 press conference responding to Trump ’ s airstrike targeting the Iranian military commander .
Pelosi suggested in 2011 that former President Barack Obama did not need congressional authorization to launch attacks in Libya .
Former Vice President Joe Biden has backtracked in similar ways throughout the years .
Check out the latest from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team and subscribe to our YouTube channel to be sure you never miss out on our content !
WATCH below for our latest hits : Take A Moment And Listen To A New Take On ‘ We Didn ’ t Start The Fire ’ Here Are Scenes From An Anti-Trump Protest Outside The White House How Many Times Did The Democrats Say ‘ Trump ’ In the CNN Debate ?
These People ROAST Trump only to find out it was Obama !
We Asked People In DC If They Believe That Wearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized President Donald Trump for killing Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, but she was singing a different tune during the Obama administration.
“You have a responsibility to consult with Congress,” the California representative said during a Jan. 9 press conference responding to Trump’s airstrike targeting the Iranian military commander.
Pelosi suggested in 2011 that former President Barack Obama did not need congressional authorization to launch attacks in Libya. Former Vice President Joe Biden has backtracked in similar ways throughout the years.
Check out the latest from the Daily Caller News Foundation’s video team and subscribe to our YouTube channel to be sure you never miss out on our content!
SUBSCRIBE HERE!
WATCH below for our latest hits:
Watch These Reactions To Jeffrey Epstein Suicide Memes
Take A Moment And Listen To A New Take On ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’
Here Are Scenes From An Anti-Trump Protest Outside The White House
Trump Supporters Speak Out Against Impeachment
How Many Times Did The Democrats Say ‘Trump’ In the CNN Debate?
These People ROAST Trump only to find out it was Obama!
We Asked People In DC If They Believe That Wearing a Make America Great Again Hat Was Racist
Chilling Stories Straight From The Border!
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


thedailycaller--2020-01-11--Iran Adopts US Media’s Talking Point: ‘US Adventurism’ Caused ‘Human Error’ That Brought Down Flight

After first denying responsibility for the Ukrainian airliner that crashed near Tehran , killing everyone onboard , Iranian authorities conceded early Saturday that they had accidentally shot it down — but that “ U.S .
adventurism ” was to blame .
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Sharif tweeted his official statement , calling it a “ sad day ” and offered “ our profound regrets ” to those affected by the tragic turn of events — but reserving some blame for the United States .
“ Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement echoed those made by a number of media personalities and Trump critics , including some contenders for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination .
( RELATED : Iranian Military Apologizes For Shooting Down Ukraine-Bound Flight , Cites ‘ Human Error ’ : Report ) Television personality Piers Morgan wasted no time in blasting the Iranian statement , saying , “ After lying for days , Iran finally admits killing 176 innocent people by ‘ accidentally ’ shooting down a passenger plane .
They blame ‘ U.S .
adventurism ’ .
No , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And this terrible tragedy is far , FAR worse than killing a despicable terror chief.
” According to later reports , however , the plane may have actually been targeted intentionally .
Not because the Iranians intended to take down a civilian target , but because someone made the wrong call with a limited window to determine whether it was a plane or an incoming missile .
Both Canada and Ukraine have demanded a “ full admission of guilt ” from Iran .
Most of the passengers onboard that flight were either Canadian @ @ @

After first denying responsibility for the Ukrainian airliner that crashed near Tehran, killing everyone onboard, Iranian authorities conceded early Saturday that they had accidentally shot it down — but that “U.S. adventurism” was to blame.
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Sharif tweeted his official statement, calling it a “sad day” and offered “our profound regrets” to those affected by the tragic turn of events — but reserving some blame for the United States. “Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster,” his tweet read.
A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations.
???? — Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 11, 2020
Zarif’s statement echoed those made by a number of media personalities and Trump critics, including some contenders for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. (RELATED: Iranian Military Apologizes For Shooting Down Ukraine-Bound Flight, Cites ‘Human Error’: Report)
My heartfelt condolences & love to the families of victims of plane “crash” in Iran. One of the great tragedies of war are unintended consequences & so-called “collateral damage.” Once hostilities begin things quickly get out of control & no one knows where it may end #NoIranWar — Tulsi Gabbard ???? (@TulsiGabbard) January 11, 2020
Democrat Rep. Jackie Speier Blames Trump For Iran Shooting Down Ukrainian Airplanehttps://t.co/YsKD00uPyZ pic.twitter.com/KguSF3ll5K — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 9, 2020
No one can convince me this wasn’t intentional and directly tied to @realDonaldTrump ordering #SoleimaniAssassination. And look how many innocent people are dead as a result. More blood on this sociopath’s hands… #Trump #Iran https://t.co/UzexdijQ0U — Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) January 11, 2020
If Soleimani hadn’t been assassinated, Iran wouldn’t have launched a strike against a US base If Iran hadn’t launched the strike, a Ukrainian plane wouldn’t have been shot down 176 people lost their lives unnecessarily because of Trump’s reckless foreign policy decisions — Edward Hardy (@EdwardTHardy) January 9, 2020
Innocent civilians are now dead because they were caught in the middle of an unnecessary and unwanted military tit for tat. My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of all 176 souls lost aboard this flight. https://t.co/zWaVgWxfdL — Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) January 9, 2020
Television personality Piers Morgan wasted no time in blasting the Iranian statement, saying, “After lying for days, Iran finally admits killing 176 innocent people by ‘accidentally’ shooting down a passenger plane. They blame ‘U.S. adventurism’. No, it was Iran’s reckless stupidity. And this terrible tragedy is far, FAR worse than killing a despicable terror chief.”
After lying for days, Iran finally admits killing 176 innocent people by ‘accidentally’ shooting down a passenger plane.
They blame ‘U.S. adventurism’.
No, it was Iran’s reckless stupidity.
And this terrible tragedy is far, FAR worse than killing a despicable terror chief. pic.twitter.com/s6YCYOeyvV — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 11, 2020
According to later reports, however, the plane may have actually been targeted intentionally. Not because the Iranians intended to take down a civilian target, but because someone made the wrong call with a limited window to determine whether it was a plane or an incoming missile.
Iranian general says they had 10 seconds to decide if they wanted to shoot what could‘ve been a cruise missile & unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian plane. So this is now not an accident while shooting into Iraq, but a direct hit at the wrong target *even from Iran’s narrative* https://t.co/uTSG7nhpfu — Hassan Hassan (@hxhassan) January 11, 2020
Both Canada and Ukraine have demanded a “full admission of guilt” from Iran.
“Iran must take full responsibility,” Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said after Iran admitted to unintentionally shooting down a Ukrainian plane. 63 Canadians were killed in the crash. https://t.co/8azXNFObSp pic.twitter.com/EfebDPHvqn — CNN (@CNN) January 11, 2020
Iran admitted it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet and blamed human error, saying the plane had taken a sharp, unexpected turn that brought it near a sensitive military base. Ukraine’s president wants “a full admission of guilt” from Iran.https://t.co/6Dc9hKo04q — The New York Times (@nytimes) January 11, 2020
Most of the passengers onboard that flight were either Canadian or Ukrainian.


thedailycaller--2020-01-11--CNN Announces Lineup For Final Democratic Debate Ahead Of Iowa Caucuses

CNN announced the list of Democratic candidates who will face off in Tuesday ’ s final primary debate ahead of the Iowa caucuses .
Saturday ’ s announcement narrowed the field to just six candidates , making it the smallest debate stage in the race thus far .
( RELATED : Here ’ s What Celebs Are Dying To Ask The Democratic Candidates ) Those who made the cut were former Vice President Joe Biden , Indiana ’ s “ Mayor Pete ” Buttigieg , Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar , Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , entrepreneur Tom Steyer , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reduced field still includes two women and one openly gay man , there were some who immediately responded to the lack of racial diversity on the stage .
Among those who did not make the cut — but are still actively campaigning — are entrepreneur Andrew Yang , billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg , Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker The debate is set to air Tuesday , Jan. 14 , at 9 p.m .
ET on CNN , and will be held at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is cohosted by CNN and the Des Moines Register .

CNN announced the list of Democratic candidates who will face off in Tuesday’s final primary debate ahead of the Iowa caucuses.
Saturday’s announcement narrowed the field to just six candidates, making it the smallest debate stage in the race thus far. (RELATED: Here’s What Celebs Are Dying To Ask The Democratic Candidates)
.@CNN and @TheDemocrats make it official: The following candidates have qualified for the 7th debate on Tuesday night: Vice President Joe Biden
Mayor Pete Buttigieg
Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Sen. Bernie Sanders
Mr. Tom Steyer
Sen. Elizabeth Warren — Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) January 11, 2020
Those who made the cut were former Vice President Joe Biden, Indiana’s “Mayor Pete” Buttigieg, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, entrepreneur Tom Steyer, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
While even the reduced field still includes two women and one openly gay man, there were some who immediately responded to the lack of racial diversity on the stage.
Ladies & gentlemen, I regret to inform you the whites are at it again https://t.co/N7eRtvvTbi — Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) January 11, 2020
Analysis: Only white candidates have qualified for the Democrats’ January debate https://t.co/OwkVTGvTIg — Microsoft News (@microsoftnews) January 11, 2020
Among those who did not make the cut — but are still actively campaigning — are entrepreneur Andrew Yang, billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker
The debate is set to air Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 9 p.m. ET on CNN, and will be held at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. It is cohosted by CNN and the Des Moines Register.


thedailycaller--2020-01-11--Two US Service Members Killed In Southern Afghanistan

A roadside bomb killed two U.S. service members and injured two more in Southern Afghanistan , the United States military announced Saturday .
The U.S. military did not identify the service members in keeping with Defense Department rules , The Associated Press reported , but the Taliban immediately took responsibility for the attack .
A Taliban spokesman said the attack occurred in the southern Kandahar province .
The two service members were killed after their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb , according to a statement from the U.S. military .
NATO and Afghan officials said early Saturday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not mention casualties , the AP reported , and a NATO spokesman said officials were “ assessing the situation and will provide more information as it became available.
” ( RELATED : Footage Allegedly Shows Iranian Missiles Attacks On Bases Holding US Troops ) There are about 13,000 United States troops in Afghanistan , 5,000 of which are on counterterrorism missions , according to the AP .
Taliban militants conduct almost daily attacks that target both United States and Afghan troops .
The Defense Department did not yet respond to a request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

A roadside bomb killed two U.S. service members and injured two more in Southern Afghanistan, the United States military announced Saturday.
The U.S. military did not identify the service members in keeping with Defense Department rules, The Associated Press reported, but the Taliban immediately took responsibility for the attack. A Taliban spokesman said the attack occurred in the southern Kandahar province.
The two service members were killed after their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb, according to a statement from the U.S. military. NATO and Afghan officials said early Saturday that the bomb hit an army vehicle but did not mention casualties, the AP reported, and a NATO spokesman said officials were “assessing the situation and will provide more information as it became available.” (RELATED: Footage Allegedly Shows Iranian Missiles Attacks On Bases Holding US Troops)
There are about 13,000 United States troops in Afghanistan, 5,000 of which are on counterterrorism missions, according to the AP. Taliban militants conduct almost daily attacks that target both United States and Afghan troops.
The Defense Department did not yet respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


thedailycaller--2020-01-11--Trump Reluctant To Share Intelligence With Democrats Because Of ‘Crooked, Corrupt’ Adam Schiff

President Donald Trump said Friday that he has serious concerns about sharing intelligence with Democratic leaders because of lawmakers like “ crooked , corrupt ” California Rep. Adam Schiff , the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and the congressman who led the impeachment inquiry .
Speaking of the recent attack that he ordered killing Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani , Trump told Fox News host Laura Ingraham , “ Can you imagine they want us to come up and speak to crooked , corrupt politician Adam Schiff ?
‘ Oh , Adam , we have somebody we have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We have a shot at him right now .
Can we meet to get your approval , Adam Schiff ?
Well , let ’ s do it in a couple of days.
’ Oh , okay , it doesn ’ t work that way.
” During a Toledo , Ohio rally on Thursday Trump said Democrats can not be trusted to share intelligence with before a major action because they “ call up the fake news ” and share the information .
Trump suggested again during the Friday interview that Democrats leak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leak .
Anything we give will be leaked immediately , ” he told “ The Ingraham Angle.
” ( RELATED : ‘ You Little Pencil Neck , ’ Trump Criticizes Adam Schiff At Toledo , Ohio Rally ) Ingraham asked Trump why the national security briefing offered to Congress this week had failed to impress not only House Speaker Nancy Pelosi but Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee .
“ He is a great supporter and a friend that called me a little while ago .
He said I wanted to get more information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls from the senators , congressmen who said it was the single best briefing … they ever had.
” ( RELATED : Michael Moore Offers Personal Assistance To Iran To ‘ Fix This Peacefully ’ ) Lee left the briefing in a rage , saying , “ What I found so distressing about that briefing was that one of the messages we received from the briefers was , ‘ Do not debate .
Do not discuss the issue of the appropriateness of further military intervention against Iran .
And then if you do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ’ ” Lee told reporters in a scrum after he left the briefing .
Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio disagreed , saying he was entirely satisfied with the briefing and suggesting people who weren ’ t “ just oppose everything [ President Donald ] Trump does .
”

President Donald Trump said Friday that he has serious concerns about sharing intelligence with Democratic leaders because of lawmakers like “crooked, corrupt” California Rep. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and the congressman who led the impeachment inquiry.
Speaking of the recent attack that he ordered killing Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Trump told Fox News host Laura Ingraham, “Can you imagine they want us to come up and speak to crooked, corrupt politician Adam Schiff? ‘Oh, Adam, we have somebody we have been trying to get for a long time. We have a shot at him right now. Can we meet to get your approval, Adam Schiff? Well, let’s do it in a couple of days.’ Oh, okay, it doesn’t work that way.”
During a Toledo, Ohio rally on Thursday Trump said Democrats cannot be trusted to share intelligence with before a major action because they “call up the fake news” and share the information.
Trump suggested again during the Friday interview that Democrats leak intelligence to friendly media. “They leak. Anything we give will be leaked immediately,” he told “The Ingraham Angle.” (RELATED: ‘You Little Pencil Neck,’ Trump Criticizes Adam Schiff At Toledo, Ohio Rally)
Ingraham asked Trump why the national security briefing offered to Congress this week had failed to impress not only House Speaker Nancy Pelosi but Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee.
“He is a great supporter and a friend that called me a little while ago. He said I wanted to get more information. Look, I have also had calls from the senators, congressmen who said it was the single best briefing … they ever had.” (RELATED: Michael Moore Offers Personal Assistance To Iran To ‘Fix This Peacefully’)
Lee left the briefing in a rage, saying, “What I found so distressing about that briefing was that one of the messages we received from the briefers was, ‘Do not debate. Do not discuss the issue of the appropriateness of further military intervention against Iran. And then if you do, you’ll be emboldening Iran,’” Lee told reporters in a scrum after he left the briefing.
Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio disagreed, saying he was entirely satisfied with the briefing and suggesting people who weren’t “just oppose everything [President Donald] Trump does.”


thedailycaller--2020-01-11--Unfit To Print Episode 36: CNN Settles After Network Mocked Covington Catholic Kid

CNN settled a lawsuit this week with Covington Catholic student Nicholas Sandmann over its coverage of Sandmann ’ s encounter @ @ @ @ @ Phillips .
It is a rare moment where the media is actually held accountable for @ @ @ @ @ it treats people on the right side of the political spectrum .
( RELATED : @ @ @ @ @ Covington Catholic Student Nick Sandmann ) The media also spent the week shilling for Iran @ @ @ @ @ a drone strike that took out top Iranian military general , Qasem Soleimani .
Reporters @ @ @ @ @ The New York Times , and others repeated Iranian state talking points , including bragging @ @ @ @ @ Soleimani ’ s funeral .
It is truly a sad state of affairs when the @ @ @ @ @ much that they ’ re willing to embrace an authoritarian regime with massive human rights @ @ @ @ @ and check out past episodes of the podcast : Unfit To Print Episode 35 : @ @ @ @ @ Impeachment

CNN settled a lawsuit this week with Covington Catholic student Nicholas Sandmann over its coverage of Sandmann’s encounter with Native American elder Nathan Phillips.
It is a rare moment where the media is actually held accountable for the defamatory manner in which it treats people on the right side of the political spectrum. (RELATED: CNN Agrees To Settle With Covington Catholic Student Nick Sandmann)
LISTEN:
The media also spent the week shilling for Iran after President Donald Trump ordered a drone strike that took out top Iranian military general, Qasem Soleimani. Reporters from outlets like MSNBC, The New York Times, and others repeated Iranian state talking points, including bragging about the crowd size at Soleimani’s funeral.
LISTEN:
It is truly a sad state of affairs when the media hates the president so much that they’re willing to embrace an authoritarian regime with massive human rights offenses.
WATCH:
Thanks for watching and check out past episodes of the podcast:
Unfit To Print Episode 35: WaPo Reporters Appear To Celebrate Impeachment
Unfit To Print Episode 34: IG Report Debunks Media’s Biggest Lies


thedailycaller--2020-01-11--CCW Weekend: Force Over Distance – Shooting Distances For Home

It ’ s been said more than once that you should be able to shoot accurately and precisely at multiple distances in order to save your own life or that of another person .
Anyone can learn to shoot at 7 yards , but stretching out to – say – 20 yards or further may push your capabilities .
Granted , the old saw of the “ rule of threes ” still has a lot of validity ; odds are that if you ’ re ever going to use a gun to defend yourself , those are the circumstances they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of course there ’ s plenty of exceptions to the rule .
If you want to realistically prepare yourself to shoot in defense of yourself or someone else , you need to be able to shoot out to the furthest distance you ’ re likely to have to shoot at , if not further .
Obviously , that ’ s impossible to do out on the street , but it ’ s completely possible within the confines of your home , the building you work in , the church you attend ( if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and so on .
In other words , you need to work out what the longest distances you may be called on to shoot at when that distance is knowable in advance .
What ’ s the furthest linear distance that exists in your home without obstructions or walls being in the way ?
From the bottom to the top of a staircase ?
From the back wall of the dining room to the front door ?
End of the hallway to the back wall of the living room ?
Likewise , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , worship and other fixed locations that you frequent ?
Top tip : the average male has a stride length , measured from heel to heel , of about 30 inches , according to a quick Google search .
The average female has an average stride length of about 25 inches .
The average man wears size 10 shoes , the average woman wears a size 9 .
Therefore , one step – measured from the back of the rear heel to the front toe – is about 1 yard for men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and a few inches shy of 1 yard for women .
If you don ’ t have a tape measure , walk it out and make a note of it .
For those who keep a shotgun for home defense – and the scattergun is the queen of personal defense weapons inside about 100 yards – you ’ ll also want to pattern your gun and your defense load at that distance .
Yes , the traditional patterning procedure is on a 30-inch square at 40 yards , but the gun in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clays , or for that matter , for bagging bobwhites or longbeards .
Figure out the longest linear shot you ’ ll make inside the home with your shotgun , and pattern your defensive load at that distance .
Chances are the pattern will be tight at that distance , but figure it out all the same .
This might also raise the question of chokes .
At typical home defense distances chances are it won ’ t matter ; the typical home likely doesn ’ t have an unobstructed linear distance longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a buckshot pattern is likely still pretty tight .
Your home may be different and therefore your mileage may vary .
So this much is completely up to you .
Again , pattern your gun at the correct distance for you and make your own decisions .
If it were me , I ’ d err on the side of more constriction and use a full or turkey choke , with the idea being to put the greatest amount of lead in the smallest area , and aim for a sensitive area .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not hostile personnel .
If there ’ s no effect , then there ’ s no effect , but if it concentrates the pattern more than the cylinder or an IC , M , or IM choke that ’ sawesome .
However , there ’ s a certain amount of evidence that chokes don ’ t do much for buckshot , though all the pattern testing I ’ ve seen seems to indicate that the effect of the choke depends heavily on the load you ’ re using and the range at which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , figure out your gun , your load and any choke you plan to put on a defensive shotgun .
Once you have the distance worked out , you can start working shots at those distances into your training regime .
If your primary weapon system is a handgun , you ’ ll want to drill firing from the draw as much as you want to practice from the ready position .
As we all saw in the White Settlement incident , you may have to make a shot from the holster beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibly even a head shot .
If you ’ re going to be serious about defending yourself with a gun , you need to work on being effective with the equipment you use and have , and at the shooting distance you ’ ll likely use it at .
Click here to get your 1911 Pistol Shopping Guide .
Click here to get The Complete Concealed Carry Training Guide Sam Hoober is a Contributing Editor to AlienGearHolsters.com , a subsidiary of Hayden , ID , based Tedder Industries , where he writes about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and concealed carry tips .
Click here to visit aliengearholsters.com .

By Sam Hoober, Alien Gear Holsters
It’s been said more than once that you should be able to shoot accurately and precisely at multiple distances in order to save your own life or that of another person. Anyone can learn to shoot at 7 yards, but stretching out to – say – 20 yards or further may push your capabilities.
Granted, the old saw of the “rule of threes” still has a lot of validity; odds are that if you’re ever going to use a gun to defend yourself, those are the circumstances they’ll take place under, but of course there’s plenty of exceptions to the rule.
If you want to realistically prepare yourself to shoot in defense of yourself or someone else, you need to be able to shoot out to the furthest distance you’re likely to have to shoot at, if not further. Obviously, that’s impossible to do out on the street, but it’s completely possible within the confines of your home, the building you work in, the church you attend (if you go to one, anyhow) and so on.
In other words, you need to work out what the longest distances you may be called on to shoot at when that distance is knowable in advance.
What’s the furthest linear distance that exists in your home without obstructions or walls being in the way? From the bottom to the top of a staircase? From the back wall of the dining room to the front door? End of the hallway to the back wall of the living room?
Is it 10 yards? 20? 40?
Likewise, what is that distance in your place of work, worship and other fixed locations that you frequent?
Top tip: the average male has a stride length, measured from heel to heel, of about 30 inches, according to a quick Google search. The average female has an average stride length of about 25 inches. The average man wears size 10 shoes, the average woman wears a size 9. Therefore, one step – measured from the back of the rear heel to the front toe – is about 1 yard for men (give or take a couple inches) and a few inches shy of 1 yard for women. If you don’t have a tape measure, walk it out and make a note of it.
For those who keep a shotgun for home defense – and the scattergun is the queen of personal defense weapons inside about 100 yards – you’ll also want to pattern your gun and your defense load at that distance.
Yes, the traditional patterning procedure is on a 30-inch square at 40 yards, but the gun in this instance isn’t for shooting clays, or for that matter, for bagging bobwhites or longbeards. Figure out the longest linear shot you’ll make inside the home with your shotgun, and pattern your defensive load at that distance. Chances are the pattern will be tight at that distance, but figure it out all the same.
This might also raise the question of chokes. At typical home defense distances chances are it won’t matter; the typical home likely doesn’t have an unobstructed linear distance longer than maybe 12 or 15 yards; a buckshot pattern is likely still pretty tight. Your home may be different and therefore your mileage may vary.
So this much is completely up to you. Again, pattern your gun at the correct distance for you and make your own decisions.
If it were me, I’d err on the side of more constriction and use a full or turkey choke, with the idea being to put the greatest amount of lead in the smallest area, and aim for a sensitive area. Spread is for clays or quail, not hostile personnel. If there’s no effect, then there’s no effect, but if it concentrates the pattern more than the cylinder or an IC, M, or IM choke that’sawesome.
However, there’s a certain amount of evidence that chokes don’t do much for buckshot, though all the pattern testing I’ve seen seems to indicate that the effect of the choke depends heavily on the load you’re using and the range at which you’re using it. Again, figure out your gun, your load and any choke you plan to put on a defensive shotgun.
Once you have the distance worked out, you can start working shots at those distances into your training regime. If your primary weapon system is a handgun, you’ll want to drill firing from the draw as much as you want to practice from the ready position.
As we all saw in the White Settlement incident, you may have to make a shot from the holster beyond what are considered typical combat distances, possibly even a head shot. If you’re going to be serious about defending yourself with a gun, you need to work on being effective with the equipment you use and have, and at the shooting distance you’ll likely use it at.
Click here to get your 1911 Pistol Shopping Guide.
Click here to get The Complete Concealed Carry Training Guide
Sam Hoober is a Contributing Editor to AlienGearHolsters.com, a subsidiary of Hayden, ID, based Tedder Industries, where he writes about gun accessories, gun safety, open and concealed carry tips. Click here to visit aliengearholsters.com.


thedailycaller--2020-01-11--Is A New Secession Movement Growing In America? F.H. Buckley Argues That It Is In New Book

Editor ’ s note : What follows is an excerpt from F.H .
Buckley ’ s new book “ American Secession : The Looming Threat of a National Breakup ” which will release on Jan. 14 ( Pre-order here on Amazon ) .
Professor Buckley ’ s book examines secession movements in other countries as well as the secession movement that caused the Civil War to get an idea of what a modern secession movement in the United States might look like .
The book also tackles the growing partisan divide and why a secession movement might find fertile ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secession .
It ’ s a crazy idea , right ?
But it ’ s less crazy than you might think .
With all the secessionist movements across the world , it becomes easier to imagine breakups , even in the United States .
It ’ s easier still when the pluses are so much greater than they were in the past , and the minuses so much smaller .
The pluses are so much greater today because the federal government ’ s footprint has grown so much larger .
In the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chafe at the rule from Washington .
A spring in the back yard didn ’ t become a federal wetland .
Teachers didn ’ t receive letters from the Department of Education telling them how to run their schools .
Local highway decisions weren ’ t made in Washington because of the strings attached to federal grants .
Now America increasingly looks more like a unitary state than like the federal republic the Framers of the Constitution thought they had given us .
With secession , we would reverse course .
If there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to secede today , there ’ s also a much smaller downside .
It wouldn ’ t perpetuate slavery in the South , as secession in 1861 would have done .
Even after the Civil War had brought an end to slavery , federalism and “ states ’ rights ” were discredited by southern Jim Crow laws and barriers to voting registration for black Americans .
Since then , however , the civil rights revolution has taken hold and it ’ s much less likely that secession would be employed to discriminate against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Senator Jim Eastland ( D-MS ) understood how the 1965 Voting Rights Act and federal marshals had changed the equation .
“ When [ the blacks ] get the vote , ” he said , “ I won ’ t be talking this way anymore.
” Far from bringing back Jim Crow , secession today in a place like California might give us the perfect paradise of woke progressivism .
( RELATED : On The Left And Right , Talk Of Civil War Is Everywhere Heading Into 2020 ) Instead of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ velvet divorce ” of the Czechs and Slovaks in 1993 .
Distinct in religion , language and culture , they had been combined in a country created in 1918 after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire .
The Slovaks were conservative and agricultural while the Czechs liked avant-garde plays and rock music .
Czechoslovakia suffered through Nazi and Soviet rule , and then split apart into Slovakia and the Czech Republic upon the fall of communism .
The two new countries , both Western and liberal , solved questions about their border , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public debt through negotiation , and they ’ ve since maintained the friendliest of relations .
We ’ re now living in a secessionist moment in world history , as a result of three international developments .
The first was the decolonization movement.
, which gave birth to new countries in Africa and Asia as European countries shrank .
Like the American Revolution , the grant of independence was a form of secession from the colonial power .
The second development was the end of the Cold War .
When countries had faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not wish to weaken themselves by dividing in two countries , or weren ’ t given that option .
South Vietnam wasn ’ t permitted to remain independent of North Vietnam , for example .
But after the Communist empire fell , twenty-four new countries emerged from behind the Iron Curtain .
The third development was the worldwide embrace of free trade .
When countries subjected foreign goods to high tariffs but let domestic goods pass freely , small size meant greater barriers to trade , and that was a cost .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a free trade zone with the one it was splitting away from , and accede to its free-trade treaties , that cost would disappear .
All this points to a rise in American secessionism .
To American states that chafe at rule from Washington , the federal government can seem like a distant and burdensome colonial power .
That was the point of the Tea Party movement , after all .
“ Party like it ’ s 1773 !
” said Sarah Palin , recalling the first Tea Party .
The fall of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the powerful military that only a large state can provide .
Finally , a seceding state might hope to retain free-trade links with the rest of the United States , as Quebec separatists had sought with their idea of sovereignty-association .
( RELATED : Texit ?
Meet The Folks Making The Push For The Second Biggest State In The US To Secede ) In short , the stakes have been lowered , and that ’ s why a modern president might react to a secession referendum with more of James Buchanan ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s unyielding assertion of federal sovereignty .
Secession might also seem like a reasonable way to resolve unbridgeable partisan differences , in which case an Article V convention to amend the Constitution might work out our own velvet divorce .
Finally , the right of secession might find support in the Supreme Court , were it to follow the decision of the Canadian Supreme Court when it was faced with the possibility of a successful independence referendum in Quebec .
Cass Sunstein has said that “ no serious scholar or politician now argues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American constitutional law.
” He ’ s right .
But I will show how it could still happen through constitutional means .
F.H .
Buckley is a Professor at George Mason University ’ s Scalia School of Law , a senior editor at the American Spectator , and has written for several other publications including the Washington Post .
He is also the author of several other books , the most recent of which are “ The Republican Workers Party ” and “ The Republic of Virtue .
”

Editor’s note: What follows is an excerpt from F.H. Buckley’s new book “American Secession: The Looming Threat of a National Breakup” which will release on Jan. 14 (Pre-order here on Amazon). Professor Buckley’s book examines secession movements in other countries as well as the secession movement that caused the Civil War to get an idea of what a modern secession movement in the United States might look like. The book also tackles the growing partisan divide and why a secession movement might find fertile ground in today’s political climate.
Secession. It’s a crazy idea, right? But it’s less crazy than you might think. With all the secessionist movements across the world, it becomes easier to imagine breakups, even in the United States. It’s easier still when the pluses are so much greater than they were in the past, and the minuses so much smaller.
The pluses are so much greater today because the federal government’s footprint has grown so much larger. In the past, the states had less reason to chafe at the rule from Washington. A spring in the back yard didn’t become a federal wetland. Teachers didn’t receive letters from the Department of Education telling them how to run their schools. Local highway decisions weren’t made in Washington because of the strings attached to federal grants. Now America increasingly looks more like a unitary state than like the federal republic the Framers of the Constitution thought they had given us. With secession, we would reverse course.
If there’s more reason for a state to secede today, there’s also a much smaller downside. It wouldn’t perpetuate slavery in the South, as secession in 1861 would have done. Even after the Civil War had brought an end to slavery, federalism and “states’ rights” were discredited by southern Jim Crow laws and barriers to voting registration for black Americans. Since then, however, the civil rights revolution has taken hold and it’s much less likely that secession would be employed to discriminate against a minority. Even notorious racists such as Senator Jim Eastland (D-MS) understood how the 1965 Voting Rights Act and federal marshals had changed the equation. “When [the blacks] get the vote,” he said, “I won’t be talking this way anymore.” Far from bringing back Jim Crow, secession today in a place like California might give us the perfect paradise of woke progressivism. (RELATED: On The Left And Right, Talk Of Civil War Is Everywhere Heading Into 2020)
Instead of the Civil War, think of the “velvet divorce” of the Czechs and Slovaks in 1993. Distinct in religion, language and culture, they had been combined in a country created in 1918 after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Slovaks were conservative and agricultural while the Czechs liked avant-garde plays and rock music. Czechoslovakia suffered through Nazi and Soviet rule, and then split apart into Slovakia and the Czech Republic upon the fall of communism. The two new countries, both Western and liberal, solved questions about their border, the division of assets and assumption of public debt through negotiation, and they’ve since maintained the friendliest of relations.
We’re now living in a secessionist moment in world history, as a result of three international developments. The first was the decolonization movement., which gave birth to new countries in Africa and Asia as European countries shrank. Like the American Revolution, the grant of independence was a form of secession from the colonial power. The second development was the end of the Cold War. When countries had faced the threat of Communist expansion, they did not wish to weaken themselves by dividing in two countries, or weren’t given that option. South Vietnam wasn’t permitted to remain independent of North Vietnam, for example. But after the Communist empire fell, twenty-four new countries emerged from behind the Iron Curtain. The third development was the worldwide embrace of free trade. When countries subjected foreign goods to high tariffs but let domestic goods pass freely, small size meant greater barriers to trade, and that was a cost. If a seceding state could enter into a free trade zone with the one it was splitting away from, and accede to its free-trade treaties, that cost would disappear.
All this points to a rise in American secessionism. To American states that chafe at rule from Washington, the federal government can seem like a distant and burdensome colonial power. That was the point of the Tea Party movement, after all. “Party like it’s 1773!” said Sarah Palin, recalling the first Tea Party. The fall of communism has also lessened the need for the powerful military that only a large state can provide. Finally, a seceding state might hope to retain free-trade links with the rest of the United States, as Quebec separatists had sought with their idea of sovereignty-association. (RELATED: Texit? Meet The Folks Making The Push For The Second Biggest State In The US To Secede)
In short, the stakes have been lowered, and that’s why a modern president might react to a secession referendum with more of James Buchanan’s prudence and less of Abraham Lincoln’s unyielding assertion of federal sovereignty. Secession might also seem like a reasonable way to resolve unbridgeable partisan differences, in which case an Article V convention to amend the Constitution might work out our own velvet divorce. Finally, the right of secession might find support in the Supreme Court, were it to follow the decision of the Canadian Supreme Court when it was faced with the possibility of a successful independence referendum in Quebec.
Cass Sunstein has said that “no serious scholar or politician now argues that a right to secede exists under American constitutional law.” He’s right. But I will show how it could still happen through constitutional means.
F.H. Buckley is a Professor at George Mason University’s Scalia School of Law, a senior editor at the American Spectator, and has written for several other publications including the Washington Post. He is also the author of several other books, the most recent of which are “The Republican Workers Party” and “The Republic of Virtue.”