thedailycaller--2020-03-10--NICS Sets Another Record

NICS Sets Another Record

January 2020 was a record-setting month for the FBI ’ s NICS Office and our coverage noted that law-abiding gun owners buy firearms whenever anti-gun politicians start targeting them instead of criminals .
A couple of things have happened since January : failed candidate Mike Bloomberg and others kept talking about their gun control aspirations , and law-abiding gun owners kept buying firearms and getting permits for concealed carry .
February 2020 was the third busiest month the NICS Office has ever seen .
It was also the busiest February and saw more checks run than in January 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month and more than 5.5 million have been run so far this year ( through the end of February ) .
February 24th to March 1st was the third busiest week for NICS firearm background checks in history .
The only busier weeks were in December 2012 and December 2015 .
The total number of NICS checks in February included 719,327 checks related to a handgun purchase ; 400,040 checks related to the sale of a long gun ; 57,887 checks for the sale of frame , receiver , or other firearm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firearms in a single transaction .
There were also 393,902 permit checks and more than a million permit re-checks .
Keep in mind , there are some states that accept a valid permit in lieu of a NICS check so the actual number of firearms purchased in February could be much higher .
The Washington Examiner reports that 2020 could see the most-ever checks in a year , with more than 30 million possible if this trend continues .
Will it ?
Well , Joe Biden anointed Beto O ’ Rourke as his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eve of Super Tuesday last week .
Remember Beto ?
He ’ s the sort-of-ran candidate who dropped out of the race on November 1st – just a couple of weeks after revealing that he did actually want to confiscate lawfully-owned firearms .
In Virginia , sales-related background checks were up more than 63 % in February 2020 compared to same period in 2019 .
Firearm sales in Virginia have been increasing rapidly as the legislature that Mike Bloomberg bought works to inflict his will upon the good people of Virginia .
Rational @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights as the Democrat primary season continues .
It could be a very busy summer for the NICS staff .
Buying a firearm is an exercise of your Second Amendment rights , but that action alone will not send a message to Biden or Sanders .
The only message they ’ ll actually understand is a complete rejection of their policies at the ballot box .
Mike Bloomberg has already pledged to spend “ whatever it takes ” to get Joe Biden in the White House .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ boast coming from most people , keep in mind that Bloomberg has already bought the Virginia legislature .
Let ’ s make sure he can ’ t buy the White House .
Established in 1975 , the Institute for Legislative Action ( ILA ) is the “ lobbying ” arm of the National Rifle Association of America .
ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative , political , and legal arenas , to purchase , possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Click here to follow NRA-ILA on Facebook .

January 2020 was a record-setting month for the FBI’s NICS Office and our coverage noted that law-abiding gun owners buy firearms whenever anti-gun politicians start targeting them instead of criminals. A couple of things have happened since January: failed candidate Mike Bloomberg and others kept talking about their gun control aspirations, and law-abiding gun owners kept buying firearms and getting permits for concealed carry.
February 2020 was the third busiest month the NICS Office has ever seen. It was also the busiest February and saw more checks run than in January 2020. More than 2.8 million checks were run last month and more than 5.5 million have been run so far this year (through the end of February). February 24th to March 1st was the third busiest week for NICS firearm background checks in history. The only busier weeks were in December 2012 and December 2015.
The total number of NICS checks in February included 719,327 checks related to a handgun purchase; 400,040 checks related to the sale of a long gun; 57,887 checks for the sale of frame, receiver, or other firearm; and, 26,769 checks for multiple firearms in a single transaction. There were also 393,902 permit checks and more than a million permit re-checks. Keep in mind, there are some states that accept a valid permit in lieu of a NICS check so the actual number of firearms purchased in February could be much higher.
The Washington Examiner reports that 2020 could see the most-ever checks in a year, with more than 30 million possible if this trend continues.
Will it? Well, Joe Biden anointed Beto O’Rourke as his front man on gun confiscation on the eve of Super Tuesday last week. Remember Beto? He’s the sort-of-ran candidate who dropped out of the race on November 1st – just a couple of weeks after revealing that he did actually want to confiscate lawfully-owned firearms.
In Virginia, sales-related background checks were up more than 63% in February 2020 compared to same period in 2019. Firearm sales in Virginia have been increasing rapidly as the legislature that Mike Bloomberg bought works to inflict his will upon the good people of Virginia.
Rational people should expect law-abiding gun owners to continue to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights as the Democrat primary season continues. It could be a very busy summer for the NICS staff.
Buying a firearm is an exercise of your Second Amendment rights, but that action alone will not send a message to Biden or Sanders. The only message they’ll actually understand is a complete rejection of their policies at the ballot box. Mike Bloomberg has already pledged to spend “whatever it takes” to get Joe Biden in the White House. While that might sound like an idle boast coming from most people, keep in mind that Bloomberg has already bought the Virginia legislature.
Let’s make sure he can’t buy the White House.
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Click here to follow NRA-ILA on Facebook.


thedailycaller--2020-03-10--Melania Wows In Gorgeous Tan Printed Jacket And Pants Combo At National PTA Conference

Melania Trump definitely turned heads Tuesday when she stepped out in a gorgeous tan printed jacket and pants combo for a conference in Alexandria , Virginia .
The first lady looked just as striking as ever in the tan and black button-up jacket and tan pants during her appearance at the 2020 National Parent Teacher Association ( PTA ) Legislative Conference at the Westin Alexandria Old Town .
( RELATED : Ivanka Turns Heads In Yellow And Black Floral Dress During Munich Trip ) She completed the great look with loose hair , a brown belt and chocolate high heels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Gorgeous Yellow Plaid Skirt Suit ) To say the look was perfect would be a serious understatement .
“ It was an honor to speak at the @ NationalPTA # PTALegCon today , ” FLOTUS captioned her post on Instagram from the day ’ s event , along with a couple pictures .
“ Our country is blessed to have hardworking parents & teachers who dedicate their lives to ensure that our nation ’ s youth have caring guidance for a prosperous future !
# BeBest ” Melania ’ s fashion sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted before .
Check out some of her other unforgettable looks throughout the year ’ s here .

Melania Trump definitely turned heads Tuesday when she stepped out in a gorgeous tan printed jacket and pants combo for a conference in Alexandria, Virginia.
The first lady looked just as striking as ever in the tan and black button-up jacket and tan pants during her appearance at the 2020 National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Legislative Conference at the Westin Alexandria Old Town. (RELATED: Ivanka Turns Heads In Yellow And Black Floral Dress During Munich Trip)
She completed the great look with loose hair, a brown belt and chocolate high heels. (RELATED: Ivanka Turns Heads In Gorgeous Yellow Plaid Skirt Suit)
To say the look was perfect would be a serious understatement.
“It was an honor to speak at the @NationalPTA #PTALegCon today,” FLOTUS captioned her post on Instagram from the day’s event, along with a couple pictures. “Our country is blessed to have hardworking parents & teachers who dedicate their lives to ensure that our nation’s youth have caring guidance for a prosperous future!#BeBest”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by First Lady Melania Trump (@flotus) on Mar 10, 2020 at 12:40pm PDT
Melania’s fashion sense is always on point as has been noted before. Check out some of her other unforgettable looks throughout the year’s here.


thedailycaller--2020-03-10--‘Mass Hysteria’: WaPo Quarantines Entire Staff Over Coronavirus

The Washington Post encouraged all of its employees to work from home in a memo sent by the publication ’ s publisher Tuesday .
Tuesday ’ s memo follows a directive encouraging WaPo reporters who covered the Conservative Political Action Conference ( CPAC ) in February to self-quarantine for seven days .
A CPAC attendee tested positive for coronavirus , prompting numerous officials and journalists who also attended the event to self-quarantine .
“ We have decided to begin encouraging ( but not mandating ) employees to work from home if your role and equipment needs make it practical to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of the month , ” WaPo ’ s publisher Fred Ryan wrote in a memo shared with the Daily Caller .
“ We intend to continue our operations at full scale even with this change in employee locations.
” “ We will continue to take every precaution to help mitigate any spread of covid-19 to our employees while maintaining the operations that serve our readers around the globe.
” ( RELATED : Here Are The Members Of Congress Self-Quarantining After Meeting Person With Coronavirus At CPAC ) The memo noted that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the change in workplace .
WaPo plans to send out an additional message from Vice President of Human Resources Wayne Connell to answer employees ’ s questions , according to Tuesday ’ s memo .
WaPo also has previously cancelled all nonessential travel , office tours and live events for the month of March , the Washingtonian reported .
Politico and The Daily Beast have also told reporters who covered CPAC to self-quarantine , but neither outlet has instructed its entire staff to remain home .

The Washington Post encouraged all of its employees to work from home in a memo sent by the publication’s publisher Tuesday.
Tuesday’s memo follows a directive encouraging WaPo reporters who covered the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February to self-quarantine for seven days. A CPAC attendee tested positive for coronavirus, prompting numerous officials and journalists who also attended the event to self-quarantine.
“We have decided to begin encouraging (but not mandating) employees to work from home if your role and equipment needs make it practical to do so, starting tomorrow through the end of the month,” WaPo’s publisher Fred Ryan wrote in a memo shared with the Daily Caller. “We intend to continue our operations at full scale even with this change in employee locations.”
“We will continue to take every precaution to help mitigate any spread of covid-19 to our employees while maintaining the operations that serve our readers around the globe.” (RELATED: Here Are The Members Of Congress Self-Quarantining After Meeting Person With Coronavirus At CPAC)
The memo noted that there would likely be questions regarding workflow due to the change in workplace. WaPo plans to send out an additional message from Vice President of Human Resources Wayne Connell to answer employees’s questions, according to Tuesday’s memo.
WaPo also has previously cancelled all nonessential travel, office tours and live events for the month of March, the Washingtonian reported. Politico and The Daily Beast have also told reporters who covered CPAC to self-quarantine, but neither outlet has instructed its entire staff to remain home.


thedailycaller--2020-03-12--EXCLUSIVE: Should The U.S.-Mexico Border Be Closed Due To The Coronavirus? We Asked Arizona Rep. And

EXCLUSIVE: Should The U.S.-Mexico Border Be Closed Due To The Coronavirus? We Asked Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs

Republican Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs sat down with the Daily Caller ’ s Stephanie Hamill for a wide-ranging interview which included his thoughts on whether the U.S.-Mexico border should be closed to help contain the spread of the coronavirus .
Mexico has reported a low number of coronavirus cases , which is drawing skepticism as some fear there are many more cases that haven ’ t been detected .
( RELATED : Brazilian Official Pictured With President Trump Tests Positive For Coronavirus . )
“ I think that would be a drastic step , but you know if we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do that , ” said Biggs .
He went on to explain how the Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus in effort to hurt President Donald Trump ’ s reelection chances .
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of The Daily Caller .
Check out TheDC ’ s fantastic videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel to avoid missing out .
NOW CHECK OUT The Daily Caller ’ s most popular shows : Would You Rather Date A Trump Supporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ About The ‘ Muslim Extremist ’ Compound In New Mexico Democrats ’ New Campaign Message : ‘ Drain The Swamp ’

Republican Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs sat down with the Daily Caller’s Stephanie Hamill for a wide-ranging interview which included his thoughts on whether the U.S.-Mexico border should be closed to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.


thedailycaller--2020-03-12--Gun Test: Winchester SX4 – 20 Gauge

Gun Test: Winchester SX4 – 20 Gauge

Few companies in the American shooting pantheon have a history as storied as Winchester Repeating Arms Co. From its lever-action roots to its more modern innovations , the company has held a key position in the American imagination for decades , a role which it does not appear will be relinquished anytime soon .
The latest in Winchester ’ s line of gas-piston-operated shotguns , the Super X4 ( SX4 ) , assembled in Portugal , and now chambered in 20 gauge , appears to continue this reputation .
Available in a variety of finishes ( black , walnut and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with either a compact ( 13″ ) or a fullsize ( 14.25″ ) length of pull ( LOP ) , and three different barrel lengths ( 24″ , 26″ or 28″ ) , the 20-ga. SX4 is a versatile scattergun .
The model reviewed here , a 28″-barreled , synthetic-stocked variant with a fullsize LOP , is a sleek-looking example with a single red line accenting the otherwise black receiver just aft of the ejection port .
Crucial to the operation of the SX4 is its Active Valve gas system , which self-adjusts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cycle a wide range of loads .
When firing the heaviest magnum loads , excess gases vent upward and forward out Quadra-Vent ports in the fore-end .
This helps to regulate bolt speed and reduce felt recoil , while simultaneously providing cleaner and more reliable operation .
This affects only excess gases , however , as the 20-ga. SX4 can reliably cycle shells as light as 1 1⁄8-oz .
2¾ ” lead loads .
Though LOP is set from the factory at 14.25″ , a series of spacers are included to fine-tune the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t fit from the get-go .
The slimline grip is textured to improve purchase , even in the wet conditions that this type of firearm is sure to encounter .
We certainly had no complaints with its performance in that department—the gun held solidly in the blind and kept slippage of any sort far out of mind .
Further helping with grip , all controls—the cross-bolt safety , bolt release and bolt handle—are oversized , allowing one to leave gloves on while still easily manipulating the shotgun .
Positioning of the controls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trigger , the bolt release is below the ejection port on the right side of the receiver , and the bolt handle is , obviously , incorporated into the bolt .
A widely spaced trigger guard similarly allows for the use of gloves .
The trigger is crisp and , though it ’ s hard to ever call a shotgun trigger “ light , ” weighs in at a manageable 6 lbs.
, 7 ozs .
There is no take-up at the front end , making it more than adequate to its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that the entire trigger group drops out as one enclosed assembly , making cleaning and maintenance easy .
– Moving forward , the utilitarian matte-black aluminum receiver minimizes glare , particularly useful for not spooking ducks or geese rolling in from above , though also a godsend when staring into a rising or setting sun .
The magazine is fed via a wide port at the bottom .
Though shells slide in easily for the most part , it can be a little sticky getting the fourth and final round to seat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , matte-finished barrel contributes to a balance point that sits further forward , aiding in both swing and follow-through .
Even in the relatively cramped confines of a duck blind , the gun hefted easily and tracked well , the 15 ducks it downed in three days standing as testament to its accuracy .
The TruGlo fiber-optic front sight—located at the end of a 1/4″-wide rib running the length of the barrel—was easy to acquire , no doubt playing a part as well .
Both the chamber and the rest of the back-bored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fouling and the elements .
A gauge determined the bore diameter of our test sample to be 0.630″ .
The SX4 ships with three chokes—improved cylinder ( 0.010″ ) , modified ( 0.013″ ) and full ( 0.028″ ) —as well as a tool for their removal .
The chokes are of the Invector-Plus pattern , with threads at the bottom to better seal out corrosive gases , and additional chokes can be purchased from Winchester .
All pattern testing was done with the modified choke installed , as that is how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At 40 yds.
, said patterns displayed a center density that averaged about 1″ high and left , using 3″ Winchester Blind Side loads containing 138 No .
3 pellets , at an average velocity of 1382 f.p.s .
measured 4 ft. from the muzzle .
The scattergun shot through these long shells with nary a hiccup , cycling well throughout and providing decent recoil mitigation for a firearm of such reasonable weight .
If in the market for a new waterfowling gun that can stand up to the wet rigors of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look .
At $ 940 it ’ s not the least expensive of its kind on the market , but , if one does his or her part properly , it is guaranteed to down some birds—while generating considerably less recoil than its 12-ga. older brother .

Few companies in the American shooting pantheon have a history as storied as Winchester Repeating Arms Co. From its lever-action roots to its more modern innovations, the company has held a key position in the American imagination for decades, a role which it does not appear will be relinquished anytime soon. The latest in Winchester’s line of gas-piston-operated shotguns, the Super X4 (SX4), assembled in Portugal, and now chambered in 20 gauge, appears to continue this reputation.
Available in a variety of finishes (black, walnut and a wide assortment of camouflage), with either a compact (13″) or a fullsize (14.25″) length of pull (LOP), and three different barrel lengths (24″, 26″ or 28″), the 20-ga. SX4 is a versatile scattergun. The model reviewed here, a 28″-barreled, synthetic-stocked variant with a fullsize LOP, is a sleek-looking example with a single red line accenting the otherwise black receiver just aft of the ejection port.
The SX4 features a self-adjusting gas system that vents excess gases away from the action and through Quadra-Vent ports (l., arrow) in the front of the fore-end. A TruGlo fiber-optic pipe (r.) is positioned at the end of the barrel, atop a serrated 1/4″ rib. –
Crucial to the operation of the SX4 is its Active Valve gas system, which self-adjusts to allocate the gas pressure necessary to cycle a wide range of loads. When firing the heaviest magnum loads, excess gases vent upward and forward out Quadra-Vent ports in the fore-end. This helps to regulate bolt speed and reduce felt recoil, while simultaneously providing cleaner and more reliable operation. This affects only excess gases, however, as the 20-ga. SX4 can reliably cycle shells as light as 1 1⁄8-oz. 2¾” lead loads.
Though LOP is set from the factory at 14.25″, a series of spacers are included to fine-tune the gun to the shooter if it doesn’t fit from the get-go. The slimline grip is textured to improve purchase, even in the wet conditions that this type of firearm is sure to encounter. We certainly had no complaints with its performance in that department—the gun held solidly in the blind and kept slippage of any sort far out of mind.
Further helping with grip, all controls—the cross-bolt safety, bolt release and bolt handle—are oversized, allowing one to leave gloves on while still easily manipulating the shotgun. Positioning of the controls is fairly standard—the safety sits just behind the trigger, the bolt release is below the ejection port on the right side of the receiver, and the bolt handle is, obviously, incorporated into the bolt. A widely spaced trigger guard similarly allows for the use of gloves.
The trigger is crisp and, though it’s hard to ever call a shotgun trigger “light,” weighs in at a manageable 6 lbs., 7 ozs. There is no take-up at the front end, making it more than adequate to its task. Most intriguing, though, is that the entire trigger group drops out as one enclosed assembly, making cleaning and maintenance easy.
For ease of cleaning and maintenance, the shotgun’s entire trigger group can be removed as one assembly.
–
Moving forward, the utilitarian matte-black aluminum receiver minimizes glare, particularly useful for not spooking ducks or geese rolling in from above, though also a godsend when staring into a rising or setting sun. The magazine is fed via a wide port at the bottom. Though shells slide in easily for the most part, it can be a little sticky getting the fourth and final round to seat in the tubular magazine.
The steel, matte-finished barrel contributes to a balance point that sits further forward, aiding in both swing and follow-through. Even in the relatively cramped confines of a duck blind, the gun hefted easily and tracked well, the 15 ducks it downed in three days standing as testament to its accuracy. The TruGlo fiber-optic front sight—located at the end of a 1/4″-wide rib running the length of the barrel—was easy to acquire, no doubt playing a part as well.
Both the chamber and the rest of the back-bored barrel are chromed, for better resistance to fouling and the elements. A gauge determined the bore diameter of our test sample to be 0.630″. The SX4 ships with three chokes—improved cylinder (0.010″), modified (0.013″) and full (0.028″)—as well as a tool for their removal. The chokes are of the Invector-Plus pattern, with threads at the bottom to better seal out corrosive gases, and additional chokes can be purchased from Winchester. All pattern testing was done with the modified choke installed, as that is how we ran it in the field.
At 40 yds., said patterns displayed a center density that averaged about 1″ high and left, using 3″ Winchester Blind Side loads containing 138 No. 3 pellets, at an average velocity of 1382 f.p.s. measured 4 ft. from the muzzle. The scattergun shot through these long shells with nary a hiccup, cycling well throughout and providing decent recoil mitigation for a firearm of such reasonable weight.
If in the market for a new waterfowling gun that can stand up to the wet rigors of the blind, give the 20-ga. SX4 a look. At $940 it’s not the least expensive of its kind on the market, but, if one does his or her part properly, it is guaranteed to down some birds—while generating considerably less recoil than its 12-ga. older brother.


thedailycaller--2020-03-12--Election Dissection: Will Hunter Biden Or Coronavirus Play A Bigger Role In The Election?

GOP strategist Adam Goodman joined Daily Caller ’ s senior White House correspondent Christian Datoc to break down how coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ of the Democratic presidential primary and the general election .
Goodman additionally pointed to how @ @ @ @ @ reelection campaign will go all in on attacking Hunter Biden , should his father , @ @ @ @ @ , win the nomination .

GOP strategist Adam Goodman joined Daily Caller’s senior White House correspondent Christian Datoc to break down how coronavirus will impact the tail end of the Democratic presidential primary and the general election.
Goodman additionally pointed to how President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign will go all in on attacking Hunter Biden, should his father, former Vice President Joe Biden, win the nomination.
WATCH:


thedailycaller--2020-03-12--FACT CHECK: Did A Black Woman Drown In The Sinking Of The Titanic Because Lifeboats Were Only Open T

FACT CHECK: Did A Black Woman Drown In The Sinking Of The Titanic Because Lifeboats Were Only Open To White Women And Children?

An image shared on Facebook more than 45,000 times claims a black woman named Malinda Borden died on the Titanic because only white women and children were allowed to board the ship ’ s lifeboats .
There is no record of Borden being on the Titanic .
Experts told the Daily Caller that lifeboats were not restricted to only white women and children .
More than 1,500 passengers and crew died on the Titanic after the passenger ship hit an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic on its maiden voyage in 1912 .
“ Titanic victim Malinda Borden was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aboard the Titanic , ” claims a Feb. 27 Facebook post .
“ Life boats ( sic ) were made available to white women and white children only .
The Black workers were not listed among the passengers or victims .
They were only listed among property that was lost.
” There is , however , no record of a woman with the surname Borden on any Titanic passenger or crew list .
A search of the Titanic records housed in the British National Archives and the Library of Virginia turned up no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board were Joseph Laroche and his two children , ” said historian Don Lynch of the Titanic Historical Society in an email to the Caller .
“ His wife was white.
” Laroche , a French-educated Haitian engineer , perished on the Titanic but his French wife , Juliette , and their two children escaped the sinking ship on a lifeboat , according to the Titanic Historical Society .
Their names appear on the Titanic ’ s second-class passenger list .
There were , according to Lynch , no black crew members on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Did Black People Get The Right To Vote ? )
“ The Titanic carried passengers who were black , white , Hispanic , Asian , etc .
Some of each survived , ” Lynch said .
“ Lifeboats were not reserved for only white women and children.
” Andrew Lound , author of the book “ RMS Titanic : Made in the Midlands , ” also confirmed in an email to the Caller that the post ’ s claim that about lifeboats doesn ’ t hold up , saying , “ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off that the crew did not discriminate on grounds of race , color , nationality , sex or age .
”

An image shared on Facebook more than 45,000 times claims a black woman named Malinda Borden died on the Titanic because only white women and children were allowed to board the ship’s lifeboats.
Verdict: False
There is no record of Borden being on the Titanic. Experts told the Daily Caller that lifeboats were not restricted to only white women and children.
Fact Check:
More than 1,500 passengers and crew died on the Titanic after the passenger ship hit an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic on its maiden voyage in 1912.
“Titanic victim Malinda Borden was drowned at sea as she was working aboard the Titanic,” claims a Feb. 27 Facebook post. “Life boats (sic) were made available to white women and white children only. The Black workers were not listed among the passengers or victims. They were only listed among property that was lost.”
There is, however, no record of a woman with the surname Borden on any Titanic passenger or crew list. A search of the Titanic records housed in the British National Archives and the Library of Virginia turned up no matches.
“The only blacks on board were Joseph Laroche and his two children,” said historian Don Lynch of the Titanic Historical Society in an email to the Caller. “His wife was white.”
Laroche, a French-educated Haitian engineer, perished on the Titanic but his French wife, Juliette, and their two children escaped the sinking ship on a lifeboat, according to the Titanic Historical Society. Their names appear on the Titanic’s second-class passenger list.
There were, according to Lynch, no black crew members on the ship. (RELATED: When Did Black People Get The Right To Vote?)
“The Titanic carried passengers who were black, white, Hispanic, Asian, etc. Some of each survived,” Lynch said. “Lifeboats were not reserved for only white women and children.”
Andrew Lound, author of the book “RMS Titanic: Made in the Midlands,” also confirmed in an email to the Caller that the post’s claim that about lifeboats doesn’t hold up, saying, “It is clear from the passengers who did get off that the crew did not discriminate on grounds of race, color, nationality, sex or age.”


thedailycaller--2020-03-12--All Public Schools In Ohio, Maryland Close Over Coronavirus

Public schools across the country have begun to close over the coronavirus pandemic , with some states outright declaring that all public schools are closed .
Officials in Ohio and Maryland declared that schools in their states will be closed , while some public schools in Washington state , Virginia and Connecticut also temporarily closed down .
Maryland officials announced Thursday at a news conference that all public schools would be closed beginning next week and through March 27 .
( RELATED : ‘ Seeking Solace ’ : Largest Catholic Church In North America Sees Increase In Attendance During Coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered Thursday at a press conference that all Ohio public schools , including public , private and charter schools , would be closed for three weeks beginning Tuesday , March 17 .
New Haven , Connecticut , public schools closed indefinitely due to concerns over the pandemic , and Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee ordered that schools in Seattle close for a minimum of two weeks .
Virginia public schools have also begun to close down , including Louden County Public Schools and Fredericksburg City Public Schools .
This post will be updated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
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 .

Public schools across the country have begun to close over the coronavirus pandemic, with some states outright declaring that all public schools are closed.
Officials in Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Massachusetts, Florida, Hawaii, Delaware, Alaska, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, Arkansas, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Illinois, Utah, West Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Washington, Louisiana, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky and New Mexico declared that schools in their state schools will be closed.
Metropolitan school districts in Atlanta, Denver, Washington, D.C., and Austin, Texas have also shut down, according to USA Today.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday afternoon that all Virginia schools will be closed for two weeks.
Lousiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a Friday proclamation halting gatherings of more than 250 people and closing all K-12 public schools beginning March 16 until April 13.
Pennslyvania Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all Pennsylvania schools to close down for two weeks beginning March 16 as well.
Maryland officials announced Thursday at a news conference that all public schools would be closed beginning next week and through March 27. (RELATED: ‘Seeking Solace’: Largest Catholic Church In North America Sees Increase In Attendance During Coronavirus Panic)
State Schools Superintendent: Mon through Friday next week, all schools will be closed in the state of Maryland @wjz #BREAKING — Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) March 12, 2020
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ordered Thursday at a press conference that all Ohio public schools, including public, private and charter schools, would be closed for three weeks beginning Tuesday, March 17.
New Haven, Connecticut, public schools closed indefinitely due to concerns over the pandemic, and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee ordered that schools in Seattle close for a minimum of two weeks. Virginia public schools have also begun to close down, including Louden County Public Schools and Fredericksburg City Public Schools.
The largest school district in Texas, the Housten Independent School District, will also close for two weeks.
Los Angeles and San Diego school districts announced Friday that all schools would be closed, a move which will impact over 750,000 students in Southern California.
Meanwhile, New York school chancellor Richard A. Carranza has said that school closings will only come as a last resort.
Update as of 8:32 PM PDT pic.twitter.com/2OVhpQ1vQ4 — Austin Beutner (@AustinLASchools) March 13, 2020
This post will be updated if additional states cancel or close school.
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--2020-03-12--Disneyland Closes Down Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Disneyland will shut down as of Friday , despite no reported cases of COVID-19 at the resort .
The decision comes as the virus continues to spread across the United States and a day after it was labeled a pandemic , according to a report published by Variety .
The closure will start Friday and last until the end of March .
The Disneyland Resort hotels will stay open through March 16 to allow guests to make accommodations .
The decision to close marks only the fourth time operations at the park have ever been suspended .
“ While there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Disneyland Resort , after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of California ’ s executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees , we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure , beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month , ” Disney said in a statement .
( RELATED : Disneyland Paris Remains Open After Worker Tests Positive For Coronavirus ) “ The Hotels of Disneyland Resort will remain open until Monday , March 16 to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrangements ; Downtown Disney will remain open , ” the statement continued .
“ We will monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and guidance of federal and state officials and health agencies .
Disney will continue to pay cast members during this time.
” It is unclear if Disney World will remain open at this time .
Disney has also closed parks in Shanghai , Hong Kong and Japan .

Disneyland will shut down as of Friday, despite no reported cases of COVID-19 at the resort.
The decision comes as the virus continues to spread across the United States and a day after it was labeled a pandemic, according to a report published by Variety.
JUST IN: Disneyland in CA closing as of Friday because of coronavirus. Only 4th time in history that operations have been fully suspended: 9/11, Northridge quake, nat’l day of mourning after JFK assassination — Brooks Barnes (@brooksbarnesNYT) March 12, 2020
The closure will start Friday and last until the end of March. The Disneyland Resort hotels will stay open through March 16 to allow guests to make accommodations. The decision to close marks only the fourth time operations at the park have ever been suspended.
“While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of California’s executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month,” Disney said in a statement. (RELATED: Disneyland Paris Remains Open After Worker Tests Positive For Coronavirus)
“The Hotels of Disneyland Resort will remain open until Monday, March 16 to give guests the ability to make necessary travel arrangements; Downtown Disney will remain open,” the statement continued. “We will monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and guidance of federal and state officials and health agencies. Disney will continue to pay cast members during this time.”
It is unclear if Disney World will remain open at this time.
Disney has also closed parks in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Japan.


thedailycaller--2020-03-12--PATEL: Can America Successfully Navigate The Coronavirus Crisis?

One of the first rules of weathering a crisis is to remain calm .
Freaking out never helps .
It ’ s not yet clear how big of a crisis the new coronavirus will be , but panicking over even the most minor matters has become an American specialty these last few years .
In our politics , we have jumped from faux crisis to faux crisis with such speed that most Americans have started tuning it out .
This is not the ideal state of affairs as we prepare to enter a period of a potential real crisis that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the loss of many lives .
Our country has a tradition of coming together to face crises , but this time , it ’ s hard to imagine .
Let ’ s hope our leaders — and all of us — can rise to the challenge .
People want stable , competent leadership at a time like this .
Our nation ’ s top leaders have not excelled at displaying any of these traits the past few years .
Our times have instead been marked by bickering , nasty tweets and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view this behavior as driven completely by President Donald Trump .
Nothing could be further from the truth .
The president has , of course , played a huge part , but the leaders of the Democratic Party have never treated Trump as a legitimate president .
From the moment he was elected , they have tried to undermine and undercut him .
Our country has suffered as a result .
Nothing they can do now will remove Trump as the guy who ’ s going to lead our country through the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past time for all parties to recognize that .
( RELATED : EXCLUSIVE : White House Officials Allege Speaker Pelosi Pushed To Include Hyde Amendment Loophole Into Coronavirus Stimulus Plan ) The first step is for our top political leaders — from Trump to Speaker Nancy Pelosi — to put the petty politics on hold and start managing this crisis .
The signs here are mixed .
It was good that Congress and the President were able to enact an emergency funding bill to respond to the coronavirus .
It ’ s fair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the amount in question had to go from the president ’ s initial $ 2.5 billion request to the final bill ’ s $ 8.3 billion level .
There was , undoubtedly , a ton of waste added in by both parties , but it ’ s good to see that our legislative process can still work , and it seems important that we are using about half the total spent for research and development of both vaccines and treatments .
Besides our political leaders , the other big wild card is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public about what we are facing , or will they set off a panic ?
There is always an inherent tension in the news business .
Factual news coverage does not drive as many online clicks or TV eyeballs as inflammatory , bombastic coverage .
Media companies have to work this balance in every story they cover .
Given the political dynamic , hyping the crisis and then criticizing the response will likely harm the president , and it ’ s hard to imagine that the press corps will cover this pandemic with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is nobody the average American journalist has ever loathed more than Trump .
The president ’ s approval rating is already tanking , along with the stock market that he regularly cites as a barometer of his success .
The president has argued to date that the damage from this virus is not as bad as the press and others are making it out to be .
He has said he “ has a hunch ” that the death rate may be much lower than the numbers reported .
The last thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hunches in a time like this .
It would be better if the president stopped talking that way , but his broader point is true .
The quick spread of the virus , the rising number of reported infections and the drastic precautions people are taking sure are scary .
However , there is still a lot we don ’ t know .
The total number of people who have died is still low compared with other causes of death .
As of this writing , around 4,300 have died worldwide .
Each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but that is a pretty small number of deaths when compared with other illnesses .
The seasonal flu , for example , kills 290,000 to 640,000 people globally per year .
Like the coronavirus , the vast majority of those killed by the flu have been either sick or elderly .
( RELATED : ‘ Buy American ’ — White House Confirms Executive Order That Will End Medical Supply Chain Reliance On China ) The reason people worry more about the coronavirus is the 4,300 people killed are out of a total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a pretty horrific death rate .
But what the press fails to explain clearly is that the 118,000 number of reported cases is likely vastly understated .
Many people get such a mild strain of the coronavirus that they barely notice it or confuse it with a common cold .
We have likely had many multiples more than the 118,000 reported cases so far .
This means that the death rate may be significantly lower than the huge 3.4 % number reported by the World Health Organization .
This was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is known and discussed by scientists , but people don ’ t understand it because the media doesn ’ t explain it clearly .
Failure to communicate this sort of important matter clearly can cause a panic .
Sure , that may hurt the president .
It already has .
But it ’ s also hurting our country .
Neil Patel co-founded The Daily Caller , one of America ’ s fastest-growing online news outlets , which regularly breaks news and distributes it to over 15 million monthly readers .
Patel also co-founded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonprofit news company that trains journalists , produces fact-checks and conducts longer-term investigative reporting .
The Daily Caller News Foundation licenses its content free of charge to over 300 news outlets , reaching potentially hundreds of millions of people per month .
To find out more about Neil Patel and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists , visit the Creators website at www.creators.com

One of the first rules of weathering a crisis is to remain calm. Freaking out never helps. It’s not yet clear how big of a crisis the new coronavirus will be, but panicking over even the most minor matters has become an American specialty these last few years. In our politics, we have jumped from faux crisis to faux crisis with such speed that most Americans have started tuning it out. This is not the ideal state of affairs as we prepare to enter a period of a potential real crisis that could affect millions of people and result in the loss of many lives. Our country has a tradition of coming together to face crises, but this time, it’s hard to imagine. Let’s hope our leaders — and all of us — can rise to the challenge.
People want stable, competent leadership at a time like this. Our nation’s top leaders have not excelled at displaying any of these traits the past few years. Our times have instead been marked by bickering, nasty tweets and a total lack of self-control. Many Democrats view this behavior as driven completely by President Donald Trump. Nothing could be further from the truth. The president has, of course, played a huge part, but the leaders of the Democratic Party have never treated Trump as a legitimate president. From the moment he was elected, they have tried to undermine and undercut him. Our country has suffered as a result. Nothing they can do now will remove Trump as the guy who’s going to lead our country through the pandemic we are facing. It’s past time for all parties to recognize that. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: White House Officials Allege Speaker Pelosi Pushed To Include Hyde Amendment Loophole Into Coronavirus Stimulus Plan)
The first step is for our top political leaders — from Trump to Speaker Nancy Pelosi — to put the petty politics on hold and start managing this crisis. The signs here are mixed. It was good that Congress and the President were able to enact an emergency funding bill to respond to the coronavirus. It’s fair for us fiscal conservatives to wonder why the amount in question had to go from the president’s initial $2.5 billion request to the final bill’s $8.3 billion level. There was, undoubtedly, a ton of waste added in by both parties, but it’s good to see that our legislative process can still work, and it seems important that we are using about half the total spent for research and development of both vaccines and treatments.
Besides our political leaders, the other big wild card is the media. Will the media inform the public about what we are facing, or will they set off a panic? There is always an inherent tension in the news business. Factual news coverage does not drive as many online clicks or TV eyeballs as inflammatory, bombastic coverage. Media companies have to work this balance in every story they cover. Given the political dynamic, hyping the crisis and then criticizing the response will likely harm the president, and it’s hard to imagine that the press corps will cover this pandemic with any sense of fairness at all. There is nobody the average American journalist has ever loathed more than Trump. The president’s approval rating is already tanking, along with the stock market that he regularly cites as a barometer of his success.
The president has argued to date that the damage from this virus is not as bad as the press and others are making it out to be. He has said he “has a hunch” that the death rate may be much lower than the numbers reported. The last thing anyone wants is a president acting on hunches in a time like this. It would be better if the president stopped talking that way, but his broader point is true.
The quick spread of the virus, the rising number of reported infections and the drastic precautions people are taking sure are scary. However, there is still a lot we don’t know. The total number of people who have died is still low compared with other causes of death. As of this writing, around 4,300 have died worldwide. Each one is a tragedy, of course, but that is a pretty small number of deaths when compared with other illnesses. The seasonal flu, for example, kills 290,000 to 640,000 people globally per year. Like the coronavirus, the vast majority of those killed by the flu have been either sick or elderly. (RELATED: ‘Buy American’ — White House Confirms Executive Order That Will End Medical Supply Chain Reliance On China)
The reason people worry more about the coronavirus is the 4,300 people killed are out of a total of only 118,000 confirmed cases. That’s a pretty horrific death rate. But what the press fails to explain clearly is that the 118,000 number of reported cases is likely vastly understated. Many people get such a mild strain of the coronavirus that they barely notice it or confuse it with a common cold. We have likely had many multiples more than the 118,000 reported cases so far. This means that the death rate may be significantly lower than the huge 3.4% number reported by the World Health Organization. This was the point Trump was raising. All this is known and discussed by scientists, but people don’t understand it because the media doesn’t explain it clearly. Failure to communicate this sort of important matter clearly can cause a panic. Sure, that may hurt the president. It already has. But it’s also hurting our country.
Neil Patel co-founded The Daily Caller, one of America’s fastest-growing online news outlets, which regularly breaks news and distributes it to over 15 million monthly readers. Patel also co-founded The Daily Caller News Foundation, a nonprofit news company that trains journalists, produces fact-checks and conducts longer-term investigative reporting. The Daily Caller News Foundation licenses its content free of charge to over 300 news outlets, reaching potentially hundreds of millions of people per month. To find out more about Neil Patel and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators website at www.creators.com
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM


thedailycaller--2020-03-12--Coronavirus Overwhelmed Italy’s Healthcare System In 42 Days, Here’s How The Same Thing Could Happen

Coronavirus Overwhelmed Italy’s Healthcare System In 42 Days, Here’s How The Same Thing Could Happen Here

Italy recorded their first cases of coronavirus in Rome on January 31st .
42 days later , their country is now under almost complete lockdown with only grocery stores and pharmacies allowed to operate .
Their healthcare system is overwhelmed to the point of near collapse with the disease causing collateral damage beyond its victims according to several Italian doctors .
The healthcare system in the U.S. is heading in a similar direction if the coronavirus continues spreading at its current pace .
Within the past 42 days , Italy has gone from two initial cases to leapfrogging South Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases and deaths .
They currently stand at approximately 12,400 cases and 827 deaths .
This explosion of cases has placed tremendous strain on their healthcare system , with one Italian doctor allegedly saying , “ Lombardy , which has the best healthcare in the country , is collapsing , so I don ’ t dare to think what would happen in less efficient regions.
” The conventional wisdom surrounding coronavirus has been that younger adults and healthy individuals will survive , and that the real vulnerable population are the elderly and those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While that is true , a forgotten fact is the higher rate of hospitalization among all age demographics can overwhelm a hospital system that has not been scaled up to handle a pandemic of this scope , and in Italy ’ s case , that is precisely what is happening .
In fact , Italy is so overwhelmed that they are using what is essentially wartime triage and the principles of “ distributive justice ” to determine who receives care , and what quality of care they receive .
Additionally , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over to patients suffering from other problems , as doctors must decide who is deserving of time and resources .
Because of this , cancer patients , HIV patients , and those needing elective surgeries , among others , are suffering the consequences of rationed care .
( RELATED : Iran ’ s Mass Graves For Coronavirus Victims Are Large Enough To Be Seen From Space ) An intensive care cardiac anesthesiologist at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan said , “ There are a lot of young people in our Intensive Care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a 38-year-old who had had no comorbidities ( underlying health problems ) , ” according to ITV.com .
A translation of an alleged post from an Italian ICU physician states that ventilators are as valuable as “ gold.
” Italy ’ s crisis is exactly what America can expect in the coming weeks as the virus continues to spread within our borders , if it isn ’ t stopped .
While America has far fewer cases than Italy , Dr. Fauci , a top government expert on infectious diseases , told Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been “ failing.
” Can America expect to experience a similar situation as Italy if the virus continues to spread ?
With the notable exception of limiting travel to China at the height of the outbreak , the stage has certainly been set for a public health crisis .
( RELATED : Here ’ s How Long Coronavirus Can Live In The Air And On Surfaces : Study ) Per capita , the U.S. has even fewer hospital beds than Italy , only 2.8 per 1000 people , compared to 3.2 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care unit ( ICU ) beds total .
Additionally hospitals are facing shortages of protective gear such as gowns and respirators .
Health and Human Services has stated that they will be buying millions of additionally masks over the coming months .
There is also mass uncertainty at a local levels of what the proper procedures are in the case of a pandemic .
Per the Guardian , “ A survey of 1,000 California nurses from National Nurses United , the largest nurses ’ union in the country , found that 47 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a plan in place to isolate patients with possible novel coronavirus infection.
” Additionally , “ almost half were unsure if their hospitals have enough personal protective equipment , such as masks , to protect staff in the case of a rapid surge of cases.
” Can the spread of the virus be stopped and the collateral damage minimized ?
That depends on several factors .
South Korea has dramatically slowed the spread of the virus by testing at a level far exceeding America ’ s .
They have set up drive-through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” social distancing .
Enacting measures like these and encouraging voluntary isolation could help flatten the curve and reduce the overall impact on the healthcare system , making it easier for the system to cope with both new and current cases and still provide care to patients suffering from other issues .
Increasing and streamlining the testing procedure will also be vitally important over the coming weeks as community spread of coronavirus continues .

Italy recorded their first cases of coronavirus in Rome on January 31st. 42 days later, their country is now under almost complete lockdown with only grocery stores and pharmacies allowed to operate. Their healthcare system is overwhelmed to the point of near collapse with the disease causing collateral damage beyond its victims according to several Italian doctors. The healthcare system in the U.S. is heading in a similar direction if the coronavirus continues spreading at its current pace.


thedailycaller--2020-03-12--Daniel Radcliffe Says He’s ‘Flattered They Chose’ Him For Fake Coronavirus Rumor

Daniel Radcliffe said he ’ s personally “ flattered they chose ” him for a fake coronavirus rumor that surfaced earlier in the week and admitted it ’ s because he “ looks ill all the time.
” “ I walked into the hair and makeup room on a play yesterday , and the makeup artist was like , ‘ My niece has just texted me and told me you ’ ve got corona , ' ” the 30-year old actor shared during an interview for an Australian radio show “ Smallzy ’ s Surgery.
” The post was noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
( RELATED : REPORT : Coachella Potentially Rescheduled To October Due To Coronavirus Fears ) “ I think it was on a fake BBC account , but then enough people saw it , ” he added .
“ That is the internet .
But you know , flattered they chose me.
” ( RELATED : Pearl Jam Postpones North American Tour Over Growing Coronavirus Concerns ) The “ Harry Potter ” star continued , “ I think it ’ s just because I look ill all the time , so you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Cause I ’ m very pale.
” ( RELATED : Here Are The Members Of Congress Self-Quarantining After Meeting Person With Coronavirus At CPAC ) It all comes after a fake BBC Twitter account tweeted that , “ Breaking : Danielle Radcliffe tests positive for coronavirus .
The actor is said to be the first famous person to be publicly confirmed.
” The post sent people into a frenzy thinking the actor had tested positive for the virus before it was noticed that the post wasn ’ t actually from the BBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account with less than 125 followers .

Daniel Radcliffe said he’s personally “flattered they chose” him for a fake coronavirus rumor that surfaced earlier in the week and admitted it’s because he “looks ill all the time.”
“I walked into the hair and makeup room on a play yesterday, and the makeup artist was like, ‘My niece has just texted me and told me you’ve got corona,'” the 30-year old actor shared during an interview for an Australian radio show “Smallzy’s Surgery.” The post was noted by Entertainment Tonight in a piece published Wednesday. (RELATED: REPORT: Coachella Potentially Rescheduled To October Due To Coronavirus Fears)
There’s a rumour going around that Daniel Radcliffe has coronavirus… I got him on the phone to confirm or deny ????#SmallzysSurgery pic.twitter.com/9BRJ0eRaF2 — Smallzy (@Smallzy) March 12, 2020
“I think it was on a fake BBC account, but then enough people saw it,” he added. “That is the internet. But you know, flattered they chose me.”(RELATED: Pearl Jam Postpones North American Tour Over Growing Coronavirus Concerns)
The “Harry Potter” star continued, “I think it’s just because I look ill all the time, so you can believably say it about me. ‘Cause I’m very pale.” (RELATED: Here Are The Members Of Congress Self-Quarantining After Meeting Person With Coronavirus At CPAC)
It all comes after a fake BBC Twitter account tweeted that, “Breaking: Danielle Radcliffe tests positive for coronavirus. The actor is said to be the first famous person to be publicly confirmed.”
Fake BBC account with 125 followers fake-infected Daniel Radcliffe with covid-19. Link resolves to a genuine BBC news alert page that hasn’t been updated since 2017. pic.twitter.com/vJk3gBEtQj — Jane Lytvynenko (@JaneLytv) March 10, 2020
The post sent people into a frenzy thinking the actor had tested positive for the virus before it was noticed that the post wasn’t actually from the BBC Twitter news site, but a fake account with less than 125 followers.


thedailycaller--2020-03-12--Congratulations To The 2020 College Basketball National Champions – The Wisconsin Badgers

Ladies and gentlemen , I ’ m proud to officially announce the Wisconsin Badgers as the 2020 college basketball national champions .
Following the official cancelation of March Madness because of coronavirus , we must now determine our champion based on the regular season .
( RELATED : David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football ) Given the fact the Big 10 was without question the toughest conference in America ( agreed on by virtually everyone with a functioning brain ) , then we must take the B1G champion at the title @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Michigan State and Maryland all tied , we must then go to the tiebreaker .
The Badgers won that , which means we ’ re now the national champions .
Ever since I was a little boy , I ’ ve dreamed about this day .
We almost got it in 2015 , but the refs stole it from us against Duke .
Did I want to win a national title this way ?
No .
I ’ d rather March Madness continue and we lose in the first round than win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a title is a title , and it ’ s now ours .
Whether or not the NCAA recognizes it doesn ’ t matter .
We won the best conference in America , and that ’ s all we can go off of .
Now , let ’ s get that banner hanging in the Kohl Center ASAP , and then let ’ s get back to work .
Defending our national title next season won ’ t be easy .
As the top team in America , we ’ ll have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of today , enjoy the moment and then prepare to go back-to-back as national champions in 2021 !
It ’ s a hell of a day to be a Wisconsin Badger !

Ladies and gentlemen, I’m proud to officially announce the Wisconsin Badgers as the 2020 college basketball national champions.
Following the official cancelation of March Madness because of coronavirus, we must now determine our champion based on the regular season. (RELATED: David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wisconsin Basketball (@badgermbb) on Mar 8, 2020 at 6:37pm PDT
Given the fact the Big 10 was without question the toughest conference in America (agreed on by virtually everyone with a functioning brain), then we must take the B1G champion at the title winner.
Given the fact that Wisconsin, Michigan State and Maryland all tied, we must then go to the tiebreaker.
The Badgers won that, which means we’re now the national champions.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wisconsin Basketball (@badgermbb) on Mar 7, 2020 at 3:48pm PST
Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve dreamed about this day. We almost got it in 2015, but the refs stole it from us against Duke.
Did I want to win a national title this way? No. I’d rather March Madness continue and we lose in the first round than win it this way.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wisconsin Basketball (@badgermbb) on Mar 9, 2020 at 11:36am PDT
Having said that, a title is a title, and it’s now ours. Whether or not the NCAA recognizes it doesn’t matter.
We won the best conference in America, and that’s all we can go off of. Now, let’s get that banner hanging in the Kohl Center ASAP, and then let’s get back to work.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wisconsin Basketball (@badgermbb) on Mar 7, 2020 at 12:31pm PST
Defending our national title next season won’t be easy. As the top team in America, we’ll have a target on our back.
Take the rest of today, enjoy the moment and then prepare to go back-to-back as national champions in 2021!
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wisconsin Basketball (@badgermbb) on Feb 27, 2020 at 5:35pm PST
It’s a hell of a day to be a Wisconsin Badger!


thedailycaller--2020-03-12--NYT ‘1619 Project’ Makes Clarification To Essay Amid Controversy

The New York Times “ 1619 Project ” made a clarification Wednesday to a portion of one of its essays after major debate online .
The “ 1619 Project ” has seen backlash from many historians who have urged the publication to issue corrections to its glaring factual inaccuracies .
Written by journalists and opinion writers , the project attempts “ to reframe the country ’ s history ” by suggesting America ’ s “ true founding ” was when the first slaves arrived in 1619 .
The project ’ s lead writer , Nikole Hannah-Jones , announced a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that caused much controversy .
The essay in question is titled “ Our democracy ’ s founding ideals were false when they were written .
Black Americans have fought to make them true.
” The “ clarification ” is just two words , but Hannah-Jones writes that it is “ important.
” Specifically , the words “ some of ” were added into one sentence of the essay to make it clear that slavery was not the only alleged reason for colonists to declare independence .
( RELATED : As Top Historians Ring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Project , Defiant Public Schools Refuse To Answer Questions ) “ We add tht [ sic ] slavery was one of the primary motivations for ‘ some of ’ the colonists to declare independence , ” she tweeted .
“ As written , it appears that I am saying this was a universal motivation of ALL colonists .
I wasn ’ t clear enough.
” An editor ’ s note at the bottom of the lengthy essay now notes that “ a passage has been adjusted to make clear that a desire to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the colonists who fought the Revolutionary War , not among the motivations of all of them.
” This “ clarification ” is not the first change made to Hannah-Jones ’ s essay .
The NYT was forced to issue a correction August 2019 after incorrectly referring to the signing of the Declaration of Independence .
The article also misspelled the name of a Revolutionary War-era writer .
“ An earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to the signing of the Declaration of Independence , ” according to the 2019 correction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 , 1776 , not signed by Congress on that date .
The article also misspelled the surname of a Revolutionary War-era writer .
He was Samuel Bryan , not Byron.
” Editor-in-chief of the NYT Jake Silverstein also addressed the “ clarification ” in a note Wednesday .
The publication still believes in the essay ’ s main point , he writes .
The essay in question argues that “ among the various motivations that drove the patriots toward independence was a concern that the British would seek or were already seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system of American slavery.
” The NYT has been adamant in the past about not needing to correct anything in its project .
Silverstein addressed a letter from five top historians in December 2019 who urged the publication to correct portions of its reframed history .
“ The letter misperceives our attitudes when it charges that we dismiss objections on racial grounds , ” Silverstein wrote .
“ Though we may disagree on some important matters , we are grateful for their input and their interest in discussing these fundamental questions about the @ @ @ @ @ @

The New York Times “1619 Project” made a clarification Wednesday to a portion of one of its essays after major debate online.
The “1619 Project” has seen backlash from many historians who have urged the publication to issue corrections to its glaring factual inaccuracies. Written by journalists and opinion writers, the project attempts “to reframe the country’s history” by suggesting America’s “true founding” was when the first slaves arrived in 1619.
The project’s lead writer, Nikole Hannah-Jones, announced a “clarification” to one of her essays that caused much controversy. The essay in question is titled “Our democracy’s founding ideals were false when they were written. Black Americans have fought to make them true.”
The “clarification” is just two words, but Hannah-Jones writes that it is “important.” Specifically, the words “some of” were added into one sentence of the essay to make it clear that slavery was not the only alleged reason for colonists to declare independence. (RELATED: As Top Historians Ring Alarm Bells About NYT’s 1619 Project, Defiant Public Schools Refuse To Answer Questions)
“We add tht [sic] slavery was one of the primary motivations for ‘some of’ the colonists to declare independence,” she tweeted. “As written, it appears that I am saying this was a universal motivation of ALL colonists. I wasn’t clear enough.”
The clarification is small — just two words –but important. We add tht slavery was one of the primary motivations for “some of” the colonists to declare independence. As written, it appears that I am saying this was a universal motivation of ALL colonists. I wasn’t clear enough — Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) March 12, 2020
An editor’s note at the bottom of the lengthy essay now notes that “a passage has been adjusted to make clear that a desire to protect slavery was among the motivations of some of the colonists who fought the Revolutionary War, not among the motivations of all of them.”
This “clarification” is not the first change made to Hannah-Jones’s essay. The NYT was forced to issue a correction August 2019 after incorrectly referring to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The article also misspelled the name of a Revolutionary War-era writer.
“An earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to the signing of the Declaration of Independence,” according to the 2019 correction. “It was approved on July 4, 1776, not signed by Congress on that date. The article also misspelled the surname of a Revolutionary War-era writer. He was Samuel Bryan, not Byron.”
Editor-in-chief of the NYT Jake Silverstein also addressed the “clarification” in a note Wednesday. The publication still believes in the essay’s main point, he writes. The essay in question argues that “among the various motivations that drove the patriots toward independence was a concern that the British would seek or were already seeking to disrupt in various ways the entrenched system of American slavery.”
The NYT has been adamant in the past about not needing to correct anything in its project. Silverstein addressed a letter from five top historians in December 2019 who urged the publication to correct portions of its reframed history.
“The letter misperceives our attitudes when it charges that we dismiss objections on racial grounds,” Silverstein wrote. “Though we may disagree on some important matters, we are grateful for their input and their interest in discussing these fundamental questions about the country’s history.”


thedailycaller--2020-03-12--Sen. Lindsey Graham To Self-Quarantine As President Of Brazil Awaits Results For Coronavirus

Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham announced Thursday that he will self-quarantine after being close to the president of Brazil , who is currently being tested for Coronavirus .
“ Senator Graham was at Mar-a-Lago last weekend .
He has no recollection of direct contact with the President of Brazil , who is awaiting results of a coronavirus test , or his spokesman who tested positive , ” Graham ’ s office said in a statement .
“ However , in an abundance of caution and upon the advice of his doctor , Senator Graham has decided to self-quarantine awaiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is a precautionary measure .
He will continue to work from home.
” Hours before , Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott announced that he will self-quarantine after meeting with a Brazilian delegation member who tested positive for Coronavirus .
( RELATED : Sen. Rick Scott To Self-Quarantine After Meeting Brazilian Delegation Member With Coronavirus ) Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was the first to announce the self-quarantine Sunday , saying that he will be staying home in Texas for the week after he was informed that he met the individual who attended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( RELATED : Ted Cruz To Stay Home In Texas For One Week After Saying He Met Person With Coronavirus At CPAC ) Cruz made it clear in a statement that he has not had any symptoms since the interaction at the conference and that it was a quick conversation and a handshake , but he said in order to be safe he will be staying home instead of returning back to Washington D.C. Cruz also said he has spoken with health officials across the board .
Republican Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday .
The Arizona Republican said that three of his senior staff are also under self-quarantine , but that none of them have been diagnosed or feel symptoms of the disease .
( RELATED : Rep. Paul Gosar Becomes Second Member Of Congress To Self-Quarantine After Meeting Person With Coronavirus At CPAC )

Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham announced Thursday that he will self-quarantine after being close to the president of Brazil, who is currently being tested for Coronavirus.
“Senator Graham was at Mar-a-Lago last weekend. He has no recollection of direct contact with the President of Brazil, who is awaiting results of a coronavirus test, or his spokesman who tested positive,” Graham’s office said in a statement. “However, in an abundance of caution and upon the advice of his doctor, Senator Graham has decided to self-quarantine awaiting the results of a coronavirus test. This is a precautionary measure. He will continue to work from home.”
Hours before, Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott announced that he will self-quarantine after meeting with a Brazilian delegation member who tested positive for Coronavirus. (RELATED: Sen. Rick Scott To Self-Quarantine After Meeting Brazilian Delegation Member With Coronavirus)
Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was the first to announce the self-quarantine Sunday, saying that he will be staying home in Texas for the week after he was informed that he met the individual who attended CPAC who is infected with coronavirus. (RELATED: Ted Cruz To Stay Home In Texas For One Week After Saying He Met Person With Coronavirus At CPAC)
Cruz made it clear in a statement that he has not had any symptoms since the interaction at the conference and that it was a quick conversation and a handshake, but he said in order to be safe he will be staying home instead of returning back to Washington D.C. Cruz also said he has spoken with health officials across the board.
Republican Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar became the second member of Congress to self-quarantine Sunday. The Arizona Republican said that three of his senior staff are also under self-quarantine, but that none of them have been diagnosed or feel symptoms of the disease. (RELATED: Rep. Paul Gosar Becomes Second Member Of Congress To Self-Quarantine After Meeting Person With Coronavirus At CPAC)


thedailycaller--2020-03-12--March Madness Canceled Because Of The Coronavirus

March Madness is officially over because of the coronavirus .
The decision was made by the NCAA after conference tournaments @ @ @ @ @ to the virus .
( RELATED : David Hookstead Is The True King In The @ @ @ @ @ College Football ) Now , we just wait to figure out if there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ can be crowned .
At this point , we have no idea what will happen @ @ @ @ @ crushed .
I ’ m honestly crushed in a way that words can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ This is one of the worst sports experiences I ’ ve ever seen .
In @ @ @ @ @ the worst .
We look forward all year to March Madness , and coronavirus stole @ @ @ @ @ hope like hell we can figure something out and find a champion .
This breaks @ @ @ @ @ a passionate sports fan , I know others feel the same .
What an absolutely @ @ @ @ @ prayer for all the players and their families .
This is just horrific .

March Madness is officially over because of the coronavirus.
The decision was made by the NCAA after conference tournaments across America were canceled due to the virus. (RELATED: David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football)
BREAKING – NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. #Covid_19 — Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) March 12, 2020
Now, we just wait to figure out if there’s a way a national champion can be crowned. At this point, we have no idea what will happen.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wisconsin Basketball (@badgermbb) on Mar 7, 2020 at 3:48pm PST
I’m honestly crushed. I’m honestly crushed in a way that words can’t even begin to describe. This is one of the worst sports experiences I’ve ever seen.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wisconsin Basketball (@badgermbb) on Mar 7, 2020 at 10:03am PST
In fact, it’s the worst. We look forward all year to March Madness, and coronavirus stole it from us.
I hope like hell we can figure something out and find a champion. This breaks my heart, and as a passionate sports fan, I know others feel the same.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wisconsin Basketball (@badgermbb) on Mar 7, 2020 at 8:07am PST
What an absolutely horrific situation. Say a prayer for all the players and their families. This is just horrific.


thedailycaller--2020-03-12--The Populist Right Has A Brighter Future Than The Corporate Left

As the Democratic Party consolidates to nominate Joe Biden , it destroys its chances of being the party of the American working class .
Biden , who is a lifelong champion of credit card companies and trade deals that benefit multinational capital , has no claim to be the representative of working class people .
Journalist Chris Hedges has said that liberal politicians have traditionally served as a “ safety valve ” for the resentments of the have-nots , channeling anger and frustration into votes for Democrats who claim to feel the pain of working people .
However , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the professional managerial class , the “ safety valve ” of releasing working class outrage has moved in recent years toward the insurgent presidency of Donald Trump .
The Democratic Party , when it lost in 2016 , has since doubled down on its moral condemnation of traditional social values coupled with an increasingly manic defense of elite politicians , outlawing any criticism of Joe Biden ’ s corruption involving Burisma in the Ukraine and elevating Elizabeth Warren to the status of a political martyr after coming in third in her home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kid gloves .
( RELATED : The Coronavirus Is Bad News For Joe Biden , Here ’ s Why ) Even anti-establishment rebels like Bernie Sanders have apologized to Biden and bowed to the Obama-Biden legacy , admonishing his own surrogates when they rightfully criticize Biden ’ s record .
Trump , on the other hand , treated his intra-party rivals as mortal enemies in 2016 , and he not only won , but also later the party unified behind him .
Meanwhile , Sanders supporters beg Elizabeth Warren for an endorsement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elites of the party , while Trump trashed former President George W. Bush and won by becoming the “ safety valve ” to release anti-establishment anger .
The Republican Party , of course , is no true ally of the working class .
They , too , propose to cut social security and Medicaid , and Mitch McConnell considers universal health care tantamount to Venezuelan socialism .
Yet , major shifts within the party on trade policy and immigration have positioned the Republicans to effectively combat a corporatized and spiritless Democratic Party which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Right-wing figures like Tucker Carlson attack Biden on his anti-worker record , while left-wing outlets like MSNBC cater to Cold War paranoia about Russia , repackaged for the # Resist era .
This election , like 2016 , is about a populist economic program .
The Republicans were able to win their populist uprising , and the Democrats won ’ t .
Four years later , they are still stuck defending the corporate class .
To become the “ safety valve ” that will release the anger and despair of the electorate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pomp and pathos of Trump prevails .
( RELATED : Joe Biden Starts Presidential Campaign By Praising Antifa ) The election of Trump was an ideological statement against the “ free market and free movement of workers ” dogma characteristic of prior Republican administrations .
Rather than parading the stock market around like a graph depicting human salvation , Trump won the presidency on the recognition that tight labor markets , trade deals biased toward American workers , and the active policing of corporations who plotted to offshore domestic jobs was the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is .
This recognition has resulted in the emergence of critical voices on the right , one of whom is The Hill ’ s Saagar Enjeti .
Enjeti , a fellow at the conservative Hudson Institute and a former Daily Caller White House reporter , hosts a highly popular news show called “ Rising ” with former MSNBC contributor Krystal Ball , who abandoned the network and openly calls out its corporate bias .
Enjeti , as a conservative , is in favor of a stricter border policy than Ball , but more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aim their fire at the same targets , from the abject corporatism of the Biden campaign , to the rampant oligarchy of Michael Bloomberg , to the deceptive pseudo-intellectual branding of neoliberal star Pete Buttigieg , and the corporate media that seeks to prop up these astroturfed political forces .
Ball and Enjeti have characterized their project as proudly horseshoe and populist , uniting conservatives and leftists in defiance of the idea that they should be ashamed to agree when they ’ re both right about something .
Enjeti has succeeded in demonstrating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young audience .
In contrast to the confident free market polemic employed by right-wing thought leaders such as Ben Shapiro and Rush Limbaugh , Enjeti has demonstrated that a populist right can speak to an age of decline in worker outcomes with a form of populist sentiment that rebukes multinational capital .
Fox News ’ Tucker Carlson is another figure emblematic of the new populist right , and a highly influential anchor on cable news .
He has aired original investigative reporting exposing the anti-worker practices of major firms like Cabela , directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund deals which eliminated jobs in the struggling town of Sidney , Nebraska .
Carlson has also sharply debated Iraq war hawk John Bolton on his primetime show from an anti-war point of view .
When President Trump was at the brink of war with Iran this January , Carlson was an influential voice dissuading Trump from pursuing further conflict .
Enjeti in new media ( YouTube ) and Carlson in old media ( cable news ) are influential figures on the right who draw a stark contrast with the Reaganite past of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been both wholly deferential to the class interests of billionaires and hawkish on war .
Overturning those stances along with the dogma that free trade enriches anyone other than the corporations hawking their products , and rejecting the open immigration policies of Bush and Reagan as well , these figures on the right have made a distinct break with the Republican politics of the past .
If the new populist right can be defined by anything , it ’ s a rejection of libertarian philosophy .
Libertarianism , which professes that a rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unrestricted movement of labor and goods around the world is the foundation of working class wealth , has been confronted by the new right which instead views that free movement as the easiest way to rip off the American worker and drive down his wages .
The philosophy of the new conservative movement is clear : if an unregulated free market means that American workers get outcompeted and lose , then we reject the unregulated free market .
Political strategist Steve Bannon helped to redefine this hands-on approach to the economy when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to the 2008 financial crisis , arguing that Wall Street , the Koch brothers and the Heritage Foundation deindustrialized the country and weakened labor bargaining power through the financialization and commodification of human life .
Getting the government out of our lives , elites propped up cheap migrant labor as the answer to falling rates of profit , relying on a class of servants imported from around the world and jobs sent overseas where wages were miniscule to keep the costs of labor low .
Bannon made the radical argument that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a medieval serf , because he will never earn anything .
In order to save capitalism , Bannon argued , the banks must be broken up and the free transfer of wealth upward via relaxed trade , border and immigration policies must be stopped .
Bannon credited this pro-government , anti-market sentiment emerging in the wake of the financial crisis for the election of Trump .
( RELATED : Steve Bannon Says He Pushed For Alleged Whistleblower To Be Removed From National Security Council ) So far , Bannon and Trump have utterly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation and transforming it into support for the Republican Party .
Rather than destroying the conservative movement , their push toward a nationalistic hands-on approach to public policy has allowed the Republicans to rebrand as a pro-worker party .
The Democrats have been incapable of responding to this change .
When the voters come to the polls holding in a primal scream , demanding a release of their fears , they will not pull the lever for Democrats any longer .
And even if they don ’ t become Republicans , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure that the Republicans continue to win against a corporatized husk of a party that once claimed to believe in something more than merely beating the incumbent .
For the liberal-left , difficult days are ahead .
Alex Blum is a freelance writer , and he has written for Quillette , Areo , Arc Digital , and Psychology Today .
You can follow him on Twitter at @ AlexanderBlum12 .
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DCNF 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 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 .

As the Democratic Party consolidates to nominate Joe Biden, it destroys its chances of being the party of the American working class. Biden, who is a lifelong champion of credit card companies and trade deals that benefit multinational capital, has no claim to be the representative of working class people.
Journalist Chris Hedges has said that liberal politicians have traditionally served as a “safety valve” for the resentments of the have-nots, channeling anger and frustration into votes for Democrats who claim to feel the pain of working people. However, as the Democratic Party has become increasingly beholden to the professional managerial class, the “safety valve” of releasing working class outrage has moved in recent years toward the insurgent presidency of Donald Trump.
The Democratic Party, when it lost in 2016, has since doubled down on its moral condemnation of traditional social values coupled with an increasingly manic defense of elite politicians, outlawing any criticism of Joe Biden’s corruption involving Burisma in the Ukraine and elevating Elizabeth Warren to the status of a political martyr after coming in third in her home state. The Democratic Party plays with kid gloves. (RELATED: The Coronavirus Is Bad News For Joe Biden, Here’s Why)
Even anti-establishment rebels like Bernie Sanders have apologized to Biden and bowed to the Obama-Biden legacy, admonishing his own surrogates when they rightfully criticize Biden’s record. Trump, on the other hand, treated his intra-party rivals as mortal enemies in 2016, and he not only won, but also later the party unified behind him. Meanwhile, Sanders supporters beg Elizabeth Warren for an endorsement that won’t come, respecting the elites of the party, while Trump trashed former President George W. Bush and won by becoming the “safety valve” to release anti-establishment anger.
The Republican Party, of course, is no true ally of the working class. They, too, propose to cut social security and Medicaid, and Mitch McConnell considers universal health care tantamount to Venezuelan socialism. Yet, major shifts within the party on trade policy and immigration have positioned the Republicans to effectively combat a corporatized and spiritless Democratic Party which is unwilling to overthrow its own establishment.
Right-wing figures like Tucker Carlson attack Biden on his anti-worker record, while left-wing outlets like MSNBC cater to Cold War paranoia about Russia, repackaged for the #Resist era. This election, like 2016, is about a populist economic program. The Republicans were able to win their populist uprising, and the Democrats won’t. Four years later, they are still stuck defending the corporate class. To become the “safety valve” that will release the anger and despair of the electorate, this is not enough. The pomp and pathos of Trump prevails. (RELATED: Joe Biden Starts Presidential Campaign By Praising Antifa)
The election of Trump was an ideological statement against the “free market and free movement of workers” dogma characteristic of prior Republican administrations. Rather than parading the stock market around like a graph depicting human salvation, Trump won the presidency on the recognition that tight labor markets, trade deals biased toward American workers, and the active policing of corporations who plotted to offshore domestic jobs was the future of the Republican Party. It still is.
This recognition has resulted in the emergence of critical voices on the right, one of whom is The Hill’s Saagar Enjeti. Enjeti, a fellow at the conservative Hudson Institute and a former Daily Caller White House reporter, hosts a highly popular news show called “Rising” with former MSNBC contributor Krystal Ball, who abandoned the network and openly calls out its corporate bias. Enjeti, as a conservative, is in favor of a stricter border policy than Ball, but more often than not the two agree and aim their fire at the same targets, from the abject corporatism of the Biden campaign, to the rampant oligarchy of Michael Bloomberg, to the deceptive pseudo-intellectual branding of neoliberal star Pete Buttigieg, and the corporate media that seeks to prop up these astroturfed political forces. Ball and Enjeti have characterized their project as proudly horseshoe and populist, uniting conservatives and leftists in defiance of the idea that they should be ashamed to agree when they’re both right about something.
Enjeti has succeeded in demonstrating a type of conservative politics to a young audience. In contrast to the confident free market polemic employed by right-wing thought leaders such as Ben Shapiro and Rush Limbaugh, Enjeti has demonstrated that a populist right can speak to an age of decline in worker outcomes with a form of populist sentiment that rebukes multinational capital.
Fox News’ Tucker Carlson is another figure emblematic of the new populist right, and a highly influential anchor on cable news. He has aired original investigative reporting exposing the anti-worker practices of major firms like Cabela, directly calling out billionaire Paul Singer for hedge fund deals which eliminated jobs in the struggling town of Sidney, Nebraska. Carlson has also sharply debated Iraq war hawk John Bolton on his primetime show from an anti-war point of view. When President Trump was at the brink of war with Iran this January, Carlson was an influential voice dissuading Trump from pursuing further conflict.
Enjeti in new media (YouTube) and Carlson in old media (cable news) are influential figures on the right who draw a stark contrast with the Reaganite past of the Republican Party, which has traditionally been both wholly deferential to the class interests of billionaires and hawkish on war. Overturning those stances along with the dogma that free trade enriches anyone other than the corporations hawking their products, and rejecting the open immigration policies of Bush and Reagan as well, these figures on the right have made a distinct break with the Republican politics of the past.
If the new populist right can be defined by anything, it’s a rejection of libertarian philosophy. Libertarianism, which professes that a rising tide lifts all boats, and that the unrestricted movement of labor and goods around the world is the foundation of working class wealth, has been confronted by the new right which instead views that free movement as the easiest way to rip off the American worker and drive down his wages. The philosophy of the new conservative movement is clear: if an unregulated free market means that American workers get outcompeted and lose, then we reject the unregulated free market.
Political strategist Steve Bannon helped to redefine this hands-on approach to the economy when he traced the election of Donald Trump back to the 2008 financial crisis, arguing that Wall Street, the Koch brothers and the Heritage Foundation deindustrialized the country and weakened labor bargaining power through the financialization and commodification of human life. Getting the government out of our lives, elites propped up cheap migrant labor as the answer to falling rates of profit, relying on a class of servants imported from around the world and jobs sent overseas where wages were miniscule to keep the costs of labor low.
Bannon made the radical argument that the modern American is no better off than a medieval serf, because he will never earn anything. In order to save capitalism, Bannon argued, the banks must be broken up and the free transfer of wealth upward via relaxed trade, border and immigration policies must be stopped. Bannon credited this pro-government, anti-market sentiment emerging in the wake of the financial crisis for the election of Trump. (RELATED: Steve Bannon Says He Pushed For Alleged Whistleblower To Be Removed From National Security Council)
So far, Bannon and Trump have utterly succeeded in capturing the economic turmoil of the nation and transforming it into support for the Republican Party. Rather than destroying the conservative movement, their push toward a nationalistic hands-on approach to public policy has allowed the Republicans to rebrand as a pro-worker party. The Democrats have been incapable of responding to this change.
When the voters come to the polls holding in a primal scream, demanding a release of their fears, they will not pull the lever for Democrats any longer. And even if they don’t become Republicans, the total disenchantment of the Democratic base will ensure that the Republicans continue to win against a corporatized husk of a party that once claimed to believe in something more than merely beating the incumbent. For the liberal-left, difficult days are ahead.
Alex Blum is a freelance writer, and he has written for Quillette, Areo, Arc Digital, and Psychology Today. You can follow him on Twitter at @AlexanderBlum12.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation. Content created by the DCNF 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.
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.