thedailycaller--2020-09-04--Here Are 31 Times The Media Pushed Narratives Downplaying Riots And Looting After George Floyd’s Dea

Here Are 31 Times The Media Pushed Narratives Downplaying Riots And Looting After George Floyd’s Death

• Dozens of news outlets published content that either justified or explained away rioting and looting in the initial weeks of unrest following the police custody death of George Floyd in late May .
• The Daily Caller News Foundation identified 31 articles , opinion pieces , and interviews published in the media in late May and early June that acknowledged the violence that had broken out in American cities .
• Major news outlets such as CNN and MSNBC have recently appeared to downplay the unrest that has now gripped American cities for months .
Dozens of news outlets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away rioting and looting in the initial weeks of unrest following the police custody death of George Floyd in late May , a Daily Caller News Foundation review found .
While President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden have both condemned rioting and looting , major news outlets such as CNN and MSNBC have appeared to downplay the unrest that has gripped American cities in the months following Floyd ’ s death , in one instance describing a scene as “ mostly peaceful ” as fires raged in the background .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ American cities in late May and June , dozens of news outlets provided a platform for commentators , professors and activists who not only acknowledged that rioting and looting were taking place , but sought to either justify the violence as a valid protesting technique or as a form of righteous rebellion against an unjust system .
( RELATED : Here Are Examples Of The Media Claiming The Protests Are Peaceful ) Here are 31 articles , opinion pieces , interviews and news segments published in the media in the first three weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narratives that either justified or explained away the rioting and looting as it started to break out in American cities .
Narrative 1 : Rioting is patriotic , and it works A common narrative pushed in the media as violence broke out across the United States in late May was that rioting is a quintessentially American activity with a storied history of bringing about positive change .
Rolling Stone was among the first outlets to push the message on May 29 when it republished a story originally published in 2014 during the Ferguson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Make You Rethink Property Destruction.
” The “ historical pedigree of property destruction as a tactic of resistance is long and frequently effective.
” argued the article , which was co-authored by Jose Martin , a known alias of a Washington , D.C. Antifa leader who currently faces multiple felony charges in connection to a mob attack against two Marines in 2018 .
Like many of the articles that pushed this narrative , the Rolling Stone story cited the 1773 Boston Tea Party as proof of the positive change rioting can bring about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , capitalists had risked investment on it , and it was not the colonists ’ to destroy , but they said ‘ fuck property rights ’ and did it anyway , ” the Rolling Stone article states .
“ Today ’ s conservatives don ’ t seem bothered by this inconvenient history , though , because think of the dress-up opportunities !
” Rolling Stone editors added a note to the story when it was republished that stated : “ Protests erupted in Minneapolis , and have since spread across the country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ destruction of property as somehow equal — or worse — than the destruction of lives.
” On May 31 , as footage rolled of looters pillaging a store in Los Angeles , CNN host Don Lemon reminded viewers that the United States was started because of the Boston Tea Party rioters .
“ So do not get it twisted and think this is something that has never happened before and this is so terrible and these savages and all of that , ” Lemon said .
“ This is how this country was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pieces and interviews published in the weeks following Floyd ’ s death that suggested rioting was either effective , patriotic or both include : • “ The Double Standard of the American Riot , ” published June 1 in The Atlantic .
• “ Rioting is a nuanced and deeply misunderstood form of protest , ” published June 7 in The DP .
• “ Does rioting work ?
Here are five times it did , ” published June 6 in Big Think .
• “ Riots Are As American As Apple Pie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Words , a project of the Institute for Policy Studies .
• “ A justification for the unrest ?
Look no further than the Bible and the Founding Fathers , ” published June 4 in The Conversation .
Narrative 2 : Rioting and looting are valid protesting tactics against police brutality .
Many articles that addressed rioting in the aftermath of Floyd ’ s referenced Martin Luther King Jr ’ s famous 1967 speech in which the civil rights icon said , “ a riot is the language of the unheard.
” King @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ socially destructive and self-defeating ” and pledged to “ continue to condemn riots , and continue to say to my brothers and sisters that this is not the way.
” Arwa Mahdawi , a columnist with The Guardian , used King ’ s quote to argue in a piece titled , “ If violence isn ’ t the way to end racism in America , then what is ?
” that suggested violence was the only remaining option on the table to end police brutality in America .
“ [ King ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and America still isn ’ t listening , ” Mahdawi wrote .
“ The uncomfortable truth is that sometimes , violence is the only answer left .
We like to pretend otherwise , which is why civil rights movements are often conveniently sanitized.
” Chicago Tribune columnist and editorial board member Steve Chapman also questioned whether black people can affect change without resorting to violence in a piece titled , “ If riots are not the answer , what is ?
” “ Impossible to justify , yes , ” Chapman said of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Impossible to understand ?
Not at all .
Police have participated in a quiet riot against black people for generations.
” “ I find the destruction tragic , unnecessary and counterproductive , ” Chapman wrote .
“ But if I were a black person living in Minneapolis , I might feel enough anger and despair to take part.
” “ Rioting may not bring about the changes that would establish genuine equality for black Americans .
But neither has anything else , ” he concluded .
Other articles that suggested that rioting and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • “ Burn It All Down , ” published May 28 in Essence .
• “ As Officials Condemn Violence During Protests , This Professor Says Some Is Warranted , ” published May 31 by NPR .
• “ In Defense of Destroying Property , ” published June 10 in The Nation .
• “ American history shows civil unrest is the only way black people are heard , ” published June 1 in TRTWorld .
• “ We riot because you choose not to hear : A digital equity lesson for Nashville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessean .
A third narrative that arose in the days and weeks following Floyd ’ s death came in the form of articles that suggested it ’ s incorrect to describe violent scenes of rioting and looting as such .
Other articles and commentary suggested that destroying property isn ’ t actually an act of violence .
Teen Vogue columnist Jenn M. Jackson said the terms “ rioters ” and “ looters ” were negative terms used to ‘ delegitimize ” movements in a June 11 piece titled , “ Don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How We Name Movements Matters.
” “ These words matter , ” Jackson wrote .
“ The negative associations of these terms have an impact on how we think about these demonstrations , just as the terms like ‘ uprising ’ and ‘ rebellion ’ offer ways to think about these protests as good trouble.
” “ When marginalized people respond to injustice , it is the duty of those in power to sit down , be quiet , and listen to what they have to say without dictating the terms of whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Whether that expression comes in the form of peacefulness , anger , rage , or violence , it ’ s all justified .
It ’ s time to focus on the message instead of the medium.
” TIME published an article on June 8 titled , “ ‘ A War of Words.
’ Why Describing the George Floyd Protests as ‘ Riots ’ Is So Loaded , ” that said the word riot “ connotes meaningless violence… But it also has a racial dimension in the U.S. , as a term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by white people ) to drum up the image of black people wreaking senseless chaos in cities.
” The article quoted multiple college professors who proposed other terms such as “ uprising ” and “ rebellion ” to describe the early George Floyd protests .
Harvard associate professor Elizabeth Hinton told TIME that she prefer the term “ uprising ” because it “ really captures the fact that the violence that emerges during these incidents isn ’ t meaningless , that it is a political expression , and it is communicating a certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Berkeley School of Law professor john a. powell , who according to TIME does not capitalize his name because it ’ s a slave name , said he prefers the term “ demonstration ” to the term “ riot.
” “ Riot suggests pandemonium , ” powell said .
“ What ’ s happening across the country and across the world is a call for justice , a call for police accountability , for the recognition that black lives matter too … Rioting detracts from all of that.
” Pulitzer Prize-winning New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 2 on CBS News that while it was “ disturbing ” to see property destruction , “ destroying property , which can be replaced , is not violence.
” “ To use the same language to describe those two things is not moral , ” Hannah-Jones said .
Other articles that suggested that it was wrong to describe scenes of rioting as such , or that property damage isn ’ t violence , include : • “ ‘ Riots , ’ ‘ violence , ’ ‘ looting ’ : Words matter when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , ” published May 31 in USA Today .
• “ The Reliably Racist Cherry-Picking of the Word “ Riot ” , ” published June 1 in Mother Jones .
• “ Why Damaging Property Isn ’ t The Same As “ Violence ” , ” published June 1 in Current Affairs .
• “ Understand Protests As ‘ Acts Of Rebellion ’ Instead Of Riots , Marc Lamont Hill Says , ” published June 2 by NPR .
• “ The George Floyd protests are a rebellion against an unjust system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guardian .
• “ No , We Should Not Condemn Uprisings Against Police Murders Like George Floyd ’ s , ” published May 28 in Jacobin .
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 .

Dozens of news outlets published content that either justified or explained away rioting and looting in the initial weeks of unrest following the police custody death of George Floyd in late May.
The Daily Caller News Foundation identified 31 articles, opinion pieces, and interviews published in the media in late May and early June that acknowledged the violence that had broken out in American cities.
Major news outlets such as CNN and MSNBC have recently appeared to downplay the unrest that has now gripped American cities for months.
Dozens of news outlets published content that either justified or explained away rioting and looting in the initial weeks of unrest following the police custody death of George Floyd in late May, a Daily Caller News Foundation review found.
While President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden have both condemned rioting and looting, major news outlets such as CNN and MSNBC have appeared to downplay the unrest that has gripped American cities in the months following Floyd’s death, in one instance describing a scene as “mostly peaceful” as fires raged in the background.
But as the violence broke out in American cities in late May and June, dozens of news outlets provided a platform for commentators, professors and activists who not only acknowledged that rioting and looting were taking place, but sought to either justify the violence as a valid protesting technique or as a form of righteous rebellion against an unjust system. (RELATED: Here Are Examples Of The Media Claiming The Protests Are Peaceful)
Here are 31 articles, opinion pieces, interviews and news segments published in the media in the first three weeks following Floyd’s death that pushed narratives that either justified or explained away the rioting and looting as it started to break out in American cities.
Narrative 1: Rioting is patriotic, and it works
A common narrative pushed in the media as violence broke out across the United States in late May was that rioting is a quintessentially American activity with a storied history of bringing about positive change.
Rolling Stone was among the first outlets to push the message on May 29 when it republished a story originally published in 2014 during the Ferguson riots titled “9 Historical Triumphs to Make You Rethink Property Destruction.”
The “historical pedigree of property destruction as a tactic of resistance is long and frequently effective.” argued the article, which was co-authored by Jose Martin, a known alias of a Washington, D.C. Antifa leader who currently faces multiple felony charges in connection to a mob attack against two Marines in 2018.
Like many of the articles that pushed this narrative, the Rolling Stone story cited the 1773 Boston Tea Party as proof of the positive change rioting can bring about.
“Workers had produced that tea, capitalists had risked investment on it, and it was not the colonists’ to destroy, but they said ‘fuck property rights’ and did it anyway,” the Rolling Stone article states. “Today’s conservatives don’t seem bothered by this inconvenient history, though, because think of the dress-up opportunities!”
Rolling Stone editors added a note to the story when it was republished that stated: “Protests erupted in Minneapolis, and have since spread across the country. Once again, some are criticizing the destruction of property as somehow equal — or worse — than the destruction of lives.”
On May 31, as footage rolled of looters pillaging a store in Los Angeles, CNN host Don Lemon reminded viewers that the United States was started because of the Boston Tea Party rioters.
“So do not get it twisted and think this is something that has never happened before and this is so terrible and these savages and all of that,” Lemon said. “This is how this country was started.”
“Our country was started because, the Boston tea party. Rioting. So do not get it twisted and think this is something that has never happened before and this is so terrible and these savages and all of that. This is how this country was started” –@DonLemon on @CNN 11:53 PM ET. pic.twitter.com/dGu5TmArsp — Brent Baker (@BrentHBaker) May 31, 2020
Other news articles, opinion pieces and interviews published in the weeks following Floyd’s death that suggested rioting was either effective, patriotic or both include:
Narrative 2: Rioting and looting are valid protesting tactics against police brutality.
Many articles that addressed rioting in the aftermath of Floyd’s referenced Martin Luther King Jr’s famous 1967 speech in which the civil rights icon said, “a riot is the language of the unheard.” King in that same speech also called rioting “socially destructive and self-defeating” and pledged to “continue to condemn riots, and continue to say to my brothers and sisters that this is not the way.”
Arwa Mahdawi, a columnist with The Guardian, used King’s quote to argue in a piece titled, “If violence isn’t the way to end racism in America, then what is?” that suggested violence was the only remaining option on the table to end police brutality in America.
“[King’s] speech was 53 years ago and America still isn’t listening,” Mahdawi wrote. “The uncomfortable truth is that sometimes, violence is the only answer left. We like to pretend otherwise, which is why civil rights movements are often conveniently sanitized.”
Chicago Tribune columnist and editorial board member Steve Chapman also questioned whether black people can affect change without resorting to violence in a piece titled, “If riots are not the answer, what is?”
“Impossible to justify, yes,” Chapman said of the riots in late May. “Impossible to understand? Not at all. Police have participated in a quiet riot against black people for generations.”
“I find the destruction tragic, unnecessary and counterproductive,” Chapman wrote. “But if I were a black person living in Minneapolis, I might feel enough anger and despair to take part.”
“Rioting may not bring about the changes that would establish genuine equality for black Americans. But neither has anything else,” he concluded.
Other articles that suggested that rioting and looting were valid protesting techniques include:
Narrative 3: These aren’t violent riots. It’s an uprising.
A third narrative that arose in the days and weeks following Floyd’s death came in the form of articles that suggested it’s incorrect to describe violent scenes of rioting and looting as such. Other articles and commentary suggested that destroying property isn’t actually an act of violence.
Teen Vogue columnist Jenn M. Jackson said the terms “rioters” and “looters” were negative terms used to ‘delegitimize” movements in a June 11 piece titled, “Don’t Let Them Bad-Mouth Rebellion or Riots: How We Name Movements Matters.”
“These words matter,” Jackson wrote. “The negative associations of these terms have an impact on how we think about these demonstrations, just as the terms like ‘uprising’ and ‘rebellion’ offer ways to think about these protests as good trouble.”
“When marginalized people respond to injustice, it is the duty of those in power to sit down, be quiet, and listen to what they have to say without dictating the terms of whose language is acceptable,” Jackson concluded. “Whether that expression comes in the form of peacefulness, anger, rage, or violence, it’s all justified. It’s time to focus on the message instead of the medium.”
TIME published an article on June 8 titled, “‘A War of Words.’ Why Describing the George Floyd Protests as ‘Riots’ Is So Loaded,” that said the word riot “connotes meaningless violence… But it also has a racial dimension in the U.S., as a term that’s long been used (by white people) to drum up the image of black people wreaking senseless chaos in cities.”
The article quoted multiple college professors who proposed other terms such as “uprising” and “rebellion” to describe the early George Floyd protests.
Harvard associate professor Elizabeth Hinton told TIME that she prefer the term “uprising” because it “really captures the fact that the violence that emerges during these incidents isn’t meaningless, that it is a political expression, and it is communicating a certain set of demands.”
University of California, Berkeley School of Law professor john a. powell, who according to TIME does not capitalize his name because it’s a slave name, said he prefers the term “demonstration” to the term “riot.”
“Riot suggests pandemonium,” powell said. “What’s happening across the country and across the world is a call for justice, a call for police accountability, for the recognition that black lives matter too … Rioting detracts from all of that.”
Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones said on June 2 on CBS News that while it was “disturbing” to see property destruction, “destroying property, which can be replaced, is not violence.”
“To use the same language to describe those two things is not moral,” Hannah-Jones said.
“Violence is when an agent of the state kneels on a man’s neck until all of the life is leached out of his body. Destroying property, which can be replaced, is not violence. To use the same language to describe those two things is not moral” –@nhannahjones on CBSN pic.twitter.com/GGteXRFwAr — CBS News (@CBSNews) June 2, 2020
Other articles that suggested that it was wrong to describe scenes of rioting as such, or that property damage isn’t violence, include:
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--2020-09-04--‘A Gut Punch,’ ‘We Just Feel Abandoned’: Police Union Execs Sound Off About Lack Of Morale That They

‘A Gut Punch,’ ‘We Just Feel Abandoned’: Police Union Execs Sound Off About Lack Of Morale That They Say Is Resulting From Politicians

• Three police union executives from across the nation told the DCNF that morale is declining and they think much of it can be blamed on politicians in both the local and national theatre .
• Civil unrest has largely intensified after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha , Wisconsin .
• All three union heads would not recommend entering the law enforcement field in the current climate .
• President of the New-York based Sergeants Benevolent Association Vincent Vallelong called the unrest stemming from May after the death of George Floyd a “ rock bottom ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executives from across the country told the Daily Caller News Foundation in phone interviews that department morale is plummeting due the actions or inaction of both local and national politicians .
The DCNF interviewed vice president of the New York-based Sergeants Benevolent Association Vincent Vallelong , vice president emeritus of the Washington , DC-based International Union of Police Associations Dennis Slocumb and president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild Mike Solan .
All three shared a similar message : officers feel let down by city and national leaders alike .
Unrest , riots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have followed the May death of George Floyd , who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes , video showed .
Civil unrest has largely been reignited by the officer-involved shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha , Wisconsin .
“ Morale in the different departments across the country is terrible , ” Vallelong told the DCNF .
“ You have guys that are going to work every single day just to fight night after night and there ’ s no end in sight.
” “ This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who have been in hiding since day one when this first happened , ” he continued .
“ None of these leaders have come out to support anything other than the anarchy that ’ s out there.
” “ They make their little statements — none of them have shown their face in the sunlight .
These people are being judge and jury immediately , probably a half hour after an incident happens just to get their name out to make a political statement and it ’ s disgusting.
” Slocumb echoed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blame for a decline in morale comes from the rhetoric from Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
“ I would say that if [ Joe Biden ] has to wait until the polls tell him that it ’ s time to condemn rioting , arson , assaults on public employees , attempts to blind police officers and firefighters — if you ’ ve got to wait for the polls to tell you it ’ s time to condemn that , then I don ’ t think you ’ re fit to be the leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Oval Office of the White House , ” he added .
Solon , who recently faced a mob of protesters gathering outside his home , slammed the Seattle city council for “ political pandering ” in their efforts to defund the area ’ s police department .
The recent events in the city are a “ gut punch , ” he said .
“ Now they want to defund us , obviously for political pandering reasons , ” Solon said .
“ That ’ s the most egregious example of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heads that we ’ re most concerned about.
” “ The council is governing via Twitter and pandering to [ a ] loud group to push an unreasonable agenda on the entire city of Seattle and they ’ re using police as pawns in the political power struggle — that ’ s a gut punch , ” he continued .
The city council on Aug. 10 approved a plan to defund SPD by more than $ 3 million and could potentially cut jobs for more than 100 officers , according to KOMO News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the move by creating a website called stopdefunding.com , which has garnered more than 170,000 signatures from Seattle and beyond , he told the DCNF .
The union bosses in the midst of renewed tensions and months of previous unrest said those seeking careers in law enforcement at this juncture should look elsewhere .
“ I think the politicalization of the job of policing is abhorrently atrocious , ” Solon said .
“ That ’ s probably my biggest take on this.
” “ I would probably say that I ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as not exposing yourself to be a political cancelled victim just because you ’ re a police officer on one bad call , ” he added .
Slocumb said , “ There are a multitude of jobs that pay better that you generally will get home from work on time that you can be off for Christmas and New Years .
You ’ re not going to work midnight to 8 p.m. as a welder or a tradesman.
” Vallelong echoed their sentiments and also said he ’ s noticed a mass exodus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s so many people that are leaving this job , which speaks volumes , ” he said .
“ They can say it ’ s through attrition , but people see the handwriting on the wall , and these are the seasoned veterans who have been on the job for 20 plus years that wouldn ’ t have left that are now just racing to the exits.
” Solon noticed a similar trend among the ranks of his members .
“ People are leaving , people are retiring , people are [ leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supported by our elected officials — all for political reasons , ” he said .
Seattle continues to be one of the riot epicenters in the country , as police recovered numerous knives , spikes and improvised shields in a public park Tuesday , according to the department ’ s blog .
A week prior to the discovery of the dangerous implements , rioters attempted to trap officers inside their own police precinct and burn it down , KIRO 7 reported .
Seattle was also home to the Capitol Hill Organized Protest ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territory surrounding SPD ’ s East Precinct , according to K5 .
Solon called the past actions of rioters “ mind blowing.
” “ We were just reacting and digesting the fact that we couldn ’ t go into a 6-block area in the city of Seattle where a group of — I would say — socialists/marxist people were in control of a police facility , ” he said .
“ To me it ’ s mind blowing , it ’ s so bewildering beyond common sense that I still struggle with thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America.
” ( RELATED : ‘ Morale Is In The Toilet ’ : Police Union Officials Wouldn ’ t Want Their Own Sons In Law Enforcement ) The union leaders in the midst of the renewed unrest , decline in morale and perceived abandonment by political figures are seeking to enlist the public ’ s help in remedying the nationwide turmoil .
“ We need those who quietly support us to quit being quiet — to speak up , ” Slocumb said .
Solon said , “ [ People need ] to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mainstream media accountable for dividing our nation .
People need to wake up to what ’ s happening , this is a fight for our Republic.
” Vallelong said , “ We probably need the citizens of New York and the citizens in other states in this country to actually go out and vote the right people in office that are not there for their own political self indulgence and are there for the people.
” The NYC police union executive said the actions of late are a “ rock bottom ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take 10 or 15 years maybe to turn around , ” he said .
“ I would not suggest anyone taking this job and this is a job I ’ ve done now for three decades that I ’ ve always loved in the good times and the bad , but right now it is really , really rock bottom.
” 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 , @ @ @ @ @ @

Three police union executives from across the nation told the DCNF that morale is declining and they think much of it can be blamed on politicians in both the local and national theatre.
Civil unrest has largely intensified after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
All three union heads would not recommend entering the law enforcement field in the current climate.
President of the New-York based Sergeants Benevolent Association Vincent Vallelong called the unrest stemming from May after the death of George Floyd a “rock bottom” in his 30-year career.
Three police union executives from across the country told the Daily Caller News Foundation in phone interviews that department morale is plummeting due the actions or inaction of both local and national politicians.
The DCNF interviewed vice president of the New York-based Sergeants Benevolent Association Vincent Vallelong, vice president emeritus of the Washington, DC-based International Union of Police Associations Dennis Slocumb and president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild Mike Solan.
All three shared a similar message: officers feel let down by city and national leaders alike.
Unrest, riots and calls to reduce law enforcement funding have followed the May death of George Floyd, who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes, video showed. Civil unrest has largely been reignited by the officer-involved shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
“Morale in the different departments across the country is terrible,” Vallelong told the DCNF. “You have guys that are going to work every single day just to fight night after night and there’s no end in sight.”
“This is the [New York] city council, who have been in hiding since day one when this first happened,” he continued. “None of these leaders have come out to support anything other than the anarchy that’s out there.”
“They make their little statements — none of them have shown their face in the sunlight. These people are being judge and jury immediately, probably a half hour after an incident happens just to get their name out to make a political statement and it’s disgusting.”
Slocumb echoed this message and claimed much of the blame for a decline in morale comes from the rhetoric from Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
“We just feel abandoned,” Slocumb said.
“I would say that if [Joe Biden] has to wait until the polls tell him that it’s time to condemn rioting, arson, assaults on public employees, attempts to blind police officers and firefighters — if you’ve got to wait for the polls to tell you it’s time to condemn that, then I don’t think you’re fit to be the leader of the local PTA let alone sit in the Oval Office of the White House,” he added.
Solan, who recently faced a mob of protesters gathering outside his home, slammed the Seattle city council for “political pandering” in their efforts to defund the area’s police department. The recent events in the city are a “gut punch,” he said.
Mike Solan, President of the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG), likes talkin big but will not have a conversation with EDM. #seattleprotests pic.twitter.com/TeZthAQO8w — Cindy Lou | ABOLISH NOT REFORM. (@CindayLouHoo) August 28, 2020
“Now they want to defund us, obviously for political pandering reasons,” Solan said. “That’s the most egregious example of a lack of support from these political talking heads that we’re most concerned about.”
“The council is governing via Twitter and pandering to [a] loud group to push an unreasonable agenda on the entire city of Seattle and they’re using police as pawns in the political power struggle — that’s a gut punch,” he continued.
The city council on Aug. 10 approved a plan to defund SPD by more than $3 million and could potentially cut jobs for more than 100 officers, according to KOMO News. Solan has also spearheaded a resistance to the move by creating a website called stopdefunding.com, which has garnered more than 170,000 signatures from Seattle and beyond, he told the DCNF.
The union bosses in the midst of renewed tensions and months of previous unrest said those seeking careers in law enforcement at this juncture should look elsewhere.
“I think the politicalization of the job of policing is abhorrently atrocious,” Solan said. “That’s probably my biggest take on this.”
“I would probably say that I’d go into something more protected as far as not exposing yourself to be a political cancelled victim just because you’re a police officer on one bad call,” he added.
Slocumb said, “There are a multitude of jobs that pay better that you generally will get home from work on time that you can be off for Christmas and New Years. You’re not going to work midnight to 8 p.m. as a welder or a tradesman.”
Vallelong echoed their sentiments and also said he’s noticed a mass exodus from the NYPD.
“There’s so many people that are leaving this job, which speaks volumes,” he said. “They can say it’s through attrition, but people see the handwriting on the wall, and these are the seasoned veterans who have been on the job for 20 plus years that wouldn’t have left that are now just racing to the exits.”
Solan noticed a similar trend among the ranks of his members.
“People are leaving, people are retiring, people are [leaving] Seattle because we’re not supported by our elected officials — all for political reasons,” he said.
Seattle continues to be one of the riot epicenters in the country, as police recovered numerous knives, spikes and improvised shields in a public park Tuesday, according to the department’s blog. A week prior to the discovery of the dangerous implements, rioters attempted to trap officers inside their own police precinct and burn it down, KIRO 7 reported.
Seattle was also home to the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP), which claimed 6-blocks of territory surrounding SPD’s East Precinct, according to K5. Solan called the past actions of rioters “mind blowing.”
“We were just reacting and digesting the fact that we couldn’t go into a 6-block area in the city of Seattle where a group of — I would say — socialists/marxist people were in control of a police facility,” he said. “To me it’s mind blowing, it’s so bewildering beyond common sense that I still struggle with thinking this was real in the United States of America.” (RELATED: ‘Morale Is In The Toilet’: Police Union Officials Wouldn’t Want Their Own Sons In Law Enforcement)
The union leaders in the midst of the renewed unrest, decline in morale and perceived abandonment by political figures are seeking to enlist the public’s help in remedying the nationwide turmoil.
“We need those who quietly support us to quit being quiet — to speak up,” Slocumb said.
Solan said, “[People need] to hold our elected officials accountable and hold the mainstream media accountable for dividing our nation. People need to wake up to what’s happening, this is a fight for our Republic.”
Vallelong said, “We probably need the citizens of New York and the citizens in other states in this country to actually go out and vote the right people in office that are not there for their own political self indulgence and are there for the people.”
The NYC police union executive said the actions of late are a “rock bottom” for law enforcement.
“This will take 10 or 15 years maybe to turn around,” he said. “I would not suggest anyone taking this job and this is a job I’ve done now for three decades that I’ve always loved in the good times and the bad, but right now it is really, really rock bottom.”
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--2020-09-05--Presser Leaves Neil Cavuto In Awe At Biden’s ‘Far More Friendly Relationship’ With Press Than Trump

Fox Business host Neil Cavuto took some time after Friday ’ s press conference to note how “ friendly ” Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ s relationship with the press was compared to President Donald Trump .
While Trump ’ s engagements with the press are often marked by plenty of tense back and forth , Biden ’ s are seen by some to have entirely different tone as the campaign heats up .
Cavuto called the difference in tone “ remarkable ” after Friday ’ s Biden conference wrapped up .
“ Man , oh man , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the former vice president or dislike him if like President Trump or dislike him , these were decidedly friendlier questions than the president ever enjoys , ” Cavuto noted on “ Coast to Coast.
” “ Just paraphrasing here , why are you holding back your anger over the president ’ s remark , you keep talking about holding back your anger , why aren ’ t you more angry ?
” the Fox Business host continued .
“ Someone else , how do you feel about the president ’ s offensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that make you feel after you heard them ?
” Cavuto then compared that to the questions Trump receives .
( RELATED : Jesse Watters Explains Why He Thinks The ‘ Smart Money Is On Four More Years ’ Of Trump ) “ I want you to contrast that with the stuff the president gets when he ’ s questioned , ” he said .
“ It ’ s all fair game , anything and everything is thrown at you .
Sometimes the president gets what ’ s coming , sometimes he doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden has a far more friendly relationship , at least in this latest give and take , than the president enjoys .
But man , oh man , it is remarkable .
”

Fox Business host Neil Cavuto took some time after Friday’s press conference to note how “friendly” Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s relationship with the press was compared to President Donald Trump.
While Trump’s engagements with the press are often marked by plenty of tense back and forth, Biden’s are seen by some to have entirely different tone as the campaign heats up. Cavuto called the difference in tone “remarkable” after Friday’s Biden conference wrapped up.
“Man, oh man, there was a lot in there whether you like the former vice president or dislike him if like President Trump or dislike him, these were decidedly friendlier questions than the president ever enjoys,” Cavuto noted on “Coast to Coast.”
WATCH:
“Just paraphrasing here, why are you holding back your anger over the president’s remark, you keep talking about holding back your anger, why aren’t you more angry?” the Fox Business host continued. “Someone else, how do you feel about the president’s offensive remarks about military figures and how did that make you feel after you heard them?”
Cavuto then compared that to the questions Trump receives. (RELATED: Jesse Watters Explains Why He Thinks The ‘Smart Money Is On Four More Years’ Of Trump)
“I want you to contrast that with the stuff the president gets when he’s questioned,” he said. “It’s all fair game, anything and everything is thrown at you. Sometimes the president gets what’s coming, sometimes he doesn’t, but obviously, Joe Biden has a far more friendly relationship, at least in this latest give and take, than the president enjoys. But man, oh man, it is remarkable.”


thedailycaller--2020-09-05--FACT CHECK: Viral Post Claims Fox News Isn’t Available In Canada

A viral Facebook post shared over 13,000 times claims Fox News isn ’ t available in Canada because the Radio Act “ makes it a crime to lie to the public via airwaves.
” Fox News received approval for distribution in Canada in 2004 .
It is currently available in the country .
The claim that Fox News is not available in Canada due to the supposed Radio Act ’ s restrictions related to false information has been circulating online since at least 2011 .
This particular post reads , “ No FOX news in Canada .
The Radio Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public via airwaves .
Wish we had that.
” Fox News is , in fact , aired in Canada .
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ( CRTC ) – the federal entity that regulates television and other forms of broadcast in Canada – includes Fox News , as well as Fox Business Network and FOX Sports Racing , on its list of non-Canadian channels “ authorized for distribution in Canada.
” The CRTC approved Fox News for distribution in Canada in 2004 , according to CBC News .
The commission initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be distributed in Canada in 2003 , but it was due to the possibility of a Fox News Canada channel being created , not because Fox News broke any regulations related to truthfulness , per CBC ’ s report .
( RELATED : Did Fox News Change Its Accreditation From ‘ News ’ To ‘ Entertainment ’ ? )
While some sections of CRTC regulations do prohibit licensees from broadcasting “ false or misleading news , ” these regulations are not part of Canada ’ s criminal code , according to the Library @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only apply to Canadian broadcasters using Canadian airwaves , according to Snopes .
Fox News appears to broadcast in Canada via satellite and cable .
Canada does not actually have a law specifically called Radio Act .
It ’ s possible that the post is referencing the Radiocommunication Act , which covers radio communication in Canada , including licensing radio operators .
That act , however , makes no mention of rules regarding televising false information .

A viral Facebook post shared over 13,000 times claims Fox News isn’t available in Canada because the Radio Act “makes it a crime to lie to the public via airwaves.”
Verdict: False
Fox News received approval for distribution in Canada in 2004. It is currently available in the country.
Fact Check:
The claim that Fox News is not available in Canada due to the supposed Radio Act’s restrictions related to false information has been circulating online since at least 2011. This particular post reads, “No FOX news in Canada. The Radio Act makes it a crime to lie to the public via airwaves. Wish we had that.”
Fox News is, in fact, aired in Canada. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) – the federal entity that regulates television and other forms of broadcast in Canada – includes Fox News, as well as Fox Business Network and FOX Sports Racing, on its list of non-Canadian channels “authorized for distribution in Canada.”
The CRTC approved Fox News for distribution in Canada in 2004, according to CBC News. The commission initially denied Fox News’s bid to be distributed in Canada in 2003, but it was due to the possibility of a Fox News Canada channel being created, not because Fox News broke any regulations related to truthfulness, per CBC’s report. (RELATED: Did Fox News Change Its Accreditation From ‘News’ To ‘Entertainment’?)
While some sections of CRTC regulations do prohibit licensees from broadcasting “false or misleading news,” these regulations are not part of Canada’s criminal code, according to the Library of Congress. Additionally, these regulations only apply to Canadian broadcasters using Canadian airwaves, according to Snopes. Fox News appears to broadcast in Canada via satellite and cable.
Canada does not actually have a law specifically called Radio Act. It’s possible that the post is referencing the Radiocommunication Act, which covers radio communication in Canada, including licensing radio operators. That act, however, makes no mention of rules regarding televising false information.


thedailycaller--2020-09-05--Self-Proclaimed ‘Boogaloo Bois’ Charged With Conspiracy And Attempting To Provide Material Support T

Self-Proclaimed ‘Boogaloo Bois’ Charged With Conspiracy And Attempting To Provide Material Support To A Foreign Terrorist Group

Two self-identified “ Boogaloo Bois ” who allegedly conspired to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization to harm the U.S. were taken into custody Thursday evening , the Department of Justice ( DOJ ) announced on Friday .
Michael Solomon , 30 , of New Brighton , Minnesota and Benjamin Ryan Teeter , 22 , of Hampstead , North Carolina , were charged with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist group Hamas , the DOJ announced .
Solomon and Teeter allegedly “ sought to join forces and provide support , including in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to harm the U.S .
The Boogaloo Bois are a “ loosely- connected group of individuals who espouse violent anti-government sentiments , ” according to the DOJ .
“ This case can only be understood as a disturbing example of the old adage , ‘ The enemy of your enemy is your friend , ' ” National Security Division Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers said , according to the DOJ .
“ As alleged in the complaint , these defendants sought to use violence against the police , other government officials and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to overthrow the government.
” Solomon and Teeter first appeared in court Friday in Minneapolis , Minnesota , and remaining custody pending their formal hearing scheduled for Sept. 9 , according to the DOJ .
“ Michael Solomon and Benjamin Teeter proclaim themselves to be members of the Boogaloo Bois , a group that espouses a violent ideology and an objective to overthrow the government , ” U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald said , according to the DOJ .
“ The defendants believed their anti-U.S. government views aligned with those of Hamas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed plans to carry out violence in Minnesota and elsewhere.
” ( RELATED : DC Charity Is Accused Of Violating Anti-Terrorism Act By Providing Monetary Support To Hamas ) Solomon and Teeter said that they shared aligning anti-government views with foreign terrorist group Hamas , according to the DOJ .
They also expressed aspirations to become Hamas “ mercenaries ” to fund recruitment and a training compound for the Boogaloo Bois .
When Solomon and Teeter reportedly thought they were communicating with a senior member of Hamas , they were actually talking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to destroy government monuments and target politicians and journalists , according to the DOJ .
Solomon and Teeter also told the undercover agent that they were able to produce unmarked gun parts and unregistered weapons including suppressors , according to the DOJ .
The two men thought the suppressors would be used to carry out attacks against Israeli and U.S. soldiers by Hamas .
The charges were filed as the result of the FBI ’ s Joint Terrorism Task Force ’ s investigation , in which the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DOJ .
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 .

Two self-identified “Boogaloo Bois” who allegedly conspired to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization to harm the U.S. were taken into custody Thursday evening, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday.
Michael Solomon, 30, of New Brighton, Minnesota and Benjamin Ryan Teeter, 22, of Hampstead, North Carolina, were charged with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist group Hamas, the DOJ announced.
Solomon and Teeter allegedly “sought to join forces and provide support, including in the form of weapons accessories” to Hamas to harm the U.S.
The Boogaloo Bois are a “loosely- connected group of individuals who espouse violent anti-government sentiments,” according to the DOJ.
“This case can only be understood as a disturbing example of the old adage, ‘The enemy of your enemy is your friend,'” National Security Division Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers said, according to the DOJ.
“As alleged in the complaint, these defendants sought to use violence against the police, other government officials and government property as part of their desire to overthrow the government.”
Two Self-Described “Boogaloo Bois” Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to Hamas https://t.co/Xuz6ezZZVN — Justice Department (@TheJusticeDept) September 4, 2020
Solomon and Teeter first appeared in court Friday in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and remaining custody pending their formal hearing scheduled for Sept. 9, according to the DOJ.
“Michael Solomon and Benjamin Teeter proclaim themselves to be members of the Boogaloo Bois, a group that espouses a violent ideology and an objective to overthrow the government,” U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald said, according to the DOJ.
“The defendants believed their anti-U.S. government views aligned with those of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization, and actively developed plans to carry out violence in Minnesota and elsewhere.” (RELATED: DC Charity Is Accused Of Violating Anti-Terrorism Act By Providing Monetary Support To Hamas)
Solomon and Teeter said that they shared aligning anti-government views with foreign terrorist group Hamas, according to the DOJ. They also expressed aspirations to become Hamas “mercenaries” to fund recruitment and a training compound for the Boogaloo Bois.
When Solomon and Teeter reportedly thought they were communicating with a senior member of Hamas, they were actually talking to an undercover FBI employee and expressed ideas to destroy government monuments and target politicians and journalists, according to the DOJ.
Solomon and Teeter also told the undercover agent that they were able to produce unmarked gun parts and unregistered weapons including suppressors, according to the DOJ. The two men thought the suppressors would be used to carry out attacks against Israeli and U.S. soldiers by Hamas.
The charges were filed as the result of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force’s investigation, in which the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted, according to the DOJ.
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--2020-09-05--Here’s How Democrats And The Media Have Responded To The Months Of Civil Unrest Following George Flo

Here’s How Democrats And The Media Have Responded To The Months Of Civil Unrest Following George Floyd’s Death

The United States is engulfed in ongoing civil unrest as major cities across the country have faced protests and riots following the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody May 25 .
The majority of demonstrations have been peaceful but waves of violence and looting have generated mass chaos .
Some Democrats have inflamed and encouraged the riots in many cases with statements either denying the violence or shifting the blame to President Donald Trump and his supporters .
Here is a timeline of major riots that have taken place in American cities and how Democrats have responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 26 depicted Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin placing his knee onto Floyd ’ s neck during an encounter that took place one day prior and led to Floyd ’ s death .
( RELATED : How Minnesota ’ s Procedural Rules Almost Guarantee Derek Chauvin Is Going To Jail ) Civil unrest began to grow May 27 as protestors took to the streets of Minneapolis .
Democratic Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey requested National Guard support May 28 after violence and looting destroyed parts of the city .
A police precinct was set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cities had seen at least two deaths , 619 arrests and $ 500 million in damage to 1,500 properties according to the Star Tribune .
Left-wing commentators almost immediately offered their support .
Filmmaker Michael Moore called the rioters “ good citizens ” and said police headquarters “ must be demolished ” in a tweet May 28 .
MSNBC commentator Zerlina Maxwell demanded that the media stop calling the situation a “ riot ” in a tweet May 29 .
Frey said Trump “ knows nothing about the strength of Minneapolis ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slammed the mayor for not controlling the riots .
Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren accused Trump of “ calling for violence ” in a tweet May 29 after the president said he would deploy the National Guard .
A peaceful demonstration in front of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington , D.C. turned violent May 30 as rioters gathered at Lafayette Square Park in front of the White House .
Several monuments on the National Mall , including the World War II memorial and the Lincoln Memorial , were vandalized May 30 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was set on fire May 31 .
Democratic Washington , D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser suggested that Trump was hiding and said he was afraid of a handful of “ peaceful protesters ” after the White House went into a lockdown May 29 .
Clashes occurred between protesters and police June 1 in the Seattle neighborhood of Capitol Hill .
Democratic Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said the unrest was “ instigated and perpetuated by white men.
” The Seattle Police Department withdrew from the East Precinct building June 8 , paving the way for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zone ( CHAZ ) June 11 .
Durkan told CNN host Chris Cuomo in an interview June 11 that the CHAZ had “ more like a block party atmosphere ” and likened it to the “ summer of love.
” A resident living in the area told the Daily Caller in an interview June 13 that he heard “ gunshots every single night.
” Four shootings were reported between June 20 and June 29 with two people killed and four injured .
Mostly peaceful demonstrations in Portland in early June led to escalating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portland Business Alliance estimated that riots and violence in Portland by late June had cost small businesses $ 23.2 million and the Portland Police Department lost $ 6.2 million in related costs .
Durkan ordered the Capitol Hill neighborhood to be cleared out July 1 and CHAZ was officially brought to an end .
Rioters in Portland reportedly lit fires inside a police union building and swarmed the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse in the first week of July as unrest in the city escalated .
Democratic Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler initially told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not need or want their help , ” according to Oregon Public Broadcasting .
Federal officers arrived anyways in order to protect federal property and engaged with rioters over the next week with tear gas and other riot dispersion tactics .
Democratic Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden downplayed the risk of violence and instead turned attention to the Trump administration , stating that federal officers were “ acting like an occupying army ” in a tweet July 12 .
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi referred to federal officers as “ stormtroopers ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a tweet July 17 .
Pelosi also downplayed the riots by claiming that federal involvement was “ in response to graffiti.
” Democratic New York Rep. Jerry Nadler minimized the violence in Portland and told political commentator Austen Fletcher that antifa violence was a myth in a video released July 27 .
( RELATED : ‘ That ’ s A Myth ’ : Democrats Downplay The Violence In Portland ) Democratic Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal minimized the riots during a CNN appearance July 29 where she referred to the riots as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Police data compiled by The Oregonian found that 15 people had been killed in Portland in July , with a total of 24 people killed since the demonstrations kicked off in the city in late May and early June .
Hundreds of people rioted and looted stores in Chicago between August 9 and August 10 after a man was reportedly shot by police .
( RELATED : Police In Some Riot-Torn Cities Won ’ t Say How They ’ ll Protect In-Person Voters In November ) Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow “ Donald Trump ’ s troops ” to “ terrorize our residents.
” More than 100 people were arrested and 13 officers were injured in Chicago during multiple days of rioting .
Lightfoot later changed her tune and defended banning protests near her residence , telling reporters she had a right to make sure her “ home is secure ” during a press conference August 20 .
A wave of unrest in Seattle led to six police officers injured and 18 people arrested as demonstrators hurled explosives at law enforcement outside a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to seal off the East Precinct building and light a fire outside August 24 , according to the Seattle Police Officers Guild .
The Trump administration negotiated a withdrawal of federal troops in Portland by late August but the violence continued in the city even after federal forces pulled back .
15 riots were declared in the month of August according to the Portland Police Department .
Wheeler repeatedly said “ no thanks ” to recurring offers from the Trump administration to send federal officers back into Portland , KGW8 reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ inciting violence and told him to “ stay away ” one day before a Trump supporter was shot and killed August 29 .
Kenosha experienced riots and fires August 24 after footage emerged of a police officer shooting Jacob Blake seven times in the back August 23 .
A resident cleaning up after the riots called the city a “ complete war zone ” after businesses were looted and a number of buildings were destroyed .
Seattle continued to see unrest as members of a crowd threw Molotov cocktails at the East Precinct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damaged more than 100 buildings , 40 of which were destroyed , and caused up to $ 50 million in damage through September 2 , according to ABC 7 .
Democratic Wisconsin Gov .
Tony Evers told Trump not to come to the city and accused him of creating “ divisiveness ” in a letter .
( RELATED : Kenosha Riots Have Destroyed $ 2 Million In City-Owned Property ) Michael Forest Reinoehl , a self-identified Antifa supporter , was identified as a suspect in the fatal shooting of Trump supporter Aaron Danielson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice in an interview set to air September 3 that he “ had no choice.
” Reinoehl was later killed during a shootout with federal forces that same day .

The United States is engulfed in ongoing civil unrest as major cities across the country have faced protests and riots following the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody May 25.
The majority of demonstrations have been peaceful but waves of violence and looting have generated mass chaos.
Some Democrats have inflamed and encouraged the riots in many cases with statements either denying the violence or shifting the blame to President Donald Trump and his supporters. Here is a timeline of major riots that have taken place in American cities and how Democrats have responded to them.
May
A Facebook video uploaded May 26 depicted Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin placing his knee onto Floyd’s neck during an encounter that took place one day prior and led to Floyd’s death. (RELATED: How Minnesota’s Procedural Rules Almost Guarantee Derek Chauvin Is Going To Jail)
Civil unrest began to grow May 27 as protestors took to the streets of Minneapolis. Democratic Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey requested National Guard support May 28 after violence and looting destroyed parts of the city. A police precinct was set on fire and by mid-June the Twin Cities had seen at least two deaths, 619 arrests and $500 million in damage to 1,500 properties according to the Star Tribune.
Left-wing commentators almost immediately offered their support. Filmmaker Michael Moore called the rioters “good citizens” and said police headquarters “must be demolished” in a tweet May 28.
Good citizens burning down the evil police precinct in MN after all police were out & safe. All police should go home. No violence please. Police HQ must be demolished by the city tomorrow as a show of contrition to black America. Rebuild PD with decent kind ppl aka ppl of color — Michael Moore (@MMFlint) May 29, 2020
MSNBC commentator Zerlina Maxwell demanded that the media stop calling the situation a “riot” in a tweet May 29.
Please stop calling this a riot. There are other words to describe this. Use them. — Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) May 29, 2020
Frey said Trump “knows nothing about the strength of Minneapolis” in a statement May 29 after the president slammed the mayor for not controlling the riots. Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren accused Trump of “calling for violence” in a tweet May 29 after the president said he would deploy the National Guard.
I can’t stand back & watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis. A total lack of leadership. Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right….. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
A peaceful demonstration in front of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. turned violent May 30 as rioters gathered at Lafayette Square Park in front of the White House. Several monuments on the National Mall, including the World War II memorial and the Lincoln Memorial, were vandalized May 30 and the historic St. John’s Church was set on fire May 31.
Democratic Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser suggested that Trump was hiding and said he was afraid of a handful of “peaceful protesters” after the White House went into a lockdown May 29.
June
Clashes occurred between protesters and police June 1 in the Seattle neighborhood of Capitol Hill. Democratic Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said the unrest was “instigated and perpetuated by white men.” The Seattle Police Department withdrew from the East Precinct building June 8, paving the way for demonstrators to declare the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) June 11.
I want to acknowledge that much of the violence and destruction, both here in Seattle and across the country, has been instigated and perpetuated by white men. — Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) May 31, 2020
Durkan told CNN host Chris Cuomo in an interview June 11 that the CHAZ had “more like a block party atmosphere” and likened it to the “summer of love.” A resident living in the area told the Daily Caller in an interview June 13 that he heard “gunshots every single night.” Four shootings were reported between June 20 and June 29 with two people killed and four injured.
WATCH:
Mostly peaceful demonstrations in Portland in early June led to escalating civil unrest throughout the month. The Portland Business Alliance estimated that riots and violence in Portland by late June had cost small businesses $23.2 million and the Portland Police Department lost $6.2 million in related costs.
We are trying to help Portland, not hurt it. Their leadership has, for months, lost control of the anarchists and agitators. They are missing in action. We must protect Federal property, AND OUR PEOPLE. These were not merely protesters, these are the real deal! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2020
July
Durkan ordered the Capitol Hill neighborhood to be cleared out July 1 and CHAZ was officially brought to an end.
Rioters in Portland reportedly lit fires inside a police union building and swarmed the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse in the first week of July as unrest in the city escalated.
Democratic Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler initially told the Trump administration that he did “not need or want their help,” according to Oregon Public Broadcasting. Federal officers arrived anyways in order to protect federal property and engaged with rioters over the next week with tear gas and other riot dispersion tactics.
Democratic Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden downplayed the risk of violence and instead turned attention to the Trump administration, stating that federal officers were “acting like an occupying army” in a tweet July 12.
The consequences of Donald Trump unilaterally dispatching fed’l law enforcement into U.S. cities played out in Portland w/a peaceful protester shot in the head. Trump & Homeland Security must now answer why fed’l officers are acting like an occupying army https://t.co/tnLz0nddGw — Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) July 12, 2020
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi referred to federal officers as “stormtroopers” and accused them of “kidnapping protesters” in a tweet July 17. Pelosi also downplayed the riots by claiming that federal involvement was “in response to graffiti.”
Unidentified stormtroopers. Unmarked cars. Kidnapping protesters and causing severe injuries in response to graffiti. These are not the actions of a democratic republic.@DHSgov’s actions in Portland undermine its mission. Trump & his stormtroopers must be stopped. — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) July 18, 2020
Democratic New York Rep. Jerry Nadler minimized the violence in Portland and told political commentator Austen Fletcher that antifa violence was a myth in a video released July 27. (RELATED: ‘That’s A Myth’: Democrats Downplay The Violence In Portland)
WATCH:
Democratic Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal minimized the riots during a CNN appearance July 29 where she referred to the riots as “some protesters at some building in Portland.”
WATCH:
Police data compiled by The Oregonian found that 15 people had been killed in Portland in July, with a total of 24 people killed since the demonstrations kicked off in the city in late May and early June.
August
Hundreds of people rioted and looted stores in Chicago between August 9 and August 10 after a man was reportedly shot by police. (RELATED: Police In Some Riot-Torn Cities Won’t Say How They’ll Protect In-Person Voters In November)
Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot refused federal assistance and said she would not allow “Donald Trump’s troops” to “terrorize our residents.”
More than 100 people were arrested and 13 officers were injured in Chicago during multiple days of rioting. Lightfoot later changed her tune and defended banning protests near her residence, telling reporters she had a right to make sure her “home is secure” during a press conference August 20.
A wave of unrest in Seattle led to six police officers injured and 18 people arrested as demonstrators hurled explosives at law enforcement outside a police building August 18. Rioters reportedly tried to seal off the East Precinct building and light a fire outside August 24, according to the Seattle Police Officers Guild.
The Trump administration negotiated a withdrawal of federal troops in Portland by late August but the violence continued in the city even after federal forces pulled back. 15 riots were declared in the month of August according to the Portland Police Department.
Wheeler repeatedly said “no thanks” to recurring offers from the Trump administration to send federal officers back into Portland, KGW8 reported. The mayor also blamed the president for inciting violence and told him to “stay away” one day before a Trump supporter was shot and killed August 29.
Today, I sent this letter via email to @realDonaldTrump declining his recurring offer to aid Portland by sending federal enforcement to the city. https://t.co/W85EDfriyk pic.twitter.com/CC1IWTp5k8 — Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) August 28, 2020
Kenosha experienced riots and fires August 24 after footage emerged of a police officer shooting Jacob Blake seven times in the back August 23. A resident cleaning up after the riots called the city a “complete war zone” after businesses were looted and a number of buildings were destroyed.
September
Seattle continued to see unrest as members of a crowd threw Molotov cocktails at the East Precinct building September 1.
Rioters in Kenosha damaged more than 100 buildings, 40 of which were destroyed, and caused up to $50 million in damage through September 2, according to ABC 7. Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers told Trump not to come to the city and accused him of creating “divisiveness” in a letter. (RELATED: Kenosha Riots Have Destroyed $2 Million In City-Owned Property)
Michael Forest Reinoehl, a self-identified Antifa supporter, was identified as a suspect in the fatal shooting of Trump supporter Aaron Danielson in Portland August 29. He told Vice in an interview set to air September 3 that he “had no choice.” Reinoehl was later killed during a shootout with federal forces that same day.


thedailycaller--2020-09-05--Trump Holds Tele-Rally For North Carolina, Says Biden Is A ‘Puppet’ Of ‘Radical Left-Wing’

President Donald Trump held a tele-rally Friday night with supporters in North Carolina as the state begins mailing out ballots for the November election .
Trump urged voters to “ make sure [ their ] vote counts ” by signing and mailing their ballots “ as early as possible.
” He suggested voters go to their local polling place on Nov. 3 to see whether or not their mail in ballot had been counted .
He said doing this will be a test to determine whether the state ’ s mail in ballot system is working properly .
( RELATED @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sends Out Absentee Ballots ) “ I ’ ve been very suspicious of this whole situation , I don ’ t like it , and a lot of people don ’ t like it , ” he said .
His comments come days after he encouraged voters in North Carolina voters to vote twice to ensure their ballots were counted , according to NBC .
“ So let them send it in and let them go vote , and if their system ’ s as good as they say it is , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote .
If it isn ’ t tabulated , they ’ ll be able to vote , ” Trump said Wednesday .
He doubled down on his position Thursday , tweeting a similar message .
It appears his comments were an effort to encourage people to make sure their votes were counted , not to elicit double voting , which is illegal .
The President took a swipe at his opponent , Democratic nominee Joe Biden , saying Biden “ wants to surrender…your nation to the radical left wing mob.
” Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ Socialist , Marxist , cop-hating extremists , ” promising North Carolinians he would “ bring rioters , looters and extremists to justice ” unlike his opponent .
Biden called Portland and Washington D.C. protesters “ peaceful ” and criticized the President for sending in the Department of Homeland Security , according to USA Today .
However , Biden has also called out violence , condemning Saturday ’ s riot in Portland in which one man was fatally shot , according to Reuters .
Trump went on to say Democrats are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is “ weak ” and will bow down to the mob .
He claimed Biden is beholden to ANTIFA , saying “ this election is about safety , ” telling voters “ I ’ ll always defend law abiding citizens , Biden won ’ t…he doesn ’ t even know what defend means .
”

President Donald Trump held a tele-rally Friday night with supporters in North Carolina as the state begins mailing out ballots for the November election.
Trump urged voters to “make sure [their] vote counts” by signing and mailing their ballots “as early as possible.” He suggested voters go to their local polling place on Nov. 3 to see whether or not their mail in ballot had been counted. He said doing this will be a test to determine whether the state’s mail in ballot system is working properly. (RELATED: Mail Voting Begins As North Carolina Sends Out Absentee Ballots)
“I’ve been very suspicious of this whole situation, I don’t like it, and a lot of people don’t like it,” he said.
His comments come days after he encouraged voters in North Carolina voters to vote twice to ensure their ballots were counted, according to NBC.
“So let them send it in and let them go vote, and if their system’s as good as they say it is, then obviously they won’t be able to vote. If it isn’t tabulated, they’ll be able to vote,” Trump said Wednesday.
He doubled down on his position Thursday, tweeting a similar message.
Based on the massive number of Unsolicited & Solicited Ballots that will be sent to potential Voters for the upcoming 2020 Election, & in order for you to MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE COUNTS & IS COUNTED, SIGN & MAIL IN your Ballot as EARLY as possible. On Election Day, or Early Voting,.. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2020
It appears his comments were an effort to encourage people to make sure their votes were counted, not to elicit double voting, which is illegal.
The President took a swipe at his opponent, Democratic nominee Joe Biden, saying Biden “wants to surrender…your nation to the radical left wing mob.”
Trump said Biden is a “puppet” of “Socialist, Marxist, cop-hating extremists,” promising North Carolinians he would “bring rioters, looters and extremists to justice” unlike his opponent.
“Biden spent months calling violent mobs peaceful protests,” the President said.
Biden called Portland and Washington D.C. protesters “peaceful” and criticized the President for sending in the Department of Homeland Security, according to USA Today.
However, Biden has also called out violence, condemning Saturday’s riot in Portland in which one man was fatally shot, according to Reuters.
Trump went on to say Democrats are the “American nightmare,” claiming Biden is “weak” and will bow down to the mob. He claimed Biden is beholden to ANTIFA, saying “this election is about safety,” telling voters “I’ll always defend law abiding citizens, Biden won’t…he doesn’t even know what defend means.”


thedailycaller--2020-09-04--‘AARP Works Against Its Members’: AARP Overcharges Members While Reporting Billion-Dollar Revenues,

‘AARP Works Against Its Members’: AARP Overcharges Members While Reporting Billion-Dollar Revenues, Report Says

• Although AARP is a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) non-profit organization , it has been consistently racking in large profits .
• AARP ’ s 4.95 % fee that it charges members who enroll in Medigap policies has resulted in a House investigation and lawsuits .
• The Affordable Care Act awarded Medigap policies a series of favorable exemptions from key provisions in the bill .
AARP finances its operations by overcharging members for health care policies and through its billion-dollar relationship with UnitedHealth Group , according to a new public policy report .
Despite its “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profits have been increasing for years largely due to the organization ’ s practices of marketing of products and services , the report .
The report , published by public policy think tank American Commitment , mainly examined AARP ’ s source of revenue since the passage of The Affordable Care Act in 2010 .
“ AARP works against its members in many respects , ” Chris Jacobs , founder of consulting and analytics firm Juniper Research Group and author of the report , told The Daily Caller News Foundation .
He continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marketing empire that they use for compensation for their executives and their staff.
” AARP reported $ 1.6 billion of revenue and $ 246.4 million of profit in 2018 , the most recent year in which data was available , according to Jacobs ’ report .
That means AARP reported a surplus of 13.4 % .
Membership dues were just 18 % of AARP ’ s revenue in 2018 and since 2000 have increasingly made up a smaller portion of revenues , according to Jacobs .
More than half of the organization ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % , derived from “ royalty fees , ” which are payments for the use of its brand .
“ Royalty fees are more than three times larger than membership fees , ” Jacobs said .
In the past four years , AARP has been sued three times by its own members over its royalty fee policy , which they argued was deceptive , according to court filings .
However , AARP ultimately won each of the cases .
The Daily Caller News Foundation contacted the AARP multiple times seeking comment for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The biggest contributor to the AARP royalty fee revenue comes from health insurance giant UnitedHealth Group , the American Commitment report said .
One of the drivers of AARP ’ s revenue growth has been UnitedHealth .
AARP received $ 283.7 million from UnitedHealth in 2007 , accounting for 57 % of its royalty fee income , according to the report .
In 2017 , the most recent year this data was available , that number had risen to $ 627.2 million or 69 % of royalty fee income .
The income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ double the amount it received from membership dues , according to Jacobs .
While membership dues accounted for 18.3 % of total income , UnitedHealth revenue accounted for 38.2 % .
The organization offers three AARP-branded health care plans to its members via its marketplace : Medicare Advantage , Medicare Part D and Medigap , according to the report .
UnitedHealth , which is the main insurance provider on the marketplace , pays a royalty fee to AARP since it is using its brand to sell these health plans .
While UnitedHealth pays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ability to sell Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D to AARP members , it charges a 4.95 % fee to every member that purchases Medigap coverage , according to Jacobs .
That royalty , which has been in place since at least 1997 , has been the subject of a congressional investigation and multiple lawsuits .
Members enrolled in Medicare Advantage and Part D pay premiums directly to UnitedHealth who then pays the flat royalty fee to AARP , whereas members with Medigap coverage pay AARP who takes a percentage and gives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jacobs .
“ That 4.95 % ‘ royalty fee ’ represents a sizable share of premium dollars paid , ” the report said .
It continued : “ To put the figure into perspective , it exceeds the 2018 profit margins of five major health insurers ( Anthem , Centene , Humana , WellCare , and Molina ) , and approaches the profit margins of the other two ( UnitedHealthGroup and Cigna ) .
” Further , AARP takes the revenue that it receives from members with Medigap insurance and makes interest on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the report .
Jacobs laid out an example in which a member had a $ 100 premium and $ 5 royalty fee .
“ They will get $ 105 from the senior on the first of the month , but they may not pay UnitedHealth the $ 100 until the 20th of the month , ” Jacobs said .
“ They make interest and they make money on that money.
” The 4.95 % fee has faced scrutiny because it represents an upcharge on premiums , which directly affects members who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marketplace , according to Jacobs .
U.S. District Court of Washington D.C. Judge Beryl Howell ruled in favor of AARP in May dismissing the plaintiffs ’ class action lawsuit .
The plaintiffs , led by AARP member Helen Krukas , argued that the organization misrepresented its Medigap royalty fee structure , according to Forbes .
The plaintiffs specifically argued that AARP was “ micromanaging the sale of Medigap and therefore [ the 4.95 % fee ] is not really a royalty fee for its intellectual property .
They are a salesman .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxable , ” Jacobs said .
Howell originally rejected AARP ’ s motion to dismiss the case in March 2019 giving credence to Krukas ’ argument .
Krukas “ sufficiently and plausibly alleged that the defendants engaged in unfair trade practices…by materially misrepresenting information about the 4.95 % charge , ” Howell wrote .
But , in May Howell ruled that Krukas ’ argument misses the mark .
She said Krukas failed to prove that AARP has a fiduciary relationship with its members .
Similarly , U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action lawsuits , Forbes reported .
Pregerson ruled against plaintiff Simon Levay in November 2018 and against Jerald Friedman in November 2019 .
The second dismissal came after the three-judge panel Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the plaintiffs .
The panel ruled that AARP “ transacts ” and “ solicits ” insurance without a license and engaged in fraud by calling the 4.95 % commission a “ royalty , ” according to Forbes .
Pregerson didn ’ t agree , however , saying the plaintiffs failed to prove they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the House Ways and Means Committee investigated AARP in 2011 .
The investigation pointed out several potential issues with AARP ’ s structure including its royalty fee practices and concluded with a series of suggestions for the Internal Revenue Service to consider .
“ As this report has shown , AARP may be in violation of a number of the requirements imposed on organizations operating under a federal tax exemption , ” the committee ’ s report said .
It continued : “ In particular , one might question whether AARP is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and general welfare given the fact that AARP has become increasingly dependent on hundreds of millions of dollars in royalty revenue from insurance companies.
” The requirements of AARP as a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) organization are that it must operate to promote the common good , must be organized as a non-profit , may engage in political activity as long as it ’ s not the organization ’ s main activity and may engage in legislative lobbying to further its social welfare purposes , according to the committee ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long history of spending a large amount of money lobbying a variety of legislation on Capitol Hill , according to the U.S. Senate lobbying database .
For example the non-profit organization has spent about $ 4 million in 2020 so far , according to its first and second quarter lobbying reports .
“ My favorite issue that they were lobbying on was the cost of an annual fee , each annual passes to the national parks , ” Jacobs said of past lobbying reports .
“ They were lobbying on anything and everything.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ just use its profits for large executive payouts , but for lobbying many “ liberal causes.
” AARP was particularly active during the ACA debate in 2009 and 2010 , according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics .
The ACA , which passed in 2010 , was very favorable to the AARP , according to Jacobs ’ report .
AARP lobbied for the ACA , according to its first , second , third and fourth quarter lobbying reports from 2010 .
“ Medigap insurance received a host of exemptions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One exemption in the ACA saved UnitedHealth and therefore AARP $ 14 billion in taxes on Medigap , according to the report .
This exemption was repealed in 2019 .
The ACA also exempted Medigap from the medical loss ratio provision , according to Jacobs .
That provision forces insurance companies to spend a minimum of 80 % of income made from premiums on health care , according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services .
Rather , the ACA lowered the ratio for Medigap policies to 65 % meaning AARP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its income from such policies on administrative costs like executive salaries and marketing , according to the report .
Finally , the 2010 health care bill exempted Medigap policies from “ rate review , ” according to Jacobs .
“ Rate review ” requires insurance companies to publicly explain premium rate hikes of 15 % or more , according to HealthCare.gov .
“ AARP infamously endorsed Obamacare notwithstanding the vocal objections of their members , the overwhelming objections of their members , ” Jacobs said .
“ AARP works against its members in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

Although AARP is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, it has been consistently racking in large profits.
AARP’s 4.95% fee that it charges members who enroll in Medigap policies has resulted in a House investigation and lawsuits.
The Affordable Care Act awarded Medigap policies a series of favorable exemptions from key provisions in the bill.
AARP finances its operations by overcharging members for health care policies and through its billion-dollar relationship with UnitedHealth Group, according to a new public policy report.
Despite its “non-profit” status, AARP’s profits have been increasing for years largely due to the organization’s practices of marketing of products and services, the report. The report, published by public policy think tank American Commitment, mainly examined AARP’s source of revenue since the passage of The Affordable Care Act in 2010.
“AARP works against its members in many respects,” Chris Jacobs, founder of consulting and analytics firm Juniper Research Group and author of the report, told The Daily Caller News Foundation.
He continued: “They’ve built a marketing empire that they use for compensation for their executives and their staff.”
AARP reported $1.6 billion of revenue and $246.4 million of profit in 2018, the most recent year in which data was available, according to Jacobs’ report. That means AARP reported a surplus of 13.4%.
Membership dues were just 18% of AARP’s revenue in 2018 and since 2000 have increasingly made up a smaller portion of revenues, according to Jacobs. More than half of the organization’s 2018 revenue, or roughly 57%, derived from “royalty fees,” which are payments for the use of its brand.
“Royalty fees are more than three times larger than membership fees,” Jacobs said.
In the past four years, AARP has been sued three times by its own members over its royalty fee policy, which they argued was deceptive, according to court filings. However, AARP ultimately won each of the cases.
The Daily Caller News Foundation contacted the AARP multiple times seeking comment for this article, but the organization never responded.
UnitedHealth Group
The biggest contributor to the AARP royalty fee revenue comes from health insurance giant UnitedHealth Group, the American Commitment report said. One of the drivers of AARP’s revenue growth has been UnitedHealth.
AARP received $283.7 million from UnitedHealth in 2007, accounting for 57% of its royalty fee income, according to the report. In 2017, the most recent year this data was available, that number had risen to $627.2 million or 69% of royalty fee income.
The income AARP received from UnitedHealth in 2017 was double the amount it received from membership dues, according to Jacobs. While membership dues accounted for 18.3% of total income, UnitedHealth revenue accounted for 38.2%.
The organization offers three AARP-branded health care plans to its members via its marketplace: Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D and Medigap, according to the report. UnitedHealth, which is the main insurance provider on the marketplace, pays a royalty fee to AARP since it is using its brand to sell these health plans.
While UnitedHealth pays a flat royalty fee to AARP for the ability to sell Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D to AARP members, it charges a 4.95% fee to every member that purchases Medigap coverage, according to Jacobs. That royalty, which has been in place since at least 1997, has been the subject of a congressional investigation and multiple lawsuits.
Members enrolled in Medicare Advantage and Part D pay premiums directly to UnitedHealth who then pays the flat royalty fee to AARP, whereas members with Medigap coverage pay AARP who takes a percentage and gives the rest to UnitedHealth, according to Jacobs.
“That 4.95% ‘royalty fee’ represents a sizable share of premium dollars paid,” the report said.
It continued: “To put the figure into perspective, it exceeds the 2018 profit margins of five major health insurers (Anthem, Centene, Humana, WellCare, and Molina), and approaches the profit margins of the other two (UnitedHealthGroup and Cigna).”
Further, AARP takes the revenue that it receives from members with Medigap insurance and makes interest on it before giving it to UnitedHealth, according to the report. Jacobs laid out an example in which a member had a $100 premium and $5 royalty fee.
“They will get $105 from the senior on the first of the month, but they may not pay UnitedHealth the $100 until the 20th of the month,” Jacobs said. “They make interest and they make money on that money.”
The 4.95% fee has faced scrutiny because it represents an upcharge on premiums, which directly affects members who enroll in Medigap coverage through the AARP marketplace, according to Jacobs.
U.S. District Court of Washington D.C. Judge Beryl Howell ruled in favor of AARP in May dismissing the plaintiffs’ class action lawsuit. The plaintiffs, led by AARP member Helen Krukas, argued that the organization misrepresented its Medigap royalty fee structure, according to Forbes.
The plaintiffs specifically argued that AARP was “micromanaging the sale of Medigap and therefore [the 4.95% fee] is not really a royalty fee for its intellectual property. They are a salesman. This is a commission and it’s taxable,” Jacobs said.
Howell originally rejected AARP’s motion to dismiss the case in March 2019 giving credence to Krukas’ argument. Krukas “sufficiently and plausibly alleged that the defendants engaged in unfair trade practices…by materially misrepresenting information about the 4.95% charge,” Howell wrote.
But, in May Howell ruled that Krukas’ argument misses the mark. She said Krukas failed to prove that AARP has a fiduciary relationship with its members.
Similarly, U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson of Los Angeles dismissed two separate AARP class action lawsuits, Forbes reported. Pregerson ruled against plaintiff Simon Levay in November 2018 and against Jerald Friedman in November 2019.
The second dismissal came after the three-judge panel Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. The panel ruled that AARP “transacts” and “solicits” insurance without a license and engaged in fraud by calling the 4.95% commission a “royalty,” according to Forbes.
Pregerson didn’t agree, however, saying the plaintiffs failed to prove they suffered economic harm, Forbes reported
Further, the House Ways and Means Committee investigated AARP in 2011. The investigation pointed out several potential issues with AARP’s structure including its royalty fee practices and concluded with a series of suggestions for the Internal Revenue Service to consider.
“As this report has shown, AARP may be in violation of a number of the requirements imposed on organizations operating under a federal tax exemption,” the committee’s report said.
It continued: “In particular, one might question whether AARP is primarily operating to promote the common good and general welfare given the fact that AARP has become increasingly dependent on hundreds of millions of dollars in royalty revenue from insurance companies.”
The requirements of AARP as a 501(c)(4) organization are that it must operate to promote the common good, must be organized as a non-profit, may engage in political activity as long as it’s not the organization’s main activity and may engage in legislative lobbying to further its social welfare purposes, according to the committee’s report.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA)
The AARP has a long history of spending a large amount of money lobbying a variety of legislation on Capitol Hill, according to the U.S. Senate lobbying database. For example the non-profit organization has spent about $4 million in 2020 so far, according to its first and second quarter lobbying reports.
“My favorite issue that they were lobbying on was the cost of an annual fee, each annual passes to the national parks,” Jacobs said of past lobbying reports. “They were lobbying on anything and everything.”
Jacobs said AARP doesn’t just use its profits for large executive payouts, but for lobbying many “liberal causes.”
AARP was particularly active during the ACA debate in 2009 and 2010, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. The ACA, which passed in 2010, was very favorable to the AARP, according to Jacobs’ report.
AARP lobbied for the ACA, according to its first, second, third and fourth quarter lobbying reports from 2010.
“Medigap insurance received a host of exemptions in the law,” the report said.
One exemption in the ACA saved UnitedHealth and therefore AARP $14 billion in taxes on Medigap, according to the report. This exemption was repealed in 2019.
The ACA also exempted Medigap from the medical loss ratio provision, according to Jacobs. That provision forces insurance companies to spend a minimum of 80% of income made from premiums on health care, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Rather, the ACA lowered the ratio for Medigap policies to 65% meaning AARP is able to spend 35% of its income from such policies on administrative costs like executive salaries and marketing, according to the report.
Finally, the 2010 health care bill exempted Medigap policies from “rate review,” according to Jacobs. “Rate review” requires insurance companies to publicly explain premium rate hikes of 15% or more, according to HealthCare.gov.
“AARP infamously endorsed Obamacare notwithstanding the vocal objections of their members, the overwhelming objections of their members,” Jacobs said. “AARP works against its members in many respects.”
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--2020-09-04--In Reversal, Trump Says Funding For Stars And Stripes Newspaper Will Continue

President Donald Trump said in a tweet Friday that his administration will not be cutting funding to ‘ Stars and Stripes , ’ the military newspaper that published its first issue in 1861 , according to USA Today .
This comes after a publicized memo hit the presses stating that the Pentagon requested the paper to have a plan to stop publication by September 15 and dissolve by January according to The Hill .
( Related : REPORT : Pentagon To Shut Down Military News Service ‘ Stars And Stripes ’ ) Trump said in a tweet Friday afternoon that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cutting off funding to @ stars and stripes .
” “ The United States of America will NOT be cutting funding to @ starsandstripes magazine under my watch .
It will continue to be a wonderful source of information to our Great Military !
” The initial plan to cut the longtime publication drew bipartisan scrutiny on Capitol Hill , per the Hill report .
“ We urge you to take steps to preserve the funding prerogatives of Congress before allowing any such disruption to take place , ” Senators wrote to Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by The Hill “ Stars and Stripes is an essential part of our nation ’ s freedom of the press that serves the very population charged with defending that freedom .
”

President Donald Trump said in a tweet Friday that his administration will not be cutting funding to ‘Stars and Stripes,’ the military newspaper that published its first issue in 1861, according to USA Today.
This comes after a publicized memo hit the presses stating that the Pentagon requested the paper to have a plan to stop publication by September 15 and dissolve by January according to The Hill. (Related:REPORT: Pentagon To Shut Down Military News Service ‘Stars And Stripes’)
Trump said in a tweet Friday afternoon that the “United States will not be cutting off funding to @stars and stripes. ”
“The United States of America will NOT be cutting funding to @starsandstripes magazine under my watch. It will continue to be a wonderful source of information to our Great Military!”
The United States of America will NOT be cutting funding to @starsandstripes magazine under my watch. It will continue to be a wonderful source of information to our Great Military! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2020
The initial plan to cut the longtime publication drew bipartisan scrutiny on Capitol Hill, per the Hill report.
“We urge you to take steps to preserve the funding prerogatives of Congress before allowing any such disruption to take place,” Senators wrote to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, and reported by The Hill “Stars and Stripes is an essential part of our nation’s freedom of the press that serves the very population charged with defending that freedom.”


thedailycaller--2020-09-04--Trump Says US Could Have Coronavirus Vaccine By October

The United States could have a working coronavirus vaccine by October , President Donald Trump said at a Friday press conference .
Trump and his administration have long said that the U.S. is likely to develop a vaccine and begin mass producing it by the end of the year .
“ Operation Warp Speed ” aims at achieving this by partnering the public and private sectors .
Trump announced at the end of July that two U.S. vaccines were entering phase 3 trials , which involves testing on typically tens of thousands of individuals .
“ We remain on track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the year , and maybe even before November 1st , ” Trump said .
“ We think we could probably have it sometime during the month of October.
” Trump argued that the U.S. is “ rounding the corner ” on coronavirus , with the nation down to a weekly average of 40,500 cases per day , compared to 60,000 at the beginning of August , according to the Washington Times .
The U.S. has suffered 187,000 coronavirus deaths as of Friday , with an average of just over 1,000 additional Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FDA ’ s ‘ Warp Speed ’ Guidance Says Coronavirus Vaccine Must Prove 50 % More Effective Than Placebo Before Hitting Market ) Trump also made a point of saying the country ’ s numbers would look better if New York ’ s 33,000 deaths weren ’ t counted .

The United States could have a working coronavirus vaccine by October, President Donald Trump said at a Friday press conference.
Trump and his administration have long said that the U.S. is likely to develop a vaccine and begin mass producing it by the end of the year. “Operation Warp Speed” aims at achieving this by partnering the public and private sectors. Trump announced at the end of July that two U.S. vaccines were entering phase 3 trials, which involves testing on typically tens of thousands of individuals.
“We remain on track to deliver a vaccine before the end of the year, and maybe even before November 1st,” Trump said. “We think we could probably have it sometime during the month of October.”
Trump argued that the U.S. is “rounding the corner” on coronavirus, with the nation down to a weekly average of 40,500 cases per day, compared to 60,000 at the beginning of August, according to the Washington Times.
The U.S. has suffered 187,000 coronavirus deaths as of Friday, with an average of just over 1,000 additional Americans dying each day. (RELATED: FDA’s ‘Warp Speed’ Guidance Says Coronavirus Vaccine Must Prove 50% More Effective Than Placebo Before Hitting Market)
Trump also made a point of saying the country’s numbers would look better if New York’s 33,000 deaths weren’t counted.