thedailycaller--2020-12-24--FACT CHECK: Did Joe Biden Nominate Charlotte Clymer For Secretary Of Education?

An image shared on Facebook claims President-elect Joe Biden nominated writer and activist Charlotte Clymer to serve as the U.S. secretary of education .
Biden announced Connecticut Education Commissioner Dr. Miguel Cardona as his education secretary nominee .
There is no indication he ever chose Clymer for the position .
Featured in the post is an image of Clymer , an Army veteran and LGBTQ rights advocate , speaking with Biden .
Text above the image reads in part , “ Meet Biden ’ s pick for U.S. Secretary of Education , Charlotte Clymer.
” ( RELATED : Did Betsy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of Kids Are Likely To Die Once They Return To School ? )
There is no record of Biden ever announcing Clymer as his pick to lead the Department of Education .
Had he done so , there would be multiple media reports about it , yet none exist .
Biden formally announced Dec. 23 that Cardona , not Clymer , was his nominee for education secretary , according to CNN While it is unclear where exactly the rumor originated , Clymer addressed it in a Dec. 15 tweet .
She appeared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that may have caused further confusion , according to The Sun .
In a subsequent tweet , she seemed to hint that her initial tweet was meant to be a joke by listing her lack of experience in the education field .
“ It ’ s true , ” Clymer appeared to sarcastically tweet .
“ I have zero years teaching in public schools , no experience in education policy , and I ’ ve never worked at a federal agency , but I am proud be the next Secretary of Education .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dream I ’ ve had for the last 30 minutes.
” Cardona , Biden ’ s actual pick for the position , was appointed to the Connecticut education commission role in August 2019 , according to his biography on the Connecticut State Department of Education website .
He had come to the Connecticut State Department with two decades of experience as a public school educator in Meriden , Connecticut .
“ With Dr. Miguel Cardona leading the way , we ’ re going to ensure every student in this country receives a high-quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
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 [ email protected ] .

An image shared on Facebook claims President-elect Joe Biden nominated writer and activist Charlotte Clymer to serve as the U.S. secretary of education.
Verdict: False
Biden announced Connecticut Education Commissioner Dr. Miguel Cardona as his education secretary nominee. There is no indication he ever chose Clymer for the position.
Fact Check:
Featured in the post is an image of Clymer, an Army veteran and LGBTQ rights advocate, speaking with Biden. Text above the image reads in part, “Meet Biden’s pick for U.S. Secretary of Education, Charlotte Clymer.” (RELATED: Did Betsy Devos Say ‘Only’ 0.02 Percent Of Kids Are Likely To Die Once They Return To School?)
There is no record of Biden ever announcing Clymer as his pick to lead the Department of Education. Had he done so, there would be multiple media reports about it, yet none exist. Biden formally announced Dec. 23 that Cardona, not Clymer, was his nominee for education secretary, according to CNN
While it is unclear where exactly the rumor originated, Clymer addressed it in a Dec. 15 tweet. She appeared to satirically confirm the nomination, a move that may have caused further confusion, according to The Sun. In a subsequent tweet, she seemed to hint that her initial tweet was meant to be a joke by listing her lack of experience in the education field.
It’s true. I have zero years teaching in public schools, no experience in education policy, and I’ve never worked at a federal agency, but I am proud be the next Secretary of Education. It’s the culmination of a dream I’ve had for the last 30 minutes. https://t.co/zKwpTRHZmO — Charlotte Clymer ???????? (@cmclymer) December 16, 2020
“It’s true,” Clymer appeared to sarcastically tweet. “I have zero years teaching in public schools, no experience in education policy, and I’ve never worked at a federal agency, but I am proud be the next Secretary of Education. It’s the culmination of a dream I’ve had for the last 30 minutes.”
Cardona, Biden’s actual pick for the position, was appointed to the Connecticut education commission role in August 2019, according to his biography on the Connecticut State Department of Education website. He had come to the Connecticut State Department with two decades of experience as a public school educator in Meriden, Connecticut.
“With Dr. Miguel Cardona leading the way, we’re going to ensure every student in this country receives a high-quality education,” Biden tweeted on Wednesday.
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 [email protected].


thedailycaller--2020-12-24--Trump Says Things Are ‘Under Control’ After Latest US Government Hack. Just How Bad Is It?

The U.S. government was hit by one of the largest cyberattacks on record after cybersecurity firm FireEye and software company SolarWinds — both of which work with government agencies and major corporations — announced earlier this month their systems had been compromised .
Top government officials like Attorney General William Barr and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said earlier this week that the hack was a cyber espionage operation most likely conducted by Russia .
But President Donald Trump downplayed the threat assessment and said the media was blowing the incident out of proportion .
“ The Cyber Hack is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than in actuality , ” the president tweeted Dec. 19 .
“ I have been fully briefed and everything is well under control.
” Trump also hinted that China could have been responsible for the cyberattack .
But the intelligence community and independent cybersecurity experts say that hackers used a digital tool kit most similar to Russian operations , according to The Wall Street Journal .
“ This is a much bigger story than one single agency , ” a person familiar with the matter reportedly told Reuters .
“ This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government and its interests.
” ( RELATED : Alleged Russian Hackers Got Into Arizona County Government ) SolarWinds said in a Dec. 20 statement that hackers compromised their Orion Platform software through a “ supply chain attack , ” where malicious code is added to legitimate software updates .
The attack is still being investigated but reports indicate that the operation occurred for nearly nine months before being noticed earlier this month .
Email correspondence from the Treasury , Commerce and Homeland Security Departments were reportedly monitored and possibly stolen by the hackers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Intel , Nvidia , Belkin and VMware were also affected by malware according to The Verge .
Trump ’ s former homeland security adviser Tom Bossert argued that the cyberattack and the U.S. response was an unmitigated disaster .
“ The magnitude of this national security breach is hard to overstate , ” he wrote in a New York Times op-ed .
It is still unknown exactly what the hackers acquired and how sensitive that information is .
Sergio Caltagirone , the vice president of threat intelligence at the cybersecurity company Dragos , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack makes the threat more severe .
“ The issue is we don ’ t know how big this is , and at the same time it could be the biggest ever , ” he told NBC News .
“ Most organizations still lack the basic visibility to even assess whether they were compromised or not.
” SolarWinds released an update of its software days after the hack was initially reported , but Cyber Threat Alliance chief analytic officer Neil Jenkins said that closing off all points of entry into the network would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly operating for nine months .
“ As soon as you get into a network , you ’ re going to set up other potential back doors and ways to get in , in case the original way you got in closed , ” he told NBC News .
“ So just because you closed the SolarWinds intrusion doesn ’ t mean you ’ ve solved the problem.
” Cybersecurity experts also expressed alarm over the sophistication of the attack .
SolarWinds noted in a statement that the hack was “ narrow , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as opposed to the broader and system-wide attacks typically used by hackers .
Some experts noted that the malware used was sophisticated beyond what current security systems can protect against , questioning if the U.S. was prepared for a future attack .
“ This is classic espionage , ” said Johns Hopkins professor Thomas Rid told The Washington Post .
“ It ’ s done in a highly sophisticated way .
But this is a stealthy operation.
” Defending against similar cyberattacks will require a new approach to systems security engineering , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fellow Ron Ross .
He noted in a Monday interview with Defense News Network that federal security systems need to be updated in order to respond to the “ supply chain attack ” used by the hackers .
Cybersecurity experts say the hack could take years to fully sort out , according to Business Insider .
President-elect Joe Biden ’ s incoming administration would likely have to deal with its effects on government agencies .
“ It is a grave risk and it continues .
I see no evidence that it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attack in a speech Tuesday .
He also floated retaliatory sanctions against Russia , according to Bloomberg .

The U.S. government was hit by one of the largest cyberattacks on record after cybersecurity firm FireEye and software company SolarWinds — both of which work with government agencies and major corporations — announced earlier this month their systems had been compromised.
Top government officials like Attorney General William Barr and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said earlier this week that the hack was a cyber espionage operation most likely conducted by Russia.
But President Donald Trump downplayed the threat assessment and said the media was blowing the incident out of proportion. “The Cyber Hack is far greater in the Fake News Media than in actuality,” the president tweeted Dec. 19. “I have been fully briefed and everything is well under control.”
….discussing the possibility that it may be China (it may!). There could also have been a hit on our ridiculous voting machines during the election, which is now obvious that I won big, making it an even more corrupted embarrassment for the USA. @DNI_Ratcliffe @SecPompeo — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2020
Trump also hinted that China could have been responsible for the cyberattack. But the intelligence community and independent cybersecurity experts say that hackers used a digital tool kit most similar to Russian operations, according to The Wall Street Journal.
“This is a much bigger story than one single agency,” a person familiar with the matter reportedly told Reuters. “This is a huge cyber espionage campaign targeting the U.S. government and its interests.” (RELATED: Alleged Russian Hackers Got Into Arizona County Government)
SolarWinds said in a Dec. 20 statement that hackers compromised their Orion Platform software through a “supply chain attack,” where malicious code is added to legitimate software updates. The attack is still being investigated but reports indicate that the operation occurred for nearly nine months before being noticed earlier this month.
Email correspondence from the Treasury, Commerce and Homeland Security Departments were reportedly monitored and possibly stolen by the hackers. Big tech companies like Cisco, Intel, Nvidia, Belkin and VMware were also affected by malware according to The Verge.
Trump’s former homeland security adviser Tom Bossert argued that the cyberattack and the U.S. response was an unmitigated disaster. “The magnitude of this national security breach is hard to overstate,” he wrote in a New York Times op-ed. It is still unknown exactly what the hackers acquired and how sensitive that information is.
Sergio Caltagirone, the vice president of threat intelligence at the cybersecurity company Dragos, said a lack of information about the attack makes the threat more severe. “The issue is we don’t know how big this is, and at the same time it could be the biggest ever,” he told NBC News. “Most organizations still lack the basic visibility to even assess whether they were compromised or not.”
SolarWinds released an update of its software days after the hack was initially reported, but Cyber Threat Alliance chief analytic officer Neil Jenkins said that closing off all points of entry into the network would be difficult given that the hackers were reportedly operating for nine months.
SolarWinds asks all customers to upgrade immediately to Orion Platform version 2020.2.1 HF 1 to address a security vulnerability. More information is available at https://t.co/scsUhZJCk8 — SolarWinds (@solarwinds) December 14, 2020
“As soon as you get into a network, you’re going to set up other potential back doors and ways to get in, in case the original way you got in closed,” he told NBC News. “So just because you closed the SolarWinds intrusion doesn’t mean you’ve solved the problem.”
Cybersecurity experts also expressed alarm over the sophistication of the attack. SolarWinds noted in a statement that the hack was “narrow, extremely targeted, and manually executed” as opposed to the broader and system-wide attacks typically used by hackers.
Some experts noted that the malware used was sophisticated beyond what current security systems can protect against, questioning if the U.S. was prepared for a future attack. “This is classic espionage,” said Johns Hopkins professor Thomas Rid told The Washington Post. “It’s done in a highly sophisticated way. But this is a stealthy operation.”
Defending against similar cyberattacks will require a new approach to systems security engineering, according to National Institute of Standards and Technology Fellow Ron Ross. He noted in a Monday interview with Defense News Network that federal security systems need to be updated in order to respond to the “supply chain attack” used by the hackers.
Cybersecurity experts say the hack could take years to fully sort out, according to Business Insider. President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming administration would likely have to deal with its effects on government agencies.
“It is a grave risk and it continues. I see no evidence that it’s under control,” Biden said of the attack in a speech Tuesday. He also floated retaliatory sanctions against Russia, according to Bloomberg.


thedailycaller--2020-12-24--‘Gym Owners Are Feeling Left Out’: California Yoga Studio Owner On Small Businesses During Lockdowns

The Daily Caller ’ s Jorge Ventura spoke to Krissy Harb , owner of Spiritual Heart Yoga Center in Los Angeles to discuss the struggles she , along with other fitness facilities , are facing in the wake of ongoing lockdowns .
The shoe bench that was once home to dozens of pairs of shoes sits empty as California banned most indoor businesses .
“ The yoga studio means so much to our community .
We come , we connect to ourselves and it ’ s a really sacred space , ” Harb said .
( RELATED : Restaurant Owner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like many business owners , Harb spent thousands of dollars to bring her yoga studio up to state health guidelines , but she was once again forced to shut down .
“ Gym owners are feeling left out , ” she added , noting that gyms are forced to keep business outdoors .
“ We have been left out in the dust.
” In Southern California , intensive care unit bed capacity reached 0 % , according to a report from the Los Angeles Times .
Hospitals in the area are running out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of nurses and doctors , according to the report .
Check out more videos from the Daily Caller : California Councilman Keeps His Restaurant Serving Outdoors Despite Ban NYC Restaurant Gets A $ 100k Donation From Barstool Sports After Cuomo Shut Down Indoor Dining How Would You Describe 2020 In 3 Words

The Daily Caller’s Jorge Ventura spoke to Krissy Harb, owner of Spiritual Heart Yoga Center in Los Angeles to discuss the struggles she, along with other fitness facilities, are facing in the wake of ongoing lockdowns.
The shoe bench that was once home to dozens of pairs of shoes sits empty as California banned most indoor businesses.
WATCH:
“The yoga studio means so much to our community. We come, we connect to ourselves and it’s a really sacred space,” Harb said. (RELATED: Restaurant Owner Sues Gavin Newsom Over COVID-19 Lockdowns)
Like many business owners, Harb spent thousands of dollars to bring her yoga studio up to state health guidelines, but she was once again forced to shut down.
“Gym owners are feeling left out,” she added, noting that gyms are forced to keep business outdoors. “We have been left out in the dust.”
In Southern California, intensive care unit bed capacity reached 0%, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times. Hospitals in the area are running out of capacity and are facing a shortage of nurses and doctors, according to the report.
Check out more videos from the Daily Caller:
California Councilman Keeps His Restaurant Serving Outdoors Despite Ban
NYC Restaurant Gets A $100k Donation From Barstool Sports After Cuomo Shut Down Indoor Dining
How Would You Describe 2020 In 3 Words


thedailycaller--2020-12-24--Melania Wows In Gorgeous Black And White Polka Dot Dress For Holiday Trip To Florida

Melania Trump definitely got everyone ’ s attention Wednesday when she stepped out in a gorgeous polka dot dress during a trip to Florida for the holidays .
The first lady looked just as stunning as ever in the sleeveless black and white number that went down past her knees as she joined President Donald Trump exiting Air Force One after it touched down at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach .
( RELATED : Melania Stuns In Pale-Pink Dress At Reception During UN General Assembly [ PHOTOS ] ) She completed the terrific look with loose hair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she looked perfect would be a serious understatement .
Earlier in the day , FLOTUS was spotted wearing a jaw-dropping black jacket with thigh-high black boots as she was leaving the White House ahead of the trip .
( RELATED : Celebrate Ivanka Trump ’ s Birthday With Her Greatest Looks [ SLIDESHOW ] ) The first lady and the president traveled to Florida to spend a 10-day holiday visit at his Mar-a-Lago resort during the Christmas break .
FLOTUS ’ fashion sense is always on point as has been noted numerous times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when she stepped out in a black tuxedo for the 2020 Congressional Ball held at the White House .
Check out some of her other unforgettable looks throughout the years here .

Melania Trump definitely got everyone’s attention Wednesday when she stepped out in a gorgeous polka dot dress during a trip to Florida for the holidays.
The first lady looked just as stunning as ever in the sleeveless black and white number that went down past her knees as she joined President Donald Trump exiting Air Force One after it touched down at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach. (RELATED: Melania Stuns In Pale-Pink Dress At Reception During UN General Assembly [PHOTOS])
She completed the terrific look with loose hair and white high heels. To say she looked perfect would be a serious understatement.
Earlier in the day, FLOTUS was spotted wearing a jaw-dropping black jacket with thigh-high black boots as she was leaving the White House ahead of the trip. (RELATED: Celebrate Ivanka Trump’s Birthday With Her Greatest Looks [SLIDESHOW])
The first lady and the president traveled to Florida to spend a 10-day holiday visit at his Mar-a-Lago resort during the Christmas break.
FLOTUS’ fashion sense is always on point as has been noted numerous times before. Most recently, she stunned when she stepped out in a black tuxedo for the 2020 Congressional Ball held at the White House.
Last night, President Trump and First Lady Melania attended the 2020 Congressional Ball.@FLOTUS is stunning in a Dior suit and Giorgio Armani blouse ❤????❤#FashionoftheFirstLady pic.twitter.com/Gyd3KAIruQ — FLOTUS Report (@MELANIAJTRUMP) December 11, 2020
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Melania Trump (@elegant_melania)
Check out some of her other unforgettable looks throughout the years here.


thedailycaller--2020-12-24--President Trump Pardons Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, Jared Kushner’s Dad In Second Pardon Spree

President Donald Trump pardoned Paul Manafort , Charles Kushner and 24 others in a pre-Christmas spree Wednesday evening .
The group is the second batch of pardons Trump has made in as many day .
In total , he granted 39 full pardons and 8 sentence commutations .
Kushner , the father of Trump ’ s son-in-law Jared Kushner , was convicted of tax fraud in 2004 , among other crimes .
He has already completed his sentence .
Manafort was convicted on charges uncovered by Special Counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Trump-Russia investigation in 2018 .
( RELATED : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day As Attorney General ) “ As a result of blatant prosecutorial overreach , Mr. Manafort has endured years of unfair treatment and is one of the most prominent victims of what has been revealed to be perhaps the greatest witch hunt in American history .
As Mr. Manafort ’ s trial judge observed , prior to the Special Counsel investigation , Mr. Manafort led an otherwise blameless life , ” the White House said in a statement .
Manafort thanked Trump for the pardon on Twitter .
“ Since completing his sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devoted to important philanthropic organizations and causes , such as Saint Barnabas Medical Center and United Cerebral Palsy .
This record of reform and charity overshadows Mr. Kushner ’ s conviction and 2 year sentence , ” the White House said of Kushner .
While Manafort is still serving his sentence , he had been transferred to home confinement due to COVID-19 complications in May .
Trump also made the extra step of granting a full pardon to Roger Stone , who was convicted of lying to the FBI in relation to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stone ’ s sentence in July , but the full pardon will expunge the conviction from Stone ’ s criminal record .
Trump on Tuesday granted pardons to 15 people and commuted the sentences of five others .
The notable pardons included George Papadopoulos , a convict from the Trump-Russia investigation ; four former Blackwater military contractors , and former GOP Reps. Chris Collins and Duncan Hunter , Trump allies who were convicted on fraud charges during the Trump administration .

President Donald Trump pardoned Paul Manafort, Charles Kushner and 24 others in a pre-Christmas spree Wednesday evening.
The group is the second batch of pardons Trump has made in as many day. In total, he granted 39 full pardons and 8 sentence commutations. Kushner, the father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, was convicted of tax fraud in 2004, among other crimes. He has already completed his sentence. Manafort was convicted on charges uncovered by Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Trump-Russia investigation in 2018. (RELATED: Bill Barr Delivers Farewell Message On Final Day As Attorney General)
“As a result of blatant prosecutorial overreach, Mr. Manafort has endured years of unfair treatment and is one of the most prominent victims of what has been revealed to be perhaps the greatest witch hunt in American history. As Mr. Manafort’s trial judge observed, prior to the Special Counsel investigation, Mr. Manafort led an otherwise blameless life,” the White House said in a statement.
Manafort thanked Trump for the pardon on Twitter.
Mr. President, my family & I humbly thank you for the Presidential Pardon you bestowed on me. Words cannot fully convey how grateful we are. — Paul Manafort (@PaulManafort) December 24, 2020
“Since completing his sentence in 2006, Mr. Kushner has been devoted to important philanthropic organizations and causes, such as Saint Barnabas Medical Center and United Cerebral Palsy. This record of reform and charity overshadows Mr. Kushner’s conviction and 2 year sentence,” the White House said of Kushner.
While Manafort is still serving his sentence, he had been transferred to home confinement due to COVID-19 complications in May.
Trump also made the extra step of granting a full pardon to Roger Stone, who was convicted of lying to the FBI in relation to the Trump-Russia investigation. Trump had previously commuted Stone’s sentence in July, but the full pardon will expunge the conviction from Stone’s criminal record.
Trump on Tuesday granted pardons to 15 people and commuted the sentences of five others. The notable pardons included George Papadopoulos, a convict from the Trump-Russia investigation; four former Blackwater military contractors, and former GOP Reps. Chris Collins and Duncan Hunter, Trump allies who were convicted on fraud charges during the Trump administration.


thedailycaller--2020-12-24--Sometimes Octopuses Punch Fish Out Of Spite, Scientists Say

Octopuses and fish might work together to pursue prey in partnerships where they might not always get along , and when they don ’ t get along , the octopuses might punch their fish partners , new research suggests .
For several decades , researchers have documented temporary hunting alliances between octopuses and coral reef fish of different species , scientists Eduardo Sampaio , Martim Costa Seco , Rui Rosa , and Simon Gingins reported in their study published in the journal Ecology .
( RELATED : Hungarian Scientists Accidentally Create New Type Of Fish ) On some occasions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with different species searching for prey in distinct areas .
Octopuses look for prey darting about rocks and into a reef ’ s tight spaces , and bottom-feeder fish scour the seafloor , while other fish species patrol the water column , the study explained .
But , according to the study , as the researchers diving in Eilat , Israel , and El Quseir , Egypt , discovered , the partnerships don ’ t always end well for the fish — the octopuses might suddenly punch their supposed partners .
Sampaio , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded this behavior , which in the study he and his colleagues describe as a single-armed “ swift , explosive motion ” targeted at a fish .
“ I laughed out loud , and almost choked on my own regulator , ” lead researcher Sampaio told Live Science , recollecting his first time witnessing the phenomena .
The punching can serve different purposes , according to the study .
Octopuses might sometimes punch one of their partners to displace it to such a degree that the fish loses its prey , as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the study says , the punching could be a mere display of “ spiteful behavior.
” Though octopuses have been understood to defensively punch when attacked by damselfishes or in fights over food , this study is the first time the punching has been described and tied to collaborative hunting scientifically , Live Science reported .

Octopuses and fish might work together to pursue prey in partnerships where they might not always get along, and when they don’t get along, the octopuses might punch their fish partners, new research suggests.
For several decades, researchers have documented temporary hunting alliances between octopuses and coral reef fish of different species, scientists Eduardo Sampaio, Martim Costa Seco, Rui Rosa, and Simon Gingins reported in their study published in the journal Ecology. (RELATED: Hungarian Scientists Accidentally Create New Type Of Fish)
On some occasions, this collaboration lasts beyond an hour, with different species searching for prey in distinct areas. Octopuses look for prey darting about rocks and into a reef’s tight spaces, and bottom-feeder fish scour the seafloor, while other fish species patrol the water column, the study explained.
But, according to the study, as the researchers diving in Eilat, Israel, and El Quseir, Egypt, discovered, the partnerships don’t always end well for the fish — the octopuses might suddenly punch their supposed partners.
Sampaio, one of the researchers, has even recorded this behavior, which in the study he and his colleagues describe as a single-armed “swift, explosive motion” targeted at a fish.
Octopuses punch fishes. YES. OCTOPUSES. PUNCH. FISHES!!
Our new paper is out on @ESAEcology, showing that octos express this behavior during collaborative hunting with other fishes. This was probably the most fun I had writing a paper. Ever! (small ????)https://t.co/Vwg9BoaSUo pic.twitter.com/PIYuVXpM9t — Eduardo Sampaio (@OctoEduardo) December 18, 2020
“I laughed out loud, and almost choked on my own regulator,” lead researcher Sampaio told Live Science, recollecting his first time witnessing the phenomena.
The punching can serve different purposes, according to the study. Octopuses might sometimes punch one of their partners to displace it to such a degree that the fish loses its prey, as a form of partner-control mechanism. Alternatively, the study says, the punching could be a mere display of “spiteful behavior.”
Though octopuses have been understood to defensively punch when attacked by damselfishes or in fights over food, this study is the first time the punching has been described and tied to collaborative hunting scientifically, Live Science reported.


thedailycaller--2020-12-24--REPORT: COVID-19 Patient Beats Roommate To Death For Praying

A California COVID-19 patient is accused of beating another patient to death with an oxygen tank , authorities said .
Jesse Martinez , 37 , who was being treated at Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster for the virus , reportedly became upset last Thursday morning when his 82-year-old hospital roommate , a Catholic Latino man , started to pray , according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department , KTLA reported .
Martinez then hit the victim with an oxygen tank , and the man later died of his injuries the following morning .
( RELATED : Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A New Record ) Police said the two men reportedly did not know each other before the incident , according to KTLA .
Lt. Brandon Dean , a spokesman with the Sheriff ’ s Department , said hospital staff detained Martinez after the incident and he was arrested at the scene , the outlet reported .
The 37-year-old was charged with murder , an enhancement for elder abuse , and a religion-motivated hate crime , authorities said , according to KTLA .
Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris said in a statement obtained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shocked and saddened ” by the news .
“ These families were already experiencing a hardship and now this — it ’ s senseless , ” he said , according to the outlet .
Martinez ’ s bail is set at $ 1 million and he ’ s scheduled to appear in court Monday , KTLA reported .

A California COVID-19 patient is accused of beating another patient to death with an oxygen tank, authorities said.
Jesse Martinez, 37, who was being treated at Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster for the virus, reportedly became upset last Thursday morning when his 82-year-old hospital roommate, a Catholic Latino man, started to pray, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, KTLA reported. Martinez then hit the victim with an oxygen tank, and the man later died of his injuries the following morning. (RELATED: Daily US COVID Deaths Reach Over 3,000 — A New Record)
Police said the two men reportedly did not know each other before the incident, according to KTLA.
Lt. Brandon Dean, a spokesman with the Sheriff’s Department, said hospital staff detained Martinez after the incident and he was arrested at the scene, the outlet reported. The 37-year-old was charged with murder, an enhancement for elder abuse, and a religion-motivated hate crime, authorities said, according to KTLA.
Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris said in a statement obtained by the LA Times that he was “shocked and saddened” by the news.
“These families were already experiencing a hardship and now this — it’s senseless,” he said, according to the outlet.
Martinez’s bail is set at $1 million and he’s scheduled to appear in court Monday, KTLA reported.


thedailycaller--2020-12-24--Trump Calls For Special Counsel To Investigate Election Fraud

President Donald Trump said in a Wednesday evening tweet that a special counsel is needed to investigate the “ corrupt ” November presidential election .
“ After seeing the massive Voter Fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election , I disagree with anyone that thinks a strong , fast , and fair Special Counsel is not needed , IMMEDIATELY , ” Trump tweeted .
“ This was the most corrupt election in the history of our Country , and it must be closely examined !
” Trump has so far refused to concede the election to President-elect Joe Biden and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ rigged ” with widespread voter fraud in key swing states .
After a White House meeting Friday in which potentially appointing attorney Sidney Powell to such a post was discussed , the president reportedly told Powell he would not appoint her to the position .
( RELATED : Karl Rove Blasts Powell , Flynn : ‘ The President Has Been So Ill-Served By This Crowd ’ ) Attorney General Bill Barr on Monday stated that he had no plans to appoint a special counsel either to investigate Hunter Biden ’ s business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud .
Barr ’ s replacement , Jeffrey Rosen , has not yet specified whether he would appoint a special counsel , but he told Reuters in an interview that he would make such decisions “ on the basis of the law and the facts .
”

President Donald Trump said in a Wednesday evening tweet that a special counsel is needed to investigate the “corrupt” November presidential election.
“After seeing the massive Voter Fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election, I disagree with anyone that thinks a strong, fast, and fair Special Counsel is not needed, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump tweeted. “This was the most corrupt election in the history of our Country, and it must be closely examined!”
After seeing the massive Voter Fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election, I disagree with anyone that thinks a strong, fast, and fair Special Counsel is not needed, IMMEDIATELY. This was the most corrupt election in the history of our Country, and it must be closely examined! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2020
Trump has so far refused to concede the election to President-elect Joe Biden and has continued to insist that the election was “rigged” with widespread voter fraud in key swing states.
After a White House meeting Friday in which potentially appointing attorney Sidney Powell to such a post was discussed, the president reportedly told Powell he would not appoint her to the position. (RELATED: Karl Rove Blasts Powell, Flynn: ‘The President Has Been So Ill-Served By This Crowd’)
Attorney General Bill Barr on Monday stated that he had no plans to appoint a special counsel either to investigate Hunter Biden’s business dealings or to look into potential election fraud.
Barr’s replacement, Jeffrey Rosen, has not yet specified whether he would appoint a special counsel, but he told Reuters in an interview that he would make such decisions “on the basis of the law and the facts.”


thedailycaller--2020-12-23--‘Open Or Go Bankrupt’: Gym Re-Opens In Defiance Of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s Partial Lockdown

A gym in Clarks Summit , Pennsylvania , has joined a long list of businesses that have chosen to either remain open , or re-open in defiance of Democratic Gov .
Tom Wolf ’ s three-week ban on indoor dining and gatherings , The Times Tribune reported .
Browns Gym re-opened on Monday in defiance of Gov .
Wolf ’ s latest partial three week lockdown , The Times Tribune reported .
As part of the partial lockdown , gyms and fitness centers are prohibited from remaining open , while restaurants and bars are prohibited from continuing indoor dining .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect from Dec. 12 until Jan 4 .
Jim Brown , the owner and founder of Browns Gym explained in an interview with the Daily Caller that , “ Both times we were told to shutdown , we did what we were told to do.
” “ We ’ ve tried to follow everything that the governor has told us to do , ” Brown said .
“ We ’ ve followed all of the CDC standards that they ’ ve wanted us to do , we ’ ve followed all of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they told us to do that.
” Prior to the governors Dec. 10 announcement , gyms and fitness centers had been allowed to resume indoor operations as long as they ensured that patrons were socially distanced and wearing masks during workouts .
“ They still shut us down again the second time , even though we followed everything , ” Brown added .
Brown explained that after he and his wife had talks with their bank , landlord and state representatives , they made the difficult decision to re-open their gym .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us withhold payments for a couple of months , if we needed to , ” he told the Caller .
“ The landlord is in a situation where he can ’ t help at all , ” Brown continued .
“ He ’ s in the same s**t mess as the rest of us are , he ’ s in a tough spot.
” Many business owners across the nation are in a similar spot .
Many have been faced with having to either permanently or temporarily close their doors , are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are finding themselves behind on bills , and unable to pay their rent .
( RELATED : New Jersey Gym Owner Fined $ 1.2 Million For Defying COVID-19 Lockdowns Vows Not To Pay ) “ By Monday afternoon we realized that there ’ s no help coming , and we ’ re on our own and we ’ re closed , ” Brown explained .
“ The landlord expects full payment on Jan. 1 , and there ’ s rent increases in it.
” “ Our only answer is to open or go @ @ @

A gym in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, has joined a long list of businesses that have chosen to either remain open, or re-open in defiance of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s three-week ban on indoor dining and gatherings, The Times Tribune reported.
Browns Gym re-opened on Monday in defiance of Gov. Wolf’s latest partial three week lockdown, The Times Tribune reported. As part of the partial lockdown, gyms and fitness centers are prohibited from remaining open, while restaurants and bars are prohibited from continuing indoor dining. The governor’s lockdown is in effect from Dec. 12 until Jan 4.
A Clarks Summit gym reopened Monday in defiance of Gov. Tom Wolf’s Dec. 10 partial lock down order that closed fitness centers and placed restrictions on several other types of businesses effective Dec. 12 to Jan. 4. https://t.co/niVpEkNTA7 — The Times-Tribune (@timestribune) December 21, 2020
Jim Brown, the owner and founder of Browns Gym explained in an interview with the Daily Caller that, “Both times we were told to shutdown, we did what we were told to do.”
“We’ve tried to follow everything that the governor has told us to do,” Brown said. “We’ve followed all of the CDC standards that they’ve wanted us to do, we’ve followed all of the guidelines for masking up our customers when they told us to do that.”
Prior to the governors Dec. 10 announcement, gyms and fitness centers had been allowed to resume indoor operations as long as they ensured that patrons were socially distanced and wearing masks during workouts.
“They still shut us down again the second time, even though we followed everything,” Brown added.
Brown explained that after he and his wife had talks with their bank, landlord and state representatives, they made the difficult decision to re-open their gym.
“The bank was more pliable on helping us withhold payments for a couple of months, if we needed to,” he told the Caller. “The landlord is in a situation where he can’t help at all,” Brown continued.
“He’s in the same s**t mess as the rest of us are, he’s in a tough spot.”
Many business owners across the nation are in a similar spot. Many have been faced with having to either permanently or temporarily close their doors, are also faced with navigating the unknown. Many are finding themselves behind on bills, and unable to pay their rent. (RELATED: New Jersey Gym Owner Fined $1.2 Million For Defying COVID-19 Lockdowns Vows Not To Pay)
“By Monday afternoon we realized that there’s no help coming, and we’re on our own and we’re closed,” Brown explained. “The landlord expects full payment on Jan. 1, and there’s rent increases in it.”
“Our only answer is to open or go bankrupt.”


thedailycaller--2020-12-23--Personal Defense During The Holidays

Personal Defense During The Holidays

Here we are , once again , entering the Holiday Season—the most stressful time of the year for most folks—in a year like no other year any of us has ever experienced or expected .
What that means for folks like us is that we ’ ve got to really increase our awareness and keep personal defense in the forefront of our minds at all times .
We know that robberies and home invasions increase during these last days of the year .
But you also have to realize that ordinarily good folks are getting awfully stressed out .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustrations get the best of them .
They ’ ll do stupid things .
And they will do things that place other ’ s lives in danger .
We can begin by recognizing that we , too , can become overly frustrated and angered .
Talking with the family about finding ways to avoid stress is a really good place to start .
Often , just supporting each other is a good way to keep that stress level within bounds .
And we can also make a concerted effort to remain polite and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When a person loses his temper , he has also weakened his defense level .
The holidays are also a good time to review the personal defense plan , especially the need for being aware of what is going on around us .
We also need to make sure that we are communicating regularly with other family members and that we know each other ’ s location at all times .
When another family member is especially stressed or not feeling well , we need to be there to pick up the slack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
And this is also not the time to let your pistol practice wane .
Yep , I know that ammunition is difficult to come by but that just means that you need to increase the time you spend in dry practice .
Practicing the basics—draw stroke , flash sight picture , trigger press—can also still be honed during dry practice .
And you might want to do it while wearing that heavy coat and winter gloves that you ’ ll be wearing when you go out .
Getting serious about our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense plan does not have to hamper our enjoyment of the holidays .
Once these principles become ingrained in our everyday lives , we can enjoy ourselves and still be careful .
You say you haven ’ t gotten around to developing a personal defense plan and discussing it with your family ?
Well , now is an awfully good time to start it .
You can ’ t avoid being a target , but you can decide if you are going to be an easy target or a hard target .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due bounds .
Make it a point to put a smile on your face at the same time that your head is on a swivel .
Focus on your family and the other stuff that really matters and you ’ ll likely get through these trying times successfully .
Thanks to Shooting Illustrated for this post .
Click here to visit ShootingIllustrated.com .

By Sheriff Jim Wilson, Shooting Illustrated
Here we are, once again, entering the Holiday Season—the most stressful time of the year for most folks—in a year like no other year any of us has ever experienced or expected. What that means for folks like us is that we’ve got to really increase our awareness and keep personal defense in the forefront of our minds at all times.
We know that robberies and home invasions increase during these last days of the year. But you also have to realize that ordinarily good folks are getting awfully stressed out. They’ll be letting their anger and frustrations get the best of them. They’ll do stupid things. And they will do things that place other’s lives in danger.
We can begin by recognizing that we, too, can become overly frustrated and angered. Talking with the family about finding ways to avoid stress is a really good place to start. Often, just supporting each other is a good way to keep that stress level within bounds. And we can also make a concerted effort to remain polite and courteous to everyone, strangers included. When a person loses his temper, he has also weakened his defense level.
The holidays are also a good time to review the personal defense plan, especially the need for being aware of what is going on around us. We also need to make sure that we are communicating regularly with other family members and that we know each other’s location at all times. When another family member is especially stressed or not feeling well, we need to be there to pick up the slack, carry some of their load for them.
And this is also not the time to let your pistol practice wane. Yep, I know that ammunition is difficult to come by but that just means that you need to increase the time you spend in dry practice. Practicing the basics—draw stroke, flash sight picture, trigger press—can also still be honed during dry practice. And you might want to do it while wearing that heavy coat and winter gloves that you’ll be wearing when you go out.
Getting serious about our personal defense and having a solid personal defense plan does not have to hamper our enjoyment of the holidays. Once these principles become ingrained in our everyday lives, we can enjoy ourselves and still be careful. You say you haven’t gotten around to developing a personal defense plan and discussing it with your family? Well, now is an awfully good time to start it.
You can’t avoid being a target, but you can decide if you are going to be an easy target or a hard target.
So find ways to keep the stress within due bounds. Make it a point to put a smile on your face at the same time that your head is on a swivel. Focus on your family and the other stuff that really matters and you’ll likely get through these trying times successfully.
Thanks to Shooting Illustrated for this post. Click here to visit ShootingIllustrated.com.


thedailycaller--2020-12-23--FACT CHECK: Did A Prague Newspaper Publish An Article Calling Joe Biden Supporters Fools?

An image shared on Facebook purportedly shows a translated excerpt from a Prague newspaper article calling supporters of President-elect Joe Biden a “ multitude of fools.
” Check Your Fact didn ’ t find any evidence a Prague newspaper actually published the quote about Biden .
Versions of the text targeting other politicians have been circulating online for years .
The image , which appears to show a screen grab of another Facebook post , purportedly shares a passage that was originally published in a Prague newspaper and later translated to English .
The passage insists , in part , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not Joseph Biden , but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency ” and goes on to criticize the electorate .
“ The Republic can survive a Biden , who is , after all , merely a fool , ” the excerpt reads .
“ It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools , such as those who made him their president.
” ( RELATED : Did AARP Endorse Joe Biden For President ? )
Check Your Fact didn ’ t find any evidence the passage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newspaper .
An internet search showed that the lengthy quote has been circulating for at least eight years with different political figures as the subject .
For example , Snopes reported in 2012 that the authorship of the article was falsely attributed to Václav Klaus , the president of the Czech Republic from 2003 to 2013 , and that his subject was Obama , not Biden .
Other figures targeted by the alleged article include former South African President Jacob Zuma and former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key .
Some iterations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zeitung , a newspaper based in the Czech Republic .
A search of the newspaper ’ s website , however , shows no instances of the newspaper publishing the disparaging comments about either Obama or Biden .
The editor in chief of Prager Zeitung , Marcus Hundt , told Reuters that the Czech outlet “ never published such an article ” about Obama or Biden .
He further added that Prager Zeitung “ primarily reports on events in the Czech Republic and Europe and not on domestic affairs in other counties ( sic @ @ @

An image shared on Facebook purportedly shows a translated excerpt from a Prague newspaper article calling supporters of President-elect Joe Biden a “multitude of fools.”
Verdict: False
Check Your Fact didn’t find any evidence a Prague newspaper actually published the quote about Biden. Versions of the text targeting other politicians have been circulating online for years.
Fact Check:
The image, which appears to show a screen grab of another Facebook post, purportedly shares a passage that was originally published in a Prague newspaper and later translated to English. The passage insists, in part, that the “danger to America is not Joseph Biden, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency” and goes on to criticize the electorate.
“The Republic can survive a Biden, who is, after all, merely a fool,” the excerpt reads. “It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who made him their president.” (RELATED: Did AARP Endorse Joe Biden For President?)
Check Your Fact didn’t find any evidence the passage about Biden actually comes from a Prague newspaper. An internet search showed that the lengthy quote has been circulating for at least eight years with different political figures as the subject.
For example, Snopes reported in 2012 that the authorship of the article was falsely attributed to Václav Klaus, the president of the Czech Republic from 2003 to 2013, and that his subject was Obama, not Biden. Other figures targeted by the alleged article include former South African President Jacob Zuma and former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.
Some iterations of the claim attribute the excerpt to Prager Zeitung, a newspaper based in the Czech Republic. A search of the newspaper’s website, however, shows no instances of the newspaper publishing the disparaging comments about either Obama or Biden.
The editor in chief of Prager Zeitung, Marcus Hundt, told Reuters that the Czech outlet “never published such an article” about Obama or Biden. He further added that Prager Zeitung “primarily reports on events in the Czech Republic and Europe and not on domestic affairs in other counties (sic).”


thedailycaller--2020-12-23--New Scientific Study Finds Potentially Harmful Microplastics In Placentas

A new study published this month has discovered microplastics in the placenta of pregnant women , prompting scientists to suggest the matter posed harmful health risks .
The study , published in the January 2021 edition of Environmental International , found small particles of plastic in placentas for at least four healthy pregnant women that were small enough to be transported into the bloodstream , according to Fox 10 Phoenix .
Researches found at least 12 microplastic fragments in the fetal and maternal sides of the placenta that had a spherical or irregular shape , as reported by Fox 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ size .
“ Due to the crucial role of placenta in supporting the fetus development … the presence of exogenous and potentially harmful ( plastic ) particles is a matter of great concern , ” the article said in its conclusion .
The article also said that the microparticles could “ alter several cellular regulating pathways ” and could lead to “ adverse pregnancy outcomes ” such as “ preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction.
” ( RELATED : World Health Organization Pledges Not To Find ‘ Guilty ’ Party During Coronavirus Investigation In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exactly how the microplastics were absorbed into the bloodstream , according to Fox 10 , but it was possible that they had been consumed or breathed in by the mother .
Only four percent of the placentas were analyzed , according to Fox 10 , which could suggest that the total number of microplastics could be significantly higher than reported .
Scientists also warned that the microplastics could trigger immune reactions , as reported by Fox 10 , and act as carriers for other chemicals and could lead to more harmful effects .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen scientists in Italy from five different hospitals across the country .

A new study published this month has discovered microplastics in the placenta of pregnant women, prompting scientists to suggest the matter posed harmful health risks.
The study, published in the January 2021 edition of Environmental International, found small particles of plastic in placentas for at least four healthy pregnant women that were small enough to be transported into the bloodstream, according to Fox 10 Phoenix.
Researches found at least 12 microplastic fragments in the fetal and maternal sides of the placenta that had a spherical or irregular shape, as reported by Fox 10, and were about 10 microns in size.
Microplastics found in placentas of pregnant women for first time https://t.co/UgFqqOuOkx — The Independent (@Independent) December 22, 2020
“Due to the crucial role of placenta in supporting the fetus development … the presence of exogenous and potentially harmful (plastic) particles is a matter of great concern,” the article said in its conclusion.
The article also said that the microparticles could “alter several cellular regulating pathways” and could lead to “adverse pregnancy outcomes” such as “preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction.” (RELATED: World Health Organization Pledges Not To Find ‘Guilty’ Party During Coronavirus Investigation In China)
The scientists could not determine exactly how the microplastics were absorbed into the bloodstream, according to Fox 10, but it was possible that they had been consumed or breathed in by the mother.
Only four percent of the placentas were analyzed, according to Fox 10, which could suggest that the total number of microplastics could be significantly higher than reported.
Scientists also warned that the microplastics could trigger immune reactions, as reported by Fox 10, and act as carriers for other chemicals and could lead to more harmful effects.
The study was conducted by over a dozen scientists in Italy from five different hospitals across the country.


thedailycaller--2020-12-23--CDC Says More Than A Million Americans Have Been Vaccinated For COVID-19

More than a million Americans have received the first round of vaccinations for the coronavirus as of Wednesday at 9 a.m. , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) announced .
Over nine million coronavirus doses have been distributed and 1,008,025 doses have been administered , according to the CDC ’ s COVID Data Tracker .
States , territories , five federal agencies and local public health agencies started submitting the number of people getting their first doses of the vaccine on Dec. 14 , the CDC said .
The number of allocated doses and the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ current data available as of 9:00 a.m .
ET on the day of reporting , ” according to the CDC .
The numbers include vaccines from Pfizer and BioNTech as well as Moderna , the CDC said .
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) granted emergency authorization approval use for Moderna ’ s vaccine on Friday .
The FDA ’ s approval of the Moderna vaccine made the U.S. the first country to give approval to two safe and effective vaccines to fight the coronavirus .
The FDA ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favor to recommend the emergency use authorization for Moderna ’ s vaccine , which permitted it ’ s approval and nationwide distribution .
( RELATED : Moderna Vaccine On The Way Following FDA Approval , Officials Say ) Video footage showed the first shipment of Pfizer ’ s vaccine leaving it ’ s manufacturing plant in Michigan on Dec. 13 .
The FDA granted emergency authorization for Pfizer ’ s vaccine after a key panel overwhelmingly endorsed the vaccine ’ s safety .
Experts project the U.S. will have an increase in coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3,000 coronavirus deaths per day in the U.S. , The Hill reported .
It ’ s expected that the U.S. will hit the worst phase of the pandemic since it started and officials said despite the vaccines being distributed , Americans should still adhere to health measures .
The CDC didn ’ t immediately respond to a request for comment .
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 , @ @ @ @ @ @

More than a million Americans have received the first round of vaccinations for the coronavirus as of Wednesday at 9 a.m., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced.
Over nine million coronavirus doses have been distributed and 1,008,025 doses have been administered, according to the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker.
States, territories, five federal agencies and local public health agencies started submitting the number of people getting their first doses of the vaccine on Dec. 14, the CDC said. The number of allocated doses and the number of people getting vaccinated are based on “current data available as of 9:00 a.m. ET on the day of reporting,” according to the CDC.
Nearly 9.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines distributed, 1 million administered – U.S. CDC https://t.co/nwAjPtMrQ8 pic.twitter.com/S4aaNYZtUs — Reuters (@Reuters) December 23, 2020
The numbers include vaccines from Pfizer and BioNTech as well as Moderna, the CDC said. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency authorization approval use for Moderna’s vaccine on Friday.
The FDA’s approval of the Moderna vaccine made the U.S. the first country to give approval to two safe and effective vaccines to fight the coronavirus. The FDA’s key advisory panel unanimously voted in favor to recommend the emergency use authorization for Moderna’s vaccine, which permitted it’s approval and nationwide distribution. (RELATED: Moderna Vaccine On The Way Following FDA Approval, Officials Say)
Video footage showed the first shipment of Pfizer’s vaccine leaving it’s manufacturing plant in Michigan on Dec. 13. The FDA granted emergency authorization for Pfizer’s vaccine after a key panel overwhelmingly endorsed the vaccine’s safety.
Experts project the U.S. will have an increase in coronavirus cases after Christmas and there have been 3,000 coronavirus deaths per day in the U.S., The Hill reported. It’s expected that the U.S. will hit the worst phase of the pandemic since it started and officials said despite the vaccines being distributed, Americans should still adhere to health measures.
The CDC didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
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--2020-12-23--REPORT: Amazon Driver Steals Packages While On Delivery Route

A Missouri delivery driver for Amazon has reportedly been accused of stealing packages while on her route .
Probable cause statements from O ’ Fallon , Wentzville , and St. Charles County police identify Alyssa George as the suspect , according to the Miami Herald .
George and another delivery driver were allegedly stealing packages that had already been delivered on a Southland Parcel delivery route .
( RELATED : Sen. Susan Collins Found A Number Of Body Bags On Porch Of DC Home ) Police reportedly received camera footage showing a passenger in an Enterprise truck stealing packages in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After asking the public for help , police received messages identifying the person in the footage as George .
Another employee for Amazon showed a picture to police from earlier in the day showing George arriving to work in the same sweatshirt as the woman in the footage .
George was “ uncooperative ” when officers tried contacting her by showing up to her work and her home , according to the Miami Herald .
Around 20 packages were allegedly stolen by George and her coworker throughout the two days .
The items @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lights , a Webber Grill accessory kit , and pants .
George has reportedly been charged with stealing , however , her coworker has yet to be charged .

A Missouri delivery driver for Amazon has reportedly been accused of stealing packages while on her route.
Probable cause statements from O’Fallon, Wentzville, and St. Charles County police identify Alyssa George as the suspect, according to the Miami Herald.
Porch pirate hit several Missouri towns — while delivering packages for Amazon, cops say https://t.co/sLMQaVCeJf — The Kansas City Star (@KCStar) December 23, 2020
George and another delivery driver were allegedly stealing packages that had already been delivered on a Southland Parcel delivery route. (RELATED: Sen. Susan Collins Found A Number Of Body Bags On Porch Of DC Home)
Police reportedly received camera footage showing a passenger in an Enterprise truck stealing packages in O’Fallon and Dardenne Prairie.
After asking the public for help, police received messages identifying the person in the footage as George.
Another employee for Amazon showed a picture to police from earlier in the day showing George arriving to work in the same sweatshirt as the woman in the footage.
George was “uncooperative” when officers tried contacting her by showing up to her work and her home, according to the Miami Herald.
Around 20 packages were allegedly stolen by George and her coworker throughout the two days. The items reportedly stolen include an Instapot, Christmas lights, a Webber Grill accessory kit, and pants.
George has reportedly been charged with stealing, however, her coworker has yet to be charged.


thedailycaller--2020-12-23--Daryl Morey Thought He Might ‘Never Work In The NBA Again’ After Tweet Criticizing China

Former Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey thought he “ might never work in the NBA again ” after he tweeted support of protests in Hong Kong .
Morey , who now holds the President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia 76ers , shared the concerns he had after the infamous tweet in an interview published Wednesday by ESPN .
“ In the last 12 months , I had moments where I thought I might never work in the NBA again , for reasons I was willing to go down for , ” Morey told ESPN .
“ But I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do , and I didn ’ t want that to happen.
” ( RELATED : REPORT : Daryl Morey To Sign 5-Year Deal President Of Basketball Operations For Philadelphia 76ers ) On Oct. 18 , 2019 , Morey tweeted “ fight for freedom , Stand with Hong Kong.
” The tweet was later deleted .
At the time , NBA star LeBron James accused Morey of being uninformed at the time the general manager made the comment , but Morey stood firm that he knew what he was doing , ESPN reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what I did , ” he told the outlet .
Morey claimed his family did experience threats following his tweet .
“ Luckily I had [ access to ] different people who were assisting me with that and giving me advice on how to handle it , ” Morey told the outlet .
“ Hopefully , I ’ ve been able to get where we have some level of safety.
” “ But I was extremely concerned , ” he added .
“ You don ’ t want the second-most powerful government on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can avoid it .
In this case , I couldn ’ t. ” Despite being worried about being removed from the league , Morey retained his position as the Rockets ’ general manager and eventually resigned on Oct. 15 .
The news of his new position with the 76ers came just weeks later .

Former Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey thought he “might never work in the NBA again” after he tweeted support of protests in Hong Kong.
Morey, who now holds the President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, shared the concerns he had after the infamous tweet in an interview published Wednesday by ESPN.
“I had moments where I thought I might never work in the NBA again …” Daryl Morey told ESPN after he shared a post expressing support for a protest group in Hong Kong last October. https://t.co/BlbkEpSO4M — NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 23, 2020
“In the last 12 months, I had moments where I thought I might never work in the NBA again, for reasons I was willing to go down for,” Morey told ESPN. “But I love working, I love what I do, and I didn’t want that to happen.” (RELATED: REPORT: Daryl Morey To Sign 5-Year Deal President Of Basketball Operations For Philadelphia 76ers)
On Oct. 18, 2019, Morey tweeted “fight for freedom, Stand with Hong Kong.” The tweet was later deleted.
At the time, NBA star LeBron James accused Morey of being uninformed at the time the general manager made the comment, but Morey stood firm that he knew what he was doing, ESPN reported.
“I’m very comfortable with what I did,” he told the outlet.
Morey claimed his family did experience threats following his tweet.
“Luckily I had [access to] different people who were assisting me with that and giving me advice on how to handle it,” Morey told the outlet. “Hopefully, I’ve been able to get where we have some level of safety.”
“But I was extremely concerned,” he added. “You don’t want the second-most powerful government on Earth mad at you, if you can avoid it. In this case, I couldn’t.”
Despite being worried about being removed from the league, Morey retained his position as the Rockets’ general manager and eventually resigned on Oct. 15. The news of his new position with the 76ers came just weeks later.


thedailycaller--2020-12-23--6 Weeks After The Election, Joe Biden Still Hasn’t Answered The Court-Packing Question

During the 2020 election season , one big issue voters sought clarity on was whether or not Democrats would attempt @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court if given the opportunity .
With less than a month until the inauguration @ @ @ @ @ this key question remains unanswered .

During the 2020 election season, one big issue voters sought clarity on was whether or not Democrats would attempt to “pack” the Supreme Court if given the opportunity. With less than a month until the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, this key question remains unanswered.


thedailycaller--2020-12-23--Rockets Vs. Thunder Game Postponed

Rockets Vs. Thunder Game Postponed

The Houston Rockets won ’ t play the Oklahoma City Thunder as scheduled .
According to SportsCenter , the NBA has decided to postpone the Wednesday night game “ in accordance with the league ’ s Health and Safety Protocols.
” ( RELATED : David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football ) It ’ s 100 % worth noting that Rockets star James Harden was already at risk of not playing after allegedly being spotted at a strip club , which violated the league ’ s coronavirus rules .
After word of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported multiple other members of the Rockets might not play , and now the game has been postponed .
Well , this situation sure escalated quickly .
It started with Harden possibly not playing to a few players missing the action and now the entire game is off .
Turns out the NBA has a much tougher time keeping everything together when the players aren ’ t in a bubble !
You better get used to seeing a ton of postponements in the NBA .
You think it was bad in college football @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picnic compared to the NBA .
We ’ ll see what happens , but I think this is going to happen a ton in the NBA .

The Houston Rockets won’t play the Oklahoma City Thunder as scheduled.
According to SportsCenter, the NBA has decided to postpone the Wednesday night game “in accordance with the league’s Health and Safety Protocols.” (RELATED: David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football)
Breaking: The NBA has postponed the Thunder-Rockets game tonight in accordance with the league’s Health and Safety Protocols. pic.twitter.com/y4icm8IQ0S — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 23, 2020
It’s 100% worth noting that Rockets star James Harden was already at risk of not playing after allegedly being spotted at a strip club, which violated the league’s coronavirus rules.
Source: Rockets are working with NBA office to review video of James Harden at a strip club. If the video circulating on social media is verified to be recent, it is a violation of league’s COVID protocols, which would put Harden’s availability for tonight’s opener in jeopardy. — Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 23, 2020
After word of that news broke, Shams Charania then reported multiple other members of the Rockets might not play, and now the game has been postponed.
Several Houston Rockets, including John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and possibly more, are expected to miss tonight’s season opener vs. OKC due to coronavirus contact tracing, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 23, 2020
Well, this situation sure escalated quickly. It started with Harden possibly not playing to a few players missing the action and now the entire game is off.
Turns out the NBA has a much tougher time keeping everything together when the players aren’t in a bubble!
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Houston Rockets (@houstonrockets)
You better get used to seeing a ton of postponements in the NBA. You think it was bad in college football? That’ll look like a picnic compared to the NBA.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Houston Rockets (@houstonrockets)
We’ll see what happens, but I think this is going to happen a ton in the NBA.


thedailycaller--2020-12-23--Report: NFL Hires Former US Attorney General Loretta Lynch To Assist With Misconduct Investigation I

Report: NFL Hires Former US Attorney General Loretta Lynch To Assist With Misconduct Investigation Into Washington Football Team

The NFL has reportedly hired former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to help assist with the current investigation into the Washington Football Team .
Lynch ’ s role is to “ help investigate allegations of misconduct among the owners of the Washington Football Team , ” according to a report published Tuesday by the Wall Street Journal .
Specifically Lynch will investigate minority owner Dwight Schar ’ s alleged efforts to smear majority owner Daniel Snyder , the outlet reported .
The dispute between the two owners has led to Snyder filing a lawsuit in India , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Washington Football Team Paid An Employee $ 1.6 Million As Part Of A Sexual Misconduct Settlement Involving Dan Snyder ) A federal judge has also scheduled a hearing to interrogate Snyder , Schar , Robert Rothman and Fred Smith on Jan 7 .
The four co-owners will be asked if they or anyone working for them has leaked any information to the press following a Nov. 19 court order , according to ProFootballTalk .
Snyder has accused Schar of instigating the publication of a story connecting Snyder to Jeffrey Epstein , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not happy with the owners for taking the dispute to court , according to ProFootballTalk .
On top of the dispute between the owners , a report surfaced Tuesday claiming the Washington Football Team had paid a former female employee $ 1.6 million as part of a confidential settlement .
Snyder was allegedly involved in the complaint .

The NFL has reportedly hired former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to help assist with the current investigation into the Washington Football Team.
Lynch’s role is to “help investigate allegations of misconduct among the owners of the Washington Football Team,” according to a report published Tuesday by the Wall Street Journal. Specifically Lynch will investigate minority owner Dwight Schar’s alleged efforts to smear majority owner Daniel Snyder, the outlet reported.
NFL retains former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to assist with Washington investigation https://t.co/ng0rtFhrAv — ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 23, 2020
The dispute between the two owners has led to Snyder filing a lawsuit in India, according to the outlet. (RELATED: REPORT: The Washington Football Team Paid An Employee $1.6 Million As Part Of A Sexual Misconduct Settlement Involving Dan Snyder)
A federal judge has also scheduled a hearing to interrogate Snyder, Schar, Robert Rothman and Fred Smith on Jan 7. The four co-owners will be asked if they or anyone working for them has leaked any information to the press following a Nov. 19 court order, according to ProFootballTalk.
Snyder has accused Schar of instigating the publication of a story connecting Snyder to Jeffrey Epstein, the outlet reported.
The NFL is reportedly not happy with the owners for taking the dispute to court, according to ProFootballTalk.
On top of the dispute between the owners, a report surfaced Tuesday claiming the Washington Football Team had paid a former female employee $1.6 million as part of a confidential settlement. Snyder was allegedly involved in the complaint.


thedailycaller--2020-12-24--Shred Your Dinner Prep With This Professional Knife Set On Sale

Everyone has been spending more time at home due to the pandemic .
A good majority of that time is spent preparing meals for your family .
We are all searching for culinary advice on how to make low-cost , high-quality meals with a limited budget with often limited ingredients .
The proper tools are essential to meal prep .
As any chef will tell you , it all begins and ends with the knife .
The Ronco 20-Piece Knife Set with Hardwood Block is a professional collection that provides the instruments required to master any meal .
The knives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precision cutting and have an ultra-sharp edge that is maintained longer than standard knives .
Each one has a full-tang handle that is triple-riveted for sturdiness and balance , giving you complete control no matter what ingredient you are cutting .
Also included is a beautiful honey oak hardwood block with labeled slots for each specific knife , One purchaser raves , “ I love these knives , they cut everything .
My favorite is that they are numbered so you know where they go in the block , and each is marked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convenient labels , finding the right knife for every task is made simple .
In addition , the block has 4 non-skid feet , an important safety feature to prevent sliding on countertops .
Among the various types of blades included are chef , showtime , pairing , cleaver , rocker , utility , boning , cheese , bread , shears , and 8 steak knives .
Kick your kitchen game up a notch and slash any task needed to create culinary masterpieces .
This exclusive 15 % off sitewide Christmas Sale is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priced $ 129 , the phenomenal Ronco 20-Piece Knife Set with Hardwood Block is already on sale for an incredible $ 74.99 .
Using coupon code MERRY15 , save an additional 15 % off .
This amazing set can be yours for an astonishing $ 63.74 .
Order yours today and get to chopping !
Have a suggestion for a cool product or great deal that you think Daily Caller readers need to know about ?
Email our BrightBulb Team at dealer @ dailycaller.com .
The Daily Caller is devoted to showing you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find interesting .
We do have partnerships with affiliates , so The Daily Caller may get a small share of the revenue from any purchase .

Everyone has been spending more time at home due to the pandemic. A good majority of that time is spent preparing meals for your family. We are all searching for culinary advice on how to make low-cost, high-quality meals with a limited budget with often limited ingredients. The proper tools are essential to meal prep. As any chef will tell you, it all begins and ends with the knife. The Ronco 20-Piece Knife Set with Hardwood Block is a professional collection that provides the instruments required to master any meal.
The knives feature high-carbon stainless steel blades to ensure precision cutting and have an ultra-sharp edge that is maintained longer than standard knives. Each one has a full-tang handle that is triple-riveted for sturdiness and balance, giving you complete control no matter what ingredient you are cutting. Also included is a beautiful honey oak hardwood block with labeled slots for each specific knife, One purchaser raves, “I love these knives, they cut everything. My favorite is that they are numbered so you know where they go in the block, and each is marked what it is used for.” With convenient labels, finding the right knife for every task is made simple. In addition, the block has 4 non-skid feet, an important safety feature to prevent sliding on countertops. Among the various types of blades included are chef, showtime, pairing, cleaver, rocker, utility, boning, cheese, bread, shears, and 8 steak knives.
Kick your kitchen game up a notch and slash any task needed to create culinary masterpieces. This exclusive 15% off sitewide Christmas Sale is happening for 2 days only. Regularly priced $129, the phenomenal Ronco 20-Piece Knife Set with Hardwood Block is already on sale for an incredible $74.99. Using coupon code MERRY15, save an additional 15% off. This amazing set can be yours for an astonishing $63.74. Order yours today and get to chopping!
Have a suggestion for a cool product or great deal that you think Daily Caller readers need to know about? Email our BrightBulb Team at dealer@dailycaller.com.
The Daily Caller is devoted to showing you things that you’ll like or find interesting. We do have partnerships with affiliates, so The Daily Caller may get a small share of the revenue from any purchase.


thedailycaller--2020-12-24--Capture The Road With The Car Dash Cam With Wi-Fi & App

It has happened to all of us .
A dangerous experience with a reckless driver , be they drunk , impaired , drowsy , or distracted on their mobile device .
You can ’ t safely record their license plate or offer any proof while you are also driving—unless you have a car dashboard camera .
Who knows what amazing or useful unexpected incidents you may be able to capture ?
That ’ s where the Car Dash Cam with Wifi & App comes in .
Safety is by far the most important reason why people choose to purchase a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of road conditions and lead to safer driving .
Dash cams can help to prevent fraud and provide first-hand evidence in case of an accident .
The G-Sensor records vital video content during small collisions .
This ensures real-time , efficient , indisputable proof in a traffic incident .
One purchaser explains how the dash cam helped during an accident when the other party tried to blame him : “ I showed the dash cam to the officer on scene and they were able to conduct the traffic investigation off my video right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the dash cam video and thought it was a great tool to have.
” The camera can also be a useful ally for parents of a new driver , providing the ability to monitor when and where the car has been used .
Beyond the priceless safety reasons , you will be able to document the scenic views of anywhere you travel and relive those wonderful memories .
The camera connects to any compatible app on your phone via a built-in Wi-Fi connection , giving you the ability to playback or download @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impeccable 1080p resolution HD image quality , the footage you record and review will be highly detailed and crisp .
The 170° wide-angle lens and 360° rotation allow a wider view of the road conditions , day or night .
The beneficial advantages of owning the Car Dash Cam with Wifi & App are immeasurable – security , safety , and peace of mind , to name just a few .
With the 2-day Christmas Sale and sitewide 15 % off using coupon code MERRY15 , the dash cam can be yours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s an incredible 15 % off the already highly discounted price of $ 44.99 ( Reg .
price $ 119 ) .
Unbeatable price is yet another reason to get your car dash cam today .
Have a suggestion for a cool product or great deal that you think Daily Caller readers need to know about ?
Email our BrightBulb Team at dealer @ dailycaller.com .
The Daily Caller is devoted to showing you things that you ’ ll like or find interesting .
We do have partnerships with affiliates , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share of the revenue from any purchase .

It has happened to all of us. A dangerous experience with a reckless driver, be they drunk, impaired, drowsy, or distracted on their mobile device. You can’t safely record their license plate or offer any proof while you are also driving—unless you have a car dashboard camera. Who knows what amazing or useful unexpected incidents you may be able to capture? That’s where the Car Dash Cam with Wifi & App comes in.
Safety is by far the most important reason why people choose to purchase a dashboard camera. They provide better knowledge of road conditions and lead to safer driving. Dash cams can help to prevent fraud and provide first-hand evidence in case of an accident. The G-Sensor records vital video content during small collisions. This ensures real-time, efficient, indisputable proof in a traffic incident. One purchaser explains how the dash cam helped during an accident when the other party tried to blame him: “I showed the dash cam to the officer on scene and they were able to conduct the traffic investigation off my video right there, and then he thanked me for the dash cam video and thought it was a great tool to have.” The camera can also be a useful ally for parents of a new driver, providing the ability to monitor when and where the car has been used.
Beyond the priceless safety reasons, you will be able to document the scenic views of anywhere you travel and relive those wonderful memories. The camera connects to any compatible app on your phone via a built-in Wi-Fi connection, giving you the ability to playback or download videos at any time. Because of the impeccable 1080p resolution HD image quality, the footage you record and review will be highly detailed and crisp. The 170° wide-angle lens and 360° rotation allow a wider view of the road conditions, day or night.
The beneficial advantages of owning the Car Dash Cam with Wifi & App are immeasurable – security, safety, and peace of mind, to name just a few. With the 2-day Christmas Sale and sitewide 15% off using coupon code MERRY15, the dash cam can be yours for an astonishing $38.24. That’s an incredible 15% off the already highly discounted price of $44.99 (Reg. price $119). Unbeatable price is yet another reason to get your car dash cam today.
Have a suggestion for a cool product or great deal that you think Daily Caller readers need to know about? Email our BrightBulb Team at dealer@dailycaller.com.
The Daily Caller is devoted to showing you things that you’ll like or find interesting. We do have partnerships with affiliates, so The Daily Caller may get a small share of the revenue from any purchase.


thedailycaller--2020-12-24--VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: Our Upside Down Post-Election World

After Nov. 3 , the meaning of some words and concepts abruptly changed .
Have you noticed how new realities have replaced old ones ?
Media cross-examination of the president is now an out-of-date idea .
The time for gotcha questions has come and gone .
Why ask a president whether he is a traitor or a crook when you can focus on his favorite flavor of milkshake or compliment him on his socks ?
The old pre-election truth was that new vaccines take years to develop .
The new post-election truth is that it ’ s no big deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months .
Impeaching a first-term president after his first midterm election — on a strictly partisan vote , for political reasons other than the Constitution ’ s “ treason , bribery , or other high crimes and misdemeanors ” — is now a terrible idea .
Worse would be to appoint a special counsel to harass a president on unfounded charges of collusion with China .
An even scarier notion would be a conservative dream team of partisan lawyers hounding President Joe Biden — using a 22-month , $ 40 million blank check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ psychologists and physicians from a distance to diagnose , in pop fashion , the mental faculties of a President Biden .
Certainly , there would never be talk about Department of Justice officials contemplating wearing a wire as part of an entrapment scheme to remove a President Biden through the 25th Amendment .
That would almost constitute a coup attempt .
Almost as bad would be for the holdover FBI director to start “ memorializing ” his private conversations with Joe Biden on FBI devices .
He might then leak such memos to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were to be fired for secretly investigating Biden for “ Chinese collusion ” and then lying about such a probe .
What happened to the Logan Act ?
Not long ago it was assumed to be a critically needed guardrail .
Wouldn ’ t it now ensure that presidential transition team members were not calling foreign leaders while Donald Trump is still president ?
How has it suddenly become a defunct , ossified relic ?
Leaking classified material would be about the worst thing government officials could do .
Imagine if a Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration , released a transcript of Biden ’ s private conversations with the Mexican president or the Australian prime minister .
Such a breach of trust would be almost as bad as a turncoat anti-Biden mole seeking to resist presidential directives .
Imagine if this anonymous staffer were given an op-ed in the New York Times to claim that a cadre of old-time Democrats were shocked by Biden ’ s cognitive decline and resisting his directives .
Is extending security clearances to former high-level officials turned cable-TV pundits still a bad idea ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ instance , former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe issuing warnings each night on Fox News ?
With a wink-and-nod hat tip to his “ confidential sources , ” Ratcliffe could spin conspiracy theories that Biden is facing bombshell disclosures about his family misadventures with the Chinese .
Is it still important that we keep the tradition of retired high-ranking military officers — all subject to the requirements of the Uniform Code of Military Justice — not disparaging the president ?
Who would want former Pentagon officials , some of them serving on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us that Biden should be removed because of cognitive challenges ?
Certainly , generals and admirals should not compare a President Biden ’ s policies to those of Mussolini or the Nazis .
At least “ dark money ” no longer exists .
The old idea of right-wing billionaires pouring money into candidates ’ political campaigns was supposedly a dangerous practice .
It would be far more civic-minded for left-wing billionaires to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into the coffers of nonpartisan state bureaucracies entrusted with guaranteeing the sanctity of national elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an election is the proper time to announce critically important news .
Like the rollout of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine ?
Like a revised upward Fannie Mae report on the economy ?
Like the ties between a Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee and a suspected Chinese spy ?
Like a federal investigation of Joe Biden ’ s son and his possible profiteering with rich Chinese elites affiliated with China ’ s government ?
To keep track of our brave new American world is easy .
Just consider everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Animal Farm ” media before Nov. 3 as now good .
And remember that everything said to be good two months ago is now actually bad .
Victor Davis Hanson is a classicist and historian at the Hoover Institution , Stanford University , and the author of “ The Second World Wars : How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won , ” from Basic Books .
You can reach him by e-mailing authorvdh @ gmail.com .

After Nov. 3, the meaning of some words and concepts abruptly changed. Have you noticed how new realities have replaced old ones?
Media cross-examination of the president is now an out-of-date idea. The time for gotcha questions has come and gone. Why ask a president whether he is a traitor or a crook when you can focus on his favorite flavor of milkshake or compliment him on his socks?
The old pre-election truth was that new vaccines take years to develop. The new post-election truth is that it’s no big deal to bring out new vaccines in nine months.
Impeaching a first-term president after his first midterm election — on a strictly partisan vote, for political reasons other than the Constitution’s “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors” — is now a terrible idea.
Worse would be to appoint a special counsel to harass a president on unfounded charges of collusion with China. An even scarier notion would be a conservative dream team of partisan lawyers hounding President Joe Biden — using a 22-month, $40 million blank check.
It would be unprofessional for university psychologists and physicians from a distance to diagnose, in pop fashion, the mental faculties of a President Biden.
Certainly, there would never be talk about Department of Justice officials contemplating wearing a wire as part of an entrapment scheme to remove a President Biden through the 25th Amendment. That would almost constitute a coup attempt.
Almost as bad would be for the holdover FBI director to start “memorializing” his private conversations with Joe Biden on FBI devices. He might then leak such memos to the press — just in case he were to be fired for secretly investigating Biden for “Chinese collusion” and then lying about such a probe.
What happened to the Logan Act? Not long ago it was assumed to be a critically needed guardrail. Wouldn’t it now ensure that presidential transition team members were not calling foreign leaders while Donald Trump is still president? How has it suddenly become a defunct, ossified relic?
Leaking classified material would be about the worst thing government officials could do. Imagine if a Trump holdover, burrowed into the new Biden administration, released a transcript of Biden’s private conversations with the Mexican president or the Australian prime minister.
Such a breach of trust would be almost as bad as a turncoat anti-Biden mole seeking to resist presidential directives. Imagine if this anonymous staffer were given an op-ed in the New York Times to claim that a cadre of old-time Democrats were shocked by Biden’s cognitive decline and resisting his directives.
Is extending security clearances to former high-level officials turned cable-TV pundits still a bad idea? Who would wish to see, for instance, former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe issuing warnings each night on Fox News? With a wink-and-nod hat tip to his “confidential sources,” Ratcliffe could spin conspiracy theories that Biden is facing bombshell disclosures about his family misadventures with the Chinese.
Is it still important that we keep the tradition of retired high-ranking military officers — all subject to the requirements of the Uniform Code of Military Justice — not disparaging the president? Who would want former Pentagon officials, some of them serving on the boards of military contractors, warning us that Biden should be removed because of cognitive challenges? Certainly, generals and admirals should not compare a President Biden’s policies to those of Mussolini or the Nazis.
At least “dark money” no longer exists. The old idea of right-wing billionaires pouring money into candidates’ political campaigns was supposedly a dangerous practice. It would be far more civic-minded for left-wing billionaires to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into the coffers of nonpartisan state bureaucracies entrusted with guaranteeing the sanctity of national elections.
And apparently after, not before, an election is the proper time to announce critically important news.
Like the rollout of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine?
Like a $900 billion stimulus package?
Like a revised upward Fannie Mae report on the economy?
Like the ties between a Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee and a suspected Chinese spy?
Like a federal investigation of Joe Biden’s son and his possible profiteering with rich Chinese elites affiliated with China’s government?
To keep track of our brave new American world is easy.
Just consider everything said to be bad by the “Animal Farm” media before Nov. 3 as now good. And remember that everything said to be good two months ago is now actually bad.
Victor Davis Hanson is a classicist and historian at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and the author of “The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won,” from Basic Books. You can reach him by e-mailing authorvdh@gmail.com.
©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


thedailycaller--2020-12-24--‘The High Priest Of The COVID Cult’: Tucker Carlson Pans DC Mayor’s ‘Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Day’ Decla

‘The High Priest Of The COVID Cult’: Tucker Carlson Pans DC Mayor’s ‘Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Day’ Declaration

Fox News host Tucker Carlson mocked Democratic D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ’ s declaration of Christmas Eve as a day to honor Dr. Anthony Fauci during a Wednesday night “ Tucker Carlson Tonight ” monologue .
Bowser declared the day , Fauci ’ s 80th birthday , as “ Dr .
Anthony S. Fauci Day ” in the city in a Wednesday tweet that included a picture of the proclamation .
“ In honor of Dr. Fauci ’ s 80th birthday tomorrow , I proclaim Thursday , December 24 , 2020 , ‘ Dr .
Anthony S. Fauci Day ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We are incredibly proud to count Dr. Fauci among the many DC residents who are sacrificing so much to keep our communities healthy and safe.
” “ Now you sometimes hear people describe our political divide in America as between the religious and the secular , but that ’ s not really true , ” Carlson panned .
“ Everyone in this country has a religion .
The question is whether you worship God or whether you worship yourself.
” Declaring Washington D.C. the “ Rome of spiritual narcissism ” where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living God , ” Carlson went on to describe the city ’ s latest “ holy man to be beatified.
” The latest holy man to be beatified there is a diminutive federal bureaucrat called Tony Fauci .
Fauci is the high priest of the COVID cult .
A paper mask is his sacred garment .
Cable television is his pulpit .
The people of Washington bow before father Fauci .
They throw their Patagonia fleeces before him to ease his way as he passes like palm fronds in the streets of Jerusalem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mocking the declaration by playing a clip of various celebrating crowds , Carlson joked that the people seen in the clips obediently “ went back to their apartments alone and spent the night watching Netflix with their cats and eating Ben & Jerry ’ s in solitude , because theirs is a monkish religion.
” ( RELATED : ‘ What A Fraud This Guy Is ’ : Tucker Carlson Criticizes Dr. Fauci For Dodging Jim Jordan ’ s Questions About Protests ) Fauci ’ s accolades this month also include being named TIME @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Fox News host Tucker Carlson mocked Democratic D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s declaration of Christmas Eve as a day to honor Dr. Anthony Fauci during a Wednesday night “Tucker Carlson Tonight” monologue.
Bowser declared the day, Fauci’s 80th birthday, as “Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Day” in the city in a Wednesday tweet that included a picture of the proclamation.
In honor of Dr. Fauci’s 80th birthday tomorrow, I proclaim Thursday, December 24, 2020, “Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Day” in Washington, DC. We are incredibly proud to count Dr. Fauci among the many DC residents who are sacrificing so much to keep our communities healthy and safe. pic.twitter.com/UqvS4sebMf — Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) December 23, 2020
“In honor of Dr. Fauci’s 80th birthday tomorrow, I proclaim Thursday, December 24, 2020, ‘Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Day’ in Washington D.C.,” she wrote. “We are incredibly proud to count Dr. Fauci among the many DC residents who are sacrificing so much to keep our communities healthy and safe.”
“Now you sometimes hear people describe our political divide in America as between the religious and the secular, but that’s not really true,” Carlson panned. “Everyone in this country has a religion. The question is whether you worship God or whether you worship yourself.”
WATCH:
Declaring Washington D.C. the “Rome of spiritual narcissism” where “human power is worshipped as the living God,” Carlson went on to describe the city’s latest “holy man to be beatified.”
The latest holy man to be beatified there is a diminutive federal bureaucrat called Tony Fauci. Fauci is the high priest of the COVID cult. A paper mask is his sacred garment. Cable television is his pulpit. The people of Washington bow before father Fauci. They throw their Patagonia fleeces before him to ease his way as he passes like palm fronds in the streets of Jerusalem. They consider him holy.
After mocking the declaration by playing a clip of various celebrating crowds, Carlson joked that the people seen in the clips obediently “went back to their apartments alone and spent the night watching Netflix with their cats and eating Ben & Jerry’s in solitude, because theirs is a monkish religion.” (RELATED: ‘What A Fraud This Guy Is’: Tucker Carlson Criticizes Dr. Fauci For Dodging Jim Jordan’s Questions About Protests)
Fauci’s accolades this month also include being named TIME’s “Guardian of the Year.”