crooksandliars--2020-02-26--Tucker Carlson Defends His Coronavirus Racism: 'Wokeness Is A Cult'

Tucker Carlson pretended to be the truthteller last night as he blamed “ diversity ” and `` wokeness '' for any coronavirus in the U.S. but only obliquely referred to Donald Trump ’ s sabotage of our public health system .
With the explicit approval of Fox News .
In a previous post , I noted how Fox News has been misleading viewers into thinking that Trump is doing a great job protecting Americans from the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) when , in reality , he has systematically dismantled the infrastructure for any pandemic response .
Monday night , Carlson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the potential health emergency in order to ratchet up fear and loathing of “ diversity ” and “ wokeness.
” We know that Fox News approved this bigoted deceit because Carlson ’ s commentary was obviously pre-scripted and thus pre-approved .
It was also published on FoxNews.com .
Carlson ’ s commentary began with a dishonest dog whistle designed to arouse and legitimize a white nationalist response to the coronavirus : CARLSON : For weeks the media told you it was wrong to worry about the coronavirus , a mysterious , highly communicable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world .
If that concerns you in any way , if you think maybe we ought to take some steps to protect ourselves from it , then you 're a bigot .
This “ it ’ s legit to be racist ” messaging is despicable enough ( albeit predictable from this guy ) but Carlson is also dissembling about how his own employer has been messaging that there ’ s nothing to worry about .
Just a few hours before Carlson went on the air , the anchor of Fox ’ s evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy-talk report on COVID-19 with a credulous , “ President Trump says the coronavirus is very much under control in the U.S. ” Carlson was there to frighten you into thinking that it ’ s very much out of control – and that we all might die at any moment – because diversity is trumping public health .
Rather than provide facts , Carlson seems to have figured that name calling and race baiting would give him all the credibility needed .
Apparently , Fox is fine with that , too : CARLSON @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Asians '' lectured some arrogant moron at Slate.com .
A writer for The Seattle Times warned that , quote , `` yellow peril racism was the real epidemic fear , '' and so on .
Countless publications wagged their fingers in the face of readers , and told them it was irrational , probably immoral in fact to worry about the coronavirus than the annual flu .
Identity politics trumped public health and not for the first time .
Wokeness is a cult that lets you die before they admitted that diversity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , what really seems to have caught Carlson ’ s concern and his dog whistle is the fact that COVID-19 spread from ( yellow ) Asians to ( white ) Europeans .
CARLSON : Fast forward to today .
What began as a regional outbreak in the city of Wuhan , China , is now spreading across Europe .
Parts of Italy are shut down tonight .
Catholic services and , in some places , funerals have been suspended indefinitely .
Carlson went on to note that South Korea , Japan and Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s moving fast , ” he warned .
As Carlson talked about the virus spreading in Asia , a helpful producer called it the “ Wuhan virus ” and described it as `` spreading across Europe '' in a lower-third banner .
Then , after repeatedly suggesting it 's people of color and those who embrace them who are the real culprits , Carlson got around to hinting that the U.S. is not properly equipped to deal with a public health emergency .
But , of course , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s cardinal role in the failure .
CARLSON : On Friday , the Centers for Disease Control warned that it is quote , possible , even likely that America will have a general coronavirus outbreak as well .
That shouldn ’ t surprise you .
China is the world ’ s most sophisticated authoritarian government .
Its leaders have shut down entire cities , dragged people from their homes in an effort to curb coronavirus .
But it hasn ’ t worked .
Officials in our country have reported about three dozen cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far , but that 's a misleading number .
The truth is , we have no real idea how many Americans are infected .
Why ?
Here 's why : As of yesterday , only three public health labs in the entire country were properly equipped to detect the virus .
Fewer than 500 people in America have even been tested for coronavirus out of a population of 327 million -- for real .
Keep in mind that five and a half million people ride the New York City subway every day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
How likely is an epidemic in the United States ?
Are we ready for it if it comes ?
How many could die ?
It 's time for real answers to the most basic questions about coronavirus .
Carlson is right that it ’ s time for real answers to basic questions about coronavirus .
But don ’ t expect them to come from Fox News – unless they can be weaponized against the left and/or the media and on behalf of Dear Leader Trump .
I have long suspected that Carlson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his bigotry , while genuine , is played up to appeal to Trump fans without having to actually cheerlead the way others at Fox do .
You almost have to be an archaeologist to find Carlson ’ s implied , indirect barb about the Trump administration underneath all the overt malice toward everyone else .
But it ’ s there and it ’ s another piece that fits my theory .
You may see what I mean above , from the February 24 , 2020 Tucker Carlson Tonight .

Tucker Carlson pretended to be the truthteller last night as he blamed “diversity” and "wokeness" for any coronavirus in the U.S. but only obliquely referred to Donald Trump’s sabotage of our public health system. With the explicit approval of Fox News.
In a previous post, I noted how Fox News has been misleading viewers into thinking that Trump is doing a great job protecting Americans from the coronavirus (COVID-19) when, in reality, he has systematically dismantled the infrastructure for any pandemic response.
Monday night, Carlson took a different route. He weaponized the potential health emergency in order to ratchet up fear and loathing of “diversity” and “wokeness.”
We know that Fox News approved this bigoted deceit because Carlson’s commentary was obviously pre-scripted and thus pre-approved. It was also published on FoxNews.com.
Carlson’s commentary began with a dishonest dog whistle designed to arouse and legitimize a white nationalist response to the coronavirus:
CARLSON: For weeks the media told you it was wrong to worry about the coronavirus, a mysterious, highly communicable, lethal disease spreading rapidly around the world. If that concerns you in any way, if you think maybe we ought to take some steps to protect ourselves from it, then you're a bigot.
This “it’s legit to be racist” messaging is despicable enough (albeit predictable from this guy) but Carlson is also dissembling about how his own employer has been messaging that there’s nothing to worry about. Just a few hours before Carlson went on the air, the anchor of Fox’s evening newscast, Special Report, introduced a happy-talk report on COVID-19 with a credulous, “President Trump says the coronavirus is very much under control in the U.S.”
Carlson was there to frighten you into thinking that it’s very much out of control – and that we all might die at any moment – because diversity is trumping public health. Rather than provide facts, Carlson seems to have figured that name calling and race baiting would give him all the credibility needed. Apparently, Fox is fine with that, too:
CARLSON: "Coronavirus panic is racist profiling against Asians" lectured some arrogant moron at Slate.com. A writer for The Seattle Times warned that, quote, "yellow peril racism was the real epidemic fear," and so on. Countless publications wagged their fingers in the face of readers, and told them it was irrational, probably immoral in fact to worry about the coronavirus than the annual flu. Identity politics trumped public health and not for the first time. Wokeness is a cult that lets you die before they admitted that diversity is not our strength.
Not surprisingly, what really seems to have caught Carlson’s concern and his dog whistle is the fact that COVID-19 spread from (yellow) Asians to (white) Europeans.
CARLSON: Fast forward to today. What began as a regional outbreak in the city of Wuhan, China, is now spreading across Europe. Parts of Italy are shut down tonight. Catholic services and, in some places, funerals have been suspended indefinitely.
Carlson went on to note that South Korea, Japan and Iran have also confirmed cases of the virus. “It’s moving fast,” he warned.
As Carlson talked about the virus spreading in Asia, a helpful producer called it the “Wuhan virus” and described it as "spreading across Europe" in a lower-third banner.
Then, after repeatedly suggesting it's people of color and those who embrace them who are the real culprits, Carlson got around to hinting that the U.S. is not properly equipped to deal with a public health emergency. But, of course, he never said a word about Trump’s cardinal role in the failure.
CARLSON: On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control warned that it is quote, possible, even likely that America will have a general coronavirus outbreak as well. That shouldn’t surprise you. China is the world’s most sophisticated authoritarian government. Its leaders have shut down entire cities, dragged people from their homes in an effort to curb coronavirus. But it hasn’t worked.
Officials in our country have reported about three dozen cases of the virus in the U.S. so far, but that's a misleading number. The truth is, we have no real idea how many Americans are infected. Why? Here's why: As of yesterday, only three public health labs in the entire country were properly equipped to detect the virus. Fewer than 500 people in America have even been tested for coronavirus out of a population of 327 million -- for real. Keep in mind that five and a half million people ride the New York City subway every day. Worried yet? This could be serious. How likely is an epidemic in the United States? Are we ready for it if it comes? How many could die? It's time for real answers to the most basic questions about coronavirus.
Carlson is right that it’s time for real answers to basic questions about coronavirus. But don’t expect them to come from Fox News – unless they can be weaponized against the left and/or the media and on behalf of Dear Leader Trump.
I have long suspected that Carlson is not the biggest Trumper and that his bigotry, while genuine, is played up to appeal to Trump fans without having to actually cheerlead the way others at Fox do. You almost have to be an archaeologist to find Carlson’s implied, indirect barb about the Trump administration underneath all the overt malice toward everyone else. But it’s there and it’s another piece that fits my theory.
You may see what I mean above, from the February 24, 2020 Tucker Carlson Tonight.
Published with permission of NewsHounds


crooksandliars--2020-04-20--CNN's Brooke Baldwin Pens Personal Essay On Her Coronavirus Experience

A few weeks ago CNN 's Brooke Baldwin contracted the coronavirus .
It 's been a hellish few weeks for her since , but she 's now in recovery , almost back to where she was .
And she was lucky , her symptoms were never life-threatening , like so many others .
It took a full two-week beating on my body .
I went to some very dark places , especially at night .
Evenings would bring on an eerie melancholy , which was particularly odd for me -- a glass-half-full/chemically blessed kind of gal .
But under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came to a close , I would often cry , unable to stave off the sense of dread and isolation I felt about what was to come .
I was fighting constant body aches .
In the evenings , I started a habit of climbing into the bathtub for 45 to 60 minutes just to try to use the hot water to distract my skin from the all-encompassing ache that would begin in my lower extremities -- the kind of ache that only two extra-strength Tylenol could eventually dull .
Looking back , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inexact .
Some days crawled by tortuously slowly , while others disappeared unaccounted for in my memory , lost in the wash of emotion , sleep , and illness .
Brooke Baldwin 's essay ends on a hopeful note , that she 's gained a new appreciation for what it means to show up for one another .
It was overwhelming in a way I have never felt in my life .
And it showed me how -- even when the world stops and takes a collective breath -- we 're all capable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And for that , I will forever be grateful .
So , yeah ... eff Covid .
But also ... thank you ?
I would n't wish this virus upon anyone , but I hope as my smell and taste and some sense of normalcy start to return , that I will also hold onto the clarity and connection I found while I was so damn sick .
Here is her interview earlier Monday with Brianna Keilar :

A few weeks ago CNN's Brooke Baldwin contracted the coronavirus. It's been a hellish few weeks for her since, but she's now in recovery, almost back to where she was. And she was lucky, her symptoms were never life-threatening, like so many others.
Source: CNN
It took a full two-week beating on my body. I went to some very dark places, especially at night. Evenings would bring on an eerie melancholy, which was particularly odd for me -- a glass-half-full/chemically blessed kind of gal.
But under the influence of coronavirus, as each day came to a close, I would often cry, unable to stave off the sense of dread and isolation I felt about what was to come.
I was fighting constant body aches. In the evenings, I started a habit of climbing into the bathtub for 45 to 60 minutes just to try to use the hot water to distract my skin from the all-encompassing ache that would begin in my lower extremities -- the kind of ache that only two extra-strength Tylenol could eventually dull. Looking back, my sense of time feels warped and inexact. Some days crawled by tortuously slowly, while others disappeared unaccounted for in my memory, lost in the wash of emotion, sleep, and illness.


crooksandliars--2020-04-01--Dr. Fauci Sees ‘Glimmers’ Of Evidence That Social Distancing Is Working

Dr. Anthony Fauci , the federal government ’ s top infectious disease expert , revealed on Tuesday that there is early evidence that social distancing is helping to curb the spread of COVID-19 .
“ We ’ re starting to see glimmers that [ social distancing ] is actually having some dampening effect , ” Fauci said during an appearance on CNN .
“ That does not take away from the seriousness… we clearly are seeing cases going up.
” “ We haven ’ t seen it yet , ” he noted .
“ We ’ re just pushing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that turn around.
” According to the doctor , a “ decrease in deaths ” will not come until the infection rate begins to level off .
“ What we ’ re starting to see right now is just the inklings and I don ’ t want to put too much stock on it because you don ’ t want to get overconfident , ” he explained .
“ You just want to keep pushing what you ’ re doing .
You ’ re starting to see that the daily increases are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re starting to be able to possibly flatten out.
” Fauci also said that there is evidence that younger Americans could be at higher risk than initially thought .
“ We are starting to see young individuals in their 30s and their 40s who have no underlying condition that would pre-dispose them to complications who are getting very seriously ill requiring intensive care , ” he warned .

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease expert, revealed on Tuesday that there is early evidence that social distancing is helping to curb the spread of COVID-19.
“We’re starting to see glimmers that [social distancing] is actually having some dampening effect,” Fauci said during an appearance on CNN. “That does not take away from the seriousness… we clearly are seeing cases going up.”
“We haven’t seen it yet,” he noted. “We’re just pushing on the mitigation hoping that we do see that turn around.”
According to the doctor, a “decrease in deaths” will not come until the infection rate begins to level off.
“What we’re starting to see right now is just the inklings and I don’t want to put too much stock on it because you don’t want to get overconfident,” he explained. “You just want to keep pushing what you’re doing. You’re starting to see that the daily increases are not in that steep incline, they’re starting to be able to possibly flatten out.”
Fauci also said that there is evidence that younger Americans could be at higher risk than initially thought.
“We are starting to see young individuals in their 30s and their 40s who have no underlying condition that would pre-dispose them to complications who are getting very seriously ill requiring intensive care,” he warned.


crooksandliars--2020-04-01--'Patriot' Paranoia: Right-Wing Militiamen Push Back Against Social Distancing Measures

The anti-government “ Patriot ” /militia movement is at a kind of crossroads thanks to the coronavirus pandemic .
The movement has been suffering from cognitive dissonance ever since Donald Trump ’ s election in 2016 , split between followers ’ innate paranoid hatred and fear of all things federal and their rabid fandom for the new president and his administration .
So now they can ’ t seem to decide whether to oppose social distancing and quarantine orders coming from state and local governments as another form of “ tyranny , ” dismissing fear of the virus as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harm Trump , or to obediently support the government measures , heeding Trump ’ s advice , and turn instead to scapegoating the Chinese government .
Ammon Bundy , one-time leader of the 2016 “ Patriot ” armed standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon , is representative of the split .
Having already distanced himself from Trump , Bundy is now leading a kind of low-level resistance to Idaho Gov .
Brad Little ’ s self-isolation order , issued last week .
“ It does not matter what is most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or not , ” Bundy proclaimed in a video he posted on Facebook .
“ Because in this case , the government does not have the right to do what they ’ re doing .
They do not have a right to restrict you from going to church , worshipping , having meetings , or being with your family , grieving with them .
They do not have that right.
” Bundy ’ s meeting in Emmett , Idaho , on Thursday night was primarily about Bundy telling people—roughly two dozen showed—that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor ’ s orders .
And he pledged to bring fellow “ Patriots ” to the rescue if anyone felt pressure from “ authorities ” to comply .
“ I will be there , ” Bundy told the Idaho Press .
“ I will bring as many people as we can .
We will form a legal defense for you , a political defense for you , and we will also , if necessary , provide a physical defense for you , so that you can continue in your rights.
” A number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-coronavirus measures as government overreach , including ex-Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke , who urged people the week before to “ take to the streets ” in defiance of the orders .
However , other “ Patriots , ” including factions formerly aligned with Bundy ’ s , are taking a more staid route : Avidly backing Trump , submitting to social distancing measures , and blaming the Chinese government as the culprit for the virus ’ spread in the U.S. and elsewhere .
The Oath Keepers—who participated in the first Bundy standoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is currently dominated by straight news reporting about COVID-19 infections in New York , a story plumping up the U.S .
Naval Ship Mercy ’ s mission to treat pandemic victims , and typically partisan reportage on Democrats ’ handling of the coronavirus relief bill .
It also features a piece headlined : “ China Should Be Forced to Pay Reparations for Coverup.
” Meanwhile , similar “ Patriot ” sites focused on pieces blaming the pandemic on “ Chinese communists ” and suggesting that it was intentionally released by China ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Devin Burghart of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights ( IREHR ) explored the variety of ways the “ Patriot ” /militia activists are responding to the pandemic .
It found that the majority of the movement was reluctant to accept news of the growing contagion as legitimate and mostly remains so ; it continues to rely to conspiracy theories to inform followers on the pandemic , many of which continue to downplay the virus ’ lethality ; and perhaps most disturbingly , many of them see it not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fears about a looming doomsday , but as an opportunity to inflame and ignite a civil war—called the “ Boogaloo ” —with an emphasis on shooting urban liberals .
The report pointedly observes that while there is relatively little discussion of mutual aid among the “ Patriots ” for these apocalyptic events , many of them have turned to casual discussions of their willingness—not to mention desire—to rob their neighbors in the event of a social breakdown .
One of their frequently shared memes features a photo of a camo-clad military team conducting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Me and the boys going for a grocery run at my asshole neighbor ’ s house.
” “ What ’ s the plan when shit goes south boys ?
” a Kentucky State Militia group member asked his colleagues .
One responded : “ Protect my family by any & all means regardless if I become a killer.
” One militiaman—a “ Three Percenter ” from California named Shane Scott III , who believes the coronavirus is a “ deep state ” hoax—began arguing for mob attacks .
One of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a noose , read : “ Why aren ’ t we rounding up ALL media personal [ sic ] and oath-breaking politician [ sic ] and hanging them !
!
?
?
They have done so much damage to this Country [ sic ] over the last 20 years .
When are we going to put an end to this ?
?
!
” Elsewhere , Scott argued that “ this weak pathetic corona virus [ sic ] has put us in a weird test run for socialism , ” adding : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out in public is because you will talk to people and discover it is just BS .
… There ’ s something way bigger going on and we are being kept in the dark for a reason !
” As Chrissy Stroop at The Conversationalist observed , the response among authoritarian Christians generally has been to undermine the public health response to the pandemic , in no small part because they already see institutions like the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of a “ globalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Bundy ’ s most avid supporters in the Idaho Legislature , Rep. Heather Scott—who is also closely associated with Washington ’ s controversial Rep. Matt Shea—posted an essay on Facebook by another far-right “ Patriot ” leader—Montana ’ s Chuck Baldwin—dismissing the pandemic as a government conspiracy against ordinary citizens .
“ If it 's not a hoax , the virus IS being used as a completely exaggerated , super-hyped , super-inflated psychological ops campaign against the American people—a coordinated full-court press of intimidation and fearmongering by the government , the mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
“ And disgustingly , many so-called patriot bloggers and broadcasters have also given themselves to grotesque fearmongering.
” In the South , a similar response to the pandemic came from the neo-Confederate League of the South , which announced that it intends to hold its annual convention in Alabama in June regardless of whether or not any COVID-19 restrictions are in place .
League president Michael Hill recently posted : “ We are actively making plans and raising funds to help our members who are in financial straits , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upcoming events , including our 2020 national conference in late June.
” Ammon Bundy ’ s resistance effort involving a “ Patriot ” response team defending people who feel threatened by the Idaho avoidance order was couched in soothing tones , but the threat of violence underlying the enterprise was also unmistakable .
“ When someone ’ s rights are being violated for whatever reason … then thousands of people come and surround that person and bring a tremendous , a lot of attention and bring accountability to the bad actors , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The First Amendment is secured by the Second Amendment.
” That meeting , as the Idaho Press noted , likely violated Gov .
Little ’ s stay-home order .
The governor on Friday emphasized at a press conference that he has the authority to outlaw public gatherings , which are discouraged and are “ frankly in violation of this stay-home order.
” “ There ’ s no difference between a political gathering and any other gathering , ” Little said .

The anti-government “Patriot”/militia movement is at a kind of crossroads thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.
The movement has been suffering from cognitive dissonance ever since Donald Trump’s election in 2016, split between followers’ innate paranoid hatred and fear of all things federal and their rabid fandom for the new president and his administration. So now they can’t seem to decide whether to oppose social distancing and quarantine orders coming from state and local governments as another form of “tyranny,” dismissing fear of the virus as a “deep state” hoax intended to harm Trump, or to obediently support the government measures, heeding Trump’s advice, and turn instead to scapegoating the Chinese government.
Ammon Bundy, one-time leader of the 2016 “Patriot” armed standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, is representative of the split. Having already distanced himself from Trump, Bundy is now leading a kind of low-level resistance to Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s self-isolation order, issued last week.
“It does not matter what is most safe or not, what is good or not,” Bundy proclaimed in a video he posted on Facebook. “Because in this case, the government does not have the right to do what they’re doing. They do not have a right to restrict you from going to church, worshipping, having meetings, or being with your family, grieving with them. They do not have that right.”
Bundy’s meeting in Emmett, Idaho, on Thursday night was primarily about Bundy telling people—roughly two dozen showed—that they didn’t need to obey the governor’s orders. And he pledged to bring fellow “Patriots” to the rescue if anyone felt pressure from “authorities” to comply.
“I will be there,” Bundy told the Idaho Press. “I will bring as many people as we can. We will form a legal defense for you, a political defense for you, and we will also, if necessary, provide a physical defense for you, so that you can continue in your rights.”
A number of other zealots are similarly decrying the anti-coronavirus measures as government overreach, including ex-Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, who urged people the week before to “take to the streets” in defiance of the orders. However, other “Patriots,” including factions formerly aligned with Bundy’s, are taking a more staid route: Avidly backing Trump, submitting to social distancing measures, and blaming the Chinese government as the culprit for the virus’ spread in the U.S. and elsewhere.
The Oath Keepers—who participated in the first Bundy standoff in Nevada—were among these. Their website is currently dominated by straight news reporting about COVID-19 infections in New York, a story plumping up the U.S. Naval Ship Mercy’s mission to treat pandemic victims, and typically partisan reportage on Democrats’ handling of the coronavirus relief bill.
It also features a piece headlined: “China Should Be Forced to Pay Reparations for Coverup.” Meanwhile, similar “Patriot” sites focused on pieces blaming the pandemic on “Chinese communists” and suggesting that it was intentionally released by China’s government as a bioweapon.
A report by Devin Burghart of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights (IREHR) explored the variety of ways the “Patriot”/militia activists are responding to the pandemic. It found that the majority of the movement was reluctant to accept news of the growing contagion as legitimate and mostly remains so; it continues to rely to conspiracy theories to inform followers on the pandemic, many of which continue to downplay the virus’ lethality; and perhaps most disturbingly, many of them see it not just as the manifestation of their paranoid fears about a looming doomsday, but as an opportunity to inflame and ignite a civil war—called the “Boogaloo”—with an emphasis on shooting urban liberals.
Each passing day, the fear in the militia-sphere has become more palpable. As the proverbial “SHTF,” the Trump-nationalism of the militia-sphere was supplanted by the hyper-individualism of the members. One member of the 25th BN/42nd FF Light Foot Militia stated, “I’d rather have dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery… and will be prepared for the former.”[18] A member of Michigan Boogaloo Boys Defending the 2nd wrote, “Following orders is not patriotic. I will not sit and wait.” Another meme that appeared on the California State Militia Training Connect page featured the image of an “Official Permit” that simply read “I can do what I want.”
The report pointedly observes that while there is relatively little discussion of mutual aid among the “Patriots” for these apocalyptic events, many of them have turned to casual discussions of their willingness—not to mention desire—to rob their neighbors in the event of a social breakdown. One of their frequently shared memes features a photo of a camo-clad military team conducting a home raid, with the text: “Me and the boys going for a grocery run at my asshole neighbor’s house.”
“What’s the plan when shit goes south boys?” a Kentucky State Militia group member asked his colleagues. One responded: “Protect my family by any & all means regardless if I become a killer.”
One militiaman—a “Three Percenter” from California named Shane Scott III, who believes the coronavirus is a “deep state” hoax—began arguing for mob attacks. One of his Facebook posts, featuring a photo of a noose, read: “Why aren’t we rounding up ALL media personal[sic] and oath-breaking politician[sic] and hanging them!!?? They have done so much damage to this Country[sic] over the last 20 years. When are we going to put an end to this??!”
Elsewhere, Scott argued that “this weak pathetic corona virus [sic] has put us in a weird test run for socialism,” adding: “The reason they don't want you out in public is because you will talk to people and discover it is just BS. … There’s something way bigger going on and we are being kept in the dark for a reason!”
As Chrissy Stroop at The Conversationalist observed, the response among authoritarian Christians generally has been to undermine the public health response to the pandemic, in no small part because they already see institutions like the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of a “globalist” plot to enslave mankind.
Obedience to authority is certainly emphasized as a virtue among authoritarians, and the Christian Right is no different in this regard. However, the authority in question must conform to their white supremacist patriarchal social hierarchy in order for them to consider it legitimate. Hence the “defiance of what they think of as evil liberal officials telling them what they can’t do,” as seen, for example, in former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore calling the inclusion of restrictions on church services in public health responses to the pandemic “tyranny.”
One of Bundy’s most avid supporters in the Idaho Legislature, Rep. Heather Scott—who is also closely associated with Washington’s controversial Rep. Matt Shea—posted an essay on Facebook by another far-right “Patriot” leader—Montana’s Chuck Baldwin—dismissing the pandemic as a government conspiracy against ordinary citizens.
“If it's not a hoax, the virus IS being used as a completely exaggerated, super-hyped, super-inflated psychological ops campaign against the American people—a coordinated full-court press of intimidation and fearmongering by the government, the mass media and the CDC,” Baldwin wrote. “And disgustingly, many so-called patriot bloggers and broadcasters have also given themselves to grotesque fearmongering.”
In the South, a similar response to the pandemic came from the neo-Confederate League of the South, which announced that it intends to hold its annual convention in Alabama in June regardless of whether or not any COVID-19 restrictions are in place. League president Michael Hill recently posted: “We are actively making plans and raising funds to help our members who are in financial straits, and we are moving ahead with our plans for upcoming events, including our 2020 national conference in late June.”
Ammon Bundy’s resistance effort involving a “Patriot” response team defending people who feel threatened by the Idaho avoidance order was couched in soothing tones, but the threat of violence underlying the enterprise was also unmistakable.
“When someone’s rights are being violated for whatever reason … then thousands of people come and surround that person and bring a tremendous, a lot of attention and bring accountability to the bad actors,” Bundy told the Emmett gathering. “The First Amendment is secured by the Second Amendment.”
That meeting, as the Idaho Press noted, likely violated Gov. Little’s stay-home order. The governor on Friday emphasized at a press conference that he has the authority to outlaw public gatherings, which are discouraged and are “frankly in violation of this stay-home order.”
“There’s no difference between a political gathering and any other gathering,” Little said.
Published with permission of Daily Kos


crooksandliars--2020-05-14--Michigan Police Will Arrest Anti-lockdown Protesters Who Brandish Guns

On May 13th Michigan State police put out a video explaining what protesters can expect at the planned protest at the State Capitol on May 14th .
They explain in a video that there will be a significant police presence , troopers wearing masks , cops on bikes , K9 units , a mobile command center , and some `` different vehicles '' to help create a safe environment .
The police asked everyone to adhere to the social -- six feet -- distancing and said , `` please bring your face covering . ''
They also explained that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Here 's a Facebook link to the whole video .
I 'm glad they communicated this information .
The police made a decision before the last two protests on how to act .
They let people break the social distancing laws .
This is the third organized protest .
The time for `` extreme discretion '' on violations of social distancing is over .
The police know how to cite and arrest people .
They know how to take precautions to prevent infecting themselves and others while doing it .
The media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrying guns will be arrested .
But those not carrying a deadly weapon could be carrying a deadly virus .
I 'll be watching to see how many people who broke the social distancing law are cited or arrested .
I wrote two pieces on the need to track and details about why to cite violators .
I also believe there needs to be a change in the actions and attitudes by the police toward the people at these protests .
Protesters without masks , especially those who willfully break social distancing guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the `` different vehicles '' at the protest is a hazmat unit .
If the police just give verbal warnings to people who break these laws , they are not doing their job protecting the people of Michigan .
To protect the health of the public lawful emergency orders on social distancing have been put in place .
Michigan 's public health department supports these orders put in place by the Governor .
People who do n't follow these orders need to be cited , arrested and prosecuted .
We know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing laws have spread COVID-19 to their home communities around the state .
I referenced this data in my post , Cops Did n't Enforce Law On Anti-lockdown Protesters , COVID-19 Spread The Governor told VP Mike Pence that this is happening .
Republican elected officials need to stop acting like it 's no big deal when people defy these orders .
They need to condemn people breaking a law that is designed to save lives .
Will Pence make a statement discouraging protests ?
If he does n't , at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to publicly defend Whitmer 's use of the police to arrest protesters .
He should state clearly that by not wearing masks and practicing social distancing COVID-19 is spread .
If Trump uses1 his `` very fine people '' line following the next protest or complains about the arrests , Pence needs to be asked to explain why they were justified .
He needs to be asked by one of those tough female reporters that scare Trump .
Pence ca n't be allowed to talk around the question without an answer either .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Pence and it 's infuriating .
The public overwhelming supports stay-at-home and social distancing rules .
But how do we show it ?
This cartoon was posted in the comments of my last piece .
It summed up in one image the problem with how the media covers these events .
It would be good to line up interviews with people in the rural communities where people got sick from protesters bringing COVID-19 back from the protests in Lansing .
I would run photos of the people who died in Michigan in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask-less protesters defying the social distancing rules .
Hopefully the footage I can use will be of protesters being cited and arrested .

On May 13th Michigan State police put out a video explaining what protesters can expect at the planned protest at the State Capitol on May 14th. They explain in a video that there will be a significant police presence, troopers wearing masks, cops on bikes, K9 units, a mobile command center, and some "different vehicles" to help create a safe environment.
The police asked everyone to adhere to the social--six feet--distancing and said, "please bring your face covering." They also explained that they will be arresting people who brandish guns.
Here's a Facebook link to the whole video. I'm glad they communicated this information. The police made a decision before the last two protests on how to act. They let people break the social distancing laws. This is the third organized protest. The time for "extreme discretion" on violations of social distancing is over. The police know how to cite and arrest people. They know how to take precautions to prevent infecting themselves and others while doing it.
The media will look to see if people openly carrying guns will be arrested. But those not carrying a deadly weapon could be carrying a deadly virus.
I'll be watching to see how many people who broke the social distancing law are cited or arrested. I wrote two pieces on the need to track and details about why to cite violators. I also believe there needs to be a change in the actions and attitudes by the police toward the people at these protests.
Protesters without masks, especially those who willfully break social distancing guidelines are potential bio-terrorists. I'm hoping one of the "different vehicles" at the protest is a hazmat unit.
If the police just give verbal warnings to people who break these laws, they are not doing their job protecting the people of Michigan.
To protect the health of the public lawful emergency orders on social distancing have been put in place. Michigan's public health department supports these orders put in place by the Governor. People who don't follow these orders need to be cited, arrested and prosecuted.
We know that people who don't follow the social distancing laws have spread COVID-19 to their home communities around the state. I referenced this data in my post, Cops Didn't Enforce Law On Anti-lockdown Protesters, COVID-19 Spread The Governor told VP Mike Pence that this is happening.
Gov. Whitmer asked VP Pence to consider discouraging protests. Per audio, she expressed concern about COVID-19 spread b/c of them: "But what we have seen from initial protests here is that we've got COVID-19 spreading in rural parts of our state, from which people traveled." — Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) May 11, 2020
Republican elected officials need to stop acting like it's no big deal when people defy these orders. They need to condemn people breaking a law that is designed to save lives.
Will Pence make a statement discouraging protests? If he doesn't, at the next press conference Pence should be asked to publicly defend Whitmer's use of the police to arrest protesters. He should state clearly that by not wearing masks and practicing social distancing COVID-19 is spread.
If Trump uses1 his "very fine people" line following the next protest or complains about the arrests, Pence needs to be asked to explain why they were justified. He needs to be asked by one of those tough female reporters that scare Trump. Pence can't be allowed to talk around the question without an answer either. We have come to expect NOTHING from Mike Pence and it's infuriating.
The public overwhelming supports stay-at-home and social distancing rules. But how do we show it? This cartoon was posted in the comments of my last piece. It summed up in one image the problem with how the media covers these events.
It would be good to line up interviews with people in the rural communities where people got sick from protesters bringing COVID-19 back from the protests in Lansing. I would run photos of the people who died in Michigan in split screen with the footage of the mask-less protesters defying the social distancing rules. Hopefully the footage I can use will be of protesters being cited and arrested.
Cross posted to Spocko's Brain


crooksandliars--2020-04-28--Fox News Fires Diamond And Silk But Keeps Hannity, Ingraham And Carlson

Earlier this month , Lynnette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson aka Diamond and Silk , were forced to delete a tweet because it spread misinformation about COVID-19 .
Back then , Ellen wrote that the conspiracy theory they were spreading was as dangerous as the one that got Trish Regan fired , and they should be fired too .
That has happened .
Variety reports that they are no longer listed on the Fox News list of contributors .
The two had been creating weekly episodes for a Fox Nation streaming program , but have not done so since early April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took to social media and the Fox Nation program with remarks that questioned the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and whether the number of people reported to have died from the disease were inflated to undermine President Trump .
“ What I need to know is how many people have passed away in New York , and what I need to know is : Who has the bodies ?
” Diamond asked during a recent streaming show .
“ Something ’ s not right here .
Something is off here.
” A day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the duo suggesting Americans leave sheltering at home and expose themselves to coronavirus .
That is n't much different than what Trish Regan said , as Ellen noted , and certainly should qualify them for termination .
But they were a cynical sideshow Fox News promoted as a way to assuage Trump and maybe attract some Black viewers .
And by cynical , I do mean VERY cynical .
The whole idea that because they were Black and said conservative things , they should be promoted is disgusting but definitely in line with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox News has fired a Fox Business contributor and now a couple of FoxNation contributors , but the real sources of misinformation remain : The entire primetime lineup .
Every single one of them from Tucker Carlson to Sean Hannity is guilty of spreading misinformation about Donald Trump , COVID-19 , Republicans and more .
Maybe the only honest person left there is Chris Wallace , whom Trump is desperate for Fox to fire .
Until Fox News cleans up their primetime act , firings like this are just intended to pretend they @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Earlier this month, Lynnette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson aka Diamond and Silk, were forced to delete a tweet because it spread misinformation about COVID-19. Back then, Ellen wrote that the conspiracy theory they were spreading was as dangerous as the one that got Trish Regan fired, and they should be fired too.
That has happened. Variety reports that they are no longer listed on the Fox News list of contributors.
The two had been creating weekly episodes for a Fox Nation streaming program, but have not done so since early April. In recent weeks, the pair took to social media and the Fox Nation program with remarks that questioned the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and whether the number of people reported to have died from the disease were inflated to undermine President Trump. “What I need to know is how many people have passed away in New York, and what I need to know is: Who has the bodies?” Diamond asked during a recent streaming show. “Something’s not right here. Something is off here.” A day later, Twitter deleted a tweet from the duo suggesting Americans leave sheltering at home and expose themselves to coronavirus.
That isn't much different than what Trish Regan said, as Ellen noted, and certainly should qualify them for termination.
But they were a cynical sideshow Fox News promoted as a way to assuage Trump and maybe attract some Black viewers. And by cynical, I do mean VERY cynical. The whole idea that because they were Black and said conservative things, they should be promoted is disgusting but definitely in line with Fox News' "values".
Fox News has fired a Fox Business contributor and now a couple of FoxNation contributors, but the real sources of misinformation remain: The entire primetime lineup. Every single one of them from Tucker Carlson to Sean Hannity is guilty of spreading misinformation about Donald Trump, COVID-19, Republicans and more. Maybe the only honest person left there is Chris Wallace, whom Trump is desperate for Fox to fire.
Until Fox News cleans up their primetime act, firings like this are just intended to pretend they actually give a damn about misinformation.


crooksandliars--2020-05-18--A Horrified Neil Cavuto Warns Fox Viewers NOT To Take Hydroxychloroquine

During a press spray on Monday afternoon , Donald Trump shocked the room by declaring that he is taking hydroxychloroquine , in addition to zinc , which may or may not be the truth .
Let the video be your guide .
First of all , no .
It is doubtful that he 's taking this medication .
The risks are simply too high and there are no proven benefits to this medication with regard to COVID-19 .
In fact , it has been shown to be useless and in some cases , dangerous .
Second , his declaration is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mismanagement .
Or maybe to distract from 90,000 dead Americans .
Or perhaps to change the conversation from Pompeo forcing out the State Department Inspector General to a litany of other egregious ( and probably criminal ) things this mafia administration is doing and has done .
Third , there is no evidence that he 's telling the truth .
Watch the video .
Donald Trump sounds delusional .
Nothing he said is moored in reality or truth .
Everything he said needs to be treated as a lie until it can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Well , even FOX News ( or at least , some of the hosts ) , are noticing this .
Instantly after Trump lied on national tv , Neil Cavuto jumped on the air and pleaded with viewers not to listen to Trump .
“ If you are in a risky population here , and you are taking this as a preventative treatment to ward off the virus , or in a worse case scenario , you are dealing with the virus , and you are in this vulnerable population , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stress enough .
This will kill you.
” When you 've lost FOX News ( or at least , Neil Cavuto ) , you are in deep trouble .

During a press spray on Monday afternoon, Donald Trump shocked the room by declaring that he is taking hydroxychloroquine, in addition to zinc, which may or may not be the truth. Let the video be your guide.
First of all, no. It is doubtful that he's taking this medication. The risks are simply too high and there are no proven benefits to this medication with regard to COVID-19. In fact, it has been shown to be useless and in some cases, dangerous.
Second, his declaration is meant to change the headlines from COVID mismanagement. Or maybe to distract from 90,000 dead Americans. Or perhaps to change the conversation from Pompeo forcing out the State Department Inspector General to a litany of other egregious (and probably criminal) things this mafia administration is doing and has done.
Third, there is no evidence that he's telling the truth. Watch the video. Donald Trump sounds delusional. Nothing he said is moored in reality or truth. Everything he said needs to be treated as a lie until it can be proven true. Easier than the converse.
Well, even FOX News (or at least, some of the hosts), are noticing this. Instantly after Trump lied on national tv, Neil Cavuto jumped on the air and pleaded with viewers not to listen to Trump.
He said, bluntly:
“If you are in a risky population here, and you are taking this as a preventative treatment to ward off the virus, or in a worse case scenario, you are dealing with the virus, and you are in this vulnerable population, it will kill you. I can not stress enough. This will kill you.”
Twitter noticed:
Cavuto’s head is close to exploding here.
pic.twitter.com/zgsp6AOviy — David Corn (@DavidCornDC) May 18, 2020
Wow. On Fox News, immediately after airing Trump’s remarks about how he's taking hydroxychloroquine and Trump asked "what do you have to lose?", Neil Cavuto said you could lose your life.
Cavuto cited multiple studies and said if you're vulnerable "this will kill you." — Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) May 18, 2020
Fox News on hydroxychloroquine in the last two days:
Neil Cavuto: It’ll kill you!!!
Laura Ingraham: Take it! Take it! Take it!
pic.twitter.com/CrmnmXKKrI — The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) May 18, 2020
When you've lost FOX News (or at least, Neil Cavuto), you are in deep trouble.


crooksandliars--2020-04-02--Vegas Paints 'Social Distancing Boxes' In Parking Lot For Homeless

After a man who had been staying at the Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada tested positive for the coronavirus , officially known as COVID-19 , Clark County and Las Vegas city officials announced they had devised a plan to move people who would otherwise be staying at the shelter to a convention center parking lot .
The county referred to the parking lot as a temporary `` shelter '' despite the fact that people staying there will be sleeping outdoors .
County and city officials expressed pride in their handling of the situation , with Las Vegas ' chief community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling the press , `` We know we have one job as a public servant , and that is to serve the community , and I think that we 're showing that we do that well . ''
On social media , however , images of city workers placing blue mats six feet apart and of people placing their belongings in so-called `` social distancing boxes '' —drawn so people staying in the parking lot can stay six feet away from each other—were met with scorn .
Several observers pointed out that hotels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most popular tourist destinations in the U.S. , are currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic , leaving thousands of rooms empty while homeless people are sleeping in the so-called `` shelter '' of an open-air parking lot .
In Santa Clara County , California , officials have secured at least 172 hotel rooms to house people facing homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic .
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said last week the city planned to rent thousands of rooms for homeless people and for coronavirus patients , and New York City officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four hotels for the homeless population .
In Las Vegas , people are expected to stay in the Cashman Center parking lot until at least April 3 , when the Catholic Charities shelter is set to reopen .
Journalist Rania Khalek expressed little surprise at the treatment of people facing homelessness in the midst of the current public health crisis .

After a man who had been staying at the Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada tested positive for the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, Clark County and Las Vegas city officials announced they had devised a plan to move people who would otherwise be staying at the shelter to a convention center parking lot. The county referred to the parking lot as a temporary "shelter" despite the fact that people staying there will be sleeping outdoors.
Due to the closure of Catholic Charities, we are joining with @CityOfLasVegas & area homeless providers to set up a temporary shelter @ Cashman Center. It will open tonight & run through April 3rd, when Catholic Charities will reopen #coronavirus #Vegas pic.twitter.com/XGWaREYbFq — Clark County Nevada (@ClarkCountyNV) March 28, 2020
County and city officials expressed pride in their handling of the situation, with Las Vegas' chief community services officer, Lisa Morris Hibbler, telling the press, "We know we have one job as a public servant, and that is to serve the community, and I think that we're showing that we do that well."
On social media, however, images of city workers placing blue mats six feet apart and of people placing their belongings in so-called "social distancing boxes"—drawn so people staying in the parking lot can stay six feet away from each other—were met with scorn.
Nevada, a state in one of the richest countries in the world, has painted social-distancing boxes on a concrete parking lot for the homeless to sleep in. pic.twitter.com/svNJ0N9r3f — A Mancino-Williams (@Manda_like_wine) March 30, 2020
Several observers pointed out that hotels in Las Vegas, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S., are currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, leaving thousands of rooms empty while homeless people are sleeping in the so-called "shelter" of an open-air parking lot.
Nevada has a homeless population of 10,556. Las Vegas alone has 150,000 hotel rooms, all empty because of the lockdown. Yet they keep people on the streets, my heart hurts. https://t.co/5yEvOjrzAf — Hasan Patel (@CorbynistaTeen) March 30, 2020
Literally thousands of empty hotel rooms in Las Vegas right now but officials decided to place homeless people on the ground in a parking lot https://t.co/gVvp8B0dRV — Jon Passantino (@passantino) March 30, 2020
In Santa Clara County, California, officials have secured at least 172 hotel rooms to house people facing homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said last week the city planned to rent thousands of rooms for homeless people and for coronavirus patients, and New York City officials said they had lined up 500 rooms in four hotels for the homeless population.
In Las Vegas, people are expected to stay in the Cashman Center parking lot until at least April 3, when the Catholic Charities shelter is set to reopen.
Journalist Rania Khalek expressed little surprise at the treatment of people facing homelessness in the midst of the current public health crisis.
"This is America," tweeted Khalek.
Republished from Common Dreams (Julia Conley, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.


crooksandliars--2020-02-25--Rush Limbaugh Is Sure Coronavirus Is 'An Effort To Bring Down Trump'

Rush Limbaugh is trying very hard to go out in a blaze of glory , it appears .
Receiving the Medal of Freedom and a diagnosis of terminal lung cancer is not slowing him down one bit .
Even as Trump longs to run against Bernie Sanders , Rush is already queuing up the commie chat to scare listeners into thinking Bernie Sanders is going to let the United States become an annex of China .
The coronavirus was today 's topic of discussion , and Rush began by hatching a nice conspiracy theory about it .
`` It probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the process of being weaponized , '' he said .
`` All superpower nations weaponize bioweapons .
They experiment with them .
The Russians , for example , have weaponized fentanyl .
Now , fentanyl is also not what it is represented to be . ''
Well I guess Rush would know , would n't he ?
Is this how he explains away his addiction ?
By pretending it 's a Russian government plot to kill Americans ?
No seriously , he knows ALL about Fentanyl .
But inhaling a little fentanyl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lose consciousness and stop breathing as they predict or depict on cop shows .
It ’ s dangerous .
Don ’ t misunderstand .
But it isn ’ t the way it ’ s portrayed in popular criminal TV shows , cop shows , and so forth and so on .
He goes on and on , attributing the Chechen takeover of a theater and subsequent death of hostages due to an unidentified substance as an example of how fentanyl has been weaponized , and how the coronavirus , which is almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being weaponized against business , not so China can get an economic advantage ... no , not that .
`` I think the coronavirus is an effort to get Trump , '' he concluded .
`` It ’ s one of the latest in a long line of efforts that the drive-by media is making to somehow say that Trump and capitalism are destroying America and destroying the world . ''
And then he drops the punch line , because what would a conspiracy theory be without someone to blame ?
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to turn the United States into a mirror image of : Communist China .
That ’ s where it came from .
It didn ’ t come from an American lab .
It didn ’ t escape from an American research lab .
It hasn ’ t been spread by Americans .
It starts out in a communist country .
Its tentacles spread all across the world in numbers that are not big and not huge , but they ’ re being reported as just the opposite .
Just trying to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just stupid .
Let 's be honest here .
The only thing that 's communist about China is , well ... nothing .
China is purely capitalist with a President-for-life leading the country .
It 's authoritarian and capitalist , the way Trump wants this country to be .
If anyone is going to remake the country into China 's image , it 's not going to be Bernie Sanders .
It was , however , a perfect opportunity for Rush to do what the WHO has warned against :

Rush Limbaugh is trying very hard to go out in a blaze of glory, it appears. Receiving the Medal of Freedom and a diagnosis of terminal lung cancer is not slowing him down one bit. Even as Trump longs to run against Bernie Sanders, Rush is already queuing up the commie chat to scare listeners into thinking Bernie Sanders is going to let the United States become an annex of China.
The coronavirus was today's topic of discussion, and Rush began by hatching a nice conspiracy theory about it.
"It probably is a ChiCom laboratory experiment that is in the process of being weaponized," he said. "All superpower nations weaponize bioweapons. They experiment with them. The Russians, for example, have weaponized fentanyl. Now, fentanyl is also not what it is represented to be."
Well I guess Rush would know, wouldn't he? Is this how he explains away his addiction? By pretending it's a Russian government plot to kill Americans?
No seriously, he knows ALL about Fentanyl.
But inhaling a little fentanyl dust is not going to cause you to lose consciousness and stop breathing as they predict or depict on cop shows. It’s dangerous. Don’t misunderstand. But it isn’t the way it’s portrayed in popular criminal TV shows, cop shows, and so forth and so on.
He goes on and on, attributing the Chechen takeover of a theater and subsequent death of hostages due to an unidentified substance as an example of how fentanyl has been weaponized, and how the coronavirus, which is almost certainly a biological weapon that got free is being weaponized against business, not so China can get an economic advantage...no, not that.
"I think the coronavirus is an effort to get Trump," he concluded. "It’s one of the latest in a long line of efforts that the drive-by media is making to somehow say that Trump and capitalism are destroying America and destroying the world."
And then he drops the punch line, because what would a conspiracy theory be without someone to blame?
It came from a country that Bernie Sanders wants to turn the United States into a mirror image of: Communist China. That’s where it came from. It didn’t come from an American lab. It didn’t escape from an American research lab. It hasn’t been spread by Americans. It starts out in a communist country. Its tentacles spread all across the world in numbers that are not big and not huge, but they’re being reported as just the opposite. Just trying to keep it all in perspective.
This is just stupid. Let's be honest here. The only thing that's communist about China is, well...nothing. China is purely capitalist with a President-for-life leading the country. It's authoritarian and capitalist, the way Trump wants this country to be. If anyone is going to remake the country into China's image, it's not going to be Bernie Sanders.
It was, however, a perfect opportunity for Rush to do what the WHO has warned against:
Since the emergence of COVID-19 we have seen instances of public stigmatization among specific populations, and the rise of harmful stereotypes. Stigmatization could potentially contribute to more severe health problems, ongoing transmission, and difficulties controlling infectious diseases during an epidemic.
(h/t Media Matters)


crooksandliars--2020-02-25--Trump's Junk Plan Leaves Florida Man Holding The Bill For Coronavirus Testing

Remember when Trump decided he 'd get rid of the ACA by approving junk plans that could impose pre-existing conditions restrictions and do n't pay for benefits that qualified ACA plans are required to cover ?
Remember how the right wing celebrated that and Trump crowed about how people could buy these crappy plans and tell themselves they had health insurance ?
Well , have I got a story for YOU , courtesy of the Miami Herald .
Osmel Martinez Azcue came down with flu-like symptoms after he visited China as part of a work trip .
While he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cold and flu medicine from CVS , he thought he had better be tested for coronavirus , given the possibility he could have gotten it on his trip .
What happened next ?
This : He went to Jackson Memorial Hospital , where he said he was placed in a closed-off room .
Nurses in protective white suits sprayed some kind of disinfectant smoke under the door before entering , Azcue said .
Then hospital staff members told him he ’ d need a CT scan to screen for coronavirus , but Azcue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first .
“ This will be out of my pocket , ” Azcue , who has a very limited insurance plan , recalled saying .
“ Let ’ s start with the blood test , and if I test positive , just discharge me.
” Oh .
So the hospital did that .
And he had the flu .
What a relief for him !
Well , sort of .
Right about the time he was recovered from his bout of the flu , he was slapped with a bill for $ 3,270 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his insurance company .
But wait !
It gets better !
Yep , that 's right .
Some genius at the crappy for-profit insurer who was happy to take Azcue 's money but cover nothing and then come up with the bogus argument that somehow a bout of the flu related to some mysterious pre-existing condition ( What ?
He had a cold 3 years ago ? )
is EXACTLY why the ACA exists .
Was Azcue stupid for buying junk insurance ?
Yeah , he was .
Here 's why he did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 55,000 a year working for a medical device company that does not offer health insurance , but his insurance plan wasn ’ t always so narrow .
Last year , Azcue said he was covered under an Affordable Care Act-compliant plan that cost him about $ 278 in monthly premiums .
Those premiums shot up to $ 400 a month when his full year salary kicked in , so he canceled his plan in November , he said .
Azcue said he now pays $ 180 per month for the limited plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smart for going and getting tested for coronavirus ?
Yes , he absolutely was .
He gets a `` good citizen '' award for that .
But what has just happened here is a leading indicator of what kind of health crisis is looming in front of us , because there are going to be a LOT of people out there with no insurance who will not do that .
They will tell themselves they just have a cold , nothing more , go to CVS for some meds , pass around that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with , and maybe end up in the hospital , or worse yet , dead .
“ When someone has flu-like symptoms , you want them to to seek medical care , ” said Sabrina Corlette , a Georgetown University professor and co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms .
“ If they have one of these junk plans and they know they might be on the hook for more than they can afford to seek that care , a lot of them just won ’ t , and that is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a public health crisis .
Sure , let 's hear more about how people do n't want to give up their GREAT private insurance for Medicare for All .

Remember when Trump decided he'd get rid of the ACA by approving junk plans that could impose pre-existing conditions restrictions and don't pay for benefits that qualified ACA plans are required to cover? Remember how the right wing celebrated that and Trump crowed about how people could buy these crappy plans and tell themselves they had health insurance?
Well, have I got a story for YOU, courtesy of the Miami Herald. Osmel Martinez Azcue came down with flu-like symptoms after he visited China as part of a work trip. While he said he'd ordinarily just go get some cold and flu medicine from CVS, he thought he had better be tested for coronavirus, given the possibility he could have gotten it on his trip.
What happened next? This:
He went to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he said he was placed in a closed-off room. Nurses in protective white suits sprayed some kind of disinfectant smoke under the door before entering, Azcue said. Then hospital staff members told him he’d need a CT scan to screen for coronavirus, but Azcue said he asked for a flu test first. “This will be out of my pocket,” Azcue, who has a very limited insurance plan, recalled saying. “Let’s start with the blood test, and if I test positive, just discharge me.”
Oh. So the hospital did that. And he had the flu. What a relief for him!
Well, sort of. Right about the time he was recovered from his bout of the flu, he was slapped with a bill for $3,270, all of which was denied by his insurance company.
But wait! It gets better!
Hospital officials at Jackson told the Miami Herald that, based on his insurance, Azcue would only be responsible for $1,400 of that bill, but Azcue said he heard from his insurer that he would also have to provide additional documentation: three years of medical records to prove that the flu he got didn’t relate to a preexisting condition.
Yep, that's right. Some genius at the crappy for-profit insurer who was happy to take Azcue's money but cover nothing and then come up with the bogus argument that somehow a bout of the flu related to some mysterious pre-existing condition (What? He had a cold 3 years ago?) is EXACTLY why the ACA exists.
Was Azcue stupid for buying junk insurance? Yeah, he was. Here's why he did it:
Azcue said he earns about $55,000 a year working for a medical device company that does not offer health insurance, but his insurance plan wasn’t always so narrow. Last year, Azcue said he was covered under an Affordable Care Act-compliant plan that cost him about $278 in monthly premiums. Those premiums shot up to $400 a month when his full year salary kicked in, so he canceled his plan in November, he said. Azcue said he now pays $180 per month for the limited plan from National General Insurance.
Was Azcue smart for going and getting tested for coronavirus? Yes, he absolutely was. He gets a "good citizen" award for that.
But what has just happened here is a leading indicator of what kind of health crisis is looming in front of us, because there are going to be a LOT of people out there with no insurance who will not do that. They will tell themselves they just have a cold, nothing more, go to CVS for some meds, pass around that virus to everyone they come in contact with, and maybe end up in the hospital, or worse yet, dead.
“When someone has flu-like symptoms, you want them to to seek medical care,” said Sabrina Corlette, a Georgetown University professor and co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms. “If they have one of these junk plans and they know they might be on the hook for more than they can afford to seek that care, a lot of them just won’t, and that is a public health concern.”
It's more like a public health crisis. Sure, let's hear more about how people don't want to give up their GREAT private insurance for Medicare for All.


crooksandliars--2020-02-25--GOP Senator Grills Acting DHS Chief On His Abysmal Ignorance About Coronavirus

Vox journalist Aaron Rupar tweeted clips of Republican Sen. John Kennedy firing hostile questions at Dept .
of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf today , after Kennedy 's Senate committee had received a briefing on the potential coronavirus pandemic .
The senator from Louisiana was quite visibly dissatisfied with the lack of answers to his questions the DHS director was providing .
KENNEDY : Do we have enough respirators ?
WOLF : To my knowledge we do .
I 'm focused on making sure our operators at DHS make sure that they have the protective equipment , I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... KENNEDY : Well , we just heard testimony that we do n't .
KENNEDY : You 're head of Homeland Security .
Do we have enough respirators , or not ?
KENNEDY : For EVERYBODY .
Every American who needs one who gets the disease .
Does this guy Wolf think the only people who matter are his own workers ?
That the Senate hearing WOULD N'T be centered on making sure that , you know , PATIENTS would have the equipment available to combat this virus ?
An outbreak for which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be prepared ?
This noob makes the same mistake later in the video when Kennedy asks him about facemasks .
Do we have enough facemasks ?
Chad the Confused says , `` You mean for the people at DHS ? ''
NO YOU IDIOT FOR EVERYONE IN AMERICA WHO GETS CORONAVIRUS OR WOULD PREFER NOT TO OH MY GOD Then Sen. Kennedy asks him if someone is tasked with projecting out how many cases we anticipate in the U.S. WOLF : You 're asking me a number of medical questions , sir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions because you 're Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security .
And you 're supposed to keep us safe .
And you need to know the answers to these questions .
How far away are we from getting a vaccine ?
KENNEDY : Well , that 's not what we just heard testimony about .
Would now be a good time to bring up the fact that perhaps if Sen. Kennedy had paid closer attention to the morons and sycophants Trump was appointing to positions of great importance like these , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe ?
Perhaps if Kennedy had n't spent so much time deferring to Trump and kissing his ass while he was carving huge holes in vital governmental agencies , and filling them with Ivanka 's kids ' friends ' dads or whatever we might not be in this precarious spot ?

Vox journalist Aaron Rupar tweeted clips of Republican Sen. John Kennedy firing hostile questions at Dept. of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf today, after Kennedy's Senate committee had received a briefing on the potential coronavirus pandemic. The senator from Louisiana was quite visibly dissatisfied with the lack of answers to his questions the DHS director was providing.
KENNEDY: Do we have enough respirators? WOLF: To my knowledge we do. I'm focused on making sure our operators at DHS make sure that they have the protective equipment, I know HHS, as part of the supplemental... KENNEDY: Well, we just heard testimony that we don't. [...] WOLF: For medical professionals? I don't understand the question. KENNEDY: You're head of Homeland Security. Do we have enough respirators, or not? WOLF: For PATIENTS? I don't understand the question. KENNEDY: For EVERYBODY. Every American who needs one who gets the disease.
I mean...
Does this guy Wolf think the only people who matter are his own workers? That the Senate hearing WOULDN'T be centered on making sure that, you know, PATIENTS would have the equipment available to combat this virus? An outbreak for which the CDC has just warned us we should be prepared?
This noob makes the same mistake later in the video when Kennedy asks him about facemasks. Do we have enough facemasks? Chad the Confused says, "You mean for the people at DHS?"
NO YOU IDIOT FOR EVERYONE IN AMERICA WHO GETS CORONAVIRUS OR WOULD PREFER NOT TO OH MY GOD
Then Sen. Kennedy asks him if someone is tasked with projecting out how many cases we anticipate in the U.S.
WOLF: You're asking me a number of medical questions, sir. KENNEDY: I'm asking you questions because you're Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. And you're supposed to keep us safe. And you need to know the answers to these questions. How far away are we from getting a vaccine? WOLF: Several months. KENNEDY: Well, that's not what we just heard testimony about. WOLF: Okay.
Oy.
Would now be a good time to bring up the fact that perhaps if Sen. Kennedy had paid closer attention to the morons and sycophants Trump was appointing to positions of great importance like these, we might be better prepared to keep Americans safe? Perhaps if Kennedy hadn't spent so much time deferring to Trump and kissing his ass while he was carving huge holes in vital governmental agencies, and filling them with Ivanka's kids' friends' dads or whatever we might not be in this precarious spot?
John Kennedy has voted to confirm every single one of Trump's unqualified cabinet members, sending a message to the president that being qualified for the job shouldn't even register as a priority. https://t.co/At3l4syil0 — Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) February 25, 2020
This guys spent the last 3 years blindly defending this incompetents appointed by a president unfit for his job. Now they are very upset that they don't know how to do their job. Demagogy and semi-authoritarianism has a price. — Eduardo Silva (@sereiindelicado) February 25, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-02-24--Of Course, Fox News Blames Bernie Sanders For Stock Market Crash

As news broke that the coronavirus has spread around the world , stock markets responded with a huge selloff .
CNBC writes , `` Stocks fell sharply on Monday as the number of coronavirus cases outside China surged , stoking fears of a prolonged global economic slowdown from the virus spreading .
Yahoo Finance writes , `` Wall Street dives on coronavirus panic , with travel and leisure leading the rout '' MarketWatch writes , `` Dow slides more than 800 points as coronavirus stirs fears of lasting global economic hit '' WSJ writes , `` U.S. Stocks Sink as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ S & P 500 fall more than 2 % after steep declines across Europe , Asia '' But if you turned on Fox News you 'd hear a very different and unrealistic story being disseminated .
No surprise there .
See , it was n't really the coronavirus outbreak that caused the stock markets to plunge , but that Bernie Sanders winning the Nevada Democratic primary that was the true culprit .
`` The Bernie factor is finally rearing its head in the stock market ... there 's absolutely no doubt . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ propaganda at the highest order .

As news broke that the coronavirus has spread around the world, stock markets responded with a huge selloff.
CNBC writes, "Stocks fell sharply on Monday as the number of coronavirus cases outside China surged, stoking fears of a prolonged global economic slowdown from the virus spreading.
Yahoo Finance writes, "Wall Street dives on coronavirus panic, with travel and leisure leading the rout"
MarketWatch writes, "Dow slides more than 800 points as coronavirus stirs fears of lasting global economic hit"
FT writes, "Wall Street opens lower after Italy’s coronavirus lockdown"
WSJ writes, "U.S. Stocks Sink as Coronavirus Cases Mount Outside of AsiaDow, S&P 500 fall more than 2% after steep declines across Europe, Asia"
But if you turned on Fox News you'd hear a very different and unrealistic story being disseminated. No surprise there.
See, it wasn't really the coronavirus outbreak that caused the stock markets to plunge, but that Bernie Sanders winning the Nevada Democratic primary that was the true culprit.
"The Bernie factor is finally rearing its head in the stock market...there's absolutely no doubt." said Payne.
This is Trump state-sponsored propaganda at the highest order.


crooksandliars--2020-02-24--Varney Whines: Coronavirus And Stock Selloff Is Upstaging Trump's Visit To India

Stuart Varney and Lou Dobbs were perturbed , not that the coronavirus is becoming a pandemic and killing innocent people all over the world , but that the resulting stock market selloff has taken the spotlight off of Donald Trump 's visit to India .
It 's the sick and twisted priorities on Fox Business : nothing else matters in the world than giving Donald Trump attention .
The purpose of Varney & Co is to praise Trump enough so MAGA wo n't switch over to OANN because Fox does n't slobber enough all over the Stable Genius .
Varney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uber-Trump sycophant Lou Dobbs to discuss the early morning stock market sell-off and of course , it did n't take long for the adoration of Trump to take over their discussion .
Stuart Varney said , `` This is the first time , Lou , I can remember in some time that President Trump has been knocked out of first place in the news cycle .
He 's had this remarkable reception in India but it 's playing second fiddle to the stock market sell-off on the expansion of the virus .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he opined .
How dare you coronavirus ?
Damn you to hell !
!
!
!
But Dobbs replied that they are still talking about Trump even with the market sell-off and the virus .
Dobbs said , `` Well , but you know we 're talking about President Trump and Melania in India even as you were looking at what is a 2 and 3/4 % sell-off in the S & P and the DOW , a little worse in the NASDAQ of course . ''
Dobbs was so happy that Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taj Mahal . ''
For many Fox on-air personalities , there is never a bad time to praise and glorify the narcissistic imbecile , After all , Donald TIVO 's their show to review it for sufficient worship , even when people are dying from a new virus that is spreading throughout the world and the Dow is falling as a result .

Stuart Varney and Lou Dobbs were perturbed, not that the coronavirus is becoming a pandemic and killing innocent people all over the world, but that the resulting stock market selloff has taken the spotlight off of Donald Trump's visit to India.
It's the sick and twisted priorities on Fox Business: nothing else matters in the world than giving Donald Trump attention. The purpose of Varney & Co is to praise Trump enough so MAGA won't switch over to OANN because Fox doesn't slobber enough all over the Stable Genius.
Varney and Co. was joined by non-other than uber-Trump sycophant Lou Dobbs to discuss the early morning stock market sell-off and of course, it didn't take long for the adoration of Trump to take over their discussion.
Stuart Varney said, "This is the first time, Lou, I can remember in some time that President Trump has been knocked out of first place in the news cycle. He's had this remarkable reception in India but it's playing second fiddle to the stock market sell-off on the expansion of the virus. I've not seen that before," he opined.
How dare you coronavirus? Damn you to hell!!!!
But Dobbs replied that they are still talking about Trump even with the market sell-off and the virus.
Dobbs said, "Well, but you know we're talking about President Trump and Melania in India even as you were looking at what is a 2 and 3/4% sell-off in the S&P and the DOW, a little worse in the NASDAQ of course."
Dobbs was so happy that Trump "and Melania holding hands at the Taj Mahal."
For many Fox on-air personalities, there is never a bad time to praise and glorify the narcissistic imbecile, After all, Donald TIVO's their show to review it for sufficient worship, even when people are dying from a new virus that is spreading throughout the world and the Dow is falling as a result.
Watch the video via Fox Business:


crooksandliars--2020-06-23--Fox News 'Doctor' Distorts Truth About COVID-19 Spike

Back when Fox News was still pretending that Trump was joking when he said `` slow down the testing , '' Fox Business brought on their `` medical contributor '' Dr. Marc Siegel to spin the latest spike in COVID-19 numbers .
And spin he did , first by repeating the despicable Peter Navarro 's lie that Trump was `` joking . ''
He was n't .
And then the spin kicked in .
`` States like Florida and Texas and California have seen close to 4,000 or more new cases per day , but the flipside of that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he told host Ashley Webster .
`` That 's a positive because 20 to 40-year-olds we are seeing here tend to get milder cases and in fact , the death rate from COVID-19 is down 40 % over the past two weeks . ''
If only he was right .
ICUs have had plenty of people in that age group , and the death rate is n't kind to them either .
What is it going to take to get Fox News/Business to acknowledge the very real danger of this disease ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deficiencies or age !
Otherwise healthy people end up on ventilators -- or morgues .
The good doctor failed to say that the death rate is only down because New York rates are still low , and that in fact ICUs are in danger of being overrun ( see Arizona or Alabama , for example ) .
But the lies continued .
`` We are not yet seeing the surges in hospitals and the cases themselves tend to be mild , '' he reassured nervous Fox News viewers .
Yeah , that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , things are so bad in Texas that Governor Greg Abbott warned on Tuesday that the state reopening plans would have to be stopped if the hospitalization and infection rates continued to climb .
The state has since reported days of record hospitalizations and daily increases in reported Covid-19 cases .
As of Sunday , there are 2,913 people currently hospitalized in Texas with Covid-19 based on a seven-day moving average , a 37 % increase compared with a week ago , according to data from the Covid Tracking Project .
The state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases has increased more than 86 % compared with a week ago , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
Abbott actually exhorted Texans to use their damn masks instead of bitching about them because liberty .
But sure , Fox Biz , keep on lying to your viewers .
I 'm sure they wo n't be at risk .
Nope , not at all .

Back when Fox News was still pretending that Trump was joking when he said "slow down the testing," Fox Business brought on their "medical contributor" Dr. Marc Siegel to spin the latest spike in COVID-19 numbers.
And spin he did, first by repeating the despicable Peter Navarro's lie that Trump was "joking." He wasn't.
And then the spin kicked in. "States like Florida and Texas and California have seen close to 4,000 or more new cases per day, but the flipside of that is, it's mostly young people," he told host Ashley Webster. "That's a positive because 20 to 40-year-olds we are seeing here tend to get milder cases and in fact, the death rate from COVID-19 is down 40% over the past two weeks."
If only he was right. ICUs have had plenty of people in that age group, and the death rate isn't kind to them either. What is it going to take to get Fox News/Business to acknowledge the very real danger of this disease? It's not just people with immune deficiencies or age! Otherwise healthy people end up on ventilators -- or morgues.
The good doctor failed to say that the death rate is only down because New York rates are still low, and that in fact ICUs are in danger of being overrun (see Arizona or Alabama, for example).
But the lies continued. "We are not yet seeing the surges in hospitals and the cases themselves tend to be mild," he reassured nervous Fox News viewers.
Yeah, that's not true at all. In fact, things are so bad in Texas that Governor Greg Abbott warned on Tuesday that the state reopening plans would have to be stopped if the hospitalization and infection rates continued to climb.
The state has since reported days of record hospitalizations and daily increases in reported Covid-19 cases. As of Sunday, there are 2,913 people currently hospitalized in Texas with Covid-19 based on a seven-day moving average, a 37% increase compared with a week ago, according to data from the Covid Tracking Project. The state’s seven-day average of new Covid-19 cases has increased more than 86% compared with a week ago, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Abbott actually exhorted Texans to use their damn masks instead of bitching about them because liberty. But sure, Fox Biz, keep on lying to your viewers. I'm sure they won't be at risk. Nope, not at all.


crooksandliars--2020-05-25--WATCH: Staten Island Grocery Shoppers Drive Out Woman Who Refuses To Wear A Mask

New Yorkers have no time for the selfish few who refuse to wear masks as some sort of entitlement granted @ @ @ @ @ others .
The language used is raw but this is how it should be done @ @ @ @ @ Staten Island , the only borough that Trump won in New York City against Hillary @ @ @ @ @ But these are the times we live in .
A group of angry shoppers at @ @ @ @ @ captured on video driving out a woman in the store who refused to wear a @ @ @ @ @ video clip shows masked shoppers swarming around a shopper who is pushing her cart around @ @ @ @ @ covering .
“ Get out !
” one of the shoppers yells at the woman @ @ @ @ @ out of here !
” yells another .
Staten Island has been hard hit by @ @ @ @ @ than 13,000 coronavirus infections and nearly 1,000 deaths from the disease .

New Yorkers have no time for the selfish few who refuse to wear masks as some sort of entitlement granted to them by Trump or others. The language used is raw but this is how it should be done. That it happened on Staten Island, the only borough that Trump won in New York City against Hillary Clinton is somewhat remarkable. But these are the times we live in.
Source: Raw Story
A group of angry shoppers at a Staten Island ShopRite were captured on video driving out a woman in the store who refused to wear a face mask.
The 20-second video clip shows masked shoppers swarming around a shopper who is pushing her cart around without any kind of face covering.
“Get out!” one of the shoppers yells at the woman.
“Get the f*ck out of here!” yells another.
Staten Island has been hard hit by COVID-19 and has recorded more than 13,000 coronavirus infections and nearly 1,000 deaths from the disease.


crooksandliars--2020-05-31--Sunday Morning Bobblehead Thread

Sunday Morning Bobblehead Thread

Isolation is hard on anyone , but can be especially hard on senior citizens , and doubly so when imposed by necessity due to the pandemic of COVID-19 .
A group of creative retirees has found a way around that with a pirate radio hour that turned into an entire radio station called `` Radio Recliners . ''
It 's hosted entirely by elderly retirees/DJs from assisted living communities throughout the U.S .
The project was launched by marketing firm Luckie back in April as a means of keeping lonely seniors entertained and optimistic during the pandemic .
The company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every day for one month—but since the station has garnered more and more listeners , Radio Recliner has also attracted a team of 18 senior DJs to continue recording new segments .
In addition to new shows being aired every day at noon , the station now streams a continuous loop of old content to keep its fanbase entertained .
On the Radio Recliner website , listeners can also submit song requests and ask the hosts to broadcast audio messages and shoutouts to friends and family members .
If that 's not something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up .
Until next week , that is ... ************* Here 's your Sunday morning line-up , according to Politico : What are you watching today ?

Isolation is hard on anyone, but can be especially hard on senior citizens, and doubly so when imposed by necessity due to the pandemic of COVID-19. A group of creative retirees has found a way around that with a pirate radio hour that turned into an entire radio station called "Radio Recliners." It's hosted entirely by elderly retirees/DJs from assisted living communities throughout the U.S.
The project was launched by marketing firm Luckie back in April as a means of keeping lonely seniors entertained and optimistic during the pandemic. The company only planned on airing new 60-minute shows every day for one month—but since the station has garnered more and more listeners, Radio Recliner has also attracted a team of 18 senior DJs to continue recording new segments. In addition to new shows being aired every day at noon, the station now streams a continuous loop of old content to keep its fanbase entertained. On the Radio Recliner website, listeners can also submit song requests and ask the hosts to broadcast audio messages and shoutouts to friends and family members.
If that's not something to make you smile, I give up. Until next week, that is...
*************
Here's your Sunday morning line-up, according to Politico:
ABC “This Week”: Speaker Nancy Pelosi … Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) … National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien. Panel: Chris Christie, Cecilia Vega and Patrick Gaspard. Fox “Fox News Sunday”: Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.). … Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison … Andy Skoggman … Cornel West. Panel: Michael Anton, Dana Perino and Mo Elleithee. Power Player of the Week: Lawrence Wright. NBC “Meet the Press”: Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.). … Shaquille Brewster (live from Minneapolis). Panel: Joshua Johnson, Pat McCrory and Maria Teresa Kumar. CBS “Face the Nation”: Benjamin Crump … David Brown … Scott Gottleib … Tom Wyatt. CNN “State of the Union”: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) … Robert O’Brien.
What are you watching today?


crooksandliars--2020-05-31--MSNBC Anchor Chris Jansing Has Had Enough

Anyone watching the news these past few days can relate to Chris Jansing 's frustration .
As several Twitter users @ @ @ @ @ Chris Jansing today .
Let 's not kid ourselves , 2020 has not been easy @ @ @ @ @ almost a world war , then we had coronavirus ( which is n't over by @ @ @ @ @ we have more police brutality and mass protests across the United States .
Sometimes you @ @ @ @ @ head in your hands and scream in frustration .
That is n't quite what MSNBC @ @ @ @ @ Saturday but you can tell that she wanted to .
While experiencing technical problems and @ @ @ @ @ in the field , Jansing could be seen finally giving up and throwing her paper @ @ @ @

Anyone watching the news these past few days can relate to Chris Jansing's frustration. As several Twitter users tweeted, We are all Chris Jansing today.
Source: Indy 100
Let's not kid ourselves, 2020 has not been easy.
Firstly, there was almost a world war, then we had coronavirus (which isn't over by the way) and now we have more police brutality and mass protests across the United States.
Sometimes you just want to bury your head in your hands and scream in frustration.
That isn't quite what MSNBC anchor Chris Jansing did on Saturday but you can tell that she wanted to.
While experiencing technical problems and attempting to talk to reporters in the field, Jansing could be seen finally giving up and throwing her paper down in frustration.


crooksandliars--2020-05-30--SCOTUS Denies CA Church's Challenge To COVID Related Restrictions

In a rare late night ruling , the Supreme Court rejected a California church 's request to exempt them from COVID related restrictions on worship services .
Chief Justice Roberts sided with the liberals in denying the challenge in a 5-4 ruling .
Drunk frat boy , Brett Kavanaugh , wrote the dissent , of course .
In the ruling , Roberts wrote that Govenor Newsom had `` leeway to impose restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus , and had not singled out places of worship for unfair treatment . ''
He went on to say “ the notion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the government ’ s limitations are unconstitutional seems quite improbable . ''
He was joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg , Stephen G. Breyer , Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan in the decision to deny the request for intervention .
The court ’ s conservative justices said they would have granted the request for immediate intervention because they believe `` the state ’ s new rules likely violate the Constitution ’ s protection of the free exercise of religion . ''
Kavanaugh , in his dissent , said : “ California ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of worship and in favor of comparable secular businesses .
Such discrimination violates the First Amendment.
” He was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil M. Gorsuch .
Alito would have granted the church 's request , but did not join Kavanaugh 's statement .
I am not sure what to make of that .
Churches are eager to reopen , regardless of the danger it poses to their congregation .
And it poses real dangers .
One church choir member spread COVID to 87 % of the members just by singing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ churches are the most dangerous places in the COVID pandemic , saying `` asymptomatic spread and aerosolization of the virus from singing '' make churches particularly ripe for the spread of COVID to their members .
A megachurch in Sacramento was linked to the spread of more than 70 cases .
There is no safe way to be in a small room , singing loudly and passing around plates for donations during COVID .
That has n't stopped churches from wanting to reopen , probably because they need money .
Is that what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even against medical advice ?
Some states are slowly easing restrictions and allowing small services of 10 and under or 25 % or less of the congregants .
Will this ease the transmission of COVID ?
We will find out in 2 weeks , I guess .
A large majority of houses of worship , including synagogues , mosques and many other Christian churches have opted to live stream their services online , putting their congregants and clergy first .
Clearly , not all churches feel this way .

In a rare late night ruling, the Supreme Court rejected a California church's request to exempt them from COVID related restrictions on worship services. Chief Justice Roberts sided with the liberals in denying the challenge in a 5-4 ruling. Drunk frat boy, Brett Kavanaugh, wrote the dissent, of course.
In the ruling, Roberts wrote that Govenor Newsom had "leeway to impose restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and had not singled out places of worship for unfair treatment." He went on to say “the notion that it is ‘indisputably clear’ that the government’s limitations are unconstitutional seems quite improbable." He was joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan in the decision to deny the request for intervention.
The court’s conservative justices said they would have granted the request for immediate intervention because they believe "the state’s new rules likely violate the Constitution’s protection of the free exercise of religion."
Kavanaugh, in his dissent, said: “California’s latest safety guidelines discriminate against places of worship and in favor of comparable secular businesses. Such discrimination violates the First Amendment.” He was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil M. Gorsuch. Alito would have granted the church's request, but did not join Kavanaugh's statement. I am not sure what to make of that.
Churches are eager to reopen, regardless of the danger it poses to their congregation. And it poses real dangers. One church choir member spread COVID to 87% of the members just by singing. Infection Control Today actually said that churches are the most dangerous places in the COVID pandemic, saying "asymptomatic spread and aerosolization of the virus from singing" make churches particularly ripe for the spread of COVID to their members. A megachurch in Sacramento was linked to the spread of more than 70 cases. There is no safe way to be in a small room, singing loudly and passing around plates for donations during COVID.
That hasn't stopped churches from wanting to reopen, probably because they need money. Is that what is causing the push to reopen, even against medical advice?
Some states are slowly easing restrictions and allowing small services of 10 and under or 25% or less of the congregants. Will this ease the transmission of COVID? We will find out in 2 weeks, I guess. A large majority of houses of worship, including synagogues, mosques and many other Christian churches have opted to live stream their services online, putting their congregants and clergy first. Clearly, not all churches feel this way.