bonginoreport--2020-05-03--Andrew Cuomo Has Had the Worst Coronavirus Response Among the Nation’s Governors

The press has been gushing about the performance of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for weeks .
The media often compares Cuomo ’ s “ decisive ” response to the coronavirus pandemic to the president , and guess who always wins ?
Whether it ’ s good PR from the governor ’ s office or just the media worshipping a liberal who says mean things about Donald Trump , it hardly matters .
What matters is results .
And in that department , Andrew Cuomo has been a miserable failure — using several metrics .
And it ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes hysterical New York governor began whining about the federal government ( specifically the president ) not doing anything to help the states with getting medical supplies .
Back in March , he kept saying he needed 30-40,000 ventilators .
And when Trump pointed out that was silly , he accused the president of being an unfeeling monster .
By the middle of April , New York was sending ventilators to other states .
But the number of deaths in New York from the coronavirus is what condemns Cuomo and marks him as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York had experienced 18,610 deaths , nearly 30 percent of the total number of deaths out of 64,406 in the United States .
Yes , New York has a high population density , but so does California .
And the Golden State has twice as many people and only 2,135 deaths .
Even high population density states on the East Coast are doing better than New York .
Pennsylvania , for instance , has two-thirds the population of New York and a similar population density ( New York ’ s is 358 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 278 per square mile ) , but the Keystone State only has 2,418 deaths .
It ’ s not population density that ’ s contributed to the coronavirus tragedy in New York .
It ’ s bad governance .
This is “ competence ” ?
This is “ decisiveness ” ?
Cuomo didn ’ t lock down the state until March 20 — not until there were nearly 3,000 cases of COVID-19 in the state .
Nobody recalls Cuomo arguing with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio over who had the authority to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had already shuttered the schools .
Meanwhile , New Yorkers were getting sick and many eventually died .
Then there are the nursing homes .
Yesterday , they found 100 dead bodies in a Brooklyn nursing home .
And fingers are pointing at Cuomo ’ s policies .
Former Governor George Pataki made it clear whose fault it was .
Former Gov .
George Pataki slammed Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ’ s nursing home policies during the coronavirus pandemic as a “ disaster ” that may have unnecessarily caused the deaths of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a rare swipe at his successor Friday night , Pataki called for an independent probe “ so this never happens again.
” Pataki said the state Health Department should never have issued an edict requiring nursing homes to accept coronavirus virus patients into nursing home facilities filled with sick , elderly patients — the population most at risk from the killer COVID-19 bug .
Cuomo ’ s order came when he was panicking about a possible lack of hospital beds .
Compounding the misguided policy , Pataki said , is that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or testing capability to isolate and contain the spread of COVID-19 .
Pataki also said he was dumbfounded as to why infected patients were sent to nursing homes instead of “ hundreds of unused beds ” at the two temporary hospitals at the Javits Center and the Navy ’ s USNS Comfort hospital ship .
The Navy hospital ship Comfort left the dock this past week after treating few patients .
“ Gov .
Cuomo ’ s handling of the nursing homes has been a disaster , ” said Pataki.
“ Thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been lost except for these tragic policies.
” The same might be said of Cuomo ’ s handling of the entire crisis .
One of those field hospitals in the 2500-bed Javits Center treated about 1,000 patients over the month it was operational .
Maybe it would be a godsend for the Democrats to dump Joe Biden from the ticket and acclaim Andrew Cuomo their nominee for president .
The myth of Cuomo ’ s superior crisis management would be exposed in short order , leading to an easy Trump victory .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ support PJ Media so we can keep telling the truth about China and the virus they unleashed on the world ?
Join PJ Media VIP and use the promo code WUHAN to get 25 % off your VIP membership .

The press has been gushing about the performance of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for weeks. The media often compares Cuomo’s “decisive” response to the coronavirus pandemic to the president, and guess who always wins?
Whether it’s good PR from the governor’s office or just the media worshipping a liberal who says mean things about Donald Trump, it hardly matters. What matters is results. And in that department, Andrew Cuomo has been a miserable failure — using several metrics.
And it’s not just the numbers. The panicky, sometimes hysterical New York governor began whining about the federal government (specifically the president) not doing anything to help the states with getting medical supplies. Back in March, he kept saying he needed 30-40,000 ventilators. And when Trump pointed out that was silly, he accused the president of being an unfeeling monster.
National Review:
“I have a feeling that a lot of the numbers that are being said in some areas are just bigger than they’re going to be,” Trump said on March 27. “I don’t believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators,” he added, referring to Cuomo’s estimate for New York state. Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and others said they had “facts” on their side.
By the middle of April, New York was sending ventilators to other states.
But the number of deaths in New York from the coronavirus is what condemns Cuomo and marks him as incompetent.
As of yesterday, New York had experienced 18,610 deaths, nearly 30 percent of the total number of deaths out of 64,406 in the United States. Yes, New York has a high population density, but so does California. And the Golden State has twice as many people and only 2,135 deaths.
Even high population density states on the East Coast are doing better than New York. Pennsylvania, for instance, has two-thirds the population of New York and a similar population density (New York’s is 358 people per square mile, Pennsylvania’s 278 per square mile), but the Keystone State only has 2,418 deaths. It’s not population density that’s contributed to the coronavirus tragedy in New York. It’s bad governance.
This is “competence”? This is “decisiveness”?
Cuomo didn’t lock down the state until March 20 — not until there were nearly 3,000 cases of COVID-19 in the state. Nobody recalls Cuomo arguing with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio over who had the authority to close the schools after most major cities had already shuttered the schools. Meanwhile, New Yorkers were getting sick and many eventually died.
Then there are the nursing homes. Yesterday, they found 100 dead bodies in a Brooklyn nursing home. And fingers are pointing at Cuomo’s policies. Former Governor George Pataki made it clear whose fault it was.
New York Post:
Former Gov. George Pataki slammed Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s nursing home policies during the coronavirus pandemic as a “disaster” that may have unnecessarily caused the deaths of “thousands” of vulnerable elderly residents. In a rare swipe at his successor Friday night, Pataki called for an independent probe “so this never happens again.” Pataki said the state Health Department should never have issued an edict requiring nursing homes to accept coronavirus virus patients into nursing home facilities filled with sick, elderly patients — the population most at risk from the killer COVID-19 bug.
Cuomo’s order came when he was panicking about a possible lack of hospital beds.
Compounding the misguided policy, Pataki said, is that the nursing homes lacked the personal protective equipment or testing capability to isolate and contain the spread of COVID-19. Pataki also said he was dumbfounded as to why infected patients were sent to nursing homes instead of “hundreds of unused beds” at the two temporary hospitals at the Javits Center and the Navy’s USNS Comfort hospital ship.
The Navy hospital ship Comfort left the dock this past week after treating few patients.
“Gov. Cuomo’s handling of the nursing homes has been a disaster,” said Pataki.“Thousands of people [sic] lives might not have been lost except for these tragic policies.”
The same might be said of Cuomo’s handling of the entire crisis.
Cuomo’s panicky orders resulted in wasted resources and incompetent management.
Fox News:
In addition to a bevy of state orders, Gov. Andrew Cuomo made desperate overtures to the federal government to step in. In response, and in record time, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers scrambled to erect at least four field hospitals, and the Navy deployed its USNS Comfort hospital ship to Manhattan. However, those efforts – and the many millions of dollars spent on them – have largely been deemed a waste, even as New York has battled a soaring a death toll and is maintaining stay-at-home orders.
One of those field hospitals in the 2500-bed Javits Center treated about 1,000 patients over the month it was operational.
Maybe it would be a godsend for the Democrats to dump Joe Biden from the ticket and acclaim Andrew Cuomo their nominee for president. The myth of Cuomo’s superior crisis management would be exposed in short order, leading to an easy Trump victory.
Editor’s Note: Want to support PJ Media so we can keep telling the truth about China and the virus they unleashed on the world? Join PJ Media VIP and use the promo code WUHAN to get 25% off your VIP membership.


bonginoreport--2020-05-03--February 2018 Article: “How A Plea Reversal From Michael Flynn Could Uncover More Federal Corruption

February 2018 Article: “How A Plea Reversal From Michael Flynn Could Uncover More Federal Corruption”

Did Robert Mueller ’ s office withhold other evidence in Michael Flynn ’ s prosecution , either from the FISA court or from Flynn ’ s attorneys ?
There is reason to believe so .
On Friday , Judge Emmet Sullivan issued an order in United States v. Flynn that , while widely unnoticed , reveals something fascinating : A motion by Michael Flynn to withdraw his guilty plea based on government misconduct is likely in the works .
Just a week ago , and thus before Sullivan quietly directed Special Counsel Robert Mueller ’ s team to provide Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Washington Examiner columnist Byron York detailed the oddities of Flynn ’ s case .
The next day , former assistant U.S. attorney and National Review contributing editor Andrew McCarthy connected more of the questionable dots .
York added even more details a couple of days later .
Together these articles provide the backdrop necessary to understand the significance of Sullivan ’ s order on Friday .
What ’ s Happened in the Michael Flynn Case So Far To recap : On November 30 , 2017 , prosecutors working for Mueller charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lying to FBI agents .
The following day , Flynn pled guilty before federal judge Rudolph Contreras .
Less than a week later — and without explanation — Flynn ’ s case was reassigned to Judge Emmet G. Sullivan .
One of Sullivan ’ s first orders of business was to enter a standing order , on December 12 , 2017 , directing “ the government to produce to defendant in a timely manner – including during plea negotiations – any evidence in its possession that is favorable to defendant and material either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Sullivan ’ s standing order further directed the government , if it “ has identified any information which is favorable to the defendant but which the government believes not to be material , ” to “ submit such information to the Court for in camera review.
” Sullivan enters identical standing orders as a matter of course in all of his criminal cases , as he explained in a 2016 Cardozo Law Review article : “ Following the Stevens case , I have issued a standing Brady Order for each criminal case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reaction to developments in the law.
” A Brady order directs the government to disclose all exculpatory evidence to defense counsel , as required by Brady v. Maryland .
The Stevens case , of course , is the government ’ s corrupt prosecution of the late senator Ted Stevens—an investigation and prosecution which , as Sullivan put it , “ were permeated by the systematic concealment of significant exculpatory evidence .
.
.
.
” While the December standing order represented Sullivan ’ s normal practice , as both McCarthy and York noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In his plea agreement , Flynn agreed to “ forego the right to any further discovery or disclosures of information not already provided at the time of the entry of Flynn ’ s guilty plea.
” On Wednesday , however , the attorneys in the Flynn case presented the court an agreed-upon protective order governing the use of the material — including sensitive material — the special counsel ’ s office provides Flynn .
This indicates Mueller ’ s team will not fight Sullivan ’ s standing order based on the terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bombshells Are Likely Ahead With a protective order in place , Flynn ’ s attorneys should start receiving the required disclosures from the special counsel ’ s office .
There is reason to believe these will include some bombshells .
First , we know from the recently released GOP House Intelligence Committee memo and the Grassley-Graham criminal referral of Christopher Steele , the FBI and DOJ withheld significant ( and material , in my view ) information in seeking a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) warrant to conduct surveillance on Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause to believe the FISA court was connected to the criminal charge filed against Flynn because Contreras , who recused less than a week after accepting Flynn ’ s guilty plea , “ is one of just three FISA court judges who sits in the District of Columbia , where it is likely the Trump-Russia FISA warrants were sought.
” Was other evidence withheld , either from the FISA court or from Flynn ’ s attorneys in negotiating a plea ?
Again , there is reason to believe so , given the players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Remember , the special counsel charged Flynn with lying to FBI agents on January 24 .
While the charge did not identify the FBI agents involved , we know that Peter Strzok conducted the January interview that eventually led to the criminal case against Flynn .
Strzok formed a part of Mueller ’ s team until he was removed following the discovery of hostile text messages concerning Trump , including a planned “ insurance policy ” should Trump win the White House .
Obama political holdover Sally Yates ’ involvement in the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Comey initially indicated they believed Flynn had been truthful , Yates , while serving as acting attorney general , had directed Strzok to interview Flynn and had pushed for charges against Flynn under the Logan Act .
Another member of Mueller ’ s team , Andrew Weissmann , is likewise suspect given his praise for Yates ’ refusal to defend Trump ’ s travel ban .
Weissmann remains a part of the special counsel ’ s team , notwithstanding calls for his ouster .
Mueller must now provide Flynn all exculpatory evidence : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Flynn but the special counsel ’ s office believes it is immaterial , government attorneys must nonetheless provide the evidence to Sullivan to allow him to make the call .
In other words , Mueller ’ s team can not unilaterally decide what evidence matters , as the Department of Justice did in applying to the FISA court for a surveillance warrant on Page while withholding the key fact that Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee paid for information crucial to the application .
This Whole Thing Could Bring further Abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the evidence will show .
However , there are enough shady characters involved to believe there will be something of significance .
Then what ?
Sidney Powell , a former federal prosecutor and author of “ Licensed to Lie : Exposing Corruption in the Department of Justice , ” writes that Flynn should withdraw his guilty plea and suggests that Sullivan , as “ the country ’ s premier jurist experienced in the abuses of our Department of Justice , .
.
.
is the best person to confront the egregious government misconduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Mueller-Weissmann ‘ investigation ’ and to right the injustices that have arisen from it.
” Friday ’ s order suggests Sullivan is ready to do just that .
That order consisted of an updated standing order detailing the government ’ s obligations under Brady .
On the surface , Friday ’ s order seems inconsequential , but in comparing the December 12 , 2017 , version to the February 16 , 2018 , version , one substantive change stood out .
It was subtle , but significant given the posture of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one sentence specifying that the government ’ s obligation to produce evidence material either to the defendant ’ s guilt or punishment “ includes producing , during plea negotiations , any exculpatory evidence in the government ’ s possession.
” The change was significant because it indicates that , if the government did not provide Flynn material evidence during plea negotiations , Flynn has grounds to withdraw his plea .
Sullivan ’ s revised standing order made that point clear , too—well , at least for Flynn ’ s lawyers .
To explain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the question of whether a defendant may withdraw a guilty plea if the prosecution withholds exculpatory evidence during plea negotiations .
The lower federal courts are split on this question .
In his revised standing order issued on Friday , Sullivan dropped a lengthy footnote , detailing the case law and setting forth his position that , if material exculpatory evidence is withheld during plea negotiations , a defendant is entitled to withdraw his guilty plea .
Flynn ’ s attorneys now know what to do should Mueller ’ s team disclose such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prosecutors in the Stevens case , Mueller is on notice as well .
Update : This article originally stated it is “ impossible to know whether Sullivan modified the standing order in response to special concerns in the Flynn case.
” However , following publication of this article , other attorneys were able to locate cases in which the revised standing order was entered prior to Flynn ’ s case being reassigned to Sullivan , establishing that the change was not made in response to Flynn ’ s case .
The modified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Flynn ’ s case on Friday , proves especially significant give the circumstances of his plea , as the article explains in detail .

On Friday, Judge Emmet Sullivan issued an order in United States v. Flynn that, while widely unnoticed, reveals something fascinating: A motion by Michael Flynn to withdraw his guilty plea based on government misconduct is likely in the works.
Just a week ago, and thus before Sullivan quietly directed Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team to provide Flynn’s attorneys “any exculpatory evidence,” Washington Examiner columnist Byron York detailed the oddities of Flynn’s case. The next day, former assistant U.S. attorney and National Review contributing editor Andrew McCarthy connected more of the questionable dots. York added even more details a couple of days later. Together these articles provide the backdrop necessary to understand the significance of Sullivan’s order on Friday.
What’s Happened in the Michael Flynn Case So Far
To recap: On November 30, 2017, prosecutors working for Mueller charged former Trump national security advisor Flynn with lying to FBI agents. The following day, Flynn pled guilty before federal judge Rudolph Contreras. Less than a week later — and without explanation — Flynn’s case was reassigned to Judge Emmet G. Sullivan.
One of Sullivan’s first orders of business was to enter a standing order, on December 12, 2017, directing “the government to produce to defendant in a timely manner – including during plea negotiations – any evidence in its possession that is favorable to defendant and material either to defendant’s guilt or punishment.” Sullivan’s standing order further directed the government, if it “has identified any information which is favorable to the defendant but which the government believes not to be material,” to “submit such information to the Court for in camera review.”
Sullivan enters identical standing orders as a matter of course in all of his criminal cases, as he explained in a 2016 Cardozo Law Review article: “Following the Stevens case, I have issued a standing Brady Order for each criminal case on my docket, updating it in reaction to developments in the law.” A Brady order directs the government to disclose all exculpatory evidence to defense counsel, as required by Brady v. Maryland. The Stevens case, of course, is the government’s corrupt prosecution of the late senator Ted Stevens—an investigation and prosecution which, as Sullivan put it, “were permeated by the systematic concealment of significant exculpatory evidence. . . .”
While the December standing order represented Sullivan’s normal practice, as both McCarthy and York noted, Flynn had already pled guilty. In his plea agreement, Flynn agreed to “forego the right to any further discovery or disclosures of information not already provided at the time of the entry of Flynn’s guilty plea.” On Wednesday, however, the attorneys in the Flynn case presented the court an agreed-upon protective order governing the use of the material — including sensitive material — the special counsel’s office provides Flynn. This indicates Mueller’s team will not fight Sullivan’s standing order based on the terms of Flynn’s plea agreement.
Why Bombshells Are Likely Ahead
With a protective order in place, Flynn’s attorneys should start receiving the required disclosures from the special counsel’s office. There is reason to believe these will include some bombshells.
First, we know from the recently released GOP House Intelligence Committee memo and the Grassley-Graham criminal referral of Christopher Steele, the FBI and DOJ withheld significant (and material, in my view) information in seeking a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant to conduct surveillance on Trump campaign volunteer Carter Page. There is cause to believe the FISA court was connected to the criminal charge filed against Flynn because Contreras, who recused less than a week after accepting Flynn’s guilty plea, “is one of just three FISA court judges who sits in the District of Columbia, where it is likely the Trump-Russia FISA warrants were sought.”
Was other evidence withheld, either from the FISA court or from Flynn’s attorneys in negotiating a plea? Again, there is reason to believe so, given the players involved and the facts already uncovered.
Remember, the special counsel charged Flynn with lying to FBI agents on January 24. While the charge did not identify the FBI agents involved, we know that Peter Strzok conducted the January interview that eventually led to the criminal case against Flynn. Strzok formed a part of Mueller’s team until he was removed following the discovery of hostile text messages concerning Trump, including a planned “insurance policy” should Trump win the White House.
Obama political holdover Sally Yates’ involvement in the case raises additional concerns. While Strzok and Comey initially indicated they believed Flynn had been truthful, Yates, while serving as acting attorney general, had directed Strzok to interview Flynn and had pushed for charges against Flynn under the Logan Act. Another member of Mueller’s team, Andrew Weissmann, is likewise suspect given his praise for Yates’ refusal to defend Trump’s travel ban. Weissmann remains a part of the special counsel’s team, notwithstanding calls for his ouster.
Mueller must now provide Flynn all exculpatory evidence: Significantly, if the information is favorable to Flynn but the special counsel’s office believes it is immaterial, government attorneys must nonetheless provide the evidence to Sullivan to allow him to make the call. In other words, Mueller’s team cannot unilaterally decide what evidence matters, as the Department of Justice did in applying to the FISA court for a surveillance warrant on Page while withholding the key fact that Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee paid for information crucial to the application.
This Whole Thing Could Bring further Abuse to Light
No one knows yet what the evidence will show. However, there are enough shady characters involved to believe there will be something of significance. Then what?
Sidney Powell, a former federal prosecutor and author of “Licensed to Lie: Exposing Corruption in the Department of Justice,” writes that Flynn should withdraw his guilty plea and suggests that Sullivan, as “the country’s premier jurist experienced in the abuses of our Department of Justice, . . . is the best person to confront the egregious government misconduct that has led to and been perpetrated by the Mueller-Weissmann ‘investigation’ and to right the injustices that have arisen from it.”
Friday’s order suggests Sullivan is ready to do just that. That order consisted of an updated standing order detailing the government’s obligations under Brady. On the surface, Friday’s order seems inconsequential, but in comparing the December 12, 2017, version to the February 16, 2018, version, one substantive change stood out.
It was subtle, but significant given the posture of this case: The revised version added one sentence specifying that the government’s obligation to produce evidence material either to the defendant’s guilt or punishment “includes producing, during plea negotiations, any exculpatory evidence in the government’s possession.”
The change was significant because it indicates that, if the government did not provide Flynn material evidence during plea negotiations, Flynn has grounds to withdraw his plea. Sullivan’s revised standing order made that point clear, too—well, at least for Flynn’s lawyers. To explain: The Supreme Court has never addressed the question of whether a defendant may withdraw a guilty plea if the prosecution withholds exculpatory evidence during plea negotiations. The lower federal courts are split on this question. In his revised standing order issued on Friday, Sullivan dropped a lengthy footnote, detailing the case law and setting forth his position that, if material exculpatory evidence is withheld during plea negotiations, a defendant is entitled to withdraw his guilty plea.
Flynn’s attorneys now know what to do should Mueller’s team disclose such evidence. After the spanking Sullivan gave the prosecutors in the Stevens case, Mueller is on notice as well.
Update: This article originally stated it is “impossible to know whether Sullivan modified the standing order in response to special concerns in the Flynn case.” However, following publication of this article, other attorneys were able to locate cases in which the revised standing order was entered prior to Flynn’s case being reassigned to Sullivan, establishing that the change was not made in response to Flynn’s case. The modified standing order, which was first entered in Flynn’s case on Friday, proves especially significant give the circumstances of his plea, as the article explains in detail.
Margot Cleveland is The Federalist's senior legal correspondent. She is also a contributor to National Review Online, the Washington Examiner, Aleteia, and Townhall.com, and has been published in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today. Cleveland is a lawyer and a graduate of the Notre Dame Law School, where she earned the Hoynes Prize—the law school’s highest honor. She later served for nearly 25 years as a permanent law clerk for a federal appellate judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Cleveland is a former full-time university faculty member and now teaches as an adjunct from time to time. As a stay-at-home homeschooling mom of a young son with cystic fibrosis, Cleveland frequently writes on cultural issues related to parenting and special-needs children. Cleveland is on Twitter at @ProfMJCleveland. The views expressed here are those of Cleveland in her private capacity.


bonginoreport--2020-05-03--ISIS Set to Double Attacks in Iraq and Syria (Since Last Year)

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bonginoreport--2020-05-03--Sec. Pompeo: “Strong Evidence” That Wuhan Coronavirus Outbreak Emerged From Wuhan Lab

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday there was `` a significant amount of evidence '' that the new coronavirus emerged from a Chinese laboratory , but did not dispute U.S. intelligence agencies ' conclusion that it was not man-made .
`` There is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan , '' Pompeo told ABC 's `` This Week , '' referring to the virus that emerged late last year in China and has killed about 240,000 people around the world , including more than 67,000 in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued this week by the top U.S. spy agency that said the virus did not appear to be man-made or genetically modified .
That statement undercut conspiracy theories promoted by anti-China activists and some supporters of President Donald Trump who suggested it was developed in a Chinese government biological weapons laboratory .
Pompeo doubled down on his comments on twitter , criticizing China 's lack of cooperation with world health experts .
`` The best experts so far seem to think it was man-made .
I have no reason to disbelieve that at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When the interviewer pointed out that was not the conclusion of U.S. intelligence agencies , Pompeo backtracked , saying , `` I 've seen what the intelligence community has said .
I have no reason to believe that they 've got it wrong .
`` Pompeo doubled down on his comments on twitter , criticizing China 's lack of cooperation with world health experts .
`` China has a history of infecting the world and they have a history of running substandard laboratories .
These are not the first times that we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a result of failures in a Chinese lab , '' he added .
The U.S. State Department retweeted Pompeo 's comments , reiterating the need for transparency in their coronavirus data .
Thursday 's report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said it concurred with `` the wide scientific consensus '' that the disease was not man-made .
U.S. officials familiar with intelligence reporting and analysis have said for weeks that they do not believe Chinese scientists developed the coronavirus in a government biological weapons lab from which it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they believe it was either introduced through human contact with animals at a meat market in the central city of Wuhan , or could have escaped from one of two Wuhan government laboratories believed to be conducting civilian research into possible biological hazards .

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday there was "a significant amount of evidence" that the new coronavirus emerged from a Chinese laboratory, but did not dispute US intelligence agencies' conclusion that it was not man-made.
"There is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan," Pompeo told ABC's This Week, referring to the virus that emerged late last year in China and has killed about 240,000 people around the world, including more than 67,000 in the United States.
Pompeo then briefly contradicted a statement issued this week by the top US spy agency that said the virus did not appear to be man-made or genetically modified. That statement undercut conspiracy theories promoted by anti-China activists and some supporters of President Donald Trump who suggested It was developed in a Chinese government biological weapons laboratory.
Pompeo doubled down on his comments on twitter, criticizing China's lack of cooperation with world health experts. "The best experts so far seem to think it was man-made. I have no reason to disbelieve that at this point," Pompeo said. When the interviewer pointed out that was not the conclusion of US intelligence agencies, Pompeo backtracked, saying, "I've seen what the intelligence community has said. I have no reason to believe that they've got it wrong."Pompeo doubled down on his comments on twitter, criticizing China's lack of cooperation with world health experts.
The Chinese Communist Party continues to block access to the Western world, the world's best scientists, refusing to cooperate with world health experts, to figure out exactly what happened. This unacceptable during an ongoing threat, an ongoing pandemic. pic.twitter.com/qa156CfTAB — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) May 3, 2020
"China has a history of infecting the world and they have a history of running substandard laboratories. These are not the first times that we’ve had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab," he added.
The US State Department retweeted Pompeo's comments, reiterating the need for transparency in their coronavirus data.
.@SecPompeo: We still need every country to be transparent, to share their data, to share all of this information so the world’s best epidemiologists and scientists and laboratory experts can begin to develop therapeutics and a vaccine. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/P4UaWubKfJ — Department of State (@StateDept) May 3, 2020
Thursday's report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said it concurred with "the wide scientific consensus" that the disease was not man-made.
US officials familiar with intelligence reporting and analysis have said for weeks that they do not believe Chinese scientists developed the coronavirus in a government biological weapons lab from which it then escaped.
Rather, they have said they believe it was either introduced through human contact with animals at a meat market in the central city of Wuhan, or could have escaped from one of two Wuhan government laboratories believed to be conducting civilian research into possible biological hazards.


bonginoreport--2020-05-03--FDA Approves “100% Accurate” Coronavirus Antibody Test

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
The Food and Drug Administration gave emergency approval to a COVID-19 antibody test that boasts near-perfect accuracy , the company said Sunday .
Swiss drugmaker Roche said the new test , which determines whether someone had a past infection , has proven 100 % accurate at detecting antibodies in the blood and 99.8 % accurate at ruling out the presence of them .
The company said the test requires intravenous blood draws , with higher accuracy than finger-prick tests .
“ If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you will never be able to achieve the same level of specificity that you will achieve … when you take blood from the vein , ” Thomas Schinecker , the company ’ s head of diagnostics , said .
“ You have to have very , very high specificity .
Even 0.1 % or 0.2 % makes a difference.
” Schinecker said the tests are an important step in determining whether someone may have immunity , but acknowledged that more research is required to determine whether antibodies protect people from being reinfected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ known , one can hypothesize , but the proof will take longer , ” Schinecker said .
“ Testing these people … is key to seeing whether or not people really have developed immunity .
”

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
The Food and Drug Administration gave emergency approval to a COVID-19 antibody test that boasts near-perfect accuracy, the company said Sunday.
Swiss drugmaker Roche said the new test, which determines whether someone had a past infection, has proven 100% accurate at detecting antibodies in the blood and 99.8% accurate at ruling out the presence of them.
The company said the test requires intravenous blood draws, with higher accuracy than finger-prick tests.
“If you take blood from a finger prick, you will never be able to achieve the same level of specificity that you will achieve … when you take blood from the vein,” said Thomas Schinecker, the company’s head of diagnostics.
“You have to have very, very high specificity. Even 0.1% or 0.2% makes a difference.”
Schinecker said the tests are an important step in determining whether someone may have immunity, but acknowledged that more research is required to determine whether antibodies protect people from being reinfected.
“Since this virus is not well known, one can hypothesize, but the proof will take longer,” Schinecker said. “Testing these people … is key to seeing whether or not people really have developed immunity.”
With Post wires


bonginoreport--2020-05-03--Biden Wins Kansas Primary, Which Was Conducted Through Mail-In Ballots

The chairman of the Democratic National Committee shrugged off any ...

TOPEKA, Kan. — Joe Biden has overwhelmingly won a Democratic presidential primary in Kansas that the state party conducted exclusively by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The former vice president had been expected to prevail in Saturday’s vote and capture a majority of the state’s delegates to the Democrats’ national nominating commission. Biden took 77% of the vote.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was still in the race when the Kansas party began mailing ballots at the end of March, but he suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden.
Biden won 29 delegates and Sanders got 10, inching Biden closer to the number of delegates he needs to clinch the Democratic nomination. He has a total of 1,435 delegates and needs 1,991 to win the nomination on the first ballot at the party’s national convention this summer, a threshold Biden is likely to reach in June after many states postponed their primaries. Sanders has 984 delegates, according to the count by the Associated Press released Sunday.
Democratic leaders originally had planned to set up polling places across the state in addition to allowing mail balloting. But they scrapped plans for in-person voting at the end of March after Kelly issued a statewide stay-at-home order, and the change nearly tripled participation over four years ago, with 34.7% of registered Democrats casting ballots.
“Kansas Democrats made history in this election with record participation levels along with demonstrating how a vote-by-mail election can protect voters and our democracy, even in the most uncertain of times,” party chairwoman Vicki Hiatt said in a statement. “We are confident the enthusiasm and engagement seen during the 2020 Primary will only continue to grow and translate into Democratic victories up and down the ballot in November.”
A Democratic presidential candidate hasn’t carried Kansas in November since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
Sanders easily won Kansas’ caucuses in 2016 over former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, riding a surge of enthusiasm among liberal voters and first-time caucus-goers. But the state party mailed ballots this year to more than 400,000 registered Democrats to get a far larger turnout than the 39,000 who voted four years ago.
The primary determined how 39 of the state’s 45 national convention delegates would be allocated. The remaining six are party leaders, including Gov. Laura Kelly and U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids.
Besides Biden and Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also were on the Kansas ballot. Voters also could choose to be uncommitted.
The contest also featured ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to pick more than one candidate and rank them. The lowest vote-getter — Gabbard in this case — was then eliminated, and her votes redistributed to the other choices in a second round if voters listed a second choice. That process continued until only candidates with at least 15% of the vote remained, eventually only Biden and Sanders.


bonginoreport--2020-05-03--Planned Parenthood Was Hugely Supportive of Christine Ford, Waited Over a Month to Even Mention Tara

Planned Parenthood Was Hugely Supportive of Christine Ford, Waited Over a Month to Even Mention Tara Reade

• Planned Parenthood praised and supported Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh ’ s accuser Christine Blasey Ford , but waited over a month to even mention 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden ’ s accuser Tara Reade .
• The organization released press releases on Reade ’ s allegations following an announcement that Biden would discuss Reade for the first time on MSNBC Friday morning .
Planned Parenthood also released a press release following Biden ’ s appearance .
• Neither press release expressed support for Reade , and the first did not even mention her name .
Planned Parenthood praised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s accuser Christine Blasey Ford , but waited over a month to even mention 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden ’ s accuser Tara Reade .
The political arm of the nation ’ s largest abortion provider issued a Thursday night statement in which the acting president of Planned Parenthood called on Biden to address Reade ’ s allegations : namely , that he kissed her , touched her and penetrated her with his fingers without her consent in 1993 when she worked for him as a senate staffer .
The press release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name .
( RELATED : Here ’ s Everything You Need To Know About Biden Accuser Tara Reade And Her Sexual Assault Allegation , All In One Place ) “ Saying we believe survivors doesn ’ t mean only when it ’ s politically convenient , ” Acting President of Planned Parenthood Alexis McGill Johnson said in the statement .
“ This isn ’ t a fringe issue , it ’ s one that affects all of us .
This crosses political party , race , gender , income level , and sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office — and especially the highest office in the land — needs to address allegations of sexual assault and harassment seriously , both as a systemic problem and with a sense of personal responsibility , ” she added .
” We all have much work to do to make our country a safer place , free of sexual violence.
” Planned Parenthood Thursday night statement came after MSNBC had already announced that Biden would address Reade ’ s allegations on the network Friday morning .
Planned Parenthood had previously not weighed in on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation beginning April 13 .
Following Biden ’ s appearance on MSNBC , Planned Parenthood Action again released a press release in which the organization praised Biden ’ s past record on domestic violence and urged him “ to continue to push this conversation , and our country , forward .
” But when Ford came forward with her allegations of sexual assault against Kavanaugh , Planned Parenthood staunchly backed her , repeatedly issued statements in her support through both Planned Parenthood and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests and walkouts in her name .
On Monday , September 24 , 2018 , Planned Parenthood Action Fund organized a “ National Walkout ” in support of Ford and her allegations .
“ All you need to do is wear black and walk out — of your home , your office , your classroom , wherever you are — and post a picture to your social media with the hashtag # BelieveSurvivors , ” the organization said in a press release .
The walkout was co-hosted by many other women ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Law Center , the Center for Reproductive Rights , NARAL Pro-Choice America , National Alliance to End Sexual Violence , and the Women ’ s March .
About 46,000 people responding “ going ” on Facebook .
“ Thank you , Dr. Christine Blasey Ford .
You should not have to relive your trauma , but we are grateful for your willingness and courage to share your story .
We believe you , and we believe all survivors , ” Dawn Laguens , executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The statement noted that “ the unfortunate truth ” is that too many of those who come forward with sexual assault stories “ suffer further hurt and humiliation by having their story dismissed , their integrity doubted , or their motives questioned.
” “ We Believe Dr. Christine Ford , ” Planned Parenthood Action Fund said in a September 21 statement .
The statement sympathized with the struggles of women who have experience sexual assault and elaborated at length on why Kavanaugh is unfit to serve as a Supreme Court justice , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kavanaugh ’ s opposition to abortion .
The organization also created a video slamming Kavanaugh for being accused of sexual assault by Ford .
“ Sexual assault is a crime and an abuse of power , ” the video says as dramatic music plays in the background .
“ Judges are not immune , Brett Kavanaugh is not entitled to a seat on the Supreme Court.
” Over a year later , the organization again highlighted Ford ’ s testimony and praised her for standing up against Kavanaugh .
Planned Parenthood did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DCNF regarding their messaging over Reade ’ s and Ford ’ s allegations , or why the organization waited to weigh in on the matter until it had already been announced that Biden would address Reade ’ s allegations .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Planned Parenthood praised and supported Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser Christine Blasey Ford, but waited over a month to even mention 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden’s accuser Tara Reade.
The organization released press releases on Reade’s allegations following an announcement that Biden would discuss Reade for the first time on MSNBC Friday morning. Planned Parenthood also released a press release following Biden’s appearance.
Neither press release expressed support for Reade, and the first did not even mention her name.
Planned Parenthood praised and supported Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser Christine Blasey Ford, but waited over a month to even mention 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden’s accuser Tara Reade.
The political arm of the nation’s largest abortion provider issued a Thursday night statement in which the acting president of Planned Parenthood called on Biden to address Reade’s allegations: namely, that he kissed her, touched her and penetrated her with his fingers without her consent in 1993 when she worked for him as a senate staffer.
The press release made no mention of Reade’s name. (RELATED: Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Biden Accuser Tara Reade And Her Sexual Assault Allegation, All In One Place)
“Saying we believe survivors doesn’t mean only when it’s politically convenient,” Acting President of Planned Parenthood Alexis McGill Johnson said in the statement. “This isn’t a fringe issue, it’s one that affects all of us. This crosses political party, race, gender, income level, and sexual orientation.”
“Any person seeking elected office — and especially the highest office in the land — needs to address allegations of sexual assault and harassment seriously, both as a systemic problem and with a sense of personal responsibility,” she added. ” We all have much work to do to make our country a safer place, free of sexual violence.”
Planned Parenthood Thursday night statement came after MSNBC had already announced that Biden would address Reade’s allegations on the network Friday morning. Planned Parenthood had previously not weighed in on the matter and had not responded to many requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation beginning April 13.
Following Biden’s appearance on MSNBC, Planned Parenthood Action again released a press release in which the organization praised Biden’s past record on domestic violence and urged him “to continue to push this conversation, and our country, forward. ”
Neither statement expressed support for Reade.
But when Ford came forward with her allegations of sexual assault against Kavanaugh, Planned Parenthood staunchly backed her, repeatedly issued statements in her support through both Planned Parenthood and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and organized protests and walkouts in her name.
To Dr. Christine Blasey Ford: we believe you, and we thank you. #BelieveSurvivors pic.twitter.com/UxkP913QDA — Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) September 27, 2018
On Monday, September 24, 2018, Planned Parenthood Action Fund organized a “National Walkout” in support of Ford and her allegations. “All you need to do is wear black and walk out — of your home, your office, your classroom, wherever you are — and post a picture to your social media with the hashtag #BelieveSurvivors,” the organization said in a press release.
The walkout was co-hosted by many other women’s groups, including the National Women’s Law Center, the Center for Reproductive Rights, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, and the Women’s March. About 46,000 people responding “going” on Facebook.
“Thank you, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. You should not have to relive your trauma, but we are grateful for your willingness and courage to share your story. We believe you, and we believe all survivors,” Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a September 27 statement.
The statement noted that “the unfortunate truth” is that too many of those who come forward with sexual assault stories “suffer further hurt and humiliation by having their story dismissed, their integrity doubted, or their motives questioned.”
“We Believe Dr. Christine Ford,” Planned Parenthood Action Fund said in a September 21 statement. The statement sympathized with the struggles of women who have experience sexual assault and elaborated at length on why Kavanaugh is unfit to serve as a Supreme Court justice, citing both Ford’s allegations and Kavanaugh’s opposition to abortion.
The organization also created a video slamming Kavanaugh for being accused of sexual assault by Ford.
“Sexual assault is a crime and an abuse of power,” the video says as dramatic music plays in the background. “Judges are not immune, Brett Kavanaugh is not entitled to a seat on the Supreme Court.”
WATCH:
Over a year later, the organization again highlighted Ford’s testimony and praised her for standing up against Kavanaugh.
We believe Deborah Ramirez, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, and all survivors of sexual assault. Millions of women and countless survivors were watching a year ago, and we are still watching today. #BelieveSurvivors, always. pic.twitter.com/ah9iFQizMw — Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) September 16, 2019
Planned Parenthood did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the DCNF regarding their messaging over Reade’s and Ford’s allegations, or why the organization waited to weigh in on the matter until it had already been announced that Biden would address Reade’s allegations.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


bonginoreport--2020-05-03--Democrats Demanded Millions of Kavanaugh Records but None of Biden’s

The hypocrisy of Democrats , and their media allies , is on prominent display in their handling of a sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden versus their treatment of Brett Kavanaugh .
Another example of the hypocrisy relates to the demand , or lack thereof , for documents related to the official government work of the two men .
Until they switched at the last minute to Christine Blasey Ford ’ s allegation , Democrats ’ main message and procedural complaint against Kavanaugh was that they needed to review millions of public records from his time of service in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their theatrics in the first round of nomination hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee .
At issue was whether these documents were covered by executive privilege , and what kind of precedent it would create to be exchanging these documents between the branches of government .
It wasn ’ t a new argument , but one that rears its head in confirmation battles .
For example , Cory Booker stunned the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 6 , 2018 , by announcing even before questioning began that he would violate Senate rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ committee confidential.
” His “ Spartacus ” moment , as he called it , followed months of battles over how many of documents related to Kavanaugh ’ s work for the president had to be turned over to the committee .
Committees usually seek paperwork when they ’ re trying to learn more about nominees whose judicial views are unclear .
That wasn ’ t the case with Kavanaugh , who had spent 12 years as a prominent federal judge , with 307 opinions of his to peruse .
If senators were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they could simply read them .
By contrast , when Elena Kagan was nominated to the Court by Barack Obama , she had no opinions to her name and limited writings because she had never served as a judge .
Her paperwork during her time in the executive branch was of relatively more importance .
Paperwork from early in Kavanaugh ’ s career as a government lawyer and presidential aide said less about how he ’ d be as a judge than the 12 years he spent as a federal judge .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the government record than other nominees .
He ’ d served on Ken Starr ’ s Whitewater investigation , in the White House counsel ’ s office , and as staff secretary in the George W. Bush White House .
Technically staff secretaries have millions of papers come across their desk , even if they have nothing to do with the authorship of those papers .
Nonetheless , Charles Grassley set about obtaining those papers because Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee said they needed to review them .
All papers had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account of how they affected multiple presidencies .
The Whitewater papers , having previously been combed over , were easiest to produce and showed Kavanaugh in a favorable light .
He had argued against releasing personally embarrassing details about President William Jefferson Clinton ’ s sexual misconduct , for example .
Grassley hired an “ e-discovery ” firm , marking the first time such techniques would be used in a Supreme Court confirmation process .
He put together a team of dozens of staffers to go through the documents , working out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the basement of the Senate ’ s Dirksen Office Building .
Democrats still claimed it wasn ’ t enough .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer held a press conference on July 31 , joined by Dick Durbin and Dianne Feinstein and assorted leaders of left-wing activist groups .
He posed with a small pile of empty boxes labeled “ missing records ” and said he wanted to see them filled with Kavanaugh ’ s papers from his time as White House staff secretary .
“ I want to make clear , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obstruction is , ” Schumer said .
A few days later , Republicans posed with 167 boxes representing the hundreds of thousands of pages that were being made available to the committee in easy-to-search digital form .
“ If you were to stack up all these pages , it would be taller than the Big Ben , taller than the Statue of Liberty , taller than the Capitol dome , and taller than the Taj Mahal , ” noted Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina .
“ I think it ’ s more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rational decision about supporting Judge Kavanaugh.
” When the hearings finally began on September 4 , Chairman Grassley barely began speaking before Sen. Kamala Harris of California interrupted him to complain there hadn ’ t been enough time to review a tranche of 42,000 Kavanaugh documents that had recently been released .
Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawai interrupted next to ask that the hearing be postponed so that she could review the documents .
Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut called the hearing a charade and mockery .
And Booker began complaining about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was out of order .
“ What is the rush ?
What are we trying to hide ?
” Booker asked .
NBC News had previously reported that Schumer had orchestrated the Democratic protests over paperwork and Sen. Christopher Coons of Delaware told media outlets “ It was important that we lay down a marker that this hearing is not a normal hearing.
” Booker performed his “ Spartacus moment ” a couple of days later , tweeting out links to documents that had been marked “ committee confidential , ” meaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not released publicly , per an agreement with the executive branch .
There was nothing to connect Booker ’ s situation with the famous scene from the 1960 Kirk Douglas movie in which a group of slaves all claim to be the outlaw Spartacus to help the real Spartacus avoid being crucified .
The emails themselves were a dud but Booker tried to make a big deal out of them .
“ I knowingly violated the rules put forward , ” he bragged .
He technically hadn ’ t even violated any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official at the Bush library to release them hours prior .
The bottom line is that Democrats were certainly eager to get their hands on every last scrap of paper that had been within a six-foot radius of Kavanaugh , even if only as a delay and spectacle tactic against Kavanaugh .
Democrats and their media allies also pored over Kavanaugh ’ s high school yearbook and personal notes he wrote friends as a teenager .
How is that standard being applied to Biden now that his official records are at the heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not one of the Senate Democrats who demanded that the Kavanaugh team spend months supplying them with paperwork have so much as mentioned the fact that Biden is hiding relevant documents at the University of Delaware .
These are not documents where significant constitutional or legal precedent issues are at stake , unlike the battle over the documents in the Kavanaugh confirmation .
The stakes are purely political .
Nor is there an issue about who owns the documents and has the right to release them .
Biden controls access to these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign operatives .
Biden — who opposed the Kavanaugh confirmation , said of Blasey Ford that he presumed “ the essence of what she ’ s talking about is real , ” and demanded an FBI investigation into the allegation — refuses to supply any papers from his 36 years as a United States Senator or 8 years as Vice President of the United States .
That would cover any papers dealing with his handling of Tara Reade , his employee who accuses him of a 1993 sexual assault , and his handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were turned into a circus through an unsubstantiated claim of sexual harassment .
“ Millions of documents provided by thee but none by me , ” is the Democrats ’ apparent standard .

The hypocrisy of Democrats, and their media allies, is on prominent display in their handling of a sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden versus their treatment of Brett Kavanaugh. Another example of the hypocrisy relates to the demand, or lack thereof, for documents related to the official government work of the two men.
Until they switched at the last minute to Christine Blasey Ford’s allegation, Democrats’ main message and procedural complaint against Kavanaugh was that they needed to review millions of public records from his time of service in the executive branch. It was the basis for their theatrics in the first round of nomination hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee. At issue was whether these documents were covered by executive privilege, and what kind of precedent it would create to be exchanging these documents between the branches of government. It wasn’t a new argument, but one that rears its head in confirmation battles.
For example, Cory Booker stunned the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 6, 2018, by announcing even before questioning began that he would violate Senate rules by releasing emails that had been marked “committee confidential.” His “Spartacus” moment, as he called it, followed months of battles over how many of documents related to Kavanaugh’s work for the president had to be turned over to the committee.
Committees usually seek paperwork when they’re trying to learn more about nominees whose judicial views are unclear. That wasn’t the case with Kavanaugh, who had spent 12 years as a prominent federal judge, with 307 opinions of his to peruse. If senators were curious about Kavanaugh’s judicial opinions, they could simply read them. By contrast, when Elena Kagan was nominated to the Court by Barack Obama, she had no opinions to her name and limited writings because she had never served as a judge. Her paperwork during her time in the executive branch was of relatively more importance.
Paperwork from early in Kavanaugh’s career as a government lawyer and presidential aide said less about how he’d be as a judge than the 12 years he spent as a federal judge. Beyond that, Kavanaugh had more papers in the government record than other nominees. He’d served on Ken Starr’s Whitewater investigation, in the White House counsel’s office, and as staff secretary in the George W. Bush White House. Technically staff secretaries have millions of papers come across their desk, even if they have nothing to do with the authorship of those papers. Nonetheless, Charles Grassley set about obtaining those papers because Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee said they needed to review them.
All papers had to go through multiple presidential reviews on account of how they affected multiple presidencies. The Whitewater papers, having previously been combed over, were easiest to produce and showed Kavanaugh in a favorable light. He had argued against releasing personally embarrassing details about President William Jefferson Clinton’s sexual misconduct, for example.
Grassley hired an “e-discovery” firm, marking the first time such techniques would be used in a Supreme Court confirmation process. He put together a team of dozens of staffers to go through the documents, working out of a windowless, rat-infested, cinder-block suite in the basement of the Senate’s Dirksen Office Building. Democrats still claimed it wasn’t enough.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer held a press conference on July 31, joined by Dick Durbin and Dianne Feinstein and assorted leaders of left-wing activist groups. He posed with a small pile of empty boxes labeled “missing records” and said he wanted to see them filled with Kavanaugh’s papers from his time as White House staff secretary.
“I want to make clear, for just a sec, how aggressive the obstruction is,” Schumer said.
A few days later, Republicans posed with 167 boxes representing the hundreds of thousands of pages that were being made available to the committee in easy-to-search digital form.
“If you were to stack up all these pages, it would be taller than the Big Ben, taller than the Statue of Liberty, taller than the Capitol dome, and taller than the Taj Mahal,” noted Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina. “I think it’s more than enough for the Democrats to make a rational decision about supporting Judge Kavanaugh.”
When the hearings finally began on September 4, Chairman Grassley barely began speaking before Sen. Kamala Harris of California interrupted him to complain there hadn’t been enough time to review a tranche of 42,000 Kavanaugh documents that had recently been released. Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawai interrupted next to ask that the hearing be postponed so that she could review the documents. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut called the hearing a charade and mockery. And Booker began complaining about the documents as Grassley calmly told him he was out of order. “What is the rush? What are we trying to hide?” Booker asked.
NBC News had previously reported that Schumer had orchestrated the Democratic protests over paperwork and Sen. Christopher Coons of Delaware told media outlets “It was important that we lay down a marker that this hearing is not a normal hearing.”
Booker performed his “Spartacus moment” a couple of days later, tweeting out links to documents that had been marked “committee confidential,” meaning they could be reviewed by the committee but not released publicly, per an agreement with the executive branch. There was nothing to connect Booker’s situation with the famous scene from the 1960 Kirk Douglas movie in which a group of slaves all claim to be the outlaw Spartacus to help the real Spartacus avoid being crucified. The emails themselves were a dud but Booker tried to make a big deal out of them. “I knowingly violated the rules put forward,” he bragged. He technically hadn’t even violated any rules, having been authorized by an official at the Bush library to release them hours prior.
The bottom line is that Democrats were certainly eager to get their hands on every last scrap of paper that had been within a six-foot radius of Kavanaugh, even if only as a delay and spectacle tactic against Kavanaugh. Democrats and their media allies also pored over Kavanaugh’s high school yearbook and personal notes he wrote friends as a teenager.
How is that standard being applied to Biden now that his official records are at the heart of a major controversy? To date, not one of the Senate Democrats who demanded that the Kavanaugh team spend months supplying them with paperwork have so much as mentioned the fact that Biden is hiding relevant documents at the University of Delaware. These are not documents where significant constitutional or legal precedent issues are at stake, unlike the battle over the documents in the Kavanaugh confirmation. The stakes are purely political. Nor is there an issue about who owns the documents and has the right to release them. Biden controls access to these papers, which he has granted to campaign operatives.
Biden — who opposed the Kavanaugh confirmation, said of Blasey Ford that he presumed “the essence of what she’s talking about is real,” and demanded an FBI investigation into the allegation — refuses to supply any papers from his 36 years as a United States Senator or 8 years as Vice President of the United States. That would cover any papers dealing with his handling of Tara Reade, his employee who accuses him of a 1993 sexual assault, and his handling of the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings that were turned into a circus through an unsubstantiated claim of sexual harassment.
“Millions of documents provided by thee but none by me,” is the Democrats’ apparent standard.


bonginoreport--2020-05-03--Biden Delegate Candidate Wants Media Investigated by FBI for Breaking Tara Reade Story

A potential delegate for former Vice President Joe Biden said Saturday that the FBI should investigate the journalists who broke Tara Reade ’ s story .
Lindy Li was responding to the news that Reade , a former Senate aide who has accused Biden of sexual assault , admitted that she did not use the term “ sexual harassment ” in the complaint she says that she filed .
( RELATED : ‘ I Don ’ t Need A Lecture ’ : Pelosi Scolds Reporter For Comparing Biden Accusation To Kavanaugh ) Li claimed in a tweet that Reade ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that the journalists responsible for going ahead with her story were a part of that “ fraud ” as well .
“ Now that Tara Reade ’ s story has completely imploded , I hope the @ FBI investigates @ NathanJRobinson @ kthalps @ ryangrim for their role in this fraud , ” Li tweeted , adding , “ Tara or whatever your actual name is , you have gravely harmed real # metoo survivors # IBelieveBiden # IBelieveJoe # TaraReadeIsALiar.
” The Intercept ’ s Ryan Grim responded to Li , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had not used the specific words “ sexual harassment ” in her complaint , she had described an interaction that would be interpreted as such .
“ Maybe call the cops back and tell them to stand down for now , ” he added .

A potential delegate for former Vice President Joe Biden said Saturday that the FBI should investigate the journalists who broke Tara Reade’s story.
Lindy Li was responding to the news that Reade, a former Senate aide who has accused Biden of sexual assault, admitted that she did not use the term “sexual harassment” in the complaint she says that she filed. (RELATED: ‘I Don’t Need A Lecture’: Pelosi Scolds Reporter For Comparing Biden Accusation To Kavanaugh)
Li claimed in a tweet that Reade’s story was a “fraud” and that the journalists responsible for going ahead with her story were a part of that “fraud” as well.
“Now that Tara Reade’s story has completely imploded, I hope the @FBI investigates @NathanJRobinson @kthalps @ryangrim for their role in this fraud,” Li tweeted, adding, “Tara or whatever your actual name is, you have gravely harmed real #metoo survivors #IBelieveBiden #IBelieveJoe #TaraReadeIsALiar.”
Now that Tara Reade’s story has completely imploded, I hope the @FBI investigates @NathanJRobinson @kthalps @ryangrim for their role in this fraud. Tara or whatever your actual name is, you have gravely harmed real #metoo survivors#IBelieveBiden #IBelieveJoe #TaraReadeIsALiar — Lindy Li (@lindyli) May 2, 2020
The Intercept’s Ryan Grim responded to Li, saying that although Reade admitted that she had not used the specific words “sexual harassment” in her complaint, she had described an interaction that would be interpreted as such. “Maybe call the cops back and tell them to stand down for now,” he added.


bonginoreport--2020-05-03--Pink Floyd Co-Founder: “Biden Is a Slime Ball”

Waters was a supporter of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for president and gave an expansive interview to Rolling Stone in April that addressed the 2020 presidential election .
“ Biden is such a f -- -ing slime ball , he ’ s so weak , and has no appeal to anybody , ” Waters said of the presumptive Democratic nominee .
“ Trump , at least , is a snake oil salesman , he does tricks .
He does them really badly , but people don ’ t care.
” Waters was questioned on if liberals have a “ duty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general election , saying he is “ on the fence.
” “ I ’ m so flabbergasted and gobsmacked by the way the Democratic National Committee has railroaded Bernie … again .
And has put in place a candidate — I can ’ t imagine Biden beating Trump in an election , ” he said .
“ I honestly don ’ t know where I stand on that lesser of two evils question , ” he continued .
“ I ’ m not sure the path to a new America that is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by money , plutocracy , and a capitalist society — will be made any easier with Biden as president .
”

Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters has slammed Joe Biden as a “f---ing slime ball.”
Waters was a supporter of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for president and gave an expansive interview to Rolling Stone in April that addressed the 2020 presidential election.
“Biden is such a f---ing slime ball, he’s so weak, and has no appeal to anybody,” Waters said of the presumptive Democratic nominee. “Trump, at least, is a snake oil salesman, he does tricks. He does them really badly, but people don’t care.”
Waters was questioned on if liberals have a “duty” to vote for Biden in the general election, saying he is “on the fence.”
“I’m so flabbergasted and gobsmacked by the way the Democratic National Committee has railroaded Bernie … again. And has put in place a candidate — I can’t imagine Biden beating Trump in an election,” he said.
“I honestly don’t know where I stand on that lesser of two evils question,” he continued. “I’m not sure the path to a new America that is not ruled by the current ruling class — by money, plutocracy, and a capitalist society — will be made any easier with Biden as president.”


bonginoreport--2020-05-04--Progress Continues at the U.S.-Mexico Border

Contractors completed 15 miles of a new border wall system in the El Centro Sector of Southern California , Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott announced .
Border Patrol agents who work in the sector told Breitbart Texas previously completed sectors reduced crime in the area and made it safer to patrol .
In a tweet on Friday , U.S. Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott said , “ Today , we completed a 15-mile section of border wall system in El Centro Sector that will provide much-needed infrastructure to help USBP agents secure the border.
” It is not clear from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border wall system , or a replacement for outdated technology .
Regardless , the new bollard-style wall provides increased security , technology surveillance , lighting , and all-weather roads to improve the response time of Border Patrol agents to crossings in the area .
Last summer , Breitbart Texas reported that the completion of new border wall construction in the El Sentro Sector made the area safer for agents to patrol and reduced crime in the area .
“ We ’ ve had people throw Molotov cocktails over the old landing mat fence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t see through it like we can with [ President Donald Trump ’ s ] new border barrier .
Here in El Centro , we have the highest stretch of border wall on the entire Southwest border .
Trump ’ s new wall section is 30-feet high , ” Border Patrol Agent Mike Matzke said in his capacity as president of the National Border Patrol Council Local 2554 .
“ New sections of Trump ’ s wall have been built and anyone claiming that a 30-foot barrier that replaced a 10-foot high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barrier doesn ’ t know what they are talking about , ” the veteran Border Patrol agent explained .
“ The old legacy landing mat fence in our sector wasn ’ t effective and really bad people were jumping all day and night.
” “ Assaults on Border Patrol agents in the area have dropped 65 percent since Trump built it , ” Matzke concluded .
“ Illegal entries in the area are down 75 percent since Trump built it.
” The new border wall system previously completed in Calexico , California , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be completed , El Centro Sector Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Joshua C. Devack said in a video presentation in October 2019 and reported by Breitbart Texas .
“ Since the border wall system was completed in this area , local business and commerce is thriving and areas once considered dangerous are now secure , ” Devack stated .
“ In addition , overall crime in this area has been significantly reduced thus making our community a safer place to live and work.
” CBP officials report the completion of 175 miles of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border with Mexico .
In the process , contractors utilized 245,000 tons of steel and 360,000 cubic yards of concrete .
Border Patrol agents previously told Breitbart Texas they like the new bollard walls because they are difficult to climb and provide agents with visibility to what is happening on the Mexican side of the wall .

Contractors completed 15 miles of a new border wall system in the El Centro Sector of Southern California, Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott announced. Border Patrol agents who work in the sector told Breitbart Texas previously completed sectors reduced crime in the area and made it safer to patrol.
In a tweet on Friday, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott said, “Today, we completed a 15-mile section of border wall system in El Centro Sector that will provide much-needed infrastructure to help USBP agents secure the border.”
Border Security is National Security Today, we completed a 15 mile section of border wall system in El Centro Sector that will provide much needed infrastructure to help USBP agents secure the border. Learn more about the border wall system by visiting https://t.co/1P24vPbOcu pic.twitter.com/04P67IfOZl — Chief Rodney Scott (@USBPChief) May 2, 2020
It is not clear from the announcement if this is a new border wall system, or a replacement for outdated technology. Regardless, the new bollard-style wall provides increased security, technology surveillance, lighting, and all-weather roads to improve the response time of Border Patrol agents to crossings in the area.
Last summer, Breitbart Texas reported that the completion of new border wall construction in the El Sentro Sector made the area safer for agents to patrol and reduced crime in the area.
“We’ve had people throw Molotov cocktails over the old landing mat fence and it was dangerous because we couldn’t see through it like we can with [President Donald Trump’s] new border barrier. Here in El Centro, we have the highest stretch of border wall on the entire Southwest border. Trump’s new wall section is 30-feet high,” Border Patrol Agent Mike Matzke said in his capacity as president of the National Border Patrol Council Local 2554.
“New sections of Trump’s wall have been built and anyone claiming that a 30-foot barrier that replaced a 10-foot high sheet metal fence isn’t new barrier doesn’t know what they are talking about,” the veteran Border Patrol agent explained. “The old legacy landing mat fence in our sector wasn’t effective and really bad people were jumping all day and night.”
“Assaults on Border Patrol agents in the area have dropped 65 percent since Trump built it,” Matzke concluded. “Illegal entries in the area are down 75 percent since Trump built it.”
The new border wall system previously completed in Calexico, California, was the first section of replacement wall to be completed, El Centro Sector Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Joshua C. Devack said in a video presentation in October 2019 and reported by Breitbart Texas.
“Since the border wall system was completed in this area, local business and commerce is thriving and areas once considered dangerous are now secure,” Devack stated. “In addition, overall crime in this area has been significantly reduced thus making our community a safer place to live and work.”
Since the completion of the border wall system in Calexico, CA, overall crime in the area has been reduced making the community a safer place to live and to work. Areas once considered dangerous are now secure. To learn more: pic.twitter.com/btC1Box7AB — CBP El Centro (@CBPElCentro) October 25, 2019
CBP officials report the completion of 175 miles of new border wall systems along the U.S. border with Mexico. In the process, contractors utilized 245,000 tons of steel and 360,000 cubic yards of concrete.
Border Patrol agents previously told Breitbart Texas they like the new bollard walls because they are difficult to climb and provide agents with visibility to what is happening on the Mexican side of the wall.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior news contributor for the Breitbart Texas-Border team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Price is a regular panelist on Fox 26 Houston’s What’s Your Point? Sunday-morning talk show. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Face book.
(Disclosure: Breitbart News has worked closely with the National Border Patrol Council to help bring a voice to Border Patrol agents, funded the funeral of a slain agent through the Council, and helped to start a podcast for the agents. Breitbart Border/Cartel Chronicles Director Brandon Darby has received an award from the Council for his work on behalf of Border Patrol Patrol agents and has worked with the Council on a number of projects.)


bonginoreport--2020-05-04--President Trump: No Stimulus Phase Four Without Payroll Tax Cut

President Donald Trump said during Sunday night ’ s televised Fox News town hall that he will not sign any coronavirus stimulus package into law that didn ’ t include a payroll tax cut .
Trump , answering a question on what the government is doing to address the 30 million unemployment claims filed during the pandemic , stated that “ infrastructure is very important.
” “ It ’ s also important to the Democrats as well .
That ’ s something where we do get along , ” he added , before saying he wants to “ see a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bailouts for the states , ” the president continued .
“ But we ’ ll be doing infrastructure , and I told Steve just today , we are not doing anything unless we get a payroll tax cut .
That is so important to the success of our country.
” ( RELATED : McConnell Preparing New Bargaining Chip That Would Guarantee Phase 4 Bill Includes White House ’ s Employer Liability Protections ) The White House has previously suggested that Trump has a variety of policy issues he wants to address in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the payroll tax cut and infrastructure push .
Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Friday the president is considering using sanctuary city reform as a negotiating tool in the Phase 4 package , and multiple senior White House aides previously told the Caller both the administration and Republican congressional leadership are prioritizing employer liability protections in the bill .

President Donald Trump said during Sunday night’s televised Fox News town hall that he will not sign any coronavirus stimulus package into law that didn’t include a payroll tax cut.
Trump, answering a question on what the government is doing to address the 30 million unemployment claims filed during the pandemic, stated that “infrastructure is very important.”
“It’s also important to the Democrats as well. That’s something where we do get along,” he added, before saying he wants to “see a payroll cut.”
“The Democrats want bailouts for the states,” the president continued. “But we’ll be doing infrastructure, and I told Steve just today, we are not doing anything unless we get a payroll tax cut. That is so important to the success of our country.” (RELATED: McConnell Preparing New Bargaining Chip That Would Guarantee Phase 4 Bill Includes White House’s Employer Liability Protections)
WATCH:
The White House has previously suggested that Trump has a variety of policy issues he wants to address in the next piece of coronavirus legislation in addition to the payroll tax cut and infrastructure push.
Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Friday the president is considering using sanctuary city reform as a negotiating tool in the Phase 4 package, and multiple senior White House aides previously told the Caller both the administration and Republican congressional leadership are prioritizing employer liability protections in the bill.


bonginoreport--2020-05-04--DHS Report: China Lied About Pandemic to Hoard Medical Supplies

A report from the Department of Homeland Security says the Chinese government lied to world health agencies about the spread of coronavirus in order to buy time to stock up on medical supplies to deal with the pandemic .
The Homeland Security report assessed that Chinese leaders “ intentionally concealed the severity ” of the novel coronavirus outbreak , which originated in Wuhan in November 2019 , according to the Associated Press , which obtained the report .
Chinese leaders told the World Health Organization as recently as Jan. 14 that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a false sense that the virus would not transmit easily , and that it could be easily contained .
While withholding information about the transmissibility of the virus , the Chinese government was busy ordering medical supplies from abroad , including face masks , gloves and surgical gowns , says the May 1 DHS report obtained by the AP .
( RELATED : EXCLUSIVE : Majority Of Intelligence Community Agencies Believe Coronavirus Leaked Out Of A Wuhan Lab ) The report says that officials determined with a 95 % degree of probability that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the normal range , according to the AP .
Chinese officials also denied that the government had imposed restrictions on exports , while “ obfuscating and delaying ” the release of its trade data .
The Chinese government has come under intense scrutiny for its response to the coronavirus through December and January .
Dr. Scott Gottlieb , the former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration , has said that Beijing withheld accurate information about human-to-human transmission , and also refused to provide world health officials with live strains of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ China was not truthful with the world at the outset of this , ” Gottlieb said in an April 12 interview on “ Face the Nation.
” “ Had they been more truthful with the world , which would have enabled them to be more truthful with themselves , they might have actually been able to contain this entirely.
” The Chinese government has also been accused of lying about the number of positive coronavirus cases and deaths in the country .
A majority of the 17 agencies that make up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus outbreak originated from an accidental leak from a biological lab in Wuhan , China .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

A report from the Department of Homeland Security says the Chinese government lied to world health agencies about the spread of coronavirus in order to buy time to stock up on medical supplies to deal with the pandemic.
The Homeland Security report assessed that Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the novel coronavirus outbreak, which originated in Wuhan in November 2019, according to the Associated Press, which obtained the report.
Chinese leaders told the World Health Organization as recently as Jan. 14 that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus strain. Those assurances led to a false sense that the virus would not transmit easily, and that it could be easily contained.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, #China????????. pic.twitter.com/Fnl5P877VG — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 14, 2020
While withholding information about the transmissibility of the virus, the Chinese government was busy ordering medical supplies from abroad, including face masks, gloves and surgical gowns, says the May 1 DHS report obtained by the AP. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Majority Of Intelligence Community Agencies Believe Coronavirus Leaked Out Of A Wuhan Lab)
The report says that officials determined with a 95% degree of probability that China’s trade activity was not within the normal range, according to the AP. Chinese officials also denied that the government had imposed restrictions on exports, while “obfuscating and delaying” the release of its trade data.
The Chinese government has come under intense scrutiny for its response to the coronavirus through December and January.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, has said that Beijing withheld accurate information about human-to-human transmission, and also refused to provide world health officials with live strains of coronavirus, delaying the development of diagnostic tests.
“China was not truthful with the world at the outset of this,” Gottlieb said in an April 12 interview on “Face the Nation.”
“Had they been more truthful with the world, which would have enabled them to be more truthful with themselves, they might have actually been able to contain this entirely.”
The Chinese government has also been accused of lying about the number of positive coronavirus cases and deaths in the country.
A majority of the 17 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence community also believe the coronavirus outbreak originated from an accidental leak from a biological lab in Wuhan, China.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


bonginoreport--2020-05-04--NBC News Chairman Steps Down

NBC News Chairman Steps Down

NBC News Chairman Andy Lack is stepping down as NBCUniversal prepares to undergo a major restructuring .
The company announced Monday that Cesar Conde , the current head of Telemundo and NBC 's businesses outside North America , will replace Lack .
He will also oversee the news division , MSNBC , and CNBC .
“ Cesar is a well-respected , strategic leader who has succeeded in multiple roles at NBCUniversal since joining the company in 2013 , ” NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell said in a statement .
“ Most recently , Cesar has overseen unprecedented growth at Telemundo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number one Spanish-language network , and through its news division has played a critical role in the expansion of the news operations , breaking news coverage , and trailblazing political reporting.
” With Lack ’ s decision to step down at the end of the month , Noah Oppenheim , the president of NBC News , Phil Griffin , the president of MSNBC , and Mark Hoffman , the chairman of CNBC , will all report to Conde .
Mark Lazarus , the chairman of NBCUniversal television , also received a promotion under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company ’ s entertainment networks , NBC Entertainment , international networks , and the new streaming service , Peacock .
Lack started his media career as a journalist and then a producer for CBS before joining NBC News as its president in 1993 .
He left the network in 2003 and rejoined in 2015 , after which he made some notable hires , including former Fox News host Megyn Kelly and rehiring Brian Williams .
Over the course of Lack 's media career , his broadcasts won 16 Emmy Awards , among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not without scandal .
In 2019 , former NBC investigative journalist Ronan Farrow accused Lack of downplaying a human resources complaint about a rape allegation against former Today show host Matt Lauer , which led to Lauer 's firing .
Another former NBC journalist , Rick McHugh , also accused him , along with Oppenheim , of attempting to cover up the bombshell story on Harvey Weinstein 's pattern of sexual assault and of delaying or killing other stories related to the ex-Hollywood producer at his request .
Lack denied both accusations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but he soon faced another damaging allegation when he was accused of being `` unrelenting '' in his pursuit of his female underlings .
He called the allegations `` dead wrong . ''

NBC News Chairman Andy Lack is stepping down as NBCUniversal prepares to undergo a major restructuring.
The company announced Monday that Cesar Conde, the current head of Telemundo and NBC's businesses outside North America, will replace Lack. He will also oversee the news division, MSNBC, and CNBC.
“Cesar is a well-respected, strategic leader who has succeeded in multiple roles at NBCUniversal since joining the company in 2013,” NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell said in a statement. “Most recently, Cesar has overseen unprecedented growth at Telemundo, which under his leadership has become the number one Spanish-language network, and through its news division has played a critical role in the expansion of the news operations, breaking news coverage, and trailblazing political reporting.”
With Lack’s decision to step down at the end of the month, Noah Oppenheim, the president of NBC News, Phil Griffin, the president of MSNBC, and Mark Hoffman, the chairman of CNBC, will all report to Conde.
Mark Lazarus, the chairman of NBCUniversal television, also received a promotion under the restructuring, which will closely align the company’s entertainment networks, NBC Entertainment, international networks, and the new streaming service, Peacock.
Lack started his media career as a journalist and then a producer for CBS before joining NBC News as its president in 1993. He left the network in 2003 and rejoined in 2015, after which he made some notable hires, including former Fox News host Megyn Kelly and rehiring Brian Williams.
Over the course of Lack's media career, his broadcasts won 16 Emmy Awards, among several other honors, but his tenure was not without scandal. In 2019, former NBC investigative journalist Ronan Farrow accused Lack of downplaying a human resources complaint about a rape allegation against former Today show host Matt Lauer, which led to Lauer's firing.
Another former NBC journalist, Rick McHugh, also accused him, along with Oppenheim, of attempting to cover up the bombshell story on Harvey Weinstein's pattern of sexual assault and of delaying or killing other stories related to the ex-Hollywood producer at his request.
Lack denied both accusations in a memo to network staff, but he soon faced another damaging allegation when he was accused of being "unrelenting" in his pursuit of his female underlings. He called the allegations "dead wrong."


bonginoreport--2020-05-04--Record Gun Sales Continue Through April

Record Gun Sales Continue Through April

Gun sales maintained a record pace for a second straight month as people in the United States rushed to arm up amid safety concerns over the growing coronavirus pandemic and the likely nomination by Democrats of the most anti-gun ticket in history .
As in March , when the sweep of the virus shocked the nation , the FBI today said April background checks for gun sales and concealed carry permits hit a new record of 2,911,128 background checks , a surge of 576,879 over April 2019 .
March recorded the highest ever number of background checks of 3,740,688 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the numbers do not exactly match gun sales , the background checks give a rough indication of purchases , as some people buy more than one gun at a time , others go through the process to get a concealed carry permit , and some people are rejected .
The industry group Small Arms Analytics & Forecasting does calculate gun sales and found 1,797,910 sold .
That included a 71 % surge in guns purchased in April 2020 over April 2019 .
It estimated handgun sales jumped 83 % , with 1,085,046 out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales at 560,353 , a year-over-year increase of 52 % , in a report titled , “ U.S .
firearms sales : April 2020 unit sales continue drastic COVID-19 related increase . ''
So far this year , SAAF said , there have been 7,012,322 gun sales .
The FBI reported that there have been 12,156,985 background checks in the first quarter , already more than all of 2007 — and every year before .
Industry officials said 2020 is on a pace to be the best year ever for gun sales because @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Gun sales maintained a record pace for a second straight month as people in the United States rushed to arm up amid safety concerns over the growing coronavirus pandemic and the likely nomination by Democrats of the most anti-gun ticket in history.
As in March, when the sweep of the virus shocked the nation, the FBI today said April background checks for gun sales and concealed carry permits hit a new record of 2,911,128 background checks, a surge of 576,879 over April 2019.
March recorded the highest ever number of background checks of 3,740,688, up 1,095,837 over April 2019.
While the numbers do not exactly match gun sales, the background checks give a rough indication of purchases, as some people buy more than one gun at a time, others go through the process to get a concealed carry permit, and some people are rejected.
The industry group Small Arms Analytics & Forecasting does calculate gun sales and found 1,797,910 sold. That included a 71% surge in guns purchased in April 2020 over April 2019. It estimated handgun sales jumped 83%, with 1,085,046 out the door.
It also estimated rifle sales at 560,353, a year-over-year increase of 52%, in a report titled, “U.S. firearms sales: April 2020 unit sales continue drastic COVID-19 related increase."
So far this year, SAAF said, there have been 7,012,322 gun sales.
The FBI reported that there have been 12,156,985 background checks in the first quarter, already more than all of 2007 — and every year before.
Industry officials said 2020 is on a pace to be the best year ever for gun sales because of the virus and presidential election.