bonginoreport--2020-07-03--PR Firm Supporting CCP-Hong Kong Crackdown Run By Top Advisors To UK Prime Minister AND Labour Party

A massive public relations effort is underway in Hong Kong , with the Chinese Communist Party ’ s puppet leader Carrie Lam recently tossing a $ 7m contract to ‘ Consulum ’ – a firm staffed by former , senior British civil servants as well as advisors to the Prime Minister , The National Pulse can exclusively reveal .
Consulum – a 7-year-old PR consultancy firm – was recently awarded the £5.6m ( $ 7m ) contract for “ Relaunch Hong Kong.
” The move comes as the Chinese Communist Party launched a brutal crackdown in the region , despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid an authoritarian crackdown .
The National Pulse can reveal several staffers at Consulum ’ s offices around the world have previously worked in senior positions in the British government , for Britain ’ s Conservative Party , Britain ’ s Labour Party , the Tony Blair associates organization , and the firm itself has represented Saudi Arabian leaders and hosted conferences featuring Microsoft Founder Bill Gates .
Most striking perhaps is the employment of Fiona Bartosh , who led the UK government ’ s failed “ anti-fake news ” information unit under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bartosh was a regular speaker and public face of the UK government and the Prime Minister ’ s office , appearing at NATO-led summits .
Bartosh has also worked as a publicist for the publicly funded British Broadcasting Corporation ( BBC ) .
Another Consulum employee is Ranulph Murray , a Conservative Party activist who worked as a Campaign Manager for the governing Conservative Party .
Murray – who counts a number of high profile Members of Parliament and government ministers amongst his social media friends – also briefly served as Senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scully holds prestigious positions in Britain ’ s government , such as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business , Consumers and Labour Markets , and Minister for London .
Another Consulum staffer – “ Oliver V ” – attempts to hide his second name on social media .
The National Pulse can reveal this CCP-stooge ’ s full name is Oliver Viles , who in addition to working for a Labour Party Member of the European Parliament , worked as a Parliamentary Assistant for British MP Rachel Reeves .
Viles also appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and tweeted in support of domestic violence : “ # BestWaytoGetRidOfAGirl push em down the stairs ” .
Consulum ’ s Senior Director in Strategic Communications , John Slinger , is a former consultant with Tony Blair Associates – the strategic advisory firm set up by the former British prime minister .
Gregor Poynton , a partner at Consulum , worked as Director of External Engagement for Britain ’ s Labour Party under socialist leader Ed Miliband .
Jolyon Welsh , a senior director at the firm , was previously the Head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign and Commonwealth Office , Britain ’ s equivalent of the State Department .
Prior to this senior position , Welsh served over a decade as a career diplomat for the United Kingdom .
Another Consulum director , Roger Baker , spent seven years with Britain ’ s Labour Party working as the Director of Communications , as well as the National Head of Press and Broadcasting .
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism revealed in 2018 : Consulum has been working on MBS ’ s projects since at least 2016 .
The firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Square , was set up in 2013 by former Bell Pottinger staff members , Tim Ryan and Matthew Gunther Bushell .
It also has offices in Bahrain , Qatar and the UAE .
Consulum describes itself on its website as providing “ sophisticated communications programmes that shape awareness , guide opinion and enhance understanding ” .
Industry insiders say the firm is known as being professional and has none of the reputation for risk-taking that affected Bell Pottinger .
But like Bell Pottinger , Consulum has attracted attention for the profile of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it emerged in 2013 that it was working for the authoritarian government of Bahrain .
Consulum ’ s other clients include the governments of Djibouti and the UAE .
It is not clear how many contracts the firm has in Saudi Arabia , but it is evident from press releases that it is working for MBS ’ s charity , the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Foundation or MiSK .
The report goes on to detail the involvement of Microsoft founder Bill Gates in the MiSK event , as represented by Consulum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has slammed the new crackdown by China , calling it a “ clear and serious violation ” of the 1997 handover treaty between China and the UK .
He said : “ It constitutes a clear violation of the autonomy of Hong Kong , and a direct threat to the freedoms of its people and therefore I ’ m afraid to say it is a clear and serious violation of the Joint Declaration , a treaty between the United Kingdom and China.
” The British government has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not it will pursue British nationals effectively working in favor of the Chinese Communist Party .

A massive public relations effort is underway in Hong Kong, with the Chinese Communist Party’s puppet leader Carrie Lam recently tossing a $7m contract to ‘Consulum’ – a firm staffed by former, senior British civil servants as well as advisors to the Prime Minister, The National Pulse can exclusively reveal.
Consulum – a 7-year-old PR consultancy firm – was recently awarded the £5.6m ($7m) contract for “Relaunch Hong Kong.” The move comes as the Chinese Communist Party launched a brutal crackdown in the region, despite historic efforts by the British government to avoid an authoritarian crackdown.
The National Pulse can reveal several staffers at Consulum’s offices around the world have previously worked in senior positions in the British government, for Britain’s Conservative Party, Britain’s Labour Party, the Tony Blair associates organization, and the firm itself has represented Saudi Arabian leaders and hosted conferences featuring Microsoft Founder Bill Gates.
Most striking perhaps is the employment of Fiona Bartosh, who led the UK government’s failed “anti-fake news” information unit under Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May.
Bartosh was a regular speaker and public face of the UK government and the Prime Minister’s office, appearing at NATO-led summits. Bartosh has also worked as a publicist for the publicly funded British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Another Consulum employee is Ranulph Murray, a Conservative Party activist who worked as a Campaign Manager for the governing Conservative Party.
Murray – who counts a number of high profile Members of Parliament and government ministers amongst his social media friends – also briefly served as Senior Parliamentary Assistant to Paul Scully MP.
Scully holds prestigious positions in Britain’s government, such as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets, and Minister for London.
Another Consulum staffer – “Oliver V” – attempts to hide his second name on social media. The National Pulse can reveal this CCP-stooge’s full name is Oliver Viles, who in addition to working for a Labour Party Member of the European Parliament, worked as a Parliamentary Assistant for British MP Rachel Reeves.
Viles also appears to be a supporter of Barack Obama, and tweeted in support of domestic violence: “#BestWaytoGetRidOfAGirl push em down the stairs”.
Consulum’s Senior Director in Strategic Communications, John Slinger, is a former consultant with Tony Blair Associates – the strategic advisory firm set up by the former British prime minister.
Gregor Poynton, a partner at Consulum, worked as Director of External Engagement for Britain’s Labour Party under socialist leader Ed Miliband.
Jolyon Welsh, a senior director at the firm, was previously the Head of Government to Government Contracting for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Britain’s equivalent of the State Department.
Prior to this senior position, Welsh served over a decade as a career diplomat for the United Kingdom.
Another Consulum director, Roger Baker, spent seven years with Britain’s Labour Party working as the Director of Communications, as well as the National Head of Press and Broadcasting.
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism revealed in 2018:
Consulum has been working on MBS’s projects since at least 2016. The firm, whose London headquarters are in Berkeley Square, was set up in 2013 by former Bell Pottinger staff members, Tim Ryan and Matthew Gunther Bushell. It also has offices in Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE.
Consulum describes itself on its website as providing “sophisticated communications programmes that shape awareness, guide opinion and enhance understanding”. Industry insiders say the firm is known as being professional and has none of the reputation for risk-taking that affected Bell Pottinger.
But like Bell Pottinger, Consulum has attracted attention for the profile of its clients. The firm was criticised after it emerged in 2013 that it was working for the authoritarian government of Bahrain. Consulum’s other clients include the governments of Djibouti and the UAE. It is not clear how many contracts the firm has in Saudi Arabia, but it is evident from press releases that it is working for MBS’s charity, the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Foundation or MiSK.
The report goes on to detail the involvement of Microsoft founder Bill Gates in the MiSK event, as represented by Consulum.
In recent days, Britain’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has slammed the new crackdown by China, calling it a “clear and serious violation” of the 1997 handover treaty between China and the UK.
He said: “It constitutes a clear violation of the autonomy of Hong Kong, and a direct threat to the freedoms of its people and therefore I’m afraid to say it is a clear and serious violation of the Joint Declaration, a treaty between the United Kingdom and China.”
The British government has not yet made clear as to whether or not it will pursue British nationals effectively working in favor of the Chinese Communist Party.


bonginoreport--2020-07-04--NASCAR Driver Will Race With Car Featuring “Trump 2020” Paint Job

NASCAR fans this weekend will see a prominent political advertisement racing around the track as driver Corey LaJoie 's car is plastered with a `` 'Trump 2020 ' paint scheme . '
'' The move comes as the pro-Trump Patriots of America PAC teams up in a sponsorship with Go Fas Racing and LaJoie .
The race car will sport the Trump-supporting design in nine races , including the Brickyard 400 on Sunday , according to a press release .
LaJoie 's car reportedly included a Trump 2020 graphic on it during an event last weekend .
LaJoie says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` With an estimated 75 million NASCAR fans out there , I was surprised that about 15 million of those fans are not registered voters , '' LaJoie said .
`` I will give my best effort to get NASCAR fans registered to vote , through our team efforts on and off the track .
When they see the car , hopefully it makes them race to the polls in November . ''
Team owner Archie St. Hilaire expressed his support for the president 's reelection bid .
`` I am honored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-election campaign through the Patriots of America PAC .
As a Trump 2020 supporter , this team will do everything possible to secure victory on and off the track electing President Donald Trump to a second term .
Let us bring this country back and Keep America Great ! ''
Hilaire said .

NASCAR fans this weekend will see a prominent political advertisement racing around the track as driver Corey LaJoie's car is plastered with a "'Trump 2020' paint scheme.'"
The move comes as the pro-Trump Patriots of America PAC teams up in a sponsorship with Go Fas Racing and LaJoie.
The race car will sport the Trump-supporting design in nine races, including the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, according to a press release.
LaJoie's car reportedly included a Trump 2020 graphic on it during an event last weekend.
LaJoie says the paint scheme is largely a get-out-the-vote effort.
"With an estimated 75 million NASCAR fans out there, I was surprised that about 15 million of those fans are not registered voters," LaJoie said. "I will give my best effort to get NASCAR fans registered to vote, through our team efforts on and off the track. When they see the car, hopefully it makes them race to the polls in November."
Team owner Archie St. Hilaire expressed his support for the president's reelection bid.
"I am honored to be part of the President's re-election campaign through the Patriots of America PAC. As a Trump 2020 supporter, this team will do everything possible to secure victory on and off the track electing President Donald Trump to a second term. Let us bring this country back and Keep America Great!" Hilaire said.


bonginoreport--2020-07-04--Boris Johnson Blasts Black Lives Matter for Bullying Police Into Taking a Knee

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has condemned Black Lives Matter activists for bullying police officers into ‘ taking the knee ’ .
Referencing early Black Lives Matter protests in London , Prime Minister Johnson remarked : “ If you think of what happened with those police officers standing at the Cenotaph where they were being insulted in really quite aggressive terms by some members of the crowd and told to take the knee .
“ Some of them did .
It was very difficult , then , for others who didn ’ t .
I think it ’ s very important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that make life difficult or embarrassing.
” “ I don ’ t want people to be bullied into doing things that they don ’ t necessarily want to do , ” Mr Johnson told LBC on Friday .
When asked if he would personally kneel to Black Lives Matter , Mr Johnson told LBC ’ s Nick Ferrari : “ I don ’ t believe in gestures , I believe in substance .
I believe in doing things that make a practical difference.
” Police officers kneeling in solidarity with BLM while in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Despite initial claims from one police force that prostrating can have a “ very positive effect ” on demonstrations , London police kneeling before far-leftists failed to prevent officers assaulting them the same day .
Hertfordshire Police had previously supported its officers in the act , but warned those who refused to kneel that they “ may become the focus of the protestors ’ attention ” .
Violent BLM protesters have focused their assaults on British police officers , in some cases chasing them down the streets of London while yelling “ run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projectiles at them .
By June 10th , around a week after the first London BLM protests , 62 Scotland Yard officers had been injured .
In one widely-reported case , an officer was thrown from her horse after it became spooked when a far-leftist threw a bicycle at another police horse .
She suffered a collapsed lung , broken ribs , and a broken collar bone , resulting in her being signed off work for four months .
Speaking on Thursday to the Evening Standard , the prime minister also defended the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying it would be disingenuous to tear down statues that represent a part of British history .
When asked if he supported Oriel College ’ s decision to remove the statue of Cecile Rhodes , a former prime minister of a southern African colony , the Oxford alumnus said : “ I ’ m pro-heritage .
I ’ m pro-history , and I ’ m in favour of people understanding our past with all its imperfections.
” “ I want to build people up , not tear people down .
If we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our history in this way , it ’ s like some politician sneakily trying to change his Wikipedia entry , ” Mr Johnson added .
The prime minister ’ s condemnations of BLM ’ s bullying tactics and iconoclasm comes after several British establishment organisations have u-turned on their support for the movement after recently claiming to realise it had a far-left political agenda .
After statements supporting “ abolishing ” the police , Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer , who kneeled for BLM just a few weeks ago , on Monday claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement ” of BLM .
Other bodies distanced themselves from the “ political ” movement after Black Lives Matter ’ s British chapter , BLMUK , tweeted an anti-Israel post that employed the antisemitic trope that the Jewish state was ‘ gagging ’ political discourse over settlements and the Palestinian territories .
In response , England ’ s Premier League football association , which had replaced players ’ names on shirts with the phrase ‘ Black Lives Matter ’ , claimed that it did not support any political organisation that “ calls for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And after weeks of the BBC platforming BLMUK ’ s narrative that Britain is a racist country , the state ’ s major broadcaster has reportedly told its presenters and guests to not wear Black Lives Matter badges on screen for fear of appearing impartial .

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has condemned Black Lives Matter activists for bullying police officers into ‘taking the knee’.
Referencing early Black Lives Matter protests in London, Prime Minister Johnson remarked: “If you think of what happened with those police officers standing at the Cenotaph where they were being insulted in really quite aggressive terms by some members of the crowd and told to take the knee.
“Some of them did. It was very difficult, then, for others who didn’t. I think it’s very important that you don’t do things that make life difficult or embarrassing.”
“I don’t want people to be bullied into doing things that they don’t necessarily want to do,” Mr Johnson told LBC on Friday.
When asked if he would personally kneel to Black Lives Matter, Mr Johnson told LBC’s Nick Ferrari: “I don’t believe in gestures, I believe in substance. I believe in doing things that make a practical difference.”
Police officers kneeling in solidarity with BLM while in uniform has been a contentious issue. Despite initial claims from one police force that prostrating can have a “very positive effect” on demonstrations, London police kneeling before far-leftists failed to prevent officers assaulting them the same day.
Hertfordshire Police had previously supported its officers in the act, but warned those who refused to kneel that they “may become the focus of the protestors’ attention”.
Violent BLM protesters have focused their assaults on British police officers, in some cases chasing them down the streets of London while yelling “run, piggy, run” and throwing projectiles at them. By June 10th, around a week after the first London BLM protests, 62 Scotland Yard officers had been injured.
In one widely-reported case, an officer was thrown from her horse after it became spooked when a far-leftist threw a bicycle at another police horse. She suffered a collapsed lung, broken ribs, and a broken collar bone, resulting in her being signed off work for four months.
Speaking on Thursday to the Evening Standard, the prime minister also defended the country’s past in qualified terms, saying it would be disingenuous to tear down statues that represent a part of British history.
When asked if he supported Oriel College’s decision to remove the statue of Cecile Rhodes, a former prime minister of a southern African colony, the Oxford alumnus said: “I’m pro-heritage. I’m pro-history, and I’m in favour of people understanding our past with all its imperfections.”
“I want to build people up, not tear people down. If we go around trying to Bowdlerise or edit our history in this way, it’s like some politician sneakily trying to change his Wikipedia entry,” Mr Johnson added.
The prime minister’s condemnations of BLM’s bullying tactics and iconoclasm comes after several British establishment organisations have u-turned on their support for the movement after recently claiming to realise it had a far-left political agenda.
After statements supporting “abolishing” the police, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who kneeled for BLM just a few weeks ago, on Monday claimed he did not support the political “movement” of BLM.
Other bodies distanced themselves from the “political” movement after Black Lives Matter’s British chapter, BLMUK, tweeted an anti-Israel post that employed the antisemitic trope that the Jewish state was ‘gagging’ political discourse over settlements and the Palestinian territories.
In response, England’s Premier League football association, which had replaced players’ names on shirts with the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’, claimed that it did not support any political organisation that “calls for violence or condones illegal activity”.
And after weeks of the BBC platforming BLMUK’s narrative that Britain is a racist country, the state’s major broadcaster has reportedly told its presenters and guests to not wear Black Lives Matter badges on screen for fear of appearing impartial.


bonginoreport--2020-07-04--U.S. Sues to Seize Gasoline in Four Iran Tankers Headed to Venezuela

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – U.S. prosecutors late on Wednesday filed a lawsuit to seize the gasoline aboard four tankers that Iran is shipping to Venezuela , the latest attempt by the Trump administration to increase economic pressure on the two U.S. foes .
The government of Venezuelan socialist President Nicolas Maduro has flaunted the tankers , which departed last month , to show it remains unbowed by U.S. pressure .
The United States , has been pressing for Maduro ’ s ouster with a campaign of diplomatic and punitive measures , including sanctions on state oil company PDVSA .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a member of OPEC , have grown acute due to the U.S. sanctions , and the country has undergone an economic collapse .
Still , Maduro has held on , and the failure to unseat him has been source of frustration for U.S. President Donald Trump , some American officials have said privately .
In the civil-forfeiture complaint , the federal prosecutors aim to stop delivery of Iranian gasoline aboard the Liberia-flagged Bella and the Bering , and the Pandi and the Luna , according to the lawsuit , first reported in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deter future deliveries .
The complaint , filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia , also aims to stop the flow of revenues from petroleum sales to Iran , which Washington has sanctioned over its nuclear program , ballistic missiles , and influence across the Middle East .
Tehran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes .
Zia Faruqui and two other assistant U.S. attorneys allege in the lawsuit that Iranian businessman Mahmoud Madanipour , affiliated with Iran ’ s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps , or IRGC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents about the tankers to evade U.S. sanctions .
The lawsuit says that since September 2018 , the Revolutionary Guards ’ elite Quds Force has moved oil through a sanctioned shipping network involving dozens of ship managers , vessels and facilitators .
Profits from the shipments support the `` full range of nefarious activities , including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery , support for terrorism , and a variety of human rights abuses , at home and abroad , '' the lawsuit said .
The ships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to evade sanctions , the lawsuit said .
The Pandi , for example , engaged in such a transfer in Port Khalid in UAE to load the Iranian gasoline surreptitiously , it said .

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors late on Wednesday filed a lawsuit to seize the gasoline aboard four tankers that Iran is shipping to Venezuela, the latest attempt by the Trump administration to increase economic pressure on the two U.S. foes.
The government of Venezuelan socialist President Nicolas Maduro has flaunted the tankers, which departed last month, to show it remains unbowed by U.S. pressure. The United States, has been pressing for Maduro’s ouster with a campaign of diplomatic and punitive measures, including sanctions on state oil company PDVSA.
Gasoline shortages in Venezuela, like Iran a member of OPEC, have grown acute due to the U.S. sanctions, and the country has undergone an economic collapse. Still, Maduro has held on, and the failure to unseat him has been source of frustration for U.S. President Donald Trump, some American officials have said privately.
In the civil-forfeiture complaint, the federal prosecutors aim to stop delivery of Iranian gasoline aboard the Liberia-flagged Bella and the Bering, and the Pandi and the Luna, according to the lawsuit, first reported in the Wall Street Journal. It also seeks to deter future deliveries.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, also aims to stop the flow of revenues from petroleum sales to Iran, which Washington has sanctioned over its nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and influence across the Middle East. Tehran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Zia Faruqui and two other assistant U.S. attorneys allege in the lawsuit that Iranian businessman Mahmoud Madanipour, affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, helped arrange the shipments by changing documents about the tankers to evade U.S. sanctions.
The lawsuit says that since September 2018, the Revolutionary Guards’ elite Quds Force has moved oil through a sanctioned shipping network involving dozens of ship managers, vessels and facilitators.
Profits from the shipments support the "full range of nefarious activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and a variety of human rights abuses, at home and abroad," the lawsuit said.
The ships carrying Iranian gasoline engaged in ship-to-ship transfers to evade sanctions, the lawsuit said. The Pandi, for example, engaged in such a transfer in Port Khalid in UAE to load the Iranian gasoline surreptitiously, it said.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington and Luc Cohen in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis)


bonginoreport--2020-07-04--CCP Propaganda Official Will Lead Security Agency in Hong Kong

China appointed a hard-liner to lead its national security agency in Hong Kong after implementing sweeping authorities meant to crack down on dissent .
Zheng Yanxiong , a propagandist for the Chinese Communist Party who has suppressed protests in the mainland , was picked to be the inaugural director of the Chinese government ’ s Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong after a year of pro-freedom protests .
`` He is a specialist in ideology and a hard-line official , ” Wu Qiang , a Chinese politics researcher and former lecturer at Beijing ’ s Tsinghua University , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We can expect him to impose stricter controls over press and speech freedoms in Hong Kong.
” Hong Kong 's new `` national security '' law criminalizes any acts of secession , including attempts to break away from the country , subversion , undermining the authority of the central government , terrorism , and collusion with foreign forces .
It brings in many of mainland China 's policing practices to be implemented into Hong Kong , imposing a deeper threat to free speech and protests amid the public 's demands for more democracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office for Safeguarding National Security will be able to analyze intelligence , supervise local authorities ' handling of security matters , and investigate major cases directly .
Hong Kong police say they have arrested hundreds of people during protests over China 's new `` national security '' law for the territory , though most were for offenses unrelated to the law .
On Friday , a man carrying a `` Liberate Hong Kong '' sign who drove a motorcycle into police at a protest against Chinese rule became the first person to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new law , according to Reuters .

China appointed a hard-liner to lead its national security agency in Hong Kong after implementing sweeping authorities meant to crack down on dissent.
Zheng Yanxiong, a propagandist for the Chinese Communist Party who has suppressed protests in the mainland, was picked to be the inaugural director of the Chinese government’s Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong after a year of pro-freedom protests.
"He is a specialist in ideology and a hard-line official,” Wu Qiang, a Chinese politics researcher and former lecturer at Beijing’s Tsinghua University, told the Wall Street Journal. “We can expect him to impose stricter controls over press and speech freedoms in Hong Kong.”
Hong Kong's new "national security" law criminalizes any acts of secession, including attempts to break away from the country, subversion, undermining the authority of the central government, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. It brings in many of mainland China's policing practices to be implemented into Hong Kong, imposing a deeper threat to free speech and protests amid the public's demands for more democracy.
Under Zheng's leadership, the Office for Safeguarding National Security will be able to analyze intelligence, supervise local authorities' handling of security matters, and investigate major cases directly.
Hong Kong police say they have arrested hundreds of people during protests over China's new "national security" law for the territory, though most were for offenses unrelated to the law.
On Friday, a man carrying a "Liberate Hong Kong" sign who drove a motorcycle into police at a protest against Chinese rule became the first person to be charged with separatism and terrorism under the new law, according to Reuters.


bonginoreport--2020-07-04--Josh Hammer: How to Salvage a Pandemic Independence Day

Although July 4 is celebrated as Independence Day due to it being the day in 1776 the Continental Congress approved the final text of Jefferson 's Declaration , the actual independence vote was on July 2 of that same epochal year .
Accordingly , on July 3 , John Adams sent a famous letter to his beloved wife , Abigail , in which he predicted how American progeny would annually rejoice at the anniversary of their forefathers ' proclaimed independence from the British Crown .
`` I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated , by succeeding Generations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the future second president wrote .
`` It ought to be commemorated , as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty .
It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade , with Shews , Games , Sports , Guns , Bells , Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more . ''
Many of Adams ' epistolary predictions — including our ritual fireworks as modern-day `` Bonfires and Illuminations '' across the land — have proved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nation in the throes of a pandemic , grappling with a fiery national debate about its own moral self-worth , Independence Day threatens to look quite a bit different than years past .
Local parades are canceled , fireworks demonstrations shelved and revelrous gatherings forever consigned to the coronavirus ' tragic ash heap .
Amidst this backdrop , it would be far too easy to either resort to depression about America 's long-term prospects and enduring value or to simply ignore the holiday altogether .
Both must be avoided .
On the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans to seize upon such a unique set of circumstances and do their parts to spend the day inculcating national pride and imbuing their lives with a renewed commitment to the civil society 's mutually interdependent bonds of citizenry .
This Saturday morning , from the socially distanced confines of their own homes , families should arise and dress in coordinated red , white and blue .
If a flag is nearby , families should recite the Pledge of Allegiance — including the `` under God '' proviso added , under President Dwight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cold War-era atheist Communism .
Parents might then consider reading the entirety of the Declaration of Independence to their children .
Parents should then read the entirety of the Constitution itself — an exercise that , while longer , still ought to take less than an hour .
Special emphasis should be placed on the founders ' ingenious securing of a governmental structure that , as the Preamble states , exists to `` establish justice '' and `` secure the blessings of liberty . ''
It is important that impressionable youngsters , filled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The New York Times ' `` 1619 Project '' and the regime-level threats like contemporary identity politics , comprehend the intrinsic justness and righteousness of the American system of governance .
That is a system which , while imperfect , has always strived ever-closer toward realizing the Declaration 's enunciated ideals `` that all men are created equal '' and `` endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights . ''
The obfuscation of the multiculturalism fetishists , aided and abetted by pseudo-Marxist institutional actors such as Black Lives Matter , must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's veins the incontrovertible , noble ( if concededly not yet fully realized ) truths about America 's founding .
Following such a patriotic morning , families might consider safe , socially distanced interactions with neighbors and local townsfolk .
America is predicated upon a liberal dedication to what Lincoln called the Declaration 's history , loyal to and reliant upon one another due to a shared commitment to overarching cultural , civic and religious norms .
The founders understood that philosophical paeans could only take a republic so far ; it takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prolong and preserve a nation .
Put more simply : To the extent local social distancing norms permit , families ought to get out and ( safely ) socialize and enjoy the company of their countrymen .
Even acts so small as saying hi to a neighbor doing yardwork , when replicated , have sizable impact .
At a time when the American regime is under siege by insurrectionist forces attempting to effectuate a soft coup , it is easy to be disheartened by the fact we will miss out on some traditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patriotic holiday .
But conscientious patriots can , and must , salvage the day 's meaning — and , in so doing , do their parts to prolong the spirit of 1776 itself .
To find out more about Josh Hammer and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists , visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com .

Although July 4 is celebrated as Independence Day due to it being the day in 1776 the Continental Congress approved the final text of Jefferson's Declaration, the actual independence vote was on July 2 of that same epochal year. Accordingly, on July 3, John Adams sent a famous letter to his beloved wife, Abigail, in which he predicted how American progeny would annually rejoice at the anniversary of their forefathers' proclaimed independence from the British Crown.
"I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival," the future second president wrote. "It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."
Many of Adams' epistolary predictions — including our ritual fireworks as modern-day "Bonfires and Illuminations" across the land — have proved prescient. But in 2020, as a nation in the throes of a pandemic, grappling with a fiery national debate about its own moral self-worth, Independence Day threatens to look quite a bit different than years past. Local parades are canceled, fireworks demonstrations shelved and revelrous gatherings forever consigned to the coronavirus' tragic ash heap.
Amidst this backdrop, it would be far too easy to either resort to depression about America's long-term prospects and enduring value or to simply ignore the holiday altogether. Both must be avoided. On the contrary, it is incumbent upon patriotic Americans to seize upon such a unique set of circumstances and do their parts to spend the day inculcating national pride and imbuing their lives with a renewed commitment to the civil society's mutually interdependent bonds of citizenry.
This Saturday morning, from the socially distanced confines of their own homes, families should arise and dress in coordinated red, white and blue. If a flag is nearby, families should recite the Pledge of Allegiance — including the "under God" proviso added, under President Dwight Eisenhower's shepherding, in response to Cold War-era atheist Communism. Parents might then consider reading the entirety of the Declaration of Independence to their children. Parents should then read the entirety of the Constitution itself — an exercise that, while longer, still ought to take less than an hour. Special emphasis should be placed on the founders' ingenious securing of a governmental structure that, as the Preamble states, exists to "establish justice" and "secure the blessings of liberty."
It is important that impressionable youngsters, filled as they are with monstrous mendacities like The New York Times' "1619 Project" and the regime-level threats like contemporary identity politics, comprehend the intrinsic justness and righteousness of the American system of governance. That is a system which, while imperfect, has always strived ever-closer toward realizing the Declaration's enunciated ideals "that all men are created equal" and "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights." The obfuscation of the multiculturalism fetishists, aided and abetted by pseudo-Marxist institutional actors such as Black Lives Matter, must be repelled by injecting straight into the citizenry's veins the incontrovertible, noble (if concededly not yet fully realized) truths about America's founding.
Following such a patriotic morning, families might consider safe, socially distanced interactions with neighbors and local townsfolk. America is predicated upon a liberal dedication to what Lincoln called the Declaration's history, loyal to and reliant upon one another due to a shared commitment to overarching cultural, civic and religious norms. The founders understood that philosophical paeans could only take a republic so far; it takes tangible human bonds of symbiotic citizenry to prolong and preserve a nation. Put more simply: To the extent local social distancing norms permit, families ought to get out and (safely) socialize and enjoy the company of their countrymen. Even acts so small as saying hi to a neighbor doing yardwork, when replicated, have sizable impact.
At a time when the American regime is under siege by insurrectionist forces attempting to effectuate a soft coup, it is easy to be disheartened by the fact we will miss out on some traditional festivities that characterize the year's most patriotic holiday. But conscientious patriots can, and must, salvage the day's meaning — and, in so doing, do their parts to prolong the spirit of 1776 itself.
To find out more about Josh Hammer and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.


bonginoreport--2020-07-04--David Limbaugh: We Must Decide Whether We Want to Save America

We Must Decide Whether We Want to Save America America is in crisis .
Her destiny is on the line , and she will survive only if we still love her .
A battle rages in the streets , in academia , in the culture , and in the hearts and minds of the American people over whether America was and remains a good and great nation .
I have always believed that America is the greatest and most benevolent nation in history , that its Constitution is , in the words of former British Prime Minister William Gladstone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man . ''
That 's primarily because the Constitution was crafted to maximize man 's liberty — not just by paying flowery lip service to the concept on hallowed parchment but by containing concrete limitations on government to ensure its realization .
Over time , anti-libertarian forces have chipped away at the document 's integrity and its guaranteed freedoms .
Today , those destructive forces are ascendant and emboldened .
Years ago , I was invited to give talks on the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ female African American law student , after hearing my glowing endorsement of the document , asked how she could be expected to revere a government charter that condoned slavery .
I admit to providing an inadequate answer for my good-faith questioner , but I have given much thought to this important and increasingly relevant question since .
The immorality of slavery is undebatable , but the constitutional provisions dealing with it are more complex and deserve more than a short column .
For now , let me say that the American people 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely over the issue and worked , especially in the last half-century , to ensure equal opportunity for all people under law .
Going forward , we must decide whether we want to heal or persist in endless conflict and racial acrimony .
We ca n't legislatively purge evil from men 's hearts — but we can and must pray to the God of all creation and of all precious human beings to expunge racial conflict and distrust from our souls , and to heal this land .
I believe we 've made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's not allow the naysayers to take that away from us .
Some continually call for a national conversation on race .
Others maintain we 've been having that conversation for decades .
We have , in a sense , but it has been more a shouting match than a dialogue and has been riddled with sinister partisan motives rather than harmonious longings .
If we 're going to converse , let 's allow all views to be aired instead of censoring certain opinions with false charges of bigotry .
At the center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of whether we believe now — not in 1776 or 1791 — that the American dream applies to all Americans .
We will waste our time unless we still believe that America is exceptional and has the greatest system of government ever devised by man .
Do we still embrace the American dream ?
That is , could we all agree that America 's federalist structure , its scheme of checks and balances , its separation of powers , its express guarantees of God-given rights are far superior to any other conceivable government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marxism , totalitarianism and monarchy ?
Should we foster a spirit of forgiveness among all Americans and all races , or do we seek to incite conflict for political gain ?
Do we support policies that improve the lives of all people including minorities , or would we prefer to remain mired in hate and bitterness ?
Will we encourage colorblindness and loving one another as God 's creatures in a truly integrated society , or yield to those who would revert to color consciousness and segregation ?
Will we repudiate or honor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We can debate whether the framers built obsolescence for slavery in the Constitution or whether the Civil War and civil rights laws were enough to atone for this brutal institution , but should n't we get about the business of living in harmony and striving to ensure the American dream is available for all ?
Do we want to advance an agenda that treats all people equally and is better suited to lift everyone up , or would we rather be perpetually angry and paralyzed by guilt ?
We must shed the poisonous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taints our system of government , which still offers the last best hope for all Americans to be free , to pursue happiness and to succeed .
We must fervently resist societal pressure to tear down all remnants of our history , because eliminating the bad will also eliminate the good — and increase the likelihood of repeating the bad .
Do n't believe for a second that the anarchists who have hijacked peaceful protests are conflicted on this issue .
They want to tear down the entire system , which they say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you buy into that lie , you are joining forces with those who will uproot all that is good and sabotage the system in exchange for the inevitable unfolding of totalitarianism in which only a very limited few will be free and thrive .
History amply demonstrates the corruptive folly of the road we are traveling .
Conservatives must confront the pernicious narrative that America is evil and patriots who are intent on preserving it are racist .
Precisely the opposite is true .
We want the best for all people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fight for our principles , America as founded will disappear .
Only if we save this nation will the people for whom the destructive forces claim to be fighting prosper .
I pray God will heal and unite us , and that we will work together to preserve and reinvigorate this still-wonderful nation .
David Limbaugh is a writer , author and attorney .
His latest book is `` Guilty by Reason of Insanity : Why the Democrats Must Not Win . ''
Follow him on Twitter @ davidlimbaugh and his website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists , visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com .

BY DAVID LIMBAUGH
RELEASE: FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020
We Must Decide Whether We Want to Save America
America is in crisis. Her destiny is on the line, and she will survive only if we still love her.
A battle rages in the streets, in academia, in the culture, and in the hearts and minds of the American people over whether America was and remains a good and great nation.
I have always believed that America is the greatest and most benevolent nation in history, that its Constitution is, in the words of former British Prime Minister William Gladstone, "The most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man."
That's primarily because the Constitution was crafted to maximize man's liberty — not just by paying flowery lip service to the concept on hallowed parchment but by containing concrete limitations on government to ensure its realization.
Over time, anti-libertarian forces have chipped away at the document's integrity and its guaranteed freedoms. Today, those destructive forces are ascendant and emboldened.
Years ago, I was invited to give talks on the Constitution. On one such occasion, a female African American law student, after hearing my glowing endorsement of the document, asked how she could be expected to revere a government charter that condoned slavery.
I admit to providing an inadequate answer for my good-faith questioner, but I have given much thought to this important and increasingly relevant question since.
The immorality of slavery is undebatable, but the constitutional provisions dealing with it are more complex and deserve more than a short column. For now, let me say that the American people's better angels fought a devastating Civil War largely over the issue and worked, especially in the last half-century, to ensure equal opportunity for all people under law.
Going forward, we must decide whether we want to heal or persist in endless conflict and racial acrimony. We can't legislatively purge evil from men's hearts — but we can and must pray to the God of all creation and of all precious human beings to expunge racial conflict and distrust from our souls, and to heal this land. I believe we've made enormous strides on racism, and let's not allow the naysayers to take that away from us.
Some continually call for a national conversation on race. Others maintain we've been having that conversation for decades. We have, in a sense, but it has been more a shouting match than a dialogue and has been riddled with sinister partisan motives rather than harmonious longings.
If we're going to converse, let's allow all views to be aired instead of censoring certain opinions with false charges of bigotry.
At the center of this discussion should be the question of whether we believe now — not in 1776 or 1791 — that the American dream applies to all Americans. We will waste our time unless we still believe that America is exceptional and has the greatest system of government ever devised by man. Do we still embrace the American dream?
That is, could we all agree that America's federalist structure, its scheme of checks and balances, its separation of powers, its express guarantees of God-given rights are far superior to any other conceivable government system including all strains of socialism, Marxism, totalitarianism and monarchy?
Should we foster a spirit of forgiveness among all Americans and all races, or do we seek to incite conflict for political gain? Do we support policies that improve the lives of all people including minorities, or would we prefer to remain mired in hate and bitterness? Will we encourage colorblindness and loving one another as God's creatures in a truly integrated society, or yield to those who would revert to color consciousness and segregation? Will we repudiate or honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy?
We can debate whether the framers built obsolescence for slavery in the Constitution or whether the Civil War and civil rights laws were enough to atone for this brutal institution, but shouldn't we get about the business of living in harmony and striving to ensure the American dream is available for all?
Do we want to advance an agenda that treats all people equally and is better suited to lift everyone up, or would we rather be perpetually angry and paralyzed by guilt?
We must shed the poisonous notion that the stain of slavery permanently taints our system of government, which still offers the last best hope for all Americans to be free, to pursue happiness and to succeed. We must fervently resist societal pressure to tear down all remnants of our history, because eliminating the bad will also eliminate the good — and increase the likelihood of repeating the bad.
Don't believe for a second that the anarchists who have hijacked peaceful protests are conflicted on this issue. They want to tear down the entire system, which they say cannot be fixed.
Understand that if you buy into that lie, you are joining forces with those who will uproot all that is good and sabotage the system in exchange for the inevitable unfolding of totalitarianism in which only a very limited few will be free and thrive. History amply demonstrates the corruptive folly of the road we are traveling.
Conservatives must confront the pernicious narrative that America is evil and patriots who are intent on preserving it are racist. Precisely the opposite is true. We want the best for all people, and if we lack the moral courage to fight for our principles, America as founded will disappear. Only if we save this nation will the people for whom the destructive forces claim to be fighting prosper.
I pray God will heal and unite us, and that we will work together to preserve and reinvigorate this still-wonderful nation.
David Limbaugh is a writer, author and attorney. His latest book is "Guilty by Reason of Insanity: Why the Democrats Must Not Win." Follow him on Twitter @davidlimbaugh and his website at www.davidlimbaugh.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
Photo by Ben Mater


bonginoreport--2020-07-04--Michael Barone: Generations Defining, and Redefining, American History

Americans naturally tend to think of their presidents in terms of generations , like they do with their families .
This may have started with the news that former Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4 , 1826 , half a century to the day the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence they jointly drafted .
The Founding Generation ( birth years 1732-1767 ) held the presidency for nearly half a century , from 1789 to 1837 .
Five were adults during the American Revolution .
Two had childhood memories of it : John Quincy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bunker Hill at age 7 , Andrew Jackson of being slashed by a British officer 's sword at age 14 .
Within a month after Jackson left office , 28-year-old Abraham Lincoln gave his Springfield Lyceum speech , venerating the founders and warning of mob rule .
He was part of the antebellum generation ( birth years 1773-1809 ) , which held office from 1837-69 , grappled with the fissiparous issue of slavery expansion and , after a bloody civil war , abolished the `` peculiar institution . ''
The Civil War generation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that war , except Grover Cleveland paid $ 300 not to do so .
Regarded by historians as undistinguished , these presidents presided over amazing technological innovation and tumultuous economic growth in the years 1869-1901 .
They were followed by the post-Civil War generation ( birth years 1856-74 ) , all college graduates , who led America 's emergence as a world power in 1901-33 .
Each generation held the presidency for 30-some years , as did the three presidents ( birth years 1882-90 ) who served as subordinates in the First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World War , holding office from 1933 to 1961 .
There was more turnover for the seven presidents of the G.I .
generation ( birth years 1908-24 ) , who served from 1961 to 1993 , each with World War II military experience .
One was murdered ; one resigned ; and two were defeated for reelection .
But after floundering in the late 1960s and 1970s , in the 1980s , they presided over revived , broad-based economic growth and nearly bloodless victory in the Cold War .
How have their successors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1946-1964 ) , done ?
They started off when some thought we 'd reached `` the end of history , '' with democratic capitalism not seriously challenged .
Its first three presidents each served eight years — the first such trio since the political allies Jefferson , James Madison and James Monroe — and followed elite consensus policies on immigration and trade .
But some consensus policies imploded .
Subsidizing minority homebuying produced the 2008 financial collapse and lingering slow growth afterward .
The non-enforcement of immigration restrictions produced at least marginal downward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inequality .
The trade opening to China produced cheap consumer goods but did n't move China toward rule-based conduct or anything like democracy .
And it facilitated the spread of coronaviruses , at first with minimal impact but this year with the devastating COVID-19 killing thousands and shutting down much of the economies of Europe and North America .
The arguable failures of consensus trade and immigration policies fueled the oddball candidacy of Donald Trump in 2016 .
So did dynastic politics : Trump used Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton as foils in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-righteousness played a role , too — Trump 's stubborn refusal to admit error or avoid trivia ; Barack Obama 's and Clinton 's apparent attempts to delegitimize Trump , in contrast with their predecessors ' choices not to delegitimize the close presidential winners in 1960 and in 2000 .
Now , after nearly 30 years , the boomers wo n't go away .
Donald Trump , the third president born in 1946 , is running again .
Joe Biden , born December 1942 , is just a month away from boomer status @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Howe 's prescient 1991 book , `` Generations , '' as starting in birth year 1943 ) .
While 37 % of 2016 Republican voters backed post-boomer candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio , only 4 % of Democratic primary and caucus voters backed Gen Xers Pete Buttigieg , Tulsi Gabbard and Andrew Yang this year .
That does n't mean that younger generations have no influence .
The G.I .
generation maintained its hold on the White House after 1960s and 1970s ghetto riots and campus rebellions .
But it ceded control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Ronald Reagan lamented in his 1989 farewell address .
Similarly , as boomers keep hold of the presidency , many politicians and corporate execs seem ready to cede control of the culture to the Black Lives Matter movement and campus radicals .
They 're apparently cool with statue smashing — unbothered by the resemblance to the Taliban 's smashing of the Bamiyan Buddhas — and with trashing American history , as in The New York Times ' 1619 Project .
Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and longtime co-author of The Almanac of American Politics .

Americans naturally tend to think of their presidents in terms of generations, like they do with their families. This may have started with the news that former Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826, half a century to the day the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence they jointly drafted.
The Founding Generation (birth years 1732-1767) held the presidency for nearly half a century, from 1789 to 1837. Five were adults during the American Revolution. Two had childhood memories of it: John Quincy Adams of watching the gunfire smoke from Bunker Hill at age 7, Andrew Jackson of being slashed by a British officer's sword at age 14.
Within a month after Jackson left office, 28-year-old Abraham Lincoln gave his Springfield Lyceum speech, venerating the founders and warning of mob rule. He was part of the antebellum generation (birth years 1773-1809), which held office from 1837-69, grappled with the fissiparous issue of slavery expansion and, after a bloody civil war, abolished the "peculiar institution."
The Civil War generation (birth years 1821-1843) all fought in that war, except Grover Cleveland paid $300 not to do so. Regarded by historians as undistinguished, these presidents presided over amazing technological innovation and tumultuous economic growth in the years 1869-1901. They were followed by the post-Civil War generation (birth years 1856-74), all college graduates, who led America's emergence as a world power in 1901-33.
Each generation held the presidency for 30-some years, as did the three presidents (birth years 1882-90) who served as subordinates in the First World War and commanders in the Second World War, holding office from 1933 to 1961.
There was more turnover for the seven presidents of the G.I. generation (birth years 1908-24), who served from 1961 to 1993, each with World War II military experience. One was murdered; one resigned; and two were defeated for reelection. But after floundering in the late 1960s and 1970s, in the 1980s, they presided over revived, broad-based economic growth and nearly bloodless victory in the Cold War.
How have their successors, the baby-boom generation (birth years 1946-1964), done? They started off when some thought we'd reached "the end of history," with democratic capitalism not seriously challenged. Its first three presidents each served eight years — the first such trio since the political allies Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe — and followed elite consensus policies on immigration and trade.
But some consensus policies imploded. Subsidizing minority homebuying produced the 2008 financial collapse and lingering slow growth afterward. The non-enforcement of immigration restrictions produced at least marginal downward pressure on low-skill wages and widening economic inequality.
The trade opening to China produced cheap consumer goods but didn't move China toward rule-based conduct or anything like democracy. And it facilitated the spread of coronaviruses, at first with minimal impact but this year with the devastating COVID-19 killing thousands and shutting down much of the economies of Europe and North America.
The arguable failures of consensus trade and immigration policies fueled the oddball candidacy of Donald Trump in 2016. So did dynastic politics: Trump used Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton as foils in the primaries and general election.
Baby-boomer self-righteousness played a role, too — Trump's stubborn refusal to admit error or avoid trivia; Barack Obama's and Clinton's apparent attempts to delegitimize Trump, in contrast with their predecessors' choices not to delegitimize the close presidential winners in 1960 and in 2000.
Now, after nearly 30 years, the boomers won't go away. Donald Trump, the third president born in 1946, is running again. Joe Biden, born December 1942, is just a month away from boomer status (defined by William Strauss and Neal Howe's prescient 1991 book, "Generations," as starting in birth year 1943). While 37% of 2016 Republican voters backed post-boomer candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, only 4% of Democratic primary and caucus voters backed Gen Xers Pete Buttigieg, Tulsi Gabbard and Andrew Yang this year.
That doesn't mean that younger generations have no influence. The G.I. generation maintained its hold on the White House after 1960s and 1970s ghetto riots and campus rebellions. But it ceded control of the culture to boomer rebels, as Ronald Reagan lamented in his 1989 farewell address.
Similarly, as boomers keep hold of the presidency, many politicians and corporate execs seem ready to cede control of the culture to the Black Lives Matter movement and campus radicals. They're apparently cool with statue smashing — unbothered by the resemblance to the Taliban's smashing of the Bamiyan Buddhas — and with trashing American history, as in The New York Times' 1619 Project.
Happy Fourth of July.
Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and longtime co-author of The Almanac of American Politics.


bonginoreport--2020-07-04--Tim Graham: Lincoln Statues Must Go, Margaret Sanger Stays?

Levar Stoney , the black Democratic mayor of Richmond , Virginia , made the executive decision to remove a statue of Gen. Thomas `` Stonewall '' Jackson on Monument Avenue to `` expedite the healing process for the city . ''
This demonstrated how cities with liberal majorities can take down statues in an orderly fashion without vandalizing them or pulling them down .
Or it demonstrates how Democratic mayors respond to pressure from the self-appointed statue-removal squad .
The left is interested in taking down all kinds of statues , which raises an obvious question : What about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No one 's ripping those down .
In 2017 , Peter Dreier at BillMoyers.com wrote a piece headlined `` Where Are All the Monuments to the Progressive Americans ? ''
He complained most of our country 's statues celebrate military , political and business heroes .
`` Should n't we also honor the organizers , activists , artists , writers , athletes , judges , and occasional elected officials who fought to make the United States a more humane and inclusive country ? ''
he asked .
Then he listed a few examples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statues .
Exhibit A : `` This statue of the pioneering and fearless birth control advocate Margaret Sanger , with a gag over her mouth , stands in Old South Meeting House in Boston .
There are no schools named for the controversial socialist and feminist . ''
Honk if you find it bizarre to describe Sanger , a racist and eugenicist , as your avatar of `` humane and inclusive '' policies .
Her creation Planned Parenthood is a leading destroyer of black lives before they start .
But when black men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't possibly be allowed to tell them those extinguished lives matter .
They were ... inconvenient .
Pro-lifers will show you Sanger 's autobiography in which she discussed speaking before the women 's branch of the Ku Klux Klan : `` I accepted an invitation to talk to the women 's branch of the Ku Klux Klan in Silver Lake , New Jersey .
...
In the end , through simple illustrations I believed I had accomplished my purpose .
A dozen invitations to speak to similar groups were proffered . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has vandalized the Sanger statue .
No one has ripped it down and set it on fire .
It stands undisturbed .
It 's not on public property .
The Old South Meeting House was a Puritan church .
Conservatives can despair at the `` evolution '' of this once-Christian space , but not one has vandalized it .
Meanwhile , NPR reported the Boston Art Commission voted unanimously on June 30 to remove Boston 's copy of the Emancipation Memorial depicting a formerly enslaved man at the feet of Abraham Lincoln .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Park Square since 1879 .
But , activists complained , it was a `` white-created statue . ''
`` Boston artist Tory Bullock said the sculpture is a whitewashed portrayal that denigrates an entire group of people , '' NPR wrote .
`` This is a frozen picture .
This man is kneeling , he will never stand up , '' Bullock said .
`` This image is problematic because it feeds into a narrative that black people need to be led and freed .
... Why is our trauma so glorified ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , remains , while Lincoln was removed .
He 's apparently the enemy of the African American people .
An image of emancipation is traumatic .
The abortion of black babies is apparently therapeutic .
Leftists like Tory Bullock do not understand how people who gladly acknowledge that `` black lives matter '' would consider the left 's moral posturing to be based more on ideology than reality .
Those on the left speak angrily and endlessly of violated `` black bodies , '' but — to borrow a phrase from George Orwell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more equal than others .

Levar Stoney, the black Democratic mayor of Richmond, Virginia, made the executive decision to remove a statue of Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson on Monument Avenue to "expedite the healing process for the city." This demonstrated how cities with liberal majorities can take down statues in an orderly fashion without vandalizing them or pulling them down. Or it demonstrates how Democratic mayors respond to pressure from the self-appointed statue-removal squad.
The left is interested in taking down all kinds of statues, which raises an obvious question: What about the statues the left has put up? No one's ripping those down.
In 2017, Peter Dreier at BillMoyers.com wrote a piece headlined "Where Are All the Monuments to the Progressive Americans?" He complained most of our country's statues celebrate military, political and business heroes. "Shouldn't we also honor the organizers, activists, artists, writers, athletes, judges, and occasional elected officials who fought to make the United States a more humane and inclusive country?" he asked.
Then he listed a few examples of the left's heroes who have statues.
Exhibit A: "This statue of the pioneering and fearless birth control advocate Margaret Sanger, with a gag over her mouth, stands in Old South Meeting House in Boston. There are no schools named for the controversial socialist and feminist."
Honk if you find it bizarre to describe Sanger, a racist and eugenicist, as your avatar of "humane and inclusive" policies. Her creation Planned Parenthood is a leading destroyer of black lives before they start. But when black men and women cooperate in abortions, you can't possibly be allowed to tell them those extinguished lives matter. They were ... inconvenient.
Pro-lifers will show you Sanger's autobiography in which she discussed speaking before the women's branch of the Ku Klux Klan: "I accepted an invitation to talk to the women's branch of the Ku Klux Klan in Silver Lake, New Jersey. ... In the end, through simple illustrations I believed I had accomplished my purpose. A dozen invitations to speak to similar groups were proffered."
It's not surprising that no one has vandalized the Sanger statue. No one has ripped it down and set it on fire. It stands undisturbed. It's not on public property. The Old South Meeting House was a Puritan church. Conservatives can despair at the "evolution" of this once-Christian space, but not one has vandalized it.
Meanwhile, NPR reported the Boston Art Commission voted unanimously on June 30 to remove Boston's copy of the Emancipation Memorial depicting a formerly enslaved man at the feet of Abraham Lincoln. That statue has stood in Boston's Park Square since 1879. But, activists complained, it was a "white-created statue."
"Boston artist Tory Bullock said the sculpture is a whitewashed portrayal that denigrates an entire group of people," NPR wrote. "This is a frozen picture. This man is kneeling, he will never stand up," Bullock said. "This image is problematic because it feeds into a narrative that black people need to be led and freed. ... Why is our trauma so glorified?"
Sanger, the racist and eugenicist, remains, while Lincoln was removed. He's apparently the enemy of the African American people. An image of emancipation is traumatic. The abortion of black babies is apparently therapeutic.
Leftists like Tory Bullock do not understand how people who gladly acknowledge that "black lives matter" would consider the left's moral posturing to be based more on ideology than reality. Those on the left speak angrily and endlessly of violated "black bodies," but — to borrow a phrase from George Orwell — they imply some black bodies are more equal than others.


bonginoreport--2020-07-04--Armed Member of Canada’s Military Crashes Into Gate at PM Trudeau’s Home

TORONTO ( AP ) — A military reservist who allegedly crashed his truck through a gate on the grounds where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lives was charged with 22 crimes on Friday , including weapons offenses and uttering threats .
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner Mike Duheme said Corey Hurren had several weapons when he was arrested Thursday .
He declined to comment on the motivation of Hurren , a 46-year-old on-duty member of the Canadian military reserves who also has a gourmet sausage business in Manitoba .
The man had a bail hearing Friday and was remanded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges including two counts of possessing a restricted or prohibited gun , four counts of careless use , storage or handling of a firearm and four counts of possessing a firearm for a dangerous purpose .
Police believe he was acting alone .
Shortly before the incident , a post on Hurren 's GrindHouse Fine Foods Facebook page showed a meme of a large outdoor party that would supposedly occur after the COVID-19 lockdown and it directed people to look up “ Event 201 , ” a worldwide pandemic preparedness exercise run last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest Microsoft founder Bill Gates is behind COVID-19 .
Police said Hurren crashed his truck through the gate at 6:30 a.m. Thursday .
The truck was disabled and the suspect was spotted with a rifle before being contained in a greenhouse on the sprawling property in Ottawa .
Police began talking to him and he was arrested two hours later .
Trudeau lives on the grounds of the property where Canada ’ s governor general resides .
The post of governor general , currently held by Julie Payette , is a mostly ceremonial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the time .
Trudeau , his wife and three children live in a cottage on the property because the prime minister ’ s traditional residence is in disrepair .
“ This was something that no one wants to hear , that someone entered your home , ” Trudeau said .
“ I want to extend my sincere thanks to the RCMP and the Ottawa police service that did a remarkable job in ensuring that there were not injuries.
” This article was written by ROB GILLIES from The Associated Press and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Please direct all licensing questions to legal @ newscred.com .

Air Force Pilots Have One Month to Extend Contracts for Up to $50,000 Per Year in Bonuses
The new bonus also comes as the Air Force, as a whole, struggles with its toughest recruiting environment in decades.


bonginoreport--2020-07-04--Shootings Up 205% After NYPD Disbands Anti-Crime Unit

Gun violence exploded across the city after the NYPD disbanded its anti-crime unit of plainclothes cops on June 15 , with three times as many shootings in the last two weeks of the month over the same period in 2019 , police stats show .
And the shocking rise in gunfire — to 116 incidents from 38 between June 15 and June 2 , a 205 percent increase — meant scores more victims were hurt or killed by bullets this year over last year .
Gunshot injuries skyrocketed to 157 from 47 in 2019 , a 238 percent increase .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the month , it was the bloodiest June in 24 years — going back to 1996 , when the NYPD logged 236 incidents , the department said .
One victim , Jomo Glasgow , 35 , a DJ , was gunned down outside a house party on East 49th Street in Brooklyn on June 17 — just two days after Police Commissioner Dermot Shea announced he was scrapping the unit , a group of 600 officers tasked with preventing violent street crime .
“ I feel like we are giving the streets back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s mom , Hazel Thomas , told The Post .
“ They shouldn ’ t have disbanded it , ” she said of the anti-crime unit .
“ Whatever the problem they have , address it .
But don ’ t disband the unit .
Many lives would have been saved .
Not just my son.
” The unit , once described as “ elite ” by mayor de Blasio , has a history of success but also controversy .
Its members have been involved in a number of high-profile police shootings and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that killed Eric Garner .
Shea described the group as a relic of the stop-and-frisk era , though he also praised plainclothes cops for “ doing exactly what was asked of them.
” “ They have done an exceptional job , ” he said during the announcement .
“ But again I think it ’ s time to move forward and change how we police in this city.
” But some saw his decision , which came during the height of the protests against police brutality , as politically motivated .
“ Without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harder to tackle rising felony crimes , ‘ shots fired ’ jobs and the growing number of illegal guns pouring into the neighborhoods , ” said NYPD Sgt .
Joseph Imperatrice , a former anti-crime unit supervisor and founder of Blue Lives Matter .
He said members were “ disheartened ” by the announcement .
The NYPD has blamed the shooting spike on everything but the disbanding of the anti-crime unit .
“ It ’ s bail reform , ” Shea said on PIX11 this week .
“ It ’ s Covid .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of the most frustrating pieces right now , is a criminal justice system that just is not working and I ’ m calling on Albany to fix it .
Fix it now .
People are dying on the streets of New York City.
” De Blasio — who as recently as 2015 described the anti-crime unit as “ elite ” — has remained silent on it being dissolved .
But when shootings started to climb last month , he vowed that “ we are not going to allow gun violence to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re not going to go back to the days when there was so much violence pervading our communities , ” Hizzoner told CBS 2 on June 22 , following a week of 53 shootings .
But the next week there were 63 more shootings .
The group was an outgrowth of the Street Crimes Unit , which was formed in 1971 to target high-crime zones and made 4,000 arrests that year .
The Street Crimes Unit was disbanded in 2002 following the fatal shooting of Amadou Diallo — and a federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ color .
“ The problem got much worse over the next 10 years , ” Darius Charney , of the Center for Constitutional Rights , told the New York Times .

It’s an anti-crime wave.
Gun violence exploded across the city after the NYPD disbanded its anti-crime unit of plainclothes cops on June 15, with three times as many shootings in the last two weeks of the month over the same period in 2019, police stats show.
And the shocking rise in gunfire — to 116 incidents from 38 between June 15 and July 2, a 205 percent increase — meant scores more victims were hurt or killed by bullets this year over last year.
Gunshot injuries skyrocketed to 157 from 47 in 2019, a 238 percent increase.
With a total of 205 shootings during the month, it was the bloodiest June in 24 years — going back to 1996, when the NYPD logged 236 incidents, the department said.
One victim, Jomo Glasgow, 35, a DJ, was gunned down outside a house party on East 49th Street in Brooklyn on June 17 — just two days after Police Commissioner Dermot Shea announced he was scrapping the unit, a group of 600 officers tasked with preventing violent street crime.
“I feel like we are giving the streets back to the criminals,” Glasgow’s mom, Hazel Thomas, told The Post.
“They shouldn’t have disbanded it,” she said of the anti-crime unit. “Whatever the problem they have, address it. But don’t disband the unit. Many lives would have been saved. Not just my son.”
The unit, once described as “elite” by Mayor Bill de Blasio, has a history of success but also controversy.
Its members have been involved in a number of high-profile police shootings and deaths, including the chokehold that killed Eric Garner.
Shea described the group as a relic of the stop-and-frisk era, though he also praised plainclothes cops for “doing exactly what was asked of them.”
“They have done an exceptional job,” he said during the announcement. “But again I think it’s time to move forward and change how we police in this city.”
But some saw his decision, which came during the height of the protests against police brutality, as politically motivated.
And potentially catastrophic to crime-fighting.
“Without having this tool, it will be much harder to tackle rising felony crimes, ‘shots fired’ jobs and the growing number of illegal guns pouring into the neighborhoods,” said NYPD Sgt. Joseph Imperatrice, a former anti-crime unit supervisor and founder of Blue Lives Matter.
He said members were “disheartened” by the announcement.
The NYPD has blamed the shooting spike on everything but the disbanding of the anti-crime unit.
“It’s bail reform,” Shea said on PIX11 this week. “It’s COVID. It’s emptying out prisons. One of the most frustrating pieces right now is a criminal justice system that just is not working and I’m calling on Albany to fix it. Fix it now. People are dying on the streets of New York City.”
De Blasio — who as recently as 2015 described the anti-crime unit as “elite” — has remained silent on it being dissolved. But when shootings started to climb last month, he vowed that “we are not going to allow gun violence to continue to grow in this city.”
“We’re not going to go back to the days when there was so much violence pervading our communities,” Hizzoner told CBS 2 on June 22, following a week of 53 shootings. But the next week there were 63 more shootings.
The group was an outgrowth of the Street Crimes Unit, which was formed in 1971 to target high-crime zones and made 4,000 arrests that year. The Street Crimes Unit was disbanded in 2002 following the fatal shooting of Amadou Diallo — and a federal probe that found the unit profiled people of color.
“The problem got much worse over the next 10 years,” Darius Charney, of the Center for Constitutional Rights, told the New York Times.


bonginoreport--2020-07-04--Moderna’s Coronavirus Vaccine Trial Delayed

A 30,000-patient trial of Moderna ’ s coronavirus vaccine candidate , expected to start next week , has been delayed , a potential hurdle in the company ’ s ambitious effort to deliver key data by Thanksgiving .
Moderna is making changes to the trial plan , called a protocol , which has pushed back the expected start date of the Phase 3 study , according to investigators .
The investigators , who spoke on condition of anonymity , emphasized that protocol changes are common but said it ’ s not clear how long the start will be delayed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get the first vaccines given in July , and they say they ’ re still committed to do that , ” one investigator said .
“ As best I can tell , they ’ re close to being on target for that.
” Investigators at the University of Illinois at Chicago had previously said Moderna ’ s trial would begin July 9 .
On Thursday , NIH Director Francis Collins also told lawmakers in Washington that the study would begin this month .
Moderna did not respond to multiple emails asking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nature of the protocol changes , or whether they have anything to do with the vaccine ’ s safety or manufacturing .
After publication , CEO Stéphane Bancel told CNBC that Moderna still intends to start the trial in July .
In a statement posted to Twitter on Thursday afternoon , the company said it has “ worked closely ” with the National Institutes of Health , which is funding the Phase 3 study , “ to align the final protocol in order to begin the trial on time.
” The intense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial stems from the tight nature of the race to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus — and the fact that any delay could imperil Moderna ’ s pole position .
Pfizer , working with the German firm BioNTech , plans to start a 30,000-patient study of its own later this month .
AstraZeneca and Oxford University are slated to begin a similarly sized trial in August , followed by Johnson & Johnson in September .
All of the companies are working at unprecedented speed to advance their vaccines , and Moderna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its timeline delayed .
Developing and manufacturing vaccines at scale is always a challenging endeavor , with unexpected hitches the norm rather than the exception .
Candidate vaccines that looked promising in animals can fail to deliver the same results in people .
Production problems arise .
During the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic , U.S. officials confidently predicted there would be a vaccine in the early autumn , in time to fend off an expected second wave of infections .
But the new virus grew poorly in eggs , the substrate used in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass amounts of vaccines were ready for distribution , the peak of infection in the country had already passed .

A 30,000-patient trial of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine candidate, expected to start next week, has been delayed, a potential hurdle in the company’s ambitious effort to deliver key data by Thanksgiving.
Moderna is making changes to the trial plan, called a protocol, which has pushed back the expected start date of the Phase 3 study, according to investigators. The investigators, who spoke on condition of anonymity, emphasized that protocol changes are common but said it’s not clear how long the start will be delayed.
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“My understanding was that they wanted to get the first vaccines given in July, and they say they’re still committed to do that,” one investigator said. “As best I can tell, they’re close to being on target for that.”
Investigators at the University of Illinois at Chicago had previously said Moderna’s trial would begin July 9. On Thursday, NIH Director Francis Collins also told lawmakers in Washington that the study would begin this month.
Moderna did not respond to multiple emails asking about how long the delay will last, the nature of the protocol changes, or whether they have anything to do with the vaccine’s safety or manufacturing. After publication, CEO Stéphane Bancel told CNBC that Moderna still intends to start the trial in July. In a statement posted to Twitter on Thursday afternoon, the company said it has “worked closely” with the National Institutes of Health, which is funding the Phase 3 study, “to align the final protocol in order to begin the trial on time.”
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The intense focus on the exact timing of the trial stems from the tight nature of the race to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus — and the fact that any delay could imperil Moderna’s pole position. Pfizer, working with the German firm BioNTech, plans to start a 30,000-patient study of its own later this month. AstraZeneca and Oxford University are slated to begin a similarly sized trial in August, followed by Johnson & Johnson in September.
All of the companies are working at unprecedented speed to advance their vaccines, and Moderna may not be the last to see its timeline delayed.
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Developing and manufacturing vaccines at scale is always a challenging endeavor, with unexpected hitches the norm rather than the exception. Candidate vaccines that looked promising in animals can fail to deliver the same results in people. Production problems arise.
During the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, U.S. officials confidently predicted there would be a vaccine in the early autumn, in time to fend off an expected second wave of infections. But the new virus grew poorly in eggs, the substrate used in influenza vaccine production. By the time mass amounts of vaccines were ready for distribution, the peak of infection in the country had already passed.
Matthew Herper and Helen Branswell contributed reporting.


bonginoreport--2020-07-04--Putting Florida’s Coronavirus Surge in Perspective

Florida is melting down .
Or is it ?
While the state has shown a big increase in the number of daily new COVID-19 cases , there also are signs that those increases might not lead to a spike in hospitalizations and deaths .
> > > What ’ s the best way for America to reopen and return to business ?
The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission , a project of The Heritage Foundation , assembled America ’ s top thinkers to figure that out .
So far , it has made more than 260 recommendations .
Learn more here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeSantis has lost control of Florida ’ s COVID-19 response , ” Fried recently told The Guardian .
“ His policies are simply not working , and he ’ s recklessly reopening Florida , despite the data screaming for caution .
“ Refusing to acknowledge the alarming patterns in cases , hospitalizations , and positivity is not only arrogant , but will cost lives , public health , and our economy , ” she said .
Fried and others point to the rising number of new cases in Florida , especially since DeSantis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening on June 5 .
Before June 10 , the state had never logged 2,000 new COVID-19 infections on any day .
Since June 16 , however , it has recorded at least 2,500 cases every day , and daily new cases approached 10,000 on June 26 .
Those sobering numbers could portend a spike in hospitalizations and deaths , something Florida has so far avoided .
But before jumping to that conclusion , it ’ s worth taking a deeper dive into the data .
Let ’ s begin with the age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hospitalizations , and deaths , through June 29 .
When it comes to serious illness , hospitalizations , and deaths from COVID-19 , age matters .
A lot .
Note that more than half the cases are among people under age 45 .
But note also that most hospitalizations are among people over age 65 .
The age differential is even more pronounced when it comes to deaths .
Roughly 85 % of them are among people over 65 and nearly two-thirds of them are among people over 75 .
Although the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 45 , the latter account for just 3 % of deaths .
Since age is the best predictor of serious illness and death , the age of newly infected people is an important consideration .
If Florida ’ s spike in new infections is among younger people , it ’ s a less dire concern than if a disproportionate number of older people are testing positive for the contagion .
The following is a chart showing the number of daily new infections , along with the median age of the newly infected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases .
The bottom set shows the median age of those whose infections were confirmed on that date .
For example , on June 26 , when the state logged a record ( at least to date ) 9,557 new cases , the median age of those who tested positive was 34 .
That median has held remarkably steady between ages 33 and 37 since mid-June .
That ’ s encouraging news .
Those under 34 account for only 6 % of hospitalizations and just 1 % of deaths , as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bulk of new infections in Florida is occurring among people in their mid-30s and younger .
Some of them , unfortunately , will become seriously or critically ill , and a small number won ’ t survive the illness .
They and their families will suffer hardships that can not be minimized .
But overall , if the increase in COVID-19 infections is occurring predominantly among younger people , the incidence of serious illness and death will be lower than if the increase were primarily among the elderly .
Florida ’ s numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraging .
While the state reports the median age of new cases , it doesn ’ t tell us what percentage are occurring among the elderly .
That ’ s the most critical data point .
The state has published data on every case reported as of June 29 , but not in a machine-readable format .
Manually entering data for 6,000 cases is impractical .
By the time I finished with today ’ s numbers , it would be time to start on tomorrow ’ s .
So , I did the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ random sample of 362 cases , weighted by county , that were reported for June 29 .
The following table presents the results .
The sample has a margin of error of +/- 5 percent at a 95 % confidence interval , so it ’ s not a point estimate .
The table compares the age composition of cases reported for June 29 with all cases reported since the start of the pandemic .
The most striking difference between the June 29 sample and the aggregate cases is among the older demographic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ just 21 % of the June 29 sample , compared with 29 % of aggregate cases since the pandemic ’ s inception .
Even more significant , newly confirmed cases among the over 65 group account for only 10 % of the June 29 sample , compared with 16 % of aggregate cases .
The sample suggests that the new infections that have been rising rapidly in Florida for the past several weeks are disproportionately among age groups least at risk of serious illness from the virus .
That ’ s generally encouraging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the worst outcomes from COVID-19 .
It may help explain why , despite a spike in new infections , there has not yet been a spike in hospitalizations and deaths .
Those increases might yet occur as infection rates rise , but there also is reason for optimism .
Daily hospitalizations have risen throughout the month of June , but remain only slightly above previous peaks reached in April and May .
Daily fatalities remain substantially below the peaks hit during May .
If new cases are trending younger , there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t spike , although it ’ s far too soon to tell .
The potential good news should be met with caution .
The volume of cases reported over the past several weeks is much higher than it was earlier in the pandemic .
Even if seniors make up only 10 % of new cases , as the sample suggests , that percentage must be applied to very large numbers of new cases .
In short , a spike in hospitalizations and deaths remains a real possibility in Florida , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives some cause for hope .

Florida is melting down. Or is it?
While the state has shown a big increase in the number of daily new COVID-19 cases, there also are signs that those increases might not lead to a spike in hospitalizations and deaths.
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the only Democrat elected statewide, painted a grim picture.
>>> What’s the best way for America to reopen and return to business? The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, a project of The Heritage Foundation, assembled America’s top thinkers to figure that out. So far, it has made more than 260 recommendations. Learn more here.
“Gov. [Ron] DeSantis has lost control of Florida’s COVID-19 response,” Fried recently told The Guardian. “His policies are simply not working, and he’s recklessly reopening Florida, despite the data screaming for caution.
“Refusing to acknowledge the alarming patterns in cases, hospitalizations, and positivity is not only arrogant, but will cost lives, public health, and our economy,” she said.
Fried and others point to the rising number of new cases in Florida, especially since DeSantis announced the state’s Phase 2 reopening on June 5. Before June 10, the state had never logged 2,000 new COVID-19 infections on any day. Since June 16, however, it has recorded at least 2,500 cases every day, and daily new cases approached 10,000 on June 26.
Those sobering numbers could portend a spike in hospitalizations and deaths, something Florida has so far avoided.
But before jumping to that conclusion, it’s worth taking a deeper dive into the data. Let’s begin with the age distribution of Florida’s aggregate infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, through June 29.
When it comes to serious illness, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19, age matters. A lot.
Note that more than half the cases are among people under age 45. But note also that most hospitalizations are among people over age 65.
The age differential is even more pronounced when it comes to deaths. Roughly 85% of them are among people over 65 and nearly two-thirds of them are among people over 75. Although the majority of cases are among people under 45, the latter account for just 3% of deaths.
Since age is the best predictor of serious illness and death, the age of newly infected people is an important consideration.
If Florida’s spike in new infections is among younger people, it’s a less dire concern than if a disproportionate number of older people are testing positive for the contagion.
The following is a chart showing the number of daily new infections, along with the median age of the newly infected.
The top set of bars shows daily new cases. The bottom set shows the median age of those whose infections were confirmed on that date.
For example, on June 26, when the state logged a record (at least to date) 9,557 new cases, the median age of those who tested positive was 34. That median has held remarkably steady between ages 33 and 37 since mid-June.
That’s encouraging news. Those under 34 account for only 6% of hospitalizations and just 1% of deaths, as we saw in the first chart. The bulk of new infections in Florida is occurring among people in their mid-30s and younger.
Some of them, unfortunately, will become seriously or critically ill, and a small number won’t survive the illness. They and their families will suffer hardships that cannot be minimized.
But overall, if the increase in COVID-19 infections is occurring predominantly among younger people, the incidence of serious illness and death will be lower than if the increase were primarily among the elderly.
Florida’s numbers in that respect are at least mildly encouraging.
While the state reports the median age of new cases, it doesn’t tell us what percentage are occurring among the elderly. That’s the most critical data point.
The state has published data on every case reported as of June 29, but not in a machine-readable format. Manually entering data for 6,000 cases is impractical. By the time I finished with today’s numbers, it would be time to start on tomorrow’s.
So, I did the next best thing. I took a random sample of 362 cases, weighted by county, that were reported for June 29. The following table presents the results. The sample has a margin of error of +/- 5 percent at a 95% confidence interval, so it’s not a point estimate.
The table compares the age composition of cases reported for June 29 with all cases reported since the start of the pandemic.
The most striking difference between the June 29 sample and the aggregate cases is among the older demographic.
People aged 55 and older made up just 21% of the June 29 sample, compared with 29% of aggregate cases since the pandemic’s inception. Even more significant, newly confirmed cases among the over 65 group account for only 10% of the June 29 sample, compared with 16% of aggregate cases.
The sample suggests that the new infections that have been rising rapidly in Florida for the past several weeks are disproportionately among age groups least at risk of serious illness from the virus.
That’s generally encouraging news, given that seniors are prone to the worst outcomes from COVID-19.
It may help explain why, despite a spike in new infections, there has not yet been a spike in hospitalizations and deaths. Those increases might yet occur as infection rates rise, but there also is reason for optimism.
Daily hospitalizations have risen throughout the month of June, but remain only slightly above previous peaks reached in April and May. Daily fatalities remain substantially below the peaks hit during May. If new cases are trending younger, there’s reason to hope that these rates won’t spike, although it’s far too soon to tell.
The potential good news should be met with caution. The volume of cases reported over the past several weeks is much higher than it was earlier in the pandemic. Even if seniors make up only 10% of new cases, as the sample suggests, that percentage must be applied to very large numbers of new cases.
In short, a spike in hospitalizations and deaths remains a real possibility in Florida, but the age profile of newly infected patients gives some cause for hope.