bonginoreport--2020-12-08--Because the First One Worked So Well: Portland Crazies Start Autonomous Zone

Portland protesters repurposed fences and barricades to erect a new autonomous zone in an effort to resist the eviction of a Black family .
Protesters have been camping out for months to prevent the eviction of the Kinney family but on Tuesday morning , tensions escalated and protesters used fences and barricades set up by law enforcement officials to surround the home , which has been named the `` Red House on Mississippi '' due to it 's location on Mississippi Ave. in North Portland .
Zane Sparling of the Portland Tribune shared photos and videos on Twitter of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Portland has a new autonomous zone here on Mississippi Avenue , '' Sparling wrote , featuring a video showing fences and other items used as barricades to stop law enforcement officials from entering the area .
`` The barricades at Portland 's newest autonomous zone are being reinforced with power tools ... no sign of police since they were forced back .
Observers tell me the clash reminded them of recent scenes in Paris , '' Sparling wrote in another tweet , showing several pictures of signs around the autonomous zone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' and `` No Jurisdiction . ''
The newly erected autonomous zone comes after months of months of battles between the Kinney family , protesters and law enforcement officials .
According to a website for the red house , the home was foreclosed on in 2018 , but the Kinney family , who have lived in the home for 65 years , challenged the foreclosure .
Despite the challenge and a long legal battle , a Multnomah County Judge sanctioned the eviction in February , commanding the county 's sheriff 's office to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was issued prior to state and federal emergency moratoriums .
The eviction moratoriums do not apply to evictions based on post-nonjudicial foreclosures , such as this case , '' the Multnomah County Sheriff 's Office wrote in a press release .
Following the judge 's orders , protesters have gathered outside the house to prevent the family 's eviction .
Newsweek reached out to the Kinney 's family spokesperson for comment but did not receive a reply before publication , .
According to a release from the Multnomah County Sheriff 's Office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , officers `` with the assistance of the Portland Police Bureau , revisited a property in the 4400 block of Mississippi Ave. in North Portland to re-secure a home in which the occupants were previously ordered removed by court order . ''
A press release from the Portland Police Department echoed similar statements but noted that `` over the past three months , people have been illegally trespassing on properties on Mississippi Avenue , including in a house and on privately owned lots .
Today , police encountered people trespassing at these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release from the Portland Police Department , over the past three months call-log data shows at least 81 calls being placed `` for issues related to these properties and the immediate area . ''
`` Calls for service included , but were not limited to : fights , disturbances , shots fired , burglary , thefts , vandalism , noise violations , trespassing , threats ( including by armed individuals ) , and for illegally blocking traffic , sidewalks and access to homes , '' the release states .
Amid the escalating tensions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , at least seven individuals were arrested , according to the Portland Police Department .
All were charged with trespassing .
Newsweek reached out to the Multnomah County Sheriff 's Office and the Portland Police Department for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication .

Portland protesters repurposed fences and barricades to erect a new autonomous zone in an effort to resist the eviction of a Black family.
Protesters have been camping out for months to prevent the eviction of the Kinney family but on Tuesday morning, tensions escalated and protesters used fences and barricades set up by law enforcement officials to surround the home, which has been named the "Red House on Mississippi" due to it's location on Mississippi Ave. in North Portland.
Zane Sparling of the Portland Tribune shared photos and videos on Twitter of the autonomous zone set up around the home.
"Portland has a new autonomous zone here on Mississippi Avenue," Sparling wrote, featuring a video showing fences and other items used as barricades to stop law enforcement officials from entering the area.
Portland has a new autonomous zone here on Mississippi Avenue.
The Kinney family says their home was foreclosed on because they owed less than $100K, while the vacant land next door is with $10 million pic.twitter.com/nEngxmATbX — Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) December 8, 2020
"The barricades at Portland's newest autonomous zone are being reinforced with power tools... no sign of police since they were forced back. Observers tell me the clash reminded them of recent scenes in Paris," Sparling wrote in another tweet, showing several pictures of signs around the autonomous zone that read, "Red House Sovereignty" and "No Jurisdiction."
The barricades at Portland’s newest autonomous zone are being reinforced with power tools... no sign of police since they were forced back
Observers tell me the clash reminded them of recent scenes in Paris pic.twitter.com/ICzxfeDdId — Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) December 8, 2020
The newly erected autonomous zone comes after months of months of battles between the Kinney family, protesters and law enforcement officials.
According to a website for the red house, the home was foreclosed on in 2018, but the Kinney family, who have lived in the home for 65 years, challenged the foreclosure. Despite the challenge and a long legal battle, a Multnomah County Judge sanctioned the eviction in February, commanding the county's sheriff's office to remove the family.
"The judgment was issued prior to state and federal emergency moratoriums. The eviction moratoriums do not apply to evictions based on post-nonjudicial foreclosures, such as this case," the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office wrote in a press release.
Oregon State Troopers block a street as they confront protesters in Portland, Oregon on November 4, 2020, during a demonstration called by the "Black Lives Matter" movement, a day after the US Presidential Election. Kathryn Elsesser/Getty
Following the judge's orders, protesters have gathered outside the house to prevent the family's eviction.
Newsweek reached out to the Kinney's family spokesperson for comment but did not receive a reply before publication,.
According to a release from the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, at approximately 5 a.m. local time on Tuesday, officers "with the assistance of the Portland Police Bureau, revisited a property in the 4400 block of Mississippi Ave. in North Portland to re-secure a home in which the occupants were previously ordered removed by court order."
A press release from the Portland Police Department echoed similar statements but noted that "over the past three months, people have been illegally trespassing on properties on Mississippi Avenue, including in a house and on privately owned lots. Today, police encountered people trespassing at these locations."
According to the press release from the Portland Police Department, over the past three months call-log data shows at least 81 calls being placed "for issues related to these properties and the immediate area."
"Calls for service included, but were not limited to: fights, disturbances, shots fired, burglary, thefts, vandalism, noise violations, trespassing, threats (including by armed individuals), and for illegally blocking traffic, sidewalks and access to homes," the release states.
Amid the escalating tensions between protesters and law enforcement officials on Tuesday, at least seven individuals were arrested, according to the Portland Police Department. All were charged with trespassing.
Newsweek reached out to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office and the Portland Police Department for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.


bonginoreport--2020-12-08--SCOTUS Rejects Bid to Decertify Pennsylvania Election Results

The Supreme Court has just rejected Pennsylvania ’ s request challenging the state ’ s election results : This is @ @ @ @ @ my Congressman Mike Kelly and the order says : “ The application for injunctive relief @ @ @ @ @ by him referred to the Court is denied.
” Which means that Ted Cruz won @ @ @ @ @ case before the Supreme Court .
I guess Congress could still reject Pennsylvania ’ s @ @ @ @ @ it feels like even more of an uphill battle without the Supreme Court having declared @ @ @ @ @ .
But don ’ t forget the Supreme Court did agree to hear the Texas @ @ @ @ @ decision means there could be merit to that case ?

The Supreme Court has just rejected Pennsylvania’s request challenging the state’s election results:
BREAKING: The Supreme Court just denied efforts to overturn Pennsylvania certification for Biden. #SCOTUS will not hear the case. @FoxNews “The application for injunctive relief presented to Justice Alito and by him referred to the Court is denied.” pic.twitter.com/omhJLc9s1g — David Spunt (@davidspunt) December 8, 2020
BREAKING: SCOTUS denies Pennsylvania Republicans’ effort to challenge the election results. pic.twitter.com/recMDgBXzH — Jennifer Franco (@jennfranconews) December 8, 2020
This is the case that was brought my Congressman Mike Kelly and the order says: “The application for injunctive relief presented to Justice Alito and by him referred to the Court is denied.”
Which means that Ted Cruz won’t be arguing the case before the Supreme Court.
I guess Congress could still reject Pennsylvania’s electors in January, but it feels like even more of an uphill battle without the Supreme Court having declared the law state law unconstitutional.
But don’t forget the Supreme Court did agree to hear the Texas case, and perhaps this decision means there could be merit to that case?
UPDATE: From Mark Levin:
Sadly, SCOTUS could not or would not cobble together 4 members to stop the lawlessness that took place by PA officials. It was a very solid case with clear federal ramifications but they denied relief. I’ll discuss at length on my radio show this evening.https://t.co/J1Rccts2iv — Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) December 8, 2020


bonginoreport--2020-12-08--President Trump Says U.S. Is Days Away From FDA Authorizing Coronavirus Vaccine

President Trump on Tuesday said the forthcoming coronavirus vaccines “ will end the pandemic , ” saying the U.S. is just “ days away ” from the first “ safe and effective vaccine ” to combat COVID-19 .
The president , during the vaccine summit at the White House on Tuesday , touted Operation Warp Speed — his administration ’ s public-private partnership which was created over the summer to create a vaccine “ at break-neck speed.
” “ We ’ re just days away from the authorization from the FDA , and we ’ re pushing them hard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. government , following the agency 's approval will “ immediately begin mass distribution.
” “ We are very , very happy we were able to get things done at a level we haven ’ t seen before , ” Trump said , saying that vaccines created by Pfizer and Moderna “ are approximately 95 % effective , ” saying that projection was “ far exceeding anything that really anybody thought.
” “ We are very hopeful that the FDA will authorize the Pfizer vaccine within days , and the Moderna vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The FDA is set to meet Thursday regarding Pfizer and BioNTech ’ s application for emergency authorization use of their coronavirus vaccine , just three weeks after the companies filed for it .
The FDA also plans to meet on Dec. 17 to discuss Moderna ’ s vaccine .
“ It will end the pandemic , ” the president said .
“ People who aren ’ t necessarily fans of Donald Trump have said that this is one of the greatest miracles of any other age of medicine.
” The president went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warp Speed , including members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force , and private sector executives .
`` My administration provided a total of $ 14 billion to accelerate vaccine development and to manufacture all of the top candidates in advance , '' he said .
“ It has been a modern-day miracle , ” the president said .
“ I want to give you my love .
And good luck.
” The president , during the summit , also signed an executive order , which Fox News first reported Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus vaccines before the U.S. government began aiding nations around the world .
“ We work with the world , ” the president said .
“ We ’ re working with the world.
” The president said the order would “ ensure the U.S. government prioritizes the getting out of the vaccine to American citizens before sending it to other nations.
” PENCE SAYS US ' A WEEK AND A HALF AWAY ' FROM 'LIKELY APPROVAL ' OF FIRST CORONAVIRUS VACCINE “ If necessary , we will invoke the Defense Production Act if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the president said , adding that `` we don ’ t think it will be necessary . ''
The president added that Operation Warp Speed will “ continue to expand availability of ground-breaking therapies.
” The president also went on to tease new coronavirus tests that do not need a medical professional to be administered .
It is unclear what those tests will entail and when they would be rolled out .
Meanwhile , the president said governors will make “ the ultimate decisions ” as to who receives the vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make very wise decisions.
” “ We urge our governors to put America ’ s seniors first , and those who work with seniors , doctors , nurses , first responders , ” the president said .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Attending the White House summit were industry and supply chain participants — including executives from UPS , FedEx , McKesson , Thermo-Fisher , CVS and Walgreens .

President Trump on Tuesday said the forthcoming coronavirus vaccines “will end the pandemic,” saying the U.S. is just “days away” from the first “safe and effective vaccine” to combat COVID-19.
The president, during the vaccine summit at the White House on Tuesday, touted Operation Warp Speed — his administration’s public-private partnership which was created over the summer to create a vaccine “at break-neck speed.”
TRUMP TO SIGN CORONAVIRUS EXECUTIVE ORDER PRIORITIZING AMERICANS OVER FOREIGN NATIONS
“We’re just days away from the authorization from the FDA, and we’re pushing them hard,” the president said, adding that the U.S. government, following the agency's approval will “immediately begin mass distribution.”
“We are very, very happy we were able to get things done at a level we haven’t seen before,” Trump said, saying that vaccines created by Pfizer and Moderna “are approximately 95% effective,” saying that projection was “far exceeding anything that really anybody thought.”
“We are very hopeful that the FDA will authorize the Pfizer vaccine within days, and the Moderna vaccine almost immediately thereafter,” Trump continued.
The FDA is set to meet Thursday regarding Pfizer and BioNTech’s application for emergency authorization use of their coronavirus vaccine, just three weeks after the companies filed for it. The FDA also plans to meet on Dec. 17 to discuss Moderna’s vaccine.
“It will end the pandemic,” the president said. “People who aren’t necessarily fans of Donald Trump have said that this is one of the greatest miracles of any other age of medicine.”
The president went on to thank everyone involved in Operation Warp Speed, including members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, and private sector executives.
"My administration provided a total of $14 billion to accelerate vaccine development and to manufacture all of the top candidates in advance," he said.
“It has been a modern-day miracle,” the president said. “I want to give you my love. And good luck.”
The president, during the summit, also signed an executive order, which Fox News first reported Monday, to ensure Americans had access to the coronavirus vaccines before the U.S. government began aiding nations around the world.
“We work with the world,” the president said. “We’re working with the world.”
The president said the order would “ensure the U.S. government prioritizes the getting out of the vaccine to American citizens before sending it to other nations.”
PENCE SAYS US 'A WEEK AND A HALF AWAY' FROM 'LIKELY APPROVAL' OF FIRST CORONAVIRUS VACCINE
“If necessary, we will invoke the Defense Production Act if there are any problems with vaccine production," the president said, adding that "we don’t think it will be necessary."
The president added that Operation Warp Speed will “continue to expand availability of ground-breaking therapies.”
The president also went on to tease new coronavirus tests that do not need a medical professional to be administered. It is unclear what those tests will entail and when they would be rolled out.
Meanwhile, the president said governors will make “the ultimate decisions” as to who receives the vaccines first, saying he “hopes they make very wise decisions.”
“We urge our governors to put America’s seniors first, and those who work with seniors, doctors, nurses, first responders,” the president said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Attending the White House summit were industry and supply chain participants — including executives from UPS, FedEx, McKesson, Thermo-Fisher, CVS and Walgreens.


bonginoreport--2020-12-08--Coronavirus Relief Deal Hinges on Stimulus Checks, Business Liability

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday backed off his demand for businesses to get coronavirus-related liability protections as part of a year-end rescue package .
The Kentucky Republican urged Congress to pass an aid bill that contains neither legal immunity nor state and local government support , two roadblocks to lawmakers striking a relief deal .
`` What I recommend is we set aside liability and set aside state and local , and pass those things that we can agree on knowing full well we 'll be back at this after the 1st of the year '' during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , McConnell told reporters on Tuesday .
Democratic leaders , who oppose a liability shield , quickly rejected the tradeoff .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , told reporters a lack of state and local relief puts teacher and first responder jobs `` in jeopardy '' in cash-crunched areas of the country .
He contended his GOP counterpart is `` sabotaging '' a bipartisan group negotiating a $ 908 billion aid proposal .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , said in a statement that `` the bipartisan negotiations involving Senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good progress and must be allowed to proceed without Leader McConnell 's obstruction . ''
In proposing to abandon both contentious issues , McConnell specifically mentioned a handful of areas where Republicans and Democrats have found consensus : Paycheck Protection Program small business loans , money for Covid-19 vaccine distribution and aid for health-care providers , among `` a variety of other things that are not controversial . ''
He did not say where he currently stands on direct payments to Americans .
Congressional Democrats , some Republicans and the Trump administration back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent $ 1,200 payments to most Americans earlier this year .
Several Senate progressives and one GOP lawmaker have signaled they oppose a relief bill if it lacks a stimulus check .
If Congress resolves neither the liability protection or state and local aid issues this year , McConnell could try to use them as leverage in talks with the Biden administration .
The incoming president has backed state and local relief .
Leaders in Washington hope to pass a rescue package before the end of the year after months of inaction .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ could cut off unemployment benefits to about 12 million people and leave millions facing the threat of eviction .
To strike a deal in time , Republicans and Democrats still need to resolve major disputes over how best to buoy the economy and health-care system .
Lawmakers plan to buy themselves more time to reach both pandemic aid and spending agreements by approving a one-week continuing resolution to keep the government funded through Dec. 18 .
Officials have put forward a bevy of proposals during the rush to approve aid .
Treasury Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mix on Tuesday : a $ 916 billion offer made to Pelosi during a phone call .
He said it includes `` money for state and local governments and robust liability protections for businesses , schools and universities . ''
Mnuchin added that he and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows reviewed the plan with President Donald Trump , McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif .
The Treasury secretary did not detail what else it includes .
In a joint statement Tuesday night , Pelosi and Schumer said McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 916 billion package represented `` progress . ''
However , they said `` the bipartisan talks [ in Congress ] are the best hope for a bipartisan solution . ''
They called it `` unacceptable '' that the Trump administration would put $ 40 billion toward unemployment payments , less than a fourth of the $ 180 billion set out by the lawmakers engaged in talks .
The bipartisan group has worked for days to craft a compromise bill .
The lawmakers aim to release more details about the proposal this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a foundation for talks with Republican leaders .
Before Mnuchin put forward the latest White House proposal , McConnell had called for a roughly $ 500 billion `` targeted '' bill .
A daily average Covid-19 infection rate of more than 200,000 has overwhelmed hospitals across the country .
States and cities have implemented new economic restrictions to slow cases in an already sluggish economy where roughly 20 million people are receiving unemployment benefits .
Congressional leaders have signaled they want to attach coronavirus relief measures to spending legislation .
The move would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in one swoop .
Reaching agreement on both fronts is the hard part .
The bipartisan plan as first outlined last week would put nearly $ 300 billion into Paycheck Protection Program small business loans and $ 160 billion into support for state and local governments that may have to lay off workers .
It would reinstate the federal unemployment insurance supplement at $ 300 per week and put funds into Covid-19 vaccine distribution , education and transportation , among other measures .
The proposal as initially unveiled would also give companies temporary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make their own laws .
However , the negotiators have not resolved how to craft final text around legal protections and state and local aid , Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said Tuesday .
Before Tuesday , McConnell had insisted on including a liability shield in a relief package .
His most recent proposal included that provision , along with PPP loans and money for vaccine distribution and education .
He has opposed new state and local relief .
Speaking on the Senate floor Tuesday , Schumer urged the GOP to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The situation is really quite simple , '' he said .
`` There are glaring needs across the country , and we will need to work across party lines to pass legislation to meet those needs . ''
Stimulus checks have emerged as a make-or-break issue in a relief deal .
Two senators — independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Republican Josh Hawley of Missouri — have signaled they oppose a package that does not include direct payments to families .
In a letter to colleagues Tuesday , Sanders and five Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not go anywhere near far enough , '' according to NBC News .
The group , which includes Sens .
Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, Ron Wyden , D-Ore. , Jeff Merkley , D-Ore. , Ed Markey , D-Mass.
, and Kirsten Gillibrand , D-N.Y. , pushed for direct payments and against legal immunity .
Pelosi told Bloomberg on Tuesday that she still wants stimulus checks in an agreement .
She said the question of including them `` is really up to the president , '' according to the news outlet .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration will push for direct payments in aid legislation .
At the same time , McConnell 's opposition to the provision is `` softening , '' according to the report .

watch now
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday backed off his demand for businesses to get coronavirus-related liability protections as part of a year-end rescue package. The Kentucky Republican urged Congress to pass an aid bill that contains neither legal immunity nor state and local government support, two roadblocks to lawmakers striking a relief deal. "What I recommend is we set aside liability and set aside state and local, and pass those things that we can agree on knowing full well we'll be back at this after the 1st of the year" during the transition to President-elect Joe Biden's administration, McConnell told reporters on Tuesday. Democratic leaders, who oppose a liability shield, quickly rejected the tradeoff. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters a lack of state and local relief puts teacher and first responder jobs "in jeopardy" in cash-crunched areas of the country. He contended his GOP counterpart is "sabotaging" a bipartisan group negotiating a $908 billion aid proposal. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement that "the bipartisan negotiations involving Senators and Members of the House have made good progress and must be allowed to proceed without Leader McConnell's obstruction."
watch now
In proposing to abandon both contentious issues, McConnell specifically mentioned a handful of areas where Republicans and Democrats have found consensus: Paycheck Protection Program small business loans, money for Covid-19 vaccine distribution and aid for health-care providers, among "a variety of other things that are not controversial." He did not say where he currently stands on direct payments to Americans. Congressional Democrats, some Republicans and the Trump administration back another stimulus check after the federal government sent $1,200 payments to most Americans earlier this year. Several Senate progressives and one GOP lawmaker have signaled they oppose a relief bill if it lacks a stimulus check. If Congress resolves neither the liability protection or state and local aid issues this year, McConnell could try to use them as leverage in talks with the Biden administration. The incoming president has backed state and local relief. Leaders in Washington hope to pass a rescue package before the end of the year after months of inaction. Failure to send more help before then could cut off unemployment benefits to about 12 million people and leave millions facing the threat of eviction.
watch now
Where the plans stand
watch now


bonginoreport--2020-12-08--Texas Files Lawsuit With SCOTUS Challenging Election Procedures of Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania,

Texas Files Lawsuit With SCOTUS Challenging Election Procedures of Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin

The State of Texas filed a lawsuit directly with the U.S. Supreme Court shortly before midnight on Monday challenging the election procedures in Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin on the grounds that they violate the Constitution .
Texas argues that these states violated the Electors Clause of the Constitution because they made changes to voting rules and procedures through the courts or through executive actions , but not through the state legislatures .
Additionally , Texas argues that there were differences in voting rules and procedures in different counties within the states , violating the Constitution ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas argues that there were “ voting irregularities ” in these states as a result of the above .
Texas is asking the Supreme Court to order the states to allow their legislatures to appoint their electors .
The lawsuit says : Certain officials in the Defendant States presented the pandemic as the justification for ignoring state laws regarding absentee and mail-in voting .
The Defendant States flooded their citizenry with tens of millions of ballot applications and ballots in derogation of statutory controls as to how they are lawfully received , evaluated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or not , these unconstitutional acts had the same uniform effect—they made the 2020 election less secure in the Defendant States .
Those changes are inconsistent with relevant state laws and were made by non-legislative entities , without any consent by the state legislatures .
The acts of these officials thus directly violated the Constitution .
This case presents a question of law : Did the Defendant States violate the Electors Clause by taking non-legislative actions to change the election rules that would govern the appointment of presidential electors ?
These non-legislative changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilitated the casting and counting of ballots in violation of state law , which , in turn , violated the Electors Clause of Article II , Section 1 , Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution .
By these unlawful acts , the Defendant States have not only tainted the integrity of their own citizens ’ vote , but their actions have also debased the votes of citizens in Plaintiff State and other States that remained loyal to the Constitution .
Texas approached the Supreme Court directly because Article III provides that it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where it has original jurisdiction , such as disputes between two or more states .
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m .
ET ( 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT ) .
His newest e-book is Neither Free nor Fair : The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election .
His recent book , RED NOVEMBER , tells the story of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary from a conservative perspective .
He is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Journalism Alumni Fellowship .
Follow him on Twitter at @ joelpollak .

The State of Texas filed a lawsuit directly with the U.S. Supreme Court shortly before midnight on Monday challenging the election procedures in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin on the grounds that they violate the Constitution.
Texas argues that these states violated the Electors Clause of the Constitution because they made changes to voting rules and procedures through the courts or through executive actions, but not through the state legislatures. Additionally, Texas argues that there were differences in voting rules and procedures in different counties within the states, violating the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. Finally, Texas argues that there were “voting irregularities” in these states as a result of the above.
Texas is asking the Supreme Court to order the states to allow their legislatures to appoint their electors. The lawsuit says:
Certain officials in the Defendant States presented the pandemic as the justification for ignoring state laws regarding absentee and mail-in voting. The Defendant States flooded their citizenry with tens of millions of ballot applications and ballots in derogation of statutory controls as to how they are lawfully received, evaluated, and counted. Whether well intentioned or not, these unconstitutional acts had the same uniform effect—they made the 2020 election less secure in the Defendant States. Those changes are inconsistent with relevant state laws and were made by non-legislative entities, without any consent by the state legislatures. The acts of these officials thus directly violated the Constitution. … This case presents a question of law: Did the Defendant States violate the Electors Clause by taking non-legislative actions to change the election rules that would govern the appointment of presidential electors? These non-legislative changes to the Defendant States’ election laws facilitated the casting and counting of ballots in violation of state law, which, in turn, violated the Electors Clause of Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution. By these unlawful acts, the Defendant States have not only tainted the integrity of their own citizens’ vote, but their actions have also debased the votes of citizens in Plaintiff State and other States that remained loyal to the Constitution.
Texas approached the Supreme Court directly because Article III provides that it is the court of first impression on subjects where it has original jurisdiction, such as disputes between two or more states.
Documents follow:
TX v State Motion 2020-12-07 FINAL by Breitbart News on Scribd
TX v State Mpi 2020-12-07 Final by Breitbart News on Scribd
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). His newest e-book is Neither Free nor Fair: The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. His recent book, RED NOVEMBER, tells the story of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary from a conservative perspective. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.


bonginoreport--2020-12-08--REPORT: California Welfare System Has Huge $2 Billion Fraud Problem

Government bureaucrats aren ’ t exactly known for their efficiency even in the best of times .
But in the response to the economic crisis from COVID-19 and pandemic lockdowns , elected officials have sent taxpayer money flying out the door with even less diligence than usual .
The latest example comes courtesy of California .
A new report from Bank of America , which contracts with the state , estimates that more than $ 2 billion in fraud is plaguing the state ’ s expanded pandemic unemployment benefits system .
The bank has identified 640,000 potentially fraudulent accounts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ numerous cases ’ in which multiple cards , including hundreds in some instances , have been sent to a single mailing address , ” the Los Angeles Times reports .
“ Other issues identified include multiple cards using a common contact phone number or address , and benefits issued to infants or children as well as centenarians or other elderly people not likely to be working.
” This revelation comes just days after officials admitted the state sent an estimated $ 400 million in fraudulent unemployment benefits to current prisoners .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud is “ fueling street crime , ” as the dollars are funneled to criminal enterprises and gangs .
California ’ s fraud-rife unemployment system is no outlier .
Its dysfunction is part of a national trend .
The March COVID-19 stimulus bill passed by Congress extended unemployment benefits to new categories of workers and added a federal $ 600 weekly augmentation to existing state-level payouts .
This was done so hastily and haphazardly that an astounding $ 26 billion was lost to fraud , according to the fiscally-conservative Foundation for Government Accountability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more lost to fraud alone this year than the entire unemployment system paid out in 2019 .
In a particularly galling example , Michigan unemployment worker Brandi Hawkins was charged with allegedly having distributed more than $ 2 million in fraudulent funds .
That ’ s right : $ 2 million swindled from taxpayers by just one person !
One can only wonder how many more like Hawkins got away with it .
Why does endemic fraud so consistently plague government welfare systems ?
It ’ s due to a simple principle explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book Free to Choose .
He identified the four types of spending .
You can spend your money on yourself , in which case you ’ ll be quite judicious with it .
You can also spend your money on someone else , or someone else ’ s money on yourself .
In either case you ’ ll still have a strong incentive to spend the money responsibly .
“ If I spend somebody else ’ s money on somebody else , I ’ m not concerned about how much it is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what I get , ” the economist wrote .
“ And that ’ s government.
” As long as California voters keep voting for progressive legislators who think the government can solve all our problems , billions of their dollars will keep getting flushed down the drain .
In this case , legislators rushed to expand unemployment benefits to convince voters they were doing something to help people amid a crisis .
Yet the government bureaucrats handling California ’ s unemployment program weren ’ t particularly concerned about where billions of taxpayer dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Big Government for you in a nutshell .
As long as California voters keep voting for progressive legislators who think the government can solve all our problems , billions of their dollars will keep getting flushed down the drain .

Government bureaucrats aren’t exactly known for their efficiency even in the best of times. But in the response to the economic crisis from COVID-19 and pandemic lockdowns, elected officials have sent taxpayer money flying out the door with even less diligence than usual.
The latest example comes courtesy of California. A new report from Bank of America, which contracts with the state, estimates that more than $2 billion in fraud is plaguing the state’s expanded pandemic unemployment benefits system. The bank has identified 640,000 potentially fraudulent accounts.
Bank of America warns of possible $2 billion in California unemployment fraud https://t.co/zrbATYSUjJ — Los Angeles Times (@latimes) December 7, 2020
“The bank said there were also ‘numerous cases’ in which multiple cards, including hundreds in some instances, have been sent to a single mailing address,” the Los Angeles Times reports. “Other issues identified include multiple cards using a common contact phone number or address, and benefits issued to infants or children as well as centenarians or other elderly people not likely to be working.”
This revelation comes just days after officials admitted the state sent an estimated $400 million in fraudulent unemployment benefits to current prisoners. The Times says this “tsunami” of fraud is “fueling street crime,” as the dollars are funneled to criminal enterprises and gangs.
California’s fraud-rife unemployment system is no outlier. Its dysfunction is part of a national trend.
The March COVID-19 stimulus bill passed by Congress extended unemployment benefits to new categories of workers and added a federal $600 weekly augmentation to existing state-level payouts. This was done so hastily and haphazardly that an astounding $26 billion was lost to fraud, according to the fiscally-conservative Foundation for Government Accountability. For context, that’s more lost to fraud alone this year than the entire unemployment system paid out in 2019.
In a particularly galling example, Michigan unemployment worker Brandi Hawkins was charged with allegedly having distributed more than $2 million in fraudulent funds. That’s right: $2 million swindled from taxpayers by just one person! One can only wonder how many more like Hawkins got away with it.
Why does endemic fraud so consistently plague government welfare systems? It’s due to a simple principle explained by Nobel-prize-winning economist Milton Friedman in his book Free to Choose.
He identified the four types of spending. You can spend your money on yourself, in which case you’ll be quite judicious with it. You can also spend your money on someone else, or someone else’s money on yourself. In either case you’ll still have a strong incentive to spend the money responsibly.
Yet Friedman identified a fourth scenario.
“If I spend somebody else’s money on somebody else, I’m not concerned about how much it is, and I’m not concerned about what I get,” the economist wrote. “And that’s government.”As long as California voters keep voting for progressive legislators who think the government can solve all our problems, billions of their dollars will keep getting flushed down the drain.
In this case, legislators rushed to expand unemployment benefits to convince voters they were doing something to help people amid a crisis. Yet the government bureaucrats handling California’s unemployment program weren’t particularly concerned about where billions of taxpayer dollars actually went.
But that’s Big Government for you in a nutshell. As long as California voters keep voting for progressive legislators who think the government can solve all our problems, billions of their dollars will keep getting flushed down the drain.


bonginoreport--2020-12-08--Republican Leaders Refuse to Pass Resolution Stating Biden Is President Elect

The Inaugural Committee in the US House of Representatives today has refused to pass a resolution that would have acknowledged Joe Biden as the president-elect .
Rep. Steny Hoyer brought the `` motion to affirm that inaugural preparations '' would commence for Joe Biden , and Republicans on the committee stoutly refused .
All three Republicans on the Committee , including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , Sen. Mitch McConnell , and Sen. Roy Blunt , refused to support the motion .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , and Sen. Amy Klobuchar round out the JCCIC along with House Majority Leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the motion , saying that the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies ( JCCIC ) was trying to `` get ahead of the electoral process .
Blunt said that the `` JCCIC is facing the challenge of planning safe Inaugural Ceremonies during a pandemic , '' and that that they should `` adhere to the committee 's long-standing tradition of bipartisan cooperation . ''
While some termed this a `` simple resolution , '' there are many in the GOP that are not prepared to give up battling the election out through @ @ @ @

The Inaugural Committee in the US House of Representatives today has refused to pass a resolution that would have acknowledged Joe Biden as the president-elect. Rep. Steny Hoyer brought the "motion to affirm that inaugural preparations" would commence for Joe Biden, and Republicans on the committee stoutly refused.
Today, at a meeting of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, I offered a motion to affirm that inaugural preparations are for President-Elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. Republicans rejected that motion. https://t.co/tLtuI1514p — Steny (Wear a Mask) Hoyer (@LeaderHoyer) December 8, 2020
All three Republicans on the Committee, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Sen. Mitch McConnell, and Sen. Roy Blunt, refused to support the motion. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar round out the JCCIC along with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.
Top Rs - McConnell, McCarthy and Blunt - effectively rejected recognizing Biden as president-elect by voting against a resolution offered by Hoyer that said the congressional inaugural committee was preparing for the inauguration of President-elect Biden and VP-elect Harris. — Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 8, 2020
Sen. Blunt took issue with the motion, saying that the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) was trying to "get ahead of the electoral process. Blunt said that the "JCCIC is facing the challenge of planning safe Inaugural Ceremonies during a pandemic," and that that they should "adhere to the committee's long-standing tradition of bipartisan cooperation."
NEW: Sen. @RoyBlunt responds to Hoyer’s attempt to pass a resolution on election results during the inaugural committee planning meeting: https://t.co/WP5nfMJ2RF pic.twitter.com/CusAi4Flgy — Ben Siegel (@benyc) December 8, 2020
While some termed this a "simple resolution," there are many in the GOP that are not prepared to give up battling the election out through the court system.


bonginoreport--2020-12-08--Fourteen Fort Hood Leaders Suspended or Fired Over Systemic Failures

Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy announced on Tuesday that 14 leaders have been relieved or suspended from their positions at Fort Hood after a groundbreaking independent review found widespread failures in leadership .
McCarthy said the review found a “ command climate at Fort Hood that was permissive of sexual harassment and sexual assault.
” The Fort Hood Independent Review Committee ( FHIRC ) conducted a third-party review of the command climate and pervasive issues at Fort Hood over the course of 103 days .
The committee conducted 647 interviews , 503 of which were with female soldiers on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the murder of Spc .
Vanessa Guillen on April 22 , who was murdered by a fellow soldier involved in an affair Guillen had knowledge of .
Guillen had previously said she was being sexually harassed on base .
McCarthy said Guillen ’ s “ tragic death … forced us to take a critical look at our systems , our policies , and ourselves , ” adding , “ without leadership , policies don ’ t matter.
” The relieved leaders include Maj. Gen. Scott L. Efflandt , deputy commanding general ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Col. Ralph Overland and Command Sgt .
Maj. Bradley Knapp , the 3rd Cavalry Regiment commander and command sergeant major .
The FHIRC ’ s report included nine major findings and 70 recommendations , all of which McCarthy said he was accepting in full .
Among the findings , the FHIRC found that the Army ’ s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Program ( SHARP ) program was structurally flawed and its implementation ineffective .
Sexual assault or harassment incidents were significantly underreported , permitted by the command climate , and lacked both confidence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found .
McCarthy said that among the 503 female soldiers interviewed , they expressed fear of retaliation , stigma , ostracism , career consequences , and lack of confidentiality for not reporting the results .
Queta Rodriguez , a retired Marine officer and FHIRC panel member , said interviews with the 503 women revealed 93 credible accounts of sexual assaults , of which only 59 were reported , and another 217 unreported accounts of sexual harassment .
“ We ’ re going to make sure every single leader sees these results , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ C. McConville .
“ I want to make sure we have an environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect and everyone takes care of each other .
”

Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy announced on Tuesday that 14 leaders have been relieved or suspended from their positions at Fort Hood after a groundbreaking independent review found widespread failures in leadership.
McCarthy said the review found a “command climate at Fort Hood that was permissive of sexual harassment and sexual assault.”
The Fort Hood Independent Review Committee (FHIRC) conducted a third-party review of the command climate and pervasive issues at Fort Hood over the course of 103 days. The committee conducted 647 interviews, 503 of which were with female soldiers on the base.
The review was sparked by the murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillen on April 22, who was murdered by a fellow soldier involved in an affair Guillen had knowledge of. Guillen had previously said she was being sexually harassed on base.
McCarthy said Guillen’s “tragic death … forced us to take a critical look at our systems, our policies, and ourselves,” adding, “without leadership, policies don’t matter.”
The relieved leaders include Maj. Gen. Scott L. Efflandt, deputy commanding general (Support), III Corps; and Col. Ralph Overland and Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley Knapp, the 3rd Cavalry Regiment commander and command sergeant major.
The FHIRC’s report included nine major findings and 70 recommendations, all of which McCarthy said he was accepting in full.
Among the findings, the FHIRC found that the Army’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Program (SHARP) program was structurally flawed and its implementation ineffective. Sexual assault or harassment incidents were significantly underreported, permitted by the command climate, and lacked both confidence and procedures for resolutions, the review also found.
McCarthy said that among the 503 female soldiers interviewed, they expressed fear of retaliation, stigma, ostracism, career consequences, and lack of confidentiality for not reporting the results.
Queta Rodriguez, a retired Marine officer and FHIRC panel member, said interviews with the 503 women revealed 93 credible accounts of sexual assaults, of which only 59 were reported, and another 217 unreported accounts of sexual harassment.
“We’re going to make sure every single leader sees these results,” said Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville. “I want to make sure we have an environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect and everyone takes care of each other.”


bonginoreport--2020-12-10--Unmanned SpaceX Mars Rocket Prototype Explodes on Landing

SpaceX ’ s rocket prototype Starship SN8 exploded on its first attempt landing from a highly anticipated “ hop ” on Wednesday afternoon .
The rocket launched from SpaceX ’ s Boca Chica , Texas facility near the Gulf Coast just after 4:30 p.m. CST .
Video posted to social media shows the fiery explosion on impact , just more than six-and-a-half minutes in flight .
Watch the entire launch , beginning at 1:47:53 in the video below : Despite the explosion , the SpaceX team seemed pleased with the test .
“ Successful ascent , switchover to header tanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted .
“ Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn , causing touchdown velocity to be high & RUD , but we got all the data we needed !
Congrats SpaceX team hell yeah !
!
” The explosion took place one day after the SN8 ’ s flight was canceled just two seconds before liftoff after an abnormality was detected in one of its three engines .
Starship is the space vehicle SpaceX is developing with the aim to transport people and cargo to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space destinations .

SpaceX’s rocket prototype Starship SN8 exploded on its first attempt landing from a highly anticipated “hop” on Wednesday afternoon.
The rocket launched from SpaceX’s Boca Chica, Texas facility near the Gulf Coast just after 4:30 p.m. CST.
Video posted to social media shows the fiery explosion on impact, just more than six-and-a-half minutes in flight.
SpaceX’s #Starship prototype SN8 explodes on impact during its attempted landing pic.twitter.com/bnmC6SqqAc — Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) December 9, 2020
Watch the entire launch, beginning at 1:47:53 in the video below:
Footage of the landing pad shows a smokey wreckage.
The wreckage of Starship prototype SN8 is smouldering on the landing pad: https://t.co/yzAlOhOSCJ pic.twitter.com/RLk2rNTNLx — Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) December 9, 2020
Despite the explosion, the SpaceX team seemed pleased with the test.
“Successful ascent, switchover to header tanks & precise flap control to landing point!” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted. “Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn, causing touchdown velocity to be high & RUD, but we got all the data we needed! Congrats SpaceX team hell yeah!!”
Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn, causing touchdown velocity to be high & RUD, but we got all the data we needed! Congrats SpaceX team hell yeah!! — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2020
The explosion took place one day after the SN8’s flight was canceled just two seconds before liftoff after an abnormality was detected in one of its three engines.
The hop event was a highly anticipated eight-mile flight.
Starship is the space vehicle SpaceX is developing with the aim to transport people and cargo to the moon, Mars, and other space destinations.


bonginoreport--2020-12-09--President Trump Moves to Intervene in Texas SCOTUS Lawsuit

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that his campaign team will be joining the state of Texas in their lawsuit against several other states , alleging voter fraud .
Texas filed suit on Monday against the states of Pennsylvania , Georgia , Michigan and Wisconsin to the US Supreme Court over alleged fraud during the US general election in those states on November 3 .
The lawsuit also alleges multiple violations of the US Constitution .
The case was duly added to the Supreme Court 's docket .
`` We will be INTERVENING in the Texas ( plus many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the big one .
Our Country needs a victory ! ''
Trump wanted to make clear on social media that many other cases that have been brought to various courts throughout the nation are mostly inconsequential .
This case , brought about at first by the state of Texas , will be the definitive case , and is expected to be joined by more states and other entities .
`` This was not my case as has been so incorrectly reported .
The case that everyone has been waiting for is the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others joining .
It is very strong , ALL CRITERIA MET .
How can you have a presidency when a vast majority think the election was RIGGED ? ''
The main thrust of this case is that the Constitution was violated , specifically the part of the Constitution called the `` Electors Clause . ''
This is because states changed the rules , mechanisms and procedures for voting using the executive branches of said states , bypassing the legislative bodies and leaving them out of the process .
The Supreme Court will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justices to hear the case .

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that his campaign team will be joining the state of Texas in their lawsuit against several other states, alleging voter fraud.
Texas filed suit on Monday against the states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin to the US Supreme Court over alleged fraud during the US general election in those states on November 3. The lawsuit also alleges multiple violations of the US Constitution. The case was duly added to the Supreme Court's docket.
We will be INTERVENING in the Texas (plus many other states) case. This is the big one. Our Country needs a victory! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2020
"We will be INTERVENING in the Texas (plus many other states) case. This is the big one. Our Country needs a victory!"
Trump wanted to make clear on social media that many other cases that have been brought to various courts throughout the nation are mostly inconsequential.
This case, brought about at first by the state of Texas, will be the definitive case, and is expected to be joined by more states and other entities.
This was not my case as has been so incorrectly reported. The case that everyone has been waiting for is the State’s case with Texas and numerous others joining. It is very strong, ALL CRITERIA MET. How can you have a presidency when a vast majority think the election was RIGGED? https://t.co/ZKu9sNVz2U — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2020
"This was not my case as has been so incorrectly reported. The case that everyone has been waiting for is the State’s case with Texas and numerous others joining. It is very strong, ALL CRITERIA MET. How can you have a presidency when a vast majority think the election was RIGGED?"
The main thrust of this case is that the Constitution was violated, specifically the part of the Constitution called the "Electors Clause." This is because states changed the rules, mechanisms and procedures for voting using the executive branches of said states, bypassing the legislative bodies and leaving them out of the process.
The Supreme Court will have to agree with a majority of five justices to hear the case.


bonginoreport--2020-12-09--Hunter Biden Under Federal Investigation Over Taxes

Hunter Biden has announced through the Biden-Harris transition team that his taxes are now under investigation by the US Attorney 's Office in Delaware .
`` I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately , '' the younger Biden claimed in his statement .
In a statement from the Biden-Harris transition team , the team stated `` President-elect Biden is deeply proud of his son , who has fought through difficult challenges , including the vicious personal attacks of recent months , only to emerge stronger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 and surrounding Hunter Biden 's business operations in China .
It is unclear which aspects of Biden 's business dealings in China are under scrutiny .
Due to Department of Justice policy , the investigation was put on hold during the election but is now being resumed .
Hunter Biden 's business dealings have been subject to controversy due to his involvement with China , a chief rival of the United States which Hunter 's father will have to manage as President .
The whistleblower and former Hunter Biden business partner Tony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News commentator Tucker Carlson that he believes the Biden family to be `` compromised '' by China .
The news comes only five days before the elder Biden is expected to be declared the official winner of the electoral college , although the results have been heavily disputed by Republicans .
It also comes after a highly contentious election where Hunter Biden 's business dealings faced considerable controversy .
Controversy surrounding Hunter Biden 's business dealings first arose in October after his laptop , which he left at a repair shop in Delaware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over to the FBI by the repair shop owner .
Among other things , it was revealed that the younger Biden was doing business in foreign countries , including Ukraine , while his father was Vice President .
While Joe Biden claimed to not have any involvement with his son 's business dealings , Bobulinski suggested that not only had the former Vice President known about his son 's business dealings , but actively profited from them .
In particular , one email between Hunter Biden and another Burisma executive referenced holding money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Bobulinski alleged refers to Joe Biden .

Hunter Biden has announced through the Biden-Harris transition team that his taxes are now under investigation by the US Attorney's Office in Delaware.
"I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately," the younger Biden claimed in his statement.
In a statement from the Biden-Harris transition team, the team stated "President-elect Biden is deeply proud of his son, who has fought through difficult challenges, including the vicious personal attacks of recent months, only to emerge stronger."
The investigation reportedly began in 2018 and surrounding Hunter Biden's business operations in China. It is unclear which aspects of Biden's business dealings in China are under scrutiny. Due to Department of Justice policy, the investigation was put on hold during the election but is now being resumed.
WOW. So Hunter Biden has actually been *under investigation* for this for two years?? I wonder why we are only hearing about it now. Hmmm...https://t.co/o1lOzQd1bO — Barrett Wilson (@BarrettWilson6) December 9, 2020
Hunter Biden's business dealings have been subject to controversy due to his involvement with China, a chief rival of the United States which Hunter's father will have to manage as President. The whistleblower and former Hunter Biden business partner Tony Bobulinski said in an interview with FOX News commentator Tucker Carlson that he believes the Biden family to be "compromised" by China.
The news comes only five days before the elder Biden is expected to be declared the official winner of the electoral college, although the results have been heavily disputed by Republicans. It also comes after a highly contentious election where Hunter Biden's business dealings faced considerable controversy.
Controversy surrounding Hunter Biden's business dealings first arose in October after his laptop, which he left at a repair shop in Delaware, was revealed to have been handed over to the FBI by the repair shop owner.
Among other things, it was revealed that the younger Biden was doing business in foreign countries, including Ukraine, while his father was Vice President. While Joe Biden claimed to not have any involvement with his son's business dealings, Bobulinski suggested that not only had the former Vice President known about his son's business dealings, but actively profited from them.
In particular, one email between Hunter Biden and another Burisma executive referenced holding money for the "big guy," which Bobulinski alleged refers to Joe Biden.
This is a developing story.


bonginoreport--2020-12-09--Seventeen States File Brief at SCOTUS Supporting Texas Lawsuit

Missouri led a group of 17 states that Wednesday afternoon filed a brief with the Supreme Court supporting the Texas lawsuit aimed at delaying the appointment of presidential electors from Georgia , Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin .
The brief mirrors the argument of the Texas suit in saying that the states acted unconstitutionally when either their judiciaries or executive branches changed their elections laws .
The Texas suit , and the states that support it , say that only state legislatures may set laws regarding how states appoint their presidential electors .
`` The integrity of our elections is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , both today and in future elections , ” Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said in a statement .
“ The stakes of protecting our Constitution , defending our liberty and ensuring that all votes are counted fairly couldn ’ t be higher .
With this brief , we are joining the fight . ''
The Trump campaign also filed a brief asking to join on the Texas suit on Wednesday .
`` The illegal suspension or violation of state law thus calls directly into question the certification of the results of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden , Proposed Plaintiff in Intervention ’ s opponent in the election , '' its brief said .
`` President Trump ’ s interest in the outcome of this litigation could therefore not be more acute . ''
The brief filed by Missouri and the other states , which is officially a motion for leave to file a bill of complaint , also warns that the changes enacted by the state executives and judicial branches opened the states ' elections up to potential fraud .
LOEFFLER AND PERDUE BACK TEXAS SUIT AIMING @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OTHER STATES BIDEN WON '' The Bill of Complaint alleges that non-legislative actors in each Defendant State unconstitutionally abolished or diluted statutory safeguards against fraud enacted by their state Legislatures , in violation of the Presidential Electors Clause , '' the brief states .
It continues : `` All the unconstitutional changes to election procedures identified in the Bill of Complaint have two common features : ( 1 ) They abrogated statutory safeguards against fraud that responsible observers have long recommended for voting by mail , and ( 2 ) they did so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advantage on one candidate in the Presidential election . ''
The Texas legal action is an extraordinary effort to essentially overturn the result of the presidential election , which President-elect Biden won because of key victories by tens of thousands of votes in the states Texas is suing .
It follows numerous losses by President Trump 's legal teams and his allies in lower courts as claim after claim of widespread voter fraud that may have affected the result of the election has gone unsubstantiated .
Texas ' suit is unique in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court 's rarely used original jurisdiction to bypass the lower courts and put the issue directly in front of the justices .
Texas specifically asks the Supreme Court to declare Michigan , Wisconsin , Pennsylvania and Georgia 's elections `` in violation of the Electors Clause and the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution ; '' declare electoral votes from those states invalid ; prevent the states ' electors from meeting or being certified ; and direct the states to appoint new presidential electors .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longshot to succeed .
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr , a Republican , previously panned the Texas suit as fundamentally `` wrong . ''
`` With all due respect , the Texas Attorney General is constitutionally , legally and factually wrong about Georgia , '' a Carr spokesperson told the Dallas Morning News .
Carr is the recently named chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association .
The states that joined the Wednesday brief are Missouri , Alabama , Arkansas , Florida , Indiana , Kansas , Louisiana , Mississippi , Montana , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Carolina , South Dakota , Tennessee , Utah , and West Virginia .
They argue that they have an interest in the case because `` the unconstitutional administration of elections '' in some states dilutes votes in their own states .
`` When non-legislative actors in other States encroach on the authority of the 'Legislature thereof ' in that State to administer a Presidential election , they threaten the liberty , not just of their own citizens , but of every citizen of the United States who casts a lawful ballot in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the Wednesday brief says .
The four states being sued have until 3 p.m. Thursday to file a response with the Supreme Court .
Fox News ' Bill Mears and Shannon Bream contributed to this report .

Missouri led a group of 17 states that Wednesday afternoon filed a brief with the Supreme Court supporting the Texas lawsuit aimed at delaying the appointment of presidential electors from Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
The brief mirrors the argument of the Texas suit in saying that the states acted unconstitutionally when either their judiciaries or executive branches changed their elections laws. The Texas suit, and the states that support it, say that only state legislatures may set laws regarding how states appoint their presidential electors.
"The integrity of our elections is of critical importance to maintaining our republic, both today and in future elections,” Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said in a statement. “The stakes of protecting our Constitution, defending our liberty and ensuring that all votes are counted fairly couldn’t be higher. With this brief, we are joining the fight."
The Trump campaign also filed a brief asking to join on the Texas suit on Wednesday.
"The illegal suspension or violation of state law thus calls directly into question the certification of the results of the elections in Defendant States for Vice President Joe Biden, Proposed Plaintiff in Intervention’s opponent in the election," its brief said. "President Trump’s interest in the outcome of this litigation could therefore not be more acute."
The brief filed by Missouri and the other states also warns that the changes enacted by the state executives and judicial branches opened the states' elections up to potential fraud.
LOEFFLER AND PERDUE BACK TEXAS SUIT AIMING TO OVERTURN ELECTOR SLATES ON GEORGIA, OTHER STATES BIDEN WON
"The Bill of Complaint alleges that non-legislative actors in each Defendant State unconstitutionally abolished or diluted statutory safeguards against fraud enacted by their state Legislatures, in violation of the Presidential Electors Clause," the brief states.
It continues: "All the unconstitutional changes to election procedures identified in the Bill of Complaint have two common features: (1) They abrogated statutory safeguards against fraud that responsible observers have long recommended for voting by mail, and (2) they did so in a way that predictably conferred partisan advantage on one candidate in the Presidential election."
The Texas legal action is an extraordinary effort to essentially overturn the result of the presidential election, which President-elect Biden won because of key victories by tens of thousands of votes in the states Texas is suing. It follows numerous losses by President Trump's legal teams and his allies in lower courts as claim after claim of widespread voter fraud that may have affected the result of the election has gone unsubstantiated.
Texas' suit is unique in that it seeks to take advantage of the Supreme Court's rarely used original jurisdiction to bypass the lower courts and put the issue directly in front of the justices.
Texas specifically asks the Supreme Court to declare Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Georgia's elections "in violation of the Electors Clause and the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution;" declare electoral votes from those states invalid; prevent the states' electors from meeting or being certified; and direct the states to appoint new presidential electors.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Texas lawsuit is widely considered a longshot to succeed. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, a Republican, previously panned the Texas suit as fundamentally "wrong."
"With all due respect, the Texas Attorney General is constitutionally, legally and factually wrong about Georgia," a Carr spokesperson told the Dallas Morning News. Carr is the recently named chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association.
The states that joined the Wednesday brief are Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia.
They argue that they have an interest in the case because "the unconstitutional administration of elections" in some states dilutes votes in their own states.
"When non-legislative actors in other States encroach on the authority of the 'Legislature thereof' in that State to administer a Presidential election, they threaten the liberty, not just of their own citizens, but of every citizen of the United States who casts a lawful ballot in that election—including the citizens of amici States," the Wednesday brief says.
The four states being sued have until 3 p.m. Thursday to file a response with the Supreme Court.
Fox News' Bill Mears and Shannon Bream contributed to this report.


bonginoreport--2020-12-09--House Republicans Ready for Fight Over Contested Iowa Race

House Republicans are ready to do battle on the opening day of the new Congress , and beyond , if the certified winner in an Iowa House race by six votes is n't seated .
Iowa 's state canvass board early last week certified results for Iowa ’ s 2nd Congressional District after a district-wide count in all 24 counties declared Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks the winner of the election by just six votes out of more than 394,000 cast .
But Democrat Rita Hart announced later in the week she planned to file a petition in coming weeks with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Contested Elections Act .
The House , under the Constitution , has the final say over who it seats as members .
Yet , Congress rarely gets involved in deciding closely called contested House races .
And precedent from trying to do so still leaves political scars among many .
In November 1984 , an Indiana congressional election ended in a narrow win for the Republican nominee , Rick McIntyre , who was trying to unseat Democratic Rep. Frank McCloskey after a single term .
The battle for the 8th Congressional District was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee Administration panel led by then-Rep. Leon Panetta , a California Democrat .
McCloskey led McIntyre by 72 votes on election night .
But following two state recounts , McIntyre led McCloskey by margins of 34 and 418 votes .
“ They sent a group of congressmen led by Leon Panetta into Indiana to try to get an accurate vote count before we seated anyone , and it was a long , involved process , ” recalled Sen. Dick Durbin , an Illinois Democrat , who was a second-term House member at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic-controlled House-sponsored recount , the committee headed by Panetta voted to accept McCloskey as the winner , by four votes out of the 230,000 ballots cast in the 1984 November election cycle .
The committee , with two Democrats and one Republican , voted along party lines all the way through its proceedings .
House Republicans , by then in the minority for 30 years , were enraged at what they called outright theft of a House seat .
“ They even had [ McIntyre ] come on to the floor ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Durbin told the Washington Examiner .
`` They were determined to present the case that he had won .
And then , in the end , it was judged that he did not win.
” Republicans charged that the panel of two Democrats and one Republican , which directed the recount , followed rigged rules during the counting .
Republican House members , angered by the process , accused Democrats of stealing the seat and staged a walk off the House floor during the debate .
“ It was rough .
The Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , a Maryland Democrat , told the Washington Examiner .
Regarding the contested Iowa race , “ It needs to be fair and transparent , ” said Hoyer , who was in his fourth year in the House during the 1985 Indiana House seat fracas .
Durbin also recalls the uncertainty at the time .
When asked if he thought it was an appropriate way to settle a congressional race , he replied , “ I do n't know .
At this point , they reached a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclusive winner in the eyes of the Democrats.
” Taking up the same role Panetta had 35 years ago , Rep. Jamie Raskin , a Maryland Democrat who is the vice chairman on the House Administration Committee , will now lead the panel that will review Hart ’ s petition and decide how to move forward with it .
However , Republicans winced at the idea that Raskin would be fair .
“ We will never allow that to happen here .
That was illegal .
There was a power grab .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I do n't care what Jamie Raskin says , '' House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told the Washington Examiner .
“ If the certificate goes to the state , that is the individual who 's going to be seated , and they do n't have the right to try to pick and choose just because they lost so badly in the elections , that they 're trying to steal a seat , '' McCarthy said .
`` We will not allow it.
” “ Democrats are trying to repeat the same sham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” McCarthy 's office wrote in a recent blog post .
`` Rep. Raskin is the liberal Democrat who , two days before President Trump was even sworn into office , told a crowd about his plans to impeach the incoming President .
Not exactly the voice of impartial justice.
” National Republican Congressional Committee Deputy Communications Director Bob Salera called Raskin a “ left-wing partisan hack , ” adding in a press statement , “ Raskin is being chosen to subvert the will of Iowans for one reason — he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loyal foot soldiers in Congress and he will do whatever it takes to add another member to her socialist caucus.
” However , Hoyer defended Raskin , his Maryland colleague and a former law professor at American University .
“ I think the House administration will look at it honestly and fairly , '' Hoyer said .
`` Jamie is a very fair , honest person , and we ought to find out who won .
”

House Republicans are ready to do battle on the opening day of the new Congress, and beyond, if the certified winner in an Iowa House race by six votes isn't seated.
Iowa's state canvass board early last week certified results for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District after a district-wide count in all 24 counties declared Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks the winner of the election by just six votes out of more than 394,000 cast. But Democrat Rita Hart announced later in the week she planned to file a petition in coming weeks with the House Committee on Administration under the Federal Contested Elections Act.
The House, under the Constitution, has the final say over who it seats as members.
Yet, Congress rarely gets involved in deciding closely called contested House races. And precedent from trying to do so still leaves political scars among many.
In November 1984, an Indiana congressional election ended in a narrow win for the Republican nominee, Rick McIntyre, who was trying to unseat Democratic Rep. Frank McCloskey after a single term. The battle for the 8th Congressional District was decided four months later by a House Committee Administration panel led by then-Rep. Leon Panetta, a California Democrat.
McCloskey led McIntyre by 72 votes on election night. But following two state recounts, McIntyre led McCloskey by margins of 34 and 418 votes.
“They sent a group of congressmen led by Leon Panetta into Indiana to try to get an accurate vote count before we seated anyone, and it was a long, involved process,” recalled Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, who was a second-term House member at the time of the 1985 dispute.
After the Democratic-controlled House-sponsored recount, the committee headed by Panetta voted to accept McCloskey as the winner, by four votes out of the 230,000 ballots cast in the 1984 November election cycle.
The committee, with two Democrats and one Republican, voted along party lines all the way through its proceedings. House Republicans, by then in the minority for 30 years, were enraged at what they called outright theft of a House seat.
“They even had [McIntyre] come on to the floor... and act like a congressman," Durbin told the Washington Examiner. "They were determined to present the case that he had won. And then, in the end, it was judged that he did not win.”
Republicans charged that the panel of two Democrats and one Republican, which directed the recount, followed rigged rules during the counting. Republican House members, angered by the process, accused Democrats of stealing the seat and staged a walk off the House floor during the debate.
“It was rough. The Republicans were convinced we stole the election,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, told the Washington Examiner.
Regarding the contested Iowa race, “It needs to be fair and transparent,” said Hoyer, who was in his fourth year in the House during the 1985 Indiana House seat fracas.
Durbin also recalls the uncertainty at the time. When asked if he thought it was an appropriate way to settle a congressional race, he replied, “I don't know. At this point, they reached a point where they didn't have a conclusive winner in the eyes of the Democrats.”
Taking up the same role Panetta had 35 years ago, Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat who is the vice chairman on the House Administration Committee, will now lead the panel that will review Hart’s petition and decide how to move forward with it. However, Republicans winced at the idea that Raskin would be fair.
“We will never allow that to happen here. That was illegal. There was a power grab. And we will never allow that to happen. I don't care what Jamie Raskin says," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told the Washington Examiner.
“If the certificate goes to the state, that is the individual who's going to be seated, and they don't have the right to try to pick and choose just because they lost so badly in the elections, that they're trying to steal a seat," McCarthy said. "We will not allow it.”
“Democrats are trying to repeat the same sham maneuver they conducted after the 1984 election,” McCarthy's office wrote in a recent blog post. "Rep. Raskin is the liberal Democrat who, two days before President Trump was even sworn into office, told a crowd about his plans to impeach the incoming President. Not exactly the voice of impartial justice.”
National Republican Congressional Committee Deputy Communications Director Bob Salera called Raskin a “left-wing partisan hack,” adding in a press statement, “Raskin is being chosen to subvert the will of Iowans for one reason — he is one of Nancy Pelosi’s most loyal foot soldiers in Congress and he will do whatever it takes to add another member to her socialist caucus.”
However, Hoyer defended Raskin, his Maryland colleague and a former law professor at American University.
“I think the House administration will look at it honestly and fairly," Hoyer said. "Jamie is a very fair, honest person, and we ought to find out who won.”


bonginoreport--2020-12-09--Coronavirus Relief Talks Hit a Snag, Again

Congress has hit a wall again in efforts to send help to Americans during a coronavirus outbreak that has killed thousands of people a week and left millions waiting in food lines .
After days of trying to reach a relief deal , lawmakers as of Wednesday afternoon had not resolved a range of issues preventing an agreement .
A Congress that has failed for months to send aid to desperate people will now have to quickly resolve disputes to prevent millions of people from losing unemployment insurance or housing .
Democratic leaders have called bipartisan talks toward a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to craft a plan that can get through a divided Congress .
Lawmakers have not yet finalized the legislation because of disagreements over legal immunity for businesses and state and local government relief .
Top Republicans have accused their counterparts of refusing to make a deal .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , rejected a $ 916 billion offer from the Trump administration because it included a one-time $ 600 direct payment but no federal unemployment insurance supplement .
The bipartisan package includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits .
Pelosi and Schumer also brushed off Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 's proposal to scrap his demand for business and university immunity from coronavirus-related lawsuits if Democrats back off their calls for state and local aid .
Democrats and many Republicans have called federal support necessary to prevent cash-crunched governments from cutting first responder and teacher jobs .
As of Wednesday , it was unclear what kind of plan could get through both the Democratic-held House and GOP-controlled Senate .
Congress faces pressure to act : about 12 million people could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas , and a federal eviction moratorium expires at the end of the year .
Speaking on the Senate floor Wednesday , McConnell repeatedly argued Democratic leaders have refused to strike a deal for political reasons .
He even called their Tuesday response to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin 's relief offer `` bizarre '' and `` schizophrenic . ''
`` More deflection , more delay and more suffering for innocent Americans , '' he said of Democrats rejecting the White House proposal .
A spokesman for Pelosi did not immediately respond to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Speaking to reporters Wednesday , Schumer again put his weight behind the bipartisan talks among rank-and-file members .
He criticized the Trump administration offer 's lack of jobless benefits relative to what the developing bill includes .
`` Cutting unemployment to the extent he has is ... not going to get much support among any Democrats , '' Schumer said .
Congress is stuck in a stalemate as daily new infections hover around 200,000 and cases overwhelm hospitals .
The health emergency has forced more state and local governments to implement economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lawmakers plan to vote in the coming days to extend government funding by a week , through Dec. 18 , to buy more time to strike broader spending and coronavirus relief deals .
Federal funding will lapse Saturday if Congress fails to pass legislation .
Congressional leaders aim to resolve both issues before they head home for the holidays .
`` How can we in good conscience go home for Christmas knowing that a day after Christmas , 12 million Americans will see their unemployment insurance disappear ? ''
asked Sen. Dick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No .
2 senator in his party , on Wednesday .
The bipartisan group released a more detailed outline of its proposal on Wednesday .
It would include $ 300 billion for small business support and $ 160 billion for state and local relief .
It would also extend unemployment insurance expansion measures for four months and reinstate the federal jobless benefit at $ 300 per week .
The plan would include billions in state and local grants for Covid-19 testing , contact tracing and vaccine distribution , along with support for schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extend federal student loan forbearance , currently set to expire at the end of January , through April .
The measure would also provide $ 25 billion in rental assistance and sustain the eviction moratorium through January .
The outline released Wednesday does not include specifics on how the plan would address liability protections and state and local aid .
Lawmakers reportedly aim to release more details on those provisions as soon as Wednesday .
Despite all that it includes , the proposal would not send a second round of $ 1,200 direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of Democrats have questioned how much the plan would really help individuals and families without another stimulus check .
Even a Republican senator , Josh Hawley of Missouri , urged President Donald Trump to veto a bill that lacks direct payments .
Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , and other Senate progressives have indicated they would oppose legislation that does not send more money into Americans ' bank accounts .
`` Here in Washington when we go to war , there 's endless amounts of money , '' Sanders told MSNBC on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Endless amounts of money .
Corporate welfare ?
Endless amounts of money . ''
`` When children are going hungry in America today , suddenly we do n't have enough money ?
That 's crap .
That 's wrong , '' he added .

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell attends a news conference with Republican leaders at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., December 8, 2020. Kevin Dietsch | Reuters
Congress has hit a wall again in efforts to send help to Americans during a coronavirus outbreak that has killed thousands of people a week and left millions waiting in food lines. After days of trying to reach a relief deal, lawmakers as of Wednesday afternoon had not resolved a range of issues preventing an agreement. A Congress that has failed for months to send aid to desperate people will now have to quickly resolve disputes to prevent millions of people from losing unemployment insurance or housing. Democratic leaders have called bipartisan talks toward a $908 billion relief bill the best chance to craft a plan that can get through a divided Congress. Lawmakers have not yet finalized the legislation because of disagreements over legal immunity for businesses and state and local government relief. Top Republicans have accused their counterparts of refusing to make a deal. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., rejected a $916 billion offer from the Trump administration because it included a one-time $600 direct payment but no federal unemployment insurance supplement. The bipartisan package includes a $300 weekly boost to jobless benefits. Pelosi and Schumer also brushed off Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's proposal to scrap his demand for business and university immunity from coronavirus-related lawsuits if Democrats back off their calls for state and local aid. Democrats and many Republicans have called federal support necessary to prevent cash-crunched governments from cutting first responder and teacher jobs.
U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speak to reporters about the 2020 U.S. presidential election results and the continuing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic during a news conference at the U.S.Capitol in Washington, U.S., November 12, 2020. Hannah Mackay | Reuters
As of Wednesday, it was unclear what kind of plan could get through both the Democratic-held House and GOP-controlled Senate. Congress faces pressure to act: about 12 million people could lose unemployment benefits on the day after Christmas, and a federal eviction moratorium expires at the end of the year. Speaking on the Senate floor Wednesday, McConnell repeatedly argued Democratic leaders have refused to strike a deal for political reasons. He even called their Tuesday response to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's relief offer "bizarre" and "schizophrenic." "More deflection, more delay and more suffering for innocent Americans," he said of Democrats rejecting the White House proposal.
watch now
A spokesman for Pelosi did not immediately respond to a request to comment on McConnell's remarks. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Schumer again put his weight behind the bipartisan talks among rank-and-file members. He criticized the Trump administration offer's lack of jobless benefits relative to what the developing bill includes. "Cutting unemployment to the extent he has is ... not going to get much support among any Democrats," Schumer said.
watch now


bonginoreport--2020-12-09--Facebook’s Fact Checker Censors Criticisms of Itself

Facebook fact-checker “ Lead Stories ” took the social network ’ s system of “ fact-checking ” to farcical levels earlier this week when it “ fact-checked ” a critique of itself by the Federalist ’ s Molly Hemingway .
An article by Molly Hemingway in the Federalist critiqued the fact-checker for its decision to fact check stories about voter fraud in Georgia : A Big Tech-backed “ fact ” “ checking ” outfit claimed to debunk explosive evidence in support of Republicans ’ claims of significant election problems at a Thursday Georgia Senate hearing .
It didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security footage from Georgia ’ s State Farm Arena showed dozens of ballot counters , media , and Republican observers leaving en masse at the same time from the ballot-counting area for Fulton County .
After they left , a small remnant of about four workers began pulling trunks containing thousands of ballots from underneath a table with a long tablecloth and running them through machines .
The footage supported claims from Republicans that they were told counting had stopped for the night , only to find out hours later that it had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter that her article , critiquing the fact-checker , had been fact-checked .
“ With contemporaneous news stories and legal filings , I critiqued a Facebook-funded “ fact ” “ checker.
” So Facebook is using the very same “ fact-checker ” I criticized to censor me — and claiming that fact-checker is “ independent.
” This is Kafka-esque , ” said Hemingway in a tweet .
“ To be clear , nothing in the attached “ fact ” “ check ” actually deals with anything I wrote — and it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or in need of correction .
It ’ s just pasted on my piece to suppress it being shared.
” While we disagree with the conclusions in The Federalist article concerning our fact check , we did not flag Mollie Hemingway ’ s story because of that .
It was flagged because it also included false claims about election fraud that we had previously debunked .
We can not give a free pass to content that contains such false claims just because they also attack us in the article .
That would create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid fact checking just by including an attack on us .
Hemingway wrote that the claim that a Fulton County election supervisor told Republican observers to go home was backed by sworn affidavits of the observers .
We had published a debunk that found the GOP staffers did not say in their sworn statements that they were told to go , prevented from staying , or banned from returning .
We published those affidavits in support of our conclusion .
Finally , The Federalist or Hemingway have not pursued their option under Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Breitbart knows , we follow a fair and simple process for this .
Hemingway has updated her article to include some of the information from our fact check used for the rating .
Just a little more editing would be enough to remove the rating .
When a post is fact-checked on Facebook , its distribution is reduced .
This empowers the mainstream , corporate media to punish their competitors and force them to adhere to their worldview .
For example , in June , USA Today — a competitor of Breitbart News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” — allowed an intern to “ fact check ” a Breitbart News story because they disagreed with Breitbart ’ s use of the term “ amnesty.
” In other words , Facebook ’ s system forces Breitbart News to follow the mainstream media ’ s definition of “ amnesty , ” or else be potentially subject to reduced distribution .
Allum Bokhari is the senior technology correspondent at Breitbart News .
His new book , # DELETED : Big Tech ’ s Battle to Erase the Trump Movement and Steal The Election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside Google , Facebook , and other tech companies , is currently available for purchase .
Update — A response to the Federalist from Lead Stories was added to this article after publication .

Facebook fact-checker “Lead Stories” took the social network’s system of “fact-checking” to farcical levels earlier this week when it “fact-checked” a critique of itself by the Federalist’s Molly Hemingway.
An article by Molly Hemingway in the Federalist critiqued the fact-checker for its decision to fact check stories about voter fraud in Georgia:
A Big Tech-backed “fact” “checking” outfit claimed to debunk explosive evidence in support of Republicans’ claims of significant election problems at a Thursday Georgia Senate hearing. It didn’t. Not even close. Newly discovered security footage from Georgia’s State Farm Arena showed dozens of ballot counters, media, and Republican observers leaving en masse at the same time from the ballot-counting area for Fulton County. After they left, a small remnant of about four workers began pulling trunks containing thousands of ballots from underneath a table with a long tablecloth and running them through machines. The footage supported claims from Republicans that they were told counting had stopped for the night, only to find out hours later that it had kept going on.
Hemingway then reported on Twitter that her article, critiquing the fact-checker, had been fact-checked.
“With contemporaneous news stories and legal filings, I critiqued a Facebook-funded “fact” “checker.” So Facebook is using the very same “fact-checker” I criticized to censor me — and claiming that fact-checker is “independent.” This is Kafka-esque,” said Hemingway in a tweet.
“To be clear, nothing in the attached “fact” “check” actually deals with anything I wrote — and it is not claiming anything I wrote was erroneous or in need of correction. It’s just pasted on my piece to suppress it being shared.”
To be clear, nothing in the attached "fact" "check" actually deals with anything I wrote — and it is not claiming anything I wrote was erroneous or in need of correction. It's just pasted on my piece to suppress it being shared. — Mollie (@MZHemingway) December 7, 2020
Lead Stories editor-in-chief Alan Duke provided a response to Hemingway’s charges:
While we disagree with the conclusions in The Federalist article concerning our fact check, we did not flag Mollie Hemingway’s story because of that. It was flagged because it also included false claims about election fraud that we had previously debunked. We cannot give a free pass to content that contains such false claims just because they also attack us in the article. That would create a loophole that would allow anyone to avoid fact checking just by including an attack on us. Hemingway wrote that the claim that a Fulton County election supervisor told Republican observers to go home was backed by sworn affidavits of the observers. We had published a debunk that found the GOP staffers did not say in their sworn statements that they were told to go, prevented from staying, or banned from returning. We published those affidavits in support of our conclusion.
Finally, The Federalist or Hemingway have not pursued their option under Facebook rules to appeal the rating. As Breitbart knows, we follow a fair and simple process for this. Hemingway has updated her article to include some of the information from our fact check used for the rating. Just a little more editing would be enough to remove the rating.
When a post is fact-checked on Facebook, its distribution is reduced. This empowers the mainstream, corporate media to punish their competitors and force them to adhere to their worldview.
For example, in June, USA Today — a competitor of Breitbart News, and also a Facebook “fact-checker” — allowed an intern to “fact check” a Breitbart News story because they disagreed with Breitbart’s use of the term “amnesty.”
In other words, Facebook’s system forces Breitbart News to follow the mainstream media’s definition of “amnesty,” or else be potentially subject to reduced distribution.
Allum Bokhari is the senior technology correspondent at Breitbart News. His new book, #DELETED: Big Tech’s Battle to Erase the Trump Movement and Steal The Election, which contains exclusive interviews with sources inside Google, Facebook, and other tech companies, is currently available for purchase.
Update — A response to the Federalist from Lead Stories was added to this article after publication.