bonginoreport--2020-10-16--Is it Time to Break Twitter and Facebook Up?

The great Twitter and Facebook masquerade is over .
Posing as disinterested and neutral media platforms , they have unmasked themselves as partisan protectors of Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden and propaganda advocates of the progressive cause .
It is time that Twitter and Facebook be forced to halt their destructive practices or be broken up .
The two technology giants wield too much marketplace power in the ever-expanding social media universe .
With power comes abuse .
This was on full display Wednesday when both Twitter and Facebook blocked access to a New York Post story offering stunning email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position as vice president to financially benefit his son , Hunter Biden .
If the Post 's evidence is authentic , as it appears to be , it would put a lie to the candidate 's previous denials that he engaged in influence peddling and knew nothing about his son 's business dealings .
Among the incriminating emails is a smoking-gun message from a top executive at the Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma thanking Hunter for arranging a meeting with his father in Washington .
The son was being paid a minimum of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sit on its board , even though he had absolutely no experience in either natural gas or Ukrainian affairs .
The Post later pegged his full salary at $ 83,000 per month .
As Hunter was pocketing the cash , his company Burisma was under siege for suspected corrupt practices and searching desperately for a way to quash any government action against it .
Emails from Burisma asked Hunter to tap his influence .
Message received loud and clear .
SENATE REPUBLICANS CALL ON TWITTER , FACEBOOK BOSSES TO TESTIFY AMID CENSORSHIP CLAIMS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post 's story on all of this broke early Wednesday , the Biden campaign called a complete `` lid '' on in-person activities for the day .
It was n't even 10 am as the nominee hid from reporters , retreated to his bunker , and instituted a phalanx strategy .
A carefully worded statement was issued insisting that Biden 's `` official schedules '' showed no such meeting with a Burisma executive .
It was a classic non-denial denial .
No one was buying it .
By the end of the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` informal '' meeting might have occurred .
In every other aspect , the core of the Post 's story and the veracity of the emails were not disputed by Biden .
It is obvious why Hunter Biden was being paid such an outlandish sum of money every month despite his utter lack of qualifications .
Burisma was in deep trouble .
It was searching for a powerful political figure who could exert pressure on Ukraine to leave the company alone .
Joe Biden fit the bill perfectly .
He was the vital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy directives to Ukraine .
Something had to be done to help Burisma avoid legal peril in Ukraine and to keep Hunter 's lucrative gravy-train chugging along .
Sure enough , the elder Biden intervened and later bragged about it on camera .
He threatened to withhold $ 1 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine unless the chief prosecutor , Viktor Shokin , was fired from his job .
Shokin is on record stating that he was poised to launch a criminal investigation of Burisma where Hunter Biden was employed .
With his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ magically vanished .
What inexorable conclusion can we draw from this ?
The evidence is compelling that Vice President Joe Biden used the powers of his high office and taxpayer money to take action that benefited a foreign company that was paying his son .
Is that a crime ?
It could be .
It certainly merits an investigation because it is a felony for a public official to confer a benefit to a foreign government ( for example , a billion dollars in financial assistance ) in exchange for something of value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HERE TO GET THE OPINION NEWSLETTER While it is true that not all acts of wrongdoing constitute crimes , the facts as presented by the Post deserve scrutiny by both the media and voters who are poised to cast -- and , in some states , have already cast -- their ballots in a presidential election .
Is n't the electorate entitled to more information , not less ?
The answer is a resounding yes .
In his pointed attacks on Trump , Biden has made character and corruption an issue .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the press .
Should n't Biden be held to the same standard of fitness and rectitude that he demands of his opponent ?
Of course he should .
Biden has unwittingly invited the scrutiny he now deserves .
And yet , Twitter , Facebook , and many in the media have sought to suppress the evidence reported by the Post .
This is where the story gets even more complicated , so bear with me .
The damning emails come from a laptop computer that almost certainly belongs to Hunter Biden .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Delaware and never retrieved by its owner .
It is filled with communications sent and received by Hunter Biden , as well as photographs of him and what the Post describes as a raunchy video of Hunter smoking crack and having sex with an unidentified woman .
In the process of fixing the computer , the shop owner discovered the material , grew alarmed about its contents , and notified the FBI .
Armed with a subpoena issued by a Delaware grand jury , the bureau seized the laptop and its hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What followed was conspicuous ( if not disturbing ) silence .
No meaningful action was taken .
Concerned that evidence of wrongdoing involving a presidential candidate was being buried as the election draws near , the shop owner gave a copy of the hard drive to President Trump 's personal attorney , Rudy Giuliani .
From there , the Post gained access and reported its contents .
Almost immediately , Facebook initiated a blackout maneuver `` reducing '' the ability of users to distribute the Post article and its supporting email evidence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ harmful '' and it had n't verified its legitimacy .
In making the announcement , the tech company 's policy communications manager -- a long-time Democrat operative -- was enunciating an absurd rule .
Nearly every major story is `` potentially harmful '' to someone .
If that is the standard , Facebook would have no media traffic .
Moreover , since when does Facebook verify the legitimacy of articles that are damaging to President Trump ?
The answer is never .
Think of all the `` collusion '' stories that were peddled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wrong .
Facebook did n't restrict or ban those .
More recently , Facebook did not restrict or ban access to a New York Times `` potentially harmful '' story on Trump 's taxes that was based on unnamed sources and documents the newspaper refused to produce .
Yet , the New York Post is not permitted to post its story on Biden based on documents it actually did produce .
This is nothing more than selective and dangerous censorship motivated by political bias .
It is also an effort to influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information .
Twitter also banned the Post story , claiming that it violated its `` Hacked Materials Policy . ''
Except the material was n't hacked at all .
Hacking is unauthorized access .
The repair shop was granted authorized access to fix the water-damaged laptop .
Thereafter , the device was abandoned without compensation , giving the repair shop constructive ownership .
Twitter 's excuse for repressing the Post story is inane .
It disingenuously declared that its policy `` prohibits content obtained without authorization . ''
Really ?
Twitter must have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that were anonymously sourced from leaked classified documents that were illegally obtained and disseminated .
Twitter should do a Google search to refresh its recollection .
The unconscionable actions of these two tech giants has produced such outrage that it only managed to elevate -- not suppress -- the Post 's story about Biden .
While there is some satisfaction in that boomerang effect , there is no doubt that both Twitter and Facebook will continue their partisan manipulation of information until they are stopped .
Congress is now duty-bound to impose new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time , the Justice Department must consider levying severe penalties or , preferably , breaking up both companies under anti-trust laws .
Too much power and little accountability is a recipe for destructive behavior that is anathema to our cherished freedoms .
Like a witness who incriminates himself , the politically driven decisions by Facebook and Twitter are the best evidence against them .
In the spirit of full disclosure , I own Facebook shares that I bought years ago during its initial public offering .
I have confidence in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no confidence in its Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg .
The same goes for Twitter 's CEO Jack Dorsey .
Neither of them should be at the helm of the powerful platforms they created .
Changes at the top of these important companies are long overdue .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Our government has the power to make it happen .
Does it have the courage to act ?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM GREGG JARRETT

The great Twitter and Facebook masquerade is over.
Posing as disinterested and neutral media platforms, they have unmasked themselves as partisan protectors of Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden and propaganda advocates of the progressive cause. It is time that Twitter and Facebook be forced to halt their destructive practices or be broken up.
The two technology giants wield too much marketplace power in the ever-expanding social media universe. With power comes abuse.
This was on full display Wednesday when both Twitter and Facebook blocked access to a New York Post story offering stunning email evidence that Biden may have exploited his position as vice president to financially benefit his son, Hunter Biden.
BRENT BOZELL: NY POST'S HUNTER BIDEN STORY CENSORED BY FACEBOOK, TWITTER -- BIG TECH VOTES FOR BIDEN
If the Post's evidence is authentic, as it appears to be, it would put a lie to the candidate's previous denials that he engaged in influence peddling and knew nothing about his son's business dealings.
Among the incriminating emails is a smoking-gun message from a top executive at the Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma thanking Hunter for arranging a meeting with his father in Washington. The son was being paid a minimum of $50,000 a month by Burisma to sit on its board, even though he had absolutely no experience in either natural gas or Ukrainian affairs. The Post later pegged his full salary at $83,000 per month.
As Hunter was pocketing the cash, his company Burisma was under siege for suspected corrupt practices and searching desperately for a way to quash any government action against it. Emails from Burisma asked Hunter to tap his influence. Message received loud and clear.
SENATE REPUBLICANS CALL ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK BOSSES TO TESTIFY AMID CENSORSHIP CLAIMS, SAY SUBPOENA IN WORKS
When the Post's story on all of this broke early Wednesday, the Biden campaign called a complete "lid" on in-person activities for the day. It wasn't even 10 am as the nominee hid from reporters, retreated to his bunker, and instituted a phalanx strategy.
A carefully worded statement was issued insisting that Biden's "official schedules" showed no such meeting with a Burisma executive. It was a classic non-denial denial. No one was buying it. By the end of the day, the campaign was conceding that an "informal" meeting might have occurred. In every other aspect, the core of the Post's story and the veracity of the emails were not disputed by Biden.
It is obvious why Hunter Biden was being paid such an outlandish sum of money every month despite his utter lack of qualifications. Burisma was in deep trouble. It was searching for a powerful political figure who could exert pressure on Ukraine to leave the company alone. Joe Biden fit the bill perfectly. He was the vital point-person in the Obama Administration's foreign policy directives to Ukraine.
Something had to be done to help Burisma avoid legal peril in Ukraine and to keep Hunter's lucrative gravy-train chugging along.
Sure enough, the elder Biden intervened and later bragged about it on camera. He threatened to withhold $1 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine unless the chief prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, was fired from his job. Shokin is on record stating that he was poised to launch a criminal investigation of Burisma where Hunter Biden was employed. With his termination, all of that suddenly and magically vanished.
What inexorable conclusion can we draw from this? The evidence is compelling that Vice President Joe Biden used the powers of his high office and taxpayer money to take action that benefited a foreign company that was paying his son. Is that a crime? It could be. It certainly merits an investigation because it is a felony for a public official to confer a benefit to a foreign government (for example, a billion dollars in financial assistance) in exchange for something of value to himself or a relative.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE OPINION NEWSLETTER
While it is true that not all acts of wrongdoing constitute crimes, the facts as presented by the Post deserve scrutiny by both the media and voters who are poised to cast --and, in some states, have already cast-- their ballots in a presidential election. Isn't the electorate entitled to more information, not less? The answer is a resounding yes.
In his pointed attacks on Trump, Biden has made character and corruption an issue. So, too, have many Democrats and the press. Shouldn't Biden be held to the same standard of fitness and rectitude that he demands of his opponent? Of course he should. Biden has unwittingly invited the scrutiny he now deserves.
And yet, Twitter, Facebook, and many in the media have sought to suppress the evidence reported by the Post. This is where the story gets even more complicated, so bear with me.
The damning emails come from a laptop computer that almost certainly belongs to Hunter Biden. It was dropped off at a repair shop in Delaware and never retrieved by its owner. It is filled with communications sent and received by Hunter Biden, as well as photographs of him and what the Post describes as a raunchy video of Hunter smoking crack and having sex with an unidentified woman.
In the process of fixing the computer, the shop owner discovered the material, grew alarmed about its contents, and notified the FBI. Armed with a subpoena issued by a Delaware grand jury, the bureau seized the laptop and its hard drive in December of last year. What followed was conspicuous (if not disturbing) silence. No meaningful action was taken.
Concerned that evidence of wrongdoing involving a presidential candidate was being buried as the election draws near, the shop owner gave a copy of the hard drive to President Trump's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani. From there, the Post gained access and reported its contents.
Almost immediately, Facebook initiated a blackout maneuver "reducing" the ability of users to distribute the Post article and its supporting email evidence. Facebook described the story as "potentially harmful" and it hadn't verified its legitimacy. In making the announcement, the tech company's policy communications manager --a long-time Democrat operative-- was enunciating an absurd rule.
Nearly every major story is "potentially harmful" to someone. If that is the standard, Facebook would have no media traffic. Moreover, since when does Facebook verify the legitimacy of articles that are damaging to President Trump? The answer is never. Think of all the "collusion" stories that were peddled by major news organizations that were unverified and wrong. Facebook didn't restrict or ban those.
More recently, Facebook did not restrict or ban access to a New York Times "potentially harmful" story on Trump's taxes that was based on unnamed sources and documents the newspaper refused to produce.
Yet, the New York Post is not permitted to post its story on Biden based on documents it actually did produce. This is nothing more than selective and dangerous censorship motivated by political bias. It is also an effort to influence an election by the withholding of relevant information.
Twitter also banned the Post story, claiming that it violated its "Hacked Materials Policy." Except the material wasn't hacked at all. Hacking is unauthorized access. The repair shop was granted authorized access to fix the water-damaged laptop. Thereafter, the device was abandoned without compensation, giving the repair shop constructive ownership.
Twitter's excuse for repressing the Post story is inane. It disingenuously declared that its policy "prohibits content obtained without authorization." Really? Twitter must have forgotten the countless stories it has allowed that were anonymously sourced from leaked classified documents that were illegally obtained and disseminated. Twitter should do a Google search to refresh its recollection.
The unconscionable actions of these two tech giants has produced such outrage that it only managed to elevate --not suppress-- the Post's story about Biden. While there is some satisfaction in that boomerang effect, there is no doubt that both Twitter and Facebook will continue their partisan manipulation of information until they are stopped.
Congress is now duty-bound to impose new restrictions on such marketplace abuse. At the same time, the Justice Department must consider levying severe penalties or, preferably, breaking up both companies under anti-trust laws. Too much power and little accountability is a recipe for destructive behavior that is anathema to our cherished freedoms.
Like a witness who incriminates himself, the politically driven decisions by Facebook and Twitter are the best evidence against them.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I own Facebook shares that I bought years ago during its initial public offering. I have confidence in the service it provides, but I have no confidence in its Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg. The same goes for Twitter's CEO Jack Dorsey. Neither of them should be at the helm of the powerful platforms they created.
Changes at the top of these important companies are long overdue.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Our government has the power to make it happen.
Does it have the courage to act?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM GREGG JARRETT


bonginoreport--2020-10-16--U.S. Drone Strike Reportedly Kills Two Senior al Qaeda Operative

Two senior al Qaeda operatives were reportedly killed in an American drone strike in Syria ’ s Idlib Governorate on Thursday .
Though the strike has yet to be confirmed by the Department of Defense ’ s Central Command , regional experts have circulated images and information indicating that the two operatives were killed .
The two operatives , Abu Dhar al-Masri and Abu Yusuf al-Maghrebi , were both defectors from Huras al-Din , an insurgent group active in Syria .
A 2019 drone strike was said to have killed key members of Huras al-Din , including Abu Dhar , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would dispel those rumors .
While al Qaeda 's numbers have dwindled significantly in recent years—the State Department estimates al Qaeda ’ s contingent in Afghanistan is below 200 members—it is also the case that the terrorist group still cooperates with the more-established insurgency of the Taliban .
Due to increasing regional instability , Washington sent a new cohort of U.S. troops to Syria in September .
Recent reporting also shows a renewed pattern of Russian aggression in Syria .
The Taliban have been reassuring American diplomats that they have control of al @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military action .
But they have engaged in a new campaign of violence as Washington continues to pursue peace .
A new report from NBC News suggests that President Donald Trump is considering giving a landmark foreign-policy speech in the coming weeks , with an added emphasis on his changing Middle East policy .
In recent weeks , the president has said he hopes to bring all troops in Afghanistan home by Christmas , though senior national security officials in the administration consider the prospect unlikely .
At present , the Pentagon has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Afghanistan home , though troop reductions with a target of 2,500 to 3,000 personnel remaining in Afghanistan have already been planned , with strategists working on limited withdrawal options to meet that goal .

Two senior al Qaeda operatives were reportedly killed in an American drone strike in Syria’s Idlib Governorate on Thursday.
Though the strike has yet to be confirmed by the Department of Defense’s Central Command, regional experts have circulated images and information indicating that the two operatives were killed. The two operatives, Abu Dhar al-Masri and Abu Yusuf al-Maghrebi, were both defectors from Huras al-Din, an insurgent group active in Syria.
A 2019 drone strike was said to have killed key members of Huras al-Din, including Abu Dhar, but the new strike’s confirmation would dispel those rumors.
While al Qaeda's numbers have dwindled significantly in recent years—the State Department estimates al Qaeda’s contingent in Afghanistan is below 200 members—it is also the case that the terrorist group still cooperates with the more-established insurgency of the Taliban.
Due to increasing regional instability, Washington sent a new cohort of U.S. troops to Syria in September. Recent reporting also shows a renewed pattern of Russian aggression in Syria.
The Taliban have been reassuring American diplomats that they have control of al Qaeda operations and will limit their own military action. But they have engaged in a new campaign of violence as Washington continues to pursue peace.
A new report from NBC News suggests that President Donald Trump is considering giving a landmark foreign-policy speech in the coming weeks, with an added emphasis on his changing Middle East policy. In recent weeks, the president has said he hopes to bring all troops in Afghanistan home by Christmas, though senior national security officials in the administration consider the prospect unlikely.
At present, the Pentagon has no stated plans to bring all troops from Afghanistan home, though troop reductions with a target of 2,500 to 3,000 personnel remaining in Afghanistan have already been planned, with strategists working on limited withdrawal options to meet that goal.


bonginoreport--2020-10-16--Sudan Poised to Normalize Relations With Israel

Sudan is set to be the next country to normalize ties with Israel , the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday .
The African country reportedly made the decision to proceed with increased Israeli engagement after Washington issued a 24-hour ultimatum , demanding Sudan recognize Israel in order to gain removal from the United States ' list of countries that sponsor terrorism .
The ultimatum also offered to roll back travel restrictions on Sudan , which are a legacy of the 2017 travel ban issued by the Trump administration .
`` Establishing ties with Israel is a Sudanese interest , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council , earlier this month .
`` Our removal from the list of state sponsors of terror depends on it . ''
Sudan , much like Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates , is a Muslim-majority country that has historically been opposed to Israeli interests .
Until September 2020 , Sudan was under explicit and constitutionally sanctioned Islamic rule for 30 years .
During that period punishments for apostasy included severe flogging , and an alcohol ban existed for all citizens .
Bahrain and the UAE have similar restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions speak to the progress made by Washington and Jerusalem in recent months , which has often been downplayed by the mainstream media .
As the stigma of engaging with Israel disappears , American diplomats expect more countries to sign agreements with the Jewish state .
The big target and challenge for Washington and Jerusalem remains normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia , a country that has long been a linchpin for stability in the Middle East .
To this end , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of issues , including increasing security cooperation to counter Iran and next steps for Riyadh following the historic Abraham Accords .
`` We hope Saudi Arabia will consider normalizing its relationships as well , and we want to thank them for the assistance they ’ ve had in the success of the Abraham Accords so far , '' Pompeo said .
`` We hope , too , that the Kingdom will encourage the Palestinian side to return to dialogue and negotiation with Israel . ''

Sudan is set to be the next country to normalize ties with Israel, the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.
The African country reportedly made the decision to proceed with increased Israeli engagement after Washington issued a 24-hour ultimatum, demanding Sudan recognize Israel in order to gain removal from the United States' list of countries that sponsor terrorism. The ultimatum also offered to roll back travel restrictions on Sudan, which are a legacy of the 2017 travel ban issued by the Trump administration.
"Establishing ties with Israel is a Sudanese interest," said Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, deputy chairman of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, earlier this month. "Our removal from the list of state sponsors of terror depends on it."
Sudan, much like Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, is a Muslim-majority country that has historically been opposed to Israeli interests. Until September 2020, Sudan was under explicit and constitutionally sanctioned Islamic rule for 30 years. During that period punishments for apostasy included severe flogging, and an alcohol ban existed for all citizens. Bahrain and the UAE have similar restrictions on religious freedom in place.
Such restrictions speak to the progress made by Washington and Jerusalem in recent months, which has often been downplayed by the mainstream media. As the stigma of engaging with Israel disappears, American diplomats expect more countries to sign agreements with the Jewish state.
The big target and challenge for Washington and Jerusalem remains normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, a country that has long been a linchpin for stability in the Middle East.
To this end, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Wednesday to discuss a series of issues, including increasing security cooperation to counter Iran and next steps for Riyadh following the historic Abraham Accords.
"We hope Saudi Arabia will consider normalizing its relationships as well, and we want to thank them for the assistance they’ve had in the success of the Abraham Accords so far," Pompeo said. "We hope, too, that the Kingdom will encourage the Palestinian side to return to dialogue and negotiation with Israel."


bonginoreport--2020-10-16--U.S. Gun Sales are Soaring As Pandemic and Fears of Social Unrest Take Their Toll

Andreyah Garland , a 44-year-old single mother of three daughters , bought a shotgun in May for protection in the quaint middle-class town of Fishkill , New York .
She joined a new and fast-growing local gun club to learn how to shoot .
She has since applied for a pistol permit and constantly hunts for increasingly scarce ammunition – making three trips weekly to a local Walmart .
“ They ’ re always out , ” she said .
THIS YEAR 'S GUN SALES HAVE ALREADY OUTPACED 2019 'S TOTAL , RESEARCH SHOWS Like legions of other first-time buyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. gun industry this year , Garland ’ s decision to take up arms is driven in part by disturbing news about the coronavirus pandemic , social unrest over police killings of Black people and a potentially contested election that many fear could spark violence .
“ With everything going on around us , ” she said , “ you see a need.
” Surges in U.S. firearm sales have in recent decades been predictably driven by events sparking fears of impending gun-control legislation , such as the election of a Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , federal gun background check data show .
Industry experts and academics who study gun ownership say such surges came largely among the gun-industry ’ s core base of white , male and politically conservative customers who often already owned one or multiple guns .
That market is widening this year to include a new rush of first-time buyers , including many women , minorities and politically liberal buyers who once would not have considered gun ownership , according to Reuters interviews with more than a dozen industry experts , academics and gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AMID RIOTS , INCREASED VIOLENCE ACROSS COUNTRY : 'YOU CA N'T REALLY BE TOO SAFE' “ People who don ’ t normally think about firearms are being forced to contemplate something outside their universe , ” said Dan Eldridge , owner of Maxon Shooter ’ s Supplies and Indoor Range in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines , Illinois .
The number of first-time buyers has skyrocketed this year , according to industry analysts , trade groups and the CEO of major gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson Brands Inc , Mark Peter Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with investors , Smith estimated that firearms neophytes accounted for about 40 % of sales this year , an estimate he called conservative and “ double the national average ” in past years .
In a Sept. 2 call , Sportsman ’ s Warehouse Holdings Inc CEO Jon Barker said the company estimated that 5 million people purchased firearms for the first time across the industry in the first seven months of the year , which matched a recent figure put out by the National Shooting Sports Foundation , a trade group , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a statement to Reuters , Walmart Inc acknowledged supply shortages in outdoor products including hunting but provided no details of its gun and ammunition sales or inventory .
“ We are working with our suppliers to make product available for our customers as quickly as possible , ” the company said .
Among the first-timers is Bailey Beeken , 61 , who lives in Riverdale , New York and describes herself as a white , politically liberal , middle-class woman .
She started taking shooting lessons this summer , she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes , it could get really scary , and it could get bloody.
” With the pandemic pitting mask-wearers against mask protesters , and police-brutality protests sparking violent street clashes , “ I just feel like it ’ s a powder keg , ” she said .
“ I want to be armed and dangerous.
” Neither gun companies nor the government releases detailed data on firearm sales or the demographics of buyers .
The FBI ’ s National Instant Criminal Background Check System ( NICS ) - a widely accepted proxy - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the first nine months of this year , compared to the same period in 2019 , which was a record year .
With 28.8 million background checks through the end of September , this year ’ s surge has already surpassed last year ’ s all-time high of 28.4 million .
Background checks verify that buyers do not have a criminal record or another issue that might make them ineligible to buy a weapon , such as an arrest warrant or a documented drug addiction .
Less than 1 % of applicants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Eight of the top 10 all-time weeks for background checks have happened this year , according to NICS data that goes back to 1998 .
The top week came in March , when the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus crisis a pandemic .
The top month this year came in June , following the late-May killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police .
( For graphics on surging gun sales , click tmsnrt.rs/316cbBP and tmsnrt.rs/3iY33FA ) Shares of Smith & Wesson and Sturm Ruger & Co Inc , the two top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 59 % , respectively , this year .
Both companies did not respond to requests for comment .
The historically high sales are adding millions of weapons to a nation that already has more guns than people .
The Geneva-based Small Arms Survey estimated the number of U.S. guns at 393 million in 2017 .
That dwarfed the next highest totals of 71 million in India and nearly 50 million in China -- countries that both have populations four times the size of the United States .
Aside from rising concerns over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surging gun sales can translate to more routine gun deaths , researchers say .
Harvard University professor David Hemenway said there is overwhelming evidence that buying a gun greatly increases a household ’ s risk of suicide , shooting accidents and violence against a domestic partner .
“ It ’ s pretty clear that more guns is more death , ” said Hemenway , director of the school ’ s Injury Control Research Center , which studies injury prevention .
This year ’ s historic demand has forced buyers and sellers to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than a dozen buyers , industry experts and gun-shop owners say .
The owner of a shooting range in Monroe , New York , for instance , told Reuters it has started buying ammunition from customers who have stockpiles at home .
Online auction sites for guns and ammunition have seen prices skyrocket .
Bootstrapping entrepreneurs are hitting estate sales looking for gun collections to resell .
In Kenosha , Wisconsin - the site of deadly street clashes after the police killing of Jacob Blake in August - gunsmith Jared Carlson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would-be customers who can ’ t find guns or ammo at traditional outlets .
RECORD NUMBERS OF AMERICANS TRY TO BUY GUNS Christopher Metz , CEO of Vista Outdoor Inc - one of the nation ’ s largest ammunition makers - told analysts in August that it can ’ t get bullets to its distributors fast enough .
“ It ’ s the leanest we have ever seen them in inventory , ” he said , noting that the lack of ammunition is particularly frustrating to first-time gun buyers Gun shop owners and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rush of interest from people who have never considered owning a gun before , often from outside the gun industry ’ s traditional customer base of conservative white males .
Garland , the first-time gun buyer , is a Black woman and a registered Democrat who voted for Barack Obama .
But she also expresses deep dissatisfaction with both parties and says she hasn ’ t decided how to vote in the November presidential election .
She ’ s one of about 125 members in the new and fast-growing Hudson Valley Nubian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members are female , and more than two-thirds are Black , including founder Damon Finch .
He said he started the club in March , as the pandemic hit , and saw another big boost in interest after George Floyd ’ s death .
Finch says he now gets 15 calls or emails a day from people asking about joining or getting gun safety training .
Many ask him : “ How do I use this tool if - God forbid - I ever have to defend my family ?
” In Boston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Jewish and politically conservative , got a similar reaction when he posted on Facebook this summer that he was a licensed firearms instructor .
His first class was booked immediately , mostly with Jewish senior citizens who feared for their safety because of synagogue shootings and the pandemic .
“ A lot of them didn ’ t like guns and feared them , ” he said , but now they felt a need for protection that outweighed those fears .
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE Historically , white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guns in the United States .
Nearly half of white men in America own a gun , compared to about a quarter of nonwhite men , according to a 2017 study by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center .
There ’ s not enough data to confirm whether those demographics have substantially changed with this year ’ s rush of gun-buying , three academic experts on the gun industry told Reuters in interviews .
But it ’ s clear that deep political and racial divisions in this tumultuous year are driving up firearm sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor Benjamin Dowd-Arrow .
In these tense times , he said , buyers across the ideological spectrum view themselves as the “ good guys ” protecting themselves from “ bad guys.
” “ So all the ‘ good guys ’ need to go out and buy a gun , ” he said .
Current events - along with fears of gun-control if Democrats take power in upcoming elections - are also driving sales among traditional customers , said Eldridge , the owner of the shooting range and supply store in suburban Chicago .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun-buying - driven in part by spikes of violence in Chicago and incendiary political rhetoric over its causes .
Illinois is the top state for background checks , with 5.6 million through the end of September , more than doubling the next highest state ’ s total .
That compared to 4.9 million background checks in Illinois for all of 2019 and 2.8 million in 2018 .
“ You have people sitting in their high-rise apartments and seeing the Walgreens store they go to every day get looted , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ BUSINESS

Andreyah Garland, a 44-year-old single mother of three daughters, bought a shotgun in May for protection in the quaint middle-class town of Fishkill, New York. She joined a new and fast-growing local gun club to learn how to shoot.
She has since applied for a pistol permit and constantly hunts for increasingly scarce ammunition – making three trips weekly to a local Walmart. “They’re always out,” she said.
THIS YEAR'S GUN SALES HAVE ALREADY OUTPACED 2019'S TOTAL, RESEARCH SHOWS
Like legions of other first-time buyers who are contributing to record sales for the U.S. gun industry this year, Garland’s decision to take up arms is driven in part by disturbing news about the coronavirus pandemic, social unrest over police killings of Black people and a potentially contested election that many fear could spark violence.
“With everything going on around us,” she said, “you see a need.”
Surges in U.S. firearm sales have in recent decades been predictably driven by events sparking fears of impending gun-control legislation, such as the election of a Democratic president or a spate of mass shootings, federal gun background check data show. Industry experts and academics who study gun ownership say such surges came largely among the gun-industry’s core base of white, male and politically conservative customers who often already owned one or multiple guns.
That market is widening this year to include a new rush of first-time buyers, including many women, minorities and politically liberal buyers who once would not have considered gun ownership, according to Reuters interviews with more than a dozen industry experts, academics and gun store owners.
FIRST-TIME GUN OWNERSHIP SKYROCKETS AMID RIOTS, INCREASED VIOLENCE ACROSS COUNTRY: 'YOU CAN'T REALLY BE TOO SAFE'
“People who don’t normally think about firearms are being forced to contemplate something outside their universe,” said Dan Eldridge, owner of Maxon Shooter’s Supplies and Indoor Range in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, Illinois.
The number of first-time buyers has skyrocketed this year, according to industry analysts, trade groups and the CEO of major gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson Brands Inc, Mark Peter Smith. In a Sept. 3 conference call with investors, Smith estimated that firearms neophytes accounted for about 40% of sales this year, an estimate he called conservative and “double the national average” in past years. In a Sept. 2 call, Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc CEO Jon Barker said the company estimated that 5 million people purchased firearms for the first time across the industry in the first seven months of the year, which matched a recent figure put out by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade group, based on a national survey of retailers.
In a statement to Reuters, Walmart Inc acknowledged supply shortages in outdoor products including hunting but provided no details of its gun and ammunition sales or inventory. “We are working with our suppliers to make product available for our customers as quickly as possible,” the company said.
Among the first-timers is Bailey Beeken, 61, who lives in Riverdale, New York and describes herself as a white, politically liberal, middle-class woman. She started taking shooting lessons this summer, she said, because “whichever way this election goes, it could get really scary, and it could get bloody.”
With the pandemic pitting mask-wearers against mask protesters, and police-brutality protests sparking violent street clashes, “I just feel like it’s a powder keg,” she said. “I want to be armed and dangerous.”
‘MORE GUNS IS MORE DEATH’
Neither gun companies nor the government releases detailed data on firearm sales or the demographics of buyers. The FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) - a widely accepted proxy - shows a 41% increase in activity during the first nine months of this year, compared to the same period in 2019, which was a record year. With 28.8 million background checks through the end of September, this year’s surge has already surpassed last year’s all-time high of 28.4 million.
Background checks verify that buyers do not have a criminal record or another issue that might make them ineligible to buy a weapon, such as an arrest warrant or a documented drug addiction. Less than 1% of applicants are denied, according to FBI figures.
REMINGTON ARMS DECLARES BANKRUPTCY DESPITE SURGING GUN DEMAND
Eight of the top 10 all-time weeks for background checks have happened this year, according to NICS data that goes back to 1998. The top week came in March, when the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus crisis a pandemic. The top month this year came in June, following the late-May killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. (For graphics on surging gun sales, click tmsnrt.rs/316cbBP and tmsnrt.rs/3iY33FA )
Shares of Smith & Wesson and Sturm Ruger & Co Inc, the two top U.S. manufacturers, have soared 131% and 59%, respectively, this year. Both companies did not respond to requests for comment.
The historically high sales are adding millions of weapons to a nation that already has more guns than people. The Geneva-based Small Arms Survey estimated the number of U.S. guns at 393 million in 2017. That dwarfed the next highest totals of 71 million in India and nearly 50 million in China -- countries that both have populations four times the size of the United States.
Aside from rising concerns over street violence related to political unrest, surging gun sales can translate to more routine gun deaths, researchers say. Harvard University professor David Hemenway said there is overwhelming evidence that buying a gun greatly increases a household’s risk of suicide, shooting accidents and violence against a domestic partner.
“It’s pretty clear that more guns is more death,” said Hemenway, director of the school’s Injury Control Research Center, which studies injury prevention.
This year’s historic demand has forced buyers and sellers to get creative in finding weapons and ammo, more than a dozen buyers, industry experts and gun-shop owners say. The owner of a shooting range in Monroe, New York, for instance, told Reuters it has started buying ammunition from customers who have stockpiles at home. Online auction sites for guns and ammunition have seen prices skyrocket. Bootstrapping entrepreneurs are hitting estate sales looking for gun collections to resell. In Kenosha, Wisconsin - the site of deadly street clashes after the police killing of Jacob Blake in August - gunsmith Jared Carlson said he has been inundated with calls from would-be customers who can’t find guns or ammo at traditional outlets.
RECORD NUMBERS OF AMERICANS TRY TO BUY GUNS
Christopher Metz, CEO of Vista Outdoor Inc - one of the nation’s largest ammunition makers - told analysts in August that it can’t get bullets to its distributors fast enough. “It’s the leanest we have ever seen them in inventory,” he said, noting that the lack of ammunition is particularly frustrating to first-time gun buyers
WHO IS BUYING?
Gun shop owners and club leaders, in interviews, reported a rush of interest from people who have never considered owning a gun before, often from outside the gun industry’s traditional customer base of conservative white males.
Garland, the first-time gun buyer, is a Black woman and a registered Democrat who voted for Barack Obama. But she also expresses deep dissatisfaction with both parties and says she hasn’t decided how to vote in the November presidential election. She’s one of about 125 members in the new and fast-growing Hudson Valley Nubian Gun Club. More than half of members are female, and more than two-thirds are Black, including founder Damon Finch. He said he started the club in March, as the pandemic hit, and saw another big boost in interest after George Floyd’s death. Finch says he now gets 15 calls or emails a day from people asking about joining or getting gun safety training. Many ask him: “How do I use this tool if - God forbid - I ever have to defend my family?”
In Boston, innovation consultant Eugene Buff, who is Jewish and politically conservative, got a similar reaction when he posted on Facebook this summer that he was a licensed firearms instructor. His first class was booked immediately, mostly with Jewish senior citizens who feared for their safety because of synagogue shootings and the pandemic. “A lot of them didn’t like guns and feared them,” he said, but now they felt a need for protection that outweighed those fears.
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Historically, white males are overwhelmingly the biggest group buying guns in the United States. Nearly half of white men in America own a gun, compared to about a quarter of nonwhite men, according to a 2017 study by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center.
There’s not enough data to confirm whether those demographics have substantially changed with this year’s rush of gun-buying, three academic experts on the gun industry told Reuters in interviews. But it’s clear that deep political and racial divisions in this tumultuous year are driving up firearm sales, said Florida State University public health professor Benjamin Dowd-Arrow. In these tense times, he said, buyers across the ideological spectrum view themselves as the “good guys” protecting themselves from “bad guys.”
“So all the ‘good guys’ need to go out and buy a gun,” he said.
Current events - along with fears of gun-control if Democrats take power in upcoming elections - are also driving sales among traditional customers, said Eldridge, the owner of the shooting range and supply store in suburban Chicago.
Eldridge is in the epicenter of U.S. gun-buying - driven in part by spikes of violence in Chicago and incendiary political rhetoric over its causes. Illinois is the top state for background checks, with 5.6 million through the end of September, more than doubling the next highest state’s total.
That compared to 4.9 million background checks in Illinois for all of 2019 and 2.8 million in 2018.
“You have people sitting in their high-rise apartments and seeing the Walgreens store they go to every day get looted,” he said.
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bonginoreport--2020-10-16--(Video) Biden Says He’s Not a Fan of Court Packing – BUT…

We still ca n't get a straight answer out of him .

Enjoyed this video? Join my Locals community for exclusive content at bongino.locals.com
We still can't get a straight answer out of him.


bonginoreport--2020-10-16--President Trump and Biden Battle for Voters in Florida

A new TV commercial by President Trump ’ s reelection campaign touts that the president is “ the clear choice ” for seniors , who are a key voting bloc in many of the battleground states that will decide the winner of the presidential election .
The ads running on the airwaves in Florida and other crucial swing states as the president courted voters 65 and older on Friday during a stop in Fort Myers in southwest Florida .
`` I am honored to be here in Fort Myers to reaffirm my solemn pledge to America ’ s Seniors : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defend you , and I will fight for you with every ounce of energy and conviction that I have , '' the president told the crowd according to excerpts released in advance by the White House .
Seniors make up roughly 20 % of the population in Florida , which with 29 electoral votes up for grabs is the largest of the traditional battlegrounds .
The president ’ s stop comes three days after Democratic nominee Joe Biden visited Florida and told a crowd of seniors that Trump views them as “ expendable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s trip comes as Trump is trying to avoid becoming the first Republican presidential nominee in two decades to lose the 65 and older vote .
Former Vice President Al Gore – who in the 2000 election repeatedly emphasized that he would keep Social Security “ in a lockbox ” – was the last Democratic presidential nominee to win the senior vote .
Four years ago Trump captured the national vote of those 65 and older by a 52 % -45 % margin over Clinton , according to exit polls .
But fast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News national poll indicates Biden with a slight 49 % -47 % edge over the president among seniors .
A Wall Street Journal/NBC News national poll released this week showed a larger 54 % -44 % margin for Biden among voters 65 and older .
WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS NATIONAL POLL SHOWS IN THE BIDEN-TRUMP SHOWDOWN One key reason may be the coronavirus pandemic , which is tied to the deaths of nearly 220,000 Americans and has hit seniors particularly hard .
“ Seniors are much more impacted by the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their concern about what happens if they do get .
They ’ re much more sensitive to it because they ’ re in the population is most at risk , ” noted longtime Republican pollster Neil Newhouse .
“ They ’ re focused on coronavirus and the president ’ s numbers on coronavirus are not strong .
Voters generally disapprove of the job he ’ s doing handling the issue.
” Biden , during a stop Tuesday in heavily populated Broward County in southeast Florida , pointed to comments Trump made last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued that the coronavirus `` affects virtually nobody '' except seniors .
`` It affects elderly people , elderly people with heart problems and other problems .
If they have other problems , that 's what it really affects , that 's it , '' the president said at the time .
“ Nobody , ” Biden said on Tuesday .
“ Think about that .
Who was he talking about when he said it affects virtually nobody .
He was talking about America ’ s seniors .
He was talking about you.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 65 and older , the former vice president argued that Trump thinks “ you ’ re expendable , 'forgettable , you ’ re virtually nobody .
That ’ s how he sees seniors .
...
The only senior that Donald Trump cares about … is the senior Donald Trump . ''
Biden also claimed the president will “ undermine the Medicare trust fund and increase overall out of pocket costs for seniors.
” And he charged that Trump “ says he wants to lower drug prices , but he hasn ’ t done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Trump campaign fired back , arguing that “ Biden resorted to his worn tactic of lying about President Trump , who has steadfastly protected Social Security and Medicare and who has pledged to always do so.
” HOW PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY VOTED IN THE 2020 ELECTION Last week , as he was recovering at the White House after being diagnosed and hospitalized for COVID-19 , tweeted that seniors are “ MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD !
” And the announcer in the new Trump campaign commercial highlights that “ President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump “ lowered drug costs and during his first term Medicare Advantage premiums fell 34 % .
” Four years ago Trump narrowly edged out 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in Florida .
An average of some of the most recent polling in the state shows Biden holding a single-digit lead over the president .
In a sign of how important the state is to the president ’ s reelection , Trump ’ s spent three days campaigning in the state this week .
“ Seniors in Florida are critical to winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was Republican nominee Mitt Romney ’ s pollster in the 2012 presidential campaign .
“ The key voter groups in the state would be seniors and Hispanics .
A strong performance among seniors would go a long way towards giving the president an edge in the state.
” And it ’ s not just Florida .
Seniors make up at least 17 % of the population in the battleground states of Arizona , Michigan , Ohio , Pennsylvania , Wisconsin , Iowa and New Hampshire .
The concentration by the two standard-bearers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to many .
With America dealing with the most devastating pandemic in a century , the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression more than 80 years ago , the most intense and widespread protests and unrest over racial inequity in decades , and arguably the most bitter U.S. Supreme Court confirmation battle in recent history , it ’ s little wonder that some issues critical to seniors that usually dominate presidential elections have been pushed to the side in recent months .
“ We ’ re certainly concerned that our issues have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and they will pass – the fundamental bedrock issues for Americans- things like their health , taking care of aging parents , Medicare , prescription drug prices , Social Security – those things are still going to be with us , ” AARP New Hampshire state director Todd Fahey told Fox News .
“ It ’ s really important that the voters understand where each candidate stands on these singularly important issues , ” Fahey emphasized .
“ They are of great important to the nation and the candidates need to speak @ @ @ @ @ @

A new TV commercial by President Trump’s reelection campaign touts that the president is “the clear choice” for seniors, who are a key voting bloc in many of the battleground states that will decide the winner of the presidential election.
The ads running on the airwaves in Florida and other crucial swing states as the president courted voters 65 and older on Friday during a stop in Fort Myers in southwest Florida.
"I am honored to be here in Fort Myers to reaffirm my solemn pledge to America’s Seniors: I will protect you, I will defend you, and I will fight for you with every ounce of energy and conviction that I have," the president told the crowd.
And he vowed to keep seniors safe from the coronavirus pandemic, promising that he was "working as hard as I can" so that they "can kiss and hug your children and grandchildren very soon."
Senoirs make up roughtly 20% of the population in Florida, which with 29 electoral votes up for grabs is the largest of the traditional battlegrounds.
BIDEN CHARGES THAT TRUMP SEES SENIORS AS 'EXPENDABLE'
The president’s stop came three days after Democratic nominee Joe Biden visited Florida and told a crowd of seniors that Trump views them as “expendable, forgettable.”
And the president’s trip comes as Trump is trying to avoid becoming the first Republican presidential nominee in two decades to lose the 65 and older vote.
Former Vice President Al Gore – who in the 2000 election repeatedly emphasized that he would keep Social Security “in a lockbox” – was the last Democratic presidential nominee to win the senior vote.
Four years ago Trump captured the national vote of those 65 and older by a 52%-45% margin over Clinton, according to exit polls. But fast forward four years and the latest Fox News national poll indicates Biden with a slight 49%-47% edge over the president among seniors. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News national poll released this week showed a larger 54%-44% margin for Biden among voters 65 and older.
WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS NATIONAL POLL SHOWS IN THE BIDEN-TRUMP SHOWDOWN
One key reason may be the coronavirus pandemic, which is tied to the deaths of nearly 220,000 Americans and has hit seniors particularly hard.
“Seniors are much more impacted by the coronavirus, by their concern about getting it, their concern about what happens if they do get. They’re much more sensitive to it because they’re in the population is most at risk,” noted longtime Republican pollster Neil Newhouse. “They’re focused on coronavirus and the president’s numbers on coronavirus are not strong. Voters generally disapprove of the job he’s doing handling the issue.”
Biden, during a stop Tuesday in heavily populated Broward County in southeast Florida, pointed to comments Trump made last month in Swanton, Ohio, when he argued that the coronavirus "affects virtually nobody" except seniors.
"It affects elderly people, elderly people with heart problems and other problems. If they have other problems, that's what it really affects, that's it," the president said at the time.
“Nobody,” Biden said on Tuesday. “Think about that. Who was he talking about when he said it affects virtually nobody. He was talking about America’s seniors. He was talking about you.”
And speaking directly to voters age 65 and older, the former vice president argued that Trump thinks “you’re expendable, 'forgettable, you’re virtually nobody. That’s how he sees seniors. ... The only senior that Donald Trump cares about … is the senior Donald Trump."
Biden also claimed the president will “undermine the Medicare trust fund and increase overall out of pocket costs for seniors.” And he charged that Trump “says he wants to lower drug prices, but he hasn’t done a single thing to do it.”
The Trump campaign fired back, arguing that “Biden resorted to his worn tactic of lying about President Trump, who has steadfastly protected Social Security and Medicare and who has pledged to always do so.”
HOW PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY VOTED IN THE 2020 ELECTION
Last week, as he was recovering at the White House after being diagnosed and hospitalized for COVID-19, tweeted that seniors are “MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!”
And the announcer in the new Trump campaign commercial highlights that “President Trump protected Social Security and Medicare” and that Trump “lowered drug costs and during his first term Medicare Advantage premiums fell 34%.”
Four years ago Trump narrowly edged out 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in Florida. An average of some of the most recent polling in the state shows Biden holding a single-digit lead over the president. In a sign of how important the state is to the president’s reelection, Trump’s spent three days campaigning in the state this week.
“Seniors in Florida are critical to winning the state,” noted Newhouse, who was Republican nominee Mitt Romney’s pollster in the 2012 presidential campaign. “The key voter groups in the state would be seniors and Hispanics. A strong performance among seniors would go a long way towards giving the president an edge in the state.”
And it’s not just Florida. Seniors make up at least 17% of the population in the battleground states of Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa and New Hampshire.
The concentration by the two standard-bearers on seniors this week is welcome news to many.
With America dealing with the most devastating pandemic in a century, the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression more than 80 years ago, the most intense and widespread protests and unrest over racial inequity in decades, and arguably the most bitter U.S. Supreme Court confirmation battle in recent history, it’s little wonder that some issues critical to seniors that usually dominate presidential elections have been pushed to the side in recent months.
“We’re certainly concerned that our issues have been overshadowed because when these things pass – and they will pass – the fundamental bedrock issues for Americans- things like their health, taking care of aging parents, Medicare, prescription drug prices, Social Security – those things are still going to be with us,” AARP New Hampshire state director Todd Fahey told Fox News.
“It’s really important that the voters understand where each candidate stands on these singularly important issues,” Fahey emphasized. “They are of great important to the nation and the candidates need to speak to all of them.”


bonginoreport--2020-10-16--Senate GOP Targets Facebook and Twitter CEOs for Censoring Hunter Biden Story – Will Vote on Subpoen

Senate GOP Targets Facebook and Twitter CEOs for Censoring Hunter Biden Story – Will Vote on Subpoenas Tuesday

The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to vote on subpoenas for Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday to testify after the companies suppressed links to articles raising allegations against Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden ’ s son , Hunter Biden .
Judiciary Committee leaders plan to hold a vote to issue the subpoena on Tuesday , Fox News reported .
If the vote for the subpoena succeeds , Dorsey will be called to testify before the committee on Friday , Oct. 23 .
Sen. Josh Hawley said he also hopes the committee will subpoena Zuckerberg , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting originating from the New York Post .
Hawley also announced on Thursday he had formally requested Dorsey and Zuckerberg testify .
Hawley ’ s press office tweeted , “ NEW — U.S .
Senator Josh Hawley has formally requested @ Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and @ Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to appear before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism in a coming hearing titled “ Digital Platforms and Election Interference.
” On Wednesday , Twitter blocked users from sharing links to the Post ’ s article , preventing users from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Post ’ s article for fact-checking , in a move that would limit the article from appearing on users ’ newsfeeds .
A new series of articles from the Post purports to show emails written by Hunter Biden that were recovered from a laptop abandoned at a Delaware computer repair shop .
The first article , published by the Post on Wednesday morning , says one email written by Hunter Biden describes a meeting between his father and an executive at the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma Holdings , on whose board Hunter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied having had knowledge about his son ’ s business dealings , however , the Post ’ s reporting purports to show Burisma Holdings executive Vadym Pozharskyi , in April of 2015 , thanking Hunter Biden for arranging a meeting between Pozharskyi and Hunter ’ s father , Joe Biden .
The interaction described by the documents obtained by the Post came about eight months before then-Vice President Joe Biden called on Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to fire Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin , who was then tasked with investigating Burisma .
As vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handling some Ukraine policies and in a 2018 video , Joe Biden described withholding a $ 1 billion loan guarantee in 2016 , until Shokin was fired .
Biden has denied a conflict of interest in Shokin ’ s firing and has said Shokin was fired over corruption concerns which were shared by the European Union .
The Republican members of the Judiciary Committee raised concerns that the moves by Twitter and Facebook to limit the negative story about the Bidens .
Hawley described the move as an attempt to limit the free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit the Bidens “ We believe in a free press in this country and we also believe in free elections , ” Hawley said .
“ The attempt to rig an election , which is what we ’ re seeing here by monopolies , is unprecedented in American history .
They have a lot to answer for.
” Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham , ( R-SC ) , said , “ We ’ re going to finally have an accounting that ’ s long overdue .
The power behind these platforms have been taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Biden campaign has denied the claims made in the Post article .
“ The New York Post never asked the Biden campaign about the critical elements of this story , ” Biden spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement provided to the Wall Street Journal .
Bates linked the story to President Donald Trump ’ s lawyer and campaign affiliate Rudy Giuliani , who Bates said has promoted “ discredited conspiracy theories ” and had an “ alliance with figures connected to Russian intelligence.
” Bates denied the alleged 2015 meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moreover , we have reviewed Joe Biden ’ s official schedules from the time and no meeting , as alleged by the New York Post , ever took place , ” Bates said .
Separately , Biden campaign officials who spoke to Politico , including Michael Carpenter and Amos Hochstein , reportedly did not rule out the possibility Pozharskyi would have approached Biden in an informal context .

The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to vote on subpoenas for Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday to testify after the companies suppressed links to articles raising allegations against Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.
Judiciary Committee leaders plan to hold a vote to issue the subpoena on Tuesday, Fox News reported. If the vote for the subpoena succeeds, Dorsey will be called to testify before the committee on Friday, Oct. 23. Sen. Josh Hawley said he also hopes the committee will subpoena Zuckerberg, as Facebook has also worked to suppress reporting originating from the New York Post.
Hawley also announced on Thursday he had formally requested Dorsey and Zuckerberg testify. Hawley’s press office tweeted, “NEW — U.S. Senator Josh Hawley has formally requested @Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and @Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to appear before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism in a coming hearing titled “Digital Platforms and Election Interference.”
NEW — U.S. Senator Josh Hawley has formally requested @Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and @Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to appear before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism in a coming hearing titled “Digital Platforms and Election Interference.” pic.twitter.com/VlXBo17bX0 — Senator Hawley Press Office (@SenHawleyPress) October 15, 2020
On Wednesday, Twitter blocked users from sharing links to the Post’s article, preventing users from sharing the story. Facebook also referred the Post’s article for fact-checking, in a move that would limit the article from appearing on users’ newsfeeds.
A new series of articles from the Post purports to show emails written by Hunter Biden that were recovered from a laptop abandoned at a Delaware computer repair shop. The first article, published by the Post on Wednesday morning, says one email written by Hunter Biden describes a meeting between his father and an executive at the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma Holdings, on whose board Hunter Biden served.
Joe Biden has previously denied having had knowledge about his son’s business dealings, however, the Post’s reporting purports to show Burisma Holdings executive Vadym Pozharskyi, in April of 2015, thanking Hunter Biden for arranging a meeting between Pozharskyi and Hunter’s father, Joe Biden. The interaction described by the documents obtained by the Post came about eight months before then-Vice President Joe Biden called on Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to fire Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin, who was then tasked with investigating Burisma.
As vice president, Joe Biden was tasked with handling some Ukraine policies and in a 2018 video, Joe Biden described withholding a $1 billion loan guarantee in 2016, until Shokin was fired. Biden has denied a conflict of interest in Shokin’s firing and has said Shokin was fired over corruption concerns which were shared by the European Union.
The Republican members of the Judiciary Committee raised concerns that the moves by Twitter and Facebook to limit the negative story about the Bidens. Hawley described the move as an attempt to limit the free press and interfere in an election to benefit the Bidens
“We believe in a free press in this country and we also believe in free elections,” Hawley said. “The attempt to rig an election, which is what we’re seeing here by monopolies, is unprecedented in American history. They have a lot to answer for.”
Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, (R-SC), said, “We’re going to finally have an accounting that’s long overdue. The power behind these platforms have been taken to a level that truly is dangerous.”
The Biden campaign has denied the claims made in the Post article.
“The New York Post never asked the Biden campaign about the critical elements of this story,” Biden spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement provided to the Wall Street Journal. Bates linked the story to President Donald Trump’s lawyer and campaign affiliate Rudy Giuliani, who Bates said has promoted “discredited conspiracy theories” and had an “alliance with figures connected to Russian intelligence.”
Bates denied the alleged 2015 meeting between Joe Biden and Pozharskyi.
“Moreover, we have reviewed Joe Biden’s official schedules from the time and no meeting, as alleged by the New York Post, ever took place,” Bates said.
Separately, Biden campaign officials who spoke to Politico, including Michael Carpenter and Amos Hochstein, reportedly did not rule out the possibility Pozharskyi would have approached Biden in an informal context.


bonginoreport--2020-10-16--China on the Brink

China on the Brink

China appears to be on the brink .
The communist regime is threatening our ally , Taiwan -- one of several Asian countries seeking closer ties with the United States while China ’ s domestic turmoil grows .
In a recent column in China 's state-sponsored Global Times , editor-in-chief Hu Xijin warned , `` As the secessionist forces ' arrogance continues to swell , the historical turning point is getting closer . ''
`` The only way forward is for the mainland to fully prepare itself for war and to give Taiwan secessionist forces a decisive punishment at any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's opposition party has been seeking closer cooperation with the United States .
But , Hu wrote : `` The more trouble Taiwan creates , the sooner the mainland will decide to teach Taiwan independence forces a hard lesson . ''
China has been angered by the ongoing tour of Asia by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , who is seeking support for U.S. efforts to contain China .
Recently , the Taiwanese Kuomintang Party , or KMT , renewed its effort for the government to reestablish diplomatic ties with the U.S .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and face considerable flooding .
If one or another dam overflows , major catastrophe could ensue .
Even without such a huge disaster , China faces a grim future .
Chin Jin , one of the leaders of the opposition to the ruling Communist Party reminds his followers of the country ’ s unpleasant past : The future of China has three prospects : Prospect 1 : The Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) will insist on continuing its rule , despite the inevitability of decline .
Prospect 2 : The CCP sees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intra-party tussles , and political purges within the ruling clique , that may force it to accept various internal and external pressures to make structural change .
This would also threaten the CCP regime .
Chinese leader Xi Jinping however has already explicitly ruled out any meaningful political reform .
Prospect 3 : The blundering CCP collapses overnight like the former Soviet Union , and the ethnic minority regions and Taiwan take advantage of the situation to exit Greater China .
Former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui ’ s proposed “ Seven-Block Theory ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country into seven autonomous regions : Taiwan , Tibet , Xinjiang , Mongolia , South China , North China , and Northeast China .
I believe this is the most likely .
Chin Jin thinks the past is a reliable guide to the future , and hence that our current and future actions should be based on a correct evaluation of our past .
He ’ s an activist , and he thinks that Chinese history provides a reliable guide to its future .
He believes that the current model for China—a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideology and a tough-minded bureaucracy—can not only last for a long time , but endure throughout a period of severe internal and external challenge .
President Trump does not believe that .
He believes that American history shows that Americans are able to change course very quickly , and that the Chinese are locked into failed past models .
Is he right ?
We don ’ t know .
Yet .

China appears to be on the brink.
The communist regime is threatening our ally, Taiwan — one of several Asian countries seeking closer ties with the United States while China’s domestic turmoil grows.
In a recent column in China’s state-sponsored Global Times, editor-in-chief Hu Xijin warned, “As the secessionist forces’ arrogance continues to swell, the historical turning point is getting closer.”
“The only way forward is for the mainland to fully prepare itself for war and to give Taiwan secessionist forces a decisive punishment at any time,” he wrote.
Taiwan’s opposition party has been seeking closer cooperation with the United States. But, Hu wrote: “The more trouble Taiwan creates, the sooner the mainland will decide to teach Taiwan independence forces a hard lesson.”
China has been angered by the ongoing tour of Asia by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is seeking support for U.S. efforts to contain China. Recently, the Taiwanese Kuomintang Party, or KMT, renewed its effort for the government to reestablish diplomatic ties with the U.S.
The Chinese are short on food, and face considerable flooding. If one or another dam overflows, major catastrophe could ensue.
Even without such a huge disaster, China faces a grim future. Chin Jin, one of the leaders of the opposition to the ruling Communist Party reminds his followers of the country’s unpleasant past:
The future of China has three prospects:
Prospect 1: The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will insist on continuing its rule, despite the inevitability of decline.
Prospect 2: The CCP sees increasing difficulties with ruling China due to intra-party tussles, and political purges within the ruling clique, that may force it to accept various internal and external pressures to make structural change. This would also threaten the CCP regime. Chinese leader Xi Jinping however has already explicitly ruled out any meaningful political reform.
Prospect 3: The blundering CCP collapses overnight like the former Soviet Union, and the ethnic minority regions and Taiwan take advantage of the situation to exit Greater China. Former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui’s proposed “Seven-Block Theory” (1999) comes to fruition dividing the country into seven autonomous regions: Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Mongolia, South China, North China, and Northeast China.
I believe this is the most likely.
Chin Jin thinks the past is a reliable guide to the future, and hence that our current and future actions should be based on a correct evaluation of our past. He’s an activist, and he thinks that Chinese history provides a reliable guide to its future. He believes that the current model for China—a huge state held together by a rigid ideology and a tough-minded bureaucracy—can not only last for a long time, but endure throughout a period of severe internal and external challenge.
President Trump does not believe that. He believes that American history shows that Americans are able to change course very quickly, and that the Chinese are locked into failed past models. Is he right?
We don’t know. Yet.


bonginoreport--2020-10-16--Army’s Storied V Corps Back in Action, to Head to Poland for Deployment

A Bradley Fighting Vehicle is set up in front of the V Corps headquarters at Fort Knox , Ky. , Oct. 14 , 2020 .
V Corps officially activated Oct. 16 , but it is still not clear when it will send troops to its forward headquarters in Poznan , Poland .
STUTTGART , Germany — The Army ’ s storied V Corps officially reactivated Friday during a ceremony at Fort Knox , Ky. , and a small portion of the unit is already on the ground in Poland to take up a new mission .
“ We currently have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Poland and will continue to build capacity throughout the year , ” U.S. Army Europe said in a statement .
Full rotations to Poland will begin in the 2022 fiscal year , USAREUR said .
The military announced in February that it was reforming V Corps to bring more command and control support to an expanding Army mission in Europe .
In September , the Army selected Poznan , Poland as the site for a command post .
The U.S. and Poland are still working through red tape before fully launching the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Esper indicated Thursday .
“ We also plan to rotate forward the lead element of the Army ’ s new V Corps into Poland once the appropriate agreements are finalized , ” he said during a speech at the annual meeting of the Association of the U.S. Army in Washington .
The reactivation of V Corps will bring the Army much-needed manpower to manage operational planning and mission command , and oversee various rotational forces maneuvering around in Europe .
Its main headquarters will remain at Fort Knox under the command of Lt. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200 out of the unit ’ s 635 soldiers will be on rotation in Poznan at any given time .
V Corps has a long history in Europe , dating to 1918 when it was activated during World War I .
It activated again for World War II and was a fixture in Germany during the Cold War .
It also supported the Army during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan but was deactivated in 2013 as part of the Army ’ s post-Cold War drawdown in Europe .
Its return represents one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army is organizing itself in Europe .
Earlier this month , it elevated a new consolidated U.S. Army Europe and Africa headquarters into a four-star command , giving the service added clout .
At the same time , however , the Pentagon has announced plans to reduce the number of troops on the Continent in response to a White House directive that called for force levels in Germany to be slashed by 12,000 .
If those cuts go through , the Army would take the brunt of the reduction with the Vilseck , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soldiers slated to return to the U.S. at some point .

STUTTGART, Germany — The Army’s storied V Corps officially reactivated Friday during a ceremony at Fort Knox, Ky., and a small portion of the unit is already on the ground in Poland to take up a new mission.
“We currently have a handful of V Corps troops stationed in Poland and will continue to build capacity throughout the year,” U.S. Army Europe said in a statement.
Full rotations to Poland will begin in the 2022 fiscal year, USAREUR said.
The military announced in February that it was reforming V Corps to bring more command and control support to an expanding Army mission in Europe. In September, the Army selected Poznan, Poland as the site for a command post.
The U.S. and Poland are still working through red tape before fully launching the mission in Poznan, Defense Secretary Mark Esper indicated Thursday. “We also plan to rotate forward the lead element of the Army’s new V Corps into Poland once the appropriate agreements are finalized,” he said during a speech at the annual meeting of the Association of the U.S. Army in Washington.
The reactivation of V Corps will bring the Army much-needed manpower to manage operational planning and mission command, and oversee various rotational forces maneuvering around in Europe. Its main headquarters will remain at Fort Knox under the command of Lt. Gen. John. S. Kolasheski, but 200 out of the unit’s 635 soldiers will be on rotation in Poznan at any given time.
V Corps has a long history in Europe, dating to 1918 when it was activated during World War I. It activated again for World War II and was a fixture in Germany during the Cold War. It also supported the Army during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan but was deactivated in 2013 as part of the Army’s post-Cold War drawdown in Europe.
Its return represents one of several major changes in how the Army is organizing itself in Europe. Earlier this month, it elevated a new consolidated U.S. Army Europe and Africa headquarters into a four-star command, giving the service added clout.
At the same time, however, the Pentagon has announced plans to reduce the number of troops on the Continent in response to a White House directive that called for force levels in Germany to be slashed by 12,000. If those cuts go through, the Army would take the brunt of the reduction with the Vilseck, Germany-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment and its 4,500 soldiers slated to return to the U.S. at some point.
vandiver.john@stripes.com Twitter: @john_vandiver


bonginoreport--2020-10-16--ABC Failed to Disclose Two Biden Townhall Questioners Are Linked to Prominent Democrats

Two of the questioners at the ABC town hall featuring Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Thursday had ties to high-profile Democrats , including one questioner who previously worked as a speechwriter in the Obama administration .
The queries came as President Trump , hundreds of miles away , was engaging in his own parallel town hall being aired on NBC .
The ABC town hall was hosted by George Stephanopoulos , who was a communications director for the Bill Clinton White House and who has been a political journalist since 2002 .
One of the questioners at the ABC-hosted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speechwriter for the Obama White House .
Osburn specifically worked for the Office of Public Affairs at the Commerce Department under the Obama-Biden administration and at the Small Business Administration .
BIDEN MOVES ON COURT PACKING STANCE , WHILE TRUMP SPARS WITH NBC IN DUELING TOWN HALLS Osburn 's profession was listed as `` communications '' on the ABC town hall graphic and his city was listed as Philadelphia , Pennsylvania .
Osburn was quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer earlier this year as `` a former Obama administration speechwriter '' who had created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed at boosting former Democratic presidential primary candidate Pete Buttigieg .
And the LGBTQ Victory Institute listed Osburn as a senior speechwriter for the Small Business Administration in an article praising the Obama-Biden administration for its LGBTQ hiring practices .
`` Amy Coney Barrett 's being pushed through at the last minute , even though millions have already voted .
So what do you think about ideas from people like Pete Buttigieg and others to put in place safeguards that will help ensure more long-term balance and stability ? ''
Osburn asked Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to LGBTQ Americans and others who are very worried right now about erosions of their rights and our democracy as a whole ? ''
Biden , during the exchange that followed that question , was asked point-blank by Stephanopoulos whether voters deserve to know his stance on court-packing , and Biden reversed his previous stance of refusing to say what that position is before Election Day .
He told the moderator that he would take a specific stand on that issue depending on how Republicans handle the ongoing confirmation effort of Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the town hall was Mieke Haeck , who ABC presented as a physical therapist from State College , Pa. 'UNDECIDED VOTERS ' AT NBC 'S BIDEN TOWN HALL WERE FEATURED ON MSNBC AS BIDEN VOTERS Haeck is also the wife of Ezra Nanes , a high-profile Democrat in Pennsylvania who in 2018 ran a campaign challenging Republican state Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman .
Nanes is currently an at-large member of the Centre County Democratic Committee .
Centre County is the county in which State College resides .
`` My youngest daughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacked the rights of transgender people , banning them from military service , weakening nondiscrimination protections and even removing the word 'transgender ' from some government websites , '' Haeck said .
`` How will you as president reverse this dangerous and discriminatory agenda and ensure that the lives and rights of LGBTQ people are protected under U.S .
law ? ''
`` I will flat out just change the law , '' Biden responded .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Democrat-tied questioners at the ABC town hall follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town hall held on NBC , which on Thursday was carrying the forum with Trump .
The Washington Free Beacon reported on Oct. 6 that two attendees who were identified as undecided voters at an NBC town hall with Biden had previously been shown on NBC 's sister network , MSNBC , as Biden supporters .
When reached for comment about the participants with Democratic ties , ABC News directed Fox News to comments made by Stephanopoulos at the beginning of the event .
`` And they 're a group of -- some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some have said they 're voting for President Trump , some are still undecided , and we 're going to try to take questions from as many as we can tonight , '' Stephanopoulos told viewers .
Fox News reached out to the Biden campaign , Osburn and Haeck for comment and did not immediately receive a response .

Two of the questioners at the ABC town hall featuring Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Thursday had ties to high-profile Democrats, including one questioner who previously worked as a speechwriter in the Obama administration.
The queries came as President Trump, hundreds of miles away, was engaging in his own parallel town hall being aired on NBC. The ABC town hall was hosted by George Stephanopoulos, who was a communications director for the Bill Clinton White House and who has been a political journalist since 2002.
One of the questioners at the ABC-hosted event was Nathan Osburn, a former speechwriter for the Obama White House. Osburn specifically worked for the Office of Public Affairs at the Commerce Department under the Obama-Biden administration and at the Small Business Administration.
BIDEN MOVES ON COURT PACKING STANCE, WHILE TRUMP SPARS WITH NBC IN DUELING TOWN HALLS
Osburn's profession was listed as "communications" on the ABC town hall graphic and his city was listed as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Osburn was quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer earlier this year as "a former Obama administration speechwriter" who had created a "Philly for Pete group" aimed at boosting former Democratic presidential primary candidate Pete Buttigieg. And the LGBTQ Victory Institute listed Osburn as a senior speechwriter for the Small Business Administration in an article praising the Obama-Biden administration for its LGBTQ hiring practices.
"Amy Coney Barrett's being pushed through at the last minute, even though millions have already voted. So what do you think about ideas from people like Pete Buttigieg and others to put in place safeguards that will help ensure more long-term balance and stability?" Osburn asked Biden. "And what do you say to LGBTQ Americans and others who are very worried right now about erosions of their rights and our democracy as a whole?"
Biden, during the exchange that followed that question, was asked point-blank by Stephanopoulos whether voters deserve to know his stance on court-packing, and Biden reversed his previous stance of refusing to say what that position is before Election Day. He told the moderator that he would take a specific stand on that issue depending on how Republicans handle the ongoing confirmation effort of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
Another questioner at the town hall was Mieke Haeck, who ABC presented as a physical therapist from State College, Pa.
'UNDECIDED VOTERS' AT NBC'S BIDEN TOWN HALL WERE FEATURED ON MSNBC AS BIDEN VOTERS
Haeck is also the wife of Ezra Nanes, a high-profile Democrat in Pennsylvania who in 2018 ran a campaign challenging Republican state Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman. Nanes is currently an at-large member of the Centre County Democratic Committee. Centre County is the county in which State College resides.
"My youngest daughter is transgender. The Trump administration has attacked the rights of transgender people, banning them from military service, weakening nondiscrimination protections and even removing the word 'transgender' from some government websites," Haeck said. "How will you as president reverse this dangerous and discriminatory agenda and ensure that the lives and rights of LGBTQ people are protected under U.S. law?"
"I will flat out just change the law," Biden responded.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Democrat-tied questioners at the ABC town hall follow controversy earlier this month surrounding a Biden town hall held on NBC, which on Thursday was carrying the forum with Trump.
The Washington Free Beacon reported on Oct. 6 that two attendees who were identified as undecided voters at an NBC town hall with Biden had previously been shown on NBC's sister network, MSNBC, as Biden supporters.
When reached for comment about the participants with Democratic ties, ABC News directed Fox News to comments made by Stephanopoulos at the beginning of the event.
"And they're a group of -- some are voting for [Biden], some have said they're voting for President Trump, some are still undecided, and we're going to try to take questions from as many as we can tonight," Stephanopoulos told viewers.
ABC News declined additional comment.
Fox News reached out to the Biden campaign, Osburn and Haeck for comment and did not immediately receive a response.
Fox News' Joseph Wulfsohn contributed to this report.


bonginoreport--2020-10-16--High-Profile Mail-In Voting Errors Keep Piling Up

While political pundits with no experience of the logistics behind mail-in voting claim there are no issues with mass mail-in ballots , fact-based reports on the matter are beginning to differ .
As I warned earlier this year , most Western nations that use mail-in voting no longer try to get this done en masse .
In the words of Dr. Stuart Wilks-Heeg of the University of Liverpool : “ Greater use of postal voting has made UK elections far more vulnerable to fraud and resulted in several instances of large-scale fraud.
” Now the United States faces the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its new article : [ Mail-in voting ] has featured high-profile errors — 100,000 faulty mail ballots sent out in New York , 50,000 in Columbus , Ohio , and a vendor supplying that state and Pennsylvania blaming delays on sending ballots on overwhelming demand .
The list actually is far more reaching than this .
And when you consider that national elections are sometimes decided on a small number of votes in a small number of counties across the country : the propensity for fraud becomes increasingly concerning .
Election judge Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experienced election judges in the world – recently wrote in an article : “ The election will turn on ‘ swing states ’ which will often come down to votes in smaller voting districts .
Remember , the disputed votes in a small number of districts in Florida amounted to no more than a few hundred but they gave victory to George Bush .
Well-targeted local fraud could sway this election.
” “ All systems of postal voting on demand ( rather than for reasons such as absence from the country ) are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be tightened and safeguards introduced .
And though they can make fraud more difficult , they can never fully eliminate postal vote manipulation.
” And when you consider the other part of the Associated Press article – that “ analysis of the early vote shows 8 % of early voters had never cast a ballot before , and 13.8 % had voted in half or fewer of previous elections for which they were eligible ” – the chances of the Democrats cheating their way to “ victory ” certainly can not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are trying to get dead people to vote .
You don ’ t need to be a genius to figure out what ’ s happening here .

While political pundits with no experience of the logistics behind mail-in voting claim there are no issues with mass mail-in ballots, fact-based reports on the matter are beginning to differ.
As I warned earlier this year, most Western nations that use mail-in voting no longer try to get this done en masse. In the words of Dr. Stuart Wilks-Heeg of the University of Liverpool: “Greater use of postal voting has made UK elections far more vulnerable to fraud and resulted in several instances of large-scale fraud.”
Now the United States faces the same, with the Associated Press admitting in its new article:
[Mail-in voting] has featured high-profile errors — 100,000 faulty mail ballots sent out in New York, 50,000 in Columbus, Ohio, and a vendor supplying that state and Pennsylvania blaming delays on sending ballots on overwhelming demand.
The list actually is far more reaching than this. And when you consider that national elections are sometimes decided on a small number of votes in a small number of counties across the country: the propensity for fraud becomes increasingly concerning.
Election judge Richard Mawrey QC – one of the most experienced election judges in the world – recently wrote in an article:
“The election will turn on ‘swing states’ which will often come down to votes in smaller voting districts. Remember, the disputed votes in a small number of districts in Florida amounted to no more than a few hundred but they gave victory to George Bush. Well-targeted local fraud could sway this election.”
He was unequivocal:
“All systems of postal voting on demand (rather than for reasons such as absence from the country) are wide open to potential fraud. Procedures can be tightened and safeguards introduced. And though they can make fraud more difficult, they can never fully eliminate postal vote manipulation.”
And when you consider the other part of the Associated Press article – that “analysis of the early vote shows 8% of early voters had never cast a ballot before, and 13.8% had voted in half or fewer of previous elections for which they were eligible” – the chances of the Democrats cheating their way to “victory” certainly cannot be discounted.
After all, Biden-donor groups are trying to get dead people to vote. You don’t need to be a genius to figure out what’s happening here.


bonginoreport--2020-10-16--73% of Biden’s Townhall Questions Were From Democrats – 20% of Trump’s Were From Republicans

According to media watchdog Newsbusters , while President Trump was on stage for an hour and Biden was on stage for an additional 30 minutes , President Trump was asked considerably more left-wing questions , and dealt with more questions per minutes on stage .
President Trump received nine audience questions over one hour , three of which came from the left , five were identified as neutral , and two were from the right .
In contrast , of Joe Biden ’ s 11 questions over 90 minutes , eight were from the left , one was neutral , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In other words , 33 percent of President Trump ’ s questions were hostile – nearly twice the amount of tough questions that Biden received .
Nearly a quarter of Biden ’ s questioning came from avowed Democrats .
And while President Trump spoke less than Biden , he was interrupted nearly twice as many times as the former veep .
Savannah Guthrie , the moderator for President Trump ’ s town hall , had 34 comments , exchanges , or follow-ups throughout the night .
Her interjections were nearly 75 percent left-leaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was considerably more pro-Biden : five of his remarks were identified as left-wing , ten were neutral , and four were right-leaning .

73% of Biden’s ‘Townhall’ Questions Were From Democrats… Only 20% of Trump’s Were From Republicans
Analysis from last night’s town halls featuring presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden shows a stark disparity between the frequency of moderators interrupting the participants along with the number of confrontational questions asked by voters.
According to media watchdog Newsbusters, while President Trump was on stage for an hour and Biden was on stage for an additional 30 minutes, President Trump was asked considerably more left-wing questions, and dealt with more questions per minutes on stage.
President Trump received nine audience questions over one hour, three of which came from the left, five were identified as neutral, and two were from the right. In contrast, of Joe Biden’s 11 questions over 90 minutes, eight were from the left, one was neutral, and two were from the right.
In other words, 33 percent of President Trump’s questions were hostile – nearly twice the amount of tough questions that Biden received.
Nearly a quarter of Biden’s questioning came from avowed Democrats.
And while President Trump spoke less than Biden, he was interrupted nearly twice as many times as the former veep.
Savannah Guthrie, the moderator for President Trump’s town hall, had 34 comments, exchanges, or follow-ups throughout the night. Her interjections were nearly 75 percent left-leaning and excluded right-wing comments entirely.
Stephanopoulos was considerably more pro-Biden: five of his remarks were identified as left-wing, ten were neutral, and four were right-leaning.