bonginoreport--2020-07-20--President Trump Sits Down With Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday”

The following is a transcript of President Trump ’ s July 19 , 2020 interview with `` Fox News Sunday . ''
CHRIS WALLACE , FOX ANCHOR : And hello again from Fox News in Washington .
Today from the White House , we 're on the president 's patio just outside the Oval Office .
President Trump , you 've agreed to answer all manner of questions , no subject off-limits .
Thank you and welcome back to `` FOX NEWS SUNDAY . ''
DONALD TRUMP , PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES : Thank you very much .
WALLACE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus across the country in recent months .
You still talk about it as , quote , `` burning embers . ''
But I want to put up a chart that shows where we are with the illness over the last four months .
As you can see , we hit a peak here in April , 36,000 cases ... WALLACE : Then -- then it went down and now since June , it has gone up more than double .
One day this week 75,000 new cases .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's because we have great testing , because we have the best testing in the world .
If we did n't test , you would n't be able to show that chart .
If we tested half as much , those numbers would be down .
WALLACE : But -- but this is n't burning embers , sir ?
This is a forest fire .
TRUMP : No , no .
But I do n't say -- I say flames , we 'll put out the flames .
And we 'll put out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We also have burning embers .
We have embers and we do have flames .
Florida became more flame like , but it 's -- it 's going to be under control .
And , you know , it 's not just this country , it ’ s many countries .
We do n't talk about it in the news .
They do n't talk about Mexico and Brazil and still parts of Europe , which actually got hit sooner than us , so it 's a little ahead of us in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , why do n't they talk about Mexico ?
Which is not helping us .
And all I can say is thank God I built most of the wall , because if I did n't have the wall up we would have a much bigger problem with Mexico .
WALLACE : But , sir , we have the seventh highest mortality rate in the world .
Our mortality rate is higher than Brazil , it 's higher than Russia and the European Union has us on a travel ban .
TRUMP : Yeah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- well , we have them under travel ban too , Chris .
I closed them off .
If you remember , I was the one that did the European Union very early .
But when you talk about mortality rates , I think it 's the opposite .
I think we have one of the lowest mortality rates in the world .
WALLACE : That ’ s not true , sir .
We , we , we have a -- we had 900 deaths on a single day ... TRUMP : We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You , you can check it out .
TRUMP : Can you please get me the mortality rate ?
TRUMP : Kayleigh 's right here .
I heard we have one of the lowest , maybe the lowest mortality rate anywhere in the world .
TRUMP : Do you have the numbers , please ?
Because I heard we had the best mortality rate .
TRUMP : I hope you show the scenario because it shows what fake news is all about .
Ok , go ahead .
WALLACE : OK , OK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m fake news but I will -- we ’ ll put -- TRUMP : You said we had the worst mortality rate in the world -- WALLACE : I said you had -- TRUMP : -- and we have the best .
WALLACE VOICE OVER : All right .
It ’ s a little complicated .
But bear with us .
We went with numbers from Johns Hopkins University which charted the mortality rate for 20 countries hit by the virus .
The US ranked 7th better than the United Kingdom but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VOICE OVER : The White House went with this chart from the European CDC which shows Italy and Spain doing worse .
But countries like Brazil and South Korea doing better .
Other countries doing better like Russia aren ’ t included in the White House chart .
WALLACE : California locking down again .
Florida , deadliest day of the entire pandemic .
Hospitals at capacity at a number of places around the country .
Shortages of testing , shortages of personal protective equipment for nurses and doctors .
A lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't have a national plan .
You talk about states .
We do n't have a national plan .
Do you take responsibility for that ?
TRUMP : Look , I take responsibility always for everything because it 's ultimately my job , too .
I have to get everybody in line .
Some governors have done well , some governors have done poorly .
They 're supposed to have supplies they did n't have .
I supplied everybody .
Now we have somewhat of a surge in certain areas .
And other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have a surge in certain areas .
But you do n't hear people complaining about ventilators .
We 've got all the ventilators we can use .
We 're supplying them to other countries .
We go out into parking lots and everything , everybody gets a test .
We find -- if we did half the testing -- with all of that being said , I 'm glad we did it .
This is the right way to do it .
I 'm glad we did what we 're doing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ than any country in the world .
WALLACE : But , sir , testing is up 37 percent .
WALLACE : I understand .
Cases are up 194 percent .
It is n't just that testing has gone up , it 's that the virus has spread .
The positivity rate has increased .
There – the virus is… TRUMP : Many of those cases ... WALLACE : ... worse than it was .
TRUMP : Many of those cases are young people that would heal in a day .
They have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a test .
Many of them -- do n't forget , I guess it 's like 99.7 percent , people are going to get better and in many cases they 're going to get better very quickly .
We go out and we look and then on the news -- look if you go back to the news , all of your -- even your wonderful competitors , you 'll see cases are up .
Cases are up -- many of those cases should n't even be cases .
Cases are up because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world and we have the most testing .
No country has ever done what we 've done in terms of testing .
We are the envy of the world .
They call and they say the most incredible job anybody 's done is our job on testing , because we 're going to very shortly be up to 50 million tests .
You look at other countries ; they do n't even do tests .
They do tests if somebody walks into the hospital , they 're sick , they 're really sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they 'll test them in a doctor 's office .
But they do n't go around have massive areas of testing and we do .
And I 'm glad we do , but it really skews the numbers .
WALLACE : I ’ m , I 'm going to do you a favor , because I 'm sure a lot of people listening right now are going to say , `` Trump , he tries to play it down , he tries to make it not being as serious as it is .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it -- I 'm not playing -- no , this is very serious .
WALLACE : Well , I do n't have the death chart .
TRUMP : Well , the death chart is much more important .
WALLACE : But I can tell you , the death chart is a thousand cases a day .
TRUMP : Excuse me , it 's all too much , it should n't be one case .
It came from China .
They should 've never let it escape .
They should 've never let it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is .
Take a look at Europe , take a look at the numbers in Europe .
And by the way , they 're having cases .
WALLACE : I can tell you cases are 6,000 in the whole European Union .
WALLACE : Is it possible that they do n't have the virus as badly as we do ?
TRUMP : It 's possible that they do n't test , that 's what 's possible .
We find cases and many of those cases heal automatically .
We 're finding -- in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Certainly , we are creating trouble for the fake news to come along and say , `` Oh , we have more cases . ''
Look , we do something that nobody 's ever done .
Not only the ventilators , where we 're supplying them all over the world .
We did a testing program the likes of which nobody 's ever done before .
WALLACE : The head of the CDC , Dr. Redfield , said this on Tuesday .
DR. ROBERT REDFIELD , CDC DIRECTOR : `` I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2021 , are probably going to be one of the most difficult times that we ’ ve experienced in American public health . ''
WALLACE : Do you agree with Dr. Redfield ?
TRUMP : I do n't know and I do n't think he knows .
I do n't think anybody knows with this .
This is a very tricky deal .
Everybody thought this summer it would go away and it would come back in the fall .
Well , when the summer came , they used to say the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it and it really knocks it out , remember ?
And then it might come back in the fall .
So they got that one wrong .
They -- they got a lot wrong .
They got a lot wrong .
The World Health got a tremendous amount wrong .
They basically did whatever China wanted them to .
And we 'll save now almost $ 500 million a year , which is nice .
But the World Health got a lot wrong .
WALLACE : But , this is one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People say that you talk about the world as you ’ d like to see it rather than follow the science .
WALLACE : Well – let me just , let me just ask the question , sir .
Why on earth would your administration be involved in a campaign at this point to discredit Dr. Fauci , who is the nation 's top infectious disease expert .
TRUMP : Because we 're not .
If one man from my administration does n't like him because he made a few mistakes -- look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't wear a mask . ''
Dr. Fauci told me not to ban China , it would be a big mistake .
I did it over and above his recommendation .
Dr. Fauci then said , `` You saved tens of thousands of lives '' -- more than that .
He said , `` You saved tens of thousands of lives . ''
Dr. Fauci 's made some mistakes .
But I have a very good -- I spoke to him yesterday at length .
I have a very good relationship with Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sir , this week -- this weekend , your White House put out a series of statements , so-called mistakes that Dr. Fauci had made .
One of your closest aids -- one of your right-hand men , Daniel Scavino , put out this -- you 've seen this ?
WALLACE : Dr. – Dr. – ‘ Dr .
Faucet , ’ which shows him as a leaker and an alarmist .
TRUMP : Well , I do n't know that he ’ s a leaker … .
WALLACE : Why , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : He 's a little bit of an alarmist .
That 's OK. A little bit of an alarmist .
TRUMP : A little bit of an alarmist .
Let ’ s – let me just say .
Dr. Fauci at the beginning – and again , I have a great relationship with him .
I spoke with him at length yesterday .
Dr. Fauci at the beginning said , “ This will pass .
Don ’ t worry about it .
This will pass.
” He was wrong .
Dr. Fauci said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Don ’ t ban China.
” I did .
He then admitted that I was right .
WALLACE : But you made mistakes , too .
WALLACE : I was going to say , you said at one point… TRUMP : It ’ s one person coming in from China , and we have it under control .
It ’ s going to be just fine .
TRUMP : When you have 15 people .
And the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 've done .
TRUMP : I think we 're gon na be very good with the coronavirus .
I think that at some point that 's going to sort of just disappear .
I hope .
TRUMP : I 'll be right eventually .
I will be right eventually .
You know I said , `` It 's going to disappear . ''
I 'll say it again .
WALLACE : But does that – does that discredit you ?
TRUMP : It 's going to disappear and I 'll be right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
TRUMP : I do n't think so .
I do n't think so .
You know why ?
Because I 've been right probably more than anybody else .
WALLACE : Then there are masks .
From the first day that the CDC said that people should wear masks on April 3rd , you said you weren ’ t going to .
You wore a mask for the first time in public… WALLACE : …at Walter Reed this weekend .
Question , the CDC says if everybody wore a mask for 4-6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control .
Do you regret not wearing a mask in public from the start , and would you consider – will you consider a national mandate that people need to wear masks ?
TRUMP : No I want people to have a certain freedom , and I don ’ t believe in that .
No , and I don ’ t agree with the statement that if everybody wear a mask everything disappears .
Hey , Dr. Fauci said don ’ t wear a mask .
Our Surgeon General – terrific guy – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Everybody who is saying don ’ t wear a mask – all of sudden everybody ’ s got to wear a mask , and as you know masks cause problems , too .
With that being said , I ’ m a believer in masks .
I think masks are good .
But I leave it up to the governors .
Many of the governors are changing .
They ’ re more mask into – they like the concept of masks , but some of them don ’ t agree .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open .
Young people have to go to school , and there ’ s problems when you don ’ t go to school , too .
And there ’ s going to be a funding problem because we ’ re not going to fund – when they don ’ t open their schools .
We ’ re not going to fund them .
We ’ re not going to give them money if they ’ re not going to school .
If they don ’ t open .
WALLACE : Two points on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Federal government gives is only – is 8 percent .
TRUMP : Ten percent and you know what – that ’ s a lot of money .
WALLACE : And you ’ re going to take – do you know where the money goes ?
It goes overwhelmingly to disadvantaged kids and children with disabilities .
WALLACE : Why wouldn ’ t you put -- send more money so the schools would be safer ?
TRUMP : Chris , let the schools open .
Do you ever see the statistics on young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The state of New Jersey had thousands of deaths .
Of all of these thousands , one person below the age of 18 – in the entire state – one person and that was a person that had , I believe he said diabetes .
One person below the age of 18 died in the state of New Jersey during all of this – you know , they had a hard time .
And they ’ re doing very well now , so that ’ s it .
WALLACE : The stimulus bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this month .
WALLACE : The Republicans say they want liability limits , which the Democrats don ’ t like .
You say that you want a payroll tax cut , which even some Republicans are cool to .
TRUMP : But a lot of Republicans like it , though .
WALLACE : Will you only sign a bill that has those two provisions ?
TRUMP : Well , we ’ re going to see .
But we do need protections because businesses are going to get sued just because somebody walked in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this virus comes from .
They ’ ll sit down at a restaurant .
They ’ ll sue the restaurant , the guy ’ s out of business .
TRUMP : So we do need some kind of immunity .
You do need it just like you need immunity for the police , OK , whether they like it or not .
You need immunity for the police .
But they do need a form of immunity .
You don ’ t know if they caught it .
And nobody ’ s ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one way or the other .
You can ’ t put these – you know , the people that – look , the Democrats don ’ t want to do that because they ’ re total – they ’ re totally captured by the lobby of lawyers .
The lawyers ’ lobby is probably the most powerful in the country .
WALLACE : What about the payroll tax cut ?
TRUMP : I want to see it .
I want to see it .
WALLACE : And if it isn ’ t in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll have to see but , yeah , I would consider not signing it if we don ’ t have a payroll tax cut , yes .
WALLACE : Hot enough for you here , Mr. President ?
TRUMP : It ’ s hot .
It ’ s about , well , sort of almost record breaking stuff .
WALLACE : You know , we wanted to do it inside .
This is your choice .
TRUMP : But I wanted you to sweat a little bit .
WALLACE : Well , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spike in violent crime in America in recent weeks .
We ’ ve seen deaths up in New York , deaths up in Chicago , shootings .
How do you explain it and what are you going to do about it ?
TRUMP : I explain it very simply by saying that they ’ re Democrat-run cities , they are liberally run .
They are stupidly run .
We have forced them in Seattle to end the CHOP because , you know , we were going in that following day .
You probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready to go in .
We were all set , and when they heard that we were going they set their police force .
WALLACE : Liberal Democrats have been running cities in this country for decades .
WALLACE : Why is it so bad right now ?
TRUMP : They run them poorly , it was always bad but now it ’ s gotten totally out of control and it ’ s really because they want to defund the police .
And Biden wants to defund the police .
WALLACE : No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
TRUMP : Look .
He signed a charter with Bernie Sanders ; I will get that one just like I was right on the mortality rate .
Did you read the charter that he agreed to with… WALLACE : It says nothing about defunding the police .
TRUMP : Oh really ?
It says abolish , it says -- let ’ s go .
Get me the charter , please .
TRUMP : Chris , you ’ ve got to start studying for these .
WALLACE : He says defund the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police .
They talk about abolishing the police .
They talk about illegal aliens pouring … WALLACE : I look , I look forward – I look forward to seeing that .
WALLACE : Meanwhile , the George Floyd murder has reignited the issue of racism in policing in this country .
I want to give you a couple of statistics .
Nationwide blacks are twice as likely , fewer in absolute numbers , but in terms of per capita , blacks are twice as likely to be shot and killed by police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the last five years , police used force against blacks at a rate seven times that against whites .
Can you understand why blacks would be angry at that ?
TRUMP : Of course I do .
Of course I do .
Many whites are killed also .
You have to say that .
TRUMP : I mean , many , many whites are killed .
I hate the sad – but this is going on for decades .
This is going on for a long time , long before I got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at what ’ s gone on in Portland , those are anarchists and we ’ ve taken a very tough stand .
If we didn ’ t take a stand in Portland , you know we ’ ve arrested many of these leaders .
If we didn ’ t take that stand , right now you would have a problem like you , you – they were going to lose Portland .
So let ’ s see… TRUMP : …what this says here : Prosecutions , sanctuary cities , incentivize illegal aliens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – TRUMP : This thing is many pages long .
TRUMP : End prosecution of illegal border crossers .
Support deathly -- and these are the worse things , sanctuary cities – WALLACE : Sir , I ’ m not , I ’ m not , I ’ m not disagreeing with you on any of those .
I ’ m disagreeing about defund police – WALLACE : This week you said that Black Lives Matter and the Confederate flag are both matters , issues of freedom of speech .
WALLACE : But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are a lot of people who say these were traitors who split from this country , fought this country in large part to preserve slavery .
Is the Confederate flag offensive TRUMP : It depends on who you ’ re talking about , when you ’ re talking about .
TRUMP : When people – when people proudly have their Confederate flags , they ’ re not talking about racism .
They love their flag , it represents the south , they like the south .
People right now like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s freedom of , of , of many things , but it ’ s freedom of speech .
WALLACE : So you ’ re not offended by it ?
TRUMP : Well , I ’ m not offended either by Black Lives Matter .
That ’ s freedom of speech .
And you know , the whole thing with cancel culture , we can ’ t cancel our whole history .
We can ’ t forget that the north and the south fought .
We have to remember that , otherwise we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can ’ t just cancel all ... WALLACE : But let me ask you this when it gets to be more than just cancel – well , maybe this is cancel culture .
The National Defense Authorization Act , the NDAA , you have threatened to veto it because in the bill , and this was supported by Republicans as well as Democrats , it would rename army bases named for Confederate generals .
Now this is a bill that funds military operations , it gives soldiers a pay raise .
WALLACE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ?
TRUMP : No , because they ’ ll get their pay raise .
Hey , look , don ’ t tell me this .
I got soldiers the biggest pay raises in the history of our military .
TRUMP : I got soldiers brand new equipment , brand new jets , brand new rockets , brand new – $ 2.5 trillion .
I did more for the military than any president that ’ s ever had this office .
WALLACE : But you ’ re going to veto this bill ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bragg , Fort Robert E. Lee , all of these forts that have been named that way for a long time , decades and decades… WALLACE : But the military says they ’ re for this .
TRUMP : …excuse me , excuse me .
I don ’ t care what the military says .
I do – I ’ m supposed to make the decision .
Fort Bragg is a big deal .
We won two World Wars , nobody even knows General Bragg .
We won two World Wars .
Go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in a great state , I love that state , go to the community , say how do you like the idea of renaming Fort Bragg , and then what are we going to name it We ’ re going to name it after the Reverend Al Sharpton ?
What are you going to name it , Chris , tell me what you ’ re going to name it ?
So there ’ s a whole thing here .
We won two World Wars , two World Wars , beautiful World Wars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we won them out of Fort Bragg , we won out of all of these forts that now they want to throw those names away .
And , no , I ’ m against that , and you know what , most other people are .
And I even – I don ’ t believe in polls because I see the fakest polls I ’ ve ever seen , but that poll is a 64 percent thing , which actually surprised me .
We won World Wars out of these military bases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go changing them , I ’ m not going to go changing them .
WALLACE : At Mt .
Rushmore on July 3rd , you said that we face a far-left fascism in this country and then you said this .
TRUMP : Our children are taught in school to hate their own country and to believe that the men and women who built it we ’ re not heroes , but that were villains .
WALLACE : You said our children are taught in school to hate our country .
Where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I just look at – I look at school .
I watch , I read , look at the stuff .
Now they want to change -- 1492 , Columbus discovered America .
You know , we grew up , you grew up , we all did , that ’ s what we learned .
Now they want to make it the 1619 project .
Where did that come from ?
What does it represent ?
I don ’ t even know , so .
TRUMP : That ’ s what they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t even know .
They just want to make a change .
Cancel culture – I hate the term , actually , but I use it WALLACE : But are they teaching people to hate America ?
TRUMP : Oh , I think so yeah , I think so .
Look at the professors .
Look at what ’ s going on in the colleges .
If a conservative goes on a college – and look , we have as many as them .
Excuse me , I think to the best of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the White House and the Oval Office is right behind me .
We have as many as them .
TRUMP : The liberal radical left , and I ’ m not talking all – I think liberal , I could tell you I like a lot of liberal people .
I like a lot of liberal governors and senators , but , but Chris , we have a radical left destructive ideology and it ’ s being taught in our schools .
And don ’ t act like you ’ re surprised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written about it , and we can ’ t let that go on .
We can ’ t let them change the true meaning of what we ’ re all about and that ’ s what they ’ re trying to do and I don ’ t want it to happen .
Not on my watch .
It ’ s not going to happen on my watch .
WALLACE : Mr. President , you 'll be happy to know that Fox News has a new poll out today and you 're going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it .
In the national horse race , Joe Biden leads you by 8 points , 49 percent to 41 .
That 's 3 , 4 points slimmer than it was a month ago .
And on the issues , people trust Biden more to handle the coronavirus by 17 points , on race relations by 21 points , and even on the economy they trust Biden more by 1 point .
I understand you still have more than a hundred days to this election , but at this point you 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I 'm not losing , because those are fake polls .
They were fake in 2016 and now they 're even more fake .
The polls were much worse in 2016 .
They interviewed 22 percent Republicans .
Well , how do you do 22 percent Republican ?
You see what 's going on .
I have other polls that put me leading , and we have polls where I 'm leading .
I have a poll where we 're leading in every swing state .
And I do n't believe that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox polls , whoever does your Fox polls , they 're among the worst .
They got it all wrong in 2016 .
They 've been wrong on every poll I 've ever seen .
WALLACE : I -- I must tell you ... TRUMP : No , I 'm just telling you .
And let me ask you this , so on the economy -- so I 've always led on the economy by a lot .
WALLACE : I know , which is why I was surprised by this number .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentences together .
They wheel him out .
He goes up -- he repeats -- they ask him questions .
He reads a teleprompter and then he goes back into his basement .
You tell me the American people want to have that in an age where we 're in trouble with other nations that are looking to do numbers on us .
WALLACE : So let me ask you a direct question .
WALLACE : No , I 'm going to ask you a direct question about Joe Biden .
Is Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't want to say that .
I 'd say he 's not competent to be president .
To be president , you have to be sharp and tough and so many other things .
He does n't even come out of his basement .
They think , `` Oh this is a great campaign . ''
So he goes in , I 'll then make a speech , it 'll be a great speech , and some young guy , starts writing , `` Vice President Biden said this , this , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say it .
Joe does n't know he 's alive , OK ?
He does n't know he 's alive .
Do the American people want that , number one .
Number two , I built the greatest economy ever built anywhere in the world ; not only of this country , anywhere in the world .
Until we got hit with the China virus .
We got hit with the virus , should n't have happened , and we had to close up , we saved millions of lives .
Now we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go back to school .
We 're open .
We 've got to do things .
We had the best job numbers we 've ever had last month .
We should have good ones coming up in two weeks .
Look , I built the greatest economy in history , I 'm now doing it again .
You see the numbers ; the numbers are through the roof .
The Democrats are purposely keeping their schools closed , keeping their states closed .
I called Michigan , I want to have a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're not allowed to have a rally in Michigan ?
Do you know we 're not allowed to have a rally in Minnesota ?
Do you know we 're not allowed to have a rally in Nevada ?
We 're not allowed to have rallies .
WALLACE : Well , some people would say it ’ s a health ... WALLACE : But , wait a minute , some people would that it 's a health risk , sir .
TRUMP : Some people would say fine WALLACE : I mean we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : But I would guarantee if everything was gone 100 percent , they still would n't allow it .
They 're not allowing me to do it .
So they 're not -- they 're not allowing me to have rallies .
WALLACE : But I 've got to tell you , if I may , sir , respectfully , in the Fox poll , they asked people , who is more competent ?
Who 's got -- whose mind is sounder ?
Biden beats you in that .
TRUMP : Well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's take a test .
Let 's take a test right now .
Let 's go down , Joe and I will take a test .
Let him take the same test that I took .
WALLACE : Incidentally , I took the test too when I heard that you passed it .
TRUMP : Yeah , how did you do ?
WALLACE : It 's not – well it 's not that hardest test .
They have a picture and it says “ what ’ s that ” and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no ... TRUMP : You see , that 's all misrepresentation .
WALLACE : Well , that 's what it was on the web .
TRUMP : It 's all misrepresentation .
Because , yes , the first few questions are easy , but I 'll bet you could n't even answer the last five questions .
I 'll bet you could n't , they get very hard , the last five questions .
WALLACE : Well , one of them was count back from 100 by seven .
TRUMP : Let me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could n't answer -- you could n't answer many of the questions .
TRUMP : I 'll get you the test , I 'd like to give it .
I 'll guarantee you that Joe Biden could not answer those questions .
TRUMP : OK. And I answered all 35 questions correctly .
WALLACE : You -- you talk about how you 're winning , campaigns going well .
Why did you replace Brad Parscale ?
TRUMP : Because he 's a great digital guy , we all like him a lot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – you know they were all on the 2016 campaign .
We have Corey and we have all the people .
And actually , Steve Bannon 's been much better not being involved .
He says the greatest president ever .
I mean , he 's saying things that I said , `` Let 's keep Steve out there , he 's doing a good job . ''
But they 're all being -- they 're all involved .
If Joe Biden got in , first of all , he wo n't call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radical left people that 's around him will call .
Religion will be gone , OK ?
Life , you could forget about that , the whole question of life .
Supreme Court ... WALLACE : When you say life , you mean abortion ?
TRUMP : Absolutely .
100 percent .
That whole question , which is a very -- you know , it 's always been a 50-50 thing .
TRUMP : It 's actually trending a little bit more towards one side now .
WALLACE : When you say religion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does that mean ?
TRUMP : Well , look at what they 're doing to the churches .
They wo n't let the churches even open if they want to stand in a field six feet apart .
We 've had churches that wanted to stand in fields six feet apart .
There has never been an administration that 's done so much as I have , from tax cuts to regulation cuts to rebuilding the military to getting choice for the vets .
Nobody 's done the things I 've done .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ years no other president 's been able to do what I 've done .
WALLACE : You 're running in large part on the economy .
You 've built it once .
Now we had the coronavirus .
You 're going to build it again .
And in fact you had great jobs numbers in May , you had solid jobs numbers in June .
But I want you to look at some projections .
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says the unemployment rate at the end of the year will be 10.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter GDP will contract by 6.2 percent .
With states now rolling back some of the reopening and ... WALLACE : Well , there are a lot of Republican ... WALLACE : Well , there are a lot of Republican states , like Texas ... TRUMP : There is no reason ... TRUMP : They 'll be open very soon .
WALLACE : Let me just ask my question .
TRUMP : There 's no reason for California to be doing what they 're doing .
WALLACE : With the states shutting back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases new lockdowns , wo n't the economy still be a problem for you on Election Day ?
TRUMP : I do n't think so .
I think the economy is expanding and growing beautifully .
Now , the Democrats want to keep it closed as long as possible because they think that 's good for elections .
But I think the economy is doing very well .
Now we 're coming back and we 're coming back at a level that nobody would have thought possible .
And we are -- and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at another , I mean , a gauge , whether you like it or not , the stock market .
The stock market , NASDAQ hit its all-time high two weeks ago and has beaten it 14 different times , ok ?
The stock market , Dow , et cetera , is a thousand points away from its all-time high , meaning very close .
We 're gon na have a stock market perhaps on November 3rd that ’ s the highest in history .
WALLACE : I want to talk to you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , millions of people have lost their jobs and thereby lost their health insurance , and almost a half a million have signed up for Obamacare .
Your administration just announced that you 're signing onto a lawsuit to overturn Obamacare .
WALLACE : Why does it make sense to overturn Obamacare which people now are relying on ?
Democrats are going to say , `` The man who wanted to kill Obamacare is going to take away your -- the protection for pre-existing conditions . ''
TRUMP : First of all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
TRUMP : Pre-existing conditions will always be taken care of by me and Republicans , 100 percent .
WALLACE : But you 've been in office three and a half years , you do n't have a plan .
TRUMP : Well , we have n't had .
Excuse me .
You heard me yesterday .
We 're signing a health care plan within two weeks , a full and complete health care plan that the Supreme Court decision on DACA gave me the right to do .
So we 're going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign an immigration plan , a health care plan , and various other plans .
And nobody will have done what I 'm doing in the next four weeks .
The Supreme Court gave the president of the United States powers that nobody thought the president had , by approving , by doing what they did -- their decision on DACA .
And DACA 's going to be taken care of also .
But we 're getting rid of it because we 're going to replace it with something much better .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was most of Obamacare , the individual mandate .
And that I 've already won on .
And we won also on the Supreme Court .
But the decision by the Supreme Court on DACA allows me to do things on immigration , on health care , on other things that we 've never done before .
And you 're going to find it to be a very exciting two weeks .
WALLACE : Your niece , Mary Trump , has written a book about you and your family .
And one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your dad , Fred Trump , Sr. , damaged the whole family and here ’ s what she says about what you learned from your father -- MARY TRUMP : He learned to become the killer you mentioned .
Um the man who needs to succeed at all costs , who will do anything um to get attention , financial rewards , and to win .
WALLACE : Do you see any truth in that ?
TRUMP : My father liked to win .
My father was a very good man .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s disgraceful that she said that .
She was not exactly a family favorite .
We didn ’ t have a lot of respect or like for her .
I would ’ ve never said that except she writes a book that ’ s so stupid and so vicious and it ’ s a lie .
My father was a great , wonderful man .
WALLACE : Let me just ask you this question— TRUMP : This is not a person that I spent very much time with , very little time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WALLACE : You ’ ve developed a pretty thick skin over the years from decades of attacks in New York tabloids , now from the press here – WALLACE : – and your political opponents here in Washington .
But even for Donald Trump , does it hurt you at all to be attacked in such personal terms ?
WALLACE : By a member of your own family ?
TRUMP : It hurts me more about attacking my father , not being kind to my mother .
I have a mother who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She was an incredible woman .
And she was nasty even to my mother .
She ’ s a very scarred person .
She was not much of a family person .
But look , let me just tell you , my father was – I think he was the most solid person I ’ ve ever met .
And he was a very good person .
He was a very , very good person .
He was strong but he was good .
For her to say the kind of things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a psychopath , anybody that knew Fred Trump would call him a psychopath ?
And you know what , if he was I would tell you .
And I would say , you know Chris , I was with my father and it was imposs– my father was – he was tough , he was tough on me , he was tough on all of the kids .
But tough in a -- in a solid sense , in a really good sense .
For her to say – I think the word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disgrace .
She ought to be ashamed of herself .
That book is a lie .
WALLACE : Some people were surprised when you agreed to this interview , to sit down with me .
TRUMP : What are you going to ask ?
WALLACE : Especially because of some of the mean tweets that you ’ ve said about me .
Mike Wallace wannabe .
Nasty and obnoxious .
I will tell you after that one my son , Peter , who you ’ ve met , called and he said nasty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WALLACE : But here ’ s the question , one of your beefs seems to be that I put Democrats on the show and I ask them questions .
And I guess the question I have is , don ’ t you understand it ’ s my job to put Democrats on as well as Republicans ?
And to ask them probing questions just like I ask Republicans ?
TRUMP : I ’ m not a big fan of “ Fox , ” I ’ ll be honest with you .
They ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And I watch people like Swalwell , who I don ’ t even know , he goes on the show , he got less than 1 percent , all of a sudden he ’ s on – being interviewed for endless hours – WALLACE : I interviewed , you sent one tweet after I interviewed Nancy Pelosi .
And in the interview I asked her specifically about the fact in February you were in Chinatown pitching tourism while the virus was spreading .
WALLACE : If the President underplayed the threat in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t you as well ?
TRUMP : I would just say that -- WALLACE : -- talk to the Speaker of the House ?
TRUMP : I would just say that – look , I know you very well , I respect you a lot , I respect your father a lot .
I thought he was one of the most talented journalists there are .
And you likewise are a very talented person .
I do think this , I think you are a very – I think you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OK .
I mean – WALLACE : It ’ s not true—It– watch the James Comey interview I did in December .
WALLACE : Seventeen significant errors in the FISA process and you say it was handled in a thoughtful and appropriate way ?
WALLACE : But you make it sound like you ’ re a bystander- an eye witness- you were the director of the FBI while a lot of this was going on , sir .
COMEY : Sure , I ’ m responsible for that .
That ’ s why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong .
I was over confident as director in our procedures .
WALLACE : You couldn ’ t do as tough an interview with Comey .
WALLACE : I ’ d like to think I treat everybody the same .
TRUMP : It just seems to me that you are very prone to be nice to the Democrats and maybe I ’ m wrong about that , Chris , but it ’ s an honor to be with you it ’ s fine , I love it .
I love that it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – WALLACE : I ’ m not saying you ’ re going to lose .
I am not saying that .
We saw how you turned it around last time .
TRUMP : I don ’ t think I ’ m going to lose at all .
WALLACE : But if you did , how crushing would it be ?
TRUMP : First of all , let me just tell you something , I know everyone wants to know that because they ’ d love to see me lose , finally .
WALLACE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am not saying that – TRUMP : You know how many times I have been written off ?
Do you know how many times I ’ ve been written off ?
WALLACE : I ’ ve done some of it myself , Sir .
WALLACE : I ’ m not doing it this time .
TRUMP : Don ’ t do it because – WALLACE : But how crushing would it be ?
TRUMP : And you know why I won ’ t lose , because the country in the end , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man who – who ’ s shot .
He ’ s shot , he ’ s mentally shot .
Let him come out of his basement , go around , I ’ ll make four or five speeches a day , I ’ ll be interviewed by you , I ’ ll be interviewed by the worst killers that hate my – my guts .
They hate my guts .
There ’ s nothing they can ask me that I won ’ t give them a proper answer to .
Some people will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t like it .
TRUMP : Let Biden sit through an interview like this , he ’ ll be on the ground crying for mommy .
He ’ ll say mommy , mommy , please take me home .
WALLACE : Well we ’ ve asked him for an interview , sir .
TRUMP : He can ’ t do an interview .
He ’ s incompetent .
There ’ s a number you don ’ t mention .
It ’ s called the enthusiasm number .
The enthusiasm for Trump is through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – even higher than last time .
The enthusiasm for Biden is nonexistent .
Everyone knows he ’ s shot .
WALLACE : But the enthusiasm against you is high .
TRUMP : Well that ’ s OK. That ’ s his only shot .
TRUMP : And that ’ s his only shot .
I agree .
And those people know I ’ m doing a good job , but there ’ s something in my personality that they don ’ t like because look , nobody ’ s done what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come in and ruin our country , triple your taxes .
He wants to do things – he wants to add regulations that I 've all cut .
And we still have regulation – a lot of regulation , but I ’ ve cut it down to a level that nobody ’ s – nobody ever thought possible .
He will destroy this country , but it won ’ t be him .
It will be the radical left .
The same type ideology that took over Venezuela , one of the richest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no water , they have no food , and they have no medicine .
TRUMP : That ’ s going to happen here -- WALLACE : In general , not talking about November , are you a good loser ?
TRUMP : I ’ m not a good loser .
I don ’ t like to lose .
I don ’ t lose too often .
I don ’ t like to lose .
WALLACE : But are you gracious ?
TRUMP : You don ’ t know until you see .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to rig the election .
I really do .
WALLACE : Are you suggesting that you might not accept the results of the election ?
TRUMP : No .
I have to see .
Look , Hillary Clinton asked me the same thing .
WALLACE : No , I asked you the same thing at the debate .
WALLACE : There is a tradition in this country -- in fact , one of the prides of this country -- is the peaceful transition of power and that no matter how hard-fought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of the campaign that the loser concedes to the winner .
Not saying that you 're necessarily going to be the loser or the winner , but that the loser concedes to the winner and that the country comes together in part for the good of the country .
Are you saying you 're not prepared now to commit to that principle ?
TRUMP : What I 'm saying is that I will tell you at the time .
I 'll keep you in suspense .
OK ?
TRUMP : And you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one that never accepted it .
TRUMP : She never accepted her loss and she looks like a fool .
WALLACE : But can you give a , can you give a direct answer you will accept the election ?
TRUMP : I have to see .
Look , you – I have to see .
No , I ’ m not going to just say yes .
I ’ m not going to say no , and I didn ’ t last time either .
WALLACE : Whether it ’ s in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regard your years as President of the United States ?
TRUMP : I think I was very unfairly treated .
From before I even won I was under investigation by a bunch of thieves , crooks .
It was an illegal investigation .
WALLACE : But what about the good – WALLACE : But what about the good parts , sir ?
TRUMP : No , no .
I want to go this .
I have done more than any president in history in the first three and a half years , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigations where people have been – General Flynn , where people have been so unfairly treated .
The Russia hoax , it was all a hoax .
The Mueller scam , it was all scam .
It was all false .
I made a bad decision on – one bad decision .
Jeff Sessions , and now I feel good because he lost overwhelmingly in the great state of Alabama .
Here ’ s the bottom line .
I ’ ve been very unfairly treated , and I don ’ t say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – everybody says it .
It ’ s going to be interesting to see what happens .
But there was tremendous evidence right now as to how unfairly treated I was .
President Obama and Biden spied on my campaign .
It ’ s never happened in history .
If it were the other way around , the people would be in jail for 50 years right now .
That would be Comey , that would be Brennan , that would be all of this – the two lovers , Strzok and Page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for many , many years .
They would be in jail , it would ’ ve started two years ago and they ’ d be there for 50 years .
The fact is , they illegally spied on my campaign .
Let ’ s see what happens .
Despite that , I did more than any president in history in the first three and a half years .
WALLACE : Mr. President , thank you , thanks for talking with us .
TRUMP : Thank you , thank you very much .

The following is a transcript of President Trump’s July 19, 2020 interview with "Fox News Sunday."
CHRIS WALLACE, FOX ANCHOR: And hello again from Fox News in Washington. Today from the White House, we're on the president's patio just outside the Oval Office.
President Trump, you've agreed to answer all manner of questions, no subject off-limits. Thank you and welcome back to "FOX NEWS SUNDAY."
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you very much.
WALLACE: Let's start with the surge of the coronavirus across the country in recent months. You still talk about it as, quote, "burning embers." But I want to put up a chart that shows where we are with the illness over the last four months. As you can see, we hit a peak here in April, 36,000 cases...
TRUMP: Cases.
WALLACE: ... a day.
TRUMP: Yes, cases.
WALLACE: Then -- then it went down and now since June, it has gone up more than double. One day this week 75,000 new cases. More than double...
TRUMP: Chris, that's because we have great testing, because we have the best testing in the world. If we didn't test, you wouldn't be able to show that chart. If we tested half as much, those numbers would be down.
WALLACE: But -- but this isn't burning embers, sir? This is a forest fire.
TRUMP: No, no. But I don't say -- I say flames, we'll put out the flames. And we'll put out in some cases just burning embers. We also have burning embers. We have embers and we do have flames. Florida became more flame like, but it's -- it's going to be under control.
And, you know, it's not just this country, it’s many countries. We don't talk about it in the news. They don't talk about Mexico and Brazil and still parts of Europe, which actually got hit sooner than us, so it's a little ahead of us in that sense.
But you take a look, why don't they talk about Mexico? Which is not helping us. And all I can say is thank God I built most of the wall, because if I didn't have the wall up we would have a much bigger problem with Mexico.
WALLACE: But, sir, we have the seventh highest mortality rate in the world. Our mortality rate is higher than Brazil, it's higher than Russia and the European Union has us on a travel ban.
TRUMP: Yeah. I think what we'll do -- well, we have them under travel ban too, Chris. I closed them off. If you remember, I was the one that did the European Union very early.
But when you talk about mortality rates, I think it's the opposite. I think we have one of the lowest mortality rates in the world.
WALLACE: That’s not true, sir. We, we, we have a -- we had 900 deaths on a single day...
TRUMP: We will take a look...
WALLACE: ... just this week...
TRUMP: Ready?
WALLACE: You, you can check it out.
TRUMP: Can you please get me the mortality rate?
TRUMP: Kayleigh's right here. I heard we have one of the lowest, maybe the lowest mortality rate anywhere in the world.
TRUMP: Do you have the numbers, please? Because I heard we had the best mortality rate.
TRUMP: Number, number one low mortality rate.
TRUMP: I hope you show the scenario because it shows what fake news is all about. Ok, go ahead.
WALLACE: OK, OK. I don’t think I’m fake news but I will -- we’ll put --
TRUMP: Yeah, you will --
WALLACE: -- put our stats on --
TRUMP: You said we had the worst mortality rate in the world --
WALLACE: I said you had --
TRUMP: -- and we have the best.
WALLACE VOICE OVER: All right. It’s a little complicated. But bear with us. We went with numbers from Johns Hopkins University which charted the mortality rate for 20 countries hit by the virus. The US ranked 7th better than the United Kingdom but worse than Brazil and Russia.
WALLACE VOICE OVER: The White House went with this chart from the European CDC which shows Italy and Spain doing worse. But countries like Brazil and South Korea doing better. Other countries doing better like Russia aren’t included in the White House chart.
WALLACE: California locking down again. Florida, deadliest day of the entire pandemic. Hospitals at capacity at a number of places around the country. Shortages of testing, shortages of personal protective equipment for nurses and doctors.
A lot of people say this is because we don't have a national plan. You talk about states. We don't have a national plan. Do you take responsibility for that?
TRUMP: Look, I take responsibility always for everything because it's ultimately my job, too. I have to get everybody in line.
Some governors have done well, some governors have done poorly. They're supposed to have supplies they didn't have. I supplied everybody.
Now we have somewhat of a surge in certain areas. And other areas we're doing great. But we have a surge in certain areas. But you don't hear people complaining about ventilators. We've got all the ventilators we can use. We're supplying them to other countries.
We go out into parking lots and everything, everybody gets a test. We find -- if we did half the testing -- with all of that being said, I'm glad we did it. This is the right way to do it. I'm glad we did what we're doing. But we have more tests by far than any country in the world.
WALLACE: But, sir, testing is up 37 percent.
TRUMP: Well, that's good.
WALLACE: I understand. Cases are up 194 percent. It isn't just that testing has gone up, it's that the virus has spread. The positivity rate has increased. There – the virus is…
TRUMP: Many of those cases...
WALLACE: ... worse than it was.
TRUMP: Many of those cases are young people that would heal in a day. They have the sniffles and we put it down as a test. Many of them -- don't forget, I guess it's like 99.7 percent, people are going to get better and in many cases they're going to get better very quickly.
We go out and we look and then on the news -- look if you go back to the news, all of your -- even your wonderful competitors, you'll see cases are up. Cases are up -- many of those cases shouldn't even be cases. Cases are up because we have the best testing in the world and we have the most testing.
No country has ever done what we've done in terms of testing. We are the envy of the world. They call and they say the most incredible job anybody's done is our job on testing, because we're going to very shortly be up to 50 million tests.
You look at other countries; they don't even do tests. They do tests if somebody walks into the hospital, they're sick, they're really sick, they test them then, or they'll test them in a doctor's office. But they don't go around have massive areas of testing and we do. And I'm glad we do, but it really skews the numbers.
WALLACE: I’m, I'm going to do you a favor, because I'm sure a lot of people listening right now are going to say, "Trump, he tries to play it down, he tries to make it not being as serious as it is."
TRUMP: I don't play it -- I'm not playing -- no, this is very serious.
WALLACE: 75,000 cases a day.
TRUMP: Show me the death chart.
WALLACE: Well, I don't have the death chart.
TRUMP: Well, the death chart is much more important.
WALLACE: But I can tell you, the death chart is a thousand cases a day.
TRUMP: Excuse me, it's all too much, it shouldn't be one case. It came from China. They should've never let it escape. They should've never let it out. But it is what it is. Take a look at Europe, take a look at the numbers in Europe. And by the way, they're having cases.
WALLACE: I can tell you cases are 6,000 in the whole European Union.
TRUMP: They don't test. They don't test.
WALLACE: Is it possible that they don't have the virus as badly as we do?
TRUMP: It's possible that they don't test, that's what's possible. We find cases and many of those cases heal automatically. We're finding -- in a way, we're creating trouble. Certainly, we are creating trouble for the fake news to come along and say, "Oh, we have more cases."
Look, we do something that nobody's ever done. Not only the ventilators, where we're supplying them all over the world. We did a testing program the likes of which nobody's ever done before.
WALLACE: The head of the CDC, Dr. Redfield, said this on Tuesday.
TAPE: July 14, 2020
DR. ROBERT REDFIELD, CDC DIRECTOR: "I do think this fall and winter of 2020, 2021, are probably going to be one of the most difficult times that we’ve experienced in American public health."
WALLACE: Do you agree with Dr. Redfield?
TRUMP: I don't know and I don't think he knows. I don't think anybody knows with this. This is a very tricky deal. Everybody thought this summer it would go away and it would come back in the fall. Well, when the summer came, they used to say the heat -- the heat was good for it and it really knocks it out, remember? And then it might come back in the fall. So they got that one wrong.
They -- they got a lot wrong. They got a lot wrong. The World Health got a tremendous amount wrong. They basically did whatever China wanted them to. And we'll save now almost $500 million a year, which is nice. But the World Health got a lot wrong.
WALLACE: But, this is one of the sharpest criticisms of you.
TRUMP: I agree.
WALLACE: People say that you talk about the world as you’d like to see it rather than follow the science.
TRUMP: No, I…
WALLACE: Well – let me just, let me just ask the question, sir. Why on earth would your administration be involved in a campaign at this point to discredit Dr. Fauci, who is the nation's top infectious disease expert.
TRUMP: Because we're not. If one man from my administration doesn't like him because he made a few mistakes -- look, Dr. Fauci said, "Don't wear a mask." Dr. Fauci told me not to ban China, it would be a big mistake. I did it over and above his recommendation. Dr. Fauci then said, "You saved tens of thousands of lives" -- more than that. He said, "You saved tens of thousands of lives."
Dr. Fauci's made some mistakes. But I have a very good -- I spoke to him yesterday at length. I have a very good relationship with Dr. Fauci.
WALLACE: But -- but, sir, this week -- this weekend, your White House put out a series of statements, so-called mistakes that Dr. Fauci had made. One of your closest aids -- one of your right-hand men, Daniel Scavino, put out this -- you've seen this?
TRUMP: Well Dr., look, look…
WALLACE: Dr. – Dr. – ‘Dr. Faucet,’ which shows him as a leaker and an alarmist.
TRUMP: Well, I don't know that he’s a leaker ….
WALLACE: Why, why would you do that?
TRUMP: He's a little bit of an alarmist. That's OK. A little bit of an alarmist.


bonginoreport--2020-07-20--St. Louis Couple Charged With Felonies for Defending Home With Guns

Charges have been filed against Mark and Patricia McCloskey , the St. Louis couple who defended their home from a mob of BLM protestors on June 5th .
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner filed the charges of unlawful use of a weapon/flourishing according to Channel 5 in St. Louis .
Channel 5 reports that the `` unlawful use of a weapon charge is a class D felony and could result in one to four years in prison as well as fines up to $ 5,000 '' and that `` Gardner 's office will be issuing a summons for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The couple defended their property after the mob destroyed the gate to their private residence as they were apparently on their way to Mayor Lyda Krewson 's house .
Footage from the incident went viral on social media .
St. Louis police had previously executed a search warrant on the home of the McCloskeys and seized their legally-owned rifle despite the fact that they acted within their constitutional rights .
`` The charges filed today against my clients , Mark and Patricia McCloskey , are disheartening as I unequivocally believe no crime was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my clients , support the First Amendment right of every citizen to have their voice and opinion heard .
This right , however , must be balanced with the Second Amendment and Missouri law , which entitle each of us to protect our home and family from potential threats .
`` With that being said , given the heightened attention focused on this matter due to the current political environment , I don ’ t believe it is prudent to comment any further , at this time , or to try this case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward to reviewing the evidence and defending the McCloskeys against these allegations . ''
Missouri Governor Mike Pearson indicated that a pardon may be in the offing for the McCloskeys in the event that they are found guilty .
This is a breaking story and will be updated .

Charges have been filed against Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who defended their home from a mob of BLM protestors on June 5th.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner filed the charges of unlawful use of a weapon/flourishing according to Channel 5 in St. Louis.
Channel 5 reports that the "unlawful use of a weapon charge is a class D felony and could result in one to four years in prison as well as fines up to $5,000" and that "Gardner's office will be issuing a summons for the couple to appear in court."
The couple defended their property after the mob destroyed the gate to their private residence as they were apparently on their way to Mayor Lyda Krewson's house. Footage from the incident went viral on social media.
St. Louis police had previously executed a search warrant on the home of the McCloskeys and seized their legally-owned rifle despite the fact that they acted within their constitutional rights.
Joel Schwartz, attorney for the McCloskeys issued a statement:
"The charges filed today against my clients, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, are disheartening as I unequivocally believe no crime was committed.
"I, along with my clients, support the First Amendment right of every citizen to have their voice and opinion heard. This right, however, must be balanced with the Second Amendment and Missouri law, which entitle each of us to protect our home and family from potential threats.
"With that being said, given the heightened attention focused on this matter due to the current political environment, I don’t believe it is prudent to comment any further, at this time, or to try this case in the media.
"I look forward to reviewing the evidence and defending the McCloskeys against these allegations."
Missouri Governor Mike Pearson indicated that a pardon may be in the offing for the McCloskeys in the event that they are found guilty.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.


bonginoreport--2020-07-20--President Trump Meets With Top Republicans to Discuss Next Stimulus Package

WASHINGTON — Top Republicans in Congress met Monday with President Donald Trump at the White House on the next COVID-19 aid package as the crisis many hoped would have improved has dramatically worsened , just as emergency relief is expiring .
New divisions between the Senate GOP majority and the White House posed fresh challenges .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was prepared to roll out the $ 1 trillion package in a matter of days .
But the administration panned more virus testing money and interjected other priorities that could complicate quick passage .
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to end this virus , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , said Monday on MSNBC .
Pelosi said any attempt by the White House to block testing money “ goes beyond ignorance . ''
Lawmakers were returning to a Capitol still off-limits to tourists , another sign of the nation ’ s difficulty containing the coronavirus .
Rather than easing , the pandemic ’ s devastating cycle was happening all over again , leaving Congress little choice but to engineer another costly rescue .
Businesses were shutting down again , schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disappearing , all while federal aid expired .
WITH BUDGETS UNDER PRESSURE , COLLEGES CUT COUNTRY-CLUB STAPLES LIKE GOLF AND TENNIS Without a successful federal strategy , lawmakers are trying to draft one .
Trump insisted again Sunday that the virus would “ disappear , ” but the president 's view did not at all match projections from the leading health professionals straining to halt the alarming U.S. caseload and death toll .
“ It ’ s not going to magically disappear , ” said a somber McConnell , R-Ky. , last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his home state to thank front-line workers .
McConnell and House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy were set to meet with Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin “ to fine-tune ” the legislation , acting chief of staff Mark Meadows said on Fox News .
The political stakes were high for all sides before the November election , but even more so for the nation , which now registered more coronavirus infections and a higher death count of 140,500 than any other country .
The House already approved Pelosi 's sweeping $ 3 trillion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiations .
The package from McConnell had been quietly crafted behind closed doors for weeks and was expected to include $ 75 billion to help schools reopen , reduced unemployment benefits alongside a fresh round of direct $ 1,200 cash payments to Americans , and a sweeping five-year liability shield against coronavirus lawsuits .
But as the White House weighed in , it has put the administration at odds with GOP allies in Congress .
The administration was panning some $ 25 billion in proposed new funds for testing and tracing , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump was also reviving his push for a payroll tax break , which was being seriously considered , said another Republican .
Both spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private talks .
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer warned Monday his side will block any effort from McConnell that falls short .
“ We will stand together again if we must , ” Schumer said in a letter to colleagues .
The New York Democrat is reviving his strategy from the last virus aid bill that forced Republicans to the negotiating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposed by Democrats .
Schumer said Trump 's effort to block testing funds in “ unacceptable.
” Trump raised alarms on Capitol Hill when he suggested last month at a rally in Oklahoma that he wanted to slow virus testing .
Some of Trump 's GOP allies wanted new money to help test and track the virus to contain its spread .
Senate Democrats were investigating why the Trump administration had not yet spent some of $ 25 billion previously allocated for testing in an earlier aid bill .
The payroll tax Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans in particular opposed the payroll tax break as an insufficient response to millions of out-of-work Americans , especially as they tried to keep the total price tag of the aid package at no more than $ 1 trillion .
Trump said Sunday in the Fox News interview that he would consider not signing any bill unless it included the payroll tax break , which many GOP senators opposed .
`` I want to see it , '' he said .
As McConnell prepared to roll out his $ 1 trillion-plus proposal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support .
This would be the fifth virus aid package , after the $ 2.2 trillion bill passed in March , the largest U.S. intervention of its kind .
The first round of virus aid is running out .
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS A federal $ 600-a-week boost to regular unemployment benefits would expire at the end of the month .
So , too , would the federal ban on evictions on millions of rental units .
With 17 straight weeks of unemployment claims topping 1 million — usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cash crunch and losing employer-backed health insurance coverage .
Despite flickers of an economic upswing as states eased stay-at-home orders in May and June , the jobless rate remained at double digits , higher than it ever was in the last decade 's Great Recession .
Pelosi 's bill , approved in May , included $ 75 billion for testing and tracing to try to get a handle on the virus spread , funneled $ 100 billion to schools to safely reopen and called for $ 1 trillion to be sent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent layoffs .
The measure would give cash stipends to Americans , and bolster rental and mortgage and other safety net protections .
In the two months since Pelosi 's bill passed , the U.S. had 50,000 more deaths and 2 million more infections .
“ If we don ’ t invest the money now , it will be much worse , ” Pelosi said .

WASHINGTON — Top Republicans in Congress met Monday with President Donald Trump at the White House on the next COVID-19 aid package as the crisis many hoped would have improved has dramatically worsened, just as emergency relief is expiring.
New divisions between the Senate GOP majority and the White House posed fresh challenges. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was prepared to roll out the $1 trillion package in a matter of days. But the administration panned more virus testing money and interjected other priorities that could complicate quick passage.
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"We have to end this virus," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Monday on MSNBC.
Pelosi said any attempt by the White House to block testing money “goes beyond ignorance."
Lawmakers were returning to a Capitol still off-limits to tourists, another sign of the nation’s difficulty containing the coronavirus. Rather than easing, the pandemic’s devastating cycle was happening all over again, leaving Congress little choice but to engineer another costly rescue. Businesses were shutting down again, schools could not fully reopen and jobs were disappearing, all while federal aid expired.
WITH BUDGETS UNDER PRESSURE, COLLEGES CUT COUNTRY-CLUB STAPLES LIKE GOLF AND TENNIS
Without a successful federal strategy, lawmakers are trying to draft one.
Trump insisted again Sunday that the virus would “disappear,” but the president's view did not at all match projections from the leading health professionals straining to halt the alarming U.S. caseload and death toll.
“It’s not going to magically disappear,” said a somber McConnell, R-Ky., last week during a visit to a hospital in his home state to thank front-line workers.
McConnell and House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy were set to meet with Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin “to fine-tune” the legislation, acting chief of staff Mark Meadows said on Fox News.
The political stakes were high for all sides before the November election, but even more so for the nation, which now registered more coronavirus infections and a higher death count of 140,500 than any other country.
The House already approved Pelosi's sweeping $3 trillion effort, giving Democrats momentum heading into negotiations.
The package from McConnell had been quietly crafted behind closed doors for weeks and was expected to include $75 billion to help schools reopen, reduced unemployment benefits alongside a fresh round of direct $1,200 cash payments to Americans, and a sweeping five-year liability shield against coronavirus lawsuits.
But as the White House weighed in, it has put the administration at odds with GOP allies in Congress. The administration was panning some $25 billion in proposed new funds for testing and tracing, said one Republican familiar with the discussions. Trump was also reviving his push for a payroll tax break, which was being seriously considered, said another Republican. Both spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private talks.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer warned Monday his side will block any effort from McConnell that falls short.
“We will stand together again if we must,” Schumer said in a letter to colleagues.
The New York Democrat is reviving his strategy from the last virus aid bill that forced Republicans to the negotiating table after McConnell's original bill was opposed by Democrats.
Schumer said Trump's effort to block testing funds in “unacceptable.”
Trump raised alarms on Capitol Hill when he suggested last month at a rally in Oklahoma that he wanted to slow virus testing. Some of Trump's GOP allies wanted new money to help test and track the virus to contain its spread. Senate Democrats were investigating why the Trump administration had not yet spent some of $25 billion previously allocated for testing in an earlier aid bill.
The payroll tax Trump wanted also divided his party. Senate Republicans in particular opposed the payroll tax break as an insufficient response to millions of out-of-work Americans, especially as they tried to keep the total price tag of the aid package at no more than $1 trillion.
Trump said Sunday in the Fox News interview that he would consider not signing any bill unless it included the payroll tax break, which many GOP senators opposed.
"I want to see it," he said.
As McConnell prepared to roll out his $1 trillion-plus proposal, he acknowledged it would not have full support. This would be the fifth virus aid package, after the $2.2 trillion bill passed in March, the largest U.S. intervention of its kind.
The first round of virus aid is running out.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS
A federal $600-a-week boost to regular unemployment benefits would expire at the end of the month. So, too, would the federal ban on evictions on millions of rental units.
With 17 straight weeks of unemployment claims topping 1 million — usually about 200,000 — many households were facing a cash crunch and losing employer-backed health insurance coverage.
Despite flickers of an economic upswing as states eased stay-at-home orders in May and June, the jobless rate remained at double digits, higher than it ever was in the last decade's Great Recession.
Pelosi's bill, approved in May, included $75 billion for testing and tracing to try to get a handle on the virus spread, funneled $100 billion to schools to safely reopen and called for $1 trillion to be sent to cash-strapped states to pay essential workers and prevent layoffs. The measure would give cash stipends to Americans, and bolster rental and mortgage and other safety net protections.
In the two months since Pelosi's bill passed, the U.S. had 50,000 more deaths and 2 million more infections.
“If we don’t invest the money now, it will be much worse,” Pelosi said.


bonginoreport--2020-07-20--Adam Carolla on AOC: She’s “Insane, Maniacal”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez doesn ’ t have a “ Get Out of Comedy Jail ” card in her purse or pocket .
She doesn ’ t need one .
The far-left congresswoman can do , or say , virtually anything with little fear of comic reprisal .
Instead , modern comedians either ignore her gargantuan gaffes or fawn over her social media prowess .
Right on cue , comedians gave the freshman representative a pass after she uncorked this explanation for the crush of violence engulfing the Big Apple .
“ So why is this uptick in crime happening ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ let ’ s think about it .
Do we think this has to do with the fact there ’ s record unemployment in the United States right now ?
The fact that people are at a level of economic desperation that we have not seen since the Great Recession .
Maybe this has to do with the fact that people aren ’ t paying their rent and are scared to pay their rent , and so they go out and they need to feed their child and they don ’ t have money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re put in a position where they feel like they either need to shoplift some bread [ emphasis added ] or go hungry that night.
” “ Maybe it ’ s the fact that unemployment provisions have not been given to [ everyone ] , ” Ocasio-Cortez claimed .
“ May it ’ s because the fact that people , some people still haven ’ t gotten their stimulus checks yet.
” Adam Carolla doesn ’ t follow the progressive comedy playbook .
The comic excoriated Ocasio-Cortez on the latest episode of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” podcast .
A show caller asked Carolla and co-host Dr. Drew Pinsky what will happen following the wave of violent protests targeting several major cities .
“ AOC would say , ‘ that ’ s a question from privilege , ' ” Dr. Pinsky cracked before Carolla seized on Ocasio-Cortez ’ s dubious explanation for the crime wave .
“ She seems insane to me , or maniacal , there ’ s something wrong with her .
She doesn ’ t connect things , ” Carolla said after referencing her attempt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of carbs .
“ Hey , what ‘ s happened to all the bakery trucks ?
” Carolla asked .
“ I was down at Nabisco , and I was going down through the Keebler factory there , was that covered in the news , the stealing of carbohydrates ?
” Carolla ’ s common sense solution is one kept out of reach by today ’ s Democratic politicians and media outlets .
“ The only thing that works is law and order , and sadly , re-imagining things doesn ’ t work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out over the thousands of years , ” Carolla said , referencing talk of “ re-imagining ” modern law enforcement if not downright stripping departments of their funding .
The podcaster and documentary filmmaker predicted a dark future for cities teeming with protesters and chaos .
“ A larger group will move out of mismanaged cities and off to places where they simply have freedom and safety and can afford it , ” he said .
“ Who ’ s gon na be left behind ?
‘ Escape from New York . '
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a f***ing hellscape of people who can ’ t afford to get out .
It ’ ll be like Katrina .
Everyone with a running car and some money in their pocket is gon na split , and everyone else is just gon na hang out and the tide ’ s just gon na drown ’ em.
” Dr. Pinsky chimed in on the other side of the issue -- politicians who believe the status quo is sustainable .
“ What are the government officials thinking ?
Where do they think the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re running ?
” Dr. Pinsky asked .
“ In California , they keep shutting things down … their tax revenue is nil .
How do they think this works ?
What are they thinking ?
I can ’ t figure it out.
” Carolla suggested they ’ re not thinking at all .
“ When you ’ re sitting in air conditioning and looking out the window , and people are toiling in the sun and mopping their brow … they go , ‘ huh , someone should do something about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ degrees ] where you ’ re standing it ’ s just like , ‘ It ’ s 71 man , I ’ m fine . '
” Carolla said .
Photo by cornstalker on Foter.com / CC BY

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez doesn’t have a “Get Out of Comedy Jail” card in her purse or pocket.
She doesn’t need one.
The far-left congresswoman can do, or say, virtually anything with little fear of comic reprisal. Instead, modern comedians either ignore her gargantuan gaffes or fawn over her social media prowess.
Women of Congress - SNL
Watch this video on YouTube
Right on cue, comedians gave the freshman representative a pass after she uncorked this explanation for the crush of violence engulfing the Big Apple.
“So why is this uptick in crime happening?” Ocasio-Cortez asked. “Well, let’s think about it. Do we think this has to do with the fact there’s record unemployment in the United States right now? The fact that people are at a level of economic desperation that we have not seen since the Great Recession. Maybe this has to do with the fact that people aren’t paying their rent and are scared to pay their rent, and so they go out and they need to feed their child and they don’t have money so you maybe have to, they’re put in a position where they feel like they either need to shoplift some bread [emphasis added] or go hungry that night.”
“Maybe it’s the fact that unemployment provisions have not been given to [everyone],” Ocasio-Cortez claimed. “May it’s because the fact that people, some people still haven’t gotten their stimulus checks yet.”
Adam Carolla doesn’t follow the progressive comedy playbook. The comic excoriated Ocasio-Cortez on the latest episode of “The Adam and Dr. Drew Show” podcast. A show caller asked Carolla and co-host Dr. Drew Pinsky what will happen following the wave of violent protests targeting several major cities.
“AOC would say, ‘that’s a question from privilege,'” Dr. Pinsky cracked before Carolla seized on Ocasio-Cortez’s dubious explanation for the crime wave.
“She seems insane to me, or maniacal, there’s something wrong with her. She doesn’t connect things,” Carolla said after referencing her attempt to tie rising gun violence to a lack of carbs.
“Hey, what ‘s happened to all the bakery trucks?” Carolla asked. “I was down at Nabisco, and I was going down through the Keebler factory there, was that covered in the news, the stealing of carbohydrates?”
RELATED: Carolla on Cancel Culture: ‘You Retreat, They Encroach’
Carolla’s common sense solution is one kept out of reach by today’s Democratic politicians and media outlets.
“The only thing that works is law and order, and sadly, re-imagining things doesn’t work, otherwise we would have figured it out over the thousands of years,” Carolla said, referencing talk of “re-imagining” modern law enforcement if not downright stripping departments of their funding.
The podcaster and documentary filmmaker predicted a dark future for cities teeming with protesters and chaos.
“A larger group will move out of mismanaged cities and off to places where they simply have freedom and safety and can afford it,” he said. “Who’s gonna be left behind? ‘Escape from New York.'”
Escape From New York Official Trailer #1 (1981) Kurt Russell, John Carpenter HD
Watch this video on YouTube
“It’s gonna be a f***ing hellscape of people who can’t afford to get out. It’ll be like Katrina. Everyone with a running car and some money in their pocket is gonna split, and everyone else is just gonna hang out and the tide’s just gonna drown ’em.”
Dr. Pinsky chimed in on the other side of the issue – politicians who believe the status quo is sustainable.
“What are the government officials thinking? Where do they think the money comes from for the government they’re running?” Dr. Pinsky asked. “In California, they keep shutting things down … their tax revenue is nil. How do they think this works? What are they thinking? I can’t figure it out.”
Carolla suggested they’re not thinking at all.
“When you’re sitting in air conditioning and looking out the window, and people are toiling in the sun and mopping their brow … they go, ‘huh, someone should do something about that.’ As long as its 71 [degrees] where you’re standing it’s just like, ‘It’s 71 man, I’m fine.'” Carolla said.
Photo by cornstalker on Foter.com / CC BY


bonginoreport--2020-07-20--Chris Wallace Flubs America’s Virus Death Rate While Playing Gotcha With Trump

In the minds of the media figures who shape public opinion about the virus in America , up is down and down is up .
They believe that America is doing horribly in dealing with COVID-19 , except of course in New York and New Jersey , where more people died per capita than anywhere on Earth , yet the media , along with their saint , Anthony Fauci , believe those governors saved the country .
During a pretaped interview with the president on Sunday , Fox News anchor Chris Wallace played the classic gotcha game , trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost any other country .
After Trump explained that the high number of cases is a results of more testing per capita than any other country , Wallace brought up the mortality rate .
Wallace asserted that the U.S. has “ the seventh highest mortality rate in the world … higher than Brazil , it ’ s higher than Russia , and the European Union has us on a travel ban.
” The president was confused about the source of Wallace ’ s numbers and requested a pause in the interview so they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then handed a piece of paper with information , after which the president exclaimed , “ Number one low mortality rate.
” America is not exactly number one in terms of the lowest number of deaths per capita , but it is near the bottom compared to most major countries .
Later on , Wallace admitted he was using a chart from Johns Hopkins that showed the U.S. in eighth place for the highest mortality rate in the world .
But this chart is random and includes cherry-picked countries with only a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t take into account the insane amount of testing we have , which means we have discovered many more cases and therefore actually have a much lower case fatality rate .
This is dishonest beyond belief .
The White House was using a much more appropriate chart from Our World in Data , which compared the U.S. to primarily other Western countries with much better data reporting .
As you can see , America ’ s case fatality ratio is even lower than Japan , which has gotten a lot of accolades for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But here ’ s the broader issue .
To the extent that America is recording a lot of COVID-19 deaths , it ’ s mainly driven by the Democrat-run states the media is placing on a pedestal as the paradigm for a successful coronavirus result .
By listening to the media , one would think Texas and Florida are like Italy , while New York and New Jersey are like Taiwan .
In reality , our fatality rate is being driven almost entirely by the six states that placed COVID-positive patients back into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Yinon Weiss comparing the deaths of various states : Here is the comparison by hospitalization rate : Here is a chart comparing different states to various countries : As you can see , the four northeastern states were worse than the worst European country ( Belgium ) .
New York and New Jersey have twice the fatality rate of Europe ’ s worst country .
Florida is right in line with Canada and Switzerland , while Texas is much lower .
Thus , much of what is driving America ’ s higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing home slaughter from those six states .
Also , as Trump rightly noted , mass testing is a huge factor .
On the one hand , America does have a high death rate , but on the other hand , America has one of the lowest death rates per case count .
What that demonstrates is that , because we are counting and often miscounting so many cases , many deaths are erroneously being blamed on COVID-19 .
In countries where they have very little testing , they are either missing some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not counting those who died with COVID where the virus had little to do with the fatality .
This is also why England has so many deaths and even Sweden has recorded a relatively high share of deaths compared to some other similar Nordic countries .
Both England and Sweden have an extremely broad definition of a COVID-19 death .
Indeed , if Trump is guilty of one thing it ’ s not firing Fauci .
During a weekend interview , Fauci had the shocking audacity to suggest that New York is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ did it correctly.
” Well , you can ’ t have it both ways – complaining that America has a high mortality rate and treating New York like the road to paradise .
Not only is politics trumping science , it is trumping simple arithmetic .

In the minds of the media figures who shape public opinion about the virus in America, up is down and down is up. They believe that America is doing horribly in dealing with COVID-19, except of course in New York and New Jersey, where more people died per capita than anywhere on Earth, yet the media, along with their saint, Anthony Fauci, believe those governors saved the country.
During a pretaped interview with the president on Sunday, Fox News anchor Chris Wallace played the classic gotcha game, trying to show how America is worse off than almost any other country. After Trump explained that the high number of cases is a results of more testing per capita than any other country, Wallace brought up the mortality rate.
Wallace asserted that the U.S. has "the seventh highest mortality rate in the world … higher than Brazil, it's higher than Russia, and the European Union has us on a travel ban."
The president was confused about the source of Wallace's numbers and requested a pause in the interview so they could clarify the data. Trump was then handed a piece of paper with information, after which the president exclaimed, "Number one low mortality rate."
America is not exactly number one in terms of the lowest number of deaths per capita, but it is near the bottom compared to most major countries.
Later on, Wallace admitted he was using a chart from Johns Hopkins that showed the U.S. in eighth place for the highest mortality rate in the world.
But this chart is random and includes cherry-picked countries with only a few European nations. It also doesn't take into account the insane amount of testing we have, which means we have discovered many more cases and therefore actually have a much lower case fatality rate.
This is dishonest beyond belief. The White House was using a much more appropriate chart from Our World in Data, which compared the U.S. to primarily other Western countries with much better data reporting.
As you can see, America's case fatality ratio is even lower than Japan, which has gotten a lot of accolades for the way it handled the virus.
But here's the broader issue. To the extent that America is recording a lot of COVID-19 deaths, it's mainly driven by the Democrat-run states the media is placing on a pedestal as the paradigm for a successful coronavirus result. By listening to the media, one would think Texas and Florida are like Italy, while New York and New Jersey are like Taiwan. In reality, our fatality rate is being driven almost entirely by the six states that placed COVID-positive patients back into nursing homes.
Here is a presentation from Yinon Weiss comparing the deaths of various states:
Here is the comparison by hospitalization rate:
Here is a chart comparing different states to various countries:
As you can see, the four northeastern states were worse than the worst European country (Belgium). New York and New Jersey have twice the fatality rate of Europe's worst country. Florida is right in line with Canada and Switzerland, while Texas is much lower.
Thus, much of what is driving America's higher mortality rate per million people is the nursing home slaughter from those six states.
Also, as Trump rightly noted, mass testing is a huge factor. On the one hand, America does have a high death rate, but on the other hand, America has one of the lowest death rates per case count. What that demonstrates is that, because we are counting and often miscounting so many cases, many deaths are erroneously being blamed on COVID-19. In countries where they have very little testing, they are either missing some legitimate COVID-19 deaths, or they are not counting those who died with COVID-19 where the virus had little to do with the fatality.
This is also why England has so many deaths and even Sweden has recorded a relatively high share of deaths compared to some other similar Nordic countries. Both England and Sweden have an extremely broad definition of a COVID-19 death.
Indeed, if Trump is guilty of one thing it's not firing Fauci. During a weekend interview, Fauci had the shocking audacity to suggest that New York is the model to follow and how the state "did it correctly."
Well, you can't have it both ways – complaining that America has a high mortality rate and treating New York like the road to paradise.
Not only is politics trumping science, it is trumping simple arithmetic.


bonginoreport--2020-07-20--DHS Sec. Cuccinelli: It’s Terrorism in Portland, Not Peaceful Protests

Brushing aside Democratic charges that federal agents are at fault in the Portland , Oregon , clashes , the No .
2 DHS official on Monday said that homegrown “ terrorists ” are to blame for the 53rd straight night of violence in the City of Roses .
Acting Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Ken Cuccinelli , describing brutal assaults on federal police and agents , ripped reports that the department and other agencies are acting outside the law .
“ These are not peaceful protests .
This is violent , criminal activity .
And when they show up directed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Law enforcement officers and agents have been targeted in the attacks , ” said Cuccinelli .
“ We are talking about violent anarchists who are engaging in both violence , to the point of terrorism on occasion , and who have been assaulting federal property and officers night after night , ” he added .
Cuccinelli , the administration ’ s most outspoken point person on the protests , said that agents with the U.S .
Marshals Service , the Federal Protective Service , Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portland , mostly the Mark O. Hatfield U.S .
Courthouse , have been repeatedly attacked .
“ They were targeted because they were in uniform .
That is terrorism , that is what that is , ” he said , adding , “ We are not talking about peaceful protesters.
” He is leading the administration ’ s pushback against congressional Democrats and Mayor Ted Wheeler , who want the agents out .
Media reports have played up claims that federal agents have been tough , sometimes using tear gas to break crowds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anarchists , including with cans , blinding lasers , and “ professional ” fireworks and mortars , said other officials .
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said his agents are not leaving Portland .
“ DHS is not going to back down from our responsibilities , ” Wolf told Fox News .
“ We are protecting , again , federal facilities .
It ’ s our job.
” In some media reports and viral videos , claims have been made that federal police are disguising themselves in unmarked vehicles and odd uniforms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death of George Floyd in Minneapolis nearly two months ago .
But DHS officials forcefully denied those reports and even mocked them , saying that virtually every police force in the United States uses unmarked cars .
They also challenged reports , such as one in the New York Times , that agents have not been trained to handle a situation such as Portland ’ s “ autonomous zone.
” One official said , “ They are trained for the roles that they are performing.
” And it ’ s not just the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Daryl Turner said the city has “ had enough ” of the violence .
The union ’ s building was vandalized over the weekend .

Brushing aside Democratic charges that federal agents are at fault in the Portland, Oregon, clashes, the No. 2 DHS official on Monday said that homegrown “terrorists” are to blame for the 53rd straight night of violence in the City of Roses.
Acting Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Ken Cuccinelli, describing brutal assaults on federal police and agents, ripped reports that the department and other agencies are acting outside the law.
“These are not peaceful protests. This is violent, criminal activity. And when they show up directed at law enforcement, it’s terrorism. Law enforcement officers and agents have been targeted in the attacks,” said Cuccinelli.
“We are talking about violent anarchists who are engaging in both violence, to the point of terrorism on occasion, and who have been assaulting federal property and officers night after night,” he added.
Cuccinelli, the administration’s most outspoken point person on the protests, said that agents with the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Protective Service, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection assigned to protect federal buildings in Portland, mostly the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse, have been repeatedly attacked.
“They were targeted because they were in uniform. That is terrorism, that is what that is,” he said, adding, “We are not talking about peaceful protesters.”
He is leading the administration’s pushback against congressional Democrats and Mayor Ted Wheeler, who want the agents out.
This morning, @jaketapper @CNNSotu asked if I believed the President was breaking the law.
Not only do I believe he is breaking the law, but he is also endangering the lives of Portlanders. His actions are unconstitutional.https://t.co/eBGw36edgh — Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) July 19, 2020
Media reports have played up claims that federal agents have been tough, sometimes using tear gas to break crowds up, while ignoring the attacks by anarchists, including with cans, blinding lasers, and “professional” fireworks and mortars, said other officials.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said his agents are not leaving Portland. “DHS is not going to back down from our responsibilities,” Wolf told Fox News. “We are protecting, again, federal facilities. It’s our job.”
In some media reports and viral videos, claims have been made that federal police are disguising themselves in unmarked vehicles and odd uniforms to target protesters in Portland since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis nearly two months ago.
But DHS officials forcefully denied those reports and even mocked them, saying that virtually every police force in the United States uses unmarked cars.
Just 1 injury from Portland. 4 stitches from a slingshot. The violence continues... pic.twitter.com/EJIjyRBqXw — Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli (@HomelandKen) July 20, 2020
They also challenged reports, such as one in the New York Times, that agents have not been trained to handle a situation such as Portland’s “autonomous zone.” One official said, “They are trained for the roles that they are performing.”
And it’s not just the DHS pushing back. Portland Police Association President Daryl Turner said the city has “had enough” of the violence. The union’s building was vandalized over the weekend.


bonginoreport--2020-07-21--Iran Claims to Execute “U.S. and Israeli Spy”

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“A Mossad spy was hanged,” Iran’s Fars News reported Monday morning. Iran accused Mahmoud Mousavi-Majd of being “linked to both Mossad and the CIA, collecting information in various areas of security and providing them to foreign intelligence for US dollars.”He was responsible for passing on information related to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani , who the US assassinated in January, the report said.The execution was given front-page headlines in Iran the day after a high-level visit to Iraq by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. The message appears to be that Iran is trying to show it has cracked down on foreign intelligence networks and made it harder for the US or others to penetrate the Islamic Republic.After a dozen mysterious fires and explosions have rocked Iran since late June, the country has said any sabotage could “ignite full escalation.” The execution comes in this context as well.Mousavi-Majd’s execution on Monday was said to have been first reported on the judiciary’s Mizan Online website. Although he was reportedly detained in October 2018, he was linked to the assassination of Soleimani on January 3, 2020, when the Quds Force leader traveled from Syria to Baghdad to coordinate anti-US activity.Soleimani was killed alongside Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a US airstrike. Washington was said to have received intelligence from various sources, including the airport. Their convoy was hit with missiles fired by a US drone.Zarif paid respects to Soleimani and Muhandis on Sunday, stopping by the area where their convoy was destroyed.In February, Iran’s judiciary sentenced to death one person and gave others long prison sentences “for spying for the CIA.”The February sentences related to Amir Rahimpour, according to Gholamhossein Esmaili, an Iranian judiciary spokesman. He was accused of passing information about Iran’s nuclear program.“While being in touch with the spy agency, he earned a lot of money as wages as he tried to deliver some information from Iran’s nuclear program to the American agency,” state-run IRNA News Agency quoted Esmaili as saying.Iran seems to be increasing the work of the hangmen. Tehran says it caught up to 17 “CIA spies” in 2019. On July 14, Iran said it executed a Defense Ministry official who “sold information to the CIA.” That man was identified as Reza Asgari by Esmaili. He allegedly sold information about Iran’s missile program.Weeks later, a mysterious explosion destroyed a site of Iran’s surface-to-surface missile program near Khojir, not far from Parchin. Another explosion then destroyed part of the Natanz nuclear-enrichment facility.WHAT DID Mousavi Majd do? He collected information from security members and passed it on to foreign intelligence, Iran said. There are not many more details in English, but Fars News said his father was a businessman who frequently went to Syria in the 1970s. Thus, the alleged spy learned to translate to Arabic and English. He may have remained in Syria after the 2011 civil war began.“His command of the Arabic language and familiarity with the geography of Syria brought him closer to the Iranian advisory forces in Idlib and Latakia,” Fars News reported. Although not a member of the IRGC, he was able to access sensitive areas under the guise of translation work.According to the report, he was uncovered through security surveillance due to calls being made to a “CIA officer in West Asia.” West Asia is the Iranian media term for the Middle East, so the alleged calls could have been made anywhere in the region. He received US dollars in exchange for the spying, Iran said. He allegedly passed on details about IRGC advisers in Syria, weapons and telecommunications, as well as the itinerary of various commanders and where they traveled, including details about Soleimani.“As his work became known to Iranian intelligence and access levels declined, he turned to the Mossad intelligence service and provided them with information, and even tried at times to connect to Saudi intelligence services,” the report said.He was detained by Iran in October 2018 and sentenced in August 2019, Iranian media reported.Details of his case appeared on June 9. He primarily was accused of knowing the movements of Soleimani, which helped the US track the IRGC commander. His name was released for the first time in June, months after the US strike on Soleimani.Iran has also been careful not to say that Mousavi-Majd’s work directly led to Soleimani’s death. That would appear to admit that his inner circle was penetrated, which Iran does not want to discuss. Iran’s accusation of spying is always unclear. Sometimes academics, writers and even environmental activists can be swept up in these cases. In the February case, two of those linked to “spying” were part of a charity.In each case, Iran claims these men were paid in dollars. Tehran generally seems to prefer to accuse the spies of being in it for the money as opposed to being ideological opponents of the regime. This makes it seem like they just wanted to profit off of undermining “national interests,” as opposed to the IRGC members who are portrayed as modest men of the revolution who never profit from their work. This may be largely a narrative seeking to make it seem like no Iranian would ever oppose the regime on moral grounds, but only for money.When Mousavi-Majd’s name first appeared, there were photos of a plainclothes man near Soleimani that were alleged to be the same as the images of the “spy” published by Iran’s regime. But it was impossible to confirm if they were the same. Iran’s media does not allege that he was in Soleimani’s direct inner circle or security detail or that he traveled with him.The timing of the execution , after the wave of mysterious incidents in Iran and after Zarif’s Iraq visit, may be designed to send a message to Iran’s adversaries. The idea is to show that Iran’s intelligence services are cracking down on various networks and that Iran is willing to execute those it accuses.It is unclear if it is executing people based on evidence, or for other crimes or for alleged spying years ago that has only been revealed now, to show that the regime has got someone to blame.