bonginoreport--2020-12-18--New Peter Strzok Texts Spark Debate on Origins of Spygate

A newly public text from now-fired FBI special agent Peter Strzok spurred debate about how the FBI began its Trump-Russia investigations in 2016 as special counsel John Durham looks into the launch of Crossfire Hurricane as part of his investigation of the investigators .
Strzok sent a message to then-FBI lawyer Lisa Page , with whom he was having an affair , on July 28 , 2016 , three days before Crossfire Hurricane was opened , saying that there were “ three things I want to talk to you about , ” including a yet-redacted matter and “ our open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s Russia connections.
” President Trump tweeted on Friday that “ the Russia Hoax becomes an even bigger lie !
” in response to the Federalist ’ s Sean Davis saying , “ Surprise !
The FBI has been lying for years about when it started investigating Trump in 2016.
” Strzok tweeted that the claims were “ untrue , ” that “ the investigation opened July 31 , ” and that “ 199 criminal charges followed.
” It was not immediately clear to whom Strzok may have been referring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was among dozens of FBI communications declassified by the DOJ and released this week by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley in their investigation of the Trump-Russia investigators .
Horowitz ’ s December 2019 report said that “ two of the four Crossfire Hurricane subjects ” wrapped into the Trump-Russia investigation by the FBI in August 2016 “ were already the subjects of other existing federal investigations.
” The DOJ watchdog said that , beginning in January 2016 , future Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal investigation ” by the DOJ , although not a counterintelligence investigation , according to the report , “ concerning millions of dollars Manafort allegedly received from the government of Ukraine.
” Manafort was found guilty of and pleaded guilty to a host of financial crimes in 2018 and 2019 .
Page , later targeted in October 2016 through FISA wiretaps that relied on allegations contained in Steele 's dossier , “ was the subject of an ongoing counterintelligence investigation opened by the FBI 's New York Field Office on April 4 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspected Russian intelligence officers , ” according to Horowitz .
Strzok claimed in his new book , Compromised , that Page ’ s commencement address at the New Economic School in Moscow in early July 2016 “ raised eyebrows at the FBI.
” Page was not charged with any wrongdoing , and Horowitz criticized how the FBI investigated him .
Kevin Clinesmith , who worked on the investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ’ s private email server and on the FBI ’ s Trump-Russia inquiry as well as Mueller ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer that he falsified a document during the bureau ’ s efforts to renew its FISA authority to wiretap Page , editing a CIA email in 2017 to state that Page was “ not a source ” when the CIA had told the bureau on multiple occasions that Page had been an “ operational contact ” for them .
The FBI also opened Crossfire Hurricane subinvestigations into Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos in early August 2016 and into retired Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn soon after .
Horowitz found last year that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sufficient factual predication.
” Attorney General William Barr and Durham disagreed .
Strzok played an integral role in opening the FBI 's counterintelligence investigation into the Trump campaign .
The “ opening electronic communication ” for Crossfire Hurricane was authored by Strzok and authorized by FBI counterintelligence official Bill Priestap at the end of July 2016 .
The investigation looked into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia after Australian diplomat Alexander Downer informed the U.S. about the claims from Papadopoulos following a May 2016 conversation he had in a London wine bar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Russia might have dirt on Clinton .
The FBI didn ’ t interview Papadopoulos until January 2017 , and it was then that Papadopoulos revealed his April 2016 conversations with Maltese professor Joseph Mifsud , who the Trump campaign adviser claimed told him the Russians had damaging information on Clinton .
Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in 2017 to making false statements about his communications with Mifsud .
Strzok incorrectly claimed in his new book that Downer was spurred to inform the U.S. government about the May 2016 conversation with Papadopoulos after hearing then-candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in July 2016 , “ Russia , if you ’ re listening , I hope you ’ re able to find the 30,000 [ Clinton ] emails.
” But , as the Washington Examiner pointed out , Mueller and Horowitz both concluded that Australia informed the United States of this conversation on July 26 , 2016 , one day before Trump made the comments about Russia , which Trump has said were made in jest .
Strzok ’ s book claimed that “ the communication ... had been precipitated by a public statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Downer ’ s recounting , Trump ’ s words jarred his memory of a series of conversations months earlier.
” The former FBI deputy assistant director of counterintelligence admitted the error during a Zoom discussion with the Brookings Institution ’ s Benjamin Wittes when asked about the contradiction unearthed by the Washington Examiner .
“ So , I got that wrong , ” Strzok said .
He then said that it was “ a little error ” and that “ I know some people are scrubbing timelines for little details and scoping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an honest mistake based on a lack of a specific recollection , and then , after I had submitted my book to pre-pub review , all this information came out afterwards.
” Strzok ’ s book came out in September , with Horowitz ’ s report released in December 2019 and Mueller ’ s report released in April 2019 .
Strzok was removed from Mueller 's team in 2017 and fired from the FBI in 2018 after a host of anti-Trump texts he 'd sent while investigating Trump and Clinton came to light @

A newly public text from now-fired FBI special agent Peter Strzok spurred debate about how the FBI began its Trump-Russia investigations in 2016 as special counsel John Durham looks into the launch of Crossfire Hurricane as part of his investigation of the investigators.
Strzok sent a message to then-FBI lawyer Lisa Page, with whom he was having an affair, on July 28, 2016, three days before Crossfire Hurricane was opened, saying that there were “three things I want to talk to you about,” including a yet-redacted matter and “our open CI [counterintelligence] investigations relating to Trump’s Russia connections.”
President Trump tweeted on Friday that “the Russia Hoax becomes an even bigger lie!” in response to the Federalist’s Sean Davis saying, “Surprise! The FBI has been lying for years about when it started investigating Trump in 2016.” Strzok tweeted that the claims were “untrue,” that “the investigation opened July 31,” and that “199 criminal charges followed.”
It was not immediately clear to whom Strzok may have been referring to in his July 2016 message, which was among dozens of FBI communications declassified by the DOJ and released this week by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley in their investigation of the Trump-Russia investigators. Horowitz’s December 2019 report said that “two of the four Crossfire Hurricane subjects” wrapped into the Trump-Russia investigation by the FBI in August 2016 “were already the subjects of other existing federal investigations.”
The DOJ watchdog said that, beginning in January 2016, future Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort “was the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation” by the DOJ, although not a counterintelligence investigation, according to the report, “concerning millions of dollars Manafort allegedly received from the government of Ukraine.” Manafort was found guilty of and pleaded guilty to a host of financial crimes in 2018 and 2019.
Page, later targeted in October 2016 through FISA wiretaps that relied on allegations contained in Steele's dossier, “was the subject of an ongoing counterintelligence investigation opened by the FBI's New York Field Office on April 4, 2016, relating to his contacts with suspected Russian intelligence officers,” according to Horowitz. Strzok claimed in his new book, Compromised, that Page’s commencement address at the New Economic School in Moscow in early July 2016 “raised eyebrows at the FBI.” Page was not charged with any wrongdoing, and Horowitz criticized how the FBI investigated him.
Kevin Clinesmith, who worked on the investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s private email server and on the FBI’s Trump-Russia inquiry as well as Mueller’s team, admitted to Durham this summer that he falsified a document during the bureau’s efforts to renew its FISA authority to wiretap Page, editing a CIA email in 2017 to state that Page was “not a source” when the CIA had told the bureau on multiple occasions that Page had been an “operational contact” for them.
The FBI also opened Crossfire Hurricane subinvestigations into Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos in early August 2016 and into retired Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn soon after.
Horowitz found last year that the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation had “sufficient factual predication.” Attorney General William Barr and Durham disagreed.
Strzok played an integral role in opening the FBI's counterintelligence investigation into the Trump campaign. The “opening electronic communication” for Crossfire Hurricane was authored by Strzok and authorized by FBI counterintelligence official Bill Priestap at the end of July 2016. The investigation looked into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia after Australian diplomat Alexander Downer informed the U.S. about the claims from Papadopoulos following a May 2016 conversation he had in a London wine bar during which the Trump campaign associate mentioned that Russia might have dirt on Clinton. The FBI didn’t interview Papadopoulos until January 2017, and it was then that Papadopoulos revealed his April 2016 conversations with Maltese professor Joseph Mifsud, who the Trump campaign adviser claimed told him the Russians had damaging information on Clinton. Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in 2017 to making false statements about his communications with Mifsud.
Strzok incorrectly claimed in his new book that Downer was spurred to inform the U.S. government about the May 2016 conversation with Papadopoulos after hearing then-candidate Trump say at a Florida press conference in July 2016, “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 [Clinton] emails.” But, as the Washington Examiner pointed out, Mueller and Horowitz both concluded that Australia informed the United States of this conversation on July 26, 2016, one day before Trump made the comments about Russia, which Trump has said were made in jest.
Strzok’s book claimed that “the communication ... had been precipitated by a public statement by Donald Trump” and that “in Downer’s recounting, Trump’s words jarred his memory of a series of conversations months earlier.”
The former FBI deputy assistant director of counterintelligence admitted the error during a Zoom discussion with the Brookings Institution’s Benjamin Wittes when asked about the contradiction unearthed by the Washington Examiner.
“So, I got that wrong,” Strzok said. He then said that it was “a little error” and that “I know some people are scrubbing timelines for little details and scoping headlines around them, but that was an honest mistake based on a lack of a specific recollection, and then, after I had submitted my book to pre-pub review, all this information came out afterwards.” Strzok’s book came out in September, with Horowitz’s report released in December 2019 and Mueller’s report released in April 2019.
Strzok was removed from Mueller's team in 2017 and fired from the FBI in 2018 after a host of anti-Trump texts he'd sent while investigating Trump and Clinton came to light.


bonginoreport--2020-12-18--U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on CCP Linked Companies

The United States added dozens of Chinese companies to a trade blacklist , President Donald Trump ’ s administration announced Friday .
The move is only Trump ’ s most recent executive action as he seeks pursues a flurry of issues before President-Elect Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20 .
The blacklist additions specifically included China ’ s top computer chip maker , SMIC , the world ’ s largest drone manufacturer , DJI , AGCU Scientech and Kuang-Chi Group for enabling human rights violations by the Chinese government .
The blacklist means that American companies seeking to sell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the list must firs apply for a specific license to do so .
In total , Friday ’ s announcement added 77 companies and groups , including the four previously mentioned , to Commerce ’ s “ Entities List ” for a range of actions that endangered U.S. interests and national security , ranging from “ militarization and unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea ” to the “ theft of U.S. trade secrets.
” “ We will not allow advanced U.S. technology to help build the military of an increasingly belligerent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a Friday statement .
“ Between SMIC ’ s relationships of concern with the military industrial complex , China ’ s aggressive application of military civil fusion mandates and state-directed subsidies , SMIC perfectly illustrates the risks of China ’ s leverage of U.S. technology to support its military modernization.
” ( RELATED : Josh Hawley Introduces A Bill Cracking Down On Big Tech Exports To China ) “ The Chinese Communist Party ’ s malign activity at home and abroad harms U.S. interests and undermines the sovereignty of our allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Pompeo said in a statement coinciding with the announcement .
“ The United States will use all countermeasures available , including actions to prevent People ’ s Republic of China ( PRC ) companies and institutions from exploiting U.S. goods and technologies for malign purposes .
Today ’ s actions mark yet another sign of our resolve.
” ( RELATED : ‘ Uighur Alarms ’ Just The Latest In Long List Of China ’ s Worst Human Rights Abuses ) Trump sought to combat China ’ s growth on the world stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those efforts ramped up in 2019 and 2020 , however , after the Chinese Communist Party ended democracy in Hong Kong and allowed the coronavirus to spread beyond its borders , becoming a pandemic that ravaged the globe .
Trump has imposed escalating tariffs on Chinese goods since 2018 , but the United Nations declared his latest round illegal in September .
Trump sought to block tomato and cotton imports from the Xinjiang region of China , where the CCP uses Uighur slave labor to harvest the products .
The persecution of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described as “ genocide.
” With regard to COVID-19 , the U.S. and other global leaders have concluded China falsified its data on cases and deaths in Wuhan and the rest of the country .
Trump has also emphasized China ’ s decision to ban travel out of Wuhan to the rest of China but allowing travel out of Wuhan to the rest of the world in the early days of the pandemic .

The United States added dozens of Chinese companies to a trade blacklist, President Donald Trump’s administration announced Friday.
The move is only Trump’s most recent executive action as he seeks pursues a flurry of issues before President-Elect Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20. The blacklist additions specifically included China’s top computer chip maker, SMIC, the world’s largest drone manufacturer, DJI, AGCU Scientech and Kuang-Chi Group for enabling human rights violations by the Chinese government.
The blacklist means that American companies seeking to sell products to SMIC or other firms on the list must firs apply for a specific license to do so. In total, Friday’s announcement added 77 companies and groups, including the four previously mentioned, to Commerce’s “Entities List” for a range of actions that endangered U.S. interests and national security, ranging from “militarization and unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea” to the “theft of U.S. trade secrets.”
“We will not allow advanced U.S. technology to help build the military of an increasingly belligerent adversary,” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a Friday statement. “Between SMIC’s relationships of concern with the military industrial complex, China’s aggressive application of military civil fusion mandates and state-directed subsidies, SMIC perfectly illustrates the risks of China’s leverage of U.S. technology to support its military modernization.” (RELATED: Josh Hawley Introduces A Bill Cracking Down On Big Tech Exports To China)
“The Chinese Communist Party’s malign activity at home and abroad harms U.S. interests and undermines the sovereignty of our allies and partners,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement coinciding with the announcement. “The United States will use all countermeasures available, including actions to prevent People’s Republic of China (PRC) companies and institutions from exploiting U.S. goods and technologies for malign purposes. Today’s actions mark yet another sign of our resolve.” (RELATED: ‘Uighur Alarms’ Just The Latest In Long List Of China’s Worst Human Rights Abuses)
Trump sought to combat China’s growth on the world stage since the earliest days of his administration. Those efforts ramped up in 2019 and 2020, however, after the Chinese Communist Party ended democracy in Hong Kong and allowed the coronavirus to spread beyond its borders, becoming a pandemic that ravaged the globe.
Trump has imposed escalating tariffs on Chinese goods since 2018, but the United Nations declared his latest round illegal in September. Trump sought to block tomato and cotton imports from the Xinjiang region of China, where the CCP uses Uighur slave labor to harvest the products.
The persecution of Uighur Muslims in the region has been described as “genocide.”
With regard to COVID-19, the U.S. and other global leaders have concluded China falsified its data on cases and deaths in Wuhan and the rest of the country. Trump has also emphasized China’s decision to ban travel out of Wuhan to the rest of China but allowing travel out of Wuhan to the rest of the world in the early days of the pandemic.
Christian Datoc contributed to this report.


bonginoreport--2020-12-18--California Judge Allows San Diego County Restaurants to Reopen

A California judge ruled that all San Diego County restaurants can reopen for on-site dining , falling in line with an earlier ruling that strip clubs could remain open despite Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s novel coronavirus-related health order that calls for such establishments to close up shop .
Thursday ’ s San Diego County ruling was a setback to Newsom ’ s stay-at-home order , which officials said was issued in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus before the state 's intensive care units run out of beds .
The Democratic governor ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owners weighing whether to buy food and schedule staff a week before Christmas amid the possibility that their victory could soon be reversed .
TWO CALIFORNIA STRIP CLUBS CAN REMAIN OPEN , SET OWN CORONAVIRUS RULES , JUDGE SAYS The case was initially brought to the court by two San Diego strip clubs and resulted in the major victory for California businesses that are fighting public health orders that they say have hurt them economically .
In announcing his decision in favor of the businesses , San Diego Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' in going beyond the strip clubs that sued the county and state , Cheetahs Gentlemen ’ s Club and Pacers Showgirls International .
County officials requested the next-day hearing to clarify how far the ruling extended .
`` It is intended to encompass all restaurants within the county of San Diego , '' Wohlfeil said in the brief Thursday hearing that lasted all but eight minutes .
CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC GOV .
GAVIN NEWSOM COULD HAVE EMERGENCY POWERS TAKEN AWAY San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria tweeted in response to the decision , writing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and state officials to determine the next steps .
`` No one wants our small businesses to be closed , but the science and data are showing a dire trend in hospitalizations and deaths , '' he wrote .
`` Over 1,200 have died in San Diego County and the ICU capacity in Southern California has dropped to zero .
We have a collective obligation to accept the personal responsibility of keeping each other safe . ''
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP Hours after the injunction was issued Wednesday , San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions barring indoor and outdoor dining and live entertainment in the county of 3 million , the state 's second-most populous .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

A California judge ruled that all San Diego County restaurants can reopen for on-site dining, falling in line with an earlier ruling that strip clubs could remain open despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s novel coronavirus-related health order that calls for such establishments to close up shop.
Thursday’s San Diego County ruling was a setback to Newsom’s stay-at-home order, which officials said was issued in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus before the state's intensive care units run out of beds.
The Democratic governor’s office immediately appealed, bringing uncertainty to restaurant owners weighing whether to buy food and schedule staff a week before Christmas amid the possibility that their victory could soon be reversed.
TWO CALIFORNIA STRIP CLUBS CAN REMAIN OPEN, SET OWN CORONAVIRUS RULES, JUDGE SAYS
The case was initially brought to the court by two San Diego strip clubs and resulted in the major victory for California businesses that are fighting public health orders that they say have hurt them economically.
In announcing his decision in favor of the businesses, San Diego Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil said his ruling Wednesday was "straightforward" in going beyond the strip clubs that sued the county and state, Cheetahs Gentlemen’s Club and Pacers Showgirls International.
County officials requested the next-day hearing to clarify how far the ruling extended.
"It is intended to encompass all restaurants within the county of San Diego," Wohlfeil said in the brief Thursday hearing that lasted all but eight minutes.
CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM COULD HAVE EMERGENCY POWERS TAKEN AWAY
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria tweeted in response to the decision, writing that the city is working with county and state officials to determine the next steps.
"No one wants our small businesses to be closed, but the science and data are showing a dire trend in hospitalizations and deaths," he wrote. "Over 1,200 have died in San Diego County and the ICU capacity in Southern California has dropped to zero. We have a collective obligation to accept the personal responsibility of keeping each other safe."
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
Hours after the injunction was issued Wednesday, San Diego County had suspended enforcement of its restrictions barring indoor and outdoor dining and live entertainment in the county of 3 million, the state's second-most populous.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


bonginoreport--2020-12-18--California Could Lose House Seat and Electoral Vote Due to Population Exodus

An exodus sparked by high taxes , coronavirus lockdowns , and regulations has driven California ’ s population growth rate to a record low , which is projected to cost the state a seat in Congress and an electoral vote .
“ This is a real sea change in California , which used to be this state of pretty robust population growth , ” said Hans Johnson , a demographer at the Public Policy Institute of California , regarding the net migration loss , which has now occurred three years in a row .
“ It hasn ’ t been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s now gotten to the point where the state is essentially not growing population-wise at all.
” According to a , 135,600 more people fled the Golden State than moved there , which marks only the 12th time since 1900 that the state saw a net migration loss .
It is the third-largest drop recorded .
Johnson added that the population decrease could cause the state to lose a seat in Congress as well as an Electoral College vote for the first time .
The state did not gain any seats following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a first .
Residents have cited high taxes as a main driver of the decision to leave .
“ I never wanted to leave California , ” San Francisco real estate broker Scott Fuller said about his departure from the state after living there since 1983 .
“ It ’ s the most beautiful state with the best climate .
I think the tipping point was continued tax increases and even more proposed tax increases .
...
I have absolutely no regrets.
” Businesses have been , and just recently , it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Larry Ellison were moving their companies , Tesla and Oracle , to more business-friendly states and taking tens of thousands of jobs with them .
Californians have also expressed increased frustration with state and local governments over strict coronavirus lockdowns , evidenced by and a that has gained enough steam to cause his team concern .
The coronavirus pandemic has also forced many in California to work from home , which makes living close to work less important and a potential move easier to commit to , especially when the same salary can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s really sped up the out-migration quite a bit , ” Fuller said about the shift to remote employment .
“ People have options now , and you pair that with people ’ s frustration on several different levels — I don ’ t see it changing .
”

An exodus sparked by high taxes, coronavirus lockdowns, and regulations has driven California’s population growth rate to a record low, which is projected to cost the state a seat in Congress and an electoral vote.
“This is a real sea change in California, which used to be this state of pretty robust population growth,” said Hans Johnson, a demographer at the Public Policy Institute of California, regarding the net migration loss, which has now occurred three years in a row. “It hasn’t been for some time now. But it’s now gotten to the point where the state is essentially not growing population-wise at all.”
According to a population estimate this week , 135,600 more people fled the Golden State than moved there, which marks only the 12th time since 1900 that the state saw a net migration loss. It is the third-largest drop recorded.
Johnson added that the population decrease could cause the state to lose a seat in Congress as well as an Electoral College vote for the first time. The state did not gain any seats following the 2010 census, which was also a first.
Residents have cited high taxes as a main driver of the decision to leave.
“I never wanted to leave California,” San Francisco real estate broker Scott Fuller said about his departure from the state after living there since 1983. “It’s the most beautiful state with the best climate. I think the tipping point was continued tax increases and even more proposed tax increases. ... I have absolutely no regrets.”
Businesses have been fleeing California as well , and just recently, it was learned that tech giants Elon Musk and Larry Ellison were moving their companies, Tesla and Oracle, to more business-friendly states and taking tens of thousands of jobs with them.
Californians have also expressed increased frustration with state and local governments over strict coronavirus lockdowns, evidenced by large protests across the state and a recall effort aimed at removing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom from office that has gained enough steam to cause his team concern .
The coronavirus pandemic has also forced many in California to work from home, which makes living close to work less important and a potential move easier to commit to, especially when the same salary can be earned in a less expensive state.
“It’s really sped up the out-migration quite a bit,” Fuller said about the shift to remote employment. “People have options now, and you pair that with people’s frustration on several different levels — I don’t see it changing.”


bonginoreport--2020-12-18--7 in 10 Americans Will “Definitely or Probably” Take the Coronavirus Vaccine

Seventy-one percent of the U.S. public report that they would definitely or probably get a COVID-19 vaccine , marking an increase from 63 percent in September , according to the ongoing research project , the KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor .
The KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor used a combination of surveys and focus groups to track the U.S. public 's attitudes to vaccination .
According to the results of the survey , there has been an increase in the proportion of people who would definitely or probably get a COVID-19 vaccine if it was determined to be safe and available for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase from 63 percent in September .
Overall , 27 percent of the public remain hesitant about the vaccine , with hesitancy highest among Republicans ( 42 percent ) , those aged 30 to 49 years ( 36 percent ) , rural residents ( 35 percent ) , and Black adults ( 35 percent ) .
The main reasons for vaccine hesitancy include being worried about possible side effects , lack of trust in the government to ensure safety and effectiveness , concerns that the vaccine is too new , and concerns over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of vaccine development ( 59 , 55 , 53 , and 51 percent , respectively ) .
Among Blacks , concerns include not trusting vaccines in general or being worried they may get COVID-19 from the vaccine ( 47 and 51 percent , respectively ) .
`` Many who are hesitant are in wait-and-see mode , and their concerns include worries about side effects and whether the vaccine can cause COVID-19 , which may dissipate as people get more information and see the vaccine introduced successfully among people they know , '' Drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief executive officer of KFF , said in a statement .
Citation : 71 percent in U.S. report that they would get COVID-19 vaccine ( 2020 , December 18 ) retrieved 18 December 2020 from https : //medicalxpress.com/news/2020-12-percent-covid-vaccine.html This document is subject to copyright .
Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research , no part may be reproduced without the written permission .
The content is provided for information purposes only .

Seventy-one percent of the U.S. public report that they would definitely or probably get a COVID-19 vaccine, marking an increase from 63 percent in September, according to the ongoing research project, the KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor.
The KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor used a combination of surveys and focus groups to track the U.S. public's attitudes to vaccination.
According to the results of the survey, there has been an increase in the proportion of people who would definitely or probably get a COVID-19 vaccine if it was determined to be safe and available for free, reaching 71 percent, an increase from 63 percent in September. Overall, 27 percent of the public remain hesitant about the vaccine, with hesitancy highest among Republicans (42 percent), those aged 30 to 49 years (36 percent), rural residents (35 percent), and Black adults (35 percent). The main reasons for vaccine hesitancy include being worried about possible side effects, lack of trust in the government to ensure safety and effectiveness, concerns that the vaccine is too new, and concerns over the role of politics in the process of vaccine development (59, 55, 53, and 51 percent, respectively). Among Blacks, concerns include not trusting vaccines in general or being worried they may get COVID-19 from the vaccine (47 and 51 percent, respectively).
"Many who are hesitant are in wait-and-see mode, and their concerns include worries about side effects and whether the vaccine can cause COVID-19, which may dissipate as people get more information and see the vaccine introduced successfully among people they know," Drew Altman, Ph.D., the president and chief executive officer of KFF, said in a statement.
More information: More Information
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bonginoreport--2020-12-18--Stacey Abrams Celebrates “Record 7.7 Million Georgians” Registered to Vote Ahead of Runoffs

Failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams celebrated news Friday a “ record 7.7 million Georgians ” are registered to vote ahead of the highly contentious Georgia Senate runoff elections .
“ A record 7.7 million Georgians are registered to vote ahead of the Jan. 5 runoff election , ” Abrmas wrote in a tweet to her 1.6 million followers .
Abrams also highlighted certain people and organizations in her tweet she believes “ deserve credit for expanding ” Georgia ’ s electorate , including the New Georgia Project and its CEO Nse Ufot , Black Voters Matter , Helen Butler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month , after Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger ’ s ( R ) claimed the New Georgia Project had encouraged non-Georgia residents to register to vote in the state ’ s Senate runoff elections , the group denied impropriety .
In a statement on the matter , Ufot said : As Georgians are turning out in record numbers to have their voices heard at the polls , the Secretary of State is resorting to desperate attempts to smear law-abiding organizations and scare eligible Georgians from registering to vote in critical upcoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This attack on our organization comes at a time when people across the country have witnessed the strength of our program and the collective power of a new Georgia electorate that embraces a system of inclusivity and opportunity for all Georgians .
The timing is not accidental .
Last week , during an appearance on CNN , Abrams claimed Democrats would win the two U.S. Senate seats up for grab in Georgia .
“ Democrats are prepared to win this election , ” Abrams told CNN ’ s Jake Tapper .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the level of investment and engagement that it takes to win a runoff .
We know from the numbers we are in a good place.
” Abrams also noted that “ 1.2 million absentee ballots have been requested thus far , and just to put that into context , 1.3 million were requested for all of the general election.
” The respective runoff elections between Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) and Raphael Warnock , and between Sen. David Perdue ( R-GA ) and his Democrat opponent Jon Ossoff , have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State .

Failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams celebrated news Friday a “record 7.7 million Georgians” are registered to vote ahead of the highly contentious Georgia Senate runoff elections.
“A record 7.7 million Georgians are registered to vote ahead of the Jan. 5 runoff election,” Abrmas wrote in a tweet to her 1.6 million followers.
A record 7.7 million Georgians are registered to vote ahead of the Jan. 5 runoff election. 🗳 So many deserve credit for expanding GA’s electorate: @nseufot, @NewGAProject, @BlackVotersMtr, Helen Butler, @Georgia_NAACP and more. Let’s get it done➡https://t.co/lClnYYPro6 #gapol pic.twitter.com/jY6Ysw97BQ — Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) December 18, 2020
Abrams also highlighted certain people and organizations in her tweet she believes “deserve credit for expanding” Georgia’s electorate, including the New Georgia Project and its CEO Nse Ufot, Black Voters Matter, Helen Butler, and the Georgia NAACP.
Late last month, after Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s (R) claimed the New Georgia Project had encouraged non-Georgia residents to register to vote in the state’s Senate runoff elections, the group denied impropriety.
In a statement on the matter, Ufot said:
As Georgians are turning out in record numbers to have their voices heard at the polls, the Secretary of State is resorting to desperate attempts to smear law-abiding organizations and scare eligible Georgians from registering to vote in critical upcoming elections. We will not be deterred. This attack on our organization comes at a time when people across the country have witnessed the strength of our program and the collective power of a new Georgia electorate that embraces a system of inclusivity and opportunity for all Georgians. The timing is not accidental.
Last week, during an appearance on CNN, Abrams claimed Democrats would win the two U.S. Senate seats up for grab in Georgia.
“Democrats are prepared to win this election,” Abrams told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “This is the first runoff where we have the level of investment and engagement that it takes to win a runoff. We know from the numbers we are in a good place.”
Abrams also noted that “1.2 million absentee ballots have been requested thus far, and just to put that into context, 1.3 million were requested for all of the general election.”
The respective runoff elections between Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) and Raphael Warnock, and between Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) and his Democrat opponent Jon Ossoff, have been set for January 5 in the Peach State.
Stacey Abrams is confident in the next round of cheat-by-mail. https://t.co/vszdGrDJMT — Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) December 14, 2020
Follow Kyle on Twitter @RealKyleMorris and Facebook.


bonginoreport--2020-12-19--McCarthy Demands Swalwell Be Kicked Off Intel Committee

Kevin McCarthy receives FBI briefing on Eric Swalwell 's relationship with a Chinese spy , and demands he be cut @ @ @ @ @ 's the one question that was answered ''

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) demanded that Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell (Calif.) be removed from the House Intelligence Committee after receiving an FBI briefing on his former relationship with a Chinese spy.
Swalwell has met with a chorus of condemnation after a report revealed that he had been in a personal relationship with a woman federal investigators believed to be a Chinese espionage agent.
The California Democrat cut ties with the woman, named Christine Fang, after receiving a "defensive briefing" by investigators in 2015.
However, Republican lawmakers and other critics of Swalwell have used the report to raise doubt about whether the congressman could be compromised by that former relationship.
McCarthy made his opinion clear in a tweet posted on Friday after the FBI briefing.
"I had a briefing from the FBI today to learn more about Eric Swalwell's ties to a reported-spy from China, and one thing is now crystal clear: Swalwell should no longer be on the Intel Committee," McCarthy said.
He also spoke to reporters after the briefing.
"One thing I know for sure — I had questions about whether he should. That's the one question that was answered, he should not be on Intel," he said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was also present at the FBI briefing, but she did not address reporters about the information shared with her. She has previously said that she has faith in Swalwell's ability to serve on the committee, and Swalwell has said that Democrats knew about the relationship before it was publicly divulged.
Swalwell also implied that the president's animus toward him had to do with the timing of report.
"I've been a critic of the president. I've spoken out against him. I was on both committees that worked to impeach him," Swalwell said. "The timing feels like that should be looked at."
Christine Fang left the United States in 2015.
Here's McCarthy's comments to reporters after the briefing:


bonginoreport--2020-12-19--Josh Hammer: Immigration Politics Went Away During Coronavirus. It’s Coming Back.

Donald Trump famously sought the presidency in 2016 on a platform that elevated the immigration issue to the singular political forefront .
He was right to do so .
There is a very strong case that immigration , both legal and illegal , represents the indispensable issue facing the United States .
No other political issue so broadly affects virtually every other -- whether it is economics , national security , foreign policy , culture and religion , crime and law and order , or congressional apportionment -- as that most foundational issue of any legitimate self-governing politics : who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polity and a citizenry .
For the first three years of his presidency , Trump attempted intermittently to implement the broad contours of his immigration agenda .
While he wasted precious political capital on other legislative pursuits , such as a milquetoast tax cut and a misbegotten jailbreak initiative , Trump galvanized executive branch authority to slowly build the border wall , reform visa abuses , rescind President Barack Obama 's unconstitutional Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals amnesty , end the destructive Obama-era illegal immigration magnet of interior `` catch and release , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement of extant immigration law .
Border hawks were certainly left wanting far more .
And the left , with its dutiful `` resistance '' judges dispersed throughout the federal courts , did its best to condemn and stymie Trump 's agenda .
But overall , his agenda was fairly successful .
Trump 's innovative `` Remain in Mexico '' policy for prospective Central American asylum seekers helped quell the nightmarish 2019 border surge , and evidence suggests that working-class wages particularly increased in the U.S. metropolitan areas that saw the largest immigration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And of course , Trump 's consistent scorched-earth rhetoric on the topic was itself enough to deter smugglers and families alike from attempting the journey north .
Then came COVID-19 .
Almost instantly , domestic quarantines sprang up , and cross-country travel bans proliferated .
International travel became almost impossible .
The infamous Mexican drug cartels and human trafficking rings were even affected , and U.S.-Mexico border crossings plummeted .
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics , Border Patrol in April 2020 reported a mere 17,106 combined apprehensions/deemed inadmissibles -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior , in April 2019 .
The result was that the immigration issue , the hallmark of Trump 's insurgent 2016 campaign , receded in importance as an electoral issue .
Trump sometimes spoke on the stump about building a fuller border wall in a second term , but the contrast between his 2020 reelection campaign and his inaugural 2016 campaign was striking .
With COVID-19 lockdowns , dire need for fiscal relief to struggling or laid-off workers , midsummer urban anarchy and a harrowing rise of violent crime , and the ever-ascendant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply too many other things on voters ' minds to pay heed to an issue that COVID-19 had largely taken out of play .
But as the election neared , illegal border crossings rose again .
Border Patrol combined apprehensions/inadmissibles in September , October and November 2020 were all higher than their corresponding months one year prior .
The timing , as the widely assumed impending presidential ascension of immigration dove Joe Biden neared , was impossible to ignore .
And as John Daniel Davidson recently noted in the New York Post , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' is now forming in Honduras , with its eyes set on the U.S. border .
With the Trump administration 's days in office waning , we are set for the messy and divisive politics of immigration to return to national preeminence .
Many of the old fights of the Obama era are due for a reprise , and the very nearly evenly divided House and Senate will both feature many immigration votes .
It is incumbent upon Republicans , who have largely coalesced around a pro-worker , pro-borders platform , to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remaining like-minded Democrats who agree with the labor unions of old on labor inflows .
Some still exist , though they are now overwhelmingly outnumbered by `` intersectional '' democratic socialists who peddle the calamitous lunacy of open borders .
Senate Republicans will also have to use every constitutional tool at their disposal , including the power of the purse , to check Biden 's imminent opening up of our border , indiscriminate flooding of the nation with cheap labor , and failure to enforce basic immigration laws .
The next four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In that sense , this term will be similar to the Trump presidency .
Only this time , the roles are reversed .
Here 's hoping conservatives are ready for the fight .

Donald Trump famously sought the presidency in 2016 on a platform that elevated the immigration issue to the singular political forefront. He was right to do so. There is a very strong case that immigration, both legal and illegal, represents the indispensable issue facing the United States. No other political issue so broadly affects virtually every other -- whether it is economics, national security, foreign policy, culture and religion, crime and law and order, or congressional apportionment -- as that most foundational issue of any legitimate self-governing politics: who we quite literally are, as a polity and a citizenry.
For the first three years of his presidency, Trump attempted intermittently to implement the broad contours of his immigration agenda. While he wasted precious political capital on other legislative pursuits, such as a milquetoast tax cut and a misbegotten jailbreak initiative, Trump galvanized executive branch authority to slowly build the border wall, reform visa abuses, rescind President Barack Obama's unconstitutional Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals amnesty, end the destructive Obama-era illegal immigration magnet of interior "catch and release," and more generally seek a robust enforcement of extant immigration law.
Border hawks were certainly left wanting far more. And the left, with its dutiful "resistance" judges dispersed throughout the federal courts, did its best to condemn and stymie Trump's agenda. But overall, his agenda was fairly successful. Trump's innovative "Remain in Mexico" policy for prospective Central American asylum seekers helped quell the nightmarish 2019 border surge, and evidence suggests that working-class wages particularly increased in the U.S. metropolitan areas that saw the largest immigration declines (both legal and illegal). And of course, Trump's consistent scorched-earth rhetoric on the topic was itself enough to deter smugglers and families alike from attempting the journey north.
Then came COVID-19. Almost instantly, domestic quarantines sprang up, and cross-country travel bans proliferated. International travel became almost impossible. The infamous Mexican drug cartels and human trafficking rings were even affected, and U.S.-Mexico border crossings plummeted. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics, Border Patrol in April 2020 reported a mere 17,106 combined apprehensions/deemed inadmissibles -- compared with a record-breaking 109,415 one year prior, in April 2019.
The result was that the immigration issue, the hallmark of Trump's insurgent 2016 campaign, receded in importance as an electoral issue. Trump sometimes spoke on the stump about building a fuller border wall in a second term, but the contrast between his 2020 reelection campaign and his inaugural 2016 campaign was striking. With COVID-19 lockdowns, dire need for fiscal relief to struggling or laid-off workers, midsummer urban anarchy and a harrowing rise of violent crime, and the ever-ascendant rise of Communist China, there were simply too many other things on voters' minds to pay heed to an issue that COVID-19 had largely taken out of play.
But as the election neared, illegal border crossings rose again. Border Patrol combined apprehensions/inadmissibles in September, October and November 2020 were all higher than their corresponding months one year prior. The timing, as the widely assumed impending presidential ascension of immigration dove Joe Biden neared, was impossible to ignore. And as John Daniel Davidson recently noted in the New York Post, a brand-new mass of migrant "caravans" is now forming in Honduras, with its eyes set on the U.S. border.
With the Trump administration's days in office waning, we are set for the messy and divisive politics of immigration to return to national preeminence. Many of the old fights of the Obama era are due for a reprise, and the very nearly evenly divided House and Senate will both feature many immigration votes. It is incumbent upon Republicans, who have largely coalesced around a pro-worker, pro-borders platform, to do their best to peel off the few remaining like-minded Democrats who agree with the labor unions of old on labor inflows. Some still exist, though they are now overwhelmingly outnumbered by "intersectional" democratic socialists who peddle the calamitous lunacy of open borders. Senate Republicans will also have to use every constitutional tool at their disposal, including the power of the purse, to check Biden's imminent opening up of our border, indiscriminate flooding of the nation with cheap labor, and failure to enforce basic immigration laws.
The next four years will see many an immigration fight. In that sense, this term will be similar to the Trump presidency. Only this time, the roles are reversed. Here's hoping conservatives are ready for the fight.


bonginoreport--2020-12-19--Sen. Daines: Swalwell Should Testify Before Congress About Relationship With Chinese Spy

On Friday ’ s broadcast of Fox News Radio ’ s “ Fox Across America , ” Sen. Steve Daines @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Eric Swalwell ( D-CA ) should testify before a congressional committee about his involvement @ @ @ @ @ .
Daines said , [ relevant remarks begin around 12:10 ] “ Let ’ s @ @ @ @ @ step is to have him come clean about what really happened .
He needs to @ @ @ @ @ congressional committee , whether it ’ s in a classified setting , or in a @ @ @ @ @ clean on what ’ s going on .
That ’ s step one , and @ @ @ @ @ to tell the actual story , then there ’ s a problem here .
And @ @ @ @ @ need to come out and then the consequences will follow shortly after .
”

On Friday’s broadcast of Fox News Radio’s “Fox Across America,” Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) said that Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) should testify before a congressional committee about his involvement with a suspected Chinese spy.
Daines said, [relevant remarks begin around 12:10] “Let’s just start with the first step is to have him come clean about what really happened. He needs to get in front of a congressional committee, whether it’s in a classified setting, or in a public setting and just come clean on what’s going on. That’s step one, and when he is not willing to tell the actual story, then there’s a problem here. And so that — the facts need to come out and then the consequences will follow shortly after.”
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett


bonginoreport--2020-12-19--Michael Barone: Biden: Identity Politics and No Apologies

Identity politics seems to be sticking around .
Important election results seemed to refute the notion that Americans vote for their ethnic or racial identity .
Hispanic voters trended significantly toward the supposedly anti-Hispanic Donald Trump , and Californians , while voting 63 % for Joe Biden , rejected racial quotas and preferences in a referendum by an even larger margin than in the 1990s .
But Joe Biden , even as the Supreme Court rejected the last pro-Trump lawsuit and the Electoral College confirmed his 306-232 majority , seemed to be playing identity politics with his major appointments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times is reporting , `` continue to lobby Mr. Biden to ensure racial and gender diversity at all levels of his administration . ''
He 's facing demands for two Cabinet posts for `` Latinas , '' for a black attorney general and for a Native American interior secretary .
He 's facing criticism for placing `` people of color '' in posts for which they have no apparent expertise — Xavier Becerra at the Department of Health and Human Services , Susan Rice at the Domestic Policy Council .
Every incoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism — but it 's an especially vexing problem for Democrats .
Their party , since its creation in 1832 , has been an often-unwieldy coalition of out-groups with grievances and self-appointed advocates .
Their urban political bosses developed the art of balancing party tickets dozens of decades ago .
The plaints and pleas of identity-group advocates can sometimes seem disconnected from reality .
How many Hispanic-surnamed women out there are determined to renounce the Democratic Party unless Biden appoints to his Cabinet not just one but two Latinas ( at least The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unpronounceable adjective `` Latinx '' ) ?
Will black voters really feel betrayed if this Democratic president does n't appoint a black attorney general as the last Democratic president did ?
At this point in our history , it seems apparent that Americans will not only accept but also approve of appointees of any ethnic or racial description , depending on their performance and policies .
And one suspects that among the public , if not in the press , most people care more about policy than ethnicity , more about competence than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Biden administration is shaping up to be less radical than Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her squad may like , but also sharp-edged in its partisanship .
Becerra 's legal persecution of abortion opponents and Rice 's willingness to advance falsehoods about the 2012 Benghazi attack are pertinent examples that could prove of greater importance than their racial classifications .
A sharp-edged partisan tone was also apparent in Joe Biden 's mostly emollient remarks Monday night during which he acknowledged his victory in the Electoral College .
`` It 's time to turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our history , '' Biden said , `` to unite , to heal . ''
He promised to `` be president for all Americans . ''
But he also took pains to rebuke Donald Trump and Republicans who have supported the Texas attorney general 's lawsuit to overturn the results in four other states , rejected by an essentially unanimous Supreme Court .
Biden was right in disparaging that particular case and for noting that other pro-Trump lawsuits were not successful .
But he was wrong to suggest that Trump 's victory four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On the contrary , congressional Democrats then , on no more basis than the Texas attorney general had last week , challenged the Electoral College results .
And Obama administration intelligence and law enforcement officials interfered in the political process during and after the campaign , continuing for years after Trump was inaugurated to advance the charge of collusion with Russia , for which no credible evidence has ever appeared .
Calls `` to work together to give each other a chance to lower the temperature '' are likely to prove unavailing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledgement and apology — from those , including the president-elect , who denied the legitimacy of the man who was president-elect four years ago .
Acknowledgements and apologies should also be forthcoming from major press outlets and from Facebook and Twitter for suppressing what we now know was the valid New York Post story on Hunter Biden 's misdeeds .
The Trump lawsuits failed to identify any wrongdoing that cost Trump electoral votes .
But the largely successful suppression of those stories may have changed the outcome of the election , just as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement that reopened the Hillary Clinton email investigation may have changed the outcome in 2016 .
But , hey , back to business as usual .
There 's no sign that acknowledgements , much less apologies , are forthcoming , while the identity politics cabinetmaking merrily continues .
Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner , resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and longtime co-author of The Almanac of American Politics .

Identity politics seems to be sticking around. Important election results seemed to refute the notion that Americans vote for their ethnic or racial identity. Hispanic voters trended significantly toward the supposedly anti-Hispanic Donald Trump, and Californians, while voting 63% for Joe Biden, rejected racial quotas and preferences in a referendum by an even larger margin than in the 1990s.
But Joe Biden, even as the Supreme Court rejected the last pro-Trump lawsuit and the Electoral College confirmed his 306-232 majority, seemed to be playing identity politics with his major appointments. "Identity-based groups," The New York Times is reporting, "continue to lobby Mr. Biden to ensure racial and gender diversity at all levels of his administration."
He's facing demands for two Cabinet posts for "Latinas," for a black attorney general and for a Native American interior secretary. He's facing criticism for placing "people of color" in posts for which they have no apparent expertise — Xavier Becerra at the Department of Health and Human Services, Susan Rice at the Domestic Policy Council.
Every incoming president faces vexing choices — and scornful criticism — but it's an especially vexing problem for Democrats. Their party, since its creation in 1832, has been an often-unwieldy coalition of out-groups with grievances and self-appointed advocates. Their urban political bosses developed the art of balancing party tickets dozens of decades ago.
The plaints and pleas of identity-group advocates can sometimes seem disconnected from reality. How many Hispanic-surnamed women out there are determined to renounce the Democratic Party unless Biden appoints to his Cabinet not just one but two Latinas (at least The Times isn't using the university-spawned and unpronounceable adjective "Latinx")? Will black voters really feel betrayed if this Democratic president doesn't appoint a black attorney general as the last Democratic president did?
At this point in our history, it seems apparent that Americans will not only accept but also approve of appointees of any ethnic or racial description, depending on their performance and policies. And one suspects that among the public, if not in the press, most people care more about policy than ethnicity, more about competence than ticket balancing.
On that count, the Biden administration is shaping up to be less radical than Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her squad may like, but also sharp-edged in its partisanship. Becerra's legal persecution of abortion opponents and Rice's willingness to advance falsehoods about the 2012 Benghazi attack are pertinent examples that could prove of greater importance than their racial classifications.
A sharp-edged partisan tone was also apparent in Joe Biden's mostly emollient remarks Monday night during which he acknowledged his victory in the Electoral College.
"It's time to turn the page as we've done throughout our history," Biden said, "to unite, to heal." He promised to "be president for all Americans." But he also took pains to rebuke Donald Trump and Republicans who have supported the Texas attorney general's lawsuit to overturn the results in four other states, rejected by an essentially unanimous Supreme Court.
Biden was right in disparaging that particular case and for noting that other pro-Trump lawsuits were not successful. But he was wrong to suggest that Trump's victory four years ago was accepted ungrudgingly by Democrats.
On the contrary, congressional Democrats then, on no more basis than the Texas attorney general had last week, challenged the Electoral College results. And Obama administration intelligence and law enforcement officials interfered in the political process during and after the campaign, continuing for years after Trump was inaugurated to advance the charge of collusion with Russia, for which no credible evidence has ever appeared.
Calls "to work together to give each other a chance to lower the temperature" are likely to prove unavailing absent a confession of error — an acknowledgement and apology — from those, including the president-elect, who denied the legitimacy of the man who was president-elect four years ago.
Acknowledgements and apologies should also be forthcoming from major press outlets and from Facebook and Twitter for suppressing what we now know was the valid New York Post story on Hunter Biden's misdeeds.
The Trump lawsuits failed to identify any wrongdoing that cost Trump electoral votes. But the largely successful suppression of those stories may have changed the outcome of the election, just as Obama-appointed FBI Director James Comey's late-in-the-campaign statement that reopened the Hillary Clinton email investigation may have changed the outcome in 2016.
But, hey, back to business as usual. There's no sign that acknowledgements, much less apologies, are forthcoming, while the identity politics cabinetmaking merrily continues.
Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and longtime co-author of The Almanac of American Politics.


bonginoreport--2020-12-19--New Texts Show FBI Spied on Fox News During Crossfire Hurricane

New text messages released Thursday show FBI officials spied on a Fox News executive over the course of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation that targeted President Donald Trump as a secret Russian agent who illegally stole the election from Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
The FBI surveilled and recorded a phone call between former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos and an unnamed vice president at Fox News , according to a text message sent to fired former FBI official Peter Strzok just weeks before Trump was inaugurated as president in 2017 .
Agents were targeting former Trump campaign foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pleaded guilty to making false statements to FBI agents during the Russian collusion investigation .
The FBI used the Foreign Agents Registration Act , or FARA , as a legal pretext to investigate and spy on Papadopoulos , as well as former White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn , former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort , and former Trump affiliate Carter Page .
“ I know you ’ re not point on this anymore , but [ George Papadopoulos ] got a call from the VP at Fox News yesterday , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checks ’ on him a few months back , ” an unidentified individual whose name is redacted in the report texted to Strzok on January 12 , 2017 .
“ I haven ’ t listed to the exact audio , but I ’ m guess [ ing ] that ’ s the FARA checks that we did with DOJ on our 4 main guys ; especially given the article that you pushed yesterday.
” Neither the individual who sent the message to Strzok nor the Fox News executive was named in any of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa , and Sen. Ron Johnson , R-Wisc .
Strzok was fired from the FBI in 2018 after text messages surfaced showing that he used the Russia collusion investigations as an “ insurance policy ” to get rid of Trump in the event he became president .
The FBI named its investigation of Papadopoulos “ Crossfire Typhoon.
” Because the Obama DOJ never received a warrant to spy on Papadopoulos , it is likely that the FBI used a so-called National Security Letter to spy on Papadopoulos and Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Letter , a demand sent to telecommunications firms to provide communications information about a specific federal target , Obama ’ s DOJ and FBI were able to avoid legal requirements to receive a court-approved warrant to secretly spy on an American citizen .
Papadopoulos did not respond to The Federalist ’ s request for details about the phone call .
The Obama administration previously targeted former Fox News Washington Correspondent James Rosen in 2010 , falsely claiming the Fox reporter was a potential terrorist co-conspirator in order to track Rosen ’ s movements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to Fox News , the Obama White House even seized records containing the phone numbers of Rosen ’ s parents over the course of the federal inquisition into Rosen .
The Obama DOJ falsely accused Rosen of violating the Espionage Act , suggesting that he was a traitor to the United States in order to get access to his phone calls and e-mails .
Although members of the corporate media repeatedly claimed that Trump ’ s criticism of journalists on Twitter constituted a violent attack on the First Amendment and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have criticized the Obama administration for secretly recording phone calls with a cable news network executive without even bothering to seek a warrant .

New text messages released Thursday show FBI officials spied on a Fox News executive over the course of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation that targeted President Donald Trump as a secret Russian agent who illegally stole the election from Hillary Clinton in 2016. The FBI surveilled and recorded a phone call between former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos and an unnamed vice president at Fox News, according to a text message sent to fired former FBI official Peter Strzok just weeks before Trump was inaugurated as president in 2017.
Agents were targeting former Trump campaign foreign policy advisor George Papadopoulos, who later pleaded guilty to making false statements to FBI agents during the Russian collusion investigation. The FBI used the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA, as a legal pretext to investigate and spy on Papadopoulos, as well as former White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, and former Trump affiliate Carter Page.
“I know you’re not point on this anymore, but [George Papadopoulos] got a call from the VP at Fox News yesterday, who advised that the government was conducting ‘checks’ on him a few months back,” an unidentified individual whose name is redacted in the report texted to Strzok on January 12, 2017. “I haven’t listed to the exact audio, but I’m guess[ing] that’s the FARA checks that we did with DOJ on our 4 main guys; especially given the article that you pushed yesterday.”
Neither the individual who sent the message to Strzok nor the Fox News executive was named in any of the text messages released on Thursday by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc. Strzok was fired from the FBI in 2018 after text messages surfaced showing that he used the Russia collusion investigations as an “insurance policy” to get rid of Trump in the event he became president. The FBI named its investigation of Papadopoulos “Crossfire Typhoon.”
Because the Obama DOJ never received a warrant to spy on Papadopoulos, it is likely that the FBI used a so-called National Security Letter to spy on Papadopoulos and Fox News. By using a National Security Letter, a demand sent to telecommunications firms to provide communications information about a specific federal target, Obama’s DOJ and FBI were able to avoid legal requirements to receive a court-approved warrant to secretly spy on an American citizen.
Papadopoulos did not respond to The Federalist’s request for details about the phone call.
The Obama administration previously targeted former Fox News Washington Correspondent James Rosen in 2010, falsely claiming the Fox reporter was a potential terrorist co-conspirator in order to track Rosen’s movements, telephone records, and personal e-mails. According to Fox News, the Obama White House even seized records containing the phone numbers of Rosen’s parents over the course of the federal inquisition into Rosen. The Obama DOJ falsely accused Rosen of violating the Espionage Act, suggesting that he was a traitor to the United States in order to get access to his phone calls and e-mails.
Although members of the corporate media repeatedly claimed that Trump’s criticism of journalists on Twitter constituted a violent attack on the First Amendment and the free press, no corporate media outlets have criticized the Obama administration for secretly recording phone calls with a cable news network executive without even bothering to seek a warrant.


bonginoreport--2020-12-19--David Harsanyi: Wanted – An Honest Debate about the Death Penalty

Mike Dukakis was asked by CNN 's Bernard Shaw during the 1988 presidential debates whether he would support the death penalty if his wife , Kitty , had been raped and murdered .
The Massachusetts governor famously responded : `` No , I do n't , Bernard , and I think you know that I 've opposed the death penalty during all of my life .
I do n't see any evidence that it 's a deterrent , and I think there are better and more effective ways to deal with violent crime . ''
Given the coddling Democrats receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question sounds especially jarring .
But Dukakis 's automaton-like response to a query about the theoretical slaying of his dear wife did not go over well with the American public .
Dukakis did not seem to genuinely grapple with the complex moral implications of murder and punishment .
Like Dukakis , I oppose the death penalty as a matter of policy ( other than for extraordinary cases of domestic terrorism , such as Timothy McVeigh ) for several reasons relating to state power and the effectiveness of the practice .
That 's my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have yet to encounter a death sentence in America in my lifetime that I did n't think was well-earned .
That 's despite the dishonesty that usually defines the coverage of these cases .
This summer , the federal government began putting people to death for the first time in 17 years .
`` Trump administration executes Brandon Bernard , plans four more executions before Biden takes office , '' said a Washington Post headline last week .
While that is technically true , it was n't Trump who convicted these men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their peers .
It was n't Trump who upheld their convictions after numerous appeals ; it was the judicial system .
It was n't Trump who found the death penalty constitutional ; here , it was the Supreme Court that reaffirmed the Federal Death Penalty Act of 1994 requires executions to be carried out `` in the manner prescribed by the law of the state in which the sentence is imposed . ''
It was n't Trump who sponsored that law in 1994 ; it was Joe Biden .
Reporters nearly always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inordinate amounts of space presenting the case of anti-death penalty advocates , who often dishonestly paint these men as victims .
Take this Vox piece , wherein the reader learns that Bernard , `` a model prisoner , mentoring at-risk youth , '' had `` committed crimes that resulted in the deaths of a young white married couple in 1999 '' -- which makes a double homicide sound like an unfortunate accident and intimates that the conviction had something to do with race .
The fact is that 18-year-old Bernard helped kidnap and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bagley , youth ministers visiting Killeen , Texas , from Iowa .
The fellow gang members he was with could have let them go .
Instead , they forced the Bagleys into the trunk of their car and drove around for hours .
While the victims were locked in the back , they appealed to the humanity of the kidnappers , saying `` that they were not wealthy people , but that they were blessed by their faith in Jesus . ''
After hearing these words , one gang member wanted to back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though .
He had been the one driving the car used to hunt for victims .
After the murder was planned , it was Bernard who drove to purchase the fuel to burn them .
It was Bernard , with another person , who poured lighter fluid on the car `` while the Bagleys sang and prayed in the trunk . ''
It was Bernard who brought the Glock used to shoot Todd in the head and knock Stacie unconscious when the car did n't burn fast enough .
`` Having gotten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West told her 68 million followers on Twitter last week , `` I am heartbroken about this execution . ''
I do n't believe the death penalty solves much -- and the cost and moral baggage is n't worth it -- but I 'm heartbroken for the Bagleys , whom no one will ever get to know .
If you 're leaving out that part of the story , then you 're not having a real conversation about the death penalty .
And we rarely do .
`` Two Black men have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are set to die before Biden 's inauguration , '' writes CNN , creating the impression that the federal government is targeting Black men .
The first person put to death this summer was white supremacist Daniel Lewis Lee .
Wesley Ira Purkey , Dustin Lee Honken , Keith Dwayne Nelson , and William Emmett LeCroy -- all white , and all as deserving as Bernard -- were executed this summer as well .
You either believe the punishment for those guilty of committing especially heinous , cruel or depraved crimes should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The death-penalty debate should revolve around the morality and efficacy of state policy regarding that criminality , not some fantasy world in which butchers are selectively cast as victims .
David Harsanyi is a senior writer at National Review and the author of the book `` First Freedom : A Ride Through America 's Enduring History With the Gun . ''

Mike Dukakis was asked by CNN's Bernard Shaw during the 1988 presidential debates whether he would support the death penalty if his wife, Kitty, had been raped and murdered. The Massachusetts governor famously responded: "No, I don't, Bernard, and I think you know that I've opposed the death penalty during all of my life. I don't see any evidence that it's a deterrent, and I think there are better and more effective ways to deal with violent crime."
Given the coddling Democrats receive from the press today, Shaw's question sounds especially jarring. But Dukakis's automaton-like response to a query about the theoretical slaying of his dear wife did not go over well with the American public. Dukakis did not seem to genuinely grapple with the complex moral implications of murder and punishment.
Like Dukakis, I oppose the death penalty as a matter of policy (other than for extraordinary cases of domestic terrorism, such as Timothy McVeigh) for several reasons relating to state power and the effectiveness of the practice. That's my rational side. But viscerally speaking, I have yet to encounter a death sentence in America in my lifetime that I didn't think was well-earned. That's despite the dishonesty that usually defines the coverage of these cases.
This summer, the federal government began putting people to death for the first time in 17 years. "Trump administration executes Brandon Bernard, plans four more executions before Biden takes office," said a Washington Post headline last week. While that is technically true, it wasn't Trump who convicted these men of murder; it was a jury of their peers. It wasn't Trump who upheld their convictions after numerous appeals; it was the judicial system. It wasn't Trump who found the death penalty constitutional; here, it was the Supreme Court that reaffirmed the Federal Death Penalty Act of 1994 requires executions to be carried out "in the manner prescribed by the law of the state in which the sentence is imposed." It wasn't Trump who sponsored that law in 1994; it was Joe Biden.
Reporters nearly always glide past the horrifying specifics, spending inordinate amounts of space presenting the case of anti-death penalty advocates, who often dishonestly paint these men as victims. Take this Vox piece, wherein the reader learns that Bernard, "a model prisoner, mentoring at-risk youth," had "committed crimes that resulted in the deaths of a young white married couple in 1999" -- which makes a double homicide sound like an unfortunate accident and intimates that the conviction had something to do with race.
The fact is that 18-year-old Bernard helped kidnap and rob a couple named Todd and Stacie Bagley, youth ministers visiting Killeen, Texas, from Iowa. The fellow gang members he was with could have let them go. Instead, they forced the Bagleys into the trunk of their car and drove around for hours.
While the victims were locked in the back, they appealed to the humanity of the kidnappers, saying "that they were not wealthy people, but that they were blessed by their faith in Jesus." After hearing these words, one gang member wanted to back out of the murder. Not Bernard, though. He had been the one driving the car used to hunt for victims. After the murder was planned, it was Bernard who drove to purchase the fuel to burn them. It was Bernard, with another person, who poured lighter fluid on the car "while the Bagleys sang and prayed in the trunk." It was Bernard who brought the Glock used to shoot Todd in the head and knock Stacie unconscious when the car didn't burn fast enough.
"Having gotten to know Brandon," Kim Kardashian West told her 68 million followers on Twitter last week, "I am heartbroken about this execution." I don't believe the death penalty solves much -- and the cost and moral baggage isn't worth it -- but I'm heartbroken for the Bagleys, whom no one will ever get to know. If you're leaving out that part of the story, then you're not having a real conversation about the death penalty.
And we rarely do. "Two Black men have been executed within two days. Two more are set to die before Biden's inauguration," writes CNN, creating the impression that the federal government is targeting Black men. The first person put to death this summer was white supremacist Daniel Lewis Lee. Wesley Ira Purkey, Dustin Lee Honken, Keith Dwayne Nelson, and William Emmett LeCroy -- all white, and all as deserving as Bernard -- were executed this summer as well.
You either believe the punishment for those guilty of committing especially heinous, cruel or depraved crimes should be death, or you do not. The death-penalty debate should revolve around the morality and efficacy of state policy regarding that criminality, not some fantasy world in which butchers are selectively cast as victims.
David Harsanyi is a senior writer at National Review and the author of the book "First Freedom: A Ride Through America's Enduring History With the Gun."


bonginoreport--2020-12-19--Disney Chairman Bob Iger, Already Highly Experienced With Appeasing China, Reportedly Interested in

Disney Chairman Bob Iger, Already Highly Experienced With Appeasing China, Reportedly Interested in Becoming Ambassador to China

Bob Iger , chairman of the Walt Disney Co. , has expressed interest in becoming ambassador to China under Joe Biden , reportedly making overtures to people in the president-elect ’ s team about the plum diplomatic post .
But the possible appointment is already drawing criticism as a weak choice given Disney ’ s history of appeasement to China ’ s Communist dictatorship .
The Wall Street Journal reported that Bob Iger has reached out to Biden ’ s transition team to communicate his interest in the ambassadorship , according to anonymous sources “ familiar with the matter.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 500,000 to the Biden Victory Fund as well as a combined $ 85,100 towards efforts to elect Democrats in Congress .
Former Dreamworks and Quibi boss Jeffrey Katzenberg also put in a good word for Iger , telling the Biden transition team that he would make a good ambassador to China , according to the Journal .
Presidents have traditionally rewarded big-ticket donors with ambassadorships .
On top of that , Iger ’ s long-running business relationship with Chinese president Xi Jinping could serve as a potential bonus to seal the deal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in light of Disney ’ s past failure to stand up to China ’ s Communist rulers .
Iger came under fire last year for refusing to condemn China ’ s crackdown on pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong .
Under his leadership , Disney forbade ESPN journalists from addressing any discussion of the relationship between China and Hong Kong .
The decision came after the controversy involving Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey , who tweeted support for Hong Kong ’ s pro-democracy movement .
Disney has invested heavily in China , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The studio also relies on the Chinese box office to help its blockbuster movies turn a profit .
As a result , Iger has developed close ties to China ’ s Communist Party leaders .
The Journal noted that Iger first met Xi during a trip to China during which Disney apologized for releasing the 1997 Martin Scorsese movie Kundun , a biopic of the Dalai Lama .
The movie angered Chinese leaders for its negative depiction of Chairman Mao Tse-tung and for scenes showing Chinese troops slaughtering Tibetans .
Iger ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to expire next year .
The Hollywood executive was rumored to be mulling a presidential run during the last election cycle but he ultimately opted to stay out of the race .
Follow David Ng on Twitter @ HeyItsDavidNg .
Have a tip ?
Contact me at dng @ breitbart.com

Bob Iger, chairman of the Walt Disney Co., has expressed interest in becoming ambassador to China under Joe Biden, reportedly making overtures to people in the president-elect’s team about the plum diplomatic post.
But the possible appointment is already drawing criticism as a weak choice given Disney’s history of appeasement to China’s Communist dictatorship.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Bob Iger has reached out to Biden’s transition team to communicate his interest in the ambassadorship, according to anonymous sources “familiar with the matter.” The newspaper noted that Biden gave $500,000 to the Biden Victory Fund as well as a combined $85,100 towards efforts to elect Democrats in Congress.
Former Dreamworks and Quibi boss Jeffrey Katzenberg also put in a good word for Iger, telling the Biden transition team that he would make a good ambassador to China, according to the Journal.
Presidents have traditionally rewarded big-ticket donors with ambassadorships. On top of that, Iger’s long-running business relationship with Chinese president Xi Jinping could serve as a potential bonus to seal the deal.
But Bob Iger also presents major drawbacks in light of Disney’s past failure to stand up to China’s Communist rulers.
Iger came under fire last year for refusing to condemn China’s crackdown on pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong. Under his leadership, Disney forbade ESPN journalists from addressing any discussion of the relationship between China and Hong Kong. The decision came after the controversy involving Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who tweeted support for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.
Disney has invested heavily in China, with theme parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The studio also relies on the Chinese box office to help its blockbuster movies turn a profit. As a result, Iger has developed close ties to China’s Communist Party leaders.
The Journal noted that Iger first met Xi during a trip to China during which Disney apologized for releasing the 1997 Martin Scorsese movie Kundun, a biopic of the Dalai Lama. The movie angered Chinese leaders for its negative depiction of Chairman Mao Tse-tung and for scenes showing Chinese troops slaughtering Tibetans.
Iger’s tenure as Disney chairman is set to expire next year. The Hollywood executive was rumored to be mulling a presidential run during the last election cycle but he ultimately opted to stay out of the race.
Follow David Ng on Twitter @HeyItsDavidNg. Have a tip? Contact me at dng@breitbart.com


bonginoreport--2020-12-19--Hawaii’s Aloha Stadium to Stop Hosting Events Due to Coronavirus

Aloha Stadium , the former home of the NFL ’ s Pro Bowl and the current home for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors college football team , has placed a moratorium on new events .
Stadium officials said in a press release that the stadium was closing in response to the coronavirus pandemic 's impact on operations this year .
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM '' The Aloha Stadium Authority announced its decision today to reduce operations and place a moratorium on new events at the Stadium .
These changes are being adopted in response to COVID-19 safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunities , '' officials said .
Ross Yamasaki , chair of the Aloha Stadium Authority , added : `` Aloha Stadium has been expending its reserves to maintain operations since COVID-19 restrictions began .
Unfortunately , we have reached a stage where we can no longer afford to continue these expenditures .
It is our hope that we can find a long-term solution but for now , must make these changes to reduce expenses and generate revenue through activities in the parking lot and events that have already been booked . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of any kind , KHON-TV reported Thursday .
Hawaii had just played against UNLV at the stadium on Saturday .
Samantha Spain , a marketing specialist for the stadium , clarified to Hawaii News Now that the stadium would `` entertain events '' but it would cost more for licensees who want to use the stadium .
She told the station that the stadium 's plans for the Hula Bowl – a college football All-Star game – next month were `` being discussed . ''
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be affected .
The team has a bowl game left this season , which would be played elsewhere .
The NFL doesn ’ t hold the Pro Bowl in Hawaii anymore , having moved it to Orlando , Fla. , starting in 2016 .
Aloha Stadium opened in 1975 in Honolulu .

Aloha Stadium, the former home of the NFL’s Pro Bowl and the current home for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors college football team, has placed a moratorium on new events.
Stadium officials said in a press release that the stadium was closing in response to the coronavirus pandemic's impact on operations this year.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"The Aloha Stadium Authority announced its decision today to reduce operations and place a moratorium on new events at the Stadium. These changes are being adopted in response to COVID-19 safety restrictions that have severely limited revenue generation opportunities," officials said.
Ross Yamasaki, chair of the Aloha Stadium Authority, added: "Aloha Stadium has been expending its reserves to maintain operations since COVID-19 restrictions began. Unfortunately, we have reached a stage where we can no longer afford to continue these expenditures. It is our hope that we can find a long-term solution but for now, must make these changes to reduce expenses and generate revenue through activities in the parking lot and events that have already been booked."
SUN BELT CONFERENCE CANCELS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME OVER CORONAVIRUS WITH COASTAL CAROLINA
The stadium was deemed unsafe to hold crowds of any kind, KHON-TV reported Thursday. Hawaii had just played against UNLV at the stadium on Saturday.
Samantha Spain, a marketing specialist for the stadium, clarified to Hawaii News Now that the stadium would "entertain events" but it would cost more for licensees who want to use the stadium. She told the station that the stadium's plans for the Hula Bowl – a college football All-Star game – next month were "being discussed."
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
It’s unclear how Hawaii football would be affected. The team has a bowl game left this season, which would be played elsewhere. The NFL doesn’t hold the Pro Bowl in Hawaii anymore, having moved it to Orlando, Fla., starting in 2016. Aloha Stadium opened in 1975 in Honolulu.


bonginoreport--2020-12-19--Fans May Have to Wait for “The Mandalorian” Season Three

Warning : This story contains spoilers from the Season 2 finale of “ The Mandalorian ” on Disney+ .
After an action-packed second season , “ The Mandalorian ” is over … for now .
And the Season 2 finale left fans wondering if there ’ s a Season 3 in the works .
The answer ?
It ’ s coming — but the wait will be long .
Season 2 of the hit Disney+ show certainly upped the stakes : It gave Baby Yoda , a k a the Child , a controversial name ( “ Grogu ” ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justified ” star Timothy Olyphant ’ s status as America ’ s new favorite silver fox .
The season left off with several intriguing directions for the story to go .
Luke Skywalker ( Mark Hamill , reprising the role from the films ) took Baby Yoda to train while Mando ( Pedro Pascal ) agreed to help Bo-Katan ( Katee Sackhoff ) and Koska Reeves ( Mercedes Varnado ) take back Mandalore , since they helped him rescue Grogu .
A burning question going into Season 3 — besides when , exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the show is actually finished with Baby Yoda — or if the adorable Child will return , perhaps with some new fighting skills .
A post-credit scene featuring Temuera Morrison in Tatooine also teased a new spinoff show called “ The Book of Boba Fett , ” coming in December 2021 .
And that won ’ t be the only one .
There will be several spinoff shows set in the “ Star Wars ” world , including one with Ewan McGregor returning as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Hayden Christensen reprising his portrayal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actor McGregor says will start filming in March 2021 ) ; a “ Rogue One ” prequel series ; a spinoff show for Rosario Dawson ’ s character , Ahsoka Tano ; and X-wing pilots will get their time to shine in the spinoff “ Rangers of the New Republic.
” “ The Mandalorian ” Season 3 will premiere sometime in December 2021 .

Warning: This story contains spoilers from the Season 2 finale of “The Mandalorian” on Disney+.
After an action-packed second season, “The Mandalorian” is over … for now.
And the Season 2 finale left fans wondering if there’s a Season 3 in the works. The answer? It’s coming — but the wait will be long.
Season 2 of the hit Disney+ show certainly upped the stakes: It gave Baby Yoda, a k a the Child, a controversial name (“Grogu”), and it’s cemented “Justified” star Timothy Olyphant’s status as America’s new favorite silver fox.
The season left off with several intriguing directions for the story to go. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill, reprising the role from the films) took Baby Yoda to train while Mando (Pedro Pascal) agreed to help Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff) and Koska Reeves (Mercedes Varnado) take back Mandalore, since they helped him rescue Grogu.
A burning question going into Season 3 — besides when, exactly, it will come out — is whether the show is actually finished with Baby Yoda — or if the adorable Child will return, perhaps with some new fighting skills.
A post-credit scene featuring Temuera Morrison in Tatooine also teased a new spinoff show called “The Book of Boba Fett,” coming in December 2021.
And that won’t be the only one. There will be several spinoff shows set in the “Star Wars” world, including one with Ewan McGregor returning as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Hayden Christensen reprising his portrayal of Anakin Skywalker/Dark Vader (which Scottish actor McGregor says will start filming in March 2021); a “Rogue One” prequel series; a spinoff show for Rosario Dawson’s character, Ahsoka Tano; and X-wing pilots will get their time to shine in the spinoff “Rangers of the New Republic.”
“The Mandalorian” Season 3 will premiere sometime in December 2021.