bonginoreport--2020-10-25--Connecticut Man Who Allegedly Pledged Allegiance to ISIS Deemed Not Mentally Fit for Trial

A Hamden man who allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and attempted to fight for the terrorist organization is not mentally fit to stand trial .
Kevin Iman McCormick , 27 , was charged with a felony for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham ( ISIS ) in October 2019 , according to the office of United States Attorney of Connecticut John H. Grisham .
Based on a medical assessment given by Dr. Hassan M. Minhas , on Wednesday , Oct. 14 , U.S. District Court , Connecticut , Judge Kari A. Dooley said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried .
Dooley placed McCormick in the custody of the state attorney 's office , ordering that he receive care to improve his mental fitness for trial , according to the New Haven Register .
If convicted , McCormick could serve a sentence of up to 20 years in prison .
McCormick has been in custody since his arrest nearly a year ago , where he has had a `` difficult time '' with other inmates , according to defense attorney Allison Near .
At the same hearing , on Wednesday , Oct. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The FBI was alerted to McCormick by Islamic centers in two states in August of 2019 , according to reporting by Daily Beast .
In October , he made several statements to others about his desire to travel to Syria and fight alongside ISIS , according to court documents .
`` I got ta fight bro , because those people , Abu Masa and ISIL , they fought for me bro , I know it , I can feel it , in my heart .
So it ’ s my time to fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation .
After Homeland Security prevented him from boarding a flight to Jamaica on Oct. 12 , 2019 , McCormick allegedly told a witness that he had intended to travel from Jamaica to Syria to join ISIS and planned to acquire weapons .
When asked in this conversation to elaborate on where he would like to travel , McCormick allegedly said , “ I don ’ t know , I don ’ t know , bro – it ’ s got ta be like Syria .
Where ISIL is at … .
whichever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can get there the fastest , the quickest , the easiest , and where I can have a rifle and I can have some people , bro '' About a week after his first attempt to board a plane , he tried again .
On Oct. 19 , 2019 , McCormick allegedly posted a video on his Facebook page in which he pledged his allegiance to the terrorist organization .
Later that day , he purchased an airline ticket from Toronto , Canada , to Amman , Jordan , and was arrested two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada from a private Connecticut airport on Oct. 21 , 2019 .
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Kevin Iman McCormick, 27, was charged with a felony for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in October 2019, according to the office of United States Attorney of Connecticut John H. Grisham.
Based on a medical assessment given by Dr. Hassan M. Minhas, on Wednesday, Oct. 14, U.S. District Court, Connecticut, Judge Kari A. Dooley said McCormick is not mentally prepared to be tried. Dooley placed McCormick in the custody of the state attorney's office, ordering that he receive care to improve his mental fitness for trial, according to the New Haven Register.
If convicted, McCormick could serve a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
McCormick has been in custody since his arrest nearly a year ago, where he has had a "difficult time" with other inmates, according to defense attorney Allison Near. At the same hearing, on Wednesday, Oct. 14, Judge Kari A. Dooley placed
The FBI was alerted to McCormick by Islamic centers in two states in August of 2019, according to reporting by Daily Beast. In October, he made several statements to others about his desire to travel to Syria and fight alongside ISIS, according to court documents.
"I gotta fight bro, because those people, Abu Masa and ISIL, they fought for me bro, I know it, I can feel it, in my heart. So it’s my time to fight," McCormick allegedly stated in one conversation.
After Homeland Security prevented him from boarding a flight to Jamaica on Oct. 12, 2019, McCormick allegedly told a witness that he had intended to travel from Jamaica to Syria to join ISIS and planned to acquire weapons.
When asked in this conversation to elaborate on where he would like to travel, McCormick allegedly said, “I don’t know, I don’t know, bro – it’s gotta be like Syria. Where ISIL is at …. whichever place is easiest, whichever place I can get there the fastest, the quickest, the easiest, and where I can have a rifle and I can have some people, bro"
About a week after his first attempt to board a plane, he tried again. On Oct. 19, 2019, McCormick allegedly posted a video on his Facebook page in which he pledged his allegiance to the terrorist organization. Later that day, he purchased an airline ticket from Toronto, Canada, to Amman, Jordan, and was arrested two days later before boarding a flight to Canada from a private Connecticut airport on Oct. 21, 2019.
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bonginoreport--2020-10-25--Top Al-Qaeda Propagandist on FBI Most-Wanted List Killed in Afghanistan

Afghanistan claimed Sunday it killed a top Al Qaeda propagandist on an FBI most-wanted list during an operation in the country 's east , showing the militant group 's continued presence there as U.S. forces work to withdraw from America 's longest-running war amid continued bloodshed .
The reported death of Husam Abd al-Rauf , also known by the nom de guerre Abu Muhsin al-Masri , follows weeks of violence , including a suicide bombing by the Islamic State group Saturday at an education center near Kabul that killed 24 people .
Meanwhile , the Afghan government continues to fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Qatar between the two sides take place for the first time .
The violence and al-Rauf 's reported killing threatens the face-to-face peace talks and risks plunging this nation beset by decades of war into further instability .
It also complicates America 's efforts to withdraw , 19 years after it led an invasion targeting the Taliban for hosting Al Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden after the Sept. 11 attacks .
TALIBAN ATTACKS INCREASE AS US TROOPS MOVE TOWARD TOTAL WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN Details over the raid that led to al-Rauf 's alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Directorate of Security intelligence service claimed on Twitter to have killed him in Ghazni province .
Al Qaeda did not immediately acknowledge al-Rauf 's reported death .
The FBI , the U.S. military , and NATO did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
The Afghan raid happened last week in Kunsaf , a village in Ghazni province 's Andar district some 150 kilometers ( 90 miles ) southwest of Kabul , two government officials said .
Amanullah Kamrani , the deputy head of Ghazni 's provincial council , told The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the intelligence agency raided Kunsaf , which he described as being under Taliban control .
On the village 's outskirts , they stormed an isolated home and killed seven suspected militants in a firefight , including al-Rauf , Kamrani said .
Neither Kamrani nor the intelligence agency offered details on how authorities identified al-Rauf , nor how they came to suspect he was in the village .
Wahidullah Jumazada , a spokesman for the provincial governor in Ghazni , said Afghan forces killed six suspected militants in the raid , without acknowledging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , without providing evidence , that the Taliban had been offering shelter and protection to al-Rauf .
The Taliban told the AP on Sunday they are investigating the incident .
If the Taliban had provided protection for al-Rauf , it would violate the terms of its Feb. 29 deal with the U.S. that jump-started the Afghan peace talks .
That deal saw the Taliban agree “ not to cooperate with groups or individuals threatening the security of the United States and its allies , ” which includes Al Qaeda .
The Afghan presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been killed and warning it “ proved that the threat of terrorism and the Taliban ’ s links to terrorist networks are still in place.
” '' The Taliban should prove to the people , the government of Afghanistan and the international community that they are ending their links with terrorist groups , including Al Qaeda , '' the statement said .
They “ should stop the war and violence and facilitate a dignified and sustainable peace in the country.
” Federal prosecutors in the southern district of New York filed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , accusing him of providing support to a foreign terrorist organization and being part of a conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens .
The FBI put him on the bureau 's “ Most Wanted Terrorists ” list , which now includes 27 others .
The red-headed al-Rauf , believed to be born in 1958 , is an Egyptian national .
An Al Qaeda-issued biography said he joined the mujahedeen fighters who battled the Soviet Union in 1986 .
EX-CIA STATION CHIEF SAYS AMERICA IS ‘ A LOT SAFER ’ FROM TERRORISM THAN IT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for years as Al Qaeda 's media chief , offering audio statements and written articles backing the militant group .
After years of remaining silent following the acknowledgment of Taliban founder Mullah Omar 's death , al-Rauf re-emerged in 2018 in an audio statement in which he mocked President Trump and those who preceded him the White House .
“ I name him ‘ Donald T-Rambo ’ who tries to copy the famous American fictional character ‘ Rambo , ’ who , with only a Kalashnikov , was able to liberate the entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ al-Rauf said , according to the SITE Intelligence Group .
The Afghan presidential palace described al-Rauf as “ Al Qaeda ’ s leader for the Indian subcontinent.
” Meanwhile Sunday , authorities raised the death toll in Saturday 's suicide attack on an education center near Kabul .
The suicide bomber , who was stopped by guards from entering the center , killed 24 and wounded 57 — many of them young students .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Islamic State group ’ s local affiliate claimed credit for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of western Kabul ’ s Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood , saying one of its fighters used a suicide bomb vest in the assault .

Afghanistan claimed Sunday it killed a top Al Qaeda propagandist on an FBI most-wanted list during an operation in the country's east, showing the militant group's continued presence there as U.S. forces work to withdraw from America's longest-running war amid continued bloodshed.
The reported death of Husam Abd al-Rauf, also known by the nom de guerre Abu Muhsin al-Masri, follows weeks of violence, including a suicide bombing by the Islamic State group Saturday at an education center near Kabul that killed 24 people. Meanwhile, the Afghan government continues to fight Taliban militants even as peace talks in Qatar between the two sides take place for the first time.
The violence and al-Rauf's reported killing threatens the face-to-face peace talks and risks plunging this nation beset by decades of war into further instability. It also complicates America's efforts to withdraw, 19 years after it led an invasion targeting the Taliban for hosting Al Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden after the Sept. 11 attacks.
TALIBAN ATTACKS INCREASE AS US TROOPS MOVE TOWARD TOTAL WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN
Details over the raid that led to al-Rauf's alleged death remained murky hours after Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security intelligence service claimed on Twitter to have killed him in Ghazni province.
Al Qaeda did not immediately acknowledge al-Rauf's reported death. The FBI, the U.S. military, and NATO did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Afghan raid happened last week in Kunsaf, a village in Ghazni province's Andar district some 150 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of Kabul, two government officials said.
Amanullah Kamrani, the deputy head of Ghazni's provincial council, told The Associated Press that Afghan special forces led by the intelligence agency raided Kunsaf, which he described as being under Taliban control. On the village's outskirts, they stormed an isolated home and killed seven suspected militants in a firefight, including al-Rauf, Kamrani said.
Neither Kamrani nor the intelligence agency offered details on how authorities identified al-Rauf, nor how they came to suspect he was in the village.
Wahidullah Jumazada, a spokesman for the provincial governor in Ghazni, said Afghan forces killed six suspected militants in the raid, without acknowledging al-Rauf had been killed.
TRUMP CAMPAIGN REJECTS TALIBAN SUPPORT FOR 2020 REELECTION
Kamrani alleged, without providing evidence, that the Taliban had been offering shelter and protection to al-Rauf. The Taliban told the AP on Sunday they are investigating the incident.
If the Taliban had provided protection for al-Rauf, it would violate the terms of its Feb. 29 deal with the U.S. that jump-started the Afghan peace talks. That deal saw the Taliban agree “not to cooperate with groups or individuals threatening the security of the United States and its allies,” which includes Al Qaeda.
The Afghan presidential palace issued a statement Sunday saying al-Rauf had been killed and warning it “proved that the threat of terrorism and the Taliban’s links to terrorist networks are still in place.”
"The Taliban should prove to the people, the government of Afghanistan and the international community that they are ending their links with terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda," the statement said. They “should stop the war and violence and facilitate a dignified and sustainable peace in the country.”
Federal prosecutors in the southern district of New York filed a warrant for al-Rauf's arrest in December 2018, accusing him of providing support to a foreign terrorist organization and being part of a conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens. The FBI put him on the bureau's “Most Wanted Terrorists” list, which now includes 27 others.
The red-headed al-Rauf, believed to be born in 1958, is an Egyptian national. An Al Qaeda-issued biography said he joined the mujahedeen fighters who battled the Soviet Union in 1986.
EX-CIA STATION CHIEF SAYS AMERICA IS ‘A LOT SAFER’ FROM TERRORISM THAN IT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO
He has served for years as Al Qaeda's media chief, offering audio statements and written articles backing the militant group. After years of remaining silent following the acknowledgment of Taliban founder Mullah Omar's death, al-Rauf re-emerged in 2018 in an audio statement in which he mocked President Trump and those who preceded him the White House.
“I name him ‘Donald T-Rambo’ who tries to copy the famous American fictional character ‘Rambo,’ who, with only a Kalashnikov, was able to liberate the entire Afghanistan from the Soviet Union,” al-Rauf said, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.
The Afghan presidential palace described al-Rauf as “Al Qaeda’s leader for the Indian subcontinent.”
Meanwhile Sunday, authorities raised the death toll in Saturday's suicide attack on an education center near Kabul. The suicide bomber, who was stopped by guards from entering the center, killed 24 and wounded 57 — many of them young students.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Islamic State group’s local affiliate claimed credit for the attack in a heavily Shiite neighborhood of western Kabul’s Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood, saying one of its fighters used a suicide bomb vest in the assault.


bonginoreport--2020-10-25--Chinese Communist Party Advocates for the Censorship of Trump

Chinese Communist Party-run media insisted that American technology companies ought to “ safeguard the election by all means , ” advocating for platforms to censor election-related content posted by President Trump .
The call follows the U.S. government confirming that the Chinese Communist Party favors Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden in the upcoming election .
Appearing in China Global Television Network ( CGTN ) , the op-ed entitled “ U.S .
Tech Giants Are To Safeguard Election By All Means ” argues that social media platforms ought to play an active role in monitoring , disseminating , and , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The article argues in favor of Facebook and Twitter – both of which have unfairly targeted conservative users with bans and blacklists – exerting increased influence over the 2020 election .
Beyond arguing to amplify the sway big tech can undemocratically exert over American electoral outcomes , the article lauded Facebook ’ s decision to censor a post by President Trump who CGTN describes as peddling “ misinformation ” : “ Not only is there a risk of misinformation coming from outside the U.S. , but from inside , and by key American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted misleadingly on Facebook June that Democrat Joe Biden wanted to “ defund ” police forces .
Fact checkers agreed that this post was either false or deceptive.
” The piece also amplifies Transition Integrity Project-conjured narratives about President Trump refusing to concede the election with its inclusion of a New York Times quote : “ Employees at Facebook are “ laying out contingency plans and walking through post-election scenarios that include attempts by Mr. Trump or his campaign to use the platform to delegitimize the results , ” according to the New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media platform to suppress President Trump ’ s content is especially concerning given big tech ’ s coziness with the Chinese Communist Party .
Twitter , for example , employs a Chinese government-linked artificial intelligence expert , and Facebook routinely attends conferences alongside Chinese military collaborators .

Chinese Communist Party-run media insisted that American technology companies ought to “safeguard the election by all means,” advocating for platforms to censor election-related content posted by President Trump.
The call follows the U.S. government confirming that the Chinese Communist Party favors Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden in the upcoming election.
Appearing in China Global Television Network (CGTN), the op-ed entitled “U.S. Tech Giants Are To Safeguard Election By All Means” argues that social media platforms ought to play an active role in monitoring, disseminating, and, in some cases, censoring election-related content. The article argues in favor of Facebook and Twitter – both of which have unfairly targeted conservative users with bans and blacklists – exerting increased influence over the 2020 election.
Beyond arguing to amplify the sway big tech can undemocratically exert over American electoral outcomes, the article lauded Facebook’s decision to censor a post by President Trump who CGTN describes as peddling “misinformation”:
“Not only is there a risk of misinformation coming from outside the U.S., but from inside, and by key American president himself. Donald Trump in June posted misleadingly on Facebook June that Democrat Joe Biden wanted to “defund” police forces. Fact checkers agreed that this post was either false or deceptive.”
The piece also amplifies Transition Integrity Project-conjured narratives about President Trump refusing to concede the election with its inclusion of a New York Times quote:
“Employees at Facebook are “laying out contingency plans and walking through post-election scenarios that include attempts by Mr. Trump or his campaign to use the platform to delegitimize the results,” according to the New York Times.”
And given CGTN is “supervised, owned, directed, controlled, financed, and subsidized” by the Chinese government according to its Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filing, the outlet constitutes a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party’s desires.
The calls for weaponizing social media platform to suppress President Trump’s content is especially concerning given big tech’s coziness with the Chinese Communist Party.
Twitter, for example, employs a Chinese government-linked artificial intelligence expert, and Facebook routinely attends conferences alongside Chinese military collaborators.


bonginoreport--2020-10-25--Trouble in Paradise: Seattle LGBTQ Commission Demanding Its Lesbian Mayor Resign

Sometimes you just can ’ t win for losing , or so it seems .
LGBT activists widely hailed the 2016 election of Jenny Durkan as the next mayor of Seattle as a significant moment as she was only the second openly gay candidate to take the office and the first woman to do so in nearly a century .
But things haven ’ t been running exactly smoothly in Seattle since the riots began and not everyone is happy with her now .
That ’ s understandable , considering the chaos and unrest in the streets that she ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but I ’ m guessing that not many people expected Seattle ’ s LGBTQ Commission to chime in and call for her to step down .
And yet that ’ s precisely what happened this week .
( Free Beacon ) Seattle ’ s LGBTQ Commission demanded Wednesday that the city ’ s first openly lesbian mayor resign .
In a letter , the commission claimed Mayor Jenny Durkan ’ s ( D. ) resignation is “ necessary ” to address the “ human rights violations that have occurred in our city during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is supposed to advise the mayor and other city officials on policies affecting the gay community , argued that Durkan failed to engage with it in discussions regarding police funding and homelessness .
There isn ’ t any sort of automatic official action in store as a result of this announcement .
The commission doesn ’ t have any actual authority or governmental powers , serving only an advisory role for the Mayor , the City Council and the various municipal departments .
Also , there wasn ’ t even a broad consensus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ split 6-5 on the vote with one abstention .
It ’ s also not entirely clear why the LGBTQ Commission was weighing in on this subject when you look at their list of complaints .
Their charter calls for them to advise the mayor on policy issues specific to the LBGT community , but this complaint cites the Mayor ’ s failure to cut the Police Department by 50 % as they recommended , insufficient help for the homeless and her supposed “ undermining of the Black community.
” That last bit refers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 million worth of investments into “ Black , indigenous , and people of color communities.
” Activists had wanted the investments targeted only toward Black communities .
( Because… to hell with the Hispanic , Asian and Indigenous People ’ s communities I guess ? )
The point I ’ m getting at here is that the Commission seems to be paddling well outside of their lane on this one .
None of the issues cited seem to be specific to anything to do with the LGBT community .
I suppose there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their say , but the vote might have been more appropriately taken by other groups if they ’ re really that unhappy .
If you ’ re really in the camp of those who want to defund or simply abolish the police , I suppose Durkan has made a few moves that could have upset you .
She recently vetoed the City Council ’ s plan to defund the police to an even greater degree .
Of course , the Seattle Police have been making some serious progress towards abolishing themselves in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left the force this year , with most citing budget cuts and a lack of support from City Hall as their reason for doing so .
This isn ’ t all that dissimilar to the situation that Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler finds himself in now .
He ’ s unabashedly liberal/socialist and has been as far to the left as one could imagine , but that still hasn ’ t been enough to satisfy his critics as his city has similarly slid into chaos .
He ’ s now trailing in the polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporter of Antifa and is a big fan of Stalin and Mao to boot .
When a lesbian mayor is being shoved toward the exits by her own LGBTQ Commission for not trashing the police sufficiently while crime in her city spirals out of control , we ’ ve really reached a new phase in the country ’ s shift towards being some sort of Bizarro World caricature of America .
And yet , here we are .
How ’ s everyone doing on their 2020 Bingo cards ?
I imagine nearly all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by now .

Sometimes you just can’t win for losing, or so it seems. LGBT activists widely hailed the 2016 election of Jenny Durkan as the next mayor of Seattle as a significant moment as she was only the second openly gay candidate to take the office and the first woman to do so in nearly a century. But things haven’t been running exactly smoothly in Seattle since the riots began and not everyone is happy with her now. That’s understandable, considering the chaos and unrest in the streets that she’s supposed to be keeping safe, but I’m guessing that not many people expected Seattle’s LGBTQ Commission to chime in and call for her to step down. And yet that’s precisely what happened this week. (Free Beacon)
Seattle’s LGBTQ Commission demanded Wednesday that the city’s first openly lesbian mayor resign. In a letter, the commission claimed Mayor Jenny Durkan’s (D.) resignation is “necessary” to address the “human rights violations that have occurred in our city during her tenure.” The group, which is supposed to advise the mayor and other city officials on policies affecting the gay community, argued that Durkan failed to engage with it in discussions regarding police funding and homelessness.
There isn’t any sort of automatic official action in store as a result of this announcement. The commission doesn’t have any actual authority or governmental powers, serving only an advisory role for the Mayor, the City Council and the various municipal departments. Also, there wasn’t even a broad consensus on the commission. The twelve members split 6-5 on the vote with one abstention.
It’s also not entirely clear why the LGBTQ Commission was weighing in on this subject when you look at their list of complaints. Their charter calls for them to advise the mayor on policy issues specific to the LBGT community, but this complaint cites the Mayor’s failure to cut the Police Department by 50% as they recommended, insufficient help for the homeless and her supposed “undermining of the Black community.” That last bit refers to Durkan’s delivery of $100 million worth of investments into “Black, indigenous, and people of color communities.” Activists had wanted the investments targeted only toward Black communities. (Because… to hell with the Hispanic, Asian and Indigenous People’s communities I guess?)
The point I’m getting at here is that the Commission seems to be paddling well outside of their lane on this one. None of the issues cited seem to be specific to anything to do with the LGBT community. I suppose there’s no harm in giving them their say, but the vote might have been more appropriately taken by other groups if they’re really that unhappy.
If you’re really in the camp of those who want to defund or simply abolish the police, I suppose Durkan has made a few moves that could have upset you. She recently vetoed the City Council’s plan to defund the police to an even greater degree. Of course, the Seattle Police have been making some serious progress towards abolishing themselves in the meantime. Well over 100 cops have left the force this year, with most citing budget cuts and a lack of support from City Hall as their reason for doing so.
This isn’t all that dissimilar to the situation that Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler finds himself in now. He’s unabashedly liberal/socialist and has been as far to the left as one could imagine, but that still hasn’t been enough to satisfy his critics as his city has similarly slid into chaos. He’s now trailing in the polls to a candidate who is an open supporter of Antifa and is a big fan of Stalin and Mao to boot.
When a lesbian mayor is being shoved toward the exits by her own LGBTQ Commission for not trashing the police sufficiently while crime in her city spirals out of control, we’ve really reached a new phase in the country’s shift towards being some sort of Bizarro World caricature of America. And yet, here we are. How’s everyone doing on their 2020 Bingo cards? I imagine nearly all of the squares must be filled in by now.


bonginoreport--2020-10-25--Biden’s Comments on Fracking Come Back to Haunt Him in Pennsylvania

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is getting grilled in Pennsylvania ever since he said during last week ’ s debate that he plans to “ transition ” away from the oil industry .
In three separate local news interviews in the key battleground state on Saturday , Biden responded to questions about his comment , as well as his mixed messages regarding fracking .
BIDEN PRESSED OVER DEBATE COMMENT THAT HE WOULD 'TRANSITION FROM THE OIL INDUSTRY' “ Look I 'm from Scranton , Pennsylvania .
My great grandfather was a mining engineer .
So I come from coal country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminating fracking , I just said no more fracking on federal lands , ” Biden told CBS Philadelphia .
“ With regard to gas , oil , coal all of it , the transition is taking place having nothing to do with anything I 'm proposing .
The fact is that the fastest growing industries in the country are solar and wind .
We can move in a direction where the transition takes place , so that people are not left behind , and we we got to invest in the new technologies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WBRE in Wilkes-Barre that same day , Biden had the same message , saying he would put an end to existing subsidies and tax breaks for oil companies .
“ I will not ban fracking , I said no fracking on federal land .
I will not ban fracking , number one , ” Biden said .
“ Number two , the coal and , excuse me , the natural gas industry , and oil is not going to be fundamentally changed .
They 're already in transition .
What I 'm saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subsidize , give tax breaks to the oil companies which amount to $ 40 billion .
They will not get that , and that money will be put into research and development to figure out how to carbon capture what 's coming off of gas and oil.
” Biden provided some additional detail when he spoke to Scranton ABC affiliate WNEP .
TRUMP CALLS BIDEN 'S 'TRANSITION FROM ' OIL COMMENTS PERHAPS 'MOST SHOCKING ADMISSION EVER MADE' “ What I said was , we 're gon na stop the subsidies for oil , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 're going to take that money , invest it in new technologies for what they call carbon capture .
We 're going to still need oil .
We 're gon na still have combustion engines , We 're still going to need oil for many things , but what 's happening is you have to do it , and we can work toward getting it done so you can capture the carbon that comes from that gas and that oil .
That 's what has to be done.
” During the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president seized on Biden ’ s comment about moving away from oil .
“ That 's maybe the biggest statement in terms of business ... because basically what he said is he is going to destroy the oil industry , ” Trump said .
“ Will you remember that , Texas ?
Will you remember that Pennsylvania , Oklahoma ?
” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Regarding fracking , Biden has been inconsistent with his long-term goals .
He has regularly said that he only intends on banning new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 2019 Democratic primary debate , he took a much more sweeping approach .
The former vice president was asked whether there would be `` any place for fossil fuels , including coal and fracking , in a Biden administration ? ''
Biden 's response : `` No , we would -- we would work it out .
We would make sure it 's eliminated and no more subsidies for either one of those , either -- any fossil fuel . ''
Fox News ' Morgan Phillips and Sam Dorman contributed to this @ @

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is getting grilled in Pennsylvania ever since he said during last week’s debate that he plans to “transition” away from the oil industry.
In three separate local news interviews in the key battleground state on Saturday, Biden responded to questions about his comment, as well as his mixed messages regarding fracking.
BIDEN PRESSED OVER DEBATE COMMENT THAT HE WOULD 'TRANSITION FROM THE OIL INDUSTRY'
“Look I'm from Scranton, Pennsylvania. My great grandfather was a mining engineer. So I come from coal country. And I'm not talking about eliminating fracking, I just said no more fracking on federal lands,” Biden told CBS Philadelphia. “With regard to gas, oil, coal all of it, the transition is taking place having nothing to do with anything I'm proposing. The fact is that the fastest growing industries in the country are solar and wind. We can move in a direction where the transition takes place, so that people are not left behind, and we we got to invest in the new technologies."
Talking to an NBC affiliate WBRE in Wilkes-Barre that same day, Biden had the same message, saying he would put an end to existing subsidies and tax breaks for oil companies.
“I will not ban fracking, I said no fracking on federal land. I will not ban fracking, number one,” Biden said. “Number two, the coal and, excuse me, the natural gas industry, and oil is not going to be fundamentally changed. They're already in transition. What I'm saying is that we will not continue to subsidize, give tax breaks to the oil companies which amount to $40 billion. They will not get that, and that money will be put into research and development to figure out how to carbon capture what's coming off of gas and oil.”
Biden provided some additional detail when he spoke to Scranton ABC affiliate WNEP.
TRUMP CALLS BIDEN'S 'TRANSITION FROM' OIL COMMENTS PERHAPS 'MOST SHOCKING ADMISSION EVER MADE'
“What I said was, we're gonna stop the subsidies for oil, which is about $40 billion. We're going to take that money, invest it in new technologies for what they call carbon capture. We're going to still need oil. We're gonna still have combustion engines, We're still going to need oil for many things, but what's happening is you have to do it, and we can work toward getting it done so you can capture the carbon that comes from that gas and that oil. That's what has to be done.”
During the final debate between Biden and President Trump, the president seized on Biden’s comment about moving away from oil.
“That's maybe the biggest statement in terms of business ... because basically what he said is he is going to destroy the oil industry,” Trump said. “Will you remember that, Texas? Will you remember that Pennsylvania, Oklahoma?”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Regarding fracking, Biden has been inconsistent with his long-term goals. He has regularly said that he only intends on banning new fracking on federal lands, but during a 2019 Democratic primary debate, he took a much more sweeping approach. The former vice president was asked whether there would be "any place for fossil fuels, including coal and fracking, in a Biden administration?"
Biden's response: "No, we would -- we would work it out. We would make sure it's eliminated and no more subsidies for either one of those, either -- any fossil fuel."
Fox News' Morgan Phillips and Sam Dorman contributed to this report.


bonginoreport--2020-10-26--Sally Pipes: BidenCare Would Bring Socialized Medicine and End Private Health Insurance

When President Trump accused Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden at their debate Thursday of supporting socialized medicine , Biden called the claim “ ridiculous.
” But in fact , Trump is right .
The former vice president is trying to position himself as a moderate on health care — someone who will build on ObamaCare .
But his plan , which he dubbed BidenCare for the first time during the debate , would absolutely nudge the U.S. toward government-run , single-payer health insurance .
If Democrats win control of both houses of Congress and the White House in the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is coming — to the detriment of the more than 180 million Americans who now have private health insurance coverage .BIDEN PITCHES 'BIDENCARE ' AS HE SPARS WITH TRUMP ON HEALTH CARE AT DEBATE The centerpiece of Biden 's health care agenda , as he articulated it in the debate , is a new public health insurance option that would compete alongside private insurers on the state and federal health insurance exchanges created under ObamaCare .
Leading Democrats are already signaling that they 'll blow up the filibuster in the Senate to ram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not love the tactics that his former colleagues in the Senate employ .
But he 'll certainly sign whatever bill they send him to make BidenCare a reality .
Proponents of the public option envision paying doctors and hospitals at rates similar to Medicare 's , which are dramatically lower than those paid by private insurers .
Research published last month by the RAND Corporation found that private insurers pay hospitals 247 percent of what Medicare pays .
That 's nearly 2.5 times as much .
And as moderate Democrat and former Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he dropped out of the race for his party ’ s 2020 presidential nomination , reimbursing hospitals at the Medicare rate would create a financial crisis for them — particularly rural hospitals .
Delaney said at a Democratic presidential primary debate last year : “ If you go to every hospital in this country and you ask them one question , which is , ‘ How would it have been for you last year if every one of your bills were paid at the Medicare rate ?
’ Every single hospital administrator said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was criticized by many as overblown , but certainly , hospitals would suffer serious financial harm with such a big cut in their revenue and would have to take action to make up for the losses .
And some would undoubtedly close .
On top of this , the public option would n't take in enough in premiums to cover its costs .
That means your tax dollars would have to fill any gaps in the program 's finances .
According to new research from Lanhee Chen and Daniel Heil of the Hoover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal deficit by a staggering $ 800 billion over 10 years .
Covering that tab will require massive tax hikes — including on the middle class , despite Biden ’ s promise that he won ’ t raise taxes of anyone making under $ 400,000 a year .
Armed with these two major advantages over private health insurance companies — far lower payments to hospitals and hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies — the public option would be able to substantially underprice private health insurance companies and entice their customers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health insurance companies would leave the market , unable to compete .
One study from FTI Consulting projects that the introduction of a public option would cause 20 percent of state marketplaces to lose all private health insurance options by 2028 .
We can expect that more would leave in future years .
Another step toward government-run , single-payer health care is Biden 's plan to lower Medicare 's eligibility age from the current 65 to 60 .
Never mind that Medicare ’ s Part A hospital insurance trust fund is set to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's proposal would add to these financial woes by bringing another 23 million Americans into the program at an estimated cost of $ 200 billion over the next decade .
Then there 's Biden 's plan to offer billions of dollars more in federal subsidies to people shopping for coverage on the ObamaCare health insurance exchanges .
No one — not even people with incomes more than four times the poverty level — would have to pay any more than 8.5 percent of income for insurance .
Biden would also allow people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs to reject that offer and opt for taxpayer-funded health insurance on the exchanges .
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR OPINION NEWSLETTER In addition , under BidenCare low-income people in states that did not expand Medicaid under ObamaCare would be automatically enrolled in the public option — and would not have to pay premiums or deductibles .
Add it all up , and Biden wants to vastly expand the share of Americans dependent on the federal government for their health insurance coverage , thereby inching the nation towards the single-payer system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I-Vt. , have long desired .
Radical changes like these could n't command unanimous Democratic support during President Obama ’ s administration .
And yet , they are now at the heart of the agenda of the party 's most famous “ moderate ” – former Vice President Biden .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Democrats ' pitch for the presidency is predicated on unifying the country .
But their proposed governing agenda is a progressive wish list .
BidenCare is ObamaCare on steroids , with a huge price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would eventually lead to the end of private health insurance and have other harmful consequences as well — no matter how strongly Biden denies it .
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM SALLY PIPES

When President Trump accused Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden at their debate Thursday of supporting socialized medicine, Biden called the claim “ridiculous.” But in fact, Trump is right.
The former vice president is trying to position himself as a moderate on health care — someone who will build on ObamaCare. But his plan, which he dubbed BidenCare for the first time during the debate, would absolutely nudge the U.S. toward government-run, single-payer health insurance.
If Democrats win control of both houses of Congress and the White House in the election now underway with early voting, BidenCare is coming — to the detriment of the more than 180 million Americans who now have private health insurance coverage
.BIDEN PITCHES 'BIDENCARE' AS HE SPARS WITH TRUMP ON HEALTH CARE AT DEBATE
The centerpiece of Biden's health care agenda, as he articulated it in the debate, is a new public health insurance option that would compete alongside private insurers on the state and federal health insurance exchanges created under ObamaCare.
Leading Democrats are already signaling that they'll blow up the filibuster in the Senate to ram the public option through. Biden may not love the tactics that his former colleagues in the Senate employ. But he'll certainly sign whatever bill they send him to make BidenCare a reality.
Proponents of the public option envision paying doctors and hospitals at rates similar to Medicare's, which are dramatically lower than those paid by private insurers.
Research published last month by the RAND Corporation found that private insurers pay hospitals 247 percent of what Medicare pays. That's nearly 2.5 times as much.
And as moderate Democrat and former Rep. John Delaney of Maryland pointed out before he dropped out of the race for his party’s 2020 presidential nomination, reimbursing hospitals at the Medicare rate would create a financial crisis for them — particularly rural hospitals.
Delaney said at a Democratic presidential primary debate last year: “If you go to every hospital in this country and you ask them one question, which is, ‘How would it have been for you last year if every one of your bills were paid at the Medicare rate?’ Every single hospital administrator said they would close."
That statement was criticized by many as overblown, but certainly, hospitals would suffer serious financial harm with such a big cut in their revenue and would have to take action to make up for the losses. And some would undoubtedly close.
On top of this, the public option wouldn't take in enough in premiums to cover its costs. That means your tax dollars would have to fill any gaps in the program's finances.
According to new research from Lanhee Chen and Daniel Heil of the Hoover Institution, a public option would increase the federal deficit by a staggering $800 billion over 10 years. Covering that tab will require massive tax hikes — including on the middle class, despite Biden’s promise that he won’t raise taxes of anyone making under $400,000 a year.
Armed with these two major advantages over private health insurance companies — far lower payments to hospitals and hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies — the public option would be able to substantially underprice private health insurance companies and entice their customers away.
Slowly but surely, private health insurance companies would leave the market, unable to compete.
One study from FTI Consulting projects that the introduction of a public option would cause 20 percent of state marketplaces to lose all private health insurance options by 2028. We can expect that more would leave in future years.
Another step toward government-run, single-payer health care is Biden's plan to lower Medicare's eligibility age from the current 65 to 60.
Never mind that Medicare’s Part A hospital insurance trust fund is set to be exhausted in four years. Biden's proposal would add to these financial woes by bringing another 23 million Americans into the program at an estimated cost of $200 billion over the next decade.
Then there's Biden's plan to offer billions of dollars more in federal subsidies to people shopping for coverage on the ObamaCare health insurance exchanges. No one — not even people with incomes more than four times the poverty level — would have to pay any more than 8.5 percent of income for insurance.
Biden would also allow people who can get health insurance coverage through their jobs to reject that offer and opt for taxpayer-funded health insurance on the exchanges.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR OPINION NEWSLETTER
In addition, under BidenCare low-income people in states that did not expand Medicaid under ObamaCare would be automatically enrolled in the public option — and would not have to pay premiums or deductibles.
Add it all up, and Biden wants to vastly expand the share of Americans dependent on the federal government for their health insurance coverage, thereby inching the nation towards the single-payer system that progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., have long desired.
Radical changes like these couldn't command unanimous Democratic support during President Obama’s administration. And yet, they are now at the heart of the agenda of the party's most famous “moderate” – former Vice President Biden.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Democrats' pitch for the presidency is predicated on unifying the country. But their proposed governing agenda is a progressive wish list.
BidenCare is ObamaCare on steroids, with a huge price tag funded by big tax increases and it would eventually lead to the end of private health insurance and have other harmful consequences as well — no matter how strongly Biden denies it.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM SALLY PIPES


bonginoreport--2020-10-26--Tucker Carlson’s Entire Tuesday Show to Feature Interview With Hunter Biden Whistleblower

Biden family insider turned-whistleblower Tony Bobulinksi is slated to appear on Tucker Carlson 's Fox News show Tuesday night in an episode dedicated entirely to the explosive Hunter Biden emails .
Set exactly one week out from the general election , the extended interview will reportedly reveal the delicious details on how the Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden—then the vice president under the Obama Administration at the time—was deeply involved in his son 's overseas business dealings .
`` The media have suppressed the story , but it ’ s real and it matters .
Voters have a right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a viral post .
According to a source familiar with the production 's planning , Bobulinski will play recordings of Biden family operatives begging the former business partner to remain quiet .
The tapes claim that Bobulinski 's revelations will `` bury '' the reputations of those implicated , The Federalist co-founder Sean Davis reported .
The former Army intelligence officer came forward to confirm that `` big guy '' was an alias for Hunter 's father , cited in an email dated May 13 , 2017 .
As first reported by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elucidated `` positions , titles , and associated cash payments '' and specifically laid out 10 percent set-aside for `` the big guy . ''
Bobulinski implicated the elder Biden and his brother Jim , alleging that both family members were coordinated in Hunter 's prospective transactions with the Chinese energy and finance conglomerate , CECF .
At the second and final presidential debate last week , President Donald Trump invited Bobulinski as his special guest .
During the televised face-off , Trump directly asked Biden about his role as the `` big @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Biden family insider turned-whistleblower Tony Bobulinksi is slated to appear on Tucker Carlson's Fox News show Tuesday night in an episode dedicated entirely to the explosive Hunter Biden emails.
Set exactly one week out from the general election, the extended interview will reportedly reveal the delicious details on how the Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden—then the vice president under the Obama Administration at the time—was deeply involved in his son's overseas business dealings.
"The media have suppressed the story, but it’s real and it matters. Voters have a right to know the details," Carlson tweeted in a viral post.
Tony Bobulinski says he met with Joe Biden about China. The media have suppressed the story, but it’s real and it matters. Voters have a right to know the details. Bobulinski sits for an extended interview Tuesday night at 8p ET on #FoxNews — Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) October 26, 2020
According to a source familiar with the production's planning, Bobulinski will play recordings of Biden family operatives begging the former business partner to remain quiet. The tapes claim that Bobulinski's revelations will "bury" the reputations of those implicated, The Federalist co-founder Sean Davis reported.
According to a source familiar with the planning, Bobulinski will play recordings of Biden family operatives begging him to stay quiet and claiming Bobulinski's revelations will "bury" the reputations of everyone involved in Hunter's overseas deals. — Sean Davis (@seanmdav) October 26, 2020
The former Army intelligence officer came forward to confirm that "big guy" was an alias for Hunter's father, cited in an email dated May 13, 2017. As first reported by the New York Post, the correspondence elucidated "positions, titles, and associated cash payments" and specifically laid out 10 percent set-aside for "the big guy." Bobulinski implicated the elder Biden and his brother Jim, alleging that both family members were coordinated in Hunter's prospective transactions with the Chinese energy and finance conglomerate, CECF.
At the second and final presidential debate last week, President Donald Trump invited Bobulinski as his special guest. During the televised face-off, Trump directly asked Biden about his role as the "big guy" named in the scandal.


bonginoreport--2020-10-26--Clarence Thomas to Administer Constitutional Oath to Amy Coney Barrett

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas will administer the official constitutional oath to Judge Amy Coney Barrett on Monday night if she is confirmed by the Senate , a senior White House official told Fox News .
Thomas has long been considered one of the more conservative justices on the Court , along with Barrett 's mentor , the late Justice Antonin Scalia .
The would-be celebration of her confirmation wo n't be a large affair , President Trump said , noting that it will be `` just a very nice event . ''
Trump made those comments to reporters on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania , Politico reported .
The president has been holding rallies in the swing state as part of a final push to win support for next week 's election .
Barrett 's confirmation , which is expected to take place on Monday evening , will mark his third successful appointment to the high court within his first term .
The highly contentious process has provoked backlash from Democrats , who claim Republicans hypocritically jammed her nomination through after rejecting Judge Merrick Garland 's in 2016 .
In a video retweeted by Senate Minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused Republicans of committing `` one of the greatest acts of hypocrisy that has ever occurred in the Senate . ''
ROMNEY PRAISES SUPREME COURT NOMINEE BARRETT 'S 'INTEGRITY , ' SLAMS 'DIVISION AND CONTEMPT FOR OTHERS ' IN US “ This is something to be really proud of and feel good about , ” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , said during a rare weekend session Sunday ahead of voting .
He scoffed at the “ apocalyptic ” warnings from critics that the judicial branch was becoming mired in partisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ they won ’ t be able to do much about this for a long time to come.
” Trump will also likely have to ward off criticism surrounding the ceremony he holds while the coronavirus continues to spread throughout the U.S. Like Barrett 's nominating ceremony , Monday 's would-be celebration will take place outdoors , although it 's unclear whether attendees will refrain from wearing masks like they did during the former .
“ We ’ re doing tonight the best we can to encourage as much social distancing as possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Meadows reportedly said of a potential swearing-in ceremony .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Vice President Mike Pence , who also serves as president of the Senate , wo n't be presiding over the vote after members of his staff tested positive for the virus .
Both he and his wife , Karen , have tested negative .
Schumer and his leadership team said that Pence 's attendance would not only violate virus guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , but “ it would also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Associated Press contributed to this report .

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas will administer the official constitutional oath to Judge Amy Coney Barrett on Monday night if she is confirmed by the Senate, a senior White House official told Fox News.
Thomas has long been considered one of the more conservative justices on the Court, along with Barrett's mentor, the late Justice Antonin Scalia. The would-be celebration of her confirmation won't be a large affair, President Trump said, noting that it will be "just a very nice event."
Trump made those comments to reporters on Monday at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Pennsylvania, Politico reported. The president has been holding rallies in the swing state as part of a final push to win support for next week's election.
Barrett's confirmation, which is expected to take place on Monday evening, will mark his third successful appointment to the high court within his first term. The highly contentious process has provoked backlash from Democrats, who claim Republicans hypocritically jammed her nomination through after rejecting Judge Merrick Garland's in 2016.
In a video retweeted by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., he accused Republicans of committing "one of the greatest acts of hypocrisy that has ever occurred in the Senate."
ROMNEY PRAISES SUPREME COURT NOMINEE BARRETT'S 'INTEGRITY,' SLAMS 'DIVISION AND CONTEMPT FOR OTHERS' IN US
“This is something to be really proud of and feel good about,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said during a rare weekend session Sunday ahead of voting. He scoffed at the “apocalyptic” warnings from critics that the judicial branch was becoming mired in partisan politics, even as he declared that “they won’t be able to do much about this for a long time to come.”
Trump will also likely have to ward off criticism surrounding the ceremony he holds while the coronavirus continues to spread throughout the U.S. Like Barrett's nominating ceremony, Monday's would-be celebration will take place outdoors, although it's unclear whether attendees will refrain from wearing masks like they did during the former.
“We’re doing tonight the best we can to encourage as much social distancing as possible,” White House chief of staff Mark Meadows reportedly said of a potential swearing-in ceremony.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Vice President Mike Pence, who also serves as president of the Senate, won't be presiding over the vote after members of his staff tested positive for the virus. Both he and his wife, Karen, have tested negative.
Schumer and his leadership team said that Pence's attendance would not only violate virus guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but “it would also be a violation of common decency and courtesy.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


bonginoreport--2020-10-26--President Trump Takes the Lead in Pennsylvania

A new poll was released showing Trump pulling ahead slightly in the battleground state of Pennsylvania .
The poll was conducted after the latest , and last , presidential debate .
It finds Trump polling at 48 percent , with Biden at 46 percent .
This follows polls from the Trafalgar Group , a political and corporate survey research firm , showing Trump gaining an edge over Biden in Michigan ( two points ) , Florida ( also by two points ) , and Arizona ( three points ) .
With just over a week till election night , Trafalgar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final presidential debate on Friday night , one of the final opportunities for candidates to swing voter opinion .
Trump needs all three states of Michigan , Florida , and Arizona , to have a path to victory .
Trump took home all 20 of Pennsylvania 's Electoral College votes in 2016 .
Previous polling had shown Biden as the top contender for the presidency , but as the country closes in on a week from election day , the polls are starting to tighten up .
Gravis Marketing still shows Biden as @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A new poll was released showing Trump pulling ahead slightly in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
The poll was conducted after the latest, and last, presidential debate. It finds Trump polling at 48 percent, with Biden at 46 percent.
#NEW Pennsylvania Post Debate Poll:
Trump 48% (+2)
Biden 46%
Jorgensen (L) 3%
InsiderAdvantage (LV, 10/25-10/25) — Political Polls (@PpollingNumbers) October 26, 2020
This follows polls from the Trafalgar Group, a political and corporate survey research firm, showing Trump gaining an edge over Biden in Michigan (two points), Florida (also by two points), and Arizona (three points).
With just over a week till election night, Trafalgar’s findings follow closely behind the final presidential debate on Friday night, one of the final opportunities for candidates to swing voter opinion.
NEW @trafalgar_group Post Debate Poll:
Michigan:
Trump 49% (+2)
Biden 47%
Jorgensen 2%
Florida:
Trump 49% (+2)
Biden 47%
Jorgensen 2%
Arizona:
Trump 50% (+3)
Biden 47%
Jorgensen 2% — Political Polls (@PpollingNumbers) October 25, 2020
Trump needs all three states of Michigan, Florida, and Arizona, to have a path to victory. Trump took home all 20 of Pennsylvania's Electoral College votes in 2016.
Previous polling had shown Biden as the top contender for the presidency, but as the country closes in on a week from election day, the polls are starting to tighten up.
Gravis Marketing still shows Biden as having a lead of eight points.


bonginoreport--2020-10-26--Big Tech Censorship Backfires: Most Say Biden/Hunter Business Connection Likely

Voters think it ’ s likely that Joe Biden was in on his son Hunter ’ s controversial business deals abroad but are more critical of President Trump ’ s ethics than those of the Democratic nominee .
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 54 % of Likely U.S .
Voters believe it ’ s likely that Biden was consulted about and perhaps profited from Hunter ’ s overseas business deals including at least one involving a company in mainland China .
Forty-four percent ( 44 % ) consider it Very Likely .
But 38 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was involved with his son ’ s business dealings , including 21 % who say it ’ s Not At All Likely .
( To see survey question wording , click here . )
( Want a free daily e-mail update ?
If it 's in the news , it 's in our polls ) .
Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook .
The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S .
Voters was conducted October 22 and 25 , 2020 by Rasmussen Reports .
The margin of sampling error is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % level of confidence .
Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research , LLC .
See methodology .

Voters think it’s likely that Joe Biden was in on his son Hunter’s controversial business deals abroad but are more critical of President Trump’s ethics than those of the Democratic nominee.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 54% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it’s likely that Biden was consulted about and perhaps profited from Hunter’s overseas business deals including at least one involving a company in mainland China. Forty-four percent (44%) consider it Very Likely. But 38% think it’s unlikely Biden was involved with his son’s business dealings, including 21% who say it’s Not At All Likely.(To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted October 22 and 25, 2020 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.


bonginoreport--2020-10-26--Alright, Alright, Alright: Matthew McConaughey Rips the “Condescending and Patronizing” Left

Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey hammered the “ illiberal ” left in America as both “ condescending and patronizing , ” warning that there is a bias in Hollywood against committed Christians like himself .
In an interview on the Joe Rogan Experience , the 50-year-old described the negative reaction of his industry colleagues in the audience to his acceptance speeches where he thanks God and credited his Christian faith with his success .
“ I have had—and I won ’ t throw any people under the bus—but I have had moments where I was on stage receiving an award in front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were people in the crowd that I have prayed with before dinners many times , and when I thanked God , I saw some of those people go to clap , but then notice that , ‘ bad thing on my resume ’ and then sit back on their hands , ” McConaughey explained .
“ I ’ ve seen people read the room and go , ‘ whoa , that wouldn ’ t bode well for me in the future , ’ if for getting a job or you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he continued .
“ I have seen that ; I ’ ve witnessed that .
… I don ’ t judge them for it , I just wish , you know—that it seems like a silly argument.
” Citing arguments made by the popular Candian psychologist Jordan Peterson , the Dallas Buyers Club star said the prejudice against Christians was an example of the “ illiberal left ” being “ condescending and patronizing ” to the billions of people who worship God .
“ One of the things that … some people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , but there ’ s some that go to the left so far—as our friend Jordan Peterson [ says ] — that go to the illiberal Left side so far that it ’ s so condescending and patronizing to 50 % of the world that need the empathy that the liberals have , ” he added .
Unlike the majority of Hollywood , McConaughey has not endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden in next month ’ s all-important election .
However , he warned last week that people should accept the result of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the winner , even if that is once again Donald Trump .
“ It ’ s time to get constructive and not deny the fact of whatever ’ s happened and embrace the situation , ” he said in an interview with Fox and Friends .
“ Whoever is going to be commander in chief and president of the United States of America , that ’ s not something , hopefully , that we ’ re going to deny or be able to argue.
” Follow Ben Kew on Parler , Facebook , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at bkew @ breitbart.com .

Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey hammered the “illiberal” left in America as both “condescending and patronizing,” warning that there is a bias in Hollywood against committed Christians like himself.
In an interview on the Joe Rogan Experience, the 50-year-old described the negative reaction of his industry colleagues in the audience to his acceptance speeches where he thanks God and credited his Christian faith with his success.
“I have had—and I won’t throw any people under the bus—but I have had moments where I was on stage receiving an award in front of my peers in Hollywood, and there were people in the crowd that I have prayed with before dinners many times, and when I thanked God, I saw some of those people go to clap, but then notice that, ‘bad thing on my resume’ and then sit back on their hands,” McConaughey explained.
Watch below:
“I’ve seen people read the room and go, ‘whoa, that wouldn’t bode well for me in the future,’ if for getting a job or you’re getting votes or what have you,” he continued. “I have seen that; I’ve witnessed that. … I don’t judge them for it, I just wish, you know—that it seems like a silly argument.”
Citing arguments made by the popular Candian psychologist Jordan Peterson, the Dallas Buyers Club star said the prejudice against Christians was an example of the “illiberal left” being “condescending and patronizing” to the billions of people who worship God.
“One of the things that … some people in our industry, not all of them, but there’s some that go to the left so far—as our friend Jordan Peterson [says]— that go to the illiberal Left side so far that it’s so condescending and patronizing to 50% of the world that need the empathy that the liberals have,” he added.
Unlike the majority of Hollywood, McConaughey has not endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden in next month’s all-important election. However, he warned last week that people should accept the result of the presidential election and “embrace” the winner, even if that is once again Donald Trump.
“It’s time to get constructive and not deny the fact of whatever’s happened and embrace the situation,” he said in an interview with Fox and Friends. “Whoever is going to be commander in chief and president of the United States of America, that’s not something, hopefully, that we’re going to deny or be able to argue.”
Follow Ben Kew on Parler, Facebook, or Twitter. You can email him at bkew@breitbart.com.


bonginoreport--2020-10-26--Crazy Nancy Says She’ll Seek Another Term as Speaker of the House if Dems Keep Majority

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday that she would seek another term as Speaker of the US House of Representatives if the Democrats keep their majority in the chamber after the November election .
“ Yes I am , ” Pelosi told CNN ’ s Jake Tapper on “ State of the Union ” when asked if she would seek the speakership again , and then added , “ Let me also say we have to win the Senate.
” The California Democrat made history as the first woman Speaker of the House in 2007 where she remained in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the House .
She was reelected House Speaker in 2019 after Democrats regained control after the 2018 midterm election .
Pelosi on Sunday also addressed the current status of coronavirus stimulus negotiations with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , the White House ’ s chief negotiator .
While chances of the House passing a bill before Election Day appear slim , Pelosi told Tapper she never gives up hope .
The proposed language on coronavirus testing remains a sticking point in talks , she said .
Asked if she would hold out on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win control of both chambers and she could get a bill that is closer to what she wants , Pelosi told Tapper that “ people need help right away.
” “ We want to do it as soon as possible .
I thought the President did too and that was part of the leverage that each side had that we both wanted an agreement , ” she said .
“ Why would we even be talking to each other if we didn ’ t believe that we could reach an agreement ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a do-over ; back it again • Record voting in Santa Clara County as officials prepare for Election Day “ So , again , it could happen this week in the House but that ’ s up to ( Senate Majority Leader ) Mitch ( McConnell ) as to whether it would happen in the Senate and go to the President ’ s desk , which is our hope and prayer , ” she continued .
This story has been updated with additional comments from Pelosi on “ State of the Union @ @

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday that she would seek another term as Speaker of the US House of Representatives if the Democrats keep their majority in the chamber after the November election.
“Yes I am,” Pelosi told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” when asked if she would seek the speakership again, and then added, “Let me also say we have to win the Senate.”
The California Democrat made history as the first woman Speaker of the House in 2007 where she remained in the speakership until 2011 when Republicans gained control of the House. She was reelected House Speaker in 2019 after Democrats regained control after the 2018 midterm election.
Pelosi on Sunday also addressed the current status of coronavirus stimulus negotiations with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the White House’s chief negotiator. While chances of the House passing a bill before Election Day appear slim, Pelosi told Tapper she never gives up hope. The proposed language on coronavirus testing remains a sticking point in talks, she said.
Asked if she would hold out on advancing a stimulus bill in case Democrats win control of both chambers and she could get a bill that is closer to what she wants, Pelosi told Tapper that “people need help right away.”
“We want to do it as soon as possible. I thought the President did too and that was part of the leverage that each side had that we both wanted an agreement,” she said. “Why would we even be talking to each other if we didn’t believe that we could reach an agreement?”
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This story has been updated with additional comments from Pelosi on “State of the Union.”
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bonginoreport--2020-10-26--Photos Reportedly Show Cardinals’ DeAndre Hopkins Flipping Off Trump Supporters

Photos appear to show NFL wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins giving Trump supporters two middle fingers

Photos appear to show an NFL player giving Trump supporters the middle finger as he drove past in a sports car on Arizona's I-10 highway Sunday.
Multiple reports indicate that Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, 28, appeared to flip off a miles-long caravan of Trump supporters as he drove past in his Ferrari on the way to State Farm Stadium for Sunday night's game against the Seattle Seahawks.
According to KSAZ-TV, a caravan of people supporting President Donald Trump for re-election rallied that day on several Arizona highways, including I-17, Loop 101, 202, and I-10.
Hopkins was reportedly seen driving past the caravan, making obscene gestures along the way, around 1:30 p.m. According to the Arizona Republic, Hopkins was wearing a distinctive shirt that he was seen wearing when he arrived at the stadium later that afternoon.
Members of the pro-Trump caravan accused Hopkins of driving recklessly, speeding and swerving in and out of the caravan line.
"It's scary when they are coming up fast and swerving into you," April Garcia, one of the drivers in the caravan, said. She also noted other "intolerant" people threw water and other objects at the Trump supporters.
Others on social media called out Hopkins for his behavior.
So far neither the Cardinals nor the Arizona Department of Public Safety have released a statement about the incident, KSAZ reported.
The Cardinals beat the formerly undefeated Seahawks Sunday night 37-34. Hopkins, one of the NFL's best wide receivers, ended the game with 10 receptions for 103 yards, scoring one touchdown.
Hopkins is a vocal Black Lives Matter supporter and critic of President Trump.
In June, Hopkins starred in a video along with other NFL stars including Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Cleveland Browns receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, and others condemning police brutality after the death of George Floyd.
"How many times do we need to ask you to listen to your players? What will it take? For one of us to be murdered by police brutality?" the players asked the league.
"I am George Floyd," Hopkins and the others said.
Back in 2018, Hopkins, then playing for the Houston Texans, said Trump is too "closed-minded" to understand the NFL national anthem protests.
"I think Trump is more closed-minded and he thinks the reason that we're kneeling is because of the flag," Hopkins told TMZ Sports. "When that's like not at all the reason we're kneeling. I kneeled last year and one of my best friends is a Purple Heart veteran and my uncle is a Purple Heart veteran and they understand that it's not about the flag."


bonginoreport--2020-10-26--NYC Mayor Vows “Swift Action” Against NYPD Officer Who Said “Trump 2020”

'Trump 2020 .
Put it on YouTube , put it on Facebook .
Trump 2020 '

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is promising swift action against a New York City police officer who was caught on camera saying "Trump 2020."
What are the details?
Multiple videos uploaded to social media showed a NYPD officer say "Trump 2020" over the loudspeaker in his patrol car while two additional NYPD officers conversed outside the vehicle.
The incident happened in Brooklyn Saturday night.
"Do it again. What? You can't say 'Trump 2020' now, you f***ing p****?" the man behind the camera in the first video said. "Say it again."
When the officer repeated the phrase, the cameraman responded, "Go f*** yourself you f***ing fascist."
Another video uploaded to Twitter captured the incident from a different angle. The video, taken from the window of a nearby apartment, showed what happened after the first video ended.
"Trump 2020. Put it on YouTube, put it on Facebook. Trump 2020," the NYPD officer said over the loudspeaker. "Take a picture, take a picture, take a video, put it on your Facebook, put it on YouTube. Have some fun."
What was the reaction?
Enraged city leaders, including the mayor, are vowing action against the officer, and the NYPD said they are investigating the incident.
According to the New York Post, "NYPD strictly forbids officers from expressing political views or endorsing candidates."
In response, de Blasio promised New York City residents that the city would take immediate action against the police officer.
"Let me be clear: ANY NYPD Officer pushing ANY political agenda while on duty will face consequences. We will act fast here, and this will not be tolerated," de Blasio said.
Top NYPD brass also scolded the officer.
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said, "One hundred percent unacceptable. Period. Law Enforcement must remain apolitical, it is essential in our role to serve ALL New Yorkers regardless of any political beliefs. It is essential for New Yorkers to trust their Police. Updates to follow after initial investigation."
Chief of Department Terence Monahan added, "When you wear our uniform it is imperative to remain apolitical. Behavior like this will not be tolerated and will be dealt with."


bonginoreport--2020-10-26--Kamala Nervously Laughs When Asked if Biden Is a Trojan Horse for Her Socialist Policies

Kamala Harris laughs nervously at suggestion that Biden 's a Trojan Horse for her socialistic policies

Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (Calif.) appeared to laugh nervously and struggle to formulate an answer when asked about her far-left political views during a recent "60 Minutes" interview, which aired on Sunday.
What happened?
"You're very different, in the policies that you've supported in the past," CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell said to Harris about her policy differences with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
"You're considered the most liberal United States senator," O'Donnell stated bluntly, to which Harris replied, "I — somebody said that and it actually was Mike Pence on the debate stage," as she laughed uncomfortably.
"Yeah. Well, actually, the nonpartisan GovTrack has rated you as the most liberal senator," O'Donnell interjected. "You supported the Green New Deal; you supported Medicare for All; you've supported legalizing marijuana. Joe Biden doesn't support those things. So are you going to bring the policies — those progressive policies that you supported as senator — into a Biden administration?"
Harris countered by saying she has promised Biden she will always share with him her "lived experience" and "perspective" on any issues their potential administration may confront.
"And is that a socialist or progressive perspective?" O'Donnell asked.
"No. No," Harris answered, laughing even more uncomfortably than before. "It is the perspective of a woman who grew up a black child in America, who was also a prosecutor, who also has a mother who arrived here at the age of 19 from India. Who also, you know, likes hip-hop. Like, what do you want to know?"
At this point, O'Donnell plainly stated what it was she had been trying to get at with her previous questions.
"Well, I want to give you the opportunity to address this, because at the Republican National Convention, President Trump made the case that Joe Biden is gonna be nothing more than a Trojan horse for socialist policies for the left wing of the Democratic Party," she said. "Are you going to push those policies when you're vice president of the United States?"
Harris again countered with a vague answer, saying, "I am not going to be confined to Donald Trump's definition of who I or anybody else is. And I think America has learned that that would be a mistake."
Why does it matter?
Eventually, Harris came around to articulating that she would not have joined the ticket if she didn't support Biden's proposals, but it was arduous to get there.
The liberal senator's difficulty in fielding basic questions about her record likely did not do anything to assuage moderate Democratic voters who may be concerned about the party's progressive movement.
The Trump campaign has made it a point to to alert voters to the possibility that Harris may in fact be the guiding hand in a Biden administration, especially given Biden's age and questions regarding his mental and physical acuity.


bonginoreport--2020-10-27--Thomas Gilligan: Google’s “Monopoly,” And The Case Against It, Looks Surprisingly Like Standard Oil’

Thomas Gilligan: Google’s “Monopoly,” And The Case Against It, Looks Surprisingly Like Standard Oil’s

Based on some novel ideas and the application of new and powerful technologies , a company is formed which , within a relatively short period , achieves a dominant position in the markets in which it operates .
Many of these markets did not exist prior to the company ’ s creation .
It achieves this dominance by relentless innovation and passing along the bulk of the benefits of its discoveries to customers .
And although competitors are ubiquitous and themselves formidable , the government alleges that the company ’ s dominance was obtained illegally and represents an attempt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment .
The government seeks , among other things , to break up the company , advantage its competitors and restore the palliative effects of textbook competition .
United States of America ( plus eleven states ) v. Google LLC ?
Perhaps .
But another example comes to mind .
In 1870 , John D. Rockefeller established the Standard Oil Company to take advantage of recent discoveries in oil drilling and innovations in petroleum refining to produce kerosene , which at the time was used principally for illumination .
Shortly after starting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share selling kerosene for 26 cents per gallon .
Over the next ten years Standard Oil went on an innovation binge in which it increased the sale of byproducts it obtained from kerosene production , for example , tars , gasoline , lubricating oils , petroleum jelly , and paraffin , ultimately creating over 300 products from each barrel of oil .
Standard Oil also pursued dramatic cost cutting by , for example , hiring its own fitters , producing its own pipes , barrels , and plumbing materials and increasing its volume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs of refining a gallon of kerosene fell by nearly 85 percent for Standard Oil from 1870 to 1885 while its share of the kerosene market grew to nearly 90 percent .
In 1897 the price of a gallon of kerosene had dropped to less than six cents a gallon .
Standard Oil ’ s dominant position was obtained through relentless innovation that resulted in tremendous efficiencies and the creation of new markets that benefitted a multitude of consumers .
Nonetheless , and after years of litigation , in 1911 the government succeeded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separate companies by claiming that Standard Oil ’ s low prices were predatory and intended to monopolize the market .
There is little evidence that the government ’ s remedy benefited consumers by , for example , further reducing prices of refined petroleum products or enhancing innovation .
It is important to note that many of the companies created by the breakup later reconstituted within ExxonMobil .
And interestingly , owing to its failure to take advantage of the Texas oil boom and its reluctance to switch from kerosene to gasoline production , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refined petroleum products had dropped to approximately 65 percent by the eve of the Supreme Court ’ s decision .
Someone forgot to tell its competitors that Standard Oil had monopolized the market .
Google finds itself in much the same position as Standard Oil at the turn of the twentieth century .
A remarkably creative and innovative company , Google invented the modern search engine .
Google processes roughly 90 percent of search inquiries in the U.S. and around the world .
Its Chrome product constitutes roughly 70 percent of the global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Android operating system is found on about 85 percent of all smartphones .
Google earns about a third of all money spent on digital advertising as well as substantial revenues from user search queries .
Google claims that its dominance of this part of the digital landscape is based on its overall excellence and user-friendly approach to search queries , and that this lowers ad prices and allows it to offer free services to consumers .
It also notes how easy it is to use competitive browsers and search engines as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Microsoft and Facebook .
As in the case against Standard Oil , the government argues that Google ’ s dominance was created and is sustained not so much through business acumen and comparative excellence , but rather by behaviors and practices that serve to thwart competitors and real competition .
For example , Google pays mobile phone makers , wireless carriers and web browsers to make Google their default search engine .
Google ’ s search algorithms favor its other businesses and properties , such as travel services and local business reviews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , keep competitors from gaining a foothold in the search business .
It is further argued that Google has vertically integrated into brokering online advertising and tied its products together in ways that give it an unfair and anti-competitive advantage in online auctions .
It seems certain that more allegations will be added as this process evolves .
And somehow the outcome of U.S. v. Google seems predictable and familiar .
The legal battle will continue for years under the shadow of a more general discussion of how best to further regulate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose and have to change some of its behaviors and spin off some of the ancillary properties it has acquired or developed to support its digital advertising commerce .
Google will continue to be a vibrant but less dominant player .
And the antitrust treatment of innovative and dominant firms will continue to be ambiguous and only discernable after the fact .
Such is the price of success .
Thomas W. Gilligan is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution .

Based on some novel ideas and the application of new and powerful technologies, a company is formed which, within a relatively short period, achieves a dominant position in the markets in which it operates. Many of these markets did not exist prior to the company’s creation.
It achieves this dominance by relentless innovation and passing along the bulk of the benefits of its discoveries to customers. And although competitors are ubiquitous and themselves formidable, the government alleges that the company’s dominance was obtained illegally and represents an attempt to monopolize what would otherwise be a competitive environment. The government seeks, among other things, to break up the company, advantage its competitors and restore the palliative effects of textbook competition.
United States of America (plus eleven states) v. Google LLC? Perhaps. But another example comes to mind.
In 1870, John D. Rockefeller established the Standard Oil Company to take advantage of recent discoveries in oil drilling and innovations in petroleum refining to produce kerosene, which at the time was used principally for illumination. Shortly after starting, Standard Oil had a four percent market share selling kerosene for 26 cents per gallon. Over the next ten years Standard Oil went on an innovation binge in which it increased the sale of byproducts it obtained from kerosene production, for example, tars, gasoline, lubricating oils, petroleum jelly, and paraffin, ultimately creating over 300 products from each barrel of oil.
Standard Oil also pursued dramatic cost cutting by, for example, hiring its own fitters, producing its own pipes, barrels, and plumbing materials and increasing its volume to achieve economies of scale. The costs of refining a gallon of kerosene fell by nearly 85 percent for Standard Oil from 1870 to 1885 while its share of the kerosene market grew to nearly 90 percent. In 1897 the price of a gallon of kerosene had dropped to less than six cents a gallon.
Standard Oil’s dominant position was obtained through relentless innovation that resulted in tremendous efficiencies and the creation of new markets that benefitted a multitude of consumers. Nonetheless, and after years of litigation, in 1911 the government succeeded in breaking up Standard Oil into 34 separate companies by claiming that Standard Oil’s low prices were predatory and intended to monopolize the market.
There is little evidence that the government’s remedy benefited consumers by, for example, further reducing prices of refined petroleum products or enhancing innovation. It is important to note that many of the companies created by the breakup later reconstituted within ExxonMobil.
And interestingly, owing to its failure to take advantage of the Texas oil boom and its reluctance to switch from kerosene to gasoline production, Standard Oil’s market share of refined petroleum products had dropped to approximately 65 percent by the eve of the Supreme Court’s decision. Someone forgot to tell its competitors that Standard Oil had monopolized the market.
Google finds itself in much the same position as Standard Oil at the turn of the twentieth century. A remarkably creative and innovative company, Google invented the modern search engine. Google processes roughly 90 percent of search inquiries in the U.S. and around the world. Its Chrome product constitutes roughly 70 percent of the global online browser market while it’s Android operating system is found on about 85 percent of all smartphones.
Google earns about a third of all money spent on digital advertising as well as substantial revenues from user search queries. Google claims that its dominance of this part of the digital landscape is based on its overall excellence and user-friendly approach to search queries, and that this lowers ad prices and allows it to offer free services to consumers. It also notes how easy it is to use competitive browsers and search engines as well as that it faces rather formidable competitors such as Microsoft and Facebook.
As in the case against Standard Oil, the government argues that Google’s dominance was created and is sustained not so much through business acumen and comparative excellence, but rather by behaviors and practices that serve to thwart competitors and real competition. For example, Google pays mobile phone makers, wireless carriers and web browsers to make Google their default search engine. Google’s search algorithms favor its other businesses and properties, such as travel services and local business reviews.
These practices, it is argued, keep competitors from gaining a foothold in the search business. It is further argued that Google has vertically integrated into brokering online advertising and tied its products together in ways that give it an unfair and anti-competitive advantage in online auctions. It seems certain that more allegations will be added as this process evolves.
And somehow the outcome of U.S. v. Google seems predictable and familiar. The legal battle will continue for years under the shadow of a more general discussion of how best to further regulate the communications and technology industries. Google will lose and have to change some of its behaviors and spin off some of the ancillary properties it has acquired or developed to support its digital advertising commerce.
Google will continue to be a vibrant but less dominant player. And the antitrust treatment of innovative and dominant firms will continue to be ambiguous and only discernable after the fact. Such is the price of success.
Thomas W. Gilligan is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution.