bonginoreport--2020-04-26--What is Jared Kushner Doing in the White House?

President Trump ’ s greatest weakness now is his inability to recognize that his son-in-law is the leader of a faction within the White House whose interests come at the expense of the very people who voted for him .
If President Donald Trump is serious about draining the swamp , he ought to start with his son-in-law , Jared Kushner .
Kushner raised eyebrows when he strutted into the role of pandemic point man for the White House , alongside his former roommate and a handful of McKinsey & Company management consultants .
As Chris Buskirk wrote in these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of doing little more than helping failing institutions fail in style while growing rich in the process.
” Project Airbridge , Kushner ’ s plan to take the reins of the Federal Emergency Management Agency supply-chain task force and partner with private companies to fly health care supplies to New York City from China , lived up to the McKinsey style .
Never mind that the Chinese government , through state-run media , threatened to plunge America into “ the mighty sea of coronavirus ” as we grappled with the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused by China , and exacerbated by our manufacturing dependency on that country , was to turn to Beijing for “ help.
” Managed decline , brought to you by Kushner and McKinsey & Company .
Kushner ’ s record in the public and private sector is long and mediocre .
After he took over the New York Observer , the newspaper stopped its weekly print edition that had been in operation since 1987 .
“ Kushner paid $ 1.8 billion , ” Michelle Goldberg reports , “ for a Manhattan skyscraper at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market in 2007 .
The debt from that project became a crushing burden for the family business.
” His immigration plan , shopped to GOP senators in a PowerPoint presentation , was dismissed as “ laughably simplistic.
” His plan for the Palestinian economy was lampooned by Michael J. Koplow of the Israel Policy Forum as “ the Monty Python version of Israeli-Palestinian peace , where no contention is too absurd to be floated.
” Nevertheless , the president looks on as Kushner performs the political equivalent of jamming square pegs in round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try again .
Amid the sound and fury of the pandemic , most people didn ’ t notice that it was a health insurance company closely connected to Kushner , Oscar Health , that undertook development for a coronavirus website in partnership with the government .
Kushner ’ s younger brother Joshua co-founded Oscar and is a major investor in the company , “ and Jared Kushner partially owned or controlled Oscar before he joined the White House , ” according to an exclusive report in the Atlantic .
Though Oscar did the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down , it rightly raised the hackles of ethics lawyers .
“ It ’ s not typical .
It ’ s usually not allowed , ” said Jessica Tillipman , an assistant dean at the George Washington University School of Law and an expert on anti-corruption law .
“ The concern , when you have some free services , is that it makes the government beholden to the company , ” Tillipman added .
If something is free , it means the consumer is also the product .
Kushner consistently has played down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he ’ s pining for the creation of a national coronavirus surveillance system .
The system is intended to give the government information about patients and treatment in real-time , aiming at Kushner ’ s goal of providing “ informed , data-driven decisions.
” It would , of course , come at the cost of privacy , harvesting a trove of data in a world where such a resource is lucrative , all while placing Kushner—a man who is “ Beijing ’ s point of interest ” in the administration—at the center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white paper for “ Healthy China , ” a plan “ central to the Chinese Government ’ s agenda , ” Oscar bills itself as having a “ digital intelligence ” network that could benefit China ’ s medical industry .
Jackie Kahn , an Oscar spokeswoman , told reporters in an email that Oscar “ had already been working on a coronavirus-testing website when [ the Department of Health and Human Services ] called to ask for help , ” suggesting it “ was a coincidence that had nothing to do with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of Kushner ’ s projects tend to be , just that lucky .
It was Kushner , after all , who pushed for the Opportunity Zone tax breaks to be included in President Trump ’ s 2017 tax overhaul , a program intended to provide investors with cuts in capital gains taxes for putting money into businesses and buildings in 8,700 poor , struggling neighborhoods across the country that might not otherwise attract the cash .
Kushner Companies , the development firm once headed by Kushner , happened to have properties in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of New Jersey beachfront , along with at least 10 Opportunity Zones elsewhere .
“ Pier Village , ” as the ritzy shoreline property is called , features 786-square-foot one-bedroom apartments for as much as $ 2,765 a month and it stands adjacent to another development site : a 72-room luxury hotel , also brought to your struggling neighborhood by Kushner Companies .
Kushner ’ s representatives repeatedly have stated that he hasn ’ t had any involvement in Kushner Companies since January 2017 .
We have only serendipity to thank , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Opportunity Zone designation in April 2017 , Kushner Companies “ spent more than $ 13 million buying additional properties in the zone , putting the company in position to take advantage of the tax breaks on future projects in the expanding beachfront complex , ” as Bloomberg Businessweek reports .
Pier Village is not exactly the sort of poor and struggling neighborhood that this program was designed to help .
Census data put Pier Village at a 22.6 percent poverty rate in 2010 , above the provision ’ s 20 percent threshold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200 tracts with higher poverty rates , only a third of them were among the 169 to receive the zone designation , and Kushner Companies was just lucky enough to be there when it happened .
We would be remiss , however , to discount the good business sense of Nicole Kushner Meyer , Jared ’ s younger sister .
As a Kushner Companies principal , said a company spokesperson , she “ focuses on new acquisitions , developments and commercial portfolio management.
” The month after Kushner Companies capitalized on the tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the thrust in the administration , Meyer appeared in a Beijing ballroom full of wealthy Chinese investors .
“ Invest $ 500,000 and immigrate to the United States , ” read an event brochure .
The event aimed at encouraging Chinese investors to apply for EB-5 visas .
Established by Congress in 1990 , the program allows foreign nationals to obtain green cards and a path to citizenship in exchange for a minimum investment of $ 500,000―increased to $ 900,000 in 2019 .
About 80 percent of EB-5 green cards go to Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Opportunity Zone tax , insofar that it is intended to help targeted areas within the United States .
But it has been riddled with fraud and decried as a pay-for-citizenship scheme .
The month of Meyer ’ s meeting in Beijing , the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services identified and confirmed 19 national security concerns with the EB-5 investor program .
Against the backdrop of Kushner signage , Chinese investors were encouraged to provide funding for “ Kushner 1 ” as a means of acquiring EB-5 visas .
Kushner 1 is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also known as One Journal Square .
Earlier , in January 2017 , a representative for the U.S. Immigration Fund had asked a New Jersey official to issue a letter certifying One Journal Square as within an area with low employment—doing so would transform it into a “ targeted employment area ” for EB-5 investors and qualify it for a lower investment threshold to boot .
Emails obtained by CNN from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development show that after “ an official responded that the project did not qualify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tract with an unemployment rate below the national average , a consultant for another company asked that the state combine six census tracts together.
” Official documents show that the state approved the project not long after .
While no overt reference to President Trump was made , the materials of the Beijing event played on the Kushner family ’ s “ celebrity ” status and Meyer was billed as Jared ’ s sister .
Meyer reportedly told the crowd that her “ brother Jared Kushner joined the family company as CEO , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to join the administration.
” Journalists claimed that the event organizers were nervous about media presence and at one point “ grabbed a reporter ’ s phone and backpack to try to force that person to leave , ” then later “ physically surrounded attendees to prevent them from giving interviews.
” Naturally , news of Meyer ’ s meeting raised the ire of ethics lawyers .
In response , Kushner Companies apologized , and Kushner ’ s attorney stated that he had no knowledge of the event .
Kushner divested from One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement that “ he will recuse from particular matters concerning the EB-5 visa program.
” But then an odd promotion by Qiaowai , a Beijing-based company that locates investors in China , appeared in March .
Posted by Qiaowai on the Chinese social media site WeChat , the ad suggested the Trump administration planned to increase the number of available visas .
“ Even some members of Trump ’ s family have participated in the growth of the EB-5 program , ” the promotion read , mentioning the “ Kushner88 ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , ” the ad concluded , “ in the Trump era , the EB-5 program is likely to receive support and be expanded.
” A spokesperson later said Kushner Companies was neither aware nor involved with these promotions , and they were taken down almost as soon as American media took note of them .
Things were mostly fine for Kushner Companies until 2020 , when Nicholas Mastroianni , CEO of the U.S. Immigration Fund , became the subject of a civil fraud case filed against him by two Chinese investors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a Kushner Companies development known as “ Trump Bay Street ” in New Jersey .
Then , amid the coronavirus pandemic , a push within the GOP for more EB-5 visas bubbled to the surface .
According to Politico , and despite the problematic history of the program , the Republican Party pushed to increase the number of EB-5 visas from 10,000 to 75,000 annually and reduce minimum investment for legal residence to $ 450,000 from $ 900,000―even less than the original $ 500,000 requirement .
The Qiaowai ad proved prophetic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly became the public face of shame for the covert operation , some speculated that Kushner may have been involved .
“ Three Senate staffers and one administration source ” told journalist Daniel Horowitz of Conservative Review that Kushner was “ the driving force behind the push for EB-5.
” While it is unclear whether Kushner , in fact , leveraged his position within the administration to exploit the EB-5 program in this case , there is no question he has worked quietly to expand the legal immigration schemes by which he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump has been preaching immigration restrictionism from the populist pulpit , Kushner has been holding a “ series of meetings with dozens of advocacy groups , including business and agriculture organizations ” about possibly expanding various visa programs .
Now reports have surfaced that Kushner yet again had a hand in driving immigration policy at a critical time .
After President Trump announced he would be suspending immigration to the United States to protect the jobs and wages of millions of newly unemployed workers during the pandemic , the Spectator USA reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the White House .
Sources familiar with the situation told the Spectator that Kushner “ is one of the loudest voices pushing back on a full ban and is seeking to carve out exemptions for refugees , temporary workers under the H1B visa program , and farmworkers under the H-2A visa program.
” The ban applies only to those seeking legal residency .
It therefore misses the mark because , as Jessica Vaughan of the Center for Immigration Studies explains , “ there will be only a modest impact since 60 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 80 % of employment category is already here ) .
” In other words , the ban applies to the only group of foreign nationals who are not coming to the United States specifically to take a job , while making exemptions for H1B , H2A , and H2B visas .
Trump ’ s immigration proclamation actually exempts some of the largest sources of immigration and specifically economic categories which negatively affect jobs and wages for American workers .
The ban actually hurts American job prospects and wages , while putting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Worse yet , as Vaughan notes , the ban declares EB-5 entries “ essential , ” effectively pulling out the brakes on the already thoroughly bad program .
The president ’ s supporters may rightly wonder if they voted for Kushner or Trump at this point .
“ In every republic , ” wrote Machiavelli , “ there are two parties , that of the nobles and that of the people.
” The former “ have a great desire to dominate , whilst the latter have only the wish to not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to live in the enjoyment of liberty.
” For many Americans , President Trump appeared to have broken rank with the “ nobles ” and descended his golden escalator to lend a hand to the people .
Whether that is entirely true or not is up for debate .
What is certain , however , is that his son-in-law remains aligned with the acquisitive , globe-trotting class whose schemes dominate the course of American political life and the lives of the little people who swab the floors of their high-rises .
Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to recognize that Kushner is the leader of a faction within the White House whose interests come at the expense of the very people who voted for him .

If President Donald Trump is serious about draining the swamp, he ought to start with his son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Kushner raised eyebrows when he strutted into the role of pandemic point man for the White House, alongside his former roommate and a handful of McKinsey & Company management consultants. As Chris Buskirk wrote in these pages, Team McKinsey has “a history of doing little more than helping failing institutions fail in style while growing rich in the process.”
Project Airbridge, Kushner’s plan to take the reins of the Federal Emergency Management Agency supply-chain task force and partner with private companies to fly health care supplies to New York City from China, lived up to the McKinsey style.
Never mind that the Chinese government, through state-run media, threatened to plunge America into “the mighty sea of coronavirus” as we grappled with the pandemic. Kushner’s solution for a problem caused by China, and exacerbated by our manufacturing dependency on that country, was to turn to Beijing for “help.” Managed decline, brought to you by Kushner and McKinsey & Company.
Square Pegs, Round Holes
Kushner’s record in the public and private sector is long and mediocre. After he took over the New York Observer, the newspaper stopped its weekly print edition that had been in operation since 1987.
“Kushner paid $1.8 billion,” Michelle Goldberg reports, “for a Manhattan skyscraper at the very top of the real estate market in 2007. The debt from that project became a crushing burden for the family business.”
His immigration plan, shopped to GOP senators in a PowerPoint presentation, was dismissed as “laughably simplistic.” His plan for the Palestinian economy was lampooned by Michael J. Koplow of the Israel Policy Forum as “the Monty Python version of Israeli-Palestinian peace, where no contention is too absurd to be floated.”
Nevertheless, the president looks on as Kushner performs the political equivalent of jamming square pegs in round holes, encouraging him to try and try again.
Amid the sound and fury of the pandemic, most people didn’t notice that it was a health insurance company closely connected to Kushner, Oscar Health, that undertook development for a coronavirus website in partnership with the government. Kushner’s younger brother Joshua co-founded Oscar and is a major investor in the company, “and Jared Kushner partially owned or controlled Oscar before he joined the White House,” according to an exclusive report in the Atlantic. Though Oscar did the work free of charge before abruptly shutting down, it rightly raised the hackles of ethics lawyers.
“It’s not typical. It’s usually not allowed,” said Jessica Tillipman, an assistant dean at the George Washington University School of Law and an expert on anti-corruption law. “The concern, when you have some free services, is that it makes the government beholden to the company,” Tillipman added. If something is free, it means the consumer is also the product.
Kushner consistently has played down events, yet, according to Politico, he’s pining for the creation of a national coronavirus surveillance system. The system is intended to give the government information about patients and treatment in real-time, aiming at Kushner’s goal of providing “informed, data-driven decisions.”
It would, of course, come at the cost of privacy, harvesting a trove of data in a world where such a resource is lucrative, all while placing Kushner—a man who is “Beijing’s point of interest” in the administration—at the center of it all.
Oh, Lucky Man!
In a recent white paper for “Healthy China,” a plan “central to the Chinese Government’s agenda,” Oscar bills itself as having a “digital intelligence” network that could benefit China’s medical industry. Jackie Kahn, an Oscar spokeswoman, told reporters in an email that Oscar “had already been working on a coronavirus-testing website when [the Department of Health and Human Services] called to ask for help,” suggesting it “was a coincidence that had nothing to do with Kushner.” It was, as so many of Kushner’s projects tend to be, just that lucky.
It was Kushner, after all, who pushed for the Opportunity Zone tax breaks to be included in President Trump’s 2017 tax overhaul, a program intended to provide investors with cuts in capital gains taxes for putting money into businesses and buildings in 8,700 poor, struggling neighborhoods across the country that might not otherwise attract the cash. Kushner Companies, the development firm once headed by Kushner, happened to have properties in Opportunity Zones that include $13 million of New Jersey beachfront, along with at least 10 Opportunity Zones elsewhere. “Pier Village,” as the ritzy shoreline property is called, features 786-square-foot one-bedroom apartments for as much as $2,765 a month and it stands adjacent to another development site: a 72-room luxury hotel, also brought to your struggling neighborhood by Kushner Companies.
Kushner’s representatives repeatedly have stated that he hasn’t had any involvement in Kushner Companies since January 2017. We have only serendipity to thank, then, that after the oceanfront area received the Opportunity Zone designation in April 2017, Kushner Companies “spent more than $13 million buying additional properties in the zone, putting the company in position to take advantage of the tax breaks on future projects in the expanding beachfront complex,” as Bloomberg Businessweek reports. Pier Village is not exactly the sort of poor and struggling neighborhood that this program was designed to help.
Census data put Pier Village at a 22.6 percent poverty rate in 2010, above the provision’s 20 percent threshold. While New Jersey has more than 200 tracts with higher poverty rates, only a third of them were among the 169 to receive the zone designation, and Kushner Companies was just lucky enough to be there when it happened.
More Coincidences
We would be remiss, however, to discount the good business sense of Nicole Kushner Meyer, Jared’s younger sister. As a Kushner Companies principal, said a company spokesperson, she “focuses on new acquisitions, developments and commercial portfolio management.” The month after Kushner Companies capitalized on the tax breaks for which senior adviser Kushner provided the thrust in the administration, Meyer appeared in a Beijing ballroom full of wealthy Chinese investors. “Invest $500,000 and immigrate to the United States,” read an event brochure.
The event aimed at encouraging Chinese investors to apply for EB-5 visas. Established by Congress in 1990, the program allows foreign nationals to obtain green cards and a path to citizenship in exchange for a minimum investment of $500,000―increased to $900,000 in 2019. About 80 percent of EB-5 green cards go to Chinese investors.
The program is similar to the Opportunity Zone tax, insofar that it is intended to help targeted areas within the United States. But it has been riddled with fraud and decried as a pay-for-citizenship scheme. The month of Meyer’s meeting in Beijing, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services identified and confirmed 19 national security concerns with the EB-5 investor program.
Against the backdrop of Kushner signage, Chinese investors were encouraged to provide funding for “Kushner 1” as a means of acquiring EB-5 visas. Kushner 1 is a New Jersey luxury apartment project, also known as One Journal Square. Earlier, in January 2017, a representative for the U.S. Immigration Fund had asked a New Jersey official to issue a letter certifying One Journal Square as within an area with low employment—doing so would transform it into a “targeted employment area” for EB-5 investors and qualify it for a lower investment threshold to boot.
Emails obtained by CNN from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development show that after “an official responded that the project did not qualify due to its location within a census tract with an unemployment rate below the national average, a consultant for another company asked that the state combine six census tracts together.” Official documents show that the state approved the project not long after.
While no overt reference to President Trump was made, the materials of the Beijing event played on the Kushner family’s “celebrity” status and Meyer was billed as Jared’s sister. Meyer reportedly told the crowd that her “brother Jared Kushner joined the family company as CEO,” and “recently moved to Washington to join the administration.”
Journalists claimed that the event organizers were nervous about media presence and at one point “grabbed a reporter’s phone and backpack to try to force that person to leave,” then later “physically surrounded attendees to prevent them from giving interviews.”
Naturally, news of Meyer’s meeting raised the ire of ethics lawyers. In response, Kushner Companies apologized, and Kushner’s attorney stated that he had no knowledge of the event. Kushner divested from One Journal Square and his personal counsel said in a statement that “he will recuse from particular matters concerning the EB-5 visa program.” But then an odd promotion by Qiaowai, a Beijing-based company that locates investors in China, appeared in March.
Posted by Qiaowai on the Chinese social media site WeChat, the ad suggested the Trump administration planned to increase the number of available visas. “Even some members of Trump’s family have participated in the growth of the EB-5 program,” the promotion read, mentioning the “Kushner88” New Jersey apartment project. “Given this,” the ad concluded, “in the Trump era, the EB-5 program is likely to receive support and be expanded.”
A spokesperson later said Kushner Companies was neither aware nor involved with these promotions, and they were taken down almost as soon as American media took note of them.
The “Driving Force” Behind EB-5
Things were mostly fine for Kushner Companies until 2020, when Nicholas Mastroianni, CEO of the U.S. Immigration Fund, became the subject of a civil fraud case filed against him by two Chinese investors. The business Mastroianni had promoted to investors was a Kushner Companies development known as “Trump Bay Street” in New Jersey. Then, amid the coronavirus pandemic, a push within the GOP for more EB-5 visas bubbled to the surface.
According to Politico, and despite the problematic history of the program, the Republican Party pushed to increase the number of EB-5 visas from 10,000 to 75,000 annually and reduce minimum investment for legal residence to $450,000 from $900,000―even less than the original $500,000 requirement. The Qiaowai ad proved prophetic.
While Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) quickly became the public face of shame for the covert operation, some speculated that Kushner may have been involved. “Three Senate staffers and one administration source” told journalist Daniel Horowitz of Conservative Review that Kushner was “the driving force behind the push for EB-5.”
While it is unclear whether Kushner, in fact, leveraged his position within the administration to exploit the EB-5 program in this case, there is no question he has worked quietly to expand the legal immigration schemes by which he has profited professionally.
Per Politico, while President Trump has been preaching immigration restrictionism from the populist pulpit, Kushner has been holding a “series of meetings with dozens of advocacy groups, including business and agriculture organizations” about possibly expanding various visa programs.
About Trump’s Latest Executive Order
Now reports have surfaced that Kushner yet again had a hand in driving immigration policy at a critical time.
After President Trump announced he would be suspending immigration to the United States to protect the jobs and wages of millions of newly unemployed workers during the pandemic, the Spectator USA reported an “internal battle” broke out in the White House.
Sources familiar with the situation told the Spectator that Kushner “is one of the loudest voices pushing back on a full ban and is seeking to carve out exemptions for refugees, temporary workers under the H1B visa program, and farmworkers under the H-2A visa program.”
If that’s true, then Kushner achieved a total victory.
The ban applies only to those seeking legal residency. It therefore misses the mark because, as Jessica Vaughan of the Center for Immigration Studies explains, “there will be only a modest impact since 60% of green card applicants are already here (80% of employment category is already here).” In other words, the ban applies to the only group of foreign nationals who are not coming to the United States specifically to take a job, while making exemptions for H1B, H2A, and H2B visas. Trump’s immigration proclamation actually exempts some of the largest sources of immigration and specifically economic categories which negatively affect jobs and wages for American workers.
The ban actually hurts American job prospects and wages, while putting on a cheap labor parade for big business. Worse yet, as Vaughan notes, the ban declares EB-5 entries “essential,” effectively pulling out the brakes on the already thoroughly bad program.
The president’s supporters may rightly wonder if they voted for Kushner or Trump at this point.
“In every republic,” wrote Machiavelli, “there are two parties, that of the nobles and that of the people.” The former “have a great desire to dominate, whilst the latter have only the wish to not be dominated, and consequently a greater desire to live in the enjoyment of liberty.”
For many Americans, President Trump appeared to have broken rank with the “nobles” and descended his golden escalator to lend a hand to the people. Whether that is entirely true or not is up for debate. What is certain, however, is that his son-in-law remains aligned with the acquisitive, globe-trotting class whose schemes dominate the course of American political life and the lives of the little people who swab the floors of their high-rises.
Trump’s greatest weakness now is his inability to recognize that Kushner is the leader of a faction within the White House whose interests come at the expense of the very people who voted for him.


bonginoreport--2020-04-26--Washington Post’s Reporting on Trump Coronavirus Response is 25-to-1 Negative

As the leading newspaper in the nation ’ s capital , the editors of The Washington Post know much of their influence comes from their ability to set an agenda for the many powerful political and media people who read it on a daily basis .
And the first thing those powerful readers see every morning are the big headlines on The Post ’ s front page , framing the news the way The Post ’ s editors want them to see it .
( Click on image to expand . )
In the 100 days since the coronavirus epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Post has used its front page to undermine the administration ’ s response to the unprecedented crisis , with dozens of headlines flagrantly editorializing against the President and nearly everyone on his team .
The Media Research Center reviewed the headlines of all 136 Washington Post front-page news stories about the U.S. government ’ s response to the coronavirus from January 17 through April 25 .
None of these articles was labeled as an editorial or an opinion piece , but many of the headlines employed heavy-handed rhetoric to slam the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House down to departments and agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) and the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) .
Our analysts tallied 53 obviously negative headlines during this 100 day period , compared with just two that were clearly positive , a greater than 25-to-1 disparity .
( The remaining 81 headlines were neutral , although that does not mean that the articles did not convey an obvious slant . )
Most of The Post ’ s venom was directed at President Trump himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ A confused effort to show calm control ” ( March 1 ) ; “ Trump ’ s error-filled speech rattled rather than reassured ” ( March 13 ) ; “ White House ’ s chaotic response evokes Trump ’ s early days ” ( March 15 ) ; “ 70 days of denial , delays and dysfunction ” ( April 5 ) ; and “ Hostility to criticism , hunger for praise are central to his response ” ( April 9 ) .
Neither of the two positive headlines were about Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ear — even Trump ’ s ” ( March 21 ) and “ Mnuchin emerges as able dealmaker in stimulus talks ” ( March 28 ) .
The Trump team ’ s many accomplishments — assistance deployed to hard-hit areas , millions of tests administered , deals struck to build ventilators , and the dramatic lowering of fatality estimates as Americans implemented the administration ’ s strategy to “ flatten the curve ” — were either ignored , buried inside the newspaper , or relayed with neutral headlines that refused to celebrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post ’ s headlines read like a dismal daily diary of dysfunction , all aimed at conveying that agenda to its elite readership who would multiply their negative take throughout the political establishment .
Here are each of The Post ’ s hostile headlines about the Trump administration ’ s response to the coronavirus as they appeared in the local print editions of The Post over the last 100 days ( click “ Expand ” to read them all ) : ■ Feb 4 : “ A scramble to execute U.S. order on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ ... the order came Friday with no advance notice and little planning.
” ■ Feb 28 : “ Complaint : Workers not trained in virus aid.
” Story accuses HHS of sending workers with insufficient training and protective gear to attend evacuees from Wuhan .
■ March 15 : “ Trump tears up CDC ’ s playbook on health crisis.
” From inside the article : “ But the Trump administration ’ s zigzagging , defensive , inconsistent messages about the novel coronavirus continued Friday , breaking almost every rule in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials possess : public trust.
” ■ March 21 : “ Intelligence officials ’ early alarms about possible pandemic went unheeded.
” ■ March 24 : “ Trump may ditch safety guidelines to jolt economy.
” From inside the article : “ ... defying public health experts who have warned that doing so risks accelerating the spread of the novel coronavirus or even allowing it to rebound.
” ■ March 25 : “ PRESIDENT WANTS U.S. ‘ OPENED ’ SOON ; Others warn that would fuel pandemic , deaths.
” ■ March 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he warns of hospital onslaught.
” ■ March 27 : “ Self-isolation leaves U.S. out of customary leadership position.
” ■ March 30 : “ ‘ They didn ’ t move fast enough ’ ; Frustrated by the federal government ’ s response to the outbreak , local officials acted on their own.
” ■ April 4 : “ For weeks , scientists ’ alarm over flawed test grew ; Bureaucratic demands , administration ’ s refusal to pivot fast led to dismay.
” ■ April 4 : “ Millions spent on mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 5 : “ 70 days of denial , delays and dysfunction ; From the White House to the CDC , political and institutional failures cascaded as the virus spread .
Despite being better prepared than many countries , the U.S. saw opportunities to mitigate the crisis slip away.
” ■ April 7 : “ Trump relies on impulse in push for unproven drug.
” ■ April 9 : “ President ’ s ethos in sharp relief amid crisis ; Hostility to criticism , hunger for praise are central to his response.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeks easing of shutdown in May , but some fear 2nd viral wave.
” ■ April 11 : “ Plans to contain virus emerge in bottom-up effort.
” From inside the article : “ A national plan to fight the coronavirus pandemic in the United States and return America to jobs and classrooms is emerging — but not from the White House.
” ■ April 12 : “ Lots of players , but no consensus on a game plan.
” ■ April 15 : “ President ’ s name to be printed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into stimulus , critics say.
” ■ April 16 : “ Executives paint push to reopen nation as haphazard ; Trump ’ s efforts to enlist industry leaders have gotten off to rocky start.
” ■ April 20 : “ U.S .
experts at WHO chronicled virus ’ s rise ; Real-time stream of data undercuts Trump claim of information withheld.
” ■ April 23 : “ Scientists at Trump ’ s side have to toe a difficult line .
”

As the leading newspaper in the nation’s capital, the editors of The Washington Post know much of their influence comes from their ability to set an agenda for the many powerful political and media people who read it on a daily basis. And the first thing those powerful readers see every morning are the big headlines on The Post’s front page, framing the news the way The Post’s editors want them to see it. (Click on image to expand.)
In the 100 days since the coronavirus epidemic began to receive significant news coverage, The Post has used its front page to undermine the administration’s response to the unprecedented crisis, with dozens of headlines flagrantly editorializing against the President and nearly everyone on his team.
The Media Research Center reviewed the headlines of all 136 Washington Post front-page news stories about the U.S. government’s response to the coronavirus from January 17 through April 25. None of these articles was labeled as an editorial or an opinion piece, but many of the headlines employed heavy-handed rhetoric to slam the administration, from the President and the White House down to departments and agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Our analysts tallied 53 obviously negative headlines during this 100 day period, compared with just two that were clearly positive, a greater than 25-to-1 disparity. (The remaining 81 headlines were neutral, although that does not mean that the articles did not convey an obvious slant.)
Most of The Post’s venom was directed at President Trump himself, with highly-opinionated language such as: “A confused effort to show calm control” (March 1); “Trump’s error-filled speech rattled rather than reassured” (March 13); “White House’s chaotic response evokes Trump’s early days” (March 15); “70 days of denial, delays and dysfunction” (April 5); and “Hostility to criticism, hunger for praise are central to his response” (April 9).
Neither of the two positive headlines were about Trump: “Reliable Fauci has everyone’s ear — even Trump’s” (March 21) and “Mnuchin emerges as able dealmaker in stimulus talks” (March 28).
The Trump team’s many accomplishments — assistance deployed to hard-hit areas, millions of tests administered, deals struck to build ventilators, and the dramatic lowering of fatality estimates as Americans implemented the administration’s strategy to “flatten the curve” — were either ignored, buried inside the newspaper, or relayed with neutral headlines that refused to celebrate good news.
Strung together, The Post’s headlines read like a dismal daily diary of dysfunction, all aimed at conveying that agenda to its elite readership who would multiply their negative take throughout the political establishment.
Here are each of The Post’s hostile headlines about the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus as they appeared in the local print editions of The Post over the last 100 days (click “Expand” to read them all):


bonginoreport--2020-04-26--NYC’s Bill de Blasio to Appoint Wife to Head Coronavirus “Racial Inequality” Task Force

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Sunday that he has put First Lady Chirlane McCray in charge of a special coronavirus task force — insisting her work with her embattled ThriveNYC initiative made her perfect for the new job .
McCray will work with Deputy Mayor Phil Thompson in leading a task force on racial inclusion and equity to make sure the Big Apple rebounds as a “ better and more just society than the one we left behind , ” Hizzoner said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deserved her place at the head of the new initiative because of the ideas she generated — defying critics and praising her work with her $ 250 million-a-year mental health plan .
“ In terms of fighting inequality , Thrive has gone to that point and in many ways even farther , ” he insisted , praising his wife ’ s work in “ putting a light ” to serious issues , making her an obvious choice for the new role .
“ I think that ’ s exactly the kind of mindset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he insisted of his 65-year-old wife .
Critics have charged that McCray ’ s ThriveNYC program is both ineffective and ripe for abuse as a political cudgel .
The racial inequality task force , meanwhile , was one of a series of working groups being set up to help prepare the Big Apple to reopen after the lockdown , the Mayor announced , saying they will start meeting “ in a matter of days.
” The crisis has highlighted the “ many things that are broken in our city and in our country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s press briefing , calling it a “ clarion call ” for change .
“ We don ’ t just need a recovery , we need a transformation , ” he said .
It was not immediately clear whether the task force would be given a budget — or whether McCray would draw a salary .
The city ’ s black and Latin communities are particularly hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic , statistics released by City Hall show .
He also insisted that the city would not rush to reopen , saying he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving too quickly .
As well as “ running a risk is endangering their own people , ” they also risked it “ backfiring ” and having prolonged lockdowns once the contagion reasserts itself , he said .
“ We won ’ t let that happen here , ” he stressed , refusing to be drawn on an exact timescale of the lockdown getting lifted .
“ There is in my mind also no question that New York City will come back strong — stronger than ever .
This is what New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he insisted .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Mayor Bill de Blasio isn’t letting the controversy surrounding his wife’s embattled billion-dollar mental health initiative stop him from appointing her to head a new coronavirus recovery task force.
Citing her work with the ThriveNYC initiative, de Blasio revealed Sunday that first lady Chirlane McCray, a rumored contender for Brooklyn borough president, would co-chair a Task Force on Racial Inclusion and Equity as the city plans its eventual reopening.
“The economic and racial disparities that have been made so clear by this crisis, we knew about them before,” said de Blasio, who was elected six years ago on a pledge to make the city more equitable and eliminate its “tale of two cities.” “A powerful, painful exclamation point has been put on them by this crisis.”
New York’s poorest ZIP codes have been hardest hit by the pandemic, city data show, and minorities — many among the city’s essential workers — have died at disproportionately higher rates.
De Blasio said he formed the task force to ensure New York’s underdogs aren’t left behind in the recovery.
But city lawmakers on both sides of the aisle were scratching their heads over the appointment of McCray in light of her signature Thrive program, criticized as a billion-dollar money pit with a dubious record of results.
“Chirlane doesn’t have an impressive track record running task forces or agencies,” said Councilman Joe Borelli (R-SI), who has jousted with City Hall over Thrive’s alleged lack of help for the NYPD amid a spate of suicides by cops.
“This is too serious an issue to use it as profile raiser,” he added, referring to her potential political aspirations.
Councilman Robert Holden said the appointment reeks of political calculation by the mayor to up McCray’s visibility ahead of a widely rumored run for Beep.
“This is political. I wish de Blasio would stop doing this,” said the Queens Democrat. “Let her win the Brooklyn borough presidency on her own merits.
“Her track record on Thrive and the statue commission hasn’t been so good,” he added, referring to another of McCray’s questionable forays into the spotlight.
During the city’s search for women to memorialize with public monuments last year, McCray ignited outrage by vetoing a public poll’s top choice for the honor — the sainted Italian-American nun Mother Cabrini.
“ ‘Putting @NYCFirstLady in charge of the newly created task force on racial inclusion and equity is a great idea,’ -said No One Ever,” Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Queens) tweeted Sunday. “By the way, what ever happened to all that money for ThriveNYC?”
The initiative has been beset for years by criticism over its 10-digit price tag and failure to make appreciable headway in helping New York’s mentally ill.
In an apparent admission of Thrive’s inefficiency, the city last month announced plans to slash half of its 54 sub-programs and scale back spending — a move that sources said at the time was meant to polish McCray’s reputation ahead of the Brooklyn Borough Hall race.
But de Blasio insisted at his Sunday briefing that McCray was the ideal candidate to shepherd the new coronavirus initiative — not despite her record at Thrive, but because of it.
“Of course not,” Hizzoner said when asked if Thrive’s performance gave him any misgivings about giving his wife the reins.
“I think what Chirlane has done over these last six years is take this issue, put it in the light, open up access for millions of people and then continue to build out a structure that could focus on effective delivery and equity.
“I think that’s exactly the kind of mindset needed for this task force.”
Among the group’s goals will be ensuring that the hardest-hit communities as well as minority- and women-owned businesses get their fair share of help as the city rebuilds from the pandemic.
McCray will not be paid in the post, but the city didn’t respond to questions about what the task force’s dedicated budget is — or if it has one.
“She’s exactly who New Yorkers want in their corner and will help us rebuild this city stronger than it was before,” said City Hall spokeswoman Freddi Goldstein.
In addition to the task force, de Blasio unveiled a Fair Recovery Task Force to plan the city’s broader recovery and eight Sector Advisory Councils to advise the city on restoring various facets of city life, including business, arts and culture, labor and educational training.
Additional reporting by Lee Brown


bonginoreport--2020-04-27--Texas Governor: Restaurants, Malls, and Retail Stores Can Reopen May 1st

Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott is allowing his Stay at Home order issued in March to expire on Thursday and is filing a new one that will allow some businesses to reopen on Friday , May 1 as part of Phase 1 of his Open Texas plan ( see the plan at the bottom of this article ) .
During a news conference in Austin Monday afternoon , Abbott said restaurants , malls , retail stores and movie theaters can reopen on May 1 but will be limited to 25 % of their capacity .
Museums and libraries are included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain closed .
Within malls , the governor said all food courts , play areas and interactive displays also must remain closed .
Thousands of non-essential businesses have been closed all across the state for several weeks since restrictions were first put into place to help slow the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus .
`` This strategic approach to opening the state of Texas prioritizes the health and safety of our communities and follows the guidelines laid out by our team of medical experts , '' said Abbott in a prepared statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texans must remain committed to safe distancing practices that reduce the spread of COVID-19 , and we must continue to rely on doctors and data to provide us with the safest strategies to restore Texans ' livelihoods .
We must also focus on protecting the most vulnerable Texans from exposure to COVID-19 .
If we remain focused on protecting the lives of our fellow Texans , we can continue to open the Lone Star State . ''
Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott is allowing his Stay at Home order issued in March to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new one that will allow some businesses to reopen on Friday , May 1 as part of Phase 1 of his Open Texas plan .
Abbott said not all businesses could open at once and that bars , salons , gyms and barbershops are still ordered to remain closed for the time being .
Abbott said he hoped they would be able to resume operations in mid May , provided COVID-19 outbreak is kept in check .
`` Public swimming pools , bars , gyms , cosmetology salons , massage establishments , interactive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and video arcades , and tattoo and piercing studios will remain closed through Phase I , '' the governor 's office said .
`` Nursing homes , state supported living centers , assisted living facilities , and long-term care facilities must remain closed to visitors unless to provide critical assistance . ''
Abbott said Texans are free to return to outdoor sports , such as golf and tennis , so long as there are no more than four participants and that players maintain social/physical distancing .
The governor is also allowing all licensed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited restrictions including that hospital bed availability must hold back 50 % for COVID-19 patients .
Local government operations , including county and municipal government operations relating to permitting , recordation , and document-filing services , may reopen as determined by the local government .
For counties where there are fewer than five confirmed cases of COVID-19 , capacity at those businesses are allowed to hit 50 % on May 1 .
During Phase Two of Abbott 's Open Texas plan , which is expected to start on or after May 18 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expand capacity to 50 % .
Additionally , the Texas Department of State Health Services ( DSHS ) is issuing minimum standard health protocols for all businesses and individuals to follow .
The state has published a guide , Open Texas , which outlines how businesses can open safely with standards for how businesses should handle employees and customers .
NBC 5 is tracking the number of COVID-19 related cases , recoveries and deaths in North Texas counties .
Choose a county and click on a city or town to see how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday afternoon Abbott also announced a new statewide testing and contact tracing program .
Developed and implemented by DSHS , this program will help identify individuals who have contracted COVID-19 and those who may need to quarantine or be tested due to potential exposure .
This phased implementation will allow Texans to box in the virus and slow , or even stop , further spread .
Lastly , Abbott issued Executive Order GA-20 to eliminate the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for individuals traveling from Louisiana .
Under GA-20 , the mandated 14-day quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place : California ; Connecticut ; New York ; New Jersey ; Washington ; Atlanta , Georgia ; Chicago , Illinois ; Detroit , Michigan , and Miami , Florida .
Last week , the state began the process of re-opening businesses by allowing several retailers to offer “ retail-to-go ” services .
Those businesses that adopt the method will be able to sell items online and allow customers to come to the store for curbside pickup .
In addition , Abbott announced an easing of restrictions on elective surgeries last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to announce the next steps toward reopening the state ’ s economy during a news conference scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Monday .
Texas Rep. Chris Turner ( D-Grand Prairie ) said that while everyone wants businesses to reopen as soon as possible , he was disappointed Abbott did n't reveal more details on how COVID-19 testing would increase .
`` We ’ re near last in the nation on per capita testing and Gov .
Abbott didn ’ t present a clear plan how that ’ s going to change , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential to any reopening plan , '' Turner said in a statement .
“ Additionally , cases continue to increase – for example , last week Tarrant County reported a weekly high number of nearly 800 new cases .
Statewide , we saw a day-today jump of 967 cases this weekend , one of the highest ever .
The data directly contradicts what Gov .
Abbott is saying , which causes great concern . ''
Turner said an incremental approach to reopening Texas businesses makes some sense , `` but until we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downward trajectory in new cases , the plan is not actually based on data or science.
” Turner was also concerned about what will happen to the workforce if they are infected with COVID-19 .
“ Will they get sick days or workers compensation if they contract COVID-19 ?
Do we have enough PPE supplies for everyone going back to work ? ''
Turner asked .
“ We still have more questions than answers , and the continued lack of transparency and accuracy in communicating data should be of great concern for every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , central locations for the city and are not meant to indicate where actual infected people live .
**County totals below include all 32 North Texas counties , not just Collin , Dallas , Denton and Tarrant .

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is allowing his Stay at Home order issued in March to expire on Thursday and is filing a new one that will allow some businesses to reopen on Friday, May 1 as part of Phase 1 of his Open Texas plan (see the plan at the bottom of this article).
During a news conference in Austin Monday afternoon, Abbott said restaurants, malls, retail stores and movie theaters can reopen on May 1 but will be limited to 25% of their capacity. Museums and libraries are included, but interactive stations and exhibits must remain closed. Within malls, the governor said all food courts, play areas and interactive displays also must remain closed.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is allowing his Stay at Home order issued in March to expire on Thursday and is filing a new one that will allow some businesses to reopen on Friday, May 1 as part of Phase 1 of his Open Texas plan.
Thousands of non-essential businesses have been closed all across the state for several weeks since restrictions were first put into place to help slow the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus.
"This strategic approach to opening the state of Texas prioritizes the health and safety of our communities and follows the guidelines laid out by our team of medical experts," said Abbott in a prepared statement. "Now more than ever, Texans must remain committed to safe distancing practices that reduce the spread of COVID-19, and we must continue to rely on doctors and data to provide us with the safest strategies to restore Texans' livelihoods. We must also focus on protecting the most vulnerable Texans from exposure to COVID-19. If we remain focused on protecting the lives of our fellow Texans, we can continue to open the Lone Star State."
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is allowing his Stay at Home order issued in March to expire on Thursday and is filing a new one that will allow some businesses to reopen on Friday, May 1 as part of Phase 1 of his Open Texas plan.
Abbott said not all businesses could open at once and that bars, salons, gyms and barbershops are still ordered to remain closed for the time being. Abbott said he hoped they would be able to resume operations in mid May, provided COVID-19 outbreak is kept in check.
"Public swimming pools, bars, gyms, cosmetology salons, massage establishments, interactive amusement venues, such as bowling alleys and video arcades, and tattoo and piercing studios will remain closed through Phase I," the governor's office said. "Nursing homes, state supported living centers, assisted living facilities, and long-term care facilities must remain closed to visitors unless to provide critical assistance."
Abbott said Texans are free to return to outdoor sports, such as golf and tennis, so long as there are no more than four participants and that players maintain social/physical distancing.
The governor is also allowing all licensed physicians to return to work, with limited restrictions including that hospital bed availability must hold back 15% for COVID-19 patients.
Local government operations, including county and municipal government operations relating to permitting, recordation, and document-filing services, may reopen as determined by the local government.
For counties where there are fewer than five confirmed cases of COVID-19, capacity at those businesses are allowed to hit 50% on May 1.
During Phase Two of Abbott's Open Texas plan, which is expected to start on or after May 18, businesses that opened on May 1 could expand capacity to 50%.
Additionally, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is issuing minimum standard health protocols for all businesses and individuals to follow. The state has published a guide, Open Texas, which outlines how businesses can open safely with standards for how businesses should handle employees and customers.
Tracking COVID-19 Cases in North Texas Counties
NBC 5 is tracking the number of COVID-19 related cases, recoveries and deaths in North Texas counties. Choose a county and click on a city or town to see how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting your area.
Monday afternoon Abbott also announced a new statewide testing and contact tracing program. Developed and implemented by DSHS, this program will help identify individuals who have contracted COVID-19 and those who may need to quarantine or be tested due to potential exposure. This phased implementation will allow Texans to box in the virus and slow, or even stop, further spread.
Lastly, Abbott issued Executive Order GA-20 to eliminate the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for individuals traveling from Louisiana. Under GA-20, the mandated 14-day quarantine for travelers from the following areas remains in place: California; Connecticut; New York; New Jersey; Washington; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan, and Miami, Florida.
Last week, the state began the process of re-opening businesses by allowing several retailers to offer “retail-to-go” services. Those businesses that adopt the method will be able to sell items online and allow customers to come to the store for curbside pickup.
In addition, Abbott announced an easing of restrictions on elective surgeries last week.
Late Monday night, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued a statement in response to Gov. Abbott's plan, saying: “The first priority of those you elect is to keep you safe. I've asked Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Dr. Philip Huang and physician leaders, including those specializing in infectious disease and epidemiology from area hospitals, to carefully review the Governor's orders and will wait to hear from them. Most other plans that open businesses in phases don’t put places like movie theaters in the first group to open. The orders have changed but the science that will keep us safe has not. I believe North Texans will focus not on “what can they do” but rather “what should they do”. It will be imperative for North Texans to make good choices particularly where these orders veer from the advice of public health experts. Following science is the best way to keep safe and open the economy.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is set to announce the next steps toward reopening the state’s economy during a news conference scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Monday.
Texas Rep. Chris Turner (D-Grand Prairie) said that while everyone wants businesses to reopen as soon as possible, he was disappointed Abbott didn't reveal more details on how COVID-19 testing would increase.
"We’re near last in the nation on per capita testing and Gov. Abbott didn’t present a clear plan how that’s going to change, even though experts agree that widespread testing is essential to any reopening plan," Turner said in a statement. “Additionally, cases continue to increase – for example, last week Tarrant County reported a weekly high number of nearly 800 new cases. Statewide, we saw a day-today jump of 967 cases this weekend, one of the highest ever. The data directly contradicts what Gov. Abbott is saying, which causes great concern."
Turner said an incremental approach to reopening Texas businesses makes some sense, "but until we have proven additional testing capacity and an actual downward trajectory in new cases, the plan is not actually based on data or science.”
Turner was also concerned about what will happen to the workforce if they are infected with COVID-19.
“Will they get sick days or workers compensation if they contract COVID-19? Do we have enough PPE supplies for everyone going back to work?" Turner asked. “We still have more questions than answers, and the continued lack of transparency and accuracy in communicating data should be of great concern for every Texan."
*Map locations are approximate, central locations for the city and are not meant to indicate where actual infected people live.
The Governor's Report to Open Texas
If you have trouble opening this document, click here to open it in a new window.
NBC 5's Julie Fine contributed to this report.
Editor's Note: It was originally reported in this article that the governor was requiring 50% of hospital beds be kept available for potential COVID-19 patients -- that number is 15%. We regret the error.


bonginoreport--2020-04-27--Pentagon Releases Navy UFO Footage

Pentagon Releases Navy UFO Footage

The Department of Defense released Monday three unclassified videos showing the U.S. Navy ’ s encounters with “ unidentified aerial @ @ @ @ @ was taken in November 2004 and the two others in January 2015 , according to @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Navy previously acknowledged that these videos circulating in the public domain were indeed Navy @ @ @ @ @ review , the department has determined that the authorized release of these unclassified videos does @ @ @ @ @ or systems , and does not impinge on any subsequent investigations of military air space @ @ @ @ @ , ” DOD said in a statement .
The videos were reported in the media @ @ @ @ @ but DOD is now confirming their validity saying they released them “ in order to @ @ @ @ @ the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real , @ @ @ @ @ is more to the videos.
” Click here to watch more footage .

In an unexpected turn of events, the city of Goodhue in southeastern Minnesota finds itself without a police force as the chief and other department members tendered their resignations.
Mayor Ellen Anderson Buck conveyed the city’s determination to move forward despite the setback, assuring the public of continued police coverage.
Mayor Buck emphasized, “I want to reiterate that we will have police coverage in the city of Goodhue. That is not an issue.” Police Chief Josh Smith, who will remain in his position until August 24th, attributed the force’s dissolution to the inability to recruit new officers, according to reports from Fox News.
“This has been three weeks now, we have zero applicants, and I have zero prospects,” Smith disclosed on July 26. “I’ve called every PD around for the youngest guys out there, getting into the game. There’s nobody getting into the game.”
Chris Schmit, a Goodhue City Council member, praised the police force for their commitment to upholding law and order in the city, underscoring their invaluable contribution to the community’s safety. “I can probably speak for everyone when I say that they provided excellent safety and security to our community. And the small-town policing that they did, we want that back.”
Smith bared a stark truth to the Goodhue City Council, unraveling the crux of the department’s recruitment turmoil. The resounding echo of low wages and the unrelenting surge of rivalry from neighboring larger communities reverberated through his words. With an urgency born of necessity, he underscored the imperative for swift and substantial transformation to reorient this daunting trajectory.
In a state that has witnessed significant policing developments, including the George Floyd case, Minneapolis serves as a prominent backdrop. The latest ex-Minneapolis police officer convicted in Floyd’s death received a sentence of four years and nine months on August 7. Prior to his sentencing, Tou Thao, the former officer, shared a personal reflection on his faith journey while incarcerated.
Despite repeated attempts, the Goodhue Police Department, the mayor, and city council members remained unavailable for comments.
This unexpected loss of an entire police force underscores the challenges many smaller communities face in maintaining law enforcement personnel amidst increasing demands and competition from larger urban centers.
Follow Alexander Carter on Twitter @AlexCarterDC for more!


bonginoreport--2020-04-27--Diamond and Silk Are Out at Fox News

Diamond and Silk Are Out at Fox News

The sudden split comes after the Trump-boosting siblings have come under fire for promoting conspiracy theories and disinformation about the @ @ @ @ @ they ’ ve said and tweeted you won ’ t be seeing them on Fox @ @ @ @ @ soon , ” a source with knowledge of the matter told The Daily Beast .
@ @ @ @ @ the 2016 election , Lynette “ Diamond ” Hardaway and Rochelle “ Silk ” Richardson @ @ @ @ @ regular sycophantic appearances on Fox News , resulting in President Donald Trump raving about their @ @ @ @ @ rallies , and treating them as “ senior advisers.
” … No new episodes of @ @ @ @ @ uploaded since April 7 , as CNN senior media reporter Oliver Darcy first noted over @ @ @ @ @ this month , the duo never missed a week posting episodes since December 2018 .

The sudden split comes after the Trump-boosting siblings have come under fire for promoting conspiracy theories and disinformation about the coronavirus. “After what they’ve said and tweeted you won’t be seeing them on Fox Nation or Fox News anytime soon,” a source with knowledge of the matter told The Daily Beast.
After rising to prominence during the 2016 election, Lynette “Diamond” Hardaway and Rochelle “Silk” Richardson leveraged their newfound celebrity into regular sycophantic appearances on Fox News, resulting in President Donald Trump raving about their performances, featuring them at rallies, and treating them as “senior advisers.”…
No new episodes of their online program have been uploaded since April 7, as CNN senior media reporter Oliver Darcy first noted over the weekend. Prior to this month, the duo never missed a week posting episodes since December 2018.


bonginoreport--2020-04-27--U.S. Surpasses South Korea in Coronavirus Testing

The United States has passed South Korea , considered the gold standard by the media , in testing for the coronavirus , and , in hot spots like New York City , has done several times more per capita than the Asian nation .
As President Trump rolled out a new campaign to expand testing on Monday , officials drew attention to the overall effort by the administration in giving over 5 million tests and working in partnership with private labs and firms to increase the rate .
“ We made such strides like you would n't even believe it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days after the testing crisis hit and the administration set to find , validate , and process new testing from scratch .
In a Cabinet Room meeting , he said , according to the pool report , “ Today , we 're releasing our blueprint for state testing plans and rapid response programs .
Together , we 're accelerating testing for Americans and retail locations across the country , and , especially in our African American and Hispanic communities , we 're going very , very strong in those communities .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 states in those specific areas , and we 're increasing it very substantially.
” Officials noted that the U.S. overtook South Korea last week and has conducted 16.42 COVID-19 tests per 1,000 .
South Korea is at 11.68 per 1,000 .
“ The media repeatedly criticized the administration for not testing as much as South Korea , yet now , they completely ignore the results of President Trump ’ s efforts , ” said an administration official .
The administration shared credit with private industry that worked with the White House and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests to the field , with the aid of reduced regulations .
The president on Friday signed a bill with another $ 25 billion for testing .
Officials also pointed to a comment last Friday from Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , on tests .
“ If you want to get the kind of blanket testing and availability that anybody can get it or you could even do surveillance to find out what the penetrance is , you have to embrace the private sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're seeing , because you ca n't do it without it … the system was not designed for what we need , '' he said .

The United States has passed South Korea, considered the gold standard by the media, in testing for the coronavirus, and, in hot spots such as New York City, has done several times more per capita than the Asian nation.
As President Trump rolled out a new campaign to expand testing on Monday, officials drew attention to the overall effort by the administration in giving over 5 million tests and working in partnership with private labs and firms to increase the rate.
“We made such strides like you wouldn't even believe it,” Trump said, some 45 days after the testing crisis hit and the administration set to find, validate, and process new testing from scratch.
In a Cabinet Room meeting, he said, according to the pool report, “Today, we're releasing our blueprint for state testing plans and rapid response programs. Together, we're accelerating testing for Americans and retail locations across the country, and, especially in our African American and Hispanic communities, we're going very, very strong in those communities. There are currently 73 retail sites, testing sites, in 25 states in those specific areas, and we're increasing it very substantially.”
Today, @WhiteHouse released a Testing Overview that describes our unprecedented effort to expand the nation’s testing capacity. It lays out an 8-steps describing actions taken to date to mobilize the most aggressive testing expansion in American history. https://t.co/tUuRJOG8F0 — Alyssa Farah (@Alyssafarah) April 27, 2020
Officials noted that the U.S. overtook South Korea last week and has conducted 16.42 COVID-19 tests per 1,000. South Korea is at 11.68 per 1,000.
“The media repeatedly criticized the administration for not testing as much as South Korea, yet now, they completely ignore the results of President Trump’s efforts,” said an administration official.
The administration shared credit with private industry, which worked with the White House and its coronavirus task force to rush new tests to the field, with the aid of reduced regulations. The president on Friday signed a bill with another $25 billion for testing.
Officials also pointed to a comment last Friday from Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, on tests. “If you want to get the kind of blanket testing and availability that anybody can get it or you could even do surveillance to find out what the penetrance is, you have to embrace the private sector. And this is exactly what you're seeing, because you can't do it without it … the system was not designed for what we need," he said.


bonginoreport--2020-04-27--Mike Pompeo Seeks to Extend Arms Embargo Against Iran

How will the US “ maximum pressure ” campaign against Iran be able to continue if a major UN arms embargo against it expires in October ?
And can the US do anything to maintain the arms embargo when it previously left the 2015 nuclear deal and arguably gave up its seat at the negotiating table ?
The UN conventional-arms embargo dates back to 2010 .
But when the Iran nuclear deal went into effect in October 2015 , October 2020 was designated as a potential date for aspects of the embargo to expire .
There is a tricky premise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a major role in discussions about extending the embargo against Tehran .
In May 2018 , the Trump administration announced it had withdrawn from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and then ramped up a maximum-pressure campaign .
Essentially , the US is concerned that a loosening of the arms embargo will both rip apart the foundations underlying the maximum-pressure campaign and empower the ayatollahs with more powerful arms , including some dual-use items for a nuclear program .
After all , why should countries avoid trading oil and other commercial products with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sell weapons ?
If the US loses its influence in the process , questions will be asked about whether a full public withdrawal in May 2018 was the right move .
UN Security Council Resolution 1929 in 2010 prohibited states to directly or indirectly supply , or help to supply , Iran with major conventional weapons .
Furthermore , the resolution prohibited the supply of related spare parts along with technical training , advice , services or assistance related to the provision , manufacture , maintenance or use of the listed items .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s idea is viable .
Yes , the US can make some formal arguments about not having withdrawn and accuse Iran of a variety of violations .
But the nuclear deal , as designed by the Obama administration , was walled off from other issues , such as ballistic-missile tests and Iranian-backed terrorism in the region .
When US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the deal in May 2018 , virtually every country involved and even many of his top officials were saying Iran had complied with the deal ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would weaken the idea that the US was acting to get Iran to comply and that its renewed sanctions campaign did not materially violate its obligations and undermine its future involvement with the deal .
On the other hand , since the US withdrew , the EU and other countries have been trying to get the US to rejoin , which could suggest it was never fully out of the picture .
In addition , in March , new IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi started to take a different tone with Iran than his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construct the 2015 deal .
Grossi has called out Iran for refusing to clarify questions relating to undeclared nuclear material found by both the Mossad and the IAEA at the Turquzabad site and for refusing to grant inspectors access to multiple other undeclared sites discovered by the Mossad .
The spy agency had mapped out a variety of undeclared sites from the Iranian nuclear files it appropriated from Tehran in January 2018 , sources close to Mossad Director Yossi Cohen told The Jerusalem Post in September 2019 .
This could enable the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from day one in 2015 by concealing aspects of its nuclear program from the IAEA , which in turn justified the US maximum-pressure campaign and means the US never lost its right to weigh in as a party to the deal .
Of course , ultimately , the arms embargo will come down to the UN Security Council , where the US has a seat – Iran deal or no Iran deal – and Washington ’ s “ maximum pressure ” campaign has had powerful effects even without UN support .
By this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s unilateral sanctions on Iranian oil , without UN support , has hampered Iran ’ s economy , it is possible that Washington could limit arms trade with the Islamic Republic even if the UN ban expires .
Yet , there are significant holes in the pressure campaign regarding China , Russia and some other key countries .
These countries are observing the UN arms ban , and if the ban drops , they can be expected to elevate trade with Iran in those areas .
The key sunset clauses for the Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 2030 .
But the October deadline will be a major fight with huge implications , and it is still unclear how much the US will be able to wield influence .

How will the US “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran be able to continue if a major UN arms embargo against it expires in October?
And can the US do anything to maintain the arms embargo when it previously left the 2015 nuclear deal and arguably gave up its seat at the negotiating table?
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his staff leaked to the media that they intend to claim to the UN Security Council that Washington can still push to extend the UN conventional-arms embargo.
The UN conventional-arms embargo dates back to 2010. But when the Iran nuclear deal went into effect in October 2015, October 2020 was designated as a potential date for aspects of the embargo to expire.
There is a tricky premise to Pompeo’s campaign of arguing for a major role in discussions about extending the embargo against Tehran.
In May 2018, the Trump administration announced it had withdrawn from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and then ramped up a maximum-pressure campaign.
Pompeo’s idea is to claim that despite these factors, the US never issued a formal instrument permanently withdrawing from the deal, and US actions were taken to try to influence the Islamic Republic to improve its compliance or general behavior.
Essentially, the US is concerned that a loosening of the arms embargo will both rip apart the foundations underlying the maximum-pressure campaign and empower the ayatollahs with more powerful arms, including some dual-use items for a nuclear program.
After all, why should countries avoid trading oil and other commercial products with Tehran if the UN permits them to sell weapons?
If the US loses its influence in the process, questions will be asked about whether a full public withdrawal in May 2018 was the right move.
UN Security Council Resolution 1929 in 2010 prohibited states to directly or indirectly supply, or help to supply, Iran with major conventional weapons.
Banned weapons included: battle tanks, armored combat vehicles, large-caliber artillery, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, certain missiles and missile launchers.
Furthermore, the resolution prohibited the supply of related spare parts along with technical training, advice, services or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of the listed items.
However, it is unclear whether Pompeo’s idea is viable.
Yes, the US can make some formal arguments about not having withdrawn and accuse Iran of a variety of violations.
But the nuclear deal, as designed by the Obama administration, was walled off from other issues, such as ballistic-missile tests and Iranian-backed terrorism in the region.
When US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the deal in May 2018, virtually every country involved and even many of his top officials were saying Iran had complied with the deal’s nuclear provisions.
All of this would weaken the idea that the US was acting to get Iran to comply and that its renewed sanctions campaign did not materially violate its obligations and undermine its future involvement with the deal.
On the other hand, since the US withdrew, the EU and other countries have been trying to get the US to rejoin, which could suggest it was never fully out of the picture.
In addition, in March, new IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi started to take a different tone with Iran than his predecessor, Yukiya Amano, who helped construct the 2015 deal.
Grossi has called out Iran for refusing to clarify questions relating to undeclared nuclear material found by both the Mossad and the IAEA at the Turquzabad site and for refusing to grant inspectors access to multiple other undeclared sites discovered by the Mossad.
The spy agency had mapped out a variety of undeclared sites from the Iranian nuclear files it appropriated from Tehran in January 2018, sources close to Mossad Director Yossi Cohen told The Jerusalem Post in September 2019.
This could enable the US to argue that Iran violated the deal from day one in 2015 by concealing aspects of its nuclear program from the IAEA, which in turn justified the US maximum-pressure campaign and means the US never lost its right to weigh in as a party to the deal.
Of course, ultimately, the arms embargo will come down to the UN Security Council, where the US has a seat – Iran deal or no Iran deal – and Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign has had powerful effects even without UN support.
By this argument, just as the US’s unilateral sanctions on Iranian oil, without UN support, has hampered Iran’s economy, it is possible that Washington could limit arms trade with the Islamic Republic even if the UN ban expires.
Yet, there are significant holes in the pressure campaign regarding China, Russia and some other key countries. These countries are observing the UN arms ban, and if the ban drops, they can be expected to elevate trade with Iran in those areas.
The key sunset clauses for the Iran nuclear deal are in 2023, 2025 and 2030.
But the October deadline will be a major fight with huge implications, and it is still unclear how much the US will be able to wield influence.


bonginoreport--2020-04-27--North Korea Releases “Proof” Kim Jong Un Is Still Alive

In the latest bid to dispel rumors about Kim Jong Un , North Korean state media on Monday published a purported letter from the Hermit Kingdom ’ s leader in which he congratulated South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Freedom Day , according to a report .
The Korea Central News Agency reported that the missive was dated April 27 , 2020 , reported CNN , which said it had no way of independently corroborating its authenticity .
In the message addressed to Ramaphosa that referenced the public holiday celebrated in South Africa on Monday , Kim expressed his certainty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grow , the network reported .
The letter ’ s publication comes as another state-run outlet , the Rodong Sinmun paper , claimed the despot penned a letter to builders working on a tourism project in Wonsan , where South Korea believes he has been staying since April 13 , according to South Korea ’ s Yonhap News Agency .
The reports are the latest about North Korea ’ s strongman , who has been the subject of rampant speculation in recent days that he had died , was in a vegetative state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — is absolutely fine .
The US monitoring website 38 North has reported that satellite imagery showed what appeared to be Kim ’ s personal train parked at a station in “ his Wonsan compound since at least April 21.
” Questions about his health flared after he missed an April 15 commemoration of the 108th birthday of his grandfather , the Hermit Kingdom ’ s founder , Kim Il Sung .
Other unverified rumors are that the rogue regime ’ s reclusive leader may have been injured during a recent missile test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of his bodyguards was suspected to have contracted COVID-19 .
On Sunday , South Korean presidential adviser Moon Chung-in told CNN that Kim was “ alive and well ” and had been staying in the Wonsan area since April 13 .
“ No suspicious movements have so far been detected , ” Moon added .
A report by the South Korea-based Daily NK said Kim reportedly underwent a cardiovascular procedure because of “ excessive smoking , obesity , and overwork.
” The news outlet said Kim was undergoing treatment in a villa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , CNN reported .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
In the latest bid to dispel rumors about Kim Jong Un, North Korean state media on Monday published a purported letter from the Hermit Kingdom’s leader in which he congratulated South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Freedom Day, according to a report.
The Korea Central News Agency reported that the missive was dated April 27, 2020, reported CNN, which said it had no way of independently corroborating its authenticity.
In the message addressed to Ramaphosa that referenced the public holiday celebrated in South Africa on Monday, Kim expressed his certainty that the two nations’ friendship would grow, the network reported.
The letter’s publication comes as another state-run outlet, the Rodong Sinmun paper, claimed the despot penned a letter to builders working on a tourism project in Wonsan, where South Korea believes he has been staying since April 13, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.
The reports are the latest about North Korea’s strongman, who has been the subject of rampant speculation in recent days that he had died, was in a vegetative state, or — as South Korea says — is absolutely fine.
The US monitoring website 38 North has reported that satellite imagery showed what appeared to be Kim’s personal train parked at a station in “his Wonsan compound since at least April 21.”
Questions about his health flared after he missed an April 15 commemoration of the 108th birthday of his grandfather, the Hermit Kingdom’s founder, Kim Il Sung.
Other unverified rumors are that the rogue regime’s reclusive leader may have been injured during a recent missile test and that he went into hiding after one of his bodyguards was suspected to have contracted COVID-19.
On Sunday, South Korean presidential adviser Moon Chung-in told CNN that Kim was “alive and well” and had been staying in the Wonsan area since April 13.
“No suspicious movements have so far been detected,” Moon added.
A report by the South Korea-based Daily NK said Kim reportedly underwent a cardiovascular procedure because of “excessive smoking, obesity, and overwork.”
The news outlet said Kim was undergoing treatment in a villa in Hyangsan County, north of Pyongyang, CNN reported.


bonginoreport--2020-04-27--200+ Public Companies Applied for Small Business Loans

Even as the U.S. small business relief program is set to reopen Monday with fresh funding , the full extent that public companies tapped the emergency facility is only now becoming clear .
More than 220 public companies applied for at least $ 870 million from the government program that was billed as for small businesses without access to other sources of capital , according to Washington D.C.-based data analytics firm FactSquared .
That includes $ 126.4 million for three public companies affiliated with Texas hotelier Monty Bennett .
One of those firms , Ashford Hospitality Trust , applied for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the most by a single company , according to regulatory filings .
The government 's Paycheck Protection Program sparked outrage after its initial $ 350 billion allotment quickly ran out and it was revealed that big public companies secured loans while hundreds of thousands of small businesses seeking relatively tiny amounts were left in limbo .
Last week , the Small Business Administration attempted to close that loophole , saying that big public companies `` with substantial market value and access to capital markets '' are n't eligible and that firms that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to return the PPP money .
Since then , companies including Ruth 's Hospitality Group and sandwich chain Potbelly have followed Shack Shack in returning their PPP funds .
But the data from FactSquared , which uses a machine-learning bot to trawl regulatory filings to produce an overall picture of the PPP , shows the full extent that public companies have successfully navigated the government 's program .

Even as the U.S. small business relief program is set to reopen Monday with fresh funding, the full extent that public companies tapped the emergency facility is only now becoming clear.
More than 245 public companies applied for at least $905 million from the government program that was billed as for small businesses without access to other sources of capital, according to Washington D.C.-based data analytics firm FactSquared.
That includes $126.4 million for three public companies affiliated with Texas hotelier Monty Bennett. One of those firms, Ashford Hospitality Trust , applied for $76 million in 117 separate loans, the most by a single company, according to regulatory filings.
The government's Paycheck Protection Program sparked outrage after its initial $350 billion allotment quickly ran out and it was revealed that big public companies secured loans while hundreds of thousands of small businesses seeking relatively tiny amounts were left in limbo.
Last week, the Small Business Administration attempted to close that loophole, saying that big public companies "with substantial market value and access to capital markets" aren't eligible and that firms that already tapped the fund had two weeks to return the PPP money.
Since then, companies including Ruth's Hospitality Group and sandwich chain Potbelly have followed Shack Shack in returning their PPP funds.
But the data from FactSquared, which uses a machine-learning bot to trawl regulatory filings to produce an overall picture of the PPP, shows the full extent that public companies have successfully navigated the government's program.