bonginoreport--2020-05-16--President Trump Fires State Department Inspector General

President Donald Trump fired Steve Linick , the State Department ’ s inspector general , on Friday night , sources told the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Trump notified House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that he was removing Linick from office , effective in 30 days .
He said in the letter that “ it is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General.
” “ That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General.
” Two sources familiar with Linick ’ s ouster told the DCNF that while they were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watchdog was fired , he was under investigation last year by the Department of Defense ’ s inspector general for mishandling sensitive material .
The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter .
Linick , who has served as the State Department ’ s watchdog since Sept. 30 , 2013 , gained national attention last year when he arranged an impromptu briefing for lawmakers in which he turned over a batch of documents that Rudy Giuliani provided to the State Department regarding issues in Ukraine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other documents that Giuliani passed to Sec .
of State Mike Pompeo through an intermediary regarding Joe Biden and his son ’ s activities in Ukraine .
Lawmakers , including Democrats , expressed confusion about the purpose of the briefing .
Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin said at the time that the briefing “ raises more questions than it answers.
” The State Department and Defense Department inspectors general offices did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
Linick ’ s office has conducted several investigations critical of the State Department during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released on Nov. 2 , 2019 accused Brian Hook , the State Department ’ s special envoy for Iran , of ordering the firing of a State Department employee for political reasons .
Linick ’ s office also investigated a meeting that State Department officials held in October 2016 with Christopher Steele , the former British spy who accused Donald Trump and his associates of conspiring with the Russian government .
Republican senators criticized Linick for failing to interview several participants in the meeting to find out why they met with Steele , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee .
Trump last month fired Michael Atkinson as inspector general for the intelligence community .
Atkinson handled a whistleblower complaint that led to the impeachment hearings against Trump over his July 25 , 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

President Donald Trump fired Steve Linick, the State Department’s inspector general, on Friday night, sources told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Trump notified House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that he was removing Linick from office, effective in 30 days. He said in the letter that “it is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General.”
“That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General.”
Two sources familiar with Linick’s ouster told the DCNF that while they were not certain of the precise reason that the watchdog was fired, he was under investigation last year by the Department of Defense’s inspector general for mishandling sensitive material.
The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Linick, who has served as the State Department’s watchdog since Sept. 30, 2013, gained national attention last year when he arranged an impromptu briefing for lawmakers in which he turned over a batch of documents that Rudy Giuliani provided to the State Department regarding issues in Ukraine.
The packet of documents included news articles and other documents that Giuliani passed to Sec. of State Mike Pompeo through an intermediary regarding Joe Biden and his son’s activities in Ukraine.
Lawmakers, including Democrats, expressed confusion about the purpose of the briefing.
Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin said at the time that the briefing “raises more questions than it answers.”
The State Department and Defense Department inspectors general offices did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Linick’s office has conducted several investigations critical of the State Department during Trump’s tenure. A report released on Nov. 2, 2019 accused Brian Hook, the State Department’s special envoy for Iran, of ordering the firing of a State Department employee for political reasons.
Linick’s office also investigated a meeting that State Department officials held in October 2016 with Christopher Steele, the former British spy who accused Donald Trump and his associates of conspiring with the Russian government.
Republican senators criticized Linick for failing to interview several participants in the meeting to find out why they met with Steele, who was working on behalf of the Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee.
Trump last month fired Michael Atkinson as inspector general for the intelligence community. Atkinson handled a whistleblower complaint that led to the impeachment hearings against Trump over his July 25, 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


bonginoreport--2020-05-16--NIH Begins Hydroxycloroquine and Azithromycin Clinical Trial

NIH begins clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin to treat COVID-19 Study enrolling adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 in the United States .
A clinical trial has begun to evaluate whether the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine , given together with the antibiotic azithromycin , can prevent hospitalization and death from coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) .
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ( NIAID ) , part of the National Institutes of Health , is sponsoring the trial , which is being conducted by the NIAID-funded AIDS Clinical Trials Group ( ACTG ) .
Teva Pharmaceuticals is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phase 2b trial will enroll approximately 2,000 adults at participating ACTG sites across the United States .
Study participants must have confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 , and be experiencing fever , cough and/or shortness of breath .
The investigators anticipate that many of those enrolled will be 60 years of age or older or have a comorbidity associated with developing serious complications from COVID-19 , such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes .
Participants will be randomly assigned to receive short-term treatment with either hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pregnant and breastfeeding women also are eligible to participate in the study .
The first participant enrolled today in San Diego , California .
“ We urgently need a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19 .
Repurposing existing drugs is an attractive option because these medications have undergone extensive testing , allowing them to move quickly into clinical trials and accelerating their potential approval for COVID-19 treatment , ” said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci , M.D .
“ Although there is anecdotal evidence that hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin may benefit people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a large randomized , controlled clinical trial to determine whether this experimental treatment is safe and can improve clinical outcomes.
” As of May 13 , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) has reported 4.17 million cases of and 287,399 deaths from COVID-19 worldwide .
In the United States , 1.36 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and 82,246 deaths have been reported as of May 13 , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) .
Currently , there are no specific therapeutics approved by the U.S. Food and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hydroxychloroquine is FDA-approved to prevent and treat malaria , as well as to treat the autoimmune diseases rheumatoid arthritis and lupus .
Some preliminary reports have suggested that hydroxychloroquine , alone or in combination with the FDA-approved antibiotic azithromycin , may benefit people with COVID-19 .
Numerous clinical trials are planned or underway , including a recently launched study supported by NIH ’ s National Heart , Lung and Blood Institute evaluating the safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine for treatment of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 .
On March 28 , FDA issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to allow hydroxychloroquine and medical-grade chloroquine to be distributed from the Strategic National Stockpile and prescribed by doctors to hospitalized adolescents and adults with COVID-19 , as appropriate , when a clinical trial is not available or feasible .
Participants in the ACTG study , called A5395 , will receive oral medications to take at home .
Those randomly assigned to the experimental treatment group will take 400 milligrams ( mg ) of hydroxychloroquine twice on the first day and 200 mg twice daily for an additional six days .
They also will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first day and 250 mg daily for an additional four days .
The control group will receive equivalent numbers of placebo pills .
Neither the participants nor the study team will know who received experimental treatment or placebo until the end of the trial .
Participants will record their symptoms , adherence to treatment , and major events such as hospitalizations in a diary for 20 days .
Study staff will follow up with participants by telephone during this period .
When possible , participants will come to the clinical research site for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Additional follow-ups will be conducted by telephone three and six months after treatment starts .
The main objective of the study is to determine whether hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin can prevent hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 .
Additionally , investigators will evaluate the safety and tolerability of the experimental treatment for people with SARS-CoV-2 infection .
While hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin are both considered safe in most people , they can cause side effects ranging from headache and nausea to , rarely , heart rhythm problems that can be life-threatening .
Because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used alone or combined with azithromycin , FDA cautions that use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 should be limited to clinical trials or for treating certain hospitalized patients under EUA so clinicians can monitor patients for adverse effects .
“ This study will provide key data to aid responses to the COVID-19 pandemic , ” said ACTG Chair Judith Currier , M.D.
, of the University of California , Los Angeles .
“ We are pleased to be able to leverage ACTG ’ s existing infrastructure for HIV treatment clinical trials to quickly implement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is led by Protocol Chair Davey Smith , M.D.
, of the University of California , San Diego .
David Wohl , M.D.
, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , and Kara W. Chew , M.D.
, and Eric S. Daar , M.D.
, both of the University of California , Los Angeles , serve as protocol vice-chairs .
The trial is expected to enroll quickly given the high incidence of COVID-19 , and initial results may be available later this year .
For more information about A5395 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adults interested in participating in the study should email actg.communications @ fstrf.org .
NIAID conducts and supports research—at NIH , throughout the United States , and worldwide—to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases , and to develop better means of preventing , diagnosing and treating these illnesses .
News releases , fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID website .
About the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) : NIH , the nation 's medical research agency , includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Human Services .
NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic , clinical , and translational medical research , and is investigating the causes , treatments , and cures for both common and rare diseases .
For more information about NIH and its programs , visit www.nih.gov .

NIH begins clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin to treat COVID-19
Study enrolling adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 in the United States.
NIAID
A clinical trial has begun to evaluate whether the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, given together with the antibiotic azithromycin, can prevent hospitalization and death from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, is sponsoring the trial, which is being conducted by the NIAID-funded AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG). Teva Pharmaceuticals is donating medications for the study.
The Phase 2b trial will enroll approximately 2,000 adults at participating ACTG sites across the United States. Study participants must have confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and be experiencing fever, cough and/or shortness of breath. The investigators anticipate that many of those enrolled will be 60 years of age or older or have a comorbidity associated with developing serious complications from COVID-19, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive short-term treatment with either hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin or matching placebos. People living with HIV and pregnant and breastfeeding women also are eligible to participate in the study. The first participant enrolled today in San Diego, California.
“We urgently need a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19. Repurposing existing drugs is an attractive option because these medications have undergone extensive testing, allowing them to move quickly into clinical trials and accelerating their potential approval for COVID-19 treatment,” said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. “Although there is anecdotal evidence that hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin may benefit people with COVID-19, we need solid data from a large randomized, controlled clinical trial to determine whether this experimental treatment is safe and can improve clinical outcomes.”
As of May 13, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 4.17 million cases of and 287,399 deaths from COVID-19 worldwide. In the United States, 1.36 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and 82,246 deaths have been reported as of May 13, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Currently, there are no specific therapeutics approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat people with COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine is FDA-approved to prevent and treat malaria, as well as to treat the autoimmune diseases rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Some preliminary reports have suggested that hydroxychloroquine, alone or in combination with the FDA-approved antibiotic azithromycin, may benefit people with COVID-19. Numerous clinical trials are planned or underway, including a recently launched study supported by NIH’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute evaluating the safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine for treatment of adults hospitalized with COVID-19. On March 28, FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to allow hydroxychloroquine and medical-grade chloroquine to be distributed from the Strategic National Stockpile and prescribed by doctors to hospitalized adolescents and adults with COVID-19, as appropriate, when a clinical trial is not available or feasible.
Participants in the ACTG study, called A5395, will receive oral medications to take at home. Those randomly assigned to the experimental treatment group will take 400 milligrams (mg) of hydroxychloroquine twice on the first day and 200 mg twice daily for an additional six days. They also will take 500 mg of azithromycin on the first day and 250 mg daily for an additional four days. The control group will receive equivalent numbers of placebo pills. Neither the participants nor the study team will know who received experimental treatment or placebo until the end of the trial.
Participants will record their symptoms, adherence to treatment, and major events such as hospitalizations in a diary for 20 days. Study staff will follow up with participants by telephone during this period. When possible, participants will come to the clinical research site for an in-person visit at day 20. Additional follow-ups will be conducted by telephone three and six months after treatment starts.
The main objective of the study is to determine whether hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin can prevent hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. Additionally, investigators will evaluate the safety and tolerability of the experimental treatment for people with SARS-CoV-2 infection. While hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin are both considered safe in most people, they can cause side effects ranging from headache and nausea to, rarely, heart rhythm problems that can be life-threatening. Because of the risk of heart problems when hydroxychloroquine is used alone or combined with azithromycin, FDA cautions that use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 should be limited to clinical trials or for treating certain hospitalized patients under EUA so clinicians can monitor patients for adverse effects.
“This study will provide key data to aid responses to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said ACTG Chair Judith Currier, M.D., of the University of California, Los Angeles. “We are pleased to be able to leverage ACTG’s existing infrastructure for HIV treatment clinical trials to quickly implement this important study.”
The study team is led by Protocol Chair Davey Smith, M.D., of the University of California, San Diego. David Wohl, M.D., of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Kara W. Chew, M.D., and Eric S. Daar, M.D., both of the University of California, Los Angeles, serve as protocol vice-chairs. The trial is expected to enroll quickly given the high incidence of COVID-19, and initial results may be available later this year.
For more information about A5395, visit ClinicalTrials.gov and search identifier NCT04358068. Adults interested in participating in the study should email actg.communications@fstrf.org.
NIAID conducts and supports research—at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide—to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID website.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®


bonginoreport--2020-05-16--Former Mayo Clinic Researcher Who Allegedly Wanted to Join ISIS and Carry Out Attacks in U.S. Indict

Former Mayo Clinic Researcher Who Allegedly Wanted to Join ISIS and Carry Out Attacks in U.S. Indicted

A former Mayo Clinic research coordinator has been charged for attempting to provide support to a terrorist group .
Muhammad Masood , 28 , was indicted Friday after investigators said he told undercover informants that he planned to carry out terrorist attacks in the United States .
The Pakistani doctor has been jailed since he was arrested in March at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport , according to the New York Post .
He was initially charged by criminal complaint at the time , and he has been in custody ever since .
The Mayo Clinic said Masood had worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time of his arrest , he was no longer employed by the medical center .
Investigators said Masood told informants he wanted to go to Syria to help the Islamic State .
He allegedly said he wanted to carry out lone wolf attacks in the U.S. but decided to go to ISIS ’ s hub in Syria instead .
Prosecutors said Masood was originally planning to travel to the war-torn country through Jordan but reassessed after the country shut down its borders because of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ There is so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lon wulf [ sic ] stuff you know … but I realized I should be on the ground helping brothers sisters kids , ” he is accused of saying in a message to an informant .
Masood tried to travel from Minnesota to Los Angeles so that he could hitch a ride to Syria on a cargo ship , court documents show .
Masood 's attorney did not return a request for comment left by the Associated Press on Friday .
Earlier this month , authorities in Spain arrested a Moroccan man they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning acts of terrorism during the coronavirus lockdown .

A former Mayo Clinic research coordinator has been charged for attempting to provide support to a terrorist group.
Muhammad Masood, 28, was indicted Friday after investigators said he told undercover informants that he planned to carry out terrorist attacks in the United States. The Pakistani doctor has been jailed since he was arrested in March at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, according to the New York Post. He was initially charged by criminal complaint at the time, and he has been in custody ever since.
The Mayo Clinic said Masood had worked there in the past, but at the time of his arrest, he was no longer employed by the medical center.
Investigators said Masood told informants he wanted to go to Syria to help the Islamic State. He allegedly said he wanted to carry out lone wolf attacks in the U.S. but decided to go to ISIS’s hub in Syria instead. Prosecutors said Masood was originally planning to travel to the war-torn country through Jordan but reassessed after the country shut down its borders because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“There is so much I wanted to do here … lon wulf [sic] stuff you know … but I realized I should be on the ground helping brothers sisters kids,” he is accused of saying in a message to an informant.
Masood tried to travel from Minnesota to Los Angeles so that he could hitch a ride to Syria on a cargo ship, court documents show.
Masood's attorney did not return a request for comment left by the Associated Press on Friday.
Earlier this month, authorities in Spain arrested a Moroccan man they say was tied to ISIS and was planning acts of terrorism during the coronavirus lockdown.


bonginoreport--2020-05-16--Twitter Censors Michelle Malkin Video Retweeted by President Trump

Twitter has censored a clip of conservative icon Michelle Malkin discussing big tech censorship after it was retweeted by President Donald Trump .
On Saturday , President Trump quote tweeted a video from America First clips , adding that “ the Radical Left is in total command & control of Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and Google.
” In the video , Malkin took aim at censorship of right-wing voices , saying “ I ’ ve witnessed friends and allies stripped of their platforms , their reputations , and their voices .
Some can no longer communicate on social media.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the footage was almost immediately deleted by the platform .
America First Clips is an account dedicated to the dissident right-wing movement against interventionist wars , immigration and censorship .
They promote American nationalism and populism .
They also heavily support Nick Fuentes , an enemy of neoconservatives and whose daily livestream show is consistently viewed by thousands of people .
He sparked massive controversy on the right after becoming the face of the “ Groyper Wars , ” a movement of people questioning mainstream right-wing leaders about their beliefs and policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During the “ Groyper War , ” Rep. Dan Crenshaw infamously told a young right-wing student who asked him a question about Israel at an event that he would “ regret ” doing so .
Ben Shapiro gave a 45 minute long speech calling the Groyper students asking questions , and Fuentes , “ alt-right.
” Malkin has been censored , blacklisted and attacked by many mainstream conservatives for defending and associating with the America First movement , which its enemies have branded as “ racist ” or “ antisemitic ” because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ending foreign aid to Israel and other nations .
She had been working with Young America ’ s Foundation to speak to students for 17 years when she was booted from the organization ’ s roster for defending the America First movement .
As “ Conservative Inc. , ” the mainstream Republican organizations , continue to cave to pressure from leftists and silence , exclude , or “ cancel ” more and more interesting right-wing figures and voices — the dissident right has continued to grow and organize .
From forming their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that counter the “ gatekeepers , ” and now gaining retweets from the president himself , it is clear that this movement is here to stay .

Twitter has censored a clip of conservative icon Michelle Malkin discussing big tech censorship after it was retweeted by President Donald Trump.
On Saturday, President Trump quote tweeted a video from America First clips, adding that “the Radical Left is in total command & control of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google.”
“The Administration is working to remedy this illegal situation. Stay tunes, and send names & events. Thank you Michelle!” Trump added.
The Radical Left is in total command & control of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google. The Administration is working to remedy this illegal situation. Stay tuned, and send names & events. Thank you Michelle! https://t.co/ZQfcfD3Hk9 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2020
In the video, Malkin took aim at censorship of right-wing voices, saying “I’ve witnessed friends and allies stripped of their platforms, their reputations, and their voices. Some can no longer communicate on social media.”
“When I planted my little flag in the social media world on the internet almost 20 years ago, I never thought that I’d have to wake up one day and wonder if my entire website was going to be unplugged because on an opinion that I expressed,” Malkin continued.
Twitter deleted this tweet after @realDonaldTrump shared it. Censorship in America is out of control! pic.twitter.com/LBBaFiG0By — America First Clips (@af_clips) May 16, 2020
After being shared by the president, the footage was almost immediately deleted by the platform.
America First Clips is an account dedicated to the dissident right-wing movement against interventionist wars, immigration and censorship. They promote American nationalism and populism.
https://twitter.com/emerson_chris/status/1260759348403453953
They also heavily support Nick Fuentes, an enemy of neoconservatives and whose daily livestream show is consistently viewed by thousands of people. He sparked massive controversy on the right after becoming the face of the “Groyper Wars,” a movement of people questioning mainstream right-wing leaders about their beliefs and policies that are counter to putting America first.
During the “Groyper War,” Rep. Dan Crenshaw infamously told a young right-wing student who asked him a question about Israel at an event that he would “regret” doing so. Ben Shapiro gave a 45 minute long speech calling the Groyper students asking questions, and Fuentes, “alt-right.”
Malkin has been censored, blacklisted and attacked by many mainstream conservatives for defending and associating with the America First movement, which its enemies have branded as “racist” or “antisemitic” because of their hard line stances on immigration and ending foreign aid to Israel and other nations. She had been working with Young America’s Foundation to speak to students for 17 years when she was booted from the organization’s roster for defending the America First movement.
As “Conservative Inc.,” the mainstream Republican organizations, continue to cave to pressure from leftists and silence, exclude, or “cancel” more and more interesting right-wing figures and voices — the dissident right has continued to grow and organize.
From forming their own student groups, to organizing events that counter the “gatekeepers,” and now gaining retweets from the president himself, it is clear that this movement is here to stay.


bonginoreport--2020-05-16--Justin Amash Decides He Won’t Be Running for President After All

Michigan Rep. Justin Amash announced he will not be running for president .
On Saturday afternoon , Amash wrote in a tweet thread that he will not be seeking the Libertarian Party 's nomination for president despite announcing an exploratory committee earlier this year .
`` After much reflection , I ’ ve concluded that circumstances don ’ t lend themselves to my success as a candidate for president this year , and therefore I will not be a candidate , '' Amash wrote .
Amash defected from the Republican Party before voting for President Trump 's impeachment and became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans and libertarians .
In late April , Amash became the favored presidential nominee for the Libertarian Party after announcing an exploratory committee .
`` We ’ re ready for a presidency that will restore respect for our Constitution and bring people together .
I ’ m excited and honored to be taking these first steps toward serving Americans of every background as president , '' Amash wrote in a tweet announcing the committee .
`` Americans are ready for practical approaches based in humility and trust of the people . ''
Amash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House of Representatives during the Tea Party wave of 2010 .
Later , he became a co-founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus .
In 2019 , Amash `` declared his independence '' from the Republican Party on the Fourth of July , accusing his GOP colleagues of holding greater loyalty to Trump rather than to his principles of limited government , free markets , and individualism .

Michigan Rep. Justin Amash announced he will not be running for president.
On Saturday afternoon, Amash wrote in a tweet thread that he will not be seeking the Libertarian Party's nomination for president despite announcing an exploratory committee earlier this year.
"After much reflection, I’ve concluded that circumstances don’t lend themselves to my success as a candidate for president this year, and therefore I will not be a candidate," Amash wrote.
After much reflection, I’ve concluded that circumstances don’t lend themselves to my success as a candidate for president this year, and therefore I will not be a candidate. — Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 16, 2020
Amash defected from the Republican Party before voting for President Trump's impeachment and became an electoral candidate of interest for anti-Trump Republicans and libertarians.
In late April, Amash became the favored presidential nominee for the Libertarian Party after announcing an exploratory committee.
"We’re ready for a presidency that will restore respect for our Constitution and bring people together. I’m excited and honored to be taking these first steps toward serving Americans of every background as president," Amash wrote in a tweet announcing the committee. "Americans are ready for practical approaches based in humility and trust of the people."
Amash, 39, was elected to the House of Representatives during the Tea Party wave of 2010. Later, he became a co-founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.
In 2019, Amash "declared his independence" from the Republican Party on the Fourth of July, accusing his GOP colleagues of holding greater loyalty to Trump rather than to his principles of limited government, free markets, and individualism.


bonginoreport--2020-05-16--Atlanta Federal Reserve Projects 43% GDP Drop in Q2

Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox .
Sign up here .
Investors were dealt another hand of grim data this week , and it 's unlikely that will stop anytime soon as a U.S. economy bruised by the coronavirus reopens in fits and starts .
“ The economy is essentially still in freefall because of the shutdown , there is no question about that and the pandemic contraction in 2Q is going to be very difficult , ” top White House Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow told FOX Business .
A new GDP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atlanta for the three months through June estimates an unprecedented drop of 42.8 percent .
The bank describes the data as a `` nowcast '' or real-time , compared with the official government report of GDP , which is dated .
The first-quarter preliminary data , which showed a 4.8 percent dip , included a limited period of impact from COVID-19 .
Piecemeal data backs up the ominous trend .
On Friday , reports showed U.S. retail sales plunged a record 16.4 percent in April , while industrial production fell 11.2 percent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on unemployment , meanwhile , showed 2.98 million Americans filed for weekly unemployment benefits , pushing the total since the pandemic to over 36 million , a level not seen since the Great Depression .
In April , the unemployment rate skyrocketed to 14.7 percent -- the highest since the '30s after falling to a low of 3.5 percent pre-COVID-19 .
Despite the dour trends , the president 's economic team believes a rebound can take place in the second half of the year .
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad news to take in , but by the time we get to the third quarter and the fourth quarter and next year , things are going to be a lot greater .
We ’ re kind of transitioning back to the very , very strong economy we had , ” said White House adviser Kevin Hassett .
FED 'S POWELL SAYS US ECONOMY MAY NEED MORE POLICY HELP TO AVOID 'PROLONGED RECESSION' Even with that optimism , Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned on Wednesday that the government may need to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and weak recovery . ''
U.S. stocks fell across the board for the week , with the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbling 2.65 percent while the S & P 500 fell 2.26 percent , the worst weekly performances for the indexes since March .
The Nasdaq Composite dropped1.17 percent .
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Investors were dealt another hand of grim data this week, and it's unlikely that will stop anytime soon as a U.S. economy bruised by the coronavirus reopens in fits and starts.
“The economy is essentially still in freefall because of the shutdown, there is no question about that and the pandemic contraction in 2Q is going to be very difficult,” top White House Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow told FOX Business.
A new GDP forecast from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta for the three months through June estimates an unprecedented drop of 42.8 percent. The bank describes the data as a "nowcast" or real-time, compared with the official government report of GDP, which is dated. The first-quarter preliminary data, which showed a 4.8 percent dip, included a limited period of impact from COVID-19.
Piecemeal data backs up the ominous trend. On Friday, reports showed U.S. retail sales plunged a record 16.4 percent in April, while industrial production fell 11.2 percent, the most ever.
TWO-MONTH CORONAVIRUS JOB LOSSES REACH 36M
A fresh report on unemployment, meanwhile, showed 2.98 million Americans filed for weekly unemployment benefits, pushing the total since the pandemic to over 36 million, a level not seen since the Great Depression.
In April, the unemployment rate skyrocketed to 14.7 percent -- the highest since the '30s after falling to a low of 3.5 percent pre-COVID-19.
Despite the dour trends, the president's economic team believes a rebound can take place in the second half of the year.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS
“We've still got some more bad news to take in, but by the time we get to the third quarter and the fourth quarter and next year, things are going to be a lot greater. We’re kind of transitioning back to the very, very strong economy we had,” said White House adviser Kevin Hassett.
FED'S POWELL SAYS US ECONOMY MAY NEED MORE POLICY HELP TO AVOID 'PROLONGED RECESSION'
Even with that optimism, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned on Wednesday that the government may need to do more to prevent a "prolonged recession and weak recovery."
U.S. stocks fell across the board for the week, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbling 2.65 percent while the S&P 500 fell 2.26 percent, the worst weekly performances for the indexes since March. The Nasdaq Composite dropped1.17 percent.
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bonginoreport--2020-05-16--John Brennan Says He “Welcomes Chance to Talk With Durham Investigators”

On Friday ’ s broadcast of MSNBC ’ s “ All In , ” former CIA Director John Brennan stated that he welcomes the chance to talk with John Durham ’ s investigators and is willing to talk to them because he is confident he has nothing to hide and people have been deceived by people like President Trump and William Barr .
Brennan said , “ John Durham , who is a well-respected individual from the Department of Justice…is conducting this investigation , I guess this investigation , and looking at what happened during those last months of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two of the Trump administration .
I ’ d like to think that John Durham and the other DOJ and FBI investigators will continue to honor their oath of office and to carry out their responsibilities without any consideration of [ the ] political interests of Donald Trump .
And so , I feel very good that my tenure at CIA and my time at the White House during the Obama administration was not — that I was not engaged in any type of wrongdoing or activities that cause me to worry about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I welcome the opportunity to talk with the investigators .
I have nothing to hide .
I have not yet been interviewed by any of those individuals involved in this matter but I ’ m willing to do so .
Because I do believe that , for too long , the American public [ has ] been misled by Donald Trump , by William Barr , and others .
And so , I look forward to the day when the truth is going to come out and the individuals who have mischaracterized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be shown to have deceived the American people .
”

On Friday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “All In,” former CIA Director John Brennan stated that he welcomes the chance to talk with John Durham’s investigators and is willing to talk to them because he is confident he has nothing to hide and people have been deceived by people like President Trump and William Barr.
Brennan said, “John Durham, who is a well-respected individual from the Department of Justice…is conducting this investigation, I guess this investigation, and looking at what happened during those last months of the Obama administration and the first year or two of the Trump administration. I’d like to think that John Durham and the other DOJ and FBI investigators will continue to honor their oath of office and to carry out their responsibilities without any consideration of [the] political interests of Donald Trump. And so, I feel very good that my tenure at CIA and my time at the White House during the Obama administration was not — that I was not engaged in any type of wrongdoing or activities that cause me to worry about what this investigation may uncover. So, I welcome the opportunity to talk with the investigators. I have nothing to hide. I have not yet been interviewed by any of those individuals involved in this matter but I’m willing to do so. Because I do believe that, for too long, the American public [has] been misled by Donald Trump, by William Barr, and others. And so, I look forward to the day when the truth is going to come out and the individuals who have mischaracterized what has happened in the past will be shown to have deceived the American people.”
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett


bonginoreport--2020-05-16--Warren Buffet Trims Stakes in Financial Companies

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Warren Buffett took more steps to rejigger his portfolio as the coronavirus impact continues to play out across financial markets .
Buffett 's Berkshire Hathaway adjusted stakes in two of the nation 's biggest financial firms ; JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs , which took the bigger hit .
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE The firm 's stake in Goldman was cut by 84 percent to 1.9 million shares from 12 million , according to SEC Filings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , compared to the 11.4 percent drop in the S & P 500 .
FOX Business reported on Thursday that Goldman , under pressure to boost its performance , was eyeing potential banking acquisitions with Wells Fargo , PNC and US Bancorp making the shortlist of contenders .
All of the companies declined to comment .
As for JPMorgan , Berkshire still maintains a large position of 57.7 million shares yet trimmed its stake by 1.8 million , according to SEC filings .
CORONAVIRUS PUSHES BERKSHIRE TO SELL ENTIRE STAKES IN US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his pared-down virtual annual meeting , Buffett disclosed he had exited the majority stakes of his airline holdings , as the coronavirus decimated the industry .
While he noted he did n't have any great insights into the COVID-19 pandemic the 89-year-old billionaire did offer an optimistic prediction , `` the American magic has always prevailed , and it will do so again . ''
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Warren Buffett took more steps to rejigger his portfolio as the coronavirus impact continues to play out across financial markets.
Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway adjusted stakes in two of the nation's biggest financial firms; JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs, which took the bigger hit.
Ticker Security Last Change Change % GS THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC. 332.43 -5.32 -1.58%
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The firm's stake in Goldman was cut by 84 percent to 1.9 million shares from 12 million, according to SEC Filings. The stock has tumbled 25 percent this year, compared to the 11.4 percent drop in the S&P 500.
GOLDMAN SACHS EYES WELLS FARGO, PNC, US BANCORP SPIKING STOCKS
FOX Business reported on Thursday that Goldman, under pressure to boost its performance, was eyeing potential banking acquisitions with Wells Fargo, PNC and US Bancorp making the shortlist of contenders. All of the companies declined to comment.
Ticker Security Last Change Change % WFC WELLS FARGO & CO. 42.72 -1.02 -2.33% PNC THE PNC FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP INC. 123.58 -3.67 -2.89% USB U.S. BANCORP 37.64 -1.08 -2.80%
As for JPMorgan, Berkshire still maintains a large position of 57.7 million shares yet trimmed its stake by 1.8 million, according to SEC filings.
CORONAVIRUS PUSHES BERKSHIRE TO SELL ENTIRE STAKES IN US AIRLINES: BUFFETT
Earlier this month at his pared-down virtual annual meeting, Buffett disclosed he had exited the majority stakes of his airline holdings, as the coronavirus decimated the industry.
Ticker Security Last Change Change % DAL DELTA AIR LINES INC. 43.02 -1.22 -2.76% AAL AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC. 15.55 -0.33 -2.08% UAL UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS INC. 51.34 -0.97 -1.85% LUV SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. 33.13 -0.41 -1.22%
WARREN BUFFETT: 'AMERICAN MAGIC' WILL OVERCOME CORONAVIRUS
While he noted he didn't have any great insights into the COVID-19 pandemic the 89-year-old billionaire did offer an optimistic prediction, "the American magic has always prevailed, and it will do so again."
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bonginoreport--2020-05-17--Chinese Ambassador Found Dead at Home in Israel, Prompting Conspiracy Theories

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Chinese Ambassador to Israel Du Wei was found dead in his home on Sunday, sparking rumors and an avalanche of media coverage.
There is no evidence that anything but natural causes was involved. However, the death of the ambassador of a high-profile state like China at this complex time – amid the coronavirus pandemic and in the wake of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ’s visit, with stories about US pressure on Israel regarding China relations – feeds online conspiracy theories.
First of all, the story spread widely throughout international media, from Hebrew media to reports at the BBC, CNN and other outlets.
The ambassador was found in the morning at his Herzliya apartment, and no official statement was made immediately. Du Wei had only arrived in Israel in February when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its height in his home country.
He arrived to an Israel that was already putting in place regulations regarding travel from affected countries. He was 52 years old and taking over from the previous ambassador, who had worked hard on Israel-China relations.
But the US was increasingly concerned about China’s role in Haifa Port and a desalination plant.
Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan had come in October 2019, the most high-profile visit by a Chinese official, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of the growing friendship with China. This comes as China is touting its Belt and Road Initiative for the Middle East.
The level of conspiracies and anti-China comments after the death of the ambassador reached a crescendo on Sunday afternoon.
Some wrote that China should be “sent packing,” and another said, “Something smells fishy here.”
Some thought a spy movie was coming after Pompeo’s critique.
“A long list of suspects,” wrote one person. “Sounds like CSI,” a reference to the US murder investigative show.
Others postulated that the ambassador died of COVID-19. More reasonable comments on Tweeter and Facebook included assertions that the “optics do not look good.” Others expressed condolences and sadness.
The rumor-mill conspiracy theories posited that Du Wei’s former posting in Ukraine somehow overshadowed his mission in Israel. Russia has been accused of assassinations in Ukraine. For instance, Ukrainian authorities accused Russia of trying to recruit assassins to target journalist Arkady Babchenko.
A bomb wounded a politician in 2017 in Kiev. It is not clear why that would have any impact on a Chinese ambassador in Ukraine, since Russia and China have good relations.
Among the responses to a tweet by Israeli journalist Barak Ravid were comments such as: “China taking care of loose ends,” “I heard he was recently reassigned to Israel from Ukraine,” and “I’m not being a conspiracist but it’s rather odd to hear this news soon after Pompeo’s visit.”
Then there are those who blame Israel, with comments about how China must respond “very strongly” to Israel. “Someone trying to stir tensions between Israel and China.” And, of course, “[sounds like] a script written by Stephen King.”
The allegations that Pompeo had someone to do with the death seem to be the most common.
“If you remember the Pompeo visit, you can connect the dots,” or “Pompeo visit was successful I guess.”
Some suggested that the death had more to do with COVID-19, with one person mentioning Li Wenliang, a Chinese ophthalmologist who died on February 7 after speaking out about the coronavirus outbreak.
The death of a high-profile ambassador while on the job is relatively rare. Some ambassadors have been assassinated, such as Russia’s Andrei Karlov, who was killed in Turkey by a policeman in 2016.
Russian ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin died of heart failure in New York City in 2017. Russian ambassador to Sudan Migayas Shirinskiy died in 2017. Russian diplomats in India and Greece also died in 2017.
Chinese diplomats and ambassadors have been in the news increasingly lately because of the recent pandemic and Beijing’s decision to take an active approach to dealing with criticism of China.
That has meant that diplomats, such as Chinese Ambassador to Australia Jingye Cheng, have received tough criticism. He was called “downright despicable” after a controversy about Chinese economic pressure on Australia.
Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai wrote an op-ed to respond to US “always blame China” attacks.
In April, France summoned China’s ambassador over a controversy in which France was accused of abandoning nursing-home residents.
Chinese Ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming accused US politicians of harming relations with China during the pandemic.
China’s ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhao Baogang also took a robust approach to discussing the pandemic and came under criticism for comments in Harare.
Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wu Xi was slammed for comments about Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian became well known over the last two months for wading into these online arguments.
Du Wei was quick to become involved with Israel’s media during the pandemic, and he published an op-ed in The Jerusalem Post on March 13.
The Chinese Embassy spokesperson also ran an op-ed in the Post that appeared online on Friday. Wei, like his counterparts in other countries, needed to confront the criticism of China and the discussions about US pressure on Israel relating to Chinese investment as well as other challenges.
China, a country that generally stayed out of the limelight during its rapid economic growth in the 1980s and 1990s, has found itself increasingly at a crossroads in terms of how it will respond to criticism and sensitive issues such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and Tibet.
In 2008, Chinese athletes faced aggressive protests in Paris in the lead-up to the Olympics. China’s recent more-muscular approach – including an unprecedented military parade last year, with new hi-tech weapons systems – represents a very different face Beijing is showing the world.
Inevitably, that has fed into some of the current controversies, including those surrounding the death of the ambassador.
Reports based on Pentagon war games that the US would “lose Pacific war with China” appeared on Saturday in international media.
The US is increasing military pressure on China, CNN reported. China was attempting to use focus on COVID-19 to assert its interests, US Navy Capt. Michael Kafka said. The recent US National Defense Strategy set its sights on China openly and said China is a competitor.
Gone are the days of the US speaking nicely. US President Donald Trump, who launched a trade war with China last year, bragged on Friday about a new missile the US could use to confront China and Russia.
The pressure from the US visit by Pompeo toward Israel regarding China was clear. The US is playing for keeps and wants Israel to distance itself from Beijing.
Washington is adamant about no more deals between Israel and China that could jeopardize US security ties. The Chinese Embassy in Israel took Pompeo’s trip seriously and rebutted his accusations.
That the ambassador died soon after was bound to feed conspiracies and rumors. These are tense times, and ambassadors currently are playing a larger role in China’s worldwide efforts.


bonginoreport--2020-05-18--President Trump Says He’s Been Taking Hydroxychloroquine

Donald Trump has revealed he is taking hydroxychloroquine , a malaria drug he has pushed for weeks as a treatment for coronavirus – even though he has tested negative , and federal health agencies have warned of serious negative side effects for its use .
“ I take it , ” he told reporters .
“ All I can tell you is , so far , I feel okay.
” The president said on Monday he had taken only an initial dose .
“ It seems to have an impact , ” he said .
“ Maybe it does , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not going to get sick and die.
” Mr Trump said he has taken the drug for “ about a week and a half now ” , adding : “ I take a pill every day ” and has had “ zero symptoms ” .
The president said he was taking the drug because “ I ’ ve gotten a lot of calls ” from medical professionals praising it .
His revelation comes several weeks after the New York Times reported the Trump family has a financial tie to the parent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that makes hydroxychloroquine .
Doctors who have prescribed hydroxychloroquine for coronavirus patients have done so to treat positive cases ; Mr Trump alluded to taking it as a preventative measure .
The president , who has been an avid contrarian since he was a private citizen who was mulling a political career , continued that on Monday .
He revealed he was taking the malaria medication despite a dire warning published late last month by the Food and Drug Administration .
“ The FDA is aware of reports of serious heart rhythm problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or chloroquine , often in combination with azithromycin and other QT prolonging medicines .
We are also aware of increased use of these medicines through outpatient prescriptions , ” the agency said .
“ Therefore , we would like to remind health care professionals and patients of the known risks associated with both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine .
We will continue to investigate risks associated with the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for Covid-19 and communicate publicly when we have more information.
” Mr Trump said he was taking the drug under the care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Later on Monday , the White House released a statement from the president ’ s doctor , Navy Cdr Sean Conley , who said Mr Trump was taking the drug following discussions between the pair of them .
He said they decided the “ potential benefit outweighed the relative risks ” .
“ Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have not been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing Covid-19 .
They are being studied in clinical trials for Covid-19 , and we authorised their temporary use during the Covid-19 pandemic for treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinical trials are not available , ” the FDA warned last month .
“ Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine can cause abnormal heart rhythms such as QT interval prolongation and a dangerously rapid heart rate called ventricular tachycardia .
”

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Donald Trump has revealed he is taking hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug he has pushed for weeks as a treatment for coronavirus – even though he has tested negative, and federal health agencies have warned of serious negative side effects for its use.
“I take it,” he told reporters. “All I can tell you is, so far, I feel okay.”
The president said on Monday he had taken only an initial dose. “It seems to have an impact,” he said. “Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t.....You’re not going to get sick and die.”
Mr Trump said he has taken the drug for “about a week and a half now”, adding: “I take a pill every day” and has had “zero symptoms”.
The president said he was taking the drug because “I’ve gotten a lot of calls” from medical professionals praising it. His revelation comes several weeks after the New York Times reported the Trump family has a financial tie to the parent company of one of the the firms that makes hydroxychloroquine.
Doctors who have prescribed hydroxychloroquine for coronavirus patients have done so to treat positive cases; Mr Trump alluded to taking it as a preventative measure.
The president, who has been an avid contrarian since he was a private citizen who was mulling a political career, continued that on Monday. He revealed he was taking the malaria medication despite a dire warning published late last month by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“The FDA is aware of reports of serious heart rhythm problems in patients with Covid-19 treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, often in combination with azithromycin and other QT prolonging medicines. We are also aware of increased use of these medicines through outpatient prescriptions,” the agency said. “Therefore, we would like to remind healthcare professionals and patients of the known risks associated with both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. We will continue to investigate risks associated with the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for Covid-19 and communicate publicly when we have more information.”
Mr Trump said he was taking the drug under the care of the White House medical team.
Later on Monday, the White House released a statement from the president’s doctor, Navy Cdr Sean Conley, who said Mr Trump was taking the drug following discussions between the pair of them. He said they decided the “potential benefit outweighed the relative risks”.
the FDA warned last month: “Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have not been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing Covid-19. They are being studied in clinical trials for Covid-19, and we authorised their temporary use during the Covid-19 pandemic for treatment of the virus in hospitalised patients when clinical trials are not available,
“Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine can cause abnormal heart rhythms such as QT interval prolongation and a dangerously rapid heart rate called ventricular tachycardia.”


bonginoreport--2020-05-18--Disgraced Former Rep. Katie Hill “Devastated” That Republican Won Her Seat

Former congresswoman Katie Hill said she was driven to tears following the result of a special election that will put a Republican in her seat representing California 's 25th Congressional District after she was forced to resign .
`` So yeah it really hurt to have my old seat flip back to Republican-for a ton of people & also for me , '' Hill said Sunday .
`` In fact , it was pretty f -- -ing devastating .
I went offline & cried for a few days but , as always , getting ready to stand back up & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Republican Mike Garcia , the son of a Mexican immigrant and a veteran , won a special election last week that flipped the seat to Republican control .
Hill , a Democrat , resigned last year following allegations that she had improper relationships with aides in her office .
`` Let ’ s be clear .
My ex gave [ nonconsensual ] nude pics of me to the ppl who wanted this seat- people who were backing Garcia when he was my opponent .
They gave those pics to the press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a separate tweet .
`` I take full responsibility for my mistakes , but this Republican win is no coincidence . ''

Former congresswoman Katie Hill said she was driven to tears following the result of a special election that will put a Republican in her seat representing California's 25th Congressional District after she was forced to resign.
"So yeah it really hurt to have my old seat flip back to Republican-for a ton of people & also for me," Hill said Sunday. "In fact, it was pretty f---ing devastating. I went offline & cried for a few days but, as always, getting ready to stand back up & keep fighting. Hope you are too."
Republican Mike Garcia, the son of a Mexican immigrant and a veteran, won a special election last week that flipped the seat to Republican control.
Hill, a Democrat, resigned last year following allegations that she had improper relationships with aides in her office.
"Let’s be clear. My ex gave [nonconsensual] nude pics of me to the ppl who wanted this seat- people who were backing Garcia when he was my opponent. They gave those pics to the press. I resigned," Hill explained in a separate tweet. "I take full responsibility for my mistakes, but this Republican win is no coincidence."


bonginoreport--2020-05-18--Andrew Cuomo Really Doesn’t Like Being Asked About Nursing Home Scandal

New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo snapped at a reporter during a press conference on Sunday when asked about families who lost loved ones in nursing homes from COVID-19 , the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 , after Cuomo ordered nursing homes to take patients that had the highly contagious disease .
“ What is justice ?
Who can we prosecute for those deaths ?
Nobody , ” Cuomo said to the reporter .
“ Nobody .
Mother nature .
God .
Where did this virus come from ?
People are going to die by this virus .
That is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globe , I believe we have .
Best doctors , best nurses who have responded like heroes , every medication , ventilators , the health system wants for nothing .
We worked it out so we always had available beds .
Nobody was deprived of a bed or medical coverage in any way.
” More than 5,400 people have died in nursing homes , which experts have said largely happened due to Cuomo ’ s policy .
Cuomo ’ s administration has now been accused of hiding nursing home deaths as backlash continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have called for a federal investigation .
“ And still people died .
Still , people died .
Older people , vulnerable people are going to die from this virus , ” Cuomo continued .
“ That is going to happen despite whatever you do.
” “ You can have a situation where everyone did the right thing and everyone tried their best , and people still die , ” Cuomo concluded .
“ Look , people rationalize death in different ways .
I don ’ t think there was any logical rationale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today.
” The Daily Wire , headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro , is a leading provider of conservative news , cutting through the mainstream media ’ s rhetoric to provide readers the most important , relevant , and engaging stories of the day .
Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a member .
REPORTER : Governor , what would you say to families who have suffered losses inside nursing homes ?
And they ’ re looking for accountability .
And they ’ d like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve recently interviewed a family , three siblings .
They ’ ve had two nursing home losses within a few weeks of one another on two separate floors in the same facility here in Albany .
They felt so much solace when you got up and talked about Matilda ’ s law .
They said , “ Great , we ’ re protected .
Our loved ones are going to be okay because of Matilda ’ s law.
” And then their loved ones passed away because they couldn ’ t get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking for accountability and they feel that they were failed .
What ’ s the comment to that ?
NEW YORK GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO ( D ) : Yeah .
The comment is this .
And I have those conversations all day long with people who have lost people , right ?
We lost 139 people yesterday in hospitals .
Who is accountable for those 139 deaths ?
Well , how do we get justice for those families who had 139 deaths ?
What is justice ?
Who can we prosecute for those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature .
God .
Where did this virus come from ?
People are going to die by this virus .
That is the truth .
Best hospital system on the globe , I believe we have .
Best doctors , best nurses who have responded like heroes , every medication , ventilators , the health system wants for nothing .
We worked it out so we always had available beds .
Nobody was deprived of a bed or medical coverage in any way .
And still people died .
Still , people died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to die from this virus .
That is going to happen despite whatever you do .
Because with all our progress as a society , we can ’ t keep everyone alive .
Despite what everything you do and older people are more vulnerable .
And that is a fact .
And that is not going to change .
And look , to me , the really difficult conversations for me are “ My son was 40 years old .
It was not a senior citizen , did not have a comorbidity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an essential worker and doing the right thing and had an aneurysm .
I thought young people were fine .
And he was doing the right thing as an essential worker.
” There ’ s a randomness to this virus that is inexplicable .
Why do people die ?
That ’ s beyond this .
Who ’ s accountable ?
You can have a situation where every – You can have a situation where everyone did the right thing and everyone tried their best , and people still die .
REPORTER : What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if the mandates that are currently in place right now , that we ’ ve all just been talking about in here , were in place from the get go , they feel that their loved ones might still be here .
CUOMO : Look , people rationalize death in different ways .
I don ’ t think there was any logical rationale to say , they would be alive today .
I said , from day one , the fear is we overwhelm the hospital system , and then people die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them the medical care .
That was an accountable avoidable situation .
That was Italy , by the way .
People died in hallways , on gurneys in hospitals , because the doctors and the nurses were overwhelmed , and because they didn ’ t have a ventilator , they didn ’ t have a doctor available , and people died .
That is a heartbreak , because then you say , “ They didn ’ t have to die , ” “ If the doctor had gotten to my mother , my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s what we protect against , and we did it successfully .
I now get criticized that I had an overcapacity of beds available .
“ Oh , you didn ’ t need all those beds , as it turned out.
” I ’ ll take that , I ’ m guilty .
I increased the hospital capacity to an extent that we didn ’ t even need .
But you know what ?
Nobody died where we didn ’ t do everything that we could .
And that has been true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true today , and it was true from day one .

New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo snapped at a reporter during a press conference on Sunday when asked about families who lost loved ones in nursing homes from COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, after Cuomo ordered nursing homes to take patients that had the highly contagious disease.
“What is justice? Who can we prosecute for those deaths? Nobody,” Cuomo said to the reporter. “Nobody. Mother nature. God. Where did this virus come from? People are going to die by this virus. That is the truth. Best hospital system on the globe, I believe we have. Best doctors, best nurses who have responded like heroes, every medication, ventilators, the health system wants for nothing. We worked it out so we always had available beds. Nobody was deprived of a bed or medical coverage in any way.”
More than 5,400 people have died in nursing homes, which experts have said largely happened due to Cuomo’s policy. Cuomo’s administration has now been accused of hiding nursing home deaths as backlash continues to grow against the governor and lawmakers have called for a federal investigation.
“And still people died. Still, people died. Older people, vulnerable people are going to die from this virus,” Cuomo continued. “That is going to happen despite whatever you do.”
“You can have a situation where everyone did the right thing and everyone tried their best, and people still die,” Cuomo concluded. “Look, people rationalize death in different ways. I don’t think there was any logical rationale to say, they would be alive today.”
WATCH:
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a member.
TRANSCRIPT:


bonginoreport--2020-05-18--Most of the $500 Billion Coronavirus Relief Fund Hasn’t Been Distributed

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A $ 500 billion Treasury Department fund created at the end of March by the CARES Act has yet to deploy much of the coronavirus-relief aid , according to a new report released Monday by a bipartisan Congressional Oversight Committee .
FED 'S POWELL WARNS VIRUS RECOVERY COULD STRETCH THROUGH END OF 2021 The 17-page report is the first from the congressional watchdog panel , which was established in the massive $ 2.2 trillion stimulus package to oversee the distribution of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department .
The Treasury Fund set aside $ 46 billion for loans and loan guarantees to the airline industry .
None of that money has been distributed , although the Treasury has received applications for the loans and is reviewing them .
Up to $ 25 billion is available for passenger airlines and businesses certified to perform inspection , repair , replace , or overhaul services and ticket agents .
Another $ 4 billion is available for cargo air carriers , and $ 17 billion is available for businesses “ critical to maintaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund -- $ 454 billion -- was designated to support Federal Reserve lending programs to businesses , states and municipalities .
But only one of the lending facilities established by the Fed has received money , according to the report .
The Treasury has disbursed $ 37.5 billion of the funds to the Fed 's Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facility , which is supposed to purchase corporate debt .
The Treasury Department has announced five lending facilities to deploy other portions of the money , but has not invested in them yet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which the central bank launched to help get money to small- and medium-sized businesses , and the Primary Market Corporate Credit Facility , designed to maintain the flow of credit to large employers .
`` Their size and scope may also grow as the Treasury has only pledged $ 185 billion of the $ 454 billion appropriated in the CARES Act for investments in Fed lending facilities , '' the report said .
The commission has four members : Rep. Donna Shalala , D-Fla. , Sen. Patrick Toomey , R-Penn.
, Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ramamurti , a former adviser to Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass .
The fifth member is supposed to be the chairperson , jointly appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , but they have yet to announce any agreement .
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A $500 billion Treasury Department fund created at the end of March by the CARES Act has yet to deploy much of the coronavirus-relief aid, according to a new report released Monday by a bipartisan Congressional Oversight Committee.
FED'S POWELL WARNS VIRUS RECOVERY COULD STRETCH THROUGH END OF 2021
The 17-page report is the first from the congressional watchdog panel, which was established in the massive $2.2 trillion stimulus package to oversee the distribution of loans by the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department.
The Treasury Fund set aside $46 billion for loans and loan guarantees to the airline industry. None of that money has been distributed, although the Treasury has received applications for the loans and is reviewing them. Up to $25 billion is available for passenger airlines and businesses certified to perform inspection, repair, replace, or overhaul services and ticket agents.
FED PLEDGES AGGRESSIVE ACTION TO SUPPORT US ECONOMY
Another $4 billion is available for cargo air carriers, and $17 billion is available for businesses “critical to maintaining national security.”
The remainder of the fund -- $454 billion -- was designated to support Federal Reserve lending programs to businesses, states and municipalities.
But only one of the lending facilities established by the Fed has received money, according to the report. The Treasury has disbursed $37.5 billion of the funds to the Fed's Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facility, which is supposed to purchase corporate debt.
POWELL RULES OUT NEGATIVE INTEREST RATES, DESPITE TRUMP PRESSURE
The Treasury Department has announced five lending facilities to deploy other portions of the money, but has not invested in them yet. That includes the Main Street Lending Program, which the central bank launched to help get money to small- and medium-sized businesses, and the Primary Market Corporate Credit Facility, designed to maintain the flow of credit to large employers.
"Their size and scope may also grow as the Treasury has only pledged $185 billion of the $454 billion appropriated in the CARES Act for investments in Fed lending facilities," the report said.
The commission has four members: Rep. Donna Shalala, D-Fla., Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Penn., Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., and Bharat Ramamurti, a former adviser to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. The fifth member is supposed to be the chairperson, jointly appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, but they have yet to announce any agreement.
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bonginoreport--2020-05-19--Retailer Kohl’s Sees 44% Sales Decline in Q1

Kohl 's net sales tanked 43.5 % during the first quarter , the company said Tuesday , as its stores were forced temporarily shut due to the Covid-19 crisis .
`` We entered the year in a strong financial position and our business was tracking to our expectations prior to the onset of the crisis , '' Chief Executive Officer Michelle Gass said in a statement .
The company 's shares fell as much as 3 % in premarket trading on the news .
Here 's how the company did during its fiscal first quarter , ended May 2 : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 541 million , or $ 3.50 per share , compared with a profit of $ 62 million , or 38 cents per a share , a year prior .
Excluding one-time charges , Kohl 's lost $ 3.20 per share .
The company said it will not be reporting its same-store sales results for the quarter due to its shops being forced shut .
Analysts had been calling for a decline of nearly 31 % , according to FactSet .
Meantime , analysts had been calling for the retailer to report a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjusted , on revenue of $ 2.18 billion , according to Refinitiv data .
However , it is difficult to compare reported earnings with analyst estimates for Kohl 's first quarter , as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hit global economies and makes earnings impact difficult to assess .
Kohl 's said Tuesday that about half of its more than 1,160 stores across the U.S. have already been reopened for business .
The company ended the quarter with $ 2 billion in cash on hand and $ 500 million available on its revolving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Monday 's market close are down 63 % this year .
The retailer has a market cap of $ 2.9 billion .
Read the full earnings report from Kohl 's here .

Kohl's net sales tanked 43.5% during the first quarter, the company said Tuesday, as its stores were forced temporarily shut due to the Covid-19 crisis.
"While we have a fast-growing digital business, it has only replaced a small portion of the sales loss from our entire store base," Chief Executive Officer Michelle Gass said during an earnings conference call.
The company also said it has suspended its share repurchase program and its quarterly cash dividend payment, beginning in the second quarter, as it looks to cut costs and bolster liquidity.
Kohl's shares were falling more than 9% in early trading on the news.
Here's how the company did during its fiscal first quarter, ended May 2:
Earnings per share, adjusted: A loss of $3.20
A loss of $3.20 Revenue: $2.16 billion
Kohl's net sales fell to $2.16 billion from $3.82 billion a year ago.
The retailer reported a net loss of $541 million, or $3.50 per share, compared with a profit of $62 million, or 38 cents per a share, a year prior. Excluding one-time charges, Kohl's lost $3.20 per share.
The company said it will not be reporting its same-store sales results for the quarter due to its shops being forced shut. Analysts had been calling for a decline of nearly 31%, according to FactSet.
Analysts had been calling for the retailer to report a loss of $1.80 per share, adjusted, on revenue of $2.18 billion, according to Refinitiv data. However, it is difficult to compare reported earnings with analyst estimates for Kohl's first quarter, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hit global economies and makes earnings impact difficult to assess.
Kohl's digital sales were up 24% overall, with growth of more than 60% in April, the company said. Some of its strongest categories online included home, active wear, toys and beauty, according to Gass.
"We responded [to store closures] with speed and agility, leaning into our digital business as the only channel to engage with our customers," the CEO said.
However, with heightened e-commerce activity comes heightened pressure on profits.
Kohl's gross margins during the period fell to 17.3% from 36.8% a year ago, hurt by increased shipping costs and amplified promotions to try to clear inventory.
"We expect significant pressure to this line as the industry faces an unprecedented inventory glut," Jefferies analyst Randal Konik said in a post-earnings note to clients.
Kohl's said Tuesday that about half of its more than 1,160 stores across the U.S. have already been reopened for business.
The company ended the quarter with $2 billion in cash on hand and $500 million available on its revolving credit facility.
"We know this experience will have a lasting impact to customer behavior and the retail landscape," Gass said about the pandemic.
Kohl's shares as of Monday's market close are down 63% this year. The retailer has a market cap of $2.9 billion.
Read the full earnings report from Kohl's here.


bonginoreport--2020-05-19--Nancy Pelosi Calls Trump “Morbidly Obese” During CNN Appearance

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi called President Donald Trump “ morbidly obese ” Monday night after he announced that he has been taking hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus preventative treatment for more than a week .
In an appearance on CNN , Pelosi was asked about Trump ’ s usage of hydroxychloroquine , to which she responded by saying “ He ’ s our president and I would rather he not be taking something that has not been approved by the scientists , especially in his age group and in his , shall we say , weight group — morbidly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to CNN ’ s Anderson Cooper .
“ A lot of good things have come out about the [ hydroxychloroquine ] , ” he told reporters gathered in the White House cabinet room .
“ You ’ d be surprised at how many people are taking it , especially the front-line workers before you catch it .
The front-line workers — many , many are taking it , Trump continued Monday.
” ( RELATED : Pelosi Includes Massive Tax Break For The Rich In New $ 3 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Package ) “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I happened to be taking it .
Hydroxychloroquine .
Right now , yeah .
A couple of weeks ago , I started taking it .
If it is not good , I will tell you right , ” he continued .
( RELATED : EXCLUSIVE : White House Officials Counter Pelosi ’ s Claim That Trump ’ s WHO Cuts Are ‘ Illegal ’ ) “ I ’ m not going to get hurt by it .
It has been around for 40 years .
I ’ ve taken it for about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m still here .
”

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi called President Donald Trump “morbidly obese” Monday night after he announced that he has been taking hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus preventative treatment for more than a week.
In an appearance on CNN, Pelosi was asked about Trump’s usage of hydroxychloroquine, to which she responded by saying “He’s our president and I would rather he not be taking something that has not been approved by the scientists, especially in his age group and in his, shall we say, weight group — morbidly obese, they say” Pelosi said to CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
WATCH:
Speaker Pelosi says that President @realDonaldTrump should not take Hydroxychloroquine because he is “morbidly obese.” pic.twitter.com/2a1XDw1Gvg — Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 19, 2020
“A lot of good things have come out about the [hydroxychloroquine],” he told reporters gathered in the White House cabinet room. “You’d be surprised at how many people are taking it, especially the front-line workers before you catch it. The front-line workers — many, many are taking it, Trump continued Monday.” (RELATED: Pelosi Includes Massive Tax Break For The Rich In New $3 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Package)
“I happened to be taking it. I happened to be taking it. Hydroxychloroquine. Right now, yeah. A couple of weeks ago, I started taking it. If it is not good, I will tell you right,” he continued. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: White House Officials Counter Pelosi’s Claim That Trump’s WHO Cuts Are ‘Illegal’)
“I’m not going to get hurt by it. It has been around for 40 years. I’ve taken it for about a week and a half now, and I’m still here.”


bonginoreport--2020-05-19--Christian Toto: Confessions of a Right Wing Film Critic

As a boy I spent Sunday mornings watching their black and white comedies with my Dad .
This was before the Internet , mind you , so laughing at their peerless shtick proved as good as it got .
Those comedies did more than make me laugh .
They were my gateway drug to Hollywood .
Years later , when my art career crashed on the runway , I suddenly had a Plan B .
Become a movie critic .
Easier said than done , even at a time when newspapers considered critics an essential part of their staff .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gig ?
And what did I have to offer beyond a lust for darkened theaters ?
I ignored both inconvenient truths and went for it .
I joined a Pittsburgh newspaper as a metro reporter , filing reports from town meetings ( noble work , just not my thing ) and writing feature stories .
At the same time I volunteered for any entertainment assignment available .
Opera reviews ?
Sign me up , even if my knowledge started and stopped with that 1957 Bugs Bunny short , “ What ’ s Opera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nudity ?
Yup , I ’ m there , chief , just tell me the due date .
I was the original “ Yes Man ” before Jim Carrey co-opted the phrase .
And it worked .
Sort of .
When the paper ’ s veteran movie critic went on vacation I was the de facto backup .
My first official movie review ?
Jeff Bridges and Ellen Barkin in 1995 ’ s “ Wild Bill.
” I was elated , but vacations don ’ t last forever .
My career eventually took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a similar gig at The Washington Times .
Once again the paper had an established film scribe , perhaps the toughest critic I ’ ve ever read .
He once gave a star and a half to a film that went on to win Best Picture .
And he wasn ’ t going anywhere .
Nor was I. I repeated my Pittsburgh polka , taking any entertainment task at hand .
My bosses couldn ’ t turn down extra content , and I slowly proved my worth ( and versatility ) .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , thank goodness , but I covered everything from Alabama concerts to Monkees ’ profiles .
OK , the latter was my 100 percent my idea .
Eventually , I forced my way onto the entertainment desk and , later , began reviewing films on a regular basis .
An overnight success story , no ?
Politics rarely entered my mind during this period .
Both the Pittsburgh paper and The Washington Times leaned to the right in their editorial content .
That wasn ’ t necessarily my passion , though .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sequels than partisan theatrics .
The terrorist attacks woke me up in more ways than one .
I drove past the Pentagon every morning , and when I arrived at work that awful day I saw colleagues huddled around the small TV sets that littered the newsroom .
I also witnessed how the Left , and Right , processed the attacks .
One side all but said we had it coming , raging against the very sight of an American flag in the ensuing weeks .
“ Why do they hate us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice .
My political instincts rose from a long slumber .
Politics didn ’ t weigh heavily on the entertainment scene at the time , though .
Over the years it flared up , like the time Marlon Brando sent a Native American woman to pick up his Best Actor trophy on Oscar night .
Years later , a flurry of films examined the Vietnam War and Watergate from a left-of-center perspective .
Still , reviewing movies was a thumbs up or down proposition thanks to the gig ’ s elder statesmen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became increasingly political , and it reflected in some of their product .
Consider the crush of anti-Iraq war movies flooding cineplexes during the Bush years .
The industry ’ s left-leaning ways grew stronger , louder , and it became an entertainment journalist ’ s job to cover that evolution .
I took particular interest in how my peers framed these stories .
They often cheered liberal stars and stories on , or failed to ask actors tough but fair questions about their views .
I silently stewed but kept on reviewing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I eventually left D.C. for Denver , leaving The Washington Times behind .
It remains the best gig I ever had .
Learn to Code … or Else Meanwhile , the Internet ’ s rise left newspapers scrambling to evolve or die .
Papers cut staff over and again , shrinking pages at an alarming rate .
I couldn ’ t fall back on my three arts degrees , har-har , but I didn ’ t know what else to do So I went solo , scrambling for freelance writing gigs and creating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
WhatWouldTotoWatch.com .
Feel free to groan .
In my defense I was new to the World Wide Web and wanted to leverage my goofy name .
Only I didn ’ t fully embrace my conservative views on the site .
I guess I wasn ’ t ready .
I preferred to walk gingerly around politically-charged material .
I also had next to zero marketing experience .
Yes , I spent countless hours drawing naked people and learning how to sharpen pencils ( really ) in college .
I didn ’ t jot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peddle my talents .
I read every blog post I could on social media , content marketing , branding and more .
Later , I turned to podcasts to boost my education .
Little by little , those lessons started sinking in .
Then Andrew Breitbart tapped me on the shoulder .
I spent two years contributing to Breitbart News ’ entertainment section , putting my entrepreneurial journey aside .
I learned plenty at the site and worked alongside some rising superstars , like Ben Shapiro .
Still , I longed to cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So I left and created HollywoodInToto.com … I hope you ’ ve heard of it .
This time I put all my chips in .
I ’ m a right wing film critic covering Hollywood from a conservative point of view .
Full stop .
No apology .
This site gives conservative artists eager for a little press a place to grab just that .
More conservative outlets should do the same .
End of micro-sermon .
I was officially out of the ideological closet , for better and worse .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of readers eager to have their views reflected , finally , in entertainment coverage .
The latter ?
Not as bad as expected , to be blunt .
I ’ ve had some interview subjects turn tail and run once they learned the site ’ s perspective .
One subject spoke to a HiT contributor and , later , requested the story be yanked after discovering the site ’ s point of view .
Request denied .
The writer in question worked his tail off to prep for , and conduct , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know what opportunities I ’ ve lost due to HiT ’ s politics , but for the most part I ’ ve been able to do my job without much interference .
The perks ?
Free movies , of course , and the chance to tell Albert Brooks how much my family uses the words “ nest ” and “ egg ” together .
Some Overnight Successes Take Longer Than Others Looking back , I forged my career path [ mostly ] on my own terms .
It just took a long , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , to be exact .
I haven ’ t changed my approach over time , though .
I still cheer quality films no matter their ideological leanings .
I proudly point to my positive “ Booksmart ” review , one of the wokest movies to emerge from our social justice age .
What ’ s different now about me ?
I ’ ve embraced more of Andrew Breitbart ’ s spirit , his vision .
It IS a culture war , and one side has far more ammunition .
I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Given the chilling clampdown on free speech I simply want all sides to be heard without , as Dave Rubin would say , being called a Nazi … and then punched .
Once upon a time that was the liberal ’ s default position .
No longer .
It ’ s time to act accordingly .
Taking that basic stance makes me both an outlier and a culture warrior .
Guilty as charged on both fronts .
If you ’ re a left-of-center movie buff , I hope you ’ ll stand by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argue about the best , and worst , content streaming into our homes .
We can agree to disagree , assuming you acknowledge “ Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein ” got stiffed by the Academy in 1948 .
Photo by y entonces on Foter.com / CC BY

I blame Abbott and Costello.
As a boy I spent Sunday mornings watching their black and white comedies with my Dad. This was before the Internet, mind you, so laughing at their peerless shtick proved as good as it got.
Those comedies did more than make me laugh. They were my gateway drug to Hollywood.
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (10/11) Movie CLIP - Evading The Monsters (1948) HD
Watch this video on YouTube
Years later, when my art career crashed on the runway, I suddenly had a Plan B. Become a movie critic.
Easier said than done, even at a time when newspapers considered critics an essential part of their staff. What self-respecting critic would give up that gig? And what did I have to offer beyond a lust for darkened theaters?
I ignored both inconvenient truths and went for it.
Slowly.
In a Steel City Frame of Mind
I joined a Pittsburgh newspaper as a metro reporter, filing reports from town meetings (noble work, just not my thing) and writing feature stories.
At the same time I volunteered for any entertainment assignment available. Opera reviews? Sign me up, even if my knowledge started and stopped with that 1957 Bugs Bunny short, “What’s Opera, Doc?” Plays featuring male nudity? Yup, I’m there, chief, just tell me the due date.
I was the original “Yes Man” before Jim Carrey co-opted the phrase. And it worked. Sort of.
When the paper’s veteran movie critic went on vacation I was the de facto backup. My first official movie review? Jeff Bridges and Ellen Barkin in 1995’s “Wild Bill.” I was elated, but vacations don’t last forever.
My career eventually took me to Virginia, and I found a similar gig at The Washington Times. Once again the paper had an established film scribe, perhaps the toughest critic I’ve ever read. He once gave a star and a half to a film that went on to win Best Picture.
And he wasn’t going anywhere. Nor was I.
RELATED: CJR Targets White Male Critics
I repeated my Pittsburgh polka, taking any entertainment task at hand. My bosses couldn’t turn down extra content, and I slowly proved my worth (and versatility). I didn’t pen any opera reviews, thank goodness, but I covered everything from Alabama concerts to Monkees’ profiles.
OK, the latter was my 100 percent my idea.
Eventually, I forced my way onto the entertainment desk and, later, began reviewing films on a regular basis. An overnight success story, no?
Politics rarely entered my mind during this period. Both the Pittsburgh paper and The Washington Times leaned to the right in their editorial content. That wasn’t necessarily my passion, though. I cared more about “Lethal Weapon” sequels than partisan theatrics.
September 11, 2001 changed that.
‘Why Do They Hate Us?’
The terrorist attacks woke me up in more ways than one. I drove past the Pentagon every morning, and when I arrived at work that awful day I saw colleagues huddled around the small TV sets that littered the newsroom.
I also witnessed how the Left, and Right, processed the attacks.
One side all but said we had it coming, raging against the very sight of an American flag in the ensuing weeks.
“Why do they hate us,” they cried. The other wanted justice. My political instincts rose from a long slumber.
I picked a side.
Politics didn’t weigh heavily on the entertainment scene at the time, though. Over the years it flared up, like the time Marlon Brando sent a Native American woman to pick up his Best Actor trophy on Oscar night. Years later, a flurry of films examined the Vietnam War and Watergate from a left-of-center perspective.
Still, reviewing movies was a thumbs up or down proposition thanks to the gig’s elder statesmen, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.
That slowly started to change.
Celebrities became increasingly political, and it reflected in some of their product. Consider the crush of anti-Iraq war movies flooding cineplexes during the Bush years.
The industry’s left-leaning ways grew stronger, louder, and it became an entertainment journalist’s job to cover that evolution. I took particular interest in how my peers framed these stories.
They often cheered liberal stars and stories on, or failed to ask actors tough but fair questions about their views. I silently stewed but kept on reviewing and reporting as best I could.
I eventually left D.C. for Denver, leaving The Washington Times behind. It remains the best gig I ever had.
Learn to Code … or Else
Meanwhile, the Internet’s rise left newspapers scrambling to evolve or die. Papers cut staff over and again, shrinking pages at an alarming rate. I couldn’t fall back on my three arts degrees, har-har, but I didn’t know what else to do
So I went solo, scrambling for freelance writing gigs and creating a web site to call my own.
WhatWouldTotoWatch.com.
Feel free to groan. In my defense I was new to the World Wide Web and wanted to leverage my goofy name. Only I didn’t fully embrace my conservative views on the site. I guess I wasn’t ready. I preferred to walk gingerly around politically-charged material.
I also had next to zero marketing experience. Yes, I spent countless hours drawing naked people and learning how to sharpen pencils (really) in college. I didn’t jot a single note about how I could peddle my talents.
So I improvised.
I read every blog post I could on social media, content marketing, branding and more. Later, I turned to podcasts to boost my education. Little by little, those lessons started sinking in.
Then Andrew Breitbart tapped me on the shoulder.
‘More Voices, Not Less’
I spent two years contributing to Breitbart News’ entertainment section, putting my entrepreneurial journey aside. I learned plenty at the site and worked alongside some rising superstars, like Ben Shapiro. Still, I longed to cover Hollywood my way, on my terms.
So I left and created HollywoodInToto.com … I hope you’ve heard of it.
This time I put all my chips in. I’m a right wing film critic covering Hollywood from a conservative point of view. Full stop. No apology.
This site gives conservative artists eager for a little press a place to grab just that. More conservative outlets should do the same. End of micro-sermon.
I was officially out of the ideological closet, for better and worse.
Right Wing Film Critic Reporting for Duty
The former? I learned there were thousands of readers eager to have their views reflected, finally, in entertainment coverage.
The latter? Not as bad as expected, to be blunt. I’ve had some interview subjects turn tail and run once they learned the site’s perspective. One subject spoke to a HiT contributor and, later, requested the story be yanked after discovering the site’s point of view.
Request denied. The writer in question worked his tail off to prep for, and conduct, the interview.
It’s hard to know what opportunities I’ve lost due to HiT’s politics, but for the most part I’ve been able to do my job without much interference. The perks? Free movies, of course, and the chance to tell Albert Brooks how much my family uses the words “nest” and “egg” together.
Lost in America (8/10) Movie CLIP - The Nest Egg Principle (1985) HD
Watch this video on YouTube
Some Overnight Successes Take Longer Than Others
Looking back, I forged my career path [mostly] on my own terms. It just took a long, long while to get there. Six years, to be exact.
I haven’t changed my approach over time, though. I still cheer quality films no matter their ideological leanings. I proudly point to my positive “Booksmart” review, one of the wokest movies to emerge from our social justice age.
What’s different now about me?
I’ve embraced more of Andrew Breitbart’s spirit, his vision. It IS a culture war, and one side has far more ammunition. I’m not looking for domination, though. Given the chilling clampdown on free speech I simply want all sides to be heard without, as Dave Rubin would say, being called a Nazi … and then punched.
Once upon a time that was the liberal’s default position. No longer. It’s time to act accordingly. Taking that basic stance makes me both an outlier and a culture warrior. Guilty as charged on both fronts.
If you’re a left-of-center movie buff, I hope you’ll stand by me, too. Let’s argue about the best, and worst, content streaming into our homes.
We can agree to disagree, assuming you acknowledge “Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein” got stiffed by the Academy in 1948.
Photo by y entonces on Foter.com / CC BY