bonginoreport--2020-10-14--About Those Polls: President Trump Is Tracking Fine in the Electoral College

The media ’ s predictions of President Donald Trump ’ s certain defeat are about as confident this year as they were in 2016 .
You would think pundits ’ embarrassing errors in 2016 would provoke some humility , but the narrative has been roughly the same for months : Joe Biden is going to win the election , likely in a landslide .
Charlie Cook declared the race “ over ” and Hillary Clinton the winner on the strength of a Fox News poll that was issued on October 13 , 2016 .
Four years to the day later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there ’ s a 40 percent chance he will win “ big.
” He also said , according to a press release that was just issued , that “ if Biden is able to win the states Hillary Clinton lost , he could get enough electoral votes to win the election.
” Not much to say about that insightful comment .
It is absolutely true that national polls would predict a clear Biden victory if the country elected presidents through the popular vote .
He ’ s up 10 points in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What is left out of the media ’ s discussions of whether this or the 2016 race is winnable for Trump is the Electoral College .
And for that discussion , it ’ s worth a look at the states whose electoral votes will decide the election .
In 2016 , Trump won by winning battleground states that few expected him to win .
Right now , he ’ s polling slightly and relatively better in those states than he did four years ago .
The graph above shows how Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan , Wisconsin , Florida , Arizona , and North Carolina compares to his 2016 polling performance by dates out from the election .
One hundred days out from election day , Biden was up nearly 6 points in battleground states , at a time Clinton was only up 2.3 points .
Now he ’ s up 4.9 points at a time Clinton was up 5.1 points .
Real Clear Politics has a great table that shows how Clinton was polling four years ago to the day in various states .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states : So you see that Biden is averaging a 7-point lead in Pennsylvania , but Clinton was averaging a nearly identical lead there four years ago — before Trump won it narrowly on election day .
Likewise , Biden ’ s Florida lead is very similar to Clinton ’ s lead four years ago .
Trump won Florida .
Biden is not performing as well in Wisconsin as Clinton was four years ago .
Trump won that state .
Biden is doing less well in Michigan , according to the polls , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump won Michigan .
Biden ’ s doing a bit better in North Carolina than Clinton did but Trump won that state by a 4-point margin .
There are a lot of people who don ’ t put much confidence in polling , but this table shows that even according to the polls themselves , Trump ’ s performance at this point in the election process is on track with where he was in 2016 .
Trump will need to do in 2020 what he did in 2016 — campaign hard in these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the numbers show he ’ s polling slightly better in these battleground states right now than he was at this time in 2016 .
He ’ s on track — in the media ’ s own polls — to do well in the Electoral College .
The media like to use polls to set very powerful narratives during a campaign .
The narrative is frequently that the race is not winnable for the Republican .
The polls get more reasonable closer to election day , regardless of who wins , and the false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the narrative put forth day in and day out by the media was that Donald Trump simply couldn ’ t win .
Sure , the final polls weren ’ t off as dramatically as that narrative was , but the narrative is pushed at least in part because it advances the political agenda of the media .
The wish frequently becomes reality .
The media have pushed the same narrative this time as well , if a bit more angrily .
Four years ago , pundits said the race was over because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those same polls in the same key battleground states , he ’ s doing a bit better than he was doing four years ago .

The media’s predictions of President Donald Trump’s certain defeat are about as confident this year as they were in 2016. You would think pundits’ embarrassing errors in 2016 would provoke some humility, but the narrative has been roughly the same for months: Joe Biden is going to win the election, likely in a landslide.
Charlie Cook declared the race “over” and Hillary Clinton the winner on the strength of a Fox News poll that was issued on October 13, 2016. Four years to the day later, he said Biden will win and that there’s a 40 percent chance he will win “big.” He also said, according to a press release that was just issued, that “if Biden is able to win the states Hillary Clinton lost, he could get enough electoral votes to win the election.” Not much to say about that insightful comment.
It is absolutely true that national polls would predict a clear Biden victory if the country elected presidents through the popular vote. He’s up 10 points in the Real Clear Politics poll average nationally. What is left out of the media’s discussions of whether this or the 2016 race is winnable for Trump is the Electoral College. And for that discussion, it’s worth a look at the states whose electoral votes will decide the election.
In 2016, Trump won by winning battleground states that few expected him to win. Right now, he’s polling slightly and relatively better in those states than he did four years ago.
The graph above shows how Trump’s 2020 performance in polls of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina compares to his 2016 polling performance by dates out from the election. One hundred days out from election day, Biden was up nearly 6 points in battleground states, at a time Clinton was only up 2.3 points. Now he’s up 4.9 points at a time Clinton was up 5.1 points.
Real Clear Politics has a great table that shows how Clinton was polling four years ago to the day in various states. It’s fascinating to look at the battleground states:
So you see that Biden is averaging a 7-point lead in Pennsylvania, but Clinton was averaging a nearly identical lead there four years ago — before Trump won it narrowly on election day. Likewise, Biden’s Florida lead is very similar to Clinton’s lead four years ago. Trump won Florida.
Biden is not performing as well in Wisconsin as Clinton was four years ago. Trump won that state. Biden is doing less well in Michigan, according to the polls, than Clinton did four years ago. Trump won Michigan. Biden’s doing a bit better in North Carolina than Clinton did but Trump won that state by a 4-point margin.
There are a lot of people who don’t put much confidence in polling, but this table shows that even according to the polls themselves, Trump’s performance at this point in the election process is on track with where he was in 2016.
Trump will need to do in 2020 what he did in 2016 — campaign hard in these battleground states and win them. But the numbers show he’s polling slightly better in these battleground states right now than he was at this time in 2016. He’s on track — in the media’s own polls — to do well in the Electoral College.
The media like to use polls to set very powerful narratives during a campaign. The narrative is frequently that the race is not winnable for the Republican. The polls get more reasonable closer to election day, regardless of who wins, and the false narrative gets forgotten.
Throughout 2016, the narrative put forth day in and day out by the media was that Donald Trump simply couldn’t win. Sure, the final polls weren’t off as dramatically as that narrative was, but the narrative is pushed at least in part because it advances the political agenda of the media. The wish frequently becomes reality. The media have pushed the same narrative this time as well, if a bit more angrily.
Four years ago, pundits said the race was over because of how Trump was polling. According to those same polls in the same key battleground states, he’s doing a bit better than he was doing four years ago.


bonginoreport--2020-10-14--Biden Campaign Denies New Hunter Allegations

The Biden campaign hit back Wednesday after the New York Post reported that newly uncovered emails suggested Hunter Biden introduced his father , then the vice president , to a top executive at Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings in 2015 at Hunter 's request .
The emails turned up in the hard drive of a laptop dropped off at a repair shop in 2019 , the Post reported , adding that a copy of the hard drive ended up in the hands of Robert Costello , a lawyer for Rudy Giuliani , a personal attorney for President Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment , and even by two Republican-led Senate committees whose work was decried as 'not legitimate ' and political by a GOP colleague have all reached the same conclusion : that Joe Biden carried out official U.S. policy toward Ukraine and engaged in no wrongdoing .
Trump administration officials have attested to these facts under oath , '' Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement .
HUNTER BIDEN EMAILS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE AFTER HARD-DRIVE REPORT EMERGES '' The New York Post never asked the Biden campaign about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Bates continued .
`` They certainly never raised that Rudy Giuliani -- whose discredited conspiracy theories and alliance with figures connected to Russian intelligence have been widely reported -- claimed to have such materials . ''
Bates added : `` Moreover , we have reviewed Joe Biden 's official schedules from the time and no meeting , as alleged by the New York Post , ever took place . ''
The campaign ’ s statement comes after the New York Post published an email indicating the former vice president met with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burisma Holdings in 2015 at son Hunter Biden ’ s request .
The emails published by The Post indicated Biden ’ s son introduced the former vice president to a top executive at Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings less than a year before he pressured government officials in Ukraine to fire prosecutor Viktor Shokin , who was investigating the company .
The issue of Hunter Biden and Burisma was a central issue during the Trump impeachment proceedings a year ago .
TRUMP CAMPAIGN BLASTS BIDEN OVER NEW HUNTER BIDEN-UKRAINE STORY , CLAIMS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting in question was revealed in the emails , according to the Post , which showed that the former vice president and his son met with Vadym Pozharskyi in April 2015 in Washington D.C .
The meeting was mentioned in an email of appreciation , according to the Post , that an adviser to the board Vadym Pozharskyi sent to Hunter Biden on April 17 , 2015 — a year after Hunter took on his lucrative position on the board of Burisma .
“ Dear Hunter , thank you for inviting me to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your father and spent [ sic ] some time together .
It ’ s realty [ sic ] an honor and pleasure , ” the email reads , according to The Post .
An earlier email from May 2014 , according to The Post , indicates Pozharskyi , reportedly a top Burisma executive , asking Hunter for “ advice on how you could use your influence ” on the company ’ s behalf .
Biden once famously boasted on camera that when he was vice president and spearheading the Obama administration ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fire Shokin , who was the top prosecutor at the time .
He had been investigating the founder of Burisma .
“ I looked at them and said : I ’ m leaving in six hours .
If the prosecutor is not fired , you ’ re not getting the money , ” Biden infamously said to the Council on Foreign Relations in 2018 .
“ Well , son of a b -- -- , ” he continued .
“ He got fired.
” Biden , and Biden allies , have maintained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the firing of Shokin had nothing to do with his son , but rather was tied to the corruption concerns .
GIULIANI 'S LAWYER SAYS HE HAS HARD DRIVE WITH HUNTER BIDEN TEXTS , EMAILS , VIDEOS OF 'COMPROMISING POSITIONS' Biden has repeatedly claimed that he has “ never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings.
” In October 2019 , Biden told the news-talk radio program “ New Hampshire Today with Jack Heath ” that he “ never ” discusses “ with my son or any family member what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happens if you did that , then it ’ s well ‘ are you engaged and in any way helping ?
’ I never had a discussion with my son about it.
” Biden added that Hunter “ did say at one point that it came out that he was on the board , I said ‘ I sure hope the hell you know what you ’ re doing , period.
’ ” Meanwhile , the Post reported Wednesday that the emails were contained in a trove of data recovered from a laptop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post , was dropped off at a repair shop in Delaware in April 2019 .
The Post reported that there was other material found on the laptop , including a video , which they described as showing Hunter smoking crack while engaged in a sexual act with an unidentified woman , as well as other sexually explicit images .
The FBI seized the computer and hard drive in December 2019 , according to The Post .
The shop owner , though , said he made a copy of the hard drive and later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s lawyer , Robert Costello .
The Post reported that the FBI referred questions about the hard drive and laptop to the Delaware U.S. Attorney ’ s Office , where a spokesperson told the outlet that the office “ can neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation.
” A lawyer for Hunter Biden did not comment on specifics , but instead told the Post that Giuliani “ has been pushing widely discredited conspiracy theories about the Biden family , openly relying on actors tied to Russian intelligence.
” Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his business dealings emerged during the Trump impeachment inquiry in 2019 .
Trump , during his now-infamous July 25 , 2019 , phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky , pressed for Kiev to look into the elder Biden 's role pressing for the ouster of a Ukrainian prosecutor who had been investigating the founder of Burisma .
Trump 's pressure campaign against Ukraine prompted a whistleblower complaint , and , in turn , the impeachment inquiry .
The president ’ s request came after millions in U.S. military aid to Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a quid pro quo arrangement .
Trump was acquitted on both articles of impeachment – abuse of power and obstruction of Congress – in February .

The Biden campaign hit back Wednesday after the New York Post reported that newly uncovered emails suggested Hunter Biden introduced his father, then the vice president, to a top executive at Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings in 2015 at Hunter's request.
The emails turned up in the hard drive of a laptop dropped off at a repair shop in 2019, the Post reported, adding that a copy of the hard drive ended up in the hands of Robert Costello, a lawyer for Rudy Giuliani, a personal attorney for President Trump.
"Investigations by the press, during impeachment, and even by two Republican-led Senate committees whose work was decried as 'not legitimate' and political by a GOP colleague have all reached the same conclusion: that Joe Biden carried out official U.S. policy toward Ukraine and engaged in no wrongdoing. Trump administration officials have attested to these facts under oath," Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement.
HUNTER BIDEN EMAILS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE AFTER HARD-DRIVE REPORT EMERGES
"The New York Post never asked the Biden campaign about the critical elements of this story," Bates continued. "They certainly never raised that Rudy Giuliani -- whose discredited conspiracy theories and alliance with figures connected to Russian intelligence have been widely reported -- claimed to have such materials."
Bates added: "Moreover, we have reviewed Joe Biden's official schedules from the time and no meeting, as alleged by the New York Post, ever took place."
The campaign’s statement comes after the New York Post published an email indicating the former vice president met with a top executive for Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings in 2015 at son Hunter Biden’s request.
The emails published by The Post indicated Biden’s son introduced the former vice president to a top executive at Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings less than a year before he pressured government officials in Ukraine to fire prosecutor Viktor Shokin, who was investigating the company. The issue of Hunter Biden and Burisma was a central issue during the Trump impeachment proceedings a year ago.
TRUMP CAMPAIGN BLASTS BIDEN OVER NEW HUNTER BIDEN-UKRAINE STORY, CLAIMS IT SHOWS HE ‘LIED’
The meeting in question was revealed in the emails, according to the Post, which showed that the former vice president and his son met with Vadym Pozharskyi in April 2015 in Washington D.C.
The meeting was mentioned in an email of appreciation, according to the Post, that an adviser to the board Vadym Pozharskyi sent to Hunter Biden on April 17, 2015 — a year after Hunter took on his lucrative position on the board of Burisma.
“Dear Hunter, thank you for inviting me to DC and giving an opportunity to meet your father and spent [sic] some time together. It’s realty [sic] an honor and pleasure,” the email reads, according to The Post.
An earlier email from May 2014, according to The Post, indicates Pozharskyi, reportedly a top Burisma executive, asking Hunter for “advice on how you could use your influence” on the company’s behalf.
Biden once famously boasted on camera that when he was vice president and spearheading the Obama administration’s Ukraine policy, he successfully pressured Ukraine to fire Shokin, who was the top prosecutor at the time. He had been investigating the founder of Burisma.
“I looked at them and said: I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money,” Biden infamously said to the Council on Foreign Relations in 2018.
“Well, son of a b----,” he continued. “He got fired.”
Biden, and Biden allies, have maintained, though, that his intervention prompting the firing of Shokin had nothing to do with his son, but rather was tied to the corruption concerns.
GIULIANI'S LAWYER SAYS HE HAS HARD DRIVE WITH HUNTER BIDEN TEXTS, EMAILS, VIDEOS OF 'COMPROMISING POSITIONS'
Biden has repeatedly claimed that he has “never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings.”
In October 2019, Biden told the news-talk radio program “New Hampshire Today with Jack Heath” that he “never” discusses “with my son or any family member what they’re doing because in fact what happens if you did that, then it’s well ‘are you engaged and in any way helping?’ I never had a discussion with my son about it.”
Biden added that Hunter “did say at one point that it came out that he was on the board, I said ‘I sure hope the hell you know what you’re doing, period.’”
Meanwhile, the Post reported Wednesday that the emails were contained in a trove of data recovered from a laptop computer, which, according to The Post, was dropped off at a repair shop in Delaware in April 2019.
The Post reported that there was other material found on the laptop, including a video, which they described as showing Hunter smoking crack while engaged in a sexual act with an unidentified woman, as well as other sexually explicit images.
The FBI seized the computer and hard drive in December 2019, according to The Post. The shop owner, though, said he made a copy of the hard drive and later gave it to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s lawyer, Robert Costello.
The Post reported that the FBI referred questions about the hard drive and laptop to the Delaware U.S. Attorney’s Office, where a spokesperson told the outlet that the office “can neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation.”
HUNTER BIDEN INTRODUCED BURISMA ADVISER TO VP DAD BEFORE UKRAINE PRESSURE, EMAIL SHOWS
A lawyer for Hunter Biden did not comment on specifics, but instead told the Post that Giuliani “has been pushing widely discredited conspiracy theories about the Biden family, openly relying on actors tied to Russian intelligence.”
Biden’s role on the board of Burisma and his business dealings emerged during the Trump impeachment inquiry in 2019.
Trump, during his now-infamous July 25, 2019, phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, pressed for Kiev to look into the elder Biden's role pressing for the ouster of a Ukrainian prosecutor who had been investigating the founder of Burisma.
Trump's pressure campaign against Ukraine prompted a whistleblower complaint, and, in turn, the impeachment inquiry.
The president’s request came after millions in U.S. military aid to Ukraine had been frozen, which Democrats cited as a quid pro quo arrangement.
Trump was acquitted on both articles of impeachment – abuse of power and obstruction of Congress – in February.


bonginoreport--2020-10-14--President Trump Makes Self-Deprecating Joke During Rally by Asking Suburban Women to Support Him

President Donald Trump made a direct plea Tuesday to suburban women during his Pennsylvania rally , and Megyn Kelly said it just might turn out to be effective .
The president spoke in Johnstown , and he took a moment to address the polls that show he has lost support among suburban women .
( RELATED : Trump Approval Among Women Crashes : 63 Percent Now Disapprove Of Him ) “ So I ask you to do me a favor .
Suburban women : will you please like me ?
Please .
Please .
I saved your damn neighborhood , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sarcastic tone .
“ The other thing : I don ’ t have that much time to be that nice .
You know , I can do it , but I got ta go quickly .
We don ’ t have time .
They want me to be politically correct.
” Megyn Kelly was quick to respond , arguing that Trump ’ s tone and willingness to poke fun at himself might be what ultimately made a difference with that particular demographic .
( RELATED : Megyn Kelly Flames Joy Behar For Defending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ) “ ‘ Please , please like me ’ is actually a pretty fun , funny , and self-deprecating way of connecting .
This is why so many ppl forgive Trump his jagged edges – he can laugh at himself , ” she tweeted .

President Donald Trump made a direct plea Tuesday to suburban women during his Pennsylvania rally, and Megyn Kelly said it just might turn out to be effective.
The president spoke in Johnstown, and he took a moment to address the polls that show he has lost support among suburban women. (RELATED: Trump Approval Among Women Crashes: 63 Percent Now Disapprove Of Him)
WATCH:
Trump: Suburban women, will you please like me? pic.twitter.com/efn79VuVA3 — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) October 13, 2020
“So I ask you to do me a favor. Suburban women: will you please like me? Please. Please. I saved your damn neighborhood, OK?” Trump asked in a sarcastic tone. “The other thing: I don’t have that much time to be that nice. You know, I can do it, but I gotta go quickly. We don’t have time. They want me to be politically correct.”
Megyn Kelly was quick to respond, arguing that Trump’s tone and willingness to poke fun at himself might be what ultimately made a difference with that particular demographic. (RELATED: Megyn Kelly Flames Joy Behar For Defending Blackface: ‘It Was An Homage’)
“‘Please, please like me’ is actually a pretty fun, funny, and self-deprecating way of connecting. This is why so many ppl forgive Trump his jagged edges – he can laugh at himself,” she tweeted.
“Please, please like me” is actually a pretty fun, funny, and self-deprecating way of connecting. This is why so many ppl forgive Trump his jagged edges – he can laugh at himself. https://t.co/SRrxlM7n0a — Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) October 14, 2020
St. Louis-based radio host — and suburban mother — Annie Frey agreed, adding, “I laughed. Signed,
Suburban woman.”


bonginoreport--2020-10-15--President Trump and Biden Participate in Dueling Townhalls

An evening dilemma : Watch Biden on ABC at 8 p.m. or Trump on NBC at 8 p.m. ?
The case for watching Biden is that he ’ s likely , at least in theory , to be pressed on the Hunter Biden allegations published yesterday by the New York Post and the ensuing blackout of the story by Facebook and Twitter .
I say “ at least in theory ” because the moderator this evening is former Clinton apparatchik George Stephanopoulos .
How hard is George going to try to corner his own guy candidate when they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than three weeks to Election Day ?
There *might* be some tension during the Biden townhall .
There *will* be some tension during the Trump townhall .
And maybe not a small amount either : There is indeed some pressure on NBC to turn this into a sh*tshow for the president , not just for the usual partisan reasons but because of the outrage at NBC for scheduling Trump opposite Biden tonight .
That outrage has now taken the form of a petition signed by more than a hundred “ top Hollywood players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBC , complaining about the timing .
This is not a partisan issue .
This is about the political health of our democracy .
President Trump refused to participate in the virtual debate scheduled for Thursday night by the Presidential Debate Commission .
By agreeing to air his town hall as counterprogramming opposite Vice President Biden ’ s town hall on ABC , you are enabling the President ’ s bad behavior while undercutting the Presidential Debate Commission and doing a disservice to the American public .
We believe this kind of indifference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democracy are what have brought our country to this perilous state .
Their goal isn ’ t really to get NBC to move the townhall to 9 p.m .
The goal is to work the refs and , as Smith said , force the network to make it up to them by turning this evening into a costly one for Trump .
Sounds like he ’ s already in the spirit : Should be a zesty evening , worth watching if only to relish Savannah Guthrie ’ s no-win predicament .
Either she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be shredded by righties on social media later or she ’ s easy on Trump and will be shredded by lefties .
Townhall Media editors will be watching and tweeting throughout the proceedings .
The window below will update automatically as they do .
Comments are open .

An evening dilemma: Watch Biden on ABC at 8 p.m. or Trump on NBC at 8 p.m.? The case for watching Biden is that he’s likely, at least in theory, to be pressed on the Hunter Biden allegations published yesterday by the New York Post and the ensuing blackout of the story by Facebook and Twitter. I say “at least in theory” because the moderator this evening is former Clinton apparatchik George Stephanopoulos. How hard is George going to try to corner his own guy candidate when they’re sitting on a big lead with less than three weeks to Election Day?
There *might* be some tension during the Biden townhall. There *will* be some tension during the Trump townhall.
And maybe not a small amount either:
Enormous pressure on NBC now to make this thing a nightmare for Trump. — Ben Smith (@benyt) October 15, 2020
There is indeed some pressure on NBC to turn this into a sh*tshow for the president, not just for the usual partisan reasons but because of the outrage at NBC for scheduling Trump opposite Biden tonight. That outrage has now taken the form of a petition signed by more than a hundred “top Hollywood players,” some of whom work for NBC, complaining about the timing.
This is not a partisan issue. This is about the political health of our democracy. President Trump refused to participate in the virtual debate scheduled for Thursday night by the Presidential Debate Commission. By agreeing to air his town hall as counterprogramming opposite Vice President Biden’s town hall on ABC, you are enabling the President’s bad behavior while undercutting the Presidential Debate Commission and doing a disservice to the American public. We believe this kind of indifference to the norms and rules of our democracy are what have brought our country to this perilous state.
Their goal isn’t really to get NBC to move the townhall to 9 p.m. The goal is to work the refs and, as Smith said, force the network to make it up to them by turning this evening into a costly one for Trump.
Sounds like he’s already in the spirit:
Trump shits on NBC at length and Chuck Todd and Savannah Guthrie in particular just ahead of his town hall on the network tonight pic.twitter.com/6Sjl3ttsX3 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 15, 2020
Should be a zesty evening, worth watching if only to relish Savannah Guthrie’s no-win predicament. Either she’s tough on Trump and will be shredded by righties on social media later or she’s easy on Trump and will be shredded by lefties.
Townhall Media editors will be watching and tweeting throughout the proceedings. The window below will update automatically as they do. Comments are open.
A Twitter List by allahpundit


bonginoreport--2020-10-15--Newly Released Emails Reveal Hunter Biden’s Financial Ties to China

Jose Altuve shook off two of the worst games of ...

Hunter Biden pursued lucrative deals involving China’s largest private energy company — including one that he said would be “interesting for me and my family,” emails obtained by The Post show.
One email sent to Biden on May 13, 2017, with the subject line “Expectations,” included details of “remuneration packages” for six people involved in an unspecified business venture.
Biden was identified as “Chair / Vice Chair depending on agreement with CEFC,” an apparent reference to the former Shanghai-based conglomerate CEFC China Energy Co.
His pay was pegged at “850” and the email also noted that “Hunter has some office expectations he will elaborate.”
In addition, the email outlined a “provisional agreement” under which 80 percent of the “equity,” or shares in the new company, would be split equally among four people whose initials correspond to the sender and three recipients, with “H” apparently referring to Biden.
The deal also listed “10 Jim” and “10 held by H for the big guy?”
Neither Jim nor the “big guy” was identified further.
The email’s author, James Gilliar of the international consulting firm J2cR, also noted, “I am happy to raise any detail with Zang if there is [sic] shortfalls ?”
“Zang” is an apparent reference to Zang Jian Jun, the former executive director of CEFC China.
The email is contained in a trove of data that the owner of a computer repair shop in Delaware said was recovered from a MacBook Pro laptop that was dropped off in April 2019 and never retrieved.
The computer was seized by the FBI, and a copy of its contents made by the shop owner shared with The Post this week by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement Photos from Hunter Biden's hard drive. Advertisement Advertisement
Another email — sent by Biden as part of an Aug. 2, 2017, chain — involved a deal he struck with the since-vanished chairman of CEFC, Ye Jianming, for half-ownership of a holding company that was expected to provide Biden with more than $10 million a year.
Ye, who had ties to the Chinese military and intelligence service, hasn’t been seen since being taken into custody by Chinese authorities in early 2018, and CEFC went bankrupt earlier this year, according to reports.
Biden wrote that Ye had sweetened the terms of an earlier, three-year consulting contract with CEFC that was to pay him $10 million annually “for introductions alone.”
Related Video Smoking-gun email reveals how Hunter Biden introduced Ukrainian businessman to VP dad
“The chairman changed that deal after we me[t] in MIAMI TO A MUCH MORE LASTING AND LUCRATIVE ARRANGEMENT to create a holding company 50% percent [sic] owned by ME and 50% owned by him,” Biden wrote.
“Consulting fees is one piece of our income stream but the reason this proposal by the chairman was so much more interesting to me and my family is that we would also be partners inn [sic] the equity and profits of the JV’s [joint venture’s] investments.”
A photo dated Aug. 1, 2017, shows a handwritten flowchart of the ownership of “Hudson West” split 50/50 between two entities ultimately controlled by Hunter Biden and someone identified as “Chairman.”
According to a report on Biden’s overseas business dealings released last month by Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a company called Hudson West III opened a line of credit in September 2017.
Credit cards issued against the account were used by Hunter, his uncle James Biden and James’ wife, Sara Biden, to purchase more than $100,000 “worth of extravagant items, including airline tickets and multiple items at Apple Inc. stores, pharmacies, hotels and restaurants,” the report said.
The company has since been dissolved, and Hunter Biden’s law firm, Owasco PC, was one of two owners, according to the report.
Biden’s email was sent to Gongwen Dong, whom the Wall Street Journal in October 2018 tied to the purchase by Ye-linked companies of two luxury Manhattan apartments that cost a total on $83 million.
Dong, who owns a sprawling mansion in Great Neck, LI, has been identified in reports as CFO of the Kam Fei Group, an investment firm based in Hong Kong.
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement Ye Jianming, former chairman of the Shanghai-based CEFC China Energy conglomerate Dr. Chi Ping AP Advertisement View of a signboard of China CEFC Energy Co., Ltd. Imaginechina via AP Images Advertisement
The documents obtained by The Post also include an “Attorney Engagement Letter” executed in September 2017 in which one of Ye’s top lieutenants, former Hong Kong government official Chi Ping Patrick Ho, agreed to pay Biden a $1 million retainer for “Counsel to matters related to US law and advice pertaining to the hiring and legal analysis of any US Law Firm or Lawyer.”
In December 2018, a Manhattan federal jury convicted Ho in two schemes to pay $3 million in bribes to high-ranking government officials in Africa for oil rights in Chad and lucrative business deals in Uganda.
Ho served a three-year prison sentence and was deported to Hong Kong in June.
Neither Biden’s lawyer, the Joe Biden campaign, Gilliar, Dong nor Ho’s lawyers returned requests for comment, but Biden’s lawyer has previously said, “There is no need for comment on any so-called information provided by Rudy Giuliani.
“He has been pushing widely discredited conspiracy theories about the Biden family, openly relying on actors tied to Russian intelligence. His record of dishonesty in these matters speaks for itself,” lawyer George Mesires added.
Additional reporting by Reuven Fenton


bonginoreport--2020-10-15--Sheldon Adelson Donates $75 Million to Pro-Trump Super PAC

A small group of GOP megadonors are pouring millions of dollars into a new super-PAC aiming to help Donald Trump over the finish line in the closing weeks of the 2020 election .
Casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson and his wife , Miriam Adelson , are far-and-away the largest donors behind the group , called Preserve America .
The Las Vegas couple poured $ 75 million into the committee in August and September , according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission Thursday .
Home Depot cofounder Bernie Marcus put in another $ 5 million to the group .
Arkansas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Wisconsin roofing billionaire Diane Hendricks gave $ 1 million .
All are well-established names on the Republican Party ’ s roster of megadonors .
The Adelsons have now spent more than $ 125 million this election cycle .
As a super-PAC , Preserve America can accept unlimited contributions from individuals .
The group filed paperwork to form in August and quickly started spending millions on digital ads and media buys .
Preserve America has spent over $ 75 million on independent expenditures , according to records filed with the FEC .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million—97 % of it from those aforementioned tycoons .
Thanks to its billionaire benefactors , Preserve America has quickly emerged as one of the top super-PACs working against Joe Biden .
The group ’ s ads , so far , focus on depicting Biden as “ too weak ” to be president .
Another pro-Trump super-PAC , America First Action , has raised $ 82.9 million since 2019 .
At least one-quarter of that money came from billionaires , including Stephens and Hendricks , according to an analysis of FEC filings .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group in 2018 .

Donald Trump stands on stage with Sheldon Adelson ahead of his address to the Israeli American Council National Summit 2019 at the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida on December 7, 2019. Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
A small group of GOP megadonors are pouring millions of dollars into a new super-PAC aiming to help Donald Trump over the finish line in the closing weeks of the 2020 election.
Casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam Adelson, are far-and-away the largest donors behind the group, called Preserve America. The Las Vegas couple poured $75 million into the committee in August and September, according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission Thursday.
Home Depot cofounder Bernie Marcus put in another $5 million to the group. Arkansas banker Warren Stephens gave $2 million. Wisconsin roofing billionaire Diane Hendricks gave $1 million.
All are well-established names on the Republican Party’s roster of megadonors. The Adelsons have now spent more than $125 million this election cycle.
As a super-PAC, Preserve America can accept unlimited contributions from individuals. The group filed paperwork to form in August and quickly started spending millions on digital ads and media buys. Preserve America has spent over $75 million on independent expenditures, according to records filed with the FEC. In total the group has raised $83.8 million—97% of it from those aforementioned tycoons.
Thanks to its billionaire benefactors, Preserve America has quickly emerged as one of the top super-PACs working against Joe Biden. The group’s ads, so far, focus on depicting Biden as “too weak” to be president. Another pro-Trump super-PAC, America First Action, has raised $82.9 million since 2019. At least one-quarter of that money came from billionaires, including Stephens and Hendricks, according to an analysis of FEC filings. The Adelsons and Marcus last gave to the group in 2018.


bonginoreport--2020-10-15--Sen. Graham Sets the Vote on ACB Confirmation for Next Week

As I write , the Amy Coney Barrett hearings are in their final day , and Democrats have predictably failed to derail her nomination .
While they came out guns blazing against Brett Kavanaugh , willing to weaponize every smear sent on a postcardagainst him ( literally ) , they took a far more tame approach during ACB ’ s hearings .
Democrats did interject with some brief moments of insanity , such as Senator Hirono suddenly deciding that the term “ sexual preference ” is homophobic , or Senator Klobuchar inventing Abe Lincoln quotes to call her nomination a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was no where near as tense as the Kavanaugh hearing .
To a large extent this seems to have been because ACB appears to be a full 50 IQ points above everyone attempting to stump her , which has allowed her to refute all criticism seemingly effortlessly .
At one point even Diane Feinstein admitted that she was impressed with ACB .
The hearings are nearly over , and ACB is set to be confirmed in record time .
Moments ago Senator Lindsey Graham set the vote for ACB ’ s nomination for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1PM .
Republican ’ s hold a 53 seat majority in the Senate .
Prior to ACB ’ s nomination Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski both voiced opposition to appointing anyone before an election , but since the hearings are now ongoing , this doesn ’ t mean that even they ’ ll vote against confirming ACB .
Even if they were to vote against ACB ’ s confirmation , it ’ s still a virtual guarantee that she ’ ll be the next Supreme Court justice .

As I write, the Amy Coney Barrett hearings are in their final day, and Democrats have predictably failed to derail her nomination.
While they came out guns blazing against Brett Kavanaugh, willing to weaponize every smear sent on a postcardagainst him (literally), they took a far more tame approach during ACB’s hearings.
Democrats did interject with some brief moments of insanity, such as Senator Hirono suddenly deciding that the term “sexual preference” is homophobic, or Senator Klobuchar inventing Abe Lincoln quotes to call her nomination a sham, among other examples, it was no where near as tense as the Kavanaugh hearing.
To a large extent this seems to have been because ACB appears to be a full 50 IQ points above everyone attempting to stump her, which has allowed her to refute all criticism seemingly effortlessly. At one point even Diane Feinstein admitted that she was impressed with ACB.
The hearings are nearly over, and ACB is set to be confirmed in record time. Moments ago Senator Lindsey Graham set the vote for ACB’s nomination for next week, October 22nd, at 1PM.
Republican’s hold a 53 seat majority in the Senate. Prior to ACB’s nomination Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski both voiced opposition to appointing anyone before an election, but since the hearings are now ongoing, this doesn’t mean that even they’ll vote against confirming ACB. Even if they were to vote against ACB’s confirmation, it’s still a virtual guarantee that she’ll be the next Supreme Court justice.


bonginoreport--2020-10-15--C-SPAN Suspends Would-Be Second Debate Moderator Because He Lied About His Twitter Being Hacked

C-SPAN announced it would be suspending political editor Steve Scully `` indefinitely '' after confessing that he had lied about his Twitter being hacked into .
Scully , who was set to moderate the since-cancelled presidential debate on Thursday , said his account has `` hacked '' after a tweet from his account claimed that he had reached out to Anthony Scaramucci for advice about confronting President Trump .
Scaramucci responded to the tweet , saying : `` Ignore .
He is having a hard enough time .
Some more bad stuff about to go down . ''
Scully 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to direct message Scaramucci .
`` For several weeks , I was subjected to relentless criticism on social media and in conservative news outlets regarding my role as moderator for the second presidential debate , including attacks aimed directly at my family , '' said Scully in a statement .
`` This culminated on Thursday , October 8 when I heard President Trump go on national television twice and falsely attack me by name .
Out of frustration , I sent a brief tweet addressed to Anthony Scaramucci .
The next morning when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new controversy , I falsely claimed that my Twitter account had been hacked . ''
`` These were both errors in judgement for which I am totally responsible .
I apologize , '' the statement reads .
Scully said that his actions disappointed colleagues , as he is now [ asking for their forgiveness as he tries `` to move forward in a moment of reflection and disappointment '' in himself .
Scully has been C-SPAN 's leader in presidential coverage since 1992 .
C-SPAN told AP that they believe Scully will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after `` some distance from this episode . ''
`` Steve Scully , the Never Trumper next debate moderator , got caught cold .
Pulled out the old , ' I 've been hacked ' , line .
That never works .
His bosses are furious at him and he 's lost all credibility ! ''
tweeted the president on October 9 .
Upon hearing news that Scully had not been hacked , President Trump boasted on Twitter : `` I was right again ! ''
`` Steve Scully just admitted he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Debate was Rigged !
He was suspended from @ cspan indefinitely .
The Trump Campaign was not treated fairly by the “ Commission ” .
Did I show good instincts in being the first to know ? ''

C-SPAN announced it would be suspending political editor Steve Scully "indefinitely" after confessing that he had lied about his Twitter being hacked into.
Scully, who was set to moderate the since-cancelled presidential debate on Thursday, said his account has "hacked" after a tweet from his account claimed that he had reached out to Anthony Scaramucci for advice about confronting President Trump.
Scaramucci responded to the tweet, saying: "Ignore. He is having a hard enough time. Some more bad stuff about to go down."
Scully's tweet appeared as though he had intended to direct message Scaramucci.
"For several weeks, I was subjected to relentless criticism on social media and in conservative news outlets regarding my role as moderator for the second presidential debate, including attacks aimed directly at my family," said Scully in a statement. "This culminated on Thursday, October 8 when I heard President Trump go on national television twice and falsely attack me by name. Out of frustration, I sent a brief tweet addressed to Anthony Scaramucci. The next morning when I saw that this tweet had created a new controversy, I falsely claimed that my Twitter account had been hacked."
Apology letter from Steve Scully
"These were both errors in judgement for which I am totally responsible. I apologize," the statement reads.
Scully said that his actions disappointed colleagues, as he is now [asking for their forgiveness as he tries "to move forward in a moment of reflection and disappointment" in himself.
Scully has been C-SPAN's leader in presidential coverage since 1992.
C-SPAN told AP that they believe Scully will be able to return to the network after "some distance from this episode."
Trump proven 'right again'
President Donald Trump did not buy Scully's initial excuse.
"Steve Scully, the Never Trumper next debate moderator, got caught cold. Pulled out the old, 'I've been hacked', line. That never works. His bosses are furious at him and he's lost all credibility!" tweeted the president on October 9.
.@SteveScully, the Never Trumper next debate moderator, got caught cold. Pulled out the old, “I’ve been hacked”, line. That never works. His bosses are furious at him as he’s lost all credibility! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2020
Upon hearing news that Scully had not been hacked, President Trump boasted on Twitter: "I was right again!"
"Steve Scully just admitted he was lying about his Twitter being hacked. The Debate was Rigged! He was suspended from @cspan indefinitely. The Trump Campaign was not treated fairly by the “Commission”. Did I show good instincts in being the first to know?"


bonginoreport--2020-10-15--Department of Veterans Affairs Loses Domain Rights to GIBill.com

WASHINGTON -- The Department of Veterans Affairs has lost the domain rights to GIBill.com , which some advocates fear could open the potential for scammers to target veterans .
The VA appeared to have GIBill.com at least through May 20 , according to Wayback , which archives screenshots of websites .
Yet VA officials contend the domain was lost during the administration of former President Barack Obama , and the agency did not say whether it intends to regain control of the site .
`` VA acquired this domain as part of a court settlement in 2012 , '' Christina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said in a statement .
`` Unfortunately , VA lost ownership of it during the Obama administration in 2015 because the person in charge of maintaining the domain left VA service and VA leaders at the time had no continuity plan in place . ''
Nearly a decade ago , GIBill.com was owned by QuintStreet , an online marketing firm whose clients included a host of for-profit colleges .
In 2012 , the marketing firm had to squash the website and pay $ 2.5 million in penalties for deceptive advertising practices aimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway called the company 's use of GIBill.com `` the most egregious example '' that he has seen of misinformation and greed directed at veterans .
The suit led the VA to trademark `` GI Bill '' in late 2012 .
Curtis Coy , the VA deputy undersecretary for economic opportunity at the time , said the move gives the VA `` a mechanism to pursue any malfeasance . ''
It is unclear who owns GIBill.com now , but the domain was bought in August , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracks the dates that domains were purchased and when they expire .
GIBill.com does not currently have the appearance of a developed website , but there are some ads on it that forward users to public and for-profit universities .
Some lawmakers and advocates are urging the VA to get the website back because they are worried the status of the site could prompt a group to try again to take advantage of student veterans .
`` It is imperative VA immediately secure GIBill.com , '' said Carrie Wofford , president of Veterans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` There are bad companies that get paid by for-profit colleges to trick veterans into handing over their GI Bill for a subpar education , just like there were in 2012 when VA first took GIBill.com away from a bad company .
We did n't lead this fight in 2012 only to concede progress eight years later . ''
Conway , who led a bipartisan coalition of 20 state attorneys general in the 2012 suit , subpoenaed more than a half-dozen for-profit colleges , seeking information about their student loan default rates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation was prompted after Conway 's office received complaints from students at some for-profit colleges who said they went into debt and did not receive the degrees or job placements promised .
Veterans have long been the targets of aggressive recruiting by for-profit colleges , which are required to get at least 10 % of their revenues outside of federal student loans or Pell grants .
The so-called `` 90/10 loophole '' allows veterans ' benefits to count toward that 10 % .
Because of this loophole , the for-profit school industry has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veteran advocates for conducting questionable business practices to recruit veterans .
Some for-profit schools such as the University of Phoenix have been slapped with massive fines for deceptive marketing practices toward GI Bill recipients .
`` Unfortunately , predatory schools continue to target student veterans , '' said Rep. Mike Levin , D-Calif. , the chairman of the House Committee on Veterans ' Affairs subpanel on economic opportunity .
`` We must make sure that veterans have accurate information about the quality of the education they receive , and VA must do more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That includes those who have used platforms like GIBill.com to scam veterans .
I hope VA will step up and protect student veterans from predatory organizations taking advantage of the GIBill.com domain . ''
At the time of the lawsuit , QuintStreet 's GIBill.com masqueraded as an official VA website , steering veterans to for-profit colleges .
It also gave the impression that the colleges it advertised were the only schools at which veterans could fully utilize their GI Bill benefits , according to a 2012 statement from the late-Delaware Attorney General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure that service members are not deceived by companies who are more interested in adding to their bottom line than in providing clear information to soldiers about the educational benefits they have earned while protecting us , '' Biden said in a 2012 statement .
After the settlement , Conway said the investigation included a review of 8,000 emails to QuintStreet through the GIBill.com site , many of which came from veterans who thought they were communicating with VA officials .
The marketing firm consistently redirected visitors to a small group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an end date .
If lapsed , there are companies that use algorithms to automatically purchase lapsed website addresses .
It remains unclear whether this is what happened to GIBill.com .
The VA did not have GIBill.com on an auto-renewal , which is how most companies and organizations keep their websites secured .
While the domain could eventually end up in an online auction , it is unclear how much GIBill.com is worth , though domains with common phrases can be sold for tens of thousands of dollars .
When the VA secured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it used GIBill.com to redirect veterans to the agency 's official site .
All official VA sites have `` .gov '' addresses .
It is common practice for companies and organizations to secure domains similar to their official sites to prevent scams and protect their intellectual property .
Beyond scammers , foreign agents are increasingly targeting veterans online .
Last year , Vietnam Veterans of America , a nonprofit advocacy group , released a report that found `` persistent , pervasive , and coordinated online targeting of American service members , veterans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seek to disrupt American democracy . ''
The VA , the federal government 's second-largest agency , is tasked with managing and protecting hundreds of thousands of federal scholarships , and some argue the GIBill.com issue signals the VA is not ready for the modern age .
`` It 's a malignant and pervasive disregard for the cyber-hygiene of veterans -- something that 's key to 21st-century health care , '' said Kristopher Goldsmith , president of the advocacy group High Ground Veterans and who penned the VVA report when he was with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A similar domain , Gi-Bill.com , is owned by MIlitary.com 's parent company , Monster Worldwide .
It was first registered by the company in 2003 .

Air Force Pilots Have One Month to Extend Contracts for Up to $50,000 Per Year in Bonuses
The new bonus also comes as the Air Force, as a whole, struggles with its toughest recruiting environment in decades.


bonginoreport--2020-10-15--Ajit Pai Says FCC Will Clarify Meaning of Section 230

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bonginoreport--2020-10-15--House Lawmakers Propose Raising 2021 Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment From 1.3% to 3%

The Social Security Administration announced this week that the cost-of-living adjustment for benefits in 2021 will be 1.3 % .
For the average retirement benefit , that amounts to just a $ 20 increase per month .
Now , two Congressional Democrats — Reps. Peter DeFazio , D-Ore. , and John Larson , D-Conn. — plan to propose a bill to raise that to a 3 % emergency increase next year .
More from Personal Finance : Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will be 1.3 % in 2021 Working after age 70 ?
Think twice before saving in this retirement account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top threat to the economy , survey finds '' Due to the Covid-19 pandemic , seniors are facing additional financial burdens in order to stay safe , '' DeFazio said in a statement .
`` This absolutely anemic COLA wo n't even come close to helping them afford even their everyday expenses , let alone those exacerbated by Covid-19 . ''
The bill , currently titled the Emergency Social Security COLA for 2021 Act , is scheduled to be introduced on Friday .
The 1.3 % raise for 2021 is the second lowest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The lowest increase occurred in 2017 , when benefits went up just 0.3 % .
In 2010 , 2011 and 2016 , the COLA was zero .

The Social Security Administration announced this week that the cost-of-living adjustment for benefits in 2021 will be 1.3%.
For the average retirement benefit, that amounts to just a $20 increase per month.
Now, two Congressional Democrats — Reps. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., and John Larson, D-Conn. — plan to propose a bill to raise that to a 3% emergency increase next year.
More from Personal Finance:
Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will be 1.3% in 2021
Working after age 70? Think twice before saving in this retirement account
Forget the election. This is the top threat to the economy, survey finds
"Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, seniors are facing additional financial burdens in order to stay safe," DeFazio said in a statement. "This absolutely anemic COLA won't even come close to helping them afford even their everyday expenses, let alone those exacerbated by Covid-19."
The bill, currently titled the Emergency Social Security COLA for 2021 Act, is scheduled to be introduced on Friday.
The 1.3% raise for 2021 is the second lowest increase in the program's history. The lowest increase occurred in 2017, when benefits went up just 0.3%. In 2010, 2011 and 2016, the COLA was zero.


bonginoreport--2020-10-15--Facebook and Twitter’s Political Contributions Are 90%+ to Dems

Wondering why Facebook and Twitter snapped into the full-on Orwellian Ministry of Truth by censoring the New York Post bombshell on Hunter Biden ?
Donation records may help explain that .
Open Secrets records revealed that for “ all federal candidates , ” both Facebook and Twitter gave over 90 percent of their political contributions to Democrats for the 2020 cycle so far .
The combined multi-million-dollar total of both platforms was split among individual employee donations and PAC money .
The top recipient for both organizations was none other than Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
There is clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand politically .
For Twitter , the spread was even more telling , given its behavior last night in censoring people who shared the Post story .
For “ all federal candidates , ” Twitter has contributed a whopping 98.99 percent ( $ 347,270 ) of its donations to Democrats via individual donations of $ 200 or more .
No PAC money was recorded .
Only 1.01 percent ( $ 3,556 ) went to Republicans by contrast .
Biden , the top recipient for Twitter donations , received $ 66,929 , all from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of the total contributions Twitter has made to “ all federal candidates.
” Facebook has contributed 91.68 percent ( $ 2,409,464 out of $ 2,628,040 ) of its donations to Democrats collectively between individual donations ( $ 2,400,269 ) and PAC donations ( $ 234,000 ) equaling $ 200 or more .
Only 8.32 percent ( $ 218,576 ) went to Republicans .
Biden , the top recipient for Facebook donations , received $ 645,152 , all from individuals .
That means Biden received a sizeable 25 percent of the total contributions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates.
” Twitter in particular went as far as reportedly locking the Post out of its Twitter account , a 219-year-old newspaper .
That would be akin to locking out The New York Times from its account , which was first published decades after the Post .
Twitter even locked White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany out of her account for sharing the Post story .
After the Post story broke , Facebook ’ s Policy Communications Director Andy Stone announced on Twitter that Facebook would be “ reducing its distribution on our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Stone has a long history of working with Democrats .
This includes working as a press secretary for former Sen. Barbara Boxer ( D-CA ) , working as a western regional press secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee , and being a member of former Secretary of State John Kerry ’ s presidential campaign in 2004 , according to LinkedIn .
Recently , Facebook and Google were exposed for partnering with the leftist organization Democracy Works to help formulate their 2020 election strategies .
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was also exposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boston University Professor and CBS News correspondent Ibram X. Kendi , who went on a racially-charged rant to viciously attack U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett and her family .
The reason ?
Barrett had adopted two children from Haiti .
America needs to raise its voice against these Big Tech companies now , or they may indeed succeed in influencing the 2020 election to produce an outcome that ’ s suitable to their leftist agenda .
Conservatives are under attack .
Contact Facebook headquarters at 1-650-308-7300 and Twitter at ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tech stop censoring the New York Post .
If you have been censored , contact us at the Media Research Center contact form , and help us hold Big Tech accountable .
MRC Assistant Editor Corinne Weaver and MRC TechWatch Staff Writer Alexander Hall contributed to this report .

Wondering why Facebook and Twitter snapped into the full-on Orwellian Ministry of Truth by censoring the New York Post bombshell on Hunter Biden?
Donation records may help explain that.
Open Secrets records revealed that for “all federal candidates,” both Facebook and Twitter gave over 90 percent of their political contributions to Democrats for the 2020 cycle so far. The combined multi-million-dollar total of both platforms was split among individual employee donations and PAC money. The top recipient for both organizations was none other than Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. There is clearly no doubt where these gargantuan tech companies stand politically.
For Twitter, the spread was even more telling, given its behavior last night in censoring people who shared the Post story. For “all federal candidates,” Twitter has contributed a whopping 98.99 percent ($347,270) of its donations to Democrats via individual donations of $200 or more. No PAC money was recorded. Only 1.01 percent ($3,556) went to Republicans by contrast. Biden, the top recipient for Twitter donations, received $66,929, all from individuals. That means Biden received 19 percent of the total contributions Twitter has made to “all federal candidates.”
Facebook has contributed 91.68 percent ($2,409,464 out of $2,628,040) of its donations to Democrats collectively between individual donations ($2,400,269) and PAC donations ($234,000) equaling $200 or more. Only 8.32 percent ($218,576) went to Republicans. Biden, the top recipient for Facebook donations, received $645,152, all from individuals. That means Biden received a sizeable 25 percent of the total contributions Facebook has made to “all federal candidates.”
Twitter in particular went as far as reportedly locking the Post out of its Twitter account, a 219-year-old newspaper. That would be akin to locking out The New York Times from its account, which was first published decades after the Post. Twitter even locked White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany out of her account for sharing the Post story.
After the Post story broke, Facebook’s Policy Communications Director Andy Stone announced on Twitter that Facebook would be “reducing its distribution on our platform.”
As noted in previous reporting, Stone has a long history of working with Democrats. This includes working as a press secretary for former Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), working as a western regional press secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and being a member of former Secretary of State John Kerry’s presidential campaign in 2004, according to LinkedIn.
Recently, Facebook and Google were exposed for partnering with the leftist organization Democracy Works to help formulate their 2020 election strategies.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was also exposed for giving $10 million to leftist Boston University Professor and CBS News correspondent Ibram X. Kendi, who went on a racially-charged rant to viciously attack U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett and her family. The reason? Barrett had adopted two children from Haiti.
America needs to raise its voice against these Big Tech companies now, or they may indeed succeed in influencing the 2020 election to produce an outcome that’s suitable to their leftist agenda.
Conservatives are under attack. Contact Facebook headquarters at 1-650-308-7300 and Twitter at (415) 222-9670 and demand that Big Tech stop censoring the New York Post. If you have been censored, contact us at the Media Research Center contact form, and help us hold Big Tech accountable.
MRC Assistant Editor Corinne Weaver and MRC TechWatch Staff Writer Alexander Hall contributed to this report.


bonginoreport--2020-10-15--Biden Donor Group Sends 255k+ Ballot Requests, Including for Dead Citizens

A self-described “ voter participation ” group which donates exclusively to Democrats and Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign has been caught making en masse ballot requests for deceased people .
The Center for Voter Information was described by the Washington Post as having “ a history of sending error-ridden mailers ” but also labeled it “ nonpartisan ” – a farcical and manifestly false claim .
The group is responsible for sending over 225,000 ballot request forms to residents in Texas , many of whom are deceased .
As reported by local news , one individual received multiple ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Center for Voter Information , which also lists itself as Women ’ s Voice Women Vote Action Fund , counts two staunch Democrats as its leadership .
Founder and Board Chair Page Gardner has worked for “ numerous Democratic and left-wing issue campaigns , ” including those of Bill Clinton in 1992 and Hillary Clinton in 2008 .
Gardner has repeatedly attacked President Trump on Twitter , and has donated over $ 200,000 to Democratic candidates , Political Action Committees ( PAC ) , and Democrat campaign finance committees .
And Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Executive Officer , appears to support Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and has a long history in Democratic politics .
Lopach served as Executive Director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee , Chief of Staff for Democratic Senator Jon Tester , and Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser for Democratic Governor Steve Bullock .
The group ’ s PAC has also funneled hundreds of thousands exclusively to Democrats , and actively against Republicans .
In 2020 , the group shepherded nearly $ 40,000 so far to support Biden .
In 2018 , $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 , $ 78,266 was spent against then-candidate Trump and $ 41,968 was spent to support Democrats by the Center for Voter Information .
What ’ s more , the group has been exclusively donating to Democrats since its 2006 founding .
The group also made headlines recently for mailing more than two million Virginia voters official ballot applications , but due to an “ error by the printing company , ” hundreds of thousands of ballot applications were sent with incorrect addresses .
What ’ s more , Virginia election officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s mailers masquerading as official documents “ This mailing is causing great confusion and concern among voters who have been contacting our office .
While the mailing may appear to be from an official government agency , the Fairfax County Office of Elections did not send it , ” said Fairfax County General Registrar Gary Scott .
The news is just the latest in a string of false , missing , or tampered ballot stories the media and Big Tech firms keep denying , across the country .

A self-described “voter participation” group which donates exclusively to Democrats and Joe Biden’s presidential campaign has been caught making en masse ballot requests for deceased people.
The Center for Voter Information was described by the Washington Post as having “a history of sending error-ridden mailers” but also labeled it “nonpartisan” – a farcical and manifestly false claim.
The group is responsible for sending over 225,000 ballot request forms to residents in Texas, many of whom are deceased.
As reported by local news, one individual received multiple ballot request forms for her deceased husband:
“Kristen Link received four ballot request forms in the mail addressed to her husband, who passed away in 2015. Kristen thought the forms were sent by a government agency, but they came from a third-party group called the Center for Voter Information. The ballot applications are already filled out and addressed to the Bexar County Elections Administrator.”
The Center for Voter Information, which also lists itself as Women’s Voice Women Vote Action Fund, counts two staunch Democrats as its leadership.
Founder and Board Chair Page Gardner has worked for “numerous Democratic and left-wing issue campaigns,” including those of Bill Clinton in 1992 and Hillary Clinton in 2008.
Gardner has repeatedly attacked President Trump on Twitter, and has donated over $200,000 to Democratic candidates, Political Action Committees (PAC), and Democrat campaign finance committees.
And Tom Lopach, the group’s Chief Executive Officer, appears to support Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and has a long history in Democratic politics.
I believe the American people generally try to do the right thing. Tonight’s results were a reminder of that, and a rejection of unlimited money in politics. Go Joe Biden! — Tom Lopach (@TomLopach) March 4, 2020
Lopach served as Executive Director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Chief of Staff for Democratic Senator Jon Tester, and Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser for Democratic Governor Steve Bullock.
The group’s PAC has also funneled hundreds of thousands exclusively to Democrats, and actively against Republicans.
In 2020, the group shepherded nearly $40,000 so far to support Biden.
In 2018, $92,718 was spent against Republicans, and in 2016, $78,266 was spent against then-candidate Trump and $41,968 was spent to support Democrats by the Center for Voter Information.
What’s more, the group has been exclusively donating to Democrats since its 2006 founding.
The group also made headlines recently for mailing more than two million Virginia voters official ballot applications, but due to an “error by the printing company,” hundreds of thousands of ballot applications were sent with incorrect addresses. What’s more, Virginia election officials raised concerns about the activist group’s mailers masquerading as official documents
“This mailing is causing great confusion and concern among voters who have been contacting our office. While the mailing may appear to be from an official government agency, the Fairfax County Office of Elections did not send it,” said Fairfax County General Registrar Gary Scott.
The news is just the latest in a string of false, missing, or tampered ballot stories the media and Big Tech firms keep denying, across the country.


bonginoreport--2020-10-16--Austin Bay: Huawei and the CCP’s War for Information Dominance

Long-term strategic struggles , like the U.S.-versus-China confrontation , do not submit to bombshell headlines and snapshot predictions .
When very large and powerful political , economic and cultural organizations conflict , years judge the slow war process of achieving strategic gain or suffering damaging loss , not talking heads on 24/7 news outlets .
Some 30 years ago , the Chinese Communist Party and its intelligence agencies bet digital-information delivery dominance would be a decisive advantage in a long-term struggle for global dominance .
I emphasize delivery , for dominating the material and physical ( equipment and infrastructure ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dominator an edge in providing , denying or subverting content — be it news , opinion or entertainment .
Control the system , or be able to easily penetrate , manipulate or corrupt it , and you can secretly collect data on users , spy on users and , if you happen to be a CCP totalitarian , engage in intimate , personal blackmail in order to advance other political and economic schemes .
Denying the CCP global-information delivery dominance and its advantages is the strategic goal driving America 's bid to ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Technologies corporation , with its 5G communication systems a critical target .
Huawei also operates as an intelligence agency `` cutout company , '' spying for the CCP .
In August , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the company `` an arm of the CCP 's surveillance state . ''
He also sketched the strategic struggle when he announced new economic and diplomatic measures to protect Americans ' security and privacy `` and the integrity of our 5G infrastructure from Beijing 's malign influence . ''
America 's hard pushback began three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven to 10 years late , for Huawei is entrenched in digital networks around the globe .
5G `` next generation '' wireless communication systems are an information battlespace .
5G has the ability to connect cellphones , the internet , the internet of things — all digital devices , which could include controls on a hydroelectric dam .
Three corporations in democracies field superior 5G tech .
Finland 's Nokia , Sweden 's Ericsson and South Korea 's Samsung are Nos .
1 , 2 and 3 globally in holding standard and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has assets its intellectual superiors lack : the CCP 's money , political clout , and the covert might of the tyranny 's spies and police .
Sources estimate Huawei has received $ 75 billion to $ 80 billion from Beijing .
The cash juiced Huawei 's sales by guaranteeing financing and subsidizing interest rates .
`` Preferential financing '' meant Huawei could offer a poor nation a communications system too cheap to refuse .
Should a nation or company balk , CCP spies and diplomats will identify corporate personnel and government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — or blackmailed .
Beijing also influences non-Chinese corporations using investments channeled via companies with opaque ownership .
Nokia , Ericsson and Samsung are superior providers , but they can not compete with a nation-state combining trade , business , financial , diplomatic , media and spy powers to support Huawei 's operations .
This February , U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr suggested America form a consortium with private U.S. and allied companies to manufacture 5G equipment .
He recommended teaming with Nokia and Ericsson .
That must happen .
The U.S. attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CCP , which uses Huawei as a weapon in its strategic struggle .
The CCP loves money , but its deep goal is global domination , not beating Nokia out of a contract .
America 's diplomatic and legal attack on Huawei is advancing .
Three Canadian 5G providers — including Bell Canada — will not use its equipment .
In July , Britain decided to ban and remove Huawei products from its 5G networks .
Alas , the ban takes effect in 2021 , and operators have until 2027 to remove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angela Merkel opposes banning Huawei outright , German legislators intend to pass an information technology security law that restricts high-risk vendors .
Telefonica Deutschland has decided its new 5G network will use Ericsson because `` the Swedish supplier would safeguard the security '' of its 5G services .
That is a small step toward defeating the CCP .
To find out more about Austin Bay and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists , visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com .

Long-term strategic struggles, like the U.S.-versus-China confrontation, do not submit to bombshell headlines and snapshot predictions. When very large and powerful political, economic and cultural organizations conflict, years judge the slow war process of achieving strategic gain or suffering damaging loss, not talking heads on 24/7 news outlets.
Some 30 years ago, the Chinese Communist Party and its intelligence agencies bet digital-information delivery dominance would be a decisive advantage in a long-term struggle for global dominance. I emphasize delivery, for dominating the material and physical (equipment and infrastructure) means for delivering digital information gives the dominator an edge in providing, denying or subverting content — be it news, opinion or entertainment. Control the system, or be able to easily penetrate, manipulate or corrupt it, and you can secretly collect data on users, spy on users and, if you happen to be a CCP totalitarian, engage in intimate, personal blackmail in order to advance other political and economic schemes.
Denying the CCP global-information delivery dominance and its advantages is the strategic goal driving America's bid to ban equipment made by China's giant Huawei Technologies corporation, with its 5G communication systems a critical target.
Huawei also operates as an intelligence agency "cutout company," spying for the CCP. In August, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the company "an arm of the CCP's surveillance state." He also sketched the strategic struggle when he announced new economic and diplomatic measures to protect Americans' security and privacy "and the integrity of our 5G infrastructure from Beijing's malign influence."
America's hard pushback began three years ago. Unfortunately, it is seven to 10 years late, for Huawei is entrenched in digital networks around the globe.
5G "next generation" wireless communication systems are an information battlespace. 5G has the ability to connect cellphones, the internet, the internet of things — all digital devices, which could include controls on a hydroelectric dam.
Three corporations in democracies field superior 5G tech. Finland's Nokia, Sweden's Ericsson and South Korea's Samsung are Nos. 1, 2 and 3 globally in holding standard and essential telecommunications patents.
Huawei, however, has assets its intellectual superiors lack: the CCP's money, political clout, and the covert might of the tyranny's spies and police. Sources estimate Huawei has received $75 billion to $80 billion from Beijing. The cash juiced Huawei's sales by guaranteeing financing and subsidizing interest rates. "Preferential financing" meant Huawei could offer a poor nation a communications system too cheap to refuse.
Should a nation or company balk, CCP spies and diplomats will identify corporate personnel and government bureaucrats who can be gulled or bribed — or blackmailed. Beijing also influences non-Chinese corporations using investments channeled via companies with opaque ownership.
Nokia, Ericsson and Samsung are superior providers, but they cannot compete with a nation-state combining trade, business, financial, diplomatic, media and spy powers to support Huawei's operations.
This February, U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr suggested America form a consortium with private U.S. and allied companies to manufacture 5G equipment. He recommended teaming with Nokia and Ericsson.
That must happen. The U.S. attack on Huawei is really a response to the CCP, which uses Huawei as a weapon in its strategic struggle. The CCP loves money, but its deep goal is global domination, not beating Nokia out of a contract.
America's diplomatic and legal attack on Huawei is advancing. Three Canadian 5G providers — including Bell Canada — will not use its equipment. In July, Britain decided to ban and remove Huawei products from its 5G networks. Alas, the ban takes effect in 2021, and operators have until 2027 to remove installed Huawei equipment.
Though German Chancellor Angela Merkel opposes banning Huawei outright, German legislators intend to pass an information technology security law that restricts high-risk vendors. Telefonica Deutschland has decided its new 5G network will use Ericsson because "the Swedish supplier would safeguard the security" of its 5G services.
That is a small step toward defeating the CCP.
To find out more about Austin Bay and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.


bonginoreport--2020-10-16--Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index Surges to Pre-Pandemic Levels

The Philadelphia Fed ’ s gauge of the manufacturing sector unexpected surged higher in October , soaring beyond typical prepandemic levels .
The Philly Fed ’ s manufacturing index jumped to 32.3 in October from 15 in September .
Economists had expected the index to slide to 13.5 .
The Philly Fed said the results indicate “ widespread optimism ” about the next six months .
This is not just the highest reading since the pandemic , it is one of the highest readings of the entire Trump administration and far above the historical average for the index .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia from surveys of manufacturers in the region , has only exceeded 30 eight times between 2010 and now .
Six of those were in three years of the Trump administration prior to the pandemic , a reflection of the Trump administration ’ s policies that strengthened manufacturing in the U.S .
This was the fifth consecutive month of improvement for the general current activity measure .
The survey ’ s current indicators for new orders and and shipments also improved .
Most future indexes increased and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth over the next six month , the Philly Fed said .
The new orders gauge registered a record high in data going back to 1968 .
On balance , firms reported increased employment for month , the fourth straight month of rising employment .
The number of firms reporting increased employment , however , slipped .
Plans for future hiring hit the highest level in 12 years .
The Philly Fed also asked manufacturers about their plans for capital spending over the next year .
“ For all five categories of investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computer equipment , structure , and energy-saving investments ) , the share of firms expecting to increase spending was higher than the share of firms expecting to decrease spending .
On balance , the firms expect larger increases for software and noncomputer equipment , ” the Philly Fed said .
The survey covers businesses in the eastern two-thirds of Pennsylvania , southern New Jersey , and Delaware .

The Philadelphia Fed’s gauge of the manufacturing sector unexpected surged higher in October, soaring beyond typical prepandemic levels.
The Philly Fed’s manufacturing index jumped to 32.3 in October from 15 in September. Economists had expected the index to slide to 13.5.
The Philly Fed said the results indicate “widespread optimism” about the next six months.
This is not just the highest reading since the pandemic, it is one of the highest readings of the entire Trump administration and far above the historical average for the index.
The index, which is compiled each month by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia from surveys of manufacturers in the region, has only exceeded 30 eight times between 2010 and now. Six of those were in three years of the Trump administration prior to the pandemic, a reflection of the Trump administration’s policies that strengthened manufacturing in the U.S.
This was the fifth consecutive month of improvement for the general current activity measure.
The survey’s current indicators for new orders and and shipments also improved. Most future indexes increased and continue to reflect optimism among firms about growth over the next six month, the Philly Fed said.
The new orders gauge registered a record high in data going back to 1968.
On balance, firms reported increased employment for month, the fourth straight month of rising employment. The number of firms reporting increased employment, however, slipped. Plans for future hiring hit the highest level in 12 years.
The Philly Fed also asked manufacturers about their plans for capital spending over the next year.
“For all five categories of investment spending (software, noncomputer equipment, computer equipment, structure, and energy-saving investments), the share of firms expecting to increase spending was higher than the share of firms expecting to decrease spending. On balance, the firms expect larger increases for software and noncomputer equipment,” the Philly Fed said.
The survey covers businesses in the eastern two-thirds of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware.