bonginoreport--2020-06-16--Trump Urged to Rein in China’s Growing Nuclear Arsenal

A delegation of 40 Republican lawmakers is urging the Trump administration to constrain China ’ s nuclear weapons program and significantly overhaul America ’ s own arsenal of aging nuclear arms , according to a letter sent Monday to President Donald Trump .
China is on pace to triple its stockpile of nuclear arms , including missiles capable of reaching America , GOP House lawmakers warned in a letter sent Monday to the White House and reported by the Washington Free Beacon for the first time .
Beijing ’ s proliferation efforts warrant increased U.S. readiness and lethality in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Chinese regime has put its aggressive nuclear ambitions on full display , '' necessitating an immediate intervention by the Trump administration , the lawmakers wrote in a letter spearheaded by Rep. Liz Cheney ( R. , Wyo. )
.
GOP hawks in Congress want to bolster recent efforts by the Trump administration to include China in the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty ( known as New START ) , an arms control pact that restricts the number of nuclear missiles the United States and Russia can deploy .
As China looks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular emphasis on countering U.S. capabilities—the Trump administration can no longer ignore the imminent threat this poses , according to the lawmakers .
In a move likely to rankle the arms control community , the GOP delegation is calling on the Trump administration to significantly expand the United States ' nuclear arms program to counter China .
This would include the construction of advanced missile and missile-defense capabilities , as well as a complete overhaul of the U.S. nuclear triad—land-based nuclear missiles , nuclear-armed submarines , and nuclear-capable aircraft bombers .
`` Powered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and civilian sectors , China , after many years of proclaiming its minimum nuclear deterrent , has developed its own nuclear triad to directly rival America , '' the lawmakers wrote .
In addition to modernizing its arsenal , China is `` developing capabilities to evade U.S. missile defenses , '' a threat that necessitates Beijing ’ s inclusion in the New START treaty .
China is already seeking to expand its nuclear arsenal to more than 1,000 warheads , triple its current stockpile .
The Communist regime will at least double its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in what Defense Intelligence Agency director Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley recently described as `` the most rapid expansion and diversification of its nuclear arsenal '' in history .
The White House must also renew efforts to bring China to the negotiating table , including discussions that reach beyond the New START treaty , the lawmakers said .
It is unclear , however , how much leverage the United States has over China .
As negotiations with Russia over the New START treaty languish , the Trump administration has threatened to let the agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included in the talks .
Opponents of this approach argue that the United States has little power to bring China to the negotiating table and risks allowing the most significant arms control treaty in history to collapse .
Republican lawmakers are backing the Trump administration ’ s stance and hope to show the White House that these efforts will be supported by allies in Congress .
Trump ’ s `` directive to bring China to the table has only grown in urgency since the spread of the coronavirus pandemic , '' the lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CCP to be transparent about both this devastating virus and its nuclear capabilities and ambitions . ''
In addition to Cheney , the letter is backed by prominent Republican China hawks , including Reps. Jim Banks ( Ind . )
, Mike Gallagher ( Wis. ) , Doug Lamborn ( Colo. ) , and Lee Zeldin ( N.Y. ) , among many others .

A delegation of 40 Republican lawmakers is urging the Trump administration to constrain China’s nuclear weapons program and significantly overhaul America’s own arsenal of aging nuclear arms, according to a letter sent Monday to President Donald Trump.
China is on pace to triple its stockpile of nuclear arms, including missiles capable of reaching America, GOP House lawmakers warned in a letter sent Monday to the White House and reported by the Washington Free Beacon for the first time. Beijing’s proliferation efforts warrant increased U.S. readiness and lethality in the Indo-Pacific region, they said.
"The Chinese regime has put its aggressive nuclear ambitions on full display," necessitating an immediate intervention by the Trump administration, the lawmakers wrote in a letter spearheaded by Rep. Liz Cheney (R., Wyo.).
GOP hawks in Congress want to bolster recent efforts by the Trump administration to include China in the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (known as New START), an arms control pact that restricts the number of nuclear missiles the United States and Russia can deploy. As China looks to expand its program past these caps—with a particular emphasis on countering U.S. capabilities—the Trump administration can no longer ignore the imminent threat this poses, according to the lawmakers.
In a move likely to rankle the arms control community, the GOP delegation is calling on the Trump administration to significantly expand the United States' nuclear arms program to counter China. This would include the construction of advanced missile and missile-defense capabilities, as well as a complete overhaul of the U.S. nuclear triad—land-based nuclear missiles, nuclear-armed submarines, and nuclear-capable aircraft bombers.
"Powered by the state-mandated fusion of its defense and civilian sectors, China, after many years of proclaiming its minimum nuclear deterrent, has developed its own nuclear triad to directly rival America," the lawmakers wrote.
In addition to modernizing its arsenal, China is "developing capabilities to evade U.S. missile defenses," a threat that necessitates Beijing’s inclusion in the New START treaty.
China is already seeking to expand its nuclear arsenal to more than 1,000 warheads, triple its current stockpile. The Communist regime will at least double its weapons cache in the next decade, in what Defense Intelligence Agency director Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley recently described as "the most rapid expansion and diversification of its nuclear arsenal" in history.
The White House must also renew efforts to bring China to the negotiating table, including discussions that reach beyond the New START treaty, the lawmakers said.
It is unclear, however, how much leverage the United States has over China. As negotiations with Russia over the New START treaty languish, the Trump administration has threatened to let the agreement lapse next year if China is not included in the talks. Opponents of this approach argue that the United States has little power to bring China to the negotiating table and risks allowing the most significant arms control treaty in history to collapse.
Republican lawmakers are backing the Trump administration’s stance and hope to show the White House that these efforts will be supported by allies in Congress.
Trump’s "directive to bring China to the table has only grown in urgency since the spread of the coronavirus pandemic," the lawmakers wrote. "We must compel the CCP to be transparent about both this devastating virus and its nuclear capabilities and ambitions."
In addition to Cheney, the letter is backed by prominent Republican China hawks, including Reps. Jim Banks (Ind.), Mike Gallagher (Wis.), Doug Lamborn (Colo.), and Lee Zeldin (N.Y.), among many others.


bonginoreport--2020-06-16--Houston Texans’ J.J. Watt Suggests He Will Kneel for the Anthem

NFL star J.J. Watt suggested in a tweet posted Saturday that he will kneel for the playing of the national anthem during Houston Texans games , becoming part of a protest started back in 2016 by then-San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick .
According to Watt , taking a knee during the anthem is not about “ disrespecting the flag or our military , ” though past polling on the divisive protest suggests many Americans likely disagree .
Following an interview wherein Texans head coach Bill O ’ Brien made it clear he will be kneeling for the anthem this coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s posted a message saying he was “ pretty sure ” the defensive end would not be participating , adding American flag emojis .
“ A ) don ’ t speak for me , ” Watt responded to the now-deleted tweet .
“ B ) if you still think it ’ s about disrespecting the flag or our military , you clearly haven ’ t been listening.
” Earlier this month , Watt attended the funeral for George Floyd at the Fountain of Praise Church .
Floyd , a Houston native , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knee on the 46-year-old ’ s neck for over eight minutes during an arrest , according to viral video footage .
Kaepernick began protesting during the national anthem right after his playing time started dwindling “ because America ‘ oppresses ’ minorities and allows its cops to ‘ murder ’ innocent people of color.
” “ People of color have been targeted by police , ” the athlete said in 2016 , as reported by The Daily Wire .
“ So that ’ s a large part of it and they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place by the government .
So that ’ s something that this country has to change .
There ’ s things we can do to hold them more accountable .
Make those standards higher .
You have people that practice law and are lawyers and go to school for eight years , but you can become a cop in six months and don ’ t have to have the same amount of training as a cosmetologist.
” The controversial activist , now sponsored by Nike , also wore socks at practice in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I wore these socks , in the past , because the rogue cops that are allowed to hold positions in police departments , not only put the community in danger but also put the cops that have the right intentions in danger by creating an environment of tension and mistrust , ” Kaepernick wrote in a post defending the “ pig cops ” socks on Instagram .
As noted by Mediaite , while Watt did not kneel for the anthem back in 2016 , he did tell ESPN , “ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do .
Everybody can form their own opinion on how they want to do it .
That ’ s just what we chose to do .
Everybody ’ s different , everybody has their own opinions , and that ’ s what we chose to do.
” Related : Browns QB Baker Mayfield Says He ’ ll Kneel , And Doesn ’ t Care If He Loses Any Fans The Daily Wire , headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro , is a leading provider of conservative news , cutting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide readers the most important , relevant , and engaging stories of the day .
Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a member .

NFL star J.J. Watt suggested in a tweet posted Saturday that he will kneel for the playing of the national anthem during Houston Texans games, becoming part of a protest started back in 2016 by then-San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
According to Watt, taking a knee during the anthem is not about “disrespecting the flag or our military,” though past polling on the divisive protest suggests many Americans likely disagree.
Following an interview wherein Texans head coach Bill O’Brien made it clear he will be kneeling for the anthem this coming season, a seeming fan of Watt’s posted a message saying he was “pretty sure” the defensive end would not be participating, adding American flag emojis.
“A) don’t speak for me,” Watt responded to the now-deleted tweet. “B) if you still think it’s about disrespecting the flag or our military, you clearly haven’t been listening.”
A) don’t speak for me B) if you still think it’s about disrespecting the flag or our military, you clearly haven’t been listening https://t.co/tnsEq5D9WC — JJ Watt (@JJWatt) June 13, 2020
Earlier this month, Watt attended the funeral for George Floyd at the Fountain of Praise Church. Floyd, a Houston native, died after a police officer had his knee on the 46-year-old’s neck for over eight minutes during an arrest, according to viral video footage.
Kaepernick began protesting during the national anthem right after his playing time started dwindling “because America ‘oppresses’ minorities and allows its cops to ‘murder’ innocent people of color.”
“People of color have been targeted by police,” the athlete said in 2016, as reported by The Daily Wire. “So that’s a large part of it and they’re government officials. They are put in place by the government. So that’s something that this country has to change. There’s things we can do to hold them more accountable. Make those standards higher. You have people that practice law and are lawyers and go to school for eight years, but you can become a cop in six months and don’t have to have the same amount of training as a cosmetologist.”
The controversial activist, now sponsored by Nike, also wore socks at practice in 2016 that depicted police officers as pigs.
“I wore these socks, in the past, because the rogue cops that are allowed to hold positions in police departments, not only put the community in danger but also put the cops that have the right intentions in danger by creating an environment of tension and mistrust,” Kaepernick wrote in a post defending the “pig cops” socks on Instagram.
As noted by Mediaite, while Watt did not kneel for the anthem back in 2016, he did tell ESPN, “I think everybody can do what they choose to do. Everybody can form their own opinion on how they want to do it. That’s just what we chose to do. Everybody’s different, everybody has their own opinions, and that’s what we chose to do.”
Related: Browns QB Baker Mayfield Says He’ll Kneel, And Doesn’t Care If He Loses Any Fans
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.


bonginoreport--2020-06-16--Hollywood Leftist Ron Perlman Challenges Ted Cruz to a Wrestling Match

Photo by Peter Sabok/COOLMEDIA/NurPhoto via Getty Images ; Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images

"Hellboy" star Ron Perlman spent the weekend in a Twitter back-and-forth with Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz. After the two went at it for a couple days, Perlman tweeted a photo of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) Sunday evening, telling Gaetz, "PS: You're lucky for this guy Matt. If it weren't for him you'd be the ugliest politician walking."
With that, Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz jumped into the fray, ripping Perlman's manliness and defending Jordan, who is a onetime NCAA wrestling champion and a former Ohio State University wrestling coach.
The senator said he'd wager $10,000 that Jordan would whup Perlman in less than five minutes.
"Listen, Hellboy," Cruz tweeted. "You talk good game when you've got Hollywood makeup & stuntmen. But I'll bet $10k — to the nonpolitical charity of your choice — that you couldn't last 5 min in the wrestling ring w/ @Jim_Jordan w/o getting pinned."
"You up for it?" Cruz taunted. "Or does your publicist say too risky?"
Perlman appeared excited to have Cruz join the fracas.
"Wait, is this THEE Ted Cruz?" the actor wrote. "Holy s**t man!"
"Is this the same guy let little Donnie call his wife A dog and his father an assassin and now kisses his ass?" Perlman continued, referring to President Donald Trump's heavily criticized crude remarks about Cruz's wife, Heidi, and wild rumormongering linking Rafael Cruz, the senator's dad, to the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Image source: Twitter screenshot
"Yo, can I get your autograph man?" Perlman asked.
Then he threw down.
"I tell you what teddy boy, since mentioning jim jordan and wrestling is... problematic, why don't we say f*** him and just make it you & me," Perlman challenged. "I'll give 50k to Black Lives Matter and you can keep all the tax payer money you were thinking of spending."
Image source: Twitter screenshot
Cruz, naturally, had no plans to get into the ring with Perlman. Instead, he reiterated his challenge to get Perlman to wrestle Jordan — the man Perlman had attacked. (So far, no one appears to know whether Jordan OK'd Cruz's challenge or if the senator was simply volunteering Jordan.)
"I get it, you're rich," Cruz said. "But, apparently, soft. You sure seem scared to wrestle Jordan (whom you keep insulting)."
Image source: Twitter screenshot
"Can't take the heat?" the senator added. "Need to get a manicure?"
Perlman wasn't having it from the Texan and went off on a brief, expletive-laden Twitter thread response Monday morning.
"Teddy, Teddy, what kind of a muthaf***a offers to have another guy, probably asleep at the time, kick another guy's ass?" Perlman asked.
Image source: Twitter screenshot
"Let's get back to bidness ted," he continued. "jim jordan's too easy, just a little bitch. But you teddy, you talk s**t about New York every chance you get. My hometown. It's personal. Let's go mofo!"
Image source: Twitter screenshot
As of this writing, no dates have been scheduled for a match between Perlman and Jordan or Perlman and Cruz.
Also, no word yet of a possible Jordan-Cruz tag-team grudge match with Perlman and fellow New York silver-screen tough guy Robert De Niro and an undercard featuring President Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who have a history of trading fighting words.


bonginoreport--2020-06-16--U.S. Slams Russian Court Ruling Against Former US Marine as “Miscarriage of Justice”

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is demanding that Russia release an American corporate security executive after a Russian court sentenced the man to 16 years in prison for spying .
Russia ’ s Federal Security Service detained Paul Whelan , former director of global security for auto-parts supplier BorgWarner , in December 2018 for keeping a flash drive that allegedly contained Russia state secrets .
The Moscow City Court convicted Whelan of spying on Monday and sentenced him to 16 years in prison , according to The Wall Street Journal .
U.S .
Ambassador John Sullivan denounced the trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately after the ruling was announced .
Sullivan added that the verdict “ will not have a positive effect ” on relations between Washington and Moscow .
“ The Russian Federation wouldn ’ t talk about releasing Paul until he was convicted , ” Sullivan told The Associated Press .
“ And so , now that that has happened , we hope that the U.S. government will speak to the Russian government .
We will have to continue to treat it as a political case , which is what it is , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Pompeo also released a statement slamming Russia and its justice system and demanding Whelan ’ s “ immediate release.
” “ The United States is outraged by the decision of a Russian court today to convict U.S. citizen Paul Whelan after a secret trial , with secret evidence , and without appropriate allowances for defense witnesses , ” Pompeo said .
“ We have serious concerns that Mr. Whelan was deprived of the fair trial guarantees that Russia is required to provide him in accordance with its international human rights obligations.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hands of Russian authorities has been appalling .
Russia failed to provide Mr. Whelan with a fair hearing before an independent and impartial tribunal ; and during his detention has put his life at risk by ignoring his long-standing medical condition , and unconscionably kept him isolated from family and friends , ” Pompeo added .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied accusations that Whelan , a former Marine and Michigan native , was being held as a political prisoner .
They also declined to comment on allegations that Moscow is using Whelan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in U.S. custody .
Vladimir Zherebenkov , Whelan ’ s Russian lawyer , said that Moscow is considering swapping Whelan for Russians Viktor Bout , an arms trader , and Konstantin Yaroshenko , a pilot convicted of conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. “ There have been proposals of exchange , the issue is being discussed , ” Zherebenkov said according to the AP .
Whelan maintains that he is innocent and that he was framed .
He has visited Russia several times before and was in the country for a friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Whelan ’ s flash drive only contained pictures that he had taken of Russian churches and other buildings because he is interested in architecture .
Russia ’ s Federal Security Service said that agents had caught Whelan “ red-handed , ” according to The Wall Street Journal .
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 Daily Wire by becoming a member .

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is demanding that Russia release an American corporate security executive after a Russian court sentenced the man to 16 years in prison for spying.
Russia’s Federal Security Service detained Paul Whelan, former director of global security for auto-parts supplier BorgWarner, in December 2018 for keeping a flash drive that allegedly contained Russia state secrets. The Moscow City Court convicted Whelan of spying on Monday and sentenced him to 16 years in prison, according to The Wall Street Journal.
U.S. Ambassador John Sullivan denounced the trial as a “mockery of justice” immediately after the ruling was announced. Sullivan added that the verdict “will not have a positive effect” on relations between Washington and Moscow.
“The Russian Federation wouldn’t talk about releasing Paul until he was convicted,” Sullivan told The Associated Press. “And so, now that that has happened, we hope that the U.S. government will speak to the Russian government. We will have to continue to treat it as a political case, which is what it is, and seek a political solution for his freedom.”
Pompeo also released a statement slamming Russia and its justice system and demanding Whelan’s “immediate release.”
“The United States is outraged by the decision of a Russian court today to convict U.S. citizen Paul Whelan after a secret trial, with secret evidence, and without appropriate allowances for defense witnesses,” Pompeo said. “We have serious concerns that Mr. Whelan was deprived of the fair trial guarantees that Russia is required to provide him in accordance with its international human rights obligations.”
“The treatment of Paul Whelan at the hands of Russian authorities has been appalling. Russia failed to provide Mr. Whelan with a fair hearing before an independent and impartial tribunal; and during his detention has put his life at risk by ignoring his long-standing medical condition, and unconscionably kept him isolated from family and friends,” Pompeo added.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied accusations that Whelan, a former Marine and Michigan native, was being held as a political prisoner. They also declined to comment on allegations that Moscow is using Whelan to secure the release of several Russians in U.S. custody.
Vladimir Zherebenkov, Whelan’s Russian lawyer, said that Moscow is considering swapping Whelan for Russians Viktor Bout, an arms trader, and Konstantin Yaroshenko, a pilot convicted of conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the U.S.
“There have been proposals of exchange, the issue is being discussed,” Zherebenkov said according to the AP.
Whelan maintains that he is innocent and that he was framed. He has visited Russia several times before and was in the country for a friend’s wedding, his lawyer said. Whelan’s flash drive only contained pictures that he had taken of Russian churches and other buildings because he is interested in architecture.
Russia’s Federal Security Service said that agents had caught Whelan “red-handed,” according to The Wall Street Journal.
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.


bonginoreport--2020-06-16--Is Hong Kong’s Independence Coming to an End?

As the pandemic reclaims attention around the world , Beijing has pushed forward on plans to absorb Hong Kong into China , removing what little independence they have left from the mainland .
Since 1997 – when Hong Kong officially reverted to Chinese sovereignty , ending 156 years of British rule – Hong Kong has enjoyed a high degree of autonomy .
This applied to everything except matters of foreign relations and defense , due to an agreement signed that ensured the social and economic systems , as well as the lifestyle in Hong Kong , would remain unchanged for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s latest move , a proposal to impose a highly contentious national security law in Hong Kong , is unprecedented and represents the biggest move so far towards curbing the democracy movement there and the freedoms they enjoy in the semi-autonomous territory .
The law would substantially broaden China ’ s power over Hong Kong and targets secession , sedition , terrorism , and foreign interference .
The legislation marks the beginning of the end for the city ’ s freedoms , and if passed will doubtless lead to an erosion of free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil liberties , political freedom , and the small amount of independence that Hong Kong still enjoys .
“ This is the end of Hong Kong .
This is the end of one country , two systems .
Make no mistake about it , ” pro-democracy lawmaker Dennis Kwok told TIME .
Tanya Chan another pro-democracy lawmaker echoed this statement saying : “ Today I think is the saddest day in Hong Kong history , ” she said at a press conference .
“ It confirms one country , one system.
” U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Congress that Hong Kong is no longer autonomous from China , stating that “ No reasonable person can assert today that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy from China , given facts on the ground.
” Unfortunately , there has been little to no action taken by countries around the world , including the United States .
Although countries like the U.S. and Britain have strongly condemned the national security law and China ’ s attempts to undermine Hong Kong ’ s independence , little has been done beyond that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be willing to allow more than 2.8 million people from Hong Kong to live and work in the U.K. if China implements the national security law on the former British colony , and the U.S. has stated that they are open to the idea as well .
Discussion has also picked up in the United States over implementing sanctions on China , but beyond that , Hong Kong has largely been left to fend for themselves .
More action is needed by countries around the world , particularly by world superpowers like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and others , to ensure that the independence , freedom , and democracy in Hong Kong is upheld .
Hong Kong has long been a beacon of freedom , fighting against Beijing ’ s brutal communist regime , and protests in 2019 , in which nearly 2 million people showed up to protest a bill which would have allowed extradition from Hong Kong to mainland China , were an inspirational event that galvanized people around the world to continue fighting for freedom and democracy .
It is far past time for our government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turning a blind eye , and instead , take a firm stand against a regime that has shown itself an enemy of democracy and a threat to freedom everywhere .
The U.S. can no longer make idle threats against China and instead must take concrete action to defend a nation that remains a beacon of free speech in Asia and around the world .
The flame of freedom that continues to flicker in Hong Kong must never be extinguished , and the regime that seeks to destroy it must be defeated .

As the pandemic reclaims attention around the world, Beijing has pushed forward on plans to absorb Hong Kong into China, removing what little independence they have left from the mainland.
Since 1997 – when Hong Kong officially reverted to Chinese sovereignty, ending 156 years of British rule – Hong Kong has enjoyed a high degree of autonomy.
This applied to everything except matters of foreign relations and defense, due to an agreement signed that ensured the social and economic systems, as well as the lifestyle in Hong Kong, would remain unchanged for 50 years after 1997.
China’s latest move, a proposal to impose a highly contentious national security law in Hong Kong, is unprecedented and represents the biggest move so far towards curbing the democracy movement there and the freedoms they enjoy in the semi-autonomous territory.
The law would substantially broaden China’s power over Hong Kong and targets secession, sedition, terrorism, and foreign interference.
The legislation marks the beginning of the end for the city’s freedoms, and if passed will doubtless lead to an erosion of free speech, the right to protest, civil liberties, political freedom, and the small amount of independence that Hong Kong still enjoys.
“This is the end of Hong Kong. This is the end of one country, two systems. Make no mistake about it,” pro-democracy lawmaker Dennis Kwok told TIME.
Tanya Chan another pro-democracy lawmaker echoed this statement saying: “Today I think is the saddest day in Hong Kong history,” she said at a press conference. “It confirms one country, one system.”
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also reported to Congress that Hong Kong is no longer autonomous from China, stating that “No reasonable person can assert today that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy from China, given facts on the ground.”
Unfortunately, there has been little to no action taken by countries around the world, including the United States. Although countries like the U.S. and Britain have strongly condemned the national security law and China’s attempts to undermine Hong Kong’s independence, little has been done beyond that.
Britain has announced that they would be willing to allow more than 2.8 million people from Hong Kong to live and work in the U.K. if China implements the national security law on the former British colony, and the U.S. has stated that they are open to the idea as well. Discussion has also picked up in the United States over implementing sanctions on China, but beyond that, Hong Kong has largely been left to fend for themselves.
More action is needed by countries around the world, particularly by world superpowers like the United States, Britain, Germany, and others, to ensure that the independence, freedom, and democracy in Hong Kong is upheld.
Hong Kong has long been a beacon of freedom, fighting against Beijing’s brutal communist regime, and protests in 2019, in which nearly 2 million people showed up to protest a bill which would have allowed extradition from Hong Kong to mainland China, were an inspirational event that galvanized people around the world to continue fighting for freedom and democracy.
It is far past time for our government and governments around the world to stop turning a blind eye, and instead, take a firm stand against a regime that has shown itself an enemy of democracy and a threat to freedom everywhere.
The U.S. can no longer make idle threats against China and instead must take concrete action to defend a nation that remains a beacon of free speech in Asia and around the world.
The flame of freedom that continues to flicker in Hong Kong must never be extinguished, and the regime that seeks to destroy it must be defeated.


bonginoreport--2020-06-16--Walter Williams: Now What?

Walter Williams: Now What?

No decent person can support George Floyd 's mistreatment , or the mistreatment of anyone else , at the hands of police officers with the sworn duty to uphold the law .
The Minneapolis authorities moved quickly , and Derek Chauvin was fired from the Minneapolis police department , placed under arrest and charged with second-degree murder and other charges .
The three officers who were with him were also fired and charged two counts of aiding and abetting — one for second-degree murder and one for second-degree manslaughter .
Peaceful protest in any cause is as American as apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wake of George Floyd 's murder is as despicable as anything recently seen in our nation .
What makes it worse is the silence and seemly support in many quarters for anarchists who have highjacked the protests to promote their own ends .
These are the white liberals and leftists groups like Antifa who could care less about the major problems that exist in black communities and made worse by the rioting and looting .
`` Black Entrepreneurs 2020 Trends : A look at African-American-owned businesses in 2020 '' is a survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked how they view themselves in the present political climate , most were either `` very confident '' or `` somewhat confident . ''
If that survey were run today , I doubt whether we would get anywhere near the same results .
Part of the difference would be from the government 's economic shutdown of our nation but most of it would be the result of the recent wanton destruction within black communities .
There are videos of legally armed black business owners standing outside their shops to protect them .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in tears over the destruction of businesses that they 've put their life 's savings into .
My question to the white Antifa anarchists , and their fellow black looters , is how does the destruction of black-owned business promote justice for the murder of George Floyd ?
The recent looting and property destruction , as well as the high crime rates in many black neighborhoods , have the effect of a law that outlaws economic growth and opportunities .
During the recent mayhem in black communities , stores of many types were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed 60 stores in 21 states amid looting and protests .
Large stores like Walmart were looted and burned .
Many smaller stores and businesses were looted and burned .
Who will bear the ultimate cost of the rioting ?
If you said black people , you are right .
Black people must bear the expense and inconvenience to go to suburban shopping malls if they are to avoid the higher prices charged by smaller neighborhood stores that have survived the rioting and looting .
Even when there is not the kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the hallmark of many black communities .
Ultimately , the solution to this lawlessness rests with black people .
Given the current political environment , it does not benefit a black or white politician to take those steps necessary to crack down on lawlessness in black communities .
That means black people must become intolerant of criminals who make their lives living hell , even if it means taking the law into their own hands .
That brings me to one of the most disturbing aspects of the rioting and looting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom we elect and pay to enforce the law .
That includes governors , mayors and police chiefs who refuse to use their law enforcement powers to protect citizens and their property from criminals .
Unfortunately , politicians who call for law and order are often viewed negatively .
But that makes little sense .
Poor people are more dependent on law and order than anyone else .
In the face of high crime or social disorder , wealthier people can afford to purchase alarm systems , buy guard dogs , hire guards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , move to a gated community .
These options are not available to poor people .
Their only protection is an orderly society .
Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University .
To find out more about Walter E. Williams and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists , visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com .

No decent person can support George Floyd's mistreatment, or the mistreatment of anyone else, at the hands of police officers with the sworn duty to uphold the law. The Minneapolis authorities moved quickly, and Derek Chauvin was fired from the Minneapolis police department, placed under arrest and charged with second-degree murder and other charges. The three officers who were with him were also fired and charged two counts of aiding and abetting — one for second-degree murder and one for second-degree manslaughter.
Peaceful protest in any cause is as American as apple pie, but what we saw in the wake of George Floyd's murder is as despicable as anything recently seen in our nation. What makes it worse is the silence and seemly support in many quarters for anarchists who have highjacked the protests to promote their own ends. These are the white liberals and leftists groups like Antifa who could care less about the major problems that exist in black communities and made worse by the rioting and looting.
"Black Entrepreneurs 2020 Trends: A look at African-American-owned businesses in 2020" is a survey of black-owned businesses. When blacks were asked how they view themselves in the present political climate, most were either "very confident" or "somewhat confident." If that survey were run today, I doubt whether we would get anywhere near the same results. Part of the difference would be from the government's economic shutdown of our nation but most of it would be the result of the recent wanton destruction within black communities. There are videos of legally armed black business owners standing outside their shops to protect them. There are other scenes of black small-business owners in tears over the destruction of businesses that they've put their life's savings into. My question to the white Antifa anarchists, and their fellow black looters, is how does the destruction of black-owned business promote justice for the murder of George Floyd?
The recent looting and property destruction, as well as the high crime rates in many black neighborhoods, have the effect of a law that outlaws economic growth and opportunities. During the recent mayhem in black communities, stores of many types were looted and destroyed. CVS pharmacy has closed 60 stores in 21 states amid looting and protests. Large stores like Walmart were looted and burned. Many smaller stores and businesses were looted and burned. Who will bear the ultimate cost of the rioting? If you said black people, you are right. Black people must bear the expense and inconvenience to go to suburban shopping malls if they are to avoid the higher prices charged by smaller neighborhood stores that have survived the rioting and looting.
Even when there is not the kind of social disorder of recent weeks, lawlessness is the hallmark of many black communities. Ultimately, the solution to this lawlessness rests with black people. Given the current political environment, it does not benefit a black or white politician to take those steps necessary to crack down on lawlessness in black communities. That means black people must become intolerant of criminals who make their lives living hell, even if it means taking the law into their own hands.
That brings me to one of the most disturbing aspects of the rioting and looting. That is the seeming impotence of people whom we elect and pay to enforce the law. That includes governors, mayors and police chiefs who refuse to use their law enforcement powers to protect citizens and their property from criminals. Unfortunately, politicians who call for law and order are often viewed negatively. But that makes little sense. Poor people are more dependent on law and order than anyone else. In the face of high crime or social disorder, wealthier people can afford to purchase alarm systems, buy guard dogs, hire guards and, if things get too bad, move to a gated community. These options are not available to poor people. Their only protection is an orderly society.
Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University. To find out more about Walter E. Williams and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.


bonginoreport--2020-06-16--Liberals “Cancel” Domino’s Pizza Over 8-Year-Old Tweet to Kayleigh McEnany

Proving that we truly live in the dumbest of times , Domino ’ s Pizza has amazingly become the latest target of cancel culture .
We began 2020 with fears over war with Iran , followed by a pandemic , quickly forgotten Murder Hornets , nationwide riots , and now escalating tensions between China and India , and South and North Korea .
But on top of all that , we ’ re now learning of a new crisis – that Domino ’ s once tweeted a nice message to White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany .
The calls to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Principled Republican™ Rick Wilson , who discovered a generic tweet that Domino ’ s had sent to Kayleigh McEnany thanking her for a compliment in 2012 , when she was a 24-year-old college student .
Of note , Wilson belongs to the brand of conservatives known for having no actual conservative principles whatsoever .
Apparently unable to read dates , Wilson then replied to the tweet informing Domino ’ s that they had just “ killed their brand.
” ( To be fair , I think their pizza already did that ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20k “ likes ” as of writing , even though everyone can clearly see the date of the quoted tweet in the top right corner .
Thousands in the comments made their message clear – that they ’ d be boycotting the establishment because an intern eight years ago tasked with replying to customer tweets did their job and replied to a future press secretary before anyone knew who she was .
( Or alternatively , perhaps they just don ’ t know how to read ) .
Meanwhile , McEnany seems to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole “ scandal.
” Domino ’ s also weighed in to mock the absurdity of the situation .
Not like this will make a difference for the boycotters – but the only actual recent political posts Domino ’ s has on their Twitter account is one expressing solidarity with Black Lives Matter and announcing donations to the National Urban League and a group that helps black girls learn to code .
And unfortunately for them , they can ’ t find refuge in Pizza Hut either…

Proving that we truly live in the dumbest of times, Domino’s Pizza has amazingly become the latest target of cancel culture.
We began 2020 with fears over war with Iran, followed by a pandemic, quickly forgotten Murder Hornets, nationwide riots, and now escalating tensions between China and India, and South and North Korea. But on top of all that, we’re now learning of a new crisis – that Domino’s once tweeted a nice message to White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany.
The calls to boycott the pizzeria were spawned by self-described Principled Republican™ Rick Wilson, who discovered a generic tweet that Domino’s had sent to Kayleigh McEnany thanking her for a compliment in 2012, when she was a 24-year-old college student. Of note, Wilson belongs to the brand of conservatives known for having no actual conservative principles whatsoever.
Apparently unable to read dates, Wilson then replied to the tweet informing Domino’s that they had just “killed their brand.” (To be fair, I think their pizza already did that).
The tweet has over 5k retweets and 20k “likes” as of writing, even though everyone can clearly see the date of the quoted tweet in the top right corner.
Thousands in the comments made their message clear – that they’d be boycotting the establishment because an intern eight years ago tasked with replying to customer tweets did their job and replied to a future press secretary before anyone knew who she was. (Or alternatively, perhaps they just don’t know how to read).
No more pizza from you. — One More Row (@youhurdurithere) June 16, 2020
I'm out !
No more Domino's for me!! — Agolf Twitler Slayer (@bblock29) June 16, 2020
Way to align yourself with a political party, Domino’s. Probably should have just been silent. — Courtney DeCamp (@coppertopcourt) June 15, 2020
I'll never order your pizza again. Hope your man-crush on Kayleigh was worth it. — Brian Kolstad 😷 (@wobblecorn) June 15, 2020
@dominos you shoulda sat this one out pic.twitter.com/f5Yv4OQXnj — David Kent 🏳🌈 (@SpaceCityDavid) June 15, 2020
Meanwhile, McEnany seems to have gotten a kick out of the whole “scandal.”
Domino’s also weighed in to mock the absurdity of the situation.
Welp. It's unfortunate that thanking a customer for a compliment back in 2012 would be viewed as political. Guess that's 2020 for ya. — Domino's Pizza (@dominos) June 16, 2020
Not like this will make a difference for the boycotters – but the only actual recent political posts Domino’s has on their Twitter account is one expressing solidarity with Black Lives Matter and announcing donations to the National Urban League and a group that helps black girls learn to code.
And unfortunately for them, they can’t find refuge in Pizza Hut either…


bonginoreport--2020-06-16--U.K. Govt. Backed Far-Left Group Is Behind Push to Demonetize The Federalist, ZeroHedge

Two leading conservative/anti-left wing websites – The Federalist and ZeroHedge – were reportedly banned from using Google ads to generate revenue following a campaign by British Muslim activists who have latched onto the “ Black Lives Matter ” campaign in order to silence right-wing voices .
Google ’ s ban of the websites comes after the company was notified of research conducted by the Center for Countering Digital Hate , a British nonprofit that combats online hate and misinformation .
They found that 10 U.S-based websites have published what they say are racist articles about the protests , and projected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollars through Google Ads .
Although Google said later on Tuesday that they were working with the Federalist to remove content and reinstate ads , there has been no such announcement for ZeroHedge .
The Center for Countering Digital Hate is the latest in a long line of anti-free speech organizations and is headed by a UK government consultant named Imran Ahmed .
Ahmed , the front man of the organization , told reporters on Tuesday : “ We found that lots of those companies are inadvertently funding through their advertising content that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supremacism and contains conspiracy theories about George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement.
” Neither The Federalist nor ZeroHedge host “ white supremacism ” or “ racist ” content and neither have peddled “ conspiracy theories ” about George Floyd or Black Lives Matter .
In fact , Twitter recently reinstated the account of ZeroHedge , having “ erroneously ” banned the entity for breaking news about the outbreak of the coronavirus and its potential links to a Wuhan lab , rather than a wet market .
Nevertheless the Center for Counter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which curiously uses Americanized spelling – targeted the two websites for its censorious campaign .
Ahmed is in fact a member of the British government ’ s Commission for Countering Extremism , led by British Muslim Sara Khan , author of the book The Battle for British Islam .
Khan – who advocates for a more modern and moderate Islam – was criticized by both Muslims and non-Muslims as having no legitimacy in the subject area of “ countering extremism ” upon her appointment .
The other Steering Committee members of the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sir Mark Rowley who oversaw a massive violent crime increase in London ; Islamic activist Yasmin Waljee OBE ; hard left activist and refugee rights campaigner Cllr Simon Blackburn ( Labour Party ) ; Soros-funded anti-Brexit campaigner Sunder Katwala ; left-wing MediaCom executive Claire McAlpine ; and Imran Ahmed , who has also worked for Labour Party members of the UK parliament .
Bizarrely , the entity was founded by a Conservative government in 2018 , and states in its charter that its commissioners are appointed by the Home Secretary ( the interior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current Home Secretary , Priti Patel , often takes a harder line on immigration issues , and has been vocal against the Black Lives Matter-inspired riots in the UK .
The fact that a UK limited company run by open border , pro-Islam activists as well as a UK government-led task force have forced two conservative publications into financial dire straits ahead of an election is certain to raise eyebrows in the United States .
Speaking exclusively to The National Pulse , Congressman Paul Gosar ( R-AZ ) said of the Google moves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company : “ This appears to be a blatant effort to interfere with our U.S. elections by silencing perceived conservative voices to suppress the vote for President Trump and other conservatives .
“ Such foreign interference by a shady U.K. group has no business in our domestic politics .
“ I will be asking Attorney General Barr to add Google to the list of subpoena recipients for the ongoing investigation into election interference , censorship and foreign meddling .
“ The empty , overused and impotent claim of ‘ racism ’ is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Federalist and Zero Hedge , none of which have a history of publishing racist content.
” The Center for Countering Digital Hate ( CCDH ) is endorsed by race-industry obsessives including the Tell MAMA organization run by Fiyaz Mughal .
Tell MAMA – which purports to represent the safety of British Muslims – lost government funding in 2013 for misrepresenting “ hate crime ” data .
CCDH is also backed by the Hope Not Hate group , which has links to Marxist agitators through the Unite Against Fascism group which once saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soldier Lee Rigby – speak at one of their rallies .
Hope Not Hate ’ s founder Nick Lowles was actually banned from a left wing , Black students event in 2016 over claims of discriminatory behavior .
Meanwhile , Google continues its work with the Chinese Communist Party and its assets in the United States , as the National Pulse first reported .

Two leading conservative/anti-left wing websites – The Federalist and ZeroHedge – were reportedly banned from using Google ads to generate revenue following a campaign by British Muslim activists who have latched onto the “Black Lives Matter” campaign in order to silence right-wing voices.
NBC News reports:
Google’s ban of the websites comes after the company was notified of research conducted by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a British nonprofit that combats online hate and misinformation. They found that 10 U.S-based websites have published what they say are racist articles about the protests, and projected that the websites would make millions of dollars through Google Ads.
Although Google said later on Tuesday that they were working with the Federalist to remove content and reinstate ads, there has been no such announcement for ZeroHedge.
The Center for Countering Digital Hate is the latest in a long line of anti-free speech organizations and is headed by a UK government consultant named Imran Ahmed.
Ahmed, the front man of the organization, told reporters on Tuesday: “We found that lots of those companies are inadvertently funding through their advertising content that is outright racist in defense of white supremacism and contains conspiracy theories about George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement.”
Neither The Federalist nor ZeroHedge host “white supremacism” or “racist” content and neither have peddled “conspiracy theories” about George Floyd or Black Lives Matter.
In fact, Twitter recently reinstated the account of ZeroHedge, having “erroneously” banned the entity for breaking news about the outbreak of the coronavirus and its potential links to a Wuhan lab, rather than a wet market.
Nevertheless the Center for Counter Digital Hate – a UK limited company which curiously uses Americanized spelling – targeted the two websites for its censorious campaign.
Ahmed is in fact a member of the British government’s Commission for Countering Extremism, led by British Muslim Sara Khan, author of the book The Battle for British Islam.
Khan – who advocates for a more modern and moderate Islam – was criticized by both Muslims and non-Muslims as having no legitimacy in the subject area of “countering extremism” upon her appointment.
The other Steering Committee members of the UK government task force are former police chief Sir Mark Rowley who oversaw a massive violent crime increase in London; Islamic activist Yasmin Waljee OBE; hard left activist and refugee rights campaigner Cllr Simon Blackburn (Labour Party); Soros-funded anti-Brexit campaigner Sunder Katwala; left-wing MediaCom executive Claire McAlpine; and Imran Ahmed, who has also worked for Labour Party members of the UK parliament.
Bizarrely, the entity was founded by a Conservative government in 2018, and states in its charter that its commissioners are appointed by the Home Secretary (the interior minister for the UK). The current Home Secretary, Priti Patel, often takes a harder line on immigration issues, and has been vocal against the Black Lives Matter-inspired riots in the UK.
The fact that a UK limited company run by open border, pro-Islam activists as well as a UK government-led task force have forced two conservative publications into financial dire straits ahead of an election is certain to raise eyebrows in the United States.
Speaking exclusively to The National Pulse, Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ) said of the Google moves at the behest of a left-wing UK company:
“This appears to be a blatant effort to interfere with our U.S. elections by silencing perceived conservative voices to suppress the vote for President Trump and other conservatives.
“Such foreign interference by a shady U.K. group has no business in our domestic politics.
“I will be asking Attorney General Barr to add Google to the list of subpoena recipients for the ongoing investigation into election interference, censorship and foreign meddling.
“The empty, overused and impotent claim of ‘racism’ is a thin pretext to censor opposing views from The Federalist and Zero Hedge, none of which have a history of publishing racist content.”
The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) is endorsed by race-industry obsessives including the Tell MAMA organization run by Fiyaz Mughal. Tell MAMA – which purports to represent the safety of British Muslims – lost government funding in 2013 for misrepresenting “hate crime” data.
CCDH is also backed by the Hope Not Hate group, which has links to Marxist agitators through the Unite Against Fascism group which once saw terrorist Michael Adebolajo – who murdered British soldier Lee Rigby – speak at one of their rallies.
Hope Not Hate’s founder Nick Lowles was actually banned from a left wing, Black students event in 2016 over claims of discriminatory behavior.
Meanwhile, Google continues its work with the Chinese Communist Party and its assets in the United States, as the National Pulse first reported.


bonginoreport--2020-06-16--Trump Administration Seeks Reforms of Voice of America’s Persian News Network

The Trump administration is seeking to implement a series of major reforms at Voice of America 's Persian News Network , an effort that comes after years of complaints alleging the outlet has exhibited a pro-Iran bias in its reporting , senior U.S. officials told the Washington Free Beacon .
VOA Persian , a taxpayer-funded news service that broadcasts in Farsi with the mission of countering the hardline Iranian regime 's anti-U.S. propaganda , has long been a source of frustration for Iranian dissidents and anti-regime voices in Congress .
Its broadcasts , critics allege , consistently portray Iran 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outlet 's mission of providing an unvarnished view of the Middle East .
After years of complaints and investigations by Congress , the Trump administration is taking action , according to Brian Hook , the State Department 's top Iran envoy .
Hook and other senior U.S. officials told the Free Beacon that the administration is pushing a series of reforms at VOA Persian that include a change in leadership , a complete overhaul of its programming , and new mandates to ensure coverage no longer fetes the Iranian regime .
Hook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pack as the new head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media , VOA 's governing body , has paved the way for the administration to root out corruption and mismanagement at VOA .
Pack , a conservative filmmaker and Trump ally , has been viewed with contempt by top VOA officials .
Since his appointment earlier this month , two top VOA executives stepped down , citing concerns the outlet would no longer retain its editorial independence .
Trump supporters , however , view Pack as an agent for change at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of liberal bias .
Trump has been vocal about his distaste for VOA 's coverage , which is often critical of his administration and its policies .
`` I hear often from the [ Iranian ] diaspora about problems at VOA , and I know the value that VOA 's Farsi language service can have if run properly and , conversely , how detrimental it can be if run improperly , '' Hook told the Free Beacon .
`` I look forward to a new day for VOA 's Persian service as new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ensure accurate , effective , and engaging content worthy of taxpayer dollars . ''
Last year , VOA Persian received $ 17 million in funding from the U.S. government .
While VOA news outlets are free to pursue stories without intervention by the government , the Persian service has put considerable resources into stories that paint the regime in a favorable light , critics say .
It has banned prominent anti-regime voices from appearing on-air and canceled shows that are popular among dissidents and Iranian expats living in America .
The time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for VOA Persian , '' particularly as `` misinformation , disinformation , and Iranian regime propaganda is at an all-time high , '' Hook said .
`` We are confident that tangible changes will be made so that taxpayer money spent on providing news and information to the rest of the world about America 's policies is accurate , reliable , and counters disinformation by regimes , like Iran , which are harmful to U.S .
interests . ''
A VOA spokesperson disputed claims of bias at the outlet , telling the Free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the forefront of confronting the disinformation efforts of the Iranian regime and enhancing U.S. efforts to speak directly to the Iranian people and the global Persian diaspora . ''
Since its establishment in 1979 , VOA Persian has been one of the only U.S. agencies to communicate directly with the Iranian people , the spokesperson said .
The spokesperson cited numerous interviews with Hook as evidence it is not biased but did not address bans of anti-regime voices .
Hook has appeared on the network 26 times , including for seven exclusive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his live speeches and aired 24 reports that included his recorded statements .
It has also interviewed a variety of GOP congressional hawks to present their views to the Iranian people .
A senior U.S. official who spoke to the Free Beacon about reform efforts said VOA Persian is among the least effective U.S.-funded news bureaus .
Concerns , the official said , reached a tipping point in 2014 when the Free Beacon first reported that a prominent Iran critic had been banned from the network over his anti-regime rhetoric .
Following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers petitioned then-secretary of State John Kerry to investigate allegations that VOA Persian 's leadership routinely censored negative coverage of Iran 's ruling government .
`` This has been a problem for a long time but really became a huge problem in 2014 , '' the senior U.S. official , speaking only on background about ongoing reform efforts , told the Free Beacon .
`` VOA Persian went significantly downhill in quality , content , programming , and became rife with management issues and personnel problems . ''
Trump , the source said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priority .
The proposed reforms , many of which are likely to be pursued by Pack in his new role , include ousting VOA Persian 's current leadership and revamping the network 's coverage to erase instances of pro-government bias .
This would also include a `` mandate for accurate and timely reporting of U.S. policy , '' an area where the outlet has significantly lagged behind competitors , according to the senior administration official .
Saeed Ghasseminejad , an Iran expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies , said these reforms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` failed to deliver timely , well-crafted objective news and reports , to explain Trump administration 's Iran-policy , and to be a good representative of American values , '' Ghasseminejad said , citing systemic mismanagement and politicization at the highest levels .
`` Over the years , VOA Persian 's management has managed to shut down its most successful shows and send capable hosts and producers into exile or marginalize them , '' he said .

The Trump administration is seeking to implement a series of major reforms at Voice of America's Persian News Network, an effort that comes after years of complaints alleging the outlet has exhibited a pro-Iran bias in its reporting, senior U.S. officials told the Washington Free Beacon.
VOA Persian, a taxpayer-funded news service that broadcasts in Farsi with the mission of countering the hardline Iranian regime's anti-U.S. propaganda, has long been a source of frustration for Iranian dissidents and anti-regime voices in Congress. Its broadcasts, critics allege, consistently portray Iran's government in a glowing light, undermining the outlet's mission of providing an unvarnished view of the Middle East.
After years of complaints and investigations by Congress, the Trump administration is taking action, according to Brian Hook, the State Department's top Iran envoy. Hook and other senior U.S. officials told the Free Beacon that the administration is pushing a series of reforms at VOA Persian that include a change in leadership, a complete overhaul of its programming, and new mandates to ensure coverage no longer fetes the Iranian regime.
Hook said the recent Senate confirmation of Michael Pack as the new head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, VOA's governing body, has paved the way for the administration to root out corruption and mismanagement at VOA. Pack, a conservative filmmaker and Trump ally, has been viewed with contempt by top VOA officials. Since his appointment earlier this month, two top VOA executives stepped down, citing concerns the outlet would no longer retain its editorial independence. Trump supporters, however, view Pack as an agent for change at a taxpayer-funded organization that has long faced accusations of liberal bias.
Trump has been vocal about his distaste for VOA's coverage, which is often critical of his administration and its policies.
"I hear often from the [Iranian] diaspora about problems at VOA, and I know the value that VOA's Farsi language service can have if run properly and, conversely, how detrimental it can be if run improperly," Hook told the Free Beacon. "I look forward to a new day for VOA's Persian service as new leadership comes in under Michael Pack who can ensure accurate, effective, and engaging content worthy of taxpayer dollars."
Last year, VOA Persian received $17 million in funding from the U.S. government. While VOA news outlets are free to pursue stories without intervention by the government, the Persian service has put considerable resources into stories that paint the regime in a favorable light, critics say. It has banned prominent anti-regime voices from appearing on-air and canceled shows that are popular among dissidents and Iranian expats living in America.
The time has come for a "new direction for VOA Persian," particularly as "misinformation, disinformation, and Iranian regime propaganda is at an all-time high," Hook said. "We are confident that tangible changes will be made so that taxpayer money spent on providing news and information to the rest of the world about America's policies is accurate, reliable, and counters disinformation by regimes, like Iran, which are harmful to U.S. interests."
A VOA spokesperson disputed claims of bias at the outlet, telling the Free Beacon that the network "has been on the forefront of confronting the disinformation efforts of the Iranian regime and enhancing U.S. efforts to speak directly to the Iranian people and the global Persian diaspora."
Since its establishment in 1979, VOA Persian has been one of the only U.S. agencies to communicate directly with the Iranian people, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson cited numerous interviews with Hook as evidence it is not biased but did not address bans of anti-regime voices.
Hook has appeared on the network 26 times, including for seven exclusive interviews. VOA Persian also carried 17 of his live speeches and aired 24 reports that included his recorded statements. It has also interviewed a variety of GOP congressional hawks to present their views to the Iranian people.
A senior U.S. official who spoke to the Free Beacon about reform efforts said VOA Persian is among the least effective U.S.-funded news bureaus. Concerns, the official said, reached a tipping point in 2014 when the Free Beacon first reported that a prominent Iran critic had been banned from the network over his anti-regime rhetoric.
Following that report, a bipartisan group of lawmakers petitioned then-secretary of State John Kerry to investigate allegations that VOA Persian's leadership routinely censored negative coverage of Iran's ruling government.
"This has been a problem for a long time but really became a huge problem in 2014," the senior U.S. official, speaking only on background about ongoing reform efforts, told the Free Beacon. "VOA Persian went significantly downhill in quality, content, programming, and became rife with management issues and personnel problems."
Trump, the source said, has made reforming the network a priority.
The proposed reforms, many of which are likely to be pursued by Pack in his new role, include ousting VOA Persian's current leadership and revamping the network's coverage to erase instances of pro-government bias. This would also include a "mandate for accurate and timely reporting of U.S. policy," an area where the outlet has significantly lagged behind competitors, according to the senior administration official.
Saeed Ghasseminejad, an Iran expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said these reforms are long overdue.
VOA Persian has "failed to deliver timely, well-crafted objective news and reports, to explain Trump administration's Iran-policy, and to be a good representative of American values," Ghasseminejad said, citing systemic mismanagement and politicization at the highest levels.
"Over the years, VOA Persian's management has managed to shut down its most successful shows and send capable hosts and producers into exile or marginalize them," he said.


bonginoreport--2020-06-16--Attorneys File Lawsuit to Force Mask Wearing and Social Distancing at Trump Tulsa Rally

Tulsa attorneys file lawsuit over worries Trump rally will be 'super-spreader event'
Tulsa attorneys Paul DeMuro, left, and Clark Brewster speak about their lawsuit filed Tuesday, June 16, 2020, to compel the BOK Center’s operator to use coronavirus safety measures for Saturday’s rally with President Donald Trump. (KTUL photo)


bonginoreport--2020-06-16--20 Soldiers Killed in Clash With Chinese Troops, India Says

An Indian man burns a photograph of Chinese president Xi Jinping during a protest against China in Ahmedabad , India , Tuesday , June 16 , 2020 .
At least three Indian soldiers , including a senior army officer , were killed in a confrontation with Chinese troops along their disputed border high in the Himalayas where thousands of soldiers on both sides have been facing off for over a month , the Indian army said Tuesday .
( AP Photo/Ajit Solanki ) An Indian man burns a photograph of Chinese president Xi Jinping during a protest against China in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 , 2020 .
At least three Indian soldiers , including a senior army officer , were killed in a confrontation with Chinese troops along their disputed border high in the Himalayas where thousands of soldiers on both sides have been facing off for over a month , the Indian army said Tuesday .
( AP Photo/Ajit Solanki ) SRINAGAR , India ( AP ) — A clash high in the Himalayas between the world ’ s two most populated countries claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers in a border region that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for decades , Indian officials said Tuesday .
The clash in the Ladakh region Monday — during which Indian officials said neither side fired any shots — was the first deadly confrontation between India and China since 1975 .
Experts said it would be difficult for the two nations to ease heightened tensions .
The Indian and Chinese troops fought each other with fists and rocks , Indian officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the information .
The Indian Army initially said in a statement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later updated the number to 20 and said 17 “ were critically injured in the line of duty at the standoff location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain.
” The statement did not disclose the nature of the soldiers ’ injuries .
China accused Indian forces of carrying out “ provocative attacks ” on its troops without offering more details and did not disclose if any of its soldiers died .
After the clash , the two sides “ disengaged ” from the area where the the fighting happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We are concerned about reports of violence and deaths at the Line of Actual Control between India and China , ” U.N. associate spokesperson Eri Kaneko said .
“ We take positive note of reports that the two countries have engaged to de escalate the situation.
” Michael Kugelman , a South Asia specialist at the Wilson Center , said that the two countries were unlikely to go to war because they can not “ afford a conflict.
” “ But let ’ s be clear : It beggars belief to think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadly exchange with such a higher number of fatalities , ” he said .
“ This crisis isn ’ t ending anytime soon.
” China claims about 90,000 square kilometers ( 35,000 square miles ) of territory in India ’ s northeast , while India says China occupies 38,000 square kilometers ( 15,000 square miles ) of its territory in the Aksai Chin Plateau in the Himalayas , a contiguous part of the Ladakh region .
India unilaterally declared Ladakh a federal territory while separating it from disputed Kashmir in August 2019 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to strongly condemn the move , raising it at international forums including the U.N. Security Council .
Thousands of soldiers on both sides have faced off over a month along a remote stretch of the 3,380-kilometer ( 2,100-mile ) Line of Actual Control , the border established following a war between India and China in 1962 that resulted in an uneasy truce .
Vivek Katju , a retired Indian diplomat , said the deadly violence represented a dramatic departure from the four-decades-old status quo of troops from the two countries staring each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political class and the security class as a whole will have to do very serious thinking about the road ahead , ” he said .
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian gave no details of any casualties on the Chinese side , but said that China had strongly protested the incident and remained committed to maintaining “ peace and tranquility ” along the disputed and heavily militarized border .
“ But what is shocking is that on June 15 , the Indian troops seriously violated the consensus of the two sides , crossed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provocative attacks on Chinese personnel , resulting in serious physical conflicts between the two border forces , ” Zhao said .
India ’ s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that the incident happened “ as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo ” in the Galwan Valley .
Thousands of soldiers from the two countries , backed by armored trucks and artillery , have been stationed just a few hundred meters ( yards ) apart for more than a month in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army officers and diplomats have held a series of meetings to try to end the impasse , with no breakthrough .
Indian authorities have officially maintained near-total silence on the issues related to the confrontation But two Indian security officials familiar with latest developments told The Associated Press that soldiers from the two sides had engaged in the fistfights and stone-throwing , which led to the casualties .
Both said that no shots were fired by either side , speaking on condition of anonymity in keeping with government regulations .
Indian Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clash in a televised meeting Tuesday with state officials .
The tense standoff started in early May , when Indian officials said that Chinese soldiers crossed the boundary in Ladakh at three different points , erecting tents and guard posts and ignoring verbal warnings to leave .
That triggered shouting matches , stone-throwing and fistfights , much of it replayed on television news channels and social media .
China has sought to downplay the confrontation while saying the two sides were communicating through both their front-line military units and their respective embassies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t new along the frontier , the standoff at Ladakh ’ s Galwan Valley , where India is building a strategic road connecting the region to an airstrip close to China , has escalated in recent weeks .
The two countries have been trying to settle their border dispute since the early 1990s without success .
The last time there were fatalities along the disputed border was in 1975 , when Chinese troops killed four Indian soldiers in an ambush in the Twang region of northeastern India ’ s Arunachal Pradesh state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former head of the Indian military ’ s Northern Command .
“ It ’ s a very complicated and serious situation , and it will take real , hard negotiating skills to resolve this , ” Hooda said .
Indian officials have said Chinese soldiers commit more than 500 border transgressions annually .
Associated Press writer Ashok Sharma contributed to this report from New Delhi .

SRINAGAR, India (AP) — A clash high in the Himalayas between the world’s two most populated countries claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers in a border region that the two nuclear armed neighbors have disputed for decades, Indian officials said Tuesday.
The clash in the Ladakh region Monday — during which Indian officials said neither side fired any shots — was the first deadly confrontation between India and China since 1975. Experts said it would be difficult for the two nations to ease heightened tensions.
The Indian and Chinese troops fought each other with fists and rocks, Indian officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the information.
The Indian Army initially said in a statement that three Indian soldiers had died, but later updated the number to 20 and said 17 “were critically injured in the line of duty at the standoff location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain.” The statement did not disclose the nature of the soldiers’ injuries.
China accused Indian forces of carrying out “provocative attacks” on its troops without offering more details and did not disclose if any of its soldiers died.
After the clash, the two sides “disengaged” from the area where the the fighting happened, the Indian Army statement said.
The United Nations urged both sides “to exercise maximum restraint.”
“We are concerned about reports of violence and deaths at the Line of Actual Control between India and China,” U.N. associate spokesperson Eri Kaneko said. “We take positive note of reports that the two countries have engaged to de escalate the situation.”
Michael Kugelman, a South Asia specialist at the Wilson Center, said that the two countries were unlikely to go to war because they cannot “afford a conflict.”
“But let’s be clear: It beggars belief to think that they can magically deescalate after a deadly exchange with such a higher number of fatalities,” he said. “This crisis isn’t ending anytime soon.”
China claims about 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 square miles) of territory in India’s northeast, while India says China occupies 38,000 square kilometers (15,000 square miles) of its territory in the Aksai Chin Plateau in the Himalayas, a contiguous part of the Ladakh region.
India unilaterally declared Ladakh a federal territory while separating it from disputed Kashmir in August 2019. China was among the handful of countries to strongly condemn the move, raising it at international forums including the U.N. Security Council.
Thousands of soldiers on both sides have faced off over a month along a remote stretch of the 3,380-kilometer (2,100-mile) Line of Actual Control, the border established following a war between India and China in 1962 that resulted in an uneasy truce.
Vivek Katju, a retired Indian diplomat, said the deadly violence represented a dramatic departure from the four-decades-old status quo of troops from the two countries staring each other down without any fatalities.
“The political class and the security class as a whole will have to do very serious thinking about the road ahead,” he said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian gave no details of any casualties on the Chinese side, but said that China had strongly protested the incident and remained committed to maintaining “peace and tranquility” along the disputed and heavily militarized border.
“But what is shocking is that on June 15, the Indian troops seriously violated the consensus of the two sides, crossed the border illegally twice and carried out provocative attacks on Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical conflicts between the two border forces,” Zhao said.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that the incident happened “as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo” in the Galwan Valley.
Thousands of soldiers from the two countries, backed by armored trucks and artillery, have been stationed just a few hundred meters (yards) apart for more than a month in the Ladakh region that lies near Tibet. Army officers and diplomats have held a series of meetings to try to end the impasse, with no breakthrough.
Indian authorities have officially maintained near-total silence on the issues related to the confrontation
But two Indian security officials familiar with latest developments told The Associated Press that soldiers from the two sides had engaged in the fistfights and stone-throwing, which led to the casualties. Both said that no shots were fired by either side, speaking on condition of anonymity in keeping with government regulations.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not comment on the clash in a televised meeting Tuesday with state officials.
The tense standoff started in early May, when Indian officials said that Chinese soldiers crossed the boundary in Ladakh at three different points, erecting tents and guard posts and ignoring verbal warnings to leave. That triggered shouting matches, stone-throwing and fistfights, much of it replayed on television news channels and social media.
China has sought to downplay the confrontation while saying the two sides were communicating through both their front-line military units and their respective embassies to resolve issues.
Though skirmishes aren’t new along the frontier, the standoff at Ladakh’s Galwan Valley, where India is building a strategic road connecting the region to an airstrip close to China, has escalated in recent weeks.
The two countries have been trying to settle their border dispute since the early 1990s without success.
The last time there were fatalities along the disputed border was in 1975, when Chinese troops killed four Indian soldiers in an ambush in the Twang region of northeastern India’s Arunachal Pradesh state, said Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda, a former head of the Indian military’s Northern Command.
“It’s a very complicated and serious situation, and it will take real, hard negotiating skills to resolve this,” Hooda said.
Indian officials have said Chinese soldiers commit more than 500 border transgressions annually.
___
Associated Press writer Ashok Sharma contributed to this report from New Delhi.
——
Follow Aijaz Hussain on Twitter at twitter.com/hussain_aijaz


bonginoreport--2020-06-16--Dan Bongino Announces Partnership With Parler

For over a decade tech and social media giants have actively been filtering reality through a liberal lens .
Google has been fined a record breaking $ 2.7 billion from the European Union for manipulating search results , and in America we know exactly which side of the political spectrum that manipulation benefits .
Of the top 20 news outlets featured in in Google ’ s Top Stories box ( which account for 86 % of article impressions ) , there is only one right-wing source ( Fox News ) – and CNN gets featured three times as often .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ results found that “ top search results were almost 40 % more likely to contain pages with a “ Left ” or “ Far Left ” slant than they were pages from the right.
” Social media is no better .
According to a former Facebook insider who was interviewed by Project Veritas , the social media network has an entire set of tools that they use frequently to suppress conservative views and well known conservative leaders .
Twitter has begun attempting ( poorly ) to fact check the President – but not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news about him on their platform .
According to OpenSecrets , of all Twitter employees who donated to political causes , 99.8 % went to Democrats .
Meanwhile Snapchat ( which luckily I can ’ t imagine having any influence over elections ) no longer features any content from President Trump in their “ discover ” section ( a part of the app that usually features contents from news organizations , brands , celebrities , politicians , etc . )
It makes little sense to give our business to social media giants that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and finally there ’ s an alternative .
Dan Bongino has the following announcement : I ’ ve always believed that action matters , and talk is cheap .
That ’ s why I ran for office to fight the political machine , that ’ s why I started my podcast to fight against the fake news titans , and that ’ s why I started Bongino Report to fight back against the liberal Drudge Report .
Now I ’ ve decided to take on my biggest fight yet .
I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back against the Tech Tyrants .
I ’ m beyond fed up with the censorship and bias of Twitter and Facebook and I ’ m not going to stand back and watch as they target us .
As a result , I ’ ve taken an ownership stake in Parler , the hottest social media alternative in the market right now .
Parler and I share common values .
We are resolutely committed to free speech , and the marketplace of ideas .
We hope you join us in this fight against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parler .
You can follow me there @ dbongino .

For over a decade tech and social media giants have actively been filtering reality through a liberal lens.
Google has been fined a record breaking $2.7 billion from the European Union for manipulating search results, and in America we know exactly which side of the political spectrum that manipulation benefits.
Of the top 20 news outlets featured in in Google’s Top Stories box (which account for 86% of article impressions), there is only one right-wing source (Fox News) – and CNN gets featured three times as often. A study of Google’s search results found that “top search results were almost 40% more likely to contain pages with a “Left” or “Far Left” slant than they were pages from the right.”
Social media is no better. According to a former Facebook insider who was interviewed by Project Veritas, the social media network has an entire set of tools that they use frequently to suppress conservative views and well known conservative leaders. Twitter has begun attempting (poorly) to fact check the President – but not one iota of the volume of fake news about him on their platform. According to OpenSecrets, of all Twitter employees who donated to political causes, 99.8% went to Democrats.
Meanwhile Snapchat (which luckily I can’t imagine having any influence over elections) no longer features any content from President Trump in their “discover” section (a part of the app that usually features contents from news organizations, brands, celebrities, politicians, etc.)
It makes little sense to give our business to social media giants that want nothing to do with us – and finally there’s an alternative.
Dan Bongino has the following announcement:
I’ve always believed that action matters, and talk is cheap. That’s why I ran for office to fight the political machine, that’s why I started my podcast to fight against the fake news titans, and that’s why I started Bongino Report to fight back against the liberal Drudge Report. Now I’ve decided to take on my biggest fight yet. I’ve decided it’s time to fight back against the Tech Tyrants. I’m beyond fed up with the censorship and bias of Twitter and Facebook and I’m not going to stand back and watch as they target us. As a result, I’ve taken an ownership stake in Parler, the hottest social media alternative in the market right now. Parler and I share common values. We are resolutely committed to free speech, and the marketplace of ideas. We hope you join us in this fight against the Tech Tyrants by opening an account on Parler. You can follow me there @dbongino. Thank you very much.
Head over to Parler.com today.


bonginoreport--2020-06-16--Leftist Philadelphia Mayor and DA Call Residents Who Protected Columbus Statue “Criminal Bullies”

Armed South Philly residents guard Columbus statue from vandalism — and leftist mayor , district attorney call them vigilantes , @ @ @ @ @ watching over the South Broad Street statue reportedly were wielding guns , baseball bats , @ @ @ @ @

Philly folk don't play. But you probably already knew that.
You might recall about 100 residents of the city's Fishtown neighborhood patrolled their streets with baseball bats, hammers, and shovels as nationwide George Floyd rioting hit a fever pitch earlier this month.
Well, another 100 or so in south Philadelphia — a legendary Italian-American stronghold that's home to "Rocky" lore and arguably the best cheesesteaks around — took it upon themselves to guard the Christopher Columbus statue in Marconi Plaza from potential vandalism over the weekend.
And some of them used bats, golf clubs, sticks — and guns — to convince those who might hold opposite opinions to stay away, PhillyVoice reported.
Still, it got heated at times.
Image source: WTXF-TV video screenshot
As TheBlaze has been reporting, protesters last week beheaded, toppled, and vandalized statues and monuments across America in their fury over racism and Floyd's death — but Philly leftists didn't exactly get high marks after they ignorantly vandalized the statue of abolitionist Matthias Baldwin outside City Hall, spray-painting "murderer" and "colonizer" on its pedestal.
Still, the south Philly faithful wanted to be ready.
"We refuse to let our statue be taken by looters," one resident told WTXF-TV. "If they wanna take the statue, which we are against, do it the right way."
Another man added to the station that protesters "break stuff" and "loot" and "destroy, and then people give you what you want — that's terrorism. This is not what America's supposed to be about. We're not supposed to give in to terror."
Image source: WTXF-TV video screenshot
What happened?
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney indirectly referred to the behavior of those guarding the statue as "vigilantism," and District Attorney Larry Krasner called them "criminal bullies."
Kenney also said officials know about "an apparent assault caught on video tape, as well as possible restrictions placed on journalists filming the event. These incidents are under investigation at this time."
More from PhillyVoice:
Some of those who gathered allegedly assaulted a reporter named Chris Schiano from the media company Unicorn Riot after they were seen being filmed, as footage shows the reporter being hit in the head and having the tires of his bike slashed.
Some of those who gathered allegedly fought with police officers over the reporter covering the event and argued with the cops to get Schiano to stop filming the gathering.
A Philadelphia police officer named Louis Campione also allegedly attempted to stop the reporter from filming and covering the event, as well as accused the reporter of instigating the crowd.
Here are some related clips. ( Content warning: Language):
Sunday was far more intense
Presumably because they caught wind of south Philly folk guarding the statue, leftists descended upon the area Sunday, and the two groups squared off, WTXF reported.
Police reportedly arrested at least two people for disorderly conduct, the station said, adding that one counterprotester was detained for ripping down a flag and second for moving a police barricade.
Jeering the mayor — at his fiancee's house
Some of the people guarding the statue on Sunday evening walked about a half mile to the home of the mayor's fiancee where they jeered Kenney for not backing police and what they believed was his weak response to the riots — and they also cheered for President Donald Trump, WTXF said.
Residents guarded the Columbus statue through Monday morning, the station added.


bonginoreport--2020-06-16--According to Democrat Congressman, Religious Liberty is a “Bogus Term”

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney ( D. , N.Y. ) said Monday that religious liberty is a `` bogus term '' that merely serves as a `` pretext for discrimination . ''
Maloney was celebrating the morning 's high-profile victory for LGBT rights at the Supreme Court , but he took time to criticize the author of the decision , Justice Neil Gorsuch , for having supported religious liberty .
`` We know that Neil Gorsuch is a supporter of so-called religious liberty , which is a bogus term—it is actually some sort of pretext for discrimination hiding behind the guise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I 'm still on the lookout for that from the author of this opinion . ''
Maloney went on to list the ways that `` kids '' have led the charge in progressive protest movements , such as gun control , arguing some of his congressional colleagues should be replaced by high school students .
`` If we had more high school kids in Congress , we 'd be a better country , '' he said .
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gay , and transgender workers .
Gorsuch , who was appointed by President Donald Trump , delivered the opinion in a six-to-three decision .
Maloney cochairs the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus and has previously criticized defenders of religious liberty for attempting to `` sanction discrimination . ''

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D., N.Y.) said Monday that religious liberty is a "bogus term" that merely serves as a "pretext for discrimination."
Maloney was celebrating the morning's high-profile victory for LGBT rights at the Supreme Court, but he took time to criticize the author of the decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch, for having supported religious liberty.
"We know that Neil Gorsuch is a supporter of so-called religious liberty, which is a bogus term—it is actually some sort of pretext for discrimination hiding behind the guise of religion," Maloney said. "I'm still on the lookout for that from the author of this opinion."
Maloney went on to list the ways that "kids" have led the charge in progressive protest movements, such as gun control, arguing some of his congressional colleagues should be replaced by high school students.
"If we had more high school kids in Congress, we'd be a better country," he said.
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination, protects lesbian, gay, and transgender workers. Gorsuch, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, delivered the opinion in a six-to-three decision.
Maloney cochairs the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus and has previously criticized defenders of religious liberty for attempting to "sanction discrimination."