bonginoreport--2020-11-18--Georgia Election Monitor Finds 9,626 Vote Error in DeKalb County

A monitor has reportedly discovered a 9,626-vote error in Georgia ’ s DeKalb County ’ s hand recount , according to Georgia Republican Party chairman David Shafer .
“ One of our monitors discovered a 9,626 vote error in the DeKalb County hand count .
One batch was labeled 10,707 for Biden and 13 for Trump – an improbable margin even by DeKalb standards , ” Shafer said .
“ The actual count for the batch was 1,081 for Biden and 13 for Trump.
” According to Shafer , the error , if not discovered , would have essentially given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s gains from Fayette , Floyd and Walton.
” “ We were limited to 1 monitor for every 10 counting tables and we were kept some distance from the tables .
There is no telling what we missed under these unreasonable restrictions .
The miscounted batch had been be signed off by two official counters , ” Shafer continued in the Wednesday update .
The Georgia GOP chairman added that an affidavit from the monitor has been turned over to the secretary of state , and their attorneys have “ requested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back on criticism from the Cook Political Report ’ s Dave Wasserman , who stated that Shafer ’ s report was “ grossly misleading.
” “ Dave is wrong here .
We have no idea whether either the first or second hand count matches the original machine count because audit has not been completed , ” he said after Wasserman asserted that the discovery does not impact Georgia ’ s overall vote margin : The news follows reports of thousands of uncounted ballots in other Georgia counties .
On Monday , the Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Floyd County discovered roughly 2,600 uncounted ballots .
According to officials , President Trump benefitted the most from the discovery , with 1,643 votes , followed by 865 additional votes for Joe Biden ( D ) and 16 for libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen .
The finding resulted in a net gain of about 800 for the president : On Tuesday , the Georgia secretary of state ’ s office announced that over 2,700 votes in Fayette County were not uploaded properly .
“ Of the 2,755 votes , 1,577 were for President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice President Joe Biden , ” as Breitbart News reported : Trump also netted 176 votes following an audit in Walton County .
Shafer and Rep. Doug Collins ( R-GA ) , who is leading the Trump campaign ’ s recount effort in Georgia , sent a letter to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger ( R ) last week expressing concern over the state ’ s audit , recount , and recanvass and contending that the “ stated goals … do not satisfy our concerns that gave rise to our request for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

A monitor has reportedly discovered a 9,626-vote error in Georgia’s DeKalb County’s hand recount, according to Georgia Republican Party chairman David Shafer.
“One of our monitors discovered a 9,626 vote error in the DeKalb County hand count. One batch was labeled 10,707 for Biden and 13 for Trump – an improbable margin even by DeKalb standards,” Shafer said. “The actual count for the batch was 1,081 for Biden and 13 for Trump.”
According to Shafer, the error, if not discovered, would have essentially given Biden enough votes to “cancel out Trump’s gains from Fayette, Floyd and Walton.”
“We were limited to 1 monitor for every 10 counting tables and we were kept some distance from the tables. There is no telling what we missed under these unreasonable restrictions. The miscounted batch had been be signed off by two official counters,” Shafer continued in the Wednesday update.
The Georgia GOP chairman added that an affidavit from the monitor has been turned over to the secretary of state, and their attorneys have “requested an investigation”:
One of our monitors discovered a 9,626 vote error in the DeKalb County hand count. One batch was labeled 10,707 for Biden and 13 for Trump – an improbable margin even by DeKalb standards. The actual count for the batch was 1,081 for Biden and 13 for Trump. — David Shafer (@DavidShafer) November 18, 2020
We were limited to 1 monitor for every 10 counting tables and we were kept some distance from the tables. There is no telling what we missed under these unreasonable restrictions. The miscounted batch had been be signed off by two official counters. — David Shafer (@DavidShafer) November 18, 2020
Our attorneys have turned over an affidavit from our monitor to the Secretary of State and requested an investigation. — David Shafer (@DavidShafer) November 18, 2020
Shafer also pushed back on criticism from the Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman, who stated that Shafer’s report was “grossly misleading.”
“Dave is wrong here. We have no idea whether either the first or second hand count matches the original machine count because audit has not been completed,” he said after Wasserman asserted that the discovery does not impact Georgia’s overall vote margin:
Dave is wrong here. We have no idea whether either the first or second hand count matches the original machine count because audit has not been completed. https://t.co/FamjVR656h — David Shafer (@DavidShafer) November 18, 2020
The news follows reports of thousands of uncounted ballots in other Georgia counties. On Monday, the Georgia secretary of state’s office announced that Floyd County discovered roughly 2,600 uncounted ballots.
According to officials, President Trump benefitted the most from the discovery, with 1,643 votes, followed by 865 additional votes for Joe Biden (D) and 16 for libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen. The finding resulted in a net gain of about 800 for the president:
Well look what we found here…thousands of uncounted ballots in Georgia… “Georgia recount: Newly found votes in Floyd County could benefit Trump” https://t.co/0BFvNjp5BS — Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) November 16, 2020
On Tuesday, the Georgia secretary of state’s office announced that over 2,700 votes in Fayette County were not uploaded properly.
“Of the 2,755 votes, 1,577 were for President Trump, while 1,128 went to former Vice President Joe Biden,” as Breitbart News reported:
New: a memory card was found during the audit in Fayette county with 2,755 votes. Decreased Biden statewide lead by 449. New margin total statewide in GA is a 12,929 lead for Biden — Justin Gray (@JustinGrayWSB) November 17, 2020
Trump also netted 176 votes following an audit in Walton County.
Shafer and Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), who is leading the Trump campaign’s recount effort in Georgia, sent a letter to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) last week expressing concern over the state’s audit, recount, and recanvass and contending that the “stated goals … do not satisfy our concerns that gave rise to our request for a hand count in the first place.”


bonginoreport--2020-11-18--Facebook’s Election Fact Checker Honored Biden in 2017

The so-called ‘ Bipartisan Policy Center ’ – the organization spearheading Facebook ’ s “ voting information center ” – honored Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden with awards , and counts every single penny spent by its employees on the 2020 presidential election in support of the former veep .
In addition , the group – which features Biden quotes on its homepage – has strong financial ties to the ‘ NeverTrump ’ movement .
Its Board of Directors also includes two individuals who stood in the Democratic Party primaries in 2020 .
Facebook ’ s voter information page attempts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bolster Democrat-pushed narratives such as expecting delays with election results , featuring claims such as “ it ’ s a common strategy for adversaries to try to make voting systems appear vulnerable as an attempt to shake people ’ s confidence in the election process.
” Facebook attempts to discredit these claims by exclusively citing the Bipartisan Policy Center .
And frequently , following the center ’ s guidelines , content from conservative outlets such as The National Pulse has been censored or scrubbed from the platform .
Despite the group ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Election Commission ( FEC ) records show that every penny directed to the 2020 presidential election went to Democratic candidate Joe Biden .
Between 11 individuals who list the center as their employer on the FEC database , the 28 donations amount to $ 12,314.50 sent to Biden ’ s presidential campaign .
In contrast , zero dollars was sent to the campaign of President Trump .
And of the group ’ s total 608 total donations to federal campaigns , virtually all have gone to Democrats .
A trace amount has gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John McCain and Cory Gardner .
In addition to supporting the candidate financially , the center also awarded Joe Biden its 2017 Congressional Patriot Award , which “ recognizes leaders who demonstrate political courage and exceptional leadership throughout their careers.
” While speaking at the group ’ s 10th-anniversary celebration , its president extolled Biden ’ s “ remarkable energy , passion , and unyielding determination , ” insisting the Bipartisan Policy Center “ honors his example and expresses deep gratitude for his distinguished service ” : “ It is a great honor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Throughout his career , Vice President Biden has devoted his remarkable energy , passion , and unyielding determination to helping people .
Joe Biden ’ s unrivaled authenticity and political courage has helped lead our nation through tumultuous times .
BPC honors his example and expresses deep gratitude for his distinguished service.
” Greeted by an abundance of applause and cheers , Biden addressed the group – which he praised as “ doing a heck of a job ” – in 2017 .
He insisted the award was especially meaningful as it came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” : “ Those of you know that the most meaningful compliments or awards or nice gestures that you receive mean the most when they come from people who really know you.
” It ’ s no surprise , therefore , the group prominently displays quotes from Joe Biden on its homepage .
The quote – “ candor generates trust .
Trust is the basis on which real change , constructive change is made ” – comes from Biden speaking to Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping in 2013 .
What ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ center-left think tank.
” Among its leadership , five top executives have worked for Democratic representatives or can be linked to left-leaning causes , while just one previously worked Republican officials .
The group counts funding from the left-wing group Democracy Fund , founded by Pierre Omidyar .
Omidyar is a mainstay in the “ Never Trump ” movement , donating millions of dollars to establishment Republican groups keen on taking down President Trump .
The Bipartisan Policy Center ’ s Board of Directors also includes two individuals who ran in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Julian Castro .
Never Trumper Michael Steele also sits on the board .

The so-called ‘Bipartisan Policy Center’ – the organization spearheading Facebook’s “voting information center” – honored Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden with awards, and counts every single penny spent by its employees on the 2020 presidential election in support of the former veep.
In addition, the group – which features Biden quotes on its homepage – has strong financial ties to the ‘NeverTrump’ movement. Its Board of Directors also includes two individuals who stood in the Democratic Party primaries in 2020.
Facebook’s voter information page attempts to dispel fears over election fraud and bolster Democrat-pushed narratives such as expecting delays with election results, featuring claims such as “it’s a common strategy for adversaries to try to make voting systems appear vulnerable as an attempt to shake people’s confidence in the election process.”
Facebook attempts to discredit these claims by exclusively citing the Bipartisan Policy Center. And frequently, following the center’s guidelines, content from conservative outlets such as The National Pulse has been censored or scrubbed from the platform.
BIDEN BACKERS.
Despite the group’s self-selected “bipartisan” label, Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show that every penny directed to the 2020 presidential election went to Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Between 11 individuals who list the center as their employer on the FEC database, the 28 donations amount to $12,314.50 sent to Biden’s presidential campaign.
In contrast, zero dollars was sent to the campaign of President Trump.
And of the group’s total 608 total donations to federal campaigns, virtually all have gone to Democrats. A trace amount has gone to support establishment Republican candidates such as John McCain and Cory Gardner.
BIDEN BUDS.
In addition to supporting the candidate financially, the center also awarded Joe Biden its 2017 Congressional Patriot Award, which “recognizes leaders who demonstrate political courage and exceptional leadership throughout their careers.”
While speaking at the group’s 10th-anniversary celebration, its president extolled Biden’s “remarkable energy, passion, and unyielding determination,” insisting the Bipartisan Policy Center “honors his example and expresses deep gratitude for his distinguished service”:
“It is a great honor to be joined by Joe Biden. Throughout his career, Vice President Biden has devoted his remarkable energy, passion, and unyielding determination to helping people. Joe Biden’s unrivaled authenticity and political courage has helped lead our nation through tumultuous times. BPC honors his example and expresses deep gratitude for his distinguished service.”
Greeted by an abundance of applause and cheers, Biden addressed the group – which he praised as “doing a heck of a job” – in 2017.
He insisted the award was especially meaningful as it came from “people who really knew him”:
“Those of you know that the most meaningful compliments or awards or nice gestures that you receive mean the most when they come from people who really know you.”
It’s no surprise, therefore, the group prominently displays quotes from Joe Biden on its homepage.
The quote – “candor generates trust. Trust is the basis on which real change, constructive change is made”– comes from Biden speaking to Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping in 2013.
NEVER TRUMPERS.
What’s more, the group is dubbed as a “center-left think tank.”
Among its leadership, five top executives have worked for Democratic representatives or can be linked to left-leaning causes, while just one previously worked Republican officials.
The group counts funding from the left-wing group Democracy Fund, founded by Pierre Omidyar. Omidyar is a mainstay in the “Never Trump” movement, donating millions of dollars to establishment Republican groups keen on taking down President Trump.
The Bipartisan Policy Center’s Board of Directors also includes two individuals who ran in the 2020 Democratic primary: John Delaney and Julian Castro. Never Trumper Michael Steele also sits on the board.


bonginoreport--2020-11-18--McEnany Says Fired Cybersecurity Chief Tried to Sabotage Election Legal Challenges

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the top U.S. cybersecurity official , who was abruptly fired by President Trump after defending the integrity of the 2020 election , appeared motivated to discredit the president 's legal challenges in battleground states .
Asserting that there is a great deal of evidence of possible misconduct , including hundreds of pages of affidavits in Michigan and `` real questions '' in Pennsylvania , the chief Trump spokeswoman argued that Chris Krebs , who served as the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency , was misleading the public .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an inaccurate statement .
He actually made a few , if you look at his Twitter feed .
But , look , if you say that this was the most secure election in American history , as the president rightly pointed out , that may be true from the standpoint of foreign interference , '' she said on Wednesday 's episode of Fox & Friends before pointing to ballots found in Georgia that had not been included in the initial count .
`` So , to come out and say it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that 's just not an accurate statement , and it seems like a partisan attempt to just hit back at the president as he pursues important litigation , '' McEnany continued .
Last week , the Homeland Security Department agency led by Krebs released a joint statement with some partners and advisers that said that `` there is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes , changed votes , or was in any way compromised , ” which is contrary to what Trump and his allies claim .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favor of President-elect Joe Biden , although they have not presented evidence of a widespread plot to overturn the election .
Trump cited the statement , which also stressed that `` the Nov. 3rd election was the most secure in American history , '' in his pair of tweets Tuesday night announcing the firing of Krebs .
The president said it was `` highly inaccurate . ''
Krebs 's second in command , Matt Travis , also reportedly resigned under pressure , leaving career CISA official Brandon Wales to be acting director .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Krebs was defended by people across the political spectrum .
“ Director Krebs is a deeply respected cybersecurity expert who worked diligently to safeguard our elections , support state and local election officials , and dispel dangerous misinformation .
Yet , instead of rewarding this patriotic service , the president has fired Director Krebs for speaking truth to power and rejecting Trump ’ s constant campaign of election falsehoods , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said .
“ The president ’ s insistence on distracting and dividing the country by denying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democracy . ''
Still , Trump 's supporters have been incensed with Krebs for stepping out of line with what the president and his allies have been arguing in court .
Fox Business host Lou Dobbs criticized CISA for failing to disclose in the election security statement that two voting machine companies that have been subject to scrutiny are advisers to the agency .
McEnany was asked if Krebs had a political agenda driving him , which prompted her to explore some possibilities .
`` I don ’ t know if it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , what it was .
But it definitely seemed to be animated by something , and it seemed to go directly at this president and legitimate claims that he ’ s pursuing in court , '' she said .
Steve Doocy , one of the co-hosts of Fox & Friends , then suggested DHS may not have found proof of voter fraud or irregularities , '' Yeah , well , look down in Georgia , '' McEnany replied .
“ We have one recount going on right now .
Just one .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen . ''

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the top U.S. cybersecurity official, who was abruptly fired by President Trump after defending the integrity of the 2020 election, appeared motivated to discredit the president's legal challenges in battleground states.
Asserting that there is a great deal of evidence of possible misconduct, including hundreds of pages of affidavits in Michigan and "real questions" in Pennsylvania, the chief Trump spokeswoman argued that Chris Krebs, who served as the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, was misleading the public.
"The president has pointed out that he made an inaccurate statement. He actually made a few, if you look at his Twitter feed. But, look, if you say that this was the most secure election in American history, as the president rightly pointed out, that may be true from the standpoint of foreign interference," she said on Wednesday's episode of Fox & Friends before pointing to ballots found in Georgia that had not been included in the initial count.
"So, to come out and say it’s the most secure election in American history, that's just not an accurate statement, and it seems like a partisan attempt to just hit back at the president as he pursues important litigation," McEnany continued.
Last week, the Homeland Security Department agency led by Krebs released a joint statement with some partners and advisers that said that "there is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised,” which is contrary to what Trump and his allies claim. They claim that the election was rigged in favor of President-elect Joe Biden, although they have not presented evidence of a widespread plot to overturn the election.
Trump cited the statement, which also stressed that "the Nov. 3rd election was the most secure in American history," in his pair of tweets Tuesday night announcing the firing of Krebs. The president said it was "highly inaccurate." Krebs's second in command, Matt Travis, also reportedly resigned under pressure, leaving career CISA official Brandon Wales to be acting director.
The firing was met with intense backlash, and Krebs was defended by people across the political spectrum.
“Director Krebs is a deeply respected cybersecurity expert who worked diligently to safeguard our elections, support state and local election officials, and dispel dangerous misinformation. Yet, instead of rewarding this patriotic service, the president has fired Director Krebs for speaking truth to power and rejecting Trump’s constant campaign of election falsehoods," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “The president’s insistence on distracting and dividing the country by denying his defeat in the election undermines our democracy."
Still, Trump's supporters have been incensed with Krebs for stepping out of line with what the president and his allies have been arguing in court. Fox Business host Lou Dobbs criticized CISA for failing to disclose in the election security statement that two voting machine companies that have been subject to scrutiny are advisers to the agency.
McEnany was asked if Krebs had a political agenda driving him, which prompted her to explore some possibilities.
"I don’t know if it was a partisan agenda, a personal grievance, what it was. But it definitely seemed to be animated by something, and it seemed to go directly at this president and legitimate claims that he’s pursuing in court," she said.
Steve Doocy, one of the co-hosts of Fox & Friends, then suggested DHS may not have found proof of voter fraud or irregularities,
"Yeah, well, look down in Georgia," McEnany replied. “We have one recount going on right now. Just one. There are others that may or may not happen."


bonginoreport--2020-11-18--Biden Wants a Gun Tax That Could Top $34 Billion

American gun owners could face tens of billions of dollars in new taxes to keep the guns they already own under Democrat Joe Biden 's gun ban and tax plan .
At least 20 million rifles and 150 million ammunition magazines would be caught up in the sales ban and registration scheme Biden touted on the campaign trail , according to a National Shooting Sports Foundation ( NSSF ) report .
The new taxes would cost Americans more than $ 34 billion , according to a Washington Free Beacon analysis .
NSSF told the Washington Free Beacon the sheer number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a significant problem for Biden 's gun-control plans .
`` I think if [ Biden and his team ] were smart , they would look at those numbers and get an idea of where America stands on gun ownership and gun rights , '' NSSF spokesman Mark Oliva said .
Biden wants to ban new sales of AR-15 rifles and similar firearms as well as any ammunition magazine holding more than 10 rounds—sizes that come standard on most modern rifles and handguns .
He would pay some owners to surrender the affected guns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to register the guns under the National Firearms Act .
The proposal would require owners to pay a $ 200 tax stamp for each item .
The report said the kinds of rifles Biden wants to ban made up nearly half of all rifles produced in 2018 .
Oliva said the group 's estimates may actually be undercounts .
While NSSF used the latest Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms , and Explosives manufacturer reports , those only cover up to 2018 , and Oliva said AR-15s have continued to grow in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's report comes out [ with ] an 18 to 24-month delay , '' Oliva said .
`` That number is probably significantly higher now . ''
Oliva pointed to record sales in 2020 as evidence that the amount of ARs and ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds has only increased in recent months .
He said the firearms Biden hopes to ban are popular because they offer modularity and customizability while being effective for hunting , sport shooting , and home defense .
The report , which was released Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made or imported into the United States in 2018 .
A further 9.3 million were made or imported in 2019 .
That brings the total number of firearms on the American market between 1991 and 2019 up to nearly 214 million .
Oliva said those numbers , combined with the fact that Americans increasingly favor AR-15s and other rifles targeted by Biden and gun-control advocates , are evidence the country is not interested in strict new gun laws .
`` America 's attitude on gun control is shifting more toward the idea that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away from the idea we need government control of our destiny , '' he said .
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment .

American gun owners could face tens of billions of dollars in new taxes to keep the guns they already own under Democrat Joe Biden's gun ban and tax plan.
At least 20 million rifles and 150 million ammunition magazines would be caught up in the sales ban and registration scheme Biden touted on the campaign trail, according to a National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) report. The new taxes would cost Americans more than $34 billion, according to a Washington Free Beacon analysis.
NSSF told the Washington Free Beacon the sheer number of affected guns and magazines could pose a significant problem for Biden's gun-control plans.
"I think if [Biden and his team] were smart, they would look at those numbers and get an idea of where America stands on gun ownership and gun rights," NSSF spokesman Mark Oliva said.
Biden wants to ban new sales of AR-15 rifles and similar firearms as well as any ammunition magazine holding more than 10 rounds—sizes that come standard on most modern rifles and handguns. He would pay some owners to surrender the affected guns they legally own and force everyone else to register the guns under the National Firearms Act. The proposal would require owners to pay a $200 tax stamp for each item.
The report said the kinds of rifles Biden wants to ban made up nearly half of all rifles produced in 2018. Oliva said the group's estimates may actually be undercounts. While NSSF used the latest Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives manufacturer reports, those only cover up to 2018, and Oliva said AR-15s have continued to grow in popularity since then.
"That manufacturer's report comes out [with] an 18 to 24-month delay," Oliva said. "That number is probably significantly higher now."
Oliva pointed to record sales in 2020 as evidence that the amount of ARs and ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds has only increased in recent months. He said the firearms Biden hopes to ban are popular because they offer modularity and customizability while being effective for hunting, sport shooting, and home defense.
The report, which was released Monday, also found that 11.4 million firearms were made or imported into the United States in 2018. A further 9.3 million were made or imported in 2019. That brings the total number of firearms on the American market between 1991 and 2019 up to nearly 214 million.
Oliva said those numbers, combined with the fact that Americans increasingly favor AR-15s and other rifles targeted by Biden and gun-control advocates, are evidence the country is not interested in strict new gun laws.
"America's attitude on gun control is shifting more toward the idea that we need to protect our rights and away from the idea we need government control of our destiny," he said.
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment.


bonginoreport--2020-11-18--Barack Obama Is Back to Remind Us How Awesome It Is That He’s Not President Anymore

As if he needs more money , former President Barack Obama is out hawking a new book — a 768-page memoir that is just Volume One of his latest memoirs ( he wrote his first autobiography at age 34 ) .
But Obama ’ s latest book is raising eyebrows because he is ( once again ) bashing America .
“ I ’ m not yet ready to abandon the possibility of America , ” Obama says in “ A Promised Land , ” which hit shelves on Tuesday .
He adds that he wrote the book “ for young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about , through hard work , determination , and a big dose of imagination , an America that finally aligns with all that is best in us.
” Obama also said he was waiting “ to see if we can actually live up to the meaning of our creed .
The jury ’ s still out.
” “ What a ridiculous message , ” she wrote last week on Twitter .
“ Obama had 8 years , including 2 with full control of Congress .
He sent our jobs to China , left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign policy in shambles & our people divided .
Instead of blaming Trump , Obama should consider what led to 2016.
” Obama makes some other incendiary charges in his book .
President Donald Trump , he claims , “ promised an elixir for the racial anxiety ” of “ millions of Americans spooked by a black man in the White House.
” Those Americans — whom Obama implies are racist — were prey to “ the dark spirits that had long been lurking on the edges of the modern Republican party — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an antipathy toward black and brown folks.
” Obama continues : “ It was as if my very presence in the White House had triggered a deep-seated panic , a sense that the natural order had been disrupted .
Which is exactly what Donald Trump understood when he started peddling assertions that I had not been born in the United States and was thus an illegitimate president.
” According to CNN , Obama wrote that “ he came to regard Trump ’ s media ubiquity and characteristic shamelessness as merely an exaggerated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempts to appeal to White Americans ’ anxieties about the first Black president — a sentiment he said ‘ had migrated from the fringe of GOP politics to the center — an emotional , almost visceral , reaction to my presidency , distinct from any differences in policy or ideology.
’ ” “ It felt like we finally had arrived at a place in this country where we could put the past in the past , ” she said Thursday on Fox News .
“ Barack Obama became the president of the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And rather than show some unity , rather than show some respect for this country that gave him literally everything he has , he turns his back … and says , ‘ Look at this despicable country .
It ’ s broken.
’ ” “ He is the first president that has ever sat in the White House and came out … hating America , ” she added .
Obama also wrote about his opponent in the 2008 election , the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona , and his running mate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He says he wonders sometimes whether McCain would still have picked Palin if he had known “ her spectacular rise and her validation as a candidate would provide a template for future politicians , shifting his party ’ s center and the country ’ s politics overall in a direction he abhorred.
” “ I ’ d like to think that given the chance to do it over again , he might have chosen differently , ” Obama writes .
“ I believe he really did put his country first.
” Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mirrored by former first lady Michelle Obama .
As her husband wrapped up the Democratic nomination in 2008 , she let fly her real feelings : “ For the first time in my adult lifetime , I ’ m really proud of my country.
” Until then , she apparently was not a fan .
Of course , The Washington Post loved Obama ’ s new America-bashing book , offering this insight in a piece by Eugene Scott .
“ To some pundits , the election of a Black man signaled the beginning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s election signaled the exact opposite , and perhaps the beginning of an unapologetic embrace of White-identity politics that had not been seen at the top levels of government in decades .
By calling it out directly , Obama could lead some Americans to entertain the idea — and perhaps do some self-reflection — that perhaps they would not have , had it come from any other person than one of the most popular politicians in America , ” Scott wrote Monday .
Perhaps Obama — the first black president in history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — will one day see himself as emblematic of America ’ s promise .
Maybe that will be Volume Three of his latest autobiography .
*Joseph Curl covered the White House for a dozen years and ran the Drudge Report for four years .
He can be reached at josephcurl @ gmail.com and on Twitter at @ JosephCurl .
A version of this article ran previously in The Washington Times .
The Daily Wire is one of America ’ s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news , opinion , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daily Wire by becoming a member .

As if he needs more money, former President Barack Obama is out hawking a new book — a 768-page memoir that is just Volume One of his latest memoirs (he wrote his first autobiography at age 34).
But Obama’s latest book is raising eyebrows because he is (once again) bashing America.
“I’m not yet ready to abandon the possibility of America,” Obama says in “A Promised Land,” which hit shelves on Tuesday. He adds that he wrote the book “for young people — as an invitation to bring about, through hard work, determination, and a big dose of imagination, an America that finally aligns with all that is best in us.”
Obama also said he was waiting “to see if we can actually live up to the meaning of our creed. The jury’s still out.”
The passage drew outrage from critics, including Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.
“What a ridiculous message,” she wrote last week on Twitter. “Obama had 8 years, including 2 with full control of Congress. He sent our jobs to China, left our healthcare system in disarray, our foreign policy in shambles & our people divided. Instead of blaming Trump, Obama should consider what led to 2016.”
Obama makes some other incendiary charges in his book.
President Donald Trump, he claims, “promised an elixir for the racial anxiety” of “millions of Americans spooked by a black man in the White House.”
Those Americans — whom Obama implies are racist — were prey to “the dark spirits that had long been lurking on the edges of the modern Republican party — xenophobia, anti-intellectualism, paranoid conspiracy theories, an antipathy toward black and brown folks.”
Obama continues: “It was as if my very presence in the White House had triggered a deep-seated panic, a sense that the natural order had been disrupted. Which is exactly what Donald Trump understood when he started peddling assertions that I had not been born in the United States and was thus an illegitimate president.”
According to CNN, Obama wrote that “he came to regard Trump’s media ubiquity and characteristic shamelessness as merely an exaggerated version of the Republican Party’s attempts to appeal to White Americans’ anxieties about the first Black president — a sentiment he said ‘had migrated from the fringe of GOP politics to the center — an emotional, almost visceral, reaction to my presidency, distinct from any differences in policy or ideology.’”
Conservative pundit Candace Owens also blasted Obama’s seemingly racist claim.
“It felt like we finally had arrived at a place in this country where we could put the past in the past,” she said Thursday on Fox News. “Barack Obama became the president of the United States because White Americans supported him. And rather than show some unity, rather than show some respect for this country that gave him literally everything he has, he turns his back … and says, ‘Look at this despicable country. It’s broken.’”
“He is the first president that has ever sat in the White House and came out … hating America,” she added.
Obama also wrote about his opponent in the 2008 election, the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona, and his running mate, former Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. He says he wonders sometimes whether McCain would still have picked Palin if he had known “her spectacular rise and her validation as a candidate would provide a template for future politicians, shifting his party’s center and the country’s politics overall in a direction he abhorred.”
“I’d like to think that given the chance to do it over again, he might have chosen differently,” Obama writes. “I believe he really did put his country first.”
Obama’s dim view of America is mirrored by former first lady Michelle Obama. As her husband wrapped up the Democratic nomination in 2008, she let fly her real feelings: “For the first time in my adult lifetime, I’m really proud of my country.” Until then, she apparently was not a fan.
Of course, The Washington Post loved Obama’s new America-bashing book, offering this insight in a piece by Eugene Scott.
“To some pundits, the election of a Black man signaled the beginning of a post-racial America. But Trump’s election signaled the exact opposite, and perhaps the beginning of an unapologetic embrace of White-identity politics that had not been seen at the top levels of government in decades. By calling it out directly, Obama could lead some Americans to entertain the idea — and perhaps do some self-reflection — that perhaps they would not have, had it come from any other person than one of the most popular politicians in America,” Scott wrote Monday.
Perhaps Obama — the first black president in history and now worth some $40 million — will one day see himself as emblematic of America’s promise.
Maybe that will be Volume Three of his latest autobiography.
*Joseph Curl covered the White House for a dozen years and ran the Drudge Report for four years. He can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter at @JosephCurl. A version of this article ran previously in The Washington Times.


bonginoreport--2020-11-18--“Squad” Member Ayanna Presley Fawns Over Communist Angela Davis

Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley on Tuesday fangirled over introducing black civil rights activist Angela Davis , once a member of the Black Panther Party and Communist Party USA .
Davis was the featured speaker at a benefit breakfast hosted by the Health Law Advocates , which provides pro bono legal services to low-income residents in Massachusetts .
“ When your morning begins with introducing Dr. Angela Davis & she opens her remarks with , ‘ The Occupant has been defeated .
Celebrate .
But we can not breathe a sigh a relief , this must be a preamble for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lessons revealed to us during this period ? '
” Pressley tweeted .
Davis , 76 , has spent decades fighting for civil rights as an active member of the Black Panther Party , Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and Communist Party USA .
The black civil rights activist landed on the FBI ’ s “ Most Wanted ” list at age 26 , accused of providing weapons in a 1970 courtroom shooting that left four dead in California , including a judge .
The former professor at the University of California Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after joining the Communist Party — was busted two months later and acquitted of all charges , including murder , kidnapping and criminal conspiracy , in 1972 after spending 16 months behind bars .
Davis is now a professor emerita at the University of California Santa Cruz ’ s History of Consciousness Department .
HLA said its annual event is the “ primary source of corporate and individual gifts ” for the nonprofit and past benefits have helped more than 14,000 families access health care .
Pressley is a member of the so-called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York , Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan .

Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley on Tuesday fangirled over introducing black civil rights activist Angela Davis, once a member of the Black Panther Party and Communist Party USA.
Davis was the featured speaker at a benefit breakfast hosted by the Health Law Advocates, which provides pro bono legal services to low-income residents in Massachusetts.
“When your morning begins with introducing Dr. Angela Davis & she opens her remarks with, ‘The Occupant has been defeated. Celebrate. But we cannot breathe a sigh a relief, this must be a preamble for a new beginning. Have we learned the lessons revealed to us during this period?'” Pressley tweeted.
Davis, 76, has spent decades fighting for civil rights as an active member of the Black Panther Party, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and Communist Party USA.
The black civil rights activist landed on the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list at age 26, accused of providing weapons in a 1970 courtroom shooting that left four dead in California, including a judge.
The former professor at the University of California Los Angeles — who was fired from her job after joining the Communist Party — was busted two months later and acquitted of all charges, including murder, kidnapping and criminal conspiracy, in 1972 after spending 16 months behind bars.
Davis is now a professor emerita at the University of California Santa Cruz’s History of Consciousness Department.
HLA said its annual event is the “primary source of corporate and individual gifts” for the nonprofit and past benefits have helped more than 14,000 families access health care.
Pressley is a member of the so-called “Squad” of progressive congresswomen, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.
With Post wires


bonginoreport--2020-11-18--The Media Keeps Lying About Spygate

The Media Keeps Lying About Spygate

Proving whether election irregularities occurred will require a willingness to judge the evidence fairly , not a habit of declaring demonstrable facts to have been 'debunked . '
Four years after the FBI sent “ Confidential Human Sources ” secretly to gather information on Donald Trump ’ s team , the president ’ s opponents in politics and the media continue to deny that the bureau spied on his 2016 campaign .
They are now using that denial to dismiss questions of voting irregularities in the 2020 election by arguing that Trump and his allies traffic in outrageous falsehoods for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mike Pence said , “ When Joe Biden was vice president of the United States , the FBI actually spied on President Trump and my campaign.
” The response from NBC “ fact checkers ” was to declare that “ Pence repeated a false claim that Trump made during the first presidential debate – accusing the Obama administration of spying on their 2016 campaign.
” At Politico , Kyle Cheney and Andrew Desiderio caricatured the accusation of spying as alleging “ Biden was a mastermind of an effort to spy on Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was a story “ riddled with falsehoods , exaggerations and assumptions.
” By pressing accusations of spying , the president has politicized “ institutions in a way that will leave lasting damage , ” Politico quoted Democrats saying .
The outlet warned , “ Trump may exacerbate that strain in the coming weeks.
” Last week , USA Today reporters Kevin Johnson and Kristine Phillips described as “ debunked allegations ” claims that Trump ’ s team had been spied on , while reporting that Attorney General William Barr , a prominent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was now opening the Justice Department to “ claims of partisan interference ” with a new directive to investigate credible claims of voting irregularities .
Lesley Stahl , in her “ 60 Minutes ” interview with President Trump ahead of the election , refused to even discuss the spying charge , rejecting it as unverified and untrue .
“ The biggest scandal was when they spied on my campaign , ” Trump told Stahl .
“ They spied on my campaign , Lesley.
” “ Of course there is .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spied on my campaign and they got caught.
” “ Can I — can I say something ?
” Stahl said .
“ You know , this is ‘ 60 Minutes.
’ And we can ’ t put on things we can ’ t verify – ” “ No , ” Trump said , “ you won ’ t put it on because it ’ s bad for Biden .
Look , let me tell you – ” Sen. Charles Grassley says Stahl and other media are denying the facts – facts that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ The FBI ran confidential informants against multiple Trump campaign aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election , ” the Iowa Republican told RealClearInvestigations .
“ They aggressively sought and received secret warrants to eavesdrop on Carter Page ’ s communications – warrants that were repeatedly renewed despite many critical flaws and omissions of exculpatory evidence .
These facts are indisputable , ” Grassley said .
“ Call it whatever you want to call it , but if this isn ’ t spying , I don ’ t know what is.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a debate about semantics , a question of whether to call surveillance “ spying ” or something with less negative overtones , such as “ intelligence-gathering.
” Either way , it has been verified that the FBI took the extraordinary step of investigating an ongoing campaign for the presidency .
It has also been verified that the bureau drew on its complete arsenal , including wiretaps and secret agents – both in-house “ Undercover Employees ” and contract operatives called “ Confidential Human Sources.
” Though the FBI doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ describe its own activities , the bureau ’ s actions fit definitions of spying , old and new .
In his 1755 dictionary , Samuel Johnson defined spying as “ To search or discover by artifice.
” Thomas Sheridan ’ s 18th-century dictionary described a spy as “ One sent to watch the conduct or motions of others.
” Modern dictionaries differ very little from their precursors .
A spy , according to the “ American Heritage Dictionary , ” is “ an agent employed by a state to obtain secret information.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CHS ] Stefan Halper rather well .
Using his cover as a Cambridge professor , Halper cozied up to both Trump campaign advisers Carter Page and George Papadopoulos and pumped them for information .
Halper ’ s spycraft included introducing an attractive FBI asset to Papadopoulos , claiming she was his research assistant .
“ Azra Turk , ” as she was called , was an Undercover Employee – or UCE , as the bureau bloodlessly refers to its secret staff – and she tried to get Papadopoulos in a chatty mood .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ negativity to the enterprise .
American Heritage offers this : “ To observe secretly with hostile intent.
” Webster ’ s includes : “ to watch secretly usually for hostile purposes.
” The imputation of hostility suggests that spying is not a very nice thing to do .
The implication is that those being observed are unlikely to be getting a fair shake .
That accurately describes the experience of Page , who was repeatedly put under electronic surveillance .
The FBI obtained warrants from a secretive federal court by presenting as true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid for by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee .
It ’ s no mere debating point , this question of whether to call the FBI ’ s snooping “ spying.
” It is a question that has serious consequences .
The Center for Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania and an activist group called Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington would like to see prosecuted some of those who have described the FBI ’ s methods as “ spying.
” In particular , they include the attorney general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigate unfounded allegations for the purpose of supporting the talking points of a political campaign ?
” asks the ethics center report .
“ If so , such actions would violate the Hatch Act , ” which limits federal employee participation in partisan political activities .
The FBI Did Spy on the Trump Campaign The University of Pennsylvania paper claims that DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz “ refuted ” the claims that the FBI spied on the Trump campaign .
RealClearInvestigations asked the report ’ s lead author , Claire Finkelstein , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s reports that do this .
The UPenn professor responded with a three-sentence quote from the inspector general .
The first sentence reads : “ We found no evidence that the FBI used CHSs [ Confidential Human Sources ] or UCEs [ Undercover Employees ] to interact with members of the Trump campaign prior to the opening of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation.
” That does not mean the FBI didn ’ t send secret agents to gather information on the Trump campaign , just that the spying did not begin until after Crossfire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of July 2016 .
The second sentence of the quote Finkelstein referenced states : “ After the opening of the investigation , we found no evidence that the FBI placed any CHSs or UCEs within the Trump campaign or tasked any CHSs or UCEs to report on the Trump campaign.
” In other words , the spies cozied up to individuals affiliated with the campaign and pumped them for information .
The fact that the informants did not themselves join the campaign as moles doesn ’ t mean they weren ’ t spying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finally , we also found no documentary or testimonial evidence that political bias or improper motivations influenced the FBI ’ s decision to use CHSs or UCEs to interact with Trump campaign officials in the Crossfire Hurricane investigation.
” Again , this is an admission that the FBI used paid informants to gather intelligence on the Trump campaign .
The inspector general doesn ’ t write that there was no spying , just that the hiring of the spies was not motivated by “ bias.
” Those claiming that the accusation of spying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Horowitz ’ s repeated statements that he had not been able to prove the FBI was motivated by political bias .
Does that really mean there wasn ’ t well-documented bias ?
Aug. 8 , 2016 , a week after Crossfire Hurricane was launched , FBI lawyer Lisa Page texted FBI Section Chief Peter Strzok : Trump is “ not ever going to become president , right ?
Right ?
” And Strzok replied , “ No .
No he ’ s not .
We ’ ll stop it.
” These messages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stated , “ potentially indicated or created the appearance that investigative decisions were impacted by bias or improper considerations.
” The text messages were “ not only indicative of a biased state of mind , ” the inspector general found , “ but , even more seriously , impl [ y ] a willingness to take official action to impact [ Trump ’ s ] electoral prospects.
” According to Horowitz , “ The messages raised serious questions about the propriety of any investigative decisions in which Strzok and Lisa Page played a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play a role , he “ was directly involved in the decisions to open Crossfire Hurricane , ” Horowitz wrote .
Once the investigation had begun , Strzok was the agent running Crossfire .
But the inspector general wrote that he “ found that [ Strzok ] was not the sole , or even the highest level decision maker.
” Horowitz believed that the FBI agent in charge of investigating Trump ’ s campaign , Strzok , was willing “ to take official action to impact [ Trump ’ s ] electoral prospects.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ act alone , the inspector general declined to conclude the investigation was tainted , just that there were “ serious questions about the propriety ” of Crossfire Hurricane .
In response to the Horowitz report , FBI Director Christopher Wray did not admit the FBI “ spied , ” but he did acknowledge the bureau “ did not comply with existing policies , neglected to exercise appropriate diligence , or otherwise failed to meet the standard of conduct that the FBI expects of its employees – and that our country expects of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been investigating those failures for over a year .
He may yet bring charges or close his enterprise without any further prosecutions .
Trump has called on Durham to take action .
The Trump team will either find compelling evidence of election fraud or they won ’ t .
The president ’ s accusations of vote tampering and other irregularities should turn on whether they can be proved .
But that will require a willingness to judge the evidence fairly , not a habit of declaring demonstrable facts to have been “ debunked.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ RealClearInvestigations .

Four years after the FBI sent “Confidential Human Sources” secretly to gather information on Donald Trump’s team, the president’s opponents in politics and the media continue to deny that the bureau spied on his 2016 campaign. They are now using that denial to dismiss questions of voting irregularities in the 2020 election by arguing that Trump and his allies traffic in outrageous falsehoods for partisan purposes.
During the vice-presidential debate, Mike Pence said, “When Joe Biden was vice president of the United States, the FBI actually spied on President Trump and my campaign.” The response from NBC “fact checkers” was to declare that “Pence repeated a false claim that Trump made during the first presidential debate – accusing the Obama administration of spying on their 2016 campaign.”
Media Are Denying the Facts
At Politico, Kyle Cheney and Andrew Desiderio caricatured the accusation of spying as alleging “Biden was a mastermind of an effort to spy on Trump’s 2016 campaign,” saying it was a story “riddled with falsehoods, exaggerations and assumptions.” By pressing accusations of spying, the president has politicized “institutions in a way that will leave lasting damage,” Politico quoted Democrats saying. The outlet warned, “Trump may exacerbate that strain in the coming weeks.”
Last week, USA Today reporters Kevin Johnson and Kristine Phillips described as “debunked allegations” claims that Trump’s team had been spied on, while reporting that Attorney General William Barr, a prominent leveler of the charge last year, was now opening the Justice Department to “claims of partisan interference” with a new directive to investigate credible claims of voting irregularities.
Lesley Stahl, in her “60 Minutes” interview with President Trump ahead of the election, refused to even discuss the spying charge, rejecting it as unverified and untrue.
“The biggest scandal was when they spied on my campaign,” Trump told Stahl. “They spied on my campaign, Lesley.”
“Well, there’s no real evidence of that,” Stahl objected.
“Of course there is. It’s all over the place.”
“No.”
“Lesley, they –”
“Sir –”
“– spied on my campaign and they got caught.”
“Can I — can I say something?” Stahl said. “You know, this is ‘60 Minutes.’ And we can’t put on things we can’t verify –”
“No,” Trump said, “you won’t put it on because it’s bad for Biden. Look, let me tell you –”
“We can’t put on things we can’t verify.”
Sen. Charles Grassley says Stahl and other media are denying the facts – facts that have not only been verified but proven: “The FBI ran confidential informants against multiple Trump campaign aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election,” the Iowa Republican told RealClearInvestigations. “They aggressively sought and received secret warrants to eavesdrop on Carter Page’s communications – warrants that were repeatedly renewed despite many critical flaws and omissions of exculpatory evidence. These facts are indisputable,” Grassley said. “Call it whatever you want to call it, but if this isn’t spying, I don’t know what is.”
What Is ‘Spying’?
This might appear at first glance to be a debate about semantics, a question of whether to call surveillance “spying” or something with less negative overtones, such as “intelligence-gathering.” Either way, it has been verified that the FBI took the extraordinary step of investigating an ongoing campaign for the presidency. It has also been verified that the bureau drew on its complete arsenal, including wiretaps and secret agents – both in-house “Undercover Employees” and contract operatives called “Confidential Human Sources.”
Though the FBI doesn’t use the word “spy” to describe its own activities, the bureau’s actions fit definitions of spying, old and new. In his 1755 dictionary, Samuel Johnson defined spying as “To search or discover by artifice.” Thomas Sheridan’s 18th-century dictionary described a spy as “One sent to watch the conduct or motions of others.” Modern dictionaries differ very little from their precursors. A spy, according to the “American Heritage Dictionary,” is “an agent employed by a state to obtain secret information.”
That describes FBI Confidential Human Source [CHS] Stefan Halper rather well. Using his cover as a Cambridge professor, Halper cozied up to both Trump campaign advisers Carter Page and George Papadopoulos and pumped them for information. Halper’s spycraft included introducing an attractive FBI asset to Papadopoulos, claiming she was his research assistant. “Azra Turk,” as she was called, was an Undercover Employee – or UCE, as the bureau bloodlessly refers to its secret staff – and she tried to get Papadopoulos in a chatty mood.
Some definitions of spying imply a certain negativity to the enterprise. American Heritage offers this: “To observe secretly with hostile intent.” Webster’s includes: “to watch secretly usually for hostile purposes.” The imputation of hostility suggests that spying is not a very nice thing to do. The implication is that those being observed are unlikely to be getting a fair shake.
That accurately describes the experience of Page, who was repeatedly put under electronic surveillance. The FBI obtained warrants from a secretive federal court by presenting as true false allegations penned by a private spy paid for by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee.
It’s no mere debating point, this question of whether to call the FBI’s snooping “spying.” It is a question that has serious consequences. The Center for Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania and an activist group called Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington would like to see prosecuted some of those who have described the FBI’s methods as “spying.”
In particular, they include the attorney general: “Did Mr. Barr agree to investigate unfounded allegations for the purpose of supporting the talking points of a political campaign?” asks the ethics center report. “If so, such actions would violate the Hatch Act,” which limits federal employee participation in partisan political activities.
The FBI Did Spy on the Trump Campaign
The University of Pennsylvania paper claims that DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz “refuted” the claims that the FBI spied on the Trump campaign. RealClearInvestigations asked the report’s lead author, Claire Finkelstein, to point to any passages in Horowitz’s reports that do this.
The UPenn professor responded with a three-sentence quote from the inspector general. The first sentence reads: “We found no evidence that the FBI used CHSs [Confidential Human Sources] or UCEs [Undercover Employees] to interact with members of the Trump campaign prior to the opening of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation.”
That does not mean the FBI didn’t send secret agents to gather information on the Trump campaign, just that the spying did not begin until after Crossfire Hurricane was officially launched at the end of July 2016.
The second sentence of the quote Finkelstein referenced states: “After the opening of the investigation, we found no evidence that the FBI placed any CHSs or UCEs within the Trump campaign or tasked any CHSs or UCEs to report on the Trump campaign.”
In other words, the spies cozied up to individuals affiliated with the campaign and pumped them for information. The fact that the informants did not themselves join the campaign as moles doesn’t mean they weren’t spying.
The last sentence states, “Finally, we also found no documentary or testimonial evidence that political bias or improper motivations influenced the FBI’s decision to use CHSs or UCEs to interact with Trump campaign officials in the Crossfire Hurricane investigation.”
Again, this is an admission that the FBI used paid informants to gather intelligence on the Trump campaign. The inspector general doesn’t write that there was no spying, just that the hiring of the spies was not motivated by “bias.”
Those claiming that the accusation of spying has been “debunked” rely heavily on Horowitz’s repeated statements that he had not been able to prove the FBI was motivated by political bias. Does that really mean there wasn’t well-documented bias?
Aug. 8, 2016, a week after Crossfire Hurricane was launched, FBI lawyer Lisa Page texted FBI Section Chief Peter Strzok: Trump is “not ever going to become president, right? Right?” And Strzok replied, “No. No he’s not. We’ll stop it.”
These messages, and others like them, Horowitz stated, “potentially indicated or created the appearance that investigative decisions were impacted by bias or improper considerations.” The text messages were “not only indicative of a biased state of mind,” the inspector general found, “but, even more seriously, impl[y] a willingness to take official action to impact [Trump’s] electoral prospects.” According to Horowitz, “The messages raised serious questions about the propriety of any investigative decisions in which Strzok and Lisa Page played a role.”
Strzok didn’t just play a role, he “was directly involved in the decisions to open Crossfire Hurricane,” Horowitz wrote. Once the investigation had begun, Strzok was the agent running Crossfire. But the inspector general wrote that he “found that [Strzok] was not the sole, or even the highest level decision maker.”
Horowitz believed that the FBI agent in charge of investigating Trump’s campaign, Strzok, was willing “to take official action to impact [Trump’s] electoral prospects.” But because he didn’t act alone, the inspector general declined to conclude the investigation was tainted, just that there were “serious questions about the propriety” of Crossfire Hurricane.
In response to the Horowitz report, FBI Director Christopher Wray did not admit the FBI “spied,” but he did acknowledge the bureau “did not comply with existing policies, neglected to exercise appropriate diligence, or otherwise failed to meet the standard of conduct that the FBI expects of its employees – and that our country expects of the FBI.”
U.S. Attorney John Durham has been investigating those failures for over a year. He may yet bring charges or close his enterprise without any further prosecutions. Trump has called on Durham to take action.
The Trump team will either find compelling evidence of election fraud or they won’t. The president’s accusations of vote tampering and other irregularities should turn on whether they can be proved. But that will require a willingness to judge the evidence fairly, not a habit of declaring demonstrable facts to have been “debunked.”
This article was originally published by RealClearInvestigations.


bonginoreport--2020-11-19--Gov. Cuomo Complains Vaccine Process Is “Moving Too Fast” Despite 95% Effectiveness

On Wednesday Sen. Marco Rubio ( R-FL ) lamented how lawmakers are putting politics over people 's lives when it comes to the coronavirus vaccine .
Pfizer announced that their vaccine candidate , developed with BioNTech , is 95 percent effective after its Phase 3 study .
It 's news to celebrate , and Operation Warp Speed , the public-private partnership introduced by the Trump administration , deserves some credit .
But liberal politicians like Gov .
Andrew Cuomo just ca n't bring themselves to utter the words , `` good job . ''
Instead , he 's now complaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fast . ''
“ Why is it moving so fast ? ''
Gov .
Cuomo asked on Hot 97 ’ s Ebro in the Morning radio show on Tuesday .
`` Two reasons : money and ego .
The first drug company that has the vaccine , that is big money . ''
He expanded on the `` ego '' argument .
`` President , it ’ s ego .
On the way out the door he wants to be able to say , ‘ I solved COVID because I discovered a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BS .
He didn ’ t do anything , ” Cuomo continued .
“ It ’ s the drug companies and nobody is going to trust him saying it ’ s a safe vaccine .
But you ’ re going to see this play out , they ’ ll do what ’ s called an emergency authorization by the FDA.
” He continued : “ I think that could happen as soon as January where the FDA , because Trump will push them , will say we authorized the drug for emergency use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in January before Biden gets into office and that ’ s why I ’ m pushing so hard to make sure that we have a process in place to check what the FDA says before people start getting the vaccine in New York.
” Cuomo has also threatened to block distribution of the COVID vaccine in New York .
This is as good a time as any to share Rubio 's prediction once more .

On Wednesday Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) lamented how lawmakers are putting politics over people's lives when it comes to the coronavirus vaccine. Pfizer announced that their vaccine candidate, developed with BioNTech, is 95 percent effective after its Phase 3 study. It's news to celebrate, and Operation Warp Speed, the public-private partnership introduced by the Trump administration, deserves some credit. But liberal politicians like Gov. Andrew Cuomo just can't bring themselves to utter the words, "good job."
Instead, he's now complaining that the process is moving too "fast."
“Why is it moving so fast?" Gov. Cuomo asked on Hot 97’s Ebro in the Morning radio show on Tuesday. "Two reasons: money and ego. The first drug company that has the vaccine, that is big money."
He expanded on the "ego" argument.
"President, it’s ego. On the way out the door he wants to be able to say, ‘I solved COVID because I discovered a vaccine. Nah, it’s all BS. He didn’t do anything,” Cuomo continued. “It’s the drug companies and nobody is going to trust him saying it’s a safe vaccine. But you’re going to see this play out, they’ll do what’s called an emergency authorization by the FDA.” He continued: “I think that could happen as soon as January where the FDA, because Trump will push them, will say we authorized the drug for emergency use, and you could see it starting in January before Biden gets into office and that’s why I’m pushing so hard to make sure that we have a process in place to check what the FDA says before people start getting the vaccine in New York.”
Cuomo has also threatened to block distribution of the COVID vaccine in New York.
....We cannot waste time and can only give to those states that will use the Vaccine immediately. Therefore the New York delay. Many lives to be saved, but we are ready when they are. Stop playing politics! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 14, 2020
This is as good a time as any to share Rubio's prediction once more.


bonginoreport--2020-11-19--Democrat Leaders Can’t Stop Violating Their Own Coronavirus Restrictions

California Gov .
Gavin Newsom is the latest of several Democratic leaders who have drawn controversy for appearing to violate their own coronavirus restrictions .
Newsom was spotted at an upscale restaurant earlier this month , where attendees of a birthday party for adviser Jason Kinney were seated closely without face masks .
Photos obtained by Fox 11 in Los Angeles showed nearly a dozen people sitting together .
`` The spirit of what I ’ m preaching all the time was contradicted , ” Newsom told Fox 11 in Los Angeles said .
“ I need to preach and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kinney spokesperson said the event was considered outdoors and did not violate any rules .
The news comes as Newsom had just announced new coronavirus restrictions this week .
These include closing indoor dining in a majority of counties across the state as cases surge in California and across the country .
State officials have also urged residents to avoid large Thanksgiving gatherings next week to keep the virus from spreading .
OFFICIALS TAKE HEAT FOR IGNORING CORONAVIRUS GUIDELINES : FROM PELOSI 'S SALON VISIT TO CROSS-BORDER DINING Newsom said in his apology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his mistake because he worried it would undermine the message of safety he wanted to send to residents .
Washington , D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was less contrite after traveling to Delaware to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden on his election victory , despite the state being on Bowser 's own travel advisory list .
Bowser discussed the trip while holding a press conference on Monday , even though her order requires a 14-day quarantine following travel , NBC Washington reported .
Bowser insisted that the restriction does not apply to her situation because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do a lot of things to advance the interests of the District of Columbia , and some of them are formal , and some of them are informal , but all of them are necessary , '' Bowser said .
Another Democratic mayor , Chicago 's Lori Lightfoot , also faced backlash for urging residents to take new precautions soon after she had shared video of herself in a crowd and speaking without a mask following the presidential election .
Just days later , she announced a `` stay-at-home advisory '' that says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , school , or other `` essential needs . ''
“ I will tell you in that big crowd a week ago , everybody was wearing masks , ” the mayor said to MSNBC 's Stephanie Ruhle after being asked about the mixed messages between her behavior and her advisory .
She also defended it by saying that the `` crowd was gathered whether I was there or not , '' that `` this has been a super hard year on everyone , '' and that `` there are times when we actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together . ''
Newsom , Bowser , and Lightfoot are far from the only Democrats who have told others to act one way while acting differently themselves .
Earlier this year , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was caught maskless while getting hair treatment at a salon indoors , which had been forbidden by local ordinances at the time .
Democratic Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney got called out after he imposed a restriction against indoor dining in his city but was then spotted at a Maryland restaurant .
A spokesperson for the mayor told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Cecil County , which borders Pennsylvania .
Kenney admitted he did this in a tweet in which he said he understood why people were upset but did not apologize .
`` I know some are upset that I dined indoors at a restaurant in Maryland yesterday , '' Kenney tweeted Monday .
`` I felt the risk was low because the county I visited has had fewer than 800 COVID-19 cases , compared to over 33,000 cases in Philadelphia .
Regardless , I understand the frustration . ''
During the height of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yorkers were told to stay at home except for essential travel , New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was criticized for leaving his Manhattan residence to go for a stroll in Brooklyn 's Prospect Park .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP '' Seriously you guys have a park , you live in the middle of a park , '' a man could be heard saying to De Blasio in a video of the incident , referring to the mayor ’ s residence of Gracie Mansion , which is already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manhattan .
“ Come on guys , give it a break , ” the mayor was heard saying in response to the criticism .

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is the latest of several Democratic leaders who have drawn controversy for appearing to violate their own coronavirus restrictions.
Newsom was spotted at an upscale restaurant earlier this month, where attendees of a birthday party for adviser Jason Kinney were seated closely without face masks. Photos obtained by Fox 11 in Los Angeles showed nearly a dozen people sitting together.
CELEBRITIES RIP CALIFORNIA GOV. NEWSOM OVER CORONAVIRUS THANKSGIVING RULES
"The spirit of what I’m preaching all the time was contradicted,” Newsom told Fox 11 in Los Angeles said. “ I need to preach and practice, not just preach.”
A Kinney spokesperson said the event was considered outdoors and did not violate any rules.
The news comes as Newsom had just announced new coronavirus restrictions this week. These include closing indoor dining in a majority of counties across the state as cases surge in California and across the country.
State officials have also urged residents to avoid large Thanksgiving gatherings next week to keep the virus from spreading.
OFFICIALS TAKE HEAT FOR IGNORING CORONAVIRUS GUIDELINES: FROM PELOSI'S SALON VISIT TO CROSS-BORDER DINING
Newsom said in his apology that he wanted to “own” his mistake because he worried it would undermine the message of safety he wanted to send to residents.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was less contrite after traveling to Delaware to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden on his election victory, despite the state being on Bowser's own travel advisory list. Bowser discussed the trip while holding a press conference on Monday, even though her order requires a 14-day quarantine following travel, NBC Washington reported.
Bowser insisted that the restriction does not apply to her situation because it was essential travel.
"I do a lot of things to advance the interests of the District of Columbia, and some of them are formal, and some of them are informal, but all of them are necessary," Bowser said.
Another Democratic mayor, Chicago's Lori Lightfoot, also faced backlash for urging residents to take new precautions soon after she had shared video of herself in a crowd and speaking without a mask following the presidential election. Just days later, she announced a "stay-at-home advisory" that says residents should only leave home for work, school, or other "essential needs."
“I will tell you in that big crowd a week ago, everybody was wearing masks,” the mayor said to MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle after being asked about the mixed messages between her behavior and her advisory. She also defended it by saying that the "crowd was gathered whether I was there or not," that "this has been a super hard year on everyone," and that "there are times when we actually do need to have relief and come together."
Newsom, Bowser, and Lightfoot are far from the only Democrats who have told others to act one way while acting differently themselves.
Earlier this year, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was caught maskless while getting hair treatment at a salon indoors, which had been forbidden by local ordinances at the time.
Democratic Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney got called out after he imposed a restriction against indoor dining in his city but was then spotted at a Maryland restaurant. A spokesperson for the mayor told USA Today that the eatery was located in Cecil County, which borders Pennsylvania.
Kenney admitted he did this in a tweet in which he said he understood why people were upset but did not apologize.
"I know some are upset that I dined indoors at a restaurant in Maryland yesterday," Kenney tweeted Monday. "I felt the risk was low because the county I visited has had fewer than 800 COVID-19 cases, compared to over 33,000 cases in Philadelphia. Regardless, I understand the frustration."
During the height of the pandemic in April, when New Yorkers were told to stay at home except for essential travel, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was criticized for leaving his Manhattan residence to go for a stroll in Brooklyn's Prospect Park.
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"Seriously you guys have a park, you live in the middle of a park," a man could be heard saying to De Blasio in a video of the incident, referring to the mayor’s residence of Gracie Mansion, which is already within the confines of another park in Manhattan.
“Come on guys, give it a break,” the mayor was heard saying in response to the criticism.
Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.


bonginoreport--2020-11-19--U.K. to End Sale of Gas Powered Vehicles by 2030

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the United Kingdom will stop selling new gas-powered vehicles by 2030 , part of a 10-point plan to realize the country 's target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 .
Johnson said the U.K. will `` invest more than £2.8bn in electric vehicles , lacing the land with charging points and creating long-lasting batteries in UK gigafactories '' to `` end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in 2030 . ''
Johnson added in his op-ed for the Financial Times that new hybrid vehicles will still be sold until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parliament passed legislation requiring that the government reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions relative to 1990 levels by 2050 , according to the Institute for Government .
The feat will be accomplished through a combination of `` reducing existing emissions and actively removing greenhouse gases . ''
Since 1990 , the U.K. 's most significant greenhouse gas emission reductions have come from the energy sector , which went from emitting more than 250 million tons of carbon dioxide a year to just more than 100 million tons .
Such a dramatic drop has made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gasses in the country .
Transportation is the largest emitter , with emissions largely stagnating from 1990 levels .
Cutting emissions from transportation is more difficult than from sectors like energy .
Energy-related emissions have been cut by phasing out coal-powered plants investing nearly 37 billion pounds in renewable energy since 2010 , according to the U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change .
The bulk of transportation-related emissions come from the roughly 38.4 million licensed vehicles in the U.K. , according to the RAC Foundation .
Other aspects of Johnson 's 10-point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.K. `` the Saudi Arabia of wind , '' building nuclear reactors , planting 30,000 soccer fields ' worth of trees , and increasing investments in carbon-capture technology .
Previously , the U.K. planned to end the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2040 , but even that target raised concerns from automakers , according to NBC Right Now .

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the United Kingdom will stop selling new gas-powered vehicles by 2030, part of a 10-point plan to realize the country's target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Johnson said the U.K. will "invest more than £2.8bn in electric vehicles, lacing the land with charging points and creating long-lasting batteries in UK gigafactories" to "end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in 2030."
Johnson added in his op-ed for the Financial Times that new hybrid vehicles will still be sold until 2035.
In 2019, the U.K. Parliament passed legislation requiring that the government reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions relative to 1990 levels by 2050, according to the Institute for Government. The feat will be accomplished through a combination of "reducing existing emissions and actively removing greenhouse gases."
Since 1990, the U.K.'s most significant greenhouse gas emission reductions have come from the energy sector, which went from emitting more than 250 million tons of carbon dioxide a year to just more than 100 million tons. Such a dramatic drop has made energy production the second-largest producer of greenhouse gasses in the country. Transportation is the largest emitter, with emissions largely stagnating from 1990 levels.
image courtesy of Institute for Government
Cutting emissions from transportation is more difficult than from sectors like energy. Energy-related emissions have been cut by phasing out coal-powered plants investing nearly 37 billion pounds in renewable energy since 2010, according to the U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change. The bulk of transportation-related emissions come from the roughly 38.4 million licensed vehicles in the U.K., according to the RAC Foundation.
Other aspects of Johnson's 10-point "Green Industrial Revolution" include making the U.K. "the Saudi Arabia of wind," building nuclear reactors, planting 30,000 soccer fields' worth of trees, and increasing investments in carbon-capture technology.
Previously, the U.K. planned to end the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2040, but even that target raised concerns from automakers, according to NBC Right Now.


bonginoreport--2020-11-19--Dem Senate Candidate Raphael Warnock Said American Churches Are “Morally Bankrupt”

Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock decried the “ moral bankruptcy of the American church ” following the 2016 presidential election , citing heavy support among white evangelicals and Catholics for Donald Trump .
“ Perhaps more than anything else we have seen in modern times , a rise of Trump and Trumpism on the shoulders of Christians brings into sharp focus the moral bankruptcy of the American church , ” Warnock said during a lecture at Howard University on Nov. 10 , 2016 , two days after Trump was elected president .
Warnock , a senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Catholics who supported Trump , whom he referred to as an “ admitted sexual predator.
” ( RELATED : Raphael Warnock Criticized Second Amendment In His Sermons ) Warnock , 58 , will face Republican Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler in a runoff on Jan. 5 that could determine which political party will control the Senate .
Republican Sen. David Perdue is facing off in a runoff against Jon Ossoff for the other Georgia seat .
Republicans must win one of the contests to maintain majority control of the Senate .
Warnock , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office , has come under heavy scrutiny during his campaign for his comments in sermons and lectures regarding social justice issues .
In October 2016 , weeks before his remarks at Howard , Warnock said that America needed to “ repent ” because of Trump ’ s political rise , The Washington Free Beacon reported .
Republicans have also seized on Warnock ’ s remarks regarding Israel , Second Amendment rights and members of the military .
“ Nobody can serve God and the military , ” he said in a sermon in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Warnock has also come under fire for defending Jeremiah Wright , the Chicago-based pastor of former President Barack Obama ’ s who shouted “ God damn America !
” during a sermon in 2003 .
Republicans ran ads of the sermon during the 2008 presidential campaign .
Warnock defended Wright in his 2016 lecture , saying that Wright ’ s remarks had been taken out of context when they were used in campaign ads against Obama .
“ The sermon presented the critical reflections of a serious and thoughtful theologue , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warnock compared what he said was the historic “ radicalism ” of the black church to majority-white churches whose parishioners largely supported Trump .
“ Will the black church…live up to the best of its prophetic vocation , or will it give in to the seduction that has garnered for Mr. Trump , an admitted sexual predator , the support of 81 % of white evangelicals and 60 % of white Catholics , ” Warnock asked .
He also predicted that millennials will view churches as hypocritical for supporting Trump .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of millennials , a generation that has little tolerance for hypocrisy , will be exercising their religious liberty to studiously avoid the church , ” he said .
Warnock asserted that Trump “ ran as a fascist , racist , sexist , xenophobe who would expand the law-and-order mechanisms for the incarceration capital of the world.
” The Warnock campaign did not respond to a request for comment .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock decried the “moral bankruptcy of the American church” following the 2016 presidential election, citing heavy support among white evangelicals and Catholics for Donald Trump.
“Perhaps more than anything else we have seen in modern times, a rise of Trump and Trumpism on the shoulders of Christians brings into sharp focus the moral bankruptcy of the American church,” Warnock said during a lecture at Howard University on Nov. 10, 2016, two days after Trump was elected president.
Warnock, a senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, criticized white evangelicals and Catholics who supported Trump, whom he referred to as an “admitted sexual predator.” (RELATED: Raphael Warnock Criticized Second Amendment In His Sermons)
Warnock, 58, will face Republican Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler in a runoff on Jan. 5 that could determine which political party will control the Senate.
Republican Sen. David Perdue is facing off in a runoff against Jon Ossoff for the other Georgia seat.
Republicans must win one of the contests to maintain majority control of the Senate.
WATCH:
Warnock, who has not previously run for political office, has come under heavy scrutiny during his campaign for his comments in sermons and lectures regarding social justice issues.
In October 2016, weeks before his remarks at Howard, Warnock said that America needed to “repent” because of Trump’s political rise, The Washington Free Beacon reported.
Republicans have also seized on Warnock’s remarks regarding Israel, Second Amendment rights and members of the military.
“Nobody can serve God and the military,” he said in a sermon in 2011, The Free Beacon also reported.
Warnock has also come under fire for defending Jeremiah Wright, the Chicago-based pastor of former President Barack Obama’s who shouted “God damn America!” during a sermon in 2003.
Republicans ran ads of the sermon during the 2008 presidential campaign.
Warnock defended Wright in his 2016 lecture, saying that Wright’s remarks had been taken out of context when they were used in campaign ads against Obama.
“The sermon presented the critical reflections of a serious and thoughtful theologue,” Warnock said in his Howard lecture.
Warnock compared what he said was the historic “radicalism” of the black church to majority-white churches whose parishioners largely supported Trump.
“Will the black church…live up to the best of its prophetic vocation, or will it give in to the seduction that has garnered for Mr. Trump, an admitted sexual predator, the support of 81% of white evangelicals and 60% of white Catholics,” Warnock asked.
He also predicted that millennials will view churches as hypocritical for supporting Trump.
“I have a sneaking suspicion that increasing numbers of millennials, a generation that has little tolerance for hypocrisy, will be exercising their religious liberty to studiously avoid the church,” he said.
Warnock asserted that Trump “ran as a fascist, racist, sexist, xenophobe who would expand the law-and-order mechanisms for the incarceration capital of the world.”
The Warnock campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


bonginoreport--2020-11-19--New Danish Study Casts Doubt on Efficacy of Mask Wearing

Few issues are more contentious in modern American life than mandatory mask orders .
And the debate is about to get even more heated .
A newly released study in the academic journal Annals of Internal Medicine casts more doubt on policies that force healthy individuals to wear face coverings in hopes of limiting the spread of COVID-19 .
“ Researchers in Denmark reported on Wednesday that surgical masks did not protect the wearers against infection with the coronavirus in a large randomized clinical trial , ” the New York Times reports .
The study is perhaps the best scientific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks .
To conduct the study , which ran from early April to early June , scientists at the University of Copenhagen recruited more than 6,000 participants who had tested negative for COVID-19 immediately prior to the experiment .
Half the participants were given surgical masks and instructed to wear them outside the home ; the other half were instructed to not wear a mask outside the home .
Roughly 4,860 participants finished the experiment , the Times reports .
The results were not encouraging .
“ The researchers had hoped that masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among wearers .
Instead , 42 people in the mask group , or 1.8 percent , got infected , compared with 53 in the unmasked group , or 2.1 percent .
The difference was not statistically significant , ” the Times reports .
Dr. Henning Bundgaard , lead author of the experiment and a physician at the University of Copenhagen , told the newspaper the results of his research are clear .
“ Our study gives an indication of how much you gain from wearing a mask , ” Bundgaard said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the research “ did not contradict growing evidence that masks can prevent transmission of the virus from wearer to others ” —but adds that the study ’ s findings are at odds with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , which just last week endorsed the view that face coverings protect individuals from contracting the virus .
Two important things should be noted here , however .
The Times is correct that the study “ did not contradict ” evidence that suggests masks can prevent sick people from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Danish study didn ’ t test for this ; as the paper notes , only healthy people were tested in the experiment .
Second , there was never much dispute on whether sick people should wear a mask .
From the beginning of the pandemic , public health officials agreed that infected people should wear a mask to reduce the likelihood of transmitting the virus to others .
“ The masks are important for someone who is infected to prevent them from infecting someone else , ” Dr. Anthony Fauci noted back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When you ’ re in the middle of an outbreak , wearing a mask might make people feel a little bit better , and it might even block a droplet .
But it is not providing the perfect protection that people think that it is , and often there are unintended consequences ; people keep fiddling with the mask and touching their face.
” Fauci would later modify his position , saying he discouraged masks out of concern of a supply shortage .
But he was not wrong that mask wearing comes with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their faces a lot .
( Watch the video below if you doubt this . )
CDC chief Robert Ray Redfield Jr. has gone further than Fauci , declaring in public testimony that “ this face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against COVID than when I take a COVID vaccine . ''
However , Redfield ’ s assertion is not backed up with scientific evidence .
As the authors of the Danish study point out , the World Health Organization “ acknowledges that we lack evidence that wearing a mask protects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Danish study undermine the assertion from public health officials that wearing a surgical mask can protect individuals from COVID-19 infection , but that ’ s unlikely to end the mask debate , which has become one of the most vitriolic issues in America today .
It ’ s worth pointing out , however , that masks were not a divisive issue until governments began mandating their use .
As I ’ ve said before , reasonable and persuasive cases can be made both for and against the use of masks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual choice with collective mandates , public officials have politicized the issue and polluted the science .
For example , scientists have faced retraction demands on research that concluded mask-for-all policies were not based on sound data .
Additionally , the Danish study appears to have been delayed because medical journals were wary of its findings .
Few of us—even medical professionals , it seems—are able to answer with any degree of certainty whether masks are an effective form of protection against the coronavirus .
Some see this as a reason to force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in reality , the uncertainty is all the more reason the decision should be left to individuals .
`` All rational action is in the first place individual action , ” the economist Ludwig von Mises once observed .
“ Only the individual thinks .
Only the individual reasons .
Only the individual acts . ''
Public health officials should not be recommending a preventative measure—let alone mandating it—without knowing it is effective .
( In public health , this is known as the principle of effectiveness . )
Governments forcing healthy people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rights we hold over our own bodies and our basic human dignity .
It ’ s also beginning to look more and more like an affront to science .
Voluntarily Wearing Masks Can Save Lives and Open the Economy Faster The Sneaky Trick a Public Health Official Used to Make Mask Mandates Look Super Effective

Few issues are more contentious in modern American life than mandatory mask orders. And the debate is about to get even more heated.
A newly released study in the academic journal Annals of Internal Medicine casts more doubt on policies that force healthy individuals to wear face coverings in hopes of limiting the spread of COVID-19.
“Researchers in Denmark reported on Wednesday that surgical masks did not protect the wearers against infection with the coronavirus in a large randomized clinical trial,” the New York Times reports.
“Researchers in Denmark reported on Wednesday that surgical masks did not protect the wearers against infection with the coronavirus in a large randomized clinical trial.” https://t.co/bKOENjCKVq — J.B. Handley (@GenRescue) November 18, 2020
The study is perhaps the best scientific evidence to date on the efficacy of masks.
To conduct the study, which ran from early April to early June, scientists at the University of Copenhagen recruited more than 6,000 participants who had tested negative for COVID-19 immediately prior to the experiment.
Half the participants were given surgical masks and instructed to wear them outside the home; the other half were instructed to not wear a mask outside the home.
Roughly 4,860 participants finished the experiment, the Times reports. The results were not encouraging.
“The researchers had hoped that masks would cut the infection rate by half among wearers. Instead, 42 people in the mask group, or 1.8 percent, got infected, compared with 53 in the unmasked group, or 2.1 percent. The difference was not statistically significant,” the Times reports.
Dr. Henning Bundgaard, lead author of the experiment and a physician at the University of Copenhagen, told the newspaper the results of his research are clear.
“Our study gives an indication of how much you gain from wearing a mask,” Bundgaard said. “Not a lot.”
The Times notes that the research “did not contradict growing evidence that masks can prevent transmission of the virus from wearer to others”—but adds that the study’s findings are at odds with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which just last week endorsed the view that face coverings protect individuals from contracting the virus.
Two important things should be noted here, however.
The Times is correct that the study “did not contradict” evidence that suggests masks can prevent sick people from transmitting the virus to others. But the Danish study didn’t test for this; as the paper notes, only healthy people were tested in the experiment.
Second, there was never much dispute on whether sick people should wear a mask. From the beginning of the pandemic, public health officials agreed that infected people should wear a mask to reduce the likelihood of transmitting the virus to others.
“The masks are important for someone who is infected to prevent them from infecting someone else,” Dr. Anthony Fauci noted back in March on 60 Minutes. “When you’re in the middle of an outbreak, wearing a mask might make people feel a little bit better, and it might even block a droplet. But it is not providing the perfect protection that people think that it is, and often there are unintended consequences; people keep fiddling with the mask and touching their face.”
Fauci would later modify his position, saying he discouraged masks out of concern of a supply shortage. But he was not wrong that mask wearing comes with unintended consequences, such as people touching their faces a lot. (Watch the video below if you doubt this.)
CDC chief Robert Ray Redfield Jr. has gone further than Fauci, declaring in public testimony that “this face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against COVID than when I take a COVID vaccine."
However, Redfield’s assertion is not backed up with scientific evidence. As the authors of the Danish study point out, the World Health Organization “acknowledges that we lack evidence that wearing a mask protects healthy persons from SARS-CoV-2.”
.@CDCDirector Dr. Robert Redfield: "These face masks are the most important, powerful public health tool we have...I might even go so far as to say that this face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against COVID than when I take a COVID vaccine." pic.twitter.com/yPdsSSQAbr — CSPAN (@cspan) September 16, 2020
The results of the Danish study undermine the assertion from public health officials that wearing a surgical mask can protect individuals from COVID-19 infection, but that’s unlikely to end the mask debate, which has become one of the most vitriolic issues in America today.
It’s worth pointing out, however, that masks were not a divisive issue until governments began mandating their use.
As I’ve said before, reasonable and persuasive cases can be made both for and against the use of masks in the healthy population. But by replacing individual choice with collective mandates, public officials have politicized the issue and polluted the science. For example, scientists have faced retraction demands on research that concluded mask-for-all policies were not based on sound data. Additionally, the Danish study appears to have been delayed because medical journals were wary of its findings.
Few of us—even medical professionals, it seems—are able to answer with any degree of certainty whether masks are an effective form of protection against the coronavirus.
Some see this as a reason to force everyone to wear a mask. Yet in reality, the uncertainty is all the more reason the decision should be left to individuals.
"All rational action is in the first place individual action,” the economist Ludwig von Mises once observed. “Only the individual thinks. Only the individual reasons. Only the individual acts."
Public health officials should not be recommending a preventative measure—let alone mandating it—without knowing it is effective. (In public health, this is known as the principle of effectiveness.)
Governments forcing healthy people into mask-wearing was always an affront to the rights we hold over our own bodies and our basic human dignity.
It’s also beginning to look more and more like an affront to science.
Additional Reading:
Voluntarily Wearing Masks Can Save Lives and Open the Economy Faster
Authors Retract Study Showing Efficacy of Mask Mandates—as Biden Pushes Nationwide Requirement
Europe's Top Health Officials Say Masks Aren't Helpful in Beating COVID-19
The Sneaky Trick a Public Health Official Used to Make Mask Mandates Look Super Effective
Masks Are a Tool, Not a Panacea