wnd--2020-09-06--Serious problem identified: Chinese 'infection' of U.S. power grid

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy . ]
China and “ probably one or two other ” countries can shut down the U.S. power grid through a cyberattack .
This disturbing revelation was made by Admiral Michael Rogers , former head of the National Security Agency , to Congress – in November 2014 .
China has also become the world ’ s leading supplier of transformers – the “ spine ” of electricity grids -- according to a 2014 U.S. Department of Energy ( DoE ) report .
This also presents significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : In your face : Woman heckled by BLM at restaurant goes public on incident For economic and security reasons , the United States should no longer purchase transformers and other electric grid equipment manufactured in China .
It is important to end relationships that U.S. utilities have directly with Chinese businesses and multi-national companies manufacturing transformers in China .
These actions are envisioned under a May 1 Executive Order President Trump issued on protecting the bulk-power grid .
Chinese power equipment provided to the U.S. can be embedded with software and hardware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enhancing its ability to commit cyberattacks .
Such items will not be easy to find .
Large power transformers are huge , and weigh between 100 and 400 tons .
There is also a hardware risk .
Counterfeit items are common throughout China and can easily be put into large power transformers , knowingly or unwittingly .
Even if China is not presently doing this , the potential risks are too high .
Meanwhile , Chinese transformer manufacturers are thriving .
On its website , JiangSu HuaPeng Transformer Co. ( JSHP Transformer ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for customers in Houston , Las Vegas , and New Jersey .
On August 5 , Baobian Electric shipped the first of three phase reactors to the New Mexico Public Utilities Service Company .
TBEA Transformer Industrial Group advertises it “ exports its products to over 30 countries in Asia , Africa , Europe and the Americas.
” Its only jobs created in the U.S. appear to be with a sales office in Southern California .
In its 2014 report DoE found that “ six domestic manufacturers accounted for all power transformers produced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 30 power transformer manufacturers existed in China.
” U.S. manufacturers were able to meet less than 40 percent of annual U.S. demand .
Since 2009 , the U.S. has become highly dependent on Chinese transformers .
In 2019 , Charles Durant , deputy director of counterintelligence at DoE said , “ There have been over 200 Chinese transformers that have come into the U.S. energy sector in the last 10 years .
Before that , there were zero.
” There is simply no tariff that is high enough for the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electrical equipment , given the monumental damage they can cause .
It is not just the electrical system that is at risk but other key infrastructure that depends on the power grid , such as water filtration plants , hospitals , and manufacturing plants .
Many U.S. electric utilities and others involved with the grid have raised howls about how difficult it will be to identify and address foreign components in the grid .
Yet , there has been a process by which information can be provided to the DoE as it evaluates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a century the U.S. did not depend on China to keep our electricity running .
The need to scrutinize existing Chinese made items and prevent further purchases from China and other hostile countries , including Russia , is common sense .
It will also be good for the U.S. economy .
We must also continue and accelerate vigorous work to prevent electric grid cyberattacks .
This should include stricter standards from the North American Reliability Corporation and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission .
Moody ’ s and other credit ratings are taking notice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this will be helpful for investors and all Americans .
In the United States , world-class companies such as Raytheon , BAE Systems and Sierra Nevada Corp. are among those with cyber-fighting expertise .
It will also be important for the utility industry to share information more readily and for government to oversee , if not mandate , such best practices .
Beyond the serious near-term challenges , there is great opportunity .
America will need an abundance of transformers in the next 20 years as the electric grid is modernized .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electricity around the world , there is an opportunity to again make this an export market for the United States .
Revitalizing and on-shoring America ’ s transformer and electric grid component industry makes us safer and our economy stronger .
America should aim to lead the world in transformer manufacturing within the next six years , to complement our cyber protection leadership .
Paul Steidler is a Senior Fellow with the Lexington Institute , a public policy think tank based in Arlington , Virginia .
[ Editor 's note : This story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]
By Paul Steidler
Real Clear Energy
China and “probably one or two other” countries can shut down the U.S. power grid through a cyberattack. This disturbing revelation was made by Admiral Michael Rogers, former head of the National Security Agency, to Congress – in November 2014.
China has also become the world’s leading supplier of transformers – the “spine” of electricity grids -- according to a 2014 U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) report. This also presents significant challenges to U.S. grid security.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
For economic and security reasons, the United States should no longer purchase transformers and other electric grid equipment manufactured in China. It is important to end relationships that U.S. utilities have directly with Chinese businesses and multi-national companies manufacturing transformers in China.
These actions are envisioned under a May 1 Executive Order President Trump issued on protecting the bulk-power grid. Chinese power equipment provided to the U.S. can be embedded with software and hardware to remotely commit mischief from Beijing, enhancing its ability to commit cyberattacks.
Such items will not be easy to find. Large power transformers are huge, and weigh between 100 and 400 tons.
There is also a hardware risk. Counterfeit items are common throughout China and can easily be put into large power transformers, knowingly or unwittingly. Even if China is not presently doing this, the potential risks are too high.
Is the U.S. electrical grid at risk from China? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 99% (232 Votes) 1% (3 Votes)
Meanwhile, Chinese transformer manufacturers are thriving. On its website, JiangSu HuaPeng Transformer Co. (JSHP Transformer) boasts that it has recently completed projects for customers in Houston, Las Vegas, and New Jersey. On August 5, Baobian Electric shipped the first of three phase reactors to the New Mexico Public Utilities Service Company.
TBEA Transformer Industrial Group advertises it “exports its products to over 30 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.” Its only jobs created in the U.S. appear to be with a sales office in Southern California.
In its 2014 report DoE found that “six domestic manufacturers accounted for all power transformers produced in the United States, whereas more than 30 power transformer manufacturers existed in China.” U.S. manufacturers were able to meet less than 40 percent of annual U.S. demand.
Since 2009, the U.S. has become highly dependent on Chinese transformers. In 2019, Charles Durant, deputy director of counterintelligence at DoE said, “There have been over 200 Chinese transformers that have come into the U.S. energy sector in the last 10 years. Before that, there were zero.”
There is simply no tariff that is high enough for the United States to impose on Chinese-made transformers and key electrical equipment, given the monumental damage they can cause. It is not just the electrical system that is at risk but other key infrastructure that depends on the power grid, such as water filtration plants, hospitals, and manufacturing plants.
Many U.S. electric utilities and others involved with the grid have raised howls about how difficult it will be to identify and address foreign components in the grid. Yet, there has been a process by which information can be provided to the DoE as it evaluates specific regulations. And for more than a century the U.S. did not depend on China to keep our electricity running.
The need to scrutinize existing Chinese made items and prevent further purchases from China and other hostile countries, including Russia, is common sense. It will also be good for the U.S. economy.
We must also continue and accelerate vigorous work to prevent electric grid cyberattacks. This should include stricter standards from the North American Reliability Corporation and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Moody’s and other credit ratings are taking notice of cyber practices and increased attention to this will be helpful for investors and all Americans.
In the United States, world-class companies such as Raytheon, BAE Systems and Sierra Nevada Corp. are among those with cyber-fighting expertise. It will also be important for the utility industry to share information more readily and for government to oversee, if not mandate, such best practices.
Beyond the serious near-term challenges, there is great opportunity. America will need an abundance of transformers in the next 20 years as the electric grid is modernized. And, with billions of people lacking sufficient electricity around the world, there is an opportunity to again make this an export market for the United States.
Revitalizing and on-shoring America’s transformer and electric grid component industry makes us safer and our economy stronger. America should aim to lead the world in transformer manufacturing within the next six years, to complement our cyber protection leadership.
Paul Steidler is a Senior Fellow with the Lexington Institute, a public policy think tank based in Arlington, Virginia.
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]


wnd--2020-09-06--'Government theft': Handyman has Jeep taken over $25 in marijuana, now case takes big turn

A Tucson handyman whose Jeep was confiscated by authorities and headed for the auction block due to $ 25 worth of marijuana has gotten it back .
The Goldwater Institute said the government changed its tune after telling Kevin McBride it would be `` inappropriate in this case '' to return his vehicle .
Goldwater challenged the seizure , and McBride got his $ 15,000 Jeep back Friday without having to pay to release it from forfeiture .
TRENDING : In your face : Woman heckled by BLM at restaurant goes public on incident '' It should be obvious : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private property from law-abiding citizens .
Fortunately , government theft has been dealt a major blow today , '' Goldwater Institute Senior Attorney Matt Miller said .
`` Today ’ s news that Kevin has been reunited with his Jeep is extremely welcome — and it ’ s a tacit admission by the government that its actions here were unfair and illogical . ''
The institute said situations like McBride ’ s are common in states across the country , thanks to civil asset forfeiture laws .
`` Under such laws , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without charging or convicting you of a crime .
All they need to do is allege you committed a crime , and then the burden falls on you to hire a lawyer and go to court in an effort to prove otherwise , '' the institute said .
`` Even though forfeiture was meant to be used to target the property of major criminals — like drug kingpins — these days , it ’ s predominantly used against the little guy , even when he hasn ’ t done anything wrong . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy outcome , more must be done to ensure that that kind of government theft doesn ’ t happen again , the lawyers said .
`` Kevin isn ’ t the only person who ’ s been targeted by civil asset forfeiture schemes — and unfortunately , he probably won ’ t be the last , '' Miller said .
`` The Goldwater Institute will continue to put pressure on states to reform or repeal these unfair laws—whether through legal action or through state legislatures amending these laws to require a criminal conviction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , McBride 's girlfriend stopped by his job site and asked if she could help him cool off by getting him a soda from a local convenience store .
`` Because she had no other way to get there , she took his Jeep and he went back to work , '' Miller said .
She did n't return , and when he got a ride to the store , he found his Jeep being towed by police .
On the scene , a police officer gave McBride a phone number , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to get through .
He was told the local prosecutor was holding his Jeep as evidence of a $ 25 crime they said his girlfriend committed : the alleged sale of three grams of marijuana .
Even though charges against the girlfriend were dropped , prosecutors `` were keeping the Jeep using civil forfeiture , even though Kevin had done nothing wrong , '' Miller said .
McBride was told by the Pima County attorney 's office he could get his Jeep back if he paid $ 1,900 .
`` There was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an amount the government had chosen .
Kevin could pay it , or he could watch his Jeep be sold — with police keeping the proceeds , '' Miller explained .
Under the state 's civil forfeiture law , police confiscate property and the owner is forced to prove innocence .
Miller said the system has problems .
`` The burden should be on the government to show that Kevin was involved .
Furthermore , let us take a step back for some perspective on what happened here .
Kevin ’ s girlfriend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 25 worth of marijuana to an undercover police officer .
Tucson now claims the right to forfeit Kevin ’ s Jeep — which is worth about $ 15,000 — and keep the money , '' Miller said .
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled recently in a case from another state that the confiscation of a vehicle for a minor alleged drug offense is unconstitutional .

A Tucson handyman whose Jeep was confiscated by authorities and headed for the auction block due to $25 worth of marijuana has gotten it back.
The Goldwater Institute said the government changed its tune after telling Kevin McBride it would be "inappropriate in this case" to return his vehicle.
Goldwater challenged the seizure, and McBride got his $15,000 Jeep back Friday without having to pay to release it from forfeiture.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"It should be obvious: Government shouldn't be able to steal private property from law-abiding citizens. Fortunately, government theft has been dealt a major blow today," Goldwater Institute Senior Attorney Matt Miller said.
"Today’s news that Kevin has been reunited with his Jeep is extremely welcome — and it’s a tacit admission by the government that its actions here were unfair and illogical."
The institute said situations like McBride’s are common in states across the country, thanks to civil asset forfeiture laws.
"Under such laws, the government can take and keep your property without charging or convicting you of a crime. All they need to do is allege you committed a crime, and then the burden falls on you to hire a lawyer and go to court in an effort to prove otherwise," the institute said. "Even though forfeiture was meant to be used to target the property of major criminals — like drug kingpins — these days, it’s predominantly used against the little guy, even when he hasn’t done anything wrong."
Is government theft of law-abiding citizens' property a problem today? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 98% (324 Votes) 2% (6 Votes)
While McBride’s predicament has a happy outcome, more must be done to ensure that that kind of government theft doesn’t happen again, the lawyers said.
"Kevin isn’t the only person who’s been targeted by civil asset forfeiture schemes — and unfortunately, he probably won’t be the last," Miller said. "The Goldwater Institute will continue to put pressure on states to reform or repeal these unfair laws—whether through legal action or through state legislatures amending these laws to require a criminal conviction."
Miller explained that in May, McBride's girlfriend stopped by his job site and asked if she could help him cool off by getting him a soda from a local convenience store.
"Because she had no other way to get there, she took his Jeep and he went back to work," Miller said.
She didn't return, and when he got a ride to the store, he found his Jeep being towed by police.
On the scene, a police officer gave McBride a phone number, and three weeks later, he finally was able to get through. He was told the local prosecutor was holding his Jeep as evidence of a $25 crime they said his girlfriend committed: the alleged sale of three grams of marijuana.
Even though charges against the girlfriend were dropped, prosecutors "were keeping the Jeep using civil forfeiture, even though Kevin had done nothing wrong," Miller said.
McBride was told by the Pima County attorney's office he could get his Jeep back if he paid $1,900.
"There was no explanation why. That was just an amount the government had chosen. Kevin could pay it, or he could watch his Jeep be sold — with police keeping the proceeds," Miller explained.
Under the state's civil forfeiture law, police confiscate property and the owner is forced to prove innocence.
Miller said the system has problems.
"The burden should be on the government to show that Kevin was involved. Furthermore, let us take a step back for some perspective on what happened here. Kevin’s girlfriend allegedly used the Jeep to sell about $25 worth of marijuana to an undercover police officer. Tucson now claims the right to forfeit Kevin’s Jeep — which is worth about $15,000 — and keep the money," Miller said.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled recently in a case from another state that the confiscation of a vehicle for a minor alleged drug offense is unconstitutional.


wnd--2020-09-06--Woman who died in February gets letter claiming she was tested for COVID, declared positive

In local journalism , the news that gets covered is supposed to be of the man-bites-dog variety , not dog-bites-man .
Except for The Onion , nobody really cares when an area man loses the lottery again .
If it 's sunny in Los Angeles , the weather does n't lead off the 11 p.m. news .
When the panda at the zoo is n't having a baby , no one bothers to cover its pregnancy status .
All of which is to say that one hopes the case of Sandra Whittington is indeed of the man-bites-dog variety .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news is because it 's not necessarily clear just how man-bites-dog it is .
Whittington is -- or rather , was -- a resident of Shelby County , Tennessee , which includes Memphis .
The local health department reportedly said she tested positive for COVID-19 after taking the test June .
20 .
The issue is that she passed away in hospice care at a friend 's home on Feb. 16 after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , according to KTHV-TV in Memphis .
TRENDING : In your face : Woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on incident '' It 's been six months , almost seven , since she passed away , '' said her son , Troy Whittington .
`` There was no testing that was done at that time .
On her death certificate it was stated she died , what the cause of death was , and it was not COVID-19 .
It was COPD . ''
Whittington said the letter arrived recently ( the letter is dated Aug , 20 ) , even though the purported test was conducted in June , making it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I 'm just having a hard time understanding how they can say someone has COVID-19 when they are not even alive , '' he told the station last week .
After receiving the letter , he contacted the Shelby County Health Department , which , he said , confirmed they had her on record as having taken the test June 20 .
The health department did n't have a ready answer as to how exactly this happened , neither when Troy Whittington contacted them nor when KTHV asked for comment .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested on June 20 , who passed away on Feb. 16 , '' Whittington said .
`` I tried to call the health department this morning , ask them why this was going on .
She said she would have to get a supervisor .
She was sorry for the mistake or she could n't tell me any information till she got a supervisor , and I have n't heard back from them . ''
The Shelby County Health Department had this response for KTHV , meanwhile : `` Dr. Haushalter is reaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behalf of the Health Department about the mistake and the additional pain it might have caused the family .
She also states that new protocols will be put in place to make sure a mistake like this doesn ’ t happen again in the future . ''
Dr. Haushalter , in this case , is Dr. Alisa Haushalter , head of the health department .
According to the government of the city of Memphis , there have been 27,975 positive tests taken in Shelby County as of Friday , meaning one dead person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needle in any appreciable fashion .
The problem is that little bureaucratic mistakes can add up .
In July , the state of Tennessee confirmed it had incorrectly tracked more than 300 people as being COVID-19-positive after a man who was never tested , Brock Ballou , was told he had the virus .
The individuals were instead part of a group being tracked as having come in contact with people who had COVID-19 .
“ Everyone makes mistakes , but this is a big error when it comes to a pandemic like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know I ’ m not the only one .
And that ’ s irritating , '' Ballou told WMC-TV .
“ The error was discovered and corrected within 24 hours , '' said a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Health , who called it a coding error .
“ People should have been notified they were a contact but were being called as if they were a case .
No one was given incorrect test results.
” In Florida , Mindy Clark made the news after she was informed in July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact she 'd never taken a test , as well .
According to WWSB-TV , this likely happened because she had been in line for drive-thru testing but pulled out after realizing it was only for people displaying symptoms .
“ I got a call asking for me , and they told me that I had tested positive .
I was like , ‘ Positive for what ? '
Then , the lady said for COVID , and I said , ‘ That ’ s impossible .
I never got tested , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Patients were reportedly identified by their number in line at the drive-thru testing site , which could get thrown off when someone like Clark decides to leave before being tested , meaning that someone who had tested positive likely was n't notified .
This is n't necessarily about a total breakdown of the COVID-19 testing system , but it is about a matter of trust .
`` I would just like for the health department to be more accurate , '' Troy Whittington said , adding that his situation made him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` They have a record of her death there .
That is where I got the death certificate from and it 's in the same building they 're sending out saying she is positive , which is not possible . ''
Not only does it breed distrust on that level , but consider the lateness of the notification .
`` We 're talking two months later .
She needs to be quarantined for 10 , well we 've got 60 days from the time of the test to get the letter out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
It 's easy to bang the table and say we 've got to be better in situations like this , but when a man receives a letter saying his mother tested positive for COVID-19 more than six months after she was cremated , receives it more than two months after she `` tested positive '' and the county ca n't provide answers on either count , something 's amiss .
One hopes it 's amiss in a manner that 's man-bites-dog .
One fears that it is n't .
This article @ @ @ @ @ @ @

In local journalism, the news that gets covered is supposed to be of the man-bites-dog variety, not dog-bites-man.
Except for The Onion, nobody really cares when an area man loses the lottery again. If it's sunny in Los Angeles, the weather doesn't lead off the 11 p.m. news. When the panda at the zoo isn't having a baby, no one bothers to cover its pregnancy status.
All of which is to say that one hopes the case of Sandra Whittington is indeed of the man-bites-dog variety. However, the reason she's in the news is because it's not necessarily clear just how man-bites-dog it is.
Whittington is -- or rather, was -- a resident of Shelby County, Tennessee, which includes Memphis. The local health department reportedly said she tested positive for COVID-19 after taking the test June 20.
The issue is that she passed away in hospice care at a friend's home on Feb. 16 after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to KTHV-TV in Memphis.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"It's been six months, almost seven, since she passed away," said her son, Troy Whittington.
"There was no testing that was done at that time. On her death certificate it was stated she died, what the cause of death was, and it was not COVID-19. It was COPD."
Whittington said the letter arrived recently (the letter is dated Aug, 20), even though the purported test was conducted in June, making it useless in more than one respect.
"I'm just having a hard time understanding how they can say someone has COVID-19 when they are not even alive," he told the station last week.
After receiving the letter, he contacted the Shelby County Health Department, which, he said, confirmed they had her on record as having taken the test June 20.
Imagine your mother has been dead for 6 months but she gets a letter saying she has been diagnosed with COVID 19 from a test that was supposedly taken in June ? Hear from her son tonight at 6! pic.twitter.com/GdxVgGMkFO — Jeni DiPrizio (@local24jeni) September 3, 2020
The health department didn't have a ready answer as to how exactly this happened, neither when Troy Whittington contacted them nor when KTHV asked for comment.
"It's impossible for someone to be tested on June 20, who passed away on Feb. 16," Whittington said.
"I tried to call the health department this morning, ask them why this was going on. She said she would have to get a supervisor. She was sorry for the mistake or she couldn't tell me any information till she got a supervisor, and I haven't heard back from them."
The Shelby County Health Department had this response for KTHV, meanwhile: "Dr. Haushalter is reaching out to Mr. Whittington to apologize on behalf of the Health Department about the mistake and the additional pain it might have caused the family. She also states that new protocols will be put in place to make sure a mistake like this doesn’t happen again in the future."
Dr. Haushalter, in this case, is Dr. Alisa Haushalter, head of the health department.
According to the government of the city of Memphis, there have been 27,975 positive tests taken in Shelby County as of Friday, meaning one dead person who tested positive doesn't move the needle in any appreciable fashion.
The problem is that little bureaucratic mistakes can add up.
In July, the state of Tennessee confirmed it had incorrectly tracked more than 300 people as being COVID-19-positive after a man who was never tested, Brock Ballou, was told he had the virus. The individuals were instead part of a group being tracked as having come in contact with people who had COVID-19.
“Everyone makes mistakes, but this is a big error when it comes to a pandemic like this and told that they are positive I know I’m not the only one. And that’s irritating," Ballou told WMC-TV.
“The error was discovered and corrected within 24 hours," said a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Health, who called it a coding error.
“People should have been notified they were a contact but were being called as if they were a case. No one was given incorrect test results.”
In Florida, Mindy Clark made the news after she was informed in July that she tested positive for COVID-19 despite the fact she'd never taken a test, as well. According to WWSB-TV, this likely happened because she had been in line for drive-thru testing but pulled out after realizing it was only for people displaying symptoms.
“I got a call asking for me, and they told me that I had tested positive. I was like, ‘Positive for what?' Then, the lady said for COVID, and I said, ‘That’s impossible. I never got tested, ma’am,’” Clark said.
Patients were reportedly identified by their number in line at the drive-thru testing site, which could get thrown off when someone like Clark decides to leave before being tested, meaning that someone who had tested positive likely wasn't notified.
This isn't necessarily about a total breakdown of the COVID-19 testing system, but it is about a matter of trust.
"I would just like for the health department to be more accurate," Troy Whittington said, adding that his situation made him question testing numbers across the nation.
"They have a record of her death there. That is where I got the death certificate from and it's in the same building they're sending out saying she is positive, which is not possible."
Not only does it breed distrust on that level, but consider the lateness of the notification.
"We're talking two months later. She needs to be quarantined for 10, well we've got 60 days from the time of the test to get the letter out to her which is unacceptable," Whittington said.
It's easy to bang the table and say we've got to be better in situations like this, but when a man receives a letter saying his mother tested positive for COVID-19 more than six months after she was cremated, receives it more than two months after she "tested positive" and the county can't provide answers on either count, something's amiss.
One hopes it's amiss in a manner that's man-bites-dog. One fears that it isn't.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-09-08--Benefits of Electoral College system to choose president detailed

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
Critics of the Electoral College argue for a national popular vote , their main argument being a basic one : so every citizen has an equal voice in deciding who wins the presidency , not just those in competitive states .
While this argument has obvious appeal , it collapses under close scrutiny .
In a direct national election , candidates would still focus most of their time , energy , and money in particular areas — and this time it would be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an emphasis on big states .
In the current system , candidates must build a broad coalition consisting of their loyal base ( safe states ) and undecided voters ( swing states ) to win the presidency , instead of focusing on one or two regions or demographic groups .
Tara Ross , the author of several books about the Electoral College , explains why the current system does not really disenfranchise voters outside the swing states .
“ Safe states are not being ignored , ” she says .
“ They have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon the years of decisions that preceded the election .
When a state ceases to be satisfied , it quickly lets its political party — and the world !
— know .
Such states either become safe for the opposite political party ( as West Virginia did following the election of 2000 ) or they become a new swing state ( as Virginia recently has ) .
” Swing states are the late deciders , forcing candidates to move beyond their primary coalitions and speak to average American voters , including independents .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bedrock for a winning coalition .
Swing states matter because they compel campaigns to reach out to undecided voters .
In the final stretch of a presidential campaign , candidates focus on swing states only because they already know what most voters in the other states want .
For example , in a small town with 50 voters , it does n't make sense for a mayoral candidate to spend time and resources persuading her 20 committed voters or the 20 who have already picked her opponent .
She will focus her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States are also constantly changing .
For decades , California was a swing state ; Florida and Vermont were once solidly Republican .
Over time , voters in any given state change their preferences as political coalitions and party platforms evolve .
Hillary Clinton alienated voters in the Midwest who had voted for President Obama twice , while Donald Trump was tailoring his appeal to these very voters .
These decisions mattered , as Wisconsin , which had n't voted for a Republican since 1984 , went for Trump , proving that supposedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Advocates for schemes like the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact , which would hijack the Electoral College system to create a de facto direct election , promise to make “ Every vote equal.
” But in a direct election , candidates would focus attention on large urban areas and geographic regions where their base resides .
With a national popular vote , Democrats would primarily campaign in big cities and blue strongholds like California and New York , while Republicans would look to spike turnout in Texas and the rest of the South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for National Review , argues this is what Democrats did in 2016 .
“ More than 13 percent of Hillary ’ s voters lived in a single state , California — the highest proportion for any candidate since Dewey in his home state ( New York , then the nation ’ s most populous ) in 1944 , and higher than any winning candidate since 1868 .
… Hillary ’ s 4.2-million-vote margin in California more than accounted for her 2.9-million-vote plurality nationally .
That one-party unity in the largest state , out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , explains more about the popular/electoral vote split than the small states do.
” Clinton ’ s success in California didn ’ t translate into a national victory because Trump won diverse states like Arizona , Florida , and Michigan .
He may have been blown out in California , but a diverse swath of the American public wanted him to win .
The Electoral Colleges forces candidates to build a coalition of safe and swing states to win the presidency .
A candidate like Clinton who doesn ’ t respect the diversity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in California but lose Pennsylvania and Florida .
Under our current system , both safe and swing states are crucial , and candidates must build a broad coalition to win the White House .
[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Trent England
Real Clear Politics
Critics of the Electoral College argue for a national popular vote, their main argument being a basic one: so every citizen has an equal voice in deciding who wins the presidency, not just those in competitive states. While this argument has obvious appeal, it collapses under close scrutiny. In a direct national election, candidates would still focus most of their time, energy, and money in particular areas — and this time it would be the parties’ traditional geographic base, with an emphasis on big states. In the current system, candidates must build a broad coalition consisting of their loyal base (safe states) and undecided voters (swing states) to win the presidency, instead of focusing on one or two regions or demographic groups.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Tara Ross, the author of several books about the Electoral College, explains why the current system does not really disenfranchise voters outside the swing states. “Safe states are not being ignored,” she says. “They have simply already made up their minds based upon the years of decisions that preceded the election. When a state ceases to be satisfied, it quickly lets its political party — and the world! — know. Such states either become safe for the opposite political party (as West Virginia did following the election of 2000) or they become a new swing state (as Virginia recently has).”
Swing states are the late deciders, forcing candidates to move beyond their primary coalitions and speak to average American voters, including independents. As Ross argues, safe states form the bedrock for a winning coalition. Swing states matter because they compel campaigns to reach out to undecided voters.
In the final stretch of a presidential campaign, candidates focus on swing states only because they already know what most voters in the other states want. For example, in a small town with 50 voters, it doesn't make sense for a mayoral candidate to spend time and resources persuading her 20 committed voters or the 20 who have already picked her opponent. She will focus her campaign on the 10 undecided voters.
States are also constantly changing. For decades, California was a swing state; Florida and Vermont were once solidly Republican. Over time, voters in any given state change their preferences as political coalitions and party platforms evolve. Hillary Clinton alienated voters in the Midwest who had voted for President Obama twice, while Donald Trump was tailoring his appeal to these very voters. These decisions mattered, as Wisconsin, which hadn't voted for a Republican since 1984, went for Trump, proving that supposedly safe states aren't necessarily safe.
Advocates for schemes like the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would hijack the Electoral College system to create a de facto direct election, promise to make “Every vote equal.” But in a direct election, candidates would focus attention on large urban areas and geographic regions where their base resides. With a national popular vote, Democrats would primarily campaign in big cities and blue strongholds like California and New York, while Republicans would look to spike turnout in Texas and the rest of the South.
Dan McLaughlin, a senior writer for National Review, argues this is what Democrats did in 2016. “More than 13 percent of Hillary’s voters lived in a single state, California — the highest proportion for any candidate since Dewey in his home state (New York, then the nation’s most populous) in 1944, and higher than any winning candidate since 1868. … Hillary’s 4.2-million-vote margin in California more than accounted for her 2.9-million-vote plurality nationally. That one-party unity in the largest state, out of step with the rest of America, explains more about the popular/electoral vote split than the small states do.”
Clinton’s success in California didn’t translate into a national victory because Trump won diverse states like Arizona, Florida, and Michigan. He may have been blown out in California, but a diverse swath of the American public wanted him to win.
The Electoral Colleges forces candidates to build a coalition of safe and swing states to win the presidency. A candidate like Clinton who doesn’t respect the diversity of American voters may win a landslide in California but lose Pennsylvania and Florida. Under our current system, both safe and swing states are crucial, and candidates must build a broad coalition to win the White House.
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]


wnd--2020-09-08--California's 'just say no' energy agenda results in blackouts

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy . ]
It should be inconceivable that in a time of American energy abundance , within the nation ’ s richest and most populous state , citizens are being subjected to rolling electricity blackouts .
Yet here we are .
California ’ s grid is again struggling to provide the energy that is so vital to keeping us all connected , especially now .
There are several root causes of the crisis .
First , while California ’ s experience with utility “ restructuring ” is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other states that broke-up incumbent utilities into separate wires and generation businesses .
Electric reliability in California depends , in large part , on merchant power producers , such as Calpine , NRG Energy ( NRG ) , Vistra ( VST ) and others , that , in turn , rely on revenues received from the California ISO wholesale energy market and state-approved power contracts with incumbent utilities like Pacific Gas & Electric ( PCG ) , Southern California Edison ( SCE ) and San Diego Gas and Electric ( SRE ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wholesale energy market awash in intermittent renewable energy at near-zero ( or negative ) prices during some parts of the day , while undervaluing and failing to procure investments in generation that maintain reliability 24/7 .
Second , California energy zeitgeist has been anything but “ all-of-the above.
” It is more like , “ just say no ” to nuclear , natural gas , and pipelines .
California has largely embraced the view that the future of electricity is a strict reliance on distributed energy resources , battery storage , renewables @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All these have merit , and few would argue against the increasing importance of each .
But , California has pursued them at the bleeding edge of affordability and technological capability .
Third-party stakeholder groups have driven this agenda , and customers are now reaping what has been sown .
Third , California has embraced forms of electricity retail choice such as “ community choice aggregation ” ( CCAs ) and “ energy service providers ” ( ESPs ) .
CCAs and ESPs are mechanisms for local communities and commercial and industrial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and procure energy directly , while still relying on the utilities ’ grid to reliably deliver the energy .
Unfortunately , as structured , CCAs and ESPs could cherry pick the easiest-to-serve and most financially lucrative customers .
Lacking the same obligations as incumbent utilities , CCAs and ESPs have undercut resource adequacy standards , and regulations have struggled to keep pace with this new dynamic .
The unfortunate net result of these policies is financial and regulatory instability for both incumbent utilities and merchant power providers , while consumers are stuck with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price volatility and a lack of reliability .
California ’ s problems should be a wake-up call to other states .
The public policies that led California down this path aren ’ t limited to the Golden State .
It ’ s just that California has aggressively pursued so many of them .
Look at the root causes and you will see overlap with trends in other parts of the country .
Take Texas , for example .
Like California , Texas forced most utilities to divest generation assets from the wires portion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many differences , these two largest American states are also the two states that have most recently struggled with major electricity scarcity emergencies : California this summer , and Texas last .
The combination of dependence on merchant owned generation and maladaptive wholesale energy markets is no coincidence .
This isn ’ t a red state or blue state issue , and it isn ’ t a matter of being pro-renewables or anti-renewables .
It is a matter of ensuring regulatory structures align financial viability with grid reliability .
Notice also the similarities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mid-Atlantic and Northeast .
Like California , they are states that rely on merchant power providers to keep the lights on , and they are also increasingly driven by political pressures to reject the need for new pipelines , natural gas generation , and nuclear generation .
While these Eastern electricity markets have adopted some reforms not in place in California and Texas that are intended to better attract capital to ensure 24/7 reliability , the larger point still holds .
Reliable , affordable electricity depends on investment that allows access to dependable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , no one should be surprised if the Northeast sees winter reliability and cost problems on par with California ’ s and Texas ’ summer challenges .
The experience in states that forced their utilities to separate electricity generation from the rest of their business is laying bare the claims of those who argue for a renewed push for utility “ deregulation ” into regions of the country where it never took hold .
While supporters of restructuring deride the vertically integrated utility as hopelessly passé , it is becoming clear that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ utilities , putting blind faith in today ’ s wholesale electricity markets and assuming they will cause energy to appear from the ether during times of scarcity is proving to be a dangerous religion .
California ’ s Byzantine mix of state policy directives and misaligned wholesale markets clearly laid the groundwork for this summer ’ s grid meltdown .
And , it is tempting to look at California and think it can ’ t happen elsewhere .
But , in reality , California is a harbinger of things to come if other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t heed the warnings .
Tony Clark was a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from 2012 to 2016 and is a former Chairman of the North Dakota Public Service Commission .
He is a Senior Advisor at the law firm of Wilkinson Barker Knauer , LLP , which represents clients in the energy and communications industries .
[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]
By Tony Clark
Real Clear Energy
It should be inconceivable that in a time of American energy abundance, within the nation’s richest and most populous state, citizens are being subjected to rolling electricity blackouts. Yet here we are. California’s grid is again struggling to provide the energy that is so vital to keeping us all connected, especially now.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
There are several root causes of the crisis.
First, while California’s experience with utility “restructuring” is unique, it shares some characteristics with other states that broke-up incumbent utilities into separate wires and generation businesses. Electric reliability in California depends, in large part, on merchant power producers, such as Calpine, NRG Energy (NRG), Vistra (VST) and others, that, in turn, rely on revenues received from the California ISO wholesale energy market and state-approved power contracts with incumbent utilities like Pacific Gas & Electric (PCG), Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas and Electric (SRE). For years, experts have warned about a wholesale energy market awash in intermittent renewable energy at near-zero (or negative) prices during some parts of the day, while undervaluing and failing to procure investments in generation that maintain reliability 24/7.
Second, California energy zeitgeist has been anything but “all-of-the above.” It is more like, “just say no” to nuclear, natural gas, and pipelines. California has largely embraced the view that the future of electricity is a strict reliance on distributed energy resources, battery storage, renewables, energy efficiency, and demand response. All these have merit, and few would argue against the increasing importance of each. But, California has pursued them at the bleeding edge of affordability and technological capability. Third-party stakeholder groups have driven this agenda, and customers are now reaping what has been sown.
Third, California has embraced forms of electricity retail choice such as “community choice aggregation” (CCAs) and “energy service providers” (ESPs). CCAs and ESPs are mechanisms for local communities and commercial and industrial customers to go around the incumbent utility and procure energy directly, while still relying on the utilities’ grid to reliably deliver the energy. Unfortunately, as structured, CCAs and ESPs could cherry pick the easiest-to-serve and most financially lucrative customers. Lacking the same obligations as incumbent utilities, CCAs and ESPs have undercut resource adequacy standards, and regulations have struggled to keep pace with this new dynamic.
The unfortunate net result of these policies is financial and regulatory instability for both incumbent utilities and merchant power providers, while consumers are stuck with expensive electric service that is characterized by price volatility and a lack of reliability.
California’s problems should be a wake-up call to other states. The public policies that led California down this path aren’t limited to the Golden State. It’s just that California has aggressively pursued so many of them. Look at the root causes and you will see overlap with trends in other parts of the country.
Take Texas, for example. Like California, Texas forced most utilities to divest generation assets from the wires portion of their businesses. For all their many differences, these two largest American states are also the two states that have most recently struggled with major electricity scarcity emergencies: California this summer, and Texas last. The combination of dependence on merchant owned generation and maladaptive wholesale energy markets is no coincidence. This isn’t a red state or blue state issue, and it isn’t a matter of being pro-renewables or anti-renewables. It is a matter of ensuring regulatory structures align financial viability with grid reliability.
Notice also the similarities between California and several states in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Like California, they are states that rely on merchant power providers to keep the lights on, and they are also increasingly driven by political pressures to reject the need for new pipelines, natural gas generation, and nuclear generation. While these Eastern electricity markets have adopted some reforms not in place in California and Texas that are intended to better attract capital to ensure 24/7 reliability, the larger point still holds. Reliable, affordable electricity depends on investment that allows access to dependable generation resources. Barring a course correction, no one should be surprised if the Northeast sees winter reliability and cost problems on par with California’s and Texas’ summer challenges.
The experience in states that forced their utilities to separate electricity generation from the rest of their business is laying bare the claims of those who argue for a renewed push for utility “deregulation” into regions of the country where it never took hold. While supporters of restructuring deride the vertically integrated utility as hopelessly passé, it is becoming clear that, in the absence of well-planned, well-regulated utilities, putting blind faith in today’s wholesale electricity markets and assuming they will cause energy to appear from the ether during times of scarcity is proving to be a dangerous religion.
California’s Byzantine mix of state policy directives and misaligned wholesale markets clearly laid the groundwork for this summer’s grid meltdown. And, it is tempting to look at California and think it can’t happen elsewhere. But, in reality, California is a harbinger of things to come if other states and wholesale market regulators don’t heed the warnings.
Tony Clark was a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from 2012 to 2016 and is a former Chairman of the North Dakota Public Service Commission. He is a Senior Advisor at the law firm of Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP, which represents clients in the energy and communications industries.
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]


wnd--2020-09-08--Scholars have harsh words for New York Times 1619 Project

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Education . ]
During a National Association of Scholars webinar last week , historian Wilfred M. McClay had harsh words for the New York Times ’ s 1619 Project , calling its scholarship “ poor ” and “ embarrassing ” and noting that some of America ’ s most distinguished historians , including Gordon S. Wood , Sean Wilentz , James Oakes , and James McPherson , have publicly criticized its arguments .
McClay also pointed out that lead writer Nikole Hannah-Jones recently wrote that the 1619 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather “ a work of journalism that explicitly seeks to challenge ” the current “ national narrative.
” Yet this work of journalism , with its attendant curriculum , has already been adopted in thousands of schools across the United States .
The 1619 Project presents America as a “ slavocracy ” that will always be defined by the “ oppression of blacks , ” says NAS president Peter Wood .
To challenge this view , NAS is launching its own 1620 Project , a name chosen to highlight the year that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the principles of self-government , liberty under the law , and mutual respect.
” The 1620 Project provides “ a broader picture of American history , one that is informed by a thorough and unbiased assessment of historical data.
” While Americans should “ be mindful ” of the country ’ s “ terrible history ” with regards to slavery , Wood and NAS argue that “ being truly cognizant requires a commitment to accuracy and understanding of context ” —especially in our present moment , where “ wildly inaccurate and de-contextualized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videos , podcasts , conferences , a forthcoming book , and writing from scholars such as Lucas Morel , H.W .
Brands , and William B. Allen , along with NAS ’ s Wood , David Randall , and John David , NAS hopes to push back “ against the racial animosity fostered by the 1619 Project.
” The 1620 Project is part of NAS ’ s larger mission : to “ uphold the standards of a liberal arts education that fosters intellectual freedom , searches for the truth , and promotes virtuous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goals , NAS aims to “ reform higher education ” by defending “ academic freedom , ” publishing in-depth investigative reports , and educating the public “ about policies and legislation that would preserve the liberal arts and protect academic freedom.
” NAS seeks to provide solutions to the problems besetting American civic education , which Wood says “ has been hijacked by the partisans of the social justice movement ” who are attempting to move “ in a direction away from our traditional , constitutional values.
” Two reports , “ Making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Western Civilization , ” explore how college courses on American civics and Western Civilization have been gradually hollowed out since the 1960s in favor of political propaganda .
Wood argues that students today are taught to “ disdain their country and to focus on its missteps and ignominy—whether real or imaginary.
” This trend would be a problem for any country , but it is especially so for America , where republican government depends on educated citizens who understand the traditions and principles of self-government .
Numerous surveys , such as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which found that just 39 % of American adults could identify the three branches of government , show how pervasive the problem has become .
Because citizens are made and not born , a solid civic education from teachers grounded in history is necessary for America ’ s continued success .
“ None of this knowledge comes instantly into the heads of children as they grow up .
They have to be taught , ” Wood says .
What can Americans do more broadly to reform civic education ?
Wood argues that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school administrators because “ they are generally educated in schools of education , which feature some of the worst anti-American indoctrination in all of higher education.
” Instead , parents and legislators should start by reading “ current textbooks and supporting materials—an eye-opening experience ” that will help shape their future strategies .
Those interested in reform can also become NAS members , which includes a subscription to the quarterly journal Academic Questions and access to a network of individuals working to promote academic integrity and intellectual freedom in higher education .
Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Peter Wood and the National Association of Scholars understand that the American future depends on it—and , in turn , on the task of forming citizens who can pass on the blessings of liberty to their progeny .

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Education.]
By Mike Sabo
Real Clear Education
During a National Association of Scholars webinar last week, historian Wilfred M. McClay had harsh words for the New York Times’s 1619 Project, calling its scholarship “poor” and “embarrassing” and noting that some of America’s most distinguished historians, including Gordon S. Wood, Sean Wilentz, James Oakes, and James McPherson, have publicly criticized its arguments.
McClay also pointed out that lead writer Nikole Hannah-Jones recently wrote that the 1619 Project is not “history” but rather “a work of journalism that explicitly seeks to challenge” the current “national narrative.” Yet this work of journalism, with its attendant curriculum, has already been adopted in thousands of schools across the United States.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The 1619 Project presents America as a “slavocracy” that will always be defined by the “oppression of blacks,” says NAS president Peter Wood. To challenge this view, NAS is launching its own 1620 Project, a name chosen to highlight the year that the Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact and established “the principles of self-government, liberty under the law, and mutual respect.” The 1620 Project provides “a broader picture of American history, one that is informed by a thorough and unbiased assessment of historical data.”
While Americans should “be mindful” of the country’s “terrible history” with regards to slavery, Wood and NAS argue that “being truly cognizant requires a commitment to accuracy and understanding of context”—especially in our present moment, where “wildly inaccurate and de-contextualized claims about slavery are widespread.”
Through videos, podcasts, conferences, a forthcoming book, and writing from scholars such as Lucas Morel, H.W. Brands, and William B. Allen, along with NAS’s Wood, David Randall, and John David, NAS hopes to push back “against the racial animosity fostered by the 1619 Project.”
The 1620 Project is part of NAS’s larger mission: to “uphold the standards of a liberal arts education that fosters intellectual freedom, searches for the truth, and promotes virtuous citizenship.”
In order to achieve these goals, NAS aims to “reform higher education” by defending “academic freedom,” publishing in-depth investigative reports, and educating the public “about policies and legislation that would preserve the liberal arts and protect academic freedom.”
NAS seeks to provide solutions to the problems besetting American civic education, which Wood says “has been hijacked by the partisans of the social justice movement” who are attempting to move “in a direction away from our traditional, constitutional values.” Two reports, “Making Citizens” and “The Lost History of Western Civilization,” explore how college courses on American civics and Western Civilization have been gradually hollowed out since the 1960s in favor of political propaganda.
Wood argues that students today are taught to “disdain their country and to focus on its missteps and ignominy—whether real or imaginary.”
This trend would be a problem for any country, but it is especially so for America, where republican government depends on educated citizens who understand the traditions and principles of self-government. Numerous surveys, such as the 2019 Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey, which found that just 39% of American adults could identify the three branches of government, show how pervasive the problem has become.
Because citizens are made and not born, a solid civic education from teachers grounded in history is necessary for America’s continued success. “None of this knowledge comes instantly into the heads of children as they grow up. They have to be taught,” Wood says.
What can Americans do more broadly to reform civic education?
Wood argues that we shouldn’t rely on teachers and school administrators because “they are generally educated in schools of education, which feature some of the worst anti-American indoctrination in all of higher education.” Instead, parents and legislators should start by reading “current textbooks and supporting materials—an eye-opening experience” that will help shape their future strategies.
Those interested in reform can also become NAS members, which includes a subscription to the quarterly journal Academic Questions and access to a network of individuals working to promote academic integrity and intellectual freedom in higher education.
Though the demands of republican self-government are high, Peter Wood and the National Association of Scholars understand that the American future depends on it—and, in turn, on the task of forming citizens who can pass on the blessings of liberty to their progeny.


wnd--2020-09-08--American Airlines faces backlash after approving Black Lives Matter pins for cabin crews

American Airlines announced Sunday that it will allow its flight attendants to wear “ Black Lives Matter ” pins while on duty .
The new policy was harshly criticized by some staff members who view the BLM movement as “ anti-cop ” and “ divisive , ” the New York Post reported .
“ I take offense to this , ” a past flight attendant wrote in an email to American management obtained by the Post .
“ Serious offense .
My husband is a LEO [ Law Enforcement Officer ] , as was my deceased father and as far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she wrote .
“ I am completely disgusted at the fact that we can ’ t show support for our GOD , our COUNTRY , our LEOs but when it comes to BLM organization ( which is controversial in itself ) , American Airlines says that ’ s obviously different , ” the former flight attendant said .
A current flight attendant who asked to go by John said those who don ’ t wear the uniform pin will be ostracized and thought of as racist by other staff members .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will wear my NYPD pin supporting the police department , ” he said .
One employee accused American of jumping on the BLM “ bandwagon ” to compete with rival Delta Airlines , which reportedly designed its own pin , according to the Post .
Another flight attendant vowed to wear a pin in support of President Donald Trump if American approved the `` Black Lives Matter '' pin , Fox News reported .
In an email to employees , Jill Surdek , the airline ’ s senior vice president for flight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truly committed to having an inclusive culture that is welcoming to all and a reflection of our country and world.
” “ One symbolic way to show our support is through a uniform pin , ” she said .
“ We are working with our Black Professional Network on designing a specific pin that may be worn with the uniform .
In the interim until this pin is produced , to recognize the significance of this moment in history , we are allowing people to wear a Black Lives Matter Pin.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter : Many customers said they no longer will fly American .
In a statement to the Post , the company said it has employee resource groups that are working on several pins for different causes .
“ Our Christian , veterans and LGBTQ groups , for example , have developed their own pin that can be worn as part of the uniform , ” American said .
Team members can wear up to three pins on their uniforms , KXAS-TV reported .
“ They can choose from company-issued award or anniversary pins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company-sponsored pin .
Company-sponsored pins include an Employee Business Resource Groups pin , a flag pin , a UNICEF pin , or the Wings Foundation pin.
” According to the Post , American said it views BLM “ not as a political cause but as a universal cause about humanity and equality .
Fundamentally , Black Lives Matter is an expression of equality.
” This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

American Airlines announced Sunday that it will allow its flight attendants to wear “Black Lives Matter” pins while on duty.
The new policy was harshly criticized by some staff members who view the BLM movement as “anti-cop” and “divisive,” the New York Post reported.
“I take offense to this,” a past flight attendant wrote in an email to American management obtained by the Post.
“Serious offense. My husband is a LEO [Law Enforcement Officer], as was my deceased father and as far as I am concerned ALL LIVES MATTER," she wrote.
“I am completely disgusted at the fact that we can’t show support for our GOD, our COUNTRY, our LEOs but when it comes to BLM organization (which is controversial in itself), American Airlines says that’s obviously different,” the former flight attendant said.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
A current flight attendant who asked to go by John said those who don’t wear the uniform pin will be ostracized and thought of as racist by other staff members.
“If this pin is sanctioned, I will wear my NYPD pin supporting the police department,” he said.
One employee accused American of jumping on the BLM “bandwagon” to compete with rival Delta Airlines, which reportedly designed its own pin, according to the Post.
Another flight attendant vowed to wear a pin in support of President Donald Trump if American approved the "Black Lives Matter" pin, Fox News reported.
In an email to employees, Jill Surdek, the airline’s senior vice president for flight services, said, “American is truly committed to having an inclusive culture that is welcoming to all and a reflection of our country and world.”
“One symbolic way to show our support is through a uniform pin,” she said.
“We are working with our Black Professional Network on designing a specific pin that may be worn with the uniform. In the interim until this pin is produced, to recognize the significance of this moment in history, we are allowing people to wear a Black Lives Matter Pin.”
The news quickly garnered reactions from people on Twitter:
This was sent to me by an @AmericanAir flight attendant. The airline will now have Marxist, anti-police BLM pins but no other pins allowed. No crosses, no blue line pins. Is this true @AmericanAir ??? pic.twitter.com/6WhcnswfdB — Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) September 5, 2020
I remember when @AA did #HonorFlights for our #veterans. They made their choice. I’m not paying for a flying political rally. https://t.co/fToiToGWed — David Webb (@davidwebbshow) September 6, 2020
Why is @AmericanAir allowing BLM inc. pins to be worn on their staff uniforms? BLM inc. is a Marxist organization complicit in the burning and terrorizing of America, yet their propaganda is allowed I wonder if they will allow Blue Lives Matter pins? 🤔 — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 4, 2020
American Airlines has announced that they will allow attendants to wear ‘BLM’ pins on their uniform, But I’m sure if an employee wore a ‘Blue Lives Matter’ pin, there would be a problem. — Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) September 7, 2020
Many customers said they no longer will fly American.
Just found out American Airlines @AmericanAir has allowed employees to wear BLM pins on their uniforms. That would be fine but they do not allow Blue Lives Matter, green lives matter only the divisive Marxist organization. Boycott American Airlines — andrew murphy (@murph74) September 7, 2020
#AmericanAirlines You have lost my business for life! BLM pins are not supporting our police and causing unrest for our country!!!! — Rc5878 (@rc5878) September 6, 2020
They just lost my business #AmericanAirlines — Sheila (@Sheila36215077) September 7, 2020
In a statement to the Post, the company said it has employee resource groups that are working on several pins for different causes.
“Our Christian, veterans and LGBTQ groups, for example, have developed their own pin that can be worn as part of the uniform,” American said.
Team members can wear up to three pins on their uniforms, KXAS-TV reported.
“They can choose from company-issued award or anniversary pins, a union pin, and one company-sponsored pin. Company-sponsored pins include an Employee Business Resource Groups pin, a flag pin, a UNICEF pin, or the Wings Foundation pin.”
According to the Post, American said it views BLM “not as a political cause but as a universal cause about humanity and equality. Fundamentally, Black Lives Matter is an expression of equality.”
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-09-08--California bans e-cigarettes, flavored tobacco

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Policy . ]
Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill that bans the sale of flavored tobacco and flavored vaping cartridges in California retail outlets .
This well-intentioned ban will unfortunately do more harm than good , as it will create black market health hazards , keep cigarette smokers hooked , and transfer jobs to online retailers out-of-state .
State Senator Jerry Hill , D-San Mateo sponsored SB 793 , and said that youths who use tobacco are hooked by seductive flavors like bubblegum and cotton candy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , candy vapes and other flavored tobacco products serve one purpose : to mask the harshness of tobacco and get users hooked to a dangerous lifelong addiction , ” Hill said in a statement .
E-cigarettes or “ vapes ” do not contain tobacco .
Although the flavored products will be banned in California stores , flavored items can still be purchased by California residents through the mail through online vendors .
The price for retail outlets violating the law is steep at $ 250 a violation .
Other states that have banned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rhode Island , New Jersey , and New York along with a whopping 270 localities around the country .
There is no evidence that connects youth e-cigarette use with flavored products .
A recent a study found that only 5 percent of teens say they vape because of the flavors .
The flavor ban will probably not bring a drop in teen e-cigarette use to California but it will bring other problems .
First , banning flavored products will create a black-market industry for flavored e-cigarette products .
Last year , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was hit with an onslaught of high-profile lung injuries ( EVALI ) and deaths .
Although flavored nicotine vaping was initially blamed for the crisis , investigations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the culprit was illicit black-market THC products .
Black market items undergo no quality control and they are created with an intent to maximize profit by using cheap , readily available ingredients obtained from unknown sources .
They are created in conditions that do not meet standard sanitary lab conditions , increasing the likelihood their product will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no idea what is in these black-market products and we could very well see another wave of lung injury and deaths as people turn to the streets to buy their flavored e-cigarette cartridges .
Second , adults who use flavored e-cigarettes to avoid combustible tobacco could be driven back to smoking .
While bad publicity surrounding vaping has already driven people back to cigarettes , forcing adult users to purchase online flavored products is inconvenient .
Online ordering is especially inconvenient when a consumer is looking to meet an immediate need .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cigarettes which remain readily available .
A return to smoking does not help the health and associated health care costs of former smokers who are currently abstaining or for current smokers who need an effective tool to quit .
Finally , it hurts California ’ s business industry .
Retail outlets hurting from coronavirus closures will take another hit to their revenue .
Stores that sell flavored products will lose money when flavor consumers can not buy local store products but can buy the same item from an online vendor .
California ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to close as they will lose a significant portion of their inventory and store closures mean employees lose their jobs and owners lose their livelihood .
“ As California ’ s economy continues to face COVID-related challenges , the last thing its state leaders should be doing is driving people back to cigarettes , shuttering small businesses and slashing jobs , ” Tony Abboud , executive director of the Vapor Technology Association said .
California ’ s flavor ban may help fill the state ’ s tax revenue coffers by forcing vapers back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep teens away from e-cigarettes as they will simply use unflavored products or turn to unregulated black-market items .
Adult vapers , who are dependent on flavors to avoid carcinogenic combustible cigarettes , just have another obstacle in their path of harm reduction with this latest ban in California .
Elizabeth Sheld is the senior news editor at American Greatness and author of the “ Morning Greatness ” news update .
She is a veteran political strategist and pollster who has worked on campaigns and public interest affairs .
Liz has written at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as at PJ Media , where she wrote `` The Morning Briefing . ''
In her spare time , she shoots sporting clays and watches documentaries .
Elizabeth quit smoking with Cuttwood Vapor ’ s Unicorn Milk .
[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Policy . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Policy.]
By Elizabeth Sheld
Real Clear Policy
Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill that bans the sale of flavored tobacco and flavored vaping cartridges in California retail outlets. This well-intentioned ban will unfortunately do more harm than good, as it will create black market health hazards, keep cigarette smokers hooked, and transfer jobs to online retailers out-of-state.
State Senator Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo sponsored SB 793, and said that youths who use tobacco are hooked by seductive flavors like bubblegum and cotton candy.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
“Menthol cigarettes, sweet cigars, candy vapes and other flavored tobacco products serve one purpose: to mask the harshness of tobacco and get users hooked to a dangerous lifelong addiction,” Hill said in a statement. E-cigarettes or “vapes” do not contain tobacco.
Although the flavored products will be banned in California stores, flavored items can still be purchased by California residents through the mail through online vendors. The price for retail outlets violating the law is steep at $250 a violation.
Other states that have banned the sale of flavored e-cigarettes include Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York along with a whopping 270 localities around the country.
There is no evidence that connects youth e-cigarette use with flavored products. A recent a study found that only 5 percent of teens say they vape because of the flavors. The flavor ban will probably not bring a drop in teen e-cigarette use to California but it will bring other problems.
First, banning flavored products will create a black-market industry for flavored e-cigarette products. Last year, the nation watched in horror as the U.S. was hit with an onslaught of high-profile lung injuries (EVALI) and deaths. Although flavored nicotine vaping was initially blamed for the crisis, investigations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the culprit was illicit black-market THC products. Black market items undergo no quality control and they are created with an intent to maximize profit by using cheap, readily available ingredients obtained from unknown sources. They are created in conditions that do not meet standard sanitary lab conditions, increasing the likelihood their product will be contaminated. Flavor users will have no idea what is in these black-market products and we could very well see another wave of lung injury and deaths as people turn to the streets to buy their flavored e-cigarette cartridges.
Second, adults who use flavored e-cigarettes to avoid combustible tobacco could be driven back to smoking. While bad publicity surrounding vaping has already driven people back to cigarettes, forcing adult users to purchase online flavored products is inconvenient. Online ordering is especially inconvenient when a consumer is looking to meet an immediate need. It will be much easier to purchase combustible cigarettes which remain readily available. A return to smoking does not help the health and associated health care costs of former smokers who are currently abstaining or for current smokers who need an effective tool to quit.
Finally, it hurts California’s business industry. Retail outlets hurting from coronavirus closures will take another hit to their revenue. Stores that sell flavored products will lose money when flavor consumers cannot buy local store products but can buy the same item from an online vendor. California’s standalone vape stores will be forced to close as they will lose a significant portion of their inventory and store closures mean employees lose their jobs and owners lose their livelihood.
“As California’s economy continues to face COVID-related challenges, the last thing its state leaders should be doing is driving people back to cigarettes, shuttering small businesses and slashing jobs,” Tony Abboud, executive director of the Vapor Technology Association said.
California’s flavor ban may help fill the state’s tax revenue coffers by forcing vapers back to cigarettes, but it will not keep teens away from e-cigarettes as they will simply use unflavored products or turn to unregulated black-market items. Adult vapers, who are dependent on flavors to avoid carcinogenic combustible cigarettes, just have another obstacle in their path of harm reduction with this latest ban in California.
Elizabeth Sheld is the senior news editor at American Greatness and author of the “Morning Greatness” news update. She is a veteran political strategist and pollster who has worked on campaigns and public interest affairs. Liz has written at Breitbart and The Federalist, as well as at PJ Media, where she wrote "The Morning Briefing." In her spare time, she shoots sporting clays and watches documentaries. Elizabeth quit smoking with Cuttwood Vapor’s Unicorn Milk.
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Policy.]


wnd--2020-09-08--New calls to boycott Disney's live-action Mulan

( AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION ) -- There have been fresh calls to boycott the new live-action remake of Mulan after @ @ @ @ @ the credits to Chinese Government authorities who have been linked to human rights violations .
@ @ @ @ @ of the much-loved 1998 animated movie , has previously been embroiled in controversy after one @ @ @ @ @ police cracking down on independence protests in Hong Kong .
Mulan , which premiered in @ @ @ @ @ streaming service Disney+ on September 4 , was filmed primarily in New Zealand and China @ @ @ @ @ as `` north-west China . ''

(AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION) -- There have been fresh calls to boycott the new live-action remake of Mulan after Disney included a thanks in the credits to Chinese Government authorities who have been linked to human rights violations.
The film, a remake of the much-loved 1998 animated movie, has previously been embroiled in controversy after one of the stars publicly supported police cracking down on independence protests in Hong Kong.
Mulan, which premiered in Australia on Disney's online streaming service Disney+ on September 4, was filmed primarily in New Zealand and China, including desert scenes subtitled as "north-west China."
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-09-08--Report: White prof who pretended to be black has history of racially insulting white neighbors

A white George Washington University professor who made headlines last week after she admitted that she had built a career out of pretending to be black was driven by anti-American and anti-white activism in her younger years , according to a report .
The Daily Mail reported that Jessica Krug attended an exclusive school in Kansas City , Missouri , where those who knew her said she was “ very political ” and previously identified as both white and Jewish .
Prior to identifying as a black woman and getting a career teaching black history , Krug was apparently just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
An unidentified former associate of the race fraudster explained to the Daily Mail that Krug boycotted her own prom and instead planned a flag burning event while attending the Barstow School , from which she graduated in 1999 .
The Daily Mail also reported that after getting a job teaching black history , Krug verbally attacked white people with racial rhetoric at the same time she embraced a black identity and authored divisive racial literature .
While pretending to be black , Krug once got involved in a spat where she called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the report said .
In a blog post Thursday , the 38-year-old divulged that her life as a black academic was a series of `` lies . ''
“ To an escalating degree over my adult life , I have eschewed my lived experience as a white Jewish child in suburban Kansas City under various assumed identities within a Blackness that I had no right to claim , ” Krug wrote in a post on Medium .
`` People have fought together with me and have fought for me , and my continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not only , in the starkest terms , wrong -- unethical , immoral , anti-Black , colonial -- but it means that every step I ’ ve taken has gaslighted those whom I love , '' she said .
The bizarre story says a lot about the culture of victimhood in this country .
A white girl who was , by all accounts , raised with every opportunity chose a path of racial deception that gave her a career as a professional victim with an elevated platform as a minority intellectual , teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such success as a white person ?
Apparently she didn ’ t believe so .
Much like the story of Rachel Dolezal , an NAACP chapter president who was outed as a white woman pretending to be black in 2015 , Krug 's tale defies the notion that opportunities for minority Americans are limited .
If black Americans and other racial minorities are indeed greatly disadvantaged by a system wrought with an inherent bias designed to keep them downtrodden , why do individuals go through the trouble of portraying themselves as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Krug has vowed to seek mental health help , which might not be a terrible idea .
“ To say that I clearly have been battling some unaddressed mental health demons for my entire life , as both an adult and child , is obvious , ” she wrote in her blog post .
Of course , the notion that racism dominates American society is a farce , which Krug and Dolezal knew .
Both white liberals benefited greatly from leading lives as `` black '' women .
Apparently being viewed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can come with grand opportunities for those who are willing to live their lives as lies .
But a life built on a series of lies , and lies of lies , is always a house of cards vulnerable to collapse .
Krug wrote in her confession that she supports cancel culture .
“ I believe in accountability .
And I believe in cancel culture as a necessary and righteous tool for those with less structural power to wield against those with more power , ” she said .
The race fraudster then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I should absolutely be cancelled .
No .
I don ’ t write in passive voice , ever , because I believe we must name power .
So .
You should absolutely cancel me , and I absolutely cancel myself , ” Krug wrote .
The story is a lot to unpack .
Krug apparently spent her entire adult life selling a lie that she was black in order to get a leg up on what would assume would be a method for her to attain a platform so she could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly a radical leftist long before she was a `` black '' thought leader .
According to the Daily Mail , she used her false identity to attack white people while knowing deep down she was one of them .
“ Her current neighbor in the Bronx , Anna Anderson , told the DailyMail.com that Krug would call her 'white trash ' and tell Anderson she was 'gentrifying ' the neighborhood by going running , '' the report said .
“ Following a dispute over their bikes Anderson said Krug asked her : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to black people like me ?
’ “ Anderson told DailyMail.com : ‘ She called me white trash , which is ironic . '
'' Because of her staunch activism , Krug was widely accepted by those who gladly welcomed her as an ally in their fight to end perceived systemic racism .
But people and publications who once viewed Krug as an ally are now distancing themselves from her activism : George Washington suspended Krug last week , and a tweet by the school 's history department called for her resignation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the school since 2012 , according to her university bio .
There is a point to be made from all of this : Why does it matter if Krug was never black ?
The left makes a major issue out of normalizing transgender individuals .
If biological sex is changeable , why can ’ t a person switch from one race to another ?
Racial identity is arguably much more fluid than gender can ever be .
But the left ’ s arguments are never consistent or based on sound logic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ myth that America is racist to its core .
She was a barking mad militant black activist -- until she admitted she wasn ’ t .
The revelation that she found success portraying herself as a member of a disadvantaged class is inconvenient for those who push the false narrative that being born black or brown is a barrier to success .
In the leftist game of oppression and victimhood , Krug leveled the playing field by masquerading as a black woman , and it worked .
Her legacy is , though , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in academia that foments racial division and is built on the lie that minority Americans can not get ahead .
Krug 's white-to-black success story , with reported origins in the radical leftist activism of her youth , is proof of that .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

A white George Washington University professor who made headlines last week after she admitted that she had built a career out of pretending to be black was driven by anti-American and anti-white activism in her younger years, according to a report.
The Daily Mail reported that Jessica Krug attended an exclusive school in Kansas City, Missouri, where those who knew her said she was “very political” and previously identified as both white and Jewish.
Prior to identifying as a black woman and getting a career teaching black history, Krug was apparently just another white campus leftist in late-1990s America.
An unidentified former associate of the race fraudster explained to the Daily Mail that Krug boycotted her own prom and instead planned a flag burning event while attending the Barstow School, from which she graduated in 1999.
The Daily Mail also reported that after getting a job teaching black history, Krug verbally attacked white people with racial rhetoric at the same time she embraced a black identity and authored divisive racial literature.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
While pretending to be black, Krug once got involved in a spat where she called a neighbor "white trash," the report said.
In a blog post Thursday, the 38-year-old divulged that her life as a black academic was a series of "lies."
“To an escalating degree over my adult life, I have eschewed my lived experience as a white Jewish child in suburban Kansas City under various assumed identities within a Blackness that I had no right to claim,” Krug wrote in a post on Medium.
"People have fought together with me and have fought for me, and my continued appropriation of a Black Caribbean identity is not only, in the starkest terms, wrong -- unethical, immoral, anti-Black, colonial -- but it means that every step I’ve taken has gaslighted those whom I love," she said.
The bizarre story says a lot about the culture of victimhood in this country.
A white girl who was, by all accounts, raised with every opportunity chose a path of racial deception that gave her a career as a professional victim with an elevated platform as a minority intellectual, teacher and writer.
Could Krug have found such success as a white person?
Apparently she didn’t believe so.
Much like the story of Rachel Dolezal, an NAACP chapter president who was outed as a white woman pretending to be black in 2015, Krug's tale defies the notion that opportunities for minority Americans are limited.
If black Americans and other racial minorities are indeed greatly disadvantaged by a system wrought with an inherent bias designed to keep them downtrodden, why do individuals go through the trouble of portraying themselves as part of that disadvantaged group?
In any event, Krug has vowed to seek mental health help, which might not be a terrible idea.
“To say that I clearly have been battling some unaddressed mental health demons for my entire life, as both an adult and child, is obvious,” she wrote in her blog post.
Of course, the notion that racism dominates American society is a farce, which Krug and Dolezal knew.
Both white liberals benefited greatly from leading lives as "black" women.
Apparently being viewed as a victim in America is lucrative and can come with grand opportunities for those who are willing to live their lives as lies.
But a life built on a series of lies, and lies of lies, is always a house of cards vulnerable to collapse.
Krug wrote in her confession that she supports cancel culture.
“I believe in accountability. And I believe in cancel culture as a necessary and righteous tool for those with less structural power to wield against those with more power,” she said.
The race fraudster then announced she would "cancel" herself.
“I should absolutely be cancelled. No. I don’t write in passive voice, ever, because I believe we must name power. So. You should absolutely cancel me, and I absolutely cancel myself,” Krug wrote.
The story is a lot to unpack.
Krug apparently spent her entire adult life selling a lie that she was black in order to get a leg up on what would assume would be a method for her to attain a platform so she could espouse leftist rhetoric.
And she was reportedly a radical leftist long before she was a "black" thought leader. According to the Daily Mail, she used her false identity to attack white people while knowing deep down she was one of them.
“Her current neighbor in the Bronx, Anna Anderson, told the DailyMail.com that Krug would call her 'white trash' and tell Anderson she was 'gentrifying' the neighborhood by going running," the report said.
“Following a dispute over their bikes Anderson said Krug asked her: 'Do you know what the police do to black people like me?’
“Anderson told DailyMail.com: ‘She called me white trash, which is ironic.'"
Because of her staunch activism, Krug was widely accepted by those who gladly welcomed her as an ally in their fight to end perceived systemic racism.
But people and publications who once viewed Krug as an ally are now distancing themselves from her activism:
Keeping Black spaces safe is our highest priority and we failed this time, but we will do better. Jessica Krug's words have been removed from our platform and we welcome any other suggestions for better vetting and elevating writers committed to the liberation of Black people. pic.twitter.com/jicCVCb24O — RaceBaitr (@RaceBaitr) September 3, 2020
Rachel Dolezal 2.0 (Jessica Krug) should be ashamed of herself. I'm very offended at what she did. We as Black women are not damn costumes. I can just imagine how actual light-skin Black women must feel about what she did. — 🌻 Olivia A.🌻 (@OliviaHoney11) September 3, 2020
For years I defended her work, and her from her own self-loathing. I did it despite warnings from Black friends, from those who said she wasn't Black enough even if they could accept that she was Black, and from my own mind and body. — Hari Ziyad (@HariZiyad) September 3, 2020
George Washington suspended Krug last week, and a tweet by the school's history department called for her resignation.
GW History Department faculty statement on Jessica Krug pic.twitter.com/tpUpyHwlO9 — GW History Department (@GWHistoryDept) September 4, 2020
She had been teaching African American history at the school since 2012, according to her university bio.
There is a point to be made from all of this: Why does it matter if Krug was never black?
The left makes a major issue out of normalizing transgender individuals.
If biological sex is changeable, why can’t a person switch from one race to another?
Racial identity is arguably much more fluid than gender can ever be.
But the left’s arguments are never consistent or based on sound logic.
Krug was simply useful in perpetuating the myth that America is racist to its core.
She was a barking mad militant black activist -- until she admitted she wasn’t.
The revelation that she found success portraying herself as a member of a disadvantaged class is inconvenient for those who push the false narrative that being born black or brown is a barrier to success.
In the leftist game of oppression and victimhood, Krug leveled the playing field by masquerading as a black woman, and it worked.
Her legacy is, though, a black eye for a militant movement in academia that foments racial division and is built on the lie that minority Americans cannot get ahead.
Krug's white-to-black success story, with reported origins in the radical leftist activism of her youth, is proof of that.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-09-07--Tokyo Olympics will go ahead 'with or without COVID,' says IOC

( SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST ) -- Tokyo ’ s postponed Olympics will go ahead next year regardless of the @ @ @ @ @ John Coates said on Monday , saying they would be the “ Games that conquered @ @ @ @ @ never been cancelled outside the world wars and Coates , speaking in a phone interview @ @ @ @ @ Tokyo Games will start on their revised date .
“ It will take place with @ @ @ @ @ Games will start on July 23 next year , ” said Coates , who heads @ @ @ @ @ s Coordination Commission for the Tokyo Games .

(SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST) -- Tokyo’s postponed Olympics will go ahead next year regardless of the coronavirus pandemic, IOC vice-president John Coates said on Monday, saying they would be the “Games that conquered Covid.”
The Olympics have never been cancelled outside the world wars and Coates, speaking in a phone interview, was adamant that the Tokyo Games will start on their revised date.
“It will take place with or without Covid. The Games will start on July 23 next year,” said Coates, who heads the International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission for the Tokyo Games.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-09-07--Chinese drug firm says employees given COVID-19 vaccines

( SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST ) -- Almost all the employees of a Chinese drug company and their families have @ @ @ @ @ vaccine , the firm said on Sunday .
The CoronaVac vaccine developed by Sinovac Biotech @ @ @ @ @ three clinical trials .
Company spokesman Liu Peicheng confirmed that the around 3,000 employees and @ @ @ @ @ drug on a voluntary basis under China ’ s emergency use scheme .

(SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST) -- Almost all the employees of a Chinese drug company and their families have been given its experimental coronavirus vaccine, the firm said on Sunday.
The CoronaVac vaccine developed by Sinovac Biotech, is currently undergoing phase three clinical trials.
Company spokesman Liu Peicheng confirmed that the around 3,000 employees and families had been offered the drug on a voluntary basis under China’s emergency use scheme.
Read the full story ›