wnd--2020-08-06--George Soros 'likes' Facebook's fact-checking team

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Investigations . ]
In announcing the formation of an independent oversight board with authority to allow or remove content from Facebook and Instagram , the board ’ s four co-chairs stressed the body ’ s diversity .
“ The board members come from different professional , cultural and religious backgrounds and have various political viewpoints , ” they wrote in a New York Times op-ed on May 6 .
“ Some of us have been publicly critical of Facebook ; some of us haven ’ t. ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet again in softball interview Contemporaneous news articles reinforced this message , reporting that the board ’ s ideologically and geographically diverse members criss-cross the ideological spectrum .
A closer look , however , reveals that 18 of its 20 members collaborated with or are tied to groups that have received funding from George Soros ’ Open Society Foundations – which is one of the most well-funded and influential progressive organizations in the country .
Open Society ’ s reach is so vast that simply receiving support from the institution is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has received support from Soros and the Charles Koch Foundation .
But the fact that 90 % of the board ’ s members have ties to that progressive group raises questions in an environment where conservatives complain about big-tech bias and internet censorship .
• Evelyn Aswad ( University of Oklahoma ) : U.S. law professor .
Recipient of a grant from Knight Foundation , which has partnered with Soros ’ Open Society Foundations .
Aswad says corporations should align their “ speech codes with international human rights law ” and be guided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expression.
” • Endy Bayuni : Jakarta Post editor .
On the board of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict in Jakarta , headed by a “ George Soros visiting practitioner chair ” who previously worked at a Soros-founded group .
• Catalina Botero-Marino ( co-chair ) : Dean of a Colombian law school that received $ 1.3 million over two years from Soros ’ Open Society Foundations .
Serves on an expert panel of Inter-American Dialogue , funded in part by Soros ’ Open Society Foundations .
Also serves as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Freedom of Expression Project , funded in part by Open Society Foundations .
Served as a board member of Article 19 , which received $ 1.7 million from Open Society Foundations over two years .
• Katherine Chen : Academic professor , journalist .
Often retweets material critical of Donald Trump and supportive of Barack Obama .
• Nighat Dad : Founder and executive director of the Digital Rights Foundation , which receives money from Soros ’ Open Society Foundations , and is a project of Artists at Risk Connection , a project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in part by Soros ’ Open Society Foundations .
Served on the board of the Soros-funded Dangerous Speech Project .
Adviser on Amnesty International ’ s Technology and Human Rights Counsel , funded in part by Soros ’ Open Society Foundations .
• Jamal Greene ( co-chair ) : Columbia University law school professor .
( The Soros family and Foundations are well known funders of and partners with Columbia . )
Recently served as aide to California Sen. Kamala Harris , who counts Soros among her donors .
His Twitter account shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
• Pamela Karlan : Stanford University Law professor .
Member of the Soros founded and funded American Constitution Society , which takes a “ progressive ” view of the U.S. Constitution .
Supported Trump impeachment of and has contributed to Democratic candidates , including Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren .
• Tawakkol Karman : Her organization , “ Women Journalists Without Chains , ” receives funds from Soros ’ Open Society Foundations .
She serves on the advisory council of Transparency International , which also receives funds from Soros ’ group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Human Rights Watch ’ s Alliances and Partnerships Initiative , which received $ 100 million from Open Society Foundations .
She was founding leader of the Kenya Human Rights Commission , which received $ 615,000 from Soros over two years .
• Sudhir Krishnaswamy : Law school vice chancellor .
Co-founder of progressive nonprofit Centre for Law and Policy Research , which receives major funding from Soros-funded Center for Reproductive Rights , and the lesbian rights group Astrea ; editor of the International Journal of Communications Law & Policy ( IJCLP ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Also connected to the Soros-supported Committee on Global Thought at Columbia University .
• Ronaldo Lemos : Brazilian law professor .
Co-founder of the Soros-supported Institute for Technology and Society .
Serves on the board of the Open Society-funded Mozilla Foundation .
Was board member at Soros-funded Access Now .
• Michael McConnell ( co-chair ) : Stanford University law professor .
Head of the Constitutional Law Center , funded by the Soros Open Society Foundations-funded American Constitution Society .
• Julie Owono ( Stanford University , Harvard University ) : Head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Soros-funded Global Network Initiative .
• Emi Palmor : Former head of the Israeli Ministry of Justice .
• Alan Rusbridger : Former editor in chief of The Guardian .
On board of the Open Society Foundations-funded Committee to Protect Journalists .
• Andas Sajo : Professor .
One of the founders of Soros ’ Central European University .
Formerly on board of Soros ’ Open Society Justice Initiative in New York .
Former judge of European Court of Human Rights , criticized for its alleged conflicts of interests and Soros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly all the judges on the court received funding from Soros ’ Open Society Foundations . )
• John Samples : Founder of Libertarian Cato Institute ’ s Center for Representative Government , founded by former Congressman Lee Hamilton ( D ) who was head of Woodrow Wilson Center , which is funded , in part , by Soros ’ Open Society Foundations .
Cato opposes Trump ’ s positions on illegal immigration and sees eye to eye on the issue with Soros , who has contributed to Cato through Open Society Foundations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ford Foundation , and the libertarian Koch interests , who also favor more open borders .
• Nicolas Suzor : Law professor at Queensland University of Technology , which collaborated and co-funded projects with Soros ’ Open Society Foundations .
• Helle Thorning-Schmidt ( co-chair ) : Denmark ’ s socialist former prime minister who advocates “ rethinking ” democracy .
On board of the Open Society Foundations-funded European Council of Foreign Relations .
Trustee at the Open Society Foundations-funded International Crisis Group where George and Alexander Soros sit on the board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundations-funded Atlantic Council .
Also sits on the Atlantic Council ’ s International Advisory Board , which received approximately $ 325,000 from the Open Society Foundations-funded Center for Global Development .
Facebook did not respond to an emailed request for an interview with CEO Mark Zuckerberg or a representative .
[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Investigations . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Investigations.]
By Sharyl Attkisson
Real Clear Investigations
In announcing the formation of an independent oversight board with authority to allow or remove content from Facebook and Instagram, the board’s four co-chairs stressed the body’s diversity.
“The board members come from different professional, cultural and religious backgrounds and have various political viewpoints,” they wrote in a New York Times op-ed on May 6. “Some of us have been publicly critical of Facebook; some of us haven’t.”
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Contemporaneous news articles reinforced this message, reporting that the board’s ideologically and geographically diverse members criss-cross the ideological spectrum.
A closer look, however, reveals that 18 of its 20 members collaborated with or are tied to groups that have received funding from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations – which is one of the most well-funded and influential progressive organizations in the country.
Open Society’s reach is so vast that simply receiving support from the institution is not a proxy for political leanings – one member has received support from Soros and the Charles Koch Foundation. But the fact that 90% of the board’s members have ties to that progressive group raises questions in an environment where conservatives complain about big-tech bias and internet censorship.
Here’s a list of the oversight board’s members:
Are the fact-checkers at Facebook anti-Trump? 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. 100% (11 Votes) 0% (0 Votes)
Afia Asantewaa Asare-Kyei: A program manager at Soros’ Open Society Foundations in West Africa.
Evelyn Aswad (University of Oklahoma): U.S. law professor. Recipient of a grant from Knight Foundation, which has partnered with Soros’ Open Society Foundations. Aswad says corporations should align their “speech codes with international human rights law” and be guided by “international law on freedom of expression.”
Endy Bayuni: Jakarta Post editor. On the board of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict in Jakarta, headed by a “George Soros visiting practitioner chair” who previously worked at a Soros-founded group.
Catalina Botero-Marino (co-chair): Dean of a Colombian law school that received $1.3 million over two years from Soros’ Open Society Foundations. Serves on an expert panel of Inter-American Dialogue, funded in part by Soros’ Open Society Foundations. Also serves as an expert for Columbia University’s Global Freedom of Expression Project, funded in part by Open Society Foundations. Served as a board member of Article 19, which received $1.7 million from Open Society Foundations over two years.
Katherine Chen: Academic professor, journalist. Often retweets material critical of Donald Trump and supportive of Barack Obama.
Nighat Dad: Founder and executive director of the Digital Rights Foundation, which receives money from Soros’ Open Society Foundations, and is a project of Artists at Risk Connection, a project of Pen America, which is sponsored in part by Soros’ Open Society Foundations. Served on the board of the Soros-funded Dangerous Speech Project. Adviser on Amnesty International’s Technology and Human Rights Counsel, funded in part by Soros’ Open Society Foundations.
Jamal Greene (co-chair): Columbia University law school professor. (The Soros family and Foundations are well known funders of and partners with Columbia.) Recently served as aide to California Sen. Kamala Harris, who counts Soros among her donors. His Twitter account shows that he has sided firmly against President Trump.
Pamela Karlan: Stanford University Law professor. Member of the Soros founded and funded American Constitution Society, which takes a “progressive” view of the U.S. Constitution. Supported Trump impeachment of and has contributed to Democratic candidates, including Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren.
Tawakkol Karman: Her organization, “Women Journalists Without Chains,” receives funds from Soros’ Open Society Foundations. She serves on the advisory council of Transparency International, which also receives funds from Soros’ group.
Maina Kiai: Director of Human Rights Watch’s Alliances and Partnerships Initiative, which received $100 million from Open Society Foundations. She was founding leader of the Kenya Human Rights Commission, which received $615,000 from Soros over two years.
Sudhir Krishnaswamy: Law school vice chancellor. Co-founder of progressive nonprofit Centre for Law and Policy Research, which receives major funding from Soros-funded Center for Reproductive Rights, and the lesbian rights group Astrea; editor of the International Journal of Communications Law & Policy (IJCLP), which received grants from Open Society Foundations. Also connected to the Soros-supported Committee on Global Thought at Columbia University.
Ronaldo Lemos: Brazilian law professor. Co-founder of the Soros-supported Institute for Technology and Society. Serves on the board of the Open Society-funded Mozilla Foundation. Was board member at Soros-funded Access Now.
Michael McConnell (co-chair): Stanford University law professor. Head of the Constitutional Law Center, funded by the Soros Open Society Foundations-funded American Constitution Society.
Julie Owono (Stanford University, Harvard University): Head of Internet Sans Frontieres, a member of the Soros-funded Global Network Initiative.
Emi Palmor: Former head of the Israeli Ministry of Justice.
Alan Rusbridger: Former editor in chief of The Guardian. On board of the Open Society Foundations-funded Committee to Protect Journalists.
Andas Sajo: Professor. One of the founders of Soros’ Central European University. Formerly on board of Soros’ Open Society Justice Initiative in New York. Former judge of European Court of Human Rights, criticized for its alleged conflicts of interests and Soros ties. (An investigation found that nearly all the judges on the court received funding from Soros’ Open Society Foundations.)
John Samples: Founder of Libertarian Cato Institute’s Center for Representative Government, founded by former Congressman Lee Hamilton (D) who was head of Woodrow Wilson Center, which is funded, in part, by Soros’ Open Society Foundations. Cato opposes Trump’s positions on illegal immigration and sees eye to eye on the issue with Soros, who has contributed to Cato through Open Society Foundations. Cato is also funded by Google, Ford Foundation, and the libertarian Koch interests, who also favor more open borders.
Nicolas Suzor: Law professor at Queensland University of Technology, which collaborated and co-funded projects with Soros’ Open Society Foundations.
Helle Thorning-Schmidt (co-chair): Denmark’s socialist former prime minister who advocates “rethinking” democracy. On board of the Open Society Foundations-funded European Council of Foreign Relations. Trustee at the Open Society Foundations-funded International Crisis Group where George and Alexander Soros sit on the board. Advisory board member of Open Society Foundations-funded Atlantic Council. Also sits on the Atlantic Council’s International Advisory Board, which received approximately $325,000 from the Open Society Foundations-funded Center for Global Development.
Facebook did not respond to an emailed request for an interview with CEO Mark Zuckerberg or a representative.
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Investigations.]


wnd--2020-08-06--Facebook censorship splits hairs on police defunding

A controversy has erupted over Facebook 's censorship of a pro-Trump ad that spotlights presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's view of defunding police .
Facebook claimed there was false information in the ad , called `` On Hold , '' which shows a woman calling 911 and being put on hold , Fox News reported .
The ad then shows Biden saying `` yes , '' with a `` defund the police ? ''
banner .
Facebook labeled that as `` False Information '' that had been checked by `` independent fact-checkers . ''
TRENDING : Biden botches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview Fox said Facebook confirmed it `` fact-checked '' the ad , explaining ads with `` false information '' can not be run .
While Biden has made statements in opposition to `` defunding '' police – including in an op-ed – his position now is cloudy , since he also affirmed that he `` absolutely '' supports redirecting funding from police to other agencies .
It was during a video interview with the progressive Now This News that Biden made the statement about redirecting funding .
See his remarks at about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News Foundation reported Biden 's `` absolutely '' response `` defines the intention behind the defund the police movement . ''
In June , Biden wrote a USA Today op-ed in which he said , “ The better answer is to give police departments the resources they need to implement meaningful reforms , and to condition other federal dollars on completing those reforms.
” At that time , he suggested a $ 300 million federal increase to “ reinvigorate community policing in our country , '' designating it for `` Community Oriented Policing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement has raised its profile since the death of George Floyd .
Additionally , Biden said he did not support defunding the police in a June interview with Trevor Noah on “ The Daily Show ” and noted that he doesn ’ t think “ all cops are bad cops.
” That 's been his campaign 's message : `` Vice President Biden does not believe that police should be defunded , ” Biden campaign Rapid Response Director Andrew Bates said in a statement .
But the interview with Now This News also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree that we can re-direct some of the [ police ] funding ?
” the Now This reporter asked Biden .
One of the prominent `` fact-checkers '' admitted that Biden confirms his support for `` reforms '' but insisted that 's not the same as defunding .
`` When asked about redirecting some funding , which Biden agrees to , he goes on to say : 'And by the way , not just redirect , condition them .
If they don ’ t eliminate chokeholds , they don ’ t get Byrne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do the following , they don ’ t get any help .
If they don ’ t do — because you know as well as I do , the vast majority of all police departments are funded by the locality , funded by the municipality , funded by the state .
It ’ s only the federal government comes in on top of that .
And so it says you want help , you have to do the following reforms , you have to make sure you have no-knock warrants eliminated .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t get Byrne grants . ''
Regarding Facebook 's censorship , America First Action Communications Director Kelly Sadler said : `` Facebook 's decision to take down this ad shows its anti-conservative bias .
America First Action has logged an appeal , but the threat of anti-conservative bias , targeting , and censorship remains ahead of Election Day in November and we must be vigilant in holding big tech , like Facebook accountable . ''
Sadler described the move as more `` bias '' from Big Tech .
`` We 're going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really little we can do about it .
These social media giants are monopolies , and ultimately they make the decision of what runs on their platform , '' she said .
That topic already has drawn the interest of Attorney General William Barr , who recently accused the companies of being engaged in censorship and acting like publishers .
`` They originally held themselves out as open forums where people , where the third parties could come and express their views and they built up a tremendous network of eyeballs , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a lot of market power based on that presentation , and now they are acting much more like publishers because they 're censoring particular viewpoints and putting their own content in there to diminish the impact of various people 's views . ''

A controversy has erupted over Facebook's censorship of a pro-Trump ad that spotlights presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's view of defunding police.
Facebook claimed there was false information in the ad, called "On Hold," which shows a woman calling 911 and being put on hold, Fox News reported.
The ad then shows Biden saying "yes," with a "defund the police?" banner. Facebook labeled that as "False Information" that had been checked by "independent fact-checkers."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Fox said Facebook confirmed it "fact-checked" the ad, explaining ads with "false information" cannot be run.
While Biden has made statements in opposition to "defunding" police – including in an op-ed – his position now is cloudy, since he also affirmed that he "absolutely" supports redirecting funding from police to other agencies.
It was during a video interview with the progressive Now This News that Biden made the statement about redirecting funding.
See his remarks at about the 21 minute mark:
Is Facebook anti-Trump? 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. 100% (32 Votes) 0% (0 Votes)
The Daily Caller News Foundation reported Biden's "absolutely" response "defines the intention behind the defund the police movement."
In June, Biden wrote a USA Today op-ed in which he said, “The better answer is to give police departments the resources they need to implement meaningful reforms, and to condition other federal dollars on completing those reforms.”
At that time, he suggested a $300 million federal increase to “reinvigorate community policing in our country," designating it for "Community Oriented Policing Services."
The "defund" movement has raised its profile since the death of George Floyd.
Additionally, Biden said he did not support defunding the police in a June interview with Trevor Noah on “The Daily Show” and noted that he doesn’t think “all cops are bad cops.”
That's been his campaign's message: "Vice President Biden does not believe that police should be defunded,” Biden campaign Rapid Response Director Andrew Bates said in a statement.
But the interview with Now This News also is clear.
🚨 🚨🚨
Joe Biden says police have "BECOME THE ENEMY" and calls for CUTTING police funding: "Yes, absolutely!" pic.twitter.com/hV9KyuqhiX — Trump War Room - Text TRUMP to 88022 (@TrumpWarRoom) July 8, 2020
"But do we agree that we can re-direct some of the [police] funding?” the Now This reporter asked Biden.
The former vice president responded: “Yes, absolutely.”
One of the prominent "fact-checkers" admitted that Biden confirms his support for "reforms" but insisted that's not the same as defunding.
"When asked about redirecting some funding, which Biden agrees to, he goes on to say: 'And by the way, not just redirect, condition them. If they don’t eliminate chokeholds, they don’t get Byrne grants. If they don’t do the following, they don’t get any help. If they don’t do — because you know as well as I do, the vast majority of all police departments are funded by the locality, funded by the municipality, funded by the state. It’s only the federal government comes in on top of that. And so it says you want help, you have to do the following reforms, you have to make sure you have no-knock warrants eliminated. If you have them, you don’t get Byrne grants.''
Regarding Facebook's censorship, America First Action Communications Director Kelly Sadler said: "Facebook's decision to take down this ad shows its anti-conservative bias. America First Action has logged an appeal, but the threat of anti-conservative bias, targeting, and censorship remains ahead of Election Day in November and we must be vigilant in holding big tech, like Facebook accountable."
Sadler described the move as more "bias" from Big Tech.
"We're going to file an appeal, but there's really little we can do about it. These social media giants are monopolies, and ultimately they make the decision of what runs on their platform," she said.
That topic already has drawn the interest of Attorney General William Barr, who recently accused the companies of being engaged in censorship and acting like publishers.
"They originally held themselves out as open forums where people, where the third parties could come and express their views and they built up a tremendous network of eyeballs," Barr said in June. "They had a lot of market power based on that presentation, and now they are acting much more like publishers because they're censoring particular viewpoints and putting their own content in there to diminish the impact of various people's views."


wnd--2020-08-06--Congressman cites dozen attacks on U.S. churches, asks DOJ for help

A congressman is asking the Justice Department to ramp up its protections for religious liberty in response to `` nearly a dozen '' reports of attacks on Catholic churches in just the last few weeks .
Churches have been vandalized in the riots associated with the Black Lives Matter protests since the death of George Floyd , noted Rep. Chuck Fleischmann , R-Tenn. , in a letter to Attorney General William Barr .
Another attack on the church has been carried out by state and local officials who have adopted discriminatory practices during the COVID-19 pandemic .
They have restricted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the BLM protests .
Many of those policies are being challenged in courts .
TRENDING : Biden botches Declaration of Independence yet again in softball interview '' Since June , there have been nearly a dozen reported attacks on Catholic churches around the nation , '' Fleischmann said .
`` These disturbing attacks range from arson to the beheading of a statue of the Virgin Mary , '' the letter said .
`` I find these attacks to be a disturbing trend , happening in multiple areas across the nation , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He quoted from Barr 's speech at Notre Dame last year .
The AG said , `` We must be vigilant to resist efforts by the forces of secularization to drive religious viewpoints from the public square and to impinge upon the free exercise of our faith . ''
The Washington Examiner reported Fleischmann said his concern was about intolerance directed toward members of any faith .
`` These people who would desecrate any house of worship – whether it is a Catholic church or any other house of worship – need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tolerated .
And I think it rises to the level of a hate crime , '' he told the Examiner .
`` I would like to have a recognition that this problem exists , it persists , and sadly , it is not isolated to one city or one state , '' Fleischmann told the Washington Examiner .
`` I think it needs to be looked at very carefully and addressed for the danger that it is . ''
The decapitated statue was at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Chattanooga , Tennessee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` A symbol of our faith , and the fact that someone would come on to the premises of a beautiful parish and commit such a heinous act , a heinous crime is very personally upsetting .
When we see these random acts of violence , especially against houses of worship , I think we all need to stand up and say this is wrong . ''
St. Patrick 's Cathedral in New York has been vandalized , as has a Catholic cemetery at Providence College .
Other incidents include the destruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Serra and a man driving his van into the Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Florida and then setting the building on fire .

A congressman is asking the Justice Department to ramp up its protections for religious liberty in response to "nearly a dozen" reports of attacks on Catholic churches in just the last few weeks.
Churches have been vandalized in the riots associated with the Black Lives Matter protests since the death of George Floyd, noted Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., in a letter to Attorney General William Barr.
Another attack on the church has been carried out by state and local officials who have adopted discriminatory practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have restricted church gatherings while allowing social gatherings, including the BLM protests.
Many of those policies are being challenged in courts.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"Since June, there have been nearly a dozen reported attacks on Catholic churches around the nation," Fleischmann said. "These disturbing attacks range from arson to the beheading of a statue of the Virgin Mary," the letter said. "I find these attacks to be a disturbing trend, happening in multiple areas across the nation, including within my own congressional district."
He quoted from Barr's speech at Notre Dame last year.
The AG said, "We must be vigilant to resist efforts by the forces of secularization to drive religious viewpoints from the public square and to impinge upon the free exercise of our faith."
The Washington Examiner reported Fleischmann said his concern was about intolerance directed toward members of any faith.
"These people who would desecrate any house of worship – whether it is a Catholic church or any other house of worship – need to know that it won’t be tolerated. And I think it rises to the level of a hate crime," he told the Examiner.
"I would like to have a recognition that this problem exists, it persists, and sadly, it is not isolated to one city or one state," Fleischmann told the Washington Examiner. "I think it needs to be looked at very carefully and addressed for the danger that it is."
The decapitated statue was at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Fleischmann told local reporters at the time: "A symbol of our faith, and the fact that someone would come on to the premises of a beautiful parish and commit such a heinous act, a heinous crime is very personally upsetting. When we see these random acts of violence, especially against houses of worship, I think we all need to stand up and say this is wrong."
St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York has been vandalized, as has a Catholic cemetery at Providence College. Other incidents include the destruction of a statue of Spanish missionary Junipero Serra and a man driving his van into the Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Florida and then setting the building on fire.


wnd--2020-08-05--2 'surefire' election models reach opposite conclusions over 2020 outcome

Historian Allan Lichtman announced Wednesday that his statistical model , which has correctly predicted every presidential election since 1984 , forecasts Joe Biden as the 2020 winner .
But there 's another model that also has outperformed the opinion polls , correctly forecasting the winner in 24 of the past 26 elections .
It 's only misses came in the razor-thin Kennedy-Nixon election of 1960 and the Bush-Gore `` hanging chad '' race of 2000 .
That model , by Professor Helmut Norpoth of Stony Brook University in New York , concluded Trump has a 91 % chance of winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and history professor at American University , announced his prediction in an op-ed video for the New York Times .
TRENDING : Biden botches Declaration of Independence yet again in softball interview CNBC noted Lichtman was in the minority of analysts who called it right in 2016 , largely ignoring `` the detailed cross-tab polling analyses and swing state bean counting that are often prioritized in modern political punditry . ''
His model examines 13 different `` Keys to the White House , '' which emphasize the record of the incumbent party occupying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves .
The keys , presented as true-false statements , favor a win for the incumbent party if true .
But if six or more of the statements are false , the challenger is predicted to win .
Lichtman says seven of the keys were false , which means Biden will win .
Norpoth 's Primary Model takes a different approach , focusing on two factors : whether the incumbent party appears on the verge of losing power and whether a given candidate did better in the primaries than his or her opponent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data from U.S. presidential elections going back to 1912 .
In 2016 , Norpoth contended the polls showing Hillary Clinton would win did not take into account who would actually vote in November .
He wrote that `` nearly all of us say , oh yes , I 'll vote , and then many will not follow through . ''
In that election , he stood by his prediction that Trump had an 87 % chance of winning despite the New York Times giving the Republican a 15 % chance and the Huffington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that in the New Hampshire primary , Biden ended up in fifth place , in single digits .
He said he did n't know of any nominee who did so poorly in New Hampshire who went on to win in November .
Current opinion polling gives Joe Biden a double-digit lead over the president , much as they favor Clinton at the same point in 2016 .
See Norpoth discussing the 2020 race with FBN 's Lou Dobbs : See Norpoth stand by his prediction during the 2016 race :

Historian Allan Lichtman announced Wednesday that his statistical model, which has correctly predicted every presidential election since 1984, forecasts Joe Biden as the 2020 winner.
But there's another model that also has outperformed the opinion polls, correctly forecasting the winner in 24 of the past 26 elections. It's only misses came in the razor-thin Kennedy-Nixon election of 1960 and the Bush-Gore "hanging chad" race of 2000.
That model, by Professor Helmut Norpoth of Stony Brook University in New York, concluded Trump has a 91% chance of winning in November.
Lichtman, an author and history professor at American University, announced his prediction in an op-ed video for the New York Times.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
CNBC noted Lichtman was in the minority of analysts who called it right in 2016, largely ignoring "the detailed cross-tab polling analyses and swing state bean counting that are often prioritized in modern political punditry."
His model examines 13 different "Keys to the White House," which emphasize the record of the incumbent party occupying the White House rather than the nominees themselves.
The keys, presented as true-false statements, favor a win for the incumbent party if true. But if six or more of the statements are false, the challenger is predicted to win.
Lichtman says seven of the keys were false, which means Biden will win.
Will President Trump be re-elected in November? 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. 97% (114 Votes) 3% (3 Votes)
Norpoth's Primary Model takes a different approach, focusing on two factors: whether the incumbent party appears on the verge of losing power and whether a given candidate did better in the primaries than his or her opponent.
The statistical model is based on data from U.S. presidential elections going back to 1912.
In 2016, Norpoth contended the polls showing Hillary Clinton would win did not take into account who would actually vote in November. He wrote that "nearly all of us say, oh yes, I'll vote, and then many will not follow through."
In that election, he stood by his prediction that Trump had an 87% chance of winning despite the New York Times giving the Republican a 15% chance and the Huffington Post a 1% chance.
Norpoth noted that in the New Hampshire primary, Biden ended up in fifth place, in single digits. He said he didn't know of any nominee who did so poorly in New Hampshire who went on to win in November.
Current opinion polling gives Joe Biden a double-digit lead over the president, much as they favor Clinton at the same point in 2016.
See Norpoth discussing the 2020 race with FBN's Lou Dobbs:
See Norpoth stand by his prediction during the 2016 race:


wnd--2020-08-06--Washington Post backtracks on its Trump reporting

( FOX NEWS ) -- The Washington Post sparked massive confusion Wednesday evening after erroneously reporting that President Trump was @ @ @ @ @ a claim he made about the coronavirus .
Both Facebook and Twitter were cracking down @ @ @ @ @ from the president 's interview on `` Fox & Friends '' earlier in the day @ @ @ @ @ push for schools to be reopened in the fall .
However , the tech giants @ @ @ @ @ asserting that children are `` almost immune '' to the virus , citing the claim @ @ @ @ @ The Team Trump campaign account had uploaded the video on Twitter , in a post @ @ @ @ @ on his personal account .

(FOX NEWS) -- The Washington Post sparked massive confusion Wednesday evening after erroneously reporting that President Trump was banned from tweeting because of a claim he made about the coronavirus.
Both Facebook and Twitter were cracking down on clips that were shared from the president's interview on "Fox & Friends" earlier in the day, where he continued his push for schools to be reopened in the fall. However, the tech giants removed the clips of him asserting that children are "almost immune" to the virus, citing the claim was "misinformation."
The Team Trump campaign account had uploaded the video on Twitter, in a post that the president later shared on his personal account.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-08-06--Sarah Sanders: 'Mind-blowing' that media silent on Joe Biden's troubles

( FOX NEWS ) -- It is `` shocking '' how quiet the mainstream media has been in covering presumptive @ @ @ @ @ incoherent answers to `` softball '' questions , former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders @ @ @ @ @ '' Thursday .
The Fox News contributor was responding to an interview Biden did as @ @ @ @ @ of the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ Errol Barnett for asking the former vice president if he had taken a cognitive test @ @ @ @ @ was similar to asking the interviewer if he was using cocaine .
Fox News Channel @ @ @ @ @ if he has taken a cognitive test in June and he said he takes them @ @ @ @

(FOX NEWS) -- It is "shocking" how quiet the mainstream media has been in covering presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden's incoherent answers to "softball" questions, former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told "Fox & Friends" Thursday.
The Fox News contributor was responding to an interview Biden did as part of the virtual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Wednesday when he rebuked CBS correspondent Errol Barnett for asking the former vice president if he had taken a cognitive test. Biden claimed the question was similar to asking the interviewer if he was using cocaine.
Fox News Channel correspondent Doug McKelway asked Biden if he has taken a cognitive test in June and he said he takes them all the time.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-08-06--Jobless claims at 1.2M, down from week before

( WASHINGTON EXAMINER ) -- The number of new applications for unemployment benefits last week was 1.2 million , the @ @ @ @ @ marking the 20th straight week that claims have been over 1 million .
It is @ @ @ @ @ new claims since the pandemic hit the U.S. Economists predicted that new claims would be @ @ @ @ @ totals for workers claiming jobless benefits have been extremely high since the pandemic hit the @ @ @ @ @ , weekly jobless claims pre-coronavirus were in the 200,000 range for the entire country .
@ @ @ @ @ over 244,000 initial claims for the week ending July 25 .

(WASHINGTON EXAMINER) -- The number of new applications for unemployment benefits last week was 1.2 million, the Labor Department reported Thursday, marking the 20th straight week that claims have been over 1 million. It is also the lowest number of new claims since the pandemic hit the U.S.
Economists predicted that new claims would be 1.42 million.
The weekly totals for workers claiming jobless benefits have been extremely high since the pandemic hit the United States. For comparison, weekly jobless claims pre-coronavirus were in the 200,000 range for the entire country. Now, California alone had over 244,000 initial claims for the week ending July 25.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-08-07--Climate Equity Act would score bills based on how they impact Blacks

( DAILY CALLER ) – Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York are teaming up on a proposal requiring lawmakers who introduce climate bills to consider the impact such legislation will have on black people and poor communities .
The two Democrats introduced the Climate Equity Act Thursday that would , if passed , require Congress to score future climate bills based on how much they may negatively impact poor and minority communities , The Washington Post reported .
The two Democrats initially unveiled a draft of the bill in 2019 , when Harris began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports show .
The equity score would be similar to the economic scores the Congressional Budget Office applies to other legislation , WaPo reported .
The Climate Equity Act would also apply to regulations the Trump administration proposes in the future .
`` COVID-19 has laid bare the realities of systemic racial , health , economic , and environmental injustices that persist in our country , '' Harris said in a statement to the Post .
`` The environment we live in can not be disentangled from the rest of our lives .
@

(DAILY CALLER) – Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York are teaming up on a proposal requiring lawmakers who introduce climate bills to consider the impact such legislation will have on black people and poor communities.
The two Democrats introduced the Climate Equity Act Thursday that would, if passed, require Congress to score future climate bills based on how much they may negatively impact poor and minority communities, The Washington Post reported. The two Democrats initially unveiled a draft of the bill in 2019, when Harris began her unsuccessful run for president, media reports show.
The equity score would be similar to the economic scores the Congressional Budget Office applies to other legislation, WaPo reported. The Climate Equity Act would also apply to regulations the Trump administration proposes in the future.
"COVID-19 has laid bare the realities of systemic racial, health, economic, and environmental injustices that persist in our country," Harris said in a statement to the Post. "The environment we live in cannot be disentangled from the rest of our lives."
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-08-07--Malik Obama still '110 percent' with Trump, who is 'not a fake'

( FRONT PAGE MAG ) – `` What I saw was he was the kind of person that wants people to worship him .
He needs to be worshiped and I do n't do that . ''
That was Malik Obama in an August 1 interview with the New York Post .
Obama , 62 , was promoting his new book , `` Big Bad Brother from Kenya , '' and his interview proved enlightening on several fronts .
Malik managed a foundation named after his father , the Kenyan Barak H. Obama .
In a telephone call shortly before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` insisted I shut down the website and not continue with the foundation . ''
If Malik continued with the idea , the president threatened `` to cut me off . ''
In 2015 , Malik Obama made an appeal on behalf of Aunt Hawa , living in poverty and working as a charcoal seller .
The president told Malik he was `` broke . ''
Aunt Zeituni Onyango died penniless in 2014 and Malik Obama appealed for $ 20,000 to transport her remains back to Kenya .
The president said that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only $ 5,000 .

(FRONT PAGE MAG) – "What I saw was he was the kind of person that wants people to worship him. He needs to be worshiped and I don't do that."
That was Malik Obama in an August 1 interview with the New York Post. Obama, 62, was promoting his new book, "Big Bad Brother from Kenya," and his interview proved enlightening on several fronts.
Malik managed a foundation named after his father, the Kenyan Barak H. Obama. In a telephone call shortly before the 2009 inauguration, the American president-elect "insisted I shut down the website and not continue with the foundation." If Malik continued with the idea, the president threatened "to cut me off."
In 2015, Malik Obama made an appeal on behalf of Aunt Hawa, living in poverty and working as a charcoal seller. The president told Malik he was "broke." Aunt Zeituni Onyango died penniless in 2014 and Malik Obama appealed for $20,000 to transport her remains back to Kenya. The president said that was "too much" and ponied up only $5,000.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-08-07--Windsor Castle opens terrace garden for first time in 40 years

( REUTERS ) – Windsor Castle , one of the official residences of Britain 's Queen Elizabeth , is to @ @ @ @ @ to the public for the first time in more than 40 years .
Visitors to @ @ @ @ @ queen spent the last few months during Britain 's lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ will be able to tour the garden , created in the 1820s , on weekends @ @ @ @ @ Today it features 3,500 rose bushes planted around a central fountain .
It boasts a @ @ @ @ @ monarchs ' tastes through the centuries .
It was initially planted to create a pleasing @ @ @ @ @ along the eastern facade of the castle .
`` The first garden built here was @ @ @ @ @ reign of George IV .
But before that , in the Middle Ages , it @ @ @ @ @ ditch , '' said Richard Williams , Learning Curator at Windsor Castle .

(REUTERS) – Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, is to open its East Terrace Garden to the public for the first time in more than 40 years.
Visitors to the castle, where the queen spent the last few months during Britain's lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic before traveling to Scotland, will be able to tour the garden, created in the 1820s, on weekends during August and September.
Today it features 3,500 rose bushes planted around a central fountain. It boasts a colorful history having served different monarchs' tastes through the centuries.
It was initially planted to create a pleasing view from the royal apartments along the eastern facade of the castle.
"The first garden built here was created in 1824 during the reign of George IV. But before that, in the Middle Ages, it would have been the defensive ditch," said Richard Williams, Learning Curator at Windsor Castle.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-08-07--'Clean energy hawks have come home to roost'

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy . ]
The year 2020 has been one of upheaval and change , but the American love for the outdoors has remained constant .
Unsurprisingly , climate change and protecting the environment are two key issues in this year ’ s election cycle .
To pitch his vision for the future , former vice president Joe Biden has unveiled his revamped plan “ to build a modern , sustainable infrastructure and an equitable clean energy future.
” However , for a plan that takes aim at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with an excessive amount of hot air .
Flashy spending targets and en vogue nomenclature are an unsustainable alternative to detailed policy .
The 7,000-word plan draws from the Democratic nominee ’ s initial climate plan , albeit renovated in light of the Coronavirus pandemicand the suggestions of Bernie Sanders and John Kerry .
At the cost of $ 2 trillion , this new and improved version roams from rebuilding infrastructure to restoring wetlands , while constructing 1.5 million energy efficient homes and public housing units en route .
It also sets the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs in industries as diverse as auto manufacturing and “ climate-smart agriculture.
” The problem with these lofty ambitions is that they are often vague , and sometimes outright misleading .
For example , the plan calls for the creation of an ” Environmental and Climate Justice Division ” within the Department of Justice ( DOJ ) .
The plan doesn ’ t , however , detail why the lawyers and regulators in the DOJ , Environmental Protection Agency , and Department of Energy are so beyond reform that taxpayers need to hire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platoon of Erin Brockoviches , this eco-vanity department with no clear rationale risks emulating the seriousness and legal rigor of Greta Thunberg .
Even the clearest promises are short on details .
Take the aim to convert “ all 500,000 school buses in our country — including diesel — to zero emissions.
” In principle , clean school transportation from door to desk is an easy sell for most Americans , but who is going to convert the buses and how much of the $ 2 trillion budget will be eaten up by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these ambitions would take them from fantasy to fact .
In its most egregious moments , Biden ’ s Clean Energy plan plays dirty with reality .
One of the plan ’ s ambitious objectives is to make the American power sector “ carbon pollution-free ” by 2035 .
To achieve this , the plan carves out a role for greater nuclear power , offering reliable , emissions-free energy for consumers .
But the plan conveniently omits how a Biden administration would manage the nuclear waste created in the process .
The former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the perpetually beleaguered Yucca Mountain nuclear repository , and some have credited him with axing the project during the Obama administration .
So where will the waste be stored ?
Which community gets to host America ’ s inaugural “ carbon pollution-free ” nuclear dumping ground ?
The glibness of the Biden blueprint lies in sharp contrast to the now-shuttered campaign of Senator Elizabeth Warren , whose policy prescriptions offered the profound detail and depth one would expect from a Harvard professor .
Putting aside the merits and limitations of those detailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew how the Massachusetts senator would spend their public money .
In the 2020 election cycle , the clean energy hawks have come home to roost .
For decades , environmentalists have labored to draw the American public ’ s attention to green issues .
Now that consumers and taxpayers are demonstrably interested , environmental sweet nothings simply don ’ t cut it .
With months to go until the election , the former vice president should cap and trade the hot air for detailed policy proposals .
Oliver McPherson-Smith writes for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and research organization .
For more information about the Institute , visit [ 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 Oliver McPherson-Smith
Real Clear Energy
The year 2020 has been one of upheaval and change, but the American love for the outdoors has remained constant. Unsurprisingly, climate change and protecting the environment are two key issues in this year’s election cycle. To pitch his vision for the future, former vice president Joe Biden has unveiled his revamped plan “to build a modern, sustainable infrastructure and an equitable clean energy future.” However, for a plan that takes aim at greenhouse emissions, the manifesto is filled with an excessive amount of hot air. Flashy spending targets and en vogue nomenclature are an unsustainable alternative to detailed policy.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The 7,000-word plan draws from the Democratic nominee’s initial climate plan, albeit renovated in light of the Coronavirus pandemicand the suggestions of Bernie Sanders and John Kerry. At the cost of $2 trillion, this new and improved version roams from rebuilding infrastructure to restoring wetlands, while constructing 1.5 million energy efficient homes and public housing units en route. It also sets the target of creating millions upon millions of jobs in industries as diverse as auto manufacturing and “climate-smart agriculture.”
The problem with these lofty ambitions is that they are often vague, and sometimes outright misleading. For example, the plan calls for the creation of an ”Environmental and Climate Justice Division” within the Department of Justice (DOJ). The plan doesn’t, however, detail why the lawyers and regulators in the DOJ, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Energy are so beyond reform that taxpayers need to hire more bureaucrats. Rather than marshalling a platoon of Erin Brockoviches, this eco-vanity department with no clear rationale risks emulating the seriousness and legal rigor of Greta Thunberg.
Even the clearest promises are short on details. Take the aim to convert “all 500,000 school buses in our country — including diesel — to zero emissions.” In principle, clean school transportation from door to desk is an easy sell for most Americans, but who is going to convert the buses and how much of the $2 trillion budget will be eaten up by it? Detailing the practical implementation of these ambitions would take them from fantasy to fact.
In its most egregious moments, Biden’s Clean Energy plan plays dirty with reality. One of the plan’s ambitious objectives is to make the American power sector “carbon pollution-free” by 2035. To achieve this, the plan carves out a role for greater nuclear power, offering reliable, emissions-free energy for consumers.
But the plan conveniently omits how a Biden administration would manage the nuclear waste created in the process. The former vice president has been a long-time critic of the perpetually beleaguered Yucca Mountain nuclear repository, and some have credited him with axing the project during the Obama administration. So where will the waste be stored? Which community gets to host America’s inaugural “carbon pollution-free” nuclear dumping ground?
The glibness of the Biden blueprint lies in sharp contrast to the now-shuttered campaign of Senator Elizabeth Warren, whose policy prescriptions offered the profound detail and depth one would expect from a Harvard professor. Putting aside the merits and limitations of those detailed policies, at least consumers and taxpayers knew how the Massachusetts senator would spend their public money.
In the 2020 election cycle, the clean energy hawks have come home to roost. For decades, environmentalists have labored to draw the American public’s attention to green issues. Now that consumers and taxpayers are demonstrably interested, environmental sweet nothings simply don’t cut it. With months to go until the election, the former vice president should cap and trade the hot air for detailed policy proposals.
Oliver McPherson-Smith writes for the American Consumer Institute, a nonprofit educational and research organization. For more information about the Institute, visit
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]


wnd--2020-08-07--Feds reveal 1,500 workers weren't properly investigated

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
An internal government report issued by the Office of Personnel Management has uncovered a decade of gross lapses in common personnel vetting practices that are raising serious security concerns at the taxpayer-funded U.S. broadcasting agency , the umbrella organization for the flagship Voice of America and several other sister media outlets .
From 2010 to 2020 , the U.S. Agency for Global Media failed to comply with repeated warnings from OPM about lapses in basic personnel vetting protocols .
As a result , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly 40 % of the agency ’ s workforce , which includes numerous foreign nationals – weren ’ t properly investigated , the OPM found .
Scandals have ensued : In the fall of 2018 , the VOA fired 15 of its employees in Africa after discovering that they were accepting bribes from a Nigerian official , and last year , a former chief strategy officer for USAGM went to prison for stealing nearly $ 40,000 in government property during his tenure .
USAGM , previously known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work for the U.S. government , many from authoritarian nations the U.S. considers adversaries , even though agency officials didn ’ t sufficiently investigate their backgrounds during the hiring process .
Even now , these unvetted employees maintain access to USAGM broadcasting platforms and tools , as well as government buildings , IT systems , and senior government officials .
The security breaches are likely worse than the OPM report details .
A senior USAGM official tells RealClearPolitics that some employees were fingerprinted , but their fingerprints were never submitted to federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while other employees were never fingerprinted at all , even though government hiring protocols required them to be .
Previous internal government reviews of UASAGM practices found that some employees and contractors have used aliases and fake Social Security numbers , while others left entire sections of their background and security forms blank .
Additionally , USAGM management failed to require prospective personnel to disclose foreign travel and foreign contacts .
The lax personnel practices have alarmed the new leadership team at USAGM .
In late July , just weeks into his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Pack announced an investigation into “ long-term security failures ” at the agency and many of its foreign-language media outlets , including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty , Radio y Televisión Martí , Radio Free Asia , and Alhurra .
Pack has since ordered a “ surge team ” of security experts to overhaul the agency ’ s vetting and security protocols .
He also has requested meetings about the security lapses with the chairmen and ranking members of the congressional committees with jurisdiction over USAGM .
“ U.S .
national security is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single security violation .
In this case , an entire agency , with daily global reach , was permitted to fully inculcate lax , or non-existent , security procedures .
Journalism has long served as the perfect cover for foreign penetration and influence , ” a senior USAGM official told RCP .
“ USAGM ’ s decade-long failure to vet its staff – ranging from interns to contractors to grantees to full-time U.S. government employees – has made America vulnerable to those with nefarious intent toward U.S. national interests.
” The internal OPM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long history of USAGM ignoring warnings about security protocols .
Per executive orders signed by President Obama , OPM ’ s National Background Investigations Bureau , or NBIB , was the federal agency responsible for vetting government employees .
NBIB also had the power to delegate authority for background checks to individual federal agencies .
( President Trump has subsequently transferred NBIB investigative functions to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency ) .
“ During the course of our 2014 review , we determined USAGM was operating without the proper delegated authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The last valid [ memorandum of understanding ] between USAGM and OPM was signed in 2010 and expired in December 2012.
” The OPM report goes on to detail repeated failed attempts to obtain a memorandum of understanding regarding USAGM ’ s background check procedures .
In 2015 and 2017 , OPM officials notified top-level USAGM officials about the agency ’ s lapsed authority to provide background investigations .
Even so , “ the [ USAGM ] Director of Security and the Chief of the Adjudications Branch ( Adjudications Chief ) claimed ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during our 2018 onsite activities , ” the new OPM report states .
Despite this lapsed authority , USAGM continued to grant security and suitability clearances to employees for years .
Suitability clearances are not as difficult to attain as security clearances but provide the federal government a way to assess whether prospective employees may have something in their backgrounds that would prevent them from working in certain U.S. government positions , such as history of bad conduct , law-breaking , alcoholism or illegal drug use .
John Lansing , the previous USAGM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by President Obama and served from 2014 to 2019 , left the agency last fall for the top leadership post at National Public Radio .
At USAGM , Lansing succeeded Dick Lobo , who retired as head of the agency in the fall of 2013 .
Neither Lansing nor Lobo returned emailed requests for comment on the OPM report ’ s findings .
The employee files are in such disarray at USAGM that it ’ s impossible to determine the number of agency employees who have secret or top-secret security clearances , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal agencies use a reciprocity system regarding security clearance , it ’ s also impossible to know how many employees were granted clearances under this flawed USAGM system who went on to work at other federal agencies .
USAGM ’ s role as an international broadcaster that works to combat U.S. adversaries ’ misinformation abroad makes it an obvious high-risk target for infiltration and espionage .
RCP has confirmed the existence USAGM employees who previously worked at Phoenix Television , a broadcaster with ties to the Chinese government , and RT , formerly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ television network – employment histories that would raise red flags without proper vetting .
As a result of USAGM ignoring OPM warnings for such a long period , OPM ’ s report mandates a number of specific procedures and remedies for the agency to return to compliance .
Among those demands is that “ USAGM must work with NBIB to immediately initiate new investigations for all individuals investigated by USAGM since the expiration of USAGM ’ s delegated investigative authority in 2012.
” According to the new report , previous USAGM officials did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warnings .
In January , USAGM sent a letter to OPM stating the agency was “ still in the process of identifying , prioritizing , and reinitiating investigations working backwards to 2012.
” OPM goes on to note that following the letter , “ neither the Director of the Office of Security nor the [ Public Security Division ] Chief could provide a timeframe for when all investigations would be initiated.
” The revelations about serious and systemic personnel security lapses come at a time of transition for the agency .
In mid-June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO after a tortured three-year process in which Democrats and now-retired anti-Trump Republicans teamed up to block his Senate confirmation .
In late June , after Trump pressured the Senate to move the nomination , Pack was confirmed but only after the Washington attorney general ’ s office opened a probe into his taxes one day after Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez requested it .
Republicans voted to confirm Pack despite the investigation , which many argued was a politically motivated fishing expedition .
Pack has pledged to use USAGM ’ s broadcasting arm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other anti-American voices around the globe .
Last month , The White House signaled it was supportive of Pack ’ s desire to “ present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively ” by threatening to veto a spending bill after Democrats inserted language threatening to scale back Pack ’ s power as CEO of USAGM .
In recent years , the USAGM , which has a budget of some $ 800 million , has faced a series of management failures and internal turmoil .
In the annual Federal Employee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lowest two midsize agencies in morale over the last four years .
A bipartisan group of lawmakers , including Hillary Clinton , characterized the agency as being so adrift that it has allowed the Russians and other U.S. foes to gain the upper hand in the information-warfare sphere .
In June of 2019 , a former chief strategy officer for the agency who worked closely with Lansing went to prison for stealing nearly $ 40,000 in government property during his tenure .
In another scandal , a reporter for TV Marti , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cameraman were suspended after being accused of faking a mortar attack while broadcasting from Nicaragua in 2018 .
In 2018 , the same year VOA fired 15 of its employees in Africa , three VOA employees were suspended and at least one was fired for conducting an interview with a controversial Chinese dissident .
The chief of VOA 's China division , one of those suspended , said VOA leadership in Washington was caving to pressure from the Chinese government .
The House Foreign Affairs Committee in late 2018 concluded a three-month investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to fix what the report deemed a “ broken agency.
” A late 2018 report by Stanford University ’ s Hoover Institution cited concerns about Chinese officials ’ influence on American institutions , including specific details about China ’ s “ charm offensive ” and tougher tactics on VOA and Radio Free Asia employees working in China .
That report cited what it called a “ pattern ” by VOA Mandarin Service of avoiding stories that could be perceived as too tough on China and detailed activities by Chinese security officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of intimidation against some VOA and RFA staffers and their family members .
”

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Mark Hemingway & Susan Crabtree
Real Clear Politics
An internal government report issued by the Office of Personnel Management has uncovered a decade of gross lapses in common personnel vetting practices that are raising serious security concerns at the taxpayer-funded U.S. broadcasting agency, the umbrella organization for the flagship Voice of America and several other sister media outlets.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
From 2010 to 2020, the U.S. Agency for Global Media failed to comply with repeated warnings from OPM about lapses in basic personnel vetting protocols. As a result, the backgrounds of 1,500 employees and contractors – roughly 40% of the agency’s workforce, which includes numerous foreign nationals – weren’t properly investigated, the OPM found.
Scandals have ensued: In the fall of 2018, the VOA fired 15 of its employees in Africa after discovering that they were accepting bribes from a Nigerian official, and last year, a former chief strategy officer for USAGM went to prison for stealing nearly $40,000 in government property during his tenure.
USAGM, previously known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors, cleared hundreds of employees and contractors to work for the U.S. government, many from authoritarian nations the U.S. considers adversaries, even though agency officials didn’t sufficiently investigate their backgrounds during the hiring process. Even now, these unvetted employees maintain access to USAGM broadcasting platforms and tools, as well as government buildings, IT systems, and senior government officials.
The security breaches are likely worse than the OPM report details. A senior USAGM official tells RealClearPolitics that some employees were fingerprinted, but their fingerprints were never submitted to federal authorities so background checks could be run, while other employees were never fingerprinted at all, even though government hiring protocols required them to be.
Previous internal government reviews of UASAGM practices found that some employees and contractors have used aliases and fake Social Security numbers, while others left entire sections of their background and security forms blank. Additionally, USAGM management failed to require prospective personnel to disclose foreign travel and foreign contacts.
The lax personnel practices have alarmed the new leadership team at USAGM. In late July, just weeks into his tenure as the new USAGM CEO, Michael Pack announced an investigation into “long-term security failures” at the agency and many of its foreign-language media outlets, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio y Televisión Martí, Radio Free Asia, and Alhurra.
Pack has since ordered a “surge team” of security experts to overhaul the agency’s vetting and security protocols. He also has requested meetings about the security lapses with the chairmen and ranking members of the congressional committees with jurisdiction over USAGM.
“U.S. national security is jeopardized any time there is even a single security violation. In this case, an entire agency, with daily global reach, was permitted to fully inculcate lax, or non-existent, security procedures. Journalism has long served as the perfect cover for foreign penetration and influence,” a senior USAGM official told RCP. “USAGM’s decade-long failure to vet its staff – ranging from interns to contractors to grantees to full-time U.S. government employees – has made America vulnerable to those with nefarious intent toward U.S. national interests.”
The internal OPM report, obtained by RCP, details a long history of USAGM ignoring warnings about security protocols. Per executive orders signed by President Obama, OPM’s National Background Investigations Bureau, or NBIB, was the federal agency responsible for vetting government employees. NBIB also had the power to delegate authority for background checks to individual federal agencies. (President Trump has subsequently transferred NBIB investigative functions to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency).
“During the course of our 2014 review, we determined USAGM was operating without the proper delegated authority,” notes the report. “The last valid [memorandum of understanding] between USAGM and OPM was signed in 2010 and expired in December 2012.” The OPM report goes on to detail repeated failed attempts to obtain a memorandum of understanding regarding USAGM’s background check procedures.
In 2015 and 2017, OPM officials notified top-level USAGM officials about the agency’s lapsed authority to provide background investigations. Even so, “the [USAGM] Director of Security and the Chief of the Adjudications Branch (Adjudications Chief) claimed ‘nobody knew’ of the expired MOU during our 2018 onsite activities,” the new OPM report states.
Despite this lapsed authority, USAGM continued to grant security and suitability clearances to employees for years. Suitability clearances are not as difficult to attain as security clearances but provide the federal government a way to assess whether prospective employees may have something in their backgrounds that would prevent them from working in certain U.S. government positions, such as history of bad conduct, law-breaking, alcoholism or illegal drug use.
John Lansing, the previous USAGM CEO who was tapped for the post by President Obama and served from 2014 to 2019, left the agency last fall for the top leadership post at National Public Radio. At USAGM, Lansing succeeded Dick Lobo, who retired as head of the agency in the fall of 2013. Neither Lansing nor Lobo returned emailed requests for comment on the OPM report’s findings.
The employee files are in such disarray at USAGM that it’s impossible to determine the number of agency employees who have secret or top-secret security clearances, according to knowledgeable agency sources. Because other federal agencies use a reciprocity system regarding security clearance, it’s also impossible to know how many employees were granted clearances under this flawed USAGM system who went on to work at other federal agencies.
USAGM’s role as an international broadcaster that works to combat U.S. adversaries’ misinformation abroad makes it an obvious high-risk target for infiltration and espionage. RCP has confirmed the existence USAGM employees who previously worked at Phoenix Television, a broadcaster with ties to the Chinese government, and RT, formerly Russia Today, a Russian state-controlled international television network – employment histories that would raise red flags without proper vetting.
As a result of USAGM ignoring OPM warnings for such a long period, OPM’s report mandates a number of specific procedures and remedies for the agency to return to compliance. Among those demands is that “USAGM must work with NBIB to immediately initiate new investigations for all individuals investigated by USAGM since the expiration of USAGM’s delegated investigative authority in 2012.”
According to the new report, previous USAGM officials did not implement this corrective measure despite recent warnings. In January, USAGM sent a letter to OPM stating the agency was “still in the process of identifying, prioritizing, and reinitiating investigations working backwards to 2012.” OPM goes on to note that following the letter, “neither the Director of the Office of Security nor the [Public Security Division] Chief could provide a timeframe for when all investigations would be initiated.”
The revelations about serious and systemic personnel security lapses come at a time of transition for the agency. In mid-June Pack was installed as the new USAGM CEO after a tortured three-year process in which Democrats and now-retired anti-Trump Republicans teamed up to block his Senate confirmation. In late June, after Trump pressured the Senate to move the nomination, Pack was confirmed but only after the Washington attorney general’s office opened a probe into his taxes one day after Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez requested it. Republicans voted to confirm Pack despite the investigation, which many argued was a politically motivated fishing expedition.
Pack has pledged to use USAGM’s broadcasting arm to do more to confront Chinese propaganda and other anti-American voices around the globe. Last month, The White House signaled it was supportive of Pack’s desire to “present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively” by threatening to veto a spending bill after Democrats inserted language threatening to scale back Pack’s power as CEO of USAGM.
In recent years, the USAGM, which has a budget of some $800 million, has faced a series of management failures and internal turmoil. In the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, USAGM has ranked among the lowest two midsize agencies in morale over the last four years. A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Hillary Clinton, characterized the agency as being so adrift that it has allowed the Russians and other U.S. foes to gain the upper hand in the information-warfare sphere.
In June of 2019, a former chief strategy officer for the agency who worked closely with Lansing went to prison for stealing nearly $40,000 in government property during his tenure.
In another scandal, a reporter for TV Marti, which broadcasts into Cuba, and a cameraman were suspended after being accused of faking a mortar attack while broadcasting from Nicaragua in 2018.
In 2018, the same year VOA fired 15 of its employees in Africa, three VOA employees were suspended and at least one was fired for conducting an interview with a controversial Chinese dissident. The chief of VOA's China division, one of those suspended, said VOA leadership in Washington was caving to pressure from the Chinese government.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee in late 2018 concluded a three-month investigation that determined USAGM management must be strengthened in order to fix what the report deemed a “broken agency.”
A late 2018 report by Stanford University’s Hoover Institution cited concerns about Chinese officials’ influence on American institutions, including specific details about China’s “charm offensive” and tougher tactics on VOA and Radio Free Asia employees working in China. That report cited what it called a “pattern” by VOA Mandarin Service of avoiding stories that could be perceived as too tough on China and detailed activities by Chinese security officials it said amounted to a “campaign of intimidation against some VOA and RFA staffers and their family members.”
Mark Hemingway is a writer in Alexandria, Va. You can follow him on twitter @heminator.


wnd--2020-08-07--Appeals court to address judicial impartiality in Flynn case

An appeals court will hear arguments concerning the impartiality of the trial judge who is extending the case against former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn after the Justice Department filed a motion to dropped the charges .
The judge , Emmet Sullivan , requested the hearing of the full panel of the Washington , D.C. , Circuit Court of Appeals after a three-judge panel ordered him to grant the DOJ motion .
On Wednesday , the court asked the parties to prepare for oral arguments related to two federal laws that govern when a federal judge should recuse himself from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The federal code states : `` Any justice , judge , or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned . ''
The hearing is scheduled for Aug. 11 .
The court 's order says Flynn 's lawyers , the DOJ and Sullivan will each get 20 minutes to present their case .
Flynn was pleaded guilty to lying to investigators .
However , he withdrew the plea , and a DOJ investigation revealed there was no foundation for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lying .
The FBI already had a transcript of the telephone call at the center of the case .
And unsealed evidence shows the FBI was prepared to drop the case for lack of evidence .
But fired lead investigator Peter Strzok pressed ahead and set up the `` ambush '' interview at the White House .
A memo shows FBI agents plotted before the interview to get Flynn to lie so he could be fired .
In a column published this week , Flynn urged Christians in America not only to pray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnesses `` a vicious assault by enemies of all that is good , and our president is having to act in ways unprecedented in decades , maybe centuries . ''
`` When the destiny of the United States is at stake , and it is , the very future of the entire world is threatened , '' Flynn wrote for the Western Journal .
Flynn 's lawyers have argued Sullivan `` has no interest '' in continuing the case , since both the defendant and prosecutors want it dropped .
The Gateway Pundit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was lied to , set up multiple times before and after the Trump inauguration , excessively and to the point of illegally unmasked , targeted , ambushed in the White House , falsely accused , threatened with his son being indicted , provided corrupt legal counsel ( the same firm where corrupt Obama former AG Eric Holder works ) , harassed for 3 years , belittled , slandered , besmirched by the judge , harassed by the judge , and then the attorneys going after him were the same attorneys who represented the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump General Flynn lied . ''

An appeals court will hear arguments concerning the impartiality of the trial judge who is extending the case against former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn after the Justice Department filed a motion to dropped the charges.
The judge, Emmet Sullivan, requested the hearing of the full panel of the Washington, D.C., Circuit Court of Appeals after a three-judge panel ordered him to grant the DOJ motion.
On Wednesday, the court asked the parties to prepare for oral arguments related to two federal laws that govern when a federal judge should recuse himself from a legal proceeding, Fox News reported.
The federal code states: "Any justice, judge, or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The hearing is scheduled for Aug. 11.
Flynn update - DC Court of Appeals requests the parties be prepared to address at oral argument: 1) Whether Judge Sullivan should disqualify himself for perceived impartiality; and 2) If Sullivan should disqualify himself as a party to the proceeding. pic.twitter.com/2cqmA8WhqR — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 5, 2020
The court's order says Flynn's lawyers, the DOJ and Sullivan will each get 20 minutes to present their case.
Flynn was pleaded guilty to lying to investigators. However, he withdrew the plea, and a DOJ investigation revealed there was no foundation for the interview in which Flynn was accused of lying. The FBI already had a transcript of the telephone call at the center of the case. And unsealed evidence shows the FBI was prepared to drop the case for lack of evidence. But fired lead investigator Peter Strzok pressed ahead and set up the "ambush" interview at the White House. A memo shows FBI agents plotted before the interview to get Flynn to lie so he could be fired.
In a column published this week, Flynn urged Christians in America not only to pray but to take action as the nation witnesses "a vicious assault by enemies of all that is good, and our president is having to act in ways unprecedented in decades, maybe centuries."
"When the destiny of the United States is at stake, and it is, the very future of the entire world is threatened," Flynn wrote for the Western Journal.
Flynn's lawyers have argued Sullivan "has no interest" in continuing the case, since both the defendant and prosecutors want it dropped.
Flynn update - Team Flynn has filed their opposition to Judge Sullivan's request for rehearing (appeal). Judge Sullivan's efforts should be denied - he "has no cognizable interest in this case." Full doc:https://t.co/aNlNi4doyA pic.twitter.com/GL0bQnYHsp — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) July 20, 2020
The Gateway Pundit blog summarized: "Gen. Michael Flynn was lied to, set up multiple times before and after the Trump inauguration, excessively and to the point of illegally unmasked, targeted, ambushed in the White House, falsely accused, threatened with his son being indicted, provided corrupt legal counsel (the same firm where corrupt Obama former AG Eric Holder works), harassed for 3 years, belittled, slandered, besmirched by the judge, harassed by the judge, and then the attorneys going after him were the same attorneys who represented the corrupt Sally Yates who lied and told President Trump General Flynn lied."
Flynn's case was triggered by special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia-collusion probe.


wnd--2020-08-07--2 employees fired for refusing to serve off-duty policeman donuts

Two Dunkin ' Donuts workers have been dismissed for refusing to serve an off-duty Iowa policeman who was not in uniform .
DailyMail.com reported Sgt .
Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department had been a steady customer at the chain 's East 14th Street location .
Even before he could place an order , a worker told him , `` We are not going to serve you today , '' he reported .
He asked why , and the employee looked at his hat , which is a statement of support for police who have been embattled by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim of police brutality .
Parizek left and spoke with the store 's manager , the local franchisee and the corporate office , DailyMail.com reported .
The chain released a statement announcing the two workers had been fired .
`` We are aware of the incident that took place at the Dunkin ' restaurant , located at 1220 E 14th Street in Des Moines , IA .
The employees ' behavior is not consistent with Dunkin 's goal of creating an inclusive , welcoming environment for all our of guests .
`` Additionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our police force as they work to maintain a safe community for all of us .
The franchise owner , who independently owns and operates this restaurant , informs us that the two individuals responsible have been terminated .
The franchise owner has also connected with the police officer to apologize for the experience . ''

Two Dunkin' Donuts workers have been dismissed for refusing to serve an off-duty Iowa policeman who was not in uniform.
He was wearing a "Thin Blue Line" cap.
DailyMail.com reported Sgt. Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department had been a steady customer at the chain's East 14th Street location.
Even before he could place an order, a worker told him, "We are not going to serve you today," he reported.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
He asked why, and the employee looked at his hat, which is a statement of support for police who have been embattled by the Black Lives Matter agenda and its claim of police brutality.
Parizek left and spoke with the store's manager, the local franchisee and the corporate office, DailyMail.com reported.
The chain released a statement announcing the two workers had been fired.
"We are aware of the incident that took place at the Dunkin' restaurant, located at 1220 E 14th Street in Des Moines, IA. The employees' behavior is not consistent with Dunkin's goal of creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for all our of guests.
"Additionally, Dunkin' respects the efforts of our police force as they work to maintain a safe community for all of us. The franchise owner, who independently owns and operates this restaurant, informs us that the two individuals responsible have been terminated. The franchise owner has also connected with the police officer to apologize for the experience."


wnd--2020-08-07--Surprise! Official who announced Twitter's ban of Trump campaign is Dem activist

The Twitter employee who announced Wednesday that the account of President Trump 's campaign team had been suspended is Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris ' former press secretary .
Tim Murtaugh , director of communications for the Trump 2020 campaign , noted spokesman Nick Pacilio 's employment history after Twitter suspended the account because his tweet of a video clip of a `` Fox & Friends '' interview in which Trump said children are `` almost immune '' from COVID-19 .
`` Silicon Valley is hopelessly biased against the president and only enforces the rules in one direction , '' Murtaugh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ erroneously reported that Twitter had banned President Trump 's personal account .
Several Post journalists spread the false report on their Twitter platforms that Trump 's account had been suspended , Fox News reported .
Facebook also removed posts that linked to video from Trump 's interview with `` Fox & Friends . ''
Talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh said the actions of Twitter and Facebook are `` worse than bias . ''
He pointed to the recent Senate hearing with CEOs Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook , Tim Cook of Apple , Jeff Bezos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` And does anybody remember Zuckerberg telling Congress that Facebook had no desire to be the arbiter of truth , that that ’ s not what they were there to do ?
No , no , no .
And we don ’ t want to be the arbiter of truth , '' Limbaugh said .
`` When he said that , I cocked my head , I looked at him , well , then what the hell are you doing ?
If you don ’ t care to be the arbiter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anybody ?
Limbaugh wanted to know who is the medical doctor Zuckerberg relies on `` who knows everything about hydroxychloroquine sufficiently so that when President Trump talks about it you can pull down his tweet or his Facebook post . ''
`` I mean , Twitter and Facebook both apparently have people on the staff that know more than the doctors who prescribe this stuff and will take down anything somebody says that is in support of hydroxychloroquine , '' he said .
Twitter and Facebook claimed Trump 's statement that children are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was `` misinformation , '' despite the fact that studies have shown the number of coronavirus cases among children is only a tiny fraction of the overall cases .
Facebook said : `` This video includes false claims that a group of people is immune from COVID-19 which is a violation of our policies around harmful COVID misinformation . ''
Trump campaign spokeswoman Courtney Parella said the president was just stating `` a fact that children are less susceptible to the coronavirus . ''
`` Another day , another display of Silicon Valley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where the rules are only enforced in one direction , '' she said .
Trump told `` Fox & Friends '' : `` If you look at children , children are almost — I would almost say definitely — but almost immune from this disease .
So few — they ’ ve gotten stronger .
`` Hard to believe .
I don ’ t know how you feel about it , but they have much stronger immune systems than we do , somehow , for this .
And they don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have a problem , '' he added .
He said children are not `` totally immune . ''
Researchers have said children can be infected but likely have milder symptoms .
The Daily Caller News Foundation reported researchers at the New South Wales ' National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance in Australia published a study of staff and students at five primary schools and 10 high schools in April finding only two people of 863 people contracted COVID-19 .

The Twitter employee who announced Wednesday that the account of President Trump's campaign team had been suspended is Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris' former press secretary.
Tim Murtaugh, director of communications for the Trump 2020 campaign, noted spokesman Nick Pacilio's employment history after Twitter suspended the account because his tweet of a video clip of a "Fox & Friends" interview in which Trump said children are "almost immune" from COVID-19.
"Silicon Valley is hopelessly biased against the president and only enforces the rules in one direction," Murtaugh wrote on Twitter.
The Washington Post erroneously reported that Twitter had banned President Trump's personal account.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Several Post journalists spread the false report on their Twitter platforms that Trump's account had been suspended, Fox News reported.
The paper ultimately issued a correction.
The Twitter employee who announced to the world why the @TeamTrump account was briefly suspended is also Kamala Harris’s former press secretary. Silicon Valley is hopelessly biased against the President and only enforces the rules in one direction. — Tim Murtaugh - Download the Trump 2020 app today! (@TimMurtaugh) August 6, 2020
Facebook also removed posts that linked to video from Trump's interview with "Fox & Friends."
Talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh said the actions of Twitter and Facebook are "worse than bias."
He pointed to the recent Senate hearing with CEOs Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Tim Cook of Apple, Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Sundar Pichai of Google.
"And does anybody remember Zuckerberg telling Congress that Facebook had no desire to be the arbiter of truth, that that’s not what they were there to do? No, no, no. And we don’t want to be the arbiter of truth," Limbaugh said. "When he said that, I cocked my head, I looked at him, well, then what the hell are you doing? If you don’t care to be the arbiter of truth, then why do you ban anybody?
Limbaugh wanted to know who is the medical doctor Zuckerberg relies on "who knows everything about hydroxychloroquine sufficiently so that when President Trump talks about it you can pull down his tweet or his Facebook post."
"I mean, Twitter and Facebook both apparently have people on the staff that know more than the doctors who prescribe this stuff and will take down anything somebody says that is in support of hydroxychloroquine," he said.
Twitter and Facebook claimed Trump's statement that children are almost "immune" to the virus was "misinformation," despite the fact that studies have shown the number of coronavirus cases among children is only a tiny fraction of the overall cases.
Facebook said: "This video includes false claims that a group of people is immune from COVID-19 which is a violation of our policies around harmful COVID misinformation."
Trump campaign spokeswoman Courtney Parella said the president was just stating "a fact that children are less susceptible to the coronavirus."
"Another day, another display of Silicon Valley’s flagrant bias against this president, where the rules are only enforced in one direction," she said.
Trump told "Fox & Friends": "If you look at children, children are almost — I would almost say definitely — but almost immune from this disease. So few — they’ve gotten stronger.
"Hard to believe. I don’t know how you feel about it, but they have much stronger immune systems than we do, somehow, for this. And they don’t have a problem. They just don’t have a problem," he added.
He said children are not "totally immune."
Researchers have said children can be infected but likely have milder symptoms.
The Daily Caller News Foundation reported researchers at the New South Wales' National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance in Australia published a study of staff and students at five primary schools and 10 high schools in April finding only two people of 863 people contracted COVID-19.