wnd--2020-08-10--3 battleground states won't say when we can expect election results. A 4th isn't so sure

• Election officials in Arizona , Florida and Pennsylvania didn ’ t respond to repeated inquiries on when the nation could expect the results from the November election .
An official in Wisconsin said timing is uncertain .
• Wisconsin and Michigan have invested millions towards protective equipment , recruiting poll workers and facilitating the count of absentee ballots for November ’ s election , officials say .
• Though Wisconsin has taken additional steps to ensure same-night results , the influx of absentee ballots and the state ’ s competitiveness prohibit any guarantees , all while both mail-in and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an election official .
Election officials in three battleground states wouldn ’ t say when the U.S. can expect the results from November ’ s presidential race , and an official in a fourth state said the timing is uncertain .
Numerous news reports have indicated that election results could take a week to return due to the coronavirus pandemic and an increased reliance on mail-in ballots .
Accuracy and timing will be especially crucial in the battleground states that will likely determine whether President Donald Trump will serve another term or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
TRENDING : Time for Trump to smoke Joe out of his basement But in three of those states , Arizona , Florida and Pennsylvania , election officials didn ’ t respond to repeated inquiries asking how quickly after polls close on Nov. 3 the states will be able to announce the presidential winner .
A Florida elections official told the Daily Caller News Foundation he would provide information , but never followed through , even after numerous reminders .
In a fourth state , Wisconsin , an election official said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be announced .
“ I think at this point we ’ re not certain , ” Reid Magney told the DCNF .
“ A typical Wisconsin election is over 3 million ballots , which is over 70 % of the voting age population .
It depends on what percentage of those voters vote absentee.
” And in Michigan and North Carolina , election officials told the DCNF they are taking steps to prepare not only for record amounts of absentee ballots , but to ensure that results would be delivered accurately and timely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state will provide results the night of the election , thanks to expansions for early voting , campaigns to recruit and train poll workers and more , the DCNF previously reported .
In Wisconsin , the state ’ s election commission has allocated “ several million dollars ” towards personal protective equipment ( PPE ) , including masks , hand sanitizers , plexiglass barriers and more , for polling places , training poll workers , enhancing mail-in ballot security and more , Reid Magney , a spokesman for the commission , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide an exact figure .
Magney said the state ’ s decentralized electoral process makes it “ almost impossible ” for electoral fraud to occur , ” but added that he could not say for sure whether the precincts would be able to report their results in a timely manner .
He also pointed to the state ’ s upcoming down-ballot primary on Tuesday , which he said would be “ a good dry run for election day.
” The election comes four months after the state ’ s presidential primary in April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters and poll workers ’ health at risk over coronavirus concerns after the Wisconsin ’ s Supreme Court refused to delay it .
So far , the state has already received 400,000 absentee ballots for the election , a sign that turnout in November is likely to shatter records regarding the amount of absentee ballots , as well as overall turnout records , Magney said .
“ I can tell you this .
The electorate is energized and wants to have a say , ” he told the DCNF .
In Michigan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokeswoman , said that a record $ 11 million had been allocated across the state to provide PPE , staff polling places , purchase high-speed ballot tabulators and more , all with the goal of ensuring timely and accurate results .
“ That infrastructure is in place , ” Wimmer told the DCNF .
Michigan also launched its “ Democracy MVP ” campaign in April in order to better recruit and train poll workers , Wimmer said .
Through Friday , the campaign had recruited over 6,500 hundred workers , many of whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s primary , which she described as a “ huge success.
” Not only did Michigan succeed in delivering its primary results timely and accurately , but they did it with record turnout , Wimmer said .
Over 2.5 million Michiganders voted in the primary , of which 1.6 million voted by mail .
Despite the August primary proceeding smoothly , Wimmer cautioned that Michigan still has work to do in preparing for November , including a pending bill that would allow poll workers to begin tallying absentee ballots a few days in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delays are avoided .
Despite the bill having the support of Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson , Republicans in the state legislature have not indicated that they will support it , Wimmer told the DCNF .
Though Michigan is likely to be remarkably close in November , the Secretary of State ’ s office is prepared for the likely record-high turnout , even if most ballots arrive by mail , Wimmer said .
“ Turnout has been predicted to double or even triple , and we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the DCNF .
This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact [ email protected ]

By Andrew Trunsky
Daily Caller News Foundation
Election officials in Arizona, Florida and Pennsylvania didn’t respond to repeated inquiries on when the nation could expect the results from the November election. An official in Wisconsin said timing is uncertain.
Wisconsin and Michigan have invested millions towards protective equipment, recruiting poll workers and facilitating the count of absentee ballots for November’s election, officials say.
Though Wisconsin has taken additional steps to ensure same-night results, the influx of absentee ballots and the state’s competitiveness prohibit any guarantees, all while both mail-in and overall turnout shatter existing records, according to an election official.
Election officials in three battleground states wouldn’t say when the U.S. can expect the results from November’s presidential race, and an official in a fourth state said the timing is uncertain.
Numerous news reports have indicated that election results could take a week to return due to the coronavirus pandemic and an increased reliance on mail-in ballots. Accuracy and timing will be especially crucial in the battleground states that will likely determine whether President Donald Trump will serve another term or be ousted by former Vice President Joe Biden.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
But in three of those states, Arizona, Florida and Pennsylvania, election officials didn’t respond to repeated inquiries asking how quickly after polls close on Nov. 3 the states will be able to announce the presidential winner. A Florida elections official told the Daily Caller News Foundation he would provide information, but never followed through, even after numerous reminders.
In a fourth state, Wisconsin, an election official said he didn’t know when results would be announced.
“I think at this point we’re not certain,” Reid Magney told the DCNF. “A typical Wisconsin election is over 3 million ballots, which is over 70% of the voting age population. It depends on what percentage of those voters vote absentee.”
And in Michigan and North Carolina, election officials told the DCNF they are taking steps to prepare not only for record amounts of absentee ballots, but to ensure that results would be delivered accurately and timely.
Do you expect this presidential election to be rife with fraud? 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% (100 Votes) 0% (0 Votes)
North Carolina official Pat Gannon said the state will provide results the night of the election, thanks to expansions for early voting, campaigns to recruit and train poll workers and more, the DCNF previously reported.
In Wisconsin, the state’s election commission has allocated “several million dollars” towards personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, hand sanitizers, plexiglass barriers and more, for polling places, training poll workers, enhancing mail-in ballot security and more, Reid Magney, a spokesman for the commission, told the DCNF, though he did not provide an exact figure.
Magney said the state’s decentralized electoral process makes it “almost impossible” for electoral fraud to occur,” but added that he could not say for sure whether the precincts would be able to report their results in a timely manner.
He also pointed to the state’s upcoming down-ballot primary on Tuesday, which he said would be “a good dry run for election day.”
The election comes four months after the state’s presidential primary in April, which was widely criticized for putting voters and poll workers’ health at risk over coronavirus concerns after the Wisconsin’s Supreme Court refused to delay it.
So far, the state has already received 400,000 absentee ballots for the election, a sign that turnout in November is likely to shatter records regarding the amount of absentee ballots, as well as overall turnout records, Magney said.
“I can tell you this. The electorate is energized and wants to have a say,” he told the DCNF.
In Michigan, Tracy Wimmer, a Secretary of State spokeswoman, said that a record $11 million had been allocated across the state to provide PPE, staff polling places, purchase high-speed ballot tabulators and more, all with the goal of ensuring timely and accurate results.
“That infrastructure is in place,” Wimmer told the DCNF.
Michigan also launched its “Democracy MVP” campaign in April in order to better recruit and train poll workers, Wimmer said. Through Friday, the campaign had recruited over 6,500 hundred workers, many of whom helped run the polls during Tuesday’s primary, which she described as a “huge success.”
Not only did Michigan succeed in delivering its primary results timely and accurately, but they did it with record turnout, Wimmer said. Over 2.5 million Michiganders voted in the primary, of which 1.6 million voted by mail.
Despite the August primary proceeding smoothly, Wimmer cautioned that Michigan still has work to do in preparing for November, including a pending bill that would allow poll workers to begin tallying absentee ballots a few days in advance in order to better ensure that delays are avoided.
Despite the bill having the support of Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Republicans in the state legislature have not indicated that they will support it, Wimmer told the DCNF.
Though Michigan is likely to be remarkably close in November, the Secretary of State’s office is prepared for the likely record-high turnout, even if most ballots arrive by mail, Wimmer said.
“Turnout has been predicted to double or even triple, and we are preparing for that possibility,” she told the DCNF.
This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


wnd--2020-08-10--Iran uses mock U.S. ship for war games, accidentally sinks it in worst spot imaginable

Iran sank a U.S. aircraft carrier .
Big news , right ?
Well , yes -- but not for the reasons you may be thinking .
First , it was n't really an American aircraft carrier .
It was n't an aircraft carrier at all , actually .
And while Iran meant to `` sink '' it , it did n't mean to sink it .
And certainly not in the way it ended up getting sunk .
I 'm sure you 're confused , so let me explain .
On July 28 , according to The Aviationist , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aircraft , Iran launched its `` Great Prophet 14 '' military exercises .
I did n't pay much attention because I also had n't paid attention to the first 13 , so I was afraid I would n't be able to follow the plot .
The news that Tehran wanted everyone wanted to pay attention to was the use of the stealthy Shahed 181 and Shahed 191 drones , which The Aviationist notes were reverse-engineered from captured U.S. drones .
TRENDING : Time for Trump to smoke Joe out of his basement If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinks Aviation Week is more engrossing than `` Tiger King , '' I suppose this is what why you were interested in Great Prophet 14 .
As for me , I was a bit more entertained by the fact that a fake , scaled-down version of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier the Iranians like to attack during the war games ended up sinking -- and exactly where they did n't want it to .
Forbes ' H.I .
Sutton notes that `` Iranian armed forces , particularly the IRGC-N ( Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Navy aircraft carrier '' during `` Great Prophet '' wargames .
According to Popular Mechanics , the `` aircraft carrier '' was last attacked by the Iranians in 2015 .
It 's not just a great morale-booster for the Iranian armed forces , the military version of beating the computer in Tecmo Super Bowl to prove to yourself you really could have been a varsity running back in high school .
It 's also featured in plenty of Iranian propaganda videos -- not that they give the context that it 's just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ size of an actual American aircraft carrier and has none of its defense systems , to say nothing of American fighter jets or sailors on board .
This time , the Iranians hit the barge with one of their anti-ship missiles .
They also had their troops descend via rope onto the deck of the fake carrier , where I 'm sure they killed lots of fake American sailors .
Two-to-one odds say at least one of them pictured himself doing away with Maverick and Iceman from `` Top Gun . ''
Unfortunately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Iran was left with a very real problem .
As the knockoff Nimitz was being towed back to port in Bandar Abbas , it began to sink from the damage the IRGC had inflicted upon it .
On July 31 , the military analysis site Aurora Intel published this satellite imagery of the ship in a decidedly un-towable condition : And since these things only get worse , here 's where it was as of Aug. 2 : The problem is that it 's in incredibly shallow water -- 45 ft. -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Strait of Hormuz , posing a serious danger for other passing vessels .
Given that everything from tankers to passenger ferries go through the area , this is n't just an international humiliation , it 's also solid threat to human life and commerce .
And for a country that 's really good at blowing up fake ships , it turns out Iran is n't so good at retrieving them .
`` Although Iran has recovered vessels and aircraft from the sea , it does not appear to have a serious salvage capability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Aug. 3 .
`` This may be why it appears abandoned in the satellite imagery .
Last year Iran did recover substantial parts of the U.S. Navy Global Hawk drone it shot down .
But there are serious doubts as to whether any of this was salvaged from the depths .
Floating wreckage is one thing , dismantling a large sunken vessel is another . ''
In a follow-up report published by Forbes on Sunday morning , Sutton wrote that little had changed .
Paul Edward Roche , former president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Sutton , said that the ship 's position “ poses a distinct risk to commercial shipping approaching or leaving by the Straits of Hormuz because it is located east of the port approach '' and was “ an accident waiting to happen.
” '' This wreck does not appear to be marked with navigation buoys , '' Hutton wrote .
`` And even if it was , at night their lights might be drowned out by the lights of the town behind it .
Roche believes that the biggest risk is at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sandstorm or fog . ''
Another problem : The ship can move , too , and given the conditions it 's more likely to move toward the port .
“ If all measures have been taken and declared , there should be a minimum distance of 0.5 nautical miles between my ship and the wreck , '' a ship captain told Hutton .
`` But this shipwreck can change position , so a distance of 1 nautical is more appropriate.
” Hutton noted ships had been passing within 1,600 ft. of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , it 's all fun and games until someone gets hurt .
Yes , Iran making a miscalculation of this magnitude , particularly when the whole reason behind it was anti-American propaganda , is hilarious -- particularly when it was perpetrated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps , Iran 's strange , parallel military arranged to protect the regime and not the country , which also happens to be listed as a terrorist group by the United States .
More sobering is the fact that Iran 's `` Keystone Cops '' -like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sinking a passenger ferry or spilling hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil into the Strait of Hormuz .
Remember , this is a country that , just eight months ago , downed a Ukrainian airliner because it believed it to be an American-based threat .
The IRGC was responsible for that , too .
Let 's hope there is n't more blood on their hands once this saga is over .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Iran sank a U.S. aircraft carrier. Big news, right? Well, yes -- but not for the reasons you may be thinking.
First, it wasn't really an American aircraft carrier. It wasn't an aircraft carrier at all, actually. And while Iran meant to "sink" it, it didn't mean to sink it. And certainly not in the way it ended up getting sunk.
I'm sure you're confused, so let me explain. On July 28, according to The Aviationist, a news site that covers military and civilian aircraft, Iran launched its "Great Prophet 14" military exercises. I didn't pay much attention because I also hadn't paid attention to the first 13, so I was afraid I wouldn't be able to follow the plot.
The news that Tehran wanted everyone wanted to pay attention to was the use of the stealthy Shahed 181 and Shahed 191 drones, which The Aviationist notes were reverse-engineered from captured U.S. drones.
It confirms there are jet (top line if 1st pic) and propeller (bottom line) versions that are both launched using vehicle-mounted racks pic.twitter.com/kvS9fFhkWl — Jeremy Binnie (@JeremyBinnie) March 27, 2019
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
If you're the kind of person who thinks Aviation Week is more engrossing than "Tiger King," I suppose this is why you were interested in Great Prophet 14. As for me, I was a bit more entertained by the fact that a fake, scaled-down version of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier the Iranians like to attack during the war games ended up sinking -- and exactly where they didn't want it to.
Forbes' H.I. Sutton notes that "Iranian armed forces, particularly the IRGC-N (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy) delight in attacking the mock U.S. Navy aircraft carrier" during "Great Prophet" wargames.
According to Popular Mechanics, the "aircraft carrier" was last attacked by the Iranians in 2015.
For the record: What’s Wrong With Iran’s Fake Aircraft Carrier https://t.co/CQTTmONWMy — Naval News (@navalnewscom) August 3, 2020
It's not just a great morale-booster for the Iranian armed forces, the military version of beating the computer in Tecmo Super Bowl to prove to yourself you really could have been a varsity running back in high school.
It's also featured in plenty of Iranian propaganda videos -- not that they give the context that it's just a barge that isn't nearly the size of an actual American aircraft carrier and has none of its defense systems, to say nothing of American fighter jets or sailors on board.
Here's the 2015 attack:
This time, the Iranians hit the barge with one of their anti-ship missiles. They also had their troops descend via rope onto the deck of the fake carrier, where I'm sure they killed lots of fake American sailors. Two-to-one odds say at least one of them pictured himself doing away with Maverick and Iceman from "Top Gun."
Unfortunately, after the fake fun was over, Iran was left with a very real problem.
As the knockoff Nimitz was being towed back to port in Bandar Abbas, it began to sink from the damage the IRGC had inflicted upon it. On July 31, the military analysis site Aurora Intel published this satellite imagery of the ship in a decidedly un-towable condition:
thanks to the heads from @ckoettl I went on the hunt. Imagery courtesy of @planetlabs from today shows the #IRGC’s fake #US Navy Nimitz-Class Carrier capsized just south of Bandar Abbas Port, #Iran after the Great Prophet XIV war games. I assume we will see more propaganda soon. pic.twitter.com/pqjmTInbRW — Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) July 31, 2020
And here's a closer look:
Looks like the Iranians have created a nice little hazard for themselves right outside bandar abbas... You had one job IRGCN... [And... go twitter] pic.twitter.com/tKBE7FrKgq — Chris Biggers (@CSBiggers) July 31, 2020
And since these things only get worse, here's where it was as of Aug. 2:
New imagery from yesterday shows the capsized #IRGC replica of the Nimitz Class Carrier appears to have listed more outside of Bandar Abbas Port, #Iran. She appears more listed here than previous imagery from the 31st July. The depth here is a reported 14m. Fun to reclaim.... pic.twitter.com/tKTHJAaGCS — Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) August 2, 2020
The problem is that it's in incredibly shallow water -- 45 ft. -- in a major shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz, posing a serious danger for other passing vessels. Given that everything from tankers to passenger ferries go through the area, this isn't just an international humiliation, it's also solid threat to human life and commerce.
And for a country that's really good at blowing up fake ships, it turns out Iran isn't so good at retrieving them.
"Although Iran has recovered vessels and aircraft from the sea, it does not appear to have a serious salvage capability to call on," Sutton wrote on Aug. 3. "This may be why it appears abandoned in the satellite imagery. Last year Iran did recover substantial parts of the U.S. Navy Global Hawk drone it shot down. But there are serious doubts as to whether any of this was salvaged from the depths. Floating wreckage is one thing, dismantling a large sunken vessel is another."
In a follow-up report published by Forbes on Sunday morning, Sutton wrote that little had changed.
Paul Edward Roche, former president of the Irish Institute of Master Mariners, according to Sutton, said that the ship's position “poses a distinct risk to commercial shipping approaching or leaving by the Straits of Hormuz because it is located east of the port approach" and was “an accident waiting to happen.”
"This wreck does not appear to be marked with navigation buoys," Hutton wrote. "And even if it was, at night their lights might be drowned out by the lights of the town behind it. Roche believes that the biggest risk is at night or in reduced visibility such as a sandstorm or fog."
Another problem: The ship can move, too, and given the conditions it's more likely to move toward the port.
“If all measures have been taken and declared, there should be a minimum distance of 0.5 nautical miles between my ship and the wreck," a ship captain told Hutton. "But this shipwreck can change position, so a distance of 1 nautical is more appropriate.”
Hutton noted ships had been passing within 1,600 ft. of the wreck.
As your mom would have said, it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Yes, Iran making a miscalculation of this magnitude, particularly when the whole reason behind it was anti-American propaganda, is hilarious -- particularly when it was perpetrated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran's strange, parallel military arranged to protect the regime and not the country, which also happens to be listed as a terrorist group by the United States.
More sobering is the fact that Iran's "Keystone Cops"-like ineptitude is now a recipe for potentially sinking a passenger ferry or spilling hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil into the Strait of Hormuz. Remember, this is a country that, just eight months ago, downed a Ukrainian airliner because it believed it to be an American-based threat. The IRGC was responsible for that, too.
Let's hope there isn't more blood on their hands once this saga is over.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-08-10--The costs kids will pay for fall school closure

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
At what point do our public health interventions themselves cause a public health crisis ?
Might our efforts to keep the public equally safe be reinforcing unsafe levels of inequality ?
We obviously need to protect those most at risk from the current pandemic , but we should also consider the costs , especially if disproportionate burdens are being placed upon those without a voice who are least well-placed to bear them .
If we are following the evidence , the data on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of school are clear and compelling : keeping children out of school is harmful .
Medical professionals from across the world , from the American Academy of Pediatrics to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health , have recently stated that the risk of keeping children out of school greatly outweighs the dangers of school-age children contributing to increases in COVID-19 cases .
Others , including the former FDA chair and the American Academies of Science , Engineering and Medicine , are also urging schools to open this fall after weighing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump to smoke Joe out of his basement Keeping schools closed will have long-term detrimental educational and societal consequences that could possibly last a lifetime .
Gaps in schooling , such as the summer slide , decrease academic readiness in all subjects , especially in mathematics , according to the Brookings Institution .
These achievement gaps are going to be greatly exacerbated due to the pandemic-motivated school closures , based upon analysis from the nonprofit organization NWEA ( Northwest Evaluation Association ) , which is projecting the potential loss of a half-a-year to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A big reason for these worsening regressions in academic achievement relate to the inherent limitations of online learning .
Studies done at the Center for Research on Education Outcomes and at the Mathematica Policy Research Center have shown that online learning , especially in younger children and those with certain learning disabilities , is not as effective as in-person learning .
These studies bolster previous research showing that online charter school students learn less than students at traditional public schools .
Worse , these adverse impacts to educational achievement would not be borne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of these families can not afford the compensating resources that better-off families have , such as high-speed Internet service or adequate numbers of electronic devices to allow each child to undertake online learning individually .
In examining Zearn , an online math program , it was discovered that students in high income ZIP codes increased their math skills by 45 % , while those of middle-income students decreased by 0.7 % and those of low-income students decreased by 36 % .
As many higher-income families , with ample resources , are already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upcoming school year , this achievement gap will only widen .
Similarly , McKinsey research predicts that school-closure-related regression in educational attainment will be greatest in low-income , Black and Hispanic communities , with such communities suffering more than a year loss in education .
This pandemic-related impact will come on top of the already existing achievement gaps that are cumulative and growing .
Learning gaps can increase anxiety and diminish enthusiasm for school , leading to rising dropout rates .
McKinsey estimates that an incremental 2 % -9 % of high school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the announced COVID-related school closures .
The loss of lifetime earning potential for these at-risk learners will carry permanent adverse consequences , effectively cementing their socio-economic disadvantages .
Yet school closures will adversely impact more than our children ’ s learning , since primary education institutions offer much more than instruction to students .
They offer a source of stability , security and nutrition , and the school closures related to the pandemic have already highlighted the loss of this source of support in recent months .
The school closures appear to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An April survey co-sponsored by the Hamilton Project found that more than 40 % of mothers with children age 12 and younger are food insecure , a 260 % increase from 2018 .
This is a troubling jump in the number of American mothers reporting that their children did not have enough food to eat .
Food banks have seen dramatic increases in utilization and have often run out of food .
The inability of children to receive low-cost meals in many school districts has exacerbated the risk of pediatric malnourishment – this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s brain development with lasting adverse impacts .
Schools can also serve as a support for children socially and emotionally .
Teachers and school personnel are the most likely third parties to report child abuse .
Under COVID lockdowns , reports of suspected abuse have decreased , but evidence of child abuse in the nation ’ s emergency rooms has not .
The stripping away of this safe haven puts vulnerable children at risk of depression , anxiety and even abuse .
Indeed , the Center for Global Development and the World Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 closures will lead to systemic inequality , learning losses and increased dropout rates , as well as negative health effects .
As has been widely reported , the economic lockdowns and school closures seem to have hit the poorest families the hardest in terms of job loss , and the maintenance of these closures undoubtedly will cause further hardship in the families with the most vulnerable children .
Moreover , because the parents of many at-risk children are more likely to be deemed essential and to be employed in lower-paid service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , delivery or grocery , these children ’ s families are most at risk if the schools do not open in the fall .
Because school is often the only form of child care available , these at-risk families may be put in the dire predicament of having to choose between caring for their children at home or working to put food on the table , an impossible dilemma that would plunge many families deeper into poverty and economic insecurity .
This danger may be especially profound for single-parent households .
While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those from challenged socioeconomic backgrounds — are harmed in a variety of ways when schools are shut down , the sad reality is that there appears to be scant empirical basis to claim any countervailing benefit to public health from such pandemic-related school closures .
In fact , several relevant studies show a dearth of evidence that such closures would have any measurable public health benefit in ameliorating the spread of COVID .
One study done in Ireland showed no secondary transmissions of coronavirus among six infected children who had 1,155 social contacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice , sports practice and woodwind practice .
Similar findings were shown in Australian schools .
Studies from China , South Korea , Japan and Iran of household transmission clusters suggest that children are unlikely to be the source of viral transmission within households .
Systematic reviews of the literature suggest that school transmission and children are not major drivers of COVID transmission .
Germany analyzed more than 1,500 of its older children and over 500 teachers and found that schoolchildren do not play a big role in spreading the virus .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia , examining 18 reported COVID cases ( nine students and nine teachers ) and 863 contacts , found only two secondary infections and uncovered no evidence of any children infecting teachers .
Iceland conducted a population-based study of over 10,000 people and did not find a single child under 10 who was positive .
A June 23 study by Institute Pasteur found that children in school were more likely to be infected by their parents , and that those students did not transmit coronavirus to their teachers or other students .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Swedish Public Health Authority conducted a joint study of Swedish schools ( which did not close ) and Finnish Schools ( which reopened on May 13 ) , comparing transmission among children and infection rates of teachers versus other professions in the two countries ; the study concluded that closing of schools “ had no measurable direct impact on the number of laboratory confirmed cases of school-aged children in Finland or Sweden , ” and also found no increased risk of contracting COVID for teachers in either nation compared to those risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world , the data are equally clear that there is little health benefit to school-age children from closing schools amid the pandemic .
Indeed , children have markedly decreased risks of mortality due to COVID-19 .
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control , as of July 22 , 2020 , Americans 65 years of age and older accounted for 80 % of all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S .
In a recent CDC report , children under 18 account for less than 0.1 % of COVID deaths in the U.S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which contrasts with previous pandemics in that the dangers are not equally borne by young versus old , is similarly observed in many other countries .
Furthermore , children tend to have mild or asymptomatic infections .
A study published on June 16 in the journal indicates that children ( including teenagers ) are much more likely to be asymptomatic than adults .
Thus , those who have the least risk of morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 — the world ’ s children — are bearing a disproportionate share of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this pandemic .
The initial decisions to shutter schools could at least have been defended by our initial ignorance and fear surrounding how COVID-19 is spread .
Today , however , we know better .
A large body of evidence shows that school closures not only are likely to prove ineffective as a countermeasure to the pandemic , but they also pose severe risks to our children ’ s welfare , health and development .
The true costs of the lockdowns are still not fully known , but they are undoubtedly growing — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ societal upheaval caused in part by the widespread job losses , rising food insecurity and widening chasm in educational achievement should be viewed as a signal warning and a call to reflect carefully on our policy choices .
Indeed , every decision we make in response to the pandemic , including those of omission , reflects a choice and carries with it a set of costs .
We , as a society , will decide , either explicitly or implicitly , who will bear this cost .
In this pandemic , there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every policy choice carries risks that must be recognized , especially if they can not be easily mitigated .
Failure to reopen schools in the fall will inflict greater hardship and potentially life-long developmental deficits on our most vulnerable children and grandchildren long after this pandemic has faded – a tragically ironic victimization of those least at risk of morbidity and mortality .
If kids are indeed our future , we must find a way to reopen the schools .

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Christina Ramirez
Real Clear Politics
At what point do our public health interventions themselves cause a public health crisis? Might our efforts to keep the public equally safe be reinforcing unsafe levels of inequality? We obviously need to protect those most at risk from the current pandemic, but we should also consider the costs, especially if disproportionate burdens are being placed upon those without a voice who are least well-placed to bear them.
If we are following the evidence, the data on the risks and costs of keeping children out of school are clear and compelling: keeping children out of school is harmful. Medical professionals from across the world, from the American Academy of Pediatrics to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, have recently stated that the risk of keeping children out of school greatly outweighs the dangers of school-age children contributing to increases in COVID-19 cases. Others, including the former FDA chair and the American Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, are also urging schools to open this fall after weighing the available evidence.
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Keeping schools closed will have long-term detrimental educational and societal consequences that could possibly last a lifetime. Gaps in schooling, such as the summer slide, decrease academic readiness in all subjects, especially in mathematics, according to the Brookings Institution. These achievement gaps are going to be greatly exacerbated due to the pandemic-motivated school closures, based upon analysis from the nonprofit organization NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association), which is projecting the potential loss of a half-a-year to one full year of math achievement.
A big reason for these worsening regressions in academic achievement relate to the inherent limitations of online learning. Studies done at the Center for Research on Education Outcomes and at the Mathematica Policy Research Center have shown that online learning, especially in younger children and those with certain learning disabilities, is not as effective as in-person learning. These studies bolster previous research showing that online charter school students learn less than students at traditional public schools.
Worse, these adverse impacts to educational achievement would not be borne equally across all income levels, since many of these families cannot afford the compensating resources that better-off families have, such as high-speed Internet service or adequate numbers of electronic devices to allow each child to undertake online learning individually. In examining Zearn, an online math program, it was discovered that students in high income ZIP codes increased their math skills by 45%, while those of middle-income students decreased by 0.7% and those of low-income students decreased by 36%. As many higher-income families, with ample resources, are already searching for tutors and micro-schools for the upcoming school year, this achievement gap will only widen. Similarly, McKinsey research predicts that school-closure-related regression in educational attainment will be greatest in low-income, Black and Hispanic communities, with such communities suffering more than a year loss in education. This pandemic-related impact will come on top of the already existing achievement gaps that are cumulative and growing. Learning gaps can increase anxiety and diminish enthusiasm for school, leading to rising dropout rates. McKinsey estimates that an incremental 2%-9% of high school students could drop out in the wake of the announced COVID-related school closures. The loss of lifetime earning potential for these at-risk learners will carry permanent adverse consequences, effectively cementing their socio-economic disadvantages.
Yet school closures will adversely impact more than our children’s learning, since primary education institutions offer much more than instruction to students. They offer a source of stability, security and nutrition, and the school closures related to the pandemic have already highlighted the loss of this source of support in recent months.
Should schools have in-person classes this fall? 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. 92% (22 Votes) 8% (2 Votes)
The school closures appear to have raised the risk of malnourishment. An April survey co-sponsored by the Hamilton Project found that more than 40% of mothers with children age 12 and younger are food insecure, a 260% increase from 2018. This is a troubling jump in the number of American mothers reporting that their children did not have enough food to eat. Food banks have seen dramatic increases in utilization and have often run out of food. The inability of children to receive low-cost meals in many school districts has exacerbated the risk of pediatric malnourishment – this poses a threat to a child’s brain development with lasting adverse impacts.
Schools can also serve as a support for children socially and emotionally. Teachers and school personnel are the most likely third parties to report child abuse. Under COVID lockdowns, reports of suspected abuse have decreased, but evidence of child abuse in the nation’s emergency rooms has not. The stripping away of this safe haven puts vulnerable children at risk of depression, anxiety and even abuse. Indeed, the Center for Global Development and the World Bank have each sounded the alarm on how the COVID-19 closures will lead to systemic inequality, learning losses and increased dropout rates, as well as negative health effects.
As has been widely reported, the economic lockdowns and school closures seem to have hit the poorest families the hardest in terms of job loss, and the maintenance of these closures undoubtedly will cause further hardship in the families with the most vulnerable children. Moreover, because the parents of many at-risk children are more likely to be deemed essential and to be employed in lower-paid service sector positions in transportation, food production, delivery or grocery, these children’s families are most at risk if the schools do not open in the fall. Because school is often the only form of child care available, these at-risk families may be put in the dire predicament of having to choose between caring for their children at home or working to put food on the table, an impossible dilemma that would plunge many families deeper into poverty and economic insecurity. This danger may be especially profound for single-parent households.
While the data clearly shows that children — especially those from challenged socioeconomic backgrounds — are harmed in a variety of ways when schools are shut down, the sad reality is that there appears to be scant empirical basis to claim any countervailing benefit to public health from such pandemic-related school closures.
In fact, several relevant studies show a dearth of evidence that such closures would have any measurable public health benefit in ameliorating the spread of COVID. One study done in Ireland showed no secondary transmissions of coronavirus among six infected children who had 1,155 social contacts while participating in activities such as choir practice, sports practice and woodwind practice. Similar findings were shown in Australian schools. Studies from China, South Korea, Japan and Iran of household transmission clusters suggest that children are unlikely to be the source of viral transmission within households. Systematic reviews of the literature suggest that school transmission and children are not major drivers of COVID transmission. Germany analyzed more than 1,500 of its older children and over 500 teachers and found that schoolchildren do not play a big role in spreading the virus. A study done in New South Wales, Australia, examining 18 reported COVID cases (nine students and nine teachers) and 863 contacts, found only two secondary infections and uncovered no evidence of any children infecting teachers.
Iceland conducted a population-based study of over 10,000 people and did not find a single child under 10 who was positive. A June 23 study by Institute Pasteur found that children in school were more likely to be infected by their parents, and that those students did not transmit coronavirus to their teachers or other students. The Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare and the Swedish Public Health Authority conducted a joint study of Swedish schools (which did not close) and Finnish Schools (which reopened on May 13), comparing transmission among children and infection rates of teachers versus other professions in the two countries; the study concluded that closing of schools “had no measurable direct impact on the number of laboratory confirmed cases of school-aged children in Finland or Sweden,” and also found no increased risk of contracting COVID for teachers in either nation compared to those risks for individuals in other professions.
Across the world, the data are equally clear that there is little health benefit to school-age children from closing schools amid the pandemic. Indeed, children have markedly decreased risks of mortality due to COVID-19. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, as of July 22, 2020, Americans 65 years of age and older accounted for 80% of all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. In a recent CDC report, children under 18 account for less than 0.1% of COVID deaths in the U.S. This age distribution of COVID-19 deaths, which contrasts with previous pandemics in that the dangers are not equally borne by young versus old, is similarly observed in many other countries. Furthermore, children tend to have mild or asymptomatic infections. A study published on June 16 in the journal Nature Medicine indicates that children (including teenagers) are much more likely to be asymptomatic than adults. Thus, those who have the least risk of morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 — the world’s children — are bearing a disproportionate share of the burden related to the global fight against this pandemic.
The initial decisions to shutter schools could at least have been defended by our initial ignorance and fear surrounding how COVID-19 is spread. Today, however, we know better. A large body of evidence shows that school closures not only are likely to prove ineffective as a countermeasure to the pandemic, but they also pose severe risks to our children’s welfare, health and development. The true costs of the lockdowns are still not fully known, but they are undoubtedly growing — and growing more apparent. The growing societal upheaval caused in part by the widespread job losses, rising food insecurity and widening chasm in educational achievement should be viewed as a signal warning and a call to reflect carefully on our policy choices.
Indeed, every decision we make in response to the pandemic, including those of omission, reflects a choice and carries with it a set of costs. We, as a society, will decide, either explicitly or implicitly, who will bear this cost. In this pandemic, there are no “safe” decisions, since every policy choice carries risks that must be recognized, especially if they cannot be easily mitigated. Failure to reopen schools in the fall will inflict greater hardship and potentially life-long developmental deficits on our most vulnerable children and grandchildren long after this pandemic has faded – a tragically ironic victimization of those least at risk of morbidity and mortality. If kids are indeed our future, we must find a way to reopen the schools.


wnd--2020-08-09--CNN 'factually wrong' about vote-by-mail scheme

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
Most of the mainstream media say the same thing when it comes to voter fraud -- it ’ s too rare to be consequential .
In endlessly repeating this line , the media is now doing more than just slinging mud at President Trump .
Dismissing any concerns about the integrity of America ’ s electoral process is a danger to our system of democracy .
CNN , it should come as no surprise , is parroting this narrative with even more certitude than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was a guest on Brianna Keilar ’ s CNN show .
I discussed our campaign ’ s concerns with a new law in Nevada that would open up the potential for voting fraud on a scale rarely seen before in this country .
In 72 hours , Nevada Democrats rushed a fundamental change to the state ’ s election system in an eleventh-hour bid to change the rules to favor a Democrat victory in November .
In the dead of night and less than 100 days from the election , Nevada Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a universal vote-by-mail system that would send a ballot to every address on Nevada ’ s voter rolls -- requested or not -- and whether the voter was still alive or not .
TRENDING : Time for Trump to smoke Joe out of his basement Furthermore , the law includes a provision that ballots received in the three days after the election would be counted , even if that ballot is not postmarked to prove the vote was cast before Nov. 3 .
Imagine a scenario where Nevadan Democrats wake up on Nov. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their state .
Conceivably , they could collect ballots for Joe Biden and mail them the day after the election and , if they are received within the next three days , they would be counted .
Any reasonable person realizes how such a system exposes the election to massive voter fraud .
CNN doesn ’ t see it that way .
It ’ s important to call them out -- especially when it concerns something as crucial and important as the integrity of our election system .
The day after my segment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the new law and did a “ fact check ” on the Trump campaign ’ s legitimate and valid concerns .
During Keilar ’ s fact-checking segment , she claimed that ballots will only be counted “ as long as they are postmarked by dates of election.
” This is factually wrong .
The Nevada law states that ballots will be mailed to addresses on the voter rolls along with a pre-paid return envelope .
United States Postal Service regulations note that pre-paid envelopes are not required to be postmarked , meaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the pre-paid envelope they received , that envelope may not feature the date the ballot was sent back .
And , if that undated ballot is received up to three days after the election , it will still be counted .
It is this provision of Nevada ’ s law that allows votes to be cast after Election Day has ended .
Keilar then claimed that “ many states do this.
” But Nevada is going to count ballots received up to three days after Election Day even if they are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to cast votes after the election .
Keilar went on to claim that , in a universal vote-by-mail system , only “ active voters ” would be included .
The term “ active voter ” just refers to individuals who are included on a states ’ voter rolls , which are notoriously out-of-date and inaccurate .
They are often not updated to reflect if someone has moved — including out of the state — or if someone has died .
For example , Los Angeles County voter rolls included 112 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were more people on the voter rolls than actually live in the county .
Keilar also asserted that real-life examples of voter fraud aren ’ t anything to worry about .
I have dealt with , and socialized with , mainstream journalists in Washington , D.C. , for my entire career .
Sometimes we agree , often we don ’ t .
But I respect the work the best of them do , and the critical role a free press plays in society .
But this episode at CNN , and the host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond the pale .
I was further disturbed to learn that Brianna Keilar ’ s husband is a ferocious opponent of the president , a former director of the National Security Council under President Obama , and a man who tweets , among other things , that Donald Trump makes him “ throw up.
” A modicum of journalistic integrity would require this disclosure by CNN on the selection of a nonpartisan interviewer , or at least one who commits to a fair and respectful exchange .
In truth , the collapse of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be as dangerous to democracy as the promotion of unfettered electoral fraud .

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Mercedes Schlapp
Real Clear Politics
Most of the mainstream media say the same thing when it comes to voter fraud -- it’s too rare to be consequential. In endlessly repeating this line, the media is now doing more than just slinging mud at President Trump. Dismissing any concerns about the integrity of America’s electoral process is a danger to our system of democracy.
CNN, it should come as no surprise, is parroting this narrative with even more certitude than its media counterparts. On Tuesday, I was a guest on Brianna Keilar’s CNN show. I discussed our campaign’s concerns with a new law in Nevada that would open up the potential for voting fraud on a scale rarely seen before in this country.
In 72 hours, Nevada Democrats rushed a fundamental change to the state’s election system in an eleventh-hour bid to change the rules to favor a Democrat victory in November. In the dead of night and less than 100 days from the election, Nevada Democrat Gov. Steve Sisolak signed into law a universal vote-by-mail system that would send a ballot to every address on Nevada’s voter rolls --requested or not -- and whether the voter was still alive or not.
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Furthermore, the law includes a provision that ballots received in the three days after the election would be counted, even if that ballot is not postmarked to prove the vote was cast before Nov. 3.
Imagine a scenario where Nevadan Democrats wake up on Nov. 4 to learn that President Trump won their state. Conceivably, they could collect ballots for Joe Biden and mail them the day after the election and, if they are received within the next three days, they would be counted.
Any reasonable person realizes how such a system exposes the election to massive voter fraud. CNN doesn’t see it that way. It’s important to call them out -- especially when it concerns something as crucial and important as the integrity of our election system.
The day after my segment, Keilar doubled down on her ignorance of the new law and did a “fact check” on the Trump campaign’s legitimate and valid concerns. During Keilar’s fact-checking segment, she claimed that ballots will only be counted “as long as they are postmarked by dates of election.”
This is factually wrong. The Nevada law states that ballots will be mailed to addresses on the voter rolls along with a pre-paid return envelope. United States Postal Service regulations note that pre-paid envelopes are not required to be postmarked, meaning that if Nevadans mail their ballot back in the pre-paid envelope they received, that envelope may not feature the date the ballot was sent back. And, if that undated ballot is received up to three days after the election, it will still be counted. It is this provision of Nevada’s law that allows votes to be cast after Election Day has ended.
Keilar then claimed that “many states do this.” But Nevada is going to count ballots received up to three days after Election Day even if they are not dated. Again, this would allow people to cast votes after the election.
Keilar went on to claim that, in a universal vote-by-mail system, only “active voters” would be included. The term “active voter” just refers to individuals who are included on a states’ voter rolls, which are notoriously out-of-date and inaccurate. They are often not updated to reflect if someone has moved — including out of the state — or if someone has died.
For example, Los Angeles County voter rolls included 112% of the entire population — meaning, there were more people on the voter rolls than actually live in the county. Keilar also asserted that real-life examples of voter fraud aren’t anything to worry about.
I have dealt with, and socialized with, mainstream journalists in Washington, D.C., for my entire career. Sometimes we agree, often we don’t. But I respect the work the best of them do, and the critical role a free press plays in society. But this episode at CNN, and the host’s continued online harangue, was beyond the pale. I was further disturbed to learn that Brianna Keilar’s husband is a ferocious opponent of the president, a former director of the National Security Council under President Obama, and a man who tweets, among other things, that Donald Trump makes him “throw up.”
A modicum of journalistic integrity would require this disclosure by CNN on the selection of a nonpartisan interviewer, or at least one who commits to a fair and respectful exchange.
In truth, the collapse of a fair and spirited journalistic exchange may be as dangerous to democracy as the promotion of unfettered electoral fraud.


wnd--2020-08-09--Free speech on Facebook threatens 'climate-change extremists'

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy . ]
As America ’ s political middle ground gives way to sharp left-right divisions and even violence , there are winners and losers in the war on ideas .
What in the recent past would have been considered up for debate , now shifts firmly into the “ settled science ” category by those who are intolerant of differing viewpoints .
In 2020 , “ winners ” consist of those who control social media networks , of which a mere handful now have a stranglehold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firms are primarily located in the ultra-liberal San Francisco Bay Area , their hiring pool has long consisted primarily of left-leaning employees .
TRENDING : Time for Trump to smoke Joe out of his basement With the inevitable temptation to use this incredible power to influence public sentiment and elections , leftists have had the inside advantage , leaving conservatives , moderates and others shut out of the debate almost entirely .
Twitter , for example , is facing a public relations nightmare over recent revelations that 1100 insiders and contractors had access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” which allows almost total control over user accounts and content .
As there was no internal oversight over such a powerful access level , this led to a major security breach affecting celebrities and political leaders .
No stranger to accusations of unfair control over user speech is Facebook , a platform originally designed to bring people together .
It has recently come under fire for suppressing debate over so-called “ climate change ” .
The dispute is over the ability of one group to control another 's free expression via the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Board and moderation team .
Reeling from the 2016 election ’ s outcome and aftermath , Facebook began site reforms to regulate user content .
That opened a Pandora 's box of criticism and scrutiny over censorship and the outright de-platforming of voices .
A central target of that debate has become the suppression of voices that challenge left-leaning scientists ’ prevailing opinions .
When it comes to climate change , Facebook has cared little for honest discussion and debate , instead tipping the scales in favor of alarmists .
It has already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factual content created by credentialed climate scientists .
Even worse , in a recent open letter to former Denmark Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt , who now co-chairs the company ’ s Oversight Board , leftist zealots want Facebook to go a step further .
They claim that “ the integrity of the Oversight Board ” is at risk unless they begin this troubled process again for opinion pieces that challenge the “ progressive ” climate change orthodoxy .
“ When you were Prime Minister , you knew for certain that climate change was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be treated as such , ” wrote its signers , which included the Sierra Club , 350.org , and the Center for American Progress .
“ In your current role as an overseer of Facebook ’ s dangerous misinformation practice , our plea is grave : please , Ms. Thorning-Schmidt , take action now.
” Meanwhile , many of these same groups have endorsed legislators like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-NY ) , who proclaims that “ the world is going to end in 12 years , if we don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outlandish assertions , they seemingly want to force a new Facebook policy that will prevent the public from ever countering radical viewpoints .
To say that energy science is settled law is not only untrue , it ’ s downright dangerous .
On June 29th , for example , Biomass supplier Enviva revealed that a sizable portion of their product was n't carbon neutral as previously believed .
This finding runs counter to the European Union ’ s longstanding belief that biomass is the prime option for reducing carbon emissions .
Now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source that accounts for over 60 percent of their clean energy needs .
But we would have never learned that if public scepticism were banned .
Without the protection of free thought and discussion , scientific work can not proceed .
We need to share ideas , opinions , and perspectives to allow for the uncovering of truth , not suppress it .
Perhaps the Sierra Club doesn ’ t want a debate because other groups within their school of thought could challenge them .
Take , for example , the process of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can actually be highly destructive to the environment .
Sierra Club has preached EVs for years and finds dissenting arguments `` dangerous . ''
When the debate is shut down , the public fails to hear about the horrendous misuse of child labor at cobalt mines in the Congo and other disturbing details .
As Mark Zuckerberg put it , “ Powerful people are always going to have a voice .
I feel like someone needs to stand up for giving everyone a voice.
” Facebook ’ s platform is unique in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideas worldwide .
By attempting to stifle our ability to speak freely , the signers of this letter are working to shut it down .
Zuckerberg and Facebook have been right to reject calls for suppression to date .
As science and society will be better as a result , they should hold firm under pressure from these narrowminded special interest groups .
Brian Maloney is the co-founder of the Media Equality Project .
[ 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 Brian Maloney
Real Clear Energy
As America’s political middle ground gives way to sharp left-right divisions and even violence, there are winners and losers in the war on ideas. What in the recent past would have been considered up for debate, now shifts firmly into the “settled science” category by those who are intolerant of differing viewpoints.
In 2020, “winners” consist of those who control social media networks, of which a mere handful now have a stranglehold on the national conversation. Because these firms are primarily located in the ultra-liberal San Francisco Bay Area, their hiring pool has long consisted primarily of left-leaning employees.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
With the inevitable temptation to use this incredible power to influence public sentiment and elections, leftists have had the inside advantage, leaving conservatives, moderates and others shut out of the debate almost entirely.
Twitter, for example, is facing a public relations nightmare over recent revelations that 1100 insiders and contractors had access to the disturbingly-named “God Mode,” which allows almost total control over user accounts and content. As there was no internal oversight over such a powerful access level, this led to a major security breach affecting celebrities and political leaders.
No stranger to accusations of unfair control over user speech is Facebook, a platform originally designed to bring people together. It has recently come under fire for suppressing debate over so-called “climate change”. The dispute is over the ability of one group to control another's free expression via the Menlo Park-based company’s Orwellian Oversight Board and moderation team.
Reeling from the 2016 election’s outcome and aftermath, Facebook began site reforms to regulate user content. That opened a Pandora's box of criticism and scrutiny over censorship and the outright de-platforming of voices. A central target of that debate has become the suppression of voices that challenge left-leaning scientists’ prevailing opinions.
When it comes to climate change, Facebook has cared little for honest discussion and debate, instead tipping the scales in favor of alarmists. It has already banned site users from seeing and sharing factual content created by credentialed climate scientists.
Even worse, in a recent open letter to former Denmark Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who now co-chairs the company’s Oversight Board, leftist zealots want Facebook to go a step further. They claim that “the integrity of the Oversight Board” is at risk unless they begin this troubled process again for opinion pieces that challenge the “progressive” climate change orthodoxy.
“When you were Prime Minister, you knew for certain that climate change was fact, not opinion, and needs to be treated as such,” wrote its signers, which included the Sierra Club, 350.org, and the Center for American Progress. “In your current role as an overseer of Facebook’s dangerous misinformation practice, our plea is grave: please, Ms. Thorning-Schmidt, take action now.”
Meanwhile, many of these same groups have endorsed legislators like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who proclaims that “the world is going to end in 12 years, if we don’t address climate change.” Despite sophomoric and outlandish assertions, they seemingly want to force a new Facebook policy that will prevent the public from ever countering radical viewpoints.
To say that energy science is settled law is not only untrue, it’s downright dangerous. On June 29th, for example, Biomass supplier Enviva revealed that a sizable portion of their product wasn't carbon neutral as previously believed. This finding runs counter to the European Union’s longstanding belief that biomass is the prime option for reducing carbon emissions. Now, regulators must reassess their polices for a source that accounts for over 60 percent of their clean energy needs. But we would have never learned that if public scepticism were banned.
Without the protection of free thought and discussion, scientific work cannot proceed. We need to share ideas, opinions, and perspectives to allow for the uncovering of truth, not suppress it.
Perhaps the Sierra Club doesn’t want a debate because other groups within their school of thought could challenge them. Take, for example, the process of making EVs, which some have found can actually be highly destructive to the environment. Sierra Club has preached EVs for years and finds dissenting arguments "dangerous." When the debate is shut down, the public fails to hear about the horrendous misuse of child labor at cobalt mines in the Congo and other disturbing details.
As Mark Zuckerberg put it, “Powerful people are always going to have a voice. I feel like someone needs to stand up for giving everyone a voice.” Facebook’s platform is unique in its ability to allow for the sharing of ideas worldwide. By attempting to stifle our ability to speak freely, the signers of this letter are working to shut it down.
Zuckerberg and Facebook have been right to reject calls for suppression to date. As science and society will be better as a result, they should hold firm under pressure from these narrowminded special interest groups.
Brian Maloney is the co-founder of the Media Equality Project.
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]


wnd--2020-08-09--The myth that lockdowns stop pandemics

The myth that lockdowns stop pandemics

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
From the beginning of time , humans have used mythology to make sense of a chaotic natural world .
Sir G.L .
Gomme dubbed myths “ the science of a pre-scientific age.
” Folklore provided pre-scientific people a comforting sense of control over nature .
To address dry spells , they deployed rain dances .
Sunless stretches hindering crops prompted offerings to Helios .
Then , our ancestors sat back and waited .
The rains always came .
The sun always reappeared , validating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of control reinforced .
Thanks to science , we know this was pure superstition .
Though the same outcomes would have occurred had the tribe taken no action , the tribe leader would still have received credit or blame from his constituents .
Similarly , today ’ s politicians race to take credit -- or place blame -- for COVID-19 “ results.
” Do politicians really control these outcomes , or are they simply exploiting our ingrained tendencies ?
TRENDING : Time for Trump to smoke Joe out of his basement When China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defeat COVID-19 , ” The Washington Post approvingly quoted a Georgetown University professor as saying , “ The truth is those kinds of lockdowns are very rare and never effective… ” In March , Imperial College London 's dire projections influenced the White House , but a careful reading of the advice contained in the Imperial College report reveals that its authors knew lockdown alone could not eliminate any infections , only delay them : “ The more successful a strategy is at temporary suppression , ” it stated , “ the larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the absence of vaccination , due to lesser build-up of herd immunity.
” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pandemic planning documents state non-pharmaceutical interventions such as social distancing are ineffective once a disease infects 1 % of a region 's population .
Literature on this subject is unanimous worldwide .
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control : “ There are no historical observations or scientific studies that support the confinement by quarantine of groups of possibly infected people for extended periods in order to slow the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures like those within the category of social distancing would not have some positive impact by reducing transmission of a human respiratory infection .
.
.
However , the evidence base supporting each individual measure is often weak.
” Decades of evidence corroborates this .
In 1969 , a group of men overwintering in Antarctica experienced a spontaneous respiratory virus outbreak during their 17th week of isolation .
Similarly , COVID-19 appeared on an Argentinian naval ship on the 35th day of its voyage , following a 14-day isolation of captain and crew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No respiratory virus ever needed a “ lockdown ” to dissipate .
What it needs is herd immunity , preferably sooner than later , preferably developed by the young and healthy to minimize mortality .
Politicians know the disease will eventually leave , yet they strive to convince a critical mass that their actions -- modern-day versions of the rain dance -- brought about that result .
They count on us behaving like renowned psychologist B.F. Skinner ’ s superstitious pigeons .
“ A pigeon is … put into a cage .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … so that the pigeon can eat from it … If a clock is [ set ] to present the hopper at regular intervals with no reference whatsoever to the bird ’ s behavior , operant conditioning usually takes place .
The bird tends to learn whatever response it is making when the hopper appears .
The experiment might be said to demonstrate a sort of superstition .
The bird behaves as if there were a causal relation between its behavior and the presentation of food , although such a relation is lacking.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationship between government orders and COVID-19 mortality outcomes .
Sweden 's all-cause , per-capita mortality for 2020 is approximately 290 per million above the prior five-year average , while lockdown-loving New Jersey 's is almost 1,900 per million above the prior five-year average , and Michigan 's is over 700 per million .
( In case you suspect Sweden “ naturally ” locked down on its own , mobility data reveals it didn ’ t . )
The mainstream media does not report this .
Instead , its energetic smearing of Sweden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do anything more than delay the inevitable , helps politicians exploit the human tendency to mythologize .
We are faced with a virus with a 997-out-of-1,000 survival rate .
We have vanquished fiercer adversaries .
We can rid ourselves of this plague less painfully by remembering one simple truth : neither we , nor our politicians , have control over death .

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Stacey Rudin
Real Clear Politics
From the beginning of time, humans have used mythology to make sense of a chaotic natural world. Sir G.L. Gomme dubbed myths “the science of a pre-scientific age.” Folklore provided pre-scientific people a comforting sense of control over nature. To address dry spells, they deployed rain dances. Sunless stretches hindering crops prompted offerings to Helios. Then, our ancestors sat back and waited. The rains always came. The sun always reappeared, validating their “wisdom,” the illusion of control reinforced.
Thanks to science, we know this was pure superstition. Though the same outcomes would have occurred had the tribe taken no action, the tribe leader would still have received credit or blame from his constituents. Similarly, today’s politicians race to take credit -- or place blame -- for COVID-19 “results.” Do politicians really control these outcomes, or are they simply exploiting our ingrained tendencies?
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
When China first deployed lockdown in January to “defeat COVID-19,” The Washington Post approvingly quoted a Georgetown University professor as saying, “The truth is those kinds of lockdowns are very rare and never effective…”
In March, Imperial College London's dire projections influenced the White House, but a careful reading of the advice contained in the Imperial College report reveals that its authors knew lockdown alone could not eliminate any infections, only delay them: “The more successful a strategy is at temporary suppression,” it stated, “the larger the later epidemic is predicted to be in the absence of vaccination, due to lesser build-up of herd immunity.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pandemic planning documents state non-pharmaceutical interventions such as social distancing are ineffective once a disease infects 1% of a region's population. Literature on this subject is unanimous worldwide. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control:
“There are no historical observations or scientific studies that support the confinement by quarantine of groups of possibly infected people for extended periods in order to slow the spread. It is hard to imagine that measures like those within the category of social distancing would not have some positive impact by reducing transmission of a human respiratory infection . . . However, the evidence base supporting each individual measure is often weak.”
Do lockdowns help stop pandemics? 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. 3% (9 Votes) 97% (262 Votes)
Decades of evidence corroborates this. In 1969, a group of men overwintering in Antarctica experienced a spontaneous respiratory virus outbreak during their 17th week of isolation. Similarly, COVID-19 appeared on an Argentinian naval ship on the 35th day of its voyage, following a 14-day isolation of captain and crew.
Nature always finds a way. No respiratory virus ever needed a “lockdown” to dissipate. What it needs is herd immunity, preferably sooner than later, preferably developed by the young and healthy to minimize mortality. Politicians know the disease will eventually leave, yet they strive to convince a critical mass that their actions -- modern-day versions of the rain dance -- brought about that result. They count on us behaving like renowned psychologist B.F. Skinner’s superstitious pigeons.
“A pigeon is … put into a cage. A food hopper may be swung into place … so that the pigeon can eat from it … If a clock is [set] to present the hopper at regular intervals with no reference whatsoever to the bird’s behavior, operant conditioning usually takes place. The bird tends to learn whatever response it is making when the hopper appears. The experiment might be said to demonstrate a sort of superstition. The bird behaves as if there were a causal relation between its behavior and the presentation of food, although such a relation is lacking.”
Publicly available data shows no causal relationship between government orders and COVID-19 mortality outcomes. Sweden's all-cause, per-capita mortality for 2020 is approximately 290 per million above the prior five-year average, while lockdown-loving New Jersey's is almost 1,900 per million above the prior five-year average, and Michigan's is over 700 per million. (In case you suspect Sweden “naturally” locked down on its own, mobility data reveals it didn’t.) The mainstream media does not report this. Instead, its energetic smearing of Sweden, coupled with its pseudo-scientific insistence that lockdowns do anything more than delay the inevitable, helps politicians exploit the human tendency to mythologize.
We are faced with a virus with a 997-out-of-1,000 survival rate. We have vanquished fiercer adversaries. We can rid ourselves of this plague less painfully by remembering one simple truth: neither we, nor our politicians, have control over death.


wnd--2020-08-11--China expert: TikTok is China's Trojan horse to indoctrinate Americans

China expert Gordon Chang says President Trump 's executive order that would ban the social media app TikTok and WeChat from operating in the US if they are not sold by their Chinese-owned parent companies may have saved the American republic .
But maybe not his presidency .
TikTok owner ByteDance is in negotiations with Microsoft as well as Twitter about the sale of the program .
But Chang , a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute , warned that the sale will not by itself resolve the threat to national security .
TRENDING : Lindsey Graham : 'Somebody needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed out that `` any new owner will have to go over line after line of code to insulate TikTok from Chinese interference . ''
Further , Beijing still will `` know the general architecture of the software , thereby facilitating further manipulation . ''
And the 45-day time frame Trump has allowed for the transaction means China has `` plenty of opportunity to interfere in the upcoming American elections , '' he said .
`` That means Trump last week with his executive order may have saved American democracy but maybe not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
TikTok has been accused of spying on software users and censoring content .
It also is accused of mishandling information about minors , Chang explained .
`` There are also concerns the app has vulnerabilities , allowing the surreptitious downloading of malicious software on devices .
The most important allegation involves manipulation of users , '' he wrote .
The software has been very popular , especially among teens , and is in more than 150 markets .
According to Trump 's executive order , there are more than a billion downloads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in the United States alone .
Analysts estimate there are more than 800 million active monthly users .
Its artificial intelligence uses information obtained from the user to customize its offerings .
`` If you want to know a person , all you have to do is look at their TikTok feed , '' Jonathan Bass , a buyer of social-media advertising , told Gatestone .
It creates `` a profile of who you are , including your fears and vulnerabilities , '' warned Paul Dabrowa , a security expert in Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power .
Artificial intelligence permits Beijing to profile a user and then to figure out what will motivate him or her .
Specifically , TikTok uses data to curate content .
Curated content , in turn , motivates people to act in certain ways .
This is thought to be especially easy to do with the impressionable young , nerdy and otherwise , '' Chang explained .
`` TikTok , therefore , is a powerful selling platform .
There is obviously no damage to U.S. national security if you were to use the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , framed pictures , coffee table knick-knacks , and other accent pieces for the home .
`` But what if you are trying to bring down the American government ?
TikTok would be extraordinarily useful .
As Dabrowa told Gatestone , 'My team discovered that TikTok can be used to trigger desired responses and behaviors . '
'' Dabrowa warned `` weaponized propaganda '' can trigger wars , economic collapse , riots and `` destroy the credibility of government institutions and turn a population against itself . ''
In short , Chang explains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... to motivate people to act in ways that China desires . ''
Chang explained that experts contend if they can change consumers ' minds , they can program them .
Trump 's executive order allow 45 days for TikTok to be obtained by another company from its Chinese owner or be banned in the United States .
The White House sent a letter to the speaker of the House and president of the Senate explaining the move under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act .
`` The spread in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies in the People ’ s Republic of China ( China ) continues to threaten the national security , foreign policy , and economy of the United States , '' the president said in his letter .
Trump said the companies obtain `` vast swaths of information '' about Americans through their software programs , which gives the Chinese Communist Party `` access to Americans ' personal and proprietary information . ''
The order bans U.S. companies or residents from business transactions with TikTok owner ByteDance and WeChat owner Tencent Holdings , beginning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action must be taken to address the threat . ''

China expert Gordon Chang says President Trump's executive order that would ban the social media app TikTok and WeChat from operating in the US if they are not sold by their Chinese-owned parent companies may have saved the American republic.
But maybe not his presidency.
TikTok owner ByteDance is in negotiations with Microsoft as well as Twitter about the sale of the program.
But Chang, a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute, warned that the sale will not by itself resolve the threat to national security.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Chang pointed out that "any new owner will have to go over line after line of code to insulate TikTok from Chinese interference."
Further, Beijing still will "know the general architecture of the software, thereby facilitating further manipulation."
And the 45-day time frame Trump has allowed for the transaction means China has "plenty of opportunity to interfere in the upcoming American elections," he said.
"That means Trump last week with his executive order may have saved American democracy but maybe not his own presidency," Chang wrote.
TikTok has been accused of spying on software users and censoring content. It also is accused of mishandling information about minors, Chang explained.
"There are also concerns the app has vulnerabilities, allowing the surreptitious downloading of malicious software on devices. The most important allegation involves manipulation of users," he wrote.
The software has been very popular, especially among teens, and is in more than 150 markets.
According to Trump's executive order, there are more than a billion downloads of TikTok worldwide and more than 175 million in the United States alone. Analysts estimate there are more than 800 million active monthly users.
Its artificial intelligence uses information obtained from the user to customize its offerings.
"If you want to know a person, all you have to do is look at their TikTok feed," Jonathan Bass, a buyer of social-media advertising, told Gatestone.
It creates "a profile of who you are, including your fears and vulnerabilities," warned Paul Dabrowa, a security expert in Australia, Chang reported.
"Data is power. Artificial intelligence permits Beijing to profile a user and then to figure out what will motivate him or her. Specifically, TikTok uses data to curate content. Curated content, in turn, motivates people to act in certain ways. This is thought to be especially easy to do with the impressionable young, nerdy and otherwise," Chang explained.
"TikTok, therefore, is a powerful selling platform. There is obviously no damage to U.S. national security if you were to use the app to sell, as does Bass, framed pictures, coffee table knick-knacks, and other accent pieces for the home.
"But what if you are trying to bring down the American government? TikTok would be extraordinarily useful. As Dabrowa told Gatestone, 'My team discovered that TikTok can be used to trigger desired responses and behaviors.'"
Dabrowa warned "weaponized propaganda" can trigger wars, economic collapse, riots and "destroy the credibility of government institutions and turn a population against itself."
In short, Chang explains the Chinese AI can "curate content ... to motivate people to act in ways that China desires."
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D.N.Y., claimed "teens on TikTok" damaged a President Trump rally by demanding "fake ticket reservations."
Chang explained that experts contend if they can change consumers' minds, they can program them.
Trump's executive order allow 45 days for TikTok to be obtained by another company from its Chinese owner or be banned in the United States.
The White House sent a letter to the speaker of the House and president of the Senate explaining the move under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
"The spread in the United States of mobile applications developed and owned by companies in the People’s Republic of China (China) continues to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States," the president said in his letter.
Trump said the companies obtain "vast swaths of information" about Americans through their software programs, which gives the Chinese Communist Party "access to Americans' personal and proprietary information."
The order bans U.S. companies or residents from business transactions with TikTok owner ByteDance and WeChat owner Tencent Holdings, beginning Sept. 20.
The president said "action must be taken to address the threat."