wnd--2020-09-03--See BLM leaders fail police shoot/don't shoot training

Since the Michael Brown case in Ferguson , Missouri , that catalyzed the Black Lives Matter movement , incomplete evidence has been used in numerous high-profile shootings of black men to cast law-enforcement officers as race-inspired murderers .
But two anti-police protesters in Portland , Oregon , found out first-hand that the split-second decision many officers face – to shoot or not to shoot – when they are resisted by a suspect is n't so easy .
PJ Media 's Victoria Taft recalled that in 2015 , activists Fahyim Accuay and Jessie Sponberg agreed to accept the challenge of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoot/do n't shoot training session at the Clackamas County Sheriff 's training center .
Taft noted she underwent a similar simulated training at the same facility `` and can attest to the difficulty of doing the right thing when seconds count . ''
TRENDING : CDC now says 94 % of COVID deaths had an underlying condition , only 6 % were COVID alone '' I ’ m sure I was 'killed ' several times , '' she said .
`` One time I tried to convince a perpetrator conducting a school shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just stop shooting people .
Yeah , that worked .
I 'died . '
I 'd like another run at that simulated training . ''
Likewise , both Accuay and Spoonberg , she said , `` 'died ' several times thinking they could , like me , talk a perp out of harming others or that they could overpower the bad guy . ''
`` Both men believed that cops intentionally seek out black men to murder , '' she wrote .
Spoonberg has had several run-ins with the law , including in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counter-protester who had to be hospitialized .
In the simulations , the two anti-cop protesters has to operate under the rules police officers must follow when they stop or question an individual .
`` Both said afterward that being a cop is harder than it looks . ''
In the Michael Brown case , three separate investigations , including by the Justice Department under Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder , found the officer acted in self-defense .
Obama 's DOJ found the iconic `` hand 's up do n't shoot '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jacob Blake case in Kenosha , Wisconsin , the graphic video that caused outrage nationally showed the 29-year-old suspect being shot by police seven times .
Wisconsin Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden were among many leaders who , before the investigation had barely begun , declared the officer who shot Blake , Rusten Sheskey , to be a racially motivated murderer .
However , other video footage and evidence has come to light since the Aug. 23 incident showing Blake resisting two officers before the shooting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tasers failed to subdue him .
Blake broke free and appeared to have a knife in his hand as he walked around an SUV and opened the driver 's door .
A knife was later found on the floor of the vehicle .
Officers were dispatched to the scene after a call from Blake 's girlfriend .
The dispatcher relayed that she said Blake `` is n't supposed to be there '' and that he took her keys and `` is refusing to give them back . ''
Officers were informed `` we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 99 for this subject , '' referring to an outstanding warrant for Blake 's arrest on the charge that he sexually assaulted his girlfriend .
In the George Floyd case in Minneapolis on Memorial Day , video of officer Derek Chauvin putting his knee on Floyd 's neck amid cries of `` I ca n't breathe '' also caused outrage across the nation .
That case also is under investigation , but officer body cam footage released in July shows Floyd , high on fetanyl , resisting arrest from the moment officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counterfeit bill at a nearby store .
Amid the ongoing struggle , Floyd , clearly agitated by what the coroner found to a lethal dosage , declared `` I ca n't breathe '' before he was on the ground .
In fact , it was Floyd who insisted that he be put on the asphalt as he struggled for breath , apparently from the drug overdose .
Three days after Floyd 's death , Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman told reporters `` there is other evidence that does n't support a criminal charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later – after pointing out it usually takes months of investigation before a charging decision is made in such cases – his office charged Chauvin with second-degree murder , third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter The three other officers were later charged with second-degree aiding and abetting felony murder and second-degree aiding and abetting manslaughter .
Last week , ABC News reported , a defense attorney for Chauvin asked a judge to drop all charges , arguing Floyd 's death was allegedly from a drug overdose and not caused by the officer planting his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neck .
Defense attorney Eric J. Nelson claimed prosecutors have failed to show probable cause for Chauvin .
Nelson contends Chauvin acted on his training in the use of a `` Maximal Restraint Technique . ''
Chauvin acted out of concern that Floyd might harm himself or the officers struggling to arrest him , Nelson insisted .
Black Lives Matter was launched in response to the jury acquittal of George Zimmerman in 2013 in the death of Trayvon Martin .
BLM 's founders call Zimmerman and the officer involved in the death of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` murderers . ''
However , Zimmerman 's acquittal was confirmed by an investigation supported by open records that uncovered witness tampering and perjury .
Manhattan Institute scholar Heather Mac Donald has presented compelling empirical evidence rebutting the Black Lives Matter `` systemic police racism '' narrative that has gripped the nation .
She contends the claim that `` policing in the U.S. is lethally racist '' is provably false , presenting three types of evidence : the raw numbers , individual cases such as George Floyd 's , and academic research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 30 times more likely to be killed by a black male than an unarmed black male is to be killed by a police officer , '' she said , citing analyses by mainstream researchers of available data .
In 2015 , under President Obama and Attorney General Holder , a Justice Department analysis of the Philadelphia Police Department found white police officers were less likely than black or Hispanic officers to shoot unarmed black suspects .
In 2016 , the Washington Post reported a Washington State University study finding that police officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unarmed black suspects than unarmed white suspects .
Black leaders and scholars , such as Thomas Sowell , Walter Williams and Shelby Steele , who reject the claim that America is `` systemically racist '' point to the breakdown of families that has accompanied the rise in dependence on welfare since the 1960s .
Boys are growing up fatherless , a major indicator of crime and poverty , with more than 70 % of blacks now born out of wedlock .
Civil-rights era activist Bob Woodson offers a forum for voices such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the New York Times `` 1619 Project '' called the `` 1776 Unites Campaign . ''
And his Washington , D.C.-based Woodson Center helps support `` more than 2,881 neighborhood leaders in 40 states who are tackling issues ranging from homelessness , addiction , to joblessness , youth violence and the need for education and training . ''

Since the Michael Brown case in Ferguson, Missouri, that catalyzed the Black Lives Matter movement, incomplete evidence has been used in numerous high-profile shootings of black men to cast law-enforcement officers as race-inspired murderers.
But two anti-police protesters in Portland, Oregon, found out first-hand that the split-second decision many officers face – to shoot or not to shoot – when they are resisted by a suspect isn't so easy.
PJ Media's Victoria Taft recalled that in 2015, activists Fahyim Accuay and Jessie Sponberg agreed to accept the challenge of a Portland radio station to go through a shoot/don't shoot training session at the Clackamas County Sheriff's training center.
Taft noted she underwent a similar simulated training at the same facility "and can attest to the difficulty of doing the right thing when seconds count."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"I’m sure I was 'killed' several times," she said. "One time I tried to convince a perpetrator conducting a school shooting to put aside his bad ways and just stop shooting people. Yeah, that worked. I 'died.' I'd like another run at that simulated training."
Likewise, both Accuay and Sponberg, she said, "'died' several times thinking they could, like me, talk a perp out of harming others or that they could overpower the bad guy."
"Both men believed that cops intentionally seek out black men to murder," she wrote.
Sponberg has had several run-ins with the law, including in 2017 when he admitted to beating a counter-protester who had to be hospitialized.
In the simulations, the two anti-cop protesters had to operate under the rules police officers must follow when they stop or question an individual.
The activists "shot innocent people and died multiple deaths," Taft wrote.
"Both said afterward that being a cop is harder than it looks."
See the videos:
In the Michael Brown case, three separate investigations, including by the Justice Department under Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder, found the officer acted in self-defense. Obama's DOJ found the iconic "hand's up don't shoot" likely didn't happen.
In the Jacob Blake case in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the graphic video that caused outrage nationally showed the 29-year-old suspect being shot by police seven times. Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden were among many leaders who, before the investigation had barely begun, declared the officer who shot Blake, Rusten Sheskey, to be a racially motivated murderer.
However, other video footage and evidence has come to light since the Aug. 23 incident showing Blake resisting two officers before the shooting, wrestling with them on the ground after Tasers failed to subdue him. Blake broke free and appeared to have a knife in his hand as he walked around an SUV and opened the driver's door. A knife was later found on the floor of the vehicle.
Officers were dispatched to the scene after a call from Blake's girlfriend. The dispatcher relayed that she said Blake "isn't supposed to be there" and that he took her keys and "is refusing to give them back." Officers were informed "we have an alert at this address for a 99 for this subject," referring to an outstanding warrant for Blake's arrest on the charge that he sexually assaulted his girlfriend.
In the George Floyd case in Minneapolis on Memorial Day, video of officer Derek Chauvin putting his knee on Floyd's neck amid cries of "I can't breathe" also caused outrage across the nation. That case also is under investigation, but officer body cam footage released in July shows Floyd, high on fetanyl, resisting arrest from the moment officers confronted him on suspicion he passed a counterfeit bill at a nearby store. Amid the ongoing struggle, Floyd, clearly agitated by what the coroner found to a lethal dosage, declared "I can't breathe" before he was on the ground. In fact, it was Floyd who insisted that he be put on the asphalt as he struggled for breath, apparently from the drug overdose.
Three days after Floyd's death, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman told reporters "there is other evidence that doesn't support a criminal charge" against the officers. A day later – after pointing out it usually takes months of investigation before a charging decision is made in such cases – his office charged Chauvin with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter
The three other officers were later charged with second-degree aiding and abetting felony murder and second-degree aiding and abetting manslaughter.
Last week, ABC News reported, a defense attorney for Chauvin asked a judge to drop all charges, arguing Floyd's death was allegedly from a drug overdose and not caused by the officer planting his knee in the back of Floyd's neck.
Defense attorney Eric J. Nelson claimed prosecutors have failed to show probable cause for Chauvin. Nelson contends Chauvin acted on his training in the use of a "Maximal Restraint Technique."
Chauvin acted out of concern that Floyd might harm himself or the officers struggling to arrest him, Nelson insisted.
Rebutting the narrative
Black Lives Matter was launched in response to the jury acquittal of George Zimmerman in 2013 in the death of Trayvon Martin. BLM's founders call Zimmerman and the officer involved in the death of Michael Brown in 2014, Darren Wilson, "murderers." However, Zimmerman's acquittal was confirmed by an investigation supported by open records that uncovered witness tampering and perjury.
Manhattan Institute scholar Heather Mac Donald has presented compelling empirical evidence rebutting the Black Lives Matter "systemic police racism" narrative that has gripped the nation.
She contends the claim that "policing in the U.S. is lethally racist" is provably false, presenting three types of evidence: the raw numbers, individual cases such as George Floyd's, and academic research.
"A police officer is up to 30 times more likely to be killed by a black male than an unarmed black male is to be killed by a police officer," she said, citing analyses by mainstream researchers of available data.
In 2015, under President Obama and Attorney General Holder, a Justice Department analysis of the Philadelphia Police Department found white police officers were less likely than black or Hispanic officers to shoot unarmed black suspects. In 2016, the Washington Post reported a Washington State University study finding that police officers are three times less likely to shoot unarmed black suspects than unarmed white suspects.
Black leaders and scholars, such as Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams and Shelby Steele, who reject the claim that America is "systemically racist" point to the breakdown of families that has accompanied the rise in dependence on welfare since the 1960s. Boys are growing up fatherless, a major indicator of crime and poverty, with more than 70% of blacks now born out of wedlock.
Civil-rights era activist Bob Woodson offers a forum for voices such as Steele's to counter the narrative of the New York Times "1619 Project" called the "1776 Unites Campaign." And his Washington, D.C.-based Woodson Center helps support "more than 2,881 neighborhood leaders in 40 states who are tackling issues ranging from homelessness, addiction, to joblessness, youth violence and the need for education and training."
See Heather Mac Donald's presentation:


wnd--2020-09-03--Dems accused of needing '12-step program to recovery'

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
The conventions are over , and Election 2020 is real now — so real in fact that Nancy Pelosi wants to wake up and have it all go away .
The speaker of the House announced on the final day of the Republican National Convention that she didn ’ t want Joe Biden to debate President Trump because she didn ’ t want to “ legitimize a conversation with him , nor a debate in terms of the presidency of the United States.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID deaths had an underlying condition , only 6 % were COVID alone I ’ m not a native speaker of gibberish , but I will try to translate that nonsense into English for you .
Apparently , Pelosi thinks that Trump is an illegitimate president and that talking to him will give him credibility and possibly make people think it is OK to vote for him .
I can see how that would be a problem for Pelosi and the Democrats because the debates would give tens of millions of voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves without being filtered through the Fake News Media .
Or maybe not .
I wouldn ’ t be surprised if MSNBC cut away from the actual debates multiple times while Trump was talking in order to “ fact-check ” him by explaining that he is an obscene liar who should be ashamed of himself .
No need to count on a moderator like Candy Crowley to do that any longer , and no need to wait till after the debate to set the record straight .
If Twitter and Facebook can unilaterally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like his message , there ’ s no reason why the cable channels can ’ t also “ protect ” their viewers from the madman Trump as a public service .
“ We interrupt this debate to bring you an update from Rachel Maddow on why everything Trump said is a bald-faced lie , ” you can expect to hear .
Heck , CNN and MSNBC have spent the last four years training their viewers to expect just such lopsided snortle-farting , so why not follow Pelosi ’ s suggestion and de-legitimize the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to be outdone , Hillary Clinton is working to de-legitimize the entire election .
She told an interviewer on Showtime ’ s “ The Circus ” that “ Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances . ''
That sounds suspiciously like Stacey Abrams-level crazy .
You remember Abrams , right ?
She is the imaginary governor of Georgia .
After losing the 2018 election to Republican Brian Kemp by 50,000 votes , Democrat Abrams declared herself the winner on account of , well , just because .
Come to think of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declare herself the real winner of the election against Trump in 2016 ?
Apparently she feels like her real mistake wasn ’ t failing to visit Wisconsin even once during the campaign , but rather to say out loud ( on the phone to Donald Trump , no less ) what she still doesn ’ t believe in her heart of hearts — that she lost .
If you don ’ t concede , then there is a drunkard ’ s chance that you will wake up one day and discover that enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key precincts to magically propel you to victory .
At least , that ’ s what it sounds like Clinton was hoping when she advised Biden not to admit defeat : '' Because I think this is going to drag out , and eventually , I do believe he will win , if we do n't give an inch and if we are as focused and relentless as the other side is . ''
Faith will move mountains , so there ’ s no reason why it can ’ t change a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But just in case , the Democrats have an insurance policy .
In 2016 , the insurance policy was the Russia Hoax , the false idea that Trump was Putin ’ s puppet .
In 2020 , the insurance policy is the Racist Hoax — the oft-repeated , but never proved , claim that Trump is a dangerous racist .
Democrats are counting on this smear to depress black turnout for Trump despite the fact that the president delivered the best economy for minorities in history , that he delivered criminal justice reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he secured long-term funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities for the first time ever , that he and Sen. Tim Scott got Congress to approve Opportunity Zones to rebuild minority neighborhoods , and that he supports school choice to give minority parents a chance to obtain a quality education for their children .
Some polls show Trump winning as much as 30 % of the black vote in 2020 , up from 8 % in 2016 .
If that proves to be anywhere near accurate , Trump would win in a landslide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the racist smear in hopes that fear and hate can overwhelm the truth .
Sadly , that has often been true in history and even during the past four years , but the Republican convention was the perfect antidote to the Democrat lies .
After all , dozens of speakers over the course of four nights were black men and women who explained why they support President Trump .
Some of them know him personally and gave testimony of a man who is a dear friend .
Others talked about how his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their communities .
If Donald Trump is a racist , he is doing a damn poor job of it .
Of course , Democrat talking heads in the corrupt media spent four days trying to argue that these black endorsers were just political props or tokens — that they were proof that Donald Trump is a ruthless racist who somehow tricked black people into supporting him .
Or , as Joe Biden so succinctly put it , “ If you have a problem figuring out whether you 're for me or Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Really ?
How do Democrats get away with dismissing the heartfelt testimony of so many blacks ( and other minorities ) — many of whom are or were themselves Democrats — without being exposed as the worst kind of patrician race exploiters ?
Come to think of it , they don ’ t get away with it .
They don ’ t get away with hiding Joe Biden in a basement .
They don ’ t get away with skipping debates .
They don ’ t get away with stuffing ballot boxes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dragging the election out to January so that Pelosi becomes president through the rules of constitutional succession ( even Biden might concede to save the country from that fate ! )
.
And they most assuredly don ’ t get away with the race hoax .
Not this time .
No , if Democrats hope to win back the White House , it ’ s going to have to be through something other than duplicity .
If they want to get back on the good side of the American public , they must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that started with Obamagate and never let up .
At the very least , they need to adopt the rigorous honesty of a 12-step program of recovery , which in this case might start with a political confession : “ We admitted we were powerless over Donald Trump , and that our lies had become unmanageable.
” Now that would be refreshing .

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Frank Miele
Real Clear Politics
The conventions are over, and Election 2020 is real now — so real in fact that Nancy Pelosi wants to wake up and have it all go away.
The speaker of the House announced on the final day of the Republican National Convention that she didn’t want Joe Biden to debate President Trump because she didn’t want to “legitimize a conversation with him, nor a debate in terms of the presidency of the United States.”
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
I’m not a native speaker of gibberish, but I will try to translate that nonsense into English for you. Apparently, Pelosi thinks that Trump is an illegitimate president and that talking to him will give him credibility and possibly make people think it is OK to vote for him.
I can see how that would be a problem for Pelosi and the Democrats because the debates would give tens of millions of voters a chance to see President Trump for themselves without being filtered through the Fake News Media.
Or maybe not. I wouldn’t be surprised if MSNBC cut away from the actual debates multiple times while Trump was talking in order to “fact-check” him by explaining that he is an obscene liar who should be ashamed of himself. No need to count on a moderator like Candy Crowley to do that any longer, and no need to wait till after the debate to set the record straight. If Twitter and Facebook can unilaterally censor Trump because they don’t like his message, there’s no reason why the cable channels can’t also “protect” their viewers from the madman Trump as a public service.
“We interrupt this debate to bring you an update from Rachel Maddow on why everything Trump said is a bald-faced lie,” you can expect to hear. Heck, CNN and MSNBC have spent the last four years training their viewers to expect just such lopsided snortle-farting, so why not follow Pelosi’s suggestion and de-legitimize the debate in real-time.
Of course, not to be outdone, Hillary Clinton is working to de-legitimize the entire election. She told an interviewer on Showtime’s “The Circus” that “Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances."
That sounds suspiciously like Stacey Abrams-level crazy. You remember Abrams, right? She is the imaginary governor of Georgia. After losing the 2018 election to Republican Brian Kemp by 50,000 votes, Democrat Abrams declared herself the winner on account of, well, just because.
Come to think of it, didn’t Clinton also declare herself the real winner of the election against Trump in 2016? Apparently she feels like her real mistake wasn’t failing to visit Wisconsin even once during the campaign, but rather to say out loud (on the phone to Donald Trump, no less) what she still doesn’t believe in her heart of hearts — that she lost.
If you don’t concede, then there is a drunkard’s chance that you will wake up one day and discover that enough mail-in ballots have mysteriously materialized in enough key precincts to magically propel you to victory. At least, that’s what it sounds like Clinton was hoping when she advised Biden not to admit defeat:
"Because I think this is going to drag out, and eventually, I do believe he will win, if we don't give an inch and if we are as focused and relentless as the other side is."
Faith will move mountains, so there’s no reason why it can’t change a few hundred thousand mail-in ballots, right?
But just in case, the Democrats have an insurance policy. In 2016, the insurance policy was the Russia Hoax, the false idea that Trump was Putin’s puppet. In 2020, the insurance policy is the Racist Hoax — the oft-repeated, but never proved, claim that Trump is a dangerous racist.
Democrats are counting on this smear to depress black turnout for Trump despite the fact that the president delivered the best economy for minorities in history, that he delivered criminal justice reform in the First Step Act, that he secured long-term funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities for the first time ever, that he and Sen. Tim Scott got Congress to approve Opportunity Zones to rebuild minority neighborhoods, and that he supports school choice to give minority parents a chance to obtain a quality education for their children.
Some polls show Trump winning as much as 30% of the black vote in 2020, up from 8% in 2016. If that proves to be anywhere near accurate, Trump would win in a landslide, so Democrats are forced to resort to the racist smear in hopes that fear and hate can overwhelm the truth. Sadly, that has often been true in history and even during the past four years, but the Republican convention was the perfect antidote to the Democrat lies.
After all, dozens of speakers over the course of four nights were black men and women who explained why they support President Trump. Some of them know him personally and gave testimony of a man who is a dear friend. Others talked about how his policies and actions have improved their lives and their communities. If Donald Trump is a racist, he is doing a damn poor job of it.
Of course, Democrat talking heads in the corrupt media spent four days trying to argue that these black endorsers were just political props or tokens — that they were proof that Donald Trump is a ruthless racist who somehow tricked black people into supporting him. Or, as Joe Biden so succinctly put it, “If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black.”
Really? How do Democrats get away with dismissing the heartfelt testimony of so many blacks (and other minorities) — many of whom are or were themselves Democrats — without being exposed as the worst kind of patrician race exploiters?
Come to think of it, they don’t get away with it. They don’t get away with hiding Joe Biden in a basement. They don’t get away with skipping debates. They don’t get away with stuffing ballot boxes. They don’t get away with dragging the election out to January so that Pelosi becomes president through the rules of constitutional succession (even Biden might concede to save the country from that fate!). And they most assuredly don’t get away with the race hoax. Not this time.
No, if Democrats hope to win back the White House, it’s going to have to be through something other than duplicity. If they want to get back on the good side of the American public, they must make amends for their blatant power grab that started with Obamagate and never let up. At the very least, they need to adopt the rigorous honesty of a 12-step program of recovery, which in this case might start with a political confession:
“We admitted we were powerless over Donald Trump, and that our lies had become unmanageable.”
Now that would be refreshing.


wnd--2020-09-03--Pensions for pandemic heroes now being threatened

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Health . ]
Four months ago at an event on the White House South Lawn , President Trump called truck drivers “ the heroes of our nation ’ s great struggle against the coronavirus.
” Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao agreed , saying truck drivers will “ be a critical part in helping our economy recover ” as they deliver food , PPE , and other necessary supplies .
In return Secretary Chao promised , “ the administration is here for you .
Just let us know.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coalition , we hear from truck drivers regularly .
Loud and clear , current and former drivers are letting us know they are in the fight of their life not only against COVID-19 , but also the simultaneous disappearance of their retirement plans .
What essential blue-collar workers and their families need now from leaders in Washington , D.C. is multiemployer pension plan reform .
Failure to include a solution to the pension crisis in the next round of economic relief would let these heroes down while severely limiting our nation ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now says 94 % of COVID deaths had an underlying condition , only 6 % were COVID alone More than 10 million Americans belong to a multiemployer pension plan .
This includes essential workers like truck drivers , grocers , and health care employees , and also retirees who were the essential workers of their day .
So far in 2020 , 117 multiemployer pension plans have submitted notice of critical or critical and declining status , and in the last year , seven plans were approved to cut the benefits covering a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic set the economy on shaky footing , experts agreed the Central States Pension Fund , one of the largest plans in the country , will collapse by 2025 .
That will in turn lead to the insolvency of the federal insurance agency for these plans , the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ( PBGC ) , within the next five years .
When plans start failing and cut benefits , participants are left with pennies on the dollar .
For example , Anthony and Laura Caporino were forced to make drastic changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 707 Pension Plan in New York was cut by 50 percent in 2016 and then by 70 percent less than a year later .
Anthony worked six nights a week and gave up raises in exchange for contributions to his pension for 25 years .
He calls their newfound situation “ impossible , ” but if the PBGC fails , the average benefit reduction will skyrocket to 94 to 98 percent .
“ We know a lot of people who are not able to buy their medications , that are losing their homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , ” said Laura .
When Anthony ’ s benefits were cut , the Caporinos had to go back to work to make ends meet .
Today , young workers in multiemployer pension plans are up against record unemployment and some belong to industries crippled by the pandemic , like music and entertainment .
For older Americans , there are now tremendous health risks associated with going to work .
A recent study by The New School found 2.9 million older workersbetween the ages of 55 and 70 have left the workforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see a wage decrease of 41 percent if they are ever able to regain employment .
Then there are the essential workers like the truck driving heroes who must keep working to keep the country running , despite facing fears about their own financial and medical wellbeing .
With so much uncertainty in the world right now , retirees and essential blue-collar workers need to know the pensions that were promised to them , and that they have earned , will be there to fall back on .
Instead , the recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in plans ’ funding status over the last six months.
” This is especially troubling because while it is difficult to attribute the downfall of the multiemployer pension system to any single event , stock market losses during the 2008 recession are chief among the causes .
Additional reasons for failure include a complicated web of regulatory policies , declines in U.S. manufacturing and union membership , and employer bankruptcies – which , in a vicious circle of mutual demise , have often been exacerbated by pension failure .
It is important to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal guidelines .
Retirees and essential workers are facing devastating cuts through no fault of their own .
So , while pension plan participants are not to blame for this situation , they also should not be left to fix it alone .
Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have been calling for action for at least a decade – we should know because we were among them – but a bipartisan , bicameral compromise agreement has yet to materialize .
Allowing billions more dollars to drain from the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like this goes against every fiber of who we are as Americans .
We must come together behind a solution and make it a reality without delay .
Mr. Boehner , an Ohio Republican , served as a U.S. representative ( 1991-2015 ) and House speaker ( 2011-15 ) .
Mr. Crowley , a New York Democrat , served as a U.S. representative ( 1999-2019 ) and House Democratic Caucus Chairman ( 2017-2019 ) .
[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Health . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Health.]
By John Boehner & Joe Crowley
Real Clear Health
Four months ago at an event on the White House South Lawn, President Trump called truck drivers “the heroes of our nation’s great struggle against the coronavirus.” Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao agreed, saying truck drivers will “be a critical part in helping our economy recover” as they deliver food, PPE, and other necessary supplies. In return Secretary Chao promised, “the administration is here for you. Just let us know.”
As leaders of the Retirement Security Coalition, we hear from truck drivers regularly. Loud and clear, current and former drivers are letting us know they are in the fight of their life not only against COVID-19, but also the simultaneous disappearance of their retirement plans. What essential blue-collar workers and their families need now from leaders in Washington, D.C. is multiemployer pension plan reform. Failure to include a solution to the pension crisis in the next round of economic relief would let these heroes down while severely limiting our nation’s ability to recover.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
More than 10 million Americans belong to a multiemployer pension plan. This includes essential workers like truck drivers, grocers, and health care employees, and also retirees who were the essential workers of their day. So far in 2020, 117 multiemployer pension plans have submitted notice of critical or critical and declining status, and in the last year, seven plans were approved to cut the benefits covering a total of 35,173 participants. Even before the pandemic set the economy on shaky footing, experts agreed the Central States Pension Fund, one of the largest plans in the country, will collapse by 2025. That will in turn lead to the insolvency of the federal insurance agency for these plans, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), within the next five years.
When plans start failing and cut benefits, participants are left with pennies on the dollar. For example, Anthony and Laura Caporino were forced to make drastic changes when Anthony’s Road Carriers Local 707 Pension Plan in New York was cut by 50 percent in 2016 and then by 70 percent less than a year later. Anthony worked six nights a week and gave up raises in exchange for contributions to his pension for 25 years. He calls their newfound situation “impossible,” but if the PBGC fails, the average benefit reduction will skyrocket to 94 to 98 percent.
“We know a lot of people who are not able to buy their medications, that are losing their homes. I actually worry about losing my home,” said Laura.
When Anthony’s benefits were cut, the Caporinos had to go back to work to make ends meet. Today, young workers in multiemployer pension plans are up against record unemployment and some belong to industries crippled by the pandemic, like music and entertainment. For older Americans, there are now tremendous health risks associated with going to work. A recent study by The New School found 2.9 million older workersbetween the ages of 55 and 70 have left the workforce since March, and they are likely to see a wage decrease of 41 percent if they are ever able to regain employment. Then there are the essential workers like the truck driving heroes who must keep working to keep the country running, despite facing fears about their own financial and medical wellbeing.
With so much uncertainty in the world right now, retirees and essential blue-collar workers need to know the pensions that were promised to them, and that they have earned, will be there to fall back on. Instead, the recent market volatility has caused “dramatic swings in plans’ funding status over the last six months.”
This is especially troubling because while it is difficult to attribute the downfall of the multiemployer pension system to any single event, stock market losses during the 2008 recession are chief among the causes. Additional reasons for failure include a complicated web of regulatory policies, declines in U.S. manufacturing and union membership, and employer bankruptcies – which, in a vicious circle of mutual demise, have often been exacerbated by pension failure.
It is important to know these plans have failed while following federal guidelines. Retirees and essential workers are facing devastating cuts through no fault of their own.
So, while pension plan participants are not to blame for this situation, they also should not be left to fix it alone. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have been calling for action for at least a decade – we should know because we were among them – but a bipartisan, bicameral compromise agreement has yet to materialize.
Allowing billions more dollars to drain from the economy while abandoning essential workers at a time like this goes against every fiber of who we are as Americans. We must come together behind a solution and make it a reality without delay.
Mr. Boehner, an Ohio Republican, served as a U.S. representative (1991-2015) and House speaker (2011-15).
Mr. Crowley, a New York Democrat, served as a U.S. representative (1999-2019) and House Democratic Caucus Chairman (2017-2019).
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Health.]


wnd--2020-09-02--Report: Hunter Biden invested in Chinese company linked to human-rights abuses

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's campaign promise to crack down on American businesses with financial ties to humanitarian abuses in China has hit a snag , the Washington Free Beacon reported .
It 's because his son , Hunter Biden , already at the center of the Ukraine scandal , holds a stake in a Chinese surveillance company that is under U.S. sanctions for human rights violations .
Hunter Biden owns part of Bohai Harvest RST Shanghai Equity , which initially invested in Megvii , a Chinese tech company under U.S. sanctions that specializes in facial recognition software .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Hong Kong stock exchange , Bohai declared it owned nearly 2 % of Megvii through two holding companies .
TRENDING : CDC now says 94 % of COVID deaths had an underlying condition , only 6 % were COVID alone The Free Beacon noted ethical issues have been raised about Hunter Biden ’ s lucrative positions with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma while Joe Biden was overseeing Ukraine policy as vice president .
Hunter Biden also has been criticized for partnering with the state-run Bank of China to launch a Chinese investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hunter Biden 's business deals are not just representative of nepotism or a conflict of interest—Joe Biden has promised to go after companies like the one his son is invested in , '' the Free Beacon noted .
Last year , the U.S. Department of Commerce listed Megvii among the sanctioned corporations that were `` implicated in human-rights violations and abuses in the implementation of China 's campaign of repression , mass arbitrary detention , and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs , Kazakhs , and other members of Muslim minority groups . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. companies from abetting repression and supporting the Chinese Communist Party ’ s surveillance state . ''
Hunter Biden has no legal obligation to sell , but human rights activists believe foreign investors in effect are aiding Chinese persecution of the minority Uyghur population .
World Uyghur Congress project coordinator Ryan Barry told the Free Beacon that U.S. investors `` absolutely '' are ethically bound to divest from companies connected to China 's persecution of minorities .
The Commerce Department 's designation said Megvii was `` enabling activities contrary to the foreign policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's campaign promise to crack down on American businesses with financial ties to humanitarian abuses in China has hit a snag, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
It's because his son, Hunter Biden, already at the center of the Ukraine scandal, holds a stake in a Chinese surveillance company that is under U.S. sanctions for human rights violations.
Hunter Biden owns part of Bohai Harvest RST Shanghai Equity, which initially invested in Megvii, a Chinese tech company under U.S. sanctions that specializes in facial recognition software.
In it application process for listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange, Bohai declared it owned nearly 2% of Megvii through two holding companies.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The Free Beacon noted ethical issues have been raised about Hunter Biden’s lucrative positions with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma while Joe Biden was overseeing Ukraine policy as vice president.
Hunter Biden also has been criticized for partnering with the state-run Bank of China to launch a Chinese investment firm.
"But in this instance, Hunter Biden's business deals are not just representative of nepotism or a conflict of interest—Joe Biden has promised to go after companies like the one his son is invested in," the Free Beacon noted.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Commerce listed Megvii among the sanctioned corporations that were "implicated in human-rights violations and abuses in the implementation of China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups."
Joe Biden has promised to "prohibit U.S. companies from abetting repression and supporting the Chinese Communist Party’s surveillance state."
Hunter Biden has no legal obligation to sell, but human rights activists believe foreign investors in effect are aiding Chinese persecution of the minority Uyghur population.
World Uyghur Congress project coordinator Ryan Barry told the Free Beacon that U.S. investors "absolutely" are ethically bound to divest from companies connected to China's persecution of minorities.
The Commerce Department's designation said Megvii was "enabling activities contrary to the foreign policy interests of the United States."


wnd--2020-09-02--U.S. goes to war with global court over investigation of U.S. soldiers

The International Criminal Court , as it long has threatened , is moving forward with a criminal investigation of alleged `` war crimes '' by Americans in Afghanistan more than a decade ago .
But ICC investigators will face a roadblock , because the U.S. on Wednesday announced sanctions against Fatou Bensouda , the prosecutor , and another staff member .
It 's because the U.S. never has signed the international agreement that created the ICC , meaning its troops are not subject to its jurisdiction .
The announcement , which ratcheted up the dispute between the ICC and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Mike Pompeo .
TRENDING : CDC now says 94 % of COVID deaths had an underlying condition , only 6 % were COVID alone Courthouse News reported he explained that the U.S. already had imposed economic sanctions but this was the `` next step , '' because `` the ICC continues to target Americans . ''
The ICC , based in The Hague , Netherlands , confirmed earlier this year it was investigating `` war crimes '' by U.S. armed forces in Afghanistan with no `` limit '' to the prosecutor .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tortured secret `` black site '' detainees in Lithuania , Poland and Romania between 2003 and 2004 , the report said .
But , as the U.S. has explained , it never signed the 1998 Rome Statute , which was used several years later to set up the ICC .
The new sanctions against Bensouda and Phakiso Mochochoko include a freeze on assets subject to American law and a ban on traveling to the U.S .
Courthouse News said a trial in any circumstances would be unlikely , since the U.S. would n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law allows the president to order military force to remove any U.S. citizen detained by the ICC .

The International Criminal Court, as it long has threatened, is moving forward with a criminal investigation of alleged "war crimes" by Americans in Afghanistan more than a decade ago.
But ICC investigators will face a roadblock, because the U.S. on Wednesday announced sanctions against Fatou Bensouda, the prosecutor, and another staff member.
It's because the U.S. never has signed the international agreement that created the ICC, meaning its troops are not subject to its jurisdiction.
The announcement, which ratcheted up the dispute between the ICC and the U.S., was made by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Courthouse News reported he explained that the U.S. already had imposed economic sanctions but this was the "next step," because "the ICC continues to target Americans."
The ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands, confirmed earlier this year it was investigating "war crimes" by U.S. armed forces in Afghanistan with no "limit" to the prosecutor.
Bensouda also is reviewing whether the CIA tortured secret "black site" detainees in Lithuania, Poland and Romania between 2003 and 2004, the report said.
But, as the U.S. has explained, it never signed the 1998 Rome Statute, which was used several years later to set up the ICC.
President Trump signed an order months ago allowing sanctions against ICC staff members.
The new sanctions against Bensouda and Phakiso Mochochoko include a freeze on assets subject to American law and a ban on traveling to the U.S.
Courthouse News said a trial in any circumstances would be unlikely, since the U.S. wouldn't cooperate with extradition. And a 2002 law allows the president to order military force to remove any U.S. citizen detained by the ICC.


wnd--2020-09-03--Facebook censors GOP lawmaker for 'supposedly inciting violence'

( WASHINGTON EXAMINER ) -- Facebook took down a lawmaker 's post about clashing with armed protesters , saying it @ @ @ @ @ on inciting violence .
Rep. Clay Higgins , a Republican congressman from Louisiana , warned @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday that if armed protesters showed up in his area , they would be @ @ @ @ @ The post was removed for breaking our Violence and Incitement policies , '' a spokesperson @ @ @ @ @ Examiner on Wednesday .

(WASHINGTON EXAMINER) -- Facebook took down a lawmaker's post about clashing with armed protesters, saying it violated the platform's policy on inciting violence.
Rep. Clay Higgins, a Republican congressman from Louisiana, warned on the social media platform on Tuesday that if armed protesters showed up in his area, they would be shot and killed.
"The post was removed for breaking our Violence and Incitement policies," a spokesperson for Facebook told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-09-03--Trump orders review of federal funds for cities that have 'anarchy'

( WASHINGTON EXAMINER ) -- President Trump signed a memo that initiates a process to defund large cities that permit @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , the president signed a five-page memo that orders Cabinet agencies to examine funds @ @ @ @ @ including Seattle , Portland , Washington , D.C. , and New York City , according @ @ @ @ @ .
`` American taxpayers who fund the great programs that our cities rely on deserve @ @ @ @ @ local city officials .
We are taking action by exploring all options to ensure Federal @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t being squandered .
The lack of law and order surrounding these riots @ @ @ @ @ leadership , is a dereliction of duty .
Our men and women in blue can @ @ @ @ @ leadership in their efforts to respond to riots and protect their fellow citizens , '' @ @ @ @ @ Budget Director Russ Vought in a statement to the Washington Examiner .

(WASHINGTON EXAMINER) -- President Trump signed a memo that initiates a process to defund large cities that permit "anarchy."
On Wednesday, the president signed a five-page memo that orders Cabinet agencies to examine funds to multiple metropolitan cities, including Seattle, Portland, Washington, D.C., and New York City, according to the New York Post.
"American taxpayers who fund the great programs that our cities rely on deserve to be protected by their local city officials. We are taking action by exploring all options to ensure Federal resources flowing to lawless cities aren’t being squandered. The lack of law and order surrounding these riots, and response from local leadership, is a dereliction of duty. Our men and women in blue cannot be handcuffed by local leadership in their efforts to respond to riots and protect their fellow citizens," said Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-09-03--Unemployment claims continue to drop

Unemployment claims continue to drop

( FOX NEWS ) -- The number of laid-off Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell again last week , reflecting @ @ @ @ @ — recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and a new government technique in measuring claims .
@ @ @ @ @ from the Labor Department , which cover the week ending Aug. 29 , show that @ @ @ @ @ week , pushing the total number since the shutdown began to more than 59 million @

(FOX NEWS) -- The number of laid-off Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell again last week, reflecting a steady — if slow — recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and a new government technique in measuring claims.
The latest jobless claims figures from the Labor Department, which cover the week ending Aug. 29, show that 881,000 workers sought aid last week, pushing the total number since the shutdown began to more than 59 million.
Economists surveyed by Refinitiv expected 950,000 new claims.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-09-03--Popular TV weather gal 'posted wrenching confession on Facebook' before suicide

( KNEWZ ) -- Kelly Plasker died by suicide , according to her news station , with the weather reporter @ @ @ @ @ heartbreaking confession on Facebook before her tragic death .
The beloved weather forecaster , a @ @ @ @ @ KCBD , died Sunday , just two years after her 19-year-old son took his own @ @ @ @ @ York Post reports , in her last Facebook post written Sunday morning , the 42-year-old @ @ @ @ @ confession for the sins I am responsible for , ” detailing how a teacher in @ @ @ @ @ abused her over the course of a one-year relationship .

(KNEWZ) -- Kelly Plasker died by suicide, according to her news station, with the weather reporter from northwest Texas making a heartbreaking confession on Facebook before her tragic death.
The beloved weather forecaster, a presenter with Texas-based NBC affiliate KCBD, died Sunday, just two years after her 19-year-old son took his own life.
As the New York Post reports, in her last Facebook post written Sunday morning, the 42-year-old reporter shared a “final confession for the sins I am responsible for,” detailing how a teacher in high school allegedly groomed and abused her over the course of a one-year relationship.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-09-03--Forget Sleepy Joe: Trump comes up with brand-new Biden nickname

( FOX NEWS ) -- President Trump taunted his Democratic opponent with a new nickname : “ Joe Hiden ’ @ @ @ @ @ believe what ’ s happening !
?
” Trump tweeted Wednesday , with a link @ @ @ @ @ “ They give Joe Hiden ’ the questions , and he reads them an answer @ @ @ @ @ , the Trump campaign accuses Joe Biden of accidentally reading an instructional note from a @ @ @ @ @ in an interview .

(FOX NEWS) -- President Trump taunted his Democratic opponent with a new nickname: “Joe Hiden’.”
“Can you believe what’s happening!?” Trump tweeted Wednesday, with a link to a Breitbart article. “They give Joe Hiden’ the questions, and he reads them an answer!”
In the story, the Trump campaign accuses Joe Biden of accidentally reading an instructional note from a teleprompter as he answered questions in an interview.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-09-04--GOP AGs say crime increasing amid 'defund' movement

Republican state attorneys general discussed the previous 100 days of protests across the country on a call hosted by the Republican Attorneys General Association on Wednesday .
Attorneys general from Georgia , Arkansas and Florida said that Democratic leaders took too long to denounce the violent incidents and that officials should support the police rather than defund the police .
“ The ‘ defund the police ’ movement has emboldened criminals across the nation , and anyone who does not condemn this movement is helping to turn America into a lawless society , ” Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association , said on the call .
TRENDING : Dems outline strategy to take presidential race – AFTER Election Day !
“ We must focus on restoring law and order , ending lawlessness , and ensuring that our neighborhoods are safe , ” he added .
“ I think it is critically important that every elected official in this nation draw a line between peaceful protests and rioting , ” Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said .
“ Protesters use words , rioters use violence .
The first is protected by the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawless.
” Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said she was shocked to see what she described as officials abandoning their oaths to protect communities for a political agenda .
She said that leaders are working against police by defunding their departments and refusing to prosecute protesters and rioters responsible for criminal acts .
“ I am repeatedly outraged to see so many elected officials around our country that have taken oaths to the citizens that trusted them … I have been shocked to see them abandon their oaths and responsibilities to meet some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal , ” Moody said .
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said that it would be “ ludicrous ” and “ dangerous ” to defund the police .
“ We must defend the police rather than defund the police , ” she added .
Rutledge claimed that protesters and rioters were paid , though she would not provide evidence beyond saying that she was told “ at a security briefing ” that that was the case .
She said that during the riots in Little Rock , Arkansas , pallets of bricks were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also said that she saw protesters in Washington , D.C. “ coming out of some of the nicest hotels ” and that they were being “ shipped in by buses ” across the country .
Rutledge said that if post-election violence were to occur , local and state authorities already share intelligence and would be prepared .
The Republican Attorneys General Association is asking every attorney general to denounce violence and destruction , the organization announced in a press release Wednesday .
This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 Kaylee Greenlee
Daily Caller News Foundation
Republican state attorneys general discussed the previous 100 days of protests across the country on a call hosted by the Republican Attorneys General Association on Wednesday.
Attorneys general from Georgia, Arkansas and Florida said that Democratic leaders took too long to denounce the violent incidents and that officials should support the police rather than defund the police.
“The ‘defund the police’ movement has emboldened criminals across the nation, and anyone who does not condemn this movement is helping to turn America into a lawless society,” Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, the vice-chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association, said on the call.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
“We must focus on restoring law and order, ending lawlessness, and ensuring that our neighborhoods are safe,” he added.
The #DefundthePolice movement has emboldened criminals. Over the last 100 days, we have seen brutal acts of violent crime and arson take place across the country. Anyone who does not condemn this movement is helping turn America into a lawless society. 1/2 — Chris Carr (@ChrisCarr_Ga) September 2, 2020
“I think it is critically important that every elected official in this nation draw a line between peaceful protests and rioting,” Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said. “Protesters use words, rioters use violence. The first is protected by the first amendment, and the other is outright lawless.”
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said she was shocked to see what she described as officials abandoning their oaths to protect communities for a political agenda. She said that leaders are working against police by defunding their departments and refusing to prosecute protesters and rioters responsible for criminal acts.
“I am repeatedly outraged to see so many elected officials around our country that have taken oaths to the citizens that trusted them … I have been shocked to see them abandon their oaths and responsibilities to meet some carefully crafted, albeit dangerously misplaced political goal,” Moody said.
To observe this shameful 100 day benchmark, @RepublicanAGs are calling on all AGs, regardless of party, to denounce and condemn the violence and destruction being perpetrated by #lawlessliberals. cc: @DemocraticAGs, @TheDemocrats, @JoeBidenhttps://t.co/iREAUfA9nK — RAGA (@RepublicanAGs) September 2, 2020
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said that it would be “ludicrous” and “dangerous” to defund the police. “We must defend the police rather than defund the police,” she added.
Rutledge claimed that protesters and rioters were paid, though she would not provide evidence beyond saying that she was told “at a security briefing” that that was the case.
She said that during the riots in Little Rock, Arkansas, pallets of bricks were put out ahead of time. She also said that she saw protesters in Washington, D.C. “coming out of some of the nicest hotels” and that they were being “shipped in by buses” across the country.
Rutledge said that if post-election violence were to occur, local and state authorities already share intelligence and would be prepared.
The Republican Attorneys General Association is asking every attorney general to denounce violence and destruction, the organization announced in a press release Wednesday.
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--2020-09-04--U.S. citizen pleads guilty to charge for helping ISIS

A 23-year-old U.S. citizen pleaded guilty to a terror charge Wednesday after being captured in 2019 , according to the Department of Justice .
Omer Kuzu “ pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to provide material support to terrorism , ” according to a DOJ statement .
TRENDING : Dems outline strategy to take presidential race – AFTER Election Day !
Syrian Democratic Forces captured Kuzu in 2019 and the FBI sent him back to the U.S. “ after a five-year stint handling communications for ISIS , ” according to the statement .
Kuzu was indicted in early August , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This defendant , an American citizen radicalized on American soil , pledged allegiance to a brutal terrorist group and traveled halfway across the world to enact its agenda , ” United States Attorney Erin Nealy Cox for the Northern District of Texas said , according to the statement .
“ The United States must do everything we can to prevent and deter this type of radicalization and prioritize prosecution of those that support the terroristic agenda of ISIS .
I am gratified Mr. Kuzu faced justice in an American court , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
Plea papers note that Kuzu said that he and his brother left for Istanbul from the U.S. in 2014 , according to the statement .
Both ended up in Mosul , Iraq and dispatched to Syria after their training .
Kuzu began to “ work at the ISIS telecommunications directorate , ” according to the statement .
Kuzu also said in the plea papers that he knew ISIS was deemed a foreign terrorist organization and participated “ in terrorist activities , ” according to the statement .
He also said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the Islamic Caliphate ” afterwards , according to the statement .
“ He was given a monthly stipend , a Chinese-made AK 47 , and an ISIS bride , ” the statement said .
Kuzu went to Syria and worked “ communications support for ISIS fighters on the front lines , ” afterwards , according to the statement .
He also “ worked in the Caliphate ’ s technology center , ” according to the statement .
The 23-year-old currently faces federal prison for a maximum of 20 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021 , according to the statement .
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 Mary Rose Corkery
Daily Caller News Foundation
A 23-year-old U.S. citizen pleaded guilty to a terror charge Wednesday after being captured in 2019, according to the Department of Justice.
Omer Kuzu “pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to provide material support to terrorism,” according to a DOJ statement.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Syrian Democratic Forces captured Kuzu in 2019 and the FBI sent him back to the U.S. “after a five-year stint handling communications for ISIS,” according to the statement.
Kuzu was indicted in early August, according to another Department of Justice statement.
Repatriated ISIS Fighter Pleads Guilty to Terror Charge https://t.co/wEvgK9w8oL — Justice Department (@TheJusticeDept) September 2, 2020
“This defendant, an American citizen radicalized on American soil, pledged allegiance to a brutal terrorist group and traveled halfway across the world to enact its agenda,” United States Attorney Erin Nealy Cox for the Northern District of Texas said, according to the statement.
“The United States must do everything we can to prevent and deter this type of radicalization and prioritize prosecution of those that support the terroristic agenda of ISIS. I am gratified Mr. Kuzu faced justice in an American court,” Nealy Cox continued, according to the statement.
Plea papers note that Kuzu said that he and his brother left for Istanbul from the U.S. in 2014, according to the statement. Both ended up in Mosul, Iraq and dispatched to Syria after their training.
Kuzu began to “work at the ISIS telecommunications directorate,” according to the statement. Kuzu also said in the plea papers that he knew ISIS was deemed a foreign terrorist organization and participated “in terrorist activities,” according to the statement.
He also said he pledged allegiance to now-dead “ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the Islamic Caliphate” afterwards, according to the statement. “He was given a monthly stipend, a Chinese-made AK 47, and an ISIS bride,” the statement said.
Kuzu went to Syria and worked “communications support for ISIS fighters on the front lines,” afterwards, according to the statement. He also “worked in the Caliphate’s technology center,” according to the statement.
The 23-year-old currently faces federal prison for a maximum of 20 years and his sentence is scheduled for Jan. 2021, according to the statement.
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--2020-09-04--Gun rights group explains its defense of Kyle Rittenhouse

A spokesperson for the Gun Owners of America , a prominent Second Amendment group , told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Kyle Rittenhouse ’ s actions in Kenosha , Wisconsin last week were justified in the context of self defense .
Firearms instructor and GOA spokesman Alan Rice , who spoke on behalf of the organization ’ s lawyers , insisted 17-year-old Rittenhouse was within his legal right to self preservation when he allegedly shot three people , killing two of them , in the riots that followed the police shooting of Jacob Blake .
“ We don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far as defending himself and using a firearm , ” Rice told the DCNF in a phone interview .
“ They chased him , they followed him and he was forced to fire in self defense.
” TRENDING : Dems outline strategy to take presidential race – AFTER Election Day !
Rittenhouse was arrested last week after being accused of shooting and killing one man near an auto body shop while he was being chased around midnight going into Wednesday morning , according to a criminal complaint obtained by Axios .
The 17-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fell to the ground and allegedly fatally shot another man in the chest and a third in the arm as they rushed him , the complaint stated .
“ It ’ s the defender ’ s perception , did he perceive his life was in immediate or otherwise unavoidable danger of death or serious bodily injury ?
” Rice said .
“ I do think he made the right call , I think he would ’ ve been seriously injured or worse , killed , if he didn ’ t fight back .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a choice , these guys were chasing him and he was outnumbered.
” Videos and the criminal complaint used to charge Rittenhouse both substantiate claims that the teenager was fleeing from a group before the first shooting .
Rice also invoked Wisconsin self defense law to bolster GOA ’ s view that the 17-year-old was justified in his course of action .
“ A person is privileged to threaten or intentionally use force against another for the purpose of preventing or terminating what the person reasonably believes to be an unlawful interference with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person , ” the Wisconsin self defense law referenced by Rice reads , according to the state legislature .
“ The actor may intentionally use only such force or threat thereof as the actor reasonably believes is necessary to prevent or terminate the interference.
” Rice said that Rittenhouse acted within the legal bounds of the state law and insisted the code is one of the more lenient in the U.S. , as it allows the defender to use threats and take preventative self defense action .
“ Because let ’ s be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Oliver said in a Sunday show , according to the Daily Beast .
“ A 17-year-old vigilante with a rifle can not maintain order , because a 17-year-old vigilante with a rifle trying to maintain order is himself the definition of disorder—except , of course , if you ’ re a regular viewer of Tucker Carlson , a show that exists to teach its viewers precisely three things : Property damage is violence , homicide is order , and pillows are for sale.
” Others argue that Rittenhouse was illegally carrying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Rittenhouse as a “ vigilante ” and pointed to statements from the teenager ’ s lawyer Pierce Bainbridge to debunk the classification of the AR-15 as illegal .
Bainbridge in a Friday statement wrote that Rittenhouse finished his workday as a community lifeguard in Kenosha , cleaned graffiti off a local public school and then traveled to a car dealership after the owners called for help from the public .
Rittenhouse and a friend grabbed rifles that were legally possessed in Wisconsin to protect the businesses seeking aid , the statement read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember , why were these people in Kenosha ?
These people are in Wisconsin because of a shooting to riot and burn and we ’ ve got Kyle Rittenhouse going to a local school and washing graffiti off the wall , ” Rice said .
“ Without knowing anything about the situation , it looks to me like Kyle Rittenhouse is a pretty decent young man.
” The criminal complaint issued against the teen lists a misdemeanor charge for possession of a firearm by a minor .
Additionally , it is forbidden for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state of Wisconsin unless they are over 18 , according to USA Carry .
Rice also said Rittenhouse appeared to be trained and the accuracy of his shot placement may bode well in his defense .
“ As far as the shot placement , we teach in self defense training : hits count , misses don ’ t .
He didn ’ t hit an innocent bystander and his shots went where they needed to go , so that shows an amazing amount of discipline — he ’ s obviously had training @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I would guess that his defense team would raise that at trial and say he wasn ’ t reckless , he wasn ’ t dangerous , he hit the person who was trying to harm him , ” he continued .
Rittenhouse is accused of killing Joseph Rosenbaum , 36 , and Kyle Huber , 26 , in addition to severely injuring Gaige Grosskreutz , 26 , with a grisly wound to the arm , according to the complaint .
All three of the men had past convictions ranging from sexual conduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false imprisonment , according to a DCNF analysis of Kenosha and statewide court databases .
Huber was hailed as a hero by some for trying to thwart the shooting by hitting Rittenhouse with a skateboard , but Rice disagreed .
“ That skateboard ceased to be a skateboard when the person who had it decided to turn it into a deadly weapon , ” Rice said .
“ That skateboard at that moment was the same thing as someone swinging a baseball bat.
” “ That was not an innocent kid with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An innocent kid with a skateboard would ’ ve gotten on his skateboard and rolled away.
” 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 Jake Dima
Daily Caller News Foundation
A spokesperson for the Gun Owners of America, a prominent Second Amendment group, told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Kyle Rittenhouse’s actions in Kenosha, Wisconsin last week were justified in the context of self defense.
Firearms instructor and GOA spokesman Alan Rice, who spoke on behalf of the organization’s lawyers, insisted 17-year-old Rittenhouse was within his legal right to self preservation when he allegedly shot three people, killing two of them, in the riots that followed the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
“We don’t think he did anything wrong as far as defending himself and using a firearm,” Rice told the DCNF in a phone interview. “They chased him, they followed him and he was forced to fire in self defense.”
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Rittenhouse was arrested last week after being accused of shooting and killing one man near an auto body shop while he was being chased around midnight going into Wednesday morning, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Axios. The 17-year-old ran into the road, tripped and fell to the ground and allegedly fatally shot another man in the chest and a third in the arm as they rushed him, the complaint stated.
“It’s the defender’s perception, did he perceive his life was in immediate or otherwise unavoidable danger of death or serious bodily injury?” Rice said. “I do think he made the right call, I think he would’ve been seriously injured or worse, killed, if he didn’t fight back. I don’t think he had a choice, these guys were chasing him and he was outnumbered.”
Videos and the criminal complaint used to charge Rittenhouse both substantiate claims that the teenager was fleeing from a group before the first shooting. Rice also invoked Wisconsin self defense law to bolster GOA’s view that the 17-year-old was justified in his course of action.
NYT Investigative Journalist shows that Kyle Rittenhouse did not shoot first. He was running away from Antifa & rioters pursuing him while shots were fired. pic.twitter.com/mVU3SAkWWb — Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) August 27, 2020
“A person is privileged to threaten or intentionally use force against another for the purpose of preventing or terminating what the person reasonably believes to be an unlawful interference with his or her person by such other person,” the Wisconsin self defense law referenced by Rice reads, according to the state legislature. “The actor may intentionally use only such force or threat thereof as the actor reasonably believes is necessary to prevent or terminate the interference.”
Rice said that Rittenhouse acted within the legal bounds of the state law and insisted the code is one of the more lenient in the U.S., as it allows the defender to use threats and take preventative self defense action.
Critics insist Rittenhouse wasn’t justified.
“Because let’s be clear,” liberal talk show host John Oliver said in a Sunday show, according to the Daily Beast. “A 17-year-old vigilante with a rifle cannot maintain order, because a 17-year-old vigilante with a rifle trying to maintain order is himself the definition of disorder—except, of course, if you’re a regular viewer of Tucker Carlson, a show that exists to teach its viewers precisely three things: Property damage is violence, homicide is order, and pillows are for sale.”
Others argue that Rittenhouse was illegally carrying the rifle.
Look at all these shitheart performative rightwing accounts trying to argue a 17-year-old in illegal possession of a loaded rifle shot multiple people “in self-defense.” At least now you know “law and order” is just a weakly coded message, if you didn’t before — Adam Weinstein (@AdamWeinstein) August 26, 2020
Rice disagrees with the characterization of Rittenhouse as a “vigilante” and pointed to statements from the teenager’s lawyer Pierce Bainbridge to debunk the classification of the AR-15 as illegal.
Bainbridge in a Friday statement wrote that Rittenhouse finished his workday as a community lifeguard in Kenosha, cleaned graffiti off a local public school and then traveled to a car dealership after the owners called for help from the public. Rittenhouse and a friend grabbed rifles that were legally possessed in Wisconsin to protect the businesses seeking aid, the statement read.
“We’ve got to remember, why were these people in Kenosha? These people are in Wisconsin because of a shooting to riot and burn and we’ve got Kyle Rittenhouse going to a local school and washing graffiti off the wall,” Rice said.
“Without knowing anything about the situation, it looks to me like Kyle Rittenhouse is a pretty decent young man.”
The criminal complaint issued against the teen lists a misdemeanor charge for possession of a firearm by a minor. Additionally, it is forbidden for someone to carry a firearm openly in the state of Wisconsin unless they are over 18, according to USA Carry.
Rice also said Rittenhouse appeared to be trained and the accuracy of his shot placement may bode well in his defense.
“As far as the shot placement, we teach in self defense training: hits count, misses don’t. He didn’t hit an innocent bystander and his shots went where they needed to go, so that shows an amazing amount of discipline — he’s obviously had training,” Rice told the DCNF.
“I would guess that his defense team would raise that at trial and say he wasn’t reckless, he wasn’t dangerous, he hit the person who was trying to harm him,” he continued.
Rittenhouse is accused of killing Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Kyle Huber, 26, in addition to severely injuring Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, with a grisly wound to the arm, according to the complaint. All three of the men had past convictions ranging from sexual conduct with a minor to felony strangulation and false imprisonment, according to a DCNF analysis of Kenosha and statewide court databases.
Huber was hailed as a hero by some for trying to thwart the shooting by hitting Rittenhouse with a skateboard, but Rice disagreed.
Anthony Huber was the hero that tried to apprehend the gunman in #Kenosha, after the gunman shot a BLM protester in the face he ran-up to him with his skateboard to stop him from shooting others. He was shot in the chest by the gunman and died. Rest in power, Anthony Huber. pic.twitter.com/c0Kw4v7926 — Brianna Westbrook (@BWestbrookAZ8) August 26, 2020
“That skateboard ceased to be a skateboard when the person who had it decided to turn it into a deadly weapon,” Rice said. “That skateboard at that moment was the same thing as someone swinging a baseball bat.”
“That was not an innocent kid with a skateboard,” he added. “An innocent kid with a skateboard would’ve gotten on his skateboard and rolled away.”
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--2020-09-04--Sen. Cruz warns against those 'who are hell-bent on harming America'

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
In November , Americans will have a choice : Do we want four more years of a president who has been tough on China and Iran , has forged peaceful relationships in the Middle East , and has stood firm with our allies and strong against our adversaries ?
Or do we want a president who will take us backward and reinstate the policies of the Obama-Biden administration , which endangered Americans by committing to the catastrophic Obama-Biden Iran Nuclear Deal , entangled the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia , and allowed China to take control of vast resources across the globe and even actively worked to send our nuclear technology to the Chinese Communist Party regime ?
If the American people want a president who has prioritized their interests by focusing on national security and advancing American interests abroad , President Trump is the right choice .
TRENDING : Dems outline strategy to take presidential race – AFTER Election Day !
In the past four years , President Trump has accomplished real policy objectives that for decades politicians liked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could never take the bold steps necessary to follow through .
Moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is just one example .
I had the pleasure of leading the fight to move our embassy to the true and eternal capital of Israel .
I advocated vigorously with President Trump to take that step , and he did .
We opened the American embassy in Jerusalem on the 70th anniversary of the creation of the modern state of Israel , and the move ushered in a new chapter of friendship between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change from the Obama-Biden administration , which repeatedly turned its back on Israel and frayed our relationship with a key ally .
And earlier this month , we learned that with President Trump ’ s leadership , a historic agreement on full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates has been reached – a critical milestone in the America ’ s effort to advance peace in the region and counter Iran .
Further , the Obama-Biden administration authored the catastrophic Iran Nuclear Deal , effectively making the United States the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islamic terrorism both directly and through hundreds of billions in sanctions relief .
Those resources found their way into the hands of terrorists who used it to murder and harass Americans , Israelis , and our European allies .
President Trump had the courage to shred this disastrous deal , and the world is safer because he made such a bold , necessary move .
He also ended civil nuclear waivers Iran was receiving and using to build up its nuclear programs , with the intention of eventually developing nuclear weapons to inflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And just last week , the Trump administration took additional historic action to restore international sanctions that had been lifted under the Iran deal and to prevent the expiration of the United Nations arms embargo on Iran .
The embargo , if lifted , would have allowed China and Russia to sell billions of dollars in weapons to the regime , weapons likely to be used against American interests throughout the Middle East and beyond .
Finally , no president has been tougher on China in my lifetime than President Trump .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ task for predatory trade practices that hurt American workers ; he has sanctioned China for its takeover of Hong Kong ; sanctioned top members of the Chinese Communist Party for putting a million Uighurs in concentration camps ; shut down the Chinese consulate in Houston , which operated as a spy hub for the Chinese Communist Party ; and when COVID-19 was spreading and Democrats had their heads in the sand , President Trump shut down travel from China and saved American lives .
Joe Biden , meanwhile , helped oversee a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese Communist Party threat .
We allowed the party to tighten its stranglehold over its own people , while becoming the chief financial force across much of the world , even as China cheated on trade deals that had been wildly unbalanced to begin with .
Not to mention Russia – in the past four years , the Trump administration has stood up to Russia ’ s growing influence in Europe , especially when it comes to stopping the construction of Nord Stream 2 pipeline , which would vastly strengthen Russia at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world .
If Biden wins in November , our progress in repairing ties with our allies and standing strong against our adversaries will have been for nothing .
A Biden presidency would be beholden to the loudest anti-Semitic , pro-China , pro-Iran voices in the Democratic Party , and a Biden administration would make every effort to undo Trump ’ s legacy – at the expense of keeping Americans safe .
We have a choice to make this November .
Will we continue down our current path – which focuses on protecting Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defending our allies – or will we reverse course , emboldening those who are hell-bent on harming America and harming our partners around the world ?
We ought to choose wisely .
The stakes have never been higher .

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Sen. Ted Cruz
Real Clear Politics
In November, Americans will have a choice: Do we want four more years of a president who has been tough on China and Iran, has forged peaceful relationships in the Middle East, and has stood firm with our allies and strong against our adversaries? Or do we want a president who will take us backward and reinstate the policies of the Obama-Biden administration, which endangered Americans by committing to the catastrophic Obama-Biden Iran Nuclear Deal, entangled the United States in corruption in Ukraine and Russia, and allowed China to take control of vast resources across the globe and even actively worked to send our nuclear technology to the Chinese Communist Party regime?
If the American people want a president who has prioritized their interests by focusing on national security and advancing American interests abroad, President Trump is the right choice.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
In the past four years, President Trump has accomplished real policy objectives that for decades politicians liked to talk about, knowing full well they could never take the bold steps necessary to follow through. Moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is just one example.
I had the pleasure of leading the fight to move our embassy to the true and eternal capital of Israel. I advocated vigorously with President Trump to take that step, and he did. We opened the American embassy in Jerusalem on the 70th anniversary of the creation of the modern state of Israel, and the move ushered in a new chapter of friendship between our two nations.
This was a change from the Obama-Biden administration, which repeatedly turned its back on Israel and frayed our relationship with a key ally. And earlier this month, we learned that with President Trump’s leadership, a historic agreement on full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates has been reached – a critical milestone in the America’s effort to advance peace in the region and counter Iran.
Further, the Obama-Biden administration authored the catastrophic Iran Nuclear Deal, effectively making the United States the world’s leading financier of radical Islamic terrorism both directly and through hundreds of billions in sanctions relief. Those resources found their way into the hands of terrorists who used it to murder and harass Americans, Israelis, and our European allies.
President Trump had the courage to shred this disastrous deal, and the world is safer because he made such a bold, necessary move. He also ended civil nuclear waivers Iran was receiving and using to build up its nuclear programs, with the intention of eventually developing nuclear weapons to inflict destruction on America and our allies.
And just last week, the Trump administration took additional historic action to restore international sanctions that had been lifted under the Iran deal and to prevent the expiration of the United Nations arms embargo on Iran. The embargo, if lifted, would have allowed China and Russia to sell billions of dollars in weapons to the regime, weapons likely to be used against American interests throughout the Middle East and beyond.
Finally, no president has been tougher on China in my lifetime than President Trump. He has taken the communist Chinese government to task for predatory trade practices that hurt American workers; he has sanctioned China for its takeover of Hong Kong; sanctioned top members of the Chinese Communist Party for putting a million Uighurs in concentration camps; shut down the Chinese consulate in Houston, which operated as a spy hub for the Chinese Communist Party; and when COVID-19 was spreading and Democrats had their heads in the sand, President Trump shut down travel from China and saved American lives.
Joe Biden, meanwhile, helped oversee a time when our nation stood down against the Chinese Communist Party threat. We allowed the party to tighten its stranglehold over its own people, while becoming the chief financial force across much of the world, even as China cheated on trade deals that had been wildly unbalanced to begin with.
Not to mention Russia – in the past four years, the Trump administration has stood up to Russia’s growing influence in Europe, especially when it comes to stopping the construction of Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would vastly strengthen Russia at the expense of the rest of the free world.
If Biden wins in November, our progress in repairing ties with our allies and standing strong against our adversaries will have been for nothing. A Biden presidency would be beholden to the loudest anti-Semitic, pro-China, pro-Iran voices in the Democratic Party, and a Biden administration would make every effort to undo Trump’s legacy – at the expense of keeping Americans safe.
We have a choice to make this November. Will we continue down our current path – which focuses on protecting Americans here and around the world, and defending our allies – or will we reverse course, emboldening those who are hell-bent on harming America and harming our partners around the world?
We ought to choose wisely. The stakes have never been higher.