wnd--2020-11-20--Senate hears experts decry demonization of livesaving 'Trump drug'

With governors imposing a second wave of lockdowns in response to the coronavirus pandemic , physicians who decry the politicization of a drug they have found to be an effective treatment for COVID-19 testified to the Senate 's Homeland Security Committee on Thursday .
The panel 's chairman , Sen. Ron Johnson , R-Wis. , noted the drug hydroxychloroquine was used as a `` weapon '' in the presidential election after it was promoted by President Trump .
`` The doctors who have had the courage to follow the Hippocratic oath and use their off-label prescription rights to treat patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical boards have threatened to withdraw their licenses , '' the senator said .
Johnson said he has publicly advocated for `` allowing doctors to be doctors , to practice medicine , explore different therapies and share their knowledge within the medical community and with the public . ''
TRENDING : New poll shows most Republicans say Trump 'rightfully won ' election He said international , federal and state `` closed-minded bureaucrats '' have let down the public , driven by conflicting interests .
`` Tragically , media and social media have failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what they do not understand , '' he said .
Noting a vaccine wo n't be available for months , Johnson said he hoped the hearing would help correct `` a glaring blunder that has cost far too many lives . ''
The ranking member , Sen. Gary Peters , D-Mich. , accused the Trump administration of promoting `` unproven treatments , further putting Americans at risk . ''
However , Dr. Peter McCullough , the vice chairman of internal medicine at Baylor University Medical Center , contended the widespread use of hydroxychloroquine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what kept `` the curve '' down .
Get the free `` Guide to Home-Based COVID Treatment '' Dr. Harvey Risch , a professor of epidemiology at Yale University , emphasized the drug is `` exceedingly safe , '' having been prescribed for more than 65 years to `` hundreds of millions of people '' in `` 10s of billions of doses . ''
Risch said that in May , when he saw studies on hydroxychloroquine being misrepresented , he thought it simply was `` sloppy reporting . ''
He said he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients were being represented as applying to outpatients , in violation of what he was taught in medical school .
Over the past six months , he said government research institutions have invested billions of dollars in expensive inpatient treatments but almost nothing for early outpatient treatments , `` the first line of response to this pandemic . ''
He said there are seven studies on use of hydroxychloroquine in high-risk patients , and every one has shown reductions of 50 % or more in the risk of hospitalization and mortality , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrawal of emergency use authorization for treating COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquine should be immediately withdrawn , arguing the risk associated with the drug is much less than others the agency has approved , such as remdesivir .
He said that even if a vaccine is effective , people will still get sick and die , and effective early treatment is essential .
Risch was challenged by Dr. Ashish Jha , dean of Brown University ’ s School of Public Health , who insisted that every quality study of the drug 's efficacy for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a `` clear consensus '' on the scientific and medical community .
He pointed to a large randomized control trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine that found higher rates of death among hospitalized patients on hydroxychloroquine .
And he argued that the Food and Drug Administration withdrew its emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine .
`` For hydroxychloroquine there was no sufficient evidence and the evidence that was there certainly did not suggest the benefits would outweigh the risks , '' Jha said .
But Risch reiterated his argument that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were very sick and pointed to the studies showing its efficacy within first few days of infection .
A fourth physician who testified was Dr. George Fareed , medical director at Pioneers Health Center in the Imperial Valley in California , which was the epicenter for the virus in the state in June and July .
He said he treated successfully more than 1,000 high-risk patients with a cocktail of hydroxychloroquine , azithromycin and zinc , which was developed by Dr. Zev Zelenko , who told WND in April of his 100 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emphasized that healthy people , with no underlying conditions such as diabetes and heart disease , do n't need treatment .
He said his experience is in line with all of the studies that Dr. Risch mentioned , with very few hospitalizations and not a single cardiac event .
Jha charged that hydroxychloroquine is actually dangerous , stating that in April there was `` a 93 % increase in related calls to the U.S poison control centers . ''
`` These things can hurt , '' he said .
`` Given the dismal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is little scientific basis to think it will be effective for anybody , '' he said .
Johnson , noting the `` huge disconnect between experts , Harvard and Yale educated , '' asked McCullough to respond to the poison-report issue and his own experience with being treated himself for COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquine .
`` Senator , I want my testimony to be clear on the record that I think Dr. Jha 's testimony is wreckless and dangerous for the nation , '' he said .
McCullough said the poison report is exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` You 're interested in misinformation regarding COVID , '' he said .
The widespread use of hydroxychloroquine in the spring , he said , kept the first wave of the coronavirus `` from skyrocketing . ''
The physician said the poison control center received 77 additional calls in April .
When the reviewer looked at them , two-thirds had taken an extra dose .
`` So , it boiled down to 17 cases out of over 500,000 administrations , and yet Dr. Jha holds that up to the American public as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public away from an effective therapy for COVID-19 , '' McCullough said .
Fareed , toward the end of the hearing , said he wondered `` whether Dr. Jha actually treats patients , the way he talks . ''
Johnson asked Jha if he wanted to respond .
Jha said he 's treated patients for the Veterans Administration for 20 years .
`` As a practicing physician , I think a lot about the evidence , '' he said .
`` My patients want me to give them science-based treatments . ''
Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID patient ? ''
An outspoken proponent of hydroxychloroquine , Dr. Steven Smith of East Orange , New Jersey , expressed in an interview with WND in May his frustration with the politicization of hydroxychloroquine .
He noted the FDA on its website `` cautions against use of hydroxychloroquine '' for COVID-19 outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial due to risk of heart rhythm problems . ''
But he pointed out that in the 400 clinical trials on hydroxychloroquine the FDA has approved , not one requires EKG monitoring .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ toxicity of a drug that is not toxic , '' he said .
`` They 've gone around and told everybody it 's killing people .
It 's not . ''
Risch , in an interview with Fox News ' Laura Ingraham in July , said hydroxychloroquine is `` a political drug now , not a medical drug . ''
He said establishment media and politicians are `` basically fighting a propaganda war against the medical facts '' that is shaping not only how the population views the drug , but doctors as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received `` hostile remarks '' from doctors who say that `` all the evidence is bad for it . ''
`` And in fact , that 's not true at all .
And it 's easy to show that the evidence – all the evidence is actually good for it when it 's used in outpatient uses , '' he said .
`` Nevertheless , the only people who actually see that are a whole pile of doctors who are actually on the frontlines treating those patients across the country .
And they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being forced not to do it . ''
In a guest column for Newsweek , Risch , who has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications and currently hold senior positions on the editorial boards of several leading journals , argued hydroxychloroquine is the key to containing the virus .
In May , he published an article in the the world 's leading epidemiology journal , the American Journal of Epidemiology , that analyzed five studies `` demonstrating clear-cut and significant benefits '' to treating patients with hydroxychloroquine along with other very large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Physicians who have been using these medications in the face of widespread skepticism have been truly heroic , '' he wrote in the Newsweek column .
`` They have done what the science shows is best for their patients , often at great personal risk .
I myself know of two doctors who have saved the lives of hundreds of patients with these medications , but are now fighting state medical boards to save their licenses and reputations .
The cases against them are completely without scientific merit . ''
Smith , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine , pointed out the World Health Organization temporarily halted studying hydroxychloroquine in response to a widely reported observational study published in the medical journal The Lancet that concluded seriously ill COVID-19 patients who were treated with hydroxychloroquine were more likely to die .
But in an embarrassing turn , the premiere journal was forced to withdraw the study after three of the four authors issued an apology , citing concerns about the quality and veracity of the data .
The Lancet study 's fatal flaws were immediately apparent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in May .
Dr. Marc Siegel , associate professor of medicine at the New York University Langone Medical Center , called The Lancet study a `` political hit job . ''

With governors imposing a second wave of lockdowns in response to the coronavirus pandemic, physicians who decry the politicization of a drug they have found to be an effective treatment for COVID-19 testified to the Senate's Homeland Security Committee on Thursday.
The panel's chairman, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., noted the drug hydroxychloroquine was used as a "weapon" in the presidential election after it was promoted by President Trump.
"The doctors who have had the courage to follow the Hippocratic oath and use their off-label prescription rights to treat patients using hydroxychloroquine have been scorned and state medical boards have threatened to withdraw their licenses," the senator said.
Johnson said he has publicly advocated for "allowing doctors to be doctors, to practice medicine, explore different therapies and share their knowledge within the medical community and with the public."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
He said international, federal and state "closed-minded bureaucrats" have let down the public, driven by conflicting interests.
"Tragically, media and social media have failed to ask the right questions and censored what they do not understand," he said.
Noting a vaccine won't be available for months, Johnson said he hoped the hearing would help correct "a glaring blunder that has cost far too many lives."
The ranking member, Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., accused the Trump administration of promoting "unproven treatments, further putting Americans at risk."
Are COVID drugs being weaponized? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 98% (344 Votes) 2% (6 Votes)
However, Dr. Peter McCullough, the vice chairman of internal medicine at Baylor University Medical Center, contended the widespread use of hydroxychloroquine in March, April and May was what kept "the curve" down.
Get the free "Guide to Home-Based COVID Treatment"
Dr. Harvey Risch, a professor of epidemiology at Yale University, emphasized the drug is "exceedingly safe," having been prescribed for more than 65 years to "hundreds of millions of people" in "10s of billions of doses."
Risch said that in May, when he saw studies on hydroxychloroquine being misrepresented, he thought it simply was "sloppy reporting."
He said he was "astounded" that studies on hospitalized patients were being represented as applying to outpatients, in violation of what he was taught in medical school.
Over the past six months, he said government research institutions have invested billions of dollars in expensive inpatient treatments but almost nothing for early outpatient treatments, "the first line of response to this pandemic."
He said there are seven studies on use of hydroxychloroquine in high-risk patients, and every one has shown reductions of 50% or more in the risk of hospitalization and mortality, he said.
Risch said the FDA's withdrawal of emergency use authorization for treating COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquine should be immediately withdrawn, arguing the risk associated with the drug is much less than others the agency has approved, such as remdesivir.
He said that even if a vaccine is effective, people will still get sick and die, and effective early treatment is essential.
Risch was challenged by Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health, who insisted that every quality study of the drug's efficacy for COVID-19 has found no benefit, declaring there is a "clear consensus" on the scientific and medical community.
He pointed to a large randomized control trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine that found higher rates of death among hospitalized patients on hydroxychloroquine.
And he argued that the Food and Drug Administration withdrew its emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine.
"For hydroxychloroquine there was no sufficient evidence and the evidence that was there certainly did not suggest the benefits would outweigh the risks," Jha said.
But Risch reiterated his argument that many studies focused on hospitalized patients who were very sick and pointed to the studies showing its efficacy within first few days of infection.
A fourth physician who testified was Dr. George Fareed, medical director at Pioneers Health Center in the Imperial Valley in California, which was the epicenter for the virus in the state in June and July.
He said he treated successfully more than 1,000 high-risk patients with a cocktail of hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and zinc, which was developed by Dr. Zev Zelenko, who told WND in April of his 100% success treating 350 coronavirus patients.
Fareed emphasized that healthy people, with no underlying conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, don't need treatment.
He said his experience is in line with all of the studies that Dr. Risch mentioned, with very few hospitalizations and not a single cardiac event.
'Wreckless and dangerous' testimony
Jha charged that hydroxychloroquine is actually dangerous, stating that in April there was "a 93% increase in related calls to the U.S poison control centers."
"These things can hurt," he said.
"Given the dismal failure of hydroxychloroquine to date, there is little scientific basis to think it will be effective for anybody," he said.
Johnson, noting the "huge disconnect between experts, Harvard and Yale educated," asked McCullough to respond to the poison-report issue and his own experience with being treated himself for COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquine.
"Senator, I want my testimony to be clear on the record that I think Dr. Jha's testimony is wreckless and dangerous for the nation," he said.
McCullough said the poison report is exactly what Sen. Peters is interested in.
"You're interested in misinformation regarding COVID," he said.
The widespread use of hydroxychloroquine in the spring, he said, kept the first wave of the coronavirus "from skyrocketing."
The physician said the poison control center received 77 additional calls in April. When the reviewer looked at them, two-thirds had taken an extra dose.
"So, it boiled down to 17 cases out of over 500,000 administrations, and yet Dr. Jha holds that up to the American public as a scare point, to scare the American public away from an effective therapy for COVID-19," McCullough said.
Fareed, toward the end of the hearing, said he wondered "whether Dr. Jha actually treats patients, the way he talks."
Johnson asked Jha if he wanted to respond.
Jha said he's treated patients for the Veterans Administration for 20 years.
"As a practicing physician, I think a lot about the evidence," he said. "My patients want me to give them science-based treatments."
Johnson asked: "Have you treated any COVID patient?"
"I have not, sir," Jha replied.
See the hearing:
'A political drug'
An outspoken proponent of hydroxychloroquine, Dr. Steven Smith of East Orange, New Jersey, expressed in an interview with WND in May his frustration with the politicization of hydroxychloroquine.
He noted the FDA on its website "cautions against use of hydroxychloroquine" for COVID-19 outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial due to risk of heart rhythm problems."
But he pointed out that in the 400 clinical trials on hydroxychloroquine the FDA has approved, not one requires EKG monitoring.
"People have doubled down on the toxicity of a drug that is not toxic," he said. "They've gone around and told everybody it's killing people. It's not."
Risch, in an interview with Fox News' Laura Ingraham in July, said hydroxychloroquine is "a political drug now, not a medical drug."
He said establishment media and politicians are "basically fighting a propaganda war against the medical facts" that is shaping not only how the population views the drug, but doctors as well."
Risch said he's received "hostile remarks" from doctors who say that "all the evidence is bad for it."
"And in fact, that's not true at all. And it's easy to show that the evidence – all the evidence is actually good for it when it's used in outpatient uses," he said. "Nevertheless, the only people who actually see that are a whole pile of doctors who are actually on the frontlines treating those patients across the country. And they are the ones who are at risk of being forced not to do it."
In a guest column for Newsweek, Risch, who has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications and currently hold senior positions on the editorial boards of several leading journals, argued hydroxychloroquine is the key to containing the virus.
In May, he published an article in the the world's leading epidemiology journal, the American Journal of Epidemiology, that analyzed five studies "demonstrating clear-cut and significant benefits" to treating patients with hydroxychloroquine along with other very large studies that demonstrated its safety.
"Physicians who have been using these medications in the face of widespread skepticism have been truly heroic," he wrote in the Newsweek column. "They have done what the science shows is best for their patients, often at great personal risk. I myself know of two doctors who have saved the lives of hundreds of patients with these medications, but are now fighting state medical boards to save their licenses and reputations. The cases against them are completely without scientific merit."
Smith, who briefed President Trump in April on the safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine, pointed out the World Health Organization temporarily halted studying hydroxychloroquine in response to a widely reported observational study published in the medical journal The Lancet that concluded seriously ill COVID-19 patients who were treated with hydroxychloroquine were more likely to die.
But in an embarrassing turn, the premiere journal was forced to withdraw the study after three of the four authors issued an apology, citing concerns about the quality and veracity of the data.
The Lancet study's fatal flaws were immediately apparent to Smith when the study was released in May. Dr. Marc Siegel, associate professor of medicine at the New York University Langone Medical Center, called The Lancet study a "political hit job."


wnd--2020-11-20--Poll: Most voters – including 1 in 3 Democrats – want special counsel to investigate Biden

A majority of registered voters say that if Joe Biden is sworn in as president , a special counsel should be appointed to investigate Biden-family business deals with communist China , Ukraine and possibly Russia .
That includes nearly one in three Democrats , according to a Just the News Daily Poll with Scott Rasmussen .
The survey found 52 % favor a special counsel , including 81 % of Republicans and 32 % of Democrats .
`` It 's not at all surprising that Republicans overwhelmingly believe a special counsel should be appointed , '' Rasmussen told Just the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprising that nearly half of Independents agree .
What is stunning is that 32 % of Democrats support the idea . ''
TRENDING : New poll shows most Republicans say Trump 'rightfully won ' election He said it may be a `` reflection of the deep divide '' within the Democratic Party .
Among very liberal voters , 42 % say a special counsel is warranted .
`` These voters lacked enthusiasm for Biden throughout the campaign , but considered him the lesser of two evils compared to Trump , '' Rasmussen said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favor a special counsel , 54 % of those ages 35-44 and 65-plus , 57 % of whites and 34 % of blacks .
Special counsel Robert Mueller spent nearly two years investigating claims of Trump campaign collusion with Russia before concluding he could n't find sufficient evidence .
On Wednesday , Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa , and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson , R-Wis. , said Hunter Biden and his business associates `` were working deals as late as 2017 tied to communist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports Just the News .
The deals created potential counterintelligence concerns for Joe Biden 's family , the senators said .
The information comes amid recounts and court challenges in the 2020 presidential race between President Trump and Joe Biden .
A poll commissioned by the Media Research Center found more than one-third of voters who chose Joe Biden were not aware of the evidence reported by the New York Post in October linking the former vice president to corrupt financial dealings with China through his son .
Had they known , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won at least 289 Electoral College votes .

A majority of registered voters say that if Joe Biden is sworn in as president, a special counsel should be appointed to investigate Biden-family business deals with communist China, Ukraine and possibly Russia.
That includes nearly one in three Democrats, according to a Just the News Daily Poll with Scott Rasmussen.
The survey found 52% favor a special counsel, including 81% of Republicans and 32% of Democrats.
"It's not at all surprising that Republicans overwhelmingly believe a special counsel should be appointed," Rasmussen told Just the News. "It's also not surprising that nearly half of Independents agree. What is stunning is that 32% of Democrats support the idea."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
He said it may be a "reflection of the deep divide" within the Democratic Party.
Among very liberal voters, 42% say a special counsel is warranted.
"These voters lacked enthusiasm for Biden throughout the campaign, but considered him the lesser of two evils compared to Trump," Rasmussen said.
The poll contacted 1,200 registered voters from Nov. 12-14.
Should a special counsel investigate Biden's family deals? 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% (196 Votes) 0% (0 Votes)
It found 44% of men favor a special counsel, 54% of those ages 35-44 and 65-plus, 57% of whites and 34% of blacks.
Special counsel Robert Mueller spent nearly two years investigating claims of Trump campaign collusion with Russia before concluding he couldn't find sufficient evidence.
On Wednesday, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said Hunter Biden and his business associates "were working deals as late as 2017 tied to communist China and Russian energy interests," reports Just the News.
The deals created potential counterintelligence concerns for Joe Biden's family, the senators said. The information comes amid recounts and court challenges in the 2020 presidential race between President Trump and Joe Biden.
A poll commissioned by the Media Research Center found more than one-third of voters who chose Joe Biden were not aware of the evidence reported by the New York Post in October linking the former vice president to corrupt financial dealings with China through his son. Had they known, the poll found, President Trump would have won at least 289 Electoral College votes.


wnd--2020-11-20--Report indirectly prioritizes minorities for COVID vaccine

Some legal and health experts recommended minorities get prioritized access to a potential coronavirus vaccine as the federal government begins to finalize distribution plans and two pharmaceutical companies have reported positive trial results .
The National Academies of Science , Engineering and Medicine ( NASEM ) released a final report in October recommending a phased vaccine distribution plan , which would indirectly prioritize minority communities .
U.S. black and indigenous populations have suffered the worst from the pandemic with both groups experiencing a mortality rate exceeding 1 in 1,000 nationally , according to APM Research Lab .
“ Inequities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this moment there is an awakening to the power of racism , poverty , and bias in amplifying the health and economic pain and hardship imposed by this pandemic , ” said Helene Gayle , president and CEO of the Chicago Community Trust , who contributed to the NASEM report .
TRENDING : New poll shows most Republicans say Trump 'rightfully won ' election “ We saw our work as one way to address these wrongs and do our part to work toward a new commitment to promoting health equity , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the prioritization of people with comorbidities and underlying conditions that put them at higher risk of severe coronavirus effects .
It also recommended that people living in “ congregate or overcrowded settings ” — such as prisons , homeless shelters and group homes — and essential workers in the food supply system and public transit would get early access .
Further , it recommended that within each phase of vaccine distribution , health officials should prioritize people who are determined to be in high-vulnerability areas using the CDC Social Vulnerability Index .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the committee believes are most linked to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of color , ” the NASEM press release said .
“ Black , Hispanic or Latinx , American Indian and Alaska Native , and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 with higher rates of transmission , morbidity , and mortality.
” The report was put together by the Committee on Equitable Allocation of Vaccine for the Novel Coronavirus , which was sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will likely play a significant role in determining the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ’ final plan for vaccine distribution as will the Johns Hopkins University and World Health Organization plans .
The committee never explicitly advocates for distributing the vaccine solely based on race , but its recommendations would indirectly lead to minorities receiving prioritization , according to Quartz .
President-elect Joe Biden , who is set to take over from President Donald Trump just as the vaccine is projected to become available to the general public in January , hasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but has said that minorities can ’ t be an afterthought .
Democratic New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo also said that minorities can not be the last to receive the vaccine .
However , some have called for a plan that would place minorities towards the front of the line regardless of the variety of factors NASEM listed .
Melinda Gates , co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , said in June that health care workers should be first in line when it comes to getting the coronavirus vaccine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be next to receive it , she added .
“ In the U.S. , that would be black people next , quite honestly , and many other people of color , ” Gates told TIME .
“ They are having disproportionate effects from COVID-19.
” On Sunday , Democratic New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat tweeted : “ We have an opportunity to right the wrongs inflicted on African Americans , Latinos & all who have suffered & been devastated by this deadly virus .
Ensuring equitable & fair distribution of the vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it ensures their voices are heard.
” “ Priority distribution of the coronavirus vaccine , once approved , should be given to minorities , ” he continued .
In addition to Gates and Espaillat , some experts and scientists have similarly said minorities should get first access .
“ It ’ s racial inequality — inequality in housing , inequality in employment , inequality in access to health care — that produced the underlying diseases , ” Dr. Dayna Bowen Matthew , dean of George Washington University Law School , told The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s wrong .
And it ’ s that inequality that requires us to prioritize by race and ethnicity.
” Dr. Sharon Frey , a professor of infectious diseases at St. Louis University , said that black and Latino groups “ get into a high tier , ” according to The Times .
“ Having a racial preference for a Covid-19 vaccine is not only ethically permissible , but I think it ’ s an ethical imperative , ” said Georgetown University global health law professor Lawrence Gostin , according to STAT News .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ historic structural racism that ’ s resulted in grossly unequal health outcomes for all kinds of diseases , and because Covid-19 has so disproportionately impacted the lives of people of color.
” But Gostin said he worries that such a distribution plan would be tied up in courts causing delays , which would defeat the purpose of such a mandate , according to STAT .
“ My worry is that if there was explicit racial priority given to the Covid-19 vaccine , we could be embroiled in litigation that would really undermine implementation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be at great risk of being overturned by the Supreme Court , particularly with its new conservative majority , ” Gostin said , according to STAT .
Gostin was one of three authors of a paper on the legality of prioritizing minorities in vaccine distribution , according to an Oct. 14 paper published by the Journal of the American Medical Association .
The paper concluded that U.S. courts would find indirect methods of prioritization as more acceptable than explicit race-based classifications .
Dr. Harald Schmidt , an assistant professor of medical ethics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , agreed that the courts would strike down explicit vaccine guidelines based on race , The Times reported .
Schmidt added that beyond the legal challenge , another hurdle is that black people are skeptical of receiving a vaccine .
“ Because of Tuskegee and structural racism within the health care system , you have to make a case much more strongly to the African-American population , ” Schmidt said , according to The Times .
The so-called Tuskagee experiment was a 1932 study in which federal government health officials , including those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black men with latent syphilis to study the disease ’ s progression , according to History.com .
The researchers told the men they would receive free health care during the study , but actually provided only placebos as the men died , went blind or insane and experienced a range of negative health effects .
Former President Bill Clinton issued an official apology for the Tuskegee experiment in 1997 , according to History.com .
A survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and The Undefeated in October found that half of black adults @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Seven in ten black adults believe racial discrimination occurs “ somewhat often ” in the U.S. health care system , according to the survey .
Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna both recently reported positive results from large-scale human trials .
Pfizer said Wednesday that it would seek emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration “ within days.
” Average coronavirus cases and deaths per million have been increasing rapidly nationwide for several weeks , according to The COVID Tracking Project .
On Tuesday , the U.S. reported 1,567 new coronavirus-related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans remained hospitalized from the virus .
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 Thomas Catenacci
Daily Caller News Foundation
Some legal and health experts recommended minorities get prioritized access to a potential coronavirus vaccine as the federal government begins to finalize distribution plans and two pharmaceutical companies have reported positive trial results.
The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) released a final report in October recommending a phased vaccine distribution plan, which would indirectly prioritize minority communities. U.S. black and indigenous populations have suffered the worst from the pandemic with both groups experiencing a mortality rate exceeding 1 in 1,000 nationally, according to APM Research Lab.
“Inequities in health have always existed, but at this moment there is an awakening to the power of racism, poverty, and bias in amplifying the health and economic pain and hardship imposed by this pandemic,” said Helene Gayle, president and CEO of the Chicago Community Trust, who contributed to the NASEM report.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
“We saw our work as one way to address these wrongs and do our part to work toward a new commitment to promoting health equity,” she added.
The NASEM report specifically called for the prioritization of people with comorbidities and underlying conditions that put them at higher risk of severe coronavirus effects. It also recommended that people living in “congregate or overcrowded settings” — such as prisons, homeless shelters and group homes — and essential workers in the food supply system and public transit would get early access.
Further, it recommended that within each phase of vaccine distribution, health officials should prioritize people who are determined to be in high-vulnerability areas using the CDC Social Vulnerability Index.
“This would incorporate the variables that the committee believes are most linked to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of color,” the NASEM press release said. “Black, Hispanic or Latinx, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 with higher rates of transmission, morbidity, and mortality.”
Are minorities being indirectly prioritized for the COVID vaccine? 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% (8 Votes) 0% (0 Votes)
The report was put together by the Committee on Equitable Allocation of Vaccine for the Novel Coronavirus, which was sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health. It will likely play a significant role in determining the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ final plan for vaccine distribution as will the Johns Hopkins University and World Health Organization plans.
The committee never explicitly advocates for distributing the vaccine solely based on race, but its recommendations would indirectly lead to minorities receiving prioritization, according to Quartz.
President-elect Joe Biden, who is set to take over from President Donald Trump just as the vaccine is projected to become available to the general public in January, hasn’t released any definitive plan, but has said that minorities can’t be an afterthought. Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also said that minorities cannot be the last to receive the vaccine.
The Black and Brown communities that were first on the list of who died cannot be last on the list of who receives the vaccine. We cannot and we will not let that happen. pic.twitter.com/HTVkloT4Be — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) November 15, 2020
However, some have called for a plan that would place minorities towards the front of the line regardless of the variety of factors NASEM listed.
Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said in June that health care workers should be first in line when it comes to getting the coronavirus vaccine, according to TIME Magazine. Black people should be next to receive it, she added.
“In the U.S., that would be black people next, quite honestly, and many other people of color,” Gates told TIME. “They are having disproportionate effects from COVID-19.”
On Sunday, Democratic New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat tweeted: “We have an opportunity to right the wrongs inflicted on African Americans, Latinos & all who have suffered & been devastated by this deadly virus. Ensuring equitable & fair distribution of the vaccine will not bring back the lives lost- but it ensures their voices are heard.”
“Priority distribution of the coronavirus vaccine, once approved, should be given to minorities,” he continued.
In addition to Gates and Espaillat, some experts and scientists have similarly said minorities should get first access.
“It’s racial inequality — inequality in housing, inequality in employment, inequality in access to health care — that produced the underlying diseases,” Dr. Dayna Bowen Matthew, dean of George Washington University Law School, told The New York Times. “That’s wrong. And it’s that inequality that requires us to prioritize by race and ethnicity.”
Dr. Sharon Frey, a professor of infectious diseases at St. Louis University, said that black and Latino groups “get into a high tier,” according to The Times.
“Having a racial preference for a Covid-19 vaccine is not only ethically permissible, but I think it’s an ethical imperative,” said Georgetown University global health law professor Lawrence Gostin, according to STAT News. “The reason is both because of historic structural racism that’s resulted in grossly unequal health outcomes for all kinds of diseases, and because Covid-19 has so disproportionately impacted the lives of people of color.”
But Gostin said he worries that such a distribution plan would be tied up in courts causing delays, which would defeat the purpose of such a mandate, according to STAT.
“My worry is that if there was explicit racial priority given to the Covid-19 vaccine, we could be embroiled in litigation that would really undermine implementation of the vaccine process, and also be at great risk of being overturned by the Supreme Court, particularly with its new conservative majority,” Gostin said, according to STAT.
Gostin was one of three authors of a paper on the legality of prioritizing minorities in vaccine distribution, according to an Oct. 14 paper published by the Journal of the American Medical Association. The paper concluded that U.S. courts would find indirect methods of prioritization as more acceptable than explicit race-based classifications.
Dr. Harald Schmidt, an assistant professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania, agreed that the courts would strike down explicit vaccine guidelines based on race, The Times reported. Schmidt added that beyond the legal challenge, another hurdle is that black people are skeptical of receiving a vaccine.
“Because of Tuskegee and structural racism within the health care system, you have to make a case much more strongly to the African-American population,” Schmidt said, according to The Times.
The so-called Tuskagee experiment was a 1932 study in which federal government health officials, including those from the CDC, selected hundreds of black men with latent syphilis to study the disease’s progression, according to History.com. The researchers told the men they would receive free health care during the study, but actually provided only placebos as the men died, went blind or insane and experienced a range of negative health effects.
Former President Bill Clinton issued an official apology for the Tuskegee experiment in 1997, according to History.com.
A survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and The Undefeated in October found that half of black adults do not plan on getting the vaccine. Seven in ten black adults believe racial discrimination occurs “somewhat often” in the U.S. health care system, according to the survey.
Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna both recently reported positive results from large-scale human trials. Pfizer said Wednesday that it would seek emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration “within days.”
Average coronavirus cases and deaths per million have been increasing rapidly nationwide for several weeks, according to The COVID Tracking Project. On Tuesday, the U.S. reported 1,567 new coronavirus-related deaths and 155,835 new cases while 76,823 Americans remained hospitalized from the virus.
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--2020-11-20--Senators: Biden-family deals with China raise 'extortion concerns'

New evidence of links between Joe Biden 's scandal-plagued son Hunter and communist China were released Wednesday by two Senate committees .
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa , and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson , R-Wis. , said Hunter Biden and his business associates `` were working deals as late as 2017 tied to communist China and Russian energy interests , '' reports Just the News .
The deals created potential counterintelligence concerns for Joe Biden 's family , the senators said .
The information comes amid recounts and court challenges in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Joe Biden .
A poll commissioned by the Media Research Center found more than one-third of voters who chose Joe Biden were not aware of the evidence reported by the New York Post in October linking the former vice president to corrupt financial dealings with China through his son .
Had they known , the poll found , President Trump would have won at least 289 Electoral College votes .
TRENDING : New poll shows most Republicans say Trump 'rightfully won ' election The senators have been given access to text messages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bobulinski , a former business associate of Hunter Biden who is providing information to the Senate as well as the FBI about the Biden business activities .
The senators said : `` These new records confirm the connections between the Biden family and the communist Chinese government , as well as the links between Hunter Biden 's business associates and the Russian government , and further support the Committees ' September 23 , 2020 report 's finding that such relationships created counterintelligence and extortion concerns . ''
Solomon explained the evidence `` traces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bobulinski and an American businessman close to the Biden family named Rob Walker . ''
`` The senators released an email in which Walker described himself as 'being a surrogate for H or Jim when gauging opportunities . '
The committee said that in the email ' H appears to refer to Hunter Biden , and Jim appears to refer to Joe Biden 's brother , James Biden . '
'' The senators explained among the subjects of discussion was CEFC China Energy , led by Ye Jianming .
`` The senators stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese Communist Party and Chinese military , the People 's Liberation Army ' and worked with Hunter Biden and his associates to pursue energy deals around the globe , including in Oman , France and Russia .
The committee said a company affiliated with Ye wired money to U.S. accounts tied to Biden 's associates in 2017 , '' Just the News explained .
The senators wrote : `` In 2017 , during the time that Ye 's companies were sending millions of dollars to Hunter Biden associated companies , Ye had business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In effect , Ye appears to have been China 's unofficial bridge to Russia on energy .
As noted in the Committees ' September 23 , 2020 report , in September 2017 , CEFC announced its intention to purchase a 14.2 percent stake in the Russian state-owned energy company , Rosneft , for approximately $ 9 billion . ''
Solomon reported the committee report also established `` direct communications in which Hunter Biden acknowledged he 'was in close contact with Ye in 2017 and was aware of these developments . '
'' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , did not return a call seeking comment Wednesday evening , the JTN report said .
Johnson told Just the News in an interview Wednesday night that the committees ' September report on Biden family business dealings had prompted news witnesses to come forward and new evidence to surface .

New evidence of links between Joe Biden's scandal-plagued son Hunter and communist China were released Wednesday by two Senate committees.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said Hunter Biden and his business associates "were working deals as late as 2017 tied to communist China and Russian energy interests," reports Just the News.
The deals created potential counterintelligence concerns for Joe Biden's family, the senators said. The information comes amid recounts and court challenges in the 2020 presidential race between President Trump and Joe Biden.
A poll commissioned by the Media Research Center found more than one-third of voters who chose Joe Biden were not aware of the evidence reported by the New York Post in October linking the former vice president to corrupt financial dealings with China through his son. Had they known, the poll found, President Trump would have won at least 289 Electoral College votes.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The senators have been given access to text messages, business memos and emails by Tony Bobulinski, a former business associate of Hunter Biden who is providing information to the Senate as well as the FBI about the Biden business activities.
The senators said: "These new records confirm the connections between the Biden family and the communist Chinese government, as well as the links between Hunter Biden's business associates and the Russian government, and further support the Committees' September 23, 2020 report's finding that such relationships created counterintelligence and extortion concerns."
Solomon explained the evidence "traces business deals discussed between Hunter Biden, Bobulinski and an American businessman close to the Biden family named Rob Walker."
"The senators released an email in which Walker described himself as 'being a surrogate for H or Jim when gauging opportunities.' The committee said that in the email 'H appears to refer to Hunter Biden, and Jim appears to refer to Joe Biden's brother, James Biden.'"
Do Hunter Biden's deals with China raise extortion concerns? 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% (50 Votes) 0% (0 Votes)
The senators explained among the subjects of discussion was CEFC China Energy, led by Ye Jianming.
"The senators stated that Ye 'had established ties to the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese military, the People's Liberation Army' and worked with Hunter Biden and his associates to pursue energy deals around the globe, including in Oman, France and Russia. The committee said a company affiliated with Ye wired money to U.S. accounts tied to Biden's associates in 2017," Just the News explained.
The senators wrote: "In 2017, during the time that Ye's companies were sending millions of dollars to Hunter Biden associated companies, Ye had business dealings with Kremlin-controlled companies and Kremlin-aligned businessmen. In effect, Ye appears to have been China's unofficial bridge to Russia on energy. As noted in the Committees' September 23, 2020 report, in September 2017, CEFC announced its intention to purchase a 14.2 percent stake in the Russian state-owned energy company, Rosneft, for approximately $9 billion."
Solomon reported the committee report also established "direct communications in which Hunter Biden acknowledged he 'was in close contact with Ye in 2017 and was aware of these developments.'"
Hunter Biden's attorney, George Mesires, did not return a call seeking comment Wednesday evening, the JTN report said.
Johnson told Just the News in an interview Wednesday night that the committees' September report on Biden family business dealings had prompted news witnesses to come forward and new evidence to surface.


wnd--2020-11-20--Facebook accused of illegal campaign contribution to Biden

Facebook has been accused in a complaint to the Federal Election Commission of illegally contributing some $ 50,000 to the campaign of Joe Biden and Democratic Sen. Gary Peters by censoring a truthful ad that criticized his support for the proposed Equality Act promoting transgenderism .
The social media company cited a third-party `` fact-checker '' that argued the ad `` lacked context . ''
But even the fact-checker , Politifact , had to admit the ad was not in error .
The complaint by the American Principles Project seeks an immediate investigation into the censorship of its ad concerning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compete in girls sports and much more .
It also wants an investigation into `` the in-kind contributions made by Respondent Facebook , Inc. to the campaign of Democrat U.S .
Senator Gary Peters from Michigan , to the campaign of Joe Biden and to the Democrat Party , by reasons of its fact-checking services and its content suppressive adverse action taken against Complainant in this instance … or in the alternative its violation of duties of disclosure and reporting . ''
TRENDING : New poll shows most Republicans say Trump 'rightfully won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until it was censored : Terry Schilling , executive director of the APP , said that by `` censoring this ad on such a flimsy basis , and by allowing ads in favor of Democrats to run unfettered on its platform , Facebook materially contributed to the campaigns of Peters and Biden . ''
`` Our complaint alleges that this in-kind contribution amounted to nearly $ 50,000 — a clear violation of federal campaign finance law , '' he said .
APP pointed out that during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the censorship .
The complaint points out that suppressing information violates Facebook 's own policies , meaning the company was not acting `` in the ordinary course of business '' when it attacked the ad .
`` Instead , Facebook acted in clandestine conformity with a demonstrated pattern of staff and institutional support for Democrat Party candidates and issues .
Through its use of a subjective and dubious opinion from its fact-checking 'partner ' Politifact regarding the APP PAC ad in questions , one that Facebook knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion that would result in wrongfully suppressing the APP PAC ad , Facebook acted as a political campaign surrogate for Democrat candidate Gary Peters and the Democrat Party and its presidential candidate Joe Biden , '' the complaint said .
`` It did so by deliberately and wrongfully suppressing from its Facebook platform , at a critical juncture in the election , APP PAC 's advertisement that criticized Gary Peters , the Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan and Democrat president candidate Joe Biden on an issue of particular importance to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppression played a role in the 2020 election was confirmed by a a Media Research Center poll of Biden voters that found the outcome was impacted by the censorship of the Hunter Biden story by Twitter , Facebook and establishment media .
PJMedia reported that even though PolitiFact `` could find no factual error in the ad , the 'fact-check ' claimed the ad was 'missing context ' because it contradicted Biden ’ s transgender agenda .
Facebook used this 'fact-check ' to flag the ad . ''
The ad simply pointed out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fair shot at competing when regulators redefine words that allow a boy to compete in girls ' events .
The ad said : `` But what if that shot was taken away by a competitor who claims to be a girl but was born a boy ?
Senator Gary Peters and Joe Biden support legislation that would destroy girls ’ sports .
They call it equality .
Really ?
That ’ s not fair .
Not fair at all . ''
The FEC complaint estimates that because of the suppression , the PAC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The necessary corollary is that the campaign of U.S .
Senator Gary Peters was gifted the financial value of the APP PAC ad that would have reached those remaining 388,608 voters with the contra-Peters ad , but never did because of Facebook ’ s actions ; thus , at $ 0.11 per voter contact x 388,608 voters not reached , this amounts to a $ 47,746.88 in-kind contribution through Facebook services to the campaign of Democrat Gary Peters , '' the complaint said .
The transgender sports issue is in federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaint in Connecticut argues : `` While boys and girls have comparable athletic capabilities before boys hit puberty , male puberty quickly increases the levels of circulating testosterone in healthy teen and adult males to levels ten to twenty times higher than the levels that occur in healthy adult females , and this natural flood of testosterone drives a wide range of physiological changes that give males a powerful physiological athletic advantage over females .
Inescapable biological facts of the human species [ are ] not stereotypes , ‘ social constructs , ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Facebook has been accused in a complaint to the Federal Election Commission of illegally contributing some $50,000 to the campaign of Joe Biden and Democratic Sen. Gary Peters by censoring a truthful ad that criticized his support for the proposed Equality Act promoting transgenderism.
The social media company cited a third-party "fact-checker" that argued the ad "lacked context." But even the fact-checker, Politifact, had to admit the ad was not in error.
The complaint by the American Principles Project seeks an immediate investigation into the censorship of its ad concerning the law that would allow boys to compete in girls sports and much more.
It also wants an investigation into "the in-kind contributions made by Respondent Facebook, Inc. to the campaign of Democrat U.S. Senator Gary Peters from Michigan, to the campaign of Joe Biden and to the Democrat Party, by reasons of its fact-checking services and its content suppressive adverse action taken against Complainant in this instance … or in the alternative its violation of duties of disclosure and reporting."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The APP ad that ran until it was censored:
Terry Schilling, executive director of the APP, said that by "censoring this ad on such a flimsy basis, and by allowing ads in favor of Democrats to run unfettered on its platform, Facebook materially contributed to the campaigns of Peters and Biden."
"Our complaint alleges that this in-kind contribution amounted to nearly $50,000 — a clear violation of federal campaign finance law," he said.
Should Facebook be investigated for its illegal campaign contribution to Biden? 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% (78 Votes) 0% (0 Votes)
APP pointed out that during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this week, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, asked Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the censorship.
Zuckerberg dodged the question:
The complaint points out that suppressing information violates Facebook's own policies, meaning the company was not acting "in the ordinary course of business" when it attacked the ad.
"Instead, Facebook acted in clandestine conformity with a demonstrated pattern of staff and institutional support for Democrat Party candidates and issues. Through its use of a subjective and dubious opinion from its fact-checking 'partner' Politifact regarding the APP PAC ad in questions, one that Facebook knew or should have known was a baseless opinion that would result in wrongfully suppressing the APP PAC ad, Facebook acted as a political campaign surrogate for Democrat candidate Gary Peters and the Democrat Party and its presidential candidate Joe Biden," the complaint said.
"It did so by deliberately and wrongfully suppressing from its Facebook platform, at a critical juncture in the election, APP PAC's advertisement that criticized Gary Peters, the Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan and Democrat president candidate Joe Biden on an issue of particular importance to the voters of Michigan."
That such suppression played a role in the 2020 election was confirmed by a a Media Research Center poll of Biden voters that found the outcome was impacted by the censorship of the Hunter Biden story by Twitter, Facebook and establishment media.
PJMedia reported that even though PolitiFact "could find no factual error in the ad, the 'fact-check' claimed the ad was 'missing context' because it contradicted Biden’s transgender agenda. Facebook used this 'fact-check' to flag the ad."
The ad simply pointed out that female athletes are deprived of a fair shot at competing when regulators redefine words that allow a boy to compete in girls' events.
The ad said: "But what if that shot was taken away by a competitor who claims to be a girl but was born a boy? Senator Gary Peters and Joe Biden support legislation that would destroy girls’ sports. They call it equality. Really? That’s not fair. Not fair at all."
The FEC complaint estimates that because of the suppression, the PAC was unable to reach about 390,000 voters.
"The necessary corollary is that the campaign of U.S. Senator Gary Peters was gifted the financial value of the APP PAC ad that would have reached those remaining 388,608 voters with the contra-Peters ad, but never did because of Facebook’s actions; thus, at $0.11 per voter contact x 388,608 voters not reached, this amounts to a $47,746.88 in-kind contribution through Facebook services to the campaign of Democrat Gary Peters," the complaint said.
The transgender sports issue is in federal court in Idaho and Connecticut.
The complaint in Connecticut argues: "While boys and girls have comparable athletic capabilities before boys hit puberty, male puberty quickly increases the levels of circulating testosterone in healthy teen and adult males to levels ten to twenty times higher than the levels that occur in healthy adult females, and this natural flood of testosterone drives a wide range of physiological changes that give males a powerful physiological athletic advantage over females. Inescapable biological facts of the human species [are] not stereotypes, ‘social constructs,’ or relicts of past discrimination."


wnd--2020-11-20--Fox News loses to MSNBC for 1st time since 2001

Amid a ratings slide since Election Day , the Fox News Channel 's morning show `` Fox & Friends '' and its daytime programming lost to rival MSNBC for the first time since 2001 , according to AdWeek .
MSNBC 's `` Morning Joe , '' hosted by Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski , drew an average of 1.6 million total viewers for the previous week compared to 1.4 million for `` Fox & Friends . ''
The Wrap reported MSNBC also beat Fox News for the first time since 2001 in its `` dayside '' coverage , weekdays 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million total dayside viewers to Fox News ' 1.52 million , representing growth for MSNBC of 30 % from the week prior to the election .
The Fox News lineup slipped 33 % from the final week of October 2020 .
TRENDING : New poll shows most Republicans say Trump 'rightfully won ' election The ratings dip for Fox News began with the network calling Arizona for Joe Biden early then declaring Biden president-elect while the Trump campaign challenges the results in battleground states , contending it has a path to victory .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' over a 24-hour period , The Wrap reported , Fox News beat MSNBC , with personalities Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity leading the way .
Carlson , Hannity and host Laura Ingraham continue to give time to the Trump campaign 's election-fraud claims .
The conservative blog RedState said Republicans said have grown tired of `` being lectured and insulted by some of Fox News ’ anchors . ''
`` We ’ ve seen it with Chris Wallace , Neil Cavuto and Sandra Smith ( caught on a hot mic ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose his mind on a Trump surrogate , '' the blog said .
`` Republicans don ’ t need a news network that lies to them .
They do need one that doesn ’ t needlessly insult them and their viewpoints . ''
ZeroHedge reported the `` ongoing backlash against Fox News over the network 's anti-Trump election coverage and never-Trump anchors ( including Biden debate wingman Chris Wallace ) has put the network in a viewership crisis which has not gone unnoticed by their competitors . ''
President Trump wrote on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely collapsed .
Weekend daytime even WORSE .
Very sad to watch this happen , but they forgot what made them successful , what got them there .
They forgot the Golden Goose .
The biggest difference between the 2016 Election , and 2020 , was @ FoxNews ! ''
The antipathy toward Fox News was evident during the pro-Trump rally in Washington last Saturday .

Amid a ratings slide since Election Day, the Fox News Channel's morning show "Fox & Friends" and its daytime programming lost to rival MSNBC for the first time since 2001, according to AdWeek.
MSNBC's "Morning Joe," hosted by Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, drew an average of 1.6 million total viewers for the previous week compared to 1.4 million for "Fox & Friends."
The Wrap reported MSNBC also beat Fox News for the first time since 2001 in its "dayside" coverage, weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
MSNBC averaged 1.64 million total dayside viewers to Fox News' 1.52 million, representing growth for MSNBC of 30% from the week prior to the election. The Fox News lineup slipped 33% from the final week of October 2020.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The ratings dip for Fox News began with the network calling Arizona for Joe Biden early then declaring Biden president-elect while the Trump campaign challenges the results in battleground states, contending it has a path to victory.
In primetime and in "total day" over a 24-hour period, The Wrap reported, Fox News beat MSNBC, with personalities Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity leading the way. Carlson, Hannity and host Laura Ingraham continue to give time to the Trump campaign's election-fraud claims.
The conservative blog RedState said Republicans said have grown tired of "being lectured and insulted by some of Fox News’ anchors."
"We’ve seen it with Chris Wallace, Neil Cavuto and Sandra Smith (caught on a hot mic). More recently, we saw Leland Vittert lose his mind on a Trump surrogate," the blog said. "Republicans don’t need a news network that lies to them. They do need one that doesn’t needlessly insult them and their viewpoints."
Are people overreacting to Fox News coverage of the election? 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. 5% (19 Votes) 95% (329 Votes)
ZeroHedge reported the "ongoing backlash against Fox News over the network's anti-Trump election coverage and never-Trump anchors (including Biden debate wingman Chris Wallace) has put the network in a viewership crisis which has not gone unnoticed by their competitors."
President Trump wrote on Twitter: "@FoxNews daytime ratings have completely collapsed. Weekend daytime even WORSE. Very sad to watch this happen, but they forgot what made them successful, what got them there. They forgot the Golden Goose. The biggest difference between the 2016 Election, and 2020, was @FoxNews!"
The antipathy toward Fox News was evident during the pro-Trump rally in Washington last Saturday.


wnd--2020-11-20--Police Department stops accepting firearm permit applications due to COVID-19

The Nantucket Police Department in Massachusetts announced Wednesday that its officers would indefinitely halt new weapons permit applications due to heightened risk of coronavirus spread .
The department initially announced the decision on Twitter , writing that all fingerprint services were to be suspended , but the post was removed shortly after .
The law enforcement body said the reason for its decision was that the employees who fielded the applications expressed “ concern that they could not safely do their jobs , ” according to a press release .
Massachusetts issues both Licenses to Carry ( LTC ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a state website .
Unlike most states which issue only concealed weapons licenses , residents in the commonwealth need a FID permit to purchase firearms of any kind , meaning Nantucket PD ’ s refusal to accept applications could effectively prohibit someone from first-time gun ownership entirely .
TRENDING : New poll shows most Republicans say Trump 'rightfully won ' election “ Effective Wednesday , November 18 , 2020 the Nantucket Police Department has suspended accepting any applications for permits or licenses that require a fingerprint based criminal records check , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this suspension are firearms related permits such as LTC permits and FID Cards.
” “ This action was taken after employees responsible for obtaining these fingerprints expressed their concern that they could not safely do their jobs with the workplace safety procedures that we have in place .
Because of the processes involved in obtaining these permits it is impossible to do while following state guidelines for social distancing in the workplace.
” The department wrote that it made a similar move to halt permit applications during the beginning of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made “ adequate workplace safety procedures.
” “ We suspended accepting such applications earlier in the year when this pandemic first started and non-essential personnel were required to work from home , ” Nantucket PD wrote .
“ We resumed accepting these permits on July 14th after implementing what we believed to be adequate workplace safety procedures.
” “ However , at the time the island was not experiencing many , if any , cases of COVID .
That has changed .
And after listening to our employees , we agree that their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspended firearms applications in March and were subsequently sued by the Gun Owners of America , a Second Amendment organization , and a number of city residents over the ensuing backlog of requests , according to a press release .
Lt. Angus MacVicar of the Nantucket Police Department did not immediately respond to questions from the Daily Caller News Foundation .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our original content , please contact [ email protected ]

By Jake Dima
Daily Caller News Foundation
The Nantucket Police Department in Massachusetts announced Wednesday that its officers would indefinitely halt new weapons permit applications due to heightened risk of coronavirus spread.
The department initially announced the decision on Twitter, writing that all fingerprint services were to be suspended, but the post was removed shortly after. The law enforcement body said the reason for its decision was that the employees who fielded the applications expressed “concern that they could not safely do their jobs,” according to a press release.
Massachusetts issues both Licenses to Carry (LTC) and Firearms Identification Cards (FID), according to a state website. Unlike most states which issue only concealed weapons licenses, residents in the commonwealth need a FID permit to purchase firearms of any kind, meaning Nantucket PD’s refusal to accept applications could effectively prohibit someone from first-time gun ownership entirely.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
“Effective Wednesday, November 18, 2020 the Nantucket Police Department has suspended accepting any applications for permits or licenses that require a fingerprint based criminal records check,” the department wrote. “Included in this suspension are firearms related permits such as LTC permits and FID Cards.”
“This action was taken after employees responsible for obtaining these fingerprints expressed their concern that they could not safely do their jobs with the workplace safety procedures that we have in place. Because of the processes involved in obtaining these permits it is impossible to do while following state guidelines for social distancing in the workplace.”
PRESS RELEASE Applications for Permits and Licenses Requiring a fingerprint based Criminal Records Check #Nantucket pic.twitter.com/FbZRl3KlHk — Nantucket Police (@NantucketPolice) November 18, 2020
Is COVID a sufficient excuse to stop issuing firearms permits? 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. 2% (1 Votes) 98% (49 Votes)
The department wrote that it made a similar move to halt permit applications during the beginning of the pandemic, but resumed in July when they made “adequate workplace safety procedures.”
“We suspended accepting such applications earlier in the year when this pandemic first started and non-essential personnel were required to work from home,” Nantucket PD wrote. “We resumed accepting these permits on July 14th after implementing what we believed to be adequate workplace safety procedures.”
“However, at the time the island was not experiencing many, if any, cases of COVID. That has changed. And after listening to our employees, we agree that their concerns are potentially valid.”
Philadelphia police suspended firearms applications in March and were subsequently sued by the Gun Owners of America, a Second Amendment organization, and a number of city residents over the ensuing backlog of requests, according to a press release.
Lt. Angus MacVicar of the Nantucket Police Department did not immediately respond to questions from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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--2020-11-20--Watch video highlighting Georgia Senate candidate Warnock's shocking politics

With Republican control of the Senate on the line , former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley 's advocacy group issued a video spotlighting the radical views of Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock .
The video by Stand for America casts the candidate as `` anti American , anti-police , anti-Israel , anti-Semitic , anti-jobs , anti-taxpayer . ''
`` That 's a lot of reasons to stand against Raphael Warnock .
That 's a lot of reasons to stand for America , '' the video concludes , the Washington Free Beacon reported .
TRENDING : New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ' election Warnock is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler in a runoff vote Jan. 5 .
The other race is Democrat Jon Ossoff challenging incumbent Republican Sen. David Perdue .
The Republicans need to win only one of the two races to maintain their majority in the Senate .
Warnock has drawn attention for stating in a sermon that a Christian ca n't serve in the military and that President Trump was elected because of the `` moral bankruptcy '' of the American church .
The new video notes Warnock praised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who famously said , `` God d -- - America ! ''
The Free Beacon said Warnock has evaded questions about many of the topics raised in Stand for America 's video .
`` In 1995 he worked for a church that invited Castro to give a speech to its congregation , and he would n't answer when CNN 's Jake Tapper asked him if he attended .
He also dodged a question about whether Wright is an anti-Semite , although the Chicago preacher blamed 'them Jews ' for driving a wedge between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
He decried the `` moral bankruptcy of the American church '' following the 2016 presidential election , citing heavy support among white evangelicals and Catholics for Donald Trump .
`` Perhaps more than anything else we have seen in modern times , a rise of Trump and Trumpism on the shoulders of Christians brings into sharp focus the moral bankruptcy of the American church , '' Warnock said during a lecture in 2016 .
Loeffler 's campaign already has seized on Warnock 's condemnation of `` whiteness '' from the pulpit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Castro .
In a 2011 sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta , where he serves as senior pastor , Warnock said , `` America , nobody can serve God and the military .
`` America choose ye this day who you will serve .
Choose ye this day ! ''
he said .
The Free Beacon noted Georgia is home to the fifth largest active duty military population in the country .

With Republican control of the Senate on the line, former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley's advocacy group issued a video spotlighting the radical views of Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock.
The video by Stand for America casts the candidate as "anti American, anti-police, anti-Israel, anti-Semitic, anti-jobs, anti-taxpayer."
"That's a lot of reasons to stand against Raphael Warnock. That's a lot of reasons to stand for America," the video concludes, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
See the video:
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Warnock is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler in a runoff vote Jan. 5. The other race is Democrat Jon Ossoff challenging incumbent Republican Sen. David Perdue.
The Republicans need to win only one of the two races to maintain their majority in the Senate.
Warnock has drawn attention for stating in a sermon that a Christian can't serve in the military and that President Trump was elected because of the "moral bankruptcy" of the American church.
Are Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock's views too radical? 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% (195 Votes) 0% (0 Votes)
The new video notes Warnock praised Jeremiah Wright, the Barack Obama pastor who famously said, "God d--- America!"
The Free Beacon said Warnock has evaded questions about many of the topics raised in Stand for America's video.
"In 1995 he worked for a church that invited Castro to give a speech to its congregation, and he wouldn't answer when CNN's Jake Tapper asked him if he attended. He also dodged a question about whether Wright is an anti-Semite, although the Chicago preacher blamed 'them Jews' for driving a wedge between himself and his onetime congregant Barack Obama."
He decried the "moral bankruptcy of the American church" following the 2016 presidential election, citing heavy support among white evangelicals and Catholics for Donald Trump.
"Perhaps more than anything else we have seen in modern times, a rise of Trump and Trumpism on the shoulders of Christians brings into sharp focus the moral bankruptcy of the American church," Warnock said during a lecture in 2016.
WATCH:
Loeffler's campaign already has seized on Warnock's condemnation of "whiteness" from the pulpit and his former church's hosting of Castro.
In a 2011 sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where he serves as senior pastor, Warnock said, "America, nobody can serve God and the military.
"America choose ye this day who you will serve. Choose ye this day!" he said.
The Free Beacon noted Georgia is home to the fifth largest active duty military population in the country.
See Warnock's 2011 denunciation of military service:


wnd--2020-11-20--The Great Reset: What our globalist overlords are planning

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic , `` the world is facing a massive onslaught against individual liberty and private property . ''
`` [ A ] new kind of collectivism is about to emerge , '' warns economist Antony Mueller in the Mises Wire .
`` Like the communism of the past , the new project appeals to the public with the assurance of technological advancement and social inclusion … ecological sustainability and the promise of longevity or even immortality . ''
`` In reality , however , '' cautions Mueller , `` these promises are deeply dystopian . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Build Back Better , '' a motto of Klaus Schwab , the utopian pied piper who is founder and CEO of the World Economic Forum ( part of `` the United Nations network '' ) that brings together globalist thinkers and multinational corporate heads in Davos , Switzerland .
Schwab foresees COVID-19 hastening a `` Fourth Industrial Revolution '' in which Americans will be `` propertyless but happy '' in a world where giant corporations and global government have seamlessly merged .
TRENDING : New poll shows most Republicans say Trump 'rightfully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historical moment of time not only to fight the … virus but to shape the system … , '' writes Schwab .
Once we transform into this Fourth Industrial Age , he believes , the world will `` never '' return to `` normal . ''
Schwab calls this change `` the Great Reset . ''
`` This is our chance to accelerate our pre-pandemic efforts , '' says Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , `` to re-imagine economic systems that actually address global challenges like extreme poverty , inequality and climate change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free enterprise will disappear , replaced by the economy advocated by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren .
Big businesses must have government charters granted only if leftist politicians see them as serving not stockholders but primarily `` stakeholders . ''
Companies will be required to produce `` environmentally sustainable '' goods and to share much of their profits and governance with ideological politicians , environmentalists and radical activists .
Corporations must do whatever such stakeholders deem good for the world – or be burned at the stake by losing their government charter to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products with heavily taxed robots and Artificial Intelligence , will be squeezed hard to provide revenue for a human population largely living on government-provided Universal Basic Income welfare checks , as Schwab explores in his latest book , `` Stakeholder Capitalism , '' to be published in February 2021 .
Giant corporations and their billionaire owners will still exist – which is why Joe Biden got megatons of cash from Wall Street , Silicon Valley , giant banks and the credit card companies he served for decades as the senator from corporate-run Delaware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devoured by mega-corporations and a government that squeezes the capital out of capitalism .
Ordinary folks will own nothing , rent everything and be serfs dependent on government largesse .
COVID-19 justified the shutdowns bankrupting mom-and-pop capitalism .
The pandemic has opened the reset door to Aldous Huxley 's `` Brave New World , '' whose residents enjoyed unending doses of the mind-and-mood-controlling drug Soma .
Oregon just legalized heroin and psychedelics , and several more states legalized potent marijuana to dumb down voters .
The Great Reset `` will lead to … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and biological identity , '' Schwab predicts in his book `` Shaping the Future of the Fourth Industrial Revolution . ''
He cheers this future where technology will allow authorities to `` intrude into the hitherto private space of our minds , reading our thoughts and influencing our behavior . ''
These microchip and other technologies `` will not stop at becoming part of the physical world around us , '' writes Schwab .
`` They will become part of us . ''
These technologies , he writes , `` will lift humanity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
One person 's utopian dream is another 's dystopian nightmare .
For many leftists , this transhumanist future of humans turned into cyborgs by a collectivist government similar to the `` Star Trek '' Borg is their revolutionary dream .
But many liberal – not leftist – Democrats and Donald Trump populists might come together to oppose being ruled by a global corporate state that would crush individual freedom .
Schwab 's Great Reset looks a lot like Communist China , with its `` social credit '' surveillance and control , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America – its neo-racism based on the Nazi-like belief that the Han Chinese are a `` master race '' entitled to snuff out the Neanderthals whom leftists deem inferior to their superior `` wokeness . ''
China drugged America with vast amounts of the opioid fentanyl , and crippled President Trump 's soaring economy and our democracy by infecting us with a fast-mutating coronavirus .
It intimidates Americans with Nazi Brownshirt-like violence by its Black Lives Matter and Antifa Marxist comrades .
If president , Joe Biden , Communist China 's longtime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free-market capitalism and individual liberty , and make Red China ruler of a reset world .
Lowell Ponte is a former Reader 's Digest Roving Editor .
His articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal , the New York Times and other major publications .
His latest paper co-authored with Craig R. Smith , `` The Secret War , '' shows how to rethink several areas of investment to protect and grow your savings against little-known economic threats .
For a free , postpaid copy , call toll-free 800-630-1492 .

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, "the world is facing a massive onslaught against individual liberty and private property."
"[A] new kind of collectivism is about to emerge," warns economist Antony Mueller in the Mises Wire. "Like the communism of the past, the new project appeals to the public with the assurance of technological advancement and social inclusion … ecological sustainability and the promise of longevity or even immortality."
"In reality, however," cautions Mueller, "these promises are deeply dystopian."
Presidential candidate Joe Biden adopted the slogan "Build Back Better," a motto of Klaus Schwab, the utopian pied piper who is founder and CEO of the World Economic Forum (part of "the United Nations network") that brings together globalist thinkers and multinational corporate heads in Davos, Switzerland.
Schwab foresees COVID-19 hastening a "Fourth Industrial Revolution" in which Americans will be "propertyless but happy" in a world where giant corporations and global government have seamlessly merged.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"Now is the historical moment of time not only to fight the … virus but to shape the system …," writes Schwab. Once we transform into this Fourth Industrial Age, he believes, the world will "never" return to "normal."
Schwab calls this change "the Great Reset." "This is our chance to accelerate our pre-pandemic efforts," says Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, "to re-imagine economic systems that actually address global challenges like extreme poverty, inequality and climate change."
In this collectivist future, free enterprise will disappear, replaced by the economy advocated by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Big businesses must have government charters granted only if leftist politicians see them as serving not stockholders but primarily "stakeholders."
Companies will be required to produce "environmentally sustainable" goods and to share much of their profits and governance with ideological politicians, environmentalists and radical activists. Corporations must do whatever such stakeholders deem good for the world – or be burned at the stake by losing their government charter to do business.
Companies, which will make products with heavily taxed robots and Artificial Intelligence, will be squeezed hard to provide revenue for a human population largely living on government-provided Universal Basic Income welfare checks, as Schwab explores in his latest book, "Stakeholder Capitalism," to be published in February 2021.
Giant corporations and their billionaire owners will still exist – which is why Joe Biden got megatons of cash from Wall Street, Silicon Valley, giant banks and the credit card companies he served for decades as the senator from corporate-run Delaware.
But grassroots little businesses will be devoured by mega-corporations and a government that squeezes the capital out of capitalism. Ordinary folks will own nothing, rent everything and be serfs dependent on government largesse. COVID-19 justified the shutdowns bankrupting mom-and-pop capitalism.
The pandemic has opened the reset door to Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World," whose residents enjoyed unending doses of the mind-and-mood-controlling drug Soma. Oregon just legalized heroin and psychedelics, and several more states legalized potent marijuana to dumb down voters.
The Great Reset "will lead to … a fusion of our physical, digital and biological identity," Schwab predicts in his book "Shaping the Future of the Fourth Industrial Revolution." He cheers this future where technology will allow authorities to "intrude into the hitherto private space of our minds, reading our thoughts and influencing our behavior."
These microchip and other technologies "will not stop at becoming part of the physical world around us," writes Schwab. "They will become part of us." These technologies, he writes, "will lift humanity into a new collective and moral consciousness."
One person's utopian dream is another's dystopian nightmare. For many leftists, this transhumanist future of humans turned into cyborgs by a collectivist government similar to the "Star Trek" Borg is their revolutionary dream. But many liberal – not leftist – Democrats and Donald Trump populists might come together to oppose being ruled by a global corporate state that would crush individual freedom.
Schwab's Great Reset looks a lot like Communist China, with its "social credit" surveillance and control, totalitarianism and – like violent leftist thugs in America – its neo-racism based on the Nazi-like belief that the Han Chinese are a "master race" entitled to snuff out the Neanderthals whom leftists deem inferior to their superior "wokeness."
China drugged America with vast amounts of the opioid fentanyl, and crippled President Trump's soaring economy and our democracy by infecting us with a fast-mutating coronavirus. It intimidates Americans with Nazi Brownshirt-like violence by its Black Lives Matter and Antifa Marxist comrades. If president, Joe Biden, Communist China's longtime puppet, would destroy America, kill free-market capitalism and individual liberty, and make Red China ruler of a reset world.
Lowell Ponte is a former Reader's Digest Roving Editor. His articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and other major publications. His latest paper co-authored with Craig R. Smith, "The Secret War," shows how to rethink several areas of investment to protect and grow your savings against little-known economic threats. For a free, postpaid copy, call toll-free 800-630-1492.


wnd--2020-11-21--Theater critic backs Christian actress fired for beliefs

A prominent British theater critic has announced his support for a Christian actress who was fired from a London production and dropped by her agency because she believes homosexual behavior is immoral .
The critic , Lloyd Evans , has written in support of actress Seyi Omooba , who was dropped by a London West End theater when someone reported her for a 2014 Facebook post , said the British charity Christian Concern .
Evans submitted an expert report in Omooba 's lawsuit challenging her dismissal .
`` It is not of any importance for an actor to agree with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a character in a play , '' he wrote .
`` Were that necessary , the art of drama would not exist , and many of the plays we regard as classics would be impossible to stage . ''
TRENDING : Flashback : Just last year Dem senators warned of voting machines switching votes The actress also received support from Martin Parsons , a prominent theologian , who said Omooba 's Facebook statement was `` a fair and reasonable expression of Christian beliefs , as those beliefs have historically been held by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history . ''
The judge in the case , however , handled ordered the statements by Evans and Parsons to be excluded from the case .
WND reported Omooba was blacklisted by the theater industry in London in an action that sent a `` chilling '' message to members of the faith , according to Andrea Williams of the Christian Legal Center .
The message , said Williams , is that if you `` express and hold mainstream biblical views , you will be punished and will lose your career if you do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Omooba , 25 , had won a lead role as Celie a production of `` The Color Purple '' by Leicester Curve Theatre and the Birmingham Hippodrome .
It came after a review of her debut in the West End musical `` Ragtime '' described her as `` jaw-droppingly good , and her ferocious gospel vocals ... pin you to your seat .
This is her professional debut , and she ’ s someone to watch . '
'' It was at that time that Omooba , responding to a question , wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` I do not believe you can be born gay , and I do not believe homosexual practice is right , though the law of this land has made it legal doesn ’ t mean it is right .
I do believe that everyone sins and falls into temptation but it ’ s by the asking of forgiveness , repentance and the grace of God that we overcome and live how God ordained us to . ''
The character she was to play in `` The Color Purple '' is considered lesbian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was in the movie version , said the production `` has nothing to do with lesbianism . ''
CLC said Omooba was notified by her agency , Global Artists , that she would be dismissed from the production unless she renounced her Christian beliefs about homosexuality .
She refused .
Leicester Curve Theatre and the Birmingham Hippodrome then released a statement confirming she was fired .
She 's now suing Leicester Curve Theatre and Global Artists Agency , and a trial , delayed because of COVID-19 , is scheduled for next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Appeal Tribunal against the refusal of and employment judge to hold the trial using an online platform such as Skype for Business , despite hundreds of similar hearings taking place on the format during the pandemic .

A prominent British theater critic has announced his support for a Christian actress who was fired from a London production and dropped by her agency because she believes homosexual behavior is immoral.
The critic, Lloyd Evans, has written in support of actress Seyi Omooba, who was dropped by a London West End theater when someone reported her for a 2014 Facebook post, said the British charity Christian Concern.
Evans submitted an expert report in Omooba's lawsuit challenging her dismissal.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"It is not of any importance for an actor to agree with the ethical views or the feelings of a character in a play," he wrote. "Were that necessary, the art of drama would not exist, and many of the plays we regard as classics would be impossible to stage."
The actress also received support from Martin Parsons, a prominent theologian, who said Omooba's Facebook statement was "a fair and reasonable expression of Christian beliefs, as those beliefs have historically been held by the overwhelming majority of the Christian church throughout history."
The judge in the case, however, handled ordered the statements by Evans and Parsons to be excluded from the case.
WND reported Omooba was blacklisted by the theater industry in London in an action that sent a "chilling" message to members of the faith, according to Andrea Williams of the Christian Legal Center.
Should actors or actresses be fired for their Christian beliefs? 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. 1% (1 Votes) 99% (174 Votes)
The message, said Williams, is that if you "express and hold mainstream biblical views, you will be punished and will lose your career if you do not immediately renounce your beliefs."
Omooba, 25, had won a lead role as Celie a production of "The Color Purple" by Leicester Curve Theatre and the Birmingham Hippodrome. It came after a review of her debut in the West End musical "Ragtime" described her as "jaw-droppingly good, and her ferocious gospel vocals ... pin you to your seat. This is her professional debut, and she’s someone to watch.'"
It was at that time that Omooba, responding to a question, wrote on Facebook along with a Bible verse: "I do not believe you can be born gay, and I do not believe homosexual practice is right, though the law of this land has made it legal doesn’t mean it is right. I do believe that everyone sins and falls into temptation but it’s by the asking of forgiveness, repentance and the grace of God that we overcome and live how God ordained us to."
The character she was to play in "The Color Purple" is considered lesbian by some, but actress Whoopi Goldberg, who was in the movie version, said the production "has nothing to do with lesbianism."
Movie director Steven Spielberg had a similar view.
CLC said Omooba was notified by her agency, Global Artists, that she would be dismissed from the production unless she renounced her Christian beliefs about homosexuality. She refused.
Leicester Curve Theatre and the Birmingham Hippodrome then released a statement confirming she was fired.
She's now suing Leicester Curve Theatre and Global Artists Agency, and a trial, delayed because of COVID-19, is scheduled for next February.
Omooba has appealed to the Appeal Tribunal against the refusal of and employment judge to hold the trial using an online platform such as Skype for Business, despite hundreds of similar hearings taking place on the format during the pandemic.