wnd--2020-10-17--Trump announces partnership with CVS, Walgreens to distribute free COVID vaccines to nursing-home re

Trump announces partnership with CVS, Walgreens to distribute free COVID vaccines to nursing-home residents

President Donald Trump announced Friday that his administration has reached a partnership with pharmacy chains CVS and Walgreens to guarantee that when a COVID-19 vaccination is available , it will be given to nursing home residents at no cost to them .
Although no vaccine is yet available , the Trump administration is developing a plan for ensuring that prioritized groups , such as senior citizens living in long-term care facilities , are among the first vaccinated , according to a Department of Health and Human Services news release .
The vaccine will be available with no out-of-pocket costs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including skilled nursing facilities , nursing homes , assisted living facilities , residential care homes and adult family homes , the agency said .
The department said this will particularly serve residents in rural areas who may not have an easy access to a pharmacy , because CVS and Walgreens will schedule on-site clinic dates to administer the vaccine , once it is developed .
The release said the Trump administration hopes to have a vaccine available by the end of the year .
During a speech Friday in Fort Myers , Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against COVID-19 , `` We will overcome . ''
`` As president , I ’ m deeply aware that America ’ s 54 million seniors have borne the heaviest burden of the China virus .
Many older Americans have endured months of isolation , missing weddings , births , graduations , church , and family reunions .
You know that very well .
You know it all too well , '' he said .
Trump told his audience not to lose hope .
`` My message to American seniors today is one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sacrifice has not been in vain , '' he said .
`` The light at the end of the tunnel is near .
We are rounding the turn .
I say that all the time .
Some of the media doesn ’ t like hearing it .
But I say it all the time : We ’ re rounding that turn .
`` Don ’ t listen to the cynics and angry partisans and professional pessimists .
We are Americans and we will prevail .
We are prevailing and we are .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if you look at what ’ s going on .
It ’ s been really very amazing , '' Trump added .
`` I ’ m moving heaven and earth to safeguard our seniors from the China virus , to deliver lifesaving therapies in record time and to distribute a safe and effective vaccine before the end of the year .
And we ’ re really doing it , even sooner than that .
You see what ’ s going on .
We have the vaccines getting ready to go , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be the first in line for the vaccine . ''
Trump said seniors who have borne the enforced restrictions of lockdowns will be able to reconnect soon with loved ones .
`` Once you have that vaccine , you can open those doors and say , 'Here I am , ' '' he said .
Trump talked of his successful treatment for the coronavirus and said he wants all Americans who need it to have free access to the drug he was given .
`` I ’ m also working with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HHS to make the antibody treatment that I received .
It ’ s called Regeneron , plus -- also , it ’ s incredible , '' he said .
`` And , you know , what they what they can do today is incredible .
And they felt very confident , even six months ago , when they started .
Think of it : We got this all done in a very short period of time .
And now we ’ re going for emergency use because we ’ re going to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for free -- anybody in the country . ''
According to the HHS release , the partnership with CVS and Walgreens , dubbed the `` Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program , '' will resolve issues that could prevent seniors from getting the care they need .
“ Today ’ s historic pharmacy partnership will truly help jurisdictions solve a logistical hurdle and decrease the burden of distributing , administering , and reporting COVID-19 vaccination for both states and long-term care facilities , ” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC is proud to be a part of this public-private partnership that is advancing care for the nation ’ s most vulnerable.
” “ Ensuring access to COVID-19 vaccines , particularly among our most vulnerable populations , will be critical to saving lives and helping our nation recover from the pandemic , ” added John Standley , Walgreens ' president .
“ CVS Health has been on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19 , working across the health care spectrum in all the communities we serve and that will continue to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dispense , ” said Troy Brennan , the chief medical officer of CVS Health .
Nursing homes can start signing up for the program on Monday .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

President Donald Trump announced Friday that his administration has reached a partnership with pharmacy chains CVS and Walgreens to guarantee that when a COVID-19 vaccination is available, it will be given to nursing home residents at no cost to them.
Although no vaccine is yet available, the Trump administration is developing a plan for ensuring that prioritized groups, such as senior citizens living in long-term care facilities, are among the first vaccinated, according to a Department of Health and Human Services news release.
The vaccine will be available with no out-of-pocket costs to residents in all long-term care settings, including skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, residential care homes and adult family homes, the agency said.
The department said this will particularly serve residents in rural areas who may not have an easy access to a pharmacy, because CVS and Walgreens will schedule on-site clinic dates to administer the vaccine, once it is developed. The release said the Trump administration hopes to have a vaccine available by the end of the year.
During a speech Friday in Fort Myers, Florida, Trump said that in the battle against COVID-19, "We will overcome."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"As president, I’m deeply aware that America’s 54 million seniors have borne the heaviest burden of the China virus. Many older Americans have endured months of isolation, missing weddings, births, graduations, church, and family reunions. You know that very well. You know it all too well," he said.
Trump told his audience not to lose hope.
"My message to American seniors today is one of optimism, confidence and hope. Your sacrifice has not been in vain," he said. "The light at the end of the tunnel is near. We are rounding the turn. I say that all the time. Some of the media doesn’t like hearing it. But I say it all the time: We’re rounding that turn.
"Don’t listen to the cynics and angry partisans and professional pessimists. We are Americans and we will prevail. We are prevailing and we are. It’s amazing what’s happening, if you look at what’s going on. It’s been really very amazing," Trump added.
"I’m moving heaven and earth to safeguard our seniors from the China virus, to deliver lifesaving therapies in record time and to distribute a safe and effective vaccine before the end of the year. And we’re really doing it, even sooner than that. You see what’s going on. We have the vaccines getting ready to go," he said, noting that seniors "will be the first in line for the vaccine."
Trump said seniors who have borne the enforced restrictions of lockdowns will be able to reconnect soon with loved ones.
"Once you have that vaccine, you can open those doors and say, 'Here I am,'" he said.
Trump talked of his successful treatment for the coronavirus and said he wants all Americans who need it to have free access to the drug he was given.
"I’m also working with the [Food and Drug Administration] and HHS to make the antibody treatment that I received. It’s called Regeneron, plus -- also, it’s incredible," he said.
"And, you know, what they what they can do today is incredible. And they felt very confident, even six months ago, when they started. Think of it: We got this all done in a very short period of time. And now we’re going for emergency use because we’re going to make it available to everyone who needs it for free -- anybody in the country."
According to the HHS release, the partnership with CVS and Walgreens, dubbed the "Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program," will resolve issues that could prevent seniors from getting the care they need.
“Today’s historic pharmacy partnership will truly help jurisdictions solve a logistical hurdle and decrease the burden of distributing, administering, and reporting COVID-19 vaccination for both states and long-term care facilities,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield said in a statement. “CDC is proud to be a part of this public-private partnership that is advancing care for the nation’s most vulnerable.”
“Ensuring access to COVID-19 vaccines, particularly among our most vulnerable populations, will be critical to saving lives and helping our nation recover from the pandemic,” added John Standley, Walgreens' president.
“CVS Health has been on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19, working across the health care spectrum in all the communities we serve and that will continue to be the case when we have a vaccine to dispense,” said Troy Brennan, the chief medical officer of CVS Health.
Nursing homes can start signing up for the program on Monday.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-10-17--Homeless person reportedly leaves donation at historical society damaged by riots

Portland has been an interesting place to be lately , to say the least .
For Kerry Tymchuk , the Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society , Sunday night 's riots proved disheartening .
The museum on Park Avenue was attacked , windows were broken , flares were tossed in and an item was removed .
The piece that was taken was an `` Afro-American Heritage Bicentennial Commemorative Quilt , '' according to a post by the OHS .
When found , the quilt was dirty , wet and torn in some places .
The museum hopes it can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Despite that , though , Tymchuk considers the damage minor , considering what could have happened .
`` We were lucky , '' Tymchuk told Willamette Week .
`` The whole place could have gone up in flames . ''
Tymchuk was disappointed that they were vandalized , given that they do n't sugar-coat the questionable parts of the state 's past .
`` I feel some sadness that we were targeted , given the leadership we 've shown in telling the true story of Oregon 's history , the good , bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Discussion , education and learning will help us move forward . ''
`` There 's a process in place for removing statutes .
There are discussions going on across the county about that .
But incidents and vandalism like we saw last night do n't advance the movement , they harm it , '' he added .
He 's not the only one who is frustrated by the sad irony in the attack .
`` It is sickening to me to see the destruction that occurred in Portland overnight , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` For more than a century , the Oregon Historical Society , its staff of researchers , educators and volunteers have documented , preserved and shared Oregon 's history . ''
`` They have put a spotlight on white supremacy , racism , civil rights and social inequality .
They have elevated the voices and stories of marginalized and under-served communities in Oregon . ''
The OHS will rebuild , but on Monday after the dust settled , Tymchuk discovered a heartwarming spark of humanity amidst the chaos .
A handwritten note @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a single dollar bill , was placed at the front desk .
`` Hello , I 'm homeless , so I do n't have much to give you , '' the note read , `` just some of my bottle collecting money .
But I saw your windows got broken and I wanted to help .
You once gave me a free tour before the pandemic , so this is a thank you ! ''
The note was simply signed by `` Oscar , '' someone who clearly saw the damage and felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And that generosity was deeply appreciated by Tymchuk and others -- not for its monetary value , but for what it meant .
`` We ’ ve been fortunate to receive many generous donations to OHS over the years -- some upwards to a million or more dollars , '' Tymchuk admitted , according to KOIN .
`` No donation means more to me and to the society than this dollar donation from Oscar . ''
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Portland has been an interesting place to be lately, to say the least. For Kerry Tymchuk, the Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society, Sunday night's riots proved disheartening.
The museum on Park Avenue was attacked, windows were broken, flares were tossed in and an item was removed. The piece that was taken was an "Afro-American Heritage Bicentennial Commemorative Quilt," according to a post by the OHS.
When found, the quilt was dirty, wet and torn in some places. The museum hopes it can be repaired and displayed once again. Despite that, though, Tymchuk considers the damage minor, considering what could have happened.
"We were lucky," Tymchuk told Willamette Week. "The whole place could have gone up in flames."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Tymchuk was disappointed that they were vandalized, given that they don't sugar-coat the questionable parts of the state's past.
"I feel some sadness that we were targeted, given the leadership we've shown in telling the true story of Oregon's history, the good, bad and the ugly," he said.
"Discussion, education and learning will help us move forward."
"There's a process in place for removing statutes. There are discussions going on across the county about that. But incidents and vandalism like we saw last night don't advance the movement, they harm it," he added.
He's not the only one who is frustrated by the sad irony in the attack.
"It is sickening to me to see the destruction that occurred in Portland overnight," Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said.
"For more than a century, the Oregon Historical Society, its staff of researchers, educators and volunteers have documented, preserved and shared Oregon's history."
"They have put a spotlight on white supremacy, racism, civil rights and social inequality. They have elevated the voices and stories of marginalized and under-served communities in Oregon."
The OHS will rebuild, but on Monday after the dust settled, Tymchuk discovered a heartwarming spark of humanity amidst the chaos.
A handwritten note on a paper napkin, along with a single dollar bill, was placed at the front desk.
"Hello, I'm homeless, so I don't have much to give you," the note read, "just some of my bottle collecting money. But I saw your windows got broken and I wanted to help. You once gave me a free tour before the pandemic, so this is a thank you!"
The note was simply signed by "Oscar," someone who clearly saw the damage and felt compelled to extend what generosity he could. And that generosity was deeply appreciated by Tymchuk and others -- not for its monetary value, but for what it meant.
"We’ve been fortunate to receive many generous donations to OHS over the years -- some upwards to a million or more dollars," Tymchuk admitted, according to KOIN.
"No donation means more to me and to the society than this dollar donation from Oscar."
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-10-17--Rep. Ilhan Omar has directed 70% of her campaign expenditures to her husband's firm

Ilhan Omar is no stranger to scandal and alleged corruption .
During her short tenure as a legislator , she 's been connected to voter fraud allegations , investigated for alleged campaign finance violations and accused of having an affair with a married man ( Tim Mynett , who is now her husband ) .
Speaking of campaign finance and Omar 's husband , the Democratic Minnesota representative 's campaign funneled roughly $ 1.1 million to E Street Group , a political consultant group co-founded by Mynett , between July 23 and Sept. 30 .
That represents almost 70 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the roughly $ 1.6 million disbursed by the campaign in that time period , the Washington Free Beacon reported Thursday , citing Federal Election Commission filings .
And it 's in addition to $ 606,000 disbursed to E Street Group during the first three weeks of July , representing 77 percent of the campaign 's disbursements during that time .
In total , Omar 's campaign has funneled a whopping $ 2.7 million to E Street Group during this election cycle , according to the Free Beacon .
It seems Omar just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a company where her husband serves as a partner .
The financial relationship between Omar and Mynett began in August 2018 , at which time both Omar and Mynett were married to other people .
The pair announced they had gotten married in March 2020 , after both of their previous marriages ended amid allegations of an affair .
Mynett 's ex-wife , Beth Mynett , filed for divorce in August 2019 , citing her now ex-husband 's `` devastating and shocking declaration of love '' for Omar .
Omar 's marriage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hirsi found Omar and Mynett lounging in pajamas at her Washington , D.C. , apartment .
Both Omar and Mynett have denied the affair allegations .
Regardless of whether their romantic relationship started with infidelity , it 's certainly shocking -- and concerning -- just how much money she has been paying to Mynett 's company .
Funneling millions of dollars of campaign funds to a company which Omar , through her husband , potentially has a financial stake in reeks of corruption .
This is n't the first time Omar 's campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spring of 2019 , the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board investigated Omar over complaints that she spent thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for personal use , including travel expenses and payments to her divorce attorney .
Additionally , just last month , Project Veritas released a video exposing what the watchdog said was a ballot-harvesting scheme allegedly involving Omar and targeting mostly Somali-born seniors in Minneapolis .
And never forget when Omar -- who has been repeatedly accused of anti-Semitism -- described the 9/11 terrorist attack by saying `` some people did something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are , believe them .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Ilhan Omar is no stranger to scandal and alleged corruption.
During her short tenure as a legislator, she's been connected to voter fraud allegations, investigated for alleged campaign finance violations and accused of having an affair with a married man (Tim Mynett, who is now her husband).
Speaking of campaign finance and Omar's husband, the Democratic Minnesota representative's campaign funneled roughly $1.1 million to E Street Group, a political consultant group co-founded by Mynett, between July 23 and Sept. 30.
That represents almost 70 percent -- 69 percent to be exact -- of the roughly $1.6 million disbursed by the campaign in that time period, the Washington Free Beacon reported Thursday, citing Federal Election Commission filings.
And it's in addition to $606,000 disbursed to E Street Group during the first three weeks of July, representing 77 percent of the campaign's disbursements during that time.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
In total, Omar's campaign has funneled a whopping $2.7 million to E Street Group during this election cycle, according to the Free Beacon.
It seems Omar just can't stop funneling her campaign donations to a company where her husband serves as a partner.
The financial relationship between Omar and Mynett began in August 2018, at which time both Omar and Mynett were married to other people.
The pair announced they had gotten married in March 2020, after both of their previous marriages ended amid allegations of an affair.
Mynett's ex-wife, Beth Mynett, filed for divorce in August 2019, citing her now ex-husband's "devastating and shocking declaration of love" for Omar.
Omar's marriage reportedly fell apart after her then-husband Ahmed Hirsi found Omar and Mynett lounging in pajamas at her Washington, D.C., apartment.
Both Omar and Mynett have denied the affair allegations.
Regardless of whether their romantic relationship started with infidelity, it's certainly shocking -- and concerning -- just how much money she has been paying to Mynett's company. Funneling millions of dollars of campaign funds to a company which Omar, through her husband, potentially has a financial stake in reeks of corruption.
This isn't the first time Omar's campaign finances have been questioned. In the spring of 2019, the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board investigated Omar over complaints that she spent thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for personal use, including travel expenses and payments to her divorce attorney.
Additionally, just last month, Project Veritas released a video exposing what the watchdog said was a ballot-harvesting scheme allegedly involving Omar and targeting mostly Somali-born seniors in Minneapolis.
And never forget when Omar -- who has been repeatedly accused of anti-Semitism -- described the 9/11 terrorist attack by saying "some people did something."
When someone shows you who they are, believe them.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-10-18--Bill Maher slammed for saying Dems should make issue of Barrett's Catholicism

( LONDON DAILY MAIL ) Commentator Bill Maher has drawn backlash after calling Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett 'nuts @ @ @ @ @ Democrats should make an issue of her Catholic faith .
'Chuck Schumer said Democrats wo @ @ @ @ @ an issue , but they should because being nuts is relevant , ' Maher said @ @ @ @ @ 's Real Time on Friday .
After hearings this week , the Senate Judiciary Committee @ @ @ @ @ vote to recommend Barrett´s nomination to the full Senate , with a final confirmation vote @ @ @ @ @

(LONDON DAILY MAIL) Commentator Bill Maher has drawn backlash after calling Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett 'nuts' and arguing that Senate Democrats should make an issue of her Catholic faith.
'Chuck Schumer said Democrats won't make Barrett's religion an issue, but they should because being nuts is relevant,' Maher said in a monologue on HBO's Real Time on Friday.
After hearings this week, the Senate Judiciary Committee set October 22 for its vote to recommend Barrett´s nomination to the full Senate, with a final confirmation vote expected by month´s end.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-18--'I can't outspend him': Top Dem DeFazio getting nervous as GOP hero closes gap in narrow race

The fourth-most-senior Democrat in the House of Representatives is facing a stiff challenge in the upcoming election , and his fellow Democrats are reported to be anxious .
Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon has represented that state ’ s 4th Congressional District for 33 years , and he 's a big part of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ s plans moving forward , should Biden defeat President Donald Trump , specifically with regard to infrastructure .
Politico described DeFazio as “ an infrastructure maven who is primed to play a major role on one of Joe Biden ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House next year .
He 's also been a key player in Congress 's stimulus funding stalemate , a strong proponent for airline relief who has even bucked Democratic leadership at times.
” But the long-serving Democrat ’ s district nearly flipped for Trump in 2016 , and this year he is facing a general election challenge from a young Afghanistan War veteran who has some star power behind him .
Alek Skarlatos , 28 , is running against Defazio on a platform of enforcing the country ’ s immigration laws , protecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Second Amendment rights .
The former Army National Guardsman also happens to be famous for bravely helping to stop an Islamist gunman on a train headed for Paris in 2015 .
Skarlatos , and other unarmed heroes , subdued an armed gunman and saved untold lives .
The young man actually played himself in a Hollywood film directed by Clint Eastwood about the incident .
WARNING : The following video contains vulgar language and scenes of graphic movie violence that some viewers may find disturbing : “ You have shown that in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” then-French President François Hollande told the heroes in 2015 , according to The Washington Post .
“ So you have given us a lesson of courage , of determination and therefore of hope.
” Skarlatos was named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour -- France 's highest decoration .
The congressional candidate was born in 1992 , and represents a new generation of young Republicans .
DeFazio , meanwhile , has represented Oregon in Congress since 1987 , which is five years longer than Skarlatos has even been alive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ incumbent Democrat , who serves as chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure , highlights his support for balancing the federal budget , taking action on climate change and education , among other issues .
His district includes the cities of Eugene and Corvallis , and much of the rural southwestern part of the state .
Politico noted that `` senior Democrats have grown nervous and officials acknowledge the race will be closer than they 'd like . ''
However , there is very little by way of publicly available polling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did outraise DeFazio by $ 1.2 million and outspend him by more than $ 900,000 last quarter .
“ I can ’ t outspend him .
We can ’ t even match him .
He raised more money in a quarter than I ’ ve ever raised in a year in my life .
But we can outwork him , '' DeFazio told some of his supporters Thursday .
Skarlatos has connected the three-decade House representative with anti-police sentiment , while liberal groups are trying to link the young hero to President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the race will be the most expensive congressional contest in Oregon ’ s history .
Meanwhile , the nonpartisan Cook Political Report forecasters has shifted it from a `` likely win '' for DeFazio to “ lean Democrat . ''
A close ally to DeFazio told Politico that the 73-year-old incumbent is taking his opponent seriously , and laid out the importance of DeFazio for Democrats ' plans , should they retain or gain more power next month .
“ If the Democrats retain the House , he 's the sort of leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to see , ” said former President Ronald Reagan 's transportation secretary , Jim Burnley .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

The fourth-most-senior Democrat in the House of Representatives is facing a stiff challenge in the upcoming election, and his fellow Democrats are reported to be anxious.
Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon has represented that state’s 4th Congressional District for 33 years, and he's a big part of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s plans moving forward, should Biden defeat President Donald Trump, specifically with regard to infrastructure.
Politico described DeFazio as “an infrastructure maven who is primed to play a major role on one of Joe Biden’s biggest priorities if he wins the White House next year. He's also been a key player in Congress's stimulus funding stalemate, a strong proponent for airline relief who has even bucked Democratic leadership at times.”
But the long-serving Democrat’s district nearly flipped for Trump in 2016, and this year he is facing a general election challenge from a young Afghanistan War veteran who has some star power behind him.
Alek Skarlatos, 28, is running against Defazio on a platform of enforcing the country’s immigration laws, protecting Oregon’s timber industry and defending Second Amendment rights.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The former Army National Guardsman also happens to be famous for bravely helping to stop an Islamist gunman on a train headed for Paris in 2015.
Skarlatos, and other unarmed heroes, subdued an armed gunman and saved untold lives.
The young man actually played himself in a Hollywood film directed by Clint Eastwood about the incident.
WARNING: The following video contains vulgar language and scenes of graphic movie violence that some viewers may find disturbing:
“You have shown that in the face of terror, you can resist,” then-French President François Hollande told the heroes in 2015, according to The Washington Post. “So you have given us a lesson of courage, of determination and therefore of hope.”
Skarlatos was named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour -- France's highest decoration.
The congressional candidate was born in 1992, and represents a new generation of young Republicans.
DeFazio, meanwhile, has represented Oregon in Congress since 1987, which is five years longer than Skarlatos has even been alive.
On his official House website, the incumbent Democrat, who serves as chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, highlights his support for balancing the federal budget, taking action on climate change and education, among other issues.
His district includes the cities of Eugene and Corvallis, and much of the rural southwestern part of the state.
Politico noted that "senior Democrats have grown nervous and officials acknowledge the race will be closer than they'd like."
However, there is very little by way of publicly available polling, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
Skarlatos did outraise DeFazio by $1.2 million and outspend him by more than $900,000 last quarter.
“I can’t outspend him. We can’t even match him. He raised more money in a quarter than I’ve ever raised in a year in my life. But we can outwork him," DeFazio told some of his supporters Thursday.
Skarlatos has connected the three-decade House representative with anti-police sentiment, while liberal groups are trying to link the young hero to President Donald Trump.
If current trends continue, the race will be the most expensive congressional contest in Oregon’s history.
Meanwhile, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report forecasters has shifted it from a "likely win" for DeFazio to “lean Democrat."
A close ally to DeFazio told Politico that the 73-year-old incumbent is taking his opponent seriously, and laid out the importance of DeFazio for Democrats' plans, should they retain or gain more power next month.
“If the Democrats retain the House, he's the sort of leader [on infrastructure] that you would want to see,” said former President Ronald Reagan's transportation secretary, Jim Burnley.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-10-18--Diddy launches Our Black Party party 'to get Trump out'

( NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ) Diddy is trying to enact change .
The “ Come With Me ” rapper @ @ @ @ @ , took to Twitter Friday morning to share his new project : a political party @ @ @ @ @ out of the White House .
“ The NUMBER ONE priority is to get Trump @ @ @ @ @ HAS TO GO , ” wrote Combs , adding , “ So , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ boldest things I ’ ve ever launched .
I ’ m launching a Black political @ @ @ @ @ elected officials and activists .
It ’ s called @ OurBlackParty , it doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ Republican or Democrat.
” Instead , he explained that Our Black Party aims to form @ @ @ @ @ help advance a political agenda that addresses the needs of Black people .
So , @ @ @ @ @ t in the same position we are in today .
”

(NEW YORK DAILY NEWS) Diddy is trying to enact change.
The “Come With Me” rapper, real name Sean Combs, took to Twitter Friday morning to share his new project: a political party intended to get President Trump out of the White House.
“The NUMBER ONE priority is to get Trump out of office. HE HAS TO GO,” wrote Combs, adding, “So, I’m launching one of the boldest things I’ve ever launched. I’m launching a Black political party with some young Black elected officials and activists. It’s called @OurBlackParty, it doesn’t matter if you are Republican or Democrat.”
Instead, he explained that Our Black Party aims to form a platform that will “help advance a political agenda that addresses the needs of Black people. So, going forward we aren’t in the same position we are in today.”
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-18--Ohio State prof says Clarence Thomas not 'authentically black'

( CAMPUS REFORM ) At a symposium hosted by Texas A & M University at Commerce , titled , `` @ @ @ @ @ , '' Professor Donna Ford argued that one of the significant problems in education is @ @ @ @ @ noted that diversity of “ skin color ” is not enough , considering that she @ @ @ @ @ Clarence Thomas teaching my damn kids.
” “ There is a monopoly on education , @ @ @ @ @ 85 percent of the teaching force , and then you know pretty much the same @ @ @ @ @ So White females I 'm speaking to you , and I ’ m saying you @ @ @ @ @ your sh- stuff together , ” said Ford during her lecture .
She would continue @ @ @ @ @ to get your stuff together because you know what , you ’ re the problem @ @ @ @ @ re the major problem .
”

(CAMPUS REFORM) At a symposium hosted by Texas A&M University at Commerce, titled, "What the Truth Sounds Like," Professor Donna Ford argued that one of the significant problems in education is White females. She also noted that diversity of “skin color” is not enough, considering that she wouldn’t want “Clarence Thomas teaching my damn kids.”
“There is a monopoly on education, where White females being about 85 percent of the teaching force, and then you know pretty much the same thing with white administrators. So White females I'm speaking to you, and I’m saying you’ve got to get your sh- stuff together,” said Ford during her lecture.
She would continue, “But you got to get your stuff together because you know what, you’re the problem, and then you’re the major problem.”
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-18--Group that sponsors BLM, left-wing orgs reportedly received $170 million in taxpayer money

A group that serves as a fiscal sponsor for various liberal-leaning organizations has reportedly been the recipient of almost $ 170 million in government grant money .
One tumbles down a rabbit hole when exploring the financials of the Tides Center , the gatekeeper of these taxpayer funds .
The San Francisco-based nonprofit , in conjunction with its sibling Tides Foundation and working under the Tides umbrella , has shrouded itself behind a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) status , while cloaking its extensive heritage as a left-wing cash clearinghouse .
The Tides Foundation , for its part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partnership with BLM , which it announced July 2 , as Black Lives Matter protests persisted throughout the United States after the May 25 death of George Floyd .
`` Tides Foundation has launched the Black Lives Matter Support Fund , which will support BLM ’ s grantmaking activities , '' the statement on Tides ' website read .
`` This unique partnership will further amplify the extraordinary , unparalleled successes of BLM ’ s chapter-led , decentralized organizational model , while also allowing BLM to build the necessary infrastructure for sustainability .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the group 's former sponsor from 2016 through 2020 , Thousand Currents , a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) that is located in Oakland , California .
Thousand Currents , a grant recipient in April of a $ 10,000 federal COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance , said it sunsetted its BLM relationship `` in order to focus on its core grantmaking to grassroots groups and movements in Africa , Asia , and Latin America . ''
Thousand Currents gave a reciprocal blessing on its website about Tides and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to documents filed in July with the California Department of Justice by Thousand Currents ' attorneys , the Tides Center `` will serve as the new fiscal sponsor of the Black Lives Matter Global Network project . ''
Meanwhile , the Tides Center has been the recipient of millions in federal grant money .
According to USASpending.gov , an official website of the U.S. government , the Tides Center has been gifted a total of $ 34.1 million in government grants between 2008 through 2020 , with the Agency for International Development ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Health and Human Services ( $ 12.57 million ) serving as the top two grant donors .
But according to the Washington Free Beacon , the Tides Center 's USASpending profile does n't tell the whole story .
In fact , the organization , which `` houses numerous left-wing groups , '' has received nearly $ 170 million in government funding overall , including $ 139 million from 2008 to 2020 , the Free Beacon reported , citing the Tides Center 's tax data .
`` During the period of time in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received $ 34 million in federal funding , the group 's own tax forms show that it had received $ 139 million in government grants , '' the outlet reported .
`` The total annual sum of government grants awarded to projects at the Tides Center has steadily risen over the years .
In 2001 , the Tides Center reported $ 3.4 million in such grants on its tax forms .
By 2018 , the number shot up to $ 19.2 million , which was nearly 15 percent of the $ 137 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that year .
The $ 170 million in government funding was disbursed to projects between that time . ''
The Free Beacon noted that `` [ d ] ue to the Tides Center 's set up as a fiscal sponsor with numerous nonprofits that fall below it , it is virtually impossible to pinpoint where the government grants end up . ''
But Scott Walter , president of the Capital Research Center , pointed out that the `` Tides Center is as liberal and politically active as they come . ''
`` Its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups , '' he told the Free Beacon .
`` For example , we recently revealed that the Tides Center sponsors the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation , one of the top groups in the Marxist-led BLM movement .
It 's fair to question whether tax dollars sourced from all Americans should flow to nonprofits that have such an open ideological axe to grind . ''
Government grants are n't the only source of funding for the Tides Center , which on its 2018 IRS Form 990 -- hosted on the nonprofit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 101.5 million .
That year , liberal megadonor George Soros ' Open Society Foundations allocated millions of dollars to both the Tides Center and Tides Foundation , according to the Open Society Foundations website .
The Tides Center admitted on its Form 990 to lobbying , with the form asking organizations if they engaged in activities in attempts to `` influence foreign , national , state or local legislation , including any attempt to influence public opinion on a legislative matter or referendum . ''
For the 2018 fiscal year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly $ 931,000 toward other organizations ' lobbying efforts and $ 732,000 for `` direct contact with legislators , their staffs , government officials or a legislative body . ''
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , who represents the 12th Congressional District -- which encompasses most of San Francisco , where the Tides Center is based -- has even received a slice of the Tides pie in the distant past .
According to the nonpartisan , money-tracking , fact-finder OpenSecrets.org -- a website published by the Center for Responsive Politics , which focuses on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to impact elections and public policy -- the Tides Foundation donated $ 5,000 to Pelosi 's leadership political action committee during the 2002 election cycle , back when she represented California 's 8th Congressional District .
Drummond Pike , who founded the Tides Foundation in 1976 , personally donated $ 1,000 toward Pelosi 's re-election bid in both 2011 and 2012 .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Jennifer Jean Miller, The Western Journal

A group that serves as a fiscal sponsor for various liberal-leaning organizations has reportedly been the recipient of almost $170 million in government grant money.
One tumbles down a rabbit hole when exploring the financials of the Tides Center, the gatekeeper of these taxpayer funds. The San Francisco-based nonprofit, in conjunction with its sibling Tides Foundation and working under the Tides umbrella, has shrouded itself behind a 501(c)(3) status, while cloaking its extensive heritage as a left-wing cash clearinghouse.
The Tides Foundation, for its part, has been transparent in its new partnership with BLM, which it announced July 2, as Black Lives Matter protests persisted throughout the United States after the May 25 death of George Floyd.
"Tides Foundation has launched the Black Lives Matter Support Fund, which will support BLM’s grantmaking activities," the statement on Tides' website read. "This unique partnership will further amplify the extraordinary, unparalleled successes of BLM’s chapter-led, decentralized organizational model, while also allowing BLM to build the necessary infrastructure for sustainability."
BLM's fundraising torch was passed from the group's former sponsor from 2016 through 2020, Thousand Currents, a 501(c)(3) that is located in Oakland, California.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Thousand Currents, a grant recipient in April of a $10,000 federal COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance, said it sunsetted its BLM relationship "in order to focus on its core grantmaking to grassroots groups and movements in Africa, Asia, and Latin America." Thousand Currents gave a reciprocal blessing on its website about Tides and BLM's new nuptials.
And according to documents filed in July with the California Department of Justice by Thousand Currents' attorneys, the Tides Center "will serve as the new fiscal sponsor of the Black Lives Matter Global Network project."
Meanwhile, the Tides Center has been the recipient of millions in federal grant money.
According to USASpending.gov, an official website of the U.S. government, the Tides Center has been gifted a total of $34.1 million in government grants between 2008 through 2020, with the Agency for International Development ($18.47 million) and the Department of Health and Human Services ($12.57 million) serving as the top two grant donors.
But according to the Washington Free Beacon, the Tides Center's USASpending profile doesn't tell the whole story. In fact, the organization, which "houses numerous left-wing groups," has received nearly $170 million in government funding overall, including $139 million from 2008 to 2020, the Free Beacon reported, citing the Tides Center's tax data.
"During the period of time in which the website says the Tides Center received $34 million in federal funding, the group's own tax forms show that it had received $139 million in government grants," the outlet reported.
"The total annual sum of government grants awarded to projects at the Tides Center has steadily risen over the years. In 2001, the Tides Center reported $3.4 million in such grants on its tax forms. By 2018, the number shot up to $19.2 million, which was nearly 15 percent of the $137 million it reported in total grants and contributions that year. The $170 million in government funding was disbursed to projects between that time."
The Free Beacon noted that "[d]ue to the Tides Center's set up as a fiscal sponsor with numerous nonprofits that fall below it, it is virtually impossible to pinpoint where the government grants end up."
But Scott Walter, president of the Capital Research Center, pointed out that the "Tides Center is as liberal and politically active as they come."
"Its entire purpose is to create new activist groups," he told the Free Beacon. "For example, we recently revealed that the Tides Center sponsors the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, one of the top groups in the Marxist-led BLM movement. It's fair to question whether tax dollars sourced from all Americans should flow to nonprofits that have such an open ideological axe to grind."
Government grants aren't the only source of funding for the Tides Center, which on its 2018 IRS Form 990 -- hosted on the nonprofit newsroom ProPublica -- boasted net assets of more than $101.5 million.
That year, liberal megadonor George Soros' Open Society Foundations allocated millions of dollars to both the Tides Center and Tides Foundation, according to the Open Society Foundations website.
The Tides Center admitted on its Form 990 to lobbying, with the form asking organizations if they engaged in activities in attempts to "influence foreign, national, state or local legislation, including any attempt to influence public opinion on a legislative matter or referendum."
For the 2018 fiscal year, the Tides Center said it re-granted nearly $931,000 toward other organizations' lobbying efforts and $732,000 for "direct contact with legislators, their staffs, government officials or a legislative body."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who represents the 12th Congressional District -- which encompasses most of San Francisco, where the Tides Center is based -- has even received a slice of the Tides pie in the distant past.
According to the nonpartisan, money-tracking, fact-finder OpenSecrets.org -- a website published by the Center for Responsive Politics, which focuses on sniffing out funds funneled into U.S. politics to impact elections and public policy -- the Tides Foundation donated $5,000 to Pelosi's leadership political action committee during the 2002 election cycle, back when she represented California's 8th Congressional District.
Drummond Pike, who founded the Tides Foundation in 1976, personally donated $1,000 toward Pelosi's re-election bid in both 2011 and 2012.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-10-18--How Venus flytraps store short-term ‘memories’ of prey

( SCIENCE NEWS ) A Venus flytrap ’ s short-term “ memory ” can last about 30 seconds .
If @ @ @ @ @ ’ s sensitive hairs only once , the trap remains still .
But if the @ @ @ @ @ half a minute , the carnivorous plant ’ s leaves snap shut , ensnaring its @ @ @ @ @ ( Dionaea muscipula ) remember that initial touch has been a mystery .
A new @ @ @ @ @ do so using calcium , researchers report online October 5 in Nature Plants .
Scientists @ @ @ @ @ a type of long-term memory , says study coauthor Mitsuyasu Hasebe , a biologist at @ @ @ @ @ Biology in Okazaki , Japan .
One example is vernalization , whereby plants remember long @ @ @ @ @ a signal to flower in the spring .
But short-term memory is more enigmatic , @ @ @ @ @ first direct evidence of the involvement of calcium , ” Hasebe says .

(SCIENCE NEWS) A Venus flytrap’s short-term “memory” can last about 30 seconds. If an insect taps the plant’s sensitive hairs only once, the trap remains still. But if the insect taps again within about half a minute, the carnivorous plant’s leaves snap shut, ensnaring its prey.
How Venus flytraps (Dionaea muscipula) remember that initial touch has been a mystery. A new study reveals that the plants do so using calcium, researchers report online October 5 in Nature Plants.
Scientists know that some plants have a type of long-term memory, says study coauthor Mitsuyasu Hasebe, a biologist at the National Institute for Basic Biology in Okazaki, Japan. One example is vernalization, whereby plants remember long periods of winter cold as a signal to flower in the spring. But short-term memory is more enigmatic, and “this is the first direct evidence of the involvement of calcium,” Hasebe says.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-17--America 'better served' leaving Paris climate accord in ashcan

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy . ]
During the first presidential debate , Joe Biden pledged that , if victorious , he would rejoin the Paris Accord from which the U.S. is formally withdrawing .
That ’ s no surprise .
Elevating China was the key to the Paris climate agreement , and the famously Sinophilic Biden never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity to stand up to Communist China .
According to Barack Obama , whom Chinese Communist media saluted as a “ veteran cadre , ” there would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration ’ s determined efforts to make common cause with China .
A Sino-U.S. understanding must form the keystone of any “ effective ” global climate regime .
After all , China gets two-thirds of its energy by burning about half of the world ’ s coal supply , and by 2007 , China had passed the U.S. as the world ’ s largest emitter of greenhouse gases .
The 2009 Copenhagen climate conference had sought “ deep cuts ” in global emissions with the aim of halving them by 2050 , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This proved to the new Obama administration that the stairway to climate heaven climbed through Beijing .
Accordingly , then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signaled that the administration would not allow America ’ s longtime support of human rights to “ interfere with the global economic crisis , the global climate change crisis and the security crisis .
On Oct. 5 , 2009 , in the administration ’ s first China-related speech , first Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg called for “ a core , if tacit , bargain ” : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by making assurances that its rise would “ not come at the expense of the security and well-being of others ” ; in turn , Washington needed to welcome China ’ s ascendance – thus calling for “ strategic reassurance ” between the two powers .
Soon after taking office , Obama set up a summit meeting in Beijing with then-Chinese president Hu Jintao , coupled with a visit to Shanghai .
This , however , raised a red flag : His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet planned to visit Washington around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new president .
For decades , no American president had denied the exiled leader an audience .
Yet Nobel Laureate Obama put off the meeting until after his summit with Hu .
At that summit , according to the Washington Post , “ Obama was subject to the shabbiest treatment of any American president visiting China ever , ” an encounter so frosty that “ Saturday Night Live ” parodied it .
China even censored the American president ’ s remarks during a Q & A with Shanghai students – ironically , given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom of expression .
Prospects for an agreement improved when Xi took power in 2012 , acknowledging as he did that the Chinese people wanted “ a better environment , ” a potential nod to environmentally sensitive Washington .
Visiting the U.S. later that year , Xi described a new model of major-country relations , in which China was treated more as an equal to America , with a dramatic expansion of bilateral interplay on economic , trade , energy , environmental , cultural , and even military issues .
Then , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first meeting as leader with Obama , the Chinese dictator proposed that new model , and reported that he and Obama had “ reached important consensus ” on their “ joint work to build a new model of major country relationship.
” Also at that meeting , Obama confirmed that Xi had stressed the importance of military-to-military communications in particular , and that the two had agreed that their countries were “ more likely to achieve our objectives of prosperity and security of our people if we are working together cooperatively , rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further , explicitly stating that it was “ very much in the interest of the U.S. for China to continue its peaceful rise.
” Why ?
Because , Obama said , this would position China to work with America “ as equal partners in dealing with many of the global challenges that no single nation can address by itself.
” Yet Obama mentioned only one such challenge : Climate change .
By November 2014 , Xi and Obama had made the Beijing joint announcement on climate change , in which they pledged to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reaching a successful global climate agreement in Paris.
” Calling climate change “ one of the greatest threats facing humanity , ” Obama agreed to reduce U.S. emissions by 26 % -28 % below its 2005 level by 2025 ; Xi agreed only that China ’ s CO2 emissions would peak “ around 2030 , ” that China would “ make best efforts to peak early , ” and that China would increase the share of non-fossil fuels in its energy mix to “ around 20 % ” by 2030 .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cessation of Communist China ’ s belching greenhouse gases and actual pollutants into the world ’ s atmosphere .
According to research cited by Rupert Darwall , China is developing a towering 259 gigawatts ( GW ) of new coal-fired capacity , comparable to the capacity of the entire U.S. coal fleet combined ( at 266 GW ) , and boosting China ’ s current coal fleet of 993 GW by 25 % .
Outside its own borders , moreover , Red China ’ s Belt and Road Initiative ( BRI ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 25 countries .
The cooperation did not even produce comparable commitments from the two countries in Paris .
For instance , the U.S. ’ s nationally determined contribution ( NDC ) , submitted by the Obama administration in March 2016 , looked for CO emission reductions of 80 % or more by 2050 , and laid out a host of strict regulatory actions intended to reach the target .
By contrast , the Chinese NDC calls the world ’ s largest CO emitter a “ developing country , ” claims that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the adverse impacts of climate change , and describes its “ utmost efforts in addressing climate change ” – but only “ consistent with its prevailing national circumstances.
” China ’ s NDC simply reiterates Xi ’ s goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions “ around 2030 ” and increasing the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to “ around 20 % .
” Finally , China ’ s NDC commits to lowering CO emissions by a seemingly impressive 60 % to 65 % from the 2005 level by 2030 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Outside the climate sphere , China ’ s geopolitical behavior has , if anything , worsened since Obama granted it these extraordinary concessions to secure a climate pact .
In spite of the Obama administration ’ s “ strategic reassurance , ” the Middle Kingdom ’ s rise has come increasingly at the expense of America ’ s security and well-being .
By pledging to revert to a policy that long ago showed itself to be a profound failure , and at best painfully naïve , Biden is doubling down on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an appease-Xi strategy would give China a blank check for its aggressive acquisitions in the South China Sea , its concentration camps crammed with Uighurs , its forced organ harvesting ( including from peaceful Falun Gong practitioners ) , its overtly racist practices in Africa , its coordinated coup in Hong Kong – and potentially the invasion of Taiwan , which China has long contemplated .
America would be better served to stay the course , consigning Paris to the ashcan of history and checking a chekist China at every turn .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will work again .
Christopher C. Hull , Ph.D. , is President of Issue Management Inc. , senior fellow at Americans for Intelligence Reform , an adjunct professor at the Institute of World Politics , and author of “ Grassroots Rules ” ( Stanford University Press ) .
He holds an undergraduate degree magna cum laude in government from Harvard , and a doctorate with distinction in government from Georgetown University .
[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]
By Christopher Hull
Real Clear Energy
During the first presidential debate, Joe Biden pledged that, if victorious, he would rejoin the Paris Accord from which the U.S. is formally withdrawing. That’s no surprise. Elevating China was the key to the Paris climate agreement, and the famously Sinophilic Biden never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity to stand up to Communist China. According to Barack Obama, whom Chinese Communist media saluted as a “veteran cadre,” there would have been no Paris Agreement without his administration’s determined efforts to make common cause with China.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
A Sino-U.S. understanding must form the keystone of any “effective” global climate regime. After all, China gets two-thirds of its energy by burning about half of the world’s coal supply, and by 2007, China had passed the U.S. as the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. The 2009 Copenhagen climate conference had sought “deep cuts” in global emissions with the aim of halving them by 2050, but China and other emerging emitters quashed it. This proved to the new Obama administration that the stairway to climate heaven climbed through Beijing. Accordingly, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signaled that the administration would not allow America’s longtime support of human rights to “interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crisis.
On Oct. 5, 2009, in the administration’s first China-related speech, first Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg called for “a core, if tacit, bargain”: Beijing would quell America’s qualms by making assurances that its rise would “not come at the expense of the security and well-being of others”; in turn, Washington needed to welcome China’s ascendance – thus calling for “strategic reassurance” between the two powers.
Soon after taking office, Obama set up a summit meeting in Beijing with then-Chinese president Hu Jintao, coupled with a visit to Shanghai. This, however, raised a red flag: His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet planned to visit Washington around that time to meet America’s new president. For decades, no American president had denied the exiled leader an audience. Yet Nobel Laureate Obama put off the meeting until after his summit with Hu.
At that summit, according to the Washington Post, “Obama was subject to the shabbiest treatment of any American president visiting China ever,” an encounter so frosty that “Saturday Night Live” parodied it. China even censored the American president’s remarks during a Q&A with Shanghai students – ironically, given that those remarks criticized censorship and praised freedom of expression.
Prospects for an agreement improved when Xi took power in 2012, acknowledging as he did that the Chinese people wanted “a better environment,” a potential nod to environmentally sensitive Washington. Visiting the U.S. later that year, Xi described a new model of major-country relations, in which China was treated more as an equal to America, with a dramatic expansion of bilateral interplay on economic, trade, energy, environmental, cultural, and even military issues.
Then, in June 2013, at Xi’s first meeting as leader with Obama, the Chinese dictator proposed that new model, and reported that he and Obama had “reached important consensus” on their “joint work to build a new model of major country relationship.”
Also at that meeting, Obama confirmed that Xi had stressed the importance of military-to-military communications in particular, and that the two had agreed that their countries were “more likely to achieve our objectives of prosperity and security of our people if we are working together cooperatively, rather than engaged in conflict.” Obama went further, explicitly stating that it was “very much in the interest of the U.S. for China to continue its peaceful rise.” Why? Because, Obama said, this would position China to work with America “as equal partners in dealing with many of the global challenges that no single nation can address by itself.”
Yet Obama mentioned only one such challenge: Climate change.
By November 2014, Xi and Obama had made the Beijing joint announcement on climate change, in which they pledged to work together to address “major impediments to reaching a successful global climate agreement in Paris.” Calling climate change “one of the greatest threats facing humanity,” Obama agreed to reduce U.S. emissions by 26%-28% below its 2005 level by 2025; Xi agreed only that China’s CO2 emissions would peak “around 2030,” that China would “make best efforts to peak early,” and that China would increase the share of non-fossil fuels in its energy mix to “around 20%” by 2030.
What did this cooperation produce? Certainly not a cessation of Communist China’s belching greenhouse gases and actual pollutants into the world’s atmosphere. According to research cited by Rupert Darwall, China is developing a towering 259 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired capacity, comparable to the capacity of the entire U.S. coal fleet combined (at 266 GW), and boosting China’s current coal fleet of 993 GW by 25%. Outside its own borders, moreover, Red China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is involved in 240 coal-fired power projects in 25 countries.
The cooperation did not even produce comparable commitments from the two countries in Paris. For instance, the U.S.’s nationally determined contribution (NDC), submitted by the Obama administration in March 2016, looked for CO 2 emission reductions of 80% or more by 2050, and laid out a host of strict regulatory actions intended to reach the target. By contrast, the Chinese NDC calls the world’s largest CO 2 emitter a “developing country,” claims that it is among the countries most severely affected by the adverse impacts of climate change, and describes its “utmost efforts in addressing climate change” – but only “consistent with its prevailing national circumstances.” China’s NDC simply reiterates Xi’s goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions “around 2030” and increasing the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to “around 20%.” Finally, China’s NDC commits to lowering CO 2 emissions by a seemingly impressive 60% to 65% from the 2005 level by 2030 – but only per unit of GDP.
Outside the climate sphere, China’s geopolitical behavior has, if anything, worsened since Obama granted it these extraordinary concessions to secure a climate pact. In spite of the Obama administration’s “strategic reassurance,” the Middle Kingdom’s rise has come increasingly at the expense of America’s security and well-being.
By pledging to revert to a policy that long ago showed itself to be a profound failure, and at best painfully naïve, Biden is doubling down on his pro-China stance. America’s return to an appease-Xi strategy would give China a blank check for its aggressive acquisitions in the South China Sea, its concentration camps crammed with Uighurs, its forced organ harvesting (including from peaceful Falun Gong practitioners), its overtly racist practices in Africa, its coordinated coup in Hong Kong – and potentially the invasion of Taiwan, which China has long contemplated.
America would be better served to stay the course, consigning Paris to the ashcan of history and checking a chekist China at every turn. It worked against the Soviets, and it will work again.
Christopher C. Hull, Ph.D., is President of Issue Management Inc., senior fellow at Americans for Intelligence Reform, an adjunct professor at the Institute of World Politics, and author of “Grassroots Rules” (Stanford University Press). He holds an undergraduate degree magna cum laude in government from Harvard, and a doctorate with distinction in government from Georgetown University.
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]


wnd--2020-10-17--See a parent spanking a child? Call police, government says

People who see a parent disciplining a child physically should call police immediately and report a `` crime in progress , '' according to new guidance from the Scottish government .
The Herald Scotland reported the guidance comes ahead of a law change next month that will ban the physical punishment and discipline of children , including `` smacking , skelping , spanking and slapping . ''
The government guidance states : `` If a parent or carer physically punishes or disciplines their child they can be prosecuted with assault .
Under the current law , depending on what happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be available to them . ''
The government said the new law means children will have `` the same legal protection from assault as adults . ''
`` Restraining a child is about making sure that they are safe and will not come to harm .
But this new law is not about that , '' the government says .
`` It ’ s about removing the defense of 'reasonable chastisement ' .
If you stop your child from coming to harm , you ’ re protecting them .
For example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a busy road , you ’ re protecting them .
But if you smack your child afterwards , you ’ re physically punishing them . ''
The Scottish paper noted opposition to the new law .
Ashley Frawley of the campaign group Be Reasonable said : `` Supporters of the smacking ban , including the Scottish government , constantly claimed that it is 'not about criminalizing parents . '
Yet here we have government guidance encouraging the reporting of smacking as a 'crime ' and confirming that parents can be 'prosecuted . '
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outset of the campaign to make the change is now true : `` The smacking ban will turn ordinary , decent mums and dads into criminals . ''
She pointed out that the law previously made any abuse a criminal offense .
The U.K. 's Christian Institute noted that last year , the Scottish government 's consultation on a spanking ban showed that 97 % of submissions by members of the public were opposed to a ban , while just 3 % supported it .

People who see a parent disciplining a child physically should call police immediately and report a "crime in progress," according to new guidance from the Scottish government.
The Herald Scotland reported the guidance comes ahead of a law change next month that will ban the physical punishment and discipline of children, including "smacking, skelping, spanking and slapping."
The government guidance states: "If a parent or carer physically punishes or disciplines their child they can be prosecuted with assault. Under the current law, depending on what happened, the defense of 'reasonable chastisement' may be available to them."
The government said the new law means children will have "the same legal protection from assault as adults."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"Restraining a child is about making sure that they are safe and will not come to harm. But this new law is not about that," the government says. "It’s about removing the defense of 'reasonable chastisement'. If you stop your child from coming to harm, you’re protecting them. For example, if you pull your child out of a busy road, you’re protecting them. But if you smack your child afterwards, you’re physically punishing them."
The Scottish paper noted opposition to the new law.
Ashley Frawley of the campaign group Be Reasonable said: "Supporters of the smacking ban, including the Scottish government, constantly claimed that it is 'not about criminalizing parents.' Yet here we have government guidance encouraging the reporting of smacking as a 'crime' and confirming that parents can be 'prosecuted.'"
She said what critics feared at the outset of the campaign to make the change is now true: "The smacking ban will turn ordinary, decent mums and dads into criminals."
She pointed out that the law previously made any abuse a criminal offense.
The U.K.'s Christian Institute noted that last year, the Scottish government's consultation on a spanking ban showed that 97% of submissions by members of the public were opposed to a ban, while just 3% supported it.


wnd--2020-10-17--Man miraculously survives after being trapped under tree log for 4 days

There 's tough , and then there 's Jonathan Ceplecha tough .
Ceplecha , 59 , has been through more than most in the past month and a half .
It all started on Thursday , Aug. 27 , when he decided to start taking down some trees on a steep slope on his property , just 150 yards from his home .
Living in the Minnesota River Valley , Ceplecha is an English teacher , an Army veteran and a man of faith .
All three of those traits helped him survive the harrowing ordeal that ensued .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in particular `` bounced in a weird way '' when it came down , his daughter , Emma Ceplecha , told the Minneapolis-based Star Tribune .
The log came to rest on Ceplecha himself , pinning him and breaking one of his legs while crushing one of his feet .
`` It seemed to drag him and his legs underneath it , '' Emma explained to the Star Tribune .
`` It was a one-in-a-million kind of accident , he told us . ''
Seeing as how he lives alone , there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come home , and no one could hear his cries for help .
And so he stayed there , in pain and at the mercy of the elements , for four days .
In order to keep from panicking or going mad , he kept his mind occupied .
He prayed , meditated , invented rhythms and imagined conversations with his children .
`` He kept his sanity by breaking down every day into hours , and each hour into 5-minute segments , '' a GoFundMe started for him reads .
`` As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prayed to himself often , and tried to distract himself from panic by meditating and inventing rhythms to follow from dawn to dusk . ''
He knew a bit about his surroundings and was able to eat bugs and plants within arm 's reach .
`` He collected water in his hat and created a reservoir with his clothes , '' his daughter said .
`` He had a sweater he could wring out and drink that way . ''
He had a weekly tradition with Emma , where the two would read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sundays .
When he did n't make the call , she assumed he was having phone troubles .
`` I knew he never would miss that call and at the very least he would have texted me to tell me he was busy , '' she said .
`` I should have listened to my gut . ''
When he did n't show up to work at the school on Monday , they called the sheriff for a welfare check .
It was n't until that evening , though , after Ceplecha 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he was found .
`` He is a true survivor in every sense of the word , '' his GoFundMe reads .
`` He is also an Army veteran , a teacher , and a proud father .
Thank you for your support . ''
He 'd already beaten the odds making it through those four days of misery , but he 's faced an amputation , multiple complications and infections since being found .
`` I would like to say thanks to each and every one of you for your prayers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this account , and for all the other things that have been done for me , '' he conveyed through the GoFundMe page in an update from Oct. 1 .
`` Friday afternoon I will be having my seventh operation .
The goal is to fix some of the tissue in my left leg that is not growing as it should .
After that operation , I have been told that I will probably need three more surgeries before my left leg is fully stabilized .
`` Now that my right leg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is ready to be fitted with a prosthetic .
However , that has been put on hold until the left leg is fully recovered . ''
As of Tuesday , he was reportedly seeing improved healing after getting a feeding tube and more protein .
The GoFundMe has raised nearly $ 6,000 so far , and hopefully with that and the prayers of family , friends and acquaintances , he will be able to make a full recovery and live a long time to tell his tale .
This article appeared @ @ @ @ @ @

There's tough, and then there's Jonathan Ceplecha tough.
Ceplecha, 59, has been through more than most in the past month and a half. It all started on Thursday, Aug. 27, when he decided to start taking down some trees on a steep slope on his property, just 150 yards from his home.
Living in the Minnesota River Valley, Ceplecha is an English teacher, an Army veteran and a man of faith. All three of those traits helped him survive the harrowing ordeal that ensued.
As he was felling trees, one oak in particular "bounced in a weird way" when it came down, his daughter, Emma Ceplecha, told the Minneapolis-based Star Tribune.
The log came to rest on Ceplecha himself, pinning him and breaking one of his legs while crushing one of his feet.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"It seemed to drag him and his legs underneath it," Emma explained to the Star Tribune. "It was a one-in-a-million kind of accident, he told us."
Seeing as how he lives alone, there was no one to realize he didn't come home, and no one could hear his cries for help. And so he stayed there, in pain and at the mercy of the elements, for four days.
In order to keep from panicking or going mad, he kept his mind occupied. He prayed, meditated, invented rhythms and imagined conversations with his children.
"He kept his sanity by breaking down every day into hours, and each hour into 5-minute segments," a GoFundMe started for him reads. "As someone of a heavy faith, he prayed to himself often, and tried to distract himself from panic by meditating and inventing rhythms to follow from dawn to dusk."
He knew a bit about his surroundings and was able to eat bugs and plants within arm's reach.
"He collected water in his hat and created a reservoir with his clothes," his daughter said. "He had a sweater he could wring out and drink that way."
He had a weekly tradition with Emma, where the two would read the same book and discuss it on Sundays. When he didn't make the call, she assumed he was having phone troubles.
"I knew he never would miss that call and at the very least he would have texted me to tell me he was busy," she said. "I should have listened to my gut."
When he didn't show up to work at the school on Monday, they called the sheriff for a welfare check. It wasn't until that evening, though, after Ceplecha's concerned ex-wife started looking for him, that he was found.
"He is a true survivor in every sense of the word," his GoFundMe reads. "He is also an Army veteran, a teacher, and a proud father. Thank you for your support."
He'd already beaten the odds making it through those four days of misery, but he's faced an amputation, multiple complications and infections since being found.
"I would like to say thanks to each and every one of you for your prayers, your well wishes, for contributing to this account, and for all the other things that have been done for me," he conveyed through the GoFundMe page in an update from Oct. 1.
"Friday afternoon I will be having my seventh operation. The goal is to fix some of the tissue in my left leg that is not growing as it should. After that operation, I have been told that I will probably need three more surgeries before my left leg is fully stabilized.
"Now that my right leg has been amputated and it is healing, it is ready to be fitted with a prosthetic. However, that has been put on hold until the left leg is fully recovered."
As of Tuesday, he was reportedly seeing improved healing after getting a feeding tube and more protein. The GoFundMe has raised nearly $6,000 so far, and hopefully with that and the prayers of family, friends and acquaintances, he will be able to make a full recovery and live a long time to tell his tale.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-10-17--Nostalgic for the old Sunday newspaper?

Nostalgic for the old Sunday newspaper?

Banner ads .
Who needs them , right ?
They just make the site hard to read .
We at WND hear this all the time , but unfortunately we need those ads , even though they do n't even cover our costs of production , thanks to the greed of Google and Facebook who together have vacuumed up between 70 and 90 percent of all digital advertising .
But the point is , we still need the ads in order to produce WND 's popular , independent , pro-American , pro-Constitution news coverage seven days a week .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up on all of WND 's news in review WITHOUT any ads at all – and with better graphics , photos , videos , illustrations and production values – you should check out WND Weekly .
It 's been compared to the old-fashioned Sunday newspaper , and not just because that 's the day it arrives in your email in-box .
Like the Sunday paper you grew up with , you can take your time reading all the content in WND Weekly – at your leisure ( it wo n't go away ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can print it , save it , or share it .
You ’ re an astute consumer so you can check out a free video preview here before you make a decision .
To get a free sample , just sign up here .
Each week , all the original content from WND.com is collected , repackaged with spectacular designs and beautifully illustrated , and delivered to your computer , tablet , or phone for you to read , browse , check out , examine , inspect , peruse , pore over , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , AND KEEP FOREVER … absolutely ad-free !
How do we do it ?
It 's a premium subscription service with a surprisingly low price-tag that may just be perfect for you .
We 'd love for you to sample it for FREE , and to see if it would enrich your life to find it in your inbox every Sunday morning – 52 weeks a year for only $ 29.99 , and right now , for a limited time , temporarily reduced to only $ 23.99 !
We welcome you to sample @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no cost or obligation – so you can experience for yourself this easy , convenient and classy way of reading WND 's news and commentary .
Better yet , take advantage of our lowest price ever and subscribe right now at a super-low discount price while it lasts !

Banner ads. Who needs them, right? They just make the site hard to read.
We at WND hear this all the time, but unfortunately we need those ads, even though they don't even cover our costs of production, thanks to the greed of Google and Facebook who together have vacuumed up between 70 and 90 percent of all digital advertising. But the point is, we still need the ads in order to produce WND's popular, independent, pro-American, pro-Constitution news coverage seven days a week.
However, if you would prefer to catch up on all of WND's news in review WITHOUT any ads at all – and with better graphics, photos, videos, illustrations and production values – you should check out WND Weekly. It's been compared to the old-fashioned Sunday newspaper, and not just because that's the day it arrives in your email in-box. Like the Sunday paper you grew up with, you can take your time reading all the content in WND Weekly – at your leisure (it won't go away), and with no ads. You can print it, save it, or share it.
You’re an astute consumer so you can check out a free video preview here before you make a decision.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
To get a free sample, just sign up here.
Each week, all the original content from WND.com is collected, repackaged with spectacular designs and beautifully illustrated, and delivered to your computer, tablet, or phone for you to read, browse, check out, examine, inspect, peruse, pore over, scan, search, skim, study, AND KEEP FOREVER … absolutely ad-free!
How do we do it? It's a premium subscription service with a surprisingly low price-tag that may just be perfect for you. We'd love for you to sample it for FREE, and to see if it would enrich your life to find it in your inbox every Sunday morning – 52 weeks a year for only $29.99, and right now, for a limited time, temporarily reduced to only $23.99!
We welcome you to sample a FREE issue of WND Weekly – no cost or obligation – so you can experience for yourself this easy, convenient and classy way of reading WND's news and commentary.
Better yet, take advantage of our lowest price ever and subscribe right now at a super-low discount price while it lasts!


wnd--2020-10-19--Large 2,000-year-old cat discovered in Peru

( BBC NEWS ) -- The figure of a relaxing cat has been discovered in the Nazca desert in Peru @ @ @ @ @ a Unesco World Heritage site , is home to designs on the ground - known @ @ @ @ @ 2,000 years ago .
Scientists believe the cat , as with other Nazca animal figures @ @ @ @ @ depressions in the desert floor , leaving coloured earth exposed .

(BBC NEWS) -- The figure of a relaxing cat has been discovered in the Nazca desert in Peru.
The Nazca lines, a Unesco World Heritage site, is home to designs on the ground - known as geoglyphs - created some 2,000 years ago.
Scientists believe the cat, as with other Nazca animal figures, was created by making depressions in the desert floor, leaving coloured earth exposed.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-19--'Massive crisis right now': Hundreds of Christians gather, many without masks

( ABC27 ) -- KANSAS CITY , Mo .
– Hundreds of Christians met up at Mill Creek Park on @ @ @ @ @ Worship Event .
Kansas City marks the 45th stop for the event .
While COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ many who attended the event were not wearing a mask .
“ We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ now in America , ” Sean Feucht , organizer of the event , said .
@ @ @ @ @ pandemic , you have a lot of civil unrest and you really have a lot @ @ @ @ @ closed .
”

(ABC27) -- KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Hundreds of Christians met up at Mill Creek Park on Saturday for a Let Us Worship Event. Kansas City marks the 45th stop for the event.
While COVID-19 cases continue to rise, many who attended the event were not wearing a mask.
“We’re in a massive crisis right now in America,” Sean Feucht, organizer of the event, said. “You have the global pandemic, you have a lot of civil unrest and you really have a lot of churches that are still closed.”
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-19--Kayleigh McEnany tweets she's 'Blessed to be COVID clear'

( CBN NEWS ) -- White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany shared a message Friday on social media that she @ @ @ @ @ be over the Coronavirus .
`` Blessed to be COVID clear ! ''
she wrote @ @ @ @ @ that she tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 5th , even though she was not @ @ @ @ @ virus .

(CBN NEWS) -- White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany shared a message Friday on social media that she feels "blessed" to be over the Coronavirus.
"Blessed to be COVID clear!" she wrote on Twitter.
McEnany announced that she tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 5th, even though she was not exhibiting any symptoms of the virus.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-19--Church leader performs 'exorcism' to cleanse protest site

( KRON ) -- The Archbishop of San Francisco performed an exorcism in the city of San Rafael Saturday following @ @ @ @ @ of a famed Catholic missionary .
The feet are the only thing left of the @ @ @ @ @ after it was vandalized at St. Rafael Mission Church in San Rafael on Oct. 12 @ @ @ @ @ of 21 catholic mission compounds strung through California during the colonial era .
Mission San @ @ @ @ @ miles across the Golden Gate Bridge from Mission San Francisco .

(KRON) -- The Archbishop of San Francisco performed an exorcism in the city of San Rafael Saturday following vandalism that destroyed a statue of a famed Catholic missionary.
The feet are the only thing left of the statue of St. Junipero Serra after it was vandalized at St. Rafael Mission Church in San Rafael on Oct. 12. The location is one of 21 catholic mission compounds strung through California during the colonial era.
Mission San Rafael is less than 20 miles across the Golden Gate Bridge from Mission San Francisco.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-19--Pastor leaves ministry over church's broad support of Trump

( DETROIT FREE PRESS ) -- HOLLAND , Michigan — Keith Mannes has given his life to the Christian Reformed @ @ @ @ @ pastor for more than 30 years .
He ’ s done so happily and thankfully @ @ @ @ @ , Mannes gave his last sermon and walked away from ministry among increasing political tension @ @ @ @ @ , he stepped away due to the church ’ s broad support of President Donald @ @

(DETROIT FREE PRESS) -- HOLLAND, Michigan — Keith Mannes has given his life to the Christian Reformed Church, serving as a pastor for more than 30 years. He’s done so happily and thankfully.
But on Oct. 11, Mannes gave his last sermon and walked away from ministry among increasing political tension and divisiveness.
Put simply, he stepped away due to the church’s broad support of President Donald Trump.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-18--Trump attends church in Las Vegas, puts cash in donation bucket

( LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL ) -- At least 200 hundred people prayed and cheered for President Donald Trump during a @ @ @ @ @ church in western Las Vegas .
The president made his appearance during the 9 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ of Las Vegas , located at 8100 Westcliff Drive , near Summerlin .
Pastor Marc @ @ @ @ @ the worship team praised Trump and told him , “ You ’ re doing a @ @ @ @

(LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL) -- At least 200 hundred people prayed and cheered for President Donald Trump during a Sunday morning service at a church in western Las Vegas.
The president made his appearance during the 9 a.m. service at the International Church of Las Vegas, located at 8100 Westcliff Drive, near Summerlin.
Pastor Marc Paul Goulet and others in the worship team praised Trump and told him, “You’re doing a great job.”
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-18--Democrats still struggling to pick 'unifying and viable' energy plan

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy . ]
Energy and climate policy debates within the Democratic Party have put pressure on presidential nominee and former vice president Joe Biden to make clear what voters can expect from his administration if he wins the presidency .
Biden has struggled to maintain a moderate stance on the issues , openly advocating for fracking bans on federal lands and policies outlined in the Green New Deal , policies which don ’ t comply with swing states like Pennsylvania where the natural gas industry contributes more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s economy and supports nearly 180,000 jobs .
Weeks out from election night the Biden campaign is struggling to articulate a stance that is both unifying and viable .
Moreover , the Biden energy platform – described as a “ plan to build a modern , sustainable infrastructure and an equitable clean energy future , ” whatever that means – has moved left of President Obama ’ s “ All-of the-Above ” strategy .
Instead , Biden proposes a $ 2 trillion public spending project that is short on details , heavy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress of the last decade .
To buoy his election chances and improve the well-being of Americans , the Biden camp must take notes from the way Obama articulated his vision of American energy : a balance between progress and practicality and arguing , “ We need an energy strategy for the future – an all-of-the-above strategy for the 21st century that develops every source of American-made energy.
” By all measures , the policies Obama implemented in pursuit of that vision , and no doubt Vice-President Biden supported at the time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of domestic natural gas production and utilization .
The growth of the U.S. natural gas industry under the Obama administration lowered household energy costs , created jobs , contributed to a major reduction in emissions , and played a significant role in accelerating the country ’ s recovery from the 2008 Financial Crisis .
This was , and has remained under President Trump ’ s leadership , the right path for Americans .
Under President Trump American energy continued to make gains in energy sufficiency and production , as well as emissions reductions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This includes the largest absolute reduction in emissions by any country since 2000 ; adding tens of thousands of jobs thanks to large scale energy infrastructure projects like Keystone XL and Dakota Access ; and an expectation to be a net energy exporter by the close of 2020 .
Green New Deal supporters , obviously Biden supporters as well , may conveniently have forgotten the Obama Administration ’ s rosy embrace of natural gas , which he encouraged Americans to welcome and called an “ ideal energy source that we potentially could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2012 .
The successful and simultaneous reduction of emissions , energy imports , and unemployment is an accomplishment that the Democratic Party should be eager to capture themselves , especially given the increased momentum the Trump Administration has created since inhabiting the White House .
Despite these improvements the progressive wing contends that the environmental gains associated with the increase of natural gas usage is not sufficient to warrant its continued production .
That stance lacks grounding in reality .
In 2019 , natural gas accounted for 38 % of U.S. total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combined generated only 17 % , and at greater cost per unit of energy .
It will be decades before wind , solar , and hydroelectric sources will be able to fully replace natural gas , which is comparatively cleaner than alternatives like coal .
Proposals to ban fracking or otherwise restrict domestic energy production would only force the U.S. to rely on imported fossil fuels subject to far less regulation and oversight , an environmentally and economically counterproductive outcome , or depend on the more expensive renewable sources which provide nowhere close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existing producers through the range of proposals in Biden ’ s proposed energy policies would cost jobs , limit growth , and damage the wellbeing of millions of Americans struggling from COVID-induced financial vulnerability .
As such , it is important we continue to invest in infrastructure that safely and efficiently transports the energy resources that millions of American consumers rely on each day – particularly in natural gas-rich regions that currently face pipeline constraints like Texas ’ Permian Basin and the Marcellus formation in Pennsylvania .
But with an anti-energy contingency only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy infrastructure has become a painfully litigious , uncertain , and bureaucratic process that seemingly offers little incentive for developers and investors .
There are real consequences to this activism , too .
A recent report from the Consumer Energy Alliance found that delays , obstruction , and cancellation of pipeline projects are threatening nearly $ 14 billion in economic activity , over 66,000 jobs , and more than $ 280 million a year in state and local tax revenue – crucial investment and employment that could go a long way in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 recovery .
Win or lose come November , Joe Biden and other Democratic Party leadership would do well to reembrace Obama-era energy policies , brought to reality under President Trump ’ s leadership , that prioritize growth and employment without inhibiting the development of the energy sources of tomorrow .
A strong embrace of an all-of-the-above approach could reshape the debate on energy and curtail the unrealistic policies now championed by the left .
Perhaps some draft language for the campaign reads : the continued development of safe and responsible natural gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compatible with , but a precondition of , a resilient economy and a cleaner future .
Surely on that we can all agree .
Tom Magness is a strategic adviser to Grow America 's Infrastructure Now , and formerly served as a commander in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers .
[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]
By Tom Magness
Real Clear Energy
Energy and climate policy debates within the Democratic Party have put pressure on presidential nominee and former vice president Joe Biden to make clear what voters can expect from his administration if he wins the presidency. Biden has struggled to maintain a moderate stance on the issues, openly advocating for fracking bans on federal lands and policies outlined in the Green New Deal, policies which don’t comply with swing states like Pennsylvania , where the natural gas industry contributes more than $24 billion to the state’s economy and supports nearly 180,000 jobs. Weeks out from election night the Biden campaign is struggling to articulate a stance that is both unifying and viable.
Moreover, the Biden energy platform – described as a “plan to build a modern, sustainable infrastructure and an equitable clean energy future,” whatever that means – has moved left of President Obama’s “All-of the-Above” strategy. Instead, Biden proposes a $2 trillion public spending project that is short on details, heavy on taxpayer spending, and reverses the progress of the last decade.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
To buoy his election chances and improve the well-being of Americans, the Biden camp must take notes from the way Obama articulated his vision of American energy: a balance between progress and practicality and arguing, “We need an energy strategy for the future – an all-of-the-above strategy for the 21st century that develops every source of American-made energy.” By all measures, the policies Obama implemented in pursuit of that vision, and no doubt Vice-President Biden supported at the time, were successful, especially the rapid expansion of domestic natural gas production and utilization.
The growth of the U.S. natural gas industry under the Obama administration lowered household energy costs, created jobs, contributed to a major reduction in emissions, and played a significant role in accelerating the country’s recovery from the 2008 Financial Crisis. This was, and has remained under President Trump’s leadership, the right path for Americans.
Under President Trump American energy continued to make gains in energy sufficiency and production, as well as emissions reductions to the benefit of the American economy. This includes the largest absolute reduction in emissions by any country since 2000; adding tens of thousands of jobs thanks to large scale energy infrastructure projects like Keystone XL and Dakota Access; and an expectation to be a net energy exporter by the close of 2020.
Green New Deal supporters, obviously Biden supporters as well, may conveniently have forgotten the Obama Administration’s rosy embrace of natural gas, which he encouraged Americans to welcome and called an “ideal energy source that we potentially could use for the next 100 years” in 2012. The successful and simultaneous reduction of emissions, energy imports, and unemployment is an accomplishment that the Democratic Party should be eager to capture themselves, especially given the increased momentum the Trump Administration has created since inhabiting the White House.
Despite these improvements the progressive wing contends that the environmental gains associated with the increase of natural gas usage is not sufficient to warrant its continued production. That stance lacks grounding in reality. In 2019, natural gas accounted for 38% of U.S. total electricity generation. All renewable energy sources combined generated only 17%, and at greater cost per unit of energy. It will be decades before wind, solar, and hydroelectric sources will be able to fully replace natural gas, which is comparatively cleaner than alternatives like coal. Proposals to ban fracking or otherwise restrict domestic energy production would only force the U.S. to rely on imported fossil fuels subject to far less regulation and oversight, an environmentally and economically counterproductive outcome, or depend on the more expensive renewable sources which provide nowhere close to our current energy requirements.
Crippling existing producers through the range of proposals in Biden’s proposed energy policies would cost jobs, limit growth, and damage the wellbeing of millions of Americans struggling from COVID-induced financial vulnerability. As such, it is important we continue to invest in infrastructure that safely and efficiently transports the energy resources that millions of American consumers rely on each day – particularly in natural gas-rich regions that currently face pipeline constraints like Texas’ Permian Basin and the Marcellus formation in Pennsylvania. But with an anti-energy contingency only growing amongst the far-Left, developing critical energy infrastructure has become a painfully litigious, uncertain, and bureaucratic process that seemingly offers little incentive for developers and investors.
There are real consequences to this activism, too. A recent report from the Consumer Energy Alliance found that delays, obstruction, and cancellation of pipeline projects are threatening nearly $14 billion in economic activity, over 66,000 jobs, and more than $280 million a year in state and local tax revenue – crucial investment and employment that could go a long way in our nation’s long road to a COVID-19 recovery.
Win or lose come November, Joe Biden and other Democratic Party leadership would do well to reembrace Obama-era energy policies, brought to reality under President Trump’s leadership, that prioritize growth and employment without inhibiting the development of the energy sources of tomorrow. A strong embrace of an all-of-the-above approach could reshape the debate on energy and curtail the unrealistic policies now championed by the left. Perhaps some draft language for the campaign reads: the continued development of safe and responsible natural gas production and accompanying infrastructure is not just compatible with, but a precondition of, a resilient economy and a cleaner future. Surely on that we can all agree.
Tom Magness is a strategic adviser to Grow America's Infrastructure Now, and formerly served as a commander in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]