thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-09--Pelosi: Trump reelection puts 'civilization as we know it' at risk

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said President Trump getting reelected could endanger Western civilization .
As the California Democrat was speaking at Northeastern ’ s Women Who Empower Summit in Boston , Massachusetts , on Monday , she emphasized to attendees that she felt the results of the upcoming 2020 election would have negative , rippling effects across the globe .
`` This election is a very important election .
In my view , civilization as we know it is at stake .
It 's about everything .
It 's about America , '' Pelosi said .
`` We ask God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
America is our Constitution , '' said , adding later that the Bill of Rights is `` under siege '' and that the administration shows a `` disloyalty to the Constitution . ''
`` We are a nation of immigrants who are being denigrated .
And every newcomer to America with hopes , dreams , and aspirations for a better life for their children and the future — those are American traits .
And those newcomers have made America more American . ''
The speaker employed similar rhetoric just prior to Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not want to `` even contemplate '' a Trump reelection .
`` Let 's not even contemplate that , '' she said in response to a question during a CNN Townhall .
`` Civilization as we know it today is at stake in the next election , and certainly our planet . ''
During her talk Monday , Pelosi also lamented how a woman had not yet been elected to the presidency and articulated her belief that the Democratic Party should nominate women or racial minorities in the future .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table .
The beauty is in the mix .
And that 's why we ca n't just have a table of white males , '' she said , though later noting Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , 78 , and former Vice President Joe Biden , 77 , would be `` infinitely better '' than Trump .
`` Let 's not even go into that low threshold , '' she added .
Pelosi 's remarks follow recent criticism of the Democratic nominating process , accusing it of alienating minorities while enabling old , white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledged the situation during a Democratic debate in December as the last remaining minority on stage , saying , `` It ’ s both an honor and disappointment to be the lone candidate of color on the stage tonight .
I miss Kamala .
I miss Cory . ''
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren once claimed Native American heritage while first running for office , but a DNA test showed she only had trace amounts .
`` Being Native American is part of who our family is , and I 'm glad to tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very proud of it , '' Warren said in 2012 .
`` My Aunt Bea has walked by that picture at least a 1,000 times remarked that he — her father , my Papaw — had high cheek bones like all of the Indians do , '' she continued .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said President Trump getting reelected could endanger Western civilization.
As the California Democrat was speaking at Northeastern’s Women Who Empower Summit in Boston, Massachusetts, on Monday, she emphasized to attendees that she felt the results of the upcoming 2020 election would have negative, rippling effects across the globe.
"This election is a very important election. In my view, civilization as we know it is at stake. It's about everything. It's about America," Pelosi said.
"We ask God to bless America. What is America? America is our Constitution," said, adding later that the Bill of Rights is "under siege" and that the administration shows a "disloyalty to the Constitution."
"We are a nation of immigrants who are being denigrated. And every newcomer to America with hopes, dreams, and aspirations for a better life for their children and the future — those are American traits. And those newcomers have made America more American."
The speaker employed similar rhetoric just prior to Trump's impeachment in December, saying she did not want to "even contemplate" a Trump reelection. "Let's not even contemplate that," she said in response to a question during a CNN Townhall. "Civilization as we know it today is at stake in the next election, and certainly our planet."
During her talk Monday, Pelosi also lamented how a woman had not yet been elected to the presidency and articulated her belief that the Democratic Party should nominate women or racial minorities in the future.
"We have to have that diversity at the table. The beauty is in the mix. And that's why we can't just have a table of white males," she said, though later noting Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 78, and former Vice President Joe Biden, 77, would be "infinitely better" than Trump. "Let's not even go into that low threshold," she added.
Pelosi's remarks follow recent criticism of the Democratic nominating process, accusing it of alienating minorities while enabling old, white men. Former presidential contender Andrew Yang acknowledged the situation during a Democratic debate in December as the last remaining minority on stage, saying, "It’s both an honor and disappointment to be the lone candidate of color on the stage tonight. I miss Kamala. I miss Cory."
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren once claimed Native American heritage while first running for office, but a DNA test showed she only had trace amounts. "Being Native American is part of who our family is, and I'm glad to tell anyone about that. I am just very proud of it," Warren said in 2012. "My Aunt Bea has walked by that picture at least a 1,000 times remarked that he — her father, my Papaw — had high cheek bones like all of the Indians do," she continued.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-09--Biden: Trump should 'just be quiet' about coronavirus

Joe Biden said President Trump should stop commenting on the coronavirus because he ’ s not doing anyone any favors .
`` I think there ’ s no confidence in the president and anything he says or does , '' the 2020 Democratic presidential front-runner told MSNBC .
`` He turns everything into what he thinks is a political benefit for himself , and he ’ s actually imploding in the process . ''
`` But there ’ s a lot of innocent bystanders that are being badly hurt , '' Biden said .
`` I wish he would just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Biden also said he believes Trump ’ s handling of the outbreak has led the stock market to plummet .
`` I believe that ’ s the case .
Now it doesn ’ t mean the market wouldn ’ t still go down .
But it wouldn ’ t collapse , I don ’ t think , '' he said .
Trump downplayed the virus on Monday , comparing it to flu deaths last year .
In a tweet , Trump failed to note that the statistics for the flu were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which are multiplying rapidly , had only been tallied for a few weeks .
There are more than 600 confirmed cases of coronavirus across the United States .
At least 22 people have died .

Joe Biden said President Trump should stop commenting on the coronavirus because he’s not doing anyone any favors.
"I think there’s no confidence in the president and anything he says or does," the 2020 Democratic presidential front-runner told MSNBC. "He turns everything into what he thinks is a political benefit for himself, and he’s actually imploding in the process."
"But there’s a lot of innocent bystanders that are being badly hurt," Biden said. "I wish he would just be quiet. I really mean it."
Biden also said he believes Trump’s handling of the outbreak has led the stock market to plummet.
"I believe that’s the case. Now it doesn’t mean the market wouldn’t still go down. But it wouldn’t collapse, I don’t think," he said.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
Trump downplayed the virus on Monday, comparing it to flu deaths last year. In a tweet, Trump failed to note that the statistics for the flu were for an entire year while coronavirus cases, which are multiplying rapidly, had only been tallied for a few weeks.
So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2020
There are more than 600 confirmed cases of coronavirus across the United States. At least 22 people have died.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-09--Democrats rebuke Bernie Sanders for establishment conspiracy theories

Democratic strategists scolded Bernie Sanders for saying that the Democratic establishment `` forced '' Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg to drop out of the race and endorse Joe Biden just before key Super Tuesday primary contests .
`` One of the things that I was kind of not surprised by was the power of the establishment to force Amy Klobuchar , who had worked so hard , Pete Buttigieg , who , you know , really worked extremely hard as well , out of the race , '' the Vermont senator said on This Week on Sunday .
`` What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and what the establishment wanted was to make sure that people coalesced around Biden and try to defeat me . ''
Sanders also suggested that he would have won more states had Buttigieg and Klobuchar been in the race .
“ The establishment put a great deal of pressure on Pete Buttigieg , on Amy Klobuchar , '' Sanders said on Meet the Press on Sunday .
`` Suddenly , right before Super Tuesday , they announced their withdrawal .
If they had not withdrawn from the race before Super Tuesday , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of people , I suspect we would have won in Minnesota , we would 've won in Maine , we would 've won in Massachusetts . ''
The Minnesota senator and former South Bend , Indiana , mayor ended their Democratic presidential campaigns within 24 hours of each other following Biden 's commanding victory in South Carolina , and both endorsed the former vice president the eve before Super Tuesday .
Biden then won 10 of the state primaries that day while Sanders won four , giving Biden a delegate lead .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the race because she believed it was time to unite the party and bring our country together so we can beat Donald Trump .
It ’ s that simple , '' tweeted Klobuchar 's campaign manager , Justin Buoen .
[ Related : Sanders warns Democratic 'political establishment ' trying to stop him and boost Biden ] '' Pete Buttigieg 's decision to get out of the race was his and his alone , '' said Lis Smith , top aide for Buttigieg .
`` To change the delegate picture Bernie Sanders needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enviable base has to grow , and by a lot .
That math is incontrovertible .
Suggesting Pete , Amy and others were forced to endorse Joe Biden by a mythical establishment is a curious growth strategy , '' said David Plouffe , who was President Barack Obama 's 2008 campaign manager .
Buttigieg denied any backroom forces forced his hand when asked on the Today Show Monday what kind of pressure he felt from the establishment to drop out .
`` I felt the pressure of voters making a decision , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 'd run our fourth race , it was clear that the numbers were n't there .
You know , getting into this race was never just about becoming president .
For us , it was about working to unify the party and the country , and it was about making sure that we defeat Donald Trump .
There came a point where I realized the best thing I could do in the service of those goals was to step aside and support VP Biden . ''
`` The kind of people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the kind of people who make their own decisions , '' Buttigieg added .
`` It was my decision .
”

Democratic strategists scolded Bernie Sanders for saying that the Democratic establishment "forced" Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg to drop out of the race and endorse Joe Biden just before key Super Tuesday primary contests.
"One of the things that I was kind of not surprised by was the power of the establishment to force Amy Klobuchar, who had worked so hard, Pete Buttigieg, who, you know, really worked extremely hard as well, out of the race," the Vermont senator said on This Week on Sunday. "What was very clear from the media narrative and what the establishment wanted was to make sure that people coalesced around Biden and try to defeat me."
Sanders also suggested that he would have won more states had Buttigieg and Klobuchar been in the race.
“The establishment put a great deal of pressure on Pete Buttigieg, on Amy Klobuchar," Sanders said on Meet the Press on Sunday. "Suddenly, right before Super Tuesday, they announced their withdrawal. If they had not withdrawn from the race before Super Tuesday, which was kind of a surprise to a lot of people, I suspect we would have won in Minnesota, we would've won in Maine, we would've won in Massachusetts."
The Minnesota senator and former South Bend, Indiana, mayor ended their Democratic presidential campaigns within 24 hours of each other following Biden's commanding victory in South Carolina, and both endorsed the former vice president the eve before Super Tuesday. Biden then won 10 of the state primaries that day while Sanders won four, giving Biden a delegate lead.
Top aides for Klobuchar and Buttigieg rebuked Sanders's statement.
"Amy decided to get out of the race because she believed it was time to unite the party and bring our country together so we can beat Donald Trump. It’s that simple," tweeted Klobuchar's campaign manager, Justin Buoen.
[Related: Sanders warns Democratic 'political establishment' trying to stop him and boost Biden]
Amy decided to get out of the race because she believed it was time to unite the party and bring our country together so we can beat Donald Trump. It’s that simple. https://t.co/sJW3AQFfse — Justin Buoen (@jbuoen) March 8, 2020
"Pete Buttigieg's decision to get out of the race was his and his alone," said Lis Smith, top aide for Buttigieg.
.@PeteButtigieg’s decision to get out of the race was his and his alone. https://t.co/loljvoIF1R — Lis Smith (@Lis_Smith) March 8, 2020
"To change the delegate picture Bernie Sanders needs to grow his vote share. His enviable base has to grow, and by a lot. That math is incontrovertible. Suggesting Pete, Amy and others were forced to endorse Joe Biden by a mythical establishment is a curious growth strategy," said David Plouffe, who was President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign manager.
To change the delegate picture Bernie Sanders needs to grow his vote share. His enviable base has to grow, and by a lot. That math is incontrovertible. Suggesting Pete, Amy and others were forced to endorse Joe Biden by a mythical establishment is a curious growth strategy. — David Plouffe (@davidplouffe) March 8, 2020
Buttigieg denied any backroom forces forced his hand when asked on the Today Show Monday what kind of pressure he felt from the establishment to drop out.
"I felt the pressure of voters making a decision," Buttigieg said. "By the time we'd run our fourth race, it was clear that the numbers weren't there. You know, getting into this race was never just about becoming president. For us, it was about working to unify the party and the country, and it was about making sure that we defeat Donald Trump. There came a point where I realized the best thing I could do in the service of those goals was to step aside and support VP Biden."
"The kind of people who run for president of the United States are the kind of people who make their own decisions," Buttigieg added. "It was my decision.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-09--Fox's Stuart Varney: 'The market will like' Biden win in Michigan primary

Fox Business host Stuart Varney predicted the stock market would bounce back up should Joe Biden win the Michigan primary on Tuesday .
U.S. stocks plummeted Monday as the coronavirus outbreak disrupts the global economy .
Shortly after Monday 's opening , the New York Stock Exchange paused trading when the markets dropped more than 7 % .
If indexes drop 20 % , the markets would be closed for the day .
Varney , on his show Varney & Company , predicted the markets would respond well if the former vice president pulls off a primary victory in Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders .
`` I 've got to bring the politics in .
It 's the Michigan primary tomorrow .
I think Bernie 's gon na lose .
I think Joe Biden , he 's got the momentum , and I think the market will like that , '' he explained .
`` The very hint , if Bernie does well , I think the market has another '' bad day .
Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo responded , `` You want to see the market taken at even more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie Sanders .
That will really kill any — any expectation of a comeback here , for sure . ''
Michigan is one of seven states that will hold primaries on Tuesday , and the others include Idaho , Mississippi , Missouri , North Dakota , and Washington .
Those states account for 352 delegates , and with a strong showing , the former vice president could essentially lock in the nomination .
Sanders won the Michigan primary in 2016 .

Fox Business host Stuart Varney predicted the stock market would bounce back up should Joe Biden win the Michigan primary on Tuesday.
U.S. stocks plummeted Monday as the coronavirus outbreak disrupts the global economy. Shortly after Monday's opening, the New York Stock Exchange paused trading when the markets dropped more than 7%. If indexes drop 20%, the markets would be closed for the day.
Varney, on his show Varney & Company, predicted the markets would respond well if the former vice president pulls off a primary victory in Michigan against his main rival remaining the race, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
"I've got to bring the politics in. It's the Michigan primary tomorrow. I think Bernie's gonna lose. I think Joe Biden, he's got the momentum, and I think the market will like that," he explained. "The very hint, if Bernie does well, I think the market has another" bad day.
Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo responded, "You want to see the market taken at even more than today? Have a victory for Bernie Sanders. That will really kill any — any expectation of a comeback here, for sure."
Michigan is one of seven states that will hold primaries on Tuesday, and the others include Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, and Washington. Those states account for 352 delegates, and with a strong showing, the former vice president could essentially lock in the nomination. Sanders won the Michigan primary in 2016.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-09--Is Biden's 24-point Michigan lead deceptive? It was for Hillary Clinton in 2016

DETROIT — Joe Biden has a 24-point lead over Bernie Sanders in a Michigan Democratic presidential primary poll released Monday , eerily similar to Hillary Clinton 's lead over the socialist Vermont senator in the state 's 2016 primary before he won in an upset .
A Detroit Free Press/EPIC-MRA Michigan poll released Monday , one day before Tuesday 's primary , found the former vice president with 51 % support and Sanders at 27 % .
The poll surveyed 400 likely Democratic primary voters in Michigan by phone from March 4-6 ( after last week 's Super Tuesday primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ error of 4.9 percentage points .
Monday 's poll is analogous to the 2016 cycle .
The day before former Secretary of State Clinton and Sanders faced off in the 2016 Michigan Democratic presidential primary , another Detroit Free Press/EPIC-MRA poll found Clinton with a 25-point lead over Sanders , 56 % to 31 % .
Sanders then won Michigan 's primary by 1.4 percentage points in a major upset .
Younger voters and voters outside the Detroit area turned out in much greater numbers than expected in the 2016 primary , contributing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll found that Sanders 's support among young Democrats is softer than in 2016 — 58 % among ages 18-29 versus 65 % in 2016 — and also softer with those outside metro Detroit .
However , Sanders drew a crowd in excess of 10,000 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on Sunday .
In a revised stump speech urging the mostly white audience to consider whether it was `` satisfied with the status quo , '' the senator emphasized the importance of Michigan to his second presidential campaign .
Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the weekend , scrapping plans to “ directly address the African American community and make the case for why black voters should support him over Joe Biden ” before announcing an endorsement from civil rights activist and former White House hopeful Jesse Jackson .
Jackson joined him on the trail in the conservative stronghold of Grand Rapids , Michigan , on Sunday morning .
“ Back in 1988 , Jesse Jackson won the state , 2016 , I won the state .
And on Tuesday , if we stick together , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we 're gon na win it again , '' Sanders said Sunday evening in Ann Arbor .
A Michigan win , and earning a good chunk of its 125 delegates , is critical for Sanders 's path to the Democratic presidential nomination .
Not only is Biden 91 pledged delegates ahead of Sanders , but it will test whether there is any appetite among Democratic voters for a 2016-like drawn-out primary fight between socialist Sanders and an establishment candidate .
There are 352 delegates up for grabs in Tuesday primary contests in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Missouri , and North Dakota .

DETROIT — Joe Biden has a 24-point lead over Bernie Sanders in a Michigan Democratic presidential primary poll released Monday, eerily similar to Hillary Clinton's lead over the socialist Vermont senator in the state's 2016 primary before he won in an upset.
A Detroit Free Press/EPIC-MRA Michigan poll released Monday, one day before Tuesday's primary, found the former vice president with 51% support and Sanders at 27%.
The poll surveyed 400 likely Democratic primary voters in Michigan by phone from March 4-6 (after last week's Super Tuesday primary contests) and has a margin of error of 4.9 percentage points.
Monday's poll is analogous to the 2016 cycle. The day before former Secretary of State Clinton and Sanders faced off in the 2016 Michigan Democratic presidential primary, another Detroit Free Press/EPIC-MRA poll found Clinton with a 25-point lead over Sanders, 56% to 31%. Sanders then won Michigan's primary by 1.4 percentage points in a major upset. Younger voters and voters outside the Detroit area turned out in much greater numbers than expected in the 2016 primary, contributing to the polling error.
Monday's poll found that Sanders's support among young Democrats is softer than in 2016 — 58% among ages 18-29 versus 65% in 2016 — and also softer with those outside metro Detroit.
However, Sanders drew a crowd in excess of 10,000 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on Sunday.
In a revised stump speech urging the mostly white audience to consider whether it was "satisfied with the status quo," the senator emphasized the importance of Michigan to his second presidential campaign. Sanders played with his messaging to black Democrats over the weekend, scrapping plans to “directly address the African American community and make the case for why black voters should support him over Joe Biden” before announcing an endorsement from civil rights activist and former White House hopeful Jesse Jackson. Jackson joined him on the trail in the conservative stronghold of Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Sunday morning.
“Back in 1988, Jesse Jackson won the state, 2016, I won the state. And on Tuesday, if we stick together, if we bring our friends out to vote, we're gonna win it again," Sanders said Sunday evening in Ann Arbor.
A Michigan win, and earning a good chunk of its 125 delegates, is critical for Sanders's path to the Democratic presidential nomination. Not only is Biden 91 pledged delegates ahead of Sanders, but it will test whether there is any appetite among Democratic voters for a 2016-like drawn-out primary fight between socialist Sanders and an establishment candidate.
There are 352 delegates up for grabs in Tuesday primary contests in Michigan, Washington, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, and North Dakota.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-09--Bloomberg adviser warns of 'scorched earth' retaliation against Trump children if GOP attacks Hunter

Bloomberg adviser warns of 'scorched earth' retaliation against Trump children if GOP attacks Hunter Biden

An adviser to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg 's campaign threatened a `` scorched earth '' response against President Trump 's children if the GOP refuses to back off from Hunter Biden .
During a weekend interview on MSNBC , Timothy O'Brien suggested that Democrats would engage in a media campaign against the Trump children `` unlike anything they 've experienced thus far '' if Republicans continue to investigate and attack the son of Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden .
The comment came after Joy Reid , the host of AM Joy , asked O'Brien to discuss the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's administration .
`` Yeah , you know , the Trump family are epic grifters , and this goes back generations .
Fred Trump made his money by intersecting with both the federal government and state government in New York .
Donald came up through New York , intersecting with local government and in Atlantic City .
They 've gone — now , they are now in the White House , and all of them are dipping their faces into the till , '' O'Brien said .
`` If the Republicans really want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , which is very low-hanging fruit that I don ’ t think most Democratic voters care about anyway , there is going to be a scorched earth response aimed at all of the Trump children that is unlike anything they ’ ve experienced thus far in the media , '' he added .
Reid asked if financing for such a media campaign would come from Bloomberg , to which O'Brien said he feels it is important for people to be `` woke '' about the financial activity of the Trumps .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment for the American people to be woke about how rampant the financial conflicts of interest are among Trump ’ s children and the president himself , '' O'Brien said .
Hunter Biden and Joe Biden have been the subject of scrutiny after the elder Biden publicly boasted that he once pressured Ukraine to fire a controversial top prosecutor , whose office investigated Burisma Holdings owner and Ukrainian oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky , by threatening to withhold $ 1 billion in loan guarantees .
Hunter Biden was a member of Burisma 's board from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrutinizing whether Joe Biden improperly used his role as vice president to protect his son .
The former vice president has repeatedly denied that he tried to shield his son in the face of corruption allegations by Trump and his allies , which became the center of an impeachment effort that ended in acquittal last month .
Bloomberg ended his campaign for president last week and endorsed Joe Biden .
The billionaire is forming a new political organization that will absorb large swathes of his 2020 campaign staff and infrastructure as he looks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Democratic nomination and Trump in the general election .
After Joe Biden 's Super Tuesday triumph , congressional Republicans appeared to ramp up their investigations into Hunter Biden .
Republicans have gave Hunter a high-paying position on the company board despite him having little experience in the energy sector and a well-documented problem with drug use .

An adviser to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's campaign threatened a "scorched earth" response against President Trump's children if the GOP refuses to back off from Hunter Biden.
During a weekend interview on MSNBC, Timothy O'Brien suggested that Democrats would engage in a media campaign against the Trump children "unlike anything they've experienced thus far" if Republicans continue to investigate and attack the son of Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden.
The comment came after Joy Reid, the host of AM Joy, asked O'Brien to discuss the first family's financial activity during Trump's administration.
"Yeah, you know, the Trump family are epic grifters, and this goes back generations. Fred Trump made his money by intersecting with both the federal government and state government in New York. Donald came up through New York, intersecting with local government and in Atlantic City. They've gone — now, they are now in the White House, and all of them are dipping their faces into the till," O'Brien said.
"If the Republicans really want to make an issue out of Hunter Biden, which is very low-hanging fruit that I don’t think most Democratic voters care about anyway, there is going to be a scorched earth response aimed at all of the Trump children that is unlike anything they’ve experienced thus far in the media," he added.
Reid asked if financing for such a media campaign would come from Bloomberg, to which O'Brien said he feels it is important for people to be "woke" about the financial activity of the Trumps. "I think it’s an important moment for the American people to be woke about how rampant the financial conflicts of interest are among Trump’s children and the president himself," O'Brien said.
Hunter Biden and Joe Biden have been the subject of scrutiny after the elder Biden publicly boasted that he once pressured Ukraine to fire a controversial top prosecutor, whose office investigated Burisma Holdings owner and Ukrainian oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky, by threatening to withhold $1 billion in loan guarantees. Hunter Biden was a member of Burisma's board from 2014 to 2019, and Republicans are scrutinizing whether Joe Biden improperly used his role as vice president to protect his son.
The former vice president has repeatedly denied that he tried to shield his son in the face of corruption allegations by Trump and his allies, which became the center of an impeachment effort that ended in acquittal last month.
Bloomberg ended his campaign for president last week and endorsed Joe Biden. The billionaire is forming a new political organization that will absorb large swathes of his 2020 campaign staff and infrastructure as he looks to help Joe Biden beat Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination and Trump in the general election.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-09--Cory Booker endorses Biden

Cory Booker endorses Biden

Sen. Cory Booker backed Joe Biden for president , adding another former rival to the 2020 Democratic presidential front-runner ’ s list of endorsements .
“ Joe Biden won ’ t only win — he ’ ll show there ’ s more that unites us than divides us , ” Booker said in a tweet early Monday .
“ He ’ ll restore honor to the Oval Office and tackle our most pressing challenges.
” The endorsement comes nearly 24 hours after Sen. Kamala Harris said she would support Biden for the Democratic nomination .
The two senators will reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Detroit on Monday night .
Booker will also campaign with Biden in Flint , Michigan , and attend a fundraiser with him .
It ’ s another strong show of support for Biden on the eve of a major voting day in the presidential primaries .
A week ago , Sen. Amy Klobuchar , former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg , and former Rep. Beto O ’ Rourke appeared with Biden in Texas to offer their support ahead of Super Tuesday .
The backing of Booker and Harris , two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , helps give Biden an extra boost as his rival , Sen. Bernie Sanders , tries to hang on in Michigan , where black voters make up a sizable portion of the electorate .
Booker dropped out of the presidential race in January as he struggled to compete financially and in the polls with top-tier campaigns .

Sen. Cory Booker backed Joe Biden for president, adding another former rival to the 2020 Democratic presidential front-runner’s list of endorsements.
“Joe Biden won’t only win — he’ll show there’s more that unites us than divides us,” Booker said in a tweet early Monday. “He’ll restore honor to the Oval Office and tackle our most pressing challenges.”
The endorsement comes nearly 24 hours after Sen. Kamala Harris said she would support Biden for the Democratic nomination.
The two senators will reportedly appear with Biden at a rally in Detroit on Monday night. Booker will also campaign with Biden in Flint, Michigan, and attend a fundraiser with him.
It’s another strong show of support for Biden on the eve of a major voting day in the presidential primaries. A week ago, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke appeared with Biden in Texas to offer their support ahead of Super Tuesday.
The backing of Booker and Harris, two prominent black candidates to run for president, helps give Biden an extra boost as his rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders, tries to hang on in Michigan, where black voters make up a sizable portion of the electorate.
Booker dropped out of the presidential race in January as he struggled to compete financially and in the polls with top-tier campaigns.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-10--Judge finds Iran responsible for Robert Levinson’s kidnapping in $1.5B lawsuit

Exactly 13 years after Robert Levinson was abducted in Iran , a federal judge found the Iranian government responsible for kidnapping and torturing the former FBI agent who , if he is still alive , is the longest-held American hostage .
“ This case , brought by Levinson ’ s family against the Islamic Republic of Iran for his hostage taking and torture under the terrorism exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act , is largely about whether it was the Iranian regime that committed these barbarous acts , ” U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly ruled on Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertain terms , that it was.
” Levinson ’ s family , including his wife , Christine , and their seven children , filed a lawsuit against Tehran in 2017 after the husband and father had been missing for a decade .
They sought $ 150 million in compensation as well as another $ 150 million per family member in punitive damages from Iran ’ s government , for a total of $ 1.5 billion .
“ Thirteen years ago , our beloved husband and father , Robert Levinson , was detained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran , beginning a nightmare for him and for our family that continues to this day , ” the Levinson family said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner .
“ On this anniversary , the United States District Court for the District of Columbia has found that the Iranian regime is responsible for what happened to him .
… We will continue to do everything in our power to seek justice for our husband and father.
” Levinson , who spent nearly three decades working for the U.S. government , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , vanished in an abduction by Iranian authorities from Kish Island .
Levinson was originally believed to be in Iran as a private investigator , and the U.S. initially claimed Levinson was n't working for the U.S. government at the time , though outlets in 2013 revealed Levinson was part of an off-the-books CIA mission when he was captured .
No photos or videos have been released of Levinson since 2010 and 2011 , and Iran has offered a series of conflicting narratives denying Levinson is in their custody .
“ Iran must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work with the United States for Mr. Levinson ’ s return , ” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday .
“ Returning all Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad is President Trump ’ s top priority .
We will work until Bob Levinson and all U.S. hostages and wrongful detainees come home.
” The Levinson family said it is obvious Iran grabbed their father years ago , pointing to a since-scrubbed April 2007 article from Press TV , an Iranian government-backed outlet in Tehran , stating Levinson “ has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the early hours of March 9 ” and that “ the authorities are well on the way to finishing the procedural arrangements that could see him freed in a matter of days.
” The judge agreed .
In December , the D.C. court held a two-day evidentiary hearing on the Levinson family ’ s motion for default judgment , hearing testimony from all eight family members as well as expert witnesses from the FBI and D.C. think tanks .
“ Levinson ’ s family long suspected that the Iranian regime was responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on Monday .
“ And despite Iran ’ s apparent denials of responsibility for Levinson ’ s abduction , there are no other plausible explanations in the record for what happened to him.
” The State Department announced in November a $ 20 million reward for information leading to the safe return of Levinson , in addition to a $ 5 million reward offered by the FBI .
A few days later , Iran seemed to acknowledge Levinson was alive and in its custody in a short filing to the United Nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Involuntary Disappearances where the Levinson family had filed a complaint three years ago .
`` According to the statement of Tehran ’ s Justice Department , Mr. Robert Alan Levinson has an ongoing case in the Public Prosecution and Revolutionary Court of Tehran , '' the U.N. stated .
The Islamic Revolutionary Courts of Iran were established ostensibly to combat foreign threats and push back against efforts to overthrow the government , dealing with allegations of espionage , smuggling , blasphemy , and fomenting revolution .
It is common for the regime to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. in secret proceedings then announce them as hostages in negotiations , though , for years , Iran has kept mum about Levinson ’ s fate .
Iran quickly backtracked , with Iran ’ s Foreign Ministry spokesman claiming the day after the filing that Levinson is a “ missing person ” and “ has no judicial or criminal case in any Islamic Republic of Iran court whatsoever.
” President Trump tweeted about Levinson that day , saying , `` It would be a very positive step '' if Iran released him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of U.S. hostages imprisoned in Iran , especially as the country has been hit hard by the coronavirus , with 7,161 confirmed cases along with at least 237 deaths attributable to the disease .
The deadly respiratory illness recently killed a top adviser to Iranian leader Ali Khamenei and has infected Iran 's Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi and Iranian Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar .
As of last week , an estimated 10 % of Iran ’ s parliament had contracted the COVID-19 virus , a high percentage that raises questions about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The National Council of Resistance of Iran , a controversial dissident group advocating regime change , has claimed that more than 2,000 people have died from coronavirus in the country .

Exactly 13 years after Robert Levinson was abducted in Iran, a federal judge found the Iranian government responsible for kidnapping and torturing the former FBI agent who, if he is still alive, is the longest-held American hostage.
“This case, brought by Levinson’s family against the Islamic Republic of Iran for his hostage taking and torture under the terrorism exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, is largely about whether it was the Iranian regime that committed these barbarous acts,” U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly ruled on Monday. “The Court finds, in no uncertain terms, that it was.”
Levinson’s family, including his wife, Christine, and their seven children, filed a lawsuit against Tehran in 2017 after the husband and father had been missing for a decade. They sought $150 million in compensation as well as another $150 million per family member in punitive damages from Iran’s government, for a total of $1.5 billion.
“Thirteen years ago, our beloved husband and father, Robert Levinson, was detained by Iranian authorities while visiting Kish Island, Iran, beginning a nightmare for him and for our family that continues to this day,” the Levinson family said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner. “On this anniversary, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia has found that the Iranian regime is responsible for what happened to him. … We will continue to do everything in our power to seek justice for our husband and father.”
Levinson, who spent nearly three decades working for the U.S. government, including 22 years as an FBI special agent, vanished in an abduction by Iranian authorities from Kish Island. Levinson was originally believed to be in Iran as a private investigator, and the U.S. initially claimed Levinson wasn't working for the U.S. government at the time, though outlets in 2013 revealed Levinson was part of an off-the-books CIA mission when he was captured. No photos or videos have been released of Levinson since 2010 and 2011, and Iran has offered a series of conflicting narratives denying Levinson is in their custody.
“Iran must honor the commitment it has made to work with the United States for Mr. Levinson’s return,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday. “Returning all Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad is President Trump’s top priority. We will work until Bob Levinson and all U.S. hostages and wrongful detainees come home.”
The Levinson family said it is obvious Iran grabbed their father years ago, pointing to a since-scrubbed April 2007 article from Press TV, an Iranian government-backed outlet in Tehran, stating Levinson “has been in the hands of Iranian security forces since the early hours of March 9” and that “the authorities are well on the way to finishing the procedural arrangements that could see him freed in a matter of days.” The judge agreed.
In December, the D.C. court held a two-day evidentiary hearing on the Levinson family’s motion for default judgment, hearing testimony from all eight family members as well as expert witnesses from the FBI and D.C. think tanks.
“Levinson’s family long suspected that the Iranian regime was responsible for his kidnapping,” the judge said on Monday. “And despite Iran’s apparent denials of responsibility for Levinson’s abduction, there are no other plausible explanations in the record for what happened to him.”
The State Department announced in November a $20 million reward for information leading to the safe return of Levinson, in addition to a $5 million reward offered by the FBI.
A few days later, Iran seemed to acknowledge Levinson was alive and in its custody in a short filing to the United Nation’s Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances where the Levinson family had filed a complaint three years ago.
"According to the statement of Tehran’s Justice Department, Mr. Robert Alan Levinson has an ongoing case in the Public Prosecution and Revolutionary Court of Tehran," the U.N. stated.
The Islamic Revolutionary Courts of Iran were established ostensibly to combat foreign threats and push back against efforts to overthrow the government, dealing with allegations of espionage, smuggling, blasphemy, and fomenting revolution. It is common for the regime to convict Westerners or Iranians with ties to the U.S. in secret proceedings then announce them as hostages in negotiations, though, for years, Iran has kept mum about Levinson’s fate.
Iran quickly backtracked, with Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman claiming the day after the filing that Levinson is a “missing person” and “has no judicial or criminal case in any Islamic Republic of Iran court whatsoever.”
President Trump tweeted about Levinson that day, saying, "It would be a very positive step" if Iran released him.
There are concerns about the treatment of U.S. hostages imprisoned in Iran, especially as the country has been hit hard by the coronavirus, with 7,161 confirmed cases along with at least 237 deaths attributable to the disease.
The deadly respiratory illness recently killed a top adviser to Iranian leader Ali Khamenei and has infected Iran's Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi and Iranian Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar. As of last week, an estimated 10% of Iran’s parliament had contracted the COVID-19 virus, a high percentage that raises questions about the accuracy of Iran’s reporting.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran, a controversial dissident group advocating regime change, has claimed that more than 2,000 people have died from coronavirus in the country.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-09--DNC has 'no plans to cancel' next debate over coronavirus outbreak

The Democratic National Committee said that Sunday ’ s debate is still on the calendar despite growing numbers of COVID-19 infections .
DNC spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa told the Arizona Republic on Monday that , while there are no current plans to cancel the event , the organization planned to keep in contact with local authorities in Phoenix , Arizona , where the debate will be held .
“ We are in touch with local officials and will follow their guidance , ” Hinojosa said .
“ There are no plans to cancel the debate.
” The debate will take place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two days before the next round of presidential primaries .
Annie DeGraw , a spokeswoman for the city ’ s mayor , said that multiple groups are “ in daily contact … to discuss precautions being taken against COVID-19.
” “ We understand the responsibility that comes with hosting an event under these circumstances .
We are taking strong precautions , and , most importantly , breaking down communication silos , ” DeGraw said , noting that stakeholders such as the DNC , CNN , the Phoenix Convention Center , and the theater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time , we are working with the understanding that the debate is moving forward as planned and taking proper safety precautions in the lead-up to Sunday , ” she continued .
“ Based on this information , we will reassess daily what possible changes need to be made.
” Maricopa County in Arizona has had three confirmed cases of the illness , while Pinal County has had two infections .
There have been more than 600 confirmed cases and 22 deaths across the United States so far .
An attendee at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was diagnosed with COVID-19 .
The person had contact with at least two Republican lawmakers , who are self-quarantining .

The Democratic National Committee said that Sunday’s debate is still on the calendar despite growing numbers of COVID-19 infections.
DNC spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa told the Arizona Republic on Monday that, while there are no current plans to cancel the event, the organization planned to keep in contact with local authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, where the debate will be held.
“We are in touch with local officials and will follow their guidance,” Hinojosa said. “There are no plans to cancel the debate.”
The debate will take place in Phoenix’s Arizona Federal Theatre two days before the next round of presidential primaries. Annie DeGraw, a spokeswoman for the city’s mayor, said that multiple groups are “in daily contact … to discuss precautions being taken against COVID-19.”
“We understand the responsibility that comes with hosting an event under these circumstances. We are taking strong precautions, and, most importantly, breaking down communication silos,” DeGraw said, noting that stakeholders such as the DNC, CNN, the Phoenix Convention Center, and the theater are being kept updated.
“At this time, we are working with the understanding that the debate is moving forward as planned and taking proper safety precautions in the lead-up to Sunday,” she continued. “Based on this information, we will reassess daily what possible changes need to be made.”
Maricopa County in Arizona has had three confirmed cases of the illness, while Pinal County has had two infections. There have been more than 600 confirmed cases and 22 deaths across the United States so far.
An attendee at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference last month was diagnosed with COVID-19. The person had contact with at least two Republican lawmakers, who are self-quarantining.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-10--'A week ago, everyone was pretty sanguine': Coronavirus political peril begins to dawn on Trumpworld

While President Trump plays down the threat from a novel coronavirus that has killed 26 people in the United States , fears are mounting among key allies that this could turn out to be the sort of unanticipated black swan event that derails his reelection .
On Monday , U.S. stocks fell more than seven per cent in the worst day of trading since 2008 , threatening to undermine one of Trump ’ s key campaign promises — that voters ’ 401k investments are safe with him .
A week of spiraling shocks has the White House looking for plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign wondering how to respond to a threat that emerged from nowhere .
“ A week ago , everyone was pretty sanguine .
There were actually people saying this could be good for the Trump agenda , ” said a senior administration official .
“ Since then , the balance of risk and reward has shifted .
The optimistic view is not being heard quite so much when you have plague ships docking.
” A cruise ship isolated off the coast of California docked in Oakland on Monday .
Its 2,421 passengers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 days after 21 people were found to have the virus .
The slow progress of the Grand Princess into Oakland was shown on television screens aboard Air Force One as the president returned from a weekend at Mar-a-Lago , his Palm Beach club .
The episode illustrates how the president is attempting to work out his messaging for the virus , painting it as a foreign threat .
On Friday , during a visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta he would have the vessel stay at sea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn ’ t our fault , '' he said .
The president has three times in the past 11 days described coronavirus as a “ foreign outbreak.
” That stance was developed as aides briefed that coronavirus might offer an opportunity for Trump to renew his economic nationalist credentials , and argue that companies that brought manufacturing back from China — where the Covid-19 disease originated — would weather the crisis better than others that remained reliant on the Asian country .
Since then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease , the administration has been accused of bungling the provision of testing kits , and markets have spent a fortnight in turmoil .
If that were not enough to drive the message home , the Florida Representative Matt Gaetz announced he was self-quarantining after coming into contact with an infected person at the CPAC conference .
He made the announcement on Twitter soon after hitching a ride back with Trump aboard Air Force One .
Administration officials have privately expressed irritation that Trump ’ s attempts to play down the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice President Mike Pence and his coronavirus task force in encouraging people to self-isolate if sick On Monday , for example , the White House said it was “ business as usual ” just after 73-year-old Trump plunged his arm into a waiting crowd at Orlando airport to shake well-wishers by the hand .
“ I think that the reaction from the administration have been good so far even if the POTUS messages have been a bit muddled ( self-obsessed ) , ” said a senior administration official via text message , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good reviews from industry figures and that job numbers and economic fundamentals remained sound .
A spokesman for the Trump campaign declined to talk about any changes to strategy or messaging .
Tim Murtaugh , communications director , also played down that Trump has no campaign rallies scheduled amid speculation they are being suspended to account for coronavirus .
`` The campaign is proceeding as normal , '' he said .
`` We announce rallies when they are ready to be announced . ''
The damage so far is not fatal to Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markets to come back into line , according to Jeanne Zaino , professor of political science at Iona College , which is closed for a fortnight because of a local case in upstate New York .
But the outbreak is a major test for a president who has in the past governed largely for his base .
And therein lies a message for his campaign .
“ He needs to show empathy and govern for the whole country , and I don ’ t think that comes naturally to him , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he ’ s telling the truth .
”

While President Trump plays down the threat from a novel coronavirus that has killed 26 people in the United States, fears are mounting among key allies that this could turn out to be the sort of unanticipated black swan event that derails his reelection.
On Monday, U.S. stocks fell more than 7% in the worst day of trading since 2008, threatening to undermine one of Trump’s key campaign promises — that voters’ 401(k) investments are safe with him.
A week of spiraling shocks has the White House looking for plans to immunize the economy and a 2020 campaign wondering how to respond to a threat that emerged from nowhere.
“A week ago, everyone was pretty sanguine. There were actually people saying this could be good for the Trump agenda,” said a senior administration official.
“Since then, the balance of risk and reward has shifted. The optimistic view is not being heard quite so much when you have plague ships docking.”
A cruise ship isolated off the coast of California docked in Oakland on Monday. Its 2,421 passengers and 1,113 crew members will be quarantined for 14 days after 21 people were found to have the virus.
The slow progress of the Grand Princess into Oakland was shown on television screens aboard Air Force One as the president returned from a weekend at Mar-a-Lago, his club in Palm Beach, Florida.
The episode illustrates how the president is attempting to work out his messaging for the virus, painting it as a foreign threat.
On Friday, during a visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Trump said he would have the vessel stay at sea.
“I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn’t our fault," he said.
The president has three times in the past 11 days described the coronavirus as a “foreign outbreak.”
That stance was developed as aides briefed that the coronavirus might offer an opportunity for Trump to renew his economic nationalist credentials and argue that companies that brought manufacturing back from China, where the COVID-19 disease originated, would weather the crisis better than others that remained reliant on the Asian country.
Since then, 27 states have reported cases of the disease, the administration has been accused of bungling the provision of testing kits, and markets have spent a fortnight in turmoil.
If these were not enough to drive the message home, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida announced he was self-quarantining after coming into contact with an infected person at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February. He made the announcement on Twitter soon after hitching a ride back with Trump aboard Air Force One.
Administration officials have privately expressed irritation that Trump’s attempts to play down the risk have distracted from the work done by Vice President Mike Pence and his coronavirus task force in encouraging people to self-isolate if sick.
On Monday, for example, the White House said it was “business as usual” just after the 73-year-old president plunged his arm into a waiting crowd at Orlando's airport to shake well-wishers by the hand in Florida.
“I think that the reaction from the administration have been good so far, even if the POTUS messages have been a bit muddled (self-obsessed),” said a senior administration official via text message, who pointed out that Pence had been getting good reviews from industry figures and that job numbers and economic fundamentals remained sound.
A spokesman for the Trump campaign declined to talk about any changes to strategy or messaging.
Tim Murtaugh, communications director, also played down that Trump has no campaign rallies scheduled amid speculation they are being suspended to account for the coronavirus.
"The campaign is proceeding as normal," he said. "We announce rallies when they are ready to be announced."
The damage so far is not fatal to Trump, and there is still time for the markets to come back into line, according to Jeanne Zaino, professor of political science at Iona College, which is closed for a fortnight because of a local case in upstate New York.
But the outbreak is a major test for a president who has in the past governed largely for his base. And therein lies a message for his campaign.
“He needs to show empathy and govern for the whole country, and I don’t think that comes naturally to him,” she said. “People have to believe that he’s telling the truth.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-10--Show-Me State may show Bernie Sanders the door

Sen. Bernie Sanders is facing several losses in Tuesday ’ s Democratic primaries , including in the state of Missouri , where voters appear on a track to overwhelmingly support front-runner Joe Biden .
Two March polls show Biden with a significant advantage over Sanders among voters in the Show-Me State while a third poll shows Biden with a narrow lead .
The polling was conducted after Biden ’ s big win in the South Carolina primary and after Biden won 10 out of 14 states in the March 3 Super Tuesday contest .
“ The limited evidence we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the momentum Biden has enjoyed since South Carolina will likely carry him to victory here as well , ” University of Missouri political science professor Peverill Squire told the Washington Examiner .
Missouri is among six states holding contests on Tuesday with 365 pledged delegates up for grabs .
Biden is leading Sanders by double digits in Michigan , which awards 125 pledged delegates , and has a slim lead over Sanders in Washington state , where 89 delegates are up for grabs .
A total of 1,991 delegates are needed to win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convention this summer .
In 2016 , when Sanders ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination against Hillary Clinton , she beat Sanders in Missouri , but by just a small fraction of a percent .
He ’ ll probably lose again on Tuesday , polls suggest , this time by a much greater margin .
A Data For Progress poll conducted March 4-7 shows Biden enjoys a 10-point lead among Missouri Democratic voters .
The same poll showed Biden leading Sanders , 62 % to 32 % , ahead of Tuesday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have made appearances in the state in the last few days , and both campaigns are running commercials , ” Peverill said .
“ But my sense of the race is that Biden enjoys stronger support than Sanders in the state ’ s major urban centers and that he may also benefit from additional support from suburban voters , who may be disenchanted with the Trump administration.
” A second survey published by Missouri Scout and conducted March 4-5 , before Sen. Elizabeth Warren dropped out , gave Biden a 53 % -31 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll conducted during the same time period by Emerson College , which used a smaller and less representative sample than the Missouri Scout poll , showed Biden and Sanders statistically tied , 48 % to 44 % .
The Emerson poll showed a dramatic divide among age groups .
Voters under the age of 50 mostly backed Sanders ( 66 % ) while voters over 50 backed Biden ( 70 % ) .
Biden lead among nonwhite voters , 50 % to 36 % .
Sanders was considered the front-runner after winning in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucuses , and winning the popular vote in the Iowa caucuses .
But Biden ’ s decisive win in South Carolina , followed by victories in most of the Super Tuesday states and endorsements from several former Democratic competitors , has solidified Biden as the new front-runner .
Biden now leads the delegate count , with 664 pledged delegates .
Sanders has won 573 pledged delegates .
Biden is poised to win most of Missouri ’ s 68 pledged delegates .
“ If Biden wins it big , as expected , especially with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the path forward for Sanders to the nomination becomes narrower and nearly nonexistent , ” Jessica Taylor , an editor at the nonpartisan Cook Political Report , told the Washington Examiner .

Sen. Bernie Sanders is facing several losses in Tuesday’s Democratic primaries, including in the state of Missouri, where voters appear poised to support front-runner Joe Biden overwhelmingly.
Two March polls show Biden with a significant advantage over Sanders among voters in the Show-Me State, while a third poll shows Biden with a narrow lead.
The polling was conducted after Biden’s big win in the South Carolina primary and after Biden won 10 out of 14 states in the March 3 Super Tuesday contest.
“The limited evidence we have on current opinion in Missouri suggests that the momentum Biden has enjoyed since South Carolina will likely carry him to victory here as well,” University of Missouri political science professor Peverill Squire told the Washington Examiner.
Missouri is among six states holding contests on Tuesday, with 365 pledged delegates up for grabs.
Biden is leading Sanders by double digits in Michigan, which awards 125 pledged delegates, and has a slim lead over Sanders in Washington state, where 89 delegates are up for grabs. A total of 1,991 delegates are needed to win the Democratic nomination at the party's convention this summer.
In 2016, when Sanders ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination against Hillary Clinton, she beat Sanders in Missouri, but by just a small fraction of a percent.
He’ll probably lose again on Tuesday, polls suggest, this time by a much greater margin.
A Data for Progress poll conducted March 4-7 shows Biden enjoys a 10-point lead among Missouri Democratic voters. The same poll showed Biden leading Sanders, 62% to 32%, ahead of Tuesday’s primary.
“Both Biden and Sanders have made appearances in the state in the last few days, and both campaigns are running commercials,” Peverill said. “But my sense of the race is that Biden enjoys stronger support than Sanders in the state’s major urban centers and that he may also benefit from additional support from suburban voters, who may be disenchanted with the Trump administration.”
A second survey published by Missouri Scout and conducted March 4-5, before Sen. Elizabeth Warren dropped out, gave Biden a 53%-31% lead over Sanders.
A third poll conducted during the same time period by Emerson College, which used a smaller and less representative sample than the Missouri Scout poll, showed Biden and Sanders statistically tied, 48% to 44%.
The Emerson poll showed a dramatic divide among age groups. Voters under the age of 50 mostly backed Sanders (66%), while voters over 50 backed Biden (70%). Biden led among nonwhite voters, 50% to 36%.
Sanders was considered the front-runner after winning in the New Hampshire primary, the Nevada caucuses, and winning the popular vote in the Iowa caucuses. But Biden’s decisive win in South Carolina, followed by victories in most of the Super Tuesday states and endorsements from several former Democratic competitors, has solidified Biden as the new front-runner.
Biden now leads the delegate count, with 664 pledged delegates. Sanders has won 573 pledged delegates.
Biden is poised to win most of Missouri’s 68 pledged delegates.
“If Biden wins it big, as expected, especially with an older voting populace and minority voters, the path forward for Sanders to the nomination becomes narrower and nearly nonexistent,” Jessica Taylor, an editor at the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, told the Washington Examiner.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-09--Liberal Media Scream: HBO and CNN reporter link Trump to 1940s anti-Semitism

This week ’ s Liberal Media Scream features claims in a new HBO series that President Trump and Charles Lindbergh share anti-Semitic views in their “ America First ” rallying cry .
Next Monday , The Plot Against America will debut on HBO , and last week , PBS ’ s Amanpour and Company promoted the show ’ s allegories to America under Trump .
“ Before Trump ’ s America First , ” Christiane Amanpour said , “ Charles Lindbergh represented America First , the powerful isolationist organization .
Lindbergh was pro-Germany and was denounced by many as anti-Semitic.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ London-based correspondent for CNN , saw the show that imagines Lindbergh winning the presidency in 1940 , as “ a warning tale ” for today .
David Simon , creator of the series , said the Philip Roth 2004 novel , which inspired the series , “ just sings as a allegory for our time ” as “ it ’ s sort of astonishing how close he captured this political moment in America.
” Simon , best known for creating The Wire two decades ago , saw many parallels with Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programming and the raw manipulation of civil liberties that Roth depicts in the book , and they compare almost precisely.
” From last Wednesday ’ s edition of Amanpour and Company on PBS : CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR : Lindbergh is famous for his trans-Atlantic flight , but what ’ s lesser known are his views on politics .
Before Trump ’ s `` America First , '' Charles Lindbergh represented America First , the powerful isolationist organization .
Lindbergh was pro-Germany and was denounced by many as anti-Semitic .
...
It ’ s sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t know how much of what you have committed your creativity to here sort of collides with real-life politics in the United States right now .
I mean , you imagine the year 1940 presidential election , the then-aviator hero Charles Lindbergh — anti-Semitic , white nationalist — wins the presidency against FDR .
... DAVID SIMON : Philip Roth , one of four great novelists , he wrote this alternate history through the eyes of his family in New Jersey , and it just sings as a allegory for our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if you turn it and just read , it ’ s sort of astonishing how close he captured this political moment in America .
Roth was using the vulnerable group in 1940 , which were Jewish Americans , whose loyalty was being challenged by the America Firsters and the German American Bund and Lindbergh , he was using that group to tell the tale , but , right now , the people who are most vulnerable in America right now are people with black and brown skin and Muslims .
...
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s book where I read a page and I would think about what happened at the airports , the mayhem at the airports in the aftermath of the inauguration when even American citizens were having their passports regarded as insufficient to guarantee their civil liberties or what ’ s happening at the southern border right now in terms of family separation .
You look at the programming and the raw manipulation of civil liberties that Roth depicts in the book , and they compare almost precisely .
Media Research Center Vice President of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ That such a fantasy would be greenlighted by HBO shows just how deep the hatred for Donald Trump and conservatives is in the Hollywood culture .
Yes , let ’ s take an alternate history story about a Nazi sympathizer gaining power in America and slam it into today ’ s political narrative in order to discredit conservative policies and paint the most pro-Israel president ever as some kind of anti-Semite .
And , instead of challenging the premise , Amanpour decided to promote it.
” Rating : Three out of @ @ @

This week’s Liberal Media Scream features claims in a new HBO series that President Trump and Charles Lindbergh share anti-Semitic views in their “America First” rallying cry.
Next Monday, The Plot Against America will debut on HBO, and last week, PBS’s Amanpour and Company promoted the show’s allegories to America under Trump. “Before Trump’s America First,” Christiane Amanpour said, “Charles Lindbergh represented America First, the powerful isolationist organization. Lindbergh was pro-Germany and was denounced by many as anti-Semitic.”
Amanpour, who doubles as a London-based correspondent for CNN, saw the show that imagines Lindbergh winning the presidency in 1940, as “a warning tale” for today. David Simon, creator of the series, said the Philip Roth 2004 novel, which inspired the series, “just sings as a allegory for our time” as “it’s sort of astonishing how close he captured this political moment in America.”
Simon, best known for creating The Wire two decades ago, saw many parallels with Trump’s America: “You look at the programming and the raw manipulation of civil liberties that Roth depicts in the book, and they compare almost precisely.”
From last Wednesday’s edition of Amanpour and Company on PBS:
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Lindbergh is famous for his trans-Atlantic flight, but what’s lesser known are his views on politics. Before Trump’s "America First," Charles Lindbergh represented America First, the powerful isolationist organization. Lindbergh was pro-Germany and was denounced by many as anti-Semitic. ...
It’s sort of a warning tale, and I don’t know how much of what you have committed your creativity to here sort of collides with real-life politics in the United States right now. I mean, you imagine the year 1940 presidential election, the then-aviator hero Charles Lindbergh — anti-Semitic, white nationalist — wins the presidency against FDR. ...
DAVID SIMON: Philip Roth, one of four great novelists, he wrote this alternate history through the eyes of his family in New Jersey, and it just sings as a allegory for our time with every page. I mean, if you turn it and just read, it’s sort of astonishing how close he captured this political moment in America.
Roth was using the vulnerable group in 1940, which were Jewish Americans, whose loyalty was being challenged by the America Firsters and the German American Bund and Lindbergh, he was using that group to tell the tale, but, right now, the people who are most vulnerable in America right now are people with black and brown skin and Muslims. ...
There are so many moments in Roth’s book where I read a page and I would think about what happened at the airports, the mayhem at the airports in the aftermath of the inauguration when even American citizens were having their passports regarded as insufficient to guarantee their civil liberties or what’s happening at the southern border right now in terms of family separation. You look at the programming and the raw manipulation of civil liberties that Roth depicts in the book, and they compare almost precisely.
Media Research Center Vice President of Research Brent Baker explains our weekly pick: “That such a fantasy would be greenlighted by HBO shows just how deep the hatred for Donald Trump and conservatives is in the Hollywood culture. Yes, let’s take an alternate history story about a Nazi sympathizer gaining power in America and slam it into today’s political narrative in order to discredit conservative policies and paint the most pro-Israel president ever as some kind of anti-Semite. And, instead of challenging the premise, Amanpour decided to promote it.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-10--All eyes on Sanders and Michigan: Seven things to watch in Tuesday primaries

This round of primaries for the Democratic presidential nomination is the time voters will decide between two remaining 2020 top-tier candidates , Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders .
Six states vote on Tuesday — Idaho , Michigan , Mississippi , Missouri , North Dakota , and Washington — account for 352 nominating delegates to the Democratic national convention .
A total of 1,991 delegates are needed to win the Democratic nomination at the party 's national convention this summer .
Here are seven things to watch in Tuesday ’ s primaries .
Michigan make-or-break for Bernie Sanders Michigan , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is essential for the Vermont senator ’ s White House hopes .
Biden has a hold on Southern states , and Sanders ’ s best chance of catching up with the former vice president in delegates is rooted in the Upper Midwest state , which he won in 2016 in a surprise upset .
He hopes that a win there would translate to more wins in Illinois and Ohio , which hold primaries next week on March 17 .
If , that may lock up the Democratic nomination on for him — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a .
Upset in Michigan ?
Polls on Monday showed Biden with over Sanders in Michigan , eerily similar to the 25-point lead that Hillary Clinton had over Sanders the day before the 2016 Democratic primary before he won the state by 1.4 % .
Washington favored for Sanders , but full results won ’ t be known Washington state votes by mail-in ballot , and must be postmarked by March 10 , and about half of the ballots are expected by Wednesday .
Sanders is favored to win the state , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , told a group of donors that after reviewing polling data , he is optimistic about his prospects in the state .
“ We feel really good about Washington state , where Bernie was predicted to walk away with it , ” Biden said , Friday , according to a pool report .
Eye on the margins Since delegates are awarded proportionally based on statewide votes and votes within congressional districts , losing by a small margin is just as important for Sanders winning in order to prevent Biden from drastically expanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Super Tuesday contests have yet to be allocated , Biden leads Sanders in delegates 664 to 573 .
Pressure on Sanders to match 2016 performance In addition to barely winning in Michigan , Sanders won by double digits in Washington , Idaho , and North Dakota in 2016 , and Clinton beat him by less than half a percentage point in Missouri .
Biden wins in those states or a blowout in Missouri will add to evidence that Sanders ’ s base of support is much smaller than it was four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucuses to primaries this year , so the dynamics there could be different with more participation in primaries .
Coronavirus fears affecting the elections Both Biden and Sanders have said they are keeping close eyes on the CDC ’ s recommendations for mitigating the risk of contracting coronavirus at their rallies and in how they interact with voters .
There is a possibility that fears about the virus could affect turnout .
Officials in Washington state told voters to use a damp cloth rather than saliva seal end mail-in ballots .
Sanders blaming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the weekend when he blamed former South Bend , Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar ’ s exit from the race and subsequent Super Tuesday-eve Biden endorsements on establishment pressure .
Aides for his former rivals rebuked his statements .
If Sanders faces disappointment on Tuesday , he is likely to point fingers at establishment forces again .

This round of primaries for the Democratic presidential nomination is the time voters will decide between two remaining 2020 top-tier candidates, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders.
Six states vote on Tuesday (Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, and Washington), which account for 352 nominating delegates to the Democratic National Convention. A total of 1,991 delegates is needed to win the Democratic nomination at the party's convention this summer.
Here are seven things to watch for with Tuesday’s primaries.
Michigan make-or-break for Sanders
Michigan, which has the largest delegate prize at 155, is essential for the Vermont senator’s White House hopes.
Biden has a hold on Southern states, and Sanders’s best chance of catching up with the former vice president in delegates is rooted in the Upper Midwest state, which he won in 2016 in a surprise upset. He hopes that a win there would translate to more wins in Illinois and Ohio, which hold primaries next Tuesday.
If Biden wins Michigan , that may lock up the Democratic nomination for him — not in a technical sense, but a substantive one .
Upset in Michigan?
Polls on Monday showed Biden with double-digit leads over Sanders in Michigan, eerily similar to the 25-point lead that Hillary Clinton had over Sanders the day before the 2016 Democratic primary, when the Vermont senator won the state by 1.4 percentage points.
Washington favored for Sanders, but full results won’t be known
Washington state votes by mail-in ballot: The ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, and about half of the ballots are expected by Wednesday.
Sanders is favored to win the state, which has 89 nominating delegates. Biden, however, told a group of donors that after reviewing polling data, he is optimistic about his prospects in the state.
“We feel really good about Washington state, where Bernie was predicted to walk away with it,” Biden said on Friday, according to a pool report.
Eye on the margins
Since delegates are awarded proportionally based on statewide votes and votes within congressional districts, losing by a small margin is just as important for Sanders as winning in order to prevent Biden from drastically expanding a delegate lead.
While 102 delegates from Super Tuesday contests have yet to be allocated, Biden leads Sanders in delegates, 664 to 573.
Pressure on Sanders to match 2016 performance
In addition to a close win in Michigan, Sanders won by double digits in Washington, Idaho, and North Dakota in 2016, and Clinton beat him by less than half a percentage point in Missouri. Biden wins in those states or a blowout in Missouri will add to the evidence that Sanders’s base of support is much smaller than it was four years ago.
Washington and Idaho converted from caucuses to primaries this year, so the dynamics there could be different with more participation in primaries.
Coronavirus fears affecting the elections
Both Biden and Sanders have said they are keeping close eyes on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for mitigating the risk of contracting the coronavirus at their rallies and in how they interact with voters.
There is a possibility that fears about the virus could affect turnout. Officials in Washington state told voters to use a damp cloth rather than saliva to seal mail-in ballots.
Sanders blaming the establishment
The Vermont senator faced criticism over the weekend when he blamed former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg's and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s exits from the race and their subsequent Super Tuesday-eve Biden endorsements on establishment pressure. Aides for his former rivals rebuked his statements.
If Sanders faces disappointment on Tuesday, he is likely to point fingers at establishment forces again.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-10--Georgia House proposes teacher pay raise that's half of Kemp's request

The Georgia House Appropriations Committee on Monday pulled back one of Gov .
Brian Kemp ’ s top priorities for the upcoming fiscal year – a $ 2,000 teacher pay raise .
The committee has proposed a $ 1,000 teacher pay raise instead , and has approved about 20 percent of Kemp ’ s state staffing cuts .
Other state employees are looking at a 2 percent raise in 2021 if the House has its way .
Leaders of the House Appropriations Committee and subcommittees spelled out their recommendations for the $ 28.7 billion budget Monday at the state capitol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs and education in the proposed educator pay raise , ” House Appropriations Education Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Robert Dickey , R-Musella , said .
The House spending plan will give teachers a 2.7 percent salary increase , which would be an overall 11.7 percent pay raise over two years .
Lawmakers approved a $ 3,000 pay raise last year .
“ It is going to be a little disappointing to some that we 're not going to the $ 2,000 number , ” House Appropriations Committee Chairman Terry England , R-Auburn , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers and educators , not only in my district but from around the state , most if not all have told me that they understand that many of the things that we 're looking and seeking to go back in and kind of backfill , are things that are important to them not only as a teacher but as a resident of the state.
” In September , Kemp ordered state agencies to reduce spending by 4 percent in fiscal 2020 and another 6 percent in fiscal 2021 .
The governor released his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the beginning of the legislative session .
Each chamber has to review the plan and make their recommendations .
House budget writers believe the proposed cuts in hundreds of state positions would increase the workload for the existing employees .
“ It ’ s not only an issue of morale and keeping folks on the job , but it 's also on the backside of the issue of training cost , ” England said .
“ In many of these agencies , many of these professions will spend quite a bit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have them leave after a short period of time.
” In some cases , employees will get as much an additional 5 percent .
Some of the other major House changes to the budget include adding $ 7 million for Rural Hospital Stabilization Grants , redirecting $ 3 million in existing funds for an electronic health records project in state prisons , and an additional $ 10 million for health-care expenses .
The House will have to vote on the fiscal 2021 budget , then it will be sent to the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have to hold a joint meeting to come to a final agreement before it 's sent to Kemp to sign .
The amended 2020 budget , which ends on June 30 , still has to be finalized by a conference committee .
So far , the Legislature has agreed to more than $ 150 million in cuts .

The Georgia House Appropriations Committee on Monday pulled back one of Gov. Brian Kemp’s top priorities for the upcoming fiscal year – a $2,000 teacher pay raise.
The committee has proposed a $1,000 teacher pay raise instead, and has approved about 20 percent of Kemp’s state staffing cuts. Other state employees are looking at a 2 percent raise in 2021 if the House has its way.
Leaders of the House Appropriations Committee and subcommittees spelled out their recommendations for the $28.7 billion budget Monday at the state capitol.
“We had to balance our needs and education in the proposed educator pay raise,” House Appropriations Education Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Robert Dickey, R-Musella, said.
The House spending plan will give teachers a 2.7 percent salary increase, which would be an overall 11.7 percent pay raise over two years. Lawmakers approved a $3,000 pay raise last year.
“It is going to be a little disappointing to some that we're not going to the $2,000 number,” House Appropriations Committee Chairman Terry England, R-Auburn, said. “However, in talking to teachers and educators, not only in my district but from around the state, most if not all have told me that they understand that many of the things that we're looking and seeking to go back in and kind of backfill, are things that are important to them not only as a teacher but as a resident of the state.”
In September, Kemp ordered state agencies to reduce spending by 4 percent in fiscal 2020 and another 6 percent in fiscal 2021. The governor released his proposal for the spending reductions to lawmakers at the beginning of the legislative session. Each chamber has to review the plan and make their recommendations.
House budget writers believe the proposed cuts in hundreds of state positions would increase the workload for the existing employees.
“It’s not only an issue of morale and keeping folks on the job, but it's also on the backside of the issue of training cost,” England said. “In many of these agencies, many of these professions will spend quite a bit of state funds to train these individuals only to have them leave after a short period of time.”
In some cases, employees will get as much an additional 5 percent.
Some of the other major House changes to the budget include adding $7 million for Rural Hospital Stabilization Grants, redirecting $3 million in existing funds for an electronic health records project in state prisons, and an additional $10 million for health-care expenses.
The House will have to vote on the fiscal 2021 budget, then it will be sent to the Senate for review. The House and Senate will have to hold a joint meeting to come to a final agreement before it's sent to Kemp to sign.
The amended 2020 budget, which ends on June 30, still has to be finalized by a conference committee. So far, the Legislature has agreed to more than $150 million in cuts.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-10--Ohio Gov. DeWine declares state of emergency over coronavirus

Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency Monday over the novel coronavirus to help contain the spread @ @ @ @ @ Buckeye State .
`` The state of emergency that I 've declared in # Ohio @ @ @ @ @ allows state departments and agencies to better coordinate in their response , '' DeWine said @ @ @ @ @ first three people were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the state , officials announced Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ County .
`` This afternoon we learned that three Ohioans have tested positive for # @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's important for us to take aggressive action to protect Ohioans , @ @ @ @ @ declared a state of emergency in # Ohio .
More than 200 people have been @ @ @ @ @

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency Monday over the novel coronavirus to help contain the spread of the disease in the Buckeye State.
"The state of emergency that I've declared in #Ohio is a legal necessity that allows state departments and agencies to better coordinate in their response," DeWine said in a tweet.
The first three people were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the state, officials announced Monday. All three are from Cuyahoga County.
"This afternoon we learned that three Ohioans have tested positive for #COVID19," DeWine tweeted. "It's important for us to take aggressive action to protect Ohioans, and therefore, I have declared a state of emergency in #Ohio.
More than 200 people have been diagnosed across the U.S.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-10--Bill seeks to allow direct-consumer shipping from out-of-state wine retailers

Wine drinkers could open their front door to a broader selection of products if a bipartisan bill allowing out-of-state retailers to ship directly to consumers becomes law .
Currently , Michiganders can only order wine to their home from in- and out-of-state wineries .
“ More options for Michigan consumers is always a good thing , ” Johnson said in a statement .
“ This will create a level playing field for all who want to safely and securely have wine shipped to their homes , and bring access to this industry in line with a growing number of states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under the legislation , out-of-state wine retailers and wine clubs licensed as retailers would adhere to the same process currently followed by out-of-state wineries that ship directly to consumers : register with the state ; pay sales tax ; and verify age while ordering and at the time of delivery .
“ In an era when consumers can get everything from glasses to mattresses to razors and meal kits delivered right to their homes , this legislation just makes sense , ” McMorrow said in a statement .
McMorrow said the plan could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the country and grow the business of local wineries and distillers .
Rich Lockwood , owner of Motor City Gas Whiskey Distillery in Royal Oak , said the legislation would be “ an instant game changer ” for the craft distilling and agriculture industries .
“ Not only would it make it easier for new small distillers to enter the industry , but it creates a bridge for existing small distillers like Motor City Gas to grow into regular retail distribution , ” Lockwood said in a press release .
Spencer Nevins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wine Wholesalers Association , told The Center Square in a statement that they strongly oppose both bills .
“ This legislation will water down consumer protections and remove a crucial check and balance to monitor and regulate what is being shipped to the doorsteps of Michigan consumers.
” “ For the last year-and-a-half we have monitored illegal wine shipments coming into our state and the numbers are staggering .
These bills will only further open the floodgates to bad actors who are illegally shipping alcohol into the state with little regard for consumer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the process.
” Tom Wark , executive director of the National Association of Wine Retailers ( NAWR ) , said the current wine shipping law had cost the state millions of dollars in litigation costs , lost tax revenue , and restricted wine choice .
“ Moreover , the bipartisan support for the bill is an indication that the current anti-consumer ban on wine shipments is repugnant no matter where you are on the political spectrum , ” Wark said in a press release .
NAWR estimated that most Michigan consumers could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approved to be sold in America between 2014 and October 27 , 2017 .
Michigan federal courts have ruled twice that state laws barring in-state shipments from out-of-state wine retailers and clubs are unconstitutional , according to a NAWR press release .
If the legislation is enacted , it will halt the lawsuit , which the state appealed in 2019 to the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals .
Federal District Judge Arthur Tarnow wrote in 2018 : “ Michigan is therefore operating an unjustifiable protectionist regime in its consumer wine market , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and forbidden by the dormant Commerce Clause [ of the United States ’ Constitution ] .
”

Wine drinkers could open their front door to a broader selection of products if a bipartisan bill allowing out-of-state retailers to ship directly to consumers becomes law.
Currently, Michiganders can only order wine to their home from in- and out-of-state wineries.
Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Wayland, introduced House Bill 5579, joining forces with Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, who filed companion legislation.
“More options for Michigan consumers is always a good thing,” Johnson said in a statement. “This will create a level playing field for all who want to safely and securely have wine shipped to their homes, and bring access to this industry in line with a growing number of states, which stands at 15 currently.”
Under the legislation, out-of-state wine retailers and wine clubs licensed as retailers would adhere to the same process currently followed by out-of-state wineries that ship directly to consumers: register with the state; pay sales tax; and verify age while ordering and at the time of delivery.
“In an era when consumers can get everything from glasses to mattresses to razors and meal kits delivered right to their homes, this legislation just makes sense,” McMorrow said in a statement.
McMorrow said the plan could draw tax revenue for the state from across the country and grow the business of local wineries and distillers.
Rich Lockwood, owner of Motor City Gas Whiskey Distillery in Royal Oak, said the legislation would be “an instant game changer” for the craft distilling and agriculture industries.
“Not only would it make it easier for new small distillers to enter the industry, but it creates a bridge for existing small distillers like Motor City Gas to grow into regular retail distribution,” Lockwood said in a press release.
Spencer Nevins, president of the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association, told The Center Square in a statement that they strongly oppose both bills.
“This legislation will water down consumer protections and remove a crucial check and balance to monitor and regulate what is being shipped to the doorsteps of Michigan consumers.”
“For the last year-and-a-half we have monitored illegal wine shipments coming into our state and the numbers are staggering. These bills will only further open the floodgates to bad actors who are illegally shipping alcohol into the state with little regard for consumer safety, while avoiding paying state taxes in the process.”
Tom Wark, executive director of the National Association of Wine Retailers (NAWR), said the current wine shipping law had cost the state millions of dollars in litigation costs, lost tax revenue, and restricted wine choice.
“Moreover, the bipartisan support for the bill is an indication that the current anti-consumer ban on wine shipments is repugnant no matter where you are on the political spectrum,” Wark said in a press release.
NAWR estimated that most Michigan consumers could only access about 11 percent of wines approved to be sold in America between 2014 and October 27, 2017.
Michigan federal courts have ruled twice that state laws barring in-state shipments from out-of-state wine retailers and clubs are unconstitutional, according to a NAWR press release.
If the legislation is enacted, it will halt the lawsuit, which the state appealed in 2019 to the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Federal District Judge Arthur Tarnow wrote in 2018: “Michigan is therefore operating an unjustifiable protectionist regime in its consumer wine market, a privilege unsanctioned by the Twenty-first Amendment and forbidden by the dormant Commerce Clause [of the United States’ Constitution].”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-10--Daily Show mocks Joe Biden for 'negging voters'

The Daily Show , hosted by Trevor Noah , made a campaign ad poking fun at Joe Biden 's tense interactions with voters on the 2020 presidential campaign trail .
`` Joe Biden is tired , tired of you , '' the mock ad released Tuesday said while displaying different clashes the former vice president has had with voters .
`` You do n't want him in your face ?
Then get the f -- - out of his , '' the video added .
The ad featured Biden confronting an Iowa voter who he called a `` damn liar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` lying dog-faced pony soldier . ''
The video was tweeted out with the tag line : `` Biden is just negging voters now . ''
The video comes the same day that Biden told a Michigan voter he was `` full of shit '' during a discussion about the Second Amendment .
The Michigan voter accused the former vice president of `` actively trying to end our Second Amendment right and take away our guns . ''
Donald Trump Jr. used the latest clash to suggest Biden was exhibiting signs of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 year career politician does n't snap back this way to a blue collar guy asking him a reasonable question given his parties stance on the issue , '' President Trump 's eldest son tweeted .

The Daily Show, hosted by Trevor Noah, made a campaign ad poking fun at Joe Biden's tense interactions with voters on the 2020 presidential campaign trail.
"Joe Biden is tired, tired of you," the mock ad released Tuesday said while displaying different clashes the former vice president has had with voters.
"You don't want him in your face? Then get the f--- out of his," the video added.
The ad featured Biden confronting an Iowa voter who he called a "damn liar" along with another voter he called a "lying dog-faced pony soldier."
The video was tweeted out with the tag line: "Biden is just negging voters now."
Biden is just negging voters now pic.twitter.com/yGOJKcaxT7 — The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) March 10, 2020
The video comes the same day that Biden told a Michigan voter he was "full of shit" during a discussion about the Second Amendment. The Michigan voter accused the former vice president of "actively trying to end our Second Amendment right and take away our guns."
Donald Trump Jr. used the latest clash to suggest Biden was exhibiting signs of Alzheimer's or dementia. "A 50 year career politician doesn't snap back this way to a blue collar guy asking him a reasonable question given his parties stance on the issue," President Trump's eldest son tweeted.