thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-17--NBC debate moderator took father to Obama's Christmas party and family donated thousands to Democrat

NBC debate moderator took father to Obama's Christmas party and family donated thousands to Democrats including Joe Biden

The moderator for the second and final debate between President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden has deep ties to the Democratic Party .
NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker ’ s family has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates , including $ 20,000 to former President Barack Obama and Biden 's 2020 campaign , according to a report from the New York Post .
In 2012 , Welker and her family attended the Obama administration 's White House Christmas party .
In March 2016 , Welker was seen on live television signaling to Hillary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what question she was going to ask while believing she wasn ’ t yet on the air .
Welker was a registered Democrat in Washington , DC , and Rhode Island in 2012 and 2004 respectively , according to The New York Post .
Currently , her registration is no longer listed .
“ Anyone who ’ s ever dealt with Welker knows she ’ s an activist , not a reporter .
The White House press team views her the same way they would AOC or Pelosi if they walked in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official said to the New York Post about Welker .
“ Yikes !
” Donald Trump Jr. posted on Twitter in response to the news .
“ Here we go again.
” An NBC spokesperson said Welker also attended President Trump 's White House Christmas party with her husband in 2017 , the last year his administration held one .
The spokesperson also highlighted comments made by Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller , saying Welker is `` very fair in her approach '' and `` a good choice for the third debate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ congratulated Welker when she was named co-anchor of NBC 's weekend Today show , saying NBC `` made a very wise decision . ''
Many conservatives joined in on the president 's with Fox News ’ s Chris Wallace , the moderator at the first debate , for his interruptions and perceived hostility to the president on debate night .
Supporters of the president were also on NBC during a town hall event this week as she consistently sparred with the president over various issues .

The moderator for the second and final debate between President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden has deep ties to the Democratic Party.
NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker’s family has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates, including $20,000 to former President Barack Obama and Biden's 2020 campaign, according to a report from the New York Post.
In 2012, Welker and her family attended the Obama administration's White House Christmas party.
Welker and her father posing with the President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in 2012 (image remains publicly available on her Facebook page)https://t.co/5YD5TOADB9 pic.twitter.com/kGmw0AJkfY — Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) October 17, 2020
In March 2016, Welker was seen on live television signaling to Hillary Clinton’s communications director Jennifer Palmieri what question she was going to ask while believing she wasn’t yet on the air.
Welker was a registered Democrat in Washington, DC, and Rhode Island in 2012 and 2004 respectively, according to The New York Post. Currently, her registration is no longer listed.
“Anyone who’s ever dealt with Welker knows she’s an activist, not a reporter. The White House press team views her the same way they would AOC or Pelosi if they walked in the office,” a senior White House official said to the New York Post about Welker.
“Yikes!” Donald Trump Jr. posted on Twitter in response to the news. “Here we go again.”
Yikes! Here we go again 🙄 https://t.co/MqvVUeoGM9 — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 17, 2020
An NBC spokesperson said Welker also attended President Trump's White House Christmas party with her husband in 2017, the last year his administration held one. The spokesperson also highlighted comments made by Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller, saying Welker is "very fair in her approach" and "a good choice for the third debate."
Earlier this year, President Trump congratulated Welker when she was named co-anchor of NBC's weekend Today show, saying NBC "made a very wise decision."
Many conservatives joined in on the president's expressed frustration with Fox News’s Chris Wallace, the moderator at the first debate, for his interruptions and perceived hostility to the president on debate night.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-17--Democratic Senate challenger says he raised $1M after incumbent GOP member mocked Kamala Harris's na

Democratic Senate challenger says he raised $1M after incumbent GOP member mocked Kamala Harris's name

A Democratic Georgia Senate candidate said he raised $ 1 million in less than 24 hours since his opponent , GOP Sen. David Perdue , mocked Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris .
Jon Ossoff , who lost the high-profile 2017 special election for Georgia 's 6th Congressional District after it was vacated by former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price , announced on Saturday that `` we ’ ve raised $ 1M ( ! )
since my opponent disgraced himself with bigoted mockery of Kamala ’ s name at yesterday ’ s Trump rally '' and asked supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midnight .
A day earlier , Perdue mocked Harris , derisively mispronouncing her name at President Trump 's Friday afternoon rally in Macon , Georgia .
“ Kamala ?
Kamala ?
Kamala-mala-mala ?
I don ’ t know .
Whatever , ” he said , repeatedly changing the way he pronounced her first name .
Ossoff posted the clip on social media and said , `` My opponent , GOP Sen. David Perdue of anti-Semitic attack ad infamy , just mocked Sen. Harris ' name as 'Kamala-mala-mala-whatever ' at a Trump rally .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' and added a link for donations .
A spokesman for the senator , John Burke , said that Perdue simply misspoke .
`` Sen. Perdue simply mispronounced Sen. Harris ' name , and he did n't mean anything by it .
He was making an argument against the radical socialist agenda that she and her endorsed candidate Jon Ossoff are pushing , '' he said .
Perdue leads Ossoff by an average of 1 percentage point with less than three weeks before Election Day , according to RealClearPolitics .
If neither @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then their fight will continue until a Jan. 5 runoff election .

A Democratic Georgia Senate candidate said he raised $1 million in less than 24 hours since his opponent, GOP Sen. David Perdue, mocked Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
Jon Ossoff, who lost the high-profile 2017 special election for Georgia's 6th Congressional District after it was vacated by former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, announced on Saturday that "we’ve raised $1M (!) since my opponent disgraced himself with bigoted mockery of Kamala’s name at yesterday’s Trump rally" and asked supporters if they could double that amount by midnight.
My opponent, GOP Sen. David Perdue of anti-Semitic attack ad infamy, just mocked Sen. Harris' name as "Kamala-mala-mala-whatever" at a Trump rally.
We are so much better than this. pic.twitter.com/9AvoQK4RdN — Jon Ossoff (@ossoff) October 16, 2020
A day earlier, Perdue mocked Harris, derisively mispronouncing her name at President Trump's Friday afternoon rally in Macon, Georgia.
“Kamala? Kamala? Kamala-mala-mala? I don’t know. Whatever,” he said, repeatedly changing the way he pronounced her first name.
Ossoff posted the clip on social media and said, "My opponent, GOP Sen. David Perdue of anti-Semitic attack ad infamy, just mocked Sen. Harris' name as 'Kamala-mala-mala-whatever' at a Trump rally. We are so much better than this," and added a link for donations.
A spokesman for the senator, John Burke, said that Perdue simply misspoke.
"Sen. Perdue simply mispronounced Sen. Harris' name, and he didn't mean anything by it. He was making an argument against the radical socialist agenda that she and her endorsed candidate Jon Ossoff are pushing," he said.
Perdue leads Ossoff by an average of 1 percentage point with less than three weeks before Election Day, according to RealClearPolitics. If neither candidate receives a majority of the vote, then their fight will continue until a Jan. 5 runoff election.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-17--'No choice for him': Thousands join Women's March in DC protest against Trump and Amy Coney Barrett

Nearly four years after thousands of people descended upon the streets of Washington , D.C. , the day after President Trump ’ s inauguration , they took to the streets again on Saturday in an attempt to stop him from being reelected to the White House .
Thousands of protesters were in downtown Washington as leaders tried to energize their base ahead of Election Day , which is less than three weeks away .
The event began at Freedom Plaza , where protesters convened and leaders spoke to the masses .
There were shirts being sold , and masks were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any potential COVID-19 spread .
The overwhelming message of the rally was simple — vote and do it for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris — and it came from a multitude of groups that were represented at the march .
“ This country needs us to keep fighting , not just against Trump , but for ourselves and for the future we want , '' Jess Morales , a member of Supermajority ( an activist group dedicated to `` training and mobilizing a community of all ages , races , and backgrounds '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliciting cheers from the crowd .
Another speaker , Sonja Spoo of UltraViolet , a group seeking to `` protect and expand health , safety , and security for millions of women , '' said that “ Donald Trump is leaving office , and there is no choice for him .
It is our choice .
And we are voting him out come Nov. 3.
” In addition to the speeches and the march that followed , they plan on doing a texting phone bank on the National Mall , where they hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urge people to vote .
`` We saw the power when millions of us joined in the streets together the day after Trump ’ s inauguration .
We need to bring that same power and determination to Oct. 17 to cap off Trump ’ s presidency just the way it started — with massive , women-led resistance , '' the website of the Women 's March said of the Saturday event .
Another theme of the march was Trump 's choice , Judge Amy Coney Barrett , to replace the late Justice Ruth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ginsburg , a liberal icon who fought for women 's rights for years before being confirmed to the Supreme Court in 1993 , and Barrett , a judge and a religious mother of seven , stand in stark contrast to one another .
Barrett 's religion , and her membership in a religious group called the People of Praise , has led people to dress up as the women in Margaret Atwood 's The Handmaid 's Tale .
People who attended the Women 's March , including Democratic leaders , held signs saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ v. Wade are at risk of being overturned if Barrett is confirmed .
Despite their wishes not to see her confirmed , Democrats in the Senate do n't appear to have any moves left to prevent it .
Of the thousands of people who were at the rally , there were two vocal Barrett supporters — one was a pro-life , pro-Trump young woman who told the Washington Examiner that she hopes Roe v. Wade gets overturned , and the other was a pro-life libertarian who plans to write in Justin Amash for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't know each other before the rally , quickly found one another as they engaged in conversations with those who disagreed with them .
As they debated political opposites , a number of `` peacekeepers '' in orange vests trained in de-escalation also stood by watching as they saw a situation worthy of monitoring .
There were approximately 30 of them in attendance , according to one .
There was a counterprotest scheduled for around the same time .

Nearly four years after thousands of people descended upon the streets of Washington, D.C., the day after President Trump’s inauguration, they took to the streets again on Saturday in an attempt to stop him from being reelected to the White House.
Thousands of protesters were in downtown Washington as leaders tried to energize their base ahead of Election Day, which is less than three weeks away. The event began at Freedom Plaza, where protesters convened and leaders spoke to the masses. There were shirts being sold, and masks were passed out in an effort to limit any potential COVID-19 spread.
The overwhelming message of the rally was simple — vote and do it for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris — and it came from a multitude of groups that were represented at the march.
“This country needs us to keep fighting, not just against Trump, but for ourselves and for the future we want," Jess Morales, a member of Supermajority (an activist group dedicated to "training and mobilizing a community of all ages, races, and backgrounds"), said at the podium — eliciting cheers from the crowd.
People participate at the Women's March in Washington on Saturday. (Mike Brest / Washington Examiner)
Another speaker, Sonja Spoo of UltraViolet, a group seeking to "protect and expand health, safety, and security for millions of women," said that “Donald Trump is leaving office, and there is no choice for him. It is our choice. And we are voting him out come Nov. 3.”
In addition to the speeches and the march that followed, they plan on doing a texting phone bank on the National Mall, where they hope to send 5 million text messages to urge people to vote.
"We saw the power when millions of us joined in the streets together the day after Trump’s inauguration. We need to bring that same power and determination to Oct. 17 to cap off Trump’s presidency just the way it started — with massive, women-led resistance," the website of the Women's March said of the Saturday event.
Another theme of the march was Trump's choice, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court. Ginsburg, a liberal icon who fought for women's rights for years before being confirmed to the Supreme Court in 1993, and Barrett, a judge and a religious mother of seven, stand in stark contrast to one another. Barrett's religion, and her membership in a religious group called the People of Praise, has led people to dress up as the women in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.
People who attended the Women's March, including Democratic leaders, held signs saying that the Affordable Care Act and Roe v. Wade are at risk of being overturned if Barrett is confirmed. Despite their wishes not to see her confirmed, Democrats in the Senate don't appear to have any moves left to prevent it.
Protesters dressed as the women in Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" participate at the Women's March in Washington on Saturday. (Mike Brest / Washington Examiner)
Of the thousands of people who were at the rally, there were two vocal Barrett supporters — one was a pro-life, pro-Trump young woman who told the Washington Examiner that she hopes Roe v. Wade gets overturned, and the other was a pro-life libertarian who plans to write in Justin Amash for president. The two, although they didn't know each other before the rally, quickly found one another as they engaged in conversations with those who disagreed with them.
As they debated political opposites, a number of "peacekeepers" in orange vests trained in de-escalation also stood by watching as they saw a situation worthy of monitoring. There were approximately 30 of them in attendance, according to one.
There was a counterprotest scheduled for around the same time.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-17--John James responds after Biden calls him a 'disaster': 'I am a disaster for national Democrats’ nar

John James responds after Biden calls him a 'disaster': 'I am a disaster for national Democrats’ narrative'

Republican Senate candidate John James slammed Joe Biden after the Democratic presidential candidate referred to him as a “ disaster.
” “ Yes , @ JoeBiden , ” the Michigan Senate candidate tweeted .
“ I am a disaster for national Democrats ’ narrative .
A black man who thinks for himself .
# YouAintBlack ?
!
” James posted a video along with his tweet that slammed the former vice president ’ s record on race relations and told the presidential candidate that he has “ some serious issues.
” “ Joe Biden .
Don ’ t forget your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ You ’ re only where you are because you were Barack Obama ’ s vice president .
That ’ s it.
” James also referenced a in which he said that “ you ain ’ t black ” toward African Americans who could n't decide which candidate to vote for in November , and he also brought up a Biden sound bite in which he said former President Barack Obama was “ articulate ” and `` clean . ''
“ You have some serious issues , Joe Biden , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which you were in power for 44 years and black folks continue to fall behind.
” James also criticized his Democratic opponent , Sen. Gary Peters , who James said is also “ someone who has been in a position to help and has failed for 30 years.
” The RealClearPolitics polling average shows Peters with nearly a 5-point lead , although some polling data has suggested James is in the lead .

Republican Senate candidate John James slammed Joe Biden after the Democratic presidential candidate referred to him as a “disaster.”
“Yes, @JoeBiden,” the Michigan Senate candidate tweeted. “I am a disaster for national Democrats’ narrative. A black man who thinks for himself. #YouAintBlack ?!”
Yes, @JoeBiden. I am a disaster for national Democrats’ narrative. A black man who thinks for himself. #YouAintBlack ?! https://t.co/iRGxbpB7ZI pic.twitter.com/0KChHJMbFU — John James (@JohnJamesMI) October 16, 2020
James posted a video along with his tweet that slammed the former vice president’s record on race relations and told the presidential candidate that he has “some serious issues.”
“Joe Biden. Don’t forget your place in black America,” James said. “You’re only where you are because you were Barack Obama’s vice president. That’s it.”
James also referenced a comment Biden made earlier in the year in which he said that “you ain’t black” toward African Americans who couldn't decide which candidate to vote for in November, and he also brought up a Biden sound bite in which he said former President Barack Obama was “articulate” and "clean."
“You have some serious issues, Joe Biden,” James added. “The biggest of which you were in power for 44 years and black folks continue to fall behind.”
James also criticized his Democratic opponent, Sen. Gary Peters, who James said is also “someone who has been in a position to help and has failed for 30 years.”
The RealClearPolitics polling average shows Peters with nearly a 5-point lead, although some polling data has suggested James is in the lead.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-17--Giuliani says he's been laughing his head off over Hunter Biden scandal

Rudy Giuliani called concerns about how and why he allegedly obtained Hunter Biden 's documents `` a bunch of bullshit '' on Friday .
He also discussed Ukrainian parliamentarian Andrii Derkach , who has worked with him to help expose the Bidens .
Giuliani has made attempts to distance himself from Derkach .
`` The chance that Derkach is a Russian spy is no better than 50/50 , '' he told the Daily Beast .
The former mayor of New York City added that he 's been `` laughing [ his ] head off '' about the matter .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September for pushing `` false and unsubstantiated narratives concerning U.S. officials in the upcoming 2020 presidential election . ''
`` My guess is that George Soros is behind this counter-offensive [ … ] because he wants to create a socialist country , '' Giuliani said .
`` He ’ d like to see us collapse and see us taken over by the international [ ... ] whatever . ''
He also said the sanctioning was because of `` an intelligence ploy to try to create problems for Trump — because Derkach could probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president and senior Republicans on Capitol Hill were made aware of the information on Biden before it was released .
The New York Post released a story Wednesday containing photos of Biden and several emails allegedly sent by him .
Giuliani said those emails came from Biden 's computer , which he reportedly left at a computer repair store and never picked up .
One of the emails , if authentic , suggested that Biden tried to arrange a meeting between a senior energy official at Burisma , the Ukrainian energy firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and his father Joe , who was the vice president of the United States at that time .
Joe Biden has denied that such a meeting ever took place .

Rudy Giuliani called concerns about how and why he allegedly obtained Hunter Biden's documents "a bunch of bullshit" on Friday.
He also discussed Ukrainian parliamentarian Andrii Derkach, who has worked with him to help expose the Bidens. Giuliani has made attempts to distance himself from Derkach.
"The chance that Derkach is a Russian spy is no better than 50/50," he told the Daily Beast.
The former mayor of New York City added that he's been "laughing [his] head off" about the matter.
The Treasury Department announced sanctions on Derkach in September for pushing "false and unsubstantiated narratives concerning U.S. officials in the upcoming 2020 presidential election."
"My guess is that George Soros is behind this counter-offensive […] because he wants to create a socialist country," Giuliani said. "He’d like to see us collapse and see us taken over by the international [...] whatever."
He also said the sanctioning was because of "an intelligence ploy to try to create problems for Trump — because Derkach could probably bury Obama."
Giuliani said that the president and senior Republicans on Capitol Hill were made aware of the information on Biden before it was released.
The New York Post released a story Wednesday containing photos of Biden and several emails allegedly sent by him. Giuliani said those emails came from Biden's computer, which he reportedly left at a computer repair store and never picked up.
One of the emails, if authentic, suggested that Biden tried to arrange a meeting between a senior energy official at Burisma, the Ukrainian energy firm that he was a board member of, and his father Joe, who was the vice president of the United States at that time. Joe Biden has denied that such a meeting ever took place.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-17--ABC, CNN ignore Hunter Biden email story, other networks less than 10 minutes combined

Major television networks largely ignored a bombshell report about former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter ’ s overseas business dealings .
On Wednesday and Thursday , ABC , CBS , NBC , CNN , MSNBC , and two town halls featuring Joe Biden and President Trump dedicated nine minutes and 47 seconds on the New York Post ’ s Hunter Biden email report , amounting to 0.2 % of the over 92-hour period , according to the Media Research Center 's Newsbusters website .
CNN and ABC reportedly ignored the story entirely , while NBC spent 45 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story the most , dedicating four minutes and 34 seconds of coverage over a 36-hour period .
“ Even when journalists mentioned the story , they devoted much of their time to knocking it down , ” MRC Deputy Research Director Geoffrey Dickens wrote at Newsbusters .
The story was also suppressed by social media giants Twitter and Facebook immediately following its release on Wednesday .
Shortly after the story broke , Facebook communications official Andy Stone said the company was “ reducing its distribution ” of the article due to fact-checking concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ link to the New York Post , I want be clear that this story is eligible to be fact checked by Facebook 's third-party fact checking partners , ” Stone tweeted .
“ In the meantime , we are reducing its distribution on our platform.
” Twitter also limited the spread of the story by locking several accounts that tweeted the link , including the accounts of and the New York Post .

Major television networks largely ignored a bombshell report about former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter’s overseas business dealings.
On Wednesday and Thursday, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, and two town halls featuring Joe Biden and President Trump dedicated nine minutes and 47 seconds on the New York Post’s Hunter Biden email report, amounting to 0.2% of the over 92-hour period, according to the Media Research Center's Newsbusters website.
CNN and ABC reportedly ignored the story entirely, while NBC spent 45 seconds discussing it.
MSNBC covered the story the most, dedicating four minutes and 34 seconds of coverage over a 36-hour period.
“Even when journalists mentioned the story, they devoted much of their time to knocking it down,” MRC Deputy Research Director Geoffrey Dickens wrote at Newsbusters.
The story was also suppressed by social media giants Twitter and Facebook immediately following its release on Wednesday.
Shortly after the story broke, Facebook communications official Andy Stone said the company was “reducing its distribution” of the article due to fact-checking concerns .
“While I will intentionally not link to the New York Post, I want be clear that this story is eligible to be fact checked by Facebook's third-party fact checking partners,” Stone tweeted. “In the meantime, we are reducing its distribution on our platform.”
This is part of our standard process to reduce the spread of misinformation. We temporarily reduce distribution pending fact-checker review. https://t.co/vf3CBvLmjj — Andy Stone (@andymstone) October 14, 2020


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-17--White House Report Card: Crunch time for Trump, Zogby says it's this close

This week ’ s White House Report Card finds President Trump closer to Election Day and fighting for his life .
A week out of the hospital from COVID-19 , he ’ s hitting multiple cities a day to campaign .
Polls continue to show him behind in key battleground states , but his campaign said they are close .
He won the week with the smooth sailing of Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett and on policy moves regarding the census and immigration .
With one more debate with Joe Biden left , Trump ’ s target is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Our graders , like the nation , have drawn battle lines .
Conservative analyst Jed Babbin graded Trump a B- and noted how the media has come out of the closet to campaign for Biden .
Democratic pollster John Zogby , whose polls have shown a very close race , had nothing to good to say , so he didn ’ t — other than to dish an F for the week .
We ’ ve come down to the final sprint , less than three weeks before the election , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personally trying to reach as many voters as they can .
Trump had a pretty good week with the confirmation hearings for Barrett but was tarnished by a weak jobs report .
And the enormous gift Twitter and Facebook gave to Biden by quashing a story of his corruption through his son ’ s Ukraine and China connections shows where technology and the legacy media stand .
Barrett ’ s hearings went exceptionally well .
She proved , quickly and conclusively , that her intellect packed more IQ points than the sum total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate Judiciary Committee .
The Democrats badgered her on everything from global warming to abortion .
The most ridiculous “ question '' came from Hawaii ’ s Sen. Mazie Hirono , who asked Barrett if she ’ d ever sexually assaulted anyone .
Barrett is a judicial superstar and is on a fast track to a well-deserved confirmation .
The New York Post published stories about Joe Biden ’ s son Hunter , the “ salary ” he extorted from the Ukrainian gas company , Burisma , and how he got them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was then the vice president , to lobby him on whatever they were pushing .
Later in the week , the Post published another story reporting that Hunter Biden asked China for $ 10 million “ just for starters ” in payment for that access .
Joe Biden said his children wouldn ’ t get White House jobs .
Why should they ?
Hunter Biden has proved he can make megabucks selling access to his father .
Both Twitter and Facebook blocked both of those stories .
Twitter even blocked Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform .
Their actions are reminiscent of the old Soviet-style press ( and the new Russian and Chinese press . )
Both social media sites benefit from legal immunity for such actions granted under Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act .
Section 230 should be repealed but won ’ t be as long as the Democrats control the House .
If Trump is not reelected , no one will even attempt that repeal , but it should be near the top of every conservative ’ s political agenda .
Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town halls .
NBC ’ s Savannah Guthrie ripped Trump on every subject , while ABC ’ s George Stephanopoulos predictably tossed softballs at Biden .
He didn ’ t ask Biden a single question about his cooperation and/or participation in Hunter ’ s obvious corruption .
The media gets an F for the week — and for the entire campaign season .
I have nothing good to say except that I think the race is closer than some think .
Jed Babbin is a Washington Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George H.W .
Bush .
Follow him on Twitter @ jedbabbin John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Poll and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies .
His weekly podcast with son and partner Jeremy Zogby can be heard here .
Follow him on Twitter @ TheJohnZogby

This week’s White House Report Card finds President Trump closer to Election Day and fighting for his life. A week out of the hospital from COVID-19, he’s hitting multiple cities a day to campaign.
Polls continue to show him behind in key battleground states, but his campaign said they are close. He won the week with the smooth sailing of Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett and on policy moves regarding the census and immigration. With one more debate with Joe Biden left, Trump’s target is the few undecided voters left in America.
Our graders, like the nation, have drawn battle lines. Conservative analyst Jed Babbin graded Trump a B- and noted how the media has come out of the closet to campaign for Biden. Democratic pollster John Zogby, whose polls have shown a very close race, had nothing to good to say, so he didn’t — other than to dish an F for the week.
Jed Babbin
Grade B-
We’ve come down to the final sprint, less than three weeks before the election, and both candidates are jumping around the country personally trying to reach as many voters as they can. Trump had a pretty good week with the confirmation hearings for Barrett but was tarnished by a weak jobs report. And the enormous gift Twitter and Facebook gave to Biden by quashing a story of his corruption through his son’s Ukraine and China connections shows where technology and the legacy media stand.
Barrett’s hearings went exceptionally well. She proved, quickly and conclusively, that her intellect packed more IQ points than the sum total of all of the Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Democrats badgered her on everything from global warming to abortion. The most ridiculous “question" came from Hawaii’s Sen. Mazie Hirono, who asked Barrett if she’d ever sexually assaulted anyone. Barrett is a judicial superstar and is on a fast track to a well-deserved confirmation.
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden looks out of his plane as he arrives at New Castle Airport in New Castle, Del., Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, as he returns from Detroit. Carolyn Kaster/AP
The New York Post published stories about Joe Biden’s son Hunter, the “salary” he extorted from the Ukrainian gas company, Burisma, and how he got them in to meet with his father, who was then the vice president, to lobby him on whatever they were pushing. Later in the week, the Post published another story reporting that Hunter Biden asked China for $10 million “just for starters” in payment for that access. Joe Biden said his children wouldn’t get White House jobs. Why should they? Hunter Biden has proved he can make megabucks selling access to his father.
Both Twitter and Facebook blocked both of those stories. Twitter even blocked Trump’s campaign website from its social media platform. Their actions are reminiscent of the old Soviet-style press (and the new Russian and Chinese press.) Both social media sites benefit from legal immunity for such actions granted under Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. Section 230 should be repealed but won’t be as long as the Democrats control the House. If Trump is not reelected, no one will even attempt that repeal, but it should be near the top of every conservative’s political agenda.
Trump and Joe Biden finished the week with dueling town halls. NBC’s Savannah Guthrie ripped Trump on every subject, while ABC’s George Stephanopoulos predictably tossed softballs at Biden. He didn’t ask Biden a single question about his cooperation and/or participation in Hunter’s obvious corruption.
The media gets an F for the week — and for the entire campaign season.
John Zogby
Grade F
I have nothing good to say except that I think the race is closer than some think.
Jed Babbin is a Washington Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on Twitter @jedbabbin
John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Poll and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His weekly podcast with son and partner Jeremy Zogby can be heard here. Follow him on Twitter @TheJohnZogby


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-17--Kimberly Klacik raises $6.4M following viral campaign ad shared by Trump

Congressional candidate Kimberly Klacik reported a significant fundraising haul following a viral video campaign that was shared by President Trump @ @ @ @ @ who is running as a Republican to represent Maryland ’ s 7th Congressional District ( @ @ @ @ @ ) , reported raising $ 6,445,451 from July 1 through Sept. 30 , .
Klacik @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Rep. Kweisi Mfume , reported raising $ 184,349 during the same time period .
@ @ @ @ @ a message to the entire country , ” Klacik told the Washington Examiner .
“ @ @ @ @ @ across the country care about the living conditions within our inner cities .
Hard work @ @ @ @ @ Democrat opponent ’ s days of accumulating personal wealth off the backs of black people @ @ @ @ @ ” Trump retweeted a in August that has been viewed over 12 million times .
@ @ @ @ @ the Trump Administration and we will bring Baltimore back , and fast , ” Trump @ @ @ @ @ t blow it Baltimore , the Democrats have destroyed your city !
”

Congressional candidate Kimberly Klacik reported a significant fundraising haul following a viral video campaign that was shared by President Trump on Twitter.
Klacik, who is running as a Republican to represent Maryland’s 7th Congressional District (which includes parts of Baltimore), reported raising $6,445,451 from July 1 through Sept. 30, according to Fox News .
Klacik’s opponent, incumbent Democratic Rep. Kweisi Mfume, reported raising $184,349 during the same time period.
“The amount raised is a message to the entire country,” Klacik told the Washington Examiner. “We are united. Republicans across the country care about the living conditions within our inner cities. Hard work pays off, and my Democrat opponent’s days of accumulating personal wealth off the backs of black people in low-income neighborhoods are numbered.”
Trump retweeted a viral ad from Klacik in August that has been viewed over 12 million times.
“Kimberly will work with the Trump Administration and we will bring Baltimore back, and fast,” Trump said. “Don’t blow it Baltimore, the Democrats have destroyed your city!”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-17--Joe Biden rebukes reporter in first public response to New York Post's Hunter Biden report

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden did not seem to appreciate being asked about the recent allegations regarding his son Hunter 's work overseas and if his vice presidency played a role in it .
A CBS News reporter asked the former vice president for a response to the New York Post 's piecemeal stories about Hunter Biden 's business dealings on Friday night , to which Joe Biden answered , “ I know you ’ d ask it .
I have no response .
It ’ s another smear campaign.
” The former vice president then took a shot at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up your alley , those are the questions you always ask.
” Earlier this week , the New York Post reported that the younger Biden set up a meeting between a senior official at the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma , where he worked , and Joe Biden , during his vice presidency .
The report , if accurate , would appear to contradict previous statements from the former vice president .
The Biden campaign has denied any official meeting took place , saying , `` We have reviewed Joe Biden ’ s official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as alleged by the New York Post , ever took place.
” The laptop , which was supposedly left at a computer repair store in Delaware and handed over to the FBI , included an email that discussed a previously undisclosed possible introduction between Joe Biden and Vadym Pozharskyi , an adviser to the board of Burisma .
The store owner also made a copy of the hard drive and passed it along to a lawyer for Rudy Giuliani .
The former New York City mayor has contradicted one aspect of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detail in the New York Post 's story .
Giuliani has long sought to obtain dirt on the Bidens and played a key role in the situation that ultimately resulted in the president 's impeachment in the House and acquittal in the Senate for urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate claims of corruption regarding the Bidens .
There have been recent reports that the White House was warned in 2019 that Giuliani could be the target of a Russian disinformation campaign .
Giuliani was a staunch defender of Trump throughout the impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Derkach and others to push allegations that Joe Biden had abused his power in Ukraine .
But Derkach , according to the U.S. Intelligence Community , `` is spreading claims about corruption — including through publicizing leaked phone calls — to undermine '' Biden .
He has also been sanctioned by the Treasury Department .
There is no evidence that ties Hunter Biden 's hard drive to Derkach .

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden did not seem to appreciate being asked about the recent allegations regarding his son Hunter's work overseas and if his vice presidency played a role in it.
A CBS News reporter asked the former vice president for a response to the New York Post's piecemeal stories about Hunter Biden's business dealings on Friday night, to which Joe Biden answered, “I know you’d ask it. I have no response. It’s another smear campaign.”
The former vice president then took a shot at the reporter, adding, “Right up your alley, those are the questions you always ask.”
I asked Joe Biden: What is your response to the NYPost story about your son, sir?
He called it a “smear campaign” and then went after me. “I know you’d ask it. I have no response, it’s another smear campaign, right up your alley, those are the questions you always ask.” pic.twitter.com/Eo6VD4TqxD — Bo Erickson CBS (@BoKnowsNews) October 17, 2020
Earlier this week, the New York Post reported that the younger Biden set up a meeting between a senior official at the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, where he worked, and Joe Biden, during his vice presidency. The report, if accurate, would appear to contradict previous statements from the former vice president.
The Biden campaign has denied any official meeting took place, saying, "We have reviewed Joe Biden’s official schedules from the time and no meeting, as alleged by the New York Post, ever took place.”
The laptop, which was supposedly left at a computer repair store in Delaware and handed over to the FBI, included an email that discussed a previously undisclosed possible introduction between Joe Biden and Vadym Pozharskyi, an adviser to the board of Burisma. The store owner also made a copy of the hard drive and passed it along to a lawyer for Rudy Giuliani. The former New York City mayor has contradicted one aspect of the story behind the hard drive with a detail in the New York Post's story.
Giuliani has long sought to obtain dirt on the Bidens and played a key role in the situation that ultimately resulted in the president's impeachment in the House and acquittal in the Senate for urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate claims of corruption regarding the Bidens. There have been recent reports that the White House was warned in 2019 that Giuliani could be the target of a Russian disinformation campaign.
Giuliani was a staunch defender of Trump throughout the impeachment process and worked with Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Derkach and others to push allegations that Joe Biden had abused his power in Ukraine. But Derkach, according to the U.S. Intelligence Community, "is spreading claims about corruption — including through publicizing leaked phone calls — to undermine" Biden. He has also been sanctioned by the Treasury Department.
There is no evidence that ties Hunter Biden's hard drive to Derkach.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-18--Puerto Rico faces sixth vote on statehood

Puerto Ricans in November face a simple ballot question : “ Should Puerto Rico be immediately admitted into the Union as a state ?
” The island territory , whose statehood has long been the subject of debate , has put the question on the ballot six times since 1967 , but the movement has not garnered significant support .
Proponents of the latest ballot question , which would trigger a nonbinding resolution whose language is by the Justice Department , hope that its straightforward wording will produce a different outcome .
The referendum comes after a 2017 vote on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it netted 97 % support for statehood , only drove a 23 % turnout .
The result was contested because the Popular Democratic Party , the second-largest faction in Puerto Rico ’ s legislature , , claiming the vote was rigged by the New Progressive Party in favor of statehood .
Then-Gov .
Ricardo Rossello said in a speech after the 2017 vote that the results show “ the federal government will no longer be able to ignore ” the will of Puerto Rico ’ s 3 million inhabitants .
Rossello last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage done in 2017 by Hurricane Maria .
The latest vote will occur amid the political fallout of Rossello ’ s departure , as well as still unaddressed hurricane destruction .
Recent polls show that Puerto Rico is divided on the attempt to push forward with its cause for statehood .
An October poll conducted by Gaither International that 42 % support the ballot measure , while only 27 % oppose it .
The rest remain unsure .
A September Beacon Research poll similar results .
Still , even if Puerto Ricans decide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is unlikely that Congress will consider the bid while under Republican control .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2019 said that he would not bring a vote on statehood to the floor , that the move was a ploy to secure two more Democratic Senate seats .
As the election approaches , McConnell said he will not support statehood .
President Trump in 2018 said he is an `` absolute no '' on statehood .
At the same time , Democrats have championed the cause for statehood .
Freshman Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forceful voices in favor of the measure , co-led an effort in August for the territory to become a state without Congress ’ s approval .
“ Puerto Rico needs to be afforded the freedom to design its own future , ” she wrote in , along with Rep. Nydia Velazquez , noting her own Puerto Rican descent .
Ocasio-Cortez ’ s recommendation was by New Progressive Party leaders , who , as in 2017 , are leading the push for statehood .
Nationally , that Puerto Rico ’ s cause for statehood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelmingly supporting it and Republicans generally opposing it .

Puerto Ricans in November face a simple ballot question: “Should Puerto Rico be immediately admitted into the Union as a state?”
The island territory, whose statehood has long been the subject of debate, has put the question on the ballot six times since 1967, but the movement has not garnered significant support. Proponents of the latest ballot question, which would trigger a nonbinding resolution whose language is unapproved by the Justice Department, hope that its straightforward wording will produce a different outcome.
The referendum comes after a 2017 vote on the same question, which, although it netted 97% support for statehood, only drove a 23% turnout. The result was contested because the Popular Democratic Party, the second-largest faction in Puerto Rico’s legislature, encouraged a boycott , claiming the vote was rigged by the New Progressive Party in favor of statehood.
Then-Gov. Ricardo Rossello said in a speech after the 2017 vote that the results show “the federal government will no longer be able to ignore” the will of Puerto Rico’s 3 million inhabitants. Rossello resigned in disgrace last year amid backlash to his handling of the damage done in 2017 by Hurricane Maria.
The latest vote will occur amid the political fallout of Rossello’s departure, as well as still unaddressed hurricane destruction. Recent polls show that Puerto Rico is divided on the attempt to push forward with its cause for statehood. An October poll conducted by Gaither International found that 42% support the ballot measure, while only 27% oppose it. The rest remain unsure. A September Beacon Research poll delivered similar results.
Still, even if Puerto Ricans decide that they want to become a state, it is unlikely that Congress will consider the bid while under Republican control. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2019 said that he would not bring a vote on statehood to the floor, claiming that the move was a ploy to secure two more Democratic Senate seats. As the election approaches, McConnell said he will not support statehood.
President Trump in 2018 said he is an "absolute no" on statehood.
At the same time, Democrats have championed the cause for statehood. Freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most forceful voices in favor of the measure, co-led an effort in August for the territory to become a state without Congress’s approval.
“Puerto Rico needs to be afforded the freedom to design its own future,” she wrote in an op-ed , along with Rep. Nydia Velazquez, noting her own Puerto Rican descent.
Ocasio-Cortez’s recommendation was rejected by New Progressive Party leaders, who, as in 2017, are leading the push for statehood.


HOLD: PA voters

PHILADELPHIA — There 's a reason Joe Biden sometimes points out he used to be called `` Pennsylvania 's third senator . ''
The Keystone State 's 20 Electoral College votes are crucial to the White House hopes of Biden , the Democratic presidential nominee , and the reelection prospects of President Trump .
Pennsylvania backed Trump in 2016 , the first time a Republican nominee won it since 1988 .
Along with Michigan and Wisconsin , Pennsylvania proved crucial in making Trump president .
Biden grew up in Scranton and was a senator in neighboring Delaware for 36 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Barack Obama 's administration .
Biden , his family , and supporters are now playing up his Pennsylvania ties to the max .
They hold campaign events there frequently and emphasize his decadeslong tie to the state .
That includes the candidate 's late son , Beau , who for several years worked in Philadelphia for the Justice Department before getting elected Delaware attorney general in 2006 .
`` Thank you for welcoming me home , '' the candidate 's wife , Jill Biden , told supporters in her own Pennsylvania hometown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philadelphia in Montgomery County .
The former second lady 's appearances earlier this month was aimed at encouraging suburban women to cast their ballots for her husband .
In an increasingly polarized political climate , Grant Reeher , a political science professor at Syracuse University , says the `` friends and neighbors '' effect of politics has n't been so effective in recent cycles .
It 's unclear how strongly that message can sway voters in 2020 .
`` It makes perfect sense that Biden ’ s going to play that up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being from one of the most important battleground states , '' Reeher said .
`` He can use that connection .
How much it resonates with people in an election that is so deeply nationalized and polarized is probably less than it would be maybe 20 years ago . ''
But , the message has the potential to resonate with suburban areas that backed 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton after decades of supporting Republicans , including Bucks , Chester , Delaware , and Montgomery counties .
Mustafa Rashed , a Democratic strategist with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to build on the winning margins for Clinton for years ago in those suburban areas , a task helped by his relatively centrist message .
`` There ’ s an authenticity to his familiarity with Pennsylvania , '' Rashed told the Washington Examiner .
`` There ’ s an authenticity with him being here .
He ’ s literally from here .
I think that resonates .
I think voters see that as authentic and real . ''
Biden , 77 , has throughout his public life faced personal tragedies , first losing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a car crash just weeks before he was set to join the Senate , after winning an upset victory over a Republican incumbent in 1972 .
More than four decades later , Biden again faced grief in a public role , when , as vice president , Beau died in 2015 at 46 .
Those grim experiences helped Biden form an even closer bond with fellow residents in Delaware .
Whether that close relationship trickles over into Pennsylvania remains in question .
With the Trump campaign pushing messages painting a dire picture of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden 's younger son , Hunter , over his foreign business dealings , some voters are hesitant to view the candidate with a guy-next-door feel .
`` I never was in favor of Biden as a senator , '' Rose Politano Franchetti of Packer Park near South Philadelphia told the Washington Examiner .
`` I would say most people here and around the four suburbs don ’ t have any loyalty or respect for him because he ’ s from upstate ( Pennsylvania ) .
I can speak 100 % for those I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t look at him as a guy with a good history in his career . ''
President Trump has even accused Biden of abandoning his roots in Scranton , telling his supporters in Pennsylvania that Biden had left them behind for another state .
To some extent , Terry Forrester , 59 , of Jenkintown in Montgomery County , agrees with that .
`` When he says he ’ s originally from Scranton , that makes me laugh because he left Scranton when he was a little kid , '' said Forrester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` He hardly grew up in Scranton .
To me , that ’ s just his way to act like he ’ s from this area and understands us . ''
Franchetti and Forrester both expressed concerns over the rising crime rate of Philadelphia and blame Democratic leadership for its growth , a message that Trump has been working to push out across his campaign .
Forrester also is n't happy about some of the controversies surrounding Hunter Biden , who 's become the subject of Republican-led investigations into his business affairs at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was on the board of during the time his father was serving as vice president .
`` Even before these stories that just came up , I thought he had some involvement with his son , '' Forrester , who works as a paraprofessional at a local school district , said .
`` It basically bothers me with a lot of politicians .
I definitely think a lot of them , not just Biden , get paid by people and do favors and all that . ''
But the level of interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area is telling , says Dick Bingham , chairman of the Chester County Democratic Committee .
Bingham says he 's seen a sharp rise in voter registration as well as increased demand for yard signs this year .
`` Suburban voters , I believe , certainly in the Philadelphia area , support Joe Biden overwhelmingly , '' Bingham said , adding that it does n't hurt that the candidate praises his Scranton roots but does n't believe that 's the sole factor for his support .

PHILADELPHIA — There's a reason Joe Biden sometimes points out he used to be called "Pennsylvania's third senator."
The Keystone State's 20 Electoral College votes are crucial to the White House hopes of Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, and the reelection prospects of President Trump. Pennsylvania backed Trump in 2016, the first time a Republican nominee won it since 1988. Along with Michigan and Wisconsin, Pennsylvania proved crucial in making Trump president.
Biden grew up in Scranton and was a senator in neighboring Delaware for 36 years before two terms as vice president in President Barack Obama's administration.
Biden, his family, and supporters are now playing up his Pennsylvania ties to the max. They hold campaign events there frequently and emphasize his decadeslong tie to the state. That includes the candidate's late son, Beau, who for several years worked in Philadelphia for the Justice Department before getting elected Delaware attorney general in 2006.
"Thank you for welcoming me home," the candidate's wife, Jill Biden, told supporters in her own Pennsylvania hometown, Willow Grove, just outside of Philadelphia in Montgomery County. The former second lady's appearances earlier this month was aimed at encouraging suburban women to cast their ballots for her husband.
In an increasingly polarized political climate, Grant Reeher, a political science professor at Syracuse University, says the "friends and neighbors" effect of politics hasn't been so effective in recent cycles. It's unclear how strongly that message can sway voters in 2020.
"It makes perfect sense that Biden’s going to play that up, especially when he has the advantage of being from one of the most important battleground states," Reeher said. "He can use that connection. How much it resonates with people in an election that is so deeply nationalized and polarized is probably less than it would be maybe 20 years ago."
But, the message has the potential to resonate with suburban areas that backed 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton after decades of supporting Republicans, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties.
Mustafa Rashed, a Democratic strategist with Philadelphia-based Bellevue Strategies, said Biden needs to build on the winning margins for Clinton for years ago in those suburban areas, a task helped by his relatively centrist message.
"There’s an authenticity to his familiarity with Pennsylvania," Rashed told the Washington Examiner. "There’s an authenticity with him being here. He’s literally from here. I think that resonates. I think voters see that as authentic and real."
Biden family members follow an honor guard carrying a casket containing the remains of Beau Biden on June 4, 2015 in Dover, Del., after he died of brain cancer Saturday at age 46. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool)
Biden, 77, has throughout his public life faced personal tragedies, first losing his first wife and 1-year-old daughter in a car crash just weeks before he was set to join the Senate, after winning an upset victory over a Republican incumbent in 1972. More than four decades later, Biden again faced grief in a public role, when, as vice president, Beau died in 2015 at 46.
Those grim experiences helped Biden form an even closer bond with fellow residents in Delaware. Whether that close relationship trickles over into Pennsylvania remains in question.
With the Trump campaign pushing messages painting a dire picture of the suburbs with Democratic control and attacking Biden's younger son, Hunter, over his foreign business dealings, some voters are hesitant to view the candidate with a guy-next-door feel.
"I never was in favor of Biden as a senator," Rose Politano Franchetti of Packer Park near South Philadelphia told the Washington Examiner. "I would say most people here and around the four suburbs don’t have any loyalty or respect for him because he’s from upstate (Pennsylvania). I can speak 100% for those I personally know, (they) don’t look at him as a guy with a good history in his career."
President Trump and Joe Biden face off at debate in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, Pool)
President Trump has even accused Biden of abandoning his roots in Scranton, telling his supporters in Pennsylvania that Biden had left them behind for another state.
To some extent, Terry Forrester, 59, of Jenkintown in Montgomery County, agrees with that.
"When he says he’s originally from Scranton, that makes me laugh because he left Scranton when he was a little kid," said Forrester, who plans to support Trump. "He hardly grew up in Scranton. To me, that’s just his way to act like he’s from this area and understands us."
Franchetti and Forrester both expressed concerns over the rising crime rate of Philadelphia and blame Democratic leadership for its growth, a message that Trump has been working to push out across his campaign.
Forrester also isn't happy about some of the controversies surrounding Hunter Biden, who's become the subject of Republican-led investigations into his business affairs at Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy firm he was on the board of during the time his father was serving as vice president.
"Even before these stories that just came up, I thought he had some involvement with his son," Forrester, who works as a paraprofessional at a local school district, said. "It basically bothers me with a lot of politicians. I definitely think a lot of them, not just Biden, get paid by people and do favors and all that."
But the level of interest seen by potential voters across the Philadelphia area is telling, says Dick Bingham, chairman of the Chester County Democratic Committee. Bingham says he's seen a sharp rise in voter registration as well as increased demand for yard signs this year.
"Suburban voters, I believe, certainly in the Philadelphia area, support Joe Biden overwhelmingly," Bingham said, adding that it doesn't hurt that the candidate praises his Scranton roots but doesn't believe that's the sole factor for his support.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-20--Supreme Court allows three-day extension for Pennsylvania ballots

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court will allow Pennsylvania to count mailed-in ballots received up to three days after the Nov. 3 election , rejecting a Republican plea in the presidential battleground state .
The justices divided 4-4 on Monday , an outcome that upholds a state Supreme Court ruling that required county election officials to receive and count mailed-in ballots that arrive up until Nov. 6 , even if they do n't have a clear postmark , as long as there is not proof it was mailed after the polls closed .
Republicans , including President Trump 's campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it violates federal law that sets Election Day as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November and that such a decision constitutionally belongs to lawmakers , not the courts .
The state Republican Party chairman , Lawrence Tabas , said the party disagrees with the decision and , noting the 4-4 decision , `` it only underscores the importance of having a full Supreme Court as soon as possible . ''
`` To be clear , the Supreme Court decided not to grant a stay — which does not mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would withstand a legal challenge to their judicial overreach should the court hear the case , '' Tabas said .
Nancy Patton Mills , chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party , accused Republicans of trying to sow confusion and disenfranchise eligible voters .
`` This is a significant victory for Pennsylvania voters , '' Mills said in a statement .
The Democratic majority on the state 's high court had cited warnings that Postal Service delays could invalidate huge numbers of ballots and surging demand for mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state 's courts , to extend election deadlines during a disaster emergency .
Chief Justice John Roberts joined with the three liberal justices to reject Pennsylvania Republicans ' call for the court to block the state court ruling .
Justices Samuel Alito , Neil Gorsuch , Brett Kavanaugh , and Clarence Thomas would have required the state to stop accepting absentee ballots when the polls close on Nov. 3 .
There were no opinions accompanying the order , so it is impossible to say what motivated either group of justices .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court-ordered changes to voting rules close to an election .
The court also is weighing a similar issue from Wisconsin .
But in that case , the ruling being challenged comes from a federal appeals court and it 's the Democrats who are asking the justices to step in .
Most states make Election Day the deadline , but 18 states , half of which backed Trump in the 2016 election , have a post-Election Day deadline .
`` With nearly a million votes already cast in Pennsylvania , we support the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already-working system , '' Pennsylvania 's attorney general , Democrat Josh Shapiro , said in a statement .
On a separate track , Republicans in the Statehouse have pressed Gov .
Tom Wolf , a Democrat , to agree to eleventh-hour legislation to eliminate or limit the three days under the court 's order .
The case is one of many partisan battles being fought in the state Legislature and the courts , primarily over mail-in voting in Pennsylvania , amid concerns that a presidential election result will hang in limbo for days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battleground state .
In Pennsylvania , the state Democratic Party and a liberal group , the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans , had sought an extension of the Election Day deadline to count mailed ballots .
With about 2.8 million mail-in ballots requested and approximately 900,000 returned , Democratic-registered voters are requesting mail ballots at a nearly 3-to-1 ratio over Republicans .
In its Sept. 17 ruling , the divided state Supreme Court said ballots must be postmarked by the time polls close and be received by county election boards at 5 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nov. 3 election .
It also said that ballots lacking a clear postmark could be counted unless there was evidence that they were mailed after the polls closed .

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court will allow Pennsylvania to count mailed-in ballots received up to three days after the Nov. 3 election, rejecting a Republican plea in the presidential battleground state.
The justices divided 4-4 on Monday, an outcome that upholds a state Supreme Court ruling that required county election officials to receive and count mailed-in ballots that arrive up until Nov. 6, even if they don't have a clear postmark, as long as there is not proof it was mailed after the polls closed.
Republicans, including President Trump's campaign, have opposed such an extension, arguing that it violates federal law that sets Election Day as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November and that such a decision constitutionally belongs to lawmakers, not the courts.
The state Republican Party chairman, Lawrence Tabas, said the party disagrees with the decision and, noting the 4-4 decision, "it only underscores the importance of having a full Supreme Court as soon as possible."
"To be clear, the Supreme Court decided not to grant a stay — which does not mean the actions of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court would withstand a legal challenge to their judicial overreach should the court hear the case," Tabas said.
Nancy Patton Mills, chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, accused Republicans of trying to sow confusion and disenfranchise eligible voters.
"This is a significant victory for Pennsylvania voters," Mills said in a statement.
The Democratic majority on the state's high court had cited warnings that Postal Service delays could invalidate huge numbers of ballots and surging demand for mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic to invoke the power, used previously by the state's courts, to extend election deadlines during a disaster emergency.
Chief Justice John Roberts joined with the three liberal justices to reject Pennsylvania Republicans' call for the court to block the state court ruling.
Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Clarence Thomas would have required the state to stop accepting absentee ballots when the polls close on Nov. 3.
There were no opinions accompanying the order, so it is impossible to say what motivated either group of justices. The conservative justices have been reluctant to allow court-ordered changes to voting rules close to an election.
The court also is weighing a similar issue from Wisconsin. But in that case, the ruling being challenged comes from a federal appeals court and it's the Democrats who are asking the justices to step in.
Most states make Election Day the deadline, but 18 states, half of which backed Trump in the 2016 election, have a post-Election Day deadline.
"With nearly a million votes already cast in Pennsylvania, we support the court's decision not to meddle in our already-working system," Pennsylvania's attorney general, Democrat Josh Shapiro, said in a statement.
On a separate track, Republicans in the Statehouse have pressed Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, to agree to eleventh-hour legislation to eliminate or limit the three days under the court's order.
The case is one of many partisan battles being fought in the state Legislature and the courts, primarily over mail-in voting in Pennsylvania, amid concerns that a presidential election result will hang in limbo for days on a drawn-out vote count in the battleground state.
In Pennsylvania, the state Democratic Party and a liberal group, the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans, had sought an extension of the Election Day deadline to count mailed ballots.
With about 2.8 million mail-in ballots requested and approximately 900,000 returned, Democratic-registered voters are requesting mail ballots at a nearly 3-to-1 ratio over Republicans.
In its Sept. 17 ruling, the divided state Supreme Court said ballots must be postmarked by the time polls close and be received by county election boards at 5 p.m. on Nov. 6, three days after the Nov. 3 election.
It also said that ballots lacking a clear postmark could be counted unless there was evidence that they were mailed after the polls closed.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-19--Matt Gaetz is Trump's main man on cable news and on the floor of the House

Rep. Matt Gaetz is one of President Trump ’ s most steadfast defenders on cable news .
The second-term Florida Republican can frequently be seen on the airwaves pushing back against the Russia investigation or supporting economic reopening amid the coronavirus .
Gaetz , 38 , may also be the closest thing to a full-spectrum ideological “ Trumpist ” in Congress .
He supports the president ’ s approach to curbing illegal immigration and confronting China but also is willing to end “ endless wars , ” even when it means running afoul of the White House .
Gaetz voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the war in Yemen , which Trump vetoed .
He also backed a Trump-opposed resolution that would make it more difficult for the president to use troops stationed in the Middle East to wage war against Iran without congressional approval .
“ The examples of Afghanistan , Iraq , and Libya — just to name a few — teach us that it is an illusion to think that just beyond the life of every dictator lies a peaceful democracy , rather than generations of anarchy , violence , terrorism , and chaos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year .
“ Freedom can not be America ’ s gift to the world , purchased with the blood of U.S. service members alone.
” Gaetz has said there is a split between Republicans who want to “ manage ” Trump and those who would fully capitalize on the opportunity his time in office provides to chart a different course for the party .
`` To fully vindicate the Trump presidency , '' he an interviewer , `` we need to embrace the energy of the populist elements of the Trump movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do in multimedia fashion .
In addition to his ubiquity on cable news , Gaetz has a podcast called Hot Takes .
Simon & Schuster has published his book , Firebrand : Dispatches from the Front Lines of the MAGA Revolution , billed as a “ scathingly funny account of his time in the Washington swamp.
” An ally of Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , who is also close to Trump , Gaetz served three terms in the state Legislature before being elected to the House in 2016 .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , even as Republicans lost their majority .
He represents Florida ’ s 1st Congressional District and sits on both the Judiciary and Armed Services committees .
Critics say Gaetz ’ s defenses of Trump can be over the top .
“ They ’ ll disarm you , empty the prisons , lock you in your home , and invite MS-13 to live next door , ” he said of the Democratic ticket in his Republican National Convention speech .
“ And the defunded police aren ’ t on their way.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interventions is politically risky in a district with many veterans and active-duty personnel .
Gaetz has also tried to argue for a populist , nationalist conservatism in greater detail than Trump .
“ America is not just an idea or a constitution , it is our home , ” he told the GOP convention .
He has supported marijuana legalization and a `` pollution tax '' while also forging unlikely bipartisan friendships with Democratic colleagues Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Katie Hill .
Gaetz is seen as an ambitious figure who is likely to run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ linked to Senate openings in Florida , although both seats are currently held by established Republican incumbents and neighboring Alabama .
He is occasionally the subject even of 2024 presidential rumors .
He is running for reelection to the House this year .

Rep. Matt Gaetz is one of President Trump’s most steadfast defenders on cable news. The second-term Florida Republican can frequently be seen on the airwaves pushing back against the Russia investigation or supporting economic reopening amid the coronavirus.
Gaetz, 38, may also be the closest thing to a full-spectrum ideological “Trumpist” in Congress. He supports the president’s approach to curbing illegal immigration and confronting China but also is willing to end “endless wars,” even when it means running afoul of the White House. Gaetz voted for a resolution to end U.S. participation in the war in Yemen, which Trump vetoed. He also backed a Trump-opposed resolution that would make it more difficult for the president to use troops stationed in the Middle East to wage war against Iran without congressional approval.
“The examples of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya — just to name a few — teach us that it is an illusion to think that just beyond the life of every dictator lies a peaceful democracy, rather than generations of anarchy, violence, terrorism, and chaos,” Gaetz said in a speech last year. “Freedom cannot be America’s gift to the world, purchased with the blood of U.S. service members alone.”
Gaetz has said there is a split between Republicans who want to “manage” Trump and those who would fully capitalize on the opportunity his time in office provides to chart a different course for the party. "To fully vindicate the Trump presidency," he told an interviewer, "we need to embrace the energy of the populist elements of the Trump movement."
That, Gaetz has tried to do in multimedia fashion. In addition to his ubiquity on cable news, Gaetz has a podcast called Hot Takes. Simon & Schuster has published his book, Firebrand: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the MAGA Revolution, billed as a “scathingly funny account of his time in the Washington swamp.”
An ally of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is also close to Trump, Gaetz served three terms in the state Legislature before being elected to the House in 2016. He was reelected in the midterm elections two years later, even as Republicans lost their majority. He represents Florida’s 1st Congressional District and sits on both the Judiciary and Armed Services committees.
Critics say Gaetz’s defenses of Trump can be over the top. “They’ll disarm you, empty the prisons, lock you in your home, and invite MS-13 to live next door,” he said of the Democratic ticket in his Republican National Convention speech. “And the defunded police aren’t on their way.”
But his criticism of recent U.S. military interventions is politically risky in a district with many veterans and active-duty personnel. Gaetz has also tried to argue for a populist, nationalist conservatism in greater detail than Trump. “America is not just an idea or a constitution, it is our home,” he told the GOP convention. He has supported marijuana legalization and a "pollution tax" while also forging unlikely bipartisan friendships with Democratic colleagues Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Katie Hill.
Gaetz is seen as an ambitious figure who is likely to run for higher office. He has been linked to Senate openings in Florida, although both seats are currently held by established Republican incumbents and neighboring Alabama. He is occasionally the subject even of 2024 presidential rumors. He is running for reelection to the House this year.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-19--Tom Cotton, the surprise Trump ally

Tom Cotton, the surprise Trump ally

Tom Cotton was once an unlikely ally of and successor to President Trump .
The Arkansas senator was once by leading Never Trumpers as the future of the Republican Party and seen as a defender of the foreign policy Trump mostly campaigned against in the GOP primaries .
Instead , Cotton , 43 , has emerged as part of a small populist contingent on Capitol Hill that is close to the Trump White House .
No longer just a foreign policy hawk , he has succeeded Jeff Sessions as the Senate ’ s top immigration hawk .
He shares Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the New York Times for using the military to suppress rioting that broke out following George Floyd ’ s death in police custody , triggering a staff revolt and editorial upheaval at the paper .
Cotton denounced “ nihilist criminals ” who “ are simply out for loot and the thrill of destruction , with cadres of left-wing radicals like antifa infiltrating protest marches to exploit Floyd ’ s death for their own anarchic purposes.
” Trump has similarly spoken of left-wing and antifa radicals burning American cities .
The senator has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Trump ’ s talk of “ America First ” and winding down “ endless wars.
” “ No one who ’ s seen the face of war desires to see it again , ” Cotton said at this year ’ s Republican National Convention .
“ Too many of our fellow Americans are already honored at the hallowed grounds of Arlington .
But if we want peace , we must be strong .
Weakness is provocative .
President Trump ’ s strength has kept us out of war.
” A graduate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cotton enlisted in the Army and served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq .
He was elected to Congress in his 30s , serving a single term in the House before defeating incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor in the 2014 midterm elections , when the GOP finally captured the Senate after several years of trying .
Cotton then promptly became one of the most outspoken opponents of Barack Obama ’ s nuclear deal with Iran .
He organized a letter , signed by 46 other Republican senators , to Tehran pointing out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate , did not have the force of a treaty , and could therefore be revoked by a future administration .
Trump subsequently did pull out of the pact .
After Trump came to power in 2017 , Cotton teamed up with Sen. David Perdue , a Georgia Republican , to introduce the RAISE Act .
This legislation would reduce the number of legal immigrants admitted annually and shift requirements away from family reunification toward employment skills .
Trump endorsed it as a move away from “ chain migration ” toward “ merit-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in bipartisan negotiations over the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program , which Obama created to shield from deportation some illegal immigrants who arrived as minors .
Trump rescinded this executive action but was open to a legislative alternative .
Following the pandemic , Cotton led the charge for the United States to punish China for its role in the spread of the coronavirus .
He introduced the $ 43 billion Forging Operational Resistance to Chinese Expansion , or FORCE , Act .
“ More Americans than ever , like more Asians than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pariah state , and we ought to treat them like a pariah state , ” he told the Wall Street Journal .
Cotton is considered a likely candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination in what is sure to be a fierce battle for the post-Trump direction of the party .

Tom Cotton was once an unlikely ally of and successor to President Trump. The Arkansas senator was once hailed by leading Never Trumpers as the future of the Republican Party and seen as a defender of the foreign policy Trump mostly campaigned against in the GOP primaries.
Instead, Cotton, 43, has emerged as part of a small populist contingent on Capitol Hill that is close to the Trump White House. No longer just a foreign policy hawk, he has succeeded Jeff Sessions as the Senate’s top immigration hawk. He shares Trump’s views on China. He argued in the New York Times for using the military to suppress rioting that broke out following George Floyd’s death in police custody, triggering a staff revolt and editorial upheaval at the paper.
Cotton denounced “nihilist criminals” who “are simply out for loot and the thrill of destruction, with cadres of left-wing radicals like antifa infiltrating protest marches to exploit Floyd’s death for their own anarchic purposes.” Trump has similarly spoken of left-wing and antifa radicals burning American cities.
The senator has also tried to square his foreign policy with Trump’s talk of “America First” and winding down “endless wars.” “No one who’s seen the face of war desires to see it again,” Cotton said at this year’s Republican National Convention. “Too many of our fellow Americans are already honored at the hallowed grounds of Arlington. But if we want peace, we must be strong. Weakness is provocative. President Trump’s strength has kept us out of war.”
A graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Law School, Cotton enlisted in the Army and served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was elected to Congress in his 30s, serving a single term in the House before defeating incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor in the 2014 midterm elections, when the GOP finally captured the Senate after several years of trying.
Cotton then promptly became one of the most outspoken opponents of Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran. He organized a letter, signed by 46 other Republican senators, to Tehran pointing out the agreement was not ratified by the Senate, did not have the force of a treaty, and could therefore be revoked by a future administration. Trump subsequently did pull out of the pact.
After Trump came to power in 2017, Cotton teamed up with Sen. David Perdue, a Georgia Republican, to introduce the RAISE Act. This legislation would reduce the number of legal immigrants admitted annually and shift requirements away from family reunification toward employment skills. Trump endorsed it as a move away from “chain migration” toward “merit-based” immigration. Cotton was also involved in bipartisan negotiations over the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which Obama created to shield from deportation some illegal immigrants who arrived as minors. Trump rescinded this executive action but was open to a legislative alternative.
Following the pandemic, Cotton led the charge for the United States to punish China for its role in the spread of the coronavirus. He introduced the $43 billion Forging Operational Resistance to Chinese Expansion, or FORCE, Act. “More Americans than ever, like more Asians than ever, recognize that China is a pariah state, and we ought to treat them like a pariah state,” he told the Wall Street Journal.
Cotton is considered a likely candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination in what is sure to be a fierce battle for the post-Trump direction of the party.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-19--Trump campaign and RNC unveil $55M ad buy for final two weeks

The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee are preparing to spend $ 55 million on TV advertising in the final two weeks before Election Day , according to senior officials , who struck back at reports they believe they can not win .
The weekend brought multiple claims that insiders such as campaign manager Bill Stepien are bracing for defeat .
In a call with reporters on Monday , Stepien and other officials said they were confident in victory and were preparing a big new TV advertising buy .
“ We have a better candidate .
We 're running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We know the pathway to get us to 270 .
We are not only in position to win this race , but we know the pathway and the plan to get us there.
” He announced that the RNC was going to be spending advertising money in Arizona , Iowa , Michigan , North Carolina , and Wisconsin , in addition to existing campaign spending in Arizona , Florida , Georgia , the 2nd Congressional District in Maine , Michigan , North Carolina , Nevada , Ohio , Pennsylvania , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the advertising would be directed at seniors — and in particular at Democratic nominee Joe Biden ’ s healthcare plans , which carry an estimated price tag of $ 2.5 trillion .
The announcement follows a string of warnings that the Trump campaign is losing the air war .
The Biden campaign has outraised the Trump campaign in recent months .
In September , it announced a record-breaking haul of $ 383 million , beating August ’ s historic total of $ 364.5 million .
Although President Trump began the race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has lagged behind recently , raising only $ 247.8 million and $ 210 million in the past two months .
Combined with poor poll numbers , TV advertising pulled in a number of states , and a candidate who had to vacate the campaign trail because he came down with COVID-19 , the result was a string of reports suggesting that even Stepien was privately preparing for defeat .
`` It 's not a great feeling when you get the sense the campaign manager does n't deep down think we 're going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Axios .
But in the call with reporters , Stepien insisted Trump had multiple paths to collect the 270 electoral college votes and that the new buys meant the campaign ’ s strong ground game would be complemented by advertising .
“ We have sufficient air cover , almost three times as much as 2016 , ” he said .
“ The goal of this is to ensure that we 're supporting our ground troops .
”

The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee are preparing to spend $55 million on TV advertising in the final two weeks before Election Day, according to senior officials, who struck back at reports they believe they cannot win.
The weekend brought multiple claims that insiders such as campaign manager Bill Stepien are bracing for defeat.
In a call with reporters on Monday, Stepien and other officials said they were confident in victory and were preparing a big new TV advertising buy.
“We have a better candidate. We're running the better campaign,” said Stepien. “We know the pathway to get us to 270. We are not only in position to win this race, but we know the pathway and the plan to get us there.”
He announced that the RNC was going to be spending advertising money in Arizona, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, in addition to existing campaign spending in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, the 2nd Congressional District in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said some of the advertising would be directed at seniors — and in particular at Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s healthcare plans, which carry an estimated price tag of $2.5 trillion.
The announcement follows a string of warnings that the Trump campaign is losing the air war.
The Biden campaign has outraised the Trump campaign in recent months. In September, it announced a record-breaking haul of $383 million, beating August’s historic total of $364.5 million.
Although President Trump began the race with a significant financial advantage, he has lagged behind recently, raising only $247.8 million and $210 million in the past two months.
Combined with poor poll numbers, TV advertising pulled in a number of states, and a candidate who had to vacate the campaign trail because he came down with COVID-19, the result was a string of reports suggesting that even Stepien was privately preparing for defeat.
"It's not a great feeling when you get the sense the campaign manager doesn't deep down think we're going to win," one campaign source told Axios.
But in the call with reporters, Stepien insisted Trump had multiple paths to collect the 270 electoral college votes and that the new buys meant the campaign’s strong ground game would be complemented by advertising.
“We have sufficient air cover, almost three times as much as 2016,” he said. “The goal of this is to ensure that we're supporting our ground troops.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-19--'You're a criminal for not reporting it': Trump takes aim at the media's lack of coverage on alleged

'You're a criminal for not reporting it': Trump takes aim at the media's lack of coverage on alleged Hunter Biden emails

President Trump called the lack of coverage on Hunter Biden 's alleged computer scandal `` criminal '' while speaking to reporters .
The president , while in Phoenix on Monday , was asked why his `` campaign strategy seems to be to call Biden a criminal . ''
`` You 're a criminal for not reporting it .
Joe Biden is a criminal , and he 's been a criminal for a long time , and you 're a criminal in the media for not reporting it , '' he responded .
New York Post claiming Hunter Biden allegedly between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president , and a senior official at Ukrainian energy firm Burisma .
“ Dear Hunter , thank you for inviting me to DC and giving an opportunity to meet your father and spent [ sic ] some time together .
It ’ s realty [ sic ] an honor and pleasure , '' Vadym Pozharskyi wrote in an email found on the younger Biden 's alleged computer .
The hard drive also included a sexually explicit video and photos of Hunter Biden posing shirtless and sleeping with what appears to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computer shop 's owner turned over the laptop to the FBI and made a copy of the contents .
The copy was given to Rudy Giuliani 's lawyer and then to the New York Post .
“ I have never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings , ” Biden told Fox News in 2019 .
Biden 's campaign has denied that a meeting between their candidate and Pozharskyi ever took place but did not dispute the validity of the emails .
Analysis done of the media coverage of the emails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , CNN , and MSNBC dedicated less than 10 minutes , or 0.2 % , of their airtime over a 92 hour period to the story .
Facebook slowed the distribution of the story on its platform after the story broke , and Twitter suspended some users who tried to share a link to the story .
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany was locked out of her account for sharing the story , and the New York Post 's Twitter account has been suspended since Oct. 14 .

President Trump called the lack of coverage on Hunter Biden's alleged computer scandal "criminal" while speaking to reporters.
The president, while in Phoenix on Monday, was asked why his "campaign strategy seems to be to call Biden a criminal."
"You're a criminal for not reporting it. Joe Biden is a criminal, and he's been a criminal for a long time, and you're a criminal in the media for not reporting it," he responded.
"He is a criminal. He got caught. Read his laptop.
And you know who's a criminal? You're a criminal for not reporting it."@realDonaldTrump calls the media "criminals" for not reporting on the @NYPost's Hunter Biden story alleging corruption while @JoeBiden served as VP. pic.twitter.com/ULBlLiuc5T — Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 19, 2020
The New York Post published a piece last Wednesday claiming Hunter Biden allegedly set up a meeting between his father, when he served as vice president, and a senior official at Ukrainian energy firm Burisma.
“Dear Hunter, thank you for inviting me to DC and giving an opportunity to meet your father and spent [sic] some time together. It’s realty [sic] an honor and pleasure," Vadym Pozharskyi wrote in an email found on the younger Biden's alleged computer.
The hard drive also included a sexually explicit video and photos of Hunter Biden posing shirtless and sleeping with what appears to be a crack pipe in his mouth.
A computer shop's owner turned over the laptop to the FBI and made a copy of the contents. The copy was given to Rudy Giuliani's lawyer and then to the New York Post.
“I have never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings,” Biden told Fox News in 2019.
Biden's campaign has denied that a meeting between their candidate and Pozharskyi ever took place but did not dispute the validity of the emails.
Analysis done of the media coverage of the emails indicates that ABC, CBC, NBC, CNN, and MSNBC dedicated less than 10 minutes, or 0.2%, of their airtime over a 92 hour period to the story.
Facebook slowed the distribution of the story on its platform after the story broke, and Twitter suspended some users who tried to share a link to the story.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany was locked out of her account for sharing the story, and the New York Post's Twitter account has been suspended since Oct. 14.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-10-19--Trump campaign cries foul over change in third debate focus from foreign policy

President Trump 's reelection campaign is challenging a decision by Thursday 's presidential debate organizers to focus the discussion on a wider array of topics than initially agreed , charging the decision is `` solely to insulate Biden from his own history . ''
In a tweet Monday , Trump 2020 campaign manager Bill Stepien published a letter addressed to the Commission on Presidential Debates calling for Thursday 's event to focus on foreign policy in line with `` long-standing custom , and as had been promised '' by the commission .
The debate `` was always billed as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of events agreed to by both the Trump campaign and Biden campaign many months ago , '' Stepien 's letter reads .
`` We urge you to recalibrate the topics and return to subjects which had already been confirmed . ''
Third presidential debates have focused on foreign policy historically .
Announced Friday , the topics include , `` Fighting COVID-19 , '' `` American Families , '' `` Race in America , '' `` Climate Change , '' National Security , '' and `` Leadership . ''
Speaking to Fox News on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign senior adviser , called the debate 's focus on foreign policy `` perfect , '' pointing to what he said was Biden 's support for `` endless wars . ''
Miller tweeted on Monday : `` Good morning to everyone except Presidential Debate Commission members who changed focus of final debate away from foreign policy so Joe Biden wouldn ’ t have to answer to being compromised by the Chinese Communist Party , supporting endless wars and sending pallets of cash to Iran . ''

President Trump's reelection campaign is challenging a decision by Thursday's presidential debate organizers to focus the discussion on a wider array of topics than initially agreed, charging the decision is "solely to insulate Biden from his own history."
In a tweet Monday, Trump 2020 campaign manager Bill Stepien published a letter addressed to the Commission on Presidential Debates calling for Thursday's event to focus on foreign policy in line with "long-standing custom, and as had been promised" by the commission.
The debate "was always billed as the 'Foreign Policy Debate' in the series of events agreed to by both the Trump campaign and Biden campaign many months ago," Stepien's letter reads. "We urge you to recalibrate the topics and return to subjects which had already been confirmed."
Our letter to the BDC (Biden Debate Commission) pic.twitter.com/ZsY5JfMbT7 — BillStepien (@BillStepien) October 19, 2020
Third presidential debates have focused on foreign policy historically.
Announced Friday, the topics include, "Fighting COVID-19," "American Families," "Race in America," "Climate Change," National Security," and "Leadership."
Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Jason Miller, a Trump campaign senior adviser, called the debate's focus on foreign policy "perfect," pointing to what he said was Biden's support for "endless wars."
Miller tweeted on Monday: "Good morning to everyone except Presidential Debate Commission members who changed focus of final debate away from foreign policy so Joe Biden wouldn’t have to answer to being compromised by the Chinese Communist Party, supporting endless wars and sending pallets of cash to Iran."