thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--Andrew Gillum: Florida became a 'Biden runaway' after Bernie Sanders praised Fidel Castro

Former Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum said Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ruined his chances to win Florida in future elections by defending Cuban dictator Fidel Castro .
During an interview with CNN contributor David Axelrod , the liberal former Tallahassee mayor said Sanders 's defense of Castro 's `` literacy program '' deeply dismayed minority communities in Florida .
`` My guess is it will likely be a [ Joe ] Biden runaway .
They already had great relations in the state , but those comments will live for a lot of people , '' said Gillum , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Florida governor .
`` One Colombian American state senator Democrat put it this way : She said , 'Listening to Sanders talk about , romanticize , or give credit to the Castro regime because of a 'literacy reading program ' is like listening to Donald Trump after Charlottesville say that there were 'good people on both sides , ' '' he said .
A new poll shows Biden easily beating Sanders in the upcoming Democratic primary in Florida .
The former vice president received approximately 61 % support , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nearly 49 percentage points ahead of Sanders .
The survey , conducted March 4 , polled 1,882 registered Democratic voters .
Nearly 29 % of respondents were black , and 16 % were Hispanic .
The former vice president led in every racial category , with nearly 83 % support among black voters , 64 % support from Hispanic voters , and 88 % support from white voters .
Sanders , a socialist , was beaten by the 13.5 % support for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg , who dropped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performance on Super Tuesday and endorsed Biden .
Sanders ended up in third place with approximately 12 % support , falling 2 points shy of the RealClearPolitics state average .
From 2010-2017 , the Cuban population in Miami-Dade County , Florida , grew 21 % , becoming the home of approximately 700,000 Cuban Americans .
Cubans represent over a quarter of the population in the county , which is a key Democratic stronghold for the state 's primary and general election .
`` Cuban-born residents comprised 48.5 % of Miami-Dade ’ s foreign-born @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2010 , '' according to the Miami Herald .
Many fled the Cuban communist regime in search for a more prosperous life , a fact Gillum seized on in the interview .
On the death of Fidel Castro in 2016 , Cuban Floridians celebrated on the streets by dancing , singing , and waving their native country 's flag .
`` People are optimistic that this will usher in a new opportunity for freedom and democracy , '' said former GOP Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen , a Cuban refugee , of Castro 's death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man who executed a lot of family members of my constituency , imprisoned so many of them ... as long as there ’ s a Castro in power , there ’ s not much hope for change . ''

Former Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum said Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ruined his chances to win Florida in future elections by defending Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
During an interview with CNN contributor David Axelrod, the liberal former Tallahassee mayor said Sanders's defense of Castro's "literacy program" deeply dismayed minority communities in Florida. "My guess is it will likely be a [Joe] Biden runaway. They already had great relations in the state, but those comments will live for a lot of people," said Gillum, who was endorsed by Sanders during his bid for Florida governor.
"One Colombian American state senator Democrat put it this way: She said, 'Listening to Sanders talk about, romanticize, or give credit to the Castro regime because of a 'literacy reading program' is like listening to Donald Trump after Charlottesville say that there were 'good people on both sides,'" he said.
In new #AxeFiles, fmr FL Gov nominee @AndrewGillum says @BernieSanders praise of Castro will spur @JoeBiden rout in 3/17 primary. Quoting FL Hispanic leader: “It was like listening to Trump after Charlottesville say there were good people on both sides.”https://t.co/oZMsoGhyTk pic.twitter.com/NbEOIzchCQ — David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) March 5, 2020
A new poll shows Biden easily beating Sanders in the upcoming Democratic primary in Florida. The former vice president received approximately 61% support, according to a St. Pete Polls survey released on Thursday, nearly 49 percentage points ahead of Sanders.
The survey, conducted March 4, polled 1,882 registered Democratic voters. Nearly 29% of respondents were black, and 16% were Hispanic. The former vice president led in every racial category, with nearly 83% support among black voters, 64% support from Hispanic voters, and 88% support from white voters.
Sanders, a socialist, was beaten by the 13.5% support for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who dropped out of the race after his poor performance on Super Tuesday and endorsed Biden. Sanders ended up in third place with approximately 12% support, falling 2 points shy of the RealClearPolitics state average.
From 2010-2017, the Cuban population in Miami-Dade County, Florida, grew 21%, becoming the home of approximately 700,000 Cuban Americans. Cubans represent over a quarter of the population in the county, which is a key Democratic stronghold for the state's primary and general election. "Cuban-born residents comprised 48.5% of Miami-Dade’s foreign-born population, up from 46% in 2010," according to the Miami Herald.
Many fled the Cuban communist regime in search for a more prosperous life, a fact Gillum seized on in the interview.
On the death of Fidel Castro in 2016, Cuban Floridians celebrated on the streets by dancing, singing, and waving their native country's flag.
"People are optimistic that this will usher in a new opportunity for freedom and democracy," said former GOP Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Cuban refugee, of Castro's death at the time. "He's a man who executed a lot of family members of my constituency, imprisoned so many of them ... as long as there’s a Castro in power, there’s not much hope for change."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-07--Christopher Steele defends dossier and criticizes Trump

British ex-spy Christopher Steele defended his dossier while leveling criticisms against the president during a rare appearance on Friday .
Steele , a former MI6 agent and the one-time head of the United Kingdom ’ s Russia desk , spoke at a “ members only ” event at Oxford Union in England .
The organizers state , “ Steele was made the subject of media stalking and investigation by Republican senators , and had to go into hiding with his family.
” The only remarks released from the closed-door discussion were tweeted out by the group ’ s account .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our work , our sources , and what we did , ” Steele told the audience on Friday , adding , “ Trump himself doesn ’ t like intelligence because its ground truth is inconvenient for him.
” The former spy noted , “ The reality check is that Russia is a hostile state as it is run at the moment .
It is out to destabilize the West , and it is nefarious in the way it goes about its business . ''
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz concluded in December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was flawed .
The watchdog criticized the Justice Department and the FBI for 17 “ significant errors and omissions ” related to its targeting of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page through a warrant and three renewals through the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act .
Steele was hired by opposition research firm Fusion GPS , which was funded by the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee through the Perkins Coie law firm .
Perkins Coie was paid more than $ 12 million between 2016 and 2017 for its work .
Fusion GPS was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coie , and Steele was paid roughly $ 168,000 by Fusion GPS .
Following Horowitz ’ s report , the Justice Department told the FISA court it believed the final two Page FISA warrants were “ not valid.
“ The FBI told the court it planned to “ sequester ” all the information obtained through the Page FISA orders .
The report noted that FBI meetings with Steele ’ s sources “ raised significant questions about the reliability of the Steele election reporting , ” and bureau officials said Steele “ may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Steele ’ s dossier as “ internet rumor.
” James Boasberg , the presiding judge on the FISA court , said on Wednesday the flawed applications left “ little doubt that the government breached its duty of candor to the Court with respect to those applications.
” Boasberg noted , “ All four Page applications relied on information from reports prepared by Christopher Steele.
” He described four broad unsubstantiated and disputed claims made in Steele ’ s dossier : that the Kremlin fed dirt on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussed lifting sanctions against Russia in a secret 2016 Moscow meeting , that Page was the go-between for Russia and Trump ’ s campaign in a “ well-developed conspiracy of cooperation ” overseen by then-campaign manager Paul Manafort , and that Russia released the hacked Democratic National Committee emails to WikiLeaks at Page ’ s suggestion to swing voters to Trump .
Special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s report stated the Russians interfered in 2016 in a `` sweeping and systematic fashion '' but that “ the investigation did not establish that members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Russian government.
” Horowitz said the FBI concluded “ much of the material ” in the dossier “ could not be corroborated ” and added that “ certain allegations were inaccurate or inconsistent ” with evidence gathered by the FBI and that the “ limited information that was corroborated ” was often “ publicly available.
” The judge said , “ Steele obtained this information from a primary sub-source , who had , in turn , obtained the information from his/her own source network.
” But the FBI `` did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between sections of Steele 's reporting that had been used in the applications and statements Steele 's primary sub-source had made to the FBI about the accuracy of information attributed to ‘ Person 1 ’ who the FBI assessed had been the source of the information.
” The government also did not disclose that Steele himself undercut the reliability of `` Person 1 , '' calling Person 1 a “ boaster ” and an “ egoist ” who “ may engage in some embellishment.
” Boasberg noted that “ information bearing on Steele @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also omitted or mischaracterized ” by the government .
The judge said the government also failed to disclose the FBI had learned Steele had been the direct source of information in a September 2016 Yahoo !
News article that was cited in all four applications .
During a lengthy impeachment acquittal speech in February , Trump criticized Steele .
“ Hillary Clinton and the DNC paid for , millions of dollars , the fake dossier , ” Trump said .
“ And now , Christopher Steele admits that it 's a fake .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were running against some very , very bad and evil people with fake dossiers , with all of these horrible , dirty cops that took these dossiers and did bad things .
”

British ex-spy Christopher Steele defended his dossier while leveling criticisms against the president during a rare appearance on Friday.
Steele, a former MI6 agent and the one-time head of the United Kingdom’s Russia desk, spoke at a “members only” event at Oxford Union in England. The organizers state, “Steele was made the subject of media stalking and investigation by Republican senators, and had to go into hiding with his family.” The only remarks released from the closed-door discussion were tweeted out by the group’s account.
“I stand by the integrity of our work, our sources, and what we did,” Steele told the audience on Friday, adding, “Trump himself doesn’t like intelligence because its ground truth is inconvenient for him.”
The former spy noted, “The reality check is that Russia is a hostile state as it is run at the moment. It is out to destabilize the West, and it is nefarious in the way it goes about its business."
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz concluded in December that the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation was flawed. The watchdog criticized the Justice Department and the FBI for 17 “significant errors and omissions” related to its targeting of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page through a warrant and three renewals through the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Steele was hired by opposition research firm Fusion GPS, which was funded by the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee through the Perkins Coie law firm. Perkins Coie was paid more than $12 million between 2016 and 2017 for its work. Fusion GPS was paid $50,000 per month from Perkins Coie, and Steele was paid roughly $168,000 by Fusion GPS.
Following Horowitz’s report, the Justice Department told the FISA court it believed the final two Page FISA warrants were “not valid.“ The FBI told the court it planned to “sequester” all the information obtained through the Page FISA orders. The report noted that FBI meetings with Steele’s sources “raised significant questions about the reliability of the Steele election reporting,” and bureau officials said Steele “may have some judgment problems.” The CIA referred to Steele’s dossier as “internet rumor.”
James Boasberg, the presiding judge on the FISA court, said on Wednesday the flawed applications left “little doubt that the government breached its duty of candor to the Court with respect to those applications.”
Boasberg noted, “All four Page applications relied on information from reports prepared by Christopher Steele.” He described four broad unsubstantiated and disputed claims made in Steele’s dossier: that the Kremlin fed dirt on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Trump's campaign, that Page discussed lifting sanctions against Russia in a secret 2016 Moscow meeting, that Page was the go-between for Russia and Trump’s campaign in a “well-developed conspiracy of cooperation” overseen by then-campaign manager Paul Manafort, and that Russia released the hacked Democratic National Committee emails to WikiLeaks at Page’s suggestion to swing voters to Trump.
Special counsel Robert Mueller’s report stated the Russians interfered in 2016 in a "sweeping and systematic fashion" but that “the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government.”
Horowitz said the FBI concluded “much of the material” in the dossier “could not be corroborated” and added that “certain allegations were inaccurate or inconsistent” with evidence gathered by the FBI and that the “limited information that was corroborated” was often “publicly available.”
The judge said, “Steele obtained this information from a primary sub-source, who had, in turn, obtained the information from his/her own source network.” But the FBI "did not advise DOJ or the Court of inconsistencies between sections of Steele's reporting that had been used in the applications and statements Steele's primary sub-source had made to the FBI about the accuracy of information attributed to ‘Person 1’ who the FBI assessed had been the source of the information.” The government also did not disclose that Steele himself undercut the reliability of "Person 1," calling Person 1 a “boaster” and an “egoist” who “may engage in some embellishment.”
Boasberg noted that “information bearing on Steele's personal credibility and professional judgment was also omitted or mischaracterized” by the government. The judge said the government also failed to disclose the FBI had learned Steele had been the direct source of information in a September 2016 Yahoo! News article that was cited in all four applications.
During a lengthy impeachment acquittal speech in February, Trump criticized Steele.
“Hillary Clinton and the DNC paid for, millions of dollars, the fake dossier,” Trump said. “And now, Christopher Steele admits that it's a fake."
Trump also said, “We were running against some very, very bad and evil people with fake dossiers, with all of these horrible, dirty cops that took these dossiers and did bad things.”
Steele’s private company, Orbis Business Intelligence, called these claims “false” last month.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--Pennsylvania budget secretary shifts blame on school safety cuts

Pennsylvania Budget Secretary Jen Swails defended the governor ’ s $ 45 million proposed cut to school safety grants during a brief – and sometimes tense – Senate hearing this week that placed the onus squarely on dwindling commitments from legislative reserves .
Wails told the Senate Appropriations Committee that state law guarantees $ 15 million each year through 2021 for the program while the remaining funding has been a combination of legislative reserves and personal income tax revenue .
During the program ’ s first year , legislative reserves provided $ 35 million and the PIT funded an additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , PIT funding increased to $ 45 million to make up for the lost legislative reserve dollars .
A February report from the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission tallied the Legislature ’ s existing reserves at $ 172 million .
“ Yes , we are faced with funding issues , ” Swails said .
“ As with everything , we are happy to discuss further on whether we believe it should be more.
” Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr. , R-Cambria , who initially opened the line of questioning about the cut , pressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find a way to restore the funding .
“ If this administration wanted to find a way to find this , they could , correct ?
” he said .
Outrage over the 75 percent cut , which would reduce available school safety grants awarded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency ( PCDD ) to just $ 15 million in the 2020-21 fiscal year , began mounting among Republicans during Gov .
Tom Wolf ’ s Feb. 3 budget address .
Still , few of the administration ’ s top officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , could explain why the $ 36.1 billion spending plan cut into the program so deeply .
That is , until the Senate Appropriations Committee ’ s last round of budget hearings on Wednesday .
“ The thought around that was in the first two years , districts used those dollars for more capital improvements – doors , cameras , things like that , one-time costs , ” Swails said .
“ Now we are looking to use these dollars for investments in school counselors .
That ’ s already an approved use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grants ] on that.
” The PCCD began administering grants to districts in 2018 to help improve school safety through upgraded infrastructure and more robust mental health services , among other uses .
On Feb. 26 , the commission awarded $ 53.7 million to more than 500 school entities across the state .

Pennsylvania Budget Secretary Jen Swails defended the governor’s $45 million proposed cut to school safety grants during a brief – and sometimes tense – Senate hearing this week that placed the onus squarely on dwindling commitments from legislative reserves.
Wails told the Senate Appropriations Committee that state law guarantees $15 million each year through 2021 for the program while the remaining funding has been a combination of legislative reserves and personal income tax revenue.
During the program’s first year, legislative reserves provided $35 million and the PIT funded an additional $15 million. In the current year, PIT funding increased to $45 million to make up for the lost legislative reserve dollars.
A February report from the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission tallied the Legislature’s existing reserves at $172 million.
“Yes, we are faced with funding issues,” Swails said. “As with everything, we are happy to discuss further on whether we believe it should be more.”
Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., R-Cambria, who initially opened the line of questioning about the cut, pressed Swails further on whether the administration could find a way to restore the funding.
“If this administration wanted to find a way to find this, they could, correct?” he said.
“Sure,” Swails said.
Outrage over the 75 percent cut, which would reduce available school safety grants awarded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCDD) to just $15 million in the 2020-21 fiscal year, began mounting among Republicans during Gov. Tom Wolf’s Feb. 3 budget address.
Still, few of the administration’s top officials, including Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera, could explain why the $36.1 billion spending plan cut into the program so deeply.
That is, until the Senate Appropriations Committee’s last round of budget hearings on Wednesday.
“The thought around that was in the first two years, districts used those dollars for more capital improvements – doors, cameras, things like that, one-time costs,” Swails said. “Now we are looking to use these dollars for investments in school counselors. That’s already an approved use of this, but really focusing [grants] on that.”
The PCCD began administering grants to districts in 2018 to help improve school safety through upgraded infrastructure and more robust mental health services, among other uses. On Feb. 26, the commission awarded $53.7 million to more than 500 school entities across the state.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--Police in Virginia must adopt policy before deploying body cams

A bill requiring Virginia police departments to create a written policy on body cameras before the department can purchase or deploy a body-camera system has been signed by Gov .
Ralph Northam .
“ Body-worn cameras provide important evidence and context , especially when the facts of an interaction between an officer and a member of the public are in dispute , ” Northam said Wednesday in a news release announcing a number of bill signings .
“ Model policies will help ensure public input across the Commonwealth and will increase needed transparency in our criminal justice process.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each police department to use the model policy established by the Department of Criminal Justice Services and follow all Virginia laws and regulations .
The policies will have to be available for public comment and review before they can be adopted .
Del .
Mark Levine , D-Alexandria , was the bill 's primary sponsor .
It passed the House , 62-38 , and Senate , 36-3 , with some bipartisan support .
“ Police-worn body cameras protect both law enforcement and the citizens they interact with , ” Levine said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of body cameras , we will help increase accountability and build stronger relationships between law enforcement and the citizens they serve in communities across Virginia.
” The bill will go into effect on July 1 .

A bill requiring Virginia police departments to create a written policy on body cameras before the department can purchase or deploy a body-camera system has been signed by Gov. Ralph Northam.
“Body-worn cameras provide important evidence and context, especially when the facts of an interaction between an officer and a member of the public are in dispute,” Northam said Wednesday in a news release announcing a number of bill signings. “Model policies will help ensure public input across the Commonwealth and will increase needed transparency in our criminal justice process.”
The legislation, House Bill 246, requires each police department to use the model policy established by the Department of Criminal Justice Services and follow all Virginia laws and regulations. The policies will have to be available for public comment and review before they can be adopted.
Del. Mark Levine, D-Alexandria, was the bill's primary sponsor. It passed the House, 62-38, and Senate, 36-3, with some bipartisan support.
“Police-worn body cameras protect both law enforcement and the citizens they interact with,” Levine said in a statement. “With transparent policies for the use of body cameras, we will help increase accountability and build stronger relationships between law enforcement and the citizens they serve in communities across Virginia.”
The bill will go into effect on July 1.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--Colorado Democrats introduce public-private health insurance plan

Colorado Democrats on Thursday introduced their plan to offer a state-supported public health insurance option .
Billed at the Colorado Option , the measure aims to offer a more affordable health insurance options in the state to individuals who do n't receive insurance plans from their employer , particularly in more rural areas where options are limited .
`` Consumers will have more choice , and ... the individual market will gain a cheaper insurance product , maybe even up to 20 percent cheaper in some parts of the state , '' state Sen. Kerry Donovan , D-Vail , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Facebook .
About 8 percent of Coloradoans purchase health insurance through individual markets .
With a target of being available Jan. 1 , 2020 , the measure would cap the prices hospitals charge for individuals and families covered by the public option .
Supporters say the plan could save residents as much as 40 percent on their medical bills .
Hospitals could seek exemptions on the caps as part of the plan .
Hospitals who refuse to offer services to individuals on the Colorado Option plan would face increasingly costly penalties , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fines .
The bill also requires insurance companies operating in the individual marketplace in the state to offer the public option to consumers .
Hospital companies and the Colorado Hospital Association have been vocal in their opposition to the plan , saying it could lead to diminished health care services in the state over time .
Rep. Dylan Roberts , D-Avon , a supporter of the plan , was asked at Thursday 's news conference if hospitals would shift the costs to those who gain insurance through their employers .
`` We do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think the data shows that 's not the case , '' Roberts replied , noting that the plan targets only about 300,000 Coloradoans .
`` We 're trying to target a really acute problem , '' he added .
`` This is not a plan this is going to impact every Coloradoan . ''

Colorado Democrats on Thursday introduced their plan to offer a state-supported public health insurance option.
Billed at the Colorado Option, the measure aims to offer a more affordable health insurance options in the state to individuals who don't receive insurance plans from their employer, particularly in more rural areas where options are limited.
"Consumers will have more choice, and ... the individual market will gain a cheaper insurance product, maybe even up to 20 percent cheaper in some parts of the state," state Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, said at a news conference that was webcast on Facebook.
About 8 percent of Coloradoans purchase health insurance through individual markets.
With a target of being available Jan. 1, 2020, the measure would cap the prices hospitals charge for individuals and families covered by the public option. Supporters say the plan could save residents as much as 40 percent on their medical bills. Hospitals could seek exemptions on the caps as part of the plan.
Hospitals who refuse to offer services to individuals on the Colorado Option plan would face increasingly costly penalties, including up to $50,000 a day fines.
The bill also requires insurance companies operating in the individual marketplace in the state to offer the public option to consumers.
Hospital companies and the Colorado Hospital Association have been vocal in their opposition to the plan, saying it could lead to diminished health care services in the state over time.
Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, a supporter of the plan, was asked at Thursday's news conference if hospitals would shift the costs to those who gain insurance through their employers.
"We don't believe that's the case and I think the data shows that's not the case," Roberts replied, noting that the plan targets only about 300,000 Coloradoans.
"We're trying to target a really acute problem," he added. "This is not a plan this is going to impact every Coloradoan."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--Man waves flag with Nazi swastika at Bernie Sanders rally

During a Bernie Sanders rally a man unfurled a flag with a swastika on it , prompting outrage from the crowd and the campaign .
The Vermont senator was speaking in Phoenix Thursday night when a man standing in the upper section of a crowded arena behind Sanders pulled out the flag .
The audience booed loudly at the sight of the fascist symbol .
Sanders , who is Jewish , responded to the incident over Twitter on Friday .
“ As someone whose family was wiped out by Hitler , and as an American , to have in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbol in modern history is unspeakable , ” he said .
A national surrogate for Sanders , Brianna Westbrook , told the Washington Post she was shocked by the blatantly anti-Semitic display .
“ It was absolutely wild , ” Westbrook said .
“ I never thought I would have seen a swastika at a political event .
It ’ s gross.
” The flag was swiftly taken away from the man and he was escorted out of the rally .
After the man was removed , Sanders , who didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , remarked that “ whoever it was , I think they ’ re a little outnumbered tonight.
” Steven Slugocki , chairman of the Maricopa County Democratic Party in Arizona , tweeted his disgust after the incident .
“ We can argue about which candidate should get the Dem nomination , but antisemitic acts have no place in this world .
This is absolutely abhorrent , ” Slugocki said .
The incident comes amid concerns for candidates ’ safety and the lack of Secret Service protection for Sanders and fellow Democratic presidential candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech after Super Tuesday , two anti-dairy protesters stormed the stage .
Biden also condemned the incident on Friday over Twitter .
“ I do n't care who you 're supporting , attacks like this against a man who could be the first Jewish President are disgusting and beyond the pale , ” the former vice president said .
“ Hatred and bigotry have no place in America — and it 's up to all of us to root out these evils wherever they 're found.
” Secret Service said it has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for president for protection .
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Sanders campaign for further comment but did not immediately receive a response .

During a Bernie Sanders rally a man unfurled a flag with a swastika on it, prompting outrage from the crowd and the campaign.
The Vermont senator was speaking in Phoenix Thursday night when a man standing in the upper section of a crowded arena behind Sanders pulled out the flag. The audience booed loudly at the sight of the fascist symbol.
Sanders, who is Jewish, responded to the incident over Twitter on Friday.
As someone whose family was wiped out by Hitler and as an American, to have in this country somebody bringing forth the most detestable symbol in modern history is unspeakable. pic.twitter.com/0TySmmxhgh — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 6, 2020
“As someone whose family was wiped out by Hitler, and as an American, to have in this country somebody bringing forth the most detestable symbol in modern history is unspeakable,” he said.
A national surrogate for Sanders, Brianna Westbrook, told the Washington Post she was shocked by the blatantly anti-Semitic display.
“It was absolutely wild,” Westbrook said. “I never thought I would have seen a swastika at a political event. It’s gross.”
The flag was swiftly taken away from the man and he was escorted out of the rally. After the man was removed, Sanders, who didn’t appear to see the see the flag, remarked that “whoever it was, I think they’re a little outnumbered tonight.”
Steven Slugocki, chairman of the Maricopa County Democratic Party in Arizona, tweeted his disgust after the incident.
“We can argue about which candidate should get the Dem nomination, but antisemitic acts have no place in this world. This is absolutely abhorrent,” Slugocki said.
We can argue about which candidate should get the Dem nomination, but antisemitic acts have no place in this world. This is absolutely abhorrent. pic.twitter.com/U5gvT7Db6y — Steven Slugocki (@Slugocki) March 6, 2020
The incident comes amid concerns for candidates’ safety and the lack of Secret Service protection for Sanders and fellow Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. During Biden’s speech after Super Tuesday, two anti-dairy protesters stormed the stage.
Biden also condemned the incident on Friday over Twitter.
“I don't care who you're supporting, attacks like this against a man who could be the first Jewish President are disgusting and beyond the pale,” the former vice president said. “Hatred and bigotry have no place in America — and it's up to all of us to root out these evils wherever they're found.”
Secret Service said it has not yet received any requests from Democrats running for president for protection.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Sanders campaign for further comment but did not immediately receive a response.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--Hillary Clinton says email scandal apology was 'against my better judgment'

Hillary Clinton said she gave a false apology for her use of an unauthorized email server during her time as secretary of state .
`` We 'll just say what you did was a mistake .
It was dumb .
It 's over .
And that will end it , '' Clinton said in the Hulu documentary released Friday , Hillary , about her life .
`` I did n't not believe that .
I was n't convinced of that .
But I understood the frustration of my campaign . ''
`` So against my better judgment , I said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said about giving a series of interviews which led to an apology on ABC News .
`` As I look back at it now , even though it was allowed , I should have used two accounts .
That was a mistake .
I ’ m sorry about that .
I take responsibility , '' Clinton said in the September 2015 interview .
`` It turned out to be a mistake because look at all the oxygen it was sucking out of my campaign .
But it did n't end it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Hulu documentary about the criticism she received over her emails .
`` It did n't end it at all .
And it never ended , it never ended . ''
In her book What Happened following the 2016 election , Clinton reaffirmed taking responsibility for the email scandal , saying , `` I own that , '' but she also argued it was a factor in her 2016 election loss to then-candidate Donald Trump .
`` The further we get from the election , the stranger it seems that this controversy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monumental consequences , '' she wrote .
The FBI conducted a criminal investigation into Clinton 's use of an unauthorized email server during the 2016 election .
In July 2016 , former FBI Director James Comey publicly recommended that no charges be brought against Clinton or anyone else involved with her private email network , but he admonished Clinton and her team for being `` extremely careless '' in handling classified information .
All this played out while Clinton was a presidential candidate , and in late October the FBI reopened the investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nov. 8 election maintaining the same position Comey asserted months earlier .
Clinton has often cited the FBI 's handling of the emails investigation as one of the reasons why she believes she lost the contest to Trump .

Hillary Clinton said she gave a false apology for her use of an unauthorized email server during her time as secretary of state.
"We'll just say what you did was a mistake. It was dumb. It's over. And that will end it," Clinton said in the Hulu documentary released Friday, Hillary, about her life. "I wasn't convinced of that. But I understood the frustration of my campaign."
"So against my better judgment, I said, 'OK, fine,'" she said about giving a series of interviews which led to an apology on ABC News.
"As I look back at it now, even though it was allowed, I should have used two accounts. That was a mistake. I’m sorry about that. I take responsibility," Clinton said in the September 2015 interview.
"It turned out to be a mistake because look at all the oxygen it was sucking out of my campaign. But it didn't end it," the former secretary of state said in the Hulu documentary about the criticism she received over her emails. "It didn't end it at all. And it never ended, it never ended."
In her book What Happened following the 2016 election, Clinton reaffirmed taking responsibility for the email scandal, saying, "I own that," but she also argued it was a factor in her 2016 election loss to then-candidate Donald Trump. "The further we get from the election, the stranger it seems that this controversy could swing a national election with such monumental consequences," she wrote.
The FBI conducted a criminal investigation into Clinton's use of an unauthorized email server during the 2016 election. In July 2016, former FBI Director James Comey publicly recommended that no charges be brought against Clinton or anyone else involved with her private email network, but he admonished Clinton and her team for being "extremely careless" in handling classified information.
All this played out while Clinton was a presidential candidate, and in late October the FBI reopened the investigation only to close it again days before the Nov. 8 election maintaining the same position Comey asserted months earlier. Clinton has often cited the FBI's handling of the emails investigation as one of the reasons why she believes she lost the contest to Trump.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--Cigarette tax hike would put New Jersey’s among highest in US

Gov .
Phil Murphy proposed legislation to raise the New Jersey cigarette tax by $ 1.65 per pack .
If approved , the bump would take the per-pack tax to $ 4.35 , one of the highest in the United States , on par only with New York and Connecticut .
Murphy introduced the legislation in the newly proposed $ 40.9 billion state budget .
The new tax would generate an estimated $ 218 million in revenue , according to briefing documents from the Department of the Treasury .
The revenue money would support health-related programs like anti-smoking campaigns .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Jersey Gasoline , C-Store and Automotive Association , said in an interview with The Center Square he is concerned that the tax would send consumers over state borders for cigarette purchases , negatively affecting New Jersey businesses .
It would also stop New York residents from making cigarette purchases in New Jersey because of the lower taxes .
“ This will definitely have a negative effect for one simple reason ; there will no longer be an incentive for New York customers to purchase their cigarettes in New Jersey , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores sell cigarettes to New York customers , especially along the borders and the corridors of motorists traveling through or commuting to New Jersey .
Once the tax goes up , it won ’ t matter where these customers purchase their cigarettes .
`` It will also provide more incentive for New Jersey customers to make their purchase in Pennsylvania in a similar fashion , '' Risalvato added .
`` New Jersey businesses lose.
” State Senate President Steve Sweeney , although a supporter of a ban on vaping products and prohibition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposes the tax increase .
“ I said I was open to a millionaire ’ s tax if there was a billion dollars in new funding for [ the state ‘ s underfunded ] pension , ” Sweeney said , according to Politico .
`` I don ’ t think we really need the other taxes , period . ''

Gov. Phil Murphy proposed legislation to raise the New Jersey cigarette tax by $1.65 per pack.
If approved, the bump would take the per-pack tax to $4.35, one of the highest in the United States, on par only with New York and Connecticut. Murphy introduced the legislation in the newly proposed $40.9 billion state budget.
The new tax would generate an estimated $218 million in revenue, according to briefing documents from the Department of the Treasury. The revenue money would support health-related programs like anti-smoking campaigns.
Sal Risalvato, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline, C-Store and Automotive Association, said in an interview with The Center Square he is concerned that the tax would send consumers over state borders for cigarette purchases, negatively affecting New Jersey businesses. It would also stop New York residents from making cigarette purchases in New Jersey because of the lower taxes.
“This will definitely have a negative effect for one simple reason; there will no longer be an incentive for New York customers to purchase their cigarettes in New Jersey,” he said. “Presently many of our stores sell cigarettes to New York customers, especially along the borders and the corridors of motorists traveling through or commuting to New Jersey. Once the tax goes up, it won’t matter where these customers purchase their cigarettes.
"It will also provide more incentive for New Jersey customers to make their purchase in Pennsylvania in a similar fashion," Risalvato added. "New Jersey businesses lose.”
State Senate President Steve Sweeney, although a supporter of a ban on vaping products and prohibition of the sale of menthol nicotine products, opposes the tax increase.
“I said I was open to a millionaire’s tax if there was a billion dollars in new funding for [the state‘s underfunded] pension,” Sweeney said, according to Politico. "I don’t think we really need the other taxes, period."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--County governments call on Cooper, General Assembly to end budget impasse

Three North Carolina counties have taken action against Gov .
Roy Cooper 's veto of the state budget , sparking another saga in the budget standoff .
Avery , Union and Sampson county commissioners all unanimously have voted to file a resolution that calls on the governor to enact the budget and release funds for the counties ’ operations .
As the months of the fiscal year draw closer to the next , North Carolina ’ s $ 24 billion spending bill for 2019-2021 remains bonded to Cooper ’ s late-June veto .
The governor vetoed the budget because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including a $ 2 billion Medicaid expansion and a pay raise of more than 9 percent for teachers .
In the meantime , many local governments are relying on the previous biennium budget to finance their recurring expenses .
Nearly $ 50 million in nonrecurring funds remain in limbo for Avery , Union and Sampson counties .
All of the resolutions ” strongly encourages all members of the General Assembly to act in accordance with the needs of the state and support ” the communities the officials govern .
Union County is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improvements , education , and substance-abuse and homeless services .
The biggest expense on hold is $ 20 million for K-12 county schools .
Sen. Todd Johnson , R-Union , told Union County commissioners Monday he plans to reach out to the North Carolina Board of Education and urge them to make a similar motion .
“ This is real money that can affect and help education in this county , ” he said .
In Avery County , officials want the state to release $ 10.5 million for public safety , education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents , most of which is to be used for school construction and renovations .
“ Gov .
Cooper is betraying rural and suburban voters , ” Sen. Warren Daniel R-Avery , said .
`` He vetoed cash to build new schools while helping block voter ID . ''
Sampson County needs $ 22.5 million from state coffers for multiple water and sewage repair projects and school construction .
“ I hope this resolution , as well as the many others that have passed throughout our state , demonstrate the public ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposed budget and the local funding within it , ” Sen. Brent Jackson , R-Sampson , said .
Cooper ’ s office has not responded to requests for comment .

Three North Carolina counties have taken action against Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of the state budget, sparking another saga in the budget standoff.
Avery, Union and Sampson county commissioners all unanimously have voted to file a resolution that calls on the governor to enact the budget and release funds for the counties’ operations.
As the months of the fiscal year draw closer to the next, North Carolina’s $24 billion spending bill for 2019-2021 remains bonded to Cooper’s late-June veto.
The governor vetoed the budget because it excluded many parts of his spending proposal, including a $2 billion Medicaid expansion and a pay raise of more than 9 percent for teachers.
In the meantime, many local governments are relying on the previous biennium budget to finance their recurring expenses.
Nearly $50 million in nonrecurring funds remain in limbo for Avery, Union and Sampson counties.
All of the resolutions ”strongly encourages all members of the General Assembly to act in accordance with the needs of the state and support” the communities the officials govern.
Union County is waiting on $26.2 million for infrastructure improvements, education, and substance-abuse and homeless services. The biggest expense on hold is $20 million for K-12 county schools.
Sen. Todd Johnson, R-Union, told Union County commissioners Monday he plans to reach out to the North Carolina Board of Education and urge them to make a similar motion.
“This is real money that can affect and help education in this county,” he said.
In Avery County, officials want the state to release $10.5 million for public safety, education, recreation and social services for its residents, most of which is to be used for school construction and renovations.
“Gov. Cooper is betraying rural and suburban voters,” Sen. Warren Daniel R-Avery, said. "He vetoed cash to build new schools while helping block voter ID."
Sampson County needs $22.5 million from state coffers for multiple water and sewage repair projects and school construction.
“I hope this resolution, as well as the many others that have passed throughout our state, demonstrate the public’s support of the General Assembly’s proposed budget and the local funding within it,” Sen. Brent Jackson, R-Sampson, said.
Cooper’s office has not responded to requests for comment.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--Healthy Michigan work requirements struck down by federal court

A federal judge has struck down work requirements for Healthy Michigan ’ s Medicaid expansion program .
Those rules required able-bodied adults ages 19-62 to report an average of 80 hours per month working or in school to keep health care benefits through the state .
U.S District Judge James Boasberg in Washington issued the ruling , which follow past court decisions in Arkansas .
A U.S. Appeals Court struck down work requirements in Arkansas on February 14 , 2020 , ruling that “ the principal objective of Medicaid is providing health care coverage , ” Senior Circuit Judge David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Michigan was the only state to enforce the work rule requirement .
The work requirement was signed into law in 2018 by then-Governor Rick Snyder .
Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s administration on Feb. 25 requested an expedited court decision after the Arkansas ruling .
Whitmer called the Wednesday court decision “ great news.
” “ While it ’ s unfortunate that Republicans in the Legislature created confusion and wasted tens of millions of taxpayer dollars by pressing forward with implementation of requirements that were clearly going to be thrown out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to working with the Legislature on a better way to promote work while protecting coverage , ” she said .
Whitmer asked the Legislature to halt work requirements starting on Jan. 1 after December oral arguments in the Arkansas case .
But Republicans stood by their plan , arguing the requirements gave able-bodied healthy Michiganders an opportunity to advance their career and to keep the program financially afloat .
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon said the department had spent over $ 30 million implementing the now-dismissed requirements .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people didn ’ t meet work requirements in January and could have lost health care coverage if they didn ’ t report the requirements for a total of three months .
MDHHS must update those individuals now that the work requirements were struck down .
About 654,000 beneficiaries receive coverage under the Healthy Michigan Plan as of March .
Gideon D ’ Assandro , Speaker Lee Chatfield ’ s press secretary , told The Center Square that the Levering Republican was disappointed by the decision .
“ The speaker is disappointed for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footing the bill for this program , even when able-bodied people simply choose not to work , ” he said in an email .
“ Requiring welfare recipients to at least look for a job in order to get free government healthcare is just common sense.
” Greg George , a senior research fellow at the Foundation for Government Accountability , said Michigan ’ s work requirements “ would have helped more able-bodied adults achieve independence and further the core goals of the Medicaid program .
“ Opponents of commonsense reforms continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy that voters overwhelmingly support , hurting the truly needy and taxpayers alike , '' George told The Center Square in an email .
“ Unfortunately , the federal judge ’ s ruling will keep hundreds of thousands of able-bodied adults in dependency , instead of putting them on a path towards self-sufficiency.
” Sen. Peter MacGregor , R-Rockford , told The Detroit News that President Donald Trump ’ s administration plans to appeal the ruling .

A federal judge has struck down work requirements for Healthy Michigan’s Medicaid expansion program.
Those rules required able-bodied adults ages 19-62 to report an average of 80 hours per month working or in school to keep health care benefits through the state.
U.S District Judge James Boasberg in Washington issued the ruling, which follow past court decisions in Arkansas.
A U.S. Appeals Court struck down work requirements in Arkansas on February 14, 2020, ruling that “the principal objective of Medicaid is providing health care coverage,” Senior Circuit Judge David B. Sentelle wrote.
Before the ruling, Michigan was the only state to enforce the work rule requirement. The work requirement was signed into law in 2018 by then-Governor Rick Snyder.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration on Feb. 25 requested an expedited court decision after the Arkansas ruling. Whitmer called the Wednesday court decision “great news.”
“While it’s unfortunate that Republicans in the Legislature created confusion and wasted tens of millions of taxpayer dollars by pressing forward with implementation of requirements that were clearly going to be thrown out by the courts, I look forward to working with the Legislature on a better way to promote work while protecting coverage,” she said.
Whitmer asked the Legislature to halt work requirements starting on Jan. 1 after December oral arguments in the Arkansas case.
But Republicans stood by their plan, arguing the requirements gave able-bodied healthy Michiganders an opportunity to advance their career and to keep the program financially afloat.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon said the department had spent over $30 million implementing the now-dismissed requirements.
Before the court ruling, about 80,000 people didn’t meet work requirements in January and could have lost health care coverage if they didn’t report the requirements for a total of three months.
MDHHS must update those individuals now that the work requirements were struck down.
About 654,000 beneficiaries receive coverage under the Healthy Michigan Plan as of March.
Gideon D’Assandro, Speaker Lee Chatfield’s press secretary, told The Center Square that the Levering Republican was disappointed by the decision.
“The speaker is disappointed for the hard-working taxpayers who now have to continue footing the bill for this program, even when able-bodied people simply choose not to work,” he said in an email. “Requiring welfare recipients to at least look for a job in order to get free government healthcare is just common sense.”
Greg George, a senior research fellow at the Foundation for Government Accountability, said Michigan’s work requirements “would have helped more able-bodied adults achieve independence and further the core goals of the Medicaid program.
“Opponents of commonsense reforms continue to use the courts to block good public policy that voters overwhelmingly support, hurting the truly needy and taxpayers alike," George told The Center Square in an email. “Unfortunately, the federal judge’s ruling will keep hundreds of thousands of able-bodied adults in dependency, instead of putting them on a path towards self-sufficiency.”
Sen. Peter MacGregor, R-Rockford, told The Detroit News that President Donald Trump’s administration plans to appeal the ruling.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--The View hosts blame 'the patriarchy' for Warren campaign downfall

The View hosts lamented how gender came `` into play '' leading to the demise of Sen. Elizabeth Warren 's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination .
`` I think there ’ s this feeling , though , that — I believe she ’ s a much better candidate than Bernie .
I think she was smarter , more likable , '' co-host Meghan McCain said Friday about Warren .
`` Gender really did come into play .
And I 'm not the first person to always say this , but the way they ’ re covered by the media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look .
They ’ re too likable .
They ’ re not likable enough .
They ’ re too shrill .
She ’ s not smart enough .
She 's not warm enough .
...
I think there ’ s a feeling of exhaustion among a lot of American women . ''
`` When are we going to start treating them like men ? ''
she added .
`` I 'm disappointed that they do n't . ''
Joy Behar , another co-host on the show , pinned Warren 's downfall on `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be angry .
A woman can not be .
Bernie is always angry , '' she said .
`` I like him very much .
He 's a good guy .
But he always comes across as angry .
Elizabeth Warren can ’ t come across that way .
So they have similar agendas , the two of them , too , and still , we accept it in him but not in her .
...
In a normal year , without the horror show that ’ s going on in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a woman could have had a better chance .
But we are in an emergency situation . ''
Behar added that `` the misogynists '' are ruining the chances of a woman winning .
`` I don ’ t think it will next time .
People are getting smarter , '' she added .
Warren announced the end of her presidential campaign on Thursday .
Speaking to reporters afterward , she dodged what she called a `` trap question '' about whether sexism was to blame .
“ If you say , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race , ' everyone says , 'Whiner , '' Warren said .
`` And if you say , 'No , there was no sexism , ' about a bazillion women think , 'What planet do you live on ? '
'' [ Also read : Pelosi : A woman can win White House despite ' a certain element of misogyny ' ]

The View hosts lamented how gender came "into play" leading to the demise of Sen. Elizabeth Warren's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
"I think there’s this feeling, though, that — I believe she’s a much better candidate than Bernie. I think she was smarter, more likable," co-host Meghan McCain said Friday about Warren. "Gender really did come into play. And I'm not the first person to always say this, but the way they’re covered by the media — it’s the way they look. They’re too likable. They’re not likable enough. They’re too shrill. She’s not smart enough. She's not warm enough. ... I think there’s a feeling of exhaustion among a lot of American women."
"When are we going to start treating them like men?" she added. "I'm disappointed that they don't."
Joy Behar, another co-host on the show, pinned Warren's downfall on "the patriarchy."
"A man can be angry. A woman cannot be. Bernie is always angry," she said. "I like him very much. He's a good guy. But he always comes across as angry. Elizabeth Warren can’t come across that way. So they have similar agendas, the two of them, too, and still, we accept it in him but not in her. ... In a normal year, without the horror show that’s going on in the White House right now, I think that a woman could have had a better chance. But we are in an emergency situation."
Behar added that "the misogynists" are ruining the chances of a woman winning. "I don’t think it will next time. People are getting smarter," she added.
Warren announced the end of her presidential campaign on Thursday. Speaking to reporters afterward, she dodged what she called a "trap question" about whether sexism was to blame.
“If you say, 'Yeah, there was sexism in this race,' everyone says, 'Whiner," Warren said. "And if you say, 'No, there was no sexism,' about a bazillion women think, 'What planet do you live on?'"
[Also read: Pelosi: A woman can win White House despite 'a certain element of misogyny']


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--House Democrats request full appeals court to rehear McGahn case

The House Judiciary Committee asked a federal appeals court to reexamine its decision not to enforce a subpoena for testimony from former White House lawyer Don McGahn .
A three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued a 2-1 decision last week that said McGahn does not have to comply with a House subpoena , overruling a lower court decision .
The Democratic-led committee asked on Friday for the full court to rehear the case .
`` The Committee ’ s petition argues that the panel ’ s ruling misread binding precedent and — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undermine the House ’ s ability to perform its constitutional functions as a check on the Executive Branch , '' Chairman Jerry Nadler said in a statement .
“ Two of the three judges on the panel strongly suggested that they would reject President Trump ’ s claim of 'absolute immunity ' if they were able to reach the merits of the case .
The full Court should promptly rehear this case and make clear , once and for all , that White House aides can not ignore subpoenas from Congress , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panel sought to obtain testimony from McGahn in April relating to special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation , but the White House blocked him from complying with the subpoena .
Democrats viewed a potential testimony from the former White House counsel as important to the impeachment process despite the Ukraine-related articles of impeachment centering around events that occurred after McGahn left the White House .
Trump was acquitted by the GOP-led Senate last month .
The case could also be appealed to the Supreme Court .

The House Judiciary Committee asked a federal appeals court to reexamine its decision not to enforce a subpoena for testimony from former White House lawyer Don McGahn.
A three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued a 2-1 decision last week that said McGahn does not have to comply with a House subpoena, overruling a lower court decision.
The Democratic-led committee asked on Friday for the full court to rehear the case.
"The Committee’s petition argues that the panel’s ruling misread binding precedent and — if allowed to stand — would severely undermine the House’s ability to perform its constitutional functions as a check on the Executive Branch," Chairman Jerry Nadler said in a statement.
“Two of the three judges on the panel strongly suggested that they would reject President Trump’s claim of 'absolute immunity' if they were able to reach the merits of the case. The full Court should promptly rehear this case and make clear, once and for all, that White House aides cannot ignore subpoenas from Congress," the New York Democrat added.
The panel sought to obtain testimony from McGahn in April relating to special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, but the White House blocked him from complying with the subpoena.
Democrats viewed a potential testimony from the former White House counsel as important to the impeachment process despite the Ukraine-related articles of impeachment centering around events that occurred after McGahn left the White House. Trump was acquitted by the GOP-led Senate last month.
The case could also be appealed to the Supreme Court.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--Bernie Sanders goes into attack mode on Biden

Bernie Sanders 's campaign is warning Democrats that Joe Biden is vulnerable to attacks from President Trump , but his team skipped over one obvious weakness : Hunter Biden .
“ Donald Trump tonight sent a warning shot to our party : If we nominate a candidate like Joe Biden who has repeatedly tried to cut Social Security and pushed disastrous trade deals , Trump will exploit that vulnerability in an effort to obscure his own record and win the battleground states that could swing the general election , ” Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir wrote after Trump 's Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camp 's push to paint the Vermont senator as the `` far stronger general election candidate '' was sparked by Trump saying during the televised event that he `` will be cutting '' entitlement programs if elected to a second term in office .
The president also ripped Biden over the North American Free Trade Agreement , which he described as `` the worst trade deal ever made . ''
`` Joe Biden made a deal , NAFTA .
He approved it .
He was pushing it , '' Trump said .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic White House race 's delegate count , missed the Hunter Biden attack line Trump already previewed on Fox News the night before .
Trump told the network the younger Biden 's employment with Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings would be `` a major issue in the campaign . ''
“ I will bring that up all the time because I don ’ t see any way out .
I do n't see any way out for them .
I don ’ t see how they can answer those questions .
Maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ d actually prefer it that they can , but I don ’ t believe they will be able to answer those questions .
That was purely corrupt , '' he said .
Hunter Biden 's $ 50,000-a-month role with Burisma is the subject of a Senate Homeland Security Committee investigation after Trump 's interest in his work with the Ukrainian oligarch-linked firm sparked impeachment proceedings in the House .
The younger Biden had no prior experience in the energy sector .
Sanders 's positioning against Joe Biden capped a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter over Social Security .
[ Also read : Romney : GOP investigation into Hunter Biden and Burisma 'appears political ' ] The rivals will next go head-to-head in a multistate contest on Tuesday , when voters in states such as Michigan will weigh in on the primary .

Bernie Sanders's campaign is warning Democrats that Joe Biden is vulnerable to attacks from President Trump, but his team skipped over one obvious weakness: Hunter Biden.
“Donald Trump tonight sent a warning shot to our party: If we nominate a candidate like Joe Biden who has repeatedly tried to cut Social Security and pushed disastrous trade deals, Trump will exploit that vulnerability in an effort to obscure his own record and win the battleground states that could swing the general election,” Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir wrote after Trump's Fox News town hall Thursday.
The Sanders camp's push to paint the Vermont senator as the "far stronger general election candidate" was sparked by Trump saying during the televised event that he "will be cutting" entitlement programs if elected to a second term in office. The president also ripped Biden over the North American Free Trade Agreement, which he described as "the worst trade deal ever made."
"Joe Biden made a deal, NAFTA. He approved it. He was pushing it," Trump said.
Yet Sanders, who is now second in the Democratic White House race's delegate count, missed the Hunter Biden attack line Trump already previewed on Fox News the night before. Trump told the network the younger Biden's employment with Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings would be "a major issue in the campaign."
“I will bring that up all the time because I don’t see any way out. I don't see any way out for them. I don’t see how they can answer those questions. Maybe they can, I hope they can. I’d actually prefer it that they can, but I don’t believe they will be able to answer those questions. That was purely corrupt," he said.
Hunter Biden's $50,000-a-month role with Burisma is the subject of a Senate Homeland Security Committee investigation after Trump's interest in his work with the Ukrainian oligarch-linked firm sparked impeachment proceedings in the House. The younger Biden had no prior experience in the energy sector.
Sanders's positioning against Joe Biden capped a day in which the pair went back-and-forth on Twitter over Social Security.
[Also read: Romney: GOP investigation into Hunter Biden and Burisma 'appears political']
Here's the deal: Joe Biden has repeatedly advocated for cuts to Social Security. I've fought my whole career to protect and expand it. https://t.co/l9TW9nGXeM — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 6, 2020
Get real, Joe. One of us has a history of not only fighting cuts to Social Security but working to expand benefits. And that’s why we are the campaign best positioned to defeat Donald Trump. https://t.co/WyQfY5IQyi — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 6, 2020
The rivals will next go head-to-head in a multistate contest on Tuesday, when voters in states such as Michigan will weigh in on the primary.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--'I don’t think we should just be throwing money': Trump won't seek major economic stimulus to counte

'I don’t think we should just be throwing money': Trump won't seek major economic stimulus to counteract coronavirus

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Friday dismissed providing a large-scale stimulus to counter any ill effects the coronavirus might have on the economy but also said that the Trump administration is open to targeted relief .
“ I don ’ t think we should just be throwing money and throwing cash in these short-term rebate models that have never really worked in the past , ” he said in an appearance on CNBC , adding that the administration prefers a narrower approach .
Outside economists , such as former top Obama economic adviser Jason Furman , have called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major fiscal stimulus to prevent worries about the coronavirus outbreak from creating an economy-wide decrease in demand for goods and services .
“ We would like to be targeted and timely , not the gigantic macro-economic fix , ” he said .
Kudlow added : “ Let ’ s think about individuals who might lose paychecks because they have to stay at home if they get the virus .
Let ’ s think about small businesses that might get hurt by this .
Perhaps we would look at some sectors.
” He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more information before taking action and that the coronavirus “ looks relatively contained.
” “ 80 % of the people who get this infection come out just fine , ” he said , adding that the “ national infection risk is low .
”

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Friday dismissed providing a large-scale stimulus to counter any ill effects the coronavirus might have on the economy but also said that the Trump administration is open to targeted relief.
“I don’t think we should just be throwing money and throwing cash in these short-term rebate models that have never really worked in the past,” he said in an appearance on CNBC, adding that the administration prefers a narrower approach.
Outside economists, such as former top Obama economic adviser Jason Furman, have called on the administration to quickly enact a major fiscal stimulus to prevent worries about the coronavirus outbreak from creating an economy-wide decrease in demand for goods and services.
“We would like to be targeted and timely, not the gigantic macro-economic fix,” he said.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
Kudlow added: “Let’s think about individuals who might lose paychecks because they have to stay at home if they get the virus. Let’s think about small businesses that might get hurt by this. Perhaps we would look at some sectors.”
He also said that the administration should wait for more information before taking action and that the coronavirus “looks relatively contained.”
“80% of the people who get this infection come out just fine,” he said, adding that the “national infection risk is low.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--Trump signs $8.3B emergency bill to combat coronavirus

President Trump signed legislation that makes $ 8.3 billion in emergency funding available to combat the coronavirus outbreak .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ at the White House before departing for Nashville , Tennessee , to assess tornado damage @ @ @ @ @ signed the 8.3 billion .
I asked for 2 1/2 , and I got 8.3 @ @ @ @ @ take it , ” Trump told reporters .
More than 100,000 coronavirus cases have been @ @ @ @ @ with more than 225 cases confirmed in the United States .
At least 14 people @ @ @ @ @ .

President Trump signed legislation that makes $8.3 billion in emergency funding available to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
Trump signed the bill on Friday at the White House before departing for Nashville, Tennessee, to assess tornado damage.
“We’ve signed the 8.3 billion. I asked for 2 1/2, and I got 8.3. And I’ll take it,” Trump told reporters.
More than 100,000 coronavirus cases have been reported around the world, with more than 225 cases confirmed in the United States. At least 14 people in the U.S. have died.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--Hillary Clinton slams Melania Trump cyberbullying initiative: 'She should look closer to home'

Hillary Clinton mocked first lady Melania Trump ’ s “ Be Best ” initiative , saying Trump should focus on @ @ @ @ @ husband .
Clinton was asked about Trump ’ s platform , which concentrates on the @ @ @ @ @ , and opioid abuse , during an appearance Thursday on Bravo ’ s Watch What @ @ @ @ @ do you honestly think of first lady Melania Trump ’ s cyberbullying initiative ?
” @ @ @ @ @ “ I think she should look closer to home , ” Clinton said .
The @ @ @ @ @ his wife to choose a topic other than cyberbullying , warning her that she could @ @ @ @ @ of social media to attack his critics .
Trump has publicly acknowledged that she ’ @ @ @ @ @ brought on by the president ’ s use of Twitter and whether it contradicts her @ @ @ @ @ said that the skepticism won ’ t stop her from addressing the issues .

Hillary Clinton mocked first lady Melania Trump’s “Be Best” initiative, saying Trump should focus on the behavior of her own husband.
Clinton was asked about Trump’s platform, which concentrates on the well-being of children, cyberbullying, and opioid abuse, during an appearance Thursday on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live.
“What do you honestly think of first lady Melania Trump’s cyberbullying initiative?” host Andy Cohen asked.
“I think she should look closer to home,” Clinton said.
The president reportedly tried to convince his wife to choose a topic other than cyberbullying, warning her that she could face criticism over his use of social media to attack his critics.
Trump has publicly acknowledged that she’s aware of the scrutiny brought on by the president’s use of Twitter and whether it contradicts her initiative. She’s said that the skepticism won’t stop her from addressing the issues.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--‘Not that I haven’t thought about it’: Hillary Clinton denies throwing lamp or book at Bill

Hillary Clinton joked about a decadeslong rumor that she threw a lamp or a book at her husband , Bill Clinton , over his affair with Monica Lewinsky .
“ No , not that I haven ’ t thought about it .
But no , I never have done it , ” the former secretary of state told Bravo ’ s Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen on Thursday .
The stories have circulated since the early 1990s .
In 2015 , a book by Kate Andersen Brower fed into the rumor mill by including accounts of three times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband .
In 1993 , the Chicago Sun-Times , citing “ wicked Washington whispers , ” reported that the first lady broke a lamp “ during a heated late-night argument ” at the White House with her husband .
Years later , after Clinton discovered her husband ’ s affair with Lewinsky , then a White House intern , a maid found blood all over the president and first lady ’ s bed , according to Brower .
“ He insisted that he ’ d hurt himself running into the bathroom door in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the book said .
An unidentified White House worker told Brower , “ We ’ re pretty sure she clocked him with a book.
” Another worker recalled a book `` flying out of ” the bedroom while the first lady was in it .

Hillary Clinton joked about a decadeslong rumor that she threw a lamp or a book at her husband, Bill Clinton, over his affair with Monica Lewinsky.
“No, not that I haven’t thought about it. But no, I never have done it,” the former secretary of state told Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen on Thursday.
The stories have circulated since the early 1990s. In 2015, a book by Kate Andersen Brower fed into the rumor mill by including accounts of three times Clinton allegedly threw an object at her husband.
In 1993, the Chicago Sun-Times, citing “wicked Washington whispers,” reported that the first lady broke a lamp “during a heated late-night argument” at the White House with her husband.
Years later, after Clinton discovered her husband’s affair with Lewinsky, then a White House intern, a maid found blood all over the president and first lady’s bed, according to Brower.
“He insisted that he’d hurt himself running into the bathroom door in the middle of the night,” the book said.
An unidentified White House worker told Brower, “We’re pretty sure she clocked him with a book.”
Another worker recalled a book "flying out of” the bedroom while the first lady was in it.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--UPDATED: Trump reschedules visit to CDC as coronavirus cases mount

UPDATE : The White House updated President Trump 's schedule late Friday morning to show he will visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta after his visit to Tennessee .
He is expected to arrive at 3:55 p.m .
ET .
-- -- President Trump abandoned plans to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday , traveling instead to Tennessee to see damage from this week ’ s tornadoes .
A day earlier , Vice President Mike Pence said the president would sign an $ 8.3 billion bill to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atlanta , Georgia .
An official said the trip was canceled so that staff could focus on their mission of preventing the spread of the novel virus .
The agency has been the center of criticism over shortages of tests and mixed messaging about who should be tested .
Trump 's change of plan is sure to lead to renewed accusations that he is playing down the threat for political and economic reasons , while officials warn of a looming pandemic .
Almost 100,000 coronavirus cases have been reported around the world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States , and the death toll in this country climbed to 14 on Friday .
On Thursday , the Senate passed the bill as part of an effort to reassure a fearful public that the government is doing everything possible to protect their health .
It includes $ 300 million to deliver drugs to those in need and more than $ 2 billion to help federal , state , and local governments prepare for the threat .
More than $ 1 billion will be used to tackle the virus overseas @

UPDATE: The White House updated President Trump's schedule late Friday morning to show he will visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta after his visit to Tennessee. He is expected to arrive at 3:55 p.m. ET.
----
President Trump abandoned plans to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, traveling instead to Tennessee to see damage from this week’s tornadoes.
A day earlier, Vice President Mike Pence said the president would sign an $8.3 billion bill to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak during his visit to the agency in Atlanta, Georgia.
An official said the trip was canceled so that staff could focus on their mission of preventing the spread of the novel virus.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
The agency has been the center of criticism over shortages of tests and mixed messaging about who should be tested. Trump's change of plan is sure to lead to renewed accusations that he is playing down the threat for political and economic reasons, while officials warn of a looming pandemic.
Almost 100,000 coronavirus cases have been reported around the world. More than 225 cases have been confirmed in the United States, and the death toll in this country climbed to 14 on Friday.
On Thursday, the Senate passed the bill as part of an effort to reassure a fearful public that the government is doing everything possible to protect their health.
It includes $300 million to deliver drugs to those in need and more than $2 billion to help federal, state, and local governments prepare for the threat. More than $1 billion will be used to tackle the virus overseas.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--McConnell: Schumer’s response to Supreme Court not ‘much of an apology’

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell dismissed Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ’ s explanation for his controversial comments about two conservative Supreme Court justices .
The apology was n't enough , according to the Kentucky Republican .
“ Now if that was an apology , it wasn ’ t much of an apology .
He named the justices by name .
He used words that generally are associated with inciting violence .
Chuck Schumer ought to know better than that , ” McConnell told Fox News on Thursday .
At an abortion rights rally on the steps of the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made remarks that many saw as a threat against Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch .
`` I want to tell you , Gorsuch ; I want to tell you , Kavanaugh : You have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price .
You wo n't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions , '' Schumer said .
After the backlash , Schumer retreated from his original remarks , claiming that he misspoke .
`` Now , I should not have used the words I used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way I intended to , '' he said Thursday .
“ Of course , I didn ’ t intend to suggest anything other than political and public opinion consequences for the Supreme Court.
” “ I shouldn ’ t have used the words I did , but in no way was I making a threat .
I would never do such a thing , ” he added .
[ Read more : Ted Cruz says Schumer 'must be censured ' for threatening Supreme Court justices ] His comments at the rally prompted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roberts , who called Schumer ’ s criticism `` inappropriate '' and `` dangerous . ''
“ We have a behavioral problem , and I think the leaders of Congress owe it to the American people to act like adults and to not engage in shenanigans like going over in front of the Supreme Court with a rowdy mob and threatening the justices by name .
That wasn ’ t enough of an apology to satisfy me and I don ’ t think any of our colleagues either , ” McConnell said .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell dismissed Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s explanation for his controversial comments about two conservative Supreme Court justices.
The apology wasn't enough, according to the Kentucky Republican.
“Now if that was an apology, it wasn’t much of an apology. He named the justices by name. He used words that generally are associated with inciting violence. Chuck Schumer ought to know better than that,” McConnell told Fox News on Thursday.
At an abortion rights rally on the steps of the Supreme Court on Wednesday, the top Senate Democrat made remarks that many saw as a threat against Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch.
"I want to tell you, Gorsuch; I want to tell you, Kavanaugh: You have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price. You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions," Schumer said.
After the backlash, Schumer retreated from his original remarks, claiming that he misspoke.
"Now, I should not have used the words I used yesterday. They didn't come out the way I intended to," he said Thursday. “Of course, I didn’t intend to suggest anything other than political and public opinion consequences for the Supreme Court.”
“I shouldn’t have used the words I did, but in no way was I making a threat. I would never do such a thing,” he added.
[Read more: Ted Cruz says Schumer 'must be censured' for threatening Supreme Court justices]
His comments at the rally prompted a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts, who called Schumer’s criticism "inappropriate" and "dangerous."
“We have a behavioral problem, and I think the leaders of Congress owe it to the American people to act like adults and to not engage in shenanigans like going over in front of the Supreme Court with a rowdy mob and threatening the justices by name. That wasn’t enough of an apology to satisfy me and I don’t think any of our colleagues either,” McConnell said.
Watch the latest video at foxnews.com


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--Ilhan Omar: American power derived from racism and history 'built on the oppression of black bodies'

Rep. Ilhan Omar said people in the United States need to accept that their country ’ s power comes from racism and that its history is “ built on the oppression of black bodies.
” “ From slavery to Jim Crow to redlining to mass incarceration to voter suppression , racism is part of the foundation of American power , ” the Minnesota Democrat on Capitol Hill .
“ Our task as organizers is not only to all out the specific incidences of racism , ” she added .
“ It is to recognize that our history is built on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the first Somali refugee elected to Congress , also expressed the belief that in a “ racist society , ” it is simply not enough to not be racist .
“ We must be anti-racist , ” she said , quoting Angela Davis .
“ In a racist society , it is not enough to be nonracist , ” Omar said .
“ We must be anti-racist.
” Omar has previously spoken critically of the U.S. , including in early February , when she the U.S. for catastrophic flooding in other countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ask themselves what the U.S. did wrong overseas to cause refugees to flock to this country .
`` When you see a Somali refugee or an Iraqi refugee or a Libyan refugee , we often are like , ‘ this is my neighbor — they must have survived some struggle . '
We do n't ever pause to think , ‘ What American policy made them come over here ? '
'' she said .
The Minnesota congresswoman described herself on Twitter recently using six words .
The tweet prompted a response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aqidi , who is also a refugee .

Rep. Ilhan Omar said people in the United States need to accept that their country’s power comes from racism and that its history is “built on the oppression of black bodies.”
“From slavery to Jim Crow to redlining to mass incarceration to voter suppression, racism is part of the foundation of American power,” the Minnesota Democrat said Thursday during a panel discussion on Capitol Hill.
“Our task as organizers is not only to all out the specific incidences of racism,” she added. “It is to recognize that our history is built on the oppression of black bodies.”
Omar, the first Somali refugee elected to Congress, also expressed the belief that in a “racist society,” it is simply not enough to not be racist. “We must be anti-racist,” she said, quoting Angela Davis.
“In a racist society, it is not enough to be nonracist,” Omar said. “We must be anti-racist.”
Omar has previously spoken critically of the U.S., including in early February, when she blamed the U.S. for catastrophic flooding in other countries.
Omar told Americans that they need to ask themselves what the U.S. did wrong overseas to cause refugees to flock to this country.
"When you see a Somali refugee or an Iraqi refugee or a Libyan refugee, we often are like, ‘this is my neighbor — they must have survived some struggle.' We don't ever pause to think, ‘What American policy made them come over here?'" she said.
The Minnesota congresswoman described herself on Twitter recently using six words.
I am,
Hijabi
Muslim
Black
Foreign born
Refugee
Somali
Easily triggering conservatives, Right wing bloggers, anti Muslim bigots, tinfoil conspiracy theorists, birthers, pay me a 💵 to bash Muslims fraudsters, pro-occupation groups and every single xenophobe since 2016 😆 pic.twitter.com/SffIqUT32I — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 24, 2020
The tweet prompted a response from her Republican challenger, Dalia al Aqidi, who is also a refugee.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--Democrats' new bill targeting ‘fake news’ threatens free speech

Rep. David Cicilline says he ’ s drafting a bill that would for online platforms , such as Facebook and Twitter , for publishing “ demonstrably false ” political advertisements .
In threatening social media companies with punitive laws due to their alleged danger as “ fake news ” propagators , the Rhode Island Democrat joins notable members of his party , including presidential front-runner and Sen. .
While the full text of Cicilline ’ s bill isn ’ t expected until later this month , it ’ s nonetheless clear that these attacks on free speech and tech companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be dire for free online discourse and could cause the greatest damage to those who challenge the narratives of those in power .
The first problem with these crackdowns on speech and political advertisements is that they ’ re likely to be unconstitutional .
In 2012 , the Supreme Court that content-based speech restrictions can not include general proscriptions against false statements since some false statements are inevitable where there ’ s an open and vigorous expression of views in the public and private spheres .
Politicians of both parties trumpeting their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad tech companies on our discourse inevitably seem to take on a partisan slant that accuses ideological enemies of not playing fair and treats the public as hapless .
Republican , like Cicilline , is pushing a to regulate social media companies and revoke protections afforded to them by Section 230 .
The second problem is just as fundamental : Who decides what is “ demonstrably false ” and on what basis ?
This would likely fall to “ content moderator ” teams employed by platforms such as Facebook .
In this scenario @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry would have the necessary resources to vet every online advertisement .
The long history of and poor or decision-making by these supposedly independent moderators is well-known .
It ’ s likely to worsen if companies are pressured with exorbitant fines .
Even so-called independent fact-checking services have frequently been accused of .
Some have acted overzealously in “ fact-checking ” even , which could be just the beginning if platforms are held responsible for vetting advertising .
It could mean that using satire , one of the most effective and engaging forms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular politicians or causes could attract censorship if a bureaucrat or moderator could simply note that satirical statements are “ demonstrably false.
” Cicilline ’ s attack on political speech could cause the greatest damage to causes and issues debated intensely .
For example , public health advocates who support vaping products that help smokers quit using tobacco products , which are more harmful , are routinely undermined by from government agencies .
The government ’ s actions wrongly linked legal vaping products to lung injuries caused by black market products with vitamin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderators have been willing to label the government ’ s own claims as false and misleading ?
One academic journal recently by taxpayer-funded , anti-vaping academic Stanton Glantz due to the shoddiness of his research — but only after a mountain of online pressure from advocates and scientists .
It ’ s easy to envisage important articles debunking these kinds of claims being labeled “ false ” by content moderators afraid of the government , thus undermining robust and important public debate .
It is the advertisers who make false statements who should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the tech businesses that provide platforms for discourse .
Encouraging powerful platforms to exert their “ disproportionate ” influence even further through censorship and moderation would hurt the very citizens these politicians claim they want to protect .
Satya Marar is a policy analyst at Reason Foundation , a Young Voices tech fellow , and contributor to the Washington Examiner ’ s Beltway Confidential .
Follow him on Twitter : @ MisterJEET .

Rep. David Cicilline says he’s drafting a bill that would remove Section 230 liability protection for online platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, for publishing “demonstrably false” political advertisements. In threatening social media companies with punitive laws due to their alleged danger as “fake news” propagators, the Rhode Island Democrat joins notable members of his party, including presidential front-runner Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren .
While the full text of Cicilline’s bill isn’t expected until later this month, it’s nonetheless clear that these attacks on free speech and tech companies have unintended implications. Removing liability protections would be dire for free online discourse and could cause the greatest damage to those who challenge the narratives of those in power.
The first problem with these crackdowns on speech and political advertisements is that they’re likely to be unconstitutional.
In 2012, the Supreme Court clarified that content-based speech restrictions cannot include general proscriptions against false statements since some false statements are inevitable where there’s an open and vigorous expression of views in the public and private spheres.
Politicians of both parties trumpeting their crusades against the supposed influence of big bad tech companies on our discourse inevitably seem to take on a partisan slant that accuses ideological enemies of not playing fair and treats the public as hapless. Republican Sen. Josh Hawley , like Cicilline, is pushing a variety of efforts to regulate social media companies and revoke protections afforded to them by Section 230.
The second problem is just as fundamental: Who decides what is “demonstrably false” and on what basis?
This would likely fall to “content moderator” teams employed by platforms such as Facebook. In this scenario, only the biggest players in the industry would have the necessary resources to vet every online advertisement. The long history of overzealous censorship and poor or inconsistent decision-making by these supposedly independent moderators is well-known. It’s likely to worsen if companies are pressured with exorbitant fines.
Even so-called independent fact-checking services have frequently been accused of engaging in bias .
Some have acted overzealously in “fact-checking” even clearly satirical articles , which could be just the beginning if platforms are held responsible for vetting advertising. It could mean that using satire, one of the most effective and engaging forms of social commentary, to advocate for particular politicians or causes could attract censorship if a bureaucrat or moderator could simply note that satirical statements are “demonstrably false.”
Cicilline’s attack on political speech could cause the greatest damage to causes and issues debated intensely.
For example, public health advocates who support vaping products that help smokers quit using tobacco products, which are more harmful, are routinely undermined by reactionary statements from government agencies. The government’s actions wrongly linked legal vaping products to lung injuries caused by black market products with vitamin E acetate. Would tech companies’ moderators have been willing to label the government’s own claims as false and misleading?
One academic journal recently retracted a study by taxpayer-funded, anti-vaping academic Stanton Glantz due to the shoddiness of his research — but only after a mountain of online pressure from advocates and scientists. It’s easy to envisage important articles debunking these kinds of claims being labeled “false” by content moderators afraid of the government, thus undermining robust and important public debate.
It is the advertisers who make false statements who should be held liable for their claims, not the tech businesses that provide platforms for discourse. Encouraging powerful platforms to exert their “disproportionate” influence even further through censorship and moderation would hurt the very citizens these politicians claim they want to protect.
Satya Marar is a policy analyst at Reason Foundation, a Young Voices tech fellow, and contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential. Follow him on Twitter: @MisterJEET.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-06--Swamp's own: Biden a DC power broker longer than anyone

As former Vice President Joe Biden moves to shore up enough delegates to elect him the Democratic presidential nominee , he is on the verge of becoming the politician with the longest tenure in Washington , D.C. First sworn into the Senate in January 1973 , the year New York ’ s World Trade Center opened , Elvis Presley did his famous Hawaii telecast , and the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade was decided , Biden has been a dominant political figure in Washington for 47 years .
While President Trump ran on a platform of “ draining the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of lobbyists , influencers , and politicians , a Biden victory would be a victory for the swamp , and he would likely return many of Washington ’ s longtime power figures that he has known for decades .
Three politicians have technically served in office consecutively longer than Biden , out of office since 2017 , but he beat them to Washington and has remained a power broker in the city during his rise to front-runner status for the Democratic Party and is considered its favorite son .
And it is paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Rep. James Clyburn , who helped secure Biden ’ s first-ever primary win , and national security bigs Susan Rice , James Comey , and John Brennan .
For comparison , the two senators in Washington the longest arrived here after Biden was in the Senate .
And the House member here the longest arrived months after Biden .
Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy came to Washington in January 1975 .
Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley arrived in January 1981 .
And Alaska Rep. Don Young won a special election on March 6 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serving member in Congress .
Today is the anniversary of that election .

As former Vice President Joe Biden moves to shore up enough delegates to elect him the Democratic presidential nominee, he is on the verge of becoming the politician with the longest tenure in Washington, D.C.
New Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, center, being sworn in as the U.S. senator from Delaware, by Senate Secretary Frank Valeo on Jan. 5, 1973. Anonymous/AP
First sworn into the Senate in January 1973, the year New York’s World Trade Center opened, Elvis Presley did his famous Hawaii telecast, and the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade was decided, Biden has been a dominant political figure in Washington for 47 years.
While President Trump ran on a platform of “draining the swamp” in Washington, a mix of lobbyists, influencers, and politicians, a Biden victory would be a victory for the swamp, and he would likely return many of Washington’s longtime power figures that he has known for decades.
Three politicians have technically served in office consecutively longer than Biden, out of office since 2017, but he beat them to Washington and has remained a power broker in the city during his rise to front-runner status for the Democratic Party and is considered its favorite son.
And it is paying off in endorsements from other longtime insiders including Rep. James Clyburn, who helped secure Biden’s first-ever primary win, and national security bigs Susan Rice, James Comey, and John Brennan.
For comparison, the two senators in Washington the longest arrived here after Biden was in the Senate. And the House member here the longest arrived months after Biden.
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden enters a town hall meeting, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Charlie Neibergall/AP
Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy came to Washington in January 1975. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley arrived in January 1981. And Alaska Rep. Don Young won a special election on March 6, 1973, and is now the longest serving member in Congress. Today is the anniversary of that election.