thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--Tucker Carlson: Mulvaney 'despises' Trump

Could Mick Mulvaney be part of the `` Resistance '' ?
Fox News host Tucker Carlson suggested the White House acting chief of staff is working against President Trump 's immigration agenda .
Carlson , a vocal Trump defender , reacted to Mulvaney saying the United States is `` desperate '' for additional immigrants .
The acting chief of staff , while speaking in the United Kingdom , added the U.S. is `` running out of people to fuel the economic growth '' and called for increased legal immigration .
The Fox News host dismissed this claim , arguing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labor market '' has helped people in the U.S. , explaining that as a result of “ immigration to our country [ being ] down , ” there are “ fewer available workers , ” meaning employers “ must pay higher wages to those workers.
” “ Now everything about that statement is dishonest and stupid .
For one thing , Americans don ’ t want more immigration , '' he said .
Carlson cited a 2018 Harvard/Harris poll which `` found that 81 % of American voters support curbing immigration levels .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion should matter .
But even more basically , America isn ’ t running out of people .
Far from it .
Ask anyone who tries to drive to work in one of our major cities .
In many ways , America is a crowded country , and that is bad , '' the host said .
`` That ’ s why rent is so high , for example.
” During his remarks at a private gathering in the U.K. on Wednesday , Mulvaney rejected the notion that the president only likes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
“ I disagree with the president every single day , ” Mulvaney said .
“ You just don ’ t hear about it — that ’ s not my job.
” Carlson questioned why someone with this mentality is allowed to have a leading role on the Trump team .
“ So why is Mick Mulvaney , who passionately disagrees with Donald Trump , running Donald Trump ’ s White House ?
” Carlson said .
“ It ’ s almost like Mulvaney is trying to undermine his boss ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you .
Mulvaney despises Donald Trump .
”

Could Mick Mulvaney be part of the "Resistance"?
Fox News host Tucker Carlson suggested the White House acting chief of staff is working against President Trump's immigration agenda.
Carlson, a vocal Trump defender, reacted to Mulvaney saying the United States is "desperate" for additional immigrants. The acting chief of staff, while speaking in the United Kingdom, added the U.S. is "running out of people to fuel the economic growth" and called for increased legal immigration.
The Fox News host dismissed this claim, arguing on his show Friday that the “tight labor market" has helped people in the U.S., explaining that as a result of “immigration to our country [being] down,” there are “fewer available workers,” meaning employers “must pay higher wages to those workers.”
Carlson said Mulvaney's comments defy Trump's campaign promises.
“Now everything about that statement is dishonest and stupid. For one thing, Americans don’t want more immigration," he said. Carlson cited a 2018 Harvard/Harris poll which "found that 81% of American voters support curbing immigration levels."
"In a democracy, public opinion should matter. But even more basically, America isn’t running out of people. Far from it. Ask anyone who tries to drive to work in one of our major cities. In many ways, America is a crowded country, and that is bad," the host said. "That’s why rent is so high, for example.”
During his remarks at a private gathering in the U.K. on Wednesday, Mulvaney rejected the notion that the president only likes to surround himself with people who agree with him. “I disagree with the president every single day,” Mulvaney said. “You just don’t hear about it — that’s not my job.”
Carlson questioned why someone with this mentality is allowed to have a leading role on the Trump team.
“So why is Mick Mulvaney, who passionately disagrees with Donald Trump, running Donald Trump’s White House?” Carlson said. “It’s almost like Mulvaney is trying to undermine his boss’s agenda. That shouldn’t surprise you. Mulvaney despises Donald Trump.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell: Trump 'is a Russian operative' as evidenced by Grenell appointment

Reacting to reports that the House Intelligence Committee was told last week by U.S. intelligence officials that Russia is attempting to interfere in the 2020 election to get Trump reelected , O'Donnell also noted the timing , as Trump appointed Richard Grenell , the U.S. ambassador to Germany and a close ally , to be acting director of national intelligence on Wednesday .
`` The president is a Russian operative , '' O'Donnell said on his show Thursday evening .
`` That sounds like the description of a bad Hollywood screenplay , but it is real , and it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades after America ’ s victory in the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union , the president of the United States is now helping the president of Russia help the president of the United States to get reelected so that the president of Russia will have four more years of the president of the United States who he wants in the Oval Office . ''
O'Donnell called it a `` shocking '' revelation , one that led him to label the Trump administration as the `` Trump-Putin regime . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to win reelection explains his decision to appoint Grenell to oversee the Intelligence Community .
`` Donald Trump has outdone himself by appointing one of the most ridiculous incompetent stooges in the Trump administration to be nothing less than the acting director of national intelligence , '' O'Donnell said , noting Grenell 's lack of intelligence experience .
O'Donnell said Trump would have nominated his now-former acting director of national intelligence , Joseph Maguire , `` until Vladimir Putin showed Donald Trump that he needed an even more incompetent director of national intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelect his favorite president of the United States in history . ''
Grenell says he will only serve in an acting capacity and will not be named as Trump 's nominee to take on the DNI role permanently .

MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell accused President Trump of being a "Russian operative."
Reacting to reports that the House Intelligence Committee was told last week by U.S. intelligence officials that Russia is attempting to interfere in the 2020 election to get Trump reelected, O'Donnell also noted the timing, as Trump appointed Richard Grenell, the U.S. ambassador to Germany and a close ally, to be acting director of national intelligence on Wednesday.
"The president is a Russian operative," O'Donnell said on his show Thursday evening. "That sounds like the description of a bad Hollywood screenplay, but it is real, and it is Vladimir Putin’s greatest achievement, decades after America’s victory in the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the president of the United States is now helping the president of Russia help the president of the United States to get reelected so that the president of Russia will have four more years of the president of the United States who he wants in the Oval Office."
O'Donnell called it a "shocking" revelation, one that led him to label the Trump administration as the "Trump-Putin regime." He said the news Russia wants Trump to win reelection explains his decision to appoint Grenell to oversee the Intelligence Community.
"Donald Trump has outdone himself by appointing one of the most ridiculous incompetent stooges in the Trump administration to be nothing less than the acting director of national intelligence," O'Donnell said, noting Grenell's lack of intelligence experience.
O'Donnell said Trump would have nominated his now-former acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, "until Vladimir Putin showed Donald Trump that he needed an even more incompetent director of national intelligence because Vladimir Putin is working hard to reelect his favorite president of the United States in history."
Grenell says he will only serve in an acting capacity and will not be named as Trump's nominee to take on the DNI role permanently.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-23--Tom Cotton demands 'answers' after China state newspaper says coronavirus originated outside wildlif

Tom Cotton demands 'answers' after China state newspaper says coronavirus originated outside wildlife market

A Republican senator says it 's time for the Chinese Communist Party to reveal what it knows about the new coronavirus after the country 's state-run newspaper reported that the mystery illness may not have originated from a seafood market in Wuhan .
On Saturday , Sen. Tom Cotton demanded `` answers '' while sharing a report from the Global Times , a Chinese daily newspaper operated by the CCP , citing new research that claims the virus is transmitted from human to human and did n't originate from animals at the seafood market .
Although early reports claimed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bat soup , snakes , or pangolins , researchers now believe `` patient zero , '' the original person with the infection , brought the disease to the Wuhan market from `` another location . ''
The English-language Global Times confirmed the data show the infection was `` introduced '' to the market , adding fuel to skeptics who believe the CCP is failing to explain the full scope of the epidemic .
The study was done by ChinaXiv , an `` open repository for scientific researchers '' who believe one infected person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit to the market .
Cotton has repeatedly challenged the prevailing narrative surrounding the coronavirus outbreak as it has infected and killed patients in countries as widespread as Iran , Italy , and Japan .
In January , the Washington Times reported that Wuhan is home to China 's most advanced virus research laboratory , the Wuhan Institute of Virology .
The New York Post reported Saturday that Chinese Maj. Gen. Chen Wei , the country 's top expert in biological warfare , was sent to Wuhan last month to deal with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died , and over 75,000 have been infected since the outbreak began earlier this year .
However , it is difficult to ascertain the full size and scope of the illness .
Cotton has noted on several occasions that Wuhan contains the only biosafety level 4 superlaboratory in China that deals with serious infectious diseases .
The Arkansas senator has led calls to ban travel with China and on Friday told Fox News 's Laura Ingraham the country 's leaders were `` lying to the world . ''
`` The Chinese Communist Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve said for a month : coronavirus didn ’ t start in Wuhan food market .
So where did it originate ?
Time for answers from CCP , '' Cotton tweeted late on Saturday .
China has been accused of silencing dissenting voices after a whistleblower was punished for warning about the outbreak before catching the illness himself and dying in Wuhan .
Videos circulated on social media show scenes of convulsing patients and people being tended to by doctors wearing hazmat suits .

A Republican senator says it's time for the Chinese Communist Party to reveal what it knows about the new coronavirus after the country's state-run newspaper reported that the mystery illness may not have originated from a seafood market in Wuhan.
On Saturday, Sen. Tom Cotton demanded "answers" while sharing a report from the Global Times, a Chinese daily newspaper operated by the CCP, citing new research that claims the virus is transmitted from human to human and didn't originate from animals at the seafood market. Although early reports claimed the illness was spread through food such as bat soup, snakes, or pangolins, researchers now believe "patient zero," the original person with the infection, brought the disease to the Wuhan market from "another location."
The English-language Global Times confirmed the data show the infection was "introduced" to the market, adding fuel to skeptics who believe the CCP is failing to explain the full scope of the epidemic. The study was done by ChinaXiv, an "open repository for scientific researchers" who believe one infected person accelerated the virus's spread during a visit to the market.
Cotton has repeatedly challenged the prevailing narrative surrounding the coronavirus outbreak as it has infected and killed patients in countries as widespread as Iran, Italy, and Japan.
In January, the Washington Times reported that Wuhan is home to China's most advanced virus research laboratory, the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The New York Post reported Saturday that Chinese Maj. Gen. Chen Wei, the country's top expert in biological warfare, was sent to Wuhan last month to deal with the crisis.
More than 2,000 people have died, and over 75,000 have been infected since the outbreak began earlier this year. However, it is difficult to ascertain the full size and scope of the illness.
Cotton has noted on several occasions that Wuhan contains the only biosafety level 4 superlaboratory in China that deals with serious infectious diseases. The Arkansas senator has led calls to ban travel with China and on Friday told Fox News's Laura Ingraham the country's leaders were "lying to the world."
"The Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda rag finally admits what I’ve said for a month: coronavirus didn’t start in Wuhan food market. So where did it originate? Time for answers from CCP," Cotton tweeted late on Saturday.
Well, look at that. The Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda rag finally admits what I’ve said for a month: coronavirus didn’t start in Wuhan food market. So where did it originate? Time for answers from CCP. https://t.co/UTvcjvrHNz — Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) February 22, 2020
China has been accused of silencing dissenting voices after a whistleblower was punished for warning about the outbreak before catching the illness himself and dying in Wuhan. Videos circulated on social media show scenes of convulsing patients and people being tended to by doctors wearing hazmat suits.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--Devin Nunes vows to expand lawsuit against Fusion GPS after judge’s dismissal

Rep. Devin Nunes vowed to expand his lawsuit against Fusion GPS on Saturday , a day after a federal court dismissed the California Republican ’ s racketeering conspiracy case against the opposition research firm .
The judge gave the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee 30 days to file another amended complaint .
“ Congressman Nunes is pleased that the Court has granted him the opportunity to clarify and amplify the long history and pattern of obstruction by Fusion GPS , ” Nunes ’ s lawyer Steven Biss told the Washington Examiner .
“ We have plenty of supplementary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including ongoing examples of Fusion ’ s malfeasance.
” Last September , Nunes filed his lawsuit against Fusion GPS , its founder Glenn Simpson , and the left-leaning watchdog group Campaign for Accountability , seeking $ 9.9 million in damages .
Nunes told the court in an amended complaint in December that the “ ongoing and continuous racketeering activities ” by the defendants were “ part of a joint and systematic effort ” to “ impede , '' `` undermine , '' and `` ultimately to derail ” Nunes 's congressional investigation into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ acted in concert ” to file “ fraudulent and retaliatory ‘ ethics ’ complaints ” against him to “ harass and intimidate ” him and to “ protect Simpson , Fusion GPS , and others from criminal referrals ” made to the Justice Department .
Judge Liam O ’ Grady of the Eastern District of Virginia said on Friday the defendants “ raise significant questions and make meritorious arguments as to both the sufficiency of the factual pleadings and the court ’ s jurisdiction over these defendants.
” The judge said Nunes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rote statements of law and conclusory allegations which fall short of satisfying the pleading standard ” and said that the legal claims were “ insufficient to support a substantive ruling on these issues.
” O ’ Grady ruled that Nunes ’ s lawsuit was “ hereby dismissed without prejudice , ” but said Nunes had a month to try again , in accordance with the federal rules prohibiting frivolous lawsuits .
Fusion GPS ’ s lawyer did not respond to the Washington Examiner ’ s request for comment .
Daniel Stevens , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told the Washington Examiner that “ we applaud the court ’ s decision to dismiss this frivolous lawsuit ” and claimed “ the allegations in the complaint were obviously absurd.
” “ Attempts by Nunes to stifle critics through well-funded lawsuits is an affront to the First Amendment , ” Stevens said , adding , “ We are gratified that the court put an end to this nonsense.
” Nunes ’ s amended complaint was filed just after the November release of a book by Fusion GPS ’ s founders , titled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dossier and the Fusion GPS Investigation of Donald Trump , and the December release of DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz ’ s report on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuses .
Horowitz identified at least 17 “ significant errors or omissions ” in the DOJ ’ s and the FBI ’ s use of British ex-spy Christopher Steele ’ s salacious and unverified dossier when pursuing FISA warrants to wiretap Trump campaign associate Carter Page in 2016 and 2017 .
Simpson refused to speak with Horowitz ’ s investigators .
Defenders of the controversial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuses from February 2018 , which also shed light on Fusion GPS , argue Horowitz 's report shows the Republicans were almost entirely correct .
Nunes told the court that “ this is a case about active , coordinated , and ongoing corruption , fraud , and obstruction of justice ” which was “ now admitted ” in Fusion GPS ’ s book and “ chronicled ” in the Justice Department watchdog report .
“ The outright fabrications in the Steele ‘ dossier ’ are the product of a joint collaborative effort between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fusion GPS , acting in concert , lied to the FBI and spread lurid and fake anecdotes in order to obstruct the FBI ’ s Crossfire Hurricane investigation , ” Nunes alleged .
“ The fabrication of raw intelligence and the misrepresentation and concealment of information provided by sources is an ordinary part of Fusion GPS ’ s criminal operations.
” Lawyers for the Campaign for Accountability countered the lawsuit .
“ Plaintiff , a sitting congressman , has come before this Court to argue that the submission of ethic complaints against him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal , ” John McGavin , the lawyer for the Campaign for Accountability , told the court in a motion to dismiss in January .
“ Masquerading an untimely defamation claim as an infirm RICO case , Plaintiff has sought to criminalize lawful conduct.
” McGavin said Nunes “ implausibly alleges that the submission of three ethics complaints about him to the U.S. House of Representatives Office of Congressional Ethics violated RICO.
” The Republican lawmaker 's lawsuit cited a Daily Caller article from August that revealed the Campaign for Accountability hired Fusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 and paid the firm close to $ 140,000 for research .
Nunes described Fusion GPS as “ a political war room for hire that specializes in dirty tricks and smears ” and the Campaign for Accountability as a “ dark money , partisan , left-wing ” nonprofit group targeting mainly conservatives .
Fusion GPS was hired by Hillary Clinton 's campaign and the Democratic National Committee in 2016 through the Perkins Coie law firm , and Fusion GPS in turn hired Steele , who made allegations regarding Trump and Russia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Clinton campaign ’ s general counsel , provided briefings to Clinton ’ s campaign related to Fusion GPS ’ s findings .
Nellie Ohr , the wife of high-ranking DOJ official Bruce Ohr , was a contractor for Fusion in 2015 and 2016 , and her Trump-Russia research was passed along by her husband to the bureau .
After special counsel Robert Mueller 's report was released last April , Fusion GPS continued to insist that “ to our knowledge , nothing in the Steele memoranda has been disproven.
” Nunes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Campaign for Accountability in part because of subpoenas he issued to the bank the opposition research firm used which “ revealed that the Clinton campaign , the DNC and Perkins Coie paid for Fusion GPS ’ s anti-Trump research.
” The congressman claimed that “ corrupt acts of racketeering are part of Fusion GPS ’ s regular way of doing business , '' and he said “ that way of doing business must end here and now .
”

Rep. Devin Nunes vowed to expand his lawsuit against Fusion GPS on Saturday, a day after a federal court dismissed the California Republican’s racketeering conspiracy case against the opposition research firm.
The judge gave the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee 30 days to file another amended complaint.
“Congressman Nunes is pleased that the Court has granted him the opportunity to clarify and amplify the long history and pattern of obstruction by Fusion GPS,” Nunes’s lawyer Steven Biss told the Washington Examiner. “We have plenty of supplementary evidence to add to our filing, including ongoing examples of Fusion’s malfeasance.”
Last September, Nunes filed his lawsuit against Fusion GPS, its founder Glenn Simpson, and the left-leaning watchdog group Campaign for Accountability, seeking $9.9 million in damages.
Nunes told the court in an amended complaint in December that the “ongoing and continuous racketeering activities” by the defendants were “part of a joint and systematic effort” to “impede," "undermine," and "ultimately to derail” Nunes's congressional investigation into Russian interference. Nunes claimed the groups “acted in concert” to file “fraudulent and retaliatory ‘ethics’ complaints” against him to “harass and intimidate” him and to “protect Simpson, Fusion GPS, and others from criminal referrals” made to the Justice Department.
Judge Liam O’Grady of the Eastern District of Virginia said on Friday the defendants “raise significant questions and make meritorious arguments as to both the sufficiency of the factual pleadings and the court’s jurisdiction over these defendants.”
The judge said Nunes’s amended complaint “includes many rote statements of law and conclusory allegations which fall short of satisfying the pleading standard” and said that the legal claims were “insufficient to support a substantive ruling on these issues.”
O’Grady ruled that Nunes’s lawsuit was “hereby dismissed without prejudice,” but said Nunes had a month to try again, in accordance with the federal rules prohibiting frivolous lawsuits.
Fusion GPS’s lawyer did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
Daniel Stevens, the executive director for the Campaign for Accountability, told the Washington Examiner that “we applaud the court’s decision to dismiss this frivolous lawsuit” and claimed “the allegations in the complaint were obviously absurd.”
“Attempts by Nunes to stifle critics through well-funded lawsuits is an affront to the First Amendment,” Stevens said, adding, “We are gratified that the court put an end to this nonsense.”
Nunes’s amended complaint was filed just after the November release of a book by Fusion GPS’s founders, titled Crime in Progress: Inside the Steele Dossier and the Fusion GPS Investigation of Donald Trump, and the December release of DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s report on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuses.
Horowitz identified at least 17 “significant errors or omissions” in the DOJ’s and the FBI’s use of British ex-spy Christopher Steele’s salacious and unverified dossier when pursuing FISA warrants to wiretap Trump campaign associate Carter Page in 2016 and 2017. Simpson refused to speak with Horowitz’s investigators.
Defenders of the controversial House Intelligence Committee memo on alleged FISA abuses from February 2018, which also shed light on Fusion GPS, argue Horowitz's report shows the Republicans were almost entirely correct.
Nunes told the court that “this is a case about active, coordinated, and ongoing corruption, fraud, and obstruction of justice” which was “now admitted” in Fusion GPS’s book and “chronicled” in the Justice Department watchdog report.
“The outright fabrications in the Steele ‘dossier’ are the product of a joint collaborative effort between Steele and Fusion GPS. Steele and Fusion GPS, acting in concert, lied to the FBI and spread lurid and fake anecdotes in order to obstruct the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation,” Nunes alleged. “The fabrication of raw intelligence and the misrepresentation and concealment of information provided by sources is an ordinary part of Fusion GPS’s criminal operations.”
Lawyers for the Campaign for Accountability countered the lawsuit.
“Plaintiff, a sitting congressman, has come before this Court to argue that the submission of ethic complaints against him to the Office of Congressional Ethics is illegal,” John McGavin, the lawyer for the Campaign for Accountability, told the court in a motion to dismiss in January. “Masquerading an untimely defamation claim as an infirm RICO case, Plaintiff has sought to criminalize lawful conduct.”
McGavin said Nunes “implausibly alleges that the submission of three ethics complaints about him to the U.S. House of Representatives Office of Congressional Ethics violated RICO.”
The Republican lawmaker's lawsuit cited a Daily Caller article from August that revealed the Campaign for Accountability hired Fusion GPS as an “independent contractor” in 2018 and paid the firm close to $140,000 for research.
Nunes described Fusion GPS as “a political war room for hire that specializes in dirty tricks and smears” and the Campaign for Accountability as a “dark money, partisan, left-wing” nonprofit group targeting mainly conservatives.
Fusion GPS was hired by Hillary Clinton's campaign and the Democratic National Committee in 2016 through the Perkins Coie law firm, and Fusion GPS in turn hired Steele, who made allegations regarding Trump and Russia. Marc Elias, a Perkins Coie lawyer and the Clinton campaign’s general counsel, provided briefings to Clinton’s campaign related to Fusion GPS’s findings. Nellie Ohr, the wife of high-ranking DOJ official Bruce Ohr, was a contractor for Fusion in 2015 and 2016, and her Trump-Russia research was passed along by her husband to the bureau.
After special counsel Robert Mueller's report was released last April, Fusion GPS continued to insist that “to our knowledge, nothing in the Steele memoranda has been disproven.”
Nunes said Fusion GPS retaliated against him through the Campaign for Accountability in part because of subpoenas he issued to the bank the opposition research firm used which “revealed that the Clinton campaign, the DNC and Perkins Coie paid for Fusion GPS’s anti-Trump research.”
The congressman claimed that “corrupt acts of racketeering are part of Fusion GPS’s regular way of doing business," and he said “that way of doing business must end here and now.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--Trump impeachment drove record candidate recruitment, Republicans say

Republicans say the record number of GOP candidates who filed to run for Congress this cycle point to the Democrats ' “ socialist agenda ” and “ impeachment obsession ” as the main motivators .
According to recently released federal candidate financial information obtained by Fox News , 781 Republicans filed federal paperwork to run for the House in the 2020 cycle .
This is the highest number ever recorded by the Federal Election Commission in an odd year .
In 2017 , 593 GOP candidates filed to run for the House compared to 937 Democrats .
A year later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took the gavel in January 2019 , House Democrats have passed a slew of bills that have stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate , including campaign finance reform legislation , a universal background check bill , and a proposal to repeal drilling in the Arctic region .
House Democrats on Dec. 18 also impeached President Trump on two charges related to the Ukraine military aid affair , though he was acquitted in the Senate .
“ Democrats ’ insane socialist agenda and obsessive efforts to remove President Trump from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get off the sidelines and run for higher office .
With House Democrats ’ full embrace of socialism , Republicans are poised to retake the House Majority , ” National Republican Campaign Committee spokesman Mike McAdams told the Washington Examiner .
Democrats say the high interest of Republicans running for the House is only due to the high number of retirements on the Republican side , and there are more seats for the GOP to challenge since losing the majority to the Democrats in 2018 .
Still , state committee officials in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Georgia told the Washington Examiner their recruits were attracted to run for office over the policies pushed by the Democratic Party on the federal and state level .
Forty-eight Georgia Republicans have filed candidate papers to run in one of the state ’ s 14 House districts .
The New Jersey Republican Party gained seats last year in their state legislature that the party had not occupied in 20 years , and one party official told the Washington Examiner about expecting more gains .
One of those primary candidates is David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suburban Philadelphia seat held by first-term Democratic Rep. Andy Kim .
“ After watching Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats retake control of the House in the Blue Wave of 2018 , I wanted to do everything I could to support President Trump and help Republicans retake majority control of the House , ” Richter said .
“ This year ’ s election is critically important for the future of our country , as voters will have to decide between continuing to support President Trump ’ s pro-growth economic agenda or turn down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party of New Mexico confirmed to the Washington Examiner that 16 candidates are competing for the GOP nominations of a U.S. Senate seat and three House seats .
“ We have a diverse group of federal candidates who are determined to flip our state red and who are tired of the left-leaning agenda that ’ s hurting New Mexico , ” said Mike Curtis , the communications director of the Republican Party of New Mexico , in a statement .
“ These candidates understand that our current delegation has failed our state and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difference to help New Mexicans .
”

Republicans say the record number of GOP candidates who filed to run for Congress this cycle point to the Democrats' “socialist agenda” and “impeachment obsession” as the main motivators.
According to recently released federal candidate financial information obtained by Fox News, 781 Republicans filed federal paperwork to run for the House in the 2020 cycle.
This is the highest number ever recorded by the Federal Election Commission in an odd year. In 2017, 593 GOP candidates filed to run for the House compared to 937 Democrats. A year later, Democrats won the House majority.
Since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took the gavel in January 2019, House Democrats have passed a slew of bills that have stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate, including campaign finance reform legislation, a universal background check bill, and a proposal to repeal drilling in the Arctic region.
House Democrats on Dec. 18 also impeached President Trump on two charges related to the Ukraine military aid affair, though he was acquitted in the Senate.
“Democrats’ insane socialist agenda and obsessive efforts to remove President Trump from office have inspired a record-number of Republicans to get off the sidelines and run for higher office. With House Democrats’ full embrace of socialism, Republicans are poised to retake the House Majority,” National Republican Campaign Committee spokesman Mike McAdams told the Washington Examiner.
Democrats say the high interest of Republicans running for the House is only due to the high number of retirements on the Republican side, and there are more seats for the GOP to challenge since losing the majority to the Democrats in 2018.
Still, state committee officials in New Jersey, California, New Mexico, and Georgia told the Washington Examiner their recruits were attracted to run for office over the policies pushed by the Democratic Party on the federal and state level.
Forty-eight Georgia Republicans have filed candidate papers to run in one of the state’s 14 House districts.
The New Jersey Republican Party gained seats last year in their state legislature that the party had not occupied in 20 years, and one party official told the Washington Examiner about expecting more gains.
One of those primary candidates is David Richter, who is vying for a suburban Philadelphia seat held by first-term Democratic Rep. Andy Kim.
“After watching Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats retake control of the House in the Blue Wave of 2018, I wanted to do everything I could to support President Trump and help Republicans retake majority control of the House,” Richter said. “This year’s election is critically important for the future of our country, as voters will have to decide between continuing to support President Trump’s pro-growth economic agenda or turn down the dead-end path of socialism.”
The Republican Party of New Mexico confirmed to the Washington Examiner that 16 candidates are competing for the GOP nominations of a U.S. Senate seat and three House seats.
“We have a diverse group of federal candidates who are determined to flip our state red and who are tired of the left-leaning agenda that’s hurting New Mexico,” said Mike Curtis, the communications director of the Republican Party of New Mexico, in a statement. “These candidates understand that our current delegation has failed our state and that it is time to make a difference to help New Mexicans.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--‘Sequins are a great accessory to universal healthcare’: AOC defends wearing $580 dress on The View

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fired back at critics who lambasted the lawmaker for wearing a designer dress during a high-profile appearance on ABC .
The New York Democrat implied she either rented or borrowed the sequin dress that retails for $ 580 at Saks Fifth Avenue .
She did so in a tweet that called out the New York Post for publishing details about the dress days after she defended socialist Bernie Sanders on The View .
`` Yep !
I rent , borrow , and thrift my clothes , '' tweeted Ocasio-Cortez .
`` ( It ’ s also environmentally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mad that you can look good fighting for working families .
Sequins are a great accessory to universal healthcare , don ’ t you agree ? ''
Ocasio-Cortez is the lead member of `` the Squad '' of liberal congresswomen who have galvanized the far-left base of the Democratic Party in pushing for reforms on healthcare , the environment , and social justice issues .
Her Green New Deal proposal would eliminate carbon emissions in the United States within 10 years .
Saks Fifth Avenue , which lists the sequin dress on sale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlights the dress 's `` on-trend leopard print throughout and a gathered detail at the waist . ''
Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Sanders , a senator from Vermont , and has been a vocal supporter at his campaign rallies .

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fired back at critics who lambasted the lawmaker for wearing a designer dress during a high-profile appearance on ABC.
The New York Democrat implied she either rented or borrowed the sequin dress that retails for $580 at Saks Fifth Avenue. She did so in a tweet that called out the New York Post for publishing details about the dress days after she defended socialist Bernie Sanders on The View.
"Yep! I rent, borrow, and thrift my clothes," tweeted Ocasio-Cortez. "(It’s also environmentally sustainable!) The Post is just mad that you can look good fighting for working families. Sequins are a great accessory to universal healthcare, don’t you agree?"
Ocasio-Cortez is the lead member of "the Squad" of liberal congresswomen who have galvanized the far-left base of the Democratic Party in pushing for reforms on healthcare, the environment, and social justice issues. Her Green New Deal proposal would eliminate carbon emissions in the United States within 10 years.
Saks Fifth Avenue, which lists the sequin dress on sale for half of the retail price, highlights the dress's "on-trend leopard print throughout and a gathered detail at the waist." Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Sanders, a senator from Vermont, and has been a vocal supporter at his campaign rallies.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--McConnell-aligned PAC spends big money on liberal Democrat in Senate race

A political action committee with ties to the top Republican in the Senate is being criticized for interfering in next month 's Democratic Senate primary in North Carolina .
Faith and Power PAC , which debuted in early 2020 and whose president is the former chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , received close to $ 3 million from the Senate Leadership Fund , a group run by the Kentucky Republican 's allies .
The money is being used to fund ads promoting liberal state Sen. Erica Smith in her bid against former state Sen. Cal Cunningham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is endorsed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign .
After Faith and Power ran ads claiming Smith was the `` only proven progressive '' in the race , Smith disavowed any connection to the PAC before condemning the outsider group 's spending , saying that `` special interests and dark money should never play a role in an election . ''
On Thursday , Faith and Power released a new ad that questioned Cunningham 's liberal bona fides in comparison to Smith 's more left-wing policies .
Cunningham and his allies condemned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to interfere in North Carolina politics because they are worried about the prospect of Cunningham facing off against incumbent GOP Sen. Thom Tillis in November .
Cunningham released a new ad on Friday in which he looks directly into the camera and slams `` deceptive ads attacking my values . ''
`` They 're paid for by Mitch McConnell 's allies , and it 's the very political corruption I 'll go to Washington to fight , '' Cunningham said at the end of the ad .
In spite of the spending , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for her campaign this year , has seen the gap between her and Cunningham widen over the past two weeks .

A political action committee with ties to the top Republican in the Senate is being criticized for interfering in next month's Democratic Senate primary in North Carolina.
Faith and Power PAC, which debuted in early 2020 and whose president is the former chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, received close to $3 million from the Senate Leadership Fund, a group run by the Kentucky Republican's allies. The money is being used to fund ads promoting liberal state Sen. Erica Smith in her bid against former state Sen. Cal Cunningham, who is leading in the polls and is endorsed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign.
After Faith and Power ran ads claiming Smith was the "only proven progressive" in the race, Smith disavowed any connection to the PAC before condemning the outsider group's spending, saying that "special interests and dark money should never play a role in an election."
On Thursday, Faith and Power released a new ad that questioned Cunningham's liberal bona fides in comparison to Smith's more left-wing policies.
Cunningham and his allies condemned the ad blitz, claiming Republicans are attempting to interfere in North Carolina politics because they are worried about the prospect of Cunningham facing off against incumbent GOP Sen. Thom Tillis in November.
Cunningham released a new ad on Friday in which he looks directly into the camera and slams "deceptive ads attacking my values."
"They're paid for by Mitch McConnell's allies, and it's the very political corruption I'll go to Washington to fight," Cunningham said at the end of the ad.
In spite of the spending, Smith, who raised only $45,000 for her campaign this year, has seen the gap between her and Cunningham widen over the past two weeks.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--Republican senator: China 'lying to the world' about coronavirus outbreak

As the coronavirus death toll surpasses 2,000 people worldwide , one senator is warning about the lack of transparency from Chinese officials regarding the mystery illness .
Sen. Tom Cotton , who has repeatedly chastised the Chinese Communist Party for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak , said , `` I have very low confidence in the state of Chinese politics because their government is still lying to the world about this deadly matter , '' during an interview Friday on Fox News .
As the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus grows around the world , the Chinese government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act quickly and openly about the magnitude of the disease , which the World Health Organization labeled a `` global emergency '' two weeks ago .
`` I do n't disagree that China 's scientists and doctors can , in some cases , be world-class and very professional .
However , they have sitting next to them at every level of government a minder from the Chinese Communist Party , and I do not have any confidence in those party apparatchiks allowing China 's scientists or their doctors to speak freely to anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States government , '' the Arkansas Republican said .
Chinese authorities have been accused of cracking down on scientists , doctors , and citizen journalists who attempted to sound the alarm about the epidemic , which has its epicenter in the city of Wuhan .
One whistleblower , who warned of the disease on Dec. 30 and was reprimanded for doing so , fell ill and died from the disease only weeks after his first messages about the mystery illness .
Early reports from China claimed the disease started in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cuisine , such as bat soup , circulated on Twitter , promoting the idea that dietary habits could have played a role in the outbreak .
But as the disease has spread , Cotton and others have noted that Wuhan contains China 's `` only biosafety level 4 super laboratory that works with the world 's most deadly pathogens . ''
`` We know that it did n't start in the Wuhan food market .
That was the original story of the Chinese Communist Party , so it 's only responsible to ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` I still think the most likely hypothesis is it was naturally occurring , but given the proximity of that laboratory to the food market , it is only reasonable that we ask the Chinese Communist Party to be open and transparent about the kind of research they were conducting there and the safety , protocols , and practices they had in place . ''
On Thursday , the State Department transported 14 infected American travelers who had been quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship off the coast of Japan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Disease Control and Prevention downplayed concerns about what she called a `` rapidly changing situation . ''
`` It is really early days , and we 're continuing to get information every day that is better helping us understand this virus , '' Messonnier said during a CDC briefing in late January .

As the coronavirus death toll surpasses 2,000 people worldwide, one senator is warning about the lack of transparency from Chinese officials regarding the mystery illness.
Sen. Tom Cotton, who has repeatedly chastised the Chinese Communist Party for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak, said, "I have very low confidence in the state of Chinese politics because their government is still lying to the world about this deadly matter," during an interview Friday on Fox News.
As the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus grows around the world, the Chinese government has been criticized for its failure to act quickly and openly about the magnitude of the disease, which the World Health Organization labeled a "global emergency" two weeks ago.
"I don't disagree that China's scientists and doctors can, in some cases, be world-class and very professional. However, they have sitting next to them at every level of government a minder from the Chinese Communist Party, and I do not have any confidence in those party apparatchiks allowing China's scientists or their doctors to speak freely to anyone outside of China, especially officials in the United States government," the Arkansas Republican said.
Chinese authorities have been accused of cracking down on scientists, doctors, and citizen journalists who attempted to sound the alarm about the epidemic, which has its epicenter in the city of Wuhan. One whistleblower, who warned of the disease on Dec. 30 and was reprimanded for doing so, fell ill and died from the disease only weeks after his first messages about the mystery illness.
Early reports from China claimed the disease started in the Wuhan wildlife market and videos of Chinese cuisine, such as bat soup, circulated on Twitter, promoting the idea that dietary habits could have played a role in the outbreak. But as the disease has spread, Cotton and others have noted that Wuhan contains China's "only biosafety level 4 super laboratory that works with the world's most deadly pathogens."
"We know that it didn't start in the Wuhan food market. That was the original story of the Chinese Communist Party, so it's only responsible to ask where it did start," Cotton said. "I still think the most likely hypothesis is it was naturally occurring, but given the proximity of that laboratory to the food market, it is only reasonable that we ask the Chinese Communist Party to be open and transparent about the kind of research they were conducting there and the safety, protocols, and practices they had in place."
On Thursday, the State Department transported 14 infected American travelers who had been quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship off the coast of Japan.
Dr. Nancy Messonnier of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention downplayed concerns about what she called a "rapidly changing situation."
"It is really early days, and we're continuing to get information every day that is better helping us understand this virus," Messonnier said during a CDC briefing in late January.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--Devin Nunes vows to sue Washington Post for 'garbage' report on classified Russia briefing

California Rep. Devin Nunes said he intends to sue the Washington Post over a report that said he informed President Trump about a classified briefing about Russian interference in the 2020 election .
Nunes , the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee , made the announcement during a Friday evening interview on Fox News 's The Story with Martha MacCallum , which was guest-hosted by Harris Faulkner .
“ I don ’ t know what planet the Washington Post is on , '' Nunes said .
`` But they ’ ll have an opportunity in federal court in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources are , because I ’ m going to have to take them to court because I did n't go to the White House .
I did n't talk to President Trump , Harris .
So , this is the same garbage . ''
Last week , members of the House Intelligence Committee received a briefing from Shelby Pierson , an aide to former acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire , in which she said Russia was trying to interfere with the 2020 presidential election in order to help Trump secure a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Washington Post , Nunes relayed to Trump what Pierson said in the classified briefing .
“ They build a narrative , they plant a narrative , they write fake news stories about it of things that shouldn ’ t even be talked about , you know , this classified information , '' Nunes said .
`` And then , they run these stories .
Who the hell is leaking this ?
” The Washington Post did not immediately return a request for comment .
Jack Langer , Nunes 's communications director , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington Post has been a crucial instrument used by resistance leakers for three years to perpetuate the Russia collusion hoax .
Now , they ’ ve published more false information about Rep. Nunes , so they ’ ll get a chance to make their case in federal court .
Honestly , sometimes it seems like the Post ’ s anonymous sources are Republican plants feeding them false information in order to further discredit their reporting.
” There have been conflicting reports as to whether Trump was angry at outgoing Director of National Intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take place and that it could 've led to Maguire 's removal .
The president announced on Wednesday that Richard Grenell , the U.S. ambassador to Germany and a Trump ally , would replace Maguire as acting DNI .
Nunes has sued other news outlets for reports he claimed were false , including a $ 435 million defamation suit against CNN over a story that alleged the congressman met with a fired Ukrainian prosecutor in an effort to dig up dirt on Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden .

California Rep. Devin Nunes said he intends to sue the Washington Post over a report that said he informed President Trump about a classified briefing about Russian interference in the 2020 election.
Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, made the announcement during a Friday evening interview on Fox News's The Story with Martha MacCallum, which was guest-hosted by Harris Faulkner.
“I don’t know what planet the Washington Post is on," Nunes said. "But they’ll have an opportunity in federal court in the next couple weeks to explain who their sources are, because I’m going to have to take them to court because I didn't go to the White House. I didn't talk to President Trump, Harris. So, this is the same garbage."
Last week, members of the House Intelligence Committee received a briefing from Shelby Pierson, an aide to former acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire, in which she said Russia was trying to interfere with the 2020 presidential election in order to help Trump secure a second term. As one source told the Washington Post, Nunes relayed to Trump what Pierson said in the classified briefing.
“They build a narrative, they plant a narrative, they write fake news stories about it of things that shouldn’t even be talked about, you know, this classified information," Nunes said. "And then, they run these stories. Who the hell is leaking this?”
The Washington Post did not immediately return a request for comment.
Jack Langer, Nunes's communications director, told the Washington Examiner: “The Washington Post has been a crucial instrument used by resistance leakers for three years to perpetuate the Russia collusion hoax. Now, they’ve published more false information about Rep. Nunes, so they’ll get a chance to make their case in federal court. Honestly, sometimes it seems like the Post’s anonymous sources are Republican plants feeding them false information in order to further discredit their reporting.”
There have been conflicting reports as to whether Trump was angry at outgoing Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire for allowing the briefing to take place and that it could've led to Maguire's removal. The president announced on Wednesday that Richard Grenell, the U.S. ambassador to Germany and a Trump ally, would replace Maguire as acting DNI.
Nunes has sued other news outlets for reports he claimed were false, including a $435 million defamation suit against CNN over a story that alleged the congressman met with a fired Ukrainian prosecutor in an effort to dig up dirt on Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--White House Report Card: Trump winning the Democratic race

President Trump had a mixed week , raising some controversy with a series of pardons and commutations and his reaction to new reports of Russian election meddling , but gaining satisfaction in a series of positive polls that suggest many voters are looking past controversies .
In focus all week has been the 2020 election , and Trump traveled the country to give rallies before cheering crowds and talk up some of his achievements — for example , focusing on criminal justice reform .
Meanwhile , Democrats bloodied each other in a debate battle ahead of Saturday ’ s Nevada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won .
Democratic pollster John Zogby noted that Trump is at his high in approval polls , and conservative analyst Jed Babbin suggested that the 2020 Democrats are digging their hole deeper .
Lots going on this week .
On the negative side for President Trump , Congress heard testimony that there is evidence that Russia is supporting his reelection campaign .
His political consigliere Roger Stone was sentenced to 40 months in prison for obstruction of justice , and the president admitted that Stone would probably be exonerated before an expected pardon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department and welcoming questions about a president who sees himself as either above the law or simply as the law .
On the positive side , the average of the last six polls shows Trump with a 47 % approval rating , including another 49 % by Gallup alone , 45 % showing that they are satisfied with how things are going in the country , and 43 % of independents approving of Trump 's job performance .
And then , there was the “ Bloomberg Bungle , ” the poor showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his first Democratic debate .
President Trump had a rocky week that saw him pardon or commute sentences of some worthy and unworthy types , a growing conflict with Attorney General William Barr , and the Democrats ' revival of the totally bizarre theory that Russia is trying to help him get reelected .
Among the pardons and commutations Trump granted were for former Illinois Gov .
Rod Blagojevich , junk bond king Michael Millken , and former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik .
Blagojevich , who had served eight years of a 14-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barack Obama ’ s Senate seat , instantly proclaimed himself a “ Trump-ocrat.
” Barr had said that Trump ’ s tweeting was making it impossible for him to do his job , but that didn ’ t stop Trump from attacking the Justice Department and the presiding judge in the Stone case .
Trump can ’ t afford to lose Barr , so why is he ignoring Barr ’ s admonition ?
One attack on the DOJ and its lawyers follows another .
Whoever is telling Trump to calm things down is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly was briefed by acting Director of National Intelligence Adm. Joe Maguire that Russia was trying to help get Trump reelected , and the committee promptly leaked the idea to the New York Times .
Is the intelligence community so credulous as to really believe that ?
With socialist Bernie Sanders and liberal pushovers such as Mike Bloomberg and Sen. Elizabeth Warren running , it ’ s impossible to believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin would prefer Trump to any of them .
After the leak , Trump quickly replaced Maguire with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is the most faithful Trump loyalist of all .
But Grenell will not be in that position long , as the White House is searching for another loyalist to run the intelligence community .
Trump ’ s relationship with the intelligence agencies is very sour and not getting better .
Meanwhile , the Democrats had another primary debate in which Trump won .
It ’ s hard to see how the candidates are going to dig their way out of the hole they ’ ve dug for themselves .
And they keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Zogby Poll and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies .
His weekly podcast with son and partner Jeremy Zogby can be heard here .
Follow him on Twitter @ ZogbyStrategies Jed Babbin is a Washington Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of former President George H.W .
Bush .
Follow him on Twitter @ jedbabbin

President Trump had a mixed week, raising some controversy with a series of pardons and commutations and his reaction to new reports of Russian election meddling, but gaining satisfaction in a series of positive polls that suggest many voters are looking past controversies.
In focus all week has been the 2020 election, and Trump traveled the country to give rallies before cheering crowds and talk up some of his achievements — for example, focusing on criminal justice reform. Meanwhile, Democrats bloodied each other in a debate battle ahead of Saturday’s Nevada caucuses that candidate Michael Bloomberg said Trump won.
Democratic pollster John Zogby noted that Trump is at his high in approval polls, and conservative analyst Jed Babbin suggested that the 2020 Democrats are digging their hole deeper.
John Zogby
Grade C+
Lots going on this week. On the negative side for President Trump, Congress heard testimony that there is evidence that Russia is supporting his reelection campaign. His political consigliere Roger Stone was sentenced to 40 months in prison for obstruction of justice, and the president admitted that Stone would probably be exonerated before an expected pardon — further throwing shade at his own Justice Department and welcoming questions about a president who sees himself as either above the law or simply as the law.
On the positive side, the average of the last six polls shows Trump with a 47% approval rating, including another 49% by Gallup alone, 45% showing that they are satisfied with how things are going in the country, and 43% of independents approving of Trump's job performance. And then, there was the “Bloomberg Bungle,” the poor showing by Bloomberg as a presidential candidate in his first Democratic debate.
Jed Babbin
Grade C-
President Trump had a rocky week that saw him pardon or commute sentences of some worthy and unworthy types, a growing conflict with Attorney General William Barr, and the Democrats' revival of the totally bizarre theory that Russia is trying to help him get reelected.
Among the pardons and commutations Trump granted were for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, junk bond king Michael Millken, and former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik. Blagojevich, who had served eight years of a 14-year sentence for trying to sell former President Barack Obama’s Senate seat, instantly proclaimed himself a “Trump-ocrat.”
.@RichardGrenell is my friend and a tremendous public servant. His appointment by @realDonaldTrump is historic, making him the first openly gay cabinet member in history. His identity is not a qualification anymore than mine is, but it’s quite significant and makes me proud! 🇺🇸🏳🌈 https://t.co/Uq49zTk8D4 — Judd Deere (@JuddPDeere45) February 20, 2020
Barr had said that Trump’s tweeting was making it impossible for him to do his job, but that didn’t stop Trump from attacking the Justice Department and the presiding judge in the Stone case. Trump can’t afford to lose Barr, so why is he ignoring Barr’s admonition? One attack on the DOJ and its lawyers follows another. Whoever is telling Trump to calm things down is being ignored.
The House Intelligence Committee reportedly was briefed by acting Director of National Intelligence Adm. Joe Maguire that Russia was trying to help get Trump reelected, and the committee promptly leaked the idea to the New York Times. Is the intelligence community so credulous as to really believe that? With socialist Bernie Sanders and liberal pushovers such as Mike Bloomberg and Sen. Elizabeth Warren running, it’s impossible to believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin would prefer Trump to any of them. After the leak, Trump quickly replaced Maguire with his ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, who is the most faithful Trump loyalist of all. But Grenell will not be in that position long, as the White House is searching for another loyalist to run the intelligence community. Trump’s relationship with the intelligence agencies is very sour and not getting better.
Meanwhile, the Democrats had another primary debate in which Trump won. It’s hard to see how the candidates are going to dig their way out of the hole they’ve dug for themselves. And they keep digging.
John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Poll and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His weekly podcast with son and partner Jeremy Zogby can be heard here. Follow him on Twitter @ZogbyStrategies
Jed Babbin is a Washington Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on Twitter @jedbabbin


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-23--‘Fueling conspiracy theories’: Buttigieg campaign compares Sanders ‘toxic politics’ to Trump

Pete Buttigieg 's presidential campaign compared primary rival Bernie Sanders to President Trump for his criticism of news reports that Russia hopes to boost Sanders 's presidential campaign .
`` He suggested the Washington Post was trying to hurt his campaign by reporting on what the Russians were doing , '' said top aide for the former South Bend , Indiana , mayor 's presidential campaign Hari Sevugan in an email to supporters on Saturday .
`` It ’ s telling of the kind of politics we ’ re in for in Bernie ’ s vision of the future : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the free press when they write something you don ’ t like , more attacks on anyone who doesn ’ t agree with you 100 % of the time . ''
`` There ’ s nothing progressive about attacking a free press or fueling conspiracy theories .
In fact , it ’ s undemocratic , '' Sevugan said .
`` We can ’ t afford four more years of the same kind of toxic politics , whether it ’ s coming from Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders . ''
The Washington Post reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign was briefed on Russian efforts to assist his presidential bid , but it was not clear how .
Sanders , 78 , suggested that the news broke the day before Nevada 's Democratic caucuses in order to harm his campaign .
“ I ’ ll let you guess about one day before the , the Nevada caucus .
Why do you think it came out ? ''
Sanders told reporters on Friday .
When informed of the outlet that reported it , he said , “ It was the Washington Post ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , Sanders said that he stands `` firmly against their efforts , and any other foreign power that wants to interfere in our election . ''

Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign compared primary rival Bernie Sanders to President Trump for his criticism of news reports that Russia hopes to boost Sanders's presidential campaign.
"He suggested the Washington Post was trying to hurt his campaign by reporting on what the Russians were doing," said top aide for the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor's presidential campaign Hari Sevugan in an email to supporters on Saturday. "It’s telling of the kind of politics we’re in for in Bernie’s vision of the future: More conspiracy theories, more attacks undermining the free press when they write something you don’t like, more attacks on anyone who doesn’t agree with you 100% of the time."
"There’s nothing progressive about attacking a free press or fueling conspiracy theories. In fact, it’s undemocratic," Sevugan said. "We can’t afford four more years of the same kind of toxic politics, whether it’s coming from Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders."
The Washington Post reported Friday that the Vermont senator's presidential campaign was briefed on Russian efforts to assist his presidential bid, but it was not clear how.
Sanders, 78, suggested that the news broke the day before Nevada's Democratic caucuses in order to harm his campaign.
“I’ll let you guess about one day before the, the Nevada caucus. Why do you think it came out?" Sanders told reporters on Friday. When informed of the outlet that reported it, he said, “It was the Washington Post? Good friends.”
In a statement on Friday, Sanders said that he stands "firmly against their efforts, and any other foreign power that wants to interfere in our election."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--Bernie Sanders holds wide lead in Nevada caucuses

Bernie Sanders took a strong lead in the Nevada caucuses and is on pace to win the most delegates , giving the Vermont senator more ammunition to argue he 's the front-runner in the 2020 Democratic nomination fight .
Sanders on Saturday was winning more than 50 % in the Nevada caucuses in early results , providing a critical boost to his bid heading into the South Carolina primary in less than a week , and a slew of contests days after on Super Tuesday , March 3 .
No 2020 Democratic rival of Sanders came close in early voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faring a distant second with just under 18 % , followed by single-digit performances from Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg , billionaire Tom Steyer , and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar .
But it was a closer fight for delegates to the Democratic National Convention , in Milwaukee , Wisconsin July 13-16 .
With 10 percent of precincts reporting , Sanders led with 29.3 percent of delegates .
Warren was second at 18.7 percent .
Biden and Buttigieg were tied for third at 17.3 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the summer convention , with a total of 1,991 delegates pledged to a candidate needed to win on the first round of voting .
The Nevada caucuses carry special weight in the Democratic nominating process , as the state is far more diverse and representative of the American population than the first two voting states , Iowa and New Hampshire .
Whites accounted for 66 % of caucusgoers in Nevada , per preliminary entrance poll results , compared with about 90 % in Iowa and New Hampshire .
Hispanics made up 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters made up 10 % .
The eight candidates in the race , seeking the right to challenge President Trump , have spent months in Las Vegas and Reno , courting voters and trying to build up their campaign organizations .
Nevada allows early voting in its caucuses , and many voters took advantage .
Turnout was relatively light in precincts on Saturday .
But overall voting is up significantly from 2016 , suggesting a wave of enthusiasm among Democrats eager to beat Trump .
The Nevada caucuses roiled from the lack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union .
Nevada is arguably the state where unions have the biggest political clout , and the union 's backing can make or break candidacies .
The nonendorsement was seen as a blow to Sanders .
Union members argued their recently renegotiated group healthcare plan would be threatened by his push for a `` Medicare for all '' system , which would effectively eliminate private health insurance .
Nevada also proved to be a turning point in campaign tactics , with candidates going decidedly more negative in their debate last Tuesday than in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pulled no punches against each other , though Sanders was not their main target .
Anger , outrage , and indignation coursed through the two-hour affair — spurred in part by the first debate appearance by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg , whom rivals accuse of trying to buy the election with his wealth .
Trump on Saturday taunted Democrats over the prospect of Sanders as their nominee .
`` Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing well in the Great State of Nevada .
Biden & the rest look weak , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his campaign after the worst debate performance in the history of Presidential Debates .
Congratulations Bernie , & don ’ t let them take it away from you ! ''
Trump tweeted .

Bernie Sanders won the Nevada caucuses and is on pace to win the most delegates, giving the Vermont senator more ammunition to argue he's the front-runner in the 2020 Democratic nomination fight.
Sanders on Saturday was winning about 45% of caucus support in early results, per calls by NBC News and Fox News. That provides a critical boost to his bid heading into the South Carolina primary in less than a week and a slew of contests days after on Super Tuesday, March 3.
No 2020 Democratic rival of Sanders came close in early voting, with former Vice President Joe Biden faring a distant second with just under 19%. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg battled for third place, with billionaire Tom Steyer, and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar further back in the single digits.
But it was a closer fight for delegates to the Democratic National Convention, which will be in Milwaukee on July 13-16. With 10% of precincts reporting, Sanders led with 29.3% of delegates. Warren was second at 18.7%. Biden and Buttigieg were tied for third at 17.3% each.
Nevada will send 36 delegates to the summer convention, with a total of 1,991 delegates pledged to a candidate needed to win on the first round of voting.
"In Nevada, we have just put together a multigenerational, multiracial coalition that is not only going to win in New Hampshire, it's going to sweep this country," Sanders said at a campaign rally in Texas, which holds its primary on March 3. "Our volunteers are prepared to knock on hundreds of thousands of doors, and no campaign has a grassroots movement like we do."
Sanders, 78, then took aim at President Trump, who he hopes to face in the fall.
"The American people are sick and tired of a president who lies all the time. They're sick and tired of a corrupt administration. They're sick and tired of a president who is undermining American democracy, who thinks he is above the law, and apparently has never read the Constitution."
The Nevada caucuses carry special weight in the Democratic nominating process, as the state is far more diverse and representative of the American population than the first two voting states, Iowa and New Hampshire. Whites accounted for 66% of caucusgoers in Nevada, per preliminary entrance poll results, compared with about 90% in Iowa and New Hampshire. Hispanics made up 17% of Nevada participants, and black voters made up 10%.
The eight candidates in the race, seeking the right to challenge President Trump, have spent months in Las Vegas and Reno, courting voters and trying to build up their campaign organizations.
Nevada allows early voting in its caucuses, and many voters took advantage. Turnout was relatively light in precincts on Saturday. But overall voting is up significantly from 2016, suggesting a wave of enthusiasm among Democrats eager to beat Trump.
The Nevada caucuses roiled from the lack of a candidate endorsement by the Culinary Workers Union. Nevada is arguably the state where unions have the biggest political clout, and the union's backing can make or break candidacies. The nonendorsement was seen as a blow to Sanders. Union members argued their recently renegotiated group healthcare plan would be threatened by his push for a "Medicare for all" system, which would effectively eliminate private health insurance.
Nevada also proved to be a turning point in campaign tactics, with candidates going decidedly more negative in their debate last Tuesday than in earlier faceoffs. Six candidates on stage pulled no punches against each other, though Sanders was not their main target. Anger, outrage, and indignation coursed through the two-hour affair — spurred in part by the first debate appearance by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whom rivals accuse of trying to buy the election with his wealth.
Trump on Saturday taunted Democrats over the prospect of Sanders as their nominee.
"Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing well in the Great State of Nevada. Biden & the rest look weak, & no way Mini Mike can restart his campaign after the worst debate performance in the history of Presidential Debates. Congratulations Bernie, & don’t let them take it away from you!" Trump tweeted.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--MSNBC's Chris Matthews speculates Democrats may be better off with Trump as president than Sanders

MSNBC host Chris Matthews wondered if the Democratic Party would be better off if President Trump wins reelection rather than if Sen. Bernie Sanders takes over the White House .
Matthews , 74 , brought up the possibility that centrist Democrats may prefer Trump over the socialist Sanders during the network 's Saturday afternoon coverage of the Nevada caucuses .
The host of Hardball with Chris Matthews was leading a conversation about how centrist candidates were splitting the vote , likely a detriment to one another but a benefit for Sanders .
`` I ’ m wondering whether the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` That ’ s maybe too exciting a question to raise .
They don ’ t like Trump at all .
Do they want Bernie Sanders to take over the Democratic Party in perpetuity ?
I mean , he takes it over , he sets the direction of the future of the party — maybe they ’ d rather wait four years and put in a Democrat that they like . ''
`` I mean , that ’ s the big question , right ? ''
Adrienne Elrod @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton , responded .
`` And you know , the narrative that you ’ re starting to see play out , Chris , is that there are people that are concerned , strategists that are concerned that Bernie Sanders being at the top of the ticket will force us to lose the House .
I don ’ t necessarily think that ’ s the case . ''
Matthews has frequently disparaged the Vermont senator in recent days , accusing Sanders of being `` full of it '' and arguing that he 'd be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got elected .
He has also predicted that Sanders would lose 49 states if he went up against Trump in the general election .
The network host also warned his viewers about candidates who support socialism .
`` You know , I have my own views of the word 'socialist , ' '' Matthews said earlier this month .
`` They go back to the early 1950s .
I have an attitude about them .
I remember the Cold War .
I have an attitude towards Castro .
I believe if Castro and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there would have been executions in Central Park , and I might have been one of the ones getting executed , and certain other people would be there cheering , OK ?
So , I have a problem with people who took the other side . ''
Sanders reportedly berated MSNBC executives earlier this week for what he perceived to be unfair treatment from the network .

MSNBC host Chris Matthews wondered if the Democratic Party would be better off if President Trump wins reelection rather than if Sen. Bernie Sanders takes over the White House.
Matthews, 74, brought up the possibility that centrist Democrats may prefer Trump over the socialist Sanders during the network's Saturday afternoon coverage of the Nevada caucuses. The host of Hardball with Chris Matthews was leading a conversation about how centrist candidates were splitting the vote, likely a detriment to one another but a benefit for Sanders.
"I’m wondering whether the Democratic moderates want Bernie Sanders to be president," he said. "That’s maybe too exciting a question to raise. They don’t like Trump at all. Do they want Bernie Sanders to take over the Democratic Party in perpetuity? I mean, he takes it over, he sets the direction of the future of the party — maybe they’d rather wait four years and put in a Democrat that they like."
"I mean, that’s the big question, right?" Adrienne Elrod, a former senior adviser to Hillary Clinton, responded. "And you know, the narrative that you’re starting to see play out, Chris, is that there are people that are concerned, strategists that are concerned that Bernie Sanders being at the top of the ticket will force us to lose the House. I don’t necessarily think that’s the case."
Matthews has frequently disparaged the Vermont senator in recent days, accusing Sanders of being "full of it" and arguing that he'd be a "miserable president" if he got elected. He has also predicted that Sanders would lose 49 states if he went up against Trump in the general election.
The network host also warned his viewers about candidates who support socialism.
"You know, I have my own views of the word 'socialist,'" Matthews said earlier this month. "They go back to the early 1950s. I have an attitude about them. I remember the Cold War. I have an attitude towards Castro. I believe if Castro and the Reds had won the Cold War, there would have been executions in Central Park, and I might have been one of the ones getting executed, and certain other people would be there cheering, OK? So, I have a problem with people who took the other side."
Sanders reportedly berated MSNBC executives earlier this week for what he perceived to be unfair treatment from the network.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--'Are we a Third World country?': Laura Ingraham mocks Democrats for not committing to same-day Nevad

'Are we a Third World country?': Laura Ingraham mocks Democrats for not committing to same-day Nevada results

Fox News host Laura Ingraham chastised the Democratic Party 's leadership after officials in Nevada refused to promise they would be able to announce a winner of the caucuses by the end of the night on Saturday .
`` It looks like Democrats could be facing a repeat of the fiasco we saw in Iowa two weeks back , if you can believe it , '' Ingraham on her show Friday night .
`` Are we a Third World country ? ''
she said .
`` We ca n't announce the election results the night of the election ? ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press this week that he could not commit to announcing the voting results on Saturday night because of early voting and anticipated high turnout .
“ We ’ re going to do our best to release results as soon as possible , but our North Star , again , is accuracy , ” Perez said on Tuesday .
Issues have already begun to arise , as 1,000 early votes were due to integrity concerns including a lack of signatures , which Ingraham highlighted .
Nevada 's contest comes on the heels of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems with a pricey smartphone app .
Troy Price , the Iowa Democratic Party chairman , resigned after the debacle .
“ The fact is that Democrats deserved better than what happened on caucus night , ” Price delivered to the state party .
“ As chair of this party , I am deeply sorry for what happened and bear the responsibility for any failures on behalf of the Iowa Democratic Party .

Fox News host Laura Ingraham chastised the Democratic Party's leadership after officials in Nevada refused to promise they would be able to announce a winner of the caucuses by the end of the night on Saturday.
"It looks like Democrats could be facing a repeat of the fiasco we saw in Iowa two weeks back, if you can believe it," Ingraham said on her show Friday night.
"Are we a Third World country?" she said. "We can't announce the election results the night of the election?"
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez told the Associated Press this week that he could not commit to announcing the voting results on Saturday night because of early voting and anticipated high turnout.
“We’re going to do our best to release results as soon as possible, but our North Star, again, is accuracy,” Perez said on Tuesday.
Issues have already begun to arise, as 1,000 early votes were voided due to integrity concerns including a lack of signatures, which Ingraham highlighted.
Nevada's contest comes on the heels of the messy Iowa caucuses, which faced problems with a pricey smartphone app.
Troy Price, the Iowa Democratic Party chairman, resigned after the debacle.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--Caucus chaos: Nevada Democrats short on volunteers for caucuses

LAS VEGAS — The Nevada caucuses are off to a shaky start as the state Democratic Party says it 's short on volunteers to help run the third nominating contest of the 2020 cycle .
Representatives from multiple campaigns told the Washington Examiner that a number of Silver State caucus sites do not have enough volunteers , and local party officials are scrambling to find replacements .
Other reports from the state show that some caucus sites do n't have registrations or early ballots yet .
`` Nevada Democratic Party officials are telling us and other campaigns that there 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and so they are asking representatives of campaigns to act as precinct chairs — which only underscores the poor preparations for these caucuses , '' said an official from one Democratic campaign .
The early news out of a number of caucus sites is reminiscent of the disastrous Iowa caucuses , which suffered from a massive technological failure that delayed results for weeks after the contest ended .
It took nearly a week for the Iowa Democratic Party to finalize results , which found a near-tie between Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pete Buttigieg .
Both campaigns are still disputing the results .
The Nevada Democratic Party quickly scrapped plans to use the same vote-reporting app as the one in Iowa .
Instead , the party will depend on traditional reporting methods like phones .
Caucus volunteers were asked to sign a lengthy nondisclosure agreement on Friday , which prohibited them from saying anything that may “ impair or otherwise adversely affect the goodwill or reputation , '' according to a Washington Post report .

LAS VEGAS — The Nevada caucuses are off to a shaky start as the state Democratic Party says it's short on volunteers to help run the third nominating contest of the 2020 cycle.
Representatives from multiple campaigns told the Washington Examiner that a number of Silver State caucus sites do not have enough volunteers, and local party officials are scrambling to find replacements. Other reports from the state show that some caucus sites don't have registrations or early ballots yet.
"Nevada Democratic Party officials are telling us and other campaigns that there's a deficit of volunteers across the state, and so they are asking representatives of campaigns to act as precinct chairs — which only underscores the poor preparations for these caucuses," said an official from one Democratic campaign.
The early news out of a number of caucus sites is reminiscent of the disastrous Iowa caucuses, which suffered from a massive technological failure that delayed results for weeks after the contest ended. It took nearly a week for the Iowa Democratic Party to finalize results, which found a near-tie between Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Both campaigns are still disputing the results.
The Nevada Democratic Party quickly scrapped plans to use the same vote-reporting app as the one in Iowa. Instead, the party will depend on traditional reporting methods like phones.
Caucus volunteers were asked to sign a lengthy nondisclosure agreement on Friday, which prohibited them from saying anything that may “impair or otherwise adversely affect the goodwill or reputation," according to a Washington Post report.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--'Silent coup': Rush Limbaugh says 'deep state' using 'every weapon' to defeat Trump

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh accused `` deep state '' actors of using `` every weapon '' against President Trump ahead of this year 's election .
Speaking on his show Friday , Limbaugh slammed a New York Times article published last week that said Russia is interfering in the 2020 contest .
The longtime Republican castigated the national security apparatus for allowing leaks to subvert Trump 's presidency .
`` What they 've tried with Trump here , this whole Russia meddling , Trump colluding , this whole thing is a gigantic lie , a totally bogus hoax , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Why should we believe about these people ? ''
`` These are the people that told us there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq , '' he said , referring to the intelligence failure that led to the Iraq War .
`` I think there was as much resentment in the deep state , we just did n't call it that then , for George W. Bush as there is today for Donald Trump . ''
Trump awarded Limbaugh with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at this month 's State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ host revealed he had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer .
Limbaugh was criticized weeks after receiving the award for suggesting Trump would easily defeat former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg in a general election matchup because he is gay .

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh accused "deep state" actors of using "every weapon" against President Trump ahead of this year's election.
Speaking on his show Friday, Limbaugh slammed a New York Times article published last week that said Russia is interfering in the 2020 contest. The longtime Republican castigated the national security apparatus for allowing leaks to subvert Trump's presidency.
"What they've tried with Trump here, this whole Russia meddling, Trump colluding, this whole thing is a gigantic lie, a totally bogus hoax, a silent coup," Limbaugh said. "Why should we believe about these people?"
"These are the people that told us there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," he said, referring to the intelligence failure that led to the Iraq War. "I think there was as much resentment in the deep state, we just didn't call it that then, for George W. Bush as there is today for Donald Trump."
Trump awarded Limbaugh with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at this month's State of the Union address after the radio host revealed he had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Limbaugh was criticized weeks after receiving the award for suggesting Trump would easily defeat former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg in a general election matchup because he is gay.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--Bernie Sanders berated MSNBC executives before Las Vegas debate: Report

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont reportedly berated NBC and MSNBC executives ahead of last week 's presidential debate , complaining about the network 's coverage of his campaign .
The report that the 2020 presidential hopeful yelled at top officials for the outlet is another example of the fraught relationship between Sanders and the network .
Sanders stormed into the staging area for Wednesday 's primary debate in Las Vegas , according to a New York Post report quoting an unnamed witness .
“ Bernie marched right up to NBC and MSNBC ’ s head of creative production and began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , yelling , ‘ Your coverage of my campaign is not fair ...
Your questions tonight are not going to be fair to me , ’ '' to which the executive told the candidate he 'd `` be treated fairly , '' the source recounted .
The socialist also said he was `` upset '' because the `` network has not been playing a fair role in this campaign '' to MSNBC President Phil Griffin , according to a different anonymous insider .
Sanders 's campaign has faced criticism from the network .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a body-language expert on her show who claimed the senator 's posture proved he was “ lying ” in regards to a viral moment on the debate stage between him and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts .
On the day of the Iowa caucuses , network anchor Chris Matthews declared Sanders is `` not going to be president . ''
Days later , he once again attacked Sanders and said , “ I have my own views of the word socialist , and I ’ d be glad to share them … They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have an attitude about them .
I remember the Cold War.
” This commentary from the network led Faiz Shakir , Sanders 's campaign manager , to argue Fox News has been “ more fair than MSNBC . ''
“ Fox is often yelling about Bernie Sanders ’ s socialism , but they ’ re still giving our campaign the opportunity to make our case in a fair manner , unlike MSNBC , which has credibility with the Left and is constantly undermining the Bernie Sanders campaign , ” he added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nicolle Wallace , who served as White House communications director in the George W. Bush administration , said she would `` gladly and easily '' vote for Sanders if he won the primary .

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont reportedly berated NBC and MSNBC executives ahead of last week's presidential debate, complaining about the network's coverage of his campaign.
The report that the 2020 presidential hopeful yelled at top officials for the outlet is another example of the fraught relationship between Sanders and the network.
Sanders stormed into the staging area for Wednesday's primary debate in Las Vegas, according to a New York Post report quoting an unnamed witness. “Bernie marched right up to NBC and MSNBC’s head of creative production and began jabbing his finger right in his face, yelling, ‘Your coverage of my campaign is not fair ... Your questions tonight are not going to be fair to me,’" to which the executive told the candidate he'd "be treated fairly," the source recounted.
The socialist also said he was "upset" because the "network has not been playing a fair role in this campaign" to MSNBC President Phil Griffin, according to a different anonymous insider.
Sanders's campaign has faced criticism from the network.
Last month, host Joy Reid had a body-language expert on her show who claimed the senator's posture proved he was “lying” in regards to a viral moment on the debate stage between him and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
On the day of the Iowa caucuses, network anchor Chris Matthews declared Sanders is "not going to be president." Days later, he once again attacked Sanders and said, “I have my own views of the word socialist, and I’d be glad to share them … They go back to the early 1950s. I have an attitude about them. I remember the Cold War.”
This commentary from the network led Faiz Shakir, Sanders's campaign manager, to argue Fox News has been “more fair than MSNBC."
“Fox is often yelling about Bernie Sanders’s socialism, but they’re still giving our campaign the opportunity to make our case in a fair manner, unlike MSNBC, which has credibility with the Left and is constantly undermining the Bernie Sanders campaign,” he added.
Still, Deadline: White House anchor Nicolle Wallace, who served as White House communications director in the George W. Bush administration, said she would "gladly and easily" vote for Sanders if he won the primary.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--Ex-ambassador disputes Biden story of getting arrested during South Africa visit

A former U.S. ambassador said he ca n't recall Joe Biden getting arrested during a visit to South Africa in the 1970s , which the vice president and presidential candidate has claimed in recent weeks .
Andrew Young , a former congressman and mayor of Atlanta who served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations between 1977 and 1979 and extensively traveled with Biden , cast doubt on the story the former senator has been telling at campaign stops about the two of them being arrested on the streets of Johannesburg .
“ No , I was never arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was , either , ” Young told the New York Times .
“ Now , people were being arrested in Washington .
I don ’ t think there was ever a situation where congressmen were arrested in South Africa.
” Biden , 77 , did not mention the arrest in his 2007 memoir , which touched on his trips to South Africa in the '70s , and the New York Times could n't find any reference to his arrest in the paper 's archives .
“ This day , 30 years ago , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entered into discussions about apartheid , ” Biden told a crowd during a campaign event in South Carolina .
“ I had the great honor of meeting him .
I had the great honor of being arrested with our U.N. ambassador on the streets of Soweto trying to get to see him on Robbens Island.
” Biden , who has struggled in early Democratic primary contests , added more context to the story when he shared that Mandela had visited him in Washington and thanked the Delaware Democrat for getting `` arrested trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he got free and became president , he came to Washington and came to my office , ” Biden said of Mandela at a brunch in Las Vegas this week .
“ He threw his arms around me and said , ‘ I want to say thank you.
’ I said , ‘ What are you thanking me for , Mr. President ?
’ He said , ‘ You tried to see me .
You got arrested trying to see me.
’ ” The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to questions about @ @ @ @ @ @

A former U.S. ambassador said he can't recall Joe Biden getting arrested during a visit to South Africa in the 1970s, which the vice president and presidential candidate has claimed in recent weeks.
Andrew Young, a former congressman and mayor of Atlanta who served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations between 1977 and 1979 and extensively traveled with Biden, cast doubt on the story the former senator has been telling at campaign stops about the two of them being arrested on the streets of Johannesburg.
“No, I was never arrested and I don’t think he was, either,” Young told the New York Times. “Now, people were being arrested in Washington. I don’t think there was ever a situation where congressmen were arrested in South Africa.”
Biden, 77, did not mention the arrest in his 2007 memoir, which touched on his trips to South Africa in the '70s, and the New York Times couldn't find any reference to his arrest in the paper's archives.
“This day, 30 years ago, Nelson Mandela walked out of prison and entered into discussions about apartheid,” Biden told a crowd during a campaign event in South Carolina. “I had the great honor of meeting him. I had the great honor of being arrested with our U.N. ambassador on the streets of Soweto trying to get to see him on Robbens Island.”
Biden, who has struggled in early Democratic primary contests, added more context to the story when he shared that Mandela had visited him in Washington and thanked the Delaware Democrat for getting "arrested trying to see me."
“After he got free and became president, he came to Washington and came to my office,” Biden said of Mandela at a brunch in Las Vegas this week. “He threw his arms around me and said, ‘I want to say thank you.’ I said, ‘What are you thanking me for, Mr. President?’ He said, ‘You tried to see me. You got arrested trying to see me.’”
The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to questions about his story of being arrested.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-22--Glenn Greenwald: 'Full-on war' to prevent Bernie Sanders from winning Democratic nomination

A leading journalist said the Democratic establishment is doing `` everything '' in its power to stop Sen. Bernie Sanders from winning the 2020 Democratic nomination .
Glenn Greenwald , a co-founder of the Intercept who worked with former CIA subcontractor Edward Snowden to expose National Security Agency leaks in 2013 , criticized Democrats and the American media apparatus at large for attempting to sabotage Sanders 's election prospects after a report said U.S. officials told his campaign the Russians may be attempting to help get the Vermont senator to win the Democratic primaries .
`` I hope everyone understands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling his & how uniquely popular he is , there will be a full-on war to stop Bernie , '' Greenwald tweeted hours before voting begins in the Nevada caucus .
On Friday , the Washington Post published a report claiming Russia is attempting to interfere in the 2020 election on behalf of Sanders , following reports that the Kremlin is working to get President Trump reelected .
Sanders flamed conspiracy theories surrounding the timing of the report , saying , `` I 'll let you guess about , one day before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it came out ?
The Washington Post ?
Good friends . ''
Sanders , who won the New Hampshire primary and barely lost the Iowa caucus , leads in Nevada polling and could win enough delegates on Super Tuesday to place himself firmly atop the field as early favorites Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden have faded .
`` These kind of people - the Dem establishment & its institutions - will do *everything* to prevent his winning .
Their power is at stake , '' Greenwald added .
Greenwald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Brazilian government and is known as a free-speech absolutist who refuses political identification .
In January , Brazilian authorities charged Greenwald with cybercrimes and said he was `` working with criminal organizations '' to release sensitive documents relating to Brazilian politicians .
Greenwald denied wrongdoing , and a judge rejected the hacking accusations the journalist faced .

A leading journalist said the Democratic establishment is doing "everything" in its power to stop Sen. Bernie Sanders from winning the 2020 Democratic nomination.
Glenn Greenwald, a co-founder of the Intercept who worked with former CIA subcontractor Edward Snowden to expose National Security Agency leaks in 2013, criticized Democrats and the American media apparatus at large for attempting to sabotage Sanders's election prospects after a report said U.S. officials told his campaign the Russians may be attempting to help get the Vermont senator to win the Democratic primaries.
"I hope everyone understands that, no matter how great his polling his & how uniquely popular he is, there will be a full-on war to stop Bernie," Greenwald tweeted hours before voting begins in the Nevada caucus.
I hope everyone understands that, no matter how great his polling his & how uniquely popular he is, there will be a full-on war to stop Bernie.
These kind of people - the Dem establishment & its institutions - will do *everything* to prevent his winning. Their power is at stake: https://t.co/dNzBnzPTOD — Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 22, 2020
On Friday, the Washington Post published a report claiming Russia is attempting to interfere in the 2020 election on behalf of Sanders, following reports that the Kremlin is working to get President Trump reelected. Sanders flamed conspiracy theories surrounding the timing of the report, saying, "I'll let you guess about, one day before the Nevada caucus, why do you think it came out? The Washington Post? Good friends."
Sanders, who won the New Hampshire primary and barely lost the Iowa caucus, leads in Nevada polling and could win enough delegates on Super Tuesday to place himself firmly atop the field as early favorites Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden have faded.
"These kind of people - the Dem establishment & its institutions - will do *everything* to prevent his winning. Their power is at stake," Greenwald added.
Greenwald has worked to expose criminal layers in the Brazilian government and is known as a free-speech absolutist who refuses political identification.
In January, Brazilian authorities charged Greenwald with cybercrimes and said he was "working with criminal organizations" to release sensitive documents relating to Brazilian politicians. Greenwald denied wrongdoing, and a judge rejected the hacking accusations the journalist faced.