thelibertydaily--2020-12-09--State Department Viewed Burisma Lobbying Campaign as ‘Aggressive, Threatening, Bullying’

Newly declassified State Department memos show the U.S. embassy in Ukraine was deeply concerned by a lobbying campaign being waged by the Hunter Biden-connected Burisma Holdings gas firm and its allies , describing one contact shortly before the 2016 election as `` aggressive , threatening , bullying . ''
The memos — released to Just the News and the conservative Citizens United watchdog under separate Freedom of Information Act lawsuits — show State officials were acutely aware of the sensitivities of rebuffing a pressure campaign carried out by the Ukrainian natural gas firm that had hired then-Vice President Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embassy 's deputy economic counselor sent an email two weeks after Donald Trump won the presidency in November 2016 detailing efforts by Burisma 's founder Nikolay Zlochevsky to clear his company of long-pending corruption allegations .
It noted Hunter Biden 's longtime business partner and fellow Burisma board member , Devon Archer , had been indicted in the U.S. on fraud charges , adding to Burisma 's woes in trying to settle its corruption case with the newly installed Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko .
`` Despite his ruined name in Ukraine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly with us , '' the State official wrote on Nov. 22 , 2016 .
`` He has been sending letters to Ambassadors [ Marie ] Yovanovitch and [ Geoffrey ] Pyatt for months asserting his innocence .
We have declined to get involved .
`` I should note that there were two American members of the Burisma board : Hunter Biden and Devon Archer .
Archer was recently indicted in a federal fraud case . ''
Just a few months earlier , the embassy 's charge de affairs George P. Kent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and others an extraordinary confrontational call he had with Sally Painter of Blue Star Strategies , the U.S. firm Burisma had hired to help resolve its corruption issues in Ukraine .
At the time , Blue Star was courting Lutsenko — the prosecutor who eventually settled the Burisma case with a modest fine — by offering to bring him to the United States and introduce him to State and Justice officials and top officials of Hillary Clinton 's campaign , the memos show .
Kent objected to the trip , apparently triggering Painter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memos state .
`` Painter adopted a hostile , aggressive tone from the outside , and was rude and accusatory throughout , '' Kent wrote in a Sept. 6 , 2016 recap of the call .
`` It was unlike any conversation I have had in my 24 plus years in the foreign service and completely inappropriate on her part .
`` I told her , given the aggressive , threatening , bullying tone she had adopted and her misrepresentations of what I had said in the course of diplomatic discussion , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wish her good day and hang up .
I instead offered a partial reset if she were interested . ''
Kent said he offered Painter a chance for the U.S. embassy to arrange a Lutsenko trip to the U.S. at a later date , but `` Painter went back into interrogative mode . ''
Painter did not respond to repeated email requests over the last year seeking comment from Just the News .
But in a deposition with the Senate this summer , Painter acknowledged she was upset with Kent and had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including an ambassador named Dan Fried , to get advice .
She said she also tried to reach Joe Biden 's top foreign policy adviser , then-Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken , but was unsuccessful .
Blinken was recently nominated by Joe Biden to be Secretary of State if Biden assumes the presidency in January .
Asked why she was upset , she testified : `` Mr. Kent had made false allegations about Blue Star , and I was trying to get Dan 's view on the best way to handle it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , calling it brief and unproductive .
`` I asked Mr. Kent to stop making false allegations about our firm , '' she said .
`` Was he receptive to your overture ? ''
she was asked .
`` He was not , '' Painter answered .
Lutsenko eventually settled the Burisma cases in late December 2016 and early 2017 , shocking State Department officials who believed bribes had been paid .
Kent testified to the Senate he believed Hunter Biden 's role at Burisma while his father oversaw Ukraine-U.S. policy created the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned him and other State officials .
Whatever the case , the new emails provide fresh evidence that the pressure by Burisma and its defenders to end the corruption probes against it in Ukraine was far-reaching and aggressive in the final days of the Obama-Biden administration .
David Bossie , the president of Citizens United , said the release of the emails after the 2020 election deprived voters of making an informed choice about Joe Biden and illustrate why there is a need for a special prosecutor to examine the Bidens ' dealings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents , and that 's why the State Department hid them from the public until after the election , '' Bossie said .
`` These emails make clear that what 's currently known about the Obama-Biden Administration 's dealings with Burisma and Hunter Biden is just the tip of the iceberg .
The appointment of a special counsel is the only way to get to the bottom of this corruption . ''

Newly declassified State Department memos show the U.S. embassy in Ukraine was deeply concerned by a lobbying campaign being waged by the Hunter Biden-connected Burisma Holdings gas firm and its allies, describing one contact shortly before the 2016 election as "aggressive, threatening, bullying."
The memos — released to Just the News and the conservative Citizens United watchdog under separate Freedom of Information Act lawsuits — show State officials were acutely aware of the sensitivities of rebuffing a pressure campaign carried out by the Ukrainian natural gas firm that had hired then-Vice President Joe Biden's son.
For instance, the embassy's deputy economic counselor sent an email two weeks after Donald Trump won the presidency in November 2016 detailing efforts by Burisma's founder Nikolay Zlochevsky to clear his company of long-pending corruption allegations.
It noted Hunter Biden's longtime business partner and fellow Burisma board member, Devon Archer, had been indicted in the U.S. on fraud charges, adding to Burisma's woes in trying to settle its corruption case with the newly installed Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko.
"Despite his ruined name in Ukraine, Zlochevsky is actively campaigning for public rehabilitation, particularly with us," the State official wrote on Nov. 22, 2016. "He has been sending letters to Ambassadors [Marie] Yovanovitch and [Geoffrey] Pyatt for months asserting his innocence. We have declined to get involved.
"I should note that there were two American members of the Burisma board: Hunter Biden and Devon Archer. Archer was recently indicted in a federal fraud case."
Just a few months earlier, the embassy's charge de affairs George P. Kent recounted in an email sent to Yovanovitch and others an extraordinary confrontational call he had with Sally Painter of Blue Star Strategies, the U.S. firm Burisma had hired to help resolve its corruption issues in Ukraine.
At the time, Blue Star was courting Lutsenko — the prosecutor who eventually settled the Burisma case with a modest fine — by offering to bring him to the United States and introduce him to State and Justice officials and top officials of Hillary Clinton's campaign, the memos show.
Kent objected to the trip, apparently triggering Painter's wrath in the call, the memos state.
"Painter adopted a hostile, aggressive tone from the outside, and was rude and accusatory throughout," Kent wrote in a Sept. 6, 2016 recap of the call. "It was unlike any conversation I have had in my 24 plus years in the foreign service and completely inappropriate on her part.
"I told her, given the aggressive, threatening, bullying tone she had adopted and her misrepresentations of what I had said in the course of diplomatic discussion, I was within norms and my rights simply to wish her good day and hang up. I instead offered a partial reset if she were interested."
Kent said he offered Painter a chance for the U.S. embassy to arrange a Lutsenko trip to the U.S. at a later date, but "Painter went back into interrogative mode."
Painter did not respond to repeated email requests over the last year seeking comment from Just the News. But in a deposition with the Senate this summer, Painter acknowledged she was upset with Kent and had reached out to other State officials, including an ambassador named Dan Fried, to get advice.
She said she also tried to reach Joe Biden's top foreign policy adviser, then-Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken, but was unsuccessful. Blinken was recently nominated by Joe Biden to be Secretary of State if Biden assumes the presidency in January.
Asked why she was upset, she testified: "Mr. Kent had made false allegations about Blue Star, and I was trying to get Dan's view on the best way to handle it."
Painter acknowledged talking to Kent, calling it brief and unproductive.
"I asked Mr. Kent to stop making false allegations about our firm," she said.
"Was he receptive to your overture?" she was asked.
"He was not," Painter answered.
Lutsenko eventually settled the Burisma cases in late December 2016 and early 2017, shocking State Department officials who believed bribes had been paid.
Kent testified to the Senate he believed Hunter Biden's role at Burisma while his father oversaw Ukraine-U.S. policy created the appearance of a conflict of interest that concerned him and other State officials.
Whatever the case, the new emails provide fresh evidence that the pressure by Burisma and its defenders to end the corruption probes against it in Ukraine was far-reaching and aggressive in the final days of the Obama-Biden administration.
David Bossie, the president of Citizens United, said the release of the emails after the 2020 election deprived voters of making an informed choice about Joe Biden and illustrate why there is a need for a special prosecutor to examine the Bidens' dealings in Ukraine.
"These are explosive documents, and that's why the State Department hid them from the public until after the election," Bossie said. "These emails make clear that what's currently known about the Obama-Biden Administration's dealings with Burisma and Hunter Biden is just the tip of the iceberg. The appointment of a special counsel is the only way to get to the bottom of this corruption."


thelibertydaily--2020-12-09--Ex-FBI Director Clears Papa John’s Founder of Racial Bias, Slams ‘Clearly Inaccurate’ Media

In a detailed rebuke of the news media , former FBI Director Louis Freeh said his exhaustive investigation of Papa John 's founder John Schnatter found no evidence of racial animus , citing corporate transcripts that directly contradict news reports suggesting the pizza executive had criticized NFL players for kneeling during the national anthem .
`` A thorough examination … found that the public comments by Mr. Schnatter were neither intended nor can reasonably be interpreted to reflect any racial bias , prejudice , or disrespect for African Americans or people of color , '' Freeh wrote in a report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Any attempt by some media to characterize Mr. Schnatter 's statements as attacking NFL players or the basis for their protest was factually incorrect , and in effect an editorial comment by the reporting facility , '' he added .
The report , a copy of which was obtained Monday evening by Just the News , was commissioned by Schnatter 's law firm .
It provided a detailed analysis showing how false and misleading media reporting drove a cancel culture movement inside the board room , ultimately forcing Schnatter to resign in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1984 and made famous with TV commercials showcasing NFL stars .
Freeh compared the verbatim corporate transcripts where Schnatter talked about race issues in 2017 and 2018 to the news stories about the comments , exposing what he said were misleading and inaccurate reports prior to Schnatter 's resignation as chaiman .
It documented how truncated quotes and outright inaccuracies created a false public narrative .
In one instance , Freeh cited an Associated Press article headlined `` Papa John 's apologizes for criticizing NFL anthem protests '' that suggested Schnatter was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players kneeling during the national anthem . ''
Freeh pointed out that the full transcript of Schnatter 's comments during an earnings call in 2017 showed he never criticized the anthem protests at all .
Rather the iconic pizza executive criticized NFL leadership for failing to resolve `` the current debacle to the player and owner 's satisfaction , '' Freeh wrote , pulling quotes verbatim from the transcript .
In other words , Schnatter was urging that the players ' concerns be addressed and satisfied , the former FBI director argued , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Mr. Schnatter 's comments were falsely construed as criticism of the players ' 'protests ' both in print and social media , '' Freeh wrote .
`` Contrary to the clearly inaccurate reporting , as can be seen from the transcript itself , Mr. Schnatter never took issue with the players ' protest , and in fact never even mentioned the players or their race as part of the problem .
Rather , he said the problem fell squarely in the lap of NFL leadership , '' he wrote .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a request from Just the News seeking comment Monday .
Schnatter issued a statement Tuesday saying Freeh 's report `` coincides with what I have said all along – that my comments in May 2018 , which clearly reflected my total disdain for racism , were reversed and mischaracterized by the media to damage my reputation and harm the company I founded , built , and love . ''
He said `` there ’ s much more to be revealed in the near future '' from his litigation that will show there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a contractor and certain board members that led to his ouster .
Freeh described how initially inaccurate stories later were `` simply restated '' without fact checking by other media to create a false narrative about Schnatter that ultimately created public pressure for the founder to leave his company .
`` This repeated mischaracterization by some media continued to define the public reaction , as Mr. Schnatter 's comments were distorted as criticizing the NFL 's failure to curtail players kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality against people of color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Freeh said his team also conducted the equivalent of an FBI background check to see if there was any evidence over the last four decades that Schnatter harbored racist sentiments and found none .
Rather , it identified a large and vocal groups of supporters in the African-American community , he added .
`` The FGIS background investigation of Mr. Schnatter , and specifically the personal experiences and reputation he currently has with very prominent African Americans and other people of color , completely validates and corroborates the separate finding that Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animus when he made the public comments at issue , '' the report added .
`` There is no credible evidence that Mr. John Schnatter has engaged in a pattern of speech or actions which can be fairly termed as racially insensitive , prejudicial , or biased against African Americans or people of color , '' the report added .
One of the African-American leaders interviewed during the review was Dr. Samuel C. Tolbert , Jr. , the president of the National Baptist Convention of America , who approached Schnatter to support his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where Papa John 's is also based .
In a video interview accompanying the report .
Tolbert said he did a thorough review of the media allegations and found `` the news coverage was not fair to John . ''
`` The context of what John said was totally disregarded , '' Tolbert said .
`` Being a preacher , I have to preach from the Bible , and I have to be very careful about the context when I 'm preaching a text .
His remarks were taken out of context @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the things I know is that many of the black leaders in this country were not called upon by the media to respond to John 's comments .
And I believe there is some purpose behind that , because some of us who are actually black would 've been able to speak to the context of the comments . ''
The review by Freeh , a former federal judge appointed by President George H.W .
Bush and a former FBI director appointed by President Bill Clinton , provides a detailed forensic examination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's departure from the iconic pizza chain .
In so doing , it is likely to revive the debate about whether a broadening cancel culture movement in America has led to hasty and under-informed decisions driven more by media hysteria than underlying facts .
The report also is likely to be used by Schnatter in litigation .
The Papa John 's founder recently filed an amended lawsuit against his former marketing firm , Laundry Service , alleging the firm plotted to `` bury the founder if Laundry Service was not paid $ 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partially under seal but Schnattner 's lawyers are seeking a court order to make its underlying evidence public .
Freeh 's report directly analyzed an episode in which a secret tape recording from a May 2018 race-sensitivity training session conducted by Laundry Service with Schattner was leaked to the news magazine Forbes , which reported Schnatter had used the n-word during the session .
The magazine story broke shortly before Schnatter resigned as chairman .
`` 'Colonel Sanders called blacks n -- -- -s , ' '' Schnatter said , before complaining that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forbes reported , adding that Schnatter had issued an apology to the magazine for the comments .
Freeh reported , however , the full transcript of the Laundry Service session showed Schnatter immediately declared , `` I never used that word '' to show he opposed racism based on his childhood experiences , but the magazine did not include that part of the quote .
`` Mr. Schnatter did not use the word as a racial slur , nor was it directed at any person or group , '' Freeh wrote .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the n-word as a 'slur ' are inaccurate .
`` Simply put , at no time on the phone conference did he call anyone the n-word .
At no time on the call did he ever use language that insulted or disparaged any race or ethnicity .
The comments were not made in the context as to be prejudicial , but rather to demonstrate his opposition to racism and frustration with his attitude toward race being so misconstrued during the controversy of his comments on the NFL . ''
In a separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharply criticized Forbes magazine for the way it truncated the quote to create a misleading portrait of the episode .
`` Outrageously this is leaked by somebody — who has control and access to the tape recording would be my best bet — to Forbes magazine , who writes this very horrific story painting John Schnatter as a racist and using and relying on , improperly , the reference he made to someone else using the word , '' Freeh said .
`` The Forbes article was not only outrageous because it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was doubly outrageous because it was inaccurate , '' he added .
A spokesperson for Forbes did not immediately return a request from Just the News seeking comment Monday .
Freeh 's ultimate conclusions have impact far beyond Schnatter 's plight .
They remind Americans that a news industry that ruined the reputations of falsely accused individuals like Richard Jewell in the Atlanta Olympics bombing case and Wen Ho Lee in an Energy Department nuclear secrets leaks case in the 1990s has even more power in the 21st century to distort the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of facts and context that quickly propagate across social media .
In the end , Freeh wrote , facts and fairness were `` drowned out by the more sensationalized mischaracterization in the mainstream and social media . ''
`` These interviews and testimonies confirm the only reasonable conclusion which a fair person can make after reading the statements at issue by Mr. Schnatter — that he did not intend or harbor any racial bias or prejudice against anyone when those statements are heard in the context made , '' the ex-FBI chief wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` the disparity between those comments , and the distorted way some media have characterized and misstated them , makes it clear that Mr. Schnatter has been unfairly treated , with his good reputation for treating everyone without prejudice unjustly challenged . ''

In a detailed rebuke of the news media, former FBI Director Louis Freeh said his exhaustive investigation of Papa John's founder John Schnatter found no evidence of racial animus, citing corporate transcripts that directly contradict news reports suggesting the pizza executive had criticized NFL players for kneeling during the national anthem.
"A thorough examination … found that the public comments by Mr. Schnatter were neither intended nor can reasonably be interpreted to reflect any racial bias, prejudice, or disrespect for African Americans or people of color," Freeh wrote in a report slated to be made public Tuesday.
"Any attempt by some media to characterize Mr. Schnatter's statements as attacking NFL players or the basis for their protest was factually incorrect, and in effect an editorial comment by the reporting facility," he added.
The report, a copy of which was obtained Monday evening by Just the News, was commissioned by Schnatter's law firm.
It provided a detailed analysis showing how false and misleading media reporting drove a cancel culture movement inside the board room, ultimately forcing Schnatter to resign in 2018 from the pizza company he founded in 1984 and made famous with TV commercials showcasing NFL stars.
Freeh compared the verbatim corporate transcripts where Schnatter talked about race issues in 2017 and 2018 to the news stories about the comments, exposing what he said were misleading and inaccurate reports prior to Schnatter's resignation as chaiman. It documented how truncated quotes and outright inaccuracies created a false public narrative.
In one instance, Freeh cited an Associated Press article headlined "Papa John's apologizes for criticizing NFL anthem protests" that suggested Schnatter was "blaming sluggish pizza sales on NFL players kneeling during the national anthem."
Freeh pointed out that the full transcript of Schnatter's comments during an earnings call in 2017 showed he never criticized the anthem protests at all. Rather the iconic pizza executive criticized NFL leadership for failing to resolve "the current debacle to the player and owner's satisfaction," Freeh wrote, pulling quotes verbatim from the transcript.
In other words, Schnatter was urging that the players' concerns be addressed and satisfied, the former FBI director argued, and was not criticizing the protests themselves.
"Mr. Schnatter's comments were falsely construed as criticism of the players' 'protests' both in print and social media," Freeh wrote.
"Contrary to the clearly inaccurate reporting, as can be seen from the transcript itself, Mr. Schnatter never took issue with the players' protest, and in fact never even mentioned the players or their race as part of the problem. Rather, he said the problem fell squarely in the lap of NFL leadership," he wrote.
A spokesperson for AP did not immediately return a request from Just the News seeking comment Monday.
Schnatter issued a statement Tuesday saying Freeh's report "coincides with what I have said all along – that my comments in May 2018, which clearly reflected my total disdain for racism, were reversed and mischaracterized by the media to damage my reputation and harm the company I founded, built, and love."
He said "there’s much more to be revealed in the near future" from his litigation that will show there was a "malicious set-up" perpetrated by a contractor and certain board members that led to his ouster.
Freeh described how initially inaccurate stories later were "simply restated" without fact checking by other media to create a false narrative about Schnatter that ultimately created public pressure for the founder to leave his company.
"This repeated mischaracterization by some media continued to define the public reaction, as Mr. Schnatter's comments were distorted as criticizing the NFL's failure to curtail players kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality against people of color," the former FBI director wrote.
Freeh said his team also conducted the equivalent of an FBI background check to see if there was any evidence over the last four decades that Schnatter harbored racist sentiments and found none. Rather, it identified a large and vocal groups of supporters in the African-American community, he added.
"The FGIS background investigation of Mr. Schnatter, and specifically the personal experiences and reputation he currently has with very prominent African Americans and other people of color, completely validates and corroborates the separate finding that Mr. Schnatter had no prejudicial intent or racial animus when he made the public comments at issue," the report added.
"There is no credible evidence that Mr. John Schnatter has engaged in a pattern of speech or actions which can be fairly termed as racially insensitive, prejudicial, or biased against African Americans or people of color," the report added.
One of the African-American leaders interviewed during the review was Dr. Samuel C. Tolbert, Jr., the president of the National Baptist Convention of America, who approached Schnatter to support his organization's move to Louisville, Ky., where Papa John's is also based. In a video interview accompanying the report. Tolbert said he did a thorough review of the media allegations and found "the news coverage was not fair to John."
"The context of what John said was totally disregarded," Tolbert said. "Being a preacher, I have to preach from the Bible, and I have to be very careful about the context when I'm preaching a text. His remarks were taken out of context."
He added: "One of the things I know is that many of the black leaders in this country were not called upon by the media to respond to John's comments. And I believe there is some purpose behind that, because some of us who are actually black would've been able to speak to the context of the comments."
The review by Freeh, a former federal judge appointed by President George H.W. Bush and a former FBI director appointed by President Bill Clinton, provides a detailed forensic examination of the statements that led to Schnatter's departure from the iconic pizza chain.
In so doing, it is likely to revive the debate about whether a broadening cancel culture movement in America has led to hasty and under-informed decisions driven more by media hysteria than underlying facts.
The report also is likely to be used by Schnatter in litigation.
The Papa John's founder recently filed an amended lawsuit against his former marketing firm, Laundry Service, alleging the firm plotted to "bury the founder if Laundry Service was not paid $6 million." That lawsuit was filed partially under seal but Schnattner's lawyers are seeking a court order to make its underlying evidence public.
Freeh's report directly analyzed an episode in which a secret tape recording from a May 2018 race-sensitivity training session conducted by Laundry Service with Schattner was leaked to the news magazine Forbes, which reported Schnatter had used the n-word during the session. The magazine story broke shortly before Schnatter resigned as chairman.
"'Colonel Sanders called blacks n-----s,'" Schnatter said, before complaining that Sanders never faced public backlash," Forbes reported, adding that Schnatter had issued an apology to the magazine for the comments.
Freeh reported, however, the full transcript of the Laundry Service session showed Schnatter immediately declared, "I never used that word" to show he opposed racism based on his childhood experiences, but the magazine did not include that part of the quote.
"Mr. Schnatter did not use the word as a racial slur, nor was it directed at any person or group," Freeh wrote. "Media reports of Mr. Schnatter's use of the n-word as a 'slur' are inaccurate.
"Simply put, at no time on the phone conference did he call anyone the n-word. At no time on the call did he ever use language that insulted or disparaged any race or ethnicity. The comments were not made in the context as to be prejudicial, but rather to demonstrate his opposition to racism and frustration with his attitude toward race being so misconstrued during the controversy of his comments on the NFL."
In a separate videotaped statement accompanying the report, Freeh sharply criticized Forbes magazine for the way it truncated the quote to create a misleading portrait of the episode.
"Outrageously this is leaked by somebody — who has control and access to the tape recording would be my best bet — to Forbes magazine, who writes this very horrific story painting John Schnatter as a racist and using and relying on, improperly, the reference he made to someone else using the word," Freeh said.
"The Forbes article was not only outrageous because it was the source of a leak, but it was doubly outrageous because it was inaccurate," he added.
A spokesperson for Forbes did not immediately return a request from Just the News seeking comment Monday.
Freeh's ultimate conclusions have impact far beyond Schnatter's plight. They remind Americans that a news industry that ruined the reputations of falsely accused individuals like Richard Jewell in the Atlanta Olympics bombing case and Wen Ho Lee in an Energy Department nuclear secrets leaks case in the 1990s has even more power in the 21st century to distort the truth and mislead public opinion through omissions of facts and context that quickly propagate across social media.
In the end, Freeh wrote, facts and fairness were "drowned out by the more sensationalized mischaracterization in the mainstream and social media."
"These interviews and testimonies confirm the only reasonable conclusion which a fair person can make after reading the statements at issue by Mr. Schnatter — that he did not intend or harbor any racial bias or prejudice against anyone when those statements are heard in the context made," the ex-FBI chief wrote.
"Indeed, he continued, "the disparity between those comments, and the distorted way some media have characterized and misstated them, makes it clear that Mr. Schnatter has been unfairly treated, with his good reputation for treating everyone without prejudice unjustly challenged."


thelibertydaily--2020-12-09--Nearly 75% of Voters Say Small Businesses Should Qualify as ‘Essential’ During Scamdemic Lockdowns

A solid majority of voters – nearly three-quarters –think small businesses should be considered `` essential '' under COVID-related lockdown orders , according to a new Just the News Daily Poll with Scott Rasmussen .
When asked , 70 % of the voters survey responded that `` small businesses that a family relies upon for financial support '' should be deemed essential and thus spared from coronavirus closures and shutdowns .
`` Essential '' businesses are those that state governors and municipal leaders have deemed sufficiently necessary to be permitted to remain open during pandemic closures .
Rasmussen called that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that overall the responses were predictable partisan .
`` Other than grocery stores , Republicans are more likely than Democrats to rate every organization on the list as essential , '' he said .
`` The gap is widest on churches and religious organizations . ''
Notably , voters felt less strongly that restaurants should be considered `` essential , '' with only 41 % of respondents viewing them as such , though restaurants make up a significant percentage of small businesses nationwide .
To see the poll 's cross-demographic tabulations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's methodology and sample demographics , click here .

A solid majority of voters – nearly three-quarters –think small businesses should be considered "essential" under COVID-related lockdown orders, according to a new Just the News Daily Poll with Scott Rasmussen.
When asked, 70% of the voters survey responded that "small businesses that a family relies upon for financial support" should be deemed essential and thus spared from coronavirus closures and shutdowns.
"Essential" businesses are those that state governors and municipal leaders have deemed sufficiently necessary to be permitted to remain open during pandemic closures.
Image Just the News Daily Poll With Scott Rasmussen
Rasmussen called that statistic "eye-popping," though he noted that overall the responses were predictable partisan.
"Other than grocery stores, Republicans are more likely than Democrats to rate every organization on the list as essential," he said. "The gap is widest on churches and religious organizations."
Notably, voters felt less strongly that restaurants should be considered "essential," with only 41% of respondents viewing them as such, though restaurants make up a significant percentage of small businesses nationwide.
To see the poll's cross-demographic tabulations, click here.
To see the poll's methodology and sample demographics, click here.


thelibertydaily--2020-12-08--Secretary Pompeo: ‘America First Will Have a Lasting Legacy’

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Breitbart News in an exclusive interview in his office at the State Department in Foggy Bottom in Washington , DC , that he believes , no matter who is president next year , President Donald Trump ’ s “ America First ” vision for the country and the world will have a “ lasting legacy ” far beyond this past four years .
“ America First makes sense , ” Pompeo said when asked during the interview if the president ’ s vision has legs beyond this administration .
“ It makes sense not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world can now see that when we get it right , when America gets it right at home , it ’ s not America alone .
It ’ s America as a force for good in the world and demanding that every nation do that for themselves as well—protect their own sovereignty .
I think the theory that President Trump laid down , that I articulated back in Claremont two years and three months ago , that the case for America First will have a lasting legacy because it is the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history.
” President Trump rode into office after a shocking 2016 electoral college defeat of Pompeo ’ s predecessor , former Secretary of State and Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton , defeating her with 306 electoral votes to her 232 electoral votes .
Trump fundamentally changed the way the United States approaches its place and role on the world stage , pursuing what he described as an “ America First ” vision for the world .
That did not mean an unwillingness to use military force and might when necessary .
From the get-go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons through early 2020 when he used a drone strike to eliminate Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani–he demonstrated the willingness of the United States under this vision to use military force to pursue American interests abroad .
But at the same time , the United States has entered into no new wars during Trump ’ s presidency—the first in decades where that has been the case—and Trump and his core administration officials like Pompeo have used the economic and diplomatic might of the United States to great effect in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East to Europe and elsewhere around the world .
Pompeo argued in this interview that Americans—and the world—have been the beneficiary of the success of the America First vision .
From reenergizing NATO to better prepare for the future to combating the Chinese Communist Party through restructuring the Middle East with historic peace deals like the Abraham Accords and a U.S.-Taliban agreement that sets the stage for the eventual withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Afghanistan , ending the nation ’ s longest war ever as well as directly confronting rather than appeasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the world is “ safer and more secure ” for Americans now than before Trump took office .
He also argued that the rest of the world appreciated the more active role the Trump administration took in shaping America ’ s vision on the world stage than the failures of the previous administration .
“ I started the administration as the director of the CIA , so I had a chance to get a very good grounding in the state of play when the administration took office all around the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I spent the last almost three years as the Secretary of State .
What one can say with certainty is two things : One , Americans are safer and more secure today than they were four years ago .
Second , the world has appreciated an America that wasn ’ t prone to appeasement , that was serious and direct , that didn ’ t pull punches .
When NATO was headed down a path that was going to lead to a very bad outcome , President Trump said no , we got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make it fit for purpose .
So , now there is $ 400 billion more in the next four years that will be spent by non-U.S. NATO allies .
It ’ s focused on cyber and space and on China , and is now headed in a direction that will make NATO relevant for the next 70 years .
We acknowledge that the Chinese Communist Party poses a threat to the world rather than saying , goodness , if we can figure out how to make some more money there we ought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in ways that are inconsistent with keeping Americans safe and prosperous for the next decade or 20 years .
We addressed it .
What ’ s another good example ?
I could go on—the Middle East .
We confronted a situation where the previous administration had said that Iran ought to be our best partner , here ’ s $ 150 billion to continue your terror campaign .
We said that ’ s disgraceful .
We acknowledged that the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians had to be resolved , but we didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facts get in the way of creating peace and stability , and so we built out a set of relationships , we put pressure on the regime in Iran , and you now have multiple countries that have said they ’ re going to recognize Israel , you have security architecture that is built out , and you have an Iranian regime that is infinitely weaker than it was when we came into office .
Those are just three examples of where this theory of the case the president laid out with America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work with partners , it ’ s not America alone .
You can still build out coalitions and build out friendly elements of an alliance .
Second , when America does well , the whole world is safer and more secur , and I think that ’ s plain for all to see today.
” When Americans voted on Nov. 3 , Trump got more votes than he did in 2016—74 million plus Americans voted for him this time , a significant increase of more than 10 million more votes than last time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an electoral college victory with wins in Florida , Ohio , Iowa , North Carolina , and Maine ’ s second congressional district .
He also made historic gains in black and Hispanic communities , hitting record levels in both for a Republican .
The GOP held key U.S. Senate seats almost everywhere across the country , from Maine , where GOP Sen. Susan Collins ( R-ME ) fended off Democrat Sara Gideon , to North Carolina where GOP Sen. Thom Tillis ( R-NC ) defeated Democrat Cal Cunningham .
Depending on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the GOP seems to have held its majority in the U.S. Senate .
That ’ s not to mention significant pickups in U.S. House seats .
When almost everyone in establishment media and politics expected Democrats to pick up seats in the lower chamber of Congress , the Republicans shocked the world and won a bunch of seats—narrowing the Democrat majority in a big way .
But as it stands now , despite the president ’ s challenge to key states like Georgia , Arizona , Nevada , Pennsylvania , Michigan , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Joe Biden has enough electoral votes in states that have certified their results to retake the White House for the Democrats .
The president ’ s challenge remains ongoing , and litigation continues in many of those states , but no matter who emerges as the victor of the presidential election on the other end of this fight , Pompeo is of the belief that America First will live on for years to come .
“ I think the American people have come to understand that the policies we ’ ve put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , ” Pompeo told Breitbart News .
“ Whether it ’ s people in my home state of Kansas or elsewhere , they ’ ve come to see these policies juiced our economy and put us in a really good place and reduced the number of soldiers who are sitting in harm ’ s way .
I think the American people can see that .
I ’ m an optimist .
I ’ m an optimist that no matter who is in the White House , they ’ re going to want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the American people demand that these policies be continued.
” This is the first part of a series of pieces from Secretary Pompeo ’ s latest interview with Breitbart News .
More is forthcoming .

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Breitbart News in an exclusive interview in his office at the State Department in Foggy Bottom in Washington, DC, that he believes, no matter who is president next year, President Donald Trump’s “America First” vision for the country and the world will have a “lasting legacy” far beyond this past four years.
“America First makes sense,” Pompeo said when asked during the interview if the president’s vision has legs beyond this administration. “It makes sense not only to the American people, but the world can now see that when we get it right, when America gets it right at home, it’s not America alone. It’s America as a force for good in the world and demanding that every nation do that for themselves as well—protect their own sovereignty. I think the theory that President Trump laid down, that I articulated back in Claremont two years and three months ago, that the case for America First will have a lasting legacy because it is the right direction for America at this time in history.”
President Trump rode into office after a shocking 2016 electoral college defeat of Pompeo’s predecessor, former Secretary of State and Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton, defeating her with 306 electoral votes to her 232 electoral votes. Trump fundamentally changed the way the United States approaches its place and role on the world stage, pursuing what he described as an “America First” vision for the world. That did not mean an unwillingness to use military force and might when necessary. From the get-go and throughout his administration–from strikes against Syria after Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons through early 2020 when he used a drone strike to eliminate Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani–he demonstrated the willingness of the United States under this vision to use military force to pursue American interests abroad. But at the same time, the United States has entered into no new wars during Trump’s presidency—the first in decades where that has been the case—and Trump and his core administration officials like Pompeo have used the economic and diplomatic might of the United States to great effect in places ranging from China to the Middle East to Europe and elsewhere around the world.
Pompeo argued in this interview that Americans—and the world—have been the beneficiary of the success of the America First vision. From reenergizing NATO to better prepare for the future to combating the Chinese Communist Party through restructuring the Middle East with historic peace deals like the Abraham Accords and a U.S.-Taliban agreement that sets the stage for the eventual withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Afghanistan, ending the nation’s longest war ever as well as directly confronting rather than appeasing the Islamic Republic of Iran, Pompeo says the world is “safer and more secure” for Americans now than before Trump took office. He also argued that the rest of the world appreciated the more active role the Trump administration took in shaping America’s vision on the world stage than the failures of the previous administration.
“I started the administration as the director of the CIA, so I had a chance to get a very good grounding in the state of play when the administration took office all around the world,” Pompeo told Breitbart News. “I spent the last almost three years as the Secretary of State. What one can say with certainty is two things: One, Americans are safer and more secure today than they were four years ago. Second, the world has appreciated an America that wasn’t prone to appeasement, that was serious and direct, that didn’t pull punches. When NATO was headed down a path that was going to lead to a very bad outcome, President Trump said no, we got to fix this thing. We got to make it fit for purpose. So, now there is $400 billion more in the next four years that will be spent by non-U.S. NATO allies. It’s focused on cyber and space and on China, and is now headed in a direction that will make NATO relevant for the next 70 years. We acknowledge that the Chinese Communist Party poses a threat to the world rather than saying, goodness, if we can figure out how to make some more money there we ought to let this continue while China acts in ways that are inconsistent with keeping Americans safe and prosperous for the next decade or 20 years. We addressed it. What’s another good example? I could go on—the Middle East. We confronted a situation where the previous administration had said that Iran ought to be our best partner, here’s $150 billion to continue your terror campaign. We said that’s disgraceful. We acknowledged that the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians had to be resolved, but we didn’t let either of those two facts get in the way of creating peace and stability, and so we built out a set of relationships, we put pressure on the regime in Iran, and you now have multiple countries that have said they’re going to recognize Israel, you have security architecture that is built out, and you have an Iranian regime that is infinitely weaker than it was when we came into office. Those are just three examples of where this theory of the case the president laid out with America First, which meant you can still work with partners, it’s not America alone. You can still build out coalitions and build out friendly elements of an alliance. Second, when America does well, the whole world is safer and more secur, and I think that’s plain for all to see today.”
When Americans voted on Nov. 3, Trump got more votes than he did in 2016—74 million plus Americans voted for him this time, a significant increase of more than 10 million more votes than last time. He held together the core of an electoral college victory with wins in Florida, Ohio, Iowa, North Carolina, and Maine’s second congressional district. He also made historic gains in black and Hispanic communities, hitting record levels in both for a Republican. The GOP held key U.S. Senate seats almost everywhere across the country, from Maine, where GOP Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) fended off Democrat Sara Gideon, to North Carolina where GOP Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) defeated Democrat Cal Cunningham. Depending on the runoffs on Jan. 5 in Georgia, the GOP seems to have held its majority in the U.S. Senate. That’s not to mention significant pickups in U.S. House seats. When almost everyone in establishment media and politics expected Democrats to pick up seats in the lower chamber of Congress, the Republicans shocked the world and won a bunch of seats—narrowing the Democrat majority in a big way. But as it stands now, despite the president’s challenge to key states like Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, Democrat candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden has enough electoral votes in states that have certified their results to retake the White House for the Democrats. The president’s challenge remains ongoing, and litigation continues in many of those states, but no matter who emerges as the victor of the presidential election on the other end of this fight, Pompeo is of the belief that America First will live on for years to come.
“I think the American people have come to understand that the policies we’ve put in place are the right ones for them,” Pompeo told Breitbart News. “Whether it’s people in my home state of Kansas or elsewhere, they’ve come to see these policies juiced our economy and put us in a really good place and reduced the number of soldiers who are sitting in harm’s way. I think the American people can see that. I’m an optimist. I’m an optimist that no matter who is in the White House, they’re going to want to be responsive to the American people and the American people demand that these policies be continued.”
This is the first part of a series of pieces from Secretary Pompeo’s latest interview with Breitbart News. More is forthcoming.


thelibertydaily--2020-12-08--Great News: Homeschooling Has More Than Doubled Amid Ongoing School Closures

The growing trend of homeschooling continues amid school closures and distance learning , as parents opt for home education models rather than public school enrollment .
The Foundation for Economic Education notes that there were just under two million homeschoolers across the U.S. prior to the pandemic , making up just 3.4 percent of the total population of K-12 students .
However , based on recent polling by Education Week , this percentage has more than doubled since schools began closures this past spring to nine percent , or almost five million homeschoolers .
“ State-level data show just how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly in areas where many district schools continue to be closed for full-time , in-person learning , ” FEE notes .
For example , the Boston Globe reported last week that 7,188 students transferred out of the public school system to be homeschooled this year , compared to just 802 from the previous year .
FEE points to several other localities showing sharp increases in the number of homeschooled students : • North Carolina : 10,000 homeschool filings over the summer , compared to just 3,500 last year • New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school to homeschool , compared to just 2,500 last year • Vermont : homeschool applications up by 75 % compared to last year • Connecticut : over six times as many students have left public schools for homeschool compared to last year Contrary to narratives that homeschooling and “ pandemic pods ” that consolidate learning for a handful of families are just for wealthy , privileged children , lower-income families are more likely to be opting for homeschool during the pandemic .
In July , the New York Times also noted that contrary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” homeschooler , “ the population of home-schoolers — before the pandemic — was less affluent than average.
” I ’ m sure any homeschool veterans out there would agree it ’ s hardly a consistent stereotype that homeschool is for the wealthy !
Meanwhile , public schools across the country are also seeing a corresponding plummet in enrollment rates , as families opt for home education and private or parochial models instead .
In Arizona , for example , enrollment is down five percent while in Massachusetts , it ’ s down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a great silver lining to a terrible year to proponents of home education , but bear in mind that with a growth in homeschoolers comes a greater interest in regulating the practice .
As we ’ ve always advocated at Elizabeth Johnston Ministries , no matter where your child is educated , it ’ s important to inform , educate , and empower yourself to stand up to any expansion of power on the part of the state to mandate how your child learns .
Make sure to pay attention to local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you appreciate the work we are doing to fight the leftist assault on our values , please consider a small donation to help us continue .
Thank you so much !

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The growing trend of homeschooling continues amid school closures and distance learning, as parents opt for home education models rather than public school enrollment.
The Foundation for Economic Education notes that there were just under two million homeschoolers across the U.S. prior to the pandemic, making up just 3.4 percent of the total population of K-12 students.
However, based on recent polling by Education Week, this percentage has more than doubled since schools began closures this past spring to nine percent, or almost five million homeschoolers.
“State-level data show just how dramatic the surge in homeschooling has been, particularly in areas where many district schools continue to be closed for full-time, in-person learning,” FEE notes.
For example, the Boston Globe reported last week that 7,188 students transferred out of the public school system to be homeschooled this year, compared to just 802 from the previous year.
FEE points to several other localities showing sharp increases in the number of homeschooled students:
North Carolina: 10,000 homeschool filings over the summer, compared to just 3,500 last year
New York City: Over 10,000 students withdrew from public school to homeschool, compared to just 2,500 last year
Vermont: homeschool applications up by 75% compared to last year
Connecticut: over six times as many students have left public schools for homeschool compared to last year
Contrary to narratives that homeschooling and “pandemic pods” that consolidate learning for a handful of families are just for wealthy, privileged children, lower-income families are more likely to be opting for homeschool during the pandemic.
In July, the New York Times also noted that contrary to the misperception of the “privileged” homeschooler, “the population of home-schoolers — before the pandemic — was less affluent than average.”
I’m sure any homeschool veterans out there would agree it’s hardly a consistent stereotype that homeschool is for the wealthy!
Meanwhile, public schools across the country are also seeing a corresponding plummet in enrollment rates, as families opt for home education and private or parochial models instead.
In Arizona, for example, enrollment is down five percent while in Massachusetts, it’s down by four.
The Boston Globe reports a stunning decline in MA public school enrollment this year due to the pandemic. Parents are choosing homeschooling, private schooling instead. pic.twitter.com/oOFK4fb7hb — Kerry McDonald (@kerry_edu) December 4, 2020
This can easily seem like a great silver lining to a terrible year to proponents of home education, but bear in mind that with a growth in homeschoolers comes a greater interest in regulating the practice.
As we’ve always advocated at Elizabeth Johnston Ministries, no matter where your child is educated, it’s important to inform, educate, and empower yourself to stand up to any expansion of power on the part of the state to mandate how your child learns.
Make sure to pay attention to local laws and voice your concerns.
If you appreciate the work we are doing to fight the leftist assault on our values, please consider a small donation to help us continue. Thank you so much!


thelibertydaily--2020-12-09--As Democrats Have New Yorkers Locked Down, Democrats Seek a New $3 Tax on Deliveries

With the Metropolitan Transportation Authority facing a budget crisis , New Yorkers may have to dig into their pockets to @ @ @ @ @ new proposed bill , New York City residents would be required to pay a $ @ @ @ @ @ ordered online , with the exception for medicine and food .
Assemblyman Robert Carroll , @ @ @ @ @ says the online shopping fee would raise more than $ 1 billion a year `` @ @ @ @ @ of buses and subways in the city of New York . ''
In a joint @ @ @ @ @ Samuelsen , the International President of the Transport Workers Union , Carroll ( D-Brooklyn ) @ @ @ @ @ rely solely on a federal bailout .
They argued that the surcharge would incentivize New @ @ @ @ @ businesses instead of buying from corporations like Amazon or Walmart .
`` A delivery surcharge @ @ @ @ @ , and the Amazons of the world , to more regularly consolidate multiple items into @ @ @ @ @ , '' they wrote .

With the Metropolitan Transportation Authority facing a budget crisis, New Yorkers may have to dig into their pockets to help out.
Under a new proposed bill, New York City residents would be required to pay a $3 surcharge on packages they ordered online, with the exception for medicine and food.
Assemblyman Robert Carroll, who proposed the bill, says the online shopping fee would raise more than $1 billion a year "to fund the operating costs of buses and subways in the city of New York."
In a joint Daily News op-ed with John Samuelsen, the International President of the Transport Workers Union, Carroll (D-Brooklyn) said the MTA cannot rely solely on a federal bailout.
They argued that the surcharge would incentivize New Yorkers to support small local businesses instead of buying from corporations like Amazon or Walmart.
"A delivery surcharge will also undoubtedly encourage consumers, and the Amazons of the world, to more regularly consolidate multiple items into a single package for delivery," they wrote.


thelibertydaily--2020-12-09--SHOCK: Actor Micheal Rapaport Lashes Out at Fellow Leftists Newsom, Garcetti Over Liberal Lockdown L

SHOCK: Actor Micheal Rapaport Lashes Out at Fellow Leftists Newsom, Garcetti Over Liberal Lockdown Lunacy [WARNING: F-Bombs]

Actor Michael Rapaport criticized Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti ’ s new coronavirus restrictions in a video posted to social media Sunday .
Rapaport said in the Instagram video that it doesn ’ t make sense that restaurants have to close down under the new restrictions , but a flea market depicted in the video can stay open .
“ Yo , look at this sh*t , ” Rapaport said in the video as he recorded the flea market , open near Fairfax High School .
( RELATED : Video Shows LA Restaurant Owner Furious Over Outdoor Dining Restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Door ) “ The f*ckin ’ Melrose-Fairfax farmer ’ s market is poppin ’ !
And I have no problem with all of these people making their money and making a living but how the f*ck is this okay but right across the street , all the cafes , all of the restaurants are shut down ?
” he continued .
“ Look at this sh*t !
” Rapaport said in the video .
“ Get your money , but who ’ s making the decisions here ?
Garcetti , you f*ck !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hair !
You f*ck !
Look they got the music playing and all of this sh*t. This sh*t don ’ t make any f*ckin ’ sense .
This don ’ t make any f*ckin ’ sense .
This is why motherf*ckers are pissed off and protesting !
” Garcetti shut down indoor dining and outdoor dining with new coronavirus restrictions implemented at the end of November .
As previously reported , the L.A. County Board of Supervisors decided to shut down outdoor dining with a 3-2 vote Tuesday , citing COVID-19 transmission concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To Ban Outdoor Dining , LA County Supervisor Dined Outdoors ) All Southern California restaurants were expected to close for outdoor dining , as ICU capacity falling below 15 % triggered a new regional stay-at-home order .

Actor Michael Rapaport criticized Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s new coronavirus restrictions in a video posted to social media Sunday.
Rapaport said in the Instagram video that it doesn’t make sense that restaurants have to close down under the new restrictions, but a flea market depicted in the video can stay open.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michael Rapaport (@michaelrapaport)
“Yo, look at this sh*t,” Rapaport said in the video as he recorded the flea market, open near Fairfax High School. (RELATED: Video Shows LA Restaurant Owner Furious Over Outdoor Dining Restrictions As Movie Company Sets Up Tents Next Door)
“The f*ckin’ Melrose-Fairfax farmer’s market is poppin’! And I have no problem with all of these people making their money and making a living but how the f*ck is this okay but right across the street, all the cafes, all of the restaurants are shut down?” he continued.
“Look at this sh*t!” Rapaport said in the video. “Get your money, but who’s making the decisions here? Garcetti, you f*ck! Gavin Newsom with the f*ckin’ good hair! You f*ck! Look they got the music playing and all of this sh*t. This sh*t don’t make any f*ckin’ sense. This don’t make any f*ckin’ sense. This is why motherf*ckers are pissed off and protesting!”
Garcetti shut down indoor dining and outdoor dining with new coronavirus restrictions implemented at the end of November. As previously reported, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors decided to shut down outdoor dining with a 3-2 vote Tuesday, citing COVID-19 transmission concerns. (RELATED: Hours After Voting To Ban Outdoor Dining, LA County Supervisor Dined Outdoors)
All Southern California restaurants were expected to close for outdoor dining, as ICU capacity falling below 15% triggered a new regional stay-at-home order.


thelibertydaily--2020-12-09--Beijing Biden’s Pentagon Pick Lloyd Austin Was Accused Of Downplaying ISIS Threat

• President-elect Joe Biden ’ s pick to lead the Department of Defense reportedly predicted in 2014 that ISIS , the Islamic terror group , would be a “ flash in the pan.
” • Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin , who Biden announced as his Pentagon choice Tuesday , was also accused of portraying a “ rosier ” picture of the U.S. fight against ISIS .
• Austin vehemently denied the allegations at the time .
Retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin , who President-elect Joe Biden selected as his secretary of defense , was accused during the Obama administration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations Austin vehemently denied at the time but could be a roadblock to his Senate confirmation .
The allegations stem from Austin ’ s tenure as commander of U.S. Central Command ( CENTCOM ) , which directed U.S. military operations in the Middle East against the Islamic State .
A Defense Department inspector general ’ s report released on Jan. 31 , 2017 , cited witnesses who claimed that Austin did not like to receive bad news about ISIS and that he painted a “ rosier ” picture of the fight against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RELATED : Joe Biden Picks Gen. Lloyd Austin As Pentagon Chief ) “ Several witnesses asserted that GEN Austin did not like to receive bad news from his staff regarding USCENTCOM ’ s counter-ISIL campaign .
These witnesses believed that GEN Austin was the source of pressure to present a rosier picture of the effects of USCENTCOM ’ s operations against ISIL , ” the report said .
Austin , who retired from the military on March 30 , 2016 , emphatically denied allegations laid out in the IG report .
Two officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims in interviews with the IG .
“ GEN Austin denied the allegations , stating that he had no knowledge ‘ of anybody trying to downplay or rosy up intelligence , ' ” the report said .
“ You ’ re not going to win if you don ’ t have the right information .
So rosying up that doesn ’ t help us be successful in this fight , ” Austin told Pentagon investigators , according to the IG report .
Austin , 67 , also allegedly downplayed the ISIS threat in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to a 2016 Atlantic story , Obama administration officials said Austin told the White House that ISIS was “ a flash in the pan.
” Austin ’ s comments to President Barack Obama shaped the president ’ s now-infamous comment that ISIS was akin to a “ jayvee ” basketball team , the officials told The Atlantic at the time .
ISIS expanded aggressively in the months after Obama ’ s remarks , taking control of vast swaths of Syria and Iraq , while building an online network of sympathizers around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Atlantic at the time that “ at no time ” did Austin “ ever consider ISIL a ‘ flash in the pan ’ phenomenon.
” The IG report also cited an unidentified witness who said that Austin remarked at a commander ’ s conference held in Qatar from Oct. 22-24 , 2014 , that while he was confident the U.S. would “ win this fight ” against ISIS , “ we have to manage the narrative.
” Notes taken by CENTCOM ’ s historian reflect that Austin “ emphasized the importance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the narrative on the counter-ISIL campaign was beginning to spin out of control.
” The IG ultimately found no evidence that military leaders , including Austin , fabricated or distorted intelligence regarding ISIS .
Austin could face an uphill battle in his Senate confirmation for reasons other than his views on ISIS .
Several Democratic senators have said they oppose granting a waiver to bypass a law that requires secretaries of defense to have been out of service for at least seven years .
The Senate voted overwhelmingly in 2017 to approve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preceded Austin at CENTCOM , to serve as Trump ’ s defense secretary .
The Biden transition team did not respond to a request for comment about Austin ’ s previous remarks .
Biden defended Austin in an essay for The Atlantic published Tuesday .
In the piece , Biden said that he and Obama “ turned to Austin ” for advice on confronting ISIS .
“ He designed and executed the campaign that ultimately beat back ISIS , helping to build a coalition of partners and allies from more than 70 countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enemy , ” Biden wrote .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Department of Defense reportedly predicted in 2014 that ISIS, the Islamic terror group, would be a “flash in the pan.”
Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin, who Biden announced as his Pentagon choice Tuesday, was also accused of portraying a “rosier” picture of the U.S. fight against ISIS.
Austin vehemently denied the allegations at the time.
Retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, who President-elect Joe Biden selected as his secretary of defense, was accused during the Obama administration of downplaying the threat posed by ISIS, allegations Austin vehemently denied at the time but could be a roadblock to his Senate confirmation.
The allegations stem from Austin’s tenure as commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which directed U.S. military operations in the Middle East against the Islamic State.
A Defense Department inspector general’s report released on Jan. 31, 2017, cited witnesses who claimed that Austin did not like to receive bad news about ISIS and that he painted a “rosier” picture of the fight against the terror group than was warranted. (RELATED: Joe Biden Picks Gen. Lloyd Austin As Pentagon Chief)
“Several witnesses asserted that GEN Austin did not like to receive bad news from his staff regarding USCENTCOM’s counter-ISIL campaign. These witnesses believed that GEN Austin was the source of pressure to present a rosier picture of the effects of USCENTCOM’s operations against ISIL,” the report said.
Austin, who retired from the military on March 30, 2016, emphatically denied allegations laid out in the IG report. Two officers who worked under Austin also disputed the claims in interviews with the IG.
“GEN Austin denied the allegations, stating that he had no knowledge ‘of anybody trying
to downplay or rosy up intelligence,'” the report said.
“You’re not going to win if you don’t have the right information. So rosying up that doesn’t help us be successful in this fight,” Austin told Pentagon investigators, according to the IG report.
Austin, 67, also allegedly downplayed the ISIS threat in briefings to the Obama White House. According to a 2016 Atlantic story, Obama administration officials said Austin told the White House that ISIS was “a flash in the pan.”
Austin’s comments to President Barack Obama shaped the president’s now-infamous comment that ISIS was akin to a “jayvee” basketball team, the officials told The Atlantic at the time.
ISIS expanded aggressively in the months after Obama’s remarks, taking control of vast swaths of Syria and Iraq, while building an online network of sympathizers around the globe.
A spokesman for Austin told The Atlantic at the time that “at no time” did Austin “ever consider ISIL a ‘flash in the pan’ phenomenon.”
The IG report also cited an unidentified witness who said that Austin remarked at a commander’s conference held in Qatar from Oct. 22-24, 2014, that while he was confident the U.S. would “win this fight” against ISIS, “we have to manage the narrative.”
Notes taken by CENTCOM’s historian reflect that Austin “emphasized the importance of keeping the
narrative in the right place as the narrative on the counter-ISIL campaign was beginning to spin out of control.”
The IG ultimately found no evidence that military leaders, including Austin, fabricated or distorted intelligence regarding ISIS.
Austin could face an uphill battle in his Senate confirmation for reasons other than his views on ISIS.
Several Democratic senators have said they oppose granting a waiver to bypass a law that requires secretaries of defense to have been out of service for at least seven years.
The Senate voted overwhelmingly in 2017 to approve a waiver for James Matttis, who preceded Austin at CENTCOM, to serve as Trump’s defense secretary.
The Biden transition team did not respond to a request for comment about Austin’s previous remarks.
Biden defended Austin in an essay for The Atlantic published Tuesday. In the piece, Biden said that he and Obama “turned to Austin” for advice on confronting ISIS.
“He designed and executed the campaign that ultimately beat back ISIS, helping to build a coalition of partners and allies from more than 70 countries who worked together to overcome a common enemy,” Biden wrote.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


thelibertydaily--2020-12-09--NYC Synagogue Barred By State From Holding Wedding Hosts Around 5,000 For Funeral

A synagogue in Brooklyn , New York , held a large funeral on Monday after the state prohibited it from hosting a wedding in October due to COVID-19 , the New York Post reported .
The funeral for former chief Satmar judge Rabbi Yisroel Chaim Menashe Friedman , 94 , drew around 5,000 attendees , the Post reported .
People stood close together inside the building and outside on the sidewalk and few were reportedly wearing masks .
“ Normally , we would avoid having such a crowd unless it was for something very , very important .
This was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendee named Lipa said , the Post reported .
Another man attending the funeral said he believes that the community is immune to COVID-19 because most everyone has already had it , the Post reported .
“ Ask anybody here if they had COVID .
They ’ ll say yes — and they won ’ t be lying , ’ ’ the man said , the Post reported .
“ People from the outside , they don ’ t understand that .
We ’ ve all had it.
” Five New York Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby , according to the Post .
( RELATED : NYC Synagogue To Be Fined $ 15,000 After Hosting Massive Maskless Wedding ) “ This man was a giant , ’ ’ Lipa said about Friedman , the Post reported .
“ He was there from the beginning , when the community was rebuilding after the war .
A very , very holy man .
For someone like him , you couldn ’ t keep people from coming even if you wanted to.
” A crowd of males was reportedly seen not wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the Post .
An official made face coverings available to the crowd , though hardly anyone inside wore one .
The Grand Rabbi who oversaw Friedman ’ s funeral , Zalman Leib Teitelbaum ’ s grandchild was supposed to be married at the synagogue last October , the Post reported .
The ceremony was expected to draw around 10,000 attendees , causing Democratic Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo to issue a state order against the gathering .
Indoor religious services are only allowed at 33 % capacity , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ synagogue ’ s maximum occupancy , without applying COVID-19 restrictions , is 1,600 people , according to the New York City Department of Buildings .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

A synagogue in Brooklyn, New York, held a large funeral on Monday after the state prohibited it from hosting a wedding in October due to COVID-19, the New York Post reported.
The funeral for former chief Satmar judge Rabbi Yisroel Chaim Menashe Friedman, 94, drew around 5,000 attendees, the Post reported. People stood close together inside the building and outside on the sidewalk and few were reportedly wearing masks.
“Normally, we would avoid having such a crowd unless it was for something very, very important. This was one of those times,” an attendee named Lipa said, the Post reported.
Another man attending the funeral said he believes that the community is immune to COVID-19 because most everyone has already had it, the Post reported.
“Ask anybody here if they had COVID. They’ll say yes — and they won’t be lying,’’ the man said, the Post reported. “People from the outside, they don’t understand that. We’ve all had it.”
New York City officials are investigating a funeral at a Brooklyn synagogue that reportedly drew thousands of attendees, in what would be a violation of the city’s COVID-19 restrictions https://t.co/LXkxjfmZ8K — The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 8, 2020
Five New York Police Department officers reportedly watched the gathering from nearby, according to the Post. (RELATED: NYC Synagogue To Be Fined $15,000 After Hosting Massive Maskless Wedding)
“This man was a giant,’’ Lipa said about Friedman, the Post reported. “He was there from the beginning, when the community was rebuilding after the war. A very, very holy man. For someone like him, you couldn’t keep people from coming even if you wanted to.”
A crowd of males was reportedly seen not wearing face coverings or practicing social distancing, according to the Post. An official made face coverings available to the crowd, though hardly anyone inside wore one.
The Grand Rabbi who oversaw Friedman’s funeral, Zalman Leib Teitelbaum’s grandchild was supposed to be married at the synagogue last October, the Post reported. The ceremony was expected to draw around 10,000 attendees, causing Democratic Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo to issue a state order against the gathering.
Indoor religious services are only allowed at 33% capacity, according to the New York State website. The synagogue’s maximum occupancy, without applying COVID-19 restrictions, is 1,600 people, according to the New York City Department of Buildings.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


thelibertydaily--2020-12-09--The “Second Wave” Is Actually a Wave of MEDIA BULLSH#T! [VIDEO]

It 's all media propaganda .
There is no actual second wave of infections , hospitalizations and deaths from covid.Read more at http : //Pandemic.news For more updates , visit : http : //www.brighteon.com/channel/hrreport NaturalNews videos would not be possible without you , as always we remain passionately dedicated to our mission of educating people all over the world on the subject of natural healing remedies and personal liberty ( food freedom , medical freedom , the freedom of speech , etc. )
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Together , we ’ re helping create a better world , with more honest food labeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of toxic heavy metals and vastly increased scientific transparency.▶ Every dollar you spend at the Health Ranger Store goes toward helping us achieve important science and content goals for humanity : https : //www.healthrangerstore.com/ ▶ Sign Up For Our Newsletter : https : //www.naturalnews.com/Readerregistration.html ▶ Soundcloud : https : //soundcloud.com/healthranger ▶ Brighteon : https : //www.brighteon.com/channel/realvideo ▶ Download our app : https : //www.naturalnews.com/App ▶ Join Our Social Network : https : //brighteon.social/ @ HealthRanger ▶ Check What is In Stock at : https : //PrepWithMike.com 🔴 Brighteon.Social : https : //brighteon.social/ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 🔴 Bitchute : https : //www.bitchute.com/channel/naturalnews 🔴 Gab : https : //gab.ai/NaturalNews 🔴 Mewe : https : //mewe.com/i/health.ranger 🔴 Pinterest : https : //www.pinterest.com/healthrangerstore/ 🔴 Diaspora : https : //share.naturalnews.com/

It's all media propaganda. There is no actual second wave of infections, hospitalizations and deaths from covid.Read more at http://Pandemic.news For more updates, visit: http://www.brighteon.com/channel/hrreport NaturalNews videos would not be possible without you, as always we remain passionately dedicated to our mission of educating people all over the world on the subject of natural healing remedies and personal liberty (food freedom, medical freedom, the freedom of speech, etc.). Together, we’re helping create a better world, with more honest food labeling, reduced chemical contamination, the avoidance of toxic heavy metals and vastly increased scientific transparency.▶ Every dollar you spend at the Health Ranger Store goes toward helping us achieve important science and content goals for humanity: https://www.healthrangerstore.com/ ▶ Sign Up For Our Newsletter: https://www.naturalnews.com/Readerregistration.html ▶ Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/healthranger ▶ Brighteon: https://www.brighteon.com/channel/realvideo ▶ Download our app: https://www.naturalnews.com/App ▶ Join Our Social Network: https://brighteon.social/@HealthRanger ▶ Check What is In Stock at: https://PrepWithMike.com 🔴 Brighteon.Social: https://brighteon.social/@HealthRanger 🔴 Parler: https://Parler.com/profile/HealthRanger/posts 🔴 Bitchute: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/naturalnews 🔴 Gab: https://gab.ai/NaturalNews 🔴 Mewe: https://mewe.com/i/health.ranger 🔴 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/healthrangerstore/ 🔴 Diaspora: https://share.naturalnews.com/


thelibertydaily--2020-12-09--Sidney Powell Drops More Bombshells, Says Election Software That Rigged 2020 Elections Has Been Used

Sidney Powell Drops More Bombshells, Says Election Software That Rigged 2020 Elections Has Been Used for Years to Steal House, Senate, Governor Races

( Natural News ) Sidney Powell , who left the Trump campaign legal team to pursue other avenues of massive electoral fraud she uncovered shortly after the November elections , continues to reveal stunning information garnered from her continued investigative work proving beyond any doubt that Americans have lost control over the only real power we had left as individuals : The power of choice at the ballot box .
In previous weeks , Powell revealed that software used by voting machine companies in the U.S. and abroad was developed and financed by some of our enemies , including Venezuela @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interview with TBN ’ s Mike Huckabee on Saturday , Powell suggested that the software was actually a CIA-developed election theft tool that may have been exported to other countries and then , ultimately , deployed against American elections .
“ The system right now is corrupt .
The Dominion machines can not be relied on at all .
And we want everyone — Republicans , the candidates , everyone — to stand up and speak up about the fraud that happened in Georgia and find a way to vote in time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote is being counted the way they voted it , ” she began , clearing up a previously reported claim that she didn ’ t want Republican voters to show up to cast ballots for the state ’ s two GOP senators in run-off elections next month .
“ Because right now , the system is just as rigged as it was four weeks ago , ” she added .
“ We can ’ t trust it .
And there has to be a way to get it right so that everyone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote — knows their vote is real and being counted , and not…otherwise rigged.
” “ You can ’ t repeat the same procedure and expect a different result.
” “ It ’ s extremely unsettling to know that American elections have been just as rigged as elections in third-world countries have been , ” she said later , in reference to the massive theft that occurred for Joe Biden in several swing states last month .
“ I ’ m sure the CIA has been involved in any number of those activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places around the world , ” she continued .
“ It may have been the CIA that created this software and programs to begin with and then exported it for their own use , only to have it come back to us .
“ It could be that very important , powerful , extremely wealthy people were involved in rigging this election .
It ’ s globalist interests .
I mean , frankly , everyone in the world except the millions of Americans that wanted to elect Donald Trump to clean up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
( Related : Georgia Gov .
Kemp calls for legitimate signature audit of mail-in ballots after damning CCTV video exposes massive election fraud . )
Voters who chose to reelect our real president didn ’ t want “ this world to continue the way it was , with them having all the power and working behind the scenes to rig elections and everything else so that they could profit from their own nefarious activities , ” Powell went on .
“ I mean it ’ s massive .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in it , too , ” she said , noting that on election night it appeared that a coordinated effort was underway to stop reporting on returns and for swing states to stop counting ballots at nearly the same time .
“ This isn ’ t the first time it ’ s happened , Mike .
We don ’ t even know how many elections have been rigged by virtue of the software , ” she noted further , setting viewers up for another massive bombshell .
“ There ’ s no telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even governorships we ’ ve lost…because of this ” fraud .
“ They ’ ve been telling us the country has been trending blue .
It has not .
That is an abject lie .
And we ’ ve collected the data that ’ s gon na show that , among many other things , ” she said .
Stay current on Trump ’ s ongoing efforts to root out election fraud corruption at Trump.news .

Attorney Sidney Powell drops more bombshells, says election software that rigged 2020 elections has been used for years to steal House, Senate, governor races
Sidney Powell, who left the Trump campaign legal team to pursue other avenues of massive electoral fraud she uncovered shortly after the November elections, continues to reveal stunning information garnered from her continued investigative work proving beyond any doubt that Americans have lost control over the only real power we had left as individuals: The power ofat the ballot box.
In previous weeks, Powell revealed that software used by voting machine companies in the U.S. and abroad was developed and financed by some of our enemies, including Venezuela, Iran and China.
But in an interview with TBN’s Mike Huckabee on Saturday, Powell suggested that the software was actually a CIA-developed election theft tool that may have been exported to other countries and then, ultimately, deployed against American elections.
“The system right now is corrupt. The Dominion machines cannot be relied on at all. And we want everyone — Republicans, the candidates, everyone — to stand up and speak up about the fraud that happened in Georgia and find a way to vote in time that allows people to know that their vote is being counted the way they voted it,” she began, clearing up a previously reported claim that she didn’t want Republican voters to show up to cast ballots for the state’s two GOP senators in run-off elections next month.
“Because right now, the system is just as rigged as it was four weeks ago,” she added. “We can’t trust it. And there has to be a way to get it right so that everyone who votes — and we encourage everyone to vote — knows their vote is real and being counted, and not…otherwise rigged.”
“You can’t repeat the same procedure and expect a different result.”
“It’s extremely unsettling to know that American elections have been just as rigged as elections in third-world countries have been,” she said later, in reference to the massive theft that occurred for Joe Biden in several swing states last month.
“I’m sure the CIA has been involved in any number of those activities, if not here then in other places around the world,” she continued. “It may have been the CIA that created this software and programs to begin with and then exported it for their own use, only to have it come back to us.
“It could be that very important, powerful, extremely wealthy people were involved in rigging this election. It’s globalist interests. I mean, frankly, everyone in the world except the millions of Americans that wanted to elect Donald Trump to clean up the swamp and drain the swamp,” she said. (Related: Georgia Gov. Kemp calls for legitimate signature audit of mail-in ballots after damning CCTV video exposes massive election fraud.)
Voters who chose to reelect our real president didn’t want “this world to continue the way it was, with them having all the power and working behind the scenes to rig elections and everything else so that they could profit from their own nefarious activities,” Powell went on.
“I mean it’s massive. I’m sure the media companies are involved in it, too,” she said, noting that on election night it appeared that a coordinated effort was underway to stop reporting on returns and for swing states to stop counting ballots at nearly the same time.
“This isn’t the first time it’s happened, Mike. We don’t even know how many elections have been rigged by virtue of the software,” she noted further, setting viewers up for another massive bombshell.
“There’s no telling how many congressional and Senate seats and even governorships we’ve lost…because of this” fraud. “They’ve been telling us the country has been trending blue. It has not. That is an abject lie. And we’ve collected the data that’s gonna show that, among many other things,” she said.
Stay current on Trump’s ongoing efforts to root out election fraud corruption at Trump.news.
Sources include:
TrendingPolitics.com
NaturalNews.com


thelibertydaily--2020-12-09--Cultural Marxism Update: Jake Paul Asked if Knocking Out Black Man in a Boxing Match Was Racist

YouTuber Jake Paul , who beat former NBA star Nate Robinson in a boxing match last month , was asked by a VICE host if knocking out Robinson was racist .
Paul , who previously fought another black opponent in YouTuber Deji , achieved a second round knockout victory over Robinson in a fight that was part of the undercard for the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition match .
During a subsequent interview with Paul on a VICE TV show called Cari & Jemele ( Won ’ t ) Stick to Sports , host Jemele Hill said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ We saw what happened to Nate Robinson , so I ’ m gon na ask Jake Paul…considering where we are right now in our racial conversation in America , was what you did to Nate Robinson racist ?
“ We just had to witness a white man just knock a black man smooth out in front of all of America so that ’ s why I asked that , ” said Hill .
After Paul ’ s wi-fi reconnected , he was asked the same question by Hill ’ s co-host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Was it racist to knock a black man out , that is the question of the week.
” “ Stop asking me that , I said no , it ’ s a shitty question , it ’ s a sport , ” responded Paul .
“ How does it have anything to do with race ?
It doesn ’ t , ” said Paul .
“ It ’ s a fine question , we got ta wake you up , you got ta be a part of this conversation , ” said Champion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether Hill and Champion were being serious or not ( this is VICE ) , but the fact that they repeatedly asked the question suggests they do indeed think it ’ s racist for white people to beat black people in competitive sports games .
What ’ s next ?
Handicaps for white people to account for their privilege ?
Maybe Paul should have had one hand tied behind his back .
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In the age of mass Silicon Valley censorship It is crucial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need you to sign up for my free newsletter here .
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YouTuber Jake Paul, who beat former NBA star Nate Robinson in a boxing match last month, was asked by a VICE host if knocking out Robinson was racist.
Yes, really.
Paul, who previously fought another black opponent in YouTuber Deji, achieved a second round knockout victory over Robinson in a fight that was part of the undercard for the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition match.
During a subsequent interview with Paul on a VICE TV show called Cari & Jemele (Won’t) Stick to Sports, host Jemele Hill said she “almost had to protest this show.”
“We saw what happened to Nate Robinson, so I’m gonna ask Jake Paul…considering where we are right now in our racial conversation in America, was what you did to Nate Robinson racist?
“Nah, stop playing with me,” responded Paul.
Question of the week: was @jakepaul KO to Nate Robinson racist? 😭 pic.twitter.com/ogSqHj764s — VICE TV (@VICETV) December 4, 2020
“We just had to witness a white man just knock a black man smooth out in front of all of America so that’s why I asked that,” said Hill.
After Paul’s wi-fi reconnected, he was asked the same question by Hill’s co-host Cari Champion, who said, “Was it racist to knock a black man out, that is the question of the week.”
“Stop asking me that, I said no, it’s a shitty question, it’s a sport,” responded Paul.
“Why is it a shitty question?” asked Champion.
“How does it have anything to do with race? It doesn’t,” said Paul.
“It’s a fine question, we gotta wake you up, you gotta be a part of this conversation,” said Champion.
It’s hard to tell whether Hill and Champion were being serious or not (this is VICE), but the fact that they repeatedly asked the question suggests they do indeed think it’s racist for white people to beat black people in competitive sports games.
What’s next? Handicaps for white people to account for their privilege? Maybe Paul should have had one hand tied behind his back.
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