dailysignal--2020-07-10--House Freedom Caucus Urges State, Local Officials to Reopen Schools

The House Freedom Caucus on Thursday called on President Donald Trump , as well as state and local officials , not to let the coronavirus pandemic prevent the reopening of schools this fall .
“ It is more harmful to keep children locked out of schools and less harmful and less risky for children to go back to schools , and that ’ s the bottom line .
It ’ s as simple as that , ” Rep. Andy Biggs , R-Ariz. , said at an outdoor press conference on the Capitol grounds .
Biggs is chairman of the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen conservative and libertarian GOP members of the House .
> > > What ’ s the best way for America to reopen and return to business ?
The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission , a project of The Heritage Foundation , assembled America ’ s top thinkers to figure that out .
So far , it has made more than 260 recommendations .
Learn more here .
Rep. Morgan Griffith , R-Va. , said local school districts should be making their own decisions with respect to reopening .
“ It is important that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the country that we let this be a local decision , and that we follow science , ” he said .
“ What happens when you don ’ t go back to school ?
” Griffith asked , answering his own question : You have food insecurity .
You have emotional problems that are not being addressed .
There may be child abuse going on .
Nobody is seeing it ; nobody ’ s paying attention .
Parents are under a lot of stress .
Kids may be left at home .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work , and then we ’ re leaving these kids at home .
Dr. Bob Hamilton , a pediatrician from Santa Monica , California , who joined the lawmakers at the press conference , said the coronavirus is not as dangerous to children as once thought , and that they don ’ t pass the virus to others easily , either .
“ Children in general are not getting sick in large numbers from SARS-CoV-2 infection .
Children are dying in very , very low numbers—almost zero , ” Hamilton said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially thought them to be.
” He also highlighted the harms that isolation due to quarantining can cause .
“ The emotional and physical toll that long-term quarantine is having on our children is not positive , ” Hamilton said , adding : A press release from the House Freedom Caucus in advance of the press conference shared a similar message .
“ Doctors and scientists have shown the minimal risk that COVID-19 poses to children and young adults , and state and local officials are compromising our young people ’ s development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , ” it said , adding : Rep. Andy Harris , R-Md.
, who is also a physician , said it ’ s time to “ get the economy going , get children back to school , get their education back on track.
” Speaking at a separate event Thursday , Trump agreed with the House Freedom Caucus .
“ We have to open our schools .
Open our schools .
Stop this nonsense , ” the president said .
The House Freedom Caucus ’ call for the reopening of schools comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases in the U.S. had “ reached record highs , climbing to about 50,000 a day.
” “ Nearly 3 million Americans have contracted the virus , and more than 130,000 have died , according to data from Johns Hopkins University , ” the paper reported .

The House Freedom Caucus on Thursday called on President Donald Trump, as well as state and local officials, not to let the coronavirus pandemic prevent the reopening of schools this fall.
“It is more harmful to keep children locked out of schools and less harmful and less risky for children to go back to schools, and that’s the bottom line. It’s as simple as that,” Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., said at an outdoor press conference on the Capitol grounds.
Biggs is chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, which comprises about three dozen conservative and libertarian GOP members of the House.
>>> What’s the best way for America to reopen and return to business? The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, a project of The Heritage Foundation, assembled America’s top thinkers to figure that out. So far, it has made more than 260 recommendations. Learn more here.
Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., said local school districts should be making their own decisions with respect to reopening.
“It is important that we at least express to the states around the country that we let this be a local decision, and that we follow science,” he said.
“What happens when you don’t go back to school?” Griffith asked, answering his own question:
You have food insecurity. You have emotional problems that are not being addressed. There may be child abuse going on. Nobody is seeing it; nobody’s paying attention. Parents are under a lot of stress. Kids may be left at home. Mom and dad may have to go to work, and then we’re leaving these kids at home.
Dr. Bob Hamilton, a pediatrician from Santa Monica, California, who joined the lawmakers at the press conference, said the coronavirus is not as dangerous to children as once thought, and that they don’t pass the virus to others easily, either.
“Children in general are not getting sick in large numbers from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Children are dying in very, very low numbers—almost zero,” Hamilton said. “Children are not the superspreaders we initially thought them to be.”
He also highlighted the harms that isolation due to quarantining can cause.
“The emotional and physical toll that long-term quarantine is having on our children is not positive,” Hamilton said, adding:
It is very clear that depression, stress, anxiety is increasing in large numbers and especially students in [the] junior high and high school age category.
A press release from the House Freedom Caucus in advance of the press conference shared a similar message.
“Doctors and scientists have shown the minimal risk that COVID-19 poses to children and young adults, and state and local officials are compromising our young people’s development by keeping schools closed over fear of COVID-19,” it said, adding:
Our children should not have to pay for irrational and unprecedented actions to close our schools to in-person instruction.
Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., who is also a physician, said it’s time to “get the economy going, get children back to school, get their education back on track.”
Speaking at a separate event Thursday, Trump agreed with the House Freedom Caucus. “We have to open our schools. Open our schools. Stop this nonsense,” the president said.
The House Freedom Caucus’ call for the reopening of schools comes as USA Today reported Monday that new cases in the U.S. had “reached record highs, climbing to about 50,000 a day.”
“Nearly 3 million Americans have contracted the virus, and more than 130,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University,” the paper reported.


dailysignal--2020-07-14--Could Roger Stone Have a Conversion Experience Like Charles Colson?

President Donald Trump ’ s decision to commute the prison sentence of his longtime friend and political adviser Roger Stone just days before Stone was to begin a 40-month prison sentence—he and the president say he was falsely accused–reminded me of another man who was as loyal to his president and who did go to prison .
Charles Colson , described by detractors as Richard Nixon ’ s “ hatchet man , ” went to federal prison after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice for attempting to defame Pentagon Papers defendant Daniel Ellsberg in the Watergate affair .
While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has proclaimed a life-changing experience identical to Colson ’ s .
In an interview with the Washington Examiner three months ago , Stone said evangelist Franklin Graham had been counseling him and urged him to ” … put my faith in God , and confess my sins , acknowledge Jesus Christ in my life .
And I have done that.
” As was Colson ’ s experience , many skeptics and political opponents will deride Stone ’ s announcement .
While some have used religion to keep out of prison , receive a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the faith of others has proved to be genuine .
Time always tells .
Stone acknowledged that some will be skeptical , even cynical , when he told the Examiner , “ I ’ m aware of the fact there are skeptics who are going to say ‘ Stone is posturing .
Stone is maneuvering for public sympathy , ’ and so on .
But that ’ s just not the case .
And He , God , knows what ’ s in my heart.
” In an increasingly secular-progressive culture where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered sport , many may find Stone ’ s professed conversion hard to accept .
The list of his sins is long and very public , including those of a personal nature ( he and his wife had been regular visitors to a notorious Washington , D.C. , sex club ) .
Scripture tells us , however , that God ’ s mercy knows no limits and that Jesus came to save all who have sinned “ and fallen short of the glory of God , ” as the Apostle Paul writes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his era prior to his own conversion .
Even some critics of Colson came to grudgingly accept his faith as genuine , largely because of the Prison Fellowship ministry he founded and how he became an advocate for prisoners , ex-inmates , and their families without seeking credit for himself .
Spiritual transformations can also influence others , including opponents .
Former Republican strategist Lee Atwater announced his own conversion after being diagnosed with a brain tumor .
He issued a statement , apologizing to political opposites he had harmed , adding : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Colson writes about meeting with a small breakfast group that included Sen. Harold Hughes , D-Iowa , a fierce Nixon opponent .
He quotes Hughes : “ I ’ ve learned how wrong it is to hate .
For years there were men towards whom I felt consuming bitterness .
I wasn ’ t hurting them , only myself .
By hating I was shutting Christ ’ s love out of my life .
One of the men I hated most was Chuck Colson , but now that we share a commitment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as my brother .
I would trust him with my life , my family , with everything I have.
” Find me a power in Washington or anywhere else that can produce results like that .
Roger Stone says he is now plugged into that higher power .
Scripture calls Him the “ cornerstone.
” ( C ) 2020 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY , LLC .

President Donald Trump’s decision to commute the prison sentence of his longtime friend and political adviser Roger Stone just days before Stone was to begin a 40-month prison sentence—he and the president say he was falsely accused–reminded me of another man who was as loyal to his president and who did go to prison.
Charles Colson, described by detractors as Richard Nixon’s “hatchet man,” went to federal prison after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice for attempting to defame Pentagon Papers defendant Daniel Ellsberg in the Watergate affair.
While the cases and outcomes are different, Stone has proclaimed a life-changing experience identical to Colson’s. In an interview with the Washington Examiner three months ago, Stone said evangelist Franklin Graham had been counseling him and urged him to ” … put my faith in God, and confess my sins, acknowledge Jesus Christ in my life. And I have done that.”
As was Colson’s experience, many skeptics and political opponents will deride Stone’s announcement. While some have used religion to keep out of prison, receive a lighter sentence, or be paroled early, the faith of others has proved to be genuine. Time always tells.
Stone acknowledged that some will be skeptical, even cynical, when he told the Examiner, “I’m aware of the fact there are skeptics who are going to say ‘Stone is posturing. Stone is maneuvering for public sympathy,’ and so on. But that’s just not the case. And He, God, knows what’s in my heart.”
In an increasingly secular-progressive culture where destroying one’s political enemies is considered sport, many may find Stone’s professed conversion hard to accept. The list of his sins is long and very public, including those of a personal nature (he and his wife had been regular visitors to a notorious Washington, D.C., sex club).
Scripture tells us, however, that God’s mercy knows no limits and that Jesus came to save all who have sinned “and fallen short of the glory of God,” as the Apostle Paul writes. Paul was the Stone and Colson of his era prior to his own conversion.
Even some critics of Colson came to grudgingly accept his faith as genuine, largely because of the Prison Fellowship ministry he founded and how he became an advocate for prisoners, ex-inmates, and their families without seeking credit for himself.
Spiritual transformations can also influence others, including opponents. Former Republican strategist Lee Atwater announced his own conversion after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. He issued a statement, apologizing to political opposites he had harmed, adding:
I should have been trying to help people instead of taking advantage of them. I don’t hate anyone anymore. For the first time in my life I don’t hate somebody. I have nothing but good feelings toward people. I’ve found Jesus Christ—it’s that simple. He’s made a difference.
In his book “Born Again,” Colson writes about meeting with a small breakfast group that included Sen. Harold Hughes, D-Iowa, a fierce Nixon opponent. He quotes Hughes:
“I’ve learned how wrong it is to hate. For years there were men towards whom I felt consuming bitterness. I wasn’t hurting them, only myself. By hating I was shutting Christ’s love out of my life. One of the men I hated most was Chuck Colson, but now that we share a commitment together in Christ, I love him as my brother. I would trust him with my life, my family, with everything I have.”
Find me a power in Washington or anywhere else that can produce results like that. Roger Stone says he is now plugged into that higher power. Scripture calls Him the “cornerstone.”
(C) 2020 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.


dailysignal--2020-07-14--Cancel Culture Tries to Cow Goya Foods’ Bob Unanue

It looks like Bob Unanue , the CEO of Goya Foods Inc. , may be the first American corporate leader to stand up to cancel culture and tell the mob he ’ s not scared .
But he has fulfilled an even more important role .
The farcical attempt by liberal politicians and celebrities to boycott Goya products because Unanue visited the White House last week and—shocker—praised its inhabitant shows for the umpteenth time that ethnic identity groups were created as vehicles for the introduction of leftist policies in America .
Conservatives beware .
Leftist activists intimidated bureaucrats into officializing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them as agents of change , which is why progressives today will attempt to discipline harshly those who stray .
A pliant media will play along .
Unanue was among business and community leaders who visited the White House on Thursday on the occasion of President Donald Trump ’ s signing an executive order creating the White House ’ s Hispanic Prosperity Initiative .
As a part of this effort , Unanue announced that Goya would “ donate one million cans of chickpeas and another million pounds of food to food banks throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All good , right ?
Unanue showed his appreciation for Trump ’ s initiative by praising the former real estate developer in this manner : Apparently nobody had heard that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , too , says that “ I pray for the president all the time.
” A major ruckus broke out , and yet another boycott was born .
Leading the effort on Twitter—increasingly becoming our national marketplace for acrimony—former Housing and Urban Development Secretary and Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro wrote : Others followed .
Lin-Manuel Miranda , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hamilton , ” also took to our new virtual Lyceum and wrote : “ We learned to bake bread in this pandemic , we can learn to make our own adobo con pimienta .
Bye.
” It just so happens that both Castro and Miranda—and Unanue as well—are emblematic of different parts of the identity politics conundrum .
Castro is a Mexican-American and Miranda , according to several stories ( including this one ) , has a multifaceted ethnic background that includes Puerto Ricans , Mexicans , blacks , and people from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was born in this country , and all four of his grandparents were Spaniards .
In another age , Miranda might have described himself with the oft-used term “ Heinz 57 American.
” Castro would describe himself as a Mexican-American and Unanue might have viewed himself as another American of European background .
It ’ s not at all clear , however , what the “ Hispanic ” pan-ethnicity means .
It doesn ’ t mean speaking Spanish ( Castro doesn ’ t ) ; it doesn ’ t mean origins in Latin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grandparents were from there ) , and it does not mean ethnic cohesion ( Miranda appears to be part everything ) .
Today all three men , however , fall under the pan-ethnicity , a category created in 1977 by the federal Office of Management and Budget at the instance of activists .
The idea , as I explain in my forthcoming book , “ The Plot to Change America : How Identity Politics Is Dividing the Land of the Free , ” was to create a minority group that would be seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ element : The leftist activists from La Raza and other groups who intimidated bureaucrats into creating the new category imbued it with the grievances of victimhood .
Such “ consciousness raising ” would transform “ the facts of vassalage into the signals of rebellion and social construction , ” in the words Italian communist leader Antonio Gramsci wrote in the 1920s .
Herbert Marcuse , a German-American intellectual academic whose influence over the identity politics of today also looms large , put the same thought another way : “ All liberation depends on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone such as Unanue comes along and ignores a social compact to which he was not a signatory , rejects feelings of vassalage or servitude , and bears no resentments , then he must be stepped on .
Even Miranda ’ s “ Hamilton ” looks vulnerable to fall prey to identity politics ’ cancel culture .
Its sin ?
The fact that it is patriotically stirring .
Identity politics is either cruel or a threat to national cohesion or so absurd as to be farcical .
The message for our leaders is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the ideal in America for centuries : All citizens should be seen as Americans in the eyes of the law , no matter where they or their ancestors came from , and America ’ s leaders will work for all Americans no matter where they came from .
In the meantime , here ’ s hoping that Unanue hangs tough .
If he begins to show that the agents of cancel culture have no clothes , he could become an American icon .

It looks like Bob Unanue, the CEO of Goya Foods Inc., may be the first American corporate leader to stand up to cancel culture and tell the mob he’s not scared. But he has fulfilled an even more important role.
The farcical attempt by liberal politicians and celebrities to boycott Goya products because Unanue visited the White House last week and—shocker—praised its inhabitant shows for the umpteenth time that ethnic identity groups were created as vehicles for the introduction of leftist policies in America. Conservatives beware.
Leftist activists intimidated bureaucrats into officializing these groups because they sought to use them as agents of change, which is why progressives today will attempt to discipline harshly those who stray. A pliant media will play along.
Unanue was among business and community leaders who visited the White House on Thursday on the occasion of President Donald Trump’s signing an executive order creating the White House’s Hispanic Prosperity Initiative.
As a part of this effort, Unanue announced that Goya would “donate one million cans of chickpeas and another million pounds of food to food banks throughout the country,” Spectrum News reported.
All good, right? Unanue showed his appreciation for Trump’s initiative by praising the former real estate developer in this manner:
We’re all truly blessed at the same time to have a leader like President Trump who is a builder. And so we have an incredible builder. And we pray. We pray for our leadership, our president, and we pray for our country, that we will continue to prosper and to grow.
Apparently nobody had heard that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, too, says that “I pray for the president all the time.” A major ruckus broke out, and yet another boycott was born.
Leading the effort on Twitter—increasingly becoming our national marketplace for acrimony—former Housing and Urban Development Secretary and Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro wrote:
@GoyaFoods has been a staple of so many Latino households for generations. Now their CEO, Bob Unanue, is praising a president who villainizes and maliciously attacks Latinos for political gain. Americans should think twice before buying their products. #Goyaway
.@GoyaFoods has been a staple of so many Latino households for generations.
Now their CEO, Bob Unanue, is praising a president who villainizes and maliciously attacks Latinos for political gain. Americans should think twice before buying their products. #Goyaway https://t.co/lZDQlK6TcU — Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) July 9, 2020
Others followed. Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the stirringly patriotic musical “Hamilton,” also took to our new virtual Lyceum and wrote: “We learned to bake bread in this pandemic, we can learn to make our own adobo con pimienta. Bye.”
We learned to bake bread in this pandemic, we can learn to make our own adobo con pimienta. Bye. https://t.co/qKHNYfkqCq — Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 10, 2020
It just so happens that both Castro and Miranda—and Unanue as well—are emblematic of different parts of the identity politics conundrum.
Castro is a Mexican-American and Miranda, according to several stories (including this one), has a multifaceted ethnic background that includes Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, blacks, and people from the British Isles.
Unanue, meanwhile, was born in this country, and all four of his grandparents were Spaniards.
In another age, Miranda might have described himself with the oft-used term “Heinz 57 American.” Castro would describe himself as a Mexican-American and Unanue might have viewed himself as another American of European background.
It’s not at all clear, however, what the “Hispanic” pan-ethnicity means. It doesn’t mean speaking Spanish (Castro doesn’t); it doesn’t mean origins in Latin America (none of Unanue’s grandparents were from there), and it does not mean ethnic cohesion (Miranda appears to be part everything).
Today all three men, however, fall under the pan-ethnicity, a category created in 1977 by the federal Office of Management and Budget at the instance of activists. The idea, as I explain in my forthcoming book, “The Plot to Change America: How Identity Politics Is Dividing the Land of the Free,” was to create a minority group that would be seen as distinct from whites.
Another key element: The leftist activists from La Raza and other groups who intimidated bureaucrats into creating the new category imbued it with the grievances of victimhood. Such “consciousness raising” would transform “the facts of vassalage into the signals of rebellion and social construction,” in the words Italian communist leader Antonio Gramsci wrote in the 1920s.
Herbert Marcuse, a German-American intellectual academic whose influence over the identity politics of today also looms large, put the same thought another way: “All liberation depends on the consciousness of servitude.”
But if someone such as Unanue comes along and ignores a social compact to which he was not a signatory, rejects feelings of vassalage or servitude, and bears no resentments, then he must be stepped on.
Even Miranda’s “Hamilton” looks vulnerable to fall prey to identity politics’ cancel culture. Its sin? The fact that it is patriotically stirring.
Identity politics is either cruel or a threat to national cohesion or so absurd as to be farcical. The message for our leaders is that they should go back to what was the ideal in America for centuries: All citizens should be seen as Americans in the eyes of the law, no matter where they or their ancestors came from, and America’s leaders will work for all Americans no matter where they came from.
In the meantime, here’s hoping that Unanue hangs tough. If he begins to show that the agents of cancel culture have no clothes, he could become an American icon.


dailysignal--2020-07-15--New York Times Editor Quits Over Newspaper’s Internal ‘Orthodoxy’

The New York Times hired Bari Weiss as an opinion editor to help readers gain a wider perspective after President Donald Trump ’ s surprise election in 2016 .
Now , Weiss has resigned her position as an op-ed editor and writer .
In a lengthy letter to the Times ’ publisher , posted on her personal website , she says she was bullied and run out of her job because of her personal views .
Weiss is a self-described centrist—hardly a conservative or Trump supporter—but she has drawn the ire of the hard left and seemingly a vocal portion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over her breaks from progressive orthodoxy .
In her resignation letter Tuesday to Publisher A.G. Sulzberger , Weiss writes that since hiring her , the Times has become more ruthlessly ideological .
“ [ A ] new consensus has emerged in the press , but perhaps especially at this paper : that truth isn ’ t a process of collective discovery , but an orthodoxy already known to an enlightened few whose job is to inform everyone else , ” Weiss writes in the letter dated July 14 .
Weiss then explains how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ editorial decisions .
Specifically , radicals on the social media site Twitter : As the ethics and mores of that platform have become those of the paper , the paper itself has increasingly become a kind of performance space .
Stories are chosen and told in a way to satisfy the narrowest of audiences , rather than to allow a curious public to read about the world and then draw their own conclusions .
I was always taught that journalists were charged with writing the first rough draft of history .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing molded to fit the needs of a predetermined narrative .
It ’ s clear that was the case after a controversy at the Times just a few weeks ago , when staffers publicly revolted after the newspaper printed an op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton , R-Ark .
Cotton defended the potential use of the National Guard to quell riots , a position held by just over half of Americans , according to polls .
The Times backed down to the mob and attached a ridiculous , 317-word editor ’ s note atop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explaining how the published piece didn ’ t meet its standards .
Two editors were forced to resign over the decision to publish the op-ed by Cotton , a former Army Ranger who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan .
It ’ s clear that the real standard that was violated was the judgment of angry , left-wing opinionators .
The paper of record is , more and more , the record of those living in a distant galaxy , one whose concerns are profoundly removed from the lives of most people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to choose just a few recent examples , the Soviet space program is lauded for its ‘ diversity ’ ; the doxxing of teenagers in the name of justice is condoned ; and the worst caste systems in human history include the United States alongside Nazi Germany .
On top of that , Weiss writes , the Times became a hostile work environment .
She says she had become a target of hate from co-workers behind the scenes and that “ other New York Times employees publicly smear me as a liar and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that harassing me will be met with appropriate action .
They never are.
” Weiss then offers a warning , and advice for young people who want a career in journalism : Weiss ’ resignation letter highlights the problems consuming not just The New York Times—which has slid deep into the camp of promoting activism over journalism in the past few years—but the media landscape as a whole .
Social justice warriors have taken over newsrooms .
The Times , for anyone paying attention , has been biased for generations .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weiss notes , and an incredibly powerful one .
It also has been quite liberal and certainly has showed its bias in the past .
And it ’ s published its share of fake news .
The dispatches of Walter Duranty , who lied about the Soviet-created Ukrainian famine that killed millions in the 1930s , is perhaps one of the worst “ fake news ” scandals in modern history .
Nevertheless , The New York Times has had its share of high-quality journalism and accurate reporting , and has attempted to inject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ section that aren ’ t left wing .
We are now entering a new era .
The mask of objectivity is slipping off .
It ’ s clear that those running America ’ s premier journalistic institutions are dropping any pretense of searching for the truth in favor of declaring they know the “ truth.
” Just look at The New York Times ’ deeply flawed and highly criticized 1619 Project , which , despite noted and half-heartedly acknowledged inaccuracies , won the Pulitzer Prize and is now being force-fed to students in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Times mirrors the abandonment of the culture of free speech , debate , and inquiry in Western society .
In its place is the elevation of “ lived experience , ” militant political correctness , and cancel culture—ideas once confined to academia that the left has poured into the mainstream .
Genuine debate is becoming difficult in America .
Conservatives and centrist or right-leaning Americans are canceled and siloed off from the mainstream ; liberals who deviate even moderately from left-wing consensus are subjected to “ struggle sessions.
” Weiss ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if only because it demonstrates where our cultural revolution is going .
And how the left increasingly tolerates no dissent whatsoever .

The New York Times hired Bari Weiss as an opinion writer and editor to help readers gain a wider perspective after President Donald Trump’s surprise election in 2016.
Now, Weiss has resigned. In a lengthy letter Tuesday to the Times’ publisher, posted on her personal website, she says she was bullied and run out of her job because of her personal views.
Weiss is a self-described centrist—hardly a conservative or Trump supporter—but she has drawn the ire of the hard left and seemingly a vocal portion of the Times’ readership and staff over her breaks from progressive orthodoxy.
In her resignation letter Tuesday to Publisher A.G. Sulzberger, Weiss writes that since hiring her, the Times has become more ruthlessly ideological.
“[A] new consensus has emerged in the press, but perhaps especially at this paper: that truth isn’t a process of collective discovery, but an orthodoxy already known to an enlightened few whose job is to inform everyone else,” Weiss writes in the letter dated July 14.
Weiss then explains how radicals now drive The New York Times’ editorial decisions. Specifically, radicals on the social media site Twitter:
As the ethics and mores of that platform have become those of the paper, the paper itself has increasingly become a kind of performance space. Stories are chosen and told in a way to satisfy the narrowest of audiences, rather than to allow a curious public to read about the world and then draw their own conclusions. I was always taught that journalists were charged with writing the first rough draft of history. Now, history itself is one more ephemeral thing molded to fit the needs of a predetermined narrative.
It’s clear that was the case after a controversy at the Times just a few weeks ago, when staffers publicly revolted after the newspaper printed an op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.
Cotton defended the potential use of the National Guard to quell riots, a position held by just over half of Americans, according to polls.
The Times backed down to the mob and attached a ridiculous, 317-word editor’s note atop Cotton’s June 3 op-ed, explaining how the published piece didn’t meet its standards.
Two editors were forced to resign over the decision to publish the op-ed by Cotton, a former Army Ranger who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
It’s clear that the real standard that was violated was the judgment of angry, left-wing opinionators.
In her resignation letter, Weiss writes:
The paper of record is, more and more, the record of those living in a distant galaxy, one whose concerns are profoundly removed from the lives of most people. This is a galaxy in which, to choose just a few recent examples, the Soviet space program is lauded for its ‘diversity’; the doxxing of teenagers in the name of justice is condoned; and the worst caste systems in human history include the United States alongside Nazi Germany.
On top of that, Weiss writes, the Times became a hostile work environment.
She says she had become a target of hate from co-workers behind the scenes and that “other New York Times employees publicly smear me as a liar and a bigot on Twitter with no fear that harassing me will be met with appropriate action. They never are.”
Weiss then offers a warning, and advice for young people who want a career in journalism:
Rule One: Speak your mind at your own peril. Rule Two: Never risk commissioning a story that goes against the narrative. Rule Three: Never believe an editor or publisher who urges you to go against the grain. Eventually, the publisher will cave to the mob, the editor will get fired or reassigned, and you’ll be hung out to dry.
Weiss’ resignation letter highlights the problems consuming not just The New York Times—which has slid deep into the camp of promoting activism over journalism in the past few years—but the media landscape as a whole.
Social justice warriors have taken over newsrooms.
The Times, for anyone paying attention, has been biased for generations. It’s a newspaper of record, as Weiss notes, and an incredibly powerful one. It also has been quite liberal and certainly has showed its bias in the past.
And it’s published its share of fake news.
The dispatches of Walter Duranty, who lied about the Soviet-created Ukrainian famine that killed millions in the 1930s, is perhaps one of the worst “fake news” scandals in modern history.
Nevertheless, The New York Times has had its share of high-quality journalism and accurate reporting, and has attempted to inject at least some ideas in its opinion section that aren’t left wing.
We are now entering a new era. The mask of objectivity is slipping off.
It’s clear that those running America’s premier journalistic institutions are dropping any pretense of searching for the truth in favor of declaring they know the “truth.”
Just look at The New York Times’ deeply flawed and highly criticized 1619 Project, which, despite noted and half-heartedly acknowledged inaccuracies, won the Pulitzer Prize and is now being force-fed to students in schools around the country.
The slide of the Times mirrors the abandonment of the culture of free speech, debate, and inquiry in Western society. In its place is the elevation of “lived experience,” militant political correctness, and cancel culture—ideas once confined to academia that the left has poured into the mainstream.
Genuine debate is becoming difficult in America.
Conservatives and centrist or right-leaning Americans are canceled and siloed off from the mainstream; liberals who deviate even moderately from left-wing consensus are subjected to “struggle sessions.”
Weiss’ entire letter is well worth a read, if only because it demonstrates where our cultural revolution is going. And how the left increasingly tolerates no dissent whatsoever.


dailysignal--2020-07-15--In 3 Charts, What to Know About Florida’s COVID-19 Surge

A lot has happened in Florida in the two weeks since I last analyzed its COVID-19 numbers .
Unfortunately , not much of it is good .
Florida has reported almost as many cases among its residents over the past two weeks as it did over the previous three and a half months .
The newly infected population has trended younger , which is an encouraging sign .
That has helped reduce the percentage of infected patients who fall seriously ill and cut the ratio of deaths to reported cases .
> > > What ’ s the best way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business ?
The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission , a project of The Heritage Foundation , assembled America ’ s top thinkers to figure that out .
So far , it has made more than 260 recommendations .
Learn more here .
But daily hospitalizations and deaths are nevertheless rising , and some counties are facing strains in their intensive care unit capacity .
State officials should consider implementing policies to protect hospitals from surges in COVID-19 patients .
Let ’ s start with a look at the total number of COVID-19 cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the pandemic ’ s beginning through July 12 .
As in the past , the number of cases remains concentrated among young and middle-aged adults .
Those aged 15 to 54 account for more than two-thirds of all infections .
Only 20 % of cases have occurred among the very young and very old .
Serious illness from COVID-19 remains predominantly a concern for the elderly .
People under 45 account for just 17 % of hospitalizations and only 3 % of deaths , although they make up nearly three-fifths of cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic from early March through July 12 .
Now , let ’ s look at what ’ s happened in the two-week period between June 28 and July 12 .
First , there have been nearly 135,000 cases reported over the past two weeks .
That ’ s almost as many as were reported through June 28 ( a little less than 144,000 ) .
Second , seniors made up less than 12 % of cases reported after June 28 .
Before that , they represented 16 % .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seniors make up 21 % of Florida ’ s population .
It could be a sign that the most vulnerable are taking effective precautions to avoid infection .
The number of COVID-19 deaths , however , has risen over the past two weeks .
A record 120 people succumbed to the disease on July 8 , and the number of daily mortalities averaged 71 over the most recent seven-day period , another record .
Here is a breakdown of deaths since June 28 , by age .
COVID-19 deaths among Florida residents continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A closer look , however , shows that seniors account for 78 % of deaths over the past two weeks .
That ’ s down from 85 % of deaths that occurred on or before June 28 .
Seniors thus make up a smaller percentage of recent deaths , while the percentage of deaths among adults under 65 has grown .
COVID-19 hospitalizations also are at all-time highs , averaging about 350 daily admissions over the past week .
The seven-day moving average of COVID-19 hospitalizations is more than twice as high as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has nearly doubled since June 30 .
Hospitals are beginning to show the strain .
Nearly 8,100 patients with COVID-19 were in hospitals on July 13 .
More than 3,600 of them are in hospitals in Miami and nearby counties .
ICU patients in and around Miami numbered 1,600 as of July 13 , leaving 17 % of ICU beds ( 327 ) available .
Tampa is in worse shape , with nearly 90 % of ICU beds in the three-county area occupied .
Orlando and Jacksonville are better situated , with occupancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 90 % of intensive care unit beds are occupied in Leon County ( Tallahassee ) .
Bay County ( Panama City ) units are 95 % occupied .
Escambia County ( Pensacola ) reported that only two of its 116 ICU beds were vacant .
State health officials and local hospital administrators can accommodate an influx of patients .
Dr. Charles Lockwood , a hospital administrator in Tampa , recently told CNN that Tampa General Hospital has 87 ventilators , in addition to its ICU beds , that it hasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ICU beds were available across the state as of July 13 , so patients who can be safely transported can be accommodated .
Still , the surge of cases is considerable and ongoing .
The state posted a record 15,299 new cases on July 11 and has averaged more than 10,700 daily new cases over the past seven days .
Some percentage of those patients will be hospitalized , and some will require intensive medical care .
In a Heritage Foundation paper published last month , professor Amy Anderson and Dr. Daniel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for pandemic patients .
Florida already has designated COVID-only nursing homes .
A similar policy should be considered for hospitals .
State officials might also consider surging public health measures to contain the hot spots , through targeted mitigation measures .
Steps could include more aggressive testing and contact tracing , establishing voluntary isolation facilities to separate the infected from the uninfected , and in communities with high hospitalization rates , lockdowns .
While untargeted lockdowns of uncertain duration are unsustainable and often counterproductive , targeted lockdowns can help protect hospitals against a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contagion ’ s spread .
Implementing targeted public health measures and reserving certain facilities for COVID-19 are prudent steps Florida can take to deal with its surge in cases .

A lot has happened in Florida in the two weeks since I last analyzed its COVID-19 numbers. Unfortunately, not much of it is good.
Florida has reported almost as many cases among its residents over the past two weeks as it did over the previous three and a half months.
The newly infected population has trended younger, which is an encouraging sign. That has helped reduce the percentage of infected patients who fall seriously ill and cut the ratio of deaths to reported cases.
>>> What’s the best way for America to reopen and return to business? The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, a project of The Heritage Foundation, assembled America’s top thinkers to figure that out. So far, it has made more than 260 recommendations. Learn more here.
But daily hospitalizations and deaths are nevertheless rising, and some counties are facing strains in their intensive care unit capacity.
State officials should consider implementing policies to protect hospitals from surges in COVID-19 patients.
Let’s start with a look at the total number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths among Florida residents from the pandemic’s beginning through July 12.
As in the past, the number of cases remains concentrated among young and middle-aged adults. Those aged 15 to 54 account for more than two-thirds of all infections. Only 20% of cases have occurred among the very young and very old.
Serious illness from COVID-19 remains predominantly a concern for the elderly. People under 45 account for just 17% of hospitalizations and only 3% of deaths, although they make up nearly three-fifths of cases.
That’s a quick overview of the pandemic from early March through July 12. Now, let’s look at what’s happened in the two-week period between June 28 and July 12.
First, there have been nearly 135,000 cases reported over the past two weeks. That’s almost as many as were reported through June 28 (a little less than 144,000).
Second, seniors made up less than 12% of cases reported after June 28. Before that, they represented 16%. That’s an important development, especially since seniors make up 21% of Florida’s population. It could be a sign that the most vulnerable are taking effective precautions to avoid infection.
The number of COVID-19 deaths, however, has risen over the past two weeks. A record 120 people succumbed to the disease on July 8, and the number of daily mortalities averaged 71 over the most recent seven-day period, another record. Here is a breakdown of deaths since June 28, by age.
COVID-19 deaths among Florida residents continue to be heavily concentrated among seniors. A closer look, however, shows that seniors account for 78% of deaths over the past two weeks. That’s down from 85% of deaths that occurred on or before June 28.
Seniors thus make up a smaller percentage of recent deaths, while the percentage of deaths among adults under 65 has grown.
COVID-19 hospitalizations also are at all-time highs, averaging about 350 daily admissions over the past week. The seven-day moving average of COVID-19 hospitalizations is more than twice as high as the previous peak reached in mid-May and has nearly doubled since June 30.
Hospitals are beginning to show the strain. Nearly 8,100 patients with COVID-19 were in hospitals on July 13. More than 3,600 of them are in hospitals in Miami and nearby counties. ICU patients in and around Miami numbered 1,600 as of July 13, leaving 17% of ICU beds (327) available.
Tampa is in worse shape, with nearly 90% of ICU beds in the three-county area occupied. Orlando and Jacksonville are better situated, with occupancy rates just under 75%. But more than 90% of intensive care unit beds are occupied in Leon County (Tallahassee). Bay County (Panama City) units are 95% occupied. Escambia County (Pensacola) reported that only two of its 116 ICU beds were vacant.
State health officials and local hospital administrators can accommodate an influx of patients.
Dr. Charles Lockwood, a hospital administrator in Tampa, recently told CNN that Tampa General Hospital has 87 ventilators, in addition to its ICU beds, that it hasn’t yet used. About 19% of ICU beds were available across the state as of July 13, so patients who can be safely transported can be accommodated.
Still, the surge of cases is considerable and ongoing. The state posted a record 15,299 new cases on July 11 and has averaged more than 10,700 daily new cases over the past seven days. Some percentage of those patients will be hospitalized, and some will require intensive medical care.
In a Heritage Foundation paper published last month, professor Amy Anderson and Dr. Daniel Johnson urged policymakers to designate certain facilities for pandemic patients. Florida already has designated COVID-only nursing homes. A similar policy should be considered for hospitals.
State officials might also consider surging public health measures to contain the hot spots, through targeted mitigation measures. Steps could include more aggressive testing and contact tracing, establishing voluntary isolation facilities to separate the infected from the uninfected, and in communities with high hospitalization rates, lockdowns.
While untargeted lockdowns of uncertain duration are unsustainable and often counterproductive, targeted lockdowns can help protect hospitals against a surge of patients by temporarily slowing the contagion’s spread.
Implementing targeted public health measures and reserving certain facilities for COVID-19 are prudent steps Florida can take to deal with its surge in cases.
Due to an editing error, an incorrect chart was originally placed in this article. It has been replaced with the correct chart.


dailysignal--2020-07-16--A New York Times Columnist  Falls to the Cancel Culture

New York Times opinion writer and editor Bari Weiss is the latest victim of the cancel culture , resigning after @ @ @ @ @ more liberal colleagues at the newspaper .
Jarrett Stepman , a contributor to The Daily @ @ @ @ @ The Right Side of History ” podcast , joins today ’ s show to talk @ @ @ @ @ the goal of cancel culture , how you can fight it , and more .
@ @ @ @ @ : • President Donald Trump says some cities run by Democrats are like war zones @ @ @ @ @ Mike Pompeo announces new sanctions on Huawei and other Chinese tech companies .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ available on Ricochet , Apple Podcasts , Pippa , Google Play , and Stitcher .
@ @ @ @ @ be found at DailySignal.com/podcasts .
If you like what you hear , please leave a @ @ @ @ @ leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write us at [ email protected ] .
@ @ @ @

New York Times opinion writer and editor Bari Weiss is the latest victim of the cancel culture, resigning after what she calls bullying by more liberal colleagues at the newspaper. Jarrett Stepman, a contributor to The Daily Signal and co-host of “The Right Side of History” podcast, joins today’s show to talk about Weiss’ resignation, the goal of cancel culture, how you can fight it, and more.
We also cover these stories:
President Donald Trump says some cities run by Democrats are like war zones.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announces new sanctions on Huawei and other Chinese tech companies.
A town in North Carolina greenlights reparations for African Americans.
“The Daily Signal Podcast” is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Pippa, Google Play, and Stitcher. All of our podcasts can be found at DailySignal.com/podcasts. If you like what you hear, please leave a review. You can also leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write us at letters@dailysignal.com. Enjoy the show!
>>> Kayleigh McEnany Calls Out Media Silence on Violence:


dailysignal--2020-07-15--Tweets of Washington Journalists Betray ‘Groupthink,’ Study Finds

Washington journalists ’ tweets and interactions on Twitter show that those delivering news on government and politics to most Americans live in “ more insular microbubbles than previously thought , ” according to a new study .
These journalists display a “ vulnerability to groupthink and blind spots , ” the study says .
The study , by journalism professors Nikki Usher and Yee Man Margaret Ng of the University of Illinois , Urbana-Champaign , doesn ’ t directly assert that the “ groupthink ” is liberal .
However , it refers to traditional perceptions of the news media going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what it calls the “ peer-to-peer dynamics ” of journalists .
Media bias and promoting narratives has been a particular issue in recent years .
The study , published June 30 , measured these dynamics through Twitter and concludes : The study identifies nine clusters of news organizations , called “ communities of practice , ” that routinely retweet and interact with fellow members of their group .
These include : —The “ elite/legacy community ” is made up of journalists from The Washington Post , NPR , The New York Times , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ congressional journalism community ” includes journalists from Bloomberg , Politico , the Associated Press , The Wall Street Journal , CQ Roll Call , and C-SPAN .
Separately , the study gives CNN its own cluster because so much of the Twitter interaction is between or among CNN employees : In particular , it is concerning that CNN journalists are tweeting mostly to other CNN journalists about CNN .
Even if this is an organizational mandate , it nonetheless serves as a powerful echo chamber that leaves CNN ’ s internal sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by those who work there .
The “ critique of ‘ Eastern Liberal Media ’ generally dates to Barry Goldwater in the 1960s , ” the report notes , adding that “ ‘ elite media ’ and ‘ coastal elitism ’ have reached a fever pitch in the Trump era.
” It says : Journalists widely predicted that Hillary Clinton would win the 2016 election .
The aftermath prompted renewed interest among journalists and scholars focused on the United States as to whether political journalists , particularly those in Washington , were in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalists are more likely to be insulated in liberal political bubbles in big cities that are growing ‘ bluer.
’ The researchers do not try to say whether each journalist leans left or right based on Twitter .
But , the study says the “ clusters ” suggest that journalists now tend to interact “ within even smaller communities of like-minded journalists that have been previously considered.
” “ If journalists are talking to even smaller groups of journalists who share similar orientations , ” the study says , “ there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epistemic communities in generating knowledge and information for the public .
”

Washington journalists’ tweets and interactions on Twitter show that those delivering news on government and politics to most Americans live in “more insular microbubbles than previously thought,” according to a new study.
These journalists display a “vulnerability to groupthink and blind spots,” the study says.
The study, by journalism professors Nikki Usher and Yee Man Margaret Ng of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, doesn’t directly assert that the “groupthink” is liberal.
However, it refers to traditional perceptions of the news media going back to at least 1964 and establishes what it calls the “peer-to-peer dynamics” of journalists. Media bias and promoting narratives has been a particular issue in recent years.
The study, published June 30, measured these dynamics through Twitter and concludes:
The dangers of journalists having limited perspectives are real. While this study does not purport to show possible worsening over time, it does provide support that shows siloed communities of journalists and thus offers an important, empirically grounded caveat about their vulnerability to groupthink and blind spots.
The study identifies nine clusters of news organizations, called “communities of practice,” that routinely retweet and interact with fellow members of their group. These include:
—The “elite/legacy community” is made up of journalists from The Washington Post, NPR, The New York Times, NBC News, and Politico.
—The “congressional journalism community” includes journalists from Bloomberg, Politico, the Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, CQ Roll Call, and C-SPAN.
—The TV cluster includes journalists from ABC News, Fox News, and CBS News.
Separately, the study gives CNN its own cluster because so much of the Twitter interaction is between or among CNN employees:
In particular, it is concerning that CNN journalists are tweeting mostly to other CNN journalists about CNN. Even if this is an organizational mandate, it nonetheless serves as a powerful echo chamber that leaves CNN’s internal sense about what news matters unchecked and reconfirmed by those who work there.
The “critique of ‘Eastern Liberal Media’ generally dates to [Sen.] Barry Goldwater in the 1960s,” the report notes, referring to the Arizonan who was Republicans’ 1964 presidential nominee and adding that “‘elite media’ and ‘coastal elitism’ have reached a fever pitch in the Trump era.”
It says:
Journalists widely predicted that Hillary Clinton would win the 2016 election. The aftermath prompted renewed interest among journalists and scholars focused on the United States as to whether political journalists, particularly those in Washington, were in a ‘media bubble.’ … U.S. journalists are more likely to be insulated in liberal political bubbles in big cities that are growing ‘bluer.’
The researchers do not try to say whether each journalist leans left or right based on Twitter. But, the study says the “clusters” suggest that journalists now tend to interact “within even smaller communities of like-minded journalists that have been previously considered.”
“If journalists are talking to even smaller groups of journalists who share similar orientations,” the study says, “there is a real concern about the limitations of these epistemic communities in generating knowledge and information for the public.”


dailysignal--2020-07-16--Left-Wing Newsrooms Fail the True Black Lives Matter Test

Recently , 8-year-old Secoriea Turner died at the hand of an unknown gunman in Atlanta .
A car she was in with her mother and two other men went past a barricade set up by Black Lives Matter protesters , near the site of the police killing of Rayshard Brooks .
Two people in the crowd of protesters opened fire on the car .
“ They killed my baby because she crossed a barrier and made a U-turn ?
” Secoriea ’ s anguished father said .
“ Black Lives Matter ?
You killing your own .
You killed an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did nothing to no one of y ’ all .
She just wanted to get home to see her cousin .
That ’ s all she wanted to do.
” The question “ Do black lives matter ?
” demands to be answered—more specifically , do black lives matter to the media when the shootings don ’ t involve the police ?
Secoriea was just 1 of 6 children ranging in age from 6 to 14 who died in shootings recently .
But those tragedies went far beyond the deaths of children .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 15 died .
Of course , Chicago has been known in recent years to have a severe problem with violence .
Over several recent weekends , the number of shootings in the Windy City has topped 100 .
But the problems of deadly violence are spreading—New York City , America ’ s poster child for urban renewal , put up numbers to rival Chicago ’ s : 64 shootings and 10 dead .
A man was shot and killed in broad daylight in the Bronx , crossing the street while holding hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s even harrowing video footage of the incident . )
In the 25 largest metro areas across the country , homicides are up an alarming 16 % this year .
To put those numbers in comparison , American police killed nine unarmed black people all of last year .
That may be nine too many , but the threat of being killed by cops pales in comparison to black people being the victims of crime .
The media do a fine job covering the grisly details of these shootings—see this CNN story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fourth weekend or The New York Times coverage of the city ’ s recent gun violence—but that ’ s not nearly enough .
The media have a couple of clear obligations : One , demand political accountability for the increase in deaths .
Two , explore and report on meaningful solutions that could prevent more violence .
On the first point , venerable tabloid the New York Post came out swinging with a cover taking New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to task for the alarming increase in violence on his watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely out of step with more liberal publications .
The senior editor of The Daily Beast mocked the Post for its cover because even though murders in New York are up substantially , they ’ re still far below the murder rates 30 years ago .
That ’ s a pretty low bar for de Blasio , and a pretty blasé attitude about murder .
It ’ s also revealing about journalistic priorities in the half-dozen years since “ black lives matter ” became a household phrase .
“ It ’ s sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policing has happened during this great reckoning , ” Vox editor Matt Yglesias recently observed .
“ Between Ferguson and Floyd we had a bunch of great journalism on the subjects of how difficult it is to fire officers for misconduct , how often fired officers get reinstated , and how often non-reinstated officers bounce to new departments .
Very little post-Floyd change on this.
” This particular issue highlights how the liberal monoculture in newsrooms makes it hard to address this problem clearly .
Many big newsrooms are also unionized , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , police reform opens a can of worms for liberal reporters .
If we have to confront the fact that police unions are keeping bad cops on the streets , well , imagine the outrage from some corners once we start seeing honest reporting about who teacher unions are protecting .
In spite of being conflicted , the national media have still done some good reporting and soul-searching on police reform , but such journalism has been few and far between .
Now it seems as if the media are suddenly trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by embracing radical—and radically inchoate—left-wing solutions such as “ Yes , We Mean Literally Abolish the Police.
” It ’ s an open question whether outlets such as The New York Times are responsibly weighing the police ’ s necessary role in fighting crime against the need for reform .
The reticence of left-leaning media to highlight the widespread law-and-order failures of the Democratic politicians who dominate urban areas is also palpable , even though that reluctance is endangering black lives .
Secoriea died after the car she was in went past an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have essentially been given free rein by the mayor of Atlanta .
After Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan ordered police to abandon their precinct in Seattle so protesters could set up an “ autonomous zone , ” the lawlessness resulted in the killing of two black teenagers and the wounding of two other men .
It ’ s not just that many in the media are unconcerned about this crime—they ’ re in denial .
Last week , CNN prime-time anchors Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo blamed right-wing media for concern about rising crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers go south , they kick in with … ‘ Democratic cities in chaos !
’ ” Lemon said .
Cuomo interjected with mock concern , “ Crime is rising as they defund police.
” However , after billions of dollars in riot damage and a frightful increase in homicides , denying that Democratic cities are in chaos is , well , fake news .
If the media really wanted to hold President Donald Trump accountable , they would note that in his acceptance speech at the 2016 GOP convention , he promised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afflicts our nation will soon , and I mean very soon , come to an end.
” Unfortunately , the media have also been so busy running interference for urban Democrats they don ’ t have much standing to criticize Trump , who has at least emphasized the importance of law and order , even if he ’ s failed to achieve it .
When Durkan compared armed warlords patrolling her city ’ s streets to the “ summer of love , ” the media eagerly leapt to her defense .
Looking back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayor and Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee last month , Trump was clearly the more prescient and responsible politician , as hard as that may be to admit .
But whether it ’ s done by the media or by Trump , looking at law and order issues through the prism of partisan politics or national elections isn ’ t helpful .
Unfortunately , the economic collapse of local journalism in recent decades means that right now , as cops and ambulances speed into black communities , there ’ s often no one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pad to tell us what really happened without the distorting lens of national media .
Instead , we have a news industry confined to cubicle pens in Washington , D.C. , and New York that , when they aren ’ t dashing off jeremiads about Trump , are self-obsessed with abstract concerns about systemic racism in their own privileged workplaces .
What ’ s missing is deep and richly detailed local reporting on crime , policing , and racial injustice—reporting that , in addition to telling us what ’ s gone wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heroes that bring communities together and point the way forward .
Until we have more shoe-leather reporting and less naval-gazing in the media , black lives won ’ t matter as much as they should .

Recently, 8-year-old Secoriea Turner died at the hand of an unknown gunman in Atlanta. A car she was in with her mother and two other men went past a barricade set up by Black Lives Matter protesters, near the site of the police killing of Rayshard Brooks. Two people in the crowd of protesters opened fire on the car.
“They killed my baby because she crossed a barrier and made a U-turn?” Secoriea’s anguished father said. “Black Lives Matter? You killing your own. You killed an 8-year-old child. She ain’t did nothing to no one of y’all. She just wanted to get home to see her cousin. That’s all she wanted to do.”
The question “Do black lives matter?” demands to be answered—more specifically, do black lives matter to the media when the shootings don’t involve the police?
Secoriea was just 1 of 6 children ranging in age from 6 to 14 who died in shootings recently. But those tragedies went far beyond the deaths of children.
In Chicago, 75 people were shot and 15 died. Of course, Chicago has been known in recent years to have a severe problem with violence. Over several recent weekends, the number of shootings in the Windy City has topped 100.
But the problems of deadly violence are spreading—New York City, America’s poster child for urban renewal, put up numbers to rival Chicago’s: 64 shootings and 10 dead. A man was shot and killed in broad daylight in the Bronx, crossing the street while holding hands with his 9-year-old daughter. (There’s even harrowing video footage of the incident.)
In the 25 largest metro areas across the country, homicides are up an alarming 16% this year.
To put those numbers in comparison, American police killed nine unarmed black people all of last year. That may be nine too many, but the threat of being killed by cops pales in comparison to black people being the victims of crime.
The media do a fine job covering the grisly details of these shootings—see this CNN story on the children killed over the July Fourth weekend or The New York Times coverage of the city’s recent gun violence—but that’s not nearly enough.
The media have a couple of clear obligations: One, demand political accountability for the increase in deaths. Two, explore and report on meaningful solutions that could prevent more violence.
On the first point, venerable tabloid the New York Post came out swinging with a cover taking New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to task for the alarming increase in violence on his watch. The Post, however, is largely out of step with more liberal publications.
The senior editor of The Daily Beast mocked the Post for its cover because even though murders in New York are up substantially, they’re still far below the murder rates 30 years ago. That’s a pretty low bar for de Blasio, and a pretty blasé attitude about murder.
It’s also revealing about journalistic priorities in the half-dozen years since “black lives matter” became a household phrase.
“It’s sort of striking how little actual reforming of policing has happened during this great reckoning,” Vox editor Matt Yglesias recently observed. “Between Ferguson and Floyd we had a bunch of great journalism on the subjects of how difficult it is to fire officers for misconduct, how often fired officers get reinstated, and how often non-reinstated officers bounce to new departments. Very little post-Floyd change on this.”
This particular issue highlights how the liberal monoculture in newsrooms makes it hard to address this problem clearly. Many big newsrooms are also unionized, and their coverage is reflexively pro-union—and as such, police reform opens a can of worms for liberal reporters.
If we have to confront the fact that police unions are keeping bad cops on the streets, well, imagine the outrage from some corners once we start seeing honest reporting about who teacher unions are protecting.
In spite of being conflicted, the national media have still done some good reporting and soul-searching on police reform, but such journalism has been few and far between.
Now it seems as if the media are suddenly trying to make up for their lack of effort by embracing radical—and radically inchoate—left-wing solutions such as “Yes, We Mean Literally Abolish the Police.” It’s an open question whether outlets such as The New York Times are responsibly weighing the police’s necessary role in fighting crime against the need for reform.
The reticence of left-leaning media to highlight the widespread law-and-order failures of the Democratic politicians who dominate urban areas is also palpable, even though that reluctance is endangering black lives.
Secoriea died after the car she was in went past an illegal roadblock set up by protesters who have essentially been given free rein by the mayor of Atlanta. After Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan ordered police to abandon their precinct in Seattle so protesters could set up an “autonomous zone,” the lawlessness resulted in the killing of two black teenagers and the wounding of two other men.
It’s not just that many in the media are unconcerned about this crime—they’re in denial. Last week, CNN prime-time anchors Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo blamed right-wing media for concern about rising crime.
“Whenever Trump’s poll numbers go south, they kick in with … ‘Democratic cities in chaos!’” Lemon said. Cuomo interjected with mock concern, “Crime is rising as they defund police.” However, after billions of dollars in riot damage and a frightful increase in homicides, denying that Democratic cities are in chaos is, well, fake news.
If the media really wanted to hold President Donald Trump accountable, they would note that in his acceptance speech at the 2016 GOP convention, he promised “the crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon, and I mean very soon, come to an end.”
Unfortunately, the media have also been so busy running interference for urban Democrats they don’t have much standing to criticize Trump, who has at least emphasized the importance of law and order, even if he’s failed to achieve it.
When Durkan compared armed warlords patrolling her city’s streets to the “summer of love,” the media eagerly leapt to her defense. Looking back at his Twitter spats with the Seattle mayor and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee last month, Trump was clearly the more prescient and responsible politician, as hard as that may be to admit.
But whether it’s done by the media or by Trump, looking at law and order issues through the prism of partisan politics or national elections isn’t helpful.
Unfortunately, the economic collapse of local journalism in recent decades means that right now, as cops and ambulances speed into black communities, there’s often no one standing on the curb with a pen and pad to tell us what really happened without the distorting lens of national media.
Instead, we have a news industry confined to cubicle pens in Washington, D.C., and New York that, when they aren’t dashing off jeremiads about Trump, are self-obsessed with abstract concerns about systemic racism in their own privileged workplaces.
What’s missing is deep and richly detailed local reporting on crime, policing, and racial injustice—reporting that, in addition to telling us what’s gone wrong, celebrates the small victories and unknown heroes that bring communities together and point the way forward.
Until we have more shoe-leather reporting and less naval-gazing in the media, black lives won’t matter as much as they should.
Originally published by RealClearPolitics


dailysignal--2020-07-16--The NFL Is on the Brink

The NFL Is on the Brink

The National Football League celebrated its 100th anniversary last year .
This should be a time of self-congratulation for the brutal sport , which has no similar counterpart outside the United States .
The NFL ’ s megaprofits dwarf those of other professional sports in the U.S .
The Super Bowl , not the World Series , is America ’ s national sports event .
The league survived all sorts of crises in the past .
It was one of the first professional sports to integrate its teams , doing so in the 1920s .
But the integration unfortunately ceased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reintegrate until the mid- ’ 40s , becoming one of the last sports leagues to embrace fully a racially blind meritocracy .
The NFL successfully absorbed the rival American Football league in 1966 .
So far the NFL has avoided federal safety regulations that could curb the incidence of physical trauma inherent in the sport .
The league ’ s owners are a cross-section of America ’ s most successful entrepreneurs and old-money families—many of them politically well-connected .
Yet the NFL is in deep trouble like never before .
In 2016 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stand for the national anthem .
He claimed he was protesting the treatment of African Americans .
Kaepernick was an odd revolutionary .
His mother is white , his father is an African American of Ghanaian-Nigerian ancestry , and he was raised by a middle-class white couple .
Kaepernick ’ s only prior controversy was being accused by another player of using the N-word .
He denied it but was still fined by the league .
Kaepernick ’ s rejection of “ The Star-Spangled Banner ” eventually spread throughout the NFL .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Kaepernick became a resistance idol .
Soon he was a corporate ad man , pitching Nike sneakers .
Then game attendance fell .
So did television viewership .
Apparently , lots of fans had no desire to spend their Sundays watching 20-something multimillionaires lecture them that the American flag was not worth honoring .
In 2018 , the league belatedly banned players from kneeling for the national anthem .
By then , Kaepernick had left football and become a megaphone for even more corporate sponsors .
Now the NFL is in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police .
The inspirational song “ Lift Every Voice and Sing ” —also known as the black national anthem—will be played before every game of the first week of the season .
The league is considering letting players wear protest insignia on their helmets or jerseys .
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell apologized to players for not listening to them about racism .
Yet the NFL capitulation poses fundamental problems for the league .
It has now essentially greenlighted the sort of activism that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away its profits .
Racial issues are often virtue-signaled in the NFL—but almost never in an honest way .
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees recently objected to players not honoring the flag .
But he quickly caved when a media mob damned him .
In contrast , Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson posted a series of anti-Semitic tweets last week , even falsely attributing a quote to Adolf Hitler .
That disconnect posed a bizarre question for the NFL : Is it worse for a player to be pro-American flag or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are almost all white .
But nearly three-quarters of the players are black .
Those who play the game obviously want to see more diversity in coaching and ownership .
In a culture so obsessed with identity politics , is it the players or the owners and coaches ( or both ) who do not “ look like America ” ?
Given that about 13 % of the U.S. population is black , and given that the Black Lives Matter movement embraces concepts like proportional representation , today ’ s NFL teams hardly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argue that the league should mentor and recruit more Latinos , Asian Americans , and Native Americans to better reflect their percentages of our diverse national population .
Perhaps an NFL compromise could ensure that 30 % of coaches and owners are nonwhite , thus reflecting current U.S. demography .
But then , in reciprocity , the players would match such mandatory demographic diversity—leading to Native Americans , Latinos , Asians , whites , and those of mixed ancestry accounting for 87 % of the player population .
The NBA might also take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representation could also apply to overrepresented white athletes in hockey , tennis , golf , and swimming—sports faulted by identity politics groups as being unfairly overrepresented by whites .
Obviously , such racial gerrymandering will not happen because fans value meritocracy over ethnic affiliations .
Or at least they did .
If the multibillion-dollar NFL decides that multimillionaire players have no obligation to stand to honor a collective national anthem , and that there will be separate anthems and politicized uniforms , then millions of Americans will quietly shrug and change the channel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2016-17 anthem protest look like child ’ s play .
( C ) 2020 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY , LLC .

The National Football League celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. This should be a time of self-congratulation for the brutal sport, which has no similar counterpart outside the United States.
The NFL’s megaprofits dwarf those of other professional sports in the U.S. The Super Bowl, not the World Series, is America’s national sports event.
The league survived all sorts of crises in the past. It was one of the first professional sports to integrate its teams, doing so in the 1920s. But the integration unfortunately ceased, and the NFL didn’t reintegrate until the mid-’40s, becoming one of the last sports leagues to embrace fully a racially blind meritocracy.
The NFL successfully absorbed the rival American Football league in 1966. So far the NFL has avoided federal safety regulations that could curb the incidence of physical trauma inherent in the sport.
The league’s owners are a cross-section of America’s most successful entrepreneurs and old-money families—many of them politically well-connected.
Yet the NFL is in deep trouble like never before.
In 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem. He claimed he was protesting the treatment of African Americans.
Kaepernick was an odd revolutionary. His mother is white, his father is an African American of Ghanaian-Nigerian ancestry, and he was raised by a middle-class white couple. Kaepernick’s only prior controversy was being accused by another player of using the N-word. He denied it but was still fined by the league.
Kaepernick’s rejection of “The Star-Spangled Banner” eventually spread throughout the NFL. Even though he was a backup quarterback, Kaepernick became a resistance idol. Soon he was a corporate ad man, pitching Nike sneakers.
Then game attendance fell. So did television viewership. Apparently, lots of fans had no desire to spend their Sundays watching 20-something multimillionaires lecture them that the American flag was not worth honoring.
In 2018, the league belatedly banned players from kneeling for the national anthem. By then, Kaepernick had left football and become a megaphone for even more corporate sponsors.
Now the NFL is in the news amid national protests and violence following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police.
The inspirational song “Lift Every Voice and Sing”—also known as the black national anthem—will be played before every game of the first week of the season. The league is considering letting players wear protest insignia on their helmets or jerseys. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell apologized to players for not listening to them about racism.
Yet the NFL capitulation poses fundamental problems for the league. It has now essentially greenlighted the sort of activism that in the last few years has been eating away its profits.
Racial issues are often virtue-signaled in the NFL—but almost never in an honest way. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees recently objected to players not honoring the flag. But he quickly caved when a media mob damned him.
In contrast, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson posted a series of anti-Semitic tweets last week, even falsely attributing a quote to Adolf Hitler.
That disconnect posed a bizarre question for the NFL: Is it worse for a player to be pro-American flag or anti-Semitic?
NFL owners and head coaches are almost all white. But nearly three-quarters of the players are black. Those who play the game obviously want to see more diversity in coaching and ownership.
In a culture so obsessed with identity politics, is it the players or the owners and coaches (or both) who do not “look like America”?
Given that about 13% of the U.S. population is black, and given that the Black Lives Matter movement embraces concepts like proportional representation, today’s NFL teams hardly qualify as diverse. Social activists might argue that the league should mentor and recruit more Latinos, Asian Americans, and Native Americans to better reflect their percentages of our diverse national population.
Perhaps an NFL compromise could ensure that 30% of coaches and owners are nonwhite, thus reflecting current U.S. demography. But then, in reciprocity, the players would match such mandatory demographic diversity—leading to Native Americans, Latinos, Asians, whites, and those of mixed ancestry accounting for 87% of the player population. The NBA might also take note.
This progressive model of proportional representation could also apply to overrepresented white athletes in hockey, tennis, golf, and swimming—sports faulted by identity politics groups as being unfairly overrepresented by whites.
Obviously, such racial gerrymandering will not happen because fans value meritocracy over ethnic affiliations.
Or at least they did.
If the multibillion-dollar NFL decides that multimillionaire players have no obligation to stand to honor a collective national anthem, and that there will be separate anthems and politicized uniforms, then millions of Americans will quietly shrug and change the channel.
And that silent protest will make the 2016-17 anthem protest look like child’s play.
(C) 2020 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.


dailysignal--2020-07-17--Don’t Fall for Cuomo’s Gaslighting on Coronavirus

On March 25 , New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo made one of deadliest mistakes of the coronavirus crisis , signing an executive order forcing nursing homes in his state to accept patients who tested positive for coronavirus .
Around 4,800 New Yorkers died from COVID-19 in those nursing homes from March to May–approximately 25 % of all fatalities in the state .
Many medical professionals opposed the policy .
A report by ProPublica , certainly no right-wing outlet , found that deaths had spiked after Cuomo ’ s order .
States issuing similar policies–Michigan and New Jersey–saw similar disasters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York tri-state area ’ s numbers are the worst in the country .
By most measures , the numbers are some of the worst in the world .
As the New York Times noted in May , New York City seeded the wave of outbreaks across the nation .
Some of the carnage was likely unavoidable , but we can attribute the high number of nursing home deaths , at the very least , to Cuomo ’ s ineptitude .
> > > What ’ s the best way for America to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Coronavirus Recovery Commission , a project of The Heritage Foundation , assembled America ’ s top thinkers to figure that out .
So far , it has made more than 260 recommendations .
Learn more here .
Yet , even as his state was failing to meet its most serious challenge since 9/11–it wasn ’ t until May 6 that cleaners began disinfecting the subway system , for example–Cuomo was busy taking softball questions on national cable news from his obsequious brother , Chris .
On “ The Tonight Show , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and “ honest ” Cuomo was as the two discussed the governor ’ s global popularity and “ Cuomosexual fans.
” For those who tell you the media don ’ t matter , Cuomo now has among the highest approval ratings of any governor in the nation , almost all of whom have governed far more capably .
As I write this , the coronavirus death toll in New York stands at 166 people per 100,000 ( even if we exclude New York City , the rate is 78.5 per 100,000 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per in Arizona , 20 per in Florida , 17.7 in California , and 11.1 in Texas .
Will Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis be heralded as a great governor should his state end up with a fraction of the deaths New York experienced ?
Unlikely .
If all of that wasn ’ t bad enough , after more than 32,000 deaths , Cuomo and his fans are now celebrating a victory over coronavirus .
Cuomo released a bizarre poster this week , praising New York ’ s allegedly successful pandemic response under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Within the poster ’ s pyramid of mythical accomplishments , there is a quote from A. J. Parkinson–an imaginary philosopher invented by Cuomo ’ s father , Mario .
It says , “ Tell the People the Truth and They Will Do the Right Thing , ” which is highly misleading since the bottom of the pyramid isn ’ t built upon the bodies of 30,000 dead .
Nevertheless , there was Andy Slavitt , the perpetually mistaken Obama-era bureaucrat who is constantly being trotted out by cable news as an expert on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that beat the disease like New York .
Others claimed that New York ’ s victory could be seen in its lack of deaths this week .
This is tantamount to declaring New York victorious over Islamic terrorism on 9/12 because no one died in the city that day .
To paraphrase Pyrrhus , another such victory over COVID and we are undone .
While some states struggle more than others , and coronavirus is still spreading , only one state demonstrably failed to accomplish its most basic mission .
You will remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to ensure that we didn ’ t overwhelm hospitals with new cases .
( The fantastical notion that we could escape without widespread infections was not yet normalized . )
We don ’ t know what the future holds , and , obviously , there are likely to be spikes as we move forward with reopening .
But there is no measurement at our disposal and no level of gaslighting that will change the fact that Cuomo-led New York was an utter failure .

On March 25, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo made one of deadliest mistakes of the coronavirus crisis, signing an executive order forcing nursing homes in his state to accept patients who tested positive for the coronavirus. Around 4,800 New Yorkers died from COVID-19 in those nursing homes from March to May—approximately 25% of all fatalities in the state.
Many medical professionals opposed the policy. A report by ProPublica, certainly no right-wing outlet, found that deaths had spiked after Cuomo’s order. States issuing similar policies—Michigan and New Jersey—saw similar disasters unfold.
By any standard, the New York tri-state area’s numbers are the worst in the country. By most measures, the numbers are some of the worst in the world.
As The New York Times noted in May, New York City seeded the wave of outbreaks across the nation. Some of the carnage was likely unavoidable, but we can attribute the high number of nursing home deaths, at the very least, to Cuomo’s ineptitude.
>>> What’s the best way for America to reopen and return to business? The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, a project of The Heritage Foundation, assembled America’s top thinkers to figure that out. So far, it has made more than 260 recommendations. Learn more here.
Yet, even as his state was failing to meet its most serious challenge since 9/11–it wasn’t until May 6 that cleaners began disinfecting the subway system, for example—Cuomo was busy taking softball questions on national cable news from his obsequious brother, Chris. On “The Tonight Show,” Jimmy Fallon marveled at how “smart” and “honest” Cuomo was as the two discussed the governor’s global popularity and “Cuomosexual fans.”
For those who tell you the media don’t matter, Cuomo now has among the highest approval ratings of any governor in the nation, almost all of whom have governed far more capably.
As I write this, the coronavirus death toll in New York stands at 166 people per 100,000 (even if we exclude New York City, the rate is 78.5 per 100,000), while it is still only 30 per in Arizona, 20 per in Florida, 17.7 in California, and 11.1 in Texas.
Will Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis be heralded as a great governor should his state end up with a fraction of the deaths New York experienced? Unlikely.
If all of that wasn’t bad enough, after more than 32,000 deaths, Cuomo and his fans are now celebrating a victory over the coronavirus.
Cuomo released a bizarre poster this week, praising New York’s allegedly successful pandemic response under the banner of “Love Wins.”
Within the poster’s pyramid of mythical accomplishments, there is a quote from A. J. Parkinson—an imaginary philosopher invented by Cuomo’s father, Mario. It says, “Tell the People the Truth and They Will Do the Right Thing,” which is highly misleading since the bottom of the pyramid isn’t built upon the bodies of 30,000 dead.
Nevertheless, there was Andy Slavitt, the perpetually mistaken Obama-era bureaucrat who is constantly being trotted out by cable news as an expert on the coronavirus, there was no other place that beat the disease like New York.
Others claimed that New York’s victory could be seen in its lack of deaths this week. This is tantamount to declaring New York victorious over Islamic terrorism on 9/12 because no one died in the city that day. To paraphrase Pyrrhus, another such victory over COVID and we are undone.
While some states struggle more than others, and the coronavirus is still spreading, only one state demonstrably failed to accomplish its most basic mission. You will remember the importance of “flattening the curve” to ensure that we didn’t overwhelm hospitals with new cases. (The fantastical notion that we could escape without widespread infections was not yet normalized.)
We don’t know what the future holds, and, obviously, there are likely to be spikes as we move forward with reopening. But there is no measurement at our disposal and no level of gaslighting that will change the fact that Cuomo-led New York was an utter failure.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM


dailysignal--2020-07-17--Attorney General Says Hollywood ‘Kowtowing’ to China, Warns US Executives Against Acting as Chinese

Attorney General Says Hollywood ‘Kowtowing’ to China, Warns US Executives Against Acting as Chinese Foreign Agents

Attorney General William Barr said Thursday the Chinese government has achieved a “ massive propaganda coup ” by shaping the content coming out of Hollywood , while warning U.S. business executives against acting as agents of the communist regime in possible violation of foreign lobbying laws .
Speaking at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library , Barr offered a sober assessment of China ’ s efforts to “ raid ” U.S. companies and institutions with a goal of becoming the world ’ s lone superpower .
Barr went through several examples of movie studios and tech companies caving into pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China in a negative light .
Barr pointed to the movie “ World War Z , ” which originally included a scene showing that the origins of a zombie apocalypse originated in China .
Paramount Pictures ordered the scene removed from the movie at the request of Chinese authorities .
“ This is a massive propaganda coup for the Chinese Communist Party , ” Barr said .
“ Hollywood is far from alone in kowtowing to the PRC .
America ’ s big tech companies have also allowed themselves to become pawns of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple , Zoom , and Google have taken to appease the Chinese government , such as self-censoring content available through their services .
Barr also said the Justice Department has seen an increase in party officials and their cut-outs working to “ cultivate and coerce ” U.S. corporate leaders in order to further China ’ s political objectives .
Barr said the Chinese government hides behind “ American voices ” in order to covertly “ elevate its influence and put a ‘ friendly face ’ on pro-regime policies.
” “ The legislator or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is properly more sympathetic to that constituent than to a foreigner .
And by masking its participation in our political process , the PRC avoids accountability for its influence efforts and the public outcry that might result , if its lobbying were exposed.
” Barr also issued a thinly-veiled warning to U.S. business executives against working as foreign agents of the Chinese government .
“ America ’ s corporate leaders might not think of themselves as lobbyists , ” Barr said , adding , “ but you should be alert to how you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts on behalf of a foreign company or government could implicate the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
” Barr explained that the law , known as FARA , requires Americans to register as foreign agents if they push policies that advance the interests of foreign governments .
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 this original content , email [ email protected ]

Attorney General William Barr said Thursday the Chinese government has achieved a “massive propaganda coup” by shaping the content coming out of Hollywood, while warning U.S. business executives against acting as agents of the communist regime in possible violation of foreign lobbying laws.
Speaking at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Barr offered a sober assessment of China’s efforts to “raid” U.S. companies and institutions with a goal of becoming the world’s lone superpower.
Barr went through several examples of movie studios and tech companies caving into pressure from Beijing to censor content that paints China in a negative light.
Barr pointed to the movie “World War Z,” which originally included a scene showing that the origins of a zombie apocalypse originated in China. Paramount Pictures ordered the scene removed from the movie at the request of Chinese authorities.
“This is a massive propaganda coup for the Chinese Communist Party,” Barr said.
“Hollywood is far from alone in kowtowing to the PRC. America’s big tech companies have also allowed themselves to become pawns of Chinese influence.”
Barr detailed steps that Apple, Zoom, and Google have taken to appease the Chinese government, such as self-censoring content available through their services.
Barr also said the Justice Department has seen an increase in party officials and their cut-outs working to “cultivate and coerce” U.S. corporate leaders in order to further China’s political objectives.
Barr said the Chinese government hides behind “American voices” in order to covertly “elevate its influence and put a ‘friendly face’ on pro-regime policies.”
“The legislator or policymaker who hears from a fellow American is properly more sympathetic to that constituent than to a foreigner. And by masking its participation in our political process, the PRC avoids accountability for its influence efforts and the public outcry that might result, if its lobbying were exposed.”
Barr also issued a thinly-veiled warning to U.S. business executives against working as foreign agents of the Chinese government.
“America’s corporate leaders might not think of themselves as lobbyists,” Barr said, adding, “but you should be alert to how you might be used, and how your efforts on behalf of a foreign company or government could implicate the Foreign Agents Registration Act.”
Barr explained that the law, known as FARA, requires Americans to register as foreign agents if they push policies that advance the interests of foreign governments.
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 this original content, email licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.