dailysignal--2020-04-30--Trump Says He Might Bring ‘Exonerated’ Michael Flynn Back Into Administration

President Donald Trump said Thursday he was open to bringing his first national security adviser , Michael Flynn , back into the administration , amid new information casting a shadow of impropriety over the FBI ’ s case against the retired lieutenant general .
“ I would certainly consider it .
Yeah , I would , ” Trump said at a White House press conference Thursday .
He later said of Flynn : “ He would be capable of coming back.
” Trump was also asked whether he would pardon Flynn over charges he lied to the FBI after newly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conversation between FBI officials who considered whether to try “ to get him to lie.
” In late 2017 , Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI , but later withdrew the plea .
“ It looks to me like Michael Flynn would be exonerated , based on everything that I ’ ve seen , ” Trump said .
“ I ’ m not the judge , but I have a different kind of power .
But I don ’ t know if anybody would have to use that power .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
What they did , what they wrote … it ’ s just disgraceful.
” “ They did everything possible to destroy him .
He ’ s still breathing very strongly .
But they hurt him very badly , ” Trump said .
FBI documents unsealed on Wednesday show handwritten notes from then-FBI head of counterintelligence Bill Priestap after he met with then-FBI Director James Comey .
One of the notes asked , “ What is our goal ?
Truth/Admission or to get him to lie , so we can prosecute him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go on to show there were discussions about following procedures : “ If we ’ re seen as playing games , [ White House ] will be furious.
” After initial remarks about COVID-19 and its impact on senior citizens , all of the initial questions from the press pool for Trump were about Flynn , a major departure from the typical coronavirus press briefing .
But he was also asked several questions about holding China accountable for the pandemic .
“ We ’ re looking at exactly where it came from , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened , separately from intelligence and also scientifically , ” Trump said .
“ So we are going to be able to find out.
” When asked if he saw any information indicating it came from a lab in Wuhan , China , he said , “ Yes , I have.
” However , he later said he couldn ’ t publicly discuss the nature of the information he saw .
“ I think that the World Health Organization should be ashamed of themselves , because they are like the public relations agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This country pays them almost $ 500 million a year , and China pays them $ 38 million a year .
Whether it ’ s a lot , or more , it doesn ’ t matter .
They shouldn ’ t be making excuses when people make horrible mistakes , especially mistakes that are causing hundreds of thousands of people around the world to die.
” Before taking questions , Trump discussed what the administration is doing for seniors , the demographic with the largest death rate from the coronavirus .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with large numbers of deaths .
“ To ensure that our nursing homes are prepared for any future outbreaks , we are announcing the Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes , ” he said .
Trump said the commission will be composed of leading industry experts , doctors , scientists , patient advocates , and state and local authorities .
“ It ’ s a big deal , ” the president said .
“ The commission will convene in May and issue recommendations for further steps we can take to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

President Donald Trump said Thursday he was open to bringing his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, back into the administration, amid new information casting a shadow of impropriety over the FBI’s case against the retired lieutenant general.
“I would certainly consider it. Yeah, I would,” Trump said at a White House press conference Thursday. He later said of Flynn: “He would be capable of coming back.”
Trump was also asked whether he would pardon Flynn over charges he lied to the FBI after newly released Justice Department documents showed notes about a conversation between FBI officials who considered whether to try “to get him to lie.” In late 2017, Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, but later withdrew the plea.
“It looks to me like Michael Flynn would be exonerated, based on everything that I’ve seen,” Trump said. “I’m not the judge, but I have a different kind of power. But I don’t know if anybody would have to use that power. I’ve never seen anything like it. What they did, what they wrote … it’s just disgraceful.”
The president called Flynn “a fine man.”
“They did everything possible to destroy him. He’s still breathing very strongly. But they hurt him very badly,” Trump said.
FBI documents unsealed on Wednesday show handwritten notes from then-FBI head of counterintelligence Bill Priestap after he met with then-FBI Director James Comey. One of the notes asked, “What is our goal? Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?”
Documents go on to show there were discussions about following procedures: “If we’re seen as playing games, [White House] will be furious.”
After initial remarks about COVID-19 and its impact on senior citizens, all of the initial questions from the press pool for Trump were about Flynn, a major departure from the typical coronavirus press briefing. But he was also asked several questions about holding China accountable for the pandemic.
“We’re looking at exactly where it came from, who it came from, how it happened, separately from intelligence and also scientifically,” Trump said. “So we are going to be able to find out.”
When asked if he saw any information indicating it came from a lab in Wuhan, China, he said, “Yes, I have.” However, he later said he couldn’t publicly discuss the nature of the information he saw.
“I think that the World Health Organization should be ashamed of themselves, because they are like the public relations agency for China,” Trump said. “This country pays them almost $500 million a year, and China pays them $38 million a year. Whether it’s a lot, or more, it doesn’t matter. They shouldn’t be making excuses when people make horrible mistakes, especially mistakes that are causing hundreds of thousands of people around the world to die.”
Before taking questions, Trump discussed what the administration is doing for seniors, the demographic with the largest death rate from the coronavirus. In particular, nursing homes have been beset with large numbers of deaths.
“To ensure that our nursing homes are prepared for any future outbreaks, we are announcing the Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes,” he said.
Trump said the commission will be composed of leading industry experts, doctors, scientists, patient advocates, and state and local authorities.
“It’s a big deal,” the president said. “The commission will convene in May and issue recommendations for further steps we can take to protect our nation’s seniors.”


dailysignal--2020-05-01--Why Filing Bankruptcy Would Be No Quick Fix for States

Fiscally troubled states are nothing new .
In fact , our nation was born during a time of great economic upheaval , in which many of the new states found themselves deeply indebted immediately after the American Revolution .
The residents of those states paid a high price—literally and figuratively—for their freedom from King George III .
> > > When can America reopen ?
The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission , a project of The Heritage Foundation , is gathering America ’ s top thinkers together to figure that out .
Learn more here .
Unfortunately , that wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the states .
In fact , less than half a century later , in a painful episode , almost one-third of U.S. states defaulted on their debts .
States were also especially strapped for cash immediately after the Civil War and during the Great Depression .
As many cities and states stared into the financial abyss during the Great Depression , Congress took action and for the first time allowed governmental entities—municipalities , including cities and special taxing districts , but not the states themselves—to declare bankruptcy .
While the Supreme Court initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for municipal bankruptcies as impinging on states ’ sovereignty , it reversed course two years later in 1938 after Congress again passed a law providing for municipal bankruptcies and upheld Congress ’ ability to do so .
According to Stanford University law professor Michael McConnell , a former federal appeals court judge , the Supreme Court held that the new statute was OK as it “ did not interfere with state sovereignty because it was drawn to ensure that the state retained control of its fiscal affairs , and because the state consented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress has never amended the bankruptcy code to allow a state itself to take advantage of the bankruptcy process , though today even counties—which at common law were considered to be a part of the state itself—can take advantage of the bankruptcy process created by Congress .
Nevertheless , states retain the ultimate authority over whether their municipalities and other political subdivisions can declare bankruptcy .
If a state has not authorized it , that route remains closed , even though Congress has otherwise made it available .
It ’ s against this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , set off a firestorm with his comments that he would favor allowing financially troubled states to declare bankruptcy rather than providing any “ blue-state bailouts.
” Regardless of the senator ’ s intentions , the idea of letting states “ use the bankruptcy route ” to fix their financial problems is no simple task and isn ’ t particularly relevant to the COVID-19 crisis .
Government bankruptcies are the result of decades of fiscal mismanagement and not a temporary crisis .
As the senator is undoubtedly aware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation allowing states to take advantage of the bankruptcy process .
And even if he could gain enough support in both houses of Congress and obtain the president ’ s signature to pass this proposal into law , constitutional questions still remain .
As others have pointed out , unlike municipalities , which are creatures of state law , states themselves are sovereigns .
They have entered into their own contracts—both with those to whom they have sold bonds and the public employees to whom they have promised future retirement benefits—without setting aside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argument can be made that they are responsible for making good on those contracts , and if that isn ’ t financially possible , for attempting to renegotiate them .
Subjecting them—even voluntarily—to the extensive federal oversight involved in the bankruptcy process would extensively intrude on a state ’ s sovereignty—maybe even unconstitutionally so .
Despite its goals , bankruptcy is not always an orderly or even fair process .
Bankruptcy involves making hard choices , and oftentimes , certain creditors who otherwise would have had higher priority of repayment are pushed further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s not enough money to go around .
Rather than having the state ’ s elected officials make those decisions , an unelected , unaccountable federal bankruptcy judge would do so , or at a minimum be significantly involved in the process by having ultimate authority to accept or reject any plan put forward by the bankrupt state .
That could have both benefits and pitfalls , but would ultimately lead to those decisions being made by an official of a different sovereign who is further removed from the oversight of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if a state can only voluntarily invoke the process as the Senate majority leader suggested , it ’ s not clear that would be enough to save the idea from this constitutional conundrum .
Even if states can ’ t declare bankruptcy , they ’ re not completely defenseless against creditors .
States still have their shield of sovereign immunity .
They can ’ t be sued unless they consent to it .
And even if states do waive their sovereign immunity and consent to be sued , that ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a state ’ s financial decisions to federal oversight .
Congress passed a bankruptcy-like mechanism to allow Puerto Rico to restructure its debts .
While the experience may be instructive , there are differences .
First , Puerto Rico is a federal territory , not a state , so it does not have the same level of sovereignty as states .
Second , as the Puerto Rico restructuring shows , it is far from a painless process , and a federal judge will be forced to resolve many politically sensitive disputes—especially the amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pensioners .
States do face an impediment in restructuring their own debts—one put in place by the Framers themselves .
It ’ s the Constitution ’ s Contracts Clause , which largely prohibits states from interfering with private contracts and substantially limits a state ’ s ability to repudiate its own contracts .
All this is to say that the Senate majority leader ’ s point is a fair one with no easy solution .
While the current crisis has undoubtedly placed a financial strain on many governmental entities , many of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggles and ballooning deficits for years before the current pandemic was on anyone ’ s radar .
The fiscal outlook for Illinois , for example , is particularly problematic , with credit-rating agencies recently downgrading its debt to just above junk-bond status .
It hardly seems fair to provide unrestricted funds to these states to make up for these preexisting shortfalls .
Congress has already supplied emergency funds to the states—provided that the states use the money for coronavirus-related purposes—and may be willing to do so again .
What the Senate majority leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , seek to avoid is having the federal government essentially guarantee state debts and revenue streams by providing additional funds to the states to make up for preexisting budget gaps—especially those states ’ unfunded pension liabilities .
Allowing states to pursue bankruptcy may create as many problems as it solves .
McConnell ’ s statements that “ [ bankruptcy ] saves some cities ” and that “ there ’ s no good reason for it not to be available ” to the states , too , glosses over serious constitutional questions , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government—are responsible for their budgets .
States that were already on a path to insolvency prior to COVID-19 face more pressure now to develop responsible budgets and must attempt to reduce their outstanding debts before they spiral out of control .

Fiscally troubled states are nothing new.
In fact, our nation was born during a time of great economic upheaval, in which many of the new states found themselves deeply indebted immediately after the American Revolution.
The residents of those states paid a high price—literally and figuratively—for their freedom from King George III.
>>> When can America reopen? The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, a project of The Heritage Foundation, is gathering America’s top thinkers together to figure that out. Learn more here.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of financial struggles for the states. In fact, less than half a century later, in a painful episode, almost one-third of U.S. states defaulted on their debts.
States were also especially strapped for cash immediately after the Civil War and during the Great Depression.
As many cities and states stared into the financial abyss during the Great Depression, Congress took action and for the first time allowed governmental entities—municipalities, including cities and special taxing districts, but not the states themselves—to declare bankruptcy.
While the Supreme Court initially struck down Congress’ attempt to provide for municipal bankruptcies as impinging on states’ sovereignty, it reversed course two years later in 1938 after Congress again passed a law providing for municipal bankruptcies and upheld Congress’ ability to do so.
According to Stanford University law professor Michael McConnell, a former federal appeals court judge, the Supreme Court held that the new statute was OK as it “did not interfere with state sovereignty because it was drawn to ensure that the state retained control of its fiscal affairs, and because the state consented to the bankruptcy proceeding.”
Still, Congress has never amended the bankruptcy code to allow a state itself to take advantage of the bankruptcy process, though today even counties—which at common law were considered to be a part of the state itself—can take advantage of the bankruptcy process created by Congress.
Nevertheless, states retain the ultimate authority over whether their municipalities and other political subdivisions can declare bankruptcy. If a state has not authorized it, that route remains closed, even though Congress has otherwise made it available.
‘Blue-State Bailouts’?
It’s against this backdrop that late last week Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., set off a firestorm with his comments that he would favor allowing financially troubled states to declare bankruptcy rather than providing any “blue-state bailouts.”
Regardless of the senator’s intentions, the idea of letting states “use the bankruptcy route” to fix their financial problems is no simple task and isn’t particularly relevant to the COVID-19 crisis.
Government bankruptcies are the result of decades of fiscal mismanagement and not a temporary crisis.
As the senator is undoubtedly aware, Congress would first have to pass legislation allowing states to take advantage of the bankruptcy process.
And even if he could gain enough support in both houses of Congress and obtain the president’s signature to pass this proposal into law, constitutional questions still remain.
As others have pointed out, unlike municipalities, which are creatures of state law, states themselves are sovereigns. They have entered into their own contracts—both with those to whom they have sold bonds and the public employees to whom they have promised future retirement benefits—without setting aside enough funds to pay them.
The argument can be made that they are responsible for making good on those contracts, and if that isn’t financially possible, for attempting to renegotiate them.
Subjecting them—even voluntarily—to the extensive federal oversight involved in the bankruptcy process would extensively intrude on a state’s sovereignty—maybe even unconstitutionally so.
Despite its goals, bankruptcy is not always an orderly or even fair process. Bankruptcy involves making hard choices, and oftentimes, certain creditors who otherwise would have had higher priority of repayment are pushed further back in line. By definition, there’s not enough money to go around.
Rather than having the state’s elected officials make those decisions, an unelected, unaccountable federal bankruptcy judge would do so, or at a minimum be significantly involved in the process by having ultimate authority to accept or reject any plan put forward by the bankrupt state.
That could have both benefits and pitfalls, but would ultimately lead to those decisions being made by an official of a different sovereign who is further removed from the oversight of that state’s residents.
And even if a state can only voluntarily invoke the process as the Senate majority leader suggested, it’s not clear that would be enough to save the idea from this constitutional conundrum.
Even if states can’t declare bankruptcy, they’re not completely defenseless against creditors. States still have their shield of sovereign immunity. They can’t be sued unless they consent to it.
And even if states do waive their sovereign immunity and consent to be sued, that’s a much more limited intrusion than wholly submitting a state’s financial decisions to federal oversight.
What About Puerto Rico?
Congress passed a bankruptcy-like mechanism to allow Puerto Rico to restructure its debts. While the experience may be instructive, there are differences.
First, Puerto Rico is a federal territory, not a state, so it does not have the same level of sovereignty as states.
Second, as the Puerto Rico restructuring shows, it is far from a painless process, and a federal judge will be forced to resolve many politically sensitive disputes—especially the amount and source of funds used to pay pensioners.
States do face an impediment in restructuring their own debts—one put in place by the Framers themselves. It’s the Constitution’s Contracts Clause, which largely prohibits states from interfering with private contracts and substantially limits a state’s ability to repudiate its own contracts.
All this is to say that the Senate majority leader’s point is a fair one with no easy solution.
While the current crisis has undoubtedly placed a financial strain on many governmental entities, many of these same entities and states grappled with financial struggles and ballooning deficits for years before the current pandemic was on anyone’s radar.
The fiscal outlook for Illinois, for example, is particularly problematic, with credit-rating agencies recently downgrading its debt to just above junk-bond status.
It hardly seems fair to provide unrestricted funds to these states to make up for these preexisting shortfalls. Congress has already supplied emergency funds to the states—provided that the states use the money for coronavirus-related purposes—and may be willing to do so again.
What the Senate majority leader and others, including President Donald Trump, seek to avoid is having the federal government essentially guarantee state debts and revenue streams by providing additional funds to the states to make up for preexisting budget gaps—especially those states’ unfunded pension liabilities.
Allowing states to pursue bankruptcy may create as many problems as it solves. McConnell’s statements that “[bankruptcy] saves some cities” and that “there’s no good reason for it not to be available” to the states, too, glosses over serious constitutional questions, but the point stands that states—not the federal government—are responsible for their budgets.
States that were already on a path to insolvency prior to COVID-19 face more pressure now to develop responsible budgets and must attempt to reduce their outstanding debts before they spiral out of control.


dailysignal--2020-05-05--McCarthy Says House Should Return to Work

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy says it ’ s time for the House to get back to business .
“ This is about restoring the voice of every American who needs their government to be working at this time , ” the California Republican said in a Tuesday media conference call .
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , D-Md.
, told Democrats on a Monday call that he did not have a specific return date for the House , Politico reported .
“ I understand you can ’ t bring Congress all back at once .
We need to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCarthy said .
He added that the best option to bring Congress back safely is to use existing options under House rules .
Measures to encourage safety could include having longer times for votes , employing social distancing , as well as lawmakers bringing pens to hit the yes or no box when taking a vote .
Plexiglass could be used in congested areas , similar to how it is used at grocery store checkout stations .
McCarthy said he thinks the House should phase in returning to work , beginning with committees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so members can work on appropriations bills , and bringing back the Armed Services Committee to work on the National Defense Authorization Act .
The goal , McCarthy said , wouldn ’ t be playing “ political games , ” but having “ real substantive policy discussions.
” He also added that it wouldn ’ t be wise to switch to a completely virtual operation since the House is particularly vulnerable to hacking .
“ The House gets 1.6 billion cyberattacks per month , ” McCarthy said , adding that he doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or vote using technology .
He did say , though , that technology could be used for less sensitive operations such as roundtable discussions .
In an oped published Monday in Medium , McCarthy wrote that lawmakers have asked Pelosi “ to establish a clear , safe , and effective plan for reopening the House of Representatives.
” McCarthy noted the request to Pelsoi “ follows the White House and America ’ s governors releasing their own detailed plans for a phased reopening of society , and now , both the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Assembly calling their members back into session.
” Rep. Tom Cole , R-Okla. , joined McCarthy on the call along with Rep Rodney Davis , R-Ill. Cole , who is a ranking Republican on the House Rules Committee , said that the House doesn ’ t have an excuse not to get back to work .
“ The Senate is working and the House is showing that it can work , ” Cole said .
“ We can get our work done .
No question that it is slower , no question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can be done.
” “ We are best when we operate within our traditions , ” Cole said .
He added that he worries that the longer the House stays out , the more members are unable to fulfil their leadership roles .
Davis , who is ranking member of the Committee on House Administration , says the Capitol is already implementing some practices to bring lawmakers back to work safely .
“ When you go into the Capitol , staff aren ’ t there , ” Davis said .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the experts .
If you go to the Capitol , you are going to see hand sanitizing stations .
The architect of the Capitol is doing deep cleaning on hard surfaces that could transmit the virus .
”

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy says it’s time for the House to get back to business.
“This is about restoring the voice of every American who needs their government to be working at this time,” the California Republican said in a Tuesday media conference call.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told Democrats on a Monday call that he did not have a specific return date for the House, Politico reported.
“I understand you can’t bring Congress all back at once. We need to do this in a safe manner,” McCarthy said.
He added that the best option to bring Congress back safely is to use existing options under House rules. Measures to encourage safety could include having longer times for votes, employing social distancing, as well as lawmakers bringing pens to hit the yes or no box when taking a vote. Plexiglass could be used in congested areas, similar to how it is used at grocery store checkout stations.
McCarthy said he thinks the House should phase in returning to work, beginning with committees, such as bringing back appropriations subcommittees so members can work on appropriations bills, and bringing back the Armed Services Committee to work on the National Defense Authorization Act.
The goal, McCarthy said, wouldn’t be playing “political games,” but having “real substantive policy discussions.”
He also added that it wouldn’t be wise to switch to a completely virtual operation since the House is particularly vulnerable to hacking.
“The House gets 1.6 billion cyberattacks per month,” McCarthy said, adding that he doesn’t believe the House should do markups or vote using technology.
He did say, though, that technology could be used for less sensitive operations such as roundtable discussions.
In an op-ed published Monday in Medium, McCarthy wrote that lawmakers have asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “to establish a clear, safe, and effective plan for reopening the House of Representatives.”
McCarthy noted the request to Pelsoi “follows the White House and America’s governors releasing their own detailed plans for a phased reopening of society, and now, both the United States Senate and Democratic Speaker of the California State Assembly calling their members back into session.”
Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., joined McCarthy on the call along with Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill.
Cole, who is a ranking Republican on the House Rules Committee, said that the House doesn’t have an excuse not to get back to work.
“The Senate is working and the House is showing that it can work,” Cole said. “We can get our work done. No question that it is slower, no question that it is more complex, but it can be done.”
“We are best when we operate within our traditions,” Cole said.
He added that he worries that the longer the House stays out, the more members are unable to fulfil their leadership roles.
Davis, who is ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, says the Capitol is already implementing some practices to bring lawmakers back to work safely.
“When you go into the Capitol, staff aren’t there,” Davis said. “We can follow the social distancing requirements of the experts. If you go to the Capitol, you are going to see hand sanitizing stations. The architect of the Capitol is doing deep cleaning on hard surfaces that could transmit the virus.”


dailysignal--2020-05-06--Media Barely Try to Hide Bias in Covering Sexual Assault Accusations

Perhaps our country ’ s most powerful media organizations now simply don ’ t care how utterly one-sided their political coverage is .
This appears to be the case with how the media has treated the accusations of Tara Reade , who has accused Joe Biden , a former senator and vice president , of sexual harassment and sexual assault .
This treatment is of a piece with how ( little ) the media scrutinized sexual assault allegations last year against Virginia Lt. Gov .
Justin Fairfax .
Reade accuses Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993 , when she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have said that Reade told them of the Delaware Democrat ’ s alleged behavior at the time .
Since early last year , Reade had been vocal about her allegations that Biden treated and touched her inappropriately .
Then , on a March 25 podcast , she accused him of sexual assault Yet little of this story broke into legacy media coverage for nearly a month .
Analysis of the coverage by FiveThirtyEight shows that the story got almost no interest from prominent networks and really received considerable attention only on conservative-leaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times editorial board could come up with , while being inconclusive about the Reade allegations , was that further investigation was needed—an investigation put together by the Democratic National Committee .
Fox News Channel political analyst Britt Hume ’ s response to this on Twitter was perfect .
After months in which this story has festered , Biden finally commented directly about the allegations in a May 1 interview on MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe ” with co-host Mika Brzezinski , who actually asked some serious and tough questions .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not true.
” Predictably , many on the left were unhappy even with this level of questioning .
Maria Cardona , a Democratic strategist , wrote that Reade ’ s accusations simply have been used by Republicans to “ weaponize the issue ” in an effort to delegitimize the # MeToo movement .
The lack of media scrutiny seems all the more inconsistent with evidentiary standards pushed by the left back in 2011 in the context of sexual assault on campus .
At that time , the Obama administration , in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , issued a “ Dear Colleague ” letter to college administrators .
In it , the Obama administration directed them to adjudicate sexual assault cases under Title IX , a provision in federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex by institutions receiving financial assistance .
The standard there is “ preponderance of evidence ” rather than “ clear and convincing evidence.
” As commentator David Harsanyi pointed out on National Review Online , a college student accused of sexual assault under this standard often was “ denied the ability to question his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the allegations and evidence in an ensuing investigation , denied the right to present exculpatory evidence , and denied the right to call witnesses ” —and often while facing adjudication by a single investigator with minimal training .
So a college student can have his life destroyed quickly based on fairly thin evidence and nothing like the standards of a trial in court , but a lieutenant governor and a former senator and vice president can just skate on by ?
The message , it seems , is that sexual assault allegations are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against conservatives .
But in the era of “ believe all women , ” one would think that at least our putatively nonpartisan press would be quite active in pursuing what could be a big story .
Isn ’ t the media about bringing truth to power or something like that ?
It doesn ’ t take much to see how differently Biden and Fairfax have been treated by the traditional news media compared to , say , Brett Kavanaugh .
The standard that the left and so many in the # MeToo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply believe all women , that presumption of innocence—a cornerstone of American law and concept of justice—is a tool of oppression .
This is certainly what was applied to Kavanaugh , a D.C .
Circuit judge whose reputation and nomination to the Supreme Court by President Donald Trump were nearly destroyed by an accusation of sexual misconduct at a high school party some 30 years ago .
To date , that accusation has gone uncorroborated by a single witness , or even someone who can confirm that the party took place .
Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of any of these allegations , I note here that the media nevertheless subjected the nation to a steady barrage of increasingly lurid allegations made against Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings , passing them along uncritically on such thin evidence that many of them had to be corrected .
With Fairfax and Biden , mainstream media outlets such as The Washington Post , CNN , and NBC News tread slowly and tepidly to investigate .
The common thread is that the mainstream media shirked its duty to seriously investigate the truth about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sexual assault allegations should be treated seriously , especially for men and women in power .
However , it undermines the media ’ s credibility when they treat such allegations so differently based on what side of the political spectrum the subject of the allegations is on .
Again , it seems many of these outlets don ’ t even really try to hide the bias at this point .
The only credibility they are concerned with is appealing to predominantly left-wing viewers , colleagues , and institutions while maintaining a thin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not inherently wrong .
But at the very least , Americans should know what these media institutions are really about and not be deceived into thinking they are the only authoritative word on what the truth is .

Perhaps our country’s most powerful media organizations now simply don’t care how utterly one-sided their political coverage is.
This appears to be the case with how the media has treated the accusations of Tara Reade, who has accused Joe Biden, a former senator and vice president, of sexual harassment and sexual assault.
This treatment is of a piece with how (little) the media scrutinized sexual assault allegations last year against Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax.
Reade accuses Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993, when she worked in his Senate office. Several people have said that Reade told them of the Delaware Democrat’s alleged behavior at the time.
Since early last year, Reade had been vocal about her allegations that Biden treated and touched her inappropriately. Then, on a March 25 podcast, she accused him of sexual assault
Yet little of this story broke into legacy media coverage for nearly a month.
Analysis of the coverage by FiveThirtyEight shows that the story got almost no interest from prominent networks and really received considerable attention only on conservative-leaning websites.
The most that The New York Times editorial board could come up with, while being inconclusive about the Reade allegations, was that further investigation was needed—an investigation put together by the Democratic National Committee.
Fox News Channel political analyst Brit Hume’s response to this on Twitter was perfect.
After months in which this story has festered, Biden finally commented directly about the allegations in a May 1 interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” with co-host Mika Brzezinski, who actually asked some serious and tough questions.
Biden said that Reade’s account “is not true.”
Predictably, many on the left were unhappy even with this level of questioning.
Maria Cardona, a Democratic strategist, wrote that Reade’s accusations simply have been used by Republicans to “weaponize the issue” in an effort to delegitimize the #MeToo movement.
The lack of media scrutiny seems all the more inconsistent with evidentiary standards pushed by the left back in 2011 in the context of sexual assault on campus.
At that time, the Obama administration, in an effort spearheaded by Biden as vice president, issued a “Dear Colleague” letter to college administrators. In it, the Obama administration directed them to adjudicate sexual assault cases under Title IX, a provision in federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex by institutions receiving financial assistance. The standard there is “preponderance of evidence” rather than “clear and convincing evidence.”
As commentator David Harsanyi pointed out on National Review Online, a college student accused of sexual assault under this standard often was “denied the ability to question his accuser, denied the right to review the allegations and evidence in an ensuing investigation, denied the right to present exculpatory evidence, and denied the right to call witnesses”—and often while facing adjudication by a single investigator with minimal training.
So a college student can have his life destroyed quickly based on fairly thin evidence and nothing like the standards of a trial in court, but a lieutenant governor and a former senator and vice president can just skate on by?
The message, it seems, is that sexual assault allegations are supposed to be “weaponized” only against conservatives.
But in the era of “believe all women,” one would think that at least our putatively nonpartisan press would be quite active in pursuing what could be a big story.
Isn’t the media about bringing truth to power or something like that?
It doesn’t take much to see how differently Biden and Fairfax have been treated by the traditional news media compared to, say, Brett Kavanaugh.
The standard that the left and so many in the #MeToo movement set up is that we must simply believe all women, that presumption of innocence—a cornerstone of American law and concept of justice—is a tool of oppression.
This is certainly what was applied to Kavanaugh, a D.C. Circuit judge whose reputation and nomination to the Supreme Court by President Donald Trump were nearly destroyed by an accusation of sexual misconduct at a high school party some 30 years ago. To date, that accusation has gone uncorroborated by a single witness, or even someone who can confirm that the party took place.
Although I am not addressing the full merits of any of these allegations, I note here that the media nevertheless subjected the nation to a steady barrage of increasingly lurid allegations made against Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings, passing them along uncritically on such thin evidence that many of them had to be corrected.
With Fairfax and Biden, mainstream media outlets such as The Washington Post, CNN, and NBC News tread slowly and tepidly to investigate. The common thread is that the mainstream media shirked its duty to seriously investigate the truth about a public figure.
The bottom line is, sexual assault allegations should be treated seriously, especially for men and women in power. However, it undermines the media’s credibility when they treat such allegations so differently based on what side of the political spectrum the subject of the allegations is on.
Again, it seems many of these outlets don’t even really try to hide the bias at this point. The only credibility they are concerned with is appealing to predominantly left-wing viewers, colleagues, and institutions while maintaining a thin glaze of “objectivity.”
That’s not inherently wrong. But at the very least, Americans should know what these media institutions are really about and not be deceived into thinking they are the only authoritative word on what the truth is.


dailysignal--2020-05-12--18 Attorneys General Demand Congressional Probe Into How China Willfully ‘Misled the World’

Eighteen Republican attorneys general called Friday for a congressional probe into China ’ s deliberate concealment of the severity of the coronavirus outbreak at its onset .
“ Recent reports suggest that the communist Chinese government willfully and knowingly concealed information about the severity of the virus while simultaneously stockpiling personal protective equipment , ” stated the letter from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson , which 17 other state attorneys general co-signed .
The letter was sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , and the leaders of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The attorneys general detailed China ’ s apparent efforts to have “ intentionally misled the world over the last 6 months ” in the letter .
“ These layers of deceit began last year with the censoring of Chinese health officials and the muzzling of Taiwanese complaints , ” the attorneys general wrote .
“ The cover-up continued with the expulsion of media outlets and the proliferation of Chinese propaganda targeting the Western world.
” “ Congressional hearings are critical to our Nation ’ s understanding of the origins of COVID-19 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the letter stated .
The attorneys general call for a congressional probe into China ’ s handling of the coronavirus outbreak came three weeks after Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit against the Chinese government for damages caused by its efforts to deceive the global community about the dangers of the virus .
Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson , the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee , said in April his committee would conduct a wide-ranging probe into the coronavirus outbreak , including its origins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s response to the virus .
President Donald Trump said in late April that he ’ s seen evidence that strongly indicates the coronavirus originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology .
His comments about the lab came one day after the Office of the Director of National Intelligence confirmed that it ’ s examining whether the virus accidentally leaked from a lab in Wuhan .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ email protected ] .

Eighteen Republican attorneys general called Friday for a congressional probe into China’s deliberate concealment of the severity of the coronavirus outbreak at its onset.
“Recent reports suggest that the communist Chinese government willfully and knowingly concealed information about the severity of the virus while simultaneously stockpiling personal protective equipment,” stated the letter from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, which 17 other state attorneys general co-signed.
The letter was sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and the leaders of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
The attorneys general detailed China’s apparent efforts to have “intentionally misled the world over the last 6 months” in the letter.
“These layers of deceit began last year with the censoring of Chinese health officials and the muzzling of Taiwanese complaints,” the attorneys general wrote. “The cover-up continued with the expulsion of media outlets and the proliferation of Chinese propaganda targeting the Western world.”
“Congressional hearings are critical to our Nation’s understanding of the origins of COVID-19 and the efforts to deceive the international community,” the letter stated.
The attorneys general call for a congressional probe into China’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak came three weeks after Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit against the Chinese government for damages caused by its efforts to deceive the global community about the dangers of the virus.
Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said in April his committee would conduct a wide-ranging probe into the coronavirus outbreak, including its origins in China and the World Health Organization’s response to the virus.
President Donald Trump said in late April that he’s seen evidence that strongly indicates the coronavirus originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. His comments about the lab came one day after the Office of the Director of National Intelligence confirmed that it’s examining whether the virus accidentally leaked from a lab in Wuhan.
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 for this original content, email licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


dailysignal--2020-05-15--Democrats Reject Amendment Denying Benefits to Illegal Aliens

House Democrats have rejected an amendment that a Republican congressman proposed to their $ 3 trillion coronavirus relief bill , dubbed the HEROES Act , that would have prohibited economic stimulus payments from going to illegal immigrants .
“ After the $ 2.2 trillion CARES Act became law , I have been clear in my belief that we should study its strengths and weaknesses before passing another version of its magnitude , ” Rep. Greg Murphy , R-N.C. , said in a statement , adding : The Democrats ’ desire to allow illegal immigrants to receive [ economic impact payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than an improvement .
If the federal government is going to send another round of EIPs , then it ’ s simply common sense that hard-earned taxpayer dollars should only be distributed to Americans .
> > > When can America reopen ?
The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission , a project of The Heritage Foundation , is gathering America ’ s top thinkers together to figure that out .
Learn more here .
The HEROES Act , which stands for ‘ ‘ Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act , ” would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed at addressing the coronavirus pandemic .
A vote is expected on the bill Friday .
Even if it passes the Democrat-run House , it ’ s unlikely to get a hearing or a vote in the Republican-led Senate .
The bill doesn ’ t require Social Security number verification , making it possible for illegal immigrants to receive coronavirus-relief stimulus payments .
Murphy ’ s amendment , filed Wednesday , would allow for checks to be sent only to people with Social Security numbers , not Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children .
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is a tax-processing number only available for certain nonresident and resident aliens , their spouses , and dependents who can not get a Social Security number .
The Murphy amendment would bar illegal immigrants from receiving the $ 1,200 individual payments by requiring recipients to have a Social Security number , rather than just the taxpayer ID number .
“ I believe every member of the House of Representatives should be on the record about whether or not they believe illegal immigrants should receive direct payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding : It ’ s a shame Democrats would not allow such a vote to take place and just goes to show that their open-borders policies have no bounds .
Thankfully , this piece of legislation in its current form would not pass the Senate , and I look forward to voting against it should it come to the House floor [ Friday ] .
A group of Heritage Foundation researchers wrote in The Daily Signal that the Democrats ’ HEROES Act legislation “ includes over $ 1 trillion in aid to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority being unrestricted aid that does not directly respond to costs incurred in the fight against COVID-19.
” It would also lead to a long-term increase in the federal unemployment compensation bonus .
“ The bill would extend the misguided and harmful $ 600 unemployment bonus through January 2021 , with an additional extension possible through March of next year , ” the Heritage researchers wrote , adding : Opponents of the provision further contend that it would discourage employment by paying many people more to remain idle than they would earn if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HEROES Act also includes a provision to allow members of Congress to vote by proxy , according to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif. “ Unbelievable , ” McCarthy tweeted Thursday .
“ At a time when millions of Americans are desperate to get back to work , Democrats are about to give themselves a free pass to skip work altogether .
‘ Voting by proxy ’ would let members of Congress stay home while they continue to collect a paycheck .
”

House Democrats have rejected an amendment that a Republican congressman proposed to their $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill, dubbed the HEROES Act, that would have prohibited economic stimulus payments from going to illegal immigrants.
“After the $2.2 trillion CARES Act became law, I have been clear in my belief that we should study its strengths and weaknesses before passing another version of its magnitude,” Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., said in a statement, adding:
The Democrats’ desire to allow illegal immigrants to receive [economic impact payments] is a step backward, rather than an improvement. If the federal government is going to send another round of EIPs, then it’s simply common sense that hard-earned taxpayer dollars should only be distributed to Americans.
>>> When can America reopen? The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, a project of The Heritage Foundation, is gathering America’s top thinkers together to figure that out. Learn more here.
The HEROES Act, which stands for ‘‘Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act,” would be the fourth major congressional spending proposal aimed at addressing the coronavirus pandemic. A vote is expected on the bill Friday. Even if it passes the Democrat-run House, it’s unlikely to get a hearing or a vote in the Republican-led Senate.
The bill doesn’t require Social Security number verification, making it possible for illegal immigrants to receive coronavirus-relief stimulus payments.
Murphy’s amendment, filed Wednesday, would allow for checks to be sent only to people with Social Security numbers, not Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers, with exceptions for military service members and adopted children.
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is a tax-processing number only available for certain nonresident and resident aliens, their spouses, and dependents who cannot get a Social Security number.
The Murphy amendment would bar illegal immigrants from receiving the $1,200 individual payments by requiring recipients to have a Social Security number, rather than just the taxpayer ID number.
“I believe every member of the House of Representatives should be on the record about whether or not they believe illegal immigrants should receive direct payments in federal money,” Murphy said, adding:
It’s a shame Democrats would not allow such a vote to take place and just goes to show that their open-borders policies have no bounds. Thankfully, this piece of legislation in its current form would not pass the Senate, and I look forward to voting against it should it come to the House floor [Friday].
A group of Heritage Foundation researchers wrote in The Daily Signal that the Democrats’ HEROES Act legislation “includes over $1 trillion in aid to state and local governments with the vast majority being unrestricted aid that does not directly respond to costs incurred in the fight against COVID-19.”
It would also lead to a long-term increase in the federal unemployment compensation bonus.
“The bill would extend the misguided and harmful $600 unemployment bonus through January 2021, with an additional extension possible through March of next year,” the Heritage researchers wrote, adding:
It is one thing to provide short-term and targeted unemployment benefits during forced shutdowns, but providing a year’s worth of unprecedented additional unemployment benefits—up to an extra $30,000 or more per worker—would be devastating to our economy, potentially even threatening our ability to combat COVID-19 and Americans’ supply of essential goods and services.
Opponents of the provision further contend that it would discourage employment by paying many people more to remain idle than they would earn if they were working.
The Democrats’ HEROES Act also includes a provision to allow members of Congress to vote by proxy, according to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
“Unbelievable,” McCarthy tweeted Thursday. “At a time when millions of Americans are desperate to get back to work, Democrats are about to give themselves a free pass to skip work altogether. ‘Voting by proxy’ would let members of Congress stay home while they continue to collect a paycheck.”


dailysignal--2020-05-15--PBS Stations That Received Millions in Federal Funds Partnered With Chinese Foreign Agent on Pro-Bei

PBS Stations That Received Millions in Federal Funds Partnered With Chinese Foreign Agent on Pro-Beijing Film

PBS affiliates that receive millions of dollars in federal funding each year are airing a pro-Beijing documentary produced in conjunction with CGTN , a Chinese government-controlled media outlet that is registered as a foreign agent with the Justice Department .
The film “ Voices from the Frontline : China ’ s War on Poverty ” did not disclose CGTN ’ s links to the Chinese government .
Nor did it detail the ties that the film ’ s producer , Robert Lawrence Kuhn , has to Chinese officials and the government ’ s State Council Information Office , which specializes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , known as PBS SoCal , helped produce the film and premiered it Monday .
KCET , which merged with KOCE in 2018 , will air the show on Saturday .
Other PBS affiliates , including in Idaho and Las Vegas , have either already aired the film or plan to do so later this month .
The one-hour documentary touts Chinese President Xi Jinping ’ s initiative to alleviate poverty in China by this year .
“ In the last forty years , China ’ s economic development has lifted more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reads the introductory script in the film .
“ To President Xi Jinping , ending poverty is his most important task , ” the script states .
The closing credits of the documentary show that it was produced by “ The Kuhn Foundation and PBS SoCal in association with CGTN.
” One PBS SoCal employee is listed as an executive producer of the film and another is listed as a production assistant .
PBS and other publicly-funded news outlets like NPR have come under fire in recent years , with conservatives pushing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bias .
Other news outlets have come under scrutiny for publishing propaganda promoted by the Chinese government .
President Donald Trump has proposed defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting , which provides the federal dollars that go to PBS affiliates and NPR .
KCET received $ 5.6 million in funding from CPB in 2019 , according to CPB records .
The station received more than $ 1.8 million in 2018 .
KOCE received more than $ 1.8 million in 2018 and more than $ 2.2 million in 2017 .
PBS and its 350 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government grants , corporate sponsorships , and private donations .
While federal funding makes up a small percentage of PBS affiliates ’ revenue , the organization says that government money is crucial to its survival .
“ There is no viable replacement for federal funding—which amounts to $ 1.35 per citizen per year , ” PBS SoCal says on its website .
“ The loss of federal funding would make it difficult for local stations to operate and would cause many of them to close , which would result in a collapse of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding would also have a devastating effect on PBS ’ s ability to produce the quality content our viewers love.
” The Los Angeles Times reported in March 2017 that KOCE receives between $ 2.5 million and $ 3 million in federal funding , or 11 % -15 % of its budget .
The Kuhn Foundation has given $ 70,000 in grants to KOCE between 2015 and 2018 , according to tax filings .
The foundation gave $ 35,000 in 2015 and $ 17,500 in both 2017 and 2018 .
Kuhn , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highly regarded in China , though he is not as well known in the U.S .
He has made appearances on channels like CNN and Bloomberg over the years to discuss issues in China , but appears frequently on Beijing-controlled news outlets like CGTN , CCTV , and China Daily .
In December 2018 , Kuhn was awarded the China Reform Friendship Medal at an event held in Beijing and attended by Xi .
Kuhn ’ s personal website shows a photo of him shaking hands with Xi at the event , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s highest award.
” Kuhn hosted a delegation that same year to Beijing to meet with Jiang Jianguo , who served as minister of the State Council Information Office , the office reported .
The State Council is also the Chinese Communist Party ’ s Central Office of Foreign Propaganda , according to the Wilson Center .
Kuhn ’ s name previously surfaced in connection to Jeffrey Epstein , the financier who committed suicide while in jail on charges that he molested underage girls .
Epstein through his nonprofit contributed $ 150,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Daily Beast has reported .
Epstein ’ s nonprofit also bankrolled a PBS series that Kuhn produced on spirituality called “ Closer to Truth.
” CNBC reported that Epstein contributed $ 500,000 to Kuhn ’ s project in 2018 .
Kuhn offers his views on the Chinese government on a weekly segment hosted by CGTN and through documentaries he has produced in coordination with Chinese media outlets .
Xi ’ s program to fight poverty has been one area of focus for Kuhn , as has the Chinese government ’ s response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truly understand China , one has to recognize their genuine commitment to eradicating poverty , ” Kuhn last year told China Daily , a government-controlled outlet , of his documentary .
“ Today , in the Western world , especially in the United States , there is concern about China ’ s actions and suspicion of China ’ s motives .
But one of the things I wanted this film to do was to undermine the stereotype of China as a ruthless giant out to dominate the world .
It ’ s just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s commitment and determination frames the film , informing its open and close , ” Kuhn said .
In a recent episode of “ The Watcher , ” a segment that airs on CGTN , Kuhn praised the Chinese Communist Party ’ s handling of the coronavirus outbreak .
“ China ’ s mobilization is unprecedented in global health history .
Nowhere could it work like it works in China .
The reason it works is because the party works , the Communist Party of China , ” Kuhn said .
“ President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an open and transparent manner .
That ’ s the key : transparency , complete transparency .
As China has done and is doing updating all confirmed patients and updating all the data every day , ” he added .
In a televised event aired by China Daily , another outlet controlled by Beijing , Kuhn asserted that China will win praise in future generations for its response to the coronavirus .
“ Future historians may well look upon China ’ s fight against the coronavirus as a turning in worldwide efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and stop their spread , ” Kuhn said at the event , which aired March 31 .
“ History may well thank China for pioneering how to deal with virulent contagions in a globalized world , ” he said .
Kuhn ’ s view is not shared by health experts and government officials across the world who have blamed Chinese authorities for failing to contain the virus and for providing misleading information about the early stages of the outbreak .
China has been accused of releasing false statistics about the number of infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Authorities there also offered false assurances to the World Health Organization that the coronavirus was not transmitted person to person .
Kuhn ’ s praise for Chinese leaders has earned him blowback from some China watchers .
In 2005 , The New York Times reviewed Kuhn ’ s book “ The Man Who Changed China , ” noting that a “ secret state propaganda team ” oversaw the writing of the book .
Kuhn rebutted some of those allegations , telling China Daily in 2011 that he was “ indeed an adviser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being paid by Beijing .
“ I have never been paid by the Chinese government , ” he said , adding : “ I am paid by foreign companies that do business in China.
” It ’ s unclear if the PBS stations were aware of CGTN ’ s status as a foreign agent for the Chinese government .
The company formally registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act on Aug. 2 , 2019 .
A spokesman for KOCE and KCET provided The Daily Caller News Foundation with a press release for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a detailed list of questions .
PBS did not respond to a request for comment , nor did the Kuhn Foundation .
Requests for comment submitted through Kuhn ’ s personal website were also not returned .
The Chinese government has long used its propaganda arms to disseminate pro-Beijing narratives .
The initiative has involved Chinese news outlets partnering with mainstream U.S. and Western newspapers , such as The Washington Post , The New York Times , The Wall Street Journal , to publish paid inserts in those newspapers that promote a pro-China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November 2017 that the Chinese government was partnering with Western TV companies to produce glossy documentaries aimed at burnishing Beijing ’ s image .
The story said that Xi “ has also stepped up support for co-productions with foreign partners , including documentary tie-ups spotlighting the country ’ s culture , technological advancements , and infrastructure projects.
” The report pointed to “ China : Time of Xi , ” a documentary that Discovery channel ’ s Asia division aired .
Kuhn was interviewed for the film .
Content created by The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities for this original content , email [ email protected ] .

PBS affiliates that receive millions of dollars in federal funding each year are airing a pro-Beijing documentary produced in conjunction with CGTN, a Chinese government-controlled media outlet that is registered as a foreign agent with the Justice Department.
The film “Voices from the Frontline: China’s War on Poverty” did not disclose CGTN’s links to the Chinese government. Nor did it detail the ties that the film’s producer, Robert Lawrence Kuhn, has to Chinese officials and the government’s State Council Information Office, which specializes in foreign propaganda.
PBS affiliate KOCE, known as PBS SoCal, helped produce the film and premiered it Monday. KCET, which merged with KOCE in 2018, will air the show on Saturday. Other PBS affiliates, including in Idaho and Las Vegas, have either already aired the film or plan to do so later this month.
The one-hour documentary touts Chinese President Xi Jinping’s initiative to alleviate poverty in China by this year.
“In the last forty years, China’s economic development has lifted more than 700 people out of poverty,” reads the introductory script in the film.
“To President Xi Jinping, ending poverty is his most important task,” the script states.
The closing credits of the documentary show that it was produced by “The Kuhn Foundation and PBS SoCal in association with CGTN.” One PBS SoCal employee is listed as an executive producer of the film and another is listed as a production assistant.
PBS and other publicly-funded news outlets like NPR have come under fire in recent years, with conservatives pushing to defund the organizations over a perceived liberal bias. Other news outlets have come under scrutiny for publishing propaganda promoted by the Chinese government.
President Donald Trump has proposed defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides the federal dollars that go to PBS affiliates and NPR.
KCET received $5.6 million in funding from CPB in 2019, according to CPB records. The station received more than $1.8 million in 2018. KOCE received more than $1.8 million in 2018 and more than $2.2 million in 2017.
PBS and its 350 affiliates are funded through a mixture of government grants, corporate sponsorships, and private donations. While federal funding makes up a small percentage of PBS affiliates’ revenue, the organization says that government money is crucial to its survival.
“There is no viable replacement for federal funding—which amounts to $1.35 per citizen per year,” PBS SoCal says on its website.
“The loss of federal funding would make it difficult for local stations to operate and would cause many of them to close, which would result in a collapse of the PBS system. Loss of federal funding would also have a devastating effect on PBS’s ability to produce the quality content our viewers love.”
The Los Angeles Times reported in March 2017 that KOCE receives between $2.5 million and $3 million in federal funding, or 11%-15% of its budget.
The Kuhn Foundation has given $70,000 in grants to KOCE between 2015 and 2018, according to tax filings. The foundation gave $35,000 in 2015 and $17,500 in both 2017 and 2018.
Kuhn, a former investment banker, appears to be highly regarded in China, though he is not as well known in the U.S. He has made appearances on channels like CNN and Bloomberg over the years to discuss issues in China, but appears frequently on Beijing-controlled news outlets like CGTN, CCTV, and China Daily.
In December 2018, Kuhn was awarded the China Reform Friendship Medal at an event held in Beijing and attended by Xi. Kuhn’s personal website shows a photo of him shaking hands with Xi at the event, and refers to the medal as “China’s highest award.”
Kuhn hosted a delegation that same year to Beijing to meet with Jiang Jianguo, who served as minister of the State Council Information Office, the office reported.
The State Council is also the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Office of Foreign Propaganda, according to the Wilson Center.
Kuhn’s name previously surfaced in connection to Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who committed suicide while in jail on charges that he molested underage girls. Epstein through his nonprofit contributed $150,000 to the Kuhn Foundation in 2017, The Daily Beast has reported.
Epstein’s nonprofit also bankrolled a PBS series that Kuhn produced on spirituality called “Closer to Truth.” CNBC reported that Epstein contributed $500,000 to Kuhn’s project in 2018.
Kuhn offers his views on the Chinese government on a weekly segment hosted by CGTN and through documentaries he has produced in coordination with Chinese media outlets.
Xi’s program to fight poverty has been one area of focus for Kuhn, as has the Chinese government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“To truly understand China, one has to recognize their genuine commitment to eradicating poverty,” Kuhn last year told China Daily, a government-controlled outlet, of his documentary.
“Today, in the Western world, especially in the United States, there is concern about China’s actions and suspicion of China’s motives. But one of the things I wanted this film to do was to undermine the stereotype of China as a ruthless giant out to dominate the world. It’s just not the case.”
“Xi’s commitment and determination frames the film, informing its open and close,” Kuhn said.
In a recent episode of “The Watcher,” a segment that airs on CGTN, Kuhn praised the Chinese Communist Party’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
“China’s mobilization is unprecedented in global health history. Nowhere could it work like it works in China. The reason it works is because the party works, the Communist Party of China,” Kuhn said.
“President Xi Jinping calls for fighting the outbreak in an open and transparent manner. That’s the key: transparency, complete transparency. As China has done and is doing updating all confirmed patients and updating all the data every day,” he added.
In a televised event aired by China Daily, another outlet controlled by Beijing, Kuhn asserted that China will win praise in future generations for its response to the coronavirus.
“Future historians may well look upon China’s fight against the coronavirus as a turning in worldwide efforts to contain outbreaks of novel diseases, and stop their spread,” Kuhn said at the event, which aired March 31.
“History may well thank China for pioneering how to deal with virulent contagions in a globalized world,” he said.
Kuhn’s view is not shared by health experts and government officials across the world who have blamed Chinese authorities for failing to contain the virus and for providing misleading information about the early stages of the outbreak.
China has been accused of releasing false statistics about the number of infections and deaths in China from the coronavirus. Authorities there also offered false assurances to the World Health Organization that the coronavirus was not transmitted person to person.
Kuhn’s praise for Chinese leaders has earned him blowback from some China watchers.
In 2005, The New York Times reviewed Kuhn’s book “The Man Who Changed China,” noting that a “secret state propaganda team” oversaw the writing of the book.
Kuhn rebutted some of those allegations, telling China Daily in 2011 that he was “indeed an adviser to the Chinese government.” Kuhn denied being paid by Beijing.
“I have never been paid by the Chinese government,” he said, adding: “I am paid by foreign companies that do business in China.”
It’s unclear if the PBS stations were aware of CGTN’s status as a foreign agent for the Chinese government.
The company formally registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act on Aug. 2, 2019.
A spokesman for KOCE and KCET provided The Daily Caller News Foundation with a press release for the Kuhn film but did not respond to a detailed list of questions. PBS did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the Kuhn Foundation. Requests for comment submitted through Kuhn’s personal website were also not returned.
The Chinese government has long used its propaganda arms to disseminate pro-Beijing narratives. The initiative has involved Chinese news outlets partnering with mainstream U.S. and Western newspapers, such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, to publish paid inserts in those newspapers that promote a pro-China view.
The Wall Street Journal reported in November 2017 that the Chinese government was partnering with Western TV companies to produce glossy documentaries aimed at burnishing Beijing’s image.
The story said that Xi “has also stepped up support for co-productions with foreign partners, including documentary tie-ups spotlighting the country’s culture, technological advancements, and infrastructure projects.”
The report pointed to “China: Time of Xi,” a documentary that Discovery channel’s Asia division aired. Kuhn was interviewed for the film.
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 for this original content, email licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


dailysignal--2020-05-16--White House Challenges Left’s Pandemic Playbook Narrative

The White House pushed back on the media narrative that the Obama administration left behind a pandemic “ playbook ” for the Trump administration .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Friday the playbook from the Obama administration was an insufficient packet of paper , and the Trump administration ’ s own pandemic response exercise in 2019 exposed its shortcomings .
On Thursday , Dr. Rick Bright , a senior advisor at the National Institute of Health who filed a whistleblower complaint against President Donald Trump , told a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on health that the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bright said , “ we were not as prepared as we should have been.
” “ We missed early warning signals and we forgot important pages from our pandemic playbook , ” Bright said .
“ There will be plenty of time to identify gaps for improvement.
” Much of the mainstream media , including CNN , Politico , and PBS , ran with the narrative that the Obama administration left a pathway for the Trump administration to better handle the coronavirus .
McEnany said during the Friday press briefing that wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have erroneously suggested that the Trump administration threw out the pandemic response playbook left by the Obama-Biden administration , ” McEnany said , holding up papers from the podium .
“ What the critics fail to note however is that this thin packet of paper was replaced by two detailed robust pandemic response reports commissioned by the Trump administration.
” The press secretary added that , “ In 2018 the Trump administration issued our pandemic crisis action plan.
” She continued : Further from August 13th to the 16th , the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This was a pandemic simulation to test the nation ’ s ability to respond to a large-scale outbreak .
In January of 2020 , [ the Department of Health and Human Services ] issued the Crimson Contagion 2019 Functional Exercise after-action report .
This exercise exposed the shortcomings in legacy planning documents , which informed President Trump ’ s coronavirus response .

The White House pushed back on the media narrative that the Obama administration left behind a pandemic “playbook” for the Trump administration.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Friday that the playbook from the Obama administration was an insufficient packet of paper, and that the Trump administration’s own pandemic response exercise in 2019 exposed its shortcomings.
On Thursday, Dr. Rick Bright, a senior adviser at the National Institutes of Health who filed a whistleblower complaint against President Donald Trump, told a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on health that the administration should have known more about the coronavirus.
As a result, Bright said, “we were not as prepared as we should have been.”
“We missed early warning signals and we forgot important pages from our pandemic playbook,” Bright said. “There will be plenty of time to identify gaps for improvement.”
Much of the mainstream media, including CNN, Politico, and PBS, ran with the narrative that the Obama administration left a pathway for the Trump administration to better handle the coronavirus.
That wasn’t the case., McEnany said during the Friday press briefing.
“Some have erroneously suggested that the Trump administration threw out the pandemic response playbook left by the Obama-Biden administration,” McEnany said, holding up documents from the podium. “What the critics fail to note, however, is that this thin packet of paper was replaced by two detailed, robust pandemic response reports commissioned by the Trump administration.”
“In 2018, the Trump administration issued our pandemic crisis action plan,” she said, adding:


dailysignal--2020-05-18--Grassroots Petition Urging Governors  to ‘Reopen Their States’ Tops 100,000 Signatures

A petition launched in late April by Heritage Action for America asking governors to “ open American society ” has surpassed 100,000 signatures .
“ Millions of Americans are losing their jobs for good as businesses shut down around the country , even while the risk of COVID-19 is decreasing in many areas , ” Jessica Anderson , executive director of Heritage Action for America , told The Daily Signal in a statement .
“ The American people recognize this economic destruction and have a tremendous appetite to reopen their states , ” she added .
The unemployment rate nationally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a May 8 report from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics .
> > > When can America reopen ?
The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission , a project of The Heritage Foundation , is gathering America ’ s top thinkers together to figure that out .
Learn more here .
Anderson said that the grassroots activists of Heritage Action , the lobbying arm of The Heritage Foundation , “ have amplified this message throughout their communities , and more than 100,000 Americans have added their voice and signed our Open American Society Petition.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts , more than 30 states have already begun to reopen and recover , and more will join them in the coming weeks , ” she added .
The petition says that Americans should “ be free to travel , and governors should only implement stay-in-place orders in a targeted manner to address a specific , local need.
” It also maintains that businesses should be open and that “ governors should apply limited restrictions only where COVID-19 incidences are high , ” adding , “ Americans should be responsible for getting themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure testing is targeted to specific outbreaks.
” Heritage Action , in its press release , is calling on public officials to follow the recommendations of the National Coronavirus Recovery Commission .
The commission to date has offered 179 in-depth policy recommendations to help state and local governments open safely and speedily .
Heritage Action says it ’ s planning on delivering the petition to the National Governors Association and elected leaders in Washington .

A petition launched in late April by Heritage Action for America asking governors to “open American society” has surpassed 100,000 signatures.
“Millions of Americans are losing their jobs for good as businesses shut down around the country, even while the risk of COVID-19 is decreasing in many areas,” Jessica Anderson, executive director of Heritage Action for America, told The Daily Signal in a statement.
“The American people recognize this economic destruction and have a tremendous appetite to reopen their states,” she added.
The unemployment rate nationally has reached 14.7%, according to a May 8 report from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
>>> When can America reopen? The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, a project of The Heritage Foundation, is gathering America’s top thinkers together to figure that out. Learn more here.
Anderson said that the grassroots activists of Heritage Action, the lobbying arm of The Heritage Foundation, “have amplified this message throughout their communities, and more than 100,000 Americans have added their voice and signed our Open American Society Petition.”
“Thanks in part to those efforts, more than 30 states have already begun to reopen and recover, and more will join them in the coming weeks,” she added.
The petition says that Americans should “be free to travel, and governors should only implement stay-in-place orders in a targeted manner to address a specific, local need.”
It also maintains that businesses should be open and that “governors should apply limited restrictions only where COVID-19 incidences are high,” adding, “Americans should be responsible for getting themselves tested as needed, and governors should ensure testing is targeted to specific outbreaks.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t need nationwide, one-size-fits-all solutions,” Anderson said, adding:
As the National Coronavirus Recovery Commission has said, the disease affects different parts of the country very differently. That’s why we have pushed for local solutions for local problems. We hope more communities listen.
Heritage Action, in its press release, is calling on public officials to follow the recommendations of the National Coronavirus Recovery Commission. The commission to date has offered 179 in-depth policy recommendations to help state and local governments open safely and speedily.
Heritage Action says it’s planning on delivering the petition to the National Governors Association and elected leaders in Washington.


dailysignal--2020-05-19--Liberals’ Latest Coronavirus Package Shows Why Americans Loathe Congress

In the pantheon of great lines suitable for induction into “ Bartlett ’ s Familiar Quotations ” is Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’ s 2010 comment about Obamacare : “ We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.
” While that seemed outrageous and even comical to many at the time , it has become an all-too-familiar pattern for legislators who focus more on TV appearances , fundraising , and their reelections than on the laws they pass without reading them first .
The latest bank-breaking measure to narrowly pass the House ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a $ 3 trillion package styled “ coronavirus relief.
” It is more than 1,800 pages long .
The disingenuous title is an effort to position it as something that will be more acceptable than honest descriptions such as “ boondoggle ” and “ vote buying.
” The package is supposed to help people struggling due to lost jobs and closed businesses , but it is more favorable to Democrat constituencies and left-leaning interest groups that rely on their party for bailouts .
There have been efforts , especially in recent years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bill is written ( usually by staff members and lobbyists ) and when members vote on it , giving everyone plenty of time to read the bill .
The latest stimulus bill is only the most recent example of what happens when that doesn ’ t take place .
Passed by the slim margin of 208 to 199 , the measure contains significant amounts of cash for states with Democratic governors and legislatures , which have misspent taxpayer money and now find themselves in deep debt .
Commenting on efforts to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read bills before voting on them , Quentin Kidd , Department of Political Science professor at Christopher Newport University , has said : I unfortunately don ’ t think that members of Congress will use that time reading the bill .
They will use that time doing other things , and they will continue to do what most of them do right now , which is to pay attention to their staff or listen to what lobbyists say .
Among the many outrageous components of this latest bill , as if $ 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must be borrowed isn ’ t outrageous enough , is a provision that gives money to Democrats ’ newest constituency , noncitizens or undocumented immigrants , which is how Democrats like to refer to them , who now have tax identification numbers .
In saying the bill is “ dead on arrival , ” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , added , “ It ’ s a parade of absurdities that can hardly be taken seriously.
” And yet part of it will be taken seriously .
Even McConnell acknowledged the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Wall Street Journal another bill is probably necessary .
Whatever the Senate negotiates with the House will certainly add to the previous $ 2 trillion measure , which didn ’ t trickle down to some of the neediest individuals and small businesses , but contained horror stories such as checks going to dead people or to multimillion-dollar businesses or millionaires who didn ’ t need it .
Rapper and reality TV star Maurice Fayne , aka “ Arkansas Mo , ” received $ 2 million .
According to the U.K. Daily Mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Rolls Royce , a Rolex watch , and child support , rather than retaining workers in his transportation business .
He had applied for $ 3 million , so perhaps the government can claim it saved money .
Thankfully , Fayne has been arrested , but will he be forced to return what remains of the money ?
Anyone curious as to why in March the Gallup poll found public disapproval of Congress at 74 % ( it was 64 % in April possibly because of the stimulus money ) need look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ class operates .
In too many instances , it acts more in its own self-interest instead of the long-term public good .
( c ) 2020 Tribune Content Agency , LLC .

In the pantheon of great lines suitable for induction into “Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations” is Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 2010 comment about Obamacare: “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.”
While that seemed outrageous and even comical to many at the time, it has become an all-too-familiar pattern for legislators who focus more on TV appearances, fundraising, and their reelections than on the laws they pass without reading them first.
The latest bank-breaking measure to narrowly pass the House (even some Democrats voted against it) is a $3 trillion package styled “coronavirus relief.” It is more than 1,800 pages long.
The disingenuous title is an effort to position it as something that will be more acceptable than honest descriptions such as “boondoggle” and “vote buying.”
The package is supposed to help people struggling due to lost jobs and closed businesses, but it is more favorable to Democrat constituencies and left-leaning interest groups that rely on their party for bailouts.
There have been efforts, especially in recent years, to lengthen the time between when a bill is written (usually by staff members and lobbyists) and when members vote on it, giving everyone plenty of time to read the bill. The latest stimulus bill is only the most recent example of what happens when that doesn’t take place.
Passed by the slim margin of 208 to 199, the measure contains significant amounts of cash for states with Democratic governors and legislatures, which have misspent taxpayer money and now find themselves in deep debt.
Commenting on efforts to allow more time for members of Congress to read bills before voting on them, Quentin Kidd, Department of Political Science professor at Christopher Newport University, has said:
I unfortunately don’t think that members of Congress will use that time reading the bill. They will use that time doing other things, and they will continue to do what most of them do right now, which is to pay attention to their staff or listen to what lobbyists say.
Among the many outrageous components of this latest bill, as if $3 trillion we don’t have and must be borrowed isn’t outrageous enough, is a provision that gives money to Democrats’ newest constituency, noncitizens or undocumented immigrants, which is how Democrats like to refer to them, who now have tax identification numbers.
In saying the bill is “dead on arrival,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., added, “It’s a parade of absurdities that can hardly be taken seriously.”
And yet part of it will be taken seriously. Even McConnell acknowledged the inevitability of more spending when he told The Wall Street Journal another bill is probably necessary.
Whatever the Senate negotiates with the House will certainly add to the previous $2 trillion measure, which didn’t trickle down to some of the neediest individuals and small businesses, but contained horror stories such as checks going to dead people or to multimillion-dollar businesses or millionaires who didn’t need it.
Rapper and reality TV star Maurice Fayne, aka “Arkansas Mo,” received $2 million. According to the U.K. Daily Mail, Fayne spent part of it on a Rolls Royce, a Rolex watch, and child support, rather than retaining workers in his transportation business. He had applied for $3 million, so perhaps the government can claim it saved money. Thankfully, Fayne has been arrested, but will he be forced to return what remains of the money?
Anyone curious as to why in March the Gallup poll found public disapproval of Congress at 74% (it was 64% in April possibly because of the stimulus money) need look no further than the way the professional class operates. In too many instances, it acts more in its own self-interest instead of the long-term public good.
(c) 2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.