dailysignal--2020-02-27--The Left Will Keep Trying to Oust Trump, House Conservatives Predict

Even with President Donald Trump ’ s acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial , the left will continue to go after him , several House Republicans predicted Thursday at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference .
“ They ’ re never going to stop , ” Rep. Jim Jordan , R-Ohio , told the CPAC crowd .
“ They tried to overturn the will of 63 million Americans , all of us who voted for President Trump , who won an Electoral College landslide.
” The Republican-controlled Senate acquitted Trump on Feb. 6 of House Democrats ’ charges of abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relation to his July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy .
The two leaders referred to former Vice President Joe Biden and his son , Hunter Biden , who until last year had a lucrative seat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company .
The Democrat-controlled House had voted Dec. 18 to impeach Trump .
Jordan said Americans know the left will come for Trump again because of spying on the Trump campaign by the Obama administration before the 2016 election and the long investigation of Trump campaign ties to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democrats already have come up with a new charge about Russia and the 2020 election , Jordan said : How do we also know they are never going to stop ?
Because two weeks ago , the intelligence community goes to Capitol Hill and briefs people on Capitol Hill .
They don ’ t tell the president what they are going to tell the folks on Capitol Hill .
[ Rep. ] Adam Schiff goes out and leaks it , and it turns out what they conveyed and was leaked on Capitol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tells you they are never going to stop , and our job is never going to stop either in defending the truth and defending the Constitution .
Schiff , D-Calif. , is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and led the impeachment inquiry and prosecution .
House Republicans talked to the CPAC crowd across three panels with the title “ The Coup.
” Regarding the FBI ’ s surveillance of Trump campaign personnel in 2016 , Rep. Mark Meadows , R-N.C. , called for action when Congress renews the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spy .
“ We are right in the middle of reauthorizing the FISA process , ” Meadows said .
“ Shame on any member of Congress and any senator , including Republicans , if we reauthorize it without reforming it.
” Meadows said impeachment was to be expected for a disrupter such as Trump .
“ I mean , when you fight the swamp , the swamp fights back .
It is time we had a victory over the swamp , ” Meadows said .
“ Here is the problem : Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a swamp if you are a visitor here .
You can see it .
If they are part of the swamp , they think it is a hot tub.
” Rep. Doug Collins , R-Ga. , ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee , said former FBI officials—including agent Peter Strzok , lawyer Lisa Page , Director James Comey , and Deputy Director Andrew McCabe—were part of the “ underbelly of a corrupt cabal ” that sought to take down Trump .
Special counsel Robert Mueller determined there was no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign to meddle in the 2016 campaign .
Collins noted the poor performance of Mueller in front of congressional committees after he released his report , which spurred Democrats to move from pursuing Trump over Russia to pursuing the president over his interest in what went on in Ukraine during the Obama administration .
“ When Mueller came before the committees and basically—well , you know what he did—they said , ‘ Oh my God , what are we going to do ?
’ ” Collins told the crowd .
“ So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment .
Adam Schiff can ’ t even spell the truth , much less tell it.
” Attorney General William Barr named U.S. Attorney John Durham to investigate actions by Justice Department and intelligence community officials that led to the beginning of the Russia probe .
“ My thinking is that Bill Barr is doing a great job in getting this cleaned up as best he can , ” Collins said .
“ I do believe , however , that McCabe should have been prosecuted.
” It ’ s no surprise that House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it before winning a majority in 2018 , Rep. John Ratcliffe , R-Texas , told the CPAC crowd .
What was a surprise for Ratcliffe , a former U.S. attorney , was the lack of due process for Trump by the standards of past impeachment proceedings .
“ We say it ’ s unprecedented , unlike anything that has ever happened before , ” Ratcliffe said , adding : CPAC , the largest annual national gathering of conservative activists , runs Thursday through Saturday at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside Washington .

Even with President Donald Trump’s acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial, the left will continue to go after him, several House Republicans predicted Thursday at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference.
“They’re never going to stop,” Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told the CPAC crowd. “They tried to overturn the will of 63 million Americans, all of us who voted for President Trump, who won an Electoral College landslide.”
The Republican-controlled Senate acquitted Trump on Feb. 6 of House Democrats’ charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in relation to his July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The two leaders referred to former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, who until last year had a lucrative seat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company.
The Democrat-controlled House had voted Dec. 18 to impeach Trump.
Jordan said Americans know the left will come for Trump again because of spying on the Trump campaign by the Obama administration before the 2016 election and the long investigation of Trump campaign ties to the Russian government that turned up nothing.
Democrats already have come up with a new charge about Russia and the 2020 election, Jordan said:
How do we also know they are never going to stop? Because two weeks ago, the intelligence community goes to Capitol Hill and briefs people on Capitol Hill. They don’t tell the president what they are going to tell the folks on Capitol Hill. [Rep.] Adam Schiff goes out and leaks it, and it turns out what they conveyed and was leaked on Capitol Hill wasn’t accurate. That tells you they are never going to stop, and our job is never going to stop either in defending the truth and defending the Constitution.
Schiff, D-Calif., is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and led the impeachment inquiry and prosecution.
House Republicans talked to the CPAC crowd across three panels with the title “The Coup.”
"Freedom is the word you most associate with our great country" Rep @Jim_Jordan explains how freedom makes America great! #CPAC2020 pic.twitter.com/BFKyqmWWlS — CPAC 2020 (Text CPAC to 56479) (@CPAC) February 27, 2020
Regarding the FBI’s surveillance of Trump campaign personnel in 2016, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., called for action when Congress renews the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, under which the FBI obtained warrants to spy.
“We are right in the middle of reauthorizing the FISA process,” Meadows said. “Shame on any member of Congress and any senator, including Republicans, if we reauthorize it without reforming it.”
Meadows said impeachment was to be expected for a disrupter such as Trump.
“I mean, when you fight the swamp, the swamp fights back. It is time we had a victory over the swamp,” Meadows said. “Here is the problem: Most of the people here in D.C. recognize it’s a swamp if you are a visitor here. You can see it. If they are part of the swamp, they think it is a hot tub.”
Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, said former FBI officials—including agent Peter Strzok, lawyer Lisa Page, Director James Comey, and Deputy Director Andrew McCabe—were part of the “underbelly of a corrupt cabal” that sought to take down Trump.
Special counsel Robert Mueller determined there was no conspiracy between the Russian government and the Trump campaign to meddle in the 2016 campaign.
Collins noted the poor performance of Mueller in front of congressional committees after he released his report, which spurred Democrats to move from pursuing Trump over Russia to pursuing the president over his interest in what went on in Ukraine during the Obama administration.
“When Mueller came before the committees and basically—well, you know what he did—they said, ‘Oh my God, what are we going to do?’” Collins told the crowd. “So, they just transitioned into this sham impeachment. Adam Schiff can’t even spell the truth, much less tell it.”
Attorney General William Barr named U.S. Attorney John Durham to investigate actions by Justice Department and intelligence community officials that led to the beginning of the Russia probe.
“My thinking is that Bill Barr is doing a great job in getting this cleaned up as best he can,” Collins said. “I do believe, however, that McCabe should have been prosecuted.”
It’s no surprise that House Democrats impeached Trump since they were talking about it before winning a majority in 2018, Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, told the CPAC crowd.
What was a surprise for Ratcliffe, a former U.S. attorney, was the lack of due process for Trump by the standards of past impeachment proceedings.
“We say it’s unprecedented, unlike anything that has ever happened before,” Ratcliffe said, adding:
The most telling thing is during the [Richard] Nixon impeachment, the formal impeachment inquiry itself lasted 178 days from the very first day to the very last day to assess evidence, review evidence, call witnesses, cross-examine witnesses.
The same was true with regard to President [Bill] Clinton. From the very first day to the very last day, his lawyers were allowed to do all of those same things. What’s unique about this is that the Trump impeachment inquiry lasted 78 days. The first 71 days, President Trump’s lawyers were forbidden from participating, from seeing evidence, from viewing evidence, assessing evidence, from calling witnesses to cross-examining witnesses. …
It just lowers the bar. We are going to see this again down the road. I don’t think we can put the genie back in the bottle.
CPAC, the largest annual national gathering of conservative activists, runs Thursday through Saturday at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington.


dailysignal--2020-02-26--Trump Wishes Christians and Catholics a ‘Peaceful and Prayerful’ Ash Wednesday

President Donald Trump wished Christians and Catholics a “ peaceful and prayerful ” start to the Christian Lenten season Wednesday .
The president issued a Wednesday statement in which he wished “ everyone observing Ash Wednesday a peaceful and prayerful day.
” “ For Catholics and many other Christians , Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season that concludes with the joyful celebration of Easter Sunday , ” the president said in a statement .
“ Today , millions of Christians will be marked on their foreheads with the sign of the cross , ” the president said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an invitation to spend time during Lent fasting , praying , and engaging in acts of charity.
” “ This powerful and sacred tradition reminds us of our shared mortality , Christ ’ s saving love , and the need to repent and accept the Gospel more fully , ” he said .
“ We join in prayer with everyone observing this holy day and wish you a prayerful Lenten journey , ” Trump added .
“ May you grow closer to God in your faith during this blessed season.
” Catholics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the liturgical Lenten season , a day on which many Christians fast , pray , and wear ashes on their heads as a reminder that they will ultimately return to dust .
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 ]

President Donald Trump wished Christians and Catholics a “peaceful and prayerful” start to the Christian Lenten season Wednesday.
The president issued a Wednesday statement in which he wished “everyone observing Ash Wednesday a peaceful and prayerful day.”
“For Catholics and many other Christians, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season that concludes with the joyful celebration of Easter Sunday,” the president said in a statement.
“Today, millions of Christians will be marked on their foreheads with the sign of the cross,” the president said. “The imposition of ashes is an invitation to spend time during Lent fasting, praying, and engaging in acts of charity.”
“This powerful and sacred tradition reminds us of our shared mortality, Christ’s saving love, and the need to repent and accept the Gospel more fully,” he said.
“We join in prayer with everyone observing this holy day and wish you a prayerful Lenten journey,” Trump added. “May you grow closer to God in your faith during this blessed season.”
Catholics and Christians observe Ash Wednesday as the beginning of the liturgical Lenten season, a day on which many Christians fast, pray, and wear ashes on their heads as a reminder that they will ultimately return to dust.
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.


dailysignal--2020-02-28--Ted Cruz: Today’s Democrats ‘Look Down on Working Class’

The divide between the values of the Democratic and Republican parties continues to widen , Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas , said Thursday during an annual gathering of conservative activists outside Washington .
“ All of us grew up thinking that the Republicans are the party of the rich and the Democrats were the party of the working class , ” Cruz said .
“ Today , the Democrats are the party of Hollywood celebrities , Silicon Valley , and Wall Street tycoons , and they look down on the working class.
” Cruz said the Republican Party will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on protecting blue-collar jobs and getting people off welfare and unemployment benefits .
“ The Republican Party is the party of truck drivers and steel workers and oil workers and farmers and ranchers and firefighters and waiters and waitresses , ” Cruz said .
“ And the Democratic Party says : ‘ You silly little people , you deplorables , you don ’ t need a job.
’ ” Cruz and Daily Wire podcaster Michael Knowles were joined on the CPAC stage by Ronna McDaniel , chairwoman of the Republican National Committee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hit podcast “ Verdict With Ted Cruz.
” “ I think that message connects a lot better with the American people than the message that there are 57 genders and we need to steal everybody ’ s property , ” Knowles responded to Cruz ’ s remarks .
The conversation was an offshoot of the two men ’ s podcast , which covered President Donald Trump ’ s Senate impeachment trial .
“ This podcast launched on the very first night of the impeachment trial , ” Cruz said , describing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the proceedings , I would jump in a truck and we would record at midnight or 2 in the morning .
[ The podcast ] went from nonexistent to being the No .
1 podcast in the world.
” McDaniel , the RNC chairwoman , came out halfway through the segment to talk about the importance of remembering those who feel forgotten by most politicians .
She said she used this strategy successfully to swing Michigan to the Republican column during the 2016 presidential election , when she was chairwoman of the Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forgotten men and women [ while campaigning ] who really felt like Washington had left them behind , ” McDaniel said .
“ They felt that the Democrats had become this redistributionist , coastal , elite party of the left that forgot about the middle of the country.
” Cruz said prosperity has risen significantly in such “ forgotten ” communities since Trump took office , as demonstrated by a town he said he visited last week in south Texas .
“ The mayor told me that the median income has gone from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Cruz said .
“ The power brokers in the Democratic Party think that doesn ’ t matter , but $ 6,000 in a working family ’ s pocket can mean a new car , maybe two new cars.
” CPAC , the largest annual national gathering of conservative activists , runs Thursday through Saturday at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor , Maryland , just outside Washington .

The divide between the values of the Democratic and Republican parties continues to widen, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Thursday during an annual gathering of conservative activists outside Washington.
“All of us grew up thinking that the Republicans are the party of the rich and the Democrats were the party of the working class,” Cruz said. “Today, the Democrats are the party of Hollywood celebrities, Silicon Valley, and Wall Street tycoons, and they look down on the working class.”
Cruz said the Republican Party will continue to see success because of its focus on protecting blue-collar jobs and getting people off welfare and unemployment benefits.
“The Republican Party is the party of truck drivers and steel workers and oil workers and farmers and ranchers and firefighters and waiters and waitresses,” Cruz said. “And the Democratic Party says: ‘You silly little people, you deplorables, you don’t need a job.’”
Cruz and Daily Wire podcaster Michael Knowles were joined on the CPAC stage by Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, for a live episode of the pair’s hit podcast “Verdict With Ted Cruz.”
“I think that message connects a lot better with the American people than the message that there are 57 genders and we need to steal everybody’s property,” Knowles responded to Cruz’s remarks.
The conversation was an offshoot of the two men’s podcast, which covered President Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial.
“This podcast launched on the very first night of the impeachment trial,” Cruz said, describing its success. “Each night after the proceedings, I would jump in a truck and we would record at midnight or 2 in the morning. [The podcast] went from nonexistent to being the No. 1 podcast in the world.”
McDaniel, the RNC chairwoman, came out halfway through the segment to talk about the importance of remembering those who feel forgotten by most politicians.
She said she used this strategy successfully to swing Michigan to the Republican column during the 2016 presidential election, when she was chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party.
“We saw these forgotten men and women [while campaigning] who really felt like Washington had left them behind,” McDaniel said. “They felt that the Democrats had become this redistributionist, coastal, elite party of the left that forgot about the middle of the country.”
Cruz said prosperity has risen significantly in such “forgotten” communities since Trump took office, as demonstrated by a town he said he visited last week in south Texas.
“The mayor told me that the median income has gone from $39,000 a year to $46,000,” Cruz said. “The power brokers in the Democratic Party think that doesn’t matter, but $6,000 in a working family’s pocket can mean a new car, maybe two new cars.”
CPAC, the largest annual national gathering of conservative activists, runs Thursday through Saturday at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington.


dailysignal--2020-03-01--Mark Levin Aims Sharp Words at the American Left

Radio and TV host Mark Levin had typically strong words Saturday for the American left and its embrace of socialism during his segment at the Conservative Political Action Conference near Washington .
The popular conservative author and commentator took the CPAC stage hours before President Donald Trump ’ s scheduled remarks for an informal conversation with his wife , lawyer Julie Strauss Levin .
Commenting on the global spread of the coronavirus , Levin praised the American health care system as “ the best in the world ” and expressed total faith in its ability to find a cure for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not be discovered in Venezuela , it will not be discovered in the Scandinavian countries , it will not be discovered in some backwards , Third World country , ” Levin said .
“ It will be discovered in one of our pharmaceutical labs in a capitalist country.
” Levin , whose syndicated “ Mark Levin Show ” is heard on roughly 400 radio stations , blamed liberal Democrats for focusing on impeaching the president while the virus was spreading : What is the Democrat plan for coronavirus ?
There is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were doing when the coronavirus broke out ?
They were having an impeachment trial against our president .
They effectively shut down Congress when there was a virus spreading , and then they dare to tell the president of the United States what he should be doing .
Levin , who initially was openly skeptical of Trump ’ s race for president , called him “ one of the greatest men I have ever met.
” However , Levin , whose interview show “ Life , Liberty & Levin ” airs on Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative reaction Trump engenders has been typical for strong leaders throughout history .
He cited British prime ministers Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu : Julie Levin said she attributed the growing popularity of socialism in America to a decrease in faith .
“ The left is teaching our young people to hate America because we ’ re ‘ racist ’ and ‘ xenophobic , ’ but our biggest danger is their attack on faith , ” she said .
“ If you don ’ t have faith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Creator , then you don ’ t believe in God-given rights.
” Her husband also turned his attention to American socialists : CPAC , the largest annual national gathering of conservative activists , runs Thursday through Saturday at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor , Maryland , just outside Washington .

Radio and TV host Mark Levin had typically strong words Saturday for the American left and its embrace of socialism during his segment at the Conservative Political Action Conference near Washington.
The popular conservative author and commentator took the CPAC stage hours before President Donald Trump’s scheduled remarks for an informal conversation with his wife, lawyer Julie Strauss Levin.
Commenting on the global spread of the coronavirus, Levin praised the American health care system as “the best in the world” and expressed total faith in its ability to find a cure for the disease.
“The coronavirus vaccine will not be discovered in Venezuela, it will not be discovered in the Scandinavian countries, it will not be discovered in some backwards, Third World country,” Levin said. “It will be discovered in one of our pharmaceutical labs in a capitalist country.”
Levin, whose syndicated “Mark Levin Show” is heard on roughly 400 radio stations, blamed liberal Democrats for focusing on impeaching the president while the virus was spreading:
What is the Democrat plan for coronavirus? There is no plan. Do you know what they were doing when the coronavirus broke out? They were having an impeachment trial against our president. They effectively shut down Congress when there was a virus spreading, and then they dare to tell the president of the United States what he should be doing.
Levin, who initially was openly skeptical of Trump’s race for president, called him “one of the greatest men I have ever met.”
However, Levin, whose interview show “Life, Liberty & Levin” airs on Fox News Channel, said the kind of negative reaction Trump engenders has been typical for strong leaders throughout history.
He cited British Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
Winston Churchill was voted out of office after World War II. Thatcher’s party stabbed her in the back and threw her out of office. Netanyahu brought enormous prosperity to his region, and they’re trying to put him in prison [on corruption charges]. … The lesson here is that the left is diabolical, whether it’s in America or in Israel or in Britain.
Julie Levin said she attributed the growing popularity of socialism in America to a decrease in faith.
“The left is teaching our young people to hate America because we’re ‘racist’ and ‘xenophobic,’ but our biggest danger is their attack on faith,” she said. “If you don’t have faith and you don’t believe in a Creator, then you don’t believe in God-given rights.”
Her husband also turned his attention to American socialists:
Anyone can create a dictatorship. You can’t be a democratic socialist, because socialists want to destroy democracy. You get to vote once, then they get in power and destroy everything. How many more backwards, repressive, depraved societies do we need to create?
How many more human guinea pigs will there be in places like China, the old Soviet Union, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, and California? … It’s so diabolical, it’s so alarming, that people are willing to trade their freedom for nothing to demagogues.
CPAC, the largest annual national gathering of conservative activists, ran Thursday through Saturday at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington.


dailysignal--2020-03-01--Conservatives Cheer as Trump Celebrates Achievements Under Fire

Speaking before a celebratory crowd of conservative activists Saturday , President Donald Trump gave thanks to God for being able to accomplish so much in three years despite incoming fire from the left .
Trump referred to both the lengthy Russia investigation and House Democrats ’ hasty impeachment move during remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference just weeks after the Senate found him not guilty in a historic impeachment trial .
“ Can you imagine with all of that—going through all of that with a cloud over your head like nobody has ever had—for us to have seriously done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said to the cheering crowd .
Trump , in a freewheeling speech delivered without a script in just under an hour and a half , pondered other options before settling on divine help .
“ It ’ s sort of a miracle when you think about it , ” Trump said .
“ It ’ s sort of a miracle , or a toughness or something.
” Then , pointing up , Trump said : “ Maybe it ’ s right there .
Thank you .
Thank you , God .
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do it ?
” In mentioning the impeachment trial , the president referred to Sen. Mitt Romney , R-Utah , the lone Senate Republican who voted to convict him for abuse of power .
“ You know the Republicans stuck together , except Romney , of course , ” Trump said , provoking boos from the crowd at the mention of Romney ’ s name .
“ Low-life , low-life .
Except Romney , they stuck together.
” Earlier Saturday , the United States and the Taliban signed a peace agreement for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depart that country after 19 years .
The historic deal , Trump said , may end “ the longest war in U.S. history , not even close.
” “ I ’ ll say this for the Taliban , they ’ re great fighters , ” he said .
“ You can ask the Soviet Union .
But they ’ re tired also.
” The U.S. and allies invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 because the Taliban was providing shelter and resources there for the al-Qaeda terrorist group that planned the 9/11 attacks on America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States can ’ t get caught up in building democracies , Trump said .
“ American forces can not be the policemen for the world , ” he said .
“ We ’ re all over the world and a lot of times , we ’ re not appreciated .
It ’ s taken for granted.
” “ After years of rebuilding foreign nations , ” he added to huge applause , “ we are finally rebuilding our nation and taking care of our own American citizens.
” Trump , echoing his State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cited record low unemployment amid what he called the “ great American comeback.
” Trump said 10 million people are off welfare roles and 7 million are off food stamps .
The president then made a reference to his predecessor , Barack Obama , whose 2008 campaign slogan was “ hope and change.
” “ We are actually achieving the progress , ‘ hope and change , ’ that liberals have been falsely promising for decades , but utterly failed to deliver or produce—and it ’ s really driving them crazy , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a lot of really nice people running the country , ” he said .
“ Maybe I ’ m not nice , but I ’ m doing a great job for you.
” Trump took only a few jabs at the media and “ fake news.
” “ It would be so much easier for our country if we had a press that told the truth , ” he said .
After holding a White House press conference earlier in the day on the spread of the coronavirus , Trump brought up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying : CPAC , the largest annual national gathering of conservative activists , runs Thursday through Saturday at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor , Maryland , just outside Washington .

Speaking before a celebratory crowd of conservative activists Saturday, President Donald Trump gave thanks to God for being able to accomplish so much in three years despite incoming fire from the left.
Trump referred to both the lengthy Russia investigation and House Democrats’ hasty impeachment move during remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference just weeks after the Senate found him not guilty in a historic impeachment trial.
“Can you imagine with all of that—going through all of that with a cloud over your head like nobody has ever had—for us to have seriously done more than any other administration?” Trump said to the cheering crowd.
Trump, in a freewheeling speech delivered without a script in just under an hour and a half, pondered other options before settling on divine help.
“It’s sort of a miracle when you think about it,” Trump said. “It’s sort of a miracle, or a toughness or something.”
Then, pointing up, Trump said: “Maybe it’s right there. Thank you. Thank you, God. How did we do that? How did we do it?”
In mentioning the impeachment trial, the president referred to Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, the lone Senate Republican who voted to convict him for abuse of power.
“You know the Republicans stuck together, except Romney, of course,” Trump said, provoking boos from the crowd at the mention of Romney’s name. “Low-life, low-life. Except Romney, they stuck together.”
Earlier Saturday, the United States and the Taliban signed a peace agreement for Afghanistan that could mean U.S. troops finally depart that country after 19 years.
The historic deal, Trump said, may end “the longest war in U.S. history, not even close.”
“I’ll say this for the Taliban, they’re great fighters,” he said. “You can ask the Soviet Union. But they’re tired also.”
The U.S. and allies invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 because the Taliban was providing shelter and resources there for the al-Qaeda terrorist group that planned the 9/11 attacks on America that killed nearly 3,000.
The United States can’t get caught up in building democracies, Trump said.
“American forces cannot be the policemen for the world,” he said. “We’re all over the world and a lot of times, we’re not appreciated. It’s taken for granted.”
“After years of rebuilding foreign nations,” he added to huge applause, “we are finally rebuilding our nation and taking care of our own American citizens.”
Trump, echoing his State of the Union address Feb. 4, cited record low unemployment amid what he called the “great American comeback.”
Trump said 10 million people are off welfare roles and 7 million are off food stamps.
The president then made a reference to his predecessor, Barack Obama, whose 2008 campaign slogan was “hope and change.”
“We are actually achieving the progress, ‘hope and change,’ that liberals have been falsely promising for decades, but utterly failed to deliver or produce—and it’s really driving them crazy,” Trump said.
Trump acknowledged he wasn’t a typical politician or nice guy.
“You’ve had a lot of really nice people running the country,” he said. “Maybe I’m not nice, but I’m doing a great job for you.”
Trump took only a few jabs at the media and “fake news.”
“It would be so much easier for our country if we had a press that told the truth,” he said.
After holding a White House press conference earlier in the day on the spread of the coronavirus, Trump brought up his administration’s response at CPAC, saying:
Border security is also health security. In our efforts to keep America safe, my administration has taken the most aggressive action in modern history to control our borders and protect Americans from the coronavirus.
CPAC, the largest annual national gathering of conservative activists, runs Thursday through Saturday at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington.


dailysignal--2020-02-28--Trump a Pragmatist and Washington Had to ‘Adapt,’ Kushner Says

President Donald Trump has “ grown and grown ” in popularity over the course of three years in office because he has taken on Washington , son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner told conservative activists Friday .
“ He didn ’ t adapt to Washington .
Washington adapted to him , ” Kushner told the annual Conservative Political Action Conference just outside Washington , prompting a huge round of applause .
The president , his son-in-law added , is a “ pragmatist.
” Kushner said Trump did not come to Washington to score political points .
Instead , he said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ When he was elected , his favorability rating was 37 % on Election Day , according to Real Clear Politics polling .
Now it ’ s up to 46 % , ” Kushner said .
“ When people see Washington fighting against him , most people don ’ t like Washington so they like the fact that he ’ s fighting Washington.
” Kushner shares the title of senior adviser with his wife , first daughter Ivanka Trump .
The president has followed a clear model , he said .
“ Tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do , do it , and tell them you did it , ” Kushner said .
The president ’ s senior adviser noted that the economy is expanding and the job market is growing because of Trump ’ s commitment to lower taxes and deregulation .
“ The president ’ s ideology , as I see it , is a pragmatist , ” Kushner said .
“ What I find every day is , people talk about things as one way or the other .
We have people who are ideologues .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s looking to bring the better idea.
” CPAC , the largest annual national gathering of conservative activists , runs Thursday through Saturday at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor , Maryland , just outside Washington .

President Donald Trump has “grown and grown” in popularity over the course of three years in office because he has taken on Washington, son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner told conservative activists Friday.
“He didn’t adapt to Washington. Washington adapted to him,” Kushner told the annual Conservative Political Action Conference just outside Washington, prompting a huge round of applause.
The president, his son-in-law added, is a “pragmatist.”
Kushner said Trump did not come to Washington to score political points. Instead, he said, “This is an action president.”
“When he was elected, his favorability rating was 37% on Election Day, according to Real Clear Politics polling. Now it’s up to 46%,” Kushner said. “When people see Washington fighting against him, most people don’t like Washington so they like the fact that he’s fighting Washington.”
Kushner shares the title of senior adviser with his wife, first daughter Ivanka Trump.
The president has followed a clear model, he said.
“Tell people what you’re going to do, do it, and tell them you did it,” Kushner said.
The president’s senior adviser noted that the economy is expanding and the job market is growing because of Trump’s commitment to lower taxes and deregulation.
“The president’s ideology, as I see it, is a pragmatist,” Kushner said. “What I find every day is, people talk about things as one way or the other. We have people who are ideologues. The president is more of a pragmatist. He’s looking to bring the better idea.”
CPAC, the largest annual national gathering of conservative activists, runs Thursday through Saturday at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington.


dailysignal--2020-03-02--Fact Check: Did Trump Call Coronavirus a ‘Hoax’?

Politico published an article reporting that President Donald Trump called the novel coronavirus a “ hoax ” in a speech Friday in South Carolina .
“ Trump rallies his base to treat coronavirus as a ‘ hoax , ’ ” reads the headline .
Trump referred to “ politicizing ” of the coronavirus by Democrats as “ their new hoax.
” He did not refer to the coronavirus itself as a hoax .
Throughout his speech , Trump reiterated that his administration is taking the threat of the coronavirus seriously .
Politico appears to misconstrue the subject of the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ tried to cast the global outbreak of the coronavirus as a liberal conspiracy intended to undermine his first term.
” But an examination of the video and transcript show Trump actually described Democratic complaints about his handling of the virus threat as “ their new hoax.
” “ We have exposed the far left ’ s corruption and defeated their sinister schemes and let ’ s see what happens in the coming months , ” Trump said .
“ Let ’ s watch .
Let ’ s just watch .
Very dishonest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus , you know that right ?
Coronavirus , they ’ re politicizing it.
” The novel coronavirus , known as COVID-19 , has spread from China to 53 other countries , sickening 85,403 people and killing 2,924 others as of Saturday , according to the World Health Organization .
Some Democrats , including former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Vice President Joe Biden , have criticized the administration ’ s response to the outbreak as rudderless and ill-prepared due to Trump ’ s leadership and budget cuts at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institutes of Health .
But The Associated Press called this characterization “ distorted ” since the agencies haven ’ t seen loss of funding and have a “ playbook to follow for pandemic preparation ” regardless of who is president .
Trump described the “ politicizing ” of the White House ’ s response to the disease as an attempt to undermine his administration , likening it to Democrats ’ impeachment drive and the Russia investigation .
“ They tried anything , ” said Trump about a minute after his first mention of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over and over .
They ’ d been doing it since you got in .
It ’ s all turning .
They lost .
It ’ s all turning .
Think of it .
Think of it .
And this is their new hoax.
” When looking at the entirety of Trump ’ s remarks , it appears the “ new hoax ” comment refers to the Democrats ’ alleged “ politicizing ” of his response to the coronavirus threat—not the coronavirus itself .
The Hill , the Daily Beast and Slate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ hoax ” comment referred to Democrats ’ criticism .
Slate ’ s headline was “ Trump Slams Democrats Over Coronavirus Criticism : ‘ This Is Their New Hoax , ’ ” while the Daily Beast headline read , “ Trump : Democrats ’ Coronavirus Criticism a ‘ New Hoax.
’ ” At no point in the rally did Trump directly call the novel coronavirus outbreak a “ hoax ” or “ conspiracy.
” In fact , he referred to the respiratory virus as a “ public health threat ” and reiterated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very , very seriously .
That ’ s what we ’ re doing .
We are preparing for the worst.
” Trump denied that he called the coronavirus a “ hoax ” in a Saturday press conference at the White House .
He was “ referring to the action that they take to try and pin this on somebody because we ’ ve done such a good job , ” the president said .
“ The hoax is on them .
I ’ m not talking about what ’ s happening here .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ re doing .
That ’ s the hoax , ” he said , according to NBC News .
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence , who he placed in charge of the administration ’ s response to the outbreak , announced new travel restrictions involving Iran and increased travel advisories for Italy and South Korea at the press conference .
The new measures come after Washington health officials announced the first death in the U.S. from the coronavirus .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large audience .
For licensing opportunities of their original content , email [ email protected ]

Politico published an article reporting that President Donald Trump called the novel coronavirus a “hoax” in a speech Friday in South Carolina.
President Trump on Friday night tried to cast the global outbreak of the coronavirus as a liberal conspiracy intended to undermine his first term, lumping it alongside impeachment and the Mueller investigation. Posted by POLITICO on Friday, February 28, 2020
“Trump rallies his base to treat coronavirus as a ‘hoax,’” reads the headline.
Verdict: False
Trump referred to “politicizing” of the coronavirus by Democrats as “their new hoax.” He did not refer to the coronavirus itself as a hoax.
Throughout his speech, Trump reiterated that his administration is taking the threat of the coronavirus seriously.
Fact Check:
Politico appears to misconstrue the subject of the president’s statement, claiming that Trump “tried to cast the global outbreak of the coronavirus as a liberal conspiracy intended to undermine his first term.”
But an examination of the video and transcript show Trump actually described Democratic complaints about his handling of the virus threat as “their new hoax.”
“We have exposed the far left’s corruption and defeated their sinister schemes and let’s see what happens in the coming months,” Trump said. “Let’s watch. Let’s just watch. Very dishonest people. Now the Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus, you know that right? Coronavirus, they’re politicizing it.”
The novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, has spread from China to 53 other countries, sickening 85,403 people and killing 2,924 others as of Saturday, according to the World Health Organization.
Some Democrats, including former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Vice President Joe Biden, have criticized the administration’s response to the outbreak as rudderless and ill-prepared due to Trump’s leadership and budget cuts at the Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health.
But The Associated Press called this characterization “distorted” since the agencies haven’t seen loss of funding and have a “playbook to follow for pandemic preparation” regardless of who is president.
Trump described the “politicizing” of the White House’s response to the disease as an attempt to undermine his administration, likening it to Democrats’ impeachment drive and the Russia investigation.
“They tried anything,” said Trump about a minute after his first mention of the coronavirus. “They tried it over and over. They’d been doing it since you got in. It’s all turning. They lost. It’s all turning. Think of it. Think of it. And this is their new hoax.”
When looking at the entirety of Trump’s remarks, it appears the “new hoax” comment refers to the Democrats’ alleged “politicizing” of his response to the coronavirus threat—not the coronavirus itself.
The Hill, the Daily Beast and Slate, among other news outlets, reported that the “hoax” comment referred to Democrats’ criticism.
Slate’s headline was “Trump Slams Democrats Over Coronavirus Criticism: ‘This Is Their New Hoax,’” while the Daily Beast headline read, “Trump: Democrats’ Coronavirus Criticism a ‘New Hoax.’”
At no point in the rally did Trump directly call the novel coronavirus outbreak a “hoax” or “conspiracy.” In fact, he referred to the respiratory virus as a “public health threat” and reiterated that “we have to take it very, very seriously. That’s what we’re doing. We are preparing for the worst.”
Trump denied that he called the coronavirus a “hoax” in a Saturday press conference at the White House.
He was “referring to the action that they take to try and pin this on somebody because we’ve done such a good job,” the president said.
“The hoax is on them. I’m not talking about what’s happening here. I’m talking what they’re doing. That’s the hoax,” he said, according to NBC News.
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who he placed in charge of the administration’s response to the outbreak, announced new travel restrictions involving Iran and increased travel advisories for Italy and South Korea at the press conference.
The new measures come after Washington health officials announced the first death in the U.S. from the coronavirus.
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 their original content, email licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.


dailysignal--2020-03-03--Michael Knowles Makes the Case for Popular ‘Verdict’ Podcast With Ted Cruz

Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas , recently launched a wildly popular podcast called “ Verdict With Ted Cruz ” in which he teams with Michael Knowles , host of “ The Michael Knowles Show ” podcast on The Daily Wire .
Michael joins me today to give some behind-the-scenes perspective on “ Verdict , ” which began as a conversation about President Donald Trump ’ s Senate impeachment trial .
We also discuss why socialism is antithetical to the American dream .
And we share a conversation that our colleague Virginia Allen had with filmmaker James O ’ Keefe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News and media bias .
We also cover these stories : • A federal judge rules that Ken Cuccinelli , acting director of U.S .
Citizenship and Immigration Services , was unlawfully appointed by President Donald Trump .
• The U.S. and the Taliban sign a peace deal to initiate a reduction in U.S. forces in Afghanistan .
• Coronavirus has killed six in the United States and over 3,000 have died from the disease worldwide .
The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet , Apple Podcasts , Pippa , Google Play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 [ email protected ] .
Enjoy the show !
Rachel del Guidice : We ’ re joined today on The Daily Signal Podcast by Michael Knowles .
He ’ s the host of “ The Michael Knowles Show ” on The Daily Wire .
Michael , thank you so much for being with us today .
Michael Knowles : It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you .
Del Guidice : Well , we ’ re glad to have you .
So along with this show that you already host on Daily Wire , you ’ ve recently started a podcast with Sen. Ted Cruz called … “ Verdict , ” and you talk about impeachment and the whole impeachment push .
Can you tell us about how this came about ?
Obviously , it was impeachment , but how [ did this come ] about with you and Sen. Cruz ?
Knowles : It was so fun because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Sen. Cruz .
We had talked about [ it ] in passing over dinner or things like that .
Then impeachment happens .
And the senator calls us and says , “ We ’ re doing this show .
Let ’ s fly out to D.C. We ’ re going to start this in two days.
” So we fly out , put a whole set together , put a whole crew together , do the show , and we think , “ Look , it ’ ll be cool , historic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know how many people are going to listen to it , but … ” because it would be so in the weeds about this government process .
No one was even watching impeachment , so much less a show about impeachment .
And then , to our great surprise , the thing takes off and it hits No .
1 on the charts within , I think , it was four days .
And then it was there for two weeks or so .
People were really hungry for it .
And what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is that people are a lot smarter than they get credit for .
So yeah , they ’ re tuning out the impeachment .
Yeah , they ’ re tuning out cable news five-minute sound bites about the impeachment .
That doesn ’ t mean they don ’ t want to know about their government .
It actually means they want to go deeper and hear something beyond these hack talking points .
So the senator would come straight from the Capitol every night at 1 or 2 in the morning .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ studio , and I think part of it was because we were so exhausted , we would have a really honest conversation .
The senator would pull the curtain back a little bit on what was going on .
So we ’ re so pleased .
I think it ’ s at about 4.5 million downloads now on just the first 10 or 12 episodes .
And we ’ ve been keeping the show going .
We filmed three , actually , since I ’ ve been in D.C. for the last 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a blast .
And we just did a live one here at CPAC [ the Conservative Political Action Conference ] .
Del Guidice : That ’ s incredible .
I didn ’ t realize you were recording so late at night after the hearings ended .
What was that like to be able to discuss all of that as it was happening , right afterward ?
… It ’ s just a really cool environment to be able to do that in .
Knowles : It was one of a kind .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all , the senator ’ s got an engine like I ’ ve never seen .
The guy does not sleep .
And so he comes , he ’ s rearing to go .
But we would analyze what was happening on the floor .
We would analyze what it all meant for the president .
You know , you see it , but you ’ re getting a real close view .
We would also then talk about what the cameras on C-SPAN didn ’ t pick up .
So we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the cloak room , how he ’ s pulling this senator aside because [ Rep. ] Adam Schiff made this stupid comment , and that gives the Republicans an opening .
Then he ’ s talking to this person and … it ’ s all so much more relational .
It ’ s all so much more real than I think we would imagine .
We think that impeachment was just … written up , it was scripted , it was always going to play out the way it was .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senator is , that ’ s not really the case .
The individual personalities really matter here .
And the individual personalities really matter in our politics .
Del Guidice : Sen. Cruz was at The Heritage Foundation a couple of months ago discussing this .
He had mentioned how Democrats now , and you sort of alluded to this , are using impeachment now as a political weapon … And he said , “ We won ’ t be surprised if , again , there ’ s a Republican president in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what he ’ s doing or just politically doesn ’ t agree with it , that they ’ re going to go this route again.
” Did you all talk about that ?
And what is your perspective on that as well ?
Knowles : Yeah .
The Founding Fathers were very nervous about this .
They feared that impeachment could be used in this way .
That ’ s why , as part of the big debate over the impeachment provision of the Constitution , there was an open question , should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maladministration , for just not doing a good job , because the Congress doesn ’ t like the cut of their jib ?
And this was shot down .
It was not in fact the case .
Actually , to be impeached , you had to commit treason , or bribery , or other high crimes and misdemeanors .
And the Democratic House completely threw [ that ] out the window .
It was not only historic because it was the third impeachment in American history .
It was the first totally partisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted to impeach .
Later on , [ Sen. ] Mitt Romney got a little angry at the president , so he voted to convict .
He was the only Republican to do that .
But on the vote to impeach , it was purely partisan .
The trouble is , if you just have partisan impeachments in the future , then the executive becomes subservient to the House .
The president , more or less , will just serve at the pleasure of the Congress .
And then you get a Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeach him .
I mean , that is a recipe for chaos .
The Founders were deeply terrified of that .
And the left seems to be pushing us ever closer to that very awful outcome .
Del Guidice : So , “ Verdict , ” you all take mailbag questions from your audience .
What kinds of things were you hearing and what kinds of questions were you getting during this process ?
Knowles : The questions were so sophisticated .
But this is my main takeaway … when I say a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are smarter than they get credit for .
You see it in the mailbag too .
Very often when you hear sound-bitey interviews about impeachment , it ’ s all just top-of-the-line , juicy , political , who doesn ’ t like whom , and that kind of thing .
What we were finding out is the audience wanted to know about the corruption that Hunter Biden committed in Ukraine .
They wanted to know about the different provisions of the Constitution that would relate to impeachment .
They wanted to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent this kind of abuse in the future .
These were very technical questions by people who were really , really tuned in and all too often don ’ t get their voices heard .
So we love looking at the podcast as a conversation .
Obviously , it ’ s an intimate , close , late-night conversation between me and the senator , but it ’ s also conversation with the audience .
And hearing from them is my favorite part of the show .
Del Guidice : That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great that they have a voice there .
So you ’ re here at CPAC , you ’ re speaking .
And the theme this year is socialism versus the American dream .
Why are you so passionate about this ?
Knowles : Socialism is a wicked evil ideology .
And , unfortunately , conservatives don ’ t use that kind of clear language too much .
The argument against socialism all too often is , “ Oh , it just doesn ’ t work that well .
Oh , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources .
Oh , it ’ s going to reduce the size of the economy.
” Who cares ?
Nobody is motivated to go vote because of arguments from efficiency .
The problem with socialism is that it is evil .
It is utterly antithetical to the American project .
It is antithetical to morality .
I speak as a Catholic .
The Catholic Church condemned socialism .
It said you can not be a socialist and a Christian .
They called it a wicked confederacy , pests , a plague that steals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who talked about this .
I think American conservatives , of all religious backgrounds , need to take on that kind of language .
Because look , if we have a Democratic president and my net worth decreases by 5 % and I got to pay more taxes , yeah , that ’ s awful .
I don ’ t want to do that .
But who cares ?
The real trouble is , they are robbing us of human dignity .
That system is so inhuman that it has to be opposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can all agree on in America , it ought to be to reject that vile ideology .
Del Guidice : That is an incredibly strong answer .
I appreciate it , Michael .
Thank you so much for being with us on The Daily Signal Podcast .
Knowles : Always great to talk to you .
Thank you .

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, recently launched a wildly popular podcast called “Verdict With Ted Cruz” in which he teams with Michael Knowles, host of “The Michael Knowles Show” podcast on The Daily Wire. Michael joins me today to give some behind-the-scenes perspective on “Verdict,” which began as a conversation about President Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial.
We also discuss why socialism is antithetical to the American dream. And we share a conversation that our colleague Virginia Allen had with filmmaker James O’Keefe, founder of Project Veritas, on ABC News and media bias.
We also cover these stories:
A federal judge rules that Ken Cuccinelli, acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, was unlawfully appointed by President Donald Trump.
The U.S. and the Taliban sign a peace deal to initiate a reduction in U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Coronavirus has killed six in the United States and over 3,000 have died from the disease worldwide.
The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Pippa, Google Play, or 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!
Rachel del Guidice: We’re joined today on The Daily Signal Podcast by Michael Knowles. He’s the host of “The Michael Knowles Show” on The Daily Wire. Michael, thank you so much for being with us today.
Michael Knowles: It’s so good to be back with you.
Del Guidice: Well, we’re glad to have you. So along with this show that you already host on Daily Wire, you’ve recently started a podcast with Sen. Ted Cruz called … “Verdict,” and you talk about impeachment and the whole impeachment push.
Can you tell us about how this came about? Obviously, it was impeachment, but how [did this come] about with you and Sen. Cruz?
Knowles: It was so fun because we had talked about doing a show with Sen. Cruz. We had talked about [it] in passing over dinner or things like that. Then impeachment happens. And the senator calls us and says, “We’re doing this show. Let’s fly out to D.C. We’re going to start this in two days.”
So we fly out, put a whole set together, put a whole crew together, do the show, and we think, “Look, it’ll be cool, historic, informative. I don’t know how many people are going to listen to it, but … ” because it would be so in the weeds about this government process.
No one was even watching impeachment, so much less a show about impeachment.
And then, to our great surprise, the thing takes off and it hits No. 1 on the charts within, I think, it was four days. And then it was there for two weeks or so.
People were really hungry for it. And what I think the reason for that is, is that people are a lot smarter than they get credit for.
So yeah, they’re tuning out the impeachment. Yeah, they’re tuning out cable news five-minute sound bites about the impeachment. That doesn’t mean they don’t want to know about their government. It actually means they want to go deeper and hear something beyond these hack talking points.
So the senator would come straight from the Capitol every night at 1 or 2 in the morning. We would sit in this random basement studio, and I think part of it was because we were so exhausted, we would have a really honest conversation. The senator would pull the curtain back a little bit on what was going on.
So we’re so pleased. I think it’s at about 4.5 million downloads now on just the first 10 or 12 episodes. And we’ve been keeping the show going. We filmed three, actually, since I’ve been in D.C. for the last 24 hours. And it’s been a blast. And we just did a live one here at CPAC [the Conservative Political Action Conference].
Del Guidice: That’s incredible. I didn’t realize you were recording so late at night after the hearings ended. What was that like to be able to discuss all of that as it was happening, right afterward? … It’s just a really cool environment to be able to do that in.
Knowles: It was one of a kind. It was a historic moment because, first of all, the senator’s got an engine like I’ve never seen. The guy does not sleep. And so he comes, he’s rearing to go.
But we would analyze what was happening on the floor. We would analyze what it all meant for the president. You know, you see it, but you’re getting a real close view. We would also then talk about what the cameras on C-SPAN didn’t pick up.
So we would talk about what’s happening in the cloak room, how he’s pulling this senator aside because [Rep.] Adam Schiff made this stupid comment, and that gives the Republicans an opening.
Then he’s talking to this person and … it’s all so much more relational. It’s all so much more real than I think we would imagine.
We think that impeachment was just … written up, it was scripted, it was always going to play out the way it was. What I found out just talking to the senator is, that’s not really the case. The individual personalities really matter here. And the individual personalities really matter in our politics.
Del Guidice: Sen. Cruz was at The Heritage Foundation a couple of months ago discussing this. He had mentioned how Democrats now, and you sort of alluded to this, are using impeachment now as a political weapon … And he said, “We won’t be surprised if, again, there’s a Republican president in a Democrat House that doesn’t appreciate what he’s doing or just politically doesn’t agree with it, that they’re going to go this route again.”
Did you all talk about that? And what is your perspective on that as well?
Knowles: Yeah. The Founding Fathers were very nervous about this. They feared that impeachment could be used in this way.
That’s why, as part of the big debate over the impeachment provision of the Constitution, there was an open question, should presidents be able to be impeached for maladministration, for just not doing a good job, because the Congress doesn’t like the cut of their jib?
And this was shot down. It was not in fact the case. Actually, to be impeached, you had to commit treason, or bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. And the Democratic House completely threw [that] out the window.
It was not only historic because it was the third impeachment in American history. It was the first totally partisan impeachment. There was no Republican who voted to impeach.
Later on, [Sen.] Mitt Romney got a little angry at the president, so he voted to convict. He was the only Republican to do that. But on the vote to impeach, it was purely partisan.
The trouble is, if you just have partisan impeachments in the future, then the executive becomes subservient to the House. The president, more or less, will just serve at the pleasure of the Congress. And then you get a Congress from the other party and they automatically impeach him.
I mean, that is a recipe for chaos. The Founders were deeply terrified of that. And the left seems to be pushing us ever closer to that very awful outcome.
Del Guidice: So, “Verdict,” you all take mailbag questions from your audience. What kinds of things were you hearing and what kinds of questions were you getting during this process?
Knowles: The questions were so sophisticated. But this is my main takeaway … when I say a big takeaway from the success is the people are smarter than they get credit for. You see it in the mailbag too.
Very often when you hear sound-bitey interviews about impeachment, it’s all just top-of-the-line, juicy, political, who doesn’t like whom, and that kind of thing.
What we were finding out is the audience wanted to know about the corruption that Hunter Biden committed in Ukraine. They wanted to know about the different provisions of the Constitution that would relate to impeachment. They wanted to know about how the law could be applied to prevent this kind of abuse in the future.
These were very technical questions by people who were really, really tuned in and all too often don’t get their voices heard.
So we love looking at the podcast as a conversation. Obviously, it’s an intimate, close, late-night conversation between me and the senator, but it’s also conversation with the audience. And hearing from them is my favorite part of the show.
Del Guidice: That’s pretty incredible. And it’s great that they have a voice there.
So you’re here at CPAC, you’re speaking. And the theme this year is socialism versus the American dream. Why are you so passionate about this?
Knowles: Socialism is a wicked evil ideology. And, unfortunately, conservatives don’t use that kind of clear language too much.
The argument against socialism all too often is, “Oh, it just doesn’t work that well. Oh, it’s not the most efficient way to allocate resources. Oh, it’s going to reduce the size of the economy.” Who cares? Nobody is motivated to go vote because of arguments from efficiency.
The problem with socialism is that it is evil. It is utterly antithetical to the American project. It is antithetical to morality.
I speak as a Catholic. The Catholic Church condemned socialism. It said you cannot be a socialist and a Christian. They called it a wicked confederacy, pests, a plague that steals the gospel itself. That was popes who talked about this.
I think American conservatives, of all religious backgrounds, need to take on that kind of language. Because look, if we have a Democratic president and my net worth decreases by 5% and I got to pay more taxes, yeah, that’s awful. I don’t want to do that. But who cares?
The real trouble is, they are robbing us of human dignity. That system is so inhuman that it has to be opposed. And if there’s anything we can all agree on in America, it ought to be to reject that vile ideology.
Del Guidice: That is an incredibly strong answer. I appreciate it, Michael. Thank you so much for being with us on The Daily Signal Podcast.
Knowles: Always great to talk to you. Thank you.


dailysignal--2020-03-03--4 Keys to Understanding History of Super Tuesday

Super Tuesday is typically the closest thing to a national primary election in the United States .
It got the “ super ” name with as many as 24 state contests and as few as three in a single day .
On March 3 this year , it falls somewhere in between as 14 states and American Samoa hold presidential contests .
Over the years , the states holding primaries on Super Tuesday have varied .
The 14 states holding primaries this Tuesday are Alabama , Arkansas , California , Colorado , Maine , Massachusetts , Minnesota , North Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Utah , Vermont , and Virginia .
Here are four keys to understanding the legacy of this single day in picking a president .
The origin of Super Tuesday actually has as many as four answers , depending on the source .
The New York Times first used the term during the 1976 presidential contests as a hyphenated “ super-Tuesday.
” That first Super Tuesday came when six primaries were held May 25 , according to the National Constitution Center .
It was the day that President Gerald Ford and his challenger , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each won three states as they fought it out for the Republican nomination .
The Democrats had a crowded field that year .
Eventually , Ford and former Georgia Gov .
Jimmy Carter won their parties ’ nominations .
“ When three southern states banded together in 1980 , that helped Jimmy Carter beat [ Sen. ] Ted Kennedy , ” said presidential historian Craig Shirley , whose most recent book is “ Mary Ball Washington : The Untold Story of George Washington ’ s Mother.
” In 1980 , one Super Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia held primaries March 11 .
The term Super Tuesday also was used to describe the final Tuesday in June , with voting in eight states that Kennedy unsuccessfully targeted for wins .
That year , Reagan beat a crowded Republican field to win the GOP nomination to take on Carter , who staved off a challenge from Kennedy for the Democratic nomination .
In 1984 , the term “ frontloading ” was used when nine states—Alabama , Florida , Georgia , Hawaii , Massachusetts , Nevada , Oklahoma , Rhode Island , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Former Vice President Walter Mondale eventually won the Democrats ’ nomination that year before losing 49 states to Reagan in November .
Southern Democrat governors and officeholders organized the modern Super Tuesday in 1988 to avoid a repeat of 1972 and 1984 , when the party nominated liberal candidates that lost 49 states .
“ Southern Democrats did not want another George McGovern , so to try to ensure a more centrist candidate , they pooled together to have southern primaries on the same day , ” Shirley said .
The Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee McGovern in the 1972 election .
In 1988 , then-Sen. Chuck Robb , D-Va. , said Super Tuesday was designed to reduce the “ Iowa syndrome , ” regarding too much emphasis from candidates on the Iowa caucuses .
A total of 20 states—12 in the South—held their primary on March 8 , 1988 : Alabama , Arkansas , Florida , Georgia , Hawaii , Idaho , Kentucky , Louisiana , Maryland , Massachusetts , Mississippi , Missouri , Nevada , North Carolina , Oklahoma , Rhode Island , Tennessee , Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The 1988 primaries were designed to help Al Gore , ” Shirley said , referring to the Tennessee Democrat , who was then in the Senate .
“ But Jesse Jackson and Al Gore ended up splitting the southern vote , and [ eventual Democratic nominee ] Michael Dukakis came through the middle.
” Eventually , numerous states from across the country jumped aboard for Super Tuesday , and it ’ s no longer a regional event , Shirley said .
“ Now it ’ s just a big mess , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or regional character , ” Shirley said .
That first Super Tuesday in 1988 was key in helping Vice President George H.W .
Bush stop whatever momentum Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas had gained from winning the Iowa caucuses .
Bush went on to thump Dukakis , the Massachusetts governor , in November .
“ In 1988 , Super Tuesday was definitive for both Republicans and Democrats , ” Shirley said .
It took four years , but Democrats on Super Tuesday , March 11 , 1992 , realized their intent of nominating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arkansas Gov .
Bill Clinton swept the southern Super Tuesday states .
Clinton went on to defeat Bush , the incumbent , in November .
This occurred after Clinton became a rare candidate to be nominated after losing contests in the earliest two states , Iowa and New Hampshire .
Only 11 states were part of Super Tuesday in 1992 , including some outside the South : Delaware , Florida , Hawaii , Louisiana , Massachusetts , Mississippi , Missouri , Oklahoma , Rhode Island , Tennessee , and Texas .
Dole , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1996 , swept all seven Super Tuesday states in 1996 , forcing most of the other Republican candidates to drop out , though Pat Buchanan held on a little longer .
The seven states voting that March 12 were Florida , Louisiana , Mississippi , Oklahoma , Oregon , Tennessee , and Texas .
Dole went on to lose to Clinton that November .
In 2000 , Texas Gov .
George W. Bush stopped any remaining hope Sen. John McCain of Arizona had of winning the GOP nomination .
Bush swept primaries in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of California and New York along with Connecticut , Georgia , Hawaii , Idaho , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , Minnesota , Missouri , North Dakota , Ohio , Rhode Island , Vermont , and Washington .
Gore , the eventual Democratic nominee , also won those states , and former Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey dropped out after not winning a single contest .
The year 2004 saw a mini-Super Tuesday with five states on Feb. 3 followed by a March 2 Super Tuesday II with 10 states .
Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oklahoma on Feb. 3 and all but Vermont on March 2 to secure the Democrats ’ nomination .
He lost to the incumbent Bush in November .
In more recent contests , going back to 2008 , it has been a tougher slog for presidential candidates that continues beyond Super Tuesday .
In 2008 , McCain essentially wrapped up the Republican nomination , winning nine of 21 states Feb. 5 .
However , former Massachusetts Gov .
Mitt Romney won seven states that night and former Arkansas Gov .
Mike Huckabee won five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much longer contest between Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois when Democrats had 23 contests Feb. 5 , resulting in a delegate deadlock when Clinton won 10 states and Obama won 13 .
In 2012 , Romney entered the GOP contest as the frontrunner , but couldn ’ t close the deal even on Super Tuesday .
He won six of the 10 contests March 6 , losing three to former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and one to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued their primaries after Super Tuesday when no candidate won a majority of convention delegates .
But , each contest gave a picture of where the nomination battle was going .
On March 1 , New York businessman Donald Trump won seven states , Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas won three , and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida won one .
That day , Hillary Clinton won eight states , while Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , won four .

Super Tuesday is typically the closest thing to a national primary election in the United States. It got the “super” name with as many as 24 state contests and as few as three in a single day.
On March 3 this year, it falls somewhere in between as 14 states and American Samoa hold presidential contests. Over the years, the states holding primaries on Super Tuesday have varied.
The 14 states holding primaries this Tuesday are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia.
Here are four keys to understanding the legacy of this single day in picking a president.
1. Casual References
The origin of Super Tuesday actually has as many as four answers, depending on the source.
The New York Times first used the term during the 1976 presidential contests as a hyphenated “super-Tuesday.”
That first Super Tuesday came when six primaries were held May 25, according to the National Constitution Center. It was the day that President Gerald Ford and his challenger, former California Gov. Ronald Reagan, each won three states as they fought it out for the Republican nomination.
The Democrats had a crowded field that year. Eventually, Ford and former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter won their parties’ nominations.
“When three southern states banded together in 1980, that helped Jimmy Carter beat [Sen.] Ted Kennedy,” said presidential historian Craig Shirley, whose most recent book is “Mary Ball Washington: The Untold Story of George Washington’s Mother.”
In 1980, one Super Tuesday occurred as Alabama, Florida, and Georgia held primaries March 11.
The term Super Tuesday also was used to describe the final Tuesday in June, with voting in eight states that Kennedy unsuccessfully targeted for wins.
That year, Reagan beat a crowded Republican field to win the GOP nomination to take on Carter, who staved off a challenge from Kennedy for the Democratic nomination.
In 1984, the term “frontloading” was used when nine states—Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Washington—held primaries in the Democratic nomination race.
Former Vice President Walter Mondale eventually won the Democrats’ nomination that year before losing 49 states to Reagan in November.
2. Super Tuesday Formalized
Southern Democrat governors and officeholders organized the modern Super Tuesday in 1988 to avoid a repeat of 1972 and 1984, when the party nominated liberal candidates that lost 49 states.
“Southern Democrats did not want another George McGovern, so to try to ensure a more centrist candidate, they pooled together to have southern primaries on the same day,” Shirley said.
The Republican incumbent, Richard Nixon, trounced Democratic nominee McGovern in the 1972 election.
In 1988, then-Sen. Chuck Robb, D-Va., said Super Tuesday was designed to reduce the “Iowa syndrome,” regarding too much emphasis from candidates on the Iowa caucuses.
A total of 20 states—12 in the South—held their primary on March 8, 1988: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington state.
“The 1988 primaries were designed to help Al Gore,” Shirley said, referring to the Tennessee Democrat, who was then in the Senate. “But Jesse Jackson and Al Gore ended up splitting the southern vote, and [eventual Democratic nominee] Michael Dukakis came through the middle.”
3. When Super Tuesday Was Decisive
Eventually, numerous states from across the country jumped aboard for Super Tuesday, and it’s no longer a regional event, Shirley said.
“Now it’s just a big mess, with California and Minnesota and no ideological harmony or regional character,” Shirley said.
That first Super Tuesday in 1988 was key in helping Vice President George H.W. Bush stop whatever momentum Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas had gained from winning the Iowa caucuses.
Bush went on to thump Dukakis, the Massachusetts governor, in November.
“In 1988, Super Tuesday was definitive for both Republicans and Democrats,” Shirley said.
It took four years, but Democrats on Super Tuesday, March 11, 1992, realized their intent of nominating a more moderate southern Democrat, when Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton swept the southern Super Tuesday states. Clinton went on to defeat Bush, the incumbent, in November.
This occurred after Clinton became a rare candidate to be nominated after losing contests in the earliest two states, Iowa and New Hampshire.
Only 11 states were part of Super Tuesday in 1992, including some outside the South: Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Texas.
Dole, facing a crowded Republican primary field in 1996, swept all seven Super Tuesday states in 1996, forcing most of the other Republican candidates to drop out, though Pat Buchanan held on a little longer.
The seven states voting that March 12 were Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas.
Dole went on to lose to Clinton that November.
In 2000, Texas Gov. George W. Bush stopped any remaining hope Sen. John McCain of Arizona had of winning the GOP nomination.
Bush swept primaries in 16 states, including the mega-delegate states of California and New York along with Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
Gore, the eventual Democratic nominee, also won those states, and former Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey dropped out after not winning a single contest.
The year 2004 saw a mini-Super Tuesday with five states on Feb. 3 followed by a March 2 Super Tuesday II with 10 states.
Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts won all but Oklahoma on Feb. 3 and all but Vermont on March 2 to secure the Democrats’ nomination. He lost to the incumbent Bush in November.
4. Split Super Tuesday Decisions
In more recent contests, going back to 2008, it has been a tougher slog for presidential candidates that continues beyond Super Tuesday.
In 2008, McCain essentially wrapped up the Republican nomination, winning nine of 21 states Feb. 5. However, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won seven states that night and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee won five.
So the Republican primaries continued.
The Democrats were in for a much longer contest between Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois when Democrats had 23 contests Feb. 5, resulting in a delegate deadlock when Clinton won 10 states and Obama won 13.
Obama defeated McCain in the general election.
In 2012, Romney entered the GOP contest as the frontrunner, but couldn’t close the deal even on Super Tuesday. He won six of the 10 contests March 6, losing three to former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and one to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia.
In 2016, Republicans and Democrats both continued their primaries after Super Tuesday when no candidate won a majority of convention delegates. But, each contest gave a picture of where the nomination battle was going.
On March 1, New York businessman Donald Trump won seven states, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas won three, and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida won one.
That day, Hillary Clinton won eight states, while Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., won four.


dailysignal--2020-03-03--8 From Gen Z Share Why They Went to the Nation’s Biggest Annual Conservative Gathering

Why do young people flock to the annual Conservative Political Action Conference just outside the nation ’ s capital ?
Here ’ s what eight young Americans in Generation Z told The Daily Signal during this year ’ s CPAC , held Thursday through Saturday in National Harbor , Maryland .
High school sophomore Virginia Warren had a personal connection to the 2020 Conservative Political Action Conference ’ s theme of “ America vs. Socialism.
” She was born in Canada , and her family experienced firsthand the consequences of socialized medicine .
“ Seeing that type of government firsthand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , inspired me to pursue conservatism , ” Warren said .
“ My grandma fell one night and had an actual wound in her head that was bleeding , but she didn ’ t get care until hours later .
If you walk into a Social Security office , that ’ s what their health care is like.
” Since immigrating here when she was 3 and obtaining her American citizenship in 2016 , Warren has been involved in the conservative movement .
She ’ s part of her school ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her friend , senior Kate Farmer .
“ [ CPAC ] is our big rally day , where we get to be in the majority , ” Farmer said .
“ It gets us energized and motivates us to spread conservatism in a school that doesn ’ t always like to hear it.
” This year marks Farmer ’ s fourth CPAC , which she attended with 30 of her classmates .
The American Conservative Union organizes CPAC , the largest annual national gathering of conservative activists , held again again this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center .
“ I think what keeps my conservatism so strong is actually being surrounded by the left , ” Farmer said .
“ Going to school with the left all around me makes me want to be conservative more.
” For Grace Dwyer , who this year attended CPAC for the third time , fighting for her conservative principles is something she does on a daily basis at her all-girls private school in D. C. Dwyer , now a senior , started a conservative group at school sophomore year with one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekly to discuss issues in the Trump administration and other current events .
The club now has 60 members .
Their club is energized , Dwyer said , when she and other members attend CPAC .
“ It really brings up your hopes about the conservative movement , ” Dwyer said .
Among her favorite speakers at the conference were conservative activist Candace Owens , Vice President Mike Pence , Fox Nation hosts Diamond and Silk , and Rep. Matt Gaetz , R-Fla. Those speakers addressed the younger generation of attendees specifically , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest of the club .
“ Seeing Vice President Pence ’ s speech [ Thursday ] was amazing , ” she said .
“ It ’ s strengthening to come here and see all these people from different communities come and support .
Everyone chanting ‘ USA ’ and everything , it ’ s such a great experience.
” In the thick of those wearing “ Socialism Sucks ” and “ USA ” buttons and matching T-shirts was Parker Boggs , a Turning Point USA ambassador whose work with the organization began over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became active in the conservative movement in July , when he attended Turning Point ’ s Teen Student Action Summit and learned more about efforts to counter illegal immigration .
That ’ s now one of his most important issues , and he considers building a border wall between Mexico and the U.S. to be a necessity .
He also chooses to be a conservative because of his pro-life beliefs .
Due to his Christian faith , Boggs said , he believes people should choose life in almost all cases .
The left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t respect women ’ s bodies , Boggs said .
“ I ’ ve heard that narrative for so long , that a lot of women think they should be a part of the leftist movement because the Republicans want to control their bodies .
But that ’ s really not true , ” he said .
“ They ’ re protecting the body that ’ s inside them.
” Referencing the theme of CPAC 2020 , “ America vs. Socialism , ” Boggs said that because few young people fully understand why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be “ free , ” they buy into the promises of those on the left such as Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , a self-proclaimed democratic socialist .
“ The word ‘ free ’ got thrown around .
You might be getting free education , free health care , but it ’ s literally going to go back into your taxes , ” Boggs said .
“ Young people don ’ t understand that it will tank the economy.
” Self-described free thinker Anderson said she feels at home at CPAC .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 21-year-old James Madison University student .
“ Some people go to Comic-Con or other things , but this is it for me , so I ’ m really excited to be here.
” “ When it comes to the left ’ s agenda , they really try to push it on young people .
For me , I think for myself , I ’ m a free thinker , and I ’ m independent .
I really enjoy researching things for myself , ” she said .
Anderson ’ s advice to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushed by leftist politicians and the mainstream media .
Instead , she said , young Americans should find out the real story behind important issues , such as socialism and abortion , through their own research .
“ Socialism is not a good idea , and people need to wake up and stop listening to the politicians who glamorize it , ” she said .
“ Research what socialism has done to countries , and you ’ ll find the real answers .
Where the Democratic Party is going is not ideal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ T.J. Hawald says he has been coming to CPAC since he was 9 years old .
He has attended five times since then , missing only one year , when he was 10 .
And even though he accompanies his father , he said that he ’ s the one who wants to attend .
Hawald said his education is what inspired him to join the conservative movement .
“ Everyone in my school is really far left .
All my teachers poison my other friends , and I don ’ t really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in charge .
They choose what you ’ re learning , ” he said .
CPAC is a star-studded event to Hawald .
He carries around an autograph book with him in case he runs into any of his favorite speakers .
This year stood out because he saw Rick Harrison , a star of the History Channel show “ Pawn Stars , ” and was able to get his signature .
Major : French and political science , training to be a teacher For Victoria Spiotto , CPAC is a place where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action .
“ I love CPAC because you can be standing anywhere and see someone who ’ s doing something really grand in the conservative movement , ” the UVA senior said .
When asked why so many in her generation are attracted to socialism , Spiotto said she thinks it ’ s because socialism relies on emotional appeals used in higher education .
“ Universities teach a lot about power structures , disenfranchisement , and victimhood , which all together play off people ’ s emotions , ” Spiotto said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not off the results of having dialogue and good discussion and academic integrity .
People aren ’ t exposed to good ideas because they don ’ t want to hear things that contradict whatever it is they ’ re emotionally attached to.
” She said she prefers conservative public policies because they “ promote ideas , not identity politics.
” “ The left wants a monopoly on certain demographics because they use very simplistic terms , like gender and race , to categorize people into voting blocs so they can pander to them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s actually quite pathetic.
” Matt Colpitts was one of many young Republicans at CPAC , but is one of only a few members of the Young Republicans club at his high school .
As a young person in the conservative movement , Colpitts said it ’ s important for students to talk about their ideas .
The Democratic Party thrives on young people speaking out as activists , but those on the right don ’ t seem as vocal , he said .
“ I know that I have friends who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t really talk about it because they know they ’ re in the minority , ” he said .
The place where he and his friends spend a significant amount of time , their high school , is left-leaning , Colpitts said .
Teachers whose ideas fall on the right side of the spectrum don ’ t voice their views either , he said .
He only knows that they have different ideas , he said , based on their encouragement of his club .
Colpitts said only a few of the 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CPAC .
“ It ’ s an interesting place to be , ” he said of the annual conference .
“ It ’ s a learning experience .
”

Why do young people flock to the annual Conservative Political Action Conference just outside the nation’s capital?
Here’s what eight young Americans in Generation Z told The Daily Signal during this year’s CPAC, held Thursday through Saturday in National Harbor, Maryland.
(Photos: Virginia Aabram/The Daily Signal)
Kate Farmer, 18, and Virginia Warren, 16
Hometown: Richmond, Virginia
School: Maggie Walker Governor’s School
High school sophomore Virginia Warren had a personal connection to the 2020 Conservative Political Action Conference’s theme of “America vs. Socialism.” She was born in Canada, and her family experienced firsthand the consequences of socialized medicine.
“Seeing that type of government firsthand, and how ineffective their health care is, inspired me to pursue conservatism,” Warren said. “My grandma fell one night and had an actual wound in her head that was bleeding, but she didn’t get care until hours later. If you walk into a Social Security office, that’s what their health care is like.”
Since immigrating here when she was 3 and obtaining her American citizenship in 2016, Warren has been involved in the conservative movement. She’s part of her school’s Young Republicans club, currently headed by her friend, senior Kate Farmer.
“[CPAC] is our big rally day, where we get to be in the majority,” Farmer said. “It gets us energized and motivates us to spread conservatism in a school that doesn’t always like to hear it.”
This year marks Farmer’s fourth CPAC, which she attended with 30 of her classmates. The American Conservative Union organizes CPAC, the largest annual national gathering of conservative activists, held again again this year at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.
“I think what keeps my conservatism so strong is actually being surrounded by the left,” Farmer said. “Going to school with the left all around me makes me want to be conservative more.”
Grace Dwyer, 17
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
School: Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
For Grace Dwyer, who this year attended CPAC for the third time, fighting for her conservative principles is something she does on a daily basis at her all-girls private school in D. C.
Dwyer, now a senior, started a conservative group at school sophomore year with one of her friends. Their Constitution Club meets weekly to discuss issues in the Trump administration and other current events. The club now has 60 members.
Their club is energized, Dwyer said, when she and other members attend CPAC.
“It really brings up your hopes about the conservative movement,” Dwyer said.
Among her favorite speakers at the conference were conservative activist Candace Owens, Vice President Mike Pence, Fox Nation hosts Diamond and Silk, and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. Those speakers addressed the younger generation of attendees specifically, which Dwyer said excited her and the rest of the club.
“Seeing Vice President Pence’s speech [Thursday] was amazing,” she said. “It’s strengthening to come here and see all these people from different communities come and support. Everyone chanting ‘USA’ and everything, it’s such a great experience.”
Parker Boggs, 18
Hometown: Parksley, Virginia
School: Broadwater Academy
In the thick of those wearing “Socialism Sucks” and “USA” buttons and matching T-shirts was Parker Boggs, a Turning Point USA ambassador whose work with the organization began over the summer.
Boggs said he first became active in the conservative movement in July, when he attended Turning Point’s Teen Student Action Summit and learned more about efforts to counter illegal immigration. That’s now one of his most important issues, and he considers building a border wall between Mexico and the U.S. to be a necessity.
He also chooses to be a conservative because of his pro-life beliefs. Due to his Christian faith, Boggs said, he believes people should choose life in almost all cases.
The left pushes a narrative that conservatives don’t respect women’s bodies, Boggs said.
“I’ve heard that narrative for so long, that a lot of women think they should be a part of the leftist movement because the Republicans want to control their bodies. But that’s really not true,” he said. “They’re protecting the body that’s inside them.”
Referencing the theme of CPAC 2020, “America vs. Socialism,” Boggs said that because few young people fully understand why a service or product can’t be “free,” they buy into the promises of those on the left such as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a self-proclaimed democratic socialist.
“The word ‘free’ got thrown around. You might be getting free education, free health care, but it’s literally going to go back into your taxes,” Boggs said. “Young people don’t understand that it will tank the economy.”
Maya Anderson, 21
Hometown: Richmond, Virginia
School: James Madison University
Major: Political Science
Self-described free thinker Anderson said she feels at home at CPAC.
“This is MY convention,” said the 21-year-old James Madison University student. “Some people go to Comic-Con or other things, but this is it for me, so I’m really excited to be here.”
“When it comes to the left’s agenda, they really try to push it on young people. For me, I think for myself, I’m a free thinker, and I’m independent. I really enjoy researching things for myself,” she said.
Anderson’s advice to her generation is to ignore the narrative pushed by leftist politicians and the mainstream media. Instead, she said, young Americans should find out the real story behind important issues, such as socialism and abortion, through their own research.
“Socialism is not a good idea, and people need to wake up and stop listening to the politicians who glamorize it,” she said. “Research what socialism has done to countries, and you’ll find the real answers. Where the Democratic Party is going is not ideal, and it’s not American.”
T.J. Hawald, 14
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia
School: Saint Agnes Catholic School
T.J. Hawald says he has been coming to CPAC since he was 9 years old.
He has attended five times since then, missing only one year, when he was 10. And even though he accompanies his father, he said that he’s the one who wants to attend.
Hawald said his education is what inspired him to join the conservative movement.
“Everyone in my school is really far left. All my teachers poison my other friends, and I don’t really like that. Teachers should not be in charge. They choose what you’re learning,” he said.
CPAC is a star-studded event to Hawald. He carries around an autograph book with him in case he runs into any of his favorite speakers. This year stood out because he saw Rick Harrison, a star of the History Channel show “Pawn Stars,” and was able to get his signature.
Victoria Spiotto, 21
Hometown: Ashburn, Virginia
School: University of Virginia
Major: French and political science, training to be a teacher
For Victoria Spiotto, CPAC is a place where she can see the conservative movement in action.
“I love CPAC because you can be standing anywhere and see someone who’s doing something really grand in the conservative movement,” the UVA senior said.
When asked why so many in her generation are attracted to socialism, Spiotto said she thinks it’s because socialism relies on emotional appeals used in higher education.
“Universities teach a lot about power structures, disenfranchisement, and victimhood, which all together play off people’s emotions,” Spiotto said. “Socialist policies also play off emotion, not off the results of having dialogue and good discussion and academic integrity. People aren’t exposed to good ideas because they don’t want to hear things that contradict whatever it is they’re emotionally attached to.”
She said she prefers conservative public policies because they “promote ideas, not identity politics.”
“The left wants a monopoly on certain demographics because they use very simplistic terms, like gender and race, to categorize people into voting blocs so they can pander to them,” Spiotto said. “It’s actually quite pathetic.”
Matt Colpitts, 17
Hometown: Simsbury, Connecticut
School: Simsbury High School
Matt Colpitts was one of many young Republicans at CPAC, but is one of only a few members of the Young Republicans club at his high school.
As a young person in the conservative movement, Colpitts said it’s important for students to talk about their ideas. The Democratic Party thrives on young people speaking out as activists, but those on the right don’t seem as vocal, he said.
“I know that I have friends who are right wing who just don’t really talk about it because they know they’re in the minority,” he said.
The place where he and his friends spend a significant amount of time, their high school, is left-leaning, Colpitts said.
Teachers whose ideas fall on the right side of the spectrum don’t voice their views either, he said. He only knows that they have different ideas, he said, based on their encouragement of his club.
Colpitts said only a few of the 11 active club members at school came to CPAC.
“It’s an interesting place to be,” he said of the annual conference. “It’s a learning experience.”
This report has been modified to correct what school T.J. Hawald attends.