truepundit--2020-12-07--Biden Jokes About Faking An Illness And Resigning

President-elect Joe Biden joked Thursday about faking an illness and resigning from office over political disagreements .
Biden told CNN Anchor Jake Tapper on CNN ’ s “ Cuomo Prime Time ” that working with Harris hasn ’ t held “ any surprise ” since they ’ ve previously spoken about it .
Biden told Tapper “ I understand how campaigns can sometimes get a little out of wack a little bit ” and he said he doesn ’ t “ hold grudges.
” “ So I don ’ t have — when we disagree , it will be just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been just like Barack and I did .
It ’ s in private .
She ’ ll say I think we should do A , B , C , or D. And I ’ ll say I like A , don ’ t like B and C. And let ’ s go okay , ” Biden said .
“ And like I told Barack , if I read something where there ’ s a fundamental disagreement we have based on a moral principle , I ’ ll develop some disease and say I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tapper .
Harris criticized Biden during the Democratic 2020 Debate last June about his busing policy positions and what he has previously said about segregationists .
The president-elect said he and Harris “ are simpatico ” regarding their governing philosophy .
Biden said he and Harris have talked extensively about their views on multiple policy areas including foreign policy , domestic policy , intelligence .
The Biden transition team didn ’ t immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment .

President-elect Joe Biden joked Thursday about faking an illness and resigning from office over political disagreements.
Biden told CNN Anchor Jake Tapper on CNN’s “Cuomo Prime Time” that working with Harris hasn’t held “any surprise” since they’ve previously spoken about it. Biden told Tapper “I understand how campaigns can sometimes get a little out of wack a little bit” and he said he doesn’t “hold grudges.”
“So I don’t have — when we disagree, it will be just like — so far it’s been just like Barack and I did. It’s in private. She’ll say I think we should do A, B, C, or D. And I’ll say I like A, don’t like B and C. And let’s go okay,” Biden said.
“And like I told Barack, if I read something where there’s a fundamental disagreement we have based on a moral principle, I’ll develop some disease and say I have to resign,” Biden told Tapper.
Harris criticized Biden during the Democratic 2020 Debate last June about his busing policy positions and what he has previously said about segregationists.
The president-elect said he and Harris “are simpatico” regarding their governing philosophy. Biden said he and Harris have talked extensively about their views on multiple policy areas including foreign policy, domestic policy, intelligence.
The Biden transition team didn’t immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.


truepundit--2020-12-07--Durham Seeks Jail Time For Ex-FBI Lawyer Who Altered CIA Email About Carter Page

U.S. Attorney John Durham is seeking a prison sentence of up to six months for Kevin Clinesmith , the former FBI lawyer who pleaded guilty to altering an email from the CIA regarding former Trump campaign aide Carter Page ’ s past relationship with the spy agency .
Durham asked a federal judge in a court filing on Thursday to sentence Clinesmith to a jail term “ between the middle and upper end ” of what federal sentencing guidelines recommend for the crime of making false statements in writing .
Clinesmith pleaded guilty to the charge on Aug. 19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a ‘ source ’ ” to a June 2017 email from a CIA employee who had provided information about Page ’ s relationship with the agency .
Page served as an “ operational contact ” for the CIA from 2008 to 2013 .
Clinesmith , who worked in the FBI ’ s National Cyber Law Branch , assisted the bureau ’ s Crossfire Hurricane team in its investigation into the Trump campaign ’ s possible ties to the Russian government .
As part of his legal work , Clinesmith contacted the CIA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spy agency .
Clinesmith , who also worked on the special counsel ’ s team , forwarded his altered email to an FBI analyst who was putting together an application to renew a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) warrant against Page .
Clinesmith ’ s email edit was discovered by the Justice Department office of the inspector general , which investigated the FBI ’ s FISA warrants against Page , as well as the validity of the Crossfire Hurricane probe .
A report from the IG said that the FBI made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in FISA warrants against Page .
The IG report said that the CIA had initially told the Crossfire Hurricane team in August 2016 about Page ’ s work as an “ operational contact.
” The agents who received that information failed to include it in the initial FISA application against Page , which was approved on Oct. 21 , 2016 .
Clinesmith told the IG that the FBI finding out that Page was a source for the CIA would have “ drastically ” changed how the bureau handled the FISA applications .
Durham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was aware of the significance of Page ’ s relationship with the CIA .
Clinesmith told the IG that the FBI and Justice Department ’ s office of intelligence had a “ big , big concern ” that investigators may have targeted a CIA source .
“ That should never happen without us knowing about it.
” Clinesmith is seeking a sentence of probation with no jail time , according to a filing his lawyers submitted on Thursday .
His attorneys said that Clinesmith “ made a grievous mistake ” in altering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” for his actions .
They maintain that Clinesmith “ did not knowingly lie ” about Page ’ s relationship with the CIA .
Durham asserts that Clinesmith may have been motivated to alter the email due to “ political or personal bias ” against Donald Trump and his campaign .
Durham pointed to a Justice Department inspector general ’ s report on the FBI ’ s investigation of Hillary Clinton ’ s use of a private server which flagged texts messages that Clinesmith sent criticizing Trump after his election win .
Clinesmith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one message that seemingly referenced the so-called Trump Resistance that formed after his election win .

U.S. Attorney John Durham is seeking a prison sentence of up to six months for Kevin Clinesmith, the former FBI lawyer who pleaded guilty to altering an email from the CIA regarding former Trump campaign aide Carter Page’s past relationship with the spy agency.
Durham asked a federal judge in a court filing on Thursday to sentence Clinesmith to a jail term “between the middle and upper end” of what federal sentencing guidelines recommend for the crime of making false statements in writing.
Clinesmith pleaded guilty to the charge on Aug. 19. He admitted to adding the phrase “not a ‘source’” to a June 2017 email from a CIA employee who had provided information about Page’s relationship with the agency.
Page served as an “operational contact” for the CIA from 2008 to 2013.
Clinesmith, who worked in the FBI’s National Cyber Law Branch, assisted the bureau’s Crossfire Hurricane team in its investigation into the Trump campaign’s possible ties to the Russian government. As part of his legal work, Clinesmith contacted the CIA regarding Page’s association with the spy agency.
Clinesmith, who also worked on the special counsel’s team, forwarded his altered email to an FBI analyst who was putting together an application to renew a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant against Page.
Clinesmith’s email edit was discovered by the Justice Department office of the inspector general, which investigated the FBI’s FISA warrants against Page, as well as the validity of the Crossfire Hurricane probe.
A report from the IG said that the FBI made 17 “significant” errors and omissions in FISA warrants against Page.
The IG report said that the CIA had initially told the Crossfire Hurricane team in August 2016 about Page’s work as an “operational contact.” The agents who received that information failed to include it in the initial FISA application against Page, which was approved on Oct. 21, 2016.
Clinesmith told the IG that the FBI finding out that Page was a source for the CIA would have “drastically” changed how the bureau handled the FISA applications.
Durham asserted in his court filing that Clinesmith was aware of the significance of Page’s relationship with the CIA.
Clinesmith told the IG that the FBI and Justice Department’s office of intelligence had a “big, big concern” that investigators may have targeted a CIA source.
“That should never happen without us knowing about it.”
Clinesmith is seeking a sentence of probation with no jail time, according to a filing his lawyers submitted on Thursday. His attorneys said that Clinesmith “made a grievous mistake” in altering the email, and “accepts full responsibility” for his actions.
They maintain that Clinesmith “did not knowingly lie” about Page’s relationship with the CIA. Durham asserts that Clinesmith may have been motivated to alter the email due to “political or personal bias” against Donald Trump and his campaign.
Durham pointed to a Justice Department inspector general’s report on the FBI’s investigation of Hillary Clinton’s use of a private server which flagged texts messages that Clinesmith sent criticizing Trump after his election win.
Clinesmith wrote “Viva le Resistance” in one message that seemingly referenced the so-called Trump Resistance that formed after his election win.


truepundit--2020-12-07--Economic Recovery Slows, US Adds Just 245,000 Jobs In November

The U.S. economy added 245,000 jobs in November , far below economists ’ expectations , while unemployment fell to 6.7 % , according to Department of Labor data released Friday .
Total non-farm payroll employment rose by 245,000 in November , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics report , and the number of unemployed persons fell by 400,000 to 10.7 million .
The U.S. added 638,000 jobs in October while the unemployment rate dropped to 6.9 % .
“ As infection rates go down , as the number of people vaccinated goes up , then we ’ ll start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate , and we will see the employment numbers pick up more strongly , ” Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. chief economist David Berson told The Wall Street Journal .
Economists projected 440,000 Americans to be added to payrolls and the unemployment rate to drop to 6.7 % prior to Friday ’ s report , according to the WSJ .
In August , the unemployment rate fell below 10 % for the first time since April when the rate reached 14.7 % .
While the coronavirus pandemic continues to hurt businesses nationwide , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % in the third quarter as businesses started opening up again , according to a Oct. 29 Department of Commerce report .
Average coronavirus cases and deaths per million have been increasing steadily in the U.S. since mid-October , according to The COVID Tracking Project .
On Thursday , the U.S. reported 2,706 new coronavirus-related deaths and 210,161 new cases while 100,667 Americans remained hospitalized from the virus .
The stock market has surged since President-elect Joe Biden was declared the winner of the Nov. 3 election by several media organizations including The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market ’ s performance is due to positive large-scale human trial vaccine results and Biden ’ s announcement that he would appoint former Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen to lead the Treasury Department .
There is also renewed hope that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will push for a coronavirus stimulus package before the end of the year , according to CNBC .
McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi resumed negotiations on Thursday .

The U.S. economy added 245,000 jobs in November, far below economists’ expectations, while unemployment fell to 6.7%, according to Department of Labor data released Friday.
Total non-farm payroll employment rose by 245,000 in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics report, and the number of unemployed persons fell by 400,000 to 10.7 million. The U.S. added 638,000 jobs in October while the unemployment rate dropped to 6.9%.
“As infection rates go down, as the number of people vaccinated goes up, then we’ll start to see…business activity expand at a faster rate, and we will see the employment numbers pick up more strongly,” Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. chief economist David Berson told The Wall Street Journal.
Economists projected 440,000 Americans to be added to payrolls and the unemployment rate to drop to 6.7% prior to Friday’s report, according to the WSJ. In August, the unemployment rate fell below 10% for the first time since April when the rate reached 14.7%.
While the coronavirus pandemic continues to hurt businesses nationwide, the U.S. economy grew by a record 33.1% in the third quarter as businesses started opening up again, according to a Oct. 29 Department of Commerce report.
Average coronavirus cases and deaths per million have been increasing steadily in the U.S. since mid-October, according to The COVID Tracking Project. On Thursday, the U.S. reported 2,706 new coronavirus-related deaths and 210,161 new cases while 100,667 Americans remained hospitalized from the virus.
The stock market has surged since President-elect Joe Biden was declared the winner of the Nov. 3 election by several media organizations including The Associated Press and Fox News. The market’s performance is due to positive large-scale human trial vaccine results and Biden’s announcement that he would appoint former Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen to lead the Treasury Department.
There is also renewed hope that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will push for a coronavirus stimulus package before the end of the year, according to CNBC. McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi resumed negotiations on Thursday.


truepundit--2020-12-07--Supreme Court Ruling Sends A Message Churches Can’t Be Treated Like ‘Second Class’ Citizens, Legal E

Supreme Court Ruling Sends A Message Churches Can’t Be Treated Like ‘Second Class’ Citizens, Legal Experts Say

• Last week ’ s Supreme Court ruling against New York ’ s restrictions on religious organizations sends a message that churches may not be treated as second class citizens , legal experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation .
• The Supreme Court sided with religious organizations challenging Cuomo ’ s coronavirus restrictions the night before Thanksgiving , calling the New York Democrat ’ s measures “ discriminatory ” in its injunction for emergency relief .
• It was the first time Justice Amy Coney Barrett was a deciding factor as the court ’ s newest justice after replacing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crisis Network ’ s Carrie Severino said it showed “ the critical importance of Justice Barrett ’ s confirmation.
” Last week ’ s Supreme Court ruling against New York ’ s restrictions on religious organizations sends a message that churches may not be treated as second class citizens , legal experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation .
The Supreme Court sided with religious organizations challenging Cuomo ’ s coronavirus restrictions the night before Thanksgiving , calling the New York Democrat ’ s measures “ discriminatory ” in its injunction for emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amy Coney Barrett , sided with religious organizations in the 5-4 ruling , while Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal justices .
It was the first time Barrett was a deciding factor as the court ’ s newest justice after replacing the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg — and Judicial Crisis Network President Carrie Severino said it showed “ the critical importance of Justice Barrett ’ s confirmation.
” Cuomo ’ s restrictions limited the number of people who can attend religious services to 10 in areas where the threat of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or synagogue ’ s capacity .
In areas with slightly less risk , attendance is limited to 25 people .
“ The Court ’ s majority made clear that the First Amendment ’ s Free Exercise clause is not to be carelessly trampled upon but rather vigorously protected , ” Judicial Crisis Network ’ s Carrie Severino told the DCNF .
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty represented the religious organizations in asking the Supreme Court to consider whether Cuomo ’ s executive order violated the Free Exercise Clause when it “ disfavors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who issued it made clear through unambiguous statements that the order was targeted at a religious minority ’ s practices and traditions.
” Becket counsel Joe Davis noted to the DCNF that the ruling was important not only in regards to coronavirus restrictions on religious freedom , but also for religious freedom more broadly .
“ This is really the court laying down a marker that the First Amendment does not go away even in the circumstances of this pandemic , ” Davis told the DCNF , noting that this is something that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March .
“ You can ’ t tell people they have to stay home from church but they can shop , ” Davis said .
Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Ryan Tucker also emphasized the disparity between restrictions on houses of worship and restrictions on other businesses , calling it not only “ nonsensical ” but also “ unconstitutional ” that “ individuals can gather in places that governors deem essential but those same people can ’ t gather in a religious gathering as well.
” The ruling sends a message to governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t treat the church like a second class citizen , ” Tucker added .
In deciding to grant the temporary injunction relieving the religious organizations from Cuomo ’ s restrictions , the justices looked at how Cuomo ’ s restrictions might cause irreparable harm to the religious organizations , Heritage Foundation ’ s Emilie Kao told the DCNF .
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn had also filed an emergency application against Cuomo in November , writing that Cuomo ’ s order “ expressly singles out ‘ houses of worship ’ by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secular businesses .
Kao noted that one instance of irreparable harm that the justices noted was the impact of Cuomo ’ s restrictions on daily Catholic masses .

Last week’s Supreme Court ruling against New York’s restrictions on religious organizations sends a message that churches may not be treated as second class citizens, legal experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The Supreme Court sided with religious organizations challenging Cuomo’s coronavirus restrictions the night before Thanksgiving, calling the New York Democrat’s measures “discriminatory” in its injunction for emergency relief.
It was the first time Justice Amy Coney Barrett was a deciding factor as the court’s newest justice after replacing the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Judicial Crisis Network’s Carrie Severino said it showed “the critical importance of Justice Barrett’s confirmation.”
Last week’s Supreme Court ruling against New York’s restrictions on religious organizations sends a message that churches may not be treated as second class citizens, legal experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The Supreme Court sided with religious organizations challenging Cuomo’s coronavirus restrictions the night before Thanksgiving, calling the New York Democrat’s measures “discriminatory” in its injunction for emergency relief.
Conservative justices, including Justice Amy Coney Barrett, sided with religious organizations in the 5-4 ruling, while Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal justices. It was the first time Barrett was a deciding factor as the court’s newest justice after replacing the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg — and Judicial Crisis Network President Carrie Severino said it showed “the critical importance of Justice Barrett’s confirmation.”
Cuomo’s restrictions limited the number of people who can attend religious services to 10 in areas where the threat of coronavirus is highest, regardless of a church or synagogue’s capacity. In areas with slightly less risk, attendance is limited to 25 people.
“The Court’s majority made clear that the First Amendment’s Free Exercise clause is not to be carelessly trampled upon but rather vigorously protected,” Judicial Crisis Network’s Carrie Severino told the DCNF.
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty represented the religious organizations in asking the Supreme Court to consider whether Cuomo’s executive order violated the Free Exercise Clause when it “disfavors worship” and “when the official who issued it made clear through unambiguous statements that the order was targeted at a religious minority’s practices and traditions.”
Becket counsel Joe Davis noted to the DCNF that the ruling was important not only in regards to coronavirus restrictions on religious freedom, but also for religious freedom more broadly.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo responds to Supreme Court blocking restrictions on houses of worship: “We know who he appointed to the court, we know their ideology.” pic.twitter.com/XJhp96LBfK — The Hill (@thehill) November 27, 2020
“This is really the court laying down a marker that the First Amendment does not go away even in the circumstances of this pandemic,” Davis told the DCNF, noting that this is something that has been questioned in legal rulings since March.
“You can’t tell people they have to stay home from church but they can shop,” Davis said.
Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Ryan Tucker also emphasized the disparity between restrictions on houses of worship and restrictions on other businesses, calling it not only “nonsensical” but also “unconstitutional” that “individuals can gather in places that governors deem essential but those same people can’t gather in a religious gathering as well.”
The ruling sends a message to governors and other officials that “they can’t treat the church like a second class citizen,” Tucker added.
In deciding to grant the temporary injunction relieving the religious organizations from Cuomo’s restrictions, the justices looked at how Cuomo’s restrictions might cause irreparable harm to the religious organizations, Heritage Foundation’s Emilie Kao told the DCNF.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn had also filed an emergency application against Cuomo in November, writing that Cuomo’s order “expressly singles out ‘houses of worship’ by that name for adverse treatment relative to secular businesses.
Kao noted that one instance of irreparable harm that the justices noted was the impact of Cuomo’s restrictions on daily Catholic masses.
“Unlike Cuomo,” she said of the justices, “they looked at the restrictions, caps, the size of the buildings.” Synagogues and cathedrals hold upwards of 1,000 people, Kao noted, and the “arbitrary” limits on the number of those who could gather to worship were “totally unrelated to the size of the buildings.” Kao, who is the Heritage Foundation’s director of the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Religion & Civil Society, emphasized that the ruling will probably influence lower courts, setting the tone for future cases on COVID restrictions and religious freedom. “There’s a lot of reasons for optimism from the court’s opinion,” Kao added, “but it is a temporary injunction, so it’s not a final decision as to the litigants, but a very encouraging development.” On Thursday, the Supreme Court also ruled against Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s restrictions on worship services during the coronavirus pandemic. Justices tossed out an order from a Central District of California court that had upheld Newsom’s restrictions on houses of worship, CBS News reported Thursday. In light of last week’s Supreme Court ruling, the justices sent the dispute back to a lower court for further review.


truepundit--2020-12-07--Intel Chief: China Targeting Members Of Congress As Part Of ‘Massive Influence Campaign’

John Ratcliffe , the director of national intelligence , said Thursday that the Chinese government is targeting multiple members of Congress as part of a “ massive ” foreign influence campaign .
In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal , Ratcliffe said that Beijing is targeting lawmakers with six times the frequency of Russia and 12 times more than the government of Iran .
“ This year China engaged in a massive influence campaign that included targeting several dozen members of Congress and congressional aides , ” Ratcliffe wrote in the op-ed , entitled “ China Is National Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence shows that Beijing regularly directs this type of influence operation in the U.S. , ” he wrote , noting that he has briefed the House and Senate Intelligence Committees “ that China is targeting members of Congress with six times the frequency of Russia and 12 times the frequency of Iran.
” Ratcliffe , a former Republican congressman from Texas , said that in order to confront the emerging intelligence threat posed by China , he has reallocated $ 85 billion from the annual intelligence community budget to focus on China .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. intelligence has the resources it needs to give policy makers unvarnished insights into China ’ s intentions and activities.
” Ratcliffe expanded on his op-ed during an interview with CBS News .
“ They want laws and policies out of the United States that are favorable to China , ” Ratcliffe said of Chinese agents targeting U.S. lawmakers .
“ And what they ’ re really trying to do is through blackmail , through bribery , through overt and covert influence , trying to make sure that only laws that are favorable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community has also seen an uptick in “ malign ” diplomatic influence efforts directed at members of the incoming Biden administration , William Evanina , the top counterintelligence official at ODNI , said Wednesday .
“ We ’ ve also seen an uptick , which was planned and we predicted , that China would now re-vector their influence campaigns to the new administration , ” Evanina said at the Aspen Cyber Summit .
Ratcliffe made another startling revelation in his Journal op-ed .
He said that as part of Beijing ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s foremost military power , ” the Chinese government has “ conducted human testing on members of the People ’ s Liberation Army in hope of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities.
” “ There are no ethical boundaries to Beijing ’ s pursuit of power .
”

John Ratcliffe, the director of national intelligence, said Thursday that the Chinese government is targeting multiple members of Congress as part of a “massive” foreign influence campaign.
In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, Ratcliffe said that Beijing is targeting lawmakers with six times the frequency of Russia and 12 times more than the government of Iran.
“This year China engaged in a massive influence campaign that included targeting several dozen members of Congress and congressional aides,” Ratcliffe wrote in the op-ed, entitled “China Is National Security Threat No. 1.”
“Our intelligence shows that Beijing regularly directs this type of influence operation in the U.S.,” he wrote, noting that he has briefed the House and Senate Intelligence Committees “that China is targeting members of Congress with six times the frequency of Russia and 12 times the frequency of Iran.”
Ratcliffe, a former Republican congressman from Texas, said that in order to confront the emerging intelligence threat posed by China, he has reallocated $85 billion from the annual intelligence community budget to focus on China.
“This shift must continue to ensure U.S. intelligence has the resources it needs to give policy makers unvarnished insights into China’s intentions and activities.”
DNI Ratcliffe tells @CBS_Herridge that China is using blackmail, bribery and covert influence to target members of Congress and make sure “only laws that are favorable to China are passed” pic.twitter.com/3hQ23hXvtF — Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Herridge) December 3, 2020
Ratcliffe expanded on his op-ed during an interview with CBS News.
“They want laws and policies out of the United States that are favorable to China,” Ratcliffe said of Chinese agents targeting U.S. lawmakers.
“And what they’re really trying to do is through blackmail, through bribery, through overt and covert influence, trying to make sure that only laws that are favorable to China are passed.”
The intelligence community has also seen an uptick in “malign” diplomatic influence efforts directed at members of the incoming Biden administration, William Evanina, the top counterintelligence official at ODNI, said Wednesday.
“We’ve also seen an uptick, which was planned and we predicted, that China would now re-vector their influence campaigns to the new administration,” Evanina said at the Aspen Cyber Summit.
Ratcliffe made another startling revelation in his Journal op-ed. He said that as part of Beijing’s “aggressive plan to make China the world’s foremost military power,” the Chinese government has “conducted human testing on members of the People’s Liberation Army in hope of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities.”
“There are no ethical boundaries to Beijing’s pursuit of power.”


truepundit--2020-12-07--DEMINT: Congress Threatens To Relapse Into An Old Addiction

Congressional earmarks — the drug of choice for big spending Congressmen and Senators who want to “ bring home the bacon ” — have been dead for ten years .
But like a monster in a horror movie sequel , earmarks always threaten to come back to life .
House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer recently said Congress will raise earmarks from the dead in the new year .
The Swamp is thrilled .
Lobbyists and their special interest clients are salivating at the prospect of more pork .
Members of Congress delude themselves into believing their voters want them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for short-term gain for special interests in their states and districts .
In truth , earmarks only enrich and empower Washington insiders .
During the heyday of congressional earmarks , the national economy was frustratingly stagnant .
But the local economy in Washington , D.C. boomed to unprecedented heights .
If you wonder why six of the ten wealthiest counties in America are suburbs of Washington , it ’ s because as government grows , so does the influence industry — and earmarks are its currency .
When I was elected to Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full of ideas about how to balance the budget , grow the economy , and expand opportunity for all Americans .
But I quickly realized most of my colleagues spent their time on earmarks .
Essentially , members who would toe the line for party leadership were given a certain allotment of money — based on their seniority and fundraising for their party — to endear themselves to constituents back home and lobbyists who funded their campaigns .
So rather than working for the good of all Americans , Congress was almost exclusively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interests in Washington .
Defenders of earmarks always argue that this is all fine .
Congress should direct spending .
It ’ s their constitutional role .
And after all , they say , earmarks only compose a tiny fraction of overall federal spending .
So what was the big deal ?
Put this way , earmarks do seem harmless , in theory ( kind of like small bribes ) .
In practice , however , they were a disaster .
While small in size , earmarks proved enormous in their corrupting power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called earmarks the “ gateway drug ” to big government .
And so they were .
Earmarks made otherwise reasonable senators and representatives indifferent to the overall size and shape of congressional spending bills .
Did a bill spend a million or a billion or a trillion ?
Waste , fraud , and abuse ?
Paid for with spending cuts or just added to our national debt ?
All of a sudden , it didn ’ t matter .
All that mattered was your $ 2 million construction project or your $ 800,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downtown bike lane .
Congress ballooned the size of government and our national debt while barely noticing , because all they cared about was their little crumbs from the bigger pie .
As such , earmarking dis-empowered backbench Representatives and Senators by turning them into “ junkies , ” dependent on their party leaders for their “ fix.
” It was during the earmark era that both houses started to pull themselves apart along partisan lines as never before .
It ’ s also when the Senate started restricting its traditional debate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made 90 % of members apathetic about actual legislating , enabling party leaders to centralize power , helping to create the partisan dysfunction we all dislike about Congress today .
This culture of corruption also led to real crimes , landing Representatives like Duke Cunningham and Chacka Fattah in jail for accepting bribes for earmarks .
This doesn ’ t even begin to expose the scandalous earmark Hall of Fame — the Bridge to Nowhere , the Teapot Museum , the Tunnel For Turtles .
If you actually look at the record , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Congress ’ s constitutional authority ; they were the currency of corruption .
And when members see it as their main job to get money for constituencies back home , they stop doing oversight and start doing favors , creating the perfect environment for ridiculous wasteful projects that should never see taxpayer funding .
Earmarks became so notorious that a wave of new Republican House and Senate members were elected in 2010 in part on a pledge to ban earmarks , which Republicans in the House and Senate did just days after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there have been multiple attempts to end the ban , yet Republicans have held the line .
Thankfully , just after the 2020 election , Republicans renewed their earmark ban by voting to adopt rules that contain the ban in the House and Senate Republican conferences .
Conservatives should be especially resistant to bringing back earmarks in today ’ s political environment .
In the 1990s and early 2000s , what congressional leaders “ bought ” with their earmark bribes was bigger spending bills that grew government and the national debt .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring back earmarks in 2021 , it won ’ t just be to pass a bloated highway bill or plus up the budgets of a few federal departments .
It will be to buy moderate Democrat votes for radical woke extremism : taxing churches and gun-owners , amnesty for illegal immigrants , funding abortion and defunding police departments , forcing the 1619 Project into our schools and racialist indoctrination into our human resources departments .
Earmarks were a bad enough idea before the Left went insane .
Today , earmarks will be more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; they will facilitate more cancel culture , more censorship , more anti-American woke cultism .
As Nancy Reagan once put it : “ Just say no.
” Jim DeMint is a former U.S .
Senator from South Carolina .
You can follow him on twitter @ JimDeMint The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation .

Congressional earmarks — the drug of choice for big spending Congressmen and Senators who want to “bring home the bacon” — have been dead for ten years. But like a monster in a horror movie sequel, earmarks always threaten to come back to life. House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer recently said Congress will raise earmarks from the dead in the new year.
The Swamp is thrilled. Lobbyists and their special interest clients are salivating at the prospect of more pork. Members of Congress delude themselves into believing their voters want them to sacrifice the long-term good of their country for short-term gain for special interests in their states and districts.
In truth, earmarks only enrich and empower Washington insiders. During the heyday of congressional earmarks, the national economy was frustratingly stagnant. But the local economy in Washington, D.C. boomed to unprecedented heights. If you wonder why six of the ten wealthiest counties in America are suburbs of Washington, it’s because as government grows, so does the influence industry — and earmarks are its currency.
When I was elected to Congress in 1998, I came to Washington full of ideas about how to balance the budget, grow the economy, and expand opportunity for all Americans. But I quickly realized most of my colleagues spent their time on earmarks. Essentially, members who would toe the line for party leadership were given a certain allotment of money — based on their seniority and fundraising for their party — to endear themselves to constituents back home and lobbyists who funded their campaigns. So rather than working for the good of all Americans, Congress was almost exclusively focused on parochial projects and powerful special interests in Washington.
Defenders of earmarks always argue that this is all fine. Congress should direct spending. It’s their constitutional role. And after all, they say, earmarks only compose a tiny fraction of overall federal spending. So what was the big deal? Put this way, earmarks do seem harmless, in theory (kind of like small bribes). In practice, however, they were a disaster. While small in size, earmarks proved enormous in their corrupting power.
My friend former Rep. Tom Coburn called earmarks the “gateway drug” to big government. And so they were.
Earmarks made otherwise reasonable senators and representatives indifferent to the overall size and shape of congressional spending bills. Did a bill spend a million or a billion or a trillion? Waste, fraud, and abuse? Paid for with spending cuts or just added to our national debt? All of a sudden, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was your $2 million construction project or your $800,000 research grant, or your $300,000 downtown bike lane. Congress ballooned the size of government and our national debt while barely noticing, because all they cared about was their little crumbs from the bigger pie.
As such, earmarking dis-empowered backbench Representatives and Senators by turning them into “junkies,” dependent on their party leaders for their “fix.” It was during the earmark era that both houses started to pull themselves apart along partisan lines as never before. It’s also when the Senate started restricting its traditional debate and amendment process. It was earmarks that made 90% of members apathetic about actual legislating, enabling party leaders to centralize power, helping to create the partisan dysfunction we all dislike about Congress today.
This culture of corruption also led to real crimes, landing Representatives like Duke Cunningham and Chacka Fattah in jail for accepting bribes for earmarks.
This doesn’t even begin to expose the scandalous earmark Hall of Fame — the Bridge to Nowhere, the Teapot Museum, the Tunnel For Turtles. If you actually look at the record, earmarks were not a high minded assertion of Congress’s constitutional authority; they were the currency of corruption. And when members see it as their main job to get money for constituencies back home, they stop doing oversight and start doing favors, creating the perfect environment for ridiculous wasteful projects that should never see taxpayer funding.
Earmarks became so notorious that a wave of new Republican House and Senate members were elected in 2010 in part on a pledge to ban earmarks, which Republicans in the House and Senate did just days after the election that year. Since then, there have been multiple attempts to end the ban, yet Republicans have held the line. Thankfully, just after the 2020 election, Republicans renewed their earmark ban by voting to adopt rules that contain the ban in the House and Senate Republican conferences.
Conservatives should be especially resistant to bringing back earmarks in today’s political environment. In the 1990s and early 2000s, what congressional leaders “bought” with their earmark bribes was bigger spending bills that grew government and the national debt. But if Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer bring back earmarks in 2021, it won’t just be to pass a bloated highway bill or plus up the budgets of a few federal departments. It will be to buy moderate Democrat votes for radical woke extremism: taxing churches and gun-owners, amnesty for illegal immigrants, funding abortion and defunding police departments, forcing the 1619 Project into our schools and racialist indoctrination into our human resources departments.
Earmarks were a bad enough idea before the Left went insane. Today, earmarks will be more than a gateway drug to big government; they will facilitate more cancel culture, more censorship, more anti-American woke cultism.
As Nancy Reagan once put it: “Just say no.”
Jim DeMint is a former U.S. Senator from South Carolina. You can follow him on twitter @JimDeMint
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.


truepundit--2020-12-08--PAINE IN THE MORNING: The 8 things you need to know this Tuesday the 8th — Dec 2020

There is also a full , ad-free video podcast of this broadcast available on True Pundit ’ s Patreon Page @ @ @ @ @ SubscribeStar.com page for our subscribers to help us do what we do .
Listen above @ @ @ @ @ the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

There is also a full, ad-free video podcast of this broadcast available on True Pundit’s Patreon Page and/or True Pundit’s SubscribeStar.com page for our subscribers to help us do what we do.
Listen above or below.
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --


truepundit--2020-12-08--WHO Weighs Ethics Of Deliberately Infecting Patients With COVID-19 To Test Vaccine Efficacy

Remember that time CNBC ’ s Rick Santelli caused a media firestorm by ( half-seriously ) suggesting that people should infect themselves with SARS-CoV-2 to try and blunt the economic fallout ?
Well , months later , scientists around the world are seriously debating the ethics of so-called “ human challenge ” trials – where participants are intentionally “ challenged ” ( i.e .
deliberately infected with a pathogen ) to test the efficacy of a vaccine or treatment .
On Monday , the WHO will hear from an advisory group of scientists who will discuss the pros/cons of running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are at the lowest risk for the most severe consequences .
The Netherlands is already ramping up plans for a trial that will involve the deliberate infection of hundreds of volunteers , and the British are finalizing plans for a “ challenge ” study of their own .
Skeptics like DoubleLine ’ s Jeff Gundlach have doubted the extremely high efficacy numbers ( ~95 % ) released by Pfizer and Moderna , with the bond trading legend claiming he ‘ doesn ’ t buy it ’ .
Aside from the headline numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he pointed to other shortcomings like the small number of actually infected patients documented in each ‘ Phase 3 ’ trial .
Isn ’ t the fact that the WHO is seriously considering the ‘ feasibility ’ of these studies a tacit admission that the data we ’ ve seen so far is somehow lacking ?
To be sure , there are plenty of scientists who have serious reservations about exposing volunteers to SARS-CoV-2 .
As we have reported , while consenting adults should be allowed to take whatever risks they want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarding this relatively new illness – namely , the fact that many patients experience a brief bout of the ‘ worst flu of my life ’ , while others – nicknamed ‘ long haulers ’ – can remain ill for months , experiencing ‘ waves ’ of debilitating symptoms with no end in sight .
– READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

Remember that time CNBC’s Rick Santelli caused a media firestorm by (half-seriously) suggesting that people should infect themselves with SARS-CoV-2 to try and blunt the economic fallout?
Well, months later, scientists around the world are seriously debating the ethics of so-called “human challenge” trials – where participants are intentionally “challenged” (i.e. deliberately infected with a pathogen) to test the efficacy of a vaccine or treatment. On Monday, the WHO will hear from an advisory group of scientists who will discuss the pros/cons of running these trials with young, healthy volunteers who are at the lowest risk for the most severe consequences. The Netherlands is already ramping up plans for a trial that will involve the deliberate infection of hundreds of volunteers, and the British are finalizing plans for a “challenge” study of their own.
Skeptics like DoubleLine’s Jeff Gundlach have doubted the extremely high efficacy numbers (~95%) released by Pfizer and Moderna, with the bond trading legend claiming he ‘doesn’t buy it’. Aside from the headline numbers, which Gundlach feels are unrealistically high, he pointed to other shortcomings like the small number of actually infected patients documented in each ‘Phase 3’ trial.
Isn’t the fact that the WHO is seriously considering the ‘feasibility’ of these studies a tacit admission that the data we’ve seen so far is somehow lacking?
To be sure, there are plenty of scientists who have serious reservations about exposing volunteers to SARS-CoV-2. As we have reported, while consenting adults should be allowed to take whatever risks they want, there’s a known unknown regarding this relatively new illness – namely, the fact that many patients experience a brief bout of the ‘worst flu of my life’, while others – nicknamed ‘long haulers’ – can remain ill for months, experiencing ‘waves’ of debilitating symptoms with no end in sight. – READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --


truepundit--2020-12-08--Michigan House Committee Threatens Dominion CEO with Subpoena

The Michigan House committee looking into alleged vote fraud in the 2020 election is threatening Dominion Voting Systems with a @ @ @ @ @ .
In an letter obtained exclusively by Breitbart News , state Rep. Matt Hall ( @ @ @ @ @ John Poulos that he ignored Hall ’ s pre-Thanksgiving invitation to testify before the committee @ @ @ @ @ dated December 4 invited him again to appear .
“ On November 23 , I @ @ @ @ @ you to join the House Oversight Committee so that we could get answers to the @ @ @ @ @ regarding the potential issues that occurred on Election Day .
I have not received an @ @ @ @ @ ” Hall said .
“ I am writing again to request your appearance before the @ @ @ @ @ we can further investigate Dominion ’ s role in the election , ” he wrote.- @ @ @ @ @ insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

The Michigan House committee looking into alleged vote fraud in the 2020 election is threatening Dominion Voting Systems with a subpoena to appear and testify.
In an letter obtained exclusively by Breitbart News, state Rep. Matt Hall (R) told Dominion CEO John Poulos that he ignored Hall’s pre-Thanksgiving invitation to testify before the committee, and in a letter dated December 4 invited him again to appear.
“On November 23, I sent you a letter inviting you to join the House Oversight Committee so that we could get answers to the many questions that we have regarding the potential issues that occurred on Election Day. I have not received an answer to my request,” Hall said.
“I am writing again to request your appearance before the House Oversight Committee so that we can further investigate Dominion’s role in the election,” he wrote.- READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --


truepundit--2020-12-08--Dershowitz Says Supreme Court May Rule To Let Legislators Pick Alternate Electors

Attorney Alan Dershowitz said on Sunday that he believes the Supreme Court may get involved in adjudicating on whether state legislators have the power to pick alternate Electoral College electors who would vote for President Donald Trump if legislatures determine there was voter fraud , even after an initial slate of electors has cast its votes on Dec. 14 .
Dershowitz made the remarks in an interview with Fox News in which he was first asked about what he thought of claims made by Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani , who said there was a pattern of fraudulent activity that swayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
“ There certainly is probably cause for investigating and looking further .
Giuliani has made very serious accusations .
The question is which institution is designed constitutionally to look into it ?
Is it the state legislature ?
Is it the courts ?
Is the clock running in such a way that there won ’ t be time to look into this ?
” Dershowitz replied .
His reference to time running out presumably refers to the Electoral College Dec. 14 meeting , at which electors cast their presidential votes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is Giuliani correct or isn ’ t he correct .
I don ’ t know whether we ’ ll find that out in time for the meeting of the Electoral College votes , ” Dershowitz said .
Attorney Ken Starr , who also took part in the interview , said that a “ bit of a nightmare ” scenario has taken place in the form of claims of voter fraud relating to absentee and mail-in ballots and other irregularities .
– READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

Attorney Alan Dershowitz said on Sunday that he believes the Supreme Court may get involved in adjudicating on whether state legislators have the power to pick alternate Electoral College electors who would vote for President Donald Trump if legislatures determine there was voter fraud, even after an initial slate of electors has cast its votes on Dec. 14.
Dershowitz made the remarks in an interview with Fox News in which he was first asked about what he thought of claims made by Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, who said there was a pattern of fraudulent activity that swayed the election in favor of Democrat Joe Biden.
“There certainly is probably cause for investigating and looking further. Giuliani has made very serious accusations. The question is which institution is designed constitutionally to look into it? Is it the state legislature? Is it the courts? Is the clock running in such a way that there won’t be time to look into this?” Dershowitz replied. His reference to time running out presumably refers to the Electoral College Dec. 14 meeting, at which electors cast their presidential votes. “The American public wants to know, is Giuliani correct or isn’t he correct. I don’t know whether we’ll find that out in time for the meeting of the Electoral College votes,” Dershowitz said.
Attorney Ken Starr, who also took part in the interview, said that a “bit of a nightmare” scenario has taken place in the form of claims of voter fraud relating to absentee and mail-in ballots and other irregularities. – READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --


truepundit--2020-12-08--Trump’s DOJ Sues Zuckerberg’s Facebook for Anti-American Discrimination

Mark Zuckerberg ’ s Facebook corporation discriminated against thousands of American graduates as it tried to hire foreign workers via the federal green card process , according to a December 3 lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice ( DOJ ) .
“ The Department of Justice ’ s lawsuit alleges that Facebook engaged in intentional and widespread violations of the law by setting aside positions for temporary visa holders instead of considering interested and qualified U.S. workers , ” Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the DOJ ’ s Civil Rights Division said in a statement .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , consider , or hire qualified and available U.S. workers for over 2,600 positions that Facebook , instead , reserved for temporary visa holders , ” the statement said .
The DOJ added : The positions that were the subject of Facebook ’ s alleged discrimination against U.S. workers offered an average salary of approximately $ 156,000 .
According to the lawsuit , and based on the department ’ s nearly two-year investigation , Facebook intentionally created a hiring system in which it denied qualified U.S. workers a fair opportunity to learn about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sought to channel to temporary visa holders Facebook wanted to sponsor for green cards .
In its investigation , the department determined that Facebook ’ s ineffective recruitment methods dissuaded U.S. workers from applying to its PERM positions .
The department concluded that , during the relevant period , Facebook received zero or one U.S. worker applicants for 99.7 percent of its PERM positions , while comparable positions at Facebook that were advertised on its careers website during a similar time period typically attracted 100 or more applicants each .
These U.S. workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the jobs Facebook sought to channel to temporary visa holders , according to the lawsuit .
The discriminatory behavior alleged by the DOJ is reportedly widespread among Silicon Valley and Fortune 500 companies , partly because visa fraud and anti-American discrimination are enabled by loopholed federal laws .
– READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook corporation discriminated against thousands of American graduates as it tried to hire foreign workers via the federal green card process, according to a December 3 lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“The Department of Justice’s lawsuit alleges that Facebook engaged in intentional and widespread violations of the law by setting aside positions for temporary visa holders instead of considering interested and qualified U.S. workers,” Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said in a statement.
“The lawsuit alleges that Facebook refused to recruit, consider, or hire qualified and available U.S. workers for over 2,600 positions that Facebook, instead, reserved for temporary visa holders,” the statement said. The DOJ added:
The positions that were the subject of Facebook’s alleged discrimination against U.S. workers offered an average salary of approximately $156,000. According to the lawsuit, and based on the department’s nearly two-year investigation, Facebook intentionally created a hiring system in which it denied qualified U.S. workers a fair opportunity to learn about and apply for jobs that Facebook instead sought to channel to temporary visa holders Facebook wanted to sponsor for green cards. … In its investigation, the department determined that Facebook’s ineffective recruitment methods dissuaded U.S. workers from applying to its PERM positions. The department concluded that, during the relevant period, Facebook received zero or one U.S. worker applicants for 99.7 percent of its PERM positions, while comparable positions at Facebook that were advertised on its careers website during a similar time period typically attracted 100 or more applicants each. These U.S. workers were denied an opportunity to be considered for the jobs Facebook sought to channel to temporary visa holders, according to the lawsuit.
The discriminatory behavior alleged by the DOJ is reportedly widespread among Silicon Valley and Fortune 500 companies, partly because visa fraud and anti-American discrimination are enabled by loopholed federal laws. – READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --


truepundit--2020-12-08--White House Fires Pentagon Advisory Board Members Via Generic Email In Final Purge

Politico reports on Friday what appears to be the Trump admin ’ s final house cleaning of Pentagon top civilian @ @ @ @ @ the Defense Business Board , the members of which are appointed annually by the Secretary @ @ @ @ @ interaction with the defense private sector , were notified by White House email that they @ @ @ @ @ Two former board members described it as Trump ’ s final “ clean out ” @ @ @ @ @ remaining few weeks of his term .
Members of the board received a brief email @ @ @ @ @ White House liaison to the Department of Defense , that simply said , “ if @ @ @ @ @ , your membership on the Defense Business Board has expired or is coming to an @ @ @ @ @ serves as notice that we will be nominating new board members , ” the notice @ @ @ @ @ your service to the Department and your country.
” - READ MORE Listen to the @ @ @ @ @ --

Politico reports on Friday what appears to be the Trump admin’s final house cleaning of Pentagon top civilian ranks.
Multiple members of the Defense Business Board, the members of which are appointed annually by the Secretary of Defense to help streamline interaction with the defense private sector, were notified by White House email that they have been unexpectedly terminated.
Two former board members described it as Trump’s final “clean out” of Pentagon leadership during the remaining few weeks of his term.
Reports Politico:
Members of the board received a brief email from Joshua Whitehouse, the White House liaison to the Department of Defense, that simply said, “if you are receiving this e-mail, your membership on the Defense Business Board has expired or is coming to an end.”
“This e-mail serves as notice that we will be nominating new board members,” the notice continued. “We appreciate your service to the Department and your country.”- READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --


truepundit--2020-12-08--Report: San Diego Unified Holds ‘White Privilege’ Training Sessions For Teachers

On Thursday , an exclusive report on leaked documents revealed that the San Diego Unified School District was holding training sessions where teachers were told of their “ white privilege , ” that they were racist , and they were part of an oppressive white power structure .
Not only are the teachers told that they must acknowledge their “ privilege ” and embrace “ antiracist ” ideas , they are instructed to “ teach others to see their privilege.
” Christopher Rufo of City Journal reported what he had discovered in the leaked documents .
“ SCOOP : San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to attend ‘ white privilege ’ training , in which teachers are told ‘ you are racist ’ and ‘ you are upholding racist ideas , structures , and policies.
’ The leaked documents from the training session will shock you , ” Rufo wrote in a series of posts .
“ The training begins with a ‘ land acknowledgement , ’ in which the teachers are asked to accept that they are colonizers living on stolen Native American land , ” he continued .
“ Then they are told they will experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed-mindedness ’ because of their ‘ white fragility.
’ ” Under “ land acknowledgement , ” the training states , “ We acknowledge that we meet on stolen land , taken from indigenous peoples .
I am speaking to you from Kumeyaay land .
We must acknowledge the hidden history of violence against indigenous peoples in an effort to move towards justice.
” – READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

On Thursday, an exclusive report on leaked documents revealed that the San Diego Unified School District was holding training sessions where teachers were told of their “white privilege,” that they were racist, and they were part of an oppressive white power structure. Not only are the teachers told that they must acknowledge their “privilege” and embrace “antiracist” ideas, they are instructed to “teach others to see their privilege.”
Christopher Rufo of City Journal reported what he had discovered in the leaked documents. “SCOOP: San Diego Unified School District is forcing teachers to attend ‘white privilege’ training, in which teachers are told ‘you are racist’ and ‘you are upholding racist ideas, structures, and policies.’ The leaked documents from the training session will shock you,” Rufo wrote in a series of posts.
“The training begins with a ‘land acknowledgement,’ in which the teachers are asked to accept that they are colonizers living on stolen Native American land,” he continued. “Then they are told they will experience ‘guilt, anger, apathy, [and] closed-mindedness’ because of their ‘white fragility.’”
SCOOP: San Diego Unified School District is forcing teachers to attend “white privilege” training, in which teachers are told “you are racist” and “you are upholding racist ideas, structures, and policies.” The leaked documents from the training session will shock you.👇 — Christopher F. Rufo ⚔ (@realchrisrufo) December 3, 2020
Under “land acknowledgement,” the training states, “We acknowledge that we meet on stolen land, taken from indigenous peoples. I am speaking to you from Kumeyaay land. We must acknowledge the hidden history of violence against indigenous peoples in an effort to move towards justice.” – READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --


truepundit--2020-12-08--GA Sec. of State Raffensperger: ‘We’ve Never Found Systemic Fraud, Not Enough to Overturn the Electi

GA Sec. of State Raffensperger: ‘We’ve Never Found Systemic Fraud, Not Enough to Overturn the Election’

The Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Sunday on ABC ’ s “ This Week ” that there was @ @ @ @ @ in Georgia ’ s 2020 presidential election .
Anchor George Stephanopoulos asked , “ Your @ @ @ @ @ fraud .
what have they found ?
” Raffensperger said , “ We ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ not enough to overturn the election .
We have over 250 cases right now .
@ @ @ @ @ governor and asked for additional manpower resources that gives us additional reach to finish up @ @ @ @ @ right now , we don ’ t see anything that would overturn the will of @ @ @ @ @ ” – READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

The Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that there was no “systemic fraud” in Georgia’s 2020 presidential election.
Anchor George Stephanopoulos asked, “Your office is investigating claims of fraud. what have they found?”
Raffensperger said, “We’ve never found systemic fraud, not enough to overturn the election. We have over 250 cases right now. We reached out to the governor and asked for additional manpower resources that gives us additional reach to finish up these investigations quickly, but right now, we don’t see anything that would overturn the will of the people here, Georgia.” – READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --


truepundit--2020-12-08--Can Employers Fire Any Employees That Choose Not To Take The COVID Vaccine?

A COVID vaccine is not even available yet , but the mainstream media is already full of stories about whether or not it is legal for employers to fire employees that refuse to take it .
To me , this is not even a debate that we should be having .
It would be fundamentally anti-American and morally reprehensible for any employer to fire someone for choosing not to get vaccinated .
Unfortunately , the mainstream media does not see things that way , and they are interviewing lots of legal experts that are assuring employers that it is perfectly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t want to get vaccinated .
For example , the following comes from a CNBC article… If religious convictions really did protect employees , that would be great .
From my perspective , any employee that refuses to get vaccinated based on a sincerely held religious conviction should definitely be shielded from being fired under federal law .
Unfortunately , the CNBC article goes on to explain why federal law is probably not going to protect any person of faith from mandatory vaccination requirements… Ryan emphasizes that state laws regulating what constitutes reasonable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that “ under federal law , employers don ’ t have to grant a religious accommodation if doing so would result in more than a de minimis cost to the operation of the business.
” “ De minimis ” is Latin for “ of minimum importance ” and is used in law to refer to a total so small that it is not even recognized .
Given how significantly the pandemic has impacted businesses , Ryan says “ this is a pretty low standard.
” Meaning , many employers will likely have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other words , under federal law there is hardly any protection at all for workers that wish to refuse the COVID vaccine .
Other major news outlets have been publishing similar stories .
This excerpt comes from a piece that was published by Reuters… – READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

A COVID vaccine is not even available yet, but the mainstream media is already full of stories about whether or not it is legal for employers to fire employees that refuse to take it. To me, this is not even a debate that we should be having. It would be fundamentally anti-American and morally reprehensible for any employer to fire someone for choosing not to get vaccinated. Unfortunately, the mainstream media does not see things that way, and they are interviewing lots of legal experts that are assuring employers that it is perfectly legal to fire people that don’t want to get vaccinated.
For example, the following comes from a CNBC article…
“In general, yes, employers are able to mandate the vaccine when it becomes available with, of course, a bunch of caveats,” says employment lawyer Lindsay Ryan, listing possible exemptions for those with specific medical conditions and those with sincerely held religious convictions.
If religious convictions really did protect employees, that would be great.
From my perspective, any employee that refuses to get vaccinated based on a sincerely held religious conviction should definitely be shielded from being fired under federal law.
Unfortunately, the CNBC article goes on to explain why federal law is probably not going to protect any person of faith from mandatory vaccination requirements…
Ryan emphasizes that state laws regulating what constitutes reasonable accommodations for religious groups vary significantly, but that “under federal law, employers don’t have to grant a religious accommodation if doing so would result in more than a de minimis cost to the operation of the business.” “De minimis” is Latin for “of minimum importance” and is used in law to refer to a total so small that it is not even recognized. Given how significantly the pandemic has impacted businesses, Ryan says “this is a pretty low standard.” Meaning, many employers will likely have legal ground to require vaccination.
In other words, under federal law there is hardly any protection at all for workers that wish to refuse the COVID vaccine.
Other major news outlets have been publishing similar stories. This excerpt comes from a piece that was published by Reuters… – READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --


truepundit--2020-12-08--Report: Democrats Plan To Pursue Investigations Into President Trump After He Leaves Office

Democrats have every intention of pursuing investigations into President Trump and his administration even after he leaves office , CNN @ @ @ @ @ network , some lawmakers have expressed interest in continuing the witch hunt against the President @ @ @ @ @ have an obligation to scrutinize the actions of Trump and his administration that they charge @ @ @ @ @ the separation of powers , ” the report states .
There are also multiple ongoing @ @ @ @ @ “ including efforts to obtain Trump ’ s tax returns , key financial documents , @ @ @ @ @ House counsel and grand jury material from the Mueller report.
” These “ will continue @ @ @ @ @ ” likely throttling any effort by President-elect Biden to create unity in an increasingly dysfunctional @ @ @ @ @ – READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

Democrats have every intention of pursuing investigations into President Trump and his administration even after he leaves office, CNN reports.
According to the network, some lawmakers have expressed interest in continuing the witch hunt against the President.
“They [Democrats] argue they have an obligation to scrutinize the actions of Trump and his administration that they charge violated constitutional norms and eroded the separation of powers,” the report states.
There are also multiple ongoing lawsuits according to CNN, “including efforts to obtain Trump’s tax returns, key financial documents, testimony from a former White House counsel and grand jury material from the Mueller report.”
These “will continue into the new Congress,” likely throttling any effort by President-elect Biden to create unity in an increasingly dysfunctional place like Washington, D.C. – READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --


truepundit--2020-12-08--Ossoff, Whose Father Took $1 Mil from Gov’t Relief Fund, Slams Greedy Business Owners for Raiding PP

Ossoff, Whose Father Took $1 Mil from Gov’t Relief Fund, Slams Greedy Business Owners for Raiding PPP

DECATUR , Ga.—Georgia Democratic Senate hopeful Jon Ossoff said Paycheck Protection Program funds were “ raided by larger companies ” without mentioning that his wealthy father ’ s company received as much as $ 1 million through the program .
“ don ’ t care about small businesses .
And as we saw , the PPP funds were raided by larger companies , ” Ossoff said during a Wednesday-morning campaign event in Decatur .
The Democrat said nothing about his father Richard Ossoff ’ s involvement in the program .
The elder Ossoff ’ s Atlanta-based company , Strafford Publications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million from the PPP on June 9 .
The company—which collects an estimated $ 28 million in annual revenue—has amassed Ossoff ’ s father a sizable fortune that allowed him to purchase a private plane in 2014 .
Ossoff ’ s father has been a major driver of the Georgia Democrat ’ s political career , contributing more than $ 17,000 to his son ’ s campaigns since 2017 and nearly $ 150,000 to other federal Democrats since 2002 .
Ossoff ’ s father also footed the bill for his son ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ossoff worked as a congressional aide to Rep. Hank Johnson ( D. , Ga. ) , and Ossoff used a large family inheritance to purchase control of his foreign film company in 2013 .
– READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

DECATUR, Ga.—Georgia Democratic Senate hopeful Jon Ossoff said Paycheck Protection Program funds were “raided by larger companies” without mentioning that his wealthy father’s company received as much as $1 million through the program.
“[Republicans] don’t care about small businesses. And as we saw, the PPP funds were raided by larger companies,” Ossoff said during a Wednesday-morning campaign event in Decatur.
The Democrat said nothing about his father Richard Ossoff’s involvement in the program. The elder Ossoff’s Atlanta-based company, Strafford Publications, received between $350,000 and $1 million from the PPP on June 9. The company—which collects an estimated $28 million in annual revenue—has amassed Ossoff’s father a sizable fortune that allowed him to purchase a private plane in 2014.
Ossoff’s father has been a major driver of the Georgia Democrat’s political career, contributing more than $17,000 to his son’s campaigns since 2017 and nearly $150,000 to other federal Democrats since 2002. Ossoff’s father also footed the bill for his son’s Washington, D.C., residence while Ossoff worked as a congressional aide to Rep. Hank Johnson (D., Ga.), and Ossoff used a large family inheritance to purchase control of his foreign film company in 2013. – READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --


truepundit--2020-12-08--Gordon Chang: China Engaged in ‘an Act of War’ by Enflaming Antifa Riots in the U.S.

Gordon Chang , an American of Chinese ancestry who spent decades in China and has extensively written about the threat of China , warned that China meddled in the 2020 presidential election and engaged in “ an act of war ” against the United States by enflaming the antifa/Black Lives Matter riots in American cities over the summer .
“ China certainly wanted to influence the outcome of the election , ” Chang said in an interview with American Thought Leaders , a show run by The Epoch Times .
“ So for instance , during the Democratic Party nomination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie Sanders , and during the general election , I think that they were trying to unseat President Trump.
” Chang noted that “ there was a massive disinformation campaign conducted especially by the Chinese Foreign Ministry , which is official , and the Global Times , which is the communist Party tabloid .
Also , there were the troll and bot farm operations , which were actually quite massive.
” He also mentioned the “ Spamouflage Dragon ” network of Chinese bots that launched ads attacking Trump .
Twitter took down 174,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So they really went after the Republican candidate , ” Chang noted .
Yet he also mentioned something far more sinister , something he described as “ an act of war.
” According to the U.S. Department of Justice , the Chinese military , the People ’ s Liberation Army ( PLA ) , based an intelligence unit in the then-open Houston consulate , helping Chinese soldiers to infiltrate American society .
– READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

Gordon Chang, an American of Chinese ancestry who spent decades in China and has extensively written about the threat of China, warned that China meddled in the 2020 presidential election and engaged in “an act of war” against the United States by enflaming the antifa/Black Lives Matter riots in American cities over the summer.
“China certainly wanted to influence the outcome of the election,” Chang said in an interview with American Thought Leaders, a show run by The Epoch Times. “So for instance, during the Democratic Party nomination process, they supported Joe Biden over Bernie Sanders, and during the general election, I think that they were trying to unseat President Trump.”
Chang noted that “there was a massive disinformation campaign conducted especially by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, which is official, and the Global Times, which is the communist Party tabloid. Also, there were the troll and bot farm operations, which were actually quite massive.” He also mentioned the “Spamouflage Dragon” network of Chinese bots that launched ads attacking Trump. Twitter took down 174,000 fake Chinese accounts in June.
“So they really went after the Republican candidate,” Chang noted.
Yet he also mentioned something far more sinister, something he described as “an act of war.” According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Chinese military, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), based an intelligence unit in the then-open Houston consulate, helping Chinese soldiers to infiltrate American society. – READ MORE
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truepundit--2020-12-08--Michael Flynn Claims He ‘Put the Fear of God Into’ Obama

Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn says he “ put the fear of god into ” former President Barack Obama @ @ @ @ @ led to him being unfairly targeted for prosecution .
During an interview with Fox News @ @ @ @ @ first interview since he was pardoned by President Donald Trump — Flynn said , “ @ @ @ @ @ fear of god into Barack Obama and probably still do because of this four-year long @ @ @ @ @ , my family through , President Donald J. Trump and his family and frankly the @ @ @ @ @ as the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency under Obama until he was fired in @ @ @ @ @ to claim that Obama urged Trump not to hire Flynn because it would reveal policy @ @ @ @ @ during the Obama administration .
– READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast @ @

Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn says he “put the fear of god into” former President Barack Obama, which he also alleges led to him being unfairly targeted for prosecution.
During an interview with Fox News’ Jeanine Pirro — his first interview since he was pardoned by President Donald Trump — Flynn said, “I must have put the fear of god into Barack Obama and probably still do because of this four-year long saga that they put me, my family through, President Donald J. Trump and his family and frankly the entire country.”
Flynn served as the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency under Obama until he was fired in 2014.
He went on to claim that Obama urged Trump not to hire Flynn because it would reveal policy “blunders” that occurred during the Obama administration. – READ MORE
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truepundit--2020-12-08--Moderna, Pfizer CEOs Skip White House COVID Vaccine Summit After Leaking Data To Biden

Despite repeatedly pledging to be apolitical , Pfizer and Moderna have been criticized for waiting to release their ‘ Phase 3 ’ trial data until just days after the Nov. 3 vote , while shooting down Trump ’ s insistence that a vaccines would be approved in a matter of weeks as extreme hyperbole , if not an outright lie .
More than a month later , Pfizer and Moderna have revealed that they remain in close contact with the Biden team .
As it turns out , Biden may have been briefed on the initial Pfizer and Moderna data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at that point , Biden ’ s victory had been decided by the media , and the media alone , STAT News reports .
Now , both Pfizer and Moderna are skipping a White House vaccine summit , despite taking billions in taxpayer dollars for their vaccines .
Unlike Moderna , which benefited directly from “ Operation Warp Speed ” funds , Pfizer self-financed the development of the vaccine , before striking a deal with OWS to supply the US with millions of doses .
Both companies , and their executives , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But now , it seems , they ’ re trying to send a message to the public : The Trump Administration doesn ’ t deserve credit for the vaccines.- READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

Despite repeatedly pledging to be apolitical, Pfizer and Moderna have been criticized for waiting to release their ‘Phase 3’ trial data until just days after the Nov. 3 vote, while shooting down Trump’s insistence that a vaccines would be approved in a matter of weeks as extreme hyperbole, if not an outright lie.
More than a month later, Pfizer and Moderna have revealed that they remain in close contact with the Biden team. As it turns out, Biden may have been briefed on the initial Pfizer and Moderna data before President Trump, even though, at that point, Biden’s victory had been decided by the media, and the media alone, STAT News reports.
Now, both Pfizer and Moderna are skipping a White House vaccine summit, despite taking billions in taxpayer dollars for their vaccines. Unlike Moderna, which benefited directly from “Operation Warp Speed” funds, Pfizer self-financed the development of the vaccine, before striking a deal with OWS to supply the US with millions of doses.
Both companies, and their executives, have benefited from these Trump Administration programs. But now, it seems, they’re trying to send a message to the public: The Trump Administration doesn’t deserve credit for the vaccines.- READ MORE
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truepundit--2020-12-08--Trump Terminates Chinese Cultural Exchange Programs, Decries “Soft Power Propaganda Tools”

It ’ s but the latest in what has become near daily punitive actions leveled against China by the Trump administration , which as promised looks to continue right up until Trump leaves office next month .
On Friday the State Department announced it has shut down five cultural exchange programs , the origins of which go back a half-century , calling them “ soft power propaganda tools , ” according to Reuters .
The programs were set up after the establishment of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act in 1961 , signed into law by President John F. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ educational ties with foreign countries .
The programs which have been “ terminated ” according to the announcement on the State Department ’ s website include the Policymakers Educational China Trip Program , the U.S.-China Friendship Program , the U.S.-China Leadership Exchange Program , the U.S.-China Transpacific Exchange Program and the Hong Kong Educational and Cultural Program .
“ While other programs funded under the auspices of the are mutually beneficial , the five programs in question are fully funded and operated by the PRC government as soft power propaganda tools , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

It’s but the latest in what has become near daily punitive actions leveled against China by the Trump administration, which as promised looks to continue right up until Trump leaves office next month.
On Friday the State Department announced it has shut down five cultural exchange programs, the origins of which go back a half-century, calling them “soft power propaganda tools,” according to Reuters.
The programs were set up after the establishment of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act in 1961, signed into law by President John F. Kennedy which was aimed at boosting cultural educational ties with foreign countries.
The programs which have been “terminated” according to the announcement on the State Department’s website include the Policymakers Educational China Trip Program, the U.S.-China Friendship Program, the U.S.-China Leadership Exchange Program, the U.S.-China Transpacific Exchange Program and the Hong Kong Educational and Cultural Program.
“While other programs funded under the auspices of the [Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act] are mutually beneficial, the five programs in question are fully funded and operated by the PRC government as soft power propaganda tools,” the statement said. – READ MORE
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truepundit--2020-12-08--Unhinged leftist ‘teacher’ absolutely flips out on peaceful anti-lockdown protesters in Oregon: ‘F**

Unhinged leftist ‘teacher’ absolutely flips out on peaceful anti-lockdown protesters in Oregon: ‘F*** all of you!’

You might say Oregon has been the unofficial epicenter of protests in 2020 , with leftist groups such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter on a near-nightly basis occupying the streets of Portland and physically attacking local police and federal officers , destroying businesses , torching buildings , and intimidating anyone who gets in their way .
We also saw what happened when conservatives descended on Portland at the end of August and staged their own car rally protest in support of President Donald Trump : A “ 100 % Antifa ” militant appeared to ambush a pro-police activist and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the night .
Well , there was a protest of a different sort in over the weekend in Bend , Oregon — about three hours southeast of Portland — and these demonstrators were protesting against governmental coronavirus lockdowns .
As has been typical of protests involving conservatives and Trump supporters , the anti-lockdown gathering at the intersection of Northwest Greenwood Avenue and Northwest Wall Street was peaceful .
That is , until a self-proclaimed “ teacher ” stopped her Subaru and absolutely flipped out on demonstrators holding their signs on the sidewalk .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ caught the glorious moment for all of you to enjoy .
– READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

You might say Oregon has been the unofficial epicenter of protests in 2020, with leftist groups such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter on a near-nightly basis occupying the streets of Portland and physically attacking local police and federal officers, destroying businesses, torching buildings, and intimidating anyone who gets in their way.
We also saw what happened when conservatives descended on Portland at the end of August and staged their own car rally protest in support of President Donald Trump: A “100% Antifa” militant appeared to ambush a pro-police activist and fatally shot him before taking off into the night.
Bend Oregon peaceful rally to keep businesses open. This crazy lady is a teacher there. She needs to be fired. Should not allow any kids to be taught by this filthy mouth crazy lady. pic.twitter.com/DL0MucOi9N — 🇺🇸🦅M💥A💥G💥A🦅🇺🇲 (@BlessUSA45) December 7, 2020
Well, there was a protest of a different sort in over the weekend in Bend, Oregon — about three hours southeast of Portland — and these demonstrators were protesting against governmental coronavirus lockdowns.
As has been typical of protests involving conservatives and Trump supporters, the anti-lockdown gathering at the intersection of Northwest Greenwood Avenue and Northwest Wall Street was peaceful.
That is, until a self-proclaimed “teacher” stopped her Subaru and absolutely flipped out on demonstrators holding their signs on the sidewalk. Fortunately a cellphone camera was rolling and caught the glorious moment for all of you to enjoy. – READ MORE
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truepundit--2020-12-08--UK Government Medical Officer Says Masks Should Be Worn For Years

The UK ’ s deputy chief medical officer warned Wednesday that despite the arrival of COVID vaccines , face masks will still have to be worn “ for years ” to come .
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said that he expects to see the face coverings become as commonplace as they are in China and other places in the far east .
Van-Tam urged that there will be no opportunity to “ have a massive party and throw out our masks and hand sanitiser ” now that a vaccine is here .
Van-Tam also warned that “ the vaccine isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t take it , ” adding that “ Watching others take it and hoping that this will then protect you isn ’ t going to work.
” He added that the virus is likely “ going to be with humankind forever.
” Meanwhile , new guidance from the World Health Organization ( WHO ) has suggested that everyone should be wearing a face mask everywhere indoors at all times , as well as outdoors whenever they can not keep more than a metre away from others .
– READ MORE Listen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ --

The UK’s deputy chief medical officer warned Wednesday that despite the arrival of COVID vaccines, face masks will still have to be worn “for years” to come.
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said that he expects to see the face coverings become as commonplace as they are in China and other places in the far east.
Van-Tam urged that there will be no opportunity to “have a massive party and throw out our masks and hand sanitiser” now that a vaccine is here.
Van-Tam also warned that “the vaccine isn’t going to help you if you don’t take it,” adding that “Watching others take it and hoping that this will then protect you isn’t going to work.”
He added that the virus is likely “going to be with humankind forever.”
Meanwhile, new guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested that everyone should be wearing a face mask everywhere indoors at all times, as well as outdoors whenever they cannot keep more than a metre away from others. – READ MORE
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truepundit--2020-12-08--Governor Urges Kids To Rat Out Their Parents’ COVID-Rule Violations

Just before Thanksgiving , the Governor of Vermont hopped on Twitter– which is apparently the only platform now for making @ @ @ @ @ by shaming and guilt tripping anyone who dared to celebrate Thanksgiving with family .
“ @ @ @ @ @ will still get together and schools have asked for help .
@ VTEducation will direct @ @ @ @ @ parents if they were part of multi-family gatherings and if the answer is yes , @ @ @ @ @ go remote for 14 days or 7 days and a test.
” So the Vermont @ @ @ @ @ to interrogate children about what they did over Thanksgiving weekend , so that they can @ @ @ @ @ – READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

Just before Thanksgiving, the Governor of Vermont hopped on Twitter– which is apparently the only platform now for making important announcements.
He started by shaming and guilt tripping anyone who dared to celebrate Thanksgiving with family.
He continued:
“Unfortunately, we know some will still get together and schools have asked for help.
@VTEducation will direct schools to ask students or parents if they were part of multi-family gatherings and if the answer is yes, they’ll need to go remote for 14 days or 7 days and a test.”
So the Vermont Department of Education instructed schools to interrogate children about what they did over Thanksgiving weekend, so that they can inform on their families. – READ MORE
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truepundit--2020-12-08--Georgia secretary of state recertifies results confirming Biden win after third count

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger recertified his state ’ s presidential election results on Monday , following a second recount that once again upheld President-elect Joe Biden ‘ s victory in the state .
Raffensperger , a Republican and a supporter of President Trump , also pushed back against a barrage of criticism from the president , telling reporters that “ disinformation regarding election administration should be condemned and rejected .
Integrity matters .
Truth matters.
” Georgia has counted the presidential vote three times – the initial count from the Nov. 3 election , an ensuing full election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a machine recount requested by the Trump campaign .
All three showed Biden topping Trump by roughly 12,000 votes out of nearly 5 million cast in the state .
Biden became the first Democrat to carry Georgia in a presidential election in more than a quarter of a century .
“ Today is an important day for election integrity in Georgia and across the country , ” the secretary of state said in a statement .
“ Georgians can now move forward knowing that their votes , and only their legal votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reliably.
” Earlier in the day at a news conference at the Georgia Capitol , Raffensperger noted that “ it ’ s been 34 days since the election on Nov. 3….we have now counted legally cast ballots three times and the results remain unchanged.
” – READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger recertified his state’s presidential election results on Monday, following a second recount that once again upheld President-elect Joe Biden‘s victory in the state.
Raffensperger, a Republican and a supporter of President Trump, also pushed back against a barrage of criticism from the president, telling reporters that “disinformation regarding election administration should be condemned and rejected. Integrity matters. Truth matters.”
Georgia has counted the presidential vote three times – the initial count from the Nov. 3 election, an ensuing full election recount and audit mandated by Raffensperger, and a machine recount requested by the Trump campaign. All three showed Biden topping Trump by roughly 12,000 votes out of nearly 5 million cast in the state. Biden became the first Democrat to carry Georgia in a presidential election in more than a quarter of a century.
“Today is an important day for election integrity in Georgia and across the country,” the secretary of state said in a statement. “Georgians can now move forward knowing that their votes, and only their legal votes, were counted accurately, fairly, and reliably.”
Earlier in the day at a news conference at the Georgia Capitol, Raffensperger noted that “it’s been 34 days since the election on Nov. 3….we have now counted legally cast ballots three times and the results remain unchanged.” – READ MORE
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truepundit--2020-12-08--Charter Jet CEO Arrested for Alleged Child Sex Trafficking

Fifty-seven-year-old Bronx resident Paul Alexander was arrested Thursday for allegedly trafficking girls as young as 12 years old .
“ The arrest was the result of a joint investigation by the state prosecutor ’ s office called ‘ Operation Mile High ’ — a nod to his job as CEO of Central Jet Charter , New York Attorney General Letitia James said Saturday , ” the New York Post reported .
Alexander allegedly charged an undercover agent $ 300 for sex with two girls , with both victims earning a third of the money , the article read .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detailed the events in a press release on Saturday : Through the use of covert recording devices , social media , and undercover operations , the investigative team determined that Alexander was , in fact , trafficking children across county lines for sex .
The initial investigation began in March after a female minor reported Alexander to the NYPD , alleging that Alexander sexually abused her and other underage girls , and promoted them for prostitution to other men .
An undercover police officer met with Alexander who charged him a total of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12-year-old victim and a 14-year-old victim — and encouraged the undercover officer to use alcohol and marijuana to make the victims more cooperative .
Alexander was arraigned Saturday and charged with “ multiple counts of Sex Trafficking of a Child , Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child , related counts of First and Second Degrees of Promoting Prostitution , and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child , ” the release said .
– READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

Fifty-seven-year-old Bronx resident Paul Alexander was arrested Thursday for allegedly trafficking girls as young as 12 years old.
“The arrest was the result of a joint investigation by the state prosecutor’s office called ‘Operation Mile High’ — a nod to his job as CEO of Central Jet Charter, New York Attorney General Letitia James said Saturday,” the New York Post reported.
Alexander allegedly charged an undercover agent $300 for sex with two girls, with both victims earning a third of the money, the article read.
The New York attorney general’s office detailed the events in a press release on Saturday:
Through the use of covert recording devices, social media, and undercover operations, the investigative team determined that Alexander was, in fact, trafficking children across county lines for sex. The initial investigation began in March after a female minor reported Alexander to the NYPD, alleging that Alexander sexually abused her and other underage girls, and promoted them for prostitution to other men. An undercover police officer met with Alexander who charged him a total of $300 for sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old victim and a 14-year-old victim — and encouraged the undercover officer to use alcohol and marijuana to make the victims more cooperative.
Alexander was arraigned Saturday and charged with “multiple counts of Sex Trafficking of a Child, Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child, related counts of First and Second Degrees of Promoting Prostitution, and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child,” the release said. – READ MORE
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truepundit--2020-12-08--Warren, Schumer Invoke ‘Econ 101’ In Push To Cancel $50K In Fed Student Loan Debt Per Borrower

Senator Elizabeth Warren ( D-MA ) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) continue to advocate for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden to exercise unilateral power as president to “ cancel ” billions of dollars in federal student loan debt .
In an op-ed for Blavity , Warren and Schumer suggest that cancelling up to $ 50,000 in federal student loans per borrower would be a good way to “ jumpstart ” the economy amidst the coronavirus pandemic .
They also invoked “ Econ 101 ” to make their argument .
And even if don ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighbors buried under 1.5 trillion dollars in federal student loan debt , they understand the need to boost to our struggling economy .
This is Econ 101 : the best way to jumpstart our economy is to put more money in working families ’ pockets — money they can spend in their communities .
Broad cancellation of student debt would give tens of millions of Americans $ 200 to $ 300 more to spend and save each month .
Cancellation also means they won ’ t have to worry about a student debt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ends .
With more money in their pockets and a smaller debt load , they can consider bigger purchases like cars and homes and , for some , start their own businesses .
That ’ s good for the borrower and good for our economy .
The duo , who claim Biden can accomplish the task himself , also frame the action as the “ single most effective executive action available to provide massive stimulus to our economy.
” – READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) continue to advocate for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden to exercise unilateral power as president to “cancel” billions of dollars in federal student loan debt.
In an op-ed for Blavity, Warren and Schumer suggest that cancelling up to $50,000 in federal student loans per borrower would be a good way to “jumpstart” the economy amidst the coronavirus pandemic. They also invoked “Econ 101” to make their argument.
And even if [Americans] don’t know one of our 43 million friends and neighbors buried under 1.5 trillion dollars in federal student loan debt, they understand the need to boost to our struggling economy. This is Econ 101: the best way to jumpstart our economy is to put more money in working families’ pockets — money they can spend in their communities. Broad cancellation of student debt would give tens of millions of Americans $200 to $300 more to spend and save each month. Cancellation also means they won’t have to worry about a student debt time bomb exploding when the payments suspension ends. With more money in their pockets and a smaller debt load, they can consider bigger purchases like cars and homes and, for some, start their own businesses. That’s good for the borrower and good for our economy.
The duo, who claim Biden can accomplish the task himself, also frame the action as the “single most effective executive action available to provide massive stimulus to our economy.” – READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --