truepundit--2020-10-02--Here’s What Would Happen If Trump And Biden Tie In November

• Though unlikely , it is possible that President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden could tie in November ’ s election , receiving 269 electoral votes each .
• If they tie , the election would head to the House of Representatives , where state delegations would each get a vote in electing the president .
The Senate would decide who becomes the vice president , and each senator would get a single vote .
• Voting would take place after the swearing in of the 117th Congress , meaning the fate of either candidate could be contingent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November ’ s congressional elections in the wake of a tie .
While unlikely , some election forecasters have raised the possibility that both President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden could tie in the November , with each having 269 electoral votes instead of one reaching the 270 necessary to win the election .
Though no presidential election has ended in a tie since 1800 , when Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr each received 73 electoral votes , there are several scenarios that could result in a tie between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wins critical swing states like Wisconsin , Michigan and Arizona .
In previous years , a tie could still theoretically be resolved depending on how each state ’ s electors voted in December .
In 2016 , seven so-called faithless electors voted against the winner of their respective state , though it did not change the outcome of the election .
In July , however , the Supreme Court ruled that state ’ s electors could not vote against the candidate that their state voted for , forbidding electors in states that did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote for an alternative candidate .
If by some chance Trump and Biden find themselves one electoral vote shy of victory , here ’ s what would happen .
If neither Biden nor Trump wins 270 electoral votes , the House of Representatives will decide the winner , according to Article II Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution .
Though Democrats have the majority in the lower chamber , individual members do not vote to break a tie in a presidential election .
Instead , each state delegation gets one vote to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A simple majority of House delegations decides the winner , as outlined in Article II .
Technically , House delegations can cast a vote for any candidate that finished in the top three , since no candidate will have received a majority of electoral votes , per Article II .
Though the House decides the president , the Senate would vote to select the vice president , Article II says , creating the possibility that the president and vice president could be of different parties .
The vote in the event of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jan. 6 , 2021 , three days after the new Congress was sworn in , according to 270 To Win .
Despite the Democrats ’ House majority , Republicans hold more state delegations , leading 26-23 , with Pennsylvania being the only state the parties are tied .
Assuming members vote along party lines , Trump would likely have an advantage in the current balance of power in the House .
However , the House elections in November could alter the existing composition .
Democrats hope that competitive races in Texas , Montana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a majority of state delegations for the 117th Congress , which would likely result in Biden being voted the winner , forecasters say .
November ’ s elections could also result in a 25-25 split for each party , forecasters say .
If this were to happen , the House would need to keep voting until one candidate won a majority of House delegations , the Constitution outlines .
If debates extended past the inauguration date of Jan. 20 , Vice President Mike Pence , not Speaker Nancy Pelosi , would become the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winner , as per the 20th Amendment , Section 3 .

Though unlikely, it is possible that President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden could tie in November’s election, receiving 269 electoral votes each.
If they tie, the election would head to the House of Representatives, where state delegations would each get a vote in electing the president. The Senate would decide who becomes the vice president, and each senator would get a single vote.
Voting would take place after the swearing in of the 117th Congress, meaning the fate of either candidate could be contingent on their respective party’s success in November’s congressional elections in the wake of a tie.
While unlikely, some election forecasters have raised the possibility that both President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden could tie in the November, with each having 269 electoral votes instead of one reaching the 270 necessary to win the election.
Though no presidential election has ended in a tie since 1800, when Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr each received 73 electoral votes, there are several scenarios that could result in a tie between Biden and Trump, depending on who wins critical swing states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Arizona.
In previous years, a tie could still theoretically be resolved depending on how each state’s electors voted in December. In 2016, seven so-called faithless electors voted against the winner of their respective state, though it did not change the outcome of the election. In July, however, the Supreme Court ruled that state’s electors could not vote against the candidate that their state voted for, forbidding electors in states that did not already have such laws in place to vote for an alternative candidate.
If by some chance Trump and Biden find themselves one electoral vote shy of victory, here’s what would happen.
Congress Intervenes
If neither Biden nor Trump wins 270 electoral votes, the House of Representatives will decide the winner, according to Article II Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution. Though Democrats have the majority in the lower chamber, individual members do not vote to break a tie in a presidential election. Instead, each state delegation gets one vote to be decided upon by its members. A simple majority of House delegations decides the winner, as outlined in Article II.
Technically, House delegations can cast a vote for any candidate that finished in the top three, since no candidate will have received a majority of electoral votes, per Article II.
Though the House decides the president, the Senate would vote to select the vice president, Article II says, creating the possibility that the president and vice president could be of different parties.
The vote in the event of a presidential election tie would take place on Jan. 6, 2021, three days after the new Congress was sworn in, according to 270 To Win.
Who Would Win?
Despite the Democrats’ House majority, Republicans hold more state delegations, leading 26-23, with Pennsylvania being the only state the parties are tied. Assuming members vote along party lines, Trump would likely have an advantage in the current balance of power in the House.
However, the House elections in November could alter the existing composition. Democrats hope that competitive races in Texas, Montana, Alaska and Georgia could give them a majority of state delegations for the 117th Congress, which would likely result in Biden being voted the winner, forecasters say.
November’s elections could also result in a 25-25 split for each party, forecasters say. If this were to happen, the House would need to keep voting until one candidate won a majority of House delegations, the Constitution outlines. If debates extended past the inauguration date of Jan. 20, Vice President Mike Pence, not Speaker Nancy Pelosi, would become the acting president until the House declared a winner, as per the 20th Amendment, Section 3.


truepundit--2020-10-02--Why Court Packing Would Be Devastating To Our Republic

President Donald Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett on September 26 to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
“ If Republicans confirm Judge Barrett , ” tweeted Senator Edward Markey ( D-MA ) in response , “ end the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court.
” In other words , if at first you don ’ t succeed , rig the rules .
Numerous other Democratic politicians have either explicitly expressed their support for this or said that “ everything is on the table , ” including Senators Kamala Harris , Chuck Schumer , Elizabeth Warren , Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hirono , as well as Representatives Nancy Pelosi , Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , Joe Kennedy , and many others .
When asked during the Sept. 29 debate whether he supported packing the Supreme Court , presidential candidate Joe Biden said , “ I ’ m not going to answer the question.
” His running mate , Harris , has also avoided the question recently .
It ’ s important to understand both what “ court-packing ” would require and how its impact would be felt .
Keeping the judiciary separate from manipulation by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for American independence from Great Britain .
Chief Justice William Rehnquist once described judicial independence as the “ crown jewel of our system of government.
” That jewel is easy to admire until its results don ’ t fit your politics .
“ Court-packing ” refers to changing the structure of the judiciary to add judges deemed likely to render favorable decisions .
While America ’ s founders sought to separate the judiciary from politics , court-packing deliberately brings them together .
We ’ ve been here before .
After his landslide re-election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creating and filling additional judicial positions so that the Supreme Court would uphold , rather than strike down , his New Deal legislation .
Even though Democrats enjoyed enormous Senate and House super-majorities in the 75th Congress ( 1937-38 ) , they rejected Roosevelt ’ s court-packing plan .
The Judiciary Committee report on the bill said such court-packing ’ s “ ultimate effect would undermine the independence of the courts ” and “ expand political control over the judicial department.
” The report ’ s arguments apply as much today as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court-packing is simply “ an attempt to change the course of judicial decision ” by “ neutralizing the views of some of the present members.
” Disagreeing with some judicial decisions , however , does not justify destroying the judiciary itself .
“ It is far better , ” they said , “ that we await orderly but inevitable change of personnel than that we impatiently overwhelm them with new members.
” Once court-packing destroys judicial independence , it can not be restored .
Court-packing is no small project .
Many people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created the Supreme Court , Congress determines its size .
With the exception of five years during the Civil War period , the court has had nine members since 1837 .
In a 2019 National Public Radio interview , Justice Ginsburg said that nine “ seems to be a good number ” and opposed court-packing because it would undermine “ the safeguards for judicial independence are as great or greater than anyplace else in the world.
” To ensure that legislation to change the Supreme Court ’ s size is not only passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to control both houses of Congress and the executive branch .
More than that , they would have to change the legislative process itself .
The Senate and House of Representatives were designed to participate in the legislative process in different ways .
The House is designed for action , with everything happening by majority vote .
The Senate is designed for deliberation , with rules that allow the minority to have a significant voice .
Rule 22 , for example , requires 60 votes to invoke cloture , or end debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Senators lacking the votes to defeat final passage of a bill might still be able to get their way by preventing any final vote at all .
The filibuster has been part of the Senate ’ s legislative process since the turn of the 19th century .
In fact , the opportunity for extended debate has been called the single most distinctive feature of the Senate since it was established in 1789 .
Under the current rules , as long as 41 Senators vote against ending debate on a court-packing bill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not become law .
This is why Senators Markey , Harris , Schumer , Warren and many others want to “ end the filibuster.
” They want to lower the number of votes needed to end debate from 60 to a simple majority , the same as necessary for passing a bill .
While changing the actual words of Senate rules requires a super-majority , changing the “ interpretation ” of those words requires only a simple majority using the so-called Nuclear Option .
Any party in control of the House , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thereby abolish the legislative filibuster and then simply pass a new law increasing the number of Supreme Court Justices , and lower court judges to boot , if they wished , and presto , it would be done .
As abolishing the filibuster would undermine the Senate ’ s role as a careful deliberating body , packing the court would undermine its independence , and together these tactics would change the nature of our constitutional government .
With the Court ’ s independence gone , it would take on an even larger role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does now .
The temptation for a successive President whose party enjoys majority control in the House and Senate to pack the court further would likely be irresistible .
In a short time , the judiciary could largely supplant Congress as the chief legislative body .
Legislative and constitutional questions would be decided , undecided , and re-decided with every swing of the electoral pendulum .
No government so unstable could last .
Packing the court will only ever yield short-term political victories at the cost of the long-term health of our Republic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies and Senior Legal Fellow at the Heritage Foundation .
GianCarlo Canaparo is a Legal Fellow in the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation .
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 .
Content created by the DCNF is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ email protected ] dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

President Donald Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett on September 26 to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “If Republicans confirm Judge Barrett,” tweeted Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) in response, “end the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court.” In other words, if at first you don’t succeed, rig the rules.
Numerous other Democratic politicians have either explicitly expressed their support for this or said that “everything is on the table,” including Senators Kamala Harris, Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Mazie Hirono, as well as Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Joe Kennedy, and many others.
When asked during the Sept. 29 debate whether he supported packing the Supreme Court, presidential candidate Joe Biden said, “I’m not going to answer the question.” His running mate, Harris, has also avoided the question recently.
It’s important to understand both what “court-packing” would require and how its impact would be felt.
Keeping the judiciary separate from manipulation by the political branches was one of the reasons for American independence from Great Britain. Chief Justice William Rehnquist once described judicial independence as the “crown jewel of our system of government.”
That jewel is easy to admire until its results don’t fit your politics. “Court-packing” refers to changing the structure of the judiciary to add judges deemed likely to render favorable decisions.
While America’s founders sought to separate the judiciary from politics, court-packing deliberately brings them together.
We’ve been here before. After his landslide re-election in 1936, President Franklin Roosevelt proposed creating and filling additional judicial positions so that the Supreme Court would uphold, rather than strike down, his New Deal legislation.
Even though Democrats enjoyed enormous Senate and House super-majorities in the 75th Congress (1937-38), they rejected Roosevelt’s court-packing plan. The Judiciary Committee report on the bill said such court-packing’s “ultimate effect would undermine the independence of the courts” and “expand political control over the judicial department.”
The report’s arguments apply as much today as they did more than 80 years ago. Court-packing is simply “an attempt to change the course of judicial decision” by “neutralizing the views of some of the present members.” Disagreeing with some judicial decisions, however, does not justify destroying the judiciary itself. “It is far better,” they said, “that we await orderly but inevitable change of personnel than that we impatiently overwhelm them with new members.”
Once court-packing destroys judicial independence, it cannot be restored.
Court-packing is no small project. Many people are surprised to learn that while the Constitution created the Supreme Court, Congress determines its size.
With the exception of five years during the Civil War period, the court has had nine members since 1837. In a 2019 National Public Radio interview, Justice Ginsburg said that nine “seems to be a good number” and opposed court-packing because it would undermine “the safeguards for judicial independence [which] are as great or greater than anyplace else in the world.”
To ensure that legislation to change the Supreme Court’s size is not only passed but signed into law, court-packers would have to control both houses of Congress and the executive branch. More than that, they would have to change the legislative process itself.
The Senate and House of Representatives were designed to participate in the legislative process in different ways. The House is designed for action, with everything happening by majority vote.
The Senate is designed for deliberation, with rules that allow the minority to have a significant voice. Rule 22, for example, requires 60 votes to invoke cloture, or end debate, on a bill. A group of Senators lacking the votes to defeat final passage of a bill might still be able to get their way by preventing any final vote at all.
Failure to end debate is a filibuster.
The filibuster has been part of the Senate’s legislative process since the turn of the 19th century. In fact, the opportunity for extended debate has been called the single most distinctive feature of the Senate since it was established in 1789.
Under the current rules, as long as 41 Senators vote against ending debate on a court-packing bill, it could not pass the Senate and could not become law.
This is why Senators Markey, Harris, Schumer, Warren and many others want to “end the filibuster.” They want to lower the number of votes needed to end debate from 60 to a simple majority, the same as necessary for passing a bill.
While changing the actual words of Senate rules requires a super-majority, changing the “interpretation” of those words requires only a simple majority using the so-called Nuclear Option.
Any party in control of the House, Senate, and the White House could thereby abolish the legislative filibuster and then simply pass a new law increasing the number of Supreme Court Justices, and lower court judges to boot, if they wished, and presto, it would be done.
As abolishing the filibuster would undermine the Senate’s role as a careful deliberating body, packing the court would undermine its independence, and together these tactics would change the nature of our constitutional government.
With the Court’s independence gone, it would take on an even larger role in deciding fraught political questions than it does now. The temptation for a successive President whose party enjoys majority control in the House and Senate to pack the court further would likely be irresistible.
In a short time, the judiciary could largely supplant Congress as the chief legislative body. Legislative and constitutional questions would be decided, undecided, and re-decided with every swing of the electoral pendulum.
No government so unstable could last.
Packing the court will only ever yield short-term political victories at the cost of the long-term health of our Republic.
Thomas Jipping is the Deputy Director of the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies and Senior Legal Fellow at the Heritage Foundation.
GianCarlo Canaparo is a Legal Fellow in the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation.
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. Content created by the DCNF is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@ .


truepundit--2020-10-02--Photographer Went Undercover With Looters Expecting To Find White Supremacists. Instead, He Found An

Photographer Went Undercover With Looters Expecting To Find White Supremacists. Instead, He Found Anarchists

A furloughed photographer who documented protests starting on May 31 expected to find white supremacists behind widespread looting but instead found anarchists , according to a New York Times opinion column .
Jeremy Lee Quinn started photographing a Black Lives Matter protest in Santa Monica , California , May 31 when someone notified him that people were looting a nearby shoe store , New York Times ’ editorial board member Farah Stockman wrote in a Wednesday column .
When Quinn arrived , he saw young people running out of the store carrying shoeboxes while a group of black-clad men wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was looted .
Quinn witnessed a black-clad white man break a store window with a crowbar the following day , though he didn ’ t take anything from the shop , Stockman wrote .
After reviewing videos of looting across the country , Quinn noticed similar groups of masked black-clad supervisors , so he dressed the same way and attended a protest , Stockman wrote .
Quinn thought the supervisors would be tied to white supremacy groups , instead , he found a group of “ insurrectionary anarchists.
” Quinn decided to march @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anarchists across the country to learn more about them , according to Stockman .
He said that though he respects their optimistic goal to create a society free of hierarchy , some of their tactics made him uncomfortable since they could aid President Donald Trump ’ s reelection .
Anarchists advertised the protests on social media , drawing “ cultlike energy ” to events in Portland , Oregon , and Washington , D.C. , Quinn told Stockman .
He marched with protesters who launched fireworks at a federal court building in Portland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diners in Washington , D.C .
The protests following the police killing of George Floyd on May 25 weren ’ t born of anger but were strategically organized and advertised on social media by anarchists who thought their actions could advance social justice , Quinn said , according to Stockman .
Floyd died in police custody after a former Minneapolis officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes , video shows .
Nationwide protests followed his death , with some leading to violence , rioting , and looting .
On the third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , anarchist publication CrimethInc reported black-clad individuals breaking windows , vandalizing police cars , and starting fires before disappearing in the crowd of protesters , Stockman wrote .
Some anarchists participate in pacifist civil disobedience , while others justify committing crimes like arson and looting by saying it wears down the capitalist economic system , according to an anarchist podcast Stockman reviewed .
Some anarchist ’ s social media profiles gained hundreds of thousands of followers since May , according to a Rutgers study .
The “ systematic , online mobilization of violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real-time ) and celebrated by explicitly violent anarcho-socialist networks that rode on the coattails of peaceful protest , ” co-author Pamela Paresky told Stockman .
“ The ability to continue to spread and to eventually bring more violence , including a violent insurgency , relies on the ability to hide in plain sight — to be confused with legitimate protests , and for media and the public to minimize the threat , ” Paresky said .

A furloughed photographer who documented protests starting on May 31 expected to find white supremacists behind widespread looting but instead found anarchists, according to a New York Times opinion column.
Jeremy Lee Quinn started photographing a Black Lives Matter protest in Santa Monica, California, May 31 when someone notified him that people were looting a nearby shoe store, New York Times’ editorial board member Farah Stockman wrote in a Wednesday column. When Quinn arrived, he saw young people running out of the store carrying shoeboxes while a group of black-clad men wearing masks behaved like supervisors as the store was looted.
Quinn witnessed a black-clad white man break a store window with a crowbar the following day, though he didn’t take anything from the shop, Stockman wrote.
After reviewing videos of looting across the country, Quinn noticed similar groups of masked black-clad supervisors, so he dressed the same way and attended a protest, Stockman wrote. Quinn thought the supervisors would be tied to white supremacy groups, instead, he found a group of “insurrectionary anarchists.”
The Video Man. Here. you know, when the Black guys are saying “This is not what it is.” But the white guys are taking over. #minneapolisriots #BLMprotest #BLM #3rdprecinct pic.twitter.com/kt4N4h38Ih — Jeremy Lee Quinn – Public Report (@publicreportorg) October 1, 2020
Quinn decided to march alongside groups of “black bloc” anarchists across the country to learn more about them, according to Stockman. He said that though he respects their optimistic goal to create a society free of hierarchy, some of their tactics made him uncomfortable since they could aid President Donald Trump’s reelection.
Anarchists advertised the protests on social media, drawing “cultlike energy” to events in Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., Quinn told Stockman. He marched with protesters who launched fireworks at a federal court building in Portland, Oregon, and with protesters who heckled diners in Washington, D.C.
The protests following the police killing of George Floyd on May 25 weren’t born of anger but were strategically organized and advertised on social media by anarchists who thought their actions could advance social justice, Quinn said, according to Stockman.
Floyd died in police custody after a former Minneapolis officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, video shows. Nationwide protests followed his death, with some leading to violence, rioting, and looting.
On the third day of protests in Minneapolis, Minnesota, anarchist publication CrimethInc reported black-clad individuals breaking windows, vandalizing police cars, and starting fires before disappearing in the crowd of protesters, Stockman wrote.
Some anarchists participate in pacifist civil disobedience, while others justify committing crimes like arson and looting by saying it wears down the capitalist economic system, according to an anarchist podcast Stockman reviewed.
Some anarchist’s social media profiles gained hundreds of thousands of followers since May, according to a Rutgers study. The “systematic, online mobilization of violence that was planned, coordinated (in real-time) and celebrated by explicitly violent anarcho-socialist networks that rode on the coattails of peaceful protest,” co-author Pamela Paresky told Stockman.
“The ability to continue to spread and to eventually bring more violence, including a violent insurgency, relies on the ability to hide in plain sight — to be confused with legitimate protests, and for media and the public to minimize the threat,” Paresky said.


truepundit--2020-10-02--New York Times Publishes Pro-Beijing Official’s Op-Ed Praising Crackdown On Hong Kong Protesters

• The New York Times published an op-ed Thursday from a Hong Kong official who praised the Chinese government for cracking down on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong .
• The newspaper has previously reported that the official , Regina Ip , is considered “ Beijing ’ s enforcer ” in Hong Kong and that she has close ties to Communist party officials .
• Ip argues that the Chinese government is right to crack down on protesters , who she said had caused “ great harm ” to Hong Kong by “ stirring up chaos and disaffection toward our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disclose Ip ’ s close ties to mainland China .
The New York Times published an opinion piece on Thursday from a pro-Beijing official in Hong Kong who accused pro-democracy protesters there of “ stirring up chaos ” against “ our motherland.
” In the article , entitled , “ Hong Kong is China , Like it or Not , ” Regina Ip defended the Chinese Communist Party ’ s ( CCP ) response to protests that started in Hong Kong in March 2019 over a proposed law that would allow for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After months of chaos in the city , something had to be done , and the Chinese government did it , ” Ip wrote in praise of Beijing ’ s passage of a security law that clamped down on protests .
Ip said that the law limiting protests would ensure “ that Hong Kong does not become a danger to China.
” She also accused pro-democracy forces in Hong Kong of doing “ great harm to the city ” and “ stirring up chaos and disaffection toward our motherland.
” Ip said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people as defenders of Hong Kong ’ s freedoms.
” The Times has previously described Ip as “ Beijing ’ s enforcer ” and as having close ties to top Communist party officials .
Ip is a member of Hong Kong ’ s executive council and the founder of the New People ’ s Party , which promotes pro-Beijing policies .
The op-ed appears amid heightened concern from the U.S. government regarding Beijing ’ s propaganda efforts in the West .
News outlets controlled by the CCP have used U.S. newspapers , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designed to look like legitimate news articles .
China Daily ’ s filings with the U.S. Justice Department show that it paid The Times $ 50,000 in 2018 to publish the inserts .
The Times quietly deleted the advertorials from online versions of its newspaper in August .
The publication of the piece comes after the Times experienced an internal uprising among staff members over the publication of an op-ed on June 3 from Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton calling on President Trump to call on the U.S. military to “ restore order ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police-involved death of George Floyd .
Cotton said he supported peaceful protesting , but he argued that more needed to be done to quell the rioting , looting , and killing that had occurred .
The Times attached a lengthy editor ’ s note to Cotton ’ s article , which led to the resignation of opinion page editor James Bennet .
The Ip op-ed had attracted some blowback on Thursday from journalists who saw it as CCP propaganda .
Ip ’ s op-ed does not disclose her close ties to the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times has previously reported on those links .
On July 17 , 2003 , the paper reported that Ip resigned as Hong Kong ’ s secretary of security due to protests over a security bill she supported .
The article described Ip as “ enjoying particularly close ties to top Communist officials.
” “ Mrs .
Ip was widely seen as Beijing ’ s enforcer , sending police and immigration officers to perform sometimes politically controversial raids , ” The Times reported then .
According to The Times , the bill Ip supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ searches during emergencies “ and would have authorized the shuttering of news organizations deemed seditious.
” The Times also reported in 2003 that Ip “ kept a sword from the People ’ s Liberation Army at the front of her desk.
” Ip has spoken out against expanding civil liberties and voting rights in Hong Kong , which was handed over to the control of China from the United Kingdom in 1997 .
In 2002 , Ip stirred controversy when she argued against expanding the vote , saying that “ Adolf Hitler was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven million Jews.
” The Times did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story .

The New York Times published an op-ed Thursday from a Hong Kong official who praised the Chinese government for cracking down on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
The newspaper has previously reported that the official, Regina Ip, is considered “Beijing’s enforcer” in Hong Kong and that she has close ties to Communist party officials.
Ip argues that the Chinese government is right to crack down on protesters, who she said had caused “great harm” to Hong Kong by “stirring up chaos and disaffection toward our motherland.”
The op-ed does not disclose Ip’s close ties to mainland China.
The New York Times published an opinion piece on Thursday from a pro-Beijing official in Hong Kong who accused pro-democracy protesters there of “stirring up chaos” against “our motherland.”
In the article, entitled, “Hong Kong is China, Like it or Not,” Regina Ip defended the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) response to protests that started in Hong Kong in March 2019 over a proposed law that would allow for the extradition of fugitives to China.
“After months of chaos in the city, something had to be done, and the Chinese government did it,” Ip wrote in praise of Beijing’s passage of a security law that clamped down on protests.
Ip said that the law limiting protests would ensure “that Hong Kong does not become a danger to China.”
She also accused pro-democracy forces in Hong Kong of doing “great harm to the city” and “stirring up chaos and disaffection toward our motherland.”
Ip said that “the West tends to glorify these people as defenders of Hong Kong’s freedoms.”
The Times has previously described Ip as “Beijing’s enforcer” and as having close ties to top Communist party officials. Ip is a member of Hong Kong’s executive council and the founder of the New People’s Party, which promotes pro-Beijing policies.
The op-ed appears amid heightened concern from the U.S. government regarding Beijing’s propaganda efforts in the West. News outlets controlled by the CCP have used U.S. newspapers, including the Times, to publish advertorial inserts designed to look like legitimate news articles.
China Daily’s filings with the U.S. Justice Department show that it paid The Times $50,000 in 2018 to publish the inserts.
The Times quietly deleted the advertorials from online versions of its newspaper in August.
The publication of the piece comes after the Times experienced an internal uprising among staff members over the publication of an op-ed on June 3 from Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton calling on President Trump to call on the U.S. military to “restore order” following riots in U.S. cities over the police-involved death of George Floyd.
Cotton said he supported peaceful protesting, but he argued that more needed to be done to quell the rioting, looting, and killing that had occurred.
The Times attached a lengthy editor’s note to Cotton’s article, which led to the resignation of opinion page editor James Bennet.
The Ip op-ed had attracted some blowback on Thursday from journalists who saw it as CCP propaganda.
Ip’s op-ed does not disclose her close ties to the Chinese communist apparatus in Beijing, though The Times has previously reported on those links.
On July 17, 2003, the paper reported that Ip resigned as Hong Kong’s secretary of security due to protests over a security bill she supported. The article described Ip as “enjoying particularly close ties to top Communist officials.”
“Mrs. Ip was widely seen as Beijing’s enforcer, sending police and immigration officers to perform sometimes politically controversial raids,” The Times reported then.
According to The Times, the bill Ip supported would have allowed police to conduct warrantless searches during emergencies “and would have authorized the shuttering of news organizations deemed seditious.”
The Times also reported in 2003 that Ip “kept a sword from the People’s Liberation Army at the front of her desk.”
Ip has spoken out against expanding civil liberties and voting rights in Hong Kong, which was handed over to the control of China from the United Kingdom in 1997.
In 2002, Ip stirred controversy when she argued against expanding the vote, saying that “Adolf Hitler was returned by universal suffrage and he killed seven million Jews.”
The Times did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story.


truepundit--2020-10-02--‘I’ve Said It Many Times’: Trump Condemns KKK, White Supremacists, Proud Boys

President Donald Trump condemned white supremacists , the Ku Klux Klan , and the Proud Boys in a Thursday evening interview .
“ I ’ ve said it many times , let me be clear again , I condemn the KKK , I condemn all white supremacists , I condemn the Proud Boys , ” Trump told Fox News host Hannity .
“ I don ’ t know much about the Proud Boys , almost nothing , but I condemn that.
” “ He should condemn also Antifa , ” Trump added , referring to Biden .
“ Antifa is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kill people , what they do to people , and they are causing insurrection , causing riots.
” “ He doesn ’ t want to do that , but the press doesn ’ t go after him .
And that ’ s a really bad group of people , ” Trump added .
“ I condemn them .
If I say it 100 times , it won ’ t be enough because it ’ s fake news , ” the president continued .
His comments come after moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s debate .
“ I ’ m willing to do that , ” Trump said .
“ I ’ m willing to do anything .
I want to see peace.
” The president emphasized that most of the violence he has seen lately has been caused by Antifa , while Biden and Wallace pushed him to condemn white supremacist groups .
“ What do you want to call them , ” Trump asked .
“ Give me a name .
Give me a name .
Who would you like me to condemn ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump responded : “ Proud Boys , stand back and stand by .
Somebody has to do something about Antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem , this is a left-wing.
” The president walked back this statement to reporters at the White House Wednesday .
“ I don ’ t know who the Proud Boys are .
I mean you ’ ll have to give me a definition because I don ’ t know who they are .
They have to stand down , let law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters .
“ But whoever they are , they have to stand down .
”

President Donald Trump condemned white supremacists, the Ku Klux Klan, and the Proud Boys in a Thursday evening interview.
“I’ve said it many times, let me be clear again, I condemn the KKK, I condemn all white supremacists, I condemn the Proud Boys,” Trump told Fox News host Hannity. “I don’t know much about the Proud Boys, almost nothing, but I condemn that.”
“He should condemn also Antifa,” Trump added, referring to Biden. “Antifa is a horrible group of people. They kill people, what they do to people, and they are causing insurrection, causing riots.”
“He doesn’t want to do that, but the press doesn’t go after him. And that’s a really bad group of people,” Trump added.
“I condemn them. If I say it 100 times, it won’t be enough because it’s fake news,” the president continued.
His comments come after moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump to condemn white supremacists during Tuesday night’s debate.
“I’m willing to do that,” Trump said. “I’m willing to do anything. I want to see peace.”
The president emphasized that most of the violence he has seen lately has been caused by Antifa, while Biden and Wallace pushed him to condemn white supremacist groups.
“What do you want to call them,” Trump asked. “Give me a name. Give me a name. Who would you like me to condemn?”
When Biden named the Proud Boys, Trump responded: “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. Somebody has to do something about Antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem, this is a left-wing.”
The president walked back this statement to reporters at the White House Wednesday.
“I don’t know who the Proud Boys are. I mean you’ll have to give me a definition because I don’t know who they are. They have to stand down, let law enforcement do their work,” Trump told reporters. “But whoever they are, they have to stand down.”


truepundit--2020-10-02--Here’s A List Of Democrats Who Have Attacked Amy Coney Barrett For Her Faith

• A number of Democratic lawmakers and liberal media figures have attacked Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett for her Catholic beliefs .
• The Catholic mother of seven first came under fire for her Catholic faith at her 2017 confirmation hearings where Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Dick Durbin suggested that her beliefs might make her unfit to serve as a federal judge .
• Barrett has faced renewed attacks on her faith since she emerged as a Supreme Court frontrunner .
A number of Democratic lawmakers and liberal media figures have attacked Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of seven first came under fire for her Catholic faith at her 2017 confirmation hearings , when Democratic senators suggested that her beliefs might make her unfit to serve as a federal judge .
Barrett has faced renewed attacks on her faith ever since it became known that Trump was considering her for the vacancy , such as comedian Bill Maher saying she is a “ fuckin ’ nut , ” and “ really , really Catholic — like speaking in tongues.
” And Maher isn ’ t alone in levying attacks against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is it that so many of us on this side have this very uncomfortable feeling that dogma and law are two different things , and I think whatever a religion is , it has its own dogma .
The law is totally different , ” Democratic California Sen. Dianne Feinstein told Barrett when she came before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2017 .
“ The conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you , ” Feinstein added .
“ And that ’ s of concern.
” Feinstein refused in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question Barrett in this way again , saying , “ I ’ m not going to go there , ” according to CNN .
“ Let ’ s wait until she ’ s nominated , ” she said regarding how Democrats would handle Barrett ’ s nomination .
Feinstein and other Senate Democrats on Thursday requested a delay in Barrett ’ s confirmation process .
Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin also questioned Barrett over an article she co-authored as a law student that included the term “ orthodox Catholic , ” asking Barrett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orthodox Catholic ?
” “ If you ’ re asking whether I ’ m a faithful Catholic , I am , although I would stress that my own personal church affiliation or my religious belief would not bear on the discharge of my duties as a judge , ” Barrett told him .
Durbin told the Daily Caller News Foundation after the hearing that he prefaced his remarks by saying that “ going into a person ’ s religion is not the right thing to do in every circumstance.
” “ But she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ As a law school professor at Notre Dame she has taken on the tough challenge of how a person with strong religious beliefs becomes a judge and looks at American law.
” “ So I think she has fashioned herself somewhat of an expert and I didn ’ t feel uncomfortable asking that question , ” Durbin added .
Democratic Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono raised Barrett ’ s “ closely held views ” on Wednesday , suggesting that these views may make Barrett unfit to serve on the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held views can be separated from her ability to make objective , fair decisions ” Disgraced former Democratic California congresswoman Katie Hill tweeted September 22 : “ If her religion never made it into her court decisions , she can believe what she wants .
But , yes , personally , I DO object to any religion that still insists women be subservient.
” Hill denied that criticisms of Barrett are stemming from anti-Catholic bias , calling this “ ridiculous , ” according to Politico .
“ This isn ’ t about Catholicism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t even about religion .
This is about extremism.
” “ Someone ’ s religion is important when their religious beliefs are part of the way they make decisions that come before that court , ” Hill told the New York Times .
The former congresswoman said that Barrett holds “ anti-women , anti-L.G.B.T.Q .
positions , which are rooted in her religion ” and would play into “ her decisions on the court.
” Biden campaign Deputy Data Director Nikitha Rai criticized Barrett ’ s religious views in a Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fellow Shadi Hamid .
“ Wait , why is this news ?
Isn ’ t this the standard position for any orthodox Catholic ?
” Hamid asked about a tweet saying that Barrett was a trustee at a Catholic school that opposed same-sex marriage and said homosexual acts are “ at odds with Scripture.
” Hamid noted that Orthodox Muslims and Jews also share this belief , to which Rai replied , “ True .
I ’ d heavily prefer views like that not be elevated to SCOTUS , but unfortunately our current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be awhile before those types of beliefs are so taboo that they ’ re disqualifiers.
” Rai has since locked her Twitter account .
She did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation and blocked the DCNF ’ s reporter from sending her further messages .
Democratic National Committee member Altima Omara compared Barrett to the character Aunt Lydia in the fictional dystopian novel and TV series “ The Handmaid ’ s Tale.
” Aunt Lydia ’ s character , the Atlantic reported , “ emotionally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the handmaids in her care ” by cutting out their eyes and tongues , sewing their mouths shut , and tasing them for offenses .
The publication noted that Aunt Lydia “ enjoys ” these cruelties in the show .
“ Under the circumstances I ’ m pretty calm , yknow while the living version of Aunt Lydia in the Handmaid ’ s Tale gets nominated to the Supreme Court to replace a woman who literally spent her life fighting for gender equity , ” Omara tweeted September 25 .
Amid reports that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fill the Supreme Court vacancy , multiple news outlets falsely reported that the Catholic group People of Praise was the inspiration for “ The Handmaid ’ s Tale ” and highlighted Barrett ’ s reported connections with the group .
Former 2020 presidential candidate Marianne Williamson also highlighted Barrett ’ s associations to the group , calling People of Praise ’ s views “ genuinely concerning.
” “ Amy Barrett being Catholic is a good thing ; Joe Biden is a Catholic too , ” Williamson tweeted .
“ Republicans are trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is criticizing her Catholicism but it ’ s not true.
” “ It ’ s the repressive tenets of the ‘ People of Praise ’ sect she belongs to that are genuinely concerning , ” Williamson added .
People of Praise has not confirmed or denied Barrett ’ s membership , according to Reuters , ever since a 2017 New York Times article reported she was a member of the group .
“ In suggesting a link between People of Praise and Margaret Atwood ’ s ‘ The Handmaid ’ s Tale , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the news outlet making such a claim , ” the group ’ s communications director Sean Connolly told the DCNF in late September .
“ Bottom line : There has never been any evidence whatsoever to suggest that the Indiana-based People of Praise played a role in inspiring Margaret Atwood ’ s book , ” he added .
He did not address whether Barrett is a member of the group .
Diane Bray , a former Democratic candidate for the Colorado senate , also likened Barrett to a character in “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fight like hell or Handmaid ’ s Tale will be our reality , ” she tweeted September 27 .
“ Can ’ t wait to hear Amy Coney Barrett questioned on whether she ever had the role of ‘ Handmaid ’ in her People of Praise cult where women pledge subservience to men .
You bet it ’ s relevant .
”

A number of Democratic lawmakers and liberal media figures have attacked Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett for her Catholic beliefs.
The Catholic mother of seven first came under fire for her Catholic faith at her 2017 confirmation hearings where Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Dick Durbin suggested that her beliefs might make her unfit to serve as a federal judge.
Barrett has faced renewed attacks on her faith since she emerged as a Supreme Court frontrunner.
A number of Democratic lawmakers and liberal media figures have attacked Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett for her Catholic beliefs.
The Catholic mother of seven first came under fire for her Catholic faith at her 2017 confirmation hearings, when Democratic senators suggested that her beliefs might make her unfit to serve as a federal judge.
Barrett has faced renewed attacks on her faith ever since it became known that Trump was considering her for the vacancy, such as comedian Bill Maher saying she is a “fuckin’ nut,” and “really, really Catholic — like speaking in tongues.”
And Maher isn’t alone in levying attacks against Barrett’s faith.
Democratic California Sen. Dianne Feinstein
“Why is it that so many of us on this side have this very uncomfortable feeling that dogma and law are two different things, and I think whatever a religion is, it has its own dogma. The law is totally different,” Democratic California Sen. Dianne Feinstein told Barrett when she came before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2017.
“The conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you,” Feinstein added. “And that’s of concern.”
Feinstein refused in late September to address whether she would question Barrett in this way again, saying, “I’m not going to go there,” according to CNN.
“Let’s wait until she’s nominated,” she said regarding how Democrats would handle Barrett’s nomination. Feinstein and other Senate Democrats on Thursday requested a delay in Barrett’s confirmation process.
Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin
Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin also questioned Barrett over an article she co-authored as a law student that included the term “orthodox Catholic,” asking Barrett: “Do you consider yourself an orthodox Catholic?”
“If you’re asking whether I’m a faithful Catholic, I am, although I would stress that my own personal church affiliation or my religious belief would not bear on the discharge of my duties as a judge,” Barrett told him.
Durbin told the Daily Caller News Foundation after the hearing that he prefaced his remarks by saying that “going into a person’s religion is not the right thing to do in every circumstance.”
“But she’s been outspoken,” he said. “As a law school professor at Notre Dame she has taken on the tough challenge of how a person with strong religious beliefs becomes a judge and looks at American law.”
“So I think she has fashioned herself somewhat of an expert and I didn’t feel uncomfortable asking that question,” Durbin added.
Democratic Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono
Democratic Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono raised Barrett’s “closely held views” on Wednesday, suggesting that these views may make Barrett unfit to serve on the Supreme Court. Hirono questioned “whether her closely held views can be separated from her ability to make objective, fair decisions”
“She has very closely held views that will impact a woman’s right to choose,” Hirono said September 26 , “and certainly she has already expressed her willingness to vote down the Affordable Care Act as well as other Supreme Court precedents.”
Hirono previously raised Barrett’s Catholic views during her 2017 confirmation hearing and in 2019 harangued a Catholic judge for his membership in Knights of Columbus, a Catholic charity.
Former Democratic California Rep. Katie Hill
Disgraced former Democratic California congresswoman Katie Hill tweeted September 22: “If her religion never made it into her court decisions, she can believe what she wants. But, yes, personally, I DO object to any religion that still insists women be subservient.”
Hill denied that criticisms of Barrett are stemming from anti-Catholic bias, calling this “ridiculous,” according to Politico.
“This isn’t about Catholicism,” Hill said. “This isn’t even about religion. This is about extremism.”
“Someone’s religion is important when their religious beliefs are part of the way they make decisions that come before that court,” Hill told the New York Times. The former congresswoman said that Barrett holds “anti-women, anti-L.G.B.T.Q. positions, which are rooted in her religion” and would play into “her decisions on the court.”
Biden Campaign Deputy Data Director Nikitha Rai
Biden campaign Deputy Data Director Nikitha Rai criticized Barrett’s religious views in a Twitter conversation Monday night with Brookings Institute Senior Fellow Shadi Hamid.
“Wait, why is this news? Isn’t this the standard position for any orthodox Catholic?” Hamid asked about a tweet saying that Barrett was a trustee at a Catholic school that opposed same-sex marriage and said homosexual acts are “at odds with Scripture.”
“Unfortunately yes,” Rai responded.
Hamid noted that Orthodox Muslims and Jews also share this belief, to which Rai replied, “True. I’d heavily prefer views like that not be elevated to SCOTUS, but unfortunately our current culture is relatively intolerant. It will be awhile before those types of beliefs are so taboo that they’re disqualifiers.”
Rai has since locked her Twitter account. She did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation and blocked the DCNF’s reporter from sending her further messages.
DNC Committee Member Atima Omara
Democratic National Committee member Altima Omara compared Barrett to the character Aunt Lydia in the fictional dystopian novel and TV series “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Aunt Lydia’s character, the Atlantic reported, “emotionally, mentally, physically, and sexually tortured the handmaids in her care” by cutting out their eyes and tongues, sewing their mouths shut, and tasing them for offenses. The publication noted that Aunt Lydia “enjoys” these cruelties in the show.
“Under the circumstances I’m pretty calm, yknow while the living version of Aunt Lydia in the Handmaid’s Tale gets nominated to the Supreme Court to replace a woman who literally spent her life fighting for gender equity,” Omara tweeted September 25.
Amid reports that Barrett might be Trump’s choice to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, multiple news outlets falsely reported that the Catholic group People of Praise was the inspiration for “The Handmaid’s Tale” and highlighted Barrett’s reported connections with the group.
Former 2020 presidential candidate Marianne Williamson also highlighted Barrett’s associations to the group, calling People of Praise’s views “genuinely concerning.”
“Amy Barrett being Catholic is a good thing; Joe Biden is a Catholic too,” Williamson tweeted. “Republicans are trying to make it as though the Left is criticizing her Catholicism but it’s not true.”
“It’s the repressive tenets of the ‘People of Praise’ sect she belongs to that are genuinely concerning,” Williamson added.
People of Praise has not confirmed or denied Barrett’s membership, according to Reuters, ever since a 2017 New York Times article reported she was a member of the group.
“In suggesting a link between People of Praise and Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ the burden of proof clearly lies with the news outlet making such a claim,” the group’s communications director Sean Connolly told the DCNF in late September.
“Bottom line: There has never been any evidence whatsoever to suggest that the Indiana-based People of Praise played a role in inspiring Margaret Atwood’s book,” he added. He did not address whether Barrett is a member of the group.
Former Democratic Candidate For Colorado Senate Diane Bray
Diane Bray, a former Democratic candidate for the Colorado senate, also likened Barrett to a character in “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
“Time to fight like hell or Handmaid’s Tale will be our reality,” she tweeted September 27. “Can’t wait to hear Amy Coney Barrett questioned on whether she ever had the role of ‘Handmaid’ in her People of Praise cult where women pledge subservience to men. You bet it’s relevant.”


truepundit--2020-10-02--FBI Cites ‘Law Enforcement Proceedings’ To Block Release Of Disciplinary Records Of Trump Probe Inve

FBI Cites ‘Law Enforcement Proceedings’ To Block Release Of Disciplinary Records Of Trump Probe Investigators

The FBI says it can not release records of internal disciplinary reviews of investigators from the Crossfire Hurricane team because of “ pending or prospective law enforcement proceedings , ” according to a letter the bureau sent the Daily Caller News Foundation this week .
The DCNF filed a Freedom of Information Act ( FOIA ) request on Feb. 9 for all referrals that the FBI submitted to the Office of Professional Responsibility ( OPR ) as part of its review of the Crossfire Hurricane probe , which looked at the Trump campaign ’ s possible connections to Russia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judiciary Committee on Feb. 5 that the FBI had referred all current employees mentioned in an inspector general ’ s ( IG ) report on Crossfire Hurricane to OPR for disciplinary review .
“ Those people have all been referred to our disciplinary arm , ” Wray testified .
The IG report said the Crossfire Hurricane team made 17 “ significant ” errors and omissions in applications to surveil former Trump aide Carter Page .
Investigators withheld exculpatory evidence regarding Page and other Trump campaign aides , as well as information that undercut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A federal judge who granted the surveillance orders accused the FBI of misleading the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court .
Though the IG report faulted numerous FBI officials , agents , analysts and lawyers in its scathing report , only one lawyer , Kevin Clinesmith , has faced any charges for activities during Crossfire Hurricane .
Clinesmith , a former FBI attorney , pleaded guilty on Aug. 19 to altering an email from a CIA analyst regarding Carter Page in June 2017 .
It is unclear which FBI personnel have been referred to OPR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s information management division told the DCNF this week that the bureau is closing the FOIA request and withholding all of the OPR records .
“ The records responsive to your request are law enforcement records ; there is a pending or prospective law enforcement proceeding to these records , and release of the information could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings , ” Michael G. Seidel , section chief for the information management division , said in the rejection letter .
The FBI declined additional comment about the OPR records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying that the bureau does not discuss FOIA requests .
The FBI ’ s rationale for rejecting the FOIA request could be an indication that more criminal investigations are underway than publicly known , though the bureau could also be using the ongoing Clinesmith prosecution to withhold other OPR reports .
Many of the Crossfire Hurricane members have either retired , resigned or been fired for reasons not directly related to the Trump probe .
Andrew McCabe was fired as deputy director for lying to investigators about his role authorizing a leak about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was fired in August 2019 over anti-Trump text messages he exchanged with former FBI lawyer Lisa Page .
The IG report describes the actions of top FBI officials , including James Comey , McCabe , and Strzok .
It also details the activities of special agents , attorneys , and intelligence analysts who worked on the investigation .
U.S. Attorney John Durham is investigating aspects of Crossfire Hurricane .
There is rampant speculation in Washington about whether he will issue any more indictments in the investigation .

The FBI says it cannot release records of internal disciplinary reviews of investigators from the Crossfire Hurricane team because of “pending or prospective law enforcement proceedings,” according to a letter the bureau sent the Daily Caller News Foundation this week.
The DCNF filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on Feb. 9 for all referrals that the FBI submitted to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) as part of its review of the Crossfire Hurricane probe, which looked at the Trump campaign’s possible connections to Russia.
FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 5 that the FBI had referred all current employees mentioned in an inspector general’s (IG) report on Crossfire Hurricane to OPR for disciplinary review.
“Those people have all been referred to our disciplinary arm,” Wray testified.
The IG report said the Crossfire Hurricane team made 17 “significant” errors and omissions in applications to surveil former Trump aide Carter Page. Investigators withheld exculpatory evidence regarding Page and other Trump campaign aides, as well as information that undercut the credibility of the Steele dossier.
A federal judge who granted the surveillance orders accused the FBI of misleading the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Though the IG report faulted numerous FBI officials, agents, analysts and lawyers in its scathing report, only one lawyer, Kevin Clinesmith, has faced any charges for activities during Crossfire Hurricane.
Clinesmith, a former FBI attorney, pleaded guilty on Aug. 19 to altering an email from a CIA analyst regarding Carter Page in June 2017.
It is unclear which FBI personnel have been referred to OPR.
The head of the FBI’s information management division told the DCNF this week that the bureau is closing the FOIA request and withholding all of the OPR records.
“The records responsive to your request are law enforcement records; there is a pending or prospective law enforcement proceeding to these records, and release of the information could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings,” Michael G. Seidel, section chief for the information management division, said in the rejection letter.
“Therefore, your request is administratively closed.”
The FBI declined additional comment about the OPR records and what investigations might be under way saying that the bureau does not discuss FOIA requests.
The FBI’s rationale for rejecting the FOIA request could be an indication that more criminal investigations are underway than publicly known, though the bureau could also be using the ongoing Clinesmith prosecution to withhold other OPR reports.
Many of the Crossfire Hurricane members have either retired, resigned or been fired for reasons not directly related to the Trump probe.
Andrew McCabe was fired as deputy director for lying to investigators about his role authorizing a leak about the Clinton Foundation investigation. Peter Strzok was fired in August 2019 over anti-Trump text messages he exchanged with former FBI lawyer Lisa Page.
The IG report describes the actions of top FBI officials, including James Comey, McCabe, and Strzok. It also details the activities of special agents, attorneys, and intelligence analysts who worked on the investigation.
U.S. Attorney John Durham is investigating aspects of Crossfire Hurricane. There is rampant speculation in Washington about whether he will issue any more indictments in the investigation.


truepundit--2020-10-02--WATCH: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Dresses Up As ‘Rona Destroyer’ To Announce Halloween Guidelines

Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot donned a black mask and a red cape embroidered with “ Rona Destroyer ” to announce coronavirus related Halloween guidelines on Thursday , the Chicago Tribune reported .
Lightfoot ’ s guidelines require people to wear masks and ask anyone handing out candy to post a sign or leave a porch light on to let others know they ’ re participating in the festivities , the Tribune reported .
Trick-or-treaters are asked to move in groups of six or less , to avoid putting their hands into bowls and to wash their hands before eating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow parties “ large or small , ” or haunted houses , according to the Tribune .
Lightfoot conceded that telling people they can ’ t trick-or-treat would be unrealistic .
“ This year more than ever it is important to celebrate Halloween safely and responsibly , ” Lightfoot said , the Tribune reported .
She previously said she didn ’ t expect “ mass crowds of trick-or-treating like we have in years past.
” The city ’ s annual “ Halloweek ” activities will happen from Oct. 26th through the 31st , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Public Health issued statewide trick-or-treating guidelines Saturday , the Tribune reported .
The state encouraged people to stay home and that if people were going to participate in trick-or-treating that they should stay within their households .

Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot donned a black mask and a red cape embroidered with “Rona Destroyer” to announce coronavirus related Halloween guidelines on Thursday, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Lightfoot’s guidelines require people to wear masks and ask anyone handing out candy to post a sign or leave a porch light on to let others know they’re participating in the festivities, the Tribune reported. Trick-or-treaters are asked to move in groups of six or less, to avoid putting their hands into bowls and to wash their hands before eating any candy.
The city will not allow parties “large or small,” or haunted houses, according to the Tribune. Lightfoot conceded that telling people they can’t trick-or-treat would be unrealistic.
“This year more than ever it is important to celebrate Halloween safely and responsibly,” Lightfoot said, the Tribune reported. She previously said she didn’t expect “mass crowds of trick-or-treating like we have in years past.”
The city’s annual “Halloweek” activities will happen from Oct. 26th through the 31st, the Tribune reported.
The Illinois Department of Public Health issued statewide trick-or-treating guidelines Saturday, the Tribune reported. The state encouraged people to stay home and that if people were going to participate in trick-or-treating that they should stay within their households.


truepundit--2020-10-02--Chinese-State-Run Media Chief Says Trump And Melania ‘Paid The Price’ For Downplaying Coronavirus

The editor-in-chief of a Chinese state-run media outlet said in a tweet Friday that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump “ paid the price ” for downplaying the coronavirus pandemic after both tested positive .
“ President Donald Trump and the first lady have paid the price for his gamble to play down the COVID-19 .
The news shows the severity of the US ’ pandemic situation , ” Hu Xijin , editor-in-chief of the Global Times , said in a Twitter post on Friday .
The president announced on Twitter that he and the first lady tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hicks , a close advisor to the president , tested positive for the virus on Wednesday after she traveled with him on Tuesday , according to ABC News .
“ It will impose a negative impact on the image of Trump and the US , and may also negatively affect his reelection , ” Hu continued , according to his Twitter post .
The State Department had placed the outlet and other Chinese news outlets on foreign mission status “ as controlled by the government ” in June , The New York Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government had been attempting to conceal the virus , causing it to significantly spread .
A Department of Homeland Security report in May said the Chinese government delayed informing the World Health Organization that the virus “ was a contagion ” for most of January in order to buy medical supplies from outside the country .
The country ’ s imports of face masks , gloves and surgical gowns increased dramatically in that period , according to the Associated Press .
The Chinese government also purposefully downplayed the pandemic over and over and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the alarm about the pandemic , according to the AP .
The Global Times , an English and Chinese tabloid run by the Chinese government , has been criticized for spreading disinformation that is , according to Business Insider .
The Global Times did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment .

The editor-in-chief of a Chinese state-run media outlet said in a tweet Friday that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump “paid the price” for downplaying the coronavirus pandemic after both tested positive.
“President Donald Trump and the first lady have paid the price for his gamble to play down the COVID-19. The news shows the severity of the US’ pandemic situation,” Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times, said in a Twitter post on Friday.
The president announced on Twitter that he and the first lady tested positive for COVID-19 early Friday. Hope Hicks, a close advisor to the president, tested positive for the virus on Wednesday after she traveled with him on Tuesday, according to ABC News.
“It will impose a negative impact on the image of Trump and the US, and may also negatively affect his reelection,” Hu continued, according to his Twitter post.
The State Department had placed the outlet and other Chinese news outlets on foreign mission status “as controlled by the government” in June, The New York Post reported.
Reports have indicated the Chinese government had been attempting to conceal the virus, causing it to significantly spread.
A Department of Homeland Security report in May said the Chinese government delayed informing the World Health Organization that the virus “was a contagion” for most of January in order to buy medical supplies from outside the country. The country’s imports of face masks, gloves and surgical gowns increased dramatically in that period, according to the Associated Press.
The Chinese government also purposefully downplayed the pandemic over and over and also silenced doctors who had earlier sounded the alarm about the pandemic, according to the AP.
The Global Times, an English and Chinese tabloid run by the Chinese government, has been criticized for spreading disinformation that is, according to Business Insider.
The Global Times did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.


truepundit--2020-10-02--Guatemala Says It Will Detain Around 2,000 Migrants Bound For The US

Guatemala says it will detain and return a migrant caravan of around 2,000 that entered the country from Honduras on Thursday , the Associated Press reported Friday .
Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei vowed the caravan would be sent back to Honduras over concerns about coronavirus , the AP reported .
The caravan overpowered Guatemalan border guards who reportedly made little attempt to control the situation , according to the AP .
“ The order has been given to detain all those who entered illegally , and return them to the border of their country , ” Giammattei said , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow any foreigner who has used illegal means to enter the country , to think that they have the right to come and infect us and put us at serious risk.
” Giammattei said that some constitutional rights would be suspended in provinces the caravan might go through in order to detain them , the AP reported .
Migrants were asked to provide negative coronavirus tests and to register at the border , but most reportedly pushed through the border without doing so .
Interior checkpoints have been organized by the Guatemalan military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents , the AP reported .
A majority of the migrants were young men , according to the AP .
One woman in the group accompanied by her daughter and granddaughter said she found out about the caravan on Facebook .
Migrants from Central America began to travel in large groups as a method of safety and to evade paying smugglers , the AP reported .
Though the likelihood that a caravan makes it to the U.S. border is low , and crossing the border will be nearly impossible due to the ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Guatemala says it will detain and return a migrant caravan of around 2,000 that entered the country from Honduras on Thursday, the Associated Press reported Friday.
Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei vowed the caravan would be sent back to Honduras over concerns about coronavirus, the AP reported. The caravan overpowered Guatemalan border guards who reportedly made little attempt to control the situation, according to the AP.
“The order has been given to detain all those who entered illegally, and return them to the border of their country,” Giammattei said, the AP reported. “We will not allow any foreigner who has used illegal means to enter the country, to think that they have the right to come and infect us and put us at serious risk.”
Giammattei said that some constitutional rights would be suspended in provinces the caravan might go through in order to detain them, the AP reported. Migrants were asked to provide negative coronavirus tests and to register at the border, but most reportedly pushed through the border without doing so.
Interior checkpoints have been organized by the Guatemalan military to check for the migrant’s documents, the AP reported.
A majority of the migrants were young men, according to the AP. One woman in the group accompanied by her daughter and granddaughter said she found out about the caravan on Facebook.
Migrants from Central America began to travel in large groups as a method of safety and to evade paying smugglers, the AP reported. Though the likelihood that a caravan makes it to the U.S. border is low, and crossing the border will be nearly impossible due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to the AP.


truepundit--2020-10-02--Stocks Drop After Trump Announces Positive COVID Test

The U.S. stock market fell following President Donald Trump ’ s announcement that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for coronavirus .
NASDAQ Composite was down nearly % 1 , as of Friday morning , according to Fox Business .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average also dropped about 122 points after trading opened and the S & P 500 dipped % 0.6 after the news of Trump ’ s positive test , Fox reported .
“ The news of President Trump contracting COVID-19 may completely change the direction of the campaign and adds to our already cautious outlook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Hercules Investments James McDonald told Reuters .
The stock plunge comes after the Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that 661,000 were added in September , which was lower than the initial estimate of around 800,000 .
August saw a job surge of 1.37 million , according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics .
The unemployment rate dropped to 7.9 % percent from 8.4 % in a report released Friday .
Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence have tested negative for COVID-19 , according to the Pence ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This morning , Vice President Pence and the Second Lady tested negative for COVID-19 , ” O ’ Malley said in a tweet Friday .
“ Vice President Pence remains in good health and wishes the Trumps well in their recovery .
”

The U.S. stock market fell following President Donald Trump’s announcement that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for coronavirus.
NASDAQ Composite was down nearly %1, as of Friday morning, according to Fox Business. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also dropped about 122 points after trading opened and the S&P 500 dipped %0.6 after the news of Trump’s positive test, Fox reported.
“The news of President Trump contracting COVID-19 may completely change the direction of the campaign and adds to our already cautious outlook on the stock market,” CEO of Hercules Investments James McDonald told Reuters.
The stock plunge comes after the Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that 661,000 were added in September, which was lower than the initial estimate of around 800,000. August saw a job surge of 1.37 million, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
The unemployment rate dropped to 7.9% percent from 8.4% in a report released Friday.
Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence have tested negative for COVID-19, according to the Pence’s press secretary Devin O’Malley.
“This morning, Vice President Pence and the Second Lady tested negative for COVID-19,” O’Malley said in a tweet Friday. “Vice President Pence remains in good health and wishes the Trumps well in their recovery.”


truepundit--2020-10-02--Amy Coney Barrett Tests Negative For COVID-19

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett tested negative for the coronavirus , a White House official announced Friday .
“ Judge Barrett was with the President last on Saturday when she was nominated , ” White House spokesman Judd Deere told the Daily Caller News Foundation Friday morning .
“ Judge Barrett is tested daily for COVID-19—she has tested negative .
She is following CDC guidance and best practices , including social distancing , wearing face coverings , and frequently washes hands.
” Trump announced that both he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for the virus early Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he and his wife have already started their “ quarantine process.
” “ Tonight , and I tested positive for COVID-19 .
We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately .
We will get through this TOGETHER !
” Trump tweeted .
White House Physician Sean Conley said both Trump and Melania are “ doing well.
” “ The White House medical team and I will maintain a vigilant watch , ” Conley said .
“ Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on any future developments .
”

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett tested negative for the coronavirus, a White House official announced Friday.
“Judge Barrett was with the President last on Saturday when she was nominated,” White House spokesman Judd Deere told the Daily Caller News Foundation Friday morning. “Judge Barrett is tested daily for COVID-19—she has tested negative. She is following CDC guidance and best practices, including social distancing, wearing face coverings, and frequently washes hands.”
Trump announced that both he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for the virus early Friday morning and the president said that both he and his wife have already started their “quarantine process.”
“Tonight, [Melania] and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!” Trump tweeted.
White House Physician Sean Conley said both Trump and Melania are “doing well.”
“The White House medical team and I will maintain a vigilant watch,” Conley said. “Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering, and I will keep you updated on any future developments.”


truepundit--2020-10-02--US Economy Added 661,000 Jobs In September, Less Than Expected

The U.S. economy added 661,000 jobs in September , while unemployment fell to 7.9 % , according to Department of Labor data released Friday .
Total non-farm payroll employment rose by 661,000 in September , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics report , and the number of unemployed persons fell by 1 million to 12.6 million .
In August , the unemployment rate fell below 10 % for the first time since April when the rate reached 14.7 % .
“ These improvements in the labor market reflect the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain it , ” the report said .
“ In September , notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality , in retail trade , in health care and social assistance , and in professional and business services.
” There was a decline in government jobs , mainly in state and local education , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics .
“ Clearly there has been a moderation in the rate of improvement from the early stages , ” the head of U.S. economics at Bank of America Michelle Meyer said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ As we get further away from the initial shock , we have less of a natural catch-up , and we face more residual damage.
” Economists projected 800,000 Americans to be added to payrolls and the unemployment rate to drop to 8.2 % prior to Friday ’ s report , according to CNBC .
September marked the fifth straight month of both increasing jobs and dropping unemployment since the country lost a record 20.5 million jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic closures in April , according to Bloomberg News .
The Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slowing economic recovery , Bloomberg News reported .
In August , the U.S. economy added 1.4 million jobs and unemployment dropped to 8.4 % from June ’ s unemployment rate of 10.2 % .
Disney announced Tuesday it was laying off 28,000 employees while airlines have furloughed tens of thousands of employees , the WSJ reported .
Insurance company Allstate announced significant layoffs on Wednesday , according to The Times .
Personal income decreased $ 543.5 billion , or 2.7 % , in August due to the expiration of unemployment insurance benefits for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Analysis announced Thursday .
Personal income increased slightly in July .
Meanwhile , the House of Representatives passed a second coronavirus stimulus package Thursday largely along party lines , according to CNBC .
The Democrats and the White House remain far apart on the contents of the bill , however .
The U.S. economy plunged by a record 31.4 % in the second quarter due to the pandemic .
The third quarter report , which will be released on Oct. 29 , is expected to show significant growth , according to the Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national emergency in March as coronavirus spread rapidly around the world .

The U.S. economy added 661,000 jobs in September, while unemployment fell to 7.9%, according to Department of Labor data released Friday.
Total non-farm payroll employment rose by 661,000 in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics report, and the number of unemployed persons fell by 1 million to 12.6 million. In August, the unemployment rate fell below 10% for the first time since April when the rate reached 14.7%.
“These improvements in the labor market reflect the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic and efforts to contain it,” the report said. “In September, notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, in retail trade, in health care and social assistance, and in professional and business services.”
There was a decline in government jobs, mainly in state and local education, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“Clearly there has been a moderation in the rate of improvement from the early stages,” the head of U.S. economics at Bank of America Michelle Meyer said, according to The New York Times.
“As we get further away from the initial shock, we have less of a natural catch-up, and we face more residual damage.”
Economists projected 800,000 Americans to be added to payrolls and the unemployment rate to drop to 8.2% prior to Friday’s report, according to CNBC.
September marked the fifth straight month of both increasing jobs and dropping unemployment since the country lost a record 20.5 million jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic closures in April, according to Bloomberg News.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ numbers represent a slowing economic recovery, Bloomberg News reported. In August, the U.S. economy added 1.4 million jobs and unemployment dropped to 8.4% from June’s unemployment rate of 10.2%.
Disney announced Tuesday it was laying off 28,000 employees while airlines have furloughed tens of thousands of employees, the WSJ reported. Insurance company Allstate announced significant layoffs on Wednesday, according to The Times.
Personal income decreased $543.5 billion, or 2.7%, in August due to the expiration of unemployment insurance benefits for many Americans, the Bureau of Economic Analysis announced Thursday. Personal income increased slightly in July.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives passed a second coronavirus stimulus package Thursday largely along party lines, according to CNBC. The Democrats and the White House remain far apart on the contents of the bill, however.
The U.S. economy plunged by a record 31.4% in the second quarter due to the pandemic. The third quarter report, which will be released on Oct. 29, is expected to show significant growth, according to the Associated Press.
President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in March as coronavirus spread rapidly around the world.


truepundit--2020-10-04--Autonomous Indoor Serving Robots Set To Invade Restaurants Near You

Before readers know it , restaurants of the future will have their entire front-end automated , nevertheless , the backend @ @ @ @ @ will be operated by robot chefs .
For years we ’ ve spoken about the @ @ @ @ @ to sweep across the food industry , but it wasn ’ t until the virus @ @ @ @ @ , producing a contactless environment between patron and employee , absolutely erupted .
Two companies @ @ @ @ @ Bear Robotics , a robotics and artificial intelligence company , and SoftBank Robotics Group , @ @ @ @ @ have jointly designed a new robot named Servi that will be sold to foodservice and @ @ @ @ @ expect “ skyrocketing demand for these autonomous indoor robots in restaurants and other dining venues @ @ @ @ @ Robotics and SoftBank Robotics Group press release .
– READ MORE Listen to the insightful @ @ @ @ @

Before readers know it, restaurants of the future will have their entire front-end automated, nevertheless, the backend where the food is prepped will be operated by robot chefs.
For years we’ve spoken about the automation wave that is set to sweep across the food industry, but it wasn’t until the virus pandemic when demand for automation, producing a contactless environment between patron and employee, absolutely erupted.
Two companies making robots for restaurants are Bear Robotics, a robotics and artificial intelligence company, and SoftBank Robotics Group, a robotics manufacture. They have jointly designed a new robot named Servi that will be sold to foodservice and hospitality companies.
Both companies expect “skyrocketing demand for these autonomous indoor robots in restaurants and other dining venues,” stated a Bear Robotics and SoftBank Robotics Group press release. – READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --


truepundit--2020-10-04--Free Speech Crisis On Campus: 60% Of Students Keep Quiet Due To Fear How Others Would Respond

A university should be a place where students can be exposed to new ideas , where they can engage freely in debate and discussion .
But do college students really feel free to speak their minds on campus ?
Newly released College Free Speech Rankings show that , at most colleges , the answer is no .
RealClearEducation launched the College Free Speech Rankings , with an interactive website , so parents and students can see how schools they ’ re interested in stack up .
The rankings are based on a survey of nearly 20,000 students at 55 schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some startling facts .
Almost 20 % of students say that using violence to stop an unwanted speech or event is in some cases acceptable .
Among Ivy League students , 36 % said that it was “ always ” or “ sometimes ” acceptable to shout down a speaker one doesn ’ t like .
Self-censorship is also a major problem .
Sixty percent of college students say they have kept quiet due to fear of how others would respond .
Among conservative students , that number is 72 % .
Colleges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideas .
Professors and students fear being shouted down , shunned , or , in some cases , fired or expelled .
This has a chilling effect on the classroom .
Jonathan Haidt , a professor at New York University , frames the problem this way : “ At my university we have a ‘ bias response line.
’ Students are encouraged to anonymously report anyone who says anything that offends them .
So , as a professor , I no longer take risks ; I must teach to the most easily offended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid saying or doing anything provocative .
My classes are less fun and engaging.
” – READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

A university should be a place where students can be exposed to new ideas, where they can engage freely in debate and discussion. But do college students really feel free to speak their minds on campus? Newly released College Free Speech Rankings show that, at most colleges, the answer is no.
RealClearEducation launched the College Free Speech Rankings, with an interactive website, so parents and students can see how schools they’re interested in stack up.
The rankings are based on a survey of nearly 20,000 students at 55 schools across the country. The survey reveals some startling facts. Almost 20% of students say that using violence to stop an unwanted speech or event is in some cases acceptable. Among Ivy League students, 36% said that it was “always” or “sometimes” acceptable to shout down a speaker one doesn’t like.
Self-censorship is also a major problem. Sixty percent of college students say they have kept quiet due to fear of how others would respond. Among conservative students, that number is 72%.
Colleges have become perilous places to express unpopular ideas. Professors and students fear being shouted down, shunned, or, in some cases, fired or expelled. This has a chilling effect on the classroom.
Jonathan Haidt, a professor at New York University, frames the problem this way: “At my university we have a ‘bias response line.’ Students are encouraged to anonymously report anyone who says anything that offends them. So, as a professor, I no longer take risks; I must teach to the most easily offended student in the class. I therefore avoid saying or doing anything provocative. My classes are less fun and engaging.” – READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --


truepundit--2020-10-04--Tens Turn Out to See Bernie Sanders Campaign for Joe Biden in NH

A small crowd turned out to see Bernie Sanders campaign for Joe Biden in New Hampshire on Saturday .
Sanders @ @ @ @ @ the town of Lebanon .
“ Bernie Sanders takes the stage for a distanced rally @ @ @ @ @ , ” Adam Sexton of WMUR reported , posting a photo of a handful of @ @ @ @ @ socialist senator : But that photo was not taken from a deceptive angle .
There @ @ @ @ @ who turned out .
The New Hampshire Democratic Party posted a video to Twitter revealing @ @ @ @ @ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

A small crowd turned out to see Bernie Sanders campaign for Joe Biden in New Hampshire on Saturday.
Sanders was stumping for Biden in the town of Lebanon.
“Bernie Sanders takes the stage for a distanced rally for Joe Biden in Lebanon,” Adam Sexton of WMUR reported, posting a photo of a handful of people there to see the socialist senator:
.@BernieSanders takes the stage here in Lebanon, New Hampshire! Together, we can elect @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris as our next president and vice president — tune in to Senator Sanders’ speech here: https://t.co/ZoiY8iiHhc #NHPolitics pic.twitter.com/7BSqQktvMi — NH Democratic Party (@NHDems) October 3, 2020
But that photo was not taken from a deceptive angle. There were only tens of people who turned out.
The New Hampshire Democratic Party posted a video to Twitter revealing the paltry turnout – READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --


truepundit--2020-10-04--Trump campaign keeping at ‘full speed’ with ‘Operation MAGA’ as Trump fights COVID-19

The Trump campaign is keeping at “ full speed ” as President Trump fights the novel coronavirus , with a new “ Operation MAGA ” that includes events featuring Vice President Pence and members of the Trump family in key battleground states across the country , Fox News has learned .
The new operation comes after the president tested positive for COVID-19 and is being treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center .
Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien , who also tested positive for coronavirus on Friday , is working remotely , but is not slowing down , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill is working remotely , but absolutely remains in total control of the campaign , ” the official told Fox News , adding that Stepien ’ s longtime ally , deputy campaign manager Justin Clark , remains at campaign headquarters .
The official told Fox News that early Saturday morning , Stepien , Clark and senior adviser Jason Miller held a call with campaign communications , operations and political teams to describe the launch of “ Operation MAGA ” and get the teams working on the new initiative and to “ rally everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign .
The official said Stepien was planning to host two other conference calls Saturday afternoon – one with the entire campaign staff , and the other with grassroots leaders from across the country .
The official told Fox News that the vice president is expected to participate in one of the calls .
– READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

The Trump campaign is keeping at “full speed” as President Trump fights the novel coronavirus, with a new “Operation MAGA” that includes events featuring Vice President Pence and members of the Trump family in key battleground states across the country, Fox News has learned.
The new operation comes after the president tested positive for COVID-19 and is being treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, who also tested positive for coronavirus on Friday, is working remotely, but is not slowing down, according to a senior campaign official.
“Bill is working remotely, but absolutely remains in total control of the campaign,” the official told Fox News, adding that Stepien’s longtime ally, deputy campaign manager Justin Clark, remains at campaign headquarters.
The official told Fox News that early Saturday morning, Stepien, Clark and senior adviser Jason Miller held a call with campaign communications, operations and political teams to describe the launch of “Operation MAGA” and get the teams working on the new initiative and to “rally everybody for the last 30 days” of the campaign.
The official said Stepien was planning to host two other conference calls Saturday afternoon – one with the entire campaign staff, and the other with grassroots leaders from across the country. The official told Fox News that the vice president is expected to participate in one of the calls. – READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --


truepundit--2020-10-04--Another Migrant Caravan Is Heading For The U.S. Border

Thousands of Honduran migrants are heading to the U.S. as boundaries between countries in Central America have been reopened amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The Associated Press reported Friday that around 2,000 Honduran migrants had entered Guatemala as part of a caravan heading for the U.S. border .
Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei said he would detain the migrants and send them back to Honduras , calling the caravan a health threat due to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ The order has been given to detain all those who entered illegally , and return them to the border of their country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the AP .
“ We will not allow any foreigner who has used illegal means to enter the country , to think that they have the right to come and infect us and put us at serious risk.
” The migrants were supposed to be registered as they crossed into Guatemala , but the caravan pushed their way past the limited number of Guatemalan police and soldiers and entered the country .
The AP reported that a 15-year-old who traveled with his three friends and neighbors was looking to live the “ American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6-month-old son who was back in Honduras .
– READ MORE Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --

Thousands of Honduran migrants are heading to the U.S. as boundaries between countries in Central America have been reopened amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Associated Press reported Friday that around 2,000 Honduran migrants had entered Guatemala as part of a caravan heading for the U.S. border. Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei said he would detain the migrants and send them back to Honduras, calling the caravan a health threat due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The order has been given to detain all those who entered illegally, and return them to the border of their country,” Giammattei said, according to the AP. “We will not allow any foreigner who has used illegal means to enter the country, to think that they have the right to come and infect us and put us at serious risk.”
The migrants were supposed to be registered as they crossed into Guatemala, but the caravan pushed their way past the limited number of Guatemalan police and soldiers and entered the country. The AP reported that a 15-year-old who traveled with his three friends and neighbors was looking to live the “American dream” and hoping to support his 6-month-old son who was back in Honduras. – READ MORE
Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below --