freedomdaily--2020-01-10--Report: DOJ’s Probe Of Clintons Ends With A Whimper

U.S. Attorney John Huber has concluded a sprawling investigation into several matters related to the Clintons without a finding of criminal wrongdoing , according to a Washington Post report .
In November 2017 , then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions tapped Huber to investigate the Clinton Foundation as well as Hillary Clinton ’ s actions as secretary of state towards Uranium One , an energy firm linked to Clinton Foundation donors .
Huber was also tasked with investigation matters related to the Russia probe , but that part of his investigation was ceded to the Justice Department ’ s office of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which cited current and former law enforcement officials , Huber reviewed documents related to the investigations and coordinated with federal investigators in Little Rock , Ark.
, who were probing the Clinton Foundation .
The Post ’ s sources said that Huber ’ s review turned up few leads worth pursuing .
The Justice Department has not formally closed the investigation , according to The Post , but it appears essentially to be over .
One source told The Post that neither Huber nor anyone else at the Justice Department expected the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t expect much of it , and neither did he , ” a source familiar with Huber ’ s activities told The Post .
“ And as time went on , a lot of people just forgot about it.
” Huber ’ s investigation was overshadowed by other Justice Department probes that focused on the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation .
The Justice Department ’ s inspector general investigated the FBI ’ s surveillance of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page .
And William Barr , who succeeded Sessions as attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Durham , to investigate U.S. intelligence agencies ’ actions towards the Trump campaign .
Barr said in an interview in May 2019 that Huber was “ winding down ” his investigation .
“ The other issues he ’ s been working on relate to Hillary Clinton .
Those are winding down and hopefully we ’ ll be in a position to bring those to fruition , ” Barr told CBS News in a May 31 , 2019 interview .
The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment about The @ @ @ @ @


freedomdaily--2020-01-11--‘Walls Work’: DHS Celebrates 100 Miles Of New Border Wall

YUMA , Arizona — Top officials within the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) visited southern Arizona on Friday to commemorate the completion of 100 miles of new border wall .
Chad Wolf , the acting secretary of DHS , stopped by the U.S.-Mexico border near Yuma on Friday , delivering a speech in recognition of the important milestone : 100 miles of completed border wall since the beginning of the Trump administration .
Wolf was joined by Arizona GOP Sen. Martha McSally , Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls , and numerous Border Patrol officials .
The acting secretary looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with President Donald Trump ’ s name , was welded onto a section of the wall .
“ Today , as a milestone has been reached , a celebration is in order .
Today I am proud to report that the Trump administration has now constructed 100 miles of new border wall system on the southern border , ” Wolf said .
“ This is a milestone achievement for the president , the Department , and more importantly for our country.
” In plain sight behind the acting secretary was newly-built border wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topped off with ant-climb plates .
Adjacent to the new wall was the older — and much smaller — anti-vehicle barrier , which stood at about wait high .
Much of the new border wall that ’ s been built has replaced these small vehicular walls or otherwise dilapidated barriers .
Some critics have argued that the Trump administration hasn ’ t actually built much new wall , but is simply replacing old wall .
The acting secretary aggressively pushed back against this narrative .
“ One thing I want to emphasize : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have constructed is new border wall system .
It ’ s not so-called ‘ replacement ’ wall as some our critics claim .
It is new wall , ” Wolf said , arguing that you wouldn ’ t call the completion of a five-bedroom house in place of a rundown shack a “ replacement ” house — you ’ d call it a “ new ” house .
When asked what they need to make their jobs easier , Border Patrol officials everywhere tell the DHS chief that they need a border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Yuma for the commemorative event held heavy symbolic value .
The mayor of the border town had declared a state of emergency in April of last year as local services were unable to cope with the sheer volume of illegal aliens arriving on a daily a a basis .
However , the mayor withdrew the state of emergency in December , and directly credited the Trump administration with implementing directives that led to the stabilization of the border crisis .
Illegal crossings have plummeted all across the southern border in recent months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) just reported that the month of December witnessed a total of 40,620 enforcement actions — the seventh straight month of declines in apprehensions .
These numbers are a far cry from when the border crisis reached its peak in May , where CBP officials saw more than 144,000 enforcement actions .
The Trump admonition was given a major win late Wednesday when the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ’ s ruling , allowing the White House to use military funds to pay for border wall construction .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miles of new wall built by the end of 2020 , but court battles , opposition from Democratic lawmakers , and government red tape have slowed these efforts .
Wolf , for his part , hammered his position that physical barriers are an essential part of securing the U.S.-Mexico border .
“ As the chief said , to put it simply , walls work .
Looking at wall construction historically , we see that walls go up , illegal apprehensions and illegal crossings go down .
A wall system went up in San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
A wall system went up in Tucson , illegal crossings went down 24 % .
Here in Yuma , when the wall system went up , illegal crossings in that area decreased by over 78 % , ” Wolf said .
“ I said it before and I ’ ll say it again : walls work .
The facts simply do not lie , ” he said .

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freedomdaily--2020-01-11--Analysis: Nancy Pelosi Is Giving Joe Biden A Leg Up Before Iowa

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Friday that she would be sending articles of impeachment over to the Senate next week .
Pelosi ’ s announcement came more than three weeks after the House formally voted to impeach President Donald Trump .
Pelosi is sending over the articles of impeachment without securing any of the concessions she demanded from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — concessions she insisted were a prerequisite for sending the articles .
But her delay in starting the impeachment process will have accomplished one thing : taking Sens .
Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses .
Regardless of whether or not it was Pelosi ’ s intention , her otherwise-fruitless delay in sending the articles to the Senate will have sidelined the two most anti-establishment Democratic candidates at a crucial point in the primary .
Sanders is currently leading the field in both Iowa and New Hampshire , while Warren is hovering around the 15 % threshold for receiving delegates in both states , according to RealClearPolitics ’ polling averages .
Taking both senators off the campaign trail would give an advantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg , both of whom are in contention to win Iowa and New Hampshire , and neither of whom are as far to the left as Sanders and Warren .
“ Of course it matters , ” Warren told Politico of being stuck in Washington , D.C. , while other candidates are campaigning .
“ We just did a 3½-hour selfie line .
Don ’ t tell me it doesn ’ t matter to do face to face.
” The Senate trial is estimated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Former President Bill Clinton ’ s Senate impeachment trial , for reference , lasted five weeks . )
Assuming the trial begins next week , even if the process lasts two weeks , that will keep Sanders and Warren largely contained to Washington , D.C. , until days before the caucuses begin .
If the trial lasts three weeks or longer , Sanders and Warren are likely to still be in the nation ’ s capital on the day of the caucuses .
A four-week trial would almost certainly cause the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well .
Democratic Sens .
Cory Booker of New Jersey , Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Michael Bennett of Colorado would also be stuck in Washington , but none of them are currently among the frontrunners .


freedomdaily--2020-01-11--Cook County, IL, declined more than 1,000 ICE detainers in FY19

CHICAGO — Law enforcement agencies in Cook County , Illinois , released 1,070 criminal aliens and immigration violators in Fiscal Year 2019 , despite requests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) to notify the agency prior to their release from local custody .
“ The most concerning issue about working in an area that refuses to cooperate with ICE is not only that we do not know which criminal aliens are being released from custody , but the public doesn ’ t know either , ” said Henry Lucero , ICE ’ s acting deputy executive associate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ERO ) .
“ Because ICE does not have access to standard Illinois law enforcement databases , it ’ s difficult to accurately account for all the aliens who have been arrested , released and committed additional crimes .
However , with the limited information ICE can verify , we know that police resources are being wasted , more people are being victimized , and it ’ s a matter of time until something more significant happens.
” The following are just two examples where ICE lodged immigration detainers with Cook County for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rearrested in FY 2019 : • Rasheed Abass , a 50-year-old South African national , was arrested in June for indecent exposure .
In July , he was arrested for assault .
ICE lodged detainers after both arrests .
His current location is unknown .
• Kennete Acevedo Ortiz , also known as Kennev Vasques-Rugama , a 28-year-old Nicaraguan national , was arrested at least three times in FY 2019 .
His first arrest was in December 2018 for driving under the influence .
Acevedo Ortiz was arrested two additional times in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in March for failure to appear .
ICE lodged a detainer following each arrest .
He is currently in Illinois Department of Corrections ’ custody .
The following criminal aliens were released despite an active immigration detainer or are about to be released without notification to ICE under the county ’ s sanctuary policies : • On Dec. 3 , 2018 , ICE lodged a detainer with the Cook County Jail on Rokas Ablacinskas , a 22-year-old citizen of Lithuania , following his arrest for attempted murder , aggravated battery of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggravated battery in a public place .
Without notifying ICE , the Cook County Jail released Ablacinskas Sept. 17 , 2019 , and he remains at large in the community .
• On , Dec. 10 , 2018 , ICE lodged a detainer with the Cook County Jail on Isidro Ramirez-Hernandez , a 52-year-old citizen of Mexico , following his arrest for aggravated domestic battery and strangulation .
Despite an active immigration detainer , the Cook County Jail released Ramirez-Hernandez March 18 , 2019 , and he remains at large in the community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ICE lodged a detainer with the Cook County Jail on Mahmoud Abu Maghli , a 27-year-old citizen of Jordan , following his arrest by the Burbank ( Illinois ) Police Department for recklessly discharging a firearm .
He remains in the Cook County Jail where , under existing sanctuary laws , he will be released into the community .
If you have any information on the above at-large individuals , please call the ICE tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE ( 866-347-2423 ) .
ICE lodges detainers on individuals who have been arrested on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause to believe are removable aliens .
The detainer asks the other law enforcement agency to notify ICE in advance of release and to maintain custody of the alien for a brief period of time so that ICE can take custody of that person in a safe and secure setting upon release from that agency ’ s custody .
When law enforcement agencies fail to honor immigration detainers and release serious criminal offenders onto the streets , it undermines ICE ’ s ability to protect public safety and carry out its mission .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s efficiency in the apprehension of criminal aliens .
Federal immigration laws authorize DHS to issue detainers and provide ICE broad authority to detain removable aliens .
https : //www.ice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Document/2017/I-247A.pdf .
Congress has established no process , requirement , or expectation directing ICE to seek a judicial warrant from already overburdened federal courts before taking custody of an alien on civil immigration violations .
This idea is simply a figment created by those who wish to undermine immigration enforcement and excuse the ill-conceived practices of sanctuary jurisdictions that put politics before public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t honor ICE detainers , these individuals , who often have significant criminal histories , are released onto the street , presenting a potential public safety threat .
• Any local jurisdiction thinking that refusing to cooperate with ICE will result in a decrease in local immigration enforcement is mistaken .
Local jurisdictions that choose to not cooperate with ICE are likely to see an increase in ICE enforcement activity , as the agency has no choice but to conduct more at-large arrest operations .
A consequence of ICE being forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the agency is likely to encounter other unlawfully present foreign nationals who would not have been encountered had we been allowed to take custody of a criminal target within the confines of a local jail .
• Additionally , once these criminals are out on the street , confirming their whereabouts is often time consuming and resource intensive .
Many of our arrest targets are seasoned criminals who are savvy about eluding law enforcement .


freedomdaily--2020-01-11--Going for Gold for the Rosies

Going for Gold for the Rosies

Since March , Mae Krier has traveled a lot .
She ’ s been to the Pentagon four times , to the Capitol three times , all over the United States , and even to Normandy , France , for the 75th anniversary of D-Day .
During World War II , Krier worked at an aircraft factory in Seattle building B-17 Flying Fortress and B-29 Superfortress aircraft .
She wasn ’ t the only one .
One estimate puts the number of women working in the defense industry during WWII at more than 4 million .
Those women today are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the fictional “ Rosie the Riveter ” character that came to represent them .
During the war , while a great majority of the men were off fighting , the women who stayed behind were put to work building the war machines their brothers , fathers and uncles would use to defeat the Germans and the Japanese .
Now , Krier said , she hopes America will recognize those efforts .
“ What our goal is , is to get the gold medal .
… That ’ s what we want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Congressional Gold Medal — the highest civilian award , ” she said .
“ We ’ re running out of time .
We ’ re living history , what few of us are left .
In a year or two , a few years , we ’ re just going to be a page in a history book … it ’ s just the fact we want to be recognized for what we did … we did so much .
We really worked hard.
” Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear that a lot of the young men in the United States would be going off to war .
Krier said that growing up on a farm near Dawson , North Dakota , “ Times were hard for us and for everyone else.
” She noted that it was the time of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression in the 1930s .
Krier said she and her sister had been at the movies when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor .
When she returned home , she said , she found her parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their faces .
It wasn ’ t too long after the nation would be at war .
“ All of our young men enlisted right away , ” Krier said , including her brother , who went into the Navy .
“ The day we put my brother on the train to go to war , I came home and I found my father crying .
And that was one of the memories I will never forget .
Families all over the country were putting their sons on the train to go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t come back.
” While the men went off to fight , there were opportunities for women to help the war effort , she said .
The vacuum in the workforce created by so many men leaving for the military meant women would be needed to fill roles that would have previously been filled by men — especially in the defense industry .
“ As the boys left , the girls didn ’ t want to hang around either , ” she said .
“ My sister and I and my girlfriend went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Krier was just 17 at the time .
She said she thought of the effort as a lark — they ’ d work for the summer .
“ We thought it ’ d be a lot of fun .
But the way it turned out , we loved it and we stayed through the war , ” Krier said .
At the aircraft factory , she crawled around inside the wings of military aircraft to rivet them together .
Krier said she believed that in the plant where she worked , she and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though not nearly as many of the B-29s .
“ You had to weave between the ribs in the wing , ” she said .
“ Now you ’ re a bucker in there and you can ’ t hear what the riveter is on the outside is doing .
You sort of have a rhythm .
You knock once for ‘ hit it again , ’ or twice if you want to take it out .
You just sort of had a method of our own.
” Krier said she remembers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I look back on it now , when I see a complete B-17 and I just stare at it and think , how did I ever get in there ?
” she said .
What Krier said she remembers most is that she and other young women proved they were capable of filling roles no one thought they could .
“ Up until 1941 , it was a man ’ s world , ” she said .
“ They didn ’ t realize how capable American women were .
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
Hitler had said that he wouldn ’ t have any trouble defeating us because he said American women couldn ’ t produce .
He said we spent too much time on cosmetics and silk stockings and frivolous things.
” “ I think we showed Hitler what American women were made of , ” Krier said .


freedomdaily--2020-01-11--Bernie Takes Lead In Closely Watched Iowa Poll

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has surged to the lead in a closely-watched poll of Iowa caucusgoers , according to results released Friday .
Twenty percent of respondents in the poll , conducted by the Des Moines Register and CNN from Jan. 2-8 , said they are likely to support Sanders during Iowa ’ s statewide caucus , which will be held on Feb. 3 .
That ’ s a five point increase for Sanders since the same poll was conducted in November .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( 17 % ) , former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg ( 16 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 15 % ) rounded out the top four in the latest survey .
Buttigieg , who led the November poll , lost nine points .
Warren gained one percentage point , while Biden stayed even .
Sanders has surged of late despite suffering a heart attack in early October .
Warren captured some of Sanders ’ supporters after his illness , but her momentum has faded amid scrutiny of her Medicare for All plan .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-11--Today’s Army Is More Than Tanks, Bradleys, Army Secretary Says

The United States must maintain overmatch — be stronger , better armed , or more skillful than its adversaries , the Army secretary said at the Brooking Institution in Washington .
“ Our modernization focus — how we fight , what we fight with and who we are — is in part driven by new challenges and potential adversaries , ” he said .
The secretary said the Army remains ironclad in its priorities of readiness , modernization and reform , and the Army budget and investments are aligned with its priorities .
“ In this era of great-power competition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s strategic threat , ” McCarthy said .
“ Over 60 % of the world ’ s [ gross domestic product ] flows through the Strait of Malacca , and China is militarizing the global commons.
” He noted that having the Army in that region of the world with modernized weaponry “ changes the calculus and creates dilemmas for potential adversaries.
” Having the Army in the region also strengthens America ’ s position to conduct global commerce , build confidence with investors and compete economically , he added .
The Army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , given that Russia is a land-based threat , the secretary noted .
“ Seven decades of partnership in Europe has set the conditions for strong militaries .
And strong partners that are capable of countering threats from abroad , ” he added .
While efforts continue with U.S. allies and partners in Europe , the Army is much more than tanks and Bradleys , McCarthy said .
“ We serve as the operational command and control , advise and assist , long-range precision fighters and the logistical backbone of our current and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding the Army , in essence , is engaging in warfare by other means .
It ’ s been evident since World War II that the Army would need to operate on two fronts : in Europe and the Pacific .
It ’ s the Army on the ground , partnered with militaries , that has ensured continuous presence and shared equipment will enable military strength to overcome economic strangleholds , promote good global commons and offer an alternative to the adversary ’ s narrative , he noted .
In the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a change in behavior and patience , the secretary said .
“ Presence does not have to lead to conflict , ” the secretary said .
“ If we wait until there ’ s a conflict , we ’ re already too late.
” “ We must be engaged in constant competition , versus the episodic engagement strategy , ” he added .
The military has had a boxer ’ s mentality to conflict — go in , use fast hands and deliver a devastating punch in the first round that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Our approach to competition with potential adversaries , however , such as Russia [ and ] China will feel more like a soccer match than one round in the ring , ” he emphasized .
“ Endurance , strong partnerships and patience will be a necessary mix .
Presence does not have to lead to conflict .
If we wait until there ’ s a conflict , we ’ re already too late , ” he said .
McCarthy said that now , during the “ compete phase , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improve U.S. strategic readiness .
“ We ’ ll accomplish readiness through strengthening our partnerships and advising and assisting with our regionally aligned security force assistance brigades , which will deploy in fiscal year 2021 , ” he said .
McCarthy added that the military ’ s multidomain task forces with deployments in fiscal years 2021 and 2022 will build partnerships .
The Army seeks to increase foreign military sales , international military education and training and more repetitions from multinational exercises , shared equipment , shared training , and shared understanding as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The Army is reinvigorating our presence and disposition in the Pacific , ” the secretary said .
“ History has shown the Army has always had a role in the Pacific .
”


freedomdaily--2020-01-12--‘Repeatedly Betrayed Black Voters’: Sanders Co-Chair Rips Into Joe Biden

The national co-chair of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ’ 2020 campaign tore into former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s record on race in an op-ed Sunday .
Biden has “ repeatedly betrayed black voters , ” Turner argued in an op-ed published in South Carolina newspaper The State .
She hammered Biden ’ s opposition to forced desegregation busing and his work with segregationist senators , writing : “ Biden didn ’ t just vote for bills designed to prevent black students from accessing white schools : in a series of personal letters he actively courted pro-segregation senators to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by contrast , began his work in politics by organizing civil rights protests .
As a college student , he helped lead a local chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality in its push to desegregate housing .
Sanders participated in the Rev .
Martin Luther King Jr. ’ s March on Washington and was arrested for protesting rampant school segregation in Chicago , ” Turner wrote .
“ In addition , Sanders has been pushing an education plan that supports local efforts to combat racial segregation.
” “ Biden also fought alongside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reform ’ that reduced financial support for low-income families , ” Turner added .
“ Biden echoed former President Ronald Reagan ’ s dishonest ‘ welfare queen ’ language and wrote a column conjuring an ugly stereotype of ‘ welfare mothers driving luxury cars and leading lifestyles that mirror the rich and famous.
’ ” Voting for Biden would be tantamount to “ going backward for black voters , ” Turner concluded , while voting for Sanders would mean “ we are going forward into a future of empowerment and equality for all.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t immediately return the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment on Turner ’ s op-ed .
Biden has been a consistent frontrunner in South Carolina , where black voters are a key constituency for Democrats .
Sanders , meanwhile , holds narrow leads in both Iowa and New Hampshire , according to RealClearPolitics ’ polling average for both states .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-12--Young Pelosi Disagrees With Old Pelosi On War Powers

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized President Donald Trump for killing Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani , but she was singing a @ @ @ @ @ administration .
“ You have a responsibility to consult with Congress , ” the California @ @ @ @ @ press conference responding to Trump ’ s airstrike targeting the Iranian military commander .
Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ President Barack Obama did not need congressional authorization to launch attacks in Libya .
Former @ @ @ @ @ backtracked in similar ways throughout the years .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-12--Trump Administration Tells Supreme Court Not To Fast-Track Obamacare Challenge

The Trump administration told the Supreme Court there is no reason to fast-track its consideration of two petitions seeking review of a lower court decision that struck down the Affordable Care Act ’ s individual mandate .
A coalition of blue states and congressional Democrats asked the high court to decide whether to hear their appeal as soon as possible .
The Department of Justice said the lower courts should finish their work before the justices get involved .
“ Petitioners ’ submission , at bottom , is that the vitality of the ACA ’ s myriad provisions is too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government ’ s filing reads .
“ But definitive resolution of that issue will be facilitated , not frustrated , by allowing the lower courts to complete their own consideration of the question.
” The 5th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the individual mandate in December , saying it could no longer be justified on tax grounds after the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set the financial penalty for failing to purchase health insurance at zero .
The 5th Circuit did not strike down Obamacare in full , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case to a federal trial judge in northern Texas to determine how much of the statute can survive without the mandate .
In legal parlance , that question is referred to as “ severability.
” The administration warned the justices that taking on such a question before the lower courts issue a judgment would be practically difficult .
What ’ s more , the Supreme Court usually does not analyze large factual records before a lower court has done so .
“ If the Court were to grant review of the severability question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to confront the severability of statutory provisions spanning 900 pages without the benefit of any decision from the court of appeals on that question , or of a decision from the district court applying the more granular analysis that the court of appeals prescribed , ” the government ’ s brief reads .
Another round of proceedings could take years to litigate .
The trial court ’ s severability analysis will likely take months to complete .
Once that decision issues , another appeal to the 5th Circuit will follow .
Democrats defending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ havoc for families and policymakers , making immediate resolution in the Supreme Court essential .
A second timing factor also cuts against Democrats .
As a general matter , the Supreme Court finalizes its docket for a given term in mid-January .
Cases granted after that deadline are usually deferred to the following term .
Democrats hope the high court will decide whether to hear their appeal before that deadline passes , or break with its usual practice and schedule the dispute for resolution this term if they do not grant review before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the high-stakes and break-neck pace , there are no immediate consequences for the ACA .
The lower court decisions in the case are stayed , meaning Obamacare will continue to function as normal while litigation continues .
The cases are No .
19-840 California v. Texas and No .
19-841 House of Representatives v. Texas .


freedomdaily--2020-01-12--Ex-DOJ Official Picked To Assist FISA Reform Was Ardent Defender Of FBI’s Surveillance Of Carter Pag

Ex-DOJ Official Picked To Assist FISA Reform Was Ardent Defender Of FBI’s Surveillance Of Carter Page

A former Justice Department official picked Friday to oversee the FBI ’ s reforms of its surveillance procedures in the wake of a damning inspector general ’ s report was one of the many pundits during the Russia probe to defend the bureau ’ s surveillance of Trump campaign aide Carter Page .
David S. Kris , a former assistant attorney general for national security , was also an outspoken critic of Rep. Devin Nunes and other congressional Republicans who accused the FBI of misleading the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court ( FISC ) in applications to wiretap Page .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report released on Dec. 9 largely vindicated Republicans and Page .
The report identified 17 errors and omissions that the FBI made in its four applications to surveil Page .
The IG also said that the FBI was unable to corroborate allegations that Page was a Russian agent .
Judge James E. Boasberg , who presides over the FISC , tapped Kris serve as amicus curiae for a review of the FBI ’ s handling of the Page surveillance warrants .
In that role , Kris will “ assist ” the FISC in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of reforms to address the problems uncovered in the IG report .
Nunes and Page both panned the choice of Kris given his past commentary defending the FBI .
“ It ’ s hard to imagine a worse person the FISC could have chosen outside Comey , McCabe , or Schiff , ” Nunes , the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee , told The Daily Caller News Foundation .
Page also weighed in on Kris ’ s selection to oversee the FBI ’ s reforms .
Kris , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 2011 , asserted in his writings during the Trump-Russia probe that Republicans had “ falsely accused ” the FBI of misleading the FISC in its wiretap applications .
He also accepted the FBI ’ s assertion that there was probable cause to believe that Page was a foreign agent of Russia — an allegation that was all but debunked by the special counsel ’ s report and the inspector general ’ s report .
“ It ’ s disturbing that Page met that legal standard and that there was probable cause to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Kris wrote in an essay on March 1 , 2018 at Lawfare , a blog operated by the Brookings Institution .
Kris ’ s assessment — which echoed that of many Democrats and liberals in the media — accepted the FBI ’ s claim at face value that Page was a Russian asset .
The FBI made the assertion in four applications to the FISC to wiretap Page .
The basis for the allegation was the Democrat-funded Steele dossier .
The Justice Department inspector general ’ s report offered a brutal rebuke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Page .
It also offered a scathing portrait of Christopher Steele , the former British spy who wrote the dossier .
The IG report said that the FBI withheld information regarding Page , a former Naval officer , that undercut the idea that he was a Russian agent .
FBI agents also failed to disclose information that raised questions about Steele ’ s credibility and reliability .
The FBI failed to inform the FISC that one of Steele ’ s main dossier sources told agents in January 2017 that Steele misrepresented and exaggerated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Page .
The IG report said that FBI agents inaccurately claimed in the FISA applications that Steele had provided information in the past that the bureau used in indictments and search warrants .
The report said that the claim was inaccurate , and that Steele ’ s associates had given mixed reviews about his reliability .
On Dec. 17 , FISC Judge Rosemary Collyer ordered the FBI to provide a plan to address problems identified in the IG report .
Collyer blasted the FBI for providing “ false ” and “ misleading ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four warrants to wiretap the former Trump campaign adviser .
FBI Director Christopher Wray submitted a response to Collyer ’ s order on Friday .
He apologized for the errors in the wiretap applications submitted to the FISC , and said he plans to implement dozens of reforms to address the problems identified in the IG report .
Kris is one of eight individuals designated by FISC as eligible to serve as an amicus curiae , which are designed to act as neutral arbitrators in issues involving the FISA process .
Boasberg did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
None of the other seven potential amici curiae have spoken out publicly about the Page FISA issue or Trump-Russia probe .
Kris was also among the many pundits dismissive of Republican allegations that the FBI mishandled information in the Steele dossier .
One of Kris ’ s main targets was Nunes , a California Republican who relentlessly pursued information from the FBI about the Trump-Russia probe .
In his March 1 , 2018 essay at Lawfare , Kris wholeheartedly defended the FBI ’ s actions in the Trump-Russia probe , while criticizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feb. 2 , 2018 laying out a list of alleged problems with the FBI ’ s rationale to surveil Page .
Kris asserted that Nunes “ falsely accused the FBI of deceiving the FISA Court.
” He also questioned whether Nunes and other Republicans would “ face any consequences for their dishonesty.
” “ The Nunes memo was dishonest .
And if it is allowed to stand , we risk significant collateral damage to essential elements of our democracy , ” wrote Kris , who is now a consultant at Culper Partners and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as far as entertaining the possibility , first proposed by Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe , that “ Nunes might be prosecuted for obstruction of justice.
” Kris also wrote that the memo ’ s central claim that the FBI misled the FISC about Christopher Steele “ was not true.
” Kris has acknowledged since the release of the IG report that the FBI committed some “ significant and serious ” errors in its Carter Page FISA applications .
He also conceded in a Lawfare essay published on Dec. 23 that Nunes ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behavior was “ correct.
” But for Kris , the biggest takeaway from the IG report were the findings that reflected positively on the FBI .
He wrote on Twitter on the day the report was released that “ the most important take-away ” from the report was that the FBI did not exert political bias in order to undermine the Trump campaign .
He also wrote that the errors identified in the IG report “ don ’ t support any claim of deep-state conspiracy or political bias.
” “ The FISC chose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Carter Page FISA warrant and then downplayed them when the Inspector General reported on them , ” Nunes told The DNCF .
A request for comment submitted to Kris ’ s consulting firm , Culper Partners , was not returned .


freedomdaily--2020-01-14--‘Wiser Than Most’: Iranian State Media Loves Bernie Sanders

Iran ’ s propaganda arms have hyped the Vermont senator and touted his criticisms of President Donald Trump ’ s order to kill Iranian terrorist leader Qasem Soleimani .
The Dec. 29 international print edition of the Tehran Times , which describes itself as the “ voice of the Islamic Revolution , ” described Sanders as “ wiser than most ” American politicians .
An article denigrating Israel said the Jewish state ’ s “ umbrella of American support ” is “ NOT likely to go away significantly unless people wiser than most in the U.S. government now somehow manage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like , say , Bernie Sanders , a Jew no less.
” After Sanders launched his presidential campaign Feb. 2019 , Iran ’ s PressTV ran an article playing up his chances of winning .
The article cited a fringe anarchist writer to say that Sanders could beat Trump in the 2020 election .
Another PressTV article in May of this year accused the Democratic Party of seeking to sabotage Sanders ’ s candidacy by any means possible , including throwing the election to Trump .
A September article in Mehr News , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ semi-official ” mouthpiece , stated that “ if Sanders were to reach the final round of the 2016 presidential competitions , he could have defeated Trump and enter the White House .
Sanders , however , was the victim of Democrat leaders and Hillary Clinton ’ s secret lobbies.
” Mehr and the Islamic Republican News Agency ( IRNA ) have also promoted statements from Sanders in which he blames Trump for tensions with Iran .
In general , Iran ’ s English-language mouthpieces have repeatedly elevated Sanders ’ s harsh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US Senator and 2020 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has condemned President Donald Trump for ordering the assassination of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani , warning that the killing will destabilize the region and puts the US on the path to another war , ” read a Jan. 3 article by PressTV .
The article noted that Sanders had “ [ p ] erhaps the most forceful condemnation ” of the U.S. strike on Soleimani , who was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American service members .
An August 2018 IRNA article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complicit in Saudi crimes in Yemen : Senator Sanders.
” Sanders , whose campaign didn ’ t return a request for comment by press time , has been the beneficiary of Iranian propaganda in less obvious ways as well .
A covert Iranian influence campaign uncovered in 2018 involved spreading pro-Sanders and anti-Trump messaging on Twitter and Facebook .
An investigation by cybersecurity firm FireEye , which was later confirmed by Facebook and Twitter , found “ inauthentic social media personas , masquerading as American liberals supportive of U.S .
Senator Bernie Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media also promoted Sanders while demonizing Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential campaign .


freedomdaily--2020-01-14--Left-Wing Groups Say FEC Should Remain Crippled Throughout 2020 Elections

A coalition of mostly left-wing groups said Monday that the Federal Election Commission should remain in a crippled state throughout the 2020 elections .
The FEC has had only three active commissioners on its six-member board since the end of August , rendering the nation ’ s campaign watchdog unable to meet the four-member quorum needed to take official actions to enforce the law .
The three remaining members of the commission are serving on long since expired terms .
But instead of calling for the immediate nomination and confirmation of a slate of six new FEC commissioners , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did in a letter last Monday , the left-wing coalition urged President Donald Trump and Senate leaders to nominate and confirm only one or two new commissioners , which would leave the FEC with at least one vacancy throughout the 2020 elections .
“ We support restoring the FEC ’ s quorum in advance of the 2020 election by confirming one or two appropriate Commissioners identified through the existing process , ” wrote the left-wing coalition in response to last week ’ s letter from the campaign finance lawyers .
The coalition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Washington , Campaign Legal Center , Common Cause , Public Citizen and 15 other groups , called for the creation of a new nomination process for the FEC after nominating one or two new commissioners that will prevent bad actors getting a seat on the commission .
“ But for the remaining vacancies , a nonpartisan blue-ribbon panel should be established to identify qualified candidates for the President ’ s potential nomination , and the Senate should decline to confirm any nominee who is not drawn from the panel ’ s recommendations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coalition cautioned against confirming six new FEC commissioners in one go , saying that doing so would bring in nominees opposed to enforcing campaign finance laws on the books .
Senate Democrats are also pushing back on the idea of appointing a slate of six new FEC commissioners , noting that it will take just one appointment to restore the agency ’ s quorum , The Washington Post reported last Monday .
Meanwhile , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the White House are pushing to bring the FEC back to a fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Post reported .
The two campaign finance lawyers who spearheaded the bipartisan letter last week urging for a full slate of new FEC commissioners criticized the left-wing coalition ’ s reluctance to bring the commission back to a fully functional state .
“ Nominating enough commissioners to restore quorum would be a helpful first step , but I would rather see a full commission with members whose terms have not expired , ” Beth Kingsley told the Daily Caller News Foundation .
“ They need four votes to take any action – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see available – and it ’ s easier to get four votes out of six than to get a unanimous vote of a four-person commission.
” “ The letter ’ s suggestion of a ‘ nonpartisan blue-ribbon panel ’ would be a dramatic departure from the historical process and the idea is not calculated to get us a functioning commission in time for this election , which I think is crucial , ” Kingsley added .
Conservative lawyer Cleta Mitchell told the DCNF : “ The White House and Senate should ignore the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FEC to full membership as soon as possible ” “ Their ‘ plan ’ reflects the utter contempt and disdain these people have for the Constitution and the rule of law , ” Mitchell said .
“ They are responsible for creating the current morass when they started pressuring the Senate leadership more than a decade ago not to confirm well-qualified commissioners .
That ’ s why we don ’ t have a quorum today.
” Government affairs lobbyist Craig Holman of Public Citizen , one of the coalition ’ s signatories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s necessary to rework how the Senate and White House handle FEC nominations due to McConnell ’ s efforts to “ neuter the FEC ’ s ability to enforce federal campaign finance laws.
” “ McConnell realized that he essentially appoints the Republican commissioners to the FEC , while Schumer appoints the Democratic commissioners , ” Holman said .
“ The six-member commission may only take official actions with four or more votes .
By appointing three Republican commissioners who oppose the campaign finance law , the FEC deadlocks on all actions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the turning point , and the agency has never since recovered , ” Holman added .
“ It will stay this way as long as McConnell gets to choose the Republican commissioners .
This is why Public Citizen is calling for a new appointment process .
”


freedomdaily--2020-01-14--Mark Meadows: GOP Will Appeal To Surveillance Court Over Choice To Oversee FBI Reforms

Rep. Mark Meadows said Monday that congressional Republicans plan to appeal to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court ( FISC ) over its choice to oversee the FBI ’ s surveillance reforms in the wake of a damning inspector general ’ s report regarding the bureau ’ s wiretapping of Carter Page .
In an interview with journalist Sara Carter , Meadows criticized the FISC ’ s pick of former Justice Department official David Kris to assist the court to ensure that the FBI implements the reforms .
“ I can tell you that a few of us , are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has now taken over the FISA process but we are also looking at this when it comes to renewing the FISA process within Congress , ” Meadows told Carter .
Judge James Boasberg , who presides over the FISC , tapped Kris on Friday to serve as what ’ s known as an amicus curiae .
Boasberg said that Kris , who served in the Obama Justice Department , will assist the FISC by monitoring the FBI ’ s surveillance reforms .
The IG report found “ significant ” errors and omissions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Page .
The report said that FBI agents withheld exculpatory information related to Page , and information that was damaging to the credibility of former British spy Christopher Steele .
FISC Judge Rosemary Collyer ordered the FBI on Dec. 19 to come up with a plan to address the failures laid out in the IG report .
Collyer said that the FBI made “ false ” and “ misleading ” statements in applications for the Page surveillance warrants .
Rep. Devin Nunes and Page immediately criticized the choice of Kris because of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities during the Trump-Russia probe .
Nunes , the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee , told The Daily Caller News Foundation that Kris ’ s appointment was “ shocking and inexplicable.
” As a media pundit , Kris downplayed Republicans ’ concerns that the FBI misled the FISC in order to obtain wiretap warrants on Page .
He also suggested in an essay published on March .
1 , 2018 that he believed the FBI ’ s characterization of Page as a Russian agent , and that Nunes had “ falsely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court.
” Kris went as far as suggesting that Nunes should be charged with obstruction of justice because of his critique of the bureau .
“ If there were any hope for the system fixing this FISA mess , it extinguished with David Kris ’ appointment , ” Page told The DCNF .


freedomdaily--2020-01-14--Border Patrol Arrests Driver of SUV Stuffed with Meth

— U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a man who had more than 90 packages of methamphetamine hidden inside various locations of his car on Friday .
At approximately 11:15 a.m. , an agent patrolling Interstate 15 near Temecula observed a suspicious 2001 Green Ford Explorer .
The driver of the Explorer exited onto Highway 395 and parked at a gas station in Rainbow , Calif. when he observed the agent following him .
The agent engaged the driver in conversation while his canine partner performed an exterior sniff of the Explorer .
Shortly after , the canine alerted to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ search of the vehicle and found 96 packages of methamphetamine inside the gas tank , spare tire , and quarter panels of the vehicle .
With a weight of 101.31 pounds , the meth is valued at approximately $ 191,900 .
The 34-year-old U.S. citizen driver was arrested and faces charges for narcotics trafficking .
The methamphetamine packages were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration .
The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol .
San Diego Sector agents have seized more than 1,044 pounds of methamphetamine since October 1 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the dedication displayed by these agents , ” said San Diego Chief Patrol Agent Douglas Harrison .
“ They are committed to protecting America and keeping dangerous narcotics like these from reaching our communities.
” To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans , drugs , and other contraband , the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on corridors of egress away from our Nation ’ s borders .
To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol , contact San Diego Sector at ( 619 ) 498-9900 .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-14--CBP Chief Confident That 450 Miles Of Border Wall Will Be Built By End Of 2020

Mark Morgan , the acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) , expressed deep confidence that the Trump administration would complete its goal 450 miles of new border wall by the end of the year .
During a Monday appearance on Fox News , Morgan confirmed that he strongly believes the administration will be able to complete its stated goal of 450 miles of new southern border wall in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election .
The Department of Homeland Security , which oversees CBP and other immigration agencies , just celebrated its completion of 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This completed goal , Morgan pointed out , was something opponents suggested wouldn ’ t be reached by January .
“ Look , we had a lot of naysayers for many months saying we were never going to achieve this first milestone by January of this year of 100 miles — we ’ ve done just that .
And I ’ d be remiss if I didn ’ t give a shout out to the Army Corps of Engineers who have been absolutely great partners in this , and I have no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judicial activism , and the obstacles by Congress — by the end of 2020 , we ’ re still going to have 450 miles of wall complete or well-under construction , ” Morgan said Monday on Fox and Friends .
The interview came after Chad Wolf , the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security , visited Yuma , Arizona on Friday to commemorate the completion of 100 miles of new border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border .
The DHS chief — who was joined by Arizona GOP Sen. Martha McSally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Border Patrol officials — touched on how border walls reduce illegal crossings and help Border Patrol agents perform their duties .
Morgan , who has been leading CBP since July 2019 , is also a major proponent of the border wall project , but previously has been hesitant to say whether the administration would reach its goal in time .
Asked in December , he said he wasn ’ t sure if the 450 benchmark could be made by the end of 2020 .
The Trump administration has been plagued with continuing lawsuits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Democratic lawmakers in Congress , and other obstacles that comes with government regulation and red tape .
The roadblocks have proven President Donald Trump ’ s most coveted campaign pledge to be difficult .
The CBP chief , nevertheless , appeared much more confident on Monday that the benchmark would be hit .
“ Look I ’ m confident , there ’ s a lot of rhetoric out there , a lot of information out there , but again , I ’ m confident that our milestone , we ’ ve met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet the milestone of 450 by the end of 2020 , ” Morgan said .
“ And make no mistake , the American people need to understand , this isn ’ t just about a wall to stop the flow of illegal immigration .
This is about a wall that ’ s going to help us impede and deny bad things and bad people coming into this country , like the drugs pouring in , killing thousands of Americans every year .
”


freedomdaily--2020-01-14--Microwaving sewage waste may make it safe to use as fertilizer on crops

My team has discovered another use for microwave ovens that will surprise you .
Biosolids – primarily dead bacteria – from sewage plants are usually dumped into landfills .
However , they are rich in nutrients and can potentially be used as fertilizers .
But farmers can ’ t just replace the normal fertilizers they use on agricultural soil with these biosolids .
The reason is that they are often contaminated with toxic heavy metals like arsenic , lead , mercury and cadmium from industry .
But dumping them in the landfills is wasting precious resources .
So , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an environmental engineer and an expert in wastewater treatment .
My colleagues and I have figured out how to treat these biosolids and remove heavy metals so that they can be safely used as a fertilizer .
Wastewater contains organic waste such as proteins , carbohydrates , fats , oils and urea , which are derived from food and human waste we flush down in kitchen sinks and toilets .
Inside treatment plants , bacteria decompose these organic materials , cleaning the water which is then discharged to rivers , lakes or oceans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the work for nothing .
They benefit from this process by multiplying as they dine on human waste .
Once water is removed from the waste , what remains is a solid lump of bacteria called biosolids .
This is complicated by the fact that wastewater treatment plants accept not only residential wastewater but also industrial wastewater , including the liquid that seeps out of solid waste in landfills – called leachate – which is contaminated with toxic metals including arsenic , lead , mercury and cadmium .
During the wastewater treatment process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bacteria and accumulate on their surfaces .
If farmers apply the biosolids at this stage , these metals will separate from the biosolids and contaminate the crop for human consumption .
But removing heavy metals isn ’ t easy because the chemical bonds between heavy metals and biosolids are very strong .
Conventionally , these metals are removed from biosolids using chemical methods involving acids , but this is costly and generates more dangerous waste .
This has been practiced on a small scale in some agricultural fields .
After a careful calculation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavy metals from the attached bacteria , I searched around for all the possible energy sources that can provide just enough to break the bonds but not too much to destroy the nutrients in the biosolids .
That ’ s when I serendipitously noticed the microwave oven in my home kitchen and began to wonder whether microwaving was the solution .
My team and I tested whether microwaving the biosolids would break the bonds between heavy metals and the bacterial cells .
We discovered it was efficient and environmentally friendly .
The work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cleaner Production .
This concept can be adapted to an industrial scale by using electromagnetic waves to produce the microwaves .
This is a solution that should be beneficial for many people .
For instance , managers of wastewater treatment plants could potentially earn revenue by selling the biosolids instead of paying disposal fees for the material to be dumped to the landfills .
It is a better strategy for the environment because when biosolids are deposited in landfills , the heavy metals seep into landfill leachate , which is then treated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thus move between wastewater treatment plants and landfills in an endless loop .
This research breaks this cycle by separating the heavy metals from biosolids and recovering them .
Farmers would also benefit from cheap organic fertilizers that could replace the chemical synthetic ones , conserving valuable resources and protecting the ecosystem .
Is this the end ?
Not yet .
So far we can only remove 50 % of heavy metals but we hope to shift this to 80 % with improved experimental designs .
My team is currently conducting small laboratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new strategy will work on a large scale .
One lesson I would like to share with everyone : Be observant .
For any problem , the solution may be just around you , in your home , your office , even in the appliances you are using .
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Gang Chen receives funding from the Hinkley Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste @ @


freedomdaily--2020-01-14--Being copycats might be key to being human

Chimpanzees , human beings ’ closest animal relatives , share up to 98 % of our genes .
Their human-like hands and facial expressions can send uncanny shivers of self-recognition down the backs of zoo patrons .
Yet people and chimpanzees lead very different lives .
Fewer than 300,000 wild chimpanzees live in a few forested corners of Africa today , while humans have colonized every corner of the globe , from the Arctic tundra to the Kalahari Desert .
At more than 7 billion , humans ’ population dwarfs that of nearly all other mammals – despite our physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ species ’ incredible evolutionary successes ?
One obvious answer is our big brains .
It could be that our raw intelligence gave us an unprecedented ability to think outside the box , innovating solutions to gnarly problems as people migrated across the globe .
Think of “ The Martian , ” where Matt Damon , trapped alone in a research station on Mars , heroically “ sciences ” his way out of certain death .
But a growing number of cognitive scientists and anthropologists are rejecting that explanation .
These researchers think that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innovators , human beings survive and thrive precisely because we don ’ t think for ourselves .
Instead , people cope with challenging climates and ecological contexts by carefully copying others – especially those we respect .
Instead of Homo sapiens , or “ man the knower , ” we ’ re really Homo imitans : “ man the imitator.
” In a famous study , psychologists Victoria Horner and Andrew Whiten showed two groups of test subjects – children and chimpanzees – a mechanical box with a treat inside .
In one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while in the other it was transparent .
The experimenters demonstrated how to open the box to retrieve a treat , but they also included the irrelevant step of tapping on the box with a stick .
Oddly , human children carefully copied all the steps to open the box , even when they could see that the stick had no practical effect .
That is , they copied irrationally : Instead of doing only what was necessary to get their reward , children slavishly imitated every action they ’ d witnessed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ three- and four-year-olds .
But additional research has showed that older children and adults are even more likely to mindlessly copy others ’ actions , and young infants are less likely to over-imitate – that is , to precisely copy even impractical actions .
By contrast , chimpanzees in Horner and Whiten ’ s study only over-imitated in the opaque condition .
In the transparent condition – where they saw that the stick was mechanically useless – they ignored that step entirely , merely opening the box with their hands .
Other research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it comes to copying , chimpanzees are more rational than human children or adults .
The benefits of following without question Where does the seemingly irrational human preference for over-imitation come from ?
In his book “ The Secret of Our Success , ” anthropologist Joseph Henrich points out that people around the world rely on technologies that are often so complex that no one can learn them rationally .
Instead , people must learn them step by step , trusting in the wisdom of more experienced elders and peers .
For example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bow is by observing successful hunters doing it , with the assumption that everything they do is important .
As an inexperienced learner , you can ’ t yet judge which steps are actually relevant .
So when your band ’ s best hunter waxes his bowstring with two fingers or touches his ear before drawing the string , you copy him .
The human propensity for over-imitation thus makes possible what anthropologists call cumulative culture : the long-term development of skills and technologies over generations .
No single person might understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to making a bow or carving a canoe , much less transforming rare earth minerals into iPhones .
But as long as people copy with high fidelity , the technology gets transmitted .
Ritual and religion are also domains in which people carry out actions that aren ’ t connected in a tangible way with practical outcomes .
For example , a Catholic priest blesses wafers and wine for Communion by uttering a series of repetitive words and doing odd motions with his hands .
One could be forgiven for wondering what on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with eating bread , just as a chimpanzee can ’ t see any connection between tapping a stick and opening a box .
But rituals have a hidden effect : They bond people to one another and demonstrate cultural affiliation .
For an enlightening negative example , consider a student who refuses to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance .
Her action clearly telegraphs her rejection of authorities ’ right to tell her how to behave .
And as anthropologist Roy Rappaport pointed out , ritual participation is binary : Either you say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This clarity makes it easily apparent who is or isn ’ t committed to the group .
In a broader sense , then , over-imitation helps enable much of what comprises distinctively human culture , which turns out to be much more complicated than mechanical cause and effect .
At heart , human beings are not brave , self-reliant innovators , but careful if savvy conformists .
We perform and imitate apparently impractical actions because doing so is the key to learning complex cultural skills , and because rituals create and sustain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on for survival .
Indeed , copying others is a powerful way to establish social rapport .
For example , mimicking another ’ s body language can induce them to like and trust you more .
So the next time you hear someone arguing passionately that everyone should embrace nonconformity and avoid imitating others , you might chuckle a bit .
We ’ re not chimpanzees , after all .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-14--Heading into Iowa: Where do the Democratic candidates stand on health care coverage?

As Democratic presidential hopefuls gather in Iowa for the seventh debate , Iran and foreign policy will likely play a central role .
But health care will remain the most important topic of debate for many Americans .
No doubt , all six candidates tonight will talk about their proposals for health health reform using terms like universal coverage , public option , “ Medicare for All , ” and single-payer .
What do these terms mean , and where do Democratic presidential candidates onstage in Iowa stand on expanding coverage to all Americans ?
First things first : Who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure that everyone living in their country has access to insurance coverage .
This is referred to as universal coverage .
Generally , this coverage includes access to all needed services and benefits while protecting individuals from excessive costs .
The U.S. is an exception .
Even the Affordable Care Act only created what ’ s called “ near universal coverage ” leaving millions of American uninsured .
From a policy perspective , achieving universal coverage is a worthwhile goal .
There is ample evidence that insurance coverage generally improves the health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no single pathway to universal coverage .
Countries that have achieved it have done so in different ways .
Democratic presidential candidates all agree that providing coverage to everyone is the ultimate goal .
However , they differ widely on how – and how fast – to get there .
One way to get to universal coverage is to create a “ single-payer system.
” This means that one entity , most likely the government , is solely and exclusively responsible for paying for medical goods and services .
In short , paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality , government is often the dominant but not sole payer and allows for supplemental insurance or for individuals to pay for alternate or additional services .
A single-payer system could be confined to providing catastrophic coverage only while allowing for private coverage for additional benefits .
Advocates often hail single-payer systems for their administrative simplicity .
And single-payer systems do not segregate individuals into different insurance coverage based on their medical status .
Single-payer systems are able to use their absolute market and budgeting power to hold down costs .
Single-payer systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems , like those in Germany .
In all-payer systems , a number of private entities band together to establish common prices for health care services and benefits .
Single-payer should also not be equated with socialized medicine , a medical system wholly owned and operated by government , such as in the United Kingdom and public hospitals , or the Veterans Health Administration in the U.S. Sens .
Sanders and Warren strongly support converting the U.S. health care system to a single-payer system .
All other candidates have shown more limited support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimate destination for health reform .
The most discussed Democratic health reform proposal , Medicare for All , prominently references Medicare , the insurance program that covers most of America ’ s seniors .
Many people do not recognize , however , that traditional Medicare comes with limited benefits and often requires large out-of-pocket payments .
In essence then , Medicare for All proposals just borrow the Medicare name while implementing a single-payer system in the United States with a generous benefits package .
As proposed by its two most ardent advocates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, Medicare for All would eliminate all private insurance .
It would be financed by taxes and come with very limited , if any , out-of-pocket costs .
One particular political stumbling block for implementing Medicare for All is that it makes the overall cost of health coverage an obvious focal point .
That ’ s because it unifies all of the country ’ s exorbitant health expenditures , projected to be roughly US $ 60 trillion from 2022 to 2031 , in one single budget .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while mostly just illustrating current costs .
Moreover , it would create a significant disruption in how Americans experience health insurance , with hundreds of millions of Americans having to give up their current insurance .
Many of them would certainly be upset as the vast majority of them rate their insurance as excellent or good .
The four other candidates have cited these concerns extensively , saying that the systemic disruptions and lack of widespread political support would stymie a quick transition to Medicare for All .
Not all Democrats argue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American health care system .
Most Democratic presidential candidates are supporting a further expansion of the Affordable Care Act .
Led by Joe Biden , these proposals contain a so-called public option combined with a number of regulatory reforms .
These proposals would largely retain the existing structure of the health care system and preserve a role for private insurance .
The term “ public option ” first gained traction during the debate over the Affordable Care Act in 2010 .
Then , progressive Democrats sought to include a government-run insurer in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ option concept is significantly more transformative than its ACA cousin .
It would be open to every American , whether they purchase their own insurance or receive it from their employer .
This public insurer would also use its market power to negotiate better prices .
Four Democratic candidates have come out strongly supporting a public option .
These include Biden , former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg , Sen. Amy Klobuchar , D-Minn. , and Tom Steyer .
However , Warren has expressed support for a public option during a transitional period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the public option might function as a bridge toward a single-payer system .
While Democratic candidates largely break into two camps when it comes to health care reform , there is general consensus about the importance of providing affordable access to health care coverage .
All candidates have come out strongly in support of protecting the Affordable Care Act until needed adjustments can be made .
Almost 10 years after the ACA has been signed into law , a comprehensive Republican health reform proposal has failed to emerge .
Yet there remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would look dramatically different from Democrats .
While details remain sparse , any Republican reform would likely eliminate many of the coverage expansions of the ACA .
Millions of Americans gained coverage because they were allowed to stay on their parents ’ health insurance until age 26 .
Millions more gained insurance because of the expansion of Medicaid or in the ACA marketplaces , often with the help of premium subsidies .
Republicans would likely also transform the Medicaid program , which provides coverage to close to 70 million Americans .
They would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the federal government to Medicaid .
Finally , they would likely also undo many if not all of the insurance market reforms of the ACA .
They include , for example , guaranteed coverage of pre-existing conditions and the prohibition for insurance carriers to impose annual and lifetime limits on benefits .
With all the talk on both sides of reform , political realities make it likely that neither Republicans nor Democrats will have their way any time soon .
However , with lawsuits continuing to threaten the ACA , Americans could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most have come to support , dismantled .
And , of course this would entail a return to the system before the ACA – a system few would recognize and which could meet far fewer people ’ s health care coverage needs .
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Simon F. Haeder is a Fellow in the Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Program , a national leadership development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation to equip teams of researchers and community partners in applying research to solve real community problems .


freedomdaily--2020-01-14--Ex-Treasury Department Official Pleads Guilty To Leaking Trump Associates’ Financial Documents To Bu

Ex-Treasury Department Official Pleads Guilty To Leaking Trump Associates’ Financial Documents To BuzzFeed

A former Treasury Department official pleaded guilty in federal court in New York City on Monday to leaking sensitive financial records of multiple Trump associates and figures in the Trump-Russia investigation to a reporter at BuzzFeed News .
Natalie Mayflower Sours Edwards , who served as a senior adviser at the Treasury Department ’ s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ( FinCEN ) , pleaded guilty to conspiring to disclose Suspicious Activities Reports , known as SARs .
According to prosecutors , from October 2017 until her arrest in October 2018 , Edwards provided SARs that were used in around a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jason Leopold .
The SARs were of financial transctions involving Trump campaign officials Paul Manafort and Rick Gates , as well as Maria Butina , a Russian national who pleaded guilty to charges that she acted as an unregistered agent .
BuzzFeed also published stories based on SARs filed on the Russian embassy and several of the Russians involved in the infamous June 2016 Trump Tower meeting .
Banks are required by law to file SARs with the Treasury Department if they observe suspicious financial activity in clients ’ accounts .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Edwards admitted to transmitting the SARs to Leopold by photographing the reports and sending them over encrypted messaging applications .
She was arrested with a flash drive containing the SARs , as well as a cell phone that held communications on an encrypted messaging app with Leopold , prosecutors said .
“ As she has now admitted , Natalie Mayflower Sours Edwards , a former senior-level FinCEN employee , abused her position of trust by agreeing to repeatedly disclose highly sensitive information contained in Suspicious Activity Reports , ” Geoffrey S. Berman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District of New York , said in a statement announcing Edwards ’ guilty plea .
“ Maintaining the confidentiality of SARs , which are filed by banks and other financial institutions to alert law enforcement to potentially illegal transactions , is essential to permit them to serve their statutory function , and the defendant ’ s conduct violated the integrity of that critical system and the law.
” Edwards , who was arrested on Oct. 16 , 2018 , initially pleaded not guilty in the case .
She faces a maximum sentence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department has aggressively pursued leaks investigations during the Trump administration , thanks in part to an uptick in anti-Trump leaks .
On Feb. 28 , 2019 , a grand jury in California indicted an IRS analyst who leaked SARs filed against former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen .
The analyst , John Fry , leaked the records to Michael Avenatti , the disgraced former attorney for Stormy Daniels , and to journalist Ronan Farrow .
On June 7 , 2018 , a grand jury in Washington , D.C. indicted James Wolfe , the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee , on charges that he lied to the FBI regarding contacts with reporters who published stories about Carter Page , the former Trump campaign adviser .


freedomdaily--2020-01-13--Apple Refusing to Provide DOJ Encrypted Information from Pensacola Gunman’s iPhone

Apple is refusing to provide Attorney General William Barr access to the two phones a gunman used before killing three sailors in Florida .
Apple gave investigators materials from Second Lt. Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani ’ s iCloud account .
Alshamrani is a Saudi who killed three sailors during a Dec. 6 shooting in Pensacola , FL .
The tech company is refusing to assist the Justice Department in unlocking the phones .
“ This situation perfectly illustrates why it is critical that the public be able to get access to digital evidence , ” Barr said during a press conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not provided “ substantive assistance.
” Barr added : “ We have asked Apple for help in unlocking the shooter ’ s phones.
” DOJ officials say they need access to Alshamrani ’ s phones to see messages from encrypted apps , noting also that such intelligence might help them determine if Alshamrani was planning attacks with other people .
“ The evidence shows that the shooter was motivated by jihadist ideology , ” Barr said , citing a cryptic message Alshamrani posted on last year ’ s anniversary of the Sept. 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and jihadist social media messages before the attack , Barr added .
This is not the first time Apple has gone toe-to-toe with the DOJ on privacy issues .
The company also defied a court order to help law enforcement search the device of a gunman who shot and killed 14 people in a terrorism attack in California in 2015 .
The F.B.I .
eventually found another company to bypass the iPhone ’ s encryption , a move that ultimately helped agents piece together the shooter ’ s motives .
Alshamrani , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iPhones before opening fire at U.S. Air Force bases in Florida .
Apple is etching out a role as a tech company devoted to improving privacy , even as lawmakers worry the company is using privacy as a type of Trojan horse .
Democratic Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island , for instance , told reporters in November that Apple is using “ privacy as a shield for anti-competitive conduct.
” The company is rigging the system , app makers argue .
They were once able to ask customers for permission before tracking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using the application — that all changed after Apple ’ s newest update denied app makers such options .
Apple , a critic of other monster tech companies that collect private data , launched a website in November promoting its position as a champion of privacy issues — it especially highlighted its decision to forgo collecting data on other Apple-created applications .
Government officials are meanwhile looking at Silicon Valley companies in a much more critical light than they have in past yeas .
Google , Facebook , Amazon and others are fending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tag the companies with potential antitrust investigations .


freedomdaily--2020-01-14--AG Barr Reveals Stricter Procedures For Counterintelligence Investigations Of Presidential Campaigns

Counterintelligence investigations of future presidential campaigns will have to first be approved by the attorney general and FBI director , Attorney General William Barr said at a press conference on Monday .
“ The opening of a counterintelligence investigation of a presidential campaign would be something that the director of the FBI would have to sign off on and the attorney general would have to sign off on , ” Barr told reporters .
Barr announced the policy change in response to a question about a series of reforms that the FBI plans to implement in the wake of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the bureau misled the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court ( FISC ) in order to get warrants to wiretap Carter Page .
The report said that the FBI withheld information from the FISC that undercut the notion that Page was a Russian agent .
Investigators also failed to tell the FISC about information that raised questions about the reliability of Christopher Steele , a former British spy whose dossier the FBI used in its wiretap applications .
FBI Director Christopher Wray submitted a list of proposed to reforms to the FISC on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference whether he will propose other changes to how counterintelligence investigations are conducted .
The counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign , dubbed Crossfire Hurricane , was opened on July 31 , 2016 by the head of the FBI ’ s counterintelligence division .
Then-FBI Director James Comey was briefed on the investigation early on .
The inspector general ’ s report said that Loretta Lynch , who served as attorney general , did not recall being briefed on the existence of the investigation .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-14--‘Time For Other States To Step Up’: Texas AG Explains Why The State Isn’t Accepting Refugees

Ken Paxton , the Republican attorney general of Texas , adamantly defended his governor ’ s decision to not accept refugees this year , noting that Texas has done more for refugees than any other state .
Paxton , who has served as the top lawyer for Texas since 2015 , appeared on Fox News to discuss Texas GOP Gov .
Greg Abbot ’ s decision to not accept refugees , becoming the first governor in the country to take up President Donald Trump ’ s offer .
Much like the governor ’ s own statement , Paxton argued that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the years than any other state , and it was time for other states to “ step up.
” “ I think the message is pretty simple from the governor .
Since 2010 , in the letter he makes it very clear , we ’ ve allowed more refugees into our state than any other state .
All the time we ’ ve been believing that Congress would fix our immigration problems , secure the borders .
They haven ’ t done that , ” Paxton said Tuesday on Fox & Friends .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue that we ’ ve been dealing with lots of immigrants come in .
And I think the governor is saying ‘ Hey Congress , fix this , t00 .
It ’ s time for other states to step up and help with this .
Texas has been doing their share for a long time , ’ ” the attorney general continued .
Trump issued an executive order in 2019 that gave authority to state and local governments over whether they would want to accept refugees .
So far , roughly 40 states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refugees .
Abbot on Friday became the first governor to announce that he would put a plug on refugee resettlement .
Texas , Abbot said , has accepted more refugees than any other state since fiscal year 2010 .
Notably , about 10 % of all refugees have been placed in Texas .
The Republican governor went on to argue in his public statement that Texas has had “ to deal with the consequences ” of a broken immigration system that Congress has failed to fix .
Paxton concurred , noting that other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right thing ” by taking refugees in .
The decision to accept refugees is done on an annual basis and does not necessarily mean the Texas government will permanently ban them .
“ We have done our share for a long time , and we ’ re going to continue to do our share given the fact that Congress is not reacting to the border crisis , ” the attorney general said .
“ And I am thankful that the president is .
We still have an issue on the border .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day in all kinds of ways .
”


freedomdaily--2020-01-14--Still at it: House Democrats Launch Investigation Into Trump’s ‘Remain In Mexico’ Program

Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee announced that they are investigating the Trump administration ’ s Migrant Protection Protocols initiative , calling into questing the program ’ s legality .
The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigrant and Citizenship on Tuesday delivered a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf on Tuesday , announcing its investigation into the administration ’ s Migrant Protection Protocols program , more popularly referred to as “ Remain in Mexico.
” Democratic members trashed the Remain in Mexico program as dangerous and legally dubious , and demanded the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can move forward with an investigation into its effects .
“ We write to renew our objections to the ‘ Migrant Protection Protocols ’ ( MPP ) , as we continue to question the policy ’ s legality and remain deeply concerned about its impact on vulnerable populations , ” the Democrats wrote in the letter .
“ We strongly believe that MPP is a dangerously flawed policy that threatens the health and safety of legitimate asylum seekers — including women , children , and families — and should be abandoned.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler , the chairman of the Judiciary Committee , and California Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren , the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship .
Six other Democrats on the subcommittee were also part of the announcement .
“ The House Judiciary Committee has held hearings , sent oversight letters , and participated in a variety of staff-level briefings in which administration officials have been unable or unwilling to answer basic questions relating to MPP , ” the letter continued .
“ A comprehensive review of the policy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable populations is necessary.
” First launched in January 2019 , Remain in Mexico has been an instrumental tool for the Trump administration in its mission to control the southern border crisis .
Under the program , foreign nationals who reach the U.S.-Mexico border and claim asylum must wait in Mexico for the entire duration of their court proceedings .
This mostly eliminates the possibility of “ catch and release , ” where migrants are apprehended by Border Patrol , but due to the vast number of those in custody , they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country with the promise that they return on their court date .
There are roughly 50,000 foreign nationals currently under the Remain in Mexico program at the moment .
A vast majority of them so far have not won their cases — proving Trump administration correct when they claim that many of their asylum claims are dubious .
Every senior administration official within DHS , along with Customs and Border Protection , has credited Remain in Mexico has having helped stem the border crisis and brining integrity back into the U.S. immigration system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have grown incensed at the program , claiming its forcing migrants to live in squalid and dangerous conditions in Mexico , a country that is not known for its security .
These lawmakers have long pressed the Trump administration on Remain in Mexico and its effects , but Tuesday marked the most dramatic move to scrutinize the program to date .
Democrats asked DHS for the following information : documents and correspondence about the program dating back to December 2018 , the total number of people and families involved — including a demographic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then removed from MPP , documents regarding tent courts erected for MPP hearings , and other pertinent documents .
Members of the committee have asked for this information by Jan. 30 .


freedomdaily--2020-01-15--WaPo, NYT Aiding China’s Global Propaganda Efforts, Watchdog Warns

America ’ s leading newspapers are aiding China ’ s communist regime by running the oppressive regime ’ s propaganda , respected watchdog organization Freedom House warns in a new report .
The Washington Post , Wall Street Journal and New York Times have all run paid supplements from China Daily , the Chinese government ’ s state media arm .
The paid supplements , dubbed “ China Watch , ” are designed to look like real news articles .
The paid supplements are a way in which Chinese state media “ exploit foreign media outlets , ” Freedom House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Global Megaphone.
” “ In the case of the Washington Post and some other publications , China Watch also appears as an online feature , further blurring the lines between Chinese state media content and the host outlet ’ s own reporting , ” the report notes .
The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to all three newspapers to ask if they would commit to cease running the paid supplements , given the Chinese regime ’ s persecution of ethnic and religious minorities , and whether they would disclose how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertisements .
Neither the NYT nor the WSJ committed to either measure .
The Post did not return the DCNF ’ s inquiry .
“ The New York Times covers China thoroughly and aggressively , and at no time has advertising influenced our coverage .
In fact , the publication of this story in 2012 on the hidden wealth of the family of China ’ s prime minister resulted in The Times being blocked on all platforms in mainland China , which continues to this day , ” NYT vice president Eileen Murphy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re committed to reporting on China , and fund our Chinese-language site and bureaus in Beijing and Shanghai ( as well as Hong Kong ) at a significant cost , ” she added .
“ We also continue to cover China fearlessly .
Our recent investigation based on more than 400 pages of leaked internal Chinese documents provided an unprecedented look into the government ’ s crackdown on ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region .
This type of journalism is core to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We accept a wide range of advertisements , including those with provocative viewpoints , ” DOW Jones spokesman Steve Severinghaus , a spokesman for WSJ parent company DOW Jones , told the DCNF in a statement .
“ We require all ads to be clearly and properly identified as such , and , if an ad is advertorial , we add additional labeling to make clear the newsroom was not involved in its content or creation .
The varied and divergent views expressed belong to the advertisers , ” Severinghaus added .


freedomdaily--2020-01-15--Screen time: Conclusions about the effects of digital media are often incomplete, irrelevant or wron

Screen time: Conclusions about the effects of digital media are often incomplete, irrelevant or wrong

There ’ s a lot of talk about digital media .
Increasing screen time has created worries about media ’ s impacts on democracy , addiction , depression , relationships , learning , health , privacy and much more .
The effects are frequently assumed to be huge , even apocalyptic .
Scientific data , however , often fail to confirm what seems true based on everyday experiences .
In study after study , screen time is often not correlated with important effects at a magnitude that matches the concerns and expectations of media consumers , critics , teachers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves .
For example , a recent review of over 200 studies about social media concluded there was almost no effect of greater screen time on psychological well-being .
A comprehensive study of adolescents reported small effects of screen time on brain development , and no relationship between media use and cognitive performance .
A review of 20 studies about the effects of multitasking with media – that is , using two or more screens at the same time – showed small declines in cognitive performance because of multitasking but also pointed out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As communication , psychological and medical researchers interested in media effects , we are interested in how individuals ’ engagement with digital technology influences peoples ’ thoughts , emotions , behaviors , health and well-being .
Has the power of media over modern life been overstated ?
Probably not , but no one knows , because there is a severe lack of knowledge about what people are actually seeing and doing on their screens .
Individuals all around the world are now all looking at pretty much the same screens and spending a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the similarities between us end there .
Many different kinds of applications , games and messages flow across people ’ s screens .
And , because it is so easy to create customized personal threads of experiences , each person ends up viewing very different material at different times .
No two people share the same media experiences .
To determine the effects of media on people ’ s lives , whether beneficial or harmful , requires knowledge of what people are actually seeing and doing on those screens .
But researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ metric – screen time .
Reports of screen time , the most common way to assess media use , are known to be terribly inaccurate and describe only total viewing time .
Today , on a single screen , you can switch instantly between messaging a neighbor , watching the news , parenting a child , arranging for dinner delivery , planning a weekend trip , talking on an office video conference and even monitoring your car , home irrigation and lighting .
Add to that more troublesome uses – bullying a classmate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Knowing someone ’ s screen time – their total dose of media – will not diagnose problems with any of that content .
A media solution based only on screen time is like medical advice to someone taking multiple prescription medications to reduce their total number of pills by half .
Which medications and when ?
Complex and unique nature of media use What would be a better gauge of media consumption than screen time ?
Something that better captures the complexities of how individuals engage with media .
Perhaps the details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ names of the programs , software and websites – would be more informative .
Sometimes that may be enough to highlight problems – playing a popular game more than intended , frequent visits to a suspicious political website or too much social time on Facebook .
Tracking big categories of content , however , is still not that helpful .
My one hour of Facebook , for example , could be spent on self-expression and social comparison ; yours could be filled with news , shopping , classes , games and videos .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ now switch between content on their smartphones and laptops every 10 to 20 seconds on average .
Many people average several hundred different smartphone sessions per day .
The fast cadence certainly influences how people converse with each other and how engaged we are with information .
And each bit of content is surrounded by other kinds of material .
News read on Facebook sandwiches political content between social relationships , each one changing the interpretation of the other .
In this era of technology and big data , we need a DVR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of individuals ’ screen media experiences – what we call the screenome , analogous to the genome , microbiome and other “ omes ” that define an individual ’ s unique characteristics and exposures .
An individual ’ s screenome includes apps and websites , the specific content observed and created , all of the words , images and sounds on the screens , and their time of day , duration and sequencing .
It includes whether the content is produced by the user or sent from others .
And it includes characteristics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how much one interacts with a screen , how quickly one switches between content , scrolls through screens , and turns the screen on and off .
Without knowledge of the whole screenome , no one – including researchers , critics , educators , journalists or policymakers – can accurately describe the new media chaos .
People need much better data – for science , policy , parenting and more .
And it needs to be collected and supported by individuals and organizations who are motivated to share the information for all to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studying the human genome required developing the field of genomics .
The same will be true for the human screenome , the unique individual record of experiences that constitute psychological and social life on digital devices .
Researchers now have the technologies to begin a serious study of screenomics , which we describe in the journal Nature .
Now we need the data – a collective effort to produce , map and analyze a large and informative set of screenomes .
A Human Screenome Project could inform academics , health professionals , educators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies and policymakers about how to maximize the potential of media and remedy its most pernicious effects .
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Thomas Robinson receives funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , and the Stanford Maternal & Child Health Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics at Stanford University .
Byron Reeves does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-01-15--Final pre-primary season Democrat Debate Analysis and Predictions

With 20 days to go to the February 3 Iowa caucus , the Democrats held their final pre-primary debate in Des Moines , Iowa .
The debate was fairly benign .
Since Joe Biden is the Democrat default candidate , with no major gaffs , I guess we will give the win to Joe for the debate .
There were a few zingers .
Probably the biggest contentious moment was when the two Progressive candidates went after each other on , you guessed it , Identity Politics .
Sanders denies telling Warren : “ I didn ’ t say it.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Well , as a matter of fact , I didn ’ t say it .
And I don ’ t want to waste a whole lot of time on this , because this is what Donald Trump and maybe some of the media want .
Anybody knows me knows that it ’ s incomprehensible that I would think that a woman can not be president of the United States.
” Warren didn ’ t really have a good comeback .
There was a bit of a tussle on – but mostly anti-Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Joe Biden defended the need to keep special forces in places such as Iraq , and Klobuchar also said she would leave U.S. troops in the region .
But other candidates pledged to withdraw “ combat troops.
” Despite the calls to withdraw ground or combat troops , it remains unclear whether or how the candidates will pull back entirely from the region .
Axios – Quite a bit of time was spent on Medicare for All and any potential new Democratic healthcare initiatives that would come if president .
RFSO detected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the debate – Democrats moving away from the far left ?
We repost the positions of the candidates from Axios below : • “ Medicare for All , which would guarantee comprehensive health care , will cost substantially less than the status quo , ” he said , not giving details when asked by CNN how much his plan would cost .
• “ This debate isn ’ t real , ” she said , pointing to a lack of support from Senate Democrats for Medicare for All .
“ The answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She criticized Sanders ’ plan for not having a clear price tag .
• “ I think we need to be candid with voters , ” he said when asked if Sanders owes voters an explanation for how much Medicare for All would cost .
• framed her health care plan around cutting prescription drug costs — like insulin , HIV drugs — and defending the Affordable Care Act .
• “ I do happen to agree with Vice President Biden , that we should renew the Affordable Care Act with a public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ option instead of Medicare for All and his plan costs $ 1.5 trillion over ten years .
He said it just wasn ’ t true to describe his plan as “ small ” compared to plans like Sanders ’ .
As of this post , the top four Democrats stand at a statistical neck and necktie with caucus-goers .
IBD , one a few pollers that did get the 2016 election largely correct , confirm this .
Here is the on the Democratic presidential candidates national poll : For the Iowa specific poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even tighter race : The traders at PredictIt still show that Joe Biden is still the front runner in the Democrat presidential race – see the inset chart .
It is hard to say , and may not matter .
It is not like it was in the past , where a long primary process gave early front runners a boost .
A month later on Super Tuesday , 14 states will become the real decision-makers .
Many believe we are headed for a because of this vote-splitting between the Progressive and Center-Left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Democratic Super delegates can ’ t vote the first round , it is most likely to go to a second vote – maybe more .
So what could be Perhaps the key event won ’ t even happen at the ballot box , rather the Trump impeachment trial that Speaker Nancy Peolis vows will come .
If we go into a full-blown long the call for the Bidens to testify will come .
Perhaps the impeachment trial will be more important to Biden than Trump .
The impeachment trial for Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared that at the Senate ’ s impeachment trial , even if he is subpoenaed .
Not sure he has a choice – but we shall see .
The point here is that if he does testify , will we get that , “ I am not a crook ” moment ?
This could enormously hurt Biden ’ s political chances .
On the Progressive wing side of the Democrats , Sanders and Warren are at each other ’ s throat .
Looks like Sanders is winning that fight , but here again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the of the Democratic party .
If you asked us today who will be the eventual winners , it could be a brokered – ticket for the Democrats to face Trump .
But we have a lot to get through first and this can easily change .
In the meantime , Trump polling and Trump ’ s economy are still strong .
But don ’ t take anything for granted , Trump supporters must remain vigilant .