freedomdaily--2020-02-21--Paying all blood donors might not be worth it

The Abstract features interesting research and the people behind it .
Gretchen Chapman is a decision scientist who explores what makes it more likely that people will get vaccinated or engage in other behaviors that are good for public health .
We asked her about her research about blood donation and generosity .
What did you want to figure out ?
Gretchen Chapman : Donated blood can save the lives of people who need transfusions , but blood donation centers frequently face shortages .
The easiest way to fix this bottleneck is to increase the number of Americans who give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or encourage those who are willing and able do so to give blood more often .
Paying blood donors might seem like a straightforward way to encourage people to do more of it .
However , it ’ s an unusual although technically legal practice in the United States .
Blood donors are far more likely to get tote bags or bumper stickers as tokens of appreciation .
I believe that the current system makes sense .
That ’ s because behavioral scientists find that many people do generous things , whether it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or giving hundreds of dollars to their alma mater , based both on a desire to help others and their hankering for whatever they think they might get in return .
There ’ s a third motive : appearing generous to others .
Chapman : It takes more time to donate plasma , the pale yellowish liquid that makes up more than half of blood , which means plasma donation requires more effort .
As a result , it ’ s common for Americans to get paid for donating plasma – especially low-income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plasma shortage , the U.S. is a leading exporter of it .
There ’ s logic behind this distinction .
Just like you ’ d be happy to help your neighbor move a sofa into a truck as a favor , and might be put off if they offered a little cash , you would probably not agree to move the entire contents of the neighbor ’ s house without being paid for your labor .
How did you test whether paying blood donors matters ?
Chapman : In a study I conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of Rutgers University ’ s faculty , staff and students were offered a US $ 10 gift card for taking part in a blood drive on campus .
The email inviting them to give blood described the gift card in one of four ways .
Half the participants were told the gift cards were intended to thank them for donating blood .
The other half heard that the gift card was meant to promote American Heart Month , which occurs every February .
We expected the Heart Month rationale to make people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood to help people and just happened to be getting a gift card incidentally because of the timing .
In addition , only half of both groups were told they would wear conspicuous heart-themed bandages and arm wraps to spread awareness of the importance of giving blood .
Because everyone was offered the same sum , we didn ’ t compare groups that did versus didn ’ t get offered money .
Instead , we tested how the description of that $ 10 affected everyone ’ s decision to donate or not , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expectation that others will know you ’ ve donated .
We predicted that descriptions would work best when they emphasized that a donor ’ s generosity would be publicly observable and also let donors feel generous rather than in it for the money .
What did you find ?
Chapman : We predicted that the most effective message would be the one that makes donors feel that others can see that they ’ ve done a good deed in combination with implying that the gift card is not payment for donation but rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And it was .
We found that 2.51 % of the people who knew they would leave the blood drive with blood-donor branding on their arms and were given the Heart Month rationale for the $ 10 gift card took part .
However , we also found that nearly as large a share – 2.4 % – of the people in the group that simply heard that they ’ d get a $ 10 gift card if they gave blood took part as well .
That came as a surprise but we believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if people don ’ t think anyone will notice , they are more likely to give blood when they expect to get paid .
The other two groups were much less likely to give blood .
Only 1.65 % of the people who were given the Heart Month rationale for the gift cards without any mention of the arm wraps donated .
And even fewer – just 1.33 % – of the people who didn ’ t hear about the Heart Month rationale but did know to expect the branding-covered arm wraps gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Chapman : First , our findings – which we plan to publish later this year in an academic journal – are that paying people to donate blood might not be worth it even if monetary incentives are creating a plasma surplus .
Second , if anyone does want to pay people to give blood anyway , they should probably do it in a way that allows donors to project their generous motives .
Although our results are a bit complex , they ’ re consistent with earlier findings by other researchers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they give the impression that others will view blood donors as generous instead of just in it for the money .
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Gretchen Chapman receives grant funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Aging .


freedomdaily--2020-02-22--Biden Pledges To Pause All Deportations During His First 100 Days In Office

In a clear shift to the left , former Vice President Joe Biden has pledged to put a hold on all deportations during his first 100 days in office and to then only remove illegal aliens who have committed a felony .
Biden participated in a CNN town hall event in Nevada on Thursday night , just days before the state heads to the polls for the Democratic presidential primary .
While speaking on the issue of immigration , the former vice president said , if he is elected to the White House , he will pause all deportations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an apparent change in position from his previous statements .
“ Some of you are going to get mad at me with this , but nobody is going to be deported in my first 100 days until we get through the point we find out the only rationale for deportation will be whether or not , whether or not you have committed a felony while in the country , ” Biden said Thursday .
Biden then said that there were immigrant families afraid to go to the doctor or attend church , believing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) for living in the U.S. illegally .
This is a new position by the former vice president .
When Biden unveiled his comprehensive immigration platform in December , he did not propose any 100-day pauses on deportations , nor did he declare that removals would be limited to just illegal aliens who have committed felonies .
Since entering the presidential race , Biden has occupied the more moderate lane on immigration compared to his more progressive opponents .
While his rivals Sens .
Bernie Sanders of Vermont @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban deportations and decriminalize illegal immigration , Biden has refrained from adopting such positions , but has vowed to reverse a number of immigration initiatives launched under the Trump administration .
However , Biden has taken heat from immigrant-rights activists and other progressives for high deportation rate under the Obama administration , with activists storming his campaign offices and reminding him of that fact .
As recently as Wednesday during the Nevada debate , protesters shouted at Biden , yelling that he oversaw “ three million deportations ” during his time in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden has seen his stock in the Democratic presidential contest fall .
Once a front-runner in the race , Biden failed to win Iowa or New Hampshire and is not projected to win in Nevada either .
The state is the first in the nominating contest to hold a substantial Latino population .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-22--Wells Fargo Agrees to Pay $3 Billion to Resolve Criminal and Civil Investigations into Sales Practic

Wells Fargo Agrees to Pay $3 Billion to Resolve Criminal and Civil Investigations into Sales Practices Involving the Opening of Millions of Accounts without Customer Authorization

Wells Fargo & Company and its subsidiary , Wells Fargo Bank , N.A.
, have agreed to pay $ 3 billion to resolve their potential criminal and civil liability stemming from a practice between 2002 and 2016 of pressuring employees to meet unrealistic sales goals that led thousands of employees to provide millions of accounts or products to customers under false pretenses or without consent , often by creating false records or misusing customers ’ identities , the Department of Justice announced today .
As part of the agreements with the United States Attorney ’ s Offices for the Central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of North Carolina , the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Civil Division , and the Securities and Exchange Commission , Wells Fargo admitted that it collected millions of dollars in fees and interest to which the Company was not entitled , harmed the credit ratings of certain customers , and unlawfully misused customers ’ sensitive personal information , including customers ’ means of identification .
“ When companies cheat to compete , they harm customers and other competitors , ” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael D. Granston of the Department of Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settlement holds Wells Fargo accountable for tolerating fraudulent conduct that is remarkable both for its duration and scope , and for its blatant disregard of customer ’ s private information .
The Civil Division will continue to use all available tools to protect the American public from fraud and abuse , including misconduct by or against their financial institutions.
” “ Our settlement with Wells Fargo , and the $ 3 billion monetary penalty imposed on the bank , go far beyond ‘ the cost of doing business.
’ They are appropriate given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Wells Fargo ’ s illicit conduct , which spanned well over a decade , ” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray for the Western District of North Carolina .
“ When a reputable institution like Wells Fargo caves to the pernicious forces of greed , and puts its own interests ahead of those of the customers it claims to serve , my office will not sit idle .
Today ’ s announcement should serve as a stark reminder that no institution is too big , too powerful , or too well-known to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its wrongdoings.
” “ This case illustrates a complete failure of leadership at multiple levels within the Bank .
Simply put , Wells Fargo traded its hard-earned reputation for short-term profits , and harmed untold numbers of customers along the way , ” said U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna for the Central District of California .
“ We are hopeful that this $ 3 billion penalty , along with the personnel and structural changes at the Bank , will ensure that such conduct will not reoccur.
” “ Our office is committed to bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fabricate bank records in order to deceive regulators and the public , ” said Inspector General Mark Bialek of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection .
“ I commend our agent and our law enforcement partners for their hard work and persistence that led to today ’ s announcement.
” “ Today ’ s multi-billion-dollar penalty holds Wells Fargo accountable for its unlawful sales practices and pressure tactics in which it deceived millions of clients , thus causing substantial hardship for the very individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Inspector General Jay N. Lerner Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation .
“ The FDIC Office of Inspector General is committed to working with our law enforcement partners in order to investigate such financial crimes that harm customers and investors , and undermine the integrity of the banking sector.
” The criminal investigation into false bank records and identity theft is being resolved with a deferred prosecution agreement in which Wells Fargo will not be prosecuted during the three-year term of the agreement if it abides by certain conditions , including continuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wells Fargo also entered a civil settlement agreement under the Financial Institutions Reform , Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 ( FIRREA ) based on Wells Fargo ’ s creation of false bank records .
FIRREA authorizes the federal government to seek civil penalties against financial institutions that violate various predicate criminal offenses , including false bank records .
Wells Fargo also agreed to the SEC instituting a cease-and-desist proceeding finding violations of Section 10 ( b ) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder .
The $ 3 billion payment resolves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 500 million civil penalty to be distributed by the SEC to investors .
The 16-page statement of facts accompanying the deferred prosecution agreement and civil settlement agreement outlines a course of conduct over 15 years at Well Fargo ’ s Community Bank , which was then the largest operating segment of Wells Fargo , consistently generating more than half of the company ’ s revenue .
The statement of facts outlines top Community Bank leaders ’ knowledge of the conduct .
As part of the statement of facts , Wells Fargo admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wells Fargo increased its focus on sales volume and reliance on annual sales growth .
A core part of this sales model was the “ cross-sell strategy ” to sell existing customers additional financial products .
It was “ the foundation of our business model , ” according to Wells Fargo .
In its 2012 Vision and Values statement , Wells Fargo stated : “ We start with what the customer needs – not with what we want to sell them.
” But , in contrast to Wells Fargo ’ s public statements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Community Bank implemented a volume-based sales model in which employees were directed and pressured to sell large volumes of products to existing customers , often with little regard to actual customer need or expected use .
The Community Bank ’ s onerous sales goals and accompanying management pressure led thousands of its employees to engage in unlawful conduct – including fraud , identity theft and the falsification of bank records – and unethical practices to sell product of no or little value to the customer .
Many of these practices were referred to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gaming strategies varied widely , but included using existing customers ’ identities – without their consent – to open checking and savings , debit card , credit card , bill pay and global remittance accounts .
From 2002 to 2016 , gaming practices included forging customer signatures to open accounts without authorization , creating PINs to activate unauthorized debit cards , moving money from millions of customer accounts to unauthorized accounts in a practice known internally as “ simulated funding , ” opening credit cards and bill pay products without authorization , altering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers from learning of unauthorized accounts and prevent Wells Fargo employees from reaching customers to conduct customer satisfaction surveys , and encouraging customers to open accounts they neither wanted or needed .
The top managers of the Community Bank were aware of the unlawful and unethical gaming practices as early as 2002 , and they knew that the conduct was increasing due to onerous sales goals and pressure from management to meet these goals .
One internal investigator in 2004 called the problem a “ growing plague.
” The following year , another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spiraling out of control.
” Even after senior managers in the Community Bank directly called into question the implementation of the cross-sell strategy , Community Bank senior leadership refused to alter the sales model , which contained unrealistic sales goals and a focus on low-quality secondary accounts .
Despite knowledge of the illegal sales practices , Community Bank senior leadership failed to take sufficient action to prevent and reduce the incidence of such practices .
Senior leadership of the Community Bank minimized the problems to Wells Fargo management and its board of directors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by individual misconduct instead of the sales model itself .
Community Bank senior leadership viewed negative sales quality and integrity as a necessary byproduct of the increased sales and as merely the cost of doing business .


freedomdaily--2020-02-22--Greyhound Announces It Will No Longer Allow Border Patrol Checks

Greyhound , the largest bus company in the United States , announced that it will no longer allow Border Patrol agents to conduct immigration checks on their buses without a warrant .
The major bus company revealed in an email statement on Friday that it no longer consents to any Border Patrol agents or Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) officers conducting unwarranted searches on its buses or terminal areas that are not open to the public , the Associated Press first reported .
Such non-public areas would include company offices or places where a ticket is required .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our customers and team members , and we are confident these changes will lead to an improved experience for all parties involved , ” read a Greyhound statement .
The company said it will provide bus station employees and drivers with training on the updated policy , and it will also put stickers on each of its buses stating that it does not consent to immigration searches .
The decision comes after Greyhound has faced heavy criticism from progressive and immigrant-rights groups for allowing Border Patrol officials to board its buses to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency has long maintained that these checks are an efficient way to crack down on narcotics smuggling , human trafficking , and illegal immigration .
Illegal alien advocates , nevertheless , rejoiced at the announcement .
“ We are pleased to see Greyhound clearly communicate that it does not consent to racial profiling and harassment on its buses , ” Andrea Flores , a spokeswoman for the ACLU , stated to the Associated Press .
“ By protecting its customers and employees , Greyhound is sending a message that it prioritizes the communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unearthed memo may be what sparked Greyhound to change its policy .
The company — despite receiving criticism from immigrant-rights advocates — previously argued that it had no choice but to allow Border Patrol agents conduct these checks .
However , an internal Border Patrol memo , signed by then-Border Patrol chief Carla Provost in January , confirmed that the Fourteenth Amendment prohibited agents from searching private buses without their consent or without a warrant .
About a week after the memo was leaked to the Associated Press , Greyhound came out with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately return a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-24--Here’s What The Lead Roger Stone Juror Wrote In Her Jury Questionnaire

The lead juror at Roger Stone ’ s trial said in a written questionnaire for prospective jurors that she was “ not sure ” whether she posted online about the Russia investigation or Stone , and that she “ may have shared an article ” on social media on the topics , according to a portion of the document reviewed by the Daily Caller News Foundation .
But Tomeka Hart ’ s Twitter feed shows that she indeed posted multiple times about the Russia probe and at least once about Stone , who was sentenced on Thursday to 40 months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the special counsel ’ s investigation .
Stone ’ s lawyers filed a motion on Feb. 14 alleging that Hart ’ s social media activity shows that she was biased against President Trump and Stone .
Trump also criticized Hart during a press conference after Stone was sentenced .
Trump called Hart an “ anti-Trump activist , ” and suggested that she “ tainted ” Stone ’ s jury .
Hart , who ran for Congress as a Democrat in 2012 , commented negatively about Trump on Twitter and circulated news stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aug. 2 , 2019 post , she called all of Trump ’ s supporters racist .
Stone , 67 , has been one of Trump ’ s most longstanding supporters , and is sometimes credited with convincing the real estate mogul to run for president .
Judge Amy Berman Jackson , who presided over Stone ’ s case , said last Tuesday that she would decide after Stone ’ s sentencing whether to grant a retrial .
Jackson did not comment directly on reports about Hart during Stone ’ s sentencing on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Stone ’ s case acted with “ integrity.
” Jackson on Sunday rejected Stone ’ s request , filed Friday , that she recuse herself from the retrial decision because of her praise of the jury .
Stone is arguing that Hart gave misleading answers during the jury selection process .
Jackson ’ s rulings suggest that Stone faces an uphill battle in getting a retrial granted .
And judges are generally reluctant to toss out a jury ’ s verdict without strong evidence of jury or prosecutorial misconduct .
In order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stone will have to convince Jackson that he has met two requirements for a retrial set by the Supreme Court , according to Leslie McAdoo Gordon , a criminal defense and security clearance attorney who practices in Washington , D.C .
The Supreme Court requires defendants to show that a juror provided materially false information , and that the information , had it been known , would have been a valid basis for a request to strike the juror from the jury pool .
McAdoo Gordon said that Hart ’ s responses on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answers verbal interview during a process known as voir dire are enough to warrant a retrial .
“ I think he could satisfy the Supreme Court ’ s test for requesting a new trial , ” McAdoo Gordon told The DCNF .
She said that it appeared that Hart downplayed her awareness of the Russia probe in her written questionnaire .
That alone would not be enough to merit a retrial , McAdoo Gordon said .
But Hart ’ s comments about Trump supporters and her failure to disclose those views during voir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court ’ s requirement , according to the lawyer .
“ If that information had been presented to the judge that she thought all supporters of the president were racist , the judge would have excluded her , ” McAdoo Gordon said .
“ She minimized her answers to the voir dire and she was not honest in answering that question about whether she could be impartial.
” Hart came under scrutiny earlier this month after she revealed herself to have been the foreperson on Stone ’ s jury in a social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who withdrew from the case in protest over a sentencing recommendation .
Right-wing blogger Michael Cernovich tracked down some of Hart ’ s social media posts which showed that she was highly critical of President Trump and his supporters .
Trump weighed in on Stone ’ s sentence on Thursday , and said that he will decide on whether to pardon Stone after Jackson rules on whether to have another trial .
“ I want the process to play out , ” Trump said at a press conference in Las Vegas .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing to do , because I ’ d love to see Roger exonerated , and I ’ d love to see it happen because I personally think he was treated very unfairly.
” In one Aug. 19 , 2017 post , Hart referred to Trump as the “ # KlanPresident , ” an apparent reference to the Ku Klux Klan .
“ Co-signing and defending a racist and his racist rhetoric makes you racist .
Point blank , ” she wrote on Aug. 2 , 2019 .
The DCNF obtained one page of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the condition that the document not be published in full .
Hart ’ s responses on the questionnaire and during the voir dire process on Nov. 5 show that she acknowledged having Democratic leanings .
But she also appears to have downplayed her awareness of developments in the Trump-Russia investigation .
During her voie dire interview , Hart said that her political views would “ absolutely not ” influence her opinion about Stone at trial , and that she “ didn ’ t pay that close ” attention the Russia investigation .
Hart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20-page , 56-question form in September 2019 during the jury selection process .
The questionnaire asked prospective jurors about their awareness of the Stone investigation , the Russia investigation , and their opinions about various people involved in the case .
The page viewed by The DCNF includes questions 21 , 22 , and 23 about Hart ’ s social media activity and awareness of news coverage about the Russia investigation .
In response to a question about whether she watches the news , Hart said “ not regularly ” but said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and MSNBC hosts Rachel Maddow and Chris Hayes .
Hart offered a vague response regarding her awareness of the multiple investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
One question asked Hart whether she had written or posted anything regarding Stone , or the special counsel and House Intelligence Committee ’ s investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
“ I can ’ t remember if I did , ” wrote Hart , who was identified as Juror 1261 , “ but I may have shared an article on Facebook.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she made far more than the single social media post that she indicated making in her jury questionnaire .
On Jan. 30 , 2019 , she retweeted a comment from CNN contributor Bakari Sellers criticizing conservatives who decried the circumstances of Stone ’ s arrest days earlier .
Sellers admonished conservatives for complaining about Stone ’ s arrest by pointing to several high-profile cases of African-Americans who were killed by police .
Hart referred to Special Counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia probe in several posts , and appeared to support the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Fox News keeps pushing excuses for Trump Jr. ’ s collusion with Russia that are just really , really bad , ” reads a tweet she reposted on July 14 , 2017 .
In a May 29 , 2019 tweet of an article at The Hill , Hart emphasized remarks that Mueller made at a press conference he held that same day .
“ After that investigation , if we had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime , we would have said that , ” Hart quoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the special counsel ’ s investigation on Facebook , though the post has now been deleted .
She linked to the post in a March 24 , 2019 tweet .
“ Ignoring the numerous indictments , guilty pleas , and convictions of people in 45 ’ s inner-circle , some Republicans are asserting that the Mueller investigation was a waste of time because he hasn ’ t found evidence of… , ” the tweet begins .
In a Feb. 28 , 2019 tweet linking to a now-deleted Facebook post , Hart wrote : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ M Cohen lied a lot during his testimony , but told the truth when he said he had no knowledge/evidence that 45 colluded with Russia .
Then 45 said since Cohen lied about everything… ” It is still unclear if Stone ’ s legal team was aware of Hart ’ s social media activity before selecting a jury .
Grant Smith , Stone ’ s lead attorney , declined to talk about the case .
Stone and his lawyers remain under a gag order issued by Judge Jackson .
Hart did not respond @ @ @ @ @ @


freedomdaily--2020-02-24--FBI Agent Faulted In FISA Report For ‘Significant’ Errors Has Finally Been Identified

An FBI agent faulted for some of the most significant problems laid out in the Justice Department ’ s inspector general report of FISA abuse against a Trump campaign associate has been identified as Stephen A. Somma , a counterintelligence investigator who works out of the FBI ’ s New York field office .
The New York Times , citing people familiar with the FBI ’ s Russia probe , identified Somma as “ Case Agent 1 ” from the inspector general ’ s ( IG ) report .
The IG blasted the FBI for its handling of information used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Page , a former Trump campaign aide .
“ Case Agent 1 ” is singled as in the report as being “ primarily responsible for some of the most significant errors and omissions in the FISA applications.
” Somma was involved in multiple aspects of Crossfire Hurricane , the FBI counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign .
According to the IG report , he was the FBI agent who initially sought a surveillance warrant against Page .
Somma pushed for a FISA “ almost immediately ” after the FBI opened Crossfire Hurricane on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Somma ’ s initial request was rejected , but FBI lawyers would approve seeking a FISA on Page after the bureau received information from former British spy Christopher Steele .
In the dossier , Steele alleged that Page was a key player in the Trump campaign ’ s “ well-developed conspiracy of cooperation ” with the Russian government to influence the 2016 election .
The IG report said that the FBI failed to verify the allegations about Page before using Steele ’ s information in FISA applications .
The special counsel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Page or anyone on the Trump team worked with Russians .
Somma was in charge of verifying the accuracy of information included in the FISA applications .
He was also the FBI handler for Stefan Halper , a former Cambridge professor who met with and secretly recorded Trump campaign aides Carter Page , Sam Clovis and George Papadopoulos .
The IG report says that Somma failed to disclose potentially exculpatory information that Page and Papadopoulos told Halper .
He also failed to disclose that the CIA told him on Aug. 15 , 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact ” for the agency years earlier .
Perhaps Somma ’ s most egregious omission deals with an interview he conducted in January 2017 with Steele ’ s primary source for information in the dossier .
According to the IG report , the Steele source , referred to as “ Primary Sub-Source , ” told FBI agents that Steele misrepresented information attributed to him in the dossier , including about Page .
The FBI and Justice Department failed to disclose the information in its final two applications for FISA orders on Page .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department has deemed the two orders to be invalid .
The IG report also says that “ Case Agent 1 ” took part in five interviews with Carter Page in March 2017 .
The report says that Somma became Halper ’ s handler in 2011 , after the FBI temporarily terminated its relationship with the informant over concerns about his interactions with a counterintelligence target .
Months after Somma began working with Halper , the FBI agent visited Cambridge in November 2011 to speak at a seminar about the FBI ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ The Illegals.
” The FBI has declined comment on Somma .


freedomdaily--2020-02-24--Eating disorders are about emotional pain – not food

In her documentary “ Miss Americana , ” music icon Taylor Swift disclosed her history of eating disorders .
Her revelation underscores the fact these disorders do not discriminate .
According to the advocacy and awareness organization Eating Disorders Coalition , they strike all genders , races , ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds .
Despite their prevalence – the problem is worldwide – myths about eating disorders abound .
Such as that they are a choice .
They are not .
Or they ’ re not a big deal .
They are .
Or that a person with an eating disorder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As a licensed psychologist and psychology professor , I find it ’ s common for my clients and students to say “ A little food helps me with my anxiety ” or “ I ’ m not thin enough to have an eating disorder.
” Such beliefs often prevent people from recognizing they have a problem .
More is involved in an eating disorder than food , or body image .
Someone gripped by one is attempting to regulate some very difficult and complicated emotions .
What is an eating disorder ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : disorders of restriction , or anorexia ; bingeing , known medically as binge eating disorder ; and bingeing followed by compensation – such as self-induced vomiting – which is called bulimia .
Unpacked further : Restriction means limiting calories so much that weight loss is more than expected for a given height and weight .
This does not necessarily mean the person will appear emaciated .
Someone who was at the 90th percentile for weight , for example , could still be considered anorexic if they reduced their weight to the 70th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overeating .
It ’ s out-of-control eating , leading to extreme feelings of fullness and guilt , typically within a couple of hours after a meal .
By bingeing , a person can check out of life circumstances to focus only on food .
With bulimia , a binge is followed by an action to compensate for the calories consumed .
Purging is one of them , but there are others , including exercise , particularly when it ’ s taken to an extreme .
Although exercise is often overlooked as a form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has more than three-and-a-half times the likelihood to be diagnosed with an eating disorder than a person a without one .
It should be emphasized that not all of these disorders always result in weight loss .
Those with binge eating disorder and bulimia may be at or above expected weight .
The root of an eating disorder Eating disorders aren ’ t about managing weight .
Rather , they ’ re a way to manage emotions .
When my clients describe what it ’ s like to restrict themselves from food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ empty ” and feeling “ numb ” to the world .
Take someone dealing with a trifecta of guilt , shame and embarrassment .
Bingeing is exceedingly effective at burying these emotions .
So is compensation , a tool to give the sufferer a break from the emotional turmoil .
The relief they receive is a reinforcer , and it ’ s extraordinarily powerful .
Purging , overeating , compensating – it all feels good .
Very quickly , the pattern is repeated .
Simply changing eating patterns won ’ t work .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ feelings they ’ re experiencing .
Then comes a search for better strategies to deal with those feelings .
In the interim , nothing feels as good as the eating disorder .
But slowly , as healthy behaviors take over , they become more reinforcing than the disorder .
With Feb. 24 marking the beginning of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week , there ’ s one thing you need to remember if you know someone with an eating disorder .
They are experiencing significant emotional pain ; the eating disorder is an attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or exercise appears to be running the life of a family member , friend or colleague , you can help by focusing on them and their lived experience – and not exclusively on the food .
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Michele Patterson Ford does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment @


freedomdaily--2020-02-24--Blacks are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s, but why?

Blacks are at higher risk for several health conditions in the U.S .
This is true for heart disease , hypertension , type 2 diabetes and stroke , which are often chronic diseases .
And it is also for Alzheimer ’ s disease , in which blacks have two times higher incidence rates than whites .
So , why do these disparities exist , especially in Alzheimer ’ s disease , which isn ’ t typically considered a chronic disease but a progressive one , or one that worsens over time ?
Some researchers attribute the gap to both societal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education , socioeconomics , income and health care access .
Other factors such as stress , diet , lifestyle and genetics may also contribute .
However , there ’ s a less-explored question in Alzheimer ’ s that could contribute to this disparity : Is the underlying biology of the disease somehow different in blacks and non-Hispanic whites ?
I am a basic science researcher who studies racial disparities in Alzheimer ’ s disease .
I have begun to uncover that the biology underlying the disease may not be the same in African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is working on several projects to better understand the biology of Alzheimer ’ s disease in African Americans and how it may be the same or different in non-Hispanic whites .
We will share our preliminary findings soon , as this work is necessary to help understand the root cause of this disparity .
Even more important , this will help us to understand the disease for everyone .
I believe that many factors together contribute to health disparities in Alzheimer ’ s disease , and biology is one very worth exploring .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s disease , blacks represent fewer than 5 % of participants , whereas they represent about 13 % of the U.S. population .
That makes it hard to know if and how these potential therapies may work for blacks and other underrepresented groups .
This makes it important to understand the biology of the disparities because it could impact the development and effectiveness of potential therapies .
Genetics may be one contributing factor to racial disparities in Alzheimer ’ s disease .
In the general population , inherited forms of Alzheimer ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of all cases .
Among African Americans a few genes have been identified that are associated with higher risk of Alzheimer ’ s disease specific to this population .
One is ABCA7 .
This gene has been demonstrated by several independent studies to lead to higher risk of disease in African Americans for developing Alzheimer ’ s disease .
The ABCA7 gene is involved in lipid transport , meaning that is important for moving lipids , or fatty acids , in the blood and the brain .
However , we researchers do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or others increases risk in African Americans .
It almost seems obvious that the higher incidences of disease , including in Alzheimer ’ s disease , experienced by African Americans must be related .
For example , hypertension increases risk for Alzheimer ’ s disease , and 40 % of African American adults have hypertension .
Could it be possible that there are similar biological factors driving these high incidences in both diseases ?
We are beginning to answer this question with a $ 4.2 million award recently received from the National Institutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the blood of Africans Americans with hypertension or with Alzheimer ’ s disease .
By comparing our findings in these subpopulations , we will be able to determine if there are any similarities in the biology of both diseases .
For a smaller number of participants , we will be able to study proteins in autopsied brains .
We expect some initial results in the early part of 2021 .
For example , in our own work and that of others , we are led to believe that differences in inflammation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the disparities that exist in Alzheimer ’ s disease .
Could proteins in the brain be different ?
In one preliminary study , we have compared several thousands of proteins – an analysis called proteomics – in three different autopsied brain regions from African Americans and non-Hispanic whites .
We found many proteins that are related to having Alzheimer ’ s disease that are the same in both African Americans and non-Hispanic whites , but we were surprised to find that there were changes related to having Alzheimer ’ s disease that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have ongoing studies to replicate these findings .
This kind of result , though , raises a few major points .
First , researchers can learn more about the biology of Alzheimer ’ s disease by ensuring that diverse and especially disparate groups of subjects are included in their studies .
Second , the disease may behave somewhat differently underneath the surface in different populations .
This is critical to know in order to develop diagnostics or therapies that can be tailored accordingly .
Finally , more of these kinds of studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closer to finding a cure for the disease .
Big “ omics ” studies , which can measure thousands of genes , proteins , lipids and metabolites , when applied to racial disparities in Alzheimer ’ s disease , will give a wealth of information to help explain why these disparities exist .
Other researchers are beginning to apply these kinds of techniques .
Recently , researchers have confirmed the importance of inflammation in Alzheimer ’ s disease and note that specific inflammatory genes only show up in African Americans or non-Hispanic whites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amyloid and tau biomarkers for Alzheimer ’ s , recent work supports that race is an important factor in establishing these biomarkers .
The truth of the matter is when we used the PubMed database to search for omics studies of African Americans in Alzheimer ’ s disease , we found that African Americans were grossly underrepresented .
Many of the studies excluded African Americans .
Thus , even beginning to explain why disparities exist – much less reducing and eliminating them – is challenging , because basic science research studies are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diverse groups in basic science research and clinical trials of Alzheimer ’ s disease is a critical first step to helping reduce and eliminate health disparities .
It will further our understanding of the disease .
It will more rapidly facilitate the search for diagnostic markers or therapies that will yield strategies effective for helping everyone .
With another recent clinical trial of two promising Alzheimer ’ s disease drugs failing , we need a complete picture of the disease .
The medical community can best achieve this by ensuring that blacks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in all studies , especially those that are basic science research studies .
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Renã A.S. Robinson receives funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Alzheimer ’ s Association .
She is affiliated with the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers .


freedomdaily--2020-02-24--‘Shifty Schiff’: Trump Accuses House Intel Chairman Of Leaking Details Of Russia Briefing

President Donald Trump on Saturday accused Rep. Adam Schiff of leaking details of a briefing that intelligence community officials provided Congress earlier this month regarding Russian meddling in the 2020 election .
“ Just another Shifty Schiff leak .
Isn ’ t there a law about this stuff ?
” Trump wrote on Twitter in reference to a tweet from CBS News reporter Catherine Herridge .
Trump did not cite any specific evidence to back up his claim against the California Democrat .
On Thursday , The New York Times cited “ five people familiar ” with a Feb. 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia was interfering in the election in order to help Trump .
Some Republicans in the briefing reportedly disputed the intelligence , and said that intelligence officials did not provide enough evidence that Russia was trying to help Trump .
Trump reportedly grew angry at Joseph Maguire , the acting director of national intelligence , for approving a briefing in which Schiff was involved .
The Times reported that Trump was especially perturbed that Schiff was in the briefing .
Schiff led the impeachment proceedings against Trump in the House , and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Senate trial .
Schiff was also a leading proponent of the now-debunked theory that Trump and members of his campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 election .
Others in Trump ’ s orbit have accused Schiff of leaking before .
Donald Trump Jr. , the president ’ s son , said in a Jan. 22 , 2019 interview on Fox News that there was a “ 99.9 % chance ” that Schiff was behind leaks of his testimony to the House Intelligence Committee in December 2017 .
Trump leveled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jan. 11 , 2018 interview with The Wall Street Journal .
“ All I see of these Democrats , like Adam Schiff — it ’ s all he does , he ’ ll have a meeting , and then he ’ ll leave , and he ’ ll call up the meeting , and then I ’ ll have a meeting and then he ’ ll leave .
He left meetings where people are being interviewed , and then all of a sudden they say a story about what ’ s going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the interview .
A spokesman for Schiff did not respond to a request for comment about Trump ’ s latest remarks .


freedomdaily--2020-02-28--The problem with health care price transparency: We don’t have cost transparency

US $ 2.4 million .
$ 1.5 million .
$ 2.28 million .
These are the amounts of money the health system where I work , teach and receive health care spent purchasing a PET scanner , a CT scanner and a three-month supply of pembrolizumab , a drug that treats a variety of solid-organ cancers .
To meet the clinical ( read “ market ” ) demands of patients , who are typically disinclined to wait for diagnosis or treatment , UVA Health already owns seven CT scanners ( that I know of ) and three PET scanners , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of known cancer .
It also has enough “ Pembro ” to treat all patients who will or might benefit from it .
Guess how much of their costs are billable to insurance ?
In my dual roles at the University of Virginia , as both associate chief medical officer for clinical integration for the health system and director of the Center for Health Policy at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy , I see this disconnect play out continuously .
For some drugs , Medicare doesn ’ t pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and physician practices have a single source of revenue : payment for patient care services rendered .
To buy the PET scanner , CT scanner or Pembro , the university health care system collects money from our patients , largely through the insurer .
In turn , our clinics , operating rooms and emergency departments treat the patient .
Simply put , the money collected from patients is used to buy everything the hospital uses use to provide health care .
Sometimes the health system borrows money from banks or the public , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serviced through payment for services rendered .
Consumers bear the brunt ; as in any business , those costs are passed on to the customer .
To be fair , Medicare Parts B and D may offset , but not pay for , the cost of many drugs .
For Pembro , for example , a Medicare recipient may be left with a 20 % co-pay , or $ 30,000 a year .
Different drugs incur different costs driven by market forces , including greed .
Which brings me to my point : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the free-market health care structure we have in the U.S .
Instead , consumers need to know not so much the price , but the costs of things .
The difference between price and cost Here ’ s an analogy : There ’ s the sticker price of the car you want to buy , and then there ’ s the price you pay .
Those numbers are almost always different , and no two buyers necessarily pay the same .
Instead , a negotiation between buyer and seller ( the dealership , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ultimately a price is agreed upon .
But whatever that number is , it ’ s never the actual cost of producing the car .
The carmaker knows , down to the penny , the production cost of that car .
The consumer doesn ’ t know .
The dealership doesn ’ t know , either ; the dealer is privy only to the acquisition cost ( price per vehicle ) it pays .
The automaker aggregates the costs of the aluminum and steel , the electronics , the glass , the tires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to derive a unit price per vehicle .
The manufacturer knows all the costs of each component before the company starts to build a single vehicle , including labor and overhead .
Think of hospitals and physicians as the dealership .
They don ’ t know the actual cost of things either , partly because there ’ s not just one “ maker.
” Instead , many “ makers ” are in the supply chain – all the companies providing hospitals and doctors with thousands of medical products and services .
Just imagine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a patient receives a chemo treatment .
For far too long , the lay media has confused price and cost .
So have health professionals and policymakers .
When the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services references costs , it ’ s essentially telling consumers how much it will pay to Medicare in premiums , deductibles and co-pays .
Or , alternatively , it is telling consumers how much it will pay based on what each hospital indicates its costs are .
These costs are different for every facility , because they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No payer – that is , the insurance company for the patient – ever asks about how much it actually costs to provide health care .
Here ’ s why : No one knows .
Health care prices are made-up numbers .
The practice goes back to the earliest days of modern medicine .
Prices ( also known as “ fees ” ) are determined by the time-honored standard of “ usual and customary fees ” charged locally and regionally for a service .
That ’ s it .
The federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its definition some years ago .
Health care reform proposals such as “ Medicare for All , ” and its variations , will never control the cost of doing business until there ’ s a better understanding of what precisely that is .
Big Pharma claims that research and development of drugs costs so much that pricing has to recoup the investment .
I don ’ t subscribe to this claim at all , because they didn ’ t provide sufficient data to convince me .
Our country has never even had the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large .
There are better ways to do it .
Activity and time-driven cost accounting have emerged as methods to actually calculate how much individual units of health care cost .
Essentially , each step in a care process , be it bypass surgery , antibiotic administration or an MRI , is costed out and aggregated through direct observation of the care processes .
This is not something that might be implemented in the distant future – in some places , it ’ s happening now .
I ’ m proud to state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has taken the first steps to join them .
How much time does the technician take to perform a task ?
How much is she paid per hour ?
How much fringe benefit does she receive ?
How much time does the patient transporter take ?
How much does he earn per hour plus fringe ?
What is the purchase price of the MRI machine ?
To calculate the true cost of care per care unit , a hospital must add up all the costs of all the component parts of the procedure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apply some rigor to their pricing schema .
Some are doing this already with good results .
Seeing how much care costs and the prices all hospitals charge would allow market forces to actually inform consumerism in health care .
From that starting point , a national dialogue concerning prices in health care might have meaning .
So would public policymaking .
“ Out-of-network bills ” and “ price transparency ” would have real-world relevance .
Finally , our country could have the long-overdue dialogue about health care costs as a profession , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Get the best of The Conversation , every weekend .
Sign up for our weekly newsletter . ]
Michael Williams does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-02-28--Chinese National Sentenced for Stealing Trade Secrets Worth $1 Billion

A former associate scientist was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison in federal court today for stealing proprietary information worth more than $ 1 billion from his employer , a U.S. petroleum company .
In November 2019 , Tan pleaded guilty to theft of a trade secret , unauthorized transmission of a trade secret , and unauthorized possession of a trade secret .
From June 2017 until December 2018 , Tan was employed as an associate scientist at the petroleum company and was assigned to work in a group with the goal of developing next generation battery technologies for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In his plea agreement , Tan admitted to intentionally copying and downloading the technologies ’ research and development materials without authorization from his employer .
“ This investigation and prosecution uncovered another instance of China ’ s persistent attempts to steal American intellectual property , ” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers .
“ The department of justice will continue to confront this type of illicit behavior to safeguard American industry and protect American jobs.
” “ American ingenuity inspires advances in science and technology and drives world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than in Oklahoma ’ s energy industry .
Unscrupulous individuals like Hongjin Tan seek to steal American trade secrets to take home to China so they can replicate our technology , ” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores for the Northern District of Oklahoma .
“ United States Attorneys from coast stand ready to combat China ’ s economic aggression that criminally threatens American industry.
” “ American companies invest heavily in advanced research and cutting-edge technology .
Trade secret theft is detrimental to our national security and free-market economy .
It takes profits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard working Americans , ” said Melissa Godbold , Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office .
“ The sentencing of Hongjin Tan underscores the FBI ’ s commitment to protecting our country ’ s industries from adversaries who attempt to steal valuable proprietary information.
” According to the plea agreement , Tan used a thumb drive to copy hundreds of files containing the proprietary information on Dec. 11 , 2018 .
He subsequently turned in his resignation and was escorted from the premises on Dec. 12 , 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the thumb drive , claiming that he had forgotten to do so before leaving his employer ’ s property .
Upon examination , it was discovered that there was unallocated space on the thumb drive , indicating five documents had previously been deleted .
Investigators with the FBI searched Tan ’ s premises and found an external hard drive .
They discovered that the same five missing files from the thumb drive had been downloaded to the hard drive .
Tan maintained the files on a hard drive so he could access the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accessing the material would have been financially advantageous for Tan but caused significant financial damage to his Oklahoma employer .
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Hongjin Tan , 36 , a Chinese National and U.S. legal permanent resident , to 24 months in federal prison and ordered the defendant to pay $ 150,000 in restitution to his former employer .
Following his release from prison , Tan will spend three years on supervised release .
Tan was remanded into the custody of the U.S .
Marshals Service until transfer to a @ @ @ @ @ @


freedomdaily--2020-02-28--House Democrats Block Resolution Condemning Bernie Sanders’s Praise Of Fidel Castro

Democratic lawmakers on Thursday successfully blocked a GOP resolution condemning Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ’ laudatory comments about the Castro regime .
By a vote of 224-189 that fell along party lines , the House of Representatives on Thursday voted to block a resolution that not only condemned numerous human rights abuses that took place under the Castro regime , but also condemned recent instances where Sanders refused to fully denounce the late Fidel Castro ’ s dictatorial rule over Cuba .
The resolution was introduced by Florida GOP Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart , who represents a district in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — roughly half his entire constituency .
During a “ 60 Minutes ” interview that aired Sunday , the Vermont senator said it was “ unfair ” to say everything about the Castro regime was negative , noting how Castro launched a “ massive literacy program ” upon assuming power .
The following day , during a town hall event in South Carolina , Sanders stood by his remarks .
During Tuesday night ’ s presidential debate , he once again touted Cuba ’ s progress on education .
Speaking on the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s comments “ blatantly false.
” “ If anybody wants to know the devastation of socialism and the tyranny that so often accompanies it , I invite you to speak to some of my constituents , including thousands , thousands of former political prisoners now in exile , ” the Republican lawmaker said , who went on to list several political dissenters who are currently being held in captivity in Cuba .
“ For years , the Cuban regime has been on the list of state sponsors of terrorism for its support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and violence around the world and in this hemisphere , ” Diaz-Balart went on .
Despite widespread condemnation by the members of the Democratic Party — including U.S. representatives , presidential candidates , and even a DNC spokesperson — no Democratic lawmakers voted to let the resolution move forward .
Florida Democratic Reps. Donna Shalala and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell both issued scathing public statements against Sanders ’ s comments , but both lawmakers on Thursday notably skipped the vote , allowing them to avoid a decision on the resolution .
This move was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Rep .
Shalala and Rep. Mucarsel-Powell ’ s constituents deserve to know why the representatives they sent to Washington did not even bother to vote on an important resolution to condemn Senator Sanders ’ comments & the Castro regime , ” said Mark Bednar , a spokesman for House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy .


freedomdaily--2020-02-28--DNC Superdelegates: If Bernie Doesn’t Get 60% of the Primary Vote, We’ll Vote Against Him

Dozens of Democratic superdelegates say they ’ re willing to sacrifice party cohesion to prevent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders from becoming their party ’ s nominee at the Democratic National Convention in July .
The New York Times spoke with 93 superdelegates following Sanders ’ s victory in the Nevada caucuses on Feb. 22 , the vast majority of which said they believe the Democratic Party is headed toward a contested convention .
Of the superdelegates interviewed , 84 said Sanders does not deserve to become the party ’ s nominee based solely on having secured the most , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegates during the primaries and caucuses .
“ If 60 % is not with Bernie Sanders , I think that says something , I really do , ” Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas told The Times .
Current forecasting models back up the superdelegates ’ prediction of a contested convention — FiveThirtyEight ’ s model showed Thursday a 48 % chance that no candidate comes out of the primaries and caucuses with a simple majority of delegates , despite Sanders ’ s current standing as the undisputed frontrunner with victories in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed Thursday that Sanders has a 37 % of clinching the nomination before the convention and former Vice President Joe Biden in a distant third with 13 % odds .
For a candidate to win the nomination before the convention in July , they ’ d have to win at least 1,991 of the 3,979 “ pledged ” delegates up for grabs during the primaries and caucuses .
The floodgates would open at the convention if no candidate breaches that threshold .
All 3,979 “ pledged ” delegates would then be free to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the 771 superdelegates , comprised of elected Democrats and high-ranking members of the Democratic National Committee ( DNC ) , would be able to cast votes for whomever they wish as well .
The candidates themselves also appear to be bracing for a contested convention as it appears increasingly likely that Sanders has the only realistic pathway to secure the nomination during the primaries and caucuses .
Sanders was the only candidate during a Feb. 19 debate to say the person that enters the convention with the most , but not over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” delegates should be the Democratic nominee .
Ways to stop Sanders from becoming the nominee has become a “ dominant topic in many Democratic circles , ” The Times reported .
The DNC will brief House Democrats on Thursday about their role as superdelegates in a contested convention .
“ Bernie seems to have declared war on the Democratic Party — and it ’ s caused panic in the House ranks , ” New Jersey Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer , who endorsed former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg on Feb. 20 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jim Himes told The Times : “ We ’ re way , way , way past the day where party leaders can determine an outcome here , but I think there ’ s a vibrant conversation about whether there is anything that can be done.
” New York State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs told The Times that in the event of a contested convention , superdelegates such as himself should nominate the candidate with the best chance of beating President Donald Trump in November , regardless of who won the most delegates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie wants to redefine the rules and just say he just needs a plurality .
I don ’ t think we buy that .
I don ’ t think the mainstream of the Democratic Party buys that , ” Jacobs said , adding : “ If he doesn ’ t have a majority , it stands to reason that he may not become the nominee .
”


freedomdaily--2020-02-27--UH-OH: Watchdog Group Asks Feds to Probe Bloomberg Groups for Illegal Campaign Contributions

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg ’ s nonprofits are illegally providing campaign contributions to the billionaire ’ s White House bid , a watchdog group alleged Wednesday in an IRS complaint .
Bloomberg Philanthropies is among a handful of Bloomberg-affiliated nonprofits “ making contributions for Mr. Bloomberg ’ s personal and political benefit , ” Government Accountability and Oversight noted in the complaint .
GAO cited reports it says document a pattern of illegality .
GAO cited a Dec. 14 New York Times article titled “ Mayors for Mike : How Bloomberg ’ s Money Built a 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other things , lays out how city leaders who received grants from his foundation are tossing their support behind Bloomberg ’ s campaign .
Bloomberg ’ s foundation donated $ 500,000 to an education reform group based in Stockton , California before Mayor Michael Tubbs endorsed Bloomberg ’ s campaign in December 2019 .
This shows that Bloomberg was laying out a network of support well before his announcement , GAO notes .
“ Numerous media outlets have taken notice of the pattern of charitable grants followed by what are otherwise curious endorsements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We suggest these considerations both should inform how the IRS views this unusually politically targeted largesse.
” Some critics believe Bloomberg uses Bloomberg Philanthropies as a type of pass-through entity through which donors can support elected officials with resources that legislatures will not provide and which donors can not legally provide directly .
Bloomberg is devoting half a billion dollars to defeating President Donald Trump in 2020 .
The group is also responsible for placing so-called special assistant attorneys general inside state attorneys general offices around the country by the State Energy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6 million from Bloomberg in 2018 .
Bloomberg ’ s grant was designed to escalate attacks against Trump ’ s regulatory rollbacks , as well as targeting coal companies .
The Daily Caller News Foundation reported in February 2019 that Illinois , Maryland , and other states involved in the program hired attorneys with ties to the billionaire .
Neither Bloomberg ’ s campaign nor the IRS responded to the DCNF ’ s request for comment .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-27--¿Cómo prepararnos para el coronavirus? 3 preguntas y respuestas

Democrats Feature American-Indian Tribe Known for Rampant Drug-Smuggling to Speak Against Border Wall


freedomdaily--2020-02-27--Democrats Feature American-Indian Tribe Known for Rampant Drug-Smuggling to Speak Against Border Wal

Democrats Feature American-Indian Tribe Known for Rampant Drug-Smuggling to Speak Against Border Wall

House Democrats invited the leader of the Tohono O ’ odham Nation to speak out against construction of the U.S.-Mexico wall , despite the tribe ’ s long history of cross-border drug smuggling .
The House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on Wednesday titled “ Destroying Sacred Sites and Erasing Tribal Culture : The Trump Administration ’ s Construction of the Border Wall ” which focused on the border wall ’ s environmental impact .
A featured speaker at the hearing was Ned Norris , who serves as the chairman of the Tohono O ’ odham Nation , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border .
Norris voiced his opposition to the wall , noting that construction of a barrier would split their territory , which expands across the Mexican border , and would purportedly desecrate their cultural and sacred sites .
“ The federal government ’ s continued destruction of our religious and cultural resources [ amounts to ] nothing less but bulldozing of our church grounds and our cemeteries .
For us , this is no different than DHS building a 30-foot wall through Arlington Cemetery or through the grounds of the National Cathedral , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We urge Congress to withdraw , or at least limit , [ the Department of Homeland Security ’ s ] waiver authority that is dangerously broad and has allowed DHS dictatorial to run roughshod over the rights of the Tohono O ’ odham and other border communities in the United States , ” he continued .
The Tohono O ’ odham Nation , a federally recognized tribe that touts roughly 34,000 enrolled Tribal citizens , is concentrated on a reservation along 62 miles of the southern Arizona border .
Their ancient tribal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S.-Mexico border , but their homeland was split when the international boundary was established in 1854 .
To this day , many members of the tribe remain on the Mexican side .
Among the law enforcement community , however , the Tohono O ’ odham Nation is also notorious for something else : cross-border drug smuggling .
Plagued with rampant unemployment and bleak economic options , many within the tribe have turned to the Sinaloa Cartel to make money .
Their land has since become one of the busiest human and drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tohono O ’ odham Nation was recently featured in an ABC News investigative report for its involvement in the transnational drug trade .
“ There ’ s a lot of tribe members who are deeply involved with the cartel here in Mexico , ” said Matthias Estevan , an O ’ odham Nation member living south of the border , for the May 2019 report .
Estevan himself said cartel members have approached him with lucrative deals , even offering to pay him $ 10,000 just to drive a truck with a hidden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reservation .
How rampant is smuggling among members of the O ’ odham Nation ?
While it ’ s difficult to gauge given the nature of criminal activity , one Border Patrol agent estimated in a June 2019 report that as many as 80 % to 90 % of members were involved in drug or human smuggling .
Despite increased enforcement efforts along the U.S.-Mexico border , members of the tribe are allowed easy access through special gates to criss-cross the border .
However , law enforcement argues that members of the O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make big bucks from Mexican drug cartels .
Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb , whose jurisdiction includes a section of the O ’ odham Nation ’ s reservation , has become nationally recognized for his personal fight against drug smugglers .
Lamb last year said that traffickers who push methamphetamines and marijuana are aware that they can ’ t be charged if they are on tribal territory , and many of them make use of the reservation ’ s porous border .
In a statement provided to The Daily Caller News Foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Arizona GOP Rep. Paul Gosar spoke on the need for a border wall to prevent not only illegal immigration but also to crack down the level of drug smuggling currently seen in the region .
“ Donald Trump promised the American people he would build a wall along our southern border , ” Gosar said .
“ It ’ s refreshing to see a President who actually keeps his promises !
Arizona ’ s border lands and environmental laws are exploited by drug cartels , human traffickers , and illegal aliens to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to protect our communities from these vicious criminals , we need to build a wall.
” As for Norris , he reiterated his tribe ’ s deep opposition to a border wall through the House committee hearing .
“ We will continue to work on the relationship [ with the government ] , we will continue to do what is necessary — short of building a wall .
We will never agree to a wall that is being built , ” Norris said .


freedomdaily--2020-02-27--In gender discrimination, social class matters a great deal

The Harvey Weinstein guilty verdict is a victory for the # MeToo movement .
“ Today is a powerful day & a huge step forward in our collective healing , ” wrote the actress Rose McGowan on Twitter .
Still , sexism is pervasive in American culture .
About 40 % of U.S. women say they ’ ve experienced gender discrimination at work .
Women ’ s work is often undervalued and underpaid .
And female job candidates are frequently subjected to extra scrutiny during the hiring process , and have lower chances of landing the work they deserve .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the workplace can contribute to health inequities and gender discrimination .
Research shows that sexism takes a large toll on women ’ s health , but women work at a variety of jobs where hours , expectations and cultures vary widely .
While the Weinstein verdict may acknowledge the injustice of criminal sexual acts – and by extension , acknowledge the entire # MeToo movement – holding him to account took the efforts of more than 80 women , multiple investigative journalists and significant resources to pay attorney ’ s fees .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging sexism can be much more difficult .
Our recently published study used 12 years of data from the General Social Survey , or GSS , to look into workplace discrimination in the U.S. – and just as critically , how that discrimination affects women ’ s health and well-being .
Specifically , we wanted to know if women ’ s levels of education influence whether they experienced gender discrimination at work .
In the 1980s , the number of women earning college degrees surpassed men .
Since then , women have obtained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wondered if women ’ s educational achievements altered their chances of encountering sexism at work .
And because higher education generally opens the door to more financial and social resources , we wanted to know whether increased education helps women deal with the negative consequences of discrimination .
In the GSS , about 10 % of women reported gender discrimination in their current job .
Consistent with other research , women with higher levels of education reported higher rates of discrimination .
Among those with master ’ s or doctoral degrees , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women with less than a high school education it ’ s 7 % .
Why the difference ?
The most powerful explanation : highly educated women working in high-paying , professional jobs are more likely to work alongside more men .
And women in those contexts are more likely to be targets of gender-based discrimination and harassment .
Another reason : Women with less education typically hold less prestigious jobs , which offer fewer opportunities for raises or promotions .
Trapped on the “ sticky floor ” of low-wage service or retail work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunities to collide with the glass ceiling .
And they might recognize sexism less often simply because traditionally feminine traits – caring or deferring to others , for instance – are sometimes required of the job , expected or even taken for granted .
Just as critical : The GSS data shows gender discrimination is a source of stress and illness .
We found that women who perceive discrimination experience lower self-reported levels of happiness , job satisfaction , sleep , mental health and overall health .
Lower-educated women may report less discrimination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is well with them .
Quite the opposite – we found that women in less-valued jobs actually show some of the largest health harms from discrimination .
On some level , that makes sense .
Those with more education typically have greater resources for coping with stress .
Those resources include higher earnings , greater social support and better health insurance coverage .
Also , the data does not distinguish between degrees of discrimination .
Women with less education might experience more severe or hostile forms of sexism , while women in better-paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missed promotions or raises , for example .
Gender discrimination is unfair , illegal , bad for the economy and a public health issue .
It hurts everyone , but it is much more harmful for poor and working class women .
These findings should concern anyone interested in advancing health , well-being and social justice .
And really , shouldn ’ t that be all of us ?
[ You ’ re too busy to read everything .
We get it .
That ’ s why we ’ ve got a weekly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reading . ]


freedomdaily--2020-02-27--4 science-based strategies to tame angry political debate and encourage tolerance

“ Climate change is a hoax , ” my cousin said during a family birthday party .
“ I saw on Twitter it ’ s just a way to get people to buy expensive electric cars.
” I sighed while thinking , “ How can he be so misinformed ?
” Indeed , what I wanted to say was , “ Good grief , social media lies are all you read.
” No doubt my cousin thought the same of me , when I said Republican senators are too afraid of the president to do what ’ s right .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we let each other ’ s statements slide by in icy silence .
As a psychology professor and clinical psychologist in private practice , I know my relationship with my cousin would have improved if we could have discussed those issues in a nonthreatening way .
If only .
I ’ m not alone in my frustration – and my desire for change .
A December 2019 poll conducted by Public Agenda/USA TODAY/Ipsos showed more than nine out of 10 Americans said it ’ s time to reduce divisiveness , which they believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media .
People want to stop the animosity and relate to one another again .
But how ?
Based on my knowledge of psychological research , here are four approaches you can use to overcome divisiveness .
Avoiding interactions with people who have different opinions perpetuates divisiveness .
Risk connecting with these people .
Relate through activities you enjoy such as volunteering , joining a “ Meetup ” group or starting a book club .
You could even invite people from various backgrounds to a potluck dinner at your home .
What activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which creates a cooperative atmosphere instead of a competitive one .
Research demonstrates that contact alone does not ensure cooperative interaction .
To truly connect , you both have to demonstrate respect while working on a common goal .
It ’ s important to remember the basic need to feel secure is shared by all people .
Focusing on commonalities can lead to a deeper understanding of another person , while focusing on differences will lead to arguments .
An argument involves two people asserting one is right while the other is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this scenario is the common ground of the problem they both are trying to wrestle with .
Restate the problem .
Together , brainstorm all the different ways it might be solved .
For example , a person might say the only way to protect America from terrorism is to sharply limit immigration .
Instead of challenging that immigration must be limited , you can restate the problem – then ask if there might be ways to deal with terrorism besides limiting immigration .
You might find some solutions you agree upon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other person you have understood what they said before jumping in with your thoughts .
Everyone wants to be acknowledged as heard .
If they are not , they will continue to press their point .
So , to stop an argument in its tracks , start listening and reflect back what you ’ ve heard .
You ’ ve probably experienced listening for only what you want to hear – and possibly found yourself not listening at all .
You may just be waiting to give a knee-jerk reaction to what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listen well , you need to first open your ears , eyes and heart .
Examine your biases so you can hear without judgment .
Suspend your self-interest and stay with what the other person is saying .
Then tell that person what you heard .
Showing empathy does not mean you necessarily agree with what the other person is saying .
It just means you ’ re reassuring the other person you have listened before making your own statement .
Now , it ’ s time for you to share where you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deep breath .
Cool down and reassess your thoughts so you can give a considered response , instead of a quick reaction .
You can disagree without being disrespectful .
Communication using the above process leads to a conversation instead of an argument and builds a more trusting relationship .
It takes only one of you to create an empathetic conversation , as empathy begets empathy .
The more compassionate understanding you give , the more you get .
Don ’ t passively accept all that you see and hear .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unsupported opinions and outright lies available today .
Critically evaluate what is being presented by considering the source and fact-checking the content .
Above all , if the message seems fake , don ’ t share it .
Google has a fact-checking tool , and First Draft News has tools to evaluate false content and the way it is disseminated .
You can also consult Full Fact and CUNY ’ s fact-checking guide .
So , when you hear or see someone sharing fake information , don ’ t challenge it .
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information .
Avoid anger and hate in the content you consume .
Evaluate whether it is seeking to pit you against another person or group .
Follow media that supports empathy , compassion and understanding .
But don ’ t get lulled into a bubble by reading only content you agree with .
Help children and teens , not only to critically evaluate media , but also to become kind and caring toward people who are different from them .
Teach tolerance by showing tolerance .
Yes , you are only one person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence does matter .
As for me , the next time I see my cousin , I plan to listen with empathy ; let him know I understand his point of view ; and try to identify a common goal around which we can share our perspectives .
[ You ’ re smart and curious about the world .
So are The Conversation ’ s authors and editors .
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Beverly B. Palmer does not work for , consult , own shares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-02-26--Hunter Biden Files Motion Postpone Child Support Deposition

Hunter Biden is seeking to delay an upcoming child support deposition in Arkansas until April , according to a motion filed by his lawyer Tuesday .
Attorneys for former stripper Lunden Alexis Roberts , the mother of Biden ’ s child , requested in an email last Monday that he appear in Little Rock next week for a deposition , but Biden said the request to appear in-person was “ unduly burdensome and oppressive.
” “ My client can be available April 1 , 2020 , ” Biden ’ s attorney , Brent Langdon , wrote to Roberts ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My client can not be available prior to that date.
” Langdon added that a filing on Sunday by Roberts attorneys notifying that Biden ’ s deposition would take place on March 5 was “ unnecessary ” and that it served to ignite “ media attention ” and to unreasonably “ annoy , embarrass , or oppress ” Biden .
Biden ’ s motion was first reported by the Washington Free Beacon .
If Biden ’ s request is granted by a judge , he would be disposed weeks after the critical South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father , former Vice President Joe Biden .
Biden previously reached a temporary child support agreement with Roberts in late January , court documents show .
Biden said in a November court filing that he had “ no monthly income ” since May , but he ’ s also been renting a $ 12,000-per-month home in Hollywood was spotted in January by the New York Post driving a white Porsche Panamera .
Biden has a hearing scheduled for May 13 in Arkansas to determine a permanent child support agreement for his child , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
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freedomdaily--2020-02-28--US successfully planned for the ‘endless frontier’ of science research in 1945 – now it’s time to pl

US successfully planned for the ‘endless frontier’ of science research in 1945 – now it’s time to plan the next 75 years

The U.S. has been the most productive country for science and technology for decades .
Many of the basic policy tenets that supported American prowess date back 75 years , to a document called “ Science : The Endless Frontier.
” Released by the first U.S. presidential science adviser , engineer Vannevar Bush , just two weeks before the Hiroshima bombing in 1945 , it would become the blueprint for postwar science .
“ The Endless Frontier ” led scientists to successfully advocate for federal scientific funding and a separation between science policy and politics .
They argued that if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also help maintain peace .
The report advocated that governmental , industrial and academic research can accomplish far more in partnership than in isolation .
It led to the development of the modern American research university , the National Science Foundation and increased government funding for science research , which rose by more than a factor of 10 from the 1940s to 1960s .
But many facets of the plan aren ’ t working anymore , and the structural framework laid out in “ The Endless Frontier ” needs refreshing for 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for basic research , is being reduced , there is a narrower focus on short-term outcomes and U.S. federal agencies are cutting scientific advisory panels .
How the country , the research community and the public respond to these changes will determine the United States ’ geopolitical standing .
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the report , the National Academy of Sciences , The Kavli Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation hosted a symposium to reflect upon the past , present and future of the United States ’ scientific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from science , government , academia , business and philanthropy .
As a chemist in academia who ’ s just written a book called “ The State of Science – What the Future Holds and the Scientists Making It Happen , ” I was eager to see what symposium attendees had to say .
The presentations and panels covered a range of topics , and four major themes – though not solutions – emerged .
Symposium attendees agreed : The U.S. needs a long-term federal science plan , one that spans many future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is both protective and aspirational .
The consensus was that today ’ s level of federal funding and emphasis on market-driven research are imperfect .
The path from lab bench to application has a significant gap – it takes time to convert research findings into a company , and venture capitalists are impatient .
Many good ideas , such as large-scale affordable desalination , are dropped because the technology is complex and will take many years to commerialize .
Additionally , democracy is messy and slow .
To stay competitive , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out back in 1945 .
As Rafael Reif , president of MIT , said , “ Vannevar Bush envisioned a wild garden of scientific possibility… .
At the current moment , [ the scientific enterprise ] … requires deliberate concentrated action to harvest the results .
In effect , we need to farm for innovation.
” In large part thanks to strategies laid out in the 1945 Bush report , the U.S. has led the world in scientific innovation and research for over 70 years .
But the ecosystem of the research world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Van Hollen , D-Md.
, “ the United States ’ share of global R & D spending fell from almost 40 % in the year 2000 to 20 % in 2017 .
During that same period of time , China ’ s share rose from less than 5 % to over 25 % .
” China is a formidable scientific and technological competitor , particularly in its capacity to use science effectively and build partnerships with industry .
Numerous speakers suggested that a lack of an American long-range coordinated plan that links academia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chinese ascend .
Sen. Lamar Alexander , R-Tenn. , told the audience , “ The situation we are in is very much like being a very good football team , playing in a league that suddenly has gotten a lot better .
There are a lot better teams in our league for the next 75 years than there have been in the last 75 years when it comes to science , technology and research.
” Presenters were torn about limiting American collaborations with China .
Should the U.S. limit knowledge transfer or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to advance scientific knowledge ?
Not surprisingly , most academics present favored more collaboration with researchers from China and other countries .
“ Are we going to have the courage of our convictions to fund the science we need , at the level we need , to ensure our competitiveness ?
This is more important than knowledge seepage , ” observed Ronald Daniels , president of Johns Hopkins University .
Gabriela González , professor of physics and astronomy at Louisiana State University , suggested that multinational partnerships are so important to modern science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to conduct collaborative science .
The United States and the world as a whole have not been doing a good job at taking full advantage of the diverse pool of potential scientists .
The STEM fields may have found and nurtured many of the future Einsteins , but we have fallen behind in cultivating new Marie Curies and George Washington Carvers – let alone the C.V. Ramans .
A 2017 National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics report shows that although white men make up only one-third of the U.S. population , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s scientists .
Countries , companies and academic institutions are handicapping themselves if they don ’ t make use of all scientific talents available across a vast array of gender identities , races and ethnicities .
Thirty-seven of the 89 U.S. citizens awarded a Nobel Prize since 2000 were foreign-born .
Most notably , all six American winners of the 2016 Nobel Prize in economics and STEM fields were immigrants to the United States .
As Rafael Reif , himself an immigrant from Venezuela , put it , “ immigrants are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thrive .
Disturbingly , the National Science Foundation reports that the number of international graduate students coming to the U.S. dropped by 22,000 ( 5.5 % ) in 2017 , though the decline hasn ’ t been as steep in the following years .
Truth and facts are central to the workings of science .
However , the increasing speed of scientific breakthroughs makes it harder to understand and communicate science and its complexities .
Actor Alan Alda , who founded the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lack of good science communication .
The public has to trust the research enterprise in order to support and learn from it .
He said , “ We don ’ t always have to agree , but we have to learn to hear each other , ” and that requires good communication .
Maintaining and bolstering trust in science has never been more critical , as science has an ever greater potential to change or lives , for better or worse .
Editor ’ s note : The Conversation receives grant funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ You ’ re smart and curious about the world .
So are The Conversation ’ s authors and editors .
You can get our highlights each weekend . ]
Marc Zimmer does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-02-29--Breaking: First U.S. Death From Coronavirus Reported

Health officials in King County , Washington , have confirmed two new Novel Coronavirus cases , one of which resulted @ @ @ @ @ the city of Seattle .
This is the first reported death from the virus in @ @ @ @ @ White House has called a press conference to discuss the most recent developments on coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ there have been 66 reported cases of the disease in the U.S. , 62 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ .
This is a developing story and will be updated .
Content created by Conservative @ @ @ @ @ syndicated through CDN is available for re-publication without charge under the Creative Commons license .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-29--‘So Far, It Isn’t That Bad’: Man With Coronavirus Reacts To The Panic Surrounding His Condition

A man with coronavirus said in The Washington Post Friday that he contracted the novel coronavirus while on a cruise ship outside of Japan and that his condition is similar in some ways to the flu .
“ This has been much easier : no chills , no body aches , ” Carl Goldman noted , contrasting how he feels today after contracting the novel coronavirus to a time when he had bronchitis .
Goldman , who says he ’ s in his 60s , went on to suggest in the headline of his WaPo contribution that “ so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ I breathe easily , and I don ’ t have a stuffy nose .
My chest feels tight , and I have coughing spells .
If I were at home with similar symptoms , I probably would have gone to work as usual , ” he said through one of WaPo ’ s editors .
Goldman notes that he caught the virus on the Diamond Princess , a cruise ship that was quarantined outside of Japan for two weeks .
Doctors discovered his condition while he was in quarantine , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurses reviewed my case with me and took a bunch of lab tests , ” he noted .
“ They wore heavy-duty hazmat suits sealed with duct tape and equipped with motors that helped with air circulation .
It looked like something out of “ The Andromeda Strain , ’ ” Other than being hooked up to an IV and being fed a battery of vitamins , Goldman added , “ my treatment has consisted of what felt like gallons and gallons of Gatorade — and , when my fever rose just above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also weighed in on the panic the virus is causing .
“ I also watch the news , ” Goldman said .
“ It ’ s surreal to see everyone panic — news conferences , the stock market falling , school closures — about a disease I have .
It does seem likely that coronavirus will spread in the United States , but it won ’ t help anybody if we all panic.
” Meanwhile , U.S. officials are weighing their options and preparing for the worst if the virus spreads .
California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 8,400 people who might have come into contact with the virus , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom said during a news conference Thursday .
Newsom ’ s announcement came a day after a suspected case was reported to have been caused through “ community spread , ” making it one of the first reported cases of the virus spreading through the community from someone who was not traveled abroad .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Americans on Tuesday to prepare for the “ expectation that this might be bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focal point of the virus in Europe , while Iran and China seeks ways of fighting the spread as confirmed cases grow .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-29--Watch Live: CPAC 2020 Live Stream – Trump to Speak Today 02-28-20

Conservative leaders and influencers speak at the 2020 Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland on Saturday .
President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ 3:00 PM EST .
Content created by Conservative Daily News and some content syndicated through @ @ @ @ @ without charge under the Creative Commons license .
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freedomdaily--2020-03-02--Judge Orders Hillary Clinton To Appear For Deposition As Part Of Judicial Watch Lawsuit

A federal judge on Monday ordered Hillary Clinton to appear for a deposition as part of a lawsuit filed by the watchdog group Judicial Watch , saying in a ruling that the former secretary of state ’ s written responses so far in the case have “ left many more questions than answers ” about her decision to use a private email system while in office .
Judge Royce Lamberth also granted Judicial Watch permission to depose Cheryl Mills , a top aide to Clinton at the State Department .
Lamberth first ordered discovery in the lawsuit in December 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email system at Foggy Bottom in order to skirt the Freedom of Information Act ( FOIA ) .
An FBI investigation of Clinton ’ s private email network showed that she and several top aides sent and received hundreds of emails containing classified information about State Department matters .
The FBI ultimately decided not to recommend that Clinton be charged for mishandling classified information , though former FBI Director James Comey said at a July 5 , 2016 press conference that Clinton ’ s handling of her emails was “ extremely careless.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Watch as part of the lawsuit , but Lamberth said that her answers leave many remaining questions about her decision to use an email server , and what she knew about State Department policies regarding FOIA .
“ Judicial Watch correctly points out that many questions regarding her understanding of these obligations still remain unanswered , ” Lamberth said .
Several reporters filed FOIA requests for Clinton ’ s State Department emails while she was in office , only to be told that the agency did not have any responsive records .
Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the agency until late 2014 , in response to congressional requests as part of an investigation into the Sept. 11 , 2012 terrorist attacks in Benghazi , Libya .
Clinton handed over only around half of the 60,000 emails that were stored on her server .
She claimed that the others were private in nature and did not involve State Department business .
Clinton has defended using a private email network , saying that she did it for convenience , and not to evade FOIA .
But Lamberth said in his decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her decision to use the email server .
He said that after reviewing Clinton ’ s responses in the lawsuit he is handling , as well as a lawsuit in front of Judge Emmet Sullivan , “ the Court believes those responses were either incomplete , unhelpful , or cursory at best.
” “ Simply put , her responses left many more questions than answers.
” “ Judicial Watch uncovered the Clinton email scandal and we ’ re pleased that the court authorized us to depose Mrs. Clinton directly on her email conduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ‘ right to know ’ under FOIA , ” he said .