freedomdaily--2020-02-07--Court Deals Brutal Blow To Opponents Of FCC’s Net Neutrality Repeal

A U.S. appeals court dealt a big blow Thursday to opponents of the Federal Communication Commission ’ s decision to repeal an Obama-era regulation that conservatives believe restrained the open internet .
The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia declined to rehear an October 2019 ruling that upheld the repeal of net neutrality rules .
More than a dozen U.S. states joined tech and advocacy groups in asking the court to reconsider the decision .
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai supports the court ’ s decision , a spokeswoman for the independent federal agency said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , consumers have been protected , speeds have increased , and more and more Americans have gotten access to broadband , ” she said .
The Computer & Communications Industry Association and various advocacy groups that includes members such as Amazon , Google , and Facebook filed petitions in December for a rehearing .
Attorneys general from 15 states joined the trade members in asking for the court to reconsider .
Advocates opposed the ruling .
Free Press , an advocacy group pushing for the rehearing , said it will “ keep weighing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others say the rule prevents Internet Service Providers from blocking or throttling traffic .
Activists often characterize ISPs as a driveway connecting a home to the vast network of portals on the internet , while net neutrality , they claim , is the principle preventing providers from charging a high fee for some traffic .
Many people who oppose providing the government more authority over bandwidth say that ’ s not an apt description .
Former FCC Chairman Michael Powell , for instance , frequently pushes back against that characterization .
“ Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Internet , ” Powell said during a press conference in 2017 , noting that an open internet was a concept woven into how the internet was designed .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-07--After Getting Booed And Jeered In Iowa, Joe Walsh Suspends His Campaign

Topics in this post : Joe Walsh the 2020 Election Joe Walsh , the former Republican congressman who challenged President Trump , suspended his long-shot campaign on Friday , days after he was booed and jeered by fellow Republicans at an Iowa caucus site .
“ I ’ m suspending my campaign , but our fight against the Cult of Trump is just getting started .
I ’ m committed to doing everything I can to defeat Trump and his enablers this November .
I can ’ t do it alone , ” he said on Twitter .
Walsh and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massachusetts Gov .
William Weld and former South Carolina Rep. Mark Sanford — have also challenged Trump .
Sanford suspended his campaign in November , leaving Weld as the only Republican remaining in the GOP primary field .
Walsh has done little campaigning , aside from his frequent interviews on CNN .
On Monday , he rallied at a caucus site in Ankeny , Iowa , where caucus goers booed him after he asked if they still wanted “ four more years of the Trump show.
” Walsh , a former radio host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 and through much of 2017 .
Since turning sour on the president he has won support from prominent Republican Trump critics like George Conway and Bill Kristol .
Walsh raised just shy of $ 175,000 for his campaign through Dec. 31 , 2019 .
He loaned the campaign $ 300,000 in four installments .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-07--AI could constantly scan the internet for data privacy violations, a quicker, easier way to enforce

AI could constantly scan the internet for data privacy violations, a quicker, easier way to enforce compliance

You ’ re trailing bits of personal data – such as credit card numbers , shopping preferences and which news articles you read – as you travel around the internet .
Large internet companies make money off this kind of personal information by sharing it with their subsidiaries and third parties .
Public concern over online privacy has led to laws designed to control who gets that data and how they can use it .
The battle is ongoing .
Democrats in the U.S. Senate recently introduced a bill that includes penalties for tech companies that mishandle users ’ personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long list of regulations worldwide , including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard that regulates online credit card transactions , the European Union ’ s General Data Protection Regulation , the California Consumer Privacy Act that went into effect in January , and the U.S. Children ’ s Online Privacy Protection Act .
Internet companies must adhere to these regulations or risk expensive lawsuits or government sanctions , such as the Federal Trade Commission ’ s recent US $ 5 billion fine imposed on Facebook .
But it is technically challenging to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violation has occurred , an issue that is becoming even more problematic as internet data moves to extreme scale .
To make sure their systems comply , companies rely on human experts to interpret the laws – a complex and time-consuming task for organizations that constantly launch and update services .
My research group at the University of Maryland , Baltimore County , has developed novel technologies for machines to understand data privacy laws and enforce compliance with them using artificial intelligence .
These technologies will enable companies to make sure their services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments identify in real time those companies that violate consumers ’ privacy rights .
Governments generate online privacy regulations as plain text documents that are easy for humans to read but difficult for machines to interpret .
As a result , the regulations need to be manually examined to ensure that no rules are being broken when a citizen ’ s private data is analyzed or shared .
This affects companies that now have to comply with a forest of regulations .
Rules and regulations often are ambiguous by design because societies want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as good and bad vary among cultures and over time , so laws are drafted in general or vague terms to allow scope for future modifications .
Machines can ’ t process this vagueness – they operate in 1 ’ s and 0 ’ s – so they can not “ understand ” privacy the way humans do .
Machines need specific instructions to understand the knowledge on which a regulation is based .
One way to help machines understand an abstract concept is by building an ontology , or a graph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Borrowing the concepts of ontology from philosphy , new computer languages , such as OWL , have been developed in AI .
These languages can define concepts and categories in a subject area or domain , show their properties and show the relations among them .
Ontologies are sometimes called “ knowledge graphs , ” because they are stored in graphlike structures .
When my colleagues and I began looking at the challenge of making privacy regulations understandable by machines , we determined that the first step would be to capture all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowledge graphs to store it .
The key knowledge in the regulations consists of three parts .
First , there are “ terms of art ” : words or phrases that have precise definitions within a law .
They help to identify the entity that the regulation describes and allow us to describe its roles and responsibilities in a language that computers can understand .
For example , from the EU ’ s General Data Protection Regulation , we extracted terms of art such as “ Consumers and Providers ” and “ Fines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deontic rules : sentences or phrases that provide us with philosophical modal logic , which deals with deductive behavior .
Deontic ( or moral ) rules include sentences describing duties or obligations and mainly fall into four categories .
“ Permissions ” define the rights of an entity/actor .
“ Obligations ” define the responsibilities of an entity/actor .
“ Prohibitions ” are conditions or actions that are not allowed .
“ Dispensations ” are optional or nonmandatory statements .
To explain this with a simple example , consider the following : • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But to drive , you are obligated to get a driver ’ s license .
• You are prohibited from speeding ( and will be punished if you do so ) .
• You can park in areas where you have the dispensation to do so ( such as paid parking , metered parking or open areas not near a fire hydrant ) .
Some of these rules apply to everyone uniformly in all conditions ; while others may apply partially , to only one entity or based on conditions agreed to by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s and don ’ ts apply to online personal data .
There are permissions and prohibitions to prevent data breaches .
There are obligations on the companies storing the data to ensure its safety .
And there are dispensations made for vulnerable demographics such as minors .
My group developed techniques to automatically extract these rules from the regulations and save them in a knowledge graph .
Thirdly , we also had to figure out how to include the cross references that are often used in legal regulations to reference text in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a separate document .
These are important knowledge elements that should also be stored in the knowledge graph .
After defining all the key entities , properties , relations , rules and policies of a data privacy law in a knowledge graph , my colleagues and I can create applications that can reason about the data privacy rules using these knowledge graphs .
These applications can significantly reduce the time it will take companies to determine whether they are complying with the data protection regulations .
They can also help regulators monitor data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oversee are complying with the rules .
This technology can also help individuals get a quick snapshot of their rights and responsibilities with respect to the private data they share with companies .
Once machines can quickly interpret long , complex privacy policies , people will be able to automate many mundane compliance activities that are done manually today .
They may also be able to make those policies more understandable to consumers .


freedomdaily--2020-02-07--As China suffers from coronavirus, some wonder: Is it really that serious? 3 questions answered

Editor ’ s Note : The coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen in China , with 28,200 confirmed cases as of Feb. 6 , 2020 .
The Chinese government has announced even stricter measures to stop the spread of the disease , including the rounding up of people in Wuhan , the city where the outbreak began , for mass quarantine .
And the doctor who warned authorities about the disease has died .
Just how bad might this outbreak become ?
Virologist and public health expert John A. Lednicky explains .
1 .
Is this outbreak really that serious ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 21st century than in previous centuries due to globalization and air travel .
When outbreaks occur , there is a predictable pattern that can be summarized as : ( a ) There is a delay in recognizing that an outbreak is occurring ; ( b ) a significant impact on trade and travel typically occurs due to quarantine measures ; ( c ) the public panics due to misinformation and fear of the unknown , and this can be exacerbated by media coverage .
This outbreak is serious to China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its economy and potentially to the world ’ s economy .
China ’ s main concern is for its own citizens .
It has experience controlling outbreaks of different types of influenza viruses , SARS coronavirus , and so on , and the resources to effectively deal with large outbreaks .
China ’ s government can exert stringent outbreak control measures , such as shutting down public transportation , and take unprecedented moves , such as imposing a citywide quarantine , which would not be easy to do in other countries .
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also able to respond to large areas affected by an outbreak , whereas many countries would not be able to afford to do this .
Unlike country-specific responses to outbreaks , the World Health Organization provides guidance on how to control outbreaks worldwide .
Its stated primary purpose is to direct international health within the United Nations ’ system and to lead partners in global health responses .
The WHO does not have the financial resources to cover all the expenses of a public health response to an epidemic or pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ materials needed for the performance of diagnostic tests to qualified laboratories .
The major benefit to the world community is that the WHO releases information regarding the status and severity of an outbreak , and guidance on how to control the outbreak .
The manner in which individual countries respond to outbreaks , whether epidemic or pandemic , is less predictable , especially for those that lack the resources , infrastructure and trained personnel needed for an adequate response .
If the outbreaks are effectively controlled and people remain quarantined for the near-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of China will revolve around issues related to loss of wages , and quality of life issues , such as obtaining sufficient food .
If the outbreaks are not controlled , the consequences will be severe .
Businesses and school systems will be adversely impacted , and public attitudes toward the government could lead to general discontent and civil disorder .
2 .
Have there been previous quarantines on this scale ?
Small-scale quarantine has been practiced since ancient times , exemplified by the Israelites ’ confinement of lepers to specific living areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the quarantine measures undertaken to control Ebola outbreaks .
The quarantine procedures being imposed in China in response to the new coronavirus are unprecedented in scale and complexity .
They will be intensively analyzed by scientists and epidemiologists , and will inform the next generation of infection control practitioners .
3 .
Is there an end in sight ?
It is too early to predict an end in sight .
Many public health specialists are optimistic that the outbreak will burn out as a consequence of stringent infection control and quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hope is that the virus will be eradicated , as was the case for SARS coronavirus .
We also hope that the virus does not mutate to a form that is well-adapted to complete its life cycle in humans ; that is , that it does not become a common human respiratory virus such as what is thought to have occurred with human coronavirus NL63 , a virus that appears to have jumped species from bats to humans .
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John A. Lednicky 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--2020-02-07--Research in China is complicated by the Communist Party’s influence, says researcher who worked ther

Research in China is complicated by the Communist Party’s influence, says researcher who worked there

What is the coronavirus ?
How does it spread ?
Should I be worried ?
When a new virus surfaces , the unknowns loom big .
When a new virus comes out of China , potentially clarifying information needs to be weighed and considered alongside the realities of practicing science and research there .
I am a social scientist , specializing in psychological anthropology and mental health in China .
I was born in China and immigrated to the U.S. as a child with my parents , who came for graduate school .
I ’ ve been working with psychologists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals in China since 2011 .
I ’ ve worked on research projects that were commissioned by Chinese Communist Party departments , as well as more personal projects driven by a researcher ’ s passion for improving the life and health of an underserved community .
Although I ’ ve not worked on research projects concerning the coronavirus , I ’ ve experienced and observed firsthand the challenges a research scientist faces in China across a variety of health-related projects .
Since I began fieldwork pre-2013 , also known as pre-Xi Jinping , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in how both I and Chinese researchers approach projects .
In addition to fulfilling the requirements for a research visa , it is normal practice for researchers anywhere to depend on collaboration with local universities for access to data , interviewees and sites .
As China ’ s fast-growing higher education system is mostly state-owned , politics has always influenced Chinese academics .
Not all university researchers are members of the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) , but I have found every department typically has at least one if not more among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I would attend department meetings , talks and classes that some students and faculty would routinely miss due to mandatory attendance at Party meetings and classes held on campus .
Party ideology classes on Marxism , Mao Zedong thought , etc .
are mandatory courses for undergrad and graduate students , though to be fair , I should note that many students skip or take naps during these large lecture classes .
It has never been advisable or especially feasible for foreign scientists looking to conduct research on certain sensitive topics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s – Tiananmen , Tibet and Taiwan .
Potential local research collaborators must make their careers within institutions embedded with CCP members and party ideology .
Concern about how research may reflect on the CCP stands even for research not on the Three T ’ s , though .
Research funding still comes from the government , and academic careers in China rely almost exclusively on researchers ’ ability to do and publish research .
Professors get paid for each paper they publish .
The amount varies depending on the rank or impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interesting to note that , because international journals and publishers are generally ranked much higher than Chinese publications , Chinese researchers often end up publishing research on problems in China for the eyes of outsiders .
I ’ ve helped edit articles about grief processing in Chinese children orphaned by the HIV/AIDs blood donation scandal , internet gaming addiction in youth and PTSD screening in rural Chinese children .
Any of these articles could be potential jumping-off points for serious criticism of the corruption , inefficiency and negligence of the CCP system .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not made publicly explicit , at least to my knowledge .
Research gets separated from the social and political context , localized and individualized .
The grief-processing and PTSD articles that I helped edit , for example , focus on testing and developing diagnostic models and interventions .
The emphasis is on what can and should be done now , which in and of itself is an important research project .
By providing minimal insight into what led to the situation in the first place , however , a reader unfamiliar with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and powerful structural forces created and enforced by the CCP-led system .
Instead , researchers and officials alike often invoke “ traditional Chinese culture ” and place responsibility on the immediate individuals involved .
Or , they claim that local politics are holding up the central government ’ s directives somehow .
On a research trip to rural Hunan province concerning the lack of effective primary medical care , I saw local party members try to deflect blame not by criticizing the CCP per se but by blaming lack of resources and asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding .
Even at the local level a researcher has to be careful , as access to rural communities can be ruled tightly by local officials who are somewhat outside the reach of the central CCP in Beijing .
In my experience , the move toward decontextualizing research from larger social and political structures has gotten more absolute over time .
Now it can be risky to write at all about any potentially unflattering social reality , especially when it comes to health .
Buzzfeed News recently reported on arrests for “ spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the detention of the initial eight in Wuhan who raised the alarm .
It ’ s no longer just the Three T ’ s that are off-limits ; the boundaries have become opaque .
The opaqueness of CCP actions is only matched by their real impact in people ’ s everyday lives .
I saw this firsthand during the passage of the mental health law in 2013 , which among many things , eliminated a counseling licensing system overseen by the Ministry of Labor and created an unclear , undefined distinction between psychological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 治疗 ) that is more medicalized and favors hospital care .
Even though a few of the most senior professors in the psychology department I was affiliated with were supposedly consulted and invited to meetings during the writing of the law , there were multiple department meetings where psychology and counseling students and faculty alike struggled to understand the vague rules and purpose of the law .
A popular theory was that the law was the result of an internal struggle between the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Labor , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time .
Another consequence of the opaqueness of the CCP is the “ businessfication ” of higher education .
For example , the psychology department I affiliated with has spun off a business development group .
Some professors and their graduate students are working on developing books and courses they can sell to the general public .
As a viable career in truthful and rigorous research becomes more and more limited , I see Chinese academics redirecting their energy towards packaging their existing knowledge to sell to consumers as a long-term business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where conducting research can be at great professional and personal risk to a scientist , it is not hard to imagine the challenges involved in current scientific work on the coronavirus in China .
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Wenrui Chen does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-02-09--Van Driver Plows Through GOP Voter Registration Tent In Florida, Sheriff’s Office Says

A man driving a Chevrolet van plowed through a Republican group ’ s voter registration tent outside of a Walmart in Jacksonville , Florida , on Saturday , in what Sens .
Marco Rubio and Rick Scott are calling a politically-motivated attack .
Members of the Republican Party of Duval County were registering voters when they say that a man driving a 1980s model brown van drove through the tent , destroying tables and chairs .
No injuries were reported from the incident , but a party volunteer told Jacksonville ’ s Channel 4 news that she was almost hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Nina Williams , the volunteer , told the news station .
“ I just barely got out of the way.
” The Duval County GOP said on its Twitter account that volunteers “ narrowly avoided ” being struck by the van .
The party also said that the man stopped the van after driving away and then paused to take a video or photo with his phone .
The volunteers said he flipped the group off before leaving .
Rubio and Scott , who are Republicans , said on Twitter that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up Right !
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freedomdaily--2020-02-08--Biden Attacks Sanders Over Medicare For All: ‘How Much Is That Gonna Cost?’

2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden attacked fellow 2020 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders over Sanders ’ Medicare For All ’ plan , asking , “ how much is that gon na cost ?
” The two presidential candidates kicked off Friday night ’ s Democratic debates by sparring over Medicare for All at ABC ’ s debate at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire .
The former vice president pointed out that though Sanders promises to provide Medicare for All , he “ is not willing to solve what the damn thing ” will cost .
“ Bernie says that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have to have Medicare for All , ” Biden said , “ and he says he wrote the damn thing .
But he ’ s not willing to solve what the damn thing is gon na cost.
” “ How much is it gon na cost , ” Biden questioned Sanders .
“ Who is gon na pay for it ?
It will cost more than the entire federal budget we spend now .
More than the entire budget .
The idea middle class taxes aren ’ t going to go up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much is it gon na cost , ” he asked again .
“ If you ask Bernie that , I ’ ll ask him again tonight sometime , he says , ‘ go figure , I don ’ t know , we ’ ll find out.
’ ” “ Imagine you ’ re going to unite the country walking into the congress , say I got this bill , it ’ s gon na provide medicare for everybody , i can ’ t tell you how much its gon na cost , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s likely to be double everything we spend in the federal government , who do you think is gon na get that passed ?
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freedomdaily--2020-02-08--Buttigieg Campaign Appears To Have Edited Town Hall Video To Add Applause

Topics in this post : Pete Buttigieg the 2020 Election Pete Buttigieg ’ s presidential campaign appears to have edited a video from a CNN town hall to add audience applause in a version they posted online .
The Buttigieg campaign posted a clip from a May 2019 CNN town hall ahead of another town hall on Thursday night .
The Center for Popular Democracy Action , a left-wing political group , posted a side-by-side of the original video next to the apparently edited version , showing that the loud audience applause in the edited version was absent from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run the risk of being the first generation in American history to actually be worse off economically than our parents if nothing is done to change the trajectory of this economy , ” Buttigieg says in the video .
“ To me , that is not just a concern for our generation , it ’ s a concern that calls on us to build an alliance among generations to try to make sure that the future is better than the past , ” he continued .
At that point in the edited video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out into thunderous applause , but in the unedited version , Buttigieg actually continued talking .
The Buttigieg campaign didn ’ t return a request for comment on the edited video .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-08--Elizabeth Warren Calls For ‘Race-Conscious Laws’

The Massachusetts senator spoke Friday night at ABC ’ s Democratic debates in New Hampshire where she emphasized the need to correct racism within the United States .
Her comments came after fellow candidate Bernie Sanders said at the same debate that “ we have a racist society from top to bottom.
” “ You have to own up to the facts , and it ’ s important to own up to the facts about how race has totally permeated our criminal justice system , ” she said .
“ You know , for the exact same crimes , study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more likely than whites to be detained , to be arrested , to be taken to trial , to be wrongfully convicted , and to receive harsher sentences.
” “ We need to rework our criminal justice system from the very front end on what we make illegal all the way through the system and how we help people come back into the community , ” Warren added .
“ But we can not just say that criminal justice is the only time we want to talk about race specifically.
” “ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-08--Trump Fires Ambassador Gordon Sondland

Trump Fires Ambassador Gordon Sondland

President Donald Trump on Friday fired Gordon Sondland , the U.S. ambassador to the European Union , just hours after firing Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , the National Security Council official who testified at House impeachment proceedings against the commander-in-chief .
Like Vindman , Sondland testified at the impeachment proceedings .
“ I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union , ” Sondland said in a statement , according to The New York Times .
The dual firings came days after Trump was acquitted in the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by exerting pressure on Ukraine to open up politically charged investigations .
Vindman was escorted out of the White House when he was fired Friday .
Both Sondland and Vindman testified about interactions they had in spring and summer 2019 regarding the Trump administration ’ s policy toward Ukraine .
Sondland , who was a major GOP donor before being chosen as ambassador , testified about his collaboration with Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Kurt Volker , the special envoy to Ukraine , to set up phone calls and meetings between Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House Intelligence Committee on Nov. 20 , 2019 , that he believed Giuliani ’ s requests to Ukrainian officials to open up Biden-related investigations were a quid pro quo in exchange for a White House meeting between Trump and Zelensky .
He also said he came to believe Trump was withholding military aid to Ukraine in exchange for a Biden probe , though he acknowledged he was never explicitly told by Trump or anyone else that the aid was linked to the Bidens .
Vindman , who is Ukrainian-American , testified Nov. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ deeply troubled ” by Trump ’ s actions toward Ukraine .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-08--‘The Most Radical Piece of Immigration Legislation’: Experts, GOP React To Democratic ‘New Way Forwa

‘The Most Radical Piece of Immigration Legislation’: Experts, GOP React To Democratic ‘New Way Forward’ Bill

Immigration experts and House Republicans are balking at the New Way Forward Act , a Democratic bill that is being described as an embrace of “ open borders ” and likely to be the most “ radical ” legislation ever introduced in history .
Illinois Democratic Rep. Jesús García , along with several other progressive House members , introduced the New Way Forward Act in December 2019 , to seemingly very little fanfare .
The bill , among many things , calls for the decriminalization of illegal immigration , would make it more difficult to deport convicted criminal aliens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and also calls for the return of previously deported illegal aliens .
Not to be considered a fringe bill that is attracting scant support , the New Way Forward Act has so far garnered 43 co-sponsors since it was rolled out late last year .
The legislation ’ s growing popularity has since caught the attention of Fox News host Tucker Carlson , who on Thursday night dove into the intricacies of the roughly 4,400-worded bill , and said its ramifications , if passed , could be as impactful to the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts , and also the leader of the House GOP Caucus , have since spoken to the Daily Caller News Foundation about the bill .
“ The New Way Forward Act is arguably the most radical piece of immigration legislation in American history .
The act shields criminal illegal aliens from deportation , decriminalizes illegal entry , and creates a pathway for deported illegal aliens to return back to the U.S. , ” said Matthew Tragesser , spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform ( FAIR ) .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal aliens than law-abiding Americans and view criminals as victims , ” Tragesser added .
The decriminalization of illegal immigration was already becoming a more mainstream position with the Democratic Party .
In fact , before the introduction of the bill , Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren both came out in support of the proposal .
Sanders , a clear frontrunner in the nomination contest , has also voiced support for virtually ceasing all deportations .
The New Way Forward , however , takes these positions even farther .
Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison sentences that require deportation would rise from one year to five years .
This could mean that illegal aliens who are convicted of crimes such as car theft , weapons offenses , and fraud — all crimes that carry average sentences of less than five years , according to Bureau of Justice Statistics — would not be required to be removed from the country .
Additionally , the legislation calls for the widespread return of criminal illegal aliens who have been previously deported from the country .
Any illegal aliens deported since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ otherwise been considered undeportable under the terms of this bill — would be allowed to come back to the U.S. “ Make no mistake : House Democrats have embraced open borders policies , ” Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney , leader of the House Republican caucus , said to the DCNF .
“ The ideas included in this radical bill , on top of their plans to give free health care to illegal immigrants and abolish ICE , all would jeopardize the security of the nation and reward people who cross the border illegally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Democrats have adopted an extreme and socialist agenda that ’ s wrong for the country , ” Cheney continued .
“ Every day they show the American people why they can not be trusted with power.
” The DCNF reached out to Garcia , who introduced the bill , but his office did not response to a request for inquiry .
In a December press release touting the New Way Forward , Garcia hailed it as a way to “ disrupt the prison to deportation pipeline , ” and that it “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our immigration laws.
” In a separate document pushed by Garcia ’ s office , it ’ s claimed that the laws that made unauthorized entry into the U.S. a federal crime were “ born from white supremacist ideology and politics.
” Scrutiny of the bill comes after President Donald Trump used his 2020 State of the Union address to highlight the dangers of not enforcing illegal immigration , touting the need for local authorities to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) and brining a special guest whose brother died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously released from local custody .
The president , during his address , also touted a GOP bill in the Senate that would allow victims of illegal alien crime to sue states that released the alien in defiance of an ICE detainer .
“ Democrats in the House have prioritized open borders over the safety of citizens and legal law abiding immigrants , ” Marguerite Telford , a spokesperson for the Center for Immigration Studies , a Washington , D.C.-based immigration think tank , said in a statement to the DCNF .
Like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration priories with that of GOP lawmakers .
“ Contrast that with most Republicans who are worried about safety and focus on sanctuary jurisdictions , driver ’ s license laws , knowing who is crossing our border … and the rule of law in general , ” she continued .
“ For example , Rep. Gosar has the Criminal Alien Removal Clarification Act which stands in stark contrast to the New Way bill.
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freedomdaily--2020-02-08--Media Ignores Buttigieg Refusing To Say He Does Not Support Infanticide

Establishment media failed to cover a presidential candidate refusing to say he does not support infanticide .
2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg refused to come out against late term abortion or infanticide Thursday , speaking to The View ’ s Megan McCain .
Yet establishment media , including CNN , the Washington Post , the New York Times , HuffPost , and Vox , did not cover Buttigieg ’ s words .
None of these publications responded to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation .
McCain reminded Buttigieg that he once suggested that unborn babies can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breath , and offered Buttigieg a chance to walk back this statement .
Buttigieg insisted that “ it shouldn ’ t be up to a government official to draw the line .
It should be up to the woman.
” And when McCain pressed him on this , specifically asking if he would be comfortable with a situation where “ a woman wanted to invoke infanticide after a baby was born , ” Buttigieg still refused to distance himself from infanticide .
“ Think about the situation , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then by definition it ’ s one where a woman was expecting to carry the pregnancy to term .
Then she gets the most perhaps devastating news of her life .
We ’ re talking about families that may have picked out a name , maybe assembling a crib and they learn something , excruciating , and are faced with this terrible choice , ” the former South Bend , Indiana , mayor said .
“ I don ’ t know what to tell them morally about what they should do , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I trust her and her decision medically or morally isn ’ t going to be any better because the government is commanding her to do it.
” The Buttigieg campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the DCNF .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-10--NYPD Union To Mayor Bill De Blasio: ‘We Do Not Respect You’

After a gunman on Sunday attacked a New York Police Department station house , an NYPD union is blaming violence against law enforcement on Mayor Bill de Blasio .
A gunman walked into an NYPD station house in The Bronx early Sunday and immediately began firing at officers , injuring a lieutenant inside .
The alleged shooter eventually laid down and was apprehended after he ran out of ammunition .
De Blasio — who has famously clashed with the city ’ s police force during his tenure in office — took heavy criticism from the New York City ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shooting .
The SBA not only said they didn ’ t have respect for the mayor , but they also asked that he not visit their members at the hospital and told him NYPD cops have been assaulted because of him .
“ Mayor DeBlasio , the members of the NYPD are declaring war on you !
We do not respect you , DO NOT visit us in hospitals .
You sold the NYPD to the vile creatures , the 1 % who hate cops but vote for you .
NYPD cops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This isn ’ t over , Game on !
” read a Sunday tweet from the SBA .
At around 8 a.m. on Sunday , alleged shooter Robert Williams ran into the 41st Precinct station house and began to open fire , according to video obtained by the New York Post .
Williams fired multiple rounds inside the building and then lied down on the ground — not because he had a change of heart , but because he simply ran out of bullets , according to a spokesman .
“ He immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rounds towards the desk area , ” department Commissioner Dermot Shea said in a Sunday statement .
“ He then walks into an area beside that desk and fires several rounds.
” “ I will point out that this coward immediately lay down , but only after he ran out of bullets , ” Shea continued .
Williams was taken into custody after surrendering to police and transported to a nearby hospital for injuries he sustained in the ambush .
During the shooting , lieutenant Jose Gautreaux was hit in the left arm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a full recovery .
This is far from the first time the SBA has publicly lambasted the mayor .
In an interview with the Daily Caller News Foundation in January , SBA Vice President Vicent Vallelong said his union was “ fed up ” with de Blasio ’ s “ sanctuary city ” policies that prohibit his members from cooperating with federal immigration authorities .
Vallelong said the mayor was basically “ handcuffing police ” when it came to taking criminal illegal aliens off the streets .


freedomdaily--2020-02-10--Iowa Democrats Award Delegates Despite Potential Errors In Results

The Iowa Democratic Party projected Sunday that Pete Buttigieg will win the state ’ s caucuses , though several news organizations are declining to declare a winner because of a series of technical glitches and tabulation errors that have marred the results .
The party said in a statement that Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , is projected to win 14 delegates , while Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will win 12 .
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden are projected to be awarded eight and six delegates , respectively .
Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes , but caucus rules gave Buttigieg a slight lead in terms of the number of delegates .
The Associated Press , The New York Times and NBC News declined to declare a winner following the Iowa Democratic Party ’ s update , citing numerous errors since the caucuses were held six days previously .
The results were initially delayed because of a glitch in a phone app that IDP planned to use to make it easier to report votes from the state ’ s 1,765 precincts .
The New York Times also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both Sanders and Buttigieg declared victory in the caucuses .
Sanders has cited his win in terms of raw votes , while Buttigieg is pointing to his slight edge in terms of delegates .
Campaigns will have until noon Monday to challenge the caucus results .
Sanders said in an interview on CNN on Sunday , before IDP announced its projection , that the numerous errors were an “ embarrassment ” for the party .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-09--Coronavirus Deaths Surpass 800, Killing More Patients Than SARS

Deaths from coronavirus in China hit 811 by Sunday , surpassing the number of patients who died from SARS , according to the Chinese National Health Commission .
Confirmed infections reached about 37,200 as governments worldwide are trying to stop further advancement of the outbreak .
SARS , a similar contagious respiratory illness , killed 774 people between 2002 and 2003 , The New York Times reported .
Symptoms of coronavirus include coughing , fever , tightness in the chest and shortness of breath , while SARS — or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome — has additional symptoms more common in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and coronavirus both originated in China , according to the World Health Organization .
A 60-year-old American citizen living in Wuhan , China — the epicenter of coronavirus — died Thursday , according to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing .
“ We at CDC offer our condolences to the family of the American citizen who lost his life to novel # coronavirus while in Wuhan , China , ” wrote U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Robert Redfield .
“ We remain vigilant in our efforts to respond to # 2019nCoV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and impact of the virus around the world.
” There are 12 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States , in addition to 14 American passengers on a quarantined cruise ship off the coast of Japan , NBC News reported .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-10--Bloomberg Pledges To Investigate ICE And End Trump Policies In Newly Unveiled Immigration Plan

Mike Bloomberg unveiled his wide-ranging immigration plan Monday , pledging to investigate Immigration and Customs Enforcement and undo a number of Trump border initiatives , among many other things .
Bloomberg , the former mayor of New York City and a Democratic presidential candidate , introduced his comprehensive immigration plan Monday .
The detailed plan included many pivots from the current administration , such as ending the “ Remain in Mexico ” program , metering at the border and a slate of Central American asylum agreements .
However , his plan stopped short of some of the most progressive proposals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ R ] ight now , our immigration system isn ’ t working for any of us , ” read an expert from Bloomberg ’ s immigration proposal .
“ Congressional inaction — coupled with President [ Donald ] Trump ’ s incompetent and cruel policies — has created chaos at the border , separated families , trapped millions of immigrants in legal limbo and paralyzed an already inefficient system .
This is not who we are , and it has not made us any safer.
” If elected to office , Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to investigate Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) and Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) for alleged “ abuse ” by members .
The billionaire added that he would reform the two agencies , reprioritizing their work and reducing the number of aliens in immigration detention .
Bloomberg Pledges To Investigate ICE And End Trump Policies In Newly Unveiled Immigration Plan is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news , current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News , Political @ @ @ @


freedomdaily--2020-02-10--Barr: Justice Dept Reviewing Giuliani’s Ukraine Information With Caution

Attorney General William Barr said Monday that the Justice Department has set up an “ intake process ” to handle Ukraine-related information from Rudy Giuliani , but that the agency is being “ very careful ” with what the Trump lawyer has provided .
“ We have to be very careful with respect to any information coming from Ukraine .
There are a lot of agendas in the Ukraine , there are a lot of cross-currents , ” Barr said at a press conference to announce charges against four members of the Chinese military in the 2017 hack of Equifax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything we receive from the Ukraine at face value.
” Barr was responding to a question about comments Sunday from Sen. Lindsey Graham , who said he spoke with the attorney general about Giuliani ’ s efforts to collect information on Joe and Hunter Biden ’ s dealings in Ukraine .
Giuliani has for months claimed to have evidence showing that Joe Biden , as vice president , intervened in 2016 to help shut down an investigation of Burisma Holdings , a Ukrainian energy firm that paid Hunter Biden more than $ 80,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden has denied trying to help his son or Burisma .
Graham said in a CBS News interview on Sunday that Barr told him that the Justice Department has received information that Giuliani obtained from Ukraine .
He said that Barr relayed that the Justice Department “ had created a process that Rudy could give information and they would see if it ’ s verified.
” “ Rudy Giuliani is a well-known man .
He ’ s a crime fighter .
He ’ s loyal to the president .
He ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Graham also expressed concerns about the veracity of Giuliani ’ s information and said he ’ s concerned it could be the result of a Russian disinformation campaign .
“ If Rudy Giuliani has any information coming out of the Ukraine he needs to turn it over to the Department of Justice because it could be Russian propaganda , ” Graham said in a CBS News interview .
“ Russia is playing us all like a fiddle.
” Barr confirmed speaking with Graham and echoed his concerns about the quality of Giuliani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Justice Department established an “ intake process in the field ” in order to scrutinize information coming in from Ukraine .
“ That is true for all information that comes to the Department related to the Ukraine , including anything that Mr. Giuliani might provide , ” he said .
More than a year ago , Giuliani began working with two business associates , Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman , to collect information from Ukraine about the Bidens as well as about Marie Yovanovitch , the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Oct. 10 , 2019 on campaign finance charges , helped set up interviews for Giuliani and two former Ukrainian prosecutors , Yuri Lutsenko and Viktor Shokin .
Text messages that Parnas has provided to Congress since his indictment show that he and Giuliani worked together to collect and disseminate information about the Bidens and Yovanovitch to conservative media outlets .
Giuliani is also reportedly the target of an investigation in the Southern District of New York , which is handling the case against Parnas and Fruman .
Barr : Justice Dept Reviewing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is original content from Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news , current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News , Political Cartoons and more .


freedomdaily--2020-02-10--NY/NJ Experiencing Stolen Vehicle Epidemic

NEWARK , NJ .
– U.S. Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) plays a major role in the battle against Transnational Criminal Organizations ( TCOs ) and other innovative and constantly evolving transnational criminal networks whose collaborative efforts seek nothing but illicit financial gain and fortune .
One threat of particular concern comes from the sophisticated organizations responsible for the theft and export of stolen vehicles .
Thousands of vehicles have been stolen or carjacked throughout the tristate area in order to be illegally exported from the United States through various marine terminals located in/around the Port of New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to African nations such as Benin , Gambia , Ghana , Ivory Coast , Nigeria , Senegal , Sierra Leone and Togo .
On the epidemic of stolen vehicles , Marty C. Raybon , CBP Port Director , stated , “ Our success at identifying , degrading and disrupting transnational networks depends on many things , but analytics and partnerships are right at the top of the list .
CBP will always be able to leverage our unique authorities , data holdings , and analytical abilities , but without close collaboration with our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can not dismantle these networks .
What ’ s required is a whole of government approach and that ’ s what we have with our partners in Homeland Security Investigations ( HSI ) Philadelphia , HSI Newark Border Enforcement Security Task Force ( BEST ) , HSI New York BEST , New Jersey State Police , New York City Police Department and Hudson County Sheriff ’ s Department.
” CBP ’ s mission is to safeguard America ’ s borders thereby protecting the public from dangerous people and materials while enhancing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enabling legitimate trade and travel .
The men and women of CBP who are assigned to the Port of NY/NWK take this mission and commitment to the public very seriously and will continue to work with our partners and stakeholders to ensure our continued success .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-10--Potential gene therapy to combat cocaine addiction

Have you ever slipped when trying to avoid sugar , quit smoking , or break another habit or addiction ?
Usually that one piece of cake or one cigarette won ’ t ruin your whole plan , but for people struggling with cocaine addiction , one slip can undo months of hard work .
Cocaine consumption is increasing , with 2.2 million people in the U.S. admitting to recent cocaine use in 2017 .
In 2014 , the National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated that nearly 1 million Americans were addicted to cocaine .
The effect of cocaine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful that , even after state-of-the-art treatments , many people trying to quit cocaine relapse within a year .
What if cocaine could be made less euphoric , so that a single use by a recovering addict doesn ’ t result in a full-blown relapse ?
Scientists at the Mayo Clinic recently published progress toward making this idea a reality – a gene therapy that would treat cocaine addiction by making cocaine less rewarding .
We are a molecular biologist and a neurobiologist who are interested in understanding and treating human disease , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As University of Tennessee faculty members leading basic biomedical research , we have worked for years on how genes are turned on and off in people and the effects of cocaine on mice , respectively .
So , we were excited to see a promising convergence of novel gene therapy and cocaine addiction therapy .
Beginning more than 20 years ago , scientists have worked to engineer a new version of a human protein that could break down cocaine so quickly that it doesn ’ t produce an addictive high .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that helps regulate neurotransmitters , and which can slowly break down cocaine .
Targeted mutations in BChE can turn it into a super-CocH – a protein that can quickly break down cocaine .
When this CocH is injected into the bloodstream , it breaks down cocaine very fast – before the user can experience the pleasurable effects – so a dose of cocaine is less rewarding .
Being less rewarding means it is easier to stop using cocaine .
Previous research has shown that injections of the super-CocH protein drastically decrease addictive behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great .
But the problem is that daily CocH injections would be too expensive and difficult to maintain for the years needed to prevent cocaine relapse for human users .
It would be much more practical to provide a single treatment that could provide enough CocH to last for years .
One way to do that is gene therapy : Give patients the DNA sequence ( the gene ) that contains the instructions for making super-CocH so their bodies can keep making it for months or potentially years .
Fortunately , over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therapy has been moving from science fiction to hopeful reality .
Clinical trials have demonstrated the potential of gene therapy to treat diseases from hemophilia to neurodegenerative disorders , and a handful of these are FDA-approved .
The new Mayo Clinic study takes an important step toward making CocH gene therapy a reality .
How exactly does a scientist “ give a person a gene ” ?
You can ’ t just swallow DNA the way you would a pill .
The Mayo Clinic scientists had to find a way to deliver the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The way they did this was to insert the gene for super-CocH into a virus called adeno-associated virus ( AAV ) .
AAV has been modified so that when it infects cells it can not reproduce in the body or make someone sick .
It is just a delivery vehicle .
The virus works by delivering the CocH gene to liver cells , where it remains for months or years .
The cells read the super-CocH gene and use it to manufacture many copies of the CocH protein , which then breaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the team tested this approach in mice .
The results are very promising and suggest that this gene therapy is safe and effective .
Mice receiving the gene therapy alone were healthy .
Mice given cocaine became hyperactive and showed signs of liver damage .
When the mice were given cocaine plus gene therapy they behaved normally , as if they had not been given the drug .
The cocaine was quickly broken down by their new super-CocH proteins , and their livers showed no signs of damage .
The results are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to proceed with human clinical trials .
Keep in mind , this treatment won ’ t hit the market anytime soon .
It took six years from initial tests of AAV-CocH therapy in mice to reach the point where the technique is safe enough for human trials .
There are many aspects of the treatment that need to be evaluated and modified to make sure it is both safe and effective in humans .
For example , AAV gene therapy can produce unwanted immune responses in people that will need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused by the therapy , different responses based on an individual ’ s genetic makeup and interactions with other medications or medical conditions will also need to be addressed .
Because this study only monitored mice for two months , longer-term effects of the gene therapy will need to be investigated .
Also , how well this therapy works to treat cocaine addiction in mice is not really known , and treating addiction in humans is certain to be even more complicated .
This gene therapy could someday make a dose of cocaine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from addiction will likely require a combination of treatments administered over many years .
Like many , the two us have family members or friends who struggle with addictions that can not be cured simply by “ trying harder.
” This recent work combines careful scientific progress with a creative new idea , giving hope to those trying to overcome cocaine addiction .
Rachel Patton McCord receives funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health .
Rebecca A. Prosser does not work for , consult , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-02-10--A Nazi drug’s US resurgence: How meth is making a disturbing reappearance

Although I am teaching a course at Indiana University this semester on the opioid epidemic , I can ’ t get meth out of my mind .
A colleague of mine was recently carjacked .
He was forced to drive at extreme speed throughout the city and escaped with his life only by intentionally crashing his car .
My colleague told me he believes his gun-wielding assailant was suffering an acute psychosis related to methamphetamine use .
Opioids may get most of the media attention these days , but meth has hardly gone away .
Law enforcement seizures of meth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 142 % between 2017 and 2018 .
Overdose deaths in 2017 were seven times higher than in 2007 .
Just what is meth ?
Why is it such a grave threat to health ?
And why does its terrible specter seem to loom larger and larger ?
Methamphetamine , a powerful stimulant of the central nervous system , has some legitimate medical uses , such as the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder .
But it is widely trafficked and purchased for recreational consumption , often as crystal meth ( think of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
Recreational meth users smoke , snort , ingest or inject the drug .
Smoking and injection seem to give the greatest rush , but the effect doesn ’ t last as long .
Users often report euphoria , increased alertness and reduced appetite ; chronic users may experience paranoia , delusions and unpredictable mood swings .
Addicts may exhibit a “ binge and crash ” pattern , and many try to maintain the rush with continuous consumption .
Chances of addiction are high , and symptoms from withdrawal can linger for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because many meth users are often also using cocaine , heroin or alcohol .
Meth is directly toxic to the brain ; developmental delays are common in meth babies .
In adults , it ’ s associated with an increased risk for Parkinson ’ s disease .
Addicts age at an accelerated pace , and commonly acquire “ meth mouth ” – tooth loss , tooth decay and tooth blackening .
Those who overdose may develop psychosis or abnormal heart rhythms .
Unlike opioid overdoses , which can quickly be resolved if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no “ reversal ” agent .
Instead , the meth is suctioned from the stomach .
Anti-psychotics can help with psychosis , and anti-hypertensive drugs can reduce acutely elevated blood pressure .
During World War II , meth played a sinister role in the Nazi war machine .
The military , along with German civilians , used a commercial form of the drug – made in Berlin and marketed under the trade name Pervitin – to stay awake , alert and energized .
With Pervitin , factory workers and homemakers alike found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Troops called it “ tank chocolate ” or “ pilot ’ s salt.
” Pervitin fueled the Nazis during their “ blitzkrieg ” invasion of France in 1940 .
Wrote one German commander about Pervitin : “ Everyone fresh and cheerful , excellent discipline.
” Later his assessment became less rosy : “ After taking four tablets , double vision and seeing colors.
” The toll meth took on the Germans was immense .
It provoked war crimes , stoked psychosis and triggered suicide .
As the war progressed , Adolf Hitler received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one should be surprised .
After all , the German name Pervitin is related to the word pervert ( “ ill-turned ” ) .
It means corrupted or distorted .
Meth , as the Nazis discovered , distorts our nature and turns us away from what we are meant to be .
Now , 75 years after the war , and still without an effective drug therapy , a meaningful response to methamphetamines requires three things .
We in the U.S. must recognize the true scope of the problem .
We must make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and behavioral therapy .
Most of all , our society needs to help individuals and families discover healthier ways to find meaning in life .
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Richard Gunderman does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-02-11--In Reversal, Feds Say Roger Stone Deserves ‘Far Less’ Jail Time Than Initially Proposed

Federal prosecutors in Washington , D.C. revised a sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone on Tuesday , saying that the longtime Trump confidante deserves a prison sentence “ far less ” than the 87-108 month recommendation submitted on Monday .
Prosecutors said in the new filing that the previous recommendation was “ excessive , ” and more in line with cases involving violent offenses rather than the obstruction charges that Stone faced .
“ The prior filing submitted by the United States on February 10 , 2020 does not accurately reflect the Department of Justice ’ s position on what would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” wrote John Crabb , Jr. , an Assistant U.S. Attorney for Washington , D.C. “ While it remains the position of the United States that a sentence of incarceration is warranted here , the government respectfully submits that the range of 87 to 108 months presented as the applicable advisory Guidelines range would not be appropriate or serve the interests of justice in this case.
” The revised filing was submitted after a tumultuous day in the Stone case .
Three prosecutors who worked on the case withdrew from the proceedings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top brass was unhappy with the hefty prison recommendation .
Earlier on Tuesday , President Trump voiced his displeasure with the initial recommendation , which he called a “ miscarriage of justice.
” The main difference in the two sentencing recommendations deals with how prosecutors want to handle a witness tampering charge against Stone .
Stone was convicted on Nov. 15 on five false statements charges , an obstruction charge , and a witness tampering charge , all related to his interactions with the House Intelligence Committee during its Russia investigation .
Prosecutors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Randy Credico , in order to prevent him from cooperating with the House investigation or the special counsel ’ s probe .
At Stone ’ s trial , prosecutors pointed to an April 2018 message in which Stone told Credico , “ Prepare to die , cocksucker.
” Stone also told Credico , who he has worked with since 2002 , that he would take his dog .
In their initial filing , prosecutors asserted that Stone ’ s threats warranted an eight-level enhancement to his sentence , which would significantly increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear to have reversed their thinking about the enhancements in the newest filing .
Prosecutors said that while the enhancements were “ perhaps technically applicable , ” they “ disproportionately ” increased Stone ’ s offense level to one usually seen in crimes involving violent crimes like armed robbery .
Prosecutors said that if the enhancement for threatening Credico was not added on to Stone ’ s sentence , he would have received a recommendation of between 37 and 46 months in prison .
“ Accordingly , it would be reasonable for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as calculated is unduly high on the facts of this case.
” Stone has long insisted that his threat was not a serious one .
He ’ s said that he and Credico have been on-and-off friends for years , and often trash-talked each other .
While Credico claimed in media interviews in 2018 that he felt threatened by Stone , he testified at Stone ’ s trial that he did not take the messages seriously and never felt that he was in physical danger .
Credico wrote to Judge Amy Berman Jackson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time for Stone .
In their filing Monday , prosecutors acknowledged but dismissed Credico ’ s letter to Jackson .
In Tuesday ’ s filing , they cited Credico ’ s plea for leniency in their argument for a lighter sentence for Stone .
“ [ T ] he most serious sentencing enhancement in this case…has been disputed by the victim of that threat , Randy Credico , who asserts that he did not perceive a genuine threat from the defendant but rather stated that ‘ I never in any way felt that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me or my dog , ’ ” the filing says .
“ While Mr. Credico ’ s subjective beliefs are not dispositive as to this enhancement , the Court may consider them when assessing the impact of applying the enhancement – particularly given the significant impact that the enhancement has on the defendant ’ s total Guidelines range.
” Prosecutors said that the eight level enhancement initially added to Stone ’ s sentence has typically been imposed in obstruction cases involving violent crime organizations .
The filing cited two cases where an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one case , a defendant involving in a gang war gave the “ green light ” to two gang members to “ smash ” a cooperating witness .
In another case , a defendant was slapped with an eight-level enhancement after he “ threatened to rape and kill the wife of a cooperating witness in a drug distribution conspiracy prosecution .
”


freedomdaily--2020-02-11--Attorney General William Barr Vows Lawsuits And ‘Significant Escalation’ Against Sanctuary Jurisdict

Attorney General William Barr Vows Lawsuits And ‘Significant Escalation’ Against Sanctuary Jurisdictions

Attorney General William Barr vowed Monday to escalate the fight against sanctuary jurisdictions and announced a round of lawsuits that target states and localities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities .
The top attorney for the Trump administration announced that the Department of Justice ( DOJ ) would be slapping several states and localities with lawsuits over their sanctuary policies while delivering remarks at the National Sheriffs ’ Association in Washington , D.C. , on Monday .
DOJ later on announced complaints with California ; New Jersey ; and King County , Washington , over various policies that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The moves were the latest in the Trump administration ’ s escalating crackdown against sanctuary jurisdictions across the country .
“ This evening , I am announcing further actions the Department of Justice will take to protect the American people and allow for the proper and lawful functioning of our nation ’ s federal immigration system , ” Barr said Monday while giving his address .
Barr announced that the DOJ was filling a complaint against New Jersey for a directive that limits what information state and local law enforcement can share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
The directive — an executive order the attorney general of New Jersey launched in 2018 — also forbids local and state law enforcement from participating in ICE operations and includes other restrictions .
The GOP attorney general also said his department would file a complaint with King County , which encompasses the liberal city of Seattle , for not allowing the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) to use the King County International Airport to remove illegal aliens ordered to be deported from the U.S .
The DOJ isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department will be conducting reviews of sanctuary jurisdictions across the country “ Further , we are reviewing the practices , policies and laws of other jurisdictions across the country , ” he said .
“ This includes assessing whether jurisdictions are complying with our criminal laws , in particular the criminal statute that prohibits the harboring or shielding of aliens in the United States.
” Shortly after his address , the DOJ announced the two lawsuits against New Jersey and King County .
Additionally , the department lodged a complaint against California that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 32 , which prohibits the operation of private detention facilities .
Barr said the law was intended to forbid the detention of aliens in its state .
“ Today is a significant escalation in the federal government ’ s efforts to confront the resistance of ‘ sanctuary cities.
’ But by no means do the efforts outlined above signify the culmination of our fight to ensure the rule of law , to defend the Constitution , and to keep Americans safe , ” Barr said .
“ We will consider taking action against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who , unlawfully obstructs the federal enforcement of immigration law , ” he added .
The lawsuits follow DHS revocation of Trusted Traveler Programs for New Yorkers in response to the state barring DMVs from sharing information with ICE and Custom and Border Protection ( CBP ) .
ICE has also begun issuing subpoenas for information with jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal officials .


freedomdaily--2020-02-11--Despite ‘Stop And Frisk,’ Michael Bloomberg Gains Serious Traction With Black Voters

A national political poll of Democratic voters released on Monday shows that Michael Bloomberg has gained serious traction with black voters , despite his support for the controversial practice of “ stop and frisk ” when he was mayor of New York City .
The Quinnipiac poll , which surveyed 665 Democratic voters between Feb. 5-9 , found that 22 percent of black voters support Bloomberg .
That puts him second behind former Vice President Joe Biden ( 27 percent ) and ahead of Bernie Sanders ( 19 percent ) with black voters .
The poll also shows that Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump .
Bloomberg leads Trump 51 percent to 42 percent in a general election matchup .
Sanders tops Trump 51-43 , while Biden leads Trump 50-43 in the poll .
Bloomberg , who kicked off his campaign on Nov. 24 , has blitzed the airwaves and social media with ads through an entirely self-funded campaign .
As part of his strategy , the billionaire media magnate has avoided campaigning in early primary and caucus states like New Hampshire and Iowa , and instead aimed for a strong showing on Super Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their primaries .
Bloomberg has seen a sharp increase in support across the Democratic field since his late entree to the race , but his surge with black voters is something of a surprise given his record on racially-charged issues .
As mayor of New York , Bloomberg implemented and defended so-called “ stop and frisk ” policies that led to the disproportionate arrests of black and Hispanic residents .
Bloomberg apologized for supporting stop and frisk during a speech at a black church in Brooklyn days before announcing his presidential bid .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ am sorry , ” Bloomberg said on Nov. 17 .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-11--Top Mueller Prosecutor Resigns From DOJ Amid Turmoil In Roger Stone Case

Special assistant U.S. attorney Aaron Zelinsky , who handled several of the most prominent cases in the special counsel ’ s probe , resigned Tuesday amid turmoil surrounding a prison sentence recommendation for Trump confidant Roger Stone .
Zelinsky filed a notice withdrawing from the case with Judge Amy Berman Jackson , who oversaw Stone ’ s trial .
The filing also says that Zelinsky “ resigned effective immediately ” as a special assistant U.S. attorney .
Hours before the resignation , a senior Justice Department official told reporters that the agency plans to revise federal prosecutors ’ recommendation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison on false statements and witness tampering charges .
Federal prosecutors in Washington , D.C. , recommended that Stone serve between 87 and 108 months in prison on the charges .
President Donald Trump blasted the recommendation in a series of tweets early Tuesday morning , and indicated he is considering a pardon for Stone .
He called the recommendation “ disgraceful , ” and said he “ can not allow this miscarriage of justice.
” A Justice Department official issued a surprising rebuke of the D.C. attorney ’ s offices ’ recommendation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and grossly disproportionate.
” The official also said the recommendation was “ not what had been briefed to the Department.
” The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment about Zelinsky ’ s withdrawal and resignation .
Zelinsky worked on several components of the sprawling special counsel ’ s probe .
He was involved in the prosecution of former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos .
In the Stone probe , Zelinsky interviewed and investigated Randy Credico and Jerome Corsi , two Stone associates who prosecutors suspected might have been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and attorneys who dealt with Zelinsky described him to the Daily Caller News Foundation as among the most aggressive prosecutors they dealt with on the special counsel ’ s team .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-11--A 4-step maintenance plan to help keep your relationship going strong

Early on , relationships are easy .
Everything is new and exciting .
You go on dates , take trips , spend time together and intentionally cultivate experiences that allow your relationship to grow .
Then , somewhere along the way , life happens .
One study on married couples in their 30s and 40s found that their marital quality declined over the course of a year , in terms of love , passion , satisfaction , intimacy and commitment .
Too often , people shrug their shoulders and convince themselves this is just how it goes .
Switching to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re short on time , low on energy and must focus on other priorities like careers and kids .
This is when doubt can creep in and tempt you to hit the reset button .
But maybe you ’ re being too hard on a perfectly good relationship .
Every couple experiences ups and downs , and even the very best relationships take effort .
Rather than getting out , it ’ s time to get to work .
Whether your relationship is already stuck in a rut , or you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , most people need to focus more on what happens between “ I do ” and “ I don ’ t want to be with you anymore.
” As a relationship scientist , I suggest the following four psychology research-based strategies to kickoff your relationship maintenance plan .
No one raises their hand and says , “ Sign me up for a boring relationship.
” But boredom serves a purpose .
Like your phone indicating your battery is low , boredom is an early warning system that your relationship needs a recharge .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ boredom .
Psychology researcher Cheryl Harasymchuk and colleagues have explored how people react .
For example , to turn things around when you ’ re bored , do you fall back on things that are familiar and make you feel self-assured , like taking a walk around the neighborhood ?
Or do you choose growth-enhancing activities – like going for a hike on a new trail in an unfamiliar park – to mix things up ?
It turns out that study participants preferred growth-enhancing activities when they were bored , and when given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they incorporated more novelty into those outings .
Rather than resigning yourself to boredom ’ s inevitability – “ This is just how relationships are ” – use boredom as a call to action .
Rather than wait for boredom to strike , couples would be wise to be more proactive .
It ’ s a simple as continuing to date .
Early in relationships , couples prioritize these one-on-one outings , but eventually begin to coast , just when the relationship could use an extra boost .
To recapture that early relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engage in new , challenging and interesting activities .
Rather than sitting at staring at your phones , couples should break their routine and try something different .
It could be as simple as trying a new restaurant , or even a new dish at a favorite place .
Not only does branching out counteract boredom , but trying new things helps you grow as a person .
All of this spills over into the relationship , increasing levels of passion , satisfaction and commitment .
In one study , researchers asked married @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Monopoly , Scrabble and UNO , or take an art class together .
All couples increased their levels of oxytocin – the so-called “ cuddle hormone ” which helps partners bond .
But the art class couples had larger oxytocin increases and touched each other more , perhaps because the activity was newer and further outside their comfort zone .
That novelty may encourage them to rely on each other for assurance .
Not looking to dig out your oil paints ?
Here ’ s a lower key option : Grab a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couples movie night .
Over the course of a month , researchers asked some couples to watch and discuss a romantic comedy such as “ When Harry Met Sally , ” while others did an intense relationship workshop .
Fast forward three years , and the movie watchers were less likely to have broken up .
It probably isn ’ t just taking in any film , but rather that watching a romantic story gives couples a less threatening way to discuss relationship issues .
It may also help them see their relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because research from psychologist Eli Finkel and others shows that viewing your own relationship through completely neutral eyes helps couples hold off declines in marital quality .
Activities are great , but you also need to do daily maintenance .
There ’ s an old adage in psychology research that “ bad is stronger than good.
” For relationships , that often means focusing on what ’ s wrong , while overlooking what ’ s right .
Talk about self-defeating .
Of course , you can just as easily find the ways your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about noticing your relationship ’ s bright spots .
Not only will you appreciate your partner more , but you can use what ’ s going well to help improve less bright areas .
Too often , people wait for something to break before trying to fix it .
Adopting a maintenance mentality can more proactively help your relationship .
One new study tested a way to help couples in already healthy relationships .
The researchers ’ intervention had couples complete research-based positive psychology activities over four weeks such as : • Write @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the positives , then share with their partner • Write a letter of gratitude to their partner • Identify their partner ’ s strengths and their strengths as a couple • Create a list of positive moments or activities partners want to share with each other .
Pick one , and plan a time to do it • Create a desired happiness chart and discuss what small relationship tweaks can help make it a reality .
At the end of the month , compared to couples on the study ’ s waitlist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better relationship functioning and improved communication .
Another month later , their average relationship functioning remained better than that of the comparison group .
Few people enjoy cleaning , doing laundry or mowing the lawn .
Yet , if you neglect those tasks , life quickly falls into disrepair .
Your relationship is just the same .
Rather than thinking about replacements when your relationship shows signs of wear , invest the time and energy into a little maintenance .
Using any or all of these easy-to-implement strategies should not only help a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
[ You ’ re smart and curious about the world .
So are The Conversation ’ s authors and editors .
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Gary W. Lewandowski Jr. does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-02-11--A NYT Writer Said Trump’s Immigrant Crime Stories Were ‘Bogus’ – Then DHS Provided Him Examples

After a New York Times op-ed writer said President Donald Trump ’ s stories about immigrant crime were “ bogus , ” a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security provided him with examples .
David Brooks , an opinion writer for The New York Times , appeared on PBS NewsHour on Feb. 7 to discuss a slate of political topics , such as the president ’ s recent acquittal , the Democratic presidential election and Trump ’ s latest State of the Union address .
While speaking about the address , Brooks referred to the president ’ s mention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Yes , I actually thought it was his most effective speech as president , ” Brooks said of the address .
“ He had some of the stuff he has always had , which is these bogus stories of crimes that immigrants have committed.
” “ But if you go back to his campaign in 2016 , it was an American carnage campaign .
It was all crime , ” he continued .
“ It was all fear .
It was all division.
” Heather Swift , a spokeswoman for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explained on social media why this remark was “ not true.
” “ Not true .
Let me introduce you to a few , ” she added .
“ I ’ m sad to say there are many , many tragic stories of lives destroyed and lost due to crimes by illegal aliens.
” Wake up Right !
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freedomdaily--2020-02-11--‘Throw Them Up Against The Wall’: Bloomberg Aggressively Defended ‘Stop And Frisk’ In 2015

Just over a year after his tenure as New York City mayor ended , billionaire media magnate Michael Bloomberg offered up an aggressive defense of “ stop and frisk , ” saying that the controversial policing policy was successful even though it required police to “ throw ” minority males “ up against the wall and frisk them.
” At the Feb. 6 , 2015 event , hosted by the Aspen Security Institute , Bloomberg also asserted that the demographics of murderers and murder victims were so similar that “ you can just take the description , Xerox it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cops.
” Bloomberg ’ s record defending and expanding stop and frisk as mayor is well known , and was widely considered a hindrance to his prospects as a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate .
But the issue appears not to have hurt Bloomberg ’ s support with black voters .
Quinnipiac University released a poll on Monday showing that 22 percent of black voters surveyed said they support Bloomberg .
That was only second to former Vice President Joe Biden , who clocked in at 27 percent .
Bloomberg has since apologized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 17 , a week before announcing his presidential bid , he told a black church in Brooklyn that he was “ sorry ” for supporting the initiative .
But his candid remarks at the Aspen event have not been as widely reported as some of his other comments .
The Daily Caller and gun rights websites reported on his statements at the time , but the story did not get coverage in the national media .
Bloomberg ’ s remarks are in stark contrast with the status quo of the current Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the left in recent years , especially on issues related to race .
The party ’ s shift became evident during the 2016 presidential campaign when progressives criticized Hillary Clinton for her remarks in 1996 that “ super-predators ” were responsible for a higher crime rate among black youth .
Biden has come under scrutiny during the 2020 cycle for supporting the 1994 crime bill , as well as for his comments praising Democratic segregationist senators during the 1970s .
It is too early to say whether Bloomberg ’ s comments from five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liability .
But perhaps realizing that his defense of the stop and frisk went too far at the time , Bloomberg successfully blocked the Aspen Security Institute from releasing video of the event .
Audio from the event shows that Bloomberg acknowledged that his views about crime statistics were “ controversial.
” “ First thing is all of your — 95 percent of your murders , and murderers , and murder victims fit one [ unintelligible ] .
You can just take the description , Xerox it , and pass it out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ They are male , minorities , 15 to 25 .
That ’ s true in New York , it ’ s true in virtually every city in America.
” Bloomberg has denied that the policy was racist .
Instead , he ’ s argued that more minorities are stopped by police because of higher crime rates in minority communities .
“ So one of the unintended consequences is , people say ‘ Oh , my God you are arresting kids for marijuana that are all minorities , ’ ” Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put all the cops in the minority neighborhoods .
Yes that ’ s true , why do we do it ?
Because that ’ s where all the crime is .
And the first thing you can do for people is to stop them getting killed.
” But that line of argument has done little to persuade progressives and civil libertarians to support stop and frisk .
While advocates of the policy said that it was intended only to be used near areas where a crime had been reported , or when officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrying a weapon , its critics assert that police officers frequently abused protocol and disproportionately stopped minorities with little cause .
“ We did a calculation on how many people who would have been dead if we hadn ’ t brought down the murder rate and gotten guns off the streets , ” Bloomberg said at the Aspen event .
“ And the way to get guns out of kids hands is to throw them up against the wall and frisk them .
”


freedomdaily--2020-02-11--Why sequencing the human genome failed to produce big breakthroughs in disease

An emergency room physician , initially unable to diagnose a disoriented patient , finds on the patient a wallet-sized card providing access to his genome , or all his DNA .
The physician quickly searches the genome , diagnoses the problem and sends the patient off for a gene-therapy cure .
That ’ s what a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist imagined 2020 would look like when she reported on the Human Genome Project back in 1996 .
The Human Genome Project was an international scientific collaboration that successfully mapped , sequenced and made publicly available the genetic content of human chromosomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place between 1990 and 2003 , the project caused many to speculate about the future of medicine .
In 1996 , Walter Gilbert , a Nobel laureate , said , “ The results of the Human Genome Project will produce a tremendous shift in the way we can do medicine and attack problems of human disease.
” In 2000 , Francis Collins , then head of the HGP at the National Institutes of Health , predicted , “ Perhaps in another 15 or 20 years , you will see a complete transformation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Bill Clinton stated the Human Genome Project would “ revolutionize the diagnosis , prevention and treatment of most , if not all , human diseases.
” It is now 2020 and no one carries a genome card .
Physicians typically do not examine your DNA to diagnose or treat you .
Why not ?
As I explain in a recent article in the Journal of Neurogenetics , the causes of common debilitating diseases are complex , so they typically are not amenable to simple genetic treatments , despite the hope and hype @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a single gene can cause common diseases has been around for several decades .
In the late 1980s and early 1990s , high-profile scientific journals , including Nature and JAMA , announced single-gene causation of bipolar disorder , schizophrenia and alcoholism , among other conditions and behaviors .
These articles drew massive attention in the popular media , but were soon retracted or failed attempts at replication .
These reevaluations completely undermined the initial conclusions , which often had relied on misguided statistical tests .
Biologists were generally aware of these developments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in popular media .
There are indeed individual gene mutations that cause devastating disorders , such as Huntington ’ s disease .
But most common debilitating diseases are not caused by a mutation of a single gene .
This is because people who have a debilitating genetic disease , on average , do not survive long enough to have numerous healthy children .
In other words , there is strong evolutionary pressure against such mutations .
Huntington ’ s disease is an exception that endures because it typically does not produce symptoms until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Although new mutations for many other disabling conditions occur by chance , they don ’ t become frequent in the population .
Instead , most common debilitating diseases are caused by combinations of mutations in many genes , each having a very small effect .
They interact with one another and with environmental factors , modifying the production of proteins from genes .
The many kinds of microbes that live within the human body can play a role , too .
Since common serious diseases are rarely caused by single-gene mutations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mutated gene with a normal copy , the premise for gene therapy .
Gene therapy has gradually progressed in research along a very bumpy path , which has included accidentally causing leukemia and at least one death , but doctors recently have been successful treating some rare diseases in which a single-gene mutation has had a large effect .
Gene therapy for rare single-gene disorders is likely to succeed , but must be tailored to each individual condition .
The enormous cost and the relatively small number of patients who can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurmountable financial barriers in these cases .
For many diseases , gene therapy may never be useful .
The Human Genome Project has had an enormous impact on almost every field of biological research , by spurring technical advances that facilitate fast , precise and relatively inexpensive sequencing and manipulation of DNA .
But these advances in research methods have not led to dramatic improvements in treatment of common debilitating diseases .
Although you can not bring your genome card to your next doctor ’ s appointment , perhaps you can bring a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genes and disease .
A more accurate understanding of disease causation may insulate patients against unrealistic stories and false promises .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-11--The silent threat of the coronavirus: America’s dependence on Chinese pharmaceuticals

As the new coronavirus , called 2019-nCoV , spreads rapidly around the globe , the international community is scrambling to keep up .
Scientists rush to develop a vaccine , policymakers debate the most effective containment methods , and health care systems strain to accommodate the growing number of sick and dying .
Though it may sound like a scene from the 2011 movie “ Contagion , ” it is actually an unfolding reality .
In the midst of all of this , a potential crisis simmers in the shadows : The global dependence on China for the production of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interdisciplinary group of scientists and policymakers at the Scowcroft Institute ’ s Pandemic and Biosecurity Policy Program based at the Bush School of Government at Texas A & M University who have been holding annual summits addressing pandemic-related issues for the past five years .
One of our goals is to promote dialogue on potential risks related to pandemics and U.S. security , in this case the disruption of supply chains and availability of medical supplies and drugs .
Today , about 80 % of pharmaceuticals sold in the U.S. are produced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerning , hides an even greater problem : China is the largest and sometimes only global supplier for the active ingredient of some vital medications .
The active ingredients for medicines that treat breast cancer and lung cancer and the antibiotic Vancomycin , which is a last resort antibiotic for some types of antimicrobial resistant infections , are made almost exclusively in China .
Additionally , China controls such a large market portion of heparin , a blood thinner used in open-heart surgery , kidney dialysis and blood transfusions that the U.S. government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue buying from China even after a contamination scandal in 2007 .
China is not only the dominant global supplier of pharmaceuticals , but it is also the largest supplier of medical devices in the U.S .
These include things like MRI equipment , surgical gowns , and equipment that measures oxygen levels in the blood .
Supplies of these essential products have not yet been severely disrupted by the coronavirus , but if China is no longer will or able to supply them to the U.S. , thousands of Americans could die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options available to the U.S. and the rest of the globe to make up the shortfall .
It could take years to develop the necessary infrastructure to reestablish U.S. manufacturing capacities and obtain Food and Drug Administration licensure to overcome the loss of the Chinese supply .
When a disease reaches epidemic levels , the first obligation for leaders in any country is to protect their own people .
As this current crisis progresses , there may come a point when political leaders in China will face decisions on whether to prohibit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other vital medical components in order to treat or protect their own people .
Such acts would be the logical outcome of an escalating situation .
For the 2009 H1N1 pandemic response , for example , the U.S. was pushed to the back of the queue for vaccine deliveries even though we had existing contracts with a major vaccine manufacturer located in another country .
Those vaccine deliveries were delayed .
While a total loss of active ingredient imports from China might seem far-fetched , we believe the increasing scale of the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility .
About six weeks into international recognition of the epidemic in China , there are already shortages of vital personal protective equipment in both China and the U.S. UPS has transported more than 2 million masks and 11,000 gowns to Wuhan to help alleviate the shortage .
But what happens when everyone runs out of protective equipment ?
Wuhan is a significant player in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry , with multiple pharmaceutical companies located in the city .
How many of these factories have closed as a result of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed open back up ?
Global supply chains could reach a crisis point if they are compromised because Hubei province , where Wuhan is located , is in quarantine and factories are shut down .
Additionally , Wuhan is the location of China ’ s first Biosafety Level ( BSL ) 4 laboratory , which was opened in 2017 to research SARS and other emerging diseases .
It is the only lab in China that can safely handle the world ’ s most dangerous pathogens that pose a significant risk of transmission .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the surrounding Hubei province is restricting the ability of all types of commerce in the region .
Meanwhile , the virus is already creating a significant supply chain imbalance within China .
That means those medical supply companies will be under pressure to keep any products produced within the country for protection of their own health care workers , laboratory personnel and the general public .
The regulatory apparatus to insure that the Chinese manufactured pharmaceuticals being exported meet the highest standards of safety and quality control are weak or nonexistent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The pressure placed on supply chains by the outbreak could further exacerbate existing quality control challenges .
In doing so , the virus has highlighted our reliance on China as a U.S. national security issue due to outsourcing our manufacturing capabilities and inability to ensure quality control .
As with all pandemics , the complexity of this outbreak demands international collaboration and transparency .
At the same time , U.S. public health officials must acknowledge the country ’ s vulnerability due to our dependence on Chinese production of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan for the inevitable shortages in the near-term and take necessary actions to reclaim control of our medical supply chain .
Continuing to overlook this long-known vulnerability will only lead to catastrophe .
[ You ’ re smart and curious about the world .
So are The Conversation ’ s authors and editors .
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Andrew Natsios is affiliated with Bush School of Government .
The Hudson Institute , Scowcroft Institute at the Bush School of Government at Texas A & M @ @ @ @ @ @