freedomdaily--2020-02-12--Foreign Volunteers For Bernie Sanders Have Contacted Thousands Of American Voters

Foreign nationals , under the direction of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ’ s presidential campaign , have sent thousands of texts and phone calls urging American voters to support the democratic socialist in the Democratic primaries .
Since October , a particularly devoted contingent of about 40 Australian volunteers have sent thousands of messages a day to American voters through a phone banking system operated by the Sanders campaign , according to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation .
“ I kinda feel like what happens in America is essential to the rest of the world , ” an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volunteered a couple of hours a day to mass-text American voters for the Sanders campaign told the ABC .
“ Their politics has such a big impact on our politics here.
” It ’ s perfectly legal for foreign nationals to volunteer for political campaigns as long as they ’ re not compensated for their services , according to the Federal Election Commission ( FEC ) , and there ’ s no indication that Sanders has violated any rules by accepting volunteer services from foreign nationals during his 2020 presidential bid .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fine on Sanders ’ s 2016 presidential campaign in 2018 for accepting illegal in-kind foreign contributions from the Australian Labor Party .
A Facebook group with over 4,200 followers called Australians Supporting Bernie Sanders published a guide in January instructing prospective foreign volunteers on how to phone bank for Sanders from outside the U.S .
The guide directs volunteers to go to Sanders ’ s campaign website to watch a short training video and then register with the campaign to make calls to American voters .
All that ’ s needed to receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Sanders campaign is a name , email and phone number .
The Sanders campaign does not appear to have included any mechanism in its registration system to prevent foreign volunteers from phone banking for the campaign.When phone banking , volunteers are asked to follow a script developed by the Sanders campaign and to record any responses they receive into an online system operated by the campaign .
A phone banking training video on the Sanders campaign website states that the data collected by phone bankers is “ vital ” to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders campaign also hosts a 12,000-member group chat channel on Slack that contains messages from self-identified foreign nationals from around the world discussing their experiences phone banking for the democratic socialist .
“ Ready to do foreign campaign interference from Austria , ” one user posted in the Slack channel Wednesday morning .
Some foreign volunteers have questioned on the channel whether it ’ s appropriate to conceal their nationality when calling American voters for the Sanders campaign .
“ Quick question , since i ’ m not a US citizen ( I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask me why I support Bernie , should I disclose the fact that as an Indonesian , issues about climate change really affect me , and I believe Bernie is the only candidate with the right outlook on this issue , and the only one I can trust to be the climate candidate , ” one user posted to the channel Tuesday .
“ Or should I just say all that without telling them my nationality ?
” “ I don ’ t think there is one right answer about whether to disclose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” another user who identified as a Norwegian responded .
“ I think you should do it makes you feel like you can make a more authentic and stronger case for Bernie.
” It ’ s unclear if the Sanders campaign is aware that foreign nationals are using its campaign infrastructure to call American voters on its behalf , or whether it condones the foreign support it has received in light of Russia ’ s efforts to interfere with the 2016 elections .
The Sanders campaign did not return a request for comment @


freedomdaily--2020-02-12--House Intel Republicans Boycott Hearing, Citing Schiff’s Failure To Hold Hearing On FISA Abuse

In a rare move , the Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee will boycott a hearing scheduled for Wednesday morning , saying that Chairman Adam Schiff has “ strayed ” from conducting business relevant to the panel , including by failing to hold a hearing over the Justice Department inspector general ’ s report on FBI abuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) .
“ Under your chairmanship , the House Intelligence Committee has strayed far from its mandate of overseeing the Intelligence Community , ” the Republicans wrote in a letter to Democrats obtained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the start of a hearing for the Strategic Technology and Advanced Research Subcommittee .
“ In fact , we have gone months at a time in which we ’ ve hardly held any oversight-related briefings or hearings at all , ” they wrote .
All nine Republicans on the panel signed the letter to Schiff , a California Democrat .
“ Until the Committee prioritizes oversight activities related to urgent and critical concerns , Republican Members can not support distractions from our core responsibilities , ” they wrote .
They cited Schiff ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discuss the Justice Department inspector general ’ s ( IG ) report released on Dec. 9 , 2019 that laid out a series of failures at the FBI during its investigation of the Trump campaign .
The intelligence panel began an investigation similar to the FBI ’ s in early 2017 into whether the Trump campaign conspired with Russia to influence the 2016 election .
Neither investigation found evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Kremlin .
The FBI and House intelligence Democrats relied heavily on the Democratic-funded Steele dossier for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant problems with the salacious document .
The Republicans also slammed Wednesday ’ s hearing as a “ publicity event.
” “ There are numerous Committees in the House of Representatives that may conduct public hearings on emerging science and technology matters ; the House Intelligence Committee should focus on critical issues we are uniquely postured to address , ” they said .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-12--Hackers could shut down satellites – or turn them into weapons

Last month , SpaceX became the operator of the world ’ s largest active satellite constellation .
As of the end of January , the company had 242 satellites orbiting the planet with plans to launch 42,000 over the next decade .
This is part of its ambitious project to provide internet access across the globe .
The race to put satellites in space is on , with Amazon , U.K.-based OneWeb and other companies chomping at the bit to place thousands of satellites in orbit in the coming months .
These new satellites have the potential to revolutionize many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internet access to remote corners of the globe to monitoring the environment and improving global navigation systems .
Amid all the fanfare , a critical danger has flown under the radar : the lack of cybersecurity standards and regulations for commercial satellites , in the U.S. and internationally .
As a scholar who studies cyber conflict , I ’ m keenly aware that this , coupled with satellites ’ complex supply chains and layers of stakeholders , leaves them highly vulnerable to cyberattacks .
If hackers were to take control of these satellites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On the mundane end of scale , hackers could simply shut satellites down , denying access to their services .
Hackers could also jam or spoof the signals from satellites , creating havoc for critical infrastructure .
This includes electric grids , water networks and transportation systems .
Some of these new satellites have thrusters that allow them to speed up , slow down and change direction in space .
If hackers took control of these steerable satellites , the consequences could be catastrophic .
Hackers could alter the satellites ’ orbits and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the International Space Station .
Makers of these satellites , particularly small CubeSats , use off-the-shelf technology to keep costs low .
The wide availability of these components means hackers can analyze them for vulnerabilities .
In addition , many of the components draw on open-source technology .
The danger here is that hackers could insert back doors and other vulnerabilities into satellites ’ software .
The highly technical nature of these satellites also means multiple manufacturers are involved in building the various components .
The process of getting these satellites into space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even once they are in space , the organizations that own the satellites often outsource their day-to-day management to other companies .
With each additional vendor , the vulnerabilities increase as hackers have multiple opportunities to infiltrate the system .
Hacking some of these CubeSats may be as simple as waiting for one of them to pass overhead and then sending malicious commands using specialized ground antennas .
Hacking more sophisticated satellites might not be that hard either .
Satellites are typically controlled from ground stations .
These stations run computers with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hackers .
If hackers were to infiltrate these computers , they could send malicious commands to the satellites .
This scenario played out in 1998 when hackers took control of the U.S.-German ROSAT X-Ray satellite .
They did it by hacking into computers at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland .
The hackers then instructed the satellite to aim its solar panels directly at the sun .
This effectively fried its batteries and rendered the satellite useless .
The defunct satellite eventually crashed back to Earth in 2011 .
Hackers could also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1999 when hackers took control of the U.K. ‘ s SkyNet satellites .
Over the years , the threat of cyberattacks on satellites has gotten more dire .
In 2008 , hackers , possibly from China , reportedly took full control of two NASA satellites , one for about two minutes and the other for about nine minutes .
In 2018 , another group of Chinese state-backed hackers reportedly launched a sophisticated hacking campaign aimed at satellite operators and defense contractors .
Iranian hacking groups have also attempted similar attacks .
Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security Agency have made some efforts to address space cybersecurity , the pace has been slow .
There are currently no cybersecurity standards for satellites and no governing body to regulate and ensure their cybersecurity .
Even if common standards could be developed , there are no mechanisms in place to enforce them .
This means responsibility for satellite cybersecurity falls to the individual companies that build and operate them .
As they compete to be the dominant satellite operator , SpaceX and rival companies are under increasing pressure to cut costs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ development and production .
This makes it tempting for the companies to cut corners in areas like cybersecurity that are secondary to actually getting these satellites in space .
Even for companies that make a high priority of cybersecurity , the costs associated with guaranteeing the security of each component could be prohibitive .
This problem is even more acute for low-cost space missions , where the cost of ensuring cybersecurity could exceed the cost of the satellite itself .
To compound matters , the complex supply chain of these satellites and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s often not clear who bears responsibility and liability for cyber breaches .
This lack of clarity has bred complacency and hindered efforts to secure these important systems .
Some analysts have begun to advocate for strong government involvement in the development and regulation of cybersecurity standards for satellites and other space assets .
Congress could work to adopt a comprehensive regulatory framework for the commercial space sector .
For instance , they could pass legislation that requires satellites manufacturers to develop a common cybersecurity architecture .
They could also mandate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satellites .
There also needs to be clarity on which space-based assets are deemed critical in order to prioritize cybersecurity efforts .
Clear legal guidance on who bears responsibility for cyberattacks on satellites will also go a long way to ensuring that the responsible parties take the necessary measures to secure these systems .
Given the traditionally slow pace of congressional action , a multi-stakeholder approach involving public-private cooperation may be warranted to ensure cybersecurity standards .
Whatever steps government and industry take , it is imperative to act now .
It would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hackers to gain control of a commercial satellite and use it to threaten life , limb and property – here on Earth or in space – before addressing this issue .
[ You ’ re smart and curious about the world .
So are The Conversation ’ s authors and editors .
You can get our highlights each weekend . ]
William Akoto is a post-doctoral research fellow at the One Earth Future Foundation .


freedomdaily--2020-02-13--Chairman Of Iowa Democrats Resigns Over Caucus Fracas

Troy Price , the chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party , announced his resignation Wednesday , more than a week after a series of technical glitches delayed results of the party ’ s caucuses .
“ The fact is that Democrats deserved better than what happened on caucus night , ” Price said in a letter to party members on Wednesday .
“ As chair of this party , I am deeply sorry for what happened and bear the responsibility for any failures on behalf of the Iowa Democratic Party.
” “ Therefore , I will resign as chair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election of my replacement.
” Results of the caucuses were delayed for several days due to a glitch in a phone app that the Iowa Democratic Party ( IDP ) used to report results from individual precincts .
The scrutiny of the tech failure also drew attention to counting errors at dozens of precincts across the state .
IDP ultimately awarded the most delegates ( 14 ) to Pete Buttigieg , though Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , who was awarded 12 delegates , received the most individual votes across the state .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some precincts .
“ There is no doubt that the process of reporting results did not work .
It was simply unacceptable , ” said Price .
Price went on to say that other organizations besides IDP bear some of the blame for the caucus chaos .
“ Know that the IDP is not the only party to blame for what happened last week , ” he said .
“ We worked collaboratively with our partners , our vendors , and the DNC in this process , and I am confident the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what went wrong , what went right , and how we can avoid this from ever happening again.
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freedomdaily--2020-02-13--Report Casts Doubt On Claims That The US Is Falling Behind China On Funding AI Research

It is not possible to determine if China is plowing more funding into artificial intelligence research than the United States , a nonprofit security analysis group noted in a report Wednesday .
China ’ s lack of transparency in how the communist nation funds non-defense AI makes it virtually impossible to determine if the country is pulling ahead of the U.S. on such technology , Institute for Defense Analyses ( IDA ) suggested in an analysis of China ’ s expenditures .
“ Considering the challenges of data availability associated with the funding mechanisms we have investigated , we find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimate the amount of China ’ s broader government expenditures on non-defense AI R & D , ” the report notes .
National Natural Science Foundation ( NSFC ) and National Key R & D Programs ( NKP ) are the only Chinese agencies that provide data on such financing , IDA noted .
“ Comprehensive data may not exist ” on such financing , the group noted after highlighting the opacity of China ’ s other funding arms .
NSFC and NKPS are responsible for 10 percent of the $ 60 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago , IDA noted .
“ The NSFC and the NKPs are responsible for only about 10 percent of the $ 60 billion that the Chinese central and local government expended on non-defense R & D in 2018 , ” the Virginia-based group argued .
The report added : “ We find it unlikely that the remaining 90 percent of China ’ s non-defense R & D portfolio can be analyzed at a similar fidelity as the 10 percent that we and CSET have investigated.
” IDA ’ s report comes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research .
President Donald Trump ’ s 2021 budget includes a proposal granting more than $ 850 million for AI research , marking a roughly 70 percent increase over the president ’ s 2020 budget .
Trump also wants to plow $ 25 million into so-called quantum computing , a super computer network designed to make intercepting digital information more difficult for bad actors .
“ It ’ s imperative that the U.S. continues to lead in technologies like AI , ” U.S. Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios told The Washington Post on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the Trump administration ’ s point-man on rebutting China ’ s perceived advantage in the tech field .
Kratsios added : “ We see others using artificial intelligence to track their people , to imprison ethnic minorities — this is something that does not align with American values.
” China is reportedly pioneering state-wide use of the kind of facial recognition technology that critics say violates human rights .
China ’ s tech titans are proposing new standards inside the United Nations ’ s International Telecommunication Union ( ITU ) for facial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surveillance , among other cutting edge tech developments , Financial Times reported in December .
Such standards allow China to grow out its global influence on AI .
The Chinese government , for instance , built and financed a $ 200 million complex holding the African Union ( AU ) in Ethiopia .
The building was completed and handed over to the Ethiopian government in January 2012 .
Media reports have since cast a negative light on China ’ s intentions .
France ’ s Le Monde published an investigation in January 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ servers based inside the AU ’ s headquarters were transferring data every night to unknown servers in Shanghai .
It was also reported at the time that microphones hidden in desks and walls were detected and removed during a sweep for bugs .
IDA has not responded to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment about the significance of its report .


freedomdaily--2020-02-13--Clearing Begins in Arizona for NEW Border Wall Construction on Monument Hill

– The construction contractor has begun controlled blasting , in preparation for new border wall system construction , within the Roosevelt Reservation at Monument Mountain in the U.S. Border Patrol ’ s Tucson Sector .
The controlled blasting is targeted and will continue intermittently for the rest of the month .
U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to have an environmental monitor present during these activities as well as on-going clearing activities .
As with all border barrier projects , CBP conducted biological , cultural , and natural resource surveys of all new border wall system projects currently being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area of Monument Mountain within the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument .
In addition , CBP has and will continue to coordinate with federal land managers , state agencies , local governments , tribal governments , and other interested stakeholders to obtain information about the possible presence of sensitive resources that may be within the project areas and to develop site-specific construction best management practices to be implemented by the contractor during construction activities that avoid or minimize impacts to resources to the great extent possible .
Based on the environmental surveys and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cultural , or historical sites were identified within the project area , which consists of the 60-foot wide swath of land that extends from the international border north and is known as the Roosevelt Reservation .
Recently the construction contractor began controlled blasting on Monument Hill within a 5-foot wide area of the Roosevelt Reservation that is immediately adjacent to the international border for the purpose of loosening rock in order to allow for the construction of a footer for the new border wall .
CBP ’ s environmental monitor is present during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously unidentified culturally sensitive artifacts are observed within the project area that construction is halted and the appropriate stakeholders are notified to include tribal nations .
In addition , the environmental monitor is present to ensure construction best management practices are being implemented by the construction contractor .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-13--President Donald Trump’s Schedule for Thursday, February 13, 2020

Topics in this post : Donald Trump The President ’ s Schedule President Donald Trump will participates in a meeting @ @ @ @ @ New York .
President Trump ’ s Itinerary for 2/13/20 – note : this page @ @ @ @ @ day if events warrant 3:00 PM Participate in a meeting with the Governor of New @ @ @ @ @ Content created by Conservative Daily News and some content syndicated through CDN is available for @ @ @ @ @ Creative Commons license .
Visit our syndication page for details and requirements .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-13--Minority patients benefit from having minority doctors, but that’s a hard match to make

In today ’ s America , minority patients still have markedly worse health outcomes than white patients .
The differences are greatest for black Americans : Compared to white patients , they are two to three times as likely to die of preventable heart disease and stroke .
They also have higher rates of cancer , asthma , influenza , pneumonia , diabetes , HIV/AIDS and homicide .
For many of them , structural racism and unequal treatment remain a contributing factor to disease and death .
I am a physician who studies health disparities and ways to improve health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of color , including those who are black and indigenous .
Improving health care delivery for these groups of people is a complicated and multi-layered task , but solutions exist .
One of them is to increase the probability that minorities see doctors of their race or ethnicity , which I refer to as patient-provider racial and ethnic concordance .
I have partnered with Prof. Edwin Lindo , a critical race theorist , to help explain why .
In the current workforce , diversity among physicians is limited .
That can lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during routine checkups .
Black patients , for instance , may feel more wary with a white doctor than a black doctor , and white doctors may feel less comfortable caring for minoritized patients .
Mounting evidence suggests when physicians and patients share the same race or ethnicity , this improves time spent together , medication adherence , shared decision-making , wait times for treatment , cholesterol screening , patient understanding of cancer risk , and patient perceptions of treatment decisions .
Not surprisingly , implicit bias from the physician is decreased .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Oakland , Calif. , with either black or non-black doctors .
The men seen by black physicians were more likely to engage with them , and even consent to preventive services like cardiovascular screenings and immunizations .
And , the study found that black doctors were more inclined to write detailed notes about their black patients .
Those men who had the least trust in the medical system – and the least exposure to it – benefited the most from racial/ethnic concordance .
The study estimates this approach could reduce the black-white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 % .
But what happened in Oakland is not going to happen anytime soon across the U.S. Based on the latest figures , white doctors make up 56 % of the physician workforce , with Asian doctors at 17 % .
Just under 6 % are Hispanic doctors .
Only 5 % are black doctors .
Yet by 2042 – just over 20 years away – the combined minority population is set to become the majority in the U.S. Based on those numbers , it will be difficult for the physician workforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future .
But given the benefits of a more diverse workforce , all educational and medical institutions – from grade school through completion of medical training – should invest in building a more diverse workforce .
In the meantime , there is another way to augment patient-provider racial/ethnic concordance : Increase the presence of minority providers who are part of a team-based model of care , including registered nurses , doulas , certified nurse midwives and nurse practitioners .
Another way to potentially improve care for minority patients is to better understand the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concordance , such as shared immigrant status , religion , LGBTQ+ status , socioeconomic background or disability .
Discordant patient-provider interactions can be improved by training more culturally and structurally competent doctors .
Since the health care workforce won ’ t reflect America ’ s true diversity anytime soon , here are a few tips to find a minority physician : Ask family or friends for recommendations .
Look for online photos posted by your health care provider , or request someone who speaks your native language .
Check out the new phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physicians and offers patient reviews of them .
Ayana matches users with licensed mental health therapists based not only on race and ethnicity but disability and LGBTQ+ status .
If seeing a doctor who ’ s your race or ethnicity isn ’ t an option , there are still ways you can advocate for yourself in health care settings : • Write down your doctor ’ s name .
Just knowing that can build rapport and increase accountability .
• If you need a language interpreter , request one .
• Bring family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that accompanying family and friends can serve as patient advocates and that their presence has a positive influence on building rapport and increasing patient participation according to doctors .
• Ask for a chaperone during physical exams .
Like an interpreter , a patient request for a chaperone is widely accepted in today ’ s health care system .
• Ask for and review documentation of your medical visit .
You will need it in case of medical error , or if your physician wrongfully refuses to offer an appropriate service or treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience with a doctor , say something .
Speak with a supervisor .
Do something : Join a patient advisory council .
Even giving feedback anonymously through a suggestion box helps .
That can be enough to give employers adequate grounds to act on racist or difficult physicians .
Positive feedback also helps ; minority physicians too are subject to discrimination .
• If you ’ re black and pregnant , create a birthing plan and surround yourself with the best possible team of health care providers .
The ultimate goal , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible health outcomes for everyone , regardless of the race or ethnicity of patients and doctors .
Minority patients should be able to trust their white physicians , and white physicians should be able to take equally good care of minoritized patients .
Minoritized physicians should not bear the burden of eliminating health disparities .
Until then ?
As long as structural racism exists within the health care industry , a minority patient should consider the benefits of a same-race or same-ethnicity doctor .
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The authors do not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-02-13--How did I get my own unique set of fingerprints?

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages .
If you have a question you ’ d like an expert to answer , send it to CuriousKidsUS @ theconversation.com .
Fingerprints are those little ridges on the tips of your fingers .
They ’ re essentially folds of the outer layer of skin , the epidermis .
The “ prints ” themselves are the patterns of skin oils or dirt these ridges leave behind on a surface you ’ ve touched .
Your fingerprints began to form before you were born .
When a fetus starts to grow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is smooth .
But after about 10 weeks , a deeper layer of skin , called the basal layer , starts growing faster than the layers above it , which makes it “ buckle ” and fold .
The expanding lower layer ends up scrunched and bunched beneath the outside layer .
These folds eventually cause the surface layers of the skin to fold too , and by the time a fetus is 17 weeks old – about halfway through a pregnancy – its fingerprints are set .
Although this folding process might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shape of fingerprints are influenced by the genes you get from your parents .
So you probably share some fingerprint patterns with your family members .
But the details of your fingerprints are influenced by many other factors besides genes .
For example , the shape and size of the blood vessels in your skin , how fast the different layers of skin are growing , and the chemical environment inside the womb all play a part .
No two people end up with exactly the same fingerprints , even identical twins .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ big long-term study showed that fingerprints are stable over a person ’ s lifetime .
The ridges of a fingerprint are visible on the skin ’ s surface layer , but the pattern is actually “ encoded ” below that .
Even if you have a major skin injury , your prints will come back when the outer layer heals – though you might have a scar , too .
So your fingerprints are totally unique to you and have been since before you were born .
No matter how much you change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll always have the set you have now , no matter how long you live .
Surprisingly , nobody really knows what fingerprints are for .
People have long thought that fingerprints provide the friction that helps our hands grip objects .
This makes sense because the other animals besides human beings that have fingerprints – including many other primates like apes and monkeys , and koalas – are all tree climbers .
But sometimes what makes sense isn ’ t true , and a recent study found that fingerprints don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least , not things with smooth surfaces .
Other possibilities are that fingerprints improve your sense of touch or help protect your fingers from injury .
But scientists don ’ t know for sure yet .
Making use of your prints Police have been using fingerprints and their unique loop , whorl and arch shapes to help catch criminals for more than 2,000 years , starting in ancient China .
Fingerprints are now used for many other things as well , all based on the fact that each person ’ s fingerprints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unique code to unlock your phone or enter a restricted area , for example .
In Malawi , fingerprints have been used to identify farmers who have taken out loans .
They can even be taken from babies and used throughout the person ’ s life to access their immunization records .
Police forces are still finding new uses for fingerprints , too .
As fingerprint detection and study methods have improved , detectives can even use them to see who threw a particular stone .
Those little ridges can hide tiny amounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be used to detect the use of illegal drugs like cocaine and heroin .
And now forensic scientists can detect decades-old fingerprints , too – maybe allowing detectives to solve really old crimes – with a new technique that uses a color-changing chemical to map the sweat glands within your fingerprints .
Hello , curious kids !
Do you have a question you ’ d like an expert to answer ?
Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS @ theconversation.com .
Please tell us your name , age and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curiosity has no age limit – adults , let us know what you ’ re wondering , too .
We won ’ t be able to answer every question , but we will do our best .
Sarah Leupen 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--2020-02-14--Natural supplements can be dangerously contaminated, or not even have the specified ingredients

More than two-thirds of Americans take dietary supplements .
The vast majority of consumers – 84 % – are confident the products are safe and effective .
They should not be so trusting .
I ’ m a professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Connecticut .
As described in my new article in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy , consumers take real risks if they use diet supplements not independently verified by reputable outside labs .
What are the risks ?
Heavy metals , which are known to cause cancer , dementia and brittle bones , contaminate many diet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revealed 5 % of them surpassed the safe daily consumption limit for arsenic .
Two percent had excess lead , cadmium and aluminum ; and 1 % had too much mercury .
In June 2019 , the Food and Drug Administration seized 300,000 dietary supplement bottles because their pills contained excessive lead levels .
Bacterial and fungal contamination in dietary supplements is not uncommon .
In one assessment , researchers found bacteria in all 138 products they investigated .
Toxic fungi were also in many of the supplements , and counts for numerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States Pharmacopeia .
Fungal contamination of diet supplements has been linked to serious liver , intestinal and appendix damage .
From 2017-18 , dozens were hospitalized with salmonella poisoning after ingesting kratom , a highly addictive natural opioid .
Thirty-seven of the kratom products studied were contaminated .
Some dietary supplements contain drugs , yet the manufacturers don ’ t disclose that information to consumers .
Frequently , the concealed drugs are experimental and , in some cases , removed from the market because they ’ re dangerous .
Hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adulterated with inferior or harmful substances .
Sometimes , the herb you think you ’ re buying contains little to no active ingredient .
Occasionally , another herb is substituted .
The consequences for consumers are considerable .
When manufacturers replaced the herb Stephania tetrandra with the herb Aristolochia fangchi in 2000 , more than 100 patients developed severe kidney damage ; 18 more got kidney or bladder cancer .
Although the herb is now banned by the U.S. , a 2014 investigation found Aristolochia fangchi in 20 % of the Chinese herbal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an assessment of CBD products , only 12.5 % of vaporization liquids , 25 % of tinctures and 45 % of oils contained the promised amount of CBD .
In most cases they held far less .
A few CBD products had enough THC to put the user in legal jeopardy of marijuana possession .
Embarrassed by a New York Attorney General ’ s Office investigation suggesting widespread and fraudulent under-dosing of active ingredients in dietary supplements , CVS pharmacies analyzed 1,400 products that it previously sold in its stores .
Seven percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , resulting in updates to the supplement facts panel or removal of the product from shelves .
What should consumers do ?
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 allows manufacturers to sell dietary supplements without providing proof of their quality to the FDA .
Instead , it ’ s up to the FDA to prove a product is unsafe and take it off the market .
That ’ s an incredibly tall order , and woefully inadequate .
But it ’ s unlikely to change .
In the meantime , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplements without verification from one of three highly regarded independent laboratories : the aforementioned United States Pharmacopeia , the National Science Foundation and ConsumerLabs.com .
The United States Pharmacopeia is an organization that sets reference and quality standards for prescription medication and food in the U.S. ; the National Science Foundation is a governmental scientific body that sponsors basic science research ; and ConsumerLabs.com is a company started to verify product quality for consumers that are paying members .
These laboratories conduct an initial analysis and then perform periodic unannounced assessments of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of active ingredient , and without contamination or adulteration , can put the United States Pharmacopeia , National Science Foundation and ConsumerLabs.com seals on their bottles .
CVS announced that all products sold at its stores going forward will need to provide the company proof of quality .
Other major retailers should follow suit .
Some manufacturers conduct quality testing and post certificates of analysis on their websites .
But the autonomy of the laboratory , and its standards , are often not known .
Sometimes , labs may select an inappropriate testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they perform the test incorrectly , or simply make up results .
Because the FDA can ’ t fully protect you from quality issues in dietary supplements – at least not right now – you must protect yourself .
Even if a celebrity or “ health guru ” recommends a product , that doesn ’ t mean it ’ s high-quality .
Before you put any supplement into your body , demand proof .
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C. Michael White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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--2020-02-14--Out-of-context photos are a powerful low-tech form of misinformation

When you think of visual misinformation , maybe you think of deepfakes – videos that appear real but have actually been created using powerful video editing algorithms .
The creators edit celebrities into pornographic movies , and they can put words into the mouths of people who never said them .
But the majority of visual misinformation that people are exposed to involves much simpler forms of deception .
One common technique involves recycling legitimate old photographs and videos and presenting them as evidence of recent events .
For example , Turning Point USA , a conservative group with over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a photo of a ransacked grocery store with the caption “ YUP !
# SocialismSucks.
” In reality , the empty supermarket shelves have nothing to do with socialism ; the photo was taken in Japan after a major earthquake in 2011 .
In another instance , after a global warming protest in London ’ s Hyde Park in 2019 , photos began circulating as proof that the protesters had left the area covered in trash .
In reality , some of the photos were from Mumbai , India , and others came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ park .
I ’ m a cognitive psychologist who studies how people learn correct and incorrect information from the world around them .
Psychological research demonstrates that these out-of-context photographs can be a particularly potent form of misinformation .
And unlike deepfakes , they are incredibly simple to create .
Out of context and incorrect Out-of-context photos are very common source of misinformation .
In the day after the January Iranian attack on U.S. military bases in Iraq , reporter Jane Lytvynenko at Buzzfeed documented numerous instances of old photos or videos being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media .
These included photos from a 2017 military strike by Iran in Syria , video of Russian training exercises from 2014 and even footage from a video game .
In fact , out of the 22 false rumors documented in the article , 12 involve this kind of out-of-context photos or video .
This form of misinformation can be particularly dangerous because images are a powerful tool for swaying popular opinion and promoting false beliefs .
Psychological research has shown that people are more likely to believe true and false trivia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaf , ” when they ’ re presented alongside an image .
In addition , people are more likely to claim they ’ ve previously seen freshly made-up headlines when they ’ re accompanied by a photograph .
Photos also increase the numbers of likes and shares that a post receives in a simulated social media environment , along with people ’ s beliefs that the post is true .
And pictures can alter what people remember from the news .
In an experiment , one group of people read a news article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a village after the storm .
They were more likely to falsely remember that there were deaths and serious injuries compared to people who instead saw a photo of the village before the hurricane strike .
This suggests that the false pictures of the Jan. 2020 Iranian attack may have affected people ’ s memory for details of the event .
There are a number of reasons photographs likely increase your belief in statements .
First , you ’ re used to photographs being used for photojournalism and serving as proof that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a photograph can help you more quickly retrieve related information from memory .
People tend to use this ease of retrieval as a signal that information is true .
Photographs also make it more easy to imagine an event happening , which can make it feel more true .
Finally , pictures simply capture your attention .
A 2015 study by Adobe found that posts that included images received more than three times the Facebook interactions than posts with just text .
Adding info so you know what you ’ re seeing Journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on this problem .
Recently , the News Provenance Project , a collaboration between The New York Times and IBM , released a proof-of-concept strategy for how images could be labeled to include more information about their age , location where taken and original publisher .
This simple check could help prevent old images from being used to support false information about recent events .
In addition , social media companies such as Facebook , Reddit and Twitter could begin to label photographs with information about when they were first published on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are implemented , though , readers are left on their own .
One of the best techniques to protect yourself from misinformation , especially during a breaking news event , is to use a reverse image search .
From the Google Chrome browser , it ’ s as simple as right-clicking on a photograph and choosing “ Search Google for image.
” You ’ ll then see a list of all the other places that photograph has appeared online .
As consumers and users of social media , we have a responsibility for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and informative .
By keeping an eye out for out-of-context photographs , you can help keep misinformation in check .
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Lisa Fazio has received funding from Facebook and the Knight Foundation for her research on misinformation .


freedomdaily--2020-02-14--Lindsey Graham Releases FISA Witness Wish List

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham on Friday identified 17 FBI and Justice Department employees he wants to interview regarding the FBI ’ s surveillance abuses against former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page .
In a letter to Attorney General William Barr , Graham identified several FBI agents who helped put together applications for surveillance warrants submitted to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court ( FISC ) in order to spy on Page .
The agents are not identified by name .
Instead , Graham refers to them by titles they are given in the Dec. 9 Justice Department inspector general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the FBI misled the FISC in order to obtain warrants against Page .
Included on the list are Case Agent 1 , Case Agent 2 , Case Agent 3 , Supervisory Agent 1 , Supervisory Agent 2 , Supervisory Agent 3 , and several other agents discussed in the IG report .
The IG report was particularly harsh towards Case Agent 1 , who played a key role in several aspects of the Trump-Russia probe .
“ Case Agent 1 was primarily responsible for some of the most significant errors and omissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IG report said .
The agent , who worked out of the New York field office , drafted the initial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) applications against Page .
He was also the FBI handler for Stefan Halper , a Cambridge professor who worked as a confidential human source for the bureau during Crossfire Hurricane .
Halper secretly recorded Page and Trump aide George Papadopoulos as part of the investigation .
The IG report faulted FBI agents for failing to disclose exculpatory information gathered from Halper during those meetings .
Case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interviews with the main source for former British spy Christopher Steele .
The FBI extensively cited information from Steele in its FISA applications to make the case that Page was a covert Russian agent .
The IG report said that the FBI failed to corroborate those allegations before using information from Steele , who was working at the time for the DNC and Clinton campaign .
The Steele source told the FBI that the ex-spy misrepresented or embellished information attributed to him in the dossier .
The IG report said that the FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final two FISA applications .
In his letter Friday , Graham said he wants to interview Bruce Ohr , the Justice Department official who served as a back channel between the FBI and Steele .
Graham also wants to talk to Dana Boente , who currently serves as FBI general counsel .
Boente signed one of the four Page warrants when he served as acting attorney general at the Justice Department in 2017 .
Graham also said in the letter that the committee will soon begin contacting former FBI and Justice Department officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Carolina Republican has said that he wants to hold hearings for former FBI Director James Comey , former FBI Acting Director Andrew McCabe , and former Deputy Attorney Generals Sally Yates and Rod Rosenstein to ask about their roles in approving surveillance warrants against Page .
Graham ’ s wish list also includes an FBI staff operations specialist , a unit chief in the FBI ’ s office of general counsel , an intelligence section chief , and a deputy section chief in the Justice Department ’ s national security division .


freedomdaily--2020-02-14--Bloomberg Rises To Top, Biden Plummets In Florida Poll

Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg has risen to the top of a new Florida poll , the latest sign that his Super Tuesday strategy and extravagant campaign spending is proving effective .
Bloomberg is polling at 27.3 % in Florida , according to a St. Pete Polls survey released Thursday , putting him above all other Democratic contenders for the party ’ s presidential nomination .
Former Vice President Joe Biden came in second at 25.9 % , and former South Bend , Indian , Mayor Pete Buttigieg barely etched out Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , with the candidates polling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respectively .
As for the bottom-tier candidates , Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar came in fifth place with 8.6 % , Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren followed after with 4.8 % , and lastly was hedge fund billionaire Tom Steyer with 1.3 % .
There appeared to be much room for change , however , with over 11 % of respondents saying they were still undecided .
The St. Pete Polls reached out to a total of 3,047 likely Florida Democratic primary voters via telephone between Feb. 12 and 13 .
The survey has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and touts a “ 95 % confidence level.
” The new poll numbers are welcome news for the Bloomberg campaign , which has run an unorthodox campaign of largely ignoring the early primary states in favor of focusing on the many states that head to the voting booth for Super Tuesday and beyond .
Fourteen states will go vote on March 3 , where the former New York City mayor has spent enormous amounts of money on advertising and a campaign apparatus .
As for Florida , Democrats in the Sunshine State won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , on March 17 , but Bloomberg ’ s rising poll numbers demonstrate how his campaign is investing in a long-term campaign run .
Bloomberg , who is worth an estimated $ 60 billion , has spent tens of millions on advertising in Florida alone since he entered the race just several months ago .
The new survey also reveals how much Biden ’ s campaign has faltered .
Once the undisputed frontrunner , the former vice president has sunk nationally and in state polls .
He came in fourth place in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place in New Hampshire primary .
His current status at 25.9 % in Florida is a sharp fall from where he stood just a month ago .
A St. Pete Polls taken in January had Biden leading the pack at 41.3 % .


freedomdaily--2020-02-14--Report: DOJ Will Not Charge Andrew McCabe

Federal prosecutors will not charge former FBI Director Andrew McCabe with making false statements to the FBI , according to a new report .
The Washington Post , citing sources familiar with the investigation , reports that Justice Department officials will soon reveal that charges will not be brought against McCabe , who now works as a CNN analyst .
Prosecutors in Washington , D.C. opened an investigation against McCabe in 2018 after the Justice Department ’ s Office of the Inspector General referred the former FBI # 2 for prosecution for lying to FBI and Justice Department investigators on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in authorizing leaks to the media in October 2016 regarding an investigation into the Clinton Foundation .
The FBI fired McCabe on March 16 , 2018 upon the recommendation of the bureau ’ s Office of Professional Responsibility .
McCabe has denied lying to investigators .
He has also sued the FBI and Justice Department , claiming he was illegally fired due to pressure from President Trump .
Prosecutors have quietly pursued a case against McCabe , including through the use of a grand jury .
The development on the McCabe saga comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case being handled by Washington , D.C. prosecutors .
That office recommended on Monday that Trump confidant Roger Stone receive up to nine years in prison on charges that he made false statements to Congress and tampered with a witness .
Trump called the recommendation “ disgraceful ” and a “ miscarriage of justice.
” Prosecutors revised the recommendation on Tuesday , saying that Stone deserved “ far less ” jail time than the initial proposal .
The same office is handling the case of former national security advisor Michael Flynn , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to making false statements to the FBI during a White House meeting on Jan. 24 , 2017 .
Flynn has recently tried to withdraw his guilty plea and now says that he never lied in the White House interview .
The Flynn case has sparked conservatives ’ ire in part because of McCabe ’ s involvement in the matter .
McCabe arranged the White House interview with Flynn .
Peter Strzok , the now-disgraced former FBI counterintelligence official , took part in the interview .
Documents from Flynn ’ s case show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House meeting and suggested that he did not need a lawyer present for the interview .
Flynn accepted the request and spoke with Strzok and another FBI agent about conversations he had a month earlier with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak .


freedomdaily--2020-02-14--ICE Slaps Another ‘Sanctuary’ State With Subpoenas In Bid To Force Cooperation

Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) issued three subpoenas with the state of Connecticut on Thursday , demanding information on criminal illegal aliens whom local officials refused to hand over and instead released back into the community .
ICE on Thursday subpoenaed the State of Connecticut Court Support Services Division for information on three foreign nationals — of all them convicted criminals living in the U.S. illegally — who were arrested , but subsequently released because of state laws that prohibit cooperation with the agency .
At first a novel action , subpoenas are becoming a more common action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with “ sanctuary ” jurisdictions .
“ It ’ s unfortunate that elected officials in Connecticut seem unable to grasp the public safety threat posed by the criminal illegal aliens these officials are attempting to shield , ” Todd Lyons , the acting field office director of ICE ’ s Boston office , said in a statement released Thursday .
“ These are the same criminals who ’ ve already been arrested for crimes by state and/or local law enforcement , often perpetrated against the very immigrant communities these officials claim to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ sanctuary-for-criminal-aliens ’ policies , ICE will continue to use all available legal tools to safeguard the public.
” While ICE did not disclose the identity of the individuals , the agency did describe their criminal background and how they benefited from Connecticut ’ s “ sanctuary ” policies .
A 31-year-old Honduran national , living illegally in the U.S. was convicted of second degree manslaughter following a hit-and-run incident in 2016 in the state .
The individual was released in January 2020 by the State of Connecticut Department of Corrections , despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a final order of removal by an immigration judge .
A 20-year-old Guatemalan national living in the country illegally was arrested in the state and convicted of third degree burglary and second-degree robbery charges in October 2019 .
Despite ICE lodging a detainer against him , the Connecticut Department of Corrections released him in January 2020 .
The final individual , a 21-year-old Dominican national living unlawfully in the U.S. , was convicted of two counts of possession of narcotics with intent to sell .
Like the other aforementioned people , the Dominican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Corrections despite an ICE detainer for him .
All three of these individuals remain at large , and the agency is actively working to locate and apprehend them .
ICE said these illegal aliens pose a threat to the public , and directly accused Connecticut ’ s “ deliberate policy of proving sanctuary fo criminal illegal aliens ” for the situation .
It remains to be seen if Connecticut will honor the subpoenas .
When contacted by the Daily Caller News Foundation , a spokeswoman for the state ’ s court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ICE ’ s requests have been forwarded to their “ Legal Services unit for review.
” When asked about the state ’ s position on cooperation with federal immigration authorities , Hebert pointed to the state ’ s Trust Act — a law that forbids officials from honoring an immigration detainer unless it comes with a judicial warrant .
Leaders of “ sanctuary ” localities and states have increasingly demanded a judicial warrant for detainers , but ICE and immigration experts have repeatedly said that it is not needed and that judicial warrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ exist ” in the case for detainers .
ICE issues administrative warrants for detainers , and the agency argues that the Immigration and Nationality Act gives them the authority to execute these administrative warrants .
The subpoenas mark an intensification of the fight between federal immigration authorities and the jurisdictions that are refusing to cooperate with them .
ICE subpoenaed Denver authorities in January for information on wanted illegal aliens , the first instance of the agency issuing subpoenas to a law enforcement entity .
Since that time , ICE has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ sanctuary ” city , with subpoenas .
The action is becoming a common practice for the agency in the wake of more jurisdictions refusing to honor their detainer requests .
Much like their position on detainers , ICE says these subpoenas are completely lawful actions .
“ ICE has not historically needed to use its lawful authority to issue these subpoenas to obtain information from other law enforcement agencies as most law enforcement agencies throughout the country willingly provide ICE with information regarding aliens arrested for crimes in the interest of public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


freedomdaily--2020-02-14--Pentagon Shifts $3.8 Billion to Support Border Wall Construction

Topics in this post : The Border Wall the Department of Defense The Trump administration announced that it is reallocating $ 3.8 billion in weapons programs to support construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall , upsetting lawmakers who argue the White House is sidestepping their authority .
In a notice delivered to Congress on Thursday , the Pentagon announced it is shifting $ 2.2 billion from its base fiscal 2020 budget and $ 1.6 billion from the Overseas Contingency Operations war fund .
The funds will be transferred to the Department of Defense ’ s counter-drug fund , which will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Department of Homeland Security “ has identified areas along the southern border of the United States that are being used by individuals , groups , and transnational criminal organizations as drug smuggling corridors , and determined that the construction of additional physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the United States border is necessary in order to impede and deny drug smuggling activities , ” read the notice to Congress , according to The Hill .
This is not the first time the administration has chosen to use executive authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , largely due to Democratic lawmakers opposition to immigration enforcement funding .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-14--Biological Male to Compete in USA Women’s Olympic Trials

A biologically male marathon runner who identifies as a transgender woman is set to compete in the USA Olympic trials later this month .
Megan Youngren “ is set to make history on Feb. 29 as the first openly transgender athlete to compete at the U.S. Olympic marathon trials , ” Sports Illustrated reported .
Youngren qualified for the trials after a strong performance Dec. 8 in the California International Marathon .
“ People will try to put it down by saying , ‘ That ’ s too easy because you ’ re trans.
’ But what about the 500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s probably someone with the exact same story .
I trained hard .
I got lucky .
I dodged injuries .
I raced a lot , and it worked out for me .
That ’ s the story for a lot of other people , too , ” Youngren told the magazine .
The International Olympic Committee requires transgender athletes in women ’ s sports to keep their testosterone levels below a certain threshold , but scientific research suggests that suppressing testosterone isn ’ t enough to neutralize male athletes ’ inherent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest biologically male athlete to achieve success in female athletics while identifying as a transgender woman .
June Eastwood , a biologically male runner at the University of Montana who identifies as transgender , was named the Big Sky Conference ’ s female athlete of the week in October .
Eastwood previously competed on the university ’ s men ’ s cross country team .
Franklin Pierce University runner CeCe Telfer won an NCAA DII women ’ s track championship last May .
Like Eastwood , Telfer previously competed on the men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two biologically male runners have dominated girls ’ high school track in Connecticut , leading three of their female competitors to file a lawsuit against the athletic conference .
Former U.S. Olympic athlete Rebecca Dussault told the Daily Caller News Foundation in September that allowing biological males into female sports will have disastrous effects on female athletes .
“ Once a male body has gone through puberty , they have received the benefits .
So the skeletal form , lung capacity , muscle density , the greater length of levers in their body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deal with dehydration much better , narrower hips , I mean you name it — they are physiologically designed differently than women , ” she said .
“ We invest so much money into keeping sports fair , and this blows the cap off of it , ” she added .
“ Every woman ’ s record in sports will fall .
”


freedomdaily--2020-02-14--Border Patrol Captures 26 Illegal Aliens Hidden Inside a Tractor-Trailer

El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint arrested a man suspected of smuggling 26 illegal aliens Wednesday evening .
The incident occurred at approximately 9:40 p.m. when a man drove a tractor-trailer to the checkpoint .
During primary inspection , Border Patrol agents conducted an immigration check on the driver .
During the inspection , a Border Patrol canine detection team alerted to the rear cargo area of the trailer .
The driver and was referred to secondary for further inspection .
Border Patrol agents inspected the cargo area of the truck and discovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trailer .
The immigrants were locked inside the trailer with no safety restraints and with no way to extricate themselves from the inside .
Agents safely removed all the occupants .
The 32-year-old truck driver presented a California driver ’ s license as his own .
However , that document was later determined to be an imposter document .
The driver was determined to be a Mexican national illegally present in the United States .
The driver and all 26 undocumented immigrants , which include one male and one female juvenile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undocumented immigrants were locked and trapped inside this tracker-trailer in below 45-degree weather with no safety restraints , ” said Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez .
“ This smuggling organization had no regard for the safety of the people they were smuggling .
Fortunately , our agents were able to remove them from that potentially life-threatening situation.
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freedomdaily--2020-02-14--Incomplete and inadequate: Information lacking for seniors looking for assisted living

As of today , the youngest of the nearly 70 million baby boomers is 55 ; the oldest is 74 .
Within the next decade , millions of them will need long-term care .
Many will remain in their homes , with family or “ drop-in ” caregiver services lending a hand .
Some will move in with relatives .
Those who are most dependent on care might choose nursing homes .
A diverse and expanding older population is looking for help .
For more than a decade , “ assisted living ” residences grew faster than any other segment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more home-like than a full-care nursing facility , assisted living is often favored by people who are generally independent , but still need support with daily activities .
In general , providers offer fewer medical services , though many provide health and memory care for residents with Alzheimer ’ s disease and other types of dementia .
We and our colleagues track the ever-changing circumstances of long-term care in the U.S. As we study policies and practices , we have observed that the expansion of assisted living is clearly a game-changer , creating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states have increased assisted living regulation in recent years .
Some consumer advocates have called for nursing-home style federal rules , though others oppose this , saying assisted living should remain flexible enough to serve residents with a range of needs , from personal care only to end-of-life comfort .
To better understand how consumers make choices when shopping for an assisted living residence , we conducted an examination of health service websites in every state .
Our goal : to find out how much information the states provide to the public about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which are regulated by the federal government , the states oversee assisted living ; they define what constitutes an assisted living residence , establish licensing requirements , and set quality standards .
Data from the states on assisted living is provided free to the public .
All licensed residences are listed .
While private search services might help consumers sort through options , it ’ s not clear how complete – or objective – they are .
Some services exist primarily for marketing purposes ; they collect fees from the residences they list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , along with information provided by some states , we examined 39 key elements of each website .
Those elements included the size of the facility , cost , license status , the insurance it accepts , and any special services offered , such as memory care .
We also looked at each website ’ s usability – the ease in finding critical information .
Another group of researchers conducted a similar study in 2005 .
In some areas , our findings showed notable improvement .
In the earlier study , only about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of state-required quality inspections .
We found 70 % now post them .
Substantial gaps remain , however .
Only about one-fourth of states divulged the type of payment accepted by their residences .
Although assisted living costs vary considerably from place to place , only two states disclosed what a customer would be charged .
Knowing the accessibility of care personnel is critical , but again , just two states had any data about the availability of staff .
More than two-thirds of states didn ’ t say whether their residences offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to understand ; many people with Alzheimer ’ s or dementia prefer assisted living over nursing homes .
In those states where details were given , the facts were disconcerting : More than 20 % of older Floridians live in rural counties with no access to memory care .
Overall , the websites were not user-friendly .
Although most of the basics were relatively easy to find , extensive searching was required for details about individual residences .
Sometimes , it wasn ’ t even clear which state agency was responsible for assisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bright spots , mostly in states with significant elderly populations : California listed inspection updates .
Florida itemized activities offered in each residence .
Arizona posted plain-language summaries of inspection results , even cataloging the fines levied on the facilities for regulatory breaches .
But commendable practices were exceptions .
At a minimum , more specifics are needed on quality , costs and essential services like memory care .
And all state websites should provide inspection results , including details about fines or penalties .
Granted , improving the information on the websites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some states , for instance , conduct inspections only once every two years ; this limits the availability of new inspection reports .
A minority of states impose specific staffing regulations , which explains the lack of staffing data available .
But more and more people are choosing assisted living .
The government is now funding many residences to provide care for low-income disabled citizens .
Their needs – and vulnerability – are significant , enough for states to reassess their roles in protecting assisted living residents .
Adding accurate and detailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great first step .
True , the state websites are better than they were 15 years ago .
But they are less than what they should be .
Many of the elderly , the disabled , and the families who love them require more to make appropriate choices .
When navigating the internet , the principle of “ buyer beware ” should not be the driver .
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Kathryn Hyer receives funding from National institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitalization , mortality , and need for nursing home care 30 and 90-days after exposure to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma .
I have been the Principal Investigator on a contract with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs to certify Dementia Trainers and Dementia Curriculum as meeting the States requirements .
Assisted Living is part of the contract .
I serve on the following advisory boards/ committees that include assisted living : Bon Secours Health Quality committee , the Florida Health Care Association emergency preparedness committee , and Empath Health Hospice board and PACE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for these providers .
I am the Core Trainer for a USF assisted living core course that is offered through USF ’ s continuing medical education program and a USF for-credit course that includes the assisted living core training material .
I am compensated for teaching as part of my assignment of duties .
Lindsay J. Peterson 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--2020-02-16--McCabe’s Leak Denials Cast Suspicion On His Loyal Aide, Lisa Page

Andrew McCabe ’ s denials to his FBI colleagues that he was behind a media leak related to the Clinton Foundation investigation in October 2016 cast suspicion on his loyal aide , Lisa Page , former FBI Director James Comey said in an interview with the Justice Department ’ s inspector general .
In a Nov. 15 , 2017 interview , Comey said that McCabe denied to him that he was involved in a leak for an Oct. 30 , 2016 story in the Wall Street Journal that disclosed the existence of an investigation into the Clinton Foundation .
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s chief of staff , James Rybicki , came to suspect that Page , McCabe ’ s general counsel , may have revealed the information for the story .
“ I actually didn ’ t suspect Andy , ” Comey said in the interview .
“ After conversations with Rybicki my worry was is his aide doing it , ” he added , referring to Page .
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington obtained the transcript of Comey ’ s interview last month , but it has not been reported in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday closed an investigation of McCabe .
Prosecutors in Washington , D.C. were weighing whether to charge McCabe with making false statements to FBI investigators and the Justice Department ’ s office of the inspector general ( IG ) regarding his role in authorizing Page to speak with a reporter from The Journal .
The IG found that McCabe displayed a “ lack of candor ” four times by denying any role in the leak .
Page congratulated her former boss in a Twitter post on Friday after the Justice Department closed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details of the investigation to Devlin Barrett , a reporter who worked for The Journal .
Days earlier , Barrett published a negative story about contributions that a Clinton ally gave to the state senate campaign for McCabe ’ s wife .
Barrett ’ s second story revealed the existence of an investigation of the Clinton Foundation .
It also portrayed McCabe as battling with the Justice Department to try to keep the investigation going .
The story revealed that McCabe had a heated conversation on Aug. 12 , 2016 with Justice Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FBI to back off of the probe .
Prosecutors investigated whether McCabe made false statements to FBI and Justice Department officials regarding his authorization of a leak to The Wall Street Journal .
Comey told the IG that he considered the story a problem because it would make the Justice Department “ furious.
” He also said that Rybicki suspected that Page was the sole leaker .
“ I think Rybicki came in or called me when this appeared and said this is really bad .
DOJ is going to be furious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m really worried Lisa Page went off the reservation or something here , ” Comey recalled Rybicki saying .
Comey also appeared to embrace the theory because of McCabe ’ s repeated denials that he was involved in the story .
“ I don ’ t remember except that I have a strong impression that he conveyed to me , it wasn ’ t me boss , ” Comey said of McCabe , who was fired from the FBI on March 16 , 2018 .
He paraphrased McCabe saying “ I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the media , ” and “ why would people talk about this kind of thing ?
” Besides an initial denial that he was involved in the leak , McCabe did not tell Comey of his involvement even after the FBI chief asked him to pull phone and email records for FBI employees in order to snuff out the leaker .
Comey said that when he discussed the issue with McCabe , the deputy mentioned that there were a large number of contacts between FBI agents in New York and members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bugged ” him that there were stories in the media about the Clinton Foundation probe .
“ I want to find who is making disclosures and nail them to the wall and so see if we can do it internally , ” Comey said .
“ And then I remember Andy periodically telling me , we were pulling phone records , we were pulling text records to see if we could figure out what was going on and “ I remember him telling me that we were finding a disturbing number of contacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and media figures , not that executives can ’ t talk to media figures , but a concerning number of contacts , ” said Comey .
Comey also suggested in his interview that Page was overly loyal to McCabe , even to the detriment of the FBI .
He described deliberations with McCabe about possible recusing himself from Clinton-related matters because of Devlin Barrett ’ s initial news story about contributions to his wife ’ s political campaign .
Comey said that McCabe was “ very unhappy ” at the suggestion that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also opposed to the idea , so much so that she raised the issue with Rybicki .
Comey said he had a “ strong reaction ” when Rybicki told him that Page disagreed with the decision to have McCabe removed from Clinton investigations .
“ Lisa ’ s client is the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States .
Our client is not Andy McCabe and she you know , you want me to do it or you do it , but someone ’ s got to make that clear to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should never be before me advocating for Andy McCabe , ” Comey said .


freedomdaily--2020-02-16--First Coronavirus Death In Europe Confirmed, Death Toll At 1,666

The first coronavirus death in Europe happened in Paris on Friday , French health officials confirmed .
That brings the death toll internationally to 1,666 as the highly contagious illness continues to spread .
The patient in France was an 80-year-old Chinese tourist from Hubei , the epicenter of coronavirus , French health minister Agnès Buzyn said Saturday .
He had been in the hospital for weeks prior to his death , according to The New York Times .
There were 11 other cases of the virus in France , including the Chinese tourist ’ s daughter .
Seven patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four have been discharged , according to TheNYT , citing health officials .
Cases of coronavirus around the world approached 69,000 by press time Saturday .
Symptoms of the illness include coughing , fever , shortness of breath , and tightness in the chest .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the 15th case of coronavirus in the United States on Thursday .
The patient was under a federal quarantine at JBSA-Lackland in Texas for observation and treatment .
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freedomdaily--2020-02-16--‘Forced To Make At-Large Arrests’: Trump Admin Deploying Border Patrol Tactical Units To Sanctuary C

‘Forced To Make At-Large Arrests’: Trump Admin Deploying Border Patrol Tactical Units To Sanctuary Cities Across The Country

The Trump administration is deploying an elite unit of the Border Patrol , including 100 Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) officers , to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) apprehend illegal aliens in sanctuary cities .
Members of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit ( BORTAC ) will be helping ICE officers arrest illegal aliens living at large in sanctuary cities , a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection , Lawrence Payne , confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation on Saturday .
BORTAC officers — considered the SWAT team of the Border Patrol — are specially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations against violent targets .
BORTAC isn ’ t the only special unit being deployed across the country .
In total , 50 Border Patrol agents and 50 Office of Field Operations officers are part of Customs and Border Patrol ’ s ( CBP ) deployment .
These 100 individuals come from a slate of different areas within CBP , not just BORTAC .
The New York Times first reported on the administration ’ s decision to deploy CBP officers to sanctuary cities .
These Border Patrol teams will operate in sanctuary cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be tasked with backing up ICE agents during deportation operations and routine immigration arrests .
The Department of Homeland ( DHS ) argued that , with so many ICE agents reassigned to the U.S.-Mexico border amid the immigration crisis , their operations were stretched thin in the interior of the country .
“ With 5,300 [ Enforcement and Removal Operations ] law enforcement officers — some of whom were detailed to the border — ICE does not have sufficient resources to effectively manage the sustained increase in non-detained cases which is exacerbated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CBP agents and officers who are being detailed to help ICE come from a number of different sectors and job positions , ” read a DHS statement provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation .
“ While some of them are trained in tactical operations , that is one of the many areas of training .
These officers have also been trained in routine immigration enforcement actions which is what they have been asked to do , ” the statement continued .
The decision to deploy these special units comes as the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ localities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities .
The White House has in the past refused federal funds to such sanctuary cities , and President Donald Trump used his latest State of the Union address to specifically call out sanctuary cities , inviting as his guest the brother of man slain by an illegal alien who was wanted by ICE .
Matthew Albence , the acting director of ICE , has repeatedly spoken on the dangerous consequences when local governments refuse to work with his agency .
“ As we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are not allowed to assume custody of aliens from jails , our officers are forced to make at-large arrests of criminal aliens who have been released into communities , ” Albence said in a statement .
He added : “ When sanctuary cities release these criminals back to the street , it increases the occurrence of preventable crimes , and more importantly , preventable victims.
” Under most sanctuary policies , local law enforcement is forbidden from honoring ICE detainers .
When an illegal alien is placed under their custody for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the local jurisdiction an immigration detainer , requesting that the individual be detained long enough for an ICE agent to arrive and make an apprehension .
Such an arrest — done in a controlled environment where the alien is already under custody — makes it safer for all parties involved .
However , sanctuary jurisdictions simply ignore these detainers and , if the individual is able to make bail , is released back into the community .
Arresting illegal aliens at large in a community can be much more dangerous — especially when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an increasing number of jurisdictions that are refusing to help them take criminal illegal aliens off the streets , ICE leadership has asked for additional help from CBP , the parent agency of Border Patrol .
These specially trained officers are expected to be deployed in a number of liberal enclaves , such as Chicago , New York City , Atlanta , San Francisco , Houston , Los Angeles , Boston , New Orleans , Newark , and New Orleans .
The Department of Homeland Security said these officers are fully equipped to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All CBP officers and agents are FLETC-trained , just like ICE , and are more than capable of helping ICE fulfill their mission , ” DHS said , referring to Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers ( FLETC ) .


freedomdaily--2020-02-18--Not Good: Hunter Biden Involved in Lobbying  Obama Admin for Ukraine Money

Hunter Biden was on the board of a trade coalition that lobbied the Obama administration in 2014 on foreign assistance to Ukraine , and appears to have set up a State Department meeting for the group ’ s president .
Biden ’ s links to the U.S .
Global Leadership Coalition ( USGLC ) and its affiliate , the Center for U.S .
Global Leadership , have gone largely unreported in the coverage of his various business dealings , which have caused a headache for his father as he runs for president .
The Bidens have been dogged by allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his last name .
Similar allegations have followed organizations like Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma Holdings , which brought Hunter Biden on as a director in April 2014 , despite his having no experience in the energy industry .
USGLC , which lobbies and advocates for increased spending in the State Department ’ s International Affairs Budget , added a series of Ukraine-related bills to its lobbying portfolio at around the same time , lobbying disclosures show .
Biden ’ s private equity firm , Rosemont Seneca , was by far the smallest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USGLC or the Center for U.S .
Global Leadership .
Other directors have included executives and lobbyists from from Caterpillar , Cargill , Walmart , Intel , Chevron , and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce .
Think tanks such as the Bipartisan Policy Center and the American Enterprise Institute are represented on the group ’ s boards , as are officials with well-known NGOs like Save the Children and CARE , the anti-poverty group .
But what Rosemont Seneca lacked in terms of assets and name recognition it made up for in access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with Joe Biden being at the top of the list .
Beyond that valuable connection , Hunter Biden ’ s partner Devon Archer was a former adviser on Obama Sec .
of State John Kerry ’ s 2004 presidential campaign .
A third partner , Christopher Heinz , is Kerry ’ s son-in-law .
The value of those political connections was highlighted in text messages cited in an unrelated criminal case against Archer .
“ Hunter Biden works for [ Archer ] .
So we ’ ve got the top level politicos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is as top tier as it gets , ” a businessman named Bevan Cooney wrote in text messages released in Archer ’ s case .
“ You don ’ t get more politically connected and make people more comfortable than that.
” Hunter Biden has publicly referred to himself as a member of USGLC ’ s board , though he was technically a director of the Center for U.S .
Global Leadership .
Tax filings show that Biden was on the center ’ s board from 2012 through 2018 .
In 2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden joined the board of Burisma Holdings .
The company , owned by Mykola Zlochevsky , who served as minister of natural resources under former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych , paid Rosemont Seneca , Biden ’ s firm , more than $ 80,000 a month , according to publicly available records .
That partnership raised some eyebrows at the time because of Joe Biden ’ s role as the Obama administration ’ s main point man on Ukraine issues .
Like many Ukrainian firms , especially those in the energy business , Burisma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s link to the company was seen as undermining his father ’ s anti-corruption initiatives .
As part of his Ukraine initiative , Joe Biden pushed for increased aid to the former Soviet republic in the wake of its overthrow in February 2014 of Yanukovych , the Ukrainian president .
But in 2016 , he would threaten to withhold $ 1 billion in loan assistance to Ukraine that was made available through some of the very same legislation for which USGLC and some of its business partners lobbied .
USGLC also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s ouster .
The group , which advocates and lobbies for increased spending in the State Department ’ s International Affairs Budget , added Ukraine to its portfolio of lobbying issues in April 2014 , according to lobbying disclosure form filed with Congress .
USGLC is not well known outside of Washington , D.C .
Founded in the mid-1990s , the coalition is made up of more than 400 major corporations and non-government organizations ( NGOs ) , a mix that has earned the group the nickname the “ strange bedfellows coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a political scientist with the German Development Institute , wrote in “ The Domestic Politics of Foreign Aid , ” that USGLC formed in response to “ dramatic budgetary cutbacks affecting aid spending.
” “ The goal of the founders of the USGLC was to build a coalition capable of conducting professional lobbying to stave off further spending reductions and to advocate funding increases , ” Lundsgaarde wrote .
The group engages in standard lobbying — Congress , the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID ) are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events that allow members to rub shoulders with policymakers , diplomats , and other corporate executives .
One of those events was held in Washington on Dec. 13 , 2013 to honor Joe Biden for his advocacy for increased international spending .
Marillyn Hewson , the CEO of Lockheed Martin , the defense and aerospace giant , introduced Hunter Biden to in turn introduce his father as the honoree of the event .
During her remarks , Hewson spoke of using the coalition formed by USGLC to improve conditions in impoverished countries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial benefits for USGLC ’ s corporate partners of increased international aid spending .
“ For Lockheed Martin and the hundreds of business that are gathered here tonight , there is simply no choice about whether to be engaged in important global issues , ” Hewson said .
“ Today , 95 percent of the world ’ s consumer ’ s live outside of the U.S. and over half of our exports already go to over a half of the developing world , a number that ’ s only going to grow .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to our future.
” Hewson then introduced Hunter Biden , touting his “ strong relationship with our organization , and more importantly , a very special relationship with our honoree.
” Biden introduced himself at the event as a board member of USGLC rather than the Center for U.S .
Global Leadership .
“ USGLC is an important organization , and I am very proud to serve on their board , ” he said .
During his speech , Joe Biden offered a full-throated defense of increases to the international aid budget ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USGLC ’ s initiative .
Biden also praised Raj Shah , the then-administrator of USAID who shares the name of a former Trump White House official , as “ one hell of an effective guy.
” He said how he had recently talked to Yanukovych and urged him to negotiate with opposition parties , and set foot on a path to democracy .
“ We hope he leads his country back to its European future , but he needs help because it ’ s in the fundamental interests of the United States that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The door is open but the Ukrainian people have to know that America stands with them on the side of universal rights , democratic principles and economic assistance.
” He also mentioned Elizabeth Schrayer , the president and CEO of USGLC and the Center .
“ Liz , we ’ ve worked a lot together on foreign policy and other iterations , as well as here , ” he said .
While Schrayer is deeply connected in Washington in her own right , Hunter Biden appears to also have helped her obtain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sorry for the late thank you — appreciate you taking the meeting with Liz last week , ” Hunter Biden wrote in an email on March 15 , 2013 , to David Wade , the chief of staff to then-Sec .
of State John Kerry .
“ When things settle ( relatively speaking ) lets grab coffee.
” A spokesman for USGLC said that the meeting was an introductory meeting between the coalition and the incoming Kerry team at the State Department .
“ Over the past two decades , we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican and Democratic Administrations – to talk about our work to strengthen support for the State Department .
This was a typical introductory meeting with some of our leadership , ” USGLC spokesman Sidney Traynham told The Daily Caller News Foundation .
Months after Joe Biden ’ s remarks at the USGLC event , after the Ukrainian evolution led to Yanukovych ’ s ouster , President Obama tapped his VP to help the new Ukrainian government implement democratic reforms , which included a fight against corruption .
Hunter Biden and USGLC took interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lobbying records show that USGLC paid $ 50,000 to lobby on a host of foreign aid measures in 2014 , including several bills to provide billions of dollars in aid and assistance to Ukraine .
Its lobbying disclosure forms from April , July , and October 2014 list lobbying activities on four separate Ukraine-related bills , including the Support for the Sovereignty , Integrity , Democracy and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014 , the Ukraine Support Act , and the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 .
Several USGLC coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time frame .
Cargill , Coca-Cola , Chevron , Caterpillar , and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce all lobbied on Ukraine-related bills in 2014 and 2015 .
Traynham , the spokesman for USGLC and the Center for U.S .
Global Leadership , said that USGLC is broadly focused on increased spending on international development , and that the Ukrainian revolution in 2014 was a natural focus for the organization .
He did not address whether Hunter Biden discussed Ukraine with anyone from the trade coalition .
“ The Center for U.S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and individuals volunteer their time to serve on our board to advance our mission to create a better , safer world , ” Trayham said in a statement .
“ The organization advocates on only one issue : the overall importance of the International Affairs Budget , which seeks to strengthen America ’ s global leadership through diplomacy and global development , ” he added .
The statement also said that Hunter Biden joined the center ’ s board “ while serving as Chairman of the World Food Program USA.
” Biden was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but USGLC and the Center for U.S .
Global Leadership cited his affiliation with Rosemont Seneca , the private equity firm , on its website .
In a twist of irony , Joe Biden would later use U.S. aid to Ukraine that was provided through Sovereignty , Integrity , Democracy and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014 to influence Yanukovych ’ s successor as president , Petro Poroshenko .
Joe Biden leveraged the third tranche of funds to force President Poroshenko fire Viktor Shokin , who served as Ukraine ’ s general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not known until January 2018 , when the future Democratic presidential candidate bragged at a Council on Foreign Relations event that he dangled the loan assistance over Poroshenko to get him to fire Shokin .
“ And I went over , I guess , the 12th , 13th time to Kiev .
And I was supposed to announce that there was another billion-dollar loan guarantee .
And I had gotten a commitment from Poroshenko and from Yatsenyuk that they would take action against the state prosecutor .
And they didn ’ t , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said that as they were going to an event , he told his Ukrainian counterparts that he was not going to provide the billion dollars .
“ They said , ‘ you have no authority .
You ’ re not the president , ’ ” Biden recalled .
“ I said , ‘ I ’ m telling you , you ’ re not getting the billion dollars.
’ I said , ‘ you ’ re not getting the billion .
I ’ m going to be leaving here in , ’ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I looked at them and said : ‘ I ’ m leaving in six hours .
If the prosecutor is not fired , you ’ re not getting the money.
’ ” “ Well , son of a bitch , he got fired .
And they put in place someone who was solid at the time.
” The U.S. and Ukraine signed an agreement for the loan support months later , on June 3 , 2016 .
Trump allies have seized on the remarks and Hunter Biden ’ s role with Burisma to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giuliani , the lawyer for Trump , discovered and began hyping the Biden video from 2018 as evidence of corruption on the part of the former vice president .
Trump was so enamored with the theory that he brought it up during a July 25 , 2019 phone call with Poroshenko ’ s successor , Volodymyr Zelensky .
That call eventually led to Trump ’ s impeachment after a CIA whistleblower alleged in a complaint filed on Aug. 12 , 2019 .
Joe Biden has denied ever intervening with Poroshenko on behalf of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his defenders have also challenged the idea that Shokin was investigating or planned to investigate Burisma , or that Joe Biden was ever aware of an investigation .
Hunter Biden ’ s lawyer , George Mesires , did not respond to a request for comment .


freedomdaily--2020-02-18--Swampy: Ex-DOJ Official Named In FISA Abuse Report Signs Petition Calling On William Barr To Resign

A former Justice Department official and MSNBC analyst who is discussed throughout the inspector general ’ s report on FISA abuse added his name Monday to a petition calling on William Barr to resign as attorney general .
David Laufman , who served as chief of the Justice Department ’ s counterintelligence and export control section through 2018 , said Monday that he joined more than 2,000 former Justice Department employees who signed the petition , which was started by the anti-Trump activist group , Protect Democracy .
“ Proud to join over 2000 of my fellow Justice Dept .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions by Attorney General Barr , and the vital importance of protecting the rule of law and the impartial , nonpartisan administration of justice , ” wrote Laufman .
The petition blasted Barr intervening in federal prosecutors ’ recommendation that Trump confidante serve between 87 months and 108 months in prison for obstructing a congressional investigation and witness tampering .
Barr said on Thursday that he thought Stone deserves prison time , but that the initial recommendation was “ very excessive.
” Laufman joined at least eight other MSNBC or CNN analysts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key role in both the Hillary Clinton email investigation , and the Trump-Russia probe .
He conducted interviews alongside disgraced former FBI agent Peter Strzok during the Clinton email investigation .
Laufman and Strzok interviewed Clinton herself on July 2 , 2016 .
They also conducted interviews with Clinton aides Human Abedin and Cheryl Mills in which the pair appear to have made inconsistent statements about their knowledge of Clinton ’ s private email server .
The Justice Department inspector general ’ s ( IG ) report on FISA abuse said that Laufman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Justice Department officials that would raise significant concerns about the reliability of Christopher Steele , the former British spy whose dossier the FBI used to obtain Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) warrants against Carter Page .
The IG report said that Laufman arranged a meeting in January 2017 for Steele ’ s main source for information in the dossier .
Laufman sat in on part of the interview .
Steele ’ s source disputed much of what was attributed to him in the dossier .
According to the IG report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been identified , told FBI agents and DOJ officials that Steele embellished or misrepresented information in the dossier that suggested a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russian government .
The IG report blasted the FBI and Justice Department for failing to disclose the potentially derogatory information on Steele to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court .
The Justice Department deemed the two FISA warrants that were authorized following that meeting to be invalid , largely because of the failure to disclose the information from Steele ’ s source .
It is unclear what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source said in the meeting .
He is not accused of wrongdoing in the report .
Laufman also told the IG that he never saw the FBI ’ s summary of the interview , and that he did not know enough about the dossier to know whether Steele ’ s source contradicted the document .


freedomdaily--2020-02-18--Bloomberg: Elderly Cancer Patients Should Be Denied Treatment To Cut Costs

Billionaire and Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg said in a 2011 video that elderly cancer patients should be denied treatment in order to cut health care costs .
“ All of these costs keep going up , nobody wants to pay anymore money , and at the rate we ’ re going , health care is going to bankrupt us , ” warned Bloomberg , who was then New York City ’ s mayor .
“ We ’ ve got to sit here and say which things we ’ re going to do , and which things we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
y ’ know , if you show up with prostate cancer , you ’ re 95-years-old , we should say , ‘ Go and enjoy .
Have a nice ( inaudible ) .
Live a long life .
There ’ s no cure , and we can ’ t do anything.
’ If you ’ re a young person , we should do something about it , ” Bloomberg said in the video .
“ Society ’ s not ready to do that yet , ” he complained .
Bloomberg made the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brother had died after reportedly waiting 73 hours in an emergency room .
His presidential campaign didn ’ t return a request for comment .
The New York billionaire has faced increased scrutiny over past statements as he has continued to rise in Democratic primary polls .
Bloomberg ’ s fellow Democrats have criticized him for his past aggressive defense of stop-and-frisk policies in New York has led to criticism from fellow Democrats .
Bloomberg has also faced criticism for a 2011 video saying that too many young black and Latino men “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the workplace .
”


freedomdaily--2020-02-18--Bloomberg In 2011: ‘Black And Latino Males … Don’t Know How To Behave In The Workplace’

Topics in this post : Michael Bloomberg the 2020 Election Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg said in a 2011 interview @ @ @ @ @ males “ don ’ t know how to behave in the workplace.
” “ There @ @ @ @ @ of black and Latino males aged , let ’ s say , 16 to 25 @ @ @ @ @ jobs , don ’ t have any prospects , don ’ t know how to @ @ @ @ @ t know that the — what their skill sets are , don ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ workplace , where they have to work collaboratively and collectively , ” the former New @ @ @ @ @ Newshour while promoting his Young Men ’ s Initiative in 2011 .
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