westernjournal--2020-03-20--Coronavirus Silver Lining: Playboy Magazine’s Print Edition Is No More

It ’ s difficult to say there ’ s some kind of silver lining to COVID-19 , but you can find one if you try .
On one side , you see the usual sunbeams of humanity that occur in a crisis when peoples ’ sympathetic nervous systems grind to a halt and they stop panic-buying more Charmin than they ’ ll ever use .
Donating blood , buying groceries for seniors , helping out small businesses — those are the kind of warm and fuzzy things that give us a little uplift as we enter another day of social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ linings which , to enjoy them properly , require a bit of schadenfreude .
On that end , we ’ re pleased to report that Playboy ’ s print edition has officially been offed by the coronavirus .
According to CBS News , the 66-year-old magazine was going to stop publication anyway , but Playboy Enterprises CEO Ben Kohn decided to hasten the decision “ as the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic to content production and the supply chain became clearer and clearer.
” TRENDING : Trump Savages NBC Reporter Trying To Take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Freaks Out In a Medium post published Wednesday , Kohn said that the company had “ decided that our Spring 2020 Issue , which arrives on U.S. newsstands and as a digital download this week , will be our final printed publication for the year in the U.S. We will move to a digital-first publishing schedule for all of our content including the Playboy Interview , 20Q , the Playboy Advisor and of course our Playmate pictorials.
” A plague killing off Playboy is almost like something you ’ d read in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times .
The only bleak side , really , is that you have to read Mr. Kohn write sentences like this about the magazine ’ s legacy : “ Throughout the past sixty-six years , one thing has remained constant : our commitment to free expression and breaking taboos , leaning into discomfort , helping audiences express and understand their sexuality , and advocating for the pursuit of pleasure for all.
” This is the party line Hugh Hefner and his acolytes constantly use to explain themselves .
It ’ s Playboy ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ magazine came along in 1953 , it goes , none of us derived any pleasure from sexuality .
My word , what a chore the opposite sex was .
You had to woo them , and for what ?
None of us were attracted to each other by any sort of biological drive .
No , nothing like that — the whole thing was a culturally mandated millstone .
Once ensnared in that dastardly ritual of pairing called marriage , we went on a honeymoon to play chess , or whatever .
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hey , I guess the species needs to survive .
So we asked one of our religious elders how we went about that sort of thing and he told us the whole abhorrent process .
RELATED : As Rape and Underage Sex Charges Mount , Sen. Sasse Calls on DOJ To Investigate Pornhub So , feeling nauseous , we went home , closed our eyes and thought of England ( or America , or whatever sovereign nation state we were in ) .
Then , a family arrived .
Poof !
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until the next time we had to get on with furthering the human race .
Then came swingin ’ Hef in 1953 .
With his pipe and his bathrobe , he burst on the scene telling us : “ Psst !
Good news , cats .
This all doesn ’ t have to be boring !
Also , you don ’ t have to be dragged down by all of that cultural nonsense that ’ s developed over the past few millennia !
Just , you know , feel free , be groovy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” And thus did the sexual revolution begin and nothing bad ever came of it .
Great times were had by all .
The end .
No .
That ’ s not how it worked .
As a people , we knew perfectly well what sex was , thank you .
We knew not only that there was a time and a place for it — and hopefully we knew that time and place was within the bounds of wedlock — we were much more than willing to make time and have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have relayed that information to anyone .
What Playboy did , instead , was to mainstream pornography under the aegis of it being a lifestyle — a lifestyle which removed emotion and love from human sexuality and instead packaged it as nothing more than an animal reaction to indulge in .
But not just that .
If you subscribed to Playboy at the beginning , you weren ’ t just lusting after airbrushed women on a page while you sat idly in the same home you had before you subscribed to Playboy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at stuff that heretofore would have been sold in dingy underground shops by men in stained raincoats .
No , this was high-class , glossy entertainment interspersed with interviews , recommendations on jazz and suggestions for the perfect bachelor pad .
You were hip .
With it .
You “ read it for the articles , ” tee hee .
What Playboy mainstreamed quickly morphed into the adult film industry — which could still market itself as a lifestyle thing , this one immersed in the moral ( or rather , amoral ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Throat , ” after all , became the name of the most famous whistleblower in American history .
As the Times of London noted , even Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis went to see the movie and , depressingly , more people in a 1985 poll recognized the name of “ Deep Throat ” star Linda Lovelace than they did the name Henry Kissinger .
It was more difficult to call what sprang from that a “ lifestyle ” unless you embraced rank dissolution as a “ lifestyle.
” Even before internet smut took off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Hustler and the low-rent stuff your video store used to keep behind a curtain .
However , there ’ s still a direct concatenation of events that links Playboy to the porn of today , a tawdry drug in which desperate , joyless individuals engage in dreary , mechanical acts so that people ( mostly men ) across the world don ’ t have to acknowledge — or even find — their partner .
No liberation has been bequeathed upon us by Playboy .
Instead , its legacy will be a corporatized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has inured us to actual romance and intimacy while creating all sorts of egregious externalities .
While it ’ s unknown just how big the porn industry is nowadays , according to Quartz , it could have a bigger impact on the American economy than Netflix .
Thanks to big smut , we now live in a world where almost 90 percent of boys and 60 percent of girls are exposed to pornography before they reach 18 .
Divorce rates double when people start watching porn .
Sex trafficking , abuse and exploitation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I could rattle these figures and facts off all day .
I won ’ t because you already know this — because you know people whose lives and relationships have been profoundly affected by pornography , almost without fail for the worse .
You may be one of them .
Playboy was always a product by the man in the dirty raincoat .
It just dressed itself up to make itself presentable to a society that knew the dangers of pornography .
Now the product is so pervasive that Playboy ’ s progeny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ruse .
While the coronavirus finally killed the print version of Playboy off , it was those less circumspect progeny that helped mortally weaken it .
The magazine was losing $ 5 million a year , according to the New York Post .
Why buy a magazine when you can get the same product for free online , after all ?
Celebrating the passing of Playboy magazine during the coronavirus outbreak is a bit like being the condemned prisoners at the end of “ Monty Python ’ s Life of Brian , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bright Side of Life.
” Indeed , as Playboy was making news by sputtering to a halt , its spiritual successor — moral cesspool PornHub — was also in the headlines , offering free premium membership to beleaguered Italians to “ help keep you company during these next weeks at home.
” The idea that digital smut now counts as a form of “ company ” is a sign that our inward pathogens have been incubating for a lot longer than this outward pathogen has .
And the company itself will live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , the Playboy brand is more successful than ever before , ” Kohn wrote in his farewell letter to the print edition .
“ Our audience is massive .
We drive over $ 3 billion in annual consumer spend worldwide .
We reach hundreds of millions of eyeballs every year , across all genders .
This past year , our focus has been on meeting audiences where they are .
We gained over 4 million new Instagram followers and saw over 50 % growth in engagement on our social channels in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video subscriptions by almost 30 % year-over-year and acquired a direct-to-consumer commerce operation that serves almost 1M active customers every month.
” There ’ ll be plenty of web content from Playboy , and that sleazy bunny logo will doubtlessly grace plenty of apparel and other licensed goods .
However , the passing of the print edition allows us to look back at where the magazine has taken us .
We ’ re at the dead end of the primrose path where “ the pursuit of pleasure for all ” hath led .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hef , do you think it was all worth it ?
Do you think there ’ s any nadir that smut has yet to sink to ?
Any aspect of human intimacy the pornographic medium can further despoil ?
So , yes , as I ’ m locked down at home watching the news scroll by , I ’ ll allow myself a bit of schadenfreude as Playboy passes into history .
Don ’ t sell any copies of the last print edition , I say .
Haul the glossy rot into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rags all next to a cask of amontillado and immure them all behind a wall of bricks .
Were it all to have stayed there to begin with .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

It’s difficult to say there’s some kind of silver lining to COVID-19, but you can find one if you try.
On one side, you see the usual sunbeams of humanity that occur in a crisis when peoples’ sympathetic nervous systems grind to a halt and they stop panic-buying more Charmin than they’ll ever use.
Donating blood, buying groceries for seniors, helping out small businesses — those are the kind of warm and fuzzy things that give us a little uplift as we enter another day of social isolation.
Then there are the silver linings which, to enjoy them properly, require a bit of schadenfreude. On that end, we’re pleased to report that Playboy’s print edition has officially been offed by the coronavirus.
According to CBS News, the 66-year-old magazine was going to stop publication anyway, but Playboy Enterprises CEO Ben Kohn decided to hasten the decision “as the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic to content production and the supply chain became clearer and clearer.”
In a Medium post published Wednesday, Kohn said that the company had “decided that our Spring 2020 Issue, which arrives on U.S. newsstands and as a digital download this week, will be our final printed publication for the year in the U.S. We will move to a digital-first publishing schedule for all of our content including the Playboy Interview, 20Q, the Playboy Advisor and of course our Playmate pictorials.”
Of course.
A plague killing off Playboy is almost like something you’d read in the Bible and not in The New York Times.
The only bleak side, really, is that you have to read Mr. Kohn write sentences like this about the magazine’s legacy: “Throughout the past sixty-six years, one thing has remained constant: our commitment to free expression and breaking taboos, leaning into discomfort, helping audiences express and understand their sexuality, and advocating for the pursuit of pleasure for all.”
Do you think Playboy's passing is a good thing? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 76% (440 Votes) No: 24% (137 Votes)
This is the party line Hugh Hefner and his acolytes constantly use to explain themselves.
It’s Playboy’s ridiculous origin story: Before the magazine came along in 1953, it goes, none of us derived any pleasure from sexuality. My word, what a chore the opposite sex was. You had to woo them, and for what?
None of us were attracted to each other by any sort of biological drive.
No, nothing like that — the whole thing was a culturally mandated millstone. Once ensnared in that dastardly ritual of pairing called marriage, we went on a honeymoon to play chess, or whatever.
Then we decided we had to procreate because, hey, I guess the species needs to survive. So we asked one of our religious elders how we went about that sort of thing and he told us the whole abhorrent process.
So, feeling nauseous, we went home, closed our eyes and thought of England (or America, or whatever sovereign nation state we were in).
Then, a family arrived. Poof! Now we had a lot of dreary responsibility until the next time we had to get on with furthering the human race.
Then came swingin’ Hef in 1953. With his pipe and his bathrobe, he burst on the scene telling us: “Psst! Good news, cats. This all doesn’t have to be boring! Also, you don’t have to be dragged down by all of that cultural nonsense that’s developed over the past few millennia! Just, you know, feel free, be groovy and don’t get hung up.”
And thus did the sexual revolution begin and nothing bad ever came of it. Great times were had by all. The end.
No. That’s not how it worked.
As a people, we knew perfectly well what sex was, thank you.
We knew not only that there was a time and a place for it — and hopefully we knew that time and place was within the bounds of wedlock — we were much more than willing to make time and have a place for it.
Playboy needn’t have relayed that information to anyone.
What Playboy did, instead, was to mainstream pornography under the aegis of it being a lifestyle — a lifestyle which removed emotion and love from human sexuality and instead packaged it as nothing more than an animal reaction to indulge in.
But not just that.
If you subscribed to Playboy at the beginning, you weren’t just lusting after airbrushed women on a page while you sat idly in the same home you had before you subscribed to Playboy.
You weren’t just looking at stuff that heretofore would have been sold in dingy underground shops by men in stained raincoats. No, this was high-class, glossy entertainment interspersed with interviews, recommendations on jazz and suggestions for the perfect bachelor pad. You were hip. With it. You “read it for the articles,” tee hee.
What Playboy mainstreamed quickly morphed into the adult film industry — which could still market itself as a lifestyle thing, this one immersed in the moral (or rather, amoral) atmosphere of the 1970s.
“Deep Throat,” after all, became the name of the most famous whistleblower in American history.
As the Times of London noted, even Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis went to see the movie and, depressingly, more people in a 1985 poll recognized the name of “Deep Throat” star Linda Lovelace than they did the name Henry Kissinger.
It was more difficult to call what sprang from that a “lifestyle” unless you embraced rank dissolution as a “lifestyle.”
Even before internet smut took off in the 1990s, you had effluence like Hustler and the low-rent stuff your video store used to keep behind a curtain.
However, there’s still a direct concatenation of events that links Playboy to the porn of today, a tawdry drug in which desperate, joyless individuals engage in dreary, mechanical acts so that people (mostly men) across the world don’t have to acknowledge — or even find — their partner.
No liberation has been bequeathed upon us by Playboy.
Instead, its legacy will be a corporatized behemoth of adult “entertainment” which has inured us to actual romance and intimacy while creating all sorts of egregious externalities.
While it’s unknown just how big the porn industry is nowadays, according to Quartz, it could have a bigger impact on the American economy than Netflix.
Thanks to big smut, we now live in a world where almost 90 percent of boys and 60 percent of girls are exposed to pornography before they reach 18.
Divorce rates double when people start watching porn. Sex trafficking, abuse and exploitation are inseparable parts of the industry.
I could rattle these figures and facts off all day.
I won’t because you already know this — because you know people whose lives and relationships have been profoundly affected by pornography, almost without fail for the worse. You may be one of them.
Playboy was always a product by the man in the dirty raincoat.
It just dressed itself up to make itself presentable to a society that knew the dangers of pornography. Now the product is so pervasive that Playboy’s progeny don’t even have to undertake that ruse.
While the coronavirus finally killed the print version of Playboy off, it was those less circumspect progeny that helped mortally weaken it.
The magazine was losing $5 million a year, according to the New York Post. Why buy a magazine when you can get the same product for free online, after all?
Celebrating the passing of Playboy magazine during the coronavirus outbreak is a bit like being the condemned prisoners at the end of “Monty Python’s Life of Brian,” all singing “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.”
Indeed, as Playboy was making news by sputtering to a halt, its spiritual successor — moral cesspool PornHub — was also in the headlines, offering free premium membership to beleaguered Italians to “help keep you company during these next weeks at home.”
The idea that digital smut now counts as a form of “company” is a sign that our inward pathogens have been incubating for a lot longer than this outward pathogen has.
And the company itself will live on, of course.
“Right now, the Playboy brand is more successful than ever before,” Kohn wrote in his farewell letter to the print edition.
“Our audience is massive. We drive over $3 billion in annual consumer spend worldwide. We reach hundreds of millions of eyeballs every year, across all genders. This past year, our focus has been on meeting audiences where they are. We gained over 4 million new Instagram followers and saw over 50% growth in engagement on our social channels in the past 6 months, grew our digital video subscriptions by almost 30% year-over-year and acquired a direct-to-consumer commerce operation that serves almost 1M active customers every month.”
There’ll be plenty of web content from Playboy, and that sleazy bunny logo will doubtlessly grace plenty of apparel and other licensed goods.
However, the passing of the print edition allows us to look back at where the magazine has taken us. We’re at the dead end of the primrose path where “the pursuit of pleasure for all” hath led.
As you look up at us, Hef, do you think it was all worth it?
Do you think there’s any nadir that smut has yet to sink to? Any aspect of human intimacy the pornographic medium can further despoil?
So, yes, as I’m locked down at home watching the news scroll by, I’ll allow myself a bit of schadenfreude as Playboy passes into history.
Don’t sell any copies of the last print edition, I say. Haul the glossy rot into a deep, dark catacomb, stack all the rags all next to a cask of amontillado and immure them all behind a wall of bricks.
Were it all to have stayed there to begin with.
In pace requiescat, Playboy!
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westernjournal--2020-03-20--In Truly Outrageous Segment, NBC Reporter Says China ‘Helped’ Us with COVID by ‘Delaying’ It

If the establishment media ’ s reporting over the past several years has been useful for anything , it is that it has demonstrated just how desperate they are to undercut President Donald Trump .
As Trump receives bipartisan support for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic , the media are growing more and more desperate .
Seeking any way to shift the narrative , establishment reporters have now been reduced to shilling for China ’ s communist regime .
In a segment on NBC ’ s “ Today ” show Thursday , the network ’ s senior international correspondent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim that China might have helped to delay the arrival of COVID-19 to the U.S. and Europe .
He reported that Wuhan , where the virus originated , had reported “ no new cases ” of the coronavirus Thursday .
TRENDING : Trump Savages NBC Reporter Trying To Take Hope from American People , Media Instantly Freaks Out “ China initially downplayed the threat , but Asia ’ s experience of viruses like SARS meant millions of Chinese people were prepared for draconian measures , those who did not comply forced into quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went on to praise South Korea for its successful response to the pandemic , but he bizarrely also applauded the Chinese government when speaking to “ Today ” co-host Hoda Kotb .
“ And China and South Korea and those Asian countries , Hoda , may have helped Western Europe and America by delaying the arrival of the coronavirus here , ” Simmons said .
“ But now they are worrying that they may get reinfected by the coronavirus from the rest of the world , ” he said .
Where are we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to push Chinese communist propaganda in an attempt to damage Trump ’ s credibility ?
Any assertion that the Chinese government did anything other than lie as it attempted to conceal the initial outbreak of the coronavirus is the epitome of fake news .
As Axios reported this week , Chinese officials went to great lengths to disseminate false information regarding the spread of the novel coronavirus and punished doctors and other health experts who attempted to warn others about the danger it posed .
In a detailed timeline of China ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ if Chinese authorities had acted three weeks earlier than they did , the number of coronavirus cases could have been reduced by 95 % and its geographic spread limited.
” RELATED : Value of American Liberty Shines in Wake of Communist China 's Coronavirus Failure The Chinese regime even went as far as to order samples of the virus destroyed rather than sound the alarm .
Now , of course , daily life has been altered for people across the globe who had nothing to do with China ’ s wet markets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epicenter of the disease , and more than 10,000 people worldwide have lost their lives — over 200 of them being Americans .
Any assertion that China helped to “ delay ” the spread of the coronavirus to the rest of the world is unequivocally false .
If NBC News is willing to lie on behalf of one of the world ’ s most notorious humans rights violators , what else might it be willing to lie about ?
In a week where the president has received praise from Democrats and liberal media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Cuomo , CNN ’ s Dana Bash and Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota , others on the left have been dragging the bottom of the barrel to change the narrative .
Our deeply divided nation is at a point where some semblance of unity , no matter how faint , seems within grasp .
Rather than be fair to a president with the unenviable job of guiding the country through an unprecedented setback , many in the establishment media are hectoring Trump about what to call a Chinese virus and some reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s authoritarian regime .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

If the establishment media’s reporting over the past several years has been useful for anything, it is that it has demonstrated just how desperate they are to undercut President Donald Trump.
As Trump receives bipartisan support for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the media are growing more and more desperate.
Seeking any way to shift the narrative, establishment reporters have now been reduced to shilling for China’s communist regime.
In a segment on NBC’s “Today” show Thursday, the network’s senior international correspondent, Kier Simmons, made the outrageous claim that China might have helped to delay the arrival of COVID-19 to the U.S. and Europe.
He reported that Wuhan, where the virus originated, had reported “no new cases” of the coronavirus Thursday.
“China initially downplayed the threat, but Asia’s experience of viruses like SARS meant millions of Chinese people were prepared for draconian measures, those who did not comply forced into quarantine,” Simmons said.
The reporter went on to praise South Korea for its successful response to the pandemic, but he bizarrely also applauded the Chinese government when speaking to “Today” co-host Hoda Kotb.
“And China and South Korea and those Asian countries, Hoda, may have helped Western Europe and America by delaying the arrival of the coronavirus here,” Simmons said.
“But now they are worrying that they may get reinfected by the coronavirus from the rest of the world,” he said.
NBC’s @KeirSimmons claims China “helped” the world by “delaying” #COVID19, but is now “worrying that they may get re-infected…from the rest of the world” pic.twitter.com/cEN2bnG69y — Kyle Drennen (@kjdrennen) March 19, 2020
Where are we when America’s fourth estate is willing to push Chinese communist propaganda in an attempt to damage Trump’s credibility?
Any assertion that the Chinese government did anything other than lie as it attempted to conceal the initial outbreak of the coronavirus is the epitome of fake news.
As Axios reported this week, Chinese officials went to great lengths to disseminate false information regarding the spread of the novel coronavirus and punished doctors and other health experts who attempted to warn others about the danger it posed.
In a detailed timeline of China’s massive deception, Axios reported that “if Chinese authorities had acted three weeks earlier than they did, the number of coronavirus cases could have been reduced by 95% and its geographic spread limited.”
The Chinese regime even went as far as to order samples of the virus destroyed rather than sound the alarm.
Now, of course, daily life has been altered for people across the globe who had nothing to do with China’s wet markets or cover-ups.
Europe has become the epicenter of the disease, and more than 10,000 people worldwide have lost their lives — over 200 of them being Americans.
Do you think the establishment media is siding with communist China over President Donald Trump? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 99% (2465 Votes) No: 1% (21 Votes)
Any assertion that China helped to “delay” the spread of the coronavirus to the rest of the world is unequivocally false.
If NBC News is willing to lie on behalf of one of the world’s most notorious humans rights violators, what else might it be willing to lie about?
In a week where the president has received praise from Democrats and liberal media figures such as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, CNN’s Dana Bash and Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, others on the left have been dragging the bottom of the barrel to change the narrative.
Our deeply divided nation is at a point where some semblance of unity, no matter how faint, seems within grasp.
Rather than be fair to a president with the unenviable job of guiding the country through an unprecedented setback, many in the establishment media are hectoring Trump about what to call a Chinese virus and some reporters are making themselves stooges for China’s authoritarian regime.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-03-20--Elizabeth Warren Literally Censors Trump Tweet on COVID-19

How annoyed are some liberals over the fact that President Donald Trump calls COVID-19 “ the Chinese virus ?
” Annoyed enough that “ Chinese ” has now become a bad word .
Take Sen. Elizabeth Warren , the Massachusetts Democrat recently late of the presidential contest .
Warren was angry over one of Trump ’ s tweets , because when is a liberal not ?
The tweet had to do with Trump invoking the Defense Production Act on Wednesday , a Korean War-era piece of legislation which allows the federal government to direct production capacity in the case of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBC Reporter Trying To Take Hope from American People , Media Instantly Freaks Out According to CNN , the Federal Emergency Management Agency describes the act as “ the primary source of presidential authorities to expedite and expand the supply of resources from the US industrial base to support military , energy , space and homeland security programs.
” The president insisted on Twitter that he had “ only signed the Defense Production Act to combat the Chinese Virus should we need to invoke it in a worst case scenario in the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but we are all in this TOGETHER !
” Warren was upset that Trump wasn ’ t directing the production of items like ventilators and face masks at the federal level already .
“ President Trump , are your eyes stitched shut ?
” she tweeted Thursday .
“ Hospitals need test kits , ventilators , & other medical supplies .
That ’ s why the DPA exists .
Stop dragging your feet & burying your head & start helping hospitals that are about to be slammed by this pandemic.
” That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noticed about Warren ’ s tweet , however : RELATED : Pro-Trump Reporter Posts Scathing Response After Anonymous Coward Leaves Insult on Her Desk She didn ’ t even mention it , either .
Anyway , now I ’ ve learned my lesson .
I apologize to all of our C—ese readers who might have been offended by all of the times I didn ’ t obscure their demonym prior to this .
I can and will do better .
Of course , Warren should also apologize to all of her C—-kee Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Afr— : Of course , there are plenty of reasons why the virus is being called the “ Chinese virus ” by the president and those around him .
One is that the Chinese government simply doesn ’ t want to acknowledge that COVID-19 not only started there but that they bear some responsibility for it because of a response that was actively negligent and mendacious .
Last week , Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian became the most senior Chinese official to parrot a conspiracy theory that the U.S. military was responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ When did patient zero begin in US ?
” he wrote .
“ How many people are infected ?
What are the names of the hospitals ?
It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan .
Be transparent !
Make public your data !
US owe us an explanation !
” The Chinese ended up being the ones who owed the explanation when their ambassador was summoned for a dressing-down at the State Department .
That said , Zhao Lijian remains an employed man , which means Beijing apparently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There was another legal reason for Trump ’ s decision to highlight the source of the virus floated by former federal prosecutor Andrew C. McCarthy in an Op-Ed for The Hill published Tuesday .
He wrote that the declaration of a national emergency under the Stafford Act required rather extraordinary circumstances .
“ So , when is the invocation of emergency powers permissible ?
Congress has vested the president with this authority when a threat to the security and public health of any part of the United States is sufficiently grave to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
“ In our constitutional system , there are certain situations and categories of activity that automatically trigger federal authority .
Most prominent among these are foreign relations , foreign incursions , border security , and matters related to foreign commerce , as well as commerce between the states — which , obviously , may be impacted by foreign commerce .
“ Consequently , the origination of the virus in China and its transcontinental spread across the globe are highly relevant .
They rationalize the president ’ s authority to address the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In other words , this isn ’ t just a matter of the president being a troll .
It ’ s also not a matter of xenophobia .
And it doesn ’ t make “ Chinese ” a swear word .
Now , when it comes to “ N–ive A—ican ” or “ P—hontas , ” though … We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

How annoyed are some liberals over the fact that President Donald Trump calls COVID-19 “the Chinese virus?”
Annoyed enough that “Chinese” has now become a bad word.
Take Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat recently late of the presidential contest.
Warren was angry over one of Trump’s tweets, because when is a liberal not?
The tweet had to do with Trump invoking the Defense Production Act on Wednesday, a Korean War-era piece of legislation which allows the federal government to direct production capacity in the case of an emergency.
According to CNN, the Federal Emergency Management Agency describes the act as “the primary source of presidential authorities to expedite and expand the supply of resources from the US industrial base to support military, energy, space and homeland security programs.”
The president insisted on Twitter that he had “only signed the Defense Production Act to combat the Chinese Virus should we need to invoke it in a worst case scenario in the future. Hopefully there will be no need, but we are all in this TOGETHER!”
I only signed the Defense Production Act to combat the Chinese Virus should we need to invoke it in a worst case scenario in the future. Hopefully there will be no need, but we are all in this TOGETHER! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020
Do you think the term 'Chinese virus' is racist? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 2% (32 Votes) No: 98% (1320 Votes)
Warren was upset that Trump wasn’t directing the production of items like ventilators and face masks at the federal level already.
“President Trump, are your eyes stitched shut?” she tweeted Thursday.
“Hospitals need test kits, ventilators, & other medical supplies. That’s why the DPA exists. Stop dragging your feet & burying your head & start helping hospitals that are about to be slammed by this pandemic.”
That’s probably not what most people noticed about Warren’s tweet, however:
President Trump, are your eyes stitched shut? Hospitals need test kits, ventilators, & other medical supplies. That’s why the DPA exists. Stop dragging your feet & burying your head & start helping hospitals that are about to be slammed by this pandemic. pic.twitter.com/9bb4Bl05ob — Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) March 19, 2020
She didn’t even mention it, either.
That’s expert-level passive-aggressiveness.
Anyway, now I’ve learned my lesson. I apologize to all of our C—ese readers who might have been offended by all of the times I didn’t obscure their demonym prior to this. I can and will do better.
Of course, Warren should also apologize to all of her C—-kee Twitter followers, too:
YOU SHOULD HAVE blurred out “Cherokee” in your fake claims about your ancestry — VK2-Media Is CCP Propaganda (@2222vj) March 19, 2020
And everyone in Afr—:
If referring to a disease by its geographic point of origin is now racist, you best go back and blur out “Zika” and “Ebola” from your past tweets – both are places in Africa. pic.twitter.com/FbFW50AEe6 — Beyond My Wuhan ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ? (@OverpaidA) March 19, 2020
Of course, there are plenty of reasons why the virus is being called the “Chinese virus” by the president and those around him.
One is that the Chinese government simply doesn’t want to acknowledge that COVID-19 not only started there but that they bear some responsibility for it because of a response that was actively negligent and mendacious.
Last week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian became the most senior Chinese official to parrot a conspiracy theory that the U.S. military was responsible for introducing the virus into Wuhan.
“When did patient zero begin in US?” he wrote. “How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation!”
2/2 CDC was caught on the spot. When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation! pic.twitter.com/vYNZRFPWo3 — Lijian Zhao 赵立坚 (@zlj517) March 12, 2020
The Chinese ended up being the ones who owed the explanation when their ambassador was summoned for a dressing-down at the State Department. That said, Zhao Lijian remains an employed man, which means Beijing apparently doesn’t mind talk like this.
There was another legal reason for Trump’s decision to highlight the source of the virus floated by former federal prosecutor Andrew C. McCarthy in an Op-Ed for The Hill published Tuesday.
He wrote that the declaration of a national emergency under the Stafford Act required rather extraordinary circumstances.
“So, when is the invocation of emergency powers permissible? Congress has vested the president with this authority when a threat to the security and public health of any part of the United States is sufficiently grave to warrant a federal response,” McCarthy wrote.
“In our constitutional system, there are certain situations and categories of activity that automatically trigger federal authority. Most prominent among these are foreign relations, foreign incursions, border security, and matters related to foreign commerce, as well as commerce between the states — which, obviously, may be impacted by foreign commerce.
“Consequently, the origination of the virus in China and its transcontinental spread across the globe are highly relevant. They rationalize the president’s authority to address the emergency with Washington’s awesome resources.”
In other words, this isn’t just a matter of the president being a troll. It’s also not a matter of xenophobia.
And it doesn’t make “Chinese” a swear word. Now, when it comes to “N–ive A—ican” or “P—hontas,” though …
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westernjournal--2020-03-20--In Priceless Exchange, Trump Tells Press He Should Get Rid of 75% of Them To Keep Virus From Spreadi

In Priceless Exchange, Trump Tells Press He Should Get Rid of 75% of Them To Keep Virus From Spreading

President Donald Trump joked at Thursday ’ s coronavirus briefing about getting rid of all the reporters he does not like , causing a least one member of the media to characterize the quip as an “ attack.
” During the briefing , a reporter asked the president if he had “ any guidance for Congress ” after two congressmen announced they had tested positive for the virus .
Trump instead directed his advice , partially tongue-in-cheek , to the reporters in the briefing room .
“ I know all of them , ” he said of Congress .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re sitting like you people are sitting .
You ’ re actually sitting too close.
” “ Really , we should probably get rid of about another 75 , 80 percent of you , ” the president said .
TRENDING : Trump Savages NBC Reporter Trying To Take Hope from American People , Media Instantly Freaks Out “ I ’ ll have just two or three that I like in this room .
I think that ’ s a great way of doing it .
We just figured a new way of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually much too close , you should leave immediately.
” The president spoke the day after two members of the House announced they had been inflicted with the disease .
“ On Saturday evening , after returning from Washington , D.C. , I developed mild cold-like symptoms .
In consultation with my doctor on Sunday , I immediately isolated myself in my home , ” Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah said Wednesday .
“ I have been conducting all meetings by telephone .
My symptoms got worse and I developed a fever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I remained self-quarantined .
“ On Tuesday , my doctor instructed me to get tested for COVID-19 and following his referral , I went to the local testing clinic for the test , ” the congressman said .
“ Today I learned that I tested positive .
I am still working for Utahns and pursuing efforts to get Utahns the resources they need as I continue doing my job from home until I know it is safe to end my self-quarantine .
I ’ m doing my part as all Americans are doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and mitigate the coronavirus outbreak .
“ I urge Utahns to take this seriously and follow the health recommendations we ’ re getting from the CDC and other health experts so that we can recover from this public health threat , ” he concluded .
RELATED : FTC Issues Scam Warning as Gov't Prepares to Mail Checks to Most Americans Florida Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart also announced Wednesday he had tested positive .
As for Trump ’ s joke , at least one member of the media did not take it such .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that term generously ) Aaron Rupar shared video of Trump ’ s remarks on Twitter , writing in the caption : “ TRUMP attacks reporters.
” It is no surprise that at least one reporter had to clutch his pearls in horror at the quip .
The media is not known for having a sense of humor when it comes to Trump .
Still , his joke has some truth to it .
Some in the media have questioned how wise it is for the president to be close to others on stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters aren ’ t all that far apart from one another in the briefing room .
Perhaps they ’ d rather catch the coronavirus and blame it on Trump ’ s briefing than avoid the disease .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

President Donald Trump joked at Thursday’s coronavirus briefing about getting rid of all the reporters he does not like, causing a least one member of the media to characterize the quip as an “attack.”
During the briefing, a reporter asked the president if he had “any guidance for Congress” after two congressmen announced they had tested positive for the virus.
Trump instead directed his advice, partially tongue-in-cheek, to the reporters in the briefing room.
“I know all of them,” he said of Congress. “I don’t know if they’re sitting like you people are sitting. You’re actually sitting too close.”
“Really, we should probably get rid of about another 75, 80 percent of you,” the president said.
“I’ll have just two or three that I like in this room. I think that’s a great way of doing it. We just figured a new way of doing it. But you’re actually much too close, you should leave immediately.”
The president spoke the day after two members of the House announced they had been inflicted with the disease.
“On Saturday evening, after returning from Washington, D.C., I developed mild cold-like symptoms. In consultation with my doctor on Sunday, I immediately isolated myself in my home,” Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah said Wednesday.
Please read my statement on contracting #COVID19. I have self-quarantined since first having symptoms and consulted with my doctor. #utpol pic.twitter.com/upx4NcTvF8 — Rep. Ben McAdams (@RepBenMcAdams) March 19, 2020
“I have been conducting all meetings by telephone. My symptoms got worse and I developed a fever, dry cough and labored breathing and I remained self-quarantined.
“On Tuesday, my doctor instructed me to get tested for COVID-19 and following his referral, I went to the local testing clinic for the test,” the congressman said.
“Today I learned that I tested positive. I am still working for Utahns and pursuing efforts to get Utahns the resources they need as I continue doing my job from home until I know it is safe to end my self-quarantine. I’m doing my part as all Americans are doing to contain the spread of the virus and mitigate the coronavirus outbreak.
“I urge Utahns to take this seriously and follow the health recommendations we’re getting from the CDC and other health experts so that we can recover from this public health threat,” he concluded.
Florida Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart also announced Wednesday he had tested positive.
I’d like to thank all of my friends and colleagues for their well-wishes as I recover from #COVID2019. With that being said, I continue to reiterate the seriousness of this pandemic and urge you to stay home and follow the @CDCgov‘s recommendations. — Mario Diaz-Balart (@MarioDB) March 19, 2020
As for Trump’s joke, at least one member of the media did not take it such.
Vox journalist (and we are using that term generously) Aaron Rupar shared video of Trump’s remarks on Twitter, writing in the caption: “TRUMP attacks reporters.”
TRUMP attacks reporters: “You’re actually sitting too close. We should probably get rid of about another 75-80 percent of you. I’ll have just two or three of you that I like in this room. I think that’s a great way of doing it.” pic.twitter.com/30ucSn9JSQ — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 19, 2020
It is no surprise that at least one reporter had to clutch his pearls in horror at the quip.
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The media is not known for having a sense of humor when it comes to Trump.
Still, his joke has some truth to it.
Some in the media have questioned how wise it is for the president to be close to others on stage during his briefings.
Yet White House reporters aren’t all that far apart from one another in the briefing room.
Perhaps they’d rather catch the coronavirus and blame it on Trump’s briefing than avoid the disease.
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westernjournal--2020-03-20--Federal Judge Shuts Down ACLU’s Attempt To Get Illegal Immigrants Released from Detention Center

A federal judge swatted away an attempt by the American Civil Liberties Union to release a group of illegal aliens in a Washington state detention center amid the coronavirus outbreak .
U.S. District Judge James L. Robart — who serves in the District Court for the Western District of Washington — on Thursday shot down a temporary restraining order request by nine detainees in the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center .
The detainees argued that older migrants and those with medical conditions made them more vulnerable to COVID-19 .
The plaintiffs , represented by the ACLU and other progressive groups , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citing the coronavirus pandemic .
Robart , however , found that the plaintiffs didn ’ t prove the government was attempting to punish them by keeping them in detainment .
A viral infection , he said , may be a possibility , but not a “ likely ” result of remaining in the detention center .
TRENDING : Trump Savages NBC Reporter Trying To Take Hope from American People , Media Instantly Freaks Out “ There is no evidence that anyone at [ the Tacoma Northwestern Detention Center ] has COVID-19 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are taking to prevent such a spread from occurring , ” Robart said in his denial .
The judge found that , even if the plaintiffs had demonstrated risks , release wasn ’ t necessarily the answer .
Robart instead said plaintiffs could request that the detention center ’ s conditions be improved .
“ Finally , even if Plaintiffs could show a Fifth Amendment violation , Plaintiffs provide no authority under which such a violation would justify immediate release , as opposed to injunctive relief that would leave Plaintiffs detained while ameriolating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Robart said .
“ Thus , the court concludes that Plaintiffs fail to meet their burden of clearly showing that they are likely to succeed on the merits of their claims , ” he continued .
The decision is a major blow to the ACLU , the ACLU of Washington , and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project , three groups that filed their suit on Wednesday .
A spokesperson for the plaintiffs vowed to continue fighting their case .
“ Public health officials are in agreement — it is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak in immigrant detention centers , but when , ” Eunice Cho , an ACLU lawyer , said in a statement released Thursday .
“ ICE should heed their warning .
By refusing to immediately release our clients , ICE is jeopardizing their lives and the lives of its staff and their families.
” The lawsuit battle comes after ICE announce it would scale back its operations amid the coronavirus outbreak , placing more focus on aliens that pose more of a “ public safety threat.
” As of Friday morning , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the coronavirus , but progressive and immigrant-rights groups argue the agency is not prepared should an outbreak in their facilities occur .
A version of this article appeared on The Daily Caller News Foundation website .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A federal judge swatted away an attempt by the American Civil Liberties Union to release a group of illegal aliens in a Washington state detention center amid the coronavirus outbreak.
U.S. District Judge James L. Robart — who serves in the District Court for the Western District of Washington — on Thursday shot down a temporary restraining order request by nine detainees in the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center.
The detainees argued that older migrants and those with medical conditions made them more vulnerable to COVID-19.
The plaintiffs, represented by the ACLU and other progressive groups, sued to be released from custody, citing the coronavirus pandemic.
Robart, however, found that the plaintiffs didn’t prove the government was attempting to punish them by keeping them in detainment. A viral infection, he said, may be a possibility, but not a “likely” result of remaining in the detention center.
“There is no evidence that anyone at [the Tacoma Northwestern Detention Center] has COVID-19, and plaintiffs do not address the measures defendants are taking to prevent such a spread from occurring,” Robart said in his denial.
The judge found that, even if the plaintiffs had demonstrated risks, release wasn’t necessarily the answer. Robart instead said plaintiffs could request that the detention center’s conditions be improved.
“Finally, even if Plaintiffs could show a Fifth Amendment violation, Plaintiffs provide no authority under which such a violation would justify immediate release, as opposed to injunctive relief that would leave Plaintiffs detained while ameriolating any alleged violative conditions within the facility,” Robart said.
“Thus, the court concludes that Plaintiffs fail to meet their burden of clearly showing that they are likely to succeed on the merits of their claims,” he continued.
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The decision is a major blow to the ACLU, the ACLU of Washington, and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, three groups that filed their suit on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for the plaintiffs vowed to continue fighting their case.
“Public health officials are in agreement — it is not a matter of if there is a COVID-19 outbreak in immigrant detention centers, but when,” Eunice Cho, an ACLU lawyer, said in a statement released Thursday.
“ICE should heed their warning. By refusing to immediately release our clients, ICE is jeopardizing their lives and the lives of its staff and their families.”
The lawsuit battle comes after ICE announce it would scale back its operations amid the coronavirus outbreak, placing more focus on aliens that pose more of a “public safety threat.”
As of Friday morning, no aliens in ICE detention have tested positive for the coronavirus, but progressive and immigrant-rights groups argue the agency is not prepared should an outbreak in their facilities occur.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
A version of this article appeared on The Daily Caller News Foundation website.
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westernjournal--2020-03-21--Pro-Gun Student Faces Felony Terrorism Charge for Harmless AR-15 Joke

In August 2019 , Lake Superior State University student , Eagle Scout and Second Amendment aficionado Lucas Gerhard posted a picture of an AR-15 rifle he was going to take back to college .
Guns are allowed on campus and he was looking forward to showing off his firearm , something his father says he bought with his summer earnings working at a diner .
“ Takin this bad boy up , this outta make the snowflakes melt , aye ?
And I mean snowflakes as in snow , ” he said in a private Snapchat group , showing his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joke .
The mere sight of a gun melts millennial/Gen-Z activist types who take trigger warnings seriously .
It ’ s funny .
It got Gerhard charged with terrorism .
TRENDING : In Priceless Exchange , Trump Tells Press He Should Get Rid of 75 % of Them To Keep Virus From Spreading According to The College Fix , someone in the private Snapchat group showed the photo to another student outside the group — a young woman who had political disagreements with Lucas and had been blocked from his account .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the group , the young woman found the AR-15 photo threatening .
She took a snapshot and informed his school .
When he came back for the fall semester and checked his gun in at the school armory , officials at the Sault Ste .
Marie , Michigan school informed local law enforcement , and police were soon at his dorm , replete with a search warrant for his Snapchat account .
Mark Gerhard told The College Fix his son had problems on campus before this due to his conservative beliefs .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photo , the school let him return .
Gerhard also noted Lake Superior State believed he was such a threat that “ there was no contact by law enforcement until approximately 4-5 hours after his arrival on campus .
This is well after he checked in his rifle and ammunition , received his room key and a building pass that opened virtually every door on campus.
” The young man told police that hurting people was the furthest thing from his mind — in fact , he wanted to be a policeman .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Says 'Buying Guns Is a Bad Idea ' and Does n't Mix with People Staying Home But a prosecutor charged him anyway with making terroristic threats , which could carry up to 20 years in prison .
“ I was in disbelief .
I couldn ’ t believe the prosecutor had actually decided to press charges , ” Gerhard ’ s father told the Detroit Free Press .
He added that his son was “ never vindictive about anything , never antagonistic ” even if he was an outspoken conservative .
Lucas was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 250,000 bond .
While incarcerated , his diabetes medicine was poorly administered and prison meals made his blood sugar “ dangerously high , ” his father said .
He was eventually released and remains under house arrest .
Perhaps most disturbing , The College Fix reported that “ Gerhard claimed that through the arraignment , pre-trial and preliminary exam processes , university staff would be there watching and would ‘ join up with the prosecutor and go behind closed doors ’ after most sessions.
” The university did not comment when contacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it didn ’ t bother to answer why he ’ d been allowed to return to campus even though the school deemed him enough of a threat to notify law enforcement upon his return .
At present , Lucas Gerhard is scheduled to go to trial over a Snapchat image of a legally purchased gun and a joke which in no way constituted a terrorist threat .
GOP state Rep.Beau LaFave told The College Fix he supports Gerhard and says he was exercising his right to free speech .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty clear that an individual at LSSU exercised his First Amendment right to talk about his Second Amendment right and the police , the university and everybody involved made grievous mistakes in charging him with a 20 year terrorism felony .
And I think it ’ s disturbing to have de facto red flag laws implemented by the police , the judge , the prosecutor and the university when he broke , to my knowledge , no laws , ” he said .
Another state GOP lawmaker , Michigan state Rep. John Reilly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ redefine the crime of both making a terroristic threat and falsely reporting terrorism .
According to the Free Press , Michigan doesn ’ t require a target for a terroristic threat for or a “ reasonable person ” to interpret it as a threat .
“ I never thought our society was so fragile that someone ’ s life could be ruined for telling a joke among friends , ” Reilly said .
“ It ’ s a travesty that the county prosecutor charged him with any crime , for something that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First Amendment.
” I ’ m not certain the bill has the chance to save him .
We can only pray a jury has enough common sense to do so .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

In August 2019, Lake Superior State University student, Eagle Scout and Second Amendment aficionado Lucas Gerhard posted a picture of an AR-15 rifle he was going to take back to college.
Guns are allowed on campus and he was looking forward to showing off his firearm, something his father says he bought with his summer earnings working at a diner.
“Takin this bad boy up, this outta make the snowflakes melt, aye? And I mean snowflakes as in snow,” he said in a private Snapchat group, showing his new purchase.
You get the obvious joke. The mere sight of a gun melts millennial/Gen-Z activist types who take trigger warnings seriously. It’s funny.
It got Gerhard charged with terrorism.
According to The College Fix, someone in the private Snapchat group showed the photo to another student outside the group — a young woman who had political disagreements with Lucas and had been blocked from his account.
(The Washington Examiner reported two students outside the group were shown the picture and both went to campus safety.)
Even though she wasn’t included in the group, the young woman found the AR-15 photo threatening.
She took a snapshot and informed his school.
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When he came back for the fall semester and checked his gun in at the school armory, officials at the Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan school informed local law enforcement, and police were soon at his dorm, replete with a search warrant for his Snapchat account.
Mark Gerhard told The College Fix his son had problems on campus before this due to his conservative beliefs.
And yet, even though they had the photo, the school let him return.
Gerhard also noted Lake Superior State believed he was such a threat that “there was no contact by law enforcement until approximately 4-5 hours after his arrival on campus. This is well after he checked in his rifle and ammunition, received his room key and a building pass that opened virtually every door on campus.”
The young man told police that hurting people was the furthest thing from his mind — in fact, he wanted to be a policeman.
But a prosecutor charged him anyway with making terroristic threats, which could carry up to 20 years in prison.
“I was in disbelief. I couldn’t believe the prosecutor had actually decided to press charges,” Gerhard’s father told the Detroit Free Press.
He added that his son was “never vindictive about anything, never antagonistic” even if he was an outspoken conservative.
Lucas was sent to jail for 83 days on $250,000 bond. While incarcerated, his diabetes medicine was poorly administered and prison meals made his blood sugar “dangerously high,” his father said.
He was eventually released and remains under house arrest.
Perhaps most disturbing, The College Fix reported that “Gerhard claimed that through the arraignment, pre-trial and preliminary exam processes, university staff would be there watching and would ‘join up with the prosecutor and go behind closed doors’ after most sessions.”
The university did not comment when contacted by The College Fix. Most notably, it didn’t bother to answer why he’d been allowed to return to campus even though the school deemed him enough of a threat to notify law enforcement upon his return.
At present, Lucas Gerhard is scheduled to go to trial over a Snapchat image of a legally purchased gun and a joke which in no way constituted a terrorist threat.
GOP state Rep.Beau LaFave told The College Fix he supports Gerhard and says he was exercising his right to free speech.
“I think in this particular instance it’s pretty clear that an individual at LSSU exercised his First Amendment right to talk about his Second Amendment right and the police, the university and everybody involved made grievous mistakes in charging him with a 20 year terrorism felony. And I think it’s disturbing to have de facto red flag laws implemented by the police, the judge, the prosecutor and the university when he broke, to my knowledge, no laws,” he said.
Another state GOP lawmaker, Michigan state Rep. John Reilly, has introduced a bill which would redefine the crime of both making a terroristic threat and falsely reporting terrorism.
According to the Free Press, Michigan doesn’t require a target for a terroristic threat for or a “reasonable person” to interpret it as a threat.
“I never thought our society was so fragile that someone’s life could be ruined for telling a joke among friends,” Reilly said. “It’s a travesty that the county prosecutor charged him with any crime, for something that is clearly and undeniably protected speech under the First Amendment.”
We agree.
I’m not certain the bill has the chance to save him. We can only pray a jury has enough common sense to do so.
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westernjournal--2020-03-21--Idaho Legislature Passes Bill Blocking Transgender Athletes from Girls Sports

Idaho has given final legislative approval to a law that would ban males who identify as female from competing against girls and women in public school and college sports .
On Monday , the Idaho Senate passed the bill 24-11 .
The bill had passed the state House earlier , but it passed the House again Wednesday to conform to changes made by the Senate , according to the Idaho Press .
It ’ s unclear whether Republican Gov .
Brad Little will sign or veto the legislation .
Participation by transgender athletes in female sports is a hot-button issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three female high school athletes have filed suit over that state ’ s policy of allowing athletes to compete based on gender identity and not biology .
That lawsuit came after boys competing against girls have dominated track events .
TRENDING : In Priceless Exchange , Trump Tells Press He Should Get Rid of 75 % of Them To Keep Virus From Spreading The Fairness in Women ’ s Sports Act was sponsored in the Idaho House by Republican state Rep. Barbara Ehardt of Idaho Falls .
“ Under this bill , boys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take the place of girls and women in sports because it is not fair , ” Ehardt said , according to Reuters .
Females “ simply can not physically compete ” against males “ due to their inherent biological advantages , ” she said .
Idaho Transgender Sports Bill by The Western Journal on Scribd Republican state Sen. Mary Souza , who sponsored the bill in the Senate , said the issue was not discrimination , but to restore the balance in women ’ s sports .
“ It started to level the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the Idaho Statesman .
“ But now we are in a new crisis .
Girls who have been struggling and training and competing in their sport are suddenly confronted by biological males.
” Under the legislation , if there is a dispute over whether an athlete is male or female , the student must “ provide a health examination and consent form or other statement signed by the student ’ s personal health care provider.
” Although Idaho has not had any transgender disputes , Souza said the state could face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not show leadership .
“ It ’ s coming , ” she said , according to the East Idaho News .
“ It ’ s a great time now for Idaho to set a consistent policy.
” Republican state Sen. Jim Rice said males can choke off competitive opportunities for females .
“ I think that it is important to protect those opportunities for my granddaughters , ” Rice said .
“ This bill protects Title IX , ” he said .
“ It doesn ’ t destroy it .
It protects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear that our legislators are more interested in pushing their transphobia through the legislature , regardless of who it damages , than in listening to the facts , ” Tolman said , according to the Idaho Press .
“ We have worked to appeal to their sense of compassion for how transgender people will be treated , how they will be ostracized further by this legislation , and the very true danger this would pose to a population of their constituency that is already fighting against being othered , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in particular , just want to be able to live their lives free from harassment and with community , something that playing on the sports team that matches their identity has already provided them in Idaho for years .
“ Today , instead of acknowledging their humanity , the Senate chose to give the trans community yet another cold shoulder.
” The NCAA and Idaho High School Activities Association currently require boys and men who wish to participate in sports as females to undergo a year of hormone therapy before competing , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Idaho has given final legislative approval to a law that would ban males who identify as female from competing against girls and women in public school and college sports.
On Monday, the Idaho Senate passed the bill 24-11. The bill had passed the state House earlier, but it passed the House again Wednesday to conform to changes made by the Senate, according to the Idaho Press.
It’s unclear whether Republican Gov. Brad Little will sign or veto the legislation.
Participation by transgender athletes in female sports is a hot-button issue around the country.
In Connecticut, three female high school athletes have filed suit over that state’s policy of allowing athletes to compete based on gender identity and not biology. That lawsuit came after boys competing against girls have dominated track events.
Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood want to become defendants in a federal suit that seeks to block them from participating in girls sports in Connecticut. https://t.co/dVcMHpbE69 — NBC Out (@NBCOUT) February 23, 2020
The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act was sponsored in the Idaho House by Republican state Rep. Barbara Ehardt of Idaho Falls.
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“Under this bill, boys and men will not be able to take the place of girls and women in sports because it is not fair,” Ehardt said, according to Reuters.
Females “simply cannot physically compete” against males “due to their inherent biological advantages,” she said.
Idaho Transgender Sports Bill by The Western Journal on Scribd
Republican state Sen. Mary Souza, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, said the issue was not discrimination, but to restore the balance in women’s sports.
“It started to level the playing field,” she said, according to the Idaho Statesman. “But now we are in a new crisis. Girls who have been struggling and training and competing in their sport are suddenly confronted by biological males.”
Female athletes “deserve a fair chance,” Souza said.
Under the legislation, if there is a dispute over whether an athlete is male or female, the student must “provide a health examination and consent form or other statement signed by the student’s personal health care provider.”
Although Idaho has not had any transgender disputes, Souza said the state could face a patchwork of local actions if it does not show leadership.
“It’s coming,” she said, according to the East Idaho News. “It’s a great time now for Idaho to set a consistent policy.”
Republican state Sen. Jim Rice said males can choke off competitive opportunities for females.
“I think that it is important to protect those opportunities for my granddaughters,” Rice said.
“This bill protects Title IX,” he said. “It doesn’t destroy it. It protects those opportunities.”
Mistie Tolman, Idaho state director for Planned Parenthood Votes, argued otherwise.
“It’s clear that our legislators are more interested in pushing their transphobia through the legislature, regardless of who it damages, than in listening to the facts,” Tolman said, according to the Idaho Press.
“We have worked to appeal to their sense of compassion for how transgender people will be treated, how they will be ostracized further by this legislation, and the very true danger this would pose to a population of their constituency that is already fighting against being othered,” she said. “Transgender people, and transgender youth in particular, just want to be able to live their lives free from harassment and with community, something that playing on the sports team that matches their identity has already provided them in Idaho for years.
“Today, instead of acknowledging their humanity, the Senate chose to give the trans community yet another cold shoulder.”
Trans girls are girls https://t.co/O5kODhTGli — Mistie Tolman (@mistietolman) March 18, 2020
The NCAA and Idaho High School Activities Association currently require boys and men who wish to participate in sports as females to undergo a year of hormone therapy before competing, according to Boise State Public Radio.
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westernjournal--2020-03-21--Immigrants Arrested by ICE in 2019 Had Been Convicted of Over 1,500 Murders

A new report shows the importance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in protecting Americans and the battle the agency faces .
The report from the Office of the Inspector General in the Department of Homeland Security noted that in fiscal year 2019 , which ran from October 2018 through September 2019 , “ ICE arrested 143,100 aliens who were either charged with or convicted of 489,100 various crimes.
” Among those are illegal immigrants who had 1,549 convictions for murder and another 349 who were charged with homicide , according to the report .
The report said that among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convictions for sexual assault and 1,992 charges .
Both crimes pale beside the number charged under the category “ Dangerous Drugs.
” The report said there were 47,453 convictions for drug offenses among the illegal immigrants arrested and another 20,277 charges .
TRENDING : In Priceless Exchange , Trump Tells Press He Should Get Rid of 75 % of Them To Keep Virus From Spreading “ There is no doubt that the border crisis , coupled with the unwillingness of some local jurisdictions that choose to put politics over public safety has made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out its Congressionally mandated interior enforcement mission , ” ICE Acting Director Matthew T. Albence , speaking of the agency ’ s overall Enforcement and Removal Operations , said in a statement on the ICE website .
“ No matter where you live in the U.S. , your safety is impacted by criminal aliens who came to this country illegally and now live in your neighborhoods , ” he said .
“ Despite our significant challenges , and as evidenced by the tremendous work of the professional men and women of ERO , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recidivist criminals from our communities and restoring integrity to the nation ’ s immigration system.
” The DHS OIG report focused on the Criminal Alien Program , which targets illegal immigrants charged with or convicted of crimes .
It said the biggest flaw plaguing ICE was how to handle the rise in so-called sanctuary cities that will not inform or cooperate with ICE when an illegal immigrant is arrested .
The report said that “ because ICE relies on cooperation from other law enforcement agencies , it faces challenges apprehending aliens in uncooperative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to detain aliens identified through CAP who are located in uncooperative jurisdictions , results in increased risk those aliens will commit more crimes .
Furthermore , having to arrest ‘ at-large ’ aliens may put officer , detainee , and public safety at risk and strains ICE ’ s staffing resources , ” the report said .
Although the report suggested some internal improvement to promote better data tracking and increase efficiency , it said that when community partners work with ICE , the results are positive .
“ When CAP works as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share information and jurisdictions cooperate — ICE can identify criminal aliens while they are in custody , ” the report said .
But when communities choose not to work with ICE , criminal illegal immigrants go free .
RELATED : Federal Judge Shuts Down ACLU 's Attempt To Get Illegal Immigrants Released from Detention Center “ Restrictions on these jurisdictions ’ cooperation with ICE limit CAP ’ s effectiveness and increase the risk criminal aliens are released , rather than deported , and potentially commit additional , preventable crimes .
The resulting degradation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant , ” the report said .
“ ICE does not have sufficient resources to arrest all at-large aliens , especially in uncooperative jurisdictions that often do not honor detainers and release criminal aliens .
Therefore , it must selectively target these aliens , ” it said .
The report noted that the headwinds against ICE are growing stronger .
ICE issued what are called detainers to keep criminals in jail until the agency can process them 165,000 times in fiscal year 2019 , a 20 percent increase from the 137,000 issued in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the number of refusals to honor those detainers spiked 89 percent , reaching 16,400 in fiscal 2019 after being at 8,665 in fiscal 2014 , the report said .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
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A new report shows the importance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in protecting Americans and the battle the agency faces.
The report from the Office of the Inspector General in the Department of Homeland Security noted that in fiscal year 2019, which ran from October 2018 through September 2019, “ICE arrested 143,100 aliens who were either charged with or convicted of 489,100 various crimes.”
Among those are illegal immigrants who had 1,549 convictions for murder and another 349 who were charged with homicide, according to the report.
The report said that among the illegal immigrants removed, there were 4,658 convictions for sexual assault and 1,992 charges.
Both crimes pale beside the number charged under the category “Dangerous Drugs.” The report said there were 47,453 convictions for drug offenses among the illegal immigrants arrested and another 20,277 charges.
“There is no doubt that the border crisis, coupled with the unwillingness of some local jurisdictions that choose to put politics over public safety has made it more difficult for ICE to carry out its Congressionally mandated interior enforcement mission,” ICE Acting Director Matthew T. Albence, speaking of the agency’s overall Enforcement and Removal Operations, said in a statement on the ICE website.
“No matter where you live in the U.S., your safety is impacted by criminal aliens who came to this country illegally and now live in your neighborhoods,” he said. “Despite our significant challenges, and as evidenced by the tremendous work of the professional men and women of ERO, ICE remains committed to removing dangerous, recidivist criminals from our communities and restoring integrity to the nation’s immigration system.”
The DHS OIG report focused on the Criminal Alien Program, which targets illegal immigrants charged with or convicted of crimes.
It said the biggest flaw plaguing ICE was how to handle the rise in so-called sanctuary cities that will not inform or cooperate with ICE when an illegal immigrant is arrested.
Do you think federal funds should be withheld from cities and states that don't cooperate with ICE? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 100% (89 Votes) No: 0% (0 Votes)
The report said that “because ICE relies on cooperation from other law enforcement agencies, it faces challenges apprehending aliens in uncooperative jurisdictions.”
“ICE’s inability to detain aliens identified through CAP who are located in uncooperative jurisdictions, results in increased risk those aliens will commit more crimes. Furthermore, having to arrest ‘at-large’ aliens may put officer, detainee, and public safety at risk and strains ICE’s staffing resources,” the report said.
Although the report suggested some internal improvement to promote better data tracking and increase efficiency, it said that when community partners work with ICE, the results are positive.
“When CAP works as intended — that is, when agencies share information and jurisdictions cooperate — ICE can identify criminal aliens while they are in custody,” the report said.
But when communities choose not to work with ICE, criminal illegal immigrants go free.
“Restrictions on these jurisdictions’ cooperation with ICE limit CAP’s effectiveness and increase the risk criminal aliens are released, rather than deported, and potentially commit additional, preventable crimes. The resulting degradation in CAP’s effectiveness can be significant,” the report said.
“ICE does not have sufficient resources to arrest all at-large aliens, especially in uncooperative jurisdictions that often do not honor detainers and release criminal aliens. Therefore, it must selectively target these aliens,” it said.
The report noted that the headwinds against ICE are growing stronger.
ICE issued what are called detainers to keep criminals in jail until the agency can process them 165,000 times in fiscal year 2019, a 20 percent increase from the 137,000 issued in fiscal 2014.
Over that same period, the number of refusals to honor those detainers spiked 89 percent, reaching 16,400 in fiscal 2019 after being at 8,665 in fiscal 2014, the report said.
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westernjournal--2020-03-21--Armed Disabled Woman Kills One Home Invader, Fends Off Another, Police Say

Police say a disabled Texas woman shot and killed an intruder and fended off another during an attempted home invasion at her Houston apartment this past week .
Citing investigators , KHOU reported that on March 14 , two teens attempted to enter the woman ’ s northwest Houston apartment through a patio door during a brazen , daylight home invasion .
After shattering the woman ’ s glass patio door , one of the would-be intruders then reached inside and attempted to unlock a door , police said .
That is when the resident reportedly fired one shot with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teens .
The outlet did not disclose the woman ’ s identity , referring to her as simply a “ 53-year-old disabled resident.
” TRENDING : In Priceless Exchange , Trump Tells Press He Should Get Rid of 75 % of Them To Keep Virus From Spreading She was apparently home alone during the incident .
Harris County deputies arrived at the scene and found an 18-year-old on the ground outside of the residence .
The deputies reported finding the man in the grass .
He was pronounced dead at the scene and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Two arrests were made following the botched burglary , police said .
Deputies told KHOU that 18-year-old Ayanna Harrison and 17-year-old Aren Lacour , were quickly detained .
Police said Harrison drove the other two teens to the woman ’ s apartment , and described her vehicle as a getaway car .
“ Deputies said the getaway vehicle , a white four-door Mercedes-Benz , is linked to other burglaries in the area , ” according to KHOU .
Lacour and Harrison are both facing felony murder charges relating to the death of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arrested by ICE in 2019 Had Been Convicted of Over 1,500 Murders Under Texas law , criminal offenses that result in the death of another person , regardless of the circumstances , can result in murder charges .
This means that although Lacour and Harrison did not pull the trigger , their alleged actions in relation to the botched home invasion resulted in the death of the other teen .
Title 5 , Chapter 19 of the Texas Penal Code states a person can be charged with murder if the defendant “ commits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other than manslaughter , and in the course of and in furtherance of the commission or attempt , or in immediate flight from the commission or attempt , he commits or attempts to commit an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Police say a disabled Texas woman shot and killed an intruder and fended off another during an attempted home invasion at her Houston apartment this past week.
Citing investigators, KHOU reported that on March 14, two teens attempted to enter the woman’s northwest Houston apartment through a patio door during a brazen, daylight home invasion.
After shattering the woman’s glass patio door, one of the would-be intruders then reached inside and attempted to unlock a door, police said.
That is when the resident reportedly fired one shot with her firearm — hitting one of the teens.
The outlet did not disclose the woman’s identity, referring to her as simply a “53-year-old disabled resident.”
She was apparently home alone during the incident.
Harris County deputies arrived at the scene and found an 18-year-old on the ground outside of the residence.
The deputies reported finding the man in the grass.
He was pronounced dead at the scene and has not been identified, KHOU reported.
Do you think there there would be less crime if more people chose to arm themselves? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 99% (167 Votes) No: 1% (2 Votes)
Two arrests were made following the botched burglary, police said.
Deputies told KHOU that 18-year-old Ayanna Harrison and 17-year-old Aren Lacour, were quickly detained.
Police said Harrison drove the other two teens to the woman’s apartment, and described her vehicle as a getaway car.
“Deputies said the getaway vehicle, a white four-door Mercedes-Benz, is linked to other burglaries in the area,” according to KHOU.
Lacour and Harrison are both facing felony murder charges relating to the death of the unidentified teen.
Under Texas law, criminal offenses that result in the death of another person, regardless of the circumstances, can result in murder charges.
This means that although Lacour and Harrison did not pull the trigger, their alleged actions in relation to the botched home invasion resulted in the death of the other teen.
Title 5, Chapter 19 of the Texas Penal Code states a person can be charged with murder if the defendant “commits or attempts to commit a felony, other than manslaughter, and in the course of and in furtherance of the commission or attempt, or in immediate flight from the commission or attempt, he commits or attempts to commit an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual.”
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westernjournal--2020-03-21--‘American Idol’ Judges Blown Away by Pregnant 23-Year-Old When They Hear Her Sing

Competition shows like “ American Idol ” regularly introduce viewers to memorable characters , both positive and negative .
There are all sorts of stories that drive people to showcase their talent through such a public venue .
Amber Fiedler , 23 , has the potential to become one of the most memorable faces this year .
She ’ s got it all , as far as contestants go : striking looks , an astonishingly powerful voice and a touching story .
Fiedler was very open with the panel of judges during her first appearance when she described the journey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She admitted that she ’ d been a partier and that she ’ d made some poor life choices .
And then she found out she was pregnant : But that ’ s exactly what saved her .
TRENDING : In Priceless Exchange , Trump Tells Press He Should Get Rid of 75 % of Them To Keep Virus From Spreading What , for many , would have been a nuisance or an embarrassment was a turning point for her .
She knew she didn ’ t have the stability she ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she decided to offer up her baby for adoption .
“ There ’ s days when I don ’ t even have $ 20 in my pocket , ” she told the judges , contrasting that with the condition of the family she ’ d chosen to adopt her baby girl .
She also explained that the adoption would be an open one so that she ’ d still be able to see her little one grow up and have some sort of bond with her .
Being pregnant really changed Fiedler .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ womb made her reconsider her life and realize some truths about herself .
Because of the baby , her life was turned around .
“ The baby — she saved me , ” Fiedler said during her audition video .
“ She really did.
” Her story is definitely a unique selling point as far as the show is concerned , and the judges praised her for how maturely she was handling the entire situation .
Then there was the all-important matter of her singing ability , which — thankfully — was impressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the next round , though they also wondered aloud how she would make it to through the next levels since the baby was due in two weeks ( Fiedler was 38 weeks pregnant at the time of her first audition ) .
Fiedler reassured them that she ’ d do her best to keep up with the competition and that if it was meant to be , it would happen .
Apparently , it was meant to be , as the Hollywood Week interview revealed that Fiedler had given birth and made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Two Children Play Classical Concert on Cellos for Isolated Elderly Neighbor “ I had her three weeks ago , and I feel really good , ” she said in the video to a round of applause .
“ I feel good.
” She went on to say that it was a beautiful experience that confirmed to her that offering her daughter up for adoption to the couple she selected was the right thing to do .
She sang “ Rise Up ” and will be advancing in the competition .
Hopefully , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive one for Fiedler , and she will be an inspiration to anyone who finds themself in the same situation as she was in .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Competition shows like “American Idol” regularly introduce viewers to memorable characters, both positive and negative. There are all sorts of stories that drive people to showcase their talent through such a public venue.
Amber Fiedler, 23, has the potential to become one of the most memorable faces this year. She’s got it all, as far as contestants go: striking looks, an astonishingly powerful voice and a touching story.
Fiedler was very open with the panel of judges during her first appearance when she described the journey that led her to the stage. She admitted that she’d been a partier and that she’d made some poor life choices.
And then she found out she was pregnant: But that’s exactly what saved her.
What, for many, would have been a nuisance or an embarrassment was a turning point for her. She knew she didn’t have the stability she’d want to raise the child, so she decided to offer up her baby for adoption.
“There’s days when I don’t even have $20 in my pocket,” she told the judges, contrasting that with the condition of the family she’d chosen to adopt her baby girl.
She also explained that the adoption would be an open one so that she’d still be able to see her little one grow up and have some sort of bond with her.
Being pregnant really changed Fiedler. The thought of the child in her womb made her reconsider her life and realize some truths about herself. Because of the baby, her life was turned around.
“The baby — she saved me,” Fiedler said during her audition video. “She really did.”
Her story is definitely a unique selling point as far as the show is concerned, and the judges praised her for how maturely she was handling the entire situation.
Then there was the all-important matter of her singing ability, which — thankfully — was impressive. The judges all put her through to the next round, though they also wondered aloud how she would make it to through the next levels since the baby was due in two weeks (Fiedler was 38 weeks pregnant at the time of her first audition).
Fiedler reassured them that she’d do her best to keep up with the competition and that if it was meant to be, it would happen. Apparently, it was meant to be, as the Hollywood Week interview revealed that Fiedler had given birth and made it back up on stage.
“I had her three weeks ago, and I feel really good,” she said in the video to a round of applause. “I feel good.”
She went on to say that it was a beautiful experience that confirmed to her that offering her daughter up for adoption to the couple she selected was the right thing to do. She sang “Rise Up” and will be advancing in the competition.
Hopefully, the journey will continue to be a positive one for Fiedler, and she will be an inspiration to anyone who finds themself in the same situation as she was in.
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westernjournal--2020-03-21--Photos from Gillum’s Wild Drug and Alcohol-Fueled Night Go Public: Report

Photographs reportedly from failed Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum ’ s wild drug- and alcohol-fueled party night have gone public , and the pictures look damning .
The photos , acquired by the U.K. Daily Mail , give much-needed context to the mysterious night that left one man overdosed .
The scene described by police is accurately captured in the photos , including baggies apparently full of methamphetamine and empty alcohol bottles , underscoring the shocking decision by authorities to send Gillum on his way without so much as a citation .
It ’ s unclear if Gillum , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been charged with a crime if he were an ordinary citizen and not a former Democratic Party idol .
Judging by the chaotic and hedonistic state of the Miami Beach hotel room seen in the photos , it ’ s hard to imagine an average Joe being allowed to simply go home .
TRENDING : In Priceless Exchange , Trump Tells Press He Should Get Rid of 75 % of Them To Keep Virus From Spreading Unidentified pills can be seen strewn about , along with several of the telltale orange prescription @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of crystal meth , were photographed , along with a bottle of medication designed to be injected intravenously .
Bedding thrashed and left lying around the upscale hotel room had suspicious stains , seemingly from various bodily fluids .
The scandalous photos made their way onto social media , and news of the discovery quickly took off .
Conservative photojournalist Andy Ngo ’ s followers spread the news once he uploaded the pictures .
Gillum was found in an “ inebriated state ” by police , who responded to the scene with paramedics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also in the hotel room .
While this other man was initially described as a longtime “ friend ” of Gillum , reports of the man ’ s work as a gay male escort quickly surfaced .
News of the police call , overdose and Gillum ’ s involvement instantly went viral .
RELATED : Guest Host Talks Some Sense into 'The View ' Ladies Upset About Trump 's 'Chinese ' Virus Term Gillum has claimed that after losing his gubernatorial race , he fell into a deep depression .
To cope with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ star turned to alcohol .
The former candidate said his state in the hotel room was the result of having “ too much to drink ” while in town for a wedding .
Gillum quickly conceded that he had a problem , and decided to remedy the situation .
Earlier this week , he announced that he would be entering a rehab program .
“ I want to apologize to my family , friends and the people of Florida who have supported me and put their faith in me over the years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down from any public roles he held before .
Hopefully Gillum makes a full recovery and is able to continue a normal and productive life in the future .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Photographs reportedly from failed Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum’s wild drug- and alcohol-fueled party night have gone public, and the pictures look damning.
The photos, acquired by the U.K. Daily Mail, give much-needed context to the mysterious night that left one man overdosed.
The scene described by police is accurately captured in the photos, including baggies apparently full of methamphetamine and empty alcohol bottles, underscoring the shocking decision by authorities to send Gillum on his way without so much as a citation.
It’s unclear if Gillum, who ran for governor in 2018, would have been charged with a crime if he were an ordinary citizen and not a former Democratic Party idol.
Judging by the chaotic and hedonistic state of the Miami Beach hotel room seen in the photos, it’s hard to imagine an average Joe being allowed to simply go home.
Unidentified pills can be seen strewn about, along with several of the telltale orange prescription bottles.
Small baggies, seemingly full of crystal meth, were photographed, along with a bottle of medication designed to be injected intravenously.
Bedding thrashed and left lying around the upscale hotel room had suspicious stains, seemingly from various bodily fluids.
The scandalous photos made their way onto social media, and news of the discovery quickly took off. Conservative photojournalist Andy Ngo’s followers spread the news once he uploaded the pictures.
The Daily Mail has obtained photos from inside Andrew Gillum’s hotel room where a gay male escort had an overdose. The images show bags of white powder, illegal drugs, an injectable medicine that causes erection & sheets/towels soiled with bodily fluids. https://t.co/6nb2IduqwC pic.twitter.com/YhMljg5FP0 — Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) March 20, 2020
Gillum was found in an “inebriated state” by police, who responded to the scene with paramedics to assist an overdosed man who was also in the hotel room.
While this other man was initially described as a longtime “friend” of Gillum, reports of the man’s work as a gay male escort quickly surfaced.
News of the police call, overdose and Gillum’s involvement instantly went viral.
Gillum has claimed that after losing his gubernatorial race, he fell into a deep depression. To cope with his overwhelming sadness, the former Democratic star turned to alcohol.
The former candidate said his state in the hotel room was the result of having “too much to drink” while in town for a wedding.
Gillum quickly conceded that he had a problem, and decided to remedy the situation.
Earlier this week, he announced that he would be entering a rehab program.
“I want to apologize to my family, friends and the people of Florida who have supported me and put their faith in me over the years,” Gillum said, promising to step down from any public roles he held before.
Hopefully Gillum makes a full recovery and is able to continue a normal and productive life in the future.
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