westernjournal--2020-07-28--Liberal Celebrity Sings Song To Get Joe Biden Out of Hiding After He Fails To Show Up for Fundraiser

Is Kristin Chenoweth a covert conservative ?
Or is she what used to be called , back in the Cold War days , a “ useful idiot ?
” In terms of the former , I kind of doubt it .
Best known for her roles in “ Wicked ” and “ Glee , ” the Broadway regular is a liberal Christian who openly criticizes That Kind of Christian — you know , the ones who believe the Bible still means something .
She ’ s a former girlfriend of liberal Hollywood scribe Aaron Sorkin , best known for “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Few Good Men , ” “ Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip ” and “ The Newsroom.
” ( If none of this is jogging your memory , you might remember “ The Newsroom ” for that one infamous , facile clip your liberal friends never got tired of sharing where Jeff Daniels ’ character talks about how “ America is not the greatest country in the world anymore.
” ) A “ useful idiot ” of the right ?
Probably not in the accepted definition of the term , although she might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TRENDING : Seattle Radio Host Gives Narrative-Busting Account of What 's Happening in City : 'Evil People' Idiot may be a bit harsh , but one wouldn ’ t accuse her of occupying terrain on the opposite side of the battlefield , either .
Useful ?
Well , this week , she ’ s certainly managed to be .
Chenoweth was one of a slate of celebrities taking part in a virtual concert fundraiser this past weekend for Biden ’ s campaign .
The event was called “ Celebration for Change : 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more apt title might have been “ Night of a Thousand Stars Your Parents Know and Love.
” I suppose this is the safe way to fundraise , but I ’ m not particularly young and the only performer on the docket who ’ s made a decent , relevant album in the past decade was Andra Day .
Barbra Streisand received top billing , because of course she did .
If you ’ re the kind of millennial who doesn ’ t mind sonic mediocrity and just realized they have an American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two ago you totally forgot to spend , Dave Matthews and Sara Bareilles were there .
John Legend has never made a fantastic album , but he definitely hasn ’ t made anything resembling acceptable in almost 15 years — and to be honest , I ’ d be more interested to see if his wife , Chrissy Teigen , took the stage and launched into a profane rant .
( She didn ’ t , alas . )
To be honest , I don ’ t even like Kristin Chenoweth ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most interesting performers there .
Oh , and to punctuate this whole hot mess of indifference with a shrug emoji , it was hosted by Jay Leno , according to Billboard .
And there were politicians , too ; Sens .
Kamala Harris of California and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin , along with former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg were all in attendance .
Then there was Hollywood star power .
Tituss Burgess of “ Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ” made an appearance , as did Julianne Moore , Andy Cohen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rosie Perez .
Point is , there were plenty of big names at the Joe Biden fundraiser from all walks of stardom .
But one was conspicuously absent : Joe Biden .
And that ’ s where Chenoweth ’ s useful idiocy comes in .
Speaking of mediocrity , one of the most popular songs from “ Wicked ” is , well , “ Popular.
” If you ’ re not familiar with the play , it ’ s a retelling of “ The Wizard of Oz ” from the point of view @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the West , in which she really wasn ’ t that bad .
It was the one of the first of these sweeping retellings of a cultural touchstone in which the villain is turned into a tragic hero .
“ Wicked ” may be junk , but it opened the door for my work-in-progress musical “ Live Softly , ” a retelling of “ Die Hard ” in which Hans Gruber is actually a sensitive , Robin Hood-like figure who merely wants to take money from from the evil Nakatomi Corporation and give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany .
I ’ m still working on the lyrics to the showstopper , “ Someday They ’ ll Make a Great Christmas Movie About This.
” Anyhow , Chenoweth ( or someone with songwriting chops ) reworked the lyrics to “ Popular ” to make it about Biden — but the new version inadvertently drew attention to the fact that the candidate she was stumping for has to be dragged out of his basement like he ’ s Punxsutawney Phil and the campaign is like a certain Bill Murray movie where every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t be hidin ’ out / Bring Joe Biden out !
” Apparently the campaign was too busy vetting vice presidential candidates to vet the lyrics to Chenoweth ’ s contribution on Sunday .
Here ’ s the full version , which was supposed to be a shot at Trump but , well , wasn ’ t .
“ I ’ ll tell you what ties to wear / Maybe dye your hair / Everything that really counts to be popular , ” Chenoweth sang , presumably a shot at the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ties .
“ You see I ’ m adorable / I ’ m deplorable / Well Joe , you can be that too / Be like me and let ’ s turn all of those red states blue , ” she continued .
“ True , I hear folks with blue collars trust you to increase their dollars / As you ’ ve always done on their behalf , ” Chenoweth sang .
“ But think of certain current heads of state who think they ’ re great communicators / Did they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t make me laugh , they ’ re just popular.
” Just so we ’ re clear , this was supposed make Biden look good .
I know you might be confused .
So you had Kristin Chenoweth being arch in her delivery and failing .
To make things worse , I hear Dave Matthews was actually serious .
Biden didn ’ t give the keynote speech at the event , of course .
That fell to Barbra Streisand .
“ Donald Trump has failed us .
And we can not survive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m sad and embarrassed by his lack of humanity , ” Streisand said , according to the U.K. Daily Mail .
“ But Joe Biden understands the anguish we ’ re feeling right now .
He will listen to people rather than greeting them with guns .
All they want is justice .
It ’ s as simple as that.
” Right .
See if he remembers what they say two minutes later .
That ’ s the invariable problem with Biden .
You can turn out Barbra Streisand , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Eventually , if Biden is to remain , well , popular , he eventually has to emerge from his basement .
An idiot ?
Kristin Chenoweth certainly makes more money singing than I do criticizing her , so I suppose there ’ s that .
Useful ?
Without a doubt .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Is Kristin Chenoweth a covert conservative? Or is she what used to be called, back in the Cold War days, a “useful idiot?”
In terms of the former, I kind of doubt it. Best known for her roles in “Wicked” and “Glee,” the Broadway regular is a liberal Christian who openly criticizes That Kind of Christian — you know, the ones who believe the Bible still means something.
She’s a former girlfriend of liberal Hollywood scribe Aaron Sorkin, best known for “The West Wing,” “A Few Good Men,” “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” and “The Newsroom.” (If none of this is jogging your memory, you might remember “The Newsroom” for that one infamous, facile clip your liberal friends never got tired of sharing where Jeff Daniels’ character talks about how “America is not the greatest country in the world anymore.”)
She’s a supporter of liberal candidates — including, unsurprisingly, Joe Biden.
A “useful idiot” of the right? Probably not in the accepted definition of the term, although she might manage to technically fit the bill.
Idiot may be a bit harsh, but one wouldn’t accuse her of occupying terrain on the opposite side of the battlefield, either. Useful? Well, this week, she’s certainly managed to be.
Chenoweth was one of a slate of celebrities taking part in a virtual concert fundraiser this past weekend for Biden’s campaign. The event was called “Celebration for Change: 100 Days to Go,” although a more apt title might have been “Night of a Thousand Stars Your Parents Know and Love.”
I suppose this is the safe way to fundraise, but I’m not particularly young and the only performer on the docket who’s made a decent, relevant album in the past decade was Andra Day.
Barbra Streisand received top billing, because of course she did. If you’re the kind of millennial who doesn’t mind sonic mediocrity and just realized they have an American Eagle gift certificate from a decade or two ago you totally forgot to spend, Dave Matthews and Sara Bareilles were there.
Do you think Joe Biden will win the 2020 presidential election? Yes No
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John Legend has never made a fantastic album, but he definitely hasn’t made anything resembling acceptable in almost 15 years — and to be honest, I’d be more interested to see if his wife, Chrissy Teigen, took the stage and launched into a profane rant. (She didn’t, alas.)
To be honest, I don’t even like Kristin Chenoweth’s singing and she was definitely among the most interesting performers there. Oh, and to punctuate this whole hot mess of indifference with a shrug emoji, it was hosted by Jay Leno, according to Billboard.
And there were politicians, too; Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, along with former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg were all in attendance.
Then there was Hollywood star power. Tituss Burgess of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” made an appearance, as did Julianne Moore, Andy Cohen, Rob Reiner, Jane Krakowski and Rosie Perez.
Point is, there were plenty of big names at the Joe Biden fundraiser from all walks of stardom. But one was conspicuously absent: Joe Biden.
And that’s where Chenoweth’s useful idiocy comes in. Speaking of mediocrity, one of the most popular songs from “Wicked” is, well, “Popular.” If you’re not familiar with the play, it’s a retelling of “The Wizard of Oz” from the point of view of Glinda, the Wicked Witch of the West, in which she really wasn’t that bad.
It was the one of the first of these sweeping retellings of a cultural touchstone in which the villain is turned into a tragic hero. “Wicked” may be junk, but it opened the door for my work-in-progress musical “Live Softly,” a retelling of “Die Hard” in which Hans Gruber is actually a sensitive, Robin Hood-like figure who merely wants to take money from from the evil Nakatomi Corporation and give it to the impoverished people of East Germany. I’m still working on the lyrics to the showstopper, “Someday They’ll Make a Great Christmas Movie About This.”
Anyhow, Chenoweth (or someone with songwriting chops) reworked the lyrics to “Popular” to make it about Biden — but the new version inadvertently drew attention to the fact that the candidate she was stumping for has to be dragged out of his basement like he’s Punxsutawney Phil and the campaign is like a certain Bill Murray movie where every day is Feb. 2.
?”Don’t be hidin’ out! Bring Joe Biden out.”? During a Hollywood fundraiser Biden failed to show up for, Kristin Chenoweth sang a plea to his handlers to let him out of the basement. pic.twitter.com/D2eNCCLRvO — Trump War Room – Text TRUMP to 88022 (@TrumpWarRoom) July 27, 2020
“Don’t be hidin’ out / Bring Joe Biden out!” Apparently the campaign was too busy vetting vice presidential candidates to vet the lyrics to Chenoweth’s contribution on Sunday.
Here’s the full version, which was supposed to be a shot at Trump but, well, wasn’t.
Kristin Chenoweth preforming another original song — I think it is called Popular — with some biting lyrics. pic.twitter.com/FWS61poJbZ — Ted Johnson (@tedstew) July 27, 2020
“I’ll tell you what ties to wear / Maybe dye your hair / Everything that really counts to be popular,” Chenoweth sang, presumably a shot at the president’s hair and his choice in ties.
“You see I’m adorable / I’m deplorable / Well Joe, you can be that too / Be like me and let’s turn all of those red states blue,” she continued.
“True, I hear folks with blue collars trust you to increase their dollars / As you’ve always done on their behalf,” Chenoweth sang. “But think of certain current heads of state who think they’re great communicators / Did they have brains, heart or courage? Don’t make me laugh, they’re just popular.”
Just so we’re clear, this was supposed make Biden look good. I know you might be confused.
So you had Kristin Chenoweth being arch in her delivery and failing. To make things worse, I hear Dave Matthews was actually serious.
Biden didn’t give the keynote speech at the event, of course. That fell to Barbra Streisand.
“Donald Trump has failed us. And we cannot survive four more years of his incompetence. I’m sad and embarrassed by his lack of humanity,” Streisand said, according to the U.K. Daily Mail.
“But Joe Biden understands the anguish we’re feeling right now. He will listen to people rather than greeting them with guns. All they want is justice. It’s as simple as that.”
Right. See if he remembers what they say two minutes later.
That’s the invariable problem with Biden. You can turn out Barbra Streisand, and Kristin Chenoweth and the whole celebrity retinue.
Eventually, if Biden is to remain, well, popular, he eventually has to emerge from his basement.
An idiot? Kristin Chenoweth certainly makes more money singing than I do criticizing her, so I suppose there’s that. Useful? Without a doubt.
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westernjournal--2020-07-28--Ted Cruz: Democrats Are ‘Letting Their Cities Burn’; It’s Time They Paid the Price

As the long , hot summer of 2020 spirals into more street violence by rioters posing as protesters against police violence , the Republican senator is pushing one way to hold Democratic officers responsible for allowing the continuing chaos .
It ’ s a federal bill , introduced last week , to make cities liable for damage to businesses and personal property that ’ s being allowed to take place because the Democrats who control them are holding police back from their duty .
“ We ’ re seeing growing violence , we ’ re seeing physical assault , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to really tear down our society , and none of this should be complicated , ” Cruz told Fox News ’ “ America ’ s Newsroom ” on Tuesday .
“ You have a right to protest .
I have a right to protest peacefully .
We have a right to speak our minds .
The First Amendment protects that.
” TRENDING : Seattle Radio Host Gives Narrative-Busting Account of What 's Happening in City : 'Evil People' Cruz was responding specifically to a Wall Street Journal editorial published Monday evening that recapped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major American cities over the weekend – cities that are uniformly controlled by the Democratic Party .
“ The weekend ’ s events were a deliberate assault on public and private property , law enforcement , and public order , ” The Journal editorial said .
“ Lawlessness begets lawlessness , and in recent weeks we ’ ve seen reports of vigilantes and far-right activists joining the melee from Richmond to Philadelphia .
Local officials are allowing this disorder to occur , and the more it is indulged the worse it is likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ local officials are allowing this disorder to occur.
” And Cruz ’ s bill would make that tolerance for political violence too costly for cities to keep up .
“ What you or I don ’ t have a right to do is hurt somebody else , ” Cruz said .
“ You don ’ t have the right to physically assault someone else , to firebomb a police car , to loot and destroy a small business , to murder a police officer , and sadly we ’ ve seen all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ And all of that at the same time is being facilitated and even encouraged by Democratic politicians who have made a very cynical decision not to allow the police officers to actually do their job and protect physical safety , protect property , and so they ’ ve ordered the police officers to pull back and they ’ re letting their cities burn.
” Those are strong words , but there ’ s no doubt Democrats have demonstrated almost breathtaking disregard for the welfare of their own communities in the obsessive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump .
When riots swept through cities in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25 , the damage ran into the hundreds of millions of dollars , yet Democratic politicians have been more interested in displaying their solidarity with the rioters ’ alleged cause – fighting non-existent “ systemic racism ” – than in defending the law and the property it protects .
The country has seen this show before .
When the Freddie Gray riots rocked Baltimore in 2015 , then-Mayor Stephanie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news conference that “ we also gave those who wished to destroy space to do that as well.
” RELATED : NBA Owner Mark Cuban Called Ted Cruz a Coward - So Cruz Dared Him To Criticize China In the current round of destruction , officials in Portland , Oregon , have passed measures deliberately aimed at crippling the ability of their police force to use non-lethal methods to control rioters .
( National Review ’ s Andrew McCarthy did his usual brilliant job explaining the problems with that here . )
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officers on July 19 , featuring conservative commentator Michelle Malkin , was openly attacked by a mob of Black Lives Matter/antifa thugs while police stood by .
On Wednesday , Nick Rogers , head of the Denver police union , used a radio appearance to issue an apology to conservative commentator Michelle Malkin , one of the speakers at the “ Back the Blue ” rally ( about the 6:15 mark of the interview ) .
As Fox News reported , Rogers said a “ retreat order ” had been given to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men and women who were out in support of the police .
And as shown by the recurring violence in the Northwest , where rioters in Portland are fighting nightly with federal agents , the benign neglect of Democratic officials is making the situation worse .
As the Wall Street Journal editorial put it : “ Federal officers protecting federal property are now the targets of demonstrators , not the instigators of violence .
The real blame lies with progressive city leaders , who have all but promised violent protesters that they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill , the Restitution for Economic losses Caused by Leaders who Allow Insurrection and Mayhem ( RECLAIM ) , would “ hold state and local officials liable when rioters establish lawless ‘ autonomous zones ’ and officials abdicate their duty to protect their citizens.
” “ If you are injured or if your property is damaged during a riot , and the local officials have made the deliberate decision to withhold police protection , that you can sue that city , you can sue that municipality and get triple damages , ” Cruz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ In addition , ” he said , “ any city that refuses to provide police protection during a riot is denied eligibility for federal funds .
“ What these Democratic mayors and governors are doing , it is wrong .
It is endangering people ’ s lives , and it ’ s denying the basic civil rights that every American is entitled to.
” The value of the bill is likely mostly symbolic .
Even without the added liability , cities are hard-pressed to cover their own riot damage .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minneapolis wanted federal help to deal with the riots this year . )
It wouldn ’ t be wise for anyone making a claim to bank on getting money out of it .
Fiscal reality aside , there ’ s also the political reality .
The Cruz bill is only at the introduction stage , and even with a Republican-controlled Senate , it would still have to get through the Democrat-controlled House , so its chances of passage are virtually zero .
But symbolism is important , at a time when leftists agitators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapon .
Cruz has put down a marker that every American citizen who ’ s aghast at the violence in the cities — and the spineless connivance of local officials – should relate to .
This isn ’ t about race or “ police brutality ” or any other issue Black Lives Matter propagandists in the mainstream media are harping on .
This is about American law and order in the streets of the United States of America , and holding local officials accountable for fulfilling their responsibilities to their citizens .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will remind the rest of the country that the chaos plaguing the streets of major American cities has one real , underlying cause : the Democratic Party , both its unremitting hostility of the Democratic Party to the Trump White House and its persistent lies to the American people about their own country .
The long , hot summer of 2020 has shown just how willing Democratic officials have been to abdicate that responsibility – it ’ s time they paid a price .
And an even steeper one when the votes are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

For Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, it’s time Democrats paid the price.
As the long, hot summer of 2020 spirals into more street violence by rioters posing as protesters against police violence, the Republican senator is pushing one way to hold Democratic officers responsible for allowing the continuing chaos.
It’s a federal bill, introduced last week, to make cities liable for damage to businesses and personal property that’s being allowed to take place because the Democrats who control them are holding police back from their duty.
“We’re seeing growing violence, we’re seeing physical assault, we’re seeing radicals who are trying to really tear down our society, and none of this should be complicated,” Cruz told Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom” on Tuesday.
“You have a right to protest. I have a right to protest peacefully. We have a right to speak our minds. The First Amendment protects that.”
Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
Cruz was responding specifically to a Wall Street Journal editorial published Monday evening that recapped in scathing terms the violence that struck major American cities over the weekend – cities that are uniformly controlled by the Democratic Party.
“The weekend’s events were a deliberate assault on public and private property, law enforcement, and public order,” The Journal editorial said. “Lawlessness begets lawlessness, and in recent weeks we’ve seen reports of vigilantes and far-right activists joining the melee from Richmond to Philadelphia. Local officials are allowing this disorder to occur, and the more it is indulged the worse it is likely to get.”
The key phrase is “local officials are allowing this disorder to occur.” And Cruz’s bill would make that tolerance for political violence too costly for cities to keep up.
Do you think forcing cities to pay individuals and businesses for riot damage is a good idea? 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: 98% (2446 Votes) No: 2% (59 Votes)
“What you or I don’t have a right to do is hurt somebody else,” Cruz said. “You don’t have the right to physically assault someone else, to firebomb a police car, to loot and destroy a small business, to murder a police officer, and sadly we’ve seen all of that in riots throughout the country.”
“And all of that at the same time is being facilitated and even encouraged by Democratic politicians who have made a very cynical decision not to allow the police officers to actually do their job and protect physical safety, protect property, and so they’ve ordered the police officers to pull back and they’re letting their cities burn.”
Those are strong words, but there’s no doubt Democrats have demonstrated almost breathtaking disregard for the welfare of their own communities in the obsessive determination to show their disgust for President Donald Trump.
When riots swept through cities in the wake of George Floyd’s death in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25, the damage ran into the hundreds of millions of dollars, yet Democratic politicians have been more interested in displaying their solidarity with the rioters’ alleged cause – fighting non-existent “systemic racism” – than in defending the law and the property it protects.
The country has seen this show before. When the Freddie Gray riots rocked Baltimore in 2015, then-Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake became infamous for saying at a news conference that “we also gave those who wished to destroy space to do that as well.”
In the current round of destruction, officials in Portland, Oregon, have passed measures deliberately aimed at crippling the ability of their police force to use non-lethal methods to control rioters. (National Review’s Andrew McCarthy did his usual brilliant job explaining the problems with that here.)
In liberal-controlled Denver, a gathering to support police officers on July 19, featuring conservative commentator Michelle Malkin, was openly attacked by a mob of Black Lives Matter/antifa thugs while police stood by.
On Wednesday, Nick Rogers, head of the Denver police union, used a radio appearance to issue an apology to conservative commentator Michelle Malkin, one of the speakers at the “Back the Blue” rally (about the 6:15 mark of the interview).
As Fox News reported, Rogers said a “retreat order” had been given to the officers who should have protected the men and women who were out in support of the police.
And as shown by the recurring violence in the Northwest, where rioters in Portland are fighting nightly with federal agents, the benign neglect of Democratic officials is making the situation worse. As the Wall Street Journal editorial put it:
“Federal officers protecting federal property are now the targets of demonstrators, not the instigators of violence. The real blame lies with progressive city leaders, who have all but promised violent protesters that they can act with impunity.”
Cruz said the bill, the Restitution for Economic losses Caused by Leaders who Allow Insurrection and Mayhem (RECLAIM), would “hold state and local officials liable when rioters establish lawless ‘autonomous zones’ and officials abdicate their duty to protect their citizens.”
“If you are injured or if your property is damaged during a riot, and the local officials have made the deliberate decision to withhold police protection, that you can sue that city, you can sue that municipality and get triple damages,” Cruz said on “America’s Newsroom.”
“In addition,” he said, “any city that refuses to provide police protection during a riot is denied eligibility for federal funds.
“What these Democratic mayors and governors are doing, it is wrong. It is endangering people’s lives, and it’s denying the basic civil rights that every American is entitled to.”
The value of the bill is likely mostly symbolic. Even without the added liability, cities are hard-pressed to cover their own riot damage. (That’s why the mayor of Minneapolis wanted federal help to deal with the riots this year.) It wouldn’t be wise for anyone making a claim to bank on getting money out of it.
Fiscal reality aside, there’s also the political reality. The Cruz bill is only at the introduction stage, and even with a Republican-controlled Senate, it would still have to get through the Democrat-controlled House, so its chances of passage are virtually zero.
But symbolism is important, at a time when leftists agitators are using violence as a deliberate political weapon. Cruz has put down a marker that every American citizen who’s aghast at the violence in the cities — and the spineless connivance of local officials – should relate to.
This isn’t about race or “police brutality” or any other issue Black Lives Matter propagandists in the mainstream media are harping on.
This is about American law and order in the streets of the United States of America, and holding local officials accountable for fulfilling their responsibilities to their citizens.
If nothing else, Cruz’s bill will remind the rest of the country that the chaos plaguing the streets of major American cities has one real, underlying cause: the Democratic Party, both its unremitting hostility of the Democratic Party to the Trump White House and its persistent lies to the American people about their own country.
The long, hot summer of 2020 has shown just how willing Democratic officials have been to abdicate that responsibility – it’s time they paid a price.
And an even steeper one when the votes are counted in November.
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westernjournal--2020-07-28--Tony Shaffer: The Only Thing Biden Will Make Great Again Is China

President Trump ’ s recent decision to punish China for spying is yet another example of the bold and assertive leadership that America would never get under Beijing Biden .
Biden adheres to the feckless traditions of past Democratic leaders , such as Barack Obama ’ s “ red line ” debacle , that simply embolden enemies to act more aggressively , as well as Bill Clinton ’ s betrayals that permitted China to modernize its nuclear arsenal and allow it to become the credible military threat it is today .
After learning that the communist regime was actively attempting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Department formally condemned the People ’ s Republic of China for its espionage campaign and ordered Beijing to close its consulate in Houston , which served as the epicenter of the spying effort .
“ The Vienna Convention states diplomats must ‘ respect the laws and regulations of the receiving state ’ and ‘ have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that state , ’ ” the State Department said .
“ The United States will not tolerate the PRC ’ s violations of our sovereignty and intimidation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not tolerated the PRC ’ s unfair trade practices , theft of American jobs , and other egregious behavior.
” TRENDING : Seattle Radio Host Gives Narrative-Busting Account of What 's Happening in City : 'Evil People' The consul closure is just the latest example of the Trump administration ’ s ongoing determination to fight back against Chinese espionage and duplicity .
The White House , for instance , is currently considering a ban on TikTok — a Chinese-owned social media platform that is collecting sensitive private information from millions of users @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to prevent the Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei from accessing sensitive information in rival countries .
Likewise , President Trump and his team have pressured universities to close down the so-called “ Confucius Institutes ” that receive financial backing from the Chinese Communist Party to spread propaganda throughout American academia .
More importantly , the president is holding Beijing accountable for its deadly mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic and its efforts to conceal the truth about the disease from the world — a pandemic Beijing has attempted to leverage and shamelessly exploit for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now suffering as a result of the malfeasance of the Chinese government , ” the president said in May .
“ China ’ s cover-up of the Wuhan virus allowed the disease to spread all over the world , instigating a global pandemic that has cost more than 100,000 American lives and over a million lives worldwide.
” In contrast , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , Joe Biden , has been largely silent on China , refusing to acknowledge the existence of threats posed by Beijing .
He even derides those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behavior of the country with the world ’ s largest population and second-largest economy .
“ China is going to eat our lunch ?
Come on , man , ” Biden said last year , scoffing that “ they ’ re not competition for us.
” Biden also echoed Beijing ’ s propaganda campaign by attacking President Trump ’ s timely ban on travelers from China in the early days of the pandemic .
“ This is no time for Donald Trump ’ s record of hysteria and xenophobia — hysterical xenophobia — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of science , ” he said in January , referring to travel restrictions that have saved countless American lives .
Biden was so wrong that his own party and the mainstream media had to eventually acknowledge that President Trump ’ s decisive and effective action against China to both initially stop all travel and hold China accountable was correct .
Biden ’ s love affair with Beijing is nothing new , of course .
As a U.S. senator , Biden voted to grant China preferential trading privileges despite that country ’ s long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade practices .
During his time in the Obama-Biden administration , the former vice president helped to oversee a foreign policy doctrine that greatly strengthened and emboldened the communist regime .
China is an international bully that Biden has emboldened by appeasement and ignoring its naked aggression and criminal behavior ; a Biden administration would only serve to “ Make China Great Again.
” President Trump knows exactly how to handle China and resist its aggressive geopolitical expansionism — with tough rhetoric and even tougher action .
Beijing Biden , on the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appease and enable the communist regime .
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website .
If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal , you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

President Trump’s recent decision to punish China for spying is yet another example of the bold and assertive leadership that America would never get under Beijing Biden.
Biden adheres to the feckless traditions of past Democratic leaders, such as Barack Obama’s “red line” debacle, that simply embolden enemies to act more aggressively, as well as Bill Clinton’s betrayals that permitted China to modernize its nuclear arsenal and allow it to become the credible military threat it is today.
After learning that the communist regime was actively attempting to steal U.S. intellectual property, the State Department formally condemned the People’s Republic of China for its espionage campaign and ordered Beijing to close its consulate in Houston, which served as the epicenter of the spying effort.
“The Vienna Convention states diplomats must ‘respect the laws and regulations of the receiving state’ and ‘have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that state,’” the State Department said.
“The United States will not tolerate the PRC’s violations of our sovereignty and intimidation of our people, just as we have not tolerated the PRC’s unfair trade practices, theft of American jobs, and other egregious behavior.”
The consul closure is just the latest example of the Trump administration’s ongoing determination to fight back against Chinese espionage and duplicity.
The White House, for instance, is currently considering a ban on TikTok — a Chinese-owned social media platform that is collecting sensitive private information from millions of users worldwide — and has led a global effort to prevent the Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei from accessing sensitive information in rival countries.
Likewise, President Trump and his team have pressured universities to close down the so-called “Confucius Institutes” that receive financial backing from the Chinese Communist Party to spread propaganda throughout American academia.
More importantly, the president is holding Beijing accountable for its deadly mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic and its efforts to conceal the truth about the disease from the world — a pandemic Beijing has attempted to leverage and shamelessly exploit for its own benefit.
Do you think President Trump has handled our relationship with China well? Yes No
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“The world is now suffering as a result of the malfeasance of the Chinese government,” the president said in May. “China’s cover-up of the Wuhan virus allowed the disease to spread all over the world, instigating a global pandemic that has cost more than 100,000 American lives and over a million lives worldwide.”
In contrast, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, has been largely silent on China, refusing to acknowledge the existence of threats posed by Beijing.
He even derides those who express concerns about the increasingly hostile behavior of the country with the world’s largest population and second-largest economy.
“China is going to eat our lunch? Come on, man,” Biden said last year, scoffing that “they’re not competition for us.”
Biden also echoed Beijing’s propaganda campaign by attacking President Trump’s timely ban on travelers from China in the early days of the pandemic.
“This is no time for Donald Trump’s record of hysteria and xenophobia — hysterical xenophobia — and fearmongering to lead the way instead of science,” he said in January, referring to travel restrictions that have saved countless American lives.
Biden was so wrong that his own party and the mainstream media had to eventually acknowledge that President Trump’s decisive and effective action against China to both initially stop all travel and hold China accountable was correct.
Biden’s love affair with Beijing is nothing new, of course.
As a U.S. senator, Biden voted to grant China preferential trading privileges despite that country’s long history of engaging in illegal and abusive trade practices. During his time in the Obama-Biden administration, the former vice president helped to oversee a foreign policy doctrine that greatly strengthened and emboldened the communist regime.
China is an international bully that Biden has emboldened by appeasement and ignoring its naked aggression and criminal behavior; a Biden administration would only serve to “Make China Great Again.”
President Trump knows exactly how to handle China and resist its aggressive geopolitical expansionism — with tough rhetoric and even tougher action.
Beijing Biden, on the other hand, has only ever sought to appease and enable the communist regime.
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here.
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westernjournal--2020-07-28--Georgia School District Set To Reopen in Person, Without Mask Mandate

A school district in southwest Georgia is set to become one of the first in the country to resume in-person classes amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The Jefferson school district is set to begin in-person classes on Friday as most districts across Georgia have either postponed their start dates or elected to reconvene completely online , The New York Times reported .
The decision has triggered a microcosm of the nationwide debate over schools reopening in recent months .
For some families , what ’ s most concerning is not that the district is reopening , but that administrators have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks instead of explicitly mandating them .
Two seniors at Jefferson High School created an online petition calling for a mask mandate which has collected over 600 signatures as of Tuesday , according to The Times .
TRENDING : Seattle Radio Host Gives Narrative-Busting Account of What 's Happening in City : 'Evil People' In response , a competing petition calling for masks to be optional has garnered over 200 signatures , with some signers leaving comments accusing the debate of being politicized .
Jefferson ’ s planned reopening comes as some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States , including those in Los Angeles and New York City , recently announced plans to resume classes at least partially online .
President Donald Trump has called for schools to reopen in person , even if it requires a delayed start date , The Times reported .
His calls were echoed Thursday by the Center for Disease Control .
While numerous studies have concluded that children are less likely to become ill or die from COVID-19 , there has been less conclusive research on how likely they are to transmit the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shown that they are less likely to spread the disease .
Georgia has recorded over 165,000 COVID-19 cases and almost 3,500 deaths , according to a Johns Hopkins University database .
Jackson County , where Jefferson is located , has suffered only 13 deaths , according to The New York Times .
Donna McMullin , Jefferson ’ s superintendent , acknowledged the anxiety about resuming in-person classes , and said that masks were not being mandated due to students with medical exemptions and disabilities , The New York Times reported .
Dr. McMullin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment .
RELATED : Study : 111,000 Children Will Starve to Death Because of Economic Shutdowns 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 school district in southwest Georgia is set to become one of the first in the country to resume in-person classes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Jefferson school district is set to begin in-person classes on Friday as most districts across Georgia have either postponed their start dates or elected to reconvene completely online, The New York Times reported.
The decision has triggered a microcosm of the nationwide debate over schools reopening in recent months.
For some families, what’s most concerning is not that the district is reopening, but that administrators have “strongly encouraged” students to wear masks instead of explicitly mandating them.
Two seniors at Jefferson High School created an online petition calling for a mask mandate which has collected over 600 signatures as of Tuesday, according to The Times.
In response, a competing petition calling for masks to be optional has garnered over 200 signatures, with some signers leaving comments accusing the debate of being politicized.
Jefferson’s planned reopening comes as some of the largest school districts in the United States, including those in Los Angeles and New York City, recently announced plans to resume classes at least partially online.
President Donald Trump has called for schools to reopen in person, even if it requires a delayed start date, The Times reported. His calls were echoed Thursday by the Center for Disease Control.
While numerous studies have concluded that children are less likely to become ill or die from COVID-19, there has been less conclusive research on how likely they are to transmit the virus to others. Some recent studies have shown that they are less likely to spread the disease.
Do you believe schools should reopen in person? Yes No
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Georgia has recorded over 165,000 COVID-19 cases and almost 3,500 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University database.
Jackson County, where Jefferson is located, has suffered only 13 deaths, according to The New York Times.
Donna McMullin, Jefferson’s superintendent, acknowledged the anxiety about resuming in-person classes, and said that masks were not being mandated due to students with medical exemptions and disabilities, The New York Times reported.
Dr. McMullin did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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 their 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--2020-07-28--Bombshell: Twitter Restricts Donald Trump Jr.’s Account

Hell hath no fury like a tech company faced with a Republican who won ’ t say what they want him to .
Donald Trump Jr. , son of the president and one of his top surrogates , has had his access to his Twitter account restricted after he shared a video about the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine .
According to the BBC , the social media giant took its latest swipe at a member of the Trump administration by forbidding the president ’ s son from posting new tweets unless he deleted a video featuring doctors discussing the potential prophylactic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video , featuring physicians from the controversial group America ’ s Frontline Doctors , had been censored by several social media networks after it was streamed by Breitbart on Monday .
Tuesday morning , Trump Jr. spokesman Andrew Surabian said the president ’ s son had his account suspended because he shared the video .
TRENDING : Seattle Radio Host Gives Narrative-Busting Account of What 's Happening in City : 'Evil People' “ BREAKING : @ Twitter & [ Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey ] have suspended @ DonaldJTrumpJr for posting a viral video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Surabian said .
“ Big Tech is the biggest threat to free expression in America today & they ’ re continuing to engage in open election interference – full stop.
” Twitter would clarify that Trump Jr. ’ s account hadn ’ t been suspended — he ’ d merely been forced to delete the tweet containing the video and wait 12 hours before he would be allowed to tweet again .
“ Per the screenshot , the Tweet requires deletion because it violates our rules ( sharing misinformation on COVID-19 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ functionality for 12 hours , ” the tweet read .
“ We are taking action in line with our policy , ” Twitter told the BBC .
RELATED : Barbaric : Mom Forces Her Kids To Live in Tent Outside After Being Exposed to COVID Surabian said the difference was a matter of semantics .
“ If someone can ’ t tweet , retweet or like anything , pretty sure that qualifies as a suspension , even if they use a different corporate approved term for it , ” he said .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Surabian said Twitter ’ s actions against Trump Jr. were “ beyond the pale.
” “ Twitter suspending Don Jr. for sharing a viral video of medical professionals discussing their views on Hydroxychloroquine is further proof that Big Tech is intent on killing free expression online and is another instance of them committing election interference to stifle Republican voices , ” he said .
“ While there is indeed much disagreement in the medical community about the efficacy of Hydroxychloroquine in treating coronavirus , there have been studies reported on by ‘ mainstream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it may in fact be an effective treatment .
Those pretending otherwise are lying for political reasons .
“ It is beyond the pale for Twitter to silence someone for sharing the views of medical professionals who happen to dissent with their anti-Hydroxychloroquine narrative.
” The video was either identical to or a version of a similar video shared by Breitbart News on Monday .
According to the outlet ’ s statistics , it was by far the top video on social media before it was taken down for violating social media guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On its website , America ’ s Frontline Doctors said “ American life has fallen casualty to a massive disinformation campaign .
We can speculate on how this has happened , and why it has continued , but the purpose of the inaugural White Coat Summit is to empower Americans to stop living in fear .
If Americans continue to let so-called experts and media personalities make their decisions , the great American experiment of a Constitutional Republic with Representative Democracy , will cease.
” New York Times tech columnist Kevin Roose inquired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook on Monday and was told by spokesman Andy Stone that “ we removed it for sharing false information about cures and treatments for COVID-19.
” Stone also said the video didn ’ t meet Facebook ’ s “ newsworthiness policy ” in which content that violates the social media giant ’ s policies is allowed to remain up .
Now , we shouldn ’ t pretend the doctors ’ video isn ’ t controversial , even among conservatives .
One view , espoused here by TheBlaze ’ s Allie Beth Stuckey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of hand is a dangerous precedent : The other view , represented here by The Daily Wire ’ s Emily Zanotti , is that at least one member of America ’ s Frontline Doctors isn ’ t necessarily the most reliable person to be talking about hydroxychloroquine : That information comes from a 2013 sermon the doctor posted on YouTube .
First , neither Twitter nor Facebook specifically gave the strange beliefs of one of the doctors in the video as a reason they locked Trump Jr. ’ s account .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favorably about hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19 is definitely misinformation to social media .
Second , these are still doctors , whether you agree with the more esoteric beliefs of one of them .
Lara Trump noted something here : Third , neither Stuckey nor Zanotti believes the video ought to be taken down or anyone should be locked out of his account for sharing it .
Even in Zanotti ’ s case , she cites the Streisand effect : The process by which trying to limit access to information only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In this case , it doesn ’ t just draw attention to the video by America ’ s Frontline Doctors , it delegitimizes social media by making it look , yet again , like they ’ re specifically censoring the Tumps .
The reason behind that is , well , they are .
This is hardly the first time — mail-in voting is still the most egregious example — and it ’ ll hardly be the last time .
Social media has no consistent principles when it comes to what information gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targets .
The president and his family are among them .
This isn ’ t going to change anytime between now and Election Day .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Hell hath no fury like a tech company faced with a Republican who won’t say what they want him to.
Donald Trump Jr., son of the president and one of his top surrogates, has had his access to his Twitter account restricted after he shared a video about the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine.
According to the BBC, the social media giant took its latest swipe at a member of the Trump administration by forbidding the president’s son from posting new tweets unless he deleted a video featuring doctors discussing the potential prophylactic qualities of the antimalarial drug.
The video, featuring physicians from the controversial group America’s Frontline Doctors, had been censored by several social media networks after it was streamed by Breitbart on Monday.
Tuesday morning, Trump Jr. spokesman Andrew Surabian said the president’s son had his account suspended because he shared the video.
“BREAKING: @Twitter & [Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey] have suspended @DonaldJTrumpJr for posting a viral video of medical doctors talking about Hydroxychloroquin,” Surabian said.
“Big Tech is the biggest threat to free expression in America today & they’re continuing to engage in open election interference – full stop.”
BREAKING: @Twitter & @jack have suspended @DonaldJTrumpJr for posting a viral video of medical doctors talking about Hydroxychloroquine. Big Tech is the biggest threat to free expression in America today & they’re continuing to engage in open election interference – full stop. pic.twitter.com/7dJbauq43O — Andrew Surabian (@Surabees) July 28, 2020
Should Donald Trump Jr. have had his account restricted? Yes No
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Twitter would clarify that Trump Jr.’s account hadn’t been suspended — he’d merely been forced to delete the tweet containing the video and wait 12 hours before he would be allowed to tweet again.
“Per the screenshot, the Tweet requires deletion because it violates our rules (sharing misinformation on COVID-19), and the account will have limited functionality for 12 hours,” the tweet read.
“We are taking action in line with our policy,” Twitter told the BBC.
This account has not been permanently suspended. Per the screenshot, the Tweet requires deletion because it violates our rules (sharing misinformation on COVID-19), and the account will have limited functionality for 12 hours. More in our rules: https://t.co/0wHWVV5QS4 https://t.co/0gq7rlaNw7 — Twitter Comms (@TwitterComms) July 28, 2020
Surabian said the difference was a matter of semantics.
“If someone can’t tweet, retweet or like anything, pretty sure that qualifies as a suspension, even if they use a different corporate approved term for it,” he said.
This is such silly “pushback” from @TwitterComms…If someone can’t tweet, retweet or like anything, pretty sure that qualifies as a suspension, even if they use a different corporate approved term for it. https://t.co/2nIDjB0gnq — Andrew Surabian (@Surabees) July 28, 2020
In a statement to The Western Journal, Surabian said Twitter’s actions against Trump Jr. were “beyond the pale.”
“Twitter suspending Don Jr. for sharing a viral video of medical professionals discussing their views on Hydroxychloroquine is further proof that Big Tech is intent on killing free expression online and is another instance of them committing election interference to stifle Republican voices,” he said.
“While there is indeed much disagreement in the medical community about the efficacy of Hydroxychloroquine in treating coronavirus, there have been studies reported on by ‘mainstream’ outlets like CNN, suggesting that it may in fact be an effective treatment. Those pretending otherwise are lying for political reasons.
“It is beyond the pale for Twitter to silence someone for sharing the views of medical professionals who happen to dissent with their anti-Hydroxychloroquine narrative.”
The video was either identical to or a version of a similar video shared by Breitbart News on Monday. According to the outlet’s statistics, it was by far the top video on social media before it was taken down for violating social media guidelines against “misinformation” regarding COVID-19.
On its website, America’s Frontline Doctors said “American life has fallen casualty to a massive disinformation campaign. We can speculate on how this has happened, and why it has continued, but the purpose of the inaugural White Coat Summit is to empower Americans to stop living in fear. If Americans continue to let so-called experts and media personalities make their decisions, the great American experiment of a Constitutional Republic with Representative Democracy, will cease.”
New York Times tech columnist Kevin Roose inquired about the video’s removal from Facebook on Monday and was told by spokesman Andy Stone that “we removed it for sharing false information about cures and treatments for COVID-19.”
Yes, we removed it for sharing false information about cures and treatments for COVID-19. — Andy Stone (@andymstone) July 28, 2020
Stone also said the video didn’t meet Facebook’s “newsworthiness policy” in which content that violates the social media giant’s policies is allowed to remain up.
As Mark recently wrote about newsworthiness: “A handful of times a year, we leave up content that would otherwise violate our policies if the public interest value outweighs the risk of harm.” It being from a publisher has zero to do with it.” — Andy Stone (@andymstone) July 28, 2020
Now, we shouldn’t pretend the doctors’ video isn’t controversial, even among conservatives.
One view, espoused here by TheBlaze’s Allie Beth Stuckey, is that dismissing the doctors’ claims out of hand is a dangerous precedent:
I don’t know enough about the data to vouch for the effectiveness of Hydroxychloroquine. However, the censured doctor said she’d successfully treated 300 patients of all types, ages and backgrounds with it. I dunno… Should we just dismiss that? https://t.co/WxVpFFbVXI — Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) July 28, 2020
The other view, represented here by The Daily Wire’s Emily Zanotti, is that at least one member of America’s Frontline Doctors isn’t necessarily the most reliable person to be talking about hydroxychloroquine:
Oh why is the doc in the video bonkers? She believes you get endometriosis from having sex with demons in your dreams so, yes, excuse me if I don’t trust her medical advice on a disease members of my family have had. — Emily Zanotti (@emzanotti) July 28, 2020
That information comes from a 2013 sermon the doctor posted on YouTube.
You’ll notice three things, though.
First, neither Twitter nor Facebook specifically gave the strange beliefs of one of the doctors in the video as a reason they locked Trump Jr.’s account. They took it down because anything that speaks favorably about hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19 is definitely misinformation to social media.
Second, these are still doctors, whether you agree with the more esoteric beliefs of one of them. Lara Trump noted something here:
Must have missed all of the medical degrees held by the “fact checkers” in Silicon Valley. — Lara Trump (@LaraLeaTrump) July 28, 2020
Third, neither Stuckey nor Zanotti believes the video ought to be taken down or anyone should be locked out of his account for sharing it. Even in Zanotti’s case, she cites the Streisand effect: The process by which trying to limit access to information only interests more people in accessing that information.
In this case, it doesn’t just draw attention to the video by America’s Frontline Doctors, it delegitimizes social media by making it look, yet again, like they’re specifically censoring the Tumps.
The reason behind that is, well, they are.
This is hardly the first time — mail-in voting is still the most egregious example — and it’ll hardly be the last time.
Social media has no consistent principles when it comes to what information gets censored, but it does have consistent targets. The president and his family are among them.
This isn’t going to change anytime between now and Election Day.
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westernjournal--2020-07-28--Cruz COVID Bill Targets States Engaged in Religious Discrimination

Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz introduced a bill on Tuesday that would prevent state and local governments engaged in religious discrimination from receiving federal funding during the coronavirus pandemic .
The Safeguarding Americans from Coronavirus and Religious Exercise Discrimination Act would block state and local governments from receiving coronavirus relief funding if Attorney General William Barr finds that those governments are discriminating against religious individuals or institutions and violating First Amendment rights .
Barr would have to certify that the governments were no longer discriminating against religious freedoms for them to be eligible to receive funding .
“ Throughout this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of state and local governments instituting discriminatory regulations that unfairly target people of faith and which restrict houses of worship from operating while exempting secular gatherings and operations from the same rules , ” Cruz said in a statement provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation .
“ As Congress continues to provide relief funds to combat the impact of COVID-19 , it is crucial that we protect the First Amendment right of religious liberty from discrimination , ” Cruz added .
TRENDING : Seattle Radio Host Gives Narrative-Busting Account of What 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s why I ’ ve introduced the SACRED Act .
By blocking funds from governments that discriminate against religious organizations , we can fairly protect religious liberty and the rights of those who seek to gather together safely for worship.
” The bill comes as governors and local governments renew travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders following months of shutdowns that critics say have been rife with religious discrimination .
Democratic Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam banned gatherings of 10 or more people in initial stay-at-home orders , a restriction which effectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple religious leaders for defying shutdown orders , including Pastor Tony Spell of the Louisiana Life Tabernacle church and Florida megachurch pastor Rodney Howard-Browne .
Attorney General William Barr warned in an early April statement that “ even in times of emergency , ” federal law prohibits religious discrimination .
Barr also promised that the Justice Department would be on the lookout for state or local government that “ singles out , targets , or discriminates against any house of worship for special restrictions.
” Since that statement was issued , the department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeting churches and pastors in multiple states , including Nevada , California , Oklahoma , Illinois , Virginia and Mississippi .
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 .

Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz introduced a bill on Tuesday that would prevent state and local governments engaged in religious discrimination from receiving federal funding during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Safeguarding Americans from Coronavirus and Religious Exercise Discrimination Act would block state and local governments from receiving coronavirus relief funding if Attorney General William Barr finds that those governments are discriminating against religious individuals or institutions and violating First Amendment rights.
Barr would have to certify that the governments were no longer discriminating against religious freedoms for them to be eligible to receive funding.
“Throughout this pandemic we’ve seen numerous examples of state and local governments instituting discriminatory regulations that unfairly target people of faith and which restrict houses of worship from operating while exempting secular gatherings and operations from the same rules,” Cruz said in a statement provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“As Congress continues to provide relief funds to combat the impact of COVID-19, it is crucial that we protect the First Amendment right of religious liberty from discrimination,” Cruz added.
“That’s why I’ve introduced the SACRED Act. By blocking funds from governments that discriminate against religious organizations, we can fairly protect religious liberty and the rights of those who seek to gather together safely for worship.”
The bill comes as governors and local governments renew travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders following months of shutdowns that critics say have been rife with religious discrimination.
Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam banned gatherings of 10 or more people in initial stay-at-home orders, a restriction which effectively banned church services.
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom two weeks ago suspended religious gatherings indefinitely.
Do you support this bill? Yes No
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Authorities have arrested multiple religious leaders for defying shutdown orders, including Pastor Tony Spell of the Louisiana Life Tabernacle church and Florida megachurch pastor Rodney Howard-Browne.
Attorney General William Barr warned in an early April statement that “even in times of emergency,” federal law prohibits religious discrimination.
Barr also promised that the Justice Department would be on the lookout for state or local government that “singles out, targets, or discriminates against any house of worship for special restrictions.”
Since that statement was issued, the department has intervened in cases of shutdown rules targeting churches and pastors in multiple states, including Nevada, California, Oklahoma, Illinois, Virginia and Mississippi.
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 their 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--2020-07-28--Democrats, GOP Still at Loggerheads on Virus Aid as Key Deadline Approaches

It ’ s unclear whether any agreement can be reached between Congress and President Donald Trump before Friday ’ s deadline for expiring aid .
“ We can not afford to fail , ” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said as the chamber opened on Tuesday .
Key to the debate is the expiring $ 600 weekly unemployment benefit .
Republicans want to slash it to $ 200 a week as an incentive to get people back to work .
Democrats are refusing to go that low .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is defending cuts to unemployment assistance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controversial.
” TRENDING : Seattle Radio Host Gives Narrative-Busting Account of What 's Happening in City : 'Evil People' Republicans , he said , believe people should not be paid more while they are at home than they would if they were on the job .
“ The American people don ’ t call that a controversy , they call that common sense , ” he said .
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi dismissed the GOP ’ s proposal as “ wrong , ” and Schumer responded by waving a copy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floor with the headline : “ Let them eat cake.
” Both parties are eager for a deal .
There is widespread agreement that more money is needed for virus testing , to help schools prepare to open in the fall and to shore up small businesses , but they are far apart on the details .
Republicans seek $ 16 billion for virus testing , but Democrats want $ 75 billion .
For school reopenings , Democrats want four times the $ 105 billion Republicans propose .
Republicans propose no new funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide flexibility in how they spend previously approved aid .
Democrats propose to give out nearly $ 1 trillion to avert municipal layoffs of government workers .
One area of common ground is agreement on a new round of $ 1,200 direct payments to Americans earning $ 75,000 or less .
RELATED : Study : 111,000 Children Will Starve to Death Because of Economic Shutdowns Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows will return to Capitol Hill after meeting for nearly two hours late Monday with Pelosi and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As McConnell unveiled his long-awaited proposal on Monday , conservative Republicans broke ranks , arguing the spending was too much and priorities misplaced .
Half the Republican senators could vote against the bill , some warned .
“ He has all the Democrats on his side , ” Sen. Rand Paul said of the Republican leader .
As bipartisan talks unfold , the White House is now suggesting that a narrower relief package may be all that ’ s possible with Friday ’ s approaching deadlines .
The $ 600 weekly jobless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the March aid package , officially expires July 31 , but because of the way states process unemployment payments , the cutoff was effectively Saturday .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Negotiations launched, a gulf remains between Democrats’ $3 trillion coronavirus relief proposal and Republicans’ $1 trillion counteroffer.
It’s unclear whether any agreement can be reached between Congress and President Donald Trump before Friday’s deadline for expiring aid.
“We cannot afford to fail,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said as the chamber opened on Tuesday.
Key to the debate is the expiring $600 weekly unemployment benefit. Republicans want to slash it to $200 a week as an incentive to get people back to work. Democrats are refusing to go that low.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is defending cuts to unemployment assistance, saying Democrats “pretend it’s controversial.”
Republicans, he said, believe people should not be paid more while they are at home than they would if they were on the job.
“The American people don’t call that a controversy, they call that common sense,” he said.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi dismissed the GOP’s proposal as “wrong,” and Schumer responded by waving a copy of a New York newspaper on the Senate floor with the headline: “Let them eat cake.”
Both parties are eager for a deal. There is widespread agreement that more money is needed for virus testing, to help schools prepare to open in the fall and to shore up small businesses, but they are far apart on the details.
Do you believe the Democrats' $3 trillion proposal will succeed? 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: 5% (7 Votes) No: 95% (124 Votes)
Republicans seek $16 billion for virus testing, but Democrats want $75 billion.
For school reopenings, Democrats want four times the $105 billion Republicans propose.
Republicans propose no new funding for states and cities, preferring to provide flexibility in how they spend previously approved aid.
Democrats propose to give out nearly $1 trillion to avert municipal layoffs of government workers.
One area of common ground is agreement on a new round of $1,200 direct payments to Americans earning $75,000 or less.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows will return to Capitol Hill after meeting for nearly two hours late Monday with Pelosi and Schumer at the speaker’s office.
As McConnell unveiled his long-awaited proposal on Monday, conservative Republicans broke ranks, arguing the spending was too much and priorities misplaced.
Half the Republican senators could vote against the bill, some warned.
“He has all the Democrats on his side,” Sen. Rand Paul said of the Republican leader.
As bipartisan talks unfold, the White House is now suggesting that a narrower relief package may be all that’s possible with Friday’s approaching deadlines.
The $600 weekly jobless benefits boost, approved as part of the March aid package, officially expires July 31, but because of the way states process unemployment payments, the cutoff was effectively Saturday.
[jwplayer moyrWEeZ]
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westernjournal--2020-07-28--Herman Cain’s Team Gives Update on His Battle with COVID-19

Political commentator Herman Cain is still in the hospital fighting symptoms of COVID-19 , according to a Twitter update from his team .
Cain tested positive for the virus on June 29 and was hospitalized with serious symptoms on July 1 .
On Monday , Cain ’ s team posted about his current health status .
“ We know it ’ s been a few days since we last gave you an update on the boss .
But he is still in the hospital being treated with oxygen for his lungs , ” the Twitter statement read .
“ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other organs and systems are strong.
” TRENDING : Seattle Radio Host Gives Narrative-Busting Account of What 's Happening in City : 'Evil People' The prominent conservative figure ’ s team added , “ Re-strengthening the lungs is a long and slow process.
” Cain , 74 , is a survivor of Stage 4 colon cancer , which carries a five-year survival rate of just 14 percent , according to the American Cancer Society .
His widely reported cancer battle would leave him classified in the at-risk population believed to be more likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from it .
“ We ’ d like him to be able to come home now , which is frustrating , but we ’ re glad the doctors are being thorough and making sure they do the job right , ” the Twitter statement read .
“ Thank you for praying , everyone .
Please keep doing it .
He really is getting better , which means it is working.
” Cain ’ s staffers are unsure how he contracted the virus , but some people have speculated about Cain ’ s attendance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Tulsa , Oklahoma , on June 20 .
According to The Washington Post , as many as six presidential campaign staffers who were helping set up for the comeback rally tested positive for the virus .
HermanCain.com editor Dan Calabrese wrote a commentary article shortly after the announcement and sought to put to rest any speculation that Cain had contracted the coronavirus while attending the rally .
“ Since I know there will be questions : We honestly have no idea where he contracted it , ” Calabrese wrote .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally , but Herman did a lot of traveling the past week , including to Arizona where cases are spiking .
I don ’ t think there ’ s any way to trace this to the one specific contact that caused him to be infected.
” Cain is one of 4.3 million Americans who have tested positive for the virus , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Political commentator Herman Cain is still in the hospital fighting symptoms of COVID-19, according to a Twitter update from his team.
Cain tested positive for the virus on June 29 and was hospitalized with serious symptoms on July 1.
On Monday, Cain’s team posted about his current health status.
“We know it’s been a few days since we last gave you an update on the boss. But he is still in the hospital being treated with oxygen for his lungs,” the Twitter statement read.
“In the meantime, the doctors say his other organs and systems are strong.”
We know it’s been a few days since we last gave you an update on the boss. But he is still in the hospital being treated with oxygen for his lungs. In the meantime, the doctors say his other organs and systems are strong. — Herman Cain (@THEHermanCain) July 27, 2020
The prominent conservative figure’s team added, “Re-strengthening the lungs is a long and slow process.”
Cain, 74, is a survivor of Stage 4 colon cancer, which carries a five-year survival rate of just 14 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.
Do you think large gatherings are to blame for the spread of the coronavirus? 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: 60% (439 Votes) No: 40% (290 Votes)
His widely reported cancer battle would leave him classified in the at-risk population believed to be more likely to contract the virus or even die from it.
“We’d like him to be able to come home now, which is frustrating, but we’re glad the doctors are being thorough and making sure they do the job right,” the Twitter statement read.
“Thank you for praying, everyone. Please keep doing it. He really is getting better, which means it is working.”
We’d like him to be able to come home now, which is frustrating, but we’re glad the doctors are being thorough and making sure they do the job right. Thank you for praying, everyone. Please keep doing it. He really is getting better, which means it is working. — Herman Cain (@THEHermanCain) July 27, 2020
Cain’s staffers are unsure how he contracted the virus, but some people have speculated about Cain’s attendance at President Donald Trump’s rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 20.
According to The Washington Post, as many as six presidential campaign staffers who were helping set up for the comeback rally tested positive for the virus.
HermanCain.com editor Dan Calabrese wrote a commentary article shortly after the announcement and sought to put to rest any speculation that Cain had contracted the coronavirus while attending the rally.
“Since I know there will be questions: We honestly have no idea where he contracted it,” Calabrese wrote.
“I realize people will speculate about the Tulsa rally, but Herman did a lot of traveling the past week, including to Arizona where cases are spiking. I don’t think there’s any way to trace this to the one specific contact that caused him to be infected.”
Cain is one of 4.3 million Americans who have tested positive for the virus, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins.
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westernjournal--2020-07-28--Bill Gates Sides with Trump, Comes Out in Support of Reopening Schools

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates argued Tuesday in favor of children returning to classrooms this fall , aligning himself on the issue with President Donald Trump .
“ I ’ m a big believer that for young children , the benefits in almost every location , particularly if you can protect the teachers well , the benefits outweigh the costs , ” he said during an interview with CNBC ’ s “ Squawk Box.
” The billionaire said he feels once children reach a certain age , he is in favor of reassessing in-person learning and supplementing it with remote education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age , like , 13 and higher , then you ’ ll have to look at your locale to decide what you ’ ll do with high schools , ” he told CNBC .
“ And if they ’ re not in , then you have to put massive effort into trying to get there to be continued learning online , ” said Gates , who has donated millions of dollars to public education through his foundation .
TRENDING : Seattle Radio Host Gives Narrative-Busting Account of What 's Happening in City : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ally of the president ’ s , has been vocal amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The Microsoft co-founder has also touted a COVID-19 vaccine created by South Korean pharmaceutical company SK Bioscience , which he backs through his foundation , according to Fortune .
His stance on children returning to school is a pivot from an opinion he shared with CBS News anchor Norah O ’ Donnell just last week .
Gates told CBS News he did not see that happening until the fall of 2021 .
The issue of returning children to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RELATED : Georgia School District Set To Reopen in Person , Without Mask Mandate While the president and other Republicans are arguing to reopen the country ’ s schools next month , Democrats and unions representing teachers have signaled they are less than eager to see most families return to a sense of normality after most schools closed suddenly in March .
Trump has said , in no uncertain terms , that schools should be open for students to learn , socialize and get food and support .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools without massive federal spending .
“ The biggest risk to the spread of the pandemic is opening up the schools in a way that is not safe , ” Pelosi said , according to The Hill .
“ So if we ’ re going to defeat this pandemic , we shouldn ’ t be opening up to more arena to spread , ” she said .
Democrats attempted to allocate $ 90 billion for reopening schools in the partisan $ 3 trillion HEROES Act in May , but that legislation was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Redfield , director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , has said he believes children are safer returning to school .
He told The Hill that “ having the schools actually closed is a greater public health threat to the children than having the schools reopen.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates argued Tuesday in favor of children returning to classrooms this fall, aligning himself on the issue with President Donald Trump.
“I’m a big believer that for young children, the benefits in almost every location, particularly if you can protect the teachers well, the benefits outweigh the costs,” he said during an interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
The billionaire said he feels once children reach a certain age, he is in favor of reassessing in-person learning and supplementing it with remote education.
“As you get up to age, like, 13 and higher, then you’ll have to look at your locale to decide what you’ll do with high schools,” he told CNBC.
“And if they’re not in, then you have to put massive effort into trying to get there to be continued learning online,” said Gates, who has donated millions of dollars to public education through his foundation.
Gates, who is no ally of the president’s, has been vocal amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds. Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them. The world needs @WHO now more than ever. — Bill Gates (@BillGates) April 15, 2020
The Microsoft co-founder has also touted a COVID-19 vaccine created by South Korean pharmaceutical company SK Bioscience, which he backs through his foundation, according to Fortune.
His stance on children returning to school is a pivot from an opinion he shared with CBS News anchor Norah O’Donnell just last week.
Gates told CBS News he did not see that happening until the fall of 2021.
Bill Gates tells @NorahODonnell that he believes coronavirus will be “under control enough” for children to return to school “by fall 2021” https://t.co/Layv872iZy pic.twitter.com/KQdKB5M9RR — CBS News (@CBSNews) July 22, 2020
The issue of returning children to schools has become a political fight.
While the president and other Republicans are arguing to reopen the country’s schools next month, Democrats and unions representing teachers have signaled they are less than eager to see most families return to a sense of normality after most schools closed suddenly in March.
Trump has said, in no uncertain terms, that schools should be open for students to learn, socialize and get food and support.
SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL!!! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 6, 2020
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile, has joined opponents of reopening schools without massive federal spending.
“The biggest risk to the spread of the pandemic is opening up the schools in a way that is not safe,” Pelosi said, according to The Hill.
“So if we’re going to defeat this pandemic, we shouldn’t be opening up to more arena to spread,” she said.
Do you think schools should reopen this fall? 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: 98% (282 Votes) No: 2% (7 Votes)
Democrats attempted to allocate $90 billion for reopening schools in the partisan $3 trillion HEROES Act in May, but that legislation was not taken up by Senate Republicans.
Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has said he believes children are safer returning to school.
He told The Hill that “having the schools actually closed is a greater public health threat to the children than having the schools reopen.”
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westernjournal--2020-07-28--Big Tech CEOs Put Under the Microscope at Unprecedented Hearing

They command corporations with millions or even billions of customers and a combined value greater than the entire German economy .
One of them is the world ’ s richest individual ; another is the fourth-ranked billionaire .
Their industry has transformed society , linked people around the globe , mined and commercialized users ’ personal data , and infuriated critics on both the left and right over speech .
Now Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos , Facebook ’ s Mark Zuckerberg , Google ’ s Sundar Pichai and Tim Cook of Apple will answer for their companies ’ practices before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group .
It will be Bezos ’ first-ever appearance before Congress .
TRENDING : Seattle Radio Host Gives Narrative-Busting Account of What 's Happening in City : 'Evil People' The House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust is capping its yearlong investigation of big tech ’ s market dominance with Wednesday ’ s teleconferenced hearing spotlighting the four CEOs .
“ It ’ s mostly theater .
There are few genuine facts left to gather , ” according to Daniel Crane , a law professor at the University of Michigan who focuses on antitrust .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the questioning are important , Crane notes .
“ Are they willing to admit that there ’ s a problem with big tech ’ s market power , or is it denial mode ?
Will they recommend innovative private solutions , or retreat into defending themselves as champions of consumer interests who play it fair ?
” The bipartisan probe is the first such congressional review of an industry that for over a decade has enjoyed haloed status and a light touch from federal regulators .
Critics question whether the companies stifle competition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society .
The Judiciary panel collected testimony from mid-level executives of the four firms , competitors and legal experts , and pored over more than a million internal documents from the companies .
A key question : whether existing competition policies and century-old antitrust laws are adequate for overseeing the tech giants , or if new legislation and more funding for enforcement are needed .
Subcommittee chairman Rep. David Cicilline , a Rhode Island Democrat , has called the four companies monopolies , although he says breaking them up should be a last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP Official for Sharing Hydroxychloroquine Video The tech companies now face legal and political offensives on multiplying fronts , from Congress , the Trump administration , federal and state regulators and European watchdogs .
The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission have been investigating the four companies ’ practices , including the earlier acquisitions of smaller firms .
Facebook ’ s fiercest critics in Congress , including liberal Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren and conservative Republican Sen. Josh Hawley , have put breaking up big tech companies on the table .
Short of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the U.S. and abroad points toward possible new restrictions on their power .
Bezos , the world ’ s richest individual presiding over an e-commerce empire , initially declined to testify unless he could appear with the other CEOs .
He ’ ll likely face questioning over a Wall Street Journal report that found Amazon employees used sensitive and confidential data collected from sellers on its online marketplace to develop competing products .
Amazon says it doesn ’ t believe the Journal allegations are accurate , but has started an internal investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s earlier statements could be misleading and might even constitute perjury .
Zuckerberg is a Capitol Hill pro by this point .
He endured over five hours of grilling last fall by another House committee on hate speech , privacy , misinformation and Facebook ’ s widely-criticized plan for a new digital currency .
He also met privately with key lawmakers and with President Donald Trump , who has repeatedly criticized the tech companies .
Facebook has recently drawn fire for refusing to suppress conservative voices on its platform .
Zuckerberg has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much free expression as possible unless it causes imminent risk of specific harms or damage .
Pichai faced his own congressional interrogation in 2018 over online privacy and data protection , the danger of digital monopolies , alleged bias against conservative viewpoints and censorship by China .
He avoided the yes or no answers that lawmakers demanded .
EU regulators already have concluded that Google manipulated its search engine to gain an unfair advantage over other online shopping sites and fined the company , whose parent is Alphabet Inc. , a record $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ findings and is appealing .
Attorneys general from both parties in 50 states and territories , led by Texas , launched an antitrust investigation of Google in September , focused on its online advertising business .
Apple , whose iPhone is the third-largest seller in the world , faces EU investigations over the fees charged by its App Store and technical limitations that allegedly shut out competitors .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

They command corporations with millions or even billions of customers and a combined value greater than the entire German economy.
One of them is the world’s richest individual; another is the fourth-ranked billionaire.
Their industry has transformed society, linked people around the globe, mined and commercialized users’ personal data, and infuriated critics on both the left and right over speech.
Now Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Google’s Sundar Pichai and Tim Cook of Apple will answer for their companies’ practices before Congress for the first time as a group.
It will be Bezos’ first-ever appearance before Congress.
The House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust is capping its yearlong investigation of big tech’s market dominance with Wednesday’s teleconferenced hearing spotlighting the four CEOs.
“It’s mostly theater. There are few genuine facts left to gather,” according to Daniel Crane, a law professor at the University of Michigan who focuses on antitrust.
Still, the CEOs’ approaches to the questioning are important, Crane notes.
“Are they willing to admit that there’s a problem with big tech’s market power, or is it denial mode? Will they recommend innovative private solutions, or retreat into defending themselves as champions of consumer interests who play it fair?”
Do you support more regulation of big tech companies? 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: 98% (502 Votes) No: 2% (11 Votes)
The bipartisan probe is the first such congressional review of an industry that for over a decade has enjoyed haloed status and a light touch from federal regulators.
Critics question whether the companies stifle competition and innovation and pose a danger to society.
The Judiciary panel collected testimony from mid-level executives of the four firms, competitors and legal experts, and pored over more than a million internal documents from the companies.
A key question: whether existing competition policies and century-old antitrust laws are adequate for overseeing the tech giants, or if new legislation and more funding for enforcement are needed.
Subcommittee chairman Rep. David Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat, has called the four companies monopolies, although he says breaking them up should be a last resort.
The tech companies now face legal and political offensives on multiplying fronts, from Congress, the Trump administration, federal and state regulators and European watchdogs.
The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission have been investigating the four companies’ practices, including the earlier acquisitions of smaller firms.
Facebook’s fiercest critics in Congress, including liberal Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren and conservative Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, have put breaking up big tech companies on the table.
Short of breakup, the scrutiny of the companies across the U.S. and abroad points toward possible new restrictions on their power.
Bezos, the world’s richest individual presiding over an e-commerce empire, initially declined to testify unless he could appear with the other CEOs.
He’ll likely face questioning over a Wall Street Journal report that found Amazon employees used sensitive and confidential data collected from sellers on its online marketplace to develop competing products.
Amazon says it doesn’t believe the Journal allegations are accurate, but has started an internal investigation.
Lawmakers from both parties suggested Amazon’s earlier statements could be misleading and might even constitute perjury.
Zuckerberg is a Capitol Hill pro by this point. He endured over five hours of grilling last fall by another House committee on hate speech, privacy, misinformation and Facebook’s widely-criticized plan for a new digital currency.
He also met privately with key lawmakers and with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized the tech companies.
Facebook has recently drawn fire for refusing to suppress conservative voices on its platform. Zuckerberg has said the company aims to allow as much free expression as possible unless it causes imminent risk of specific harms or damage.
Pichai faced his own congressional interrogation in 2018 over online privacy and data protection, the danger of digital monopolies, alleged bias against conservative viewpoints and censorship by China. He avoided the yes or no answers that lawmakers demanded.
EU regulators already have concluded that Google manipulated its search engine to gain an unfair advantage over other online shopping sites and fined the company, whose parent is Alphabet Inc., a record $2.7 billion. Google has disputed the findings and is appealing.
Attorneys general from both parties in 50 states and territories, led by Texas, launched an antitrust investigation of Google in September, focused on its online advertising business.
Apple, whose iPhone is the third-largest seller in the world, faces EU investigations over the fees charged by its App Store and technical limitations that allegedly shut out competitors.
[jwplayer HLK1hXfR]
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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The Anti-Deplorables

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Branco cartoons , go to WesternJournal.com/cartoons .
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Bradley Cooper's latest role has not gone down well with everyone, particularly with regard to his use of a prosthetic nose.