westernjournal--2020-04-19--Residents: UK Police Are Searching Shopping Bags, Fining People if Items Aren’t ‘Essential’

In an attempt to tamp down on so-called nonessential public excursions amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , police in the United Kingdom are reportedly ramping up citation efforts .
According to an April 8 report from Edinburgh Live , a government guidance released on March 23 permits British residents to depart their places of residence only under a “ very limited ” set of circumstances , which includes essential grocery shopping , medical emergencies , exercise and work-related travel — and nothing else .
Scottish law enforcement officers are reportedly taking that order very seriously — so seriously , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locals for everything from supermarket snack runs to unapproved rides on public transportation .
The outlet reported that authorities have gone so far in attempting to enforce social distancing that shoppers have been asked to hand over their bags for routine search upon exiting the grocery store .
Those with items deemed “ nonessential ” run the risk of receiving a ticket .
TRENDING : Bill Maher Sends Warning to Media : Keep up Dishonest Virus Reporting , and Trump Will Win 2020 One such shopper was confirmed by Edinburgh Live to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only wine and snacks on a single trip to the store .
This is not believed to have been an isolated occurrence , with another unnamed Scottish citizen reportedly “ given a fine for buying a bottle of prosecco.
” A friend of the individual later called out local law enforcement over the incident on Twitter , writing , “ Your officers went through her bag and fined her because that ’ s all she bought .
May I remind you that alcohol is permitted to be bought and that your fascism is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is not considered an “ essential ” grocery item is not so black and white .
No guidance has been given as to what foods should and should not be purchased at this time , leaving police with an extraordinary amount of discretion .
The outlet did suggest that authorities may not be abusing that discretion , however , instead fining the individuals in question for failure to comply with officer requests for identification or simple cooperation .
Regardless , British citizens seem to be growing impatient with such action , similarly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state overreach .
A handful of locals have reported being fined for repeatedly leaving the house to allow pets to relieve themselves , while one 41-year-old York resident is said to have been arrested and fined £660 by British Transport Police for “ loitering ” at Newcastle Central train station earlier this month for refusing to tell authorities why she was traveling .
RELATED : Disease Expert : 'Herd Immunity ' Only Way To Defeat Virus Without Vaccine Some citizens have even taken to Twitter to post video of officers responding in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusing passersby of contributing to the public health emergency and even conducting raids on houses said to be hosting guests .
WARNING : The following video contains graphic language that some viewers will find offensive .
Concerns of potential governmental overreaction amid the ongoing pandemic have also been raised in the United States , where similar stay-at-home orders have been put in place across the nation to encourage social distancing .
And those orders have not been without enforcement stateside .
Just this week , three Colorado men were arrested and charged with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a state public health order by gathering at a friend ’ s private residence .
Nearby suburban father Matt Mooney of Brighton was detained and handcuffed by local police two weeks prior for playing T-ball with his 6-year-old daughter in a seemingly empty public park .
Restrictive policies and threatened government enforcement managed to trigger protests in Michigan ’ s capital of Lansing on Wednesday , as Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer extended the state ’ s stay-at-home despite widespread belief the U.S. is nearing a peak in the coronavirus outbreak .
Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarding official plans to reopen local economies , few hard deadlines have yet been given as to when daily life will return to normal .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

In an attempt to tamp down on so-called nonessential public excursions amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, police in the United Kingdom are reportedly ramping up citation efforts.
According to an April 8 report from Edinburgh Live, a government guidance released on March 23 permits British residents to depart their places of residence only under a “very limited” set of circumstances, which includes essential grocery shopping, medical emergencies, exercise and work-related travel — and nothing else.
Scottish law enforcement officers are reportedly taking that order very seriously — so seriously, in fact, that they have begun fining locals for everything from supermarket snack runs to unapproved rides on public transportation.
The outlet reported that authorities have gone so far in attempting to enforce social distancing that shoppers have been asked to hand over their bags for routine search upon exiting the grocery store.
Those with items deemed “nonessential” run the risk of receiving a ticket.
A friend of my daughter was fined £30 on the spot in Edinburgh the other night having just bought wine and snacks, both of which are non-essential. Still seems a bit draconian to me. — Iain Small (@Smally1969) April 4, 2020
One such shopper was confirmed by Edinburgh Live to have been fined £30 for being caught purchasing only wine and snacks on a single trip to the store.
This is not believed to have been an isolated occurrence, with another unnamed Scottish citizen reportedly “given a fine for buying a bottle of prosecco.”
Do you think the government has gone too far to enforce social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic? 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: 93% (782 Votes) No: 7% (63 Votes)
A friend of the individual later called out local law enforcement over the incident on Twitter, writing, “Your officers went through her bag and fined her because that’s all she bought. May I remind you that alcohol is permitted to be bought and that your fascism is not on!”
Yet what is and is not considered an “essential” grocery item is not so black and white. No guidance has been given as to what foods should and should not be purchased at this time, leaving police with an extraordinary amount of discretion.
The outlet did suggest that authorities may not be abusing that discretion, however, instead fining the individuals in question for failure to comply with officer requests for identification or simple cooperation.
Regardless, British citizens seem to be growing impatient with such action, similarly labeling other social distancing enforcement measures as state overreach.
A handful of locals have reported being fined for repeatedly leaving the house to allow pets to relieve themselves, while one 41-year-old York resident is said to have been arrested and fined £660 by British Transport Police for “loitering” at Newcastle Central train station earlier this month for refusing to tell authorities why she was traveling.
Some citizens have even taken to Twitter to post video of officers responding in a controversial manner to improper social distancing, accusing passersby of contributing to the public health emergency and even conducting raids on houses said to be hosting guests.
WARNING: The following video contains graphic language that some viewers will find offensive.
UK police break into a man’s house because they thought he was violating social distancing rules. pic.twitter.com/okuCEG4W2v — Roosh (@rooshv) April 14, 2020
The other week journalist @MikeSegalov got hassled and shouted at by the police for filming an incident in a park. Here’s the footage. Not a good look for the police – breaking social distancing rules by surrounding him and wrongly shouting at a journalist to go home. pic.twitter.com/BKXSXbE6Gm — Great Editor (@simonchilds13) April 16, 2020
Concerns of potential governmental overreaction amid the ongoing pandemic have also been raised in the United States, where similar stay-at-home orders have been put in place across the nation to encourage social distancing.
And those orders have not been without enforcement stateside.
Just this week, three Colorado men were arrested and charged with several misdemeanor offenses apiece for allegedly violating a state public health order by gathering at a friend’s private residence.
Nearby suburban father Matt Mooney of Brighton was detained and handcuffed by local police two weeks prior for playing T-ball with his 6-year-old daughter in a seemingly empty public park.
Restrictive policies and threatened government enforcement managed to trigger protests in Michigan’s capital of Lansing on Wednesday, as Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended the state’s stay-at-home despite widespread belief the U.S. is nearing a peak in the coronavirus outbreak.
Though discussions are being had in many nations regarding official plans to reopen local economies, few hard deadlines have yet been given as to when daily life will return to normal.
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westernjournal--2020-04-19--Nonprofit Org Rediscovers 10 Varieties of Apples Thought To Be Extinct

When you think about apples , the typical kinds — Granny Smith , Fuji and Gala — probably come to mind .
For the amateur apple botanists of The Lost Apple Project , they take it a step further .
And during last fall ’ s search through the forgotten pioneer orchards of the Pacific Northwest plains , the organization discovered 10 types of apples that experts previously thought were extinct .
“ The Whitman County Historical Society Lost Apple Project seeks to identify and preserve heritage apple trees and orchards in the Inland Empire , ” the nonprofit says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agent David Benscoter and Vietnam War veteran EJ Brandt met up in the fall of 2019 , as has been their custom since 2011 , to hunt for rare apples .
TRENDING : Bill Maher Sends Warning to Media : Keep up Dishonest Virus Reporting , and Trump Will Win 2020 The two retirees combed through “ long-forgotten ” orchards , some dating back 140 years , that were hidden in the canyons and forests of Idaho and Washington state , The Associated Press reported Wednesday .
While North America is believed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apples at one point , there are only 4,500 known varieties currently in existence .
After the organization ’ s season of apple sleuthing was over , they sent the fruits off to the Temperate Orchard Conservancy to be identified by experts .
They recently received their results from the October and November search , and learned they had discovered 10 different varieties of pioneer-era apples that were believed to have been lost to time .
“ It was just one heck of a season .
It was almost unbelievable .
If we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year in the past , we thought were were doing good .
But we were getting one after another after another , ” Brandt told the AP .
“ I don ’ t know how we ’ re going to keep up with that.
” Ever since Brandt and Benscoter embarked on their mission to preserve pioneer-era apples , they have rediscovered 23 different varieties .
That includes the 10 from the fall , which originated in areas across the nation and around the world .
The AP reported that some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” apples the gentlemen found include an ancient apple from Turkey known as the Sary Sinap , an apple called the Streaked Pippin that can be traced back to mid-18th century New York , and the Pennsylvania Butter Sweet , which has a lineage that dates back to 1901 in Illinois .
RELATED : Harry and Meghan Spotted Reportedly Feeding the Needy in First Sighting Since Moving to LA With more finds this season than ever before , the men were excited about their two largest annual events , which typically end up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10,000 apple extravaganza budget each fall .
Each spring , they host a fair where people can purchase the apples that they rediscovered during their hunt from the fall before .
They also offer a grafting class in which they teach people about what they do and how to grow a new apple tree .
However , the nonprofit announced last month that the events were canceled ( as are most public gatherings across the country right now ) , making it difficult for the two men to have confidence in how they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yearly apple search .
“ Two months ago , I was thinking : ‘ This is going to be great .
We ’ ve got 10 varieties that have been rediscovered , ’ but … right now , we couldn ’ t pay our bills , ” Benscoter said .
The two men told the AP that even though their future endeavors are unclear at this time , they aren ’ t letting the cancellations discourage their efforts .
The AP shared their story on Twitter , and the reactions it received were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fair are canceled for this year , the two apple enthusiasts are helping spread some good news at the most opportune time .
You have to apple-aud those kinds of efforts .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

When you think about apples, the typical kinds — Granny Smith, Fuji and Gala — probably come to mind.
For the amateur apple botanists of The Lost Apple Project, they take it a step further.
And during last fall’s search through the forgotten pioneer orchards of the Pacific Northwest plains, the organization discovered 10 types of apples that experts previously thought were extinct.
“The Whitman County Historical Society Lost Apple Project seeks to identify and preserve heritage apple trees and orchards in the Inland Empire,” the nonprofit says on its Facebook page.
Retired FBI agent David Benscoter and Vietnam War veteran EJ Brandt met up in the fall of 2019, as has been their custom since 2011, to hunt for rare apples.
The two retirees combed through “long-forgotten” orchards, some dating back 140 years, that were hidden in the canyons and forests of Idaho and Washington state, The Associated Press reported Wednesday.
While North America is believed to have been home to 17,000 types of apples at one point, there are only 4,500 known varieties currently in existence.
After the organization’s season of apple sleuthing was over, they sent the fruits off to the Temperate Orchard Conservancy to be identified by experts.
Would you go on an excursion to rediscover "lost" apples? 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: 72% (142 Votes) No: 28% (56 Votes)
They recently received their results from the October and November search, and learned they had discovered 10 different varieties of pioneer-era apples that were believed to have been lost to time.
“It was just one heck of a season. It was almost unbelievable. If we had found one apple or two apples a year in the past, we thought were were doing good. But we were getting one after another after another,” Brandt told the AP.
“I don’t know how we’re going to keep up with that.”
Ever since Brandt and Benscoter embarked on their mission to preserve pioneer-era apples, they have rediscovered 23 different varieties. That includes the 10 from the fall, which originated in areas across the nation and around the world.
The AP reported that some of the most recent types of “lost” apples the gentlemen found include an ancient apple from Turkey known as the Sary Sinap, an apple called the Streaked Pippin that can be traced back to mid-18th century New York, and the Pennsylvania Butter Sweet, which has a lineage that dates back to 1901 in Illinois.
With more finds this season than ever before, the men were excited about their two largest annual events, which typically end up funding a large portion of their $10,000 apple extravaganza budget each fall.
Each spring, they host a fair where people can purchase the apples that they rediscovered during their hunt from the fall before. They also offer a grafting class in which they teach people about what they do and how to grow a new apple tree.
However, the nonprofit announced last month that the events were canceled (as are most public gatherings across the country right now), making it difficult for the two men to have confidence in how they will cover the financial obligations for their yearly apple search.
“Two months ago, I was thinking: ‘This is going to be great. We’ve got 10 varieties that have been rediscovered,’ but … right now, we couldn’t pay our bills,” Benscoter said.
The two men told the AP that even though their future endeavors are unclear at this time, they aren’t letting the cancellations discourage their efforts.
The AP shared their story on Twitter, and the reactions it received were almost universally positive:
I would love to taste them. There were so many varieties before some decided only a couple were needed for some reason. — TheLadyinhislife (@Ladyinhislife2) April 15, 2020
finally some good news — Pokie (@PokieLynelle) April 15, 2020
Why do I love this story? — J. Lang Wood (@JLangWood) April 15, 2020
Though their classes and fair are canceled for this year, the two apple enthusiasts are helping spread some good news at the most opportune time.
You have to apple-aud those kinds of efforts.
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westernjournal--2020-04-19--Couple Fined for Violating COVID Lockdown After Posting Year-Old Vacation Pics

An Australian couple fined for nonessential travel after they posted vacation pics from last year to social media have had their fine rescinded by the Victoria Police Department — because apparently even faceless officialdom has some shame when the media is contacted .
The couple won ’ t be able to post any more pictures from their vacation on their account , however , because faceless officialdom doesn ’ t have that much shame left .
According to the U.K .
Independent , Jaz and Garry Mott had some time on their hands due to the coronavirus lockdown , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photos they ’ d taken during a 2019 vacation to the coastal town of Lakes Entrance , roughly two hours from where they live in Traralgon , Victoria .
Apparently , someone was paying attention and didn ’ t like it .
The pictures were posted on April 5 .
On April 9 , an officer with the Victoria Police Department came knocking on their door .
Jaz Mott said the officer “ just handed me the fine and walked off , ” which didn ’ t leave a whole lot of time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fined for “ infringement ” of the lockdown order there banning nonessential travel .
TRENDING : Bill Maher Sends Warning to Media : Keep up Dishonest Virus Reporting , and Trump Will Win 2020 The fine was $ 1,652 Australian dollars — $ 1,041 in U.S. dollars .
The obvious reason for the fine is that police thought the photos were posted on the same day they were taken .
The question is how they actually found out about this , but we ’ ll get there later .
The ticket said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to comply with a direction given to a person in the exercise of a power under an authorization given under section 199.
” It went on to note that they were “ going for a drive to Lakes Entrance ( non-essential travel ) .
” No one had observed them driving there , of course , and the only way they ’ d be able to tell is by looking at the photographs of Jaz and Garry Mott in a car .
Nothing in the pictures could have led anyone to determine when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These salient pieces of information tying them to a violation of the law in the time of coronavirus weren ’ t an impediment to the police , though .
So , yes , after the couple contacted local media , the fine was canceled .
Sanity prevailed , right ?
Not quite .
“ The Sargent told me if I posted any more photos I will be arrested , ” Jaz Mott told the Independent .
The Victoria Police Department issued the pro forma “ mistakes were made ” statement .
RELATED : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Be Able to Re-Open Within 14 Days “ This incident has been reviewed and the decision has been made to withdraw the infringement notice , ” a department representative said .
“ On occasion , errors will be made however that is why a review process exists to ensure instances such as these are identified and rectified .
“ Police are not specifically monitoring social media accounts to identify breaches of the Chief Health Officer directives .
“ In general , police will follow up and investigate the circumstances surrounding individual potential breaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have had to have been reported by the public ; a screen shot of the photos posted to Facebook seems to indicate it was set to friends-only status , meaning that the police couldn ’ t have just been trawling the accounts of public places , looking for people foolish enough to tag themselves in photographs visiting there .
On the other hand , was there any questioning ?
Could they have done some follow-up work with the Motts before they wrote a pretty hefty chit for them and wordlessly handed it over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the ways this could backfire ?
Governments erode trust in and patience with their coronavirus mitigation strategies when things like this happen .
This isn ’ t just an honest mistake .
I could have told them with foresight , not hindsight , that they should have had someone affirmatively stating when a picture was taken before writing a ticket like this .
And to top it all off , as we ’ re all sitting at home with nothing to do , the police are telling a couple not to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on social media because of their own mistake .
These are the kinds of little tyrannies that cause a population to get restive — and at a time when we need as much unity and cooperation as possible , I can ’ t think of a little tyranny more ill-aimed than this one .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

An Australian couple fined for nonessential travel after they posted vacation pics from last year to social media have had their fine rescinded by the Victoria Police Department — because apparently even faceless officialdom has some shame when the media is contacted.
The couple won’t be able to post any more pictures from their vacation on their account, however, because faceless officialdom doesn’t have that much shame left.
According to the U.K. Independent, Jaz and Garry Mott had some time on their hands due to the coronavirus lockdown, so they decided they would go through the photos they’d taken during a 2019 vacation to the coastal town of Lakes Entrance, roughly two hours from where they live in Traralgon, Victoria.
Apparently, someone was paying attention and didn’t like it. The pictures were posted on April 5. On April 9, an officer with the Victoria Police Department came knocking on their door.
Jaz Mott said the officer “just handed me the fine and walked off,” which didn’t leave a whole lot of time to explain that the couple was being fined for “infringement” of the lockdown order there banning nonessential travel.
The fine was $1,652 Australian dollars — $1,041 in U.S. dollars.
The obvious reason for the fine is that police thought the photos were posted on the same day they were taken. The question is how they actually found out about this, but we’ll get there later.
The ticket said the Motts were in violation of “failure to comply with a direction given to a person in the exercise of a power under an authorization given under section 199.”
It went on to note that they were “going for a drive to Lakes Entrance (non-essential travel).”
No one had observed them driving there, of course, and the only way they’d be able to tell is by looking at the photographs of Jaz and Garry Mott in a car. Nothing in the pictures could have led anyone to determine when or where the pictures were taken.
These salient pieces of information tying them to a violation of the law in the time of coronavirus weren’t an impediment to the police, though.
So, yes, after the couple contacted local media, the fine was canceled. Sanity prevailed, right? Not quite.
“The Sargent told me if I posted any more photos I will be arrested,” Jaz Mott told the Independent.
The Victoria Police Department issued the pro forma “mistakes were made” statement.
“This incident has been reviewed and the decision has been made to withdraw the infringement notice,” a department representative said.
“On occasion, errors will be made however that is why a review process exists to ensure instances such as these are identified and rectified.
“Police are not specifically monitoring social media accounts to identify breaches of the Chief Health Officer directives.
“In general, police will follow up and investigate the circumstances surrounding individual potential breaches reported by the public.”
This would have had to have been reported by the public; a screen shot of the photos posted to Facebook seems to indicate it was set to friends-only status, meaning that the police couldn’t have just been trawling the accounts of public places, looking for people foolish enough to tag themselves in photographs visiting there.
On the other hand, was there any questioning? Could they have done some follow-up work with the Motts before they wrote a pretty hefty chit for them and wordlessly handed it over at their residence? Did they not see the ways this could backfire?
Governments erode trust in and patience with their coronavirus mitigation strategies when things like this happen.
This isn’t just an honest mistake. I could have told them with foresight, not hindsight, that they should have had someone affirmatively stating when a picture was taken before writing a ticket like this.
And to top it all off, as we’re all sitting at home with nothing to do, the police are telling a couple not to go through their vacation photos and post them on social media because of their own mistake.
These are the kinds of little tyrannies that cause a population to get restive — and at a time when we need as much unity and cooperation as possible, I can’t think of a little tyranny more ill-aimed than this one.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-04-19--Anti-Trump Actor Michael Rapaport Turns on Melania with Disgusting Smear

I ’ d say that I ’ m not up on what the kids are into these days , but I ’ m a millennial and he looks like the kind of 50-something who rides the bench in beer league hockey and is there mainly to get into fisticuffs with the opposing team .
It turns out Rapaport just turned 50 and has been in a total of three movies I ’ ve seen : “ Deep Blue Sea , ” “ Bamboozled ” and “ Big Fan.
” He makes enough of an impression that I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s apparently also had roles in “ The War at Home ” and “ Boston Public , ” and provided voice work for “ Pound Puppies , ” “ Middle School : The Worst Years of My Life ” and “ Thugaboo : Sneaker Madness.
” He ’ s best known these days for a podcast in which he swears a lot and talks about “ The Real Housewives of < Insert City Here > .
” You ’ ll excuse me if I can ’ t tell him apart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and talk about junk TV as if it makes them hip .
This isn ’ t to denigrate his career ; those three movies I ’ ve seen are three more movies than I ’ ve been in , after all .
It ’ s just not enough for me to care about what he has to say about anything , however .
TRENDING : Bill Maher Sends Warning to Media : Keep up Dishonest Virus Reporting , and Trump Will Win 2020 That ’ s where social media comes in .
Rapaport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it ’ s what he ’ s best known for these days .
His oeuvre usually consists of short videos of him playing an Internet Tough Guy and spewing out various permutations of a much-asterisked word that begins with the sixth letter of the alphabet .
Sometimes he doesn ’ t swear , though , he just says horribly sexist things about the first lady .
WARNING : The following text contains graphic language that some viewers will find offensive .
This is , alas , the relatively angelic stuff from Rapaport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thoughts on other issues of the day , via NewsBusters : On the president pushing to open up by Easter , March 26 : “ Let me tell you something , you f—ing loser .
The pope — the pope himself , you ever heard of him ?
— the pope himself canceled Easter ceremonies two weeks ago , you f—ing dummy !
You f—ing loser .
The pope said Easter has been shut down !
OK ?
Pack your f—ing bunny suit , OK ?
Put the f—ing chocolates away , OK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re gon na give them to the kids anyway , you ’ re going to stuff your f—ing fat f—ing pie hole.
” On Easter itself : “ You dumb f— !
You fake conservative c—sucker !
” He also tweeted , “ That ’ s the REAL YOU !
Fake Conservative Fake Religious Loser .
You could give a Fkc [ sic ] about packer [ sic ] Churches .
LOSER .
Zero .
FAT ANIMAL.
” RELATED : In Address to COVID Responders , Melania Looks Stronger Than Any Other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeting “ real ” Americans wanting to get back to work , March 25 : Trump has “ never worked a f—ing day in your life ” and is the “ worst possible motherf—er we could have in power making decisions right now.
” On who should go back to work , same video : “ Why don ’ t you send your f—ing son , d–k stain Donald Trump Jr. , big-toothed f—ing Eric Trump , little f—ing Barron , f—ing Ivanka , junkyard Jared — let them go out there and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Covington Catholic kids , Jan. 19 , 2019 : “ These Catholic school teenage f—boys handj–s harassing , getting in the face of these Native American people ?
… You little s—stain , you got no f—ing life.
” On Laura Ingraham , March 2018 : “ Laura Ingraham , the Fox News reporter , you filthy pig .
You dog-faced animal .
… Who do you like Laura ?
You obviously have an affinity for d–k-stained Donald Trump .
But who do you like ?
Why don ’ t you go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To the sewage system to the ravine that you crawled out of .
You f—ing pig you.
” He ’ s also tweeted that Melania Trump image before with a less , ahem , wholesome context to it : The great irony here is — well , what ’ s he saying here ?
That the president lacks class ?
That ’ s an , um , interesting take for a guy with your Twitter feed , Mr. Rapaport .
What he ’ s saying is simple : Follow my account .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m begging you .
Pay attention to meeeeeeeeeee !
There ’ s not a whole lot of consistency here , intellectual or otherwise .
Trump could read from Aquinas ’ “ Summa Theologica ” and Rapaport would call it stupid illogical pseudo-religious nonsense , although probably include a few more words than I did .
Meanwhile , try saying any of these things as a conservative .
You won ’ t be saying many of them , because you ’ re not going to be on social media for all that long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — but , he ’ s a liberal , so he ’ s not going to be called out for this .
It ’ s just going to get him some attention and we ’ ll move on .
And that ’ s all this is — a way to get attention .
Rapaport doesn ’ t care what kind it is and how much he has to debase the conversation to get it .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

I’m told actor Michael Rapaport is actually famous.
I’d say that I’m not up on what the kids are into these days, but I’m a millennial and he looks like the kind of 50-something who rides the bench in beer league hockey and is there mainly to get into fisticuffs with the opposing team.
It turns out Rapaport just turned 50 and has been in a total of three movies I’ve seen: “Deep Blue Sea,” “Bamboozled” and “Big Fan.” He makes enough of an impression that I don’t remember him being in any of them. He’s apparently also had roles in “The War at Home” and “Boston Public,” and provided voice work for “Pound Puppies,” “Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life” and “Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness.”
He’s best known these days for a podcast in which he swears a lot and talks about “The Real Housewives of .” You’ll excuse me if I can’t tell him apart from the 5,248 other podcasters who swear and talk about junk TV as if it makes them hip.
This isn’t to denigrate his career; those three movies I’ve seen are three more movies than I’ve been in, after all. It’s just not enough for me to care about what he has to say about anything, however.
That’s where social media comes in.
Rapaport enjoys Twitter trolling, so much so that it’s what he’s best known for these days. His oeuvre usually consists of short videos of him playing an Internet Tough Guy and spewing out various permutations of a much-asterisked word that begins with the sixth letter of the alphabet.
Sometimes he doesn’t swear, though, he just says horribly sexist things about the first lady.
WARNING: The following text contains graphic language that some viewers will find offensive.
“Just a reminder, a hooker and a con man are running America.” Wonderful.
This is, alas, the relatively angelic stuff from Rapaport. Here are some of his enlightened thoughts on other issues of the day, via NewsBusters:
On the president pushing to open up by Easter, March 26: “Let me tell you something, you f—ing loser. The pope — the pope himself, you ever heard of him? — the pope himself canceled Easter ceremonies two weeks ago, you f—ing dummy! You f—ing loser. The pope said Easter has been shut down! OK? Pack your f—ing bunny suit, OK? Put the f—ing chocolates away, OK? It’s not like you’re gonna give them to the kids anyway, you’re going to stuff your f—ing fat f—ing pie hole.”
On Easter itself: “You dumb f—! You fake conservative c—sucker!” He also tweeted, “That’s the REAL YOU! Fake Conservative Fake Religious Loser. You could give a Fkc [sic] about packer [sic] Churches. LOSER. Zero. FAT ANIMAL.”
In response to Trump tweeting “real” Americans wanting to get back to work, March 25: Trump has “never worked a f—ing day in your life” and is the “worst possible motherf—er we could have in power making decisions right now.”
On who should go back to work, same video: “Why don’t you send your f—ing son, d–k stain Donald Trump Jr., big-toothed f—ing Eric Trump, little f—ing Barron, f—ing Ivanka, junkyard Jared — let them go out there and test the f—ing waters?”
On the Covington Catholic kids, Jan. 19, 2019: “These Catholic school teenage f—boys handj–s harassing, getting in the face of these Native American people? … You little s—stain, you got no f—ing life.”
Should Michael Rapaport be suspended from Twitter for these outbursts? Yes No
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On Laura Ingraham, March 2018: “Laura Ingraham, the Fox News reporter, you filthy pig. You dog-faced animal. … Who do you like Laura? You obviously have an affinity for d–k-stained Donald Trump. But who do you like? Why don’t you go away, go back to the swamps. To the sewage system to the ravine that you crawled out of. You f—ing pig you.”
He’s also tweeted that Melania Trump image before with a less, ahem, wholesome context to it:
Baby Pig needs a compliment because @FLOTUS don’t make him feel like a Big Boy Piggy? https://t.co/dwwA9HtVUq pic.twitter.com/cLcSAmYEIz — MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) April 11, 2020
The great irony here is — well, what’s he saying here? That the president lacks class? That’s an, um, interesting take for a guy with your Twitter feed, Mr. Rapaport.
What he’s saying is simple: Follow my account. Consider me famous. Please. I’m begging you. Pay attention to meeeeeeeeeee!
There’s not a whole lot of consistency here, intellectual or otherwise.
Trump could read from Aquinas’ “Summa Theologica” and Rapaport would call it stupid illogical pseudo-religious nonsense, although probably include a few more words than I did.
Meanwhile, try saying any of these things as a conservative.
You won’t be saying many of them, because you’re not going to be on social media for all that long.
This is prima facie dehumanizing rhetoric — but, he’s a liberal, so he’s not going to be called out for this. It’s just going to get him some attention and we’ll move on.
And that’s all this is — a way to get attention. Rapaport doesn’t care what kind it is and how much he has to debase the conversation to get it.
Good work, I guess?
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westernjournal--2020-04-19--Kansas Judge Stands by Constitution, Rules Churches Can Stay Open Under 1st Amend.

A federal judge on Saturday handed a legal victory to two churches that challenged an executive order by Kansas Gov .
Laura Kelly ’ s order limiting church attendance to 10 or fewer worshippers .
The ruling by U.S. District Judge John Broomes in Wichita stays enforcement of Kelly ’ s order until May 2 .
Five days before Easter , Kelly had added churches to a list of banned activities in an executive order issued to address the threat of the coronavirus , according to Kansas.com .
That brought a strong pushback from lawmakers and churches , culminating in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Church in Dodge City and Calvary Baptist Church in Junction City .
Citing the executive orders issued by Kelly , Broomes noted in his ruling that “ Plaintiffs claim , among other things , that the restrictions on religious activity imposed by EO 20-18 ( and now 20-25 ) violate Plaintiffs ’ First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion , including their right to attend worship services in their respective church facilities .
For reasons that follow , the court concludes , based on the matters presented so far , that Plaintiffs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” thus enabling him to grant a temporary restraining order that blocks Kelly ’ s edict .
It was just one of a series of cases that have arisen across the country since the coronavirus pandemic began , as states and local governments in Florida , Mississippi , Texas and other regions faced challenges from the faithful after trying to impede religious gatherings .
TRENDING : Bill Maher Sends Warning to Media : Keep up Dishonest Virus Reporting , and Trump Will Win 2020 The ruling said that that the churches filing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development of the current restriction on religious activities shows religious activities were specifically targeted for more onerous restrictions than comparable secular activities .
The Governor previously designated the attendance of religious services as an ‘ essential function ’ that was exempt from the general prohibition on mass gatherings.
” The ruling said that “ religious activities appear to have been singled out among essential functions for stricter treatment .
It appears to be the only essential function whose core purpose – association for the purpose of worship – had been basically eliminated.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not argued that mass gatherings at churches pose unique health risks that do not arise in mass gatherings at airports , offices , and production facilities .
Yet the exemption for religious activities has been eliminated while it remains for a multitude of activities that appear comparable in terms of health risks.
” “ Based on the record now before the court , the most reasonable inference from this disparate treatment is that the essential function of religious activity was targeted for stricter treatment due to the nature of the activity involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unique health risks that mass gatherings at commercial and other facilities do not , or because the risks at religious gatherings uniquely can not be adequately mitigated with safety protocols , ” he ruled .
Broomes required that churches that open observe social distancing and keep everyone in attendance at least six feet apart , as well as observe other practices such as not using a collection plate that would be passed through the congregation .
In a court filing supporting the lawsuit , attorneys for the Alliance Defending Freedom argued that Kelly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26 types of secular activities , ” including bars , libraries and shopping malls “ So under the current ( order ) … a large group of people are permitted to get together at an office complex and have unrestricted meetings discussing real estate and real estate issues .
But if a group of people wanted to get together in that same office building to have a Bible study or conduct a religious service , they would be prevented from doing so , ” the ADF argued .
Kelly defended her order , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Files Lawsuit After Sheriff Threatens Family with Arrest Over COVID-19 Instagram Post “ My executive order is about saving Kansans ’ lives and slowing the spread of the virus to keep our neighbors , our families and our loved ones safe , ” Kelly said in a statement .
“ During public health emergencies , we must take proactive measures to save lives.
” “ This is not about religion .
This is about a public health crisis , ” Kelly the statement added later .
“ This ruling was just a preliminary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to go in this case , and we will continue to be proactive and err on the side of caution where Kansans ’ health and safety is at stake.
” Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt , who opposed the executive order , said that “ Today ’ s judicial ruling is a much-needed reminder that the Constitution is not under a stay-home order and the Bill of Rights can not be quarantined.
” “ The Constitution protects our liberties especially during times of crisis , when history reveals governments too quick to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fears of the many .
As I have consistently counseled , the governor of Kansas must not discriminate against religious gatherings by threatening worshipers with arrest or imprisonment while allowing similar secular gatherings to proceed , ” he said .
Schmidt noted that he believes that in light of the threat posed by the coronavirus , churches should not hold in-person services , but that the government can not prevent them .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A federal judge on Saturday handed a legal victory to two churches that challenged an executive order by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s order limiting church attendance to 10 or fewer worshippers.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge John Broomes in Wichita stays enforcement of Kelly’s order until May 2.
Five days before Easter, Kelly had added churches to a list of banned activities in an executive order issued to address the threat of the coronavirus, according to Kansas.com. That brought a strong pushback from lawmakers and churches, culminating in a lawsuit filed Thursday by First Baptist Church in Dodge City and Calvary Baptist Church in Junction City.
Citing the executive orders issued by Kelly, Broomes noted in his ruling that “Plaintiffs claim, among other things, that the restrictions on religious activity imposed by EO 20-18 (and now 20-25) violate Plaintiffs’ First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion, including their right to attend worship services in their respective church facilities. For reasons that follow, the court concludes, based on the matters presented so far, that Plaintiffs are likely to prevail on this claim,” thus enabling him to grant a temporary restraining order that blocks Kelly’s edict.
It was just one of a series of cases that have arisen across the country since the coronavirus pandemic began, as states and local governments in Florida, Mississippi, Texas and other regions faced challenges from the faithful after trying to impede religious gatherings.
The ruling said that the churches filing suit “made a substantial showing that development of the current restriction on religious activities shows religious activities were specifically targeted for more onerous restrictions than comparable secular activities. The Governor previously designated the attendance of religious services as an ‘essential function’ that was exempt from the general prohibition on mass gatherings.”
The ruling said that “religious activities appear to have been singled out among essential functions for stricter treatment. It appears to be the only essential function whose core purpose – association for the purpose of worship – had been basically eliminated.”
The governor, Brromes ruled, “has not argued that mass gatherings at churches pose unique health risks that do not arise in mass gatherings at airports, offices, and production facilities. Yet the exemption for religious activities has been eliminated while it remains for a multitude of activities that appear comparable in terms of health risks.”
“Based on the record now before the court, the most reasonable inference from this disparate treatment is that the essential function of religious activity was targeted for stricter treatment due to the nature of the activity involved, rather than because such gatherings pose unique health risks that mass gatherings at commercial and other facilities do not, or because the risks at religious gatherings uniquely cannot be adequately mitigated with safety protocols,” he ruled.
Are governments misusing their power in the coronavirus crisis? Yes No
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Broomes required that churches that open observe social distancing and keep everyone in attendance at least six feet apart, as well as observe other practices such as not using a collection plate that would be passed through the congregation.
In a court filing supporting the lawsuit, attorneys for the Alliance Defending Freedom argued that Kelly had banned church worship but allowed “26 types of secular activities,” including bars, libraries and shopping malls
“So under the current (order) … a large group of people are permitted to get together at an office complex and have unrestricted meetings discussing real estate and real estate issues. But if a group of people wanted to get together in that same office building to have a Bible study or conduct a religious service, they would be prevented from doing so,” the ADF argued.
Kelly defended her order, according to KWCH.
Governor Laura Kelly released a statement Saturday on the U.S. District Court of Kansas’ decision to block her executive order on church gatherings. https://t.co/UIMlauofIL #kwch12 — KWCH Eyewitness News (@KWCH12) April 19, 2020
“My executive order is about saving Kansans’ lives and slowing the spread of the virus to keep our neighbors, our families and our loved ones safe,” Kelly said in a statement. “During public health emergencies, we must take proactive measures to save lives.”
“This is not about religion. This is about a public health crisis,” Kelly the statement added later. “This ruling was just a preliminary step. There is still a long way to go in this case, and we will continue to be proactive and err on the side of caution where Kansans’ health and safety is at stake.”
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who opposed the executive order, said that “Today’s judicial ruling is a much-needed reminder that the Constitution is not under a stay-home order and the Bill of Rights cannot be quarantined.”
“The Constitution protects our liberties especially during times of crisis, when history reveals governments too quick to sacrifice rights of the few to calm fears of the many. As I have consistently counseled, the governor of Kansas must not discriminate against religious gatherings by threatening worshipers with arrest or imprisonment while allowing similar secular gatherings to proceed,” he said.
Schmidt noted that he believes that in light of the threat posed by the coronavirus, churches should not hold in-person services, but that the government cannot prevent them.
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westernjournal--2020-04-19--The Only Real Russian Collusion Was on Steele Dossier: Source Tied to Kremlin, Supported Hillary

It ’ s been a bad week for the liberals who hoped the Steele dossier was going to bring down President Donald Trump .
The document — an opposition research piece paid for by the Democratic National Committee and the Hillary Clinton campaign , assembled by former British spy Christopher Steele at the behest of the political intelligence firm Fusion GPS and used by the FBI as part of its request for a warrant to surveil Trump adviser Carter Page for potential ties to Russia — already took some lumps when several newly unredacted footnotes from an inspector general ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key parts of it could be Russian disinformation even as the bureau was using it to obtain a surveillance warrant .
That was enough for one news cycle , but other information declassified Wednesday uncovered the fact that another source that was used in the document had Kremlin ties and had voiced “ strong support ” for Hillary Clinton .
According to The Daily Caller ’ s Chuck Ross , while the source wasn ’ t necessarily tied to Russia ’ s disinformation campaign , it was the first time that showed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relied on might have acted out of animus toward the target of the document , Donald Trump .
The document eventually determined that Carter Page , who was an adviser to the Trump campaign for a few months and had left before the warrant was issued by the secret court established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act , was part of a “ well-developed conspiracy of cooperation ” between the campaign and Russia .
TRENDING : Bill Maher Sends Warning to Media : Keep up Dishonest Virus Reporting , and Trump Will Win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of the sources he used for information in the document , but instead relied on a primary source — referred to as the “ Primary Sub-Source ” in the inspector general ’ s report — to contact the sources that were used .
There ’ s a whole controversy about that , too , given that the primary source says Steele had embellished or misrepresented many findings , but that ’ s secondary for the moment .
One of the primary source ’ s sub-sources had “ personal and business ties ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information received by the FBI in 2017 .
In a footnote that was declassified this week , it was discovered that there were “ contacts between the sub-source and an individual in the Russian Presidential Administration in June/July 2016.
” There ’ s a further redaction , and then there ’ s this : “ … and the sub-source voicing strong support for candidate Clinton in the 2016 U.S. elections.
” As for how the sub-source ’ s support for Clinton was discovered , while the newly redacted footnote doesn ’ t necessarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s mentioned “ that the FBI did not have Section 702 coverage on any other Steele sub-source.
” “ Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) allows the government to collect communications from foreigners outside the United States , ” Ross noted .
Thus , it seems reasonably certain that the information was gleaned from surveillance of Steele ’ s sources .
What to make of it , then ?
In a media release that accompanied the unveiling of the new information , GOP Sens .
Charles Grassley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that it didn ’ t look good for either Steele or the Hillary campaign .
“ For years , the public was fed a healthy diet of leaks , innuendo and false information to imply that President Trump and his campaign were part of a Russian conspiracy to spread disinformation , ” the statement read .
“ The FBI ’ s blind pursuit of the investigation , despite exculpatory and contradictory information , only legitimized the narrative .
The mounting evidence undercutting this narrative should have stopped the investigation early in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years and millions in taxpayer dollars to conclude that the allegations were baseless .
RELATED : FBI Was Warned Evidence Used to Justify Spying on Trump Camp Was Russian Disinformation “ It ’ s ironic that the Russian collusion narrative was fatally flawed because of Russian disinformation .
These footnotes confirm that there was a direct Russian disinformation campaign in 2016 , and there were ties between Russian intelligence and a presidential campaign — the Clinton campaign , not Trump ’ s. ” The fact that there could have been Russian misinformation mixed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damning part of the document and also the most unequivocal .
You didn ’ t have to reach very far to figure out what conclusions you could reach from it — that the only real “ Russian collusion ” in the election involved efforts to derail the Trump campaign , not advance it .
This is a bit more complex , inasmuch as we don ’ t know the exact reason why this was included in the inspector general ’ s report or why Sens .
Grassley and Johnson had to fight to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it established one of Steele ’ s sub-sources was acting out of a political motive ?
If so , that ’ s yet another problem to contend with if this document was being used to obtain a FISA warrant against Carter Page , particularly if that information was available to the FBI .
Its investigators already knew that there were certain elements of partisanship involved in the document , what with Fusion GPS being hired by the DNC and the Clinton campaign , after all .
This adds another layer to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was this something Steele or his primary source knew ?
That could be in question if the information was obtained through surveillance Steele or his primary source were unaware of .
There ’ s also the question of how relevant this was .
We don ’ t know , for instance , what information the sub-source provided .
However , given that it wasn ’ t part of the unredacted document , one might guess it ’ s still sensitive enough that the Department of Justice chose to keep it concealed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s yet more evidence that after an investigative process that spanned nearly three years — from the start of the first investigation to the release of the Mueller Report — no evidence was found of Russian collusion on the Trump side .
Meanwhile , we ’ re still uncovering evidence of collusion on the Hillary side in unusual places .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

It’s been a bad week for the liberals who hoped the Steele dossier was going to bring down President Donald Trump.
The document — an opposition research piece paid for by the Democratic National Committee and the Hillary Clinton campaign, assembled by former British spy Christopher Steele at the behest of the political intelligence firm Fusion GPS and used by the FBI as part of its request for a warrant to surveil Trump adviser Carter Page for potential ties to Russia — already took some lumps when several newly unredacted footnotes from an inspector general’s investigation revealed the FBI knew some key parts of it could be Russian disinformation even as the bureau was using it to obtain a surveillance warrant.
That was enough for one news cycle, but other information declassified Wednesday uncovered the fact that another source that was used in the document had Kremlin ties and had voiced “strong support” for Hillary Clinton.
According to The Daily Caller’s Chuck Ross, while the source wasn’t necessarily tied to Russia’s disinformation campaign, it was the first time that showed a source in the network the Steele dossier relied on might have acted out of animus toward the target of the document, Donald Trump.
The document eventually determined that Carter Page, who was an adviser to the Trump campaign for a few months and had left before the warrant was issued by the secret court established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, was part of a “well-developed conspiracy of cooperation” between the campaign and Russia.
Steele himself hadn’t contacted most of the sources he used for information in the document, but instead relied on a primary source — referred to as the “Primary Sub-Source” in the inspector general’s report — to contact the sources that were used.
There’s a whole controversy about that, too, given that the primary source says Steele had embellished or misrepresented many findings, but that’s secondary for the moment.
One of the primary source’s sub-sources had “personal and business ties” with the primary source, according to information received by the FBI in 2017. In a footnote that was declassified this week, it was discovered that there were “contacts between the sub-source and an individual in the Russian Presidential Administration in June/July 2016.”
There’s a further redaction, and then there’s this: “… and the sub-source voicing strong support for candidate Clinton in the 2016 U.S. elections.”
Should this raise even more suspicons about the "Russian collusion" investigation? Yes No
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As for how the sub-source’s support for Clinton was discovered, while the newly redacted footnote doesn’t necessarily let on why this was, it’s mentioned “that the FBI did not have Section 702 coverage on any other Steele sub-source.”
“Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) allows the government to collect communications from foreigners outside the United States,” Ross noted.
Thus, it seems reasonably certain that the information was gleaned from surveillance of Steele’s sources. What to make of it, then? In a media release that accompanied the unveiling of the new information, GOP Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said that it didn’t look good for either Steele or the Hillary campaign.
“For years, the public was fed a healthy diet of leaks, innuendo and false information to imply that President Trump and his campaign were part of a Russian conspiracy to spread disinformation,” the statement read.
“The FBI’s blind pursuit of the investigation, despite exculpatory and contradictory information, only legitimized the narrative. The mounting evidence undercutting this narrative should have stopped the investigation early in its tracks. Instead, it took several years and millions in taxpayer dollars to conclude that the allegations were baseless.
“It’s ironic that the Russian collusion narrative was fatally flawed because of Russian disinformation. These footnotes confirm that there was a direct Russian disinformation campaign in 2016, and there were ties between Russian intelligence and a presidential campaign — the Clinton campaign, not Trump’s.”
The fact that there could have been Russian misinformation mixed up in all of this was the damning part of the document and also the most unequivocal. You didn’t have to reach very far to figure out what conclusions you could reach from it — that the only real “Russian collusion” in the election involved efforts to derail the Trump campaign, not advance it.
This is a bit more complex, inasmuch as we don’t know the exact reason why this was included in the inspector general’s report or why Sens. Grassley and Johnson had to fight to get it declassified.
Was it just because it established one of Steele’s sub-sources was acting out of a political motive? If so, that’s yet another problem to contend with if this document was being used to obtain a FISA warrant against Carter Page, particularly if that information was available to the FBI. Its investigators already knew that there were certain elements of partisanship involved in the document, what with Fusion GPS being hired by the DNC and the Clinton campaign, after all. This adds another layer to the partisan nature of the document.
Also, was this something Steele or his primary source knew? That could be in question if the information was obtained through surveillance Steele or his primary source were unaware of.
There’s also the question of how relevant this was. We don’t know, for instance, what information the sub-source provided. However, given that it wasn’t part of the unredacted document, one might guess it’s still sensitive enough that the Department of Justice chose to keep it concealed.
Whatever the case may be, it’s yet more evidence that after an investigative process that spanned nearly three years — from the start of the first investigation to the release of the Mueller Report — no evidence was found of Russian collusion on the Trump side.
Meanwhile, we’re still uncovering evidence of collusion on the Hillary side in unusual places.
Just saying.
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westernjournal--2020-04-19--Honoring the Oklahoma Bombing Victims on 25th Anniversary of the Attack

Survivors and loved ones of the 168 men , women and children who were killed in the Oklahoma City bombing were not able to gather Sunday to mark the 25th anniversary of the attack , but that did not stop them from remembering .
Because the annual remembrance ceremony was canceled due to coronavirus restrictions , the victims instead were honored with a video tribute that included the reading of the names of those who died followed by 168 seconds of silence .
Ordinarily , the city would have gathered Sunday at the memorial where the Alfred P. Murrah Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a truck bomb on April 19 , 1995 .
Gates to the memorial mark time , 9:01 and 9:03 a.m. , with a reflection pond between them representing 9:02 , the minute the explosion permanently altered lives and the nation .
Stylized , empty metal chairs represent each person who died , and the “ Survivor Tree , ” a gnarled American elm that withstood the blast , now stands on a small hill and shades the memorial below .
It was “ extremely difficult ” to not be able to attend in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father , U.S. Secret Service Agent Alan Whicher , was killed in the bombing .
TRENDING : Bill Maher Sends Warning to Media : Keep up Dishonest Virus Reporting , and Trump Will Win 2020 Which was interviewed by phone from Baltimore , where he now lives .
“ I ’ m not with my sisters today , I ’ m not with my mother today , ” he said .
“ But it ’ s all for the right reasons .
… Everyone is making sacrifices .
I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this coronavirus [ environment ] to feel we should be treated any differently , ” he said .
The prerecorded video , which included remarks by former President Bill Clinton , who was in office at the time of the bombing , U.S. Sen. James Lankford , Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and Tony award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenowith , an Oklahoma native , drew praise from Whicher and state District Judge Cindy Ferrell Ashwood , whose sister , U.S. Housing and Urban Development attorney Susan Ferrell , died in the blast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceremony under extraordinary circumstances , it was just remarkable , ” Ashwood said of the video put together by the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum .
“ The main thing I missed today was not being with our family ” in Oklahoma City said Ashwood , who lives about 40 miles east of the city , in Chandler , Oklahoma .
Kari Watkins , the director of the memorial , said this year ’ s social distancing restrictions are necessary but unfortunate , as survivors and victims ’ family members often only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s just a nice time for them to come and be together , ” she said .
“ They ’ ll miss that , but they ’ ll have another time when it ’ s safe to gather and we ’ ll come back together and do something , whenever that day is.
” The city ’ s mayor , Holt , said in the video that the bombing “ was , ultimately , an act of extremist political violence .
I ask you to consider this morning that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that humanity is capable of such evil things.
” He told The Associated Press in the run-up to Sunday that the 25th anniversary of the attack was particularly notable because it marked a transition of the event from one of personal experience to one of historical significance .
“ The march of time is relentless , and every year that passes , fewer and fewer people have a direct connection to it , ” Holt said .
“ The 25th is another time for us here in Oklahoma City to refocus on what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the decades to come.
” For Holt , that meant spreading the message that political violence is never the answer .
“ People in Oklahoma City sort of have a special obligation to stand for the idea that we have much more in common than we have different , ” he said .
The attack was carried out by two U.S. citizens — former Army soldier Timothy McVeigh and his co-conspirator , Terry Nichols — who hated the federal government .
It occurred two years to the day after the federal raid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Texas , that left at least 76 members of the religious sect , including two dozen children and the sect ’ s leader , David Koresh , dead .
McVeigh was ultimately convicted , sentenced to death and executed by lethal injection in 2001 .
Nichols was sentenced to life in prison for his role in what many experts refer to as the deadliest act of domestic terrorism on U.S. soil .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism @ @ @ @ @ @

Survivors and loved ones of the 168 men, women and children who were killed in the Oklahoma City bombing were not able to gather Sunday to mark the 25th anniversary of the attack, but that did not stop them from remembering.
Because the annual remembrance ceremony was canceled due to coronavirus restrictions, the victims instead were honored with a video tribute that included the reading of the names of those who died followed by 168 seconds of silence.
Ordinarily, the city would have gathered Sunday at the memorial where the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building stood before it was destroyed by a truck bomb on April 19, 1995. Gates to the memorial mark time, 9:01 and 9:03 a.m., with a reflection pond between them representing 9:02, the minute the explosion permanently altered lives and the nation.
Stylized, empty metal chairs represent each person who died, and the “Survivor Tree,” a gnarled American elm that withstood the blast, now stands on a small hill and shades the memorial below.
It was “extremely difficult” to not be able to attend in person, said Ryan Whicher, whose father, U.S. Secret Service Agent Alan Whicher, was killed in the bombing.
Which was interviewed by phone from Baltimore, where he now lives.
“I’m not with my sisters today, I’m not with my mother today,” he said.
“But it’s all for the right reasons. … Everyone is making sacrifices. I don’t think it’s fair for us in this coronavirus [environment] to feel we should be treated any differently,” he said.
The prerecorded video, which included remarks by former President Bill Clinton, who was in office at the time of the bombing, U.S. Sen. James Lankford, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and Tony award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenowith, an Oklahoma native, drew praise from Whicher and state District Judge Cindy Ferrell Ashwood, whose sister, U.S. Housing and Urban Development attorney Susan Ferrell, died in the blast.
“They did just an extraordinary ceremony under extraordinary circumstances, it was just remarkable,” Ashwood said of the video put together by the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.
“The main thing I missed today was not being with our family” in Oklahoma City said Ashwood, who lives about 40 miles east of the city, in Chandler, Oklahoma.
Kari Watkins, the director of the memorial, said this year’s social distancing restrictions are necessary but unfortunate, as survivors and victims’ family members often only see each this one time each year.
“It’s just a nice time for them to come and be together,” she said. “They’ll miss that, but they’ll have another time when it’s safe to gather and we’ll come back together and do something, whenever that day is.”
The city’s mayor, Holt, said in the video that the bombing “was, ultimately, an act of extremist political violence. I ask you to consider this morning that this sacred place is a sober reminder that humanity is capable of such evil things.”
He told The Associated Press in the run-up to Sunday that the 25th anniversary of the attack was particularly notable because it marked a transition of the event from one of personal experience to one of historical significance.
“The march of time is relentless, and every year that passes, fewer and fewer people have a direct connection to it,” Holt said. “The 25th is another time for us here in Oklahoma City to refocus on what makes the event and the site relevant in the decades to come.”
For Holt, that meant spreading the message that political violence is never the answer.
“People in Oklahoma City sort of have a special obligation to stand for the idea that we have much more in common than we have different,” he said.
The attack was carried out by two U.S. citizens — former Army soldier Timothy McVeigh and his co-conspirator, Terry Nichols — who hated the federal government. It occurred two years to the day after the federal raid on the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, that left at least 76 members of the religious sect, including two dozen children and the sect’s leader, David Koresh, dead.
McVeigh was ultimately convicted, sentenced to death and executed by lethal injection in 2001. Nichols was sentenced to life in prison for his role in what many experts refer to as the deadliest act of domestic terrorism on U.S. soil.
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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westernjournal--2020-04-19--Advocates Say COVID Letting Parents See All the Benefits of Home Schooling

Home school advocates say the forced shutdown of nearly the nation ’ s entire public school system has created a unique opportunity for parents to weigh the benefits of joining the millions of American students already doing their learning at home .
Further , proponents say this unprecedented occurrence offers a window for parents into some of the pitfalls of public schooling , including weak academic standards , ideologically driven curricula and the over-sexualization of the nation ’ s youth from an early age .
“ The number one hardest decision to make has been made for 55 million children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board member of Public School Exit Ray Moore told The Western Journal regarding parents making the switch .
“ That ’ s always the barrier that ’ s hardest for us to break , but now [ the kids are ] home , ” he added .
The former U.S. Army chaplain , along with his wife , Gail , became a home-schooling movement pioneer when in 1977 the couple decided to pull their son from public school .
TRENDING : Bill Maher Sends Warning to Media : Keep up Dishonest Virus Reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the National Home Education Research Institute , there are about 2.5 million Americans being home-schooled , making up just over 4 percent of the nation ’ s 57 million K-12 students .
The total has more than doubled from the 1.7 percent learning at home in 1999 , according to the National Center for Education Statistics .
Moore and his fellow leaders at Public School Exit are hopeful that millions more parents will decide to continue home schooling when the fall rolls around .
Alex Newman , the group ’ s spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a really good time for parents to figure out what their children are being exposed to in government schools and to take back their rightful authority as parents and try home schooling.
” Newman said one of the top reasons families should make the move is the poor academic outcomes of public education .
He argued the government-run system “ is deliberating dumbing down America ’ s children ” and is getting worse every year .
Newman pointed to the latest data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress showing that over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proficiency in any subject , including reading , writing , history and math .
Dran Reese , Public School Exit ’ s director of operations , also pointed to the public school system ’ s overall poor outcomes .
“ We have spent so much time trying to reform public education , but it doesn ’ t seem to be translating down to the kids , ” she said .
RELATED : Disease Expert : 'Herd Immunity ' Only Way To Defeat Virus Without Vaccine Diane Douglas , who completed a term as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year , recently joined Public School Exit as a board member .
In 2014 , Douglas ran for the office out of her concern over the Grand Canyon State adopting the Common Core standards .
As superintendent , she was able to push some revisions through the State Board of Education , but she now sees public education itself as the problem .
“ What I learned from [ my time in office ] , I truly believe God put me in the superintendent ’ s office to learn that there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she told The Western Journal .
“ The system is what the system is and nobody wants it to change , ” added Douglas , who previously served eight years as a school board member of Peoria Unified School District ( in the Phoenix metro area ) , including two years as its president .
She contends that people on both sides of the political aisle make reforming public education very difficult .
“ The left wants to use the public education system to change America , to change our society , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very blatant about it.
” “ The right just wants to use it for workforce development , ” she continued .
“ Well , workforce development is not the same as education.
” Testing shows that students in Arizona , like many in the rest of the nation , are not being served well by public education .
Over half ( 54 percent ) of third-graders in the state did not pass the AzMERIT reading proficiency test in 2019 , The Arizona Republic reported .
The statistic is even worse in high school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proficient readers .
Math proficiencies were equally poor , with half or more of students in the various grade levels unable to hit the mark .
“ Yet we have plenty of time for social-emotional learning , ” Douglas said .
“ We have plenty of time for sex ed .
We have plenty of time for all those things .
But parents who truly want their children educated need to find another direction than the government education monopoly.
” Rather than having “ students acquire academic knowledge , discern truth and wisdom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more of a social agenda on kids , ” she believes .
Reese , who resides in southern California , says part of that agenda is to “ sexualize ” kids at a very young age .
“ It is mandated by the states to teach these kind of alternative lifestyles , and I find that criminal , ” she said .
“ Because a little child , when you are trying to program them at an early age like this , you are desensitizing them.
” The Los Angeles Times reported in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ controversial sex education framework ” that provides guidance for instructing students from kindergarten through 12th grade .
“ It ’ s just scary what they are going to be teaching .
It ’ s pornography , ” Orange County resident Patricia Reyes told CBS News .
“ If this continues , I ’ m not sending them to school.
” “ It ’ s not about gender identity .
It ’ s about acceptance of people for who they are , ” Stephanie Gregson , director of the Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Education , told The Times .
“ Kindergarten is the foundational grade level to create understanding with all of our students and create an environment that ’ s bullying-free , ” she added .
Newman , who is a private school teacher , lecturer and journalist , believes many parents are seeing for the first time what their children are being taught , and it is causing them to rethink whether to keep them in public schools .
He said he spoke to a mother recently who told him that after learning of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she “ decided right then and there we ’ re done.
” “ They literally that day sent a letter to the superintendent , unenrolled the child from public school and officially started home schooling now , ” Newman recounted .
“ And I think that is going to happen a lot all over the country.
” “ We ’ re hoping that millions of new families will be coming into the home-school movement , ” he added .
Jessica Parnell , president of the Bridgeway Homeschool Academy in eastern Pennsylvania , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen an increase in home-schooling inquiries .
Bridgeway has been working with parents and students to help set up a program for the last quarter of the year .
“ The reality is what a school is sending home is designed to complement what a teacher is instructing in the classroom .
It ’ s not designed for independent study , so that ’ s been a challenge for the kids , ” Parnell said .
Bridgeway — which is a Christian company , founded in 1989 with 30,000 alumni — offers both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Parnell , herself a home-schooling parent , says many parents like her think , “ I want to make sure that I ’ m infusing my family values and my faith values in my kids , and so home schooling becomes a fantastic way to do that.
” Regarding common questions she gets about home-school kids learning to socialize with their peers , the educator said that because of the growth of the movement over the years , that is really not an issue anymore .
Parnell noted that most areas with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get together for periodic activities , or even group instruction one or two days a week .
Additionally , home-schoolers can interact with their peers through sports , church youth groups and other non-school clubs and activities .
Former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow told ABC ’ s “ Good Morning America ” in a 2018 interview that he did receive some guff from his high school football teammates , but he credits home schooling with contributing greatly to the success he has enjoyed .
“ It never really affected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of home-school friends of mine and some of my siblings , ” he said regarding his experiences as a young person .
“ You can break the trends and show that yeah , you ’ re different , but in a good way , ” Tebow added .
Moore likes to flip the question around when asked about the topic of socialization , asking parents whether they are concerned about the social lessons their kids are receiving though the public school system .
The 76-year-old is gratified to see how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years since he and his wife decided to home-school their kids .
“ The bonding and the emotional stability that a family gives children is intensified or strengthened through home schooling , ” he said .
The former chaplain , who served in the Persian Gulf War , argued that when all is said and done , it is the parents who have the responsibility to raise their children .
“ The Scripture of God has assigned the education of children to the family with assistance from the church and not government , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Home school advocates say the forced shutdown of nearly the nation’s entire public school system has created a unique opportunity for parents to weigh the benefits of joining the millions of American students already doing their learning at home.
Further, proponents say this unprecedented occurrence offers a window for parents into some of the pitfalls of public schooling, including weak academic standards, ideologically driven curricula and the over-sexualization of the nation’s youth from an early age.
“The number one hardest decision to make has been made for 55 million children,” longtime home-school advocate and founding board member of Public School Exit Ray Moore told The Western Journal regarding parents making the switch.
“That’s always the barrier that’s hardest for us to break, but now [the kids are] home,” he added.
The former U.S. Army chaplain, along with his wife, Gail, became a home-schooling movement pioneer when in 1977 the couple decided to pull their son from public school.
According to the National Home Education Research Institute, there are about 2.5 million Americans being home-schooled, making up just over 4 percent of the nation’s 57 million K-12 students.
The total has more than doubled from the 1.7 percent learning at home in 1999, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Moore and his fellow leaders at Public School Exit are hopeful that millions more parents will decide to continue home schooling when the fall rolls around.
Alex Newman, the group’s spokesman, said, “This coronavirus crisis is a really good time for parents to figure out what their children are being exposed to in government schools and to take back their rightful authority as parents and try home schooling.”
Do you support home schooling? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 100% (54 Votes) No: 0% (0 Votes)
Newman said one of the top reasons families should make the move is the poor academic outcomes of public education.
He argued the government-run system “is deliberately dumbing down America’s children” and is getting worse every year.
Newman pointed to the latest data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress showing that over two-thirds of eighth-graders haven’t reached proficiency in any subject, including reading, writing, history and math.
Dran Reese, Public School Exit’s director of operations, also pointed to the public school system’s overall poor outcomes.
“We have spent so much time trying to reform public education, but it doesn’t seem to be translating down to the kids,” she said.
Diane Douglas, who completed a term as Arizona’s Superintendent of Public Instruction last year, recently joined Public School Exit as a board member.
In 2014, Douglas ran for the office out of her concern over the Grand Canyon State adopting the Common Core standards.
As superintendent, she was able to push some revisions through the State Board of Education, but she now sees public education itself as the problem.
“What I learned from [my time in office], I truly believe God put me in the superintendent’s office to learn that there’s really no fixing the system,” she told The Western Journal.
“The system is what the system is and nobody wants it to change,” added Douglas, who previously served eight years as a school board member of Peoria Unified School District (in the Phoenix metro area), including two years as its president.
She contends that people on both sides of the political aisle make reforming public education very difficult.
“The left wants to use the public education system to change America, to change our society,” Douglas said. “They were very blatant about it.”
“The right just wants to use it for workforce development,” she continued. “Well, workforce development is not the same as education.”
Testing shows that students in Arizona, like many in the rest of the nation, are not being served well by public education.
Over half (54 percent) of third-graders in the state did not pass the AzMERIT reading proficiency test in 2019, The Arizona Republic reported.
The statistic is even worse in high school, with 66 percent of 11th-graders not proficient readers.
Math proficiencies were equally poor, with half or more of students in the various grade levels unable to hit the mark.
“Yet we have plenty of time for social-emotional learning,” Douglas said. “We have plenty of time for sex ed. We have plenty of time for all those things. But parents who truly want their children educated need to find another direction than the government education monopoly.”
Rather than having “students acquire academic knowledge, discern truth and wisdom,” public schools are “forcing more of a social agenda on kids,” she believes.
Reese, who resides in southern California, says part of that agenda is to “sexualize” kids at a very young age.
“It is mandated by the states to teach these kind of alternative lifestyles, and I find that criminal,” she said. “Because a little child, when you are trying to program them at an early age like this, you are desensitizing them.”
The Los Angeles Times reported in May 2019 that California was adopting a “controversial sex education framework” that provides guidance for instructing students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
“It’s just scary what they are going to be teaching. It’s pornography,” Orange County resident Patricia Reyes told CBS News. “If this continues, I’m not sending them to school.”
The curriculum guidance includes teaching kindergarteners about transgenderism.
“It’s not about gender identity. It’s about acceptance of people for who they are,” Stephanie Gregson, director of the Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Division at the California Department of Education, told The Times.
“Kindergarten is the foundational grade level to create understanding with all of our students and create an environment that’s bullying-free,” she added.
Newman, who is a private school teacher, lecturer and journalist, believes many parents are seeing for the first time what their children are being taught, and it is causing them to rethink whether to keep them in public schools.
He said he spoke to a mother recently who told him that after learning of her son’s sex education curriculum, she “decided right then and there we’re done.”
“They literally that day sent a letter to the superintendent, unenrolled the child from public school and officially started home schooling now,” Newman recounted. “And I think that is going to happen a lot all over the country.”
“We’re hoping that millions of new families will be coming into the home-school movement,” he added.
Jessica Parnell, president of the Bridgeway Homeschool Academy in eastern Pennsylvania, told The Western Journal her organization has seen an increase in home-schooling inquiries.
Bridgeway has been working with parents and students to help set up a program for the last quarter of the year.
“The reality is what a school is sending home is designed to complement what a teacher is instructing in the classroom. It’s not designed for independent study, so that’s been a challenge for the kids,” Parnell said.
Bridgeway — which is a Christian company, founded in 1989 with 30,000 alumni — offers both religious and secular versions of their curriculum.
Parnell, herself a home-schooling parent, says many parents like her think, “I want to make sure that I’m infusing my family values and my faith values in my kids, and so home schooling becomes a fantastic way to do that.”
Regarding common questions she gets about home-school kids learning to socialize with their peers, the educator said that because of the growth of the movement over the years, that is really not an issue anymore.
Parnell noted that most areas with home schooling have ways for kids to get together for periodic activities, or even group instruction one or two days a week.
Additionally, home-schoolers can interact with their peers through sports, church youth groups and other non-school clubs and activities.
Former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow told ABC’s “Good Morning America” in a 2018 interview that he did receive some guff from his high school football teammates, but he credits home schooling with contributing greatly to the success he has enjoyed.
“It never really affected me, but I know it affected a lot of home-school friends of mine and some of my siblings,” he said regarding his experiences as a young person.
“You can break the trends and show that yeah, you’re different, but in a good way,” Tebow added.
Moore likes to flip the question around when asked about the topic of socialization, asking parents whether they are concerned about the social lessons their kids are receiving though the public school system.
The 76-year-old is gratified to see how the home-school movement has matured in the 40-plus years since he and his wife decided to home-school their kids.
“The bonding and the emotional stability that a family gives children is intensified or strengthened through home schooling,” he said.
The former chaplain, who served in the Persian Gulf War, argued that when all is said and done, it is the parents who have the responsibility to raise their children.
“The Scripture of God has assigned the education of children to the family with assistance from the church and not government,” Moore said.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-04-19--Trump Salutes America’s 3.5 Million Truck Drivers with ‘Thank God for Truckers’ Event

They ’ re some of the country ’ s most unheralded front-line workers — and on Thursday , President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao celebrated the nation ’ s 3.5 million truck drivers for the work they do .
During the event on the White House lawn , the president praised “ the entire trucking industry for keeping our country moving ” and said that “ truckers are playing a heroic role in helping America cope during this crisis , and truckers will be a critical part in helping our economy recover once this crisis is past us.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ enemy landed on our shores , America ’ s 3.5 million truckers have never wavered at all , and they ’ ve never , ever let us down .
When we supply our country , we supply it through truckers , ” Trump said in his remarks , flanked by trucks on either side .
“ And supply chains were stretched thin to hospitals and cities and states needed — they needed massive convoys of supplies that truckers kept on going , day and night .
It didn ’ t make any difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the job done.
” TRENDING : Bill Maher Sends Warning to Media : Keep up Dishonest Virus Reporting , and Trump Will Win 2020 “ At a time of widespread shutdowns , truck drivers form the lifeblood of our economy , the absolute lifeblood , ” the president said , according to a White House transcript .
“ For days and sometimes weeks on end , truck drivers leave their homes and deliver supplies that American families need and count on during this national crisis , and at all other times , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war against the virus , American truckers are the foot soldiers who are really carrying us to victory , ” he added .
“ And they are .
They ’ ve done an incredible job .
We ’ ve had no problems .
It ’ s been just — it ’ s been just great , and we want to thank you very much.
” According to Fox News , the event featured representatives from DHL , FedEx and UPS .
An executive and truck driver from the American Trucking Associations were in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American Trucking Associations driver , praised the president on “ Fox & Friends ” on Friday .
“ It was definitely an experience of a lifetime , ” Richardson said .
“ Getting the honor and respect that I think the 3.5 million truck drivers deserve was just heartwarming because it was not personally me , it ’ s all of us doing our jobs.
” RELATED : CDC Chief Says 20 US States May Be Able to Re-Open Within 14 Days During his remarks at the White House , Richardson recalled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he hauled was also making good during the crisis .
“ In my time of driving in the last couple of years , I ’ ve been hauling barrels for a company called Jack Daniels , out of Lynchburg , Tennessee .
They make some of the greatest Tennessee whiskey , if I could say .
I ’ ve had a few swigs here and there , ” he said to laughter , according to the transcript .
“ In times when the economy is running good , Jack Daniels makes great whiskey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this time of a pandemic , Jack Daniels has switched over to making hand sanitizer .
“ And by me hauling the barrels , it allows the company on the front end to do something for agriculture in our area , ” he continued .
“ It also allows the company to run and make hand sanitizer , which I think is great.
” It ’ s rare that we have to think about America ’ s truck drivers and how the work they do is a critical part of our infrastructure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re invisible to us — when they aren ’ t the targets of jokes .
They aren ’ t invisible anymore and no one ’ s laughing at what they do .
At a time when our supply chain is under enormous strain and those who keep it running are doing so at great personal danger to themselves , our country ’ s truckers have stepped up and delivered — figuratively and literally — just like they always have .
They ’ ve gone above and beyond , and Thursday was another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

They’re some of the country’s most unheralded front-line workers — and on Thursday, President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao celebrated the nation’s 3.5 million truck drivers for the work they do.
During the event on the White House lawn, the president praised “the entire trucking industry for keeping our country moving” and said that “truckers are playing a heroic role in helping America cope during this crisis, and truckers will be a critical part in helping our economy recover once this crisis is past us.”
“From the moment the invisible enemy landed on our shores, America’s 3.5 million truckers have never wavered at all, and they’ve never, ever let us down. When we supply our country, we supply it through truckers,” Trump said in his remarks, flanked by trucks on either side.
“And supply chains were stretched thin to hospitals and cities and states needed — they needed massive convoys of supplies that truckers kept on going, day and night. It didn’t make any difference to them. They had to get the job done.”
“At a time of widespread shutdowns, truck drivers form the lifeblood of our economy, the absolute lifeblood,” the president said, according to a White House transcript.
“For days and sometimes weeks on end, truck drivers leave their homes and deliver supplies that American families need and count on during this national crisis, and at all other times, they’re always there…
“In the war against the virus, American truckers are the foot soldiers who are really carrying us to victory,” he added.
“And they are. They’ve done an incredible job. We’ve had no problems. It’s been just — it’s been just great, and we want to thank you very much.”
Do truckers deserve more credit from the mainstream media for the work they do? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 100% (4034 Votes) No: 0% (15 Votes)
According to Fox News, the event featured representatives from DHL, FedEx and UPS. An executive and truck driver from the American Trucking Associations were in attendance as well.
Stephen Richardson, the American Trucking Associations driver, praised the president on “Fox & Friends” on Friday.
“It was definitely an experience of a lifetime,” Richardson said.
“Getting the honor and respect that I think the 3.5 million truck drivers deserve was just heartwarming because it was not personally me, it’s all of us doing our jobs.”
During his remarks at the White House, Richardson recalled how one of the companies whose wares he hauled was also making good during the crisis.
“In my time of driving in the last couple of years, I’ve been hauling barrels for a company called Jack Daniels, out of Lynchburg, Tennessee. They make some of the greatest Tennessee whiskey, if I could say. I’ve had a few swigs here and there,” he said to laughter, according to the transcript.
“In times when the economy is running good, Jack Daniels makes great whiskey. But now that we’re in this time of a pandemic, Jack Daniels has switched over to making hand sanitizer.
“And by me hauling the barrels, it allows the company on the front end to do something for agriculture in our area,” he continued. “It also allows the company to run and make hand sanitizer, which I think is great.”
It’s rare that we have to think about America’s truck drivers and how the work they do is a critical part of our infrastructure. Most of the time, they’re invisible to us — when they aren’t the targets of jokes.
They aren’t invisible anymore and no one’s laughing at what they do.
At a time when our supply chain is under enormous strain and those who keep it running are doing so at great personal danger to themselves, our country’s truckers have stepped up and delivered — figuratively and literally — just like they always have.
They’ve gone above and beyond, and Thursday was another reminder of that.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.