westernjournal--2020-12-22--PA Man Facing Charges of Unlawful Voting After Allegedly Casting Dead Mother’s Ballot

The left has insisted that voter fraud is just fiction , but one man ’ s actions in Pennsylvania illustrates just how problematic and widespread mail-in balloting could be .
Marple Township resident Bruce Bartman , 70 , was caught trying to illegally vote for President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election using the identities of his two dead relatives , WPVI-TV reported .
Bartman was charged with unlawful voting and perjury after casting a mail-in ballot using his dead mother Elizabeth Bartman ’ s name .
He also tried to obtain a second ballot using his mother-in-law Elizabeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number , but the state sent back a letter for confirmation after uncovering she ’ d died 2019 , according to WCAU-TV .
TRENDING : Joe Biden 's Niece Caroline Receives Zero Jail Time After Pleading Guilty to DUI Bartman forged that confirmation letter but was still denied a ballot for her .
Elizabeth Bartman ’ s ballot was accepted and counted in the state ’ s tally , however .
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said it was “ the only known case of a ‘ dead person ’ voting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Further , ” Stollsteimer continued , “ the prompt prosecution of this case shows that law enforcement will continue to uphold our election laws whenever presented with actual evidence of fraud and that we will continue to investigate every allegation that comes our way.
” “ Second , even though this was the most secure election in our lifetimes , ” he parroted the Democratic talking point , “ human history shows that there are always some who will try and criminally cheat any system.
” Stollsteimer claimed that he only shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dispute the myriad charges of voter fraud advanced by Trump and his allies .
Despite numerous claims of voting irregularities , including affidavits alleging fraud sworn to by reported eyewitnesses , no court has yet ruled that widespread fraud materially affected the results of the presidential election .
Still , it ’ s hard to believe Department of Homeland Security official Christopher Krebs ’ claim of this election being “ the most secure in American history ” — which Stollsteimer notably echoed — when it ’ s clear that fraud was so easily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predictably pounced on the fact that Bartman wanted to cast additional votes for Trump , as if this one instance publicized by a Democratic district attorney is proof that fraud never happened before or since on the left .
It is naive to think that either party is free from fraudulent voting , but the left ’ s insistence that it simply couldn ’ t happen seems like overkill — especially considering that they accused Trump of winning in 2016 only because of Russia collusion .
Bartman committed voter fraud and will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law .
That ’ s good news , and the system worked as it should have .
However , it doesn ’ t demonstrate how well the system catches fraud since , after all , he did successfully vote on behalf of his dead mother using the difficult to verify vote-by-mail process ( could it be that his second forgery with his mother-in-law ’ s identity is what did him in ? )
.
Nothing would be better or more encouraging than to know for sure that voter fraud is rare and prosecuted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hard to believe it when the left seems so insistent that it isn ’ t even possible in the first place .
Democrats spent four years insisting Trump was the beneficiary of Russian election interference and an illegitimate president , yet they now believe voter fraud is nearly impossible since it was their guy that got in — and that just doesn ’ t jibe .
When it comes to fraud in the 2020 presidential election , the only certainty is that the left ’ s repeated insistence there was none @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially given their track record all along .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The left has insisted that voter fraud is just fiction, but one man’s actions in Pennsylvania illustrates just how problematic and widespread mail-in balloting could be.
Marple Township resident Bruce Bartman, 70, was caught trying to illegally vote for President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election using the identities of his two dead relatives, WPVI-TV reported.
Bartman was charged with unlawful voting and perjury after casting a mail-in ballot using his dead mother Elizabeth Bartman’s name.
He also tried to obtain a second ballot using his mother-in-law Elizabeth Weihman’s identity and social security number, but the state sent back a letter for confirmation after uncovering she’d died 2019, according to WCAU-TV.
Bartman forged that confirmation letter but was still denied a ballot for her.
Elizabeth Bartman’s ballot was accepted and counted in the state’s tally, however.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said it was “the only known case of a ‘dead person’ voting in our county, conspiracy theories notwithstanding.”
“Further,” Stollsteimer continued, “the prompt prosecution of this case shows that law enforcement will continue to uphold our election laws whenever presented with actual evidence of fraud and that we will continue to investigate every allegation that comes our way.”
Do you think voter fraud is rare and often prosecuted when it does occur? Yes No
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“Second, even though this was the most secure election in our lifetimes,” he parroted the Democratic talking point, “human history shows that there are always some who will try and criminally cheat any system.”
Stollsteimer claimed that he only shared Bartman’s Republican party affiliation to dispute the myriad charges of voter fraud advanced by Trump and his allies.
Despite numerous claims of voting irregularities, including affidavits alleging fraud sworn to by reported eyewitnesses, no court has yet ruled that widespread fraud materially affected the results of the presidential election.
Still, it’s hard to believe Department of Homeland Security official Christopher Krebs’ claim of this election being “the most secure in American history” — which Stollsteimer notably echoed — when it’s clear that fraud was so easily accomplished for Bartman.
The left has predictably pounced on the fact that Bartman wanted to cast additional votes for Trump, as if this one instance publicized by a Democratic district attorney is proof that fraud never happened before or since on the left.
Officials finally found a case of a dead person voting. Bruce Bartman has been charged with unlawful voting and perjury over allegations that he pretended to be his dead mother to cast a ballot in the November election — for Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. https://t.co/4sb7n97OHS — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 22, 2020
I found evidence of voter fraud, Mr. President, sir! Look! Bruce Bartman voted for his dead mother!!! The vote was for YOU. pic.twitter.com/jrblIvr4vT — Nicole Pauline (@NCrazysnake) December 22, 2020
Republican Bruce Bartman charged with election fraud. Trump supporters registering dead people to vote — KHunter (@KDHunter4) December 21, 2020
They finally found evidence of voter fraud. Mr Bartman used his dead mother’s name to vote for T-Rump. pic.twitter.com/DAREhXjME9 — Larry Saint (@LarrySaint4) December 22, 2020
So they actually did find evidence of voter fraud in Pennsylvania!! Bruce Bartman pretended to be his dead mom to vote for Trump. Oh my, oh my, would you look at that. I guess Trump was right about voter fraud after all ? — Santa’s Favorite Ho? (@karoxxanax) December 22, 2020
It is naive to think that either party is free from fraudulent voting, but the left’s insistence that it simply couldn’t happen seems like overkill — especially considering that they accused Trump of winning in 2016 only because of Russia collusion.
Bartman committed voter fraud and will be prosecuted for it in accordance with the law. That’s good news, and the system worked as it should have.
However, it doesn’t demonstrate how well the system catches fraud since, after all, he did successfully vote on behalf of his dead mother using the difficult to verify vote-by-mail process (could it be that his second forgery with his mother-in-law’s identity is what did him in?).
Nothing would be better or more encouraging than to know for sure that voter fraud is rare and prosecuted when it does occur, but it’s hard to believe it when the left seems so insistent that it isn’t even possible in the first place.
Democrats spent four years insisting Trump was the beneficiary of Russian election interference and an illegitimate president, yet they now believe voter fraud is nearly impossible since it was their guy that got in — and that just doesn’t jibe.
When it comes to fraud in the 2020 presidential election, the only certainty is that the left’s repeated insistence there was none is reason enough to be skeptical, especially given their track record all along.
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westernjournal--2020-12-22--Dan Calabrese: Pelosi Just Showed the World How She Really Feels About People Who Trust the Bible

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says some really absurd things and some really dishonest things .
That is exactly what she did Monday on the floor of the House .
Lately , Pelosi has been telling anyone who will listen how much she “ believes in science , ” which is like saying you believe in algebra , but I digress .
Democrats always insist that those who trust in God reject science ( as if God is not the author of science , but whatever ) .
Sometimes , though , they don ’ t just imply it .
Sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Pelosi did that in this floor speech .
“ People say around here sometimes , ‘ I ’ m faith-oriented so I don ’ t believe in science , ' ” the California Democrat claimed .
No one says that .
Ever .
It ’ s a complete lie .
The person who “ doesn ’ t believe in science ” as a result of religious faith is an invention of the secular left .
No such person exists , and certainly no such person runs around making any such declarations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caroline Receives Zero Jail Time After Pleading Guilty to DUI Pelosi knows she ’ s lying because she knows perfectly well that she has never heard anyone make such a statement — on Capitol Hill or elsewhere .
She made this up because she finds it necessary to repackage the viewpoints of her political opponents in order to make them sound as absurd as possible .
And that got me thinking .
We all do this .
And that ’ s one of the reasons we struggle to solve problems .
One of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the ability to repeat back your opponents ’ positions — accurately and completely — and then refute them .
This makes you effective because your refutation of another person ’ s position is much more credible if you first demonstrate that you really understand that position .
For example , I think it ’ s a terrible idea to halt oil leases on public lands .
It puts America in jeopardy of returning to energy dependency , and it jeopardizes access to energy resources for American individuals and industries .
I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ belief in this as a good idea .
But before I can refute the idea , I have to be able to represent it accurately .
If I run around saying , “ Joe Biden and Kamala Harris want to ban all oil drilling , ” my position has no credibility , because that ’ s not what they ’ re proposing .
When we debate with each other honestly and represent each other ’ s positions accurately , we not only sharpen our own positions but we help those observing the debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Most of the time , though , today ’ s political class doesn ’ t do that .
We ’ re told that free-market advocates hate the poor .
We ’ re told that advocates of a strong national defense “ want war.
” We ’ re told that those who are skeptical of race-based preference systems are racists .
The right does this too .
We claim that left-wingers “ hate America ” or other similar notions , instead of just making the case that their ideas are wrong .
RELATED @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shows Victory Against Abortion Is Within Our Grasp I realize there ’ s a sense sometimes that our political opponents are not being honest about their real motives or intentions .
For example , when Barack Obama said you ’ d be able to keep your health insurance if you liked it , that was a lie , and a lot of people sniffed it out at the time .
But that ’ s not the same thing as constantly redefining the other side ’ s positions to make them sound absurd and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easier than offering a substantive refutation .
It ’ s harder to solve problems when we operate like this because people don ’ t understand what the real facts are .
They never hear them .
They only hear the hyperbole .
And when the speaker of the House is reduced to making up fiction about things people say to her , you know that this manner of debate has become so mainstreamed that it ’ s accepted at the highest levels of government .
If someone wants to debate me about something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more if that person shows me he or she understands my position and can refute it in its real form .
I will try to do the same on my end .
If everyone did that , we ’ d respect each other more and find common ground .
As it is today , we simply try to make each other sound as ridiculous as possible so as not to cede any ground whatsoever , and then we congratulate ourselves because we “ won the fight.
” This is no way to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website .
If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal , you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says some really absurd things and some really dishonest things. That is exactly what she did Monday on the floor of the House.
Lately, Pelosi has been telling anyone who will listen how much she “believes in science,” which is like saying you believe in algebra, but I digress. Democrats always insist that those who trust in God reject science (as if God is not the author of science, but whatever). Sometimes, though, they don’t just imply it. Sometimes they come right out and say it, and Pelosi did that in this floor speech.
“People say around here sometimes, ‘I’m faith-oriented so I don’t believe in science,'” the California Democrat claimed.
No one says that. Ever. It’s a complete lie.
The person who “doesn’t believe in science” as a result of religious faith is an invention of the secular left. No such person exists, and certainly no such person runs around making any such declarations.
Pelosi knows she’s lying because she knows perfectly well that she has never heard anyone make such a statement — on Capitol Hill or elsewhere.
She made this up because she finds it necessary to repackage the viewpoints of her political opponents in order to make them sound as absurd as possible.
And that got me thinking. We all do this. And that’s one of the reasons we struggle to solve problems.
One of the hallmarks of an excellent policy debater is the ability to repeat back your opponents’ positions — accurately and completely — and then refute them. This makes you effective because your refutation of another person’s position is much more credible if you first demonstrate that you really understand that position.
For example, I think it’s a terrible idea to halt oil leases on public lands. It puts America in jeopardy of returning to energy dependency, and it jeopardizes access to energy resources for American individuals and industries. I am very interested in refuting anyone’s belief in this as a good idea.
But before I can refute the idea, I have to be able to represent it accurately. If I run around saying, “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris want to ban all oil drilling,” my position has no credibility, because that’s not what they’re proposing.
When we debate with each other honestly and represent each other’s positions accurately, we not only sharpen our own positions but we help those observing the debate to really understand what’s happening.
Most of the time, though, today’s political class doesn’t do that. We’re told that free-market advocates hate the poor. We’re told that advocates of a strong national defense “want war.” We’re told that those who are skeptical of race-based preference systems are racists.
The right does this too. We claim that left-wingers “hate America” or other similar notions, instead of just making the case that their ideas are wrong.
I realize there’s a sense sometimes that our political opponents are not being honest about their real motives or intentions. For example, when Barack Obama said you’d be able to keep your health insurance if you liked it, that was a lie, and a lot of people sniffed it out at the time.
But that’s not the same thing as constantly redefining the other side’s positions to make them sound absurd and evil, all because it’s easier than offering a substantive refutation.
It’s harder to solve problems when we operate like this because people don’t understand what the real facts are. They never hear them. They only hear the hyperbole.
And when the speaker of the House is reduced to making up fiction about things people say to her, you know that this manner of debate has become so mainstreamed that it’s accepted at the highest levels of government.
If someone wants to debate me about something, I will respect him or her more if that person shows me he or she understands my position and can refute it in its real form. I will try to do the same on my end.
If everyone did that, we’d respect each other more and find common ground.
As it is today, we simply try to make each other sound as ridiculous as possible so as not to cede any ground whatsoever, and then we congratulate ourselves because we “won the fight.”
This is no way to keep a nation viable.
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here.
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westernjournal--2020-12-22--Candace Owens Issues Challenge to AOC After Rare Agreement on COVID Bill

Conservative commentator Candace Owens and New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , known for being some of the most polarizing figures in American politics , both agreed that the recent coronavirus spending bill passed by Congress was a disaster .
The over five thousand page legislation was given to representatives and senators with little time to review it before voting .
“ This is why Congress needs time to actually read this package before voting on it .
Members of Congress have not read this bill .
It ’ s over 5000 pages , arrived at 2pm today , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on it in 2 hours , ” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted .
“ This isn ’ t governance .
It ’ s hostage-taking.
” TRENDING : Joe Biden 's Niece Caroline Receives Zero Jail Time After Pleading Guilty to DUI She continued by explaining that the public also needs to be informed when it comes to confusing bills like this one .
“ And by the way , it ’ s not just members who need to see the bill ahead of time – YOU do .
The PUBLIC needs to see these bills w @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let them know how they feel .
Members are reeling right now bc they don ’ t have time to consult w/ their communities.
” Her call for government transparency caught the attention of Owens , who actually agreed with her .
However , Owens made it clear that she wants Ocasio-Cortez to start asking questions about some of the seemingly pointless spendings in the bill .
“ I 100 % agree with @ AOC on this one .
This isn ’ t a stimulus bill , this is heist .
Wealthy people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 relief , ” Owens said .
“ I implore AOC to ask her colleagues WHY the Smithsonian and the Kennedy Center need over a billion dollars of OUR money.
” RELATED : Candace Owens Teaches AOC What Real Work Is : 'You Spoiled Rotten Brat' Owens joined a few Republican lawmakers in this rare moment of bipartisanship , which unfortunately only happened because of a bill that is incredibly terrible .
Any bill that is significantly longer than The Bible should leave Americans furious and distraught at the way Congress conducts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress continue to speak out .
Lots of legislation that makes its way through Congress contains language specifically tailored to interest groups and politicians ’ pet projects , and it is a sad truth that Americans have to face .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Conservative commentator Candace Owens and New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, known for being some of the most polarizing figures in American politics, both agreed that the recent coronavirus spending bill passed by Congress was a disaster.
The over five thousand page legislation was given to representatives and senators with little time to review it before voting.
“This is why Congress needs time to actually read this package before voting on it. Members of Congress have not read this bill. It’s over 5000 pages, arrived at 2pm today, and we are told to expect a vote on it in 2 hours,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. “This isn’t governance. It’s hostage-taking.”
This is why Congress needs time to actually read this package before voting on it. Members of Congress have not read this bill. It’s over 5000 pages, arrived at 2pm today, and we are told to expect a vote on it in 2 hours. This isn’t governance. It’s hostage-taking. https://t.co/JpBbEHHkVG — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 21, 2020
She continued by explaining that the public also needs to be informed when it comes to confusing bills like this one.
“And by the way, it’s not just members who need to see the bill ahead of time – YOU do. The PUBLIC needs to see these bills w enough time to contact their rep to let them know how they feel. Members are reeling right now bc they don’t have time to consult w/ their communities.”
And by the way, it’s not just members who need to see the bill ahead of time – YOU do. The PUBLIC needs to see these bills w enough time to contact their rep to let them know how they feel. Members are reeling right now bc they don’t have time to consult w/ their communities. — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 21, 2020
Her call for government transparency caught the attention of Owens, who actually agreed with her.
However, Owens made it clear that she wants Ocasio-Cortez to start asking questions about some of the seemingly pointless spendings in the bill.
“I 100% agree with @AOC on this one. This isn’t a stimulus bill, this is heist. Wealthy people are stealing tax dollars under the guise of COVID-19 relief,” Owens said. “I implore AOC to ask her colleagues WHY the Smithsonian and the Kennedy Center need over a billion dollars of OUR money.”
I 100% agree with @AOC on this one.
This isn’t a stimulus bill, this is heist. Wealthy people are stealing tax dollars under the guise of COVID-19 relief.
I implore AOC to ask her colleagues WHY the Smithsonian and the Kennedy Center need over a billion dollars of OUR money. https://t.co/HIWVfQy6e9 — Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) December 22, 2020
Owens joined a few Republican lawmakers in this rare moment of bipartisanship, which unfortunately only happened because of a bill that is incredibly terrible.
.@AOC is right. It’s ABSURD to have a $2.5 trillion spending bill negotiated in secret and then—hours later—demand an up-or-down vote on a bill nobody has had time to read. #CongressIsBroken https://t.co/EQp8BfRBHj — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 21, 2020
Any bill that is significantly longer than The Bible should leave Americans furious and distraught at the way Congress conducts business, and hopefully, members of Congress continue to speak out.
5,600 pages. Votes are still expected today on this legislation. No one will be able to read it all in its entirety. Special interests win. Americans lose. https://t.co/zuyrLjez6o — Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) December 21, 2020
5,600 pages. Votes are still expected today on this legislation. No one will be able to read it all in its entirety. Special interests win. Americans lose. https://t.co/zuyrLjez6o — Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) December 21, 2020
Lots of legislation that makes its way through Congress contains language specifically tailored to interest groups and politicians’ pet projects, and it is a sad truth that Americans have to face.
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westernjournal--2020-12-22--Health Scammers Prey on the Elderly, Here’s How To Better Protect Yourself

Have you ever opened a magazine and seen an ad for a lotion that will take years off your age ?
Or have you ever turned on the TV and caught the paid programming ad for the revolutionary bracelets that cure arthritis ?
As one ages , the body begins to change in ways we sometimes do not like .
Scammers know this , so they often target older people .
Because of this , it is important to be aware and ask yourself if it sounds too good to be true .
Health scams can waste money , raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , be dangerous to the person who uses the product .
Often these scams target chronic diseases that can not be cured .
TRENDING : Joe Biden 's Niece Caroline Receives Zero Jail Time After Pleading Guilty to DUI Health scams come in many forms .
A few examples include the offering of anti-aging medications or arthritis remedies .
Both claims are difficult to disprove because aging is a progression , and changes take time .
Some symptoms may come and go .
You may believe it was the product that made you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center for Complementary and Integrative Health , Americans spend billions of dollars on natural product supplements .
Most supplements do not undergo government testing before being placed on the market .
The best way to age well is to eat healthy foods , exercise regularly and not smoke .
Before using any health-related product , it is best to discuss it with your doctor or health care provider to ensure it is not harmful or interfering with your current medications or treatment .
The Food and Drug Administration recommends watching for warning signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a list of warning signs : • Time-tested or new-found treatment : Claims the product is made from a special , secret or ancient formula .
• One product does it all : Claims to cure a disease that has not been cured .
• Personal testimonials : Uses statements or unproven case histories from satisfied patients .
It is important to understand the potential warning signs of a health scam .
Protect your personal information , including your social security and Medicare ID number , and never give those out .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be aware and be careful to protect yourself best .
Michigan State University Extension provides research-based information and educational classes on health-related issues .
To find a class near you , visit Michigan State University Extension ’ s Chronic Disease events page .
This article was published by Michigan State University Extension .
For more information , visit https : //extension.msu.edu .
To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox , visit https : //extension.msu.edu/newsletters .
To contact an expert in your area , visit https : //extension.msu.edu/experts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Liz Josaitis, Michigan State University Extension

Have you ever opened a magazine and seen an ad for a lotion that will take years off your age?
Or have you ever turned on the TV and caught the paid programming ad for the revolutionary bracelets that cure arthritis?
As one ages, the body begins to change in ways we sometimes do not like. Scammers know this, so they often target older people.
Because of this, it is important to be aware and ask yourself if it sounds too good to be true.
Health scams can waste money, raise false hope and, at their worst, be dangerous to the person who uses the product. Often these scams target chronic diseases that cannot be cured.
Health scams come in many forms.
A few examples include the offering of anti-aging medications or arthritis remedies. Both claims are difficult to disprove because aging is a progression, and changes take time. Some symptoms may come and go. You may believe it was the product that made you feel better.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Americans spend billions of dollars on natural product supplements. Most supplements do not undergo government testing before being placed on the market.
The best way to age well is to eat healthy foods, exercise regularly and not smoke.
Before using any health-related product, it is best to discuss it with your doctor or health care provider to ensure it is not harmful or interfering with your current medications or treatment.
The Food and Drug Administration recommends watching for warning signs in health-related claims. The following is a list of warning signs:
Quick fixes: Promises a quick or painless cure.
Time-tested or new-found treatment: Claims the product is made from a special, secret or ancient formula.
One product does it all: Claims to cure a disease that has not been cured.
Satisfaction guaranteed: Promises a no-risk, money-back guarantee.
Personal testimonials: Uses statements or unproven case histories from satisfied patients.
It is important to understand the potential warning signs of a health scam. Protect your personal information, including your social security and Medicare ID number, and never give those out.
As the FDA suggests, be smart, be aware and be careful to protect yourself best.
Michigan State University Extension provides research-based information and educational classes on health-related issues.
To find a class near you, visit Michigan State University Extension’s Chronic Disease events page.
This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).
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westernjournal--2020-12-22--De Blasio Can’t Help But Give Trump Credit for Huge Vaccine Win

Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio credited President Donald Trump for helping to facilitate the rollout of a COVID vaccine just nine months after the illness first began its spread across the country .
New York , which was the epicenter for cases in the spring , suffered greatly as thousands of deaths have been attributed to the virus .
Beginning in March , de Blasio and Democratic New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo blamed the virus fallout on the president .
A war of words between Trump and New York ’ s leaders lasted for months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ public criticism at the president throughout the pandemic , which was politicized early on , de Blasio said Trump deserved credit .
After receiving his vaccination , de Blasio said the Trump administration played a “ valuable role ” in making that happen , Fox News reported .
“ In terms of getting the vaccine , yes , I do think the president and his administration contributed substantially to getting a vaccine in this kind of time frame , ” he said .
“ That ’ s a really good thing.
” TRENDING @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zero Jail Time After Pleading Guilty to DUI The far-left Democrat is one of many New Yorkers who received a vaccine within the last week .
He posted about the vaccine on Twitter Tuesday , calling it a “ miracle.
” “ The # COVID19 vaccine is the miracle so many have waited and worked for , and will end the pandemic .
Get this shot of hope and help set our city free .
Our new Vaccine For All campaign will help spread the word that the vaccine is safe , effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The mayor ’ s comments came a day after presumed president-elect Joe Biden was inoculated with Pfizer ’ s vaccine .
After receiving the first of two shots on live TV , Biden stated that the vaccine is safe to use .
The Democrat initially signaled he would be hesitant to take such a vaccine which was developed under the leadership of Trump and Operation Warp Speed .
“ Let me be clear : I trust vaccines , ” Biden said in September , The New York Times reported .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t trust Donald Trump , and at this moment , the American people can ’ t either.
” RELATED : NYC First Lady Dances in Front of Mansion as De Blasio 's Leadership Utterly Destroys the City “ I ’ m doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared , when it ’ s available , to take the vaccine , ” Biden said , according to NBC News .
“ There ’ s nothing to worry about .
I ’ m looking forward to the second shot.
” Biden , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the availability of the vaccine .
“ I think the administration deserves some credit getting this off the ground with Operation Warp Speed , ” Biden said .
“ This give [ s ] us great hope.
” Pfizer first rolled out its vaccine last week and a vaccine from Moderna had begun being used across the country .
The Moderna vaccine , like the one now in use from Pfizer , received emergency use approval from the Food and Drug Administration this month .
The vaccines are being hailed as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and after an NBC fact check “ expert ” first claimed in May that such a miracle would be needed for a vaccine to become widely available before the end of the year .
The establishment media , of course , hit Trump hard for saying that through cutting red tape with regard to vaccine development , a vaccine might be in use before 2021 .
Trump proved them correct , and now he ’ s receiving a little bit of credit , even if that praise is somewhat subdued .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and made a speedy recovery , hasn ’ t said if he has any immediate plans to take a vaccine .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio credited President Donald Trump for helping to facilitate the rollout of a COVID vaccine just nine months after the illness first began its spread across the country.
New York, which was the epicenter for cases in the spring, suffered greatly as thousands of deaths have been attributed to the virus. Beginning in March, de Blasio and Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo blamed the virus fallout on the president.
A war of words between Trump and New York’s leaders lasted for months.
But despite New York Democrats aiming their public criticism at the president throughout the pandemic, which was politicized early on, de Blasio said Trump deserved credit. After receiving his vaccination, de Blasio said the Trump administration played a “valuable role” in making that happen, Fox News reported.
“In terms of getting the vaccine, yes, I do think the president and his administration contributed substantially to getting a vaccine in this kind of time frame,” he said. “That’s a really good thing.”
The far-left Democrat is one of many New Yorkers who received a vaccine within the last week.
He posted about the vaccine on Twitter Tuesday, calling it a “miracle.”
“The #COVID19 vaccine is the miracle so many have waited and worked for, and will end the pandemic. Get this shot of hope and help set our city free. Our new Vaccine For All campaign will help spread the word that the vaccine is safe, effective and free,” wrote de Blasio.
The #COVID19 vaccine is the miracle so many have waited and worked for, and will end the pandemic. Get this shot of hope and help set our city free. Our new Vaccine For All campaign will help spread the word that the vaccine is safe, effective and free. pic.twitter.com/AalxBVyeQg — Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) December 22, 2020
The mayor’s comments came a day after presumed president-elect Joe Biden was inoculated with Pfizer’s vaccine.
ICYMI: Joe Biden received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech #Covid19 vaccine in Wilmington, Delaware pic.twitter.com/5BQ7x6cq8z — Bloomberg Quicktake (@Quicktake) December 22, 2020
After receiving the first of two shots on live TV, Biden stated that the vaccine is safe to use. The Democrat initially signaled he would be hesitant to take such a vaccine which was developed under the leadership of Trump and Operation Warp Speed.
“Let me be clear: I trust vaccines,” Biden said in September, The New York Times reported. “I trust scientists. But I don’t trust Donald Trump, and at this moment, the American people can’t either.”
“I’m doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared, when it’s available, to take the vaccine,” Biden said, according to NBC News. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’m looking forward to the second shot.”
Biden, like de Blasio, credited the Trump administration for the availability of the vaccine.
“I think the administration deserves some credit getting this off the ground with Operation Warp Speed,” Biden said. “This give[s] us great hope.”
Do you plan on getting vaccinated? Yes No
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Pfizer first rolled out its vaccine last week and a vaccine from Moderna had begun being used across the country.
The Moderna vaccine, like the one now in use from Pfizer, received emergency use approval from the Food and Drug Administration this month. The vaccines are being hailed as a “miracle” after intense media scrutiny, and after an NBC fact check “expert” first claimed in May that such a miracle would be needed for a vaccine to become widely available before the end of the year.
NBC Fact check: Coronavirus vaccine could come this year, Trump says. Experts say he needs a ‘miracle’ to be right.https://t.co/Pu6hDrWGgP — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 15, 2020
The establishment media, of course, hit Trump hard for saying that through cutting red tape with regard to vaccine development, a vaccine might be in use before 2021. Trump proved them correct, and now he’s receiving a little bit of credit, even if that praise is somewhat subdued.
Trump, who contracted the coronavirus in October and made a speedy recovery, hasn’t said if he has any immediate plans to take a vaccine.
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westernjournal--2020-12-22--Franklin Graham Declares Support for Trump on ‘Rigged or Stolen’ Election

The Rev .
Franklin Graham says he ’ s inclined to believe Donald Trump when the president says November ’ s election was “ rigged , ” given Trump ’ s track record of being right in showdowns with Democrats and the establishment media .
In a Facebook post Saturday , the preacher pointed to the fake Russia collusion narrative , the FBI campaign spying scandal and the impeachment of the president over a phone call with the Ukraine president as prime cases in point .
In each instance , time proved what Trump told the American people was true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FBI did spy on his campaign , and there was no “ quid pro quo ” with Ukraine , given no investigation was ever opened on Joe or Hunter Biden over alleged shady business dealings .
“ The President has been maligned , falsely accused , and attacked on every front since before the election in 2016 .
When President Trump says that this election has been rigged or stolen , I tend to believe him .
He has a track record of being right , ” Graham wrote .
“ Pray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , and pray for our nation — that we will get through this , and for God ’ s will be done.
” TRENDING : Joe Biden 's Niece Caroline Receives Zero Jail Time After Pleading Guilty to DUI It is really not much of an intellectual leap to believe the party that brought us the Russia hoax ( undergirded by the DNC/Clinton campaign-funded Steele dossier ) and an election-year impeachment on dubious grounds would be willing to cheat in swing states to remove Trump from office .
The president tweeted on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OF THOUSANDS OF BALLOTS IN THE SWING STATES LATE IN THE EVENING .
IT WAS A RIGGED ELECTION !
!
!
” The evidence the Trump campaign has presented to state legislators in Michigan , Pennsylvania and Georgia is particularly compelling .
In Michigan , 70 percent of Detroit ’ s 134 precincts did not balance — meaning the number of votes tabulated did not match the number of voters signed in at the precinct .
That prompted two Republicans on the Wayne County Board of Canvassers to refuse to certify the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Qualified Voter Files , and final tallies not match or balance ?
” board member William Hartmann asked .
RELATED : GA Senate Report Devastates Left , Says Nov. 3 Election Results ' Can not Be Trusted' At a news conference last month , Trump campaign attorney Rudy Giuliani offered some possible explanations for the discrepancies .
He noted that three witnesses provided the campaign with affidavits , under penalty of perjury , that a truck pulled up to the Detroit center where they were counting ballots at 4:30 in the morning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ thousands and thousands of ballots and the ballots were in garbage cans , they were in paper bags , they were in cardboard boxes and they were taken into the center , ” Giuliani said .
“ They were put on a number of tables .
At that time , they thought all the Republican inspectors had left — all but two had , ” he said .
The former New York mayor said the affiants all attested that the ballots they could see were only for Biden , with no down-ticket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought in to be between 60,000 and 100,000 , and many of them were triple counted , Giuliani said .
Of course , this says nothing about Antrim County , Michigan , which flipped from a win for Biden to Trump after the faulty result generated by its Dominion Voting Systems equipment was discovered and corrected .
That 68.05 percent error rate was at least 85,000 times higher than the Federal Election Commission guidelines allow , according to an audit team led by Russell Ramsland of the Dallas-based Allied Security Operations Group .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ account of between 144,000 and 288,000 completed mail-in ballots being trucked in from New York to Pennsylvania .
And in Delaware County , outside of Philadelphia , Gregory Stenstrom , a former commanding officer in the Navy , testified at a hearing for state legislators in Gettysburg last month that 47 USB cards used in November ’ s election have gone missing , placing up to 120,000 votes in question , Fox News reported .
Meanwhile , video from a Fulton County , Georgia , counting site surfaced earlier this month allegedly showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials told observers to go home because the counting for the night was done .
“ This is what my co-counsel Rudy Giuliani described as ‘ the smoking gun , ’ ” Trump campaign senior legal adviser Jenna Ellis told Fox Business Network ’ s Maria Bartiromo .
“ This verified the testimony that we already had from other poll watchers and other people who were there who said that they had to leave and described all these irregular activities and the violations against the law.
” The president ’ s son , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to show the spike in votes for Biden in Fulton County after the monitors were told to go home .
Then there are the many anomalies that marked the November election , including Biden receiving a record 81 million votes but having no coattails to speak of , while Trump helped Republicans flip 13 seats in the House of Representatives .
The GOP , in fact , is in a position to win all 27 races that were deemed toss-ups before the election .
All of this raises doubts about whether the November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Polling has consistently shown Republicans , as well as a significant number of independents and Democrats , do not trust the results .
An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey taken earlier this month found 72 percent of Republicans and 28 percent of independents did not think the election results were accurate .
Count me in the camp that believes , like Trump and Graham , the election was rigged .
The only question is whether it can be proved to the people who can right the wrong in time .
We are committed to truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Read our editorial standards .

The Rev. Franklin Graham says he’s inclined to believe Donald Trump when the president says November’s election was “rigged,” given Trump’s track record of being right in showdowns with Democrats and the establishment media.
In a Facebook post Saturday, the preacher pointed to the fake Russia collusion narrative, the FBI campaign spying scandal and the impeachment of the president over a phone call with the Ukraine president as prime cases in point.
In each instance, time proved what Trump told the American people was true: There was no Russia collusion, the FBI did spy on his campaign, and there was no “quid pro quo” with Ukraine, given no investigation was ever opened on Joe or Hunter Biden over alleged shady business dealings.
“The President has been maligned, falsely accused, and attacked on every front since before the election in 2016. When President Trump says that this election has been rigged or stolen, I tend to believe him. He has a track record of being right,” Graham wrote.
“Pray for President Trump, pray for Joe Biden, and pray for our nation — that we will get through this, and for God’s will be done.”
It is really not much of an intellectual leap to believe the party that brought us the Russia hoax (undergirded by the DNC/Clinton campaign-funded Steele dossier) and an election-year impeachment on dubious grounds would be willing to cheat in swing states to remove Trump from office.
The president tweeted on Tuesday, “THE DEMOCRATS DUMPED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BALLOTS IN THE SWING STATES LATE IN THE EVENING. IT WAS A RIGGED ELECTION!!!”
THE DEMOCRATS DUMPED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BALLOTS IN THE SWING STATES LATE IN THE EVENING. IT WAS A RIGGED ELECTION!!! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2020
The evidence the Trump campaign has presented to state legislators in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia is particularly compelling.
In Michigan, 70 percent of Detroit’s 134 precincts did not balance — meaning the number of votes tabulated did not match the number of voters signed in at the precinct. That prompted two Republicans on the Wayne County Board of Canvassers to refuse to certify the election.
“Why do the pollbooks, Qualified Voter Files, and final tallies not match or balance?” board member William Hartmann asked.
The scene at Detroit’s absentee ballot counting center is growing more heated. The windows now being covered up. Allegations of violations. Sec. of State says she welcomes challenges. pic.twitter.com/oUL4A0h3Ku — Matt Finn (@MattFinnFNC) November 4, 2020
At a news conference last month, Trump campaign attorney Rudy Giuliani offered some possible explanations for the discrepancies.
He noted that three witnesses provided the campaign with affidavits, under penalty of perjury, that a truck pulled up to the Detroit center where they were counting ballots at 4:30 in the morning the day after the election.
It contained “thousands and thousands of ballots and the ballots were in garbage cans, they were in paper bags, they were in cardboard boxes and they were taken into the center,” Giuliani said.
“They were put on a number of tables. At that time, they thought all the Republican inspectors had left — all but two had,” he said.
The former New York mayor said the affiants all attested that the ballots they could see were only for Biden, with no down-ticket votes.
They estimated the total ballots brought in to be between 60,000 and 100,000, and many of them were triple counted, Giuliani said.
In Pennsylvania, there was a whistleblower account of between 144,000 and 288,000 completed mail-in ballots being trucked in from New York to Pennsylvania.
Jesse Morgan—a truck driver (subcontractor) with USPS in PENNSYLVANIA…pic.twitter.com/EFxXZnQCUS — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2020
And in Delaware County, outside of Philadelphia, Gregory Stenstrom, a former commanding officer in the Navy, testified at a hearing for state legislators in Gettysburg last month that 47 USB cards used in November’s election have gone missing, placing up to 120,000 votes in question, Fox News reported.
Meanwhile, video from a Fulton County, Georgia, counting site surfaced earlier this month allegedly showing boxes of ballots being counted after election officials told observers to go home because the counting for the night was done.
“This is what my co-counsel Rudy Giuliani described as ‘the smoking gun,’” Trump campaign senior legal adviser Jenna Ellis told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo.
“This verified the testimony that we already had from other poll watchers and other people who were there who said that they had to leave and described all these irregular activities and the violations against the law.”
WATCH: Video footage from Georgia shows suitcases filled with ballots pulled from under a table AFTER supervisors told poll workers to leave room and 4 people stayed behind to keep counting votes pic.twitter.com/AcbTI1pxn4 — Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) December 3, 2020
The president’s son, Eric Trump, tweeted an image appearing to show the spike in votes for Biden in Fulton County after the monitors were told to go home.
Then there are the many anomalies that marked the November election, including Biden receiving a record 81 million votes but having no coattails to speak of, while Trump helped Republicans flip 13 seats in the House of Representatives.
The GOP, in fact, is in a position to win all 27 races that were deemed toss-ups before the election.
All of this raises doubts about whether the November election was decided fair and square.
Polling has consistently shown Republicans, as well as a significant number of independents and Democrats, do not trust the results.
An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey taken earlier this month found 72 percent of Republicans and 28 percent of independents did not think the election results were accurate.
Count me in the camp that believes, like Trump and Graham, the election was rigged. The only question is whether it can be proved to the people who can right the wrong in time.
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westernjournal--2020-12-22--The Department of Justice Just Announced a Massive Lawsuit Against Walmart

The Department of Justice on Tuesday announced a massive civil suit filed against Walmart for allegedly contributing to the country ’ s deadly opioid epidemic .
According to a DOJ media release regarding the lawsuit , Walmart “ unlawfully dispensed controlled substances from pharmacies it operated across the country and unlawfully distributed controlled substances to those pharmacies throughout the height of the prescription opioid crisis.
” The Arkansas-based retail giant has 5,000 in-store pharmacies throughout the nation and is one of the country ’ s largest suppliers of potentially deadly and addictive painkillers , the suit claimed , as The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DOJ , Walmart has used that network since 2013 to wreak havoc on the health of many Americans amid the opioid crisis .
“ The complaint alleges that this unlawful conduct resulted in hundreds of thousands of violations of the Controlled Substances Act ( CSA ) .
The Justice Department seeks civil penalties , which could total in the billions of dollars , and injunctive relief , ” the department said in its media release .
The DOJ called the lawsuit , which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a multi-year investigation by the department ’ s Prescription Interdiction & Litigation ( PIL ) Task Force.
” The suit alleged the retailer “ knowingly filled thousands of controlled substance prescriptions that were not issued for legitimate medical purposes or in the usual course of medical practice , and that it filled prescriptions outside the ordinary course of pharmacy practice , ” the news release said .
The complaint further alleged Walmart “ received hundreds of thousands of suspicious orders that it failed to report as required to by the [ Drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped to fuel the prescription opioid crisis , ” according to the DOJ release .
Roughly 50,000 deaths in 2019 were attributed to opioid overdoses , The Wall Street Journal reported , citing federal data .
Walmart could potentially face fines “ of up to $ 67,627 for each unlawful prescription filled and $ 15,691 for each suspicious order not reported , ” the DOJ said .
“ It has been a priority of this administration to hold accountable those responsible for the prescription opioid crisis .
As one of the largest pharmacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , Walmart had the responsibility and the means to help prevent the diversion of prescription opioids , ” Jeffrey Bossert Clark , the acting assistant attorney general of the DOJ ’ s Civil Division , said in a statement .
“ Instead , for years , it did the opposite — filling thousands of invalid prescriptions at its pharmacies and failing to report suspicious orders of opioids and other drugs placed by those pharmacies .
This unlawful conduct contributed to the epidemic of opioid abuse throughout the United States .
Today ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the effort to hold Walmart accountable for such conduct.
” U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware David C. Weiss also had harsh words for the retailer .
“ The misuse of prescription painkillers is a public health crisis , ” he said .
“ DEA registrants must understand that licensure is a privilege , not a right .
Whenever that privilege is abused , whether by the smallest local provider or the largest national chain , our office and the Department of Justice will take all necessary steps to enforce the law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Walmart To Suffer $ 1B Loss After Relationship with Socialist Argentina Goes Awry Walmart responded to the filing on Tuesday by alleging the DOJ lawsuit “ invents a legal theory that unlawfully forces pharmacists to come between patients and their doctors , and is riddled with factual inaccuracies and cherry-picked documents taken out of context.
” “ Blaming pharmacists for not second-guessing the very doctors [ the DEA ] approved to prescribe opioids is a transparent attempt to shift blame from DEA ’ s well-documented failures in keeping bad doctors from prescribing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company said in a legal filing of its own , according to the Wall Street Journal .
The Justice Department , at the direction of the Trump administration , has made a priority of combating the opioid crisis .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The Department of Justice on Tuesday announced a massive civil suit filed against Walmart for allegedly contributing to the country’s deadly opioid epidemic.
According to a DOJ media release regarding the lawsuit, Walmart “unlawfully dispensed controlled substances from pharmacies it operated across the country and unlawfully distributed controlled substances to those pharmacies throughout the height of the prescription opioid crisis.”
The Arkansas-based retail giant has 5,000 in-store pharmacies throughout the nation and is one of the country’s largest suppliers of potentially deadly and addictive painkillers, the suit claimed, as The Wall Street Journal reported.
According to the DOJ, Walmart has used that network since 2013 to wreak havoc on the health of many Americans amid the opioid crisis.
“The complaint alleges that this unlawful conduct resulted in hundreds of thousands of violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The Justice Department seeks civil penalties, which could total in the billions of dollars, and injunctive relief,” the department said in its media release.
The DOJ called the lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, the “result of a multi-year investigation by the department’s Prescription Interdiction & Litigation (PIL) Task Force.”
The suit alleged the retailer “knowingly filled thousands of controlled substance prescriptions that were not issued for legitimate medical purposes or in the usual course of medical practice, and that it filled prescriptions outside the ordinary course of pharmacy practice,” the news release said.
The complaint further alleged Walmart “received hundreds of thousands of suspicious orders that it failed to report as required to by the [Drug Enforcement Administration],” which “helped to fuel the prescription opioid crisis,” according to the DOJ release.
Roughly 50,000 deaths in 2019 were attributed to opioid overdoses, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing federal data.
Do you agree with the Department of Justice that pharmacies should be held accountable for the opioid crisis? 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: 57% (258 Votes) No: 43% (193 Votes)
Walmart could potentially face fines “of up to $67,627 for each unlawful prescription filled and $15,691 for each suspicious order not reported,” the DOJ said.
“It has been a priority of this administration to hold accountable those responsible for the prescription opioid crisis. As one of the largest pharmacy chains and wholesale drug distributors in the country, Walmart had the responsibility and the means to help prevent the diversion of prescription opioids,” Jeffrey Bossert Clark, the acting assistant attorney general of the DOJ’s Civil Division, said in a statement.
“Instead, for years, it did the opposite — filling thousands of invalid prescriptions at its pharmacies and failing to report suspicious orders of opioids and other drugs placed by those pharmacies. This unlawful conduct contributed to the epidemic of opioid abuse throughout the United States. Today’s filing represents an important step in the effort to hold Walmart accountable for such conduct.”
U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware David C. Weiss also had harsh words for the retailer.
“The misuse of prescription painkillers is a public health crisis,” he said. “DEA registrants must understand that licensure is a privilege, not a right. Whenever that privilege is abused, whether by the smallest local provider or the largest national chain, our office and the Department of Justice will take all necessary steps to enforce the law and keep the public safe.”
Walmart responded to the filing on Tuesday by alleging the DOJ lawsuit “invents a legal theory that unlawfully forces pharmacists to come between patients and their doctors, and is riddled with factual inaccuracies and cherry-picked documents taken out of context.”
“Blaming pharmacists for not second-guessing the very doctors [the DEA] approved to prescribe opioids is a transparent attempt to shift blame from DEA’s well-documented failures in keeping bad doctors from prescribing opioids in the first place,” the company said in a legal filing of its own, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Justice Department, at the direction of the Trump administration, has made a priority of combating the opioid crisis.
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westernjournal--2020-12-22--6 GOP Senators Voted ‘No’ on COVID Bill They Were Given No Time To Read

Six Republican senators voted “ no ” on the highly controversial end-of-year federal government spending bill that was paired with a long-awaited coronavirus relief fund .
According to Fox News , Sens .
Ted Cruz of Texas , Mike Lee of Utah , Rand Paul of Kentucky , Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee , Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rick Scott of Florida all voted against the $ 2.3 trillion legislation , which was 5,593 pages long .
Lee made it clear in a Twitter statement that nobody voting would be able to actually read the bill beforehand because of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending bill under consideration in Congress today .
I received it just moments ago , and will likely be asked to vote on it late tonight .
It ’ s 5,593 pages long .
I know there are some good things in it .
I ’ m equally confident that there are bad things in it , ” he wrote .
“ Being asked to vote on something that we have never had the opportunity to see , much less digest and amend , is unacceptable , ” Lee added in a Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation as a “ monstrosity ” and blamed Democrats for delaying the efforts to pass a second major stimulus bill .
The bill was ultimately passed with a 92-6 vote in the Senate , and President Donald Trump is expected to sign it soon .
As if the massive $ 1.4 trillion in government spending tacked on to the relief funding was not concerning enough , the bill also allocates hundreds of millions in foreign aid .
Notably , Pakistan will be getting $ 10 million for “ gender programs ” and $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RELATED : Candace Owens Issues Challenge to AOC After Rare Agreement on COVID Bill Other small countries like Vietnam , Nepal and Bangladesh will be getting over $ 100 million each .
Sudan , meanwhile , will be given a $ 700 million “ Economic Support Fund.
” At a time when many Americans are struggling to pay rent or buy groceries due to layoffs , the United States is giving absurd amounts to other nations while reserving $ 600 for American individuals making up to $ 75,000 a year .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 53 percent of American workers in 2019 .
But of course , partisan hackery continued to reign supreme on the House floor on Monday .
“ We also have in the legislation direct payments , which were not in the Republican bill , to America ’ s working families .
I would like them to have been bigger , but they are significant and they will be going out soon , ” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said , nearly three years after her 2018 comments referring to employee bonuses of $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax cuts as “ crumbs.
” Any half-decent Republican or Democrat knows that this bill was a disgrace — a prime example that a government that does not work for its people is a failed government .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Six Republican senators voted “no” on the highly controversial end-of-year federal government spending bill that was paired with a long-awaited coronavirus relief fund.
According to Fox News, Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rick Scott of Florida all voted against the $2.3 trillion legislation, which was 5,593 pages long.
Lee made it clear in a Twitter statement that nobody voting would be able to actually read the bill beforehand because of its ridiculous length.
“This is the spending bill under consideration in Congress today. I received it just moments ago, and will likely be asked to vote on it late tonight. It’s 5,593 pages long. I know there are some good things in it. I’m equally confident that there are bad things in it,” he wrote.
1/4 This is the spending bill under consideration in Congress today. I received it just moments ago, and will likely be asked to vote on it late tonight. It’s 5,593 pages long. I know there are some good things in it. I’m equally confident that there are bad things in it. pic.twitter.com/SoWXnEWYfV — Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) December 21, 2020
“Being asked to vote on something that we have never had the opportunity to see, much less digest and amend, is unacceptable,” Lee added in a Twitter video.
Cruz also referred to the legislation as a “monstrosity” and blamed Democrats for delaying the efforts to pass a second major stimulus bill.
Simply put, Democrats exploited the need for relief to advance their political agenda instead of working on standalone legislation months ago that would put our nation on the path to recovery. That’s wrong and the exact opposite of what the American people need right now. — Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) December 22, 2020
The bill was ultimately passed with a 92-6 vote in the Senate, and President Donald Trump is expected to sign it soon.
As if the massive $1.4 trillion in government spending tacked on to the relief funding was not concerning enough, the bill also allocates hundreds of millions in foreign aid.
Notably, Pakistan will be getting $10 million for “gender programs” and $15 million for “democracy programs.”
The Covid relief bill also includes $10 million for “gender programs” in Pakistan pic.twitter.com/7kivucCjvY — Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) December 21, 2020
Other small countries like Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh will be getting over $100 million each. Sudan, meanwhile, will be given a $700 million “Economic Support Fund.”
At a time when many Americans are struggling to pay rent or buy groceries due to layoffs, the United States is giving absurd amounts to other nations while reserving $600 for American individuals making up to $75,000 a year. According to Statistica, this salary amount described over 53 percent of American workers in 2019.
But of course, partisan hackery continued to reign supreme on the House floor on Monday.
Nancy Pelosi’s second stimulus bill speech ridiculed for calling $600 “significant” https://t.co/LeWSgoV22a — Newsweek (@Newsweek) December 22, 2020
“We also have in the legislation direct payments, which were not in the Republican bill, to America’s working families. I would like them to have been bigger, but they are significant and they will be going out soon,” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said, nearly three years after her 2018 comments referring to employee bonuses of $1,000 or more thanks to the Trump tax cuts as “crumbs.”
Any half-decent Republican or Democrat knows that this bill was a disgrace — a prime example that a government that does not work for its people is a failed government.
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westernjournal--2020-12-22--Biden Blows Off Reporter Asking About Hunter, Turns Back To Call Him a ‘One Horse Pony’

Presumptive president-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday lashed out at a Fox News reporter who asked whether he still believes that allegations against his son were the product of “ Russian disinformation , ” as he claimed before the election .
“ God love you , man .
You ’ re a one horse pony , ” Biden said to Fox ’ s Peter Doocy after he asked whether Biden stood by the Russian disinformation charge .
Doocy asked Biden : “ Do you still think that the stories from the fall about your son Hunter are Russian disinformation and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” TRENDING : Joe Biden 's Niece Caroline Receives Zero Jail Time After Pleading Guilty to DUI The Biden campaign and other Democrats have accused President Donald Trump and his supporters of pushing Russian disinformation by accusing Hunter Biden of wrongdoing in his foreign business dealings , including with Ukrainian energy firm Burisma and companies in China .
Hunter Biden announced on Dec. 9 that he is the subject of a federal investigation being led by the U.S. attorney ’ s office in Delaware .
The younger Biden said the investigation concerns his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunter Biden for records related to his dealings with Burisma and Chinese companies .
Biden said at the news conference on Tuesday that he has not discussed the investigation into his son with his potential picks for attorney general .
“ I promise you my Justice Department will be totally on its own making its judgments about how it should proceed , ” Biden said .
Biden said last week that he is “ confident ” his son did nothing wrong .
He said in an interview that Hunter is “ the smartest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this article appeared on the Daily Caller News Foundation website .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Presumptive president-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday lashed out at a Fox News reporter who asked whether he still believes that allegations against his son were the product of “Russian disinformation,” as he claimed before the election.
“God love you, man. You’re a one horse pony,” Biden said to Fox’s Peter Doocy after he asked whether Biden stood by the Russian disinformation charge.
Doocy asked Biden: “Do you still think that the stories from the fall about your son Hunter are Russian disinformation and a smear campaign, like you said?”
“Yes, yes, yes,” Biden responded.
Joe Biden laughs when Fox News’ Peter Doocy asks if he still thinks the allegations against Hunter Biden are Russian disinformation: “Yes, yes, yes. God love you, man. You’re a one horse pony.” pic.twitter.com/x8HEvPjpFn — Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 22, 2020
The Biden campaign and other Democrats have accused President Donald Trump and his supporters of pushing Russian disinformation by accusing Hunter Biden of wrongdoing in his foreign business dealings, including with Ukrainian energy firm Burisma and companies in China.
Hunter Biden announced on Dec. 9 that he is the subject of a federal investigation being led by the U.S. attorney’s office in Delaware. The younger Biden said the investigation concerns his “tax affairs.”
Prosecutors have subpoenaed Hunter Biden for records related to his dealings with Burisma and Chinese companies.
Do you believe the allegations against Hunter Biden? Yes No
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Biden said at the news conference on Tuesday that he has not discussed the investigation into his son with his potential picks for attorney general.
“I promise you my Justice Department will be totally on its own making its judgments about how it should proceed,” Biden said.
Biden said last week that he is “confident” his son did nothing wrong. He said in an interview that Hunter is “the smartest guy I know.”
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westernjournal--2020-12-22--Fauci Breaks with Cuomo, Calling His Latest COVID Proposal ‘Draconian’

Dr. Anthony Fauci broke with Democratic New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , saying that the governor ’ s latest coronavirus restriction proposal was “ draconian.
” Cuomo criticized the federal government on Monday for not following the lead of over 30 countries and restricting flights from Britain where a new strain of COVID-19 has been discovered , CNS News reported .
“ Why don ’ t we act intelligently for a change ?
” the New York Democrat asked .
“ Why don ’ t we mandate testing before people get on a flight , or halt the flights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries have done this.
” Three airlines — Delta , Virgin Atlantic and British Airways — that fly from Britain to New York have reportedly agreed to require their passengers to have a negative coronavirus test before being allowed to board , according to Simple Flying .
Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Health ’ s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , advised against “ overreacting ” to the news that a new coronavirus variant had been discovered in the United Kingdom , CNN reported .
“ These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot , ” he said .
“ Most of the mutations have no functional relevance .
This one has a suggestion that it might allow the virus to spread more readily .
We ’ re still seeking out evidence to prove or disprove that.
” “ But let ’ s make an assumption that it is in fact making the virus more transmissible — even though it hasn ’ t been proven yet — it doesn ’ t seem at all to have any impact on the virulence , or what we call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added .
“ It doesn ’ t make people more sick , and it doesn ’ t seem to have any impact on the protective nature of the vaccines that we ’ re currently using ” Fauci said that he “ wouldn ’ t be surprised ” if it was already in the United States .
When asked if he thought enforcing a travel ban from the U.K. would be necessary , he said there wasn ’ t enough evidence at this time to do so .
“ It might be premature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I don ’ t think that kind of draconian approach is necessary.
” RELATED : Fauci Tells Children He Went to the North Pole , Vaccinated Santa Claus Himself This break from the New York governor is surprising after the two appeared to be very friendly , and Cuomo compared himself and Fauci to iconic actors Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in a news conference earlier this month .
U.S Health and Human Services assistant secretary Brett Giroir told CNN that they are waiting on recommendations from the Centers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the new coronavirus strain .
“ Every hour we get more information .
I think , as we have done and we need to do , we need to listen to the best experts , ” he said .
“ I think everything is possible .
We just need to put everything on the table , have an open scientific discussion and make a best recommendation.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Dr. Anthony Fauci broke with Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, saying that the governor’s latest coronavirus restriction proposal was “draconian.”
Cuomo criticized the federal government on Monday for not following the lead of over 30 countries and restricting flights from Britain where a new strain of COVID-19 has been discovered, CNS News reported.
“Why don’t we act intelligently for a change?” the New York Democrat asked.
“Why don’t we mandate testing before people get on a flight, or halt the flights from the U.K. now? Many other countries have done this.”
Three airlines — Delta, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways — that fly from Britain to New York have reportedly agreed to require their passengers to have a negative coronavirus test before being allowed to board, according to Simple Flying.
Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, advised against “overreacting” to the news that a new coronavirus variant had been discovered in the United Kingdom, CNN reported.
“These types of viruses tend to mutate a lot,” he said.
“Most of the mutations have no functional relevance. This one has a suggestion that it might allow the virus to spread more readily. We’re still seeking out evidence to prove or disprove that.”
Do you think a travel ban is necessary? Yes No
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“But let’s make an assumption that it is in fact making the virus more transmissible — even though it hasn’t been proven yet — it doesn’t seem at all to have any impact on the virulence, or what we call the deadliness of the virus,” he added.
“It doesn’t make people more sick, and it doesn’t seem to have any impact on the protective nature of the vaccines that we’re currently using”
Fauci said that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if it was already in the United States.
When asked if he thought enforcing a travel ban from the U.K. would be necessary, he said there wasn’t enough evidence at this time to do so.
“It might be premature to do that,” he said. “I don’t think that kind of draconian approach is necessary.”
This break from the New York governor is surprising after the two appeared to be very friendly, and Cuomo compared himself and Fauci to iconic actors Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in a news conference earlier this month.
U.S Health and Human Services assistant secretary Brett Giroir told CNN that they are waiting on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before doing anything about the new coronavirus strain.
“Every hour we get more information. I think, as we have done and we need to do, we need to listen to the best experts,” he said.
“I think everything is possible. We just need to put everything on the table, have an open scientific discussion and make a best recommendation.”
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westernjournal--2020-12-22--CNN Lets Guest Get Away with Claiming McConnell Cheated To Win Senate Election

CNN host Kate Bolduan on Monday refrained from challenging a bizarre theory from a guest that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell benefited from “ cheating ” to win his re-election bid last month .
Bolduan was filling in on “ Erin Burnett OutFront , ” and one of her guests was retired Army Col. Lawrence Wilkerson , Newsbusters reported .
Wilkerson , who was chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell during the administration of President George W. Bush , spent a portion of his time on the program lashing out at those who contend November ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other irregularities .
The retired colonel particularly attacked President Donald Trump , former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon while summarizing the president ’ s fight for election integrity as “ desperate.
” “ I think we ’ re seeing just how desperate Trump is becoming himself and how desperate the last remaining rats on the ship , if you will , are becoming because of that , ” he said .
“ We see Bannon apparently coming back on scene again , probably most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see things like you just pointed out , General Flynn — I don ’ t know , if I were in charge of the military , if I were the chairman [ of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ] or if I were the secretary of defense , more appropriately , I ’ d probably call Flynn back to active duty and then prosecute him under the Uniform Code of Military Justice , ” Wilkerson said .
“ You can pick your charge there .
Incitement to insurrection or whatever .
Ironically , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to attack those who question election results , Wilkerson then questioned the results of McConnell ’ s race last month .
“ Maybe in Kentucky there was a little cheating .
I think the Kentucky race that Mitch McConnell was re-elected in , against all percentages that pertained beforehand , and exit polling , and maybe there was something there , but you never look into the Republicans for cheating .
And I can tell you that .
I ’ m a Republican , ” he said .
Very few people have questioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which , per the establishment media ’ s unspoken rules about questioning anything about election integrity , makes Wilkerson a tinfoil-hat-wearing conspiracy theorist .
Naturally , Bolduan sat back and let the allegation that McConnell was assisted by malfeasance slide .
This , after all , is CNN — a partisan network staffed with activists who are driven by a hatred for Trump , his administration and everyone who voted for him .
But no pushback at all from Bolduan ?
CNN could at least make an attempt to appear as if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalism .
The network , which enlists people to pontificate about how secure elections are , was mum after its guest made a fringe , unfounded claim about election fraud in Kentucky , which , unlike other jurisdictions , managed to count its ballots without leaking pipes and days of mail-in ballot tabulation .
The only fraud Wilkerson successfully displayed to CNN ’ s viewers was claiming that he is a Republican .
Yeah , right .
The Kentucky State Board of Elections posted unofficial election night results that showed McConnell defeated Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 417,000 votes , 57.8 percent to 38.2 percent .
It was an easy victory for McConnell and a demoralizing defeat for the Democrats , who poured millions of dollars into trying to make McGrath competitive .
Wilkerson , though , concluded on CNN that the November election was “ magnificently well done ” apparently everywhere but in Kentucky .
CNN and Bolduan responded to his statements by pivoting to demonizing Trump ’ s personal attorney , former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani , for inquiring about auditing voting machines .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wilkerson ’ s claim about the Kentucky election .
No long-winded fact check has been published as of Tuesday .
CNN welcomed a guest onto the network to attack those who question election integrity , and then the network was silent when he made perhaps the most bizarre claim of the entire year .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

CNN host Kate Bolduan on Monday refrained from challenging a bizarre theory from a guest that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell benefited from “cheating” to win his re-election bid last month.
Bolduan was filling in on “Erin Burnett OutFront,” and one of her guests was retired Army Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, Newsbusters reported.
Wilkerson, who was chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell during the administration of President George W. Bush, spent a portion of his time on the program lashing out at those who contend November’s presidential election was marred by election fraud and other irregularities.
The retired colonel particularly attacked President Donald Trump, former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon while summarizing the president’s fight for election integrity as “desperate.”
“I think we’re seeing just how desperate Trump is becoming himself and how desperate the last remaining rats on the ship, if you will, are becoming because of that,” he said. “We see Bannon apparently coming back on scene again, probably most ardently seeking a pardon.
“We see things like you just pointed out, General Flynn — I don’t know, if I were in charge of the military, if I were the chairman [of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] or if I were the secretary of defense, more appropriately, I’d probably call Flynn back to active duty and then prosecute him under the Uniform Code of Military Justice,” Wilkerson said. “You can pick your charge there. Incitement to insurrection or whatever.
“These are desperate people.”
Ironically, in a segment where the theme was to attack those who question election results, Wilkerson then questioned the results of McConnell’s race last month.
“Maybe in Kentucky there was a little cheating. I think the Kentucky race that Mitch McConnell was re-elected in, against all percentages that pertained beforehand, and exit polling, and maybe there was something there, but you never look into the Republicans for cheating. And I can tell you that. I’m a Republican,” he said.
Very few people have questioned how Kentucky handled its voting last month, which, per the establishment media’s unspoken rules about questioning anything about election integrity, makes Wilkerson a tinfoil-hat-wearing conspiracy theorist.
Naturally, Bolduan sat back and let the allegation that McConnell was assisted by malfeasance slide. This, after all, is CNN — a partisan network staffed with activists who are driven by a hatred for Trump, his administration and everyone who voted for him.
But no pushback at all from Bolduan? CNN could at least make an attempt to appear as if it were an enterprise that engages in journalism.
The network, which enlists people to pontificate about how secure elections are, was mum after its guest made a fringe, unfounded claim about election fraud in Kentucky, which, unlike other jurisdictions, managed to count its ballots without leaking pipes and days of mail-in ballot tabulation.
The only fraud Wilkerson successfully displayed to CNN’s viewers was claiming that he is a Republican. Yeah, right.
The Kentucky State Board of Elections posted unofficial election night results that showed McConnell defeated Democrat Amy McGrath by a wide margin of more than 417,000 votes, 57.8 percent to 38.2 percent.
It was an easy victory for McConnell and a demoralizing defeat for the Democrats, who poured millions of dollars into trying to make McGrath competitive.
Wilkerson, though, concluded on CNN that the November election was “magnificently well done” apparently everywhere but in Kentucky.
Do you think the 2020 presidential election was free and fair? Yes No
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CNN and Bolduan responded to his statements by pivoting to demonizing Trump’s personal attorney, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, for inquiring about auditing voting machines.
Not a single follow-up question was asked about Wilkerson’s claim about the Kentucky election. No long-winded fact check has been published as of Tuesday.
CNN welcomed a guest onto the network to attack those who question election integrity, and then the network was silent when he made perhaps the most bizarre claim of the entire year.
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westernjournal--2020-12-22--Biden Selects Figure Loathed by Ocasio-Cortez, Omar and Tlaib for Key Role

Presumptive President-elect Joe Biden has selected Bruce Reed as his deputy chief of staff — much to the chagrin of progressive Democrats .
Reed is a longtime aide to Biden and was tapped along with a handful of others to senior posts in a likely Biden administration on Tuesday .
The progressive Justice Democrats and the “ squad ” of far-left congresswomen — including Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota , Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan — started a petition last month in anticipation of Reed ’ s appointment , calling for Biden to choose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administration who will prioritize paying down the deficit ahead of all other concerns in charge is a recipe for cutting our earned benefits and turning the COVID recession into a depression , ” read the petition , titled “ Keep Deficit Hawk Bruce Reed out of the Biden administration.
” “ Rejecting Reed will be a major test for the soul of the Biden presidency , ” it said .
The petition cited Reed ’ s role in the Bowles-Simpson fiscal commission during President Barack Obama ’ s first term , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Social Security and Medicare , including raising the retirement age.
” “ Joe Biden must not repeat Obama ’ s mistake , ” the petition read .
“ We need our government to spend money now — to ensure vaccines are distributed , to keep people in their homes , to prevent small businesses from closing permanently , and to make sure Americans can stay home until the vaccine arrives !
” The petition had just over 35,000 signatures toward its goal of 51,200 as of Tuesday morning .
The so-called squad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and new member Rep.-elect Cori Bush of Missouri — all signed and sponsored it .
“ Bruce Reed helped develop the ’ 94 Crime Bill , pushed broken windows policing & cuts to Social Security & Medicaid , ” Bush said in a tweet Nov. 24 .
“ We want an administration that prioritizes programs that protect ALL of us .
Mr. Reed is not someone our communities trust.
” RELATED : De Blasio Ca n't Help But Give Trump Credit for Huge Vaccine Win “ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicare and Social Security , they must not appoint one of the biggest champions to lead their budget agency , ” Omar tweeted that same day .
The Young Turks , a far-left news and opinion network , has criticized Reed for his alleged ties to President Donald Trump ’ s education secretary , Betsy DeVos .
However , Biden ’ s transition team praised Reed and the other appointments Tuesday .
“ These experienced individuals are joining my administration to carry out policies that will put our nation on a path to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Biden said in a statement .
“ They are respected leaders whose values and priorities align with my own and who will dutifully execute their roles to serve the American people.
” His choice for vice president , Kamala Harris , added , “ Our country is grappling with a pandemic , an economic crisis , a long-overdue reckoning on racial injustice , and a climate crisis .
To meet these challenges , we need a team that reflects the very best of our nation .
“ These public servants have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on our commitment to build our country back better.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Presumptive President-elect Joe Biden has selected Bruce Reed as his deputy chief of staff — much to the chagrin of progressive Democrats.
Reed is a longtime aide to Biden and was tapped along with a handful of others to senior posts in a likely Biden administration on Tuesday.
President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris continue to assemble a White House senior staff composed of diverse, experienced, and talented individuals who are day-one ready to deliver results for working families.https://t.co/yOaRHCAuHA — Biden-Harris Presidential Transition (@Transition46) December 22, 2020
The progressive Justice Democrats and the “squad” of far-left congresswomen — including Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan — started a petition last month in anticipation of Reed’s appointment, calling for Biden to choose someone else.
“Putting someone in the administration who will prioritize paying down the deficit ahead of all other concerns in charge is a recipe for cutting our earned benefits and turning the COVID recession into a depression,” read the petition, titled “Keep Deficit Hawk Bruce Reed out of the Biden administration.”
“Rejecting Reed will be a major test for the soul of the Biden presidency,” it said.
The petition cited Reed’s role in the Bowles-Simpson fiscal commission during President Barack Obama’s first term, a panel that proposed enacting “massive cuts to Social Security and Medicare, including raising the retirement age.”
“Joe Biden must not repeat Obama’s mistake,” the petition read.
Do you think Biden will prove to be an ally to progressives? Yes No
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“We need our government to spend money now — to ensure vaccines are distributed, to keep people in their homes, to prevent small businesses from closing permanently, and to make sure Americans can stay home until the vaccine arrives!”
The petition had just over 35,000 signatures toward its goal of 51,200 as of Tuesday morning.
The so-called squad — Omar, Ocasio-Cortez and Tlaib along with Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and new member Rep.-elect Cori Bush of Missouri — all signed and sponsored it.
“Bruce Reed helped develop the ’94 Crime Bill, pushed broken windows policing & cuts to Social Security & Medicaid,” Bush said in a tweet Nov. 24.
“We want an administration that prioritizes programs that protect ALL of us. Mr. Reed is not someone our communities trust.”
Bruce Reed helped develop the ’94 Crime Bill, pushed broken windows policing & cuts to Social Security & Medicaid. We want an administration that prioritizes programs that protect ALL of us. Mr. Reed is not someone our communities trust—sign our petition:https://t.co/9GS89aASqF — Cori Bush (@CoriBush) November 24, 2020
“If the Biden administration is serious about protecting Medicare and Social Security, they must not appoint one of the biggest champions of cuts to lead their budget agency,” Omar tweeted that same day.
If the Biden administration is serious about protecting Medicare and Social Security, they must not appoint one of the biggest champions of cuts to lead their budget agency. Join me, @justicedems, & our progressive coalition in saying no to deficit hawks: https://t.co/0BjuQj5dwm — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 24, 2020
The Young Turks, a far-left news and opinion network, has criticized Reed for his alleged ties to President Donald Trump’s education secretary, Betsy DeVos.
However, Biden’s transition team praised Reed and the other appointments Tuesday.
“These experienced individuals are joining my administration to carry out policies that will put our nation on a path to building back better than ever before,” Biden said in a statement.
“They are respected leaders whose values and priorities align with my own and who will dutifully execute their roles to serve the American people.”
His choice for vice president, Kamala Harris, added, “Our country is grappling with a pandemic, an economic crisis, a long-overdue reckoning on racial injustice, and a climate crisis. To meet these challenges, we need a team that reflects the very best of our nation.
“These public servants have the knowledge and experience to help us deliver on our commitment to build our country back better.”
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