freebeacon--2020-05-12--Pelosi Bill Aims to Fight Coronavirus With Hate Crime Reform and ‘Environmental Justice Grants’

The $ 3 trillion coronavirus relief package unveiled by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) and her Democratic colleagues on Tuesday contains only 20 mentions of `` diversity . ''
That 's a significant reduction compared with the 32 times the word `` diversity '' appeared in the relief package Pelosi introduced in March , which was several hundred pages shorter than the current version .
But there 's still plenty for progressives to be excited about .
The word `` economy , '' for example , appears just twice in the entire bill .
Like its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation is stuffed with left-wing policies that have been slightly reframed to suggest a relevance to the coronavirus pandemic .
For example , the bill would allocate $ 50 million for `` environmental justice grants to prevent , prepare for , and respond to coronavirus . ''
The Environmental Protection Agency would use the funding to `` investigate or address the disproportionate impacts of the COVID–19 pandemic in environmental justice communities , '' whatever that means .
The word `` cannabis '' appears 68 times in the text of the bill , occasionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' One provision of the bill , for example , would force federal banking regulators to issue an annual `` diversity and inclusion report '' to Congress on `` minority-owned and women-owned cannabis-related legitimate businesses . ''
The Government Accountability Office would also be required to conduct a study to determine if such businesses are being unfairly discriminated against in terms of access to financial services .
It 's not immediately clear how these provisions are relevant to the coronavirus pandemic .
Other important pandemic-fighting reforms include a provision that would change the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions '' —minority-owned commercial banks or savings associations—to include women as a qualifying minority .
The bill would establish special advisory committees to oversee these institutions and contains language designed to ensure that these committees are sufficiently diverse .
Additionally , the House Democratic plan to combat the coronavirus includes the establishment of new federal guidelines regarding hate crimes .
It proposes providing federal grants to state and local law enforcement agencies to `` train employees in identifying and classifying hate crimes . ''
The bill would also extend financial assistance to illegal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possess a Social Security number , a provision championed by celebrity freshman representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) and other progressive members .
The House is expected to vote on the legislation on Friday .
Unanimous Republican opposition is anticipated , but some liberal members are reportedly upset that the $ 3 trillion bill is not generous enough .
Rep. Pramila Jayapal ( D. , Wash. ) , for example , had proposed a `` paycheck guarantee '' program that would cost $ 600 billion over the next six months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a tax credit that would cost a mere $ 200 billion .
Pelosi said the original version of the bill contained an additional $ 1 trillion worth of left-wing policy proposals .
`` Everything is big , and we ca n't do everything in this bill , '' Pelosi said during a conference call with Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday .
There 's always next time .

The $3 trillion coronavirus relief package unveiled by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) and her Democratic colleagues on Tuesday contains only 20 mentions of "diversity."
That's a significant reduction compared with the 32 times the word "diversity" appeared in the relief package Pelosi introduced in March, which was several hundred pages shorter than the current version. But there's still plenty for progressives to be excited about. The word "economy," for example, appears just twice in the entire bill.
Like its previous iteration, the newly introduced Democratic legislation is stuffed with left-wing policies that have been slightly reframed to suggest a relevance to the coronavirus pandemic. For example, the bill would allocate $50 million for "environmental justice grants to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus."
The Environmental Protection Agency would use the funding to "investigate or address the disproportionate impacts of the COVID–19 pandemic in environmental justice communities," whatever that means.
The word "cannabis" appears 68 times in the text of the bill, occasionally in close proximity to "diversity." One provision of the bill, for example, would force federal banking regulators to issue an annual "diversity and inclusion report" to Congress on "minority-owned and women-owned cannabis-related legitimate businesses."
The Government Accountability Office would also be required to conduct a study to determine if such businesses are being unfairly discriminated against in terms of access to financial services. It's not immediately clear how these provisions are relevant to the coronavirus pandemic.
Other important pandemic-fighting reforms include a provision that would change the government's definition of "minority depository institutions"—minority-owned commercial banks or savings associations—to include women as a qualifying minority. The bill would establish special advisory committees to oversee these institutions and contains language designed to ensure that these committees are sufficiently diverse.
Additionally, the House Democratic plan to combat the coronavirus includes the establishment of new federal guidelines regarding hate crimes. It proposes providing federal grants to state and local law enforcement agencies to "train employees in identifying and classifying hate crimes."
The bill would also extend financial assistance to illegal immigrants by removing the requirement that recipients possess a Social Security number, a provision championed by celebrity freshman representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and other progressive members.
The House is expected to vote on the legislation on Friday. Unanimous Republican opposition is anticipated, but some liberal members are reportedly upset that the $3 trillion bill is not generous enough. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.), for example, had proposed a "paycheck guarantee" program that would cost $600 billion over the next six months. Senior Democrats rejected the proposal in favor of a tax credit that would cost a mere $200 billion.
Pelosi said the original version of the bill contained an additional $1 trillion worth of left-wing policy proposals. "Everything is big, and we can't do everything in this bill," Pelosi said during a conference call with Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday.
There's always next time.


freebeacon--2020-05-12--Journalism Org Cuts Ties With Huawei

Journalism Org Cuts Ties With Huawei

A major journalist association canceled its partnership with a Chinese telecommunications firm following public outcry .
The National Association of Black Journalists ( NABJ ) teamed up with Huawei , a company with ties to the Chinese government , to host a webinar about `` the rise of misinformation '' on Wednesday .
CNN host Van Jones , musician will.i.am , and other African American personalities were set to discuss coronavirus misinformation at the event sponsored by the Chinese company despite warnings from national security officials that Huawei is a conduit for espionage .
Following widespread concerns about NABJ 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event on Tuesday , saying that `` it has become a distraction from other priorities . ''
`` NABJ has canceled a webinar scheduled for tomorrow … because it has become a distraction from other priorities , '' NABJ said in a statement .
`` It had come under attack because controversial technology giant Huawei was planning to sponsor the webinar though it had no editorial control .
NABJ always retains editorial control over all such content along with final say over moderators and panelists . ''
Federal officials have scrutinized Huawei 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its first indictment in 2019 .
The Chinese tech giant responded with a multimillion-dollar public relations campaign to alleviate concerns that the company 's 5G network might serve as a Trojan horse for Chinese spying in the United States .
The company has spent more than $ 2 million on PR firms to promote its message among not only public officials but editors of media outlets .
That Huawei was able to temporarily secure a partnership with one of the country 's leading journalist organizations speaks to the reach of the company .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and NABJ remain unclear .
NABJ said in its statement that there was `` no signed contract '' between the two organizations and denied receiving any money from Huawei .
NABJ said in a now-deleted tweet , however , that the company would give away a Huawei-brand computer and headphones to a lucky audience member .
Neither Huawei nor NABJ responded to requests for comment .
Human rights advocates criticized NABJ for working with Huawei .
Regime critic Ky Olbert called the event an `` endorsement of a company which is quite literally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Huawei has worked with the Chinese government and other authoritarian countries across the world to build up surveillance networks in Xinjiang , Uganda , and Ecuador .
These networks have been used to monitor dissidents and spy on political opponents .
Sen. Tom Cotton ( R. , Ark . )
said that participating in the panel is the `` equivalent of speaking at a KGB Signals Directorate event during the Cold War . ''
`` This event on ‘ misinformation ' is clear political interference by the Chinese Communist Party—the same people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic , '' the senator tweeted .
Two of the panelists—Jones and Ebony Hilton , M.D.
, an anesthesiologist and medical director of Goodstock Consulting LLC—supported NABJ 's decision to cancel the event and said they did not know that Huawei was sponsoring their panel discussion .
`` I said ‘ yes ' without knowing sponsor , '' Jones tweeted .
`` Glad NABJ canceled ; I would n't have participated . ''
Neither Jones , Hilton , nor Roland Martin , the third panelist , responded to requests for comment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be reached .

A major journalist association canceled its partnership with a Chinese telecommunications firm following public outcry.
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) teamed up with Huawei, a company with ties to the Chinese government, to host a webinar about "the rise of misinformation" on Wednesday. CNN host Van Jones, musician will.i.am, and other African American personalities were set to discuss coronavirus misinformation at the event sponsored by the Chinese company despite warnings from national security officials that Huawei is a conduit for espionage.
Following widespread concerns about NABJ's partnership with Huawei, NABJ canceled the event on Tuesday, saying that "it has become a distraction from other priorities."
"NABJ has canceled a webinar scheduled for tomorrow … because it has become a distraction from other priorities," NABJ said in a statement. "It had come under attack because controversial technology giant Huawei was planning to sponsor the webinar though it had no editorial control. NABJ always retains editorial control over all such content along with final say over moderators and panelists."
Federal officials have scrutinized Huawei's dealings for years, serving the company its first indictment in 2019. The Chinese tech giant responded with a multimillion-dollar public relations campaign to alleviate concerns that the company's 5G network might serve as a Trojan horse for Chinese spying in the United States. The company has spent more than $2 million on PR firms to promote its message among not only public officials but editors of media outlets. That Huawei was able to temporarily secure a partnership with one of the country's leading journalist organizations speaks to the reach of the company.
The terms of the partnership between Huawei and NABJ remain unclear. NABJ said in its statement that there was "no signed contract" between the two organizations and denied receiving any money from Huawei. NABJ said in a now-deleted tweet, however, that the company would give away a Huawei-brand computer and headphones to a lucky audience member. Neither Huawei nor NABJ responded to requests for comment.
Human rights advocates criticized NABJ for working with Huawei. Regime critic Ky Olbert called the event an "endorsement of a company which is quite literally enabling #HumanRights atrocities" on Twitter. Huawei has worked with the Chinese government and other authoritarian countries across the world to build up surveillance networks in Xinjiang, Uganda, and Ecuador. These networks have been used to monitor dissidents and spy on political opponents.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) said that participating in the panel is the "equivalent of speaking at a KGB Signals Directorate event during the Cold War."
"This event on 'misinformation' is clear political interference by the Chinese Communist Party—the same people who claim the U.S. Army started the coronavirus pandemic," the senator tweeted.
Two of the panelists—Jones and Ebony Hilton, M.D., an anesthesiologist and medical director of Goodstock Consulting LLC—supported NABJ's decision to cancel the event and said they did not know that Huawei was sponsoring their panel discussion.
"I said 'yes' without knowing sponsor," Jones tweeted. "Glad NABJ canceled; I wouldn't have participated."
Huawei said the decision to cancel reflected "geopolitical bias" and disputed the notion that panelists were unaware of the company's sponsorship of the event.
"As a sponsor, Huawei Technologies USA had no editorial input and every panelist was made aware of the topic and our sponsorship by NABJ prior to publicizing the event," the company said in a statement. "While we respect the decision of NABJ, we lament the loss of the panel’s voice at a time when misinformation has proven to cause irreparable damage."
Neither Jones, Hilton, nor Roland Martin, the third panelist, responded to requests for comment. Will.i.am, the fourth panelist, could not be reached.
Update: This story has been updated with a response from Huawei.


freebeacon--2020-05-12--Projection: CNN’s Stelter Accuses Conservative Media of ‘Obsession’ With Russia Probe

CNN anchor Brian Stelter said Sunday that he was disappointed in right-wing media 's `` obsession '' with recent revelations @ @ @ @ @ its origins , calling it insignificant in light of the coronavirus pandemic .
Stelter 's @ @ @ @ @ focused heavily on the `` drip , drip , drip '' of Robert Mueller 's @ @ @ @ @ which ultimately found no evidence of a conspiracy between the Donald Trump campaign and the @ @ @ @ @ .

CNN anchor Brian Stelter said Sunday that he was disappointed in right-wing media's "obsession" with recent revelations about the Russia probe and its origins, calling it insignificant in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Stelter's Sunday media show Reliable Sources focused heavily on the "drip, drip, drip" of Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, however, which ultimately found no evidence of a conspiracy between the Donald Trump campaign and the Kremlin in the 2016 election.


freebeacon--2020-05-12--D.C. Prep School Beloved by Dem Leaders Refuses to Return Gov’t Loan

A $ 50 million endowment , a massive capital campaign in the works , and a wealthy , well-connected board—none stopped a D.C. prep school from taking one of the largest coronavirus loans issued .
Sidwell Friends School , a Quaker-affiliated independent school known for enrolling top lawmakers ' children—including the daughters of former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama—accepted a $ 5.2 million loan under the Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) , Congress 's bailout fund for small businesses affected by the coronavirus crisis .
The school , which brings in over $ 40 million in tuition annually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin called on `` private schools with significant endowments '' to `` return '' PPP funds .
In a letter to the community , the board of trustees cited its `` fiduciary responsibilities '' as well as `` our Quaker values '' in its decision to keep the money—with the latter claim particularly raising eyebrows among critics .
In so doing , Sidwell Friends joins the ranks of other large , well-funded entities that have benefited from a program designed to protect America 's collapsing small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news site Axios , have returned their loans following public outcry .
The school , which enjoys connections to D.C. 's Democratic establishment , has faced some scrutiny for its decision to keep the money—but appears unlikely to back down .
The loan , which the school has said will be used to pay its 257 faculty and staff , is one of the largest in the second tranche of PPP funds .
Data from the Small Business Administration indicate that of the 2.2 million loans it has issued since April 27 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have been in excess of $ 5 million .
The Treasury Department has stipulated that companies must consider their `` current business activity '' and their `` ability to access other sources of liquidity '' before certifying that they actually need PPP funding .
Sidwell Friends ' chief communications officer did not respond to a request for comment as to whether or not the school had made such considerations or sought other sources of funding .
The school likely has substantial benefactors , as indicated by the wealth of its board .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cosmetics chain Bluemercury to Macy 's for $ 210 million ; Patrick Gross , cofounder of American Management Systems Inc. , which was valued at $ 1 billion ; and Mark Jacobsen , CEO of Promontory Interfinancial Network , which provides financial services for half of all banks nationwide and previously sold for $ 2.5 billion .
Requests for comments directed to Beck 's , Gross 's , and Jacobsen 's firms as to whether or not the board members were approached for assistance by the school went unanswered .
The school also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It counts among its alumnae presidential daughters Chelsea Clinton '97 , Malia Obama '16 , and Sasha Obama '19 .
Those connections are reflected on its board , which includes Marty Franks—a former CBS vice president who spent 15 years in Democratic politics , including as executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee , as staff in the Carter White House , and as chief of staff for Sen. Patrick Leahy ( D. , Vt. ) .
Another board member , Judy Brown , was a White House fellow in the Carter-era @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also donated heftily , although not exclusively , to Democratic politicians—Jacobsen , for example , has poured tens of thousands into Democratic presidential campaigns since at least 2004 .
Even absent support from its board , the school commands a substantial financial position .
In addition to its $ 53.4 million endowment , official statistics indicate that the school takes in roughly $ 43 million annually in tuition .
The school 's tuition payment schedule suggests it would have received essentially all of this income by February , prior to D.C. schools closing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued to offer classes online .
On top of its endowment and tuition revenue , Sidwell Friends is in the process of a capital campaign to fund the purchase and refurbishment of recently acquired properties in Washington , D.C. , proper .
The school has not disclosed the amount it sought to raise and did not comment on whether or not it would be suspending the capital campaign .
The school bought one of the properties , 3939 Wisconsin Ave. , N.W.
, from Fannie Mae in 2016 for $ 8.2 million .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ N.W.
, previously served as a nursing home whose residents tried but failed to block its sale to Sidwell Friends for $ 32.5 million in 2016 .
Sidwell 's federal bailout makes it just one of many high-profile entities to take considerable sums in coronavirus funding—including Harvard University , restaurant chains like Shake Shack and Ruth 's Chris , and news site Axios .
Their receipt of millions in PPP funding—drawing on a limited pool and competing with much smaller businesses—has produced widespread criticism , inducing many to return their loans .
Sidwell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ muted criticism , with many asking the same question raised by Atlantic staff writer Adam Harris : `` What do Quaker values have to do with taking out a loan intended for struggling small businesses ? ''

A $50 million endowment, a massive capital campaign in the works, and a wealthy, well-connected board—none stopped a D.C. prep school from taking one of the largest coronavirus loans issued.
Sidwell Friends School, a Quaker-affiliated independent school known for enrolling top lawmakers' children—including the daughters of former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama—accepted a $5.2 million loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Congress's bailout fund for small businesses affected by the coronavirus crisis.
The school, which brings in over $40 million in tuition annually, declined to give back the loan after Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin called on "private schools with significant endowments" to "return" PPP funds. In a letter to the community, the board of trustees cited its "fiduciary responsibilities" as well as "our Quaker values" in its decision to keep the money—with the latter claim particularly raising eyebrows among critics.
In so doing, Sidwell Friends joins the ranks of other large, well-funded entities that have benefited from a program designed to protect America's collapsing small businesses. Some, like Shake Shack or news site Axios, have returned their loans following public outcry. The school, which enjoys connections to D.C.'s Democratic establishment, has faced some scrutiny for its decision to keep the money—but appears unlikely to back down.
The loan, which the school has said will be used to pay its 257 faculty and staff, is one of the largest in the second tranche of PPP funds. Data from the Small Business Administration indicate that of the 2.2 million loans it has issued since April 27, fewer than 1,500, or 0.07 percent, have been in excess of $5 million.
The Treasury Department has stipulated that companies must consider their "current business activity" and their "ability to access other sources of liquidity" before certifying that they actually need PPP funding. Sidwell Friends' chief communications officer did not respond to a request for comment as to whether or not the school had made such considerations or sought other sources of funding.
The school likely has substantial benefactors, as indicated by the wealth of its board. Members include Marla Beck, who sold cosmetics chain Bluemercury to Macy's for $210 million; Patrick Gross, cofounder of American Management Systems Inc., which was valued at $1 billion; and Mark Jacobsen, CEO of Promontory Interfinancial Network, which provides financial services for half of all banks nationwide and previously sold for $2.5 billion.
Requests for comments directed to Beck's, Gross's, and Jacobsen's firms as to whether or not the board members were approached for assistance by the school went unanswered.
The school also enjoys connections to prominent D.C. Democrats. It counts among its alumnae presidential daughters Chelsea Clinton '97, Malia Obama '16, and Sasha Obama '19.
Those connections are reflected on its board, which includes Marty Franks—a former CBS vice president who spent 15 years in Democratic politics, including as executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, as staff in the Carter White House, and as chief of staff for Sen. Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.). Another board member, Judy Brown, was a White House fellow in the Carter-era Department of Labor. Board members have also donated heftily, although not exclusively, to Democratic politicians—Jacobsen, for example, has poured tens of thousands into Democratic presidential campaigns since at least 2004.
Even absent support from its board, the school commands a substantial financial position. In addition to its $53.4 million endowment, official statistics indicate that the school takes in roughly $43 million annually in tuition. The school's tuition payment schedule suggests it would have received essentially all of this income by February, prior to D.C. schools closing on March 24. The school has continued to offer classes online.
On top of its endowment and tuition revenue, Sidwell Friends is in the process of a capital campaign to fund the purchase and refurbishment of recently acquired properties in Washington, D.C., proper. The school has not disclosed the amount it sought to raise and did not comment on whether or not it would be suspending the capital campaign.
The school bought one of the properties, 3939 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., from Fannie Mae in 2016 for $8.2 million. The other, 3720 Upton St. N.W., previously served as a nursing home whose residents tried but failed to block its sale to Sidwell Friends for $32.5 million in 2016.
Sidwell's federal bailout makes it just one of many high-profile entities to take considerable sums in coronavirus funding—including Harvard University, restaurant chains like Shake Shack and Ruth's Chris, and news site Axios. Their receipt of millions in PPP funding—drawing on a limited pool and competing with much smaller businesses—has produced widespread criticism, inducing many to return their loans.
Sidwell Friends has faced its own, more muted criticism, with many asking the same question raised by Atlantic staff writer Adam Harris: "What do Quaker values have to do with taking out a loan intended for struggling small businesses?"


freebeacon--2020-05-12--Pelosi Makes Her Opening Bid

Pelosi Makes Her Opening Bid

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) opened the next round of coronavirus negotiations on Tuesday with a bill bursting with Democratic pet proposals , including stimulus checks for illegal immigrants and tax relief for the ultra-wealthy in blue states .
The $ 3 trillion , 1,800-page HEROES Act proposes billions in funding for states , cities , every branch of the federal government , and Democratic favorites from the Post Office to Howard University .
Pelosi spent the last week designing the bill alongside fellow congressional Democrats—who have refused to return to Washington , D.C. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stone—without the input of the White House or Republican colleagues .
Pelosi 's proposal marks the beginning of the fourth full round of stimulus spending since the coronavirus shut most of the United States down in early March .
It comes amid record-breaking unemployment and a country still facing a rising death toll , but also as many Republicans have increasingly signaled their unease with a budget deficit predicted to hit $ 4 trillion by the end of the year .
In practice , that means Pelosi 's bill is like the 1,400-page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full round : more a bargaining stance against the opposition , and a sop to her party , than a serious legislative agenda .
The bill itself is likely to be dead on arrival in Mitch McConnell 's ( R. , Ky. ) Senate , but its terms may be the starting point for a drawn out , brutal fourth round of negotiations .
The HEROES Act contains hundreds of provisions—the summary alone is 90 pages long—but the bill is unified by big spending .
States , which have been hemorrhaging funds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fiscal losses incurred due to COVID-19 , while cities get another $ 375 billion—both likely to ruffle the feathers of Republicans , who have agitated against condition-free bailouts for fiscally irresponsible states .
$ 175 billion is set aside for testing , treatment , and other health-related expenses .
The bill also revisits fiscal stimulus measures from its predecessor , the CARES Act .
It includes another round of $ 1,200 checks , although it replaces the provision of $ 500 per child with $ 1,200 per child for the first three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 600 in added federal funding for unemployment insurance , which Republicans have argued exacerbates unemployment .
Favored Democratic patronage recipients also get their share of cash .
The U.S .
Postal Service—which President Donald Trump has said he might let fail—gets $ 25 billion .
The National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities get $ 10 million each , while colleges and universities are earmarked $ 10 billion—including $ 20 million for Howard University .
This broad diffusion of cash is in line with a bill that several House Democrats told Politico `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to appease the most liberal members of the caucus . ''
It includes language , for example , extending coronavirus relief payment eligibility to those without a Social Security Number , i.e.
, illegal immigrants—a priority of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) and others in her progressive `` squad . ''
The bill includes concessions for more moderate Democrats as well .
It contains a temporary repeal of the cap on the State and Local Tax Deduction , a change Pelosi was blasted for floating months ago .
The so-called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ value of their state and local taxes on their federal taxes—a benefit that accrues overwhelmingly to wealthy residents of high-tax blue states .
The 2017 Republican tax bill capped the SALT deduction at $ 10,000 , but Pelosi would undo it , a major boon to her party 's most deep-pocketed constituents .
Such provisions are almost certainly about Pelosi winning the support of her caucus and appearing tough in negotiations with Republicans .
House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy ( R. , Calif. ) has already decried the proposal as a `` Pelosi-led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans will doubtless issue similar denunciations in the coming hours and days .
What remains to be seen is what Republican leadership—both McConnell and the White House 's negotiating team , led by Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin—will offer as a counterproposal .
Congressional Republicans have grown increasingly wary of adding more government spending before all of the appropriations under the CARES Act have gone out the door ; Trump has been more open to added stimulus spending , but the White House has floated ideas orthogonal to the Democrats ' preferred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the HEROES Act late this week or early next .
The resultant negotiation , however , may drag on much longer—a back-and-forth that could cost many millions more American jobs , and many thousands more American lives .

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) opened the next round of coronavirus negotiations on Tuesday with a bill bursting with Democratic pet proposals, including stimulus checks for illegal immigrants and tax relief for the ultra-wealthy in blue states.
The $3 trillion, 1,800-page HEROES Act proposes billions in funding for states, cities, every branch of the federal government, and Democratic favorites from the Post Office to Howard University. Pelosi spent the last week designing the bill alongside fellow congressional Democrats—who have refused to return to Washington, D.C., until a plan is set in stone—without the input of the White House or Republican colleagues.
Pelosi's proposal marks the beginning of the fourth full round of stimulus spending since the coronavirus shut most of the United States down in early March. It comes amid record-breaking unemployment and a country still facing a rising death toll, but also as many Republicans have increasingly signaled their unease with a budget deficit predicted to hit $4 trillion by the end of the year.
In practice, that means Pelosi's bill is like the 1,400-page counterproposal the speaker floated during the last full round: more a bargaining stance against the opposition, and a sop to her party, than a serious legislative agenda. The bill itself is likely to be dead on arrival in Mitch McConnell's (R., Ky.) Senate, but its terms may be the starting point for a drawn out, brutal fourth round of negotiations.
The HEROES Act contains hundreds of provisions—the summary alone is 90 pages long—but the bill is unified by big spending. States, which have been hemorrhaging funds, are earmarked $540 billion for relief of fiscal losses incurred due to COVID-19, while cities get another $375 billion—both likely to ruffle the feathers of Republicans, who have agitated against condition-free bailouts for fiscally irresponsible states. $175 billion is set aside for testing, treatment, and other health-related expenses.
The bill also revisits fiscal stimulus measures from its predecessor, the CARES Act. It includes another round of $1,200 checks, although it replaces the provision of $500 per child with $1,200 per child for the first three children. It also extends the $600 in added federal funding for unemployment insurance, which Republicans have argued exacerbates unemployment.
Favored Democratic patronage recipients also get their share of cash. The U.S. Postal Service—which President Donald Trump has said he might let fail—gets $25 billion. The National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities get $10 million each, while colleges and universities are earmarked $10 billion—including $20 million for Howard University.
This broad diffusion of cash is in line with a bill that several House Democrats told Politico "feels like little more than an effort to appease the most liberal members of the caucus." It includes language, for example, extending coronavirus relief payment eligibility to those without a Social Security Number, i.e., illegal immigrants—a priority of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and others in her progressive "squad."
The bill includes concessions for more moderate Democrats as well. It contains a temporary repeal of the cap on the State and Local Tax Deduction, a change Pelosi was blasted for floating months ago. The so-called SALT deduction allows individuals to deduct the value of their state and local taxes on their federal taxes—a benefit that accrues overwhelmingly to wealthy residents of high-tax blue states. The 2017 Republican tax bill capped the SALT deduction at $10,000, but Pelosi would undo it, a major boon to her party's most deep-pocketed constituents.
Such provisions are almost certainly about Pelosi winning the support of her caucus and appearing tough in negotiations with Republicans. House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) has already decried the proposal as a "Pelosi-led pipedream written in private"; other Republicans will doubtless issue similar denunciations in the coming hours and days.
What remains to be seen is what Republican leadership—both McConnell and the White House's negotiating team, led by Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin—will offer as a counterproposal. Congressional Republicans have grown increasingly wary of adding more government spending before all of the appropriations under the CARES Act have gone out the door; Trump has been more open to added stimulus spending, but the White House has floated ideas orthogonal to the Democrats' preferred approach.
Democrats expect a vote on the HEROES Act late this week or early next. The resultant negotiation, however, may drag on much longer—a back-and-forth that could cost many millions more American jobs, and many thousands more American lives.


freebeacon--2020-05-12--Israel’s Relationship With China Emerges as Concern for U.S.

Israel 's increasingly close relationship with China is emerging as a top concern for the Trump administration heading into high-level meetings this week with Israeli officials , the administration 's assistant secretary for Near Eastern affairs told the Washington Free Beacon .
While Iran 's ongoing support for terrorism is likely to dominate the discussion , senior U.S. officials told the Free Beacon that Pompeo is likely to air his concerns about Israel 's deepening ties with China in his upcoming meetings .
`` We do n't want them to get into a problematic relationship with China , '' David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director for Near Eastern affairs , told the Free Beacon on Monday .
`` There have been times in the past where China has been an irritant to the bilateral relationship [ with America ] and we do n't want to see that happen again . ''
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will land in Israel on Wednesday as he resumes his global travel schedule amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Pompeo 's trip to the Jewish state , his first scheduled travel in more than a month , is meant to bolster the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country is under constant threat from Iran and its terrorist proxies across the region .
He will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz as the two sides continue work on forming a new Israeli government .
The administration 's focus on China springs from the country 's longstanding interest in Israeli technology , including on the military front .
With Israel receiving more than $ 3 billion in U.S. security assistance , it has typically heeded the United States ' warnings about China .
However , that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in Israel 's booming tech sector .
Israel has also expressed a willingness to work with China 's state-controlled Huawei telecommunications company , even dismissing U.S. concerns about the relationship .
Since the coronavirus erupted , the Trump administration and its allies in Congress have ramped up efforts to hold Beijing accountable and alert the globe to the Communist Party 's history of deceit .
While these efforts are not wholly new , the pandemic has hardened the administration 's stance and spurred a range of diplomatic efforts to counter China 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID , it 's a good time to reassess and talk about Israel 's relationship with China , '' Schenker said , explaining that while Israel is free to pursue diplomatic relationships as it sees fit , the United States is uniquely placed to outline the dangers of this alliance .
China has seen a willing investment partner in Israel , particularly given the Jewish state 's technological innovation .
In turn , Israel has viewed China as a good partner for cheaper infrastructure projects—a hallmark of Chinese diplomacy as it seeks an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China sees a lot of value in a relationship with Israel , the high-tech , the innovations , '' Schenker said .
`` Israel also needs all sorts of infrastructure and it looks to China .
China is a low cost bidder and Chinese companies do all this work .
But there are things that have to be taken into account .
We also have interests and we want to be able to work with Israel . ''
As it has done with other top U.S. allies , including Britain , Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of permitting Chinese companies such as Huawei to enter the country 's networks .
China 's potential entrance into Israeli networks could pose a significant security concern for the United States , which works closely with Israel on counterterrorism operations and other sensitive security matters .
While Chinese companies ' services often run cheaper than the alternatives , firms such as Huawei are not independent ; they remain controlled by the Communist Party , which the United States fears could weaponize this data .
`` All the information , all the data that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over a Huawei line it 's property of the Chinese Communist Party , '' Schenker said .
`` The Israelis should be aware of that . ''
Mark Dubowitz , CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies , told the Free Beacon that while Israel `` has much more to do to counter Chinese influence , '' it has recently made good moves in this direction , including barring companies like Huawei from its plan for 5G cell networks .
The Trump administration can help Israel move further away from China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services are monitoring CCP penetration and it has set up a committee to review foreign investment , which needs to be strengthened further to meet U.S. standards , '' Dubowitz said .
`` The administration should explore ways to deepen U.S-Israel ties in technology and critical infrastructure financing as well as enabling investment in Israel from other U.S. allies to displace Chinese funding .
Israel can be an important proof of concept for how Washington deals with Chinese Communist Party influence around the world.
`` It is also likely Pompeo will exchange information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel was one of the first countries to implement a nationwide lockdown and has fared much better than others in the region .
Rigorous testing and preventative measures were put in place ahead of the trip to ensure that Pompeo and his delegation avoid any exposure to the coronavirus , according to Dr. William Walters , the State Department 's deputy chief medical officer for operations , who briefed reporters ahead of the trip .
`` This is a highly choreographed operation , '' Walters said , addressing concerns that parties on both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Every person that comes in contact or near contact with the secretary or with the traveling party will have been screened ahead of time . ''
Pompeo also will address U.S. efforts at the United Nations to ensure an embargo on Iran 's purchase of advanced weaponry remains in place .
That ban is set to expire later this year and U.S. officials have been pressing allies to ensure this does not occur .
The issue is particularly important to Israel as it works to combat a range of Iranian-armed terror @ @ @ @ @

Israel's increasingly close relationship with China is emerging as a top concern for the Trump administration heading into high-level meetings this week with Israeli officials, the administration's assistant secretary for Near Eastern affairs told the Washington Free Beacon.
While Iran's ongoing support for terrorism is likely to dominate the discussion, senior U.S. officials told the Free Beacon that Pompeo is likely to air his concerns about Israel's deepening ties with China in his upcoming meetings.
"We don't want them to get into a problematic relationship with China," David Schenker, the State Department's assistant director for Near Eastern affairs, told the Free Beacon on Monday. "There have been times in the past where China has been an irritant to the bilateral relationship [with America] and we don't want to see that happen again."
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will land in Israel on Wednesday as he resumes his global travel schedule amid the coronavirus pandemic. Pompeo's trip to the Jewish state, his first scheduled travel in more than a month, is meant to bolster the U.S.-Israel relationship at a time when the country is under constant threat from Iran and its terrorist proxies across the region. He will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz as the two sides continue work on forming a new Israeli government.
The administration's focus on China springs from the country's longstanding interest in Israeli technology, including on the military front. With Israel receiving more than $3 billion in U.S. security assistance, it has typically heeded the United States' warnings about China. However, that has become increasingly difficult as China becomes more involved in Israel's booming tech sector. Israel has also expressed a willingness to work with China's state-controlled Huawei telecommunications company, even dismissing U.S. concerns about the relationship.
Since the coronavirus erupted, the Trump administration and its allies in Congress have ramped up efforts to hold Beijing accountable and alert the globe to the Communist Party's history of deceit. While these efforts are not wholly new, the pandemic has hardened the administration's stance and spurred a range of diplomatic efforts to counter China's growing global footprint.
"Now with COVID, it's a good time to reassess and talk about Israel's relationship with China," Schenker said, explaining that while Israel is free to pursue diplomatic relationships as it sees fit, the United States is uniquely placed to outline the dangers of this alliance.
China has seen a willing investment partner in Israel, particularly given the Jewish state's technological innovation. In turn, Israel has viewed China as a good partner for cheaper infrastructure projects—a hallmark of Chinese diplomacy as it seeks an economic foothold into Western nations.
"China sees a lot of value in a relationship with Israel, the high-tech, the innovations," Schenker said. "Israel also needs all sorts of infrastructure and it looks to China. China is a low cost bidder and Chinese companies do all this work. But there are things that have to be taken into account. We also have interests and we want to be able to work with Israel."
As it has done with other top U.S. allies, including Britain, Trump administration officials will discuss with Israel the dangers of permitting Chinese companies such as Huawei to enter the country's networks.
China's potential entrance into Israeli networks could pose a significant security concern for the United States, which works closely with Israel on counterterrorism operations and other sensitive security matters. While Chinese companies' services often run cheaper than the alternatives, firms such as Huawei are not independent; they remain controlled by the Communist Party, which the United States fears could weaponize this data.
"All the information, all the data that is exchanged, if it's going over a Huawei line it's property of the Chinese Communist Party," Schenker said. "The Israelis should be aware of that."
Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told the Free Beacon that while Israel "has much more to do to counter Chinese influence," it has recently made good moves in this direction, including barring companies like Huawei from its plan for 5G cell networks. The Trump administration can help Israel move further away from China, he said.
Israel's "security services are monitoring CCP penetration and it has set up a committee to review foreign investment, which needs to be strengthened further to meet U.S. standards," Dubowitz said. "The administration should explore ways to deepen U.S-Israel ties in technology and critical infrastructure financing as well as enabling investment in Israel from other U.S. allies to displace Chinese funding. Israel can be an important proof of concept for how Washington deals with Chinese Communist Party influence around the world. "
It is also likely Pompeo will exchange information with Israel about the coronavirus fight. Israel was one of the first countries to implement a nationwide lockdown and has fared much better than others in the region.
Rigorous testing and preventative measures were put in place ahead of the trip to ensure that Pompeo and his delegation avoid any exposure to the coronavirus, according to Dr. William Walters, the State Department's deputy chief medical officer for operations, who briefed reporters ahead of the trip.
"This is a highly choreographed operation," Walters said, addressing concerns that parties on both sides might be exposed to the virus. "Every person that comes in contact or near contact with the secretary or with the traveling party will have been screened ahead of time."
Pompeo also will address U.S. efforts at the United Nations to ensure an embargo on Iran's purchase of advanced weaponry remains in place. That ban is set to expire later this year and U.S. officials have been pressing allies to ensure this does not occur.
The issue is particularly important to Israel as it works to combat a range of Iranian-armed terror groups such as Hezbollah.


freebeacon--2020-05-12--Joe Biden’s Binder Full of Babes

Joe Biden’s Binder Full of Babes

Former vice president Joe Biden has a colorful take on the process of choosing a running mate , according to a New York Times report published this week : In private encounters before this campaign , Mr. Biden has likened running-mate evaluation to deciding among calendar models , with three broad categories ( and outdated honorifics ) : Contenders can be a `` Mr. August '' ( a shot of momentum in the summer ) , a `` Mr. October '' ( a reliable and effective campaigner for the fall ) or a `` Mr. January '' ( a governing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's comparison of the VP selection process to choosing the hottest male model in a calendar is totally normal .
It just seems a bit strange now that he 's been bullied into choosing a female running mate .
With the help of former senator and notorious creep Chris Dodd , Biden 's campaign has been assembling a binder full of women to choose between .
Unfortunately , a collection of Biden 's potential female running mates probably would n't be as sexy as the calendar the presumptive nominee had in mind—notwithstanding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are more than enough `` Biden babes '' —women whose lives the former VP has touched over the years—to stuff into a calendar and proudly display on our walls , as illustrated below .
Enjoy !
Tara Reid ( The Other One )

Former vice president Joe Biden has a colorful take on the process of choosing a running mate, according to a New York Times report published this week:
In private encounters before this campaign, Mr. Biden has likened running-mate evaluation to deciding among calendar models, with three broad categories (and outdated honorifics): Contenders can be a "Mr. August" (a shot of momentum in the summer), a "Mr. October" (a reliable and effective campaigner for the fall) or a "Mr. January" (a governing partner, politics notwithstanding).
Biden's comparison of the VP selection process to choosing the hottest male model in a calendar is totally normal. It just seems a bit strange now that he's been bullied into choosing a female running mate. With the help of former senator and notorious creep Chris Dodd, Biden's campaign has been assembling a binder full of women to choose between.
Unfortunately, a collection of Biden's potential female running mates probably wouldn't be as sexy as the calendar the presumptive nominee had in mind—notwithstanding the raw appeal of Stacey Abrams. But there are more than enough "Biden babes"—women whose lives the former VP has touched over the years—to stuff into a calendar and proudly display on our walls, as illustrated below. Enjoy!
Stephanie Carter (Ash's Wife)
Jane Doe (John's Wife)
Maggie Coons (Senator's Daughter)
Tara Reid (The Other One)
Anita Dunn (Campaign Official, Harvey Weinstein Adviser)
Clara Bow (Silent Film Actress)
Hallie Biden (Beau's Widow, Hunter's Ex)
Lunden Alexis Roberts (Hunter's Baby Mama, Arkansas)
Melissa Cohen (Hunter's Baby Mama, California)
Barack Obama (Joe's Black Friend)
Train
Dr. Jill (Joe's Nurse)


freebeacon--2020-05-12--Roberts at Center Stage in Supreme Court Clash for Trump’s Financial Records

The Supreme Court heard arguments in two cases Tuesday about whether President Donald Trump can block subpoenas for his financial and accounting records .
The decisions could have enormous consequences for the November election .
The two disputes involve subpoenas from House Democrats and Manhattan district attorney Cy Vance .
The Court ’ s conservative majority was suspicious of the House subpoena .
Chief Justice John Roberts appeared to hold the deciding vote in the House case and seemed dubious of arguments from both sides .
The justices seemed less troubled by the Vance subpoena but pressed attorneys about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s records .
A split outcome may be in the offing , with the president prevailing over House Democrats but losing in the Vance dispute .
The decisions in Tuesday ’ s cases will have far-reaching political implications , potentially exposing huge swaths of Trump 's financial information that the president has thus far shielded from public view .
Their disclosure in the months preceding the November election could produce a steady clip of unwelcome disclosures and news reports .
Both cases ask the Court to settle a power struggle between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information , and victories for Trump would effectively insulate the personal lives of future presidents from state and congressional investigations .
In a key exchange , Roberts expressed concern that House Democrats are claiming a `` limitless '' power to access Trump ’ s private materials .
Douglas Letter , a lawyer who represented House Democrats , said Congress can issue subpoenas for any records `` pertinent '' to legislation it might pass .
`` Your test is really not much of a test .
It 's not a limitation , '' Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't seem in any way to take account of the fact that we 're talking about a coordinate branch of government . ''
Trump 's outside lawyers say the historical precedent for congressional subpoenas of the president 's personal records are thin to non-existent .
Assuming Congress can issue such subpoenas , Trump 's lawyers say the House must at least show a `` demonstrated need '' related to legislation it 's considering .
Justice Elena Kagan thought that was far too demanding .
`` What it seems to me you 're asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of 10 ton weight on the scales between the president and Congress and essentially to make it impossible for Congress to perform oversight and to carry out its functions where the president is concerned , '' Kagan told Trump 's outside lawyer , Patrick Strawbridge .
Yet Kagan , perhaps with an eye toward compromise , asked Letter why some of the House subpoenas took `` a much broader scope '' than others .
She suggested there may be a `` heightened need '' for Democrats to explain why they need Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice , which is supporting Trump in both of Tuesday 's cases , also says Democrats have much to prove before getting at the president ’ s financial records .
In a legal filing supporting Trump , the Department said the House 's subpoena must be `` demonstrably critical '' to laws under consideration .
`` It 's not much to ask that before the House delves into the president 's personal life , it explain in some meaningful way what laws it is considering and why it needs the president 's documents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeff Wall told the justices .
The Vance case prompted much less disagreement on the Court .
Several justices focused specifically on what prosecutors would have to show to access a president 's personal records , and what possible burdens on President Trump they should account for .
`` I assume that the prosecutor would have to reveal what was being investigated and why this particular information was needed for or essential for the investigation , '' said Justice Samuel Alito .
No member of the Court seemed to accept Trump 's argument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immune '' from state criminal inquiries .
Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow warned a decision upholding the Vance subpoena would subject an incumbent president to the whims of every local prosecutor in the country .
`` An overwhelming number of them are elected to office and are thereby accountable to their local constituencies , '' Sekulow said .
`` The decision would allow any DA to harass , distract , and interfere with the sitting president . ''
A victory for Vance is not necessarily a political threat to Trump , at least in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records Vance obtains are covered by grand jury secrecy rules , meaning it 's unlikely they would be made public before the November election .
The cases track two historic Supreme Court cases involving presidents plagued by scandal .
The Court rejected former president Bill Clinton ’ s claim of immunity to lawsuits relating to pre-presidential conduct during his time in office in 1997 , setting off a chain of events that culminated in Clinton ’ s impeachment .
Two decades earlier , the Court unanimously directed President Richard Nixon to comply with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his infamous Watergate tapes , rejecting a claim that the president is immune from judicial process .
Nixon resigned within three weeks .
Strawbridge acknowledged the historical stakes early in his presentation .
`` The rule that the Court applies here will affect not only this president but the presidency itself , '' he said .
Democrats ' suspicions about Trump ’ s alleged ties to Russian interests and hush-money payments lurk behind both cases .
In the first , House investigators are demanding financial information about the president ’ s business entities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean to use the Trumps as a `` case study '' to learn about money laundering and suspect lending practices .
Vance , the Manhattan district attorney , is similarly seeking Trump ’ s financial information in connection with a grand jury investigation into alleged hush-money payments to women who may have had affairs with the president .
If enforced , the subpoenas would allow Trump ’ s political adversaries and the grand jury to reconstruct his personal and professional financial history going back a decade .
The subpoenas were directed to three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The president sued the financial institutions to stop them from complying with Congress and the Vance probe .
The president has refused to cooperate with investigations of his affairs or his administration , directing associates to fight all requests for documents and testimony .
The cases , No .
19-715 Trump v. Mazars and No .
19-635 Trump v. Vance , will likely be decided by summer .
Update 3:34 p.m. , 4:09 p.m. : This post was updated with further information .

The Supreme Court heard arguments in two cases Tuesday about whether President Donald Trump can block subpoenas for his financial and accounting records. The decisions could have enormous consequences for the November election.
The two disputes involve subpoenas from House Democrats and Manhattan district attorney Cy Vance. The Court’s conservative majority was suspicious of the House subpoena. Chief Justice John Roberts appeared to hold the deciding vote in the House case and seemed dubious of arguments from both sides. The justices seemed less troubled by the Vance subpoena but pressed attorneys about what threshold the DA should clear to obtain Trump’s records.
A split outcome may be in the offing, with the president prevailing over House Democrats but losing in the Vance dispute.
The decisions in Tuesday’s cases will have far-reaching political implications, potentially exposing huge swaths of Trump's financial information that the president has thus far shielded from public view. Their disclosure in the months preceding the November election could produce a steady clip of unwelcome disclosures and news reports.
Both cases ask the Court to settle a power struggle between the president and outside investigators pressing for information, and victories for Trump would effectively insulate the personal lives of future presidents from state and congressional investigations.
In a key exchange, Roberts expressed concern that House Democrats are claiming a "limitless" power to access Trump’s private materials. Douglas Letter, a lawyer who represented House Democrats, said Congress can issue subpoenas for any records "pertinent" to legislation it might pass.
"Your test is really not much of a test. It's not a limitation," Roberts told Letter. "And it doesn't seem in any way to take account of the fact that we're talking about a coordinate branch of government."
Trump's outside lawyers say the historical precedent for congressional subpoenas of the president's personal records are thin to non-existent. Assuming Congress can issue such subpoenas, Trump's lawyers say the House must at least show a "demonstrated need" related to legislation it's considering. Justice Elena Kagan thought that was far too demanding.
"What it seems to me you're asking us to do is to put a kind of 10 ton weight on the scales between the president and Congress and essentially to make it impossible for Congress to perform oversight and to carry out its functions where the president is concerned," Kagan told Trump's outside lawyer, Patrick Strawbridge.
Yet Kagan, perhaps with an eye toward compromise, asked Letter why some of the House subpoenas took "a much broader scope" than others. She suggested there may be a "heightened need" for Democrats to explain why they need Trump's financial records.
The Department of Justice, which is supporting Trump in both of Tuesday's cases, also says Democrats have much to prove before getting at the president’s financial records. In a legal filing supporting Trump, the Department said the House's subpoena must be "demonstrably critical" to laws under consideration.
"It's not much to ask that before the House delves into the president's personal life, it explain in some meaningful way what laws it is considering and why it needs the president's documents in particular," deputy solicitor general Jeff Wall told the justices.
The Vance case prompted much less disagreement on the Court. Several justices focused specifically on what prosecutors would have to show to access a president's personal records, and what possible burdens on President Trump they should account for.
"I assume that the prosecutor would have to reveal what was being investigated and why this particular information was needed for or essential for the investigation," said Justice Samuel Alito.
No member of the Court seemed to accept Trump's argument that a sitting president is "absolutely immune" from state criminal inquiries.
Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow warned a decision upholding the Vance subpoena would subject an incumbent president to the whims of every local prosecutor in the country.
"An overwhelming number of them are elected to office and are thereby accountable to their local constituencies," Sekulow said. "The decision would allow any DA to harass, distract, and interfere with the sitting president."
A victory for Vance is not necessarily a political threat to Trump, at least in the short term. Any private Trump records Vance obtains are covered by grand jury secrecy rules, meaning it's unlikely they would be made public before the November election.
The cases track two historic Supreme Court cases involving presidents plagued by scandal. The Court rejected former president Bill Clinton’s claim of immunity to lawsuits relating to pre-presidential conduct during his time in office in 1997, setting off a chain of events that culminated in Clinton’s impeachment. Two decades earlier, the Court unanimously directed President Richard Nixon to comply with a special prosecutor’s subpoena for his infamous Watergate tapes, rejecting a claim that the president is immune from judicial process. Nixon resigned within three weeks.
Strawbridge acknowledged the historical stakes early in his presentation.
"The rule that the Court applies here will affect not only this president but the presidency itself," he said.
Democrats' suspicions about Trump’s alleged ties to Russian interests and hush-money payments lurk behind both cases. In the first, House investigators are demanding financial information about the president’s business entities and Trump family finances. House Democrats mean to use the Trumps as a "case study" to learn about money laundering and suspect lending practices. Vance, the Manhattan district attorney, is similarly seeking Trump’s financial information in connection with a grand jury investigation into alleged hush-money payments to women who may have had affairs with the president.
If enforced, the subpoenas would allow Trump’s political adversaries and the grand jury to reconstruct his personal and professional financial history going back a decade.
The subpoenas were directed to three financial institutions, not Trump himself. The president sued the financial institutions to stop them from complying with Congress and the Vance probe. The president has refused to cooperate with investigations of his affairs or his administration, directing associates to fight all requests for documents and testimony.
The cases, No. 19-715 Trump v. Mazars and No. 19-635 Trump v. Vance, will likely be decided by summer.
Update 3:34 p.m., 4:09 p.m.: This post was updated with further information.


freebeacon--2020-05-12--New Biden Hire Previously Warned Biden Couldn’t Beat Trump

One of Joe Biden 's top campaign aides warned in a 2019 memo that the presumptive Democratic nominee may not be able to defeat President Donald Trump .
Biden 's new states director Jennifer Ridder , who previously served as Montana governor Steve Bullock 's presidential campaign manager , told donors in a memo that the former vice president could be `` unable to take down Trump . ''
`` Again and again , we hear from Democratic primary voters that the most important quality in a candidate is their ability to beat Trump next November , '' she wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , there is a growing fear that the candidates promising revolutions are out of step with general election voters while others fear Vice President Biden may be unable to take down Trump . ''
While polls have consistently shown Biden leading Trump nationally and in swing states , they have also shown voters are skeptical that the Democrat can win .
An April YouGov survey found that 57 percent of registered voters believe Trump will be reelected .
Biden aides have also acknowledged that Trump enjoys a huge cash advantage and superior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reassure Bullock 's donors did not work .
Bullock never gained traction in the crowded primary race and dropped out in December .
He is now challenging Sen. Steve Daines ( R. , Mont . )
despite his pledge not to run for a Senate seat .
Ridder , who also managed Colorado governor Jared Polis 's successful run in 2018 , will focus on battleground states , according to a Politico report .
Biden 's campaign is planning to bulk up staffing amid criticism from fellow Democrats that Biden has been invisible @ @ @ @ @

One of Joe Biden's top campaign aides warned in a 2019 memo that the presumptive Democratic nominee may not be able to defeat President Donald Trump.
Biden's new states director Jennifer Ridder, who previously served as Montana governor Steve Bullock's presidential campaign manager, told donors in a memo that the former vice president could be "unable to take down Trump."
"Again and again, we hear from Democratic primary voters that the most important quality in a candidate is their ability to beat Trump next November," she wrote in September. "At the same time, there is a growing fear that the candidates promising revolutions are out of step with general election voters while others fear Vice President Biden may be unable to take down Trump."
While polls have consistently shown Biden leading Trump nationally and in swing states, they have also shown voters are skeptical that the Democrat can win. An April YouGov survey found that 57 percent of registered voters believe Trump will be reelected. Biden aides have also acknowledged that Trump enjoys a huge cash advantage and superior digital operation.
Ridder's attempt to reassure Bullock's donors did not work. Bullock never gained traction in the crowded primary race and dropped out in December. He is now challenging Sen. Steve Daines (R., Mont.) despite his pledge not to run for a Senate seat.
Ridder, who also managed Colorado governor Jared Polis's successful run in 2018, will focus on battleground states, according to a Politico report. Biden's campaign is planning to bulk up staffing amid criticism from fellow Democrats that Biden has been invisible during the coronavirus pandemic.


freebeacon--2020-05-12--Watchdog Reports Record Number of Anti-Semitic Incidents Last Year

( Reuters ) – Jews in the United States suffered the largest number of anti-Semitic incidents last year since the Anti-Defamation League began collecting records 40 years ago , the racism watchdog said on Tuesday .
The 2,107 anti-Semitic incidents recorded in 2019 in the United States included deadly attacks by gunmen at a California Synagogue and a New Jersey kosher grocery store , and a fatal stabbing at a rabbi ’ s home in New York .
It marked a 12 % rise from 1,879 incidents in 2018 .
Previously , the highest number was recorded in 1994 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cross burnings and a drive-by shooting .
The group ’ s audit of anti-Semitic incidents from 2019 counted 1,127 cases of harassment , 61 cases of physical assaults and 919 instances of vandalism .
More than half of the assaults took place in New York City .
`` This was a year of unprecedented anti-Semitic activity , a time when many Jewish communities across the country had direct encounters with hate , '' ADL Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Greenblatt said .
In recent weeks the ADL has issued warnings of a continuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connected to the coronavirus outbreak could worsen anti-Semitism in the United States .
Greenblatt has also in the past partly blamed President Donald Trump for the rise in anti-Semitism , saying Trump should have done more to condemn incidents , including a far-right demonstration in Virginia in 2017 at which protesters chanted anti-Jewish slogans .
One counter-protester was killed .
Among last year ’ s attacks , a gunman killed a worshiper and wounded three others during Sabbath services in Poway , California , near San Diego .
Two gunmen killed a police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kosher supermarket in New Jersey .
Five people were wounded , one of whom later died , when an attacker broke into a rabbi ’ s house and stabbed Hanukkah celebrants in Rockland County , north of New York City .
In late 2018 , a gunman killed 11 worshipers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history .
`` We plan to work with members of Congress and other elected officials this year to ensure that funding is in place and that all states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an effective deterrent for future acts of hate , '' the ADL CEO said on Tuesday .

By Kanishka Singh
(Reuters) - Jews in the United States suffered the largest number of anti-Semitic incidents last year since the Anti-Defamation League began collecting records 40 years ago, the racism watchdog said on Tuesday.
The 2,107 anti-Semitic incidents recorded in 2019 in the United States included deadly attacks by gunmen at a California Synagogue and a New Jersey kosher grocery store, and a fatal stabbing at a rabbi’s home in New York.
It marked a 12% rise from 1,879 incidents in 2018. Previously, the highest number was recorded in 1994, when the ADL reported multiple unsolved arsons, cross burnings and a drive-by shooting.
The group’s audit of anti-Semitic incidents from 2019 counted 1,127 cases of harassment, 61 cases of physical assaults and 919 instances of vandalism. More than half of the assaults took place in New York City.
"This was a year of unprecedented anti-Semitic activity, a time when many Jewish communities across the country had direct encounters with hate," ADL Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Greenblatt said.
In recent weeks the ADL has issued warnings of a continuing surge in incidents, saying conspiracy theories connected to the coronavirus outbreak could worsen anti-Semitism in the United States.
Greenblatt has also in the past partly blamed President Donald Trump for the rise in anti-Semitism, saying Trump should have done more to condemn incidents, including a far-right demonstration in Virginia in 2017 at which protesters chanted anti-Jewish slogans. One counter-protester was killed.
Among last year’s attacks, a gunman killed a worshiper and wounded three others during Sabbath services in Poway, California, near San Diego. Two gunmen killed a police officer and three bystanders before storming a kosher supermarket in New Jersey. Five people were wounded, one of whom later died, when an attacker broke into a rabbi’s house and stabbed Hanukkah celebrants in Rockland County, north of New York City.
In late 2018, a gunman killed 11 worshipers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history.
"We plan to work with members of Congress and other elected officials this year to ensure that funding is in place and that all states mandate Holocaust education, which can serve as an effective deterrent for future acts of hate," the ADL CEO said on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Graff)


freebeacon--2020-05-13--Hillary’s Longtime Aides Got Pay Bumps From Her ‘Resistance’ Group Even as Revenues Plummeted

As revenue fell by millions at Hillary Clinton 's `` resistance '' nonprofit during its second year in operation , the longtime Clinton aides that run the group pocketed substantially bigger paychecks .
Clinton created Onward Together , a `` social welfare '' nonprofit , following her 2016 defeat .
She said the group would allow her to be a `` part of the resistance '' against President Donald Trump .
The nonprofit raised $ 2.3 million between April 1 , 2018 , and March 31 , 2019 , according to its most recent tax forms—a $ 900,000 fall in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during its inaugural year .
The group 's total revenue also fell by more than $ 2 million .
As the group 's revenues plummeted , Clinton 's confidantes nearly doubled their compensation packages .
Dennis Cheng , the group 's finance director and former chief development officer of the Clinton Foundation , was paid $ 126,172 during Onward Together 's 2018 fiscal year— $ 66,172 more than what he collected throughout 2017 .
Kelly Mehlenbacher , the group 's chief operating officer who later joined Sen. Kamala Harris 's ( D. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigns , took in just over $ 101,355—a $ 66,355 increase over her 2017 compensation .
Longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin , an officer at the group , was paid $ 87,081—a $ 42,000 increase over her prior year 's compensation .
All three garnered tens of thousands more despite not working full-time at the nonprofit .
Cheng spent 30 hours per week on the group 's operations , while Mehlenbacher and Abedin clocked 20 hours per week , according to the forms .
Onward Together did not respond to a request for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dip in donations even as other progressive organizations headed by less recognizable figures have seen donations grow , signaling that liberal donors have less faith in Onward Together to effectively push back against the president 's agenda .
Unlike many other liberal nonprofits , Clinton 's group tends to act as a conduit that collects and disburses money to other groups , rather than fund its own initiatives .
According to its tax forms , Onward Together sent over $ 2 million in grants to dozens of liberal entities including EMILY 's List @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Color of Change , and the State Engagement Fund , a dark money group with ties to the Democracy Alliance , a millionaire and billionaire donor club cofounded by George Soros .
It spent $ 709,000 on political campaign activities , which went towards polling for an unnamed gubernatorial race .
Marc Elias , Clinton 's former campaign lawyer , incorporated Onward Together in April 2017 .
It currently partners with 15 other progressive organizations including Demand Justice , a dark money group led by Brian Fallon—Clinton 's former campaign press secretary—that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Clinton 's group also has an affiliated political action committee it uses to send money to Democratic candidates .
The PAC is operated by Charles Baker , the president and cofounder of the Dewey Square Group , who was the chief administrative officer of Hillary for America .
Like the nonprofit , the PAC has struggled to raise cash .
The Onward Together Committee reported just $ 146,351 in total receipts so far for the 2020 election cycle .
The PAC handed out just $ 15,000 to other committees .
South Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5,000 from the PAC—is the only politician seeking federal office who has been given money from Clinton .

As revenue fell by millions at Hillary Clinton's "resistance" nonprofit during its second year in operation, the longtime Clinton aides that run the group pocketed substantially bigger paychecks.
Clinton created Onward Together, a "social welfare" nonprofit, following her 2016 defeat. She said the group would allow her to be a "part of the resistance" against President Donald Trump. The nonprofit raised $2.3 million between April 1, 2018, and March 31, 2019, according to its most recent tax forms—a $900,000 fall in donations from the total it hauled in during its inaugural year. The group's total revenue also fell by more than $2 million.
As the group's revenues plummeted, Clinton's confidantes nearly doubled their compensation packages. Dennis Cheng, the group's finance director and former chief development officer of the Clinton Foundation, was paid $126,172 during Onward Together's 2018 fiscal year—$66,172 more than what he collected throughout 2017. Kelly Mehlenbacher, the group's chief operating officer who later joined Sen. Kamala Harris's (D., Calif.) and Michael Bloomberg's presidential campaigns, took in just over $101,355—a $66,355 increase over her 2017 compensation. Longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin, an officer at the group, was paid $87,081—a $42,000 increase over her prior year's compensation.
All three garnered tens of thousands more despite not working full-time at the nonprofit. Cheng spent 30 hours per week on the group's operations, while Mehlenbacher and Abedin clocked 20 hours per week, according to the forms. Onward Together did not respond to a request for comment.
Clinton's group experienced the dip in donations even as other progressive organizations headed by less recognizable figures have seen donations grow, signaling that liberal donors have less faith in Onward Together to effectively push back against the president's agenda. Unlike many other liberal nonprofits, Clinton's group tends to act as a conduit that collects and disburses money to other groups, rather than fund its own initiatives.
According to its tax forms, Onward Together sent over $2 million in grants to dozens of liberal entities including EMILY's List, Stacey Abrams's Fair Fight Action, Color of Change, and the State Engagement Fund, a dark money group with ties to the Democracy Alliance, a millionaire and billionaire donor club cofounded by George Soros. It spent $709,000 on political campaign activities, which went towards polling for an unnamed gubernatorial race.
Marc Elias, Clinton's former campaign lawyer, incorporated Onward Together in April 2017. It currently partners with 15 other progressive organizations including Demand Justice, a dark money group led by Brian Fallon—Clinton's former campaign press secretary—that pushes back against Trump's judicial nominations.
Clinton's group also has an affiliated political action committee it uses to send money to Democratic candidates. The PAC is operated by Charles Baker, the president and cofounder of the Dewey Square Group, who was the chief administrative officer of Hillary for America.
Like the nonprofit, the PAC has struggled to raise cash. The Onward Together Committee reported just $146,351 in total receipts so far for the 2020 election cycle. The PAC handed out just $15,000 to other committees. South Carolina Democratic Senate candidate Jaime Harrison—who received $5,000 from the PAC—is the only politician seeking federal office who has been given money from Clinton.


freebeacon--2020-05-14--Supreme Court Seems Ready to Allow Crackdown on ‘Faithless’ Presidential Electors

The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard two cases asking whether members of the Electoral College are bound by laws requiring them to support the winner of the popular vote in their state .
Wednesday 's cases involve six electors who were fined or disqualified because they voted for candidates of their own choosing in 2016 , instead of abiding by the result of the vote in their state .
The justices seemed ready to say that laws punishing so-called faithless electors are constitutionally permissible .
Thirty-two states and the District of Columbia have such laws .
Rogue electoral votes could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the winner commands a thin margin in the Electoral College .
While a federal appeals court ruled the electors are free to vote as they please , the states say binding electors to the popular vote is essential for ensuring public faith in elections .
After President Donald Trump 's surprise 2016 victory , Democrats pressed presidential electors to abandon Trump for a compromise candidate like former secretary of state Colin Powell .
Ten electors ultimately defected .
Northwestern University law professor Robert Bennett cited those efforts in a legal brief supporting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence electors through lobbying and intimidation '' have increased in recent election cycles .
The prospect of such chicanery loomed large over Wednesday 's arguments and likely played a role in the Court 's decision to hear the case ahead of the November election .
`` Where the popular vote is close and changing just a few votes would alter the outcome or throw it into the House of Representatives , the rational response of the losing political party … would be to launch a massive campaign to try to influence electors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of uncertainty about who the next president was going to be , '' Justice Samuel Alito told Lawrence Lessig , a Harvard Law School professor who represented the faithless electors before the Court .
Justice Brett Kavanaugh said Alito 's warning might be a good reason to invoke `` the avoid chaos principle of judging , which suggests that if it 's a close call or a tiebreaker , that we should n't facilitate or create chaos . ''
In general , the Court seemed comfortable giving the individual states some leeway .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Court when she said evidence from the Constitution appears to cut for and against the rebel electors .
If that 's so , perhaps `` the best thing to do is leave it to the states and not impose any constitutional requirement on them , '' she said .
Much of Wednesday 's arguments turned on evidence from the founding era .
In Federalist 68 , Alexander Hamilton promoted a free agent view of the Electoral College , saying the selection of the president should be left to `` a small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talent who are `` most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station . ''
Speaking to the justices Wednesday , Lessig said the electors have wide discretion to vote as they like .
In legal filings , he noted that the Constitution uses words like `` vote '' and `` ballot '' to describe the duties of electors , words that connote genuine choice and freedom from interference .
Many of the justices seemed uncomfortable with giving the electors unbounded discretion .
Justice Clarence Thomas wondered why a state could n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or even absurd ballot .
`` The elector , who had promised to vote for the winning candidate , could suddenly say ‘ I 'm going to vote for Frodo Baggins .
I really like Frodo Baggins , ' '' Thomas said , in reference to a character from The Lord of the Rings trilogy .
`` And you 're saying , under your system , you ca n't do anything about that . ''
The hypothetical was fanciful , but not unthinkable .
Faith Spotted Eagle , a Native American activist from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote in 2016 .
Other justices expressed concern over the integrity of elections , asking whether an elector could be removed for soliciting a bribe .
Yet the Court was also broadly eager to identify the limits on state power over members of the Electoral College .
Lessig warned that making electors `` minions '' of each state would open the door to partisan manipulation .
`` If you find the state has the power to regulate electoral votes , may the state forbid the elector from voting for a candidate who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not released his tax returns as bills in New Jersey and New York purport to do , or has not pledged to appoint justices who will uphold Roe ? ''
Lessig asked .
`` Open this door and there are an endless list of partisan opportunisms that will tempt the states . ''
Decisions in the two cases , No .
19-465 Chiafolo v. Washington and No .
19-518 Colorado Department of State v. Baca , are expected this summer .

The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard two cases asking whether members of the Electoral College are bound by laws requiring them to support the winner of the popular vote in their state.
Wednesday's cases involve six electors who were fined or disqualified because they voted for candidates of their own choosing in 2016, instead of abiding by the result of the vote in their state. The justices seemed ready to say that laws punishing so-called faithless electors are constitutionally permissible. Thirty-two states and the District of Columbia have such laws.
Rogue electoral votes could be decisive to the November election if the winner commands a thin margin in the Electoral College. While a federal appeals court ruled the electors are free to vote as they please, the states say binding electors to the popular vote is essential for ensuring public faith in elections.
After President Donald Trump's surprise 2016 victory, Democrats pressed presidential electors to abandon Trump for a compromise candidate like former secretary of state Colin Powell. Ten electors ultimately defected. Northwestern University law professor Robert Bennett cited those efforts in a legal brief supporting the states, writing that bids "to influence electors through lobbying and intimidation" have increased in recent election cycles.
The prospect of such chicanery loomed large over Wednesday's arguments and likely played a role in the Court's decision to hear the case ahead of the November election.
"Where the popular vote is close and changing just a few votes would alter the outcome or throw it into the House of Representatives, the rational response of the losing political party … would be to launch a massive campaign to try to influence electors, and there would be a long period of uncertainty about who the next president was going to be," Justice Samuel Alito told Lawrence Lessig, a Harvard Law School professor who represented the faithless electors before the Court.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh said Alito's warning might be a good reason to invoke "the avoid chaos principle of judging, which suggests that if it's a close call or a tiebreaker, that we shouldn't facilitate or create chaos."
In general, the Court seemed comfortable giving the individual states some leeway. Justice Elena Kagan spoke for several members of the Court when she said evidence from the Constitution appears to cut for and against the rebel electors. If that's so, perhaps "the best thing to do is leave it to the states and not impose any constitutional requirement on them," she said.
Much of Wednesday's arguments turned on evidence from the founding era. In Federalist 68, Alexander Hamilton promoted a free agent view of the Electoral College, saying the selection of the president should be left to "a small number of persons," men of talent who are "most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station."
Speaking to the justices Wednesday, Lessig said the electors have wide discretion to vote as they like. In legal filings, he noted that the Constitution uses words like "vote" and "ballot" to describe the duties of electors, words that connote genuine choice and freedom from interference.
Many of the justices seemed uncomfortable with giving the electors unbounded discretion. Justice Clarence Thomas wondered why a state couldn't stop its elector from casting a meaningless or even absurd ballot.
"The elector, who had promised to vote for the winning candidate, could suddenly say 'I'm going to vote for Frodo Baggins. I really like Frodo Baggins,'" Thomas said, in reference to a character from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. "And you're saying, under your system, you can't do anything about that."
The hypothetical was fanciful, but not unthinkable. Faith Spotted Eagle, a Native American activist from South Dakota, won a rogue electoral vote in 2016.
Other justices expressed concern over the integrity of elections, asking whether an elector could be removed for soliciting a bribe.
Yet the Court was also broadly eager to identify the limits on state power over members of the Electoral College. Lessig warned that making electors "minions" of each state would open the door to partisan manipulation.
"If you find the state has the power to regulate electoral votes, may the state forbid the elector from voting for a candidate who has not visited the state, who has not released his tax returns as bills in New Jersey and New York purport to do, or has not pledged to appoint justices who will uphold Roe?" Lessig asked. "Open this door and there are an endless list of partisan opportunisms that will tempt the states."
Decisions in the two cases, No. 19-465 Chiafolo v. Washington and No. 19-518 Colorado Department of State v. Baca, are expected this summer.