freebeacon--2020-05-16--Missouri Dem Touts Endorsement From Dark Money Group After Denouncing Dark Money

Missouri Democrat Nicole Galloway touted an endorsement from a liberal dark money group just days after claiming that she `` hate [ s ] dark money with a passion . ''
The state auditor has repeatedly denounced dark money during her bid to unseat Missouri governor Mike Parson ( R. ) .
Galloway has told supporters and reporters that she `` hate [ s ] dark money with a passion '' and `` absolutely think [ s ] it 's wrong '' in the past , but she now welcomes its support for her gubernatorial run .
During a May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she had won the backing of 314 Action , which has pledged to spend millions in 2020 but does not disclose donors for its nonprofit arm .
`` I will point out that I am endorsed by 314 Action , which is one of the leading organizations promoting science and data in policymaking , '' she said .
`` I am proud of that endorsement . ''
The group operates as a `` hybrid PAC , '' which allows it to contribute directly to candidates , as well as spend unlimited amounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required to disclose donors , the group also employs a nonprofit arm that can partake in political spending without making such disclosures .
The group aims to become the `` EMILY 's List for scientists '' —a pro-abortion hybrid PAC and major Democratic donor—and plans to spend at least $ 10 million in 2020 to support Democratic candidates .
Josh Morrow , 314 Action 's executive director , told Scientific American in 2018 that the group planned to use its nonprofit arm to buy political ads , saying , `` It 's about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's praise for 314 Action is not the first time that her campaign 's actions have been at odds with her anti-dark money rhetoric .
The Democrat criticized Parson for benefiting from a `` dark money group '' in March , pointing to a Parson-aligned PAC called Uniting Missouri , which is required to disclose donors .
Galloway is backed by a similar PAC , Keep Government Accountable , which held nearly $ 940,000 on hand as of April 14 , according to state records .
During her 2018 state auditor reelection campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any dark money groups that supported her , saying she has `` taken a stand against dark money from the very beginning . ''
`` I do n't want anything to do with dark money , '' Galloway said .
`` I think it is wrong .
I do n't care where it comes from , I do n't care what side it is from , I have taken a stand against dark money from the very beginning because I absolutely think it 's wrong . ''
Galloway went on to announce her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video that accused Parson of taking dark money from `` corporations and lobbyists . ''
Her Keep Government Accountable PAC has taken in nearly $ 200,000 from limited liability companies since 2018 , state filings show .
Galloway is allowed to fundraise for the PAC under Missouri campaign finance law .
Galloway , who did not respond to a request for comment , again attacked dark money in a May 4 interview with the Kansas City Star .
She said that while she supported former Missouri governor Eric Greitens 's `` willingness to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she took issue with his association with dark money groups .
`` He did n't approach it the right way , and I hate dark money with a passion , but he was willing to take on the system , and I 'm willing to shake it up , '' she said .
Galloway 's backers at 314 Action also accept corporate money—the hybrid PAC reported a six-figure donation from Gemini Trust Company , a New York-based digital currency exchange , in May 2018 .
Founded two years prior and named for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the group backs `` pro-science '' candidates for federal and state office .
While Morrow told Scientific American that 314 Action initially used its nonprofit arm for `` issue-based advocacy , '' the group began using money from the nonprofit to finance political ads during the midterm elections .
It went on to use its nonprofit arm to launch a digital ad campaign supporting Rep. Joe Cunningham ( D. , S.C. ) in December 2019 , according to South Carolina 's Post and Courier .
Morrow did not respond to a request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its nonprofit arm for political spending .
Every single one of 314 Action 's candidate contributions since 2018 has gone to Democrats , including Sen. Chris Coons ( D. , Del . )
, Reps. Lauren Underwood ( D. , Ill. ) and T.J. Cox ( D. , Calif. ) , and Arizona Senate hopeful Mark Kelly , according to the Center for Responsive Politics .
The group has also backed Rep. Jeff Van Drew ( R. , N.J. ) , but those contributions came before the former Democrat flipped his party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of President Donald Trump .
Galloway has emerged as the likely Democratic nominee for governor in Missouri , though she will have to defeat four other candidates before taking on Parson in November .
President Donald Trump endorsed Parson in September after winning the state by nearly 20 points in 2016 .

Missouri Democrat Nicole Galloway touted an endorsement from a liberal dark money group just days after claiming that she "hate[s] dark money with a passion."
The state auditor has repeatedly denounced dark money during her bid to unseat Missouri governor Mike Parson (R.). Galloway has told supporters and reporters that she "hate[s] dark money with a passion" and "absolutely think[s] it's wrong" in the past, but she now welcomes its support for her gubernatorial run. During a May 8 call with supporters, she boasted that she had won the backing of 314 Action, which has pledged to spend millions in 2020 but does not disclose donors for its nonprofit arm.
"I will point out that I am endorsed by 314 Action, which is one of the leading organizations promoting science and data in policymaking," she said. "I am proud of that endorsement."
The group operates as a "hybrid PAC," which allows it to contribute directly to candidates, as well as spend unlimited amounts on advertisements. While the PAC is required to disclose donors, the group also employs a nonprofit arm that can partake in political spending without making such disclosures. The group aims to become the "EMILY's List for scientists"—a pro-abortion hybrid PAC and major Democratic donor—and plans to spend at least $10 million in 2020 to support Democratic candidates. Josh Morrow, 314 Action's executive director, told Scientific American in 2018 that the group planned to use its nonprofit arm to buy political ads, saying, "It's about leveling the playing field."
Galloway's praise for 314 Action is not the first time that her campaign's actions have been at odds with her anti-dark money rhetoric. The Democrat criticized Parson for benefiting from a "dark money group" in March, pointing to a Parson-aligned PAC called Uniting Missouri, which is required to disclose donors. Galloway is backed by a similar PAC, Keep Government Accountable, which held nearly $940,000 on hand as of April 14, according to state records.
During her 2018 state auditor reelection campaign, Galloway said she would disassociate with any dark money groups that supported her, saying she has "taken a stand against dark money from the very beginning."
"I don't want anything to do with dark money," Galloway said. "I think it is wrong. I don't care where it comes from, I don't care what side it is from, I have taken a stand against dark money from the very beginning because I absolutely think it's wrong."
Galloway went on to announce her gubernatorial bid in an August 2019 campaign video that accused Parson of taking dark money from "corporations and lobbyists." Her Keep Government Accountable PAC has taken in nearly $200,000 from limited liability companies since 2018, state filings show. Galloway is allowed to fundraise for the PAC under Missouri campaign finance law.
Galloway, who did not respond to a request for comment, again attacked dark money in a May 4 interview with the Kansas City Star. She said that while she supported former Missouri governor Eric Greitens's "willingness to say the system is broken," she took issue with his association with dark money groups.
"He didn't approach it the right way, and I hate dark money with a passion, but he was willing to take on the system, and I'm willing to shake it up," she said.
Galloway's backers at 314 Action also accept corporate money—the hybrid PAC reported a six-figure donation from Gemini Trust Company, a New York-based digital currency exchange, in May 2018. Founded two years prior and named for the first three digits of the number pi, the group backs "pro-science" candidates for federal and state office. While Morrow told Scientific American that 314 Action initially used its nonprofit arm for "issue-based advocacy," the group began using money from the nonprofit to finance political ads during the midterm elections. It went on to use its nonprofit arm to launch a digital ad campaign supporting Rep. Joe Cunningham (D., S.C.) in December 2019, according to South Carolina's Post and Courier. Morrow did not respond to a request for comment on the group's use of its nonprofit arm for political spending.
Every single one of 314 Action's candidate contributions since 2018 has gone to Democrats, including Sen. Chris Coons (D., Del.), Reps. Lauren Underwood (D., Ill.) and T.J. Cox (D., Calif.), and Arizona Senate hopeful Mark Kelly, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The group has also backed Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R., N.J.), but those contributions came before the former Democrat flipped his party affiliation in January to protest the impeachment of President Donald Trump.
Galloway has emerged as the likely Democratic nominee for governor in Missouri, though she will have to defeat four other candidates before taking on Parson in November. President Donald Trump endorsed Parson in September after winning the state by nearly 20 points in 2016.


freebeacon--2020-05-17--Review: ‘Scandalous: The Untold Story of the National Enquirer’

Before its demise in 2016 , the blog Gawker identified itself with the mantra , `` Today 's gossip is tomorrow 's news . ''
The saying drew on a long history of tabloid journalism that eschewed standard journalistic ethics for a focus on rumors and grievances .
In Scandalous : The Untold Story of the National Enquirer , the sprawling history of arguably the most influential tabloid in all of media is traced from its origins in the Italian mafia to its inextricable ties with the current occupant of the White House .
By documenting the tabloid 's peaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at an American media culture that helped give rise to the celebrity presidency .
The first half of the documentary focuses on the story of the man behind the publication : Generoso Pope Jr .
The documentary details the sheer power of Pope ’ s presence : Former employees describe `` Friday Night Massacres '' where Pope would bring in a catered dinner for the tabloid 's staff and allow the booze to flow liberally .
As his employees indulged , Pope sat quietly in the center of the room smoking cigarettes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of the dinner , someone would be fired .
`` It was best if you did n't engage with him until he knew you , '' Steve Koz , the eventual editor of the magazine , says .
Pope purchased the publication in 1952 with a $ 75,000 loan , allegedly obtained from Italian-American crime boss Frank Costello .
Pope brought a cutthroat , take-no-prisoners approach to the newsroom , pitting editors and writers against each other and creating a work environment that would not be tolerable by today ’ s standards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to thrive on his largesse .
Former employees tell of all-expenses-paid trips around the world booked on a moment ’ s notice .
It is the type of decadence unfit for an age that also brought a rapid contraction of the media market .
The documentary stops short of condemning its subject and is careful to credit the Enquirer with delivering vital reporting on some of the last century ’ s biggest stories .
But it is not afraid to illuminate the compromises National Enquirer staff made .
`` Things were exploded , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ editor for the Enquirer , tells the filmmakers .
`` You 'd just take a story and you make it more interesting .
You do n't change the facts .
You just sensationalize it .
That 's what tabloids do . ''
The Enquirer did just that—and more .
The documentary highlights the stories the tabloid helped break well after Pope 's death in 1988 : the O.J .
Simpson trial , Princess Diana 's death , Monica Lewinsky .
The death of Diana , in particular , sparks moments of genuine self-reflection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former staff , who recall the intense criticism the Enquirer received for its breathless coverage of Diana ’ s personal life .
Forty-five minutes into the film , it briefly delves into the tabloid 's coverage of Trump 's affair with and subsequent marriage to Marla Maples .
As with anything tangentially related to Trump , however , the audience is left wondering when Trump will reenter the picture .
Scandalous leaves an exploration of Trump 's relationship with David Pecker , who purchased the publisher of the tabloid in 1999 , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This may prove to be a smart decision on the part of the filmmakers for a Trump-fatigued viewer , and the overview of the relationship between Pecker and Trump warrants its own documentary series .
Indeed , Trump 's presence in the documentary is a challenge for the filmmakers : It is impossible to tell the story of the Enquirer without Donald Trump , and Trump 's story without the Enquirer .
But the relationship is so complicated that it threatens to distract from the rest of the Enquirer 's rich history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will leave an audience looking to get its fix of Trump history unsatisfied .
Given the sprawling nature of the subject material , it is easy to fault the documentary for not devling beneath the surface of many of its subjects .
But it is at its strongest when examining the sordid underbelly of the backroom deals and ethical shortcuts Enquirer staff took to get scoops .
`` The public did n't really think that the National Enquirer had a point of view .
They thought the Enquirer 's point of view was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to power , ' '' Keith Kelly , media columnist for the New York Post , says .
`` But I do n't think people expected them to be burying stories as part of their political agenda .
The public was in a sense deceived into not seeing the point of view that was driving a lot of the agenda . ''
A wide array of figures from Bob Hope to Bill Cosby to Arnold Schwarzenegger are implicated in the documentary ’ s exploration of the ways the Enquirer chose its targets .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's history reveals a publication that thrived on American decadence .
The documentary is a fleeting glimpse into a past culture dominated by celebrity and gossip becoming news .
Given the current circumstances , however , viewers can be forgiven for feeling a bit nostalgic .

Before its demise in 2016, the blog Gawker identified itself with the mantra, "Today's gossip is tomorrow's news." The saying drew on a long history of tabloid journalism that eschewed standard journalistic ethics for a focus on rumors and grievances. In Scandalous: The Untold Story of the National Enquirer, the sprawling history of arguably the most influential tabloid in all of media is traced from its origins in the Italian mafia to its inextricable ties with the current occupant of the White House. By documenting the tabloid's peaks and valleys, Scandalous offers an incisive look at an American media culture that helped give rise to the celebrity presidency.
The first half of the documentary focuses on the story of the man behind the publication: Generoso Pope Jr. The documentary details the sheer power of Pope’s presence: Former employees describe "Friday Night Massacres" where Pope would bring in a catered dinner for the tabloid's staff and allow the booze to flow liberally. As his employees indulged, Pope sat quietly in the center of the room smoking cigarettes and evaluating his staff. By the end of the dinner, someone would be fired. "It was best if you didn't engage with him until he knew you," Steve Koz, the eventual editor of the magazine, says.
Pope purchased the publication in 1952 with a $75,000 loan, allegedly obtained from Italian-American crime boss Frank Costello. Pope brought a cutthroat, take-no-prisoners approach to the newsroom, pitting editors and writers against each other and creating a work environment that would not be tolerable by today’s standards. His larger-than-life presence did allow staff to thrive on his largesse. Former employees tell of all-expenses-paid trips around the world booked on a moment’s notice. It is the type of decadence unfit for an age that also brought a rapid contraction of the media market.
The documentary stops short of condemning its subject and is careful to credit the Enquirer with delivering vital reporting on some of the last century’s biggest stories. But it is not afraid to illuminate the compromises National Enquirer staff made. "Things were exploded," Val Virga, a former photo editor for the Enquirer, tells the filmmakers. "You'd just take a story and you make it more interesting. You don't change the facts. You just sensationalize it. That's what tabloids do."
The Enquirer did just that—and more. The documentary highlights the stories the tabloid helped break well after Pope's death in 1988: the O.J. Simpson trial, Princess Diana's death, Monica Lewinsky. The death of Diana, in particular, sparks moments of genuine self-reflection on the parts of the tabloid's former staff, who recall the intense criticism the Enquirer received for its breathless coverage of Diana’s personal life.
Forty-five minutes into the film, it briefly delves into the tabloid's coverage of Trump's affair with and subsequent marriage to Marla Maples. As with anything tangentially related to Trump, however, the audience is left wondering when Trump will reenter the picture. Scandalous leaves an exploration of Trump's relationship with David Pecker, who purchased the publisher of the tabloid in 1999, to the final 20 minutes of the documentary.
This may prove to be a smart decision on the part of the filmmakers for a Trump-fatigued viewer, and the overview of the relationship between Pecker and Trump warrants its own documentary series. Indeed, Trump's presence in the documentary is a challenge for the filmmakers: It is impossible to tell the story of the Enquirer without Donald Trump, and Trump's story without the Enquirer. But the relationship is so complicated that it threatens to distract from the rest of the Enquirer's rich history. The relatively brief segments involving Trump will leave an audience looking to get its fix of Trump history unsatisfied.
Given the sprawling nature of the subject material, it is easy to fault the documentary for not delving beneath the surface of many of its subjects. But it is at its strongest when examining the sordid underbelly of the backroom deals and ethical shortcuts Enquirer staff took to get scoops. "The public didn't really think that the National Enquirer had a point of view. They thought the Enquirer's point of view was, 'Cover everybody. Hold truth to power,'" Keith Kelly, media columnist for the New York Post, says. "But I don't think people expected them to be burying stories as part of their political agenda. The public was in a sense deceived into not seeing the point of view that was driving a lot of the agenda." A wide array of figures from Bob Hope to Bill Cosby to Arnold Schwarzenegger are implicated in the documentary’s exploration of the ways the Enquirer chose its targets.
Scandalous's examination of the National Enquirer's history reveals a publication that thrived on American decadence. The documentary is a fleeting glimpse into a past culture dominated by celebrity and gossip becoming news. Given the current circumstances, however, viewers can be forgiven for feeling a bit nostalgic.


freebeacon--2020-05-18--Republican Lawmakers Call for Sanctions on Top Chinese Officials Over Coronavirus

Three Republican lawmakers have called on the Trump administration to sanction several senior Chinese government officials over their efforts to conceal information about the coronavirus and imprison those who sought to provide the world with information .
In a letter to the State and Treasury Departments sent on Monday , Reps. Jim Banks ( R. , Ind . )
, a member of the House China Task Force , Lance Gooden ( R. , Texas ) , and Dan Crenshaw ( R. , Texas ) urged the Trump administration to sanction at least 10 top Communist Party officials , exercising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which permits the U.S. government to punish global human-rights abusers .
The push for sanctions under the Magnitsky Act is the latest sign of an emerging consensus among increasingly hawkish Republican lawmakers in Congress that China must be held accountable for its behavior in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic .
Lawmakers have recently initiated investigations into Chinese infiltration of the U.S. medical research community and colleges , as well as China 's long-running lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill , in an effort to penalize the country for its coronavirus response .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its policy of not discussing congressional correspondence .
The call is in line , however , with recent comments from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticizing China 's coronavirus cover-up and urging an international investigation .
As the coronavirus first emerged , China detained medical and hospital workers , ordering them to destroy samples of the virus that could have been used to help develop an international response , according to the lawmakers .
China has also threatened to sanction leading Republican lawmakers , including Sens .
Tom Cotton ( Ark . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for their efforts to hold the country responsible .
Banks and his colleagues said their latest effort is in response to these threats .
`` All of these baffling and damaging decisions harmed Chinese citizens and the rest of the world , encouraged the spread of COVID-19 , and hindered governments around the world from crafting an effective pandemic response , '' the lawmakers wrote .
`` The result has been tens of thousands [ of ] unnecessary American deaths and substantial economic damage . ''
The letter marks the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials they see as culpable .
Sanctions would be slapped on Chen Yongxin , deputy mayor of Wuhan and director of the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission , who the lawmakers say `` oversaw censorship and detainment of eight doctors in Wuhan for discussing the then unknown coronavirus . ''
The lawmakers also singled out Chinese security figures who they said `` oversaw the detention and disappearance '' of journalists and others who disobeyed Communist Party orders to censor information about the virus .
These officials include Li Yilong , director of the Wuhan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , former deputy director of the Wuhan Public Security Bureau .
Also named in the call for sanctions is Ma Xiaowei , minister of China 's National Health Commission , and Wang Hesheng , the commission 's vice minister .
Additional sanctions would be applied to Chinese officials who played a role in the forced relocation of more than 30,000 Uyghurs , an ethnic minority population routinely targeted by the Chinese government .
`` The Chinese Communist Party has spread harmful and misleading propaganda about the origin of the virus , accusing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus to Wuhan , '' the lawmakers wrote .
`` Party diplomats have threatened a nationwide boycott of American goods to discourage independent medical investigations into coronavirus . ''
Banks expressed optimism that Pompeo would move on the lawmakers ' request , particularly given the State Department 's aggressive stance on the issue .
He said the issue is all the more pressing in light of threats last week by China to interfere in the upcoming U.S. elections .
The Treasury Department did not respond to a request for comment .

Three Republican lawmakers have called on the Trump administration to sanction several senior Chinese government officials over their efforts to conceal information about the coronavirus and imprison those who sought to provide the world with information.
In a letter to the State and Treasury Departments sent on Monday, Reps. Jim Banks (R., Ind.), a member of the House China Task Force, Lance Gooden (R., Texas), and Dan Crenshaw (R., Texas) urged the Trump administration to sanction at least 10 top Communist Party officials, exercising its power under the Magnitsky Act, which permits the U.S. government to punish global human-rights abusers.
The push for sanctions under the Magnitsky Act is the latest sign of an emerging consensus among increasingly hawkish Republican lawmakers in Congress that China must be held accountable for its behavior in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers have recently initiated investigations into Chinese infiltration of the U.S. medical research community and colleges, as well as China's long-running lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill, in an effort to penalize the country for its coronavirus response.
The State Department declined to comment, citing its policy of not discussing congressional correspondence. The call is in line, however, with recent comments from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticizing China's coronavirus cover-up and urging an international investigation.
As the coronavirus first emerged, China detained medical and hospital workers, ordering them to destroy samples of the virus that could have been used to help develop an international response, according to the lawmakers. China has also threatened to sanction leading Republican lawmakers, including Sens. Tom Cotton (Ark.) and Josh Hawley (Mo.), for their efforts to hold the country responsible. Banks and his colleagues said their latest effort is in response to these threats.
"All of these baffling and damaging decisions harmed Chinese citizens and the rest of the world, encouraged the spread of COVID-19, and hindered governments around the world from crafting an effective pandemic response," the lawmakers wrote. "The result has been tens of thousands [of] unnecessary American deaths and substantial economic damage."
The letter marks the first time lawmakers have singled out by name Chinese officials they see as culpable. Sanctions would be slapped on Chen Yongxin, deputy mayor of Wuhan and director of the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, who the lawmakers say "oversaw censorship and detainment of eight doctors in Wuhan for discussing the then unknown coronavirus."
The lawmakers also singled out Chinese security figures who they said "oversaw the detention and disappearance" of journalists and others who disobeyed Communist Party orders to censor information about the virus. These officials include Li Yilong, director of the Wuhan Public Security Bureau, and Xia Jianzhong, former deputy director of the Wuhan Public Security Bureau.
Also named in the call for sanctions is Ma Xiaowei, minister of China's National Health Commission, and Wang Hesheng, the commission's vice minister.
Additional sanctions would be applied to Chinese officials who played a role in the forced relocation of more than 30,000 Uyghurs, an ethnic minority population routinely targeted by the Chinese government.
"The Chinese Communist Party has spread harmful and misleading propaganda about the origin of the virus, accusing the United States Military of manufacturing and importing the virus to Wuhan," the lawmakers wrote. "Party diplomats have threatened a nationwide boycott of American goods to discourage independent medical investigations into coronavirus."
Banks expressed optimism that Pompeo would move on the lawmakers' request, particularly given the State Department's aggressive stance on the issue. He said the issue is all the more pressing in light of threats last week by China to interfere in the upcoming U.S. elections.
The Treasury Department did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-05-18--I Forced A Bot to Read 1,000 Jennifer Rubin Columns And Write A Jennifer Rubin Column of Its Own

The Washington Free Beacon analytics bureau used a proprietary algorithm to program a bot to read 1,000 Jennifer Rubin columns and write its very own Jennifer Rubin column based on its analysis .
This was the result : President Trump tweeted rage on Wednesday , the worst in history .
To compare with decent man Joe Biden , the difference is leadership courage .
Trump possesses the bad qualities without precedent , said the expert .
The expert is also a victim of Trump because he is an elite nonwhite immigrant .
That 's why Trump invented birtherism , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The respected African American was our most popular president who deserved to lose to Mitt Romney .
The extreme right wants to deport him , according to the recent poll .
Sadly , I regret the GOP emoluments culture that experienced a 90 percent increase in spineless anxiety , feverish to enable him .
Congratulations , Mitch McConnell .
As we know , Trump helps Congress threaten a dangerous inaction .
Never mind abandoned ethics , because the White House does n't fit this falsehood-in-chief .
The president ignored coronavirus , which made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large government of inclusive science .
It is hardly surprising that Trump would favor death , literally .
Emphasize these points : First , egregious Trump lies destroy facts .
Second , we know Biden is the right president who made the decision perfectly .
The Post reported it as antidote to Trump pandemic .
Quote , said the Democrat .
Third , ethics are compromised by downward economics .
Trump dismantled justice for the first time in history without American support .
Fourth , white grievance .
Needless to say , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result indicates Trump 's ego lacks credibility .
That 's why the American people unsuccessfully avoided death on his watch .
Use data to attack the virus , Andrew Cuomo explained .
Trump 's latest Twitter tantrum is evidence to the contrary , but female Nancy Pelosi is the reason why .
The result : dysfunction , disunity , and disgrace .
It does not have to be that way .
In other words , `` elite '' genocide is unwanted at this time , except by Trump .
( I know , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox News and extreme friends of right-wing media injected toxic money online , thanks to gerrymandering in Georgia .
Pathetic , but true .
Let 's be real : Biden 's basement exoneration .
His campaign partner , Bernie Sanders , injured himself in U.S.S.R .
He does n't have enough fruit to avoid death , according to capitalism poll .
His brothers make noise .
Fortunately for democracy , only Biden can rectify coronavirus nightmare with nuclear empathy .
Trump 's election disaster was reported by the Post , but democracy is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't wait to support Mitt Romney , Democratic candidate for president .

The Washington Free Beacon analytics bureau used a proprietary algorithm to program a bot to read 1,000 Jennifer Rubin columns and write its very own Jennifer Rubin column based on its analysis. This was the result:
Biden is right. Trump's disaster gambit lacks competence.
By Jennifer Rubin
President Trump tweeted rage on Wednesday, the worst in history. To compare with decent man Joe Biden, the difference is leadership courage. Trump possesses the bad qualities without precedent, said the expert. The expert is also a victim of Trump because he is an elite nonwhite immigrant.
That's why Trump invented birtherism, a sin of racism against Barack Obama. The respected African American was our most popular president who deserved to lose to Mitt Romney. The extreme right wants to deport him, according to the recent poll. Sadly, I regret the GOP emoluments culture that experienced a 90 percent increase in spineless anxiety, feverish to enable him. Congratulations, Mitch McConnell.
As we know, Trump helps Congress threaten a dangerous inaction. Never mind abandoned ethics, because the White House doesn't fit this falsehood-in-chief. The president ignored coronavirus, which made evidence of Democratic Party to confirm a large government of inclusive science. It is hardly surprising that Trump would favor death, literally.
Emphasize these points: First, egregious Trump lies destroy facts. Second, we know Biden is the right president who made the decision perfectly. The Post reported it as antidote to Trump pandemic. Quote, said the Democrat. Third, ethics are compromised by downward economics. Trump dismantled justice for the first time in history without American support. Fourth, white grievance.
A fatal decision, folks.
Needless to say, when Republican Party assault on Constitution, the result indicates Trump's ego lacks credibility. That's why the American people unsuccessfully avoided death on his watch. Use data to attack the virus, Andrew Cuomo explained. Trump's latest Twitter tantrum is evidence to the contrary, but female Nancy Pelosi is the reason why. The result: dysfunction, disunity, and disgrace.
It does not have to be that way. In other words, "elite" genocide is unwanted at this time, except by Trump. (I know, it's a confusing subject.) Fox News and extreme friends of right-wing media injected toxic money online, thanks to gerrymandering in Georgia. Pathetic, but true.
Let's be real: Biden's basement exoneration. His campaign partner, Bernie Sanders, injured himself in U.S.S.R. He doesn't have enough fruit to avoid death, according to capitalism poll. His brothers make noise. Fortunately for democracy, only Biden can rectify coronavirus nightmare with nuclear empathy. Trump's election disaster was reported by the Post, but democracy is at war with the consequences.
I can't wait to support Mitt Romney, Democratic candidate for president.
Jennifer Rubin reports opinions for The Washington Post.


freebeacon--2020-05-18--Sudan Owes Victims of Embassy Bombings $4 Billion, Supreme Court Rules

Victims of the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in East Africa are entitled to $ 4 billion in punitive damages from the government of Sudan , the Supreme Court ruled Monday .
Survivors and family members of the deceased are engaged in a long-running lawsuit with Sudan over the country 's complicity in the attack .
In 2008 , Congress passed a law allowing terror victims to collect punitive damages from foreign governments that support extremism .
At stake in Monday 's case was whether that law allows punitive damages for attacks that took place before 2008 .
The High Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress was as clear as it could have been when it authorized plaintiffs to seek and win punitive damages for past conduct , '' Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote .
Justice Brett Kavanaugh was recused from the dispute .
The decision will affect dozens of other lawsuits from victims seeking damages for acts of terror in the 1990s and early 2000s .
The plaintiffs in Monday 's case said in court filings that they have identified 75 other disputes in which victims have won or are seeking punitive damages from countries such as North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Though the federal government generally gives foreign countries immunity in U.S. courts , there is an exemption for state sponsors of terror .
The Department of State designated Sudan a sponsor of terrorism in 1993 .
Over 200 people were killed and another 4,000 were injured when al-Qaeda operatives simultaneously detonated truck bombs outside American diplomatic facilities in Kenya and Tanzania .
Hundreds of victims sued the Sudanese government in U.S. courts beginning in 2001 .
U.S. District Judge John Bates entered a $ 10.2 billion judgment against Sudan for its role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 4.3 billion in punitive damages .
Bates found that Sudan had an `` open door policy for militant Islamic revolutionary groups '' in the 1990s with the goal of seeding a global Islamist revolution .
Sudanese officials provided safe haven for Osama bin Laden , furnished passports and intelligence for al-Qaeda operatives , and allowed the free movement of militants and arms over its border with Kenya , his decision said .
`` The evidence strongly supports the conclusion that Sudan harbored and provided sanctuary to terrorists and their operational and logistical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorist attacks on U.S. embassies in East Africa , '' Bates wrote at an earlier phase of the case .
Though the Sudanese government did not participate in the trial , it did hire lawyers to fight the $ 4.3 billion punitive damages award on appeal .
The remaining $ 5.9 billion was not at issue in Monday 's case .
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C .
Circuit sided with Sudan .
The three-judge panel said Congress must give a clear statement if it means for a law to apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no clear textual command '' on that point , the court ruled .
The High Court had less trouble parsing the statute .
`` How much clearer-than-clear should we require Congress to be when authorizing the retroactive use of punitive damages ? ''
Gorsuch wrote .
It is notoriously difficult for victims of terror to collect damages from foreign governments .
U.S. personnel held hostage in Iran following the 1979 Islamic revolution only began to collect compensation after Congress established a special fund in 2015 .
Some foreign states simply refuse to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , plaintiffs can get around an obstinate defendant and seize assets held in the United States or another friendly country .
For example , victims of Iranian terror are pursuing $ 1.6 billion in frozen Iranian assets held in Luxembourg .
Such a process can take years and is not always successful .
The Supreme Court rebuffed one such effort in 2018 , ruling that victims of a 1997 Hamas bombing can not confiscate Iranian artifacts from the University of Chicago ’ s Oriental Institute .
The lead plaintiff in Monday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her mother , Sellah Caroline Opati , worked at the U.S. embassy in Kenya and was killed in the attack .
The Trump administration filed legal briefs supporting the plaintiffs .
The case is No .
17-1268 Opati v. Sudan .
Opati v. Republic of Sudan … by Washington Free Beacon on Scribd

Victims of the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in East Africa are entitled to $4 billion in punitive damages from the government of Sudan, the Supreme Court ruled Monday.
Survivors and family members of the deceased are engaged in a long-running lawsuit with Sudan over the country's complicity in the attack. In 2008, Congress passed a law allowing terror victims to collect punitive damages from foreign governments that support extremism. At stake in Monday's case was whether that law allows punitive damages for attacks that took place before 2008.
The High Court unanimously ruled that it does.
"Congress was as clear as it could have been when it authorized plaintiffs to seek and win punitive damages for past conduct," Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote. Justice Brett Kavanaugh was recused from the dispute.
The decision will affect dozens of other lawsuits from victims seeking damages for acts of terror in the 1990s and early 2000s. The plaintiffs in Monday's case said in court filings that they have identified 75 other disputes in which victims have won or are seeking punitive damages from countries such as North Korea and Iran for conduct predating 2008.
Though the federal government generally gives foreign countries immunity in U.S. courts, there is an exemption for state sponsors of terror. The Department of State designated Sudan a sponsor of terrorism in 1993.
Over 200 people were killed and another 4,000 were injured when al-Qaeda operatives simultaneously detonated truck bombs outside American diplomatic facilities in Kenya and Tanzania. Hundreds of victims sued the Sudanese government in U.S. courts beginning in 2001.
U.S. District Judge John Bates entered a $10.2 billion judgment against Sudan for its role in the attack. That judgment included $4.3 billion in punitive damages. Bates found that Sudan had an "open door policy for militant Islamic revolutionary groups" in the 1990s with the goal of seeding a global Islamist revolution. Sudanese officials provided safe haven for Osama bin Laden, furnished passports and intelligence for al-Qaeda operatives, and allowed the free movement of militants and arms over its border with Kenya, his decision said.
"The evidence strongly supports the conclusion that Sudan harbored and provided sanctuary to terrorists and their operational and logistical supply network leading up to the 1998 terrorist attacks on U.S. embassies in East Africa," Bates wrote at an earlier phase of the case.
Though the Sudanese government did not participate in the trial, it did hire lawyers to fight the $4.3 billion punitive damages award on appeal. The remaining $5.9 billion was not at issue in Monday's case.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit sided with Sudan. The three-judge panel said Congress must give a clear statement if it means for a law to apply retroactively. The 2008 law gives "no clear textual command" on that point, the court ruled.
The High Court had less trouble parsing the statute.
"How much clearer-than-clear should we require Congress to be when authorizing the retroactive use of punitive damages?" Gorsuch wrote.
It is notoriously difficult for victims of terror to collect damages from foreign governments. U.S. personnel held hostage in Iran following the 1979 Islamic revolution only began to collect compensation after Congress established a special fund in 2015.
Some foreign states simply refuse to pay out damages awarded in U.S. courts. However, plaintiffs can get around an obstinate defendant and seize assets held in the United States or another friendly country. For example, victims of Iranian terror are pursuing $1.6 billion in frozen Iranian assets held in Luxembourg.
Such a process can take years and is not always successful. The Supreme Court rebuffed one such effort in 2018, ruling that victims of a 1997 Hamas bombing cannot confiscate Iranian artifacts from the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute.
The lead plaintiff in Monday’s case is Monicah Okoba Opati. Her mother, Sellah Caroline Opati, worked at the U.S. embassy in Kenya and was killed in the attack. The Trump administration filed legal briefs supporting the plaintiffs.
The case is No. 17-1268 Opati v. Sudan.
Opati v. Republic of Sudan ... by Washington Free Beacon on Scribd


freebeacon--2020-05-18--Dem Congressman Admits to Decade-Long Affair with Former Intern

Rep. Steven Horsford ( D. , Nev. ) admitted to a decade-long affair with a former Hill intern on Friday after an investigation verified the identity of a podcaster who had been recounting the relationship .
`` It is true that I had a previous relationship outside of my marriage , over the course of several years , '' Horsford said in a statement given to the Las Vegas Review-Journal .
`` I 'm deeply sorry to all of those who have been impacted by this very poor decision , most importantly my wife and family .
Out of concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ask that our privacy is respected . ''
The Nevada congressman is the second Democrat of the 116th Congress to be accused of sexual impropriety while in office .
Former congresswoman Katie Hill of California 's 25th district resigned from Congress in October after revelations about her `` throuple '' relationship with her husband and a campaign staffer .
She denied a separate report she had a sexual relationship with her legislative director .
`` Mistress for Congress , '' the self-described `` audio memoir '' podcast that detailed Horsford 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April .
It referred to Horsford as `` Bob '' for its first two episodes .
Gabriela Linder , the former intern who hosted the podcast , confirmed her identity on Friday in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal .
While the podcast was airing , Linder adopted the pseudonym `` Love Jones '' and ran an accompanying Twitter account .
The Review-Journal had contacted Linder after investigating Love Jones .
The Love Jones Twitter account revealed the congressman 's identity in a tweet on April 29 , Horsford 's birthday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that women are often silenced from telling their stories of sexual assault and called for the destruction of the `` patriarchy . ''
`` Women 's stories are often left out of history because they are silenced .
It 's time to # smashthepatriarchy BOLDLY ! ''
she wrote .
After being revealed as Love Jones , Linder has decided `` Mistress for Congress '' will consider its first season finished in four episodes .
She added that `` Love Jones and the podcast Mistress for Congress will be back . ''

Rep. Steven Horsford (D., Nev.) admitted to a decade-long affair with a former Hill intern on Friday after an investigation verified the identity of a podcaster who had been recounting the relationship.
"It is true that I had a previous relationship outside of my marriage, over the course of several years," Horsford said in a statement given to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "I'm deeply sorry to all of those who have been impacted by this very poor decision, most importantly my wife and family. Out of concern for my family during this challenging time, I ask that our privacy is respected."
The Nevada congressman is the second Democrat of the 116th Congress to be accused of sexual impropriety while in office. Former congresswoman Katie Hill of California's 25th district resigned from Congress in October after revelations about her "throuple" relationship with her husband and a campaign staffer. She denied a separate report she had a sexual relationship with her legislative director.
"Mistress for Congress," the self-described "audio memoir" podcast that detailed Horsford's affair with its host, aired in April. It referred to Horsford as "Bob" for its first two episodes.
Gabriela Linder, the former intern who hosted the podcast, confirmed her identity on Friday in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. While the podcast was airing, Linder adopted the pseudonym "Love Jones" and ran an accompanying Twitter account. The Review-Journal had contacted Linder after investigating Love Jones.
The Love Jones Twitter account revealed the congressman's identity in a tweet on April 29, Horsford's birthday.
https://twitter.com/M4C_2020/status/1255534831880097795
The next day, Love Jones tweeted that women are often silenced from telling their stories of sexual assault and called for the destruction of the "patriarchy."
"Women's stories are often left out of history because they are silenced. It's time to #smashthepatriarchy BOLDLY!" she wrote.
https://twitter.com/M4C_2020/status/1255907232295915523
After being revealed as Love Jones, Linder has decided "Mistress for Congress" will consider its first season finished in four episodes. She added that "Love Jones and the podcast Mistress for Congress will be back."


freebeacon--2020-05-18--Iranian ‘Anti-Zionism’ Law Mandates Increased Support for ‘Palestinian Intifada’ Against Israel

Iran 's parliament adopted a wide-ranging new `` anti-Zionism '' law that seeks to bolster support for Palestinian terror groups and other entities conducting terrorism against Israel .
Iran 's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee adopted what it calls a `` double urgency motion that outlines the manner of confrontation on the national and international scale against the Israeli regime , '' according to a copy of the measure published by Iran 's state-controlled media on Monday .
As part of this effort , Iran said it will step up its support for terrorist factions fighting against Israel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee comprised of Iran 's Revolutionary Guard Corps and other military branches to provide assistance to the `` Palestine intifada , '' or war efforts against the Jewish state .
The bill orders the Iranian government `` to deploy available national and international capacities towards confronting the Israeli regime 's actions . ''
Iran also is seeking to establish a `` Virtual Embassy in Palestine '' to coordinate these efforts .
Further , Iranians are prohibited from all contact with Israelis or individuals Tehran deems agents of the `` Zionist regime . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' including imprisonment , for those who violate the decree .
This would include anyone who travels to Israel or its surrounding territories .
Additionally , the law requires the Iranian government to prosecute `` Israeli officials at competent tribunals for their atrocities . ''

Iran's parliament adopted a wide-ranging new "anti-Zionism" law that seeks to bolster support for Palestinian terror groups and other entities conducting terrorism against Israel.
Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee adopted what it calls a "double urgency motion that outlines the manner of confrontation on the national and international scale against the Israeli regime," according to a copy of the measure published by Iran's state-controlled media on Monday.
As part of this effort, Iran said it will step up its support for terrorist factions fighting against Israel. This includes the establishment of a special committee comprised of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and other military branches to provide assistance to the "Palestine intifada," or war efforts against the Jewish state.
The bill orders the Iranian government "to deploy available national and international capacities towards confronting the Israeli regime's actions."
Iran also is seeking to establish a "Virtual Embassy in Palestine" to coordinate these efforts.
Further, Iranians are prohibited from all contact with Israelis or individuals Tehran deems agents of the "Zionist regime." The law promises "severe punishment," including imprisonment, for those who violate the decree. This would include anyone who travels to Israel or its surrounding territories.
Additionally, the law requires the Iranian government to prosecute "Israeli officials at competent tribunals for their atrocities."


freebeacon--2020-05-18--Russia’s Canceled Victory Day Parade Means Putin Can’t Benefit From Show of Strength

Russia did not hold its annual May 9 Victory Day parade commemorating the war in Europe against Nazi Germany for the first time in 25 years due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Russia analysts say this cancellation does not bode well for Russian president Vladimir Putin 's poll numbers .
Since Putin took power in 2000 , these parades have served as showcases of military hardware and troops .
While publicly Russia said it called off the parade due to the coronavirus pandemic , a group of Russian and Ukrainian businessmen who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon speculated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the cancellation such as Putin 's falling poll numbers and anxiety over a referendum extending his term limit .
Putin is struggling in polls due to the economic damage done by the coronavirus quarantine and shutdown , and a parade may not have played well in the public eye .
Aleksei Kudrin , former finance minister under Putin who resigned several years ago over unsustainable military spending , estimated that 8 million Russians could become unemployed due to the pandemic and that two-thirds of all Russians have no safety net , creating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quarantine has also forced Putin to postpone an April 22 national ballot on changes to the constitution .
One measure on the ballot would have reset `` the presidential term clock to zero . ''
Putin 's current term expires in 2024 , but if the ballot measure is approved , he could remain in power until 2036 .
The same businessmen cited anxiety over the ballot measure as another reason for Putin to call off the Victory Day pageant .
`` This parade would have been seen by the population as money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic straits—and it was feared that the people would go so far as to register their resentment when this vote will eventually take place , '' they wrote in a position paper .
`` The Kremlin spends tens of millions of dollars on this parade—just on propaganda alone . ''
Speaking to the Moscow press , Russian political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya said this new position is disorienting for Putin .
`` This [ fall in approval ratings ] is a new experience for him , '' she said .
If Putin can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social irritation will grow , there will be protests . ''

Russia did not hold its annual May 9 Victory Day parade commemorating the war in Europe against Nazi Germany for the first time in 25 years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Russia analysts say this cancellation does not bode well for Russian president Vladimir Putin's poll numbers.
Since Putin took power in 2000, these parades have served as showcases of military hardware and troops.
While publicly Russia said it called off the parade due to the coronavirus pandemic, a group of Russian and Ukrainian businessmen who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon speculated that additional factors may have played a role in the cancellation such as Putin's falling poll numbers and anxiety over a referendum extending his term limit.
Putin is struggling in polls due to the economic damage done by the coronavirus quarantine and shutdown, and a parade may not have played well in the public eye. Aleksei Kudrin, former finance minister under Putin who resigned several years ago over unsustainable military spending, estimated that 8 million Russians could become unemployed due to the pandemic and that two-thirds of all Russians have no safety net, creating the worst economic crisis in decades.
Quarantine has also forced Putin to postpone an April 22 national ballot on changes to the constitution. One measure on the ballot would have reset "the presidential term clock to zero." Putin's current term expires in 2024, but if the ballot measure is approved, he could remain in power until 2036.
The same businessmen cited anxiety over the ballot measure as another reason for Putin to call off the Victory Day pageant.
"This parade would have been seen by the population as money being wasted in a time of dire economic straits—and it was feared that the people would go so far as to register their resentment when this vote will eventually take place," they wrote in a position paper. "The Kremlin spends tens of millions of dollars on this parade—just on propaganda alone."
Speaking to the Moscow press, Russian political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya said this new position is disorienting for Putin.
"This [fall in approval ratings] is a new experience for him," she said. If Putin cannot address current severe economic problems, "social irritation will grow, there will be protests."


freebeacon--2020-05-18--American Colleges Are Headed for a Meltdown

They 've been through riots , protests , and natural disasters—but America 's colleges have never seen anything like the financial meltdown the coronavirus is about to bring to their campuses .
The rising wave of health fears , added costs , and vanishing tuition payments could crush small colleges , many of which were already hanging by a financial thread .
Those that can weather the crisis—including big-name universities with billions in their bank accounts—in turn stand to gain big from the fallout .
The emptying out of schools and the mass transition to distance learning has already been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've ever seen , '' Jim Hundrieser , a vice president with the National Association of College and University Business Officers ( NACUBO ) , told the Washington Free Beacon .
But the challenges of this spring pale in comparison to the shock many colleges are expecting in the fall , when social distancing measures and a possible second wave could create the most surreal semester ever .
That strangeness , experts project , could in turn cause a massive drop in college revenue .
Well-endowed colleges and big research schools have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many schools are beholden to semi-annual tuition payments , which are about to undergo the biggest shock since the Second World War .
The result could see the shuttering of many universities , particularly small liberal arts colleges , accelerating a trend of rising closures since the Great Recession .
At the same time , experts predict , the drop off in demand will be temporary , as a prolonged recession sends millions back to school—resulting in renewed profits , and power , for the schools that make it through to the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to school this fall , their campuses will look very different .
Schools are considering shortened school years , smaller class sizes , and keeping classes partially virtual .
In addition to social distancing measures , Purdue University will use its on-campus laboratory to test students and trace contacts .
The California State University system will be entirely online through the fall—its University of California sister schools are expected to follow suit .
These changes will radically alter not just campus life , but schools ' balance sheets .
Added safety measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Susanna Loeb told the Free Beacon .
Colleges will need to pay fixed costs , like staff salaries and facilities maintenance , while simultaneously spending more on cleaning , testing , and added space for socially distanced classes and living .
At the same time , money will stop flowing in ; Robert Kelchen , a professor of higher education at Seton Hall University , said that colleges are expecting a 20 to 30 percent drop in revenue next year .
The net effect will be monumental .
Hundrieser , whose organization represents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis `` will transform the finances of a lot of institutions , and they 'll have to be incredibly fiscally prudent and innovative in order for them to rebound in a year . ''
`` The effects of this crisis are likely to be much larger than the Great Recession , '' Kelchen said .
Universities , Kelchen explained , have four sources of income : tuition , public funding , on-campus fees ( for housing , food services , etc . )
, and donations/endowments .
Those funding streams are not equally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surveyed by NACUBO , more than half of the value was held by the top 25 , just 3 percent of schools .
Research funding is similarly concentrated : Data from the National Science Foundation show that the top 5 percent of recipient universities get over 60 percent of federal research dollars .
Wealthy Harvard or well-funded Johns Hopkins can smooth the coming bumps .
But most colleges are dependent on either state budgets that are rapidly drying up , or on tuition and activities payments .
That explains why universities are scrambling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christina Paxson wrote in the New York Times , `` remaining closed in the fall means losing as much as half of our revenue . ''
Even larger schools are afraid .
Cornell University has a $ 7.3 billion endowment , but its president recently wrote that without a reopening , the school is looking at `` hundreds of millions '' in losses .
Unfortunately , absent a medical miracle , any reopening will only be partial—which still means substantial losses .
College costs a lot , over $ 40,000 at the average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , students expect the full package : not just classes , but the extracurriculars , parties , and social connections that come with attending a college .
Corona-college will be nothing like that , leaving many education consumers considering other options .
Some will just be unwilling to keep forking out for online courses : Georgia resident Alex Popovich told the Free Beacon that his daughter , who is a freshman at William & Mary , is considering taking a semester off or taking classes at a local university in the fall if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried about in-person education : Thirty-five percent of students in a recent poll said that if colleges reopened in the fall , they would either only attend online ( 31 percent ) or not attend at all ( 4 percent ) .
Others are indecisive .
One in six were considering taking a gap year as of April .
Those numbers might change further as it becomes apparent that many classes will remain online—63 percent of current students say e-learning is worse than in-person classes .
Tuition will also be disproportionately affected by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generally pay full price .
Even if colleges manage a partial reopening , therefore , they will inevitably take a hit to their revenue .
That 's a recipe for financial disaster .
As Paxson put it , `` It ’ s not a question of whether institutions will be forced to permanently close , it ’ s how many . ''
Which colleges will be hardest hit ?
Kelchen said he was most worried about `` small , rural private colleges , '' where students will be less willing to travel to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenue , Kelchen said , `` will be more than these colleges can handle . ''
Beth Akers , a higher education fellow at the Manhattan Institute , thinks the colleges most at risk are `` the expensive institutions that are offering that kind of boutique college experience , but ones that are n't sitting on the pile of cash that could help them weather this kind of storm . ''
Loeb noted that `` many small liberal arts schools '' were in financial straits even before the crisis began , adding `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Will all of this mean the end of college education ?
Probably not—paradoxically , colleges which weather the crisis may find themselves on the other side with too many students , not too few .
If one in six students take a gap year , then the fall of 2021 will see student populations swell .
There will be even more students if the current financial crisis persists and , as experts project , unemployment remains elevated .
That 's because in a recession , people return to school ; college enrollment rose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peak in 2011 .
`` People like to go back to school '' when unemployment is high , education policy expert Preston Cooper told the Free Beacon .
`` They say , ‘ the labor market 's really weak right now , there are n't a lot of job opportunities , this is my opportunity to go back and get that degree I always wanted . '
'' Many of those who return will go back for associate 's degrees , as enrollment in two-year colleges rose disproportionately during the Great Recession .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as they have the infrastructure in place to absorb recession demand immediately .
But high-prestige universities will benefit indirectly .
The same demand , paired with lower supply , will necessarily lead potential students to attach more value to degrees .
Higher education resembles many other industries facing the coronavirus crisis .
The small players look set to be decimated by the coming storm , while the ones that are big and wealthy enough to survive will wield even more power on the other side .

They've been through riots, protests, and natural disasters—but America's colleges have never seen anything like the financial meltdown the coronavirus is about to bring to their campuses.
The rising wave of health fears, added costs, and vanishing tuition payments could crush small colleges, many of which were already hanging by a financial thread. Those that can weather the crisis—including big-name universities with billions in their bank accounts—in turn stand to gain big from the fallout.
The emptying out of schools and the mass transition to distance learning has already been "the largest all-sector hit that we've ever seen," Jim Hundrieser, a vice president with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), told the Washington Free Beacon. But the challenges of this spring pale in comparison to the shock many colleges are expecting in the fall, when social distancing measures and a possible second wave could create the most surreal semester ever.
That strangeness, experts project, could in turn cause a massive drop in college revenue. Well-endowed colleges and big research schools have the savings to weather those effects. But many schools are beholden to semi-annual tuition payments, which are about to undergo the biggest shock since the Second World War.
The result could see the shuttering of many universities, particularly small liberal arts colleges, accelerating a trend of rising closures since the Great Recession. At the same time, experts predict, the drop off in demand will be temporary, as a prolonged recession sends millions back to school—resulting in renewed profits, and power, for the schools that make it through to the other side.
When 20 million college students return to school this fall, their campuses will look very different. Schools are considering shortened school years, smaller class sizes, and keeping classes partially virtual. In addition to social distancing measures, Purdue University will use its on-campus laboratory to test students and trace contacts. The California State University system will be entirely online through the fall—its University of California sister schools are expected to follow suit.
These changes will radically alter not just campus life, but schools' balance sheets.
Added safety measures mean more expenses, Brown education professor Susanna Loeb told the Free Beacon. Colleges will need to pay fixed costs, like staff salaries and facilities maintenance, while simultaneously spending more on cleaning, testing, and added space for socially distanced classes and living. At the same time, money will stop flowing in; Robert Kelchen, a professor of higher education at Seton Hall University, said that colleges are expecting a 20 to 30 percent drop in revenue next year.
The net effect will be monumental. Hundrieser, whose organization represents over 1,900 schools, predicted that the crisis "will transform the finances of a lot of institutions, and they'll have to be incredibly fiscally prudent and innovative in order for them to rebound in a year."
"The effects of this crisis are likely to be much larger than the Great Recession," Kelchen said.
Universities, Kelchen explained, have four sources of income: tuition, public funding, on-campus fees (for housing, food services, etc.), and donations/endowments. Those funding streams are not equally distributed, however. Among 768 endowments surveyed by NACUBO, more than half of the value was held by the top 25, just 3 percent of schools.
Research funding is similarly concentrated: Data from the National Science Foundation show that the top 5 percent of recipient universities get over 60 percent of federal research dollars.
Wealthy Harvard or well-funded Johns Hopkins can smooth the coming bumps. But most colleges are dependent on either state budgets that are rapidly drying up, or on tuition and activities payments.
That explains why universities are scrambling to reopen. As Brown University president Christina Paxson wrote in the New York Times, "remaining closed in the fall means losing as much as half of our revenue." Even larger schools are afraid. Cornell University has a $7.3 billion endowment, but its president recently wrote that without a reopening, the school is looking at "hundreds of millions" in losses.
Unfortunately, absent a medical miracle, any reopening will only be partial—which still means substantial losses.
College costs a lot, over $40,000 at the average four-year school. For that much money, students expect the full package: not just classes, but the extracurriculars, parties, and social connections that come with attending a college.
Corona-college will be nothing like that, leaving many education consumers considering other options. Some will just be unwilling to keep forking out for online courses: Georgia resident Alex Popovich told the Free Beacon that his daughter, who is a freshman at William & Mary, is considering taking a semester off or taking classes at a local university in the fall if her school remains online.
Others are worried about in-person education: Thirty-five percent of students in a recent poll said that if colleges reopened in the fall, they would either only attend online (31 percent) or not attend at all (4 percent). Others are indecisive. One in six were considering taking a gap year as of April.
Those numbers might change further as it becomes apparent that many classes will remain online—63 percent of current students say e-learning is worse than in-person classes. Tuition will also be disproportionately affected by declining foreign enrollment, as foreign students generally pay full price.
Even if colleges manage a partial reopening, therefore, they will inevitably take a hit to their revenue. That's a recipe for financial disaster. As Paxson put it, "It’s not a question of whether institutions will be forced to permanently close, it’s how many."
Which colleges will be hardest hit? Kelchen said he was most worried about "small, rural private colleges," where students will be less willing to travel to or live. Losing tuition and housing revenue, Kelchen said, "will be more than these colleges can handle."
Beth Akers, a higher education fellow at the Manhattan Institute, thinks the colleges most at risk are "the expensive institutions that are offering that kind of boutique college experience, but ones that aren't sitting on the pile of cash that could help them weather this kind of storm." Loeb noted that "many small liberal arts schools" were in financial straits even before the crisis began, adding "that difficulty will likely increase."
Will all of this mean the end of college education? Probably not—paradoxically, colleges which weather the crisis may find themselves on the other side with too many students, not too few. If one in six students take a gap year, then the fall of 2021 will see student populations swell.
There will be even more students if the current financial crisis persists and, as experts project, unemployment remains elevated. That's because in a recession, people return to school; college enrollment rose by 13 percent between 2007 and its peak in 2011.
"People like to go back to school" when unemployment is high, education policy expert Preston Cooper told the Free Beacon. "They say, 'the labor market's really weak right now, there aren't a lot of job opportunities, this is my opportunity to go back and get that degree I always wanted.'"
Many of those who return will go back for associate's degrees, as enrollment in two-year colleges rose disproportionately during the Great Recession. Online colleges will likely also do well, as they have the infrastructure in place to absorb recession demand immediately. But high-prestige universities will benefit indirectly. The same demand, paired with lower supply, will necessarily lead potential students to attach more value to degrees.
Higher education resembles many other industries facing the coronavirus crisis. The small players look set to be decimated by the coming storm, while the ones that are big and wealthy enough to survive will wield even more power on the other side.


freebeacon--2020-05-17--Govs. DeWine, Hogan Rebuke McConnell Challenger for Using Their Images in Attack Ad

Republican governors Mike DeWine ( Ohio ) and Larry Hogan ( Md . )
rebuked Senate hopeful Amy McGrath after the Kentucky Democrat used their images in an ad attacking Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) .
McGrath released a campaign ad Saturday commending DeWine and Hogan for their `` leadership '' during the coronavirus pandemic .
The praise was contrasted with an attack on McConnell , who , McGrath said , `` sees it differently .
… For Sen. McConnell , it 's always about politics . ''
In response , DeWine asked McGrath to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling McConnell a `` friend '' who is `` focused '' on combating coronavirus .
`` Ohioans are focused exclusively on getting through COVID-19 and getting our people back to work , and I 'm proud to work with partners at the local and federal level to get it done , '' DeWine said in a Saturday statement .
`` It 's for that reason that I 'm particularly disappointed with an attack ad by Amy McGrath that uses my image against my friend , Mitch McConnell . ''
`` Mitch and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I know that he is focused , as I am , on the crisis and I appreciate his leadership , '' the governor continued .
`` I ask for the McGrath campaign to remove my image from her advertising immediately . ''
McGrath defended her ad following DeWine 's response .
She accused the Republican of rejecting `` sincere appreciation from a Democrat '' and demonstrating `` how far we have strayed from our ideals as a nation . ''
Just an hour later , however , Hogan also criticized the ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus `` not constructive . ''
`` As I 've said repeatedly , this is not the time for partisan politics or finger pointing , '' Hogan said in a Saturday tweet .
`` I appreciate the praise , but campaign ads politicizing the coronavirus response are not constructive towards the urgent goal of bringing everyone together to fight our common enemy : the virus . ''
McGrath has not directly addressed Hogan 's criticism and did not respond to a request for comment .
This is not the first time a McGrath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat in hot water .
She released an ad in August that depicted a group of coal miners traveling to Washington , D.C. , to raise awareness about black lung disease , saying McConnell neglected the group .
Two of the miners who appeared in the ad , Randy Robbins and Albrow Hall , said they were led to believe the footage would appear in a Black Lung Association documentary and did not consent to the use of their images in the ad .
They also said they had no issue with McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` success '' and criticizing McGrath for using them as `` political pawns . ''
`` Randy and Albrow are not partisan political activists for either party , however , they are personally offended at seeing their images being used in a political attack ad that does not reflect their personal feelings or beliefs , '' the miners ' lawyer said in a cease and desist letter sent to McGrath 's campaign .
`` It is simply wrong for the McGrath Campaign to use individual miners suffering from black lung disease as political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` Randy and Albrow felt that the trip was a success , '' the letter states .
`` They deeply appreciated the warm receptions they received from a number of elected representatives who took the time to meet with the group , including Senator Mitch McConnell . ''
While the McGrath campaign said the miners were `` fully informed that they were being filmed for an ad , '' an Associated Press report said the release forms signed by the miners `` did not mention McGrath by name . ''
The campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall in a revised ad .
McGrath is one of several Democrats seeking the party 's nomination to challenge McConnell in November .
She announced her candidacy in July 2019 after losing by 3 points to Rep. Andy Barr ( R. ) in Kentucky 's Sixth Congressional District the year before .
Just days after launching her campaign , McGrath said she `` probably '' would have voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court before retracting the position hours later .
Washington Post reporter and CNN political analyst Rachael Bade said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't recover from this '' following her flip-flop .
Kentucky Democratic representative John Yarmuth called the mistake `` pretty significant . ''

Republican governors Mike DeWine (Ohio) and Larry Hogan (Md.) rebuked Senate hopeful Amy McGrath after the Kentucky Democrat used their images in an ad attacking Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.).
McGrath released a campaign ad Saturday commending DeWine and Hogan for their "leadership" during the coronavirus pandemic. The praise was contrasted with an attack on McConnell, who, McGrath said, "sees it differently. … For Sen. McConnell, it's always about politics." In response, DeWine asked McGrath to remove his image from the ad, calling McConnell a "friend" who is "focused" on combating coronavirus.
"Ohioans are focused exclusively on getting through COVID-19 and getting our people back to work, and I'm proud to work with partners at the local and federal level to get it done," DeWine said in a Saturday statement. "It's for that reason that I'm particularly disappointed with an attack ad by Amy McGrath that uses my image against my friend, Mitch McConnell."
"Mitch and I have worked together for a long time and I know that he is focused, as I am, on the crisis and I appreciate his leadership," the governor continued. "I ask for the McGrath campaign to remove my image from her advertising immediately."
McGrath defended her ad following DeWine's response. She accused the Republican of rejecting "sincere appreciation from a Democrat" and demonstrating "how far we have strayed from our ideals as a nation." Just an hour later, however, Hogan also criticized the ad, calling McGrath's politicization of the virus "not constructive."
"As I've said repeatedly, this is not the time for partisan politics or finger pointing," Hogan said in a Saturday tweet. "I appreciate the praise, but campaign ads politicizing the coronavirus response are not constructive towards the urgent goal of bringing everyone together to fight our common enemy: the virus."
McGrath has not directly addressed Hogan's criticism and did not respond to a request for comment.
This is not the first time a McGrath ad attacking McConnell has landed the Kentucky Democrat in hot water. She released an ad in August that depicted a group of coal miners traveling to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness about black lung disease, saying McConnell neglected the group. Two of the miners who appeared in the ad, Randy Robbins and Albrow Hall, said they were led to believe the footage would appear in a Black Lung Association documentary and did not consent to the use of their images in the ad. They also said they had no issue with McConnell, calling their trip to D.C. a "success" and criticizing McGrath for using them as "political pawns."
"Randy and Albrow are not partisan political activists for either party, however, they are personally offended at seeing their images being used in a political attack ad that does not reflect their personal feelings or beliefs," the miners' lawyer said in a cease and desist letter sent to McGrath's campaign. "It is simply wrong for the McGrath Campaign to use individual miners suffering from black lung disease as political pawns without their permission or consent."
"Randy and Albrow felt that the trip was a success," the letter states. "They deeply appreciated the warm receptions they received from a number of elected representatives who took the time to meet with the group, including Senator Mitch McConnell."
While the McGrath campaign said the miners were "fully informed that they were being filmed for an ad," an Associated Press report said the release forms signed by the miners "did not mention McGrath by name." The campaign went on to blur out Robbins and Hall in a revised ad.
McGrath is one of several Democrats seeking the party's nomination to challenge McConnell in November. She announced her candidacy in July 2019 after losing by 3 points to Rep. Andy Barr (R.) in Kentucky's Sixth Congressional District the year before. Just days after launching her campaign, McGrath said she "probably" would have voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court before retracting the position hours later. Washington Post reporter and CNN political analyst Rachael Bade said that the Kentucky Democrat "probably can't recover from this" following her flip-flop. Kentucky Democratic representative John Yarmuth called the mistake "pretty significant."


freebeacon--2020-05-17--Sanders: Rethinking How Society Functions Could Be ‘Silver Lining’ to Pandemic

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) on Sunday said that reevaluating how the U.S. government and society function could be the `` silver lining '' to the deadly coronavirus pandemic .
`` To tell you the truth , that if there is any silver lining in this midst of this terrible , terrible , and unprecedented moment in American history , in terms of the economy and in terms of the pandemic , it is that maybe we start rethinking some fundamental tenets about the way our government and society work , '' Sanders said during an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who championed Medicare for All during his 2016 and 2020 presidential runs , said Americans should ask themselves whether health care is a human right or a benefit that could be lost during unemployment .
The democratic socialist senator has argued that Medicare for All would help combat the coronavirus , previously saying `` the United States is at a severe disadvantage because , unlike every other major country on earth , we do not guarantee health care as a human right . ''
Sanders is not the only progressive to view @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reform .
`` Every great change that has taken place has come out of a crisis , '' presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden said earlier this year .
`` And I think we have an opportunity now to significantly change the mindset of the American people , things they were n't ready to do . ''
In March , House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn ( D. , S.C. ) said the pandemic provided Democrats `` a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision '' and California governor Gavin Newsom ( D. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reshape the way we do business and how we govern . ''
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) , a vocal proponent of Sanders 's Medicare for All proposal , said she was `` thankful '' in April that the pandemic demonstrates the `` fragility of our system . ''
Last week , House Democrats unveiled a $ 3 trillion coronavirus relief bill that includes a series of left-wing policies , including provisions for `` environmental justice grants '' and banking regulations for `` minority-owned and women-owned cannabis-related legitimate businesses .
@

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) on Sunday said that reevaluating how the U.S. government and society function could be the "silver lining" to the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
"To tell you the truth, that if there is any silver lining in this midst of this terrible, terrible, and unprecedented moment in American history, in terms of the economy and in terms of the pandemic, it is that maybe we start rethinking some fundamental tenets about the way our government and society work," Sanders said during an interview with ABC's This Week.
Sanders, who championed Medicare for All during his 2016 and 2020 presidential runs, said Americans should ask themselves whether health care is a human right or a benefit that could be lost during unemployment.
The democratic socialist senator has argued that Medicare for All would help combat the coronavirus, previously saying "the United States is at a severe disadvantage because, unlike every other major country on earth, we do not guarantee health care as a human right."
Sanders is not the only progressive to view the pandemic as an opportunity for political reform.
"Every great change that has taken place has come out of a crisis," presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden said earlier this year. "And I think we have an opportunity now to significantly change the mindset of the American people, things they weren't ready to do."
In March, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D., S.C.) said the pandemic provided Democrats "a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision" and California governor Gavin Newsom (D.) has said the coronavirus could "reshape the way we do business and how we govern." Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.), a vocal proponent of Sanders's Medicare for All proposal, said she was "thankful" in April that the pandemic demonstrates the "fragility of our system."
Last week, House Democrats unveiled a $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill that includes a series of left-wing policies, including provisions for "environmental justice grants" and banking regulations for "minority-owned and women-owned cannabis-related legitimate businesses."


freebeacon--2020-05-19--Soros Donor Network Quietly Launched New Big-Money Entities

A powerful donor club cofounded by liberal billionaire George Soros quietly established two big-money entities to help its efforts of injecting $ 275 million into the 2020 election .
The Democracy Alliance , a coalition of deep-pocketed Democratic donors , launched the Strategic Victory Fund super PAC in March .
The PAC appears to be aimed at state-based initiatives and can collect and spend unlimited sums on political advertisements .
The new super PAC received its initial $ 500,000 deposit from the Strategic Victory Fund 's dark money nonprofit arm .
Democracy Alliance helps set the Democratic agenda and Vox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that exists to a ‘ left-wing conspiracy ' in the US . ''
It established the two new groups amid its $ 275 million anti-Trump campaign , focused on organizing in swing states .
Both the PAC and the nonprofit were incorporated by North Carolina attorney Michael Weisel , who also incorporated other Democracy Alliance efforts , including its Committee on States .
Gara LaMarche , president of Democracy Alliance , confirmed to the Washington Free Beacon that the super PAC and nonprofit are part of the organization 's 2020 efforts .
Scott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fund , was previously the executive director of the Committee on States .
Anderson did not respond to a request for comment .
The Strategic Victory Fund 's dark money nonprofit arm funds the Organizing Together 2020 campaign , a large-scale effort to better position Democrats to take on Trump .
Organizing Together was launched to boost Democratic campaign infrastructure in the battleground states of Arizona , Florida , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin .
The campaign , which consists of a coalition of 14 liberal groups , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham , and former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe .
The total cost of its efforts is estimated to run between $ 20 and $ 60 million .
New filings submitted Monday afternoon by the Strategic Victory Fund 's super PAC show that in April it received an additional $ 1.9 million from its nonprofit arm , $ 1 million from billionaire Amy Goldman Fowler , $ 600,000 from Soros 's Democracy PAC , and $ 100,000 from New York City-based philanthropist Andrew Beck .
The PAC paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Services Inc. , a Washington , D.C.-based political consulting company run by Paul Tewes , an Obama campaign alum who leads the Organizing Together campaign .
Another $ 16,000 was given to the MBA Consulting Group , which is headed by Steven Mele , who in April took over the super PAC 's records from Weisel .
Members of the Democracy Alliance have pushed nearly $ 2 billion into progressive infrastructure since its founding in 2005 , according to its internal documents .
Confidential Democracy Alliance documents obtained by the Free Beacon last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large amounts of cash into expanding and strengthening the progressive political base .
The alliance has helped propel some of the biggest left-wing groups in the nation but `` redoubled '' its state-based focus to expand Democratic power and defeat Trump in 2020 .
Its donors , however , continue to fund national anti-Trump organizations .
Each millionaire and billionaire partner in the alliance pledges at least $ 200,000 annually to liberal organizations that are recommended by the club .
The network , which hides its members , has helped propel more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for America and the Center for American Progress .
The alliance has also taken in smaller anti-Trump groups such as the Center for Community Change and Center for Popular Democracy .
Many Democratic Party leaders enjoy close access to the donor club .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( Calif. ) has appeared at numerous Democracy Alliance gatherings .
Others , including Sens .
Kamala Harris ( Calif. ) and Amy Klobuchar ( Minn. ) , Rep. Maxine Waters ( Calif. ) , DNC chair Tom Perez , and prospective V.P .
pick Stacey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conferences in recent years .
The Democracy Alliance 's largest investment was $ 200 million for its State Victory Fund , meant to support liberal causes in 15 states .
The fund is led by the alliance 's Committee on States , which helps coordinate money to state-level progressive organizations .
The victory fund 's money is budgeted to amplify the `` harm '' the `` Trump administration and conservatives have caused in Americans ' lives '' and year-round organizing .

A powerful donor club cofounded by liberal billionaire George Soros quietly established two big-money entities to help its effort to inject $275 million into the 2020 election.
The Democracy Alliance, a coalition of deep-pocketed Democratic donors, launched the Strategic Victory Fund super PAC in March. The PAC appears to be aimed at state-based initiatives and can collect and spend unlimited sums on political advertisements. The group also created the Strategic Victory Fund nonprofit arm, which supplied the PAC's initial $500,000 deposit.
Democracy Alliance helps set the Democratic agenda and Vox has called it the "closest thing that exists to a 'left-wing conspiracy' in the US." The two new groups appear to be part of the $275 million anti-Trump strategy its board approved in February of 2019. The strategy includes supporting state-based organizing in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, and Virginia. It would also work to elect more progressive politicians at the state and local levels while building a candidate pipeline. The network additionally pinpointed at least 25 rural communities to build infrastructure and leadership for "civic engagement and progressive agenda development."
Both the PAC and the nonprofit were incorporated by North Carolina attorney Michael Weisel, who also incorporated other Democracy Alliance efforts, including its Committee on States. Gara LaMarche, president of Democracy Alliance, confirmed to the Washington Free Beacon that the super PAC and nonprofit are part of the organization's 2020 efforts. Scott Anderson, executive director of Strategic Victory Fund, was previously the executive director of the Committee on States. Anderson did not respond to a request for comment.
The Strategic Victory Fund's dark money nonprofit arm funds the Organizing Together 2020 campaign, a large-scale effort to better position Democrats to take on Trump. Organizing Together was launched to boost Democratic campaign infrastructure in the battleground states of Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The campaign, which consists of a coalition of 14 liberal groups, is co-chaired by Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo, New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, and former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe. The total cost of its efforts is estimated to run between $20 and $60 million.
New filings submitted Monday afternoon by the Strategic Victory Fund's super PAC show that in April it received an additional $1.9 million from its nonprofit arm, $1 million from billionaire Amy Goldman Fowler, $600,000 from Soros's Democracy PAC, and $100,000 from New York City-based philanthropist Andrew Beck. The PAC paid out $2.1 million to 2020 Campaign Services Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based political consulting company run by Paul Tewes, an Obama campaign alum who leads the Organizing Together campaign. Another $16,000 was given to the MBA Consulting Group, which is headed by Steven Mele, who in April took over the super PAC's records from Weisel.
Members of the Democracy Alliance have pushed nearly $2 billion into progressive infrastructure since its founding in 2005, according to its internal documents. Confidential Democracy Alliance documents obtained by the Free Beacon last year outlined an intricate plan to pump large amounts of cash into expanding and strengthening the progressive political base. The alliance has helped propel some of the biggest left-wing groups in the nation but "redoubled" its state-based focus to expand Democratic power and defeat Trump in 2020. Its donors, however, continue to fund national anti-Trump organizations.
Each millionaire and billionaire partner in the alliance pledges at least $200,000 annually to liberal organizations that are recommended by the club. The network, which hides its members, has helped propel more than 150 liberal organizations, including Media Matters for America and the Center for American Progress. The alliance has also taken in smaller anti-Trump groups such as the Center for Community Change and Center for Popular Democracy.
Many Democratic Party leaders enjoy close access to the donor club. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) has appeared at numerous Democracy Alliance gatherings. Others, including Sens. Kamala Harris (Calif.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Rep. Maxine Waters (Calif.), DNC chair Tom Perez, and prospective V.P. pick Stacey Abrams, have participated in Democracy Alliance conferences in recent years.
The Democracy Alliance's largest investment was $200 million for its State Victory Fund, meant to support liberal causes in 15 states. The fund is led by the alliance's Committee on States, which helps coordinate money to state-level progressive organizations. The victory fund's money is budgeted to amplify the "harm" the "Trump administration and conservatives have caused in Americans' lives" and year-round organizing.


freebeacon--2020-05-19--Joe Biden Just Urged a Majority of Americans Not to Vote for Him

Former vice president Joe Biden does n't always act like someone who wants to be president .
The presumptive Democratic nominee keeps telling people not to vote for him .
Most of the time , Biden will pick a fight with a potential supporter and tell them to vote for someone else .
On occasion , though , Biden will suggest that all voters who maintain a certain belief—that ex-staffer Tara Reade 's accusation of sexual assault against him is true , for example—should vote against him .
`` I think they should vote their heart , and if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote for me , '' Biden said during a recent interview with MSNBC 's Lawrence O'Donnell .
`` I would n't vote for me if I believed Tara Reade . ''
That 's a lot of Americans who should n't be casting votes for Joe Biden .
In a Harvard-Harris poll published earlier this month , a majority of respondents—55 percent—said they at least `` somewhat '' believed Reade 's allegation that Biden sexually assaulted the then-Senate staffer in 1993 .
A Monmouth University poll published earlier this month did n't give respondents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but still found that a plurality of Americans—37 percent—believe Reade 's allegation against Biden is `` probably true , '' compared with 32 percent who said it probably is n't true .
Among independent voters , an ever larger plurality—42 percent—were inclined to believe Reade 's allegation , compared with just 22 percent who said otherwise .
Just 20 percent of Democrats said they thought Reade was telling the truth , compared with 55 percent who said Reade was probably lying .
Reade 's allegation , and the media 's foolish handling of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MeToo movement into disarray by forcing many advocates to awkwardly embrace a different standard than the one used to assess allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings .
Prominent Democrats , including Biden himself , previously made sweeping claims about how accusations of sexual assault against powerful men should be assessed .
`` For a woman to come forward in the glaring lights of focus , nationally , you 've got to start off with the presumption that at least the essence of what she 's talking about is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kavanaugh hearings .
So , if you agree with Biden , do n't vote for Biden , according to Biden .

Former vice president Joe Biden doesn't always act like someone who wants to be president. The presumptive Democratic nominee keeps telling people not to vote for him.
Most of the time, Biden will pick a fight with a potential supporter and tell them to vote for someone else. On occasion, though, Biden will suggest that all voters who maintain a certain belief—that ex-staffer Tara Reade's accusation of sexual assault against him is true, for example—should vote against him.
"I think they should vote their heart, and if they believe Tara Reade they probably shouldn't vote for me," Biden said during a recent interview with MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell. "I wouldn't vote for me if I believed Tara Reade."
That's a lot of Americans who shouldn't be casting votes for Joe Biden. In a Harvard-Harris poll published earlier this month, a majority of respondents—55 percent—said they at least "somewhat" believed Reade's allegation that Biden sexually assaulted the then-Senate staffer in 1993.
A Monmouth University poll published earlier this month didn't give respondents the option to express partial belief, but still found that a plurality of Americans—37 percent—believe Reade's allegation against Biden is "probably true," compared with 32 percent who said it probably isn't true.
Among independent voters, an ever larger plurality—42 percent—were inclined to believe Reade's allegation, compared with just 22 percent who said otherwise. Just 20 percent of Democrats said they thought Reade was telling the truth, compared with 55 percent who said Reade was probably lying.
Reade's allegation, and the media's foolish handling of it, has thrown the so-called #MeToo movement into disarray by forcing many advocates to awkwardly embrace a different standard than the one used to assess allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings.
Prominent Democrats, including Biden himself, previously made sweeping claims about how accusations of sexual assault against powerful men should be assessed. "For a woman to come forward in the glaring lights of focus, nationally, you've got to start off with the presumption that at least the essence of what she's talking about is real," Biden said during the Kavanaugh hearings.
So, if you agree with Biden, don't vote for Biden, according to Biden.