freebeacon--2020-10-19--U.S. May Impose Preemptive Sanctions to Thwart New Iran Arms Deals

The United States will preemptively sanction any country that tries to deliver arms to Iran , effectively blocking new arms deals well before they develop , the Trump administration ’ s top Iran official told the Washington Free Beacon in an exclusive interview .
Elliott Abrams , the administration ’ s special envoy for Iran , said that in the aftermath of restoring all international sanctions on Iran in late September , the administration would not wait for new weapons to be transferred to Iran—in violation of sanctions—but would act preemptively to obstruct new deals as they advance .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until a transaction is completed and someone has physically sent arms to Iran or imported arms from Iran , '' Abrams said .
`` We can go after people engaged in exploratory visits or negotiations as well . ''
Iran and its international partners , including Russia and China , have vowed to breach U.S. and international sanctions barring new weapons deals .
This includes a United Nations arms embargo on Iran that was set to expire over the weekend , but was extended indefinitely by the United States under a mechanism known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States to keep the arms ban alive and revive a litany of international sanctions on Iran ’ s ballistic missile development , nuclear program , and weapons trade .
Still , U.S. officials anticipate that Russia and China will move to sell Iran billions of dollars ’ worth of weapons and advanced arms in the coming months .
`` We will step in even before they become tangible and real , '' Abrams said , referring to possible Iranian arms deals with Russia and China .
`` We will be watching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arms deals . ''
In an effort to counter potential arms sales , President Donald Trump also issued an executive order in late September authorizing a broad range of new sanctions meant to enforce the arms embargo and permit sanctions on any person seen as bolstering Tehran ’ s military and nuclear programs .
The United States will use those authorities and sanctions to block arms transfers as they ’ re developing , according to Abrams and other U.S. officials who spoke to the Free Beacon on background .
`` If the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arms embargo the president has made sure we can sanction them until they 're radioactive , '' said a source close to the State Department who was briefed on details of their plans but not authorized to speak on record .
`` The Russians and the Chinese may talk a big game but they also live in the real world .
They 're not going to endanger their industrial sectors to sell weapons to Iran . ''
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday promised to sanction any country , individual , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the supply , sale , or transfer of conventional arms to or from Iran , as well as those who provide technical training , financial support and services , and other assistance related to these arms . ''
This warning is mainly aimed at Russia and China , both of which have expressed interest in further arming Tehran .
Russia also has taken an interest in Iran ’ s nuclear program , helping the country build domestic nuclear reactors that could provide it with a second pathway to a nuclear weapon .
Abrams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and China to announce new arms deals with Iran in the coming weeks .
The deals , however , will likely be `` smoke and mirrors and bravado because the Iranians don ’ t have the money '' to purchase the advanced arms , he said .
As a result of the United States ' years-long pressure campaign on Tehran , the country ’ s economy is in shambles .
The regime has limited cash reserves and may not be able to afford an arms-buying spree that could update its aging military equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says that it does not need to buy outside weapons .
`` Iran ’ s defense doctrine is premised on strong reliance on its people and indigenous capabilities , '' Iran ’ s foreign ministry said in a statement issued over the weekend .
`` Unconventional arms , weapons of mass destruction and a buying spree of conventional arms have no place in Iran ’ s defense doctrine . ''

The United States will preemptively sanction any country that tries to deliver arms to Iran, effectively blocking new arms deals well before they develop, the Trump administration’s top Iran official told the Washington Free Beacon in an exclusive interview.
Elliott Abrams, the administration’s special envoy for Iran, said that in the aftermath of restoring all international sanctions on Iran in late September, the administration would not wait for new weapons to be transferred to Iran—in violation of sanctions—but would act preemptively to obstruct new deals as they advance.
"We don’t have to wait until a transaction is completed and someone has physically sent arms to Iran or imported arms from Iran," Abrams said. "We can go after people engaged in exploratory visits or negotiations as well."
Iran and its international partners, including Russia and China, have vowed to breach U.S. and international sanctions barring new weapons deals. This includes a United Nations arms embargo on Iran that was set to expire over the weekend, but was extended indefinitely by the United States under a mechanism known as "snapback." This enabled the United States to keep the arms ban alive and revive a litany of international sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile development, nuclear program, and weapons trade. Still, U.S. officials anticipate that Russia and China will move to sell Iran billions of dollars’ worth of weapons and advanced arms in the coming months.
"We will step in even before they become tangible and real," Abrams said, referring to possible Iranian arms deals with Russia and China. "We will be watching to see if there is movement towards arms deals."
In an effort to counter potential arms sales, President Donald Trump also issued an executive order in late September authorizing a broad range of new sanctions meant to enforce the arms embargo and permit sanctions on any person seen as bolstering Tehran’s military and nuclear programs.
The United States will use those authorities and sanctions to block arms transfers as they’re developing, according to Abrams and other U.S. officials who spoke to the Free Beacon on background.
"If the United States sees anyone even thinking about violating the arms embargo the president has made sure we can sanction them until they're radioactive," said a source close to the State Department who was briefed on details of their plans but not authorized to speak on record. "The Russians and the Chinese may talk a big game but they also live in the real world. They're not going to endanger their industrial sectors to sell weapons to Iran."
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday promised to sanction any country, individual, or entity "that materially contributes to the supply, sale, or transfer of conventional arms to or from Iran, as well as those who provide technical training, financial support and services, and other assistance related to these arms."
This warning is mainly aimed at Russia and China, both of which have expressed interest in further arming Tehran. Russia also has taken an interest in Iran’s nuclear program, helping the country build domestic nuclear reactors that could provide it with a second pathway to a nuclear weapon.
Abrams said he expects countries such as Russia and China to announce new arms deals with Iran in the coming weeks. The deals, however, will likely be "smoke and mirrors and bravado because the Iranians don’t have the money" to purchase the advanced arms, he said.
As a result of the United States' years-long pressure campaign on Tehran, the country’s economy is in shambles. The regime has limited cash reserves and may not be able to afford an arms-buying spree that could update its aging military equipment.
Iran, for its part, says that it does not need to buy outside weapons.
"Iran’s defense doctrine is premised on strong reliance on its people and indigenous capabilities," Iran’s foreign ministry said in a statement issued over the weekend. "Unconventional arms, weapons of mass destruction and a buying spree of conventional arms have no place in Iran’s defense doctrine."


freebeacon--2020-10-19--Biden Calls a Lid Until Thursday

Biden Calls a Lid Until Thursday

Joe Biden will not be making public campaign appearances until Thursday night when he will have his final debate against @ @ @ @ @ [ Joe Biden ] is mostly about debate prep , '' CBS correspondent Ed O'Keefe @ @ @ @ @ .
`` He will not be seen again after today until Thursday night in Nashville @ @ @ @ @ '' The former vice president has taken heat for avoiding public events and the media @ @ @ @ @ , and his campaign has made a regular practice of calling a lid to limit @ @ @ @ @ that Biden will be using this time to prepare for the upcoming debate .
His @ @ @ @ @ ( D. , Calif. ) had to cancel in-person events last week after members of @ @ @ @ @ , but she returned to the campaign trail Monday .
The final debate this coming @ @ @ @ @ Belmont University in Nashville , Tenn. NBC 's Kristen Welker will be moderating .
Update @ @ @ @ @ post was updated to note that Kamala Harris is campaigning Monday .

Joe Biden will not be making public campaign appearances until Thursday night when he will have his final debate against President Donald Trump.
"[Joe Biden] is mostly about debate prep," CBS correspondent Ed O'Keefe said on Face the Nation. "He will not be seen again after today until Thursday night in Nashville at that next debate."
The former vice president has taken heat for avoiding public events and the media since the coronavirus pandemic began, and his campaign has made a regular practice of calling a lid to limit press access. O'Keefe reported that Biden will be using this time to prepare for the upcoming debate. His running mate Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) had to cancel in-person events last week after members of her team contracted the coronavirus, but she returned to the campaign trail Monday.
The final debate this coming Thursday will be held at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. NBC's Kristen Welker will be moderating.
Update: 1:29 p.m.: This post was updated to note that Kamala Harris is campaigning Monday.


freebeacon--2020-10-20--Defense Experts Blast Biden’s Taiwan Policy

Former vice president Joe Biden ’ s willingness to abandon the Trump administration 's efforts to strengthen Taiwan could create major problems in the region and bolster China , defense experts say .
`` I do n't have very high expectations , '' said Heritage Foundation national security expert James Jay Carafano .
`` China will have a lot of cards to play . ''
`` Taiwan is the new Hong Kong , it ’ s the new canary in the mineshaft , '' Carafano continued .
`` For the West not to stand up for Taiwan is a really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really going to push back on the Chinese anywhere . ''
Biden ’ s own record on Taiwan , as well as the public writings of his top foreign-policy surrogates and advisers , hints at potentially dangerous policies for both the United States and Taiwan .
In 2001 , Biden authored an op-ed arguing that U.S. support for the country could `` draw us into a war across the Taiwan Strait . ''
Meanwhile , recent editorials from some of Biden ’ s top Indo-Pacific advisers spell out a vision for Taiwan that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense spending , and rely on more flexible deterrence to counter Beijing .
Zack Cooper , China scholar at the American Enterprise Institute , said such measures would only fuel Chinese ambitions in the region .
`` You will see some serious downward pressure on the defense budget , '' Cooper told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` I think the Democrats know that this is going to be a real tension . ''
Carafano lodged similar complaints .
`` The problem with our enemies is that they can all count , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all this stuff about how we are going to be smarter on defense… .
That has zero impact on great-power competition . ''
The Biden campaign did not return a request for comment about Democrats ' past handling of Taiwan , including his eight-year tenure as vice president .
Obama and his Asia hands struggled with Taiwanese-U.S. relations , loath to do anything besides the `` bare minimum , '' according to Carafano .
The administration could not forge a free trade agreement and was generally reluctant to send senior diplomats to Taiwan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent two senior-level executive branch officials to Taiwan in 2020 and is moving to secure Taiwan 's first free trade agreement with Washington .
Obama acted on an `` engage and hedge '' strategy on Beijing , which meant to cooperate with China on key issues , but to dissuade the Chinese Communist Party when it made decisions contrary to American interests .
Experts anticipate a similar `` compete but hedge '' strategy from the Biden camp , which they say does little to recognize a new era of great-power competition .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , '' said Indo-Pacific expert at the American Foreign Policy Council Michael Sobolik .
`` What we ’ re going to need to be ready for is China not approaching that in good faith . ''
Taiwan has been a major player in supporting the offshoring of American industry from China , and a critical ally in the effort against the Chinese Communist Party .
To abandon this ally , experts warned , could signal trouble for the future of global democracy .
Beijing continues to improve its capabilities to invade Taiwan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games in anticipation of overtaking the island nation .
Sobolik told the Free Beacon that a pick-and-choose strategy effectively undermines a key U.S. ally to counter Chinese influence .
Experts also said that Biden ’ s Taiwan platform is in tension with two other key areas : readiness to defend Taiwan and cooperating with allies and partners .
`` The Chinese Communist Party is an existential threat to the First Amendment to the Constitution , '' Sobolik said .
`` The American people need to understand that the same regime that is threatening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also threatening the political survival of a fellow democracy in Asia , a democracy that stands with the United States resolutely . ''
Allies and partners would also suffer from a pivot away from Taiwan , experts told the Free Beacon .
From the Czech Republic to Japan , allies have significantly increased their public overtures toward Taiwan—a fellow democracy unwilling to bow to Beijing—in a larger effort led by Washington .
If a future Biden administration walks back that support , Cooper said , it raises questions about `` whether democracies are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether they are going to face coercive or even military pressure by China . ''
Biden 's past approach to China and Taiwan is at odds with the message that he has advanced on the campaign trail .
Disengagement on Taiwan would run afoul of a major plank of the Biden foreign-policy platform : better relationships with allies and partners , Carafano told the Free Beacon .
`` They say they want to work more with allies , and do everything opposite what Trump did .
Those statements are not logically consistent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that we have worked better with allies in Asia , all of whom are increasing their engagement with Taiwan .
By walking away from many of the commitments that this administration has done , we ’ re actually going to be teeing off from allies . ''
Though a potential Biden administration could consider Taiwan a secondary regional issue , experts made clear that the stakes could not be higher .
China has long laid claim to the island , but Biden advisers have made past comments that downplay the threat to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` What we need to do now is to encourage patience on all sides , but particularly in Beijing , '' Biden adviser Kurt Campbell said in a 2001 interview .
Campbell also said that Mao Zedong had `` unusual patience '' when it came to diplomacy with Taiwan .
Mao , however , was the same leader who chose to take military action against Taiwan in both 1954 and 1958 .
During the 1958 conflict—which nearly sparked a global nuclear crisis—Mao told then-Soviet foreign minister Andrei Gromyko he believed the Chinese could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retreating to the interior of China .
Even the Soviets were taken aback by Mao 's boundless aggression in his hopes to retake Taiwan .
Chinese president Xi Jinping does little to separate himself from Mao in his determination to seize Taiwan .
Last week , Xi told Chinese marines to prepare for war .
`` Put all [ your ] minds and energy on preparing for war , '' Xi told Chinese troops .
`` [ Be ] absolutely loyal , absolutely pure , and absolutely reliable . ''

Former vice president Joe Biden’s willingness to abandon the Trump administration's efforts to strengthen Taiwan could create major problems in the region and bolster China, defense experts say.
"I don't have very high expectations," said Heritage Foundation national security expert James Jay Carafano. "China will have a lot of cards to play."
"Taiwan is the new Hong Kong, it’s the new canary in the mineshaft," Carafano continued. "For the West not to stand up for Taiwan is a really strong signal that you’re not really going to push back on the Chinese anywhere."
Biden’s own record on Taiwan, as well as the public writings of his top foreign-policy surrogates and advisers, hints at potentially dangerous policies for both the United States and Taiwan. In 2001, Biden authored an op-ed arguing that U.S. support for the country could "draw us into a war across the Taiwan Strait." Meanwhile, recent editorials from some of Biden’s top Indo-Pacific advisers spell out a vision for Taiwan that would downplay U.S. military backing, cut defense spending, and rely on more flexible deterrence to counter Beijing. Zack Cooper, China scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, said such measures would only fuel Chinese ambitions in the region.
"You will see some serious downward pressure on the defense budget," Cooper told the Washington Free Beacon. "I think the Democrats know that this is going to be a real tension."
Carafano lodged similar complaints. "The problem with our enemies is that they can all count," he said. "We can do all this stuff about how we are going to be smarter on defense.... That has zero impact on great-power competition."
The Biden campaign did not return a request for comment about Democrats' past handling of Taiwan, including his eight-year tenure as vice president. Obama and his Asia hands struggled with Taiwanese-U.S. relations, loath to do anything besides the "bare minimum," according to Carafano. The administration could not forge a free trade agreement and was generally reluctant to send senior diplomats to Taiwan. In contrast, the Trump administration sent two senior-level executive branch officials to Taiwan in 2020 and is moving to secure Taiwan's first free trade agreement with Washington.
Obama acted on an "engage and hedge" strategy on Beijing, which meant to cooperate with China on key issues, but to dissuade the Chinese Communist Party when it made decisions contrary to American interests. Experts anticipate a similar "compete but hedge" strategy from the Biden camp, which they say does little to recognize a new era of great-power competition.
"Their whole bumper-sticker idea is coexistence with China," said Indo-Pacific expert at the American Foreign Policy Council Michael Sobolik. "What we’re going to need to be ready for is China not approaching that in good faith."
Taiwan has been a major player in supporting the offshoring of American industry from China, and a critical ally in the effort against the Chinese Communist Party. To abandon this ally, experts warned, could signal trouble for the future of global democracy. Beijing continues to improve its capabilities to invade Taiwan. The regime has already conducted war games in anticipation of overtaking the island nation.
Sobolik told the Free Beacon that a pick-and-choose strategy effectively undermines a key U.S. ally to counter Chinese influence. Experts also said that Biden’s Taiwan platform is in tension with two other key areas: readiness to defend Taiwan and cooperating with allies and partners.
"The Chinese Communist Party is an existential threat to the exercise of the First Amendment to the Constitution," Sobolik said. "The American people need to understand that the same regime that is threatening our free speech at home, is also threatening the political survival of a fellow democracy in Asia, a democracy that stands with the United States resolutely."
Allies and partners would also suffer from a pivot away from Taiwan, experts told the Free Beacon. From the Czech Republic to Japan, allies have significantly increased their public overtures toward Taiwan—a fellow democracy unwilling to bow to Beijing—in a larger effort led by Washington. If a future Biden administration walks back that support, Cooper said, it raises questions about "whether democracies are going to be able to survive or whether they are going to face coercive or even military pressure by China."
Biden's past approach to China and Taiwan is at odds with the message that he has advanced on the campaign trail. Disengagement on Taiwan would run afoul of a major plank of the Biden foreign-policy platform: better relationships with allies and partners, Carafano told the Free Beacon.
"They say they want to work more with allies, and do everything opposite what Trump did. Those statements are not logically consistent," he warned. "The reality is that we have worked better with allies in Asia, all of whom are increasing their engagement with Taiwan. By walking away from many of the commitments that this administration has done, we’re actually going to be teeing off from allies."
Though a potential Biden administration could consider Taiwan a secondary regional issue, experts made clear that the stakes could not be higher. China has long laid claim to the island, but Biden advisers have made past comments that downplay the threat to Taiwan that China has historically posed.
"What we need to do now is to encourage patience on all sides, but particularly in Beijing," Biden adviser Kurt Campbell said in a 2001 interview. Campbell also said that Mao Zedong had "unusual patience" when it came to diplomacy with Taiwan.
Mao, however, was the same leader who chose to take military action against Taiwan in both 1954 and 1958. During the 1958 conflict—which nearly sparked a global nuclear crisis—Mao told then-Soviet foreign minister Andrei Gromyko he believed the Chinese could withstand a nuclear war with Washington by retreating to the interior of China. Even the Soviets were taken aback by Mao's boundless aggression in his hopes to retake Taiwan.
Chinese president Xi Jinping does little to separate himself from Mao in his determination to seize Taiwan. Last week, Xi told Chinese marines to prepare for war.
"Put all [your] minds and energy on preparing for war," Xi told Chinese troops. "[Be] absolutely loyal, absolutely pure, and absolutely reliable."


freebeacon--2020-10-20--Biden Hauls in $200K From Goldman Sachs Exec Who ‘Screwed America’s Economy’

The former Goldman Sachs executive who devised the `` Big Short '' and told colleagues they would make `` serious money '' off the housing market collapse has poured $ 200,000 into Joe Biden 's victory fund , filings show .
Donald Mullen Jr. , a mastermind behind the scheme that allowed Goldman Sachs to profit during the financial crisis , pushed the six-figure donation into the Biden Victory Fund this past quarter .
Mullen has given generously to a number of other liberal committees and politicians this cycle , including the Democratic National Committee , Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Theresa Greenfield , among many others .
Mullen 's donation to Biden 's joint fundraising committee came as the presidential contender saw a windfall from Wall Street executives in the third quarter .
Biden has so far outpaced President Donald Trump in donations from the financial sector by nearly $ 40 million .
But perhaps none of the donations could draw as much ire as Mullen 's , who has become known as the man who `` screwed America 's economy . ''
As head of Goldman Sachs 's mortgage and credit business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the subprime mortgage trade that helped the financial giant profit off the housing market collapse .
Mullen and other executives at Goldman bet big that the housing bubble would burst , even as they urged customers to invest in the market .
The bet became known as the `` Big Short '' and was credited to Mullen , who told colleagues in a 2007 email that they `` will make some serious money . ''
The company was ordered to pay $ 5 billion in 2016 for its role in the financial crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After leaving Goldman Sachs in 2012 , Mullen launched his own New York City-based real estate investment firm called Pretium Partners LLC , which buys foreclosed homes and rents them out to tenants .
The group sought to raise $ 1 billion for its activities in 2016 and has brought a number of former Goldman Sachs alums on board .
Biden is not the only Democrat pulling in large sums from the `` Big Short '' architect .
Federal Election Commission records show that Mullen gave six figures to the Democratic National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee this cycle .
Groups such as Everytown for Gun Safety , VoteVets , and the Lincoln Project have also received thousands from Mullen .
The real estate investor has maxed out donations to Democratic Senate candidates Amy McGrath , Theresa Greenfield , John Hickenlooper , and Mark Kelly .
Mullen previously backed Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election cycle with a $ 100,000 donation , which garnered scrutiny at the time .
Pretium Partners did not respond to a request for comment .

Donald Mullen was the architect of the 'Big Short' that allowed Goldman to profit off financial crisis
The former Goldman Sachs executive who devised the "Big Short" and told colleagues they would make "serious money" off the housing market collapse has poured $200,000 into Joe Biden's victory fund, filings show.
Donald Mullen Jr., a mastermind behind the scheme that allowed Goldman Sachs to profit during the financial crisis, pushed the six-figure donation into the Biden Victory Fund this past quarter. Mullen has given generously to a number of other liberal committees and politicians this cycle, including the Democratic National Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and Senate candidates Mark Kelly and Theresa Greenfield, among many others.
Mullen's donation to Biden's joint fundraising committee came as the presidential contender saw a windfall from Wall Street executives in the third quarter. Biden has so far outpaced President Donald Trump in donations from the financial sector by nearly $40 million. But perhaps none of the donations could draw as much ire as Mullen's, who has become known as the man who "screwed America's economy."
As head of Goldman Sachs's mortgage and credit business, Mullen was a leading player in the subprime mortgage trade that helped the financial giant profit off the housing market collapse. Mullen and other executives at Goldman bet big that the housing bubble would burst, even as they urged customers to invest in the market. The bet became known as the "Big Short" and was credited to Mullen, who told colleagues in a 2007 email that they "will make some serious money."
The company was ordered to pay $5 billion in 2016 for its role in the financial crisis. Mullen was never accused of wrongdoing.
After leaving Goldman Sachs in 2012, Mullen launched his own New York City-based real estate investment firm called Pretium Partners LLC, which buys foreclosed homes and rents them out to tenants. The group sought to raise $1 billion for its activities in 2016 and has brought a number of former Goldman Sachs alums on board.
Biden is not the only Democrat pulling in large sums from the "Big Short" architect. Federal Election Commission records show that Mullen gave six figures to the Democratic National Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee this cycle. Groups such as Everytown for Gun Safety, VoteVets, and the Lincoln Project have also received thousands from Mullen. The real estate investor has maxed out donations to Democratic Senate candidates Amy McGrath, Theresa Greenfield, John Hickenlooper, and Mark Kelly.
Mullen previously backed Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election cycle with a $100,000 donation, which garnered scrutiny at the time.
Pretium Partners did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-10-20--NRA’s 2020 Spending Dwarfs Gun-Control Groups’

The National Rifle Association is outspending its gun-control rivals—despite only matching about half of its 2016 spending .
The pro-Second Amendment group said Tuesday that its political arm has spent $ 22.4 million in federal elections .
While that 's down from about $ 42 million at this point in 2016 , it 's still more than the three largest gun-control groups ' spending amounts combined , according to Federal Election Commission records .
If the NRA is able to turn those dollars into votes , it could help Republicans hold onto the presidency and Senate .
The group told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activate gun voters and help flip close races .
`` Gun owners are smart , and a highly engaged electorate , '' NRA spokeswoman Amy Hunter said .
`` They vote their values .
The NRA will continue to fight—as we always have—on their behalf . ''
The NRA is spending a majority of its money on the presidential election , in which it supports President Donald Trump and opposes Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
In addition , the NRA has spent at least $ 5 million targeting key Senate races in such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Arizona , and Georgia .
And , in the House , it has spent more than $ 330,000 to help reelect congressman Mike Kelly ( R. ) , who represents Pennsylvania 's 16th district .
The spending largely matches the group 's plan , which NRA honcho Jason Ouimet laid out in August .
The $ 22.4 million is the second largest sum the NRA has ever spent at this point in an election year , outpacing its 2012 and 2018 spending .
Although this year 's sum is smaller than 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outspend gun-control groups , such as Everytown for Gun Safety , Giffords , and Brady , which have spent $ 19 million combined to boost Biden and Democrats .
Those groups did not respond to a request for comment about their election activities .
The Trace , which Everytown partially funds , has thus far tracked $ 16.9 million in election spending by Everytown , $ 2 million by Giffords , and $ 100,000 by Brady .
Everytown , which is backed by billionaire Michael Bloomberg , pledged to spend $ 60 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with less than three weeks until the election , has not come close to that total .
The NRA said that even if Bloomberg drops millions more on gun-control ads in the coming weeks , his message will be ineffective .
`` Money is n't everything in politics , '' Amy Hunter said .
`` And the gun control group 's patron benefactor Mike Bloomberg learned the hard way that his billions could n't buy him the hearts and minds needed in the Democratic presidential primary .
Nevertheless , we congratulate him and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Both the NRA and Everytown 's political arms reported millions left on hand in their most recent FEC filings , but how much the gun groups will be able to spend in the election 's closing weeks remains unclear .

Gun-rights org shells out $22.4 million, but still lags behind '16 spending
The National Rifle Association is outspending its gun-control rivals—despite only matching about half of its 2016 spending.
The pro-Second Amendment group said Tuesday that its political arm has spent $22.4 million in federal elections. While that's down from about $42 million at this point in 2016, it's still more than the three largest gun-control groups' spending amounts combined, according to Federal Election Commission records.
If the NRA is able to turn those dollars into votes, it could help Republicans hold onto the presidency and Senate. The group told the Washington Free Beacon that it can activate gun voters and help flip close races.
"Gun owners are smart, and a highly engaged electorate," NRA spokeswoman Amy Hunter said. "They vote their values. The NRA will continue to fight—as we always have—on their behalf."
The NRA is spending a majority of its money on the presidential election, in which it supports President Donald Trump and opposes Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
In addition, the NRA has spent at least $5 million targeting key Senate races in such swing states as North Carolina, Colorado, Arizona, and Georgia.
And, in the House, it has spent more than $330,000 to help reelect congressman Mike Kelly (R.), who represents Pennsylvania's 16th district.
The spending largely matches the group's plan, which NRA honcho Jason Ouimet laid out in August.
The $22.4 million is the second largest sum the NRA has ever spent at this point in an election year, outpacing its 2012 and 2018 spending.
Although this year's sum is smaller than 2016's, the NRA has managed to outspend gun-control groups, such as Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords, and Brady, which have spent $19 million combined to boost Biden and Democrats.
Those groups did not respond to a request for comment about their election activities.
The Trace, which Everytown partially funds, has thus far tracked $16.9 million in election spending by Everytown, $2 million by Giffords, and $100,000 by Brady.
Everytown, which is backed by billionaire Michael Bloomberg, pledged to spend $60 million on its own in 2020 but, with less than three weeks until the election, has not come close to that total.
The NRA said that even if Bloomberg drops millions more on gun-control ads in the coming weeks, his message will be ineffective.
"Money isn't everything in politics," Amy Hunter said. "And the gun control group's patron benefactor Mike Bloomberg learned the hard way that his billions couldn't buy him the hearts and minds needed in the Democratic presidential primary. Nevertheless, we congratulate him and his wealthy consultants on carrying American Samoa."
Both the NRA and Everytown's political arms reported millions left on hand in their most recent FEC filings, but how much the gun groups will be able to spend in the election's closing weeks remains unclear.


freebeacon--2020-10-20--Schumer Had ‘Long and Serious Talk’ With DiFi After Barrett Hearings

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) said Tuesday he had a `` long and serious talk '' with Sen. Dianne Feinstein ( D. , Calif. ) over her handling of the Amy Coney Barrett confirmation hearings .
A reporter asked Schumer if he was considering pulling Feinstein from her perch as ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee in light of liberal criticism of her , and he did not give a definitive answer .
`` I 've had a long and serious talk with Senator Feinstein , that 's all I 'm going to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Feinstein came under fire for complimenting the committee 's chairman , Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R. , S.C. ) , on the way he conducted the confirmation hearings for Trump 's Supreme Court nominee .
Many of her allies expected an all-out battle to stop Barrett , but Feinstein tempered her criticism following the controversy she created by criticizing Barrett 's Catholic faith in a prior hearing .
After the mostly civil hearings concluded , left-wing groups called for Feinstein to step down from her leadership position on the committee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in a fierce reelection fight , included praising the hearing 's `` fairness '' and giving the South Carolina senator a hug .
`` This has been one of the best set of hearings that I ’ ve participated in , '' Feinstein said as the hearings were adjourned .
`` It leaves one with a lot of hopes , a lot of questions and even some ideas perhaps of good bipartisan legislation we can put together . ''
Some of Feinstein 's colleagues defended her , however .
Sen. Mazie Hirono @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feinstein was `` being gracious '' in her praise of Graham .

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said Tuesday he had a "long and serious talk" with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) over her handling of the Amy Coney Barrett confirmation hearings.
A reporter asked Schumer if he was considering pulling Feinstein from her perch as ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee in light of liberal criticism of her, and he did not give a definitive answer.
"I've had a long and serious talk with Senator Feinstein, that's all I'm going to say about it right now," Schumer said.
Feinstein came under fire for complimenting the committee's chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), on the way he conducted the confirmation hearings for Trump's Supreme Court nominee. Many of her allies expected an all-out battle to stop Barrett, but Feinstein tempered her criticism following the controversy she created by criticizing Barrett's Catholic faith in a prior hearing. After the mostly civil hearings concluded, left-wing groups called for Feinstein to step down from her leadership position on the committee.
Feinstein's warmth toward Graham, who is in a fierce reelection fight, included praising the hearing's "fairness" and giving the South Carolina senator a hug.
"This has been one of the best set of hearings that I’ve participated in," Feinstein said as the hearings were adjourned. "It leaves one with a lot of hopes, a lot of questions and even some ideas perhaps of good bipartisan legislation we can put together."
Some of Feinstein's colleagues defended her, however. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D., Hawaii) said that Feinstein was "being gracious" in her praise of Graham.


freebeacon--2020-10-20--WATCH: Unhinged Joe Biden Attacks the Free Press, Democracy Itself

As the professional journalists in the mainstream media are constantly reminding us , criticizing the media is akin to condoning violence against a vulnerable class of hardworking Americans who desire nothing more than to pursue the Truth and sell books about the perils of being a journalist .
An attack on the media is an attack on democracy itself .
Former vice president Joe Biden does n't leave his basement very often , but when he does the Democratic nominee has a tendency to lash out at defenseless reporters who are just doing their jobs .
At times , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly harrowing incident at the White House , when CNN scoop machine Jim Acosta had to fight off a female intern attempting to deprive him of his microphone .
Our democracy managed to survive the scandal , but if Biden wins the election in November and continues to wage war against the guardians of truth , we may not be so lucky .
• Suggesting a journalist of color should be tested for cocaine to determine if he was a `` junky '' • Telling a journalist of color he `` ai n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump • Berating a CBS journalist for engaging in a `` smear campaign '' that was `` right up your alley '' • Putting his hands on a different CBS reporter and imploring him to `` calm down '' • Belittling a female journalist for `` saying things you do not know what you 're talking about '' Next time you see a journalist , hug them .
While you still can .

As the professional journalists in the mainstream media are constantly reminding us, criticizing the media is akin to condoning violence against a vulnerable class of hardworking Americans who desire nothing more than to pursue the Truth and sell books about the perils of being a journalist. An attack on the media is an attack on democracy itself.
Former vice president Joe Biden doesn't leave his basement very often, but when he does the Democratic nominee has a tendency to lash out at defenseless reporters who are just doing their jobs. At times, Biden's aggressive behavior calls to mind a particularly harrowing incident at the White House, when CNN scoop machine Jim Acosta had to fight off a female intern attempting to deprive him of his microphone.
Our democracy managed to survive the scandal, but if Biden wins the election in November and continues to wage war against the guardians of truth, we may not be so lucky.
Biden's anti-democratic attacks on the free press include:
Suggesting a journalist of color should be tested for cocaine to determine if he was a "junky"
Telling a journalist of color he "ain't black" if he votes for Donald Trump
Berating a CBS journalist for engaging in a "smear campaign" that was "right up your alley"
Putting his hands on a different CBS reporter and imploring him to "calm down"
Belittling a female journalist for "saying things you do not know what you're talking about"
Next time you see a journalist, hug them. While you still can.


freebeacon--2020-10-20--Ex-Seattle Police Officers Cite ‘Socialist’ City Council as Reason for Resignation

Officers who left the Seattle Police Department this year cited a lack of support from Seattle 's `` socialist '' city council and fear for their safety as reasons for their departure , according to exit interview documents obtained by CBS affiliate KIRO 7 .
A record number of officers left Seattle 's police force last month—including Carmen Best , the first black woman to serve as police chief in the city—bringing the year 's total resignations and retirements to 110 .
The KIRO 7 report found that officers repeatedly cited issues with the Seattle City Council as the reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I refuse to work for this socialist City Council and their political agenda , '' one officer wrote .
`` It ultimately will destroy the fabric of this once fine city . ''
Another officer said he left because of `` an unwinnable battle with the City Council , '' which `` will be the downfall of the city of Seattle . ''
Yet another left because the city 's `` morals '' were different from his own .
One officer said budget and staff cuts will force officers to respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens waiting longer for help .
According to the KIRO 7 report , officers who left to take other jobs in law enforcement said they moved because they feared that budget cuts to the Seattle Police Department would put their jobs at risk .
Best announced her resignation in August after the Seattle City Council passed one budget measure that would have cut 100 officers from the department—a move she called `` reckless . ''
The former police chief said the city council left her out of conversations regarding the police department budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her differently if she was white .
Anti-police protests broke out in Seattle in late May following the death of George Floyd .
Since then , city officials in Seattle and other major U.S. cities have proposed various budgets that would cut millions in funding from their police departments .
Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan ( D. ) recently proposed her own massive police department budget cuts .
In June , New York City mayor Bill de Blasio ( D. ) announced a $ 1 billion cut from the NYPD .
Portland City Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by $ 15 million .

Officers who left the Seattle Police Department this year cited a lack of support from Seattle's "socialist" city council and fear for their safety as reasons for their departure, according to exit interview documents obtained by CBS affiliate KIRO 7.
A record number of officers left Seattle's police force last month—including Carmen Best, the first black woman to serve as police chief in the city—bringing the year's total resignations and retirements to 110. The KIRO 7 report found that officers repeatedly cited issues with the Seattle City Council as the reason for leaving in their exit interviews.
"I refuse to work for this socialist City Council and their political agenda," one officer wrote. "It ultimately will destroy the fabric of this once fine city."
Another officer said he left because of "an unwinnable battle with the City Council," which "will be the downfall of the city of Seattle." Yet another left because the city's "morals" were different from his own.
One officer said budget and staff cuts will force officers to respond to dangerous situations without backup and also leave citizens waiting longer for help.
According to the KIRO 7 report, officers who left to take other jobs in law enforcement said they moved because they feared that budget cuts to the Seattle Police Department would put their jobs at risk.
Best announced her resignation in August after the Seattle City Council passed one budget measure that would have cut 100 officers from the department—a move she called "reckless." The former police chief said the city council left her out of conversations regarding the police department budget and alleged the council would have treated her differently if she was white.
Anti-police protests broke out in Seattle in late May following the death of George Floyd. Since then, city officials in Seattle and other major U.S. cities have proposed various budgets that would cut millions in funding from their police departments. Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan (D.) recently proposed her own massive police department budget cuts. In June, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio (D.) announced a $1 billion cut from the NYPD. Portland City Council also moved to cut its police funding by $15 million.


freebeacon--2020-10-20--Jeffrey Toobin on Sexual Misconduct

Jeffrey Toobin on Sexual Misconduct

CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin , who has been suspended from the New Yorker and sidelined from his television gig @ @ @ @ @ Zoom call , has had plenty to say about perpetrators and victims of sexual harassment @ @ @ @ @ Rutz is senior writer at the Washington Free Beacon .
He was previously a sports @ @ @ @ @ Atlanta and has done freelance sports reporting for the Washington Post .
He graduated from @ @ @ @ @ lives in Marietta , Ga. His Twitter handle is @ DavidRutz .
He can be @ @ @ @ @ .

CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, who has been suspended from the New Yorker and sidelined from his television gig for allegedly masturbating during a Zoom call, has had plenty to say about perpetrators and victims of sexual harassment over the years.


freebeacon--2020-10-20--Jeffrey Toobin Dick Slip Scandal, Explained in New Yorker Cartoons and CNN Chyrons

Jeffrey Toobin , the New Yorker staff writer and CNN legal analyst who accidentally pleasured himself during a Zoom call @ @ @ @ @ has done more to unite the country than any politician in living memory .
The @ @ @ @ @ an investigation .
CNN took a more old-fashioned approach to the sexual-harassment incident : pretending @ @ @ @ @ Toobin 's request for `` time off while he deals with a personal issue .
@ @ @ @ @ we have decided to honor Toobin 's commitment to national unity by portraying reactions to @ @ @ @ @ slip '' scandal in a series of New Yorker cartoons and CNN chyrons .
Enjoy @

Jeffrey Toobin, the New Yorker staff writer and CNN legal analyst who accidentally pleasured himself during a Zoom call with other professional journalists, has done more to unite the country than any politician in living memory.
The New Yorker suspended Toobin pending an investigation.
CNN took a more old-fashioned approach to the sexual-harassment incident: pretending it never happened and granting Toobin's request for "time off while he deals with a personal issue."
In the meantime, we have decided to honor Toobin's commitment to national unity by portraying reactions to his now infamous "dick slip" scandal in a series of New Yorker cartoons and CNN chyrons. Enjoy!
the new game is to replace every new yorker cartoon caption with "Jeffrey Toobin took his dick out on a Zoom call." pic.twitter.com/NkuxsTJtxs — Ryan 'Follow @SecretBase' Simmons (@rysimmons) October 19, 2020
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freebeacon--2020-10-20--Judicial Watch Finds 1.8 Million ‘Extra’ Voters

More than 350 U.S. counties have more registered voters than people eligible to vote , resulting in 1.8 million `` extra '' voters , according to a new Judicial Watch study .
By comparing publicly available voter registration data with the most recent Census Bureau population numbers , Judicial Watch found that statewide voter registration in eight states—Alaska , Colorado , Maine , Maryland , Michigan , New Jersey , Rhode Island , and Vermont—exceeds 100 percent of eligible voters .
Loving County , Texas , had the highest number of excess voters , with a registration rate of 187 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the report highlights a problem specific to mail-in voting : Many election officials automatically send ballots or ballot applications to everyone on the list of registered voters without first removing the `` ghost '' voters .
`` The new study shows 1.8 million excess or ‘ ghost ' voters in 353 counties across 29 states , '' Fitton said in a statement .
`` The data highlights the recklessness of mailing blindly ballots and ballot applications to voter registration lists .
Dirty voting rolls can mean dirty elections . ''
A record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by mail this year due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Election offices will automatically send ballots to 43 million registered voters , according to a recent CNN survey .
By the end of September , the number of mail-in ballots distributed for November 's general election already surpassed those cast ahead of Election Day in 2016 .
Judicial Watch , a conservative organization that investigates government misconduct , has used its findings to pressure state governments to comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and remove ineligible voters from their voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this month after finding that voter registration exceeded the number of eligible voters in 42 of the state 's 64 counties .

More than 350 U.S. counties have more registered voters than people eligible to vote, resulting in 1.8 million "extra" voters, according to a new Judicial Watch study.
By comparing publicly available voter registration data with the most recent Census Bureau population numbers, Judicial Watch found that statewide voter registration in eight states—Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont—exceeds 100 percent of eligible voters. Loving County, Texas, had the highest number of excess voters, with a registration rate of 187 percent.
Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton said the report highlights a problem specific to mail-in voting: Many election officials automatically send ballots or ballot applications to everyone on the list of registered voters without first removing the "ghost" voters.
"The new study shows 1.8 million excess or 'ghost' voters in 353 counties across 29 states," Fitton said in a statement. "The data highlights the recklessness of mailing blindly ballots and ballot applications to voter registration lists. Dirty voting rolls can mean dirty elections."
A record number of voters have opted to vote by mail this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Election offices will automatically send ballots to 43 million registered voters, according to a recent CNN survey. By the end of September, the number of mail-in ballots distributed for November's general election already surpassed those cast ahead of Election Day in 2016.
Judicial Watch, a conservative organization that investigates government misconduct, has used its findings to pressure state governments to comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and remove ineligible voters from their voter rolls. The group sued Colorado earlier this month after finding that voter registration exceeded the number of eligible voters in 42 of the state's 64 counties.


freebeacon--2020-10-20--Virginia Teachers’ Union Demands Online-Only Learning Through August 2021

Virginia 's Fairfax County teachers ' union announced it wants to keep public schools virtual until August 2021 .
The Fairfax Education Association has kickstarted a letter-writing campaign urging the county to continue online-only learning through the 2020-2021 school year .
The union claims that teachers can not return to in-person instruction until `` there is a widely available scientifically proven vaccine or highly effective treatment '' for coronavirus , along with `` medical-grade protection '' for all staff , including the N95 masks currently being rationed to nurses and doctors .
On Oct. 14 , Fairfax County Public Schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schedule for classroom learning .
The district began offering in-person instruction to preschoolers with autism , students in `` early childhood '' classes , and students in specialized high school career preparatory programs on Monday .
It has also undertaken a slew of mitigation strategies for reducing the spread of COVID , and plans to reopen some elementary schools on Oct. 26 , with middle and high schools kept virtual until February .
The union 's rejection of even these incremental plans came just one week after a Brown University study found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more likely to recommend district-wide shutdowns and online-only learning , despite mounting evidence that schools pose few transmission risks .
Teachers ' unions across the country have stonewalled similar reopenings , most notably in Illinois and California .
The Fairfax County Public Schools district told the Washington Free Beacon that it is prioritizing students and pushing for in-person learning .
`` We firmly believe that while virtual environments are necessary at the current time , students learn best in-person , '' a district spokeswoman said .

Virginia's Fairfax County teachers' union announced it wants to keep public schools virtual until August 2021.
The Fairfax Education Association has kickstarted a letter-writing campaign urging the county to continue online-only learning through the 2020-2021 school year. The union claims that teachers cannot return to in-person instruction until "there is a widely available scientifically proven vaccine or highly effective treatment" for coronavirus, along with "medical-grade protection" for all staff, including the N95 masks currently being rationed to nurses and doctors.
On Oct. 14, Fairfax County Public Schools superintendent Scott Brabrand provided a tentative phase-in schedule for classroom learning. The district began offering in-person instruction to preschoolers with autism, students in "early childhood" classes, and students in specialized high school career preparatory programs on Monday. It has also undertaken a slew of mitigation strategies for reducing the spread of COVID, and plans to reopen some elementary schools on Oct. 26, with middle and high schools kept virtual until February.
The union's rejection of even these incremental plans came just one week after a Brown University study found that districts with strong teachers' unions are more likely to recommend district-wide shutdowns and online-only learning, despite mounting evidence that schools pose few transmission risks. Teachers' unions across the country have stonewalled similar reopenings, most notably in Illinois and California.
The Fairfax County Public Schools district told the Washington Free Beacon that it is prioritizing students and pushing for in-person learning. "We firmly believe that while virtual environments are necessary at the current time, students learn best in-person," a district spokeswoman said.


freebeacon--2020-10-20--UAE Makes First Commercial Flight to Israel

An Etihad Airways flight from the United Arab Emirates landed in Tel Aviv on Monday , marking the first commercial flight from a Gulf state to Israel , the Times of Israel reported .
The flight took off from Abu Dhabi and landed at Ben-Gurion airport Monday morning carrying a group of Israeli diplomats , according to a statement from Etihad .
U.S. assistant to the president Avi Berkowitz posted a video from aboard the flight with a UAE delegation to Israel .
`` Exciting that we keep getting to make these [ trips ] ! ''
Berkowitz said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ flags as it taxied through the airport in Tel Aviv , in a sign of amity between the two countries .
Abu Dhabi and Jerusalem have agreed to 28 weekly flights between the countries , with more expected to roll out in the future .
Israel and the UAE agreed to formal diplomatic ties in Washington last month as part of the Abraham Accords , along with fellow Gulf country Bahrain .
The move was hailed as `` historic '' by the New York Times , though it was quickly downplayed by much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks to use the increased cooperation between Gulf states and Israel as a building block for future engagement , as well as a bulwark against Iran .
The administration arranged another normalization deal between Israel and Sudan last week , and has pursued Saudi Arabia as another potential target for peace .

An Etihad Airways flight from the United Arab Emirates landed in Tel Aviv on Monday, marking the first commercial flight from a Gulf state to Israel, the Times of Israel reported.
The flight took off from Abu Dhabi and landed at Ben-Gurion airport Monday morning carrying a group of Israeli diplomats, according to a statement from Etihad. U.S. assistant to the president Avi Berkowitz posted a video from aboard the flight with a UAE delegation to Israel.
"Exciting that we keep getting to make these [trips]!" Berkowitz said.
The plane flew both Emirati and Israeli flags as it taxied through the airport in Tel Aviv, in a sign of amity between the two countries. Abu Dhabi and Jerusalem have agreed to 28 weekly flights between the countries, with more expected to roll out in the future.
Israel and the UAE agreed to formal diplomatic ties in Washington last month as part of the Abraham Accords, along with fellow Gulf country Bahrain. The move was hailed as "historic" by the New York Times, though it was quickly downplayed by much of the media.
The Trump administration looks to use the increased cooperation between Gulf states and Israel as a building block for future engagement, as well as a bulwark against Iran. The administration arranged another normalization deal between Israel and Sudan last week, and has pursued Saudi Arabia as another potential target for peace.


freebeacon--2020-10-20--Poll: Biden, Trump Nearly Tied Among Catholic Voters in Key Swing States

Joe Biden and Donald Trump are running neck and neck among Catholic voters in six of the nation 's most important swing states , according to a new poll .
Trump and Biden are statistically tied among Catholic voters in the battleground states of Arizona , Florida , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin , according to an EWTN News/RealClear Opinion Research poll .
Trump trails the Catholic Democrat by a 52-40 margin nationwide , but that lead falls within the margin of error in the states that are likely to determine the presidential election .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but RealClear Opinion Research polling director John Della Volpe said that the president 's reelection will depend on whether he can appeal to such voters in the closing days of the race .
`` These poll results are a wake-up call for President Donald Trump who appears to be trailing his opponent Joe Biden among Catholic voters , '' Volpe said in a statement .
He pointed to Biden 's strength on the coronavirus as a major consideration for Catholic voters nationwide .
Respondents cited the economy , coronavirus , and health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head to the polls .
A majority of voters also listed Supreme Court appointments , abortion , and religious freedom as voting priorities , which could bolster Trump 's improved numbers in the swing states .
Trump 's positions on religious issues give him a sturdier standing among regular churchgoers with 78 percent of respondents saying they are more likely to support candidates who seek to protect religious freedom .
A majority said they are less likely to support a candidate who backs taxpayer-funded or unrestricted abortion .
Trump also may have found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeals court judge and Notre Dame Law School professor Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
Catholics favored Barrett 's confirmation by nearly 20 points with just 28 percent expressing opposition .
Two-thirds of respondents said a nominee 's faith should not be a topic for questioning during confirmation hearings .
`` Likely Catholic voters favor the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett by almost twenty percentage points , and a majority also agree that her faith should not be considered by the U.S. Senate in the confirmation process , '' Matthew Bunson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a release .
`` These are concerns among Catholics about religious liberty that we have been tracking in our previous polls , and clearly Catholics do not like policies or politics that threaten to use religious attacks to achieve a specific agenda . ''
In 2016 , Trump won the Catholic vote by 7 points , thanks to a dominating margin of victory among white Catholic voters .
Hispanic Catholics overwhelmingly backed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton .
Immigration and social issues that have typically defined the battle for Catholic voters may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Volpe .
The coronavirus may remain the great equalizer in the election .
`` If President Trump wants to change his polling among Catholics , this data suggests it would be wise to address the concerns they have about the coronavirus and the economy , '' Volpe said .
Both campaigns have courted Catholic voters in the closing months of the election , as Trump has signaled support for abortion restrictions and defended religious adoption agencies .
Biden , meanwhile , has centered his appeal on his personal life .
The Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at shoring up support among Catholic voters who may be skeptical about Biden 's support for taxpayer-funded abortion and opposition to a Supreme Court ruling on religious liberty .
The ads highlighted Biden 's stories of loss and invoked his father 's faith .
If elected , Biden would be the country 's second Catholic president .

Joe Biden and Donald Trump are running neck and neck among Catholic voters in six of the nation's most important swing states, according to a new poll.
Trump and Biden are statistically tied among Catholic voters in the battleground states of Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, according to an EWTN News/RealClear Opinion Research poll. Trump trails the Catholic Democrat by a 52-40 margin nationwide, but that lead falls within the margin of error in the states that are likely to determine the presidential election. Trump won the Catholic vote in 2016, but RealClear Opinion Research polling director John Della Volpe said that the president's reelection will depend on whether he can appeal to such voters in the closing days of the race.
"These poll results are a wake-up call for President Donald Trump who appears to be trailing his opponent Joe Biden among Catholic voters," Volpe said in a statement. He pointed to Biden's strength on the coronavirus as a major consideration for Catholic voters nationwide.
Respondents cited the economy, coronavirus, and health care as their three biggest priorities as they head to the polls. A majority of voters also listed Supreme Court appointments, abortion, and religious freedom as voting priorities, which could bolster Trump's improved numbers in the swing states. Trump's positions on religious issues give him a sturdier standing among regular churchgoers with 78 percent of respondents saying they are more likely to support candidates who seek to protect religious freedom. A majority said they are less likely to support a candidate who backs taxpayer-funded or unrestricted abortion.
Trump also may have found a winning issue with the nomination of appeals court judge and Notre Dame Law School professor Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Catholics favored Barrett's confirmation by nearly 20 points with just 28 percent expressing opposition. Two-thirds of respondents said a nominee's faith should not be a topic for questioning during confirmation hearings.
"Likely Catholic voters favor the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett by almost twenty percentage points, and a majority also agree that her faith should not be considered by the U.S. Senate in the confirmation process," Matthew Bunson, executive editor of EWTN News, said in a release. "These are concerns among Catholics about religious liberty that we have been tracking in our previous polls, and clearly Catholics do not like policies or politics that threaten to use religious attacks to achieve a specific agenda."
In 2016, Trump won the Catholic vote by 7 points, thanks to a dominating margin of victory among white Catholic voters. Hispanic Catholics overwhelmingly backed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Immigration and social issues that have typically defined the battle for Catholic voters may take a backseat in 2020, according to Volpe. The coronavirus may remain the great equalizer in the election.
"If President Trump wants to change his polling among Catholics, this data suggests it would be wise to address the concerns they have about the coronavirus and the economy," Volpe said.
Both campaigns have courted Catholic voters in the closing months of the election, as Trump has signaled support for abortion restrictions and defended religious adoption agencies. Biden, meanwhile, has centered his appeal on his personal life. The Biden campaign launched a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign aimed at shoring up support among Catholic voters who may be skeptical about Biden's support for taxpayer-funded abortion and opposition to a Supreme Court ruling on religious liberty. The ads highlighted Biden's stories of loss and invoked his father's faith. If elected, Biden would be the country's second Catholic president.


freebeacon--2020-10-21--The Media’s Futile Information Suppression Complex

If you needed evidence that `` Russian disinformation '' has become a catchall term for anything that undermines the Democratic Party 's electoral prospects , look no further than the response of top party apparatchiks and the mainstream media to last week 's New York Post exposé on Hunter Biden .
According to Sen. Chris Murphy ( D. , Conn. ) , the story is `` very likely Russian propaganda . ''
House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff ( D. , Calif. ) is certain the materials came `` from the Kremlin . ''
And CNN 's John Harwood tells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Russian intelligence . ''
The Russians may very well be behind the embarrassing email leak , as they were behind the leak of Hillary Clinton ’ s emails in 2016 .
That hardly makes the emails `` disinformation . ''
A photograph of Hunter Biden with a crack pipe dangling from his lips looks like the real McCoy to us .
The Biden campaign has offered no suggestion that the emails are phony .
Instead , Biden has offered the magical one-word response that his former boss , aided and abetted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2008 : Smear !
It says something about the state of the mainstream media that their response has been functionally indistinguishable from that of the Democratic Party 's leadership , elected and otherwise .
Rather than race to verify the Post ’ s reporting , reporters at outlets from the New York Times and the Washington Post to National Public Radio have worked to cast aspersions on the two young , female reporters behind the scoop .
`` Post deputy political editor Emma-Jo Morris ' reports on Biden this past week constitute the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' sniffed NPR 's David Folkenflik .
He did n't much care for her tenure as a producer for Fox News 's Sean Hannity or as an intern at the Washington Free Beacon , either .
Reporters who have stepped out of line—and had the temerity to suggest the Post has revealed newsworthy material—have been swiftly reprimanded .
Neera Tanden , professional scold and president of the left-wing Center for American Progress , lacerated reporters for sharing the story , labeling Politico ‘ s Marc Caputo `` a tool of a Russian campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The New York Times ‘ s Maggie Haberman provoked a mob attack on Twitter when she shared the story .
But most reporters were happy enough to self-censor , either for fear of the mob or because they 'd just as soon be part of it .
Jon Favreau , the former Obama flack who now interviews his old boss for a living , was pleased to report that `` most political reporters '' are debunking the `` fairly obvious bullshit '' peddled by `` right-wing liars . ''
Well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrate that Hunter Biden is a degenerate and a drug addict , facts already well-established by the public record .
They show that Joe Biden is a loving father , a fact also well-established .
And the emails raise the question—confirmed by other , independent source material and reporting—of whether the younger Biden 's depravity ensnared his loving father into taking meetings with unsavory foreigners .
The reporters at once-venerable institutions who at one point might have chased this story have been cowed into submission and supplanted by a new generation of journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the voting public but rather as herding it toward a particular political outcome .
That is why the unauthorized release of Trump 's taxes is front-page news , while the unauthorized release of Hunter Biden 's emails must be censored .
That censorship is futile in a fractured news environment where outlets such as the Post remain willing to endure the scorn of the elites—and where outlets such as the Free Beacon will continue to churn out talented young reporters to staff them .

If you needed evidence that "Russian disinformation" has become a catchall term for anything that undermines the Democratic Party's electoral prospects, look no further than the response of top party apparatchiks and the mainstream media to last week's New York Post exposé on Hunter Biden.
According to Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.), the story is "very likely Russian propaganda." House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff (D., Calif.) is certain the materials came "from the Kremlin." And CNN's John Harwood tells us the story is "clear disinformation by Russian intelligence."
The Russians may very well be behind the embarrassing email leak, as they were behind the leak of Hillary Clinton’s emails in 2016. That hardly makes the emails "disinformation." A photograph of Hunter Biden with a crack pipe dangling from his lips looks like the real McCoy to us.
The Biden campaign has offered no suggestion that the emails are phony. Instead, Biden has offered the magical one-word response that his former boss, aided and abetted by the press, used so effectively in 2008: Smear!
It says something about the state of the mainstream media that their response has been functionally indistinguishable from that of the Democratic Party's leadership, elected and otherwise.
Rather than race to verify the Post’s reporting, reporters at outlets from the New York Times and the Washington Post to National Public Radio have worked to cast aspersions on the two young, female reporters behind the scoop.
"Post deputy political editor Emma-Jo Morris' reports on Biden this past week constitute the sum total of her professional bylines," sniffed NPR's David Folkenflik. He didn't much care for her tenure as a producer for Fox News's Sean Hannity or as an intern at the Washington Free Beacon, either.
Reporters who have stepped out of line—and had the temerity to suggest the Post has revealed newsworthy material—have been swiftly reprimanded.
Neera Tanden, professional scold and president of the left-wing Center for American Progress, lacerated reporters for sharing the story, labeling Politico's Marc Caputo "a tool of a Russian campaign to hurt one candidate and help another."
The New York Times's Maggie Haberman provoked a mob attack on Twitter when she shared the story.
But most reporters were happy enough to self-censor, either for fear of the mob or because they'd just as soon be part of it. Jon Favreau, the former Obama flack who now interviews his old boss for a living, was pleased to report that "most political reporters" are debunking the "fairly obvious bullshit" peddled by "right-wing liars."
Well, where's the lie? The emails demonstrate that Hunter Biden is a degenerate and a drug addict, facts already well-established by the public record. They show that Joe Biden is a loving father, a fact also well-established.
And the emails raise the question—confirmed by other, independent source material and reporting—of whether the younger Biden's depravity ensnared his loving father into taking meetings with unsavory foreigners.
The reporters at once-venerable institutions who at one point might have chased this story have been cowed into submission and supplanted by a new generation of journalists who view their mission not as informing the voting public but rather as herding it toward a particular political outcome.
That is why the unauthorized release of Trump's taxes is front-page news, while the unauthorized release of Hunter Biden's emails must be censored.
That censorship is futile in a fractured news environment where outlets such as the Post remain willing to endure the scorn of the elites—and where outlets such as the Free Beacon will continue to churn out talented young reporters to staff them.


freebeacon--2020-10-21--Detroit Activists: Gary Peters ‘Hasn’t Shown Up’ in Black Communities

Sen. Gary Peters ( D. , Mich. ) has done little community outreach to Detroit 's African-American community and previously hired few black staffers during his tenure , weakening his appeal to a crucial demographic in his Senate race against a black challenger , according to African-American community leaders .
Peters has rarely shown up in black communities during the last six years and historically hired few black staffers , according to Detroit community leaders .
They say that the senator 's absence in the state 's African-American community has eroded his standing with a demographic that typically leans heavily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly stings for Peters because he is running against John James , a 39-year-old black Republican born in Detroit .
Pastor M.J. Reid , a conservative clergyman who works in a Detroit suburb , said that many Detroit residents struggle to even recognize Peters .
`` Guys like Peters are considered to be just basically career politicians who are not really doing anything that 's really had an effect in the black community , '' Reid told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` I would go as far as to say that if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , they probably would tell you they do n't even know who he is in the city of Detroit . ''
Peters 's lack of black support is one of the many reasons he has been forced into an unexpectedly difficult fight for political survival .
Several pollsters say James is within striking distance of the senator , and a recent New York Times survey found Peters leading James by only 1 point .
The race has become one of the most expensive in the country and presents an opportunity for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an election cycle even as incumbent Republicans face their own tough reelection battles .
Before his election to the Senate in 2014 , Peters represented a House district in Detroit that was 58 percent African American .
Despite this , Peters 's top Senate staffers—many of them holdovers from his time in the House—included no people of color in 2015 , according to a report by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies .
Peters 's office has become more diverse since 2015—one in four staffers in his office are now African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published by Senate Democrats .
Detroit community leaders , however , see little of that diversity represented in day-to-day politicking , especially compared to the office of Sen. Debbie Stabenow , Michigan 's senior Democratic senator .
`` In Stabenow 's office , you always saw African Americans around .
Debbie Stabenow was always cognizant of having people of color , but I just never knew many to be with Peters , '' said Steve Hood , a Detroit community activist and radio show host .
Hood , who identified himself as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peters made limited efforts to reach out to the African-American community before the election year .
Hood said that he will vote for Biden come November , but might split the ticket and support James .
`` Gary Peters … has n't shown up .
That 's the big problem , '' Hood said .
`` I 'm a lifelong Democrat , and the guy has n't shown up .
And that 's why he 's not placing higher in the polls when he should be blowing James out . ''

Sen. Gary Peters (D., Mich.) has done little community outreach to Detroit's African-American community and previously hired few black staffers during his tenure, weakening his appeal to a crucial demographic in his Senate race against a black challenger, according to African-American community leaders.
Peters has rarely shown up in black communities during the last six years and historically hired few black staffers, according to Detroit community leaders. They say that the senator's absence in the state's African-American community has eroded his standing with a demographic that typically leans heavily Democratic. The lack of African-American enthusiasm particularly stings for Peters because he is running against John James, a 39-year-old black Republican born in Detroit.
Pastor M.J. Reid, a conservative clergyman who works in a Detroit suburb, said that many Detroit residents struggle to even recognize Peters.
"Guys like Peters are considered to be just basically career politicians who are not really doing anything that's really had an effect in the black community," Reid told the Washington Free Beacon. "I would go as far as to say that if you would have talked to most black people, they probably would tell you they don't even know who he is in the city of Detroit."
Peters's lack of black support is one of the many reasons he has been forced into an unexpectedly difficult fight for political survival. Several pollsters say James is within striking distance of the senator, and a recent New York Times survey found Peters leading James by only 1 point. The race has become one of the most expensive in the country and presents an opportunity for the GOP to flip a Senate seat in an election cycle even as incumbent Republicans face their own tough reelection battles.
Before his election to the Senate in 2014, Peters represented a House district in Detroit that was 58 percent African American. Despite this, Peters's top Senate staffers—many of them holdovers from his time in the House—included no people of color in 2015, according to a report by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Peters's office has become more diverse since 2015—one in four staffers in his office are now African American or black, according to data published by Senate Democrats. Detroit community leaders, however, see little of that diversity represented in day-to-day politicking, especially compared to the office of Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Michigan's senior Democratic senator.
"In Stabenow's office, you always saw African Americans around. Debbie Stabenow was always cognizant of having people of color, but I just never knew many to be with Peters," said Steve Hood, a Detroit community activist and radio show host.
Hood, who identified himself as a "lifelong Democrat," said that Peters made limited efforts to reach out to the African-American community before the election year. Hood said that he will vote for Biden come November, but might split the ticket and support James.
"Gary Peters ... hasn't shown up. That's the big problem," Hood said. "I'm a lifelong Democrat, and the guy hasn't shown up. And that's why he's not placing higher in the polls when he should be blowing James out."


freebeacon--2020-10-21--Jaime Harrison Headlined Foreign ‘Lobbying School’

South Carolina Democratic Senate nominee Jaime Harrison was a featured speaker at a 2015 foreign `` lobbying school '' in Istanbul , Turkey .
The lobbying school , which was organized by the Istanbul Leadership Institute , saw Harrison lecture attendees on topics such as `` how to successfully lobby for your industry '' and the `` five key characteristics of an effective lobbyist , '' according to a May 2015 press release .
The school featured a slew of corporate backers , including Turkish Ticketmaster affiliate Biletix .
Former Macedonian minister for foreign investment Gligor Tashkovich and former Coca-Cola @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conference where attendees received a `` certificate with international recognition and prestige . ''
The conference came amid a government-led crackdown on free press in Turkey .
Roughly three months before the lobbying school took place , Istanbul prosecutors launched an investigation into Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet for reporting on an alleged arms deal between Turkey and Syrian jihadist groups .
Two of the outlet 's journalists were later charged with espionage , leading to protests throughout the country .
Harrison spoke at the conference as a top corporate lobbyist for the now-defunct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who 's who of corporate giants at the firm , including Walmart , BP , Bank of America , Google , and Boeing .
His eight-year tenure at the Podesta Group has come under fire in his run against Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham—an August Graham campaign ad called the Democrat a `` high paid liberal lobbyist '' who `` lobbied for a hedge fund that foreclosed on the homes of Katrina victims . ''
Harrison has accepted tens of thousands of dollars from lobbyists in his bid to unseat Graham .
At least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a registered foreign agent of Turkey , Kazakhstan , and Hungary .
Harrison 's Senate exploratory committee was also bankrolled by foreign lobbyists , with donors including registered agents for Ukraine and Iraq , according to the Center for Responsive Politics .
Prior to Harrison 's time at the Podesta Group , the Democrat worked as a top aide to Rep. Jim Clyburn ( D. , S.C. ) from 2003 to 2008 .
Former Podesta Group lobbyist Cristina Antelo discussed U.S.-Dubai relations with Harrison as a registered foreign agent of the Middle Eastern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act disclosures show .
She went on to donate $ 2,000 to the Democrat 's Senate campaign in 2019 .
Other top Harrison campaign backers include prominent Washington , D.C. , lobbyist Heather Podesta , whose ex-husband , Tony Podesta , cofounded Podesta Group in 1988 .
The Podestas helped raise at least $ 585,000 for Hillary Clinton 's 2016 failed presidential bid .
Harrison has received extensive support from top anti-lobbyist progressives , despite his deep ties to the industry .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
, who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the very definition of bribery , '' formally endorsed Harrison in July after praising the Democrat in 2019 .
`` Jaime Harrison will fight hard for the people of South Carolina and take our country forward , '' Warren said in a May 2019 tweet .
In addition to his campaign coffers , Harrison 's time as a corporate lobbyist proved lucrative for his personal finances .
The Democrat 's 2008 financial disclosure showed between $ 140,000 and $ 365,000 in credit card and loan debt .
Roughly three years after Harrison left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to $ 3.45 million in assets , including a joint checking account worth between $ 250,000 and $ 500,000 .
Harrison defended his work for the Podesta Group during a 2017 Vox interview .
`` I wo n't participate in this blanket assassination of various folks because some members of our party do n't agree with what their jobs are , '' Harrison said .
`` I ca n't just have that blanket statement saying , ‘ Yes , if you 're a lobbyist and even if you 're a good Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats elected . '
'' Neither Harrison nor the Istanbul Leadership Institute responded to requests for comment .

South Carolina Democratic Senate nominee Jaime Harrison was a featured speaker at a 2015 foreign "lobbying school" in Istanbul, Turkey.
The lobbying school, which was organized by the Istanbul Leadership Institute, saw Harrison lecture attendees on topics such as "how to successfully lobby for your industry" and the "five key characteristics of an effective lobbyist," according to a May 2015 press release. The school featured a slew of corporate backers, including Turkish Ticketmaster affiliate Biletix. Former Macedonian minister for foreign investment Gligor Tashkovich and former Coca-Cola government-relations director Nikolaus Tacke also spoke at the conference where attendees received a "certificate with international recognition and prestige."
The conference came amid a government-led crackdown on free press in Turkey. Roughly three months before the lobbying school took place, Istanbul prosecutors launched an investigation into Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet for reporting on an alleged arms deal between Turkey and Syrian jihadist groups. Two of the outlet's journalists were later charged with espionage, leading to protests throughout the country.
Harrison spoke at the conference as a top corporate lobbyist for the now-defunct Podesta Group. The Democrat represented a who's who of corporate giants at the firm, including Walmart, BP, Bank of America, Google, and Boeing. His eight-year tenure at the Podesta Group has come under fire in his run against Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham—an August Graham campaign ad called the Democrat a "high paid liberal lobbyist" who "lobbied for a hedge fund that foreclosed on the homes of Katrina victims."
Harrison has accepted tens of thousands of dollars from lobbyists in his bid to unseat Graham. At least one such donor—Greenberg Traurig lobbyist Albert Wynn—is a registered foreign agent of Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Hungary. Harrison's Senate exploratory committee was also bankrolled by foreign lobbyists, with donors including registered agents for Ukraine and Iraq, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Prior to Harrison's time at the Podesta Group, the Democrat worked as a top aide to Rep. Jim Clyburn (D., S.C.) from 2003 to 2008. Former Podesta Group lobbyist Cristina Antelo discussed U.S.-Dubai relations with Harrison as a registered foreign agent of the Middle Eastern city in 2008, Foreign Agents Registration Act disclosures show. She went on to donate $2,000 to the Democrat's Senate campaign in 2019.
Other top Harrison campaign backers include prominent Washington, D.C., lobbyist Heather Podesta, whose ex-husband, Tony Podesta, cofounded Podesta Group in 1988. The Podestas helped raise at least $585,000 for Hillary Clinton's 2016 failed presidential bid.
Harrison has received extensive support from top anti-lobbyist progressives, despite his deep ties to the industry. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), who has called campaign contributions by lobbyists "the very definition of bribery," formally endorsed Harrison in July after praising the Democrat in 2019.
"Jaime Harrison will fight hard for the people of South Carolina and take our country forward," Warren said in a May 2019 tweet.
In addition to his campaign coffers, Harrison's time as a corporate lobbyist proved lucrative for his personal finances. The Democrat's 2008 financial disclosure showed between $140,000 and $365,000 in credit card and loan debt. Roughly three years after Harrison left Podesta Group, however, he reported up to $3.45 million in assets, including a joint checking account worth between $250,000 and $500,000.
Harrison defended his work for the Podesta Group during a 2017 Vox interview.
"I won't participate in this blanket assassination of various folks because some members of our party don't agree with what their jobs are," Harrison said. "I can't just have that blanket statement saying, 'Yes, if you're a lobbyist and even if you're a good Democrat, you can't contribute to get Democrats elected.'"
Neither Harrison nor the Istanbul Leadership Institute responded to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-10-21--Continetti: Media Intimidated by Hunter Biden Story

Washington Free Beacon founding editor Matthew Continetti on Tuesday said the media are afraid to cover the New York Post ‘ s reporting on Hunter Biden ’ s emails .
On Fox News 's Special Report , Continetti told anchor Bret Baier that Biden sent a message to the media by lambasting CBS News reporter Bo Erickson for even asking about the emails .
`` You see how intimidated they are , Bret , by Joe Biden 's kind of snappish response to this CBS reporter who asked him about it , '' Continetti said .
`` They 're refusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage Joe Biden 's chances in the final two weeks of this election . ''
When the Democratic nominee was asked about the emails on Friday , he said he had `` no response '' and scolded Erickson for posing the question .
`` I know you ’ d ask it , '' Biden said .
`` I have no response .
It ’ s another smear campaign , right up your alley , those are the questions you always ask . ''
Continetti argued the media should be covering the report , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possession of Hunter Biden ’ s laptop , said the findings are not tied to any foreign election interference effort .
After the Post ‘ s story was published many in the media and the Democratic Party were quick to say , without evidence , that it was `` Russian disinformation . ''

Washington Free Beacon founding editor Matthew Continetti on Tuesday said the media are afraid to cover the New York Post's reporting on Hunter Biden’s emails.
On Fox News's Special Report, Continetti told anchor Bret Baier that Biden sent a message to the media by lambasting CBS News reporter Bo Erickson for even asking about the emails.
"You see how intimidated they are, Bret, by Joe Biden's kind of snappish response to this CBS reporter who asked him about it," Continetti said. "They're refusing to take up any story that might damage Joe Biden's chances in the final two weeks of this election."
When the Democratic nominee was asked about the emails on Friday, he said he had "no response" and scolded Erickson for posing the question.
"I know you’d ask it," Biden said. "I have no response. It’s another smear campaign, right up your alley, those are the questions you always ask."
Continetti argued the media should be covering the report, since the FBI, which is in possession of Hunter Biden’s laptop, said the findings are not tied to any foreign election interference effort. After the Post's story was published many in the media and the Democratic Party were quick to say, without evidence, that it was "Russian disinformation."


freebeacon--2020-10-21--Dem House Candidate Says PAC Contributions Should Be Taxed at 90% Rate

Texas Democratic congressional candidate Julie Oliver said corporate PAC contributions should be taxed at 90 percent to aid publicly financed campaigns , earning a round of praise from Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass. )
.
`` One of the things I ’ ve proposed .
.
.
is revoking the tax-exempt status of corporate PACs .
Let ’ s tax them , '' Oliver said during a fundraiser with the Progressive Change Campaign Committee .
`` Let ’ s tax them at like 90 percent .
Let ’ s create a revenue stream for the publicly financed campaigns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaker at the virtual event , affirmed the tax proposal and urged Oliver and other progressives to `` work with each other '' to enact changes to campaign finance law .
`` I love it , '' Warren said .
The Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United v. FEC that the First Amendment protects the right of groups such as unions and corporations to spend money on political messages .
Currently , no political contributions are taxed in the United States .
Oliver is running in Texas 's 25th Congressional District against Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 and was defeated by about 10 points .

Texas Democratic congressional candidate Julie Oliver said corporate PAC contributions should be taxed at 90 percent to aid publicly financed campaigns, earning a round of praise from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.).
"One of the things I’ve proposed . . . is revoking the tax-exempt status of corporate PACs. Let’s tax them," Oliver said during a fundraiser with the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. "Let’s tax them at like 90 percent. Let’s create a revenue stream for the publicly financed campaigns."
Warren, who was a speaker at the virtual event, affirmed the tax proposal and urged Oliver and other progressives to "work with each other" to enact changes to campaign finance law. "I love it," Warren said.
The Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United v. FEC that the First Amendment protects the right of groups such as unions and corporations to spend money on political messages. Currently, no political contributions are taxed in the United States.
Oliver is running in Texas's 25th Congressional District against Republican incumbent Roger Williams. She first ran in 2018 and was defeated by about 10 points.