freebeacon--2020-12-01--Schumer Regrets Backing Horny White Dude Over Qualified Black Woman

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) regrets his decision to crush the dreams of a qualified black woman by endorsing failed candidate and horny white dude Cal Cunningham for Senate in North Carolina .
Cunningham , who lost a tight race to Sen. Thom Tillis ( R. , N.C. ) after his extramarital affair came to light one month before the election , was Schumer 's preferred choice to be the party 's nominee .
On a recent call with Democratic donors , the Senate minority leader blamed Cunningham 's inability to `` keep his zipper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to recapture the Senate .
But no one forced Schumer and the party establishment to anoint Cunningham as the Democratic nominee .
They could have let the voters decide .
Instead , they intervened on his behalf to ensure that a qualified black woman also running in the primary would n't win the nomination .
Erica Smith , a state lawmaker and former Boeing engineer , was understandably livid after the Democratic Party officially endorsed Cunningham in October 2019 .
She called the endorsement an `` unacceptable … attempt to sway this election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told her `` unequivocally '' that they would not get involved in the primary .
Smith argued that race was a key factor in the party 's decision to back Cunningham .
`` Sen. Schumer , for whatever reason , did not want an African American running for Senate in North Carolina , '' she told supporters at a campaign event in January .
Smith is understandably still bitter at Schumer and other members of the Democratic establishment for backing Cunningham at her expense—and for losing the election—because `` there was no one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She blasted the Democratic Party 's `` pattern of interfering in primaries and elevating moderates at the expense of progressive people of color . ''
North Carolina is not the only state in which party leaders intervened on behalf of white candidates who went on to lose .
In Kentucky , the party backed Amy McGrath over Charles Booker , who is black , and poured tens of millions of dollars into the race .
McGrath lost to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell ( R. ) by almost 20 percentage points .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hegar at the expense of Royce West , a seasoned black politician who accused party leaders of `` trying to lock African Americans out of the process . ''
Hegar lost to Sen. John Cornyn ( R. ) by 10 percentage points .

Cunningham challenger blasted Democratic establishment for 'elevating moderates at the expense of progressive people of color'
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) regrets his decision to crush the dreams of a qualified black woman by endorsing failed candidate and horny white dude Cal Cunningham for Senate in North Carolina.
Cunningham, who lost a tight race to Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) after his extramarital affair came to light one month before the election, was Schumer's preferred choice to be the party's nominee.
On a recent call with Democratic donors, the Senate minority leader blamed Cunningham's inability to "keep his zipper up" for the party's failure to recapture the Senate.
But no one forced Schumer and the party establishment to anoint Cunningham as the Democratic nominee. They could have let the voters decide. Instead, they intervened on his behalf to ensure that a qualified black woman also running in the primary wouldn't win the nomination.
Erica Smith, a state lawmaker and former Boeing engineer, was understandably livid after the Democratic Party officially endorsed Cunningham in October 2019. She called the endorsement an "unacceptable … attempt to sway this election" and alleged that party leaders had told her "unequivocally" that they would not get involved in the primary.
Smith argued that race was a key factor in the party's decision to back Cunningham. "Sen. Schumer, for whatever reason, did not want an African American running for Senate in North Carolina," she told supporters at a campaign event in January.
Smith is understandably still bitter at Schumer and other members of the Democratic establishment for backing Cunningham at her expense—and for losing the election—because "there was no one more qualified than I was."
She blasted the Democratic Party's "pattern of interfering in primaries and elevating moderates at the expense of progressive people of color." North Carolina is not the only state in which party leaders intervened on behalf of white candidates who went on to lose.
In Kentucky, the party backed Amy McGrath over Charles Booker, who is black, and poured tens of millions of dollars into the race. McGrath lost to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R.) by almost 20 percentage points.
In Texas, the Democratic establishment boosted MJ Hegar at the expense of Royce West, a seasoned black politician who accused party leaders of "trying to lock African Americans out of the process." Hegar lost to Sen. John Cornyn (R.) by 10 percentage points.


freebeacon--2020-12-01--California’s Highest-Paid Govt Employee Worked for Org Tied to Chinese Espionage

California taxpayers shelled out more than $ 1 million to a man linked to a Chinese espionage program , making him the state government ’ s highest-paid worker .
Meng Yu , former chief investment officer of the California Public Employees ' Retirement System ( CalPERS ) , received more than $ 1.7 million in total pay and benefits in 2019 , according to the latest financial disclosures obtained by Transparent California , a taxpayer watchdog group .
Under Meng 's leadership the pension fund , which covers two million members in the retirement system and 1.5 million members under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to federal inquiries into its investments in Chinese government entities .
Meng took the lead at the pension fund after China 's Thousand Talents Program recruited him to serve as the deputy CIO of China 's State Administration of Foreign Exchange ( SAFE ) , a state-controlled entity .
The FBI considers the Thousand Talents Program an example of `` China 's non-traditional espionage against the United States '' that seeks to recruit people to transfer U.S. trade secrets and taxpayer-funded research into the hands of the Chinese government .
Meng told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked for SAFE out of patriotic commitment to `` the motherland . ''
Neither CalPERS nor Governor Gavin Newsom 's ( D. ) office responded to requests for comment .
Robert Fellner , the executive director of Transparent California , blasted CalPERS for failing to conduct appropriate oversight for such a high-profile position , pointing to Meng 's August resignation .
`` One would think that the state ’ s highest-paid employee earned his position after rigorous scrutiny revealed him to be the best candidate for the job , '' Fellner said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a decision of this size and magnitude , how can Californians have any faith that their tax dollars are being spent responsibly in all those areas that evade public scrutiny ? ''
Meng resigned after the financial news blog Naked Capitalism reported that he may have committed a felony by failing to disclose his sale of 21 securities in 2019 .
Some of the undisclosed sales involved shares in Chinese companies .
The site also argued that Meng 's investments in Blackstone Group and other private equity groups presented a conflict of interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offloading investments in the firms—a move that would hurt Meng ’ s personal portfolio .
Meng 's China ties attracted federal scrutiny .
In February , the Trump administration confirmed that it was `` looking at '' CalPERS 's investment in Chinese defense and state-owned companies to find out whether American taxpayer money was being used to subsidize China 's military expansion .
Rep. Jim Banks ( R. , Ind . )
, a leading China hawk on Capitol Hill , told the Washington Free Beacon that California owes taxpayers an explanation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from working for a Chinese entity to being the state 's top earner .
`` Californians not only had to see their hard-earned tax dollars go towards the buildup of our most dangerous adversary 's military , they had to pay the guy responsible more than any other public official in their state , '' Banks said .
`` That 's a raw deal . ''
Meng 's $ 1.7 million compensation—comprising $ 1.5 million in pay and roughly $ 200,000 in benefits—far exceeds that of his predecessor , Theodore Eliopoulos , whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made just shy of $ 1 million in total compensation in all of 2018 .
Meng 's 2019 salary also far exceeded that of the second-most compensated California state employee , who made less than $ 1.3 million .

California taxpayers shelled out more than $1 million to a man linked to a Chinese espionage program, making him the state government’s highest-paid worker.
Meng Yu, former chief investment officer of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), received more than $1.7 million in total pay and benefits in 2019, according to the latest financial disclosures obtained by Transparent California, a taxpayer watchdog group. Under Meng's leadership the pension fund, which covers two million members in the retirement system and 1.5 million members under its health program, has been subject to federal inquiries into its investments in Chinese government entities.
Meng took the lead at the pension fund after China's Thousand Talents Program recruited him to serve as the deputy CIO of China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), a state-controlled entity. The FBI considers the Thousand Talents Program an example of "China's non-traditional espionage against the United States" that seeks to recruit people to transfer U.S. trade secrets and taxpayer-funded research into the hands of the Chinese government. Meng told the propaganda outlet People's Daily that he worked for SAFE out of patriotic commitment to "the motherland."
Neither CalPERS nor Governor Gavin Newsom's (D.) office responded to requests for comment.
Robert Fellner, the executive director of Transparent California, blasted CalPERS for failing to conduct appropriate oversight for such a high-profile position, pointing to Meng's August resignation.
"One would think that the state’s highest-paid employee earned his position after rigorous scrutiny revealed him to be the best candidate for the job," Fellner said. "If such recklessness is prevalent in a decision of this size and magnitude, how can Californians have any faith that their tax dollars are being spent responsibly in all those areas that evade public scrutiny?"
Meng resigned after the financial news blog Naked Capitalism reported that he may have committed a felony by failing to disclose his sale of 21 securities in 2019. Some of the undisclosed sales involved shares in Chinese companies. The site also argued that Meng's investments in Blackstone Group and other private equity groups presented a conflict of interest, since experts at CalPERS had advocated offloading investments in the firms—a move that would hurt Meng’s personal portfolio.
Meng's China ties attracted federal scrutiny. In February, the Trump administration confirmed that it was "looking at" CalPERS's investment in Chinese defense and state-owned companies to find out whether American taxpayer money was being used to subsidize China's military expansion. Rep. Jim Banks (R., Ind.), a leading China hawk on Capitol Hill, told the Washington Free Beacon that California owes taxpayers an explanation for how Meng was able to go directly from working for a Chinese entity to being the state's top earner.
"Californians not only had to see their hard-earned tax dollars go towards the buildup of our most dangerous adversary's military, they had to pay the guy responsible more than any other public official in their state," Banks said. "That's a raw deal."
Meng's $1.7 million compensation—comprising $1.5 million in pay and roughly $200,000 in benefits—far exceeds that of his predecessor, Theodore Eliopoulos, whom Meng replaced in January 2019. Eliopoulos made just shy of $1 million in total compensation in all of 2018. Meng's 2019 salary also far exceeded that of the second-most compensated California state employee, who made less than $1.3 million.


freebeacon--2020-12-01--CNN Praises Biden for Breaking Foot

CNN Praises Biden for Breaking Foot

President-elect Joe Biden managed to win praise from CNN anchor Chris Cuomo for breaking his foot .
`` When Biden hurt his foot , I appreciated it , '' Cuomo said Monday before celebrating how forthcoming Biden 's aides were about what they say was a fall that occurred as the septuagenarian played with his dog .
Cuomo argued Biden 's forthrightness with the media was the opposite of President Donald Trump 's `` BS '' about his health .
The praise from Cuomo echoed a piece written on CNN 's website by editor-at-large Chris Cillizza , who commended the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday about Biden 's fall and subsequent trip to the hospital .
Cillizza 's piece , however , incorrectly states that Biden 's fall happened on Sunday when the press was notified—as MSNBC 's Andrea Mitchell rightly pointed out Monday morning , the incident occurred Saturday and the press was left in the dark until the next day when it was decided that Biden needed medical attention .
`` They weren ’ t as forthcoming as you would hope they would be with the press pool that ’ s supposed to cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contrasted Biden 's disclosure of the injury with Trump 's November 2019 trip to Walter Reed Medical Center , which the White House said was for a physical but was followed by weeks of speculation from reporters that it was for something more serious .
Reports that Trump was rushed to the hospital due to a severe condition were never substantiated , but commentators such as Cuomo have continued to believe Trump was lying .
Biden will be inaugurated next January as the oldest president in American history .

President-elect Joe Biden managed to win praise from CNN anchor Chris Cuomo for breaking his foot.
"When Biden hurt his foot, I appreciated it," Cuomo said Monday before celebrating how forthcoming Biden's aides were about what they say was a fall that occurred as the septuagenarian played with his dog. Cuomo argued Biden's forthrightness with the media was the opposite of President Donald Trump's "BS" about his health.
The praise from Cuomo echoed a piece written on CNN's website by editor-at-large Chris Cillizza, who commended the amount of information relayed to the press on Sunday about Biden's fall and subsequent trip to the hospital.
Cillizza's piece, however, incorrectly states that Biden's fall happened on Sunday when the press was notified—as MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell rightly pointed out Monday morning, the incident occurred Saturday and the press was left in the dark until the next day when it was decided that Biden needed medical attention.
"They weren’t as forthcoming as you would hope they would be with the press pool that’s supposed to cover him," Mitchell said.
Cuomo contrasted Biden's disclosure of the injury with Trump's November 2019 trip to Walter Reed Medical Center, which the White House said was for a physical but was followed by weeks of speculation from reporters that it was for something more serious. Reports that Trump was rushed to the hospital due to a severe condition were never substantiated, but commentators such as Cuomo have continued to believe Trump was lying.
Biden will be inaugurated next January as the oldest president in American history.


freebeacon--2020-12-01--Conscious Capitalists for Slave Labor

Conscious Capitalists for Slave Labor

Your Patagonia fleece may have been made with slave labor but the polyester was 100 percent recycled .
If you need any more convincing that `` conscious capitalism '' is merely a public relations stunt designed to pad the bottom line , look no further than a weekend New York Times exposé revealing the lobbying campaign underway to water down a congressional bill that would outlaw the importation of goods produced by Chinese slave laborers .
Among the companies shelling out millions of dollars on lobbyists so they can continue to exploit China 's persecuted Muslim minority are corporate giants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those companies deny relying on forced labor , but an Australian report issued in March suggests otherwise , and all three have spent heavily on lobbyists to weaken the bill , the Times says .
Those companies , along with Patagonia , also fingered in the report , have been vocal proponents of so-called conscious capitalism , the view that businesses should exist not to maximize shareholder value but to serve whatever faddish political cause happens to be the flavor of the month .
This brilliant feat of public relations is how a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patagonia has managed to position itself as a holier-than-thou environmental savior even as it exploits slave labor in the hinterlands of totalitarian China .
`` What I see beyond [ making money ] is very important , '' the former Coca-Cola CEO Glen Walter told Georgetown University students in 2013 .
`` It 's the ability to be a part of what we call ‘ conscious capitalism . '
We have a purpose that allows us to take those amazing resources and the proceeds from those resources and very humbly do things that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' We imagine their message to Congress is closer to Eddie Murphy 's message to the company 's onetime brand ambassador , Bill Cosby .
As ever , these companies have managed to do well by `` doing good . ''
Patagonia 's decision to weave left-wing politics into its corporate fabric has led it to a valuation of around $ 1 billion .
The outdoor clothing company recently joined Coca-Cola and Nike in pulling ads from Facebook , an attempt to strong-arm the company into policing so-called hate speech .
We assume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that moral crusade pales in comparison to the costs of moving production away from Xinjiang 's slave laborers—and that their investment in lobbying is intended to ensure business continues to boom .
We do n't condone it , but we wish they would concede their attacks on Facebook , like every other preening brand-building exercise they partake in , are motivated by the same cynical and craven calculation .

Your Patagonia fleece may have been made with slave labor but the polyester was 100 percent recycled.
If you need any more convincing that "conscious capitalism" is merely a public relations stunt designed to pad the bottom line, look no further than a weekend New York Times exposé revealing the lobbying campaign underway to water down a congressional bill that would outlaw the importation of goods produced by Chinese slave laborers.
Among the companies shelling out millions of dollars on lobbyists so they can continue to exploit China's persecuted Muslim minority are corporate giants Coca-Cola, Nike, and Apple. Those companies deny relying on forced labor, but an Australian report issued in March suggests otherwise, and all three have spent heavily on lobbyists to weaken the bill, the Times says.
Those companies, along with Patagonia, also fingered in the report, have been vocal proponents of so-called conscious capitalism, the view that businesses should exist not to maximize shareholder value but to serve whatever faddish political cause happens to be the flavor of the month. This brilliant feat of public relations is how a rapacious and soulless high-end clothing company like Patagonia has managed to position itself as a holier-than-thou environmental savior even as it exploits slave labor in the hinterlands of totalitarian China.
"What I see beyond [making money] is very important," the former Coca-Cola CEO Glen Walter told Georgetown University students in 2013. "It's the ability to be a part of what we call 'conscious capitalism.' We have a purpose that allows us to take those amazing resources and the proceeds from those resources and very humbly do things that impact the world in amazing ways." We imagine their message to Congress is closer to Eddie Murphy's message to the company's onetime brand ambassador, Bill Cosby.
As ever, these companies have managed to do well by "doing good." Patagonia's decision to weave left-wing politics into its corporate fabric has led it to a valuation of around $1 billion.
The outdoor clothing company recently joined Coca-Cola and Nike in pulling ads from Facebook, an attempt to strong-arm the company into policing so-called hate speech.
We assume that whatever business they have lost from that moral crusade pales in comparison to the costs of moving production away from Xinjiang's slave laborers—and that their investment in lobbying is intended to ensure business continues to boom. We don't condone it, but we wish they would concede their attacks on Facebook, like every other preening brand-building exercise they partake in, are motivated by the same cynical and craven calculation.


freebeacon--2020-12-02--Biden Education Lead: Chinese Communist Party Has Done ‘Magical Work’

Joe Biden 's education transition team lead has a long history of praising China 's school system—a system the Chinese Communist Party designed to indoctrinate students .
Linda Darling-Hammond , a Stanford University professor and the president of the California State Board of Education , has praised the Chinese Communist Party 's education system for its `` magical work '' in establishing a strong teacher-government presence in student life .
In her 2017 book Empowered Educators : How High-Performing Systems Shape Teaching Quality Around the World , she explained the centrality of the teacher to Chinese students ' lives .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ elders , role models , and those whom parents entrust to shape the future of their children , '' Darling-Hammond wrote .
`` In the Tao traditions of ritual , the phrase ‘ heaven-earth-sovereign- parent-teacher ' is repeated and becomes ingrained in how people see themselves holistically governed and supported . ''
The Stanford educator failed to mention that any other teacher-student `` relationship '' could result in imprisonment .
The Chinese government continually cracks down on `` Western values '' in the classroom by sending state-sponsored inspectors to monitor teachers—particularly in higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party leader Xi Jinping has said that China 's schools and teachers must `` serve the Communist Party in its management of the country . ''
Not serving it can carry steep consequences .
In July , for example , Chinese professor Xu Zhangrun was placed under house arrest after he criticized Xi 's handling of the coronavirus crisis .
He was subsequently fired from his teaching position at Tsinghua University—one of China 's most elite institutions—after he spoke out against Xi 's removal of presidential term limits .
In her book , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending on education .
But that money has been unevenly distributed , resulting in persistent inequalities .
Sixty percent of rural students drop out by the time they reach high school , and of the remaining 40 percent , only a small fraction take college entrance exams .
Similar disparities apply to teachers—yet in a 2011 Washington Post article , Darling-Hammond lauded China for boosting spending on teachers ' professional development .
She also took a `` detailed statement '' from the Chinese minister of education at face value , in which he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of yuen '' to improving teachers ' `` working … and living conditions . ''
Such omissions appear in Darling-Hammond 's Twitter feed as well .
In 2018 , she tweeted that the United States had 71 times as many school shootings as China , but declined to note that Chinese crime statistics are notoriously inaccurate .
She also ignored the numerous stabbings that plague Chinese schools .
In October 2018 , a woman stabbed 14 children in a kindergarten class .
In April 2018 , nine students were murdered at a middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire life entrenched in Ivy League institutions , beginning at Yale University in 1969 .
In 2008 , she served as the lead for Barack Obama 's education transition team .
Darling-Hammond had been under consideration to be Biden 's secretary of education but claimed she was `` not interested '' in the position , citing her desire to continue working with California governor Gavin Newsom .
The Biden team did not respond to requests for comment .

Joe Biden's education transition team lead has a long history of praising China's school system—a system the Chinese Communist Party designed to indoctrinate students.
Linda Darling-Hammond, a Stanford University professor and the president of the California State Board of Education, has praised the Chinese Communist Party's education system for its "magical work" in establishing a strong teacher-government presence in student life. In her 2017 book Empowered Educators: How High-Performing Systems Shape Teaching Quality Around the World, she explained the centrality of the teacher to Chinese students' lives.
"Teachers in China are revered as elders, role models, and those whom parents entrust to shape the future of their children," Darling-Hammond wrote. "In the Tao traditions of ritual, the phrase 'heaven-earth-sovereign- parent-teacher' is repeated and becomes ingrained in how people see themselves holistically governed and supported."
The Stanford educator failed to mention that any other teacher-student "relationship" could result in imprisonment. The Chinese government continually cracks down on "Western values" in the classroom by sending state-sponsored inspectors to monitor teachers—particularly in higher education—for "improper" remarks. Communist Party leader Xi Jinping has said that China's schools and teachers must "serve the Communist Party in its management of the country."
Not serving it can carry steep consequences. In July, for example, Chinese professor Xu Zhangrun was placed under house arrest after he criticized Xi's handling of the coronavirus crisis. He was subsequently fired from his teaching position at Tsinghua University—one of China's most elite institutions—after he spoke out against Xi's removal of presidential term limits.
In her book, Darling-Hammond also praised China for dramatically increasing spending on education. But that money has been unevenly distributed, resulting in persistent inequalities. Sixty percent of rural students drop out by the time they reach high school, and of the remaining 40 percent, only a small fraction take college entrance exams.
Similar disparities apply to teachers—yet in a 2011 Washington Post article, Darling-Hammond lauded China for boosting spending on teachers' professional development. She also took a "detailed statement" from the Chinese minister of education at face value, in which he claimed that China had allocated "billions of yuen" to improving teachers' "working ... and living conditions."
Such omissions appear in Darling-Hammond's Twitter feed as well. In 2018, she tweeted that the United States had 71 times as many school shootings as China, but declined to note that Chinese crime statistics are notoriously inaccurate. She also ignored the numerous stabbings that plague Chinese schools. In October 2018, a woman stabbed 14 children in a kindergarten class. In April 2018, nine students were murdered at a middle school.
Darling-Hammond has spent nearly her entire life entrenched in Ivy League institutions, beginning at Yale University in 1969. In 2008, she served as the lead for Barack Obama's education transition team. Darling-Hammond had been under consideration to be Biden's secretary of education but claimed she was "not interested" in the position, citing her desire to continue working with California governor Gavin Newsom.
The Biden team did not respond to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-12-02--‘Not a Good Fit’: Team Biden Stabs Former MoveOn Chief in the Back

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris snubbed vocal Israel critic Karine Jean-Pierre in the final months of the presidential campaign .
Jean-Pierre , whom President-elect Joe Biden tapped for Harris 's chief of staff while on the campaign trail , was `` not a good fit '' and `` estranged '' from Harris 's inner circle , sources told Politico .
Harris left Jean-Pierre off her list of White House staff picks .
Biden apparently did n't deem Jean-Pierre a good fit either .
While there was speculation that Biden would name Jean-Pierre White House press secretary , she will instead assume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he takes office in January .
Before being drafted for Biden 's team , Jean-Pierre worked as a senior adviser and national spokeswoman for MoveOn.org , a leftist group that supports boycotting Israel .
Jean-Pierre wrote an op-ed last year that blamed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee for the Trump administration 's withdrawal from the failed Iran nuclear deal .
She accused the group of being `` racist , '' `` Islamophobic , '' and `` anti-Muslim . ''
Like most of Biden 's administration picks , Jean-Pierre worked in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regional political director for the Office of Public Affairs .

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris snubbed vocal Israel critic Karine Jean-Pierre in the final months of the presidential campaign.
Jean-Pierre, whom President-elect Joe Biden tapped for Harris's chief of staff while on the campaign trail, was "not a good fit" and "estranged" from Harris's inner circle, sources told Politico. Harris left Jean-Pierre off her list of White House staff picks.
Biden apparently didn't deem Jean-Pierre a good fit either. While there was speculation that Biden would name Jean-Pierre White House press secretary, she will instead assume the role of principal deputy press secretary when he takes office in January.
Before being drafted for Biden's team, Jean-Pierre worked as a senior adviser and national spokeswoman for MoveOn.org, a leftist group that supports boycotting Israel.
Jean-Pierre wrote an op-ed last year that blamed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee for the Trump administration's withdrawal from the failed Iran nuclear deal. She accused the group of being "racist," "Islamophobic," and "anti-Muslim."
Like most of Biden's administration picks, Jean-Pierre worked in the Obama White House, serving as the regional political director for the Office of Public Affairs.


freebeacon--2020-12-02--Georgia Dem Warnock Has Long History of Anti-Gun Activism

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock has a history of anti-gun activism dating back to at least 2013 and extending even to messages delivered at the pulpit .
Warnock repeatedly mocked and opposed gun-rights legislation while declaring anti-gun measures moral imperatives during his time as the pastor of Atlanta 's Ebenezer Baptist Church .
Gun-rights groups hope Warnock 's past will repel voters in the January runoff election .
Jerry Henry , executive director of Georgia Carry , which has been in political fights with Warnock before , said his past is a liability .
`` It will hurt him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Washington Free Beacon .
`` Most Georgians understand the necessity of self-defense . ''
In 2014 , Warnock mocked pro-gun lawmakers behind the Safe Carry Protection Act , which allowed concealed carry in churches , among other places .
He said the bipartisan bill would serve to arm `` crazy people . ''
`` You 've got politicians who go to church every Sunday morning and then walk into that capitol , stand under that gold dome , and come up with the dumbest legislation you can ever imagine , '' Warnock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Think about all the crazy people you bump into just on the routine , every week .
On your job , on the street , some of them in church .
… Imagine all them people with guns . ''
While Warnock has not emphasized gun control during his Senate run , gun-rights supporters say his past comments show he would support President-elect Joe Biden 's push for new strict anti-gun measures .
The race between him and incumbent Republican Kelly Loeffler , a staunch gun-rights supporter , could determine which party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mobilizing its 8,000 members against the potential threat for new federal gun laws if Loeffler and fellow GOP senator David Perdue lose .
`` We are trying to educate our membership to the possibility of considerable gun control in our future if we allow both our senators to lose , '' Henry said .
`` Our national gun rights are at stake , in my opinion . ''
The Warnock campaign did not respond to a request for comment The National Rifle Association has also homed in on Warnock 's rhetoric on guns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of dollars on canvassing and mail ads in the race , the group promoted a social media video on Monday that featured a clip of Warnock mocking the idea of allowing those with state licenses to carry guns in churches .
The NRA juxtaposed Warnock 's comments against interviews with the stories of two men who shot back at attackers who targeted churches .
Warnock helped lead a failed lobbying campaign to block the Safe Carry Protection Act in 2014 and testified against it at the Georgia House of Representatives .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` the gun lobby foisting their agenda on churches , and I think it 's a tragic violation of church and state . ''
In a 2014 sermon , he also railed against `` Stand Your Ground '' laws , which allow people to use deadly force if they are in reasonable fear for their lives without first having to try to retreat .
`` No , it 's not a ‘ Stand Your Ground ' law , '' Warnock said .
`` It 's a shoot-first law .
Shoot first , ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been endorsed by the top anti-gun groups in the country , also has a long history of joining anti-gun coalitions .
In April 2013 , he partnered with then-New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg 's Mayors Against Illegal Guns to advocate for federal universal background check legislation on the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. 's death .
Months later , Warnock participated in a voluntary gun buyback in Atlanta where he publicly criticized citizens who showed up to buy guns from those waiting in line .
In a 2015 interview with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warnock quoted King—who was a pastor of Warnock 's church—to advocate for new gun control in the wake of the Charleston church shooting .
He accused those who oppose some anti-gun measures of being bought off and immoral .
Henry said he expects Warnock 's anti-gun support to make it difficult for him to win statewide .
`` It will not hurt him in the metro areas but it will not help him there as well , '' Henry said .
`` This is a statewide election and he will need to garner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will be very difficult once you get out of the cities . ''

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock has a history of anti-gun activism dating back to at least 2013 and extending even to messages delivered at the pulpit.
Warnock repeatedly mocked and opposed gun-rights legislation while declaring anti-gun measures moral imperatives during his time as the pastor of Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church. Gun-rights groups hope Warnock's past will repel voters in the January runoff election. Jerry Henry, executive director of Georgia Carry, which has been in political fights with Warnock before, said his past is a liability.
"It will hurt him throughout the state," Henry told the Washington Free Beacon. "Most Georgians understand the necessity of self-defense."
In 2014, Warnock mocked pro-gun lawmakers behind the Safe Carry Protection Act, which allowed concealed carry in churches, among other places. He said the bipartisan bill would serve to arm "crazy people."
"You've got politicians who go to church every Sunday morning and then walk into that capitol, stand under that gold dome, and come up with the dumbest legislation you can ever imagine," Warnock said in a February 2014 sermon. "Think about all the crazy people you bump into just on the routine, every week. On your job, on the street, some of them in church. ... Imagine all them people with guns."
While Warnock has not emphasized gun control during his Senate run, gun-rights supporters say his past comments show he would support President-elect Joe Biden's push for new strict anti-gun measures. The race between him and incumbent Republican Kelly Loeffler, a staunch gun-rights supporter, could determine which party controls the Senate. Georgia Carry is mobilizing its 8,000 members against the potential threat for new federal gun laws if Loeffler and fellow GOP senator David Perdue lose.
"We are trying to educate our membership to the possibility of considerable gun control in our future if we allow both our senators to lose," Henry said. "Our national gun rights are at stake, in my opinion."
The Warnock campaign did not respond to a request for comment
The National Rifle Association has also homed in on Warnock's rhetoric on guns. In addition to spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on canvassing and mail ads in the race, the group promoted a social media video on Monday that featured a clip of Warnock mocking the idea of allowing those with state licenses to carry guns in churches. The NRA juxtaposed Warnock's comments against interviews with the stories of two men who shot back at attackers who targeted churches.
Warnock helped lead a failed lobbying campaign to block the Safe Carry Protection Act in 2014 and testified against it at the Georgia House of Representatives. At a rally, Warnock said it was "the gun lobby foisting their agenda on churches, and I think it's a tragic violation of church and state." In a 2014 sermon, he also railed against "Stand Your Ground" laws, which allow people to use deadly force if they are in reasonable fear for their lives without first having to try to retreat.
"No, it's not a 'Stand Your Ground' law," Warnock said. "It's a shoot-first law. Shoot first, ask questions later."
Warnock, who has been endorsed by the top anti-gun groups in the country, also has a long history of joining anti-gun coalitions. In April 2013, he partnered with then-New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns to advocate for federal universal background check legislation on the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s death. Months later, Warnock participated in a voluntary gun buyback in Atlanta where he publicly criticized citizens who showed up to buy guns from those waiting in line. In a 2015 interview with the liberal outlet Democracy Now!, Warnock quoted King—who was a pastor of Warnock's church—to advocate for new gun control in the wake of the Charleston church shooting. He accused those who oppose some anti-gun measures of being bought off and immoral.
Henry said he expects Warnock's anti-gun support to make it difficult for him to win statewide.
"It will not hurt him in the metro areas but it will not help him there as well," Henry said. "This is a statewide election and he will need to garner all the votes he can muster and that will be very difficult once you get out of the cities."


freebeacon--2020-12-02--Ossoff, Whose Father Took $1 Mil from Gov’t Relief Fund, Slams Greedy Business Owners for Raiding PP

Ossoff, Whose Father Took $1 Mil from Gov’t Relief Fund, Slams Greedy Business Owners for Raiding PPP

DECATUR , Ga.—Georgia Democratic Senate hopeful Jon Ossoff said Paycheck Protection Program funds were `` raided by larger companies '' without mentioning that his wealthy father 's company received as much as $ 1 million through the program .
`` [ Republicans ] do n't care about small businesses .
And as we saw , the PPP funds were raided by larger companies , '' Ossoff said during a Wednesday-morning campaign event in Decatur .
The Democrat said nothing about his father Richard Ossoff 's involvement in the program .
The elder Ossoff 's Atlanta-based company , Strafford Publications , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million from the PPP on June 9 .
The company—which collects an estimated $ 28 million in annual revenue—has amassed Ossoff 's father a sizable fortune that allowed him to purchase a private plane in 2014 .
Ossoff 's father has been a major driver of the Georgia Democrat 's political career , contributing more than $ 17,000 to his son 's campaigns since 2017 and nearly $ 150,000 to other federal Democrats since 2002 .
Ossoff 's father also footed the bill for his son 's Washington , D.C. , residence while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Hank Johnson ( D. , Ga. ) , and Ossoff used a large family inheritance to purchase control of his foreign film company in 2013 .
Ossoff on Wednesday also noted that the PPP 's reauthorization has been `` blocked since late summer , '' saying that securing a second round of small business loans through the program `` goes back to who has power . ''
In October , however , Senate Democrats shot down a standalone measure allocating $ 258 billion in PPP funds , as the proposal did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) called the measure a `` political stunt , '' sparking criticism from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( D. , Ky. ) .
`` The Democratic leaders have spent months holding out for a long far-left wish list of non-COVID related priorities and restricting additional aid until they get it , '' McConnell said .
`` There 's no reason the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program should wait another single day . ''
Democrats also voted against GOP coronavirus stimulus packages that included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ossoff is running to unseat Republican Sen. David Perdue in Georgia 's January 5 runoff .
The Democrat on Wednesday criticized Perdue for having `` no sense of what ordinary people are going through '' but did not discuss his family 's wealth and its impact on his political career .
Perdue has labeled Ossoff a `` trust fund socialist who lives off his family 's money . ''

DECATUR, Ga.—Georgia Democratic Senate hopeful Jon Ossoff said Paycheck Protection Program funds were "raided by larger companies" without mentioning that his wealthy father's company received as much as $1 million through the program.
"[Republicans] don't care about small businesses. And as we saw, the PPP funds were raided by larger companies," Ossoff said during a Wednesday-morning campaign event in Decatur.
The Democrat said nothing about his father Richard Ossoff's involvement in the program. The elder Ossoff's Atlanta-based company, Strafford Publications, received between $350,000 and $1 million from the PPP on June 9. The company—which collects an estimated $28 million in annual revenue—has amassed Ossoff's father a sizable fortune that allowed him to purchase a private plane in 2014.
Ossoff's father has been a major driver of the Georgia Democrat's political career, contributing more than $17,000 to his son's campaigns since 2017 and nearly $150,000 to other federal Democrats since 2002. Ossoff's father also footed the bill for his son's Washington, D.C., residence while Ossoff worked as a congressional aide to Rep. Hank Johnson (D., Ga.), and Ossoff used a large family inheritance to purchase control of his foreign film company in 2013.
Ossoff on Wednesday also noted that the PPP's reauthorization has been "blocked since late summer," saying that securing a second round of small business loans through the program "goes back to who has power." In October, however, Senate Democrats shot down a standalone measure allocating $258 billion in PPP funds, as the proposal did not include larger economic relief. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) called the measure a "political stunt," sparking criticism from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (D., Ky.).
"The Democratic leaders have spent months holding out for a long far-left wish list of non-COVID related priorities and restricting additional aid until they get it," McConnell said. "There's no reason the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program should wait another single day."
Democrats also voted against GOP coronavirus stimulus packages that included PPP funding in September and October.
Ossoff is running to unseat Republican Sen. David Perdue in Georgia's January 5 runoff. The Democrat on Wednesday criticized Perdue for having "no sense of what ordinary people are going through" but did not discuss his family's wealth and its impact on his political career. Perdue has labeled Ossoff a "trust fund socialist who lives off his family's money."


freebeacon--2020-12-02--San Francisco Bans Smoking Tobacco in Apartments—but Allows Weed

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to ban smoking in apartment buildings—but made an exception for marijuana , the San Francisco Chronicle reported .
Supervisor Norman Yee ( D. ) brought forward the original measure—which included a ban on smoking weed—last week , with the intent of protecting nonsmokers from inhaling secondhand smoke inside apartment complexes .
After pro-marijuana activists spoke out against the prohibition , however , the board passed an amendment that allows renters to smoke weed in their units .
Those who smoke tobacco products will have to step outside .
Activists claimed the original @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apartment complexes , who can not smoke outside because smoking marijuana in public is illegal in California .
The amendment to exclude weed from the ban passed 8-3 , and the ban as a whole passed 10-1 .
It will again face the board next week for a secondary vote , a formality before it reaches the mayor 's desk .
San Francisco is the largest United States city to ban smoking within apartment buildings , according to the Chronicle .
The new ordinance falls under the jurisdiction of the city 's Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fines of $ 1,000 per day if they are caught smoking inside their unit more than once .
California was the first state to legalize cannabis for medical use , in 1996 .
The state legalized the drug for recreational use in 2010 .
Last year , Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned against the widespread legalization of marijuana , noting that we lack clear data on the drug 's longterm effects .

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to ban smoking in apartment buildings—but made an exception for marijuana, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Supervisor Norman Yee (D.) brought forward the original measure—which included a ban on smoking weed—last week, with the intent of protecting nonsmokers from inhaling secondhand smoke inside apartment complexes.
After pro-marijuana activists spoke out against the prohibition, however, the board passed an amendment that allows renters to smoke weed in their units. Those who smoke tobacco products will have to step outside.
Activists claimed the original measure would have essentially criminalized weed in apartment complexes, who cannot smoke outside because smoking marijuana in public is illegal in California.
The amendment to exclude weed from the ban passed 8-3, and the ban as a whole passed 10-1. It will again face the board next week for a secondary vote, a formality before it reaches the mayor's desk.
San Francisco is the largest United States city to ban smoking within apartment buildings, according to the Chronicle.
The new ordinance falls under the jurisdiction of the city's Department of Public Health. Tobacco smokers face fines of $1,000 per day if they are caught smoking inside their unit more than once.
California was the first state to legalize cannabis for medical use, in 1996. The state legalized the drug for recreational use in 2010.
Last year, Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned against the widespread legalization of marijuana, noting that we lack clear data on the drug's longterm effects.


freebeacon--2020-12-02--San Francisco Mayor Attends Indoor Dinner Party, Flouting Her Coronavirus Guidelines

San Francisco mayor London Breed ( D. ) attended an indoor dinner party despite urging city residents to forgo social gatherings to help stop the spread of coronavirus .
Breed celebrated a friend 's birthday on Nov. 7 with seven others at French Laundry , a three-star Michelin restaurant in Napa County , the San Francisco Chronicle reported Tuesday .
The party occurred just one night after California governor Gavin Newsom ( D. ) was spotted dining maskless at the same restaurant , Fox 11 Los Angeles first reported .
The November dinner party would have violated restrictions in Breed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where restaurants are banned from allowing more than six diners to sit at one table , according to the Chronicle .
At the time of the two dinners , state officials warned Californians against attending social gatherings—which were restricted to no more than three households—to help stop the spread of coronavirus .
Despite attending parties themselves , Breed and Newsom asked constituents to refrain from gathering indoors .
Just days after the dinner party , Breed stalled the reopening of indoor dining in San Francisco , saying citizens must `` act responsibly to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Breed and Newsom are among a handful of California Democrats who have attended dinners and other outings despite regulations barring their constituents from doing the same .
Earlier this year , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited a hair salon in San Francisco while the city had ordered salons to remain closed .
Los Angeles County supervisor Sheila Kuehl dined outdoors at a Santa Monica restaurant just hours after she voted to ban outdoor dining last week .
And San Jose mayor Sam Liccardo visited his parents for Thanksgiving dinner despite telling city @ @ @ @ @ @

San Francisco mayor London Breed (D.) attended an indoor dinner party despite urging city residents to forgo social gatherings to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
Breed celebrated a friend's birthday on Nov. 7 with seven others at French Laundry, a three-star Michelin restaurant in Napa County, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Tuesday. The party occurred just one night after California governor Gavin Newsom (D.) was spotted dining maskless at the same restaurant, Fox 11 Los Angeles first reported.
The November dinner party would have violated restrictions in Breed's home city of San Francisco, where restaurants are banned from allowing more than six diners to sit at one table, according to the Chronicle. At the time of the two dinners, state officials warned Californians against attending social gatherings—which were restricted to no more than three households—to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
Despite attending parties themselves, Breed and Newsom asked constituents to refrain from gathering indoors. Just days after the dinner party, Breed stalled the reopening of indoor dining in San Francisco, saying citizens must "act responsibly to reduce the spread of the virus."
Breed and Newsom are among a handful of California Democrats who have attended dinners and other outings despite regulations barring their constituents from doing the same.
Earlier this year, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited a hair salon in San Francisco while the city had ordered salons to remain closed.
Los Angeles County supervisor Sheila Kuehl dined outdoors at a Santa Monica restaurant just hours after she voted to ban outdoor dining last week. And San Jose mayor Sam Liccardo visited his parents for Thanksgiving dinner despite telling city residents to avoid holiday gatherings.


freebeacon--2020-12-02--Ossoff Campaigns on TikTok Ahead of Runoff

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff took to TikTok on Tuesday to broadcast a campaign video on the Chinese social media platform .
`` You have to stop acting like the Senate is n't at stake in these two Georgia runoffs , '' Ossoff said in the video .
`` The future of our country and planet are at stake . ''
The bio on Ossoff 's verified TikTok account @ jon reads , `` Proud Georgian .
Candidate for United States Senate . ''
Ossoff faces incumbent Sen. David Perdue ( R. ) in one of the two Jan. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an app run by Chinese tech giant ByteDance , which the Trump administration describes as a national security threat .
Administration officials have voiced concern that under the Chinese Communist Party 's policy of strict state oversight of the private sector , Beijing could access TikTok 's data and the personal information of American users .
`` TikTok basically allows the Chinese Communist Party to spy on our children , '' Keith Krach , undersecretary of state for economic growth , energy , and environment , told the Washington Free Beacon in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to ban the application or force it to be sold to an American company , and the Senate unanimously voted to ban the app from all devices issued by the federal government .
The Ossoff campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the security concerns associated with the app .
Ossoff has faced scrutiny in the past for his ties to the Chinese Communist Party .
A September report from National Review revealed that during his time managing an investigative documentary company , Ossoff received at least $ 5,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ally of the CCP .
The chairman of the Chinese firm has spoken out against the independence movement in Hong Kong .

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff took to TikTok on Tuesday to broadcast a campaign video on the Chinese social media platform.
"You have to stop acting like the Senate isn't at stake in these two Georgia runoffs," Ossoff said in the video. "The future of our country and planet are at stake."
The bio on Ossoff's verified TikTok account @jon reads, "Proud Georgian. Candidate for United States Senate." Ossoff faces incumbent Sen. David Perdue (R.) in one of the two Jan. 5 Georgia Senate runoff elections.
TikTok is an app run by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, which the Trump administration describes as a national security threat. Administration officials have voiced concern that under the Chinese Communist Party's policy of strict state oversight of the private sector, Beijing could access TikTok's data and the personal information of American users.
"TikTok basically allows the Chinese Communist Party to spy on our children," Keith Krach, undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy, and environment, told the Washington Free Beacon in September.
The Trump administration has made efforts to ban the application or force it to be sold to an American company, and the Senate unanimously voted to ban the app from all devices issued by the federal government.
The Ossoff campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the security concerns associated with the app.
Ossoff has faced scrutiny in the past for his ties to the Chinese Communist Party. A September report from National Review revealed that during his time managing an investigative documentary company, Ossoff received at least $5,000 from a Hong Kong company run by an ally of the CCP. The chairman of the Chinese firm has spoken out against the independence movement in Hong Kong.


freebeacon--2020-12-02--Prominent Diversity Consulting Firm Funded Entirely by Taxpayer Dollars

A prominent equity consulting firm that conducts `` anti-racist '' trainings is funded entirely by taxpayer dollars , tax filings reveal .
The Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium ( MAEC ) is a self-proclaimed `` social justice '' nonprofit that conducts `` anti-racist audits '' for corporations and schools , often in partnership with far-left groups such as the Southern Poverty Law Center .
The consortium was recently awarded a lucrative contract by Maryland 's largest school district and works with educators across 15 states .
MAEC 's influence comes at the taxpayer 's expense .
According to its most recent tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 million solely from government grants between mid-2018 and mid-2019 .
It has not reported a single private donation in four years .
MAEC 's reach is made possible thanks to a partnership with the Department of Education .
Equity firms have profited greatly from the burgeoning anti-racist movement in academia .
The MAEC was awarded a $ 454,680 contract with the Montgomery County Public School district to conduct an `` anti-racist audit '' of the school 's policies ; in nearby Loudoun County , a similar consulting firm raked in $ 422,500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as White Fragility author Robin DiAngelo , make nearly $ 13,000 for a speaking gig on college campuses .
The MAEC also touts a handful of left-leaning education partners , including the Southern Poverty Law Center 's `` Teaching Tolerance '' arm , which pushes for students to learn about slavery beginning in kindergarten .
The consortium is considered the main equity firm in the Mid-Atlantic region .
City Journal ‘ s Christopher Rufo told the Washington Free Beacon that taxpayers should n't foot the bill for `` divisive pseudosciences .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary strategy : securing taxpayer funds to push the deeply ideological agenda of critical race theory , '' Rufo said .
`` This kind of program plays on a double-standard .
It would be unimaginable for a taxpayer-funded organization to teach a pro-life or pro-gun message in public school , but it has become commonplace to have taxpayer-funded organizations teaching extreme left-wing doctrine in public schools . ''
The MAEC has raked in a steady stream of government grants over the years .
Of the $ 19 million the group has raised since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxpayer-backed cash , according to a review of its financial filings .
Its most recent tax forms show that from mid-2018 to mid-2019 , the group spent $ 1.6 million on `` equity projects '' to examine and address systematic policies and practices , nearly $ 233,000 on `` family engagement '' projects to build partnerships among schools and parents , and nearly $ 74,000 on youth projects .
Susan Shaffer , the group 's president , has received more than $ 200,000 in compensation , and Maria Del Rosario Basterra , its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 140,000 from the nonprofit .
The U.S. Department of Education awarded the MAEC an equity assistance grant for the mid-Atlantic region in 2011 .
In return , the consortium worked with 850 school districts in 6 states to provide training and technical assistance .
It appears to have expanded its footprint since that time , as it now operates in 15 states and U.S. territories , including several , such as Kentucky , Puerto Rico , and the Virgin Islands , that are outside the mid-Atlantic region .
In September , President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contractors from teaching critical race theory or any `` ideology rooted in the pernicious and false belief that America is an irredeemably racist and sexist country . ''
The Department of Education is still contracted with the MAEC , per its website , despite the firm 's overt embrace of such ideologies .
Neither the Department of Education nor the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium responded to requests for comment .

A prominent equity consulting firm that conducts "anti-racist" trainings is funded entirely by taxpayer dollars, tax filings reveal.
The Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium (MAEC) is a self-proclaimed "social justice" nonprofit that conducts "anti-racist audits" for corporations and schools, often in partnership with far-left groups such as the Southern Poverty Law Center. The consortium was recently awarded a lucrative contract by Maryland's largest school district and works with educators across 15 states.
MAEC's influence comes at the taxpayer's expense. According to its most recent tax filings, the group hauled in $2 million solely from government grants between mid-2018 and mid-2019. It has not reported a single private donation in four years. MAEC's reach is made possible thanks to a partnership with the Department of Education.
Equity firms have profited greatly from the burgeoning anti-racist movement in academia. The MAEC was awarded a $454,680 contract with the Montgomery County Public School district to conduct an "anti-racist audit" of the school's policies; in nearby Loudoun County, a similar consulting firm raked in $422,500 in two years. Prominent diversity consultants, such as White Fragility author Robin DiAngelo, make nearly $13,000 for a speaking gig on college campuses.
The MAEC also touts a handful of left-leaning education partners, including the Southern Poverty Law Center's "Teaching Tolerance" arm, which pushes for students to learn about slavery beginning in kindergarten. The consortium is considered the main equity firm in the Mid-Atlantic region.
City Journal's Christopher Rufo told the Washington Free Beacon that taxpayers shouldn't foot the bill for "divisive pseudosciences."
"This has become activists' primary strategy: securing taxpayer funds to push the deeply ideological agenda of critical race theory," Rufo said. "This kind of program plays on a double-standard. It would be unimaginable for a taxpayer-funded organization to teach a pro-life or pro-gun message in public school, but it has become commonplace to have taxpayer-funded organizations teaching extreme left-wing doctrine in public schools."
The MAEC has raked in a steady stream of government grants over the years. Of the $19 million the group has raised since 2001, $17 million is from taxpayer-backed cash, according to a review of its financial filings. Its most recent tax forms show that from mid-2018 to mid-2019, the group spent $1.6 million on "equity projects" to examine and address systematic policies and practices, nearly $233,000 on "family engagement" projects to build partnerships among schools and parents, and nearly $74,000 on youth projects. Susan Shaffer, the group's president, has received more than $200,000 in compensation, and Maria Del Rosario Basterra, its vice president, has collected more than $140,000 from the nonprofit.
The U.S. Department of Education awarded the MAEC an equity assistance grant for the mid-Atlantic region in 2011. In return, the consortium worked with 850 school districts in 6 states to provide training and technical assistance. It appears to have expanded its footprint since that time, as it now operates in 15 states and U.S. territories, including several, such as Kentucky, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, that are outside the mid-Atlantic region.
In September, President Trump issued an executive order banning federal contractors from teaching critical race theory or any "ideology rooted in the pernicious and false belief that America is an irredeemably racist and sexist country." The Department of Education is still contracted with the MAEC, per its website, despite the firm's overt embrace of such ideologies.
Neither the Department of Education nor the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium responded to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-12-02--Omar and Tlaib Headline Anti-Israel Hatefest

Democratic representatives Ilhan Omar ( Minn. ) , Rashida Tlaib ( Mich. ) , and Betty McCollum ( Minn. ) headlined a conference this weekend run by one of the nation 's most prolific anti-Israel advocacy groups , lending their support to an organization that champions boycotts of Israel and has partnered with individuals tied to terrorism .
The lawmakers , known for their anti-Israel rhetoric and promotion of anti-Semitic materials , appeared at the American Muslims for Palestine 's ( AMP ) annual conference , which was held virtually over Thanksgiving weekend .
The conference featured outspoken critics of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Hamas terror group .
AMP , which itself has been tied to terror financiers , is a leading promoter of the Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions movement , which seeks to wage economic warfare on Israel by boycotting Jewish-made goods .
The lawmakers gave remarks alongside speakers such as Tarek Hamoud , executive director of the Palestinian Return Center , which has reportedly been linked to Hamas .
Other speakers included Huwaida Arraf , a BDS promoter and lawyer who represented a Palestinian terrorist .
AMP has also employed individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was probed by the FBI in 2001 for illicitly funneling upward of $ 12 million to Hamas .
AMP 's founder , Hatem Bazian , is the creator of Students for Justice in Palestine , a notoriously anti-Semitic campus group that has harassed and assaulted Jewish students .
During the three-day conference , speakers from across the pro-Palestinian advocacy scene discussed their efforts to push the incoming Biden administration into adopting a more hardline stance against Israel that includes rolling back critical U.S. security aid .
Organizations like AMP are fighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden 's White House , as lawmakers such as Omar and Tlaib work to mainstream anti-Israel voices .
Tlaib , in her remarks , lashed out at American `` supporters of the occupation , '' a reference to pro-Israel organizations in America that support Israel 's right to exist .
She claimed these groups are `` working to criminalize our right to boycott and organize—literally our freedom of speech and First Amendment . ''
Americans , Tlaib added , `` are questioning how we can claim to stand for liberty and justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tune of $ 3 billion a year . ''
She also celebrated the rise of a new class of Democratic lawmakers `` who are n't afraid to speak out for Palestinian human rights and freedom . ''
Omar slammed the Trump administration 's pro-Israel policies , which include moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and recognizing the Jewish state 's control of territory in the Golan Heights region .
She criticized Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for visiting contested territories during his most recent trip to Israel and cementing these policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pompeo visits an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank and orders imports from these settlements [ to be ] labeled ‘ products of Israel , ' we should call this de facto annexation a violation of international law , '' Omar said .
McCollum claimed Palestinians are `` living under brutal conditions '' and `` forced to survive under Israeli occupation '' that includes `` constant threat of abuse , violence , and annexation . ''
Judicial Watch , a conservative legal advocacy group , said `` Congress should reprimand three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Islamic terrorism in a conference sponsored by an anti-Semitic group with deep ties to Hamas , the Palestinian extremist group that calls for eradicating the state of Israel . ''
In addition to the lawmakers , speakers at the event included AMP 's Kifah Mustapha , another activist tied to the FBI 's 2001 terror financing case .
Mustapha is a hardline Muslim cleric who promoted polygamy and strict restrictions on the way Muslim women behave , according to the Middle East Forum .
Also appearing was AMP 's national policy director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hamas as `` an army for liberation , '' according to reports .

Democratic representatives Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), and Betty McCollum (Minn.) headlined a conference this weekend run by one of the nation's most prolific anti-Israel advocacy groups, lending their support to an organization that champions boycotts of Israel and has partnered with individuals tied to terrorism.
The lawmakers, known for their anti-Israel rhetoric and promotion of anti-Semitic materials, appeared at the American Muslims for Palestine's (AMP) annual conference, which was held virtually over Thanksgiving weekend. The conference featured outspoken critics of Israel, including those with reported ties to the Hamas terror group. AMP, which itself has been tied to terror financiers, is a leading promoter of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, which seeks to wage economic warfare on Israel by boycotting Jewish-made goods.
The lawmakers gave remarks alongside speakers such as Tarek Hamoud, executive director of the Palestinian Return Center, which has reportedly been linked to Hamas. Other speakers included Huwaida Arraf, a BDS promoter and lawyer who represented a Palestinian terrorist. AMP has also employed individuals who worked for the Holy Land Foundation, which was probed by the FBI in 2001 for illicitly funneling upward of $12 million to Hamas. AMP's founder, Hatem Bazian, is the creator of Students for Justice in Palestine, a notoriously anti-Semitic campus group that has harassed and assaulted Jewish students.
During the three-day conference, speakers from across the pro-Palestinian advocacy scene discussed their efforts to push the incoming Biden administration into adopting a more hardline stance against Israel that includes rolling back critical U.S. security aid. Organizations like AMP are fighting for a seat at the table in Joe Biden's White House, as lawmakers such as Omar and Tlaib work to mainstream anti-Israel voices.
Tlaib, in her remarks, lashed out at American "supporters of the occupation," a reference to pro-Israel organizations in America that support Israel's right to exist. She claimed these groups are "working to criminalize our right to boycott and organize—literally our freedom of speech and First Amendment."
Americans, Tlaib added, "are questioning how we can claim to stand for liberty and justice while bankrolling Israeli military crimes to the tune of $3 billion a year." She also celebrated the rise of a new class of Democratic lawmakers "who aren't afraid to speak out for Palestinian human rights and freedom."
Omar slammed the Trump administration's pro-Israel policies, which include moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and recognizing the Jewish state's control of territory in the Golan Heights region. She criticized Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for visiting contested territories during his most recent trip to Israel and cementing these policies.
"When Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank and orders imports from these settlements [to be] labeled 'products of Israel,' we should call this de facto annexation a violation of international law," Omar said.
McCollum claimed Palestinians are "living under brutal conditions" and "forced to survive under Israeli occupation" that includes "constant threat of abuse, violence, and annexation."
Judicial Watch, a conservative legal advocacy group, said "Congress should reprimand three of its members for participating with financiers of Islamic terrorism in a conference sponsored by an anti-Semitic group with deep ties to Hamas, the Palestinian extremist group that calls for eradicating the state of Israel."
In addition to the lawmakers, speakers at the event included AMP's Kifah Mustapha, another activist tied to the FBI's 2001 terror financing case. Mustapha is a hardline Muslim cleric who promoted polygamy and strict restrictions on the way Muslim women behave, according to the Middle East Forum.
Also appearing was AMP's national policy director Osama Abu Irshaid, who has described Hamas as "an army for liberation," according to reports.


freebeacon--2020-12-02--Biden-Linked Firm WestExec Scrubs China Work From Website

The Washington , D.C. , consulting firm cofounded by President-elect Joe Biden ’ s secretary of state nominee , Antony Blinken , has removed from its website details of its China-related business as the firm ’ s work has drawn scrutiny following Biden 's election victory .
As recently as late July , WestExec Advisors touted its work helping major American universities court donations in China without jeopardizing Pentagon-funded research grants .
An archived version of the WestExec site states that `` U.S. research universities '' were among the company ’ s clients and that the consultancy worked with schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DoD-sponsored research grants while expanding foreign research collaboration , accepting foreign donations , and welcoming foreign students in key STEM programs . ''
The company deleted references to such work from its website between July 26 and August 2 , weeks before Biden accepted his nomination at the Democratic National Convention in late August .
The consultancy ’ s work is under the microscope because Biden has tapped , or is considering tapping , several of its principals and advisers who have thus far refused to disclose their clients or elaborate on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is eyeing Blinken ’ s WestExec cofounder , the former Pentagon official Michèle Flournoy , as a potential secretary of defense .
His nominee to be the intelligence chief , Avril Haines , and incoming press secretary Jen Psaki have also done work for the firm .
Founded in 2017 , WestExec boasted of deploying its deep government connections on behalf of its clients , pledging to bring `` the situation room to the board room , '' and promised first-hand knowledge and government access to clients .
The firm has dabbled in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of which involves U.S. adversaries such as China and Russia .
A spokeswoman for WestExec told the Washington Free Beacon that the firm `` previously offered a service targeted to U.S. research universities to help them avoid inadvertently becoming involved with the Chinese government . ''
She said the company no longer offers the service but declined to elaborate on why that decision was made .
The firm still says on its website that it helps clients navigate `` China-related risks in an era of strategic competition '' and at one point strongly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government contacts , helping American universities seeking Chinese money `` navigate these issues with the Department of Defense . ''
The broad corporate portfolio also raises questions about the Biden nominees ’ public comments about China at a time when they were on the payroll of U.S. businesses seeking to expand access there .
Blinken , for example , slammed the Trump administration ’ s foreign policy in a 2017 New York Times op-ed , writing that `` Trump Is Ceding Global Leadership to China . ''
`` While Mr. Trump is obsessed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ busy building bridges , '' Blinken wrote .
`` I ’ d never bet against the United States , but if the Trump-led retreat into nationalism , protectionism , unilateralism and xenophobia continues , China ’ s model could carry the day . ''
Senate Republicans are already signaling that they intend to press Biden ’ s nominees on their business ties .
Sen. John Cornyn ( R. , Texas ) said the Senate is `` not obligated to confirm anyone '' who hides their prior clients , while Sen. Marco Rubio ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for nominees who previously helped U.S. businesses expand in China .
`` America will not be stronger or safer if its foreign policy & national security agencies are led by people who just finished getting paid to help American companies do business with the Communist Party of # China , '' Rubio tweeted on Monday .
The Biden transition team did not return a request for comment .

The Washington, D.C., consulting firm cofounded by President-elect Joe Biden’s secretary of state nominee, Antony Blinken, has removed from its website details of its China-related business as the firm’s work has drawn scrutiny following Biden's election victory.
As recently as late July, WestExec Advisors touted its work helping major American universities court donations in China without jeopardizing Pentagon-funded research grants. An archived version of the WestExec site states that "U.S. research universities" were among the company’s clients and that the consultancy worked with schools to "remain a trusted partner for DoD-sponsored research grants while expanding foreign research collaboration, accepting foreign donations, and welcoming foreign students in key STEM programs." The company deleted references to such work from its website between July 26 and August 2, weeks before Biden accepted his nomination at the Democratic National Convention in late August.
The consultancy’s work is under the microscope because Biden has tapped, or is considering tapping, several of its principals and advisers who have thus far refused to disclose their clients or elaborate on the precise nature of their work.
Biden is eyeing Blinken’s WestExec cofounder, the former Pentagon official Michèle Flournoy, as a potential secretary of defense. His nominee to be the intelligence chief, Avril Haines, and incoming press secretary Jen Psaki have also done work for the firm.
Founded in 2017, WestExec boasted of deploying its deep government connections on behalf of its clients, pledging to bring "the situation room to the board room," and promised first-hand knowledge and government access to clients. The firm has dabbled in an array of consulting work, some of which involves U.S. adversaries such as China and Russia.
A spokeswoman for WestExec told the Washington Free Beacon that the firm "previously offered a service targeted to U.S. research universities to help them avoid inadvertently becoming involved with the Chinese government." She said the company no longer offers the service but declined to elaborate on why that decision was made.
The firm still says on its website that it helps clients navigate "China-related risks in an era of strategic competition" and at one point strongly suggested its principals would lean on their government contacts, helping American universities seeking Chinese money "navigate these issues with the Department of Defense."
The broad corporate portfolio also raises questions about the Biden nominees’ public comments about China at a time when they were on the payroll of U.S. businesses seeking to expand access there. Blinken, for example, slammed the Trump administration’s foreign policy in a 2017 New York Times op-ed, writing that "Trump Is Ceding Global Leadership to China."
"While Mr. Trump is obsessed with building walls, Mr. Xi is busy building bridges," Blinken wrote. "I’d never bet against the United States, but if the Trump-led retreat into nationalism, protectionism, unilateralism and xenophobia continues, China’s model could carry the day."
Senate Republicans are already signaling that they intend to press Biden’s nominees on their business ties. Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas) said the Senate is "not obligated to confirm anyone" who hides their prior clients, while Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) voiced his skepticism for nominees who previously helped U.S. businesses expand in China.
"America will not be stronger or safer if its foreign policy & national security agencies are led by people who just finished getting paid to help American companies do business with the Communist Party of #China," Rubio tweeted on Monday.
The Biden transition team did not return a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-12-03--Neal Katyal, the Devil’s Advocate

Neal Katyal, the Devil’s Advocate

There 's been a transformation in this country over the last 10 years .
In 2010 , Neal Katyal , then a lawyer in the Obama Justice Department , became the face of the `` al Qaeda 7″—a group of lawyers who went from repping the terrorists bent on America 's destruction to repping the American people at the Department of Justice .
When Liz Cheney demanded that the Justice Department disclose their names , the backlash was immediate and fierce .
Lawyers across the political spectrum rallied behind the principle that a lawyer 's clients bear no reflection on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provides for his family by defending child molesters and murderers—he provides a necessary service and deserves our appreciation .
And in any case , Katyal and his colleagues were n't defending al Qaeda , they were defending the Constitution ; they were n't doing it for cash , they were doing it pro bono .
Ten years later and the worm has turned .
The Trump campaign 's lawyers are now excoriated in the New York Times , which cried McCarthyism when it was Democrats like Katyal who took on unsavory clients .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ circle .
After years of posturing and preening in the Obama administration followed by stints as acting solicitor general of the United States ( acting only thanks to the good work of now Rep. Liz Cheney ( R. , Wyo . )
who , by spotlighting Katyal 's work for al Qaeda , made him unconfirmable in the Senate ) and resident Resistance pundit on CNN , he found himself again before the Supreme Court on Tuesday defending corporations accused of abetting child slavery .
This time it was n't pro bono , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's worth .
Justice Clarence Thomas asked Katyal to explain why corporations were n't obviously liable for their involvement in the enslavement of children .
Katyal responded that his clients are merely accused of `` aiding and abetting '' slavery , for which there is no black letter liability .
Justice Samuel Alito asked Katyal whether a U.S. corporation that `` makes a big show of supporting every cause du jour but hires foreign agents to kidnap children and keep them in bondage on a plantation '' might be liable when those children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sue in U.S. court .
Katyal responded that they would not have redress in an American court under those circumstances because there would be `` no domestic injury . ''
Consistency is an overrated principle in life and politics , but one principle we have consistently held is that lawyers should get no special dispensation for representing the scum of the earth .
When they defend Fortune 500 companies from charges of aiding and abetting child slavery for $ 2,000 an hour , let 's call them what they are : mercenaries .

There's been a transformation in this country over the last 10 years.
In 2010, Neal Katyal, then a lawyer in the Obama Justice Department, became the face of the "al Qaeda 7"—a group of lawyers who went from repping the terrorists bent on America's destruction to repping the American people at the Department of Justice.
When Liz Cheney demanded that the Justice Department disclose their names, the backlash was immediate and fierce. Lawyers across the political spectrum rallied behind the principle that a lawyer's clients bear no reflection on the lawyer himself.
The lawyer who provides for his family by defending child molesters and murderers—he provides a necessary service and deserves our appreciation.
And in any case, Katyal and his colleagues weren't defending al Qaeda, they were defending the Constitution; they weren't doing it for cash, they were doing it pro bono.
Ten years later and the worm has turned. The Trump campaign's lawyers are now excoriated in the New York Times, which cried McCarthyism when it was Democrats like Katyal who took on unsavory clients.
And now Katyal himself has come full circle. After years of posturing and preening in the Obama administration followed by stints as acting solicitor general of the United States (acting only thanks to the good work of now Rep. Liz Cheney (R., Wyo.) who, by spotlighting Katyal's work for al Qaeda, made him unconfirmable in the Senate) and resident Resistance pundit on CNN, he found himself again before the Supreme Court on Tuesday defending corporations accused of abetting child slavery.
This time it wasn't pro bono, and Nestlé and Cargill got every penny's worth.
Justice Clarence Thomas asked Katyal to explain why corporations weren't obviously liable for their involvement in the enslavement of children. Katyal responded that his clients are merely accused of "aiding and abetting" slavery, for which there is no black letter liability.
Justice Samuel Alito asked Katyal whether a U.S. corporation that "makes a big show of supporting every cause du jour but hires foreign agents to kidnap children and keep them in bondage on a plantation" might be liable when those children, somehow emancipated, grow up and sue in U.S. court. Katyal responded that they would not have redress in an American court under those circumstances because there would be "no domestic injury."
Consistency is an overrated principle in life and politics, but one principle we have consistently held is that lawyers should get no special dispensation for representing the scum of the earth. When they defend Fortune 500 companies from charges of aiding and abetting child slavery for $2,000 an hour, let's call them what they are: mercenaries.


freebeacon--2020-12-03--Continetti: Trump Risks Hurting GOP Turnout in Georgia With Election Fraud Claims

Washington Free Beacon founding editor Matthew Continetti said Wednesday that President Donald Trump risks hindering Republican turnout in the Georgia Senate runoffs with his claims of widespread voter fraud .
`` There is a real risk here that as he continues to challenge the election , he will also delegitimize the electoral process in the eyes of many Republican voters , '' Continetti said on Fox News 's Special Report .
`` And that is possibly handing the Senate to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris . ''
Continetti said that Trump is walking a `` political tightrope '' by claiming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support Republican candidates in Georgia .
Trump is traveling to Georgia Saturday to hold a rally for Republican senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue .
In a 46-minute speech released on the president 's social media platforms , Trump laid out his claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election .
Continetti pointed out that releasing the speech through social media outlets allowed Trump to speak directly to his most loyal supporters instead of relying on news networks .
Congress is set to officially certify the results of the election on Jan. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runoffs that will determine whether Republicans keep control of the Senate .

Washington Free Beacon founding editor Matthew Continetti said Wednesday that President Donald Trump risks hindering Republican turnout in the Georgia Senate runoffs with his claims of widespread voter fraud.
"There is a real risk here that as he continues to challenge the election, he will also delegitimize the electoral process in the eyes of many Republican voters," Continetti said on Fox News's Special Report. "And that is possibly handing the Senate to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris."
Continetti said that Trump is walking a "political tightrope" by claiming the election was stolen while also trying to support Republican candidates in Georgia. Trump is traveling to Georgia Saturday to hold a rally for Republican senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue.
In a 46-minute speech released on the president's social media platforms, Trump laid out his claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Continetti pointed out that releasing the speech through social media outlets allowed Trump to speak directly to his most loyal supporters instead of relying on news networks.
Congress is set to officially certify the results of the election on Jan. 6, one day after the Georgia runoffs that will determine whether Republicans keep control of the Senate.


freebeacon--2020-12-03--Anti-Israel Groups Mobilize to Install Allies in Biden Admin

Anti-Israel organizations have launched a coordinated effort to pressure the incoming Biden administration into selecting people who will champion their causes , a push that reportedly includes opposing mainstream nominees supported by leading Democrats and Republicans .
In a bid to agree on strategy and maximize pressure on Joe Biden 's transition team , more than 100 far-left organizations , including Code Pink and Win Without War , held a Wednesday conference call `` to try to get on the same page and make a more coherent pitch to the Biden team , '' according to Politico .
The organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who share these organizations ' foreign policy ideology , which includes rolling back sanctions on Iran and challenging American aid to Israel .
Included on the call was Matt Duss , a top adviser for Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) who has made a name on the foreign policy stage for his hardline anti-Israel views .
Duss faced charges of promoting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories during his time as a blogger at the Center for American Progress , a liberal think tank , and was ultimately pushed out of the organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in pressuring the Biden transition team is likely to worry pro-Israel Democrats who prefer the incoming administration sideline the most radical voices in the party , such as Democratic representatives Ilhan Omar ( Minn. ) and Rashida Tlaib ( Mich. ) .
The House progressives have been working to mainstream anti-Israel voices and push policies such as conditioning military assistance to Israel until it bows to far-left demands .
Last week , Duss responded to the assassination of a top Iranian nuclear weapons program official by accusing the perpetrator , assumed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ —a claim that was roundly criticized by regional experts .
Also on the call were Common Defense , an anti-Trump veterans ' group , and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee , a left-wing advocacy group aligned with Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
, according to Politico .
`` We 'd like to bring everyone together to formulate a more coordinated and organized strategy to ensure we advance progressives in key foreign policy positions , '' the groups wrote in an invitation to the call that was obtained by Politico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been pressuring Biden to reconsider his more mainstream foreign policy picks , especially Michele Flournoy , a veteran defense official who is in line to lead the Pentagon .
Code Pink , for instance , is known for its aggressive opposition to Israel and the U.S. security relationship with the country .
It has backed anti-Semitic statements from lawmakers such as Omar , who accused the American Israel Public Affairs Committee—the nation 's top pro-Israel group—of exerting financial control over Congress and the U.S. foreign policy establishment .
Code Pink and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden administration to undo the Trump administration 's `` maximum pressure '' campaign on Iran , which includes crippling sanctions on the country 's economy , nuclear program , and terrorism enterprise .

Anti-Israel organizations have launched a coordinated effort to pressure the incoming Biden administration into selecting people who will champion their causes, a push that reportedly includes opposing mainstream nominees supported by leading Democrats and Republicans.
In a bid to agree on strategy and maximize pressure on Joe Biden's transition team, more than 100 far-left organizations, including Code Pink and Win Without War, held a Wednesday conference call "to try to get on the same page and make a more coherent pitch to the Biden team," according to Politico. The organizations are preparing to recommend some 200 staffers who share these organizations' foreign policy ideology, which includes rolling back sanctions on Iran and challenging American aid to Israel.
Included on the call was Matt Duss, a top adviser for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) who has made a name on the foreign policy stage for his hardline anti-Israel views. Duss faced charges of promoting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories during his time as a blogger at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, and was ultimately pushed out of the organization by Biden nominee Neera Tanden. His role in pressuring the Biden transition team is likely to worry pro-Israel Democrats who prefer the incoming administration sideline the most radical voices in the party, such as Democratic representatives Ilhan Omar (Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.). The House progressives have been working to mainstream anti-Israel voices and push policies such as conditioning military assistance to Israel until it bows to far-left demands.
Last week, Duss responded to the assassination of a top Iranian nuclear weapons program official by accusing the perpetrator, assumed to be Israel, of "terrorism"—a claim that was roundly criticized by regional experts.
Also on the call were Common Defense, an anti-Trump veterans' group, and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a left-wing advocacy group aligned with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), according to Politico.
"We'd like to bring everyone together to formulate a more coordinated and organized strategy to ensure we advance progressives in key foreign policy positions," the groups wrote in an invitation to the call that was obtained by Politico.
Many of the organizations who participated have been pressuring Biden to reconsider his more mainstream foreign policy picks, especially Michele Flournoy, a veteran defense official who is in line to lead the Pentagon.
Code Pink, for instance, is known for its aggressive opposition to Israel and the U.S. security relationship with the country. It has backed anti-Semitic statements from lawmakers such as Omar, who accused the American Israel Public Affairs Committee—the nation's top pro-Israel group—of exerting financial control over Congress and the U.S. foreign policy establishment.
Code Pink and others on the left also are pressuring the Biden administration to undo the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, which includes crippling sanctions on the country's economy, nuclear program, and terrorism enterprise.


freebeacon--2020-12-03--Democratic Louisiana Governor Dined Maskless at Country Club Despite Guidelines

Louisiana ’ s Democratic governor John Bel Edwards was spotted dining at a country club without a mask , despite his own coronavirus health restrictions requiring people to wear masks in public .
Edwards addressed the recently surfaced photograph , which shows him and others dining at the Baton Rouge Country Club in mid-November , at a press conference on Wednesday .
Despite his phase three lockdown orders , which mandate that people wear masks whenever they are within six feet of another person , Edwards claimed he did nothing wrong .
`` There was absolutely nothing I did that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place in phase three , '' Edwards said .
The photo shows Edwards standing near other country club members without a mask , leaning through a doorway to reenter the building .
In an op-ed in the Advocate published just days before Thanksgiving , Edwards told Louisianians to `` always wear your mask if you are around people not part of your immediate household . ''
Edwards is the latest in a slew of Democratic elected officials who have violated their own coronavirus health restrictions .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at salons , despite mandates closing salons .
San Jose mayor Sam Liccardo spent Thanksgiving with family members despite urging his constituents not to gather to celebrate the holiday .
And a Los Angeles County supervisor dined outdoors at a Santa Monica restaurant in November just hours after she voted to ban outdoor dining .

Louisiana’s Democratic governor John Bel Edwards was spotted dining at a country club without a mask, despite his own coronavirus health restrictions requiring people to wear masks in public.
Edwards addressed the recently surfaced photograph, which shows him and others dining at the Baton Rouge Country Club in mid-November, at a press conference on Wednesday. Despite his phase three lockdown orders, which mandate that people wear masks whenever they are within six feet of another person, Edwards claimed he did nothing wrong.
"There was absolutely nothing I did that day that violated the rules that were in place in phase three," Edwards said.
The photo shows Edwards standing near other country club members without a mask, leaning through a doorway to reenter the building.
In an op-ed in the Advocate published just days before Thanksgiving, Edwards told Louisianians to "always wear your mask if you are around people not part of your immediate household."
Edwards is the latest in a slew of Democratic elected officials who have violated their own coronavirus health restrictions.
San Francisco mayor London Breed and California governor Gavin Newsom attended mid-pandemic dinner parties—without masks—at a fancy restaurant in Napa County.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot had their hair done at salons, despite mandates closing salons.
San Jose mayor Sam Liccardo spent Thanksgiving with family members despite urging his constituents not to gather to celebrate the holiday.
And a Los Angeles County supervisor dined outdoors at a Santa Monica restaurant in November just hours after she voted to ban outdoor dining.