freebeacon--2020-01-16--‘A Coverup’ by ‘Moscow Mitch’: Jeffries Drops the Solemnity on Impeachment

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries ( D. , N.Y. ) once called impeachment a `` solemn '' event that should not be tainted by partisanship , but he quickly changed his tune as House Democrats ratified impeachment articles .
The Washington Post published an article Tuesday night that quotes Jeffries taunting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) with the nickname `` Moscow Mitch . ''
Jeffries , who was selected Wednesday to be one of the House impeachment managers , also accused McConnell of engaging in a `` coverup '' to help President Donald Trump .
Only weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party 's serious and solemn approach to the inquiry into President Trump 's handling of Ukrainian aid .
On Dec. 3 , Jeffries told MSNBC 's Rachel Maddow that Democrats would proceed urgently but soberly as `` the moment requires . ''
`` There is a clear sense of urgency as it relates to what we have to do , '' Jeffries said .
`` We 'll continue to proceed in a serious , solemn , and sober fashion .
That 's what the moment requires , but it also requires us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some measure of presidential accountability . ''
The `` Moscow Mitch '' nickname has become popular in liberal circles to imply that the Kentucky senator is a stooge for Russia , a charge he has called `` modern-day McCarthyism . ''
It has contributed to broader conspiracy theories about Trump 's `` collusion '' with Russia even after former special counsel Robert Mueller did not find evidence of such a relationship .
Jeffries frequently used the language of solemnity to describe Democrats ' approach to impeaching Trump .
`` We 're going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said on MSNBC 's All In With Chris Hayes on Nov. 19 .
On Hardball With Chris Matthews on Nov. 13 , Jeffries said , `` This is a serious moment , a solemn moment , and a somber moment for our country , and we 're going to approach it in that regard . ''
House Democrats voted to impeach Trump on Dec. 18 , but Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) opted to slow down the process in an attempt to pressure Sen. McConnell into calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic managers delivered the articles to the Senate on Wednesday .

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.) once called impeachment a "solemn" event that should not be tainted by partisanship, but he quickly changed his tune as House Democrats ratified impeachment articles.
The Washington Post published an article Tuesday night that quotes Jeffries taunting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) with the nickname "Moscow Mitch." Jeffries, who was selected Wednesday to be one of the House impeachment managers, also accused McConnell of engaging in a "coverup" to help President Donald Trump.
Only weeks ago, however, Jeffries touted his party's serious and solemn approach to the inquiry into President Trump's handling of Ukrainian aid. On Dec. 3, Jeffries told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow that Democrats would proceed urgently but soberly as "the moment requires."
"There is a clear sense of urgency as it relates to what we have to do," Jeffries said. "We'll continue to proceed in a serious, solemn, and sober fashion. That's what the moment requires, but it also requires us to act decisively so we can bring about some measure of presidential accountability."
The "Moscow Mitch" nickname has become popular in liberal circles to imply that the Kentucky senator is a stooge for Russia, a charge he has called "modern-day McCarthyism." It has contributed to broader conspiracy theories about Trump's "collusion" with Russia even after former special counsel Robert Mueller did not find evidence of such a relationship.
Jeffries frequently used the language of solemnity to describe Democrats' approach to impeaching Trump.
"We're going to proceed in a serious and solemn fashion," he said on MSNBC's All In With Chris Hayes on Nov. 19.
On Hardball With Chris Matthews on Nov. 13, Jeffries said, "This is a serious moment, a solemn moment, and a somber moment for our country, and we're going to approach it in that regard."
House Democrats voted to impeach Trump on Dec. 18, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) opted to slow down the process in an attempt to pressure Sen. McConnell into calling additional witnesses. Jeffries and six other Democratic managers delivered the articles to the Senate on Wednesday.


freebeacon--2020-01-15--Media Lament Boring Democratic Debate

Media Lament Boring Democratic Debate

The media were dispirited and discouraged Tuesday night , as the Democratic presidential field turned in a `` dull and @ @ @ @ @ John Heilemann asked how anyone could be confident in candidates so hesitant to throw a @ @ @ @ @ Joe Scarborough said `` nobody looked good . ''
Most of all , however , @ @ @ @ @ candidates would not be able to handle facing off against President Donald Trump after such @ @ @ @ @ .
`` How is this going to condition the ultimate nominee to take on the @ @ @ @ @ ? ''
Heilemann asked .

The media were dispirited and discouraged Tuesday night, as the Democratic presidential field turned in a "dull and plodding" debate performance. John Heilemann asked how anyone could be confident in candidates so hesitant to throw a punch, and MSNBC anchor Joe Scarborough said "nobody looked good."
Most of all, however, these journalists worried the Democratic candidates would not be able to handle facing off against President Donald Trump after such a "gentle" primary.
"How is this going to condition the ultimate nominee to take on the beast that Donald Trump is?" Heilemann asked.


freebeacon--2020-01-15--N.Y. Justice Dem Appears to Support Substituting Art Class for Jail Time

A New York City congressional candidate endorsed by the same progressive group that backed Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) and Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) appears to support supplanting jail time with art classes .
Democratic congressional hopeful Jamaal Bowman on Wednesday shared an article detailing a New York City program that allows arrestees to avoid prosecution by attending a two-hour art course .
Brooklyn district attorney Eric Gonzalez said the program is about `` holding people accountable . ''
Any perpetrator who attends the course has their case dismissed with no criminal record registered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoplifters and trespassers .
According to an artist involved in the program , the class consists of `` a group discussion of the artworks and an art-making workshop . ''
In his tweet sharing the article , Bowman quoted one of the program 's participants .
The arrestee said the program `` definitely helped me avoid the anxiety of having to attend an actual court date for a mistake I made . ''
Bowman , a former Bronx middle school principal , is running to unseat incumbent Rep. Eliot Engel ( D. ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16th district .
Endorsed by Justice Democrats , Bowman is a proponent of the Green New Deal , the multi-trillion dollar program touted by fellow New York progressive Ocasio-Cortez .
Bowman has called `` white male domestic terrorism '' the `` biggest issue in our country '' and supports disarming New York City police officers .
The Bowman campaign did not respond to a request for comment by press time .

'It definitely helped me avoid the anxiety of having to attend an actual court date for a mistake I made'
A New York City congressional candidate endorsed by the same progressive group that backed Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) appears to support supplanting jail time with art classes.
Democratic congressional hopeful Jamaal Bowman on Wednesday shared an article detailing a New York City program that allows arrestees to avoid prosecution by attending a two-hour art course. Brooklyn district attorney Eric Gonzalez said the program is about "holding people accountable." Any perpetrator who attends the course has their case dismissed with no criminal record registered.
Those eligible for the program include shoplifters and trespassers.
According to an artist involved in the program, the class consists of "a group discussion of the artworks and an art-making workshop."
In his tweet sharing the article, Bowman quoted one of the program's participants. The arrestee said the program "definitely helped me avoid the anxiety of having to attend an actual court date for a mistake I made."
Bowman, a former Bronx middle school principal, is running to unseat incumbent Rep. Eliot Engel (D.) from the left in New York's 16th district. Endorsed by Justice Democrats, Bowman is a proponent of the Green New Deal, the multi-trillion dollar program touted by fellow New York progressive Ocasio-Cortez.
Bowman has called "white male domestic terrorism" the "biggest issue in our country" and supports disarming New York City police officers.
The Bowman campaign did not respond to a request for comment by press time.


freebeacon--2020-01-15--Meet the 16-Year-Old Competitive Shooter Working to Keep Her Guns Legal in Virginia

Mia Farinelli is like any other teenage girl , except for one key difference .
Her skill as a world-class @ @ @ @ @ into the national spotlight .
She uses that spotlight to teach others about her sport @ @ @ @ @ something other top high school athletes do n't have to worry about : stop political @ @ @ @ @ very guns she competes with .
Join us as we follow Mia while she practices @ @ @ @ @ customers at her after-school job , beats competitors twice her age , lobbies her lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ county meeting during the height of the Virginia Second Amendment sanctuary movement .
Find out @ @ @ @ @ guns , what her favorite competition is , how she hopes to influence lawmakers , @ @ @ @ @ AR-15s could crush her dream to one day join the Army 's shooting team .

Mia Farinelli is like any other teenage girl, except for one key difference. Her skill as a world-class competitive shooter has brought her into the national spotlight. She uses that spotlight to teach others about her sport, but also to do something other top high school athletes don't have to worry about: stop political proposals seeking to ban the very guns she competes with.
Join us as we follow Mia while she practices shooting, makes coffee for customers at her after-school job, beats competitors twice her age, lobbies her lawmakers, and speaks at a county meeting during the height of the Virginia Second Amendment sanctuary movement.
Find out how Mia started competing with guns, what her favorite competition is, how she hopes to influence lawmakers, and how a ban on AR-15s could crush her dream to one day join the Army's shooting team.


freebeacon--2020-01-15--NARCAHONTAS: Warren Leaks Private Discussion With Sanders About Previously Leaked Private Discussion

Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
ca n't stop snitching .
The underperforming presidential candidate , best known for being the first woman of color employed by Harvard Law School , has apparently leaked the details of a second private conversation with 2020 rival Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) .
For the second time this week , a major media outlet reported the details of a private discussion between Warren and Sanders , according to `` people familiar with the exchange . ''
This most recent conversation took place Tuesday night after the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two candidates sparred over the allegations contained in a CNN report regarding a private meeting between Warren and Sanders in 2018 .
The post-debate confrontation was caught on camera , but the lack of any audio recording caused many to speculate as to the contents of the exchange , which did not appear to be friendly in nature .
On Wednesday , the New York Times published an account of the discussion based on anonymous sources .
As many surmised , the subject of the leaked conversation was , in fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the exchange said Ms. Warren walked over and told Mr. Sanders that she was concerned that , during the debate , he had mischaracterized a conversation they had in 2018 about whether a woman could win the presidency .
She has accused him of saying that a woman could not ; he has denied that remark .
Appearing frustrated , Mr. Sanders asked to discuss the matter at a different time , said the people , who insisted on anonymity to discuss a sensitive , private conversation .
He pointed his finger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , before turning and walking away .
It is widely assumed that Warren deliberately orchestrated the leak of ( her version of ) the 2018 conversation in an effort to bolster her flailing campaign at Sanders 's expense , less than a month before voters in Iowa and New Hampshire head to the polls .
Anti-capitalist filmmaker Michael Moore , a longtime supporter of Warren 's , accused her of spreading a `` malicious lie '' about Sanders and criticized her tendency to `` embellish the truth '' for political gain .

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) can't stop snitching. The underperforming presidential candidate, best known for being the first woman of color employed by Harvard Law School, has apparently leaked the details of a second private conversation with 2020 rival Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.).
For the second time this week, a major media outlet reported the details of a private discussion between Warren and Sanders, according to "people familiar with the exchange." This most recent conversation took place Tuesday night after the Democratic primary debate in Iowa, during which the two candidates sparred over the allegations contained in a CNN report regarding a private meeting between Warren and Sanders in 2018.
The most cringe-worthy moment of the debate so far. Watch CNN Moderator Openly Side With Warren Over Sanders in Ongoing Campaign Dispute https://t.co/RFd0KzqNVa pic.twitter.com/Dq9HgE4kj3 — Brent Scher (@BrentScher) January 15, 2020
The post-debate confrontation was caught on camera, but the lack of any audio recording caused many to speculate as to the contents of the exchange, which did not appear to be friendly in nature.
The Bernie-Warren friendship is over. pic.twitter.com/hgTox9C2ji — Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) January 15, 2020
On Wednesday, the New York Times published an account of the discussion based on anonymous sources. As many surmised, the subject of the leaked conversation was, in fact, the previously leaked conversation:
People familiar with the exchange said Ms. Warren walked over and told Mr. Sanders that she was concerned that, during the debate, he had mischaracterized a conversation they had in 2018 about whether a woman could win the presidency. She has accused him of saying that a woman could not; he has denied that remark. Appearing frustrated, Mr. Sanders asked to discuss the matter at a different time, said the people, who insisted on anonymity to discuss a sensitive, private conversation. He pointed his finger toward her, then back at himself, before turning and walking away.
It is widely assumed that Warren deliberately orchestrated the leak of (her version of) the 2018 conversation in an effort to bolster her flailing campaign at Sanders's expense, less than a month before voters in Iowa and New Hampshire head to the polls.
Anti-capitalist filmmaker Michael Moore, a longtime supporter of Warren's, accused her of spreading a "malicious lie" about Sanders and criticized her tendency to "embellish the truth" for political gain.


freebeacon--2020-01-15--It’s All Personal for Buttigieg

It’s All Personal for Buttigieg

David Rutz is senior writer at the Washington Free Beacon .
He was previously a sports reporter for two years @ @ @ @ @ freelance sports reporting for the Washington Post .
He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2010 @ @ @ @ @ Ga. His Twitter handle is @ DavidRutz .
He can be reached at rutz @ @ @

Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg takes a lot of the issues facing the United States personally.


freebeacon--2020-01-15--Michael Moore Laments ‘The Sad Downfall of Elizabeth Warren’

Michael Moore , the multi-millionaire socialist filmmaker best known for losing a bunch of weight , could not contain his anguish over the recent campaign spat between Sens .
Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
and Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) .
In the most recent episode of Moore 's podcast , Rumble , the filmmaker lamented `` the sad downfall of Elizabeth Warren '' and expressed his despair and disbelief that the candidate would promote such a `` malicious lie '' about Sanders .
`` Any of us who have known Bernie forever know automatically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear him denying it , that there 's no way he would say this because there 's no way he thinks that , '' said Moore , who recalled being `` paralyzed '' earlier this week after reading the CNN report accusing Sanders of telling Warren he did not think a woman could be president .
`` After almost 48 hours of this , and after watching the debate last night , I just felt like a knife in my heart , '' Moore said .
`` I 'm not angry about this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These are two people that I know and love , and one of them [ Warren ] decided to take the pin out of a hand grenade and throw it at this other good person [ Sanders ] . ''
Moore described Warren , who has appeared in a number of his anti-capitalist documentaries , as someone he holds in `` very high esteem '' and has long viewed as an `` intellectual , spiritual guru of all the things that are wrong with capitalism . ''
Upon seeing the CNN report , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly apologize and refute the story , and was shocked when Warren released a `` disingenuous '' statement `` continuing the lie . ''
At one point , Moore discussed what he would say to Warren directly about the controversy .
`` Why are you doing this , so you can win ? ''
he said .
`` Well , I have news for you and anybody else running on the Democratic side .
This is n't about you winning .
This is n't about you gaining this office .
This is about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Moore , who officially endorsed Sanders in October at a rally in New York alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) , went on to criticize Warren 's tendency to `` embellish the truth '' for political gain—from her false claims of Native American heritage to falsely describing her father as a `` janitor . ''
The filmmaker even discussed the Washington Free Beacon ‘ s reporting on Warren 's false claim that she sent her children to public school .
You hate to see it .

Michael Moore, the multi-millionaire socialist filmmaker best known for losing a bunch of weight, could not contain his anguish over the recent campaign spat between Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.).
In the most recent episode of Moore's podcast, Rumble, the filmmaker lamented "the sad downfall of Elizabeth Warren" and expressed his despair and disbelief that the candidate would promote such a "malicious lie" about Sanders.
"Any of us who have known Bernie forever know automatically, we don't even have to hear him denying it, that there's no way he would say this because there's no way he thinks that," said Moore, who recalled being "paralyzed" earlier this week after reading the CNN report accusing Sanders of telling Warren he did not think a woman could be president.
"After almost 48 hours of this, and after watching the debate last night, I just felt like a knife in my heart," Moore said. "I'm not angry about this, I'm just really sad. These are two people that I know and love, and one of them [Warren] decided to take the pin out of a hand grenade and throw it at this other good person [Sanders]."
Moore described Warren, who has appeared in a number of his anti-capitalist documentaries, as someone he holds in "very high esteem" and has long viewed as an "intellectual, spiritual guru of all the things that are wrong with capitalism." Upon seeing the CNN report, Moore said he had assumed Warren would quickly apologize and refute the story, and was shocked when Warren released a "disingenuous" statement "continuing the lie."
At one point, Moore discussed what he would say to Warren directly about the controversy.
"Why are you doing this, so you can win?" he said. "Well, I have news for you and anybody else running on the Democratic side. This isn't about you winning. This isn't about you gaining this office. This is about us. This is about removing Trump."
Moore, who officially endorsed Sanders in October at a rally in New York alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.), went on to criticize Warren's tendency to "embellish the truth" for political gain—from her false claims of Native American heritage to falsely describing her father as a "janitor." The filmmaker even discussed the Washington Free Beacon's reporting on Warren's false claim that she sent her children to public school.
You hate to see it.


freebeacon--2020-01-15--Pelosi Names Schiff Lead Impeachment Manager

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) tapped Rep. Adam Schiff ( D. , Calif. ) to take the lead on impeachment Wednesday as Democrats prepare their case for a trial before the Republican-controlled Senate .
On Wednesday , Pelosi appointed six other impeachment managers to assist Schiff , who led the House Intelligence Committee hearings exploring President Donald Trump 's handling of Ukrainian aid .
Schiff and House Democrats have been adamant in demanding that the Senate call additional witnesses to testify .
Schiff told reporters that without these witnesses , Majority Leader Mitch McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned the trial into a `` cover up '' on Trump 's behalf .
Pelosi appointed both freshman and senior Democrats as impeachment managers , many of whom have law enforcement and prosecutorial backgrounds .
She named Judiciary Committee chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler ( N.Y. ) , House Administration chairwoman Rep. Zoe Lofgren ( Calif. ) , House Democratic Caucus chairman Rep. Hakeem Jeffries ( N.Y. ) , as well as Reps. Val Demings ( Fla. ) , Jason Crow ( Colo. ) , and Sylvia Garcia ( Tex . )
to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Congress during the impeachment of former president Bill Clinton .
Both criticized the attempt to remove Clinton from office in 1998 , while they served on the House Judiciary Committee .
Nadler said Clinton 's impeachment was partisan and illegitimate , while Lofgren said impeachment obstructed the American voters ' democratic decision to elect Clinton .
`` This is unfair to the American people , '' Lofgren said on the House floor .
`` By these actions , you would undo the free election that expressed the will of the American people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you will damage the faith the American people have in this institution and in the American democracy . ''
The Senate is expected to begin the impeachment trial as early as this week .

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) tapped Rep. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.) to take the lead on impeachment Wednesday as Democrats prepare their case for a trial before the Republican-controlled Senate.
On Wednesday, Pelosi appointed six other impeachment managers to assist Schiff, who led the House Intelligence Committee hearings exploring President Donald Trump's handling of Ukrainian aid. Schiff and House Democrats have been adamant in demanding that the Senate call additional witnesses to testify. Schiff told reporters that without these witnesses, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) will have turned the trial into a "cover up" on Trump's behalf.
Pelosi appointed both freshman and senior Democrats as impeachment managers, many of whom have law enforcement and prosecutorial backgrounds. She named Judiciary Committee chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), House Administration chairwoman Rep. Zoe Lofgren (Calif.), House Democratic Caucus chairman Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), as well as Reps. Val Demings (Fla.), Jason Crow (Colo.), and Sylvia Garcia (Tex.) to the team.
Only Nadler and Lofgren served in Congress during the impeachment of former president Bill Clinton. Both criticized the attempt to remove Clinton from office in 1998, while they served on the House Judiciary Committee. Nadler said Clinton's impeachment was partisan and illegitimate, while Lofgren said impeachment obstructed the American voters' democratic decision to elect Clinton.
"This is unfair to the American people," Lofgren said on the House floor. "By these actions, you would undo the free election that expressed the will of the American people in 1996. In so doing, you will damage the faith the American people have in this institution and in the American democracy."
The Senate is expected to begin the impeachment trial as early as this week.


freebeacon--2020-01-15--Al Sharpton: No Dem Candidates Look Like They Can Take Trump

Al Sharpton said on Wednesday he does n't think any of the Democratic candidates have the `` mindset '' to take on President Donald Trump .
Based on the candidates ' performances in Tuesday evening 's Democratic debate , Sharpton told MSNBC 's Morning Joe , `` You do n't become champion by just saying , ‘ I ’ ll get by this round . '
You got ta take the title .
And I did n't see anybody on the stage last night or in the ring that really said , ‘ I 'm taking charge , I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump .
Because he is going to come in with that kind of mindset .
And I do n't see that mindset yet in any of the candidates . ''
The 2020 Democrats have worked to earn the MSNBC anchor 's support because of his influence among African Americans .
Sharpton has yet to throw his support behind a particular candidate .
CNN political contributor Van Jones had similar feelings about Tuesday night 's debate .
He said the debate was `` dispiriting '' and that he saw nothing to indicate that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to face off against Trump .
Tuesday 's debate focused on foreign policy and trade issues , with a few opportunities for the candidates to stump for their electability .
Two of the leading candidates—Sen .
Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
—argued over whether Sanders told Warren that a woman could n't win the election .

Al Sharpton said on Wednesday he doesn't think any of the Democratic candidates have the "mindset" to take on President Donald Trump.
Based on the candidates' performances in Tuesday evening's Democratic debate, Sharpton told MSNBC's Morning Joe, "You don't become champion by just saying, 'I’ll get by this round.' You gotta take the title. And I didn't see anybody on the stage last night or in the ring that really said, 'I'm taking charge, I can be president, I can take on Donald Trump. Because he is going to come in with that kind of mindset. And I don't see that mindset yet in any of the candidates."
The 2020 Democrats have worked to earn the MSNBC anchor's support because of his influence among African Americans. Sharpton has yet to throw his support behind a particular candidate.
CNN political contributor Van Jones had similar feelings about Tuesday night's debate. He said the debate was "dispiriting" and that he saw nothing to indicate that any of the Democratic candidates are ready to face off against Trump.
Tuesday's debate focused on foreign policy and trade issues, with a few opportunities for the candidates to stump for their electability. Two of the leading candidates—Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.)—argued over whether Sanders told Warren that a woman couldn't win the election.


freebeacon--2020-01-15--Putin Proposes Vote on Constitutional Shake-Up That Could Extend His Rule

MOSCOW ( Reuters ) – President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday proposed a nationwide vote on sweeping constitutional changes that would shift power from the presidency to parliament and the prime minister , a move that could allow him to extend his rule after leaving the Kremlin .
In power as either president or prime minister since 1999 , Putin , 67 , is due to step down in 2024 when his fourth presidential term ends .
He has not yet said what he plans to do when his term expires , but under the current constitution , which bans anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms , Putin is barred from immediately running again .
Putin told the country 's political elite in his annual state-of-the-nation speech on Wednesday that he favored changing the constitution to hand the State Duma , the lower house of parliament , the power to choose Russia 's prime minister and other key positions .
`` Of course these are very serious changes to the political system , '' Putin said , adding that he thought parliament and civil society was ready for the changes .
`` It would increase the role and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of parliamentary parties , and the independence and responsibility of the prime minister . ''
Putin 's comments are likely to reignite speculation about his plans once his current presidential term ends in 2024 .
Critics have long accused him of plotting to stay on in some capacity to wield power over the world 's largest nation after he steps down .
He remains popular with many Russians who see him as a welcome source of stability even as others complain he 's been in power for too long .
Critics have suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the helm , including by shifting power to parliament and then assuming an enhanced role as prime minister after he steps down in 2024 .
Another option often mentioned is his heading a State Council , a body that Putin said on Wednesday he thought should be given more powers under the constitution .
Although it remains unclear whether Putin will play a major role in Russian political life after 2024 , his new proposals point to possible options if he decides to remain at the top table of Russian politics as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the proposals , the prime minister would present parliament with candidates for the country 's deputy prime ministers and government ministers , which parliament would also confirm .
`` The president would be obliged to appoint them ( the parliament 's confirmed picks ) to these jobs , '' said Putin .
`` He would not be allowed to reject candidates confirmed by parliament . ''
Dmitri Trenin , head of the Moscow Carnegie Center , said Putin had begun the process of redrawing state powers ahead of the 2024 end to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Putin also appeared to be moving to limit the power of a presidential successor after he said on Wednesday that he favored limiting the number of presidential terms anyone can serve to two .
Putin himself is currently on his fourth term .

By Andrew Osborn and Vladimir Soldatkin
MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday proposed a nationwide vote on sweeping constitutional changes that would shift power from the presidency to parliament and the prime minister, a move that could allow him to extend his rule after leaving the Kremlin.
In power as either president or prime minister since 1999, Putin, 67, is due to step down in 2024 when his fourth presidential term ends.
He has not yet said what he plans to do when his term expires, but under the current constitution, which bans anyone from serving more than two successive presidential terms, Putin is barred from immediately running again.
Putin told the country's political elite in his annual state-of-the-nation speech on Wednesday that he favored changing the constitution to hand the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, the power to choose Russia's prime minister and other key positions.
"Of course these are very serious changes to the political system," Putin said, adding that he thought parliament and civil society was ready for the changes.
"It would increase the role and significance of the country's parliament ... of parliamentary parties, and the independence and responsibility of the prime minister."
Putin's comments are likely to reignite speculation about his plans once his current presidential term ends in 2024.
Critics have long accused him of plotting to stay on in some capacity to wield power over the world's largest nation after he steps down. He remains popular with many Russians who see him as a welcome source of stability even as others complain he's been in power for too long.
Critics have suggested he is considering various options to remain at the helm, including by shifting power to parliament and then assuming an enhanced role as prime minister after he steps down in 2024.
Another option often mentioned is his heading a State Council, a body that Putin said on Wednesday he thought should be given more powers under the constitution.
Although it remains unclear whether Putin will play a major role in Russian political life after 2024, his new proposals point to possible options if he decides to remain at the top table of Russian politics as many supporters and critics expect.
Under the proposals, the prime minister would present parliament with candidates for the country's deputy prime ministers and government ministers, which parliament would also confirm.
"The president would be obliged to appoint them (the parliament's confirmed picks) to these jobs," said Putin. "He would not be allowed to reject candidates confirmed by parliament."
Dmitri Trenin, head of the Moscow Carnegie Center, said Putin had begun the process of redrawing state powers ahead of the 2024 end to his current presidency.
According to Trenin, Putin also appeared to be moving to limit the power of a presidential successor after he said on Wednesday that he favored limiting the number of presidential terms anyone can serve to two.
Putin himself is currently on his fourth term.
(Reporting by Maria Kiselyova, Tom Balmforth, Vladimir Soldatkin and Andrey Kuzmin; editing by Mike Collett-White)


Beacon Extra

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon ’ s morning newsletter , your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom .
To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning , sign up here .
NEITHER CAN AN ELECTION RESULT … `` Pelosi : Trump 's impeachment ‘ can not be erased ' , '' via THE HILL : `` Yes , it is a fact : When someone is impeached , they are always impeached .
It can not be erased .
So I stand by that comment , although I know you do n't like hearing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in remarks in response to Republicans defending Trump .
Pelosi previously said that Trump is `` impeached for life . ''
RELATED … `` Pelosi Hands Out Commemorative Pens to Dems to Celebrate ‘ Somber ’ Impeachment '' COMRADES NO MORE … `` Audio reveals tense confrontation between Warren and Sanders , '' via CNN : `` I think you called me a liar on national TV , '' Warren can be heard saying .
`` I think you called me a liar on national TV , '' she repeated .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it right now .
If you want to have that discussion , we 'll have that discussion , '' Sanders said , to which Warren replied , `` Anytime . ''
`` You called me a liar , '' Sanders continued .
`` You told me — all right , let 's not do it now . ''
VOTERS HATE IT ?
SHE ’ S GOT A PLAN FOR THAT … `` Elizabeth Warren Failed to Mention `` Medicare-For-All '' Once During Tuesday 's Debate , '' via PASTE : Elizabeth Warren appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All—at least as a talking point .
At Tuesday ’ s Democratic presidential debate in Iowa , the last before the caucuses , the 2020 hopeful did not utter the phrase a single time while discussing her health care proposal … Even early on , despite having co-sponsored Sanders ’ Medicare for All bill in 2017 , the Massachusetts senator had a tendency to equivocate when asked what her plan would ultimately look like .
LOCK HIM UP !
… `` Michael Avenatti ordered to remain in jail amid new accusations of money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal judge revoked the bail of Los Angeles attorney Michael Avenatti on Wednesday and ordered him jailed as he awaits trial on three indictments , saying new allegations of fraud and money laundering show he poses a danger to the public … Avenatti was one of President Trump ’ s fiercest critics on cable news for months after Stormy Daniels went public in 2018 with her allegation that Trump paid her $ 130,000 to keep quiet about their alleged one-night stand .
YOU HATE TO SEE IT … `` Michael Moore Laments ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : `` Why are you doing this , so you can win ? ''
he said .
`` Well , I have news for you and anybody else running on the Democratic side .
This is n't about you winning .
This is n't about you gaining this office .
This is about us .
This is about removing Trump . ''
Moore , who officially endorsed Sanders in October at a rally in New York alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tendency to `` embellish the truth '' for political gain—from her false claims of Native American heritage to falsely describing her father as a `` janitor . ''
SEND THE BOMBERS … `` Trump Signs China Trade Deal , Putting Economic Conflict on Pause , '' via NYT : President Trump signed an initial trade deal with China on Wednesday , bringing the first chapter of a protracted and economically damaging fight with one of the world ’ s largest economies to a close … To critics , it is the type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has long criticized , especially with regard to China and its control over its economy … The president ’ s approach may pay off politically .
He will head into a re-election campaign with a commitment from China to strengthen its intellectual-property protections , make large purchases of American products and pursue other economic changes that will benefit American business .
HE ’ LL HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY AFTER THE ELECTION … `` Putin Proposes Vote on Constitutional Shake-Up That Could Extend His Rule , '' via REUTERS : President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes that would shift power from the presidency to parliament and the prime minister , a move that could allow him to extend his rule after leaving the Kremlin .
In power as either president or prime minister since 1999 , Putin , 67 , is due to step down in 2024 when his fourth presidential term ends .
EUROPE HAS TROOPS ?
… `` Iran threatens European troops , as FM Zarif admits officials lied about plane , '' via TOI : Iran ’ s top diplomat acknowledged Wednesday that Iranians `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Islamic Republic accidentally shooting down a Ukrainian jetliner , killing 176 people , as the country ’ s president warned that European soldiers in the Mideast `` could be in danger '' after three nations challenged Tehran over breaking limits of its nuclear deal .
CRACK WITNESS … `` CNN Analyst : GOP Has ‘ Caricature ' of Hunter Biden as a ‘ Troubled , ' ‘ Ill-Equipped ' Witness , '' via NEWSBUSTERS : On the flip side of that , CNN analyst Michael Smerconish suggested Republicans may be unhappily surprised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witness in the Senate impeachment trial , because there 's `` this caricature that has been created of Hunter Biden being a very troubled and ill-equipped individual , '' but he graduated from Yale Law and `` comported himself well '' in a softball interview with ABC News , so `` It 's possible he comes off as credible . ''
Talk about putting on the most positive paint job !
YOU ARE SENTENCED TO 30 DAYS HARD FINGER-PAINTING … `` N.Y. Justice Dem Appears to Support Substituting Art Class for Jail Time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anderson : Democratic congressional hopeful Jamaal Bowman on Wednesday shared an article detailing a New York City program that allows arrestees to avoid prosecution by attending a two-hour art course .
Brooklyn district attorney Eric Gonzalez said the program is about `` holding people accountable . ''
Any perpetrator who attends the course has their case dismissed with no criminal record registered .
Those eligible for the program include shoplifters and trespassers .
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE … `` Meet the 16-Year-Old Competitive Shooter Working to Keep her Guns Legal in Virginia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Mia Farinelli is like any other teenage girl , except for one key difference .
Her skill as a world-class competitive shooter has brought her into the national spotlight .
She uses that spotlight to teach others about her sport , but also to do something other top high school athletes do n't have to worry about : stop political proposals seeking to ban the very guns she competes with … Find out how Mia started competing with guns , what her favorite competition is , how she hopes to influence lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could crush her dream to one day join the Army 's shooting team .
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW : 1,131 .
Come back , Joe !
`` You know who really doesn ’ t have it ?
Joe Biden . ''
—Former President Barack Obama Thanks for reading !
Send tips to rutz @ freebeacon.com .

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon’s morning newsletter, your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom. To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning, sign up here.
MENSHEVIKS PREPARE FOR LAST STAND … "Democratic Leaders Willing to Risk Party Damage to Stop Bernie Sanders," via NYT: Since Mr. Sanders’s victory in Nevada’s caucuses on Saturday, the Times has interviewed 93 party officials—all of them superdelegates … and found overwhelming opposition to handing the Vermont senator the nomination if he arrived with the most delegates but fell short of a majority …
Since Mr. Sanders won Nevada’s caucuses on Saturday, four donors have approached former representative Steve Israel of New York to ask if he can suggest someone to run a super PAC aimed at blocking Mr. Sanders. He declined their offer.
THE NEW NEW DEMOCRATS … "2020 Dem Plans Reflect Party of the ‘Professional Class’," by WFB’s Charles Fain Lehman: The [Manhattan Institute] report examines the distributive impacts of major proposals, including Medicare for All, student debt forgiveness, and the repeal of key components of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). It argues that while Democratic candidates talk big about supporting workers and the poor, these programs primarily serve the interests of the wealthy …
Long branded as representatives of the working class, the Democratic Party has come to appeal primarily to the college-educated, often affluent residents of urban America, data indicate.
MIKE GOT IT DONE … "Bloomberg Locked Up Nearly Half a Million People on Marijuana Charges," by WFB’s Yuichiro Kakutani: The administrations of [Michael] Bloomberg's three predecessors … collectively arrested 226,000 people, or 25 people daily, for the same charge over a 24-year period between 1978 and 2001. During Bloomberg's tenure, approximately 471,000 people were arrested on possession charges …
The possession arrests for Bloomberg's tenure peaked in 2011 when the police hauled in more than 50,000 New Yorkers.
DOWNLOAD UNAVAILABLE IN WISCONSIN … "Coming to a podcast near you: Hillary Clinton," via POLITICO: The former first lady, secretary of State, and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee is planning to launch a new audio program in late spring, just in time for her to have a powerful new megaphone during the 2020 election …
Clinton’s show will feature her in conversation with a brand-name guest, who might be drawn from world leaders and politicians, of course, but also celebrities, authors and perhaps famous chefs.
BOOK THROWN … "Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh sentenced to 3 years for ‘Healthy Holly’ children’s book fraud scheme," via BALTIMORE SUN: [Pugh] told reporters: "This is not the last you’ll see of Catherine Pugh" …
Pugh’s political fall began in March when the Baltimore Sun revealed she had entered into a no-bid deal with the University of Maryland Medical System, where Pugh sat on the board of directors, to buy 100,000 copies of her sloppily self-published "Healthy Holly" books for $500,000.
YANG HOLDS OUT FOR BETTER OFFER … "Michael Bloomberg’s Campaign Sought Andrew Yang’s Backing, Floated Vice- Presidential Slot," via WSJ: Aides to the former New York City mayor reached out to discuss ways the two entrepreneurs-turned-politicians could work together as Mr. Bloomberg seeks the Democratic nomination, these people said.
Mr. Yang, who dropped out of the race earlier this month, didn’t commit to join forces, as he considers his own political future, a third person familiar with the discussions said.
NO SURRENDER … "Congressional Republicans Warn Trump Against Inking Peace Deal With Taliban," by WFB’s Adam Kredo: The lawmakers … are demanding they receive assurances the administration "will not place the security of the American people into the hands of the Taliban" …
The lawmakers are also demanding the release of so-called secret annexes in the draft agreement that they claim establish a set of unknown side deals with the Taliban, a move reminiscent of the Obama administration's secret agreements with Iran when the Iran nuclear deal was being negotiated.
TEHRAN MARY … "Iran Vice President Is One of 7 Officials to Contract Coronavirus," via NYT: The disclosure came a day after a cabinet meeting in which she was in close contact with other government leaders, including [Hassan] Rouhani. A photo posted by a BBC Persia reporter on Twitter showed she had been sitting a few yards from the president.
[Masoumeh] Ebtekar, one of four vice presidents, was known to Americans as "Mary" during the Tehran hostage crisis four decades ago, when, as a young revolutionary, she was a spokeswoman for the captors of the 52 Americans held at the United States Embassy.
PICTURE OF COWARDICE … "Sony World Photography Awards Removes Hong Kong Protest Images," via HYPERALLERGIC: Since pro-democracy protests prompted by the Hong Kong government’s now-scrapped extradition bill erupted across the city in spring 2019, China has tightened its grip on the media …
Now, some speculate WPO yielded to pressure from China to take down the photographs, especially because other entries featuring arguably graphic or politically sensitive content have not faced a similar fate in past competitions.
THE REAL VICTIMS … "Mark Halperin Says Murderers Are Treated More Fairly Than Canceled People," via MOTHER JONES: "I haven’t had a job interview in two years," Halperin said, adding that he has applied to work at restaurants and Target, trying to get health insurance for his three-year-old son …
When [asked to] differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate ways that he had been held accountable for his behavior … he said victims deserve "top priority" but complained again that there isn’t a mechanism for reintegrating canceled people.
THIS IS CNN … "Sasse Criticizes CNN for Referring to a Baby as a ‘Fetus That Was Born’," via CNN: "The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is about babies who have already been born," [Sen. Ben] Sasse said to the Washington Free Beacon. "I’m glad CNN finally made the correction, but there’s no reason this needed to take two days. Planned Parenthood desperately wants to misrepresent this bipartisan, pro-babies bill, and unfortunately too many reporters have bought their spin hook, line, and sinker."
PUNK IS DEAD … "Billy Idol is helping de Blasio take on idling cars in new campaign," via NY POST: Billy Idol has a new Rebel Yell: helping Mayor Bill de Blasio fight fume-spewing vehicles that idle on Big Apple streets …
The campaign will also publicize the city’s 2018 "Citizens Air Complaint Program," where individuals who see a bus or delivery truck idling for longer than four minutes can file a complaint and collect a 25 percent bounty off the fine, worth $87.50.
"The First Postmodern Pandemic," via WFB’s Matthew Continetti: We were better off when the media focused on impeachment. Now that it is interested in coronavirus, a familiar pattern will set in. Data will be publicized without the slightest sense of proportion. The most outrageous scenarios will receive the most attention. Speculation will be paraded as fact …
The Washington Post transcribes Democratic Party talking points when it suggests Vice President Mike Pence is incapable of overseeing the government's efforts because he opposes needle-sharing programs. Among the reasons [President Donald] Trump is said to have weakened public health? He defunded Planned Parenthood.
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


freebeacon--2020-01-16--McConnell Challenger Denounces ‘Excessive Money in Politics’ Days After Soliciting Super PAC Donatio

McConnell Challenger Denounces ‘Excessive Money in Politics’ Days After Soliciting Super PAC Donations

Kentucky Democrat Amy McGrath 's Senate campaign solicited super PAC donations just days before McGrath denounced `` excessive money in politics '' at a campaign event .
McGrath , who is running to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , told attendees at a Bowling Green , Ky. , campaign event on Monday that the elimination of big money in politics is `` really important to me personally , '' adding that such donations threaten the future of the United States .
`` Dark money and the rapid growth of the excessive money in politics is going to absolutely crush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Monday event .
`` I 'm telling you we 're not going to be able to solve any of our problems … unless we can get the money in politics under control . ''
McGrath 's campaign has benefited from the support of two super PACs , Fire Mitch Save America and the Ditch Mitch Fund .
Those groups can raise and spend unlimited funds and were endorsed by McGrath 's campaign manager just days before the Democrat condemned the role of money in politics .
`` I think the signal is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond the legal limits , they should have confidence to contribute to the super PAC , '' campaign manager Mark Nickolas told the Lexington Herald-Leader on Jan. 7 .
`` We 've got to fight fire with fire.… We 're not going to run this race with one arm tied behind our back . ''
The McGrath campaign did not respond to request for comment .
Nickolas doubled down in a comment to Politico , saying , `` We very strongly encourage donors to give to [ Fire Mitch Save America ] .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lucrative political donations , McGrath condemned dark money at Monday 's campaign event , suggesting it could be coming from Russian president Vladimir Putin .
`` Right now with dark money we have no idea where this money 's coming from , '' she said .
`` We have no idea how much , it 's unlimited , and the money could be coming from another country , it could be coming from , I do n't know , you name it , Vladimir . ''
While the super PACs supporting McGrath are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also accept unlimited contributions from dark money groups that are not required to disclose donors .
The campaign 's public request for donations to Fire Mitch Save America have already sparked an ethics complaint alleging that McGrath 's staff violated campaign finance laws .
State GOP chairman Mac Brown accused the McGrath campaign of violating the Federal Election Campaign Act by `` soliciting funds that are not subject to its limitations , prohibitions , and reporting requirements . ''
`` As it flagrantly runs afoul of federal campaign finance regulations , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Senate has become everything her failed 2018 campaign for Congress worried about , '' Brown said in a statement .
`` Amy McGrath For Senate 's decision to stoop to the solicitation of illegal ‘ soft money ' contributions for a super PAC is a telling indicator of its inability to lock up the Democrat party 's nomination .
No amount of hypocrisy-soaked cash from liberal elites on the coasts , however , can conceal or compensate for a disastrous campaign that has been plagued by a series of embarrassing gaffes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to one ethics expert .
Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust executive director Kendra Arnold said that federal law bars candidates from directing donations to super PACs .
`` Federal law only allows candidates to solicit contributions within amount and source limitations , and specifically prohibits candidates from encouraging people to donate funds above the legal contribution limit to super PACs .
It appears the McGrath campaign violated this rule , '' Arnold said .
`` The actions of McGrath and her campaign committee should be investigated thoroughly in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and contribution source prohibitions . ''
Republicans are not the only critics of McGrath 's approach to fundraising .
Progressive primary opponent Mike Broihier , whose campaign declined an interview request from the Washington Free Beacon , attacked McGrath for her use of big money .
`` Doubling or tripling the amount of money raised by a candidate that has failed to gain traction in the commonwealth will do nothing to enthuse the people who matter — the voters of Kentucky , '' Broihier told the Louisville Courier Journal .

Kentucky Democrat Amy McGrath's Senate campaign solicited super PAC donations just days before McGrath denounced "excessive money in politics" at a campaign event.
McGrath, who is running to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, told attendees at a Bowling Green, Ky., campaign event on Monday that the elimination of big money in politics is "really important to me personally," adding that such donations threaten the future of the United States.
"Dark money and the rapid growth of the excessive money in politics is going to absolutely crush our country," McGrath said at the Monday event. "I'm telling you we're not going to be able to solve any of our problems … unless we can get the money in politics under control."
McGrath's campaign has benefited from the support of two super PACs, Fire Mitch Save America and the Ditch Mitch Fund. Those groups can raise and spend unlimited funds and were endorsed by McGrath's campaign manager just days before the Democrat condemned the role of money in politics.
"I think the signal is for people who are interested in contributing beyond the legal limits, they should have confidence to contribute to the super PAC," campaign manager Mark Nickolas told the Lexington Herald-Leader on Jan. 7. "We've got to fight fire with fire.… We're not going to run this race with one arm tied behind our back."
The McGrath campaign did not respond to request for comment.
Nickolas doubled down in a comment to Politico, saying, "We very strongly encourage donors to give to [Fire Mitch Save America]."
After the campaign's call for lucrative political donations, McGrath condemned dark money at Monday's campaign event, suggesting it could be coming from Russian president Vladimir Putin.
"Right now with dark money we have no idea where this money's coming from," she said. "We have no idea how much, it's unlimited, and the money could be coming from another country, it could be coming from, I don't know, you name it, Vladimir."
While the super PACs supporting McGrath are required to disclose donors, they can also accept unlimited contributions from dark money groups that are not required to disclose donors. The campaign's public request for donations to Fire Mitch Save America have already sparked an ethics complaint alleging that McGrath's staff violated campaign finance laws.
State GOP chairman Mac Brown accused the McGrath campaign of violating the Federal Election Campaign Act by "soliciting funds that are not subject to its limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements."
"As it flagrantly runs afoul of federal campaign finance regulations, it is clear that Amy McGrath's 2020 campaign for Senate has become everything her failed 2018 campaign for Congress worried about," Brown said in a statement. "Amy McGrath For Senate's decision to stoop to the solicitation of illegal 'soft money' contributions for a super PAC is a telling indicator of its inability to lock up the Democrat party's nomination. No amount of hypocrisy-soaked cash from liberal elites on the coasts, however, can conceal or compensate for a disastrous campaign that has been plagued by a series of embarrassing gaffes."
The GOP's claim has merit, according to one ethics expert. Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust executive director Kendra Arnold said that federal law bars candidates from directing donations to super PACs.
"Federal law only allows candidates to solicit contributions within amount and source limitations, and specifically prohibits candidates from encouraging people to donate funds above the legal contribution limit to super PACs. It appears the McGrath campaign violated this rule," Arnold said. "The actions of McGrath and her campaign committee should be investigated thoroughly in order to uphold the integrity of campaign contribution limits and contribution source prohibitions."
Republicans are not the only critics of McGrath's approach to fundraising. Progressive primary opponent Mike Broihier, whose campaign declined an interview request from the Washington Free Beacon, attacked McGrath for her use of big money.
"Doubling or tripling the amount of money raised by a candidate that has failed to gain traction in the commonwealth will do nothing to enthuse the people who matter — the voters of Kentucky," Broihier told the Louisville Courier Journal.


Beacon Extra 1/15/20

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon ’ s morning newsletter , your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom .
To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning , sign up here .
ALWAYS AT LEAST 1/1,024th THE VICTIM … `` Sexism allegation latest in Elizabeth Warren campaign desperation , '' via EXAMINER : Rival operatives suspect that Elizabeth Warren ’ s story about a sexist comment from Bernie Sanders is the latest in a series of desperate moves from her campaign team to regain the momentum she once had in the Democratic presidential primary … '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is a desperate move , '' a top Sanders aide reportedly said .
`` Unfortunately , Elizabeth Warren 's campaign has been going down in the polls , and this is the latest attack on one of her leading competitors . ''
ASK NOT WHAT BERNIE CAN DO FOR YOU … `` Bernie Sanders , Who Said JFK Made Him Want to Puke , Invokes Kennedy in New Ad , '' by WFB ’ s Alex Griswold : The Sanders ad , set to air in Iowa ahead of the February caucus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put a man on the moon .
`` President Kennedy knew settling for half-measures was n't good enough , '' Sanders says … The praise of Kennedy marks a radical departure from Sanders 's previous rhetoric about the president .
In a 1987 interview … the socialist candidate remembered Kennedy as the start of his disillusion with mainstream liberalism .
`` President Kennedy was elected while I was at the University of Chicago , that was 1960 .
I remember being physically nauseated by his speech and that doesn ’ t happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BIDEN DEFLATES … `` Biden Says He Couldn ’ t Afford Childcare Making $ 42K in 1973 ( or $ 250K , Adjusted for Inflation ) , '' by WFB ’ s Alex Griswold : Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said during Tuesday 's debate that he could not afford childcare during his early Senate days , though his salary at the time amounted to the modern equivalent of a quarter of a million dollars per year … While living on $ 42,000 would place Biden in the bottom half of U.S. households @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him firmly among the richest Americans when he was sworn in as senator in 1973 .
CNN HARDEST HIT … `` Michael Avenatti Arrested by Feds at California State Bar Hearing , '' via DAILY BEAST : The arrest occurred outside the disciplinary hearing in which the State Bar of California has accused the hard-charging , tough-talking attorney of using a doctored document to scam a client out of nearly $ 840,000 , funneling money from a lawsuit settlement fund to his own personal use … As Avenatti was being led out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said simply , `` Completely innocent . ''
MAYBE BERNIE ’ S RIGHT … Elizabeth Warren talks to NYT editorial board : NYT : We have combat troops in Syria now fighting ISIS .
WARREN : Yes we do .
NYT : And you would bring them all home ?
WARREN : Yeah .
I think we need to bring our combat troops home .
BERNIE ’ S FIVE-YEAR PLAN … `` Sanders ’ s Spending Plan Would Set ‘ Peacetime Record ’ , '' by WFB ’ s Charles Fain Lehman : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost roughly $ 60 trillion , the analysis found .
That would represent an `` expansion of government 's cost and size unprecedented since World War II , '' according to an estimate provided to CNN by former secretary of the treasury Larry Summers … Summers estimated that Sanders would raise federal spending by 20 percent of GDP over 10 years , an increase only paralleled by a 33 percentage point increase over the course of World War II .
STRATEGERY … `` New Video Shows Two Iranian Missiles Hit Ukrainian Plane , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times has verified security camera footage on Tuesday that shows , for the first time , that two missiles hit Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 on Jan. 8 .
The missiles were launched from an Iranian military site around eight miles from the plane .
PUTTING THE UNIVERSE ON NOTICE … `` Raymond Sworn In as First Space Force Chief , '' via AIR FORCE MAG : Gen. Jay Raymond was formally sworn in as the inaugural Chief of Space Operations Jan. 14 at a White House ceremony led by Vice President Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military officer solely tasked with treating space as an area that needs protection itself and that is crucial to enabling combat operations elsewhere .
The Space Force is eventually expected to absorb the space programs spread across the Army and Navy as well , providing a more holistic , focused approach to managing the domain .
MAKING CANDY CROWLEY PROUD … `` Watch CNN Moderator Side With Warren Over Sanders in Ongoing Campaign Dispute , '' by WFB 's Brent Scher : [ Abby ] Phillip dismissed Sanders 's denial and proceeded to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report as fact when she handed the question over to Warren .
`` Senator Warren , what did you think when Senator Sanders told you a woman could not win the election ? ''
Phillip said , eliciting a look of disbelief from Sanders .
BARACK OBAMA , MISOGYNIST … `` ABC News Analyst : Running for President Against a Woman is Sexist , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : Per [ Matthew ] Dowd 's expert analysis , Sanders could definitely prove he is not a raging misogynist by not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
NANCY AND HER BASE … `` The Epilogue of Impeachment , '' via PLAYBOY : Speaker [ Nancy Pelosi ] , who does not drink , raised a glass of water and toasted the press and introduced a military band who played while she moved slowly through the room .
Even some reporters are starstruck by the most powerful woman in the history of American politics , they crowded her and touched her hand and introduced themselves and said the names of their outlets .
A MORON EXPLAINS … `` A modest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ via VOX : Literally nothing in the Constitution prevents Congress from admitting the Obama family ’ s personal DC residence as a state—a state which would then be entitled to two senators , one member of the House , and exactly as much say on whether the Constitution should be amended as the entire state of Texas .
Congress could then follow up this move by adding the personal DC residences of 149 other staunch Democratic families as states , each of which would then get two senators of their very own .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Nursing Home Moment : Confusion Reigns as Elderly Candidates Debate Passage of Time , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : WARREN : Was n't that 30 years ago ?
SANDERS : [ attempts to do math in head ] I beat an incumbent Republican Congressman .
WARREN : And I said I was the only one who has beaten an incumbent Republican in 30 years .
SANDERS : Well , 30 years ago is 1990 , as a matter of fact .
So ended the exchange between two of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Party 's presidential nomination in 2020 .
The current frontrunner , former vice president Joe Biden , 77 , is generally considered to have had a good debate performance if he can string together a handful of complete sentences and does n't cite Manuel Noriega in response to a question about health care reform .
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW : 1,130 .
Come back , Joe !
`` You know who really doesn ’ t have it ?
Joe Biden . ''
—Former President Barack Obama Thanks for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freebeacon.com .

A CNN moderator pulls a Candy Crowley at the debate, Vox saves our democracy, and Bloomberg's Twitter team needs an overhaul
Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon’s morning newsletter, your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom. To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning, sign up here.
ALWAYS AT LEAST 1/1,024th THE VICTIM … "Sexism allegation latest in Elizabeth Warren campaign desperation," via EXAMINER: Rival operatives suspect that Elizabeth Warren’s story about a sexist comment from Bernie Sanders is the latest in a series of desperate moves from her campaign team to regain the momentum she once had in the Democratic presidential primary …
"The timing of this clearly shows that this is a desperate move," a top Sanders aide reportedly said. "Unfortunately, Elizabeth Warren's campaign has been going down in the polls, and this is the latest attack on one of her leading competitors."
ASK NOT WHAT BERNIE CAN DO FOR YOU … "Bernie Sanders, Who Said JFK Made Him Want to Puke, Invokes Kennedy in New Ad," by WFB’s Alex Griswold: The Sanders ad, set to air in Iowa ahead of the February caucus, opens with footage of Kennedy promising to put a man on the moon. "President Kennedy knew settling for half-measures wasn't good enough," Sanders says …
The praise of Kennedy marks a radical departure from Sanders's previous rhetoric about the president. In a 1987 interview … the socialist candidate remembered Kennedy as the start of his disillusion with mainstream liberalism. "President Kennedy was elected while I was at the University of Chicago, that was 1960. I remember being physically nauseated by his speech and that doesn’t happen very often," Sanders said.
BIDEN DEFLATES … "Biden Says He Couldn’t Afford Childcare Making $42K in 1973 (or $250K, Adjusted for Inflation)," by WFB’s Alex Griswold: Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said during Tuesday's debate that he could not afford childcare during his early Senate days, though his salary at the time amounted to the modern equivalent of a quarter of a million dollars per year …
While living on $42,000 would place Biden in the bottom half of U.S. households in today's dollars, it placed him firmly among the richest Americans when he was sworn in as senator in 1973.
CNN HARDEST HIT … "Michael Avenatti Arrested by Feds at California State Bar Hearing," via DAILY BEAST: The arrest occurred outside the disciplinary hearing in which the State Bar of California has accused the hard-charging, tough-talking attorney of using a doctored document to scam a client out of nearly $840,000, funneling money from a lawsuit settlement fund to his own personal use ...
As Avenatti was being led out of the courthouse, the normally garrulous lawyer said simply, "Completely innocent."
MAYBE BERNIE’S RIGHT … Elizabeth Warren talks to NYT editorial board:
NYT: We have combat troops in Syria now fighting ISIS.
WARREN: Yes we do.
NYT: And you would bring them all home?
WARREN: Yeah. I think we need to bring our combat troops home.
BERNIE’S FIVE-YEAR PLAN … "Sanders’s Spending Plan Would Set ‘Peacetime Record’," by WFB’s Charles Fain Lehman: Sanders's proposed spending thus far would cost roughly $60 trillion, the analysis found. That would represent an "expansion of government's cost and size unprecedented since World War II," according to an estimate provided to CNN by former secretary of the treasury Larry Summers …
Summers estimated that Sanders would raise federal spending by 20 percent of GDP over 10 years, an increase only paralleled by a 33 percentage point increase over the course of World War II.
ATTEMPT TO HUMANIZE BLOOMBERG BACKFIRES SPECTACULARLY …
STRATEGERY … "New Video Shows Two Iranian Missiles Hit Ukrainian Plane," via NYT: The New York Times has verified security camera footage on Tuesday that shows, for the first time, that two missiles hit Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 on Jan. 8. The missiles were launched from an Iranian military site around eight miles from the plane.
PUTTING THE UNIVERSE ON NOTICE … "Raymond Sworn In as First Space Force Chief," via AIR FORCE MAG: Gen. Jay Raymond was formally sworn in as the inaugural Chief of Space Operations Jan. 14 at a White House ceremony led by Vice President Mike Pence.
He’s the first military officer solely tasked with treating space as an area that needs protection itself and that is crucial to enabling combat operations elsewhere. The Space Force is eventually expected to absorb the space programs spread across the Army and Navy as well, providing a more holistic, focused approach to managing the domain.
MAKING CANDY CROWLEY PROUD … "Watch CNN Moderator Side With Warren Over Sanders in Ongoing Campaign Dispute," by WFB's Brent Scher: [Abby] Phillip dismissed Sanders's denial and proceeded to state the accusation made in the CNN report as fact when she handed the question over to Warren.
"Senator Warren, what did you think when Senator Sanders told you a woman could not win the election?" Phillip said, eliciting a look of disbelief from Sanders.
BARACK OBAMA, MISOGYNIST … "ABC News Analyst: Running for President Against a Woman is Sexist," by WFB’s Andrew Stiles: Per [Matthew] Dowd's expert analysis, Sanders could definitely prove he is not a raging misogynist by not running for president against a female candidate.
You know one clear way to demonstrate that you believe a woman can and should be president? Don’t try to defeat a woman running for President. — Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) January 14, 2020
NANCY AND HER BASE … "The Epilogue of Impeachment," via PLAYBOY: Speaker [Nancy Pelosi], who does not drink, raised a glass of water and toasted the press and introduced a military band who played while she moved slowly through the room. Even some reporters are starstruck by the most powerful woman in the history of American politics, they crowded her and touched her hand and introduced themselves and said the names of their outlets.
A MORON EXPLAINS … "A modest proposal to save American democracy," via VOX: Literally nothing in the Constitution prevents Congress from admitting the Obama family’s personal DC residence as a state—a state which would then be entitled to two senators, one member of the House, and exactly as much say on whether the Constitution should be amended as the entire state of Texas.
Congress could then follow up this move by adding the personal DC residences of 149 other staunch Democratic families as states, each of which would then get two senators of their very own.
SHOWDOWN AT THE COUNTRY KITCHEN BUFFET … "Nursing Home Moment: Confusion Reigns as Elderly Candidates Debate Passage of Time," by WFB’s Andrew Stiles: WARREN: Wasn't that 30 years ago?
SANDERS: [attempts to do math in head] I beat an incumbent Republican Congressman.
WARREN: And I said I was the only one who has beaten an incumbent Republican in 30 years.
SANDERS: Well, 30 years ago is 1990, as a matter of fact.
So ended the exchange between two of the "top-tier" contenders to win the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 2020. The current frontrunner, former vice president Joe Biden, 77, is generally considered to have had a good debate performance if he can string together a handful of complete sentences and doesn't cite Manuel Noriega in response to a question about health care reform.
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW: 1,130. Come back, Joe!
"You know who really doesn’t have it? Joe Biden." —Former President Barack Obama
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


freebeacon--2020-01-16--No One on ‘Jeopardy!’ Knows Who Adam Schiff Is

None of the three contestants on Wednesday 's episode of Jeopardy !
knew who House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff @ @ @ @ @ is .
`` One-fifty-third of California 's House delegation is this Intelligence Committee chairman , @ @ @ @ @ , while the large screen displayed a picture of Schiff under the category `` U.S @ @ @ @ @ His name is Adam Schiff , '' Trebek said after none of the contestants buzzed @ @ @ @ @ House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) named Schiff the lead impeachment manager in @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
Schiff and the other managers delivered the articles of impeachment to the Senate @ @ @ @ @ Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 's office said they will formally accept them Thursday .

None of the three contestants on Wednesday's episode of Jeopardy! knew who House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff (D., Calif.) is.
"One-fifty-third of California's House delegation is this Intelligence Committee chairman," host Alex Trebek said, while the large screen displayed a picture of Schiff under the category "U.S. Representatives."
"His name is Adam Schiff," Trebek said after none of the contestants buzzed in.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) named Schiff the lead impeachment manager in the case against President Donald Trump. Schiff and the other managers delivered the articles of impeachment to the Senate on Wednesday, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office said they will formally accept them Thursday.


freebeacon--2020-01-16--Pelosi Hands Out Commemorative Pens to Dems to Celebrate ‘Somber’ Impeachment

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) on Wednesday handed out commemorative pens to her impeachment managers while posing for pictures with them—a departure from proceedings she has said should be serious and somber .
CNN correspondent Dana Bash and reporter Nia-Malika Henderson were both perplexed by the optics of Pelosi 's impeachment signing , saying it was `` off-message '' and `` unusual . ''
`` We 're used to seeing signing ceremonies , handing out pens at moments of celebration , when a president is signing legislation .
Even sometimes , on a rare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House sends over a landmark piece of legislation , '' Bash said .
`` It was unusual to see that kind of ceremony and handing out the pens and smiling for a picture in this kind of situation where the House Speaker has bent over backwards to say publicly and privately , ‘ This is somber .
This is not a time for a celebration . '
'' Henderson called the signing `` jarring '' and said it `` was a little off-message for someone who has tried to set a very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told House Democrats that the impeachment process is not a celebratory moment , calling it `` somber '' and a `` very sad time for our country . ''
Prior to the House impeachment vote last month , she told the Democratic caucus not to cheer at the final vote coming down .
Pelosi handed out eight pens to House Democrats last year after signing a continuing resolution to fund the federal government for three weeks .

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) on Wednesday handed out commemorative pens to her impeachment managers while posing for pictures with them—a departure from proceedings she has said should be serious and somber.
CNN correspondent Dana Bash and reporter Nia-Malika Henderson were both perplexed by the optics of Pelosi's impeachment signing, saying it was "off-message" and "unusual."
"We're used to seeing signing ceremonies, handing out pens at moments of celebration, when a president is signing legislation. Even sometimes, on a rare occasion but it has happened, when the House sends over a landmark piece of legislation," Bash said. "It was unusual to see that kind of ceremony and handing out the pens and smiling for a picture in this kind of situation where the House Speaker has bent over backwards to say publicly and privately, 'This is somber. This is not a time for a celebration.'"
Henderson called the signing "jarring" and said it "was a little off-message for someone who has tried to set a very serious tone."
Pelosi has repeatedly told House Democrats that the impeachment process is not a celebratory moment, calling it "somber" and a "very sad time for our country." Prior to the House impeachment vote last month, she told the Democratic caucus not to cheer at the final vote coming down.
Pelosi handed out eight pens to House Democrats last year after signing a continuing resolution to fund the federal government for three weeks.


freebeacon--2020-01-16--N.C. Dem Appointee Threatens to Call Cops Over Pledge of Allegiance

A North Carolina board of elections chairwoman threatened to call the police Tuesday if anyone were to attempt to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the next board meeting .
The threat came at the end of a contentious Bladen County Board of Elections meeting in which audience members voiced their displeasure with the board 's defeat of a measure adding the Pledge of Allegiance to its official agenda .
Two of the board members and a significant portion of the audience rose to recite the pledge in defiance of the board 's vote , which Chairwoman Louella Thompson described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the conclusion of the meeting , Thompson threatened to call the police if attendees attempted to recite the pledge again at the next meeting .
`` The next meeting , if that happens again , law enforcement will be called because it is against the law to disrupt a meeting that is going on , and that is what happened today with the reciting of the pledge , so be prepared for that , '' she said .
Board member Emory White introduced the measure that would have added the Pledge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a report from Bladen Online .
Three board members voted against the measure , two voted for it .
Gov .
Roy Cooper ( D. ) , who appointed Thomas , voiced disagreement with the decision not to recite the pledge .
`` The Governor leads the Pledge of Allegiance before every Council of State meeting .
He doesn ’ t agree with the action taken and he thinks it ’ s a good practice to say it before a Board of Elections meeting , '' a spokeswoman for the governor told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , audience members pushed back on the board 's decision .
`` I do n't care that other boards throughout the state , the county , wherever , do n't do this .
There 's nothing wrong with setting an example , and it 's in fact a good example , '' one audience member said .
`` I support it , and I believe there 's a lot of other Republicans on board … probably Democrats as well that support the idea of expressing our loyalty to our constitutional republic and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stands . ''
Charlotte Smith , the reporter for Bladen Online filming the meeting , asked Thompson why she voted against the measure to add the pledge .
`` That 's my right , and I exercise it , '' Thompson responded .
After the audience members voiced their disagreement , one rose and began reciting the pledge .
He was joined by the two board members who voted for the measure and a significant portion of the crowd .
`` I think that was quite out of order , '' Thompson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board took a brief recess where they discussed the incident , according to the chairwoman 's statement at the end of the meeting .
Rep. Dan Bishop ( R. , N.C. ) issued a press release in which he criticized the chairwoman for the threat to involve law enforcement .
`` I was appalled that the Chairwoman of the Bladen County Board of Elections will prevent board members—on threat of arrest—from reciting the Pledge of Allegiance , '' he said .
`` It shows a twisted moral code to oppress the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from oppression .
I stand with the board members who continue to revere and respect our flag and those who lost their lives defending it . ''

A North Carolina board of elections chairwoman threatened to call the police Tuesday if anyone were to attempt to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the next board meeting.
The threat came at the end of a contentious Bladen County Board of Elections meeting in which audience members voiced their displeasure with the board's defeat of a measure adding the Pledge of Allegiance to its official agenda. Two of the board members and a significant portion of the audience rose to recite the pledge in defiance of the board's vote, which Chairwoman Louella Thompson described as "out of order."
At the conclusion of the meeting, Thompson threatened to call the police if attendees attempted to recite the pledge again at the next meeting.
"The next meeting, if that happens again, law enforcement will be called because it is against the law to disrupt a meeting that is going on, and that is what happened today with the reciting of the pledge, so be prepared for that," she said.
Board member Emory White introduced the measure that would have added the Pledge of Allegiance to the agenda, according to a report from Bladen Online. Three board members voted against the measure, two voted for it.
Gov. Roy Cooper (D.), who appointed Thomas, voiced disagreement with the decision not to recite the pledge.
"The Governor leads the Pledge of Allegiance before every Council of State meeting. He doesn’t agree with the action taken and he thinks it’s a good practice to say it before a Board of Elections meeting," a spokeswoman for the governor told the Bladen Journal.
At Tuesday's meeting, audience members pushed back on the board's decision.
"I don't care that other boards throughout the state, the county, wherever, don't do this. There's nothing wrong with setting an example, and it's in fact a good example," one audience member said. "I support it, and I believe there's a lot of other Republicans on board ... probably Democrats as well that support the idea of expressing our loyalty to our constitutional republic and to the flag for which all of that stands."
Charlotte Smith, the reporter for Bladen Online filming the meeting, asked Thompson why she voted against the measure to add the pledge.
"That's my right, and I exercise it," Thompson responded.
After the audience members voiced their disagreement, one rose and began reciting the pledge. He was joined by the two board members who voted for the measure and a significant portion of the crowd.
"I think that was quite out of order," Thompson said after the pledge was recited. The board took a brief recess where they discussed the incident, according to the chairwoman's statement at the end of the meeting.
Rep. Dan Bishop (R., N.C.) issued a press release in which he criticized the chairwoman for the threat to involve law enforcement.
"I was appalled that the Chairwoman of the Bladen County Board of Elections will prevent board members—on threat of arrest—from reciting the Pledge of Allegiance," he said. "It shows a twisted moral code to oppress the right to honor a flag that stands for freedom from oppression. I stand with the board members who continue to revere and respect our flag and those who lost their lives defending it."


freebeacon--2020-01-17--PEN IS MIGHTY: Journalists to Award Themselves Bezos-Funded ‘Courage’ Award Named After Billionaire

PEN IS MIGHTY: Journalists to Award Themselves Bezos-Funded ‘Courage’ Award Named After Billionaire Heiress

The Washington Free Beacon regrets to inform you that the journalists are at it again .
The White House Correspondents ' Association , a pro-journalism activist group responsible for hosting the appropriately dubbed `` nerd prom '' dinner party , announced Friday the creation of a new journalism award for `` courage and accountability . ''
ABC News chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl captured the sentiment of the pro-journalism community by describing the announcement as a `` big deal . ''
The award is named after the late heiress Katharine Graham , daughter of former Washington Post owner Eugene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age of 40 had amassed a fortune worth nearly $ 800 million in today 's dollars .
Graham served as publisher of the Post for a decade beginning in 1969 .
Current Washington Post owner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos reportedly endowed the `` courage '' award for journalists with a `` generous donation . ''
The Katharine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability will be presented for the first time this April at the White House Correspondents ' Dinner , the annual black-tie gala in Washington , D.C. , at which journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exclusive parties with actual celebrities .

The Washington Free Beacon regrets to inform you that the journalists are at it again. The White House Correspondents' Association, a pro-journalism activist group responsible for hosting the appropriately dubbed "nerd prom" dinner party, announced Friday the creation of a new journalism award for "courage and accountability."
ABC News chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl captured the sentiment of the pro-journalism community by describing the announcement as a "big deal."
This is a big deal -- a major new journalism prize to be awarded at the 2020 White House Correspondents' Dinner -- and every WHCD after that. https://t.co/6mU5T1o9eI — Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) January 17, 2020
The award is named after the late heiress Katharine Graham, daughter of former Washington Post owner Eugene Meyer, a financier who by the age of 40 had amassed a fortune worth nearly $800 million in today's dollars. Graham served as publisher of the Post for a decade beginning in 1969.
Current Washington Post owner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos reportedly endowed the "courage" award for journalists with a "generous donation." The Katharine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability will be presented for the first time this April at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, the annual black-tie gala in Washington, D.C., at which journalists congratulate themselves for their courage by attending exclusive parties with actual celebrities.


freebeacon--2020-01-17--The Best Year for Movies in Forever

The Best Year for Movies in Forever

The two late entrants into the Oscar race , Little Women and 1917 , both scored Best Picture nominations and are credible possibilities to take the statuette at the awards ceremony in February .
That 's not only because both of them are good , which they are ; Little Women is an emotional knockout ( its last hour in particular ) , while 1917 is a riveting and harrowing thriller , inventively told and staggeringly well photographed .
Nor is it because they are both wildly successful at the box office , which they also are ; by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach $ 100 million at the domestic box office on a $ 40 million budget with lots more runway to spare , and 1917 is likely going to earn hundreds of millions worldwide .
Nor is it because they both can claim to be speaking to the zeitgeist , though they do—Little Women because it is an explicitly 21st-century feminist rendering of Louisa May Alcott ’ s already feminist 1869 novel and 1917 because it is a portrait of the futility of war at a time when every Democrat in the presidential race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the last debate .
It ’ s because of the rules .
When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expanded the number of nominees from 5 to as many as 10 , the rules changed—no longer do voters simply choose one film as the best and whichever picture gets the most votes wins .
Now voters rank their choices in order and then other things happen and math gets involved and when math gets involved I stop paying attention so whatever , dude .
With a ranked system , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the top choice can still win somehow ( again , math ) .
So there ’ s just no telling what might win .
And here ’ s the thing about the movies of 2019 , at least as far as the Oscar nominations are concerned : They were really , really good .
For the first time I can remember , every single movie nominated for Best Picture would be an entirely suitable winner—and there are nine of them .
Compare this with last year , when Green Book won ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the eight nominees I thought was deserving .
In 2018 , there were to my mind two somewhat acceptable choices out of nine—Three Billboards Outside Ebbing , Missouri and Lady Bird—in a year when the absurd and egregious The Shape of Water won .
And so it goes ; 2017 was the year La La Land didn ’ t win even though Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway said it had , and Moonlight did , and I ’ m still angry because that was bulls—t .
That ’ s what makes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to vote for one of the nominees myself , I would pick Marriage Story , which may be the best American movie made in the past decade .
But in doing so , I would feel a little bad I was passing Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood by , which is a glory in itself .
The beautiful JoJo Rabbit pulled off an almost fiendishly difficult feat in avoiding the horrendous pitfalls that come with being a growing-up-a-Nazi comedy .
But let ’ s say none of those three prevails next month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Or Ford v Ferrari .
Or The Irishman .
In any other year , any of them would have won going away .
Even the two movies I didn ’ t especially like , Parasite and Joker , are brilliantly crafted and conceived and deserve the accolades they have received .
And then there were the movies that didn ’ t make it—Dolemite Is My Name and Knives Out foremost among them—whose presence among the nominees would have been entirely justified .
How did this bounty come upon us in 2019 when 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the only explanation .
It would be just like Hollywood to raise our hopes and expectations this way only to dash them upon the shoals of mediocre reality with a horrible 2020 .
If I had to guess , I ’ d say 1917 is the movie to beat because it ’ s new and fresh and bold and will be one of the dominant box office players just when Academy voters have to vote .
But there ’ s just no way of knowing what ’ s going to happen here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exciting Oscar race in , like , forever .

The two late entrants into the Oscar race, Little Women and 1917, both scored Best Picture nominations and are credible possibilities to take the statuette at the awards ceremony in February. That's not only because both of them are good, which they are; Little Women is an emotional knockout (its last hour in particular), while 1917 is a riveting and harrowing thriller, inventively told and staggeringly well photographed. Nor is it because they are both wildly successful at the box office, which they also are; by the end of this weekend Little Women will approach $100 million at the domestic box office on a $40 million budget with lots more runway to spare, and 1917 is likely going to earn hundreds of millions worldwide.
Nor is it because they both can claim to be speaking to the zeitgeist, though they do—Little Women because it is an explicitly 21st-century feminist rendering of Louisa May Alcott’s already feminist 1869 novel and 1917 because it is a portrait of the futility of war at a time when every Democrat in the presidential race all but swore an oath to pacifism at the last debate.
It’s because of the rules.
When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expanded the number of nominees from 5 to as many as 10, the rules changed—no longer do voters simply choose one film as the best and whichever picture gets the most votes wins. Now voters rank their choices in order and then other things happen and math gets involved and when math gets involved I stop paying attention so whatever, dude. With a ranked system, the movie that gets only the third-most votes as the top choice can still win somehow (again, math). So there’s just no telling what might win.
And here’s the thing about the movies of 2019, at least as far as the Oscar nominations are concerned: They were really, really good. For the first time I can remember, every single movie nominated for Best Picture would be an entirely suitable winner—and there are nine of them. Compare this with last year, when Green Book won; there wasn’t a single film among the eight nominees I thought was deserving. In 2018, there were to my mind two somewhat acceptable choices out of nine—Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Lady Bird—in a year when the absurd and egregious The Shape of Water won. And so it goes; 2017 was the year La La Land didn’t win even though Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway said it had, and Moonlight did, and I’m still angry because that was bulls—t.
That’s what makes the 2020 slate so miraculous. If I had to vote for one of the nominees myself, I would pick Marriage Story, which may be the best American movie made in the past decade. But in doing so, I would feel a little bad I was passing Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood by, which is a glory in itself. The beautiful JoJo Rabbit pulled off an almost fiendishly difficult feat in avoiding the horrendous pitfalls that come with being a growing-up-a-Nazi comedy. But let’s say none of those three prevails next month and Little Women or 1917 does. Or Ford v Ferrari. Or The Irishman. In any other year, any of them would have won going away.
Even the two movies I didn’t especially like, Parasite and Joker, are brilliantly crafted and conceived and deserve the accolades they have received. And then there were the movies that didn’t make it—Dolemite Is My Name and Knives Out foremost among them—whose presence among the nominees would have been entirely justified.
How did this bounty come upon us in 2019 when 2018 and 2017 were such duds? Luck is the only explanation. It would be just like Hollywood to raise our hopes and expectations this way only to dash them upon the shoals of mediocre reality with a horrible 2020.
If I had to guess, I’d say 1917 is the movie to beat because it’s new and fresh and bold and will be one of the dominant box office players just when Academy voters have to vote. But there’s just no way of knowing what’s going to happen here, and that makes this the first exciting Oscar race in, like, forever.


freebeacon--2020-01-17--S.C. Black Voters Trash Kamala Harris: ‘I Found Kamala Harris Abrasive From the Beginning’

Black voters in South Carolina on Friday criticized Sen. Kamala Harris 's ( D. , Calif. ) now defunct presidential campaign , saying it assumed too much about the black vote and lacked `` consistency . ''
`` I found Kamala Harris abrasive from the beginning , '' one voter said on CNN ’ s New Day .
`` I thought that she assumed to have achieved the black vote , which when you assume which way my support should go , it shows that you have commodified my interest . ''
Another voter lacked confidence in Harris 's leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't lead your campaign team , you may not be able to lead the country . ''
Others criticized the broader assumption that black voters prefer black candidates—as one voter put it , `` it 's almost like you ’ re saying we do n't have our own ideas and views , which we do , beyond race . ''
Harris ended her campaign in December , citing a lack of funding .
She dropped out following months of stories about mismanagement of her campaign and an inability to connect with Democratic voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leads in the latest South Carolina primary poll , followed by businessman Tom Steyer and Sens .
Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) and Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
.

Black voters in South Carolina on Friday criticized Sen. Kamala Harris's (D., Calif.) now defunct presidential campaign, saying it assumed too much about the black vote and lacked "consistency."
"I found Kamala Harris abrasive from the beginning," one voter said on CNN’s New Day. "I thought that she assumed to have achieved the black vote, which when you assume which way my support should go, it shows that you have commodified my interest."
Another voter lacked confidence in Harris's leadership, insisting that "if you can't lead your campaign team, you may not be able to lead the country." Others criticized the broader assumption that black voters prefer black candidates—as one voter put it, "it's almost like you’re saying we don't have our own ideas and views, which we do, beyond race."
Harris ended her campaign in December, citing a lack of funding. She dropped out following months of stories about mismanagement of her campaign and an inability to connect with Democratic voters.
Former vice president Joe Biden currently leads in the latest South Carolina primary poll, followed by businessman Tom Steyer and Sens. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.).