freebeacon--2020-11-30--Congress Makes Final Push to Stop Russian Pipeline to Europe

Congress is preparing a final round of sanctions to thwart Russia 's efforts to build an undersea gas pipeline to Europe .
Lawmakers in Washington , including prominent Russia hawks Sen. Ted Cruz ( R. , Texas ) and Rep. Mike Gallagher ( R. , Wis. ) , aim to halt construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany 's northern coast .
Members of Congress agreed this month on sanctions intended to make completion of the project impossible , according to a Wall Street Journal report .
The proposed sanctions , which are reportedly included in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense Authorization Act , target Russia 's only pipe-laying ship capable of completing the pipeline .
The sanctions would penalize companies for making modifications to the ship that are necessary for the final stages of the pipeline 's construction .
Washington ’ s sanctions will act as `` the final nail into the coffin of this project , '' Vadym Glamazdin , a Ukrainian government relations official for the country ’ s national gas company , told the Wall Street Journal .
`` When these sanctions are finally voted and become law , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ build this pipeline . ''
The White House has consistently opposed Nord Stream 2 and imposed sanctions in 2019 that brought the project to a halt .
President Donald Trump has repeatedly made his case against the pipeline to German chancellor Angela Merkel in meetings between the two leaders .
`` I ‘ ve never been a part of a conversation in which the president did not support Nord Stream 2 sanctions , '' one White House official told the Wall Street Journal .
Calls for sanctions against Nord Stream 2 reached a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader Alexei Navalny was allegedly poisoned by the Russian government .
`` It 's long past time to end Nord Stream [ 2 ] , '' Gallagher said in September after it was confirmed Navalny was poisoned by a Russian nerve agent .
`` The free world should not be in the business of giving Vladimir Putin leverage . ''
A bloc of German lawmakers also called to end the project .
The chair of the Bundestag 's foreign affairs committee said its completion would be an implicit endorsement of Putin 's `` @ @ @ @ @ @

Congress is preparing a final round of sanctions to thwart Russia's efforts to build an undersea gas pipeline to Europe.
Lawmakers in Washington, including prominent Russia hawks Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R., Wis.), aim to halt construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany's northern coast. Members of Congress agreed this month on sanctions intended to make completion of the project impossible, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
The proposed sanctions, which are reportedly included in the House and Senate's compromise National Defense Authorization Act, target Russia's only pipe-laying ship capable of completing the pipeline. The sanctions would penalize companies for making modifications to the ship that are necessary for the final stages of the pipeline's construction.
Washington’s sanctions will act as "the final nail into the coffin of this project," Vadym Glamazdin, a Ukrainian government relations official for the country’s national gas company, told the Wall Street Journal. "When these sanctions are finally voted and become law, there will be no practical way to build this pipeline."
The White House has consistently opposed Nord Stream 2 and imposed sanctions in 2019 that brought the project to a halt. President Donald Trump has repeatedly made his case against the pipeline to German chancellor Angela Merkel in meetings between the two leaders.
"I‘ve never been a part of a conversation in which the president did not support Nord Stream 2 sanctions," one White House official told the Wall Street Journal.
Calls for sanctions against Nord Stream 2 reached a high point this summer after Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was allegedly poisoned by the Russian government. "It's long past time to end Nord Stream [2]," Gallagher said in September after it was confirmed Navalny was poisoned by a Russian nerve agent. "The free world should not be in the business of giving Vladimir Putin leverage."
A bloc of German lawmakers also called to end the project. The chair of the Bundestag's foreign affairs committee said its completion would be an implicit endorsement of Putin's "inhuman and contemptuous politics."


freebeacon--2020-11-30--Top Sanders Aide Accuses Israel of Terrorism

A top aide to Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) accused Israel of terrorism following the assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist and military official believed to be instrumental in Tehran 's nuclear weapons program .
Matt Duss , a Sanders foreign policy adviser and frequent critic of Israel and Jews , wrote on Twitter that incoming president Joe Biden should reenter the landmark nuclear deal with Iran and offer it billions of dollars in sanctions relief to send a message to Israel that `` terrorism does n't work . ''
Duss 's Monday morning tweet came shortly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who helmed the Islamic Republic 's nuclear research , including its work on an atomic weapon .
While no one has publicly claimed responsibility for the strike , it is widely believed Israel orchestrated the killing .
`` Responding to the Fakhrizadeh assassination by reaffirming the commitment to rejoin the JCPOA would be a good way to send the message that terrorism does n't work , '' Duss tweeted , referring to the nuclear deal by its acronym .
Duss 's voice is one of many on the left pressuring the Biden administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in service of renewing diplomacy .
His commentary was criticized by regional experts who said Fakhrizadeh was a legitimate military target due to his role in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ) , Iran 's paramilitary fighting force , and efforts to procure illicit nuclear technology .
`` This was a general in the terror-designated IRGC working to create one of the world 's most dangerous weapons for the world 's leading state sponsor of terrorism with the expressed purpose of committing genocide , '' said Richard Goldberg , a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked on Iran issues .
`` Mr. Duss 's comments reflect a deeply disturbing worldview that calls it terrorism for a democracy to defend itself by eliminating a genocidal military-nuclear terrorist . ''
Jason Brodsky , policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran , a watchdog group that tracks Tehran 's nuclear progress , said the nuclear deal has not deescalated tension in the region .
`` The argument that the JCPOA deescalates tensions in the region is fundamentally untrue , '' Brodsky told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` The experience of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief today risks non-nuclear destabilization tomorrow . ''
Since the deal was inked , Iran has sent troops to several Middle Eastern nations and armed the Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon .
Brodsky also pointed out that Fakhrizadeh `` was n't a civilian , '' an important distinction when discussing killings of this nature .
`` When your position mirrors some of the views from a leading U.S. adversary , it 's time to rethink your approach .
U.S. allies and partners in the region—and even in some quarters in Europe—are counseling against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That speaks volumes , '' Brodsky said .
The funeral for Fakhrizadeh was held over the weekend at Iran 's Ministry of Defense , further emphasizing the scientist 's role in the country 's military .
Hardliners in Iran have already called for retaliatory strikes on Israel , with one Iranian newspaper urging an attack on the Israeli city of Haifa , in Israel 's northern region .
One of Iran 's top generals , Hossein Salami , vowed to respond to the assassination , saying on Monday that `` enemies must await @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time , place , and quality of the response , '' he was quoted as saying in Iran 's state-controlled press .
`` But the punishment of perpetrators and commanders is definite . ''

A top aide to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) accused Israel of terrorism following the assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist and military official believed to be instrumental in Tehran's nuclear weapons program.
Matt Duss, a Sanders foreign policy adviser and frequent critic of Israel and Jews, wrote on Twitter that incoming president Joe Biden should reenter the landmark nuclear deal with Iran and offer it billions of dollars in sanctions relief to send a message to Israel that "terrorism doesn't work."
Duss's Monday morning tweet came shortly after the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who helmed the Islamic Republic's nuclear research, including its work on an atomic weapon. While no one has publicly claimed responsibility for the strike, it is widely believed Israel orchestrated the killing.
"Responding to the Fakhrizadeh assassination by reaffirming the commitment to rejoin the JCPOA would be a good way to send the message that terrorism doesn't work," Duss tweeted, referring to the nuclear deal by its acronym. Duss's voice is one of many on the left pressuring the Biden administration to take a softer approach to Iran in service of renewing diplomacy. His commentary was criticized by regional experts who said Fakhrizadeh was a legitimate military target due to his role in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran's paramilitary fighting force, and efforts to procure illicit nuclear technology.
"This was a general in the terror-designated IRGC working to create one of the world's most dangerous weapons for the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism with the expressed purpose of committing genocide," said Richard Goldberg, a former White House National Security Council member who worked on Iran issues. "Mr. Duss's comments reflect a deeply disturbing worldview that calls it terrorism for a democracy to defend itself by eliminating a genocidal military-nuclear terrorist."
Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, a watchdog group that tracks Tehran's nuclear progress, said the nuclear deal has not deescalated tension in the region.
"The argument that the JCPOA deescalates tensions in the region is fundamentally untrue," Brodsky told the Washington Free Beacon. "The experience of the JCPOA has shown that nuclear-related sanctions relief today risks non-nuclear destabilization tomorrow."
Since the deal was inked, Iran has sent troops to several Middle Eastern nations and armed the Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon.
Brodsky also pointed out that Fakhrizadeh "wasn't a civilian," an important distinction when discussing killings of this nature.
"When your position mirrors some of the views from a leading U.S. adversary, it's time to rethink your approach. U.S. allies and partners in the region—and even in some quarters in Europe—are counseling against a full return to the JCPOA. That speaks volumes," Brodsky said.
The funeral for Fakhrizadeh was held over the weekend at Iran's Ministry of Defense, further emphasizing the scientist's role in the country's military.
Hardliners in Iran have already called for retaliatory strikes on Israel, with one Iranian newspaper urging an attack on the Israeli city of Haifa, in Israel's northern region.
One of Iran's top generals, Hossein Salami, vowed to respond to the assassination, saying on Monday that "enemies must await our response."
"We determine the time, place, and quality of the response," he was quoted as saying in Iran's state-controlled press. "But the punishment of perpetrators and commanders is definite."


freebeacon--2020-11-30--Supreme Court Poised to Slow Walk Trump Bid to Exclude Illegal Immigrants From Redistricting

The Supreme Court looks unlikely to issue a quick decision on the Trump administration 's bid to exclude illegal immigrants from the population baseline for awarding congressional seats .
The justices heard oral arguments for the case on Monday .
At stake in the proceedings are untold millions in federal aid conditioned on population , as well as representation in the House of Representatives for states like California , Florida , and Texas , which have large numbers of illegal aliens .
Acting solicitor general Jeffrey Wall told the justices that the Census Bureau will not be able to identify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of logistical challenges , meaning the president will move instead to exclude specific subsets of undocumented people , like those in ICE facilities .
That concession stirred interest in a temporary delay among some of the justices , who said the Court should stay its hand until President Donald Trump decides which groups to discount .
`` We do n't know what the president is going to do .
We do n't know how many aliens will be excluded .
We do n't know what the effect of that would be on apportionment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we wait until the apportionment takes place , '' Chief Justice John Roberts said during Monday 's hearing .
A delay means that the states could be in store for a chaotic redistricting process while the House of Representatives itself is closely divided .
Many states set legal deadlines for completing their redraw .
And Texas , which will have almost 40 seats , presents a particular problem since its legislature will adjourn until 2023 in May .
The Texas Legislature draws district boundaries but only meets every other year .
Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new allocation of House seats , called a reapportionment , in early January , meaning Trump could notch a significant if controversial accomplishment in his final days as president if his policy is carried out .
The administration has tried to make the census a complement to its hawkish immigration agenda .
The government previously attempted to include a citizenship question on census questionnaires , but the Court blocked that move in June 2019 .
The government is currently identifying illegal aliens by matching their census responses with other government records that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bureau officials do not yet know how many non-citizens they will ultimately pinpoint using that process .
Statistical sampling is not permitted in the census .
According to Wall , the government will be able to identify and exclude anyone in an ICE detention center—about 60,000 people—but not all 12 million undocumented immigrants .
`` It is very unlikely that the bureau will be able to identify all or substantially all illegal aliens present in the country , '' Wall said .
`` They will be able , I think , to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number in the tens of thousands .
The question is where it will fall in the middle , and we do n't know . ''
As such , Wall said , the best course would be for the justices to toss out lower court rulings against the administration and await new developments .
Three federal courts have said Trump 's order is unlawful , while a fourth said a decision is too premature given the continued uncertainty .
Justice Elena Kagan argued the number of immigrants excluded could easily exceed Wall 's estimates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detailed records on DACA recipients , non-citizens in removal proceedings , and those subject to removal orders .
All told , Kagan suggested the administration could `` easily get over four million people . ''
Even the conservative justices questioned whether the government can categorically exclude all illegal immigrants from the reapportionment .
The Constitution requires the government to conduct a census every 10 years .
Seats in the House of Representatives are allocated among the states `` according to their respective numbers , counting the whole number of persons in each state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the undocumented have always been counted in the census .
`` A lot of the historical evidence and longstanding practice really cuts against your position , '' Barrett told Wall .
She went on to wonder why a person who has lived in the country for 20 years would not be considered a settled resident , even if they are here illegally .
Justice Brett Kavanaugh also called legal arguments against the administration 's move `` forceful . ''
Trump 's policy faces obstacles beyond the High Court .
The Democrat-controlled House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that excludes certain populations , which would be unprecedented .
President-elect Joe Biden will take office on Jan. 20 and could attempt an end run of his own , though such a move would draw fresh legal challenges .
The case is No .
20-366 Trump v. New York .

The Supreme Court looks unlikely to issue a quick decision on the Trump administration's bid to exclude illegal immigrants from the population baseline for awarding congressional seats.
The justices heard oral arguments for the case on Monday. At stake in the proceedings are untold millions in federal aid conditioned on population, as well as representation in the House of Representatives for states like California, Florida, and Texas, which have large numbers of illegal aliens.
Acting solicitor general Jeffrey Wall told the justices that the Census Bureau will not be able to identify most illegal immigrants in the country because of logistical challenges, meaning the president will move instead to exclude specific subsets of undocumented people, like those in ICE facilities. That concession stirred interest in a temporary delay among some of the justices, who said the Court should stay its hand until President Donald Trump decides which groups to discount.
"We don't know what the president is going to do. We don't know how many aliens will be excluded. We don't know what the effect of that would be on apportionment. All these questions would be resolved if we wait until the apportionment takes place," Chief Justice John Roberts said during Monday's hearing.
A delay means that the states could be in store for a chaotic redistricting process while the House of Representatives itself is closely divided. Many states set legal deadlines for completing their redraw. And Texas, which will have almost 40 seats, presents a particular problem since its legislature will adjourn until 2023 in May. The Texas Legislature draws district boundaries but only meets every other year.
Federal law requires the president to send Congress a new allocation of House seats, called a reapportionment, in early January, meaning Trump could notch a significant if controversial accomplishment in his final days as president if his policy is carried out. The administration has tried to make the census a complement to its hawkish immigration agenda. The government previously attempted to include a citizenship question on census questionnaires, but the Court blocked that move in June 2019.
The government is currently identifying illegal aliens by matching their census responses with other government records that reveal immigration status. Wall said Census Bureau officials do not yet know how many non-citizens they will ultimately pinpoint using that process. Statistical sampling is not permitted in the census.
According to Wall, the government will be able to identify and exclude anyone in an ICE detention center—about 60,000 people—but not all 12 million undocumented immigrants.
"It is very unlikely that the bureau will be able to identify all or substantially all illegal aliens present in the country," Wall said. "They will be able, I think, to do ICE facilities, which ... is some number in the tens of thousands. The question is where it will fall in the middle, and we don't know."
As such, Wall said, the best course would be for the justices to toss out lower court rulings against the administration and await new developments. Three federal courts have said Trump's order is unlawful, while a fourth said a decision is too premature given the continued uncertainty.
Justice Elena Kagan argued the number of immigrants excluded could easily exceed Wall's estimates. She said that the government has detailed records on DACA recipients, non-citizens in removal proceedings, and those subject to removal orders. All told, Kagan suggested the administration could "easily get over four million people."
Even the conservative justices questioned whether the government can categorically exclude all illegal immigrants from the reapportionment. The Constitution requires the government to conduct a census every 10 years. Seats in the House of Representatives are allocated among the states "according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state."
Justice Amy Coney Barrett noted that the undocumented have always been counted in the census.
"A lot of the historical evidence and longstanding practice really cuts against your position," Barrett told Wall. She went on to wonder why a person who has lived in the country for 20 years would not be considered a settled resident, even if they are here illegally. Justice Brett Kavanaugh also called legal arguments against the administration's move "forceful."
Trump's policy faces obstacles beyond the High Court. The Democrat-controlled House might not sign off on a reapportionment that excludes certain populations, which would be unprecedented. President-elect Joe Biden will take office on Jan. 20 and could attempt an end run of his own, though such a move would draw fresh legal challenges.
The case is No. 20-366 Trump v. New York.


freebeacon--2020-11-30--Biden Stomps on Black Woman’s Lifelong Dream

In her 2020 memoir , titled No , You Shut Up , Symone Sanders bared her soul to the world : It 's like me saying , `` One day I wan na be White House press secretary ! ''
There .
I said it .
Everyone says do n't tell people your dreams because it 'll kill them .
No !
You have to express them—you have to give them oxygen in order to let them breathe and grow and become something real .
At the time the book was published , Sanders had been a senior adviser to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a year .
She was with the campaign from the very beginning , when few pundits believed Biden had a prayer of winning the Democratic nomination .
Fast forward to today .
President-elect Joe Biden is announcing his picks for key administration positions , including that of White House press secretary , while emphasizing the importance of diversity .
Surely Sanders , a young black woman , would be the obvious choice , the historic choice .
Biden had other ideas .
Over the weekend , the president-elect announced that Jen Psaki @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left her gig as a CNN commentator to work on Biden 's transition team , was his preferred choice for White House press secretary .
Another white person , Kate Bedingfield , will serve as White House communications director .
Sanders 's lifelong dream will have to wait .
She did , however , land a minor role in the incoming Biden administration .
She was named senior adviser and chief spokesperson for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris .
Does n't really have the same ring to it , though .
No one dreams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifelong dreams of qualified black candidates has been a running theme of the Democratic Party 's political efforts in 2020 .
Democrats spent millions , for example , to prevent black candidates from winning the party 's nomination in three key Senate races , all of which they ended up losing .
Erica Smith , a former Boeing engineer who sought the party 's nomination in North Carolina , had some harsh words for Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) , whose early support of Cal Cunningham helped him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Schumer , for whatever reason , did not want an African American running for Senate in North Carolina , '' Smith said at a campaign event in January .
Cunningham went on to lose a tight race against Sen. Thom Tillis ( R. , N.C. ) after admitting to an extramarital affair with the wife of a combat veteran .
On Schumer 's watch , the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee also spent millions in support of white candidates in Kentucky and Texas at the expense of qualified black politicians .
Royce West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas to MJ Hegar , accused party leaders of `` trying to lock African Americans out of the process . ''
Hegar lost to Sen. John Cornyn ( R. ) by 10 percentage points .
In Kentucky , state lawmaker Charles Booker fell to Amy McGrath , the DSCC-endorsed candidate who raised $ 88 million only to lose to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell ( R. ) by almost 20 percentage points .

In her 2020 memoir, titled No, You Shut Up, Symone Sanders bared her soul to the world:
It's like me saying, "One day I wanna be White House press secretary!" There. I said it. Everyone says don't tell people your dreams because it'll kill them. No! You have to express them—you have to give them oxygen in order to let them breathe and grow and become something real.
At the time the book was published, Sanders had been a senior adviser to Joe Biden's presidential campaign for more than a year. She was with the campaign from the very beginning, when few pundits believed Biden had a prayer of winning the Democratic nomination.
Fast forward to today. President-elect Joe Biden is announcing his picks for key administration positions, including that of White House press secretary, while emphasizing the importance of diversity. Surely Sanders, a young black woman, would be the obvious choice, the historic choice.
Biden had other ideas. Over the weekend, the president-elect announced that Jen Psaki, a white person who only recently left her gig as a CNN commentator to work on Biden's transition team, was his preferred choice for White House press secretary. Another white person, Kate Bedingfield, will serve as White House communications director.
Sanders's lifelong dream will have to wait. She did, however, land a minor role in the incoming Biden administration. She was named senior adviser and chief spokesperson for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Doesn't really have the same ring to it, though. No one dreams of having that job.
Crushing the lifelong dreams of qualified black candidates has been a running theme of the Democratic Party's political efforts in 2020. Democrats spent millions, for example, to prevent black candidates from winning the party's nomination in three key Senate races, all of which they ended up losing.
Erica Smith, a former Boeing engineer who sought the party's nomination in North Carolina, had some harsh words for Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), whose early support of Cal Cunningham helped him sail through the Democratic primary.
"Sen. Schumer, for whatever reason, did not want an African American running for Senate in North Carolina," Smith said at a campaign event in January. Cunningham went on to lose a tight race against Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) after admitting to an extramarital affair with the wife of a combat veteran.
On Schumer's watch, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee also spent millions in support of white candidates in Kentucky and Texas at the expense of qualified black politicians.
Royce West, who lost the Democratic primary in Texas to MJ Hegar, accused party leaders of "trying to lock African Americans out of the process." Hegar lost to Sen. John Cornyn (R.) by 10 percentage points.
In Kentucky, state lawmaker Charles Booker fell to Amy McGrath, the DSCC-endorsed candidate who raised $88 million only to lose to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R.) by almost 20 percentage points.


freebeacon--2020-11-30--Rashida Tlaib Scrubs Another Anti-Semitic Tweet

Rep. Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) scrubbed a tweet on Monday that included an anti-Semitic phrase often used by terrorist groups that seek the destruction of Israel .
Screenshots from the Internet Archive 's `` Wayback Machine '' show that Tlaib retweeted a Saturday post that included a graphic promoting Palestinian solidarity and the phrase `` From the River to the Sea , Palestine will be free . ''
The Palestinian Liberation Organization , Hamas , and Hezbollah regularly use the phrase as a rallying cry against the Jewish state .
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah used the phrase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel a `` cancerous growth '' that needed to be destroyed .
Tlaib deleted the controversial tweet after critics slammed her , and did the same as recently as last January after she blamed Israelis for the death of a Palestinian child who had slipped and drowned in a pond , prompting accusations from an Israel government official that she was spreading a `` blood libel . ''
In 2018 , Professor Marc Lamont Hill lost his position as a CNN contributor for parroting the Hamas rallying cry , and several Jewish groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hill has n't stopped Tlaib from engaging with him .
Hill , Tlaib , and New York Times columnist Peter Beinart are slated to appear on a December 15 panel that claims to promote `` dismantling antisemitism '' but is sponsored by groups pushing a pro-Palestinian agenda .
Tlaib has faced criticism for anti-Semitic behavior before .
In August , she criticized the Biden campaign for disavowing anti-Semitic activist Linda Sarsour .
Tlaib also opposed the Trump administration 's efforts to bring the United States and Israel closer together .

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) scrubbed a tweet on Monday that included an anti-Semitic phrase often used by terrorist groups that seek the destruction of Israel.
Screenshots from the Internet Archive's "Wayback Machine" show that Tlaib retweeted a Saturday post that included a graphic promoting Palestinian solidarity and the phrase "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free."
The Palestinian Liberation Organization, Hamas, and Hezbollah regularly use the phrase as a rallying cry against the Jewish state. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah used the phrase in remarks in which he also called Israel a "cancerous growth" that needed to be destroyed.
Tlaib deleted the controversial tweet after critics slammed her, and did the same as recently as last January after she blamed Israelis for the death of a Palestinian child who had slipped and drowned in a pond, prompting accusations from an Israel government official that she was spreading a "blood libel."
In 2018, Professor Marc Lamont Hill lost his position as a CNN contributor for parroting the Hamas rallying cry, and several Jewish groups blasted his remarks.
The firing of Hill hasn't stopped Tlaib from engaging with him. Hill, Tlaib, and New York Times columnist Peter Beinart are slated to appear on a December 15 panel that claims to promote "dismantling antisemitism" but is sponsored by groups pushing a pro-Palestinian agenda.
Tlaib has faced criticism for anti-Semitic behavior before. In August, she criticized the Biden campaign for disavowing anti-Semitic activist Linda Sarsour. Tlaib also opposed the Trump administration's efforts to bring the United States and Israel closer together.


freebeacon--2020-11-30--Schumer-Aligned Dark Money Outfit Funnels Record $40 Million to Advocacy Groups

A dark money organization aligned with Sen. Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) funneled a record $ 40 million to liberal advocacy groups for voter engagement efforts , new filings show .
Majority Forward , a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) nonprofit that is affiliated with Schumer 's Senate Majority PAC , sent the grants to more than a dozen left-wing groups , several of which are active in Georgia 's pivotal runoff elections .
The new tax forms show that Majority Forward experienced a financial windfall heading into the 2020 elections .
The group raised $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 , 2018 , and May 31 , 2019 .
It then flooded 16 liberal advocacy groups with funds for voter registration efforts .
The largest grants include $ 14.8 million to America Votes , $ 10.1 million to the Black Progressive Action Coalition , and $ 3.5 million to the League of Conservation Voters .
Many of the groups funded by Majority Forward will be key players in the Georgia runoffs , which will determine control of the Senate .
The Black PAC , a super PAC affiliated with the Black Progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figures into canvassing efforts for Democratic candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff .
Majority Forward also cut a $ 376,000 check to the Voter Participation Center , a registration group that has been active in a number of states including Georgia .
The center has drawn fire for `` shaming '' people into voting and angered election officials , who say the group 's mailers have contained mistakes .
It plans to send additional mailers to over four million Georgians before the runoffs in January .
Majority Forward eclipsed the cash the group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years combined .
From mid-2015 to mid-2018 , the group hauled in $ 69 million and disbursed $ 16 million .
Its prior best year came in 2016 when it took in $ 34.2 million in contributions and passed $ 9.5 million to other groups working to elect Democrats .
The documents showing its activity from mid-2019 to mid-2020 will not be available until late next year .
Scott Walter , president of the Capital Research Center , said nonprofits like Majority Forward are as important as explicitly partisan outfits like campaigns and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ost people don ’ t realize the politicized ( c ) ( 3 ) river of money is several multiples larger than the ‘ hard ' political money river and the ( c ) ( 4 ) independent expenditures river combined , '' Walter told the Washington Free Beacon .
While Majority Forward primarily funds other advocacy nonprofits , the group also injected more than $ 10 million directly into the 2020 election .
It pushed the majority of that cash through the Senate Majority PAC , with which it shares personnel and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by J.B. Poersch , a Schumer ally , and their relationship has been described as `` ridiculously cozy '' by watchdog groups .
Majority Forward did not respond to a request for comment .

A dark money organization aligned with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) funneled a record $40 million to liberal advocacy groups for voter engagement efforts, new filings show.
Majority Forward, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that is affiliated with Schumer's Senate Majority PAC, sent the grants to more than a dozen left-wing groups, several of which are active in Georgia's pivotal runoff elections. The new tax forms show that Majority Forward experienced a financial windfall heading into the 2020 elections. The group raised $76 million from anonymous donors between June 1, 2018, and May 31, 2019. It then flooded 16 liberal advocacy groups with funds for voter registration efforts. The largest grants include $14.8 million to America Votes, $10.1 million to the Black Progressive Action Coalition, and $3.5 million to the League of Conservation Voters.
Many of the groups funded by Majority Forward will be key players in the Georgia runoffs, which will determine control of the Senate. The Black PAC, a super PAC affiliated with the Black Progressive Action Coalition, has already dropped six figures into canvassing efforts for Democratic candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.
Majority Forward also cut a $376,000 check to the Voter Participation Center, a registration group that has been active in a number of states including Georgia. The center has drawn fire for "shaming" people into voting and angered election officials, who say the group's mailers have contained mistakes. It plans to send additional mailers to over four million Georgians before the runoffs in January.
Majority Forward eclipsed the cash the group raised and spent over its previous three years combined. From mid-2015 to mid-2018, the group hauled in $69 million and disbursed $16 million. Its prior best year came in 2016 when it took in $34.2 million in contributions and passed $9.5 million to other groups working to elect Democrats. The documents showing its activity from mid-2019 to mid-2020 will not be available until late next year.
Scott Walter, president of the Capital Research Center, said nonprofits like Majority Forward are as important as explicitly partisan outfits like campaigns and party committees. "[M]ost people don’t realize the politicized (c)(3) river of money is several multiples larger than the 'hard' political money river and the (c)(4) independent expenditures river combined," Walter told the Washington Free Beacon.
While Majority Forward primarily funds other advocacy nonprofits, the group also injected more than $10 million directly into the 2020 election. It pushed the majority of that cash through the Senate Majority PAC, with which it shares personnel and office space. Both groups are led by J.B. Poersch, a Schumer ally, and their relationship has been described as "ridiculously cozy" by watchdog groups.
Majority Forward did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-11-30--Joe Biden’s Foot Injury Is Great News for Hillary Clinton

The case for Hillary Clinton has never been stronger than it is today .
Joe Biden , the aspiring president who recently celebrated his 78th birthday , fractured his foot over the weekend while attempting to play with his dog .
His doctor on Monday said the injury will `` likely require a walking boot for several weeks . ''
That 's great news for Hillary , because that time frame suggests Biden could still be wearing the boot on Jan. 20 , 2021 , the date on which he is scheduled to be inaugurated .
Democrats are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of unprecedented strength under President Donald J. Trump , inaugurating a president in a walking boot would be an unacceptable display of weakness .
The American people wo n't stand for a president who ca n't , and if Biden is too frail to lead the country on day one , Hillary is by far the most qualified candidate to replace him .
Hillary , who turned 73 in October , is a youthful , healthier alternative to Biden , whose mental fitness has been in decline for years .
The fractured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fade as well .
Perhaps electing the oldest presidential candidate in American history was n't such a great idea .
You 're probably thinking : `` What about FDR ?
He could n't stand either . ''
That 's true , but FDR passed away at age 63 , which is 15 years younger than Biden is now .
You might also be thinking : `` What about Kamala Harris ?
She 's qualified to lead . ''
That 's debatable .
For the same reasons that we would n't want a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , America would be ill-served by a president who dances around in Chuck Taylors .
The media would become pathologically obsessed , rendered incapable of reporting on anything else .
Hillary , on the other hand , checks all the boxes .
She 's young and ambitious , rested and ready .
Like FDR , she is n't afraid to wage war on a global scale .
Like Harry Truman , she 'll do whatever it takes to win .
Let 's be honest , Hillary is already plotting to seize power as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her gal pal Neera Tanden as OMB director , for example , was a brilliant first step in laying the groundwork for a coup .
Hillary knows from experience that Biden lacks the fortitude to fight back .
Remember what happened when he floated the idea of running for president in 2016 ?
Barack Obama , the most powerful figure within the Democratic Party , has never been a fan of Joe Biden , and being a coward , he 's not going to stand in Hillary 's way .
At this point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking : Are you still with Her ?

The case for Hillary Clinton has never been stronger than it is today.
Joe Biden, the aspiring president who recently celebrated his 78th birthday, fractured his foot over the weekend while attempting to play with his dog. His doctor on Monday said the injury will "likely require a walking boot for several weeks."
That's great news for Hillary, because that time frame suggests Biden could still be wearing the boot on Jan. 20, 2021, the date on which he is scheduled to be inaugurated. Democrats are going to need a backup plan.
After four years of unprecedented strength under President Donald J. Trump, inaugurating a president in a walking boot would be an unacceptable display of weakness. The American people won't stand for a president who can't, and if Biden is too frail to lead the country on day one, Hillary is by far the most qualified candidate to replace him.
Hillary, who turned 73 in October, is a youthful, healthier alternative to Biden, whose mental fitness has been in decline for years. The fractured foot suggests his physical condition is starting to fade as well. Perhaps electing the oldest presidential candidate in American history wasn't such a great idea.
You're probably thinking: "What about FDR? He couldn't stand either." That's true, but FDR passed away at age 63, which is 15 years younger than Biden is now.
You might also be thinking: "What about Kamala Harris? She's qualified to lead." That's debatable. For the same reasons that we wouldn't want a president limping around in a walking boot, America would be ill-served by a president who dances around in Chuck Taylors. The media would become pathologically obsessed, rendered incapable of reporting on anything else.
Hillary, on the other hand, checks all the boxes. She's young and ambitious, rested and ready. Like FDR, she isn't afraid to wage war on a global scale. Like Harry Truman, she'll do whatever it takes to win.
Let's be honest, Hillary is already plotting to seize power as we speak. Persuading Biden to nominate her gal pal Neera Tanden as OMB director, for example, was a brilliant first step in laying the groundwork for a coup. Hillary knows from experience that Biden lacks the fortitude to fight back. Remember what happened when he floated the idea of running for president in 2016?
Barack Obama, the most powerful figure within the Democratic Party, has never been a fan of Joe Biden, and being a coward, he's not going to stand in Hillary's way. At this point, there's only one question worth asking: Are you still with Her?


freebeacon--2020-11-30--Chicago Mayor’s Security Team Gets Pass on Traffic Fines

Chicago city officials dismissed most of the traffic tickets issued to members of Mayor Lori Lightfoot 's ( D. ) security team , records uncovered by the Chicago Tribune show .
Chicago police ticketed Lightfoot 's security detail 13 times for speeding and running red lights since she took office in May 2019 .
The city government waived 10 of those tickets .
While the team is legally permitted to run a red light or temporarily speed to keep the head and tail cars together , most of the tickets were issued while Lightfoot was attending to personal business .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the security team was caught driving 11 miles per hour over the speed limit .
Chicago alderman Anthony Beale ( D. ) called out the mayor for the special treatment her team has received .
`` If the law shows they went through the light unjustly , they need to pay the ticket , '' Beale told the Tribune .
`` You ca n't have different standards for the people than for yourself . ''
Despite the city 's giving Lightfoot 's team a pass on tickets and the accompanying fines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lightfoot 's 2021 fiscal year budget , which increases fines and taxes to reduce the city 's swollen deficit .

Chicago city officials dismissed most of the traffic tickets issued to members of Mayor Lori Lightfoot's (D.) security team, records uncovered by the Chicago Tribune show.
Chicago police ticketed Lightfoot's security detail 13 times for speeding and running red lights since she took office in May 2019. The city government waived 10 of those tickets.
While the team is legally permitted to run a red light or temporarily speed to keep the head and tail cars together, most of the tickets were issued while Lightfoot was attending to personal business.
Three of the dismissed tickets were issued because the security team was caught driving 11 miles per hour over the speed limit.
Chicago alderman Anthony Beale (D.) called out the mayor for the special treatment her team has received.
"If the law shows they went through the light unjustly, they need to pay the ticket," Beale told the Tribune. "You can't have different standards for the people than for yourself."
Despite the city's giving Lightfoot's team a pass on tickets and the accompanying fines, the Chicago City Council last week approved Lightfoot's 2021 fiscal year budget, which increases fines and taxes to reduce the city's swollen deficit.


freebeacon--2020-11-30--Ossoff Defends Warnock’s Anti-Cop Comments

Jon Ossoff defended fellow Georgia Democratic Senate hopeful Raphael Warnock over a slew of controversial comments that include referring to police as thugs and bullies .
`` We campaign together , and we 're friends and we speak routinely , and we are running alongside one another as friends and as partners , '' Ossoff said during a Sunday evening MSNBC appearance .
`` Shame on [ Republican senator ] Kelly Loeffler for twisting the words of a man of God spoken at the pulpit to produce these nonsense , fear-mongering attack ads targeting Rev .
Warnock . ''
Loeffler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` radical '' sermons the Democrat made as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta .
Warnock said many police officers behave like thugs and bullies in 2015 , argued that America must `` repent for its worship of whiteness '' in late 2016 , and said that `` nobody can serve God and the military '' in 2011 .
Ossoff 's defense of the speeches could alienate Georgia voters ahead of the state 's January runoff elections—the Peach State is home to the fifth-largest active duty military population in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense report .
While Ossoff was quick to defend Warnock 's sermons , he has repeatedly dodged questions regarding Warnock 's longtime defense of anti-Semitic pastor Rev .
Jeremiah Wright 's infamous 2003 `` God Damn America '' sermon .
The speech—which Warnock called a `` very fine sermon '' —accused American officials of `` inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color '' and likened the United States to al Qaeda .
Wright blamed `` them Jews '' after Barack Obama condemned the remarks .
`` Them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk to me , '' Wright said .
`` They will not let him talk to somebody who calls a spade a spade . ''
Warnock has also made a number of anti-Israel statements as a pastor .
In one sermon , the Democrat said Israel shoots unarmed Palestinians `` like birds of prey . ''
Warnock also signed a letter likening Israel 's actions in the West Bank to apartheid in South Africa .
Ossoff has since called Warnock a `` beloved friend and ally '' of the Jewish community and a @ @ @ @ @ @

'We are running alongside one another as friends and as partners'
Jon Ossoff defended fellow Georgia Democratic Senate hopeful Raphael Warnock over a slew of controversial comments that include referring to police as thugs and bullies.
"We campaign together, and we're friends and we speak routinely, and we are running alongside one another as friends and as partners," Ossoff said during a Sunday evening MSNBC appearance. "Shame on [Republican senator] Kelly Loeffler for twisting the words of a man of God spoken at the pulpit to produce these nonsense, fear-mongering attack ads targeting Rev. Warnock."
Loeffler has criticized Warnock for a number of "radical" sermons the Democrat made as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Warnock said many police officers behave like thugs and bullies in 2015, argued that America must "repent for its worship of whiteness" in late 2016, and said that "nobody can serve God and the military" in 2011. Ossoff's defense of the speeches could alienate Georgia voters ahead of the state's January runoff elections—the Peach State is home to the fifth-largest active duty military population in the United States, according to a 2018 Department of Defense report.
While Ossoff was quick to defend Warnock's sermons, he has repeatedly dodged questions regarding Warnock's longtime defense of anti-Semitic pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright's infamous 2003 "God Damn America" sermon. The speech—which Warnock called a "very fine sermon"—accused American officials of "inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color" and likened the United States to al Qaeda. Wright blamed "them Jews" after Barack Obama condemned the remarks.
"Them Jews ain't going to let him talk to me," Wright said. "They will not let him talk to somebody who calls a spade a spade."
Warnock has also made a number of anti-Israel statements as a pastor. In one sermon, the Democrat said Israel shoots unarmed Palestinians "like birds of prey." Warnock also signed a letter likening Israel's actions in the West Bank to apartheid in South Africa. Ossoff has since called Warnock a "beloved friend and ally" of the Jewish community and a "friend of Israel."


freebeacon--2020-12-02--Trump Lawyer’s ‘Drawn and Quartered’ Threat Ripped From Neera Tanden Playbook

Trump campaign lawyer 's widely condemned remark that a former Department of Homeland Security official should be `` drawn and quartered '' appears to be lifted from the playbook of longtime Democratic operative Neera Tanden , who suggested the same punishment for aides to Hillary Clinton at the State Department .
Tanden , President-elect Joe Biden 's choice to lead the powerful Office of Management and Budget , suggested in 2015 that whoever told Clinton that it was acceptable to set up a private email server be `` drawn and quartered , '' according to emails obtained by WikiLeaks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hillary she could use a private email ?
And has that person been drawn and quartered ? ''
Tanden wrote in an email to John Podesta , the campaign chairman for Clinton 's failed presidential bid .
Tanden reiterated her call for the punishment in a subsequent email , noting the `` power of torture . ''
`` I repeat , why has n't this person been drawn and quartered ? ''
Tanden wrote to Podesta .
`` I 'm reading wolf hall .
There is something to be said for the power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a historical fiction novel about Tudor-era England , when dismemberment by tying limbs to horses was a common punishment for traitors .
The remark from Tanden , a loyal Democratic Party operative , could be a barrier to her chances of being confirmed to a cabinet post in the Biden administration .
Her attacks against Republican senators all but ensure she stands no chance of winning approval should Republicans maintain control of the Senate .
`` The Senate does n't generally confirm partisan operatives who 've made their career attacking half of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategist told the Free Beacon .
It remains unclear who advised Clinton that it was proper for her to set up a private email server to use while acting as Secretary of State in the Obama administration .
A report from the agency 's inspector general found that Clinton never sought approval for the email system from the State Department , and would not have received it if she did .
Trump campaign lawyer Joe diGenova , a former U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia , on Monday said that Chris Krebs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintaining election security who spoke out against President Trump 's claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential race , should be `` drawn and quartered .
Taken out at dawn and shot . ''
DiGenova 's remark was widely condemned , including by the White House communications director .
Krebs is considering legal action against diGenova , who says his remark was `` obviously sarcasm meant in jest . ''

A Trump campaign lawyer's widely condemned remark that a former Department of Homeland Security official should be "drawn and quartered" appears to be lifted from the playbook of longtime Democratic operative Neera Tanden, who suggested the same punishment for aides to Hillary Clinton at the State Department.
Tanden, President-elect Joe Biden's choice to lead the powerful Office of Management and Budget, suggested in 2015 that whoever told Clinton that it was acceptable to set up a private email server be "drawn and quartered," according to emails obtained by WikiLeaks.
"Do we actually know who told Hillary she could use a private email? And has that person been drawn and quartered?" Tanden wrote in an email to John Podesta, the campaign chairman for Clinton's failed presidential bid. Tanden reiterated her call for the punishment in a subsequent email, noting the "power of torture."
"I repeat, why hasn't this person been drawn and quartered?" Tanden wrote to Podesta. "I'm reading wolf hall. There is something to be said for the power of torture."
Wolf Hall is a historical fiction novel about Tudor-era England, when dismemberment by tying limbs to horses was a common punishment for traitors.
The remark from Tanden, a loyal Democratic Party operative, could be a barrier to her chances of being confirmed to a cabinet post in the Biden administration. Her attacks against Republican senators all but ensure she stands no chance of winning approval should Republicans maintain control of the Senate.
"The Senate doesn't generally confirm partisan operatives who've made their career attacking half of its members," one longtime Senate Republican strategist told the Free Beacon.
It remains unclear who advised Clinton that it was proper for her to set up a private email server to use while acting as secretary of state in the Obama administration. A report from the agency's inspector general found that Clinton never sought approval for the email system from the State Department, and would not have received it if she did.
Trump campaign lawyer Joe diGenova, a former U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, on Monday said that Chris Krebs, a former DHS official charged with maintaining election security who spoke out against President Trump's claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential race, should be "drawn and quartered. Taken out at dawn and shot." DiGenova's remark was widely condemned, including by the White House communications director.
Krebs is considering legal action against diGenova, who says his remark was "obviously sarcasm meant in jest."


freebeacon--2020-12-01--Americans Flocked to Gun Stores on Black Friday

Americans rushed to gun stores in record numbers in the aftermath of the 2020 election and over the Thanksgiving weekend .
This year 's Black Friday saw the fourth most gun-related background checks in a single day since 1998 , according to data released by the FBI .
Five of the top 10 busiest single days in the history of the background-check system have occurred in 2020 , which has already set the record for most gun sales in a year .
November overwhelmed gun stores , leading up to one of the busiest shopping days of the year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the first two weeks of November as Joe Biden pulled in front of President Trump in vote tallies .
The National Shooting Sports Foundation , which represents gunmakers and dealers , said Biden 's election performance drove Americans back to the gun counter even after unprecedented sales surges in March and June .
`` I think that people are looking at the Biden gun-control plan , at what he said he wants to do , '' Mark Oliva , a spokesman for the group , told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firearms and want to buy while they can still buy them . ''
Oliva pointed to Biden 's plan to ban new and online sales of popular guns and his gun-registration-and-tax-scheme , which is estimated to cost upward of $ 34 billion , as motivating factors for many buyers .
Rex McClanahan , president of BudsGunShop.com—one of the largest gun dealers in the country—said his company had better sales than in previous years .
He credited the election for helping to drive sales through the online store .
`` We did see a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the Free Beacon .
`` I do believe the election is playing some part in the current surge . ''
Gun-rights advocates are pinning their hopes of stopping Biden 's gun-control push on the Georgia runoffs , which will decide control of Senate for the next two years .
The National Rifle Association has already begun pushing hundreds of thousands of dollars into the state to support pro-gun Republicans David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler against Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock , who favor new gun-control laws .
Winning just one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority and could hamstring most of Biden 's gun-control efforts .
Oliva also said looking at just Black Friday 's numbers may be underestimating the sales over the holiday weekend , as the industry has made a concerted effort to spread sales out over three days to keep the National Instant Criminal Background Check System from being overwhelmed .
He said the 2020 Black Friday holiday weekend as a whole saw more sales than previous years , with higher single-day sales up more than 4 percent compared to last year .
That 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase despite slightly slower sales on Black Friday .
The Black Friday background-check numbers released by the FBI are widely considered a reliable analog for gun sales .
The agency warns that they are not one-to-one representations of gun sales for several reasons , however .
Gun sales tend to fluctuate in a seasonal pattern , with fall and winter months seeing increased sales in comparison to a lull in summer .
Oliva said seasonal factors , such as the hunting season and Christmas gift giving , likely contributed to the strong Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of civil unrest and concern about the election pushed sales to a new level .
`` All these things are converging together to give us unprecedented numbers , '' he said .

Americans rushed to gun stores in record numbers in the aftermath of the 2020 election and over the Thanksgiving weekend.
This year's Black Friday saw the fourth most gun-related background checks in a single day since 1998, according to data released by the FBI. Five of the top 10 busiest single days in the history of the background-check system have occurred in 2020, which has already set the record for most gun sales in a year. November overwhelmed gun stores, leading up to one of the busiest shopping days of the year. About 1.8 million background checks were processed in the first two weeks of November as Joe Biden pulled in front of President Trump in vote tallies.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation, which represents gunmakers and dealers, said Biden's election performance drove Americans back to the gun counter even after unprecedented sales surges in March and June.
"I think that people are looking at the Biden gun-control plan, at what he said he wants to do," Mark Oliva, a spokesman for the group, told the Washington Free Beacon. "People are concerned and they're buying firearms and want to buy while they can still buy them."
Oliva pointed to Biden's plan to ban new and online sales of popular guns and his gun-registration-and-tax-scheme, which is estimated to cost upward of $34 billion, as motivating factors for many buyers.
Rex McClanahan, president of BudsGunShop.com—one of the largest gun dealers in the country—said his company had better sales than in previous years. He credited the election for helping to drive sales through the online store.
"We did see a surge on Black Friday," he told the Free Beacon. "I do believe the election is playing some part in the current surge."
Gun-rights advocates are pinning their hopes of stopping Biden's gun-control push on the Georgia runoffs, which will decide control of Senate for the next two years. The National Rifle Association has already begun pushing hundreds of thousands of dollars into the state to support pro-gun Republicans David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler against Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, who favor new gun-control laws. Winning just one of the two races would give Republicans a majority and could hamstring most of Biden's gun-control efforts.
Oliva also said looking at just Black Friday's numbers may be underestimating the sales over the holiday weekend, as the industry has made a concerted effort to spread sales out over three days to keep the National Instant Criminal Background Check System from being overwhelmed. He said the 2020 Black Friday holiday weekend as a whole saw more sales than previous years, with higher single-day sales up more than 4 percent compared to last year. That's because of a 65 percent Cyber Monday increase despite slightly slower sales on Black Friday.
The Black Friday background-check numbers released by the FBI are widely considered a reliable analog for gun sales. The agency warns that they are not one-to-one representations of gun sales for several reasons, however.
Gun sales tend to fluctuate in a seasonal pattern, with fall and winter months seeing increased sales in comparison to a lull in summer. Oliva said seasonal factors, such as the hunting season and Christmas gift giving, likely contributed to the strong Black Friday sales but that the added motivation of civil unrest and concern about the election pushed sales to a new level.
"All these things are converging together to give us unprecedented numbers," he said.


freebeacon--2020-12-01--LA Democrat Dines Outdoors After Voting to Ban Outdoor Dining

A Democratic Los Angeles County official dined outdoors at a Santa Monica restaurant just hours after she voted to ban outdoor dining , Fox 11 Los Angeles reported Monday .
At a county board meeting on Nov. 24 , Los Angeles County supervisor Sheila Kuehl voted to ban outdoor dining , which she called `` a most dangerous situation '' for spreading the coronavirus .
After the vote , which passed 3-2 , Kuehl stopped by Il Forno Trattoria , an Italian restaurant she frequents , before the outdoor dining ban took effect the following day .
All restaurants and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banned from serving customers outdoors for at least three weeks .
Kuehl is one of several Democratic leaders who have been caught disobeying their own health restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic and resulting shutdowns .
Washington , D.C. , mayor Muriel Bowser ( D. ) traveled to Delaware last month to celebrate the election results with President-elect Joe Biden , despite including Delaware on her list of `` high-risk '' states .
Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot ( D. ) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) both visited hair salons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most recently , California governor Gavin Newsom ( D. ) attended an indoor dinner party at a restaurant in Napa County on Nov. 6 , breaking his own restrictions on indoor dining .

A Democratic Los Angeles County official dined outdoors at a Santa Monica restaurant just hours after she voted to ban outdoor dining, Fox 11 Los Angeles reported Monday.
At a county board meeting on Nov. 24, Los Angeles County supervisor Sheila Kuehl voted to ban outdoor dining, which she called "a most dangerous situation" for spreading the coronavirus. After the vote, which passed 3-2, Kuehl stopped by Il Forno Trattoria, an Italian restaurant she frequents, before the outdoor dining ban took effect the following day.
All restaurants and bars in Los Angeles County are now banned from serving customers outdoors for at least three weeks.
Kuehl is one of several Democratic leaders who have been caught disobeying their own health restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic and resulting shutdowns.
Washington, D.C., mayor Muriel Bowser (D.) traveled to Delaware last month to celebrate the election results with President-elect Joe Biden, despite including Delaware on her list of "high-risk" states.
Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot (D.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) both visited hair salons while they were supposedly shuttered.
And most recently, California governor Gavin Newsom (D.) attended an indoor dinner party at a restaurant in Napa County on Nov. 6, breaking his own restrictions on indoor dining.


freebeacon--2020-12-01--Resistance Hero Neal Katyal Reps Corporation Accused of Child Slavery in Supreme Court

Neal Katyal , the progressive lawyer who led the legal fight against the president 's travel ban and urged the public to take an unforgiving stance toward those involved with child separation at the U.S. border , appeared in the Supreme Court on Tuesday to defend two corporations accused of abetting child slavery .
In legal papers filed to the Supreme Court , the plaintiffs say Nestlé USA and Cargill knew their West African suppliers used child slaves but bought cocoa from them anyway .
Katyal , arguing on behalf of the food giants , said the case should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hear the dispute .
The six unnamed plaintiffs were once child slaves on cocoa plantations in Ivory Coast , having been kidnapped and trafficked from Mali .
The plaintiffs say they were held under armed guard in deplorable conditions , beaten , and tortured if they tried to escape .
`` From the United States , [ Nestlé ] had complete control over the farms ' labor practices , knew that the farmers they were assisting were using and continued to use forced child labor , and purposefully relied on the enslavement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flow of cheap cocoa , '' the plaintiffs ' filings read .
They also claim that Nestlé cultivated close ties with plantation owners to maintain influence in the region .
To do so , they allegedly financed the purchase of farming supplies , made advance payments , and provided plantation owners with personal spending money to secure their loyalty as exclusive suppliers .
The case asks whether the plaintiffs can sue Nestlé and Cargill in an American court under an obscure federal law from 1789 called the Alien Tort Statute .
Katyal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under that law .
Many on the Court wondered if that went too far .
`` Many of your arguments lead to results that are pretty hard to take , '' Justice Samuel Alito told Katyal .
`` Suppose a U.S. corporation makes a big show of supporting every cause de jure but then surreptitiously hires agents in Africa to kidnap children and keep them in bondage on a plantation… .
You would say that the victims … should be thrown out of court in the United States , where this corporation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second issue is whether the child slavery allegations have a strong enough connection to the United States to move forward in court .
Again , Katyal argued no .
`` The claim plaintiffs bring alleges something horrific , that locators in Mali sold them as children to an Ivorian farm where overseers forced them to work , '' Katyal told the justices .
`` [ But ] the defendants are not the locators , not the overseers , and not the farm . ''
The Alien Tort Statute mostly sat dormant until the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for getting human-rights cases into American courts from across the globe .
The Supreme Court has gradually closed the door on those cases .
In 2013 the Court said the law usually does n't cover wrongdoing outside the United States , and in 2018 it said the Alien Tort Statute does n't cover foreign companies .
Among other high-profile impact cases , Katyal led challenges to the Bush administration 's military tribunals for Guantanamo Bay detainees and obtained an appointment to the prosecution team in the George Floyd case .
Beyond the staid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regularly to MSNBC , appeared on stage at a Vanity Fair summit with John Legend , and played himself on House of Cards .
In Tuesday 's brief , Katyal claimed his clients deplore child labor .
`` Nestlé USA has tremendous sympathy for plaintiffs ' suffering and unequivocally condemns child slavery .
In all its forms .
Everywhere , '' the filing reads .
Katyal did not reply to a request for comment .
The case is No .
19-416 Nestlé USA v. John Doe .

Neal Katyal, the progressive lawyer who led the legal fight against the president's travel ban and urged the public to take an unforgiving stance toward those involved with child separation at the U.S. border, appeared in the Supreme Court on Tuesday to defend two corporations accused of abetting child slavery.
In legal papers filed to the Supreme Court, the plaintiffs say Nestlé USA and Cargill knew their West African suppliers used child slaves but bought cocoa from them anyway. Katyal, arguing on behalf of the food giants, said the case should be tossed because U.S. courts have no authority to hear the dispute.
The six unnamed plaintiffs were once child slaves on cocoa plantations in Ivory Coast, having been kidnapped and trafficked from Mali. The plaintiffs say they were held under armed guard in deplorable conditions, beaten, and tortured if they tried to escape.
"From the United States, [Nestlé] had complete control over the farms' labor practices, knew that the farmers they were assisting were using and continued to use forced child labor, and purposefully relied on the enslavement of children to increase profits by ensuring the flow of cheap cocoa," the plaintiffs' filings read.
They also claim that Nestlé cultivated close ties with plantation owners to maintain influence in the region. To do so, they allegedly financed the purchase of farming supplies, made advance payments, and provided plantation owners with personal spending money to secure their loyalty as exclusive suppliers.
The case asks whether the plaintiffs can sue Nestlé and Cargill in an American court under an obscure federal law from 1789 called the Alien Tort Statute. Katyal said U.S. corporations can't be sued under that law. Many on the Court wondered if that went too far.
"Many of your arguments lead to results that are pretty hard to take," Justice Samuel Alito told Katyal. "Suppose a U.S. corporation makes a big show of supporting every cause de jure but then surreptitiously hires agents in Africa to kidnap children and keep them in bondage on a plantation.... You would say that the victims ... should be thrown out of court in the United States, where this corporation is headquartered and does business?"
A second issue is whether the child slavery allegations have a strong enough connection to the United States to move forward in court. Again, Katyal argued no.
"The claim plaintiffs bring alleges something horrific, that locators in Mali sold them as children to an Ivorian farm where overseers forced them to work," Katyal told the justices. "[But] the defendants are not the locators, not the overseers, and not the farm."
The Alien Tort Statute mostly sat dormant until the 1980s, when it became a vehicle for getting human-rights cases into American courts from across the globe. The Supreme Court has gradually closed the door on those cases. In 2013 the Court said the law usually doesn't cover wrongdoing outside the United States, and in 2018 it said the Alien Tort Statute doesn't cover foreign companies.
Among other high-profile impact cases, Katyal led challenges to the Bush administration's military tribunals for Guantanamo Bay detainees and obtained an appointment to the prosecution team in the George Floyd case. Beyond the staid world of appellate advocacy, he contributes regularly to MSNBC, appeared on stage at a Vanity Fair summit with John Legend, and played himself on House of Cards.
I was @VAMNit’s +1. Honored to be in the room where it happened today.
Proud of our friend @neal_katyal. https://t.co/uLENqiYZYj — Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 25, 2018
In Tuesday's brief, Katyal claimed his clients deplore child labor.
"Nestlé USA has tremendous sympathy for plaintiffs' suffering and unequivocally condemns child slavery. In all its forms. Everywhere," the filing reads.
Katyal did not reply to a request for comment.
The case is No. 19-416 Nestlé USA v. John Doe.


freebeacon--2020-12-01--OPINION: Space Force Fails First Test by Refusing to Contest Chinese Incursion on U.S. Soil (The Moo

OPINION: Space Force Fails First Test by Refusing to Contest Chinese Incursion on U.S. Soil (The Moon)

According to my second-favorite website , Space.com , Chinese communists set foot on American soil this week by successfully landing a spacecraft on the moon .
The PC police will inevitably howl at the use of the word `` invasion , '' but if that 's not what this is , the word has lost all meaning .
The commies are n't just setting foot on our soil .
They 're literally stealing it—about `` 4.4 lbs of lunar material , '' according to the website .
They 're taking it home with them to China .
Those are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invaded , and President Donald J. Trump could not care less .
He 's too busy tweeting like a tween girl who just got cut from the yoga team .
Maybe this explains why he lost to a 78-year-old tickle monster in a walking boot .
What happened to the strong , virile president who in 2019 established the United States Space Force as the sixth branch of the U.S. military ?
The cocksure commander in chief who promised to reverse the Obama-era policy of looking the other way while the ChiComs `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he go ?
Where , for that matter , has the Space Force gone ?
After launching its first mission in March , the so-called `` military '' branch has apparently done nothing to fortify the moon 's defenses .
They did n't even attempt to intercept the Chinese spacecraft , or shoot it down .
As far as we know , they have n't even tried to drill for oil .
The ChiComs will be more than happy to fill the void .
They 're probably injecting it with a new and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Space Force failed its first real test , and a fairly easy one at that .
Americans did n't just plant our flag up there for the prestige .
It was about expanding our empire into the great unknown .
An empire worth expanding is an empire worth defending .
Or else , what was the point ?
If we are n't willing to confront the ChiComs up there , sooner or later we 'll have to fight them down here .
This is also Trump 's first real failure as president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to let the terrorists win in Afghanistan .
Do n't get me wrong .
Trump is still likely to be remembered as the most successful U.S. president since Washington .
But this failure to prevent the Chinese incursion on the moon leaves a sour taste at the end of an otherwise historic term in office .
It was almost a year ago that the Chinese unleashed a deadly pandemic on Earth , killing millions and grinding life as we know it to a halt .
We let our guard down , so they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your own moon , commies !

According to my second-favorite website, Space.com, Chinese communists set foot on American soil this week by successfully landing a spacecraft on the moon.
The PC police will inevitably howl at the use of the word "invasion," but if that's not what this is, the word has lost all meaning. The commies aren't just setting foot on our soil. They're literally stealing it—about "4.4 lbs of lunar material," according to the website. They're taking it home with them to China.
Those are the facts. The United States is being invaded, and President Donald J. Trump could not care less. He's too busy tweeting like a tween girl who just got cut from the yoga team. Maybe this explains why he lost to a 78-year-old tickle monster in a walking boot.
What happened to the strong, virile president who in 2019 established the United States Space Force as the sixth branch of the U.S. military? The cocksure commander in chief who promised to reverse the Obama-era policy of looking the other way while the ChiComs "rape our country." Where did he go?
Where, for that matter, has the Space Force gone? After launching its first mission in March, the so-called "military" branch has apparently done nothing to fortify the moon's defenses. They didn't even attempt to intercept the Chinese spacecraft, or shoot it down. As far as we know, they haven't even tried to drill for oil. The ChiComs will be more than happy to fill the void. They're probably injecting it with a new and improved bat virus as we speak.
The Space Force failed its first real test, and a fairly easy one at that. Americans didn't just plant our flag up there for the prestige. It was about expanding our empire into the great unknown. An empire worth expanding is an empire worth defending. Or else, what was the point? If we aren't willing to confront the ChiComs up there, sooner or later we'll have to fight them down here.
This is also Trump's first real failure as president. Well, that and his decision to let the terrorists win in Afghanistan. Don't get me wrong. Trump is still likely to be remembered as the most successful U.S. president since Washington. But this failure to prevent the Chinese incursion on the moon leaves a sour taste at the end of an otherwise historic term in office.
It was almost a year ago that the Chinese unleashed a deadly pandemic on Earth, killing millions and grinding life as we know it to a halt. We let our guard down, so they tried to steal our moon. Get your own moon, commies!


freebeacon--2020-12-01--War Hawks Vindicated: Biden Cabinet Choices Prove Invading Iraq Was a Good Idea

George W. Bush 's decision to invade Iraq was a good idea and the war hawks who supported it have been vindicated , according to a Washington Free Beacon analysis of President-elect Joe Biden 's prospective cabinet nominees .
Conventional wisdom holds that supporting the Iraq war was a bad thing to do .
And yet , the politicians who supported it continue to find success .
This is especially true of Democrats who backed the war effort during the Bush administration .
Biden , for example , won the Democratic nomination despite being the only candidate who voted ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the resolution authorizing the Iraq war .
Hillary Clinton did the same in 2016 .
Biden went on to ( allegedly ) defeat President Donald J. Trump , who is n't a fan of the Iraq war .
Coincidence ?
Almost certainly not .
Biden was n't merely a senator in 2002 .
He chaired the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and worked closely with the committee 's staff director , Antony Blinken , who ultimately advised him to support the Iraq war .
Last week , Biden announced Blinken as his nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Blinken would become the third consecutive Iraq war supporter to serve as secretary of state in a Democratic administration .
Clinton and John Kerry , both of whom served in the role under Barack Obama , also voted for the Senate resolution to authorize the war .
Blinken is n't the only Iraq war hawk to be tapped for a senior role in the incoming Biden administration .
Neera Tanden , the longtime Clinton aide and president of the Center for American Progress , will be nominated to serve as director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tanden has vigorously defended the decision to invade Iraq .
As an adviser to Clinton 's failed presidential campaign in 2008 , she reportedly punched and cussed out a ThinkProgress editor for daring to ask Clinton about her support for the Iraq war .
The ongoing success of Iraq war proponents is one of the most interesting storylines in Democratic Party politics .
Another is the party 's stubborn insistence on elevating white candidates at the expense of qualified black candidates .

George W. Bush's decision to invade Iraq was a good idea and the war hawks who supported it have been vindicated, according to a Washington Free Beacon analysis of President-elect Joe Biden's prospective cabinet nominees.
Conventional wisdom holds that supporting the Iraq war was a bad thing to do. And yet, the politicians who supported it continue to find success. This is especially true of Democrats who backed the war effort during the Bush administration.
Biden, for example, won the Democratic nomination despite being the only candidate who voted (as a senator in 2002) for the resolution authorizing the Iraq war. Hillary Clinton did the same in 2016. Biden went on to (allegedly) defeat President Donald J. Trump, who isn't a fan of the Iraq war. Coincidence? Almost certainly not.
Biden wasn't merely a senator in 2002. He chaired the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and worked closely with the committee's staff director, Antony Blinken, who ultimately advised him to support the Iraq war. Last week, Biden announced Blinken as his nominee for secretary of state.
If confirmed, Blinken would become the third consecutive Iraq war supporter to serve as secretary of state in a Democratic administration. Clinton and John Kerry, both of whom served in the role under Barack Obama, also voted for the Senate resolution to authorize the war.
Blinken isn't the only Iraq war hawk to be tapped for a senior role in the incoming Biden administration. Neera Tanden, the longtime Clinton aide and president of the Center for American Progress, will be nominated to serve as director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Tanden has vigorously defended the decision to invade Iraq. As an adviser to Clinton's failed presidential campaign in 2008, she reportedly punched and cussed out a ThinkProgress editor for daring to ask Clinton about her support for the Iraq war.
BACKSTORY: In 2008, @NeeraTanden set up what she thought would be an easy interview for @HillaryClinton with @Faiz Shakir, then editor of @ThinkProgress.
But Faiz asked about the Iraq War.
Later, Neera punched him & asked 'Who the f— do you think you are?"https://t.co/EAl4rpwZiI — Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) April 16, 2019
The ongoing success of Iraq war proponents is one of the most interesting storylines in Democratic Party politics. Another is the party's stubborn insistence on elevating white candidates at the expense of qualified black candidates.


freebeacon--2020-12-01--Ossoff’s D.C. Home Bankrolled by Millionaire Father

Before Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff used a family inheritance to purchase control of his foreign film company , his father footed the bill for his residence in Washington , D.C. , while he worked as a congressional aide , property records show .
After graduating from Georgetown University in 2009 , Ossoff `` spent the summer traveling '' before he landed a job as a legislative assistant under Rep. Hank Johnson ( D. , Ga. ) , according to Ossoff 's failed 2017 House campaign .
Just months later , Ossoff 's father , Richard Ossoff , purchased a home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a company he formed in July 2009 .
Ossoff , whose legal first name is Thomas , went on to list the home as his mailing address while donating to former president Barack Obama 's campaign in March 2012 , months before he left Johnson 's office .
Ossoff last listed the home as his address on a state campaign-finance disclosure in January 2017 , the same month he launched his failed bid to unseat former Republican representative Karen Handel .
The home is now estimated to be worth more than $ 780,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which lists Richard Ossoff 's company as the current owner .
Ossoff is now running to unseat Republican senator David Perdue in a January runoff election that will determine control of the upper chamber .
While Richard Ossoff 's company , Strafford Publications , has partnered with a number of major corporate law firms , the Democrat has campaigned against Perdue 's ties to `` corporate America , '' pledging to `` end the corruption that rigs the system against ordinary people . ''
Perdue has responded by calling Ossoff a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family 's money . ''
This is not the first time Ossoff has faced criticism for financial ties to his father , who has contributed thousands of dollars to his campaigns .
Strafford Publications in July took a Paycheck Protection Program loan of as much as $ 1 million , claiming that the loan would save 30 jobs .
The revelation came just months after Ossoff ripped the program for `` overwhelmingly '' benefiting wealthy Americans .
The Ossoff campaign did not return a request for comment .
Ossoff first worked for Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgetown in 2007 .
He was hired as a full-time legislative assistant in August 2009 , a position that garnered an average salary of less than $ 50,000 at the time , according to the Congressional Research Service .
During the election , Ossoff has courted millennial voters by criticizing `` crushing '' student loan debt and `` unaffordable '' housing .
Staying at a house owned by his father 's company , however , likely saved the Democrat tens of thousands of dollars in rent—a Zillow estimate places the home 's current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition , Ossoff reported no student loan debt in his House and Senate candidate financial disclosures .
The average total cost of `` living and learning '' at Georgetown was $ 51,543 in 2009 , according to student newspaper The Hoya .
Ossoff left Johnson 's office in 2012 to attend the London School of Economics , where he connected with former BBC TV reporter Ron McCullagh .
Ossoff in 2013 used an inheritance from his grandfather to purchase an ownership stake in McCullagh 's investigative film company , which he renamed Insight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ossoff now regularly touts his work with the company on the campaign trail , saying Insight TWI has `` exposed corruption and organized crime around the world . ''
Ossoff will face Perdue in a January 5 runoff , as neither candidate secured the required 50 percent vote margin in November .
Perdue received roughly 90,000 more votes than Ossoff at the time .

Before Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff used a family inheritance to purchase control of his foreign film company, his father footed the bill for his residence in Washington, D.C., while he worked as a congressional aide, property records show.
After graduating from Georgetown University in 2009, Ossoff "spent the summer traveling" before he landed a job as a legislative assistant under Rep. Hank Johnson (D., Ga.), according to Ossoff's failed 2017 House campaign. Just months later, Ossoff's father, Richard Ossoff, purchased a home in D.C. for almost $520,000 through a company he formed in July 2009.
Ossoff, whose legal first name is Thomas, went on to list the home as his mailing address while donating to former president Barack Obama's campaign in March 2012, months before he left Johnson's office. Ossoff last listed the home as his address on a state campaign-finance disclosure in January 2017, the same month he launched his failed bid to unseat former Republican representative Karen Handel. The home is now estimated to be worth more than $780,000, according to its D.C. property record, which lists Richard Ossoff's company as the current owner.
Ossoff is now running to unseat Republican senator David Perdue in a January runoff election that will determine control of the upper chamber. While Richard Ossoff's company, Strafford Publications, has partnered with a number of major corporate law firms, the Democrat has campaigned against Perdue's ties to "corporate America," pledging to "end the corruption that rigs the system against ordinary people." Perdue has responded by calling Ossoff a "trust fund socialist who lives off his family's money."
This is not the first time Ossoff has faced criticism for financial ties to his father, who has contributed thousands of dollars to his campaigns. Strafford Publications in July took a Paycheck Protection Program loan of as much as $1 million, claiming that the loan would save 30 jobs. The revelation came just months after Ossoff ripped the program for "overwhelmingly" benefiting wealthy Americans.
The Ossoff campaign did not return a request for comment.
Ossoff first worked for Johnson as a part-time legislative correspondent while attending Georgetown in 2007. He was hired as a full-time legislative assistant in August 2009, a position that garnered an average salary of less than $50,000 at the time, according to the Congressional Research Service.
During the election, Ossoff has courted millennial voters by criticizing "crushing" student loan debt and "unaffordable" housing. Staying at a house owned by his father's company, however, likely saved the Democrat tens of thousands of dollars in rent—a Zillow estimate places the home's current monthly rent at $3,000. In addition, Ossoff reported no student loan debt in his House and Senate candidate financial disclosures. The average total cost of "living and learning" at Georgetown was $51,543 in 2009, according to student newspaper The Hoya.
Ossoff left Johnson's office in 2012 to attend the London School of Economics, where he connected with former BBC TV reporter Ron McCullagh. Ossoff in 2013 used an inheritance from his grandfather to purchase an ownership stake in McCullagh's investigative film company, which he renamed Insight TWI, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ossoff now regularly touts his work with the company on the campaign trail, saying Insight TWI has "exposed corruption and organized crime around the world."
Ossoff will face Perdue in a January 5 runoff, as neither candidate secured the required 50 percent vote margin in November. Perdue received roughly 90,000 more votes than Ossoff at the time.


freebeacon--2020-12-01--Harley Central to Texas Dem’s Failed Senate Campaign Ads Ends Up on eBay

Failed Democratic Senate candidate M.J. Hegar is not interested in riding her Harley-Davidson Sportster now that she does not have campaign commercials to film .
The 2016 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 featured prominently in Hegar 's Senate campaign but was listed on eBay by her husband Sunday with a note touting its `` very low miles , '' an indication that the bike 's primary use was as a campaign prop .
Hegar on Sunday tweeted that the motorcycle is the `` perfect Christmas present for the Harley fan/political junkie in your life . ''
In her bid to unseat incumbent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hegar projected herself as a battle-hardened Air Force veteran and `` tough '' outsider to Washington politics , and the iconic Harley was central to that persona .
Her advertisements showcased her barreling down open country roads and suburban streets on the motorcycle , which was fated to go up for auction online the month Hegar lost .
Cornyn defeated Hegar by a margin of more than 7 percentage points , despite a last-minute spending surge from deep-pocketed , out-of-state donors .
In his victory speech , he described their efforts as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics in 2018 in an effort to unseat Rep. John Carter ( R. , Texas ) but was unsuccessful .

Failed Democratic Senate candidate M.J. Hegar is not interested in riding her Harley-Davidson Sportster now that she does not have campaign commercials to film.
The 2016 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 featured prominently in Hegar's Senate campaign but was listed on eBay by her husband Sunday with a note touting its "very low miles," an indication that the bike's primary use was as a campaign prop. Hegar on Sunday tweeted that the motorcycle is the "perfect Christmas present for the Harley fan/political junkie in your life."
Know anyone who wants to take a spin on the MJ for Texas motorcycle? Please forward them this link...I'm selling it on @eBay! If you're still looking for that perfect Christmas present for the Harley fan/political junkie in your life... https://t.co/O3IgQKbYnM — MJ Hegar (@mjhegar) November 29, 2020
In her bid to unseat incumbent senator John Cornyn (R.), Hegar projected herself as a battle-hardened Air Force veteran and "tough" outsider to Washington politics, and the iconic Harley was central to that persona. Her advertisements showcased her barreling down open country roads and suburban streets on the motorcycle, which was fated to go up for auction online the month Hegar lost.
Cornyn defeated Hegar by a margin of more than 7 percentage points, despite a last-minute spending surge from deep-pocketed, out-of-state donors. In his victory speech, he described their efforts as a "long shot."
Hegar entered politics in 2018 in an effort to unseat Rep. John Carter (R., Texas) but was unsuccessful.


freebeacon--2020-12-01--Treasury Department Sanctions Chinese Defense Firm For Venezuela Dealings

The Treasury Department sanctioned a Chinese defense company on Monday for selling equipment used to suppress political opposition to Venezuela 's Maduro regime .
China National Electronics Import & Export Corporation ( CEIEC ) allegedly sold hardware that allowed Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro to conduct digital surveillance and other cyber maneuvers against political opponents .
The Chinese company began offering services to Venezuela in 2017 , providing much of its products and support to state-run telecommunications giant Venezuelan National Telephone Company , which controls 70 percent of the country ’ s internet services .
The company also oversaw a billion-dollar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cameras in the country , according to an Air Force academic paper .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin outlined how the transactions bolster the regime in Caracas .
`` The illegitimate Maduro regime ’ s reliance on entities like CEIEC to advance its authoritarian agenda further illustrates the regime ’ s prioritization of power over democratic values and processes , '' Mnuchin said in a statement .
`` The United States will not hesitate to target anyone helping to suppress the democratic will of the Venezuelan people and others around the world . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attempt to interfere with Venezuelan politics on the eve of an upcoming election , according to the Wall Street Journal .
Venezuela is not the only country in the region where Chinese influence is apparent .
In the last decade , China has dedicated significant capital toward developing friendly relations with governments in the Caribbean , including Cuba , where President-elect Joe Biden is expected to adopt a more accommodating stance toward the communist regime .
The sanctions come as the Trump administration makes a final push to counter Chinese influence abroad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agenda .
In recent weeks , the White House has sanctioned several Chinese enterprises that support the Chinese military and forced labor practices .

The Treasury Department sanctioned a Chinese defense company on Monday for selling equipment used to suppress political opposition to Venezuela's Maduro regime.
China National Electronics Import & Export Corporation (CEIEC) allegedly sold hardware that allowed Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro to conduct digital surveillance and other cyber maneuvers against political opponents. The Chinese company began offering services to Venezuela in 2017, providing much of its products and support to state-run telecommunications giant Venezuelan National Telephone Company, which controls 70 percent of the country’s internet services.
The company also oversaw a billion-dollar surveillance initiative in Venezuela, installing 30,000 cameras in the country, according to an Air Force academic paper.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin outlined how the transactions bolster the regime in Caracas.
"The illegitimate Maduro regime’s reliance on entities like CEIEC to advance its authoritarian agenda further illustrates the regime’s prioritization of power over democratic values and processes," Mnuchin said in a statement. "The United States will not hesitate to target anyone helping to suppress the democratic will of the Venezuelan people and others around the world."
The Maduro government denounced the sanctions as an attempt to interfere with Venezuelan politics on the eve of an upcoming election, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Venezuela is not the only country in the region where Chinese influence is apparent. In the last decade, China has dedicated significant capital toward developing friendly relations with governments in the Caribbean, including Cuba, where President-elect Joe Biden is expected to adopt a more accommodating stance toward the communist regime.
The sanctions come as the Trump administration makes a final push to counter Chinese influence abroad before Biden takes command of the China agenda. In recent weeks, the White House has sanctioned several Chinese enterprises that support the Chinese military and forced labor practices.