freebeacon--2020-06-25--China, Russia Rank as Worst Offenders in Human Trafficking

China and Russia continue to rank among the world 's worst human trafficking offenders , with both countries routinely exploiting vulnerable populations and doing little to stem the problem , according to a landmark report published Thursday by the Trump administration .
In the 20th annual edition of its Trafficking in Persons Report , the U.S. State Department identified numerous countries that continue state-sanctioned trafficking of laborers and even sex workers .
Russia and China again topped the list of offenders , along with multiple countries in Africa and the Middle East that also received a Tier 3 ranking , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The problem is also rampant in the United States , where sex workers , drug addicts , and immigrant laborers , among many others , are exploited by networks of human traffickers .
The United States continues to rank on the list as a Tier 1 country , however , meaning the government is working to address the problem and has policies in place to combat trafficking .
The report comes on the heels of a January White House summit on human trafficking and a 2019 executive order by President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on that year 's Tier 3 list .
The human trafficking situation has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic , according to John Richmond , the State Department 's ambassador-at-large to monitor and combat trafficking .
The virus , Richmond said in a call with reporters , forced victims to remain in lockdown with their abusers and generated an increase in the number of people purchasing sex workers online .
This year 's report includes new disclosures about the trafficking of global athletes , an emerging problem the State Department identifies as potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Europe 's soccer industry alone , the report identified 15,000 cases of human trafficking each year in which athletes are coerced into playing for little or no money .
In total , 23 countries were downgraded in their rank in 2020 , and 4 countries , including Afghanistan and Nicaragua , were newly placed on the Tier 3 list , signaling that human trafficking has become more pervasive .
Nineteen countries in total are included on the Tier 3 list , including Russia , China , Iran , South Sudan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the countries included on the list are guilty of sanctioning human trafficking at various levels .
Among the worst offenders is `` China , where the Chinese Communist Party and its state-owned enterprises often force citizens to work in horrendous conditions on Belt and Road projects , '' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during an event unveiling the report .
The Communist government failed to meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and made virtually no effort to do so , according to the report .
This includes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minority Uyghur population and other minorities .
The report identified a `` government policy or pattern '' in China of engaging in forced labor and mandatory detention of the Uyghurs and Muslim minority populations in the Xinjiang region .
China also expanded this program into other areas of the country , expanding the forced internment of religious and ethnic minorities .
Similarly , Russia ranked on the Tier 3 list due to state-sanctioned trafficking and a policy of permissiveness on the matter .
Russia did not implement any programs or provide funding to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past year , according to the report .
Moscow also continues to import North Korean workers who are used for cheap labor projects .
There is also evidence indicating that the North Korean government continues to operate work camps in Russia with the government 's consent .
In a new section on the sports world , the State Department found that `` neither governments nor international sports federations or national sports leagues have successfully addressed the growing incidence of human trafficking of athletes . ''
`` Government and industry efforts to regulate an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have proven insufficient , '' according to the report .
The global and migratory nature of sports has made it difficult for governments and leagues to implement standard practices combating human trafficking , which often impacts younger players eager to make a career in the lucrative arena .

China and Russia continue to rank among the world's worst human trafficking offenders, with both countries routinely exploiting vulnerable populations and doing little to stem the problem, according to a landmark report published Thursday by the Trump administration.
In the 20th annual edition of its Trafficking in Persons Report, the U.S. State Department identified numerous countries that continue state-sanctioned trafficking of laborers and even sex workers. Russia and China again topped the list of offenders, along with multiple countries in Africa and the Middle East that also received a Tier 3 ranking, the most severe category of human trafficking.
The problem is also rampant in the United States, where sex workers, drug addicts, and immigrant laborers, among many others, are exploited by networks of human traffickers. The United States continues to rank on the list as a Tier 1 country, however, meaning the government is working to address the problem and has policies in place to combat trafficking.
The report comes on the heels of a January White House summit on human trafficking and a 2019 executive order by President Donald Trump restricting U.S. aid to 15 countries included on that year's Tier 3 list.
The human trafficking situation has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, according to John Richmond, the State Department's ambassador-at-large to monitor and combat trafficking. The virus, Richmond said in a call with reporters, forced victims to remain in lockdown with their abusers and generated an increase in the number of people purchasing sex workers online.
This year's report includes new disclosures about the trafficking of global athletes, an emerging problem the State Department identifies as potentially plaguing millions of people across the globe. In Europe's soccer industry alone, the report identified 15,000 cases of human trafficking each year in which athletes are coerced into playing for little or no money.
In total, 23 countries were downgraded in their rank in 2020, and 4 countries, including Afghanistan and Nicaragua, were newly placed on the Tier 3 list, signaling that human trafficking has become more pervasive.
Nineteen countries in total are included on the Tier 3 list, including Russia, China, Iran, South Sudan, North Korea, and Cuba. All of the countries included on the list are guilty of sanctioning human trafficking at various levels.
Among the worst offenders is "China, where the Chinese Communist Party and its state-owned enterprises often force citizens to work in horrendous conditions on Belt and Road projects," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during an event unveiling the report.
The Communist government failed to meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and made virtually no effort to do so, according to the report. This includes the forced labor and imprisonment of the ethnic minority Uyghur population and other minorities.
The report identified a "government policy or pattern" in China of engaging in forced labor and mandatory detention of the Uyghurs and Muslim minority populations in the Xinjiang region. China also expanded this program into other areas of the country, expanding the forced internment of religious and ethnic minorities.
Similarly, Russia ranked on the Tier 3 list due to state-sanctioned trafficking and a policy of permissiveness on the matter.
Russia did not implement any programs or provide funding to protective services for trafficked individuals in the past year, according to the report. Moscow also continues to import North Korean workers who are used for cheap labor projects. There is also evidence indicating that the North Korean government continues to operate work camps in Russia with the government's consent.
In a new section on the sports world, the State Department found that "neither governments nor international sports federations or national sports leagues have successfully addressed the growing incidence of human trafficking of athletes."
"Government and industry efforts to regulate an expanding web of migration and recruitment routes have proven insufficient," according to the report.
The global and migratory nature of sports has made it difficult for governments and leagues to implement standard practices combating human trafficking, which often impacts younger players eager to make a career in the lucrative arena.


freebeacon--2020-06-25--Supreme Court Sides With Trump On Fast-Track Deportations

The Supreme Court rejected an ACLU-backed bid to slow deportations Thursday , dealing a major victory to the Trump administration and denying some asylum seekers the right to make their case to a federal judge .
A Sri Lankan migrant named Vijayakumar Thuraissigiam , who was apprehended just 25 yards from the southern border after entering the country illegally , is at the center of the case .
The legal question was whether asylum seekers can seek habeas corpus , the basic right to have your detention reviewed by a judge , when they are fast-tracked for removal .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Constitution 's bedrock principle that individuals deprived of their liberty have their day in court , and this includes asylum seekers , '' said ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt , who argued before the justices for Thuraissigiam .
`` This decision means that some people facing flawed deportation orders can be forcibly removed with no judicial oversight , putting their lives in grave danger . ''
Thursday 's decision follows a Tuesday ruling from a federal appeals court that allowed the Trump administration to expand fast-track deportations .
Taken together , the rulings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to speed the pace of deportations , burnishing his border hawk credentials ahead of the November election .
The bottom-line outcome was 7-2 .
Justice Samuel Alito delivered the majority opinion , which the Court 's conservatives joined .
Justices Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg agreed with the result but did not join the majority .
Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented , joined by Justice Elena Kagan .
Thuraissigiam is a member of Sri Lanka 's Tamil minority , who face abuse by the Sri Lankan government according to human rights groups .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ asylum after he was intercepted entering the United States unlawfully .
An immigration officer determined he did not have a `` credible fear '' of persecution and his superiors signed off , teeing up a quick deportation .
Asylum seekers who fail the credible-fear test are placed in a speedy expulsion protocol called `` expedited removal . ''
There were almost 100,000 credible-fear claims in 2018 .
A 1996 immigration law dictates that courts ca n't review a credible-fear determination .
Immigration authorities get the final word .
Nonetheless , Thuraissigiam went to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second chance at his asylum interview , arguing he should have passed the credible-fear stage .
The judge refused .
But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit revived Thuraissigiam 's bid and ruled that the 1996 law violates the Constitution 's suspension clause , which forbids rescinding habeas corpus except in case of emergency .
The High Court reversed the Ninth Circuit 's ruling Thursday and said Thuraissigiam 's claim went well beyond the scope of habeas corpus as understood when the Constitution was adopted .
`` Habeas has traditionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlawful detention , but [ Thuraissigiam ] invokes the writ to achieve an entirely different end , '' namely the right to stay in the United States and get a new credible-fear interview , Alito wrote .
`` Claims so far outside the core of habeas may not be pursued through habeas , '' he wrote elsewhere , citing earlier cases from 2008 and 2011 .
There was also a practical concern .
Given that thousands of asylum seekers are placed in expedited removal , the government feared a ruling for Thuraissigiam would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal courts .
That 's contrary to the design of the 1996 law , Alito said .
`` The potential for a flood would be , of course , far greater if this Court holds that there is a right to file a habeas-seeking review of a negative credible-fear determination , '' Justice Department lawyer Edwin Kneedler told the justices during oral arguments in March .
By the Justice Department 's count , about 100 asylum seekers sought habeas following the Ninth Circuit 's decision in Thuraissigiam 's case , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Thuraissigiam should lose , but said the Court should not go further and explore `` difficult questions '' touching deportations and the suspension clause .
In dissent , Sotomayor said the majority needlessly `` purges an entire class of legal challenges '' to immigration detention and wrongfully limited the ancient writ of habeas corpus .
`` Today ’ s decision handcuffs the judiciary ’ s ability to perform its constitutional duty to safeguard individual liberty and dismantles a critical component of the separation of powers , '' Sotomayor wrote .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unchecked in the very circumstance where the writ ’ s protections have been strongest . ''
The case is No .
19-161 Department of Homeland Security v. Thuraissigiam .
Department of Homeland Secu… by Washington Free Beacon on Scribd

The Supreme Court rejected an ACLU-backed bid to slow deportations Thursday, dealing a major victory to the Trump administration and denying some asylum seekers the right to make their case to a federal judge.
A Sri Lankan migrant named Vijayakumar Thuraissigiam, who was apprehended just 25 yards from the southern border after entering the country illegally, is at the center of the case. The legal question was whether asylum seekers can seek habeas corpus, the basic right to have your detention reviewed by a judge, when they are fast-tracked for removal.
"This ruling fails to live up to the Constitution's bedrock principle that individuals deprived of their liberty have their day in court, and this includes asylum seekers," said ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt, who argued before the justices for Thuraissigiam. "This decision means that some people facing flawed deportation orders can be forcibly removed with no judicial oversight, putting their lives in grave danger."
Thursday's decision follows a Tuesday ruling from a federal appeals court that allowed the Trump administration to expand fast-track deportations. Taken together, the rulings are a boon to Trump's efforts to speed the pace of deportations, burnishing his border hawk credentials ahead of the November election.
The bottom-line outcome was 7-2. Justice Samuel Alito delivered the majority opinion, which the Court's conservatives joined. Justices Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg agreed with the result but did not join the majority. Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, joined by Justice Elena Kagan.
Thuraissigiam is a member of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority, who face abuse by the Sri Lankan government according to human rights groups. In January 2017, Thuraissigiam asked for asylum after he was intercepted entering the United States unlawfully. An immigration officer determined he did not have a "credible fear" of persecution and his superiors signed off, teeing up a quick deportation. Asylum seekers who fail the credible-fear test are placed in a speedy expulsion protocol called "expedited removal."
There were almost 100,000 credible-fear claims in 2018.
A 1996 immigration law dictates that courts can't review a credible-fear determination. Immigration authorities get the final word. Nonetheless, Thuraissigiam went to a federal judge and asked for a second chance at his asylum interview, arguing he should have passed the credible-fear stage. The judge refused. But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit revived Thuraissigiam's bid and ruled that the 1996 law violates the Constitution's suspension clause, which forbids rescinding habeas corpus except in case of emergency.
The High Court reversed the Ninth Circuit's ruling Thursday and said Thuraissigiam's claim went well beyond the scope of habeas corpus as understood when the Constitution was adopted.
"Habeas has traditionally been a means to secure release from unlawful detention, but [Thuraissigiam] invokes the writ to achieve an entirely different end," namely the right to stay in the United States and get a new credible-fear interview, Alito wrote.
"Claims so far outside the core of habeas may not be pursued through habeas," he wrote elsewhere, citing earlier cases from 2008 and 2011.
There was also a practical concern. Given that thousands of asylum seekers are placed in expedited removal, the government feared a ruling for Thuraissigiam would prompt a surge of habeas petitions in federal courts. That's contrary to the design of the 1996 law, Alito said.
"The potential for a flood would be, of course, far greater if this Court holds that there is a right to file a habeas-seeking review of a negative credible-fear determination," Justice Department lawyer Edwin Kneedler told the justices during oral arguments in March. By the Justice Department's count, about 100 asylum seekers sought habeas following the Ninth Circuit's decision in Thuraissigiam's case, he said.
In a separate opinion, Breyer agreed that Thuraissigiam should lose, but said the Court should not go further and explore "difficult questions" touching deportations and the suspension clause.
In dissent, Sotomayor said the majority needlessly "purges an entire class of legal challenges" to immigration detention and wrongfully limited the ancient writ of habeas corpus.
"Today’s decision handcuffs the judiciary’s ability to perform its constitutional duty to safeguard individual liberty and dismantles a critical component of the separation of powers," Sotomayor wrote. "It will leave significant exercises of executive discretion unchecked in the very circumstance where the writ’s protections have been strongest."
The case is No. 19-161 Department of Homeland Security v. Thuraissigiam.
Department of Homeland Secu... by Washington Free Beacon on Scribd


freebeacon--2020-06-25--In Blow to Schumer, McGrath Lead Evaporates in KY Senate Primary

Left-wing insurgent Charles Booker on Thursday jumped to a lead over Amy McGrath , the establishment-backed candidate in Kentucky 's Democratic primary who has spent 40 times more than her competitor .
McGrath now trails Booker , a progressive state representative , by nearly 3,000 votes .
The swing occurred after officials from Jefferson County—which includes Booker 's hometown of Louisville—reported in-person vote totals from Election Day .
Booker topped McGrath in the county by nearly 65 points , receiving more than 8,300 votes to McGrath 's roughly 1,650 .
The race is still far from over .
No counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting , and more than 40 counties have reported no votes at all .
Nearly 600,000 Kentucky voters returned absentee ballots , compared with 161,000 who voted in person on Tuesday and 110,000 who voted in person prior to Election Day .
The barrage of absentee ballots could help McGrath close the gap , as Booker 's campaign failed to gain significant momentum until mid-June , weeks after absentee voting began in the state .
Ballot requests in many counties , however , peaked around the time of Booker 's surge .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 160,000 absentee ballots as of Thursday morning—Booker is expected to win a sizable margin of those votes given his ties to the area .
Booker celebrated his newfound lead in a Thursday morning tweet , saying , `` something big '' was going on in the state .
McGrath has yet to address the new vote total .
McGrath will become the biggest fundraiser to lose a congressional primary in U.S. history should she fail to close the gap .
She was endorsed by the Chuck Schumer-controlled Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raise nearly $ 41 million .
Nearly 97 percent of her campaign funds came from out-of-state donors , as McGrath ran watered-down ads in major liberal cities to court donors .
Booker , meanwhile , raised just $ 793,000 as of June 3 , spending $ 508,000 to McGrath 's nearly $ 22 million .
McGrath did not respond to a request for comment and did not indicate whether she would support Booker financially should he win the nomination .
Booker 's campaign was boosted by Black Lives Matter protests across the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Louisville and George Floyd in Minneapolis .
While Booker was seen front-and-center at protests across the state , McGrath said during a June 1 debate that she had not attended a demonstration .
Booker enjoyed a slew of national endorsements following the debate .
He is backed by Sens .
Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
and Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) , and progressive Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) and Ayanna Pressley ( D. , Mass. )
.
Absentee ballots are expected to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week after Tuesday 's primary .
The eventual nominee will face Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , who won his primary by 82 points , in November .

Left-wing insurgent Charles Booker on Thursday jumped to a lead over Amy McGrath, the establishment-backed candidate in Kentucky's Democratic primary who has spent 40 times more than her competitor.
McGrath now trails Booker, a progressive state representative, by nearly 3,000 votes. The swing occurred after officials from Jefferson County—which includes Booker's hometown of Louisville—reported in-person vote totals from Election Day. Booker topped McGrath in the county by nearly 65 points, receiving more than 8,300 votes to McGrath's roughly 1,650.
The race is still far from over. No counties in the state have reported absentee ballot voting, and more than 40 counties have reported no votes at all. Nearly 600,000 Kentucky voters returned absentee ballots, compared with 161,000 who voted in person on Tuesday and 110,000 who voted in person prior to Election Day.
The barrage of absentee ballots could help McGrath close the gap, as Booker's campaign failed to gain significant momentum until mid-June, weeks after absentee voting began in the state. Ballot requests in many counties, however, peaked around the time of Booker's surge. In addition, Jefferson County has received more than 160,000 absentee ballots as of Thursday morning—Booker is expected to win a sizable margin of those votes given his ties to the area.
Booker celebrated his newfound lead in a Thursday morning tweet, saying, "something big" was going on in the state. McGrath has yet to address the new vote total.
McGrath will become the biggest fundraiser to lose a congressional primary in U.S. history should she fail to close the gap. She was endorsed by the Chuck Schumer-controlled Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in February, using the national support to raise nearly $41 million. Nearly 97 percent of her campaign funds came from out-of-state donors, as McGrath ran watered-down ads in major liberal cities to court donors.
Booker, meanwhile, raised just $793,000 as of June 3, spending $508,000 to McGrath's nearly $22 million. McGrath did not respond to a request for comment and did not indicate whether she would support Booker financially should he win the nomination.
Booker's campaign was boosted by Black Lives Matter protests across the state following the police killings of Breonna Taylor in Louisville and George Floyd in Minneapolis. While Booker was seen front-and-center at protests across the state, McGrath said during a June 1 debate that she had not attended a demonstration. Booker enjoyed a slew of national endorsements following the debate. He is backed by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), and progressive Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.).
Absentee ballots are expected to be reported statewide on June 30, one week after Tuesday's primary. The eventual nominee will face Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who won his primary by 82 points, in November.


freebeacon--2020-06-25--College Rebranding Student IDs After ‘Freedom Cards’ Deemed Dehumanizing

Robert Morris University , a private school outside Pittsburgh , is changing the name of its student , faculty , and staff ID cards after a petition circulated calling the name `` Freedom Cards '' dehumanizing .
The IDs will be renamed `` RMU ID '' to address the concerns of some students .
The administration had planned on a rebranding for some time , Jonathan Potts , the school ’ s vice president of public relations and marketing , told the Washington Free Beacon .
RMU has not yet formally announced the change .
The name change comes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police brutality and the death of George Floyd , have called for the removal of statues , imagery , and brands with racially insensitive connotations .
Last week , the University of Virginia announced it would change its athletic logo after some claimed a detail on the logo had ties to slavery .
Uncle Ben 's rice and Aunt Jemima pancake mix and syrup will be rebranded after critics said the logos are racist .
Rising RMU senior Melanie Hall published a Change.org petition on June 11 that said using the term `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students feel `` dehumanized . ''
`` Gifting us with IDs that grant us our ‘ freedom ' is of extremely poor taste , '' the petition said .
`` Especially coming from a university that is named after a slave owner . ''
The petition received 130 signatures , just over 3 percent of the school 's 4,000 enrolled undergraduate students .
`` We ask that these changes be made so that minority students can also feel that same pride in being a Colonial , '' Hall wrote .
In 1935 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name to the Robert Morris School of Business , named for a signer of the Declaration of Independence .
RMU 's Freedom Card and `` Colonial '' nickname echo the American founding .
Draven Marino , a rising junior at RMU , tweeted that the school needed to rebrand entirely .
He said the Colonial mascot is `` tasteless , '' adding a photo defining colonialism as `` the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country , occupying it with settlers and exploiting it economically . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ also come under fire for alleged links to racism , Hall told the Free Beacon she thinks the mascot is also problematic .
`` I believe that the mascot is controversial , '' Hall said .
`` I do n't take much offense to it but I can see why people would want it to be changed . ''
John Michalenko , dean of students , told Hall on a June 16 Zoom call that her petition could not have come at a better time .
Michalenko said the school had `` for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cards .
In addition to changing the name of the identification cards , university president Chris Howard announced on Tuesday he would begin an Anti-Racism Task Force to promote racial equality on campus .

Robert Morris University, a private school outside Pittsburgh, is changing the name of its student, faculty, and staff ID cards after a petition circulated calling the name "Freedom Cards" dehumanizing.
The IDs will be renamed "RMU ID" to address the concerns of some students. The administration had planned on a rebranding for some time, Jonathan Potts, the school’s vice president of public relations and marketing, told the Washington Free Beacon. RMU has not yet formally announced the change.
The name change comes as protesters across the country, outraged over police brutality and the death of George Floyd, have called for the removal of statues, imagery, and brands with racially insensitive connotations. Last week, the University of Virginia announced it would change its athletic logo after some claimed a detail on the logo had ties to slavery. Uncle Ben's rice and Aunt Jemima pancake mix and syrup will be rebranded after critics said the logos are racist.
Rising RMU senior Melanie Hall published a Change.org petition on June 11 that said using the term "freedom" on the cards made minority students feel "dehumanized."
"Gifting us with IDs that grant us our 'freedom' is of extremely poor taste," the petition said. "Especially coming from a university that is named after a slave owner."
The petition received 130 signatures, just over 3 percent of the school's 4,000 enrolled undergraduate students.
"We ask that these changes be made so that minority students can also feel that same pride in being a Colonial," Hall wrote.
In 1935, the Pittsburgh School of Accountancy changed its name to the Robert Morris School of Business, named for a signer of the Declaration of Independence. RMU's Freedom Card and "Colonial" nickname echo the American founding.
Draven Marino, a rising junior at RMU, tweeted that the school needed to rebrand entirely. He said the Colonial mascot is "tasteless," adding a photo defining colonialism as "the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers and exploiting it economically."
Asked about the Colonial, which has also come under fire for alleged links to racism, Hall told the Free Beacon she thinks the mascot is also problematic.
"I believe that the mascot is controversial," Hall said. "I don't take much offense to it but I can see why people would want it to be changed."
John Michalenko, dean of students, told Hall on a June 16 Zoom call that her petition could not have come at a better time. Michalenko said the school had "for years" planned on redesigning the ID cards.
In addition to changing the name of the identification cards, university president Chris Howard announced on Tuesday he would begin an Anti-Racism Task Force to promote racial equality on campus.


freebeacon--2020-06-25--MO Dem Silent After Top Adviser Calls GOP Gov an ‘Illiterate Hillbilly’

Missouri Democrat Nicole Galloway has remained silent after a top adviser called Republican governor Mike Parson an `` illiterate hillbilly . ''
Galloway , the state auditor , is running to unseat Parson , an Army veteran , former sheriff , and cattle farmer .
In a Tuesday social media post , campaign adviser and registered lobbyist Patrick Lynn called Parson an `` illiterate hillbilly . ''
Galloway has yet to condemn the remark and did not respond to a request for comment .
Lynn has long backed Galloway , hosting a happy hour fundraiser for the Democrat as early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county treasurer .
Galloway 's PAC paid Lynn 's consulting firm , Show Me Victories , to run digital ads against Galloway 's opponent during the Democrat 's 2018 state auditor reelection bid .
Galloway is married to Lynn 's nephew .
Republican Governors Association spokeswoman Amelia Chassé Alcivar compared Lynn 's statement to Hillary Clinton 's infamous 2016 comment , in which the Democratic presidential nominee said that half of President Donald Trump 's supporters could be put in a `` basket of deplorables . ''
`` It 's no secret that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at every turn , but hurling elitist disdain at a majority of the voters you seek to represent is never a good look , '' Alcivar said .
`` If Nicole Galloway does n't step up and condemn this despicable and divisive rhetoric from her top advisor , Missourians can only presume that Mr. Lynn merely said out loud what Galloway thinks . ''
Critics say Lynn 's comment marks the latest example showing Galloway is out of touch with Missouri voters .
More than 2 million Missourians live in rural counties , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Parson , a native of rural Wheatland , Mo.
, received nearly 1.5 million votes during his 2016 run for lieutenant governor .
Galloway on June 14 headlined an event with abortion lobbyist and liberal megadonor NARAL , which opposes any restriction on late-term abortion .
More than 80 percent of Missouri voters oppose late-term abortion—including 66 percent of Democrats and 83 percent of independents—according to a 2019 poll commissioned by Susan B. Anthony List .
Lynn 's comment came after Parson was asked during a Tuesday press conference whether he felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state .
`` I do n't even know where you come up with that question , personal responsibility as the governor of the state of Missouri when you 're talking about a virus , '' Parson responded .
`` Do I feel guilty because we have car accidents and people die every day ?
No , I do n't feel guilty about that . ''
Galloway and Parson will likely face off in November following the state 's August primary .
The Missouri Republican enjoys a significant financial advantage , holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between his campaign and PAC .
Galloway , meanwhile , holds less than $ 2 million on hand between her campaign and PAC as of April 15 .
Lynn locked his Twitter account Thursday following publication of this report .

Missouri Democrat Nicole Galloway has remained silent after a top adviser called Republican governor Mike Parson an "illiterate hillbilly."
Galloway, the state auditor, is running to unseat Parson, an Army veteran, former sheriff, and cattle farmer. In a Tuesday social media post, campaign adviser and registered lobbyist Patrick Lynn called Parson an "illiterate hillbilly." Galloway has yet to condemn the remark and did not respond to a request for comment.
Lynn has long backed Galloway, hosting a happy hour fundraiser for the Democrat as early as 2011 when Galloway served as a county treasurer. Galloway's PAC paid Lynn's consulting firm, Show Me Victories, to run digital ads against Galloway's opponent during the Democrat's 2018 state auditor reelection bid. Galloway is married to Lynn's nephew.
Republican Governors Association spokeswoman Amelia Chassé Alcivar compared Lynn's statement to Hillary Clinton's infamous 2016 comment, in which the Democratic presidential nominee said that half of President Donald Trump's supporters could be put in a "basket of deplorables."
"It's no secret that Nicole Galloway tries to emulate Hillary Clinton at every turn, but hurling elitist disdain at a majority of the voters you seek to represent is never a good look," Alcivar said. "If Nicole Galloway doesn't step up and condemn this despicable and divisive rhetoric from her top advisor, Missourians can only presume that Mr. Lynn merely said out loud what Galloway thinks."
Critics say Lynn's comment marks the latest example showing Galloway is out of touch with Missouri voters. More than 2 million Missourians live in rural counties, according to the state's health department. Parson, a native of rural Wheatland, Mo., received nearly 1.5 million votes during his 2016 run for lieutenant governor. Galloway on June 14 headlined an event with abortion lobbyist and liberal megadonor NARAL, which opposes any restriction on late-term abortion. More than 80 percent of Missouri voters oppose late-term abortion—including 66 percent of Democrats and 83 percent of independents—according to a 2019 poll commissioned by Susan B. Anthony List.
Lynn's comment came after Parson was asked during a Tuesday press conference whether he felt "personal responsibility" for coronavirus deaths in the state.
"I don't even know where you come up with that question, personal responsibility as the governor of the state of Missouri when you're talking about a virus," Parson responded. "Do I feel guilty because we have car accidents and people die every day? No, I don't feel guilty about that."
Galloway and Parson will likely face off in November following the state's August primary. The Missouri Republican enjoys a significant financial advantage, holding a combined $6.5 million on hand between his campaign and PAC. Galloway, meanwhile, holds less than $2 million on hand between her campaign and PAC as of April 15.
UPDATE: June 25, 2:12 p.m.
Lynn locked his Twitter account Thursday following publication of this report.


freebeacon--2020-06-25--House Dems Unanimously Block Resolution Condemning Violence and Rioting

House Democrats unanimously blocked a resolution condemning acts of violence and rioting—including the `` deliberate targeting of law enforcement officers '' —in the wake of George Floyd 's death .
The resolution , which was introduced by Rep. Greg Steube ( R. , Fla. ) late Thursday morning , condemned Floyd 's killing at the hands of police , calling it `` inconsistent with the values and conduct expected of law enforcement officers . ''
The resolution also supported peaceful protesters , but it noted that protests have been `` exploited by violent extremists '' carrying out `` acts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and personal property , and additional loss of life . ''
Rep. Jim Jordan ( R. , Ohio ) spoke in favor of the resolution , arguing that while Floyd 's death was `` wrong as wrong could be , '' there is a `` big difference between peaceful protest and rioting . ''
Jordan also spoke against defunding the police , calling it `` one of the craziest public policy proposals I have ever seen . ''
`` I think [ the resolution ] is consistent with where American values are , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consistent with the serious situation we are in , '' Jordan said .
`` If we allow this ‘ defund the police ' concept to happen … it will not only be tough for police officers , we all know that , but the communities they serve—what will happen there is frightening . ''
No House Democrats voted in favor of Steube 's resolution .
Rep. Justin Amash ( I. , Mich. ) voted with Republicans to support the measure .
A number of Democratic lawmakers have supported the call to defund police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) .
Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) advocated for the dismantling of the Minneapolis Police Department in June , calling it `` rotten to the root '' and a `` cancer . ''
While major cities across the United States have already proposed or approved slashing police budgets , decades of research indicates that better-funded police departments drive down crime and create social benefit .
Officials in New York City , Hartford , Austin , Minneapolis , Baltimore , and Los Angeles have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite holding some of the highest violent-crime rates in the nation .

House Democrats unanimously blocked a resolution condemning acts of violence and rioting—including the "deliberate targeting of law enforcement officers"—in the wake of George Floyd's death.
The resolution, which was introduced by Rep. Greg Steube (R., Fla.) late Thursday morning, condemned Floyd's killing at the hands of police, calling it "inconsistent with the values and conduct expected of law enforcement officers." The resolution also supported peaceful protesters, but it noted that protests have been "exploited by violent extremists" carrying out "acts of violence, looting, destruction of business and personal property, and additional loss of life."
Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) spoke in favor of the resolution, arguing that while Floyd's death was "wrong as wrong could be," there is a "big difference between peaceful protest and rioting." Jordan also spoke against defunding the police, calling it "one of the craziest public policy proposals I have ever seen."
"I think [the resolution] is consistent with where American values are, consistent with the problems we face, consistent with the serious situation we are in," Jordan said. "If we allow this 'defund the police' concept to happen … it will not only be tough for police officers, we all know that, but the communities they serve—what will happen there is frightening."
No House Democrats voted in favor of Steube's resolution. Rep. Justin Amash (I., Mich.) voted with Republicans to support the measure.
A number of Democratic lawmakers have supported the call to defund police following Floyd's killing, including far-left Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.). Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) advocated for the dismantling of the Minneapolis Police Department in June, calling it "rotten to the root" and a "cancer."
While major cities across the United States have already proposed or approved slashing police budgets, decades of research indicates that better-funded police departments drive down crime and create social benefit. Officials in New York City, Hartford, Austin, Minneapolis, Baltimore, and Los Angeles have all entertained defunding or abolishing police, despite holding some of the highest violent-crime rates in the nation.


freebeacon--2020-06-25--SUPERCUT: Woke White Libs Yelling at Black Cops for Racial Justice

The battle for social justice and racial harmony is raging on America 's streets , and woke white libs are n't just sitting back , posting their thoughtful commentary on social media , and canceling dead racists like Abraham Lincoln .
They are risking it all on the front lines by holding signs and aggressively explaining to black police officers why they are `` part of the problem . ''
The contributions of woke white libs at this historic juncture are arguably even more important to the cause of justice than the Black Lives Matter movement .
No demographic group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of George Floyd by reading White Fragility ( at least the first few chapters ) and ensuring that every corporation in America is posting woke hashtags on social media .
Throughout the Democratic primary , woke white libs were at the forefront of the movement to bring racial justice to America by supporting a candidate who would have been the first woman of color elected to the presidency in our nation 's history .
Unfortunately , Elizabeth Warren did n't win the nomination , but that has n't discouraged the woke white libs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yelling at black cops for the good of all mankind .
Wow !

The battle for social justice and racial harmony is raging on America's streets, and woke white libs aren't just sitting back, posting their thoughtful commentary on social media, and canceling dead racists like Abraham Lincoln. They are risking it all on the front lines by holding signs and aggressively explaining to black police officers why they are "part of the problem."
The contributions of woke white libs at this historic juncture are arguably even more important to the cause of justice than the Black Lives Matter movement. No demographic group has done more to honor the memory of George Floyd by reading White Fragility (at least the first few chapters) and ensuring that every corporation in America is posting woke hashtags on social media.
Throughout the Democratic primary, woke white libs were at the forefront of the movement to bring racial justice to America by supporting a candidate who would have been the first woman of color elected to the presidency in our nation's history. Unfortunately, Elizabeth Warren didn't win the nomination, but that hasn't discouraged the woke white libs from taking to the streets and courageously yelling at black cops for the good of all mankind. Wow!


freebeacon--2020-06-25--Chicago Mayor Blames Union for City’s Lack of Police Oversight

Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot ( D. ) said that the city 's police union obstructs any attempts to reform police practices and address racism in the department .
`` They blocked body cameras , they blocked the taking of anonymous complaints , they block civilian oversight at every level , '' Lightfoot told NBC in an interview that aired Thursday .
`` What the union does is it grieves [ sic ] and obstructs .
Every progressive and important thing that 's necessary , mandated by the consent decree , they try to block . ''
She said John Catanzara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's police union , `` has his head in the sand '' after Catanzara pushed back on claims that racism is a problem in the Chicago police department .
Lightfoot 's criticism of the police department comes in the midst of heightened tensions between the police unions and the Chicago mayor 's office .
Catanzara told NBC that calls for police reform are `` demoralizing '' and denied that racism is a problem in the department .
Father 's Day weekend saw a scourge of violent crime hit Chicago .
The city experienced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year , as 104 people were shot and 15 people died , the Chicago Sun-Times reported .
The 15 deaths included five children .
After the violence that took place over the weekend , calls for mass police `` sick-outs '' have spread .
Lightfoot pushed back on the possibility that large portions of the police department could call out sick as a protest against police reform .
She told ABC7 Chicago that the idea was `` stupid '' and `` the height of dereliction of duty . ''
Lightfoot has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening schools in the fall .
The union went on strike last October before a collective-bargaining agreement was reached .
Now , the union is accusing the mayor 's office and public school system of not guaranteeing access to personal protective equipment or clean facilities to school staff .

Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot (D.) said that the city's police union obstructs any attempts to reform police practices and address racism in the department.
"They blocked body cameras, they blocked the taking of anonymous complaints, they block civilian oversight at every level," Lightfoot told NBC in an interview that aired Thursday. "What the union does is it grieves [sic] and obstructs. Every progressive and important thing that's necessary, mandated by the consent decree, they try to block."
She said John Catanzara, the recently elected head of Chicago's police union, "has his head in the sand" after Catanzara pushed back on claims that racism is a problem in the Chicago police department.
Lightfoot's criticism of the police department comes in the midst of heightened tensions between the police unions and the Chicago mayor's office. Catanzara told NBC that calls for police reform are "demoralizing" and denied that racism is a problem in the department.
Father's Day weekend saw a scourge of violent crime hit Chicago. The city experienced its highest number of shootings so far this year, as 104 people were shot and 15 people died, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. The 15 deaths included five children.
After the violence that took place over the weekend, calls for mass police "sick-outs" have spread. Lightfoot pushed back on the possibility that large portions of the police department could call out sick as a protest against police reform. She told ABC7 Chicago that the idea was "stupid" and "the height of dereliction of duty."
Lightfoot has also clashed with the Chicago Teachers Union over reopening schools in the fall. The union went on strike last October before a collective-bargaining agreement was reached. Now, the union is accusing the mayor's office and public school system of not guaranteeing access to personal protective equipment or clean facilities to school staff.


freebeacon--2020-06-25--How Putin Plans to Remain in Office Until 2036

Vladimir Putin ’ s time in office ends in 2024—Russia ’ s constitution currently limits a president to two consecutive terms .
In an April appearance before parliament , Putin made clear his solution to this problem : reset the presidential clock to zero by amending the constitution to allow him to remain for two additional terms .
This would allow him to remain in power until 2036 , when he would be 83 years old .
In order to secure public majority approval and also produce an acceptable level of voter participation , several actions are in the works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The beginning of early balloting and the annual Victory in World War II parade have both been postponed to occur in tandem with one another .
Early voting will commence the day after the June 24 parade , with the idea that fleets of tanks , missile transporters , and other hardware and tens of thousands of troops through Red Square will inspire voters to give Putin another term .
The proposed constitutional changes , however , are not being put forth in a referendum , which would require adherence to procedure and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
Instead , the several days allowed for voters beginning June 25 is called an obshchaya narodnaya golosovaniya or a `` general national vote , '' which `` is an electoral process that no one has ever heard of before nor has it ever been utilized in Russia , '' said one Moscow political analyst who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon .
Stretching the voting period from June 25 to July 1 is being justified due to coronavirus social distancing concerns .
But the real reason , according to this analyst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` any concrete rules and regulations—the several days of voting , voting by mail , the voting by electronic devices in Moscow and Nizhni-Novgorod that has been designated ‘ experimental.
’ This permits maximum flexibility on the part of the Putin regime to manipulate both the voter participation numbers and the actual tally from voting . ''
The effort to deliver a resounding `` yes '' vote for Putin ’ s endless presidency is also being played out on Russian TV screens .
The tactic harks back to 1996 when then-Russian president Boris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from near-obscurity to become his successor ) was running for reelection in a close race against the head of the reconstituted Communist Party , Gennadiy Zyuganov .
Yeltsin was highly unpopular at the beginning of the election campaign , forcing the Kremlin to discredit his opponent by broadcasting film after film exposing the dark side of Russia ’ s Communist past .
Among these was the 1994 Russian-made Utomlenniye Solntsem ( Burnt by the Sun ) by Nikita Mikhalkov , who today heads the Russian cinematographers ’ union .
Mikhalkov has also become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Kremlin ’ s use of films and cinema personalities to deliver propaganda messages .
His video blog , Besogon TV ( `` The Exorcist TV '' ) , portrays the West as an implacable enemy of Moscow and demonizes civil society organizations for besmirching the image of the Russian Federation .
Last week the pro-Putin/anti-West TV campaign used the classic 2000 film Brat 2 ( Brother 2 ) , directed by Aleksey Balabanov and starring Sergey Bodrov to discredit the concept of the U.S. brand of democracy .
The film was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the June 8 TV screening was the 20th anniversary of its release .
The only difference this time was that after the end scene , the film ’ s credits were replaced by news footage of riots in the United States following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Immediately afterwards the state-run Channel One cut in with a news report on the riots with the newscaster stating , `` The main values of the ‘ free world ’ are cracking under the blows of police batons , burning in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fury of uncompromising confrontation . ''
Reaction on Russian social media was largely one of outrage , with numerous comments asking just how furious the official Kremlin reaction would be if a popular American film ’ s ending was followed by video footage of some Russian disaster .
`` It is typical for the Putin regime , '' said one retired Russian journalist .
`` Any negative image of the West that can promote the message—that without Putin ’ s rule Russia would face similar turmoil—will be exploited .
Up to and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 . ''

Vladimir Putin’s time in office ends in 2024—Russia’s constitution currently limits a president to two consecutive terms. In an April appearance before parliament, Putin made clear his solution to this problem: reset the presidential clock to zero by amending the constitution to allow him to remain for two additional terms. This would allow him to remain in power until 2036, when he would be 83 years old.
In order to secure public majority approval and also produce an acceptable level of voter participation, several actions are in the works prior to the July 1 election.
The beginning of early balloting and the annual Victory in World War II parade have both been postponed to occur in tandem with one another. Early voting will commence the day after the June 24 parade, with the idea that fleets of tanks, missile transporters, and other hardware and tens of thousands of troops through Red Square will inspire voters to give Putin another term.
The proposed constitutional changes, however, are not being put forth in a referendum, which would require adherence to procedure and take place over the course of one day. Instead, the several days allowed for voters beginning June 25 is called an obshchaya narodnaya golosovaniya or a "general national vote," which "is an electoral process that no one has ever heard of before nor has it ever been utilized in Russia," said one Moscow political analyst who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon.
Stretching the voting period from June 25 to July 1 is being justified due to coronavirus social distancing concerns. But the real reason, according to this analyst, is that this vague procedure lacks "any concrete rules and regulations—the several days of voting, voting by mail, the voting by electronic devices in Moscow and Nizhni-Novgorod that has been designated ‘experimental.’ This permits maximum flexibility on the part of the Putin regime to manipulate both the voter participation numbers and the actual tally from voting."
The effort to deliver a resounding "yes" vote for Putin’s endless presidency is also being played out on Russian TV screens.
The tactic harks back to 1996 when then-Russian president Boris Yeltsin (the man who picked Putin from near-obscurity to become his successor) was running for reelection in a close race against the head of the reconstituted Communist Party, Gennadiy Zyuganov. Yeltsin was highly unpopular at the beginning of the election campaign, forcing the Kremlin to discredit his opponent by broadcasting film after film exposing the dark side of Russia’s Communist past.
Among these was the 1994 Russian-made Utomlenniye Solntsem (Burnt by the Sun) by Nikita Mikhalkov, who today heads the Russian cinematographers’ union. Mikhalkov has also become a major Putin supporter and is emblematic of the Kremlin’s use of films and cinema personalities to deliver propaganda messages. His video blog, Besogon TV ("The Exorcist TV"), portrays the West as an implacable enemy of Moscow and demonizes civil society organizations for besmirching the image of the Russian Federation.
Last week the pro-Putin/anti-West TV campaign used the classic 2000 film Brat 2 (Brother 2), directed by Aleksey Balabanov and starring Sergey Bodrov to discredit the concept of the U.S. brand of democracy. The film was a major sensation when it premiered, and the June 8 TV screening was the 20th anniversary of its release.
The only difference this time was that after the end scene, the film’s credits were replaced by news footage of riots in the United States following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Immediately afterwards the state-run Channel One cut in with a news report on the riots with the newscaster stating, "The main values of the ‘free world’ are cracking under the blows of police batons, burning in the fire of looted stores, drowning in the fury of uncompromising confrontation."
Reaction on Russian social media was largely one of outrage, with numerous comments asking just how furious the official Kremlin reaction would be if a popular American film’s ending was followed by video footage of some Russian disaster.
"It is typical for the Putin regime," said one retired Russian journalist. "Any negative image of the West that can promote the message—that without Putin’s rule Russia would face similar turmoil—will be exploited. Up to and well after this constitutional vote on July 1."


The Virus Rules

On March 18 , at a press conference flanked by high-ranking officials , President Trump described himself as a `` wartime president '' fighting an `` invisible enemy '' known as the coronavirus .
The president , it seemed , was beginning to reckon with the extent of the economic , epidemiological , social , and psychological damage the pandemic would cause , and to act appropriately .
`` We must sacrifice together , '' Trump said , `` because we are all in this together , and we will come through together . ''
An anxious populace welcomed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time of national emergency .
The president ’ s job approval ratings rose in the following weeks , reaching a high of 47 percent in the Real Clear Politics average on April 1 .
The gap between Trump and former vice president Joe Biden narrowed to five points .
How long ago that seems .
Some 122,000 deaths and tens of millions of lost jobs later , and in the middle of a cultural revolution sparked by the viral video of George Floyd ’ s death at the hands of Minneapolis police , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corner .
The rhetoric of a wartime presidency is gone .
His coronavirus task force is barely visible .
In a symbol of declining levels of support among white voters critical to his reelection , attendance at the Keep America Great rally in Tulsa failed to live up to expectations raised by Trump ’ s own campaign .
The president ’ s job approval rating has fallen to the low 40s .
Biden ’ s lead has widened to 10 points .
There is no shaking the coronavirus .
It is the ever-present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is taking place .
The good news is that deaths have declined to fewer than 1,000 per day .
But that number is still higher than the casualties reported by other liberal democracies in Asia and in Europe , and it may rise in the coming weeks .
Sclerotic bureaucracies , poor decision-making , and ill communication at every level of government wasted the opportunity to suppress the virus through relentless testing , contact tracing , and quarantine .
By the time testing ramped up to the point where it could become the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had grown tired of lockdowns enforced throughout the country without regard to local conditions and to basic freedoms , and weary of a public health establishment whose pronouncements—New York good , Florida bad ; protests good , yeshivas bad—seemed driven by partisanship and ideology .
The virus exposed racial , ethnic , and class cleavages that inflamed elite opinion and increased demands for social justice .
And the economic devastation left an environment permeated by anxiety and filled with bored and unemployed people , some of whom felt as if they had no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to smash things .
The civil unrest of the past month has analogues in earlier pandemics .
Local , state , and federal leaders met the disorder with the same woolly-headedness , indecision , posturing , and lack of compassion that they have applied to this one .
Trump has tried to reinvigorate his candidacy by resuming a normal schedule .
Recently , in addition to Oklahoma , he has traveled to Arizona and Wisconsin , but at each stop he has run up against the agent of his electoral distress : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t full in Tulsa because of a justified fear , on the part of some who otherwise would have attended , of participating in a large gathering in an enclosed space .
During his monologue the president remarked , as case numbers rose in 29 states , that he had told his team to `` slow the testing down please . ''
The content of his speech to a youth group inside a Phoenix megachurch had to compete with questions over how widely face masks were distributed among the crowd .
As the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town hall with Sean Hannity , Texas governor Greg Abbott paused his state ’ s reopening and halted elective procedures at hospitals in four counties .
The spread of the virus results in panic , and the panic results in economic losses , social isolation , and polarized media and culture primed for incitement .
That is why 80 percent of registered voters say the country is out of control , why 68 percent say the country is on the wrong track .
What the coronavirus has done is rob President Trump of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president has a knack for putting his human opponents on their toes , for establishing facts on the ground that are difficult to contest .
But the coronavirus doesn ’ t read Tweets , doesn ’ t watch television , and doesn ’ t go away if ignored .
It has to be defeated , or endured .
America prides itself on having a government of , by , and for the people .
But here , today , the virus rules .

On March 18, at a press conference flanked by high-ranking officials, President Trump described himself as a "wartime president" fighting an "invisible enemy" known as the coronavirus. The president, it seemed, was beginning to reckon with the extent of the economic, epidemiological, social, and psychological damage the pandemic would cause, and to act appropriately. "We must sacrifice together," Trump said, "because we are all in this together, and we will come through together."
An anxious populace welcomed the appearance of a strong leader at a time of national emergency. The president’s job approval ratings rose in the following weeks, reaching a high of 47 percent in the Real Clear Politics average on April 1. The gap between Trump and former vice president Joe Biden narrowed to five points.
How long ago that seems. Some 122,000 deaths and tens of millions of lost jobs later, and in the middle of a cultural revolution sparked by the viral video of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police, President Trump finds himself backed into a corner. The rhetoric of a wartime presidency is gone. His coronavirus task force is barely visible. In a symbol of declining levels of support among white voters critical to his reelection, attendance at the Keep America Great rally in Tulsa failed to live up to expectations raised by Trump’s own campaign. The president’s job approval rating has fallen to the low 40s. Biden’s lead has widened to 10 points.
There is no shaking the coronavirus. It is the ever-present backdrop against which our national nervous breakdown is taking place. The good news is that deaths have declined to fewer than 1,000 per day. But that number is still higher than the casualties reported by other liberal democracies in Asia and in Europe, and it may rise in the coming weeks. Sclerotic bureaucracies, poor decision-making, and ill communication at every level of government wasted the opportunity to suppress the virus through relentless testing, contact tracing, and quarantine.
By the time testing ramped up to the point where it could become the centerpiece of a suppression strategy, Americans had grown tired of lockdowns enforced throughout the country without regard to local conditions and to basic freedoms, and weary of a public health establishment whose pronouncements—New York good, Florida bad; protests good, yeshivas bad—seemed driven by partisanship and ideology.
The virus exposed racial, ethnic, and class cleavages that inflamed elite opinion and increased demands for social justice. And the economic devastation left an environment permeated by anxiety and filled with bored and unemployed people, some of whom felt as if they had no stake in the system and no reason not to smash things. The civil unrest of the past month has analogues in earlier pandemics. Local, state, and federal leaders met the disorder with the same woolly-headedness, indecision, posturing, and lack of compassion that they have applied to this one.
Trump has tried to reinvigorate his candidacy by resuming a normal schedule. Recently, in addition to Oklahoma, he has traveled to Arizona and Wisconsin, but at each stop he has run up against the agent of his electoral distress: the plague.
The arena wasn’t full in Tulsa because of a justified fear, on the part of some who otherwise would have attended, of participating in a large gathering in an enclosed space. During his monologue the president remarked, as case numbers rose in 29 states, that he had told his team to "slow the testing down please." The content of his speech to a youth group inside a Phoenix megachurch had to compete with questions over how widely face masks were distributed among the crowd. As the president traveled to Green Bay for a town hall with Sean Hannity, Texas governor Greg Abbott paused his state’s reopening and halted elective procedures at hospitals in four counties.
The spread of the virus results in panic, and the panic results in economic losses, social isolation, and polarized media and culture primed for incitement. That is why 80 percent of registered voters say the country is out of control, why 68 percent say the country is on the wrong track.
What the coronavirus has done is rob President Trump of his ability to control events. The president has a knack for putting his human opponents on their toes, for establishing facts on the ground that are difficult to contest. But the coronavirus doesn’t read Tweets, doesn’t watch television, and doesn’t go away if ignored. It has to be defeated, or endured. America prides itself on having a government of, by, and for the people. But here, today, the virus rules.


freebeacon--2020-06-26--NYT Pulitzer Prize Winner: White Race ‘Barbaric’

Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times writer Nikole Hannah-Jones once penned a polemical letter to her college newspaper denouncing the white race as `` barbaric . ''
`` The white race is the biggest murderer , rapist , pillager , and thief of the modern world , '' she wrote in a 1995 letter published in the Notre Dame Observer , according to a report by The Federalist .
She added that white Europeans `` committed genocide … in their greed and insatiable desire to destroy every non-white culture . ''
Her essay goes on to compare Christopher Columbus to Hitler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excuse '' for genocide , and state the white race continues to subdue the black community in a similar fashion to this day .
`` The descendants of these savage people pump drugs and guns into the Black community , '' she writes .
Hannah-Jones also implied that the descendants of white Europeans are racist because of their ancestors .
`` After everything that those barbaric devils did , I do not hate them or their descendants , '' she says .
`` Because of some lacking , they needed ot [ sic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hannah-Jones 's editorial was written in response to an editorial by a fellow sophomore , Fred Kelly , who had defended Columbus 's legacy after protests were staged against his murals hung in a campus building .
Hannah-Jones won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in May for her `` 1619 Project '' on the legacy of slavery in the United States .
It has been frequently criticized by historians for its inaccuracies , such as its claim that the American Revolution was fought primarily to preserve slavery in the colonies .
In December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter to the magazine editor , saying they were `` dismayed at some of the factual errors in the project and the closed process behind it . ''
The `` 1619 Project '' has also been sent as curricula to thousands of classrooms with the help of the Pulitzer Center .

Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times writer Nikole Hannah-Jones once penned a polemical letter to her college newspaper denouncing the white race as "barbaric."
"The white race is the biggest murderer, rapist, pillager, and thief of the modern world," she wrote in a 1995 letter published in the Notre Dame Observer, according to a report by the Federalist. She added that white Europeans "committed genocide ... in their greed and insatiable desire to destroy every non-white culture."
Her essay goes on to compare Christopher Columbus to Hitler, claim that Christianity was an "excuse" for genocide, and state the white race continues to subdue the black community in a similar fashion to this day.
"The descendants of these savage people pump drugs and guns into the Black community," she writes.
Hannah-Jones also implied that the descendants of white Europeans are racist because of their ancestors.
"After everything that those barbaric devils did, I do not hate them or their descendants," she says. "Because of some lacking, they needed ot [sic] constantly prove their superiority."
Hannah-Jones's editorial was written in response to an editorial by a fellow sophomore, Fred Kelly, who had defended Columbus's legacy after protests were staged against his murals hung in a campus building.
Hannah-Jones won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in May for her "1619 Project" on the legacy of slavery in the United States. It has been frequently criticized by historians for its inaccuracies, such as its claim that the American Revolution was fought primarily to preserve slavery in the colonies.
In December 2019, five distinguished American historians wrote a letter to the magazine editor, saying they were "dismayed at some of the factual errors in the project and the closed process behind it."
The "1619 Project" has also been sent as curricula to thousands of classrooms with the help of the Pulitzer Center.


freebeacon--2020-06-26--Trump Admin Prepares Revamp of Suicide Crisis Hotline

Administration leaders are moving to curb the nation 's exploding suicide crisis through a new , three-digit number to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline .
Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai expects to designate 988 as a special code to connect people quickly and easily to the lifeline , he told the Washington Free Beacon in an interview—a response to the two-decade surge in suicide deaths that Pai called `` stunning '' and `` epidemic . ''
The change will be voted on by the full FCC at its July 16 open meeting and is expected to pass unanimously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beacon .
The new code will easily direct callers to the 10-digit line currently operated by a network of publicly funded crisis centers that provide immediate counseling , mental health referrals , and emergency services to people contemplating suicide .
A suicide hotline short code , under consideration for two years , has been widely supported by suicide experts—and has grown increasingly salient as the coronavirus crisis has driven up calls for help .
At the same time , those same experts have cautioned that expanded accessibility of the already overtaxed crisis hotline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bart Andrews , a board member at the American Association of Suicidology , told the Free Beacon that current funding levels are `` completely insufficient to meet the need that 988 will create . ''
That makes Pai and allies ' move a much-needed , but likely insufficient , first step in slowing the rise of America 's suicide crisis .
It also puts the ball in Congress 's court to ensure that increased demand for the suicide hotline is met with appropriate resources .
Earlier this week , Pai presented draft rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposed designating 988 as a short code that would redirect callers to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline .
If passed , the rules would oblige all service providers to forward calls to 988 no later than July 16 , 2022 .
The proposed changes are an implementation of the mandate of the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018 , which instructed the FCC to investigate the feasibility of a three-digit code .
But they are also , Pai told the Free Beacon , a response to the surge in suicides nationwide .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels not seen since World War II , epidemic levels especially among vulnerable populations like veterans , '' Pai said .
`` One of the thoughts that has percolated over recent years in Washington is that the designation of a three-digit number could be one way of better connecting those who are struggling with those who could help . ''
Those figures are alarming by any measure .
Official suicide rates indicate that there were more suicides per capita in 2018 than at any point in the preceding 80 years , with death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across age groups .
The causes of this alarming increase remain unclear , as the Free Beacon previously reported , while funding for research and prevention remains substantially smaller than that targeted at similarly deadly trends .
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline , in fact , is one of just a few federally funded suicide prevention programs .
The lifeline connects callers to a network of 163 crisis centers , which collectively fielded over 2.2 million calls and over 100,000 `` chats '' in 2018 alone—a nearly 5,000 percent increase since 2005 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a substantial effect on suicide risk .
A 2018 survey of callers found that 80 percent of those interviewed after they called in said the hotline stopped them from committing suicide , while 90 percent said it kept them safe .
An earlier study identified a significant decrease in suicidality during the call , along with continued decreases in hopelessness and psychological pain in the following weeks .
The lifeline , Pai said , `` does great work '' but is stymied by its long number—1-800-273-8255 , which `` can be difficult for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The new code , which Pai called `` an echo of 911 , '' is intended to obviate this issue .
Andrews , the suicidologist , called the move `` a great step forward '' but only as long as `` subsequent legislation leads to funding that creates and maintains capacity for this life saving service . ''
That is because funding for the lifeline has not kept pace with demand , rising from $ 3 million in 2005 to $ 19 million for 2020—a substantial dollar increase , but one far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pai explained that part of the goal of the delay between enactment and implementation was to allow time to adjust to an expected increased demand : `` We also want to give time to those who are staffing the lifeline , who are doing associated work to prepare for what is expected to be an increase in the number of calls . ''
Added funding , however , is ultimately Congress 's call .
Appropriators have substantially increased funding in recent years , adding $ 12 million to the lifeline 's budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But that may not be enough , especially as the coronavirus takes an added toll on the nation 's already strained mental health .
`` As volume increases , centers do not get funding increases , '' Andrews said .
`` It 's a national version of a volunteer fire department . ''

Administration leaders are moving to curb the nation's exploding suicide crisis through a new, three-digit number to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai expects to designate 988 as a special code to connect people quickly and easily to the lifeline, he told the Washington Free Beacon in an interview—a response to the two-decade surge in suicide deaths that Pai called "stunning" and "epidemic."
The change will be voted on by the full FCC at its July 16 open meeting and is expected to pass unanimously, one FCC staffer told the Free Beacon. The new code will easily direct callers to the 10-digit line currently operated by a network of publicly funded crisis centers that provide immediate counseling, mental health referrals, and emergency services to people contemplating suicide.
A suicide hotline short code, under consideration for two years, has been widely supported by suicide experts—and has grown increasingly salient as the coronavirus crisis has driven up calls for help. At the same time, those same experts have cautioned that expanded accessibility of the already overtaxed crisis hotline must be paired with more funding—Dr. Bart Andrews, a board member at the American Association of Suicidology, told the Free Beacon that current funding levels are "completely insufficient to meet the need that 988 will create."
That makes Pai and allies' move a much-needed, but likely insufficient, first step in slowing the rise of America's suicide crisis. It also puts the ball in Congress's court to ensure that increased demand for the suicide hotline is met with appropriate resources.
Earlier this week, Pai presented draft rules to his colleagues on the commission that proposed designating 988 as a short code that would redirect callers to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If passed, the rules would oblige all service providers to forward calls to 988 no later than July 16, 2022.
The proposed changes are an implementation of the mandate of the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018, which instructed the FCC to investigate the feasibility of a three-digit code. But they are also, Pai told the Free Beacon, a response to the surge in suicides nationwide.
"Suicide in the United States has reached levels not seen since World War II, epidemic levels especially among vulnerable populations like veterans," Pai said. "One of the thoughts that has percolated over recent years in Washington is that the designation of a three-digit number could be one way of better connecting those who are struggling with those who could help."
Those figures are alarming by any measure. Official suicide rates indicate that there were more suicides per capita in 2018 than at any point in the preceding 80 years, with death rates rising continuously since 2000 and increasing across age groups. The causes of this alarming increase remain unclear, as the Free Beacon previously reported, while funding for research and prevention remains substantially smaller than that targeted at similarly deadly trends.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, in fact, is one of just a few federally funded suicide prevention programs. The lifeline connects callers to a network of 163 crisis centers, which collectively fielded over 2.2 million calls and over 100,000 "chats" in 2018 alone—a nearly 5,000 percent increase since 2005.
All of that work seems to have a substantial effect on suicide risk. A 2018 survey of callers found that 80 percent of those interviewed after they called in said the hotline stopped them from committing suicide, while 90 percent said it kept them safe. An earlier study identified a significant decrease in suicidality during the call, along with continued decreases in hopelessness and psychological pain in the following weeks.
The lifeline, Pai said, "does great work" but is stymied by its long number—1-800-273-8255, which "can be difficult for people to remember in a pinch." The new code, which Pai called "an echo of 911," is intended to obviate this issue.
Andrews, the suicidologist, called the move "a great step forward" but only as long as "subsequent legislation leads to funding that creates and maintains capacity for this life saving service."
That is because funding for the lifeline has not kept pace with demand, rising from $3 million in 2005 to $19 million for 2020—a substantial dollar increase, but one far outstripped by the increased demand for calls.
Pai explained that part of the goal of the delay between enactment and implementation was to allow time to adjust to an expected increased demand: "We also want to give time to those who are staffing the lifeline, who are doing associated work to prepare for what is expected to be an increase in the number of calls."
Added funding, however, is ultimately Congress's call. Appropriators have substantially increased funding in recent years, adding $12 million to the lifeline's budget between FY 2018 and FY 2020. But that may not be enough, especially as the coronavirus takes an added toll on the nation's already strained mental health.
"As volume increases, centers do not get funding increases," Andrews said. "It's a national version of a volunteer fire department."


freebeacon--2020-06-26--Trump Administration Urges Supreme Court to Scrap Obamacare in Full

The Trump administration urged the Supreme Court to strike down the Affordable Care Act in its entirety in a new legal brief filed late Thursday night .
The government argued the landmark health care law must fall because Congress lifted the financial penalty for failing to purchase insurance in the 2017 tax reform bill .
The Court will hear arguments in the case sometime this fall , meaning the law 's fate will be in question at the peak of the 2020 campaign .
The brief is at odds with the president 's own statements on health care reform and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the transmission of the coronavirus .
The Supreme Court 's decision could affect the health insurance coverage of millions as unemployment rolls swell .
And while Trump has repeatedly vowed to protect people with preexisting conditions , that group will lose coverage if the Court sides with the government and strikes down the ACA .
The law also provides coverage against viral infections like the coronavirus for over 20 million people .
Millions more might qualify for a special enrollment period if they lose insurance due to the pandemic .
Despite the obvious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ William Barr urged the administration to modify its position as recently as May—the White House says it must follow the law .
`` A global pandemic does not change what Americans know—Obamacare has been an unlawful failure , '' White House spokesman Judd Deere said .
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ripped the Trump brief during a Thursday morning speech in southern Pennsylvania and promised to expand the ACA to include a public option .
The brief leaves vulnerable Americans `` in a vise between Donald Trump 's twin legacies : his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus and his heartless crusade to take health care protections away from American families , '' Biden said .
The Supreme Court turned back a challenge to the individual mandate in 2012 .
A 5-4 Court led by Chief Justice John Roberts sustained the mandate on tax grounds but rejected arguments that it was a valid exercise of congressional power over commerce .
Republicans effectively rescinded the mandate in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act , setting the financial penalty at zero .
That prompted a lawsuit from a coalition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argue the mandate ca n't be upheld as a tax if it is n't making the government any money .
Nor can the rest of the law be salvaged , they say , since the mandate and two other key provisions are essential to the ACA 's design .
In legal parlance , that issue is called `` severability . ''
The Trump administration is backing that position before the justices .
`` Nothing the 2017 Congress did demonstrates it would have intended the rest of the ACA to continue to operate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the Trump brief reads .
`` The entire ACA thus must fall with the individual mandate . ''
Blue states and congressional Democrats are defending the law .
They counter that severability is a question of Congress 's intent .
Here , they say it is obvious Congress meant for the ACA to remain in place since it rejected Trump-backed bids to repeal the law in various ways before settling on rescission of the mandate .
`` The resulting statutory scheme establishes beyond any reasonable debate that Congress believed the ACA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entirety without the unenforceable coverage requirement , '' lawyers for the state of California wrote in a May filing .
A federal trial judge in Texas sided with the red state plaintiffs , and the Fifth U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision in part .
The High Court agreed to hear the case in March .
A decision is expected by the spring or summer of 2021 .
The cases are No .
19-840 California v. Texas and No .
19-1019 Texas v. California .

The Trump administration urged the Supreme Court to strike down the Affordable Care Act in its entirety in a new legal brief filed late Thursday night.
The government argued the landmark health care law must fall because Congress lifted the financial penalty for failing to purchase insurance in the 2017 tax reform bill. The Court will hear arguments in the case sometime this fall, meaning the law's fate will be in question at the peak of the 2020 campaign.
The brief is at odds with the president's own statements on health care reform and comes as the nation struggles to curb the transmission of the coronavirus. The Supreme Court's decision could affect the health insurance coverage of millions as unemployment rolls swell. And while Trump has repeatedly vowed to protect people with preexisting conditions, that group will lose coverage if the Court sides with the government and strikes down the ACA. The law also provides coverage against viral infections like the coronavirus for over 20 million people. Millions more might qualify for a special enrollment period if they lose insurance due to the pandemic. Despite the obvious perils ahead of the November election—Attorney General William Barr urged the administration to modify its position as recently as May—the White House says it must follow the law.
"A global pandemic does not change what Americans know—Obamacare has been an unlawful failure," White House spokesman Judd Deere said.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ripped the Trump brief during a Thursday morning speech in southern Pennsylvania and promised to expand the ACA to include a public option.
The brief leaves vulnerable Americans "in a vise between Donald Trump's twin legacies: his failure to protect the American people from the coronavirus and his heartless crusade to take health care protections away from American families," Biden said.
The Supreme Court turned back a challenge to the individual mandate in 2012. A 5-4 Court led by Chief Justice John Roberts sustained the mandate on tax grounds but rejected arguments that it was a valid exercise of congressional power over commerce.
Republicans effectively rescinded the mandate in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, setting the financial penalty at zero. That prompted a lawsuit from a coalition of red states led by Texas. They argue the mandate can't be upheld as a tax if it isn't making the government any money. Nor can the rest of the law be salvaged, they say, since the mandate and two other key provisions are essential to the ACA's design. In legal parlance, that issue is called "severability."
The Trump administration is backing that position before the justices.
"Nothing the 2017 Congress did demonstrates it would have intended the rest of the ACA to continue to operate in the absence of these three integral provisions," the Trump brief reads. "The entire ACA thus must fall with the individual mandate."
Blue states and congressional Democrats are defending the law. They counter that severability is a question of Congress's intent. Here, they say it is obvious Congress meant for the ACA to remain in place since it rejected Trump-backed bids to repeal the law in various ways before settling on rescission of the mandate.
"The resulting statutory scheme establishes beyond any reasonable debate that Congress believed the ACA could stand—and intended it to stand—in its entirety without the unenforceable coverage requirement," lawyers for the state of California wrote in a May filing.
A federal trial judge in Texas sided with the red state plaintiffs, and the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision in part. The High Court agreed to hear the case in March. A decision is expected by the spring or summer of 2021.
The cases are No. 19-840 California v. Texas and No. 19-1019 Texas v. California.
California v. Texas federal... by Washington Free Beacon on Scribd


freebeacon--2020-06-26--Pelosi, Schumer Mess Up George Floyd’s Name in Same Week

Democratic congressional leaders Nancy Pelosi ( Calif. ) and Chuck Schumer ( N.Y. ) both botched George Floyd 's name @ @ @ @ @ they pushed their version of police reform .
Pelosi boasted Friday that her caucus 's @ @ @ @ @ George Kirby '' properly honored Floyd , a black man who died last month after @ @ @ @ @ his neck with his knee for nearly nine minutes .
His death set off a @ @ @ @ @ United States and calls for reform .
That followed Schumer 's Wednesday remark that Senate @ @ @ @ @ deserve to pass given the opposition of the lawyer representing the families of `` Floyd @ @ @ @ @ Taylor … George Floyd and Breonna Taylor . ''
Despite Sen. Tim Scott 's ( @ @ @ @ @ to Democrats of 20 amendments to shape the bill to their liking , Democrats blocked @ @ @ @ @ debate .

Democratic congressional leaders Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) both botched George Floyd's name in the same week as they pushed their version of police reform.
Pelosi boasted Friday that her caucus's House bill named for "George Kirby" properly honored Floyd, a black man who died last month after a Minneapolis police officer pinned his neck with his knee for nearly nine minutes. His death set off a wave of protests across the United States and calls for reform.
That followed Schumer's Wednesday remark that Senate Republican police reform did not deserve to pass given the opposition of the lawyer representing the families of "Floyd Taylor, uh, George Taylor ... George Floyd and Breonna Taylor." Despite Sen. Tim Scott's (R., S.C.) offer to Democrats of 20 amendments to shape the bill to their liking, Democrats blocked the bill from advancing for debate.


freebeacon--2020-06-26--Finally, An Obama Legacy Worth Celebrating

Another terrorist died in Syria this month on President Donald J. Trump 's order .
Khaled al-Aruri , a journeyman jihadist and de facto leader of a local al Qaeda affiliate , was killed in a U.S. special operations drone strike on June 14 .
The terrorist was dispatched by a projectile that `` combines medieval brutality with cutting-edge technology , '' according to a New York Times report .
That 's right , it was none other than the 2019 Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year , the Hellfire R9X `` ninja '' missile .
The R9X , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blades in lieu of an exploding warhead , has been promoting freedom and American military supremacy throughout the world since 2017 by killing terrorists with ruthless precision .
And while President Trump deserves ample credit for authorizing its use , it was President Barack Obama who oversaw the missile 's development in an effort to reduce civilian casualties .
Thanks , Obama .
Even anti-freedom Democrats deserve kudos for accidentally inventing an advanced instrument of warfare .
This rare instance of an Obama legacy that can not ( and should not ) be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applause .
The R9X has been used in about a half-dozen instances since Trump took office , including the successful January 2019 evisceration of Jamal al-Badawi , the al Qaeda terrorist behind the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole .
Here 's how the Times described al-Aruri 's ( brief ) introduction to the missile : Instead of exploding , it hurled about 100 pounds of metal through the top of Mr. al-Aruri ’ s car .
If the high-velocity projectile did not kill him , the missile ’ s other feature almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside , which deployed seconds before impact to slice up anything in its path .
The R9X is likely to remain the weapon of choice for U.S. special forces seeking to eliminate a lone terrorist leader with civilians nearby .
Because Trump has promptly undone so many key elements of Obama 's presidential legacy—such as the Iran nuclear agreement , the Paris Climate Accords , and the Trans-Pacific Partnership—the R9X may very well endure as the Democrat 's most lasting achievement .

Another terrorist died in Syria this month on President Donald J. Trump's order. Khaled al-Aruri, a journeyman jihadist and de facto leader of a local al Qaeda affiliate, was killed in a U.S. special operations drone strike on June 14.
The terrorist was dispatched by a projectile that "combines medieval brutality with cutting-edge technology," according to a New York Times report. That's right, it was none other than the 2019 Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year, the Hellfire R9X "ninja" missile.
The R9X, which is armed with six extendable sword-like blades in lieu of an exploding warhead, has been promoting freedom and American military supremacy throughout the world since 2017 by killing terrorists with ruthless precision. And while President Trump deserves ample credit for authorizing its use, it was President Barack Obama who oversaw the missile's development in an effort to reduce civilian casualties.
Thanks, Obama. Even anti-freedom Democrats deserve kudos for accidentally inventing an advanced instrument of warfare. This rare instance of an Obama legacy that cannot (and should not) be erased by President Trump deserves recognition and applause.
The R9X has been used in about a half-dozen instances since Trump took office, including the successful January 2019 evisceration of Jamal al-Badawi, the al Qaeda terrorist behind the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole. Here's how the Times described al-Aruri's (brief) introduction to the missile:
Instead of exploding, it hurled about 100 pounds of metal through the top of Mr. al-Aruri’s car. If the high-velocity projectile did not kill him, the missile’s other feature almost certainly did: six long blades tucked inside, which deployed seconds before impact to slice up anything in its path.
The R9X is likely to remain the weapon of choice for U.S. special forces seeking to eliminate a lone terrorist leader with civilians nearby. Because Trump has promptly undone so many key elements of Obama's presidential legacy—such as the Iran nuclear agreement, the Paris Climate Accords, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership—the R9X may very well endure as the Democrat's most lasting achievement.


freebeacon--2020-06-26--Planned Parenthood Advocates Burn American Flag to Protest Pro-Life Legislation

Activists with the Tennessee chapter of Planned Parenthood burned the American flag and placed it in a garbage can in a video posted to social media .
`` Gov .
Bill Lee has disrespected our constitution and practically lit the flag on fire by banning abortion , '' the chapter wrote on Twitter .
`` But we won ’ t stop until we live in a new America that respects the rights of pregnant people .
Full stop . ''
The protesters lit the flag on fire before placing it in a garbage can and extinguishing the fire .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creation .
Let us invoke a new world from these ashes , '' a woman dressed as Lady Liberty said .
She then led a chant of , `` What do we want ?
Justice .
When do we want it ?
Now . ''
Planned Parenthood did not respond to an email request for comment on the video .
Several of the individuals were dressed in Handmaid 's Tale outfits , and the person burning the flag appeared to be wearing a mask of Tennessee Republican governor Bill Lee 's face .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of a 200-car caravan that protested the June 19 passage of a fetal heartbeat abortion law , which bans any abortion performed after a fetal heartbeat is detected .
The bill created exceptions for situations where the health of the mother is at risk .
The actions were slammed by Tennessee Republican Bill Hagerty as evidence that the `` liberal mob '' has made its way to the state .
`` The liberal mob has come to Tennessee , '' said Hagerty , who is running for U.S. Senate .
`` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our precious freedom .
What we need now , more than ever , is law and order . ''
Planned Parenthood immediately announced it would be joining with the ACLU to challenge the law 's constitutionality in court .

Activists with the Tennessee chapter of Planned Parenthood burned the American flag and placed it in a garbage can in a video posted to social media.
"Gov. Bill Lee has disrespected our constitution and practically lit the flag on fire by banning abortion," the chapter wrote on Twitter. "But we won’t stop until we live in a new America that respects the rights of pregnant people. Full stop."
The protesters lit the flag on fire before placing it in a garbage can and extinguishing the fire. "Do not despair. From destruction comes creation. Let us invoke a new world from these ashes," a woman dressed as Lady Liberty said. She then led a chant of, "What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now."
Gov. Bill Lee has disrespected our constitution and practically lit the flag on fire by banning abortion. But we won’t stop until we live in a new America that respects the rights of pregnant people. Full stop. pic.twitter.com/yhGT1HQacp — Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood (@TNAdvocatesPP) June 25, 2020
Planned Parenthood did not respond to an email request for comment on the video.
Several of the individuals were dressed in Handmaid's Tale outfits, and the person burning the flag appeared to be wearing a mask of Tennessee Republican governor Bill Lee's face.
The demonstration outside Lee's house was part of a 200-car caravan that protested the June 19 passage of a fetal heartbeat abortion law, which bans any abortion performed after a fetal heartbeat is detected. The bill created exceptions for situations where the health of the mother is at risk.
The actions were slammed by Tennessee Republican Bill Hagerty as evidence that the "liberal mob" has made its way to the state.
"The liberal mob has come to Tennessee," said Hagerty, who is running for U.S. Senate. "This behavior disrespects America and those who have been willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our precious freedom. What we need now, more than ever, is law and order."
Planned Parenthood immediately announced it would be joining with the ACLU to challenge the law's constitutionality in court.


freebeacon--2020-06-26--Trump Admin Blocks Visas for Chinese Communist Party Officials

The Trump administration on Friday said it is punishing China by restricting the availability of visas for Communist Party officials @ @ @ @ @ rights abuses in Hong Kong .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the visa restrictions @ @ @ @ @ CCP officials who have undermined Hong Kong ’ s autonomy through a series of strict @ @ @ @ @ on democratic protests .
The family members of these officials also will be impacted .
@ @ @ @ @ May that it could no longer certify Hong Kong ’ s independence from China , @ @ @ @ @ city ’ s special trade status .
`` President Trump promised to punish the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ responsible for eviscerating Hong Kong ’ s freedoms , '' Pompeo said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ undermining human rights and `` fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong '' by arresting pro-democracy activists @ @ @ @ @ , Pompeo said .

The Trump administration on Friday said it is punishing China by restricting the availability of visas for Communist Party officials who are complicit in human rights abuses in Hong Kong.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the visa restrictions will impact current and former CCP officials who have undermined Hong Kong’s autonomy through a series of strict national security laws and crackdowns on democratic protests. The family members of these officials also will be impacted. The United States declared in May that it could no longer certify Hong Kong’s independence from China, a move that jeopardized the city’s special trade status.
"President Trump promised to punish the Chinese Communist Party officials who were responsible for eviscerating Hong Kong’s freedoms," Pompeo said in a statement.
China is guilty of undermining human rights and "fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong" by arresting pro-democracy activists and disqualifying pro-democracy electoral candidates, Pompeo said.