freebeacon--2020-03-26--First Space Force Mission Is A Go

First Space Force Mission Is A Go

Space Force 's first official mission is a go , with personnel set to launch a military communications satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral Thursday afternoon .
`` We 're launching a giant spacecraft into space , '' United Launch Alliance ( ULA ) president and CEO Tory Bruno told the Washington Free Beacon .
And giant it is .
ULA will send an Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite into orbit for Space Force on its Atlas V 551 rocket , the most powerful in its arsenal .
The rocket , which Bruno called `` the Bruiser , '' weighs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself weighs 14,500 pounds when fully fueled and strapped to the rocket , or about 2.5 Ford Expeditions .
The launch will create 2.25 million pounds of thrust .
The mission is about much more than brute force—it will establish infrastructure that will strengthen America ’ s military presence on earth .
The satellite will become the sixth of its kind in orbit for the United States , creating a constellation that gives America complete global communications coverage .
`` This is the most sophisticated , most powerful communications satellite that has ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` All the way around the world , our troops can be communicated with , can have the high bandwidth , back-and-forth comms , imaging , and intelligence that they require , right down to a guy in a tent with a handset who 's doing his thing . ''
While Bruno acknowledged the possibility of extraterrestrial conflict in the future , the satellite system would serve as a defense hub , not an offensive weapon .
He compared it to an aircraft carrier that `` needs to be protected by destroyers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Space Force is being tasked to do is put up a big , sophisticated spacecraft that our country depends on to be secure .
And then also make sure that those things are protected in orbit , '' he said .
`` They are discouraging people who might want to take terrestrial conflict and extend it to space , which has always been a traditionally peaceful domain , as well as the ultimate high ground for things like communications .
So this is all about Space Force , this is the marquee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also shared with the United Kingdom , Canada , Australia , and the Netherlands , allowing America to work with its allies on space-enabled missions , Bruno said .
President Donald Trump established Space Force in December as the United States lagged behind China and Russia in the final frontier .
Those nations have worked to challenge American superiority in space , with China deploying missiles capable of destroying some American satellites , according to a 2018 Pentagon intelligence report .
Bruno called the dynamic a `` big problem '' in national security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Department of Defense recognizes and has jumped in with both feet .
The creation of a Space Force is just one manifestation of that concern and that focus , '' Bruno said .
`` [ Space Force ] is literally conducting war games with real , expected , and even theoretical capabilities to figure out what that architecture in space has to look like . ''
Thursday 's launch is expected to go forward despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
Military personnel have canceled in-person launch viewing and cut nonessential services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2:57 p.m .
ET at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and can be viewed online .

Space Force's first official mission is a go, with personnel set to launch a military communications satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral Thursday afternoon.
"We're launching a giant spacecraft into space," United Launch Alliance (ULA) president and CEO Tory Bruno told the Washington Free Beacon.
And giant it is. ULA will send an Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite into orbit for Space Force on its Atlas V 551 rocket, the most powerful in its arsenal. The rocket, which Bruno called "the Bruiser," weighs 1.2 million pounds pre-launch. The satellite itself weighs 14,500 pounds when fully fueled and strapped to the rocket, or about 2.5 Ford Expeditions. The launch will create 2.25 million pounds of thrust.
The mission is about much more than brute force—it will establish infrastructure that will strengthen America’s military presence on earth. The satellite will become the sixth of its kind in orbit for the United States, creating a constellation that gives America complete global communications coverage.
"This is the most sophisticated, most powerful communications satellite that has ever been launched," Bruno said. "All the way around the world, our troops can be communicated with, can have the high bandwidth, back-and-forth comms, imaging, and intelligence that they require, right down to a guy in a tent with a handset who's doing his thing."
While Bruno acknowledged the possibility of extraterrestrial conflict in the future, the satellite system would serve as a defense hub, not an offensive weapon. He compared it to an aircraft carrier that "needs to be protected by destroyers, submarines, cruisers."
"What the Space Force is being tasked to do is put up a big, sophisticated spacecraft that our country depends on to be secure. And then also make sure that those things are protected in orbit," he said. "They are discouraging people who might want to take terrestrial conflict and extend it to space, which has always been a traditionally peaceful domain, as well as the ultimate high ground for things like communications. So this is all about Space Force, this is the marquee mission."
The satellite system is also shared with the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands, allowing America to work with its allies on space-enabled missions, Bruno said.
President Donald Trump established Space Force in December as the United States lagged behind China and Russia in the final frontier. Those nations have worked to challenge American superiority in space, with China deploying missiles capable of destroying some American satellites, according to a 2018 Pentagon intelligence report. Bruno called the dynamic a "big problem" in national security.
"It is a big problem that the Department of Defense recognizes and has jumped in with both feet. The creation of a Space Force is just one manifestation of that concern and that focus," Bruno said. "[Space Force] is literally conducting war games with real, expected, and even theoretical capabilities to figure out what that architecture in space has to look like."
Thursday's launch is expected to go forward despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Military personnel have canceled in-person launch viewing and cut nonessential services. The two-hour launch window begins at 2:57 p.m. ET at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and can be viewed online.


freebeacon--2020-03-26--Former FBI Agent Levinson Dies in Iran Custody, Family Says

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – The family of Robert Levinson , the former FBI agent who disappeared in March 2007 after traveling to an island controlled by Iran , said on Wednesday it now believes Levinson died in Iranian custody , based on information from U.S. officials .
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had not been told that Levinson was dead , but things did not look good and a lot of people thought Levinson had died .
`` Today with aching hearts , we are sharing devastating news about Robert Levinson , the head of our family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a posting on Facebook and a website .
`` We recently received information from US officials that has led both them and us to conclude that our wonderful husband and father died while in Iranian Custody .
We don ’ t know when or how he died , only that it was prior to the COVID 19 pandemic , '' the family said .
The family said they did not know when , or even if , Levinson ’ s body would be returned to them , calling it `` the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Levinson `` a gentleman '' and `` outstanding . ''
He added , in apparent reference to what U.S. officials had told the family : `` They ’ ve been making the statement to the family , I believe . ''
`` It ’ s not looking good ; he wasn ’ t well for years anyway , in Iran , '' Trump said .
`` It ’ s not looking promising … we feel terribly for the family .
`` It ’ s not looking great , but I won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the president added .
`` They haven ’ t told us that he ’ s dead , but a lot of people are thinking that that ’ s the case . ''
Levinson disappeared after flying from Dubai to Kish Island in the Gulf in March 2007 .
There he met with Daoud Salahuddin , an American Islamic militant who fled to Iran while facing charges in the murder of an Iranian embassy official based in Washington .
Levinson , working then as a private investigator , was seeking information on alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani , and his family , said sources familiar with his work .
Months after he disappeared , U.S. government sources acknowledged that before traveling to Kish Island , Levinson had maintained an unorthodox contractual relationship with the analytical branch of the Central Intelligence Agency .
A handful of CIA officials were forced out of the agency and several more were disciplined after an internal agency investigation .
The Iranian government has never publicly acknowledged any role in Levinson ’ s abduction , though at the time of his disappearance a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was `` in the hands of Iranian security forces . ''
Some U.S. investigators at least until recently believed Levinson was still alive , while officials at other U.S. agencies believe he died some time , perhaps years , ago .
Reporting by Mark Hosenball ; Additional reporting by Steve Holland and David Brunnstrom ; Editing by Mary Milliken and Leslie Adler

By Mark Hosenball
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The family of Robert Levinson, the former FBI agent who disappeared in March 2007 after traveling to an island controlled by Iran, said on Wednesday it now believes Levinson died in Iranian custody, based on information from U.S. officials.
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had not been told that Levinson was dead, but things did not look good and a lot of people thought Levinson had died.
"Today with aching hearts, we are sharing devastating news about Robert Levinson, the head of our family," Levinson’s family said in a posting on Facebook and a website.
"We recently received information from US officials that has led both them and us to conclude that our wonderful husband and father died while in Iranian Custody. We don’t know when or how he died, only that it was prior to the COVID 19 pandemic," the family said.
The family said they did not know when, or even if, Levinson’s body would be returned to them, calling it "the very definition of cruelty."
Trump called Levinson "a gentleman" and "outstanding." He added, in apparent reference to what U.S. officials had told the family: "They’ve been making the statement to the family, I believe."
"It’s not looking good; he wasn’t well for years anyway, in Iran," Trump said. "It’s not looking promising ... we feel terribly for the family.
"It’s not looking great, but I won’t accept that he’s dead," the president added. "They haven’t told us that he’s dead, but a lot of people are thinking that that’s the case."
Levinson disappeared after flying from Dubai to Kish Island in the Gulf in March 2007. There he met with Daoud Salahuddin, an American Islamic militant who fled to Iran while facing charges in the murder of an Iranian embassy official based in Washington.
Levinson, working then as a private investigator, was seeking information on alleged corruption involving the former Iranian president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, and his family, said sources familiar with his work.
Months after he disappeared, U.S. government sources acknowledged that before traveling to Kish Island, Levinson had maintained an unorthodox contractual relationship with the analytical branch of the Central Intelligence Agency. A handful of CIA officials were forced out of the agency and several more were disciplined after an internal agency investigation.
The Iranian government has never publicly acknowledged any role in Levinson’s abduction, though at the time of his disappearance a government-affiliated media outlet broadcast a story saying he was "in the hands of Iranian security forces."
Some U.S. investigators at least until recently believed Levinson was still alive, while officials at other U.S. agencies believe he died some time, perhaps years, ago.
Reporting by Mark Hosenball; Additional reporting by Steve Holland and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Mary Milliken and Leslie Adler


freebeacon--2020-03-25--Pompeo Says China Still Withholding Coronavirus Information

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sharpened on Thursday his criticism of China 's handling of a coronavirus pandemic , saying its ruling Communist Party was still denying the world information needed to prevent further cases .
The remarks , in an interview with the Washington Watch radio program , provoked a riposte from China that Pompeo should cease `` politicizing '' the epidemic and defaming the country .
Pompeo had repeated previous charges that Beijing 's delay in sharing information about the virus had created risks to people worldwide that had `` truly put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` My concern is that this cover-up , this disinformation that the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in , is still denying the world the information it needs so that we can prevent further cases or something like this from recurring again , '' he added .
Pompeo also accused Iran and Russia of waging disinformation campaigns about the virus .
`` The disinformation campaign from Russia and Iran as well as China continues , '' he said .
`` They 're talking about it coming from the U.S. Army and they 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all things to deflect responsibility . ''
Despite his strong criticism of China , Pompeo refrained from referring to the virus as the `` Chinese virus '' or the `` Wuhan virus , '' labels that have angered Beijing and which he has used repeatedly .
`` The time will come for recriminations , '' he said , but added it was important for the world to know what was really going on .
`` This is an ongoing global crisis , and we need to make sure that every country today is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on , so that the global community , the global health care , infectious disease community can begin to work on this in a holistic way . ''
In Beijing , foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China had been transparent and shared information with the World Health Organization and other countries , including the United States .
`` We urge the U.S. to cease politicizing the epidemic , and cease attacking and defaming China , '' Geng told a daily news conference .
Pompeo , a persistent critic of Beijing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important decisions '' would have to be made in future about how the U.S.-China relationship was structured .
He added that supply-chain challenges faced in the United States were due to companies `` operating their supply chains out of China but not here in the United States . ''
Pompeo did not elaborate , but U.S. officials said last week the White House was preparing an executive order to help relocate medical supply chains from China and elsewhere overseas to the United States amid the pandemic .
The proposed U.S. push has sparked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is unclear when Trump might act .
The United States `` should never be reliant on a foreign country for the means of our own survival , '' Trump said at a daily briefing of his coronavirus task force .
`` Our goal for the future must be to have American medicine for American patients , American supplies for American hospitals… ''

By David Brunnstrom
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sharpened on Thursday his criticism of China's handling of a coronavirus pandemic, saying its ruling Communist Party was still denying the world information needed to prevent further cases.
The remarks, in an interview with the Washington Watch radio program, provoked a riposte from China that Pompeo should cease "politicizing" the epidemic and defaming the country.
Pompeo had repeated previous charges that Beijing's delay in sharing information about the virus had created risks to people worldwide that had "truly put thousands of lives at risk."
"My concern is that this cover-up, this disinformation that the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in, is still denying the world the information it needs so that we can prevent further cases or something like this from recurring again," he added.
Pompeo also accused Iran and Russia of waging disinformation campaigns about the virus.
"The disinformation campaign from Russia and Iran as well as China continues," he said. "They're talking about it coming from the U.S. Army and they're saying maybe it began in Italy, all things to deflect responsibility."
Despite his strong criticism of China, Pompeo refrained from referring to the virus as the "Chinese virus" or the "Wuhan virus," labels that have angered Beijing and which he has used repeatedly.
"The time will come for recriminations," he said, but added it was important for the world to know what was really going on.
"This is an ongoing global crisis, and we need to make sure that every country today is being transparent, sharing what's really going on, so that the global community, the global health care, infectious disease community can begin to work on this in a holistic way."
In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China had been transparent and shared information with the World Health Organization and other countries, including the United States.
"We urge the U.S. to cease politicizing the epidemic, and cease attacking and defaming China," Geng told a daily news conference.
Pompeo, a persistent critic of Beijing and the Communist Party, said "very important decisions" would have to be made in future about how the U.S.-China relationship was structured.
He added that supply-chain challenges faced in the United States were due to companies "operating their supply chains out of China but not here in the United States."
Pompeo did not elaborate, but U.S. officials said last week the White House was preparing an executive order to help relocate medical supply chains from China and elsewhere overseas to the United States amid the pandemic.
The proposed U.S. push has sparked concern in China and elsewhere, although it is unclear when Trump might act.
The United States "should never be reliant on a foreign country for the means of our own survival," Trump said at a daily briefing of his coronavirus task force.
"Our goal for the future must be to have American medicine for American patients, American supplies for American hospitals..."
(Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus: open https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an external browser.)
(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Richard Pullin and Clarence Fernandez)


freebeacon--2020-04-16--Dem Senators Break With Leadership, Call for Immediate Small Business Funding

Two Democratic senators broke with their party 's leadership Thursday to call for immediate funding for a now-depleted program to provide loans to small businesses affected by the coronavirus crisis .
`` Minnesota small businesses need relief now , '' Sen. Tina Smith ( D. , Minn. ) wrote in a tweet Thursday afternoon .
`` I fought hard for this program and am now pressing for additional funds , faster delivery and implementation improvements to help more Minnesotans get assistance ASAP . ''
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema ( D. , Ariz. ) also tweeted that the Senate should approve additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible to help floundering small businesses .
The Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) ran out of money Thursday , a week after Senate Democrats blocked a Republican effort to provide the program with $ 250 billion in additional funding .
Democratic lawmakers wanted to attach hundreds of billions in funding for state and local governments and for hospitals .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) has led negotiations for Senate Democrats with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin .
Schumer tweeted that small businesses need money now , but any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Our small biz programs need more money now , '' Schumer wrote .
Democrats `` actually want to get it into the hands of all who need it . ''
Other Democratic senators have called Republican efforts to save the program a `` political stunt . ''
Sen. Brian Schatz ( D. , Hawaii ) criticized Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) for trying to replenish the fund but added that lawmakers should do so along with other legislative priorities .
Senators Doug Jones ( D. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Md . )
accused McConnell of `` dumping money '' to try to stave off the program 's bankruptcy .
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) claimed her strategy to hold out on funding small businesses was part of her overall goal to be their `` champions . ''
`` It ’ s not that we don ’ t share the values of small businesses , we do , we have been their champions , '' Pelosi told reporters Thursday .
`` But in order for them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well , people need to be safe and we need to have state and local [ funding ] . ''

Two Democratic senators broke with their party's leadership Thursday to call for immediate funding for a now-depleted program to provide loans to small businesses affected by the coronavirus crisis.
"Minnesota small businesses need relief now," Sen. Tina Smith (D., Minn.) wrote in a tweet Thursday afternoon. "I fought hard for this program and am now pressing for additional funds, faster delivery and implementation improvements to help more Minnesotans get assistance ASAP."
Minnesota small businesses need relief now. I fought hard for this program and am now pressing for additional funds, faster delivery and implementation improvements to help more Minnesotans get assistance ASAP. https://t.co/POKKYaL8OS — Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) April 16, 2020
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D., Ariz.) also tweeted that the Senate should approve additional funding by unanimous consent as soon as possible to help floundering small businesses.
Arizona businesses are counting on us to help them during this emergency. I’m calling on leadership in both parties to get thru this stalemate ASAP - we can’t wait longer. https://t.co/FkzvfixOQg — Kyrsten Sinema (@kyrstensinema) April 16, 2020
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ran out of money Thursday, a week after Senate Democrats blocked a Republican effort to provide the program with $250 billion in additional funding. Democratic lawmakers wanted to attach hundreds of billions in funding for state and local governments and for hospitals.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) has led negotiations for Senate Democrats with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Schumer tweeted that small businesses need money now, but any progress on funding the program stalled Thursday.
"Our small biz programs need more money now," Schumer wrote. Democrats "actually want to get it into the hands of all who need it."
Our small biz programs need more money now We all agree But Dems actually want to get it into the hands of all who need it That's not what's happening when websites are crashing, mom & pop shops and minority businesses are shut out, bigger banks are loaning to fav customers — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 15, 2020
Other Democratic senators have called Republican efforts to save the program a "political stunt." Sen. Brian Schatz (D., Hawaii) criticized Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) for trying to replenish the fund but added that lawmakers should do so along with other legislative priorities.
Senators Doug Jones (D., Ala.) and Ben Cardin (D., Md.) accused McConnell of "dumping money" to try to stave off the program's bankruptcy.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) claimed her strategy to hold out on funding small businesses was part of her overall goal to be their "champions."
"It’s not that we don’t share the values of small businesses, we do, we have been their champions," Pelosi told reporters Thursday. "But in order for them to succeed, people have to be well, people need to be safe and we need to have state and local [funding]."


freebeacon--2020-04-16--Todd: Democrats Risk Public Blame for Delaying Small Business Relief

NBC News anchor Chuck Todd said Democratic leaders could take blame for holding up billions of dollars in coronavirus relief just hours before a small business loan program ran out of cash .
`` The side that looks like they 're holding up money , I think , is bad politics , '' Todd told radio host Hugh Hewitt , in remarks flagged by HotAir .
The $ 350 billion Paycheck Protection Program dried up Thursday after Senate Democrats , led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) , blocked an additional $ 250 billion requested by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the $ 2 trillion CARES Act , offers forgivable loans to businesses with fewer than 500 employees affected by the coronavirus pandemic .
Republicans would not agree to Democratic demands to match the money with funding for state and local governments and hospitals .
Todd said Democrats were `` genuine '' in defending governors calling for further assistance , but had miscalculated the political damage of their position .
`` I think that small business money issue is something that 's more front and center with the public than the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` And so I think that on a perception marker here , sort of your short-term politics , I think the Republicans have the upper hand . ''
Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) have insisted on tying additional measures to the cash infusion , calling this week for Republicans to negotiate .
The move has spurred dissent among rank-and-file Democrats .
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema ( Ariz. ) tweeted Thursday the Senate should approve the $ 250 billion in additional PPP funding by unanimous consent , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) .
Todd said Democratic officials have been short-sighted throughout the past week .
`` This is one of those cases it feels like somebody is n't thinking slightly more long term here , '' he said .
Small businesses have already been devastated by the coronavirus , and 4 in 10 have temporarily closed because of the pandemic .
A four-month shutdown could lead to the permanent closure of up to half of all businesses , a new survey found .

NBC News anchor Chuck Todd said Democratic leaders could take blame for holding up billions of dollars in coronavirus relief just hours before a small business loan program ran out of cash.
"The side that looks like they're holding up money, I think, is bad politics," Todd told radio host Hugh Hewitt, in remarks flagged by HotAir.
The $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program dried up Thursday after Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), blocked an additional $250 billion requested by the White House. The program, part of the $2 trillion CARES Act, offers forgivable loans to businesses with fewer than 500 employees affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Republicans would not agree to Democratic demands to match the money with funding for state and local governments and hospitals.
Todd said Democrats were "genuine" in defending governors calling for further assistance, but had miscalculated the political damage of their position.
"I think that small business money issue is something that's more front and center with the public than the issue of reimbursing the states," he said. "And so I think that on a perception marker here, sort of your short-term politics, I think the Republicans have the upper hand."
Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) have insisted on tying additional measures to the cash infusion, calling this week for Republicans to negotiate. The move has spurred dissent among rank-and-file Democrats. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) tweeted Thursday the Senate should approve the $250 billion in additional PPP funding by unanimous consent, a position shared by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.). Todd said Democratic officials have been short-sighted throughout the past week.
"This is one of those cases it feels like somebody isn't thinking slightly more long term here," he said.
Small businesses have already been devastated by the coronavirus, and 4 in 10 have temporarily closed because of the pandemic. A four-month shutdown could lead to the permanent closure of up to half of all businesses, a new survey found.


freebeacon--2020-04-16--REVIEW: TV Pundit Home Studios (Part 2)

REVIEW: TV Pundit Home Studios (Part 2)

In furtherance of our fierce commitment to holding the mainstream media accountable in this time of crisis , the Washington @ @ @ @ @ of our ongoing series in which we cast judgment upon the home studios of television @ @ @ @ @ be found here .
Most Likely to Be Sitting on a Toilet Most Likely to @ @ @ @ @ at This Freaking Hipster Most Desperate for People to Ask Him If He 's Been @ @ @ @ @ Have Hired a Consultant to Organize His Bookshelf

In furtherance of our fierce commitment to holding the mainstream media accountable in this time of crisis, the Washington Free Beacon presents Part Two of our ongoing series in which we cast judgment upon the home studios of television pundits. Part One can be found here.
Most Books
Eddie Glaude, MSNBC
Most Fish
Jennifer Palmieri, MSNBC
Most Pizzazz
Kimberly Atkins, MSNBC
Ugliest Pillow
Tom Foreman, CNN
Most Likely to Be Sitting on a Toilet
Hoda Kotb, NBC News
Most Likely to Live With His Grandmother
Ivan Watson, CNN
Most Shameless Self-Promotion
Philip Rucker, MSNBC
Most Egregious Barbour® Vest
John Heilemann, MSNBC
Best Doors
Mark Cuban, billionaire
Look at This Freaking Hipster
Al Roker, NBC News
Most Desperate for People to Ask Him If He's Been to Asia
Nicholas Kristof, New York Times
Most Likely to Have Hired a Consultant to Organize His Bookshelf
Pete Buttigieg, unemployed
Most Outrageous Beard Disparity
Stephen Gutowski, Free Beacon/Cam Edwards, BearingArms.com
Most Authoritarian Garden
Bill Maher, HBO
Most Majestic, Freedom-Loving Garden
Donald J. Trump, president of the United States


freebeacon--2020-04-16--Let the Horns Play: Thousands Flood Lansing to Protest Whitmer Shutdown

Thousands of Michigan residents descended on the statehouse in Lansing on Wednesday to protest Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer 's stay-at-home order , with critics citing draconian restrictions that hurt small businesses and do little to fight the spread of coronavirus .
The protest , labeled `` Operation Gridlock , '' saw swarms of cars , trucks , construction vehicles , and even horses assemble in downtown Lansing as early as 9:00 a.m .
The honking did not stop for another eight hours .
Rosanne Ponkowski , president of Michigan Conservative Coalition and one of the protest 's organizers , called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said state police estimated as many as 10,000 participants , despite the event 's spontaneous launch on Facebook on April 8 .
`` It was incredible for something we cooked up just a week ago .
I was so proud of how fast this event grew , '' Ponkowski told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` We just threw this together last Wednesday , thinking , ‘ We have to do something . '
Within four hours , we had 300 people say they were attending and 2,000 people ‘ like ' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Whitmer had earned bipartisan praise for her initial response to the pandemic—her first stay-at-home order issued March 23 was met with approval from state GOP leaders and earned the governor national praise , particularly as the Democrat entered a public feud with President Donald Trump .
As Whitmer 's profile rose , she ramped up restrictions , signing a new order on April 9 that banned in-state travel between residences and forcibly closed stores selling items she deemed `` nonessential . ''
The extended order sparked near-immediate fury .
Critics lamented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses while granting exemptions to large corporations .
Residents have also questioned the practical inconsistencies of what are considered `` essential services '' —the order , for example , bans landscaping services and shuts down local stores selling gardening seeds and paint , but allows for the sale of marijuana and lottery tickets .
`` There does n't seem to be any rhyme or reason to how [ Whitmer ] makes her decisions .
She needs to stop deciding for Michiganders what is an essential service and what is not , '' Ponkowski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people social distance by the nature of their work and they 're outdoors .
These people should go back to work . ''
Ponkowski 's message was mirrored Wednesday by thousands of Michiganders .
One protester , Kaleb Hunderman of Grand Rapids , told Traverse City-based UpNorthLive that he decided to join the protest after losing his job .
`` We 're just mad that we 're out of work and … we do n't like what she did , '' Hunderman said .
`` So , we wanted to come down here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose office did not respond to a request for comment , criticized the protest in a Wednesday press conference held before the honking had subsided .
The governor said that while she `` understands the frustration people are feeling , '' she was `` really disappointed to see people congregating and not wearing masks . ''
The protest 's organizers instructed participants to remain in their vehicles , but state police Lt. Darren Green estimated that 100 to 150 people left their cars to gather on the capitol lawn .
Much of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirements and most were not wearing masks .
`` Obviously , there 's always going to be the unfortunate few who do n't follow the instruction to remain in their vehicle , '' Daunt told the Free Beacon .
`` That 's unfortunate , but sometimes freedom and liberty can be messy and despite the best intentions of the event 's organizers , there 's always going to be some who think they know better . ''
Critics of Operation Gridlock also accused protesters of blocking emergency vehicles attempting to navigate the packed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive editor Zach Gorchow shared a photo of an ambulance impeded by traffic just before the protest 's official start time .
Public health officials downplayed the protest 's effect on services .
A spokesman for the hospital located near the capitol told Crain 's Detroit Business ‘ s Chad Livengood that the protest was not blocking the flow of ambulances in and out of the hospital , and Lansing mayor Andy Schor , a Democrat , told Detroit News ‘ s Craig Mauger that he had not heard of complaints from Lansing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The city 's public transportation authority , however , released a statement Wednesday afternoon saying its dial-a-ride bus service was `` temporarily disrupted '' due to the protest .
State House speaker Lee Chatfield briefly joined the protest Wednesday afternoon , telling Sinclair Broadcast Group 's Mikenzie Frost that he is working with Whitmer to ease some of the order 's restrictions .
Daunt expressed hope that the protest would help move the needle .
`` Thousands of Michigan residents took time from their day , made signs , traveled to Lansing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor , '' Daunt said .
`` Hopefully it shines a light on people 's angst in this state and their concern over their jobs , and we 'll see how [ Whitmer ] reacts . ''

Thousands of Michigan residents descended on the statehouse in Lansing on Wednesday to protest Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order, with critics citing draconian restrictions that hurt small businesses and do little to fight the spread of coronavirus.
The protest, labeled "Operation Gridlock," saw swarms of cars, trucks, construction vehicles, and even horses assemble in downtown Lansing as early as 9:00 a.m. The honking did not stop for another eight hours. Rosanne Ponkowski, president of Michigan Conservative Coalition and one of the protest's organizers, called the turnout "incredible." She said state police estimated as many as 10,000 participants, despite the event's spontaneous launch on Facebook on April 8.
"It was incredible for something we cooked up just a week ago. I was so proud of how fast this event grew," Ponkowski told the Washington Free Beacon. "We just threw this together last Wednesday, thinking, 'We have to do something.' Within four hours, we had 300 people say they were attending and 2,000 people 'like' the event. It just exploded from there."
Whitmer had earned bipartisan praise for her initial response to the pandemic—her first stay-at-home order issued March 23 was met with approval from state GOP leaders and earned the governor national praise, particularly as the Democrat entered a public feud with President Donald Trump. As Whitmer's profile rose, she ramped up restrictions, signing a new order on April 9 that banned in-state travel between residences and forcibly closed stores selling items she deemed "nonessential."
The extended order sparked near-immediate fury. Critics lamented the strain it put on struggling small businesses while granting exemptions to large corporations. Residents have also questioned the practical inconsistencies of what are considered "essential services"—the order, for example, bans landscaping services and shuts down local stores selling gardening seeds and paint, but allows for the sale of marijuana and lottery tickets.
"There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to how [Whitmer] makes her decisions. She needs to stop deciding for Michiganders what is an essential service and what is not," Ponkowski said. "Landscapers, home builders—these people social distance by the nature of their work and they're outdoors. These people should go back to work."
Ponkowski's message was mirrored Wednesday by thousands of Michiganders. One protester, Kaleb Hunderman of Grand Rapids, told Traverse City-based UpNorthLive that he decided to join the protest after losing his job.
"We're just mad that we're out of work and … we don't like what she did," Hunderman said. "So, we wanted to come down here and protest it."
Whitmer, whose office did not respond to a request for comment, criticized the protest in a Wednesday press conference held before the honking had subsided. The governor said that while she "understands the frustration people are feeling," she was "really disappointed to see people congregating and not wearing masks." The protest's organizers instructed participants to remain in their vehicles, but state police Lt. Darren Green estimated that 100 to 150 people left their cars to gather on the capitol lawn. Much of the group did not adhere to social distancing requirements and most were not wearing masks.
Tony Daunt, executive director of Operation Gridlock sponsor Michigan Freedom Fund, called the group "bad actors."
"Obviously, there's always going to be the unfortunate few who don't follow the instruction to remain in their vehicle," Daunt told the Free Beacon. "That's unfortunate, but sometimes freedom and liberty can be messy and despite the best intentions of the event's organizers, there's always going to be some who think they know better."
Critics of Operation Gridlock also accused protesters of blocking emergency vehicles attempting to navigate the packed Lansing streets. Gongwer News Service Michigan executive editor Zach Gorchow shared a photo of an ambulance impeded by traffic just before the protest's official start time. Public health officials downplayed the protest's effect on services. A spokesman for the hospital located near the capitol told Crain's Detroit Business's Chad Livengood that the protest was not blocking the flow of ambulances in and out of the hospital, and Lansing mayor Andy Schor, a Democrat, told Detroit News's Craig Mauger that he had not heard of complaints from Lansing first responders about emergency vehicles being blocked. The city's public transportation authority, however, released a statement Wednesday afternoon saying its dial-a-ride bus service was "temporarily disrupted" due to the protest.
State House speaker Lee Chatfield briefly joined the protest Wednesday afternoon, telling Sinclair Broadcast Group's Mikenzie Frost that he is working with Whitmer to ease some of the order's restrictions. Daunt expressed hope that the protest would help move the needle.
"Thousands of Michigan residents took time from their day, made signs, traveled to Lansing, and peacefully expressed their opinions to the governor," Daunt said. "Hopefully it shines a light on people's angst in this state and their concern over their jobs, and we'll see how [Whitmer] reacts."


freebeacon--2020-04-16--FLASHBACK: Joe Biden Thinks Bernie Sanders Is An Unaccomplished Socialist

On Monday , presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden welcomed the endorsement of an unelectable socialist without a record of accomplishment @ @ @ @ @ million '' gun deaths he caused .
Biden warned in February that Sen. Bernie Sanders @ @ @ @ @ ) influence would allow President Donald Trump to tar all Democrats as socialists .
He @ @ @ @ @ a key role in governing if the former vice president returns to the White House @

On Monday, presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden welcomed the endorsement of an unelectable socialist without a record of accomplishment aside from the "150 million" gun deaths he caused.
Biden warned in February that Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I., Vt.) influence would allow President Donald Trump to tar all Democrats as socialists. He now says Sanders will play a key role in governing if the former vice president returns to the White House.


freebeacon--2020-04-16--Congress’s Fund to Backstop Paychecks is Officially Out of Money

The lending program meant to keep small businesses afloat amid the coronavirus crisis is officially out of funds , less than two weeks after it was chartered .
Small business owners seeking a loan guaranteed by the Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) were greeted Thursday morning by a statement from the Small Business Administration that , `` based on available appropriations funding , '' it was currently unable to accept either applicants or new lenders .
A spokesman for Sen. Marco Rubio ( R. , Fla. ) , who chairs the Senate small business committee , told the Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shy of its $ 349 billion cap , with remaining funds reserved for processing fees .
The program has been one of the most heavily demanded during the current recession , and Republicans warned last week that it would run dry .
Democrats , however , blocked a $ 250 billion infusion after Republicans refused to package it with additional funding for hospitals and state and local governments .
The result is that , as of Thursday , hundreds of thousands of small businesses hang by a thread .
Their collapse would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could take years to recover .
`` Seven hundred thousand applications today are in limbo—are stuck and can not be processed—because [ Democrats ] are playing political games with it , '' Rubio said during a Fox News appearance .
`` This has to end .
This is no time for this kind of horse-trading .
This is no time for a game of chicken with the jobs of millions of Americans . ''
Democratic leadership has stayed firm in its opposition to a standalone bill .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agrees small businesses need money , `` Dems actually want to get it into the hands of all who need it , '' adding that Democrats are focused on local law enforcement and medical needs .
Some Democrats are showing displeasure with their leadership 's tactics , however .
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema ( Ariz. ) , one of the upper chamber 's most moderate members , on Thursday called for the Senate to provide additional funding `` by unanimous consent , '' signaling her support for the Republican plan .
As Congress debates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owners remain stranded .
Many had already filed for loans , but have not yet been approved .
Now they will wait in a congressionally imposed limbo .
One of those small business owners is Nicole Carter , who along with her husband runs an IT services company in Florida .
Carter told the Free Beacon that she applied to three different lenders for a PPP loan , but that none had processed her application as of Wednesday night .
That left her and her husband—sole employees of their business—in financial trouble .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we are unsure what we will do , '' Carter said .
Josh Z. , who declined to give a last name , works as a manager for a portfolio of companies focusing on essential services—mining , trucking , river and lake terminals , steel service center , and power generation .
Like Carter , Josh sought funds from three different banks , but said the would-be lenders were `` blindsided '' by the process and simply lacked the resources to process his application .
The companies he works for , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without funding , up to 75 percent could be laid off . ''
Data show that these small business owners are not alone .
A survey released Monday found that a four-month-long shutdown would see the permanent closure of up to half of businesses , including up to 65 percent of retailers , 70 percent of restaurants , and 55 percent of entertainment businesses .
The businesses that responded to the survey indicated that a program like the PPP would drastically reduce the number of individuals they needed to lay off .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans are likely to lose their jobs .
Data released Thursday showed another 5.25 million unemployment claims , bringing the total over the past four weeks up to 22 million—effectively erasing all the jobs gained since the Great Recession .

The lending program meant to keep small businesses afloat amid the coronavirus crisis is officially out of funds, less than two weeks after it was chartered.
Small business owners seeking a loan guaranteed by the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) were greeted Thursday morning by a statement from the Small Business Administration that, "based on available appropriations funding," it was currently unable to accept either applicants or new lenders. A spokesman for Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.), who chairs the Senate small business committee, told the Washington Free Beacon that the program was just shy of its $349 billion cap, with remaining funds reserved for processing fees.
The SBA has officially exhausted the funds available for its emergency small business lending program: pic.twitter.com/kESMMvBexn — Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) April 16, 2020
The program has been one of the most heavily demanded during the current recession, and Republicans warned last week that it would run dry. Democrats, however, blocked a $250 billion infusion after Republicans refused to package it with additional funding for hospitals and state and local governments.
The result is that, as of Thursday, hundreds of thousands of small businesses hang by a thread. Their collapse would be catastrophic for an already battered economy that could take years to recover.
"Seven hundred thousand applications today are in limbo—are stuck and cannot be processed—because [Democrats] are playing political games with it," Rubio said during a Fox News appearance. "This has to end. This is no time for this kind of horse-trading. This is no time for a game of chicken with the jobs of millions of Americans."
Democratic leadership has stayed firm in its opposition to a standalone bill. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) tweeted Thursday that while he agrees small businesses need money, "Dems actually want to get it into the hands of all who need it," adding that Democrats are focused on local law enforcement and medical needs.
Our small biz programs need more money now We all agree But Dems actually want to get it into the hands of all who need it That's not what's happening when websites are crashing, mom & pop shops and minority businesses are shut out, bigger banks are loaning to fav customers — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 15, 2020
Some Democrats are showing displeasure with their leadership's tactics, however. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), one of the upper chamber's most moderate members, on Thursday called for the Senate to provide additional funding "by unanimous consent," signaling her support for the Republican plan.
The PPP program is going to run out of funding soon - the Senate should approve add’l funding by unanimous consent ASAP. Small businesses need our help to survive during this emergency. https://t.co/kYTbjGHCXM — Kyrsten Sinema (@kyrstensinema) April 16, 2020
As Congress debates, hundreds of thousands of small business owners remain stranded. Many had already filed for loans, but have not yet been approved. Now they will wait in a congressionally imposed limbo.
One of those small business owners is Nicole Carter, who along with her husband runs an IT services company in Florida. Carter told the Free Beacon that she applied to three different lenders for a PPP loan, but that none had processed her application as of Wednesday night. That left her and her husband—sole employees of their business—in financial trouble.
"If there isn't additional funding, we are unsure what we will do," Carter said.
Josh Z., who declined to give a last name, works as a manager for a portfolio of companies focusing on essential services—mining, trucking, river and lake terminals, steel service center, and power generation. Like Carter, Josh sought funds from three different banks, but said the would-be lenders were "blindsided" by the process and simply lacked the resources to process his application.
The companies he works for, he said, have 719 employees and "without funding, up to 75 percent could be laid off."
Data show that these small business owners are not alone. A survey released Monday found that a four-month-long shutdown would see the permanent closure of up to half of businesses, including up to 65 percent of retailers, 70 percent of restaurants, and 55 percent of entertainment businesses.
The businesses that responded to the survey indicated that a program like the PPP would drastically reduce the number of individuals they needed to lay off. In its absence, however, even more Americans are likely to lose their jobs. Data released Thursday showed another 5.25 million unemployment claims, bringing the total over the past four weeks up to 22 million—effectively erasing all the jobs gained since the Great Recession.


The Pelosi Recession

As another five million people flood the unemployment system , the country faces a classic whodunit : Who killed the U.S. economy ?
The novel coronavirus must bear some of the blame .
Social distancing has pushed millions of consumers and producers into their homes .
A temporary societal shutdown means a temporary economic contraction .
But the length of the recession—whether the economy bounces back post-shutdown , or whether we lose another decade of growth—is as much about government as the conditions on the ground .
Unlike the 2008 crisis , the current contraction is not a correction for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to combat a deadly disease .
That effort is led , and in many cases imposed , by government ; it makes sense for the feds to pick up the tab .
With a few exceptions , congressional Republicans have agreed with this analysis , working swiftly and aggressively to staunch the bleeding .
Not an economic conservative to begin with , President Donald Trump has been particularly gung-ho , calling for another $ 2 trillion in stimulus spending before the ink on the first $ 2 trillion bill had dried .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats are thinking about the crisis , though , just ask House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn ( S.C. ) .
Brainstorming with over 200 members of the Democratic caucus , Clyburn admonished his colleagues with a line we suspect will become infamous : `` This is a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision . ''
His fellow Democrats were obviously listening .
Few have been more unwilling to not let the crisis go to waste than Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) .
She delayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than a week , floating a 1,400-page counter-proposal jam-packed with special handouts and diversity mandates .
She has pushed tax cuts for blue-state billionaires and commended her colleagues for delaying Republican efforts to shore up the economy .
Following her lead , Pelosi ’ s colleagues demanded bailouts be tied to a $ 15 minimum wage , a universal post-crisis paid family leave program implemented , and poured millions into patronage favorites like the Kennedy Center—which laid off its employees anyway , only to reverse course when it received backlash from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s deja vu all over again .
Last week , Republicans tried to pour another $ 250 billion into the $ 350 billion Paycheck Protection Program , a keystone of the coronavirus stimulus that gives small businesses forgivable loans to cover their payrolls .
The program has been among the crisis 's most successful and most heavily in demand—and was then in danger of running out .
Democrats demanded another $ 250 billion for hospitals and state and local government .
When Republicans argued the details would take too long to sort out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi even claimed there was `` no data as to why we need '' the added money .
A week later , the PPP fund has officially run dry .
Hundreds of thousands of small business owners now ca n't pay their employees , the first domino in a chain of economic disaster .
This sort of brinksmanship has costs , as small business owners across the country are learning .
In a crisis , time is money—and lives—lost .
There is still time to avert the impending mass closures .
But even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this is unlikely to be their last stunt .
Pelosi has made clear that she has no problem gambling with the livelihoods of the American people .
Over the next seven months , Joe Biden and congressional Democrats will work to pin the all-but-ensured economic downturn on President Trump .
It might work—a recession can sink even a popular president 's chances at reelection .
But maybe voters will remember that for Democrats , their failing businesses and lost jobs represented not a tragedy , but an opportunity .
Maybe it wo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recession , but Nancy Pelosi 's .

As another five million people flood the unemployment system, the country faces a classic whodunit: Who killed the U.S. economy?
The novel coronavirus must bear some of the blame. Social distancing has pushed millions of consumers and producers into their homes. A temporary societal shutdown means a temporary economic contraction.
But the length of the recession—whether the economy bounces back post-shutdown, or whether we lose another decade of growth—is as much about government as the conditions on the ground. Unlike the 2008 crisis, the current contraction is not a correction for malinvestment but the product of a nationwide decision to combat a deadly disease. That effort is led, and in many cases imposed, by government; it makes sense for the feds to pick up the tab.
With a few exceptions, congressional Republicans have agreed with this analysis, working swiftly and aggressively to staunch the bleeding. Not an economic conservative to begin with, President Donald Trump has been particularly gung-ho, calling for another $2 trillion in stimulus spending before the ink on the first $2 trillion bill had dried.
If you want to know how congressional Democrats are thinking about the crisis, though, just ask House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (S.C.). Brainstorming with over 200 members of the Democratic caucus, Clyburn admonished his colleagues with a line we suspect will become infamous: "This is a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision."
His fellow Democrats were obviously listening. Few have been more unwilling to not let the crisis go to waste than Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.). She delayed passage of the last bailout bill by more than a week, floating a 1,400-page counter-proposal jam-packed with special handouts and diversity mandates. She has pushed tax cuts for blue-state billionaires and commended her colleagues for delaying Republican efforts to shore up the economy.
Following her lead, Pelosi’s colleagues demanded bailouts be tied to a $15 minimum wage, a universal post-crisis paid family leave program implemented, and poured millions into patronage favorites like the Kennedy Center—which laid off its employees anyway, only to reverse course when it received backlash from the news media.
Now, it’s deja vu all over again. Last week, Republicans tried to pour another $250 billion into the $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program, a keystone of the coronavirus stimulus that gives small businesses forgivable loans to cover their payrolls. The program has been among the crisis's most successful and most heavily in demand—and was then in danger of running out.
Democrats demanded another $250 billion for hospitals and state and local government. When Republicans argued the details would take too long to sort out, Democrats blocked the clean bill. Pelosi even claimed there was "no data as to why we need" the added money.
A week later, the PPP fund has officially run dry. Hundreds of thousands of small business owners now can't pay their employees, the first domino in a chain of economic disaster.
This sort of brinksmanship has costs, as small business owners across the country are learning. In a crisis, time is money—and lives—lost.
There is still time to avert the impending mass closures. But even if Democrats finally concede on the PPP, this is unlikely to be their last stunt. Pelosi has made clear that she has no problem gambling with the livelihoods of the American people.
Over the next seven months, Joe Biden and congressional Democrats will work to pin the all-but-ensured economic downturn on President Trump. It might work—a recession can sink even a popular president's chances at reelection. But maybe voters will remember that for Democrats, their failing businesses and lost jobs represented not a tragedy, but an opportunity. Maybe it won't be remembered as Donald Trump's recession, but Nancy Pelosi's.


freebeacon--2020-04-16--Admit It, Sexual Assault Allegations Are More Credible When They’re Against Republicans

On March 25 , Tara Reade accused former vice president Joe Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993 .
Imagine if , instead of airing the allegation on a podcast , Reade had sent an anonymous letter to a leading Republican senator .
Imagine if the reporters could n't track down a single person who recalled Reade telling them about the assault around the time it was alleged to have occurred .
How would the New York Times cover the story ?
Would it cover the story at all ?
Times executive editor Dean Baquet recently explained that the journalistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sexual assault allegations against political figures is `` very subjective . ''
Baquet is right , but he should have said what everyone knows : Accusations of sexual assault against Democrats simply are n't as credible as accusations against Republicans .
Baquet could not provide a more coherent explanation for the Times ‘ s ( meticulous , cautious ) handling of Reade 's allegation against Biden , especially compared with the paper 's ( hysterical , credulous ) coverage of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford 's allegation of sexual assault against Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was Ford , not Reade , who submitted her allegation in an anonymous letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein ( D. , Calif. ) after it was reported that Trump was considering nominating Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court .
Reporters for the Times never spoke to anyone who remembered discussing the alleged assault with Ford at the time .
Baquet now says such `` contemporaneous '' conversations—which Reade has been able to produce—are an important factor in determining an accuser 's reliability .
The Times interviewed Reade `` on multiple days over hours '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corroboration '' through documents and other sources .
The paper published its findings under an innocuous headline— '' Examining Tara Reade 's Sexual Assault Allegation Against Joe Biden '' —more than two weeks after Reade made her accusation .
The Times ‘ s report on Ford 's allegation—which came to light days before a scheduled Senate committee vote on Kavanaugh 's nomination—was slightly different .
Headlined , `` Kavanaugh ’ s Nomination in Turmoil as Accuser Says He Assaulted Her Decades Ago , '' it was based on nothing more than the anonymous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interview Ford gave to the Washington Post , published earlier in the day .
The Times did note the lack of evidence for Ford 's accusation , but only as something Republicans `` seized '' on for their political advantage .
One story , published prior to Ford 's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee , said Republicans `` quickly seized on the potential witness statements '' of individuals identified by Ford that would contradict her testimony .
Another described White House advisers as `` hoping that the lack of contemporaneous corroboration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Senate Republicans could move ahead without addressing it in detail . ''
Democrats , on the other hand , did not `` seize '' on Ford 's accusation for their own purposes , per the Times .
Rather , the allegation came `` as Democrats are already raising questions about Judge Kavanaugh 's truthfulness . ''
The Times story on Reade 's accusation is slightly different .
It notes early on that the Times was unable to find a `` pattern of sexual misconduct by Mr .
Biden . ''
The print @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' beyond the hugs , kisses and touching that women previously said made them uncomfortable '' —that Baquet admitted was removed after the Biden campaign complained .
Before getting to the details of Reade 's allegation , the reader must scroll through three paragraphs on the allegations of sexual assault made against President Donald Trump , a long paragraph on Reade 's political affiliations , and a bizarre disclaimer `` that filing a false police report may be punishable by a fine and imprisonment . ''
The story devotes less column space to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegation .
The story also notes that , at the time of the alleged assault , then-senator Biden was `` working to pass the Violence Against Women Act , which [ he ] has described as his ‘ proudest legislative accomplishment . '
'' It includes a photo of him discussing the legislation .
This passage is immediately followed by four paragraphs describing instances in which Reade has expressed praise for Russian president Vladimir Putin .
The Times ‘ s reporting on Ford 's political affiliations was less extensive .
Her testimony before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recounted under dramatic headlines such as , `` With Caffeine and Determination , Christine Blasey Ford Relives Her Trauma . ''
The paper referred to Ford as a `` sexual assault survivor '' who `` delivered a harrowing tale of casual teenage violence that … captured the attention of the nation in the throes of a profound reckoning with the realities of sexual assault . ''
One report described Ford 's testimony as `` compelling , '' while noting that `` she appeared to have little trouble '' appearing `` credible . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ when a former boyfriend of Ford 's gave a sworn statement challenging details of her testimony , the Times pounced—on Republicans , who were `` stepping up efforts to challenge [ Ford 's ] credibility . ''
The Times had no trouble finding a `` pattern of sexual misconduct '' with respect to Kavanaugh , but only because it refused to afford him the same due diligence with which it handled the allegation against Biden .
The paper published a profile piece on `` The Women Who Have Accused Brett Kavanugh , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ramirez and Julie Swetnick—whose stories fell apart under minimal scrutiny .
Swetnick 's attorney , Michael Avenatti , wound up in prison for fraud .
`` Dr. Blasey is not a lone accuser , '' wrote former Times editor Jill Abramson in the paper 's opinion section , describing Ramirez 's and Swetnick 's dubious accounts as `` considerable corroborating evidence '' that Republicans were `` airbrushing . ''
Opinion columnist Frank Bruni praised Ford 's `` riveting , persuasive '' testimony while describing her as `` impossible not to like '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Opinion columnist Michelle Goldberg is currently the only Times writer who has attempted to grapple with Reade 's accusation against Biden .
Her assessment of Reade 's case , compared with her assessment of Ford 's , provides a better explanation than Baquet could ever muster for why the Times has handled the two cases differently .
Goldberg 's column about Ford , `` Christine Blasey Ford 's Sacrifice , '' begins by acknowledging that the author `` absolutely '' believes Ford 's account .
It goes on to praise the `` heroic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' While it was possible , the columnist assessed , that Kavanaugh did not assault Ford as she claimed , it was `` more likely '' that he was too drunk to remember doing it .
Goldberg 's most recent column , `` What to Do With Tara Reade 's Allegations Against Joe Biden ? ''
is slightly different .
She laments the `` ambiguous '' nature of the case , concluding that , `` No one … can claim to have more than a hunch about what happened , '' as if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's story .
Goldberg 's point would be a lot more convincing if anyone who expressed similar hesitation about Ford 's allegations had not been angrily dismissed .
In any event , Goldberg argues , the real villains are the right-wing trolls attempting to bully feminists into expressing a `` certainty they have no reason to feel '' with respect to Reade 's allegations .
Which is just another way of saying `` shut up '' without having to admit what we all know to be true : Accusations of sexual assault against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusations against Republicans .

On March 25, Tara Reade accused former vice president Joe Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993. Imagine if, instead of airing the allegation on a podcast, Reade had sent an anonymous letter to a leading Republican senator. Imagine if the reporters couldn't track down a single person who recalled Reade telling them about the assault around the time it was alleged to have occurred. How would the New York Times cover the story? Would it cover the story at all?
Times executive editor Dean Baquet recently explained that the journalistic standard for assessing the credibility and newsworthiness of sexual assault allegations against political figures is "very subjective." Baquet is right, but he should have said what everyone knows: Accusations of sexual assault against Democrats simply aren't as credible as accusations against Republicans.
Baquet could not provide a more coherent explanation for the Times's (meticulous, cautious) handling of Reade's allegation against Biden, especially compared with the paper's (hysterical, credulous) coverage of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's allegation of sexual assault against Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.
It was Ford, not Reade, who submitted her allegation in an anonymous letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) after it was reported that Trump was considering nominating Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Reporters for the Times never spoke to anyone who remembered discussing the alleged assault with Ford at the time. Baquet now says such "contemporaneous" conversations—which Reade has been able to produce—are an important factor in determining an accuser's reliability.
The Times interviewed Reade "on multiple days over hours" and dozens of others while "seeking corroboration" through documents and other sources. The paper published its findings under an innocuous headline—"Examining Tara Reade's Sexual Assault Allegation Against Joe Biden"—more than two weeks after Reade made her accusation.
The Times's report on Ford's allegation—which came to light days before a scheduled Senate committee vote on Kavanaugh's nomination—was slightly different. Headlined, "Kavanaugh’s Nomination in Turmoil as Accuser Says He Assaulted Her Decades Ago," it was based on nothing more than the anonymous letter to Feinstein, as well as an interview Ford gave to the Washington Post, published earlier in the day.
The Times did note the lack of evidence for Ford's accusation, but only as something Republicans "seized" on for their political advantage. One story, published prior to Ford's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Republicans "quickly seized on the potential witness statements" of individuals identified by Ford that would contradict her testimony. Another described White House advisers as "hoping that the lack of contemporaneous corroboration for Ms. Ford's account would mean that Senate Republicans could move ahead without addressing it in detail."
Democrats, on the other hand, did not "seize" on Ford's accusation for their own purposes, per the Times. Rather, the allegation came "as Democrats are already raising questions about Judge Kavanaugh's truthfulness."
The Times story on Reade's accusation is slightly different. It notes early on that the Times was unable to find a "pattern of sexual misconduct by Mr. Biden." The print edition of the story included a qualification—"beyond the hugs, kisses and touching that women previously said made them uncomfortable"—that Baquet admitted was removed after the Biden campaign complained.
Before getting to the details of Reade's allegation, the reader must scroll through three paragraphs on the allegations of sexual assault made against President Donald Trump, a long paragraph on Reade's political affiliations, and a bizarre disclaimer "that filing a false police report may be punishable by a fine and imprisonment." The story devotes less column space to the evidence in support of Reade's allegation.
The story also notes that, at the time of the alleged assault, then-senator Biden was "working to pass the Violence Against Women Act, which [he] has described as his 'proudest legislative accomplishment.'" It includes a photo of him discussing the legislation. This passage is immediately followed by four paragraphs describing instances in which Reade has expressed praise for Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The Times's reporting on Ford's political affiliations was less extensive. Her testimony before the Senate committee, meanwhile, was recounted under dramatic headlines such as, "With Caffeine and Determination, Christine Blasey Ford Relives Her Trauma."
The paper referred to Ford as a "sexual assault survivor" who "delivered a harrowing tale of casual teenage violence that ... captured the attention of the nation in the throes of a profound reckoning with the realities of sexual assault." One report described Ford's testimony as "compelling," while noting that "she appeared to have little trouble" appearing "credible."
Following her appearance before the committee, when a former boyfriend of Ford's gave a sworn statement challenging details of her testimony, the Times pounced—on Republicans, who were "stepping up efforts to challenge [Ford's] credibility."
The Times had no trouble finding a "pattern of sexual misconduct" with respect to Kavanaugh, but only because it refused to afford him the same due diligence with which it handled the allegation against Biden. The paper published a profile piece on "The Women Who Have Accused Brett Kavanugh," which included lurid allegations from two women—Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick—whose stories fell apart under minimal scrutiny. Swetnick's attorney, Michael Avenatti, wound up in prison for fraud.
"Dr. Blasey is not a lone accuser," wrote former Times editor Jill Abramson in the paper's opinion section, describing Ramirez's and Swetnick's dubious accounts as "considerable corroborating evidence" that Republicans were "airbrushing." Opinion columnist Frank Bruni praised Ford's "riveting, persuasive" testimony while describing her as "impossible not to like" and "difficult not to believe."
Opinion columnist Michelle Goldberg is currently the only Times writer who has attempted to grapple with Reade's accusation against Biden. Her assessment of Reade's case, compared with her assessment of Ford's, provides a better explanation than Baquet could ever muster for why the Times has handled the two cases differently.
Goldberg's column about Ford, "Christine Blasey Ford's Sacrifice," begins by acknowledging that the author "absolutely" believes Ford's account. It goes on to praise the "heroic" testimony of a "victim." While it was possible, the columnist assessed, that Kavanaugh did not assault Ford as she claimed, it was "more likely" that he was too drunk to remember doing it.
Goldberg's most recent column, "What to Do With Tara Reade's Allegations Against Joe Biden?" is slightly different. She laments the "ambiguous" nature of the case, concluding that, "No one ... can claim to have more than a hunch about what happened," as if that ought to distinguish it from Ford's story. Goldberg's point would be a lot more convincing if anyone who expressed similar hesitation about Ford's allegations had not been angrily dismissed.
In any event, Goldberg argues, the real villains are the right-wing trolls attempting to bully feminists into expressing a "certainty they have no reason to feel" with respect to Reade's allegations. Which is just another way of saying "shut up" without having to admit what we all know to be true: Accusations of sexual assault against Democrats simply aren't as credible as accusations against Republicans.


freebeacon--2020-04-16--Dem Sen Calls GOP Attempt to Save Small Business Fund a ‘Political Stunt’

Sen. Brian Schatz ( D. , Hawaii ) called the Republican attempt to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) a `` political stunt '' on the day the fund ran dry .
`` Mitch McConnell did what he does , which is he did a stunt on the Senate floor that was never designed to enact a law but rather to use it as a bludgeon against Democrats , '' Schatz said on MSNBC Wednesday night .
`` Nobody has any patience for political stunts .
People want results , and we 're ready to do that as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You 've got $ 250 billion you want to replenish this fund with , we could do that .
Let 's also do these other things that everybody has agreed upon , and we 'll be able to do a package on a bipartisan basis , '' Schatz also said .
Schatz said he thinks the Senate `` should replenish that fund '' despite the Democrats ' resistance to Republican funding efforts .
The PPP , which provides loans to small businesses hurt by the coronavirus crisis , was set to run out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to more than 1.4 million small businesses .
The coronavirus stimulus package initially allocated $ 350 billion for the program .
Senate Republicans introduced a measure last week to provide $ 250 billion to keep the program running , but the measure was blocked by Democratic lawmakers .
Senate Democrats attempted to add another $ 250 billion in funding to bail out hospitals and state governments , but Republicans did not acquiesce .
Schatz 's comments echo Sens .
Doug Jones ( D. , Ala. ) and Ben Cardin ( D. , Md @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell of `` dumping money '' and participating in a `` political stunt '' after blocking Republican attempts to fund the program .
Sen. Marco Rubio ( R. , Fla. ) described negotiations as a `` game of chicken '' while Republicans called for a clean bill devoted to funding the program .
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) said lawmakers should include other programs in the PPP funding measure .
`` Let 's negotiate and see how we can come to some conclusion that will benefit all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
Pelosi also intervened last month to stop the initial passage of the coronavirus stimulus package by pushing her own bill , which failed to pass due to its numerous partisan provisions .

Sen. Brian Schatz (D., Hawaii) called the Republican attempt to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) a "political stunt" on the day the fund ran dry.
"Mitch McConnell did what he does, which is he did a stunt on the Senate floor that was never designed to enact a law but rather to use it as a bludgeon against Democrats," Schatz said on MSNBC Wednesday night. "Nobody has any patience for political stunts. People want results, and we're ready to do that as soon as we can."
"You've got $250 billion you want to replenish this fund with, we could do that. Let's also do these other things that everybody has agreed upon, and we'll be able to do a package on a bipartisan basis," Schatz also said.
Schatz said he thinks the Senate "should replenish that fund" despite the Democrats' resistance to Republican funding efforts.
The PPP, which provides loans to small businesses hurt by the coronavirus crisis, was set to run out of funding Wednesday after giving out loans to more than 1.4 million small businesses. The coronavirus stimulus package initially allocated $350 billion for the program.
Senate Republicans introduced a measure last week to provide $250 billion to keep the program running, but the measure was blocked by Democratic lawmakers. Senate Democrats attempted to add another $250 billion in funding to bail out hospitals and state governments, but Republicans did not acquiesce.
Schatz's comments echo Sens. Doug Jones (D., Ala.) and Ben Cardin (D., Md.), who last week accused McConnell of "dumping money" and participating in a "political stunt" after blocking Republican attempts to fund the program.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) described negotiations as a "game of chicken" while Republicans called for a clean bill devoted to funding the program.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said lawmakers should include other programs in the PPP funding measure. "Let's negotiate and see how we can come to some conclusion that will benefit all of the needs," she said Tuesday.
Pelosi also intervened last month to stop the initial passage of the coronavirus stimulus package by pushing her own bill, which failed to pass due to its numerous partisan provisions.


The Viral Center

The coronavirus struck America during an era of polarization .
Politics was bitterly divided .
The two sides did not just disagree .
Partisans existed in separate realities , with different religious commitments , moral attitudes , policy priorities , and sources of information .
The gaps between blue states and red states , and between the rural and urban areas within them , seemed unbridgeable .
Some analysts spoke of a `` cold civil war . ''
Its resolution would decide the nation 's fate .
The pandemic put this rhetoric of crisis in perspective .
The public has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death toll rises above 26,000 people ( at the time of writing ) .
Competence matters more than celebrity .
Predictions of the apocalypse that will befall the land if one 's preferred candidate does not win the next election are trivial compared with the potential risk the virus poses to one 's self and one 's family .
True , the internet and social media remain darkling plains where woke scolds and MAGA men clash by night .
But their arguments are tangential to the mainstream of American life .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are absent from society .
Since March 11 , the day Tom Hanks announced he had the virus and the NBA suspended its season , Americans have reorganized their lives , economy , and opinions with remarkable speed .
Their withdrawal from schools , offices , stadiums , shops , theatres , trains , airplanes , and hotels preceded state and local government mandates and regulations .
The only precedent for the manner in which the labor force has realigned itself over the past month is World War II .
A justifiable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not limited to the virus .
It extends to the economy and to the mechanisms of globalization that spread the disease .
Infectious diseases are now the greatest threat in the eyes of the public .
Terrorism , nuclear proliferation , and cyberattacks rank second , third , and fourth .
China is fifth .
The percentage of Americans who identify China as a major threat has risen 20 points in three years .
Hawks have thought for a while that Americans would not recognize the danger of China without a showstopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three-quarters of Americans worry that they or someone in their family will be exposed to the coronavirus .
A FiveThirtyEight analysis of polls found that close to 90 percent of Americans are worried about the economy .
Ninety percent of adults say their lives have changed because of coronavirus , according to Pew .
Eighty percent told Gallup that they have faced a great deal or fair amount of disruption because of the pandemic .
A rising number of Americans expect the shutdowns and lockdowns to extend for the rest of 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unnecessary physical proximity to people outside their household for the fun of it .
Nor have they radically altered their daily routines because Gretchen Whitmer said so .
They have seen the rate at which the coronavirus spreads .
They have read or watched the virus kill young and old , black and white , rich and poor .
They do not need Hobbes to remind them of their fear of violent death .
It was not media-induced panic but common sense that modified American behavior .
The public is split on whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ united in its embrace of social distancing .
`` About nine-in-ten U.S. adults ( 91 % ) say that , given the current situation , they would feel uncomfortable attending a crowded party , '' says Pew .
`` Roughly three-quarters ( 77 % ) would not want to eat out at a restaurant .
In the midst of a presidential election year , about two-thirds ( 66 % ) say they would n't feel comfortable going to a polling place to vote . ''
Americans who attend church have turned to televised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ praying for an end to the pandemic .
And the prayerful include Americans who do not normally pray .
The overwhelming majority of Americans will not accept unquestionably assurances from Mike Pence or Andrew Cuomo or Joe Biden that the coast is clear .
They will make their own decisions .
`` When asked how quickly they will return to their normal activities once the government lifts restrictions and businesses and schools start to reopen , the vast majority of Americans say they would wait and see what happens with the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another 10 % would wait indefinitely , '' wrote Gallup 's Lydia Saad on April 14 .
`` Just 20 % say they would return to their normal activities immediately . ''
Pandemic politics is nationalist .
Americans privilege their home and fellow citizens over other countries and other people .
The policy earning the most support in a recent USA Today/Ipsos survey was widely available testing ( 92 percent ) .
Other measures that enjoyed more than two-thirds support included , in descending order , cancellation of mass gatherings ( 85 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 81 percent ) , mandatory quarantines for international travelers ( 81 percent ) , stopping all immigration ( 79 percent ) , grounding all international flights ( 70 percent ) , and a nationwide lockdown until the end of the month ( 69 percent ) .
The public demands a reassertion of sovereignty .
It looks to scientific authority for guidance .
Some 80 percent of Americans look with favor upon the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services .
Dr. Anthony Fauci has , at 77 percent , the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the beginning of the month , Axios reported that Fauci was the third-most discussed person online .
Only Nancy Pelosi and Donald Trump were ahead of him .
Unlike the politicians , Fauci enjoys positive coverage .
Trump abides .
He appears immune to the changes coronavirus has brought to the United States .
He is a reminder of polarization .
The slight improvement in his approval rating pales in comparison with the bumps enjoyed by foreign leaders during this crisis and by past presidents in earlier ones .
Nor has the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race .
On March 11 , Biden led Trump by 7 points in the RealClearPolitics average .
At the time of writing , Biden leads by 5 points .
Trump 's approval rating is about where it needs to be to score a second Electoral College win .
Still , Election Day is not for six months .
Both candidates and both parties have plenty of time to screw things up .
They have to navigate a new political , economic , social , and cultural environment .
No easy task , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man who best intuits the apprehensions , dreads , antagonisms , hesitations , anticipations , and desires of a new American middle that will persist for as long as the coronavirus stalks the earth .

The coronavirus struck America during an era of polarization. Politics was bitterly divided. The two sides did not just disagree. Partisans existed in separate realities, with different religious commitments, moral attitudes, policy priorities, and sources of information. The gaps between blue states and red states, and between the rural and urban areas within them, seemed unbridgeable. Some analysts spoke of a "cold civil war." Its resolution would decide the nation's fate.
The pandemic put this rhetoric of crisis in perspective. The public has less patience for trolling and kayfabe when the death toll rises above 26,000 people (at the time of writing). Competence matters more than celebrity. Predictions of the apocalypse that will befall the land if one's preferred candidate does not win the next election are trivial compared with the potential risk the virus poses to one's self and one's family. True, the internet and social media remain darkling plains where woke scolds and MAGA men clash by night. But their arguments are tangential to the mainstream of American life.
If traces of polarization remain in politics, they are absent from society. Since March 11, the day Tom Hanks announced he had the virus and the NBA suspended its season, Americans have reorganized their lives, economy, and opinions with remarkable speed. Their withdrawal from schools, offices, stadiums, shops, theatres, trains, airplanes, and hotels preceded state and local government mandates and regulations. The only precedent for the manner in which the labor force has realigned itself over the past month is World War II.
A justifiable fear drives public opinion. This anxiety is not limited to the virus. It extends to the economy and to the mechanisms of globalization that spread the disease. Infectious diseases are now the greatest threat in the eyes of the public. Terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and cyberattacks rank second, third, and fourth. China is fifth. The percentage of Americans who identify China as a major threat has risen 20 points in three years. Hawks have thought for a while that Americans would not recognize the danger of China without a showstopping event. Coronavirus is it.
About three-quarters of Americans worry that they or someone in their family will be exposed to the coronavirus. A FiveThirtyEight analysis of polls found that close to 90 percent of Americans are worried about the economy. Ninety percent of adults say their lives have changed because of coronavirus, according to Pew. Eighty percent told Gallup that they have faced a great deal or fair amount of disruption because of the pandemic. A rising number of Americans expect the shutdowns and lockdowns to extend for the rest of 2020. Or longer.
Americans are not avoiding unnecessary physical proximity to people outside their household for the fun of it. Nor have they radically altered their daily routines because Gretchen Whitmer said so. They have seen the rate at which the coronavirus spreads. They have read or watched the virus kill young and old, black and white, rich and poor. They do not need Hobbes to remind them of their fear of violent death.
It was not media-induced panic but common sense that modified American behavior. The public is split on whether to trust the media. It is united in its embrace of social distancing. "About nine-in-ten U.S. adults (91%) say that, given the current situation, they would feel uncomfortable attending a crowded party," says Pew. "Roughly three-quarters (77%) would not want to eat out at a restaurant. In the midst of a presidential election year, about two-thirds (66%) say they wouldn't feel comfortable going to a polling place to vote." Americans who attend church have turned to televised or online services. They have been praying for an end to the pandemic. And the prayerful include Americans who do not normally pray.
The overwhelming majority of Americans will not accept unquestionably assurances from Mike Pence or Andrew Cuomo or Joe Biden that the coast is clear. They will make their own decisions. "When asked how quickly they will return to their normal activities once the government lifts restrictions and businesses and schools start to reopen, the vast majority of Americans say they would wait and see what happens with the spread of the virus (71%) and another 10% would wait indefinitely," wrote Gallup's Lydia Saad on April 14. "Just 20% say they would return to their normal activities immediately."
Pandemic politics is nationalist. Americans privilege their home and fellow citizens over other countries and other people. The policy earning the most support in a recent USA Today/Ipsos survey was widely available testing (92 percent). Other measures that enjoyed more than two-thirds support included, in descending order, cancellation of mass gatherings (85 percent), expanded paid sick leave (81 percent), mandatory quarantines for international travelers (81 percent), stopping all immigration (79 percent), grounding all international flights (70 percent), and a nationwide lockdown until the end of the month (69 percent).
The public demands a reassertion of sovereignty. It looks to scientific authority for guidance. Some 80 percent of Americans look with favor upon the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Anthony Fauci has, at 77 percent, the highest approval rating of any American official. At the beginning of the month, Axios reported that Fauci was the third-most discussed person online. Only Nancy Pelosi and Donald Trump were ahead of him. Unlike the politicians, Fauci enjoys positive coverage.
Trump abides. He appears immune to the changes coronavirus has brought to the United States. He is a reminder of polarization. The slight improvement in his approval rating pales in comparison with the bumps enjoyed by foreign leaders during this crisis and by past presidents in earlier ones. Nor has the coronavirus transformed the dynamic of the presidential race. On March 11, Biden led Trump by 7 points in the RealClearPolitics average. At the time of writing, Biden leads by 5 points. Trump's approval rating is about where it needs to be to score a second Electoral College win.
Still, Election Day is not for six months. Both candidates and both parties have plenty of time to screw things up. They have to navigate a new political, economic, social, and cultural environment. No easy task, no easy feat. Victory goes to the man who best intuits the apprehensions, dreads, antagonisms, hesitations, anticipations, and desires of a new American middle that will persist for as long as the coronavirus stalks the earth.


freebeacon--2020-04-18--Gun Groups Sue to Reopen Georgia Gun-Carry Permitting

A coalition of gun-rights groups filed a federal suit against Georgia officials on Thursday demanding that the state reopen its gun-carry permitting process or eliminate the permit altogether .
The Firearms Policy Coalition ( FPC ) and Second Amendment Foundation ( SAF ) are challenging a Cherokee County decision to suspend its gun-carry permitting process as part of a broader effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Filing on behalf of local resident Lisa Walters , the lawsuit argues that the suspension implemented by Probate Judge Keith Wood violated the 2nd and 14th Amendment .
`` The natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to exist when a person steps over the threshold of their home and into the outside world , '' FPC attorney Adam Kraut said .
`` By their elimination of access to Georgia Weapons Carry Licenses , Judge Keith Wood and Cherokee County have destroyed the right to carry handguns outside the home for Lisa Walters and others like her .
This is not acceptable and shows the inherent and terminally unconstitutional defects of the State 's license requirements . ''
The lawsuit does not just challenge the county 's decision—it also calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regime .
The state maintains a general ban on gun-carry without a proper permit .
The shutdown of the permitting process makes it illegal for law-abiding county residents to carry guns for self-defense even as Georgians in neighboring areas can continue to do so .
Governor Brian Kemp , a Republican who has allowed gun businesses to remain open under his stay-at-home order , did not respond to a request for comment on the suit .
Neither the county nor Wood responded to requests for comment .
The case is the latest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to challenge shutdowns that hinder the ability of Americans to acquire guns .
Most state and local officials have allowed gun sales and permitting processes to continue , albeit at a slowed pace due to social distancing efforts .
Some states and localities have used `` essential '' industry labels to shut down not only gun businesses but government permitting offices as well .
Lawsuits focusing on the permitting process have enjoyed more legal success than those centering on stores .
In March , a North Carolina county sheriff was forced to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tom Wolf ( D. ) was allowed to continue his initial gun-store shutdown order by the state 's Supreme Court .
In April , gun-store shutdowns in parts of California were allowed to continue by federal judges in two separate cases .
Alan Gottlieb , SAF founder , said the gun-rights groups would continue their legal campaign so long as local officials `` arbitrarily '' target gun owners and buyers .
`` This is the most recent in a series of legal actions we 've had to file around the country because we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided the COVID-19 crisis allows them to suspend the constitutional rights of the citizens they serve , '' he said in a statement .
`` We 've been stunned by this pattern because such actions are not permitted by the Constitution .
Authorities may not , by decree or otherwise , enact or enforce a suspension or deprivation of constitutional liberties . ''
The plaintiffs in the Georgia case are seeking to have the state 's gun-carry law thrown out altogether so those who can legally own firearms can legally carry them without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other states .
Short of that , they are hoping to force officials to turn the permitting process back on .
`` It 's imperative that we stop the infringements of our Second Amendment rights under cover of a virus pandemic , '' Mark Walters , host of Armed American Radio and Lisa Walters 's husband , told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` The judge in this case could continue to issue Georgia weapons licenses just as he chooses to continue issuing marriage licenses but he is not . ''

A coalition of gun-rights groups filed a federal suit against Georgia officials on Thursday demanding that the state reopen its gun-carry permitting process or eliminate the permit altogether.
The Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) and Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) are challenging a Cherokee County decision to suspend its gun-carry permitting process as part of a broader effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Filing on behalf of local resident Lisa Walters, the lawsuit argues that the suspension implemented by Probate Judge Keith Wood violated the 2nd and 14th Amendment.
"The natural right to armed self-defense does not cease to exist when a person steps over the threshold of their home and into the outside world," FPC attorney Adam Kraut said. "By their elimination of access to Georgia Weapons Carry Licenses, Judge Keith Wood and Cherokee County have destroyed the right to carry handguns outside the home for Lisa Walters and others like her. This is not acceptable and shows the inherent and terminally unconstitutional defects of the State's license requirements."
The lawsuit does not just challenge the county's decision—it also calls into question the state's entire gun-control regime. The state maintains a general ban on gun-carry without a proper permit. The shutdown of the permitting process makes it illegal for law-abiding county residents to carry guns for self-defense even as Georgians in neighboring areas can continue to do so.
Wood declined to comment on the suit. Neither Cherokee County nor Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican who has allowed gun businesses to remain open under his stay-at-home order, responded to requests for comment.
The case is the latest in a nationwide campaign by leading gun-rights groups to challenge shutdowns that hinder the ability of Americans to acquire guns. Most state and local officials have allowed gun sales and permitting processes to continue, albeit at a slowed pace due to social distancing efforts. Some states and localities have used "essential" industry labels to shut down not only gun businesses but government permitting offices as well.
Lawsuits focusing on the permitting process have enjoyed more legal success than those centering on stores. In March, a North Carolina county sheriff was forced to reopen his pistol-purchase permitting process while Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf (D.) was allowed to continue his initial gun-store shutdown order by the state's Supreme Court. In April, gun-store shutdowns in parts of California were allowed to continue by federal judges in two separate cases.
Alan Gottlieb, SAF founder, said the gun-rights groups would continue their legal campaign so long as local officials "arbitrarily" target gun owners and buyers.
"This is the most recent in a series of legal actions we've had to file around the country because we've discovered that some officials have arbitrarily decided the COVID-19 crisis allows them to suspend the constitutional rights of the citizens they serve," he said in a statement. "We've been stunned by this pattern because such actions are not permitted by the Constitution. Authorities may not, by decree or otherwise, enact or enforce a suspension or deprivation of constitutional liberties."
The plaintiffs in the Georgia case are seeking to have the state's gun-carry law thrown out altogether so those who can legally own firearms can legally carry them without a permit—as is the case in 16 other states. Short of that, they are hoping to force officials to turn the permitting process back on.
"It's imperative that we stop the infringements of our Second Amendment rights under cover of a virus pandemic," Mark Walters, host of Armed American Radio and Lisa Walters's husband, told the Washington Free Beacon. "The judge in this case could continue to issue Georgia weapons licenses just as he chooses to continue issuing marriage licenses but he is not."