freebeacon--2020-12-15--House Republicans Demand Pelosi Remove Swalwell From Intelligence Committee

Reps. Jim Banks ( R. , Ind . )
and Chip Roy ( R. , Texas ) , along with 15 other House Republicans , drafted a letter Tuesday to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) calling for Rep. Eric Swalwell ’ s ( D. , Calif. ) removal from the House Intelligence Committee due to his ties to a suspected Chinese spy .
The letter details both the compromised nature of Swalwell ’ s position given his personal relationship with alleged Chinese spy Fang Fang in addition to the double standard from congressional Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Speaker Pelosi spent four years yelling about President Trump being compromised by Russia , despite never having evidence to support her claim .
Well , now we have proof our foremost adversary compromised a lawmaker who regularly handles highly classified intelligence , '' Banks said in a press release .
`` Speaker Pelosi needs to step up , put country over party and call on Rep. Swalwell to resign from the House Intelligence Committee . ''
Swalwell failed to disclose to the Intelligence Committee his working relationship with Fang , who gained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place multiple interns in his office and befriend Swalwell ’ s brother and father on Facebook .
Swalwell chairs one of the four subcommittees on the House Intelligence Committee .
The letter is signed by several other prominent Republican members , including House Minority Whip Steve Scalise ( R. , La . )
and Rep. Liz Cheney ( R. , Wyo. )
.
Demands for Swalwell ’ s removal come the week after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R. , Calif. ) told Fox News that Swalwell should not only have his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed from Congress .
Last week , Cheney warned that the targeting of Swalwell by a Chinese spy was indicative of larger efforts by the Chinese Communist Party to influence American life through institutions such as colleges and universities .
Cheney said the news of Fang 's espionage operation warranted the closure of CCP-affiliated Confucius Institutes on campuses nationwide .
`` She got her start as one of the infiltrators , it seems , that the Chinese government has throughout academia , '' Cheney said of Fang .
`` So I think [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shutting down the Confucius Institutes and making sure we understand this is going to be a challenge for the next generation . ''

Reps. Jim Banks (R., Ind.) and Chip Roy (R., Texas), along with 15 other House Republicans, drafted a letter Tuesday to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) calling for Rep. Eric Swalwell’s (D., Calif.) removal from the House Intelligence Committee due to his ties to a suspected Chinese spy.
The letter details both the compromised nature of Swalwell’s position given his personal relationship with alleged Chinese spy Fang Fang in addition to the double standard from congressional Democrats regarding foreign interference in American politics.
"Speaker Pelosi spent four years yelling about President Trump being compromised by Russia, despite never having evidence to support her claim. Well, now we have proof our foremost adversary compromised a lawmaker who regularly handles highly classified intelligence," Banks said in a press release. "Speaker Pelosi needs to step up, put country over party and call on Rep. Swalwell to resign from the House Intelligence Committee."
Swalwell failed to disclose to the Intelligence Committee his working relationship with Fang, who gained enough influence with the California Democrat to place multiple interns in his office and befriend Swalwell’s brother and father on Facebook. Swalwell chairs one of the four subcommittees on the House Intelligence Committee.
The letter is signed by several other prominent Republican members, including House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R., La.) and Rep. Liz Cheney (R., Wyo.).
Demands for Swalwell’s removal come the week after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) told Fox News that Swalwell should not only have his committee assignment stripped but should also be removed from Congress.
Last week, Cheney warned that the targeting of Swalwell by a Chinese spy was indicative of larger efforts by the Chinese Communist Party to influence American life through institutions such as colleges and universities. Cheney said the news of Fang's espionage operation warranted the closure of CCP-affiliated Confucius Institutes on campuses nationwide.
"She got her start as one of the infiltrators, it seems, that the Chinese government has throughout academia," Cheney said of Fang. "So I think [we need to do] things like shutting down the Confucius Institutes and making sure we understand this is going to be a challenge for the next generation."


freebeacon--2020-12-15--Biden Fundraiser Floated as Ambassador Pick Took Millions in PPP Loans While His Law Firm Won Massiv

Biden Fundraiser Floated as Ambassador Pick Took Millions in PPP Loans While His Law Firm Won Massive Settlements

A prominent trial lawyer being floated as a potential ambassador pick by Joe Biden took millions of dollars in COVID relief , even as his firm was winning hundreds of millions in settlements .
Joseph Rice , cofounder of the South Carolina-based Motley Rice law firm , helped raise large sums for Biden 's campaign and could land an ambassadorship spot in his administration , local reports indicate .
Motley Rice received $ 7.03 million from Paycheck Protection Program funds , which were intended to help small businesses pay workers and stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic .
Several companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they did not need them , including from prominent Democrats .
Those criticisms do n't seem to have swayed the incoming administration , which the State says is considering Rice for an ambassador role .
Rice 's firm gained approval for the loans after stacking up massive legal wins .
In October 2019 , Motley Rice announced a $ 260 million settlement against opioid manufacturers Teva , Cardinal Health , AmerisourceBergen , and McKesson .
In November 2020 , it helped win a $ 26 billion settlement from Johnson & Johnson and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work on a contingency basis and receive portions of the settlements they reach .
`` When a highly successful law firm receives millions of dollars in PPP money , it raises questions as to whether those funds actually went to preserve jobs , which is the purpose of the PPP program , or merely padded the shareholder attorneys ' profitability , '' William Jacobson , a professor at Cornell Law School , told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` This certainly raises serious questions that warrant investigation if a founding member of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Other prominent plaintiff lawyers said the pandemic did not have a big impact on the industry and that they did not seek bailouts .
Rice helped gather more than $ 100,000 for Biden 's presidential campaign .
Employees at his firm donated solely to Democrats during the 2020 cycle , including nearly $ 50,000 to Biden .
Biden also had a fundraiser at Rice 's Mount Pleasant , S.C. , home in late February .
The wealth amassed by Rice , who is considered one of the most successful trial lawyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to purchase a 100-foot yacht and build his own golf course .
He is also one of the biggest donors to the University of South Carolina .
Neither Rice nor the Biden transition team responded to requests for comment .

A prominent trial lawyer being floated as a potential ambassador pick by Joe Biden took millions of dollars in COVID relief, even as his firm was winning hundreds of millions in settlements.
Joseph Rice, cofounder of the South Carolina-based Motley Rice law firm, helped raise large sums for Biden's campaign and could land an ambassadorship spot in his administration, local reports indicate. Motley Rice received $7.03 million from Paycheck Protection Program funds, which were intended to help small businesses pay workers and stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.
Several companies have faced criticism for taking PPP loans when they did not need them, including from prominent Democrats. Those criticisms don't seem to have swayed the incoming administration, which the State says is considering Rice for an ambassador role.
Rice's firm gained approval for the loans after stacking up massive legal wins. In October 2019, Motley Rice announced a $260 million settlement against opioid manufacturers Teva, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen, and McKesson. In November 2020, it helped win a $26 billion settlement from Johnson & Johnson and other pharmaceutical companies. Law firms often work on a contingency basis and receive portions of the settlements they reach.
"When a highly successful law firm receives millions of dollars in PPP money, it raises questions as to whether those funds actually went to preserve jobs, which is the purpose of the PPP program, or merely padded the shareholder attorneys' profitability," William Jacobson, a professor at Cornell Law School, told the Washington Free Beacon. "This certainly raises serious questions that warrant investigation if a founding member of the law firm is nominated for an ambassadorship."
Other prominent plaintiff lawyers said the pandemic did not have a big impact on the industry and that they did not seek bailouts.
Rice helped gather more than $100,000 for Biden's presidential campaign. Employees at his firm donated solely to Democrats during the 2020 cycle, including nearly $50,000 to Biden. Biden also had a fundraiser at Rice's Mount Pleasant, S.C., home in late February.
The wealth amassed by Rice, who is considered one of the most successful trial lawyers in the country, has allowed him to purchase a 100-foot yacht and build his own golf course. He is also one of the biggest donors to the University of South Carolina.
Neither Rice nor the Biden transition team responded to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-12-15--China Spied on Americans’ Phones in Caribbean, Expert Finds

China allegedly used telecommunications networks in the Caribbean to spy on Americans traveling abroad , according to a network security expert 's findings reported by the Guardian .
Using a state-controlled tech giant , Chinese officials allegedly conducted surveillance attacks to track and intercept communications of mobile phone users without their knowledge .
China has engaged in the practice since at least 2018 , targeting 3G and 4G phone users , a former telecommunications security executive told the Guardian .
The surveillance attacks largely occurred in countries such as Barbados and the Bahamas , affecting potentially tens of thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The majority of the attacks on mobile phones were routed through the state-owned telecommunications company China Unicom , according to the security expert .
Simultaneous surveillance intrusions were traced to Caribbean-based companies , though the expert suggested they may not have knowingly participated in malicious data theft but simply leased a network address to a Chinese entity carrying out surveillance .
In April , Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai declared China Unicom vulnerable to control from the CCP .
New reports about China ’ s ability to spy on Americans in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beijing ’ s influence in the region , American Enterprise Institute research fellow Ryan Berg told the Free Beacon .
`` The revelation that China has spied on U.S. citizens through Caribbean mobile phone networks ought to give every single government in the Western Hemisphere pause—especially those committed to allowing Chinese telecoms to build their 5G networks and other critical infrastructure , '' Berg said .
`` Today , it ’ s American citizens on vacation in the Caribbean , but tomorrow it could be Brazilians , Mexicans , and Colombians . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not end with surveillance of phone networks .
China has developed strong ties with Cuba , allowing China to project greater influence at the United Nations .
And Beijing has reportedly sought to reduce international recognition of Taiwan 's sovereignty by winning support in the Caribbean .
The Trump administration has set competition with China in Latin America at the top of its agenda for the region .
Through the Blue Dot Network and Clean Path initiatives , Washington has formed a growing coalition to build infrastructure and telecommunications hubs throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innovative plans also minimize public expense , as they primarily receive investment and development from private companies .
`` The Clean Network will facilitate private sector-led infrastructure development in Latin America as well as investment from the innovation sector , '' said Adam Boehler , CEO of the U.S. Development Finance Corporation .
`` A commitment to the Clean Network serves as a big catalyst for growth in the Americas . ''

China allegedly used telecommunications networks in the Caribbean to spy on Americans traveling abroad, according to a network security expert's findings reported by the Guardian.
Using a state-controlled tech giant, Chinese officials allegedly conducted surveillance attacks to track and intercept communications of mobile phone users without their knowledge. China has engaged in the practice since at least 2018, targeting 3G and 4G phone users, a former telecommunications security executive told the Guardian.
The surveillance attacks largely occurred in countries such as Barbados and the Bahamas, affecting potentially tens of thousands of users, including U.S. citizens abroad.
The majority of the attacks on mobile phones were routed through the state-owned telecommunications company China Unicom, according to the security expert. Simultaneous surveillance intrusions were traced to Caribbean-based companies, though the expert suggested they may not have knowingly participated in malicious data theft but simply leased a network address to a Chinese entity carrying out surveillance.
In April, Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai declared China Unicom vulnerable to control from the CCP.
New reports about China’s ability to spy on Americans in the Caribbean only add to existing concerns about Beijing’s influence in the region, American Enterprise Institute research fellow Ryan Berg told the Free Beacon.
"The revelation that China has spied on U.S. citizens through Caribbean mobile phone networks ought to give every single government in the Western Hemisphere pause—especially those committed to allowing Chinese telecoms to build their 5G networks and other critical infrastructure," Berg said. "Today, it’s American citizens on vacation in the Caribbean, but tomorrow it could be Brazilians, Mexicans, and Colombians."
Beijing’s influence in the Caribbean does not end with surveillance of phone networks. China has developed strong ties with Cuba, allowing China to project greater influence at the United Nations. And Beijing has reportedly sought to reduce international recognition of Taiwan's sovereignty by winning support in the Caribbean.
The Trump administration has set competition with China in Latin America at the top of its agenda for the region. Through the Blue Dot Network and Clean Path initiatives, Washington has formed a growing coalition to build infrastructure and telecommunications hubs throughout the region free of Chinese influence. The innovative plans also minimize public expense, as they primarily receive investment and development from private companies.
"The Clean Network will facilitate private sector-led infrastructure development in Latin America as well as investment from the innovation sector," said Adam Boehler, CEO of the U.S. Development Finance Corporation. "A commitment to the Clean Network serves as a big catalyst for growth in the Americas."


freebeacon--2020-12-15--Dems Must Pair Student-Debt Forgiveness With $15 Minimum Wage, Vox Writer Says

Democrats see student-debt forgiveness as a major priority for Joe Biden 's first day in office , even though the policy would move vast wealth from the poor to the rich .
One Vox writer has a solution : Give minimum-wage workers a little boost too .
Noting that the proposal to forgive up to $ 50,000 in student debt is far more popular with those with debt than those without , Vox business writer Emily Stewart suggested in a recent article that Democrats could pair it `` with an action that would benefit non-college-educated people , such as requiring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minimum wage . ''
Stewart 's idea , however , highlights the surprising inequality at the root of a policy proposal championed by the progressives usually concerned with inequality .
A minimum-wage hike would kill an estimated two million jobs , and its salary increases for low-skilled workers would take years to come anywhere close to the $ 50,000 progressives want to hand to the college-educated .
Take federal contractors , who under current law will make a minimum of $ 10.95 per hour next year , or $ 22,776 annually before taxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
A bump to $ 15 per hour would boost a minimum-wage contractor 's pre-tax wages by $ 8,424—meaning that , before taxes , he would need to work an extra six years to make up for the added $ 50,000 his college-educated peer would get possibly tax free .
The situation is similar for the roughly 400,000 workers making the federal minimum wage of $ 7.25 per hour .
That amounts to $ 15,080 annually , which means the boost to $ 15 would net him an additional $ 16,120 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 'd need to work another three years before he could collect an extra $ 50,000 in gross wages .
This slow drip of cash would go to a population that not only makes less than the average student-debt holder but is also less-educated .
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , roughly a third of minimum-wage workers have education less than a high-school degree , compared with the nearly 4.5 percent who have a college degree .
Student-debt forgiveness , by contrast , would hand wealth disproportionately to the highly educated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have college degrees in the first place .
More than half of the debt is held by the top 40 percent of wage earners , and among working-age Americans , more than half of it is also held by the top 40 percent of wage earners .
As Stewart finds , it 's unsurprising that debt forgiveness is popular mostly with those who have debt , not those without .
It would be a win for the `` professional class '' that increasingly makes up the Democratic Party 's base .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to offset what the general public would have to pay for student-loan forgiveness .

Democrats see student-debt forgiveness as a major priority for Joe Biden's first day in office, even though the policy would move vast wealth from the poor to the rich. One Vox writer has a solution: Give minimum-wage workers a little boost too.
Noting that the proposal to forgive up to $50,000 in student debt is far more popular with those with debt than those without, Vox business writer Emily Stewart suggested in a recent article that Democrats could pair it "with an action that would benefit non-college-educated people, such as requiring federal contractors to pay a $15 minimum wage."
Stewart's idea, however, highlights the surprising inequality at the root of a policy proposal championed by the progressives usually concerned with inequality. A minimum-wage hike would kill an estimated two million jobs, and its salary increases for low-skilled workers would take years to come anywhere close to the $50,000 progressives want to hand to the college-educated.
Take federal contractors, who under current law will make a minimum of $10.95 per hour next year, or $22,776 annually before taxes, assuming they work 40 hours a week. A bump to $15 per hour would boost a minimum-wage contractor's pre-tax wages by $8,424—meaning that, before taxes, he would need to work an extra six years to make up for the added $50,000 his college-educated peer would get possibly tax free.
The situation is similar for the roughly 400,000 workers making the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. That amounts to $15,080 annually, which means the boost to $15 would net him an additional $16,120 per year pre-tax. But that still means he'd need to work another three years before he could collect an extra $50,000 in gross wages.
This slow drip of cash would go to a population that not only makes less than the average student-debt holder but is also less-educated. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly a third of minimum-wage workers have education less than a high-school degree, compared with the nearly 4.5 percent who have a college degree.
Student-debt forgiveness, by contrast, would hand wealth disproportionately to the highly educated and wealthy, who are more likely to have college degrees in the first place. More than half of the debt is held by the top 40 percent of wage earners, and among working-age Americans, more than half of it is also held by the top 40 percent of wage earners.
As Stewart finds, it's unsurprising that debt forgiveness is popular mostly with those who have debt, not those without. It would be a win for the "professional class" that increasingly makes up the Democratic Party's base. But even a minimum-wage increase would take time to offset what the general public would have to pay for student-loan forgiveness.


freebeacon--2020-12-15--WE’VE SEEN ENOUGH: Free Beacon Calls 2020 Election for Joe Biden

Joe Biden has won the 2020 election and will become the oldest individual in history to be sworn in as @ @ @ @ @ Beacon decision desk has determined .
We are confident enough to call the race at @ @ @ @ @ process because the foremost political authority in the country has finally weighed in .
Senate @ @ @ @ @ R. , Ky. ) rendered his expert judgment from the Senate floor on Tuesday by @ @ @ @ @ '' and declaring with authority that `` the Electoral College has spoken . ''
There @ @ @ @ @ apex predator of American politics has spoken .
The outcome is actually a positive one @ @ @ @ @ , who will be remembered as the most successful one-term president in American history .

Joe Biden has won the 2020 election and will become the oldest individual in history to be sworn in as president, the Washington Free Beacon decision desk has determined.
We are confident enough to call the race at this early stage in the process because the foremost political authority in the country has finally weighed in.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) rendered his expert judgment from the Senate floor on Tuesday by congratulating "President-elect Joe Biden" and declaring with authority that "the Electoral College has spoken."
.@senatemajldr: "So, as of this this morning, our country has officially a President-elect and a Vice President-elect... The Electoral College has spoken. So, today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden." pic.twitter.com/4S7Xv7otsH — CSPAN (@cspan) December 15, 2020
There you have it. The apex predator of American politics has spoken.
The outcome is actually a positive one for President Donald J. Trump, who will be remembered as the most successful one-term president in American history.


freebeacon--2020-12-15--Cornell Student Government Removes Reps Who Voted Against Disarming Police

Cornell University 's student government removed two representatives who voted against a resolution to disarm the police .
On Dec. 8 , Cornell 's student assembly removed Vice President of Research and Accountability Annie Gleiberman for voting against a bill that would disarm the university 's police department .
The assembly 's executive committee claims that Gleiberman condoned `` acts of racism , physical aggression , and emotional violence '' by voting against the resolution .
Per the student government 's rules , a vice president can only be removed through a unanimous vote .
When Morgan Baker , another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not vote to remove Gleiberman , the rest of the representatives temporarily removed Morgan using a two-thirds majority vote rule , so that they could unanimously vote to remove Gleiberman .
A previous motion to defund the police had failed after 15 representatives opposed it .
Following Morgan and Gleiberman 's removal , 13 of those representatives penned an op-ed in the Cornell Daily Sun excoriating the student government for its `` brazenly undemocratic display . ''
`` The simple fact of the matter is that the executive committee wants to stack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allies who will not question their abuses of power and violations of [ student assembly ] rules , '' they wrote .
The 13 representatives also claim that the executive committee is planning to selectively use existing but normally unenforced rules on attendance and committee membership to remove members who voted against the `` defund the police '' resolution .
Those fears seem especially warranted after the student body president—who initially claimed to be neutral on the resolution—was discovered to be working with the Abolitionist Revolutionary Society to put pressure on representatives to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the head of Cornell 's College Republicans , told the Washington Free Beacon that the student government 's actions are unsurprising .
`` These individuals are career harassers who have used and continue to use fear , defamation , and their social status to put down any form of dissent , '' Barker said .
`` When those tools fail , they will go to any lengths to achieve their ideologically singular Cornell , without any regard for statute , bylaws , or morality . ''
Gleiberman and Baker did not respond to @ @ @ @

Cornell University's student government removed two representatives who voted against a resolution to disarm the police.
On Dec. 8, Cornell's student assembly removed Vice President of Research and Accountability Annie Gleiberman for voting against a bill that would disarm the university's police department. The assembly's executive committee claims that Gleiberman condoned "acts of racism, physical aggression, and emotional violence" by voting against the resolution. Per the student government's rules, a vice president can only be removed through a unanimous vote. When Morgan Baker, another member of the assembly, said she would not vote to remove Gleiberman, the rest of the representatives temporarily removed Morgan using a two-thirds majority vote rule, so that they could unanimously vote to remove Gleiberman.
A previous motion to defund the police had failed after 15 representatives opposed it. Following Morgan and Gleiberman's removal, 13 of those representatives penned an op-ed in the Cornell Daily Sun excoriating the student government for its "brazenly undemocratic display." "The simple fact of the matter is that the executive committee wants to stack the [student government] with loyal allies who will not question their abuses of power and violations of [student assembly] rules," they wrote.
The 13 representatives also claim that the executive committee is planning to selectively use existing but normally unenforced rules on attendance and committee membership to remove members who voted against the "defund the police" resolution. Those fears seem especially warranted after the student body president—who initially claimed to be neutral on the resolution—was discovered to be working with the Abolitionist Revolutionary Society to put pressure on representatives to change their votes.
Weston Barker, the head of Cornell's College Republicans, told the Washington Free Beacon that the student government's actions are unsurprising.
"These individuals are career harassers who have used and continue to use fear, defamation, and their social status to put down any form of dissent," Barker said. "When those tools fail, they will go to any lengths to achieve their ideologically singular Cornell, without any regard for statute, bylaws, or morality."
Gleiberman and Baker did not respond to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-12-16--GA Law Enforcement Officials Say Warnock, Ossoff Will Undermine Police

Top Georgia law enforcement officials and groups are expressing `` serious concern '' with Jon Ossoff 's and Raphael Warnock 's Senate bids , claiming that the pair of Democrats will push to defund police and hinder officers ' ability to serve .
Ossoff and Warnock have faced criticism over a number of anti-police comments .
Ossoff in June expressed the need to hold `` entire departments accountable , '' arguing that police funding `` has to be … on the line '' if officers violate his proposed use-of-force rules .
And in a series of 2015 sermons , Warnock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gangster and thug '' mentality , adding that he was not surprised to see officers act like `` bullies . ''
Georgia Fraternal Order of Police secretary Steven Gaynor told the Washington Free Beacon that the Senate hopefuls have done little to reassure law enforcement of their support .
`` We really need law enforcement .
We need them to be out there to protect our citizens , '' Gaynor said .
`` So we have a serious concern over the defunding push and the statements being made from both candidates . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves from the defund police movement in the wake of Democratic congressional losses in November .
Top party officials—including President-elect Joe Biden—warn activists that the call to `` change policing '' could alienate Peach State voters .
Many top law enforcement officials across the state , however , have found the Democrats ' rhetorical shift unconvincing .
During a Tuesday press conference , a group of Georgia sheriffs accused Ossoff and Warnock of working to `` make it easier for the criminal element . ''
`` The safety of this entire country is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Butch Conway said .
`` All we 've heard for months from the Democratic Party is ‘ defund the police . '
I understand Joe Biden 's talking the other way now , not wanting to talk about defunding the police until after this election , but that does n't change anything . ''
Neither Ossoff nor Warnock responded to requests for comment .
Conway also argued that Ossoff would make communities less safe due to his refusal to enforce immigration laws at the local level .
Ossoff in June appeared to endorse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police should not enforce federal immigration law as it weakens the `` bonds of trust between local law enforcement and local communities . ''
Conway denounced the position , noting that his department has worked with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to identify more than 800 illegal immigrants housed in county jail during his tenure .
The cooperation has allowed the county to avoid `` turning criminals back into the community that should n't be in the country to begin with , '' according to Conway .
`` Many of those inmates had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some many times , '' Conway said .
`` The cost to process an inmate is high—it has saved millions of dollars for Gwinnett . ''
Cherokee County sheriff Frank Reynolds and Walton County sheriff Joe Chapman also attended Tuesday 's press conference .
Chapman accused Ossoff and Warnock of working to `` change the way we live '' and `` make it harder '' for police to keep Georgia communities safe .
In total , at least 93 Georgia sheriffs have endorsed Ossoff 's opponent , Republican senator David Perdue .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also endorsed both Perdue and fellow Republican senator Kelly Loeffler .
Ossoff 's and Warnock 's campaign sites , meanwhile , show no endorsements from state police officials .
Ossoff and Warnock will face Perdue and Loeffler , respectively , on Jan. 5 .
Early voting in the state is already underway .

Top Georgia law enforcement officials and groups are expressing "serious concern" with Jon Ossoff's and Raphael Warnock's Senate bids, claiming that the pair of Democrats will push to defund police and hinder officers' ability to serve.
Ossoff and Warnock have faced criticism over a number of anti-police comments. Ossoff in June expressed the need to hold "entire departments accountable," arguing that police funding "has to be … on the line" if officers violate his proposed use-of-force rules. And in a series of 2015 sermons, Warnock accused police of operating with a "gangster and thug" mentality, adding that he was not surprised to see officers act like "bullies." Georgia Fraternal Order of Police secretary Steven Gaynor told the Washington Free Beacon that the Senate hopefuls have done little to reassure law enforcement of their support.
"We really need law enforcement. We need them to be out there to protect our citizens," Gaynor said. "So we have a serious concern over the defunding push and the statements being made from both candidates."
The Georgia Democrats have scrambled to distance themselves from the defund police movement in the wake of Democratic congressional losses in November. Top party officials—including President-elect Joe Biden—warn activists that the call to "change policing" could alienate Peach State voters. Many top law enforcement officials across the state, however, have found the Democrats' rhetorical shift unconvincing. During a Tuesday press conference, a group of Georgia sheriffs accused Ossoff and Warnock of working to "make it easier for the criminal element."
"The safety of this entire country is at stake," Gwinnett County sheriff Butch Conway said. "All we've heard for months from the Democratic Party is 'defund the police.' I understand Joe Biden's talking the other way now, not wanting to talk about defunding the police until after this election, but that doesn't change anything."
Ossoff did not return a request for comment. Warnock campaign spokesman Terrence Clark told the Free Beacon that Warnock does not support defunding police and accused his Republican opponent—Sen. Kelly Loeffler—of "attacking Reverend Warnock with lies to distract from her record."
Conway also argued that Ossoff would make communities less safe due to his refusal to enforce immigration laws at the local level. Ossoff in June appeared to endorse so-called sanctuary cities, saying that local police should not enforce federal immigration law as it weakens the "bonds of trust between local law enforcement and local communities." Conway denounced the position, noting that his department has worked with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to identify more than 800 illegal immigrants housed in county jail during his tenure. The cooperation has allowed the county to avoid "turning criminals back into the community that shouldn't be in the country to begin with," according to Conway.
"Many of those inmates had been arrested more than one time, some many times," Conway said. "The cost to process an inmate is high—it has saved millions of dollars for Gwinnett."
Cherokee County sheriff Frank Reynolds and Walton County sheriff Joe Chapman also attended Tuesday's press conference. Chapman accused Ossoff and Warnock of working to "change the way we live" and "make it harder" for police to keep Georgia communities safe.
In total, at least 93 Georgia sheriffs have endorsed Ossoff's opponent, Republican senator David Perdue. The state's Fraternal Order of Police has also endorsed both Perdue and Loeffler. Ossoff's and Warnock's campaign sites, meanwhile, show no endorsements from state police officials.
Ossoff and Warnock will face Perdue and Loeffler, respectively, on Jan. 5. Early voting in the state is already underway.
Updated 8:32 a.m.: This article was updated with comment from the Warnock campaign.


freebeacon--2020-12-16--Biden May Hand Ambassador Posts to Hollywood Megadonors with CCP Ties

President-elect Joe Biden may fill key embassy posts with Hollywood megadonors whose ties to the Chinese Communist Party have prompted federal investigations .
Former DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and current Disney honcho Bob Iger are leading candidates to become the American ambassador to China , according to the Hollywood Reporter .
The pair 's business dealings with the Chinese Communist Party were the subject of a 2012 bribery investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission .
Biden championed Hollywood 's entry into Chinese markets during the Obama administration .
Katzenberg accompanied the then-vice president to multiple junkets to China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strongman Xi Jinping .
The regime not only expanded Hollywood 's access in Beijing but also offered DreamWorks a $ 330 million joint venture with a Chinese state-owned enterprise in 2012—a deal that later became the centerpiece of the SEC probe .
Katzenberg donated $ 617,800 to the Biden Victory Fund and hosted several events for the president-elect .
Iger , who is also reportedly under consideration to become America 's ambassador to the United Kingdom , shelled out $ 250,000 to back Biden .
The Biden transition did not respond to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already pushing back on Biden 's turn to Hollywood to defend U.S. interests against an increasingly aggressive rival .
Rep. Mike Gallagher ( R. , Wisc . )
said that the move would threaten `` to destroy the growing bipartisan consensus on the CCP 's egregious human rights abuses . ''
He pointed to Disney 's choice to film parts of its live-action Mulan remake in the same regions the CCP uses to detain its Uighur Muslim population .

President-elect Joe Biden may fill key embassy posts with Hollywood megadonors whose ties to the Chinese Communist Party have prompted federal investigations.
Former DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and current Disney honcho Bob Iger are leading candidates to become the American ambassador to China, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The pair's business dealings with the Chinese Communist Party were the subject of a 2012 bribery investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Biden championed Hollywood's entry into Chinese markets during the Obama administration. Katzenberg accompanied the then-vice president to multiple junkets to China, while Iger helped Biden negotiate with CCP strongman Xi Jinping. The regime not only expanded Hollywood's access in Beijing but also offered DreamWorks a $330 million joint venture with a Chinese state-owned enterprise in 2012—a deal that later became the centerpiece of the SEC probe.
Katzenberg donated $617,800 to the Biden Victory Fund and hosted several events for the president-elect. Iger, who is also reportedly under consideration to become America's ambassador to the United Kingdom, shelled out $250,000 to back Biden.
The Biden transition did not respond to a request for comment.
Some lawmakers are already pushing back on Biden's turn to Hollywood to defend U.S. interests against an increasingly aggressive rival. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R., Wisc.) said that the move would threaten "to destroy the growing bipartisan consensus on the CCP's egregious human rights abuses." He pointed to Disney's choice to film parts of its live-action Mulan remake in the same regions the CCP uses to detain its Uighur Muslim population.


freebeacon--2020-12-16--Trump Cuts Off California Over Newsom’s Abortion Mandate

The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it is withholding hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid funding from California over the state 's abortion insurance mandate .
The administration will withhold $ 200 million in Medicaid funding because of a state regulation that requires health insurers to cover elective abortions .
The announcement marks the culmination of a yearlong conflict between the administration and Democratic governor Gavin Newsom over the regulation , which the White House said violates federal conscience laws .
`` We have informed California that this policy clearly violates federal conscience laws , but the state refuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Department of Health and Human Services secretary Alex Azar said .
`` Accordingly , we plan to withhold $ 200 million in federal Medicaid funds from the state in the first quarter of 2021 , and unless California amends its policies , we will seek to withhold an additional $ 200 million every quarter until it complies . ''
The Newsom administration criticized the move as `` presidential overreach . ''
`` It 's wrong that the Trump Administration would threaten Californians ' health just to score cheap political points—and during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement to the Washington Free Beacon .
`` We will continue to stand up for reproductive health and push back against this extreme presidential overreach . ''
In January , the Trump administration informed California that the state is in violation of federal law by requiring health insurance providers to cover abortion services .
California instituted the regulation in 2014 .
Two religious institutions in the state filed complaints with the Health and Human Services Department 's Office of Civil Rights , and the department completed an investigation and threatened the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirement at the time .
`` California will continue to protect a woman 's right to choose , and we wo n't back down from defending reproductive freedom for everybody—full stop , '' Newsom said .
The announcement comes as President-elect Joe Biden announced the selection of California attorney general Xavier Becerra ( D. ) to succeed Azar as head of the Department of Health and Human Services .
Republican lawmakers and pro-life groups have criticized the pick , jeopardizing Becerra 's chances of being confirmed by the Senate .
The Biden transition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to requests for comment .

The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it is withholding hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid funding from California over the state's abortion insurance mandate.
The administration will withhold $200 million in Medicaid funding because of a state regulation that requires health insurers to cover elective abortions. The announcement marks the culmination of a yearlong conflict between the administration and Democratic governor Gavin Newsom over the regulation, which the White House said violates federal conscience laws.
"We have informed California that this policy clearly violates federal conscience laws, but the state refuses to fix the issue and comply," Department of Health and Human Services secretary Alex Azar said. "Accordingly, we plan to withhold $200 million in federal Medicaid funds from the state in the first quarter of 2021, and unless California amends its policies, we will seek to withhold an additional $200 million every quarter until it complies."
The Newsom administration criticized the move as "presidential overreach."
"It's wrong that the Trump Administration would threaten Californians' health just to score cheap political points—and during a global pandemic," Newsom said in a statement to the Washington Free Beacon. "We will continue to stand up for reproductive health and push back against this extreme presidential overreach."
In January, the Trump administration informed California that the state is in violation of federal law by requiring health insurance providers to cover abortion services. California instituted the regulation in 2014. Two religious institutions in the state filed complaints with the Health and Human Services Department's Office of Civil Rights, and the department completed an investigation and threatened the state with funding cuts.
Newsom defended the requirement at the time.
"California will continue to protect a woman's right to choose, and we won't back down from defending reproductive freedom for everybody—full stop," Newsom said.
The announcement comes as President-elect Joe Biden announced the selection of California attorney general Xavier Becerra (D.) to succeed Azar as head of the Department of Health and Human Services. Republican lawmakers and pro-life groups have criticized the pick, jeopardizing Becerra's chances of being confirmed by the Senate.
The Biden transition team and Becerra's office did not respond to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-12-16--Warnock’s Voter Registration Group Failed to Pay Unemployment Taxes

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock 's voter registration group was hit with thousands of dollars in tax liens for unpaid unemployment insurance , according to state records obtained by the Washington Free Beacon .
The New Georgia Project , where Warnock served as CEO from 2017 until February 2020 , owes $ 7,808 to the Georgia Department of Labor for allegedly failing to pay state unemployment contributions in 2018 .
The liens are still outstanding , according to records .
The tax liens could pose an obstacle for Warnock , who has campaigned for the expansion of unemployment benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loopholes .
They could also draw more scrutiny to the New Georgia Project , which is currently under investigation by the Georgia secretary of state for allegedly attempting to register out-of-state voters .
The Georgia Department of Labor issued a $ 4,385 lien against the New Georgia Project in February 2019 , according to records from the Georgia Superior Court Clerks ' Cooperative Authority .
The amount included $ 3,847 in estimated unpaid unemployment taxes for the quarters ending June 30 , 2018 , and Sept. 30 , 2018 , plus interest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued a second $ 3,423 lien against the group in May 2019 , which included $ 3,009 in estimated unemployment taxes , according to the records .
Neither the Warnock campaign nor the New Georgia Project responded to requests for comment .
The unemployment insurance tax is used to pay out benefits to workers who lose their jobs .
The organization was ordered to pay the assessment within 60 days , but records indicate that both liens are still pending .
Harvey Bezozi , an accountant who specializes in tax debt resolution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before filing a lien .
`` In almost all circumstances , it takes quite a while before a lien is filed against an individual or business taxpayer by the IRS or any state taxing authority , '' Bezozi said .
`` Throughout my career , I have only seen liens filed when an individual or business blatantly ignores ongoing written correspondence sent to them by a taxing authority . ''
Warnock has made the extension of unemployment benefits a centerpiece of his campaign , arguing that his opponent , Republican senator Kelly Loeffler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgians who are out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic .
`` We have to make sure that the people who ca n't work have the benefits they need , '' said Warnock in an interview with the AARP in October .
`` And we have to make sure that when people are unemployed , that unemployment insurance benefits are there . ''
Warnock , a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta , is locked in a tight runoff race against Loeffler .
The Jan. 5 election is one of two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control of the U.S. Senate next year .

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock's voter registration group was hit with thousands of dollars in tax liens for unpaid unemployment insurance, according to state records obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
The New Georgia Project, where Warnock served as CEO from 2017 until February 2020, owes $7,808 to the Georgia Department of Labor for allegedly failing to pay state unemployment contributions in 2018. The liens are still outstanding, according to records.
The tax liens could pose an obstacle for Warnock, who has campaigned for the expansion of unemployment benefits and vowed to crack down on tax loopholes. They could also draw more scrutiny to the New Georgia Project, which is currently under investigation by the Georgia secretary of state for allegedly attempting to register out-of-state voters.
The Georgia Department of Labor issued a $4,385 lien against the New Georgia Project in February 2019, according to records from the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority. The amount included $3,847 in estimated unpaid unemployment taxes for the quarters ending June 30, 2018, and Sept. 30, 2018, plus interest, penalties, and fees.
The department issued a second $3,423 lien against the group in May 2019, which included $3,009 in estimated unemployment taxes, according to the records.
Neither the Warnock campaign nor the New Georgia Project responded to requests for comment.
The unemployment insurance tax is used to pay out benefits to workers who lose their jobs.
The organization was ordered to pay the assessment within 60 days, but records indicate that both liens are still pending.
Harvey Bezozi, an accountant who specializes in tax debt resolution, said tax authorities typically give multiple notices before filing a lien.
"In almost all circumstances, it takes quite a while before a lien is filed against an individual or business taxpayer by the IRS or any state taxing authority," Bezozi said. "Throughout my career, I have only seen liens filed when an individual or business blatantly ignores ongoing written correspondence sent to them by a taxing authority."
Warnock has made the extension of unemployment benefits a centerpiece of his campaign, arguing that his opponent, Republican senator Kelly Loeffler, won't do enough to help Georgians who are out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"We have to make sure that the people who can't work have the benefits they need," said Warnock in an interview with the AARP in October. "And we have to make sure that when people are unemployed, that unemployment insurance benefits are there."
Warnock, a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, is locked in a tight runoff race against Loeffler. The Jan. 5 election is one of two runoffs in Georgia that will determine party control of the U.S. Senate next year.


freebeacon--2020-12-16--A Stain on His Legacy: Trump Humiliated as China Retains Title as World’s #1 Jailer of Journalists

President Donald J. Trump 's otherwise flawless first-term legacy risks being tainted by the findings of a new report from the Committee to Protect Journalists ( CPJ ) .
Despite Trump 's repeated promises to crack down on `` fake news '' reporters and pundits , the United States in 2020 failed to overtake China as the world 's leading jailer of journalists .
According to the CPJ report , China imprisoned 47 journalists in 2020 , down from 49 in 2019 .
For the second year in a row , the communist nation sent more journalists to prison than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , meanwhile , failed to send a single journalist to jail—in 2020 and in every other year since Trump took office in 2017 .
China , by comparison , managed to imprison nearly 200 journalists over that same period .
Trump could n't even kick Jim Acosta out of the White House press corps , or prevent the CNN correspondent from publishing a book about how it 's a `` dangerous time to tell the truth in America . ''
The findings make clear that Trump , who has controversially ( though not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enemies of the people , '' has failed to make good on a central premise of his historic 2016 victory .
Pundits appear to be unfairly discounting this broken promise as a driving force behind Trump 's ( alleged ) defeat in 2020 .
A disappointing stain on an otherwise heroic legacy , one that may have just cost him a spot on Mount Rushmore .

Trump fails to jail a single enemy of the people in his first term
President Donald J. Trump's otherwise flawless first-term legacy risks being tainted by the findings of a new report from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Despite Trump's repeated promises to crack down on "fake news" reporters and pundits, the United States in 2020 failed to overtake China as the world's leading jailer of journalists.
According to the CPJ report, China imprisoned 47 journalists in 2020, down from 49 in 2019. For the second year in a row, the communist nation sent more journalists to prison than any other nation.
The United States, meanwhile, failed to send a single journalist to jail—in 2020 and in every other year since Trump took office in 2017. China, by comparison, managed to imprison nearly 200 journalists over that same period.
Trump couldn't even kick Jim Acosta out of the White House press corps, or prevent the CNN correspondent from publishing a book about how it's a "dangerous time to tell the truth in America."


freebeacon--2020-12-16--Biden ‘Confident’ His Son Hunter Did ‘Nothing Wrong’

Democratic president-elect Joe Biden said Wednesday he is `` confident '' that his son Hunter Biden did `` nothing wrong . ''
Hunter Biden revealed last week that his taxes are under investigation by a federal prosecutor .
The inquiry is reportedly focused on the younger Biden 's lucrative business dealings in China , which he pursued while his father was vice president .
During an event at the Biden transition headquarters in Wilmington , Del.
, Fox News 's Peter Doocy asked Biden if he was sure that his son did nothing wrong .
Biden replied , `` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remark is the first time the president-elect has publicly addressed his son 's tax investigation , according to Fox News .
Hunter Biden 's tax obligations and foreign financial entanglements were a subject of scrutiny during Joe Biden 's presidential campaign .
The Washington Free Beacon revealed in August that the younger Biden paid off a $ 450,000 tax lien this summer despite having no discernible income .
Joe Biden responded to attacks on his son at a debate with President Donald Trump , claiming Hunter Biden `` has not made money , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China . ''

Democratic president-elect Joe Biden said Wednesday he is "confident" that his son Hunter Biden did "nothing wrong."
Hunter Biden revealed last week that his taxes are under investigation by a federal prosecutor. The inquiry is reportedly focused on the younger Biden's lucrative business dealings in China, which he pursued while his father was vice president. During an event at the Biden transition headquarters in Wilmington, Del., Fox News's Peter Doocy asked Biden if he was sure that his son did nothing wrong. Biden replied, "I am confident."
Biden's Wednesday remark is the first time the president-elect has publicly addressed his son's tax investigation, according to Fox News.
Hunter Biden's tax obligations and foreign financial entanglements were a subject of scrutiny during Joe Biden's presidential campaign. The Washington Free Beacon revealed in August that the younger Biden paid off a $450,000 tax lien this summer despite having no discernible income. Joe Biden responded to attacks on his son at a debate with President Donald Trump, claiming Hunter Biden "has not made money, in terms of this thing about ... China."


freebeacon--2020-12-16--Biden Transition Includes Staffer With Anti-Police Ties

A Biden transition team member has a senior role at a nonprofit organization that funds groups working to defund the police and abolish ICE .
President-elect Joe Biden 's transition team for the Department of Energy includes Rhonda Carter , the vice president of culture and operations for the Marguerite Casey Foundation , a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) organization devoted to racial and social justice .
In May , the foundation sent $ 600,000 to Color of Change and Mijente , racial justice organizations focused on `` decarceration '' and other law enforcement reforms .
Color of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ending mass incarceration .
One petition sponsored by Color of Change explicitly called to defund the police in Minneapolis by demanding the passage of a measure that would `` change the city charter and dismantle the Minneapolis Police . ''
Mijente takes aim at immigration practices .
On its website , the organization offers a media kit , talking points , and a policy platform focused on `` reimagining '' American immigration practices , specifically advocating for the abolition of ICE .
The group also advocates for the defunding of border control , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ migration to the United States .
The pro-immigration group also touts a political arm .
Mijente PAC currently operates training sessions for activists to mobilize Latino voters for the Georgia Senate runoffs , and spent more than $ 1 million in the 2020 election cycle , according to the Center for Responsive Politics .
During the presidential campaign , Biden distanced himself from the `` defund the police '' movement in an attempt to woo moderate voters .
In a leaked audio recording , the president-elect said that the stance enabled the GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of down-ballot far-left candidates across the country .
His transition team did not return a request for comment about Carter 's association with anti-police activists .
`` The Marguerite Casey Foundation is a donor of far-left causes and organizations that seek to transform America into something the Founders never intended , '' Gonzalez told the Washington Free Beacon .
The foundation serves to elevate figures who `` shift the balance of power in their communities toward people who are excluded from sharing in the resources and benefits of society , and who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a truly representative economy , '' according to its website .
It scrubbed the full list of its grantees from its website in August 2020 .
The foundation did not respond to a request for comment .
Carter previously served in the Department of Transportation and Department of Energy , in addition to serving as a White House aide under President Barack Obama .
Carter also is an alumna of the Clinton-associated think tank Center for American Progress .

A Biden transition team member has a senior role at a nonprofit organization that funds groups working to defund the police and abolish ICE.
President-elect Joe Biden's transition team for the Department of Energy includes Rhonda Carter, the vice president of culture and operations for the Marguerite Casey Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization devoted to racial and social justice. In May, the foundation sent $600,000 to Color of Change and Mijente, racial justice organizations focused on "decarceration" and other law enforcement reforms. Color of Change advocates for eliminating cash bail and ending mass incarceration. One petition sponsored by Color of Change explicitly called to defund the police in Minneapolis by demanding the passage of a measure that would "change the city charter and dismantle the Minneapolis Police."
Mijente takes aim at immigration practices. On its website, the organization offers a media kit, talking points, and a policy platform focused on "reimagining" American immigration practices, specifically advocating for the abolition of ICE. The group also advocates for the defunding of border control, in addition to decriminalizing all forms of migration to the United States. The pro-immigration group also touts a political arm. Mijente PAC currently operates training sessions for activists to mobilize Latino voters for the Georgia Senate runoffs, and spent more than $1 million in the 2020 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
During the presidential campaign, Biden distanced himself from the "defund the police" movement in an attempt to woo moderate voters. In a leaked audio recording, the president-elect said that the stance enabled the GOP to "beat the living hell" out of down-ballot far-left candidates across the country. His transition team did not return a request for comment about Carter's association with anti-police activists.
Heritage Foundation senior fellow Mike Gonzalez panned Carter's association with such projects.
"The Marguerite Casey Foundation is a donor of far-left causes and organizations that seek to transform America into something the Founders never intended," Gonzalez told the Washington Free Beacon.
The foundation serves to elevate figures who "shift the balance of power in their communities toward people who are excluded from sharing in the resources and benefits of society, and who have the vision and capacity to build a truly representative economy," according to its website. It scrubbed the full list of its grantees from its website in August 2020.
The foundation did not respond to a request for comment.
Carter previously served in the Department of Transportation and Department of Energy, in addition to serving as a White House aide under President Barack Obama. Carter also is an alumna of the Clinton-associated think tank Center for American Progress.


freebeacon--2020-12-16--Supreme Court’s Cuomo Rebuke Has Nationwide Ripple Effect

Fallout from the Supreme Court 's Thanksgiving decision blocking New York governor Andrew Cuomo 's ( D. ) worship restrictions is spreading nationwide , as the justices tee up similar orders in other blue states for a legal reckoning .
The High Court since Dec. 3 has invoked the Cuomo ruling to erase decisions favoring public health authorities over the faithful in California , Colorado , and New Jersey .
In each case , the justices told a lower court to have a second look at the contested rules , then follow their lead in the New York case .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ turning point for legal challenges to pandemic policies .
The order looked especially vulnerable to a lawsuit since Cuomo had publicly singled out Orthodox Jews after a spike in transmission .
An initial version of his order did not include criteria for triggering restrictions , feeding perceptions that the governor was targeting the Orthodox .
Those weaknesses made the case an ideal vehicle for the Court 's emboldened conservative wing to set a new course for constitutional challenges to public health guidelines .
Some lower courts recognized as much without prodding from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent decision in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo arguably represented a seismic shift in Free Exercise law , '' Ninth Circuit Judge Milan Smith wrote in a Tuesday decision declaring Nevada 's church attendance cap unconstitutional .
The Supreme Court 's new direction is an abrupt departure from its initial attitude toward pandemic-related lawsuits .
With Chief Justice John Roberts in control , the Court first rebuffed a challenge to pandemic-related worship restrictions in May .
In a separate solo opinion , Roberts said the courts should n't interfere with policymakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` When [ state ] officials undertake to act in areas fraught with medical and scientific uncertainties their latitude must be especially broad , '' Roberts wrote .
`` They should not be subject to second-guessing by an unelected federal judiciary which lacks the background , competence , and expertise to assess public health and is not accountable to the people . ''
Though the opinion barely ran two pages , it had widespread practical consequences .
Throughout the summer and into the fall , federal courts cited Roberts 's opinion to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulations .
The plaintiffs in those cases ranged from Jewish overnight camps in New York to boutique fitness studios in Arizona .
`` Although plaintiffs disagree with [ New York health commissioner Howard Zucker 's ] conclusions that overnight camps present a dangerous setting for the transmission of the COVID-19 virus when certain precautions are taken , the court will not second-guess defendant on the wisdom or efficacy of his emergency measures to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus , '' U.S. District Judge Glenn Suddaby wrote in a representative case , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case was an emergency appeal decided on legal papers alone .
Such disputes are part of the Court 's `` shadow docket , '' so called because they are resolved in secret .
There are no public arguments and the justices usually do not give reasons for their decisions .
Whether shadow docket rulings automatically count as precedents that bind lower courts is an open question .
Whatever the answer , the justices are making clear which opinion lower courts should heed in their recent orders underlining the Cuomo decision .
Like May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shadow docket appeal .
`` It is n't clear that a shadow docket decision is precedential , but now the Supreme Court , and the Ninth Circuit , have treated the case as precedential , '' South Texas College of Law professor Josh Blackman told the Washington Free Beacon .
Governor Cuomo is reportedly under consideration for attorney general in the Biden administration , though he has denied interest in the post .
Cuomo 's office did not return a request for comment .

Fallout from the Supreme Court's Thanksgiving decision blocking New York governor Andrew Cuomo's (D.) worship restrictions is spreading nationwide, as the justices tee up similar orders in other blue states for a legal reckoning.
The High Court since Dec. 3 has invoked the Cuomo ruling to erase decisions favoring public health authorities over the faithful in California, Colorado, and New Jersey. In each case, the justices told a lower court to have a second look at the contested rules, then follow their lead in the New York case.
Cuomo's church-capacity limits were a dramatic turning point for legal challenges to pandemic policies. The order looked especially vulnerable to a lawsuit since Cuomo had publicly singled out Orthodox Jews after a spike in transmission. An initial version of his order did not include criteria for triggering restrictions, feeding perceptions that the governor was targeting the Orthodox. Those weaknesses made the case an ideal vehicle for the Court's emboldened conservative wing to set a new course for constitutional challenges to public health guidelines.
Some lower courts recognized as much without prodding from the justices.
"The Supreme Court's recent decision in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo arguably represented a seismic shift in Free Exercise law," Ninth Circuit Judge Milan Smith wrote in a Tuesday decision declaring Nevada's church attendance cap unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court's new direction is an abrupt departure from its initial attitude toward pandemic-related lawsuits. With Chief Justice John Roberts in control, the Court first rebuffed a challenge to pandemic-related worship restrictions in May. In a separate solo opinion, Roberts said the courts shouldn't interfere with policymakers as they race to contain the coronavirus.
"When [state] officials undertake to act in areas fraught with medical and scientific uncertainties their latitude must be especially broad," Roberts wrote. "They should not be subject to second-guessing by an unelected federal judiciary which lacks the background, competence, and expertise to assess public health and is not accountable to the people."
Though the opinion barely ran two pages, it had widespread practical consequences. Throughout the summer and into the fall, federal courts cited Roberts's opinion to turn down dozens of challenges to COVID regulations. The plaintiffs in those cases ranged from Jewish overnight camps in New York to boutique fitness studios in Arizona.
"Although plaintiffs disagree with [New York health commissioner Howard Zucker's] conclusions that overnight camps present a dangerous setting for the transmission of the COVID-19 virus when certain precautions are taken, the court will not second-guess defendant on the wisdom or efficacy of his emergency measures to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus," U.S. District Judge Glenn Suddaby wrote in a representative case, citing Roberts's opinion.
The May case was an emergency appeal decided on legal papers alone. Such disputes are part of the Court's "shadow docket," so called because they are resolved in secret. There are no public arguments and the justices usually do not give reasons for their decisions.
Whether shadow docket rulings automatically count as precedents that bind lower courts is an open question. Whatever the answer, the justices are making clear which opinion lower courts should heed in their recent orders underlining the Cuomo decision. Like May's dispute, the Cuomo case was a shadow docket appeal.
"It isn't clear that a shadow docket decision is precedential, but now the Supreme Court, and the Ninth Circuit, have treated the case as precedential," South Texas College of Law professor Josh Blackman told the Washington Free Beacon.
Governor Cuomo is reportedly under consideration for attorney general in the Biden administration, though he has denied interest in the post.
Cuomo's office did not return a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-12-16--Students at University of Oregon Attempt to Remove College Republicans from Campus

Student activists at the University of Oregon are attempting to remove the College Republicans from campus for attending a `` stop the steal '' rally .
Members of the university 's student government are working to `` deplatform '' the club by cutting off its organizational funding and revoking its status as an official campus group .
The governing body has yet to dissolve the club , though it unanimously passed a resolution calling for `` cultural competency training '' for all organizations during a meeting with College Republican leaders .
Student activists have since called on the group to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a condemnation it has issued several times .
The push to deplatform the group came after members posted a picture of themselves at a `` stop the steal '' rally .
Hanging in the background of the Instagram post were two flags with the Proud Boys emblem on them .
The Proud Boys are a far-right political group with similar violent tendencies to Antifa .
The photo garnered nearly 2,500 comments , some of which called the Republicans `` neo-Nazis . ''
Katie Clarke , a student government secretary , also commented on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excited to deplatform '' the group .
Isaiah De Alba , the College Republicans ' political director , said his organization does not defend the Proud Boys `` in any way , shape , or form . ''
`` The reality of the situation is that this is not about our one-time Instagram post.… This is about a long-standing hate for conservative ideology on campus and the mob mentality at our university , '' De Alba told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` We are more than happy to compromise with [ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not conflict with our conservative beliefs or beliefs in free speech . ''
The calls for the club 's abolition continued in the student newspaper , the Daily Emerald .
One student columnist said the university was `` protecting and [ legitimizing ] White ideology '' by letting the club operate on campus .
`` Silence from the university actively maintains white male supremacy , '' the column reads .
The University of Oregon did not respond to requests for comment .

Student activists at the University of Oregon are attempting to remove the College Republicans from campus for attending a "stop the steal" rally.
Members of the university's student government are working to "deplatform" the club by cutting off its organizational funding and revoking its status as an official campus group. The governing body has yet to dissolve the club, though it unanimously passed a resolution calling for "cultural competency training" for all organizations during a meeting with College Republican leaders. Student activists have since called on the group to condemn white supremacy and political violence, a condemnation it has issued several times.
The push to deplatform the group came after members posted a picture of themselves at a "stop the steal" rally. Hanging in the background of the Instagram post were two flags with the Proud Boys emblem on them. The Proud Boys are a far-right political group with similar violent tendencies to Antifa.
The photo garnered nearly 2,500 comments, some of which called the Republicans "neo-Nazis." Katie Clarke, a student government secretary, also commented on the picture saying she was "so excited to deplatform" the group.
Isaiah De Alba, the College Republicans' political director, said his organization does not defend the Proud Boys "in any way, shape, or form."
"The reality of the situation is that this is not about our one-time Instagram post.… This is about a long-standing hate for conservative ideology on campus and the mob mentality at our university," De Alba told the Washington Free Beacon. "We are more than happy to compromise with [the student government] in some way that does not conflict with our conservative beliefs or beliefs in free speech."
The calls for the club's abolition continued in the student newspaper, the Daily Emerald. One student columnist said the university was "protecting and [legitimizing] White ideology" by letting the club operate on campus. "Silence from the university actively maintains white male supremacy," the column reads.
The University of Oregon did not respond to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-12-16--Biden Taps AIPAC Dem to Head Energy Department

President-elect Joe Biden will reportedly select a pro-Israel Democrat who has played a central role in combating her party 's embrace of policies that undermine the historically close U.S.-Israel relationship for his Secretary of Energy .
Biden will tap former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm to sit atop the country 's nuclear stockpile as the Department of Energy 's next leader , according to the Washington Post .
As energy secretary , Granholm , a veteran of the Democratic political scene , will be responsible for America 's nuclear stockpile , which is aging and needs to be modernized .
Granholm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Biden administration 's diplomacy with Iran as it works to reenter former president Barack Obama 's landmark nuclear deal with the country .
Her appointment is likely to be well-received by pro-Israel Democrats who are counting on the Biden administration to maintain tight ties with the Jewish state .
During the 2020 election cycle , Granholm worked with the Democratic Majority for Israel , an advocacy group created to counter the Democratic Party 's most vocal critics of Israel , including Reps. Ilhan Omar ( Minn. ) and Rashida Tlaib ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporter of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee , the nation 's top pro-Israel group .
AIPAC has emerged as a source of contention in the Democratic Party , which has grappled with calls for its leaders to boycott the group 's annual pro-Israel confab in Washington , D.C .
While Granholm 's selection was immediately met with praise by Democratic leaders , her pro-Israel bona fides could irritate the party 's left flank .

President-elect Joe Biden will reportedly select a pro-Israel Democrat who has played a central role in combating her party's embrace of policies that undermine the historically close U.S.-Israel relationship for his Secretary of Energy.
Biden will tap former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm to sit atop the country's nuclear stockpile as the Department of Energy's next leader, according to the Washington Post. As energy secretary, Granholm, a veteran of the Democratic political scene, will be responsible for America's nuclear stockpile, which is aging and needs to be modernized.
Granholm may also emerge as a central player in the Biden administration's diplomacy with Iran as it works to reenter former president Barack Obama's landmark nuclear deal with the country. Her appointment is likely to be well-received by pro-Israel Democrats who are counting on the Biden administration to maintain tight ties with the Jewish state. During the 2020 election cycle, Granholm worked with the Democratic Majority for Israel, an advocacy group created to counter the Democratic Party's most vocal critics of Israel, including Reps. Ilhan Omar (Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.).
Granholm is also a supporter of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the nation's top pro-Israel group. AIPAC has emerged as a source of contention in the Democratic Party, which has grappled with calls for its leaders to boycott the group's annual pro-Israel confab in Washington, D.C. While Granholm's selection was immediately met with praise by Democratic leaders, her pro-Israel bona fides could irritate the party's left flank.


freebeacon--2020-12-16--Senate Dem Says Party Leaders Don’t Know How to Talk to Rural Voters

Democratic senator Jon Tester ( Mont . )
on Wednesday said his party 's leadership does n't know how to speak to rural voters .
In an interview with the New York Times , Tester named Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) multiple times in his diagnosis of the party 's disconnect with the heartland .
`` You can not have Chuck Schumer talking rural issues to rural people ; it ai n't gon na sell , '' the farmer-turned-senator said .
He added that he has spoken to Schumer `` several times '' about Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats for their failure to condemn riots in American cities over the summer , saying the activist message of defunding the police is `` insane . ''
`` We didn ’ t come out with strong advertisements saying : ‘ Rioting , burglary , is not demonstration and it ’ s not acceptable , ' '' he said , adding that places such as Indian Country need `` more police officers , not less . ''
Tester also placed partial blame on the coronavirus pandemic , which he said hampered campaigning on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show Democrats continued to bleed rural support in 2020 , a trend that has quickened since Barack Obama 's election in 2008 .
Tester is not the only Democrat to have faulted left-wing movements including `` Defund the Police '' for the party 's setbacks .
Days after the November election , Sen. Joe Manchin ( D. , W.Va. ) said , `` Defund the police ?
Defund , my butt . ''
Rep. Abigail Spanberger ( D. , Va. ) said radical rhetoric almost doomed her reelection and led to electoral `` @ @ @ @ @ @

Democratic senator Jon Tester (Mont.) on Wednesday said his party's leadership doesn't know how to speak to rural voters.
In an interview with the New York Times, Tester named Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) multiple times in his diagnosis of the party's disconnect with the heartland.
"You cannot have Chuck Schumer talking rural issues to rural people; it ain't gonna sell," the farmer-turned-senator said. He added that he has spoken to Schumer "several times" about Democrats' messaging blunders.
Tester also excoriated Democrats for their failure to condemn riots in American cities over the summer, saying the activist message of defunding the police is "insane."
"We didn’t come out with strong advertisements saying: 'Rioting, burglary, is not demonstration and it’s not acceptable,'" he said, adding that places such as Indian Country need "more police officers, not less." Tester also placed partial blame on the coronavirus pandemic, which he said hampered campaigning on the state and local levels.
Election results show Democrats continued to bleed rural support in 2020, a trend that has quickened since Barack Obama's election in 2008.
Tester is not the only Democrat to have faulted left-wing movements including "Defund the Police" for the party's setbacks. Days after the November election, Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) said, "Defund the police? Defund, my butt." Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D., Va.) said radical rhetoric almost doomed her reelection and led to electoral "failure" for House Democrats.


freebeacon--2020-12-16--Gun-Control Group Spends Big to Boost Warnock

One of the country 's leading gun-control groups has entered the Georgia Senate runoffs with a six-figure buy against Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler .
Brady PAC is running a 30-second ad on television in the state after making a $ 100,000 purchase , according to Federal Election Commission filings .
The ad attacks Sen. Loeffler 's record of supporting pro-gun legislation .
`` Kelly Loeffler gets appointed to the Senate and her top priority ?
Cosponsor three bills making it easier for criminals to access guns , '' a voiceover played during the ad says .
`` Meanwhile , back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ active-shooter drills , and gun violence is continuing to rise . ''
The ad is the first significant spending by any gun-control group in the runoffs .
Its focus on Second Amendment issues represents a turnaround from the non-gun ads Brady had run in the 2020 general election .
The groups have remained largely absent from the Georgia races even though the outcome will decide which party controls the Senate for the next two years .
If Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff defeat both Republican incumbents and take control of the legislative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures favored by President-elect Joe Biden ( D. ) are more likely to become law than if Republicans retain control .
Political observers in the state say Second Amendment issues are a high priority for many GOP voters .
`` Gun rights and gun control are perennially at the top of the political agenda in the state of Georgia , '' Timothy Lytton , a Georgia State University professor who has written about gun politics in the state , told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` Gun rights is as strong a motivator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' David Mustard , a University of Georgia professor whose research on gun issues has been published in academic journals , told the Free Beacon the state is very gun-friendly and pointed to the fact it has one of the highest percentages of adults with gun-carry permits in the nation .
`` I would think that the gun-control issue would , to the extent that it 's discussed , help generate Republican turnout more than Democrat , '' he said .
Brady PAC did not respond to questions on whether it plans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if it planned to spend money in the race between Sen. David Perdue ( R. ) and Ossoff .
The two Georgia races offer voters a stark contrast on gun policy .
While Loeffler and Perdue have opposed new measures such as bans on guns like the popular AR-15 , Warnock and Ossoff have embraced gun-control measures .
Ossoff has at times tried to position himself as a Second Amendment defender , but his campaign website highlights his support for bans on `` assault weapons and high-capacity magazines '' as well as new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warnock 's record reflects years of gun-control advocacy , oftentimes from the pulpit .
Loeffler 's campaign said Warnock is bankrolled by gun-control advocates and would be a deciding vote for new gun laws if elected .
`` Raphael Warnock has called gun owners ‘ crazy , ' believes that ‘ guns make people less safe , ' lobbied against the Second Amendment , and is bankrolled by anti-gun groups like Brady PAC , '' Caitlin O'Dea , a spokeswoman for the campaign , told the Free Beacon .
`` Worse , Warnock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schumer to take away guns . ''
O'Dea pointed to Loeffler 's A-rating from the National Rifle Association as evidence she `` will always protect the Second Amendment . ''
The NRA has endorsed Loeffler , and its super PAC has already pledged to spend over $ 1.5 million in the Georgia runoffs—dwarfing Brady 's ad buy .
The group said the absence of spending from other gun-control groups such as Giffords and the Bloomberg-backed Everytown for Gun Safety is evidence the groups do not think they can motivate voters in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgians is simply a losing issue in this election , '' super PAC spokeswoman Erica Tergeson told the Free Beacon .
Lytton said the politics of Georgia favor Second Amendment advocates , especially in a traditionally low-turnout runoff election where each side attempts to motivate its voters to get to the polls without a presidential election to draw them in .
`` The gun issue plays an important role in the Republican camp largely because gun rights is a very big motivator issue for voters not just in rural parts of Georgia but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lytton said .
`` That helps to explain a little bit why it is that gun-control groups have been less active .
And I think that 's partly because gun control is not the biggest turnout issue among Democrats . ''
Mustard said he has not yet seen evidence of a significant shift in attitudes toward gun control among Georgians even with Biden winning the state over President Donald Trump by a slim margin .
If anything , he said , he is surprised Republicans have not focused more of their advertising on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I could imagine Republicans going , ‘ either of the Republican candidates is the last step between here and having your guns removed , ' '' he said .
`` I have n't really actually seen that as much as I anticipated . ''

One of the country's leading gun-control groups has entered the Georgia Senate runoffs with a six-figure buy against Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler.
Brady PAC is running a 30-second ad on television in the state after making a $100,000 purchase, according to Federal Election Commission filings. The ad attacks Sen. Loeffler's record of supporting pro-gun legislation.
"Kelly Loeffler gets appointed to the Senate and her top priority? Cosponsor three bills making it easier for criminals to access guns," a voiceover played during the ad says. "Meanwhile, back in Georgia, our kids are doing active-shooter drills, and gun violence is continuing to rise."
The ad is the first significant spending by any gun-control group in the runoffs. Its focus on Second Amendment issues represents a turnaround from the non-gun ads Brady had run in the 2020 general election. The groups have remained largely absent from the Georgia races even though the outcome will decide which party controls the Senate for the next two years. If Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff defeat both Republican incumbents and take control of the legislative body, the gun bans and other measures favored by President-elect Joe Biden (D.) are more likely to become law than if Republicans retain control.
Political observers in the state say Second Amendment issues are a high priority for many GOP voters.
"Gun rights and gun control are perennially at the top of the political agenda in the state of Georgia," Timothy Lytton, a Georgia State University professor who has written about gun politics in the state, told the Washington Free Beacon. "Gun rights is as strong a motivator issue in Georgia as there is."
David Mustard, a University of Georgia professor whose research on gun issues has been published in academic journals, told the Free Beacon the state is very gun-friendly and pointed to the fact it has one of the highest percentages of adults with gun-carry permits in the nation. "I would think that the gun-control issue would, to the extent that it's discussed, help generate Republican turnout more than Democrat," he said.
Brady PAC did not respond to questions on whether it plans to spend more in the Loeffler race or if it planned to spend money in the race between Sen. David Perdue (R.) and Ossoff.
The two Georgia races offer voters a stark contrast on gun policy. While Loeffler and Perdue have opposed new measures such as bans on guns like the popular AR-15, Warnock and Ossoff have embraced gun-control measures. Ossoff has at times tried to position himself as a Second Amendment defender, but his campaign website highlights his support for bans on "assault weapons and high-capacity magazines" as well as new licensing regimes for owning certain guns. Warnock's record reflects years of gun-control advocacy, oftentimes from the pulpit.
Loeffler's campaign said Warnock is bankrolled by gun-control advocates and would be a deciding vote for new gun laws if elected.
"Raphael Warnock has called gun owners 'crazy,' believes that 'guns make people less safe,' lobbied against the Second Amendment, and is bankrolled by anti-gun groups like Brady PAC," Caitlin O'Dea, a spokeswoman for the campaign, told the Free Beacon. "Worse, Warnock would be a rubber stamp for Chuck Schumer to take away guns."
O'Dea pointed to Loeffler's A-rating from the National Rifle Association as evidence she "will always protect the Second Amendment." The NRA has endorsed Loeffler, and its super PAC has already pledged to spend over $1.5 million in the Georgia runoffs—dwarfing Brady's ad buy. The group said the absence of spending from other gun-control groups such as Giffords and the Bloomberg-backed Everytown for Gun Safety is evidence the groups do not think they can motivate voters in the state.
"Restricting the rights of law-abiding Georgians is simply a losing issue in this election," super PAC spokeswoman Erica Tergeson told the Free Beacon.
Lytton said the politics of Georgia favor Second Amendment advocates, especially in a traditionally low-turnout runoff election where each side attempts to motivate its voters to get to the polls without a presidential election to draw them in.
"The gun issue plays an important role in the Republican camp largely because gun rights is a very big motivator issue for voters not just in rural parts of Georgia but also in the Atlanta suburbs," Lytton said. "That helps to explain a little bit why it is that gun-control groups have been less active. And I think that's partly because gun control is not the biggest turnout issue among Democrats."
Mustard said he has not yet seen evidence of a significant shift in attitudes toward gun control among Georgians even with Biden winning the state over President Donald Trump by a slim margin. If anything, he said, he is surprised Republicans have not focused more of their advertising on the issue thus far in the runoff.
"I could imagine Republicans going, 'either of the Republican candidates is the last step between here and having your guns removed,'" he said. "I haven't really actually seen that as much as I anticipated."


freebeacon--2020-12-16--Poll: Supermajority of GA Voters Oppose Changing Braves Team Name

Nearly 72 percent of likely Georgia voters—including a majority of Democrats—are against changing the Atlanta Braves mascot , a new poll shows .
According to the Trafalgar Group poll released Tuesday evening , about 90 percent of voters who support Republican senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler oppose the name change , compared with roughly 55 percent of voters backing Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock .
The issue could boost Perdue and Loeffler in Georgia 's tight Jan. 5 runoff election .
After the Cleveland Indians announced Monday that they will change their name , the Republicans issued a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any effort to rename the Atlanta Braves . ''
`` The Braves ' name honors our nation 's Native American heritage , which should not be erased , '' the statement reads .
`` And under no circumstances should one of the most celebrated teams in sports cave to the demands of the cancel culture and the radical left . ''
Ossoff and Warnock have yet to weigh in on the issue .
Following the Indians ' name change announcement , the Braves are now the only team in Major League Baseball with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Football League 's Washington Redskins also dropped their mascot in July , years after owner Dan Snyder vowed to `` never change the name of the team . ''
Braves officials responded by asserting that they are not considering a name change .
President Donald Trump criticized Cleveland 's decision to change mascots in a Sunday tweet , calling the move `` cancel culture at work . ''

Nearly 72 percent of likely Georgia voters—including a majority of Democrats—are against changing the Atlanta Braves mascot, a new poll shows.
According to the Trafalgar Group poll released Tuesday evening, about 90 percent of voters who support Republican senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler oppose the name change, compared with roughly 55 percent of voters backing Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.
The issue could boost Perdue and Loeffler in Georgia's tight Jan. 5 runoff election. After the Cleveland Indians announced Monday that they will change their name, the Republicans issued a joint statement declaring their opposition to "any effort to rename the Atlanta Braves."
"The Braves' name honors our nation's Native American heritage, which should not be erased," the statement reads. "And under no circumstances should one of the most celebrated teams in sports cave to the demands of the cancel culture and the radical left."
Ossoff and Warnock have yet to weigh in on the issue.
Following the Indians' name change announcement, the Braves are now the only team in Major League Baseball with a Native American mascot. The National Football League's Washington Redskins also dropped their mascot in July, years after owner Dan Snyder vowed to "never change the name of the team." Braves officials responded by asserting that they are not considering a name change.
President Donald Trump criticized Cleveland's decision to change mascots in a Sunday tweet, calling the move "cancel culture at work."


freebeacon--2020-12-17--The Democrats’ Real Enemy

The Democrats’ Real Enemy

Glamour magazine 's interview of Jen O'Malley Dillon , President-elect Joe Biden 's campaign manager , was the talk of the Twitterati on Wednesday .
The Biden administration , Dillon told the softball-lobbing fashion mag , intends to forge a productive working relationship with its loyal opposition and is prepared to compromise to advance the urgent interests of the American people .
Still , she felt compelled to make clear that Republicans are a `` bunch of fuckers . ''
`` I ’ m not saying they ’ re not a bunch of fuckers , '' Dillon declared .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats may be grumbling privately , according to Axios , those who weighed in on-the-record responded with one voice : You go , girl !
Obama flack Tommy Vietor praised Dillon ’ s `` direct , clear-eyed assessment '' and told would-be critics not to `` pretend that profanity is more obscene than letting people starve during a pandemic . ''
Our objection is certainly not to the vulgarity—but as long as we are not pretending , let ’ s not pretend this was a particularly brassy or memorable outburst ( Vice President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Senator Pat Leahy to go fuck himself on the floor of the Senate ) .
Still , Dillon ’ s remark made clear that despite Biden ’ s mealy-mouthed talk about healing the country ’ s divisions and reaching across the aisle , his team considers the opposition to be an enemy with whom compromise is neither acceptable nor possible .
It also got us wondering : When is the last time a prominent Democrat had harsh words like that for one of America ’ s actual foes ?
Ben Rhodes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was nobody his boss disliked working with more than Israel ’ s Bibi Netanyahu , who was `` dishonest '' and `` not on the level . ''
Good luck finding any such condemnation of the tyrants he was soliciting in Havana or Tehran .
We struggle to think of any instance in which the Democrats have offered a harsh word for those fuckers .
Obama himself reportedly overruled advisers who wanted to signal support for the 2009 Green Revolution , refusing to risk alienating that regime even as it slaughtered its people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House press secretary Robert Gibbs mustered this withering condemnation : `` Like the rest of the world , we were impressed by the vigorous debate and enthusiasm that this election generated , particularly among young Iranians .
We continue to monitor the entire situation closely . ''
The Democrats stand ready to compromise with the killers that lead Iran and China and work to understand the root causes of their hostility to America .
And one never gets the sense that they have to hold their noses in the process .
Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Or is it only us , the 75 million Americans who stand athwart their agenda of appeasement and decline , who they despise ?

Glamour magazine's interview of Jen O'Malley Dillon, President-elect Joe Biden's campaign manager, was the talk of the Twitterati on Wednesday.
The Biden administration, Dillon told the softball-lobbing fashion mag, intends to forge a productive working relationship with its loyal opposition and is prepared to compromise to advance the urgent interests of the American people. Still, she felt compelled to make clear that Republicans are a "bunch of fuckers."
"I’m not saying they’re not a bunch of fuckers," Dillon declared. "Mitch McConnell is terrible."
While Democrats may be grumbling privately, according to Axios, those who weighed in on-the-record responded with one voice: You go, girl! Obama flack Tommy Vietor praised Dillon’s "direct, clear-eyed assessment" and told would-be critics not to "pretend that profanity is more obscene than letting people starve during a pandemic."
Our objection is certainly not to the vulgarity—but as long as we are not pretending, let’s not pretend this was a particularly brassy or memorable outburst (Vice President Dick Cheney set the bar when he told Senator Pat Leahy to go fuck himself on the floor of the Senate). Still, Dillon’s remark made clear that despite Biden’s mealy-mouthed talk about healing the country’s divisions and reaching across the aisle, his team considers the opposition to be an enemy with whom compromise is neither acceptable nor possible. It also got us wondering: When is the last time a prominent Democrat had harsh words like that for one of America’s actual foes?
Ben Rhodes, of course, told us that there was nobody his boss disliked working with more than Israel’s Bibi Netanyahu, who was "dishonest" and "not on the level." Good luck finding any such condemnation of the tyrants he was soliciting in Havana or Tehran.
We struggle to think of any instance in which the Democrats have offered a harsh word for those fuckers. Obama himself reportedly overruled advisers who wanted to signal support for the 2009 Green Revolution, refusing to risk alienating that regime even as it slaughtered its people in the streets. At the time White House press secretary Robert Gibbs mustered this withering condemnation: "Like the rest of the world, we were impressed by the vigorous debate and enthusiasm that this election generated, particularly among young Iranians. We continue to monitor the entire situation closely."
The Democrats stand ready to compromise with the killers that lead Iran and China and work to understand the root causes of their hostility to America. And one never gets the sense that they have to hold their noses in the process. Do they disdain America’s enemies? Or is it only us, the 75 million Americans who stand athwart their agenda of appeasement and decline, who they despise?