freebeacon--2020-08-18--There’s The Rub! Photos Show Bill Clinton Getting Massaged by Jeffrey Epstein Victim

Disgraced former president Bill Clinton , a serial philanderer and suspected pervert , has somehow managed to avoid being thoroughly canceled by the bitter scolds who run the Democratic Party and their allies in the U.S. media .
He is scheduled to address the virtual Democratic convention on Tuesday .
Bad timing , then , for new photos to emerge of `` Slick Willy '' getting rubbed down by one of Jeffrey Epstein 's victims at a small airport in Portugal while the billionaire pedophile 's private plane , known as The Lolita Express , was refueling .
The photos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show the former president relaxing as Chauntae Davies , who was 22 at the time and serving as Epstein 's personal massage therapist , rubbed his neck and shoulders .
They were taken during a now notorious `` humanitarian '' jaunt to Africa in 2002 aboard Epstein 's private plane .
Clinton , who was 56 at the time , was joined by other celebs including actors Chris Tucker and Kevin Spacey .
According to Davies , she was repeatedly urged by Ghislaine Maxwell , the pedophile 's alleged madam who is currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work out a `` kink '' in Clinton 's neck by giving him a massage .
Clinton himself eventually asked the young abuse victim : `` Would you mind giving it a crack ? ''
That 's when the never-before-published photos were taken .
Epstein was accused of using his private plane to traffic sex slaves around the world .
Clinton has repeatedly denied knowing about Epstein 's prolific pedophilia and has denied ever setting foot on `` Pedophile Island , '' the billionaire 's private complex in the U.S. Virgin Islands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , have testified to seeing the former president on the island .
Bill and his wife , failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton , will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary in October .
Congrats !

Disgraced former president Bill Clinton, a serial philanderer and suspected pervert, has somehow managed to avoid being thoroughly canceled by the bitter scolds who run the Democratic Party and their allies in the U.S. media. He is scheduled to address the virtual Democratic convention on Tuesday.
Bad timing, then, for new photos to emerge of "Slick Willy" getting rubbed down by one of Jeffrey Epstein's victims at a small airport in Portugal while the billionaire pedophile's private plane, known as The Lolita Express, was refueling.
The photos, obtained by the Daily Mail, show the former president relaxing as Chauntae Davies, who was 22 at the time and serving as Epstein's personal massage therapist, rubbed his neck and shoulders. They were taken during a now notorious "humanitarian" jaunt to Africa in 2002 aboard Epstein's private plane. Clinton, who was 56 at the time, was joined by other celebs including actors Chris Tucker and Kevin Spacey.
According to Davies, she was repeatedly urged by Ghislaine Maxwell, the pedophile's alleged madam who is currently awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, to work out a "kink" in Clinton's neck by giving him a massage. Clinton himself eventually asked the young abuse victim: "Would you mind giving it a crack?" That's when the never-before-published photos were taken.
Epstein was accused of using his private plane to traffic sex slaves around the world. Clinton has repeatedly denied knowing about Epstein's prolific pedophilia and has denied ever setting foot on "Pedophile Island," the billionaire's private complex in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Some of Epstein's victims, however, have testified to seeing the former president on the island.
Bill and his wife, failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary in October. Congrats!


freebeacon--2020-08-18--Dem Donor NBC Exec Loses Job Over Sexual Impropriety

NBC Universal vice chairman and Democratic donor Ron Meyer is leaving the company after revelations he faced attempted extortion over an extramarital affair .
Meyer said in a statement released Tuesday that he had engaged in a `` very brief and consensual affair '' with a woman several years ago and reached a private settlement .
He claimed that other parties had learned of the settlement and attempted to extort him over it .
He also said he was faced with threats to implicate NBC Universal by publishing false allegations against Meyer .
Meyer is an active Democratic donor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Over the past four years , his activities include donations to a Joe Biden-supporting Super PAC , and donations to Sens .
Doug Jones ( D. , Ala. ) , Kyrsten Synema ( D. , Ariz. ) , Dianne Feinstein ( D. , Calif. ) , and Amy Klobuchar ( D. , Minn. ) , among others .
He also donated to a Hillary Clinton super PAC in 2016 .
The woman with whom Meyer had the affair was not an employee of NBC Universal , but Meyer reportedly did not reveal the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posed , which is what led to his ouster .
`` Late last week Ron Meyer informed NBCUniversal that he had acted in a manner which we believe is not consistent with our company policies or values , '' NBC Universal CEO Jeff Snell said .
`` Based on Ron ’ s disclosure of these actions , we have mutually concluded that Ron should leave the company , effective immediately . ''
Meyer worked at NBC Universal for more than 20 years , starting at the company in 1995 .

NBC Universal vice chairman and Democratic donor Ron Meyer is leaving the company after revelations he faced attempted extortion over an extramarital affair.
Meyer said in a statement released Tuesday that he had engaged in a "very brief and consensual affair" with a woman several years ago and reached a private settlement. He claimed that other parties had learned of the settlement and attempted to extort him over it. He also said he was faced with threats to implicate NBC Universal by publishing false allegations against Meyer.
Meyer is an active Democratic donor, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Over the past four years, his activities include donations to a Joe Biden-supporting Super PAC, and donations to Sens. Doug Jones (D., Ala.), Kyrsten Synema (D., Ariz.), Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.), and Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.), among others. He also donated to a Hillary Clinton super PAC in 2016.
The woman with whom Meyer had the affair was not an employee of NBC Universal, but Meyer reportedly did not reveal the threat to the company that the situation posed, which is what led to his ouster.
"Late last week Ron Meyer informed NBCUniversal that he had acted in a manner which we believe is not consistent with our company policies or values," NBC Universal CEO Jeff Snell said. "Based on Ron’s disclosure of these actions, we have mutually concluded that Ron should leave the company, effective immediately."
Meyer worked at NBC Universal for more than 20 years, starting at the company in 1995.


freebeacon--2020-08-18--Pennsylvania Republican Invites Portlanders to His District to Escape Riots

A Republican congressional candidate from Pennsylvania is inviting Portlanders who are fed up with their city ’ s violent protests and riots to move to his district—which doesn ’ t `` tolerate any of that horse**** '' —in a new campaign ad .
`` I 've heard you ’ ve been having a few issues .
Something about peaceful gatherings , interruptions to business , and local citizens dissatisfied with your leadership , '' Jim Bognet , who ’ s running in Pennsylvania ’ s Eighth Congressional District , said in the ad .
`` We won ’ t tolerate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Between clips of rioters setting off explosives and looters hauling armfuls of stolen merchandise , Bognet encourages Portland families and businesses to consider moving to his police-loving district .
`` If you ’ re a family or business living in Portland that ’ s leaning toward leaving for whatever reason , consider Northeast Pennsylvania , '' Bognet said .
`` We 're all about Made in America , we ’ re known for our midsize paper industry , and we love the police—well , maybe not our current congressman , but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon . ''
The ad will run on KOIN , Portland ’ s CBS affiliate , Tuesday night at 6 p.m. '' If the good people of Portland are tired of being terrorized by a bunch of violent anti-police nut jobs , Northeast PA welcomes them ! ''
Bognet told the Washington Free Beacon .
Bognet will face incumbent Matt Cartwright ( D. ) , who has represented Northeastern Pennsylvania since 2012 , in the general election on Nov. 3 .

A Republican congressional candidate from Pennsylvania is inviting Portlanders who are fed up with their city’s violent protests and riots to move to his district—which doesn’t "tolerate any of that horse****"—in a new campaign ad.
"I've heard you’ve been having a few issues. Something about peaceful gatherings, interruptions to business, and local citizens dissatisfied with your leadership," Jim Bognet, who’s running in Pennsylvania’s Eighth Congressional District, said in the ad. "We won’t tolerate any of that horse**** around here."
Between clips of rioters setting off explosives and looters hauling armfuls of stolen merchandise, Bognet encourages Portland families and businesses to consider moving to his police-loving district.
"If you’re a family or business living in Portland that’s leaning toward leaving for whatever reason, consider Northeast Pennsylvania," Bognet said. "We're all about Made in America, we’re known for our midsize paper industry, and we love the police—well, maybe not our current congressman, but I’ll be taking care of him soon."
The ad will run on KOIN, Portland’s CBS affiliate, Tuesday night at 6 p.m.
"If the good people of Portland are tired of being terrorized by a bunch of violent anti-police nut jobs, Northeast PA welcomes them!" Bognet told the Washington Free Beacon.
Bognet will face incumbent Matt Cartwright (D.), who has represented Northeastern Pennsylvania since 2012, in the general election on Nov. 3.


freebeacon--2020-08-18--Snowden Earned $1.2 Million From Speaking Events in Exile

Edward Snowden has reportedly earned $ 1.2 million in speaking fees while living in exile in Russia , according to a court filing by the Justice Department reported by Politico .
Speaking at virtual engagements all over the world , the former National Security Agency contractor and whistleblower has earned up to $ 50,000 for individual events .
The filing shows that Snowden was paid to speak at 67 events for institutions including universities and private companies .
Snowden in 2019 also published Permanent Record , which included highly sensitive national security information and became a New York Times bestseller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Saturday news conference he was considering pardoning Snowden for his leak of national security information .
`` I ’ m not that aware of the Snowden situation , '' Trump said .
`` Many people think he should be somehow treated differently and other people think he did very bad things… .
I ’ m going to take a look at that very strongly . ''
`` Edward Snowden is a traitor .
He is responsible for the largest and most damaging release of classified info in U.S. history , '' Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) tweeted Sunday .
`` He handed over U.S. secrets to Russian and Chinese intelligence putting our troops and our nation at risk .
Pardoning him would be unconscionable . ''
`` I ’ m confident President Trump understands the crimes committed by Snowden resulted in American forces—and those who assisted us throughout the world—being placed in greater danger , '' Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R. , S.C. ) said Monday .
Before his election , President Trump had previously called Snowden a `` traitor '' and `` spy who should be executed @ @

Edward Snowden has reportedly earned $1.2 million in speaking fees while living in exile in Russia, according to a court filing by the Justice Department reported by Politico.
Speaking at virtual engagements all over the world, the former National Security Agency contractor and whistleblower has earned up to $50,000 for individual events. The filing shows that Snowden was paid to speak at 67 events for institutions including universities and private companies.
Snowden in 2019 also published Permanent Record, which included highly sensitive national security information and became a New York Times bestseller.
President Donald Trump told reporters at a Saturday news conference he was considering pardoning Snowden for his leak of national security information.
"I’m not that aware of the Snowden situation," Trump said. "Many people think he should be somehow treated differently and other people think he did very bad things.... I’m going to take a look at that very strongly."
President Trump’s comments sparked bipartisan uproar, particularly from prominent Republican lawmakers.
"Edward Snowden is a traitor. He is responsible for the largest and most damaging release of classified info in U.S. history," Rep. Liz Cheney (R., Wyo.) tweeted Sunday. "He handed over U.S. secrets to Russian and Chinese intelligence putting our troops and our nation at risk. Pardoning him would be unconscionable."
"I’m confident President Trump understands the crimes committed by Snowden resulted in American forces—and those who assisted us throughout the world—being placed in greater danger," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) said Monday.
Before his election, President Trump had previously called Snowden a "traitor" and "spy who should be executed."


freebeacon--2020-08-18--Kasich: ‘We’ll Have to See’ Whether Biden Gives In to the Left

Former Ohio governor John Kasich spoke at the Democratic National Convention Monday to persuade Republicans to back Joe Biden , but he later admitted he 's not sure if the Democratic nominee can hold off the left wing of his party .
`` We 'll have to see , '' Kasich said on CNN when asked whether Biden would resist pressure from the Democratic base .
`` I 'm hopeful . ''
In his speech , Kasich addressed those who `` fear Joe may turn sharp left and leave them behind , '' painting Biden as a moderate that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` push around . ''
But after Kasich 's speech , Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) took the virtual stage to argue that Biden 's victory would ensure the gains made by the democratic socialist movement he leads .
Kasich was less sanguine about Biden 's ability to withstand pressure from the left when he responded to CNN political commentator Scott Jennings late Monday night .
Jennings argued Biden , if elected , would not be able to turn away the base of the party demanding radical change , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I respect the fact that you 're concerned that [ Biden ] could be overwhelmed , '' Kasich told Jennings .
`` I happen to think there will be enough people around him , particularly people who are close to him , who will not let that happen . ''
Sanders in his speech celebrated that the `` movement '' his campaign started is growing and that the radical ideas he fought for now hold sway in the Democratic mainstream .
`` Our campaign ended several months ago , but our movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` Sanders said .
`` Many of the ideas we fought for that just a few years ago were considered radical are now mainstream . ''
It was this message from Sanders that Jennings used to critique Kasich 's position that Biden was the moderate alternative to President Donald Trump .
`` Bernie Sanders himself said it right after [ Kasich ] tonight : His ideas are now mainstream in the Democratic Party that has nominated Joe Biden , and I find it hard to believe that Joe Biden is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideas and all the people who support those ideas away if he gets into the White House , '' Jennings said .

Former Ohio governor John Kasich spoke at the Democratic National Convention Monday to persuade Republicans to back Joe Biden, but he later admitted he's not sure if the Democratic nominee can hold off the left wing of his party.
"We'll have to see," Kasich said on CNN when asked whether Biden would resist pressure from the Democratic base. "I'm hopeful."
In his speech, Kasich addressed those who "fear Joe may turn sharp left and leave them behind," painting Biden as a moderate that the radical left would not be able to "push around." But after Kasich's speech, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) took the virtual stage to argue that Biden's victory would ensure the gains made by the democratic socialist movement he leads.
Kasich was less sanguine about Biden's ability to withstand pressure from the left when he responded to CNN political commentator Scott Jennings late Monday night. Jennings argued Biden, if elected, would not be able to turn away the base of the party demanding radical change, and Kasich said he respected that view.
"I respect the fact that you're concerned that [Biden] could be overwhelmed," Kasich told Jennings. "I happen to think there will be enough people around him, particularly people who are close to him, who will not let that happen."
Sanders in his speech celebrated that the "movement" his campaign started is growing and that the radical ideas he fought for now hold sway in the Democratic mainstream.
"Our campaign ended several months ago, but our movement continues and is getting stronger every day, "Sanders said. "Many of the ideas we fought for that just a few years ago were considered radical are now mainstream."
It was this message from Sanders that Jennings used to critique Kasich's position that Biden was the moderate alternative to President Donald Trump.
"Bernie Sanders himself said it right after [Kasich] tonight: His ideas are now mainstream in the Democratic Party that has nominated Joe Biden, and I find it hard to believe that Joe Biden is going to be able to turn all of those ideas and all the people who support those ideas away if he gets into the White House," Jennings said.


freebeacon--2020-08-18--Michelle Obama Urges In-Person Voting After Democrats Argued It Posed a Dire Threat

Former first lady Michelle Obama said Americans should vote `` in person if we can '' in her speech Monday night at the Democratic National Convention , marking a departure from Democrats ' approach to in-person voting .
`` We 've got to request our mail-in ballots right now , tonight , and send them back immediately and follow up to make sure they 're received , and then make sure our friends and families do the same , '' Obama said .
Her remarks come after Democratic leaders warned in the midst of several primary contests this spring that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
Democrats pushed unsuccessfully to extend voting in the Wisconsin primary , which took place in early April , arguing the coronavirus posed a threat to voters who visit the polls .
After the Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Wisconsin Democrats , DNC chairman Tom Perez said the election was a `` dark day '' for American democracy .
`` In the middle of one of the worst public health emergencies in modern history , the Republican Party forced the people of Wisconsin to choose between their safety and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
`` The craven self-interest of the GOP knows no bounds . ''
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) also accused the court of undermining American democracy and said , `` People should not have to decide whether they can vote or be sick . ''
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden said the in-person election should never have happened and the primary should have been conducted by mail-in ballots .
Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) called for the election to be delayed to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Majority Whip James Clyburn ( D. , S.C. ) said he was `` appalled '' by the court 's decision .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
said the in-person primary was an attempt to suppress the vote .
A working paper found that 71 coronavirus cases were directly connected to in-person voting .
In May , the Democratic National Committee released a statement on further in-person voting .
The statement called for ballots to be mailed to all registered voters , no-excuse absentee voting , and expanded days and @ @ @ @ @

Former first lady Michelle Obama said Americans should vote "in person if we can" in her speech Monday night at the Democratic National Convention, marking a departure from Democrats' approach to in-person voting.
"We've got to request our mail-in ballots right now, tonight, and send them back immediately and follow up to make sure they're received, and then make sure our friends and families do the same," Obama said.
Her remarks come after Democratic leaders warned in the midst of several primary contests this spring that in-person voting would lead to outbreaks of the coronavirus. Democrats pushed unsuccessfully to extend voting in the Wisconsin primary, which took place in early April, arguing the coronavirus posed a threat to voters who visit the polls.
After the Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Wisconsin Democrats, DNC chairman Tom Perez said the election was a "dark day" for American democracy.
"In the middle of one of the worst public health emergencies in modern history, the Republican Party forced the people of Wisconsin to choose between their safety and their vote," he said in a statement. "The craven self-interest of the GOP knows no bounds."
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) also accused the court of undermining American democracy and said, "People should not have to decide whether they can vote or be sick."
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden said the in-person election should never have happened and the primary should have been conducted by mail-in ballots. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) called for the election to be delayed to allow the implementation of vote-by-mail measures. House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D., S.C.) said he was "appalled" by the court's decision. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) said the in-person primary was an attempt to suppress the vote.
A working paper found that 71 coronavirus cases were directly connected to in-person voting.
In May, the Democratic National Committee released a statement on further in-person voting. The statement called for ballots to be mailed to all registered voters, no-excuse absentee voting, and expanded days and hours for in-person voting.


freebeacon--2020-08-18--Kim Jong Un Tells Elites to Hand Over Pet Dogs

On the grounds that dogs represent Western `` decadence , '' North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un commanded regime elites to hand over their pet dogs to the government , the New York Post reported Monday .
Kim ordered the confiscation of pet dogs in July , claiming they are part of `` a ‘ tainted ' trend by bourgeois ideology , '' according to a source who spoke to South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo .
`` Ordinary people raise pigs and livestock on their porches , but high-ranking officials and the wealthy own pet dogs , which stoked some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source added .
Some worry that the dogs will be used to bolster Pyongyang 's food supply .
Dog meat consumption is a documented tradition in the Koreas .
The extent to which the dogs are butchered and sold for foodstuffs is unclear .
The Chosun Ilbo source said that some of the dogs are sold to restaurants within North Korea .
North Korea has long been plagued by food shortages , which have been exacerbated by the coronavirus-weakened global economy .
A United Nations spokeswoman noted earlier this year that roughly 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from malnutrition , including children who face an outsized impact on their longterm health .
The economy and public health of North Korea are further complicated by the budgetary decisions made by Kim and the communist elite .
Pyongyang regularly prioritizes missile development programs over feeding its people , while robust sanctions have hit the communist country 's strained economy .
Although North Korea relies on China—its closest economic and political partner—Sino-North Korean trade has plunged by 90 percent during the coronavirus pandemic .
The severity of the pandemic in North Korea is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the state , but there have been confirmed cases within the country .

On the grounds that dogs represent Western "decadence," North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un commanded regime elites to hand over their pet dogs to the government, the New York Post reported Monday.
Kim ordered the confiscation of pet dogs in July, claiming they are part of "a 'tainted' trend by bourgeois ideology," according to a source who spoke to South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo.
"Ordinary people raise pigs and livestock on their porches, but high-ranking officials and the wealthy own pet dogs, which stoked some resentment" in the underclass, the source added.
Some worry that the dogs will be used to bolster Pyongyang's food supply. Dog meat consumption is a documented tradition in the Koreas.
The extent to which the dogs are butchered and sold for foodstuffs is unclear. The Chosun Ilbo source said that some of the dogs are sold to restaurants within North Korea.
North Korea has long been plagued by food shortages, which have been exacerbated by the coronavirus-weakened global economy. A United Nations spokeswoman noted earlier this year that roughly 40 percent of the country's population suffers from malnutrition, including children who face an outsized impact on their longterm health.
The economy and public health of North Korea are further complicated by the budgetary decisions made by Kim and the communist elite. Pyongyang regularly prioritizes missile development programs over feeding its people, while robust sanctions have hit the communist country's strained economy.
Although North Korea relies on China—its closest economic and political partner—Sino-North Korean trade has plunged by 90 percent during the coronavirus pandemic.
The severity of the pandemic in North Korea is unclear due to a lack of transparency from the state, but there have been confirmed cases within the country.


freebeacon--2020-08-19--60 Percent of Police Drones Are Chinese Made

Chinese manufacturers produced more than three in five drones used by local and state law enforcement , potentially exposing sensitive geographic and personal data to the Chinese government .
Chinese tech companies have sold or gifted drones to more than 970 law enforcement and first responder agencies across the country , presenting a massive national security risk , according to a new report by John Venable and Lora Ries , senior research fellows at the conservative Heritage Foundation .
The authors of the report warn that the Chinese government can compel these companies to cough up sensitive data collected in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help Beijing identify vulnerabilities in U.S. critical infrastructure and track down the location of American civic leaders .
`` There is no separation between Chinese firms and the government , '' Venable told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` When any one of these Chinese drone manufacturers take data back into their system … once it 's back there , the government has direct access to it and they can get anything they want from the company . ''
The report comes amid heightened scrutiny of Chinese tech companies operating in the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration imposed additional restrictions on Huawei , a telecommunications giant accused of spying on behalf of Beijing—and banned suppliers from providing U.S.-made chips to the company .
The White House also required Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok , a popular social media platform , to a U.S. company to prevent the Chinese government from accessing user data .
Drone use in the United States has increased exponentially in the last five years .
This is especially the case for law enforcement officials and first responders who use drones ' bird's-eye view to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fires .
DJI , a Chinese company founded in 2006 , has reaped the greatest benefit from this increase in demand , cornering 77 percent of the U.S. drone market .
That success was fueled by regime subsidies that allowed DJI to undersell competitors , according to the report 's authors .
The company continues to aggressively expand its market share , gifting 100 drones to nearly 50 agencies across the country in April , ostensibly to help local governments deal with the pandemic .
DJI has also cooperated with the Chinese police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Xinjiang government agency to monitor prisoners in a concentration camp for Muslim Uighurs .
The report found that DJI 's phone applications present a national security risk for government users .
According to two separate analyses cited by the report , the apps can access drone footage and images as well as data pertaining to the user 's political and religious affiliation .
Furthermore , the apps ' terms of conditions allow the developers to share the information with the Chinese government , granting access to hundreds of hours of video footage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The data those drones collect while flying over metropolitan areas would hold the precise location of critical infrastructure and sensitive information , such as the locations of civic leaders , their movements , and interactions , '' the report says .
`` If that data fell into the wrong hands—or was even collected by an entity with hostile intent—it could be used against individuals , officials , and agencies in ways that far exceed the benefits of those systems . ''
DJI has denied allegations that it is sharing information with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has taken steps to remove Chinese hardware from its drones fleet , the same can not be said for local and state governments .
The report urged the federal government to help prop up a domestic drone industry that could compete with Chinese drones .
`` If private individuals or private companies still want to buy [ DJI drones ] , at least they do so with knowledge of its dangers , '' Ries , one of the report 's authors , said .
`` But as far as the federal government and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so long as that data is being transferred to the CCP , the risk seems too high for government functions and government operations . ''

Chinese manufacturers produced more than three in five drones used by local and state law enforcement, potentially exposing sensitive geographic and personal data to the Chinese government.
Chinese tech companies have sold or gifted drones to more than 970 law enforcement and first responder agencies across the country, presenting a massive national security risk, according to a new report by John Venable and Lora Ries, senior research fellows at the conservative Heritage Foundation. The authors of the report warn that the Chinese government can compel these companies to cough up sensitive data collected in the United States. The technology could help Beijing identify vulnerabilities in U.S. critical infrastructure and track down the location of American civic leaders.
"There is no separation between Chinese firms and the government," Venable told the Washington Free Beacon. "When any one of these Chinese drone manufacturers take data back into their system … once it's back there, the government has direct access to it and they can get anything they want from the company."
The report comes amid heightened scrutiny of Chinese tech companies operating in the United States. On Monday, the Trump administration imposed additional restrictions on Huawei, a telecommunications giant accused of spying on behalf of Beijing—and banned suppliers from providing U.S.-made chips to the company. The White House also required Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok, a popular social media platform, to a U.S. company to prevent the Chinese government from accessing user data.
Drone use in the United States has increased exponentially in the last five years. This is especially the case for law enforcement officials and first responders who use drones' bird's-eye view to track down criminals or scout out forest fires. DJI, a Chinese company founded in 2006, has reaped the greatest benefit from this increase in demand, cornering 77 percent of the U.S. drone market. That success was fueled by regime subsidies that allowed DJI to undersell competitors, according to the report's authors.
The company continues to aggressively expand its market share, gifting 100 drones to nearly 50 agencies across the country in April, ostensibly to help local governments deal with the pandemic. DJI has also cooperated with the Chinese police state, however, providing drones to a Xinjiang government agency to monitor prisoners in a concentration camp for Muslim Uighurs.
The report found that DJI's phone applications present a national security risk for government users. According to two separate analyses cited by the report, the apps can access drone footage and images as well as data pertaining to the user's political and religious affiliation. Furthermore, the apps' terms of conditions allow the developers to share the information with the Chinese government, granting access to hundreds of hours of video footage from the United States to Beijing.
"The data those drones collect while flying over metropolitan areas would hold the precise location of critical infrastructure and sensitive information, such as the locations of civic leaders, their movements, and interactions," the report says. "If that data fell into the wrong hands—or was even collected by an entity with hostile intent—it could be used against individuals, officials, and agencies in ways that far exceed the benefits of those systems."
DJI has denied allegations that it is sharing information with the Chinese government.
While the federal government has taken steps to remove Chinese hardware from its drones fleet, the same cannot be said for local and state governments. The report urged the federal government to help prop up a domestic drone industry that could compete with Chinese drones.
"If private individuals or private companies still want to buy [DJI drones], at least they do so with knowledge of its dangers," Ries, one of the report's authors, said. "But as far as the federal government and state and local government uses the drones, so long as that data is being transferred to the CCP, the risk seems too high for government functions and government operations."


freebeacon--2020-08-19--Joe Biden’s AOC Problem

Joe Biden’s AOC Problem

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez struck a dissonant note in an otherwise well-orchestrated second night of the Democratic National Convention .
The freshman congresswoman 's highly anticipated speech was devoted to seconding Bernie Sanders 's nomination .
Where much of the programming celebrated the geographic and population diversity of America , Ocasio-Cortez impugned American society for its supposed misogyny , racism , and colonization .
She said it was Sanders , not his rivals , who could lead the country out of its overlapping social , economic , and health crises .
Unlike Sanders , however , Ocasio-Cortez said hardly a word about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sanders urged his movement to back Biden in November .
On Tuesday , we learned why he felt it was necessary to be so emphatic .
The reason is voters like Ocasio-Cortez .
It 's no secret that Millennials and Zoomers trend left .
Racially and ethnically diverse , and less affiliated with religious institutions than their elders , the rising generation is reshaping both the Democratic Party and national politics .
Ocasio-Cortez is its avatar .
Her failure to endorse Biden forcefully is a reminder that , for all the inroads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white voters , the party is still worried about turnout among young people and minorities .
For all the change Biden promises , it 's not enough for Ocasio-Cortez and Generation Woke .
I doubt the appeals from Caroline Kennedy , Chuck Schumer , Bill Clinton , Colin Powell , Cindy McCain , and John Kerry did much to change their minds .
If America has a ruling class , there can be no doubt after tonight who it backs for president .
It 's not the incumbent .
This second night was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assumed center stage as the nominee , but he did so in a revealing way .
The highlight of the evening was the roll call of the states , territories , Puerto Rico , and the District of Columbia in which a mix of elected officials , party activists , and men and women from the community touted their homes and told their stories .
It was hokey , fun , gripping , and happy .
And it showed how Biden is content to let others have the spotlight .
That in itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most recent presidents .
It took Biden 48 years in national politics and three attempts to get from the Senate to the Democratic nomination .
In the primaries , he assembled a winning coalition similar to the one that gave Democrats control of the House in 2018 .
Energizing that coalition to vote during a pandemic , amidst concerns about his age and drift to the left , is no easy task .
One that 's made all the more difficult by the congresswoman known as AOC .

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez struck a dissonant note in an otherwise well-orchestrated second night of the Democratic National Convention. The freshman congresswoman's highly anticipated speech was devoted to seconding Bernie Sanders's nomination. Where much of the programming celebrated the geographic and population diversity of America, Ocasio-Cortez impugned American society for its supposed misogyny, racism, and colonization. She said it was Sanders, not his rivals, who could lead the country out of its overlapping social, economic, and health crises. Unlike Sanders, however, Ocasio-Cortez said hardly a word about the actual Democratic nominee. On Monday, Sanders urged his movement to back Biden in November. On Tuesday, we learned why he felt it was necessary to be so emphatic. The reason is voters like Ocasio-Cortez.
It's no secret that Millennials and Zoomers trend left. Racially and ethnically diverse, and less affiliated with religious institutions than their elders, the rising generation is reshaping both the Democratic Party and national politics. Ocasio-Cortez is its avatar. Her failure to endorse Biden forcefully is a reminder that, for all the inroads Democrats have made among suburbanites and college-educated white voters, the party is still worried about turnout among young people and minorities. For all the change Biden promises, it's not enough for Ocasio-Cortez and Generation Woke.
I doubt the appeals from Caroline Kennedy, Chuck Schumer, Bill Clinton, Colin Powell, Cindy McCain, and John Kerry did much to change their minds. If America has a ruling class, there can be no doubt after tonight who it backs for president. It's not the incumbent.
This second night was more focused than the first. Biden assumed center stage as the nominee, but he did so in a revealing way. The highlight of the evening was the roll call of the states, territories, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia in which a mix of elected officials, party activists, and men and women from the community touted their homes and told their stories. It was hokey, fun, gripping, and happy. And it showed how Biden is content to let others have the spotlight. That in itself would be a departure from the two most recent presidents.
It took Biden 48 years in national politics and three attempts to get from the Senate to the Democratic nomination. In the primaries, he assembled a winning coalition similar to the one that gave Democrats control of the House in 2018. Energizing that coalition to vote during a pandemic, amidst concerns about his age and drift to the left, is no easy task. One that's made all the more difficult by the congresswoman known as AOC.


freebeacon--2020-08-19--Sally Yates Savages Trump Travel Ban In DNC Speech

Sally Yates , an Obama holdover who served as acting attorney general in the early days of the Trump administration , denounced the president and heralded her refusal to defend his travel ban during Tuesday night remarks to the Democratic National Convention .
Yates is widely considered a frontrunner for attorney general should Democratic nominee Joe Biden prevail in the November election .
She is also immediately adjacent to two of the Trump era 's greatest controversies : the president 's travel ban and the surveillance of Trump associates during the 2016 campaign .
`` I was fired for refusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlawful travel ban , '' Yates said .
`` That was the start of his relentless attacks on our democratic institutions and countless dedicated public servants . ''
`` He 's trampled the rule of law , trying to weaponize our Justice Department to attack his enemies and protect his friends , '' she added .
A subsequent iteration of the ban was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018 .
Those travel sanctions have since been modified and expanded .
The justices first allowed the travel restrictions to take effect while legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a limited basis .
Though Yates cast her refusal to defend the order as clear and decisive in Tuesday 's speech , her actions at the time appeared more cautious .
In a carefully crafted letter circulated to Justice Department staff shortly after Trump 's order came down , Yates did not say that the order could n't be defended .
Instead , she hedged , writing that she was `` not convinced '' that the order was legal .
Her letter elsewhere suggested that statements made by Trump and his surrogates show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stigmatizing Muslims , as opposed to national security .
The High Court ultimately declined to consider that evidence , however , concluding that it was not relevant to their review .
Even after leaving the administration , Yates has remained a Washington fixture as investigations into surveillance of the Trump campaign unfold .
She most recently testified before Congress on August 5 , saying she would not have signed off on applications to surveil Trump campaign adviser Carter Page had she known those applications contained omissions .
An inspector general investigation found 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to obtain surveillance warrants for Page .
Yates 's actions nonetheless made her an early hero to the president 's opponents .
After her dismissal , she took up an academic perch at Georgetown , then went into private practice at King & Spalding , a highly lucrative law firm based in her native Georgia .

Sally Yates, an Obama holdover who served as acting attorney general in the early days of the Trump administration, denounced the president and heralded her refusal to defend his travel ban during Tuesday night remarks to the Democratic National Convention.
Yates is widely considered a frontrunner for attorney general should Democratic nominee Joe Biden prevail in the November election. She is also immediately adjacent to two of the Trump era's greatest controversies: the president's travel ban and the surveillance of Trump associates during the 2016 campaign.
"I was fired for refusing to defend President Trump's shameful and unlawful travel ban," Yates said. "That was the start of his relentless attacks on our democratic institutions and countless dedicated public servants."
"He's trampled the rule of law, trying to weaponize our Justice Department to attack his enemies and protect his friends," she added.
A subsequent iteration of the ban was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. Those travel sanctions have since been modified and expanded. The justices first allowed the travel restrictions to take effect while legal fights unfolded in 2017, albeit on a limited basis.
Though Yates cast her refusal to defend the order as clear and decisive in Tuesday's speech, her actions at the time appeared more cautious. In a carefully crafted letter circulated to Justice Department staff shortly after Trump's order came down, Yates did not say that the order couldn't be defended. Instead, she hedged, writing that she was "not convinced" that the order was legal.
Her letter elsewhere suggested that statements made by Trump and his surrogates show that the ban's true purpose is stigmatizing Muslims, as opposed to national security. The High Court ultimately declined to consider that evidence, however, concluding that it was not relevant to their review.
Even after leaving the administration, Yates has remained a Washington fixture as investigations into surveillance of the Trump campaign unfold. She most recently testified before Congress on August 5, saying she would not have signed off on applications to surveil Trump campaign adviser Carter Page had she known those applications contained omissions. An inspector general investigation found 17 separate errors or omissions in government process to obtain surveillance warrants for Page.
Yates's actions nonetheless made her an early hero to the president's opponents. After her dismissal, she took up an academic perch at Georgetown, then went into private practice at King & Spalding, a highly lucrative law firm based in her native Georgia.


freebeacon--2020-08-19--Two of the Biggest Names in Democratic Sexual Deviance Address Party Convention

Two of the most powerful names in Democratic sexual deviance were featured back-to-back on the second night of the Democratic National Convention .
Caroline Kennedy , the aristocrat daughter of former President John F. Kennedy , and her annoying son Jack Schlossberg addressed the virtual convention on Tuesday , followed immediately by former President Bill Clinton .
Former President Kennedy , as well as his younger brother , former senator and renowned Chappaquiddick motorist Ted Kennedy , were prolific sexual deviants in their day .
Both were Democrats , obviously .
John was known for sleeping with White House interns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members on demand .
In addition to drowning a woman in car , Ted was known for his alcohol-drenched antics and the time he made a `` waitress sandwich '' with Chris Dodd , who co-chaired Joe Biden 's VP selection committee .
Clinton is a legend in his own right , and his name continues to appear in headlines of a sexual misadventures nature .
Hours before his address on Tuesday , for example , the Daily Mail published photos of the former president getting massaged by one of Jeffrey Epstein 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work out a `` kink '' while the billionaire pedophile 's private plane , aka `` The Lolita Express , '' was refueling in Portugal .
He also fooled around with White House interns and has been credibly accused of rape .
Thus far , the Democratic convention has endeavored to portray the party as the defender of women 's rights , among other things .

Two of the most powerful names in Democratic sexual deviance were featured back-to-back on the second night of the Democratic National Convention. Caroline Kennedy, the aristocrat daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, and her annoying son Jack Schlossberg addressed the virtual convention on Tuesday, followed immediately by former President Bill Clinton.
Former President Kennedy, as well as his younger brother, former senator and renowned Chappaquiddick motorist Ted Kennedy, were prolific sexual deviants in their day. Both were Democrats, obviously. John was known for sleeping with White House interns and forcing them to satisfy his staff members on demand. In addition to drowning a woman in car, Ted was known for his alcohol-drenched antics and the time he made a "waitress sandwich" with Chris Dodd, who co-chaired Joe Biden's VP selection committee.
Clinton is a legend in his own right, and his name continues to appear in headlines of a sexual misadventures nature. Hours before his address on Tuesday, for example, the Daily Mail published photos of the former president getting massaged by one of Jeffrey Epstein's young victims. Clinton reportedly needed to work out a "kink" while the billionaire pedophile's private plane, aka "The Lolita Express," was refueling in Portugal. He also fooled around with White House interns and has been credibly accused of rape.
Thus far, the Democratic convention has endeavored to portray the party as the defender of women's rights, among other things.


freebeacon--2020-08-20--The Gretchen Who Stole Football

The Gretchen Who Stole Football

Ohio State University reportedly faced an unsurprising foe in its bid to salvage a college football season in the age of coronavirus : Michigan Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer .
Whitmer is reportedly `` vehemently opposed to football being played '' at both the college and high school level in Michigan and is blocking the University of Michigan from signing on to be part of a pared-down six-team league put together by Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith .
The Michigan Wolverines ' head coach Jim Harbaugh has voiced support for a fall football season , but the decision to join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who may be hesitant to cross Whitmer .
`` I was also told that one roadblock to the new plan is the fact that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been vehemently opposed to football being played—at the high school and college level—in the state this fall , '' explained veteran college football writer Jeff Snook .
After the Big Ten Conference postponed its football season on August 11 , Ohio State 's Smith recruited the University of Iowa , University of Nebraska , and Penn State University to be part of a six-team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season , Smith needed to get two more programs on board and was hopeful Harbaugh 's Wolverines would be one of them .
Whitmer previously said during a May press conference that fans would not be able to attend fall sporting events , telling reporters that while sports are `` not over , '' the `` way we observe them might look different for a while . ''
The Democrat did not respond to a request for comment on her current stance .
The Big Ten 's decision to postpone the season was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Harbaugh has said he would not `` cower '' from the pandemic and argued `` the virus can be controlled and handled '' within college football programs .
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields also criticized the conference 's decision .
After creating a petition to `` immediately reinstate '' the fall season , Fields addressed Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren during a Wednesday Good Morning America appearance .
`` We want to play football , '' Fields said .
`` I feel like a lot of players feel safer around the facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just being on campus like a regular student . ''
In an open letter released Wednesday evening , the Big Ten said its decision to postpone `` will not be revisited . ''

Ohio State University reportedly faced an unsurprising foe in its bid to salvage a college football season in the age of coronavirus: Michigan Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Whitmer is reportedly "vehemently opposed to football being played" at both the college and high school level in Michigan and is blocking the University of Michigan from signing on to be part of a pared-down six-team league put together by Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith. The Michigan Wolverines' head coach Jim Harbaugh has voiced support for a fall football season, but the decision to join in rests with the school president, who may be hesitant to cross Whitmer.
"I was also told that one roadblock to the new plan is the fact that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been vehemently opposed to football being played—at the high school and college level—in the state this fall," explained veteran college football writer Jeff Snook.
After the Big Ten Conference postponed its football season on August 11, Ohio State's Smith recruited the University of Iowa, University of Nebraska, and Penn State University to be part of a six-team season. To move forward with the season, Smith needed to get two more programs on board and was hopeful Harbaugh's Wolverines would be one of them.
Whitmer previously said during a May press conference that fans would not be able to attend fall sporting events, telling reporters that while sports are "not over," the "way we observe them might look different for a while." The Democrat did not respond to a request for comment on her current stance.
The Big Ten's decision to postpone the season was met with opposition by players and coaches. Harbaugh has said he would not "cower" from the pandemic and argued "the virus can be controlled and handled" within college football programs.
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields also criticized the conference's decision. After creating a petition to "immediately reinstate" the fall season, Fields addressed Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren during a Wednesday Good Morning America appearance.
"We want to play football," Fields said. "I feel like a lot of players feel safer around the facility, around our protocols, rather than just being on campus like a regular student."
In an open letter released Wednesday evening, the Big Ten said its decision to postpone "will not be revisited."


freebeacon--2020-08-19--AOC Calls Felon Disenfranchisement a Legacy of Slavery

Socialist firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) on Wednesday called felon disenfranchisement , a legal practice embraced in some form by 48 states , part of `` the inherited structures of slavery . ''
During an Instagram Live stream , the congresswoman responded to a submitted question about how someone could be involved in electing Democratic politicians if he or she is ineligible to vote .
There are , Ocasio-Cortez said , `` plenty of reasons why a person may not be eligible . ''
`` Maybe you 're not of voting age yet , maybe you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you live in a state that upholds the structures , the inherited structures of slavery , and disenfranchises people who have been trapped in our system of mass incarceration either now or in the past . ''
Ocasio-Cortez 's claim follows the views of fellow progressives such as Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) , who endorsed permitting the Boston Marathon bomber to vote during the senator 's 2020 primary run .
But the link to slavery—part of a broader progressive narrative tying the criminal justice system to historical racism—runs afoul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its historical use .
Just two states , Maine and Vermont , permit felons to vote even when in prison , according to the nonpartisan National Center for State Legislatures .
Twenty-one states deprive felons of their voting rights through the period of their parole , including northern states such as New York and Wisconsin .
A further 11 deny felons voting rights indefinitely , including pre-Civil War free states Iowa and Nebraska , as well as Arizona and Wyoming , which were both incorporated after the war .
The widespread use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout American history , in all regions of the country .
As Heritage Foundation scholars Hans A. von Spakovsky and Roger Clegg note , the right of states to deprive criminals of voting rights stretches back to Greece and Rome , and is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment—perhaps the defining legislation of post-Civil War Reconstruction .
While some southern states did implement felon disenfranchisement to target black would-be voters , von Spakovsky and Clegg write , the practice was far more widespread : By 1900 , `` over 80 percent of the states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( which was increasing in size as western territories became states ) already had felon disenfranchisement laws . ''
Ocasio-Cortez 's support for felon enfranchisement may come down to bare partisan interest—one widely cited 2002 study suggests that felons would have handed the White House and Senate to Democrats if permitted to vote in 2000 .
But that finding is far from certain ; a more recent study found that felon turnout is rarely high enough to swing elections .

Socialist firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) on Wednesday called felon disenfranchisement, a legal practice embraced in some form by 48 states, part of "the inherited structures of slavery."
During an Instagram Live stream, the congresswoman responded to a submitted question about how someone could be involved in electing Democratic politicians if he or she is ineligible to vote. There are, Ocasio-Cortez said, "plenty of reasons why a person may not be eligible."
"Maybe you're not of voting age yet, maybe you aren't a U.S. citizen. Maybe you live in a state that upholds the structures, the inherited structures of slavery, and disenfranchises people who have been trapped in our system of mass incarceration either now or in the past."
Ocasio-Cortez's claim follows the views of fellow progressives such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), who endorsed permitting the Boston Marathon bomber to vote during the senator's 2020 primary run. But the link to slavery—part of a broader progressive narrative tying the criminal justice system to historical racism—runs afoul of facts about disenfranchisement's current status and its historical use.
Just two states, Maine and Vermont, permit felons to vote even when in prison, according to the nonpartisan National Center for State Legislatures. Twenty-one states deprive felons of their voting rights through the period of their parole, including northern states such as New York and Wisconsin. A further 11 deny felons voting rights indefinitely, including pre-Civil War free states Iowa and Nebraska, as well as Arizona and Wyoming, which were both incorporated after the war.
The widespread use of felon disenfranchisement today reflects its prevalence throughout American history, in all regions of the country. As Heritage Foundation scholars Hans A. von Spakovsky and Roger Clegg note, the right of states to deprive criminals of voting rights stretches back to Greece and Rome, and is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment—perhaps the defining legislation of post-Civil War Reconstruction.
While some southern states did implement felon disenfranchisement to target black would-be voters, von Spakovsky and Clegg write, the practice was far more widespread: By 1900, "over 80 percent of the states in the [U]nited States (which was increasing in size as western territories became states) already had felon disenfranchisement laws."
Ocasio-Cortez's support for felon enfranchisement may come down to bare partisan interest—one widely cited 2002 study suggests that felons would have handed the White House and Senate to Democrats if permitted to vote in 2000. But that finding is far from certain; a more recent study found that felon turnout is rarely high enough to swing elections.


freebeacon--2020-08-19--U.S. to Suspend Bilateral Agreements With Hong Kong

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Wednesday that Washington will move to suspend three bilateral agreements with Hong Kong , most notably impacting extradition and tax exemptions .
`` The Chinese Communist Party chose to crush the freedoms and autonomy of the people of Hong Kong , '' Secretary Pompeo tweeted .
`` Because of the CCP ’ s actions , we are terminating or suspending three of our bilateral agreements with the territory . ''
Agreements terminated by the move address the surrender of fugitive offenders , transfer of sentenced persons , and reciprocal tax exemptions for international shipping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deep concern regarding Beijing ’ s decision to impose the National Security Law , which has crushed the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong , '' reads a press statement from the State Department .
The decision follows President Donald Trump 's announcement last month that the United States will no longer recognize Hong Kong as a separate entity from the Chinese mainland , due to the Chinese Communist Party ’ s hostile takeover of the region .
Now overseeing the administration of Hong Kong , China has cracked down on protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been vocal critics of China , leading the regime to sanction Republican senators as well as American pro-freedom advocates for their criticism of China 's conduct in Hong Kong .
`` The Chinese Communist Party imposed these impotent sanctions against me because I defend the real victims of Chinese Communism , '' Sen. Tom Cotton ( R. , Ark . )
said in a statement earlier this month .
`` If China thinks my opposition to its communist tyranny to date warrants these sanctions , I have two words for them : just @ @ @

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Wednesday that Washington will move to suspend three bilateral agreements with Hong Kong, most notably impacting extradition and tax exemptions.
"The Chinese Communist Party chose to crush the freedoms and autonomy of the people of Hong Kong," Secretary Pompeo tweeted. "Because of the CCP’s actions, we are terminating or suspending three of our bilateral agreements with the territory."
Agreements terminated by the move address the surrender of fugitive offenders, transfer of sentenced persons, and reciprocal tax exemptions for international shipping earnings.
"These steps underscore our deep concern regarding Beijing’s decision to impose the National Security Law, which has crushed the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong," reads a press statement from the State Department.
The decision follows President Donald Trump's announcement last month that the United States will no longer recognize Hong Kong as a separate entity from the Chinese mainland, due to the Chinese Communist Party’s hostile takeover of the region. Now overseeing the administration of Hong Kong, China has cracked down on protests and democratic activism.
Washington lawmakers have been vocal critics of China, leading the regime to sanction Republican senators as well as American pro-freedom advocates for their criticism of China's conduct in Hong Kong.
"The Chinese Communist Party imposed these impotent sanctions against me because I defend the real victims of Chinese Communism," Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) said in a statement earlier this month. "If China thinks my opposition to its communist tyranny to date warrants these sanctions, I have two words for them: just wait."


freebeacon--2020-08-19--Ossoff: Georgians Across the Political Spectrum ‘Love and Admire’ Kamala Harris

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff claimed Wednesday , without evidence , that Sen. Kamala Harris ( D. , Calif. ) is loved and admired by his state 's residents across the political spectrum .
Ossoff argued that Harris 's spot on the Democratic presidential ticket would boost his chances to win a longshot U.S. Senate seat in Georgia .
There are no polls , however , that show Harris ever had any tangible popularity in the state .
Harris never polled above 7 percent in Georgia in the last five surveys of the state during her 2020 presidential campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called herself a `` top-tier '' candidate , she dropped out of the race in December , two months before the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses .
Ossoff has hauled in most of his out-of-state donations from California , which Harris represents .
Ossoff is in a tight race with Sen. David Perdue ( R. , Ga. ) and hopes to become the first Georgia Democrat to win a U.S. Senate seat since former governor Zell Miller in 2000 .
Democrats have also not won the state at the presidential level since Bill Clinton in @ @

Harris never polled above 7 percent in Georgia during her presidential run
Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff claimed Wednesday, without evidence, that Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) is loved and admired by his state's residents across the political spectrum.
Ossoff argued that Harris's spot on the Democratic presidential ticket would boost his chances to win a longshot U.S. Senate seat in Georgia. There are no polls, however, that show Harris ever had any tangible popularity in the state.
Harris never polled above 7 percent in Georgia in the last five surveys of the state during her 2020 presidential campaign, according to FiveThirtyEight. Though she called herself a "top-tier" candidate, she dropped out of the race in December, two months before the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses.
Ossoff has hauled in most of his out-of-state donations from California, which Harris represents.
Ossoff is in a tight race with Sen. David Perdue (R., Ga.) and hopes to become the first Georgia Democrat to win a U.S. Senate seat since former governor Zell Miller in 2000. Democrats have also not won the state at the presidential level since Bill Clinton in 1992.


freebeacon--2020-08-19--DNC Delegates Cut ‘Under God’ From Pledge of Allegiance

Two delegates at the Democratic National Convention omitted the words `` under God '' when they recited the Pledge of Allegiance during caucus meetings this week .
`` I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America .
And to the republic for which it stands .
One nation , indivisible , with liberty and justice for all , '' delegate A.J .
Durrani said during the DNC 's virtual assembly of Muslim delegates and allies .
Another delegate also omitted the words during the LGBTQ caucus meeting on Tuesday .
The delegate paused for a beat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The phrase `` under God '' has been controversial since President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill into law inserting the phrase into the Pledge of Allegiance .
In perhaps the most visible legal challenge to the phrase to date , an atheist father sued a school district on behalf of his daughter arguing that the phrase 's inclusion in the pledge violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment .
A circuit court ruled that the pledge violated the Establishment Clause , but the Supreme Court reversed the ruling , finding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Court did not address the issue of the words ' inclusion in the pledge .

Two delegates at the Democratic National Convention omitted the words "under God" when they recited the Pledge of Allegiance during caucus meetings this week.
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands. One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all," delegate A.J. Durrani said during the DNC's virtual assembly of Muslim delegates and allies.
NEW! Democrats leave out, "Under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance at the #DemocraticNationalConvention Muslim Caucus meeting this week. Watch delegate AJ Durrani skip it. Featured speakers at the event were @BernieSanders @RashidaTlaib & @TomPerez @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/Ra4SX2cqNy — David Brody (@DavidBrodyCBN) August 19, 2020
Another delegate also omitted the words during the LGBTQ caucus meeting on Tuesday. The delegate paused for a beat, then proceeded with the pledge.
The phrase "under God" has been controversial since President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill into law inserting the phrase into the Pledge of Allegiance. In perhaps the most visible legal challenge to the phrase to date, an atheist father sued a school district on behalf of his daughter arguing that the phrase's inclusion in the pledge violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
A circuit court ruled that the pledge violated the Establishment Clause, but the Supreme Court reversed the ruling, finding that the father lacked legal standing to sue. The Court did not address the issue of the words' inclusion in the pledge.


freebeacon--2020-08-19--Oregon Dem Chains Himself to Mailbox to #Resist USPS Changes

Rep. Peter DeFazio ( D. , Ore. ) chained himself to a mailbox in an effort to `` resist '' the Postal Service 's operational changes .
Out-of-use mailboxes have gone viral among liberals on social media who claim they are evidence of voter suppression .
`` They 're not getting this one , '' DeFazio said in a video posted to his Twitter account .
`` They ’ re trying to tear apart our Postal Service piece by piece .
But Peter DeFazio is defending our right to vote ( and every mailbox in America ) , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pictures of mailboxes have gone viral among liberals alleging that Republicans are removing them en masse to suppress the vote .
In reference to one viral picture , PolitiFact revealed the mailboxes were being refurbished by a company that has a contract with the Postal Service .
PolitiFact rated the claim that this picture revealed efforts at voter suppression in Wisconsin `` False . ''
And in Rep. DeFazio 's home state of Oregon , Postal Service spokesmen said mailboxes were being removed either because they were vandalized and needed to be replaced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The congressman 's video shows him standing next to one of the Postal Service 's signature blue mailboxes with a chain draped loosely around his shoulders .
It is unclear whether the congressman intended to really hold the mailbox down or the chain was meant as a symbolic gesture .
Democrats and the media have made much of the Postal Service 's recent cost-cutting measures , such as holding pieces of mail that arrive late until the next day , decommissioning letter-sorting machines , and removing little-used mailboxes .
Democrats and members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exemplify collusion between President Donald Trump and the Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to suppress the vote .
The outcry picked up speed when former president Barack Obama delivered his eulogy for congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis , accusing those in power of `` undermining the Postal Service in the run-up to an election that 's going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don ’ t get sick . ''
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) reconvened the House for a rare Saturday vote on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Postal Service until after the November election and providing $ 25 billion in funding .
But the postmaster general announced Tuesday that the Postal Service would pause cost-cutting measures .
`` To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail , I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded , '' DeJoy said in a statement .
DeFazio is running against Republican and former Army National Guard soldier Alek Skarlatos .
Skarlatos is best known for helping stop a terrorist attack on a train headed for Paris in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the film 15:17 to Paris .

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D., Ore.) chained himself to a mailbox in an effort to "resist" the Postal Service's operational changes. Out-of-use mailboxes have gone viral among liberals on social media who claim they are evidence of voter suppression.
"They're not getting this one," DeFazio said in a video posted to his Twitter account.
"They’re trying to tear apart our Postal Service piece by piece. But Peter DeFazio is defending our right to vote (and every mailbox in America)," he added.
DeFazio's display comes as pictures of mailboxes have gone viral among liberals alleging that Republicans are removing them en masse to suppress the vote. In reference to one viral picture, PolitiFact revealed the mailboxes were being refurbished by a company that has a contract with the Postal Service. PolitiFact rated the claim that this picture revealed efforts at voter suppression in Wisconsin "False." And in Rep. DeFazio's home state of Oregon, Postal Service spokesmen said mailboxes were being removed either because they were vandalized and needed to be replaced or because they were no longer needed.
The congressman's video shows him standing next to one of the Postal Service's signature blue mailboxes with a chain draped loosely around his shoulders. It is unclear whether the congressman intended to really hold the mailbox down or the chain was meant as a symbolic gesture.
Democrats and the media have made much of the Postal Service's recent cost-cutting measures, such as holding pieces of mail that arrive late until the next day, decommissioning letter-sorting machines, and removing little-used mailboxes. Democrats and members of the media have said these measures exemplify collusion between President Donald Trump and the Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to suppress the vote.
The outcry picked up speed when former president Barack Obama delivered his eulogy for congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, accusing those in power of "undermining the Postal Service in the run-up to an election that's going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don’t get sick."
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) reconvened the House for a rare Saturday vote on a bill delaying any changes to the Postal Service until after the November election and providing $25 billion in funding. But the postmaster general announced Tuesday that the Postal Service would pause cost-cutting measures.
"To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded," DeJoy said in a statement.
DeFazio is running against Republican and former Army National Guard soldier Alek Skarlatos. Skarlatos is best known for helping stop a terrorist attack on a train headed for Paris in 2015, an event Clint Eastwood turned into the film 15:17 to Paris.


freebeacon--2020-08-19--State Department Report Praises U.K. Ambassador After Democratic Charges of Misconduct

A newly released Department of State inspector general 's report praised the performance of U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom Woody Johnson , despite extensive complaints from Democrats concerning Johnson 's conduct .
Reviewing the operations of the U.S. embassy in London , the IG report gave Johnson high marks for his implementation and understanding of the administration 's policy toward the United Kingdom , which includes protecting American influence and shared national security through the two countries ' `` special relationship '' as the United Kingdom separates from the European Union .
`` At the time of the inspection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ambassador and the DCM modeled … attributes of strategic planning and decisiveness , '' the report reads .
`` The Ambassador effectively engaged with the U.K. Government , from small , focused meetings with British officials to public remarks made to large groups . ''
While the report offers praise for Johnson 's work moving toward these ends , it also notes the ongoing and inconclusive nature of concerns lodged against Johnson 's conduct .
Multiple complaints have been made about `` inappropriate or insensitive comments '' made by Johnson .
The report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments .
The report , however , does emphasize an improved workplace culture in the embassy after Johnson brought on a new deputy chief of mission ( DCM ) .
`` With the arrival of the current DCM , chosen by the Ambassador , staff generally reported to OIG that they saw better communication from the Front Office and an increased confidence from the Ambassador in the mission ’ s staff , '' the report reads .
Previous DCM Lew Lukens had a difficult working relationship with Johnson and was ultimately fired after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lukens was a close associate of former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and as of late July was the sole publicly identified source of conduct complaints surrounding Ambassador Johnson , according to the Washington Free Beacon .
The complaints against Johnson were featured in a report from Sen. Bob Menendez ( D. , N.J. ) in late July , which one defense expert told the Free Beacon misrepresented claims about the current state of personnel within Mike Pompeo 's Department of State .
The IG report concluded that an additional audit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case on the allegations .
Johnson responded forcefully to the motion to extend the investigation .
`` During my tenure as U.S .
Ambassador to the United Kingdom and indeed for the entirety of my professional life , I have respected both the law and the spirit of EEO principles and have ensured that all employees under my direction do the same , '' Johnson wrote .
`` If I have unintentionally offended anyone in the execution of my duties , I deeply regret that , but I do not accept that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discriminated in any way .
My objective is to lead the highly talented team at Mission UK to execute the President ’ s policies and to do so in a way that is respectful of our differences , with zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind , '' he added .
In recent months , the Anglo-American relationship has become all the more important to American grand strategy as Washington assembles a coalition of democracies to counter China .
The United Kingdom has been one of the most responsive nations to Washington ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States ' lead , the United Kingdom closed off its 5G networks to Huawei .
In Parliament , the newly formed China Research Group has emerged as an ascendant conservative movement aimed toward countering Beijing ’ s global influence .
The relationship also stands to offer economic ends .
As Washington considers reducing its economic dependence on China , Johnson and others are spearheading an effort to organize a new free trade agreement with London .

A newly released Department of State inspector general's report praised the performance of U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom Woody Johnson, despite extensive complaints from Democrats concerning Johnson's conduct.
Reviewing the operations of the U.S. embassy in London, the IG report gave Johnson high marks for his implementation and understanding of the administration's policy toward the United Kingdom, which includes protecting American influence and shared national security through the two countries' "special relationship" as the United Kingdom separates from the European Union.
"At the time of the inspection, OIG interviews indicated that both the Ambassador and the DCM modeled ... attributes of strategic planning and decisiveness," the report reads. "The Ambassador effectively engaged with the U.K. Government, from small, focused meetings with British officials to public remarks made to large groups."
While the report offers praise for Johnson's work moving toward these ends, it also notes the ongoing and inconclusive nature of concerns lodged against Johnson's conduct. Multiple complaints have been made about "inappropriate or insensitive comments" made by Johnson. The report did not cite specific instances of said comments.
The report, however, does emphasize an improved workplace culture in the embassy after Johnson brought on a new deputy chief of mission (DCM). "With the arrival of the current DCM, chosen by the Ambassador, staff generally reported to OIG that they saw better communication from the Front Office and an increased confidence from the Ambassador in the mission’s staff," the report reads.
Previous DCM Lew Lukens had a difficult working relationship with Johnson and was ultimately fired after praising President Barack Obama in a speech. Lukens was a close associate of former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and as of late July was the sole publicly identified source of conduct complaints surrounding Ambassador Johnson, according to the Washington Free Beacon.
The complaints against Johnson were featured in a report from Sen. Bob Menendez (D., N.J.) in late July, which one defense expert told the Free Beacon misrepresented claims about the current state of personnel within Mike Pompeo's Department of State.
The IG report concluded that an additional audit of Johnson's behavior is warranted to close the case on the allegations. Johnson responded forcefully to the motion to extend the investigation.
"During my tenure as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom and indeed for the entirety of my professional life, I have respected both the law and the spirit of EEO principles and have ensured that all employees under my direction do the same," Johnson wrote.
"If I have unintentionally offended anyone in the execution of my duties, I deeply regret that, but I do not accept that I have treated employees with disrespect or discriminated in any way. My objective is to lead the highly talented team at Mission UK to execute the President’s policies and to do so in a way that is respectful of our differences, with zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind," he added.
In recent months, the Anglo-American relationship has become all the more important to American grand strategy as Washington assembles a coalition of democracies to counter China.
The United Kingdom has been one of the most responsive nations to Washington’s foreign policy vision. Following the United States' lead, the United Kingdom closed off its 5G networks to Huawei. In Parliament, the newly formed China Research Group has emerged as an ascendant conservative movement aimed toward countering Beijing’s global influence.
The relationship also stands to offer economic ends. As Washington considers reducing its economic dependence on China, Johnson and others are spearheading an effort to organize a new free trade agreement with London.


freebeacon--2020-08-19--Bail Funds Receive Support from Pro-Sandinista Groups

Two groups that provide operational support for six bail funds in the nation 's largest cities have a lengthy history of supporting socialist militants in Latin America .
The Alliance for Global Justice ( AfGJ ) and the Movement Alliance Project ( MAP ) together provide administrative assistance to half a dozen bail charities operating in Arizona , Colorado , New York , Pennsylvania , and Vermont .
The AfGJ has a lengthy track record of pro-Sandinista organizing in Latin America , while MAP models itself on the Mexican Zapatistas , a militant front for socialist revolutionaries .
A celebrity-led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to community bail funds in the days and weeks following the death of George Floyd .
Ostensibly donated to assist protesters , at least some of that money has provided an unprecedented cash boon to bail charities operating under the auspices of extreme groups .
The AfGJ sponsors bail funds in Denver , New York City , Pittsburgh , Tucson , and Vermont .
By the group 's own telling , AfGJ was founded in 1979 as the `` Nicaragua Network '' to support the Sandinistas , a dictatorial socialist government that suppressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Soviet Union during their decade-long reign over the beleaguered Central American nation in the 1980s .
The network organized volunteer worker brigades to visit socialist Nicaragua , and promoted the regime within the United States , with the goal of changing U.S. policy toward Latin America .
Though AfGJ has grown and taken on work in other areas since 1979 , it still describes `` Nicaragua solidarity '' as a core project on its website .
While the first Sandinista regime was defeated in a national election in 1990 , Sandinista Daniel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has since `` dismantled all institutional checks on presidential power , '' according to Human Rights Watch .
Despite its alarming civil-rights record , AfGJ and its Nicaraguan groups continue to promote and defend the Ortega regime in the United States .
An ebook AfGJ promoted in July accuses the Trump administration of exploiting the coronavirus to foment a coup against Ortega .
The Nicaraguan leader is not the only dictator to win the AfGJ 's sympathies .
The group also defends Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ group to `` coordinate US solidarity and anti-intervention activities . ''
It also publishes a regular pro-Maduro newsletter and cosponsored a `` food sovereignty delegation '' to Venezuela in April , though it 's not clear if the visit took place .
MAP , which sponsors a Philadelphia bail fund , takes similar cues from Latin American militants .
The group favorably cites the Mexican Zapatista movement as a primary inspiration on its website .
The Zapatistas are an insurgent group that waged a bloody uprising in southern Mexico in favor of land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rafael Sebastián Guillén Vicente , the Zapatista chief known by various aliases , has expressed solidarity with other revolutionary groups , including anti-Israel militants in the Gaza Strip .
In a 2009 essay , he blamed Israel for the proliferation of Palestinian gunmen and suicide bombers .
Despite their radical dispositions , AfGJ and MAP command significant financial support from establishment philanthropic groups .
The Ford Foundation has donated almost $ 900,000 to support MAP and its predecessor group , the Media Mobilizing Project , since 2011 , according to a grants search @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MacArthur Foundation gave $ 770,000 to MAP in 2019 .
The AfGJ also counts the Ford Foundation among its donors .
In addition , financial disclosure forms show large donations from the San Francisco-based Tides Foundation and Pershing LLC , a financial clearing house owned by Bank of New York Mellon .
The AfGJ and MAP serve as `` fiscal sponsors '' for their client bail funds .
Anna Massoglia , a researcher at the Center for Responsive Politics , told the Washington Free Beacon that fiscal sponsorship refers to an arrangement in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of parent group for a smaller project , or sponsee .
The sponsor might manage its sponsee 's bookkeeping or assist with fundraising .
The sponsor can also take the lead on governance—client groups are generally subject to the parent group 's board , Massoglia said .
Because the sponsee is not independent of its sponsor , the community bail funds are legally considered to be part of MAP and AfGJ .
The exact relationship between a sponsor and its sponsee can be opaque , however .
`` There ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in the disclosure files of a fiscal sponsor , which makes it difficult to track at times , '' Massoglia told the Free Beacon .
`` We process their donations , make grants to them for bails that they decide to pay , and pay their other bills at their request , '' Kaufman told the Free Beacon .
`` The fiscal sponsorship contract is renewed from time to time but is essentially permanent until they or we decide to terminate the contract . ''
MAP did not respond to the Free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund .
Update 8:30 p.m. : This post was updated to include comment from AfCJ coordinator Chuck Kaufman .

Two groups that provide operational support for six bail funds in the nation's largest cities have a lengthy history of supporting socialist militants in Latin America.
The Alliance for Global Justice (AfGJ) and the Movement Alliance Project (MAP) together provide administrative assistance to half a dozen bail charities operating in Arizona, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. The AfGJ has a lengthy track record of pro-Sandinista organizing in Latin America, while MAP models itself on the Mexican Zapatistas, a militant front for socialist revolutionaries.
A celebrity-led fundraising effort directed some $90 million to community bail funds in the days and weeks following the death of George Floyd. Ostensibly donated to assist protesters, at least some of that money has provided an unprecedented cash boon to bail charities operating under the auspices of extreme groups.
The AfGJ sponsors bail funds in Denver, New York City, Pittsburgh, Tucson, and Vermont. By the group's own telling, AfGJ was founded in 1979 as the "Nicaragua Network" to support the Sandinistas, a dictatorial socialist government that suppressed political dissent and cultivated close ties with the Soviet Union during their decade-long reign over the beleaguered Central American nation in the 1980s. The network organized volunteer worker brigades to visit socialist Nicaragua, and promoted the regime within the United States, with the goal of changing U.S. policy toward Latin America.
Though AfGJ has grown and taken on work in other areas since 1979, it still describes "Nicaragua solidarity" as a core project on its website. While the first Sandinista regime was defeated in a national election in 1990, Sandinista Daniel Ortega took power again in 2007, and has since "dismantled all institutional checks on presidential power," according to Human Rights Watch. Despite its alarming civil-rights record, AfGJ and its Nicaraguan groups continue to promote and defend the Ortega regime in the United States. An ebook AfGJ promoted in July accuses the Trump administration of exploiting the coronavirus to foment a coup against Ortega.
The Nicaraguan leader is not the only dictator to win the AfGJ's sympathies. The group also defends Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez. In 2014, AfGJ organized a strategy group to "coordinate US solidarity and anti-intervention activities." It also publishes a regular pro-Maduro newsletter and cosponsored a "food sovereignty delegation" to Venezuela in April, though it's not clear if the visit took place.
MAP, which sponsors a Philadelphia bail fund, takes similar cues from Latin American militants. The group favorably cites the Mexican Zapatista movement as a primary inspiration on its website. The Zapatistas are an insurgent group that waged a bloody uprising in southern Mexico in favor of land reforms and freedom for Mexican Indians.
Rafael Sebastián Guillén Vicente, the Zapatista chief known by various aliases, has expressed solidarity with other revolutionary groups, including anti-Israel militants in the Gaza Strip. In a 2009 essay, he blamed Israel for the proliferation of Palestinian gunmen and suicide bombers.
Despite their radical dispositions, AfGJ and MAP command significant financial support from establishment philanthropic groups. The Ford Foundation has donated almost $900,000 to support MAP and its predecessor group, the Media Mobilizing Project, since 2011, according to a grants search tool on Ford's website. The MacArthur Foundation gave $770,000 to MAP in 2019.
The AfGJ also counts the Ford Foundation among its donors. In addition, financial disclosure forms show large donations from the San Francisco-based Tides Foundation and Pershing LLC, a financial clearing house owned by Bank of New York Mellon.
The AfGJ and MAP serve as "fiscal sponsors" for their client bail funds. Anna Massoglia, a researcher at the Center for Responsive Politics, told the Washington Free Beacon that fiscal sponsorship refers to an arrangement in which a tax-exempt nonprofit acts as a kind of parent group for a smaller project, or sponsee. The sponsor might manage its sponsee's bookkeeping or assist with fundraising. The sponsor can also take the lead on governance—client groups are generally subject to the parent group's board, Massoglia said.
Because the sponsee is not independent of its sponsor, the community bail funds are legally considered to be part of MAP and AfGJ. The exact relationship between a sponsor and its sponsee can be opaque, however. "There’s no real standard for how fiscal sponsees show up in the disclosure files of a fiscal sponsor, which makes it difficult to track at times," Massoglia told the Free Beacon.
AfCJ coordinator Chuck Kaufman said that his group provides significant accounting support to sponsored bail funds, and assists with fundraising.
"We process their donations, make grants to them for bails that they decide to pay, and pay their other bills at their request," Kaufman told the Free Beacon. "The fiscal sponsorship contract is renewed from time to time but is essentially permanent until they or we decide to terminate the contract."
MAP did not respond to the Free Beacon's inquiries about its sponsorship of the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund.
Update 8:30 p.m.: This post was updated to include comment from AfCJ coordinator Chuck Kaufman.


freebeacon--2020-08-19--California Governor Mandates Ethnic Studies Courses for University Students

California governor Gavin Newsom ( D. ) signed a bill Monday mandating students in the California State University system take at least one course in ethnic studies despite concerns from the system 's board of trustees and some professors .
The bill overrides requirements the California State University board of trustees implemented in July .
Beginning next year , the state 's public university system will be required to offer an ethnic studies course and include the class in lists of graduation requirements .
The board of trustees and some CSU faculty members have expressed concern over the precedent set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school .
`` Imagine if the California Legislature suddenly gets a Republican majority , '' Peter Herman , a professor of English at San Diego State University , told the school ’ s student newspaper .
`` Once we have allowed the legislature to mandate a curricular matter , what argument do we have ?
The door is opened to that kind of change . ''
The board of trustees ' plan would have required students to take courses in both ethnic studies and social justice .
It also would have included Muslims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the ethnic studies umbrella , which typically includes African Americans , Latinos , Native Americans , Asian Americans , and Pacific Islanders .
Many schools across the country have mandated ethnic studies or anti-racism courses in schools following racial-justice and anti-police protests this summer .
Duke University announced earlier this summer that it would mandate anti-racism and diversity training for all students and faculty .
The University of Florida will also require students and staff to participate in training on `` racism , inclusion , and bias . ''

California governor Gavin Newsom (D.) signed a bill Monday mandating students in the California State University system take at least one course in ethnic studies despite concerns from the system's board of trustees and some professors.
The bill overrides requirements the California State University board of trustees implemented in July. Beginning next year, the state's public university system will be required to offer an ethnic studies course and include the class in lists of graduation requirements.
The board of trustees and some CSU faculty members have expressed concern over the precedent set by lawmakers dictating what students learn in school.
"Imagine if the California Legislature suddenly gets a Republican majority," Peter Herman, a professor of English at San Diego State University, told the school’s student newspaper. "Once we have allowed the legislature to mandate a curricular matter, what argument do we have? The door is opened to that kind of change."
The board of trustees' plan would have required students to take courses in both ethnic studies and social justice. It also would have included Muslims, Jews, and the LGBT community within the ethnic studies umbrella, which typically includes African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders.
Many schools across the country have mandated ethnic studies or anti-racism courses in schools following racial-justice and anti-police protests this summer. Duke University announced earlier this summer that it would mandate anti-racism and diversity training for all students and faculty. The University of Florida will also require students and staff to participate in training on "racism, inclusion, and bias."


freebeacon--2020-08-19--BLM Leader Likens U.S. Government to ‘Terrorists’

A prominent Black Lives Matter leader likened the United States to `` terrorists '' in an interview Tuesday night .
Fox News host Martha MacCallum asked Hawk Newsome , president and cofounder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York , to respond to recent calls to label Black Lives Matter , a radical leftist group , as a domestic terror organization .
In response , Newsome implied that the American government terrorizes other countries .
`` OK , so when America goes and steals diamonds and oils , who 's calling us terrorists ? ''
Newsome asked .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different countries , who 's calling us terrorists ? ''
In recent months , the Black Lives Matter organization has led racial justice and anti-police protests , which have turned violent in some major cities—leading former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani ( R. ) to urge President Donald Trump to label Black Lives Matter as a domestic terrorist organization on Monday .
Newsome later said that the American government , as well as banks and insurance companies , owes black Americans reparations .
`` If you want to do something about reparations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` And we 're not talking about going in everyday Americans ' pockets .
We 're talking about banks like Brown Brothers Harriman .
… We 're talking about the American government that was founded on the backs of slaves , and the American government owes us reparations . ''
Newsome refused to condemn riots and looting and instead said that white supremacy focuses on `` criticizing the oppressed and worshiping the oppressors . ''
Three self-proclaimed Marxists founded Black Lives Matter in 2013 , and the organization 's current platform includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family , and engaging `` comrades '' who `` practice justice , liberation , and peace . ''
The organization has been involved in anti-police protests this summer .
In cities like Chicago , Portland , and Seattle , these protests have often devolved into looting , riots , and violence .

A prominent Black Lives Matter leader likened the United States to "terrorists" in an interview Tuesday night.
Fox News host Martha MacCallum asked Hawk Newsome, president and cofounder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, to respond to recent calls to label Black Lives Matter, a radical leftist group, as a domestic terror organization. In response, Newsome implied that the American government terrorizes other countries.
"OK, so when America goes and steals diamonds and oils, who's calling us terrorists?" Newsome asked. "When the American government goes and pillages different countries, who's calling us terrorists?"
In recent months, the Black Lives Matter organization has led racial justice and anti-police protests, which have turned violent in some major cities—leading former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani (R.) to urge President Donald Trump to label Black Lives Matter as a domestic terrorist organization on Monday.
Newsome later said that the American government, as well as banks and insurance companies, owes black Americans reparations.
"If you want to do something about reparations, cut the check," Newsome said. "And we're not talking about going in everyday Americans' pockets. We're talking about banks like Brown Brothers Harriman. ... We're talking about the American government that was founded on the backs of slaves, and the American government owes us reparations."
Newsome refused to condemn riots and looting and instead said that white supremacy focuses on "criticizing the oppressed and worshiping the oppressors."
Three self-proclaimed Marxists founded Black Lives Matter in 2013, and the organization's current platform includes defunding the police, abolishing the nuclear family, and engaging "comrades" who "practice justice, liberation, and peace." The organization has been involved in anti-police protests this summer. In cities like Chicago, Portland, and Seattle, these protests have often devolved into looting, riots, and violence.