freebeacon--2020-07-07--Anti-Israel Soros Groups Cash In on Coronavirus Relief Funds

Two anti-Israel groups bankrolled by liberal billionaire George Soros accepted as much as $ 1.3 million from the Trump administration ’ s coronavirus relief fund , public records show .
The far-left Middle East advocacy group J Street and the National Iranian American Council ( NIAC ) , a pro-Tehran group central to Iran ’ s propaganda efforts in America , both accepted loans from the Paycheck Protection Program .
J Street , which has consistently criticized the Trump administration for its pro-Israel agenda , received between $ 350,000 to $ 1 million for its Education Fund , a nonprofit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to public reporting records .
NIAC , a chief proponent of the Iran nuclear deal , accepted between $ 150,000 to $ 350,000 from the PPP program .
Both organizations accepted the money in April .
J Street and NIAC are both beneficiaries of Soros ’ s massive funding network , which includes support for Democratic organizations and advocacy groups that seek to delegitimize Israel and boost the Iranian regime .
NIAC , for instance , was a centerpiece of the Obama administration ’ s pro-Iran `` echo chamber . ''
J Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accord and continues to sponsor efforts aimed at undermining the pro-Israel community in America .
J Street and NIAC have also been critical of the Trump administration ’ s coronavirus response , arguing that economic sanctions on Tehran have exacerbated the virus ’ s spread across the Islamic Republic and hindered the country ’ s response—a talking point echoed by the Iranian ruling regime .
The Trump administration provided sanctions exceptions for Iran ’ s medical needs and never targeted its import of humanitarian goods .
The PPP loans constitute a sizable percentage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street reported more than $ 7 million in revenue in 2017 , while NIAC reported just under $ 2 million .
J Street has reported at least $ 50,000 in funding from George and Alex Soros every year since 2014 , according to its financial statements .
NIAC has not disclosed how much Soros gives the organization , disclosing only that he is a major donor .
J Street has been less than forthcoming about its association with Soros and his Open Society Foundations .
Disclosures of Soros ’ s ties to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ J Street was caught hiding its support from Soros .
He continues to give the organization sizable donations .
J Street reported that the PPP funds preserved 65 jobs at the organization , while NIAC—a far smaller operation—said that 12 jobs were saved by the loan .
NIAC has long faced accusations of serving as Iran ’ s lobbying shop in Washington , D.C. , in violation of public disclosure laws .
The group was founded by Trita Parsi , who continues to serve as one of Tehran ’ s top boosters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a U.S. court in 2013 to pay nearly $ 200,000 in legal fees after it lost a defamation suit against one of its critics .
In that case , NIAC was accused of hiding alleged lobbying work on behalf of the Iranian regime , which would have violated its nonprofit tax status .
In its ruling on the case , the court found that Parsi 's work with NIAC was `` not inconsistent with the idea that he was first and foremost an advocate for the [ Iranian ] regime . ''
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundations , NIAC is funded by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund , a chief ally of anti-Israel groups , and the Ploughshares Fund , which played a key role in promoting falsehoods about the Obama administration ’ s deal with Iran .
Other notable anti-Israel groups also benefited from the PPP .
The Council on American Islamic Relations ( CAIR ) , a prominent Israel critic and unindicted co-conspirator in a massive 2007 plot to send money to the terror group Hamas , took anywhere from $ 350,000 to $ 1 million dollars .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which promotes boycotts of Israel and distributes anti-Zionist materials , received at least $ 350,000 from the program .
Neither CAIR nor JVP has received financing for Soros 's funding network .
Update 2:28 p.m. : This post was updated with further information .

Two anti-Israel groups bankrolled by liberal billionaire George Soros accepted as much as $1.3 million from the Trump administration’s coronavirus relief fund, public records show.
The far-left Middle East advocacy group J Street and the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), a pro-Tehran group central to Iran’s propaganda efforts in America, both accepted loans from the Paycheck Protection Program.
J Street, which has consistently criticized the Trump administration for its pro-Israel agenda, received between $350,000 to $1 million for its Education Fund, a nonprofit arm that organizes educational initiatives, according to public reporting records. NIAC, a chief proponent of the Iran nuclear deal, accepted between $150,000 to $350,000 from the PPP program. Both organizations accepted the money in April.
J Street and NIAC are both beneficiaries of Soros’s massive funding network, which includes support for Democratic organizations and advocacy groups that seek to delegitimize Israel and boost the Iranian regime. NIAC, for instance, was a centerpiece of the Obama administration’s pro-Iran "echo chamber." J Street also lobbied in favor of the international accord and continues to sponsor efforts aimed at undermining the pro-Israel community in America.
J Street and NIAC have also been critical of the Trump administration’s coronavirus response, arguing that economic sanctions on Tehran have exacerbated the virus’s spread across the Islamic Republic and hindered the country’s response—a talking point echoed by the Iranian ruling regime. The Trump administration provided sanctions exceptions for Iran’s medical needs and never targeted its import of humanitarian goods.
The PPP loans constitute a sizable percentage of both groups’ funding. J Street reported more than $7 million in revenue in 2017, while NIAC reported just under $2 million. J Street has reported at least $50,000 in funding from George and Alex Soros every year since 2014, according to its financial statements. NIAC has not disclosed how much Soros gives the organization, disclosing only that he is a major donor.
J Street has been less than forthcoming about its association with Soros and his Open Society Foundations. Disclosures of Soros’s ties to the group first emerged in 2010, when J Street was caught hiding its support from Soros. He continues to give the organization sizable donations.
J Street reported that the PPP funds preserved 65 jobs at the organization, while NIAC—a far smaller operation—said that 12 jobs were saved by the loan.
NIAC has long faced accusations of serving as Iran’s lobbying shop in Washington, D.C., in violation of public disclosure laws. The group was founded by Trita Parsi, who continues to serve as one of Tehran’s top boosters in the media. NIAC was ordered by a U.S. court in 2013 to pay nearly $200,000 in legal fees after it lost a defamation suit against one of its critics. In that case, NIAC was accused of hiding alleged lobbying work on behalf of the Iranian regime, which would have violated its nonprofit tax status.
In its ruling on the case, the court found that Parsi's work with NIAC was "not inconsistent with the idea that he was first and foremost an advocate for the [Iranian] regime."
In addition to Soros’s Open Society Foundations, NIAC is funded by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, a chief ally of anti-Israel groups, and the Ploughshares Fund, which played a key role in promoting falsehoods about the Obama administration’s deal with Iran.
Other notable anti-Israel groups also benefited from the PPP.
The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), a prominent Israel critic and unindicted co-conspirator in a massive 2007 plot to send money to the terror group Hamas, took anywhere from $350,000 to $1 million dollars.
Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), which promotes boycotts of Israel and distributes anti-Zionist materials, received at least $350,000 from the program.
Neither CAIR nor JVP has received financing for Soros's funding network.
Update 2:28 p.m.: This post was updated with further information.


freebeacon--2020-07-07--Princeton Professors Demand University ‘Block Mechanisms’ of Racism

Hundreds of Princeton University faculty members are demanding that the university make a litany of changes to atone for the university 's `` anti-Blackness . ''
A letter to university president Christopher Eisgruber and other leaders of the Ivy League school dated July 4 and signed by hundreds of Princeton professors and administrators demands , among other things , that the school give junior minority faculty members an additional semester of sabbatical in acknowledgment of the undue burden they bear to `` stand as emblems and spokespersons of diversity at Princeton . ''
The more than 250 signatories represent roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 1,300 educators , and the demands are part of a larger wave of accusations of racism being leveled against institutions across the country sparked by George Floyd 's killing at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer in late May .
The Princeton professors are also demanding that the university remove a standard question from its application about misdemeanors and felony convictions `` in recognition that mass incarceration and predatory policing not only menace the safety of all people of color at the University and their families but also hinder our community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that the school acknowledge on its website that it is `` sited on indigenous land . ''
A spokesman for the university did not respond to requests for comment , but the school has made no public acknowledgment that it is poised to act on the demands .
The letter was written by four faculty members : director of creative writing Tracy Smith , astrophysics professor Jenny Greene , classics professor Dan-el Padilla Peralta , and English professor Andrew Cole .
The coauthors did not respond to multiple requests for comment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ campus .
Princeton student Akhil Rajasekar , the founder and president of the campus 's Federalist Society chapter , said the letter embodied `` thinly veiled racism '' rather than racial equality .
In an interview with the Washington Free Beacon , he called the claims of faculty oppression `` utterly laughable . ''
`` The idea that non-white faculty are owed extra rewards for ‘ invisible work ' is thinly veiled racism , '' Rajasekar said .
`` Being a member of Princeton 's faculty is among the highest privileges known to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any member of an Ivy League university to consider themselves deserving of more . ''
Princeton now grants faculty members a semester of paid leave after they have worked for five continuous semesters , but the letter demands that minority faculty receive an extra semester of leave .
`` Being required to chiefly and constantly ‘ serve ' and ‘ represent ' in the interest of administrative goals robs the imagination and interrupts any possibility of concerted thought , '' the letter says .
Princeton 's Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ land originally occupied by the Lenape Indians , but the letter 's signatories are pressing the school to make a statement on its homepage .
`` Such a statement can not be relegated to a special page about ‘ inclusive Princeton , ' '' they write .
They are proposing a statement that would read : `` We acknowledge that the land of this University is the unceded traditional territory of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation . ''
A spokesman for the tribe did not respond to a request for comment .

Hundreds of Princeton University faculty members are demanding that the university make a litany of changes to atone for the university's "anti-Blackness."
A letter to university president Christopher Eisgruber and other leaders of the Ivy League school dated July 4 and signed by hundreds of Princeton professors and administrators demands, among other things, that the school give junior minority faculty members an additional semester of sabbatical in acknowledgment of the undue burden they bear to "stand as emblems and spokespersons of diversity at Princeton."
The more than 250 signatories represent roughly one-fifth of the Ivy League school's nearly 1,300 educators, and the demands are part of a larger wave of accusations of racism being leveled against institutions across the country sparked by George Floyd's killing at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer in late May.
The Princeton professors are also demanding that the university remove a standard question from its application about misdemeanors and felony convictions "in recognition that mass incarceration and predatory policing not only menace the safety of all people of color at the University and their families but also hinder our community's progress towards racial justice," and that the school acknowledge on its website that it is "sited on indigenous land."
A spokesman for the university did not respond to requests for comment, but the school has made no public acknowledgment that it is poised to act on the demands.
The letter was written by four faculty members: director of creative writing Tracy Smith, astrophysics professor Jenny Greene, classics professor Dan-el Padilla Peralta, and English professor Andrew Cole. The coauthors did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The letter's demands irked some on campus. Princeton student Akhil Rajasekar, the founder and president of the campus's Federalist Society chapter, said the letter embodied "thinly veiled racism" rather than racial equality. In an interview with the Washington Free Beacon, he called the claims of faculty oppression "utterly laughable."
"The idea that non-white faculty are owed extra rewards for 'invisible work' is thinly veiled racism," Rajasekar said. "Being a member of Princeton's faculty is among the highest privileges known to mankind; it is utterly laughable for any member of an Ivy League university to consider themselves deserving of more."
Princeton now grants faculty members a semester of paid leave after they have worked for five continuous semesters, but the letter demands that minority faculty receive an extra semester of leave. "Being required to chiefly and constantly 'serve' and 'represent' in the interest of administrative goals robs the imagination and interrupts any possibility of concerted thought," the letter says.
Princeton's Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity currently states that the school is located on land originally occupied by the Lenape Indians, but the letter's signatories are pressing the school to make a statement on its homepage. "Such a statement cannot be relegated to a special page about 'inclusive Princeton,'" they write. They are proposing a statement that would read: "We acknowledge that the land of this University is the unceded traditional territory of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation."
A spokesman for the tribe did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-07-07--FBI: China Threatens Families to Coerce Overseas Critics to Return to China

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – FBI Director Christopher Wray on Tuesday urged China-born people in the United States to contact the FBI if Chinese officials try to force them to return to China under a program of coercion that he said is led by Chinese President Xi Jinping .
Wray issued the unusual appeal in an address to a think tank in which he reiterated U.S. charges that China is using espionage , cyber theft , blackmail and other means as part of a strategy to replace the United States as the world ’ s dominant economic and technological power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' a program called Fox Hunt aimed at strong-arming people born in China living outside of the country who are regarded as threats to return home in order to silence criticism of Beijing ’ s political and human rights policies .
The families of those who refuse to return are threatened and some have been arrested in China `` for leverage , '' he said '' Hundreds of these Fox Hunt victims that they target live here in the United States , and many are American citizens or green card holders , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to force them to return to China and China ’ s tactics to accomplish this are shocking . ''
He related a case in which he said the Chinese government sent `` an emissary '' to visit a family in the United States of an unidentified target who could not be located .
The emissary left a message that the target could chose between returning to China or committing suicide , Wray said .
`` I want to take this opportunity to note that if you believe the Chinese government is targeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox Hunt victim , please reach out to your local FBI field office , '' he said .
Wray also said that almost half of nearly 5,000 active FBI counterintelligence cases now underway are related to China .
`` We ’ ve now reached a point where the FBI is opening a new China-related counterintelligence case about every 10 hours , '' Wray said in his address to the Hudson Institute think tank .

By Jonathan Landay
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - FBI Director Christopher Wray on Tuesday urged China-born people in the United States to contact the FBI if Chinese officials try to force them to return to China under a program of coercion that he said is led by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Wray issued the unusual appeal in an address to a think tank in which he reiterated U.S. charges that China is using espionage, cyber theft, blackmail and other means as part of a strategy to replace the United States as the world’s dominant economic and technological power.
He said Xi has "spearheaded" a program called Fox Hunt aimed at strong-arming people born in China living outside of the country who are regarded as threats to return home in order to silence criticism of Beijing’s political and human rights policies.
The families of those who refuse to return are threatened and some have been arrested in China "for leverage," he said
"Hundreds of these Fox Hunt victims that they target live here in the United States, and many are American citizens or green card holders," he continued. "The Chinese government wants to force them to return to China and China’s tactics to accomplish this are shocking."
He related a case in which he said the Chinese government sent "an emissary" to visit a family in the United States of an unidentified target who could not be located. The emissary left a message that the target could chose between returning to China or committing suicide, Wray said.
"I want to take this opportunity to note that if you believe the Chinese government is targeting you, that you are a potential Fox Hunt victim, please reach out to your local FBI field office," he said.
Wray also said that almost half of nearly 5,000 active FBI counterintelligence cases now underway are related to China.
"We’ve now reached a point where the FBI is opening a new China-related counterintelligence case about every 10 hours," Wray said in his address to the Hudson Institute think tank.
(Reporting by Jonathan Landay, Editing by Franklin Paul and Jonathan Oatis)


freebeacon--2020-07-07--TikTok Says It Will Exit Hong Kong Market Within Days

NEW YORK ( Reuters ) – TikTok will exit the Hong Kong market within days , a spokesman told Reuters late on Monday , as other technology companies including Facebook Inc suspend processing government requests for user data in the region .
The short form video app owned by China-based ByteDance has made the decision to exit the region following China 's establishment of a sweeping new national security law for the semi-autonomous city .
`` In light of recent events , we 've decided to stop operations of the TikTok app in Hong Kong , '' a TikTok spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about its commitment to the market .
The company , now run by former Walt Disney Co executive Kevin Mayer , has said in the past that the app 's user data is not stored in China .
TikTok has also said previously that it would not comply with any requests made by the Chinese government to censor content or for access to TikTok 's user data , nor has it ever been asked to do so .
The Hong Kong region is a small , loss-making market for the company , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last August , TikTok reported it had attracted 150,000 users in Hong Kong .
Globally , TikTok has been downloaded more than 2 billion times through the Apple and Google app stores after the first quarter this year , according to analytics firm Sensor Tower .
The source said the move was made because it was not clear if Hong Kong would now fall entirely under Beijing 's jurisdiction in light of the new law .
TikTok was designed so it could not be accessed by mainland China .
That was part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global audience .
Its equivalent on the mainland is called Douyin .
There are no plans currently to introduce Douyin to the Hong Kong market , a ByteDance spokesman said .
Although Douyin is not available on overseas app stores , it has gathered more users than TikTok in Hong Kong , according to a second source familiar with the situation .
Mainland Chinese users can download the app while in the mainland or by switching accounts .
`` Douyin has lots of users in Hong Kong and will continue to serve the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zhang Nan said in a statement .
Fang Kecheng , an assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong , said TikTok 's move highlighted the dilemma faced by Chinese companies trying to internationalise , adding that it was `` inevitable '' .
`` You have to follow local policies and try not to offend the Chinese government and the public .
ByteDance 's separation of TikTok ( from Douyin ) was the same strategy . ''

By Echo Wang
NEW YORK (Reuters) - TikTok will exit the Hong Kong market within days, a spokesman told Reuters late on Monday, as other technology companies including Facebook Inc suspend processing government requests for user data in the region.
The short form video app owned by China-based ByteDance has made the decision to exit the region following China's establishment of a sweeping new national security law for the semi-autonomous city.
"In light of recent events, we've decided to stop operations of the TikTok app in Hong Kong," a TikTok spokesman said in response to a Reuters question about its commitment to the market.
The company, now run by former Walt Disney Co executive Kevin Mayer, has said in the past that the app's user data is not stored in China.
TikTok has also said previously that it would not comply with any requests made by the Chinese government to censor content or for access to TikTok's user data, nor has it ever been asked to do so.
The Hong Kong region is a small, loss-making market for the company, one source familiar with the matter said. Last August, TikTok reported it had attracted 150,000 users in Hong Kong.
Globally, TikTok has been downloaded more than 2 billion times through the Apple and Google app stores after the first quarter this year, according to analytics firm Sensor Tower.
The source said the move was made because it was not clear if Hong Kong would now fall entirely under Beijing's jurisdiction in light of the new law.
TikTok was designed so it could not be accessed by mainland China. That was part of a strategy to appeal to a more global audience. Its equivalent on the mainland is called Douyin.
There are no plans currently to introduce Douyin to the Hong Kong market, a ByteDance spokesman said.
Although Douyin is not available on overseas app stores, it has gathered more users than TikTok in Hong Kong, according to a second source familiar with the situation. Mainland Chinese users can download the app while in the mainland or by switching accounts.
"Douyin has lots of users in Hong Kong and will continue to serve the users there," ByteDance China CEO Zhang Nan said in a statement.
Fang Kecheng, an assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said TikTok's move highlighted the dilemma faced by Chinese companies trying to internationalise, adding that it was "inevitable".
"You have to follow local policies and try not to offend the Chinese government and the public. ByteDance's separation of TikTok (from Douyin) was the same strategy."
(Additional Reporting by Yingzhi Yang in Beijing and Pei Li in Hong Kong; Editing by Kenneth Li and Jacqueline Wong)


freebeacon--2020-07-08--Maine Dem’s Husband Benefited From Small Business Relief She Criticized

Maine Senate candidate Sara Gideon 's husband directly benefited from the Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) even as the Democrat railed against Sen. Susan Collins ( R. , Maine ) for supporting the small business relief fund .
Gideon , who serves as the state House speaker , has frequently criticized the PPP in the last few months , accusing Collins of creating a fund that bails out large corporations but abandons small businesses .
What Gideon did not say in her PPP attack ads—one of which earned three out of four Pinocchios from fact-checkers—was that her husband 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 2 million in financial assistance from the fund .
Berman & Simmons , a personal injury law firm , cashed in on the PPP loans on April 6 , according to federal data released by the Small Business Administration on Monday .
Benjamin Gideon , husband to Sara Gideon , benefited from the program—he serves as a partner at the law firm and owns a $ 250,000 to $ 500,000 stake in it , according to Senate disclosures .
The firm did not respond to requests for comment .
The lawyers at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gideon , contributing more than $ 33,000 in total to her campaign during the 2020 election cycle .
Managing director Craig Bramley sent $ 5,600 to the campaign , while Jack Simmons , the namesake for the firm , gave $ 2,800 .
Berman & Simmons also appears to be capitalizing on the pandemic , saying in a May blog post that the firm is `` ready to investigate and pursue '' coronavirus cases against veterans ' homes , which were disproportionately affected by the outbreak .
The Washington Examiner reported , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support bills in the state House that would have appropriated additional funding for veterans ' homes .
Congress created PPP to assist small businesses struggling amid coronavirus lockdowns .
The program offers applicants low-interest loans that will be forgiven if the business uses them to retain workers .
The fund has doled out more than $ 520 billion , saving millions of jobs across the country .
The program has faced criticism for its rocky rollout , however , during which big corporations rushed to collect billions of dollars in financial assistance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses could apply .
The Gideon campaign has attacked Collins for her role in creating the program .
In a June attack ad , the campaign falsely accused Collins of creating `` special loopholes '' for campaign donors in the hospitality industry .
The Washington Post criticized the ad for being `` highly misleading , '' since the alleged `` loophole '' was a bipartisan policy that offered assistance to the franchisees—small business owners who operate under the corporate umbrella of large hotel chains .
Gideon , who is expected to win her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neck-and-neck with Collins , according to recent polls .
A July 2 survey found that Collins leads Gideon by 8 points , but another poll released on Monday found that Gideon enjoys a 4-point edge over the incumbent .
Gideon 's campaign did not respond to a request for comment .

Maine Senate candidate Sara Gideon's husband directly benefited from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) even as the Democrat railed against Sen. Susan Collins (R., Maine) for supporting the small business relief fund.
Gideon, who serves as the state House speaker, has frequently criticized the PPP in the last few months, accusing Collins of creating a fund that bails out large corporations but abandons small businesses. What Gideon did not say in her PPP attack ads—one of which earned three out of four Pinocchios from fact-checkers—was that her husband's law firm received between $1 to $2 million in financial assistance from the fund.
Berman & Simmons, a personal injury law firm, cashed in on the PPP loans on April 6, according to federal data released by the Small Business Administration on Monday. Benjamin Gideon, husband to Sara Gideon, benefited from the program—he serves as a partner at the law firm and owns a $250,000 to $500,000 stake in it, according to Senate disclosures. The firm did not respond to requests for comment.
The lawyers at Berman & Simmons are major donors to Gideon, contributing more than $33,000 in total to her campaign during the 2020 election cycle. Managing director Craig Bramley sent $5,600 to the campaign, while Jack Simmons, the namesake for the firm, gave $2,800.
Berman & Simmons also appears to be capitalizing on the pandemic, saying in a May blog post that the firm is "ready to investigate and pursue" coronavirus cases against veterans' homes, which were disproportionately affected by the outbreak. The Washington Examiner reported, however, that Sara Gideon has failed to support bills in the state House that would have appropriated additional funding for veterans' homes.
Congress created PPP to assist small businesses struggling amid coronavirus lockdowns. The program offers applicants low-interest loans that will be forgiven if the business uses them to retain workers. The fund has doled out more than $520 billion, saving millions of jobs across the country. The program has faced criticism for its rocky rollout, however, during which big corporations rushed to collect billions of dollars in financial assistance, temporarily exhausting taxpayer funds before many small businesses could apply.
The Gideon campaign has attacked Collins for her role in creating the program. In a June attack ad, the campaign falsely accused Collins of creating "special loopholes" for campaign donors in the hospitality industry. The Washington Post criticized the ad for being "highly misleading," since the alleged "loophole" was a bipartisan policy that offered assistance to the franchisees—small business owners who operate under the corporate umbrella of large hotel chains.
Gideon, who is expected to win her primary election on July 14, is neck-and-neck with Collins, according to recent polls. A July 2 survey found that Collins leads Gideon by 8 points, but another poll released on Monday found that Gideon enjoys a 4-point edge over the incumbent.
Gideon's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-07-08--Colleges Hike Tuition, Slash Classroom Instruction

Colleges are hiking the price of tuition and living fees despite a decrease in classroom learning and student services .
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ( UIUC ) , New York University , the University of Southern California ( USC ) , and Indiana University are among several universities raising tuition and other fees in the upcoming academic year .
These institutions will raise the cost of tuition and living expenses by an average of $ 1,511 while minimizing services , amenities , and in-person classroom learning .
Tuition hikes come as universities struggle to adapt to the challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has forced schools to send students home from campus and adopt alternative teaching methods .
Colleges fear tuition revenue will decrease as they transition to online programming , but students are more concerned that they are paying exorbitant rates with little return .
`` As students , we still do not know what classes will be in-person or online , '' said UIUC College Republicans president Matthew Krauter .
`` We do not know what activities the university will offer or what events our student organizations may hold .
The decision to raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while simultaneously scaling back activities and in-person education is tone-deaf . ''
Colleges justify the tuition and fee increase by citing the fixed operation costs and decisions made before the pandemic .
UIUC will raise in-state student tuition by 4.5 percent to a minimum of $ 32,814 and out-of-state tuition will rise by 3.5 percent to $ 50,604 in the 2020-2021 academic year .
University of Illinois spokesman Jan Dennis told the Washington Free Beacon that the public university—which received $ 1.9 billion in taxpayer funds in 2019— would not roll back costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scholarship programs .
`` The tuition increase was approved in January , before the pandemic , '' Dennis said .
`` [ The University of Illinois ] system created a new fund that will provide at least $ 36 million to help students facing increased financial need due to COVID . ''
According to a UIUC press briefing , the university plans to uphold the six-feet social distancing guideline in classrooms , and students will be required to wear masks on campus .
But the school is also scaling back the traditional services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have limited occupancy , and dining centers will transition to take-out centers .
USC announced similar plans in early June , but reversed course on July 1 when it announced a transition to online instruction , citing Los Angeles County health guidelines .
USC did not return a request for comment .
Students are upset with the disconnect—traditional universities have moved online , but still cost far more than existing e-learning programs .
At Indiana University , students were told they would be learning almost exclusively online despite the decision by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I found out five of my six classes were moved online for the fall , on top of that , my tuition is increasing by more than 5 percent [ since 2019 ] , '' an IU rising sophomore told the Free Beacon .
`` This is n't fair and it 's frustrating for students , like me , who feel web-based learning is n't sufficient . ''
Indiana University did not return a request for comment .
Social factors have long justified the high price tag of a college education .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Manhattan Institute , said these changes will force colleges to rethink their purpose .
`` The traditional business model of higher [ education ] has long been a message that by having this immersive , on-campus experience , we 're creating some sort of higher education ‘ magic ' that justifies this exorbitant price tag , '' Akers said .
`` COVID has taken away the ability for colleges to offer those things that supposedly make the higher education experience so special , so valuable , and worth these very big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released an official statement confirming whether classes will reconvene in-person in the fall , although on July 1 the school announced it will still accept deposits for undergraduate housing .
The university tells prospective students that they will pay $ 54,882 in tuition , as well as an estimated $ 19,244 in room and board next year—up from $ 53,308 and $ 18,684 for the 2019-2020 academic year .
NYU did not return a request for comment .
`` There 's a lot of uncertainty about what revenue will actually look like .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ made a decision about whether or not to have online or in-person classes , '' Akers said .
`` COVID is adding costs in some instances when they 're choosing to keep campuses open and others when those campuses are closing . ''
The college business model likely can not withstand a price reduction in tuition as the coronavirus pandemic affects enrollment .
Akers predicts there will be a drop-off in enrollment , particularly among first-year students , which will dramatically impact revenue for these colleges .
Tuition has been rising for decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earnings and job prospects that graduates enjoy .
Higher education 's primacy in the job market , however , is facing challenges not just from the pandemic , but also from the White House .
In June , President Trump issued an executive order to replace college degree-based hiring with skills-based hiring within the federal government .
Such an approach could jeopardize a major recruiting tool for America 's colleges .
Inez Stepman , a senior policy analyst at the Independent Women 's Forum , told the Free Beacon the crash of traditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs .
`` The university sector , which has long been growing on the tax investment of mechanics , janitors , and the majority of Americans without a four-year degree , may see contractions for the first time in decades , '' Stepman said .
`` Since universities have mostly abandoned their mission to shape thoughtful , informed citizens and have degenerated into activism training camps for the far left , this overdue contraction could have positive effects for the country . ''

Colleges are hiking the price of tuition and living fees despite a decrease in classroom learning and student services.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), New York University, the University of Southern California (USC), and Indiana University are among several universities raising tuition and other fees in the upcoming academic year. These institutions will raise the cost of tuition and living expenses by an average of $1,511 while minimizing services, amenities, and in-person classroom learning.
Tuition hikes come as universities struggle to adapt to the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced schools to send students home from campus and adopt alternative teaching methods. Colleges fear tuition revenue will decrease as they transition to online programming, but students are more concerned that they are paying exorbitant rates with little return.
"As students, we still do not know what classes will be in-person or online," said UIUC College Republicans president Matthew Krauter. "We do not know what activities the university will offer or what events our student organizations may hold. The decision to raise the cost of tuition and campus life while simultaneously scaling back activities and in-person education is tone-deaf."
Colleges justify the tuition and fee increase by citing the fixed operation costs and decisions made before the pandemic. UIUC will raise in-state student tuition by 4.5 percent to a minimum of $32,814 and out-of-state tuition will rise by 3.5 percent to $50,604 in the 2020-2021 academic year.
University of Illinois spokesman Jan Dennis told the Washington Free Beacon that the public university—which received $1.9 billion in taxpayer funds in 2019— would not roll back costs, though it is attempting to expand scholarship programs.
"The tuition increase was approved in January, before the pandemic," Dennis said. "[The University of Illinois] system created a new fund that will provide at least $36 million to help students facing increased financial need due to COVID."
According to a UIUC press briefing, the university plans to uphold the six-feet social distancing guideline in classrooms, and students will be required to wear masks on campus. But the school is also scaling back the traditional services it provides to students. Residence halls will have limited occupancy, and dining centers will transition to take-out centers. USC announced similar plans in early June, but reversed course on July 1 when it announced a transition to online instruction, citing Los Angeles County health guidelines. A USC spokesman directed the Washington Free Beacon to a university tweet about the Trump administration's decision to force foreign students to return home if classes do not reconvene in the fall. He refused to answer questions about tuition hikes.
Students are upset with the disconnect—traditional universities have moved online, but still cost far more than existing e-learning programs. At Indiana University, students were told they would be learning almost exclusively online despite the decision by the board of trustees to increase tuition.
"I found out five of my six classes were moved online for the fall, on top of that, my tuition is increasing by more than 5 percent [since 2019]," an IU rising sophomore told the Free Beacon. "This isn't fair and it's frustrating for students, like me, who feel web-based learning isn't sufficient."
Indiana University did not return a request for comment.
Social factors have long justified the high price tag of a college education. Beth Akers, a higher education expert at the Manhattan Institute, said these changes will force colleges to rethink their purpose.
"The traditional business model of higher [education] has long been a message that by having this immersive, on-campus experience, we're creating some sort of higher education 'magic' that justifies this exorbitant price tag," Akers said. "COVID has taken away the ability for colleges to offer those things that supposedly make the higher education experience so special, so valuable, and worth these very big price tags."
NYU has not released an official statement confirming whether classes will reconvene in-person in the fall, although on July 1 the school announced it will still accept deposits for undergraduate housing. The university tells prospective students that they will pay $54,882 in tuition, as well as an estimated $19,244 in room and board next year—up from $53,308 and $18,684 for the 2019-2020 academic year. NYU did not return a request for comment.
"There's a lot of uncertainty about what revenue will actually look like. That's because a lot have not made a decision about whether or not to have online or in-person classes," Akers said. "COVID is adding costs in some instances when they're choosing to keep campuses open and others when those campuses are closing." The college business model likely cannot withstand a price reduction in tuition as the coronavirus pandemic affects enrollment. Akers predicts there will be a drop-off in enrollment, particularly among first-year students, which will dramatically impact revenue for these colleges.
Tuition has been rising for decades, based in part on the higher earnings and job prospects that graduates enjoy. Higher education's primacy in the job market, however, is facing challenges not just from the pandemic, but also from the White House. In June, President Trump issued an executive order to replace college degree-based hiring with skills-based hiring within the federal government. Such an approach could jeopardize a major recruiting tool for America's colleges.
Inez Stepman, a senior policy analyst at the Independent Women's Forum, told the Free Beacon the crash of traditional universities may be exactly what the country needs.
"The university sector, which has long been growing on the tax investment of mechanics, janitors, and the majority of Americans without a four-year degree, may see contractions for the first time in decades," Stepman said. "Since universities have mostly abandoned their mission to shape thoughtful, informed citizens and have degenerated into activism training camps for the far left, this overdue contraction could have positive effects for the country."


freebeacon--2020-07-09--Biden: We Have an Opportunity to ‘Rewrite Our Economy’

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Wednesday that Democrats have the opportunity to `` rewrite our economy '' after the coronavirus pandemic .
`` We 're going to have a breathtaking opportunity to create good-paying union jobs , to deliver the promise of America to Americans who have been denied it for much too long , to rewrite our economy so that prosperity flows not just to CEOs , but to workers who actually build the country , '' Biden said during an address to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers .
Biden added that making it easier for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One '' priority for his prospective administration .
During his campaign Biden has repeatedly expressed a desire to pursue a sweeping agenda reminiscent of Franklin D. Roosevelt 's New Deal economic plan .
He selected two of Sen. Bernie Sanders 's ( I. , Vt. ) top allies to help form a `` unity task force '' to craft an economic agenda , and NBC News reported Wednesday that the task force presented Biden with proposals that are `` far more aggressive '' than what Biden was considering at the start of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes as Democrats have increasingly embraced the message that capitalism itself is detrimental to the country .
One of Biden 's selections from the Sanders campaign , who served as an adviser to Sanders 's 2016 and 2020 presidential runs , argued that the government can pay for massive spending projects , including the Green New Deal , by printing more money .
In May Biden said the country needed `` revolutionary institutional changes '' to deal with the coronavirus crisis , and he also speculated that the Green New Deal could come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief .
A CNBC reporter described Biden 's tax plan as `` the most expensive Democratic tax plan that we 've seen from any Democratic candidate in recent history , '' dwarfing 2016 candidate Hillary Clinton 's .

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Wednesday that Democrats have the opportunity to "rewrite our economy" after the coronavirus pandemic.
"We're going to have a breathtaking opportunity to create good-paying union jobs, to deliver the promise of America to Americans who have been denied it for much too long, to rewrite our economy so that prosperity flows not just to CEOs, but to workers who actually build the country," Biden said during an address to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Biden added that making it easier for workers to unionize is a "Day One" priority for his prospective administration.
During his campaign Biden has repeatedly expressed a desire to pursue a sweeping agenda reminiscent of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal economic plan. He selected two of Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I., Vt.) top allies to help form a "unity task force" to craft an economic agenda, and NBC News reported Wednesday that the task force presented Biden with proposals that are "far more aggressive" than what Biden was considering at the start of his campaign. This push for progressive policies comes as Democrats have increasingly embraced the message that capitalism itself is detrimental to the country.
One of Biden's selections from the Sanders campaign, who served as an adviser to Sanders's 2016 and 2020 presidential runs, argued that the government can pay for massive spending projects, including the Green New Deal, by printing more money. In May Biden said the country needed "revolutionary institutional changes" to deal with the coronavirus crisis, and he also speculated that the Green New Deal could come in one of the rounds of coronavirus relief.
A CNBC reporter described Biden's tax plan as "the most expensive Democratic tax plan that we've seen from any Democratic candidate in recent history," dwarfing 2016 candidate Hillary Clinton's.


freebeacon--2020-07-08--Student Activists Push Universities to Defy ICE Order on International Students

Students are pushing universities to create small , in-person classes designed to circumvent new government regulations that block international students from obtaining visas if their classes are exclusively online .
Activists at the University of California-Berkeley , New York University , and Ohio State University want their colleges to sponsor in-person classes to help international students remain in the United States .
The demands come after Immigration and Customs Enforcement , alongside the U.S. Department of Homeland Security , announced international students must return to their home countries if their college courses are held exclusively online .
Student visas will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prove that they are physically required on campus .
`` Berkeley students are creating a 1-unit , in-person , student-run class to help international students avoid deportation due to the new ICE regulations , '' the student tweeted .
`` Love my school sometimes . ''
The student did not respond to requests for comment .
The attached message said that the student-created class will take place in the anthropology department and will be offered to international students only .
The message also claims a faculty member will sponsor this class but did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The UC-Berkeley anthropology department did not respond to requests for comment .
Many American colleges sent students home following the spread of coronavirus to avoid outbreaks on campus .
As the fall semester looms , however , many universities are debating whether to move to online-only education .
The Trump administration 's policy is driving some universities to get creative with the reopening process .
Columbia University announced it will provide a hybrid learning experience of in-person and remote classes and claims this will `` alleviate the negative effects of these new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a public statement , Columbia president Lee Bollinger said the `` Columbia Global Centers , '' which are international outposts for the school—with locations in Beijing , Mumbai , and Paris , among others—could `` provide in-person academic and peer engagement '' for international students unable to return to campus .
The university did not respond to requests for comment .
NYU has yet to formally announce whether hybrid courses will take place in the fall .
In response , student activists created a resources page with instructions on where to send letters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ICE/DHS policy , petitions to sign , and a list of in-person classes .
The page promotes a Change.org petition that calls on the university to officially adopt a hybrid approach to `` support its international students . ''
The petition dismissed the ICE/DHS policy as `` inherently xenophobic , nationalist , and racist . ''
`` We must remember that unless we are a part of the indigenous community , we are also immigrants to this country , '' the petition reads .
`` It is up to us , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy that will disproportionately affect students who may not have the luxury of leaving the United States due to a myriad of reasons . ''
The petition organizer did not respond to a request for comment .
At Ohio State University , a similar letter from students calls on the university to uphold hybrid learning to help international students .
Letter organizer and international student community member Jacob Chang told the Washington Free Beacon that he is worried students stuck in their home countries will not be able to adequately learn , particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is really important for international students to be able to stay in the U.S. because this is literally during the middle of the pandemic .
… Traveling around the world increases the chance of infection for students , '' Chang said .
`` At the same time , students who will be taking online classes back home will be suffering from internet bans— [ for ] example , China—technological issues , [ and ] time zone conflicts .
It will be hard for them to catch up with their American peers . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ alongside a lawsuit from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology challenging the ICE/DHS policy .
Cornell University president Martha Pollack , whose school joined an amicus brief in support of the litigation , said Cornell 's international students will `` largely not be negatively affected '' by the new regulations but said she stands `` in the strongest opposition to this recent policy decision . ''
According to Harvard spokesman Jason Newton , the schools believe the ICE/DHS policy violates the Administrative Procedure Act .
`` The Harvard/MIT suit seeks a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injunctive relief preventing the government from enforcing the policy announced in ICE 's July 6 Directive because it violates the Administrative Procedures Act , '' Newton told the Free Beacon .
An ICE spokesman declined to comment , citing the pending litigation .
DHS did not respond to requests for comment .

Students are pushing universities to create small, in-person classes designed to circumvent new government regulations that block international students from obtaining visas if their classes are exclusively online.
Activists at the University of California-Berkeley, New York University, and Ohio State University want their colleges to sponsor in-person classes to help international students remain in the United States. The demands come after Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alongside the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, announced international students must return to their home countries if their college courses are held exclusively online. Student visas will not be renewed unless the student can prove that they are physically required on campus.
In a since-deleted tweet, a UC-Berkeley rising senior posted a message detailing students' scheme to avoid ICE/DHS guidelines.
"Berkeley students are creating a 1-unit, in-person, student-run class to help international students avoid deportation due to the new ICE regulations," the student tweeted. "Love my school sometimes." The student did not respond to requests for comment.
The attached message said that the student-created class will take place in the anthropology department and will be offered to international students only. The message also claims a faculty member will sponsor this class but did not list the faculty member's name. The UC-Berkeley anthropology department did not respond to requests for comment.
Many American colleges sent students home following the spread of coronavirus to avoid outbreaks on campus. As the fall semester looms, however, many universities are debating whether to move to online-only education. The Trump administration's policy is driving some universities to get creative with the reopening process.
Columbia University announced it will provide a hybrid learning experience of in-person and remote classes and claims this will "alleviate the negative effects of these new [ICE/DHS] regulations." In a public statement, Columbia president Lee Bollinger said the "Columbia Global Centers," which are international outposts for the school—with locations in Beijing, Mumbai, and Paris, among others—could "provide in-person academic and peer engagement" for international students unable to return to campus. The university did not respond to requests for comment.
NYU has yet to formally announce whether hybrid courses will take place in the fall. In response, student activists created a resources page with instructions on where to send letters demanding hybrid classes, a breakdown of the ICE/DHS policy, petitions to sign, and a list of in-person classes. The page promotes a Change.org petition that calls on the university to officially adopt a hybrid approach to "support its international students." The petition dismissed the ICE/DHS policy as "inherently xenophobic, nationalist, and racist."
"We must remember that unless we are a part of the indigenous community, we are also immigrants to this country," the petition reads. "It is up to us, especially US citizens, to fight against a policy that will disproportionately affect students who may not have the luxury of leaving the United States due to a myriad of reasons." The petition organizer did not respond to a request for comment.
At Ohio State University, a similar letter from students calls on the university to uphold hybrid learning to help international students. Letter organizer and international student community member Jacob Chang told the Washington Free Beacon that he is worried students stuck in their home countries will not be able to adequately learn, particularly Chinese students.
"I think it is really important for international students to be able to stay in the U.S. because this is literally during the middle of the pandemic. ... Traveling around the world increases the chance of infection for students," Chang said. "At the same time, students who will be taking online classes back home will be suffering from internet bans—[for] example, China—technological issues, [and] time zone conflicts. It will be hard for them to catch up with their American peers."
Petitions and demands for hybrid learning come alongside a lawsuit from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology challenging the ICE/DHS policy. Cornell University president Martha Pollack, whose school joined an amicus brief in support of the litigation, said Cornell's international students will "largely not be negatively affected" by the new regulations but said she stands "in the strongest opposition to this recent policy decision." According to Harvard spokesman Jason Newton, the schools believe the ICE/DHS policy violates the Administrative Procedure Act.
"The Harvard/MIT suit seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief preventing the government from enforcing the policy announced in ICE's July 6 Directive because it violates the Administrative Procedures Act," Newton told the Free Beacon.
An ICE spokesman declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. DHS did not respond to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-07-08--Report: Al Jazeera Violating U.S. Law by Operating as Undisclosed Qatari Agent

The Al Jazeera news network is running afoul of U.S. laws mandating it disclose its ties to the Qatari royal family , which has for years used the network to further Doha ’ s political interests in America , according to a new report by a former member of Congress .
Former representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen , who served in Congress for 30 years and chaired the House Foreign Affairs Committee from 2011-2013 , issued a report on Tuesday accusing Al Jazeera of operating as an undisclosed agent of the Qatari government , in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working for foreign governments to publicly report their activities .
Ros-Lehtinen is now a lobbyist with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and was retained by the United Arab Emirates , a chief regional opponent of Qatar , to conduct the probe into Al Jazeera .
The report , which has been endorsed by the UAE , accuses Qatar and Al Jazeera of violating FARA laws by operating under the guise of an independent news organization .
While Al Jazeera is largely funded by the Qatari government , the outlet maintains that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not subject to FARA disclosure .
Still , prominent members of Congress have petitioned the Department of Justice to launch a full-scale investigation into Al Jazeera ’ s activities to determine if it is in violation of disclosure laws .
Ros-Lehtinen issued such calls during her time in Congress , where she raised the issue of Qatar ’ s influence operations in America .
In recent years , Qatar has emerged as a flashpoint in U.S. politics due to its infiltration of the U.S. public education system and other key American institutions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Qatar spends billions to peddle influence in the United States and sway public opinion , often without disclosing these activities .
Al Jazeera drew congressional ire in 2018 when it was implicated in a massive spy effort targeting prominent Jewish and pro-Israel individuals in Washington , D.C. Sources who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon indicated that Congress could be moving on the issue in the coming weeks .
`` The United States needs to take a hard look at its relationship with Qatar and to compel Al Jazeera—the media network that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controlled by the Qatari government—to register with the Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act , '' Ros-Lehtinen wrote in the report , a copy of which was provided exclusively to the Free Beacon .
The former lawmaker maintains the DOJ must require Al Jazeera to register under FARA , as it has done with other foreign news outlets , such as those controlled by Russia and China .
The report makes the case that Qatar `` owns , funds , directs , and controls '' Al Jazeera , which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign policy agenda .
Al Jazeera ’ s board of directors is chaired by a member of the Qatari ruling family , who exerts control over the network , according to the report .
Because of this , the report says , Al Jazeera can not maintain independence from the government and , thus , falls under the criteria necessary for FARA registration .
The report raises further questions about Qatar ’ s regional objectives , particularly its increasingly close relationship with Iran and terror forces operating in the region .
Critics of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these objectives through its selected coverage and opinion sections .
Al Jazeera said through a spokesman that the network is not under the Qatari government ’ s control , citing 2011 efforts to convert Al Jazeera Media Network into a standalone entity that is structured similarly to a U.S. nonprofit .
The spokesperson further said that Al Jazeera ’ s editorial independence has been formalized under laws instituted by Qatar .
The network is currently registered as a `` private foundation for public benefit '' under Qatari law , a move meant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ erroneous claims and tired , false narratives are a continuation of the aggressive lobbying , public relations , and online disinformation campaigns orchestrated by the United Arab Emirates , '' the outlet said in a statement .
Al Jazeera said it is being used as fodder in a larger proxy war between the UAE and Qatar , which has been locked in a dispute with that country and other regional players like Saudi Arabia .
As part of a regional blockade on Qatar , the UAE , Saudi Arabia , and others demanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unsuccessful in these attempts , the UAE is now attempting to accomplish the objectives of the blockade through other means , including weaponizing U.S. laws improperly , '' the spokesman said .
Al Jazeera employs hundreds of people in the United States and maintains multiple websites aimed at an American audience , including AJ+ , Al Jazeera English , and Al Jazeera Arabic .
While the company maintains that it is not instructed on what it can and can not cover , Ros-Lehtinen ’ s report paints a different picture .
Using publicly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the years , the report alleges that Al Jazeera is completely subservient to Qatar ’ s ruling regime .
The report alleges that Qatar uses Al Jazeera to advance its foreign policy interests , citing former employees who have claimed the network is used to `` make the case for Qatar ’ s view of the region and the wider world . ''
It also points to Al Jazeera 's coverage of Iran , which has been critical of U.S. policies and generally supportive of the Islamic Republic 's regional ambitions .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Congressional Research Service stated that Qatar `` owns and subsidizes '' Al Jazeera .
The State Department has also maintained in its annual country reports that `` the government [ has ] owned and partially funded the Doha-based Al-Jazeera . ''
Ros-Lehtinen said her report provides DOJ with enough evidence to compel Al Jazeera ’ s inclusion into FARA .
`` I can not sit by while the Qatari regime ’ s role is cloaked by a media conglomerate wholly owned by a foreign government , '' she wrote in the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hears , and sees Al Jazeera stories and content every day , and Americans deserve to know that this organization serves as an agent for—and is owned , funded , directed , and controlled by—the government of Qatar . ''
Update 7 : -4 p.m. : A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Al Jazeera operates under Qatar Media Corporation .

The Al Jazeera news network is running afoul of U.S. laws mandating it disclose its ties to the Qatari royal family, which has for years used the network to further Doha’s political interests in America, according to a new report by a former member of Congress.
Former representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who served in Congress for 30 years and chaired the House Foreign Affairs Committee from 2011-2013, issued a report on Tuesday accusing Al Jazeera of operating as an undisclosed agent of the Qatari government, in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which requires those working for foreign governments to publicly report their activities. Ros-Lehtinen is now a lobbyist with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and was retained by the United Arab Emirates, a chief regional opponent of Qatar, to conduct the probe into Al Jazeera.
The report, which has been endorsed by the UAE, accuses Qatar and Al Jazeera of violating FARA laws by operating under the guise of an independent news organization. While Al Jazeera is largely funded by the Qatari government, the outlet maintains that it has editorial independence and is therefore not subject to FARA disclosure.
Still, prominent members of Congress have petitioned the Department of Justice to launch a full-scale investigation into Al Jazeera’s activities to determine if it is in violation of disclosure laws. Ros-Lehtinen issued such calls during her time in Congress, where she raised the issue of Qatar’s influence operations in America. In recent years, Qatar has emerged as a flashpoint in U.S. politics due to its infiltration of the U.S. public education system and other key American institutions. The country’s critics allege that Qatar spends billions to peddle influence in the United States and sway public opinion, often without disclosing these activities. Al Jazeera drew congressional ire in 2018 when it was implicated in a massive spy effort targeting prominent Jewish and pro-Israel individuals in Washington, D.C.
Sources who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon indicated that Congress could be moving on the issue in the coming weeks.
"The United States needs to take a hard look at its relationship with Qatar and to compel Al Jazeera—the media network that is owned, funded, directed, and controlled by the Qatari government—to register with the Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act," Ros-Lehtinen wrote in the report, a copy of which was provided exclusively to the Free Beacon.
The former lawmaker maintains the DOJ must require Al Jazeera to register under FARA, as it has done with other foreign news outlets, such as those controlled by Russia and China.
The report makes the case that Qatar "owns, funds, directs, and controls" Al Jazeera, which the country allegedly uses to further its own foreign policy agenda. Al Jazeera’s board of directors is chaired by a member of the Qatari ruling family, who exerts control over the network, according to the report. Because of this, the report says, Al Jazeera cannot maintain independence from the government and, thus, falls under the criteria necessary for FARA registration.
The report raises further questions about Qatar’s regional objectives, particularly its increasingly close relationship with Iran and terror forces operating in the region. Critics of the news outlet view it as supporting these objectives through its selected coverage and opinion sections.
Al Jazeera said through a spokesman that the network is not under the Qatari government’s control, citing 2011 efforts to convert Al Jazeera Media Network into a standalone entity that is structured similarly to a U.S. nonprofit. The spokesperson further said that Al Jazeera’s editorial independence has been formalized under laws instituted by Qatar. The network is currently registered as a "private foundation for public benefit" under Qatari law, a move meant to ensure its independent status.
"These erroneous claims and tired, false narratives are a continuation of the aggressive lobbying, public relations, and online disinformation campaigns orchestrated by the United Arab Emirates," the outlet said in a statement.
Al Jazeera said it is being used as fodder in a larger proxy war between the UAE and Qatar, which has been locked in a dispute with that country and other regional players like Saudi Arabia. As part of a regional blockade on Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and others demanded that Al Jazeera be shuttered.
"Unsuccessful in these attempts, the UAE is now attempting to accomplish the objectives of the blockade through other means, including weaponizing U.S. laws improperly," the spokesman said.
Al Jazeera employs hundreds of people in the United States and maintains multiple websites aimed at an American audience, including AJ+, Al Jazeera English, and Al Jazeera Arabic.
While the company maintains that it is not instructed on what it can and cannot cover, Ros-Lehtinen’s report paints a different picture.
Using publicly available evidence and congressional testimony compiled over the years, the report alleges that Al Jazeera is completely subservient to Qatar’s ruling regime.
The report alleges that Qatar uses Al Jazeera to advance its foreign policy interests, citing former employees who have claimed the network is used to "make the case for Qatar’s view of the region and the wider world."
It also points to Al Jazeera's coverage of Iran, which has been critical of U.S. policies and generally supportive of the Islamic Republic's regional ambitions.
In a 2020 report on Qatar, the U.S. Congressional Research Service stated that Qatar "owns and subsidizes" Al Jazeera. The State Department has also maintained in its annual country reports that "the government [has] owned and partially funded the Doha-based Al-Jazeera."
Ros-Lehtinen said her report provides DOJ with enough evidence to compel Al Jazeera’s inclusion into FARA.
"I cannot sit by while the Qatari regime’s role is cloaked by a media conglomerate wholly owned by a foreign government," she wrote in the report. "The U.S. public reads, hears, and sees Al Jazeera stories and content every day, and Americans deserve to know that this organization serves as an agent for—and is owned, funded, directed, and controlled by—the government of Qatar."
Update 7:-4 p.m.: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Al Jazeera operates under Qatar Media Corporation.


freebeacon--2020-07-08--Loeffler: WNBA Trying to ‘Cancel’ Me

Loeffler: WNBA Trying to ‘Cancel’ Me

Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R. , Ga. ) said Wednesday that the WNBA is trying to `` cancel '' her for her stance against the league 's promotion of the Black Lives Matter movement .
`` Sports are about unifying people , '' she said after a campaign event in Woodstock , Ga. `` People from all walks of life , from all political views , should be welcome in sports , and to cancel someone because they want to protect innocent life , because they 're fighting for the unborn , because they support the Second Amendment .
… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to welcome all views . ''
Players balked after Loeffler , a co-owner of the Atlanta Dream , urged the league not to follow through on plans to display `` Black Lives Matter '' and `` Say Her Name '' slogans on jerseys or courts when league play resumes .
In a letter to commissioner Cathy Engelbert , Loeffler said the Black Lives Matter political movement was antithetical to the league 's values .
`` E-N-O-U-G-H !
O-U-T ! ''
the WNBA players association tweeted out .
`` We are surprised that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this league given her feelings , so we would love for her to not represent us anymore because what she stands for is not a part of our league , '' New York Liberty player Layshia Clarendon told CNN on Wednesday .
`` I think people have been asking the question of why would she own a WNBA team if she believes black lives do n't matter . ''
Loeffler was appointed in January by Georgia governor Brian Kemp ( R. ) and is running in a special jungle election for her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior political experience , Loeffler has strongly aligned herself with President Donald Trump while in office .
Her leading Democratic opponent , Rev .
Raphael Warnock , told CBS46 Tuesday that Loeffler 's stance on Black Lives Matter was `` dead wrong . ''
Loeffler distinguished between the left-wing political organization and the mantra `` Black Lives Matter '' in her letter to Engelbert .
`` The lives of each and every African American matter , and there 's no debating the fact that there is no place for racism in our country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I adamantly oppose the Black Lives Matter political movement , which has advocated for the defunding of police , called for the removal of Jesus from churches and the disruption of the nuclear family structure , harbored anti-Semitic views , and promoted violence and destruction across the country .
I believe it is totally misaligned with the values and goals of the WNBA and the Atlanta Dream , where we support tolerance and inclusion . ''
Loeffler said there should be less , not more , politics in sports .
She called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on jerseys instead .
The WNBA distanced itself from Loeffler in a statement on Tuesday .
`` The WNBA is based on the principle of equal and fair treatment of all people and we , along with the teams and players , will continue to use our platforms to vigorously advocate for social justice , '' the league wrote .
`` Sen. Kelly Loeffler has not served as a Governor of the Atlanta Dream since October 2019 and is no longer involved in the day-to-day business of the team . ''

Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R., Ga.) said Wednesday that the WNBA is trying to "cancel" her for her stance against the league's promotion of the Black Lives Matter movement.
"Sports are about unifying people," she said after a campaign event in Woodstock, Ga. "People from all walks of life, from all political views, should be welcome in sports, and to cancel someone because they want to protect innocent life, because they're fighting for the unborn, because they support the Second Amendment. ... That should be a tenet of sports is to welcome all views."
Players balked after Loeffler, a co-owner of the Atlanta Dream, urged the league not to follow through on plans to display "Black Lives Matter" and "Say Her Name" slogans on jerseys or courts when league play resumes. In a letter to commissioner Cathy Engelbert, Loeffler said the Black Lives Matter political movement was antithetical to the league's values.
"E-N-O-U-G-H! O-U-T!" the WNBA players association tweeted out.
"We are surprised that she would want to be a part of this league given her feelings, so we would love for her to not represent us anymore because what she stands for is not a part of our league," New York Liberty player Layshia Clarendon told CNN on Wednesday. "I think people have been asking the question of why would she own a WNBA team if she believes black lives don't matter."
Loeffler was appointed in January by Georgia governor Brian Kemp (R.) and is running in a special jungle election for her seat. A wealthy businesswoman with no prior political experience, Loeffler has strongly aligned herself with President Donald Trump while in office.
Her leading Democratic opponent, Rev. Raphael Warnock, told CBS46 Tuesday that Loeffler's stance on Black Lives Matter was "dead wrong."
Loeffler distinguished between the left-wing political organization and the mantra "Black Lives Matter" in her letter to Engelbert.
"The lives of each and every African American matter, and there's no debating the fact that there is no place for racism in our country," she wrote. "However, I adamantly oppose the Black Lives Matter political movement, which has advocated for the defunding of police, called for the removal of Jesus from churches and the disruption of the nuclear family structure, harbored anti-Semitic views, and promoted violence and destruction across the country. I believe it is totally misaligned with the values and goals of the WNBA and the Atlanta Dream, where we support tolerance and inclusion."
Loeffler said there should be less, not more, politics in sports. She called for an American flag to be displayed on jerseys instead.
The WNBA distanced itself from Loeffler in a statement on Tuesday.
"The WNBA is based on the principle of equal and fair treatment of all people and we, along with the teams and players, will continue to use our platforms to vigorously advocate for social justice," the league wrote. "Sen. Kelly Loeffler has not served as a Governor of the Atlanta Dream since October 2019 and is no longer involved in the day-to-day business of the team."


freebeacon--2020-07-08--‘Squad’ Backs Bill to Gut Police, End Prisons

Two leading progressive House Democrats on Tuesday endorsed a proposal to radically overhaul the criminal justice system by dismantling policing and incarceration in the United States .
Reps. Ayanna Pressley ( D. , Mass . )
and Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) , both known as members of the House 's uber-progressive `` squad , '' backed the BREATHE Act , legislation that would strip federal law enforcement to the bone , disband the DEA and ICE , end federal funding for police , and `` develop a time-bound plan to close all federal prisons . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states , funnel unspecified amounts of federal money into massive new grant programs , which would be spent on priorities like school curricula on `` colonialism , '' pilot programs for a universal basic income , and reparations for prostitutes .
No official language for the BREATHE Act yet exists , and the proposal is unlikely to be passed wholesale into law .
Pressley and Tlaib 's support , however , signals that the Democrats ' progressive wing is unsatisfied with the police reforms being pushed by their more moderate colleagues and would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vision in turn has a good chance at influencing 2020 contender Joe Biden and the Democratic Party 's platform , due to be set next month .
The summary , released by the social justice umbrella organization Movement for Black Lives , outlines a comprehensive vision for overhauling the criminal justice system .
The first calls for comprehensive divestment of federal resources from policing , including an end to federal funding for police hiring , the abolition of ICE and the DEA , the defunding of school security officers , and major cuts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The envisioned overhaul would also entail a number of legal changes .
Those include banning facial recognition and predictive policing tools ; ending mandatory minimums , life sentences , and `` three strikes '' laws ; and repealing `` federal laws that criminalize human movement and border entry '' —effectively legalizing crossing the border .
Some of the plans involve federal regulation of state law , like `` repealing all existing State juvenile offenses '' —a move that would likely face a substantial constitutional challenge .
Instead of funding police and incarceration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to `` alternatives '' like violence interruption and mediation programs—approaches either with little evidentiary support or which studies say do not work .
These would be supplemented by major transfer programs , supporting everything from `` food cooperatives and urban gardens '' to a universal basic income .
Also on the agenda are `` reparations for mass criminalization , '' including `` the criminalization of prostitution '' and `` border violence . ''
The BREATHE Act is just the latest offering from House progressives hoping to dismantle the criminal justice system .
Pressley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` smaller , safer , less punitive , and more humane '' criminal justice system through a series of changes that would have limited impact on incarceration , but a substantial impact on policing and city quality of life .
Those proposals go much further than the House Democrats ' consensus response to recent calls for police reform , the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 .
That bill—which bans chokeholds , creates a national database for tracking police misconduct , and otherwise cracks down on police violence—passed the House with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police reform have stalled out in the Senate amid contending bills by Democrats and Republicans—Tlaib and Pressley 's proposal may represent another volley into this melee .
While the BREATHE Act is unlikely to gain traction in the House , it does signal the direction that the Democrats ' progressive wing would like to take the party on criminal justice .
That may matter for the shaping of the party 's platform , which Biden has granted key allies of Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) significant sway over .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which failed to pass in resolution form last March , but a variation of which appeared in many 2020 Democrats ' platforms , and which will likely influence the party 's vision come August .

Two leading progressive House Democrats on Tuesday endorsed a proposal to radically overhaul the criminal justice system by dismantling policing and incarceration in the United States.
Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.) and Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.), both known as members of the House's uber-progressive "squad," backed the BREATHE Act, legislation that would strip federal law enforcement to the bone, disband the DEA and ICE, end federal funding for police, and "develop a time-bound plan to close all federal prisons."
The bill would also, an official summary states, funnel unspecified amounts of federal money into massive new grant programs, which would be spent on priorities like school curricula on "colonialism," pilot programs for a universal basic income, and reparations for prostitutes.
No official language for the BREATHE Act yet exists, and the proposal is unlikely to be passed wholesale into law. Pressley and Tlaib's support, however, signals that the Democrats' progressive wing is unsatisfied with the police reforms being pushed by their more moderate colleagues and would prefer a more radical overhaul. That vision in turn has a good chance at influencing 2020 contender Joe Biden and the Democratic Party's platform, due to be set next month.
The summary, released by the social justice umbrella organization Movement for Black Lives, outlines a comprehensive vision for overhauling the criminal justice system. The first calls for comprehensive divestment of federal resources from policing, including an end to federal funding for police hiring, the abolition of ICE and the DEA, the defunding of school security officers, and major cuts to the Department of Defense's budget.
The envisioned overhaul would also entail a number of legal changes. Those include banning facial recognition and predictive policing tools; ending mandatory minimums, life sentences, and "three strikes" laws; and repealing "federal laws that criminalize human movement and border entry"—effectively legalizing crossing the border. Some of the plans involve federal regulation of state law, like "repealing all existing State juvenile offenses"—a move that would likely face a substantial constitutional challenge.
Instead of funding police and incarceration, the BREATHE Act would redirect resources to "alternatives" like violence interruption and mediation programs—approaches either with little evidentiary support or which studies say do not work. These would be supplemented by major transfer programs, supporting everything from "food cooperatives and urban gardens" to a universal basic income. Also on the agenda are "reparations for mass criminalization," including "the criminalization of prostitution" and "border violence."
The BREATHE Act is just the latest offering from House progressives hoping to dismantle the criminal justice system. Pressley previously authored a resolution calling for a "smaller, safer, less punitive, and more humane" criminal justice system through a series of changes that would have limited impact on incarceration, but a substantial impact on policing and city quality of life.
Those proposals go much further than the House Democrats' consensus response to recent calls for police reform, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020. That bill—which bans chokeholds, creates a national database for tracking police misconduct, and otherwise cracks down on police violence—passed the House with every Democrat's support. Efforts at police reform have stalled out in the Senate amid contending bills by Democrats and Republicans—Tlaib and Pressley's proposal may represent another volley into this melee.
While the BREATHE Act is unlikely to gain traction in the House, it does signal the direction that the Democrats' progressive wing would like to take the party on criminal justice. That may matter for the shaping of the party's platform, which Biden has granted key allies of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) significant sway over. The result may parallel the Green New Deal, which failed to pass in resolution form last March, but a variation of which appeared in many 2020 Democrats' platforms, and which will likely influence the party's vision come August.


freebeacon--2020-07-08--Labor Groups, San Francisco Push Bogus Taxpayer-Funded Survey to Support Anti-Gig Law

A liberal advocacy group 's own researchers raised red flags about a taxpayer-funded study used to justify a union campaign against the California gig economy .
The San Francisco Local Agency Formation Commission helped fund a survey conducted by Jobs with Justice , a left-wing advocacy group largely funded by labor powerhouse Service Employees International Union ( SEIU ) .
The survey reported that 71 percent of gig workers in the San Francisco area work more than 30 hours a week and receive `` poverty level '' wages .
According to the group 's website , Jobs with Justice planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy recommendations and support organizing '' among gig workers .
The survey 's summary page emphasizes the need to enforce anti-gig labor laws .
Left-wing labor group Gig Workers Rising has used the survey to rally in support of California Assembly Bill 5 , a controversial law limiting companies ' ability to classify workers as independent contractors .
The group called the study `` the most comprehensive survey of actual work done '' in the gig economy .
Internal communications obtained by the Washington Free Beacon , however , reveal that the survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` not representative , '' and an academic researcher involved in the study voiced concerns regarding Jobs with Justice 's recruitment tactics .
While the study initially called for 1,200 survey respondents , Jobs with Justice narrowed the scope following the spread of coronavirus , pivoting to an online survey focusing on the pandemic that aimed to reach just 500 respondents .
`` The goal behind an online survey of 500 workers , while not representative , would be to turn around data quickly … in order to inform current policy discussions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survey obtained by the Free Beacon said .
It went on to reach just 219 respondents .
Pacific Research Institute senior fellow Wayne Winegarden criticized the study 's methodology , calling the survey 's results `` meaningless . ''
`` The survey is not representative of the intended population with the original goal of 500 responses , '' Winegarden told the Free Beacon .
`` The study did not reach this amount , having only 219 responses .
So , in no uncertain terms do these results represent the view of gig workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Justice 's involvement in an attempt to bolster its academic appeal .
While the published survey lists UC Santa Cruz professor Chris Benner as the project 's lead , Jobs with Justice executive director Kung Feng is described as `` leading '' the project in internal emails obtained by the Free Beacon .
The emails also show that the online survey was written by the group 's research director , Erin Johansson .
Benner merely `` edited the wording in a few questions , '' according to the internal communications .
Benner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment , also raised concerns regarding Jobs with Justice 's incentive plan to provide a gift card to all survey respondents .
`` One , I 'm not sure where the budget for that comes from , and two , with an online survey , it leaves open lots of opportunities for people to game it , '' Benner wrote in a March 17 email to Johansson .
Following the academic 's objection , Gig Workers Rising continued to advertise the survey in an April tweet by saying respondents would `` get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jobs with Justice invoice for the study listed $ 45,181 in `` survey costs , '' including `` incentives and app payments . ''
While the published study lists the gig economy companies each of the survey 's 219 respondents work for , internal data obtained by the Free Beacon shows that 91 of the respondents did not report their company , suggesting some may have been non-gig workers who completed the survey for the incentive .
The invoice was sent to San Francisco Local Agency Formation Commission executive officer Bryan Goebel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jobs with Justice 's behalf , internal emails show .
Reached for comment , Goebel said the coronavirus-related study `` was never intended to be '' representative and that $ 50,000 in taxpayer funds were used only for the `` initial pilot survey '' launched prior to coronavirus .
The final study combined the results of both the pilot survey and coronavirus-related survey , a methodological red flag , according to Winegarden .
`` In the midst of the survey being in the field , they stopped the survey , reworked it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued with the survey , '' Winegarden told the Free Beacon .
`` These results from before and after can not be compared to one another . ''
Goebel also told the Free Beacon that Benner `` was indeed the overall lead '' on the study , adding that Jobs with Justice simply `` led the outreach . ''
He did not address the fact that the coronavirus-related survey was drafted by Jobs with Justice .
Charlyce Bozzello , a spokeswoman for labor watchdog the Center for Union Facts , said activist front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideological goals .
`` For years , unions have used flawed ‘ research ' to support their organizing campaigns , so it 's no surprise to see Jobs with Justice involved in this project , '' she told the Free Beacon .
`` What is surprising is that the city of San Francisco and UC Santa Cruz would lend their names to this charade . ''
Other gig economy studies dispute Jobs with Justice 's findings .
A Cornell University study published Monday found that 96 percent of Uber and Lyft drivers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
It further found that 92 percent made more than Seattle 's minimum wage of $ 16.39 , with the media driver earning $ 23.25 per hour after deducting expenses .
Jobs with Justice and Gig Workers Rising did not respond to requests for comment .

A liberal advocacy group's own researchers raised red flags about a taxpayer-funded study used to justify a union campaign against the California gig economy.
The San Francisco Local Agency Formation Commission helped fund a survey conducted by Jobs with Justice, a left-wing advocacy group largely funded by labor powerhouse Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The survey reported that 71 percent of gig workers in the San Francisco area work more than 30 hours a week and receive "poverty level" wages. According to the group's website, Jobs with Justice planned to use the survey to "make policy recommendations and support organizing" among gig workers. The survey's summary page emphasizes the need to enforce anti-gig labor laws.
Left-wing labor group Gig Workers Rising has used the survey to rally in support of California Assembly Bill 5, a controversial law limiting companies' ability to classify workers as independent contractors. The group called the study "the most comprehensive survey of actual work done" in the gig economy. Internal communications obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, however, reveal that the survey was pitched to potential financial backers as "not representative," and an academic researcher involved in the study voiced concerns regarding Jobs with Justice's recruitment tactics.
While the study initially called for 1,200 survey respondents, Jobs with Justice narrowed the scope following the spread of coronavirus, pivoting to an online survey focusing on the pandemic that aimed to reach just 500 respondents.
"The goal behind an online survey of 500 workers, while not representative, would be to turn around data quickly … in order to inform current policy discussions," an internal description of the updated survey obtained by the Free Beacon said. It went on to reach just 219 respondents.
Pacific Research Institute senior fellow Wayne Winegarden criticized the study's methodology, calling the survey's results "meaningless."
"The survey is not representative of the intended population with the original goal of 500 responses," Winegarden told the Free Beacon. "The study did not reach this amount, having only 219 responses. So, in no uncertain terms do these results represent the view of gig workers."
The study also downplayed Jobs with Justice's involvement in an attempt to bolster its academic appeal. While the published survey lists UC Santa Cruz professor Chris Benner as the project's lead, Jobs with Justice executive director Kung Feng is described as "leading" the project in internal emails obtained by the Free Beacon. The emails also show that the online survey was written by the group's research director, Erin Johansson. Benner merely "edited the wording in a few questions," according to the internal communications.
Benner, who did not return request for comment, also raised concerns regarding Jobs with Justice's incentive plan to provide a gift card to all survey respondents.
"One, I'm not sure where the budget for that comes from, and two, with an online survey, it leaves open lots of opportunities for people to game it," Benner wrote in a March 17 email to Johansson.
Following the academic's objection, Gig Workers Rising continued to advertise the survey in an April tweet by saying respondents would "get a $10 gift card." A Jobs with Justice invoice for the study listed $45,181 in "survey costs," including "incentives and app payments." While the published study lists the gig economy companies each of the survey's 219 respondents work for, internal data obtained by the Free Beacon shows that 91 of the respondents did not report their company, suggesting some may have been non-gig workers who completed the survey for the incentive.
The invoice was sent to San Francisco Local Agency Formation Commission executive officer Bryan Goebel, who solicited funding for the study on Jobs with Justice's behalf, internal emails show. Reached for comment, Goebel said the coronavirus-related study "was never intended to be" representative and that $50,000 in taxpayer funds were used only for the "initial pilot survey" launched prior to coronavirus. The final study combined the results of both the pilot survey and coronavirus-related survey, a methodological red flag, according to Winegarden.
"In the midst of the survey being in the field, they stopped the survey, reworked it to account for the coronavirus, and then continued with the survey," Winegarden told the Free Beacon. "These results from before and after cannot be compared to one another."
Goebel also told the Free Beacon that Benner "was indeed the overall lead" on the study, adding that Jobs with Justice simply "led the outreach." He did not address the fact that the coronavirus-related survey was drafted by Jobs with Justice.
Charlyce Bozzello, a spokeswoman for labor watchdog the Center for Union Facts, said activist front groups often misuse research to advance their ideological goals.
"For years, unions have used flawed 'research' to support their organizing campaigns, so it's no surprise to see Jobs with Justice involved in this project," she told the Free Beacon. "What is surprising is that the city of San Francisco and UC Santa Cruz would lend their names to this charade."
Other gig economy studies dispute Jobs with Justice's findings. A Cornell University study published Monday found that 96 percent of Uber and Lyft drivers in Seattle drove less than 40 hours a week. It further found that 92 percent made more than Seattle's minimum wage of $16.39, with the media driver earning $23.25 per hour after deducting expenses.
Jobs with Justice and Gig Workers Rising did not respond to requests for comment.