freebeacon--2020-11-16--Pompeo Puts Iran on Notice During Paris Meetings

PARIS—Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrapped up the first leg of a seven-country tour in Paris on Monday by amplifying the Trump administration 's ongoing efforts to push back against Iran , a centerpiece of what are likely to be the administration 's final months .
The nation 's top diplomat pressed international efforts to combat Iran and its support for regional terror groups like Hezbollah .
As the secretary of state enters the second leg of his 10-day trip across the Middle East , Iran is expected to be a centerpiece of Pompeo 's meetings with officials in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , United Arab Emirates , and Qatar .
Pompeo also met privately with French president Emmanuel Macron , where the two discussed global security threats , including `` efforts to counter violent extremism , '' according to a State Department official brief on the meeting .
Iran 's destabilizing behavior across the Middle East and the Tehran-funded terror group Hezbollah 's `` malign influence in Lebanon '' also were addressed , according to the official .
The meeting , which Macron 's office described as a `` courtesy '' to Pompeo , came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president Joe Biden for his win in the 2020 election—an outcome still disputed by the Trump administration .
While `` there was not a lot of specific discussion about Iran , '' Pompeo and Macron discussed Iran 's significant role in global terror and the ongoing unrest in Iraq that is `` directly attributable of course to Iran , '' according to the official , who spoke only on background about the meetings .
Pompeo also expressed `` profound condolences and shock '' at the terror attacks in France during the chat .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a brief but somber ceremony at the Hotel des Invalides , a hospital and military museum that housed those injured during the most recent terror attacks in the country .
`` Secretary Pompeo laid a wreath in remembrance of the victims of France 's recent terrorist attacks , '' a State Department official told reporters , most of whom were not permitted to attend the ceremony due to severe coronavirus restrictions currently being enforced by the French government .
In Monday afternoon meetings with French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian , Pompeo `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Libya '' under a United Nations-led political process , according to principal deputy State Department spokesman Cale Brown .
Pompeo and Le Drian also talked about the `` Chinese Communist Party 's malign activity in Europe and human-rights abuses in Xinjiang , '' both of which are a major diplomatic priority for the Trump administration in its final months .
The discussions about Beijing came just days after the Trump administration implemented a bevy of sanctions on companies tied to China 's military-industrial network .
The sanctions block Americans from owning stock in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designated as fronts for China 's military .
It is unclear , however , how long these restrictions will remain in place , given team Biden 's opposition to policies it views as meant to antagonize the Communist regime .
In Istanbul on Tuesday , Pompeo will meet with religious leaders amid Turkey 's closely watched crackdown on Christians and other religious minority groups .

PARIS—Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrapped up the first leg of a seven-country tour in Paris on Monday by amplifying the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to push back against Iran, a centerpiece of what are likely to be the administration's final months.
The nation's top diplomat pressed international efforts to combat Iran and its support for regional terror groups like Hezbollah. As the secretary of state enters the second leg of his 10-day trip across the Middle East, Iran is expected to be a centerpiece of Pompeo's meetings with officials in the powerful Gulf Arab nations of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
Pompeo also met privately with French president Emmanuel Macron, where the two discussed global security threats, including "efforts to counter violent extremism," according to a State Department official brief on the meeting. Iran's destabilizing behavior across the Middle East and the Tehran-funded terror group Hezbollah's "malign influence in Lebanon" also were addressed, according to the official.
The meeting, which Macron's office described as a "courtesy" to Pompeo, came after the French president congratulated former vice president Joe Biden for his win in the 2020 election—an outcome still disputed by the Trump administration.
While "there was not a lot of specific discussion about Iran," Pompeo and Macron discussed Iran's significant role in global terror and the ongoing unrest in Iraq that is "directly attributable of course to Iran," according to the official, who spoke only on background about the meetings.
Pompeo also expressed "profound condolences and shock" at the terror attacks in France during the chat.
Pompeo honored French victims of terror during a brief but somber ceremony at the Hotel des Invalides, a hospital and military museum that housed those injured during the most recent terror attacks in the country.
"Secretary Pompeo laid a wreath in remembrance of the victims of France's recent terrorist attacks," a State Department official told reporters, most of whom were not permitted to attend the ceremony due to severe coronavirus restrictions currently being enforced by the French government.
In Monday afternoon meetings with French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Pompeo "stressed the significance of political reconciliation in Libya" under a United Nations-led political process, according to principal deputy State Department spokesman Cale Brown. Pompeo and Le Drian also talked about the "Chinese Communist Party's malign activity in Europe and human-rights abuses in Xinjiang," both of which are a major diplomatic priority for the Trump administration in its final months.
The discussions about Beijing came just days after the Trump administration implemented a bevy of sanctions on companies tied to China's military-industrial network. The sanctions block Americans from owning stock in more than 30 companies the United States designated as fronts for China's military. It is unclear, however, how long these restrictions will remain in place, given team Biden's opposition to policies it views as meant to antagonize the Communist regime.
In Istanbul on Tuesday, Pompeo will meet with religious leaders amid Turkey's closely watched crackdown on Christians and other religious minority groups.


freebeacon--2020-11-16--Jews Top Target of Hate Crimes in 2019

Jews Top Target of Hate Crimes in 2019

American Jews were the religious group most targeted by hate crimes in 2019 , the FBI reported Monday , facing more than 60 percent of anti-religious bias incidents .
The number of anti-Semitic hate-crime incidents rose 14 percent in 2019 , data from the bureau 's annual hate-crime statistical report show , with police departments reporting 953 events and 1,032 victims .
That is 82 more incidents than in 2018 , continuing a rising trend over the past half decade .
Jews were in fact a leading target of hate crimes overall , regardless of motivation .
In absolute terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; on a per capita basis , only gay men and trans people were more likely to be targeted , a Washington Free Beacon analysis found .
The shocking increase in reported bias incidents sums up a year in which a high-profile synagogue shooting and a spate of anti-Semitic violence in New York City took place .
The latest figures suggest that anti-Jewish bias is not an isolated phenomenon but a widespread and growing threat to Americans ' safety .
Jewish leaders decried the uptick , calling for greater vigilance against anti-Semitism .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime statistics confirm what the Jewish community knows all too well : that violent antisemitism is a daily reality , '' Joel Rubin , the executive director of the American Jewish Congress , told the Free Beacon .
`` At the American Jewish Congress we have repeatedly called out rhetoric from both the left and the right that contributes to normalizing hate .
Public officials have a special obligation to ensure that their statements and positions inhibit rather than inflame radicals . ''
`` Anti-Jewish hate crimes have been the most prevalent type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back ( 1996 ) as the FBI has public figures on hate crimes , '' Republican Jewish Coalition communications director Neil Strauss told the Free Beacon .
`` Antisemitism is n't a political issue and does n't emanate from one side of the political divide in particular .
That is why the RJC has been at the forefront in calling out antisemitism on the left and the right .
Jewish people , like all Americans , deserve to live without fear .
We stand committed to making that possible . ''
The number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shocking in the context of Jews ' small share of the population—less than 2 percent , according to the Pew Research Center .
Out of every 100,000 Jews , 16 were victims last year , outpacing all but gay men ( 1.1 percent of the population ) and trans people ( 0.3 percent ) .
That 's part of a rising tide of anti-Semitic terror .
After declining steadily , the number of annual anti-Jewish incidents bottomed out in 2014 .
Since then , though , it has surged , rising 56 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statistics likely underestimate the true incidence of hate-crime offenses , the Anti-Defamation League said Monday , noting that the number of police departments participating in the FBI 's hate-crime reporting program has declined two years in a row .
`` The total severity of the impact and damage caused by hate crimes can not be fully measured without complete participation in the FBI 's data collection process , '' ADL president Jonathan Greenblatt said .
The FBI 's new data provides a quantitative counterpart to stories of anti-Semitic violence throughout 2019 .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a synagogue in Poway , Calif. , on the last day of Passover , killing one and injuring three .
In New York City and outlying Jewish suburbs , the year saw multiple incidents of horrific anti-Jewish violence , including a shooting at a grocery store in Jersey City and a mass stabbing at a rabbi 's home in Monsey , New York .

American Jews were the religious group most targeted by hate crimes in 2019, the FBI reported Monday, facing more than 60 percent of anti-religious bias incidents.
The number of anti-Semitic hate-crime incidents rose 14 percent in 2019, data from the bureau's annual hate-crime statistical report show, with police departments reporting 953 events and 1,032 victims. That is 82 more incidents than in 2018, continuing a rising trend over the past half decade.
Jews were in fact a leading target of hate crimes overall, regardless of motivation. In absolute terms, only more black Americans were victimized; on a per capita basis, only gay men and trans people were more likely to be targeted, a Washington Free Beacon analysis found.
The shocking increase in reported bias incidents sums up a year in which a high-profile synagogue shooting and a spate of anti-Semitic violence in New York City took place. The latest figures suggest that anti-Jewish bias is not an isolated phenomenon but a widespread and growing threat to Americans' safety.
Jewish leaders decried the uptick, calling for greater vigilance against anti-Semitism.
"Once again, the FBI hate crime statistics confirm what the Jewish community knows all too well: that violent antisemitism is a daily reality," Joel Rubin, the executive director of the American Jewish Congress, told the Free Beacon. "At the American Jewish Congress we have repeatedly called out rhetoric from both the left and the right that contributes to normalizing hate. Public officials have a special obligation to ensure that their statements and positions inhibit rather than inflame radicals."
"Anti-Jewish hate crimes have been the most prevalent type of anti-religious hate-based crimes going as far back (1996) as the FBI has public figures on hate crimes," Republican Jewish Coalition communications director Neil Strauss told the Free Beacon. "Antisemitism isn't a political issue and doesn't emanate from one side of the political divide in particular. That is why the RJC has been at the forefront in calling out antisemitism on the left and the right. Jewish people, like all Americans, deserve to live without fear. We stand committed to making that possible."
The number of Jewish hate crime victims is particularly shocking in the context of Jews' small share of the population—less than 2 percent, according to the Pew Research Center. Out of every 100,000 Jews, 16 were victims last year, outpacing all but gay men (1.1 percent of the population) and trans people (0.3 percent).
That's part of a rising tide of anti-Semitic terror. After declining steadily, the number of annual anti-Jewish incidents bottomed out in 2014. Since then, though, it has surged, rising 56 percent in the ensuing five years.
These statistics likely underestimate the true incidence of hate-crime offenses, the Anti-Defamation League said Monday, noting that the number of police departments participating in the FBI's hate-crime reporting program has declined two years in a row.
"The total severity of the impact and damage caused by hate crimes cannot be fully measured without complete participation in the FBI's data collection process," ADL president Jonathan Greenblatt said.
The FBI's new data provides a quantitative counterpart to stories of anti-Semitic violence throughout 2019. In April, a gunman opened fire on a synagogue in Poway, Calif., on the last day of Passover, killing one and injuring three. In New York City and outlying Jewish suburbs, the year saw multiple incidents of horrific anti-Jewish violence, including a shooting at a grocery store in Jersey City and a mass stabbing at a rabbi's home in Monsey, New York.


freebeacon--2020-11-16--Black Activists in Portland Speak Out Against Leftist Violence

Black activists in Portland called out violent anti-fascist and anarchist rioters who they believe have hindered the social justice movement .
The presumed election of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden this month sparked yet another wave of riots in Portland .
Unsatisfied with Biden 's likely victory , far-leftist radicals vandalized the local Democratic Party headquarters and smashed windows of local businesses and a church downtown .
Now , numerous black community activists are speaking out against the violence , telling the Los Angeles Times they believe groups of mostly white anarchists have tried to infiltrate the racial justice movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Black Lives Matter , but they ’ re 90 percent white and don ’ t reach out to black organizations , '' Rachelle Dixon , vice chair of the Multnomah County Democrats , told the Times .
`` I didn ’ t destroy my own building . ''
Newly elected city councilman Mingus Mapps ( D. ) and Ron Herndon , who has advocated for racial justice in Portland for decades , both condemned leftist protesters who set fire to government buildings and other establishments this summer .
`` When people set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not liberate me one bit , '' Mapps said .
`` It does the opposite .
It fuels the political culture that makes racism possible . ''
Herndon added : `` When I hear about somebody burning something down , I think about that as an act that ’ s always been used against black people .
You are not helping us . ''
Rukaiyah Adams , chief investment officer of a foundation funding a multimillion-dollar racial justice initiative , said it was likely that white rioters were responsible for a recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dan Ryan .
`` Clearly it ’ s not black folks going to Commissioner Ryan ’ s house and busting out his windows , '' Adams said .
Demonstrators took to the streets of Portland for over 100 consecutive nights this summer .
Over that timeframe , they attacked a federal courthouse with explosives , set fire to a police union headquarters , and repeatedly looted local businesses and vandalized other buildings throughout the city .
The Justice Department in September designated Portland an `` anarchist jurisdiction '' for the city 's failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Black activists in Portland called out violent anti-fascist and anarchist rioters who they believe have hindered the social justice movement.
The presumed election of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden this month sparked yet another wave of riots in Portland. Unsatisfied with Biden's likely victory, far-leftist radicals vandalized the local Democratic Party headquarters and smashed windows of local businesses and a church downtown.
Now, numerous black community activists are speaking out against the violence, telling the Los Angeles Times they believe groups of mostly white anarchists have tried to infiltrate the racial justice movement.
"[The rioters] melded with Black Lives Matter, but they’re 90 percent white and don’t reach out to black organizations," Rachelle Dixon, vice chair of the Multnomah County Democrats, told the Times. "I didn’t destroy my own building."
Newly elected city councilman Mingus Mapps (D.) and Ron Herndon, who has advocated for racial justice in Portland for decades, both condemned leftist protesters who set fire to government buildings and other establishments this summer.
"When people set fire to a building, it really does not liberate me one bit," Mapps said. "It does the opposite. It fuels the political culture that makes racism possible."
Herndon added: "When I hear about somebody burning something down, I think about that as an act that’s always been used against black people. You are not helping us."
Rukaiyah Adams, chief investment officer of a foundation funding a multimillion-dollar racial justice initiative, said it was likely that white rioters were responsible for a recent attack on the home of city commissioner Dan Ryan.
"Clearly it’s not black folks going to Commissioner Ryan’s house and busting out his windows," Adams said.
Demonstrators took to the streets of Portland for over 100 consecutive nights this summer. Over that timeframe, they attacked a federal courthouse with explosives, set fire to a police union headquarters, and repeatedly looted local businesses and vandalized other buildings throughout the city. The Justice Department in September designated Portland an "anarchist jurisdiction" for the city's failure to curb the riots and support police.


freebeacon--2020-11-16--Omar Cuts Ties to Husband’s Firm, Which Raked in Nearly $3 Million from Her Campaign

Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) is cutting ties with her husband 's political consulting firm , which raked in nearly $ 3 million from her campaign committee during the 2020 election cycle .
Omar 's campaign sent an email to supporters Sunday saying she will now distance herself from the E Street Group , which is owned by her husband , Tim Mynett , and Will Hailer .
`` So we 've decided to terminate our contract with Tim and Will 's firm , '' the email states .
`` While many of our close supporters know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep them on — I want to make sure that anybody who is supporting our campaign with their time or financial support feels there is no perceived issue with that support . ''
Omar has faced consistent scrutiny over her campaign 's payments to the firm , which the Washington Free Beacon has regularly tracked since the cash flow began last year .
Omar 's campaign has paid out nearly $ 3 million to the firm to cover advertisements , consulting , travel expenses , and production costs .
The E Street Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In September , Omar said getting rid of her husband 's firm would be a `` stupid thing to do . ''
She also defended herself after a Free Beacon report revealed that she had doled out $ 600,000 in payments to the firm over a three-week period in the beginning of July .
`` I do n't pay my husband , I pay the firm to do work , and that 600 really is an example of that work , '' she said .
`` And so what we do is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out the contractual work that we do with other vendors . ''
Omar 's campaign did not respond to a request for comment on what led to the decision .
Before marrying , Omar and Mynett had denied they were in a romantic relationship .
In August 2019 divorce filings , Mynett 's then-wife said he was involved with Omar .
At the time , Omar denied being separated from then-husband Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi , and Mynett claimed his then-wife was trying to ruin his career .

Omar said getting rid of firm would be a 'stupid thing to do'
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) is cutting ties with her husband's political consulting firm, which raked in nearly $3 million from her campaign committee during the 2020 election cycle.
Omar's campaign sent an email to supporters Sunday saying she will now distance herself from the E Street Group, which is owned by her husband, Tim Mynett, and Will Hailer.
"So we've decided to terminate our contract with Tim and Will's firm," the email states. "While many of our close supporters know these two well and have recommended we keep them on — I want to make sure that anybody who is supporting our campaign with their time or financial support feels there is no perceived issue with that support."
Omar has faced consistent scrutiny over her campaign's payments to the firm, which the Washington Free Beacon has regularly tracked since the cash flow began last year. Omar's campaign has paid out nearly $3 million to the firm to cover advertisements, consulting, travel expenses, and production costs. The E Street Group has been the campaign's largest vendor.
In September, Omar said getting rid of her husband's firm would be a "stupid thing to do." She also defended herself after a Free Beacon report revealed that she had doled out $600,000 in payments to the firm over a three-week period in the beginning of July.
"I don't pay my husband, I pay the firm to do work, and that 600 really is an example of that work," she said. "And so what we do is that we have this firm really carry out the contractual work that we do with other vendors."
Omar's campaign did not respond to a request for comment on what led to the decision.
Before marrying, Omar and Mynett had denied they were in a romantic relationship. In August 2019 divorce filings, Mynett's then-wife said he was involved with Omar. At the time, Omar denied being separated from then-husband Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi, and Mynett claimed his then-wife was trying to ruin his career.


freebeacon--2020-11-16--STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT: Obama Launches Book Tour, Eclipses Biden Victory

Former president Barack Obama refuses to let Joe Biden enjoy his victory in the 2020 election .
Just days after Biden was declared the winner of the presidential election , Obama launched a publicity tour in support of A Promised Land , the 768-page first volume of his third memoir .
Excerpts started leaking before Election Day and continued to make headlines as the votes were counted .
Biden 's name was rarely mentioned .
Over the weekend Obama was interviewed on 60 Minutes , where he plugged his forthcoming presidential library in Chicago .
On Monday , the Atlantic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , in which he talks about his love for Ta-Nehisi Coates .
Obama 's conveniently timed book tour is yet another attempt to undermine the political ambitions of his former running mate .
Obama , for example , had repeatedly advised Biden not to run for president in the first place .
In 2016 , according to the New York Times , he `` quietly pressured Mr. Biden to sit out the race , partly because he believed Mrs. Clinton had a better chance of building on his agenda . ''
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The coronation of Hillary Clinton—possibly the least likable politician in American history—as the Democratic nominee all but ensured the election of Donald Trump .
In 2019 , Obama tried once again to talk Biden out of running , reportedly telling him : `` You don ’ t have to do this , Joe , you really don ’ t . ''
Additional reporting during the 2020 Democratic primary suggested Obama did n't think Biden was a very good candidate .
The former president allegedly said Biden `` does n't really have it '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe ’ s ability to fuck things up . ''
Despite being multimillionaires , Obama and his wife Michelle refused to donate to Biden 's presidential campaign .
Biden appears to have taken note of Obama 's lack of enthusiasm for his candidacy .
After a leaked book excerpt on Obamacare gave Biden precisely zero credit for helping to pass the controversial legislation , Biden started referring to his health care plan as `` Bidencare , '' a proposal that `` will , in fact , provide for … affordable health care .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's victory in South Carolina set him on a path to the nomination , Obama reportedly called to congratulate him .
After that call , according to the New York Times , Biden `` made it clear to his staff '' that Obama `` had not lifted a finger '' to help him on the campaign trail .
Obama , who is the first former president since Dwight Eisenhower to publish a multi-volume memoir about his time in office , deserves some sympathy as well .
Due to his pathological infatuation with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching his former VP do his old job is going to be excruciating .

Former president Barack Obama refuses to let Joe Biden enjoy his victory in the 2020 election. Just days after Biden was declared the winner of the presidential election, Obama launched a publicity tour in support of A Promised Land, the 768-page first volume of his third memoir.
Excerpts started leaking before Election Day and continued to make headlines as the votes were counted. Biden's name was rarely mentioned. Over the weekend Obama was interviewed on 60 Minutes, where he plugged his forthcoming presidential library in Chicago. On Monday, the Atlantic published an in-depth interview with the former president, in which he talks about his love for Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Obama's conveniently timed book tour is yet another attempt to undermine the political ambitions of his former running mate. Obama, for example, had repeatedly advised Biden not to run for president in the first place. In 2016, according to the New York Times, he "quietly pressured Mr. Biden to sit out the race, partly because he believed Mrs. Clinton had a better chance of building on his agenda."
We all know how that turned out. The coronation of Hillary Clinton—possibly the least likable politician in American history—as the Democratic nominee all but ensured the election of Donald Trump. In 2019, Obama tried once again to talk Biden out of running, reportedly telling him: "You don’t have to do this, Joe, you really don’t."
Additional reporting during the 2020 Democratic primary suggested Obama didn't think Biden was a very good candidate. The former president allegedly said Biden "doesn't really have it" and that Democrats shouldn't "underestimate Joe’s ability to fuck things up." Despite being multimillionaires, Obama and his wife Michelle refused to donate to Biden's presidential campaign.
Biden appears to have taken note of Obama's lack of enthusiasm for his candidacy. After a leaked book excerpt on Obamacare gave Biden precisely zero credit for helping to pass the controversial legislation, Biden started referring to his health care plan as "Bidencare," a proposal that "will, in fact, provide for ... affordable health care."
During the primary, after Biden's victory in South Carolina set him on a path to the nomination, Obama reportedly called to congratulate him. After that call, according to the New York Times, Biden "made it clear to his staff" that Obama "had not lifted a finger" to help him on the campaign trail.
Obama, who is the first former president since Dwight Eisenhower to publish a multi-volume memoir about his time in office, deserves some sympathy as well. Due to his pathological infatuation with his own thoughts, sitting on the sidelines watching his former VP do his old job is going to be excruciating.


freebeacon--2020-11-16--Sanders Claims ‘Nobody’ He Knows Supports Defunding Police

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) said he does n't know any candidate who supports defunding the police—even though numerous left-wingers have called for slashing police budgets or abolishing police departments altogether .
`` Nobody I know who 's running for office is talking about ‘ defunding the police , ' '' Sanders said in a Sunday CNN interview , referring to candidates who ran in this month 's election .
`` What we 're talking about is making police officers accountable . ''
The far-left House Democrats known as `` the Squad '' and other newly elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) argued that slashing $ 1 billion from the NYPD 's budget did n't go far enough .
`` Defunding police means defunding police , '' she said in a statement .
`` If these reports are accurate , then these proposed ‘ cuts ' to the NYPD budget are a disingenuous illusion .
This is not a victory .
The fight to defund policing continues . ''
Fellow `` Squad '' member Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) backed the Minneapolis City Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police department .
`` We ca n't go about creating a different process with the same infrastructure in place , '' Omar said in June .
`` And so dismantling it , and then looking at what funding priorities should look like as we imagine a new way forward , is what needs to happen . ''
Another `` Squad '' member , Rep. Ayanna Pressley ( D. , Mass . )
, used the # DefundPolice hashtag in a June tweet and has called for removing police officers from schools .
Congresswoman-elect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) also committed to police defunding in a tweet just weeks before the election .
`` We 're going to defund the police and refund our social services , '' Bush tweeted .
`` Do n't like this idea ?
Well , we do n't like dead Black & Brown bodies & broken families at the hands of those sworn to protect us .
The police have failed at fixing themselves—so we 're going to do it . ''
Congressman-elect Jamaal Bowman ( D. , N.Y. ) has also voiced support for defunding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defunding `` the occupation of black bodies and the militarization of our communities . ''
Sanders 's statements follow House Democrats ' heated post-election conversation in which more moderate party members blamed leftist messaging , such as defunding the police , for several losses and near losses in this election .
Anti-police activists began calling for local governments to reform and defund the police in May following the death of George Floyd .

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) said he doesn't know any candidate who supports defunding the police—even though numerous left-wingers have called for slashing police budgets or abolishing police departments altogether.
"Nobody I know who's running for office is talking about 'defunding the police,'" Sanders said in a Sunday CNN interview, referring to candidates who ran in this month's election. "What we're talking about is making police officers accountable."
The far-left House Democrats known as "the Squad" and other newly elected progressives, however, have said otherwise.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) argued that slashing $1 billion from the NYPD's budget didn't go far enough.
"Defunding police means defunding police," she said in a statement. "If these reports are accurate, then these proposed 'cuts' to the NYPD budget are a disingenuous illusion. This is not a victory. The fight to defund policing continues."
Fellow "Squad" member Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) backed the Minneapolis City Council's vow to abolish its city's police department.
"We can't go about creating a different process with the same infrastructure in place," Omar said in June. "And so dismantling it, and then looking at what funding priorities should look like as we imagine a new way forward, is what needs to happen."
Another "Squad" member, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.), used the #DefundPolice hashtag in a June tweet and has called for removing police officers from schools.
Congresswoman-elect Cori Bush (D., Mo.) also committed to police defunding in a tweet just weeks before the election.
"We're going to defund the police and refund our social services," Bush tweeted. "Don't like this idea? Well, we don't like dead Black & Brown bodies & broken families at the hands of those sworn to protect us. The police have failed at fixing themselves—so we're going to do it."
We're going to defund the police and refund our social services. Don’t like this idea? Well, we don’t like dead Black & Brown bodies & broken families at the hands of those sworn to protect us. The police have failed at fixing themselves—so we're going to do it. — Cori Bush (@CoriBush) October 19, 2020
Congressman-elect Jamaal Bowman (D., N.Y.) has also voiced support for defunding the police, which he likened to defunding "the occupation of black bodies and the militarization of our communities."
How traumatizing is this for these kids? Will they receive an apology? Compensation? Mental health supports? No. They just have to go on being black in America. Defund the police means defund the occupation of black bodies and the militarization of our communities. https://t.co/8D5oZ2d23f — Jamaal Bowman (@JamaalBowmanNY) August 10, 2020
Sanders's statements follow House Democrats' heated post-election conversation in which more moderate party members blamed leftist messaging, such as defunding the police, for several losses and near losses in this election. Anti-police activists began calling for local governments to reform and defund the police in May following the death of George Floyd.


freebeacon--2020-11-16--White House Prepares Final Crackdown on China

The White House aims to enact a new crackdown on Beijing for its human-rights abuses and threats to national security during the final 10 weeks of President Donald Trump ’ s term .
Axios reported Sunday that Trump administration officials plan to roll out a series of new sanctions on China that will target the regime 's oppressive domestic policies and belligerence toward the United States .
`` Unless Beijing reverses course and becomes a responsible player on the global stage , future U.S. presidents will find it politically suicidal to reverse President Trump ’ s historic actions , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Axios .
Senior administration officials said not to expect new action on Taiwan or more closures of Chinese consulates .
Instead , sanctions will target China 's crackdown on Hong Kong , forced labor camps for Uighur Muslims in the western region of Xinjiang , forced labor in the fishing industry , and China ’ s intelligence operations within the United States .
In response to Chinese intelligence in particular , Trump administration officials look to Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and other China hawks to lead the charge .
`` Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in coordination with other national security principals , in delivering a necessary mindset shift from the Cold War and post-9/11 counterterrorism eras to a focus on great power competition with an adversarial China , '' DNI senior adviser Cliff Sims told Axios .
The final push against China comes soon after the Trump administration announced new sanctions that target China ’ s military-industrial base by blocking investment in companies with links to the People ’ s Liberation Army .
Republican lawmakers and China experts applauded the new sanctions as an extension of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggression .
Senior administration officials hope the final crackdown on China will cement Trump 's legacy of confronting , rather than accommodating , China .
Without continued strong action , experts fear president-elect Joe Biden could upend major milestones from the Trump administration 's efforts to curb the Chinese communist regime .
`` The Biden team needs to prepare themselves for when their agenda is met with some pretty hardline negotiations from China , '' Michael Sobolik , China expert at the American Foreign Policy Council , told the Washington Free Beacon .

The White House aims to enact a new crackdown on Beijing for its human-rights abuses and threats to national security during the final 10 weeks of President Donald Trump’s term.
Axios reported Sunday that Trump administration officials plan to roll out a series of new sanctions on China that will target the regime's oppressive domestic policies and belligerence toward the United States.
"Unless Beijing reverses course and becomes a responsible player on the global stage, future U.S. presidents will find it politically suicidal to reverse President Trump’s historic actions," National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot told Axios.
Senior administration officials said not to expect new action on Taiwan or more closures of Chinese consulates. Instead, sanctions will target China's crackdown on Hong Kong, forced labor camps for Uighur Muslims in the western region of Xinjiang, forced labor in the fishing industry, and China’s intelligence operations within the United States.
In response to Chinese intelligence in particular, Trump administration officials look to Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and other China hawks to lead the charge. "Director Ratcliffe will continue playing a leading role, in coordination with other national security principals, in delivering a necessary mindset shift from the Cold War and post-9/11 counterterrorism eras to a focus on great power competition with an adversarial China," DNI senior adviser Cliff Sims told Axios.
The final push against China comes soon after the Trump administration announced new sanctions that target China’s military-industrial base by blocking investment in companies with links to the People’s Liberation Army. Republican lawmakers and China experts applauded the new sanctions as an extension of the ongoing effort to combat Chinese military aggression.
Senior administration officials hope the final crackdown on China will cement Trump's legacy of confronting, rather than accommodating, China. Without continued strong action, experts fear president-elect Joe Biden could upend major milestones from the Trump administration's efforts to curb the Chinese communist regime.
"The Biden team needs to prepare themselves for when their agenda is met with some pretty hardline negotiations from China," Michael Sobolik, China expert at the American Foreign Policy Council, told the Washington Free Beacon.


freebeacon--2020-11-16--Biden Taps Reparations Advocate for Treasury Transition

Mehrsa Baradaran , a professor at the University of California , Irvine School of Law , is helping Biden prepare to `` hit the ground running on Day One '' as a member of his Department of the Treasury agency review team .
Baradaran is an outspoken advocate of reparations for black Americans , both as a means of correcting `` white supremacy '' and closing the racial wealth gap .
Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris ( D. , Calif. ) dodged questions about reparations throughout the 2020 cycle .
Baradaran took note of their refusal to stake out a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dear Kamala , Reparations or go home , '' she wrote in June 2019 .
`` Biden just dodged that reparations question like a much nimbler and younger man , '' she said in December 2019 , referencing a Democratic primary debate .
In her 2017 book The Color of Money : Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap , Baradaran argues that closing the racial wealth gap requires acknowledging past wrongs and providing compensation for damages .
`` A reparations program could take many forms from simple cash payments or baby bonds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college tuition , basic income , housing vouchers , or subsidized mortgage credit , '' she writes .
Baradaran 's book inspired Netflix to donate $ 100 million to organizations that `` support Black communities . ''
Before joining Biden 's transition team , Baradaran helped Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) , Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
, and former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg on policy proposals to address the racial wealth gap .
Biden , who left reparations out of his racial equity plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` [ Biden ] believes that we should gather the data necessary to have an informed conversation about reparations , but he has not endorsed a specific bill , '' a spokeswoman said during the campaign .
Harris has been similarly noncommittal .
`` When you are talking about the years and years and years of trauma that were experienced because of slavery , because of Jim Crow and because of all that we have seen in terms of institutional and legal discrimination and racism , this is very real and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said during a CNN town hall in April 2019 .
Other prominent Democrats such as Sen. Cory Booker ( D. , N.J. ) and Stacey Abrams have gone further , backing reparations explicitly .
The idea has also gained traction among liberal donors : In 2018 , the Democracy Alliance circulated a document calling for a reparations agenda by 2022 .
Baradaran and Biden 's campaign did not respond to requests for comment .

A major reparations advocate has a seat on Joe Biden's transition team.
Mehrsa Baradaran, a professor at the University of California, Irvine School of Law, is helping Biden prepare to "hit the ground running on Day One" as a member of his Department of the Treasury agency review team. Baradaran is an outspoken advocate of reparations for black Americans, both as a means of correcting "white supremacy" and closing the racial wealth gap.
Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) dodged questions about reparations throughout the 2020 cycle. Baradaran took note of their refusal to stake out a firm stance on the issue. "Dear Kamala, Reparations or go home," she wrote in June 2019. "Biden just dodged that reparations question like a much nimbler and younger man," she said in December 2019, referencing a Democratic primary debate.
In her 2017 book The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap, Baradaran argues that closing the racial wealth gap requires acknowledging past wrongs and providing compensation for damages. "A reparations program could take many forms from simple cash payments or baby bonds to more complex schemes such as subsidized college tuition, basic income, housing vouchers, or subsidized mortgage credit," she writes. Baradaran's book inspired Netflix to donate $100 million to organizations that "support Black communities."
Before joining Biden's transition team, Baradaran helped Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), and former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg on policy proposals to address the racial wealth gap. Biden, who left reparations out of his racial equity plan, said he would study the issue. "[Biden] believes that we should gather the data necessary to have an informed conversation about reparations, but he has not endorsed a specific bill," a spokeswoman said during the campaign.
Harris has been similarly noncommittal. "When you are talking about the years and years and years of trauma that were experienced because of slavery, because of Jim Crow and because of all that we have seen in terms of institutional and legal discrimination and racism, this is very real and it needs to be studied," she said during a CNN town hall in April 2019.
Other prominent Democrats such as Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.) and Stacey Abrams have gone further, backing reparations explicitly. The idea has also gained traction among liberal donors: In 2018, the Democracy Alliance circulated a document calling for a reparations agenda by 2022.
Baradaran and Biden's campaign did not respond to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-11-15--Did Warnock Attend Castro Speech? He Won’t Say

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock on Sunday evaded a question about his attendance at a 1995 Fidel Castro speech at a church he belonged to and offered a faint condemnation of the Cuban dictator .
`` I understand why Kelly Loeffler is trying to change the subject .
I was a youth pastor .
I had nothing to do with that program .
I did not make any decisions regarding the program , '' Warnock said on CNN 's State of the Union .
`` I 've never met the Cuban dictator and so I 'm not connected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has never celebrated Castro and understood why people consider the Cuban dictator reprehensible .
In 1995 , the New York church Warnock worked for invited Castro to give a speech to its congregation .
In footage of the speech , the head pastor of the church appeared to praise Castro and the audience chanted `` Fidel !
Fidel !
Fidel ! ''
In recent weeks , Warnock has faced accusations that he supports socialism .
During a 2009 sermon , the Democrat said he was `` sick and tired '' of attacks on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-Semitic reverend Jeremiah Wright and said Americans must `` repent '' for supporting Donald Trump and the country 's `` worship of whiteness . ''

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock on Sunday evaded a question about his attendance at a 1995 Fidel Castro speech at a church he belonged to and offered a faint condemnation of the Cuban dictator.
"I understand why Kelly Loeffler is trying to change the subject. I was a youth pastor. I had nothing to do with that program. I did not make any decisions regarding the program," Warnock said on CNN's State of the Union. "I've never met the Cuban dictator and so I'm not connected to him." Warnock also said he has never celebrated Castro and understood why people consider the Cuban dictator reprehensible.
In 1995, the New York church Warnock worked for invited Castro to give a speech to its congregation. In footage of the speech, the head pastor of the church appeared to praise Castro and the audience chanted "Fidel! Fidel! Fidel!"
In recent weeks, Warnock has faced accusations that he supports socialism. During a 2009 sermon, the Democrat said he was "sick and tired" of attacks on socialist policies. Warnock has also praised anti-Semitic reverend Jeremiah Wright and said Americans must "repent" for supporting Donald Trump and the country's "worship of whiteness."


freebeacon--2020-11-15--Pompeo Begins 7-Nation Tour Amid Global Lockdowns and Trump Election Battle

PARIS—Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in a locked down Paris Saturday morning to start a 10-day jaunt across Europe and the Middle East that comes amid a backdrop of the Trump administration ’ s last-ditch legal efforts to remain in office .
The nation ’ s top diplomat is likely to offer private assurances to world leaders that if former vice president Joe Biden takes office , the Trump administration will assist with an orderly transition .
Many of the leaders Pompeo is scheduled to meet have already congratulated Biden on his win .
Pompeo ’ s seven-nation tour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eastern hotspots—including Israel , Saudi Arabia , Turkey , Qatar , and the United Arab Emirates—where Iran ’ s global terrorism operation is likely to be a secondary focal point with world leaders .
Pompeo raised eyebrows on Friday when he stated during a press conference at the State Department that there will be a `` smooth transition to a second Trump administration . ''
While Pompeo , like other top administration figures , maintains that Trump won the 2020 presidential election , he clarified a day later in an interview with CBS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place before Jan. 20 no matter who is declared the victor .
`` Our adversaries should know that we 're ready , we 're continuing to work , we 'll work all the way through January .
And then on January 20th , we 'll have a transition , whether it 's to a Trump administration—a second Trump administration as I spoke about today—or to an administration led by former vice president Biden , '' Pompeo said .
The trip also comes amid the still growing coronavirus pandemic , which has initiated a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had virtually no public press conferences scheduled as the trip began , which are usually customary with visits by senior U.S. officials .
In Paris , the city is two weeks into a monthlong , full-scale lockdown .
Most of the Middle Eastern countries Pompeo is scheduled to visit also are shut down due to the virus .
The trip began with a spark of controversy : Pompeo will visit Istanbul , Turkey , but will not take meetings with the country ’ s leaders in the capital , Ankara .
U.S. officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Pompeo wants to focus on issues of religious liberty , and he is scheduled to meet several prominent figures , including the Greek Orthodox Christian leader Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. Turkish political leaders view Pompeo ’ s agenda as a snub , with the country ’ s foreign ministry calling his meetings `` extremely inappropriate . ''
During his two days in Paris , Pompeo will meet with French president Emmanuel Macron and participate in a wreath-laying ceremony to honor victims of the city ’ s most recent terrorist attacks .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a small pool of reporters that excludes most of those traveling with the secretary on his plane .
From Paris , Pompeo will head to Istanbul .
He also will travel to Georgia for meetings with President Salome Zourabichvili , Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia , and Minister of Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani .
While there , Pompeo will `` reaffirm our support of Georgia ’ s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders , '' according to a senior State Department official , who emphasized the Trump administration `` condemn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2008 of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia , which still remain occupied by Russia . ''
As with past trips to the Middle East , Pompeo will work to `` counter the Iranian regime , '' according to the State Department .
This will include powwows with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders in Saudi Arabia , Qatar , and the U.A.E—all of which share the United States ’ concerns about Iranian-backed terrorism .

PARIS—Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in a locked down Paris Saturday morning to start a 10-day jaunt across Europe and the Middle East that comes amid a backdrop of the Trump administration’s last-ditch legal efforts to remain in office.
The nation’s top diplomat is likely to offer private assurances to world leaders that if former vice president Joe Biden takes office, the Trump administration will assist with an orderly transition. Many of the leaders Pompeo is scheduled to meet have already congratulated Biden on his win. Pompeo’s seven-nation tour also will take him to several Middle Eastern hotspots—including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates—where Iran’s global terrorism operation is likely to be a secondary focal point with world leaders.
Pompeo raised eyebrows on Friday when he stated during a press conference at the State Department that there will be a "smooth transition to a second Trump administration." While Pompeo, like other top administration figures, maintains that Trump won the 2020 presidential election, he clarified a day later in an interview with CBS News that an orderly transition will take place before Jan. 20 no matter who is declared the victor.
"Our adversaries should know that we're ready, we're continuing to work, we'll work all the way through January. And then on January 20th, we'll have a transition, whether it's to a Trump administration—a second Trump administration as I spoke about today—or to an administration led by former vice president Biden," Pompeo said.
The trip also comes amid the still growing coronavirus pandemic, which has initiated a new wave of global lockdowns. Pompeo had virtually no public press conferences scheduled as the trip began, which are usually customary with visits by senior U.S. officials. In Paris, the city is two weeks into a monthlong, full-scale lockdown. Most of the Middle Eastern countries Pompeo is scheduled to visit also are shut down due to the virus.
The trip began with a spark of controversy: Pompeo will visit Istanbul, Turkey, but will not take meetings with the country’s leaders in the capital, Ankara. U.S. officials who briefed reporters ahead of the trip said Pompeo wants to focus on issues of religious liberty, and he is scheduled to meet several prominent figures, including the Greek Orthodox Christian leader Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. Turkish political leaders view Pompeo’s agenda as a snub, with the country’s foreign ministry calling his meetings "extremely inappropriate."
During his two days in Paris, Pompeo will meet with French president Emmanuel Macron and participate in a wreath-laying ceremony to honor victims of the city’s most recent terrorist attacks. These events will be tightly managed and limited to a small pool of reporters that excludes most of those traveling with the secretary on his plane.
From Paris, Pompeo will head to Istanbul.
He also will travel to Georgia for meetings with President Salome Zourabichvili, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, and Minister of Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani. While there, Pompeo will "reaffirm our support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders," according to a senior State Department official, who emphasized the Trump administration "condemn[s] Russia’s invasion in 2008 of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which still remain occupied by Russia."
As with past trips to the Middle East, Pompeo will work to "counter the Iranian regime," according to the State Department. This will include powwows with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the U.A.E—all of which share the United States’ concerns about Iranian-backed terrorism.


freebeacon--2020-11-17--Conservative Journalist Successfully Sues State of Minnesota for Access to Coronavirus Briefings

A conservative journalist barred from Minnesota ‘ s daily coronavirus briefings successfully sued the state to regain access .
In a settlement signed Friday , Minnesota 's Department of Health agreed to reinstate PowerLine cofounder Scott Johnson 's access to the state 's COVID-19 Conference Line `` as long as and whenever '' the department holds a briefing .
Johnson sued the Department of Public Health when he was barred from their conference line in May without explanation .
Johnson had until then participated in the calls and posed questions skeptical of Democratic governor Tim Walz 's approach to combating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stopped responding to Johnson 's written inquiries .
Those officials told the Washington Free Beacon that the briefings were limited to `` professional journalists , '' but did not offer a definition of the term .
In his lawsuit , Johnson argued that the state had discriminated against him on the basis of political ideology and demanded to be included in the briefings .
The Minnesota Department of Public Health declined to comment on the settlement agreement .
Johnson has been critical of the state 's handling of the pandemic , challenging Walz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down in April given that , at the time , more than 80 percent of Minnesota ‘ s coronavirus deaths occurred in nursing homes and residential care facilities .
That number dipped to more than 70 percent as of mid-October , according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune .
Johnson , a retired attorney and accredited reporter , argued that his exclusion constituted `` an ongoing deprivation … [ of his ] First Amendment rights under the United States Constitution . ''
Friday 's settlement acknowledges his exclusion from the briefings and guarantees him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Schommer is required under the agreement to answer up to three of Johnson 's pandemic-related questions per week .
Disclosure : Johnson is the father of Free Beacon editor in chief Eliana Johnson .

A conservative journalist barred from Minnesota's daily coronavirus briefings successfully sued the state to regain access.
In a settlement signed Friday, Minnesota's Department of Health agreed to reinstate PowerLine cofounder Scott Johnson's access to the state's COVID-19 Conference Line "as long as and whenever" the department holds a briefing.
Johnson sued the Department of Public Health when he was barred from their conference line in May without explanation. Johnson had until then participated in the calls and posed questions skeptical of Democratic governor Tim Walz's approach to combating the coronavirus. Health department officials also stopped responding to Johnson's written inquiries. Those officials told the Washington Free Beacon that the briefings were limited to "professional journalists," but did not offer a definition of the term.
In his lawsuit, Johnson argued that the state had discriminated against him on the basis of political ideology and demanded to be included in the briefings. The Minnesota Department of Public Health declined to comment on the settlement agreement.
Johnson has been critical of the state's handling of the pandemic, challenging Walz's decision to keep the state shut down in April given that, at the time, more than 80 percent of Minnesota's coronavirus deaths occurred in nursing homes and residential care facilities. That number dipped to more than 70 percent as of mid-October, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Johnson, a retired attorney and accredited reporter, argued that his exclusion constituted "an ongoing deprivation ... [of his] First Amendment rights under the United States Constitution."
Friday's settlement acknowledges his exclusion from the briefings and guarantees him immediate access: Health department communications director Michael Schommer is required under the agreement to answer up to three of Johnson's pandemic-related questions per week.
Disclosure: Johnson is the father of Free Beacon editor in chief Eliana Johnson.


freebeacon--2020-11-17--Support for Gun Control Drops as Sales Skyrocket

A new poll indicates support for stricter gun control laws fell significantly as Americans flocked to gun stores at a record pace in 2020 .
Support for stricter gun laws fell by 7 percentage points from 2019 , according to a poll released by Gallup on Monday .
The drop comes as gun sales soar ; 2020 has already set an all-time buying record with about 40 percent of sales going to first-time owners , according to industry estimates .
The combination of record gun sales and depressed support for gun control measures could signal trouble for potential actions by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wide range of new restrictions during his presidential campaign .
He advocated for a ban on online ammunition and gun sales , which skyrocketed during the pandemic , as well as expanded FBI background checks on private sales .
His running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris ( D. , Calif. ) , publicly supported the confiscation of AR-15s and other firearms during her presidential run , while Biden embraced a ban on new sales of the popular firearms , as well as many common magazines .
J .
Miles Coleman , associate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of Virginia 's Center for Politics , said Biden 's window to pass new gun laws may close before he is even sworn in .
`` I can easily see Senate Republicans using these trends in public opinion—and the fact that many Americans have become gun owners in 2020—to justify prioritizing other legislation , '' he told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` This would definitely make it harder for the Biden administration to claim it has a mandate to push legislation on gun control . ''
The poll found the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new gun laws on a steady decline .
Support fell to 57 percent , down from 64 percent in 2019 and 67 percent in 2018 .
The number of Americans saying gun laws should be kept the same rose by 6 points over the same period .
Support for a handgun ban also fell back to near-record lows with 74 percent opposed to such restrictions .
Jacob D. Charles , executive director of Duke University 's Center for Firearms Law , said the decline in support for new gun control is likely due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ownership and the lack of recent high-profile mass shootings .
`` New gun owners could be one component of decreasing support , but there are probably also others , including notably—as Gallup observes—the lack of high-profile public mass shootings that garnered sustained media attention , '' he said .
`` That attention tends to drive Americans to favor stricter laws and its absence could be a reason for deflated support . ''
Charles said political sorting played a role as well .
He noted that while support for new gun control fell across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driven primarily by Republicans .
`` Partisan affiliation plays a key role in the overall decline , with Republicans dropping 14 points in support for stricter gun laws from a year ago and Democrats only slightly dipping , '' he said .
Charles said the polling indicates gun debates will remain polarizing and potentially deadlocked under a Biden administration .
`` I suspect it will play out in partisan terms , '' he said .
`` A majority of Americans in the poll still favor stricter gun laws , so it does n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would generate public backlash , but with a likely opposition Senate , the sharp decline in Republican support for stricter gun laws will probably mean less incentive for Republican senators to come to the table and negotiate on new gun laws . ''
Coleman predicted Biden will not have the political capital needed to push through major gun control legislation , leaving a campaign promise unfulfilled .
`` The overarching challenge that the Biden administration will face , at least in the near term , will be to contain COVID , '' Coleman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Congress , Biden may seem out of touch if he spends too much on political capital on an issue that wo n't garner enough support on the Hill . ''
Gun-rights advocates said a potential Biden administration push for new gun bans would inspire fierce opposition and undermine any attempt to unify the country .
`` The Biden administration is going to find out that their laundry list of new firearms restrictions is going to have a record push back , '' Alan Gottlieb , chairman of the Citizens Committee for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the Free Beacon .
`` This is a fight that will be divisive and will not bring Americans together .
It will lead to more polarization and undermine him . ''
Gallup 's poll was conducted by phone between Sept. 30 and Oct. 15 , with a random sample of 1,035 adults .

A new poll indicates support for stricter gun control laws fell significantly as Americans flocked to gun stores at a record pace in 2020.
Support for stricter gun laws fell by 7 percentage points from 2019, according to a poll released by Gallup on Monday. The drop comes as gun sales soar; 2020 has already set an all-time buying record with about 40 percent of sales going to first-time owners, according to industry estimates.
The combination of record gun sales and depressed support for gun control measures could signal trouble for potential actions by Joe Biden, who expressed support for a wide range of new restrictions during his presidential campaign. He advocated for a ban on online ammunition and gun sales, which skyrocketed during the pandemic, as well as expanded FBI background checks on private sales. His running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.), publicly supported the confiscation of AR-15s and other firearms during her presidential run, while Biden embraced a ban on new sales of the popular firearms, as well as many common magazines.
J. Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, said Biden's window to pass new gun laws may close before he is even sworn in.
"I can easily see Senate Republicans using these trends in public opinion—and the fact that many Americans have become gun owners in 2020—to justify prioritizing other legislation," he told the Washington Free Beacon. "This would definitely make it harder for the Biden administration to claim it has a mandate to push legislation on gun control."
The poll found the number of Americans with an appetite for new gun laws on a steady decline. Support fell to 57 percent, down from 64 percent in 2019 and 67 percent in 2018. The number of Americans saying gun laws should be kept the same rose by 6 points over the same period. Support for a handgun ban also fell back to near-record lows with 74 percent opposed to such restrictions.
Jacob D. Charles, executive director of Duke University's Center for Firearms Law, said the decline in support for new gun control is likely due to a number of factors—including increased gun ownership and the lack of recent high-profile mass shootings.
"New gun owners could be one component of decreasing support, but there are probably also others, including notably—as Gallup observes—the lack of high-profile public mass shootings that garnered sustained media attention," he said. "That attention tends to drive Americans to favor stricter laws and its absence could be a reason for deflated support."
Charles said political sorting played a role as well. He noted that while support for new gun control fell across all parties, the overall drop was driven primarily by Republicans.
"Partisan affiliation plays a key role in the overall decline, with Republicans dropping 14 points in support for stricter gun laws from a year ago and Democrats only slightly dipping," he said.
Charles said the polling indicates gun debates will remain polarizing and potentially deadlocked under a Biden administration.
"I suspect it will play out in partisan terms," he said. "A majority of Americans in the poll still favor stricter gun laws, so it doesn't seem that action on guns in general would generate public backlash, but with a likely opposition Senate, the sharp decline in Republican support for stricter gun laws will probably mean less incentive for Republican senators to come to the table and negotiate on new gun laws."
Coleman predicted Biden will not have the political capital needed to push through major gun control legislation, leaving a campaign promise unfulfilled.
"The overarching challenge that the Biden administration will face, at least in the near term, will be to contain COVID," Coleman said. "Given the likely composition of Congress, Biden may seem out of touch if he spends too much on political capital on an issue that won't garner enough support on the Hill."
Gun-rights advocates said a potential Biden administration push for new gun bans would inspire fierce opposition and undermine any attempt to unify the country.
"The Biden administration is going to find out that their laundry list of new firearms restrictions is going to have a record push back," Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, told the Free Beacon. "This is a fight that will be divisive and will not bring Americans together. It will lead to more polarization and undermine him."
Gallup's poll was conducted by phone between Sept. 30 and Oct. 15, with a random sample of 1,035 adults.


freebeacon--2020-11-18--Navy Successfully Tests Groundbreaking Missile Defense System

The U.S. Navy successfully tested a new missile defense system that can shoot down an intercontinental ballistic missile from outer space , according to a Missile Defense Agency announcement .
On Tuesday , agency base in the Marshall Islands launched a projectile into space headed toward Hawaii .
Navy sensors detected the missile , and the USS John Finn launched the new missile defense system and successfully struck down the projectile .
Navy officials applauded the event as a successful test of a first-of-its-kind weapons system .
`` This was an incredible accomplishment and critical milestone for the … program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Raytheon , the defense contractor that designed the new system , expressed equal enthusiasm .
`` This first-of-its-kind test shows that our nation has a viable option for a new layer of defense against long-range threats , '' Raytheon vice president Bryan Rosselli told Defense News .
The successful test occurs as the threat of North Korea and Iran 's development of ICBMs and other missiles continues to grow .
Earlier this fall , Pyongyang unveiled a new deadly ICBM with the potential of striking the United States .
Iran , meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after deceased general Qassem Soleimani , that it can fire off by sea .
Washington 's new weapons system marks the first successful anti-ICBM missile defense able to launch by sea .
The test also comes as the Trump administration focuses on the Navy in an effort to project global power and counter China .
In recent weeks , President Trump called for outfitting the same type of destroyers as the USS John Finn with hypersonic weapons , a new , advanced weapons system wanted by the Chinese .
Former secretary of defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creation of `` Battle Force 2045 , '' a new Pentagon initiative to create a 500-ship navy to retain maritime supremacy and counter Beijing 's expansionist goals .

Destroyers can now shoot down ICBMs in space
The U.S. Navy successfully tested a new missile defense system that can shoot down an intercontinental ballistic missile from outer space, according to a Missile Defense Agency announcement.
On Tuesday, agency base in the Marshall Islands launched a projectile into space headed toward Hawaii. Navy sensors detected the missile, and the USS John Finn launched the new missile defense system and successfully struck down the projectile.
Navy officials applauded the event as a successful test of a first-of-its-kind weapons system.
"This was an incredible accomplishment and critical milestone for the … program," said Vice Admiral Jon Hill.
Raytheon, the defense contractor that designed the new system, expressed equal enthusiasm. "This first-of-its-kind test shows that our nation has a viable option for a new layer of defense against long-range threats," Raytheon vice president Bryan Rosselli told Defense News.
The successful test occurs as the threat of North Korea and Iran's development of ICBMs and other missiles continues to grow. Earlier this fall, Pyongyang unveiled a new deadly ICBM with the potential of striking the United States. Iran, meanwhile, now touts missile systems, named after deceased general Qassem Soleimani, that it can fire off by sea.
Washington's new weapons system marks the first successful anti-ICBM missile defense able to launch by sea.
The test also comes as the Trump administration focuses on the Navy in an effort to project global power and counter China.
In recent weeks, President Trump called for outfitting the same type of destroyers as the USS John Finn with hypersonic weapons, a new, advanced weapons system wanted by the Chinese. Former secretary of defense Mark Esper also recently called for the creation of "Battle Force 2045," a new Pentagon initiative to create a 500-ship navy to retain maritime supremacy and counter Beijing's expansionist goals.


freebeacon--2020-11-17--Biden Adviser Eyes Softer Cuba Policy

Biden Adviser Eyes Softer Cuba Policy

The Biden administration is relying on an adviser who has pushed to lift critical sanctions against the communist regime in Cuba , sparking outcry from lawmakers and experts .
President-elect Joe Biden ’ s transition team includes a former Pentagon appointee from the Obama administration who was a leading advocate for engaging and normalizing relations with Cuba .
Florida International University professor Frank Mora served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Western Hemisphere from 2009 to 2013 and supported easing long-standing sanctions against Cuba .
Mora is now one of 23 volunteer members of Biden 's agency review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Marco Rubio ( R. , Fla. ) blasted the decision to include Mora on Biden ’ s transition staff .
`` Personnel is policy , and no U.S. administration should ever return to a policy of appeasement with Raúl Castro and his crony , Miguel Díaz-Canel , '' Rubio told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` America should always support the Cuban people while holding their oppressors accountable . ''
Mora has spoken repeatedly about the potential benefits of ending the trade embargo with Cuba and endorsed the Obama administration 's decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's list of state sponsors of terrorism in 2015 .
`` This may be a necessary , but certainly not a sufficient , step towards normalizing economic relations with Cuba , '' Mora told C-SPAN following Cuba 's removal from the list .
Although Cuba remains off the list of terrorism sponsors , as of 2019 Cuba has reportedly harbored members of the Colombian terrorist group FARC , sponsored Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro ’ s narco-terrorist regime , and continues to protect American terrorists who have fled the United States for Cuba .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded to requests for comment .
Ryan Berg , an American Enterprise Institute research fellow specializing in Latin American foreign policy issues , told the Free Beacon Biden 's selection of Mora for the transition team could lay the groundwork for normalized relations with the communist state .
`` He ’ s a believer of a certain thawing of relations with the island , '' Berg said .
`` Biden ’ s general impulse on a lot of foreign policy questions is to revert back to the 2016 status quo ante .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about that … the danger is of course that the world has moved on a lot from 2016 . ''
Mora has suggested that loosening restrictions on Cuba could win support for Democrats in Florida .
`` My university did a poll … and it showed a majority of Cuban Americans supporting … normalizing relations , '' Maro said on C-SPAN .
`` The younger Cuban Americans in and outside of South Florida overwhelmingly support the normalization of relations with Cuba . ''
In the November elections , the Trump-Pence ticket won around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida , buoying GOP success in the Sunshine State .
According to one study , 76 percent of recent arrivals from Cuba in South Florida who register to vote identify as Republicans .
Berg said Cuban Americans support officeholders who play hardball with Cuba , and Biden 's embrace of sanctions relief could alienate Florida voters in future elections .
`` Younger Cuban Americans , while not as starkly committed to the GOP , are still favoring those kinds of policies that are tough on the island and confronting socialism head-on , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida , and I think we can say that the Latino vote was pretty decisive there . ''

The Biden administration is relying on an adviser who has pushed to lift critical sanctions against the communist regime in Cuba, sparking outcry from lawmakers and experts.
President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team includes a former Pentagon appointee from the Obama administration who was a leading advocate for engaging and normalizing relations with Cuba. Florida International University professor Frank Mora served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Western Hemisphere from 2009 to 2013 and supported easing long-standing sanctions against Cuba. Mora is now one of 23 volunteer members of Biden's agency review board for the Department of Defense.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) blasted the decision to include Mora on Biden’s transition staff.
"Personnel is policy, and no U.S. administration should ever return to a policy of appeasement with Raúl Castro and his crony, Miguel Díaz-Canel," Rubio told the Washington Free Beacon. "America should always support the Cuban people while holding their oppressors accountable."
Mora has spoken repeatedly about the potential benefits of ending the trade embargo with Cuba and endorsed the Obama administration's decision to remove Cuba from the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism in 2015. "This may be a necessary, but certainly not a sufficient, step towards normalizing economic relations with Cuba," Mora told C-SPAN following Cuba's removal from the list.
Although Cuba remains off the list of terrorism sponsors, as of 2019 Cuba has reportedly harbored members of the Colombian terrorist group FARC, sponsored Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro’s narco-terrorist regime, and continues to protect American terrorists who have fled the United States for Cuba.
Neither the Biden transition team nor Mora responded to requests for comment.
Ryan Berg, an American Enterprise Institute research fellow specializing in Latin American foreign policy issues, told the Free Beacon Biden's selection of Mora for the transition team could lay the groundwork for normalized relations with the communist state.
"He’s a believer of a certain thawing of relations with the island," Berg said. "Biden’s general impulse on a lot of foreign policy questions is to revert back to the 2016 status quo ante. While there might be some things to like about that ... the danger is of course that the world has moved on a lot from 2016."
Mora has suggested that loosening restrictions on Cuba could win support for Democrats in Florida.
"My university did a poll ... and it showed a majority of Cuban Americans supporting ... normalizing relations," Maro said on C-SPAN. "The younger Cuban Americans in and outside of South Florida overwhelmingly support the normalization of relations with Cuba."
In the November elections, the Trump-Pence ticket won around 55 percent of the Cuban-American vote in Florida, buoying GOP success in the Sunshine State. According to one study, 76 percent of recent arrivals from Cuba in South Florida who register to vote identify as Republicans.
Berg said Cuban Americans support officeholders who play hardball with Cuba, and Biden's embrace of sanctions relief could alienate Florida voters in future elections.
"Younger Cuban Americans, while not as starkly committed to the GOP, are still favoring those kinds of policies that are tough on the island and confronting socialism head-on," Berg said. "The Democrats lost Florida, and I think we can say that the Latino vote was pretty decisive there."


freebeacon--2020-11-17--Education Dept. Launches Investigation Into Anti-Semitism at University of Illinois

The Department of Education launched an investigation into a series of anti-Semitic incidents at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign , school officials said on Monday .
Three prominent Jewish groups filed a complaint against the school with the department 's Office for Civil Rights this spring , the Chicago Tribune reported .
The complaint lists more than 30 allegations of anti-Semitism at the university over the past five years , including the vandalism of Jewish religious ornaments , swastikas spray-painted on campus buildings , and heated attacks from anti-Israel student groups .
The Department of Education informed the school of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notes members of the university 's Students for Justice in Palestine have harassed pro-Israel students by calling them `` colonizers , '' `` Nazis , '' and `` white supremacists . ''
Last year , the group also gave resident advisers a presentation called `` Palestine & Great Return March : Palestinian Resistance to 70 Years of Israeli Terror . ''
In addition to the anti-Semitism claims included in the complaint , the Washington Free Beacon reported in September that students sneaked anti-Israel Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions measures into a student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the school `` divest '' from companies with ties to Israel , including Lockheed Martin and Caterpillar Inc .
The University of Illinois released a joint statement on Monday alongside several Jewish groups , including the Jewish United Fund of Chicago , Hillel International , and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law—the three organizations that filed the complaint against the university .
In the statement , the school condemned anti-Semitism and pledged to create an advisory council to represent Jewish students before the spring semester .
Across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uptick of anti-Semitic incidents on college campuses .
Last month , students found a swastika on the steps of a Columbia University library just nine days after students passed a measure calling on the school to divest from Israel .
Jews were the leading target of anti-religious hate crimes last year , according to recent FBI statistics .
Anti-Semitic hate crimes nationwide have increased by more than 50 percent since 2014 .

The Department of Education launched an investigation into a series of anti-Semitic incidents at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, school officials said on Monday.
Three prominent Jewish groups filed a complaint against the school with the department's Office for Civil Rights this spring, the Chicago Tribune reported. The complaint lists more than 30 allegations of anti-Semitism at the university over the past five years, including the vandalism of Jewish religious ornaments, swastikas spray-painted on campus buildings, and heated attacks from anti-Israel student groups.
The Department of Education informed the school of the investigation on Friday.
The complaint notes members of the university's Students for Justice in Palestine have harassed pro-Israel students by calling them "colonizers," "Nazis," and "white supremacists." Last year, the group also gave resident advisers a presentation called "Palestine & Great Return March: Palestinian Resistance to 70 Years of Israeli Terror."
In addition to the anti-Semitism claims included in the complaint, the Washington Free Beacon reported in September that students sneaked anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions measures into a student government resolution against racism. Students demanded the school "divest" from companies with ties to Israel, including Lockheed Martin and Caterpillar Inc.
The University of Illinois released a joint statement on Monday alongside several Jewish groups, including the Jewish United Fund of Chicago, Hillel International, and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law—the three organizations that filed the complaint against the university. In the statement, the school condemned anti-Semitism and pledged to create an advisory council to represent Jewish students before the spring semester.
Across the country, anti-Israel activism has coincided with an uptick of anti-Semitic incidents on college campuses. Last month, students found a swastika on the steps of a Columbia University library just nine days after students passed a measure calling on the school to divest from Israel.
Jews were the leading target of anti-religious hate crimes last year, according to recent FBI statistics. Anti-Semitic hate crimes nationwide have increased by more than 50 percent since 2014.


freebeacon--2020-11-17--In Parting Gift to Libs and Terrorists, Trump Accelerates Obama’s Middle-East Surrender

Not content with losing an election , President Donald J. Trump is also attempting to lose a war before returning to private life and launching his 2024 campaign .
In one of his final acts as president , Trump will accelerate the Obama administration 's surrender in Afghanistan and Iraq .
Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller on Tuesday confirmed reports that the United States would reduce its military presence in Afghanistan to 2,500 troops from its current level of about 4,500 troops .
Miller also announced that 500 U.S. service members would be leaving Iraq , where about 3,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrawals are scheduled to take place by January 15 , five days before the inauguration of either Joe Biden or Kamala Harris , depending on how long Biden can maintain a veneer of mental competency and alertness .
The announcement comes a week after Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper via Twitter , the popular social networking website , in part because Esper opposed a reduction of U.S. troops in the region .
Republican lawmakers were not happy about Trump 's decision to appease the libs .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in U.S. forces in Afghanistan `` would hurt our allies and delight the people who wish us harm . ''
He went on to suggest that a `` premature American exit '' from Afghanistan would `` be even worse '' than President Obama 's premature withdrawal from Iraq in 2011 , which facilitated the rise of the Islamic State , a.k.a .
ISIS .
Even Sen. Marco Rubio ( R. , Fla. ) , a politician rarely associated with words like `` strength '' and `` fortitude , '' criticized Trump 's uncharacteristic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be it would turn into a Saigon-type of situation where it would fall very quickly and then our ability to conduct operations against terrorist elements in the region could be compromised , '' Rubio said .
On the bright side , Trump has demonstrated at least some interest in launching a lame-duck military strike on Iran , a country President-elect Biden has promised to appease .

Not content with losing an election, President Donald J. Trump is also attempting to lose a war before returning to private life and launching his 2024 campaign. In one of his final acts as president, Trump will accelerate the Obama administration's surrender in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller on Tuesday confirmed reports that the United States would reduce its military presence in Afghanistan to 2,500 troops from its current level of about 4,500 troops. Miller also announced that 500 U.S. service members would be leaving Iraq, where about 3,000 troops are currently stationed.
The troop withdrawals are scheduled to take place by January 15, five days before the inauguration of either Joe Biden or Kamala Harris, depending on how long Biden can maintain a veneer of mental competency and alertness. The announcement comes a week after Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper via Twitter, the popular social networking website, in part because Esper opposed a reduction of U.S. troops in the region.
Republican lawmakers were not happy about Trump's decision to appease the libs. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said any reduction in U.S. forces in Afghanistan "would hurt our allies and delight the people who wish us harm." He went on to suggest that a "premature American exit" from Afghanistan would "be even worse" than President Obama's premature withdrawal from Iraq in 2011, which facilitated the rise of the Islamic State, a.k.a. ISIS.
Even Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.), a politician rarely associated with words like "strength" and "fortitude," criticized Trump's uncharacteristic display of weakness.
"The concern would be it would turn into a Saigon-type of situation where it would fall very quickly and then our ability to conduct operations against terrorist elements in the region could be compromised," Rubio said.
On the bright side, Trump has demonstrated at least some interest in launching a lame-duck military strike on Iran, a country President-elect Biden has promised to appease.


freebeacon--2020-11-17--Warnock: ‘Nobody Can Serve God and the Military’

Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock said in a 2011 sermon that Americans can not serve God while also serving in the U.S. military .
The newly unearthed comments threaten to complicate Warnock 's candidacy in a tight Georgia Senate race : Georgia is home to the fifth largest active duty military population in the country , according to a 2018 Department of Defense report .
`` America , nobody can serve God and the military , '' Warnock said in the sermon delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta , where he serves as senior pastor .
`` You ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not serve God and mammon at the same time . ''
`` America choose ye this day who you will serve .
Choose ye this day ! ''
he added .
Video of the remarks surfaced as Warnock is facing criticism for other controversial statements , including his claim that `` America needs to repent for its worship of whiteness . ''
He has also come under scrutiny for his support for his religious mentor James Hal Cone , who said that white Christians practice the `` theology of the Antichrist '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Warnock 's campaign did not respond to request for comment .
Military veterans took exception to Warnock 's remarks .
Former U.S. Army National Guard chief chaplain Kenneth E. Brandt , who retired in April after 30 years of service , said he disagrees with the notion that Americans can not serve both God and the military .
`` If he 's saying you can not be in the military and be a Christian , I would take issue with that , '' Brandt , who ran a short-lived campaign for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican in 2018 , told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` I 've met some great people in the military , young men and women in the country who have raised their right hand and took an oath to defend this country against all enemies foreign and domestic , '' Brandt said .
`` They have a deep belief , whether it 's in God or a higher power , whatever you want to call it . ''
Brandt noted that Georgia is home to a massive military community that includes Fort Benning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ installments in the world , and Fort Gordon , which houses the U.S. Army Cyber and Signal schools .
`` It just makes no sense to me how you can say that , especially if you 're running in Georgia , '' he said .
Warnock is headed into a runoff election against incumbent senator Kelly Loeffler ( R. , Ga. ) on January 5 .
National political organizations are expected to pour record-breaking funds and resources into the highly contested race , which is one of two runoff elections in Georgia that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate next year .

'Choose ye this day who you will serve,' said the Democrat
Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock said in a 2011 sermon that Americans cannot serve God while also serving in the U.S. military.
The newly unearthed comments threaten to complicate Warnock's candidacy in a tight Georgia Senate race: Georgia is home to the fifth largest active duty military population in the country, according to a 2018 Department of Defense report.
"America, nobody can serve God and the military," Warnock said in the sermon delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where he serves as senior pastor. "You can't serve God and money. You cannot serve God and mammon at the same time."
"America choose ye this day who you will serve. Choose ye this day!" he added.
Video of the remarks surfaced as Warnock is facing criticism for other controversial statements, including his claim that "America needs to repent for its worship of whiteness." He has also come under scrutiny for his support for his religious mentor James Hal Cone, who said that white Christians practice the "theology of the Antichrist" and described white people as "satanic."
Warnock's campaign did not respond to request for comment.
Military veterans took exception to Warnock's remarks. Former U.S. Army National Guard chief chaplain Kenneth E. Brandt, who retired in April after 30 years of service, said he disagrees with the notion that Americans cannot serve both God and the military.
"If he's saying you cannot be in the military and be a Christian, I would take issue with that," Brandt, who ran a short-lived campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican in 2018, told the Washington Free Beacon.
"I've met some great people in the military, young men and women in the country who have raised their right hand and took an oath to defend this country against all enemies foreign and domestic," Brandt said. "They have a deep belief, whether it's in God or a higher power, whatever you want to call it."
Brandt noted that Georgia is home to a massive military community that includes Fort Benning, one of the largest U.S. military installments in the world, and Fort Gordon, which houses the U.S. Army Cyber and Signal schools.
"It just makes no sense to me how you can say that, especially if you're running in Georgia," he said.
Warnock is headed into a runoff election against incumbent senator Kelly Loeffler (R., Ga.) on January 5. National political organizations are expected to pour record-breaking funds and resources into the highly contested race, which is one of two runoff elections in Georgia that will determine party control of the U.S. Senate next year.


freebeacon--2020-11-17--Republicans Continue Lead in Fight Against COVID-19

President Donald J. Trump ( allegedly ) lost reelection to Joe Biden despite the significant `` experience gap '' between the two candidates regarding the COVID-19 pandemic .
Trump , for example , personally contracted the virus and cured himself within days , while Biden opted to hide in a basement .
The election might be over , but that has n't stopped Republicans from assuming a leadership role in the fight against COVID-19 .
Sen .
Rob Portman ( R. , Ohio ) on Tuesday announced his participation in a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine trial , making him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his body on the line for the good of the country .
`` I look at it as a way I can play a small role in supporting our country 's health care response to this pandemic , '' a humble yet courageous Portman said in a statement .
`` The more people Johnson & Johnson has in the trial , the sooner they can have the complete data they need to finalize this phase of the trial , and move on to the FDA approval process . ''
Portman said his decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part by a desire to boost public confidence in a COVID-19 vaccine , which is expected to be widely available sometime next year .
In the final weeks of the 2020 campaign , Democratic politicians helped fuel public skepticism toward a vaccine by urging Americans not to trust scientific developments that occurred on President Trump 's watch .

President Donald J. Trump (allegedly) lost reelection to Joe Biden despite the significant "experience gap" between the two candidates regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump, for example, personally contracted the virus and cured himself within days, while Biden opted to hide in a basement.
The election might be over, but that hasn't stopped Republicans from assuming a leadership role in the fight against COVID-19. Sen. Rob Portman (R., Ohio) on Tuesday announced his participation in a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine trial, making him the first member of Congress to put his body on the line for the good of the country.
"I look at it as a way I can play a small role in supporting our country's health care response to this pandemic," a humble yet courageous Portman said in a statement. "The more people Johnson & Johnson has in the trial, the sooner they can have the complete data they need to finalize this phase of the trial, and move on to the FDA approval process."
Portman said his decision to join the trial was motivated in part by a desire to boost public confidence in a COVID-19 vaccine, which is expected to be widely available sometime next year. In the final weeks of the 2020 campaign, Democratic politicians helped fuel public skepticism toward a vaccine by urging Americans not to trust scientific developments that occurred on President Trump's watch.
Portman is Republican, not a Democrat.


freebeacon--2020-11-17--SuperCut: Trump Was Like Hitler!

SuperCut: Trump Was Like Hitler!

With their extensive knowledge of history , top politicians like Beto O'Rourke and titans of punditry such as Joe Scarborough @ @ @ @ @ Christiane Amanpour concluded President Donald Trump was like Nazi leader and Holocaust perpetrator Adolf Hitler @ @ @ @ @ least four years to one of the most overused comparisons in American politics .

With their extensive knowledge of history, top politicians like Beto O'Rourke and titans of punditry such as Joe Scarborough, Donny Deutsch, and Christiane Amanpour concluded President Donald Trump was like Nazi leader and Holocaust perpetrator Adolf Hitler.
Say goodbye for at least four years to one of the most overused comparisons in American politics.