freebeacon--2020-06-24--Schumer’s Candidate Clings to Lead in KY Senate Primary

Establishment-backed candidate Amy McGrath is clinging to an early lead over a far-left state legislator in Kentucky 's Democratic Senate primary despite waging one of the most expensive primary campaigns in history .
As of Wednesday afternoon , McGrath leads progressive state representative Charles Booker by just 4,000 votes .
While nearly 600,000 Kentucky voters returned absentee ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic , all votes reported thus far were made in person on Election Day .
In addition , no votes have been reported from the state 's most populous county , Jefferson .
The county includes Booker 's home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of urban voters could erode McGrath 's lead .
Should that lead crumble in the coming days , McGrath would become the biggest fundraiser to lose a congressional primary in U.S. history .
With the help of the Chuck Schumer-controlled Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ( DSCC ) , McGrath raised $ 41 million , nearly 97 percent of which has come from out-of-state donors .
The Kentucky Democrat spent at least $ 21 million on the race—about 40 times more than the $ 508,000 Booker spent as of June 3 .
McGrath could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose to a progressive challenger .
Far-left middle school principal Jamaal Bowman declared victory over Rep. Eliot Engel ( D. , N.Y. ) , chairman of the powerful Committee on Foreign Affairs , on Wednesday morning .
Bowman holds a commanding 27-point lead , though the race has yet to be called as absentee ballots will not be tallied until Tuesday .
Schumer did not respond to a request for comment , nor did the DSCC .
Both Booker and Bowman surged in the polls amid national protests following the police killings of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Louisville .
The timing of Booker 's late push may become McGrath 's saving grace—absentee voting began in Kentucky on May 22 , weeks before Booker gained serious traction .
Absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day , however , will be counted in the race , giving voters a larger window to make their decision .
`` That could be good news for Booker , especially given that he appears to have the late momentum here , '' Cook Political Report Senate editor Jessica Taylor told the Washington Free Beacon .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noting that absentee ballot requests peaked in many counties as Booker began gaining ground .
`` Booker did n't catch lightning in a bottle until close to mid-June .
However , in a lot of counties , the request rate for absentee ballots started to hit a peak around that time , '' the operative told the Free Beacon .
`` So even though a lot of early requests were made , there 's a possibility that he could slide in because the ballots were hitting mailboxes right when people were gaining interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result in the primary will likely take days .
Most Kentucky counties decided to hold full absentee ballot results until June 30 , one week after Tuesday 's primary .
This includes both Jefferson and Fayette , the state 's two most populous counties .
Roughly 161,000 people voted in person on Tuesday , while 110,000 voted in person prior to Election Day and nearly 600,000 voted absentee .
As early results trickled in , Booker said he was `` fired up '' and `` ready to bring this home '' in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was `` eager to get results '' in a tweet sent Wednesday morning .
The eventual winner will face Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in November .
The Kentucky Republican won his primary by 82 points on Tuesday .

Establishment-backed candidate Amy McGrath is clinging to an early lead over a far-left state legislator in Kentucky's Democratic Senate primary despite waging one of the most expensive primary campaigns in history.
As of Wednesday afternoon, McGrath leads progressive state representative Charles Booker by just 4,000 votes. While nearly 600,000 Kentucky voters returned absentee ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic, all votes reported thus far were made in person on Election Day. In addition, no votes have been reported from the state's most populous county, Jefferson. The county includes Booker's home city of Louisville, where the addition of urban voters could erode McGrath's lead.
Should that lead crumble in the coming days, McGrath would become the biggest fundraiser to lose a congressional primary in U.S. history. With the help of the Chuck Schumer-controlled Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), McGrath raised $41 million, nearly 97 percent of which has come from out-of-state donors. The Kentucky Democrat spent at least $21 million on the race—about 40 times more than the $508,000 Booker spent as of June 3.
McGrath could also become the latest establishment-backed Democrat to lose to a progressive challenger. Far-left middle school principal Jamaal Bowman declared victory over Rep. Eliot Engel (D., N.Y.), chairman of the powerful Committee on Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday morning. Bowman holds a commanding 27-point lead, though the race has yet to be called as absentee ballots will not be tallied until Tuesday.
Schumer did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the DSCC.
Both Booker and Bowman surged in the polls amid national protests following the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville. The timing of Booker's late push may become McGrath's saving grace—absentee voting began in Kentucky on May 22, weeks before Booker gained serious traction. Absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day, however, will be counted in the race, giving voters a larger window to make their decision.
"That could be good news for Booker, especially given that he appears to have the late momentum here," Cook Political Report Senate editor Jessica Taylor told the Washington Free Beacon.
One GOP operative in the state agreed, noting that absentee ballot requests peaked in many counties as Booker began gaining ground.
"Booker didn't catch lightning in a bottle until close to mid-June. However, in a lot of counties, the request rate for absentee ballots started to hit a peak around that time," the operative told the Free Beacon. "So even though a lot of early requests were made, there's a possibility that he could slide in because the ballots were hitting mailboxes right when people were gaining interest in his campaign."
A final result in the primary will likely take days. Most Kentucky counties decided to hold full absentee ballot results until June 30, one week after Tuesday's primary. This includes both Jefferson and Fayette, the state's two most populous counties. Roughly 161,000 people voted in person on Tuesday, while 110,000 voted in person prior to Election Day and nearly 600,000 voted absentee.
As early results trickled in, Booker said he was "fired up" and "ready to bring this home" in a Tuesday evening tweet. McGrath said she was "eager to get results" in a tweet sent Wednesday morning.
The eventual winner will face Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in November. The Kentucky Republican won his primary by 82 points on Tuesday.


freebeacon--2020-06-24--Pelosi: I Won’t Apologize for Comparing GOP Police Reform Bill to ‘Murder of George Floyd’

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) on Wednesday doubled down on comparisons she made between the Republicans ' proposed legislation reforming police practices and the murder of George Floyd .
She told MSNBC she `` absolutely '' would not apologize for the comparison made Tuesday and said Sen. Tim Scott 's ( R. , S.C. ) legislation would `` make no difference . ''
`` Absolutely , positively not , '' Pelosi said when asked if she would apologize to Republicans for the comparison .
`` I think you , frankly , in the press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a bill that does nothing .
They 're saying , well you have your bill , they have theirs .
Yeah , our bill does something , theirs does nothing . ''
Pelosi told CBS News on Tuesday that she saw Scott 's proposed legislation as `` trying to get away with murder , actually , the murder of George Floyd . ''
Scott 's bill , the `` Justice Act , '' proposes limiting police use of chokeholds and recommends new training and deescalation measures , among other things .
Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifically at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. , ) and said Scott was working in good faith , even as she dismissed Scott 's bill as `` a nonstarter . ''
Less than two hours after Pelosi 's appearance on MSNBC , Democrats blocked Scott 's legislation from proceeding in the Senate .
House Democrats are expected to pass their own legislation imposing stricter reforms on police departments .

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) on Wednesday doubled down on comparisons she made between the Republicans' proposed legislation reforming police practices and the murder of George Floyd.
She told MSNBC she "absolutely" would not apologize for the comparison made Tuesday and said Sen. Tim Scott's (R., S.C.) legislation would "make no difference."
"Absolutely, positively not," Pelosi said when asked if she would apologize to Republicans for the comparison. "I think you, frankly, in the press have given them far too much credit for a bill that does nothing. They're saying, well you have your bill, they have theirs. Yeah, our bill does something, theirs does nothing."
Pelosi told CBS News on Tuesday that she saw Scott's proposed legislation as "trying to get away with murder, actually, the murder of George Floyd." Scott's bill, the "Justice Act," proposes limiting police use of chokeholds and recommends new training and deescalation measures, among other things.
Pelosi said that she was aiming her criticism specifically at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.,) and said Scott was working in good faith, even as she dismissed Scott's bill as "a nonstarter."
Less than two hours after Pelosi's appearance on MSNBC, Democrats blocked Scott's legislation from proceeding in the Senate. House Democrats are expected to pass their own legislation imposing stricter reforms on police departments.


freebeacon--2020-06-24--Evelyn Farkas Came for the Free Beacon, Then She Came in Fourth

Evelyn Farkas , the former Obama administration official and advocate for Burisma Holdings , lost her Democratic House primary for New York ’ s 17th district , coming in fourth place on Tuesday .
Although Farkas outraised most of her opponents , bringing in $ 1.2 million , her campaign platform that focused on combating Russian election influence did not appear to persuade many voters in the district .
While ballots are still coming in from district residents who voted by mail , as of Wednesday morning Farkas had received 9 percent of the vote .
Mondaire Jones , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a commanding lead in the primary with 44 percent of the vote .
Adam Schleifer , a California prosecutor and son of a billionaire pharmaceutical mogul who largely self-funded his campaign , is in second place with 20 percent .
State senator David Carlucci is in third place , with 13 percent .
Eight candidates competed in the hotly contested primary to replace outgoing Rep. Nita Lowey , who held the seat in the solidly Democratic district since 1989 .
Since Farkas left the Department of Defense , where she served under President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think tank analyst and media commentator .
While working as a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council , Farkas traveled to Ukraine on a Burisma-funded trip , where she visited the company ’ s facilities while wearing a jacket and hat that featured the Burisma logo , the Washington Free Beacon reported in March .
She also participated in a 2018 conference bankrolled by the company .
Farkas later attempted to fundraise off of the Free Beacon report , sending out an email blast to supporters asking for money to fight the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't let them get away this [ sic ] .
Will you chip in $ 5 , $ 15 , or anything you can to help us fight back against these right-wing smears ? ''
the email said .
She frequently criticized President Trump for allegedly colluding with Russia and railed against his efforts to investigate Burisma Holdings , which was under scrutiny for appointing Joe Biden ’ s son , Hunter Biden , to a lucrative board position while Biden was overseeing U.S.-Ukraine policy .
`` Hunter Biden sitting on the board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessarily implicate him in any wrongdoing , '' Farkas said during an interview with WBUR last year .
She added that the Ukrainian government 's dropping an investigation into Burisma 's owner , Ukrainian oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky , `` leaves the impression that there 's nothing to see there .
Who knows . ''
Burisma Holdings and Zlochevsky have been the subjects of fraud and money-laundering investigations in the United Kingdom and Ukraine .
President Trump ’ s efforts to persuade the Ukrainian government to reopen investigations of Burisma led to his impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Evelyn Farkas, the former Obama administration official and advocate for Burisma Holdings, lost her Democratic House primary for New York’s 17th district, coming in fourth place on Tuesday.
Although Farkas outraised most of her opponents, bringing in $1.2 million, her campaign platform that focused on combating Russian election influence did not appear to persuade many voters in the district.
While ballots are still coming in from district residents who voted by mail, as of Wednesday morning Farkas had received 9 percent of the vote.
Mondaire Jones, a 33-year-old former Justice Department official, holds a commanding lead in the primary with 44 percent of the vote. Adam Schleifer, a California prosecutor and son of a billionaire pharmaceutical mogul who largely self-funded his campaign, is in second place with 20 percent. State senator David Carlucci is in third place, with 13 percent.
Eight candidates competed in the hotly contested primary to replace outgoing Rep. Nita Lowey, who held the seat in the solidly Democratic district since 1989.
Since Farkas left the Department of Defense, where she served under President Obama, she has worked as a think tank analyst and media commentator.
While working as a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council, Farkas traveled to Ukraine on a Burisma-funded trip, where she visited the company’s facilities while wearing a jacket and hat that featured the Burisma logo, the Washington Free Beacon reported in March. She also participated in a 2018 conference bankrolled by the company.
Farkas later attempted to fundraise off of the Free Beacon report, sending out an email blast to supporters asking for money to fight the "right-wing smears."
"We can't let them get away this [sic]. Will you chip in $5, $15, or anything you can to help us fight back against these right-wing smears?" the email said.
She frequently criticized President Trump for allegedly colluding with Russia and railed against his efforts to investigate Burisma Holdings, which was under scrutiny for appointing Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, to a lucrative board position while Biden was overseeing U.S.-Ukraine policy.
"Hunter Biden sitting on the board of that company, that doesn't necessarily implicate him in any wrongdoing," Farkas said during an interview with WBUR last year.
She added that the Ukrainian government's dropping an investigation into Burisma's owner, Ukrainian oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky, "leaves the impression that there's nothing to see there. Who knows."
Burisma Holdings and Zlochevsky have been the subjects of fraud and money-laundering investigations in the United Kingdom and Ukraine.
President Trump’s efforts to persuade the Ukrainian government to reopen investigations of Burisma led to his impeachment and ultimate acquittal late last year.


freebeacon--2020-06-24--U.S. Sanctions Iranians Who Delivered Fuel to Venezuela

The Trump administration on Wednesday issued a fresh round of sanctions on several Iranian tanker captains who recently piloted a fuel shipment to Venezuela , in defiance of U.S. embargoes .
The sanctions will impact five captains who ferried 1.5 million barrels of gasoline to Venezuela last month .
The sanctions come as another Iranian shipment of cargo and other goods reached Venezuela ’ s Maduro regime earlier on Wednesday .
Iran has emerged as one of the embattled Venezuelan regime ’ s top supporters , as both nations confront biting U.S. economic sanctions .
Iran ’ s foray into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escalation in its standoff with the United States .
`` The rogue regimes in Caracas and Tehran are unified by their penchant for repressing their people , corruption , self-enrichment , and gross mismanagement of their peoples ’ wealth , '' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement .
`` Iran ’ s continued support to Venezuela is yet another instance of Iran wasting its people ’ s resources on ill-conceived foreign adventurism that prolongs suffering abroad . ''
As part of the designation , each of the Iranian captains will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or entity that engages in business with them also will be subject to U.S. penalties .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the United States `` will target anyone who supports Iranian attempts to evade United States sanctions . ''
`` The Iranian regime ’ s support to the authoritarian and corrupt regime in Venezuela is unacceptable , and the Administration will continue to use its authorities to disrupt it , '' he said in a statement .

The Trump administration on Wednesday issued a fresh round of sanctions on several Iranian tanker captains who recently piloted a fuel shipment to Venezuela, in defiance of U.S. embargoes.
The sanctions will impact five captains who ferried 1.5 million barrels of gasoline to Venezuela last month. The sanctions come as another Iranian shipment of cargo and other goods reached Venezuela’s Maduro regime earlier on Wednesday.
Iran has emerged as one of the embattled Venezuelan regime’s top supporters, as both nations confront biting U.S. economic sanctions. Iran’s foray into American waters was seen as a major escalation in its standoff with the United States.
"The rogue regimes in Caracas and Tehran are unified by their penchant for repressing their people, corruption, self-enrichment, and gross mismanagement of their peoples’ wealth," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. "Iran’s continued support to Venezuela is yet another instance of Iran wasting its people’s resources on ill-conceived foreign adventurism that prolongs suffering abroad."
As part of the designation, each of the Iranian captains will have their assets frozen. Any person or entity that engages in business with them also will be subject to U.S. penalties.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the United States "will target anyone who supports Iranian attempts to evade United States sanctions."
"The Iranian regime’s support to the authoritarian and corrupt regime in Venezuela is unacceptable, and the Administration will continue to use its authorities to disrupt it," he said in a statement.


freebeacon--2020-06-24--Three Republican Senators Get Failing Grades for Protecting Christians in the Middle East

A Christian advocacy group gave three Republicans failing grades for not standing up for vulnerable religious populations in the Middle East .
In Defense of Christians ( IDC ) , an advocacy group that works to implement policies that aid vulnerable Christian populations in the Middle East , released this week a set of scorecards grading Senate lawmakers on their support for these issues .
The group issued three failing grades to Republican senators Rand Paul ( Ky. ) , Kevin Cramer ( N.D. ) , and David Perdue ( Ga. ) based on their lack of support for legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East .
Every other Republican and Democratic senator received a passing grade .
Christian populations are routinely persecuted in the Middle East by hostile governments .
IDC and similar groups have pushed a range of congressional measures meant to boost America ’ s role in stopping these crimes .
`` The scorecard shows a clear bipartisan commitment in the world ’ s leading deliberative body to upholding values and principles that are important to protecting religious pluralism in the region at a time when vulnerable populations are under constant threat from terrorist organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Christians , '' the group said in a statement .
The senators given failing grades obstructed legislation that would recognize the Armenian genocide , fund the prevention of mass atrocities overseas , and oppose Turkey 's human rights abuses against Christians and other groups in Syria , according to the IDC .

A Christian advocacy group gave three Republicans failing grades for not standing up for vulnerable religious populations in the Middle East.
In Defense of Christians (IDC), an advocacy group that works to implement policies that aid vulnerable Christian populations in the Middle East, released this week a set of scorecards grading Senate lawmakers on their support for these issues.
The group issued three failing grades to Republican senators Rand Paul (Ky.), Kevin Cramer (N.D.), and David Perdue (Ga.) based on their lack of support for legislation combating human rights abuses across the Middle East. Every other Republican and Democratic senator received a passing grade.
Christian populations are routinely persecuted in the Middle East by hostile governments. IDC and similar groups have pushed a range of congressional measures meant to boost America’s role in stopping these crimes.
"The scorecard shows a clear bipartisan commitment in the world’s leading deliberative body to upholding values and principles that are important to protecting religious pluralism in the region at a time when vulnerable populations are under constant threat from terrorist organizations such as ISIS and regional governments hostile to Christians," the group said in a statement.
The senators given failing grades obstructed legislation that would recognize the Armenian genocide, fund the prevention of mass atrocities overseas, and oppose Turkey's human rights abuses against Christians and other groups in Syria, according to the IDC.


freebeacon--2020-06-24--Wisconsin Dem Lawmaker Brutally Beaten by Protesters

Protesters at the Wisconsin State Capitol Tuesday night brutally beat up a gay progressive state senator who was taking a picture of them .
Tim Carpenter , a 60-year-old Democrat who has served in the state senate since 2003 , was taking a picture of demonstrators in Madison when some of them rushed up to him , grabbed for his phone , and beat him .
`` All I did was stop and take a picture , '' Carpenter told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel .
`` And the next thing , I 'm getting five , six punches , getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was seen after the beating stumbling toward the capitol building where he collapsed .
A local reporter called an ambulance , and Carpenter was later treated by paramedics .
He told the Washington Post that he had bruises and sore ribs and possibly a concussion and a broken nose .
`` This has got to stop before someone gets killed , '' Carpenter said .
`` Sad thing—I 'm on their side for peaceful demonstrations—am a Gay Progressive Dem Senator served 36 years in the legislature . ''
He posted a video of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have erupted nationwide since the police killing of George Floyd in May , but looting , arson , and violence have also proliferated in many cities .
Wisconsin governor Tony Evers ( D. ) promised Wednesday to hold those responsible for Carpenter 's beating accountable .
`` Violence against any person—whether in the middle of the street in broad daylight , at home trying to sleep , going for a run , or happening upon a protest as was the case last night—is wrong , '' he said in a statement .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protesters at the Wisconsin State Capitol tore down two statues commemorating progressive ideals Tuesday night .
The first was Forward , a statue cast by female sculptor Jean Pond Miner in 1893 displaying a female figure as an `` allegory of devotion and progress , '' according to the Wisconsin Historical Society .
The second was a statue of the Union colonel Hans Christian Heg , who fought and died in the Civil War .
Protesters decapitated Heg 's statue and threw the torso into a nearby lake .
Rioters also broke windows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Evers ordered the National Guard to stand by on Tuesday as protests intensified after a protester was arrested near the capitol .
Police arrested Devonere Johnson , a young black protester , after he refused to leave a restaurant , reportedly carrying a baseball bat and using a megaphone .
Former Wisconsin governor Scott Walker ( R. ) tweeted pictures of the Madison unrest and said , `` It will be a horrible day if [ Evers ] fails to stop this violence . ''

Protesters at the Wisconsin State Capitol Tuesday night brutally beat up a gay progressive state senator who was taking a picture of them.
Tim Carpenter, a 60-year-old Democrat who has served in the state senate since 2003, was taking a picture of demonstrators in Madison when some of them rushed up to him, grabbed for his phone, and beat him.
"All I did was stop and take a picture," Carpenter told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "And the next thing, I'm getting five, six punches, getting kicked in the head."
Carpenter was seen after the beating stumbling toward the capitol building where he collapsed. A local reporter called an ambulance, and Carpenter was later treated by paramedics. He told the Washington Post that he had bruises and sore ribs and possibly a concussion and a broken nose.
"This has got to stop before someone gets killed," Carpenter said. "Sad thing—I'm on their side for peaceful demonstrations—am a Gay Progressive Dem Senator served 36 years in the legislature."
He posted a video of the incident Wednesday on Twitter.
I took this pic- it got me assaulted & beat up. Punched/kicked in the head, neck, ribs. Maybe concussion, socked in left eye is little blurry, sore neck & ribs. 8-10 people attacked me. Innocent people are going to get killed. Capitol locked- stuck in office.Stop violence nowPlz! pic.twitter.com/Zw2hdfYG66 — Tim Carpenter (@TimCarpenterMKE) June 24, 2020
Protesters told a Journal Sentinel reporter that Carpenter "provoked" them.
Wisconsin State Senator Tim Carpenter was just attacked by a group of protesters on Fairchild Street. Protesters said he provoked them. 'This is the first time I’ve been assaulted" he says — Lawrence Andrea (@lawrencegandrea) June 24, 2020
Protests have erupted nationwide since the police killing of George Floyd in May, but looting, arson, and violence have also proliferated in many cities.
Wisconsin governor Tony Evers (D.) promised Wednesday to hold those responsible for Carpenter's beating accountable.
"Violence against any person—whether in the middle of the street in broad daylight, at home trying to sleep, going for a run, or happening upon a protest as was the case last night—is wrong," he said in a statement. "It should never be tolerated."
Protesters at the Wisconsin State Capitol tore down two statues commemorating progressive ideals Tuesday night. The first was Forward, a statue cast by female sculptor Jean Pond Miner in 1893 displaying a female figure as an "allegory of devotion and progress," according to the Wisconsin Historical Society. The second was a statue of the Union colonel Hans Christian Heg, who fought and died in the Civil War. Protesters decapitated Heg's statue and threw the torso into a nearby lake.
Rioters also broke windows and lobbed Molotov cocktails into state buildings.
Evers ordered the National Guard to stand by on Tuesday as protests intensified after a protester was arrested near the capitol. Police arrested Devonere Johnson, a young black protester, after he refused to leave a restaurant, reportedly carrying a baseball bat and using a megaphone.
Former Wisconsin governor Scott Walker (R.) tweeted pictures of the Madison unrest and said, "It will be a horrible day if [Evers] fails to stop this violence."


freebeacon--2020-06-24--Gary Peters Falsely Claims He ‘Never Voted Against a Pay Raise for Service Members’

Michigan Democratic senator Gary Peters told supporters he `` never voted against a pay raise for service members . ''
But he 's voted against such pay raises on at least six occasions .
`` I 've never voted against a pay raise for service members , '' Peters said at a June 16 virtual fundraiser .
`` Taking care of veterans is important to me and to make sure we have a strong military is important . ''
Peters , however , voted against pay raises for service members six times from 2015 to 2016 .
He voted three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 to block Defense Department funding bills that would have raised service members ' pay by 2.3 percent and 2.1 percent , respectively .
The 2016 bill Peters voted against passed the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously and was praised as `` bipartisan '' by Wisconsin Democratic senator Tammy Baldwin .
`` I especially appreciate that this bill conforms to the bipartisan budget agreement and refrains from gimmicks that not only shortchange non-defense priorities , but also our military , '' Baldwin said at the time .
`` This bill responsibly addresses the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our national defense requirements . ''
Peters 's 2016 vote was part of a Democratic filibuster that Senate Republicans said undermined U.S. national security .
`` It 's also hard to explain why—despite the array of terror attacks we 've seen across the world—Senate Democrats decided to block a bill that could help keep the American people safer from threats like ISIL , '' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) said .
Peters , who did not respond to a request for comment , is backed by VoteVets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spend millions to elect Democrats in key 2020 Senate races .
VoteVets has faced numerous allegations of campaign finance violations , and Peters was accused of illegally coordinating with the group in December .
VoteVets has spent nearly $ 1.5 million on ads supporting Peters .
VoteVets did not respond to a request for comment .
Peters 's claim at the virtual fundraiser came in response to an ad released by the National Republican Senatorial Committee on June 10 .
The ad contrasts Peters 's repeated votes against military pay raises with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken from pharmaceutical companies .
Peters is facing a challenge from Republican John James , who has outraised the first-term senator for three consecutive quarters .
The pair will face off in November .

Michigan Democratic senator Gary Peters told supporters he "never voted against a pay raise for service members." But he's voted against such pay raises on at least six occasions.
"I've never voted against a pay raise for service members," Peters said at a June 16 virtual fundraiser. "Taking care of veterans is important to me and to make sure we have a strong military is important."
Peters, however, voted against pay raises for service members six times from 2015 to 2016. He voted three times in 2015 and another three times in 2016 to block Defense Department funding bills that would have raised service members' pay by 2.3 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively. The 2016 bill Peters voted against passed the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously and was praised as "bipartisan" by Wisconsin Democratic senator Tammy Baldwin.
"I especially appreciate that this bill conforms to the bipartisan budget agreement and refrains from gimmicks that not only shortchange non-defense priorities, but also our military," Baldwin said at the time. "This bill responsibly addresses the readiness and well-being of our troops and our national defense requirements."
Peters's 2016 vote was part of a Democratic filibuster that Senate Republicans said undermined U.S. national security.
"It's also hard to explain why—despite the array of terror attacks we've seen across the world—Senate Democrats decided to block a bill that could help keep the American people safer from threats like ISIL," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said.
Peters, who did not respond to a request for comment, is backed by VoteVets, a liberal dark money group that pledged to spend millions to elect Democrats in key 2020 Senate races. VoteVets has faced numerous allegations of campaign finance violations, and Peters was accused of illegally coordinating with the group in December. VoteVets has spent nearly $1.5 million on ads supporting Peters.
VoteVets did not respond to a request for comment.
Peters's claim at the virtual fundraiser came in response to an ad released by the National Republican Senatorial Committee on June 10. The ad contrasts Peters's repeated votes against military pay raises with the nearly $200,000 the Democrat has taken from pharmaceutical companies.
Peters is facing a challenge from Republican John James, who has outraised the first-term senator for three consecutive quarters. The pair will face off in November.


freebeacon--2020-06-24--Media Pushed Now-Debunked Noose Hate Crime Against NASCAR Driver

Network and cable television figures pushed the unsubstantiated allegation that someone committed a hate crime against black NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace by putting a noose in his garage , before an FBI investigation debunked it .
Following a report Sunday that a crew member found a noose in Wallace 's Talladega garage , media members credulously reported it as both true and a clear retaliation for Wallace 's Black Lives Matter activism .
Two days later , the FBI reported no hate crime had been committed and the `` noose '' in question was a garage door pull that had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone knew Wallace would use that particular garage .
CBS This Morning host Gayle King called it a `` disturbing backlash '' to Wallace 's support for the Black Lives Matter movement and for his support of NASCAR 's recent ban on displays of the Confederate flag .
On MSNBC , liberal Atlantic writer Jemele Hill said it was a `` very stunning , shocking , appalling , disgusting reminder of who this sport is for , '' and anchor Andrea Mitchell called the situation a `` dreadful turn . ''
Axios reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of recent `` overt and egregious acts of extreme racism , '' and MSNBC anchor Chris Jansing said she looked forward to discovering the `` coward '' who `` committed that heinous act . ''
NBC reporter Sam Brock said Wallace had to deal with a `` symbol of hatred off the track , '' MSNBC 's Stephanie Ruhle called it a `` dark moment , '' and CNN anchor Jim Sciutto said , `` that this happens in the year 2020 is just beyond belief . ''
Some hosts mentioned the skepticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MSNBC fill-in host John Heilemann , who said Tuesday he found conservative doubts `` infuriating . ''
Shortly after , MSNBC correspondent Pete Williams reported on the FBI 's findings .
NASCAR said the garage pull was fashioned like a noose and it will continue to investigate the matter , while adding it was relieved it was not an intentional , racist act against Wallace .

Network and cable television figures pushed the unsubstantiated allegation that someone committed a hate crime against black NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace by putting a noose in his garage, before an FBI investigation debunked it.
Following a report Sunday that a crew member found a noose in Wallace's Talladega garage, media members credulously reported it as both true and a clear retaliation for Wallace's Black Lives Matter activism. Two days later, the FBI reported no hate crime had been committed and the "noose" in question was a garage door pull that had been placed in October, well before anyone knew Wallace would use that particular garage.
CBS This Morning host Gayle King called it a "disturbing backlash" to Wallace's support for the Black Lives Matter movement and for his support of NASCAR's recent ban on displays of the Confederate flag. On MSNBC, liberal Atlantic writer Jemele Hill said it was a "very stunning, shocking, appalling, disgusting reminder of who this sport is for," and anchor Andrea Mitchell called the situation a "dreadful turn."
Axios reporter Alexi McCammond said it was an example of recent "overt and egregious acts of extreme racism," and MSNBC anchor Chris Jansing said she looked forward to discovering the "coward" who "committed that heinous act."
NBC reporter Sam Brock said Wallace had to deal with a "symbol of hatred off the track," MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle called it a "dark moment," and CNN anchor Jim Sciutto said, "that this happens in the year 2020 is just beyond belief."
Some hosts mentioned the skepticism that greeted the initial story, including MSNBC fill-in host John Heilemann, who said Tuesday he found conservative doubts "infuriating." Shortly after, MSNBC correspondent Pete Williams reported on the FBI's findings.
NASCAR said the garage pull was fashioned like a noose and it will continue to investigate the matter, while adding it was relieved it was not an intentional, racist act against Wallace.


freebeacon--2020-06-24--Appeals Court Tosses Criminal Case Against Michael Flynn

A federal appeals court in Washington , D.C. , on Wednesday ordered a trial judge to dismiss the criminal case against President Donald Trump 's former national security adviser , Michael Flynn .
In a 2-1 decision , the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C .
Circuit said Flynn 's trial judge should have signed off on the Justice Department 's motion to dismiss the Flynn case .
Flynn asked the appeals court to intervene after U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan refused to sign off on the government 's motion to dismiss the case against him .
Judge Neomi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Sullivan had no reason to call the prosecution 's decision into question .
She also emphasized that courts have extremely limited power `` to superintend the prosecution 's charging decisions because authority over criminal charging decisions resides fundamentally with the executive . ''
The decision is a boon to Flynn 's defense and a repudiation of the district judge .
Flynn is not out of the woods yet , however , since the ruling can be appealed to the full D.C .
Circuit .
If the court decides to review the panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in doubt well past the November election .
Rao noted that both the defense and the prosecution support the motion to dismiss in light of new evidence that casts doubt on Flynn 's guilt .
That evidence suggests there was no basis for questioning Flynn about his communications with former Russian ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak , meaning any statements he made do n't bear on an alleged crime .
`` This is not the unusual case where a more searching inquiry is justified , '' Rao wrote .
The panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new judge , however .
Flynn 's lawyers have accused Sullivan of bias , writing in one brief to the appeals court that the judge is trying to steal public attention for himself .
`` He wants to pitch , bat , run bases , and play shortstop , '' the filing reads .
`` In truth , he is way out in left field . ''
The president welcomed the decision in a Wednesday morning tweet .
In dissent , Judge Robert Wilkins argued that the panel 's decision was premature .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and argued the appeals court should not short-circuit the normal process .
`` It is a great irony that , in finding the district court to have exceeded its jurisdiction , this court so grievously oversteps its own , '' he wrote .
The case will now return to the trial court .
In re .
Michael Flynn decision by Washington Free Beacon on Scribd

A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday ordered a trial judge to dismiss the criminal case against President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.
In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit said Flynn's trial judge should have signed off on the Justice Department's motion to dismiss the Flynn case. Flynn asked the appeals court to intervene after U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan refused to sign off on the government's motion to dismiss the case against him.
Judge Neomi Rao delivered the majority opinion, saying that Sullivan had no reason to call the prosecution's decision into question. She also emphasized that courts have extremely limited power "to superintend the prosecution's charging decisions because authority over criminal charging decisions resides fundamentally with the executive."
The decision is a boon to Flynn's defense and a repudiation of the district judge. Flynn is not out of the woods yet, however, since the ruling can be appealed to the full D.C. Circuit. If the court decides to review the panel decision, the ultimate outcome will be in doubt well past the November election.
Rao noted that both the defense and the prosecution support the motion to dismiss in light of new evidence that casts doubt on Flynn's guilt. That evidence suggests there was no basis for questioning Flynn about his communications with former Russian ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak, meaning any statements he made don't bear on an alleged crime.
"This is not the unusual case where a more searching inquiry is justified," Rao wrote.
The panel declined to assign the case to a new judge, however. Flynn's lawyers have accused Sullivan of bias, writing in one brief to the appeals court that the judge is trying to steal public attention for himself.
"He wants to pitch, bat, run bases, and play shortstop," the filing reads. "In truth, he is way out in left field."
The president welcomed the decision in a Wednesday morning tweet.
In dissent, Judge Robert Wilkins argued that the panel's decision was premature. Wilkins said that the issues are novel and argued the appeals court should not short-circuit the normal process.
"It is a great irony that, in finding the district court to have exceeded its jurisdiction, this court so grievously oversteps its own," he wrote.
The case will now return to the trial court.
In re. Michael Flynn decision by Washington Free Beacon on Scribd


freebeacon--2020-06-24--Radical Left Poised to Take Out Top Dem, Pelosi Ally

Bronx middle school principal Jamaal Bowman is on the verge of defeating Rep. Eliot Engel ( D. , N.Y. ) following Tuesday 's Democratic primary , potentially unseating an incumbent who has spent more than 30 years in Congress .
Bowman , who was heavily backed by the socialist left-wing of the Democratic Party , is currently leading Engel , the longtime chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee , by a 61-36 margin ( 92 percent reporting ) .
The race , in which Engel was pilloried as out-of-touch with his district , echoed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 's 2018 victory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , N.Y. ) , then the House 's fourth most powerful Democrat .
With absentee ballots still being counted , the final results are not expected to be tallied until next week .
The race was marked by unforced errors that contributed to Engel 's defeat and helped Bowman portray him as a relic who had spent far too long in elected office .
As the coronavirus ravaged his district , news reports revealed that Engel had remained in Washington , D.C .
The 73-year-old congressman was subsequently caught on a hot microphone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , telling the organizer , `` If I didn ’ t have a primary , I wouldn ’ t care . ''
The race also served as a proxy war between the Democratic establishment and progressive insurgents .
Bowman won the support of the left flank of the party : He was endorsed by the Justice Democrats and the Working Families Party , which together pledged to pour $ 500,000 into the race to boost his prospects , and won the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders ( Vt. ) , Sen. Elizabeth Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Engel had the support of party leadership , including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , and Hillary Clinton .
Bowman managed to capitalize on events that have consumed the lives of New Yorkers over the past several months , including the coronavirus outbreak and the protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis , arguing that the twin crises revealed the need for more systemic change .
As outrage over Floyd 's death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers spilled into the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus from a grab bag of progressive policy proposals to police reform , sharing his own troubled encounter with the police late in the wake of Floyd 's death and joining fellow progressives in their call to defund the police .
`` I support the defunding of the police , '' Bowman said at a debate in mid-June .
`` If we reinvest in jobs there wo n't be a need for as large of a police force as we have and there wo n't be a need for the militarization of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up because we 're tired of waiting . ''
Bowman is a self-described socialist who supports progressive projects such as the Green New Deal and Medicare-for-All .
`` There ’ s some stigma associated with the word ‘ socialism ' even though the current capitalist model we have isn ’ t working for the majority of Americans , '' Bowman told Jacobin , a socialist magazine , in October .
`` You want to call me a socialist then call me a socialist . ''
Bowman is expected to win handily in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Bronx middle school principal Jamaal Bowman is on the verge of defeating Rep. Eliot Engel (D., N.Y.) following Tuesday's Democratic primary, potentially unseating an incumbent who has spent more than 30 years in Congress.
Bowman, who was heavily backed by the socialist left-wing of the Democratic Party, is currently leading Engel, the longtime chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, by a 61-36 margin (92 percent reporting). The race, in which Engel was pilloried as out-of-touch with his district, echoed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 2018 victory that unseated Rep. Joe Crowley (D., N.Y.), then the House's fourth most powerful Democrat.
With absentee ballots still being counted, the final results are not expected to be tallied until next week.
The race was marked by unforced errors that contributed to Engel's defeat and helped Bowman portray him as a relic who had spent far too long in elected office. As the coronavirus ravaged his district, news reports revealed that Engel had remained in Washington, D.C. The 73-year-old congressman was subsequently caught on a hot microphone requesting to speak at a Bronx event, telling the organizer, "If I didn’t have a primary, I wouldn’t care."
The race also served as a proxy war between the Democratic establishment and progressive insurgents. Bowman won the support of the left flank of the party: He was endorsed by the Justice Democrats and the Working Families Party, which together pledged to pour $500,000 into the race to boost his prospects, and won the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), and Ocasio-Cortez. Engel had the support of party leadership, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Hillary Clinton.
Bowman managed to capitalize on events that have consumed the lives of New Yorkers over the past several months, including the coronavirus outbreak and the protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, arguing that the twin crises revealed the need for more systemic change.
As outrage over Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers spilled into the streets of his district, he narrowed his focus from a grab bag of progressive policy proposals to police reform, sharing his own troubled encounter with the police late in the wake of Floyd's death and joining fellow progressives in their call to defund the police.
"I support the defunding of the police," Bowman said at a debate in mid-June. "If we reinvest in jobs there won't be a need for as large of a police force as we have and there won't be a need for the militarization of the police. The whole country is rising up because we're tired of waiting."
Bowman is a self-described socialist who supports progressive projects such as the Green New Deal and Medicare-for-All. "There’s some stigma associated with the word 'socialism' even though the current capitalist model we have isn’t working for the majority of Americans," Bowman told Jacobin, a socialist magazine, in October. "You want to call me a socialist then call me a socialist."
Bowman is expected to win handily in November given the district's heavily Democratic bent.


freebeacon--2020-06-25--Biden Cancer Nonprofit Paid Its Top Execs Millions. It Spent Little to Eradicate Cancer

Nearly two-thirds of the money the Biden Cancer Initiative spent since its founding in 2017 went toward staff compensation and six-figure salaries for top executives .
The group spent far less on efforts to eradicate cancer .
One of several nonprofits Joe Biden created following his tenure in the White House , the Biden Cancer Initiative paid top executives lavishly , with salaries comprising nearly 65 percent of its total expenditures .
That is well above the 25 percent charity watchdogs recommend nonprofits spend on administrative overhead and fundraising costs combined .
The nonprofit raised and spent $ 4.8 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its 2017 and 2018 tax forms show .
Slightly more than $ 3 million of that amount went to salaries , compensation , and benefits .
At the same time , the group spent just $ 1.7 million on all of its other expenses .
A bulk of this cash— $ 740,000—was poured into conferences , conventions , and meetings .
It did not cut a single grant to any other group or foundation during its two-year run .
An analysis of nonprofits by Charity Navigator , which rates charities for effectiveness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executives an average salary of $ 126,000 per year—far less than what the Biden Cancer Initiative paid its president , Greg Simon , who pocketed $ 224,539 in 2017 and $ 429,850 in 2018 .
Charity Navigator 's primary criterion for rating charities is whether they `` spend at least 75 % of their expenses directly on their programs . ''
The Biden cancer group 's financial disclosures may raise new questions about whether the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee allowed associates to profit off their access to him .
Before going on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Initiative , Simon and the initiative 's vice president , Danielle Carnival , previously worked for the Obama administration 's Cancer Moonshot program .
Biden 's son Hunter received $ 50,000 a month to sit on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma despite an apparent lack of qualifications .
James Biden , Joe Biden 's brother , joined a construction firm in 2010 that later won a $ 1.5 billion contract to build homes in Iraq while Biden oversaw Iraq policy .
Biden 's presidential campaign has been plagued with questions about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Simon was only one of several highly paid Biden Cancer Initiative executives .
Carnival was also compensated handsomely , collecting a combined $ 391,897 in 2017 and 2018 .
Simon and Carnival were the only two individuals paid both years by the nonprofit .
During its second year in operation , the initiative added others to its payroll , including director of communications Cecilia Arradaza ( who was paid $ 171,012 ) , director of engagement Lisa Simms Booth ( $ 197,544 ) , and director of science policy Catherine Young ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the initiative and his other nonprofits shortly before entering the presidential race to avoid conflicts of interest .
Many of the health companies that Biden touted during his time with the nonprofit have financial and regulatory interests with the federal government .
Simon told the Associated Press in 2019 that many of the group 's attempted partnerships with medical organizations were `` not successful . ''
The Biden Cancer Initiative was launched to continue the agenda of the Cancer Moonshot program , which President Obama created toward the end of his second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the field .
Biden , whose son Beau died from the disease , led the program with Simon 's help .
The nonprofit operated primarily through indirect money pledges from 57 partnerships , which included drug and health insurance companies .
The group also pushed for data sharing , patient support , and other medical initiatives .
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment .
Simon did not respond to inquiries on the Biden Cancer Initiative 's finances and what the group had ultimately achieved before ceasing its operations @

Nearly two-thirds of the money the Biden Cancer Initiative spent since its founding in 2017 went toward staff compensation and six-figure salaries for top executives. The group spent far less on efforts to eradicate cancer.
One of several nonprofits Joe Biden created following his tenure in the White House, the Biden Cancer Initiative paid top executives lavishly, with salaries comprising nearly 65 percent of its total expenditures. That is well above the 25 percent charity watchdogs recommend nonprofits spend on administrative overhead and fundraising costs combined.
The nonprofit raised and spent $4.8 million over its two years in operation, its 2017 and 2018 tax forms show. Slightly more than $3 million of that amount went to salaries, compensation, and benefits. At the same time, the group spent just $1.7 million on all of its other expenses. A bulk of this cash—$740,000—was poured into conferences, conventions, and meetings. It did not cut a single grant to any other group or foundation during its two-year run.
An analysis of nonprofits by Charity Navigator, which rates charities for effectiveness, found that mid-to-large-sized nonprofits paid their chief executives an average salary of $126,000 per year—far less than what the Biden Cancer Initiative paid its president, Greg Simon, who pocketed $224,539 in 2017 and $429,850 in 2018. Charity Navigator's primary criterion for rating charities is whether they "spend at least 75% of their expenses directly on their programs."
The Biden cancer group's financial disclosures may raise new questions about whether the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee allowed associates to profit off their access to him. Before going on to receive six-figure salaries from the Biden Cancer Initiative, Simon and the initiative's vice president, Danielle Carnival, previously worked for the Obama administration's Cancer Moonshot program. Biden's son Hunter received $50,000 a month to sit on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma despite an apparent lack of qualifications. James Biden, Joe Biden's brother, joined a construction firm in 2010 that later won a $1.5 billion contract to build homes in Iraq while Biden oversaw Iraq policy. Biden's presidential campaign has been plagued with questions about Hunter's and James's financial activities.
Simon was only one of several highly paid Biden Cancer Initiative executives. Carnival was also compensated handsomely, collecting a combined $391,897 in 2017 and 2018. Simon and Carnival were the only two individuals paid both years by the nonprofit. During its second year in operation, the initiative added others to its payroll, including director of communications Cecilia Arradaza (who was paid $171,012), director of engagement Lisa Simms Booth ($197,544), and director of science policy Catherine Young ($170,904).
Biden stepped away from the initiative and his other nonprofits shortly before entering the presidential race to avoid conflicts of interest. Many of the health companies that Biden touted during his time with the nonprofit have financial and regulatory interests with the federal government. Simon told the Associated Press in 2019 that many of the group's attempted partnerships with medical organizations were "not successful."
The Biden Cancer Initiative was launched to continue the agenda of the Cancer Moonshot program, which President Obama created toward the end of his second term in hopes of accelerating research in the field. Biden, whose son Beau died from the disease, led the program with Simon's help.
The nonprofit operated primarily through indirect money pledges from 57 partnerships, which included drug and health insurance companies. The group also pushed for data sharing, patient support, and other medical initiatives.
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Simon did not respond to inquiries on the Biden Cancer Initiative's finances and what the group had ultimately achieved before ceasing its operations.


freebeacon--2020-06-25--Maryland Handgun Background Check System Crashes, Leaving Gun Buyers in Limbo

Maryland 's background check system has crashed , creating new hurdles for residents who are already subject to one of the strictest gun-control regimes in the country .
Maryland State Police confirmed on Tuesday night that the system they use to process background checks for handgun-purchase permits crashed on Sunday and remains down .
The state police are now advising dealers to hold recently purchased handguns as they attempt to fix the system but have provided no timetable for fixing the issue .
Marylanders may have to wait well beyond the seven days required under state law to take home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services ( DPSCS ) experienced a failure in their data system , which has inhibited our ability to do complete background checks for individuals purchasing regulated firearms or applying for handgun qualification licenses or carry permits , '' state police spokesman Greg Shipley told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services is working diligently to fix the problem . ''
The system 's crash has hampered the Second Amendment rights of state residents , according to gun-rights activists .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ group Maryland Shall Issue , said his members are being affected by the delays .
He said the problem was compounded by the state 's gun laws , which are among the strictest in the nation , especially when it comes to purchasing handguns .
The week-long waiting period becomes indefinite as long as background checks can not be performed .
`` It affects members as the dealers are being encouraged by the MSP not to release handguns to purchasers because of the computer failure , '' Pennak told the Free Beacon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandated by state law , is now being extended to an indefinite wait all because of this failure at the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services .
The bureaucratic obstacles imposed by Maryland just got higher . ''
Unlike most states , Maryland requires residents to obtain a permit before purchasing handguns and processes background checks for those permits through its state police instead of the FBI .
It also requires a seven-day waiting period between the purchase and when the customer can take possession of the gun .
An advisory sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` a catastrophic hardware failure within [ DPSCS 's ] data center '' for the delays .
A department spokesman did not respond to a request for comment about the specific cause of the crash .
Pennak said the process is more vulnerable to failure points like the system crash because it is already more complicated than existing protocols in other states .
`` Maryland makes it really difficult already , '' he said .
`` And , so , if there 's something that goes wrong with Maryland 's bureaucracy it becomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that problem in Virginia .
Most of the country , you do n't have to go through this . ''
Maryland law does include a safeguard for situations in which background checks are not being processed .
If the check , which is designed to be instantaneous , is not completed within the seven-day waiting period , a gun dealer may release the firearm to its customer .
The advisory sent out by state police , however , `` encourages '' gun dealers `` not to transfer these firearms until background checks have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state police are prepared to process background checks as soon as the system comes back online .
`` The Maryland State Police Licensing Division has a staff on standby and a plan of action to work around the clock to complete background checks as soon as the system is restored at DPSCS , '' he said .
`` We are hoping the issue will be resolved as soon as possible . ''

Maryland's background check system has crashed, creating new hurdles for residents who are already subject to one of the strictest gun-control regimes in the country.
Maryland State Police confirmed on Tuesday night that the system they use to process background checks for handgun-purchase permits crashed on Sunday and remains down. The state police are now advising dealers to hold recently purchased handguns as they attempt to fix the system but have provided no timetable for fixing the issue. Marylanders may have to wait well beyond the seven days required under state law to take home their legally purchased handguns.
"The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) experienced a failure in their data system, which has inhibited our ability to do complete background checks for individuals purchasing regulated firearms or applying for handgun qualification licenses or carry permits," state police spokesman Greg Shipley told the Washington Free Beacon. "The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services is working diligently to fix the problem."
The system's crash has hampered the Second Amendment rights of state residents, according to gun-rights activists. Mark Pennak, president of the gun-rights group Maryland Shall Issue, said his members are being affected by the delays. He said the problem was compounded by the state's gun laws, which are among the strictest in the nation, especially when it comes to purchasing handguns. The week-long waiting period becomes indefinite as long as background checks cannot be performed.
"It affects members as the dealers are being encouraged by the MSP not to release handguns to purchasers because of the computer failure," Pennak told the Free Beacon. "So, the seven-day wait, mandated by state law, is now being extended to an indefinite wait all because of this failure at the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The bureaucratic obstacles imposed by Maryland just got higher."
Unlike most states, Maryland requires residents to obtain a permit before purchasing handguns and processes background checks for those permits through its state police instead of the FBI. It also requires a seven-day waiting period between the purchase and when the customer can take possession of the gun. An advisory sent to gun dealers by the department blamed "a catastrophic hardware failure within [DPSCS's] data center" for the delays. A department spokesman did not respond to a request for comment about the specific cause of the crash.
Pennak said the process is more vulnerable to failure points like the system crash because it is already more complicated than existing protocols in other states.
"Maryland makes it really difficult already," he said. "And, so, if there's something that goes wrong with Maryland's bureaucracy it becomes quite impossible. People don't have that problem in Virginia. Most of the country, you don't have to go through this."
Maryland law does include a safeguard for situations in which background checks are not being processed. If the check, which is designed to be instantaneous, is not completed within the seven-day waiting period, a gun dealer may release the firearm to its customer. The advisory sent out by state police, however, "encourages" gun dealers "not to transfer these firearms until background checks have been completed."
Shipley said the state police are prepared to process background checks as soon as the system comes back online.
"The Maryland State Police Licensing Division has a staff on standby and a plan of action to work around the clock to complete background checks as soon as the system is restored at DPSCS," he said. "We are hoping the issue will be resolved as soon as possible."
*UPDATE June 25, 10:09 a.m.
DPSCS spokesman Mark Vernarelli told the Free Beacon on Thursday morning that the handgun check system has been restored. He said the system does not appear to have been breached but officials have yet to determine the cause of the outage.
"The Department’s Internet Technology and Communications Division has found no evidence of a security breach having caused the temporary outage," Vernarelli said.
The Maryland State Police said the agency has begun processing the handgun background checks held up by the system crash but emphasized that the backlog would take several days to clear.
"Licensing Division employees worked throughout the night and will continue to work around-the-clock until all pending and incoming regulated firearm purchase applications have been reviewed and are being completed within Maryland's required seven day waiting period," the agency said in a statement. "Even with employees working 24-hours-a-day to address this, the process is anticipated to take several days to complete."


freebeacon--2020-06-25--CANCELED: Every Democratic President of the 20th Century

Everyone is being canceled these days , from popular U.S. presidents such as Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant to `` a middle-aged white woman named Sue Schafer '' who wore a bad costume in 2018 .
For whatever reason , living Democratic officials like Virginia governor Ralph Northam and middle-aged white celebrities like Jimmy Kimmel have not , despite committing blatantly cancel-worthy offenses .
Unfortunately for Democratic leaders who are not currently alive or holding office , the cancellation brigades are on the offensive .
There 's a decent chance that by the time 2020 draws to a close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 20th century will have been canceled , toppled , exiled , and erased .
Canceled… for his family 's support of slavery and the Confederacy , for identifying as a proud Southerner , for being a member of a fraternity , for coaching football , for attending law school at a university founded by slave-owning president Thomas Jefferson , for writing a poorly received biography of slave-owning president George Washington , for excluding black students from Princeton , for appointing segregationists to his cabinet and arguing that segregation removed `` friction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Birth of a Nation at the White House , and for being a virulent racist in general .
Canceled… for supporting Woodrow Wilson 's presidential campaign , for growing up in a wealthy family , for being related to Teddy Roosevelt , for fetishizing monogamy despite engaging in numerous extramarital affairs , for failing to win support for his court-packing legislation , for his association with Winston Churchill , for distrusting Joseph Stalin and failing to provide sufficient military support to the Soviet Union , for approving the Manhattan Project , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and declining to enact a New Deal of color .
Canceled… for serving in the military , for waging nuclear war on Japanese civilians , for instigating the Cold War and dramatically increasing the military budget , for recognizing the State of Israel , for waging the Korean War , for describing American communists as `` traitors , '' for having ancestors who owned slaves , and for making fun of journalists who work hard to meet deadlines but sometimes make mistakes because they 're human .
Canceled… for being a serial sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for being the son of an oligarch and Nazi sympathizer , for being related to serial sex predator Ted Kennedy , for knowing how to sail , for serving in the military , for invading Cuba , for escalating the U.S. military presence in Vietnam , for being tough on the Soviet Union , for antagonizing Lee Harvey Oswald and other Marxist Americans , for supporting lower taxes , and for wasting money on the space program .
Canceled… for serving in the military , for waging the Vietnam War , for supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cynically exploited the civil rights movement for political gain , for frequently using the n-word , and for allowing the FBI to conduct wiretaps on Martin Luther King Jr. , whom he once called a `` hysterical preacher . ''
Canceled… for being a devout Christian , for being from the South , for serving in the military , for imposing cruel boycotts and embargoes on the Soviet Union , for not hating Israel enough , for sanctioning Iran and attempting to rescue U.S. hostages in Tehran , and for having ancestors who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serial sex predator , for cavorting with billionaire pedophiles , for working with Republicans and being friends with George W. Bush , for enacting welfare reform , for being tough on crime , for his fanatical devotion to personal wealth accumulation , for his racist attacks on Barack Obama in the 2008 primary , for his defensive tirades against Black Lives Matter protesters , and for allowing his wife to murder Jeffrey Epstein .
But why stop there ?
Canceled… for supporting free trade , for authorizing drone strikes , for failing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for violating Pakistani sovereignty to carry out the illegal assassination of Osama bin Laden , for failing to abolish banks and health insurance companies , for putting children in cages and deporting undocumented immigrants , for not supporting gay marriage sooner , for promoting a culture of toxic masculinity at the White House , for attempting to `` work with '' Republicans and getting rolled by Mitch McConnell , for refusing to abolish the police , and for not turning out to be a secret Muslim .

Everyone is being canceled these days, from popular U.S. presidents such as Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant to "a middle-aged white woman named Sue Schafer" who wore a bad costume in 2018. For whatever reason, living Democratic officials like Virginia governor Ralph Northam and middle-aged white celebrities like Jimmy Kimmel have not, despite committing blatantly cancel-worthy offenses.
Unfortunately for Democratic leaders who are not currently alive or holding office, the cancellation brigades are on the offensive. There's a decent chance that by the time 2020 draws to a close, every single Democratic president who served in the 20th century will have been canceled, toppled, exiled, and erased.
Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)
Canceled... for his family's support of slavery and the Confederacy, for identifying as a proud Southerner, for being a member of a fraternity, for coaching football, for attending law school at a university founded by slave-owning president Thomas Jefferson, for writing a poorly received biography of slave-owning president George Washington, for excluding black students from Princeton, for appointing segregationists to his cabinet and arguing that segregation removed "friction" between the races, for screening The Birth of a Nation at the White House, and for being a virulent racist in general.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)
Canceled... for supporting Woodrow Wilson's presidential campaign, for growing up in a wealthy family, for being related to Teddy Roosevelt, for fetishizing monogamy despite engaging in numerous extramarital affairs, for failing to win support for his court-packing legislation, for his association with Winston Churchill, for distrusting Joseph Stalin and failing to provide sufficient military support to the Soviet Union, for approving the Manhattan Project, for putting Japanese Americans in internment camps, and declining to enact a New Deal of color.
Harry S. Truman (1945-1953)
Canceled... for serving in the military, for waging nuclear war on Japanese civilians, for instigating the Cold War and dramatically increasing the military budget, for recognizing the State of Israel, for waging the Korean War, for describing American communists as "traitors," for having ancestors who owned slaves, and for making fun of journalists who work hard to meet deadlines but sometimes make mistakes because they're human.
John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)
Canceled... for being a serial sex predator, for being a Catholic, for being the son of an oligarch and Nazi sympathizer, for being related to serial sex predator Ted Kennedy, for knowing how to sail, for serving in the military, for invading Cuba, for escalating the U.S. military presence in Vietnam, for being tough on the Soviet Union, for antagonizing Lee Harvey Oswald and other Marxist Americans, for supporting lower taxes, and for wasting money on the space program.
Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)
Canceled... for serving in the military, for waging the Vietnam War, for supporting Israel, for being a racist who cynically exploited the civil rights movement for political gain, for frequently using the n-word, and for allowing the FBI to conduct wiretaps on Martin Luther King Jr., whom he once called a "hysterical preacher."
Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)
Canceled... for being a devout Christian, for being from the South, for serving in the military, for imposing cruel boycotts and embargoes on the Soviet Union, for not hating Israel enough, for sanctioning Iran and attempting to rescue U.S. hostages in Tehran, and for having ancestors who owned slaves.
Bill Clinton (1993-2001)
Canceled... for being a serial sex predator, for cavorting with billionaire pedophiles, for working with Republicans and being friends with George W. Bush, for enacting welfare reform, for being tough on crime, for his fanatical devotion to personal wealth accumulation, for his racist attacks on Barack Obama in the 2008 primary, for his defensive tirades against Black Lives Matter protesters, and for allowing his wife to murder Jeffrey Epstein.
But why stop there?
Barack H. Obama (2009-2017)
Canceled... for supporting free trade, for authorizing drone strikes, for failing to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, for violating Pakistani sovereignty to carry out the illegal assassination of Osama bin Laden, for failing to abolish banks and health insurance companies, for putting children in cages and deporting undocumented immigrants, for not supporting gay marriage sooner, for promoting a culture of toxic masculinity at the White House, for attempting to "work with" Republicans and getting rolled by Mitch McConnell, for refusing to abolish the police, and for not turning out to be a secret Muslim.


freebeacon--2020-06-25--Left-Wing Activist Shaun King Demands Removal of ‘White’ Jesus Statues

Left-wing activist Shaun King on Monday said statues and images of Jesus Christ that look `` European '' should be removed because they are a form of `` white supremacy . ''
`` All murals and stained glass windows of white Jesus , and his European mother , and their white friends should also come down , '' King wrote on Twitter .
`` They are a gross form [ of ] white supremacy .
Created as tools of oppression .
Racist propaganda .
They should all come down . ''
The former surrogate of Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jewish rabbi , as `` Brown '' but said it 's up for debate whether he was `` real . ''
However , King did say he was sure that representations of Jesus as `` white '' are lies created to foster white supremacy .
`` We can debate [ whether ] or not Jesus was real all day long , '' King said in another tweet .
`` What I do know , is that white Jesus is a lie .
And is a tool of white supremacy created and advanced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tool of oppression .
Also , they never would ’ ve accepted a religion from a Brown man . ''
It is common for images of Jesus to resemble the ethnicities of different regions around the world , even though Christians do not dispute whether he was born in Israel .
Among Asian Christians , for example , Jesus can sometimes be represented with some Asian features .
In response to calls for these images to come down , Seattle pastor Brian Gibson and others with the group Peaceably Gather launched an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Churches will prosecute any vandals or agitators to the full extent of the law , including seeking hate crime designations for any attempt to desecrate church property or religious symbols , '' Gibson said in a statement .

Left-wing activist Shaun King on Monday said statues and images of Jesus Christ that look "European" should be removed because they are a form of "white supremacy."
"All murals and stained glass windows of white Jesus, and his European mother, and their white friends should also come down," King wrote on Twitter. "They are a gross form [of] white supremacy. Created as tools of oppression. Racist propaganda. They should all come down."
https://twitter.com/shaunking/status/1275113067555303424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1275113067555303424%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fgross-form-of-white-supremacy-real-justice-pac-co-founder-calls-for-removing-statues-of-white-jesus
The former surrogate of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) described Jesus, a Jewish rabbi, as "Brown" but said it's up for debate whether he was "real." However, King did say he was sure that representations of Jesus as "white" are lies created to foster white supremacy.
"We can debate [whether] or not Jesus was real all day long," King said in another tweet. "What I do know, is that white Jesus is a lie. And is a tool of white supremacy created and advanced to help white people use the faith as a tool of oppression. Also, they never would’ve accepted a religion from a Brown man."
https://twitter.com/shaunking/status/1275108707140087812
It is common for images of Jesus to resemble the ethnicities of different regions around the world, even though Christians do not dispute whether he was born in Israel. Among Asian Christians, for example, Jesus can sometimes be represented with some Asian features.
In response to calls for these images to come down, Seattle pastor Brian Gibson and others with the group Peaceably Gather launched an initiative to prosecute the vandalization of churches.
"Churches will prosecute any vandals or agitators to the full extent of the law, including seeking hate crime designations for any attempt to desecrate church property or religious symbols," Gibson said in a statement.


freebeacon--2020-06-25--House Freedom Caucus Urges Barr to Crack Down on Rioters

Sixteen members of the House Freedom Caucus urged federal law enforcement agencies to arrest and punish rioters who are responsible for destruction across the country , including toppling historical statues and the looting of businesses .
Rep. Andy Biggs ( R. , Ariz. ) said Attorney General Bill Barr and FBI director Chris Wray should begin prosecuting rioters responsible for the destruction to restore `` peace and order '' in the country .
`` We call on Attorney General Barr to charge those arrested and vigorously and immediately prosecute them , and we believe in so doing we can restore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Biggs said at a Thursday press conference .
The call comes amid national protests and unrest following the Minneapolis death of George Floyd in late May .
Cities across the country have dealt with widespread looting and vandalism , including numerous attempts to tear down historic statues .
Barr signaled Thursday morning during an interview with Sen. Ted Cruz ( R. , Texas ) that further enforcement could be on the way .
He said the Justice Department is already reviewing videos of rioters who vandalized and attempted to tear down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Square in Washington , D.C. , and would take action to punish the perpetrators .
Rep. Chip Roy ( R. , Texas ) said further action is required to restore the rule of law .
`` If you don ’ t have order , you don ’ t have liberty , '' Roy said .
`` It ’ s time for the federal government to do its job . ''
Similar calls have come from President Donald Trump , who on Tuesday called for federal authorities to enforce the Veteran 's Memorial Preservation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a prison term of up to 10 years for any attempt to damage a monument commemorating the service of any person in the armed forces .
Biggs warned that a failure to enforce the laws will allow the `` mobocracy '' to take rule in the country .
`` Rioting , looting and now mindless , aimless attacks on statues and work of art—this is nothing less than mobocracy , '' Biggs said .
`` The attempt is to sanitize the symbols of our history which are being destroyed by those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

Sixteen members of the House Freedom Caucus urged federal law enforcement agencies to arrest and punish rioters who are responsible for destruction across the country, including toppling historical statues and the looting of businesses.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R., Ariz.) said Attorney General Bill Barr and FBI director Chris Wray should begin prosecuting rioters responsible for the destruction to restore "peace and order" in the country.
"We call on Attorney General Barr to charge those arrested and vigorously and immediately prosecute them, and we believe in so doing we can restore peace and order to this country," Biggs said at a Thursday press conference.
The call comes amid national protests and unrest following the Minneapolis death of George Floyd in late May. Cities across the country have dealt with widespread looting and vandalism, including numerous attempts to tear down historic statues.
Barr signaled Thursday morning during an interview with Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) that further enforcement could be on the way. He said the Justice Department is already reviewing videos of rioters who vandalized and attempted to tear down the statue of President Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., and would take action to punish the perpetrators.
Rep. Chip Roy (R., Texas) said further action is required to restore the rule of law. "If you don’t have order, you don’t have liberty," Roy said. "It’s time for the federal government to do its job."
Similar calls have come from President Donald Trump, who on Tuesday called for federal authorities to enforce the Veteran's Memorial Preservation Act, a federal law that allows for a prison term of up to 10 years for any attempt to damage a monument commemorating the service of any person in the armed forces.
Biggs warned that a failure to enforce the laws will allow the "mobocracy" to take rule in the country.
"Rioting, looting and now mindless, aimless attacks on statues and work of art—this is nothing less than mobocracy," Biggs said. "The attempt is to sanitize the symbols of our history which are being destroyed by those who do not understand or know our history."


freebeacon--2020-06-25--John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ Tops List of Woke National Anthem Alternatives

The woke libs are on a roll .
They 've progressed from tearing down Confederate statues in the name of racial justice to targeting statues of the president who waged war against the Confederacy to free the slaves , all in the name of some indecipherable cause that is presumably noble and beyond the comprehension of the unwoke masses .
But even when all the Abraham Lincoln statues are torn down and Mount Rushmore is firebombed into oblivion , the woke scolds still wo n't be satisfied .
A recent poll found that more than 40 percent of Americans who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to change the name of our country and the design of its flag in the name of `` pro-diversity cultural deconstruction . ''
Some 80 percent of `` very liberal '' respondents also want to change the national anthem , so it was only a matter of time before the cancel mob came for slaveowner Francis Scott Key and `` The Star-Spangled Banner . ''
In fact , they 've already begun .
A statue of Key was toppled in San Francisco over the weekend , and a high school student in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at her ( virtual ) graduation ceremony to avoid `` being complicit to a system that has oppressed people of color . ''
Lyndsey Parker , editor in chief of Yahoo Music , cited these episodes as evidence that our current national anthem probably does n't deserve to survive in this `` increasingly antiracist era . ''
In an article headlined , `` Why it might be time to finally replace ‘ The Star-Spangled Banner ' with a new national anthem , '' Parker interviews social justice experts who agree with her suggestion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new anthem with a less troubling history and a more inclusive message . ''
The anthem is n't just problematic because Key owned slaves , according to the experts .
It also glorifies violence , which is bad .
Kevin Powell , who is described in his Amazon bio as `` one of the most acclaimed political , cultural , literary and hip-hop voices in America today , '' predicted that black musical artists will soon start refusing to sing the anthem at sporting events and other public gatherings .
Powell also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by John Lennon , which he said was `` the most beautiful , unifying , all-people , all-backgrounds-together kind of song you could have . ''
Powell has a point .
Replacing our current national anthem—about fighting a war to keep the country independent from the British—with a song written by an Englishman who envisions a world with `` no countries , '' makes a lot of sense .
Unfortunately , Lennon is n't just white ; he 's also associated with the most brutal colonial empire the world has ever known and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a trans person of color .
So he 's canceled .
What then , should replace our anthem ?
Viable alternatives include : '' High Hopes '' by Panic !
At The Disco — The Founding Fathers deserve to be canceled , but their hopes were indisputably high .
`` Changes '' by Tupac Shakur — Might be difficult to sing along to , but white Millennials already know all the words .
`` White Fragility '' by Robin DiAngelo — Cons : Lengthy , not a song .
Pros : An important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Silence by N/A — Would give Americans a much-needed opportunity to reflect on our country 's sins , as opposed to glorifying them in song .
TBD by Lin-Manuel Miranda — A new anthem that all Americans could afford to see performed on stage , not just rich white libs .

The woke libs are on a roll. They've progressed from tearing down Confederate statues in the name of racial justice to targeting statues of the president who waged war against the Confederacy to free the slaves, all in the name of some indecipherable cause that is presumably noble and beyond the comprehension of the unwoke masses.
But even when all the Abraham Lincoln statues are torn down and Mount Rushmore is firebombed into oblivion, the woke scolds still won't be satisfied. A recent poll found that more than 40 percent of Americans who identify as "very liberal" want to change the name of our country and the design of its flag in the name of "pro-diversity cultural deconstruction."
Some 80 percent of "very liberal" respondents also want to change the national anthem, so it was only a matter of time before the cancel mob came for slaveowner Francis Scott Key and "The Star-Spangled Banner." In fact, they've already begun. A statue of Key was toppled in San Francisco over the weekend, and a high school student in New York recently refused to sing the anthem at her (virtual) graduation ceremony to avoid "being complicit to a system that has oppressed people of color."
Lyndsey Parker, editor in chief of Yahoo Music, cited these episodes as evidence that our current national anthem probably doesn't deserve to survive in this "increasingly antiracist era." In an article headlined, "Why it might be time to finally replace 'The Star-Spangled Banner' with a new national anthem," Parker interviews social justice experts who agree with her suggestion that the United States should "adopt a new anthem with a less troubling history and a more inclusive message."
The anthem isn't just problematic because Key owned slaves, according to the experts. It also glorifies violence, which is bad. Kevin Powell, who is described in his Amazon bio as "one of the most acclaimed political, cultural, literary and hip-hop voices in America today," predicted that black musical artists will soon start refusing to sing the anthem at sporting events and other public gatherings. Powell also suggested an alternative: "Imagine" by John Lennon, which he said was "the most beautiful, unifying, all-people, all-backgrounds-together kind of song you could have."
Powell has a point. Replacing our current national anthem—about fighting a war to keep the country independent from the British—with a song written by an Englishman who envisions a world with "no countries," makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately, Lennon isn't just white; he's also associated with the most brutal colonial empire the world has ever known and didn't write a single song about a trans person of color. So he's canceled.
What then, should replace our anthem? Viable alternatives include:
"High Hopes" by Panic! At The Disco — The Founding Fathers deserve to be canceled, but their hopes were indisputably high.
"Changes" by Tupac Shakur — Might be difficult to sing along to, but white Millennials already know all the words.
"White Fragility" by Robin DiAngelo — Cons: Lengthy, not a song. Pros: An important first step toward racial healing.
Moment of Silence by N/A — Would give Americans a much-needed opportunity to reflect on our country's sins, as opposed to glorifying them in song.
TBD by Lin-Manuel Miranda — A new anthem that all Americans could afford to see performed on stage, not just rich white libs.


freebeacon--2020-06-25--Navy Warns of Increase in Personnel Taking LSD

The Navy disclosed on Thursday that it has seen an increase in its personnel purchasing , using , and distributing the hallucinogenic drug LSD .
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service ( NCIS ) said it has `` noticed an increase of drug investigations involving Department of Navy personnel '' buying and using LSD during the past year .
`` Many of these investigations involve purchasing the drug on the dark web , '' the NCIS said .
The drug appears to be making a comeback after being used rarely within the Navy from at least 2003 to 2006 when there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking the drug .
`` Anyone with information relating to DON personnel buying or selling LSD or illicit substances either on or off the dark web should report it to NCIS , '' the agency said .
The NCIS also warned Navy personnel against purchasing LSD and other illegal drugs via online marketplaces run as part of the so-called dark web .
Drugs purchased over these networks are often laced with harmful substances , the NCIS said .
In conjunction with other law enforcement agencies , the NCIS is working to police these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to identify any Navy member who may be using them to purchase drugs .

The Navy disclosed on Thursday that it has seen an increase in its personnel purchasing, using, and distributing the hallucinogenic drug LSD.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) said it has "noticed an increase of drug investigations involving Department of Navy personnel" buying and using LSD during the past year.
"Many of these investigations involve purchasing the drug on the dark web," the NCIS said.
The drug appears to be making a comeback after being used rarely within the Navy from at least 2003 to 2006 when there were only four detected instances of staff taking the drug.
"Anyone with information relating to DON personnel buying or selling LSD or illicit substances either on or off the dark web should report it to NCIS," the agency said.
The NCIS also warned Navy personnel against purchasing LSD and other illegal drugs via online marketplaces run as part of the so-called dark web.
Drugs purchased over these networks are often laced with harmful substances, the NCIS said. In conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, the NCIS is working to police these online marketplaces as part of an effort to identify any Navy member who may be using them to purchase drugs.