freebeacon--2020-07-06--Supreme Court: States Can Bind Members of The Electoral College

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled unanimously that states can require presidential electors to support the winner of the state 's popular vote , rejecting arguments that members of the Electoral College get to act as free agents .
Both red and blue states pressed the justices to resolve the issue before the November balloting and reduce the uncertainty looming over the 2020 race amid the coronavirus pandemic .
A decision affirming elector independence would have added an unpredictable dynamic to an election season expected to see a surge in remote voting , delays in final tallies , and continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have never swung the outcome of a presidential election , they could make a difference in a tight race .
The decision follows a spirited campaign to lobby electors to change their vote in 2016 after Donald Trump 's surprise victory .
One scholarly amicus brief warned that electors have been subject to increased lobbying and intimidation in recent election cycles .
A Michigan elector said he faced death threats before casting his ballot for Trump , while another from Texas said he received over 200,000 emails and letters pressing him to support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went rogue and voted for compromise candidates during the December 2016 meeting of the Electoral College , the highest figure in decades .
More than 30 states require electors to take a pledge promising to support the winner of the state popular vote .
Fifteen states enforce that pledge with a penalty , either removing the rogue elector or imposing a fine .
Monday 's case arose in Washington , where three Democratic electors were fined $ 1,000 after casting ballots for Colin Powell .
The trio hoped to encourage other electors to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's ascent to the White House .
The electors challenged the fines in state court on constitutional grounds and lost .
The 10th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals came out the other way in a separate case from Colorado , and ruled that electors have the discretion to support whomever they please .
The states have considerable discretion to pick electors , the court said , but their power stops there .
`` Once that appointment process is concluded , the Constitution identifies no further involvement by the states in the selection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the 10th Circuit 's ruling reads .
Writing for the Court , Justice Elena Kagan said the power to appoint electors gives states more power than that .
The right to appoint includes power to impose conditions , like residency or fidelity to the popular vote , she wrote .
Similarly , nothing in the Constitution prohibits states from punishing rogue Electoral College voters .
Instead , the Constitution is `` barebones '' about electors , she wrote .
The states , said Kagan , may instruct `` its electors that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of millions of its citizens .
That direction accords with the Constitution—as well as with the trust of a nation that here , We the People rule . ''
History confirms that reading , Kagan added .
While some of the founding generation contemplated that electors would exercise independent judgment , by 1796 members of the Electoral College were mostly selected on the basis of the candidate they pledged to support .
The college itself chose between the nominees of the leading political parties , rather than weigh its own options .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there have been fewer than 200 faithless ballots out of 23,000 electoral votes cast , she noted .
`` The electors ' constitutional claim has neither text nor history on its side , '' Kagan wrote .
The ruling contained two important qualifications .
Kagan said states ca n't impose conditions on electors that would effectively add new qualifications for president or vice president .
That means , for example , states ca n't bar electors from supporting a candidate who has n't released financial records .
Several blue states have tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release his tax returns or be disqualified from the ballot .
Second , the Court cautioned that its decision does not bind electors to support a candidate who dies between the November general election and the Electoral College balloting in December .
While the scenario may sound far-fetched , it 's happened before .
In 1872 President Ulysses S. Grant 's main challenger , Horace Greeley , died after the general election but before electoral votes were cast .
Seven other justices joined Kagan 's majority opinion .
Justice Clarence Thomas handed down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcome but disagreed with the reasoning .
The case is No .
19-465 Chiafalo v. Washington .

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled unanimously that states can require presidential electors to support the winner of the state's popular vote, rejecting arguments that members of the Electoral College get to act as free agents.
Both red and blue states pressed the justices to resolve the issue before the November balloting and reduce the uncertainty looming over the 2020 race amid the coronavirus pandemic. A decision affirming elector independence would have added an unpredictable dynamic to an election season expected to see a surge in remote voting, delays in final tallies, and continued racial unrest. While so-called faithless electors have never swung the outcome of a presidential election, they could make a difference in a tight race.
The decision follows a spirited campaign to lobby electors to change their vote in 2016 after Donald Trump's surprise victory. One scholarly amicus brief warned that electors have been subject to increased lobbying and intimidation in recent election cycles. A Michigan elector said he faced death threats before casting his ballot for Trump, while another from Texas said he received over 200,000 emails and letters pressing him to support a different candidate. Seven electors ultimately went rogue and voted for compromise candidates during the December 2016 meeting of the Electoral College, the highest figure in decades.
More than 30 states require electors to take a pledge promising to support the winner of the state popular vote. Fifteen states enforce that pledge with a penalty, either removing the rogue elector or imposing a fine. Monday's case arose in Washington, where three Democratic electors were fined $1,000 after casting ballots for Colin Powell. The trio hoped to encourage other electors to support a compromise candidate and block Trump's ascent to the White House.
The electors challenged the fines in state court on constitutional grounds and lost. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came out the other way in a separate case from Colorado, and ruled that electors have the discretion to support whomever they please. The states have considerable discretion to pick electors, the court said, but their power stops there.
"Once that appointment process is concluded, the Constitution identifies no further involvement by the states in the selection of the President and Vice President," the 10th Circuit's ruling reads.
Writing for the Court, Justice Elena Kagan said the power to appoint electors gives states more power than that. The right to appoint includes power to impose conditions, like residency or fidelity to the popular vote, she wrote. Similarly, nothing in the Constitution prohibits states from punishing rogue Electoral College voters. Instead, the Constitution is "barebones" about electors, she wrote.
The states, said Kagan, may instruct "its electors that they have no ground for reversing the vote of millions of its citizens. That direction accords with the Constitution—as well as with the trust of a nation that here, We the People rule."
History confirms that reading, Kagan added. While some of the founding generation contemplated that electors would exercise independent judgment, by 1796 members of the Electoral College were mostly selected on the basis of the candidate they pledged to support. The college itself chose between the nominees of the leading political parties, rather than weigh its own options. And in the whole history of the country, there have been fewer than 200 faithless ballots out of 23,000 electoral votes cast, she noted.
"The electors' constitutional claim has neither text nor history on its side," Kagan wrote.
The ruling contained two important qualifications. Kagan said states can't impose conditions on electors that would effectively add new qualifications for president or vice president. That means, for example, states can't bar electors from supporting a candidate who hasn't released financial records. Several blue states have tried to devise ways to force Trump to release his tax returns or be disqualified from the ballot.
Second, the Court cautioned that its decision does not bind electors to support a candidate who dies between the November general election and the Electoral College balloting in December. While the scenario may sound far-fetched, it's happened before. In 1872 President Ulysses S. Grant's main challenger, Horace Greeley, died after the general election but before electoral votes were cast.
Seven other justices joined Kagan's majority opinion. Justice Clarence Thomas handed down a separate opinion that agreed with the outcome but disagreed with the reasoning.
The case is No. 19-465 Chiafalo v. Washington.


freebeacon--2020-07-06--Chinese Authorities Arrest Professor Critical of Regime

Chinese authorities arrested a prominent government critic Monday morning in northern Beijing , the New York Times reported .
Xu Zhangrun , a professor of law at Tsinghua University who has long criticized the Chinese Communist Party for making the country `` increasingly repressive , '' has been imprisoned .
Though Chinese police made no public comment on the matter , a friend of Xu and his family said the authorities detained the professor on the pretense that he had consorted with prostitutes .
The law professor 's criticism had intensified in recent months over China 's handling of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Xu wrote that the communist regime `` is a system that turns every natural disaster into an even greater man-made catastrophe .
The coronavirus epidemic has revealed the rotten core of Chinese governance . ''
Xu has drawn government attention in the past for criticizing the Chinese Communist Party .
The Xi regime suspended him last year for a 2018 essay which said `` the political atmosphere of China is becoming increasingly repressive . ''
The regime has used similar strategies to silence other critics including Chinese citizens who reported on the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since April , the whereabouts of two such critics remain unknown , according to the Los Angeles Times .
China has accelerated its aggressive international posture in recent weeks .
The communist government has imposed a Hong Kong national security law that allows for global extradition of dissenters , provoked a border clash with India that left 20 Indian soldiers dead , and last week conducted naval drills in a disputed area of the South China Sea .
Aggressive Chinese foreign policy has drawn concern from members of Congress .
`` We need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democratic values , our rule of law , our individual freedom , that 's where people look for global leadership , '' Rep. Elise Stefanik ( R. , N.Y. ) told the Washington Free Beacon in April .
Stefanik , Rep. Jim Banks ( R. , Ind . )
, Sen. Josh Hawley ( R. , Mo . )
, and others have introduced legislation aimed at decreasing American reliance on Chinese manufacturing .

Chinese authorities arrested a prominent government critic Monday morning in northern Beijing, the New York Times reported.
Xu Zhangrun, a professor of law at Tsinghua University who has long criticized the Chinese Communist Party for making the country "increasingly repressive," has been imprisoned. Though Chinese police made no public comment on the matter, a friend of Xu and his family said the authorities detained the professor on the pretense that he had consorted with prostitutes.
The law professor's criticism had intensified in recent months over China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. In one column, Xu wrote that the communist regime "is a system that turns every natural disaster into an even greater man-made catastrophe. The coronavirus epidemic has revealed the rotten core of Chinese governance."
Xu has drawn government attention in the past for criticizing the Chinese Communist Party. The Xi regime suspended him last year for a 2018 essay which said "the political atmosphere of China is becoming increasingly repressive."
The regime has used similar strategies to silence other critics including Chinese citizens who reported on the government's response to coronavirus in Wuhan. Since April, the whereabouts of two such critics remain unknown, according to the Los Angeles Times.
China has accelerated its aggressive international posture in recent weeks. The communist government has imposed a Hong Kong national security law that allows for global extradition of dissenters, provoked a border clash with India that left 20 Indian soldiers dead, and last week conducted naval drills in a disputed area of the South China Sea.
Aggressive Chinese foreign policy has drawn concern from members of Congress. "We need to ensure that Western countries and our democratic values, our rule of law, our individual freedom, that's where people look for global leadership," Rep. Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.) told the Washington Free Beacon in April. Stefanik, Rep. Jim Banks (R., Ind.), Sen. Josh Hawley (R., Mo.), and others have introduced legislation aimed at decreasing American reliance on Chinese manufacturing.


freebeacon--2020-07-06--This Is What The Swamp Looks Like

This Is What The Swamp Looks Like

The political and media professionals who populate our nation 's capital do n't like it when normal people use words like `` swamp '' and `` incestuous '' to describe their hometown and the lucrative industries that dominate it .
It 's horribly unfair to all the hardworking liberal elites who risk it all every day to shout questions at the president and draft legislation to expand tax credits for solar panels .
It would , however , be easier for swamp apologists to defend the D.C. political and media elite if they stopped behaving like incestuous swamp creatures .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zoom party in honor of Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart 's birthday was attended by an array of prominent political and media professionals .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) appeared in a prerecorded video .
Other attendees included former Obama White House adviser Valerie Jarrett , NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell and her husband—former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan .
Former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice , who is rumored to be a contender to be Joe Biden 's vice presidential nominee , was another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Obama 's former health secretary , Kathleen Sebelius , dialed in to the party , as did former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele , as did Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen , as did an array of current and former MSNBC personalities including Chris Jansing , Tamron Hall , Joy Reid , and Karen Finney , the former spokesperson for Hillary Clinton 's 2016 presidential campaign .
The list goes on .
Former NPR host Michele Norris and her husband , former Obama cabinet secretary Broderick Johnson , made an appearance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bash , CNN political analyst April Ryan , and Karine Jean-Pierre , the national spokeswoman for MoveOn.Org .
Capehart is a respected journalist whose contributions to the public discourse include several columns investigating the political opinions of his immediate family members , as well as headlines such as : `` Dear white people , please read ‘ White Fragility , ' '' `` What it was like to interview Tom Steyer—the day before he dropped out , '' `` I asked Twitter to choose among the 21 Democrats .
Here 's what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flyovers by the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds angered me . ''
It would be absurd to suggest that the national media 's extreme proximity to the liberal political establishment is a problem , or that it influences how stories are framed and reported .
Or that their world is no less a `` bubble '' than the one in which they imagine conservatives and Fox News viewers to reside .
Perish the thought .

The political and media professionals who populate our nation's capital don't like it when normal people use words like "swamp" and "incestuous" to describe their hometown and the lucrative industries that dominate it. It's horribly unfair to all the hardworking liberal elites who risk it all every day to shout questions at the president and draft legislation to expand tax credits for solar panels.
It would, however, be easier for swamp apologists to defend the D.C. political and media elite if they stopped behaving like incestuous swamp creatures. For example: Politico reports that a Zoom party in honor of Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart's birthday was attended by an array of prominent political and media professionals.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) appeared in a prerecorded video. Other attendees included former Obama White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell and her husband—former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan. Former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice, who is rumored to be a contender to be Joe Biden's vice presidential nominee, was another attendee.
But that wasn't all. Obama's former health secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, dialed in to the party, as did former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele, as did Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen, as did an array of current and former MSNBC personalities including Chris Jansing, Tamron Hall, Joy Reid, and Karen Finney, the former spokesperson for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.
The list goes on. Former NPR host Michele Norris and her husband, former Obama cabinet secretary Broderick Johnson, made an appearance, as did former Obama intelligence aide Jeremy Bash, CNN political analyst April Ryan, and Karine Jean-Pierre, the national spokeswoman for MoveOn.Org.
Capehart is a respected journalist whose contributions to the public discourse include several columns investigating the political opinions of his immediate family members, as well as headlines such as: "Dear white people, please read 'White Fragility,'" "What it was like to interview Tom Steyer—the day before he dropped out," "I asked Twitter to choose among the 21 Democrats. Here's what I found," and "Why the flyovers by the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds angered me."
It would be absurd to suggest that the national media's extreme proximity to the liberal political establishment is a problem, or that it influences how stories are framed and reported. Or that their world is no less a "bubble" than the one in which they imagine conservatives and Fox News viewers to reside. Perish the thought.


freebeacon--2020-07-06--Sen. Blackburn Takes Aim At ‘Birth Tourism’

Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R. , Tenn. ) introduced a new bill to outlaw birth tourism , a practice popular among wealthy foreigners who obtain American citizenship for their children by giving birth on U.S. soil while on vacation .
For decades , many wealthy Chinese and Russian parents have visited the United States on tourist visas to give birth in American hospitals .
In January , the Trump administration issued new rules that prohibit U.S. embassies from giving visas to suspected birth tourists .
Blackburn 's legislation intends to codify the administration 's policy into law , banning any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` for the primary purpose of obtaining United States citizenship for a child . ''
Prior to the Trump administration 's decree in January , no laws or regulations explicitly banned birth tourism in the United States .
The lack of regulation spawned a cottage industry of highly profitable birth tourism agencies , which charged as much as $ 100,000 to foreign mothers for their services .
The agencies offered a variety of services to expecting mothers—some of them outright illegal—that ranged from providing comfortable accommodations to coaching parents on how to commit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their stay .
`` Our nation ’ s citizenship is not for sale to those who pay to come here and give birth , '' Blackburn said in a statement .
`` Citizenship is for those who love our great country and want to contribute to and preserve freedom—not those parachuting in to obtain a second citizenship so they may come back whenever they please . ''
Immigration advocates often argue that the 14th Amendment enshrines birthright citizenship in the U.S. Constitution , as the amendment confers citizenship to `` all persons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and subject to the jurisdiction thereof . ''
While the current legal consensus largely accepts this interpretation , some legal scholars have argued that birthright citizenship is a `` fundamental misunderstanding of the 14th Amendment , '' as foreigners are subject to the laws of their home country rather than `` subject to the jurisdiction '' of the United States .
`` The fact that a tourist or illegal alien is subject to our laws and our courts if they violate our laws does not place them within the political ‘ jurisdiction ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was defined by the framers of the 14th Amendment , '' wrote Hans von Spakovsky , a former Justice Department official and senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation .
The bill is the latest in Republican efforts to exempt the children of foreign tourists from birthright citizenship .
In 2015 , then-senator David Vitter ( R. , La . )
introduced a law that would have limited birthright citizenship to the children of U.S. citizens , green card holders , and immigrants serving in the U.S. military .
Blackburn 's latest effort is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focusing on banning the birth tourism industry .
Blackburn 's law , however , would not apply to foreign mothers traveling to the United States `` seeking legitimate medical treatment relating to childbirth . ''
The true scale of the birth tourism industry in the United States remains unclear , but one analysis by the right-leaning Center for Immigration Studies concluded that between 20,000 and 26,000 birth tourists visit the United States every year .
The maternity hotels appear to be concentrated in a few cities such as Los Angeles and Miami , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian-American population .
While many maternity hotels are technically legal , the federal government has also started to crack down on birth tourism agencies , arresting their operators for immigration fraud , tax fraud , and marriage fraud .
Most recently , a California court sentenced a Chinese national to 37 months in prison on June 30 for operating a birth tourism agency that advertised a `` 100-person team '' to help expecting foreign mothers .
The defendant had already left for China .
Georgia senator Kelly Loeffler ( R. ) , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bill can help put and end to the decades-long abuse of the U.S. immigration system by birth tourists .
`` For decades , America has felt the repercussions of a failed , outdated immigration system that has rewarded those who abuse our nation ’ s compassion , '' she said .
`` The practice of foreign nationals traveling to the United States to secure automatic and permanent citizenship for their children by giving birth on American soil must end . ''

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.) introduced a new bill to outlaw birth tourism, a practice popular among wealthy foreigners who obtain American citizenship for their children by giving birth on U.S. soil while on vacation.
For decades, many wealthy Chinese and Russian parents have visited the United States on tourist visas to give birth in American hospitals. In January, the Trump administration issued new rules that prohibit U.S. embassies from giving visas to suspected birth tourists. Blackburn's legislation intends to codify the administration's policy into law, banning any non-immigrant foreigner from entering the United States "for the primary purpose of obtaining United States citizenship for a child."
Prior to the Trump administration's decree in January, no laws or regulations explicitly banned birth tourism in the United States. The lack of regulation spawned a cottage industry of highly profitable birth tourism agencies, which charged as much as $100,000 to foreign mothers for their services. The agencies offered a variety of services to expecting mothers—some of them outright illegal—that ranged from providing comfortable accommodations to coaching parents on how to commit visa fraud by lying about the reason for their stay.
"Our nation’s citizenship is not for sale to those who pay to come here and give birth," Blackburn said in a statement. "Citizenship is for those who love our great country and want to contribute to and preserve freedom—not those parachuting in to obtain a second citizenship so they may come back whenever they please."
Immigration advocates often argue that the 14th Amendment enshrines birthright citizenship in the U.S. Constitution, as the amendment confers citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof." While the current legal consensus largely accepts this interpretation, some legal scholars have argued that birthright citizenship is a "fundamental misunderstanding of the 14th Amendment," as foreigners are subject to the laws of their home country rather than "subject to the jurisdiction" of the United States.
"The fact that a tourist or illegal alien is subject to our laws and our courts if they violate our laws does not place them within the political 'jurisdiction' of the United States as that phrase was defined by the framers of the 14th Amendment," wrote Hans von Spakovsky, a former Justice Department official and senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation.
The bill is the latest in Republican efforts to exempt the children of foreign tourists from birthright citizenship. In 2015, then-senator David Vitter (R., La.) introduced a law that would have limited birthright citizenship to the children of U.S. citizens, green card holders, and immigrants serving in the U.S. military. Blackburn's latest effort is more targeted in its goal, specifically focusing on banning the birth tourism industry. Blackburn's law, however, would not apply to foreign mothers traveling to the United States "seeking legitimate medical treatment relating to childbirth."
The true scale of the birth tourism industry in the United States remains unclear, but one analysis by the right-leaning Center for Immigration Studies concluded that between 20,000 and 26,000 birth tourists visit the United States every year. The maternity hotels appear to be concentrated in a few cities such as Los Angeles and Miami, which respectively have a large Chinese-American and Russian-American population.
While many maternity hotels are technically legal, the federal government has also started to crack down on birth tourism agencies, arresting their operators for immigration fraud, tax fraud, and marriage fraud. Most recently, a California court sentenced a Chinese national to 37 months in prison on June 30 for operating a birth tourism agency that advertised a "100-person team" to help expecting foreign mothers. The defendant had already left for China.
Georgia senator Kelly Loeffler (R.), a cosponsor for the bill, said that the bill can help put and end to the decades-long abuse of the U.S. immigration system by birth tourists.
"For decades, America has felt the repercussions of a failed, outdated immigration system that has rewarded those who abuse our nation’s compassion," she said. "The practice of foreign nationals traveling to the United States to secure automatic and permanent citizenship for their children by giving birth on American soil must end."


freebeacon--2020-07-07--NC Dem Takes Millions From Coronavirus Program He Criticized

North Carolina Democratic Senate nominee Cal Cunningham 's company collected up to $ 2 million in taxpayer dollars in coronavirus relief even as the candidate said that the Paycheck Protection Program `` harms communities . ''
WasteZero , a Raleigh-based environmentalist trash service , obtained between $ 1 and $ 2 million in PPP funding on May 3 , data released by the Small Business Administration on Monday show .
Cunningham earned about $ 400,000 in 2019 in his role as the company 's general counsel and vice president .
He has repeatedly criticized the federal program , which aims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shutdowns .
Just two months after Senate Democrats blocked a Republican effort to bankroll the depleting fund in April , Cunningham called the program `` unacceptable , '' saying it `` harms communities . ''
`` For PPP loans to have ‘ generally missed the industries and areas most heavily impacted by COVID-19 ' is unacceptable , '' he said in a tweet .
`` Leaving behind small businesses—and disproportionately those that are Black- and Latino-owned—harms communities . ''
The former state legislator `` supports [ WasteZero 's ] outreach to municipal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ archive of the company 's website .
Cunningham also has stock options and a convertible note of up to $ 50,000 tied to the company , according to his candidate financial report .
Cunningham told reporters that he was still working for the company in February .
He has since been removed from WasteZero 's website and the company does not publicly acknowledge any legal representation on its site .
Neither Cunningham nor WasteZero responded to requests for comment about PPP or the candidate 's role in the company .
Cunningham 's lucrative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ career .
He launched his Senate bid in 2019 by loaning his campaign $ 200,000 before winning the Democratic primary in March with 57 percent of the vote .
Cunningham has also criticized the Trump administration for `` refusing to disclose which companies are getting the money . ''
`` Many small businesses , especially minority-owned businesses , are still waiting to receive funds , while the PPP ‘ sent money to companies that did not critically need financial aid , ' '' he said in a June press release .
Some conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have it both ways .
Terry Schilling , executive director of the American Principles Project , said that the wealthy Democrat is out of touch with voters and the suffering that small businesses have experienced during the pandemic .
`` This is just more hypocrisy from the left .
Cunningham obviously knew that the company he is involved in would benefit from this stimulus package , which passed with overwhelmingly bipartisan support , '' Schilling said .
`` North Carolina voters are going to see right through this . ''
WasteZero claims to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs .
Businesses are required to have fewer than 500 employees in order to qualify for PPP funds , and more than 122,000 loans were issued in the state as of June 30 , totaling more than $ 12.4 billion .
The waste elimination industry was deemed essential in North Carolina 's shutdown order .
Cunningham is running to unseat incumbent senator Thom Tillis ( R. , N.C. ) .
The North Carolina Republican has praised the PPP and co-introduced legislation in July to help small businesses see loans of $ 150,000 or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Program played a crucial role in supporting small businesses and saving jobs for hardworking North Carolinians , '' Tillis said in a statement .
`` I am proud to co-introduce this bipartisan legislation that will help small businesses save thousands of dollars by allowing forgiveness for their PPP loan and use those funds to help restart our economy . ''
Cunningham will face Tillis in November .
He was backed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in October 2019 and has benefited from more than $ 9.4 million in spending from outside groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign , the Democrat raised $ 7.4 million in the second quarter of 2020 and holds $ 6.6 million cash on hand .
Tillis has not yet reported his second-quarter fundraising numbers and held nearly $ 6.5 million on hand as of March 31 .
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report currently rates the race a `` toss up . ''

North Carolina Democratic Senate nominee Cal Cunningham's company collected up to $2 million in taxpayer dollars in coronavirus relief even as the candidate said that the Paycheck Protection Program "harms communities."
WasteZero, a Raleigh-based environmentalist trash service, obtained between $1 and $2 million in PPP funding on May 3, data released by the Small Business Administration on Monday show. Cunningham earned about $400,000 in 2019 in his role as the company's general counsel and vice president. He has repeatedly criticized the federal program, which aims to support small businesses struggling with coronavirus shutdowns. Just two months after Senate Democrats blocked a Republican effort to bankroll the depleting fund in April, Cunningham called the program "unacceptable," saying it "harms communities."
"For PPP loans to have 'generally missed the industries and areas most heavily impacted by COVID-19' is unacceptable," he said in a tweet. "Leaving behind small businesses—and disproportionately those that are Black- and Latino-owned—harms communities."
The former state legislator "supports [WasteZero's] outreach to municipal and state leaders," according to an archive of the company's website. Cunningham also has stock options and a convertible note of up to $50,000 tied to the company, according to his candidate financial report. Cunningham told reporters that he was still working for the company in February. He has since been removed from WasteZero's website and the company does not publicly acknowledge any legal representation on its site. Neither Cunningham nor WasteZero responded to requests for comment about PPP or the candidate's role in the company.
Cunningham's lucrative legal career has helped propel his political career. He launched his Senate bid in 2019 by loaning his campaign $200,000 before winning the Democratic primary in March with 57 percent of the vote. Cunningham has also criticized the Trump administration for "refusing to disclose which companies are getting the money."
"Many small businesses, especially minority-owned businesses, are still waiting to receive funds, while the PPP 'sent money to companies that did not critically need financial aid,'" he said in a June press release.
Some conservative activists said that Cunningham is trying to have it both ways. Terry Schilling, executive director of the American Principles Project, said that the wealthy Democrat is out of touch with voters and the suffering that small businesses have experienced during the pandemic.
"This is just more hypocrisy from the left. Cunningham obviously knew that the company he is involved in would benefit from this stimulus package, which passed with overwhelmingly bipartisan support," Schilling said. "North Carolina voters are going to see right through this."
WasteZero claims to have used the loan to retain 115 jobs. Businesses are required to have fewer than 500 employees in order to qualify for PPP funds, and more than 122,000 loans were issued in the state as of June 30, totaling more than $12.4 billion. The waste elimination industry was deemed essential in North Carolina's shutdown order.
Cunningham is running to unseat incumbent senator Thom Tillis (R., N.C.). The North Carolina Republican has praised the PPP and co-introduced legislation in July to help small businesses see loans of $150,000 or less forgiven.
"The Paycheck Protection Program played a crucial role in supporting small businesses and saving jobs for hardworking North Carolinians," Tillis said in a statement. "I am proud to co-introduce this bipartisan legislation that will help small businesses save thousands of dollars by allowing forgiveness for their PPP loan and use those funds to help restart our economy."
Cunningham will face Tillis in November. He was backed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in October 2019 and has benefited from more than $9.4 million in spending from outside groups supporting his candidacy. According to his campaign, the Democrat raised $7.4 million in the second quarter of 2020 and holds $6.6 million cash on hand. Tillis has not yet reported his second-quarter fundraising numbers and held nearly $6.5 million on hand as of March 31. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report currently rates the race a "toss up."


freebeacon--2020-07-08--Open Letter Endorsing Free Speech Sparks Civil War at Vox

Vox editor and cofounder Matthew Yglesias is drawing public backlash from colleagues after signing an open letter endorsing free speech and pushing back against the `` stifling atmosphere '' in some corners of the media .
Vox critic at large Emily VanDerWerff tweeted a letter she said she had sent to Vox editors stating that Yglesias 's decision to sign the letter—which she said was also signed by several `` anti-trans '' critics—made her feel `` less safe '' at the publication .
`` The letter , signed as it is by several prominent anti-trans voices and containing as many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does , ideally would not have been signed by anybody at Vox , much less one of the most prominent people at our publication , '' she wrote .
VanDerWerff 's criticism is indicative of a growing movement among journalists to replace objectivity in reporting with progressive values .
The most prominent flashpoint in this debate occurred when New York Times opinion editor James Bennet resigned after employees said publishing an op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton ( R. , Ark . )
put black staffers `` in danger . ''
`` A Letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published in Harper 's Magazine , denounced the `` intolerant climate '' in media and advocated for `` the possibility of good-faith disagreement '' without fear of professional retribution .
The letter was signed by left-wing figures such as Noam Chomsky , New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg , and The Handmaid 's Tale author Margaret Atwood .
The main point of the letter was to support the free exchange of ideas and push back on retribution in response to `` perceived transgressions of speech and thought . ''
`` The way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argument , and persuasion , not by trying to silence or wish them away , '' the letter stated .
`` As writers we need a culture that leaves us room for experimentation , risk taking , and even mistakes . ''
Others at Vox voiced their support for VanDerWerff .
Katelyn Burns , a political reporter at the site , said she took issue with many of the signatories ' `` anti-trans '' stances and argued the letter 's text was aimed at transgender critics .
`` The sheer number of signatories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the anti-trans side is astounding .
I read many of the references to specific gripes in the letter 's text as specifically directed at trans critics , '' she wrote .
Vox engagement editor Nisha Chittal wrote that the letter was from `` a bunch of mostly white people with platforms at prestigious media outlets complaining that minorities are silencing them . ''
Former Vox video producer Carlos Maza also noted disapprovingly that he was not surprised about Yglesias 's signature on the letter .
But Vox senior correspondent German Lopez defended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reaction to it proves its point .
Jennifer Williams , Vox ‘ s senior foreign editor , also threw her support behind the content of the letter , saying it aligns with `` what I personally see happening in the media and public discourse . ''
Vox did not respond to a request for comment on the controversy .

Vox editor and cofounder Matthew Yglesias is drawing public backlash from colleagues after signing an open letter endorsing free speech and pushing back against the "stifling atmosphere" in some corners of the media.
Vox critic at large Emily VanDerWerff tweeted a letter she said she had sent to Vox editors stating that Yglesias's decision to sign the letter—which she said was also signed by several "anti-trans" critics—made her feel "less safe" at the publication.
"The letter, signed as it is by several prominent anti-trans voices and containing as many dog whistles toward anti-trans positions as it does, ideally would not have been signed by anybody at Vox, much less one of the most prominent people at our publication," she wrote.
https://twitter.com/emilyvdw/status/1280580388495097856
VanDerWerff's criticism is indicative of a growing movement among journalists to replace objectivity in reporting with progressive values. The most prominent flashpoint in this debate occurred when New York Times opinion editor James Bennet resigned after employees said publishing an op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) put black staffers "in danger."
"A Letter on Open Justice and Debate," published in Harper's Magazine, denounced the "intolerant climate" in media and advocated for "the possibility of good-faith disagreement" without fear of professional retribution. The letter was signed by left-wing figures such as Noam Chomsky, New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg, and The Handmaid's Tale author Margaret Atwood. The main point of the letter was to support the free exchange of ideas and push back on retribution in response to "perceived transgressions of speech and thought."
"The way to defeat bad ideas is by exposure, argument, and persuasion, not by trying to silence or wish them away," the letter stated. "As writers we need a culture that leaves us room for experimentation, risk taking, and even mistakes."
Others at Vox voiced their support for VanDerWerff. Katelyn Burns, a political reporter at the site, said she took issue with many of the signatories' "anti-trans" stances and argued the letter's text was aimed at transgender critics.
"The sheer number of signatories who have waded into the transgender debate on the anti-trans side is astounding. I read many of the references to specific gripes in the letter's text as specifically directed at trans critics," she wrote.
Vox engagement editor Nisha Chittal wrote that the letter was from "a bunch of mostly white people with platforms at prestigious media outlets complaining that minorities are silencing them." Former Vox video producer Carlos Maza also noted disapprovingly that he was not surprised about Yglesias's signature on the letter.
But Vox senior correspondent German Lopez defended the letter by saying that the heated reaction to it proves its point.
https://twitter.com/germanrlopez/status/1280583891011735552?s=20
Jennifer Williams, Vox's senior foreign editor, also threw her support behind the content of the letter, saying it aligns with "what I personally see happening in the media and public discourse."
Vox did not respond to a request for comment on the controversy.


freebeacon--2020-07-07--Want to Know ‘What The Police Really Believe’? Don’t Read Vox

Vox has published an explainer on `` What The Police Really Believe . ''
It purports to take the reader `` inside the distinctive , largely unknown ideology of American policing—and how it justifies racist violence '' and paint a `` deeply disturbing picture of the internal culture of policing . ''
In order to adequately explain the secret racial-violence-justifying ideology of America 's cops , senior correspondent Zack Beauchamp interviewed `` more than a dozen former officers and experts on policing . ''
It is unclear how many experts Beauchamp consulted before claiming that Gaza and the West Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ten people are quoted in the explainer on `` police ideology . ''
As you might expect , the roster is light on `` former officers '' and heavy on so-called `` experts on policing . ''
All but one of the interview subjects are university professors , who are renowned for their dispassionate rejection of political ideology and steadfast devotion to the facts .
Two former officers , Arthur Rizer and Peter Moskos , provide anecdotes and commentary .
The former is currently a senior fellow at the R Street Institute , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the author of In Defense of Flogging .
Four of the interview subjects are affiliated with Yale University 's Justice Collaboratory , a network of criminal justice scholars dedicated to combating `` persistent inequality '' and creating `` new models for understanding bias '' : • Tracey Meares , law professor and founding director of the Justice Collaboratory • Michael Sierra-Arevalo , incoming assistant professor of criminal justice at the University of Texas at Austin • Phillip Atiba Goff , professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and CEO of the Center for Policing Equity • Vesla Weaver , Bloomberg Distinguished Associate Professor of political science and sociology at Johns Hopkins University The remaining experts on police ideology are as follows : • Eugene Paoline III , criminologist at the University of Central Florida • Shannon Portillo , `` scholar of bureaucratic culture '' at the University of Kansas-Edwards Several paragraphs in , Beauchamp admits that `` the beliefs that define police ideology are neither universally shared among officers nor evenly distributed across departments '' and that `` speaking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do a disservice to the many officers who try to serve with care and kindness . ''
Well , sure , apart from the blanket claim that a Vox writer who talks to some university professors can explain `` what police really believe , '' which makes for a good headline .
Or that `` Police officers today tend to see themselves as engaged in a lonely , armed struggle against the criminal element . ''
And so on .
At the same time , perhaps we can draw sweeping conclusions , since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , male , and straight .
Federal Election Commission data from the 2020 cycle suggests that police heavily favor Republicans .
And it is indisputable that there are commonly held beliefs among officers . ''
And who better to help ordinary non-experts understand these commonly held beliefs than members of two of the least ideologically diverse professions in the country ?

Vox has published an explainer on "What The Police Really Believe." It purports to take the reader "inside the distinctive, largely unknown ideology of American policing—and how it justifies racist violence" and paint a "deeply disturbing picture of the internal culture of policing."
In order to adequately explain the secret racial-violence-justifying ideology of America's cops, senior correspondent Zack Beauchamp interviewed "more than a dozen former officers and experts on policing." It is unclear how many experts Beauchamp consulted before claiming that Gaza and the West Bank were connected by a massive bridge.
Ten people are quoted in the explainer on "police ideology." As you might expect, the roster is light on "former officers" and heavy on so-called "experts on policing." All but one of the interview subjects are university professors, who are renowned for their dispassionate rejection of political ideology and steadfast devotion to the facts.
Two former officers, Arthur Rizer and Peter Moskos, provide anecdotes and commentary. The former is currently a senior fellow at the R Street Institute, a D.C. think tank. The latter is an associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the author of In Defense of Flogging.
Four of the interview subjects are affiliated with Yale University's Justice Collaboratory, a network of criminal justice scholars dedicated to combating "persistent inequality" and creating "new models for understanding bias":
Tracey Meares, law professor and founding director of the Justice Collaboratory
Michael Sierra-Arevalo, incoming assistant professor of criminal justice at the University of Texas at Austin
Phillip Atiba Goff, professor of policing equity at John Jay College and CEO of the Center for Policing Equity
Vesla Weaver, Bloomberg Distinguished Associate Professor of political science and sociology at Johns Hopkins University
The remaining experts on police ideology are as follows:
Eugene Paoline III, criminologist at the University of Central Florida
Laurence Ralph, professor of anthropology at Princeton
Peter Kraska, professor of justice studies at Eastern Kentucky University
Shannon Portillo, "scholar of bureaucratic culture" at the University of Kansas-Edwards
Several paragraphs in, Beauchamp admits that "the beliefs that define police ideology are neither universally shared among officers nor evenly distributed across departments" and that "speaking about such a group in blanket terms would do a disservice to the many officers who try to serve with care and kindness."
Well, sure, apart from the blanket claim that a Vox writer who talks to some university professors can explain "what police really believe," which makes for a good headline. Or that "Police officers today tend to see themselves as engaged in a lonely, armed struggle against the criminal element." And so on.
At the same time, perhaps we can draw sweeping conclusions, since "the officer corps remains overwhelmingly white, male, and straight. Federal Election Commission data from the 2020 cycle suggests that police heavily favor Republicans. And it is indisputable that there are commonly held beliefs among officers."
And who better to help ordinary non-experts understand these commonly held beliefs than members of two of the least ideologically diverse professions in the country?


freebeacon--2020-07-07--History Is Whatever The New York Times Wants It To Be

The New York Times published a flurry of articles in June celebrating pride month with a particular focus on transgender women of color .
Some of the reporting , however , suggested that history and facts do n't really matter when it comes to atoning for the `` erasure '' of marginalized groups .
Take , for example , the notion that Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were prominent transgender activists who led the Stonewall Riots , a seminal event in the history of the gay rights movement .
The two are being honored with a statue in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world—for the leading roles they allegedly played at Stonewall .
That notion came up in a recent Times article on the efforts of trans women of color to `` [ share ] fully in the gains of racial justice [ and ] L.G.B.T.Q .
activism . ''
The article initially stated that `` Transgender women of color led the uprising at the Stonewall Inn . ''
It has since been edited—without explanation—and now reads : `` Transgender women of color were leaders in L.G.B.T.Q .
activism before , during and after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago . ''
The article still asserts , however , that Johnson and Rivera `` were key figures in the Stonewall uprising . ''
A separate Times piece honoring pride month also asserted that `` the Stonewall liberation was led by trans women of color , including Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera , two activists whom city officials decided last year to honor with a monument . ''
Journalist Andrew Sullivan , who is gay , denounced the claim as `` patently untrue '' and asked whether the Times employed fact-checkers or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ was ] more important that reality . ''
Who is right ?
When it comes to the specific claim that Johnson and Rivera were `` key figures '' in the Stonewall uprising , historians do n't really know for sure .
Numerous accounts cast doubt , however , on the prevailing narrative that Johnson and Rivera were among the first to physically confront the NYPD officers attempting to raid the Greenwich Village bar , throwing the first brick or Molotov cocktail .
By one account , Rivera was passed out on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night of the uprising .
Chrysanthemum Tran , a queer and transgender Vietnamese-American poet , attempted to set the record straight in a 2018 article published in them , which pointed out that according to their own accounts , Johnson and Rivera were not on the front lines of the uprising : In addition to crediting Marsha P. Johnson with throwing the brick that started it all , historical accounts often cite Sylvia Rivera as the person who started the Stonewall riots .
But it 's critical that we listen to the words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how they contextualize themselves within history .
Both Johnson and Rivera denied being the first to fight back against the police during the uprising .
In an interview from the 1970s where Johnson recalls the events of the historic night , she confirms `` the riots had already started '' by the time she arrived at the bar .
Similarly , Rivera delivered a speech in 2001 , clarifying , `` I have been given the credit for throwing the first Molotov cocktail by many historians but I always like to correct it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I did not throw the first one ! ''
These personal accounts are further complicated by Miss Major Griffin-Gracy , who said that she did not see either Johnson or Rivera on the first night of the riots .
Judging by the lengthy editor 's note appended to Tran 's piece , the article sparked considerable backlash for daring to question a popular narrative .
The editors apologized for the original headline , `` It Does n't Matter Who Threw the First Brick at Stonewall , '' which was `` flawed , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ erase the contributions of those who were [ at Stonewall ] , including Sylvia Rivera [ and ] Marsha P .
Johnson . ''
Sullivan 's suggestion that prominent publications such as the Times tend to view `` narrative '' as more important than reality certainly is n't a baseless one , given how many journalists have become increasingly antagonistic toward the concept of `` objectivity . ''
On a separate but not entirely unrelated note , one of the authors of the stealthily edited Times report , Isabella Grullón Paz , honored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death in her college newspaper in 2017 .
In that article , she noted that Che 's life could serve as an inspiration to those seeking `` a betterment of human rights . ''
At the risk of challenging a popular narrative , Che was in fact a racist murderer who put gay people into concentration camps .
Sometimes the narrative wins , which is why you can purchase an array of `` LGBT pride '' apparel with Che 's face on it on Amazon .
Just what the socialist revolutionary would have @ @

The New York Times published a flurry of articles in June celebrating pride month with a particular focus on transgender women of color. Some of the reporting, however, suggested that history and facts don't really matter when it comes to atoning for the "erasure" of marginalized groups.
Take, for example, the notion that Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were prominent transgender activists who led the Stonewall Riots, a seminal event in the history of the gay rights movement. The two are being honored with a statue in New York City—among the first such monuments in the world—for the leading roles they allegedly played at Stonewall.
That notion came up in a recent Times article on the efforts of trans women of color to "[share] fully in the gains of racial justice [and] L.G.B.T.Q. activism." The article initially stated that "Transgender women of color led the uprising at the Stonewall Inn." It has since been edited—without explanation—and now reads: "Transgender women of color were leaders in L.G.B.T.Q. activism before, during and after the uprising at the Stonewall Inn 51 years ago." The article still asserts, however, that Johnson and Rivera "were key figures in the Stonewall uprising."
A separate Times piece honoring pride month also asserted that "the Stonewall liberation was led by trans women of color, including Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, two activists whom city officials decided last year to honor with a monument." Journalist Andrew Sullivan, who is gay, denounced the claim as "patently untrue" and asked whether the Times employed fact-checkers or simply believed that "'narrative' [was] more important that reality."
Who is right? When it comes to the specific claim that Johnson and Rivera were "key figures" in the Stonewall uprising, historians don't really know for sure. Numerous accounts cast doubt, however, on the prevailing narrative that Johnson and Rivera were among the first to physically confront the NYPD officers attempting to raid the Greenwich Village bar, throwing the first brick or Molotov cocktail. By one account, Rivera was passed out on a park bench after taking heroin the first night of the uprising.
Chrysanthemum Tran, a queer and transgender Vietnamese-American poet, attempted to set the record straight in a 2018 article published in them, which pointed out that according to their own accounts, Johnson and Rivera were not on the front lines of the uprising:
In addition to crediting Marsha P. Johnson with throwing the brick that started it all, historical accounts often cite Sylvia Rivera as the person who started the Stonewall riots. But it's critical that we listen to the words of Stonewall's vanguard activists, and how they contextualize themselves within history. Both Johnson and Rivera denied being the first to fight back against the police during the uprising. In an interview from the 1970s where Johnson recalls the events of the historic night, she confirms "the riots had already started" by the time she arrived at the bar. Similarly, Rivera delivered a speech in 2001, clarifying, "I have been given the credit for throwing the first Molotov cocktail by many historians but I always like to correct it. I threw the second one, I did not throw the first one!" These personal accounts are further complicated by Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, who said that she did not see either Johnson or Rivera on the first night of the riots.
Judging by the lengthy editor's note appended to Tran's piece, the article sparked considerable backlash for daring to question a popular narrative. The editors apologized for the original headline, "It Doesn't Matter Who Threw the First Brick at Stonewall," which was "flawed," saying they did not intend "to erase the contributions of those who were [at Stonewall], including Sylvia Rivera [and] Marsha P. Johnson."
Sullivan's suggestion that prominent publications such as the Times tend to view "narrative" as more important than reality certainly isn't a baseless one, given how many journalists have become increasingly antagonistic toward the concept of "objectivity."
On a separate but not entirely unrelated note, one of the authors of the stealthily edited Times report, Isabella Grullón Paz, honored the 50th anniversary of Che Guevara's death in her college newspaper in 2017. In that article, she noted that Che's life could serve as an inspiration to those seeking "a betterment of human rights."
At the risk of challenging a popular narrative, Che was in fact a racist murderer who put gay people into concentration camps. Sometimes the narrative wins, which is why you can purchase an array of "LGBT pride" apparel with Che's face on it on Amazon. Just what the socialist revolutionary would have wanted.


freebeacon--2020-07-07--No Don Lemon, Black Lives Matter Isn’t Just About Police Brutality and Criminal Justice

CNN host Don Lemon on Monday night told actor Terry Crews that the Black Lives Matter movement was solely concerned with police reform and criminal justice , but the group 's leaders have repeatedly called for radical social upheaval .
Crews has expressed misgivings about Black Lives Matter , praising the mantra itself but saying people should pay attention to the organization 's radical politics .
The left-leaning Lemon told the actor on his program `` Black Lives Matter is about police brutality and injustice . ''
However , the movement 's founders , activists , and supporters have said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left-wing policies .
Its online 2020 platform calls for a focus on `` Black immigration , economic injustice , LGBTQIA+ and human rights , environmental injustice , access to healthcare , access to quality education , and voting rights and suppression , '' in addition to police brutality and criminal justice reform .
Black Lives Matter cofounder Patrisse Cullors said in 2015 the group had an `` ideological frame '' and she and her partners were `` trained Marxists . ''
Fellow cofounder Alicia Garza told MSNBC in 2016 Black Lives Matter was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in policing '' but instead the wider fabric of society .
Greater New York Black Lives Matter activist Hawk Newsome told VICE last month that his goal was for black Americans to control their schools , communities , and economics , saying it was about equity of opportunity , not equality .
However , he later told Fox News that `` if this country does n't give us what we want , then we will burn down this system and replace it . ''
When Crews pointed out the organization did not simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he agreed but also added , `` That 's not what the Black Lives Matter movement is about , Terry .
Black Lives Matter is about police brutality and about criminal justice . ''

CNN host Don Lemon on Monday night told actor Terry Crews that the Black Lives Matter movement was solely concerned with police reform and criminal justice, but the group's leaders have repeatedly called for radical social upheaval.
Crews has expressed misgivings about Black Lives Matter, praising the mantra itself but saying people should pay attention to the organization's radical politics. The left-leaning Lemon told the actor on his program "Black Lives Matter is about police brutality and injustice."
However, the movement's founders, activists, and supporters have said it stands for a broad variety of left-wing policies. Its online 2020 platform calls for a focus on "Black immigration, economic injustice, LGBTQIA+ and human rights, environmental injustice, access to healthcare, access to quality education, and voting rights and suppression," in addition to police brutality and criminal justice reform.
Black Lives Matter cofounder Patrisse Cullors said in 2015 the group had an "ideological frame" and she and her partners were "trained Marxists." Fellow cofounder Alicia Garza told MSNBC in 2016 Black Lives Matter was "not just concerned with what happens in policing" but instead the wider fabric of society.
Greater New York Black Lives Matter activist Hawk Newsome told VICE last month that his goal was for black Americans to control their schools, communities, and economics, saying it was about equity of opportunity, not equality. However, he later told Fox News that "if this country doesn't give us what we want, then we will burn down this system and replace it."
When Crews pointed out the organization did not simply talk about police reform, Lemon said he agreed but also added, "That's not what the Black Lives Matter movement is about, Terry. Black Lives Matter is about police brutality and about criminal justice."


freebeacon--2020-07-07--Texas Democrat Takes PPP Small Business Loan for House Campaign

A Democratic House candidate took thousands of dollars in loans for her campaign from the federal Paycheck Protection Program , the Texas Tribune reports .
The campaign of Christine Eady Mann , a Democratic candidate for Congress running in Texas 's 31st district , received $ 28,600 in May from the PPP , a federal program designed to help small businesses .
Mann ’ s campaign said it used the loan to offset `` challenging '' fundraising numbers .
The campaign repaid the loan in full six weeks later .
Though multiple state Democratic parties have received PPP funding , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the earliest—if not the first—campaigns to receive direct PPP funding .
`` It 's not necessarily unlawful but it 's perhaps politically inadvisable , '' said Brendan Fischer , director of the Federal Reform Program at the Campaign Legal Center , a campaign finance watchdog group .
Mann will face fellow Democrat Donna Imam in a congressional primary July 14 , with early voting already underway .
Imam criticized her opponent 's decision to take PPP funds .
`` Many small businesses in my district have been forced to close down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I reached out to family-owned restaurants in Killeen , they were completely unaware of the Paycheck Protection Program , '' she said .
`` When many of these minority owned businesses tried to get help , they were told by their banks that the money had run out . ''
The winner of the primary will face incumbent representative John Carter ( R. ) in November .
Rasmussen Reports ’ s `` Crystal Ball '' average lists the district as `` likely Republican . ''

A Democratic House candidate took thousands of dollars in loans for her campaign from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, the Texas Tribune reports.
The campaign of Christine Eady Mann, a Democratic candidate for Congress running in Texas's 31st district, received $28,600 in May from the PPP, a federal program designed to help small businesses. Mann’s campaign said it used the loan to offset "challenging" fundraising numbers. The campaign repaid the loan in full six weeks later.
Though multiple state Democratic parties have received PPP funding, one expert said Mann’s was one of the earliest—if not the first—campaigns to receive direct PPP funding. "It's not necessarily unlawful but it's perhaps politically inadvisable," said Brendan Fischer, director of the Federal Reform Program at the Campaign Legal Center, a campaign finance watchdog group.
Mann will face fellow Democrat Donna Imam in a congressional primary July 14, with early voting already underway.
Imam criticized her opponent's decision to take PPP funds. "Many small businesses in my district have been forced to close down permanently due to the pandemic. When I reached out to family-owned restaurants in Killeen, they were completely unaware of the Paycheck Protection Program," she said. "When many of these minority owned businesses tried to get help, they were told by their banks that the money had run out."
The winner of the primary will face incumbent representative John Carter (R.) in November. Rasmussen Reports’s "Crystal Ball" average lists the district as "likely Republican."


freebeacon--2020-07-07--House Dems Look to Resurrect Harmful Obama-Era Labor Regulation

House Democrats are pushing to resurrect an Obama-era regulation that could harm U.S. businesses working to recover from the coronavirus pandemic .
The Trump administration in 2019 rolled back an Obama administration regulation that held parent companies responsible for labor violations committed by franchisees or contractors—otherwise known as the `` joint employer standard . ''
House Democrats , led by Rep. Rosa DeLauro ( D. , Conn. ) , are attempting to bring that regulation back .
DeLauro inserted language into a recent Labor Department funding bill that bars the use of funds `` to implement or enforce , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration 's joint employer status regulations .
If passed , the move could harm franchise businesses during a time of economic uncertainty , Rep. Virginia Foxx ( R. , N.C. ) told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` The Obama administration 's overly broad and confusing joint employer guidance deprived millions of Americans of entrepreneurial opportunities , '' Foxx , the ranking member of the House Committee on Education and Labor , said .
`` If successful , this ploy from the Democrats will be bad news for everyone who hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American dream . ''
An International Franchise Association ( IFA ) study found that the Obama administration 's approach led to the loss of 375,000 jobs at an economic cost of $ 33.3 billion even as the country emerged from the Great Recession .
IFA senior vice president Matthew Haller told the Free Beacon that reintroducing the regulation could prove a fatal blow to many franchise businesses that are only now emerging from pandemic shutdowns .
`` America 's 730,000 franchise businesses have been serving as modern-day ‘ Good Samaritans ' ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caring for the sick , elderly and vulnerable , and providing groceries , hardware , supplies and other critical products and services throughout the pandemic , '' Haller said .
`` Given the historic response by Congress and the Administration to keep the economy afloat right now , it would be devastating to have these same small franchise employers face costly new regulations at a time of economic uncertainty for small businesses and their employees . ''
DeLauro did not respond to a request for comment .
DeLauro 's provision also comes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Employees International Union and other labor groups have long targeted franchise establishments for unionization .
The business model provides numerous obstacles for organizers .
Franchisees are generally small business owners who pay fees to corporations to operate under the national brand , forcing unions to organize on a store-by-store basis .
The Obama administration standard , however , would allow labor groups to organize at the corporate level and capture dues from millions of employees in the industry .
House Democrats first unveiled the funding bill on Monday .
The House Appropriations Subcommittee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Education and Related Agencies—which DeLauro chairs—will consider the proposal Tuesday .

House Democrats are pushing to resurrect an Obama-era regulation that could harm U.S. businesses working to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
The Trump administration in 2019 rolled back an Obama administration regulation that held parent companies responsible for labor violations committed by franchisees or contractors—otherwise known as the "joint employer standard." House Democrats, led by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D., Conn.), are attempting to bring that regulation back.
DeLauro inserted language into a recent Labor Department funding bill that bars the use of funds "to implement or enforce, or take any actions in furtherance of" the Trump administration's joint employer status regulations. If passed, the move could harm franchise businesses during a time of economic uncertainty, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R., N.C.) told the Washington Free Beacon.
"The Obama administration's overly broad and confusing joint employer guidance deprived millions of Americans of entrepreneurial opportunities," Foxx, the ranking member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, said. "If successful, this ploy from the Democrats will be bad news for everyone who hopes to own a small business and pursue the American dream."
An International Franchise Association (IFA) study found that the Obama administration's approach led to the loss of 375,000 jobs at an economic cost of $33.3 billion even as the country emerged from the Great Recession. IFA senior vice president Matthew Haller told the Free Beacon that reintroducing the regulation could prove a fatal blow to many franchise businesses that are only now emerging from pandemic shutdowns.
"America's 730,000 franchise businesses have been serving as modern-day 'Good Samaritans'; feeding essential workers, sanitizing businesses, caring for the sick, elderly and vulnerable, and providing groceries, hardware, supplies and other critical products and services throughout the pandemic," Haller said. "Given the historic response by Congress and the Administration to keep the economy afloat right now, it would be devastating to have these same small franchise employers face costly new regulations at a time of economic uncertainty for small businesses and their employees."
DeLauro did not respond to a request for comment.
DeLauro's provision also comes as a boost to big labor. Service Employees International Union and other labor groups have long targeted franchise establishments for unionization. The business model provides numerous obstacles for organizers. Franchisees are generally small business owners who pay fees to corporations to operate under the national brand, forcing unions to organize on a store-by-store basis. The Obama administration standard, however, would allow labor groups to organize at the corporate level and capture dues from millions of employees in the industry.
House Democrats first unveiled the funding bill on Monday. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies—which DeLauro chairs—will consider the proposal Tuesday.


freebeacon--2020-07-07--Progressive Firm Linked to AOC, Shaun King Took Hundreds of Thousands in PPP Cash

A progressive political consulting firm that receives large payments from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 's ( D. , N.Y. ) reelection campaign and activist Shaun King 's PAC raked in hundreds of thousands in taxpayer money meant to help small businesses .
New data show that between $ 350,000 and $ 1 million flowed from the Paycheck Protection Program , a federal program created to help small businesses cope with the economic downturn caused by coronavirus , to Middle Seat Consulting , a Washington , D.C.-based digital firm that provides services to far-left Democrats .
Just 13.5 percent of companies received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program , putting Middle Seat among the upper echelon of recipients .
The liberal consulting firm applied for and took the loan despite already receiving large sums from Ocasio-Cortez 's campaign , King 's Real Justice PAC , and other liberal groups .
Middle Seat has raised more than $ 9 million from other left-wing committees this election cycle .
Its receipt of up to $ 1 million in taxpayer cash could raise concerns among political watchdogs that the firm—along with other liberal activist groups , legal firms , and companies linked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have gone to struggling small businesses .
The consulting firm is Ocasio-Cortez 's top 2020 campaign vendor .
So far this cycle , the Democrat 's campaign committee has dished out more than $ 875,000 to Middle Seat for email lists , ad commission , and consulting , Federal Election Commission records show .
King 's Real Justice PAC , which works to elect far-left district attorney candidates , has provided more than $ 270,000 to the group .
During the 2018 cycle , Real Justice paid another $ 354,000 to Middle Seat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the PAC 's original leaders .
Justice Democrats , the progressive group that propelled Ocasio-Cortez into office , has also paid Middle Seat six-figure sums .
Justice Democrats PAC has paid Middle Seat $ 540,000 this election cycle for digital advertising and fundraising consulting .
The group was started by another Middle Seat cofounder , Zack Exley , among others .
Middle Seat was created by former members of Sen. Bernie Sanders 's ( I. , Vt. ) 2016 presidential campaign to back efforts dealing with `` racial justice , climate action , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice , and more . ''
Middle Seat did not respond to a request for comment on the PPP loan .

A progressive political consulting firm that receives large payments from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D., N.Y.) reelection campaign and activist Shaun King's PAC raked in hundreds of thousands in taxpayer money meant to help small businesses.
New data show that between $350,000 and $1 million flowed from the Paycheck Protection Program, a federal program created to help small businesses cope with the economic downturn caused by coronavirus, to Middle Seat Consulting, a Washington, D.C.-based digital firm that provides services to far-left Democrats. Just 13.5 percent of companies received more than $150,000 from the PPP program, putting Middle Seat among the upper echelon of recipients.
The liberal consulting firm applied for and took the loan despite already receiving large sums from Ocasio-Cortez's campaign, King's Real Justice PAC, and other liberal groups. Middle Seat has raised more than $9 million from other left-wing committees this election cycle. Its receipt of up to $1 million in taxpayer cash could raise concerns among political watchdogs that the firm—along with other liberal activist groups, legal firms, and companies linked to Democratic politicians—took government loans that could instead have gone to struggling small businesses.
The consulting firm is Ocasio-Cortez's top 2020 campaign vendor. So far this cycle, the Democrat's campaign committee has dished out more than $875,000 to Middle Seat for email lists, ad commission, and consulting, Federal Election Commission records show.
King's Real Justice PAC, which works to elect far-left district attorney candidates, has provided more than $270,000 to the group. During the 2018 cycle, Real Justice paid another $354,000 to Middle Seat, which was cofounded by one of the PAC's original leaders.
Justice Democrats, the progressive group that propelled Ocasio-Cortez into office, has also paid Middle Seat six-figure sums. Justice Democrats PAC has paid Middle Seat $540,000 this election cycle for digital advertising and fundraising consulting. The group was started by another Middle Seat cofounder, Zack Exley, among others.
Middle Seat was created by former members of Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I., Vt.) 2016 presidential campaign to back efforts dealing with "racial justice, climate action, immigrant rights, intersectional feminism, economic justice, and more."
Middle Seat did not respond to a request for comment on the PPP loan.


The BDS Democrats

Last week , the Washington Free Beacon ’ s Adam Kredo broke a small but important story : While circulating a letter among Democrats that threatens Israel with the elimination of military aid , Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) touted the support of leading anti-Semitic groups that push for boycotts of Israel .
At the time she was circulating it , the letter had yet to be made public .
This means Rep. Ocasio-Cortez intentionally sought endorsements for her letter from some of the most poisonous and extreme groups on the far left , including American Muslims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions movement that celebrates Hamas , and Defense for Children International Palestine , which is credibly seen as an nongovernmental organization front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine , a U.S.- and European Union-designated terrorist group .
This rogue 's gallery of hate and violence merchants aren ’ t groups that just happened to support Ocasio-Cortez ’ s letter—they are the groups she sought out .
The letter was signed by a dozen House Democrats plus Senator Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' and numerous human rights crimes and threatens the elimination of U.S. military aid if Israel applies sovereignty to parts of the disputed West Bank , which it is currently considering .
`` Should the Israeli government continue down this path , we will … pursue legislation that conditions the $ 3.8 billion in U.S. military funding to Israel , '' Ocasio-Cortez writes .
Made clear is that the prospect of Israel applying sovereignty is merely one of many alleged misdeeds that could be cited—and surely will be cited—as a pretext for sanctioning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package , most of which takes the form of a credit that Israel must spend in the United States , forms the bedrock of a strategic alliance between the two countries that dates back to the Yom Kippur War in 1973 .
That alliance , which benefits the United States in the form of military technology , intelligence sharing , and regional stability , has always been treated as separate from the Palestinians or the peace process .
The Democratic signatories to the letter are thus advocating a massive and historic downgrade of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palestinians or , more precisely , by subordinating it to the extensive demands American progressives make on behalf of the Palestinians .
But whereas the old , crude style of BDS simply called for economic and diplomatic warfare against Israel , the new sophisticated progressive strategy is to normalize BDS and build a congressional coalition to support it .
This time , BDS advocacy is couched in earnest-sounding but utterly dishonest policy concerns .
Today ’ s anti-Israel progressive activism bears a striking resemblance in strategy and rhetoric to anti-western Soviet propaganda during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fall of the Berlin Wall , Jeane Kirkpatrick , famed Reagan adviser and ambassador to the United Nations , noted that the Soviet Union had perfected a cynical messaging strategy targeted at western liberals : Kirkpatrick perfectly describes progressive attacks on Israel today .
We see the denial of legitimacy to the targeted government : The use of `` apartheid '' to describe Israel appears three times in the letter .
We see the excuse-making for terrorism : It is a legitimate response to Israel ’ s oppression of the Palestinians .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as human rights violations : The phrase `` human rights '' appears in seven of the letter ’ s eight paragraphs , in every instance a condemnation of Israel .
We even see the acceptance by western liberals of `` human rights '' rhetoric at face value : How many Democrats criticized the letter ’ s dishonesty or the eagerness of progressives to gain the endorsement of anti-Semites ?
None .
With this letter , Democrats have taken an important step toward normalizing BDS within their party .
At the 1984 Republican National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusing Democrats , trending leftward and increasingly accommodating of Soviet expansion , of being the `` San Francisco Democrats . ''
If mainstream Democrats do not find the nerve to confront the obsessive hatred many progressives feel toward Israel , which has now been translated into a policy agenda , there soon may be a speech at a Republican convention referring—credibly—to the BDS Democrats .

Last week, the Washington Free Beacon’s Adam Kredo broke a small but important story: While circulating a letter among Democrats that threatens Israel with the elimination of military aid, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) touted the support of leading anti-Semitic groups that push for boycotts of Israel. At the time she was circulating it, the letter had yet to be made public.
This means Rep. Ocasio-Cortez intentionally sought endorsements for her letter from some of the most poisonous and extreme groups on the far left, including American Muslims for Palestine, a leader of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement that celebrates Hamas, and Defense for Children International Palestine, which is credibly seen as an nongovernmental organization front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a U.S.- and European Union-designated terrorist group. This rogue's gallery of hate and violence merchants aren’t groups that just happened to support Ocasio-Cortez’s letter—they are the groups she sought out.
The letter was signed by a dozen House Democrats plus Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.). It falsely accuses Israel of "apartheid" and numerous human rights crimes and threatens the elimination of U.S. military aid if Israel applies sovereignty to parts of the disputed West Bank, which it is currently considering. "Should the Israeli government continue down this path, we will … pursue legislation that conditions the $3.8 billion in U.S. military funding to Israel," Ocasio-Cortez writes. Made clear is that the prospect of Israel applying sovereignty is merely one of many alleged misdeeds that could be cited—and surely will be cited—as a pretext for sanctioning the Jewish state.
The military assistance package, most of which takes the form of a credit that Israel must spend in the United States, forms the bedrock of a strategic alliance between the two countries that dates back to the Yom Kippur War in 1973. That alliance, which benefits the United States in the form of military technology, intelligence sharing, and regional stability, has always been treated as separate from the Palestinians or the peace process.
The Democratic signatories to the letter are thus advocating a massive and historic downgrade of the alliance by subordinating it to the Palestinians or, more precisely, by subordinating it to the extensive demands American progressives make on behalf of the Palestinians.
But whereas the old, crude style of BDS simply called for economic and diplomatic warfare against Israel, the new sophisticated progressive strategy is to normalize BDS and build a congressional coalition to support it. This time, BDS advocacy is couched in earnest-sounding but utterly dishonest policy concerns.
Today’s anti-Israel progressive activism bears a striking resemblance in strategy and rhetoric to anti-western Soviet propaganda during the Cold War. Writing shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall, Jeane Kirkpatrick, famed Reagan adviser and ambassador to the United Nations, noted that the Soviet Union had perfected a cynical messaging strategy targeted at western liberals:
[It] denies legitimacy to governments targeted for incorporation into the Soviet bloc, defines armed opposition to these governments as a legitimate response to oppression, and defines a government's defense as a violation of human rights. More and more of those who advocated linking U.S. foreign policy to "human rights" seemed to accept these definitions without much thought.
Kirkpatrick perfectly describes progressive attacks on Israel today. We see the denial of legitimacy to the targeted government: The use of "apartheid" to describe Israel appears three times in the letter. We see the excuse-making for terrorism: It is a legitimate response to Israel’s oppression of the Palestinians.
We see the definition of security measures as human rights violations: The phrase "human rights" appears in seven of the letter’s eight paragraphs, in every instance a condemnation of Israel.
We even see the acceptance by western liberals of "human rights" rhetoric at face value: How many Democrats criticized the letter’s dishonesty or the eagerness of progressives to gain the endorsement of anti-Semites? None.
With this letter, Democrats have taken an important step toward normalizing BDS within their party. At the 1984 Republican National Convention, Kirkpatrick delivered a now-famous speech accusing Democrats, trending leftward and increasingly accommodating of Soviet expansion, of being the "San Francisco Democrats." If mainstream Democrats do not find the nerve to confront the obsessive hatred many progressives feel toward Israel, which has now been translated into a policy agenda, there soon may be a speech at a Republican convention referring—credibly—to the BDS Democrats.


freebeacon--2020-07-07--Virginia School District Develops New ‘Anti-Racist’ Curriculum Shaped by Southern Poverty Law Center

Teachers in Virginia 's largest school district have developed a new `` anti-racist '' and `` culturally responsible '' curriculum that will be available to students as early as this fall .
Social studies teachers from Fairfax County collaborated with other Virginia public school teachers to revamp their history curriculum , using a framework from Teaching Tolerance , the educational arm of the liberal nonprofit Southern Poverty Law Center .
The new curriculum encourages students to `` examine materials , events , and institutions critically attending to power , position , and bias '' and will be available for use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7th , and 11th-grade classrooms .
Colleen Eddy , Fairfax County Public Schools social studies coordinator , said the new curriculum addresses the `` overrepresentation of white and Eurocentric history '' and the lack of `` diverse perspectives '' in education .
Eddy singled out the district 's U.S. history courses in particular , for which she says African-American history `` deserves a truer and fuller account . ''
Teaching Tolerance ’ s list of `` Essential Knowledge '' for third through fifth grade students includes teaching that `` the United States was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Christian men who owned property . ''
It also says slavery was foundational to the growth of the U.S. economy and the country ’ s founding documents were created to protect the institution of slavery .
Southern Poverty Law Center , known for including conservative organizations on its list of `` hate groups , '' created Teaching Tolerance to promote `` anti-bias '' and `` social justice '' education in classrooms .
Virginia ’ s social studies curriculum is due to be revised in 2022 and is currently being reviewed by Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) commission on African American History Education .

Teachers in Virginia's largest school district have developed a new "anti-racist" and "culturally responsible" curriculum that will be available to students as early as this fall.
Social studies teachers from Fairfax County collaborated with other Virginia public school teachers to revamp their history curriculum, using a framework from Teaching Tolerance, the educational arm of the liberal nonprofit Southern Poverty Law Center. The new curriculum encourages students to "examine materials, events, and institutions critically attending to power, position, and bias" and will be available for use in 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, and 11th-grade classrooms.
Colleen Eddy, Fairfax County Public Schools social studies coordinator, said the new curriculum addresses the "overrepresentation of white and Eurocentric history" and the lack of "diverse perspectives" in education. Eddy singled out the district's U.S. history courses in particular, for which she says African-American history "deserves a truer and fuller account."
Teaching Tolerance’s list of "Essential Knowledge" for third through fifth grade students includes teaching that "the United States was founded on protecting the interests of white, Christian men who owned property." It also says slavery was foundational to the growth of the U.S. economy and the country’s founding documents were created to protect the institution of slavery.
Southern Poverty Law Center, known for including conservative organizations on its list of "hate groups," created Teaching Tolerance to promote "anti-bias" and "social justice" education in classrooms.
Virginia’s social studies curriculum is due to be revised in 2022 and is currently being reviewed by Gov. Ralph Northam’s (D.) commission on African American History Education.


freebeacon--2020-07-07--North Korea Refuses to Meet with Visiting U.S. Official

North Korean officials rejected a potential meeting with South Korea and United States envoy Stephen Biegun on Tuesday morning , the Associated Press reported .
`` We have no intention to sit face-to-face with [ the ] U.S. , '' senior foreign ministry official Kwon Jong Gun said in a statement released by North Korea 's official state-run news agency .
The statement came as Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun arrived in South Korea .
Biegun plans to meet with South Korean defense officials on Wednesday before leaving for Japan on Thursday .
He also acts as President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pyongyang called South Korean efforts to resume trilateral nuclear talks with the United States `` nonsensical . ''
North Korea 's cold shoulder to diplomatic overtures from the West comes amid rising tensions with South Korea .
Weeks ago , the communist state blew up an inter-Korea liaison building soon after cutting off all communications with Seoul in response to anti-regime leaflets dropped into the country by South Koreans .
Kim Yo Jong—the sister of Kim Jong Un—explained the explosion as punishment for the `` riff-raff who dared hurt the absolute prestige of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its great dignity . ''
In recent months , the regime has doubled down on short-range missile tests in the wake of later-disproven rumors of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un 's death .
Intelligence sources told the Washington Free Beacon the rumors could signal potential weakness in North Korea as China distances from its neighbor .
`` It is entirely possible that this was the Chinese Communist Party fecklessly looking for a diversion—any diversion—so that the world 's attention might shift to another crisis and forget about plans for ‘ how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one analyst told the Free Beacon .
Congress , meanwhile , voted to renew sanctions on North Korea .
Senators Rob Portman ( R. , Ohio ) and Sherrod Brown ( D. , Ohio ) jointly proposed the continued use of the Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions and Enforcement Act .
Unanimously passed last month on the third anniversary of the detained American student ’ s death , the legislation includes a suite of policies that halt illicit finance benefiting North Korea .
`` It ’ s important that we continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Korea poses , '' Portman said in June .

North Korean officials rejected a potential meeting with South Korea and United States envoy Stephen Biegun on Tuesday morning, the Associated Press reported.
"We have no intention to sit face-to-face with [the] U.S.," senior foreign ministry official Kwon Jong Gun said in a statement released by North Korea's official state-run news agency.
The statement came as Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun arrived in South Korea. Biegun plans to meet with South Korean defense officials on Wednesday before leaving for Japan on Thursday. He also acts as President Trump's special envoy to North Korea.
Pyongyang called South Korean efforts to resume trilateral nuclear talks with the United States "nonsensical."
North Korea's cold shoulder to diplomatic overtures from the West comes amid rising tensions with South Korea. Weeks ago, the communist state blew up an inter-Korea liaison building soon after cutting off all communications with Seoul in response to anti-regime leaflets dropped into the country by South Koreans. Kim Yo Jong—the sister of Kim Jong Un—explained the explosion as punishment for the "riff-raff who dared hurt the absolute prestige of our Supreme Leader representing our country and its great dignity."
In recent months, the regime has doubled down on short-range missile tests in the wake of later-disproven rumors of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un's death. Intelligence sources told the Washington Free Beacon the rumors could signal potential weakness in North Korea as China distances from its neighbor.
"It is entirely possible that this was the Chinese Communist Party fecklessly looking for a diversion—any diversion—so that the world's attention might shift to another crisis and forget about plans for 'how to get even with China,'" one analyst told the Free Beacon.
Congress, meanwhile, voted to renew sanctions on North Korea. Senators Rob Portman (R., Ohio) and Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) jointly proposed the continued use of the Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions and Enforcement Act. Unanimously passed last month on the third anniversary of the detained American student’s death, the legislation includes a suite of policies that halt illicit finance benefiting North Korea.
"It’s important that we continue to work together to confront the threat that North Korea poses," Portman said in June.