freebeacon--2020-10-08--Continetti: It’s Not Over Yet, Despite What Press May Think

Washington Free Beacon founding editor Matthew Continetti on Thursday cautioned against assuming that Joe Biden 's polling lead is insurmountable .
`` I think there is a great urge among a lot of people in the press , a lot of people in Washington , D.C. , to declare this race over .
It 's not over , '' Continetti said on Fox News 's America 's Newsroom .
`` He has time to recover not only from COVID , but I also think from the position he finds himself in—which is narrowly behind in these battleground states . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent article by David Brady of the Hoover Institution , which compared Biden 's poll numbers to Hillary Clinton 's performance in 2016 .
The polling indicates President Donald Trump could lose the popular vote by more than he did in 2016 but still win the Electoral College because Biden 's lead in battleground states is more precarious than his national lead .
As the presidential race heads into its final weeks , the Commission on Presidential Debates announced Thursday that the next debate between Trump and Biden would be held virtually .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Continetti added that in order for Trump to close the gap , he needs to make contrasts between his policy positions and those of the Democratic ticket , as Vice President Mike Pence did in Wednesday 's debate .

Washington Free Beacon founding editor Matthew Continetti on Thursday cautioned against assuming that Joe Biden's polling lead is insurmountable.
"I think there is a great urge among a lot of people in the press, a lot of people in Washington, D.C., to declare this race over. It's not over," Continetti said on Fox News's America's Newsroom. "He has time to recover not only from COVID, but I also think from the position he finds himself in—which is narrowly behind in these battleground states."
Continetti's comments were prompted by a recent article by David Brady of the Hoover Institution, which compared Biden's poll numbers to Hillary Clinton's performance in 2016. The polling indicates President Donald Trump could lose the popular vote by more than he did in 2016 but still win the Electoral College because Biden's lead in battleground states is more precarious than his national lead.
As the presidential race heads into its final weeks, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced Thursday that the next debate between Trump and Biden would be held virtually. Trump subsequently declared he would not participate.
Continetti added that in order for Trump to close the gap, he needs to make contrasts between his policy positions and those of the Democratic ticket, as Vice President Mike Pence did in Wednesday's debate.


freebeacon--2020-10-08--BEASTMODE: Aussie News Anchor Calls Bulls**t on NBC News’ Fake Undecided Voters

Australian Sky News host Paul Murray called `` bullshit '' on NBC News ' presentation of Joe Biden supporters as @ @ @ @ @ Monday town hall , highlighting a Washington Free Beacon report that exposed the ruse .

Australian Sky News host Paul Murray called "bullshit" on NBC News' presentation of Joe Biden supporters as undecided voters at Biden's Monday town hall, highlighting a Washington Free Beacon report that exposed the ruse.


freebeacon--2020-10-08--China Censors Pence’s Criticism of Beijing During VP Debate

Chinese media censored Mike Pence 's criticism of China during the vice presidential debate on Wednesday , the New York Post reported .
When Pence started to attack China 's management of the coronavirus , telling viewers that `` China is to blame , '' censors cut off the live video feed of the event in China and displayed , `` No signal—please stand by . ''
The live broadcast restarted when the debate moved on from the topic of China .
Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris 's answer was not censored .
In the censored remarks , Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage during the coronavirus pandemic and criticized the Biden campaign 's record on China .
`` China and the World Health Organization did not play straight with the American people .
They did not let our personnel into China to get information on the coronavirus until the middle of February , '' Pence said .
`` Fortunately , President Trump [ has been ] dealing with China from the outset of this administration , standing up to China that had been taking advantage of America for decades in the wake of Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the debate , Harris claimed that the current administration `` lost '' a trade war with China , costing thousands of jobs and fraying relations with key allies .
These remarks follow Secretary of State Mike Pompeo 's recent meeting with leaders from the `` Quad '' alliance of India , Japan , and Australia in continuing efforts to create a stronger front against Beijing .
In Europe , pressure from the Trump administration during the summer led to several American allies rooting out Huawei infrastructure from their future 5G networks .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooperation as an indispensable feature of confronting the China challenge .
`` It 's going to take all of us , '' Pompeo told Czech officials in August .
`` It will take us working together here in Prague , in Poland , in Portugal .
We have the obligation to speak clearly and plainly to our people and without fear .
We must confront the complex questions presented by this challenge , and we must do so together . ''

Chinese media censored Mike Pence's criticism of China during the vice presidential debate on Wednesday, the New York Post reported.
When Pence started to attack China's management of the coronavirus, telling viewers that "China is to blame," censors cut off the live video feed of the event in China and displayed, "No signal—please stand by."
The live broadcast restarted when the debate moved on from the topic of China. Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris's answer was not censored.
In the censored remarks, Pence blasted Beijing's behavior on the world stage during the coronavirus pandemic and criticized the Biden campaign's record on China.
"China and the World Health Organization did not play straight with the American people. They did not let our personnel into China to get information on the coronavirus until the middle of February," Pence said. "Fortunately, President Trump [has been] dealing with China from the outset of this administration, standing up to China that had been taking advantage of America for decades in the wake of Joe Biden's cheerleading for China."
During the debate, Harris claimed that the current administration "lost" a trade war with China, costing thousands of jobs and fraying relations with key allies.
These remarks follow Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's recent meeting with leaders from the "Quad" alliance of India, Japan, and Australia in continuing efforts to create a stronger front against Beijing. In Europe, pressure from the Trump administration during the summer led to several American allies rooting out Huawei infrastructure from their future 5G networks.
In fact, the Trump administration has emphasized cooperation as an indispensable feature of confronting the China challenge.
"It's going to take all of us," Pompeo told Czech officials in August. "It will take us working together here in Prague, in Poland, in Portugal. We have the obligation to speak clearly and plainly to our people and without fear. We must confront the complex questions presented by this challenge, and we must do so together."


freebeacon--2020-10-08--Mike Pence Offered Refuge to a Creature of God. Democrats Responded with a Call to Violence.

Mike Pence won the fashion and logic portions of Wednesday night 's vice-presidential debate against Kamala Harris , who repeatedly dodged questions about her support for court packing .
In addition to the debate victory , Pence also secured a moral victory with his impressive display of decency , kindness , and respect for all of God 's creatures—even the lowly fly .
Democrats seized on Pence 's decision to let a defenseless insect perch atop his immaculate head .
They made `` memes , '' a popular form of online content , and mocked Pence 's boundless love of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden 's campaign staff forced the candidate to pose with a fly swatter , an instrument of cruelty that has been denounced by animal-rights groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ( PETA ) , and is extremely offensive to devout Buddhists who believe all creatures have a right to life .
It 's unclear if Biden even realized what was going on , or if the following photo is evidence of elder abuse .
As if that was n't barbaric enough , Team Biden doubled down in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's lesser creatures .
They started selling branded fly swatters in the campaign store , and came up with some epic puns and catch phrases to impress their lib friends on Twitter .
Failed political consultant Steve Schmidt , a notorious lib grifter who cofounded the Lincoln Project , tripled down on MSNBC by suggesting that Pence was possessed by Satan .
Speaking of Satan , failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also chimed in : A Washington Free Beacon analysis of the VP debate and the actions that followed suggests the Republican Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and kindness , whereas the Democratic Party is not .

ANALYSIS: Republicans are the party of decency and kindness. Democrats aren't.
Mike Pence won the fashion and logic portions of Wednesday night's vice-presidential debate against Kamala Harris, who repeatedly dodged questions about her support for court packing.
In addition to the debate victory, Pence also secured a moral victory with his impressive display of decency, kindness, and respect for all of God's creatures—even the lowly fly. Democrats seized on Pence's decision to let a defenseless insect perch atop his immaculate head. They made "memes," a popular form of online content, and mocked Pence's boundless love of life with a call to violence.
Joe Biden's campaign staff forced the candidate to pose with a fly swatter, an instrument of cruelty that has been denounced by animal-rights groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and is extremely offensive to devout Buddhists who believe all creatures have a right to life. It's unclear if Biden even realized what was going on, or if the following photo is evidence of elder abuse.
Pitch in $5 to help this campaign fly. https://t.co/CqHAId0j8t pic.twitter.com/NbkPl0a8HV — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 8, 2020
As if that wasn't barbaric enough, Team Biden doubled down in an effort to monetize their hatred of God's lesser creatures. They started selling branded fly swatters in the campaign store, and came up with some epic puns and catch phrases to impress their lib friends on Twitter.
Swats away flies and lies. Get yours today: https://t.co/ehsECKfDPO pic.twitter.com/oVLHHmq85c — Team Joe (Text JOE to 30330) (@TeamJoe) October 8, 2020
Failed political consultant Steve Schmidt, a notorious lib grifter who cofounded the Lincoln Project, tripled down on MSNBC by suggesting that Pence was possessed by Satan.
The Lincoln Project’s Steve Schmidt says the fly that landed on Mike Pence during the debate last night is a "sign historically of sin" and the "mark of the devil."
pic.twitter.com/744RuE53ae — Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 8, 2020
Speaking of Satan, failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also chimed in:
Congratulations to @kamalaharris for a masterful debate performance. She swatted away the lies with ease. Join this winning team. https://t.co/mxkpLIOEux pic.twitter.com/Lb1KdeudQZ — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 8, 2020
A Washington Free Beacon analysis of the VP debate and the actions that followed suggests the Republican Party is the party of empathy, decency, and kindness, whereas the Democratic Party is not.


freebeacon--2020-10-08--U.S. Seizes 92 Websites Run by Iranian Intel Services

The Department of Justice on Wednesday seized the domain names of 92 websites that it says Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was using to spread propaganda and disinformation to American audiences .
Iran and the IRGC used these websites to `` spread propaganda covertly '' and `` sow discord '' among the American public ahead of the 2020 presidential elections , according to John Demers , assistant attorney general for national security .
Iran has spent great resources trying to influence the election in favor of Democratic challenger Joe Biden , and its operation of these websites violates U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ websites were set up to appear as news outlets .
They were , however , actually controlled by the IRGC , Iran 's paramilitary fighting force responsible for conducting cyber operations on the Islamic Republic 's behalf .
This behavior violates the Foreign Agents Registration Act , which mandates that foreign governments disclose their activities in the United States .
Visitors to these websites will now only see a Department of Justice notice about the domain name seizure .
Internet and technology giant Google assisted the Trump administration in its investigation , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bennett .
`` This case is a perfect example of why the FBI San Francisco Division prioritizes maintaining an ongoing relationship with a variety of social media and technology companies , '' Bennett said in a statement .
`` These relationships enable a quick exchange of information to better protect against threats to the nation 's security and our democratic processes . ''

The Department of Justice on Wednesday seized the domain names of 92 websites that it says Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was using to spread propaganda and disinformation to American audiences.
Iran and the IRGC used these websites to "spread propaganda covertly" and "sow discord" among the American public ahead of the 2020 presidential elections, according to John Demers, assistant attorney general for national security. Iran has spent great resources trying to influence the election in favor of Democratic challenger Joe Biden, and its operation of these websites violates U.S. sanctions.
At least four of these websites were set up to appear as news outlets. They were, however, actually controlled by the IRGC, Iran's paramilitary fighting force responsible for conducting cyber operations on the Islamic Republic's behalf. This behavior violates the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which mandates that foreign governments disclose their activities in the United States. Visitors to these websites will now only see a Department of Justice notice about the domain name seizure.
Internet and technology giant Google assisted the Trump administration in its investigation, according to FBI special agent in charge John Bennett.
"This case is a perfect example of why the FBI San Francisco Division prioritizes maintaining an ongoing relationship with a variety of social media and technology companies," Bennett said in a statement. "These relationships enable a quick exchange of information to better protect against threats to the nation's security and our democratic processes."


freebeacon--2020-10-09--Whatever Happened to Immigration?

Whatever Happened to Immigration?

It is a sign of the times that immigration has not been mentioned in three hours of debate between the presidential tickets .
A review of the transcripts of both the presidential and vice-presidential encounters finds no questions asked nor answers proffered about an issue that until only recently defined much of our politics and distinguished our two parties .
Needless to say , both moderators wanted to know where the candidates stand on climate change , which routinely drifts toward the bottom of any list of public priorities .
Why the omission ?
It is tempting to say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elites who manage the presidential debates are uncomfortable with the topic , are worried that the issue favors Republican border hawks , and are more interested in subjects relevant to their cultural coterie .
But it is also true that presidential debates tend to focus on current events and pressing challenges , and that immigration just does not seem as great a concern today as the coronavirus , the economy , race relations and civil unrest , and California brushfires .
The apparent irrelevance of immigration and border security to the election might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration .
But these achievements are partial , tenuous , and dependent on events and relationships and court decisions .
And they are easily reversed .
What should worry the president is that the somnolence on the border deprives him of the very issue that propelled his rise to power , and that drove the populist revolt against the Washington establishment whose offshoots included the Ron Paul candidacies , the Tea Party , and Republican victories in 2014 and 2016 .
Immigration is next only to the economy and to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can contrast his record and agenda with Biden 's and appeal to national solidarity and historical tradition .
His parlous electoral status may be related to the fact that immigration is not much of a factor in this most unusual campaign .
There is no gainsaying immigration 's importance to the Trump presidency .
It was immigration that triggered the grassroots rebellion against the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations , and against congressional supporters of amnesty for illegal immigrants , culminating in Trump 's 2016 primary victory .
Immigration became the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one and served as the cudgel by which he defeated Jeb Bush and other Republicans for whom the Bush-Obama approach to legalization was correct .
The border wall was not only a rallying cry but also a symbol of how a Trump presidency would privilege American citizens above all else .
And Trump fused immigration to economics , by opposing H-1B visas ; to crime , by highlighting gang activity ; and to national security , by enacting his travel ban against countries that sponsor terrorism .
When Kamala Harris offhandedly mentioned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it almost seemed like an anachronism , so far removed are we from the world of January 2017 .
The coronavirus imposed its own sort of prohibition .
It radically interrupted the mechanisms of globalization , including the flow of labor .
Global air travel plunged , and so did apprehensions along the southwest border .
The virus ushered in a condition of emergency , in which the Trump administration tightened visa and asylum procedures .
The pandemic accelerated an ongoing trend .
The growth in the illegal immigrant population appears to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis and has trended slightly downward since .
The composition of that population has also changed , from able-bodied men seeking work to women , children , and the impaired fleeing gangs and state collapse .
Border crossers are less likely to be Mexican and more likely to be from Central America or Asia .
The Trump administration 's wide-ranging actions , in particular its Migration Protection Protocols , further discouraged unauthorized entry .
By 2019 , according to the Brookings Institution , the net increase of immigrants in the U.S. population was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( And , it might be added , the best job market in half a century was producing income gains across the population . )
There is every reason to expect that the combined effects of the pandemic , the lockdowns , and executive orders will keep the number of migrants low .
But for how long ?
Harris attacked Trump for his `` Muslim ban , '' but she did not say on stage what the Biden administration would do about it .
For answers , one has to turn to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats write that they would `` rescind the un-American travel and refugee bans , also referred to as ‘ Muslim bans . '
'' They would `` end Trump 's detrimental asylum policies , '' including the Migrant Protection Protocols .
They would reverse the public charge rule , which makes it harder for welfare beneficiaries to become permanent residents .
They would halt construction of the border wall and `` direct federal resources to smart border enforcement efforts , like investments in improving screening infrastructure at our ports of entry . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal immigrants brought here as children , and for their parents .
And Biden and Harris would `` create a roadmap to citizenship , '' not permanent legal residency , for the remaining millions of illegal immigrants `` who register , are up-to-date on their taxes , and pass a background check . ''
In short , a President Biden would return immigration policy to the status quo before Trump .
With this difference : Biden , unlike Obama , would be dealing with a Democratic Party whose left wing has been radicalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extreme measures as decriminalizing border crossing and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement .
Senator Harris herself has called for `` restructuring '' ICE ( and for abolishing private health insurance , banning fracking , and imposing universal background checks for gun purchases through administrative fiat ) .
The leftward drift of the Democrats makes immigration politics more fraught , and more polarizing .
Having learned nothing from the Trump phenomenon , Biden and Harris are eager to reinstate the exact policies that gave birth to it .
The failure to control the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than economically , about immigration was part of a larger failure .
Republican and Democratic elites neither recognized nor acknowledged that the globalized world of the 21st century , while beneficial to them , carried costs for large parts of the population far greater than they had assumed .
It is therefore ironic that a pandemic originating in China , which America treated for too long as a `` responsible stakeholder '' rather than a revisionist great power , has overwhelmed practically every issue but the economy in the final month of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to raise the question of immigration , the Democratic establishment that stands to gain from the public 's judgment of the president 's coronavirus response will happily ignore it .
But they will not be able to avoid immigration forever .
Or the furies it unleashes .

It is a sign of the times that immigration has not been mentioned in three hours of debate between the presidential tickets. A review of the transcripts of both the presidential and vice-presidential encounters finds no questions asked nor answers proffered about an issue that until only recently defined much of our politics and distinguished our two parties. Needless to say, both moderators wanted to know where the candidates stand on climate change, which routinely drifts toward the bottom of any list of public priorities.
Why the omission? It is tempting to say that immigration did not come up because the elites who manage the presidential debates are uncomfortable with the topic, are worried that the issue favors Republican border hawks, and are more interested in subjects relevant to their cultural coterie. But it is also true that presidential debates tend to focus on current events and pressing challenges, and that immigration just does not seem as great a concern today as the coronavirus, the economy, race relations and civil unrest, and California brushfires.
The apparent irrelevance of immigration and border security to the election might also be attributed to the achievements of the Trump administration. But these achievements are partial, tenuous, and dependent on events and relationships and court decisions. And they are easily reversed. What should worry the president is that the somnolence on the border deprives him of the very issue that propelled his rise to power, and that drove the populist revolt against the Washington establishment whose offshoots included the Ron Paul candidacies, the Tea Party, and Republican victories in 2014 and 2016. Immigration is next only to the economy and to the courts as a place where the president can contrast his record and agenda with Biden's and appeal to national solidarity and historical tradition. His parlous electoral status may be related to the fact that immigration is not much of a factor in this most unusual campaign.
There is no gainsaying immigration's importance to the Trump presidency. It was immigration that triggered the grassroots rebellion against the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, and against congressional supporters of amnesty for illegal immigrants, culminating in Trump's 2016 primary victory. Immigration became the touchstone of Trump's campaign on day one and served as the cudgel by which he defeated Jeb Bush and other Republicans for whom the Bush-Obama approach to legalization was correct. The border wall was not only a rallying cry but also a symbol of how a Trump presidency would privilege American citizens above all else. And Trump fused immigration to economics, by opposing H-1B visas; to crime, by highlighting gang activity; and to national security, by enacting his travel ban against countries that sponsor terrorism.
When Kamala Harris offhandedly mentioned the travel ban during the vice-presidential debate, it almost seemed like an anachronism, so far removed are we from the world of January 2017. The coronavirus imposed its own sort of prohibition. It radically interrupted the mechanisms of globalization, including the flow of labor. Global air travel plunged, and so did apprehensions along the southwest border. The virus ushered in a condition of emergency, in which the Trump administration tightened visa and asylum procedures.
The pandemic accelerated an ongoing trend. The growth in the illegal immigrant population appears to have stopped abruptly during the 2008 global financial crisis and has trended slightly downward since. The composition of that population has also changed, from able-bodied men seeking work to women, children, and the impaired fleeing gangs and state collapse. Border crossers are less likely to be Mexican and more likely to be from Central America or Asia. The Trump administration's wide-ranging actions, in particular its Migration Protection Protocols, further discouraged unauthorized entry. By 2019, according to the Brookings Institution, the net increase of immigrants in the U.S. population was at its lowest level in years. (And, it might be added, the best job market in half a century was producing income gains across the population.) There is every reason to expect that the combined effects of the pandemic, the lockdowns, and executive orders will keep the number of migrants low.
But for how long? Harris attacked Trump for his "Muslim ban," but she did not say on stage what the Biden administration would do about it. For answers, one has to turn to the Biden-Harris campaign website. There, the Democrats write that they would "rescind the un-American travel and refugee bans, also referred to as 'Muslim bans.'" They would "end Trump's detrimental asylum policies," including the Migrant Protection Protocols. They would reverse the public charge rule, which makes it harder for welfare beneficiaries to become permanent residents. They would halt construction of the border wall and "direct federal resources to smart border enforcement efforts, like investments in improving screening infrastructure at our ports of entry." They would reinstate the DACA protections for illegal immigrants brought here as children, and for their parents. And Biden and Harris would "create a roadmap to citizenship," not permanent legal residency, for the remaining millions of illegal immigrants "who register, are up-to-date on their taxes, and pass a background check."
In short, a President Biden would return immigration policy to the status quo before Trump. With this difference: Biden, unlike Obama, would be dealing with a Democratic Party whose left wing has been radicalized and includes prominent officials who support such extreme measures as decriminalizing border crossing and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Senator Harris herself has called for "restructuring" ICE (and for abolishing private health insurance, banning fracking, and imposing universal background checks for gun purchases through administrative fiat). The leftward drift of the Democrats makes immigration politics more fraught, and more polarizing. Having learned nothing from the Trump phenomenon, Biden and Harris are eager to reinstate the exact policies that gave birth to it.
The failure to control the border and to think politically, rather than economically, about immigration was part of a larger failure. Republican and Democratic elites neither recognized nor acknowledged that the globalized world of the 21st century, while beneficial to them, carried costs for large parts of the population far greater than they had assumed. It is therefore ironic that a pandemic originating in China, which America treated for too long as a "responsible stakeholder" rather than a revisionist great power, has overwhelmed practically every issue but the economy in the final month of the election.
If the Trump campaign fails to raise the question of immigration, the Democratic establishment that stands to gain from the public's judgment of the president's coronavirus response will happily ignore it. But they will not be able to avoid immigration forever. Or the furies it unleashes.


freebeacon--2020-10-09--CA Dem Terminated Worker Retirement Plans as Real Estate Exec

Rep. Harley Rouda ( D. , Calif. ) , who has championed workplace retirement plans as `` a crucial part of the American dream , '' terminated 401 ( k ) benefits for employees of his investment company in 2015 , documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon show .
Rouda became CEO of real estate investment firm Trident Holdings in October 2012 , according to the Columbus Dispatch .
Roughly three years later , the Democrat terminated the company 's 401 ( k ) plan , which covered `` substantially all employees , '' according to an internal document @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Company approved the termination of the Plan effective November 30 , 2015 , '' the document says .
`` The Plan was a defined contribution plan covering substantially all employees of Trident Holdings , Inc. ( the Company ) , formally Real Living , Inc. , who had attained age 21 or older . ''
The decision is at odds with Rouda 's rhetoric as a federal lawmaker .
The Democrat said that those who have `` worked hard [ their ] entire life … deserve the opportunity to retire in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 2019 tweet , calling retirement `` a crucial part of the American dream . ''
One month later , Rouda said that a bill aimed at expanding workplace retirement savings would `` empower '' Americans by making `` coping with family challenges just a little easier . ''
The move also came two years after Rouda cut health benefits for employees of HER Realtors , a real estate company owned by Trident Holdings .
The Democrat has made health care a staple of his tight reelection bid against Republican Orange County supervisor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` a right for every American '' and stresses the need to `` improve and expand health care coverage—not dismantle it . ''
A former HER Realtors employee told the Free Beacon that Trident Holdings ' decision to terminate its 401 ( k ) plan also extended to HER Realtors staff .
`` He does talk out both sides of his mouth , and I worked for him for years , '' the former employee said , adding that he left the company after the lack of benefits became `` unmanageable . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more of a traditional organization that had better benefits , better retirement offerings . ''
Rouda did not respond to a request for comment .
While Rouda left the company in 2019 , he continues to earn substantial `` ownership profits '' from Trident Holdings , raking in between $ 155,000 and $ 1.15 million last year , according to his most recent financial disclosure .
Rouda spent decades in the real estate industry , having served as president of HER Realtors as early as 1996 , according to a now-deleted Bloomberg executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company Real Living Real Estate in 2002—the company was forced to pay $ 1.85 million six years later to a 57-year-old cancer patient who sued the company for wrongful termination .
Rouda defeated former longtime GOP congressman Dana Rohrabacher by 7 points in 2018 , becoming the first Democrat to win California 's 48th Congressional District since its creation in 1993 .
He is now considered one of the most vulnerable House Democrats in the state .
His Republican opponent has outraised him as of late .
Steel raised roughly $ 1.1 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rouda 's roughly $ 660,000 .
Steel also reported raising $ 1.8 million in the third quarter of 2020 .
Rouda has yet to release his third quarter fundraising numbers .

Rep. Harley Rouda (D., Calif.), who has championed workplace retirement plans as "a crucial part of the American dream," terminated 401(k) benefits for employees of his investment company in 2015, documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon show.
Rouda became CEO of real estate investment firm Trident Holdings in October 2012, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Roughly three years later, the Democrat terminated the company's 401(k) plan, which covered "substantially all employees," according to an internal document.
"On December 8, 2015, the Company approved the termination of the Plan effective November 30, 2015," the document says. "The Plan was a defined contribution plan covering substantially all employees of Trident Holdings, Inc. (the Company), formally Real Living, Inc., who had attained age 21 or older."
The decision is at odds with Rouda's rhetoric as a federal lawmaker. The Democrat said that those who have "worked hard [their] entire life … deserve the opportunity to retire in peace" through employer-provided plans in a May 2019 tweet, calling retirement "a crucial part of the American dream." One month later, Rouda said that a bill aimed at expanding workplace retirement savings would "empower" Americans by making "coping with family challenges just a little easier."
The move also came two years after Rouda cut health benefits for employees of HER Realtors, a real estate company owned by Trident Holdings. The Democrat has made health care a staple of his tight reelection bid against Republican Orange County supervisor Michelle Steel—his campaign site calls health care "a right for every American" and stresses the need to "improve and expand health care coverage—not dismantle it."
A former HER Realtors employee told the Free Beacon that Trident Holdings' decision to terminate its 401(k) plan also extended to HER Realtors staff.
"He does talk out both sides of his mouth, and I worked for him for years," the former employee said, adding that he left the company after the lack of benefits became "unmanageable."
"I needed to get back into more of a traditional organization that had better benefits, better retirement offerings."
Rouda did not respond to a request for comment.
While Rouda left the company in 2019, he continues to earn substantial "ownership profits" from Trident Holdings, raking in between $155,000 and $1.15 million last year, according to his most recent financial disclosure.
Rouda spent decades in the real estate industry, having served as president of HER Realtors as early as 1996, according to a now-deleted Bloomberg executive profile. He cofounded the real estate company Real Living Real Estate in 2002—the company was forced to pay $1.85 million six years later to a 57-year-old cancer patient who sued the company for wrongful termination.
Rouda defeated former longtime GOP congressman Dana Rohrabacher by 7 points in 2018, becoming the first Democrat to win California's 48th Congressional District since its creation in 1993. He is now considered one of the most vulnerable House Democrats in the state. His Republican opponent has outraised him as of late. Steel raised roughly $1.1 million between April and June, compared to Rouda's roughly $660,000. Steel also reported raising $1.8 million in the third quarter of 2020. Rouda has yet to release his third quarter fundraising numbers.


freebeacon--2020-10-10--Human-Rights Groups Protest China’s Bid for U.N. Human Rights Council

Multiple prominent human-rights groups have protested against China 's bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council , Radio Free Asia reported Thursday .
China , which served on the council as recently as 2019 , could be reappointed to its position by a membership vote on Oct. 13 .
Both Human Rights Watch and Chinese Human Rights Defenders issued statements this week calling on the U.N. to block China from the council .
`` We urge U.N. member states to take strong and effective action in response to increasing human-rights violations in China and the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] recommendations , '' Chinese Human Rights Defenders tweeted Thursday .
The organization also said China `` has failed to protect and promote human rights in any meaningful way . ''
If China is granted a seat , the Human Rights Council would count one of the world 's worst human-rights abusers among its members .
China ranks in the bottom 10 countries in Freedom House 's global freedom index for , among many things , its ongoing genocide of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province and its suppression of civil liberties .
Human-rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repression of cultural freedom in Tibet and its hostile takeover of Hong Kong this summer .
The Washington Free Beacon reported last month on how China uses positions of authority at multilateral organizations like the U.N. to deflect concerns about its own human-rights abuses .
Most recently , China leveraged its ties to the World Health Organization to mitigate blame on Beijing in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` China is constantly working behind the scenes to gain more influence globally , '' former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true at the U.N. , whether it 's distracting from their own human-rights abuses , manipulating to gain control of U.N. agencies , or bullying smaller countries to vote their way . ''
The Trump administration pulled the United States out of the Human Rights Council in 2018 , citing the organization 's protection of human-rights abusers and chronic bias against Israel .
The Democratic Party , however , calls on the United States to rejoin the Human Rights Council in its 2020 national platform .
Until an August Free Beacon report , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarding Chinese human-rights violations in Tibet .

Multiple prominent human-rights groups have protested against China's bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council, Radio Free Asia reported Thursday.
China, which served on the council as recently as 2019, could be reappointed to its position by a membership vote on Oct. 13. Both Human Rights Watch and Chinese Human Rights Defenders issued statements this week calling on the U.N. to block China from the council.
"We urge U.N. member states to take strong and effective action in response to increasing human-rights violations in China and the government's failure to fully implement [U.N.] recommendations," Chinese Human Rights Defenders tweeted Thursday. The organization also said China "has failed to protect and promote human rights in any meaningful way."
If China is granted a seat, the Human Rights Council would count one of the world's worst human-rights abusers among its members. China ranks in the bottom 10 countries in Freedom House's global freedom index for, among many things, its ongoing genocide of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province and its suppression of civil liberties. Human-rights groups have also criticized China for its repression of cultural freedom in Tibet and its hostile takeover of Hong Kong this summer.
The Washington Free Beacon reported last month on how China uses positions of authority at multilateral organizations like the U.N. to deflect concerns about its own human-rights abuses. Most recently, China leveraged its ties to the World Health Organization to mitigate blame on Beijing in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.
"China is constantly working behind the scenes to gain more influence globally," former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley told the Free Beacon. "That's especially true at the U.N., whether it's distracting from their own human-rights abuses, manipulating to gain control of U.N. agencies, or bullying smaller countries to vote their way."
The Trump administration pulled the United States out of the Human Rights Council in 2018, citing the organization's protection of human-rights abusers and chronic bias against Israel. The Democratic Party, however, calls on the United States to rejoin the Human Rights Council in its 2020 national platform. Until an August Free Beacon report, the Biden campaign also had no plank regarding Chinese human-rights violations in Tibet.


freebeacon--2020-10-10--Ossoff Drops Second Amendment From Senate Ad

Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff has released dueling Senate campaign ads : One in which he declares his support for the Second Amendment and another that dodges the issue altogether .
Both ads , which began running in September , open with the candidate wearing the same suit while saying `` nothing is more important than keeping Georgians safe '' before he claims not to support defunding the police .
They both end on the same claim that Ossoff will `` rebuild trust between communities and law enforcement . ''
The second version of the ad , which is airing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cuts Ossoff 's promise to `` defend our Second Amendment . ''
Ossoff supports bans on `` high-capacity '' ammunition magazines and popular rifles like the AR-15 .
He has an `` F '' rating from the National Rifle Association .
Ossoff is n't the only gun control supporter who has dodged the issue in the closing weeks of the 2020 campaign .
Everytown for Gun Safety , which has endorsed the Georgia Democrat , ran an ad campaign in five swing states that attacked Republicans on healthcare but avoided the gun issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ads in Georgia that fail to mention gun control .
Ossoff 's ad campaign comes as gun sales have been at record levels in Georgia and nationwide for more than six months .
Industry estimates suggest there are nearly seven-and-a-half million new gun owners since March .
Those new owners could have a significant impact on upcoming elections .
Ossoff 's campaign did not respond to a request for comment .
Sen. David Perdue 's ( R. , Ga. ) campaign accused Ossoff of pandering to liberal donors , while lying to Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could get away with telling metro Atlanta voters one thing while telling the rest of the state the exact opposite , '' Perdue spokesman John Burke told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` If Ossoff is willing to mislead voters about an issue as consequential as our basic Constitutional rights , what else is he lying about ? ''
In trying to be the first Georgia Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate since 2000 , Ossoff will have to turn out a significant vote in metro Atlanta while offsetting Republican gains in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who opposes the bans Ossoff supports and has an `` A '' rating from the NRA , holds a small lead in polling averages in a race that is critical to Senate control .

Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff has released dueling Senate campaign ads: One in which he declares his support for the Second Amendment and another that dodges the issue altogether.
Both ads, which began running in September, open with the candidate wearing the same suit while saying "nothing is more important than keeping Georgians safe" before he claims not to support defunding the police. They both end on the same claim that Ossoff will "rebuild trust between communities and law enforcement." The second version of the ad, which is airing in the more liberal Atlanta metro area, cuts Ossoff's promise to "defend our Second Amendment."
Ossoff supports bans on "high-capacity" ammunition magazines and popular rifles like the AR-15. He has an "F" rating from the National Rifle Association. Ossoff isn't the only gun-control supporter who has dodged the issue in the closing weeks of the 2020 campaign. Everytown for Gun Safety, which has endorsed the Georgia Democrat, ran an ad campaign in five swing states that attacked Republicans on health care but avoided the gun issues. The gun-control group has also run ads in Georgia that fail to mention gun control.


freebeacon--2020-10-09--Minneapolis Business Owner Threatens to Sue City Officials For Failure to Respond to Violence

A Minneapolis business owner is threatening to sue Mayor Jacob Frey ( D. ) and the city council for creating a `` lawless '' zone near his establishment .
Mark Thompson , a lawyer representing the owner of grocery store Cup Foods , sent a letter to city officials last week demanding they remove barricades blocking off the area—which some are calling an `` autonomous zone '' —around where George Floyd was killed in May .
Floyd died in a police confrontation after a Cup Foods employee reported him for allegedly using a counterfeit $ 20 bill at the store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area has become `` too dangerous to conduct business '' at night due to the barricades and the city ’ s failure to provide adequate policing .
`` After dark , the area is basically a lawless zone that is too dangerous to conduct business , '' the letter says .
`` In fact , due to the City ’ s barricades and refusal to provide law enforcement in the area , the City has created and is maintaining this lawless zone .
This is unacceptable . ''
Jamar Nelson , a spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ABC affiliate , that crime has `` absolutely '' increased in the area as a result of the city ’ s actions .
`` Absolutely crime has increased , '' Nelson said .
`` And I think that other businesses have also talked about how they ’ re losing tens of thousands of dollars a month because people can ’ t come in .
Businesses suffer because of what ’ s going on , and that ’ s a darn shame . ''
Nelson added that it would be `` dangerous '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action to reduce crime in the area .
`` We can not sit idly by and watch crime increase , with our eyes wide shut , '' Nelson said .
`` That is just dangerous . ''
Floyd ’ s death sparked a wave of protests and riots across the country this summer .
In response , Minneapolis City Council at one point voted to abolish the city ’ s police department—though they later complained that police were not doing enough to address the uptick in crime .
The Star Tribune reported in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhoods `` suffered the most '' from the crime increase that corresponded with this summer ’ s riots .
Violent crimes in Minneapolis are up more than 20 percent this year , according to the Minneapolis police department ’ s most recent crime data .

A Minneapolis business owner is threatening to sue Mayor Jacob Frey (D.) and the city council for creating a "lawless" zone near his establishment.
Mark Thompson, a lawyer representing the owner of grocery store Cup Foods, sent a letter to city officials last week demanding they remove barricades blocking off the area—which some are calling an "autonomous zone"—around where George Floyd was killed in May. Floyd died in a police confrontation after a Cup Foods employee reported him for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill at the store. According to the letter, the area has become "too dangerous to conduct business" at night due to the barricades and the city’s failure to provide adequate policing.
"After dark, the area is basically a lawless zone that is too dangerous to conduct business," the letter says. "In fact, due to the City’s barricades and refusal to provide law enforcement in the area, the City has created and is maintaining this lawless zone. This is unacceptable."
Jamar Nelson, a spokesman for Cup Foods, told KSTP-TV, an ABC affiliate, that crime has "absolutely" increased in the area as a result of the city’s actions.
"Absolutely crime has increased," Nelson said. "And I think that other businesses have also talked about how they’re losing tens of thousands of dollars a month because people can’t come in. Businesses suffer because of what’s going on, and that’s a darn shame."
Nelson added that it would be "dangerous" for the city to refrain from taking action to reduce crime in the area.
"We cannot sit idly by and watch crime increase, with our eyes wide shut," Nelson said. "That is just dangerous."
Floyd’s death sparked a wave of protests and riots across the country this summer. In response, Minneapolis City Council at one point voted to abolish the city’s police department—though they later complained that police were not doing enough to address the uptick in crime. The Star Tribune reported in September that the city’s poorest neighborhoods "suffered the most" from the crime increase that corresponded with this summer’s riots. Violent crimes in Minneapolis are up more than 20 percent this year, according to the Minneapolis police department’s most recent crime data.


freebeacon--2020-10-09--Are There More Women? Cal Cunningham Won’t Say

Cal Cunningham , the Democratic candidate for Senate in North Carolina , continued to dodge questions about his sex scandal during a virtual `` news '' conference on Friday .
Journalists participating in the tightly regulated campaign event , which did not permit interruptions or follow-ups , asked multiple versions of the same legitimate question : Are there more women ?
Cunningham , who has admitted to and apologized for having an extramarital affair with a married woman from California , repeatedly refused to answer .
`` With all due respect , you did n't answer [ the ] question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said local reporter Joe Bruno .
But the candidate continued to rely on shop-worn talking points about how his campaign is `` much bigger and more important than just me , '' how voters are `` tired of hearing about personal issues , '' and how his opponent , Sen. Thom Tillis ( R. , N.C. ) , is the only one who `` wants to talk about this . ''
Another reporter framed the same question in a way that most voters would presumably consider relevant : Why should they send him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have his career derailed by revelations of additional affairs ?
Once again , however , Cunningham made clear that he did n't think voters deserved an answer .
`` I 've said what I 'm gon na say about it , '' he said .
`` I 've answered the question . ''
The Joe Biden campaign appears to agree with Cunningham that—as with Biden 's position on court packing—there are just some things voters do n't need to know .
Biden 's rapid response director , Andrew Bates , accused North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with voters in what can only be described as a dangerous assault on the media and democracy itself .
Bates has a history of denigrating the First Amendment by attacking reporters for doing their jobs .

Cal Cunningham, the Democratic candidate for Senate in North Carolina, continued to dodge questions about his sex scandal during a virtual "news" conference on Friday.
Journalists participating in the tightly regulated campaign event, which did not permit interruptions or follow-ups, asked multiple versions of the same legitimate question: Are there more women? Cunningham, who has admitted to and apologized for having an extramarital affair with a married woman from California, repeatedly refused to answer.
"With all due respect, you didn't answer [the] question: Are there more women?" said local reporter Joe Bruno. But the candidate continued to rely on shop-worn talking points about how his campaign is "much bigger and more important than just me," how voters are "tired of hearing about personal issues," and how his opponent, Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.), is the only one who "wants to talk about this."
Another reporter framed the same question in a way that most voters would presumably consider relevant: Why should they send him to the Senate to represent them only to have his career derailed by revelations of additional affairs? Once again, however, Cunningham made clear that he didn't think voters deserved an answer. "I've said what I'm gonna say about it," he said. "I've answered the question."
Cal Cunningham was just asked TWICE if there any additional allegations of extramarital affairs that will surface? No answer. #NCSen pic.twitter.com/wa8GF2XhqW — America Rising (@AmericaRising) October 9, 2020
The Joe Biden campaign appears to agree with Cunningham that—as with Biden's position on court packing—there are just some things voters don't need to know. Biden's rapid response director, Andrew Bates, accused North Carolina journalists of being out of touch with voters in what can only be described as a dangerous assault on the media and democracy itself.
Hi, North Carolinian who's been on Joe Biden's campaign from the start here. A lesson I will never forget after the last 17 (hundred) months: reporters and voters very often care about opposite things. #ncpol https://t.co/aGioXFsgF0 — Andrew Bates (@AndrewBatesNC) October 9, 2020
Bates has a history of denigrating the First Amendment by attacking reporters for doing their jobs.


freebeacon--2020-10-09--Six Hard-Working Blue-Collar Patriots, The Summer of Unrest, And The Plot to Kidnap a Governor

Editor 's note : The following article is the Washington Free Beacon ‘ s contribution to the professional media 's determined efforts to place the actions of alleged criminals , such as `` Molotov Lawyers '' Urooj Rahman and Colinford Mattis , within a broader context that may ultimately force us to reconsider the meaning of `` crime '' in our society .
Enjoy !
Love for the U.S. Constitution , which in many Democratic strongholds is considered the moral equivalent of a war crime , continues to inspire hard-working American patriots to take bold action in defense of freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D. , Mich. ) authorized a series of controversial regulations to deprive local business owners of their livelihoods , Adam Dean Fox struggled to channel his feelings of despair into a constructive outlet .
The 37-year-old vacuum cleaner salesman from Grand Rapids , Mich. , sought out other working-class individuals who shared his passion for small businesses and the rights of all Americans to live free and pursue happiness .
What happened next came as a surprise to many who know Fox and the people who joined his ostensibly noble cause .
Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injustice culminated on Thursday when the FBI arrested him and 12 others on a range of state and federal charges , most of which involved an alleged plot to kidnap Gov .
Whitmer .
The plot never came to fruition , thanks to extensive FBI surveillance—or entrapment , depending on your point of view—of the alleged conspirators .
But the arrest sent shockwaves through a nation already reeling from a summer of unrest .
Of course , it is difficult to draw conclusions about the group 's motivations .
Were they spurred by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act out of a deeper , darker disillusionment with the political system ?
The alleged perpetrators hailed from working-class backgrounds .
They represent an oft-ignored demographic that , despite being left behind by globalization , has yet to give up on the American Dream .
Barry Croft , 44 , owned a trucking company .
Ty Garbin , 24 , maintained aircraft for a living .
Brandon Caserta , 32 , was a bicycle mechanic and manager at Domino 's Pizza .
They understood how capricious and brutal the economy can be .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem to regard the Constitution as an obstacle course—while her party 's presidential candidate is threatening to lock down the country , again—it 's easy to empathize with working people whose fear of economic ruin drives them to consider actions many would regard as questionable , or even technically `` illegal . ''
Caserta , the bike mechanic , was active on social media , where he repeatedly referred to President Donald Trump as a `` tyrant . ''
He posted quotes from the the left-wing radical Thomas Jefferson , and asked if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to commit violence .
In other words , he suggested that some acts our society deems `` criminal '' are more complicated than they first appear .
The alleged conspirators ' friends may concede in private that plotting to kidnap a sitting governor represents a lapse in judgment , but none are willing to discuss the degree to which their friends may have been ethically , morally , or legally out of bounds .
There is a version of this story in which they are civil-rights heroes , even martyrs , instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @

They were good people who believed the right things. Now they are accused of doing something bad. Is that wrong?
Editor's note: The following article is the Washington Free Beacon's contribution to the professional media's determined efforts to place the actions of alleged criminals, such as "Molotov Lawyers" Urooj Rahman and Colinford Mattis, within a broader context that may ultimately force us to reconsider the meaning of "crime" in our society. Enjoy!
Love for the U.S. Constitution, which in many Democratic strongholds is considered the moral equivalent of a war crime, continues to inspire hard-working American patriots to take bold action in defense of freedom.
When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D., Mich.) authorized a series of controversial regulations to deprive local business owners of their livelihoods, Adam Dean Fox struggled to channel his feelings of despair into a constructive outlet. The 37-year-old vacuum cleaner salesman from Grand Rapids, Mich., sought out other working-class individuals who shared his passion for small businesses and the rights of all Americans to live free and pursue happiness.
What happened next came as a surprise to many who know Fox and the people who joined his ostensibly noble cause.
Fox's impassioned campaign to fight back against injustice culminated on Thursday when the FBI arrested him and 12 others on a range of state and federal charges, most of which involved an alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer. The plot never came to fruition, thanks to extensive FBI surveillance—or entrapment, depending on your point of view—of the alleged conspirators. But the arrest sent shockwaves through a nation already reeling from a summer of unrest.
Of course, it is difficult to draw conclusions about the group's motivations. Were they spurred by an ill-advised moment of anger—or did they act out of a deeper, darker disillusionment with the political system?
The alleged perpetrators hailed from working-class backgrounds. They represent an oft-ignored demographic that, despite being left behind by globalization, has yet to give up on the American Dream. Barry Croft, 44, owned a trucking company. Ty Garbin, 24, maintained aircraft for a living. Brandon Caserta, 32, was a bicycle mechanic and manager at Domino's Pizza.
They understood how capricious and brutal the economy can be. And when a governor and her advisers seem to regard the Constitution as an obstacle course—while her party's presidential candidate is threatening to lock down the country, again—it's easy to empathize with working people whose fear of economic ruin drives them to consider actions many would regard as questionable, or even technically "illegal."
Caserta, the bike mechanic, was active on social media, where he repeatedly referred to President Donald Trump as a "tyrant." He posted quotes from the the left-wing radical Thomas Jefferson, and asked if it could be "morally legitimate" to commit violence. In other words, he suggested that some acts our society deems "criminal" are more complicated than they first appear.
The alleged conspirators' friends may concede in private that plotting to kidnap a sitting governor represents a lapse in judgment, but none are willing to discuss the degree to which their friends may have been ethically, morally, or legally out of bounds. There is a version of this story in which they are civil-rights heroes, even martyrs, instead of hard-working patriots who crossed a line.


freebeacon--2020-10-09--Ohio Dem Flip-Flops on Green New Deal

Ohio Dem Flip-Flops on Green New Deal

Ohio Democrat Kate Schroder dismissed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 's ( D. , N.Y. ) `` Green New Deal '' just months after saying she would support the legislation .
During a Thursday debate hosted by the Cincinnati Enquirer , Schroder said she has been `` very clear '' that she does `` not support the Green New Deal . ''
Months prior , however , the Democrat was captured on video saying she `` totally , totally '' supports the legislation .
`` Oh yeah , oh yeah , totally , totally , yes , '' Schroder said after being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Green New Deal '' at a Feb. 19 League of Women Voters candidate forum .
`` We 've got to be a leader on that .
Like , nothing else is gon na matter . ''
Schroder on Thursday dismissed her comments as part of a `` secretly videotaped conversation '' after they were read by her Republican opponent , Rep. Steve Chabot ( R. , Ohio ) .
While the Democrat said her assertion that `` nothing else is gon na matter '' referred to climate change in general , she did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ totally , totally '' would support the Green New Deal .
Chabot criticized Schroder 's apparent support for the legislation , calling the Green New Deal `` crazy '' and `` left-wing . ''
`` Why is the Green New Deal such a big deal in this race ?
Because it 's crazy policy which would essentially bankrupt this country because it 's so expensive , and we get so little for it , '' Chabot said .
`` The Green New Deal alone is $ 93 trillion .
… What do we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we 'll reduce the temperature here by maybe a degree , somewhere between 50 and 100 years from now . ''
Schroder , who did not respond to a request for comment , is not the first Democrat to distance herself from the Green New Deal after previously expressing support .
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said he does not `` support the Green New Deal '' during the first presidential debate in September .
Biden 's campaign website , meanwhile , calls the legislation `` a crucial framework for meeting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Today ‘ s Susan Page highlighted the apparent contradiction during Wednesday 's vice presidential debate , asking Sen. Kamala Harris ( D. , Calif. ) , `` What exactly would be the stance of Biden-Harris administration toward the Green New Deal ? ''
Harris , whose Senate website notes that she is a `` supporter and original co-sponsor of the original Green New Deal resolution , '' responded by pivoting to Biden 's economic plan .
`` First of all , I will repeat , and the American people know , that Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris said .
`` Joe Biden has been very clear that he thinks about growing jobs , which is why he will not increase taxes for anyone who makes less than $ 400,000 a year . ''
Biden previously said that fracking would be `` eliminated '' if he became president .
Harris endorsed a ban on fracking during her failed presidential run .
Schroder , a former health care consultant , will face Chabot in November after winning her April primary by roughly 35 points .
Chabot has outraised the Democrat thus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million to Schroder 's roughly $ 1.4 million .
Schroder reported raising $ 1.7 million in the third quarter of 2020 , while Chabot is yet to announce his latest fundraising haul .
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as a `` toss up . ''

Ohio Democrat Kate Schroder dismissed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D., N.Y.) "Green New Deal" just months after saying she would support the legislation.
During a Thursday debate hosted by the Cincinnati Enquirer, Schroder said she has been "very clear" that she does "not support the Green New Deal." Months prior, however, the Democrat was captured on video saying she "totally, totally" supports the legislation.
"Oh yeah, oh yeah, totally, totally, yes," Schroder said after being asked if she "would support the Green New Deal" at a Feb. 19 League of Women Voters candidate forum. "We've got to be a leader on that. Like, nothing else is gonna matter."
Schroder on Thursday dismissed her comments as part of a "secretly videotaped conversation" after they were read by her Republican opponent, Rep. Steve Chabot (R., Ohio). While the Democrat said her assertion that "nothing else is gonna matter" referred to climate change in general, she did not address her statement that she "totally, totally" would support the Green New Deal.
Chabot criticized Schroder's apparent support for the legislation, calling the Green New Deal "crazy" and "left-wing."
"Why is the Green New Deal such a big deal in this race? Because it's crazy policy which would essentially bankrupt this country because it's so expensive, and we get so little for it," Chabot said. "The Green New Deal alone is $93 trillion. ... What do we get for it? The estimates are, we'll reduce the temperature here by maybe a degree, somewhere between 50 and 100 years from now."
Schroder, who did not respond to a request for comment, is not the first Democrat to distance herself from the Green New Deal after previously expressing support. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said he does not "support the Green New Deal" during the first presidential debate in September. Biden's campaign website, meanwhile, calls the legislation "a crucial framework for meeting the climate challenges we face."
USA Today's Susan Page highlighted the apparent contradiction during Wednesday's vice presidential debate, asking Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.), "What exactly would be the stance of Biden-Harris administration toward the Green New Deal?" Harris, whose Senate website notes that she is a "supporter and original co-sponsor of the original Green New Deal resolution," responded by pivoting to Biden's economic plan.
"First of all, I will repeat, and the American people know, that Joe Biden will not ban fracking," Harris said. "Joe Biden has been very clear that he thinks about growing jobs, which is why he will not increase taxes for anyone who makes less than $400,000 a year."
Biden previously said that fracking would be "eliminated" if he became president. Harris endorsed a ban on fracking during her failed presidential run.
Schroder, a former health care consultant, will face Chabot in November after winning her April primary by roughly 35 points. Chabot has outraised the Democrat thus far, taking in nearly $2 million to Schroder's roughly $1.4 million. Schroder reported raising $1.7 million in the third quarter of 2020, while Chabot is yet to announce his latest fundraising haul. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as a "toss up."


freebeacon--2020-10-09--Maryland School District Requests ‘Anti-Racist Audit’ to Help Students ‘Resist Systems of Oppression

Maryland School District Requests ‘Anti-Racist Audit’ to Help Students ‘Resist Systems of Oppression’

Maryland 's Montgomery County Public Schools district is requesting a `` systemwide anti-racist audit '' to determine whether it is doing enough to help students `` resist systems of oppression . ''
According to a `` request for proposal '' document obtained by the Washington Free Beacon , the school district is looking for a consultant `` with deep knowledge and expertise in … racial equity '' to examine the school district 's culture , hiring practices , and pre-K-12 curriculum .
The document requests that consultants investigate whether the district 's curriculum `` strengthens students ' sense of racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helps students understand and resist systems of oppression , and empower students to see themselves as change agents . ''
It also asks if the district is taking a sufficiently `` proactive approach '' to issues of implicit bias , even though the racial makeup of the district is majority minority .
Following the Black Lives Matter protests this summer , the school district said it would reevaluate its social studies curriculum to address systemic racism , `` particularly for … younger students . ''
The school district already operates an `` Equity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counteract `` bias … oppression , and inequity . ''
Marya Hay , a member of the unit , posted photos online of the `` equity '' training that staff undergo .
One photo showed school district employees defining `` whiteness '' as `` a systemic , racial , social construct backed by no scientific evidence , created to benefit white people by unequally distributing power and privilege through society 's norms , traditions , and institutions . ''
Other school districts in the Washington , D.C. , suburbs are conducting similar initiatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Va. , has spent $ 422,500 on equity training inspired by critical race theory , which claims racism is inherent in every aspect of America .
Montgomery County Public Schools ' top-down push for `` anti-racist '' practices has already manifested in several of the district 's schools .
Clarksburg High School posted a race-and-equity pledge inspired by the writings of Ibram X. Kendi , in which staff promised to engage in a `` race-conscious community '' and support `` anti-racist policies . ''
The school district anticipates it will announce its official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 .
According to the `` request for proposal , '' the district will offer a yearlong contract with the anti-racist consulting group .
The request did not disclose a budget for the contract .

Maryland's Montgomery County Public Schools district is requesting a "systemwide anti-racist audit" to determine whether it is doing enough to help students "resist systems of oppression."
According to a "request for proposal" document obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, the school district is looking for a consultant "with deep knowledge and expertise in … racial equity" to examine the school district's culture, hiring practices, and pre-K-12 curriculum. The document requests that consultants investigate whether the district's curriculum "strengthens students' sense of racial, ethnic, and tribal identities, helps students understand and resist systems of oppression, and empower students to see themselves as change agents." It also asks if the district is taking a sufficiently "proactive approach" to issues of implicit bias, even though the racial makeup of the district is majority minority.
Following the Black Lives Matter protests this summer, the school district said it would reevaluate its social studies curriculum to address systemic racism, "particularly for ... younger students." The school district already operates an "Equity Initiatives Unit," which aims to counteract "bias ... oppression, and inequity." Marya Hay, a member of the unit, posted photos online of the "equity" training that staff undergo. One photo showed school district employees defining "whiteness" as "a systemic, racial, social construct backed by no scientific evidence, created to benefit white people by unequally distributing power and privilege through society's norms, traditions, and institutions."
Other school districts in the Washington, D.C., suburbs are conducting similar initiatives. Since 2018, Loudoun County, Va., has spent $422,500 on equity training inspired by critical race theory, which claims racism is inherent in every aspect of America.
Montgomery County Public Schools' top-down push for "anti-racist" practices has already manifested in several of the district's schools. Clarksburg High School posted a race-and-equity pledge inspired by the writings of Ibram X. Kendi, in which staff promised to engage in a "race-conscious community" and support "anti-racist policies."
The school district anticipates it will announce its official partnership with an anti-racist consultant on Oct. 28. According to the "request for proposal," the district will offer a yearlong contract with the anti-racist consulting group. The request did not disclose a budget for the contract.


freebeacon--2020-10-09--Data Reveal How Yale Discriminates Based on Race

Black applicants to Yale University are up to eight times more likely to be admitted than Asian applicants with the same level of academic skill , a disparity that the Department of Justice says violates federal law .
In a lawsuit filed Thursday afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut , the DOJ alleged that Yale was in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act , which prohibits racial discrimination by institutions that receive federal funds .
In its 32-page complaint , the department documents Yale 's use of race as a factor at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details statistical evidence that students of similar academic skill but different racial groups face wildly divergent admissions chances .
The suit follows DOJ 's official request that Yale cease its use of race as an admissions factor , itself the result of a multi-year investigation into Yale 's admissions practices .
Although the two institutions negotiated extensively since that request was made in August , a DOJ official told the Washington Free Beacon , Yale has refused to alter its admissions process , necessitating legal action .
Yale president Peter Salovey contested the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community , writing that they were claimed on `` inaccurate statistics and unfounded conclusions , '' and reiterated his view that `` Yale does not discriminate against applicants of any race or ethnicity . ''
If accurate , DOJ 's allegations provide new evidence of systematic racial discrimination against Asian and white applicants within the Ivy League .
As with other pending lawsuits , the charges could give the most conservative Supreme Court in a generation the chance to upend a 40-year-old system of affirmative action .
But the election of Democratic presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case gutted , putting the fate of thousands of higher education applicants on the line in the coming election .
Current Supreme Court precedent carves a narrow path for schools to engage in affirmative action , permitting the use of race as one of many factors in a holistic judgment of a candidate but prohibiting the systematic use of racial quotas .
DOJ maintains that Yale is engaged in the latter , citing data the school released to the department and as part of annual reporting to the Department of Education .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DOJ argues , Yale has consistently ensured that its freshman class is between roughly 6 and 8 percent black , an illegal `` racial balancing . ''
Salovey claimed that over the same period the racial composition of admitted applicants `` fluctuated significantly for all groups '' but did not address the concerns about black students specifically .
Data on the 2017 and 2018 applicant pools , released by Yale to DOJ , show bigger signs of discrimination .
In those classes , about 6.4 percent of white and Asian applicants were admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 9.5 percent of black applicants .
But those numbers mask gaping disparities that become apparent when comparing applicants ' academic achievement , as measured by an `` academic index '' in use across the Ivy League .
By that measure , the admissions chances of students of similar academic achievement vary wildly based on race .
Black applicants above the second decile of academic skill are consistently five to eight times more likely to be admitted compared with their Asian counterparts ; Hispanic applicants are two to four times more likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argues , are driven by Yale 's use of race at every step of the admissions process .
According to the complaint , application readers are encouraged to use race as an explicit factor in grading the quality of an applicant ; Yale also regularly `` bops '' white and Asian applicants , replacing them with black or Hispanic applicants to maintain the class 's racial composition .
Yale may now move to dismiss or file an answer to the DOJ 's complaint .
A motion for dismissal will result in a brief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Yale answers the complaint , then DOJ expects to begin the process of discovery , using the power of the courts to extract the admissions data that Yale has thus far not released .
At present , the DOJ official said , the department expects that this case could go all the way to the Supreme Court , giving a more sympathetic body the chance to revisit affirmative action rulings and the first opportunity to consider how the Civil Rights Act governs affirmative action at private institutions .
That makes Thursday 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to challenge universities ' engagement with race .
In September , the Department of Education announced it would investigate Princeton University for violation of Title VI after the school 's president claimed that `` racism '' persists at Princeton .
And a coterie of Asian students and parents under the banner of Students for Fair Admissions are continuing their legal battle against Harvard University , alleging the same unfair treatment that Asian applicants to Yale face .
`` We are grateful the U.S. Justice Department has filed this important civil rights lawsuit against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blum told the Free Beacon .
`` For too long , agencies of the federal government have turned a blind eye to the blatant discrimination directed against Asian Americans and whites in college admissions policies .
It is our hope that this lawsuit eventually will contribute to the end of racial classifications and preferences at all U.S. colleges and universities . ''
One thing , however , could stand between DOJ and successful litigation against Yale : the November election .
Democrats have been broadly critical of President Donald Trump 's prosecutorial focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a partisan attack .
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment as to whether or not Biden would continue the lawsuit against Yale if elected .

Black applicants to Yale University are up to eight times more likely to be admitted than Asian applicants with the same level of academic skill, a disparity that the Department of Justice says violates federal law.
In a lawsuit filed Thursday afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, the DOJ alleged that Yale was in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination by institutions that receive federal funds. In its 32-page complaint, the department documents Yale's use of race as a factor at every step of its admissions process and details statistical evidence that students of similar academic skill but different racial groups face wildly divergent admissions chances.
The suit follows DOJ's official request that Yale cease its use of race as an admissions factor, itself the result of a multi-year investigation into Yale's admissions practices. Although the two institutions negotiated extensively since that request was made in August, a DOJ official told the Washington Free Beacon, Yale has refused to alter its admissions process, necessitating legal action.
Yale president Peter Salovey contested the charges in a letter to the Yale community, writing that they were claimed on "inaccurate statistics and unfounded conclusions," and reiterated his view that "Yale does not discriminate against applicants of any race or ethnicity."
If accurate, DOJ's allegations provide new evidence of systematic racial discrimination against Asian and white applicants within the Ivy League. As with other pending lawsuits, the charges could give the most conservative Supreme Court in a generation the chance to upend a 40-year-old system of affirmative action. But the election of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden could also see the case gutted, putting the fate of thousands of higher education applicants on the line in the coming election.
Current Supreme Court precedent carves a narrow path for schools to engage in affirmative action, permitting the use of race as one of many factors in a holistic judgment of a candidate but prohibiting the systematic use of racial quotas. DOJ maintains that Yale is engaged in the latter, citing data the school released to the department and as part of annual reporting to the Department of Education.
For at least the past two decades, DOJ argues, Yale has consistently ensured that its freshman class is between roughly 6 and 8 percent black, an illegal "racial balancing." Salovey claimed that over the same period the racial composition of admitted applicants "fluctuated significantly for all groups" but did not address the concerns about black students specifically.
Data on the 2017 and 2018 applicant pools, released by Yale to DOJ, show bigger signs of discrimination. In those classes, about 6.4 percent of white and Asian applicants were admitted, compared with 8.3 percent of Hispanic and 9.5 percent of black applicants. But those numbers mask gaping disparities that become apparent when comparing applicants' academic achievement, as measured by an "academic index" in use across the Ivy League.
By that measure, the admissions chances of students of similar academic achievement vary wildly based on race. Black applicants above the second decile of academic skill are consistently five to eight times more likely to be admitted compared with their Asian counterparts; Hispanic applicants are two to four times more likely to be admitted.
These disparities, DOJ argues, are driven by Yale's use of race at every step of the admissions process. According to the complaint, application readers are encouraged to use race as an explicit factor in grading the quality of an applicant; Yale also regularly "bops" white and Asian applicants, replacing them with black or Hispanic applicants to maintain the class's racial composition.
Yale may now move to dismiss or file an answer to the DOJ's complaint. A motion for dismissal will result in a brief before a judge by both sides; if Yale answers the complaint, then DOJ expects to begin the process of discovery, using the power of the courts to extract the admissions data that Yale has thus far not released.
At present, the DOJ official said, the department expects that this case could go all the way to the Supreme Court, giving a more sympathetic body the chance to revisit affirmative action rulings and the first opportunity to consider how the Civil Rights Act governs affirmative action at private institutions.
That makes Thursday's lawsuit one of several legal actions seeking to challenge universities' engagement with race. In September, the Department of Education announced it would investigate Princeton University for violation of Title VI after the school's president claimed that "racism" persists at Princeton. And a coterie of Asian students and parents under the banner of Students for Fair Admissions are continuing their legal battle against Harvard University, alleging the same unfair treatment that Asian applicants to Yale face.
"We are grateful the U.S. Justice Department has filed this important civil rights lawsuit against Yale University," SFFA president Edward Blum told the Free Beacon. "For too long, agencies of the federal government have turned a blind eye to the blatant discrimination directed against Asian Americans and whites in college admissions policies. It is our hope that this lawsuit eventually will contribute to the end of racial classifications and preferences at all U.S. colleges and universities."
One thing, however, could stand between DOJ and successful litigation against Yale: the November election. Democrats have been broadly critical of President Donald Trump's prosecutorial focus on higher education, dismissing it as a partisan attack. The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment as to whether or not Biden would continue the lawsuit against Yale if elected.


freebeacon--2020-10-09--Nearly 50,000 Ohio Voters Receive Wrong Ballots

Nearly 50,000 voters in Ohio received the wrong absentee ballots this week , the Columbus Dispatch reported Friday .
Franklin County elections director Ed Leonard said an elections worker , who has yet to be identified , improperly changed the settings on a machine that matches ballots and envelopes , causing 49,669 Franklin County voters to receive ballots for elections in other cities .
This comes during a contentious election cycle , where more people than ever are voting by mail due to health concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic .
Voters will receive new ballots that include secrecy envelopes marked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casting more than one ballot .
More than 237,000 voters have requested absentee ballots in Franklin County , which includes Ohio 's capital city , Columbus .
President Donald Trump tweeted Friday that the ballot issues in Franklin County demonstrate how the election is `` rigged . ''
Though many mainstream media outlets have dismissed concerns over mail-in voter fraud as a hoax propagated by the president , problems with mail-in voting have already begun to pop up across the country .
A printing error in New York City caused nearly 100,000 voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , address , and voter ID printed on them .
Similar errors in Michigan and Washington have affected nearly 6,500 ballots combined .
And civilian voters across New York City received mail-in ballots marked for military use .

Nearly 50,000 voters in Ohio received the wrong absentee ballots this week, the Columbus Dispatch reported Friday.
Franklin County elections director Ed Leonard said an elections worker, who has yet to be identified, improperly changed the settings on a machine that matches ballots and envelopes, causing 49,669 Franklin County voters to receive ballots for elections in other cities. This comes during a contentious election cycle, where more people than ever are voting by mail due to health concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
Voters will receive new ballots that include secrecy envelopes marked with a barcode to prevent voters from casting more than one ballot. More than 237,000 voters have requested absentee ballots in Franklin County, which includes Ohio's capital city, Columbus.
President Donald Trump tweeted Friday that the ballot issues in Franklin County demonstrate how the election is "rigged." Though many mainstream media outlets have dismissed concerns over mail-in voter fraud as a hoax propagated by the president, problems with mail-in voting have already begun to pop up across the country. A printing error in New York City caused nearly 100,000 voters to receive ballots with the wrong name, address, and voter ID printed on them. Similar errors in Michigan and Washington have affected nearly 6,500 ballots combined. And civilian voters across New York City received mail-in ballots marked for military use.


freebeacon--2020-10-09--Advocates for Defunding Police Drop Millions to Boost Dem Senate Candidates

A progressive group that advocates for defunding the police is dropping millions of dollars into three competitive Senate races to boost Democrats with less than four weeks to go until the elections .
MoveOn announced it is undertaking a $ 2 million ad blitz attacking Sens .
Lindsey Graham ( R. , S.C. ) , Martha McSally ( R. , Ariz. ) , and Susan Collins ( R. , Maine ) , who are all locked in tight Senate races , Politico reported .
The ad buy is MoveOn 's first foray into Senate races this cycle and comes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's upper chamber in November .
The campaign will attempt to paint Graham as a `` phony , '' knock McSally over health care , and hit Collins for not doing enough to separate herself from President Donald Trump .
MoveOn has spent months lambasting law enforcement officers and has advocated for stripping police of funding following the death of George Floyd .
`` In defense of Black life , we are demanding that the local government defund the police , that payments to family members come from police pensions , transparency and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police [ to ] stand down against protesters , '' MoveOn tweeted in June at the height of protests .
Each Democratic candidate benefiting from MoveOn 's cash has steered clear from calling for defunding the police , an issue that may not go over well with a large swath of constituents .
MoveOn has also posted videos on `` understanding the racist roots of police violence . ''
MoveOn is likewise part of a left-wing coalition that is preparing for postelection violence .
The liberal group is a member of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mobilize for `` civil and political '' unrest following the elections if Joe Biden does not win in a landslide .

A progressive group that advocates for defunding the police is dropping millions of dollars into three competitive Senate races to boost Democrats with less than four weeks to go until the elections.
MoveOn announced it is undertaking a $2 million ad blitz attacking Sens. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), Martha McSally (R., Ariz.), and Susan Collins (R., Maine), who are all locked in tight Senate races, Politico reported.
The ad buy is MoveOn's first foray into Senate races this cycle and comes as Democrats look to flip control of Congress's upper chamber in November. The campaign will attempt to paint Graham as a "phony," knock McSally over health care, and hit Collins for not doing enough to separate herself from President Donald Trump.
MoveOn has spent months lambasting law enforcement officers and has advocated for stripping police of funding following the death of George Floyd.
"In defense of Black life, we are demanding that the local government defund the police, that payments to family members come from police pensions, transparency and communication with the families, and for the police [to] stand down against protesters," MoveOn tweeted in June at the height of protests.
In defense of Black life, we are demanding that the local government defund the police, that payments to family members come from police pensions, transparency and communications with the families, and for the police stand down against protestors. #BlackLivesMatter — MoveOn (@MoveOn) June 5, 2020
Each Democratic candidate benefiting from MoveOn's cash has steered clear from calling for defunding the police, an issue that may not go over well with a large swath of constituents. MoveOn has also posted videos on "understanding the racist roots of police violence."
MoveOn is likewise part of a left-wing coalition that is preparing for postelection violence. The liberal group is a member of the Fight Back Table, which is planning to mobilize for "civil and political" unrest following the elections if Joe Biden does not win in a landslide.


freebeacon--2020-10-09--China Exploits Students Abroad to Steal American Tech, New Report Says

The Chinese Communist Party has developed a complex network to coerce students abroad into stealing American technology , according to a new congressional report .
For years , China has tried to strengthen its military by stealing American science and technology research , and `` has built a sprawling ecosystem of structures , programs , and incentives to coopt and exploit Chinese students and scholars for the [ science and technology ] they acquire abroad , '' the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission reported Wednesday .
Since 2006 , the number of Chinese students in America has increased by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant minority of these students , who primarily study in scientific and mathematical fields , pose a security threat to the United States for theft of American research .
China often requires its students to engage in operations that benefit the Chinese Communist Party as a condition of their study abroad program , according to the report .
Much of the technology stolen by these students is sent by backchannels to companies and institutions associated with the Chinese military , providing Chinese armed forces an innovative edge .
`` In effect , U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will work in a range of organizations antithetical to U.S. national security interests , including the [ People 's Liberation Army ] , '' the report reads .
The large number of Chinese students who enter the United States each year has presented a challenge for vetting purposes .
Due to a backlog of cases and insufficient personnel , U.S. federal authorities have denied less than 5 percent of flagged visa applicants from China , according to the report .
China is currently the largest perpetrator of intellectual property theft globally and uses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campus , consulates , and government initiatives like the Thousand Talents Program to commit unprecedented amounts of data and technology theft .
The Trump administration has made decoupling from Chinese influence in nearly all economic and academic areas a major priority .
In an August letter , the State Department warned the governing boards of America 's colleges and universities of China 's threat to American higher education .
`` The CCP 's actions pose an immense threat to academic freedom and to human dignity , '' the letter reads .
`` While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is a threat that unites us all . ''

The Chinese Communist Party has developed a complex network to coerce students abroad into stealing American technology, according to a new congressional report.
For years, China has tried to strengthen its military by stealing American science and technology research, and "has built a sprawling ecosystem of structures, programs, and incentives to coopt and exploit Chinese students and scholars for the [science and technology] they acquire abroad," the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission reported Wednesday.
Since 2006, the number of Chinese students in America has increased by a factor of five, and a significant minority of these students, who primarily study in scientific and mathematical fields, pose a security threat to the United States for theft of American research. China often requires its students to engage in operations that benefit the Chinese Communist Party as a condition of their study abroad program, according to the report. Much of the technology stolen by these students is sent by backchannels to companies and institutions associated with the Chinese military, providing Chinese armed forces an innovative edge.
"In effect, U.S. universities are training scientists and engineers who will work in a range of organizations antithetical to U.S. national security interests, including the [People's Liberation Army]," the report reads.
The large number of Chinese students who enter the United States each year has presented a challenge for vetting purposes. Due to a backlog of cases and insufficient personnel, U.S. federal authorities have denied less than 5 percent of flagged visa applicants from China, according to the report.
China is currently the largest perpetrator of intellectual property theft globally and uses a complex network of Confucius Institutes on campus, consulates, and government initiatives like the Thousand Talents Program to commit unprecedented amounts of data and technology theft.
The Trump administration has made decoupling from Chinese influence in nearly all economic and academic areas a major priority. In an August letter, the State Department warned the governing boards of America's colleges and universities of China's threat to American higher education.
"The CCP's actions pose an immense threat to academic freedom and to human dignity," the letter reads. "While Americans may differ on many issues, this is a threat that unites us all."