freebeacon--2020-12-28--2020 Man of the Year: Gary Lenius

2020 Man of the Year: Gary Lenius

You might remember the headlines from last March : `` A Man Drank Fish Tank Cleaner After Hearing Trump ’ s ‘ Medical Advice . '
'' The story was as bizarre as the headlines promised .
Gary Lenius , 68 , was dead and his wife Wanda hospitalized after they ingested a parasiticide used in tropical fish tanks , which contained chloroquine .
The couple was supposedly inspired by Donald Trump ’ s claims that chloroquine was effective at treating the coronavirus , the wife told NBC News from her hospital bed .
The news immediately captured the interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their view that Donald Trump is the single greatest threat to global public health .
The man ’ s death also presented new and creative ways to potentially get Trump out of office .
Sure , the president survived his impeachment , but now that he basically murdered someone how about putting him on trial at the Hague for `` crimes against humanity '' ?
The media portrayal of Gary bothered his friends deeply .
Gary Lenius was a serious man .
He was level-headed .
He had worked hard , rising through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a senior engineer at John Deere .
`` I would like people to know that Gary was not the fool that some of the media stories and comments are depicting him to be , '' one friend told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` I really do n't think Gary knew what he was taking . ''
As it turned out , the man who died , Gary Lenius , didn ’ t drink the chloroquine because he was a Trump supporter .
He drank it because it was given to him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife , Wanda Lenius , who was a prolific donor to Democrats , including a `` pro-science resistance '' group that was highly critical of the president ’ s coronavirus policies .
Wanda told the Free Beacon they decided to take it because `` we did see that they were using it in China and stuff . ''
Gary ’ s marriage wasn ’ t perfect .
Then again , whose is ?
Wanda , years earlier , was arrested for allegedly trying to club him with a stake-mounted birdhouse .
Her therapist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she had psychological issues that could send her into uncontrollable rage attacks .
Those who knew the couple had stories .
There was the time Wanda allegedly destroyed her husband ’ s laptop because he downloaded the wrong software update onto her computer .
And the time she reportedly smashed his treasured , hand-built model aircraft collection because he came home late for a meal .
`` Gary did not get angry , '' said a friend .
`` He simply junked the planes that were not repairable and fixed the rest .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would never get upset , he just accepted what happened and carried on . ''
When Gary retired from John Deere a few years ago , he and Wanda moved from the Midwest to sunny Arizona .
His free time was filled with activities : tennis , nights out at restaurants , flying model aircraft .
He made some good friends down there .
Despite Wanda ’ s disapproval , he had been kicking around the idea of buying a Corvette .
Whatever happened that night in March , Gary ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pundits and reporters tried to turn him into a political punchline .
We would all do well to remember that there ’ s more to a story than the headlines suggest—sometimes a lot more .
An intelligent man , a beloved friend , a patient husband , a life .
Gary Lenius is a Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year .

You might remember the headlines from last March: "A Man Drank Fish Tank Cleaner After Hearing Trump’s ‘Medical Advice.'"
The story was as bizarre as the headlines promised. Gary Lenius, 68, was dead and his wife Wanda hospitalized after they ingested a parasiticide used in tropical fish tanks, which contained chloroquine. The couple was supposedly inspired by Donald Trump’s claims that chloroquine was effective at treating the coronavirus, the wife told NBC News from her hospital bed.
The news immediately captured the interest of the press because it summed up their view that Donald Trump is the single greatest threat to global public health. The man’s death also presented new and creative ways to potentially get Trump out of office. Sure, the president survived his impeachment, but now that he basically murdered someone how about putting him on trial at the Hague for "crimes against humanity"?
The media portrayal of Gary bothered his friends deeply. Gary Lenius was a serious man. He was level-headed. He had worked hard, rising through the ranks over 30 years to become a senior engineer at John Deere.
"I would like people to know that Gary was not the fool that some of the media stories and comments are depicting him to be," one friend told the Washington Free Beacon. "I really don't think Gary knew what he was taking."
As it turned out, the man who died, Gary Lenius, didn’t drink the chloroquine because he was a Trump supporter. He drank it because it was given to him, mixed into a soda, by his wife, Wanda Lenius, who was a prolific donor to Democrats, including a "pro-science resistance" group that was highly critical of the president’s coronavirus policies. Wanda told the Free Beacon they decided to take it because "we did see that they were using it in China and stuff."
Gary’s marriage wasn’t perfect. Then again, whose is? Wanda, years earlier, was arrested for allegedly trying to club him with a stake-mounted birdhouse. Her therapist, in an unrelated lawsuit, claimed she had psychological issues that could send her into uncontrollable rage attacks.
Those who knew the couple had stories. There was the time Wanda allegedly destroyed her husband’s laptop because he downloaded the wrong software update onto her computer. And the time she reportedly smashed his treasured, hand-built model aircraft collection because he came home late for a meal. "Gary did not get angry," said a friend. "He simply junked the planes that were not repairable and fixed the rest. That is the Gary I knew, he would never get upset, he just accepted what happened and carried on."
When Gary retired from John Deere a few years ago, he and Wanda moved from the Midwest to sunny Arizona. His free time was filled with activities: tennis, nights out at restaurants, flying model aircraft. He made some good friends down there. Despite Wanda’s disapproval, he had been kicking around the idea of buying a Corvette.
Whatever happened that night in March, Gary’s death was a tragedy. Sadly many pundits and reporters tried to turn him into a political punchline. We would all do well to remember that there’s more to a story than the headlines suggest—sometimes a lot more. An intelligent man, a beloved friend, a patient husband, a life. Gary Lenius is a Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year.


freebeacon--2020-12-28--Camper Recounts Abuse at Warnock Church Camp

Among the indignities 12-year-old Anthony Washington endured at the church camp overseen by Reverend Raphael Warnock : counselors who tossed urine on him and locked him outside his cabin overnight .
Washington , now 30 , recounted the events in an interview with the Washington Free Beacon and said his experience at the camp resulted in a 2003 lawsuit that ended two years later , when Washington says he and his family received a large financial settlement .
Washington ’ s account of the 2002 events provides the first direct insight into the alleged abuse and neglect that transpired at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as senior pastor of Maryland 's Douglas Memorial Community church , and raises new questions for the Democrat , who is currently vying for a Senate seat in Georgia .
Washington expressed surprise when he was told Warnock is currently running for U.S. Senate in Georgia .
`` I don ’ t think nobody like [ Warnock ] should be running for damn Senate nowhere , running a camp like that , '' he told the Free Beacon .
`` He should not be running for government . ''
Warnock has faced scrutiny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a child abuse investigation by Maryland State Police that centered on the camp 's treatment of children .
Washington 's account is buttressed by records from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene , obtained by the Free Beacon earlier this month , which indicated that campers were routinely left unsupervised ; staffers were not subject to required criminal background check ; and at least five cases of child abuse or neglect were brought against the camp 's director , who was ultimately forced to resign .
Warnock served as senior pastor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 2001 until around 2005 .
His job included overseeing the expansion of the church ’ s sleepaway camp , Camp Farthest Out , which served inner city children .
Warnock 's campaign did not respond to a request for comment .
The Free Beacon reached out to Washington and members of his family because his name appears on a lawsuit filed against Warnock , the camp , and several of the counselors .
`` I just wanted to get the hell away from that camp , '' Washington said in an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spend another day there .
… That camp was real messed up . ''
A court docket from the case shows that lawyers from both sides moved to dismiss the case `` with prejudice '' in May 2005 , a resolution that frequently occurs when lawsuits are settled out of court .
Officials from the courthouse and the Maryland state archives told the Free Beacon that they are unable to locate any records from the case .
The lawyer who represented Washington ’ s family said he was unable to discuss the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s sister , Dominique , who also attended Camp Farthest Out the summer her brother says he was abused , corroborated the family ’ s involvement in the lawsuit when contacted by the Free Beacon .
Another source close to the Washington family told the Free Beacon that the lawsuit was related to an incident when counselors `` poured urine on [ Anthony ] , at the camp . ''
Washington said the camp was his first extended trip away from his parents as a child , and his first time in such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two children because they had recently moved from California to Baltimore and she hoped they would make friends in the area , according to Washington .
Counselors were young , in their late teens or early 20s , and showed little interest in taking care of the campers , Washington said .
As a punishment for wetting his bed , he said a counselor forced him to spend the next night sleeping outside by himself on the basketball court .
`` I ’ m like , ‘ Hell no I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , ’ '' he said .
`` [ The counselors ] wouldn ’ t let me in the house , not at all .
… Shut the door to the cabin , locked it , '' he said .
`` It was dark .
There wasn ’ t nothing out there but the basketball court .
I ain ’ t never experienced nothing like that .
Like , you ’ re not in a tent , you ’ re not in nothing .
You ’ re just out , God knows where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him from a bucket they used when there wasn ’ t a bathroom nearby , he added .
`` I went through that experience myself .
I don ’ t even like talking about this shit .
That shit happened .
… It was like in a bucket .
They would keep that shit in a bucket , '' he said .
Washington said he saw counselors `` grab kids , '' but didn ’ t know the extent of abuse at the camp or whether others had experiences similar to his .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me , and that ’ s what I was worried about , me and my sister , '' he said .
Campers were prohibited from calling their parents , he said .
When he was finally able to tell his mother what happened , she was furious at the camp .
`` I can hear her in there , screaming at them , '' Washington said .
`` Next thing I knew , my mother was going to court .
… I thank my mother for doing what she did .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family eventually received a financial settlement in the case , said Washington .
At least three state agencies—the Maryland State Police , the Department of Social Services , and the Department of Health—looked into allegations of child abuse at the camp between 2002 and 2003 , according to government records obtained by the Free Beacon .
Warnock was arrested at Camp Farthest Out on July 31 , 2002 , after a Maryland state trooper said he repeatedly disrupted her interviews with counselors while she was investigating allegations of child abuse .
Warnock and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and obstructing '' police , but the charges were later dropped by the state prosecutor .
When inspectors from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene visited Camp Farthest Out in 2002 , they also found multiple health and safety violations .
`` Staff are not supervising campers , '' wrote a health inspector in a July 31 , 2002 , report .
`` Conversations w/ medical staff & pool staff indicate that this is routine among the counselors .
It was observed during inspection today . ''
In June 2003 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Out 's certificate to operate a youth camp .
One reason for the denial , according to the records , was that the camp failed to report at least five findings of child abuse levied against its director , Brian Carter , by the Department of Social Services .

Anthony Washington, now 30, tells the Washington Free Beacon counselors tossed urine on him, forced him to sleep outside
Among the indignities 12-year-old Anthony Washington endured at the church camp overseen by Reverend Raphael Warnock: counselors who tossed urine on him and locked him outside his cabin overnight.
Washington, now 30, recounted the events in an interview with the Washington Free Beacon and said his experience at the camp resulted in a 2003 lawsuit that ended two years later, when Washington says he and his family received a large financial settlement.
Washington’s account of the 2002 events provides the first direct insight into the alleged abuse and neglect that transpired at Camp Farthest Out, which Warnock oversaw as senior pastor of Maryland's Douglas Memorial Community church, and raises new questions for the Democrat, who is currently vying for a Senate seat in Georgia.
Washington expressed surprise when he was told Warnock is currently running for U.S. Senate in Georgia. "I don’t think nobody like [Warnock] should be running for damn Senate nowhere, running a camp like that," he told the Free Beacon. "He should not be running for government."
Warnock has faced scrutiny over his 2002 arrest for allegedly obstructing a child abuse investigation by Maryland State Police that centered on the camp's treatment of children. Washington's account is buttressed by records from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, obtained by the Free Beacon earlier this month, which indicated that campers were routinely left unsupervised; staffers were not subject to required criminal background check; and at least five cases of child abuse or neglect were brought against the camp's director, who was ultimately forced to resign.
Warnock served as senior pastor at Baltimore's Douglas Memorial Community Church from 2001 until around 2005. His job included overseeing the expansion of the church’s sleepaway camp, Camp Farthest Out, which served inner city children. Warnock's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
The Free Beacon reached out to Washington and members of his family because his name appears on a lawsuit filed against Warnock, the camp, and several of the counselors.
"I just wanted to get the hell away from that camp," Washington said in an interview. "I didn’t want to spend another day there. ... That camp was real messed up."
A court docket from the case shows that lawyers from both sides moved to dismiss the case "with prejudice" in May 2005, a resolution that frequently occurs when lawsuits are settled out of court. Officials from the courthouse and the Maryland state archives told the Free Beacon that they are unable to locate any records from the case. The lawyer who represented Washington’s family said he was unable to discuss the matter on the record.
Washington’s sister, Dominique, who also attended Camp Farthest Out the summer her brother says he was abused, corroborated the family’s involvement in the lawsuit when contacted by the Free Beacon. Another source close to the Washington family told the Free Beacon that the lawsuit was related to an incident when counselors "poured urine on [Anthony], at the camp."
Washington said the camp was his first extended trip away from his parents as a child, and his first time in such a rural environment. His mother sent the two children because they had recently moved from California to Baltimore and she hoped they would make friends in the area, according to Washington.
Counselors were young, in their late teens or early 20s, and showed little interest in taking care of the campers, Washington said. As a punishment for wetting his bed, he said a counselor forced him to spend the next night sleeping outside by himself on the basketball court.
"I’m like, ‘Hell no I’m not, it’s cold out there,’" he said. "[The counselors] wouldn’t let me in the house, not at all. ... Shut the door to the cabin, locked it," he said. "It was dark. There wasn’t nothing out there but the basketball court. I ain’t never experienced nothing like that. Like, you’re not in a tent, you’re not in nothing. You’re just out, God knows where."
Counselors also threw urine on him from a bucket they used when there wasn’t a bathroom nearby, he added.
"I went through that experience myself. I don’t even like talking about this shit. That shit happened. ... It was like in a bucket. They would keep that shit in a bucket," he said.
Washington said he saw counselors "grab kids," but didn’t know the extent of abuse at the camp or whether others had experiences similar to his. "I just knew that shit happened to me, and that’s what I was worried about, me and my sister," he said.
Campers were prohibited from calling their parents, he said. When he was finally able to tell his mother what happened, she was furious at the camp. "I can hear her in there, screaming at them," Washington said. "Next thing I knew, my mother was going to court. ... I thank my mother for doing what she did. She is a life saver."
The family eventually received a financial settlement in the case, said Washington.
At least three state agencies—the Maryland State Police, the Department of Social Services, and the Department of Health—looked into allegations of child abuse at the camp between 2002 and 2003, according to government records obtained by the Free Beacon.
Warnock was arrested at Camp Farthest Out on July 31, 2002, after a Maryland state trooper said he repeatedly disrupted her interviews with counselors while she was investigating allegations of child abuse. Warnock and another reverend were charged with "hindering and obstructing" police, but the charges were later dropped by the state prosecutor.
When inspectors from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene visited Camp Farthest Out in 2002, they also found multiple health and safety violations.
"Staff are not supervising campers," wrote a health inspector in a July 31, 2002, report. "Conversations w/ medical staff & pool staff indicate that this is routine among the counselors. It was observed during inspection today."
In June 2003, the Department of Health denied Camp Farthest Out's certificate to operate a youth camp. One reason for the denial, according to the records, was that the camp failed to report at least five findings of child abuse levied against its director, Brian Carter, by the Department of Social Services.


freebeacon--2020-12-29--2020 Man of the Year: MAGA Larry David

2020 Man of the Year: MAGA Larry David

The MAGA hat is this century 's peace sign—a beautiful red signal to other normal-thinking Americans that logical discourse is an option .
The guy in the red hat is n't going to give you grief for the carbon footprint of your new Ford Gas-Guzzler F3000 or the decision to gender it with the fresh set of camo Truck Nutz you slapped on it .
When the possibility of altercation presents itself , as it often does in these tense times , a MAGA hat could be the great diffuser .
That lesson was heard loud and clear this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideologically aligned ( and actually related ) to socialist Bernie Sanders , happened to have one of these magical MAGA hats in his car when he nearly ran a motorcycle off the road .
For most liberals , cutting off a red-blooded American tough guy in your electric BMW i3 while he 's hitting the open road on his hog could have some serious ramifications .
In fact , the man 's initial reaction was as follows : What the fuck are you doing ?
!
Mother fucker what the fuck ?
!
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
!
What the fuck are you doing , you little fucker ?
What the fuck ?
I should rip you out of that fucking car , you little shit !
But then Larry flipped on the magic MAGA hat , and POOF , conflict diffused .
`` Oh , just be more careful next time , okay ? ''
the man told Larry with a gentle smile .
And both of them went on their way .
Life turned out to be much easier for Larry when the people of Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just before he avoided getting beat to a pulp , he managed to get out of a lunch with an annoying liberal friend who refused to dine with someone in a MAGA hat .

The MAGA hat is this century's peace sign—a beautiful red signal to other normal-thinking Americans that logical discourse is an option. The guy in the red hat isn't going to give you grief for the carbon footprint of your new Ford Gas-Guzzler F3000 or the decision to gender it with the fresh set of camo Truck Nutz you slapped on it. When the possibility of altercation presents itself, as it often does in these tense times, a MAGA hat could be the great diffuser.
That lesson was heard loud and clear this year by Larry David, who despite being ideologically aligned (and actually related) to socialist Bernie Sanders, happened to have one of these magical MAGA hats in his car when he nearly ran a motorcycle off the road.
For most liberals, cutting off a red-blooded American tough guy in your electric BMW i3 while he's hitting the open road on his hog could have some serious ramifications. In fact, the man's initial reaction was as follows:
What the fuck are you doing?! Mother fucker what the fuck?! What are you trying to do man?! What the fuck are you doing, you little fucker? What the fuck? I should rip you out of that fucking car, you little shit!
But then Larry flipped on the magic MAGA hat, and POOF, conflict diffused.
"Oh, just be more careful next time, okay?" the man told Larry with a gentle smile.
And both of them went on their way.
Life turned out to be much easier for Larry when the people of Los Angeles viewed him as a MAGA follower. Just before he avoided getting beat to a pulp, he managed to get out of a lunch with an annoying liberal friend who refused to dine with someone in a MAGA hat.


freebeacon--2020-12-29--Fight Over Big Tech Gets Personal Among Conservatives

A new lawsuit is inflaming tensions on the right between the powerful , business-friendly Koch political network and a rising coalition of populist conservatives pushing for a crackdown on Silicon Valley .
The lawsuit seeks emails and other communications between staffers at a Commerce Department tech agency and outside policy gurus who support the Trump administration 's campaign to reign in social media behemoths like Facebook .
Some of those targeted even include Koch allies who say the well-heeled and influential network is trying to scare partners into silence .
At the heart of the dispute is Section 230 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies like Twitter from lawsuits over content that appears on their platforms .
Many Republicans , including President Trump , believe the shield should be amended or rescinded , citing bias on the part of social media giants .
Pro-business elements like the Koch network say that reform would threaten innovation and free speech and that they 're waging a determined fight against any changes .
`` They are so ideological about this particular issue , '' said the Conservative Partnership Institute 's Rachel Bovard , who is targeted in the lawsuit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bow to people that they work with . ''
The debate betrays the growing personal acrimony developing among Republicans over big tech .
The Koch network commands tens of millions of dollars and serves as an important gatekeeper for conservative Washington .
Its hard-knuckled approach to the Section 230 fight suggests a new level of bitterness that may divide Republicans well into the Biden administration .
Americans for Prosperity Foundation ( AFPF ) , a political group bankrolled by libertarian powerbroker Charles Koch , filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit in federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nathan Simington , two recently departed staffers at a Commerce Department agency that helped craft President Trump 's campaign against social media behemoths .
The lawsuit demands correspondences that mention either Section 230 or certain conservatives who support the administration 's anti-tech efforts , including Brent Bozell of the Media Research Center , Mike Davis of the Internet Accountability Project , and the Conservative Partnership Institute 's Bovard .
Bovard is also a fellow at Defense Priorities , a Koch-funded military-restraint group .
Davis works with Koch groups on a range of issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Releasing the requested records could foment conflict on the right , so the incoming Biden administration will have little reason to resist AFPF 's lawsuit .
That 's an especially sore point for certain conservatives who say Koch groups are all too willing to work with Democrats to punish conservatives .
`` The Koch network has gone through a strange leftwing transformation under President Trump , '' Davis told the Free Beacon .
`` They 've partnered with George Soros on foreign policy , they 've funded Democrat congressional candidates , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target conservatives on behalf of Google . ''
An amended version of the original suit requests communications `` relating to Section 230 , the Federal Communications Commission , and other search terms '' without mentioning particular names .
Bovard said the partial retreat did not assuage her concerns .
Before turning to federal court , AFPF first filed a FOIA request with the Commerce Department tech agency .
Lawyers for the Koch group said the agency has dragged its feet on document production and redacted certain records without explanation , which is n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request covers all mediums of communication , including texts or IMs , but the agency has only released emails .
`` As Mr. Candeub and his colleagues pressure the FCC and others to restrict our nation 's speech laws , the public has a right to know who is lobbying him , '' AFPF lawyer Eric Bolinder said in a statement .
`` FOIA requests are intended to provide the American public with transparency from their officials and this level of evasion is alarming . ''
Bolinder also said that an initial production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a private account .
`` The limited documents [ the agency ] has disclosed from our FOIA contain numerous redactions , raising serious concerns about what NTIA is withholding , '' Bolinder went on .
`` Mr. Candeub 's decision to forward government emails to his private mail account only heightens this concern—and the need for full transparency . ''
The Senate confirmed Simington as an FCC commissioner earlier this month .
Candeub left Commerce for a senior post at the Justice Department .
The case has been assigned to U.S. District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Department of Commerce in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia .

A new lawsuit is inflaming tensions on the right between the powerful, business-friendly Koch political network and a rising coalition of populist conservatives pushing for a crackdown on Silicon Valley.
The lawsuit seeks emails and other communications between staffers at a Commerce Department tech agency and outside policy gurus who support the Trump administration's campaign to reign in social media behemoths like Facebook. Some of those targeted even include Koch allies who say the well-heeled and influential network is trying to scare partners into silence.
At the heart of the dispute is Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects companies like Twitter from lawsuits over content that appears on their platforms. Many Republicans, including President Trump, believe the shield should be amended or rescinded, citing bias on the part of social media giants. Pro-business elements like the Koch network say that reform would threaten innovation and free speech and that they're waging a determined fight against any changes.
"They are so ideological about this particular issue," said the Conservative Partnership Institute's Rachel Bovard, who is targeted in the lawsuit. "It's a shot across the bow to people that they work with."
The debate betrays the growing personal acrimony developing among Republicans over big tech. The Koch network commands tens of millions of dollars and serves as an important gatekeeper for conservative Washington. Its hard-knuckled approach to the Section 230 fight suggests a new level of bitterness that may divide Republicans well into the Biden administration.
Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF), a political group bankrolled by libertarian powerbroker Charles Koch, filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit in federal court seeking communications from Adam Candeub and Nathan Simington, two recently departed staffers at a Commerce Department agency that helped craft President Trump's campaign against social media behemoths.
The lawsuit demands correspondences that mention either Section 230 or certain conservatives who support the administration's anti-tech efforts, including Brent Bozell of the Media Research Center, Mike Davis of the Internet Accountability Project, and the Conservative Partnership Institute's Bovard.
Bovard is also a fellow at Defense Priorities, a Koch-funded military-restraint group. Davis works with Koch groups on a range of issues, including judicial confirmations and criminal-justice reform.
Releasing the requested records could foment conflict on the right, so the incoming Biden administration will have little reason to resist AFPF's lawsuit. That's an especially sore point for certain conservatives who say Koch groups are all too willing to work with Democrats to punish conservatives.
"The Koch network has gone through a strange leftwing transformation under President Trump," Davis told the Free Beacon. "They've partnered with George Soros on foreign policy, they've funded Democrat congressional candidates, and now they proudly identify as watchdogs that target conservatives on behalf of Google."
An amended version of the original suit requests communications "relating to Section 230, the Federal Communications Commission, and other search terms" without mentioning particular names. Bovard said the partial retreat did not assuage her concerns.
Before turning to federal court, AFPF first filed a FOIA request with the Commerce Department tech agency. Lawyers for the Koch group said the agency has dragged its feet on document production and redacted certain records without explanation, which isn't permissible. They also said that their request covers all mediums of communication, including texts or IMs, but the agency has only released emails.
"This lawsuit is about government transparency and the public’s right to understand the rationale behind Commerce’s efforts to amend Section 230, a law that has played a pivotal role in America’s position as a global leader in tech," AFPF lawyer Eric Bolinder told the Washington Free Beacon. "AFPF amended this lawsuit to remove the names of private individuals and groups to make it clear it is not about personal attacks. This lawsuit is focused on the merits of policy and ensuring the internet remains open to free expression."
Bolinder also said that an initial production of documents showed Candeub forwarded government emails to a private account.
"The limited documents [the agency] has disclosed from our FOIA contain numerous redactions, raising serious concerns about what NTIA is withholding," Bolinder went on. "Mr. Candeub's decision to forward government emails to his private mail account only heightens this concern—and the need for full transparency."
The Senate confirmed Simington as an FCC commissioner earlier this month. Candeub left Commerce for a senior post at the Justice Department.
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth. The matter is Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Department of Commerce in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.


freebeacon--2020-12-29--2020 Men of the Year: Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan

One of the most vexing questions facing today 's public servants is when to cash in on time served .
In many cases , you only get one chance : After jumping from government to the private sector , there 's no turning back to Uncle Sam .
Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan have defied the norms .
Having served in the Obama administration , where they helped America lead from behind , both men seamlessly transitioned to what Calvin Coolidge once called `` the chief business of America '' : business .
Blinken , a former deputy secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then-vice president Joe Biden , founded the strategic consultancy WestExec , finding a way to retail his intimate knowledge of the federal bureaucracy to a list of clients that remains under lock and key .
Sullivan landed at Macro Advisory Partners , helping clients , including the ride-sharing giant Uber , manage geopolitical risk—or , in Uber 's case , strong-arming unions and working to water down a bill that would have required Uber to increase benefits for its employees .
Like WestExec , its clients remain a secret .
Now , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania Avenue—or , in Blinken 's case , to Foggy Bottom .
All without disclosing the corporate ties that might have sunk lesser men .
For finally fixing that revolving door , and for demonstrating that cis white men can still rise to the heights of power , we congratulate these Washington Free Beacon Men of the Year .

One of the most vexing questions facing today's public servants is when to cash in on time served.
In many cases, you only get one chance: After jumping from government to the private sector, there's no turning back to Uncle Sam.
Typically.
Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan have defied the norms. Having served in the Obama administration, where they helped America lead from behind, both men seamlessly transitioned to what Calvin Coolidge once called "the chief business of America": business.
Blinken, a former deputy secretary of state and top foreign policy adviser to then-vice president Joe Biden, founded the strategic consultancy WestExec, finding a way to retail his intimate knowledge of the federal bureaucracy to a list of clients that remains under lock and key.
Sullivan landed at Macro Advisory Partners, helping clients, including the ride-sharing giant Uber, manage geopolitical risk—or, in Uber's case, strong-arming unions and working to water down a bill that would have required Uber to increase benefits for its employees. Like WestExec, its clients remain a secret.
Now, the lead-from-behind coalition is heading back to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue—or, in Blinken's case, to Foggy Bottom. All without disclosing the corporate ties that might have sunk lesser men.
For finally fixing that revolving door, and for demonstrating that cis white men can still rise to the heights of power, we congratulate these Washington Free Beacon Men of the Year.


freebeacon--2020-12-29--2020 Man of the Year: Jared Leto

2020 Man of the Year: Jared Leto

This year will be remembered for all the things it was lacking , but there was one man who was a day late and a toilet paper roll short to the coronavirus arrival .
Twenty-twenty brought many unforeseen events : rapper Kanye West running for president of the United States ; playboy actor Zac Efron dating a barista ; and retired actor Rick Moranis getting punched in the face .
But this was all outweighed by Jared Leto , who was completely oblivious to the global pandemic .
The actor and rockstar , Leto , was immersed in a 12-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of patchouli and musky body odor .
He was living a hippie 's wet dream while the rest of the country started their sentences in lockdown .
Leto 's days were presumably filled with cleansing auras , aligning chakras , perineum sunning , and sleeping like Nosferatu to preserve his cherubic good looks .
The sweet bliss was over , however , when his vibes were messed with upon entering back into the real world .
The apocalypse that has been 2020 was too much so he did what every celebrity does and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , six days into national quarantine , Leto tweeted , `` Wow .
12 days ago I began a silent meditation in the desert .
We were totally isolated .
No phone , no communication , etc .
We had no idea what was happening outside the facility . ''
He followed it up with , `` Walked out yesterday into a very different world .
One that 's been changed forever .
Mind blowing—to say the least .
I 'm getting messages from friends and family all around the globe and catching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … Hope you and yours are ok. Sending positive energy to all .
Stay inside .
Stay safe . ''
Thankfully the gracious Leto let us all know to stay inside and be cautious .
We know we canceled all our big plans after his revelation and stopped licking door handles .
The actor is just shy of qualifying for AARP so he should be more concerned about current events .
Social Security is on his horizon and if COVID-19 does n't end soon , the actor may have the unemployment line in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mystery of how Jared Leto missed out on the tone-deaf celebrity remake version of `` Imagine '' has been solved !
For his complete oblivion to one of the year 's biggest disasters , Jared Leto is a Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year .

This year will be remembered for all the things it was lacking, but there was one man who was a day late and a toilet paper roll short to the coronavirus arrival. Twenty-twenty brought many unforeseen events: rapper Kanye West running for president of the United States; playboy actor Zac Efron dating a barista; and retired actor Rick Moranis getting punched in the face. But this was all outweighed by Jared Leto, who was completely oblivious to the global pandemic.
The actor and rockstar, Leto, was immersed in a 12-day silent wellness retreat filled with the aromas of patchouli and musky body odor. He was living a hippie's wet dream while the rest of the country started their sentences in lockdown. Leto's days were presumably filled with cleansing auras, aligning chakras, perineum sunning, and sleeping like Nosferatu to preserve his cherubic good looks.
The sweet bliss was over, however, when his vibes were messed with upon entering back into the real world. The apocalypse that has been 2020 was too much so he did what every celebrity does and got on Twitter. On March 17, six days into national quarantine, Leto tweeted, "Wow. 12 days ago I began a silent meditation in the desert. We were totally isolated. No phone, no communication, etc. We had no idea what was happening outside the facility." He followed it up with, "Walked out yesterday into a very different world. One that's been changed forever. Mind blowing—to say the least. I'm getting messages from friends and family all around the globe and catching up on what's going on. … Hope you and yours are ok. Sending positive energy to all. Stay inside. Stay safe."
Thankfully the gracious Leto let us all know to stay inside and be cautious. We know we canceled all our big plans after his revelation and stopped licking door handles. The actor is just shy of qualifying for AARP so he should be more concerned about current events. Social Security is on his horizon and if COVID-19 doesn't end soon, the actor may have the unemployment line in the near future. At least the mystery of how Jared Leto missed out on the tone-deaf celebrity remake version of "Imagine" has been solved! For his complete oblivion to one of the year's biggest disasters, Jared Leto is a Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year.


freebeacon--2020-12-29--2020 Man of the Year: Wide Receiver Who Made Catch of a Lifetime

Phillip Blanks spent four years playing wide receiver at Kalamazoo Central High School in Michigan before enlisting in the Marine Corps .
Those parts of his life would converge on a tragic July morning in Phoenix .
As a fire closed in , a desperate mother threw her three-year-old son from a third-story balcony .
Blanks sprinted barefoot toward the flames and made a miraculous diving catch to save the boy 's life .
`` As I was running , I see the baby getting ready to be tossed out of the patio , '' the Marine vet told MLive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s helicoptering in the air and I catch him . ''
The boy 's mother , Rachel Long , ran back inside the burning building to try to rescue her eight-year-old daughter .
Unfortunately , Long succumbed to the fire .
But a second hero , D ’ Artagnan Alexander , a local barber , burst into the smoke-filled apartment , found the young girl , and pulled her from the blaze .
The two heroes told the Washington Post they are now working to help the children 's father .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ praise as well as a college scholarship named in his honor , which will be awarded to students who have given back to their community .
`` Phillip 's Marine Corps training and his expertise on the football field proved to be paramount in a selfless act to help save the young boy from the burning building , '' Kalamazoo mayor David Anderson said of Blanks at an event announcing the scholarship .
`` Phillip did not hesitate to assist his new community in Phoenix , Arizona , acting swiftly to protect and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for help . ''
Blanks said he hopes the attention his incredible catch has garnered can be used to help the Long family as they fight to recover from the damage done by the fire and the loss of Rachel Long .
A GoFundMe for the family has already raised over $ 200,000 .

Phillip Blanks spent four years playing wide receiver at Kalamazoo Central High School in Michigan before enlisting in the Marine Corps. Those parts of his life would converge on a tragic July morning in Phoenix.
As a fire closed in, a desperate mother threw her three-year-old son from a third-story balcony. Blanks sprinted barefoot toward the flames and made a miraculous diving catch to save the boy's life.
Incredible video: Former @KCentral_Sports WR Phillip Blanks dives to catch a 3-year old boy dropped from a burning, 3rd floor Phoenix apartment. I just spoke to the former @USMC Marine who says he was "put on this earth to protect people". His story tonight on @wwmtnews pic.twitter.com/Y4qDvMFEwV — Andy Pepper (@APepperWWMT) July 6, 2020
"As I was running, I see the baby getting ready to be tossed out of the patio," the Marine vet told MLive. "Next thing you know, he’s helicoptering in the air and I catch him."
The boy's mother, Rachel Long, ran back inside the burning building to try to rescue her eight-year-old daughter. Unfortunately, Long succumbed to the fire. But a second hero, D’Artagnan Alexander, a local barber, burst into the smoke-filled apartment, found the young girl, and pulled her from the blaze.
The two heroes told the Washington Post they are now working to help the children's father. Blanks's life-saving catch resulted in national praise as well as a college scholarship named in his honor, which will be awarded to students who have given back to their community.
"Phillip's Marine Corps training and his expertise on the football field proved to be paramount in a selfless act to help save the young boy from the burning building," Kalamazoo mayor David Anderson said of Blanks at an event announcing the scholarship. "Phillip did not hesitate to assist his new community in Phoenix, Arizona, acting swiftly to protect and save lives when he heard desperate calls for help."
Blanks said he hopes the attention his incredible catch has garnered can be used to help the Long family as they fight to recover from the damage done by the fire and the loss of Rachel Long. A GoFundMe for the family has already raised over $200,000.


freebeacon--2020-12-29--Goodman: Warnock Can’t Dismiss ‘Traumatizing and Disturbing’ Camp Abuse Story

Washington Free Beacon senior investigative reporter Alana Goodman said Monday that Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock can not avoid addressing abuse allegations about the camp he once ran .
Goodman went on Fox News @ Night With Shannon Bream Monday to discuss her investigation into the church camp Warnock ran , where Anthony Washington , now 30 , said he suffered abuse as a 12-year-old camper .
`` [ Warnock ] has really avoided addressing questions on this , and he has really gone after people who bring this situation up , and said , ‘ It 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I think he is going to have a harder time dismissing this , because [ Washington ] is a person who is telling his story .
He has no stake in this , and really , it was just a traumatizing and disturbing situation . ''
The Georgia pastor-turned-politician has avoided answering Free Beacon inquiries into his record running Camp Farthest Out , where Washington said counselors doused him in urine for wetting the bed and made him sleep outside .
Warnock was arrested for obstructing police investigations into abuse at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has maintained that he cooperated with police and was not at fault .
A Maryland state trooper , however , said Warnock repeatedly disrupted her interviews with counselors while she was investigating allegations of child abuse .
Warnock and another reverend were charged with `` hindering and obstructing '' police , although the charges were later dropped by the state prosecutor .
Goodman argued the evidence shows a pattern of problems at the camp .
`` This was not a trivial kind of one-off issue : This was something where you had three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this camp under his tenure , '' Goodman said .
`` You had at least five cases that were brought for child abuse , brought against the camp 's director under Warnock 's tenure , and the camp had its license revoked for failing to report child abuse . ''
Bream also noted that the Warnock campaign has not answered Fox 's requests for comment on the allegations .
Warnock is running against incumbent senator Kelly Loeffler ( R. ) in one of the two Georgia Senate runoffs .

Washington Free Beacon senior investigative reporter Alana Goodman said Monday that Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock cannot avoid addressing abuse allegations about the camp he once ran.
Goodman went on Fox News @ Night With Shannon Bream Monday to discuss her investigation into the church camp Warnock ran, where Anthony Washington, now 30, said he suffered abuse as a 12-year-old camper.
"[Warnock] has really avoided addressing questions on this, and he has really gone after people who bring this situation up, and said, 'It's a political attack,'" Goodman said. "I think he is going to have a harder time dismissing this, because [Washington] is a person who is telling his story. He has no stake in this, and really, it was just a traumatizing and disturbing situation."
The Georgia pastor-turned-politician has avoided answering Free Beacon inquiries into his record running Camp Farthest Out, where Washington said counselors doused him in urine for wetting the bed and made him sleep outside. Warnock was arrested for obstructing police investigations into abuse at the camp, but the Warnock campaign has maintained that he cooperated with police and was not at fault.
A Maryland state trooper, however, said Warnock repeatedly disrupted her interviews with counselors while she was investigating allegations of child abuse. Warnock and another reverend were charged with "hindering and obstructing" police, although the charges were later dropped by the state prosecutor.
Goodman argued the evidence shows a pattern of problems at the camp.
"This was not a trivial kind of one-off issue: This was something where you had three separate state agencies investigating child abuse allegations at this camp under his tenure," Goodman said. "You had at least five cases that were brought for child abuse, brought against the camp's director under Warnock's tenure, and the camp had its license revoked for failing to report child abuse."
Bream also noted that the Warnock campaign has not answered Fox's requests for comment on the allegations.
Warnock is running against incumbent senator Kelly Loeffler (R.) in one of the two Georgia Senate runoffs.


freebeacon--2020-12-29--Iran-Linked Ship to Aid Construction of Contested Russian Pipeline

A ship linked to the Iranian regime ’ s illicit activities is currently being repurposed to engage in work on a contested Russian-German gas pipeline that has been heavily sanctioned by bipartisan coalitions in Washington , D.C. , and is broadly opposed across Europe .
The U.S. government has information indicating Russia may attempt to acquire and modify the Oceanic 5000 , a crane ship based in Spain ’ s Canary Islands , for work on the contested Nord Stream 2 pipeline , according to current and former U.S. officials working on the issue .
The Oceanic 5000 is known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regime build gas pipelines in the Persian Gulf .
A senior Trump administration official confirmed the ship ’ s ties to Iran , as well as a recent report by Reuters noting Russia ’ s interest in acquiring it for work on Nord Stream 2 .
The new revelations promise to deepen consternation in Washington with Berlin and Moscow ’ s efforts to complete the Nord Stream 2 pipeline .
Construction on the project resumed earlier this month after being stalled since December 2019 , when President Donald Trump approved sanctions spearheaded by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and Jeanne Shaheen ( D. , N.H. ) .
With its final weeks in office , the Trump administration is preparing a new salvo of sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 project to stymie its completion .
The pipeline remains one of the biggest flashpoints between the United States and Russia , which views the project as crucial to its control of Europe ’ s natural gas market .
America and its allies , primarily Ukraine , see the pipeline as part of a bid by the Kremlin to wrench control of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western-oriented countries .
As work on the pipeline resumes , the Trump administration is waging a diplomatic push to dissuade European companies from partnering with Moscow on the project .
The Oceanic 5000 ’ s suspected role in the multibillion-dollar pipeline has raised red flags with U.S. officials and regional experts who see Russia employing the same sanctions-busting tactics routinely used by the Iranian regime .
The ship was owned by the Tehran-based Pars Oil and Gas Company , which has been subject to U.S. sanctions , and laid a pipeline in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information about the ship provided to the Washington Free Beacon .
`` From Iran to Russia , the Oceanic 5000 has clearly found a niche in trying to circumvent U.S. sanctions to the benefit of America 's adversaries , '' said Daniel Vajdich , former lead staffer for Europe and Eurasia on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee .
Vajdich now leads Yorktown Solutions , which advises Ukraine ’ s oil and gas industry in opposition to the pipeline .
The vessel is currently owned by Spain ’ s Amos Del Oceano and managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Management , both of which could be exposing themselves to U.S. sanctions if the ship is transferred to Russia for work on Nord Stream 2 .
As part of sanctions passed by Congress in last year ’ s massive defense spending bill , companies aiding Russia ’ s construction of the pipeline could be subject to American sanctions .
`` Any company involved in upgrading the Oceanic 5000 to work on Nord Stream 2 would also be immediately sanctioned , '' Vajdich said .
In response to questions about how sanctions might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States will not preview any action .
Outgoing secretary of state Mike Pompeo told Athens News Agency in September that Europe should `` not … be dependent on Russia and Gazprom , '' the country ’ s state-controlled energy giant .
Opposition to the pipeline has garnered rare bipartisan support in Congress .
Incoming president Joe Biden has referred to the project as a `` bad deal for Europe '' and is expected to maintain U.S. sanctions on it .
A separate round of congressional sanctions spearheaded by Cruz and Shaheen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming days as part of a defense authorization bill passed just before the end of the year .
U.S. officials maintain that sanctions on the pipeline have made it difficult for legitimate companies to engage with Russia as it scrambles to finish construction .
`` American sanctions have made Nord Stream 2 completely toxic .
It ’ s poison for the reputation of any ship that ’ s involved , even if they do n't get sanctioned , which they will , '' said one veteran GOP foreign policy official tracking the matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germans and Russians are desperately turning to ships that are already toxic for working with the Iranian regime .
No one expects any different .
The question is why anyone else would ever want to be associated with that project or those ships . ''

A ship linked to the Iranian regime’s illicit activities is currently being repurposed to engage in work on a contested Russian-German gas pipeline that has been heavily sanctioned by bipartisan coalitions in Washington, D.C., and is broadly opposed across Europe.
The U.S. government has information indicating Russia may attempt to acquire and modify the Oceanic 5000, a crane ship based in Spain’s Canary Islands, for work on the contested Nord Stream 2 pipeline, according to current and former U.S. officials working on the issue. The Oceanic 5000 is known to U.S. officials for helping the Iranian regime build gas pipelines in the Persian Gulf. A senior Trump administration official confirmed the ship’s ties to Iran, as well as a recent report by Reuters noting Russia’s interest in acquiring it for work on Nord Stream 2.
The new revelations promise to deepen consternation in Washington with Berlin and Moscow’s efforts to complete the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Construction on the project resumed earlier this month after being stalled since December 2019, when President Donald Trump approved sanctions spearheaded by Senators Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and Jeanne Shaheen (D., N.H.). With its final weeks in office, the Trump administration is preparing a new salvo of sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 project to stymie its completion.
The pipeline remains one of the biggest flashpoints between the United States and Russia, which views the project as crucial to its control of Europe’s natural gas market. America and its allies, primarily Ukraine, see the pipeline as part of a bid by the Kremlin to wrench control of Europe’s energy sources from more Western-oriented countries. As work on the pipeline resumes, the Trump administration is waging a diplomatic push to dissuade European companies from partnering with Moscow on the project.
The Oceanic 5000’s suspected role in the multibillion-dollar pipeline has raised red flags with U.S. officials and regional experts who see Russia employing the same sanctions-busting tactics routinely used by the Iranian regime. The ship was owned by the Tehran-based Pars Oil and Gas Company, which has been subject to U.S. sanctions, and laid a pipeline in the Persian Gulf in 2017, according to information about the ship provided to the Washington Free Beacon.
"From Iran to Russia, the Oceanic 5000 has clearly found a niche in trying to circumvent U.S. sanctions to the benefit of America's adversaries," said Daniel Vajdich, former lead staffer for Europe and Eurasia on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Vajdich now leads Yorktown Solutions, which advises Ukraine’s oil and gas industry in opposition to the pipeline.
The vessel is currently owned by Spain’s Amos Del Oceano and managed by the United Arab Emirates-based MC Ship Management, both of which could be exposing themselves to U.S. sanctions if the ship is transferred to Russia for work on Nord Stream 2.
As part of sanctions passed by Congress in last year’s massive defense spending bill, companies aiding Russia’s construction of the pipeline could be subject to American sanctions.
"Any company involved in upgrading the Oceanic 5000 to work on Nord Stream 2 would also be immediately sanctioned," Vajdich said.
In response to questions about how sanctions might be applied, a State Department official said the United States will not preview any action.
Outgoing secretary of state Mike Pompeo told Athens News Agency in September that Europe should "not ... be dependent on Russia and Gazprom," the country’s state-controlled energy giant.
Opposition to the pipeline has garnered rare bipartisan support in Congress. Incoming president Joe Biden has referred to the project as a "bad deal for Europe" and is expected to maintain U.S. sanctions on it.
A separate round of congressional sanctions spearheaded by Cruz and Shaheen are expected to become law in the coming days as part of a defense authorization bill passed just before the end of the year.
U.S. officials maintain that sanctions on the pipeline have made it difficult for legitimate companies to engage with Russia as it scrambles to finish construction.
"American sanctions have made Nord Stream 2 completely toxic. It’s poison for the reputation of any ship that’s involved, even if they don't get sanctioned, which they will," said one veteran GOP foreign policy official tracking the matter. "So of course, the Germans and Russians are desperately turning to ships that are already toxic for working with the Iranian regime. No one expects any different. The question is why anyone else would ever want to be associated with that project or those ships."


freebeacon--2020-12-29--2020 Man of The Year: Rep. Jeff Van Drew

In the waning days of 2019 , congressman Jeff Van Drew renounced his membership in the Democratic Party and joined the Republicans .
Derided as a traitor by his former colleagues and cast as politically inept by the media , Van Drew was given little chance to win reelection to his New Jersey seat in 2020 .
Spurned Democrats immediately got to work to punish Van Drew for his sedition .
They wanted to embarrass him at the ballot box and their plan was ruthless .
They deployed the ultimate weapon of political mass destruction .
That 's right , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election , the Democrats nominated a KENNEDY .
Not your run of the mill philandering , drunken Kennedy , but a real-life gold-digging Kennedy spouse , hell-bent on a mission to destroy Van Drew 's career and reestablish a broken political dynasty .
Against this political Goliath and her nasty ads , Van Drew was a clear underdog .
Unwavering in his conviction , and running an unapologetic campaign of support for the Republican president and GOP values , Van Drew proved resilient .
In November , voters of New Jersey 's Second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reelected him to Congress , embarrassing the establishment and , most important , the Kennedys , yet again .
For proving that placing country over party is always a winning strategy , Republican Jeff Van Drew is 2020 's Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year .

In the waning days of 2019, congressman Jeff Van Drew renounced his membership in the Democratic Party and joined the Republicans. Derided as a traitor by his former colleagues and cast as politically inept by the media, Van Drew was given little chance to win reelection to his New Jersey seat in 2020.
Spurned Democrats immediately got to work to punish Van Drew for his sedition. They wanted to embarrass him at the ballot box and their plan was ruthless. They deployed the ultimate weapon of political mass destruction.
That's right, to oppose Van Drew in the general election, the Democrats nominated a KENNEDY.
Not your run of the mill philandering, drunken Kennedy, but a real-life gold-digging Kennedy spouse, hell-bent on a mission to destroy Van Drew's career and reestablish a broken political dynasty.
Against this political Goliath and her nasty ads, Van Drew was a clear underdog.
Unwavering in his conviction, and running an unapologetic campaign of support for the Republican president and GOP values, Van Drew proved resilient.
In November, voters of New Jersey's Second Congressional District rewarded Van Drew's courage and reelected him to Congress, embarrassing the establishment and, most important, the Kennedys, yet again.
For proving that placing country over party is always a winning strategy, Republican Jeff Van Drew is 2020's Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year.


freebeacon--2020-12-30--2020 Man of the Year: MAGA Matt Yglesias

You know how it goes : You oppose defunding the cops , and a million rose emojis scream at you for hours .
You sign a letter tepidly endorsing free speech , and your colleagues denounce you to your bosses and Twitter .
The company you founded gets overrun by campus communists , so you quit to blog from your basement .
We 've all been there .
Many of us would have called it quits after a year of such beatings .
One tenacious egghead , though , never gave up , but kept coming back for more : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matt Yglesias .
Sure , Yglesias had his mishaps in the past .
He advocated for lying about the benefits of Republicans ' tax cuts .
He dismissed Joe Biden 's plagiarism habit .
He tacitly endorsed terrorizing Tucker Carlson 's family .
Worst of all , he helped found Vox .
But we at the Free Beacon ca n't help but like a man so doggedly dedicated to making the libs mad .
Whether it 's by pointing out that abolishing the police might end badly , or by publishing a book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few can piss off the left like Yglesias can .
Yglesias is so committed to this heroic activity , in fact , that when Vox asked him to maintain a more `` restrained , institutional , statesmanlike voice '' —read : Stop pointing out that `` BIPOC '' is a stupid , fake word—he jumped ship rather than be reined in .
And , like any good American , he 's transitioned from lib ownership to small-business ownership .
His new newsletter is called `` Slow Boring . ''
Finally , truth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once said , a neoconservative is a liberal who 's been mugged by reality .
Do n't worry , Matt—you 're only a few muggings away from getting it right .
In the meantime , congratulations : You 're a Free Beacon Man of the Year .

You know how it goes: You oppose defunding the cops, and a million rose emojis scream at you for hours. You sign a letter tepidly endorsing free speech, and your colleagues denounce you to your bosses and Twitter. The company you founded gets overrun by campus communists, so you quit to blog from your basement.
We've all been there.
Many of us would have called it quits after a year of such beatings. One tenacious egghead, though, never gave up, but kept coming back for more: Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year Matt Yglesias.
Sure, Yglesias had his mishaps in the past. He advocated for lying about the benefits of Republicans' tax cuts. He dismissed Joe Biden's plagiarism habit. He tacitly endorsed terrorizing Tucker Carlson's family. Worst of all, he helped found Vox.
But we at the Free Beacon can't help but like a man so doggedly dedicated to making the libs mad. Whether it's by pointing out that abolishing the police might end badly, or by publishing a book that dares to be moderately pro-America, few can piss off the left like Yglesias can.
Yglesias is so committed to this heroic activity, in fact, that when Vox asked him to maintain a more "restrained, institutional, statesmanlike voice"—read: Stop pointing out that "BIPOC" is a stupid, fake word—he jumped ship rather than be reined in.
And, like any good American, he's transitioned from lib ownership to small-business ownership. His new newsletter is called "Slow Boring." Finally, truth in journalism!
As the great Irving Kristol once said, a neoconservative is a liberal who's been mugged by reality. Don't worry, Matt—you're only a few muggings away from getting it right. In the meantime, congratulations: You're a Free Beacon Man of the Year.


freebeacon--2020-12-30--GREAT AGAIN: Donald Trump Will Leave a Legacy of Unprecedented Achievement

Donald Trump has allegedly been `` defeated '' in the 2020 election , but win or lose , he will go down in history as one of the most accomplished U.S. presidents since George Washington .
As Trump 's first term in office comes to a close , it 's worth taking some time to look back and marvel at some of his most remarkable accomplishments .
The deadly virus attempted a decapitation strike on the leader of the free world and immediately regretted it .
Trump 's body , one of the healthiest and most athletic in the history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan flu .
Trump 's mind proceeded to engineer a historic vaccine that would allow Americans who are less physically gifted to conquer the virus on their own .
Yes , the American people are grateful for all of the lives Trump has personally saved .
His record of ending the lives of evil freaks is just as impressive .
Just ask Qassem Soleimani or Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi .
Well , you can ask what 's left of them .
When it comes to terrorists , Trump shoots to kill , and does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the only thing Hillary Clinton has ever wanted .
All the experts ( save those at the Free Beacon ) predicted she would finally achieve that goal in 2016 .
Her campaign staged a `` victory '' celebration at a venue with a real glass ceiling and stuffed cannons full of confetti `` shards '' to symbolize the her-storic achievement .
Oops .
John Kerry , among others , said it would never happen .
Trump had other ideas .
Some context : His predecessor , Barack Obama , won a Nobel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Days after Trump declared Christmas Eve a federal holiday , President-elect Joe Biden became the first Democrat in recent memory to utter the phrase , `` Merry Christmas . ''
The War on Christmas is finally over , and the libs lost .
Remember the Iran nuclear deal ?
What about the Paris climate accords ?
What about the time Obama tried to normalize relations with communist Cuba ?
Nah , neither do we .
Trump 's attacks on Rand Paul and Jeb Bush during the 2016 Republican primary are the reason we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dissed Paul for his weirdo looks and for `` falling off the stage '' at the debates , while Jeb was epically owned for being `` a sad and pathetic person '' and `` an embarrassment to his family . ''
House Democrats wasted everyone 's time by voting to `` impeach '' Trump for having a perfect phone call with the president of Ukraine .
Senate Republicans considered the evidence and voted to acquit .
Special Counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation was a dud .
See also : `` Owning the Libs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a devoted family man , overflowing with empathy .
He cherished his wife , our historically attractive First Lady , and showered her with love and affection .
He often showed interest in the lives of his adult sons , Eric and Don Jr. , and watched as his formidable daughter , Ivanka , rose through the ranks of his administration .
But most of the love coursing through his large heart was reserved for his real family , the American people , and his first true love , the Constitution .

Donald Trump has allegedly been "defeated" in the 2020 election, but win or lose, he will go down in history as one of the most accomplished U.S. presidents since George Washington.
As Trump's first term in office comes to a close, it's worth taking some time to look back and marvel at some of his most remarkable accomplishments.
Next stop, Mount Rushmore? Stay tuned.
Enjoy!
1. Curing COVID-19
The deadly virus attempted a decapitation strike on the leader of the free world and immediately regretted it. Trump's body, one of the healthiest and most athletic in the history of American presidents, easily conquered the Wuhan flu. Trump's mind proceeded to engineer a historic vaccine that would allow Americans who are less physically gifted to conquer the virus on their own.
2. Killing Terrorists
Yes, the American people are grateful for all of the lives Trump has personally saved. His record of ending the lives of evil freaks is just as impressive. Just ask Qassem Soleimani or Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Well, you can ask what's left of them. When it comes to terrorists, Trump shoots to kill, and doesn't miss.
3. Owning the Libs
Long story short: Libs hate America. Donald Trump made it great again. Owned.
4. Humiliating Hillary
Being a female president was the only thing Hillary Clinton has ever wanted. All the experts (save those at the Free Beacon) predicted she would finally achieve that goal in 2016. Her campaign staged a "victory" celebration at a venue with a real glass ceiling and stuffed cannons full of confetti "shards" to symbolize the her-storic achievement. Oops.
5. Peace in the Middle East
John Kerry, among others, said it would never happen. Trump had other ideas. Some context: His predecessor, Barack Obama, won a Nobel Peace Prize for winning an election.
6. Saving Christmas
Days after Trump declared Christmas Eve a federal holiday, President-elect Joe Biden became the first Democrat in recent memory to utter the phrase, "Merry Christmas." The War on Christmas is finally over, and the libs lost.
7. Repealing Obama's Legacy
Remember the Iran nuclear deal? What about the Paris climate accords? What about the time Obama tried to normalize relations with communist Cuba? Nah, neither do we.
8. Owning the RINOs
Trump's attacks on Rand Paul and Jeb Bush during the 2016 Republican primary are the reason we fell in love with him. He dissed Paul for his weirdo looks and for "falling off the stage" at the debates, while Jeb was epically owned for being "a sad and pathetic person" and "an embarrassment to his family."
9. Being Acquitted
House Democrats wasted everyone's time by voting to "impeach" Trump for having a perfect phone call with the president of Ukraine. Senate Republicans considered the evidence and voted to acquit. Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation was a dud. See also: "Owning the Libs."
10. Loving his Family
Trump is nothing if not a devoted family man, overflowing with empathy. He cherished his wife, our historically attractive First Lady, and showered her with love and affection. He often showed interest in the lives of his adult sons, Eric and Don Jr., and watched as his formidable daughter, Ivanka, rose through the ranks of his administration. But most of the love coursing through his large heart was reserved for his real family, the American people, and his first true love, the Constitution.
Thank you, President Trump!


freebeacon--2020-12-30--2020 Man of the Year: Jamaran Commander

2020 Man of the Year: Jamaran Commander

Iran ’ s military prowess stunned the globe in May , when one of its highly touted warships `` errantly '' fired a missile at another Iranian vessel , killing 19 sailors and wounding 15 more .
Iran ’ s Jamaran frigate—the 2010 building of which was hailed by Tehran as an engineering marvel— '' accidentally '' fired a live missile at another Iranian ship during training exercises in the Sea of Oman .
While the military maneuvers were meant to send a warning to Western nations and the Trump administration , the `` accident '' turned Iran ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming just months after Iran shot down a Ukrainian commercial airliner , another incident Tehran chalked up to user error .
`` This mistake appears to be beyond sloppy , '' Afshon Ostovar , an assistant professor of national security affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School , told the New York Times after the incident .
`` There was either miscommunication or someone completely failed to follow protocols .
Perhaps it was a combination of both . ''
We tip our hat to the Jamaran ’ s cock-eyed commander for pushing that button @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sir !
You are a Free Beacon Man of the Year .

Iran’s military prowess stunned the globe in May, when one of its highly touted warships "errantly" fired a missile at another Iranian vessel, killing 19 sailors and wounding 15 more.
Iran’s Jamaran frigate—the 2010 building of which was hailed by Tehran as an engineering marvel—"accidentally" fired a live missile at another Iranian ship during training exercises in the Sea of Oman. While the military maneuvers were meant to send a warning to Western nations and the Trump administration, the "accident" turned Iran’s navy into a global laughing stock, coming just months after Iran shot down a Ukrainian commercial airliner, another incident Tehran chalked up to user error.
"This mistake appears to be beyond sloppy," Afshon Ostovar, an assistant professor of national security affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School, told the New York Times after the incident. "There was either miscommunication or someone completely failed to follow protocols. Perhaps it was a combination of both."
We tip our hat to the Jamaran’s cock-eyed commander for pushing that button by "accident." Mazel Tov, sir! You are a Free Beacon Man of the Year.


freebeacon--2020-12-30--The Warnock Media Blackout

The Warnock Media Blackout

The last time there was an off-cycle Senate election , investigative reporting was the decisive factor in the race .
The enterprising work of the Washington Post , among others , revealed that the former Alabama Supreme Court justice turned Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore had repeatedly engaged in inappropriate behavior with teenage girls .
A trio of Post reporters tracked down four of those women , who attested on-the-record to Moore ’ s revolting behavior .
Fast forward three years to a Senate race in which another set of lurid allegations has surfaced , this time involving Democratic candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations against Warnock involve the abuse of underage children decades ago .
They center on a Maryland church camp where a young Warnock served in a senior role , and where he was arrested in 2002 for obstructing a police investigation into alleged abuses taking place on camp grounds .
Moore ’ s misdeeds received wall-to-wall coverage from the national news media .
Republicans were pressed to disavow him .
The news media so determined to reveal Moore ’ s scandalous behavior have been lethargic , to say the least , when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been allowed to wave away the arrest as the `` overzealous actions of a few police officers . ''
But what was going on at the camp that brought the police there in the first place ?
And what was Warnock ’ s role in those incidents ?
The press hasn ’ t exhibited the slightest curiosity about events that speak directly to Warnock ’ s management abilities and judgment .
We now know , thanks to the intrepid reporting of the Free Beacon ’ s Alana Goodman , that state officials revoked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , citing unreported incidents of child abuse and a bevy of health and safety violations .
One of Warnock ’ s campers , Anthony Washington , has now come forward , telling Goodman that as a 12-year-old , counselors tossed urine on him and forced him to sleep outside .
Try to find a mention of those details in the New York Times , the Washington Post , or Georgia ’ s most prominent local broadsheet , the Atlantic Journal-Constitution , which has said it ignored the story because one of Warnock ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushing it , `` but the candidate declined to come forward publicly as the source , so the reporters passed on the story . ''
The mainstream media have approached allegations from Warnock ’ s ex-wife , Ouleye Ndoye , with the same level of interest .
Ndoye alleged that Warnock ran over her foot in March in a fit of pique .
Body camera footage from police responding to her call shows a teary woman telling police , `` I ’ ve been trying to be very quiet about the way that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids and his reputation , I ’ ve tried to keep the way that he acts under wraps for a long time , and today he crossed the line . ''
Democracy dies in darkness , we were told .
They forgot the asterisk : Except when shining a light threatens to undermine the Democrat in a pivotal race .

Democracy dies in darkness ... except when reporting could upend the fortunes of a prominent Democrat
The last time there was an off-cycle Senate election, investigative reporting was the decisive factor in the race.
The enterprising work of the Washington Post, among others, revealed that the former Alabama Supreme Court justice turned Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore had repeatedly engaged in inappropriate behavior with teenage girls. A trio of Post reporters tracked down four of those women, who attested on-the-record to Moore’s revolting behavior.
Fast forward three years to a Senate race in which another set of lurid allegations has surfaced, this time involving Democratic candidate Raphael Warnock.
The difference: their political affiliation.
Like Moore, the allegations against Warnock involve the abuse of underage children decades ago. They center on a Maryland church camp where a young Warnock served in a senior role, and where he was arrested in 2002 for obstructing a police investigation into alleged abuses taking place on camp grounds.
Moore’s misdeeds received wall-to-wall coverage from the national news media. Republicans were pressed to disavow him.
The news media so determined to reveal Moore’s scandalous behavior have been lethargic, to say the least, when it comes to Warnock: The Democrat has been allowed to wave away the arrest as the "overzealous actions of a few police officers."
But what was going on at the camp that brought the police there in the first place? And what was Warnock’s role in those incidents? The press hasn’t exhibited the slightest curiosity about events that speak directly to Warnock’s management abilities and judgment.
We now know, thanks to the intrepid reporting of the Free Beacon’s Alana Goodman, that state officials revoked the camp’s authorization to operate, citing unreported incidents of child abuse and a bevy of health and safety violations. One of Warnock’s campers, Anthony Washington, has now come forward, telling Goodman that as a 12-year-old, counselors tossed urine on him and forced him to sleep outside.
Try to find a mention of those details in the New York Times, the Washington Post, or Georgia’s most prominent local broadsheet, the Atlantic Journal-Constitution, which has said it ignored the story because one of Warnock’s rivals in the Democratic primary was pushing it, "but the candidate declined to come forward publicly as the source, so the reporters passed on the story."
No stopping these fearless investigators!
The mainstream media have approached allegations from Warnock’s ex-wife, Ouleye Ndoye, with the same level of interest.
Ndoye alleged that Warnock ran over her foot in March in a fit of pique. Body camera footage from police responding to her call shows a teary woman telling police, "I’ve been trying to be very quiet about the way that he is for the sake of my kids and his reputation, I’ve tried to keep the way that he acts under wraps for a long time, and today he crossed the line."
Democracy dies in darkness, we were told. They forgot the asterisk: Except when shining a light threatens to undermine the Democrat in a pivotal race.


freebeacon--2020-12-30--2020 Man of the Year: The Baboon Who Fled His Vasectomy

Sydney zookeepers scheduled a baboon for a vasectomy but their plans were cut short .
The incident occurred last February when a male baboon and his two female companions were en route to an animal facility at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital .
After monkeying around with a broken truck lock , the baboons made their escape to freedom and through a car park , with onlookers taking video .
Sadly it was only a matter of hours before authorities apprehended the three ( one of whom may or may not have said , `` Take your stinkin ’ paws off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
The reason for the vasectomy , New South Wales health minister Brad Hazzard explained , `` is to allow [ the baboon ] to continue to live his life in peace and harmony with his own family and they could n't have him continuing constantly to breed within the troupe because it presents all sorts of genetic problems . ''
An MP with the Animal Justice Party , however , said on social media that the baboons were simply fleeing to `` avoid further painful procedures forced upon their bodies against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coincidentally , how most men feel about this particular procedure .
As for the two female companions , Hazzard explained their presence was needed in order to keep the male calm .
When reached for comment , the Washington Free Beacon ’ s own Truth Monkey replied , `` Who needs more than two female companions , really ?
I can barely satisfy myself ! ''
Doctors eventually went through with the vasectomy and the baboon was returned to his colony , presumably having more fun than a barrel of , well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desire to preserve his monkeyhood , we salute this ballsy baboon as a Free Beacon Man of the Year .

Sydney zookeepers scheduled a baboon for a vasectomy but their plans were cut short. The incident occurred last February when a male baboon and his two female companions were en route to an animal facility at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. After monkeying around with a broken truck lock, the baboons made their escape to freedom and through a car park, with onlookers taking video.
Sadly it was only a matter of hours before authorities apprehended the three (one of whom may or may not have said, "Take your stinkin’ paws off me you damn dirty human!").
The reason for the vasectomy, New South Wales health minister Brad Hazzard explained, "is to allow [the baboon] to continue to live his life in peace and harmony with his own family and they couldn't have him continuing constantly to breed within the troupe because it presents all sorts of genetic problems."
An MP with the Animal Justice Party, however, said on social media that the baboons were simply fleeing to "avoid further painful procedures forced upon their bodies against their will." This is, coincidentally, how most men feel about this particular procedure.
As for the two female companions, Hazzard explained their presence was needed in order to keep the male calm. When reached for comment, the Washington Free Beacon’s own Truth Monkey replied, "Who needs more than two female companions, really? I can barely satisfy myself!"
Doctors eventually went through with the vasectomy and the baboon was returned to his colony, presumably having more fun than a barrel of, well, you know.
In admiration for his desire to preserve his monkeyhood, we salute this ballsy baboon as a Free Beacon Man of the Year.


freebeacon--2020-12-31--Journalist of the Year: Dave Portnoy

Journalist of the Year: Dave Portnoy

Most professional journos have spent the last few weeks congratulating themselves for having `` survived '' the Trump years .
As CNN 's Jim Acosta wrote in his bestselling memoir , it was `` a dangerous time to tell the truth in America . ''
He would know .
In 2018 , Acosta 's White House press pass was briefly suspended after he grappled with a female intern who attempted to take his microphone .
As is often the case , CNN could not be bested in the field of performative self-righteousness .
Anchor Kate Bolduan recently wore a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` facts first . ''
Esquire published an `` Oral History of CNN 's Election Night , '' which chronicled the travails of political journalists struggling to provide the 24-hour news analysis that forms the backbone of our democracy .
While his colleagues in the media industry were furiously jacking each other off , Barstool founder Dave Portnoy crouched into the journalistic void , using his bully pulpit to highlight the pandemic 's crippling impact on America 's small businesses .
It was without a doubt the finest piece of journalism produced in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's spell-check analysis of Trump 's tweets was also good . )
Portnoy was n't done .
The 2016 Free Beacon Man of the Year established The Barstool Fund to raise money for small business owners .
In less than two weeks , the fund brought in more than $ 8.7 million , and helped save dozens of small businesses from financial ruin .
Portnoy 's FaceTime calls with grateful business owners provided the heartwarming content so many of us craved in these difficult times .
Portnoy has offered to go on any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but thus far only Fox News has put him on the air .
CNN has better things to do , apparently , like keeping track of Trump 's golfing schedule .
`` I didn ’ t think I ’ d be the guy doing it , '' Portnoy told Tucker Carlson after launching the fund .
`` I ’ d rather be sitting on a beach , betting on horses , drinking , but nobody else is going to do it .
We have this big platform , so we ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses as we can . ''
For all the awards journalists keep giving themselves , few have ever done anything to deserve one .
For perhaps the first time in human history , a media personality has made a positive contribution to society by improving the lives of working people who do n't have time to follow politics obsessively on Twitter .
Dave Portnoy is no ordinary journalist .
He is the 2020 Free Beacon Journalist of the Year .

Most professional journos have spent the last few weeks congratulating themselves for having "survived" the Trump years. As CNN's Jim Acosta wrote in his bestselling memoir, it was "a dangerous time to tell the truth in America." He would know. In 2018, Acosta's White House press pass was briefly suspended after he grappled with a female intern who attempted to take his microphone.
As is often the case, CNN could not be bested in the field of performative self-righteousness. Anchor Kate Bolduan recently wore a $380 cashmere sweater emblazoned with the words "facts first." Esquire published an "Oral History of CNN's Election Night," which chronicled the travails of political journalists struggling to provide the 24-hour news analysis that forms the backbone of our democracy.
While his colleagues in the media industry were furiously jacking each other off, Barstool founder Dave Portnoy crouched into the journalistic void, using his bully pulpit to highlight the pandemic's crippling impact on America's small businesses. It was without a doubt the finest piece of journalism produced in the Trump era. (Brian Stelter's spell-check analysis of Trump's tweets was also good.)
Portnoy wasn't done. The 2016 Free Beacon Man of the Year established The Barstool Fund — an affiliate of the successful Thirty Day Fund founded by the Virginia businessman Pete Snyder — to raise money for small business owners. In less than two weeks, the fund brought in more than $8.7 million, and helped save dozens of small businesses from financial ruin. Portnoy's FaceTime calls with grateful business owners provided the heartwarming content so many of us craved in these difficult times.
Portnoy has offered to go on any network to talk about his efforts, but thus far only Fox News has put him on the air. CNN has better things to do, apparently, like keeping track of Trump's golfing schedule.
"I didn’t think I’d be the guy doing it," Portnoy told Tucker Carlson after launching the fund. "I’d rather be sitting on a beach, betting on horses, drinking, but nobody else is going to do it. We have this big platform, so we’re going to try to help as many small businesses as we can."
For all the awards journalists keep giving themselves, few have ever done anything to deserve one.
Until now.
For perhaps the first time in human history, a media personality has made a positive contribution to society by improving the lives of working people who don't have time to follow politics obsessively on Twitter.
Dave Portnoy is no ordinary journalist. He is the 2020 Free Beacon Journalist of the Year.


freebeacon--2020-12-31--2020 Man of the Year: Chris Cuomo

2020 Man of the Year: Chris Cuomo

Like most children born to famous politicians , Chris Cuomo is an unexceptional human being .
His most notable accomplishment , if you can call it that , is not becoming a crack-addled sex maniac turned `` artist '' like Hunter Biden , his classmate at Yale Law School and a 2019 Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year .
Cuomo is n't much of a journalist , either .
Probably because he devotes most of his time and effort to a cause the media industry has declared verboten : being a Real Man .
In fact , it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Cuomo has n't dared to defy .
He lifts weights .
He 's athletic .
He 's conventionally attractive , and so is his wife .
He 's aggro AF , and hates being a celebrity because it hinders his ability to beat the crap out of hecklers .
Unlike many of his peers , he has yet to be credibly accused of sexual assault .
Cuomo laughs in the face of those who might question the `` journalistic integrity '' of cracking jokes on air with his older brother , Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , while a global pandemic decimates the state 's nursing-home population .
He literally screams in the face of uptight cyclists who attempt to shame him for breaking quarantine and refusing to wear a mask after becoming one of the first media celebs to test positive for COVID-19 .
That alone would be enough to justify our decision to honor him as a Free Beacon Man of the Year in 2020 .
`` I do n't want some jackass , loser , fat-tire biker being able to pull over and get in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I do n't want to hear it , '' Cuomo raged on his SiriusXM radio show after being called out by the narc cyclist for visiting the site of his future mansion in East Hampton , N.Y. After infecting his hot wife with the virus—wink wink—Cuomo made her feel important by giving her permission to blog about her feelings .
The female Cuomo 's treatment plan—including the `` water-and-bleach bath '' recommended by her `` homeopathic physician '' —came as a delight to equality advocates who have long argued that rich people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if not more so .
Chris Cuomo might not be as cool as Hunter Biden , but his dedication to the cause of epic manhood is second to none .
Congrats , bro !
Tell your hot wife we said hello .

Like most children born to famous politicians, Chris Cuomo is an unexceptional human being. His most notable accomplishment, if you can call it that, is not becoming a crack-addled sex maniac turned "artist" like Hunter Biden, his classmate at Yale Law School and a 2019 Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year.
Cuomo isn't much of a journalist, either. Probably because he devotes most of his time and effort to a cause the media industry has declared verboten: being a Real Man.
In fact, it's hard to find an industry "norm" Cuomo hasn't dared to defy. He lifts weights. He's athletic. He's conventionally attractive, and so is his wife. He's aggro AF, and hates being a celebrity because it hinders his ability to beat the crap out of hecklers. Unlike many of his peers, he has yet to be credibly accused of sexual assault.
Cuomo laughs in the face of those who might question the "journalistic integrity" of cracking jokes on air with his older brother, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D., N.Y.), while a global pandemic decimates the state's nursing-home population.
He literally screams in the face of uptight cyclists who attempt to shame him for breaking quarantine and refusing to wear a mask after becoming one of the first media celebs to test positive for COVID-19. That alone would be enough to justify our decision to honor him as a Free Beacon Man of the Year in 2020.
"I don't want some jackass, loser, fat-tire biker being able to pull over and get in my space and talk bulls–t to me, I don't want to hear it," Cuomo raged on his SiriusXM radio show after being called out by the narc cyclist for visiting the site of his future mansion in East Hampton, N.Y.
After infecting his hot wife with the virus—wink wink—Cuomo made her feel important by giving her permission to blog about her feelings. The female Cuomo's treatment plan—including the "water-and-bleach bath" recommended by her "homeopathic physician"—came as a delight to equality advocates who have long argued that rich people are just as deranged as everyone else, if not more so.
Chris Cuomo might not be as cool as Hunter Biden, but his dedication to the cause of epic manhood is second to none. Congrats, bro! Tell your hot wife we said hello.


freebeacon--2020-12-31--2020 Man of the Year: Eric Swalwell

2020 Man of the Year: Eric Swalwell

It 's been said that male confidence is the greatest aphrodisiac .
In 2020 , no member of Congress proved this theory more than Rep. Eric Swalwell ( D. , Calif. ) .
Swalwell may be ugly , broke , and stupid , but no one has ever accused him of lacking an outrageous amount of self-confidence .
Over the past 18 months , Swalwell ran for president and quit ; appeared on television thousands of times ; branded himself an `` Avenger '' ; failed to imprison the president of the United States ; and most noxiously , cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It takes a special kind of confidence to achieve all of that in such a short period of time .
But only a true Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year has the confidence to pull off Swalwell 's greatest accomplishment , becoming a man whore .
In early December , Axios exposed Swalwell 's years-long relationship with a young Chinese lady-spy named `` Fang Fang . ''
On a mission to ingratiate herself with various Democratic Party elected officials via the `` honey-trap '' spycraft tactic , Ms. Fang found herself in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Swalwell .
Posing as a political activist and apparent eproctophiliac , this spicy Szechuan dish made her way into Swalwell 's orbit by organizing fundraising for his congressional campaign and placing `` at least one intern '' in his congressional office .
While it remains unclear whether Fang Fang and the California Democrat were doing the bang-bang , what is known is that one day in 2015 Ms. Fang disappeared .
Like a fart in the wind , she had absconded to her native land , never to be seen or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( probably ) and getting paid , the supremely confident Eric Swalwell is 2020 's Free Beacon Man of the Year .

It's been said that male confidence is the greatest aphrodisiac.
In 2020, no member of Congress proved this theory more than Rep. Eric Swalwell (D., Calif.).
Swalwell may be ugly, broke, and stupid, but no one has ever accused him of lacking an outrageous amount of self-confidence.
Over the past 18 months, Swalwell ran for president and quit; appeared on television thousands of times; branded himself an "Avenger"; failed to imprison the president of the United States; and most noxiously, cut an enormous fart on live television.
It takes a special kind of confidence to achieve all of that in such a short period of time.
But only a true Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year has the confidence to pull off Swalwell's greatest accomplishment, becoming a man whore.
In early December, Axios exposed Swalwell's years-long relationship with a young Chinese lady-spy named "Fang Fang." On a mission to ingratiate herself with various Democratic Party elected officials via the "honey-trap" spycraft tactic, Ms. Fang found herself in relationships with multiple Democrats over the years, including Swalwell.
Posing as a political activist and apparent eproctophiliac, this spicy Szechuan dish made her way into Swalwell's orbit by organizing fundraising for his congressional campaign and placing "at least one intern" in his congressional office.
While it remains unclear whether Fang Fang and the California Democrat were doing the bang-bang, what is known is that one day in 2015 Ms. Fang disappeared. Like a fart in the wind, she had absconded to her native land, never to be seen or heard from again.
For getting laid (probably) and getting paid, the supremely confident Eric Swalwell is 2020's Free Beacon Man of the Year.
BUY YOUR ERIC SWALWELL WHOOPIE CUSHION HERE.


freebeacon--2020-12-31--2020 Man of the Year: Doc Antle

2020 Man of the Year: Doc Antle

Harems and menageries used to be how men asserted their dominance over their environment .
Fashions change , however , and now the media want to equate masculinity with wearing dresses .
Bhagavan `` Doc '' Antle is a throwback to the times when men were men , and even though he was a minor character in Tiger King , the good people at Netflix deserve credit for highlighting the way he ordered his affairs by dominating the natural order .
Antle has had a lot of women and a lot of tigers , but most of all he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own terms .
And that glorious individuality is exactly what brings out the haters .
The sterling reputation of Antle 's Myrtle Beach Safari— '' the Ritz-Carlton of wildlife facilities , '' in his words—stayed above the fray while the antics of lesser big-cat enthusiasts Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin captivated reality TV audiences this summer .
But this fall , in an attempt to extend 2020 's bout of Tigermania , Virginia 's rogue Democrat attorney general handed down a baseless indictment of Antle for wildlife trafficking and animal cruelty .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world of exotic animals all his life , and he knows the charges against him are in service of nothing less than `` a vegan world order . ''
Certainly one of the best things President Donald Trump could do , if he can find time amid his tireless work to expose corruption in our election systems , would be to grant Antle a full pardon before PETA-aligned Democrats go any further .
The conservation of wildlife—along with the conservation of equality before the law—is at stake .

Harems and menageries used to be how men asserted their dominance over their environment. Fashions change, however, and now the media want to equate masculinity with wearing dresses. Bhagavan "Doc" Antle is a throwback to the times when men were men, and even though he was a minor character in Tiger King, the good people at Netflix deserve credit for highlighting the way he ordered his affairs by dominating the natural order.
Antle has had a lot of women and a lot of tigers, but most of all he has had a commitment to living life on his own terms. And that glorious individuality is exactly what brings out the haters.
The sterling reputation of Antle's Myrtle Beach Safari—"the Ritz-Carlton of wildlife facilities," in his words—stayed above the fray while the antics of lesser big-cat enthusiasts Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin captivated reality TV audiences this summer. But this fall, in an attempt to extend 2020's bout of Tigermania, Virginia's rogue Democrat attorney general handed down a baseless indictment of Antle for wildlife trafficking and animal cruelty.
Unlike most Americans, Antle has lived in the world of exotic animals all his life, and he knows the charges against him are in service of nothing less than "a vegan world order."
Certainly one of the best things President Donald Trump could do, if he can find time amid his tireless work to expose corruption in our election systems, would be to grant Antle a full pardon before PETA-aligned Democrats go any further. The conservation of wildlife—along with the conservation of equality before the law—is at stake.