freebeacon--2020-12-08--Biden HHS Pick in Jeopardy Over Religious-Freedom Concerns

Republican lawmakers and religious-liberty groups are campaigning to defeat President-elect Joe Biden 's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services .
The selection of Xavier Becerra ( D. ) , California 's attorney general and a former member of the House of Representatives , drew condemnation because of his record on religious liberty in one of the biggest jurisdictions in the country .
If confirmed , Becerra would head the department in charge of implementing federal health policy in hundreds of health care systems across the country .
Two Republican senators have already condemned the choice of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a potential death blow against his nomination .
Republican senator Steve Daines ( Mont . )
said that Becerra has made a career out of `` attacking the religious freedom '' of faithful Americans .
`` Xavier Becerra is a disaster for religious freedom and pro-life issues , '' Daines said .
`` He has made his career aggressively pursuing a radical pro-abortion agenda and attacking the religious freedom of Americans who believe in the sanctity of human life . ''
Sen. Tom Cotton ( R. , Ark . )
echoed Daines 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unqualified '' and that he would be voting no on the pick .
He urged his fellow senators to do the same .
Activists said Becerra was hostile to religious liberty throughout his career .
He prosecuted California pro-life activists who leaked undercover videos allegedly showing Planned Parenthood employees discussing the sale of fetal tissue .
He also advocated for an unconstitutional law that required crisis pregnancy centers to refer women to abortionists .
Religious-liberty groups and law firms have also called for Becerra 's defeat because of his record of targeting religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General , Xavier Becerra repeatedly attacked long-held religious freedom protections for doctors , nurses , and other health care professionals and labeled federal protections that protect health care professionals from being coerced into performing abortions against their will as ‘ offensive ' and ‘ dangerous , ' '' said Justin Butterfield , deputy general counsel at First Liberty Institute .
Denise Harle , senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom , pointed to Becerra 's unsuccessful defense of a 2015 California law that required crisis pregnancy centers to post information about abortion referrals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the advertisement of abortion services contradicted their missions .
`` Alliance Defending Freedom had to go all the way to the Supreme Court to stop Becerra from forcing religious pro-life pregnancy centers to advertise for abortions , '' Harle said .
`` And while churches in California had to wage court battles in order to open their doors , abortion facilities have been treated as ‘ essential ' businesses , giving the abortion industry a free pass to continue exploiting women throughout a pandemic , '' she said .
`` Becerra 's record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conscience or protecting life . ''
The Biden transition team and Becerra 's office did not respond to requests for comment .
Becerra 's time as a member of the House of Representatives also suggests a desire to revisit the Supreme Court 's Little Sisters of the Poor ruling .
Becerra cosponsored legislation in 2007 that would have mandated that all employers provide contraceptive coverage to employees , with no exception for religious conscience .
President-elect Biden has vowed to reverse the Court 's ruling in favor of the nuns .

Republican lawmakers and religious-liberty groups are campaigning to defeat President-elect Joe Biden's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
The selection of Xavier Becerra (D.), California's attorney general and a former member of the House of Representatives, drew condemnation because of his record on religious liberty in one of the biggest jurisdictions in the country. If confirmed, Becerra would head the department in charge of implementing federal health policy in hundreds of health care systems across the country. Two Republican senators have already condemned the choice of Becerra to lead the department, marking a potential death blow against his nomination.
Republican senator Steve Daines (Mont.) said that Becerra has made a career out of "attacking the religious freedom" of faithful Americans.
"Xavier Becerra is a disaster for religious freedom and pro-life issues," Daines said. "He has made his career aggressively pursuing a radical pro-abortion agenda and attacking the religious freedom of Americans who believe in the sanctity of human life."
Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) echoed Daines's criticism, saying that Becerra is "unqualified" and that he would be voting no on the pick. He urged his fellow senators to do the same.
Activists said Becerra was hostile to religious liberty throughout his career. He prosecuted California pro-life activists who leaked undercover videos allegedly showing Planned Parenthood employees discussing the sale of fetal tissue. He also advocated for an unconstitutional law that required crisis pregnancy centers to refer women to abortionists. Religious-liberty groups and law firms have also called for Becerra's defeat because of his record of targeting religious Americans.
"As California's Attorney General, Xavier Becerra repeatedly attacked long-held religious freedom protections for doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals and labeled federal protections that protect health care professionals from being coerced into performing abortions against their will as 'offensive' and 'dangerous,'" said Justin Butterfield, deputy general counsel at First Liberty Institute.
Denise Harle, senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, pointed to Becerra's unsuccessful defense of a 2015 California law that required crisis pregnancy centers to post information about abortion referrals. The crisis pregnancy centers argued that mandating the advertisement of abortion services contradicted their missions.
"Alliance Defending Freedom had to go all the way to the Supreme Court to stop Becerra from forcing religious pro-life pregnancy centers to advertise for abortions," Harle said.
"And while churches in California had to wage court battles in order to open their doors, abortion facilities have been treated as 'essential' businesses, giving the abortion industry a free pass to continue exploiting women throughout a pandemic," she said. "Becerra's record shows that he has no regard for conscience or protecting life."
The Biden transition team and Becerra's office did not respond to requests for comment.
Becerra's time as a member of the House of Representatives also suggests a desire to revisit the Supreme Court's Little Sisters of the Poor ruling. Becerra cosponsored legislation in 2007 that would have mandated that all employers provide contraceptive coverage to employees, with no exception for religious conscience. President-elect Biden has vowed to reverse the Court's ruling in favor of the nuns.


freebeacon--2020-12-08--Biden’s EPA Frontrunner Worked to Ban Gas-Powered Cars

President-elect Joe Biden may tap a California bureaucrat who worked to ban gas-powered cars to lead the Environmental Protection Agency , fueling opposition from some activists .
Mary Nichols has been touted as a leading candidate to head the EPA thanks to her record as chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board .
In 2019 , Nichols threatened to ban gasoline-powered vehicles in the state after President Trump rolled back vehicle emissions standards .
In September , Nichols made headlines for her plan to transition to zero-emission vehicles in California by 2035 , weaning the state off of gas-powered vehicles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comprised only 1 percent of all vehicles .
Some activists said Biden should avoid a radical environmentalist agenda that ignores social and economic costs when addressing climate change .
Robert Dillon , an adviser to the free-market environmentalist organization ConservAmerica , told the Washington Free Beacon that Nichols 's record should draw bipartisan concern .
`` Nichols may very likely fall into that category of exceptions , where you 're going to see the majority stand together to oppose them , '' Dillon said .
`` What 's your priority : virtue signaling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change , even if it 's incremental . ''
The Biden transition team did not respond to a request for comment .
Nichols has already attracted bipartisan opposition to her actions in California , particularly during the coronavirus pandemic .
In March , she went forward with emissions requirements on the trucking industry despite dire economic straits brought on by shutdowns .
Nichols also used George Floyd 's death to push her environmental agenda .
In a now-deleted tweet posted the week following Floyd 's death , Nichols called for climate action in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` ‘ I ca n't breathe ' speaks to police violence , but it also applies to the struggle for clean air , '' Nichols wrote .
`` Environmental racism is just one form of racism .
It 's all toxic .
Government needs to clean it up in word and deed . ''
California Democratic assemblyman Jim Cooper , who is black , called Nichols , who is white , shameless for attempting to exploit Floyd 's death to advance `` crooked enviro policies . ''
Steve Milloy , who served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EPA , said the episode is indicative of Nichols 's approach to pushing an unpopular agenda .
`` She knows how to use the environment as a political weapon to advance the environmental agenda , and she will say or do anything to do that , '' Milloy told the Free Beacon .
`` If you 're looking for someone to execute that left-wing agenda , Mary Nichols is a good person to do that . ''
Milloy said that Nichols 's political instincts are not as alarming as her past interactions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Nichols met with officials from the city of Shenzhen and several Chinese state-owned auto enterprises to work together on climate change initiatives .
While Nichols has hampered American industries with increasingly onerous and costly environmental regulations , China remains the largest emitter of greenhouse gases .
China could use that to its advantage , according to Milloy .
`` The Chinese and Russians are going to try to use our fixation on climate to their advantage , '' Milloy said .
`` If they can trick us into harming our economy by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are happy to go along with that and promise to be emissions-free 100 years from now . ''

President-elect Joe Biden may tap a California bureaucrat who worked to ban gas-powered cars to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, fueling opposition from some activists.
Mary Nichols has been touted as a leading candidate to head the EPA thanks to her record as chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board. In 2019, Nichols threatened to ban gasoline-powered vehicles in the state after President Trump rolled back vehicle emissions standards. In September, Nichols made headlines for her plan to transition to zero-emission vehicles in California by 2035, weaning the state off of gas-powered vehicles. As of 2018, electric-powered cars comprised only 1 percent of all vehicles.
Some activists said Biden should avoid a radical environmentalist agenda that ignores social and economic costs when addressing climate change. Robert Dillon, an adviser to the free-market environmentalist organization ConservAmerica, told the Washington Free Beacon that Nichols's record should draw bipartisan concern.
"Nichols may very likely fall into that category of exceptions, where you're going to see the majority stand together to oppose them," Dillon said. "What's your priority: virtue signaling or accomplishing sustainable policy to address climate change, even if it's incremental."
The Biden transition team did not respond to a request for comment.
Nichols has already attracted bipartisan opposition to her actions in California, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. In March, she went forward with emissions requirements on the trucking industry despite dire economic straits brought on by shutdowns. Nichols also used George Floyd's death to push her environmental agenda. In a now-deleted tweet posted the week following Floyd's death, Nichols called for climate action in supposed solidarity with protests over law enforcement.
"'I can't breathe' speaks to police violence, but it also applies to the struggle for clean air," Nichols wrote. "Environmental racism is just one form of racism. It's all toxic. Government needs to clean it up in word and deed."
California Democratic assemblyman Jim Cooper, who is black, called Nichols, who is white, shameless for attempting to exploit Floyd's death to advance "crooked enviro policies."
How dare you use a dying man’s plea for help as a way to discuss your agenda. Have you no shame? How dare you talk about Enviro racism when historically your policies favor your coastal elitists friends. While leaving communities of color out and left to foot the bill. — Jim Cooper (@AsmJimCooper) June 2, 2020
Steve Milloy, who served as a Trump transition team member for the EPA, said the episode is indicative of Nichols's approach to pushing an unpopular agenda.
"She knows how to use the environment as a political weapon to advance the environmental agenda, and she will say or do anything to do that," Milloy told the Free Beacon. "If you're looking for someone to execute that left-wing agenda, Mary Nichols is a good person to do that."
Milloy said that Nichols's political instincts are not as alarming as her past interactions with China. In 2013 and 2017, Nichols met with officials from the city of Shenzhen and several Chinese state-owned auto enterprises to work together on climate change initiatives. While Nichols has hampered American industries with increasingly onerous and costly environmental regulations, China remains the largest emitter of greenhouse gases. China could use that to its advantage, according to Milloy.
"The Chinese and Russians are going to try to use our fixation on climate to their advantage," Milloy said. "If they can trick us into harming our economy by reducing emissions and giving up fracking, they are happy to go along with that and promise to be emissions-free 100 years from now."


freebeacon--2020-12-08--CNN Hasn’t Fired Toobin Yet, But Just Hired a Key Witness to His Zoom Call Wanking Incident

CNN still has n't announced the firing of its chief legal analyst , Jeffrey Toobin , who was let go by the New Yorker last month after pleasuring himself on an employee Zoom call .
The New Yorker ‘ s decision to fire Toobin was driven by the company 's desire to foster `` an environment where everyone feels respected and upholds our standards of conduct . ''
CNN appears to have a different set of standards for employee conduct .
Perhaps due to the masturbatory nature of the network 's political coverage , CNN has resisted public pressure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at all for jerking off in front of his coworkers .
After the incident was first reported , the New Yorker suspended Toobin pending the results of an investigation .
CNN , on the other hand , granted Toobin 's request `` for some time off while he deals with a personal issue . ''
CNN has yet to provide any update on Toobin 's employment status at the network , but reporting suggests he will `` probably '' return as a legal analyst after the masturbation scandal has died down .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request for comment on Toobin 's employment status at the network .
Meanwhile , CNN recently announced the hiring of a key witness to the masturbation incident that prompted Toobin 's firing at the New Yorker .
Evan Osnos , a staff writer at the magazine who took part in the now-infamous Zoom call , is the newest addition to CNN 's stable of contributors .
Osnos is the first CNN contributor—that we know of—who has seen Jeffrey Toobin 's dick .

CNN still hasn't announced the firing of its chief legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin, who was let go by the New Yorker last month after pleasuring himself on an employee Zoom call.
The New Yorker's decision to fire Toobin was driven by the company's desire to foster "an environment where everyone feels respected and upholds our standards of conduct." CNN appears to have a different set of standards for employee conduct.
Perhaps due to the masturbatory nature of the network's political coverage, CNN has resisted public pressure to fire Toobin, or to punish him at all for jerking off in front of his coworkers.
After the incident was first reported, the New Yorker suspended Toobin pending the results of an investigation. CNN, on the other hand, granted Toobin's request "for some time off while he deals with a personal issue."
CNN has yet to provide any update on Toobin's employment status at the network, but reporting suggests he will "probably" return as a legal analyst after the masturbation scandal has died down. A CNN spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on Toobin's employment status at the network.
Meanwhile, CNN recently announced the hiring of a key witness to the masturbation incident that prompted Toobin's firing at the New Yorker. Evan Osnos, a staff writer at the magazine who took part in the now-infamous Zoom call, is the newest addition to CNN's stable of contributors. Osnos is the first CNN contributor—that we know of—who has seen Jeffrey Toobin's dick.


freebeacon--2020-12-08--The Twitter Trolls Are Not Leaving the White House

That ’ s not because the Twitter trolls are leaving 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue , though .
It ’ s because the media , who have spent the past four years losing their minds every time Trump hits send , are about to go deaf to even the most absurd social media proclamations .
Take incoming White House chief of staff and longtime Biden crony Ron Klain , who in mid-February insisted that the United States wasn ’ t facing a COVID epidemic , but a `` fear epidemic . ''
`` We don ’ t have a # COVID-19 epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see a fear epidemic , '' Klain wrote .
`` Kudos to @ NYCMayor ( and others ) for standing against that . ''
But Klain doesn ’ t hold a candle to erstwhile Clinton darling Neera Tanden , President-elect Joe Biden ’ s nominee to manage the federal budget .
The Center for American Progress president has spent the past several days scrubbing over a thousand tweets , including ones calling Sen. Bill Cassidy ( R. , La . )
`` pathetic , '' Sen. Susan Collins ( R. , Maine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put `` party over country , '' and , in her coup de grâce , deriding Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as a tool of the Kremlin .
There may be no better example of a Trump opponent who has become a walking incarnation of the qualities she professes to hate in the president , including the obsessive use of Twitter to savage one ’ s enemies .
That Tanden is now scrambling to hide her behavior so she can get Senate GOP votes makes the hypocrisy even more overt .
The converse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators who have more often than not pleaded ignorance when asked to comment on Trump ’ s tweets are now putting great stock in them .
But we expect hypocrisy from our politicians .
It is apparently too much to ask that our colleagues in the mainstream media maintain a consistent standard .
MSNBC ’ s Kasie Hunt scoffed at the notion that Republican senators would take into consideration Tanden ’ s insulting remarks .
`` It just makes it particularly noteworthy that this is the reason that is cited for opposing Neera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding , `` It ’ s not some political big disagreement or some policy issue , it ’ s personal ! ''
CNN ’ s Brianna Keilar took issue with Sen. John Cornyn ’ s ( R. , Texas ) statement that Tanden has a `` problematic path '' to confirmation thanks to her `` combative and insulting comments about many members of the Senate , '' accusing him of `` clutching his pearls in Donald Trump ’ s oyster bar . ''
Neither Hunt nor Keilar featured Tanden 's nasty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a move that became a stock-in-trade of the profession in the Trump era .

That’s not because the Twitter trolls are leaving 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, though. It’s because the media, who have spent the past four years losing their minds every time Trump hits send, are about to go deaf to even the most absurd social media proclamations.
Take incoming White House chief of staff and longtime Biden crony Ron Klain, who in mid-February insisted that the United States wasn’t facing a COVID epidemic, but a "fear epidemic." "We don’t have a #COVID-19 epidemic in the US but we are starting to see a fear epidemic," Klain wrote. "Kudos to @NYCMayor (and others) for standing against that."
But Klain doesn’t hold a candle to erstwhile Clinton darling Neera Tanden, President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee to manage the federal budget. The Center for American Progress president has spent the past several days scrubbing over a thousand tweets, including ones calling Sen. Bill Cassidy (R., La.) "pathetic," Sen. Susan Collins (R., Maine) a "Scrooge" who has put "party over country," and, in her coup de grâce, deriding Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as a tool of the Kremlin.
There may be no better example of a Trump opponent who has become a walking incarnation of the qualities she professes to hate in the president, including the obsessive use of Twitter to savage one’s enemies. That Tanden is now scrambling to hide her behavior so she can get Senate GOP votes makes the hypocrisy even more overt.
The converse, of course, is that Republican senators who have more often than not pleaded ignorance when asked to comment on Trump’s tweets are now putting great stock in them. But we expect hypocrisy from our politicians. It is apparently too much to ask that our colleagues in the mainstream media maintain a consistent standard.
MSNBC’s Kasie Hunt scoffed at the notion that Republican senators would take into consideration Tanden’s insulting remarks. "It just makes it particularly noteworthy that this is the reason that is cited for opposing Neera Tanden’s nomination," Hunt said, adding, "It’s not some political big disagreement or some policy issue, it’s personal!"
CNN’s Brianna Keilar took issue with Sen. John Cornyn’s (R., Texas) statement that Tanden has a "problematic path" to confirmation thanks to her "combative and insulting comments about many members of the Senate," accusing him of "clutching his pearls in Donald Trump’s oyster bar." Neither Hunt nor Keilar featured Tanden's nasty tweets on screen during the segments, a move that became a stock-in-trade of the profession in the Trump era.


freebeacon--2020-12-08--Texas Fights Election Results from Four Battleground States in Supreme Court

Texas attorney general Ken Paxton ( R. ) is suing four battleground states in the Supreme Court , accusing them of using the coronavirus pandemic as a pretext to sidestep election laws and swing votes to Democrats .
The suit says state officials in Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin violated the Constitution when they unilaterally revised voting deadlines and allowed widespread mail-in voting .
Similar post-election claims from Republican groups and the Trump campaign have struggled to gain traction in court .
`` Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a justification , government officials in the defendant states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania … usurped their legislatures ' authority and unconstitutionally revised their state 's election statutes , '' the lawsuit reads .
`` Presently , evidence of material illegality in the 2020 general elections held in Defendant States grows daily . ''
Texas wants the High Court to order a special election in the four battleground states and disqualify any Electoral College votes based on current results .
Such orders would be unprecedented .
Paxton is also pressing the Court to act on an expedited basis and hear oral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and an extraordinary one given the relief Texas requested .
Timing is a problem for Texas , since electors must be appointed on Monday .
Paxton said the Court can just ignore the deadline , which is set in federal law .
He said the justices `` should not cement a potentially illegitimate election result in the middle of this storm . ''
The justices rarely decide lawsuits filed directly in the Supreme Court , as Texas 's case is .
While the Constitution provides that the Court should hear cases involving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they have discretion to turn them away .
Paxton 's future in public life is in question after senior aides accused him of bribery and abuse of office .
An FBI investigation is ongoing .
His current term expires in 2022 .

Texas attorney general Ken Paxton (R.) is suing four battleground states in the Supreme Court, accusing them of using the coronavirus pandemic as a pretext to sidestep election laws and swing votes to Democrats.
The suit says state officials in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin violated the Constitution when they unilaterally revised voting deadlines and allowed widespread mail-in voting. Similar post-election claims from Republican groups and the Trump campaign have struggled to gain traction in court.
"Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a justification, government officials in the defendant states of Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania … usurped their legislatures' authority and unconstitutionally revised their state's election statutes," the lawsuit reads. "Presently, evidence of material illegality in the 2020 general elections held in Defendant States grows daily."
Texas wants the High Court to order a special election in the four battleground states and disqualify any Electoral College votes based on current results. Such orders would be unprecedented. Paxton is also pressing the Court to act on an expedited basis and hear oral arguments on Friday, an unusual move and an extraordinary one given the relief Texas requested.
Timing is a problem for Texas, since electors must be appointed on Monday. Paxton said the Court can just ignore the deadline, which is set in federal law. He said the justices "should not cement a potentially illegitimate election result in the middle of this storm."
The justices rarely decide lawsuits filed directly in the Supreme Court, as Texas's case is. While the Constitution provides that the Court should hear cases involving the states, the justices have long held that they have discretion to turn them away.
Paxton's future in public life is in question after senior aides accused him of bribery and abuse of office. An FBI investigation is ongoing. His current term expires in 2022.
Texas v. Pennsylvania motio... by Washington Free Beacon


freebeacon--2020-12-08--Women’s Student Group Offers 10 Pronoun Options on Application

A women 's professional-development group at Georgia State University provided 10 pronoun options—including male pronouns—for students to select on their membership application .
WomenLead , an organization that provides professional-development classes to female students , allows applicants to select masculine `` he/him '' pronouns and plural `` they/them '' pronouns in addition to the feminine `` she/her . ''
But students also have a plethora of other options : `` Co , co , cos , cos , coself , '' `` En , en , ens , ens , enself , '' `` Ey , em , eir , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hir , hir , hirs , hirself , '' `` Yo , yo , yos , yos , yoself , '' `` Ze , zir , zir , zirs , zirself , '' and `` Ve , vis , ver , ver , verself . ''
Applicants who find none of those options fitting are invited to write in their preferred pronouns .
Georgia State started WomenLead 2015 to help prepare female students for leadership positions in business , politics , science , and other professional spheres in which , the organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Despite allowing non-female students to apply , the group seeks to narrow the `` pervasive gender equity gap '' through `` empowering young women to aim for and achieve leadership roles . ''
WomenLead manager Maria Tortolero did not reply to the Washington Free Beacon ‘ s request for comment in time for publication .
In recent years , administrators at colleges across the United States have implemented various policies and practices to be more inclusive to 64-plus genders .
In some cases , these efforts have negatively affected groups for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 after the university banned students affiliated with single-sex organizations from participating in campus leadership positions .
Last month , the University of California system added `` nonbinary '' as a gender-identification option on official school documents and allowed students to give a `` lived name , or preferred name '' alongside their legal name .
Harvard 's government school encourages students to write their preferred pronouns on name tags on orientation day .
And in February , New York University gave students the option to provide professors with their preferred pronouns @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A women's professional-development group at Georgia State University provided 10 pronoun options—including male pronouns—for students to select on their membership application.
WomenLead, an organization that provides professional-development classes to female students, allows applicants to select masculine "he/him" pronouns and plural "they/them" pronouns in addition to the feminine "she/her." But students also have a plethora of other options: "Co, co, cos, cos, coself," "En, en, ens, ens, enself," "Ey, em, eir, eirs, emself," "Xie, hir, hir, hirs, hirself," "Yo, yo, yos, yos, yoself," "Ze, zir, zir, zirs, zirself," and "Ve, vis, ver, ver, verself."
Applicants who find none of those options fitting are invited to write in their preferred pronouns.
Georgia State started WomenLead 2015 to help prepare female students for leadership positions in business, politics, science, and other professional spheres in which, the organization says, women are "severely underrepresented." Despite allowing non-female students to apply, the group seeks to narrow the "pervasive gender equity gap" through "empowering young women to aim for and achieve leadership roles."
WomenLead manager Maria Tortolero did not reply to the Washington Free Beacon's request for comment in time for publication.
In recent years, administrators at colleges across the United States have implemented various policies and practices to be more inclusive to 64-plus genders. In some cases, these efforts have negatively affected groups for women. Harvard's last sorority disbanded in 2018 after the university banned students affiliated with single-sex organizations from participating in campus leadership positions.
Last month, the University of California system added "nonbinary" as a gender-identification option on official school documents and allowed students to give a "lived name, or preferred name" alongside their legal name. Harvard's government school encourages students to write their preferred pronouns on name tags on orientation day. And in February, New York University gave students the option to provide professors with their preferred pronouns in an online class roster system.


freebeacon--2020-12-09--Ossoff’s Father Met With Chinese ‘Dignitaries’ While Touring His China-Built Yacht

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff 's millionaire father met with Chinese `` dignitaries '' while touring a 60-foot yacht he purchased from a China-based shipbuilder tied to Communist Party officials .
Richard Ossoff , who has bankrolled his son 's upstart political career , commissioned China-based Jet-Tern Marine to build the custom vessel in 2008 , U.S. Coast Guard records show .
Before shipping the yacht to the United States , the company held a `` sea trial '' for `` customers Heather and Richard Ossoff , of Atlanta , Georgia , USA , '' in order to test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` many '' Chinese dignitaries in attendance .
`` The Selene 1519 sea trial was attended by the customers , many dignitaries from Pingsha and Zhuhai , the press , the Deputy Governor , the Bureau Chief , and the editor of China Boating magazine , '' a since-deleted press release stated .
`` At many times as many as 40-50 people were aboard but the large yacht never felt crowded . ''
The yacht boasted a state-of-the-art steering system , an `` extensively modified inside '' featuring a `` quite open and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lazarette `` laid out perfectly '' for scuba equipment , and a utility room with a `` spacious work area for Mr. Ossoff , '' according to the release .
While it 's unclear how much Ossoff 's father paid for the yacht , a similar model is listed by Florida Yachts International for $ 1.3 million .
The yacht marks another tie between the Ossoff family and a Chinese company linked to Communist leaders .
Jon Ossoff 's foreign film company , Insight TWI , has received at least $ 5,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last two years .
Ossoff failed to disclose the payment in a May financial report before quietly revealing it in an amended filing issued nearly two months later .
His campaign went on to blame a `` paperwork oversight '' for the discrepancy .
Ossoff has benefited from his father 's deep pockets throughout his political rise .
The Democrat has taken more than $ 17,000 in campaign contributions from his father since 2017 , and he became CEO of Insight TWI after using a large family inheritance to buy a controlling stake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also footed the bill for his son 's Washington , D.C. , residence while Ossoff worked as a legislative assistant under Rep. Hank Johnson ( D. , Ga. ) .
Ossoff used the job to claim he 'd spent five years working as a `` national security aide with top-secret clearance , '' but he later admitted that he had clearance for just five months .
Founded in 1998 by Taiwanese businessman Howard Chen , Jet-Tern operates production facilities in Zhuhai and Dongguan , China .
Chen has touted the support of high-ranking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice premier Wang Yang , in the past .
`` Vice Premier Wang Yang once came to inspect Jet Tern .
He gave me his thumbs up , praising me for winning glory , '' Chen wrote in 2015 .
`` Later , when I started to integrate the industrial chain and capitalize , another leader said that I saved at least 10 years . ''
Chen went on to praise the government 's support of the yachting industry in a 2018 interview .
One year later , the Chinese Ministry of Information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to `` increase support for the design and manufacturing of yachts , '' conduct `` key supporting scientific research with relevant departments of the state , '' and `` vigorously promote the development of the domestic yacht equipment industry , '' according to a Chinese news article .
Jet-Tern did not return a request for comment .
Prior to the vessel 's completion , Richard Ossoff submitted a customer testimonial noting his `` outstanding '' experience with Jet-Tern .
He went on to register the yacht , named Cronulla , through Kurnell Equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2008 , the same year the yacht was built .
Kurnell Equipment 's annual filings with the state of Georgia remain up to date , and the yacht is currently certified with the Coast Guard through January 2021 .
Ossoff—whose campaign did not return a request for comment—will face Republican senator David Perdue in Georgia 's January 5 runoff election , which is set to determine partisan control of the upper chamber .

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff's millionaire father met with Chinese "dignitaries" while touring a 60-foot yacht he purchased from a China-based shipbuilder tied to Communist Party officials.
Richard Ossoff, who has bankrolled his son's upstart political career, commissioned China-based Jet-Tern Marine to build the custom vessel in 2008, U.S. Coast Guard records show. Before shipping the yacht to the United States, the company held a "sea trial" for "customers Heather and Richard Ossoff, of Atlanta, Georgia, USA," in order to test the million-dollar vessel's performance, with "many" Chinese dignitaries in attendance.
"The Selene 1519 sea trial was attended by the customers, many dignitaries from Pingsha and Zhuhai, the press, the Deputy Governor, the Bureau Chief, and the editor of China Boating magazine," a since-deleted press release stated. "At many times as many as 40-50 people were aboard but the large yacht never felt crowded."
The yacht boasted a state-of-the-art steering system, an "extensively modified inside" featuring a "quite open and bright" galley and salon area, a lazarette "laid out perfectly" for scuba equipment, and a utility room with a "spacious work area for Mr. Ossoff," according to the release. While it's unclear how much Ossoff's father paid for the yacht, a similar model is listed by Florida Yachts International for $1.3 million.
The yacht marks another tie between the Ossoff family and a Chinese company linked to Communist leaders. Jon Ossoff's foreign film company, Insight TWI, has received at least $5,000 from CCP-backed media giant PCCW in the last two years. Ossoff failed to disclose the payment in a May financial report before quietly revealing it in an amended filing issued nearly two months later. His campaign went on to blame a "paperwork oversight" for the discrepancy.
Ossoff has benefited from his father's deep pockets throughout his political rise. The Democrat has taken more than $17,000 in campaign contributions from his father since 2017, and he became CEO of Insight TWI after using a large family inheritance to buy a controlling stake in the company. Ossoff's father also footed the bill for his son's Washington, D.C., residence while Ossoff worked as a legislative assistant under Rep. Hank Johnson (D., Ga.). Ossoff used the job to claim he'd spent five years working as a "national security aide with top-secret clearance," but he later admitted that he had clearance for just five months.
Founded in 1998 by Taiwanese businessman Howard Chen, Jet-Tern operates production facilities in Zhuhai and Dongguan, China. Chen has touted the support of high-ranking Chinese Communist Party officials, including former vice premier Wang Yang, in the past.
"Vice Premier Wang Yang once came to inspect Jet Tern. He gave me his thumbs up, praising me for winning glory," Chen wrote in 2015. "Later, when I started to integrate the industrial chain and capitalize, another leader said that I saved at least 10 years."
Chen went on to praise the government's support of the yachting industry in a 2018 interview. One year later, the Chinese Ministry of Information and Technology named Jet-Tern in its plans to "increase support for the design and manufacturing of yachts," conduct "key supporting scientific research with relevant departments of the state," and "vigorously promote the development of the domestic yacht equipment industry," according to a Chinese news article.
Jet-Tern did not return a request for comment.
Prior to the vessel's completion, Richard Ossoff submitted a customer testimonial noting his "outstanding" experience with Jet-Tern. He went on to register the yacht, named Cronulla, through Kurnell Equipment, a limited liability company he formed in 2008, the same year the yacht was built.
Kurnell Equipment's annual filings with the state of Georgia remain up to date, and the yacht is currently certified with the Coast Guard through January 2021.
Ossoff—whose campaign did not return a request for comment—will face Republican senator David Perdue in Georgia's January 5 runoff election, which is set to determine partisan control of the upper chamber.


freebeacon--2020-12-10--California Gov. Newsom’s Businesses Received Millions in PPP Loans

Several businesses partially owned by California governor Gavin Newsom ( D. ) received millions in Paycheck Protection Program loans intended for small businesses .
ABC7 Los Angeles reported Wednesday that at least eight businesses under the PlumpJack Group umbrella , of which Newsom holds partial ownership , received nearly $ 3 million in PPP loans .
One company , Villa Encinal Partners LP , received $ 918,720 in loans despite retaining just 14 of its employees .
According to ABC7 , California wineries that received similar amounts of PPP loans employed , on average , 148 workers .
Jay Cheng @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco Chamber of Commerce , told ABC7 that small businesses struggled to receive the funds necessary to keep their businesses afloat , while `` well-resourced '' companies—like those Newsom has a stake in—managed to receive large loans .
`` We see huge discrepancies between small business and the kind of loans they got and their ability to get loans and larger companies that are well-resourced and well-staffed and had strong relationships with their banks , '' Cheng said .
The PPP loans were created earlier this year after health restrictions related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and left millions of Americans unemployed .
The loans were designed to keep workers employed and can be forgiven if business owners use 60 percent of the loan to fund employees ' wages .
Numerous California counties are under a new three-week stay-at-home mandate , which took effect Sunday night .
Nationally , 17 percent of the country 's restaurants have closed as a result of government-imposed pandemic lockdowns , CNN reported .
An additional 37 percent of restaurant owners believe they will close their restaurants in the coming months without additional financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statewide lockdowns , banning private gatherings , and asking Californians to stay at home , Newsom was spotted maskless at an indoor dinner party in November .

Several businesses partially owned by California governor Gavin Newsom (D.) received millions in Paycheck Protection Program loans intended for small businesses.
ABC7 Los Angeles reported Wednesday that at least eight businesses under the PlumpJack Group umbrella, of which Newsom holds partial ownership, received nearly $3 million in PPP loans.
One company, Villa Encinal Partners LP, received $918,720 in loans despite retaining just 14 of its employees. According to ABC7, California wineries that received similar amounts of PPP loans employed, on average, 148 workers.
Jay Cheng, the public policy director of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, told ABC7 that small businesses struggled to receive the funds necessary to keep their businesses afloat, while "well-resourced" companies—like those Newsom has a stake in—managed to receive large loans.
"We see huge discrepancies between small business and the kind of loans they got and their ability to get loans and larger companies that are well-resourced and well-staffed and had strong relationships with their banks," Cheng said.
The PPP loans were created earlier this year after health restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic forced businesses to close and left millions of Americans unemployed. The loans were designed to keep workers employed and can be forgiven if business owners use 60 percent of the loan to fund employees' wages.
Numerous California counties are under a new three-week stay-at-home mandate, which took effect Sunday night. Nationally, 17 percent of the country's restaurants have closed as a result of government-imposed pandemic lockdowns, CNN reported. An additional 37 percent of restaurant owners believe they will close their restaurants in the coming months without additional financial assistance from the government.
Despite implementing statewide lockdowns, banning private gatherings, and asking Californians to stay at home, Newsom was spotted maskless at an indoor dinner party in November.


freebeacon--2020-12-10--Court Strikes Another Blow Against California’s COVID Restrictions on Religious Services

Strict lockdowns on religious services are on life support after a federal appeals court ruled in favor of a California church challenging indoor-worship bans .
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals awarded the South Bay United Pentecostal Church relief against the state 's worship restrictions .
The church is one of several that have taken California governor Gavin Newsom ( D. ) to court over coronavirus lockdowns .
The decision comes just days after the Supreme Court granted relief to a Pasadena church .
`` The guidance from the Supreme Court makes it clear that the restrictions in California are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time before they 're struck down , '' Paul Jonna , special counsel to the Thomas More Society , which worked on the case , told the Washington Free Beacon in a phone interview .
The lawsuits successfully argued that Newsom unfairly targeted religious services while openly welcoming secular indoor gatherings and large outdoor protests .
The church also criticized Newsom for attending a dinner at a high-end restaurant in Napa Valley while he was urging Californians to make sacrifices to combat the spread of the virus .
Newsom did not respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not the only state facing legal backlash for targeting churches .
In November , the Supreme Court granted relief to Orthodox Jewish and Catholic communities that accused New York governor Andrew Cuomo ( D. ) of discriminating against believers and violating the First Amendment .
`` It is time—past time—to make plain that , while the pandemic poses many grave challenges , there is no world in which the Constitution tolerates color-coded executive edicts that reopen liquor stores and bike shops but shutter churches , synagogues , and mosques , '' Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California religious institutions are set to have their cases determined in the coming weeks .
Grace Community Church , a megachurch locked in an extended battle with the state , and a priest who oversees several dissident Catholic churches have both taken California leadership to court .
Jonna expects religious institutions to prevail in those cases .
`` It 's clear that California is not going to treat churches correctly until they 're forced to by the Supreme Court , '' Jonna said .
`` The writing 's on the wall . ''

Strict lockdowns on religious services are on life support after a federal appeals court ruled in favor of a California church challenging indoor-worship bans.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals awarded the South Bay United Pentecostal Church relief against the state's worship restrictions. The church is one of several that have taken California governor Gavin Newsom (D.) to court over coronavirus lockdowns. The decision comes just days after the Supreme Court granted relief to a Pasadena church.
"The guidance from the Supreme Court makes it clear that the restrictions in California are unconstitutional. It's just a matter of time before they're struck down," Paul Jonna, special counsel to the Thomas More Society, which worked on the case, told the Washington Free Beacon in a phone interview.
The lawsuits successfully argued that Newsom unfairly targeted religious services while openly welcoming secular indoor gatherings and large outdoor protests. The church also criticized Newsom for attending a dinner at a high-end restaurant in Napa Valley while he was urging Californians to make sacrifices to combat the spread of the virus.
Newsom did not respond to a request for comment.
California is not the only state facing legal backlash for targeting churches. In November, the Supreme Court granted relief to Orthodox Jewish and Catholic communities that accused New York governor Andrew Cuomo (D.) of discriminating against believers and violating the First Amendment.
"It is time—past time—to make plain that, while the pandemic poses many grave challenges, there is no world in which the Constitution tolerates color-coded executive edicts that reopen liquor stores and bike shops but shutter churches, synagogues, and mosques," Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote.
Two other major California religious institutions are set to have their cases determined in the coming weeks. Grace Community Church, a megachurch locked in an extended battle with the state, and a priest who oversees several dissident Catholic churches have both taken California leadership to court. Jonna expects religious institutions to prevail in those cases.
"It's clear that California is not going to treat churches correctly until they're forced to by the Supreme Court," Jonna said. "The writing's on the wall."


freebeacon--2020-12-09--Pence Touts Success of Space Force

Pence Touts Success of Space Force

Vice President Mike Pence touted the success of President Donald Trump 's space policy at the final National Space Council meeting of the administration on Wednesday .
`` In four short years , America is leading in space once again , '' Pence told the National Space Council at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida .
`` Whether it 's providing for the common defense or growing our space economy across America , that ’ s what we ’ ve done throughout the past four years . ''
Pence and senior administration officials announced at the meeting that NASA will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from private companies and revealed the `` Artemis Team , '' 18 astronauts that are slated to lead the next mission to the moon , including the first woman set to do so .
`` I know with the caliber of the men and women that have stepped forward with the program Artemis , we ’ re going to make all-new history , '' Pence said .
The vice president also announced that a military base will be renamed after the late test pilot Chuck Yeager and that two Air Force bases will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the years to come .
Pence also warned that competition with Russia and China in space continues to escalate .
`` Space is a vacuum , but we aren ’ t operating in a vacuum when it comes to our national security , '' Pence said .
`` The space race that began in the 1950s continues today . ''
China launched a lunar probe in November and plans to construct its own space station .
China and Russia have also built up their arsenal of anti-satellite weapons .
Speaking to these concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bulwark against Chinese threats .
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe also said a decision is expected to be made in the coming two months on whether to make the Space Force a part of the intelligence community .
Though the Trump administration has made gains on space policy , concern abounds that progress could slow under President-elect Joe Biden 's administration .
With little action taken during President Barack Obama ’ s administration , some experts worry space is due to take a backseat under Biden .
`` If we do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the budget , it gets more and more difficult , '' warned NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine .

Vice President Mike Pence touted the success of President Donald Trump's space policy at the final National Space Council meeting of the administration on Wednesday.
"In four short years, America is leading in space once again," Pence told the National Space Council at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. "Whether it's providing for the common defense or growing our space economy across America, that’s what we’ve done throughout the past four years."
Pence and senior administration officials announced at the meeting that NASA will buy lunar resources for the first time from private companies and revealed the "Artemis Team," 18 astronauts that are slated to lead the next mission to the moon, including the first woman set to do so.
"I know with the caliber of the men and women that have stepped forward with the program Artemis, we’re going to make all-new history," Pence said.
The vice president also announced that a military base will be renamed after the late test pilot Chuck Yeager and that two Air Force bases will be converted into Space Force bases in the years to come.
Pence also warned that competition with Russia and China in space continues to escalate.
"Space is a vacuum, but we aren’t operating in a vacuum when it comes to our national security," Pence said. "The space race that began in the 1950s continues today."
China launched a lunar probe in November and plans to construct its own space station. China and Russia have also built up their arsenal of anti-satellite weapons.
Speaking to these concerns, Pence described the Space Force as a bulwark against Chinese threats. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe also said a decision is expected to be made in the coming two months on whether to make the Space Force a part of the intelligence community.
Though the Trump administration has made gains on space policy, concern abounds that progress could slow under President-elect Joe Biden's administration. With little action taken during President Barack Obama’s administration, some experts worry space is due to take a backseat under Biden.
"If we don't get the $3.3 billion in the budget, it gets more and more difficult," warned NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine.


freebeacon--2020-12-09--Philly Buckles Under Legal Pressure From Gun-Rights Activists

Philadelphians will now be able to submit gun-carry permit applications over email after legal pressure forced the city to reverse a COVID-related shutdown that created a log jam for residents .
Second Amendment advocates filed lawsuits in state and federal courts after the city delayed applications far beyond the 45-day window required by state law .
Spokesmen for Gun Owners of America , which filed the state lawsuit , and the Firearms Policy Coalition , which filed the federal challenge , said the city acted out of fear of losing in both cases .
Adam Kraut , FPC 's director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely does n't want its case to move up the federal docket and risk setting a precedent that could affect how localities handle gun-carry applications .
He said the legal landscape changed in the wake of the Supreme Court 's November decision to grant emergency relief to churches and synagogues that challenged some of New York 's COVID restrictions .
`` It 's hard to imagine the Philadelphia defendants not running a new risk analysis after the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo order , '' Kraut told the Washington Free Beacon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to be concerned about how the Court would view their regulatory scheme . ''
Neither the Philadelphia Police Department nor the office of Mayor Jim Kenney ( D. ) responded to requests for comment .
Jurisdictions with strict gun laws have attempted to sidestep review at the Supreme Court numerous times in recent years .
Washington , D.C. , declined to appeal when its restrictive gun-carry permit law was struck down in 2017 out of concern the Supreme Court would uphold the ruling .
New York City also reversed course on defending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legally owned guns .
The Supreme Court declined to rule on the merits of the policy after the city abandoned it altogether .
Andrew Austin , who represented GOA in its state suit , told the Free Beacon the city opened up email applications because it was struggling to meet a self-imposed deadline for reopening in-person applications it had given to the court .
He said the city 's lawyers could see the writing on the wall .
`` They were going to lose , '' Austin said .
`` I think what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ the judge ] entering a judgment for GOA . ''
On Monday , police announced the office would reopen , ending a two-week shutdown of operations at the Gun Permit Unit .
It said all previously scheduled in-person appointments would be canceled and the office would instead operate by email only—an option requested by gun-rights activists— '' until further notice . ''
The switch to email processing , which a number of other counties in the state are also using , comes after many Philadelphians were left scrambling to get application appointments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city this summer .
Several residents told the Free Beacon of busy phone lines at the permit unit .
Others were told they would have to wait a year for an appointment .
`` I 'm not sure the city is actually trying to stomp on my rights—they may just be grossly incompetent , '' James Tordella , a medical supply salesman living in the city , said at the time .
After the Free Beacon published its report on the backlogs , some of those cited in the story had their appointments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their gun-carry permit .
The Monday announcement may result in more legally qualified Philadelphians receiving their gun-carry permits faster as lingering uncertainty from the pandemic and civil unrest heighten Americans ' desires to defend themselves .
Despite the new changes , gun-rights activists said they will continue to monitor the city 's permit process .
Kraut said the FPC federal case will continue forward for the time being and Austin said he is looking to make sure the city does n't find a new way to try and circumvent state law .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they may now decide that maybe they ca n't comply in 45 days , which , again , the law is against , '' Austin said .
`` But it is Philadelphia , so they may try to do things that are wrong . ''

Philadelphians will now be able to submit gun-carry permit applications over email after legal pressure forced the city to reverse a COVID-related shutdown that created a log jam for residents.
Second Amendment advocates filed lawsuits in state and federal courts after the city delayed applications far beyond the 45-day window required by state law. Spokesmen for Gun Owners of America, which filed the state lawsuit, and the Firearms Policy Coalition, which filed the federal challenge, said the city acted out of fear of losing in both cases. Adam Kraut, FPC's director of legal strategy, said the city likely doesn't want its case to move up the federal docket and risk setting a precedent that could affect how localities handle gun-carry applications. He said the legal landscape changed in the wake of the Supreme Court's November decision to grant emergency relief to churches and synagogues that challenged some of New York's COVID restrictions.
"It's hard to imagine the Philadelphia defendants not running a new risk analysis after the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo order," Kraut told the Washington Free Beacon. "Anyone in their position would have to be concerned about how the Court would view their regulatory scheme."
Neither the Philadelphia Police Department nor the office of Mayor Jim Kenney (D.) responded to requests for comment.
Jurisdictions with strict gun laws have attempted to sidestep review at the Supreme Court numerous times in recent years. Washington, D.C., declined to appeal when its restrictive gun-carry permit law was struck down in 2017 out of concern the Supreme Court would uphold the ruling. New York City also reversed course on defending a law that restricted the transport of legally owned guns. The Supreme Court declined to rule on the merits of the policy after the city abandoned it altogether.
Andrew Austin, who represented GOA in its state suit, told the Free Beacon the city opened up email applications because it was struggling to meet a self-imposed deadline for reopening in-person applications it had given to the court. He said the city's lawyers could see the writing on the wall.
"They were going to lose," Austin said. "I think what they wanted to do was just avoid [the judge] entering a judgment for GOA."
On Monday, police announced the office would reopen, ending a two-week shutdown of operations at the Gun Permit Unit. It said all previously scheduled in-person appointments would be canceled and the office would instead operate by email only—an option requested by gun-rights activists—"until further notice."
The switch to email processing, which a number of other counties in the state are also using, comes after many Philadelphians were left scrambling to get application appointments at the height of rioting in the city this summer. Several residents told the Free Beacon of busy phone lines at the permit unit. Others were told they would have to wait a year for an appointment.
"I'm not sure the city is actually trying to stomp on my rights—they may just be grossly incompetent," James Tordella, a medical supply salesman living in the city, said at the time.
After the Free Beacon published its report on the backlogs, some of those cited in the story had their appointments moved up and have since successfully obtained their gun-carry permit. The Monday announcement may result in more legally qualified Philadelphians receiving their gun-carry permits faster as lingering uncertainty from the pandemic and civil unrest heighten Americans' desires to defend themselves.
Despite the new changes, gun-rights activists said they will continue to monitor the city's permit process. Kraut said the FPC federal case will continue forward for the time being and Austin said he is looking to make sure the city doesn't find a new way to try and circumvent state law.
"Instead of making people wait to apply, they may now decide that maybe they can't comply in 45 days, which, again, the law is against," Austin said. "But it is Philadelphia, so they may try to do things that are wrong."


freebeacon--2020-12-09--Top Chinese Propagandist Casts Doubt on Safety of COVID Vaccine

A top Chinese propagandist is casting doubt on the effectiveness of the American-made Pfizer vaccine for the coronavirus .
`` My question is : Can Pfizer vaccine really be trusted ? ''
tweeted Hu Xijin , CCP propagandist and editor in chief of the state-owned Global Times , on Wednesday .
Hu 's questioning of the vaccine 's safety comes as the United States is on the verge of approving several vaccines for the coronavirus , including one made by Pfizer , an American pharmaceutical company .
Pfizer ’ s vaccine is said to be 95 percent effective in preventing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drug Administration officials will meet Thursday and decide whether to authorize the vaccine , which could be available in the United States as early as next week .
Chinese propagandists are also working to resurrect false narratives about the origins of the coronavirus .
Regime officials have pushed unsubstantiated allegations that the virus could have entered Wuhan through frozen-food imports .
`` If cold-chain is possible now , Wuhan being framed by virus can ’ t be ruled out , '' wrote Zha Liyou , a Chinese diplomat .
Zha also peddled the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American military .
China ’ s attempt to sow mistrust in the vaccine mirrors attempts made by some Democrats to do the same .
In September , Vice President-elect Kamala Harris ( D. , Calif. ) told reporters that she would not trust a Trump vaccine .
`` I would not trust Donald Trump , and it would have to be a credible source of information that talks about the efficacy and the reliability of whatever he ’ s talking about , '' Harris said in an interview with CNN ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not take his word for it . ''
The Pfizer vaccine is likely to be distributed in the United States in the coming weeks , during the final month of the Trump administration .
The vaccine is one of four developed using federal funding from Operation Warp Speed , an initiative authorized by the Trump administration .

A top Chinese propagandist is casting doubt on the effectiveness of the American-made Pfizer vaccine for the coronavirus.
"My question is: Can Pfizer vaccine really be trusted?" tweeted Hu Xijin, CCP propagandist and editor in chief of the state-owned Global Times, on Wednesday.
Hu's questioning of the vaccine's safety comes as the United States is on the verge of approving several vaccines for the coronavirus, including one made by Pfizer, an American pharmaceutical company. Pfizer’s vaccine is said to be 95 percent effective in preventing sickness from the coronavirus. Food and Drug Administration officials will meet Thursday and decide whether to authorize the vaccine, which could be available in the United States as early as next week.
Chinese propagandists are also working to resurrect false narratives about the origins of the coronavirus. Regime officials have pushed unsubstantiated allegations that the virus could have entered Wuhan through frozen-food imports.
"If cold-chain is possible now, Wuhan being framed by virus can’t be ruled out," wrote Zha Liyou, a Chinese diplomat. Zha also peddled the false theory that the coronavirus originated from the American military.
China’s attempt to sow mistrust in the vaccine mirrors attempts made by some Democrats to do the same. In September, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) told reporters that she would not trust a Trump vaccine.
"I would not trust Donald Trump, and it would have to be a credible source of information that talks about the efficacy and the reliability of whatever he’s talking about," Harris said in an interview with CNN’s State of the Union. "I will not take his word for it."
The Pfizer vaccine is likely to be distributed in the United States in the coming weeks, during the final month of the Trump administration. The vaccine is one of four developed using federal funding from Operation Warp Speed, an initiative authorized by the Trump administration.


freebeacon--2020-12-09--Biden Pentagon Pick Suppressed ISIS Intel, According to Congressional Probes

Joe Biden 's Pentagon pick , retired Army general Lloyd Austin , faced bipartisan criticism in 2016 for manipulating intelligence to downplay the threat of ISIS .
Two congressional probes—one by Republicans and another by Democrats—separately concluded that the U.S. Central Command ( CENTCOM ) suppressed intelligence briefings to paint a more optimistic picture of the fight against ISIS under Austin 's leadership .
The Democratic investigation , led by Rep. Adam Schiff ( Calif. ) , concluded that new rules set up under Austin 's command were `` insufficiently accommodating of dissent '' and `` did produce more optimistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strength relative to [ ISIS 's ] . ''
The Republican report found that , according to an internal agency survey , 40 percent of CENTCOM intelligence analysts testified that `` they had experienced an attempt to distort or suppress intelligence in the past year . ''
Austin , CENTCOM commander from 2013 to 2016 and Biden 's pick for defense secretary , publicly claimed that the Obama administration was making `` significant progress '' against ISIS in fall 2014—just when the terrorist organization was reaching its largest territorial extent .
Austin also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this fight '' in March 2015 , two months before terrorists captured Ramadi , a key city just miles from Baghdad .
The Department of Defense inspector general ultimately cleared CENTCOM commanders of politicizing the battle against ISIS , but its 2017 report noted , according to witnesses , Austin had pushed his subordinates to paint a rosy picture of the situation .
The witness accounts are consistent with contemporary news accounts , which found that CENTCOM officials regularly altered language in intelligence reports .
`` Several witnesses asserted that GEN Austin did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his staff regarding USCENTCOM 's counter- [ ISIS ] campaign , '' the report read .
`` These witnesses believed that GEN Austin was the source of pressure to present a rosier picture of the effects of USCENTCOM 's operations against [ ISIS ] . ''
Biden has made Austin 's role in the fight against ISIS a central argument for his confirmation .
`` Above all , I chose Lloyd Austin as my nominee for secretary of defense because I know how he reacts under pressure , '' the president-elect wrote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and executed the campaign that ultimately beat back ISIS . ''
The general 's anti-ISIS track record is spottier than Biden lets on .
Under Austin , the United States ' Middle-Eastern command shook up its intelligence-gathering operations—changes that hindered the fight against ISIS .
According to the three probes ( the two by Congress and one by the inspector general ) , analysts said those reforms at best slowed down intelligence processing and at worst introduced political interference into their assessments .
The probes started in the aftermath of a 2015 whistleblower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assessments to paint an unduly positive picture of the situation .
The Republican investigation concluded that CENTCOM 's leadership environment `` deteriorated significantly '' after Austin took over in 2013 .
Dozens of analysts viewed the leadership as `` toxic , '' according to an internal survey .
The survey also found widespread dissatisfaction with leadership 's decision to introduce additional bureaucracy into the intelligence-production process , which analysts said led to delays and opportunities for distortion .
`` These [ intelligence ] products also consistently described U.S. actions in a more positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and were typically more optimistic than actual events warranted , '' the report read .
Democratic investigators said that the new rules imposed under Austin `` created an overly insular process for producing intelligence assessments '' that tanked morale , delayed intelligence production , and failed to accommodate dissent .
Austin denied that he nudged his subordinates , but 42 intelligence analysts—nearly half of all those interviewed by the inspector general—said that CENTCOM leadership had distorted intelligence assessments by imposing a narrative or requiring a higher burdens of proof and greater sourcing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluded that a series of miscommunications between Austin and CENTCOM leadership on one hand and the rank-and-file on the other unintentionally created the widespread `` perception of distortion '' among analysts , leading to self-censorship .
The Biden transition team did not respond to a request for comment .

Joe Biden's Pentagon pick, retired Army general Lloyd Austin, faced bipartisan criticism in 2016 for manipulating intelligence to downplay the threat of ISIS.
Two congressional probes—one by Republicans and another by Democrats—separately concluded that the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) suppressed intelligence briefings to paint a more optimistic picture of the fight against ISIS under Austin's leadership.
The Democratic investigation, led by Rep. Adam Schiff (Calif.), concluded that new rules set up under Austin's command were "insufficiently accommodating of dissent" and "did produce more optimistic assessments of [Iraqi Security Force] strength relative to [ISIS's]." The Republican report found that, according to an internal agency survey, 40 percent of CENTCOM intelligence analysts testified that "they had experienced an attempt to distort or suppress intelligence in the past year."
Austin, CENTCOM commander from 2013 to 2016 and Biden's pick for defense secretary, publicly claimed that the Obama administration was making "significant progress" against ISIS in fall 2014—just when the terrorist organization was reaching its largest territorial extent. Austin also told Congress that ISIS "is losing this fight" in March 2015, two months before terrorists captured Ramadi, a key city just miles from Baghdad.
The Department of Defense inspector general ultimately cleared CENTCOM commanders of politicizing the battle against ISIS, but its 2017 report noted, according to witnesses, Austin had pushed his subordinates to paint a rosy picture of the situation. The witness accounts are consistent with contemporary news accounts, which found that CENTCOM officials regularly altered language in intelligence reports.
"Several witnesses asserted that GEN Austin did not like to receive bad news from his staff regarding USCENTCOM's counter-[ISIS] campaign," the report read. "These witnesses believed that GEN Austin was the source of pressure to present a rosier picture of the effects of USCENTCOM's operations against [ISIS]."
Biden has made Austin's role in the fight against ISIS a central argument for his confirmation.
"Above all, I chose Lloyd Austin as my nominee for secretary of defense because I know how he reacts under pressure," the president-elect wrote in a Tuesday op-ed. "He designed and executed the campaign that ultimately beat back ISIS."
The general's anti-ISIS track record is spottier than Biden lets on. Under Austin, the United States' Middle-Eastern command shook up its intelligence-gathering operations—changes that hindered the fight against ISIS. According to the three probes (the two by Congress and one by the inspector general), analysts said those reforms at best slowed down intelligence processing and at worst introduced political interference into their assessments.
The probes started in the aftermath of a 2015 whistleblower complaint that accused CENTCOM of manipulating its assessments to paint an unduly positive picture of the situation.
The Republican investigation concluded that CENTCOM's leadership environment "deteriorated significantly" after Austin took over in 2013. Dozens of analysts viewed the leadership as "toxic," according to an internal survey. The survey also found widespread dissatisfaction with leadership's decision to introduce additional bureaucracy into the intelligence-production process, which analysts said led to delays and opportunities for distortion.
"These [intelligence] products also consistently described U.S. actions in a more positive light than other assessments from the IC and were typically more optimistic than actual events warranted," the report read.
Democratic investigators said that the new rules imposed under Austin "created an overly insular process for producing intelligence assessments" that tanked morale, delayed intelligence production, and failed to accommodate dissent.
Austin denied that he nudged his subordinates, but 42 intelligence analysts—nearly half of all those interviewed by the inspector general—said that CENTCOM leadership had distorted intelligence assessments by imposing a narrative or requiring a higher burdens of proof and greater sourcing for bad news.
The inspector general ultimately concluded that a series of miscommunications between Austin and CENTCOM leadership on one hand and the rank-and-file on the other unintentionally created the widespread "perception of distortion" among analysts, leading to self-censorship.
The Biden transition team did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-12-09--Hunter Biden’s Taxes Under Federal Investigation

Hunter Biden , son of President-elect Joe Biden , revealed Wednesday that his taxes are under investigation by a federal prosecutor .
`` I learned yesterday for the first time that the U.S. Attorney 's Office in Delaware advised my legal counsel , also yesterday , that they are investigating my tax affairs , '' Hunter Biden said in a joint statement with his father 's transition team .
`` I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisors . ''
The Biden-Harris transition team said in the statement that Biden remains `` deeply proud of his son . ''
`` President-elect Biden is deeply proud of his son , who has fought through difficult challenges , including the vicious personal attacks of recent months , only to emerge stronger , '' the statement said .
Hunter Biden has faced scrutiny in the past for his tax obligations .
The younger Biden paid off a $ 450,000 tax lien in July despite purportedly having no income .
And his lucrative financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially with Chinese companies , were a liability for Joe Biden 's presidential campaign .

Hunter Biden, son of President-elect Joe Biden, revealed Wednesday that his taxes are under investigation by a federal prosecutor.
"I learned yesterday for the first time that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Delaware advised my legal counsel, also yesterday, that they are investigating my tax affairs," Hunter Biden said in a joint statement with his father's transition team. "I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors."
The Biden-Harris transition team said in the statement that Biden remains "deeply proud of his son."
"President-elect Biden is deeply proud of his son, who has fought through difficult challenges, including the vicious personal attacks of recent months, only to emerge stronger," the statement said.
Hunter Biden has faced scrutiny in the past for his tax obligations. The younger Biden paid off a $450,000 tax lien in July despite purportedly having no income. And his lucrative financial entanglements while his father was vice president, especially with Chinese companies, were a liability for Joe Biden's presidential campaign.


freebeacon--2020-12-09--Ex-Gov McAuliffe Wants Old Job Back, Calls for ‘New Virginia Way’

Former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe ( D. ) announced Wednesday that he will mount a campaign for his old job , promising a `` new Virginia way . ''
`` An old Richmond approach just does n't work anymore , '' McAuliffe said during his gubernatorial campaign announcement .
`` Folks , it is time for a new Virginia way .
And I know that old way of thinking because I fought against it as governor . ''
While McAuliffe promises a change to Virginia politics , a successful campaign would return him to the governorship he held between 2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic fundraiser who served on the Clinton Foundation 's board of directors and co-chaired Hillary Clinton 's 2008 presidential campaign , left office in 2018 as the Virginia state constitution forbids governors from serving consecutive terms .
McAuliffe 's successor , Gov .
Ralph Northam ( D. ) , who served as his lieutenant governor , will leave office in 2022 .
For Virginians , a `` new Virginia way '' is far from new : Northam has repeated the phrase during his time in office .
In the Virginia Democrat 's 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Virginia way , '' calling it `` a responsibility to shape the future . ''
He also called for `` a new Virginia way '' in a speech on Medicaid reform the same year .
Northam faced widespread criticism in 2019 after he admitted to having worn blackface while in medical school .
Other gubernatorial hopefuls have raised doubts about how `` new '' McAuliffe 's politics will really be .
State delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy ( D. ) blasted McAuliffe as one of Virginia 's `` rich political insiders with strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
State senator Jennifer McClellan ( D. ) said that , unlike McAuliffe 's campaign , hers `` is about moving the Commonwealth forward , not back . ''

Former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe (D.) announced Wednesday that he will mount a campaign for his old job, promising a "new Virginia way."
"An old Richmond approach just doesn't work anymore," McAuliffe said during his gubernatorial campaign announcement. "Folks, it is time for a new Virginia way. And I know that old way of thinking because I fought against it as governor."
While McAuliffe promises a change to Virginia politics, a successful campaign would return him to the governorship he held between 2014 and 2018. McAuliffe, a major Democratic fundraiser who served on the Clinton Foundation's board of directors and co-chaired Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign, left office in 2018 as the Virginia state constitution forbids governors from serving consecutive terms. McAuliffe's successor, Gov. Ralph Northam (D.), who served as his lieutenant governor, will leave office in 2022.
For Virginians, a "new Virginia way" is far from new: Northam has repeated the phrase during his time in office. In the Virginia Democrat's 2018 inauguration speech, Northam promised a new "Virginia way," calling it "a responsibility to shape the future." He also called for "a new Virginia way" in a speech on Medicaid reform the same year.
Northam faced widespread criticism in 2019 after he admitted to having worn blackface while in medical school.
Other gubernatorial hopefuls have raised doubts about how "new" McAuliffe's politics will really be.
State delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy (D.) blasted McAuliffe as one of Virginia's "rich political insiders with strong ties to the special interests" in a statement. State senator Jennifer McClellan (D.) said that, unlike McAuliffe's campaign, hers "is about moving the Commonwealth forward, not back."


freebeacon--2020-12-09--Iowa Democrat Appeals to House to Overturn Election Loss

Democrats bypassed state courts and are going straight to the Democrat-held House of Representatives to challenge a win eked out by Republicans in a swing Iowa congressional seat .
Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks , a physician and U.S. Army veteran , defeated Democratic former state senator Rita Hart by six votes in the race for Iowa ’ s Second Congressional District .
The race is only one of two yet to be called by major media outlets , though a recount has confirmed and the state canvassing board has certified Miller-Meeks 's victory .
Instead of contesting the outcome through Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will appeal to the House to challenge the election results .
Under a 1969 law , Hart can appeal to the House to determine her loss was not valid .
The Democratic-controlled House Administration Committee , if it takes up Hart 's appeal , can then recommend to the full House whether to vote to seat Hart or Miller-Meeks .
The House has examined 107 contested election results between 1933 and 2009 and only overturned the initial result in four cases .
Iowa Republicans denounced Hart ’ s decision as a sidestep of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although it was a close race , Mariannette Miller-Meeks won the election in IA-02 fair and square , '' incoming representative Ashley Hinson ( R. , Iowa ) told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` I think Democrats know that , and that is why they are bypassing the courts and taking their case straight to Democrats in Washington and letting Speaker Pelosi be the judge .
People should be paying attention to what Democrats are trying to do here—effectively allowing Speaker Pelosi to override the votes of Iowans . ''
The last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in 1985 , when it overturned a Republican victory in Indiana ’ s Eighth Congressional District in favor of incumbent Democrat Rep. Frank McCloskey .
In that case , it took the House four months to decide on the result of the election , in which time the Republicans ' 418-vote victory was cut to a four-vote loss .
McCloskey ’ s victory was met with a walkout protest from House Republicans , with 10 House Democrats joining the Republicans in voting against the final result .
Iowa senators Chuck Grassley ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) told the Free Beacon in a joint statement that Hart is gaming the electoral process .
`` Both the original vote count and recount confirmed Mariannette Miller-Meeks won her election , '' the senators said .
`` Rita Hart declined to take legitimate legal action in Iowa courts and instead chose to appeal to Washington partisans who should have no say in who represents Iowans .
That ’ s an insult to Iowa voters and our nonpartisan election process .
We are confident in the fairness and accuracy of Iowa ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holds on in the race , she will replace seven-term congressman Dave Loebsack ( D. ) as the district ’ s representative .
The Republican ’ s victory would be the 13th Democratic seat flipped to the GOP in the 2020 elections , and Miller-Meeks would join a freshman class of Republicans with a historic number of women .
Republicans also hope to take New York ’ s 22nd Congressional District , where Republican Claudia Tenney leads Rep. Anthony Brindisi ( D. , N.Y. ) by just 12 votes .
The New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own confirmation .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not respond to a request for comment on Hart 's appeal .

Democrats bypassed state courts and are going straight to the Democrat-held House of Representatives to challenge a win eked out by Republicans in a swing Iowa congressional seat.
Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a physician and U.S. Army veteran, defeated Democratic former state senator Rita Hart by six votes in the race for Iowa’s Second Congressional District. The race is only one of two yet to be called by major media outlets, though a recount has confirmed and the state canvassing board has certified Miller-Meeks's victory. Instead of contesting the outcome through Iowa courts, Hart said last week she will appeal to the House to challenge the election results.
Under a 1969 law, Hart can appeal to the House to determine her loss was not valid. The Democratic-controlled House Administration Committee, if it takes up Hart's appeal, can then recommend to the full House whether to vote to seat Hart or Miller-Meeks. The House has examined 107 contested election results between 1933 and 2009 and only overturned the initial result in four cases.
Iowa Republicans denounced Hart’s decision as a sidestep of the normal election appeals process.
"Although it was a close race, Mariannette Miller-Meeks won the election in IA-02 fair and square," incoming representative Ashley Hinson (R., Iowa) told the Washington Free Beacon. "I think Democrats know that, and that is why they are bypassing the courts and taking their case straight to Democrats in Washington and letting Speaker Pelosi be the judge. People should be paying attention to what Democrats are trying to do here—effectively allowing Speaker Pelosi to override the votes of Iowans."
The last time the House reversed an election outcome was in 1985, when it overturned a Republican victory in Indiana’s Eighth Congressional District in favor of incumbent Democrat Rep. Frank McCloskey. In that case, it took the House four months to decide on the result of the election, in which time the Republicans' 418-vote victory was cut to a four-vote loss.
McCloskey’s victory was met with a walkout protest from House Republicans, with 10 House Democrats joining the Republicans in voting against the final result.
Iowa senators Chuck Grassley (R.) and Joni Ernst (R.) told the Free Beacon in a joint statement that Hart is gaming the electoral process.
"Both the original vote count and recount confirmed Mariannette Miller-Meeks won her election," the senators said. "Rita Hart declined to take legitimate legal action in Iowa courts and instead chose to appeal to Washington partisans who should have no say in who represents Iowans. That’s an insult to Iowa voters and our nonpartisan election process. We are confident in the fairness and accuracy of Iowa’s election system."
If Miller-Meeks ultimately holds on in the race, she will replace seven-term congressman Dave Loebsack (D.) as the district’s representative. The Republican’s victory would be the 13th Democratic seat flipped to the GOP in the 2020 elections, and Miller-Meeks would join a freshman class of Republicans with a historic number of women.
Republicans also hope to take New York’s 22nd Congressional District, where Republican Claudia Tenney leads Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D., N.Y.) by just 12 votes. The New York race faces several legal hurdles before its own confirmation.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not respond to a request for comment on Hart's appeal.


freebeacon--2020-12-09--FLASHBACK: Dem Senators Argued ACB Couldn’t Be Trusted in Election Case

Democrats argued against confirming Justice Amy Coney Barrett since she could intervene to help President Donald Trump if the election @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday neither Barrett nor any other justice dissented when the Supreme Court declined to hear @ @ @ @ @ election results .

Democrats argued against confirming Justice Amy Coney Barrett since she could intervene to help President Donald Trump if the election was contested. But on Tuesday neither Barrett nor any other justice dissented when the Supreme Court declined to hear a case challenging the Pennsylvania election results.


freebeacon--2020-12-09--Contra Axios, Pete Buttigieg Will Never Be President

Axios has reported a `` scoop '' regarding the future of Pete Buttigieg , the 38-year-old didgeridoo aficionado who could have won the Democratic primary in 2020—if just white landowners were allowed to vote .
President-elect Joe Biden is reportedly considering Buttigieg for a high-profile ambassadorship , perhaps even sending him to represent U.S. interests in China .
That makes sense , given his experience as mayor of the fourth-largest city in Indiana .
When it comes to political ambition and self-regard , Buttigieg 's thirst for power and recognition is second to none .
Reporting suggests he has already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden administration—OMB director and VA secretary—but turned them down because he wanted a `` real Cabinet '' position , whatever that means .
Axios reports that finding a suitable post for Buttigieg has been a `` challenge '' due to Biden 's focus on diversity .
These days , being a gay white man only counts for so much .
And it probably has something to do with the fact that he 's the 38-year-old former mayor of Indiana 's fourth-largest city .
His other qualifications include a failed presidential campaign and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DNC chairman .
Per Axios , Buttigieg requires a high-level post in the administration because he `` electrified donors '' during the primary , and everyone assumes he will keep running for president in the future .
Making him U.S. ambassador to China—a post typically reserved for older , qualified politicians—would `` invert that model and give the Chinese an opportunity to get to know a potential future president . ''
This assessment ignores one crucial fact : Pete Buttigieg will never be president , at least not anytime soon .
Is he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2024 ?
The guy who won just 3 percent of the black vote in South Carolina ?
Who ran the whitest campaign since Mitt Romney in 2012 ?
Hosting dinners and speaking foreign languages as an ambassador are more Buttigieg 's speed—in China , Norway , Saudi Arabia , wherever that may be .
If that does n't work out , he should stick to writing memoirs—anything to avoid becoming the Sean Eldridge of national politics .
Buttigieg has `` signaled to the transition team that he 's most interested in the foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignoring the advice of those who `` see a political upside to a domestic Cabinet role in which he can build his relationship with Black voters , who largely rejected his candidacy . ''
Indeed , he often failed to record a statistically significant level of support with black voters in primary polling .
So maybe he does n't really want to be president .
Except he obviously does .
If Buttigieg does somehow manage to win the Democratic presidential nomination in the coming years , it would mean the party has finally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of rich urban professionals with graduate degrees who wear boat shoes while summering in Martha 's Vineyard , Nantucket , or Cape Cod .
Editor 's Note : The Free Beacon accurately predicted in December 2014 that Hillary Clinton would never be president .

Axios has reported a "scoop" regarding the future of Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old didgeridoo aficionado who could have won the Democratic primary in 2020—if just white landowners were allowed to vote.
President-elect Joe Biden is reportedly considering Buttigieg for a high-profile ambassadorship, perhaps even sending him to represent U.S. interests in China. That makes sense, given his experience as mayor of the fourth-largest city in Indiana.
When it comes to political ambition and self-regard, Buttigieg's thirst for power and recognition is second to none. Reporting suggests he has already been offered two prominent roles in the Biden administration—OMB director and VA secretary—but turned them down because he wanted a "real Cabinet" position, whatever that means.
Axios reports that finding a suitable post for Buttigieg has been a "challenge" due to Biden's focus on diversity. These days, being a gay white man only counts for so much. And it probably has something to do with the fact that he's the 38-year-old former mayor of Indiana's fourth-largest city. His other qualifications include a failed presidential campaign and, before that, a failed bid for DNC chairman.
Per Axios, Buttigieg requires a high-level post in the administration because he "electrified donors" during the primary, and everyone assumes he will keep running for president in the future. Making him U.S. ambassador to China—a post typically reserved for older, qualified politicians—would "invert that model and give the Chinese an opportunity to get to know a potential future president."
This assessment ignores one crucial fact: Pete Buttigieg will never be president, at least not anytime soon. Is he really going to challenge Kamala Harris in 2024? The guy who won just 3 percent of the black vote in South Carolina? Who ran the whitest campaign since Mitt Romney in 2012?
Hosting dinners and speaking foreign languages as an ambassador are more Buttigieg's speed—in China, Norway, Saudi Arabia, wherever that may be. If that doesn't work out, he should stick to writing memoirs—anything to avoid becoming the Sean Eldridge of national politics.
Buttigieg has "signaled to the transition team that he's most interested in the foreign policy or national security realm," ignoring the advice of those who "see a political upside to a domestic Cabinet role in which he can build his relationship with Black voters, who largely rejected his candidacy." Indeed, he often failed to record a statistically significant level of support with black voters in primary polling.
So maybe he doesn't really want to be president. Except he obviously does.
If Buttigieg does somehow manage to win the Democratic presidential nomination in the coming years, it would mean the party has finally succeeded in transforming itself into the party of rich urban professionals with graduate degrees who wear boat shoes while summering in Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, or Cape Cod.
Good luck with that.
Editor's Note: The Free Beacon accurately predicted in December 2014 that Hillary Clinton would never be president.