freebeacon--2020-07-21--Huawei-Funded Think Tank Takes Aim at Top China Hawk

A prominent U.S. think tank that received millions of dollars from Huawei has repeatedly given senior Chinese officials a megaphone to rail against the Trump administration and promote pro-China talking points .
The Peterson Institute for International Economics hosted Chinese World Trade Organization ambassador Zhang Xiangchen , who used the high-profile venue to denounce protectionists as `` headless chickens '' in a thinly veiled criticism of trade skeptics in the United States .
PIIE promoted the July 15 event on social media by taking direct aim at Sen. Josh Hawley ( R. , Mo . )
—a prominent China hawk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States from the WHO .
PIIE has benefited from its ties with the Chinese elite , receiving nearly $ 400,000 between 2010 and 2018 from Huawei , a Chinese tech giant indicted by the federal government , according to PIIE president Adam Posen .
The think tank has also received hundreds of thousands of dollars from an anti-democratic Hong Kong billionaire and a nonprofit widely considered a front group for the Chinese government 's influence-peddling operations .
Groups and individuals linked to the regime have poured millions of dollars into Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy .
Hawley said PIIE 's partnership is just another example of the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) finding a receptive audience among the American elite , whether it be in D.C. think tanks or corporate boardrooms .
`` That the Chinese government and its party propagandists should be given a platform to extend their influence in the U.S. is disappointing , to say the least , '' Hawley told the Washington Free Beacon .
Posen told the Free Beacon that the think tank `` essentially fired [ Huawei ] as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its national security threat became public knowledge .
He also said that Huawei ’ s donations did not have ties to any specific research done at the think tank .
The institute ’ s spokesperson added that PIIE regularly hosts government officials from a variety of countries , including China , to `` encourage an open exchange of views . ''
PIIE has cultivated close ties with Chinese elites , inviting senior officials to speak at its annual symposia cohosted with the China Finance 40 Forum ( CF40 ) —a state-backed think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The symposium has functioned as a highly visible platform for senior officials to not only criticize the Trump administration 's trade policy , but also tout the Belt and Road Initiative—the controversial program accused of being a conduit for Chinese influence in developing countries .
Past panelists have included China 's vice minister of finance and the vice chairman of the Chinese People 's Political Consultative Conference , a political advisory body for the regime .
Posen , a consistent opponent of the Trump administration 's trade policy , teamed up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ author a chapter in a report co-published by PIIE and CF40 .
The chapter sharply denounced the Trump administration ’ s trade policies , calling them `` counterproductive . ''
`` The Trump administration ’ s unilateral approach to trade disputes is counterproductive , '' the chapter reads .
`` Whatever the merits of U.S. economic complaints regarding trade with China , the use of unilateral tariff threats as a means to achieve economic ends is a mistake . ''
The think tank says it discloses any possible conflicts of interests in books @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , in its disclosure of ties with Huawei .
PIIE disclosed its prior ties with Huawei in one December 2019 article about the tech giant , but did not do so for a different article published in the same month that criticized U.S. regulations aimed at Huawei and other Chinese tech companies as `` unacceptably broad . ''
While the think tank states in its disclosures that it `` ended its relationship '' with Huawei in 2018 , PIIE continues to retain Georgetown professor Theodore Moran—listed on PIIE 's website as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council—as a nonresident senior fellow .
Posen said that Moran 's relationship with Huawei is `` completely separate '' from his role at PIIE .
Moran told the Free Beacon that he has not been a member of Huawei ’ s advisory council for the past 10 years .
Moran 's claim is not true , since Moran was pushed to resign from the National Intelligence Council in 2013 when his Huawei ties surfaced .
His current bios on both the PIIE and Georgetown website list him as a current member of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When the Free Beacon presented these facts to Moran , he said that the Georgetown bio is not up to date .

A prominent U.S. think tank that received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Huawei has repeatedly given senior Chinese officials a megaphone to rail against the Trump administration and promote pro-China talking points.
The Peterson Institute for International Economics hosted Chinese World Trade Organization ambassador Zhang Xiangchen, who used the high-profile venue to denounce protectionists as "headless chickens" in a thinly veiled criticism of trade skeptics in the United States. PIIE promoted the July 15 event on social media by taking direct aim at Sen. Josh Hawley (R., Mo.)—a prominent China hawk who spearheaded the push to withdraw the United States from the WTO.
PIIE has benefited from its ties with the Chinese elite, receiving nearly $400,000 between 2010 and 2018 from Huawei, a Chinese tech giant indicted by the federal government, according to PIIE president Adam Posen. The think tank has also received hundreds of thousands of dollars from an anti-democratic Hong Kong billionaire and a nonprofit widely considered a front group for the Chinese government's influence-peddling operations.
Groups and individuals linked to the regime have poured millions of dollars into Washington, D.C., in an effort to shape policy. Hawley said PIIE's partnership is just another example of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) finding a receptive audience among the American elite, whether it be in D.C. think tanks or corporate boardrooms.
"That the Chinese government and its party propagandists should be given a platform to extend their influence in the U.S. is disappointing, to say the least," Hawley told the Washington Free Beacon.
Posen told the Free Beacon that the think tank "essentially fired [Huawei] as a donor" in 2018 when the extent of its national security threat became public knowledge. He also said that Huawei’s donations did not have ties to any specific research done at the think tank. The institute’s spokesperson added that PIIE regularly hosts government officials from a variety of countries, including China, to "encourage an open exchange of views."
PIIE has cultivated close ties with Chinese elites, inviting senior officials to speak at its annual symposia cohosted with the China Finance 40 Forum (CF40)—a state-backed think tank headed by several senior CCP officials. The symposium has functioned as a highly visible platform for senior officials to not only criticize the Trump administration's trade policy, but also tout the Belt and Road Initiative—the controversial program accused of being a conduit for Chinese influence in developing countries. Past panelists have included China's vice minister of finance and the vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a political advisory body for the regime.
Posen, a consistent opponent of the Trump administration's trade policy, teamed up with one of CF40's senior fellows to author a chapter in a report co-published by PIIE and CF40. The chapter sharply denounced the Trump administration’s trade policies, calling them "counterproductive."
"The Trump administration’s unilateral approach to trade disputes is counterproductive," the chapter reads. "Whatever the merits of U.S. economic complaints regarding trade with China, the use of unilateral tariff threats as a means to achieve economic ends is a mistake."
The think tank says it discloses any possible conflicts of interests in books and reports. PIIE has been inconsistent, however, in its disclosure of ties with Huawei. PIIE disclosed its prior ties with Huawei in one December 2019 article about the tech giant, but did not do so for a different article published in the same month that criticized U.S. regulations aimed at Huawei and other Chinese tech companies as "unacceptably broad."
While the think tank states in its disclosures that it "ended its relationship" with Huawei in 2018, PIIE continues to retain Georgetown professor Theodore Moran—listed on PIIE's website as a member of Huawei's International Advisory Council—as a nonresident senior fellow. Posen said that Moran's relationship with Huawei is "completely separate" from his role at PIIE. Moran told the Free Beacon that he has not been a member of Huawei’s advisory council for the past 10 years. Moran's claim is not true, since Moran was pushed to resign from the National Intelligence Council in 2013 when his Huawei ties surfaced. His current bios on both the PIIE and Georgetown website list him as a current member of the Huawei council, as do other websites. When the Free Beacon presented these facts to Moran, he said that the Georgetown bio is not up to date.
"This is getting tedious. good bye," Moran responded in an email.


freebeacon--2020-07-21--Michigan School Fires Popular Teacher For Saying ‘Trump Is Our President’

A Michigan school district fired a popular high school teacher and coach after he pointed out that `` Trump is our president '' on social media .
Varsity baseball coach and social studies teacher Justin Kucera said Walled Lake school district officials hauled him into a closed-door meeting after he indicated his support for President Trump 's speech to reopen schools .
He told the Washington Free Beacon the Walled Lake Western principal and district superintendent gave him an ultimatum : be fired or resign .
`` I was required to meet with [ human resources ] , the superintendent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 ] .
They initially took my statement on why I tweeted those tweets and they told me they would have a decision about my future employment in the upcoming days .
When they completed the meeting , I was told I had the option to either be fired or resign . ''
Kucera said .
Neither the school district nor the principal responded to requests for comment .
Kucera said the statement that cost him his job was intended to unify , rather than divide .
`` I know a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fail , and I do n't think that anybody should do that , '' Kucera said .
`` Agree with him or not , you should want the president to do well .
I apologized that [ my tweet ] brought so much negative attention , but I 'm not sorry for what I said . ''
Kucera was a popular figure at the high school before the episode , according to parents and former teachers .
Even his detractors lauded him on social media as they condemned the tweet .
One student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new `` favorite teacher '' after seeing the missive .
Multiple sources said that the teacher never brought politics into the classroom .
Bryant Hixson , a recent Walled Lake Western graduate , said his political views have no impact on how he views his coach and teacher .
`` Prior to Mr. Kucera 's tweet , I can not recall an instance where he shared his political affiliations while teaching or coaching , '' Hixson said .
`` My political views have no impact on how I feel towards Mr. Kucera .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ me as my AP World History and student leadership teacher and as my baseball and basketball coach . ''
A parent of two Walled Lake Western boys told the Free Beacon—on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution—that Kucera was an apolitical figure who coached his son in baseball and basketball and taught his sons AP History and student leadership .
`` Justin coached my son his entire high school career and also was his AP History teacher and student leadership teacher for two years .
I know Justin very well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's one thing that I would commend Justin for is , he always tried to stay apolitical .
He always tried to stay right down the middle , avoid [ political ] conversations , and let the students make their own call based on their own life experiences . ''
The father of two believes Kucera lost his job because administrators caved to a mob that had little to do with the school district .
Other Walled Lake teachers have expressed their political views without any repercussions .
Paulette Loe , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students to read an article from The Atlantic about `` how to beat Trump '' while still employed .
Nicole Estes , a kindergarten teacher in the district , called Trump a `` sociopath '' and a `` narcissist '' on Facebook in 2016 and is still employed at Keith Elementary School .
Neither Loe nor Estes responded to requests for comment .
The teachers ' union representative that accompanied Kucera at the meeting did not respond to a request for comment .

A Michigan school district fired a popular high school teacher and coach after he pointed out that "Trump is our president" on social media.
Varsity baseball coach and social studies teacher Justin Kucera said Walled Lake school district officials hauled him into a closed-door meeting after he indicated his support for President Trump's speech to reopen schools. He told the Washington Free Beacon the Walled Lake Western principal and district superintendent gave him an ultimatum: be fired or resign.
https://twitter.com/CoachKWLW/status/1280312826796675074?s=20
"I was required to meet with [human resources], the superintendent, and my principal [on July 10]. They initially took my statement on why I tweeted those tweets and they told me they would have a decision about my future employment in the upcoming days. When they completed the meeting, I was told I had the option to either be fired or resign." Kucera said.
Neither the school district nor the principal responded to requests for comment.
Kucera said the statement that cost him his job was intended to unify, rather than divide.
"I know a lot of people are just rooting for Trump to fail, and I don't think that anybody should do that," Kucera said. "Agree with him or not, you should want the president to do well. I apologized that [my tweet] brought so much negative attention, but I'm not sorry for what I said."
Kucera was a popular figure at the high school before the episode, according to parents and former teachers. Even his detractors lauded him on social media as they condemned the tweet. One student said she would need to find a new "favorite teacher" after seeing the missive. Multiple sources said that the teacher never brought politics into the classroom.
Bryant Hixson, a recent Walled Lake Western graduate, said his political views have no impact on how he views his coach and teacher.
"Prior to Mr. Kucera's tweet, I cannot recall an instance where he shared his political affiliations while teaching or coaching," Hixson said. "My political views have no impact on how I feel towards Mr. Kucera. Mr. Kucera has always been supportive of me as my AP World History and student leadership teacher and as my baseball and basketball coach."
A parent of two Walled Lake Western boys told the Free Beacon—on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution—that Kucera was an apolitical figure who coached his son in baseball and basketball and taught his sons AP History and student leadership.
"Justin coached my son his entire high school career and also was his AP History teacher and student leadership teacher for two years. I know Justin very well," the parent said. "If there's one thing that I would commend Justin for is, he always tried to stay apolitical. He always tried to stay right down the middle, avoid [political] conversations, and let the students make their own call based on their own life experiences." The father of two believes Kucera lost his job because administrators caved to a mob that had little to do with the school district.
Other Walled Lake teachers have expressed their political views without any repercussions. Paulette Loe, a now-retired Walled Lake Western teacher, encouraged students to read an article from the Atlantic about "how to beat Trump" while still employed. Nicole Estes, a kindergarten teacher in the district, called Trump a "sociopath" and a "narcissist" on Facebook in 2016 and is still employed at Keith Elementary School. Neither Loe nor Estes responded to requests for comment.
The teachers' union representative that accompanied Kucera at the meeting did not respond to a request for comment.


Review: ‘Greyhound’

I will always be grateful to Tom Hanks for wandering into a used bookstore in New York City , where ( as he explained on Conan O'Brien 's sensationally good podcast ) he spotted a haunting dust jacket of a lone Navy captain on the deck of his destroyer as a ship burns behind him in the ocean .
Hanks bought the novel that was surrounded by the jacket , and then bought the rights to it , and then spent six years writing a screenplay based on it .
The movie that has emerged from this serendipitous shopping expedition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good—a fast , solemn , tense war movie .
But the reason I 'm grateful to Hanks is also the reason I was a little disappointed by the experience of watching Greyhound on Apple TV Plus , which is the only place you can see it right now .
To perform my due diligence as a reviewer , I read the source material before I watched the movie .
It 's called The Good Shepherd , first published in 1955 , and its author was the Tom Clancy of his day—C.S .
Forester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the British naval captain Horatio Hornblower .
The Good Shepherd was a major bestseller and sold to Hollywood at the time for an astonishing $ 200,000 ( the equivalent of nearly $ 2 million today ) .
I 'd never read Forester before and had a vague idea that he must have been a relatively silly adventure writer .
How wrong I was .
The Good Shepherd is a breathtaking , technically stunning , and daring piece of writing .
And what makes it so exceptional are qualities that simply can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great respect screenwriter Hanks shows for the material and the meticulous re-creation of the conditions on board a destroyer during World War II .
The novel puts us inside the head of Ernie Krause , the captain of the Keeling , a destroyer and the lead ship of a convoy of 37 boats traveling across the North Atlantic in 1942 .
The reader is never permitted a moment 's escape from Krause 's brain .
The Good Shepherd takes place over 48 sleepless hours as Krause 's convoy comes under attack from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Allied vessels over five years and caused the loss of more than 70,000 men in what came to be known as the Battle of the Atlantic .
This is a book about the intellectual , emotional , spiritual , and physical demands made upon those in whose hands the lives of thousands are entrusted at a moment of extreme peril .
Krause , who has only reached his first command in his early 40s and who has never been in combat before , must manage the workings of his own ship , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the convoy , and fight the Germans .
He must deal with aching legs , sore feet , cold penetrating to his every muscle , the need to use the head , famished hunger , and exhaustion that leads him nearly to fall asleep on his feet .
Meanwhile , he has extraordinarily limited information about where the U-boats targeting his convoy might be , how they might maneuver , and how to answer their movements .
Most of the book 's dialogue consists of Krause saying things like `` Right standard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
But as Forester reveals , there is a world of meaning behind those words—they involve strategy , tactics , and an effort to anticipate and outwit the enemy .
Krause is emotionally inexpressive and stolid by design , striving to keep all feeling out of his voice and to maintain a manner of utter flatness—so that his commands can be immediately understood and so that those under his authority do not feel it necessary to manage his moods .
He is not an interesting man , and what he does and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was dull , '' Krause concludes as he loses his relentless focus on the moment to reflect ruefully on how he drove his young wife away when his prewar rise in the Navy stalls out , and she is just too young to understand the torment of his career failure .
But he is , it turns out , a great man , whose dullness and disappointments—reinforced by the iron discipline he was taught by his loving pastor father and his life in the Navy—have led him to a moment at which history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things .
What Forester achieves in The Good Shepherd is nothing less than an authoritative portrait of how America and the Allies won World War II , because they produced heroes who had no idea they were heroes .
Hanks and his director , Aaron Schneider , do a formidable job of turning the details of the convoy 's crisis as described by Forester into something visual , dramatic , and gripping .
Had I not read The Good Shepherd beforehand , I might have been more engaged by it .
So do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first ( if you have Apple TV Plus ) .
But I am not excusing you from the obligation of savoring Forester 's achievement in prose .
Read The Good Shepherd , or I will kill you .

I will always be grateful to Tom Hanks for wandering into a used bookstore in New York City, where (as he explained on Conan O'Brien's sensationally good podcast) he spotted a haunting dust jacket of a lone Navy captain on the deck of his destroyer as a ship burns behind him in the ocean. Hanks bought the novel that was surrounded by the jacket, and then bought the rights to it, and then spent six years writing a screenplay based on it.
The movie that has emerged from this serendipitous shopping expedition is called Greyhound, and it's good—a fast, solemn, tense war movie. But the reason I'm grateful to Hanks is also the reason I was a little disappointed by the experience of watching Greyhound on Apple TV Plus, which is the only place you can see it right now.
To perform my due diligence as a reviewer, I read the source material before I watched the movie. It's called The Good Shepherd, first published in 1955, and its author was the Tom Clancy of his day—C.S. Forester, author of the series of novels about the British naval captain Horatio Hornblower. The Good Shepherd was a major bestseller and sold to Hollywood at the time for an astonishing $200,000 (the equivalent of nearly $2 million today). I'd never read Forester before and had a vague idea that he must have been a relatively silly adventure writer. How wrong I was. The Good Shepherd is a breathtaking, technically stunning, and daring piece of writing. And what makes it so exceptional are qualities that simply cannot be duplicated on film, despite the great respect screenwriter Hanks shows for the material and the meticulous re-creation of the conditions on board a destroyer during World War II.
The novel puts us inside the head of Ernie Krause, the captain of the Keeling, a destroyer and the lead ship of a convoy of 37 boats traveling across the North Atlantic in 1942. The reader is never permitted a moment's escape from Krause's brain. The Good Shepherd takes place over 48 sleepless hours as Krause's convoy comes under attack from the Nazi submarines—the U-boats that sank nearly 4,000 Allied vessels over five years and caused the loss of more than 70,000 men in what came to be known as the Battle of the Atlantic.
This is a book about the intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical demands made upon those in whose hands the lives of thousands are entrusted at a moment of extreme peril. Krause, who has only reached his first command in his early 40s and who has never been in combat before, must manage the workings of his own ship, his own crew, tend to the need of the convoy, and fight the Germans. He must deal with aching legs, sore feet, cold penetrating to his every muscle, the need to use the head, famished hunger, and exhaustion that leads him nearly to fall asleep on his feet. Meanwhile, he has extraordinarily limited information about where the U-boats targeting his convoy might be, how they might maneuver, and how to answer their movements.
Most of the book's dialogue consists of Krause saying things like "Right standard rudder. Steer course two six zero." But as Forester reveals, there is a world of meaning behind those words—they involve strategy, tactics, and an effort to anticipate and outwit the enemy. Krause is emotionally inexpressive and stolid by design, striving to keep all feeling out of his voice and to maintain a manner of utter flatness—so that his commands can be immediately understood and so that those under his authority do not feel it necessary to manage his moods.
He is not an interesting man, and what he does and says is not interesting. "He was dull," Krause concludes as he loses his relentless focus on the moment to reflect ruefully on how he drove his young wife away when his prewar rise in the Navy stalls out, and she is just too young to understand the torment of his career failure. But he is, it turns out, a great man, whose dullness and disappointments—reinforced by the iron discipline he was taught by his loving pastor father and his life in the Navy—have led him to a moment at which history has called upon him to do extraordinary things. What Forester achieves in The Good Shepherd is nothing less than an authoritative portrait of how America and the Allies won World War II, because they produced heroes who had no idea they were heroes.
Hanks and his director, Aaron Schneider, do a formidable job of turning the details of the convoy's crisis as described by Forester into something visual, dramatic, and gripping. Had I not read The Good Shepherd beforehand, I might have been more engaged by it. So don't make my mistake. See Greyhound first (if you have Apple TV Plus). But I am not excusing you from the obligation of savoring Forester's achievement in prose. Read The Good Shepherd, or I will kill you.


freebeacon--2020-07-21--U.S. Considers Troop ‘Adjustments’ in South Korea

The Pentagon is considering making `` adjustments '' to the American military presence in South Korea , the Associated Press reported Tuesday .
Though Secretary of Defense Mark Esper did not order a withdrawal from the region , he did announce the Pentagon ’ s more favorable posture to rotational deployment as opposed to permanent stationing .
The strategy `` gives us , the United States , greater strategic flexibility in terms of responding to challenges around the globe , '' Esper said .
Jonathan Hoffman , Esper ’ s chief spokesman , said the shift ’ s intention is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of having forces forward deployed . ''
He said the change would allow troops to train in more locations `` instead of being in one country all the time '' and would allow the United States to be `` a little bit more unpredictable '' in its deployment of military forces .
The shift in strategy comes as the Trump administration shows interest in changing worldwide troop placement .
In recent weeks , strained relations with NATO allies have prompted the White House to reconsider the level of American troop presence in Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stationed in South Korea , though the decades-long alliance between Washington and Seoul has weathered difficult straits in recent months .
The White House has expressed frustration with the amount South Korea compensates the United States for its troop presence , which acts as a key deterrent to Pyongyang and Beijing ’ s designs in the region .
North Korea has unleashed a new campaign of aggression against its southern neighbor as of late .
Kim Jong Un 's regime iced potential talks with the United States and South Korea and destroyed an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korean envoys .
This all occurs in the 70th year of U.S. military presence in the Korean peninsula .
`` This year , we commemorate an important milestone anniversary for the Republic of Korea and the United States , as well as the many sending state nations who joined together for a single cause and stood side-by-side with the ROK forces to fight back against the North Korean invaders , '' said Michael Donnelly , commander of U.S .
Naval Forces Korea .
`` The ironclad U.S.-ROK alliance was born in battle , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tied together in our shared history , standing in solidarity through the decades , '' Donnelly said .

The Pentagon is considering making "adjustments" to the American military presence in South Korea, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.
Though Secretary of Defense Mark Esper did not order a withdrawal from the region, he did announce the Pentagon’s more favorable posture to rotational deployment as opposed to permanent stationing. The strategy "gives us, the United States, greater strategic flexibility in terms of responding to challenges around the globe," Esper said.
Jonathan Hoffman, Esper’s chief spokesman, said the shift’s intention is to "remove some of the footprint of having forces forward deployed." He said the change would allow troops to train in more locations "instead of being in one country all the time" and would allow the United States to be "a little bit more unpredictable" in its deployment of military forces.
The shift in strategy comes as the Trump administration shows interest in changing worldwide troop placement. In recent weeks, strained relations with NATO allies have prompted the White House to reconsider the level of American troop presence in Germany.
There are 28,500 American troops currently stationed in South Korea, though the decades-long alliance between Washington and Seoul has weathered difficult straits in recent months. The White House has expressed frustration with the amount South Korea compensates the United States for its troop presence, which acts as a key deterrent to Pyongyang and Beijing’s designs in the region.
North Korea has unleashed a new campaign of aggression against its southern neighbor as of late. Kim Jong Un's regime iced potential talks with the United States and South Korea and destroyed an office building used to liaise with South Korean envoys.
This all occurs in the 70th year of U.S. military presence in the Korean peninsula. "This year, we commemorate an important milestone anniversary for the Republic of Korea and the United States, as well as the many sending state nations who joined together for a single cause and stood side-by-side with the ROK forces to fight back against the North Korean invaders," said Michael Donnelly, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea.
"The ironclad U.S.-ROK alliance was born in battle, strengthened in peace, and has been tied together in our shared history, standing in solidarity through the decades," Donnelly said.


freebeacon--2020-07-21--Top Biden Aide Mocked Women, Gay People on Twitter

A top aide to presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has a history of making denigrating remarks about women and gay people .
Kamau Marshall , who joined the Biden campaign as strategic communications director in April 2019 , has repeatedly demeaned women in tweets sent over the last decade , Fox News reported Tuesday .
In December 2011 , Marshall said that he needs a woman to `` know her place , '' and in January 2012 , he asked `` Are all women crazy ?
?
?
? ''
In addition to the tweets highlighted by Fox News , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you see a guy around women all day more than likely he wants to be 1 or he is very fem # Imjustsaying . ''
Marshall also used the term `` no homo '' in multiple tweets .
He deleted a 2010 tweet that read `` Wood wakes everybody up…no homo but to many memories # hazing is bad smdh lmao . ''
He repeatedly questioned the allegations against disgraced comedian Bill Cosby , who has since been convicted as a sex offender .
`` It 's not a coincidence that Cosby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countless police officers who gun down black bodies are n't indicted , '' Marshall tweeted in 2015 .
The revelations about Marshall come after Biden campaign videographer Sara Pearl faced criticism for sharing a meme describing police as inferior to pigs in a July 1 tweet .
The photo shared by Pearl asks readers to `` please stop calling cops ‘ pigs , ' '' as `` pigs are highly intelligent and empathetic animals who would never racially profile you . ''
The Biden campaign has not yet addressed the tweets shared by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a request for comment .

A top aide to presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has a history of making denigrating remarks about women and gay people.
Kamau Marshall, who joined the Biden campaign as strategic communications director in April 2019, has repeatedly demeaned women in tweets sent over the last decade, Fox News reported Tuesday. In December 2011, Marshall said that he needs a woman to "know her place," and in January 2012, he asked "Are all women crazy????"
In addition to the tweets highlighted by Fox News, Marshall in November 2010 said that "if you see a guy around women all day more than likely he wants to be 1 or he is very fem #Imjustsaying."
Marshall also used the term "no homo" in multiple tweets. He deleted a 2010 tweet that read "Wood wakes everybody up...no homo but to many memories #hazing is bad smdh lmao."
He repeatedly questioned the allegations against disgraced comedian Bill Cosby, who has since been convicted as a sex offender.
"It's not a coincidence that Cosby can be arraigned on allegations, yet countless police officers who gun down black bodies aren't indicted," Marshall tweeted in 2015.
The revelations about Marshall come after Biden campaign videographer Sara Pearl faced criticism for sharing a meme describing police as inferior to pigs in a July 1 tweet. The photo shared by Pearl asks readers to "please stop calling cops 'pigs,'" as "pigs are highly intelligent and empathetic animals who would never racially profile you."
The Biden campaign has not yet addressed the tweets shared by Marshall or Pearl and did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-07-21--Dark Money Network Conceals $20 Million in Liberal Election Spending

Deep-pocketed liberal donors are using a massive dark money network to conceal the source of nearly $ 20 million in donations to pro-Biden PACs .
At least $ 19.8 million has made its way through the Sixteen Thirty Fund to liberal PACs for the 2020 cycle .
The fund , which normally works with advocacy organizations , has switched its focus to the election in recent months , sending large amounts to groups supporting Joe Biden in the presidential race .
Wealthy donors push cash into the Sixteen Thirty Fund—an entity housed at the D.C.-based dark money network Arabella Advisors—which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committees .
Arabella Advisors operates as an important funding avenue for wealthy liberal donors , allowing them to contribute to political groups anonymously .
Each of several funds within Arabella , including the Sixteen Thirty Fund , acts as a `` fiscal sponsor , '' providing its legal and tax-exempt status to dozens of liberal groups that fall under its auspices .
That status absolves the groups from having to disclose their donors .
Donors ' use of the Sixteen Thirty Fund as a vehicle for election PAC donations marks a departure from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normally serves as a pass-through entity to bankroll shadowy nonprofit groups behind left-wing initiatives .
This year , however , Democratic candidates including Joe Biden will benefit from the fund 's disbursements despite railing against secret money in politics .
The fund 's relationship to liberal nonprofits has raised eyebrows among money-in-politics watchdogs .
Anna Massoglia , a dark money researcher at the Center for Responsive Politics , said the Sixteen Thirty Fund `` has taken dark money in politics to a new level of opacity by channeling money from secret donors to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own fiscally sponsored operations . ''
`` Sixteen Thirty Fund ’ s fiscal sponsorship scheme not only enables seemingly independent groups to operate under its umbrella with little or no paper trail but also enables them to engage in a level of political activity that might not be possible if they operated as separate tax-exempt nonprofits , '' Massoglia said .
Several election-focused PACs received large sums from Sixteen Thirty , according to FEC filings .
The pro-Biden Unite the Country PAC , liberal operative David Brock 's American Bridge PAC , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups hauled in a combined $ 11.4 million from the fund last month .
Priorities USA Action , the largest Democratic super PAC , received $ 3.5 million .
The Black PAC , a progressive group focused on black voter turnout , received $ 2.25 million from the dark money entity—nearly all of the $ 2.5 million the committee raised in June .
The Sixteen Thirty Fund pushed more than $ 2.5 million to other Democratic PACs earlier this cycle , including six-figure sums to the Nancy Pelosi-linked House Majority PAC , Shaun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forward Majority Action .
It also sent seven-figure sums to Future Forward USA PAC .
`` Liberal dark money groups outspent their conservative counterparts in 2018 for the first election cycle since Citizens United , '' Massoglia said .
`` But direct spending by groups like 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) nonprofits is only a fraction of the secret donor money seeping into U.S. elections since dark money groups also steer donations to groups like super PACs . ''
Arabella 's massive network has facilitated the transfer of more than $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberal groups and initiatives in 2017 and 2018 alone .
`` The Sixteen Thirty Fund provides support to advocates and social welfare organizations around the country , and we will continue to grow our program , '' Amy Kurtz , the fund 's executive director , told the Washington Free Beacon .
She added that the fund would continue to support groups that work on causes such as `` economic equity , the climate crisis , racial justice , and participation in our democracy . ''

Deep-pocketed liberal donors are using a massive dark money network to conceal the source of nearly $20 million in donations to pro-Biden PACs.
At least $19.8 million has made its way through the Sixteen Thirty Fund to liberal PACs for the 2020 cycle. The fund, which normally works with advocacy organizations, has switched its focus to the election in recent months, sending large amounts to groups supporting Joe Biden in the presidential race. Wealthy donors push cash into the Sixteen Thirty Fund—an entity housed at the D.C.-based dark money network Arabella Advisors—which then disburses the money to prominent Democratic committees.
Arabella Advisors operates as an important funding avenue for wealthy liberal donors, allowing them to contribute to political groups anonymously. Each of several funds within Arabella, including the Sixteen Thirty Fund, acts as a "fiscal sponsor," providing its legal and tax-exempt status to dozens of liberal groups that fall under its auspices. That status absolves the groups from having to disclose their donors. Donors' use of the Sixteen Thirty Fund as a vehicle for election PAC donations marks a departure from the group's normal operations. It normally serves as a pass-through entity to bankroll shadowy nonprofit groups behind left-wing initiatives. This year, however, Democratic candidates including Joe Biden will benefit from the fund's disbursements despite railing against secret money in politics.
The fund's relationship to liberal nonprofits has raised eyebrows among money-in-politics watchdogs. Anna Massoglia, a dark money researcher at the Center for Responsive Politics, said the Sixteen Thirty Fund "has taken dark money in politics to a new level of opacity by channeling money from secret donors to political groups while steering funds into its own fiscally sponsored operations."
"Sixteen Thirty Fund’s fiscal sponsorship scheme not only enables seemingly independent groups to operate under its umbrella with little or no paper trail but also enables them to engage in a level of political activity that might not be possible if they operated as separate tax-exempt nonprofits," Massoglia said.
Several election-focused PACs received large sums from Sixteen Thirty, according to FEC filings. The pro-Biden Unite the Country PAC, liberal operative David Brock's American Bridge PAC, and a joint fundraising venture between the two groups hauled in a combined $11.4 million from the fund last month. Priorities USA Action, the largest Democratic super PAC, received $3.5 million. The Black PAC, a progressive group focused on black voter turnout, received $2.25 million from the dark money entity—nearly all of the $2.5 million the committee raised in June.
The Sixteen Thirty Fund pushed more than $2.5 million to other Democratic PACs earlier this cycle, including six-figure sums to the Nancy Pelosi-linked House Majority PAC, Shaun King's Real Justice PAC, and Forward Majority Action. It also sent seven-figure sums to Future Forward USA PAC.
"Liberal dark money groups outspent their conservative counterparts in 2018 for the first election cycle since Citizens United," Massoglia said. "But direct spending by groups like 501(c)(4) nonprofits is only a fraction of the secret donor money seeping into U.S. elections since dark money groups also steer donations to groups like super PACs."
Arabella's massive network has facilitated the transfer of more than $1 billion from Democratic donors to powerful liberal groups and initiatives in 2017 and 2018 alone.
"The Sixteen Thirty Fund provides support to advocates and social welfare organizations around the country, and we will continue to grow our program," Amy Kurtz, the fund's executive director, told the Washington Free Beacon. She added that the fund would continue to support groups that work on causes such as "economic equity, the climate crisis, racial justice, and participation in our democracy."


freebeacon--2020-07-21--Pompeo Wants ‘Coalition’ to Counter Growing Chinese Power

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for a `` coalition '' of like-minded countries to deter continued Chinese violations of international norms during a visit with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his administration , Reuters reported Tuesday .
`` We hope we can build out a coalition that understands the threat and will work collectively to convince the Chinese Communist Party that it is not in their best interest to engage in this kind of behavior , '' Pompeo said .
`` We want to see every nation who understands freedom and democracy … to understand this threat that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Pompeo has increased the intensity of his rhetoric against Beijing in recent months , warning of a potential Chinese `` maritime empire '' in the South China Sea and calling China 's imprisonment and sterilization of Muslim minorities `` the stain of the century . ''
Currently visiting London with staffers to discuss how to strengthen the United Kingdom and America 's `` special relationship '' in the face of pressing world issues , Pompeo is attempting to secure agreements on the issues of Hong Kong , combating Huawei , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington 's lead on Huawei , Britain has started to push back on the Chinese tech company 's expanding influence , electing to expel all Huawei technologies from the country 's 5G network by 2027 .
Britain 's move to ban Huawei , along with similar actions by members of the Five Eyes intelligence network of English-speaking countries , signals to other European countries a changing attitude toward economic cooperation with China .
On the issue of Hong Kong , experts also see closer relations between the transatlantic allies .
`` Pompeo 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London in confronting Chinese aggression , especially in Hong Kong , '' said Heritage Foundation scholar Nile Gardiner .
`` There is growing synergy between the U.S. and British positions .
The U.K. has significantly hardened its stance towards China in recent months , and has offered to give safe haven to up to three million Hong Kongers , '' Gardiner added .
As the world economy begins to recover from COVID-19 , the White House and Downing Street also hope to move closer to a trade deal between the respective largest and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a `` holy grail '' by Euroskeptics , the deal would potentially buttress Britain 's growing economic separation from the European Union while also having important strategic dimensions .
`` With a new strategic economic and trade orientation comes even greater defense and security cooperation as well as stronger people-to-people ties , '' said Center for Strategic and International Studies expert Heather Conley .

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for a "coalition" of like-minded countries to deter continued Chinese violations of international norms during a visit with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his administration, Reuters reported Tuesday.
"We hope we can build out a coalition that understands the threat and will work collectively to convince the Chinese Communist Party that it is not in their best interest to engage in this kind of behavior," Pompeo said. "We want to see every nation who understands freedom and democracy ... to understand this threat that the Chinese Communist Party is posing to them."
Pompeo has increased the intensity of his rhetoric against Beijing in recent months, warning of a potential Chinese "maritime empire" in the South China Sea and calling China's imprisonment and sterilization of Muslim minorities "the stain of the century."
Currently visiting London with staffers to discuss how to strengthen the United Kingdom and America's "special relationship" in the face of pressing world issues, Pompeo is attempting to secure agreements on the issues of Hong Kong, combating Huawei, and an Anglo-American free trade agreement.
Following Washington's lead on Huawei, Britain has started to push back on the Chinese tech company's expanding influence, electing to expel all Huawei technologies from the country's 5G network by 2027. Britain's move to ban Huawei, along with similar actions by members of the Five Eyes intelligence network of English-speaking countries, signals to other European countries a changing attitude toward economic cooperation with China.
On the issue of Hong Kong, experts also see closer relations between the transatlantic allies. "Pompeo's visit will strengthen cooperation between Washington and London in confronting Chinese aggression, especially in Hong Kong," said Heritage Foundation scholar Nile Gardiner.
"There is growing synergy between the U.S. and British positions. The U.K. has significantly hardened its stance towards China in recent months, and has offered to give safe haven to up to three million Hong Kongers," Gardiner added.
As the world economy begins to recover from COVID-19, the White House and Downing Street also hope to move closer to a trade deal between the respective largest and sixth-largest economies in the world. Seen as a "holy grail" by Euroskeptics, the deal would potentially buttress Britain's growing economic separation from the European Union while also having important strategic dimensions.
"With a new strategic economic and trade orientation comes even greater defense and security cooperation as well as stronger people-to-people ties," said Center for Strategic and International Studies expert Heather Conley.


freebeacon--2020-07-21--Oregon Dem: Portland Not Out of Control, Some People ‘Have Strong Feelings’

Oregon congressman Earl Blumenauer ( D. ) said Tuesday morning that Portland isn ’ t `` out of control , '' but rather , `` there are some people who have strong feelings , '' after protesters attacked federal officers with fireworks this weekend .
`` Portland , Oregon , is not out of control .
To be sure there are some people who have strong feelings , '' Blumenauer , who represents most of Portland in Oregon 's Third Congressional District , said .
`` There are some who have done things that are inappropriate and unlawful , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials and our state officials to manage it , not having somebody unwelcome , uninvited , and unprepared coming in to take this difficult situation and make it worse . ''
This past weekend , rioters barricaded federal officers inside the Hatfield federal courthouse and proceeded to launch fireworks toward the building .
They also set fire to a Portland police union building .
For more than 50 nights straight following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis , anti-police protesters in Portland have besieged the city , harassing officers and vandalizing buildings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the area two weeks ago in an attempt to squelch the rioters .
Over the summer , rioters have targeted aircraft with lasers , set fire to police stations , graffitied other government buildings , and assaulted police officers and construction crews working to repair damage to the city .

Oregon congressman Earl Blumenauer (D.) said Tuesday morning that Portland isn’t "out of control," but rather, "there are some people who have strong feelings," after protesters attacked federal officers with fireworks this weekend.
"Portland, Oregon, is not out of control. To be sure there are some people who have strong feelings," Blumenauer, who represents most of Portland in Oregon's Third Congressional District, said. "There are some who have done things that are inappropriate and unlawful, but that is the challenge of our local officials and our state officials to manage it, not having somebody unwelcome, uninvited, and unprepared coming in to take this difficult situation and make it worse."
This past weekend, rioters barricaded federal officers inside the Hatfield federal courthouse and proceeded to launch fireworks toward the building. They also set fire to a Portland police union building.
For more than 50 nights straight following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, anti-police protesters in Portland have besieged the city, harassing officers and vandalizing buildings. President Donald Trump deployed federal officers to the area two weeks ago in an attempt to squelch the rioters.
Over the summer, rioters have targeted aircraft with lasers, set fire to police stations, graffitied other government buildings, and assaulted police officers and construction crews working to repair damage to the city.


freebeacon--2020-07-21--China to Expand Naval Fleet With Two New Aircraft Carriers

Ramping up its shipbuilding efforts , China hopes to add two new domestically produced aircraft carriers to its blue-water fleet , the South China Morning Post reported Saturday .
The advanced Type 002 carrier is in the final stages of development , with Beijing hoping it will be seaworthy by the end of next year .
Equipped with `` the world 's most advanced '' Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System , the ship will likely measure up with the U.S. Navy 's state-of-the-art Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier .
Modernizing the People 's Liberation Army Navy has long been a key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese Dream '' of a strengthened role in world politics .
China aims to have six aircraft battle groups ready for cruise by 2035 .
It is essential for defense planning to `` step up efforts to build China into a strong maritime country , '' Chinese president Xi Jinping told the 19th National Party Congress in 2017 .
The aggressive posture of China 's Navy comes in part to counter Washington 's decreasing tolerance for China 's repeated violations of international law and territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea .
Beijing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ islands near shipping chokepoints and continues to display belligerent tendencies toward neighbors such as Taiwan and Vietnam .
A special report on Monday from Reuters further outlined developments in China 's amphibious military capabilities , which bolster the country 's prospects of invading Taiwan .
`` We make no promise to renounce the use of force and reserve the option of taking all necessary means , '' Xi said on the possibility of Taiwanese unification .
Increased global ambitions and hostile regional activity from the CCP have been met with a stark response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director Christopher Wray , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , multiple senators , and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper have made repudiating China 's actions in both internal and foreign affairs a sticking point in public remarks .
Beijing does not pause to engage in `` regularly disrespecting the rights of other nations , '' Esper said Tuesday .

Ramping up its shipbuilding efforts, China hopes to add two new domestically produced aircraft carriers to its blue-water fleet, the South China Morning Post reported Saturday.
The advanced Type 002 carrier is in the final stages of development, with Beijing hoping it will be seaworthy by the end of next year. Equipped with "the world's most advanced" Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, the ship will likely measure up with the U.S. Navy's state-of-the-art Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier.
Modernizing the People's Liberation Army Navy has long been a key feature of the Xi regime's "Chinese Dream" of a strengthened role in world politics. China aims to have six aircraft battle groups ready for cruise by 2035.
It is essential for defense planning to "step up efforts to build China into a strong maritime country," Chinese president Xi Jinping told the 19th National Party Congress in 2017.
The aggressive posture of China's Navy comes in part to counter Washington's decreasing tolerance for China's repeated violations of international law and territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea.
Beijing has built thousands of acres of artificial islands near shipping chokepoints and continues to display belligerent tendencies toward neighbors such as Taiwan and Vietnam. A special report on Monday from Reuters further outlined developments in China's amphibious military capabilities, which bolster the country's prospects of invading Taiwan.
"We make no promise to renounce the use of force and reserve the option of taking all necessary means," Xi said on the possibility of Taiwanese unification.
Increased global ambitions and hostile regional activity from the CCP have been met with a stark response from Washington in recent weeks. FBI director Christopher Wray, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, multiple senators, and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper have made repudiating China's actions in both internal and foreign affairs a sticking point in public remarks.
Beijing does not pause to engage in "regularly disrespecting the rights of other nations," Esper said Tuesday.


freebeacon--2020-07-21--WHO Official Promotes Conspiracy Theory Website to Bolster China’s Coronavirus Disinformation Campai

WHO Official Promotes Conspiracy Theory Website to Bolster China’s Coronavirus Disinformation Campaign

A top World Health Organization official promoted a report from a website that traffics in conspiracy theories to bolster China 's false claim that the communist regime was the first to report the existence of the coronavirus .
WHO communications director Gabby Stern tweeted on Monday false claims that `` Taiwan never provided any warning '' to the organization `` about the novel coronavirus or its transmissibility . ''
Her tweet linked to an article published by the fringe website The Grayzone .
The site is run by Max Blumenthal , the son of Hillary Clinton confidante Sidney Blumenthal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , anti-Israel stance , and his website routinely publishes conspiracy theories that adopt China ’ s false rhetoric about the coronavirus pandemic .
The article , headlined , `` With US support , Taiwan planted deception about warning World Health Org of Covid , '' says Taiwan never informed the WHO about the emerging virus in the early days of the pandemic .
This contradicts evidence provided by Taiwan and later the United States showing that the WHO was alerted by colleagues in Taiwan in late December that a new virus was spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fringe website raises fresh questions about the embattled health organization 's judgment , particularly given The Grayzone ’ s pro-China bent .
The WHO is already under fire from the United States and other nations for its response to the coronavirus pandemic , which they view as overly deferential to China .
Stern 's promotion of the article has drawn outrage in Congress , where China hawks see the international organization as doing damage control on behalf of the Communist Party .
The Washington Free Beacon first reported this month that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that China was first to report the virus , now known to be false .
However , the WHO , under the leadership of director general Tedros Adhanom , has continued to promote Chinese propaganda about the pandemic and its response .
`` I find it deeply disturbing that a top WHO spokesperson would share a ridiculous conspiracy theory aimed at the US and Taiwan from an outlet that has defended Hezbollah , attempted to rationalize the CCP ’ s abuses against the Uyghurs , and propagated anti-Semitic content , '' Rep. Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of Congress ’ s China Task Force , told the Free Beacon on Tuesday .
`` It ’ s abundantly clear that the WHO needs reform from the top down .
Director general Tedros , and those that help him appease the CCP and parrot their propaganda , should have no place at the WHO , '' McCaul said .
The Grayzone has emerged as one of China ’ s top media defenders since the pandemic spread across the globe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. pushes conspiracy theory on China ’ s coronavirus death toll to deflect from Trump administration failures . ''
The article defends China against accusations it covered up the virus , saying such accusations are part of an `` effort to redirect American outrage onto a foreign bogeyman . ''
It further alleges that China never hid its death toll from the world , despite reports from dissidents and others that the Communist Party imprisoned scientists and others who spoke out about the pandemic .
Another Grayzone article from March 30 spread conspiracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States .
That article claimed `` the real origin of the coronavirus '' is `` political , global , and made in the USA . ''
`` Maybe the virus is some shadowy American warfare program that backfired , '' the website stated .
Other articles have defended China ’ s abuse of the minority Uyghur population .
One article , for instance , claimed China ’ s well-documented forced labor camps are a fiction created by the United States to drive a `` Cold War PR blitz . ''
The website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s tough economic sanctions campaign on Iran and published pieces defending the U.S.-designated terror group Hezbollah .
Max Blumenthal , the site ’ s editor in chief , is prominent in anti-Israel circles and has lent his support to extremist voices such as Syrian president Bashar al-Assad .

A top World Health Organization official promoted a report from a website that traffics in conspiracy theories to bolster China's false claim that the communist regime was the first to report the existence of the coronavirus.
WHO communications director Gabby Stern tweeted on Monday false claims that "Taiwan never provided any warning" to the organization "about the novel coronavirus or its transmissibility." Her tweet linked to an article published by the fringe website The Grayzone. The site is run by Max Blumenthal, the son of Hillary Clinton confidante Sidney Blumenthal. Max Blumenthal is known for his pro-Iran, anti-Israel stance, and his website routinely publishes conspiracy theories that adopt China’s false rhetoric about the coronavirus pandemic.
'Taiwan never provided any warning to @WHO about the novel coronavirus or its transmissibility. The email, the contents of which have been confirmed by both Taiwan and @WHO, did not contain any new information about the coronavirus... https://t.co/EDRIRCUIFw — Gabby Stern (@gabbystern) July 20, 2020
The article, headlined, "With US support, Taiwan planted deception about warning World Health Org of Covid," says Taiwan never informed the WHO about the emerging virus in the early days of the pandemic. This contradicts evidence provided by Taiwan and later the United States showing that the WHO was alerted by colleagues in Taiwan in late December that a new virus was spreading.
The official’s promotion of a fringe website raises fresh questions about the embattled health organization's judgment, particularly given The Grayzone’s pro-China bent. The WHO is already under fire from the United States and other nations for its response to the coronavirus pandemic, which they view as overly deferential to China.
Stern's promotion of the article has drawn outrage in Congress, where China hawks see the international organization as doing damage control on behalf of the Communist Party. The Washington Free Beacon first reported this month that the WHO quietly edited claims on its website that China was first to report the virus, now known to be false. However, the WHO, under the leadership of director general Tedros Adhanom, has continued to promote Chinese propaganda about the pandemic and its response.
"I find it deeply disturbing that a top WHO spokesperson would share a ridiculous conspiracy theory aimed at the US and Taiwan from an outlet that has defended Hezbollah, attempted to rationalize the CCP’s abuses against the Uyghurs, and propagated anti-Semitic content," Rep. Michael McCaul (R., Tex.), lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of Congress’s China Task Force, told the Free Beacon on Tuesday.
"It’s abundantly clear that the WHO needs reform from the top down. Director general Tedros, and those that help him appease the CCP and parrot their propaganda, should have no place at the WHO," McCaul said.
The Grayzone has emerged as one of China’s top media defenders since the pandemic spread across the globe.
An April 1 article claimed the "U.S. pushes conspiracy theory on China’s coronavirus death toll to deflect from Trump administration failures." The article defends China against accusations it covered up the virus, saying such accusations are part of an "effort to redirect American outrage onto a foreign bogeyman." It further alleges that China never hid its death toll from the world, despite reports from dissidents and others that the Communist Party imprisoned scientists and others who spoke out about the pandemic.
Another Grayzone article from March 30 spread conspiracy theories about the virus originating in the United States. That article claimed "the real origin of the coronavirus" is "political, global, and made in the USA."
"Maybe the virus is some shadowy American warfare program that backfired," the website stated.
Other articles have defended China’s abuse of the minority Uyghur population. One article, for instance, claimed China’s well-documented forced labor camps are a fiction created by the United States to drive a "Cold War PR blitz."
The website also has decried the Trump administration’s tough economic sanctions campaign on Iran and published pieces defending the U.S.-designated terror group Hezbollah.
Max Blumenthal, the site’s editor in chief, is prominent in anti-Israel circles and has lent his support to extremist voices such as Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.


freebeacon--2020-07-21--Planned Parenthood Renounces Racist, Eugenicist Founder Margaret Sanger

Planned Parenthood of Greater New York renounced racist and eugenicist founder Margaret Sanger on Tuesday for her `` harmful connection to the eugenics movement . ''
`` The removal of Margaret Sanger ’ s name from our building is both a necessary and overdue step to reckon with our legacy and acknowledge Planned Parenthood ’ s contributions to historical reproductive harm within communities of color , '' said chair of the New York affiliate 's board Karen Seltzer in a statement , according to the New York Times .
A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood said the organization 's national leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision marks a historic about-face by the organization , which has routinely defended Sanger 's legacy .
As recently as 2016 , Planned Parenthood published a fact sheet that said her racist statements should be overshadowed by her `` worldwide renown , respect , and admiration for founding the American birth control movement . ''
Planned Parenthood acknowledged that she touted her efforts to reduce the `` negro population '' at a Ku Klux Klan meeting , but maintained that she was motivated by `` passion , '' rather than racism .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorsing mass sterilization for the disabled—a view it defended in 2016 because `` she agreed with the ‘ progressives ' of her day . ''
`` Planned Parenthood acknowledges these major flaws in Sanger ’ s views—and we believe that they are wrong .
Furthermore , we hope that this acknowledgment fosters an open conversation on racism and ableism—both inside and out of our organization , '' they said at the time .
The pro-life movement , which has long condemned Sanger 's racism and support for eugenics , called Planned Parenthood 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List , said the decision to rename the clinic does not change its `` 104-year history , '' nor the fact that `` abortion continues to disproportionately impact minority communities , especially the black community . ''
She also pointed to the fact that Planned Parenthood has filed lawsuits seeking to overturn state laws that bar abortions targeted at babies diagnosed as disabled .
`` We call on Planned Parenthood to immediately publish its historical abortion data by race given indications they have skewed the placement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities .
Further , we call on Planned Parenthood to drop its fierce opposition to anti-discrimination laws that protect unborn children from being selected for abortion due to their race , sex , or disability , '' Dannenfelser said in a statement .
A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood said the national organization , which hosts the annual Maggie Awards , supported the clinic 's decision .
`` Planned Parenthood , like many other organizations that have existed for a century or more , is reckoning with our history , and working to address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our mission , '' spokeswoman Melanie Roussell Newman said in the statement .
Pro-life politicians were also quick to critique the move .
Sen. Ben Sasse ( R. , Neb . )
said the organization 's rhetoric means little if it continues to deny the humanity of unborn children .
`` Planned Parenthood can rename a building , but it can ’ t whitewash its eugenics roots .
Planned Parenthood can try to forget its founder ’ s racist screeds , but it can not escape the undeniable fact that it makes hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling an ugly lie that certain lives are disposable and then disposing of them , '' Sasse said in a release .
`` Big abortion has always been , and will always be , in the business of violence and dehumanization . ''

Planned Parenthood of Greater New York renounced racist and eugenicist founder Margaret Sanger on Tuesday for her "harmful connection to the eugenics movement."
"The removal of Margaret Sanger’s name from our building is both a necessary and overdue step to reckon with our legacy and acknowledge Planned Parenthood’s contributions to historical reproductive harm within communities of color," said chair of the New York affiliate's board Karen Seltzer in a statement, according to the New York Times. A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood said the organization's national leadership also approved of the decision.
The decision marks a historic about-face by the organization, which has routinely defended Sanger's legacy. As recently as 2016, Planned Parenthood published a fact sheet that said her racist statements should be overshadowed by her "worldwide renown, respect, and admiration for founding the American birth control movement." Planned Parenthood acknowledged that she touted her efforts to reduce the "negro population" at a Ku Klux Klan meeting, but maintained that she was motivated by "passion," rather than racism. The abortion provider also criticized its founder for endorsing mass sterilization for the disabled—a view it defended in 2016 because "she agreed with the 'progressives' of her day."
"Planned Parenthood acknowledges these major flaws in Sanger’s views—and we believe that they are wrong. Furthermore, we hope that this acknowledgment fosters an open conversation on racism and ableism—both inside and out of our organization," they said at the time.
The pro-life movement, which has long condemned Sanger's racism and support for eugenics, called Planned Parenthood's decision long overdue. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List, said the decision to rename the clinic does not change its "104-year history," nor the fact that "abortion continues to disproportionately impact minority communities, especially the black community." She also pointed to the fact that Planned Parenthood has filed lawsuits seeking to overturn state laws that bar abortions targeted at babies diagnosed as disabled.
"We call on Planned Parenthood to immediately publish its historical abortion data by race given indications they have skewed the placement of abortion facilities and actively target minority communities. Further, we call on Planned Parenthood to drop its fierce opposition to anti-discrimination laws that protect unborn children from being selected for abortion due to their race, sex, or disability," Dannenfelser said in a statement.
A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood said the national organization, which hosts the annual Maggie Awards, supported the clinic's decision.
"Planned Parenthood, like many other organizations that have existed for a century or more, is reckoning with our history, and working to address historical inequities to better serve patients and our mission," spokeswoman Melanie Roussell Newman said in the statement.
Pro-life politicians were also quick to critique the move. Sen. Ben Sasse (R., Neb.) said the organization's rhetoric means little if it continues to deny the humanity of unborn children.
"Planned Parenthood can rename a building, but it can’t whitewash its eugenics roots. Planned Parenthood can try to forget its founder’s racist screeds, but it cannot escape the undeniable fact that it makes hundreds of millions of dollars each year by telling an ugly lie that certain lives are disposable and then disposing of them," Sasse said in a release. "Big abortion has always been, and will always be, in the business of violence and dehumanization."


freebeacon--2020-07-21--U.S. Charges Chinese Hackers for Decades-Long Espionage Operations

The Trump administration on Tuesday unveiled a landmark indictment against two Chinese Communist Party hackers who law enforcement officials say conducted massive cyber espionage operations against U.S. businesses and academic institutions , including those working on coronavirus treatments and vaccines .
Assistant Attorney General John Demers described the cyber attacks as a `` sweeping global computer intrusion campaign '' that targeted `` intellectual property and confidential business information held by the private sector , including COVID-19-related treatment , testing , and vaccine . ''
These attacks have been ongoing for at least the last 10 years and have impacted nongovernmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists living in the United States and Europe .
Backed by the Chinese government , these hackers stole `` terabytes '' worth of information from U.S. high-tech and pharmaceutical industries , according to the indictment .
`` China is using cyber-enabled theft as part of a global campaign to ‘ rob , replicate , and replace ’ non-Chinese companies in the global marketplace , '' Demers said .
`` China is providing a safe haven for criminals who , as in this case , are hacking in part for their own personal profit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Tech companies located in Australia , Belgium , Germany , Japan , Lithuania , the Netherlands , Spain , South Korea , Sweden , and the United Kingdom also were targeted .
`` China has now taken its place , alongside Russia , Iran , and North Korea , in that shameful club of nations that provide a safe haven for cyber criminals in exchange for those criminals being ‘ on call ’ to work for the benefit of the state , here to feed the Chinese Communist Party ’ s insatiable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ hard-earned intellectual property , including COVID-19 research , '' Demers said .

The Trump administration on Tuesday unveiled a landmark indictment against two Chinese Communist Party hackers who law enforcement officials say conducted massive cyber espionage operations against U.S. businesses and academic institutions, including those working on coronavirus treatments and vaccines.
Assistant Attorney General John Demers described the cyber attacks as a "sweeping global computer intrusion campaign" that targeted "intellectual property and confidential business information held by the private sector, including COVID-19-related treatment, testing, and vaccine."
These attacks have been ongoing for at least the last 10 years and have impacted nongovernmental groups, anti-China dissidents, and human-rights activists living in the United States and Europe.
Backed by the Chinese government, these hackers stole "terabytes" worth of information from U.S. high-tech and pharmaceutical industries, according to the indictment.
"China is using cyber-enabled theft as part of a global campaign to ‘rob, replicate, and replace’ non-Chinese companies in the global marketplace," Demers said. "China is providing a safe haven for criminals who, as in this case, are hacking in part for their own personal profit but willing to help the state."
Tech companies located in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Japan, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom also were targeted.
"China has now taken its place, alongside Russia, Iran, and North Korea, in that shameful club of nations that provide a safe haven for cyber criminals in exchange for those criminals being ‘on call’ to work for the benefit of the state, here to feed the Chinese Communist Party’s insatiable hunger for American and other non-Chinese companies’ hard-earned intellectual property, including COVID-19 research," Demers said.


freebeacon--2020-07-21--Ohio House Speaker, Pro-Biden Republican Arrested in $60 Million Bribery Investigation

Ohio House speaker Larry Householder ( R. ) and pro-Biden Republican Matt Borges were arrested Tuesday morning in connection to a $ 60 million bribery case .
A spokeswoman for David DeVillers , U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio , described the case as a `` public corruption racketeering conspiracy case involving $ 60 million . ''
Borges , cofounder of Right Side PAC—a Republican group pushing disaffected GOP voters in battleground states to vote for Joe Biden in November—was formerly the chairman of the Ohio Republican Party .
Householder 's adviser Jeffrey Longstreth and others allegedly connected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The charges could be related to Ohio House Bill 6—legislation Householder pushed last year , which gave a $ 1 billion bailout to two nuclear power plants .
DeVillers and the FBI will officially announce the charges in a press conference at 2:30 p.m. Householder has led the Ohio House of Representatives since January 2019 and held the speakership once before , from 2001 to 2004 .
On Monday , a separate federal investigation implicated Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan ( D. ) in a bribery scheme .
Madigan has ties to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a $ 200 million fine for giving kickbacks to `` various associates of a high-level elected official for the state of Illinois . ''

Ohio House speaker Larry Householder (R.) and pro-Biden Republican Matt Borges were arrested Tuesday morning in connection to a $60 million bribery case.
A spokeswoman for David DeVillers, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, described the case as a "public corruption racketeering conspiracy case involving $60 million." Borges, cofounder of Right Side PAC—a Republican group pushing disaffected GOP voters in battleground states to vote for Joe Biden in November—was formerly the chairman of the Ohio Republican Party. Householder's adviser Jeffrey Longstreth and others allegedly connected to the scheme were also arrested Tuesday.
The charges could be related to Ohio House Bill 6—legislation Householder pushed last year, which gave a $1 billion bailout to two nuclear power plants. DeVillers and the FBI will officially announce the charges in a press conference at 2:30 p.m.
Householder has led the Ohio House of Representatives since January 2019 and held the speakership once before, from 2001 to 2004.
On Monday, a separate federal investigation implicated Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan (D.) in a bribery scheme. Madigan has ties to ComEd, a utility company that faces a $200 million fine for giving kickbacks to "various associates of a high-level elected official for the state of Illinois."


freebeacon--2020-07-21--A Tale of Two Arsonists

A Tale of Two Arsonists

Among the dozens of anarchists arrested over the past two months , few have gotten a more vociferous defense from the anti-police left than Colinford Mattis and Urooj Rahman , two `` public interest '' lawyers accused of firebombing a police car .
Their defenders , who argue that the criminal justice system is stacked against the poor and underprivileged , were the first to invoke Mattis and Rahman 's elite credentials when pressing the courts to cut them slack .
Mattis and Rahman are high achievers : He is a Princeton and NYU Law grad with a corporate legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Law after spending a summer in `` occupied Palestine . ''
These credentials , of course , did n't protect them from federal charges after they lobbed Molotov cocktails into an NYPD patrol car , but their defenders now cite them in pleas for leniency and special treatment , both in the courtroom and in the press .
Both were bailed out , with Rahman 's release guaranteed by an Obama-administration alumna who called Rahman her `` best friend . ''
The duo have received friendly coverage in the Intercept , CNN , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyers ' sterling credentials , echoing a letter signed by hundreds of NYU alumni in their defense .
Compare that with the story of Isaiah Willoughby , a Washington resident now facing federal charges for attempting to burn down a Seattle police station .
Willoughby is a former foster kid and a small-time entrepreneur who once ran a quixotic campaign for city council .
He also has a rap sheet a mile long .
Willoughby 's case , unlike that of his well-heeled counterparts , has received little attention in the liberal media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Bureau of Prisons records .
Our view—and the Justice Department's—is that the cases deserve equal treatment .
It is telling that the anti-police left has made Mattis and Rahman their leniency cause célèbre , citing their elite credentials while crowing simultaneously about inequity in the criminal justice system .
It 's the same dynamic captured in a video of protesters taunting NYPD officers for not having college degrees , or by the little-mentioned statistic that a majority of those living in the poorest communities , regardless of race , want more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhoods .
And it explains why progressives are ready and willing to take cops off the streets .
Radical is the new chic , and defunding the police is what 's in this season .
If it means violent crime spikes and young men get shot , that 's not their concern—it 's the little people 's problem .

Among the dozens of anarchists arrested over the past two months, few have gotten a more vociferous defense from the anti-police left than Colinford Mattis and Urooj Rahman, two "public interest" lawyers accused of firebombing a police car.
Their defenders, who argue that the criminal justice system is stacked against the poor and underprivileged, were the first to invoke Mattis and Rahman's elite credentials when pressing the courts to cut them slack.
Mattis and Rahman are high achievers: He is a Princeton and NYU Law grad with a corporate legal job, and she graduated from Fordham Law after spending a summer in "occupied Palestine." These credentials, of course, didn't protect them from federal charges after they lobbed Molotov cocktails into an NYPD patrol car, but their defenders now cite them in pleas for leniency and special treatment, both in the courtroom and in the press.
Both were bailed out, with Rahman's release guaranteed by an Obama-administration alumna who called Rahman her "best friend." The duo have received friendly coverage in the Intercept, CNN, and NPR. All emphasized the young lawyers' sterling credentials, echoing a letter signed by hundreds of NYU alumni in their defense.
Compare that with the story of Isaiah Willoughby, a Washington resident now facing federal charges for attempting to burn down a Seattle police station. Willoughby is a former foster kid and a small-time entrepreneur who once ran a quixotic campaign for city council. He also has a rap sheet a mile long.
Willoughby's case, unlike that of his well-heeled counterparts, has received little attention in the liberal media. He remains in federal lockup, according to Bureau of Prisons records.
Our view—and the Justice Department's—is that the cases deserve equal treatment.
It is telling that the anti-police left has made Mattis and Rahman their leniency cause célèbre, citing their elite credentials while crowing simultaneously about inequity in the criminal justice system.
It's the same dynamic captured in a video of protesters taunting NYPD officers for not having college degrees, or by the little-mentioned statistic that a majority of those living in the poorest communities, regardless of race, want more, not fewer, police in their neighborhoods.
And it explains why progressives are ready and willing to take cops off the streets. Radical is the new chic, and defunding the police is what's in this season. If it means violent crime spikes and young men get shot, that's not their concern—it's the little people's problem.


freebeacon--2020-07-22--The New War on Merit

The New War on Merit

The American dream is that any citizen , regardless of sex , race , creed , or color , can rise on his determination and merit .
History is littered with examples of the reformers who worked to realize that dream , pushing the most influential institutions in the country to prize talent and hard work over wealth and connections .
The introduction of standardized testing , accessible to all American teens , was part of that push .
Harvard University began administering a standardized test to all applicants in 1905 .
Its effect was profound and immediate : historically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crust , the school began admitting far more public school kids , Catholics , and Jews .
The increasing number of Jewish students was a major concern for Harvard president and committed progressive A. Lawrence Lowell .
He tried to implement a quota on Jews , then pivoted to an admissions process that used intangible factors such as `` character '' and `` manliness . ''
It worked : Jewish applicants consistently fell short .
These sorts of hazy , intangible assessments are now championed by the left .
In the name of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dismantle meritocratic norms and return to the quota systems that practices like standardized testing were designed to relegate to the trash heap of history .
In a lawsuit likely headed for the Supreme Court , hundreds of would-be Asian admittees allege that Harvard caps their numbers with quotas based on `` personality '' —an eerie echo of Lowell ’ s method for keeping out Jews .
The New York Times ’ s classical music critic , Anthony Tommasini , is calling for the end of the blind symphony audition , which drove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the field , so that conductors can make race-based selections .
The University of Connecticut School of Medicine , where merit is literally a matter of life or death , recently suspended admissions to its honor society because the GPA-based admissions criterion did not produce an honor society that , as Bill Clinton said , `` looked like America . ''
The SAT—which measures intellect better and more fairly than do intangible heuristics—is under fire .
University of California president and former Obama official Janet Napolitano has joined the chorus of administrators at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t producing the desired results .
Those calling for `` progress '' usually want to forfeit someone else 's job .
Tommasini is a white man , as are all his listed colleagues at the Times ‘ s `` music '' section .
So is the L.A. Times 's Mark Swed , and Washington Post music critic Michael Brodeur , who recently penned a news report about classical music 's `` long overdue reckoning with racism . ''
All are curiously quiet on the `` racism '' of their clique .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ own position for indigenous or trans critics , who surely exist !
Surely they are waiting somewhere for the call from the New York Times that their turn has come , merit be damned !
As the Times ‘ s own Ross Douthat noted , those who stand to benefit most from this new attitude are the rich and powerful , who will be free to clear the way for their underachieving kids—the Varsity Blues scandal , legitimated by wokeness .
The new war on merit is the same as the old , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's straight out of Lowell 's playbook : In the name of `` equality , '' tear down the only system we have that gives the talented a shot over the powerful .

The American dream is that any citizen, regardless of sex, race, creed, or color, can rise on his determination and merit. History is littered with examples of the reformers who worked to realize that dream, pushing the most influential institutions in the country to prize talent and hard work over wealth and connections.
The introduction of standardized testing, accessible to all American teens, was part of that push. Harvard University began administering a standardized test to all applicants in 1905. Its effect was profound and immediate: historically a landing spot for the Protestant upper crust, the school began admitting far more public school kids, Catholics, and Jews.
The increasing number of Jewish students was a major concern for Harvard president and committed progressive A. Lawrence Lowell. He tried to implement a quota on Jews, then pivoted to an admissions process that used intangible factors such as "character" and "manliness." It worked: Jewish applicants consistently fell short.
These sorts of hazy, intangible assessments are now championed by the left. In the name of racial equality, the woke now seek to dismantle meritocratic norms and return to the quota systems that practices like standardized testing were designed to relegate to the trash heap of history.
In a lawsuit likely headed for the Supreme Court, hundreds of would-be Asian admittees allege that Harvard caps their numbers with quotas based on "personality"—an eerie echo of Lowell’s method for keeping out Jews.
The New York Times’s classical music critic, Anthony Tommasini, is calling for the end of the blind symphony audition, which drove a tripling of women's representation in the field, so that conductors can make race-based selections. The University of Connecticut School of Medicine, where merit is literally a matter of life or death, recently suspended admissions to its honor society because the GPA-based admissions criterion did not produce an honor society that, as Bill Clinton said, "looked like America."
The SAT—which measures intellect better and more fairly than do intangible heuristics—is under fire. University of California president and former Obama official Janet Napolitano has joined the chorus of administrators at elite universities who complain that race-blind admissions aren’t producing the desired results.
Those calling for "progress" usually want to forfeit someone else's job. Tommasini is a white man, as are all his listed colleagues at the Times's "music" section. So is the L.A. Times's Mark Swed, and Washington Post music critic Michael Brodeur, who recently penned a news report about classical music's "long overdue reckoning with racism."
All are curiously quiet on the "racism" of their clique. None seem ready to give up their own position for indigenous or trans critics, who surely exist! Surely they are waiting somewhere for the call from the New York Times that their turn has come, merit be damned!
As the Times's own Ross Douthat noted, those who stand to benefit most from this new attitude are the rich and powerful, who will be free to clear the way for their underachieving kids—the Varsity Blues scandal, legitimated by wokeness.
The new war on merit is the same as the old, and it marks regression rather than progress. It's straight out of Lowell's playbook: In the name of "equality," tear down the only system we have that gives the talented a shot over the powerful.


freebeacon--2020-07-22--Corporate-Funded PACs Pour Money Into Iowa Dem’s Campaign

Iowa Democrat Theresa Greenfield used thousands of dollars from corporate-backed PACs and lobbyists on a new advertisement claiming she `` refused corporate PAC money . ''
Greenfield 's Senate campaign has received more than $ 230,000 from 33 leadership PACs bankrolled by corporations in her bid to unseat Sen. Joni Ernst ( R. ) .
The contributions include $ 33,500 in the second quarter of 2020 , according to Greenfield 's latest financial disclosures .
Those PACs have combined to accept more than $ 4 million in corporate money , according to the Center for Responsive Politics .
Greenfield has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state with advertisements denouncing the influence of corporate money in politics .
After stating in a June 19 ad that she does not `` think politicians should put corporate interests ahead of you , '' Greenfield released a new ad on July 15 that claims she `` wo n't take a dime in corporate PAC money , period . ''
In addition to the hundreds of thousands from corporate-backed PACs , Greenfield has benefited from nearly $ 11 million from liberal outside groups .
Many of those groups also received millions from corporations—the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has spent nearly $ 30,000 backing Greenfield , accepted $ 3 million from corporate PACs during the 2020 cycle alone .
Top donors include pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and top insurance companies Blue Cross , UnitedHealth , Cigna , and Humana .
The Iowa Democrat 's top lobbyist donors also have strong ties to the pharmaceutical industry .
Forbes Tate Partners ' Jeffrey Forbes , who gave Greenfield $ 2,700 in June , has received $ 17.6 million in pharmaceutical lobbying contracts to date , according to the Center for Responsive Politics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request for comment .
Ernst fired back at Greenfield 's claims of campaign finance purity with a July ad of her own .
She accused the Iowa Democrat of taking `` over half a million dollars from corporate lobbyists , executives , and CEOs . ''
Following the July 15 release of Greenfield 's second quarter fundraising report , Ernst campaign spokesperson Melissa Deatsch issued an updated figure , saying Greenfield `` took another $ 200,000 … bringing the total amount this cycle to more than $ 700,000 . ''
`` Team Joni @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite her rhetoric not to take ‘ one dime ' of special interest money , Greenfield has hypocritically taken $ 700,000 from corporate lobbyists , executives and CEOs , '' Deatsch said in a statement .
Greenfield has faced criticism from fellow Iowa Democrats for taking corporate money via leadership PACs .
During a May primary debate , Navy veteran Mike Franken highlighted the $ 7 million that Chuck Schumer-aligned Senate Majority PAC spent backing Greenfield , noting that the group is bankrolled by `` lobbyists and corporate PACs and Bain Capital and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is dark money . ''
Businessman Eddie Mauro also attacked Greenfield , saying she `` says she wants to end corruption , but she 's taking corrupt money , so there 's an issue there . ''
`` You ca n't smile at people and tell them you 're not taking corporate PAC money when you 're taking tens of thousands of dollars of corporate PAC money , leadership PAC money that 's full of pharmaceutical money , fossil fuel money , and Wall Street money , '' Mauro said .
Greenfield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after spending more than $ 2.3 million on the race .
Franken , who finished second , spent just $ 960,000 and did not receive support from outside groups .
Both Franken and Mauro were targeted by last-minute attack ads funded by abortion advocacy group EMILY 's List .
Greenfield and Ernst will face off in November .
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as `` lean Republican . ''

Iowa Democrat Theresa Greenfield used thousands of dollars from corporate-backed PACs and lobbyists on a new advertisement claiming she "refused corporate PAC money."
Greenfield's Senate campaign has received more than $230,000 from 33 leadership PACs bankrolled by corporations in her bid to unseat Sen. Joni Ernst (R.). The contributions include $33,500 in the second quarter of 2020, according to Greenfield's latest financial disclosures. Those PACs have combined to accept more than $4 million in corporate money, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Greenfield has used the donations to flood the Hawkeye state with advertisements denouncing the influence of corporate money in politics. After stating in a June 19 ad that she does not "think politicians should put corporate interests ahead of you," Greenfield released a new ad on July 15 that claims she "won't take a dime in corporate PAC money, period."
In addition to the hundreds of thousands from corporate-backed PACs, Greenfield has benefited from nearly $11 million from liberal outside groups. Many of those groups also received millions from corporations—the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), which has spent nearly $30,000 backing Greenfield, accepted $3 million from corporate PACs during the 2020 cycle alone. Top donors include pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and top insurance companies Blue Cross, UnitedHealth, Cigna, and Humana. The Iowa Democrat's top lobbyist donors also have strong ties to the pharmaceutical industry. Forbes Tate Partners' Jeffrey Forbes, who gave Greenfield $2,700 in June, has received $17.6 million in pharmaceutical lobbying contracts to date, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Greenfield did not respond to a request for comment.
Ernst fired back at Greenfield's claims of campaign finance purity with a July ad of her own. She accused the Iowa Democrat of taking "over half a million dollars from corporate lobbyists, executives, and CEOs." Following the July 15 release of Greenfield's second quarter fundraising report, Ernst campaign spokesperson Melissa Deatsch issued an updated figure, saying Greenfield "took another $200,000 … bringing the total amount this cycle to more than $700,000."
"Team Joni will work to ensure Iowans know that despite her rhetoric not to take 'one dime' of special interest money, Greenfield has hypocritically taken $700,000 from corporate lobbyists, executives and CEOs," Deatsch said in a statement.
Greenfield has faced criticism from fellow Iowa Democrats for taking corporate money via leadership PACs. During a May primary debate, Navy veteran Mike Franken highlighted the $7 million that Chuck Schumer-aligned Senate Majority PAC spent backing Greenfield, noting that the group is bankrolled by "lobbyists and corporate PACs and Bain Capital and businesses, and frankly a lot of it is dark money." Businessman Eddie Mauro also attacked Greenfield, saying she "says she wants to end corruption, but she's taking corrupt money, so there's an issue there."
"You can't smile at people and tell them you're not taking corporate PAC money when you're taking tens of thousands of dollars of corporate PAC money, leadership PAC money that's full of pharmaceutical money, fossil fuel money, and Wall Street money," Mauro said.
Greenfield went on to win the crowded primary after spending more than $2.3 million on the race. Franken, who finished second, spent just $960,000 and did not receive support from outside groups. Both Franken and Mauro were targeted by last-minute attack ads funded by abortion advocacy group EMILY's List.
Greenfield and Ernst will face off in November. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as "lean Republican."