freebeacon--2020-06-02--End Citizens United Enters Unusual Fundraising Venture With Six Democrats

The left 's premier group against money in politics has teamed up with six establishment-backed Democratic Senate candidates in an unusual fundraising venture that is raising eyebrows among campaign finance experts and runs counter to many pledges put forth by those candidates .
The End Citizens United PAC quietly entered into a joint fundraising committee agreement in April with six Democratic Senate campaigns .
A joint fundraising venture allows committees to share fundraising costs and then split the money that is raised between them .
It also allows donors to write one large check that can total the combined legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement .
The campaigns of Mark Kelly in Arizona , Sara Gideon in Maine , Steve Bullock in Montana , Cal Cunningham in North Carolina , Theresa Greenfield in Iowa , and Raphael Warnock in Georgia are included in the venture .
Several of the Democratic candidates in the new agreement vocally oppose coordination with outside groups and the influence of money in politics .
The new venture creates a direct line between End Citizens United and several campaigns it has spent millions supporting , raising questions about its operations .
.While joint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the agreements tend to be betouween campaigns and party committees , not outside gr Paul Kamenar , counsel for the National Legal and Policy Center , also said the setup raises questions regarding coordination .
Kamenar said the PAC would have to maintain strict separation from the candidates as it makes independent expenditures in their races .
`` If the funds used for the independent expenditures come via the joint fundraising committee , then arguably the candidate is directly or indirectly financing the communication since the funds are raised through the candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` So , variations are doable , and have to be done right at each step . ''
End Citizens United has poured more than $ 2.1 million into independent media advertisements and text expenditures benefiting candidates that are part of the agreement , including Kelly , Gideon , and Bullock .
Nearly all of this amount— $ 2 million—was spent following the creation of the joint fundraising committee .
A spokesman for End Citizens United said it has a firewall between its independent expenditure arm and its coordinated side .
Many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with End Citizens United have advocated for overhauling the campaign finance system and cracking down on coordination between campaigns and outside groups .
A handful have already broken campaign finance pledges .
Bullock has spent his entire career saying he wants to eliminate dark money in politics .
His `` One Big Idea '' when running for president last year was campaign finance reform , and he attacked his Democratic rivals for their use of outside super PACs .
But despite Bullock 's opposition to such outside groups , a recently created super @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his candidacy .
Bullock has also received help from a Washington , D.C.-based dark money juggernaut in his attempt to win a Montana Senate seat .
Greenfield released an anti-corruption plan that calls to end `` campaign coordination with outside groups . ''
Her campaign , however , was hit with a Federal Election Commission complaint following a Washington Free Beacon report on its potential coordination with the Senate Majority PAC , a super PAC affiliated with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) .
Greenfield also wants to tackle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but has taken tens of thousands from registered lobbyists .
Gideon has called overturning Citizens United v. FEC—the landmark campaign finance Supreme Court decision that allowed corporations and labor unions to spend unlimited amounts on outside election communications—the `` first step to fixing corruption in Washington . ''
Gideon often touts an anti-lobbyist agenda , but has received tens of thousands in campaign contributions from lobbyists .
Kelly uses his support for overturning Citizens United to haul in funds for his campaign .
Like the other candidates , he regularly voices opposition toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kelly , however , has personally benefited from nearly $ 300,000 in speaking engagements since his campaign began—many of which were sponsored by major corporations .
Likewise , Cunningham released an ethics plan that calls for getting `` big money out of politics . ''
He , like nearly every other Democratic Senate candidate endorsed by End Citizens United , has taken funds from Democratic PACs awash in corporate PAC contributions .
End Citizens United did not respond to a request for comment on its joint fundraising agreement with the Democratic campaigns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been updated to reflect comment from an End Citizens United spokesperson and to reflect the group is not a super PAC .

The left's premier group against money in politics has teamed up with six establishment-backed Democratic Senate candidates in an unusual fundraising venture that runs counter to many pledges put forth by those candidates.
The End Citizens United PAC quietly entered into a joint fundraising agreement in April with six Democratic Senate campaigns, several of whom have decried the influence of money in politics, including Steve Bullock of Montana, Mark Kelly of Arizona, Theresa Greenfield of Iowa, and Sara Gideon of Maine. While joint fundraising ventures are a relatively common practice, the agreements tend to be between campaigns and party committees, not outside groups.
The Democratic candidates who are party to the agreement have advocated for overhauling the campaign finance system and cracking down on coordination between campaigns and outside groups.
A spokesman for End Citizens United said the group maintains strict internal separation between the arm that makes independent expenditures and the one that coordinates with campaigns.
Bullock, currently the governor of Montana, has spent his career pushing to eliminate dark money in politics. As a presidential candidate, he ran on "One Big Idea"—campaign finance reform—and attacked several of his Democratic rivals who were boosted by outside groups.
Greenfield, who is duking it out with other Democrats in Iowa's Senate primary, has released an anti-corruption plan that calls to end "campaign coordination with outside groups." Her campaign was hit with a Federal Election Commission complaint following a Washington Free Beacon report on its potential coordination with the Senate Majority PAC, a super PAC affiliated with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.).
Gideon, who is vying to replace Sen. Susan Collins (R., Maine) has called overturning Citizens United v. FEC, the landmark Supreme Court decision that allowed corporations and labor unions to spend unlimited amounts on politics, the "first step to fixing corruption in Washington."
The joint fundraising venture allows committees to share fundraising costs and split between them the money raised. Democrats Cal Cunningham in North Carolina and Raphael Warnock in Georgia are also a part of the new agreement.
Update 7:26 p.m.: This post has been updated to reflect comment from an End Citizens United spokesperson and to reflect the group is a PAC rather than a super PAC.


freebeacon--2020-06-02--U.S. Rebukes China for Border Aggression With India

NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR ( Reuters ) – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a senior congressional leader have reprimanded China for bullying behavior towards India during a military standoff on their disputed border .
Thousands of Indian and Chinese troops have faced each other for weeks at three or four locations in the western Himalayas after Beijing ’ s forces intruded into Indian territory , according to Indian security officials and local media .
China denies it breached the `` Line of Actual Control '' , as the 3,488 km de facto border is known , and says there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ River and Pangong Tso lake in the remote snow deserts of India ’ s Ladakh region .
In comments released by the State Department , Pompeo told the American Enterprise Institute thinktank that China ’ s moving of troops to the line of control echoed similarly heavy-handed behavior over the coronavirus , South China Sea and Hong Kong .
`` These are the kinds of actions that authoritarian regimes take , '' he said .
One possible trigger for frictions is India ’ s construction of a road near the Galwan valley to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ superior network of roads that it built years ago , Indian and foreign military experts say .
China is opposed to any Indian construction in the area , saying it is disputed territory .
The chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs , Eliot Engel , said China should respect norms and use diplomacy to settle the border issue with India .
`` I am extremely concerned by the ongoing Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control , '' he said .
`` China is demonstrating once again that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than resolve conflicts according to international law , '' he added in a statement on Monday .
Soldiers are billeted in tents and both sides have brought in artillery and other heavy equipment to back them up , Indian officials said .
India has also started construction of an emergency landing strip near the main highway of Kashmir which adjoins Ladakh .
Konchok Stanzin , a resident of Lukung village on the Indian side , about 40 kilometers from the border , said thousands of Indian troops had arrived in the last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the village as the area has never seen such a military buildup , '' he said .

By Sanjeev Miglani and Fayaz Bukhari
NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a senior congressional leader have reprimanded China for bullying behavior towards India during a military standoff on their disputed border.
Thousands of Indian and Chinese troops have faced each other for weeks at three or four locations in the western Himalayas after Beijing’s forces intruded into Indian territory, according to Indian security officials and local media.
China denies it breached the "Line of Actual Control", as the 3,488 km de facto border is known, and says there is stability in the area near the Galwan River and Pangong Tso lake in the remote snow deserts of India’s Ladakh region.
In comments released by the State Department, Pompeo told the American Enterprise Institute thinktank that China’s moving of troops to the line of control echoed similarly heavy-handed behavior over the coronavirus, South China Sea and Hong Kong.
"These are the kinds of actions that authoritarian regimes take," he said.
One possible trigger for frictions is India’s construction of a road near the Galwan valley to narrow the gap with China’s superior network of roads that it built years ago, Indian and foreign military experts say. China is opposed to any Indian construction in the area, saying it is disputed territory.
The chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Eliot Engel, said China should respect norms and use diplomacy to settle the border issue with India.
"I am extremely concerned by the ongoing Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control," he said.
"China is demonstrating once again that it is willing to bully its neighbors rather than resolve conflicts according to international law," he added in a statement on Monday.
Soldiers are billeted in tents and both sides have brought in artillery and other heavy equipment to back them up, Indian officials said. India has also started construction of an emergency landing strip near the main highway of Kashmir which adjoins Ladakh.
Konchok Stanzin, a resident of Lukung village on the Indian side, about 40 kilometers from the border, said thousands of Indian troops had arrived in the last week alone.
"There is panic in the village as the area has never seen such a military buildup," he said.
(Reporting by Sanjeev Miglani; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)


freebeacon--2020-06-02--Three Months, 6 Million Guns Sold

Three Months, 6 Million Guns Sold

An estimated 6 million guns have been sold since the coronavirus outbreak began in March , as May marked the third consecutive month of record-high sales .
More than 1.7 million guns were sold in May 2020 , according to an analysis by Small Arms Analytics & Forecasting .
That is an all-time record for the month and an 80 percent increase from 2019 .
The spike in sales comes as rioting grips the nation and the coronavirus continues to dominate headlines .
Jurgen Brauer , the group 's chief economist , called the trend `` unprecedented . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said in a statement .
`` The boom in handgun sales has been particularly noticeable in recent months . ''
May is typically the slowest month of gun sales in the spring , but 2020 's record-setting monthly figures were down only slightly from April 's 1.8 million and March 's 2.5 million—the highest sales total ever recorded in a single month .
Most surprising to observers is the fact that May 2020 saw more sales than both March and April of 2019 .
The record-setting sales pace has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owners , according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation , the gun industry 's trade group .
`` Our recent survey of firearm retailers shows us that 40 percent of these gun buyers are buying a firearm for the first time , '' Mark Oliva , a spokesman for the group , said in a statement .
`` Of those first-time gun owners , 40 percent are women and these buyers are overwhelmingly purchasing handguns for personal protection . ''
The sales came as the death toll from the coronavirus rose to over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent , and rioting swept the country in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer .
The influx of new gun owners has the potential to change the politics surrounding gun laws in America .
Oliva said the record sales were evidence of Americans ' desire to protect themselves during the current chaos .
`` Americans are being confronted with decisions regarding their personal safety and are voting with their wallets on their right to keep and bear arms , '' he said .
The analysis of gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI 's National Instant Criminal Background Check System ( NICS ) but does not capture every sale in the country .
While NICS checks are required on nearly all gun sales conducted by licensed dealers , most states do not require them on sales of used guns by private citizens , and multiple sales can be conducted during a single check .
NICS also reports checks completed during gun-carry permit applications in its raw numbers .
Small Arms Analytics & Forecasting attempts to parse out checks only associated with gun sales in their @ @

An estimated 6 million guns have been sold since the coronavirus outbreak began in March, as May marked the third consecutive month of record-high sales.
More than 1.7 million guns were sold in May 2020, according to an analysis by Small Arms Analytics & Forecasting. That is an all-time record for the month and an 80 percent increase from 2019. The spike in sales comes as rioting grips the nation and the coronavirus to dominate headlines. Jurgen Brauer, the group's chief economist, called the trend "unprecedented."
"Firearms sales have surged in unprecedented ways," he said in a statement. "The boom in handgun sales has been particularly noticeable in recent months."
May is typically the slowest month of gun sales in the spring, but 2020's record-setting monthly figures were down only slightly from April's 1.8 million andMarch's 2.5 million—the highest sales total ever recorded in a single month. Most surprising to observers is the fact that May 2020 saw more sales than both March and April of 2019. The record-setting sales pace has been driven in large part by new gun owners, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the gun industry's trade group.
"Our recent survey of firearm retailers shows us that 40 percent of these gun buyers are buying a firearm for the first time," Mark Oliva, a spokesman for the group, said in a statement. "Of those first-time gun owners, 40 percent are women and these buyers are overwhelmingly purchasing handguns for personal protection."
The sales came as the death toll from the coronavirus rose to over 100,000, unemployment soared to over 20 percent, and rioting swept the country in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. The influx of new gun owners has the potential to change the politics surrounding gun laws in America. Oliva said the record sales were evidence of Americans' desire to protect themselves during the current chaos.
"Americans are being confronted with decisions regarding their personal safety and are voting with their wallets on their right to keep and bear arms," he said.
The analysis of gun sales is based on data from the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) but does not capture every sale in the country. While NICS checks are required on nearly all gun sales conducted by licensed dealers, most states do not require them on sales of used guns by private citizens, and multiple sales can be during a single check.
NICS also reports checks completed during gun-carry permit applications in its raw numbers. Small Arms Analytics & Forecasting attempts to parse out checks only associated with gun sales in their analysis.


freebeacon--2020-06-03--Brakes on a Plame

Brakes on a Plame

Valerie Plame 's congressional bid came to an end on Tuesday when the former CIA operative , who has battled accusations of anti-Semitism and carpet bagging , was defeated in a Democratic primary .
Plame finished second in a field of seven candidates battling to replace outgoing congressman Ben Ray Luján ( D. , N.M. ) , who is running for Senate .
Local attorney and activist Teresa Leger Fernandez won the race with 42.6 percent of the vote , nearly doubling Plame 's 23.1 percent total as the AP called the race early Wednesday morning .
Plame was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national political profile .
Her campaign launch video played up her career as a CIA agent and falsely accused former George W. Bush official Scooter Libby of blowing her cover .
Having decamped to New Mexico from Washington , D.C. in 2006 , Plame battled accusations of carpet bagging .
It did not help that her campaign was fueled predominantly by out-of-state donors , including several Hollywood celebrities and the Holocaust denier Pete McCloskey .
Ultimately , roughly 89 percent of her contributions coming from outside New Mexico , according to the Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressional run , Plame made national headlines in 2017 when she shared on Twitter an article from a discredited anti-Semitic website arguing that `` America 's Jews are driving America 's wars . ''
The story she shared , from Unz Review , asked , `` Should n't [ American Jews ] recuse themselves when dealing with the Middle East ? ''
After urging critics to read to the end of the article , she ultimately apologized , saying that she was in the midst of a move and had merely `` skimmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Republican Jewish Coalition , Neil Strauss , celebrated Plame 's defeat but expressed concern that Democratic leadership `` supported an anti-Semite . ''
`` Valerie Plame has frequently trafficked in and promoted anti-Semitic messages .
The fact that prominent Democrats and celebrities , Chuck Schumer chief among them , chose to support her in a crowded field shows that Democrats are n't committed to combating left wing anti-Semitism , '' Strauss told the Washington Free Beacon .
The Plame campaign received multiple donations , totaling $ 1,550 , from McCloskey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referred to the Nazi murder of six million European Jews as the `` so-called Holocaust . ''
Both Plame and Leger Hernandez enjoyed the the backing of big-spending outside groups .
VoteVets , a liberal group largely funded by Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer 's ( D. , N.Y. ) Senate Majority PAC , endorsed Plame , while Legar Fernandez received endorsements from a number of prominent liberal groups including Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America .
Leger Fernandez is favored to win the general election in November .
The third district has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1997 , and Luján won his 2018 race by nearly 30 points .

Valerie Plame's congressional bid came to an end on Tuesday when the former CIA operative, who has battled accusations of anti-Semitism and carpet bagging, was defeated in a Democratic primary.
Plame finished second in a field of seven candidates battling to replace outgoing congressman Ben Ray Luján (D., N.M.), who is running for Senate. Local attorney and activist Teresa Leger Fernandez won the race with 42.6 percent of the vote, nearly doubling Plame's 23.1 percent total as the AP called the race early Wednesday morning.
Plame was the only candidate in the race with a national political profile. Her campaign launch video played up her career as a CIA agent and falsely accused former George W. Bush official Scooter Libby of blowing her cover.
Having decamped to New Mexico from Washington, D.C. in 2006, Plame battled accusations of carpet bagging. It did not help that her campaign was fueled predominantly by out-of-state donors, including several Hollywood celebrities and the Holocaust denier Pete McCloskey. Ultimately, roughly 89 percent of her contributions came from outside New Mexico, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Prior to her congressional run, Plame made national headlines in 2017 when she shared on Twitter an article from a discredited anti-Semitic website arguing that "America's Jews are driving America's wars." The story she shared, from Unz Review, asked, "Shouldn't [American Jews] recuse themselves when dealing with the Middle East?"
After urging critics to read to the end of the article, she ultimately apologized, saying that she was in the midst of a move and had merely "skimmed" the piece herself.
A spokesman for the Republican Jewish Coalition, Neil Strauss, celebrated Plame's defeat but expressed concern that Democratic leadership "supported an anti-Semite."
"Valerie Plame has frequently trafficked in and promoted anti-Semitic messages. The fact that prominent Democrats and celebrities, Chuck Schumer chief among them, chose to support her in a crowded field shows that Democrats aren't committed to combating left wing anti-Semitism," Strauss told the Washington Free Beacon.
The Plame campaign received multiple donations, totaling $1,550, from McCloskey, a former California congressman, who has referred to the Nazi murder of six million European Jews as the "so-called Holocaust."
Both Plame and Leger Hernandez enjoyed the the backing of big-spending outside groups. VoteVets, a liberal group largely funded by Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer's (D., N.Y.) Senate Majority PAC, endorsed Plame, while Legar Fernandez received endorsements from a number of prominent liberal groups including Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America.
Leger Fernandez is favored to win the general election in November. The third district has not sent a Republican to Washington since 1997, and Luján won his 2018 race by nearly 30 points.


freebeacon--2020-06-03--Georgia Dem Boosted by Out-of-State Contributions

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff is hauling in more than 60 percent of his itemized contributions from out-of-state donors , federal filings reveal .
Ossoff 's Senate campaign has pulled in $ 2.2 million in itemized contributions—donations from individuals who give $ 200 or more .
Of that amount , $ 1.4 million , or 64 percent , is from out-of-state donors , according to a review of the campaign 's records .
The 33-year-old is one of three Democrats vying for the nomination in the June 9 primary to challenge Sen. David Perdue ( R. ) .
Ossoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seat three years after shooting to Democratic stardom during his failed 2017 special election run in the state 's Sixth Congressional District .
After sitting out the 2018 House race , he announced his 2020 Senate campaign 's launch with an in-studio MSNBC interview in New York City on Sept. 9 .
Among Ossoff campaign donors from outside Georgia , Californians were the most generous , pushing $ 415,717 into the Ossoff campaign 's coffers .
New Yorkers contributed $ 271,393 .
Ossoff has hauled in $ 804,594—or 36 percent of his itemized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outraised Democratic opponents Teresa Tomlinson and Sarah Riggs Amico , he trails Tomlinson 's $ 1.4 million in in-state donations .
Tomlinson , the former two-term mayor of Columbus , Ga. , is the only one of the three who has held elected office .
Ossoff 's percentage of in-state donations marks an improvement from the Democrat 's 2017 race .
In a special election that received national attention , Ossoff received more than 95 percent of his contributions from outside Georgia .
In the final two months of the race , more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came from outside the state .
He lost by four points to Republican Karen Handel , who was then defeated in 2018 by Democrat Lucy McBath .
Ossoff was unable to vote for himself in 2017 because he lived outside the sixth district , but the Atlanta resident will not encounter such a problem this time .
Ossoff 's Senate campaign reports $ 4.1 million in total receipts as of May 20 , a major drop off from the $ 32 million Ossoff 's 2017 campaign raised in the most expensive House contest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former campaign committee transferred $ 533,000 of that amount to the Senate bid .
Ossoff 's campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the majority of its donations coming from outside of Georgia .
In a rare occurrence , Georgia is holding dual Senate elections in 2020 .
Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R. ) , appointed to the seat in January following the retirement of Sen. Johnny Isakson ( R. ) , is running in a jungle election against fellow Republican Rep. Doug Collins , Democrat Raphael Warnock , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite the possibility of picking up two seats in one red state , Democrats have given the race little attention and money compared to other 2020 races against incumbent Senate Republicans .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) tried but failed to recruit Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams to challenge Perdue after her closely watched 2018 bid for governor .
There has been little polling on the Senate race , but a survey last week showed Ossoff with 49 percent support from likely Democratic voters .
If he receives 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's primary , he will avoid an Aug. 11 runoff with the runner-up .

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff is hauling in more than 60 percent of his itemized contributions from out-of-state donors, federal filings reveal.
Ossoff's Senate campaign has pulled in $2.2 million in itemized contributions—donations from individuals who give $200 or more. Of that amount, $1.4 million, or 64 percent, is from out-of-state donors, according to a review of the campaign's records. The 33-year-old is one of three Democrats vying for the nomination in the June 9 primary to challenge Sen. David Perdue (R.).
Ossoff is attempting to capture a Georgia Senate seat three years after shooting to Democratic stardom during his failed 2017 special election run in the state's Sixth Congressional District. After sitting out the 2018 House race, he announced his 2020 Senate campaign's launch with an in-studio MSNBC interview in New York City on Sept. 9.
Among Ossoff campaign donors from outside Georgia, Californians were the most generous, pushing $415,717 into the Ossoff campaign's coffers. New Yorkers contributed $271,393. Ossoff has hauled in $804,594—or 36 percent of his itemized cash—from Georgians.
While Ossoff has considerably outraised Democratic opponents Teresa Tomlinson and Sarah Riggs Amico, he trails Tomlinson's $1.4 million in in-state donations. Tomlinson, the former two-term mayor of Columbus, Ga., is the only one of the three who has held elected office.
Ossoff's percentage of in-state donations marks an improvement from the Democrat's 2017 race. In a special election that received national attention, Ossoff received more than 95 percent of his contributions from outside Georgia. In the final two months of the race, more than 97 percent of his campaign cash came from outside the state. He lost by four points to Republican Karen Handel, who was then defeated in 2018 by Democrat Lucy McBath.
Ossoff was unable to vote for himself in 2017 because he lived outside the sixth district, but the Atlanta resident will not encounter such a problem this time.
Ossoff's Senate campaign reports $4.1 million in total receipts as of May 20, a major drop off from the $32 million Ossoff's 2017 campaign raised in the most expensive House contest in U.S. history. The Democrat's former campaign committee transferred $533,000 of that amount to the Senate bid.
Ossoff's campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the majority of its donations coming from outside of Georgia.
In a rare occurrence, Georgia is holding dual Senate elections in 2020. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R.), appointed to the seat in January following the retirement of Sen. Johnny Isakson (R.), is running in a jungle election against fellow Republican Rep. Doug Collins, Democrat Raphael Warnock, and a bevy of other candidates.
But despite the possibility of picking up two seats in one red state, Democrats have given the race little attention and money compared to other 2020 races against incumbent Senate Republicans. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) tried but failed to recruit Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams to challenge Perdue after her closely watched 2018 bid for governor.
There has been little polling on the Senate race, but a survey last week showed Ossoff with 49 percent support from likely Democratic voters. If he receives 50 percent of the vote in next week's primary, he will avoid an Aug. 11 runoff with the runner-up.


freebeacon--2020-06-03--Dem AG: Letting America Burn Is the Path to Growth

Massachusetts attorney general Maura Healey ( D. ) on Tuesday refused to denounce the violent riots occurring nationwide , likening them to the purifying effects of a forest fire .
`` Yes , America is burning , but that 's how forests grow , '' Healey said in a speech delivered to the Boston Chamber of Commerce .
Healey , who is also the co-chair of the Democratic Attorneys General Association , repeated her remarks in a tweet later the same day , adding that Americans need to `` seize the opportunity '' to rid the country of `` institutionalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the violence .
Republican Attorneys General Association chairman Jeff Landry called on Healey to renounce her statement shortly after , criticizing her for `` inflammatory rhetoric . ''
`` Maura Healey ’ s inflammatory rhetoric is part of the problem , not a solution , '' Landry said .
`` An AG is elected to uphold the rule of law and protect life and property , not to violate their oath and incite additional violence by inflaming emotions and condoning lawlessness .
AG Healey has an obligation to quell fear , not incite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affirmed that all who seek to harm or kill `` must be held accountable '' during this time .
`` The wrongful death of any innocent life is a tragedy .
That includes George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery , and now the numerous law enforcement officers and business owners who have been killed or assaulted as a result of these riots and domestic terrorism .
Criminal elements have infiltrated peaceful protests , and those individuals breaking the law must be held accountable , '' he said .
Healey 's remarks come after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the death of George Floyd , a black man who was killed as a white police officer pinned him to the ground and refused to let him get back up .
The protests have taken a violent turn by night in many of America 's cities .
Businesses have been ransacked , cars and homes have been set ablaze , and cultural sites have been defaced .
In Minneapolis , where George Floyd was killed and the protests began last week , fires consumed cars , businesses , and homes last weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headquarters was set ablaze by protesters .
On Sunday night in Washington , D.C. , some protesters set the historic St. John 's Church on fire , which stands a block from the White House .
The fires were doused before any damage was done to the main sanctuary , but the church 's nursery was destroyed .

Massachusetts attorney general Maura Healey (D.) on Tuesday refused to denounce the violent riots occurring nationwide, likening them to the purifying effects of a forest fire.
"Yes, America is burning, but that's how forests grow," Healey said in a speech delivered to the Boston Chamber of Commerce.
Healey, who is also the co-chair of the Democratic Attorneys General Association, repeated her remarks in a tweet later the same day, adding that Americans need to "seize the opportunity" to rid the country of "institutionalized racism," which she blamed for the violence.
Today in my address to the @bostonchamber, I spoke about how we must seize the opportunity we have right now to build anew in ways that rid us of the institutionalized racism that’s led to America burning today. pic.twitter.com/bJSXMahHyy — Maura Healey (@maura_healey) June 2, 2020
Republican Attorneys General Association chairman Jeff Landry called on Healey to renounce her statement shortly after, criticizing her for "inflammatory rhetoric."
"Maura Healey’s inflammatory rhetoric is part of the problem, not a solution," Landry said. "An AG is elected to uphold the rule of law and protect life and property, not to violate their oath and incite additional violence by inflaming emotions and condoning lawlessness. AG Healey has an obligation to quell fear, not incite further damage and destruction."
Landry affirmed that all who seek to harm or kill "must be held accountable" during this time.
"The wrongful death of any innocent life is a tragedy. That includes George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, and now the numerous law enforcement officers and business owners who have been killed or assaulted as a result of these riots and domestic terrorism. Criminal elements have infiltrated peaceful protests, and those individuals breaking the law must be held accountable," he said.
Healey's remarks come after a week of protests in cities nationwide sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed as a white police officer pinned him to the ground and refused to let him get back up.
The protests have taken a violent turn by night in many of America's cities. Businesses have been ransacked, cars and homes have been set ablaze, and cultural sites have been defaced.
In Minneapolis, where George Floyd was killed and the protests began last week, fires consumed cars, businesses, and homes last weekend, and the city's 3rd Precinct headquarters was set ablaze by protesters.
On Sunday night in Washington, D.C., some protesters set the historic St. John's Church on fire, which stands a block from the White House. The fires were doused before any damage was done to the main sanctuary, but the church's nursery was destroyed.


freebeacon--2020-06-03--Emergency Order in West Palm Beach Bans Gun Sales and Carry

West Palm Beach , Fla. , became the first city in the nation to ban the sale or carrying of firearms in city limits in an emergency declaration intended to address violent clashes between police and demonstrators .
The city issued a curfew order on Sunday that included a ban on gun sales and gun carry .
It extended the order for 72 hours on Monday .
The ban on gun and ammo sales includes no exceptions and the ban on gun carry only provides exceptions for on-duty police and military personnel .
The emergency ban comes in the wake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about local and state orders that have shut down gun businesses due to concerns about the coronavirus .
West Palm Beach 's ban extends beyond those shutdowns to stop even those with gun-carry permits from being able to legally carry firearms for protection during the emergency .
An employee at Guns & Range Training Center in West Palm Beach confirmed the store is currently closed down due to the order but did not comment further .
The National Shooting Sports Foundation , the industry 's trade group , said the order violates citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unconscionable that the West Palm Beach mayor is denying the ability for law-abiding citizens of his city to exercise their Second Amendment rights during a time of unrest and widespread criminal activity , '' Mark Oliva , a spokesman for the group , told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` The Second Amendment was written exactly for these purposes , that citizens are afforded the ability to legally obtain arms and ammunition to defend themselves . ''
The West Palm Beach city government did not respond to a request for comment .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the killing of George Floyd , a black man , by a white Minneapolis police officer spread across the country , including to West Palm Beach .
West Palm Beach has witnessed violent clashes between police and demonstrators , as well as looting at local businesses that resulted in the arrest of at least five people .
Three men have now been charged with `` inciting a riot , '' according to the Palm Beach Post .
Mayor Keith James defended the emergency measures during a press conference on Monday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , I stand by that decision .
I believe it was the best decision given the facts that were presented to me by my trusted chief of police , '' he said .
Oliva viewed the decision differently and said the mayor 's ban on gun sales and carry is irresponsible and potentially dangerous .
`` The mayor knows his police are stretched thin and these protests quickly turn violent , '' he said .
`` Instead of enabling Floridians in his city to defend themselves , he is denying their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

West Palm Beach, Fla., became the first city in the nation to ban the sale or carrying of firearms in city limits in an emergency declaration intended to address violent clashes between police and demonstrators.
The city issued a curfew order on Sunday that included a ban on gun sales and gun carry. It extended the order for 72 hours on Monday. The ban on gun and ammo sales includes no exceptions and the ban on gun carry only provides exceptions for on-duty police and military personnel.
The emergency ban comes in the wake of heated political debates and legal showdowns about local and state orders that have shut down gun businesses due to concerns about the coronavirus. West Palm Beach's ban extends beyond those shutdowns to stop even those with gun-carry permits from being able to legally carry firearms for protection during the emergency.
An employee at Guns & Range Training Center in West Palm Beach confirmed the store is currently closed down due to the order but did not comment further. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the industry's trade group, said the order violates citizens' gun rights.
"This is unconscionable that the West Palm Beach mayor is denying the ability for law-abiding citizens of his city to exercise their Second Amendment rights during a time of unrest and widespread criminal activity," Mark Oliva, a spokesman for the group, told the Washington Free Beacon. "The Second Amendment was written exactly for these purposes, that citizens are afforded the ability to legally obtain arms and ammunition to defend themselves."
The West Palm Beach city government did not respond to a request for comment.
The city instituted the emergency order after protests over the killing of George Floyd, a black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer spread across the country, including to West Palm Beach. West Palm Beach has witnessed violent clashes between police and demonstrators, as well as looting at local businesses that resulted in the arrest of at least five people. Three men have now been charged with "inciting a riot," according to the Palm Beach Post.
Mayor Keith James defended the emergency measures during a press conference on Monday.
"Some have described that decision as idiotic. However, I stand by that decision. I believe it was the best decision given the facts that were presented to me by my trusted chief of police," he said.
Oliva viewed the decision differently and said the mayor's ban on gun sales and carry is irresponsible and potentially dangerous.
"The mayor knows his police are stretched thin and these protests quickly turn violent," he said. "Instead of enabling Floridians in his city to defend themselves, he is denying their fundamental rights, leaving them defenseless."


freebeacon--2020-06-03--Poll: Younger And Wealthier Americans Most Likely to Defend Looting

A majority of young , college-educated Americans justify the rioting and looting destroying major urban areas across the country , according to a new poll .
Monmouth University researchers found that 62 percent of those aged 18 to 34 believe the actions of protesters were defensible , with 22 percent saying the actions of the protesters are `` fully justified '' and 40 percent saying they are `` partially justified . ''
Only 29 percent said that such behavior is never justified , well below the 44 percent mark of respondents aged 35 to 54 .
Similar results were found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of college graduates saying the actions of the protesters are justified .
Both the young and college-educated were the most likely to express favorability toward the riots and looting going on in major urban areas .
Protests also found their strongest support among wealthier Americans—37 percent of those with reported incomes of more than $ 100,000 said the actions of the protesters were not justified compared with 39 percent of those earning less than $ 50,000 .
As riots took place in the wake of the death of George Floyd , President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dubbed `` Antifa '' of overshadowing the efforts of peaceful protesters with destructive violence .
On May 31 , Trump designated Antifa as a domestic terrorist group .
The poll also revealed a sharp partisan divide in the response to the demonstrations .
While previous polls found that a sizable majority of Republicans—68 percent—supported the arrest of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin , conservatives view the riots in a largely unfavorable light , according to Monmouth .
Just 35 percent of conservatives say the riots are justifiable , while liberals at 72 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condone such behavior .
The partisan divide in how riots are regarded is evident in the political response to Antifa , and the question of whether the group should be deemed a terrorist organization .
Antifa is a left-wing political movement comprising a loose network of groups known for engaging in violence at protests and clashes with right-wing demonstrators , with the ostensible objective of aggressively combating fascism .
Some Democrats have expressed solidarity with the group .
Justin Brannan , a New York City Democratic city council member , tweeted his support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply means anti-fascist .
If you are anti-Antifa that means you ’ re pro-fascist .
Good luck with that . ''
In protests past , the group targeted an elderly couple , calling them `` Nazi scum , '' and attacked members of the media for covering its `` rallies . ''
In 2019 , journalist Andy Ngo was hospitalized for a brain hemorrhage after Antifa members attacked him for covering a Portland gathering .
The Monmouth poll was conducted between May 28 and June 1 , as violence and looting tore through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deaths among both police officers and civilians .

Liberals twice as likely as conservatives to say protests are justified
A majority of young, college-educated Americans justify the rioting and looting destroying major urban areas across the country, according to a new poll.
Monmouth University researchers found that 62 percent of those aged 18 to 34 believe the actions of protesters were defensible, with 22 percent saying the actions of the protesters are "fully justified" and 40 percent saying they are "partially justified." Only 29 percent said that such behavior is never justified, well below the 44 percent mark of respondents aged 35 to 54.
Similar results were found among college-educated Americans, with 58 percent of college graduates saying the actions of the protesters are justified. Both the young and college-educated were the most likely to express favorability toward the riots and looting going on in major urban areas. Protests also found their strongest support among wealthier Americans—37 percent of those with reported incomes of more than $100,000 said the actions of the protesters were not justified compared with 39 percent of those earning less than $50,000.
As riots took place in the wake of the death of George Floyd, President Trump accused the "anti-fascist" group commonly dubbed "Antifa" of overshadowing the efforts of peaceful protesters with destructive violence. On May 31, Trump designated Antifa as a domestic terrorist group.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1267129644228247552
The poll also revealed a sharp partisan divide in the response to the demonstrations. While previous polls found that a sizable majority of Republicans—68 percent—supported the arrest of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, conservatives view the riots in a largely unfavorable light, according to Monmouth. Just 35 percent of conservatives say the riots are justifiable, while liberals at 72 percent were more than twice as likely to condone such behavior.
The partisan divide in how riots are regarded is evident in the political response to Antifa, and the question of whether the group should be deemed a terrorist organization. Antifa is a left-wing political movement comprising a loose network of groups known for engaging in violence at protests and clashes with right-wing demonstrators, with the ostensible objective of aggressively combating fascism. Some Democrats have expressed solidarity with the group. Justin Brannan, a New York City Democratic city council member, tweeted his support for Antifa, saying the group "simply means anti-fascist. If you are anti-Antifa that means you’re pro-fascist. Good luck with that."
.@NYCCouncil member, @JustinBrannan, what is your relationship with firebombing terror suspect Urooj Rahman? You've deleted your tweets interacting with her. And have been deleting your tweets defending antifa, too. https://t.co/C6jx9idfl7 pic.twitter.com/tgVhmjKwj1 — Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) June 3, 2020
In protests past, the group targeted an elderly couple, calling them "Nazi scum," and attacked members of the media for covering its "rallies." In 2019, journalist Andy Ngo was hospitalized for a brain hemorrhage after Antifa members attacked him for covering a Portland gathering.
The Monmouth poll was conducted between May 28 and June 1, as violence and looting tore through dozens of American cities with multiple casualties and deaths among both police officers and civilians.


freebeacon--2020-06-03--Lawmakers Call On Unions to Stop Collecting Dues From Laid-Off Workers

Lawmakers urged union leaders to stop collecting dues from workers left unemployed by the coronavirus after the Washington Free Beacon revealed that a California union threatened to cut off health insurance to laid-off workers if they stopped membership payments .
In letters sent Tuesday , Reps. Virginia Foxx ( N.C. ) and Tim Walberg ( Mich. ) , top Republicans on the Education and Labor Committee , accused the nation 's largest labor groups of exploiting members who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic .
The lawmakers said dues and fees—which can range anywhere from $ 20 a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's salary—could be placing an `` unnecessary hardship '' on vulnerable members .
`` We are concerned that the continuing collection of union dues from unemployed workers is imposing an additional and unnecessary hardship on these workers and their families—making it even more difficult for struggling Americans to make ends meet , '' the letters say , pointing to a Free Beacon report from March .
The Free Beacon reported that UNITE HERE Local 11 told many unemployed members in Southern California and Arizona that it was `` critical '' for them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the outbreak even as the hospitality industry was crushed by statewide lockdowns and travel restrictions .
Union organizers threatened to cut off health insurance for those unable to pay in at least one case .
Foxx admonished the practice , highlighting the strain coronavirus has placed on millions of American workers .
`` Demanding union dues from the unemployed is unconscionable .
Tens of millions of Americans have lost their jobs because of COVID-19 .
Families , workers , and businesses are struggling to make ends meet , '' she told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When so many are forced to tighten their belts , is it too much to expect Big Labor to do the same ? ''
Foxx and Walberg sent the letters to UNITE HERE president Donald Taylor , AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka , Teamsters president James Hoffa , and Service Employees International Union ( SEIU ) president Mary Kay Henry .
They note that while some unions have given workers a break amid the pandemic , `` this is not the case nationwide . ''
`` During this crisis , unions have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not treat them like ATM machines , '' Center for Union Facts spokeswoman Charlyce Bozzello said .
`` Local 11 's own co-president reported that nearly 100 percent of his union 's members had been laid off .
But somehow , there 's still little said on what financial relief is being offered to these workers in the form of suspended or reduced dues payments .
It seems Local 11 's way of managing its response to this crisis is the rule , not the exception among labor unions . ''
The letters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned that a lull in revenue due to coronavirus could harm their ability to `` organize and represent workers effectively , '' top labor organizations `` currently spend millions each year on non-bargaining and non-representational activity . ''
The four unions addressed in the letter have already spent a combined $ 10.6 million on political contributions during the 2020 cycle , according to the Center for Responsive Politics .
UNITE HERE Local 11 endorsed both Sens .
Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) and Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ HERE spokeswoman said that the union `` has never required unemployed members to pay dues '' and that some members `` do continue to voluntarily self-pay their union dues . ''
UNITE HERE did not respond to further questions regarding allegations that its Local 11 chapter linked health insurance coverage to maintaining dues payments .
Local 11 did not respond to a request for comment .
`` It sounds to me like all they want is the money , and that 's it .
They do n't care about their employees , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March .
AFL-CIO communications director Tim Schlittner called the letter `` a solution searching for a problem , '' saying that the `` vast majority of union members do not pay dues when they are out of work and all other times they are proud to make an investment in themselves and their coworkers . ''
Labor watchdogs told the Free Beacon that continued dues collections could also detract from some of the federal relief intended to help laid-off workers .
Patrick Semmens , spokesman for the National Right to Work Foundation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It is simply outrageous that union bosses continue to demand union dues from workers who are out of work and that unions are likely siphoning dues out of Coronavirus aid money intended for those whose employment has been affected by Covid , '' he said .
`` Union officials are demonstrating that their greed for union dues comes ahead of what is actually best for rank-and-file workers . ''
The SEIU and Teamsters—the other recipients of the congressional letter—did not respond to requests for comment .

Lawmakers urged union leaders to stop collecting dues from workers left unemployed by the coronavirus after the Washington Free Beacon revealed that a California union threatened to cut off health insurance to laid-off workers if they stopped membership payments.
In letters sent Tuesday, Reps. Virginia Foxx (N.C.) and Tim Walberg (Mich.), top Republicans on the Education and Labor Committee, accused the nation's largest labor groups of exploiting members who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. The lawmakers said dues and fees—which can range anywhere from $20 a month to 4 percent of a worker's salary—could be placing an "unnecessary hardship" on vulnerable members.
"We are concerned that the continuing collection of union dues from unemployed workers is imposing an additional and unnecessary hardship on these workers and their families—making it even more difficult for struggling Americans to make ends meet," the letters say, pointing to a Free Beacon report from March.
The Free Beacon reported that UNITE HERE Local 11 told many unemployed members in Southern California and Arizona that it was "critical" for them to continue paying dues in the early days of the outbreak even as the hospitality industry was crushed by statewide lockdowns and travel restrictions. Union organizers threatened to cut off health insurance for those unable to pay in at least one case. Foxx admonished the practice, highlighting the strain coronavirus has placed on millions of American workers.
"Demanding union dues from the unemployed is unconscionable. Tens of millions of Americans have lost their jobs because of COVID-19. Families, workers, and businesses are struggling to make ends meet," she told the Free Beacon. "Every dollar counts. When so many are forced to tighten their belts, is it too much to expect Big Labor to do the same?"
Foxx and Walberg sent the letters to UNITE HERE president Donald Taylor, AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka, Teamsters president James Hoffa, and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) president Mary Kay Henry. They note that while some unions have given workers a break amid the pandemic, "this is not the case nationwide."
"During this crisis, unions have a duty to help their struggling members, not treat them like ATM machines," Center for Union Facts spokeswoman Charlyce Bozzello said. "Local 11's own co-president reported that nearly 100 percent of his union's members had been laid off. But somehow, there's still little said on what financial relief is being offered to these workers in the form of suspended or reduced dues payments. It seems Local 11's way of managing its response to this crisis is the rule, not the exception among labor unions."
The letters also noted that while unions may be concerned that a lull in revenue due to coronavirus could harm their ability to "organize and represent workers effectively," top labor organizations "currently spend millions each year on non-bargaining and non-representational activity." The four unions addressed in the letter have already spent a combined $10.6 million on political contributions during the 2020 cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. UNITE HERE Local 11 endorsed both Sens. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) for president in January.
A UNITE HERE spokeswoman said that the union "has never required unemployed members to pay dues" and that some members "do continue to voluntarily self-pay their union dues." UNITE HERE did not respond to further questions regarding allegations that its Local 11 chapter linked health insurance coverage to maintaining dues payments. Local 11 did not respond to a request for comment.
"It sounds to me like all they want is the money, and that's it. They don't care about their employees," one member told the Free Beacon in March.
AFL-CIO communications director Tim Schlittner called the letter "a solution searching for a problem," saying that the "vast majority of union members do not pay dues when they are out of work and all other times they are proud to make an investment in themselves and their coworkers."
Labor watchdogs told the Free Beacon that continued dues collections could also detract from some of the federal relief intended to help laid-off workers. Patrick Semmens, spokesman for the National Right to Work Foundation, called the behavior "outrageous."
"It is simply outrageous that union bosses continue to demand union dues from workers who are out of work and that unions are likely siphoning dues out of Coronavirus aid money intended for those whose employment has been affected by Covid," he said. "Union officials are demonstrating that their greed for union dues comes ahead of what is actually best for rank-and-file workers."
The SEIU and Teamsters—the other recipients of the congressional letter—did not respond to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-06-03--New Think Tank Aims to Revive America’s Commitment to Global Hegemony

John Adams is an eminently more respected figure in the annals of American history than his son , John Quincy , who like most children of privilege spent the majority of his prolonged adolescence studying abroad and keeping a diary—the industrial-age equivalent of vlogging .
Whereas his father helped create the world 's first modern democracy by defeating the most formidable military on the planet , John Quincy practiced law , taught logic courses at Brown University , and like most overeducated rich kids grew to loathe the thought of achieving global supremacy through military might .
America `` goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to destroy , '' the younger Adams famously said in 1821 while serving as U.S. secretary of state .
Some surrender hawks have founded entire think tanks based on the cerebral cowardice outlined in that speech , which also includes the exhortation that America `` must forever stand alone … a light of admonition to the rulers of men . ''
The latter line is more in keeping with the philosophy of the older , wiser Adams , who founded the U.S. Navy to serve as the country 's `` natural defense '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not always amiable , '' and that defeat was in some cases `` preferable to total inaction . ''
This is the John Adams philosophy that will drive the mission of a new think tank dedicated to restoring America 's role in the world to one of `` responsible supremacy . ''
The Adams Institute will seek to advance the cause of `` common good militarism '' by changing the conversation in Washington , D.C. , and abroad through aggressive lobbying and impressive public displays of military power .
`` In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we believe in good guys and bad guys , '' said Adams Institute founding chairman Brock Hungwell , a former Navy SEAL who previously served as chief provost at the H. Norman Schwarzkopf Academy for Preemptive War .
`` From the redcoats to the Red Chinese , from the Comanche raiders to the Weather Underground , defending America means defending her from threats at home and abroad , '' Hungwell told the Washington Free Beacon in an exclusive interview .
The Adams Institute will , at least initially , limit its focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as augmenting existing U.S. naval supremacy with the addition of a nuclear submarine fleet capable of launching simultaneous strikes against China , Russia , Iran , and North Korea .
President Adams 's forceful opposition to seditious acts will also inform the new institute 's mission .
The organization 's charter calls for the establishment of a $ 20 million bounty fund to be awarded to the law enforcement branch that apprehends the most foreign saboteurs in a given year , whether they be members of Antifa , Huawei Technologies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN .
The Adams Institute may have bold objectives , but it 's also open to compromise .
While John Adams would have been `` appalled '' at the lawless actions of Barack Obama 's Department of Justice , Hungwell does n't think arresting senior Democratic officials would be the best way to advance national unity .
Instead , he proposed that Roger Stone be allowed to establish an independent investigative bureau for the purpose of figuring out what the hell is going on .
Stone , who has already accepted a seat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a phalanx of fact-checkers armed with sweeping authority to monitor and censor unsavory behavior on the world wide web , such as referring to the president as `` His Rotundity , '' `` Cheeto Jesus , '' or the classic `` Drumpf . ''
Such offensive terms would be classified as `` crimes against democracy '' under proposed legislation drafted by Adams Institute chief counsel Michael Grimm .

John Adams is an eminently more respected figure in the annals of American history than his son, John Quincy, who like most children of privilege spent the majority of his prolonged adolescence studying abroad and keeping a diary—the industrial-age equivalent of vlogging.
Whereas his father helped create the world's first modern democracy by defeating the most formidable military on the planet, John Quincy practiced law, taught logic courses at Brown University, and like most overeducated rich kids grew to loathe the thought of achieving global supremacy through military might.
America "goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy," the younger Adams famously said in 1821 while serving as U.S. secretary of state. Some surrender hawks have founded entire think tanks based on the cerebral cowardice outlined in that speech, which also includes the exhortation that America "must forever stand alone ... a light of admonition to the rulers of men."
The latter line is more in keeping with the philosophy of the older, wiser Adams, who founded the U.S. Navy to serve as the country's "natural defense" force and argued correctly that "virtue is not always amiable," and that defeat was in some cases "preferable to total inaction."
This is the John Adams philosophy that will drive the mission of a new think tank dedicated to restoring America's role in the world to one of "responsible supremacy." The Adams Institute will seek to advance the cause of "common good militarism" by changing the conversation in Washington, D.C., and abroad through aggressive lobbying and impressive public displays of military power.
"In the spirit of America's first vice president, we believe in good guys and bad guys," said Adams Institute founding chairman Brock Hungwell, a former Navy SEAL who previously served as chief provost at the H. Norman Schwarzkopf Academy for Preemptive War.
"From the redcoats to the Red Chinese, from the Comanche raiders to the Weather Underground, defending America means defending her from threats at home and abroad," Hungwell told the Washington Free Beacon in an exclusive interview.
The Adams Institute will, at least initially, limit its focus to a small number of achievable goals, such as augmenting existing U.S. naval supremacy with the addition of a nuclear submarine fleet capable of launching simultaneous strikes against China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
President Adams's forceful opposition to seditious acts will also inform the new institute's mission. The organization's charter calls for the establishment of a $20 million bounty fund to be awarded to the law enforcement branch that apprehends the most foreign saboteurs in a given year, whether they be members of Antifa, Huawei Technologies, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, or CNN.
The Adams Institute may have bold objectives, but it's also open to compromise. While John Adams would have been "appalled" at the lawless actions of Barack Obama's Department of Justice, Hungwell doesn't think arresting senior Democratic officials would be the best way to advance national unity. Instead, he proposed that Roger Stone be allowed to establish an independent investigative bureau for the purpose of figuring out what the hell is going on.
Stone, who has already accepted a seat on the Institute's board, envisions a phalanx of fact-checkers armed with sweeping authority to monitor and censor unsavory behavior on the world wide web, such as referring to the president as "His Rotundity," "Cheeto Jesus," or the classic "Drumpf." Such offensive terms would be classified as "crimes against democracy" under proposed legislation drafted by Adams Institute chief counsel Michael Grimm.


freebeacon--2020-06-03--Despite Recent Events, Americans Still Trust the Police

An overwhelming majority of Americans , including a third of black Americans , say they trust the police even amid nationwide protests over a Minneapolis officer 's killing of an unarmed black man .
Sixty-nine percent of Americans report having a `` great deal '' or a `` fair amount '' of trust in their local police and law enforcement , according to an Axios/Ipsos poll conducted May 29 through June 1 .
Those figures include majority support among both parties , all age groups , both genders , and both white and Hispanic respondents , but just 36 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between black and white respondents—41 percentage points—drew the attention of Ipsos president Cliff Young , who told Axios that the coronavirus epidemic exacerbated `` a longstanding set of grievances in the African-American community with the police and how they deal with the community '' —implying a worse disparity than ever .
But although the difference between white and black respondents ' trust in police is substantial , a closer look at historical data suggests it is not meaningfully elevated from earlier this decade .
Furthermore , the larger finding of majority trust is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of data , which show that Americans support law and order and the institutions thereof—and may be growing even more supportive amid unprecedented nationwide unrest .
Those historical figures come from Gallup , which annually asks its survey subjects about their `` confidence in '' police and other institutions .
In 2015 , in the wake of protests in Ferguson , Mo.
, that confidence fell to its lowest level on record , with just 53 percent saying they have `` a great deal '' or `` quite a lot '' of confidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to historical averages two years later .
The two surveys are imperfectly comparable—measuring `` trust '' vs. `` confidence , '' `` local police '' vs. `` police , '' and using different qualitative descriptors of each .
Given those differences , however , Axios ‘ s findings suggest a recovery from the 2015-era lows across ethnicities—meaning that the police are at least as popular now as they were before the Ferguson protests .
In fact , Gallup has consistently found the police to be among the most trusted institutions in America , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` small business . ''
Organizations that routinely command less confidence include public schools , organized labor , newspapers , television news , and Congress .
The `` criminal justice system '' commands confidence of just 24 percent , less than half of support for police .
Gallup data do indicate that the police continue to struggle with trustworthiness and confidence among black Americans—although not at levels appreciably different from six years ago .
At the same time , data indicate that Americans of both parties continue to be broadly supportive of law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be pushing Americans to be more supportive of cops .
A May 31 through June 1 poll from Morning Consult found that 71 percent of registered voters `` strongly '' or `` somewhat '' support calling up the National Guard to support city police in quelling riots .
That includes 42 percent of African-American respondents , 58 percent of liberals , and 62 percent of those who `` strongly disapprove '' of President Donald Trump 's job performance .
Those figures represent a nation 's response to days of protests , rioting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officers have been shot , and 77-year-old David Dorn , a retired St. Louis police captain , was shot and killed on a Facebook live stream .

An overwhelming majority of Americans, including a third of black Americans, say they trust the police even amid nationwide protests over a Minneapolis officer's killing of an unarmed black man.
Sixty-nine percent of Americans report having a "great deal" or a "fair amount" of trust in their local police and law enforcement, according to an Axios/Ipsos poll conducted May 29 through June 1. Those figures include majority support among both parties, all age groups, both genders, and both white and Hispanic respondents, but just 36 percent support among black respondents.
The chasm between black and white respondents—41 percentage points—drew the attention of Ipsos president Cliff Young, who told Axios that the coronavirus epidemic exacerbated "a longstanding set of grievances in the African-American community with the police and how they deal with the community"—implying a worse disparity than ever.
But although the difference between white and black respondents' trust in police is substantial, a closer look at historical data suggests it is not meaningfully elevated from earlier this decade. Furthermore, the larger finding of majority trust is consistent with almost three decades' worth of data, which show that Americans support law and order and the institutions thereof—and may be growing even more supportive amid unprecedented nationwide unrest.
Those historical figures come from Gallup, which annually asks its survey subjects about their "confidence in" police and other institutions. In 2015, in the wake of protests in Ferguson, Mo., that confidence fell to its lowest level on record, with just 53 percent saying they have "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the police.
That number recovered to historical averages two years later. The two surveys are imperfectly comparable—measuring "trust" vs. "confidence," "local police" vs. "police," and using different qualitative descriptors of each. Given those differences, however, Axios's findings suggest a recovery from the 2015-era lows across ethnicities—meaning that the police are at least as popular now as they were before the Ferguson protests.
In fact, Gallup has consistently found the police to be among the most trusted institutions in America, beaten out only by the military and "small business." Organizations that routinely command less confidence include public schools, organized labor, newspapers, television news, and Congress. The "criminal justice system" commands confidence of just 24 percent, less than half of support for police.
Gallup data do indicate that the police continue to struggle with trustworthiness and confidence among black Americans—although not at levels appreciably different from six years ago. At the same time, data indicate that Americans of both parties continue to be broadly supportive of law enforcement.
In fact, national unrest may be pushing Americans to be more supportive of cops. A May 31 through June 1 poll from Morning Consult found that 71 percent of registered voters "strongly" or "somewhat" support calling up the National Guard to support city police in quelling riots. That includes 42 percent of African-American respondents, 58 percent of liberals, and 62 percent of those who "strongly disapprove" of President Donald Trump's job performance.
Those figures represent a nation's response to days of protests, rioting, and looting, in which several police officers have been shot, and 77-year-old David Dorn, a retired St. Louis police captain, was shot and killed on a Facebook live stream.


freebeacon--2020-06-03--Former Obama Intelligence Official Helps Secure Bail for Molotov Cocktail-Throwing NYC Lawyer

A former Obama administration intelligence official who worked in both the Departments of State and Defense has guaranteed bail for a human rights lawyer accused of firebombing a police vehicle in New York City .
The former official , Salmah Rizvi , told a judge the alleged firebomber is her `` best friend . ''
Rizvi , now an attorney at the D.C.-based law firm Ropes & Gray , helped secure the release of fellow lawyer Urooj Rahman by agreeing to be a suretor for her bail .
That means Rizvi is liable for the full cost of the $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court 's orders .
Rahman was released to home confinement over the objections of government attorneys after her arrest on Saturday for throwing a lit Molotov cocktail through the window of an NYPD vehicle .
Evidence presented by prosecutors included images of Rahman holding a Molotov cocktail in the passenger seat of a van that was later found to be full of the necessary materials for making the explosive devices .
U.S. District Judge Margo Brodie acknowledged the strong evidence against Rahman , who was also accused of distributing the incendiary devices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grant her bail due to the `` willingness of family and friends to sign on as suretors , '' according to a report from Law360 .
Rizvi appeared in front of the court during Rahman 's Monday arraignment to certify her willingness to guarantee Rahman 's bail , according to a transcript of the proceedings obtained by the Washington Free Beacon .
`` Urooj Rahman is my best friend and I am an associate at the law firm Ropes & Gray in Washington , D.C. , '' Rizvi told the court .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Neither Rizvi nor Ropes & Gray responded to requests for comment .
Rizvi entered the legal field after a career in the Obama administration 's intelligence community , where `` her high-value work would often inform the President 's Daily Briefs , '' according to her bio at the Islamic Scholarship Fund .
The group gave Rizvi a law school scholarship sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations , a radical anti-Israel organization that has been tied to the funding of global terror networks .
During Rizvi 's time at the New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a fellow at Ramallah-based legal organization Al-Haq , which was founded to challenge the `` legal status of Israel as an occupying power . ''
The group is best known for filing lawsuits aimed at delegitimizing Israel and providing legal backing for the Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions movement against the Jewish state .
The group has been criticized for its defense of the `` right to resist '' by Palestinian terrorist organizations and its defense and promotion of violent actions taken against Israel .
Rizvi was also provided a scholarship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans , which was started by the now-deceased older brother of liberal billionaire George Soros .
Rahman was arrested along with Colinford Mattis , a New York City attorney who was driving the van carrying the explosives .
Authorities say a witness came forward to say Rahman was passing out Molotov cocktails to others at protests in Brooklyn early Saturday morning .
Authorities released a picture of Rahman holding a Molotov cocktail fashioned out of a Bud Light bottle .
Rahman and Mattis were charged with causing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and explosives and face up to 20 years in prison .
Government prosecutors argued that releasing the pair was a mistake given that tensions between protesters and the police remain high .
`` We do n't believe this is the time to be releasing a bomb-thrower like the defendant into the community , '' argued federal prosecutor Ian Richardson .
The judge in the case ultimately ruled , however , that the decision by Rizvi and others to guarantee the bail swayed him to grant them home detention .
`` Home detention secured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family and several high-earning colleagues and friends should be an adequate deterrent to further danger to the community , '' said Judge Steven Gold , whose ruling was held up by Judge Brodie on the same grounds .
Rahman was ordered by the court to forfeit all travel documents and remain in her home with a GPS device attached to her body .
All travel must be approved by an officer of the court assigned to her case .

Former official said alleged firebomber is her 'best friend'
A former Obama administration intelligence official who worked in both the Departments of State and Defense has guaranteed bail for a human rights lawyer accused of firebombing a police vehicle in New York City.
The former official, Salmah Rizvi, told a judge the alleged firebomber is her "best friend." Rizvi, now an attorney at the D.C.-based law firm Ropes & Gray, helped secure the release of fellow lawyer Urooj Rahman by agreeing to be a suretor for her bail. That means Rizvi is liable for the full cost of the $250,000 bail if Rahman fails to obey the court's orders.
Rahman was released to home confinement over the objections of government attorneys after her arrest on Saturday for throwing a lit Molotov cocktail through the window of an NYPD vehicle. Evidence presented by prosecutors included images of Rahman holding a Molotov cocktail in the passenger seat of a van that was later found to be full of the necessary materials for making the explosive devices.
U.S. District Judge Margo Brodie acknowledged the strong evidence against Rahman, who was also accused of distributing the incendiary devices to other rioters, but agreed to grant her bail due to the "willingness of family and friends to sign on as suretors," according to a report from Law360.
Rizvi appeared in front of the court during Rahman's Monday arraignment to certify her willingness to guarantee Rahman's bail, according to a transcript of the proceedings obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. "Urooj Rahman is my best friend and I am an associate at the law firm Ropes & Gray in Washington, D.C.," Rizvi told the court. "I earn $255,000 a year."
Neither Rizvi nor Ropes & Gray responded to requests for comment.
Rizvi entered the legal field after a career in the Obama administration's intelligence community, where "her high-value work would often inform the President's Daily Briefs," according to her bio at the Islamic Scholarship Fund. The group gave Rizvi a law school scholarship sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a radical anti-Israel organization that has been tied to the funding of global terror networks.
During Rizvi's time at the New York University School of Law, she was a fellow at Ramallah-based legal organization Al-Haq, which was founded to challenge the "legal status of Israel as an occupying power." The group is best known for filing lawsuits aimed at delegitimizing Israel and providing legal backing for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against the Jewish state.
The group has been criticized for its defense of the "right to resist" by Palestinian terrorist organizations and its defense and promotion of violent actions taken against Israel.
Rizvi was also provided a scholarship toward her law degree by the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, which was started by the now-deceased older brother of liberal billionaire George Soros.
Rahman was arrested along with Colinford Mattis, a New York City attorney who was driving the van carrying the explosives. Authorities say a witness came forward to say Rahman was passing out Molotov cocktails to others at protests in Brooklyn early Saturday morning. Authorities released a picture of Rahman holding a Molotov cocktail fashioned out of a Bud Light bottle.
Rahman and Mattis were charged with causing damage to a police vehicle by fire and explosives and face up to 20 years in prison.
Government prosecutors argued that releasing the pair was a mistake given that tensions between protesters and the police remain high.
"We don't believe this is the time to be releasing a bomb-thrower like the defendant into the community," argued federal prosecutor Ian Richardson.
The judge in the case ultimately ruled, however, that the decision by Rizvi and others to guarantee the bail swayed him to grant them home detention.
"Home detention secured by the financial well-being of his entire family and several high-earning colleagues and friends should be an adequate deterrent to further danger to the community," said Judge Steven Gold, whose ruling was held up by Judge Brodie on the same grounds.
Rahman was ordered by the court to forfeit all travel documents and remain in her home with a GPS device attached to her body. All travel must be approved by an officer of the court assigned to her case.


freebeacon--2020-06-03--Bill Clinton Rejects Perfectly Reasonable Explanation for Palling Around With Jeffrey Epstein

Former president Bill Clinton , nominal husband to failed politician Hillary Clinton , curiously turned down an opportunity to explain away his relationship with wealthy financier and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein , who died in 2019 under suspicious circumstances .
Epstein 's death is the subject of A Convenient Death : The Mysterious Demise of Jeffrey Epstein , a new book by acclaimed investigative reporters Alana Goodman and Daniel Halper .
You can buy a copy today .
The book alleges that Clinton spent so much time hanging around Epstein because he was having an affair with the millionaire 's child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` [ Bill ] and Ghislaine were getting it on , '' a knowledgable source told the authors .
`` That 's why he was around Epstein—to be with her . ''
Clinton and Maxwell , who were once photographed together disembarking from Epstein 's private jet , affectionately known as the `` Lolita Express , '' would reportedly get together on overseas junkets and in Manhattan , where Bill would allegedly visit Maxwell 's swanky townhome on the Upper East Side .
Maxwell attended Chelsea Clinton 's wedding to a failed hedge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fixture at Clinton Global Initiative events , including one at which she was served court papers for a deposition concerning her role in Epstein 's abuse .
The charity 's theme that year was combating human trafficking .
However , rather than embrace this totally reasonable ( and certainly believable ) explanation for all the time he spent with Epstein—one that would make the relationship seem far less sinister—the former president rejected the allegation .
`` It 's a total lie , '' said Clinton spokesman Angel Ureña in response to the source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Clinton has never been accused of sexual misconduct involving a minor , though his proclivity for extramarital adventurism is well documented .
Clinton has also denied ever setting foot on Epstein 's private `` orgy island '' in the U.S. Virgin Islands , but one of Epstein 's victims and an IT professional who worked on the island both claimed to have seen Clinton there .

Former president Bill Clinton, nominal husband to failed politician Hillary Clinton, curiously turned down an opportunity to explain away his relationship with wealthy financier and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019 under suspicious circumstances.
Epstein's death is the subject of A Convenient Death: The Mysterious Demise of Jeffrey Epstein, a new book by acclaimed investigative reporters Alana Goodman and Daniel Halper. You can buy a copy today.
The book alleges that Clinton spent so much time hanging around Epstein because he was having an affair with the millionaire's child wrangler, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. "[Bill] and Ghislaine were getting it on," a knowledgable source told the authors. "That's why he was around Epstein—to be with her."
Clinton and Maxwell, who were once photographed together disembarking from Epstein's private jet, affectionately known as the "Lolita Express," would reportedly get together on overseas junkets and in Manhattan, where Bill would allegedly visit Maxwell's swanky townhome on the Upper East Side.
Maxwell attended Chelsea Clinton's wedding to a failed hedge fund manager in 2009 and was a fixture at Clinton Global Initiative events, including one at which she was served court papers for a deposition concerning her role in Epstein's abuse. The charity's theme that year was combating human trafficking.
However, rather than embrace this totally reasonable (and certainly believable) explanation for all the time he spent with Epstein—one that would make the relationship seem far less sinister—the former president rejected the allegation. "It's a total lie," said Clinton spokesman Angel Ureña in response to the source's claims about an affair with Maxwell.
Clinton has never been accused of sexual misconduct involving a minor, though his proclivity for extramarital adventurism is well documented. Clinton has also denied ever setting foot on Epstein's private "orgy island" in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but one of Epstein's victims and an IT professional who worked on the island both claimed to have seen Clinton there.


freebeacon--2020-06-03--China Militarizing Stolen U.S. Tech, State Department Says

The Chinese government is militarizing sensitive U.S. technology and research that it stole from American institutions in recent years , according to the State Department .
`` The People 's Republic of China for a number of years now has very deliberately been targeting sensitive technologies in the United States , '' a senior State Department official told reporters in a briefing .
`` These technologies have been put to the use of modernizing China ’ s military to the detriment of our national security and that of our friends and allies . ''
The disclosure comes on the heels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit visas to Chinese researchers and students the government suspects are spies for the Communist Party .
Visas for nonimmigrant students and researchers from China will be reduced as part of the administration ’ s new policy .
China 's theft of proprietary U.S. technology and research data has been taking place for years .
The communist regime sends researchers to the United States and other Western nations so that they can intercept research and other materials that will boost the country 's military apparatus .
`` China has either coopted or coerced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have come to the United States and other countries where they have engaged in activities that have given them access—taking full advantage of our open academic and research environment—to sensitive technologies , '' according to the senior State Department official , who spoke to reporters only on background .
`` And they 've done so without revealing in these small number of cases their ties to China 's security apparatus , '' the official added .
`` Thus whether they have been actually stealing technology per se or merely diverting it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely honest pretenses , been a channel for taking this technology back to China for nefarious purposes . ''
Around 370,000 Chinese students per year come to the United States on student visas , according to the Institute for International Education .
The State Department maintains its new policy will only impact a small percentage of these individuals .

The Chinese government is militarizing sensitive U.S. technology and research that it stole from American institutions in recent years, according to the State Department.
"The People's Republic of China for a number of years now has very deliberately been targeting sensitive technologies in the United States," a senior State Department official told reporters in a briefing. "These technologies have been put to the use of modernizing China’s military to the detriment of our national security and that of our friends and allies."
The disclosure comes on the heels of the Trump administration's decision to limit visas to Chinese researchers and students the government suspects are spies for the Communist Party. Visas for nonimmigrant students and researchers from China will be reduced as part of the administration’s new policy.
China's theft of proprietary U.S. technology and research data has been taking place for years. The communist regime sends researchers to the United States and other Western nations so that they can intercept research and other materials that will boost the country's military apparatus.
"China has either coopted or coerced a small number of academics and researchers who have come to the United States and other countries where they have engaged in activities that have given them access—taking full advantage of our open academic and research environment—to sensitive technologies," according to the senior State Department official, who spoke to reporters only on background.
"And they've done so without revealing in these small number of cases their ties to China's security apparatus," the official added. "Thus whether they have been actually stealing technology per se or merely diverting it, they have nonetheless, under less than completely honest pretenses, been a channel for taking this technology back to China for nefarious purposes."
Around 370,000 Chinese students per year come to the United States on student visas, according to the Institute for International Education. The State Department maintains its new policy will only impact a small percentage of these individuals.


freebeacon--2020-06-03--ANALYSIS: Media Suddenly Less Hysterical Over Large Gatherings

When Florida governor Ron DeSantis and other Republican governors moved to gradually ease lockdown measures imposed to limit the spread of coronavirus , the media reacted in hysterical fashion .
Some Democratic governors took similar steps to reopen , but for some reason , they were not similarly accused of having blood on their hands .
But the media 's hysteria over large public gatherings in the midst of the pandemic has suddenly abated .
Several cities have started to enforce curfews , primarily because peaceful protests related to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis have been accompanied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The prevailing reaction from the pundit class has been , shall we say , significantly less hysterical than its reaction to the crowds of people who decided to go to the beach .
Nikole Hannah-Jones , a Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for the New York Times Magazine , recently suggested that the destruction or theft of property `` is not violence . ''
If anything , the media have turned against measures to limit gatherings and curb violence .
Atlantic staff writer Amanda Mull , for example , complained on Tuesday about New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curfew in response to the unrest .
In late April , she accused Gov .
Brian Kemp ( R. , Ga. ) of conducting an `` experiment in human sacrifice '' by taking steps to reopen the economy .
No one took more criticism than DeSantis .
`` Ron DeSantis , Why the # @ * !
Are Florida 's Beaches Still Open ? ''
read one Daily Beast headline from mid-March .
Columnist Matt Lewis cited Florida 's open beaches as `` the one glaring exception '' to an otherwise strong showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wondered , `` Where are the adults ? ''
DeSantis ultimately closed the beaches .
When he moved to reopen them weeks later , and the crowds returned , the media 's hysteria ramped up again .
`` One of the many lessons this pandemic has provided is to never forget that Florida is run by idiots , '' journalist/comedian Cristian Moreno tweeted on April 16 in response to an article about the reopening of Florida beaches .
`` They are pushing seriously for dumbest state in the nation . ''
A Miami @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeting that the packed beaches `` should work nicely to thin the ranks '' of DeSantis supporters .
Noted Trump nemesis Bette Midler also chimed in to suggest that the crowds returning to the beaches made `` perfect Florida-sense .
To try to get a little sun so you look healthy at your funeral . ''

When Florida governor Ron DeSantis and other Republican governors moved to gradually ease lockdown measures imposed to limit the spread of coronavirus, the media reacted in hysterical fashion. Some Democratic governors took similar steps to reopen, but for some reason, they were not similarly accused of having blood on their hands.
But the media's hysteria over large public gatherings in the midst of the pandemic has suddenly abated. Several cities have started to enforce curfews, primarily because peaceful protests related to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis have been accompanied by outbursts of violence and looting.
The prevailing reaction from the pundit class has been, shall we say, significantly less hysterical than its reaction to the crowds of people who decided to go to the beach. Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for the New York Times Magazine, recently suggested that the destruction or theft of property "is not violence."
If anything, the media have turned against measures to limit gatherings and curb violence. Atlantic staff writer Amanda Mull, for example, complained on Tuesday about New York City's "insane" 8 p.m. curfew in response to the unrest. In late April, she accused Gov. Brian Kemp (R., Ga.) of conducting an "experiment in human sacrifice" by taking steps to reopen the economy.
No one took more criticism than DeSantis. "Ron DeSantis, Why the #@*! Are Florida's Beaches Still Open?" read one Daily Beast headline from mid-March. Columnist Matt Lewis cited Florida's open beaches as "the one glaring exception" to an otherwise strong showing of leadership from America's governors and wondered, "Where are the adults?"
DeSantis ultimately closed the beaches. When he moved to reopen them weeks later, and the crowds returned, the media's hysteria ramped up again. "One of the many lessons this pandemic has provided is to never forget that Florida is run by idiots," journalist/comedian Cristian Moreno tweeted on April 16 in response to an article about the reopening of Florida beaches. "They are pushing seriously for dumbest state in the nation."
A Miami Herald columnist was forced to apologize after tweeting that the packed beaches "should work nicely to thin the ranks" of DeSantis supporters. Noted Trump nemesis Bette Midler also chimed in to suggest that the crowds returning to the beaches made "perfect Florida-sense. To try to get a little sun so you look healthy at your funeral."


freebeacon--2020-06-03--Jewish Group Calls on Swalwell to Apologize Over Nazi Comparison

The Republican Jewish Coalition ( RJC ) called on Rep. Eric Swalwell ( D. , Calif. ) to apologize for comparing Richard Grenell , the former U.S. ambassador to Germany , to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels .
After Grenell tweeted about the National Park Service 's denial of using tear gas against protesters in front of the White House , Swalwell wrote on Twitter that Grenell `` is Goebbels with a Twitter account . ''
RJC called on Swalwell to make a `` genuine apology '' to Grenell , to Swalwell 's constituents , and to the victims of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minimized by this comparison . ''
Swalwell took to Twitter Wednesday to tell RJC he is not sorry , claiming that one day his children would ask him , `` Dad , what did you do when Trump gassed peaceful protestors for a photo-op at a church ? ''
Grenell , the former acting director of national intelligence and the first openly gay man to occupy a cabinet position , resigned his position as ambassador to Germany on June 1 after serving there since 2018 .
`` While political rhetoric can get heated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comparisons to one of the worst monsters in human history , '' RJC said in its statement .
`` It demeans the important work that Ric has done — getting Germany to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization , starving the terrorist regime in Iran of funds that would be used to finance terror against Israel and the Jewish people , and speaking out in defense of German Jews who were targets of antisemitic attacks . ''
Swalwell 's office did not reply to a request for comment .
Goebbels , the minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reich , helped perpetuate Nazi genocide by fabricating a positive image for the regime in Germany .

The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) called on Rep. Eric Swalwell (D., Calif.) to apologize for comparing Richard Grenell, the former U.S. ambassador to Germany, to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels.
After Grenell tweeted about the National Park Service's denial of using tear gas against protesters in front of the White House, Swalwell wrote on Twitter that Grenell "is Goebbels with a Twitter account."
Don’t waste your time, @RyanLizza. @RichardGrenell is Goebbels with a Twitter account. — Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) June 3, 2020
RJC called on Swalwell to make a "genuine apology" to Grenell, to Swalwell's constituents, and to the victims of the Nazi regime "whose suffering he minimized by this comparison."
Swalwell took to Twitter Wednesday to tell RJC he is not sorry, claiming that one day his children would ask him, "Dad, what did you do when Trump gassed peaceful protestors for a photo-op at a church?"
In a few years, my children will be old enough to ask, 'Dad, what did you do when Trump gassed peaceful protestors for a photo-op at a church?" The only thing I’ll be sorry for is if I’m not able to say, 'everything I could to help save our country." https://t.co/vpmMWeLgJL — Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) June 3, 2020
Grenell, the former acting director of national intelligence and the first openly gay man to occupy a cabinet position, resigned his position as ambassador to Germany on June 1 after serving there since 2018.
"While political rhetoric can get heated, there is no excuse for ugly comparisons to one of the worst monsters in human history," RJC said in its statement.
"It demeans the important work that Ric has done — getting Germany to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, starving the terrorist regime in Iran of funds that would be used to finance terror against Israel and the Jewish people, and speaking out in defense of German Jews who were targets of antisemitic attacks."
Swalwell's office did not reply to a request for comment.
Goebbels, the minister of propaganda for Adolf Hitler's Third Reich, helped perpetuate Nazi genocide by fabricating a positive image for the regime in Germany.