freebeacon--2020-09-22--Ukrainian Pipeline Explosion Has Implications for Nord Stream 2

KIEV , Ukraine—Shortly past midnight on Sept. 15 , a part of the Kiev-Western Ukraine-1 natural gas transit line exploded .
The site pumps natural gas from Russia across Ukraine to underground storage facilities near the border with the EU .
The fact that Russian gas must cross Ukraine before it reaches customer nations in the EU has long been a sore point with Moscow .
Ukraine ’ s energy consortium receives transit fees for carrying this gas through their pipelines , which in 2019 amounted to $ 3 billion .
Even in this year of record low demand for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeply gutted from the coronavirus pandemic , transit fees will nonetheless amount to some $ 2 billion .
Luckily for the Ukrainians , the pipeline was repaired in only two days .
By diverting the gas flow through other tributaries of the network during that time none of the EU users were cut off .
Explosions on Ukrainian gas lines are not a new phenomenon .
Explosions occurred in May and December 2007 and then in March and June 2014 .
The June incident took place in the Poltava region and was judged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a deliberate act of sabotage .
Russian president Vladimir Putin weaponized Ukraine ’ s dependence on Russian gas long ago .
Ukraine ’ s history is dotted with numerous incidents of Moscow `` discovering '' massive unpaid bills at critical moments—and then using them to pressure the government in Kiev .
Russia even went so far as to completely shut off the gas valve to Ukraine during one such payment dispute in the winter of 2006 .
`` The problem for Russia is that if they make a practice of shutting off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that everyone downstream has their pipeline running on empty as well , '' said a Western diplomat at the time .
`` Closing the gas line ?
Moscow never did this before , not even in Soviet-Cold War times .
This makes the Western European customers—the customers that Putin can in no way afford to lose—nervous and causes them to look for alternate suppliers . ''
Putin ’ s solution to all of his problems was Nord Stream 2—a project to carry gas directly to Germany through a pipeline laid along the North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine , the Baltic States , and Poland , permitting him to shut down gas lines to those nations at will but without interrupting the flow to Germany and the rest of the EU .
In order to ensure the project ’ s political support , the European half of the consortium was formed from several major German , Dutch , and French gas companies .
In a controversial move , former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder was made head of the shareholders ' committee .
The managing director , however , is Matthias @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer who worked with Putin in the 1980s , when the latter was assigned as a KGB agent to the East German city of Dresden .
Foreign heads of state are generally required to schedule meetings with the Russian president months in advance , but Warnig reportedly has open access to the Kremlin .
He and Putin reportedly see one other `` generally every three weeks . ''
But Nord Stream 2 has since been halted due to sanctions placed on Russia by the United States .
Washington has also threatened to sanction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations if their industries continue to participate in the program .
Calls for Germany to cancel the project altogether are part of the blowback from the August poisoning of Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny .
It has since been revealed the poison that almost killed him was a variant of the Russian Novichok nerve agent .
The same military-grade nerve poison was previously used in March 2018 against former Russian GRU ( military intelligence ) officer Sergei Skrypal and his daughter , who both now reside in the U.K. As with the Skrypals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signals Russian state involvement in another attempted assassination .
This prompted Ursula von der Leyen , the former German defense minister who is now president of the European Commission , to call for the Nord Stream 2 project to be halted .
`` To those that advocate closer ties with Russia , I say that the poisoning of Aleksei Navalny with an advanced chemical agent is not a one-off , '' said von der Leyen in her Sept. 16 state of the union address .
`` This pattern is not changing—and no pipeline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the explosion a case of near-perfect timing— '' almost too perfect , '' said a Kiev-based Western business analyst .
`` It ’ s the same kind of dirty tricks that the KGB and the Stasi were always proficient at . ''
The location of the explosion—only a short distance from the end of one of the Kiev underground lines—also conveniently makes it possible for endless numbers of news organizations to drive out and shoot photos and video of the site .
The coverage is likely to contribute to an already steady stream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depend on Ukrainian pipelines and needs Nord Stream 2 , no matter the cost to democratic principles .

KIEV, Ukraine—Shortly past midnight on Sept. 15, a part of the Kiev-Western Ukraine-1 natural gas transit line exploded. The site pumps natural gas from Russia across Ukraine to underground storage facilities near the border with the EU.
The fact that Russian gas must cross Ukraine before it reaches customer nations in the EU has long been a sore point with Moscow. Ukraine’s energy consortium receives transit fees for carrying this gas through their pipelines, which in 2019 amounted to $3 billion. Even in this year of record low demand for oil and gas due to European economies deeply gutted from the coronavirus pandemic, transit fees will nonetheless amount to some $2 billion.
Luckily for the Ukrainians, the pipeline was repaired in only two days. By diverting the gas flow through other tributaries of the network during that time none of the EU users were cut off.
Explosions on Ukrainian gas lines are not a new phenomenon. Explosions occurred in May and December 2007 and then in March and June 2014. The June incident took place in the Poltava region and was judged by the Ukraine Interior Ministry to have been a deliberate act of sabotage.
Russian president Vladimir Putin weaponized Ukraine’s dependence on Russian gas long ago. Ukraine’s history is dotted with numerous incidents of Moscow "discovering" massive unpaid bills at critical moments—and then using them to pressure the government in Kiev. Russia even went so far as to completely shut off the gas valve to Ukraine during one such payment dispute in the winter of 2006.
"The problem for Russia is that if they make a practice of shutting off the gas supply, then it means that everyone downstream has their pipeline running on empty as well," said a Western diplomat at the time. "Closing the gas line? Moscow never did this before, not even in Soviet-Cold War times. This makes the Western European customers—the customers that Putin can in no way afford to lose—nervous and causes them to look for alternate suppliers."
Putin’s solution to all of his problems was Nord Stream 2—a project to carry gas directly to Germany through a pipeline laid along the North Sea seabed. This pipeline would bypass Ukraine, the Baltic States, and Poland, permitting him to shut down gas lines to those nations at will but without interrupting the flow to Germany and the rest of the EU.
In order to ensure the project’s political support, the European half of the consortium was formed from several major German, Dutch, and French gas companies. In a controversial move, former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder was made head of the shareholders' committee.
The managing director, however, is Matthias Warnig, a former East German Stasi officer who worked with Putin in the 1980s, when the latter was assigned as a KGB agent to the East German city of Dresden.
Foreign heads of state are generally required to schedule meetings with the Russian president months in advance, but Warnig reportedly has open access to the Kremlin. He and Putin reportedly see one other "generally every three weeks."
But Nord Stream 2 has since been halted due to sanctions placed on Russia by the United States. Washington has also threatened to sanction German, Austrian, and other European nations if their industries continue to participate in the program.
Calls for Germany to cancel the project altogether are part of the blowback from the August poisoning of Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny. It has since been revealed the poison that almost killed him was a variant of the Russian Novichok nerve agent. The same military-grade nerve poison was previously used in March 2018 against former Russian GRU (military intelligence) officer Sergei Skrypal and his daughter, who both now reside in the U.K.
As with the Skrypals, the use of this nerve agent signals Russian state involvement in another attempted assassination. This prompted Ursula von der Leyen, the former German defense minister who is now president of the European Commission, to call for the Nord Stream 2 project to be halted.
"To those that advocate closer ties with Russia, I say that the poisoning of Aleksei Navalny with an advanced chemical agent is not a one-off," said von der Leyen in her Sept. 16 state of the union address. "This pattern is not changing—and no pipeline will change that."
This makes the explosion a case of near-perfect timing—"almost too perfect," said a Kiev-based Western business analyst. "It’s the same kind of dirty tricks that the KGB and the Stasi were always proficient at."
The location of the explosion—only a short distance from the end of one of the Kiev underground lines—also conveniently makes it possible for endless numbers of news organizations to drive out and shoot photos and video of the site. The coverage is likely to contribute to an already steady stream of commentaries on how Germany cannot depend on Ukrainian pipelines and needs Nord Stream 2, no matter the cost to democratic principles.


freebeacon--2020-09-22--Yale Civil War Historian Calls Republican Party the ‘New Confederacy’

A prominent Yale University historian said Sunday that Republicans have become a `` new Confederacy '' out to undermine American @ @ @ @ @ a Pulitzer Prize-winning Civil War historian , took to Twitter to argue that the GOP @ @ @ @ @ us apart and take down our institutions in order to own them .
We need @ @ @ @ @ loud about who and what they are . ''
History professors across the country , @ @ @ @ @ professor Erik Loomis and Monmouth University professor Walter Greason , are lauding the sentiment .
@ @ @ @ @ .
I welcome colleagues online .
[ Judging ] students ' politics ?
Never , @ @ @ @ @ Free Beacon .
`` My classrooms ask questions , encouraging inquiry . ''
Blight and @ @ @ @ @ requests for comment .

A prominent Yale University historian said Sunday that Republicans have become a "new Confederacy" out to undermine American institutions.
David Blight, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Civil War historian, took to Twitter to argue that the GOP is seeking to "tear us apart and take down our institutions in order to own them. We need to say some things out loud about who and what they are."
Republicans have become the new Confederacy in our system. The difference is that they will tear us apart and take down our institutions in order to own them. We need to say some things out loud about who and what they are. — @davidwblight (@davidwblight1) September 20, 2020
History professors across the country, including University of Rhode Island professor Erik Loomis and Monmouth University professor Walter Greason, are lauding the sentiment.
"Appropriate post? Yes.... I welcome colleagues online. [Judging] students' politics? Never," Greason told the Washington Free Beacon. "My classrooms ask questions, encouraging inquiry."
Blight and Loomis did not respond to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-09-22--House Republicans Blast WHO and China in COVID Origins Report

House Republicans slammed the Chinese Communist Party and the World Health Organization for their handling of the coronavirus pandemic in a Monday congressional report .
China 's efforts to conceal information about the coronavirus `` cost thousands of Chinese citizens and hundreds of thousands of others around the world their lives , '' according to a new report on the origins of the coronavirus from the Foreign Affairs Committee Republican members , who also accused the WHO of providing a `` full-throated defense '' of China 's handling of the virus outbreak .
The report , which follows the committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provides new information about how the CCP , with help from the WHO , worked to hide the Chinese origins of the coronavirus during the early stages of the pandemic .
It comes amid growing concerns in Washington about China and the WHO 's roles in aiding the spread of the virus .
Just this month , the Trump administration , citing the WHO 's close relationship with the CCP , formalized America 's exit from the organization , pulling millions of dollars in federal funding for WHO programming .
Among its findings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waged a campaign of economic coercion '' to force other countries to remain silent about its malfeasance .
Beijing , as early as February , nationalized companies that produce personal protective equipment within China , including American businesses 3M and General Motors , and blocked exports of the equipment .
China then threatened to withhold aid from countries that criticized its response to the coronavirus , including the United States and Australia .
The report also documents the CCP 's large-scale efforts to silence any whistleblowers from warning about the virus 's potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals who discussed the nature of the virus with friends or family members , including one nurse in southeast China who received a disciplinary warning just days before WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived to inspect the on-the-ground conditions in Beijing .
While the CCP worked to cover up information about the virus , Tedros publicly praised China 's response to the pandemic and ignored Taiwanese doctors who were among the first to warn about the virus .
In May , Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Michael McCaul ( R. , Texas ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pressing the director-general to clarify his decision-making process and the information he had available during the initial stages of the pandemic .
Tedros responded with a 13-page document that only answered one of McCaul 's many questions .
Given the WHO 's continued lack of transparency , the report calls on Tedros to resign from his position at the head of the WHO and requests that the organization reinstate Taiwan with observer status of its operations .
According to McCaul , both the CCP and WHO bear responsibility for the severity of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crystal clear that had the CCP been transparent , and had the head of the WHO cared more about global health than appeasing the CCP , lives could have been spared and widespread economic devastation could have been mitigated , '' the congressman said .
`` We must hold both the CCP and WHO director-general Tedros accountable for the suffering they have allowed the world to endure . ''

House Republicans slammed the Chinese Communist Party and the World Health Organization for their handling of the coronavirus pandemic in a Monday congressional report.
China's efforts to conceal information about the coronavirus "cost thousands of Chinese citizens and hundreds of thousands of others around the world their lives," according to a new report on the origins of the coronavirus from the Foreign Affairs Committee Republican members, who also accused the WHO of providing a "full-throated defense" of China's handling of the virus outbreak.
The report, which follows the committee's interim report from early June, provides new information about how the CCP, with help from the WHO, worked to hide the Chinese origins of the coronavirus during the early stages of the pandemic. It comes amid growing concerns in Washington about China and the WHO's roles in aiding the spread of the virus. Just this month, the Trump administration, citing the WHO's close relationship with the CCP, formalized America's exit from the organization, pulling millions of dollars in federal funding for WHO programming.
Among its findings, the report reveals how China "waged a campaign of economic coercion" to force other countries to remain silent about its malfeasance. Beijing, as early as February, nationalized companies that produce personal protective equipment within China, including American businesses 3M and General Motors, and blocked exports of the equipment. China then threatened to withhold aid from countries that criticized its response to the coronavirus, including the United States and Australia.
The report also documents the CCP's large-scale efforts to silence any whistleblowers from warning about the virus's potential danger. Chinese authorities even threatened medical professionals who discussed the nature of the virus with friends or family members, including one nurse in southeast China who received a disciplinary warning just days before WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived to inspect the on-the-ground conditions in Beijing.
While the CCP worked to cover up information about the virus, Tedros publicly praised China's response to the pandemic and ignored Taiwanese doctors who were among the first to warn about the virus. In May, Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Michael McCaul (R., Texas) sent Tedros more than a dozen questions, pressing the director-general to clarify his decision-making process and the information he had available during the initial stages of the pandemic. Tedros responded with a 13-page document that only answered one of McCaul's many questions. Given the WHO's continued lack of transparency, the report calls on Tedros to resign from his position at the head of the WHO and requests that the organization reinstate Taiwan with observer status of its operations.
According to McCaul, both the CCP and WHO bear responsibility for the severity of the global pandemic.
"It is crystal clear that had the CCP been transparent, and had the head of the WHO cared more about global health than appeasing the CCP, lives could have been spared and widespread economic devastation could have been mitigated," the congressman said. "We must hold both the CCP and WHO director-general Tedros accountable for the suffering they have allowed the world to endure."


freebeacon--2020-09-22--For the Supreme Court, the Obvious Choice Is the Likely One

The dynamics of the Supreme Court selection process are extremely favorable for Seventh Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett .
Several factors give Barrett a clear advantage over the other lead contender , 11th Circuit Judge Barbara Lagoa—the absence of outside influence campaigns aimed at swaying the administration , prior experience as a Supreme Court finalist , and an accelerated confirmation timeline that favors familiar names over dark horses .
Lagoa has a chance to reset the dynamic at an upcoming interview .
Two sources with knowledge of the process told the Washington Free Beacon that President Donald Trump will meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sources close to the selection process told the Free Beacon there has been little politicking by the frontrunners and their boosters .
There 's a general recognition that that kind of jockeying would look unseemly so soon after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's death .
And the continued challenges of the pandemic are limiting travel and in-person consultations .
Advocacy groups are making their preferences known , though their activities are muted compared with prior nominations .
Prospective Supreme Court nominees usually rely on a network of well-placed clerks and former colleagues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their behalf .
The process tends to be manic and highly publicized , which can prompt intense competition among longtime allies .
When retired Justice Anthony Kennedy left the High Court , for example , Justice Brett Kavanaugh 's loyal White House following kept him in contention internally against a revolving set of opponents , while former clerks on the outside circulated dossiers , spun reporters , and promoted his best judicial writings .
Neither of the two frontrunners has an especially heavy footprint in Washington , further calming the frenzy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ consideration for Barrett in particular , who is a well-known quantity to the White House and Senate Republicans after years of careful vetting and an interview with Trump in 2018 .
It 's a surprising turn of events for Barrett , who was something of an insurgent riding a wave of grassroots enthusiasm after Kennedy 's retirement .
Lagoa does not have a dedicated corps of supporters in Washington , sources close to the process say , which is generally a challenge for any Supreme Court candidate .
Lawyers familiar with her judicial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notion her views are a mystery , even if she 's largely unknown in the capital .
`` Judge Lagoa is a committed originalist and textualist , as demonstrated by her 14-year record as an appellate judge and 400 written opinions , '' Jesse Panuccio , the former acting number three in the Justice Department , told the Free Beacon .
`` She would be rock solid on the Supreme Court , a home-run pick for the president . ''
Panuccio is familiar with Lagoa from his service on Florida 's judicial nominating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lagoa 's record put a finer point on things , saying anxiety about Lagoa sounds like Beltway elitism .
The source noted that Lagoa has been an appeals judge for over a decade and that Florida 's conservative movement—one of the most robust , well-developed conservative networks in the country—is extremely enthusiastic about her .
The political benefits of picking Lagoa may also prove attractive to the president .
A Florida-born Latina with Ivy League credentials and long judicial experience , Lagoa could do real work for the president in a must-win battleground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will require perfect synchronization between the White House , the Senate , and outside groups .
It 's another factor hugely to Barrett 's benefit .
The narrow confirmation window leaves very little time for indecision , and Barrett 's record is much better known to Republican lawmakers than is Lagoa 's .
A former Republican committee aide told the Free Beacon that an expedited process could be completed in a little more than one month .
That process would begin with Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Lindsey Graham ( R. , S.C. ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or three days of testimony from the nominee .
Democrats would then exercise their prerogative to delay a committee vote by two weeks .
If the nominee clears the panel , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) could tee up final procedural and confirmation votes over a 72-hour stretch .
`` Republicans could complete the process in 30-35 days , but it will require a flawless performance by the nominee and a united caucus , '' the aide told the Free Beacon .
Whether Lagoa could present her lengthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on that time table is an unknown .
She 's further hampered by the fact that traditional courtesy visits may not be possible if she 's the nominee .
Supreme Court candidates meet individually with practically every member of the Senate while their nominations are pending .
Those one-on-ones may be impossible during the pandemic , and Zoom meetings may not satisfy lawmakers weighing a lifetime appointment to the nation 's highest judicial tribunal .

The dynamics of the Supreme Court selection process are extremely favorable for Seventh Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
Several factors give Barrett a clear advantage over the other lead contender, 11th Circuit Judge Barbara Lagoa—the absence of outside influence campaigns aimed at swaying the administration, prior experience as a Supreme Court finalist, and an accelerated confirmation timeline that favors familiar names over dark horses. Lagoa has a chance to reset the dynamic at an upcoming interview. Two sources with knowledge of the process told the Washington Free Beacon that President Donald Trump will meet with Lagoa on Friday in Florida.
Sources close to the selection process told the Free Beacon there has been little politicking by the frontrunners and their boosters. There's a general recognition that that kind of jockeying would look unseemly so soon after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death. And the continued challenges of the pandemic are limiting travel and in-person consultations. Advocacy groups are making their preferences known, though their activities are muted compared with prior nominations.
Prospective Supreme Court nominees usually rely on a network of well-placed clerks and former colleagues to work reporters and White House back channels on their behalf. The process tends to be manic and highly publicized, which can prompt intense competition among longtime allies. When retired Justice Anthony Kennedy left the High Court, for example, Justice Brett Kavanaugh's loyal White House following kept him in contention internally against a revolving set of opponents, while former clerks on the outside circulated dossiers, spun reporters, and promoted his best judicial writings.
Neither of the two frontrunners has an especially heavy footprint in Washington, further calming the frenzy. An influence operation is less of a consideration for Barrett in particular, who is a well-known quantity to the White House and Senate Republicans after years of careful vetting and an interview with Trump in 2018. It's a surprising turn of events for Barrett, who was something of an insurgent riding a wave of grassroots enthusiasm after Kennedy's retirement.
Lagoa does not have a dedicated corps of supporters in Washington, sources close to the process say, which is generally a challenge for any Supreme Court candidate. Lawyers familiar with her judicial career, however, bristle at the notion her views are a mystery, even if she's largely unknown in the capital.
"Judge Lagoa is a committed originalist and textualist, as demonstrated by her 14-year record as an appellate judge and 400 written opinions," Jesse Panuccio, the former acting number three in the Justice Department, told the Free Beacon. "She would be rock solid on the Supreme Court, a home-run pick for the president." Panuccio is familiar with Lagoa from his service on Florida's judicial nominating commission.
Another source with knowledge of Lagoa's record put a finer point on things, saying anxiety about Lagoa sounds like Beltway elitism. The source noted that Lagoa has been an appeals judge for over a decade and that Florida's conservative movement—one of the most robust, well-developed conservative networks in the country—is extremely enthusiastic about her.
The political benefits of picking Lagoa may also prove attractive to the president. A Florida-born Latina with Ivy League credentials and long judicial experience, Lagoa could do real work for the president in a must-win battleground state.
Still, an expedited confirmation will require perfect synchronization between the White House, the Senate, and outside groups. It's another factor hugely to Barrett's benefit. The narrow confirmation window leaves very little time for indecision, and Barrett's record is much better known to Republican lawmakers than is Lagoa's.
A former Republican committee aide told the Free Beacon that an expedited process could be completed in a little more than one month. That process would begin with Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) noticing a hearing, followed by two or three days of testimony from the nominee. Democrats would then exercise their prerogative to delay a committee vote by two weeks. If the nominee clears the panel, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) could tee up final procedural and confirmation votes over a 72-hour stretch.
"Republicans could complete the process in 30-35 days, but it will require a flawless performance by the nominee and a united caucus," the aide told the Free Beacon.
Whether Lagoa could present her lengthy record and win the GOP's confidence on that time table is an unknown. She's further hampered by the fact that traditional courtesy visits may not be possible if she's the nominee. Supreme Court candidates meet individually with practically every member of the Senate while their nominations are pending. Those one-on-ones may be impossible during the pandemic, and Zoom meetings may not satisfy lawmakers weighing a lifetime appointment to the nation's highest judicial tribunal.


freebeacon--2020-09-23--Amid a Pandemic, Americans Turn to Their Families

Americans are turning to their husbands and wives for support amid a nationwide pandemic that reveals the importance of strong families , results from a new survey suggest .
Results from the 2020 American Family Survey , administered in July by researchers at Brigham Young University , found that more than half of married couples have seen their appreciation for their partners rise during the pandemic and have been better insulated against loneliness and increased interpersonal tension when compared with their unmarried counterparts .
Those findings , along with other indicators from the study , suggest that Americans see relationships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a set of tools that allow Americans to be resilient in times of challenge , '' Chris Karpowitz , one of the survey 's coauthors , said during a Tuesday presentation of its results .
But while those with families are benefiting from tight social bonds amid an unprecedented moment , those benefits do not accrue to everyone , with the pandemic expected to `` deepen already existing divides '' around family and marriage , Brookings Institution social scholar Richard Reeves said Tuesday .
That extends to family formation , with early evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as people meet less and postpone their marriages more .
That could push young people to delay marriage further—exacerbating the preexisting disadvantages that come with putting it off .
As a result , the coronavirus pandemic appears to simultaneously show the importance of family while reducing some Americans ' access to its key institutions .
That means , paradoxically , that it is likely to further entrench the growing `` marriage gap '' and marriage 's development into a luxury good .
Media commentators have feared that the pandemic would further erode @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divorce skyrocketing in jurisdictions such as New York City .
But the new AFS offers a more sanguine picture , finding that 56 percent of respondents in a committed relationship said the pandemic has made them appreciate their partner more , and 47 percent said it had deepened their commitment to their relationship , compared with 10 and 9 percent who were negative on each statement .
Married adults have also grown less likely to say their marriage is in trouble—74 percent said their marriage was definitively not in trouble , the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2015 .
Married people are less likely to be lonely than their unmarried counterparts—26 percent report being lonely , compared with 36 percent in a nonmarital relationship and 48 percent in no relationship .
Married couples even report that they 're having sex more often than they did in March , the opposite of the experience of those without a steady partner , and reflecting the isolation of coronavirus quarantine .
Young people , meanwhile , have turned to family in a time of distress .
The AFS found that 25 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a 5 percentage-point bump compared with 2019 .
That confirms the recent Pew research finding that more than half of Americans ages 18 to 29 are living at home , the highest figure since the Great Depression .
But not everyone is enjoying the spoils of the pandemic , either in a family or outside of it .
Among those who are married , those who have seen their economic position worsen have also seen their marriage get worse .
Analysis of the AFS data from the Institute for Family Studies found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost economic position since March said that the pandemic has increased stress on their marriage , compared with 28 percent of those who have seen no economic change and 35 percent of those whose position has improved .
Those who are n't married , meanwhile , are unlikely to pair off any time soon .
Preliminary data , covered by the IFS and a separate group of sociologists , found that the number of monthly marriages has fallen precipitously since March , as couples postpone their nuptials indefinitely .
Fewer vows means fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` COVID baby bust . ''
Such trends matter because marriage is a major determinant of socioeconomic success , but access to that determinant has increasingly accrued to the already-wealthy .
Reeves argued on Tuesday that the pandemic would deepen those preexisting inequalities .
`` You can already see in some cases that there are families that are being brought together by it , that have the resources , time , and opportunity to invest in their children , '' he said .
`` From an income and equity point of view , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result , the pandemic is likely to further exacerbate the rise of marriage as a luxury good , a trend already evident in last year 's AFS .
That would mean fewer Americans with access to the bulwark of the family the next time disaster strikes—a perilous cycle with increasingly damaging outcomes .

Americans are turning to their husbands and wives for support amid a nationwide pandemic that reveals the importance of strong families, results from a new survey suggest.
Results from the 2020 American Family Survey, administered in July by researchers at Brigham Young University, found that more than half of married couples have seen their appreciation for their partners rise during the pandemic and have been better insulated against loneliness and increased interpersonal tension when compared with their unmarried counterparts.
Those findings, along with other indicators from the study, suggest that Americans see relationships as a "source of strength and a set of tools that allow Americans to be resilient in times of challenge," Chris Karpowitz, one of the survey's coauthors, said during a Tuesday presentation of its results.
But while those with families are benefiting from tight social bonds amid an unprecedented moment, those benefits do not accrue to everyone, with the pandemic expected to "deepen already existing divides" around family and marriage, Brookings Institution social scholar Richard Reeves said Tuesday. That extends to family formation, with early evidence showing a precipitous drop in new marriages, as people meet less and postpone their marriages more. That could push young people to delay marriage further—exacerbating the preexisting disadvantages that come with putting it off.
As a result, the coronavirus pandemic appears to simultaneously show the importance of family while reducing some Americans' access to its key institutions. That means, paradoxically, that it is likely to further entrench the growing "marriage gap" and marriage's development into a luxury good.
Media commentators have feared that the pandemic would further erode the American family, with interest in divorce skyrocketing in jurisdictions such as New York City. But the new AFS offers a more sanguine picture, finding that 56 percent of respondents in a committed relationship said the pandemic has made them appreciate their partner more, and 47 percent said it had deepened their commitment to their relationship, compared with 10 and 9 percent who were negative on each statement.
Married adults have also grown less likely to say their marriage is in trouble—74 percent said their marriage was definitively not in trouble, the highest figure since the AFS was first conducted in 2015. Married people are less likely to be lonely than their unmarried counterparts—26 percent report being lonely, compared with 36 percent in a nonmarital relationship and 48 percent in no relationship. Married couples even report that they're having sex more often than they did in March, the opposite of the experience of those without a steady partner, and reflecting the isolation of coronavirus quarantine.
Young people, meanwhile, have turned to family in a time of distress. The AFS found that 25 percent of respondents reported living with extended family, a 5 percentage-point bump compared with 2019. That confirms the recent Pew research finding that more than half of Americans ages 18 to 29 are living at home, the highest figure since the Great Depression.
But not everyone is enjoying the spoils of the pandemic, either in a family or outside of it. Among those who are married, those who have seen their economic position worsen have also seen their marriage get worse. Analysis of the AFS data from the Institute for Family Studies found that 45 percent of those who had lost economic position since March said that the pandemic has increased stress on their marriage, compared with 28 percent of those who have seen no economic change and 35 percent of those whose position has improved.
Those who aren't married, meanwhile, are unlikely to pair off any time soon. Preliminary data, covered by the IFS and a separate group of sociologists, found that the number of monthly marriages has fallen precipitously since March, as couples postpone their nuptials indefinitely. Fewer vows means fewer babies, forming part of a predicted "COVID baby bust."
Such trends matter because marriage is a major determinant of socioeconomic success, but access to that determinant has increasingly accrued to the already-wealthy. Reeves argued on Tuesday that the pandemic would deepen those preexisting inequalities.
"You can already see in some cases that there are families that are being brought together by it, that have the resources, time, and opportunity to invest in their children," he said. "From an income and equity point of view, this is a disaster."
As a result, the pandemic is likely to further exacerbate the rise of marriage as a luxury good, a trend already evident in last year's AFS. That would mean fewer Americans with access to the bulwark of the family the next time disaster strikes—a perilous cycle with increasingly damaging outcomes.


freebeacon--2020-09-23--Zoom Cancels Virtual Event With Terrorist After Public Outrage

The Zoom meeting platform canceled an upcoming event with a member of a Palestinian terror group following a Washington Free Beacon report that sparked outrage , including in Congress .
Zoom was scheduled to host on Wednesday Leila Khaled , a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine ( PFLP ) , a U.S.-designated terrorist organization that has murdered Americans .
The event was organized by San Francisco State University ( SFSU ) .
The Free Beacon was first to report that the event likely ran afoul of U.S. sanctions laws barring American companies from providing services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S.-designated terror group .
The legal advocacy group Lawfare Project petitioned the Department of Justice to investigate Zoom and SFSU over the event .
A Zoom spokesperson informed the Lawfare Project late Tuesday that it would not host the event due to concerns of running afoul of U.S. anti-terror laws .
`` Zoom is committed to supporting the open exchange of ideas and conversations , subject to certain limitations contained in our Terms of Service , including those related to user compliance with applicable U.S. export control , sanctions , and anti-terrorism laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` In light of the speaker ’ s reported affiliation or membership in a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization , and SFSU ’ s inability to confirm otherwise , we determined the meeting is in violation of Zoom ’ s Terms of Service and told SFSU they may not use Zoom for this particular event . ''
Brooke Goldstein , executive director of the Lawfare Project , lauded Zoom 's decision .
`` All media platforms have been put on notice : either cancel Jew hatred now or we cancel you , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push forward with the event as of Tuesday afternoon , telling local radio station KRDO in a statement that an event with a notorious terrorist would help students `` learn to think critically and come to independent , personal conclusions about events of local and global importance . ''
It remains unclear if SFSU will enlist a different online video service to hold the event as scheduled .
Khaled , the centerpiece of the event , is one of the PFLP 's most notorious members , becoming the first woman to hijack an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive terror operation by the group .
She attempted to hijack another plane the following year .
Rep. Doug Lamborn ( R. , Colo. ) wrote to SFSU on Monday , demanding it cancel the event .
He also called on the Department of Education to revoke federal funding to SFSU and for the Treasury Department to investigate whether the school is violating U.S. law by providing material support to a designated terror group .

The Zoom meeting platform canceled an upcoming event with a member of a Palestinian terror group following a Washington Free Beacon report that sparked outrage, including in Congress.
Zoom was scheduled to host on Wednesday Leila Khaled, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization that has murdered Americans. The event was organized by San Francisco State University (SFSU). The Free Beacon was first to report that the event likely ran afoul of U.S. sanctions laws barring American companies from providing services or material support to members of a U.S.-designated terror group. The legal advocacy group Lawfare Project petitioned the Department of Justice to investigate Zoom and SFSU over the event.
A Zoom spokesperson informed the Lawfare Project late Tuesday that it would not host the event due to concerns of running afoul of U.S. anti-terror laws.
"Zoom is committed to supporting the open exchange of ideas and conversations, subject to certain limitations contained in our Terms of Service, including those related to user compliance with applicable U.S. export control, sanctions, and anti-terrorism laws," the Zoom spokesperson said. "In light of the speaker’s reported affiliation or membership in a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization, and SFSU’s inability to confirm otherwise, we determined the meeting is in violation of Zoom’s Terms of Service and told SFSU they may not use Zoom for this particular event."
Brooke Goldstein, executive director of the Lawfare Project, lauded Zoom's decision. "All media platforms have been put on notice: either cancel Jew hatred now or we cancel you," Goldstein said.
SFSU has vowed to push forward with the event as of Tuesday afternoon, telling local radio station KRDO in a statement that an event with a notorious terrorist would help students "learn to think critically and come to independent, personal conclusions about events of local and global importance." It remains unclear if SFSU will enlist a different online video service to hold the event as scheduled.
Khaled, the centerpiece of the event, is one of the PFLP's most notorious members, becoming the first woman to hijack an airplane in 1969 as part of a massive terror operation by the group. She attempted to hijack another plane the following year.
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R., Colo.) wrote to SFSU on Monday, demanding it cancel the event. He also called on the Department of Education to revoke federal funding to SFSU and for the Treasury Department to investigate whether the school is violating U.S. law by providing material support to a designated terror group.
UPDATE Sept. 23, 2:50 p.m.: Following Zoom's cancelation of the event, SFSU attempted to push forward with the virtual meeting using Facebook's online services. That, too, was canceled following inquiries from the Free Beacon to Facebook.
"Zoom and Facebook took down the link" to the event, organizers informed those attempting to stream it, according to a copy of that missive viewed by the Free Beacon. "The organizers are working to announce a new link, and we will distribute it as soon as we have the info."
"Of course," organizers further noted, "we will also be campaigning against Zoom's aquiecense to this kind of Zionist pressure campaign."


freebeacon--2020-09-24--Arizona Gov Halts Last-Minute Dem Push to Change Voting Laws

Arizona 's Republican governor Doug Ducey rejected a push by the state 's Democratic secretary of state to permit online and phone options for individuals to register and even vote in the upcoming election .
`` The responsibility of election officials to uphold our constitution and laws is not only a crucial responsibility , it should stand as the final test on whether changes to our election policies and procedures are appropriate—no exceptions , '' Ducey said in a letter to Katie Hobbs , Arizona 's secretary of state .
Hobbs requested the governor issue an executive order to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are hospitalized or in assisted living facilities and could not vote in person .
But Ducey said he would not make procedural changes this close to Election Day and denied the request , arguing that weeks before the election is not the `` time to experiment '' with rule changes .
`` The eyes of the country will be on Arizona , and the only way we can assure the electorate of the integrity of our election system is to refrain from changes in the middle of the election cycle , '' Ducey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to experiment . ''
Ducey told Hobbs that further proposals to change the voting laws `` will not be considered at this time . ''
Arizona is the latest state where Democratic officials are trying to change the voting rules weeks before the election .
Minnesota secretary of state Steve Simon is being sued by Republicans for his decree to allow ballots mailed in eight days after the election , even if they lack a postmark .

Arizona's Republican governor Doug Ducey rejected a push by the state's Democratic secretary of state to permit online and phone options for individuals to register and even vote in the upcoming election.
"The responsibility of election officials to uphold our constitution and laws is not only a crucial responsibility, it should stand as the final test on whether changes to our election policies and procedures are appropriate—no exceptions," Ducey said in a letter to Katie Hobbs, Arizona's secretary of state.
Hobbs requested the governor issue an executive order to allow telephone and video conferencing for people who are hospitalized or in assisted living facilities and could not vote in person. But Ducey said he would not make procedural changes this close to Election Day and denied the request, arguing that weeks before the election is not the "time to experiment" with rule changes.
"The eyes of the country will be on Arizona, and the only way we can assure the electorate of the integrity of our election system is to refrain from changes in the middle of the election cycle," Ducey wrote. "This isn't the time to experiment."
Ducey told Hobbs that further proposals to change the voting laws "will not be considered at this time."
Arizona is the latest state where Democratic officials are trying to change the voting rules weeks before the election. Minnesota secretary of state Steve Simon is being sued by Republicans for his decree to allow ballots mailed in eight days after the election, even if they lack a postmark.


freebeacon--2020-09-23--Senators Probe Netflix Partnership With Chinese Genocide Denier

Republican senators are demanding Netflix explain its decision to adapt a Chinese science fiction trilogy written by a Xinjiang genocide denier into an original series .
The senators , including Marsha Blackburn ( Tenn. ) and Rick Scott ( Fla. ) , are marshaling support against the streaming giant 's plan to adapt Chinese author Liu Cixin 's bestselling Three-Body Problem trilogy into a live-action series .
Cixin defended his government 's brutal suppression of Muslim Uighurs in a 2019 interview with the New Yorker .
`` The Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) is committing atrocities in the Xinjiang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the legislators wrote .
`` Sadly , a number of U.S. companies continue to either actively or tacitly allow the normalization of , or apologism for , these crimes .
The decision to produce an adaptation of Mr. Liu ’ s work can be viewed as such normalization . ''
Bela Bajaria , a Joe Biden campaign megadonor who gave as much as $ 500,000 to a group affiliated with the candidate , was in charge of `` international content '' when Netflix ordered the series .
She now oversees all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Wall Street Journal .
Netflix , which did not return a request for comment , previously told the Washington Free Beacon that she `` works on the series side of the business . ''
Netflix 's collaboration with Liu reflects Hollywood 's willingness to cater to the massive Chinese market , even if it means turning a blind eye to the country 's human rights abuses .
Disney 's recent live-action remake of Mulan even thanked Xinjiang authorities—some of them directly implicated in the Uighur crackdown—in its closing credit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that might anger Chinese censors , going so far as to change movie villains ’ nationalities from Chinese to North Korean .
Liu , the author of the trilogy , offered a vigorous defense of the Chinese government in a wide-ranging 2019 interview with the New Yorker , offering justifications for everything from the CCP 's one-child policy to its authoritarian governance .
When asked about the Chinese government 's detention of more than one million Muslim Uighurs , Liu argued that the Uighurs posed a terrorist threat and claimed that the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of poverty . ''
Netflix announced plans to adapt The Three-Body Problem on Sept. 1 , enlisting Game of Thrones writer-producer duo David Benioff and D.B .
Weiss for the project .
The company also brought on Liu as a `` consulting producer '' to produce the English-language adaptation , according to a press release .
The senators wrote that the partnership made Netflix complicit in the ongoing repression of the Uighurs and asked the company if it knew of Liu 's pro-China comments .
They did not go as far as to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adaptation but asked whether the company will `` cast a critical eye '' on the project .
`` While Congress seriously considers the systemic crimes carried out against the Uighurs , we have significant concerns with Netflix ’ s decision to do business with an individual who is parroting dangerous CCP propaganda , '' the letter read .
`` In the face of such atrocities in XUAR , there no longer exist corporate decisions of complacency , only complicity . ''
Bajaria and her husband Doug Prochilo cohosted a Biden fundraiser headlined by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Calif. ) in September , soliciting donations from the Hollywood elite .
Prochilo , also a prolific Biden donor , deleted his Twitter account after the Free Beacon reported that he tweeted denigrating comments about Republican women .
`` Pipe down , you illegal immigrant criminal , '' Prochilo tweeted in July , referring to First Lady Melania Trump .
The letter adds to Netflix ’ s list of controversies over its airing of foreign films and TV series .
The company faced intense scrutiny in early September for airing French coming-of-age film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performing sexually charged dance moves—something critics say is borderline child pornography .
In addition to Scott and Blackburn , Senators Martha McSally ( R. , Ariz. ) , Kevin Cramer ( R. , N.D. ) , and Thom Tillis ( R. , N.C. ) also signed the letter .

Republican senators are demanding Netflix explain its decision to adapt a Chinese science fiction trilogy written by a Xinjiang genocide denier into an original series.
The senators, including Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.) and Rick Scott (Fla.), are marshaling support against the streaming giant's plan to adapt Chinese author Liu Cixin's bestselling Three-Body Problem trilogy into a live-action series. Cixin defended his government's brutal suppression of Muslim Uighurs in a 2019 interview with the New Yorker.
"The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is committing atrocities in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR)," the legislators wrote. "Sadly, a number of U.S. companies continue to either actively or tacitly allow the normalization of, or apologism for, these crimes. The decision to produce an adaptation of Mr. Liu’s work can be viewed as such normalization."
Bela Bajaria, a Joe Biden campaign megadonor who gave as much as $500,000 to a group affiliated with the candidate, was in charge of "international content" when Netflix ordered the series. She now oversees all of Netflix's original series across the world, according to the Wall Street Journal. Netflix, which did not return a request for comment, previously told the Washington Free Beacon that she "works on the series side of the business."
Netflix's collaboration with Liu reflects Hollywood's willingness to cater to the massive Chinese market, even if it means turning a blind eye to the country's human rights abuses. Disney's recent live-action remake of Mulan even thanked Xinjiang authorities—some of them directly implicated in the Uighur crackdown—in its closing credit. Hollywood studios also routinely avoid topics that might anger Chinese censors, going so far as to change movie villains’ nationalities from Chinese to North Korean.
Liu, the author of the trilogy, offered a vigorous defense of the Chinese government in a wide-ranging 2019 interview with the New Yorker, offering justifications for everything from the CCP's one-child policy to its authoritarian governance. When asked about the Chinese government's detention of more than one million Muslim Uighurs, Liu argued that the Uighurs posed a terrorist threat and claimed that the government is "trying to lift them out of poverty."
Netflix announced plans to adapt The Three-Body Problem on Sept. 1, enlisting Game of Thrones writer-producer duo David Benioff and D.B. Weiss for the project. The company also brought on Liu as a "consulting producer" to produce the English-language adaptation, according to a press release.
The senators wrote that the partnership made Netflix complicit in the ongoing repression of the Uighurs and asked the company if it knew of Liu's pro-China comments. They did not go as far as to call for the outright cancellation of the adaptation but asked whether the company will "cast a critical eye" on the project.
"While Congress seriously considers the systemic crimes carried out against the Uighurs, we have significant concerns with Netflix’s decision to do business with an individual who is parroting dangerous CCP propaganda," the letter read. "In the face of such atrocities in XUAR, there no longer exist corporate decisions of complacency, only complicity."
Bajaria and her husband Doug Prochilo cohosted a Biden fundraiser headlined by vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) in September, soliciting donations from the Hollywood elite. Prochilo, also a prolific Biden donor, deleted his Twitter account after the Free Beacon reported that he tweeted denigrating comments about Republican women.
"Pipe down, you illegal immigrant criminal," Prochilo tweeted in July, referring to First Lady Melania Trump.
The letter adds to Netflix’s list of controversies over its airing of foreign films and TV series. The company faced intense scrutiny in early September for airing French coming-of-age film Cuties, which features scantily dressed 11-year-olds performing sexually charged dance moves—something critics say is borderline child pornography.
In addition to Scott and Blackburn, Senators Martha McSally (R., Ariz.), Kevin Cramer (R., N.D.), and Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) also signed the letter.


freebeacon--2020-09-23--MSNBC Guest Derides Black Kentucky AG as ‘Skin Folk’ But ‘Not Kinfolk’

Retired Los Angeles police sergeant Cheryl Dorsey on Wednesday suggested Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron is a foe of African Americans because prosecutors are n't bringing murder charges for the death of Breonna Taylor .
`` Let me say this as a black woman , [ Cameron ] does not speak for black folks , '' Dorsey said during an appearance on MSNBC .
`` He 's skin folk but he is not kinfolk .
And so just like he thinks they can ’ t speak for Kentucky because he ’ s up there with a black face , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Dorsey criticized Cameron after a Kentucky grand jury decided no police officers involved would be charged for the death of Breonna Taylor , although one is being charged with three counts of wanton endangerment .
Cameron is a Republican who spoke at the party 's national convention last month .
Cameron told the press that Taylor 's death was a tragedy but that officers acted in self defense because her boyfriend fired on them .
`` Criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief , '' Cameron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the loss of Miss Taylor . ''

Retired Los Angeles police sergeant Cheryl Dorsey on Wednesday suggested Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron is a foe of African Americans because prosecutors aren't bringing murder charges for the death of Breonna Taylor.
"Let me say this as a black woman, [Cameron] does not speak for black folks," Dorsey said during an appearance on MSNBC. "He's skin folk but he is not kinfolk. And so just like he thinks they can’t speak for Kentucky because he’s up there with a black face, he does not speak for all of us."
Dorsey criticized Cameron after a Kentucky grand jury decided no police officers involved would be charged for the death of Breonna Taylor, although one is being charged with three counts of wanton endangerment. Cameron is a Republican who spoke at the party's national convention last month.
Cameron told the press that Taylor's death was a tragedy but that officers acted in self defense because her boyfriend fired on them.
"Criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief," Cameron said. "But my heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor."


freebeacon--2020-09-23--I Forced A Bot to Write an Amy Coney Barrett Story Based on Media Reporting and This Was the Result

Using advanced algorithmic technology purchased on the dark web , the Washington Free Beacon has created a bot capable of performing journalism at a professional level .
This week , we forced the bot to review media reports on Amy Coney Barrett , the frontrunner to be President Donald Trump 's nominee to the Supreme Court , and asked it to write its own report based on that analysis .
Here is the result .
President Donald J. Trump , opponent of women , has strongly hinted that his next Supreme Court nominee will be a woman .
Judge Amy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not a historic one because of her white race .
She is , notably , an ultraconservative .
Trump is making the controversial nomination to replace beloved preeminent female Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , whose death rocked the nation to its core .
Democrats have argued in favor of democracy while Republicans seized on Ginsburg 's death to commit hypocrisy .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) vowed to proceed with the nomination despite his role in the 2016 murder of Merrick Garland .
Abortion is the primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition , citing so-called `` sacred '' texts to justify the persecution of women .
Problematically , the potential nominee belongs to what experts describe as an arcane cult whose rituals have been debunked by science .
Members have been known to convene at least once a week to worship a bearded zealot turned zombie whose mother was impregnated by a ghost .
Barrett 's unproven belief in `` god '' is one of many controversies that could surface during a confirmation hearing .
Democrats are likely to express concern about her support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives loudly within you , '' Sen. Dianne Feinstein ( D. , Calif. ) told Barrett in epic fashion during a 2017 hearing .
Liberal activists are concerned that Republicans will vote to confirm the judge because they agree with her fanatical views .
Barrett 's confirmation hearing would be the most controversial of its kind since 2018 , when Trump nominee Brett Kavanaugh was acquitted of credible rape , but only because of Republicans .
Democrats expect Trump and his GOP allies to seize on Barrett 's female gender , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Handmaid 's Tale in real life .
Other issues are problematic as well .
Barrett has seven children , a number some critics have described as too many .
Birth control ?
Exactly .
Large families typically indicate religious extremism , which can lead to terrorism .
Members of the Irish Republican Army , for example , committed atrocities infused with Roman Catholicism , a rigid belief system with deep ties to the child sex trafficking industry .

Using advanced algorithmic technology purchased on the dark web, the Washington Free Beacon has created a bot capable of performing journalism at a professional level. This week, we forced the bot to review media reports on Amy Coney Barrett, the frontrunner to be President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, and asked it to write its own report based on that analysis. Here is the result.
CONTROVERSY: Supreme Court Frontrunner Has Ties to "God" Cult
President Donald J. Trump, opponent of women, has strongly hinted that his next Supreme Court nominee will be a woman. Judge Amy Coney Barrett is the likely choice, but not a historic one because of her white race. She is, notably, an ultraconservative.
Trump is making the controversial nomination to replace beloved preeminent female Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose death rocked the nation to its core. Democrats have argued in favor of democracy while Republicans seized on Ginsburg's death to commit hypocrisy. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) vowed to proceed with the nomination despite his role in the 2016 murder of Merrick Garland.
Abortion is the primary issue. Judge Barrett believes in extreme opposition, citing so-called "sacred" texts to justify the persecution of women. Problematically, the potential nominee belongs to what experts describe as an arcane cult whose rituals have been debunked by science. Members have been known to convene at least once a week to worship a bearded zealot turned zombie whose mother was impregnated by a ghost.
Barrett's unproven belief in "god" is one of many controversies that could surface during a confirmation hearing. Democrats are likely to express concern about her support for female enslavement. "The dogma lives loudly within you," Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) told Barrett in epic fashion during a 2017 hearing. Liberal activists are concerned that Republicans will vote to confirm the judge because they agree with her fanatical views.
Barrett's confirmation hearing would be the most controversial of its kind since 2018, when Trump nominee Brett Kavanaugh was acquitted of credible rape, but only because of Republicans. Democrats expect Trump and his GOP allies to seize on Barrett's female gender, which is not historic, as cover to enact The Handmaid's Tale in real life.
Other issues are problematic as well. Barrett has seven children, a number some critics have described as too many. Birth control? Exactly. Large families typically indicate religious extremism, which can lead to terrorism. Members of the Irish Republican Army, for example, committed atrocities infused with Roman Catholicism, a rigid belief system with deep ties to the child sex trafficking industry.
Notorious RBG would be appalled.


freebeacon--2020-09-23--Possible ICBM Transport Vehicle Spotted in North Korea

A vehicle large enough to carry an intercontinental ballistic missile was spotted at a North Korean military parade training site , Voice of America reported Wednesday .
The vehicle was identified in a satellite image obtained by 38 North , an American security site that specializes in North Korean affairs .
The dimensions of the vehicle suggest it could transport an ICBM , which has led to concerns that the missile may be deployed in a show of military might at an upcoming national anniversary parade .
Additional satellite images indicate that North Korea has been preparing for weeks for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the 75th anniversary of the founding of North Korea 's Workers ' Party .
At the beginning of this year , North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un announced he would soon unveil a devastating new weapons system , which some have speculated to be a solid-fuel ICBM .
Other recent dispatches from North Korea detail the possible reveal of a submarine-launched missile system , which would also greatly expand Pyongyang 's strike capacity .
North Korea has not yet unveiled any of its developing weapons , as sanctions and a coronavirus-wracked economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing .
If North Korea makes a display of force with ICBMs , it could inflame tensions with the United States .
President Trump has reportedly said that smaller displays from Kim would be `` no problem , '' but a large-scale launch may merit a significant response .
Analysts further warn that North Korea hopes to interfere with the upcoming U.S. presidential election .

A vehicle large enough to carry an intercontinental ballistic missile was spotted at a North Korean military parade training site, Voice of America reported Wednesday.
The vehicle was identified in a satellite image obtained by 38 North, an American security site that specializes in North Korean affairs. The dimensions of the vehicle suggest it could transport an ICBM, which has led to concerns that the missile may be deployed in a show of military might at an upcoming national anniversary parade. Additional satellite images indicate that North Korea has been preparing for weeks for a large-scale military parade on Oct. 10, the 75th anniversary of the founding of North Korea's Workers' Party.
At the beginning of this year, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un announced he would soon unveil a devastating new weapons system, which some have speculated to be a solid-fuel ICBM. Other recent dispatches from North Korea detail the possible reveal of a submarine-launched missile system, which would also greatly expand Pyongyang's strike capacity.
North Korea has not yet unveiled any of its developing weapons, as sanctions and a coronavirus-wracked economy have forced Kim to suspend all missile testing.
If North Korea makes a display of force with ICBMs, it could inflame tensions with the United States. President Trump has reportedly said that smaller displays from Kim would be "no problem," but a large-scale launch may merit a significant response. Analysts further warn that North Korea hopes to interfere with the upcoming U.S. presidential election.


freebeacon--2020-09-23--Biden Campaign to Appear Alongside Hanoi Jane

The Biden campaign , which has bombarded President Donald Trump with attacks about his respect for U.S. soldiers , will be campaigning this weekend with Jane Fonda , a celebrity best known for fraternizing with enemy troops during the Vietnam War .
Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris is set to join Fonda at a Saturday virtual event held by progressive advocacy group Supermajority .
The event—titled `` Supercharge : Women All In '' —will `` bring together thousands of women to laugh , sing , dance , and celebrate women 's political power , '' according to the group 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1972 as part of an anti-war protest that saw her pose for photos with enemy troops on an anti-aircraft gun .
The photo sparked outrage among Vietnam veterans , earning her the nickname `` Hanoi Jane . ''
Fonda 's public appearances remain subject to controversy—a group of Ohio veterans called on the actress to donate her $ 83,000 speaking fee to the families of fallen soldiers ahead of a May appearance at Kent State University .
Harris and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden have criticized President Donald Trump on veterans ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September `` veterans roundtable , '' Biden criticized Trump for ignoring `` the bounty on the heads of Americans in Afghanistan , '' referencing a slew of June reports that claimed Russia bribed the Taliban to kill U.S. servicemen .
One day before the roundtable , Marine Corps general Frank McKenzie—who oversees military operations in the region—told NBC News that a review of U.S. intelligence failed to corroborate the alleged bounties .
Harris promoted the roundtable in a tweet , saying American veterans `` sacrifice so much for our nation and deserve our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ active duty and after . ''
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment on her upcoming appearance with Fonda .
Fonda has long supported Harris financially , contributing nearly $ 6,000 to the Democrat 's Senate campaign since 2016 .
The actress also gave $ 1,000 to the Biden Victory Fund in June after donating a combined $ 10,300 to Sens .
Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
and Amy Klobuchar ( D. , Minn. ) , Democratic governors Steve Bullock ( Mont . )
and Jay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tom Steyer during the presidential primary .
Saturday 's event will also be attended by Warren , twice-failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton , Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) , and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) .
It will feature a `` yelling room where participants are encouraged to scream out their emotions , '' according to event organizers .
Supermajority was launched in 2019 by a group of progressive activists , including former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards and Black Lives Matter cofounder Alicia Garza .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 , with $ 2 million coming from liberal billionaire George Soros 's Democracy PAC .
Supermajority aims to train and mobilize `` a community of all ages , races , and backgrounds to fight for gender equality together , '' according to its website .
Fonda in 2017 said she does not regret her trip to Hanoi during the Vietnam War but does regret the infamous photo with North Vietnamese troops .
She added that while she is not `` proud of America today , '' she is `` proud of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proud of the people who are turning out in unprecedented numbers and continue over and over again to protest what Trump is doing .
I 'm very proud of them , that core , '' Fonda said .

The Biden campaign, which has bombarded President Donald Trump with attacks about his respect for U.S. soldiers, will be campaigning this weekend with Jane Fonda, a celebrity best known for fraternizing with enemy troops during the Vietnam War.
Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris is set to join Fonda at a Saturday virtual event held by progressive advocacy group Supermajority. The event—titled "Supercharge: Women All In"—will "bring together thousands of women to laugh, sing, dance, and celebrate women's political power," according to the group's website.
Fonda traveled to North Vietnam in 1972 as part of an anti-war protest that saw her pose for photos with enemy troops on an anti-aircraft gun. The photo sparked outrage among Vietnam veterans, earning her the nickname "Hanoi Jane." Fonda's public appearances remain subject to controversy—a group of Ohio veterans called on the actress to donate her $83,000 speaking fee to the families of fallen soldiers ahead of a May appearance at Kent State University.
Harris and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden have criticized President Donald Trump on veterans' issues in recent weeks. During a September "veterans roundtable," Biden criticized Trump for ignoring "the bounty on the heads of Americans in Afghanistan," referencing a slew of June reports that claimed Russia bribed the Taliban to kill U.S. servicemen. One day before the roundtable, Marine Corps general Frank McKenzie—who oversees military operations in the region—told NBC News that a review of U.S. intelligence failed to corroborate the alleged bounties.
Harris promoted the roundtable in a tweet, saying American veterans "sacrifice so much for our nation and deserve our respect and gratitude, both while on active duty and after." The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment on her upcoming appearance with Fonda.
Fonda has long supported Harris financially, contributing nearly $6,000 to the Democrat's Senate campaign since 2016. The actress also gave $1,000 to the Biden Victory Fund in June after donating a combined $10,300 to Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) and Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.), Democratic governors Steve Bullock (Mont.) and Jay Inslee (Wash.), and billionaire Tom Steyer during the presidential primary.
Saturday's event will also be attended by Warren, twice-failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.). It will feature a "yelling room where participants are encouraged to scream out their emotions," according to event organizers.
Supermajority was launched in 2019 by a group of progressive activists, including former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards and Black Lives Matter cofounder Alicia Garza. The group has raised $2.5 million in 2020, with $2 million coming from liberal billionaire George Soros's Democracy PAC. Supermajority aims to train and mobilize "a community of all ages, races, and backgrounds to fight for gender equality together," according to its website.
Fonda in 2017 said she does not regret her trip to Hanoi during the Vietnam War but does regret the infamous photo with North Vietnamese troops. She added that while she is not "proud of America today," she is "proud of the resistance."
"I'm proud of the people who are turning out in unprecedented numbers and continue over and over again to protest what Trump is doing. I'm very proud of them, that core," Fonda said.


freebeacon--2020-09-23--Minnesota Sued Over Mail-In Ballot Ruling

Republicans are challenging a move by Minnesota election officials to allow ballots to be counted past Election Day even if they are not postmarked .
State representative Eric Lucero ( R. ) and Republican elector James Carson filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging secretary of state Steve Simon 's consent decree that allows mail-in ballots to be counted as late as eight days after Election Day with or without a postmark .
The lawsuit argues the decree violates the U.S. Constitution by moving the ballot deadline without the authority of the state legislature and violates federal law by permitting `` ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of having been cast on November 3 '' to be counted .
`` This means that persons in Minnesota may vote for days after Election Day and have their votes counted , '' the lawsuit states .
It also warns that the decree will likely lead to disputed results , disenfranchised voters , and may even cause the results of the vote in Minnesota to be rejected entirely .
The consent decree states that if a ballot is not postmarked , `` the election official reviewing the ballot should presume that it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the preponderance demonstrates it was mailed after Election Day . ''
Simon described the seven-day window as `` an automatic seven-day cushion '' for Minnesota voters .
Simon 's office did not respond to a request for comment about the assumption that unmarked ballots were sent on or before Election Day .
The lawsuit was filed with the support of the Honest Elections Project , a nonpartisan election integrity group whose executive director Jason Snead told the Washington Free Beacon that the decree could incentivize illegal voting .
`` You wind up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the election , they could be the decisive ballots .
But there 's absolutely no proof that they were cast validly on Election Day , '' Snead said .
`` And when you consider what 's at stake here , not only does that amplify the need for us to have clear outcomes , it also amplifies the incentive to try to gin up a few extra ballots after the fact if you see that your candidate is losing . ''
`` Even if that 's not going to happen , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casting doubt on the result , '' he said .
Minnesota is among 16 other states this year that permit mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day to be counted , including the battleground states of North Carolina , Ohio , Pennsylvania , Virginia , and Texas .
With the exception of West Virginia , which allows ballots without postmarks to be counted up to one day after the election , it is the only state to allow ballots without postmarks to be counted .
As the election nears , Republicans and Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting regulations .
Lawsuits filed in Ohio , Pennsylvania , Michigan , New Jersey , and Nevada have pitted the parties against one another in protracted fights over the use of ballot drop boxes , and ballot deadlines , as well as rules for collecting , processing , and counting ballots .
Republicans have largely favored maintaining existing voting regulations within states , while Democrats have advocated expanding voting access and loosening regulations .

State says it will accept ballots for one week after election, even without postmark
Republicans are challenging a move by Minnesota election officials to allow ballots to be counted past Election Day even if they are not postmarked.
State representative Eric Lucero (R.) and Republican elector James Carson filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging secretary of state Steve Simon's consent decree that allows mail-in ballots to be counted as late as eight days after Election Day with or without a postmark. The lawsuit argues the decree violates the U.S. Constitution by moving the ballot deadline without the authority of the state legislature and violates federal law by permitting "ballots with no post mark and no evidence of having been cast on November 3" to be counted.
"This means that persons in Minnesota may vote for days after Election Day and have their votes counted," the lawsuit states. It also warns that the decree will likely lead to disputed results, disenfranchised voters, and may even cause the results of the vote in Minnesota to be rejected entirely.


freebeacon--2020-09-23--China Peddling Communist Propaganda in U.S. State and Local Governments, Pompeo Says

The Chinese Communist Party is engaged in an effort to infiltrate and conduct espionage on state and local U.S. governments , the latest front in a growing proxy war between America and the Communist regime , according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
During a Wednesday speech in Madison , Wis. , Pompeo pulled the curtain back on the Communist Party 's efforts to peddle influence and cultivate allies in America 's state and local governments .
While the Trump administration has worked to ice China out of the federal government , local institutions have been more receptive to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` CCP campaigns targeting state-level officials , and local interests , have been in full swing for years , and they 're increasing in intensity , '' Pompeo said .
`` The Party and its proxies aim to make Americans receptive to Beijing 's form of authoritarianism . ''
Chinese officials are using their American consulates to mount pressure campaigns on local governments , encouraging them to pass laws and resolutions that Beijing sees as beneficial to its image .
These can take the form of measures praising China 's response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in several state legislative bodies , or other initiatives meant to diminish U.S. ties to disputed Taiwan .
These efforts are punctuated by `` CCP influence and espionage campaigns at the municipal and city level , '' according to Pompeo .
These efforts are only likely to intensify in the lead up to the 2020 presidential election , which China has spent great resources trying to influence .
Through a combination of hack attacks and social media campaigns , Beijing aims to sow discord among the American public .
A divided America , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to its influence operations .
Pompeo chose Madison as the location of his speech due to a recent effort by China to see the state 's legislature pass a bill `` praising China 's response to the coronavirus , '' according to Pompeo .
In February , an official from China 's consulate in Chicago emailed state senate president Roger Roth to request that he present the pro-China measure , which the consulate had already drafted for the legislator .
China wanted Roth `` to whitewash the Communist Party 's culpability for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200,000 Americans—and nearly one million people worldwide—and sent the world economy into a tailspin , '' Pompeo said , highlighting the incident as one of many similar efforts the Communist Party is pushing in America 's legislative bodies .
In addition to its communications with state officials , the CCP uses more nefarious means to increase its footprint in American cities .
Earlier this week , for instance , the Department of Justice charged a New York Police Department officer and Army reservist with acting as an illegal Chinese agent .
The officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America and then giving information to his Chinese handlers , including access to senior-level NYPD personnel through invitations to consulate events .
Americans must be more vigilant about these spy operations , Pompeo said .
`` Know that when you are approached by a Chinese diplomat , it is likely not in the spirit of true cooperation or friendship .
Know that if you are offered a trip to China when pandemic travel restrictions are lifted , you should ask who is paying for that trip , and if they are linked—directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
China 's primary goal is to `` foment the kind of strife we 've seen in Minneapolis , and Portland , and Kenosha , '' Pompeo said .
`` That 's disgusting .
We ca n't let that happen . ''

The Chinese Communist Party is engaged in an effort to infiltrate and conduct espionage on state and local U.S. governments, the latest front in a growing proxy war between America and the Communist regime, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
During a Wednesday speech in Madison, Wis., Pompeo pulled the curtain back on the Communist Party's efforts to peddle influence and cultivate allies in America's state and local governments. While the Trump administration has worked to ice China out of the federal government, local institutions have been more receptive to CCP influence operations, Pompeo said.
"CCP campaigns targeting state-level officials, and local interests, have been in full swing for years, and they're increasing in intensity," Pompeo said. "The Party and its proxies aim to make Americans receptive to Beijing's form of authoritarianism."
Chinese officials are using their American consulates to mount pressure campaigns on local governments, encouraging them to pass laws and resolutions that Beijing sees as beneficial to its image. These can take the form of measures praising China's response to the coronavirus pandemic, which have been pushed in several state legislative bodies, or other initiatives meant to diminish U.S. ties to disputed Taiwan. These efforts are punctuated by "CCP influence and espionage campaigns at the municipal and city level," according to Pompeo.
These efforts are only likely to intensify in the lead up to the 2020 presidential election, which China has spent great resources trying to influence. Through a combination of hack attacks and social media campaigns, Beijing aims to sow discord among the American public. A divided America, Beijing believes, will be more receptive to its influence operations.
Pompeo chose Madison as the location of his speech due to a recent effort by China to see the state's legislature pass a bill "praising China's response to the coronavirus," according to Pompeo. In February, an official from China's consulate in Chicago emailed state senate president Roger Roth to request that he present the pro-China measure, which the consulate had already drafted for the legislator.
China wanted Roth "to whitewash the Communist Party's culpability for a global pandemic that's killed more than 200,000 Americans—and nearly one million people worldwide—and sent the world economy into a tailspin," Pompeo said, highlighting the incident as one of many similar efforts the Communist Party is pushing in America's legislative bodies.
In addition to its communications with state officials, the CCP uses more nefarious means to increase its footprint in American cities. Earlier this week, for instance, the Department of Justice charged a New York Police Department officer and Army reservist with acting as an illegal Chinese agent. The officer is accused of spying on Tibetans living in America and then giving information to his Chinese handlers, including access to senior-level NYPD personnel through invitations to consulate events.
Americans must be more vigilant about these spy operations, Pompeo said.
"Know that when you are approached by a Chinese diplomat, it is likely not in the spirit of true cooperation or friendship. Know that if you are offered a trip to China when pandemic travel restrictions are lifted, you should ask who is paying for that trip, and if they are linked—directly or indirectly—to the CCP," he said.
China's primary goal is to "foment the kind of strife we've seen in Minneapolis, and Portland, and Kenosha," Pompeo said. "That's disgusting. We can't let that happen."


freebeacon--2020-09-23--Princeton Denies That Its ‘Embedded’ Racism Violates the Civil Rights Act

Princeton University has responded to a federal civil rights inquiry with a seemingly contradictory claim : Although the university does not discriminate against minorities , it is nonetheless systemically racist .
The Department of Education is investigating whether Princeton violated the Civil Rights Act after the school 's president , Christopher Eisgruber , said that racism remains `` embedded '' in the university .
In response to the department 's inquiry , Princeton claimed that the school does not actively discriminate against minority students and faculty , but also that systemic racism still exists on campus .
`` Princeton has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a community where all can thrive , and stands by its representations … that is complies with all laws and regulations governing equal opportunity , nondiscrimination , and harassment , '' the Princeton letter reads .
`` The university also stands by our statements about the prevalence of systemic racism and our commitment to reckon with its continued effects . ''
On Sept. 2 , Eisgruber told students and staff that `` racist assumptions from the past … remain embedded in structures of the university itself . ''
Following his statement , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acceptance and hiring processes to determine whether the university discriminates against minorities .
If found in violation of civil rights law , the school would become ineligible for the millions of dollars in federal funding it receives .
Princeton condemned the department 's investigation , claiming that it is punishment for acknowledging the nation 's and the university 's systemic racism .
`` It is unfortunate that the department appears to believe that grappling honestly with the nation 's history and the current effects of systemic racism runs afoul of existing law , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rebekah Adams told the Washington Free Beacon she thinks the response letter was released to appease vocal student activists .
`` Princeton released the statement to both claim that [ it ] uphold [ s ] diversity [ and ] that it is embedded in racism , '' Adams said .
`` [ It 's ] an attempt to keep appeasing the vocal students who , for instance , wanted Woodrow Wilson 's name removed . ''
Another Princeton senior , Tyler Eddy , said that the statement exemplified the way liberal institutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to delegitimize political opponents .
`` The word racism carries a lot of power and emotion .
… Toying with a word so that you can now level accusations of ‘ white supremacy ' [ at ] your political opponents … is anything but honest . ''

Princeton University has responded to a federal civil rights inquiry with a seemingly contradictory claim: Although the university does not discriminate against minorities, it is nonetheless systemically racist.
The Department of Education is investigating whether Princeton violated the Civil Rights Act after the school's president, Christopher Eisgruber, said that racism remains "embedded" in the university. In response to the department's inquiry, Princeton claimed that the school does not actively discriminate against minority students and faculty, but also that systemic racism still exists on campus.
"Princeton has long been committed to creating and maintaining a community where all can thrive, and stands by its representations ... that is complies with all laws and regulations governing equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and harassment," the Princeton letter reads. "The university also stands by our statements about the prevalence of systemic racism and our commitment to reckon with its continued effects."
On Sept. 2, Eisgruber told students and staff that "racist assumptions from the past ... remain embedded in structures of the university itself." Following his statement, the Education Department requested information regarding Princeton's acceptance and hiring processes to determine whether the university discriminates against minorities. If found in violation of civil rights law, the school would become ineligible for the millions of dollars in federal funding it receives.
Princeton condemned the department's investigation, claiming that it is punishment for acknowledging the nation's and the university's systemic racism.
"It is unfortunate that the department appears to believe that grappling honestly with the nation's history and the current effects of systemic racism runs afoul of existing law," the school said.
Princeton senior Rebekah Adams told the Washington Free Beacon she thinks the response letter was released to appease vocal student activists.
"Princeton released the statement to both claim that [it] uphold[s] diversity [and] that it is embedded in racism," Adams said. "[It's] an attempt to keep appeasing the vocal students who, for instance, wanted Woodrow Wilson's name removed."
Another Princeton senior, Tyler Eddy, said that the statement exemplified the way liberal institutions use phrases like "systemic racism" to delegitimize political opponents.
"The word racism carries a lot of power and emotion. ... Toying with a word so that you can now level accusations of 'white supremacy' [at] your political opponents ... is anything but honest."


freebeacon--2020-09-23--Amash, Massie Among Three House Members to Oppose Uighur Genocide Bill

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act passed the House near-unanimously on Tuesday , with only three members voting against the bill .
Reps. Justin Amash ( I. , Mich. ) , Warren Davidson ( R. , Ohio ) , and Thomas Massie ( R. , Ky. ) were the only representatives who opposed the bill , which otherwise received resonant bipartisan support .
Supporting action taken by the Department of Homeland Security earlier this month , the bill would add congressional heft to an embargo established by the Trump administration against certain goods and products made in the Xinjiang Uighur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also requires that the president offer a periodic report to Congress regarding entities and individuals that knowingly facilitate human-rights abuses against Uighur Muslims , and it mandates securities issuers to disclose their relationships with firms engaged in activities related to the Uighur genocide .
Davidson told the Washington Free Beacon that his vote against the act was due to an included provision that required private enterprises to report their business activities to the Securities and Exchange Commission .
Violations of the act would be enforced through the SEC rather than the Departments of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed concern about .
`` Should this provision be removed in the Senate , I would welcome the bill being signed into law .
Reports of the Uyghur genocide are appalling , and deserve international condemnation , accompanied by appropriate sanctions , '' Davidson said .
Massie told the Free Beacon he voted against the bill because he believed sanctions damage the people of China more than the Chinese government .
`` Sanctions generally do not hurt the repressive governments they claim to target , '' Massie said .
`` Instead , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are already suffering under those repressive regimes . ''
`` Confronting the generational threat that the CCP poses should be a bipartisan issue , '' Rep. Michael McCaul ( R. , Texas ) , ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee , said in his opening remarks on the House floor .
`` It is an American issue , the greatest national security threat to the United States of America .
I believe this failure of perspective needs to change . ''
The Uighur genocide has emerged as a large bipartisan issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months .
Companies such as Disney have caught flak for their business dealings in Xinjiang , while Chinese state documents have revealed the extent to which the Uighur labor camps are violating human rights .
Conservative estimates put the currently detained population in Xinjiang at one million .
Polling indicates that both Democrats and Republicans alike believe Washington needs to move quickly on this issue .
According to a poll conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs , 87 percent of both Democrats and Republicans believe America should place sanctions on Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told his colleagues that the moral case to condemn Chinese abuses is an urgent one .
`` We have a moral duty today to speak out against these horrifying crimes against humanity and against the Uighurs , and as the speaker mentioned , against the Tibetans and Christians as well , who are persecuted in the Chinese Communist Regime , '' McCaul said in his closing remarks .
`` There can no longer be business as usual with China . ''
Rep. Amash did not respond to a request for comment before press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : This article was updated to include comments from Reps. Davidson and Massie .

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act passed the House near-unanimously on Tuesday, with only three members voting against the bill.
Reps. Justin Amash (I., Mich.), Warren Davidson (R., Ohio), and Thomas Massie (R., Ky.) were the only representatives who opposed the bill, which otherwise received resonant bipartisan support.
Supporting action taken by the Department of Homeland Security earlier this month, the bill would add congressional heft to an embargo established by the Trump administration against certain goods and products made in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of China.
The resolution also requires that the president offer a periodic report to Congress regarding entities and individuals that knowingly facilitate human-rights abuses against Uighur Muslims, and it mandates securities issuers to disclose their relationships with firms engaged in activities related to the Uighur genocide.
Davidson told the Washington Free Beacon that his vote against the act was due to an included provision that required private enterprises to report their business activities to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Violations of the act would be enforced through the SEC rather than the Departments of State or Treasury, which Davidson also expressed concern about.
"Should this provision be removed in the Senate, I would welcome the bill being signed into law. Reports of the Uyghur genocide are appalling, and deserve international condemnation, accompanied by appropriate sanctions," Davidson said.
Massie told the Free Beacon he voted against the bill because he believed sanctions damage the people of China more than the Chinese government. "Sanctions generally do not hurt the repressive governments they claim to target," Massie said. "Instead, the burdens disproportionately fall on innocent people who are already suffering under those repressive regimes."
"Confronting the generational threat that the CCP poses should be a bipartisan issue," Rep. Michael McCaul (R., Texas), ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in his opening remarks on the House floor. "It is an American issue, the greatest national security threat to the United States of America. I believe this failure of perspective needs to change."
The Uighur genocide has emerged as a large bipartisan issue in the minds of Americans in recent months. Companies such as Disney have caught flak for their business dealings in Xinjiang, while Chinese state documents have revealed the extent to which the Uighur labor camps are violating human rights. Conservative estimates put the currently detained population in Xinjiang at one million.
Polling indicates that both Democrats and Republicans alike believe Washington needs to move quickly on this issue. According to a poll conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, 87 percent of both Democrats and Republicans believe America should place sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for human-rights abuses.
McCaul told his colleagues that the moral case to condemn Chinese abuses is an urgent one.
"We have a moral duty today to speak out against these horrifying crimes against humanity and against the Uighurs, and as the speaker mentioned, against the Tibetans and Christians as well, who are persecuted in the Chinese Communist Regime," McCaul said in his closing remarks. "There can no longer be business as usual with China."
Rep. Amash did not respond to a request for comment before press time.
UPDATE 2:45 p.m. ET: This article was updated to include comments from Reps. Davidson and Massie.